S ! g ?(, % . I I 1 * I i ir ^ X. ^ -^ w 'C, / ^** -^ ~ ; ^OJITVD-JO^ ^^OJIIVDJO V: xx ^QrCAllFOftj^ ^- ''"^ * v^^*^. f t^> 4 >^ ^^ "/ s > \(~J^ I 3 a S "% S HIS THE TORY O F W A L E S. WRITTEN ORIGINALLY IN BRITISH, BY CARADOC OF LHANCARVAN, ENGLISHED BY DR. POWELL, AND AUGMENTED By W. W Y N N E, Fellow of JESUS College, OXON. TO WHICH IS ADDED, A DESCRIPTION OF WALES, BY SIR JOHN PRICE* A NEW EDITION, GREATLY IMPROVED AND ENLARGED, WITH PEDIGREES OF FAMILIES. LONDON; DINTED J-OR T. EVANS, AT NO. 50. IN THE STRAND, NEAR YORK BUILDINGS. M DCC LXXIV. 7/s T0 SJR WATKIN WILLIAMS WYNNE, BART, KNIGHT OF THE SHIRE FOR THE COUNTY OF SALOP, THIS NEW AND IMPROVED EDITION OF THE HISTORY OF WALES, A COUNTRY IN WHICH HIMSELF AND FAMILY, ARE UNIVERSALLY, AND DESERVEDLY RESPECTED, IS INSCRIBED, 2Y HIS MOST OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT, Strand, No. co, March i. T . H O M AS EVAN 13G3Q19 THE PREFACE. THE hiftory of the Britains, may not im- properly be diftinguiftled into two pe- riods ; the former comprehending the interval from Brute to Cadwalader, whilft the Britains are thought to have enjoyed a general pofleflion of the whole ifland -, the other containing the memoirs and tranfa&ions of the Britains under their feveral princes, after their receflion to that part of the ifland, fince called Wales. The for- mer of thefe has been generally accounted of late, abfolutely falfe and unhiftorical ; and it is un- doubtedly concluded that all the pafiages in Ge- offrey of Monmouth, (the only remaining mo- nument of the affairs of the ancient Britains) which are not confonant to, and agreeable with the Roman hiftorians that fpeak of Britain, are abfolutely fabulous and intincere. The hiftory of the Princes of Wales, has indeed met with better fortune, and the author Caradoc of Lhan- carvan is accounted juft andauthentick ; fo that there need no other apology for the following work, than that it is for the beft part the ge- nuine hiftory of that author. But becaufe the hiftory of Wales has no fmall dependence upon, and relation to the hiftory of the ancient Bri- tains published by Geoffrey, I think it neceflary to make fome general reflection, in relation to the truth and authority of that copy. And here in the firft place, I muft take notice of two forts of opinions, moft widely repugnant, and as I may fay, diametrically oppofite to each b other ; PREFACE. other j and both in my opinion, equally deviat- ing from the right apprehenfion of the matter in debate. The one, perfectly rejecting the whole foundation- and procefs of Geoffrey's hiftory, will not believe fo much as one paffage relating to the ancient Britains, but what is delivered by Roman writers -, as if nothing remarkable could happen in Britain, but what muft needs fall un- der their fpecial cognizance and obfervation. The other, without any allowance to the age when thefe Britim affairs were tranfafted, (not to mention the utmoft antiquity of fome part of this hiftory, cotemporary with which, nothing is certain among the more civilized Greeks and Romans) will believe the whole frame, and all the circumftances of Geoffrey's hiftory, be they never fo ridiculous and extravagant. But not to infift on fo bigotted an opinion, as to think that the Bntifti hiftory is univerfally true, and alto- gether authentick j I will confine myfelf to the examination of the other extream, to fee whe- ther that hiftory publifhed by Geoffrey,- be fo abfolutely fabulous as is frequently reprefented and generally believed. Now they who difcre- dit this hiftory, either wholly attribute the frame and invention of it to Geoffrey, or elfe granting him to be a faithful tranflator, affure themfelves that the copy he received was fictitious, and per- fectly owing to the unwarrantable forgeries of the fabulous monks. So that the fubject of my pre~ fent enquiries, will naturally fall under thefe two< difquifitions ; firft, Whether Geoffrey be the real contriver and compofer of this hiftory ? and fecondly, Suppofing him to be innocent of thi& fufpicion, Whe her the hiftory publifhed by him, be perfectly fabulous, and in all refpects a numkilh legend ? Firft, THE PREFACE. Firft, As to what relates to Geoffrey, thougrl methinks there need no greater argument to evi-< dence his innocency from fo fufpefted an impo- fture, as his being the contriver of this hiftory, than that he profeffedly owns the receipt of the TBritifh manufcript from Walter, archdeacon of Oxford ; yet becaufe the prejudice of fome men oftentimes obfcures their underftanding, in things otherwife very clear and open, it will be requifite to dwell fomewhat more particularly upon that fubje6t : or if the world be once perfuaded, that the whole invention is owing to Geoffrey, and that there was no fiich account of the Britains in "being, before he publimed his hiftory, the whole feries of Brltifh affairs not mentioned in the writ- ings of the Roman authors, and all that long continued fuccelfion of Britifh kings for fo many ages, muft of neceffity be accounted fabulous, and a perfect legend. But before that Geoffrey fhould be fo unreafonably attainted of fuch no- torious forgery, and his hiftory be fo generally condemned ; one might expecl: that fuch evident proofs could be produced to evince fo abfolute a poiition, as to render it paft all difpute and contradiction. For to charge any one with in- fincerity, for no other reafon, than becaufe it is the common vogue and fentiment of the world, is in my opinion a greater argument of partiali- ty and prejudice, than of iolid and judicious reafoning. Now the greateft reafon that I can think of, why the Britim hiftory is attributed to the in- vention of Geoffrey, is, that almoft upon jits firft appearance in the world, William of Newbo- b 2 rough THE PREFACE. rough and Gctaldus Cambrenfis exclaim againft it, and feem to lay the whole impofture to the charge of Geoffrey. The words of Newborough are thcfe : At contra quidem (fpeaking before of Gildas) no/iris temponbus pro expiandis his Brito- num maculis fcriptor emerfit, ridicula de iifdemjig- menta contexens> eofque longe fupra virtutem Ma- cedonum et Romanorum impudenti sanitate at- tollens. Gaufridus hie dittus eft, agnomen ba- bens Arturi, pro eo quod fabulas de Arturo ex prifcis Britonum fgmentu fumptas, et ex proprio auftas per fuperduftum Latini Jermonis colorem, honeflo hiftoria nomine palliavif. ^ui etiam ma- jori aufu, cujufdam Merlinl divinationes fallacijfi- masy quibus utique de proprio plurimum adjecit^ dum eas in Latinum transfunderet, tanquam au- thenticas, et immobili veritate fubnixas prophetias vu/gavif. From this paflage it is apprehended, that Newborough thought that the Britim hiflory was folely owing to the contrivance and inven- tion of Geoffrey ; whereas nothing is more evi- dent than that the only thing he lays to Geof- frey's charge, is, that he augmented, and of his own head made additions to the copy he re- ceived. And feeing that Newborough exprefly mentions Geoffrey's tranflating into Latin, fome ancient figments of the Britains concerning King Arthur, and unwarrantably adding to the fame j it is manifeftly apparent that he never took Geoffrey to be the contriver of the whole of what he had publifhed, otherwife it is hardly conceivable, that fuch an inveterate enemy of that hiftory, would conceal any thing that might derogate from the truth and authority of it. Befides, Newborough throughout his whole preface THE PREFACE. preface, wherein he endeavours to invalidate, and render the Britifh hiflory fabulous, chiefly infifts upon the life of King Arthur, and the prophecies of Merlyn ; not a word of Brutus and his Trojans, which, though fince accounted as notorious a piece of romance as any at all ; it feems he had faith to fwallow. Indeed, the pafTages in King Arthur's life, and the prophe- cies of Merlyn tending much to the fame pur- pofe, were too great and extravagant to be cre- dited by him, (who by his character of them, feems to have bore but very flender affection to- wards the Welch,) by reafon that they deroga- ted much from the fame and valour of the Sax- ons ; fo that I am afraid, that the odium which Newborough bore to Geoffrey and his hiftory, depended more upon national honour and re- putation, than the truth and fincerity of hiftory. For furely he could never be Ib warmly exafpe- rated againft a fabulous hiftory, had he but the candour to confult his own, unlefs there had been fome other motive to raife and foment his paflion. As to the fcurrilous language he cafts upon the Britim hiftory, and his umannerly treatment of the t.ranilator he therein exprefles his ignorance and malice, rather than any love and regard to truth and ingenuity. For who but an ignorant and an unfkilful pretender, would confidently aflert the Britains never had any metropolitans or archbifhops, and would produce this as an invincible argument for the falfity of the Britim hiftory; whereas it is no- torioufly manifeft, that the Britains had their archbifhops long before the arrival of Auguftine the monk, whom Newborough pretends to have been the firft who underwent that dignity in b 3 this THE PREFACE. this ifland. But as his arguments againft Geof- frey's hiftory are weak and invalid, and his whole preface more an inventive than a confu- tation, fo his credit mould be rejected and un- dervalued, for charging another hiftory^with falfhood, when his own feems wholly inter- woven with ridiculous legends and monkim fic- tions/ But be the occafion of Newborough's diflike of the Britifh hiftory what it will, it is evident, that nothing can be concluded from the above quoted paffage, more than that Geoffrey made additions to the Britim copy he received of the archdeacon of Oxford. And this is no more than what may eafily and fafely be granted ; for the life of King Arthur, and the prophecies of Merlyn, the main fubjects of Newborough's difcontent, may probably be inferted into the hiftory by Geoffrey, atleailthey were augmented, and feveral traditions were added by him. Bale, aflures u?, that he writ the life of King Arthur in a diftincl: treatife; and himfelf owns in the pre- face to his fourth book, which comprehends the prophecies of Merlyn, that upon the requeft of Alexander bifhop of Lincoln, he had tranflated Merlyh's propecies out of Briti(h into Latin, her, fore the Britiih copy came to his hands. Now, when Geoffrey had received the manufcript from the archdeacon, and was engaged in tranflating it into Latin, it is no ftrange matter to ima- gine, that as occafion required, he might ampli- fy, and add to it, out of his former traces. For it is obvious to fuppofe, that the feveral things con- cerning Arthur and Merlyn, might be preferved in the ifland of Great Britain, which were long ago obfolete among the Britains of Armorica, frorn The P R E F A C E. from whence the Britifh copy is faid to have been brought over. But fuppolingthatNewborough had attributed the whole frame of the Britifh hiftory to Geof- frey, which is evident he does not, his authority cannot balance with far more authentic hiftorians, fuch as H. Huntington, R. Hovedon, Matthew of Weftminfter and others, but more particularly Matthew Paris, who in exprefs terms, calls Geof- frey, the faithful tranflatorof the Britifh hiftory. And feeing then, that it was in thofe times ap- AJ Ann. prehended to be an antient rnanufcript, and none of Geoffrey's contrivance, when the cheat might be befl difcovered, and there wanted not good in- clinations to detecl: fo notorious a forgery ; how in thefe latter times, it could be fo luckily found out, that Geoffrey was the fole inventor and compofer of the hiftory, I cannot poflibly divine. The other reafon, why Geoffrey is thought to cnb. be the author of the Britifh hiftory, is grounded gj" upon apaffage in Giraldus Cambrenlis, who fpeak- ing of the etymology of Wales, rejects the deno- mination of it from either duke Wallo, or queen Wendolen, Sicutfabulofa Galfredi Arturimentitur bijloria. Now this is thought an invincible ar- gument againft Geoffrey, and a palpable detec- tion of his infincerity, fince Giraldus, his own countryman ftrikes at him, and accufes him of forgery; whereas upon nicer examination, we may eafily difcover how that Giraldus quarrels only with the hiftory which Geoffrey publifhed, and which upon that account bore his name. For had Giraldus thought it to be only a con- trivance of Geoffrey's, had he fufpecled that peoffrey falfly pretended to haye received an antient THE PREFACE. antient Britifh manufcript, and by that meaqs to have impofed upon the world ; can it be fup- pofed that upon fo plain conviction of falfliood, he would believe and give credit to an hiftory, which he was fatisfied was altogether a fable? But on the contrary, we find himaffenting to the ftory of Brutus, and the diviiion of the ifland betwixt his three fons -, and in fhort, excepting in this one place, he exprefles himfelf to be an abfolute votary of the Briti/h hiftory, whence 'tis evident, he apprehended Geoffrey to be no more than a faithful tranflator of an antient Britifh copy. I need not take notice of William of Malmf- bury, becaufe that by the beft account, he is fup- pofed to have been dead before Geoffery publifhed his hiftory, and confequently he could never fee jt ; fo that this expreilion in him, Hie eft Art burns de quo Eritonum nuga bodieque delirunt, muft likely refer to the then prefent traditions and accounts of the Welch concerning king Arthur, which probably might be too great and extravagant. For 'tis certain that a traditional account of any perfpn or adlion, the farther it recedes from the fpring and original, the more corrupt and imper- fect it ftill proceeds ; and like a ball of fnow, it gathers and augments in its journey ; fo that it may be reafonably fuppofed, that the vulgar ac- count which the Welch in Malmfbury's time de- livered of king Arthur ? was too far incredible and furprifing. Butfmce the reafons produced for proving Geof- frey to be the author of the Britifh hiftory, feem not to be fatisfadlory and evincing ; let us fee whether the contrary afiertion can be more reafon- ably maintained. Andfirft/tismanifeftthatGeof- frey could not be the total inventor of the Britifh hiftory. THE PREFACE. hiftory,by reafon that feveral things, and fomeof the mod material pafTages therein contained, are agreeable with the hiftories oftheGildasand Nen- Not nius, the poetical fragments of Talieffyn, not to Bede * mention the Saxon Manufcript, quoted by Mr. Wheelock, and otherauthorsfarmoreantient than Geoffrey. 'Tis owned indeed Geoffrey might bor- row the ground and plat-form of his romance from Merlyn or Talieflyn, or rather from Nennius, in whole writings there is fome flight account of the Britains being defcended from the Trojans ; but the fuperftruSure is all his own, who living in an ignorant age, and well knowing he could not well bedifproved, took the liberty to make what inven- tion he pleafed, and then recommended it to the world, for a true, undoubted hiftory. But not- withftanding all this conceflion, I think there is $s little reafon to attribute the frame and compo- fhion of this hiftory to Geoffrey as there can be, to think him contriver of the ground and plot of it. For it feems to me very unaccountable, that if Geoffrey was to in vent and compofe this hiftory, why in this account of the iranfadtions betwixt the Britains and Romans, he mould fo widely difagree with, and deviate from the writings of the Romanhiftorians. Fprcertainly, nothing could add more authority to a fable, than exadtly to fol- low theftepsof creditable authors, in triple things they both had occafion to treat of. This in all probability, would not only render that part of the hiftory unfufpicious, but likewiic credit and au- thorize the reft, of which there was no account in Roman authors. And this difagreement be- twixt the Britifh hiftory, and the writings of the Romanhiftorians, though frequently produced to overthrow the authority of it, induces me to be- lieve, The PREFACE. Ueve, not only that Geoffrey was not the author, but likewife that the macufcript was ancient, and much older than the time, in which it was firft made public. But befides, Geoffrey dedicates his tranflation to Robert earl of Glocefter, fon to king Henry I. which in all likelihood he would never have ventured to do, had the original been of his own contrivance, for fear leaft that the cheat being difcovered, he mould be found, to put upon a perfon of eminent quality, with whom theBritifli hiftory was then in great efteem. For to him it Is that Geoffrey owns the receipt of this manu- fcript from the archdeacon of Oxford, which he affirms to be very antient, and by his requeft was perfuaded to tranflate it into the Latin tongue. It was a very eafy matter for the earl of Glocefter to find out Geoffrey's integrity, by enquiring of the archdeacon (who by all accounts is reckoned hisco-tsmporary) whether he had delivered fuch an antient Biitifh copy into Geoffrey's hands, and whether the tranflation juftly anfwered the original. Thefe enquiries were natural, upon the publication of any new hiftory, which made fuch confiderable noife and clamour in the world, and which gave fuch an account of the antient Britains, as was never before thought or heard of among the Englifh nation. And fuppofmg the earl of Glocefter to have omitted thefe enquiries, yet it is fcarce conceivable, but that in cafe of fq open a forgery, the archdeacon would difcover the cheat, unlefs it can be thought that he was privy to, and had a hand in the contrivance. But he was fo farfrom detecting Geoffrey's impofture, that he himfelf owns too, to have tranflated the Britifh hiftory firft into Latin, and then in his latter THE PREFACE. fatter days,toBritifh again from the Latin, as may be ftill feen in the Archives of Jefus-College li- brary. Now if there be any heed to, or depen- dance upon this, if it be true, that the archdeacon did tranilate, and confequently allow of this hif- tpry, it appears very evident to me, that Geoffrey Cdii be in no wife the author or contriver of it. But that Robert of Glocefter took a fancy to Geoffrey's tranflation, more upon the account that his father had lately fubdued the Welch, and therefore feemed to add to his father's glory, than that he did credit and believe the hiftory, does not feem to be fo true and evincing. For where- in could the publication of this hiftory contri- bute to the advancement of his father's name ? Was it becaufe he had conquered a people whofe anceftors appeared by this hiftory to be formerly valiant and warlike ? this was performed by o- thers before him, and I can conceive no great ad- dition to any man's fame, to conquer a handful of people, with a numerous army, tho' their fore- fathers had been flout and victorious. This is furely too flight a pretence for the reception of the Britifh hiftory by the earl of Glocefter, and too weak an argument to deftroy the truth and authority of it. It is certain, that it took ex- ceeding well in the world at that time, nor was it oppofed till after Robert's death, when Wil- liam of Newborough more out of malice and difcontent than any love he bore to truth, began to charge both the original and tranflator with infincerity. I cannot fee upon the whole, the leaft reafon, why the contrivance and -invention of this hiftory fhould be attributed to Geof- frey, or that the authority of it depends any way upon him, more than the fidelity of his tranf- THE' PREFACE. tranflation. I fliall therefore conclude this fub- ject with the character beftowed upon Geoffrey, and the hiftory by him publimed by Ponticus Virunnius, who flourished in .the year 1290, a man of great reading, and excellent learning of his time, who did not think it loft labour to draw an epitome of the Britim hiftory : GiraUus (fays he) btftoricus egreglus et cardinalis, mag- na vir auttoritatis apud Robertum Claudiocef- trice ducemy Henrlci regls JHium y ac patricz fua curwjijjimus fautor, ex fumma phihfophia atque arcbivis, hiftoriam antiqutffimam contlmia ferie ab ipfis Trojanis colkftam tranflulit. Ferijfimas Britannorum biftorias argult regum occidentalium conjuetudo ; qua erat, fecum femper babere eos, qui Dentate prtecipua eorum gejla notarent. Secondly, But fuppofing Geoffrey to be inno- cent from this fufpecl:ed impofture, and that he did no more than faithfully tranflate a Britifh ma- nufcript he received of the archdeacon j it may be farther objeded, that feeing it abounds with ib many unwarrantable matters of fact, and fo ex- travagant fables and prodigies, it appears extreme- ly fufpicious, and fenfibly fmells of a monkiih production. For how is it poffible, you will fay, that any account, excepting what is found in the Roman hiftories, could be had of the Bri- tains, and that not only before, but even after their fubjection to the Romans 5 fince there is fo much reafon to doubt, whether the Britains, as well as other unlettered nations, had any means to convey any knowledge to pefterity, for want of the art of writing ? for if the affairs and tranfactions of the Britains were only handed down by tradition, and they had no other way or THE PREFACE. or method to preferve their memories, then cer~ tainly all pretences to ancient records, and con- fequently to this Britim manufcript, fuppofed to have been tranflated by Geoffrey, muft of ne- ceffity be vain and groundlefs. And thus it is fuppofed, that the Britains had no writing among them, neither before nor after the Roman conqueft ; whence it follows, that there is no true nor certain account of any mat- ter tranflated among them, but what is recorded in Roman hiftories. But tho' this be frequently infinuated, yet I think, the contrary can with greater eafe and perfpicuity, be made to appear. As to the Britains having no writing among them, during their fubjection to the Roman em- pire, the contrary is fo evident and notorious, that I conceive it loft time to go about to difprove it. It is fufficient to lay down the words of Tacitus, an author of unihaken reputation ; yam verov** principum Jilios liberalibus artibus erudire, et ingenia Britannorum jludiis Gallorum anteferre, et qui modo linguam Romanorum abnuebant, eloqitentiam concupifcerent . Inde etlam habitus noftri honor 9 et frequens toga ; paulatimque dif- ceffum ad deliniamenta vitiorum, portions et bal- nea, et conviviorum ekgantlam. Now, can any one fuppofe, that when the Britifh youths were inftrudted in all the arts and fciences of the Ro- mans, when they began to ape and imitate them in their habits, buildings, and other neceflary fooleries, they mould neglect fo neceflary a qua- lification, as that of writing ? and can we ima- gine, that among fo many able and learned per- fons, as the Britains muft in reafon be, when edu- cated in the Roman way, and owned to be very tractable in their education, not one fhould prove fo THE PREFACE. foaffeftionate to his country, as to note down the {late and tranfaftions of it? certainly, if they learnt all the civilites andfciences of the Romans, hif- tory was not fo flight and trivial a fubject of their induftry, as to be undervalued j and t know not where they could better employ their fkill,. than in writing the hiftory of their native country. It was natural for them being once civilized, to enquire into the origin and antiquity of their na- tion, the ftate and condition of their country before the Roman conqueft ; and having made the beft fearch they could, whether by oral or written tradition into thefe enquiries, they would in all reafon, according to the cuftom and man- ner of the Romans, commit all to writing. But allowing the Britains to have learnt the art of writing from the Romans, after their fub-^ jeclion to the empire, yet it is certain they had no fuch thing among them, before the difcovery of this ifland by Julius Caefar, and confequently, that all the former part of the Britifh hiftory which precedes that epoch, muft be falfe and fiditious. And that this is no precarious ob- jedion, a paiTage out of Caefar's Commentaries is produced to ftrengthen it, which in my opi- nion, evidently proves the contrary. The words Dfc Beii of Caefar are thefe : Magnum ibi numerum (fpeak- Gai.iib.vi. - j n g - t k e D^S) wrfuumedifceredicuntur, it a- que annos nonulli vicenos in dijbiplina permanent ; nequefas ejje exiftimant ea literis mandare, cum in riliquis fere rebus, pubHcis privatifque rationibus, Gratis It fens utuntur. Why any one from hence fliould conclude, that the fuperflition of thofe ancient philofophers the Druids, forbad the Bri- tains to commit to writing the tran factions of their country, much more that they had no writ- THE P R E F A C E. ing at all among them, does I confefs, very far exceed my comprehenfion. Caefar, truly does intimate, that the dodtrine and myfteries of their religion, the Druids did not think fit to commit to writing ; but in all matters beiides, whether private or publick (among which, hiftory may be reafonably accounted) they ufed the Greek characters : for fo I underftand thefe words, Gree- ds literis utuntur. For it may not be fuppofed that all publick and private affairs of the Britains were tranflated in Greek, whqn they had a dif- ferent language of their own, and which in all reafon muft be the common tongue of the coun- try; but only that when the Britains had oc- cafion to put any thing in writing, they ufed the Grecian character, which probably was the only letter, they then were acquainted with. Bui to confirm this matter the more, Caefar makes men- tion of the like cuftom among the Gauls ; In ca- LU) ^ ftris Hehetiorum tabulte repert&funt literis Greeds confetta. Now if he concluded from hence, that the Gauls (for the Helvetians were a Gaulifli people) made ufe of the Greek language", rather than the Grecian characters; I would fain be in- formed, why Csefar mould write in Greek to Quintus Cicero, Ne intercepta epiftolafua, a Gal- Ks con/ilia nofcerentur ; left that his letter being intercepted, all his meafures and martial intrigues be difcovered by the Gauls. Certainly, if he had known (as well he might, in cafe the Hel- vetians underftood and writ in Greek) that the Gauls were not ignorant of the Greek language, he would not make ufe of fo mean a ftratagern to conceal his counfels. But fuppofe it be ac- knowledged that the Gauls and Britains ufed, not only the Greek characters, but the language 4 too THE PREFACE, too (one of which muft be allowed) it is evident that they had the art and ufe of writing before Csfar made an invafion to either country, and confequently the Britains might have iome writ- ten memorials of their country, which might be afterwards eafily handed down to pofterity. For it feems to me very ftrange, that men of fuch re- puted learning and knowledge, and fo well verfed in the myfteries of philofophy, as the Druids are acknowledged to have been, mould be ignorant of fo necefTary and ufeful a qualification as writ- ing. And fince it is affirmed, that their religi- ous fuperftitions were interdicted to be commit- ted to writing, we may rationally conclude, by the rule of contrariety, that all other things be- fides their religion, were allowed to be written, and confequently, that they had the art and ufe of writing among them. But fuppofing the Britains to have recorded the tranfadtions of their country, both before and after the Roman conqueft, yet when the Saxons prevailed in the ifland, all the monuments and writingsofthe ancient Britains were utterly lofty fo that this pretended hiftory of the Britains, muft be modern and fabulous, built upon vulgar and uncertain traditions. For how was it poffible that any one could write a true and faithful ac- count of the ancient Britains, and be fo particu- lar in the tranfadtions of thofe times, whereas there was not the leaft light to guide him to the knowledge of thofe obfcure ages. This is ex- prefly acknowledged by Gildas, who lived long before Geoffrey, and openly declares, that all the records and monuments of his country were loft in his time ; and that in writing thofe fmall frag- ments of the hiftory of Britain, he was forced to THE PREFACE. to abftracl: his materials out of the writings of foreigners. Ilia tantum proferre conabor in me- Excid. Brit diurrii qua; temporibus Romanorum Imperatorum et 'paffa eji, et a/its intulit cruibus, et longe pofitis mala : quantum tatnen potuero^ non tarn ex Jcrip- tis patrice fcriptorum monimentis ; quippe qua vet . Jifuerint, ant ignibus hojlium exujla, aut civium exulum clafje longius deport at a non compareant ; quam tranfmarina relatwne, qua crebris interrupt a intercapedinibus nonfatis claret. I mall here by the by, obferve the levity of Aylet Sames's objection againft the hiftory of Bntan. P . Brute ; namely, becaufe Gildas makes no mention 1 ^- of Brute and his Trojans, he concludes that the Britifh hiftory muft be a real fiction -> whereas Gil- das in this place manifeftly declares his defignonly of writing the hiftory of the Britains, during their fubjedtion to the Roman empire. Bat as to this paflage in Gildas, if in his time, there were no remains of his anceftors left in writing -, I would fain learn upon what ground and authority, he could fo pofitively aflert that the Britains from their firft plantation in this ifland, were proud and irre- ligious, and their kings cruel and tyrannical. For a little before the above quoted pafTage, he fays of Britain, Hccc eretta cervice et mente ex quo inha- bitata eft, mine Deo, interdum Civibus, nonnun- quam etiam tranfmarinis regibus ingrata con/urgif. And a little after, Tacens 'vetuftos immanium ty- rannorum annos, qui in aliis pojitis regionibus vut- gatifunt. Here he palles his judgment very liberally upon the ftate and condition of Britain from all antiquity ; and yet by and by, he con- fefTes, that he had no guide to diredl him to the knowledge of thole times he fo freely cenfures ; fo that if he had not the fpirit of divination, he c may THE PREFACE. may falter in his conjectures, or elfe he was guided by fome Britim light, of which he was not willing to own the perufal. But allowing that Gildas, in competing that fmall fragment of the Britifli hiitory, received no light from any Britim record, but was con- flrained to borrow out of the writings of fore- igners ; it concludes no farther, than that he had not the good fortune to meet with Britifh manufcripts, not that there w*ere none really re- maining in Britain. And farther, fuppofing that in Gildas his time, there were no remains of the antient Britains left in this ifland, but were all utterly loft; yet according to Gildas his own acknowledgment, and upon the Saxons prevail- ing in the country, they might be carried over by the exuled Britains to Armorica, from whence the archdeacon of Oxford is laid to have brought over the Britifh copy he delivered to Geoffrey, But if there was no written account of the for- mer ftate of Britain, in the ape of Gildas, how comes it to pafs, that any fuch thing mould be difcovered and brought to light in fucceeding ages ? ^ And not to infift upon the authority of the Britiih manufcript tranllated by Geoffrey, we have good reafon to prefume, that the antient Britains before Gildas had both ecclefiaftical and civil hiftories of their country. As to the former, Bede, whofe authority, I prefume, will not be queilioned, exprefly affirms it. For in his preface to his ecclefiaitical hiftory, he fays, A principle itaque voluminis bujus, iifque ad tempus quo Gens Anglorumfidem Chrijii percepit^ expriorum maxime fcriptis bine inde collettis, ea qua promemoramus, didjfcimus. Here Bede plain- ly declares, that in writing a church hiftory of Britain, THE PREFACE. Britain, he extracted all his matter, before the jconverfion of the Saxons to Chriftianity, out of antient authors. But who can thefe former writers be ? Surely they were not Saxons, for we read of no Saxon writer before Bede ; be- fides, that feveral things contained in this hiftory, were tranflated before the landing of the Saxons $ and as to the ecclefiaftical part, betwixt the arrival, and the converfion of the Saxons to Chriftianity that cannot be extracted out of their writings. For in the firft place they were no Chriftians, and it is very unreafonable to fuppofe, that they would write the hiftory of a church, of which they were at that time very fatal and implacable enemies 5 not to queftion whether the Saxons before their converfion had any writing or learning at all among them. For though it be pretended, that the Irifh, who ufe the lame manner of writing, borrowed their characters from the Saxons ; yet 'tis extremely fufpitious, that thefe received them from the Trim, if not rather from theBritains. As to the former, it is well known, that during the difturbances betwixt the Britains and Saxons here in Britain) the in- curfions of the Goths, Vandals, and other nor- thern nations into other countries ; all the learn- ing of thefe weftern parts of the world> fled into Ireland, which for a confiderable time remained to be the nurfery of learning and learned men. And that the Sax<5ns, long after their conver- fion to Chriftianity, retired to Ireland for thispur- pofe, we have the teftimony of their antient and moft authentick hiftorian ; fo that, I think, 'tis EccL iu.1 3 *. no prefumption to fufpecl:, that as the Saxons chap ' Z7 ' borrowed their learning from the Trim, they might for the fame reafon, receive their characters and c 2 form THE PREFACE, form of writing from them. But 'tis again to be doubted, whether both the Saxons and the Iriih did not primarily derive their characters from the Britains : for though the Britifli language be now writ in a different character from the Iriih and Saxon, yet upon antient Britifli monuments and infcriptions, mofl of the Saxon letters, dif- ferent from the prefent Roman alphabet, are plainly to be feen. Nor was this character ori- ginally Britifh, the fame- being ufed in the firft r> e Re DI- age of the Roman empire, if we can lay any ftrefs plop ' 345; on Julius Cefar's will and teftament, reprefented by Mabillon. But farther yet ; if the Irim cha- racter be originally Saxon, the Saxons muft either bring it along with them from Germany, or elie they muft have invented it after their arrival and fettlement in Britain : if the firft, it may feem wonderful, how it came to be quite loft and forgotten in all parts of Germany -, unlefs we can fuppofe, that it was limited only to the Saxons, and that they to a man came and fettled in this ifland : for no body can be ignorant, that not only the Germans, but the Swedes and Danes too, ufe the Latin character j which, if we fuppofe them to have but lately borrowed, yet in all probability, their former letter was Gothick or Runick, to which the Saxon bears no great refemblance. But if it be faid, that the Saxons invented this character after their coming to Britain ; I cannot well conceive, why they mould put themfelves to fuch unneceMary trouble, when with far greater eafe and facility they might copy and borrow from the Britains ; unlefs the odium betwixt both nations made them fcorn to ape and imitate an enemy. But be it fo, that the Saxons invented this character in 2 Britain > THE PREFACE. Britain ; it will follow, that they had no letters nor learning before they came over ,- and confe- quently, that thefe authors which Bede mentions to have tranfcribed out of, could not be Saxons. As to the civil part of the Britifh hiftory, that the tranfadlions of ftate were recorded, and that copies thereof came to the hands of pofterity, we have the exprefs teftimony of Nennius, who rlou- rimed about three hundred years after Gildas. For in his preface to the hiftory of the Britains. he openly declares, that he compofed his hiftory, Partim majorum traditionibus, partim Jcriptis, partim etiam monumentis veterum Britannia inco- larnm. Here Nennius fays, that he partly extracted his hiftory out of the writings of the antient Britains. And what could thefe writings be ? Certainly, they were not the works of Gildas, the only Britifh author we read of before Nennius^ upon the account that the hiftory of Nennius is much larger, and far more complete than that of Gildas ; this latter, befides the names of a few Britifh kings, having left nothing hiftorical to pofterity j the main, it feems, of his defign being to rail, and to inveigh againft his country, to which he had taken fome difpleafure. From whence then elfe could Nennius extract the ma- terials of his hiftory ? Why, 'tis reafonable to fuppofe, that from feme Britilh records, which poffibly might be recovered fince the time of Gildas; and if then, why might not more be difcovered fince Nennius, and that delivered to Geoffrey by the arch-deacon of Oxon, be one ? But befides, that the Britains kept memorials of their tranfadtions, we may rationally gather from the conftitution and profeffion of the bards. c 3 Diodorus THE PREFACE. Diodorus Siculus fays, v vvwiv oo? faa The bards finging to an inilrument like a harp, repeat the praifes and commendations of fome, the faults and difpraifes of others. And in like manner Lib. 15. Marcellinus ; Bardi quidemfortia virorum illuf* triumfafta beroicis compofitaverfibus, cum dulcibus lyrte modulis cantitarunt. And above the reft Pharfal. uCan ', Vos quoque qui fortes Animas, belloque pcremptas Laudibus in longum vates emittitis sevum, Pluriina fecuri fudiftis Carmina Bardi. But that the Bards did not only commit to me- mory the famous deeds of their princes and heroes, and fo recite and repeat them upon occafions ; but alfo that they wrote down and recorded what they repeated, we have the ample teftimony cambr. of Giraldus Cambrenfis. Hoc ctlam mibi notan-* pefcrip. faffl ijidetur, quod Bardi Cambrenfes, et Canta- t ores feu recitatores, genealoglam habent prcedic- torum principum in librh eorum antiquis et au- thenticis, fed tanien Qambrice fcriptam, eandemque, memoriter tenent a Roderico magno iifqite ad Belinum magnum^ et inde ufque ad Silvmm, Afcanium, et flLneam ; et ab sEnea ufque ad sldam, generationem linealiter producunt. Now that the genealogies here mentioned by j Giraldus, were not only a bare account of the feveral defcents and fucceffions of the Britifh kings, but alfo fome memorials of their lives and actions, may be eafily gathered from the above faid manners and cuftoms of the Bards, ! And feeing thefe Bards did preferve not only in \ memory but in writing too, the lineal fucceffion and moft famous tranfadions of their kings ; I fee no reafon why the hiflory of Geoffrey may not, THE PREFACE, not, as to a great part of it, pretend to greater authority than is generally attributed to it. And if it be objected, that the Bards, by a poetical liberty outdid the truth of hiftory, in the praifes of thofe princes they were to celebrate ; yet thus far it may reafonably be acknowledged, that the names and fucceflion of the feveral kings are real, and confequently that Geoffrey could never be the inventer of fo large a lift of nick-names, as he is generally thought to be. For it is very pro- bable, that the hiftory of the Britains tran dated by Geoffrey, was compofed partly out of thefe ge- nealogies peculiar to the Bards, and partly out of any other records and monuments of the Britains; both which I have mewn to have been preferved, and ufed among them antiently. But to defcend to the particulars of this hiftory, the firft and moft fufpicious relation, is that of the landing of Brute with a colony of Trojans,- the feveral crofies and encounters hefuftained in. his voyage $ and then of this ifland receiving its name from him. Should we indeed reflect upon the particular circumflances of this ftory, we might upon good reafon be fatisned of the vanity and falfenefs of them ; but therefore to conclude, that becaufe the building is fufpicious, the foundation confequently mull be fabulous, and a perfect contrivance; does, I think, deferve fome better examination : for if we do but reflect upon the contemporary hiftories of the Greeks and Romans, thofe more polite and literate nations, we may with equal pretence of reafon affirm, that there is no foundation for any matter of fact before the Olympids; or that the relation of ^Eneas coming to Italy, and all that hiltory, to the building of Rome, are altogether groundlefs c 4 and THE PREFACE. and impertinent, becaufe they are intermix! with fables and impoffibilities. Livy aflures us, that all the tranfactions, before the building of Rome, are rather owing to poetical fancy and extra- vagancies, than to any true and certain matter of fact ; and therefore he declined to give either his aflent or difient, to any thing related of thofe Pnefat. times : Qua ante conditam condendamue Urbem y poeticis magis decora fabulis> quam incorruftis rerum gejlarum monumentis traduntur, ea nee qffirmare, nee rtfellerc in animo eft. And Plutarch goes farther, and tells us, that the original and etymology of Rome, that famous city, fo well known afterwards over all the world, could not be agreed upon among the diverfity of authors, and confequently muft be very obfcure and un- VitaRom cer tain. To ykya. r( "Payxijj OVC^A ^ J'o^ji eTfct ^AV\OV , But for all their own hiftorians do allow that the hiftory of thofe times are fabulous and un- certain ; yet thereare none that queftion the being of ^Eneas, and that the Romans were defcended from him. The like may be urged for the bif- tory of Brutus, and the landing of the Trojans in this ifland ; that though many particular cir- cumftances are fabulous, and entirely poetical, yet it does not thence neceffarily follow, that there is no manner of ground or foundation for fuch a relation. Neither is it fufficient conviction, to urge, that the very being of Brute is all a fiction, by realbn that the Roman hiftorians make no mention of fuch a perfon to be the fon of Sil- vius ; becaufe, that through the whole Succemon from ^neas to Romulus, the Hiitories of thofe times take notice only of the fon that was to fuc- ceed ; THE PREFACE. ceed -, it being unreasonable to fuppofe, that all the kings of Latium during that period, mould beget each of them, but one fon. And there- fore, what by the obfcurity of thofe ages, and what by bearing regard to the line of fucceffion, many collateral princes efcaped the cognizance of future hiftorians. Nor is it enough to affirm, that the hiftory of Brute is but lately known and difcovered to the world ; whereas the fabu- lous Roman hiftory has been recorded from an- tiquity ; becaufe, that though we are not certain that the Britim hiftory has been handed down to pofterity in writing; yet we are fure, that it was an antient tradition, long before Geoffrey's publifhing of it ; and one mould think, that an ancient national tradition, might require aftricter examination, than haftily to throw it alide, as fabulous and one of no confequence. But the queftion is not, whether the Britidi hiftory, as related by Geoffrey, be, as to all the circumftances of it, true and real matter of fact ; for that, no man, I prefume, can reafon- ably maintain; but whether there be any ground or foundation of truth couched under thefe poe- tical and fabulous narratives. Now the nrft thing we meet with in the Britifli hiftory, is, an account of Brutus his pedigree, how he was de~ fcended from the Trojans, and having acciden- tally ilain his father Silvius, how he was forced to flee into Greece, whence, after feveral fcuf- fles with Pendrafus, a petty prince of that coun- try, he thought fit to retire, and to feek his for- tune by fea. But he had not wandered long, when he met with Corinasus, with another party of defolate Trojans, with whom having joined his forces, he followed the counfel of the Oracle, THE PREFACE, Oracle, and at laft arrives in this If] and, from him afterwards called Britain. Now as to the particular circumftances related in the life of Brutus, they may properly be placed in the fame clafs with Homer's account of the travels of UlyfTes, or Virgil's defcription of ^neas, his adventure to Italy -, that is to fay, that they are poetical fictions, and perfectly confonant to the humour of that fabulous age. But the queflion in hand will be, whether there be any probabi- lity for the ground of this ftory, that Brute mould bring over a colony of Trojans, and feat himfelf in this ifland. Now what is moft ma- terially urged againft it, is the novelty of this difcourfe, that none of the Roman hiftorians make the leaft mention of fuch a perfon as Brutus ', and that Casfar and Tacitus, who feem to have enquired more narrowly into the origi- nal of the Britains, found no fuch tradition in their time ; otherwife in giving their opinion whence the Britains were derived, they would never have omitted fuch an ancient national tra- dition, of their being defcended from the Tro- jans. Befides, that Gildas, who was a Briton, takes no notice of fuch a tradition, which in all probability he would never have omitted, had there been fuch an account of their origin in his time. As to what is objected againft the antiquity of this tradition, is certainly very erroneous ; for it is fo far from being firft known to the world, at the publication of Geoffrey's hiftory, that Nennius, long before that time, and Mer- lyn much antienter than he, fpeak of the Bri- tains being defcended from Troy. Nay the Saxons themfelves, before Geoffrey, were not unac- THE PREFACE. unacquainted with this tradition, as plainly ap- pears from the antient Saxon poet, mentioned py Mr. Wheelock, whom he thus tranllates : Notes oa -Htec unicafcemmafrima Bcde * ^nte omnesfevit Trojani femina belli, Hanc Brit ones dixere Helenatn, fed Dardanus Itte Excelfus Bntti pater ex f if if, wide Erltanni Heroumfumpfere genus ; fortijjimis idem Hunc or hem primus regere, & dominarier aufus* And again : Infula diffafuit Eritc.nnla nomine Bruti. That Gildas mould make no mention of this Britifh tradition, is no great wonder, and as lit- tle to the purpofe, to invalidate the antiquity of it ; for we muft not regard the intent and pur- port of Gildas's writing, which was not to give an account of the hiftory and antiquity of the Britains, as much as to inveigh againft the pro- phanenefs and licentioufnefs of the age; wherein his zeal and paffion carried him fo far, that he did not fpare either princes or the greateil: per- fons ; and therefore he might well omit to give an account of the origin of the Britains, feeing it was remote from, and exclufive of his pur- pofe. Cnsfar indeed feems to have been fome- what more inquilitive about the antient ftate and defcent of thofe people he invaded -, but his ftay in Britain was fo fhort, and his knowledge of the country fo defective, being he had no com- munication with the inland Britains, whom he owns himfelf to be the antient inhabitants, ^hat it can be no great wonder he mould be ignorant of this tradition : for if this curious perfon THE PREFACE. perfon had had the opportunity of a free con- verfation with the Britains, he would in all likelihood have left a large difcovery of their manners and cuftoms, and given a more perfect defcription of Britain ; which at that time would have been a very acceptable performance, to all the perfons of learning and curiofity in Rome, who as yet had but very {hallow knowledge of the iiland. Or if we fuppofe that he made the fhifteft enquiry about the ftate of the Britains, which he might probably have learnt from Mandubratius the fon of Imanuentius, king of the Trinobantes, who, for fear of Caffibelan, had come over to him to Gaul, and iided with him during the Britifh wars, it is very pomble he might be ignorant that the Britains were idefcended from the Trojans, and that to be an antient and a current tradition among them. Tacitus was never in Britain, but from the relation of his father-in-law, Julius Agricola, and others, he made a guefs, that from the dif- ferent fhapes and colour, they were defcended from different nations ; fome from Germany, fome from Gaul, and others from Spain ; but yet, as to the primitive Britains, thole who feemed to be the ancient inhabitants of the iiland, he concludes after the ufual pagan manner, Britan- in vita mam qui mor tales initio coiner -int, indigence an ad- Asnc * ve&t, ut inter Barbaras par urn compertum. The Britains, indeed, in Tacitus's time, were well known to the Romans, and confequently thefe latter might have been eafily inftru&ed, as to what knowledge the Britains had of their an- tiquity ; but it does not therefore neceflarily fol- low, that becaufe this hiflorian does not mention any fuch tradition, there was none really among them j THE PREFACE. them -> becaufe pofiibly he might never have heard of it ; or if he did, he might have omitted inferring of it in his hiftory : for what he has de- livered relating to the antiquity of the Britains, was but contingent to his purpofe, the whole fcope of his defign being to defcribe the actions of his father-in-law, during his lieutenancy in this ifland ; and therefore it is not at all won- derful, that he has given but a flight and an im- perfedt account of what he never defigned to make a narrow infpedtion into. Befides, if we fuppofe him to have made a diligent enquiry into the matter, and to have mind to know the an- cient ftate and origin of the Britains -, yet fmce he wonted the opportunity of converling with them, having been never in Britain ; and none of the Britains that we know of, being at Rome, except thofe who from their youth were edu- cated there, and conefquently were in all pro- bability ignorant of the traditions of their own country ; he might very well at fuch a diftance have been never acquainted with fuch a national tradition, which for all that, might have been current and prevailing among the Britains them- felves. As to other Roman hiftorians, who have writ of the antiquity and primitive ftate of Rome, that they have made no mention of any fuch per- fon as Brutus the fon of Sylvius ; I have already obferved, is not of that force as to overthrow this tradition, by reafon that, from ^Eneas down to Romulus, there is regard only had to the line of fucce(fion,and thofe only recorded who fucceeded in the throne. Let us confider now, in the next place, what probable reafons maybe affigned to vindicate this fuppofed Trojan origin from an utter fiction; and whether THE PREFACE, whether the hiftory of Brutus have any probable! dependence upon forne real foundation. And not to ihfift on the antiquity of this tradition, nor the authority of the Britiih hiftory publifhed by Geoffrey, nothing gives greater confirmation to aflert forne real foundation for this fuppofed fable, than the near alliance and affinity betwixt the Britains and the Grecians. All learned men allow that the Greek was the ancient language of the Trojans, and that their cuftoms were not much different j and whoever will compare the manners, religion and cuftoms of the Britains with thofe of the Grecians will eafily difcover a palpable conformity betwixt both nations, but more efpecially in the language ; in which, as Mr. Camden fays, Maximum eft difputationis fa- mamentum et certijjimiim originu gentium argu-* mentum. Qui enim (as he goes on) linguae joci-* etatce conjun&i funt > onglnis etlam communions fit* iff'e conjunffos, homo opinor nemo inficiabitur . I mail not at prefent trouble the reader with a particular enumeration of that affinity ; but will refer him to Sir John Price's Defenjio Hi" jlori W A L E S, Drawn firft by Sir John Price, Knight, and afterward augmented and made perfect by Humphry Lloyd, Gentleman. THE three fon.s of Brutus having divided the _ whole ifle of Britain into three parr,; that part contamed w.thin the French feas, with rte rivers o C " rW Hafre ec and M r ' aen ec and Humbor, fell to the eldett fon Locrinus, which was after his pame called Lhoyger, which name it hath in the Brmm tongue to this day, and in EngHlh now it is rtver T* S T d 'n d ? aUgmCMCd n hward the nver Tweed. The fecond fon Albanaftus, had all the land northward from Humber to the fea Orknev LarinM the r B * ilh . ton g"eMor Werydh, and n th'e Larin ^ efpecially THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES, i efpccially in North-Wales, as it ihall hereafter ap- pear. And becaufe the name of this country is changed, or rather miftaken by the inhabitants of England, and n.ot by them called Cambry, but Wales : I think it ne- ceiTary to declare the occafion thereof, which is, that where the Saxons a people of Germany were the firft that after the Britains inhabited and ruled the greateft part of this ifle, and drove the Britains to that corner, which according to the manner of their country they called Wales, and the people Welch-men, and the tongue Welch, that is to lay, Strange, or not of them imderilood. For at this day the inhabitants of the Low Countries call their next neighbours language of Henegaw, or other that fpeak French, Walfh, as a language to them unknown. Likewife the dwellers of Tyroll and other the higher countries of Germany do name the Italian their next neighbour a Welch- man, and his language Wclfh. And this is an evi- dent proof, that they which harped upon a Queen G vvalaes, and of a Prince Wala (of whom neither Bri- tiih, Latin, nor Englifli maketh mention) were foully deceived ; and fo likewile was a great hiftoriographer of late days, which faith, that it was called Wallia, quafi Italia, becaufe the reft of the Romans which re- mained in the ifle were driven thither. Neither is this any new invention, although Polydore Virgil with an Italian brag doth glorify himfelf to be the firft that ef- pied it out, for divers antient writers do alledge the lame caufe of the name of Wales, of whom Sylvcfter Giralclus is one, who wrote in the time of Henry the fecond, after the conqueft, before 380 years pafled; which is an evident token, that the faid Polydore did either never fee nor read the antient hiftories of thi$ realm, or diflembleth the fame to the advancement and praife of himfelf and his country ; which to the learned and indifferent reader fhall appear to be the only occafion he took that work in hand, for all his book redoundeth only to the praife and honour of the Romans, as well fpiritual as temporal, and to blafc d 4 for. THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. for their afts and deeds within this realm : and upon the other part doth either openly (lander, or elfe pri-. vily extenuuate, or (namely deny the martial prowefs and noble ads, as well of Saxons, Danes, and Nor- mans, as of the Britains, all inhabiters of this ifle. Which thing he that lift to prove, let him read and confer Casfar's Commentaries, Cornelius Tacitus, Herodianus, and other antient writers, as well in La- tin as in Greek, with his work. As for the antient writers of the Britifti hiftory, as the Britifh chronicle, the hiftory of Gildas, Ponticus Verunnius, yea the golden work of Matthew Paris, monk of St. Alban, which wrote from William Baftard, to the laft years of Henry the third ; I dare well fay he never faw them, they be in divers places to be had, fo that the truth may be eafily proved. To make an end I fay, that he being firft a ftranger born, and alfo ignorant as well in the hiftories of this realm, as of thofe tongues and languages wherein the fame were written, could never fet forth the true and perfect chronicle of the fame. But he having a good grace, and a pleafant ftile in the Latin tongue, and finding himfelf in a country where every man either lacked knowledge or fpirit to > fet forth the hiftory of their own country, took this enterprife in hand, to their great fhame, and no lefs dif- praifc, becaufe he a blind leader fliall draw a great number of undifcreet and rafh followers, as well geo- graphers and cofmographers, as chroniclers and hifto- riographers, to the dark pit of ignorance, where I leave them at this time, remitting the reader to the apology of Sir John Price, Knt. and his Britifh hiftory, written by him of purpofe, againft the envious reports, and flanderous taints of the faid Polydore, where he (hall fee a great number of his errors confuted at lar S e : Anc * to return to my former matter of the name ot Wales, which name to be given of late by a itrange nation may be otherwife proved : for the Welch - men themfelves do not nnderftancl what thefe words WALES and WELCH do fignify, nor know any other name of their country or themfelves but Cambry, nor. of THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. in of their language but Canibraec, which is as much as to fay, as Camber's language or fpeech. So likewife they know not what England or Englifh meaneth, but com- monly they call the country Lhoyger, the Englifh men, Saiibn, and the Englilh tongue, Saifonaec. Which A is an evident token that this is the fame language A SaxoIU which the Britains fpake at the beginning; for the works of Merdhyn and of Talieffin, who wrote above 1000 years paft, are almoft the fame words which they vile at this day, or at the leaft eafy to be underflood of every one which knoweth perfectly the Welch tongue, efpecially in North Wales. Belide this, where at this day, there do remain three remnants of the Britains, divided every one from other with the feas, which are in Wales, Corn- wall (called in Britifh Cerniw) and little Britain, yet almoft all the particular words of thefe three people are all one, although in pronunciation and writing of the fentences they differ ibmewhat, which is no marvel, feeing that the pronunciation in one realm is often fo diverfe, that the one can fcarce underftand the other. But it is rather a wonder, that the Welcjimen being feparated from the Cornifh, well nigh thefe 900 years, and the Britains from either of them 290 years before that, and having fmall traffic or concourie together fince that time, have ftill kept their own Britifh tongue. They are not therefore to be credited, which deny the Welch to be the old Britifh tongue. And here I cannot pafs over what one of thefe fine Chronicler's wrote of late, of the name of Britain, affirming that it Ihould be fo called of Britanie in France, as the elder of that name. But furely he had either never feen Ptolomy nor Casfar, nor any other antient writer, or read them with fmall judgment and memory. For there he might have learned, that when this land was called Britain, the other was called Armorica, and how in RoK C K - Maximus's time, Conan Meriadoc was the firft that ^ ^ b - gave it that name, and inhabited it with Britains out of this ifle. Other derivations of thefe words, i Britannia iv THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. Britannia and Albion, out of Greek and Latin, I am aihamed to rehearie ; for unto fuch errors do they commonly fall, that either puffed up with vain-glory of their own wits, or pinched with defpite and envy at other men's works, or blinded with ignorance, do go about to write and fet forth any hiftory or chro-r The mears vide. But paffing over this matter until another time, and bounds I will return to the defcription of Wales, which (as f Wales, j fa\d) W as of old time compared almoft about witH the Irifh feas, and the rivers Dee and Severn, al- though afterwards the Saxons won by force from the Britains all the plain and champion country over the rivers, and fpecially Offa King of Mercia, who made a ditch of great breadth and depth, to be a mear be- twixt his kingdom and Wales, which ditch began at the river Dee, by Baffingwerk, between Chefter and Ruthlan, and ran along the hills (ides to the South fea, a little below Briftol, reaching above a hundred miles in length, and is in many places to be feen at this day, bearing the name of Ciawdh Offa, that i? to fay, Offa's ditch, and the country between it and England is commonly called in Welch, Y Mars, al- though the greateft part of it be now inhabited by Welchmen, namely in North Wales, which yet keepeth the antient limits to the river Dec, and in fome places over it. Other (as Sylvefler Giraldus) make the river Wy, called in Welch Gwy, to be the mear between England and Wales, on the fouth part, called South Wales, who meafureth the breadth of Wales, from Salow or Willoweford, called Rhyd yr helig upon Wy, to St. David's in Menevia 100 miles, and the length from Caerlheon upon Yfc in Gwentland, to Holyhead, called Caergybi in Angle^ fey, in Welch, called Mon, above 100 miles, an4 thefe be the common mears at this day, although the Welch tongue is commonly ufed and fpoken in England, beyond thefe old mears a great way, as in Herefordfhire, Gloucefterfhire, and a part of Shrop- Ihire. And thus for the general defcription of Wales, which afterward, about the year of Chrift 870. Ro- 2 deiicus THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. flericus Magnus, King of Wales, divided into three territories which they called kingdoms, which remain- ed until of late days. Thefe three were Gwynedh, in Englifh North Wales, Deheubarth, in Englifh South Wales, and Powys Land ; in every of the which he Ordained & princely feat or court for the prince to remain at, moft pommonly ; as in Gwynedh (which fome old writers call Venedotia for Gwynethia) Aberffraw in the ifle o M6n or Anglefey. In Deheubarth, called in Latin Demetia, Cacrmardyn, from whence it was afterward removed to Dynefowr, eight miles thence* In Powys, Pengwern, called Y Mwythic, and in Englifh Shrewf- bury, from whence it was removed to Mathrafal in Mathrafai. Powys Land. And becaufe this hiftory doth as well preat of wars betwixt thefe three provinces, as betwixt I tern and the Saxons, Normans and Flemings, I think ?t good to fet forth the particular defcription of every part by itfelf. And firft of North Wales as the phiefeft part, which he gave his eldeft fon, ordaining that either of the other two fhould pay him yearly 200!. of tribute, as it appeareth in the laws of Howel Pha, which are to be had in Welch, and alfo in Latin. Therefore Gwynedh (called North Wales) had upon the north fide the Sea, from the river Dee at Bating-: werke to Aberdyfi, and upon the Weft and South Weft the river Dyfi, which divideth it from South Wales, and in fome places from Powys Land. And pn the South and Eaft, it is divided from Powys, fometimes with mountains, and fometimes with rivers, till it come to the river Dee again. This land was oi old time divided to four parts, of which the chiefeft was Mon, in Englifh called Anglefey, where the prince's chief houfe was at AberfFraw, which is an ifland feparated from the main land, with an arm of the fea called Masnai,, and had in itfelf three cantreds pr hundreds, which were fubdivided to fix comots, as cantref Aberffraw to comot Lhion, and comot Malhtraeth, cantref Gemais, to the comots Talibolion and Twr Celyn ; cantref Roflyr to the comots Tyn- daethwy THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. daethwy and Msenai. And at this day there is a fine town in that ifle called Bewmoris, and a common paf- fage to Ireland at Caergybi, called in Englifh. Holy- head. But here I cannot wink at that notable error of Polydore, which (after his accuitomed fafhiqn) dc- nieth this ifle to be called Mdna, but Anglefia, or Anglorum Infula, becaufe it is called in Englifh Anglefey, and gives this name Mona to Man, and fo hath loft the names of both ifles: which ignorance and forgetfulnefs might be forgiven him, if he had not drawn a great number to this error with him, which in their charters do daily wrong name theie ifles, which may be eafily proved. Firft, becaufe the inhabitants of the ifle do know none other name but Mon; and it is called through all Wales, Tir Mon, that is to fay, the land of Mon, unto this day. So that neither by memory of man, neither by any monu- ment in writing in the Britifh tongue can it appear, that ever it had any other name but M6n, yet there be manifeft monuments for thefe 1000 years. It is alfo grown to a proverb through Wales, for , the fertility of the ground, Mon mam Gymry, that, is to fay, Mon mother of Wales. The antient hiflory of Cornelius Tacitus (which be- like age had beaten out of Polyclore's head) faith, that the foldiers of Paulinus Suetonius, and afterward of Julius Agricola, after they had paired through North Wales, then came over againft Mona, where they did fvvim over an arm of the fea of 200 paces, and fo by force won the ifle. Now whether it is more reafonable thus to fwim over 200 paces, or 20 miles ? I know there is no man that believeth Polydore in this point ; let all men therefore judge the reft. As for that which he faith of the great woods, it is nothing ; for both the Romans, and after when the chrjftian faith took place in this realm, the chriftians did fall and root them out, for the idolatry and abfurd re- ligion which was ufed there ; that the King of Man fent for timber to M6n ; read the life of Hugh Earl of. Cneiter, which alfo is evident by the great beeches and other THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. vu other trees found in the earth at thefe days. His other reaibn is, becaufe it is called Anglefey in the Englifh tongue : fo is Lhoyger England, and Cambry Wales ; Are thofe therefore the old names ? No furely. And what if the inhabitants called it fo ? (as they did not) had it not a name before the Angles won it ? Yes, I warrant you, but he had .forgotten that. Now to the name of Man, it was ever, or at leait thefe 1000 years named in Britilh Manow, of which cometh the Eng- lifli name Man. The inhabitants thereof call it fo, and no nation about it did ever call it Mon, no nor any writer but Polydorc, which was too young a god- father to name fo old a child. For Gildas who wrote above 900 years palled, whole writings Polydore never faw, but untruly fathers upon him his own device ; Giraldus in his defcription of Ireland to Henry the Se- cond, and Henry Huntington, do plainly call Man in Latin Eubonia, adding thereto either Manaw or Man, for the better underftanding of the name ; Will you believe them or Polydore ? Other arguments there are which I will pafs over, till I have more leifure and occafion to write of this matter. The fecond part of North Wales was called Arfon, which is as much as to fay, over againft Mon ; and had in it four cantreds, and ten comots. Cantref Aber had in it three comots, Y Lhechwed- huchaf, Y Lhechwedh-ifaf and Nant-Conwey. Cantref Arfon had two comots, Ywch Gwyrfai, and Ifgwyrfai. Cantref Dunodic. had two comots, Ardudwy and Efionyth. Cantref Lhyn containeth three comots, Cymytmayn, Tinlhayn and Canologion. This is now called Caer- narvonlhire, as Mon is called Anglefeyihire, and have the fame divifion at this day. In this ihire are Snow- den-hills, called Eryri, neither in height, fertility of the ground, wood, cattle, filh and fowl, giving place to the famous Alps, and without controverfy the (Irongeft country within Britain. Here viii' THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. Here is the town of Caenlarvan, called in the old time Caerfcgonce ; and there is alib Conwey called Caergyffyn; And the ice of Bangor, with divers other antient caitlcs and places of memory j and .wad the laft part of Wales that came under the dominion of the kings of England, it hath on the north the Tea andMcenai, upon the daft and foutli eaft, the fiver Conwey, which divideth it from Denbighshire^ al- though it now .pafs the river in one place by the fea ihore. And on the fouth weft and wcftj it is ieparated from Merionyth by high mountains and rivers^ and other mearSi Mtrion th The third part of Gwyncdh was Merionyth con- taining three cantreds, and every cantred three coniots: As eantref Meyreon hath three comets, Talybont^ Pennal and Yftumaner* Cantiref Aruftly had thefe, Vweheocd* Ifcoed, and Gwarthrenium. Cantref Penlhyn had thefe, Vwchmeloch, Ifmeloch^ and Micnaint, and this .keepeth the faid name till this" day, but not within the fame mears, and is full of hills and rocks, and hath upon the north the fea, notable at this day for the great refort and number of people that repair thither to take herrings. It hath upon the eaft, Arfoil and Denbigh-land, upon the fotith* PowySj and upon the weft, Dyfi and Cardiganshire; j-^y,}. In this country ftandeth the town ofHarlcch, and a great lake called Lhyh-Tegydj through which the river Dee runneth, and mingleth not with the water of the lake^ which is three miles lohgj and alfo the falmons^ which are commonly taken in the river hard by the lake, are never fcen to enter the lake. Likewife a kind of fifh called Gwyniaid, which are like to whitings, and are full in the lake, are hevtf taken' in the river. Not far from this lake is a place called Caergay, which was the houfe of Gay, Ar- thur's fofter-brother* This Ihire, as well as Arfon, \$ full of cattle, fowl and filh, with great number of, red deer and roes ; but there is great fcarcity of corn. THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. The fourth part of Gwynedh, was call'ed y Berfedh- wlad, which may be engliihed, the inland or middle * lad - country, which contained five cantreds and thirteen comots, as cantref Rhyfonioc had in it thefe cornot^ Uwchalet and Ifalet. Cantref Yftrad had Hiraethoc and Cywmeirch. Cantref Rhos thcfe, Uwchdulas, Ifdulas and Creu- thyn, all which are in the lordlhip of Denbigh, faving the Creuthyn which is in Caernarvonihire, wherein the caftle of Dyganwy did (land, which was the earls of Chefter, and is commonly called in the Latin and Eng- lifh chronicle, Gannoc. The fourth cantref was Dyffryn Chvyd, which may Dyffrr be engliihed the valley of Clwyd, and now is called Clwy ^ the lordfhip of Rhuthyn, and hath thefe comors, Co- leigion, Lhannerch and Dogueilyn. The fifth cantref is Tegengl, and now is a pait of Flintfhire, having thefe comots, Counfylht, Preftatyn, and Ruthlan. And in this part is one of the faireft vallies within this ifle, containing 18 miles in length, and 4, 5, 6 or 7 in breadth, as rhe hills cither draw inward together, or backward afunder, which high hills do inclofe it on the eaft, weft, and foutfi parts, and northward the fea. It is plentiful of cattle, fifli and fowl, corn, hay, grafs, and wood, and divided along in the midft with the river Clwyd, to whom runneth Clywedoc, Yftrat, Whilar, Erwy, and a great number of other rivers from the hills. In 'this valley, two miles from the fea, is the town and caftle of Ruthlan, where fometirries a parliament hath been Ann. kept. And two miles above it is the fee of St. Afaph, Edw - * between the rivers Clwyd and Ehvy, called in the old time the bifhop's fee of Lhan Elwy. Four miles thence, and two miles from the river, is fitaate upon a rock the town and caftle of Denbigh, where is one of the greateft markets in t-he matches of Wales, and One of the faireft and ftrongeft oaftles within this realm, which being the hoirie of David itfoifrer-to Lhewelyn, the laft prince of the Welch blood, was Enlarged and ftrengthencd by Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, X THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. Lincoln, to whom King Edward gave the fame lordfhip ; it is alfo the fhire-town of that Ihire. Five miles above this, is the town of Ruthyn with a fair caftle, which fometimes belonged to the lords Gray earls of Kent. This part of North-Wales, hath upon the north the river Dee, and the fea. Upon the weft, Arfon, and the river Convvey. South and eaft, Merionyth, and the country then called Po- wys. And thefe be the mears and bounds of Gvvynedh or Venedotia for the name of North-Wales contained*, beiides this, all Povvys, at thefe days. So there was under the territory of Aberffraw fifteen cantreds, and in them thirty-eight comots. athrafai The fecond kingdom was Mathrafal, which in right Powys. or de r was the third, which came to the third brother, yet for the better under Handing of the hiftory follow- ing, I have placed it here. To this kingdom "belonged the country of Powys, and the land between Wy and Severn. Which part had upon the fouth and weft, South-Wales, with the rivers Hy and Tywy, and other mears. Upon the north, Gwynedh, and upon the eaft the marches of England, from Chefter to Wy, a little above Hereford; and therefore it was moft troubled with wars, as well of the Saxons, as after- wards of the Normans, lords marches, who daily won fome part thereof, and by that means it was the firft part that ferved the Kings of England, and therefore lefs efteemed of all the reft. This part called Powys, was divided again into Powys Fadoc, and Powys Wcn- wynwyn. Powys Fadoc contained in itfelf five can- treds and fifteen comots. Cantreff Y Barwn, which had three comots, Dyn- mael, Edeyrneon, and Glyndourdwy, which are now in Merionythfliire (faving Dinmael which is in Den- bighshire) Cantref Y Rhiw, whofe comots were thefe, Yal now in Denbighshire ; Yftratalyn and Hop in Flintshire. Cantref Uwchnant hath thee comots, MerrTorth in Flintshire; Maelor Gymraeg, in Englifh Bromfield, now THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. now in Denbighfhire, and Maelor Saefneg in Flint- Ihire. Cantref Trefred containeth thefe comots, Croesfain, Tref y Wayn, in Englifh Ckirke, and in Denbigh- fliire. Croefofwallt, in Engliih Ofweftrey, and in Shropshire. Cantref Rhaiyder with his comots Mochnant Ifraiy- der, Cynlhaeth 1 and Nanheudwy all in Chirke-land, and in Denbighfhire. Alfo the lordfhip of Whyting- ton, now in Shropfhire, was in this part of Powys, which part at this day, hath loft the name of Powys, and is fituated in divers fhires, as it appeareth by the difcourfe before paiTed. In this part is the caftle of Holt in Bromfield, and the caftle of Chirke in Chirke- land. Likewife the lordfhip and caftle of Whyting- ton, which came by marriage to Foulk Fitz-Warren. There is befide thefe, the lordlhip of Ofweftry, of the which the Fitz-Alans have been lords thefe 300 and odd years, and of divers other lordfhips in thofe marches, as Shrarden, the eleven towns, Clun and many others, which are all now in Shropshire. The fecond part called Powys Wenwynwyn, had likewife five cantreds, and twelve comots. Cantryf Y Fyrnwy had thefe comots, Mochnant uwch Rayader, Mechain Ifcoed and Lhannerch Hudoi. Cantref Yftlyc had thefe, Deuthwr, Corthwr Ifaf and Yftrat Marchelb. Cantref Lhyfwynaf had thefe, Caerneon, and Me^ chain Uwchcoed. Cantref Cydewen had comot Conan and Comot Hauren. Cantref Gonan had Cyfeilioc and Mouthwy, which is in Merionythihire. Of all thefe, the three firft can- treds do only at this day bear the name of Powys, which are upon the north-fide of Severn, and are all five (faving the ccmot of Mowthwy) in Montgomery - ihire. This is a country full of woods, hills, and rivers, and hath in it thefe towns, the Poole, New-Town and Machylhaeth. .Aruftly was irr old time in this pare, Jwt. afterwards it came to the princes of Gwynedh. e Thefe xii THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. Thefe lordfhips came by juft defcent from the princes thereof, to a woman named Hawys, the daughter of Owen ap Gruffydh. Aruftly and Cyfeilioc came to the baron of Dudley, and afterwards it was fold to the king. The third part belonging to Mathrafal, was the land between Wy and Severn, containing four can* treds, and thirteen comots. Cantref Melienyeth hath thefe comots, Ceri, Swydh- ygre Rhiwalalht, and Glyn liethon. Cantref Elfcl hath thefe, Uwchmynydh, Ifmynydh, and Lhechdhyfnog. Cantref yClawdh thefe,DyffrynTeyfediat, Swydhyno- gen, and Pennwelht. Cantref Buelht hath thefe, Swydh y Fam, Drenlys, and Ifyrwon. Of this part there is at this day fome in Montgomery fhire, fome in Radnorfhire, and fome in Brecknockfhire. In this part, and in the lordfhips marching to it, which although at the time of this divi- fion, which was in the time of the lafl prince, were not in his fubjection, yet to this day fpeak Welch, and are called Wales, and in thefe comots are thefe towns and cailles. Montgomery called in Welch Trefaldwyn, a pretty town and a fair caflle. The caftle of Clun, cal- led Colunwy, which is the earls of Arundel. The town Knighton, in Welch Trefyelawd. The caflle of Cymaron. Prefteyn in Welch Lhanandras. The town and caftle of Radnor, in Welch Maefyfed, at this day the fhire town. The town of Kington and the cattle of Huntingdon, called in Welch Y Caftelh Mayn, which were the Bohuns earls of Hereford, and after the dukes of Buckingham. Caflle Payne, Haye, Lhanfair in Buelht. Thefe lordfhips with Brecknock and Aberge- fenny, were belonging to the Bruces lords of Brecknock, and after came divers times, and by fundry means to the Bohuns, Nevils, and Mortimers. And fo (as I have rehearfed) in this territory or kingdom were found fourteen cantreds, and forty comots. Two of thefe parts, which are Powys and Gywnedh, are at this day called North-Wales, and divided into fix {hires, Mon called Anglefey, Caernarvon, Merionyth, Denbigh, Flint, THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES. xiii Flint, and Montgomeryfhire, and are all on the north- lide Severn, faving a piece of Montgomeryfhire. And here I think it good to let the reader underfland what the Britilh chronicle faith of North- Wales, which affirmeth that three times it came by inheritance to wo- men. Firft to Stradwen, daughter to Cadfan ap Conan ap Endaf, and wife to Coel Godeboc, mother to Ge- naw, Dyfyr and Gwawl. The fecond time to the fame Gwawl wife to Edeyrn ap Padarn, and mother to Cu- netha Wledic ; which Cunetha inhabiting in the north parts of England, about the year 540, after the incar- nation of Chrift, and hearing how the mingled na- tions of IrHh-Scots, and Pifts, had over-run the fea- ihore of Cardigan, which was part of his inheritance, fent his fons thither to enjoy their inheritance, of whom Tibiaon his eldeft fon died in Man, which land the faid Irifh-Scots had won. For Gildas faith, that the chil- dren of Glam Hector, which peopled a great part of Ireland, Yfcroeth with his people inhabited Dalrieuda, which is a part of Scotland : Builke with his people came to Man. But I think it good to put in Gildas's words which faith ; Builke cum flits fuis inhabitant Eu- boniam infulam vulgo Manaw^ qu Bevvdley, Worcefter, Glocefter and fo to the fea by Briftol. The fecond filter is Gwy, in Englim Wy, which took her journey fouth eaft, by Rayader Gwy to Buelt, where Irwon meeteth her, thence to Glaf- bury, and fo to Hereford and Monmouth, and to the fea of Severn at Chepftow ; for fo they call Mor Ha- fren the fea which fevereth Wales from Somerfetfhire, Devonlhire and Cornwal. The third fifter named Rheidol, ran northward to the fea being not far off, at Aberyftywth. There be other fair rivers as Uik, which rifing in a high mountain called y Mynydh dy in the fouth part of Brecknockfhire runneth to Brecknock, and fo through Monmouthihire to the town of Ufk, Caerlheon and Newport, and fo to the faid fouth fea. Tywy alfo rifing not far from Wy, runneth fouth to Lhanymdhyfri, and thence fouth weft by Lhandeilo and Dynefawr to Abergwily and Caermaidhyn, and fo by Lhanftephan to the fea. Teifi likewife which rifeth in the edge of Caermar- dhynfhire, and runneth north weft by Emlyn, Cilger- ran, Cardigan, and fo to the north fea. In Tcifi above all the rivers in Wales, were in Giraldus's time a great number of caftors, which may be engliihed K*r bevers, and are called in W r elch afanc, which namej^' only remaineth in Wales at this day, but what it is Reave very few can tell. It is a beaft not much unlike^' an otter, but that it is bigger, all hairy faving the tail, Bririi which is like a fifh tail, as broad as a man's hand. This^- beaft ufcth as well the water as the land, and hath very fharp teeth, and biteth cruelly, till he perceives the bones crack, his (tones be of great efficacy in phyfic. He that will learn what ftrong neits they make, which Giraldus calleth caftles, which they build upon the face of the water with great boughs which they cut with their teeth, and how fome lie upon their backs, holding the wcod with the fore feet, which the other draweth with a crofs flick, the which he hoideth in his mouth to the water fide, and other particularities of their natures, let him read Giraldus in his topography THE DECSRIPTION OF WALES. of Wales. There be befides thefe a great number of rivers, of which fome run to the fouth, and fome to the weft and north fea, as Tywy in Glamorganfhire, Taf alfo in Caermardhynfliire, which runneth to Cled- heu, two rivers either called Cledheu, which do give Milford the name of Aberdaugledheu in Pembroke- Ihire, Arth, Aeron, and Yftwyth, in Cardigan. There be alfo divers lordfhips which be added to other fhires, and were taken heretofore for parts of Wales, and in moft part of them at this day the Welch lan- guage is fpoken, as Ofweftry, Knocking, Whitting- ton, Elfmer, Mafbroke, Chirbury, Caurs, Clun, which are now in Shropshire, Ewyas-Lacy, Ewyas- Haroald, Clifford Winforton, Yardley, Huntingdon, Whitney, Loghardneys in Herefordfhire. Alfo this country of South Wales as all the reft of Britain, was firft inhabited by the Britains, which remain there to this day, faving that in divers places, efpecially along the fea jfhore, they have been mingled with Saxons, Normans (which the Welch hiftory calleth Frenchmen) and Flemings ; fo that the princes of Wales, fince the conqueft of the Normans, could never keep quiet pof- feflion thereof, but what for ftrangers, and what for dtfloyalty of their own people, vexation and war, were for the moft part compelled to keep themfelves in Caermardhynfhire. The Will.Ruf. Gruffyth ap Conan. x The winning of the Lordfliip of Gla- morgan or Morgannwc out of the Welfhmei?$ Hands, and firft of the Defcription of the fame Lordfhip. Reprinted from the Edition of 1584. IN primis, the faid lordfhip in length from Rymny bridge on the eaft fide, to Pwlh Conan on the weft fide, is 27 miles. The breadth thereof from the ha- ven of Aburthaw alias Aberdaon, on the fouth fide, to the confines of Brecknock/hire, above Morleys caflle, is 22 miles. Item the fame lordfhip, being a lordfhip marcher, or a lordfhip royal, and holden of no other lordfhip, the lords ever fince the winning of the fame, owing their obedience only to the crown, have ufed therein jura regalia : that is, the trial of all actions, as well real as perlbnal, with pleas of the crown, and authority to pardon all offences, treafon orrly excepted. Item there were 1 1 lordfhips, to wit, Senghennytb, Myjkyn^ Rutbin, Lbanbletbian^ Tir Iarlb y Glyn Roth- ney, Auan^ Neth, Coyty, Talauan and Lhdntuit^ alias, Bcuiarton^ that were members of the faid lordfhip of Clamcrgan. In every of the members were the like jura regalia ufed in all things, faving that if any wrong judgement were given in any of the courts of the faid members, it fhould be reverfed by a writ of falfe judgement in the county court of Glamorgan, as fuperior court to the faid members. Alfo all matters of confcience happening in debate in any of the faid members, fhould be heard and determined in the chancery of Glamorgan* before the chancellor thereof. Item, the body of the faid lordfhip of Glamorgan was (before the alteration of the laws in V/alcs) a county of itfelf, wherein the lord had two caftles and three market towns, to wit, the caflle and town of K\nfigs, alias Kefnffigen, in the weft part thereof, and ' Ccif; bridge town, alias Pent vaen, in the midcleft. And the xx j v Gruffyth* ap Conan. Will Ruf. the town and caftle of Cardyff, or Caer-Dbydh* in the eaft part, in which caftle of Cardyff, the lord did moft inhabit ; and therein he had his Chancery and Exche- quer, and a fair court houfe, wherein the county court was monthly kept on the Monday for all the fuiters of the fhrievalty, that is, of the body of the faid lordfhip itfelf, without the faid members. 5 Item, within the faid ihrievalty, or body of the faid lordfhip, were 18 caflles, and 36 knight's fees and an half, that held of the faid lordfhip of Glamor- gan by knights fervice, befides a great number of free- holders. 6 Item, in eight of the faid members were ten caftles and four borough towns. 7 Item, the annual revenues of the faid lordfhip, with th^flnkfrf 1 ^ 6 mem ^ ers > was IOO marks, whereof was allowed before the' ' in fees 400 marks ; of the which members aforefaid, Sow? 3^ n Gamage^ Eiq; occupieth one at this day, defcend- ed unto him from the Turberuiles his anceftors, that is to wit, the lordfhip of Coy tie: and the heir of John Baffet enjoyeth another, -to wit, the lordfhip of Tala- uan y by purchafe from King Edward the fixth. The other nine members, with four of the aforefaid knights fees, and all the caflles, market towns, and borough towns, with the demefncs of the fame ; and all the lands that were in the lords hands, parcel of the faid lordfhip and members, the earl of Penbroke hath pur- ^ *!' S that there remainet h now to the fenior of the faid^ lordfhip of Glamorgan (being in the Queen's Majefty's hands) but the moity only of the manor of Dynafpowys, of the value of 26 pounds by the year. The Manner of the winning of the laid Lordihip. IN the year of our Lord 1091, and in the fourth year oi the reign of King William Rufa one fifty* the Jon of Gungant, being lord of the laid lord- Inip of Glamorgan, R*es ap Theodoc, prince of South Wales* JPifl. Ruf. Gruffyth ap Conan, Wales, that is, of Caermarthynejhire and Cardigan/hire, made war upon him. Whereupon the faid leflyn, un- derftanding himfelf unable to withftand the faid Rees without fome aid otherwife, fent one Eneon^ a gentle- man of his, to England, to one Roberta Fitzbamon, a worthy man, and knight of the privy chamber with the faid king, to retain him for his fuccour. The which Robert^ being deiirous to exercife himfelf in the feats of war, agreed foon with him thereto for a fa- lary to him granted for the fame. Whereupon the faid Robert Fitzbamon retained to his fervice for the faid journey, twelve knights, and a competent num- ber of foldiers, and went into Wales, and joining there with the power of the faid leflyn, fought with the faid Rees ap fewdor and killed him, and one Conan his fon. After which victory, the faid Robert Fitzbamcn, minding to return home again with his company, de- manded his falary to him due of the faid leflyn, ac- cording to the covenants and promifes agreed upon be- tween him and the aforefaid Eneon, on the behalf of the faid leflyn his mafter. The which to perform in all points, the faid leflyn denied; and thereupon they fell out, fo that it came to be tried by battle. And for- fomuch as the faid Eneon faw his mailer go from di- vers articles and promifes that he had willed him to conclude with the faid Robert Fitzbamon, on his be- half, he forfook his mafter, and took part, he and his friends, with the faid Robert Fitzbamon, In the which conflict, the faid leftyn with a great number of his men were ilain, whereby the faid Robert Fitzba- msn won the peaceable pofleffion of the whole lordfhip of Glamorgan, with the members, of the which he gave certain caftles and manors, in reward of fervice, to the faid twelve knights, and to other his gentle- men. The GrufFyth ap Conan. Will* Ruf. The Names and Sirnames oF the faid Twelve Knights were thefe. de Londres, alias London. Richardus de Grana villa, alias GrecnfM 3 Pagamts de furberuile. 4 Robertus de S, Quiniino, alias S. guintine. 5 Richardus de Syward. 6 Gilbertus de Humfrevile. 7 Rogertts de Berkrolles. 8 Reginalds de Sully. 9 Peter le Soore. 10 Johannes le Fleming. 1 1 Oliverus de S. John, a younger brother of the Lord S. John, of Eafmg. 12 William le Efterling, whofe anceflors came out of Danjke to England with the Danes, and is now by ihortneis of fpeech called StradUng. The Parcels given by the faid Robert Fitzhamon to the faid Twelve Knights and others, in Reward of Service. T j^ N primis, to the faid William de Londres, the faid Robert Fitzhamon gave the caftle and manor of Og- vnor^ being four knights fees ; now parcel of the pof- feffions of the duchy of Lancafler. 2 Item, to the forenamcd Sir Richard Greenfield, ho eth. g ave t h e ca fti e anc i lordfhip of Nftb, being one of the members aforefaid ; and now parcel of the poffeffions of the Right Hon. the Earl of Pembroke. 3 Item, to Sir Paine 'Turberuile^ he gave the caftle and c y c r- lordfhip of Coyty, being another of the faid members ; and now parcel of the pofleffions of John Carnage^ Efq. 4 Item, to Sir Robert S. Qiiintine he gave the caftle fla Blc " anc * ^ orci ^"P ^ H> a * Blethan, being another of the faid members, Will Ruf. Gruffyth ap Conan. xxvii members-, and now parcel of the pofleffions of S. William Herbert : , of Swanfey, Knt. Item, to Sir Richard Syward, he gave the caftle and r lordlhip of Talauan, being another of the faid mem- bers; and now parcel of the pofleffions of Anthony Maunfell, Ef< Item, to Sir Gilbert Humf revile, he gave the caftle 6 and manor of Penmvrke, being three knights fees; now penm fc*> parcel of the pofleffions of the Right Hon. Lord St. John, of Bledfo. Item, to Sir Reginald de Sully, he gave the caftle 7 and manor of Sully , fo ft nee called after his name, be- Snll r- ing two knights fees ; now divided betwixt the Earl of Penbroke, and the Lord St. John, of Bledfo. Item, to Sir Roger Berkrolles, he gave the manor of 8 Eaft Orchard, being one knight's fee; now parcel of Eaft Orch- the pofleffions of S. William Herbert, of Swanfey. Item, to Sir Peter If Soore, he gave the caftle and ^ manor of Peterton, fo now called after his name, be- Petmon. ing one knight's fee ; now parcel of the pofleffions of the Earl of Penbroke. Item, to Sir John Fleming, he gave the caftle and io manor of St. George, being one knight's fee; and s. George, holden of his pofterity the Flemings to this day. Item, to Sir John St. John, he gave the caftle and 1 1 manor of Fonmon or Fenuon, being one knight's fee ; and now parcel of the pofleffions of the Lord St. John, of Bledfo. Item, to Sir William le Efterling, alias Stradling, he I2 gave the caftle and manor of St. Donats, or St. Denwit, being one knight's fee ; now parcel of the pofleffions of Sir Edward Stradling, Knt. that now is. Sum. Four Lordfhips Members, and Thirteen Knights Fees. ITEM, he gave to the aforefaid Eneon that took his part, the lordlhip of Senghcnnyth, being another of the faid members. f Item, Gruffyth ap Conan. Will. Ruf. Item, he gave the caftle and lordfhip of Auan^ ano- 14 ther of the laid members, to Caradoc Fitz lejiyn, the eldeft fon of the faid leftyn. j c Item, he gave the lordfhip of Rutbjlt, another of the faid members, to another fon of the laid leftyn. Z 6 Item, the reft of the forefaid knights fees, being twenty-two and an half, he diftributed part to gentle- men that ferved him, and part to the Welfhrnen^ right owners of the fame. The Portion that the Lord kept for him- fclf and his Heirs. THE caftle of Cardiff and Ketrfgg, with the fore- faid three market towns of Cardiff* Kenfigg^ and Cowbrig?) and the fhrievalty, being the body of the faid lordfhip of Glamorgan) and all the demefnes of the fame, with the reft of the laid members ; to wit, Mijkyn^ Glywrothney^ 3yr larl, and Boviarton, alias Lentwit : and the chief feniory of the whole, the laid Robert Fifzbamon kept to himfclf. And in the faid lordlhip of Boviarton^ he had a large grange or houfe of hulbandry, with lands to the fame belonging, that ferved him for the provifion of corn to his houfe. He dwelt himfelf moft in the faid caftle or town of Cardyff, being a fair haven town. And becaufe he would have the aforefaid twelve knights and their heirs give attendance upon him every county day (which was always kept by the IherirT in the utter ward of the faid caftle, on the Monday monthly as is before faid) he gave every one of them a lodging within the faid utter ward, the which their heirs, or thofe that pur- chafed the lame of their heirs, do enjoy at this day. Alfo the morrow after the county day, being the Tuefday, the lord's chancellor fat always in the Chan- cery there, for the determining of matters of confcience in ftrife, happening as well in the laid Ihrievalty as in. Will Riff. Gruffyth ap Conan. the members ; the which day alfo, the faid knights ufed to give attendance upon the lord ; and the Wed- nefday every man drew homeward, and then began the courts of the members to be kept in order, one after another. The Pedigree of Robert Fitzhamon^ and of his Heirs, Lords of Glamorgan. THE faid Robert Fitzbamon, was fon to Ha- Some do af _ mon,z. great lord, and kinfman of William firm that he the Conqueror, who came into the realm with him. Aftrevikfn This Robert (as is before faid) was knight of the Normandy. privy chamber with King William Rufus ; who (as it appeareth in the Chronicles) dreamed the night before the king was killed, that he faw the king torn Matt Wcft in pieces by wolves; and therefore, by his perfuafi- iib. 2 , P . 2I . on, he willed the king to forbear to go abroad that M^tSr'is forenoon. But the king, when he had dined, there pg ** was no man able to Hay him, but that he would ride forth a hunting into the new foreft, where he was flam by Walter Tyrrell, by the glancing of his arrow mooting at a red deer. Mawd, the only daughter and heirefs of the faid Robert, was married to Robert, Earl of Glocefter, bafe fon to King Henry the firft. William, Earl of Glocejter, fon to the faid Robert and Mawd, died without iflue male, leaving behind him three daughters ; of the which, Ifabel, the eld- eft, was married to King John, then Earl of Ox- enford and Lancajler (as fome chronicles do declare) who fo foon as he was made king was divorced from her. And then ftie was married to -Geffrey, Mande- vile, Earl of Effex, and died without iffue, as far as I can find. The fecond daughter named Amicia, was married to Sir Gilbart de Clare, then Earl of Clare, by whom f 2 he Ixx Gruffyth ap Coftan, Will Ruf. he had the earldom of Glocejler. And Mebile, the third daughter was married to the Earl- of Eureux. 5 Sir Gilbart de Clare, fon to the faid Gilbert, was the fourth Earl of Gkcefter. 6 Sir Richard de Clare's fon was the fifth earl. 7 Sir Gilbert's fon was the fixth earl. 8 Sir Gelbart's fon, who married Jane d> Acres* daughter to King Edward I. was the fevcnth earl. 9 Sir Gilb art de Clare their fon was the eighth earl, and he was ilain by the Scots in King Edward the Second's time; and then the earldom fell between his three fitters. Of the which Elianor the eldefl> was married to Hugh Spenfer the fon, in her right Earl of Glocefter. Margaret the fecond xvas mzfr- ried to Peires Gauefton, and after to the Lord Awd- eky. Elizabeth the third was married firft to Wil- liam Lord Burgh, Earl of Ulfter, and after to Ralph Roch, Baron of Armoy, in Ireland ; flic was married the third time to Theobald L. Verdoun, and laftly to Sir Roger Damory, and had iffue by every one of them. 10 Sir Hugh Spencer had to his wives purpartee the faid lordlhip of Glamorgan. 1 1 Sir Hugh Lord Spencer their fon enjoyed the fame, and died without iflue. 12 Edward Lord Spencer; fon to Edward, brother to the faid Hugh, fucceeded the faid Hugh therein. 13 Tbcinas Lord Spencer, his fon, fucceeded him. j 4 Richard Lord Spencer, his fort, fucceeded him, and", died in ward. 15 . Ifabell* fitter to Richard^ Succeeded him, and married with Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Worcef- ter> and Lord Burgavenny, who had ilfue by her- a daughter only, and died. The which daughter was married to Edward, the fon of Dewrafa Ralph Neuel, Earl of Wejlmoreland. And after the death of the faid Earl of Worcefler, the faid Ifabell married Will. Ruf. Gruffyth ap Conan. xxxi married with Richard Beaucbamp, Earl of War~ wick. 1 6 Henry Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and after Duke of Warwick^ their fon died without iffue. 1 7 Anns his iifter of whole blood fucceeded him, and married with Richard Hotel* after Earl of Salif- burie^ and in her right Earl of Warwick , and had iffue two daughters, Marie, married to the Duke Clarence, and Anne, married firft to Prince Edward, flain at Teuxburie, and after his death with Rich- ard, Duke of Glocefter, who was afterward King of England. j 8 The faid Anne and King Richard (being then Duke of Glocefter) had the faid lordlhip given unto them by the faid Anne, Countefs of War-wick, her mother. 19 King Henry the Seventh enjoyed the fame after the death of King Richard. 20 lafper, Duke of Bedford, enjoyed the fame by the gift of King Henry the Seventh, and died without iiliie; and by reafon thereof it remained to the king again. 2 1 King Henry the Eighth enjoyed the fame after his father. 22 King Edward the Sixth fucceeded him therein, and fold almofl all the lands thereof. 2 3 Queen Mary fucceeded him in the feniory. 24 Queen Elizabeth our moft dread fovereign that now is, doth fucceed her in the fame feniory, and hath fold the lordlhip of Heth from it ; fo that now there remain no more lands appertaining to the feniory, but the moity of the manor of Dti- ntifpowys only. T 3 The xxx ii Gruffyth ap Conan. Will. Ruf. The Pedigree of Londres^ Lord of Og- mcre, one of the faid Twelve. k fJflLLIAM Londres, lord of the caftle and manor of Ogmore (as is before faid) won af- terwards the lordfhips of Kydwelhey and Carnewil- bion, in Caermartbevfbire, from the Wdfomm -, and gave to Sir ^rwW J5// Knt. his Pedigree. QlR Reginald de Sully ', to whom the caftle and ma- nor of Sully was given, and his iflue male, enjoy- ed the fame until about King Edward the Firft's time. And then it fell to a daughter married to Sir Morgan de Avan^ Lord of the lordftiip of Avan above named; whofe fon, Sir John de Avan, had but one daughter, of whom Sir George Blunt, of Shropjhire, is lineally defcended as fole heir, whofe anceftor gave the faid lordlhip of Avan, and the caflle and manor of Sully to the Lord Spencer^ in exchange for otjier lands in Eng- land. Pete* Will. Ruf. Gruffyth ap Conan. .Peter k Score y Knt. his Pedigree. CIR "Peter le Score, Knt. to whom was given the caftle and manor -of Peter's Towne, and his iflue male, enjoyed the fame until King Henry the Fourth's time, and then died without iflue, and his inheritance fell between divers. John le Fleming, Knt. his Pedigree. -4^IR John le Fleming, Knt. to whom the caftle and ** manor of S. George was given, and his iflue male, enjoyed the fame until King Henry the Fourth's time ; and then it fell to Edmcnd Malefant, who had married a daughter to the laft Fleming. And in King Henry the Seventh's time the Maltfants iflue by Flemings daughter failed; and then it fell to John Butler, of Dunreeven above named, Efq. and after the death of him and of Arnold his fon, both the inheritances of Fleming and Butler fell to Walter Vaghan, of Erode- ward, in the county of Hereford, Eiq. now living, lifter's fon to the faid Arnold Butler. Oliuer de S. Jobn^ Knt. his Pedigree. CIR Oliuer S. John, Knt. to whom the caftle and manor of Fcnmon was given, and his heirs male have ever fince enjoyed the fame, to whom the above named Lord S. John, of Bledfo, that now is, is fole heir; whofe anceftors from the winning of the faid lordfhip or Glamorgan out of the Weljhmens hands, have continually dwelt at Fonmon aforefaid, until the latter time of King Edward the Fourth. That John S. Jobn y Efq, had the faid lordfhip of Bledfo, and many other pofTeflions befides, by the death of dame Margaret Beaucbampe, his mother, who was alfo mo- ther to Margaret^ Duchefs of Somerfet, mother to King Henry the Seventh. Since which time the faid John S. John, and Sir John S. John, Knt. father to my lord that now is, have always dwelt in Bledfo, but they do keep their lands in Wales flill in their hands. 3 William .Gruffyth ap Conan. Witt. Ruf. 3&&&& < L -J - 10 ^ ^;-;i^.^\^ c i William le EJlerling^ alias Stradling^ his Pedigree. V'finiK''^ t.-fj 'rv& yir^i l-dnr; t/rr.s1 o;u bavo&tf ,i^rn IR William Ejlerling, Knt. to whom the caftle and manor of S. Donat's was given. 2 Sir Jto /* Ejierling, Knt. his fon, fucceeded him. 3 Sir A#?ra /* E/terlingiKnt. his fon, fucceeded him. 4 Sir .R0&r/ /(? Efterling, Knt. (moft commonly called Stradling by Ihortnefs of fpeech and change of fome letters) fucceeded him. 5 Sir Gilbert Stradling, Knt. his fon, fucceeded him. 6 Sir William Stradling, Knt. his fon, fnccecded him. 7 Sir John Stradling, Knt. his fon,' fucceeded him. It doth not appear in what flock or firname any of thefe feven knights abpVe named did marry ; but the names of the wives of William the firft, Ro- bert, and' John the fecond, were Hawifia, Mathilda^ and Cicilid. 8 Sir Peter Stradling, Knt. his fon, fucceeded him, who in the beginning of King Edward the Firft's time and reign married lulian, fole daughter and heir of Thomas Hawey, by whom he had three manors, Hawey and Comhawey, in Somerfetjhire, yet remaining to his heirs, and Compton Hawey, in Dorcetjhire, fold of late years. 9 Sir Edward Stradling, Knt. their fon, fucceeded them, and he quartered the Haweys' arms with his, and married with Elianor, daughter and heir to Gilbert Strangbow, a younger brother, whofe wife was daughter and heir to Richard Garnon, and had by her two manors in Oxefordjhire, jo Sir Edward Stradling, Knt. his fon, fucceeded him, and married with Wenlhian, daughter to Ro- ger Berkrolles, Knf. and fole lifter and heir to Sir Laurence Berkrolles, Knt. as it happened afterward. 1 1 Sir William Stradling, Knt. his fon, married with Ifabel, daughter and heir to John S. Barbe, ' of So- inerfetjhire ; but he had no lands by her ; for it was entailed Will Ruf. Gruffyth ap Cohan. xxxix entailed to the heirs male. This Sir William, in King Richard the Second's time, went a pilgrimage to lerufalem, and received there alib the orders of knighthood of the fepulchre of Chrift. 12 Sir Edward Stradling, Knt. his fon, fucceeded him, who, becaufe he was fole heir general to the faid S. Barbe, did quarter S. Barbe's arms with his. To whom alfo (in the thirteenth year of King Henry the Fourth) fell the whole inheritance of the Berkerolles, and the right of the fourth part of furfaruifrs inheritance, Lord of Coyty aforefaid; the which, for lack of iffue male of the faid Ber- kerolles, remained to Gamage and to his heirs male by the efpecial entail aforefaid. The which Sir Edward did quarter not only the faid Berkerclles* arms with his, but alfo the 'Turberuiles and leftynes arms ; of whom the Turberuiles had in marriage one of the inheritors, as is before faid; becaufe the faid Sir Edward was one of the four heirs ge- neral to Sir Richard Turberuik, to wit, fon to Sir William Stradling, fon to Wenlhian, fifter and heir to the faid Laurence BerkeroHes, and daughter to Catharine, eldeft filler, and one of the four heirs general to the aforefaid Sir Richard 'Turberuile. The faid Sir Edward married with Jane, daughter to Henry Beauford, afterwards Cardinal, begotten (before he was prieft) upon Alice^ one of the daugh- ters of Richard, Earl of Arundell, and in the be- ginning of King Henry the Seventh's reign, he went likewife on pilgrimage unto lertifalem, as his father did, and received the order of the fepulchre there. This Sir Edward had to his brother Sir John Stradling, Knt. who married with the heir of Dauncy, in Wiltjbire, and had iffue Sir Edmond, who had iffue John and Edmond. John had iffue Anne, Lady Davers, of whom the Davers, Huger- fordes, Fynes, and Leuet, and a great progeny of them are defcended; and of the faid Edmond corntth Carnyfoyes, of Cornewal. 4 The x l Gruffyth ap Conan. Will. Ruf. The faid Edward had another brother called Wil- liam, of whom Stradling of Ruthyn and others are defcended ; the fame William had a daughter named Wenlhian, who, by the Earl of Ryuers, had a daughter, married to Sir Robert Paynes, of whom co : meth all the Poynes, the Newtons, Perots, and others. 13 Sir fera> Stradling, Knt. his fon, fucceeded him, and married with Elizabeth, fitter of whole blood to Sir William Herbert, Knt. Earl of Penbrcoke, and had iflue by her one fon and two daughters ; one of them was married to Myles ap Harry^ cf whom Mrs. Blanch ap Harrie and her brethren and uncles are defcended ; the other daughter was mar- ried to Fleming, of Monton, in Wales. This Sir Harm, in the fixteenth year of King Ed-ward the Fourth, went in like manner on pil- grimage to lerufalem, and received the order of the fepulchre there, as his father and grandfather did, and died in the Ifle of Cypres in his coming home; whofe book is to be feen as yet, with a letter that his man brought from him to his lady and wife. The faying is, that divers of his faid anceftors made the like pilgrimage, but there remaineth no memory in writing but of theie three. This Sir Hanic, failing from his houfe in Somer- Jetjhire to his houfe in Wales, was taken prifoner by a Brytaine pirate, named Colyn Dolphyn, whole redemption and charges flood him in 2000 marks; for the payment whereof he was driven to fell the caftle and manor of Bcffehk and Sutton, in Men- mouth/hire, and the manors in Oxfordfoire. 14 Thomas Stradling, Efq. his fon, fucceeded him, and married lenet, daughter to Thomas Matthew, of Rayder, Efq. and had iflue by her two fons, Edward and Harrie, and one daughter named Jane, and died before he was twenty-fix years of age. After whofe death, his wife married with Sir Rice ap Thomas, Knight of the Garter. Harrie married with the daughter and heir of Thomas lubb, learned in the law, and had iflue by her Brands Ruf- GrufFyth ap Conan. xli Stradling, of S. George, of Brijiow, yef living lane was married to Sir William Gruffytb, of North Wales, Knt. and had iflue by her three fons, Ed- ward, Sir Rice Gruffytb, Knt. and John, and feven daughters. The eldeft: married to Stanley, of Honghton, the fecond to Sir Richard Buckley, Knt. the third to Lewys, the fourth to Mofion, the fifth to Convey, the iixth to Williams, the feventh to Pers Motion, and after to Simon Theloal, Efq. whofe wife at this time fhe is ; the eighth to Pbi* lips. Of which daughters there be a wonderful number defcended. Edward married Jane, daugh- ter to Sir John Pulefton, Knt. and had iffue by her three daughters ; Jane married to William Herbert^ of S. Julian ; Catharine married to William Herbert, of Swanfey, and another daughter married to Sir Nicholas Bagnoll, Knt. 15 Sir Edward Stradling, Knt. fucceeded his father, and married with Elizabeth, one of the three, daughters of Sir Thomas Arundell, of I^anbeyron^ in Cornewall, Knt. The other two were married to Speke and S. Lowe, and had iflue four fons; Thomas, Robert, Edward, and John. Robert mas- ried Watkyn Lodher's daughter, and by her many children; Edward married with the daughter and heir of Robert Eaglan, of Lantwit, and hath alfo divers children; and John is a priefl. Alfo the laid Sir Edward had two daughters ; Jane married to Alexander Popbam, of Somerfetjhire, of whom is a great number defcended ; and Catharine married to Sir Thomas Palmer, of Suffex, who hath a fon named William. 16 Sir Thomas Stradling, Knt. his fon, fucceeded him, and married Catharine, the eldeft daughter to Sir Thomas Gamage, of Coyty, Knt. and to dame Margaret his wife, daughter to Sir John S. John, of B'.edfo, Knt. by whom he hath living yet two fons, Edward and Dauid; and five daughters, //- xabeth, Damafyn, lane, loicz, and Wenlbian. i Sir Gruffyth ap Conan.' Will Ruf, ij Sir Edward Stradling, Knt. that now is, married Agnes, fecond daughter to Sir Edward Gage, of Suffix, Knt. and as yet in the year 15.72 hath no iflue. Memorandum, that of the heirs male of the afore- faid twelve knights that came with Sir Robert Fitzhamon to the winning of Glamorgan, the lord- Ihip aforefaid, there is at this day but the Stradling alive, that dwelleth in Wales, and enjoyeth the portion given in reward to his anceftors. There be yet of the younger brothers of the furberuiks and Flemings. Greenefeeld and Syward do yet remain, but they dwell in England, and have done away their lands in Wales* The Lord S. John, of Bledfo (although he keep- cth his ancient inheritance in Wales} yet he dwell- eth in England* Thus far the copy of the winning of Glamorgan, as I received the fame at the hands of Mrs. Blanch Parrie, penned by Sir Edward Strad- ling, Knt. D. POWEL. THE THE HISTORY O F WALES. V " VY HEN the Roman empire, under Valentinian, the younger:, began to decline, and became feniibly Enable to reprefs the perpetual incurfions of the Goths, Huns, Vandals; arid other barbarous invaders; it was found neceflary to abandon the remoteft Parts of diat unweildly body, and to recal the Roman forces that defended them, the better to fecure the inward, and the provinces rrioft expofed to the depredations of the Barbarians. Arid in this exigency of the Roman af- fairs, Britain, as lying far remote from the heart of the empire, was deprived of the Roman garrifons , which, being tranfjiorted into Gaul upon more urgent occafions, left it naked and expofed to the inveterate cruelty of the Scots and Fids : for no fooner had they underftood of the Romans departure out of Britain ; and that the Britains were to expec~l no further help from the empire , but they defcend in greater number than formerly, and with greater courage and expec- tation, being now rid of the fear they entertained of the Roman legions, who always ufed to hinder their progrefs, and to prevent their incurfions into the Ro- man province. The Britains perceiving their antient and implacable enemies to fall upon them, and finding themfelves far too weak to repel their endlefs devafta- B tions j THE HISTORY OF WALES. tions -, with a lamentable narrative of their own Mife- ries, and the cruel oppreflions of their enemies, they fent over to Gaul, imploring aid of ./Etius prefe<5t of that province j who, being moved with the de- plorable condition of that province, difpatched over a legion under the command of Gallio, which unexpect- edly furprifing the Picts and Scots, forced them, with great lots and deftruction, to retire over the feas or friths to their own habitations. Then helping them to build a wall of ftone crofs the land, for a bulwark againft any future irruptions; the Romans, at their departure, told them, they could not any more under- take fuch dangerous expeditions for their defence, and therefore admoniihed them to take arms, and like Men vindicate their country, their wives, children and liberties from the injuries or their barbarous ene- mies. But as foon as the Roman legion was tranfported into Gaul, back return the Picts and Scots y and having by a defperate affault pafled the wall, purfued the Bri- tains with a more dreadful and bloody Daughter than formerly. The Britains, perceiving their condition moft defperate, once more fend their miferable complaints to /Etiirs in thefe tragical words : ** To ^Etius thrice con- ful the groans of the Britains : the Barbarians drive us to the lea, and the lea drives us back to them ; and fo, diftracted betwixt two deaths, we are either drowhedy or perifh by the fword." But they folicit to no pur- pofe v the Romans having already bid abfolutely fare- wel to Britain, and the empire being cruelly opprefled by the Goths, and other barbarous nations, was not in a condition poffible to aflift them. The Britains there- fore finding themfelves abfolutely forfaken by the Ro- mans, and conceiving it utterly impracticable to drive away the barbarians by their own ftrength; faw it ur- gently neceflary to call in the aid of forme foreign na- tion, whole labour in repelling their enemies mould be gratefully and fatisfa6lorily rewarded. The reafon that the Britifh nation was at this time fo weak and impotent, and fo manifeftly unable to withftand thefe barbarous enemies, who were tar infe- rior THE HISTORY OF WALES. Hor as to extent of country, and probably in number of people, may in great meafure be attributed to the eafe and quietnefs the Britains enjoyed under the Roman government. For whilft the Roman legions tontinued in Britain, they ever undertook the fecurity and prefervation of it ; fo that the Britains hereto- fore were little concerned at the incurfions of the Scots and Pi&Sj depending wholly upon the firength and valour of the Romans, infomuch, that within a while, they fell into a fit of luxury and effeminacy, and quickly forgot that martial prowefs, and military con- clu6l which their ahceftors fo famoufiy excelled in. For after their entire fubjection to the Roman empire, they had little or no opportunity to experience their va- lour excepting in fome home bred commotions, exci- ted by the afpiring ambition of fome male-content- ed general, which were quickly compoied and reduced to nothing. And after the Scots and Pids grew for- midable^ arid durft venture to make incurfions into the Roman province, the Britains were the leaft con- cerhed in oppofing them, leaving that to the care and vigilancy of the Roman garrifons. And this eafmefs aid fupinity of the Britains^ may not be untruly attri- buted to the policy of the Roman conftitution : for when the Britains were brought fubject to the empire, the firft thing the Romans effected towards the confir- mation of their obedience, was to take, the fv/ord one of their hands. They were fenfible how bold and va- lorous the Britains naturally were, how unlike to fub- mit their necks to a foreign yoke, and therefore they found it impracticable to obtain a quiet poffcffion of this province, as long as the Britains had power and opportunity to oppole them. This courfe they iound very effectual, and when they had once lulled them afkep, thty were not over felicitous to roufe and awaken them. The Britains alfo might poffibly be too much taken with this fedentary and unaclive life; Z"nd as long as they lived fecure under the protection of the Roman empire, they little feared their country would become a prey to any barbarous nation. No one would have B 2 imagined THE HISTORY OF WALES. imagined that that glorious empire would be fo foort crufhed to pieces, which could not otherwife be effected,* than by the infupportable preffure of its own weight. The apprehenfion of the greatnefs and ftrength of the Romans, made the Britains probably lefs folicitous of enabling themfelves to defend their country, not thinking they would ever forfake arid relinquifn the province of Britain. But to their forrow they experi- enced the contrary, the affairs of the empire elfewhere requiring the help of the Britifh legions, fo that they were left expofed to the cruelties of the northern inva- ders, having not as yet recovered any power or con- duel: to oppofe them. For had not the Scots and Picts come on Ib forcibly at firft, but had given time to the Britains to fhake off that lethargy they had for many years been buried in, and to renew their ancient dif- cipline and vigour, there had been no need of calling in the Saxons? feeing, they would in all probability been able to maintain their ground againft any oppo- litioh, and likely had been in pofleflion of their whole country to this time. But rrext to the decree of hea- ven, the ruin of the Britifh nation maft be attributed to its too much luxury and effeminacy, and to the uni- verfal lapfe of the nobility and people, into an aver- fion of all military action and martial difcipline. For though a continued peace be in itfelf defirable, yet of- tentimes nothing tends more to the future ruin and downfal of a nation. For peace begets in men gene- rally a habit of loofenefs and debauchery, is the occa- fion of many notorious extravagancies and vicious prac- tifes, which weakens their hands, and cools their cou- rage and greatnefs of mind,, fo that in cafe of any open danger,, they are uncapable to defend their country,- and unfit to oppofe the common enemy. Scarce any kingdom or nation was fubverted, but the ruin of it was ufhered inbythefe means-, wirnefs the Affyrian under Sardnapalus, the Perfi-an under Darios,. and the Egyp- tian under Cleopatra ; fo that it was mofl prudently urged by a Roman fenator, that Carthage might not be demoliihed , left that for want of an enemy abroad, the valour of the Romans might degenerate, and their conducl: THE HISTORY OF WALES, conduct be forgotten. Had the Britains had the for- tune to be continually in action, and not exchanged their courage and difcipline for eafe and lazinefs, they had no reafon to dre^d the incurfions of the Scots ^nd Picts, nor any need of the Aid and Afliftance of a foreign Nation ; but the condition of their affairs then required it, and help mud be had, or elfe their country muft unavoidable become a prey to thofe norr thern invaders. To prevent therefore and repel their violence, King Vortigern held a council of his great men and nobles, where it was concluded to be moft advantageous to the Britains, to invite the Saxons out of Germany to their aid, who in ajl probability would gladly embrace the ppportunity, by reafon that their own country was grown too' fcanty for their fuperfluous numbers. This rnefiage of the Britains, however originally delivered, is by an antient Saxon Writer repeated in this manner : " Moft noble Saxons, the miferable Britains, mattered and quite worn out by the frequent incurfions of their enemies, upon the news of your many fignal victories, have fent us to you, humbly requefting that you would afljft them at this juncture. A land large and fpacious, abounding with all manner of neceffaries, they give up entirely to your difpofaj. Hitherto we have lived hap- pily under the government and protection of the Ro- mans : Next to the Romans we know none of greater valour than yourfelyes, and therefore in your arms do now feek refuge. I^et but that courage and thofe arms make us conquerors, and we fhall refufe no fervice you fhall pleafe to impofe." To this meflage the Saxons returned this fhort anfwer ; M Affure youiv felves, phe Saxons will be true friends to the Britains, and as fucri, fhall be always ready both to rejieye their necefiities, and tp advance pheir intereft/' The Saxons being thus happily courted to wha.t themfelves had a thoufand times wifhed for, arrived foon after in Britain, in three gallies, callec| in their pwn language Kiules, under the conduct of two bre- thren Hengift and Horfa. Being honourably received j?y the king, and affectionately treated by tfye people, B 3 their THE HISTORY OF WALES. their faith was given of both fides , the Saxons ftipu- gating to defend the Britains country, and the Britains t;o give the Saxons a fadsfactory reward for all the pains and dangers tjiey mould undergo upon their account. At firft the Saxons (hewed themfelves very diligent in their employment, and luccefsfully repelkrc\ the Scots and Picts , who being probably ignorant of the landing of the Saxons, and fearing no oppofition, boldly advanced to the heart of the country. But when the Saxons became .better acquainted with the jfland, and happily difcovercd the weaknefs and inabi- lity of the Britains ; under pretence that their pay was not anfwerable to their fervice and deferts, they qua- relied with the Britains, and infteadof fupporting them according to path, entered into a league with their enemies the Scots. Moreover, Hengift perceiving with whom he had to do, lent over to acquaint his country- men wifh the beauty and fertility of the ifland, the infirmity and effeminacy of the inhabitants , inviting them to be iharers of his future fuccefs and expefta- tions. To his invitation they readily comply, and failing over in great numbers, they thought to take poffcffirn of that country, which fortune prcmifed fhould be their own : but they muft fight for it firft , the Britains being refolved to the laft to defend them- felvts and their country againft thefe treacherous practices of the Saxons ; and if pofiible, to drive them to their primitive habitations. For when the Britains became fenfible of the undermining aim of the Saxons, how they fecretly endeavoured the to- tal extirpation of the Britim nation, they prefently betook themfelves to their fwords, and in a fhort time became fignally famous for their valour ancj conduct. This the Saxons afterwards grievoufly felt, {hough the total recovery of Britain proved im- practicable for want of power ; the Saxons having by maffacres and other treacherous means, moft un- mercifully leffened the force and number of the BrU tains. King Vortigern loved his cafe too well to ob- ferve their practices ; and bcfides, became fo foolifhly enamoured with the daughter of Hengift, which pur- THE HISTORY OF WALES. pofely was laid to intrap him, that the Saxon upon the ftrength of their marriage began to carve for him- felf, and during Vortigern's reign, laid fo firm a foun- dation for the Saxon conqueft, that the fucceeding .Britifh kings, though famoufly valiant, could never undermine it. This Scottimnefs of his father, young Vortimer could not at length endure ; to fee himfelf and his country fo openly and fhamefully impofed up- on by ftrangers , and therefore he refolved to take the Britifh government upon himfelf, and to endeavour the univerfal expulfion of the Saxons. With him the Britim nobility willingly join, and after feveral fa- mous victories over the Saxons, he was unhappily poi- foned by a Saxon lady. After him the Britains brave- Jy defended themfelves again ft the prevailing greatnefs of the Saxons, under thefe valiant princes, Aurelius Ambrofius, Uter Pendragon, Arthur, Conftantine II. Aurelius Conanus, Vortiper, and Maelgon. To him fucceeded Careticus ; in whofe time the Saxons afpiring to a total conqueft of Britain, invited over one Gur* mundus, a Norwegian pirate, who had lately fignali- zed himfelf in Ireland, and obtained a conqueft over that kingdom. Him they employ to march againft Careticus, who being overcome and vanquimed by him, the Britains were forced, fome to retire beyond the rivers Severn and Dee, fome to Cornwal, and the reft to Little Britain in France. The Britifh affairs were now brought very low, and their government reduced within a very narrow compafs , fo that the title of the Kings of Britain, can be but fuperficially attributed to the fucceeding princes, Cadwan, Cad- , and Cadwalader, B 4 C A THE HISTORY OF WALES. CADWALADER. V>?ADWALADER, furnamed Bhendiged, or the BlefTed, was the laft of Britim race, that enjoyed the title of King of Britain j after him, the Welch, who were the moil numerous remains of the Britains, dif- daining to own any fubjeclion to the opprefTmg Saxony, fet up a new government among themfelves, and altered the ilile of Britifh kings to that of princes of Wales. But whilft Cadwalader ruled in Britain, a very fevere famine, attended with a raging pefti- lence, which afturedly fprung from the continued war, which was To eagerly carried on betwixt the Britains and Saxons, happened in the ifland, which occafioned a moft lamentable mortality among his fubjecls ; infomuch that he was compelled, together with a great number of his nobility and others, to. retire for refuge to his coufm Alan, King of ^hydaw, or Little Britain in France. 'There he was lure to meet with all civility fuitable to his qualify and condi- tion, as well, becauie of his own near relation, and confanguinity to Alan, as upon the account that thejr fubjecls were originally one and the fame people :" for the Britains of France, about the year of Chrifl 384, went over out of this ifland uncjer. the command of Conan,' Lord of Meriadoc, to the aid of Maxim us the tyrant, againlt: the emperor Gratianus. For this fervice Maximus granted to Conan and his. followers the country of Armorica, where the Britains having driven out the former inhabitants, feated them- fc]ve3, gnd erected a kingdom, which lafted for many years under feveral kings, whofe names and fuccefTioi; are as follows : T h ? THE HISTORY QF WALES. The LIST of the ARMORICAN KINGS, j. Conan Meriadoc. $3, Conobertus. 2. Gradlonus. 14. Budicus II. 3. Salomon I. 15. Theordoricus. 4. Auldranus. 16. Ruhalhonus. 5. Budicus I. 17. Daniel Dremroft, i. e, 6. Howe.lus Magnus. rubicunda facie. 7. Howelus II, 1 8. Aregftanus, $. Alanus I. 19. Maconus. 9. Howelus III. 20. Neomenius. jo. Gilquellus. 21. Harufpogius, 11. Salomon II. 32, Salomon III. 12. Alanus II, ' Alan II. then reigned in Little Britain, when Cad- walader was forced to forfake his own dominions, and to retire beyond the feas. He was defcended from Rune the fon of Mailgon Qwyneth, King of Great Britain, by a daughter married to Howel the fecond, King of Little Britain. Jhis kingdom remained firm, till Salomon III. who was treacheroufly flain by his own fubjects ; upon which unlucky accident, the Jdngdom was converted to an earldom, whereof one Alan was the firft, a valiant and warlike prince, who Itoutly refilled the Norman?, and frequently va^nquifhed and overcame them. But after that Cadwalader ha4 continue4 fome time with Alan, the plague being abated in Britain he pur- pofed tq return, and if poiTible, to recover that part of his kingdom which the Saxons were now in pof- fefiion of. He received frequent intelligence of their number and ;ncreafe,, how, they fairly bid for the conqueft of that country, which had been governed by Britifh kings for the fp^ce of 1827 years. This troubled him exceedingly, and though he had little hopes pf prevailing by the ftrength and number of his forces, yet he mads the beft preparation that the opportunity would permit, and difpatched {lis fleet for the tranfporcatioa of his army, whic^ if* 1 ..> , w . * . . *.- - - i * f* n \ confilted THE HISTORY OF WALES. confifted partly of his own fubje&s, and partly of fuch fuccours as he received from Alan. Whilft he vigoroufly profecuted this defign, and was ready to ftrike fail for Britain ; his voyage was prevented by a meffage from heaven j which counfeled him to Jay afid? the thoughts of recovering his kingdom, becaufe it was already decreed above, that the Bri- tains mould no longer enjoy the government of Bri- tain, till the prophefy of Merlyn Ambrofe was fulfil* ed. And inftead of a voyage to Britain, he is or- dered to take his journey to Rome, where he fliould receive holy orders at the hands of Pope Sergius, #nd inftead of recovering the Britim crown, have his own crown fhaved off, and be initiated into the order of the monks. Whether this vifion was figr nified to him in a dream, or by the jmpofitious illu- fions of fome wicked fpirit -, or whether it may be a fantaftical conceit of his own, being a man of a mild and eafy temper, wearied with troubles and rniferies, is very dubious : only this is certain, that he never returned again to Britain, after he had gone over to Alan. But Cadwaladar had no fooner receiv- ed this Vifion, but immediately he relates the whole to his friend Alan, who prefently confults all his pro- phetical books, chiefly the famous works of the two merlins, Ambrofe and Silvefter : the firft is faid to be begotten on a fpirit, and born in the town of Car marthen, whence he received the name of Merlin, and to flourim in the reign of King Vortigern. The latter called Caledonius, from the foreft Caledon in Scotland, and Silvefter or Merlyn Wylht, by reafon he fell mad, and lived defolately after that he had feen a monftrous fhape in the air, prophefied in the time of King Arthur, and far more full and intelligible than the former. Both thefe were in great reverence and reputation among the Britains, and their works very religioufly preferved, and upon any confiderable . occafion moft venerably confulted. They were of opinion, that nothing could efcape their knowledge ; and that no accident of moment or revolution could happen, which they did not foretel, and was to be THE HISTOR.Y OF WALES. difcovered in their writings. In the confultation therefore of their prophefies, and the words which 2n eagle is faid to have fpoken at the building of Caer Septon, now Shaftfbury , namely, that the Bri- tains muft lofe the government of Britain till the bones of King Cadwalader were brought back from Rome. Alan found out that the time was now come, when thefe prophefies were to be accomplifbed, and the Bri tains forced to quit their native inheritance to grangers and invaders. Upon this he advifed Cad- walader to obey the commands, and rollow the coun- lel of the vifion, and to haften his journey for Rome. This he was willing tp fubmit to, being defirous to fpend the remainder of his days in peace and quiet- nefs, which before he had no opportunity to enjoy. To Rome therefore he haftens, where he was kindly received by Pope Sergius : and after eight years fpent there in piety and devotion, he died in the year 688, and with him the kingdom and total government of the Britains over this ifland. King Cadwalader is faid to have been a confiderable benefactor to the abby of Clynnoc Vawr in Arvon, upon which he beftowed the Lordfhip of Grayanoc. This place was primarily founded by S. Beuno, to whom it k dedicated, who was the fon of Hywgi ap Qwynlliw ap Glywis ap Tegid ap Cadell, a prince or Lord of Glewifig, brothers fon to S. Cadoc ap Gwyn- lliw, fometime bifliop of Beneventum in Italy. He was by the mothers fide coufin German to Laudatus the firft abbot of Enlli, or the ifland of Bardfey -, and to Kentigern bifhop of Glafgow in Scotland, and of Lhanelwey, or S. Afaph in Wales ; which laft was fon to Owen Regent of Scotland, and grandfon to Urien King of Cumbria. The building of a mona- ftery at Glynnoc happened upon this occafion : Beuno having railed to life, as the tradition goes, S. Weni- fryd, who was beheaded by one Caradoc, a lord in Korth Wales, upon the account that fhe would not yield to his unchafte defires, became in very great efleem with King Cadvan, who beftowed upon him Certain lands whereon to build a monaftery. Cad- THE HISTORY OF WALES. wallon alfo, Cadran's fon, gave him the lands of Gwareddoc, where beginning to build a church, 3 certain woman with a child in her arms prevente4 his further progrefs,' afiuring him, that thofe lands were the proper inheritance of that child. Beuno was fo exceeding troubled at this, and without any more confideration on the matter, taking the woman along with him, hie went in all hade to Caer Sevant (called by the Romans Segontiurn, now Car- narvon) where King Cadwallon then kept his Court ; when he was come before the king, he told him with a great deal of zeal and concern, 'that he had not done well to devote to God's fcrvice what was ano- ther, man's inheritance, and therefore demandecj back of him the golden fcepter he had given him in lieu and confideration of the fajd land, which the king refufing to do, was prefently excommunicated by Beuno, who thereupon departed and went away. Buc a certain perfon called Gvvyddeiant, the king's coufin- german, hearing what hacl happened, immediately purfued after Beuno ; whom when he had overtaken, he beftowed upon him (for the good of his own foul and the kings) the townfhip of Clynricovawr, being his undoubted inheritance , where Beuno built a church, about the year 6 1 6, about which time Kin? Cadvan died, leaving his fon Cafhvailon to fucceed him. And not long before this time, Eneon Bhrenin, or Anianus King of the Scots, a confiderable prince in the north of Britain, leaving all his royalty in thofe parts, came to Lhyn in Gwyneth, where he built a church, which is Itill called from him, Lhan Eingan Bhrenin , where he is faid to have fpent the remainder of his days in the fear and fervice of God, He was fon to Oven Danwyn, the fon of Eneon Yrth, fon to Cunedha Wledig king of Cambria, and a great prince in the north, and coufm-german to the great Maelgwyn Gwyneth King of Britain, whofe father was Cafwallon-law-hir, the brother of Owen Danwyn ; and his mother Medif the daughter of Voylda ap Talu Traws of Nanconwey. This Maclywn died about the year 586, Jvp? THE HISTORY o? WALES, IVOR and EDWAL Y W R C H< W HEN Cadwaladar was departed for Rome, Alan began to reflect upon the ftate and condition of Great Britain , he imagined with himfelf that the recovery of it was not impracticable, but that a con- fiderable army might regain what the Saxons now quietly pofTefTed. Therefore he was refolved to try the utmoft, and to lend over all the forces he was able to draw together ; not doubting the conqueft of fome part of Britain, in cafe the whole fhould prove irrecoverable. He was the more encouraged to this expedition, by reafon that the advantage was like to be his own, and no one could challenge the govern- ment of Britain, in cafe fortune mould deliver it to fiis hands. Cadwalader was gone to Rome, and in all probability never to return -, his fon Edwal Ywreh, or the Roe, was young and under the tuition of Alan fo that the event of this expedition muft of necefiiry fall to himfelf, or by his conceflion to his fon Ivor,, who was to be chief in the undertaking. Having railed a confiderable army, confifting chiefly of his own fubjeds, with what remained of the Britains that came over with King Cadwaladar^ he difpatched it for Britain, under the command of his fon Ivor, and his nephew Ynyr : they fafely landed in the weflern parts of Britain, which put the Saxons in- to fo great a fright, that immediately they drew up all their power to oppofe them, and to hinder their progrefs into the country. The Britains, though fomewhat fatigued with their voyage, however gave them battle, and after a very great Daughter of thq Saxons, poflefled themfelves of the countries or Cormval, Devon, and Somerfetlhires. This proved a fortunate beginning for the Britains, and gave them great hopes of farther fuccefs in the recovery of their country ; if THE HISTORY OF WALES. country; but that could not be expected without great oppofition, and fcveral hot engagements witli the Saxons. This they were immediately made feh- iible of-, for they had Icarce time to breath, and to re- cover their fpirits after the laft battle* but KehtwinuSj King of the Welt-Saxons marched againft them with a powerful army* confiding of Saxons and Angles. The Britains refoived to fight them 5 but whilft both, armies were in view of each other, they thought it more advifeable to eeafe from any hoftility, and to enter into articles of compofitiort. Ivor feemed already fatisfied with his conqueft$ and willingly agreed to marry Ethelberga, Kentwyn's coiifinj and peaceably to enjoy for his life fo much as he was al- ready in poffeffion of. This he faithfully obferved du- ring the reign of Kentwyn, and his nephew Cadwal ; who, after two years* refigned the kingdom of the Weft-Saxons to his coufin Ivor. And now Ivor was become unexpectedly powerful, being King as well of the Saxons, as Britains that inhabited the Wef- tern parts of the ifland. He was now able to un- dertake fomewhat confiderable, and therefore begari to fall foul upon his neighbours the kings of Kent, the Weft-SaxonSj and Mercia* whom he vanquished in feveral battles. But being at length tired with the weight of government, he went to Rome, after the example of Cadwaladar, and refigned the rule of the Saxons to his coufin Adelred* leaving the Britains to the care of Roderick Molwynoc, the fon of Edwal Ywrch. This Ivor founded the abby of Glaftenbury, called in the Britim tongue Ynys Avalon , where there had been a chriftian church for feveral years before,- and the firft that was ever erected in Britain. For Jofeph of Arimathea being fent by Philip the apoftle in the days of Arviragus, An. Chr. 53. to preach thegofpel in Bri- tain, feated himfelf here, and built a church for the Bri- tim chriftians. This church afterwards Ivor converted into an abby, which he endowed with very large pof- fefTions -, being famous for the burying-place of Jofeph of Arimathea, and King Arthur. He beftowed alfc* fome lands upon the church of Winchester, But THE HISTORY OF WALES. But there happened ieveral cafu aides in his time. Brythe, a Subject to Egfride King of Northumberland, pafied over to Ireland, and wafted and deftroyed a great part of that Kingdom. In the fourth year of his reign there happened a remarkable earthquake in the Ifle of Man, which much difturbed and annoyed the Inhabi- tants ; and the year following it rained blood both in Britain and Ireland. This occafioned the butter and milk to refemble the colour of blood ; and two years after the Moon alfo appeared all bloody. Thefe acci- dents of nature might prefage fome tumults and di turbances in the kingdom -, which were very great in his time. For he was almoft in perpetual hoftility with the Kings of Kent, Weft-Sex, and Mercia \ which oc- cafioned great bloodfhed and (laughter in Britain. His Journey to Rome put an end to all thefe commotions* from whence he never did return, but ended his days there in the practice of piety and religion* RODERICK MOLWYNOC. T H E Government of the Britains Ivor refigned to Roderick Molwinoc the fon of Edwal Ywrch, who be- gan his reign An. 720. But Adelred, King of the Weft-Saxons, was difpleafed that Ivor had not beftow- ed upon him his whole kingdom ; and upon that ac- count he is refolved to trouble and plague Roderick and his Britons. He raifed immediately a powerful army* and with all his forces marched to Devonlhire. which he deftroyed with fire and fword. From thence he pro- ceeds to Cornwal, intending to make that country, fen- fible of the fame mifery , but he came far fhort of his expectation 5 for upon his entrance into the county, the Britains oppofed him, and gave him battel, where he was vanquifhed, and forced to retire with all fpeed to his own dominions. This victory the Britains cal- led i THE HISTORY 6? V7 ALES. led Gwaeth Heilyn; from the place where this bat- A.D.72I. tie was, fought. The year following, the Britains again obtained two notable victories over the Sax- ons, the one at a place called Garth Maclawch iri North- Wales, the other at Pencoft in South- Wales, But the joy and fatisfaction which the Britains enter- tained of thefe fuccefles, was fomewhat abated by the death of Belin the fon of Elphin, a Man of noble birthj and great worth among them. About the fame time Celredus King of Mercia died j and was fucceeded by Ethelbaldus, who being very defirous to annex that fertile and pleafant country lying between the rivers Severn and Wye to his kingdom of Mercia, entred Wales with a pxiiffant army. He deftroyed and ravaged the country be- fore him, to Carno, a mountain lying not far from Abergavenny, where he was met with by the Britains between whom a bloody and fore battle was fought in the year 728. but the victory proved very dubi- table. -&D. 733. Not long after died venerable Bede, who was edu- cated and brought up in the Abby of Wyrnefham or larewe-, a man of great learning and extenfive knowledge' ; who wrote fever al books, cine of wKicIi entitled, the Eclefiafticat Hiftory of the Englim Na- tion , he dedicated to Cleolwolfe King of Northumber- land. The fame time Adelred King of the Weft-Sait- ohs, and Ethelbald King of Mercia, united their forces, 1 and jointly marched to fight again-ft the Britains. The Welch were now put to very hard (freights, and forced to oppofe the numerous armies of two power- ful kings. However, fight they mull, or fuffer their country to be miferably over-run by their inveterate enemies. Both armies being engaged, a very difmal battle enfued thereupon, and a very great (laugh- ter happened on both fides , but the Saxons prevail- ing by the number of their forces, obtained a very bloody victory over the powerleis Britains. But Adelred, who was fhortly followed by Edwyn King of the Picts, did not long furvive this battle; and Cudred took upon him the government of the Weil- Saxons. The THE HIST OR Y OF W ALES. 17 The Welch found thcmfelves unable to cope with the Saxons, and tpo weak to reprefs their endl'efs incur- fions -, therefore they apply themfelvts to Cudred and joined in league with him, who upon fome occafion or other, was actually fallen out with Ethelbald King f Mercia.' But Ethelbald Was fo proud with the fuc- A.D.^6 cefs ofthelaft engagement, that notv\ithftanding the league witji Cudred, h'e mlift needs again fall upon the Welch. He advanced as far as Hereford, where the Bricains, by the help of Cudred, gave him a fignal overthrow, and caufcd him to repent of his. rafh and precipitous expedition. But morrly after, Cudred and Ethelbald were unluckily reconciled, and made friends together, 'and Cudred relinquishing the Welch, joined his forces to Ethelbald's. Hereupon cnfued another bat- tle, in which the Welch being 'greatly overpowered, s were vanquiflkd by the "Saxbns ; after which victory, Cudred fhortty died. To him fucceeded Sigebert, a A. 0.743, man of alooie-and Vicious inclination; who fpr his ill behaviour in the management of his kingdom, was in a fhort time" expelled and deprived by his nobility, and at laft- miferably flam -by a raically fwirieherd. After him Kertulphwas ehofehkingof the Weft-Saxons, Ann. 750. in whole -time died Theodore the fon of A. D. 750. Belin, a man of great efteem and reputation among the Brhains. And about th-i fame titne, a remarkable battle was fought between the Britains and the Picts, at a place called Magedawc -, -in which the Picls were put to a total rout, and Dalargan their king cafually ilain. But the Britains did not Succeed fo well againlt the Saxoris , for Roderic Mol\v> r noc v;as at length for- ced to forfake the weftern countries of Britain, and to claim his own inheritance in North Wales. The Ions of Bletius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwal and Devorifliire, who was one of them that vanquilhed Adelred and Ethdbert at Bangor on the river Dee, had enjoyed the government of North Wales ever fince Cadfan was chofe King of Britain. Roderic therefore demanded the government of this country as his right, which he was now willing to accept of, feeing he was forced to quit what he had hitherto poflcffed. C But i8 f H HISTORY OF WALES. But he did long enjoy it, but died in a Ihort time, leaving behind him two fons Conan Tindaythwy and Howel -, after that he had in all reigned over the Bri- tains thirty years. CONAN TINDAYTHWY. IVOderfc Molwynoc being dead, his Ton Conan Tirt- daythwy took upon him the government and prin- cipality of Wales, in the year 755. He was fcarce fettled in his throne, but the Saxons began to make in-roads into his country, to fpoil and deftroy what they conveniently could meet with. They were a- nimated hereto by the bad fuccefs of Roderic-, and having forced the Britains out of Cornwal and Devon- /hire, 'they thought it practicable to drive them out of Wales too, and fo to reduce the pofleflion of the whole Ifland to themfelves. This was their aim, and this they endeavoured to put in execution -, but they were met with at Hereford, where a fevere battle was fought between them and the Welch, in which Dyfwal the fon of Theodore a ftout and valiant foldier, was (lain. And fhortly afterwards died Athelbert King of Northumberland, and was fucceeded by Of- wald. About the fame time happened a religious quarrel between the Britains and Saxons, concerning the ob- fervation of the feaft of Eafter, which Elbodius a learned and a pious Man, endeavoured to rectify in Wales, and to reduce it to the Roman calculation, which the Saxons always obferved. The Britains did differ from the church of Rome in the celebration of this feaft-, and the difference was this. The church of Rome according to the order of the council of Nice, always obferved Eafter-day the next Sunday after the i4th day of the Moon ; fo that it never happened upon the 1 4th day itfelf, nor patted the 21 ft. The Britains THE hi STORY OF WALES. 19 firitains on the other hand, celebrated their Eafter up- on the 1 4th and fo forward to the 2oth, which oc- cafioned this difference, that the Sunday obierved as Eafter- day by the Britains; was but Palm-Sunday with the Saxons. Upon this account the Saxons did mo-fl Uncharitably traduce the Britains, and would fcarcely allow them the name and title of Chriftians. Here- upon, about the year 660, a great conteft happened, managed on the one psrr by Colman and Hylda, who de- fended the rites and celebration of the Britains ; and Gilbert and Wilfride on the part of the SaxOns. Hylda was the niece of Edwine king of Northumberland, educated by Pauline and Aedan. She publickly op- poicd Wilfride and other fuperftitioiis monksj as to Fuch trifles and bigotry in religion, alledging out pf PolycrateSi the taft of Irenseus* who" withftood Victor bifhop of Rome upon the fame account ; and the euftom of the churches of Afia obfervcd by St. John the Evangelift, Philip the Apoftle, Polycarpus and Mclito ; and likewife obferved in Britain by Jo- feph of Arimatheai who firft preached the gofpel here. Offa was made King of Mercia, and Brichtfich of* A.D. 763. the Weft-Saxons -, about which time died Fermacl the fon of Edwal and Cemoyd Kihg of the Pi<5rs. The Saxons did daily encroach upon the lands and' terri- tories of the Welch beyond the river Severn, but more efpecially towards -the fouth part of the coun- try. Thefe encroachments the Welch could not en- durej and therefore were refolved to recover their own, and tb drive the Saxons out of theif country. The Britains of South- Wales:, as receivirtg the greateft A. 0.776] injury and difad vantage from the Saxons, prefently took up arms and entered into the country of Mer* cia ; which they ravaged and deftfoyed with fire and fword. And fhortly after; all the Welch joined their forces together, fell upon the SaxOns, and forced them to retire beyond the Severn, and then returned home, with a very confiderable fpoil of Englifh cattle. The Welch rinding the advantage of this laft incur- fion, and how that by thefe means they gauled and C 2 Vexed 20 THE HISTORY OF WALES. vexed the Saxons, frequently pra&ifed the fame ; and entering their country by Health, they killed and deftroyed all before them-, and driving their cattle beyond the river, ravaged and laid wafte the whole country. Offa -King of Mercia not being able to endure thefe daily incurfions and depredations of tha Welch, entered into a league with the reft of the Sax- on Kings, to bend their whole force againit the Welch j who having railed a very ftrong and numerous army, patted the Severn into Wales. The Welch be- ing far too weak to oppofe and encounter ib great an army, quitted the even and plain country, lying upon the banks of Severn and Wye, and retired to th'.' mountains and rocks, where they knew they could be moft fafe from the inveterate and revenge- ful arms of the Saxons. But as foon as the Saxons decamped, being not able to effect any thing againft them in thefe itrong and natural fortifications, the> Welch ftill made inroads into their territories, and feldom returned without fome confidcrable booty and advantage. The Saxons were heartily nettled at thefe bo-peeping ravagers, and would compliment them ftill to their holes, but durft not purfue them further, for fear they fhould be entrapped by fuch as- defended the ftrcights and paffages into the rocks. King Offa perceiving that he could effect nothing by thefe meafures, annexed the country about Severn and Wye to his kingdom of Mercia, and planted the fame with Saxons. And for a farther fecurity againft the endlefs invafions of the Welch, he made a deep ditch, extending from one fc-a to the other, called Clawdh Offa, or Offa's dike ; upon which account, the royal feat of the Princes of Powys was tranflated from- Pengwern, now Shrewsbury, to Mat-hraval in Montgo- rnerymire. A. D. 755. While thefe things are transacted in the weft, the Danes began to grow powerful at fea, and durft ven- ture to land in the north of England -, but without- doing any great hurt, being forced to betake them- felves to their fliips again. Within fix years ; after, they landed again in greater numbers, and proved much more THE HISTORY OF WALES. 21 rnore terrible , they ravaged and deftroyed a grear part of Linfey and Northumberland, over-run the bell part of Ireland, and miferably wafted Rechreyn. At the fame time a confiderable battle was fought at Ruth- land between the Saxons and the Welch, wherein Ca~ radoc King of North Wales was killed, The govern- ment of Wales was as yet green, and not firmly root- ed, by reafon of the perpetual quarrels and diftur- bances between the Welch and the Saxons ; fo that the chief perfon or lord of any country afiqmed to himfelf the title of king. Caradoc was a per- fon of great efteem and reputation in North Wales, and one that did very much contribute towards the fe- curity of the country, againft the incurfions of the Saxons. He was fon to Gwyn, the ion of Colhoyn, the fbn of Ednowen, fon to Blethyn, the fon of Ble- cius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwall and Devon ft ire. Offa King of Mercia did not long furvive him, and was fucceeded by his fon Egfert, who in a mort time left his kingdom alfo to Kenulphus, a year after that Egbertus was created King of the Weft Saxons. About the fame time died Arthen fon to Sitfylht, the fon of Clydawc King of Cardigan ; and fometime after. Run King of Dyfed, and Cadelh King of Povyys : who were followed by Elbodius Archbifhop of North Wales, be- fore whofe death happened a very fevere eclipfe of the fun. The year following, the moon was like- A< Dtgo3> wife eclipfed upon Chriftmas-day, Thefe fatalities and eclipfes did portend no fuccefs to the Welch af T fairs ; the laying of St. Davids in ames hy the Weft Saxons being followed by a general and a very grie- vious murrain of cattle, which was like to impoverifli the whole country. The following year Owen the. ion of Meredith, the fon of Terudos, dyed ; and the Caftle of Deganwy was ruined and deftroyed by thunder. But thefe feverai loflfes which the Welch fuftained could not reconcile Prince Conan and his brother Howel ; but they muft needs quarrel and contend with one another, when they had the greateft occafion tc frnbrace and unite their endeavours againft the com* C 3 22 THE HISTORYoF WALES. mon enemy. Howel claimed the ifle of Anglefey, as part of his father's inheritance, which Conan would by no means hearken to, nor confent that his brother ftiould take poflefiion of it. It was the cuftom of Wales, that a father's eflate mould be equally diftri- buted between all his ions j and Howel by virtue of this cuftom, commonly called Gavelkind from the word Gafel to hold; claimed that ifland, as his fa- ther's eflate. The cuftom of Gavelkind has been the occafion of the ruin and diminution of the eftates of all the ancient Nobility in Wales ; which being endlefly divided between the feveral fons of the fame family, where at length reduced to nothing. From, hence alfo proceeded ieveral unnatural wars and di n fturbances between brothers ; who being either not iatisfkd with their portions, or difplcafed with the country they were to poffeis, difputed their right by dint of the iword. This proved very true in this prefent inftance j for Howel would not fuffer him- felf to be cheated out of his paternal inheritance, and therefore he would endeavour to recover it by force of arms. Both armies being engaged, the vidory fell to Howel, who immediately thereupon, pofiefled himfelf of the ifland, and valiantly main- gained it againft the power and ftrength of hjs bro- ther Conan* The Welch being thus at variance and enmity among themielves, and ftnving how to deftroy one another ; had yet another difafter added to their misfortune, tor the following year they received a very confi- derable lofs by thunder, which very much fpoiled and annoyed the country, and laid feyeral houies an4 towns in afhes. " About the fame time, GrurHth the ion qf Run a perfon of confiderable quality in Wales, dyed; and Griffri the fon of Kyngen, was treacher- puny murthered by the practices of his brother Elis. ^ut Conan could not reft fatisficd with his brother Howel's forcible pofieffion of the Ifland of Anglefey j and therefore he ' was " refolved to give him another battle, and to force him to reftore and yield up the poffcfllonof that Country, which he had now violently tent THE HISTORY OF WALES. 23 kept in his hands. Howel on the other hand, being as refolutely bent to maintain his ground, and not to deliver up a foot of what he was now, upon a double refpec~t, viz. his father's legacy, and his late conqueft, owner of; willingly met his brother, put him to flight, and killed a great number of his forces. Conan was Cruelly enraged at this fhameful overthrow, and there- fore made a firm refolution, either to recover the Ifland from his brother, or to facrifice his life and his crown in the quarrel. Having drawn up all the A.D.SI forces he could raife together, he marched to An- glefey to feek his brother Howel ; who being too weak to encounter and oppofe fo confiJerable a number, was compelled to make his efcape to the Ifle of Man, and to leave the Ifland of Anglefey to the mercy cf his brother. But Conan did not live long to reap the fatisfaction of this victory, but died in a fhort time, leaving iflue behind him, one only daughter called Eiylht, married to a nobleman of Wales named Mer- fyn Frych. He was fon to Gwyriad or Uriet, the fon of Elidure, who lineally defcended from Belinus the brother of Brennus king of the Britajns. His mo- ther was Neft, the daughter of Cadelh king of Powys, the fon of Brochwel Yfcithroc ; who together with Cad- fan king of Britain, Morgan king of Demetia, and Bledericus king of Cornwall, gave that memorable overthrow to Ethelred king of Nprthumberland, up- on the river Dee, in the year 617. This Brochwel by the Latin writers named Brecivallws and Brochmaelus, -was a very confiderable prince in that part of Britain, called Powys- land ; as ajib Earl of Chefter, and lived in the town then called Pengwerrj Powys, now Salop j in the houfe where fince the college of St. Chad ftands. He was a great friend and a favourer to the monks of Bangor, whofe part he took again.ft the Saxons that were fet on by Auguftine the monk, to profecute them with fire and fword, becaufe they would not forfake the cuftoms of their Qwn church, a.nd conform t? phofe of Rome,. C 4 Werf/a THE HISTORY OF WALES. MERFYN FRYCH and ESYLHT, being dead, Merfyn Frych and his wife Efylht, who was fole heir to Conan, took upon them the government or principality of Wales. This Merfyn was king of Man, and fon to Gwyriat and Neil the daughter of Cadelh ap Brochwel arp Elis king of Powys. Howel being forcibly ejected out of Anglefey by his brother Conan Tindaethwy, eicap- ing to the Ifland of Man, was honourably and kind- ly received by Merfyn ; in return of whofe civilities Howel uled fuch means afterwards that Merfyn mar- ried Efylhr, the daughter and heir of his brother Co- nan, (though others fay, that he died presently after his efcape to Merfyn.) Howel after that he had for a- bout five years enjoyed the Itle of Man, and other lands in the north, given him by Merfyn to hold under him, died about the year 825; afier whofe death, they again returned to Merfyn, whofe an- ceftors had always held the fame, under the kings of the Britains ; and fo, upon his marriage with E- fylht, the Ifle of Man was annexed to the crown of Wales.' In the firfl year of their reign, Egbert, the power- ful king of the Weft Saxons, entered with a mighty army into Wales, deftroyed and wafted the coun- try as far as Snowden Hills, and feized upon the Icrdfhip of Rhyvonioc in Dcnbighland. About the jame time a very fore battle was "fought in Anglefey, between the Saxons and the Welch, called, from the place where this fight happened, the battle of Lhan- vaes. Fortune feemed ail this while to frown upon the Welch, and their affairs Succeeded very ill ; for Shortly after that Egbert had advanced his colours as tar as Snowden, Kenuiph king of Mercia wafted the fQua:^ of Weil Waiqs, over-ran and deftroyed THE HISTORY OF WALES. 25 jPowis-land, and greatly difturbed and incommoded $he Welch nation. Soon after this, Kenulph died, and was iucceeded by Kenelm ; and he in a more time by Ceolwulph, who, after two years reign, left the kingdom of Mercia to Bernulph. Egbert, king of the Weft Saxons, was grown very ftrong and powerful, able to reduce all the petty king- doms in Britain, under one fingle monarchy ; upon the thoughts of which, he fet upon Bernulph, king of Mercia, and vanquifhed him at Elledowne , and after- wards brought under fubjection the countries of Kent and of the Weft Angles. But the Britains could not be fo eafily fubdued ; for after a long and a cruel fight at Gavelford, between them and the Weft Sax- ons of Dcvonmire, in which feveral thoufands were flain on both fides, the victory remained uncertain. He had better fuccefs againft Wyhtlafe, king of Mer- A.D. g cia, whole dominions he eafily added to his now increaf- ing Monarchy ; and patting the Humber, he quickly reduced that country to his fubjecUon. The Saxon heptarchy was now become one kingdom, and Eg- bert fole monarch of 'all the countries that the Saxons pofTetTed in Britain , which name he ordered mould be changed to England, his people to be called En- glifhmen, and the language Englim. They who came over out of Germany into this ifland to aid the Britains againft their enemies the Picls and Scots, were partly Saxons, Angles, and Juthes ; from the firft of which came the people of Eflex, Suffex, Middlefex, and the Weft Saxons ; from the Angles, the Eaft Angles, the Mercians, and they that inhabited the north fide of the Humber; from the Juthes, the Kendfhmen, and they that fettled in the Ifle of W:ght. Thefe Germans, after that they had drove the Britains beyond Severn and Dee ; erecled feven kingdoms called the heptarchy in the other part of the Ifland; whereof, i. Kent. 2. Of the South- Saxons, containing Suffex and Surrey. 3. The Eaft- Angles, in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgemire. 4. The kingdom of the Weft Saxons, comprehending J/erkftu're, pevonfliire, Somerfetmire, and Cornwall. 5. Mercia, 26 THE HISTORY OF WALES. 5. Mercia, containing Glocefter, Hereford, Worceftcr, Shropfhire, Stafford, Chelhire, Warwick, Leicefter, Darby, Nottingham, Lincoln, Northampton, Oxford, Buckingham, Bedford, and half Hertfordshire. 6. The Eaft-Saxons, containing EfTex, Middlefex, and the other part of Hertford. 7. Of the Northum- brians, taking in all the country beyond Humber, which was divided into two parts, Deyra and jBerni- cia; the firft from Humber to Tyne, the other from Tyne to trie Scottifh Sea. Egbert, king of the Weft-Saxons, having feverally conquered theie kingdoms, annexed them together, and comprehended them under one monarchy, which was called the kingdom of England, 968 years after the coming of Brute to this Ifland \ 383 years after the landing of Hengift; ^nd 149 af- ter the departure of Cadwalader to Rome. Egbert having thus united under one government thefe fcveral kingdoms, which ufed continually to, moleft, and to incroach upon each others territories , might reafonably have expected to enjoy his new A.D. 883. kingdom quietly, and not fear any diilurbance or trouble in his dominions. But no fooner was he eftablifhed king of England, but the Danes began to threaten new commotions, and landed in great num- bers, and in divers places of the kingdom. Egbert fought feveral battles with them, and with various fuccefs : at length the Danes landed in Weft Wales, marched forward for England, being joined by a great number of Welch, and met Egbert upon Hengift-down, where a fevere battle was fought, and the Danes put to a total rout. The Welch fuffered feverely for this , Egbert, being highly incenfed that the Danes were fupported by them, laid fiege to Caer Lheon ar Dhyfrdwy, or Chefter, the chief city of Venedotia, which hitherto had remained in the hands of the Welch; took the town, and, among other tokens of his indignation, he caufed the brazen effigies of Cadwalhon, king of Britain, to be pulled down and de- faced, and upon pain of death forbad the erecting of fuch again. He iffued out allb a proclamation, by the {nftU THE HISTORY OF WALES. irrigation of his wife Redburga, who always bore an inveterate malice to the Welch ; commanding all that were any ways extracted from Britifh blood, to de- part, with all their effects, out of his kingdom, within fix months upon pain of death. Thefe were very fevere and jnlupportable terms ; but he did not live long to fee them put in execution -, for dying fhortly after the battle of Hengift-down, he was fucceeded by his fon Ethelwulph. This King Ethelwulph married his daughter to Berthred, who was his tributary king of Mercia, by whofe help he fuccefsfully oppofed the cruel incurfions of the Danes, who miferably deftroy- ed the fea-coafts of England with fire and fword. Thefe Danim commotions being indifferently well ap- peafed, Berthred, king of Mercia, fet upon the Welch, between whom a remarkable battle was fought at a place called Kettell ; where Merfyn Frych, king of the Britains, was killed, leaving to fucceed him in the government of Wales, his fon Roderic Mawr, or the Great. RODERIC THE GREAT, M ERFYN FRYCH having loft his life, and A.D.8 43 . with it his kingdom, in the battle of Kettell j his fon Roderic, furnamed the Great, without any oppofi- tion or conteft, fucceeded in the principality of Wales. The firft thing he effected after his advancement to the crown, was the dividing of Wales into feveral provinces, which he diftinguiflied into theie three ; Aberffraw, Dinevowr, and Mathraval. Berthred, king of Mercia, being animated by his late fuccefs againft Merfyn Frych, purpofed to perform the like exploits zgainft his fon Roderic. And having gained the aid and aGiftance of King Ethelwulph, he entered North Wales, with a ftrong army, and advanced as far as Anglefey, which l}e qruelly and miierably deftroyed. Roderic 2 8 THE HISTORY OF WALES. Roderic met him feveral times, and the Welch did a length fo gaul and torment him, that, in fine, he had little or nothing to boaft of; only Meyric, _one of the chiefeft princes among the Britains, was (lain. But he was foon forced to quit his expedition againft the Welch, and to convert his forces another way, his own dominions requiring their conftant refidence, being feverely threatened by a foreign in- & 2,846. vafion. For the Danes were by this time grown fo very powerful, that they over-ran a great part of England, fought with Athelftan, king of Kent, bro- ther to Ethelwulph , and obtained fo much conqueft, that whereas before they returned to their own coun- try when the weather grew too cold for action, they now took up their winter-quarters in Eng- land. The Welch, in the mean time, being fecu.re from any violence, which might otherwife be expected, from the Englifn ; began to quarrel and fall out a- mongft themfelves. Ithel,king or Gwent, or Wentland, for what occafion not known, fell foul upon the men of Brecknock, who were fo refolute as to fight him ; and the event proved very unfortunate to Ithel, who was flain upon the fpot. It is the unhappinefs of a nation that is governed by feveral petty itates, when it is apprehenfive of no danger from an outward ene- my that it will fall at variance, and create difturbances among itfelf. Had the Britain?, inftead of falling upon one ano- ther, taken the advantage of this opportunity, when the Saxons were altogether employed in oppofmg and repelling the Danes, to increafe and ftrengthen their number, and to fortify their towns ; they might at leaft fecurely have poflefled their own dominions, i* not extended their government to a great part of Eng- land. But a fort of an equality in power, begat aa emulation between the feveral princes, and this emu- lation for the moil part ended in blows and contention ; io that inftead of ftrengthcning themfelves whilft they had refpite from, the Englifh, .they rather weakened their power by inward differences, THE HISTORY OF WALES. 29 Kongen, king of Powys, was gone to Rome, there A. 0.85* to end his days peaceably and religioufly, but his death did not prove fo natural as he expected, being bar- baroufly (lain, or (as fome fay) choaked by his own fervants. Shortly after died Cemoyth, king of the Picts, and Jonathan, lord of Abergeley. It was now become cuftoinary for princes wearied with government to go to Rome, and the Pope willingly difpenied with the refignation of their crowns, by realbn that his Holinefs feldom loft by it. King Ethelwulph paid very dear for his entertainment there, made his kingdom tributary to the Pope, and paid the Peter-pence to the church of Rome. The Saxon genealogifts bring the pedigree of Ethelwulph for fe- veral fuccefllons and generations, up to Adam, as may be feen in Matthew of Weftminfter, who in like manner derives the pedigree of Offa, king of Mercia. 'this has been the cuftom of moft nations, both an- tient and modern : and is always practifed by them whole families are any thing antient and honourable ; fo that it is a very great miftake to feoff at, and de- ride the Welch becaufe they keep up this antient and laudable cuftom. Berthred, king of Mercia, became at length far too weak to repel the daily increafmg power of the Danes, who fo numerouQy poured upon him, that at kft he was forced to relinquilh his kingdom and fly to Rome, where in a fhort time he forrowfully ended his days. Ethelwulph mortly followed, and left his ions, Athelbald, king of the Weft-Saxons, and Athel- hright, king of Kent, and the Eaft-Saxons. Ethelwulph k reported to have been fo learned and devout, that the church of, Winchefter elected him in his youth bifhop of that fee, which function he took upon him about feven years before he was made king. He is faid alfo to have conquered the kingdom of Demetia or South- Wales ; which together with the kingdom of the South-Saxons he beftowed upon his fon Alfred, upon condition he would bring a thoufand men out of Wales to Winchefter, to the aid of his brother Ethelbert aguinft the Danes. Athelbald lucccedin-g his THE MtSTORY OF W A L fe S. his father in the kingdom of the Weft-Saxons, kept his mother-in-law, the wife of Ethel wulph, for his. concubine, and afterwards married her in the city of Chefter. But he did not live long to enjoy this unna- tural conjunction, but dying without ifiue after that he had reigned eight years, kft his kingdom to his brother Athelbright* About the fame time the Danes began again to be- ftir themfelves and fell upon the city of Wirichefter and deftroyed it, which Athelbright perceiving^ after a long fight forced them to quit the land, arid td betake themfelves to fea again. But the Danes quick- ly returned to the Ifle of Thanet, where they remain- ed for that winter, doing much mifchief upon the fea-coaft, and deftroying all places near the fhoars of England* The Englifli were very glad that they durft venture no further, and the more* becaufe the Welch began again to be troublefome, againft whom an army muft be fpeedily difpatched; otherwife they would certainly advance to the Eriglifh. country. Both armies inet at Gweytheh, where "a fierce battle was fought* and a great number (lain on cither fide^ but the victory was not plainly difcoverable. But the Welch not long after, received a cohfiderable lofs by the death of Conan Naiit Nifer, a ildut and fkilful commander, who oftentimes had valiantly repulfed the Englifli forces, and obtained many fignal victories over them; The Danes had been for fome time quiet; Being un- able to venture upon any confiderable action, and therefore they thought it advifeable to fecure only what they had already won* and to expect a re-inforce- ment from their own country. This was quickly tent thern^ under the command of Hungare and Hubba, who landed in England with a very confiderable army of Danes. King Athelbright, whether terrified with a difmal apprehenfion of thefe invaders, or otherwife being irtdiipofed, quickly afterwards gave up the ghoftj leaving the management of his kingdom, to- gether with that of his army againft the Danes, td his brother Ethelred. The Danes in the mean time got THE HISTORY 6r W A L 3. got fure footing, and advanced as far a.<* York, which they miferably deftroyed, killing Ofbright and Elba two Kings of Northumberland that oppofed them. From hence they proceeded, and over-run all the country as far as Nottingham, deftroying and fpoil- ing all before them, and then returned back to York* But having once tafted how fweet the Spoil of a country, much more fertile than their own was, they could not reft fatisfied with what they had al- ready obtained, but muft needs make a farther pro- grels into the country, and fall upon the kingdom of the Eaft-Angks. Edmund king of that country being not able to endure their infolencies, endea- voured to oppofe them, but in the undertaking was unfortunately (lain. And now after the fame man- ner that the Saxons had formerly attained to the conqueft of Britain, the Danes proceeded to the con- queft of England. For the Saxons having found out the fweetnefs of this ifland, and withal, difcovered the weaknefs and inability of the Britains to oppofe them, brought over their numbers by degrees, and in feveral companies, by which they wearied and tired out the Britifh armies. For it is certain that nothing can produce more to the conqueft of an ifland, than the landing an army at feveral places and at feveral Times, which diffracts the counfels and proceedings of the inhabitants, and which at this time for want of fufficient power at fea, could not be prevented. And fo the Danes being informed of the good fuccefs of Hungare and Hubba in Eng- land, fcnt over another army under the command of Bafreck and Aiding, who landed in Weft-Sax, and fought five battles with King Ethelied and his bro- ther Alfred, namely at Hengleficld, Eaftondown, Redd-- ing, Bafing and Mereton, in -which two firft the Eng- lifh overcame, and the three laft the Danes got the? victory. Soon after this Ethelred died, leaving his kmgdorri to his brother Alfred, who no fooner had taken the government upon him but confidered with himfelf what a heavy burthen he was to fuftain, and there- fore- *THE HISTORY OF WALES, fore he began to enquire after the wifeft and learned- eft men that he could hear of, to be direded by them, whom he worthily entertained, making life of their advice as well in the publick government of the kingdom, as in his private ftudies and conference of learning. He fent for two men famoufly learned out of Wales, the one called John de Erigena, fa married Scotus ; the other AfTerius, furnamed Menevenfis. De Erigena was born at Menevia or St. Davids, and was brought up in that college ; who, for the fake of learning* having travelled to Athens^ and beftowed there many years in the ftudy of the Greek, Hebrew, and Caldaick tongues, and the fecret myfteries of philofophy, came to France; where he was well ac- cepted of by Carolus Calvus, or Charles the Bald, and Ludovicus Balbus, or Lewis the Stammerer : and there tranflated the works of Dionyfius Areopagita, De' Ccelefti Hierarchia out of the Greek into the Latin tongue. Being returned home to Wales, he was fent for by this King Alfred, who was then founding and ereding the univerfity of Oxford, of which Erigena became the firft profeflbr and publick red- der. But King Alfred bore fo great a refped to learning, that he would fuffer none to bear any con- fiderable office in his court but fuch as were learn- ed -, and withal, exhorted all perfons to embrace learning, and to honour learned meYi. But though a: love to learning be ieldom reconcileable with a war- like and a military life, King Alfred was alfo forced to regard the difcipline of war to defend his king- dom againft the increafing power of the Danes. For he was fcarce fettled in his throne, but this reftlefs and ever troublefome people began to moldl and de- ftroy his country, infomuch that he was of neceffity forced to oppofe them, which he did twice upon die fouth fide of the river Thames, m which engage- ments he (lew of the Danes one king, nine earls, to- T gether with an innumerable multitude of inferior fol- diers. About the fame time Gwgan ap Meyric ap' Dunwal ap Arthen ap Sitfylht, prince of Cardigan, died, being as ibme fay* unfortunately drowned. But the late THE HISTORY OF WALES. late victories which Alfred had obtained over the Danes, did not fo much weaken and difheanen them, but that in a fhort time they recovered their fpirits and began again to look terrible and threatening. For as foon as they could re-unite their fcattered forces, they fet upon and deftroyed the town of Alclyde, won the city of London and Reading, over-ran all the inland country, and the whole kingdom of Mercia. Another army of Danes at the fame time proved very fuccefsful in the North and poffefffd themfelves of the country of Northumberland, which action did not fo much grieve the Englifh, as trouble and vex the Picls and Scots, who were incerTantly gaultd, and frequently beat off by thefe Danilh troops. The next year three of the Danifh captains marched from Cambridge towards Warham in Dorfetfhire, of whierfc expedition King Alfred being informed, prefently detached his forces to oppofe them, and to offer them battle. The Danes were fo ftartled at this, that they immediately defired peace, and willingly con- fented forthwith to depart out of the country, arid to forfwear the fight of Englilh ground. According to which capitulation, the horfe that night marched for Exeter, and the foot being fhipped off, were all of them' drowned at Sandwich. The Danes ha- ving thus abjured England, were not will.ng to re- turn home emp-y, but thought it prudent to bend their courfe againft Wales. They fancied that they were like to meet with no great oppofition from the Welch, and therefore could carve for themfelves ac- cording as their fancy directed them. But having land- ed their army in Anglefey, they quickly experienced the contrary ; Prince Roderic oppofing them, gave them two battles, one at a place called Bengole, and the other at Menegid in Anglefey.. At the fame time another army of Dan.es under the command of Hal- den and Hungare landed in South- Wales, over-ran the whole country, deftroying all before them, nc-i- their fparing churches nor religious houfes. But th.ey received their due reward at the hands of the Welt axons, who meeting with them on the coaRs of De- + vgnmire. 34 E T- g R Y- Q F W A k E S. yonfhire, flew both Halden and Hungare, with I2OQ of their men. The fame 'year Eiriion, bifliop of St.' Davids died, and was the following year fucceeded by" Hubert, who was inftalled in his place. A. p. 8 7 6. The Englifh being rid of their powerful and ever reftlefs enemies the Danes^ began now to quarrel with the Welch, entering into "Anglefey, with a numerous army, fought a fore battle with Roderic, who together with his brother (or as others fay his fon) Gwyriad, was unhappily flain in the field, which battle is called by the Welch, Gwaith Duw Sul y Mon. This Ro- deric had iffue by his wife Angharad, Anarawd, Ca- clelh and Merfyn, the laft" of which, Giraldus Cam- brenfis, contrary to the vulgar and received opinion, will have to be the eldeft fon of Roderic, iipon whom was bcftowed the principality of North- Wales. For' it was unanimouQy granted that Roderic was undoubt- ed proprietor of all the dominions of Wales, North- Wales defcending unto him by his mother Efylht, the daughter and fole heir of Conan Tyndaethwy; South- Wales by his Wife Angharad, the daughter of Mcyric ap Dyfnwal ap Arthen ap Sitfylht, King of Cardigan ; Powis by Nefl, the filler and heir of Con- gen ap Cadeih, King of Powis his father's mother. Thefe three dominions Roderic divided between his. three fons, appointing North- Wales for his eldeft fon Anarawd, South-Wales to Cadeih, who fhortly after his father's death, forcibly feized upon his brother Merfyn's portion, upon whom Roderic had beftowed, Powis-Land. Wates being thus divided between thefe' three princes, they were called Y Tri Ty wyfoc Talae~ thioc, or the three crowned princes, by reafon that each of them did wear on his helmet a coronet of gold, being a broad 'head band indented upward, fet. and wrought with precious ftones, which in the Britifh Tongue is called Taleath. To each of thefe princes Roderic built a royal feat, for trie Prince of Gwyneth or North- Wales, at 'Aberffraw i of South- Wales, at Pinefawr ; for' the Prince of Powis, at MatHrafel, Roderic 'had iffue 'alfo, befides thofe three, Roderic, Meyric, Edwal or Tudwa), Gwyriad and Gathelic. But THE HI STORY OF WALES. 35 But Roderic having divided his principality betwixt }iis eldeil Tons, namely, Aberffraw, with the fifteen cantreds thereunto belonging to Anarawd; Dinefawr with its 15 cantreds extending from the mouth of the ri- ver Dofij to the mouth of Severn to Cadelh j and Powis with fifteen cantreds from the mouth of the river Dee, to the bridge over Severn at Gloctfter to Merfyn : Ordained, " That his elded fon Anarawd, and his fuc- cefTors, mould continue the payment of the ancient tribute to the Crown of England ; and the other two, their heirs and fucceflbrs fhould acknowledge his fo- vereignty; and, that upon any foreign invafion, they fhould mutually aid and protect one another." And he farther appointed, " That when any diffe- rence fhould arife betwixt the Princes of Aberffraw and Cardigan or Dinefawr, the three Princes mould meet at Bwlch y Pawl, and the Prince of Powis mould be umpire. But if the Prince of Aberffraw and Powis fell at variance, they mould meet at Dol Rhian- edd, probably Morva Rhianedd, on the bank of the river Dee, where the King of Cardigan was. to. adjuft the controverfy -, and if the quarrel happened betwixt the Princes of Powis and Cardigan, the meeting was appointed at Llys Wen upon the river Wye, and to be decided by the Prince of Aberffraw." And the better to fruftraje any attempt of the Eng- lim, he ordained moreover, " That all flrong. holds, caftles and citadels, mould be fortified ar.cl kept in re- pair ; that all churches and religious houfes mould be re-edified and adorned, and that in all ages the hiftory of Britain, being faithfully regiftered and transcribed, fhould be kept therein. ANARAWD 36 . TTHE HISTORY OF WALES. A N A R A W T HE Welch had often forrowftiHy felt the unnHr tural effefts of inward feditions, and of being go- verned by feveral princes, which were now unavoid*- ably to be renewed by reafon of Rodric's imprudent divifion of his dominions between his three fons. For the feveral principalities being united in him, it was certainly the moil politic means for the prefervation of the country from the inveterate fury of the Englifh, to compote the inward differences which would other- wife happen, by perpetuating the whole government of Wales in one prince. For it was impoflible effec- tually to oppofe the common enemy by feparate ar- mies, and where a different intereft interfered, as if the fafety of the fame country, and the honour of the prince were unanimoufly regarded. This was the un- happintfs of the ancient Britains, when the Romans invaded their country ; domeltk: broil and inward dif- fentions being fown among themfe-lves, they could not agree to unite their powers, and jointly to oppofe the common enemy-, fo that Tacitus wifely concludes, Du;n jmguli pugnant unherfi vinamtur. There are few nations but h^ve experienced the folly of being rtnt into feveral portions, and the downfal of that great tody the Roman empire, may not be abfurdly attributed to Conftantine's dividing ojf it between his fons. But the Welch at this time prefently felt the unhappinels of it ; Cadelh, Prince of South-Wales, being difTatisfied with his portion, and defirous to feed his ambition with larger terri- tories, could not fpare his brother Merfyn's country, tut muft needs forcibly difpoflefs him of his lawful inheritance, and fo involve the Wtlch in a Civil TH E H i S T O & Y O~F W A L E S. 37 But the fuccefiion of the Princes of Wales pro- V:eeds in Anarawd, the eideft fon of Roderic, who began his reign oVer North- Wales-, in the year 877. 8- At that time Rollo, with a numerous army of Nor- ; mans defcended into France, and poffdled themfdves of the country of Neuftria, which from them has fince received the name of Normandy. But the treache- rous Danes in England, who had retired to the city r>f Exeter, quickly violated the capitulation which they had lately fwore to obferve, and upon that ac- count were fo warmly purfued by King Alfred, that They gladly delivered up hoftages for the performance of the articles formerly agreed upon between them: But it was not their intention to keep them long, for the rifcfct year they iigain broke lofe-, pc^'fled rhemfelves of all the country upon the north fide of Thames, and patting the river, put the Englim. to flight, and made themfclves mailers of Chip pen- ham in Weft-Sax-. But their whole army did not fucceed fo well, for Alfred meeting with a party of them, flew their captain ar.d took their ftandard, which rfie Danes called RAVEN. After this he van- iqiiifhed them again at Edendown, where after that the Danes had given hoftag'es for their peaceable beha- viour ; Godtun, their commander, received the Chrif- tian fftithj and fo reigned in Eaft- Angle. But this opportunity feerned to threaten a great ilorm upori Wales; for befides the death of Aedari, the fofi ofA.D-37S Melhr, . a nobleman of the country, the articles of compofition between the EnglilH and the Danes, oc- cafioned thefe lafl to join their rjower with the peo- ple of Mercia to fight againft the Welch, between whom a levere battle was fought at Conwcy, wherein the Welch obtairted a very figrtal victory, which was called " Dial Rodri, or the Revenge of the Death of Prince Roderic." The reafdn why the Mefciaris wre fd irreconcilably enraged againft the Welch at this time, was this : Af- ter the death of Roderic the Great, the northern Bri- tains of Stratclwyd and Cumberland were mightily in- dited and weakened through the daily incurfions of the D 3 Danes, 3 8 THE HISTORY OP WALES. Danes, Saxons and Scots, inibmuch that as many of them as would not fubmit their necks to the yoke were forced to quit their country, and to feek for more' quiet habitations. Therefore towards the beginning of Anarawd's reign, fevcral of them came to Gwyncth, under the conduct of one Hobcrt, whofe diflrcffetl condition the prince commiferating, granted them all the country betwixt Chefter and Conwey to feat them- felves in, in cafe they could drive out the Saxons who had lately poffeifed themfelves of it. The Britains having returned their thanks to Ana- rawd, prefently fell to work, and neceffity giving edge to their valour, they eafily difpofieffed the Saxons who were not as yet warm in their feats. For fome time they continued peaceably in this part of Wales ; but Eadrecl, Duke of Mercia, called by the Welch Edryd Wallthir, not being able any longer to bear fuch an ig hominious ejection, made great preparations for the re-gaining of the laid country. But the northern Bri- tains, who had fettled themfelves there, having intel- ligence of his defign, for the better fecurity of their cattle and other effects, removed them beyond the river Conwey. Prince Anarawd in the mean time was not idle, but drawing together all the ftrength he could raife, encamped his army near the town of Conwey at a place called Cymryt, where himielf and his men having made gallant refinance againfb the preffing efforts of the Saxons, obtained a very compleat victory. This battle was by fome called Gwacth Cymryt Con- wey, by reafon that it was fought in the townfhip of Cymryt, near Ccnwey. But Prince Anarawd would have it called Dial Rodir, becaufe he had there reven- ged the death of his father Rodri. In this battle Tudvval, Rodri's Ion, received a wound in the knee, which made him be donominated Tud- wal Gloff ever after ; but for his fignal fervice in this action his brethren btftuwed upon him Uchelogoed Gwynedd. .But the Britains puriuing their victory | chaled the Saxons quite out of Wales into Mercia,. where having burnt and deftroyed the borders, they returned hcme laden with rich Ipoils, and fo took poffeffion TH E H I S T b Y OF WALE 3. polTefllon of the country betwixt Chefter and Cohwey, -which for a long time after they peaceably enjoyed, ftut Anarawd to exprefs his tliankfulnefs to God for this great victory, gave very corifiderable lands and pofleffions to the collegiate churches of Baiigor.arid Clynnoc Vawr in Arfdn. After this, thofe Danes that lay at Fulhcnnam hear London, croiTed the fea to France, and qpafiing to Paris along the. river Seyn, "fpoiled the country thereabouts, and vanquifhed the French, that came againfb them j but in their return to- wards the fea coaft, they were met with by the Britains of Armorica, v'ho flew the greateft part of them, and the reft confufedly endeavouring to efcape to their 'mips, were all drowned. One Ihould tTiink that the feveral misfortunes the Danes fuftained fi'rft at Sandwich, then by King Al- fred, and now in France, would have quite drained their number, and utterly have / rid Britain from fo troublefoiiie an enemy. But like ill. weeds, the more you root them, the tafber they will grow*, the Danes were iliil fupplied from ahroad, and if an army was vanquiihed here, another was ftirc to come in their room. Tins the Welch found too true, for not long after this famous defeat by the Armorican Britains, the Danes not able to venture upon thefe, were re- folved to revenge tlierrtfelves upon their friends of Wales"; and therefore landing in North-Wales, they cruelly harraifeil and deilroycd the cpuntry. Nor is it itrange to confider from whence fuch a wonderful number of Danes arid Normans could come. For the kingdom of Denmark had under it, not only Denmark, which is a ImaU country divided by the fea into Infulas and Peiiinfulas, as tHat vvhich joins Upon Saxony and Holfatia, called CymBrica Cheribne- fus, with the iflands of Zealand and Finhen, but alfo Norway, and the large country of Sweden, reaching to Mufcovy, and almoft to the North-Pole. This coun- try being then fcarce known to the world, did of a.fudden pour put fuch a multitude of people, which like a fudden ftorm unexpectedly over-ran all Europe, with a great pare of the country of Africa, From EX 4 hence 40 THE HISTORY OF WALES. h nee proceeded thefe Danes who annoyed England j ard the Normans, who conquered France ; both na- tions being originally derived from the lame flock. D.8 5 o. The Danes had not appeared in England for fome time, and therefore are now fefolved to take fo fure a footing, as they cannot eafily be repulfed. Two hun- dred and fifty fail being landed at Lymene in Kent, hard by the great foreft of Andreflegc, they built the caftie of Auldre or Apledore. The iam# time Haft- in- with a fleet of eighty fail ventured to the Thames mouth, and built the caftle of Mydlton ; having firft made an oath to King Alfred, not to moleft him or any of his fubjefts : but having built the caftle of Beumfleer, he thought himfelf to have obtained fo great a ftrength, that there was no nccefiity of obfcrv- ing the oath lately fworn to King Alfred, and therefore invaded the country round about him. But he foon found his miftake, and was forced to betake himfelf back to his caftle, which was quickly pulled down upon his head, and his wife and two fons taken prifo- ners , who being chriftened, were again reftored .to their father. Upon this Hafting and his Danes de- parted from England, and made their way for France v where laying fiege to the city of Limogis, and dclpair- ing of a fpeedy furrender of it, betook himfelf to hi* ufual way of dealing fmiftroufly, and ctevifed this trick to win the town r He feigned himfelf to be darfgeroufly irck, and fent to the bimop, and the conful of the city, tiefiring of them moft earneftly, that 'he might be ad-<- mitted to the Chriftian Faith, and be baptized before* his departure out of this world. The bimop and con- ful fulnecling no deceit, v/ere very glad, not only to be? delivered from the prefent danger of being befieged r but alfo to win fo greafc a perfon to the congregation of Chrift. Whereupon a firm peace being concluded betwixt both nations, Hafting is baptized, tne bifhop- and conful being his godfathers ; which being ended, he was carried back by his foldiers to his mips, in a 1 very infirm condition, as he outwardly pretended. About midnight he -eaufed himfelf with his arms about him to be laid on a bier, and commanded his : foldiers" THE HISTORY OF WALES. 4* fbldiers to carry their weapons with them under their coats, and ib to be ready when he mould give them the word. The next day, all things being in a readi- neis, he was folemnly brought by his foldiers with great clamour and conterieit mourning, to be interred in the chief church of the city , where the bifhop and conful, accompanied with all the moft honourable members of the town, came to honour the funeraL but when the bifhop had made himfelf ready to bury the body, and all the citizens being in the church,- up ftarts Hading with his Sword drawn, and killing firft the bimop and the conful, after- wards fell in with his armed foldiers upon the naked people, putting all to the fword, and fparing neither age, fex, nor infirmity. Having ranfacked the town, he fent meffrngers to Charles the French king, to mediate for peace, which he eafily obtained, together with the town of Chartres towards the defraying of his charges. At this time Hennith ap Bledric, a baron of Wales* ^. D. 89*. died i and two years after, Anarawd prince of North 893. Wales, with a confiderable number of Englifh, ' march- ed againft his brother Ca Stafford, Lincoln, and Nottingham. Thert Aulafe, King of the Danes, finding it impracticable to withftand the force of King Edmund, defired peace^ and 'withal to be initiated into the Chriftian Faith; which being granted him, and all his Danes received baptifm, King Edmund (landing godfather at the font: after which both parties concluding a firm and a laft- ing peace^ Edmund honourably returned to Wefl- Snxony. The fame year died Abloic, chief King of Ireland : And the year following, Cadelh, the fon of ArthUal, a hoblerhan of Wales, was, for what reafoh not difco- Vered, imprifoned by the Englifli. To reverige which indignity;, Edw.il Foel ahd his Brother Elis, gathered their forces together^ and fought againft the Erigliih and Dalies^ but were both unlnppily (lain. This Edwal Foe) had fix forts, Meyricj leiraf, lagOj Conan, Edwal, Fychanj and Roderic : and his rjrothef Elis had iffue Conan, and a daughter, named Trawft^ the mother of Con?n ap Sitfylht, Gruffydh ap Sitfylhr^ and Blethyn ap Confyn^ which two lad were afterwards Princes of Wales; HOWEL DHA. H OWEL DHAi had.bee'n for a cohfiderable time Prince of South- Wales and Povvis -, in which govern- ment he had fo juftly and difcreetly behaved himfelf, that upon the death of Edwal Foci, he was worthily Ji preferred 5 o THE HISTORY OF WALES. preferred to the principality of Wales : Notwithftancl^ inp- that Edwal had kit behind him feveral Ions, who at firft ieemed to murmur at and refent the election of Howel Dha. The firll thing he took caYe of, was "to enact good and wholfom laws for the benefit of his country ; which held in force in Wales, till the time of Edward the firft, when the Wekh received the laws of England, yet not fo generally, but that in fome places they continued long after, and are (till to be feen in the Welch and Latin tongue : For Howel Dha perceiving the laws and cuftoms of his country to have grown to great abufe, fent for the Archbifhop of Menevia, with the reft of the biftiops and chief clergy, to the number of one hundred and forty, and all the barons and nobles of Wales, and ordered that fix of 1 the wifeft and bcft efteemed perlbns in every commote Ihotild be cited before him, at his palace called y Ty Gwyn ar Taf, or the White Houfe upon the river Tar. Thither coming himfelf, he remained with his nobles, prelates,, and fubjects for all the Lent, in prayers and Jailing, imploring the affiftance and direction of God's holy Spirit, that he might reform the laws and cuftoms of the country of Wales, to the honour of God, and the peaceable government of his fubjecls. Towards the end of Lent, he chole out of that afiembly twelve of the wifefl; and graved, and perfons of the greateft experience, to whom he added Blegored, a man of iingular learning, and one exquifitely verfed in the laws. To thefe he gave commifiicft to examine the antitnt laws and cuftoms of Wales, and to collect out of them what was requifite towards the, government of the country , according to which charge they re- tained thole that were wholfom and profitable, ex* pounded thofe that were doubtful and ambiguous, and abrogated them that were fuperftuous and hurt- ful : And fo thefe laws were dift;nguifhed into three forts -, the firft concerned the order and regulation of the king's houmokl and court -, the fecond, the affairs of the country and commonwealth-, and the laft had* regard to fpecial cuftoms belonging to particular per- ions and places. All which being publicly proclaim- ed THE mSTOk? OF WALES, td and generally allowed of, Prince Howel ordered three Copies to be written ; one for his own ufe, ano- ther to be laid up at his palace of AberrfYaw> and the third at Dinefawr; fo that the three provinces of. Wales might have eafy rccourfe to either of them, when need required. And for the better obfervation of thefe laws, he caufed the Archbimop of St. David's to de- nounce fentence of excommunication againft all fuch of his fubjeclrs as would not obey the fame. Within a while after, Howel, to admit nothing that might procure any countenance or authority to thefe his Jaws,- accompanied with Lambert, Archbimop of St. David's, Mordaf, Bilhop of Bangor, and Chebur of St Afaph, and thirteen of the mod prudent and learned perlbns in Wales, took a journey to Rome, wherj the laid laws being recited before the Pope, were by his holinefs ratified and confirmed : after which, Howel> \vith all his retinue^ returned home to his country. The particulars of thefe laws are too numerous to be here irtferted ; only it is obfervable, that all matters of inheritance of land were determined and adjudged by the prince in perfon ; or if fick, by his fpecial de=- puty. . And that upon view of the fame land, citing together the freeholders of that place, two elders of his council, the chief juftice always attending in the court, the ordinary judge of the country where the land lay, and the priefc. The method of their proceeding was in this manner : The prince fate in his judicial-feat above the reft of the court, with an elder on each hand* next to \vhom the freeholders on both fides^ who upon that Account were probably called UCHELWYR. Below the prinqe, at a certain diliance, fate the chief juftice, having the prieft on his right hand, and the ordinary judge of the country concerned upon the left* The court being thus fate, the plaintiff with his advocate, champion find Rhingylh or fergeant, flood on the left fide or the court, as did the defendant in like manner on the fight. And laftly, the witneffes on both {ides appear- ed, and flood at the lower end of the hall, directly E a oppo- 5 * THE tUSfORYoF WALES. oppofite to the chief juftice, to teftify the beft of their knowledge in the matter in debate. After the taking the drpofitions of the witncffes, and a full pleadfng of the caufe in open court, upon notice given by the fergeant, the chief juftice, the prieft, and the ordinary judge, withdrew themfelves for a while, to confult of the matter , and then fecundum alkgata & prolata^ brought in their verdict. Whereupon the prince, after coniultation had with the elders that late next him, gave definitive lentence ; excepting the caufe was fo obfcure and intricate, that the juftice of it could not appear , and then the two champions put an end to the controverfy by combat. Whilft Howel Dha is thus regulating the cuftoms, and meliorating the laws and conftitutions of Wales ; Aulafe and Reginald, Kings of the Danes, forcibly entered the country of King Edmund, who being vexed with their inceflant hoftility, gathered his forces together, and (as fome fay) by the help of Lhewelyn ap Sitfylhr, who was afterwards Prince of Wales, fol- lowed them to Northumberland , and having overcome them in a pitched battle, utterly chafed them out of his kingdom, and remained a whole year in thofe parts to regulate and bring that country to foine quiec order. But finding it impracticable to reduce the in- habitants of Cumberland to any peaceable conftituticn y having fpoiled and wafted the country, he gave it up to Malcolm king of Scotland, upon condition that he fhould fend hfm luccours in his wars whenever A. D. 942.demanded of him. In the mean time the Welch had but little occafion to rejoice , Hubert bifhop of St. David's, Marclois bifhop of Bangor, and UfTa 94*. the fon of Lhafyr being dead : And fhortly after the Englifh entering into Wales with a very ftrong army, put the country into a great confirmation , but be- ing fatisfied with the deilruflion and fpoil of Strat Clwyd, they returned home without doing any more mitchief. The fame time Conan the fon of Elis was like to be treacherouily put to death by poi- fon> and Everus bifhop of St. David's died. The next THE HISTORY OF WALES. 53 next year Edmund King of England was unluckily (lain Upon St. Auguftine's day,; but the manner of his death is varioufly delivered ; fome fay, that difcoyer- ing a noted thief, who was out-lavved fitting among his guefts, being tranfported with indignation again.fi fo confident a villain, ran upon him very furioufly, who expecting nothing lefs than death, thought to die not unrevenged, and therefore with a fhort dag- ger gave the king a mortal wound in the breait. Others report, that as the King would have refcued a fervant of his from an officer who had arrefted him, he was unwittingly and unhappily (lain by the fame. But however his death happened, he lies buried at Glaftenbury ; in whofe place his brother Edred was crowned King of England, who no fooner had en- tered upon his government but he made an expedition againft Scotland and Northumberland, which being fubdued, he received fealty and homage by oath of the Scots and Northumbrians, which they did not long obferve. Shortly after Howel Dha, after a long A. 0.948. and peaceable reign over Wales, died, much lamented and bewailed of all his fubje&s, being a prince of a religious and a virtuous inclination, and one that ever regarded the welfare and profperity of his people. He left ifTue behind him, Owen, Run, Rodenc, and Edwyn, betwixt whom and the fons of Edwal Foel, Jate Prince of North Wales, great wars and com- motions arofe afterwards about the chief rule and go- vernment of Wales. But the fons of Howel Dha, as fome writers record, were thefe, viz. Owen who did not long furvive his father, Eineon, Meredyth, Dyfnwal, and Rodri, the two laft whereof, as is conceived, were flain in the battle fought near Lhanrwft, in the year 952,^ by the fons of Edwal Foel , Run lord of Cardigan, who was flain before the death of his father ; Conan y Cwn, who pofifefied Anglcfey ; Edwin, who was alfo flain, as is fuppofed in the forementioned battle: There was. alfo another battle fought betwixt Howel and Conan ap Edwal Foel for the Ifle of Anglefey, wherein Conan fell; and Gruffydh his ion renewing the war, was likewife E 3 over. 54 T.HE HISTORY OF WALES. overcome 5 and fo Cyngar, a powerful perfon, being clr'vcn out of the ifland, Howel enjoyed quiet poflefc fion thereof, snd of the reft of Gwynedh, It is fup-> pofed that this Howel Dha was .chofcn governor of Wales, during the minority of his uncle Anarawd's fons, who, at the death of their father, were too young to manage the principality -, which he kept^till his return from Rome, at which time Edwal Foel being come of age, he refigned to him the kingdom of Gwynedh or North Wales, together with the fo- vereignty of all Wales : Before which time Howel is fly led Brenhin Cyrriry oil, that is, King of all Wales, as is feen in the preface to that body of laws compiled t>v him,. I E V A F and I A G O the SONS of EDWAL FOEL. /AFTER the death of Howel Dha, his fons di- vided betwixt them the principalities of South Wales and Powis ; laying no claim to North Wales, though their father had been a general Prince of all Wales, But levaf and lago the Tons of Edwal Foel, having put by their elder brother Meyric, as a perfon unca-r pable of government, and being difiatisfied with the rule of North Wales only, imagined that the prin- cipality of all Wales was their right, as defcending from the elder houfe ; which the fons of Howel Dha denied them. Indeed, they had been wrongfully kept out of the government of North Wales during the reign of Howel ; in whofe time the recovery of their own was impracticable, by reafon that for his mode- ration and other good qualities, he had attracted to himfdf the univeifaj love of all the Welch. But now, he being gone, they are refolved to revenge the injury received by him upon his fons.: and upon a, * T '" ** it T H E H I S T O R Y o F W A L E S. 55 fmall pretence, endeavour to reduce the whole coun- try of Wales to their own fubjection. levaf and lago were indeed defcended from the elder branch ; but fmce Roderic the Great conferred the principality of South Wales upon his younger fon Cadelh, the fa- ther of Howel Dha, it was but juft his fons fhould en- joy what was legally defcended to them by their fa- ther : But ambition feldom gives place to equity ; and therefore, right or wrong, levaf and lago muft have a touch for South Wales, which they enter with a great army -, and being oppofed, they obtained a very opportune victory over Owen and his brethren the ions, of Howel, at the hills of Carno. The next year A -Q-9 the two brothers entered twice into South Wales, de- ftroyed and wafted Dyfet, and flew Dwnwalhon lord of the country. Shortly after which, Roderic the 95*. third fon of Howel Dha died. But his brethren per- 9 , a . ceiving the folly of {landing only upon the defensive, muftered all their forces together, and entering North Wales, marched as far as Lhanrwft upon the river Conwy ; where levaf and lago met them. A very cruel battle enfued upon this, and a very great num- ber were flain on both fides, among whom were Ana- rawd the fon of Gwyriad, the fon of Roderic the Great ; and Edwyn the fon of Howel Dha. But the victory plainly favoured the brothers levaf and lago ; fo that the Princes of South Wales were obliged to retire to Cardigan mire, whether they were warmly purfued -, and that country cruelly harrafied with fire and fword. The next year Merfyn was unhappily 953. drowned ; and ihortly after Congelach King of Ire- land was flain. The Scots and Northumbrians having lately fworn allegiance to King Edred, he was fcarce returned to his own country, but Aulafe, with a great army, landed in Northumberland, and was with much re- joicing received by the inhabitants. But before he could lecure himfelf in the government, he was fhame- fully banifhed the country ', and fo the Northumbrians elected one Hircius, the Jon of Harold for their king. But to mew the inconftancy of an unfettled multitude, E 4 THE HISTORY OF WALES. they foon grew weary of Hircius, and after three years fpace expelled him, and voluntarily fubmitted themfelves to Edrcd, who after he had reigned eight years, died, and was buried at Wincherter. To him iucceeded Edwin" the ion of Edmund, a man fo im- moderately given to venery, that he forcibly married another man's wife ; for which, and other irregulari- ties, his fubjects, after four yeajs reign, let up his brother Edgar, who was crownecl in his (lead ; with .958. grief of which, he foon ended his days. The fum- mer, that fame year, proved fo immoderately hot, that it caufed a very difmal plague in the following ipring, which fwept away a great number of people ; before which, Gwgan the fon of G.wyriad the fon or Roderic died. At this time, levaf and lago forcibly managed the government of all Wales, and acted ac-: cording to their own good pleafure, no one daring to confront or refift them. But for all their power^ the fons of Ablolc King of Ireland, ventured to land in Angldey <, and having burnt Holy head, waited the coumry of Lhyn. Alfo the fons of Edwyn the fon of Colhoyn, destroyed and ravaged all the country to. 5* !> . Towyn, where they were intercepted and (lain. About the fame time died Meyric the fon, of Cadfan, Rytherch bifhop of Sc. David's, and Cadwalhon ap Owen. Not long after, the country of North Wales was cruelly 965- wafted by the army of .Edgar King of England ; the occafion of which invafion was the noivpayment of the tribute that the kin of Aberffraw, by the laws of Howel Dha, was obliged to pay to the King of London. But at length a peace was concluded upon thefe conditions, that the Prince of North Wales, in- (fcead of money, mould pay to the King of England the tribute of 300 wolves yearly ; which creature was^ then very pernicious and deftruciive to England and Wales. This tribute being duly performed for two! years, the third, year there were none to be found in any part of the. Ifland-, fo that afterwards the. Prince of North Wales became exempt from, pay-,. ing any acknowledgment to the Kine; of England. ?6. The terror apprehended from the Englith, being by. thefe THE HISTORY OF WALES. 5^ {hefe means vanifhed ; there threatened another cloud from Ireland , for the Irifh being animated by their late expedition, landed again in Anglefey ; and having (lain Roderic the fon of Edwal Foel, they deftroyed Aberffraw, And this danger being over, levaf and A - D< 9 6 7 Jagco who had jointly and agreeably, till now, mana- ged the government of Wales from the death of Howel Dha, began to quarrel and difagree among themfelves ; and lago having forcibly laid hands upon his brother levaf, confined him to perpetual Imprifonment. ^ Thefe heats and animofities between the two brothers, gave occafion and opportunity to Owen prince of South- Wales to carve for himfelf, who prefcntly feized to his hands the country of Gwyr. And to &$* augment the miferies of the Welch at this time, Mactus the fon of Harold, with an army of Danes, entered the ifle of Anglefey, and fpoiled Penmon. King Edgar was fo indulgent to thefe Danes, that he permitted them to inhabit through all England ; info- much that at length they became to be as numerous and as ftrong as the Englifh themfelves ; and fell int fuch lewd courfes of debauchery, and fuch horrid drinking, that very great mifchief enfued thereupon. The king to reform this immoderate ibttimneis, en- acted a law, that every one mould drink by meafurre, and fo (lamped a mark upon every veflel, how far it fhould be filled. But Harold having taken Penmon, 97 ** made fubject to himfelf the whole ifle of Anglefey, which however he did not keep long, being forced to quit the fame, and to return home , as did the fleet of king Alfred, which he had fent to fubdue Caerlheon upon Ufe. And now being rid of the" Englifh and 97I . Danes, the Welch begin to raife commotions among themfelves. levaf continued ftill in prifon, to refcue whom, his fon Howel railed his power, and marched againft his uncle lago, who being vanquifhed in fight, , was forced to quit the country, to lave himfelf. Howel Jiaving won the day, tqok his eldeft uncle, Meyric the fon of Edwal prifoner, and pulled out both his eyes, clapt him in prifcn, where in a woeful condition he jjhoftly died, leaving behind him two fops, Edwal and lonafalj THE HISTORY OF WALES, lonafal ; the firft of which lived to be afterwards prince of Wales, and to revenge upon the pofterity of Howel, that unnatural barbarity fhewed to his father. But though Howel delivered his father from his long and tedious imprifonment, yet he did not think fit to reilorc him to his principality ; for whether by age or infirmity he was incapable, Howel took upon him the fole go- vernment of Wales, which he kept and maintained for his lifetime, but afterwards it defcended to his brethren. For levaf had iflue befides this Howel , Meyric, levaf, and Cadvtalhan ; all three men of great repute and efleem. About this time died Morgan Hen, in his younger days called Morgan Mawr, being an hundred years old, having lived fifty years after the death of his wife Elen, daughter of Roderic the great, by whom he had one fon called Owen. Morgan was a valiant and a victorious prince, and well beloved of his fubjecls ; but fometime before his death, Owen, the fon of prince Howel Dha, laid claim to Yftradwy and Ewy, (called the two Sleeves of Gwent Uwchcoed'} being the right of Morgan, and feized upon them to his own ule. But the matter, through the mediation of the clergy and nobility, being by both parties referred to the de- cifion of Edgar king of England, it was by him ad- judged, that the faid Lands did of right belong to Morgan, and to the diocefs of LhandarT; and that Owen ap Howel Dha had wrongfully poilt-flcd himfelf of them. The charter of the faid award was made before the archbifhops, bifhops, earls, and barons of England and Wales , as may be feen at Lhandaff, in an old manufcript called y Cwtta Cyfarwydd o Forgan- nwg. And there is fomewhat to the fame purpofe in the old book of Lhandaff; only the miftake in both is, that they make Howel Dha the intruder into the faid . lands, who had been dead at leaft twenty years before^ King Edgar began his reign, HOWE TH E H I S T O R Y OF W A I, E S. HOW EL A P IEVAF. H OWE L, after that he had expelled his uncle lago, and forced him to quit his own dominions, took upon himfelf the government of Wales, in right of his father, who though alive, yet by reafon of his years, was willing to decline it. About the fame time Dvvnwalhon Prince of Stradclwyd, took his journey for Rome , and Edwalhon fon of Owen Prince of South Wales died. But the Enslifh received a greater blow by the death of King Edgar, who was a prince of excellent qualities, both warlike and religious, and one that founded feveral monafteries and religious houfes, and particularly at Bangor. For lago ap Edwal having fled to King Edgar, pre- vailed fo far with him, that he brought an' army in- to North Wales to reftore him to his right. Being advanced as far as Bangor, he was honourably received by Howel, who, at his requeft, was contented his un- cle' lago mould have a fhare in the government, as he h&d.iq his father levafs time. Then Edgar founded a new church at Bangor, on the fouth-fide of the Ca- thedral, which he dedicated to the bleffcd Virgin Ma- ry ; and confirmed the ancient liberties of .that fee, and beftowed lands and gifts upon it : And then with Howel and lago in his company, he marched towards Chefter, where met him, by appointment, fix kings more, viz. Kenneth King of the Scots, Malcolm King of Cumberland, Macon King of Man, and Dyfnwal, Sifrethus, and Ithel, three Britifh kings. Thefe eight princes having done homage, and fworn fealty to him, entered with him into his barge, and rowed him, four of each fide, from his palace to the church or mona- ftery of St. John Bapnft, and divine fervice being ended, in like ftate rowed him back again. To King Jd who paying their ranfom, were fet at liberty. But whilil Wales was in this tottering condition, and fcarce any place free from hoftility ; it happily fell out, that Meredith and Edwyn were made friends, and the differences eompofed between therrij fo that the Englifh and Danes who came in with Edwyn, and who expected to fare bed by thefe civil difturbances of the Welch, were unexpectedly cafhiered and fent home-. And foon after this agreement, Cadwalhon, the only fon of Meredith, died^ which rendered the compofition between Meredith and Edwyn more firm, by reafon that this latter thought now, without any difpute to fucceed Meredith in his principality. But this fell fhortofhis aim, for Meredith being very much difturbed in South Wales, had fo much work upon his hands to defend that country, that he left North, Wales open and expoied to the common enemy* which the Danes were quickly acquainted with, and fo landing in Anglefey, they ravaged and laid wafte the whole ifknd. The North Wales men finding m- themfelves thus forfaken by Meredith, and their coun- try like to be over- run by the Danes, if not timely prevented, fet up Edwal the fon of Meyric, the indif- putable heir of North Wales, though long kept from it, and owned him for their prince. But thofe in- teffant wars arid commotions in South Wales, occa- fioned a very difmal famine and fcarcity in the coun- try^ of which a very considerable number of people perilhed^ And thus Meredith who had once con- quered North Wales, and for a long time had got pof- iefllon of South Wales-, without any right or title to cither, was now obliged to relinquifh the one, and was fcarce able to maintain the other. F a Edwal THEHISTORY OFWALES. EDWAL AP MEYRIC. D W A L after a long and tedious expectation, being now joyfully received by the North Wales men for their prince, endeavoured the firft thing to de- fend his fubjects from the injuries and depredations they received from the Danes. And having in a mea- fure effected that, he was accofted by another ene- my ; for Meredith being relblved to revenge the in- dignity and difgrace put upon him by the North Wales men, in depriving him of the government of their country, gathered and muftered together all his power, intending to recover again that principality. Being advanced as far as Lhangwm, Edwal met him, and in plain battle routed his army -, in which action, Theodore or Tewdor Mawr, Meredith's nephew was (lain, leaving behind him two fons, Rhys and Ry- therch, and a daughter named Elen. But it is pro- bable that it was not Tewdor Mawr, but his brother Edwyn that was (lain in this battle, which alfo feems rather to have been fought at Hengwm in Ardudwy in Merioneth (hire, then at Lhangwm, for in that place there are to this day certain monuments of victory to be feen ; as heaps of ftones, tcmb-ftones and columns, which they call Curneddi Hengwm. Edwal return- ing home triumphantly after this victory, thought he had now fecured himfelf in his government, and expected to enjoy his dominions quietly, and without any moleftation. But he had fcarce recovered the fatigue of the laft. engagement, when Swane the fon of Harold having lately pillaged and wafted the ifle of Man, landed in North Wales, whom Edwal endeavouring to oppofe, was flain in the en- counter leaving one fon behind him, called lago. Within THEHISTORYOFWALES. 69 Within a while after the Danes returned again againft St. David's, and deftroying all before them with fire and fword, flew Morgeney or Urgency, bifhop of that diocefe. Prince Meredith being highly concerned at .the mifchiefs thefe barbarous people continually did to his country, and the more, becauie he was not able to repel their infolencies, out of grief and vexation died ; having iffue one only daughter named An- gharad, who was twice married; firit to Lhewelyn ap Sitfyhlt, and after his death to Confyn Hirdref, or : as others think, to Confyn ap Gweryftan., She had children by both hufbands, which occafioned after- wards great difturbances and civil commotions in Wales, the iffue of both adventures pretending a right of fucceffion to the principality of South Wales. AEDAN AP BLEGORAD. E D W A L Prince of North Wales being killed in the battle againft Swane, and having no other iffue than lago, who was a minor, and too young to take upon him the government ; and Meredith Prince of South Wales dying without any other iffue than a daughter, caufed very heavy quarrels and contentions among the Welch, feveral without any colour of right, putting in their claim and pretenfions to the govern- ment. In North Wales, Conan the fon of Howel, and Aedan the fon of Blegorad were the chief afpirers to that principality ; and becaufe they could not agree who mould be the man, they fairly confented to try the matter in open field, where Conan had the misfortune to be flain ; and fo Aedan was vic- torioufly proclaimed Prince of North Wales. But who this Aedan was defcended from, or what co- F 3 lour THE HISTORY OF WALES.. lour or pretence he could lay to the principality, can,-. not be as much as gueflecl at, there being none of that name to be met with in any Welch records, excepting that Blegorad who is mentioned in the line of Howel Dha, whofe eftate snd quality was too mean, that his pofterity mould lay any claim to tfce. principality of of Wales. But be that how it will, Aedan after his victory over Conan ap Howel, was owned Priace by the North Wales men, over whom he bore rule for the fpaee of twelve years ; though befides his conqucft of Conan ap Howel, there being nothing recorded of him, excepting his being (lain, together with his four fons by Lhewelyn ap Sitfylht. But whilft the Welch are in this incanftant and un- fettled condition, the Scots in Ireland t?egan to grow powerful, and having deftroyed the town and country of Develyn, they took Gulfath and Ubiad, two Irifh lords, prifoners, whofe eyes they rnoft inhumanly put . cut. The Danes alfo, who had lately made their in- curfions into South Wales, began now to moleft the Engliflv, having landed in the Weft, pafifed through the counties of Somerfet, Porfet, Hampfnire and SufTex, deftroying and 'burning all before them. Having ad- vanced without any oppofition, as far as the river Medway, they ]#id fiege -to Rochefter, which the Kentifk men endeavouring to preferve, .affembled ^hemielves together, and gave the Danes battle, but were vanquimed in the undertaking. King F.delred was then in Cumberland, where the Danes were more flumeroufly planted, which country he kept quiet and in fub}ection. But in the mean time anotner army of Danes landed in the Weft, againft whom the country people of Somerfetfbire afTembling themfelves, mewed, their readinefs to attack i;hem, but wanting a head TO direct them, were eafily put to their heels, and the Danes ruled and commanded the country at their pleafure. The King being forely vexed at; the info-, lencies^and reftleis depredations of the Danes* thought convenient to ftrengthen himfelf by fome powerful y, and to that end, fends ambafladors to Richard of Normandy, defirin.^ his daughter Emma i THE HISTORY OF WALES. 71 marriage, and fuccours to repel the Danifh incur- fions. Here it is obfervable, that as the Saxons being formerly called over as friends and allies to the well-meaning Britains, violently and wrongfully poffefTed themfelves of the greateft part of the ifland -, fo now the Normans being invited to aid the En- glifh againft the Danes, took fo good a liking to the country, that they never gave over their defign of gaining it, till at laft they became conquerors of the whole ifland. The mifchief of calling in the Normans, though foretold to King Adelred, he was fo far concerned about the prefeht calamities received by the Danes, that he was deaf to all fu- turities, how dangerous and mifchievous foever they might prove. And therefore being puffed up with hopes of increafe of flrength by this new affinity, he fent private letters to all cities and towns through- out his dominions where the Danes were quartered, requiring them all upon St. Brice's night to maf- facre the Danes, which was accordingly performed with much unanimity and fecrecy. This cruel dif. after was fo far from difcouraging the Danes, that they now began to vow the eradication of the En- glifh nation, and to revenge that unmanly mafTacre of their country-men ; to which end they landed in Devonfhire, and over-running the country wich fire and fword, fpared nothing that had the leaft fpark of life in it. The city of Exeter they razed to the ground, and flew Hugh the Norman, whom the Queen had recommended to the government of it. To prevent their further incurfions, Almarus Earl of Devon gathered a great army put of Hampfhire and Wiltftiire, and the country thereabouts, and marched with a refolutjon ftoutly to oppofe the Danes, who put Almarus to flight and purfued him to Wilton and Salifbury, which being ranfacked and plundered, they carried the pillage thereof trium- phantly to their (hips, F .4 The 72 THE HISTORY OF WALES. A. D. 1004. The next year Swane, a prince of great repute ft Denmark, landed upon the coaft of Norfolk and laid fiege to Norwich, and wafted the country thereabouts. But Wolfkettcl duke of that country, being too weak to oppofe him, thought it moft convenient ro make a peace with the Dane ; which was quickly broke 5 and then Swane marched privately to Thetford, which after he had fpoiled and ranfacked, he returned with his prey to his ihips. ' Wolfkettel hearing this, pri- vately drew up his forces, and ftoutly marched againft the enemy, but being far inferior in number, the Danes got the day, and afterwards failed to their own coun- try. Within two years after, the Danes returned again, bringing with them their ufual companions, the fire, "the fword, and the fpoil, and landed at Sandwich 5 ' which after they had burnt and pillaged, they failed to the ifle of Wight, where they took up their winter- quarters till Chriftmas : And then coming forth thence, they over- ran, by feveral parties the coun- tries of Hampfhire and Berkfhire, as far as Reading, Wallingford and Colfey , devouring up, for want of other plunder , all the provifions and victuals they found in the houfes, and retributed the 'fame with fire and fword at their departure. In their return they met with the army of the Weft Saxons near Effing- ton, but this confiding only of a raw and unexpe- rienced rabble, they eafily broke through, and paf- fmg triumphantly by the gates of Winchefter, they got- fafe with great booty to the ifle of Wight. King Adel-. red all this while lay at his manor-houfe in Shropfhire, much troubled and concerned at thefe uninterrupted devaftations of the Danes. But the nobility of Eng* , land, rather to fave fome than lofe all they pofleiTed, bought their peace of the Danes for the fum of , 30,000 pound ; during which interval, King AdeU red roufing his drooping fpirits, ordained, that every ' three hundred hides of land, one hide being as much was fo generally encouraged, and univerfally fol- lowed by all people, for the love they bore to his father , that in a fhort time his army mounted to ari invincible number. However, lago was not fo thorough - ly affrighted, that he would deliver up his principality without drawing a fword for it ; but providing for himfelf "as well he could, and drawing together what forces he was able , he gave Gruffydh battle , But his number being far too weak to oppofe fo great an army as fided with Gruffydh, was prefently over- powered and put to the rout, and himfelf flain, leaving after him a fon called Conan, by his wife Afandredj daughter to Gweir the fon of Pylh, GRUFFYDH AP LHEWELYN, I A G O ap Edwal being killed, Gruffydh ap Lhew- elyn was received with loud acclamations, and joyfully laluted Prince of North Wales ; who treading in hia father's fteps, behaved himfelf in his government with that prudence arid conduct, that he manfully defended his country from the frequent invafions of the En- glilh and Danes : for he was fcarce fettled in his throne, when thefe inveterate enemies of the Welch entered in an hoflile manner into Wales, and advanced as far as Crosford upon the Severn, where - Gruftydh met them, and forced them Ihamefully to fly, and re- tire THE HISTORY OF WALES. 85 tire back to their own country. From thence Gruf- fydh pafled to Lhanhadarn Vawr in Cardiganshire, which he laid in afhes , and afterwards marched through all the country of South Wales, receiving of the people oaths of fidelity and fubjeftion to him. In the mean time, Howel ap Edwyn, Prince of South Wales, fled to Edwyn brother to Leofric Earl of Chef- ter, and prevailed with him to come with an army con- fiding of Englifh and Danes, to his aid againft Gruf- fydh, who meeting his enemies in the field, eafily overcame them, Edwyn being (lain upon the fpot, and Howel forced to preferve his life by flight. After which victory, Gruffydh having reduced all the coun- try of Wales to fubjeclion, returned again to North Wales. But Howel as foon as he could recover him-AD. 1039. felf and recruit his army, entered again into South Wales, intending the recovery of that principality, which he was now ib well allured of, that he brought his wife with him to the field, to let her fee how eafily he could conquer and overcome Prince Gruffydh. But too great an alfurance of victory feldom proves prof- perous ; which Howel prefently experienced ; for Gruf- fydh meeting with him at Pencadair, gave him fo warm an entertainment, that he was forced prefently to take his heels, which however could not fo well fecure him, but that he was narrowly purfued, and his wife who was to be entertained with the conqueft of Gruffydh, on the contrary, faw herfelf taken prifoner by him, and forced to comply fo far to his humour, as to be, his concubine. The fame time Harold King of England died, and was fucceeded by his brother Hardycnute, a Prince very famous for hofpitality, and a great lover of good chear, having his table covered four times a-day, with great plenty and variety of dimes, with other fuper- fluities for all comers. But he likewife dying at Lam- beth after two years reign, the Engllm agreed to fend for Alfred the eldeft fon of Edelred from Normandy, and to make him king. This meflage by no means pleaied Earl Godwyn, a man of great fway now in England j who knowing Alfred to be a perfon of G 3 greater 8 THE HISTORY OT WALES. greater fpirit than to permit him to domineer as he pleafed, endeavoured all he could to difluade the En- glifh from fending for Alfred. He (hewed them how dangerous it was to permit a warlike nation to take root in their country, and how well Alfred was ac- companied with Normans, to whom he had promifed the chief places and rule of the kingdom , by which and other like infmuations he fo difgufted the Englifh no- bility againft the Normans, that to diminim their num- ber, they put every tenth man to death. But feeing this was not fufficient, they acted the fame part over again, and tythed them a fecond time ; and being highly enraged againft the Normans, they led Alfred, who had brought them over, from Gilford^ where this execution was committed, to Gillingham, where ha- ving put out his eyes, they removed him to Ely, and there at length pitifully murdered him. Then they fent for Edward out of Normandy, and made him king, who, according to his promife to Earl Godwyn, married his daughter Edith, a lady much commended not only for beauty, modefty, and other feminine qua- lifications, but alfo beyond what is requifite for a wo- man, learning. But King Edward did not deal fo fa- vourably with her brother Swane, fon to Earl God- wyn, who upon forne diftafte was banimed England^ and thereupon forced to betake himfelf to Baldwyn earl of Flanders, by whom he was very honourably received. A. D. 1041 Thefe troubles and revolutions in England were fuc- ceerded by others of no lefs confequence in Wales. For Howel, not brooking to be kept fo mamefully out of his kingdom, returns again the third time into South Wales, where he had not continued long, but a great number qf ftrangers landed in the weft of Wales, and advancing farther into the country, pillaged and de- ftroyed all places they came to. Howel, though de- firous to referve his army to fight with Prince GrufFydh, yet could not behold his country fo miferably wafted and over- run by ftrangers ; and thinking moreover, that by fo charitable an action he mould win the uni- yerfal Joye of the South Wales men, drew up his forces THE HISTORY OF WALES. 87 forces againft them, and overtaking them at PwU Fynach, forced them with much lofs, to retire to thei r fhips ; which action was called in Welch, Gwaith PwU Fynach. At the fame time Conan the fon of lago ap Edwal, who was forced for fear of Prince Gruffydh to flee to Ireland, with the forces of Alfred king of Dublin, whofe daughter named Ranulph he had mar- ried, landed in North Wales ; and having by forne treacherous ftratagem taken Gruffydh, triumphantly carried him prifoner towards his mips. This unhap- py accident being difcovered, and publickly known, the North Wales men did rife on a fudden, and fo un- expectedly overtook the Irifh, that they eafily reco- vered their Prince, and drove his enemies with great (laughter to their fhips ; who, without any farther con- fultation, were glad to ftrike fail with Conan for Ireland. And now Wales, both North and South, is free from all foreign invafion, and Howe), as yet too weak to difpute his title with Gruffydh j fo that A. D.4 the next year could be fubjefl to no great action, in which nothing happened remarkable, faving |the death of Howel the fon of Owen Lord of Glamorgan, a man of great quality and efteem in Wales. But as 1043. foon as Howel could call in his Danes, to whom he added all the forces he could raife in South Wales ; he intended prefently to march againft Prince Gruffydh. But he being aware aforehand to what end thofe levies were defigned, prepared againft the enfuing ftorm ; and to avert the war from his own country, marched courageoufly to South Wales, not fearing to face an enemy whom he had mamefully vanquifhed twice al- ready. Both armies being joined, Gruffydh eafily overcame, and purfued Howel as far as the fpring- head of the river Towy, where after a long and a bloody fight, Howel was at laft (lain, and his army fo univerfally routed, that few efcaped with their lives. But though Howel was dead, yet there re- mained ftill more pretenders to the principality of South Wales ; fo that Gruffydh was in no great pro- fpect to enjoy the fame peaceably : For as foon as it was publiflied that Howel's army was defeated, and him- G 4 felf 8$ THE HISTORY OF. WALES. felf (lain, Rytherch and Rhys the fons of Rytherch ap leftyn put in their claim to South Wales in right of their father, who had once enjoyed the fovereignty of that country. And in order to the recovery of the fame, they drew together a great army, confiding part- ly of ftrangers and partly of fuch as they could raife in Gwentland and Glamorgan, and marched to fight with Gruffydh. The Prince according to his ufual manner detracted no time, but animating and folacing his foldiers with the remembrance of their former vic- tories and conquefls, bid the enemies battle, which proved fo very bloody and terrible, that nothing could part them befide the darknefs of the night. This bat^ tie fo tired and tamed both armies, that neither was very defirous of another engagement, and fo one be- ing unwilling to let upon the other, they both agreed to return to their own habitations. The fame time Jofeph bifhop of Teilo or Llandaf died at Rome. But both armies being feparated, Prince Gruffydh enjoyed 3 quiet and unmolefted poffefiion of all Wales for about two years ; after which, the gentry of Yftrad Tovvy treacheroufly (lew 140 of the choice of his army, which he took iq fo high an indignation, that tq revenge their death, he deftroyed all Dyfed and Yftrad Tovvy. About the fame time, Lothen and Hyrling two Da- riifh pirates, with a great number of Danes, landed at Sandwich, and having plundered the town, returned again to their fliips, and failed for Holland, where they fold the booty they had taken, and then returned to their own country. Shortly afterwards Earl Swayn came out of Denmark with eight mips, and return- ed to England, and coming to his father's houfe at Pevenefe, humbly requefled of, and his brothers Ha- rold and Toftie, to endeavour his reconciliation with the King. Earl Beorned too promifed to intercede for him, and going to Swayn's fleet to fail to Sandwich, where the King then lay, he was by the way moil tpeacherouily and ungratefully murdered, and Jiis body caft upon the more, which lay there expofed, till his friends hearing of the fad, came and carried it to Winchefter, and buried it by the body of King Cnute, Jkorned's THE HISTORY OF WALES. 89 Eeorned's uncle. Swayn having committed this moft deteftable murder, put himfelt" again under the pro- tection of the earl of Flanders, not daring to mew his face in England, till his father by earneft mediation wrought his peace with the king. This year Conan the fon of lago raifed again an army of his friends in Ireland, and failed towards Wales, purpofing to recover his inheritance in thaq country. But when he was come near the Welch coaft, there fuddenly arofe fuch a violent ftorm, that his fleet was prefently fcattered, and moil of" his mips drowned, which rendered this expedition ineffectual. About the fame time, Robert archbifhop of Canterbury impeached Earl Godwyn and his fons Swayn and Harold of treafon, and the queen of adultery, 'and upon the account of their non-appear- ance when cited before the the peers at Glocefter, the queen was divorced, and Godwyn and his fons banifhed, who with his fon Swayn fled to Flanders, and Harold to Ireland. . But thefe unlucky clafhings, and the many troubles that enfued thereupon, hap- pened upon this occafion. Euftace earl of Bologne be- ing married to Goda the king's fifter, came over this year to England to pay king Edward a vifit, and in his return to Canterbury, one of his retinue forcibly demanding a lodging, provoked the mafter pf the boufe fo far, as by chance or anger to kill him. Eu- ftace upon this affront returns back to the king, and by the infmuations of the archbifhop, makes a loud complaint againft the Kentim-men ; to reprefs whofe iniblencies, earl Godwyn is commanded to raife forces, which he refufing to do, for the kindnefs he bore to his countrymen' of Kent, the king fummons a par- liament at Glocefter, and commands Godwyn to appear there. But he miftrufting either his own caufe, or the malice of his adverfaries, gathered a powerful army out of his own and his fons earl- doms, and marched towards Glocefter, giving out that their forces were to go againft the Welch, who in- tended to invade the Marfhes. But King Edward being fatisfiedby the Welch that they had no fuch defign 90 THE HISTORY or WALES. defign in hand, commanded Godwyn to difmifs his army, and to appear himfelf to anfwer to the articles exhibited againft him. Godwyn refufmg to obey, the king by the advice of earl Leofrick, fummoned an af- fembly at London, whither a great number of forces ar- rived from Mercia, which Godwyn perceiving, and withal, rinding himfelf unable to withftand the king's proceedings, privately retired with his fons out of the kingdom, and fled into Flanders. Whereupon the king iflued out an edict, proclaiming Godwyn and his fons out-laws, and then confifcating their eftates, beftowed them upon others of his nobility. And, to purfue his difpleafure the farther, he divorced his queen Edith, earl Godwyn's daughter, and committed her to a cloifter, where in a mean con- dition me fpent fome part of her life. In the diftri- bution of the forfeited eftates, Adonan obtained the earldoms of Devon [and Dorfet, and Algar the fon of teofrick, that of Harold. But Godwyn could not patiently behold his eftate beftowed upon another, and therefore having hired fome men and mips in Flanders, he failed to the Ifle of Wight, where after that he had made a fufficient havock, he put in at Portland, which he treated after the fame manner. The fame time Harold having failed from Ireland, at length met with his father, and then with their united navy, they burnt Prevenefeny, Romney, Heath, Folk- fton, Dover and Sandwich, and entering the Thames, they deftroyed Cheppy, and burnt the king's houfe at Middletown. Then they failed up the river to- wards London, where the king's army being ready- to oppofe them, a treaty of peace was by the means of Bifhop Stigand agreed upon, which proved fo ef- fectual of Godwyn's fide, that the king received him again to his favour, reftored him and fons to all their eftates, recalled the queen, and banimed the arch- bimop, with all the Frenchmen who had been pro- moters of that unhappy fufpicion the king had enter- tained of them. About this time, Rhys brother to Gruffydh Prince pf \Vales, who by feveral irruptions upon the borders, had THE HISTORY OF WALES. 9l had confiderably gauled and damaged the Englim, was taken and put to death at Bulendun, whofe head being cut off, was prefented to the king, then at Glocefter. But he received better news fome time after from the North, for Siward earl of Northumber- land having fent his fon againft Macbeth king of Scotland vanquifhed the fons, tho* not without the lofs of his fon, and many others, both Englim and Danes. But Siward was not caft down at his fon's death, but enquiring whether he received his death's wound before or behind, and being allured that it was before, replied, " He was very glad of it, for he " could not wifh his fon to die otherwife." After this victory, King Edward marched in perfon to Scot- land, and having again overcome Macbeth in battle, he made the whole kingdom of Scotland tributary to the crown of England. The next year, earl Gcdwyn fitting with the king at table, funk down dead of a fudden, being choaked, as 'tis thought, in fwallowing a morfel pf bread ; whofe earldom the king beftowed upon his fon Harold, and his upon Algar earl of Chefter. To this time is referred the original of the Stewards in Scotland, which being a remarkable paffage, and in a great meafure dependant upon the affairs of the Welch, is requifite to be here recorded. Macbeth king of Scotland having caufed Bancho a nobleman of that kingdom to be inhumanly murdered ; Fleance, Bancho's fon, to avoid the like cruelty to himfelf, fled to GrufTydh ap Lhewelyn prince of Wales, who taking a very great liking to his perfon, and withal commiferating his condition, fhewed him all the refpect and kindnefs poffible. But Fleance had not continued long with Gruffydh when he fell enamoured upon the prince's daughter, and having obtained her good-will, without any regard had to her fa- ther's civility towards him, abufed her fo far as to beget her with child. Gruffydh being acquainted with the matter of fact, fo heinoufly refented the affront, that he occafioned Fleance to be (lain, and treated his daughter moft fervilely for proftrating her chaility, THE HISTORY OF WALES. chaftity, efpecially to a ftranger. However, me was in a fhort time delivered of a Ton, whofe name was chriftened Walter ; a child, who in his youth exprelTed very great hopes, and in all probability like to make a very confiderable man, which happened according to expectation. But the firft original of his future greatnefs happened upon a very accidental occafion ; being reproached of baftardifm by one of his fellow companions, he took it in fo unpardonable a dudgeon, that nothing could fatisfy his revenge, but the life of the aggrerlbr. Being upon this mifchance affraid to undergo the punimment of the law, he thought it fafc to fly to Scotland, where falling v in company with certain Engliihrnen who were come thither with queen Margaret fifter to Edgar Edeling, he behaved himfelf fo foberly and difcreetly, that he won the fa- vour and good character of all that knew him. But his fame daily increafing, he grew at length to that height of reputation, as to be employed in the moil inward affairs of the commonwealth, and at laft was made Lord Steward of Scotland, from which office his posterity retained the furname of Steward, the kings of Scotland of that name, with feveral other families of quality in that kingdom being defcended from him. But to return to England, Siward the worthy earl of Northumberland died about this time of the bloody- flux, a man of a rough demeanour, and a meer foldierly temper, as he plainly manifefVed at the point of death. For bewailing his misfortune that had efcaped fo many dangerous engagements, and withal difdaining to die fo effeminately in bed, he caufed himfelf to be compleatly armed, and as it were in defiance of death, prefently expired in a martial bravery. But his Ion being too young, the king beftowed his earldom upon Tofty the fon of earl Godwyn. 54- Wales had been now a long time quiet, and void of all troubles both abroad and at home, but it could pot be expected that fuch a life ihould prove dur- ably HE HISTORY OF WALES. bte, but ibmething or other would create new com- motions and disturbances. Gruftydh fon to Rytherch ap lefty n having recruited and recovered himfelf after the laft blow he received from Prince GrurTydh, muft needs venture another trial for the principality of South Wales. The Prince protracting no time, fpeeclily marched againft him, and both armies being joined, Gruffydll ap Rytherch was eafily vanquifhed, and in line, flain. But the troubles of the Welch did not end with him, for Algar Earl of Chefter being con- victed of treafon, and thereupon banimed the king- dom, fled to Gruffydh Prince of Wales, requefting his aid againft king Edward, who, repeating the frequent wrongs he had received at the hands of the Englifh, by upholding his enemies againft him, gladly embraced the opportunity, and promifcd him all imaginable fup- port. And thereupon aflfembling his forces, he entered with him into Herefordshire, and advancing into the country, within two miles of the city of Hereford, they were oppofed by Randulph Earl of that country, who boldly gave them battle. The fight continued very dreadful and dubious for fome hours, till at laft Gruffydh fo encouraged his foldiers with the remem- brance of their former victories over the Englifh, that they fell on a- main, and eafily difcomfited Randulph, and flew the beft part of his army. Afterwards they purfued their chace to the town, and having made all the wafte and havock they were able, they laid the town kfrlf in afties, andfo returned home triumphantly, laden with rich booty and plunder. King Edward receiving notice of this invafion, prefently gathered a great army at Gbcefter under the condudt of Harold Earl God- wyn's fon, who courageoufly purfuing the enemies, en- tered into Wales, and encamped beyond Stradclwyd. But Gruffydh and Algar dreading to oppofe him, re- tired further into South Wales, of which Harold be- ing certified, leaves one part of his army behind with orders to fight, if ocoafion offered, and with the other pafled to Hereford, which he fortified with a ftrong wall round the, town. Gruffydh perceiving his un- daunted induftry, after many mefTages concluded a peace 34 THE HISTORY OF WALES. peace with Harold at a place called Biligelhag, by which articles Algar was pardoned by the King, and reftored to his earldom of Chefter. But he did not continue long in the king's favour, for about two years after, upon conviction of treaibn, he was again banifhed the land, fo that he was forced to betake himfelf to his old friend Gruffydh Prince of Wales, by whofe aid, and a fleet from Norway in fpite of of the king he was reftored to his earldom. But King Edward was fore offended with the Prince of Wales for harbouring traitors, and therefore to be revenged upon him, he difpatched Harold again with an ar- my to North Wales, who, coming to Ruthlan, burnt the Prince's palace there, and his fleet, that lay in the harbour, and then returned to the king at Glocefter. This year Edward the fon of Edmund Ironfide, who was fent for out of Hungary, being defigned fucceflbr to the crown, came to England, but in a fliort time after his coming, died at London, leaving behind him a fon called Edgar Edeling, and a daughter named Mar- garet, who was afterwards queen of the Scots, and , 95 . mother to Maud the wife of Henry the firft. About two years after, Roderic, fon to Harold king of Denmark came with a confiderable army into Wales, and being kindly received by Prince Gruffydh, united his power with the Welch, and fo entered into Eng- land, which they cruelly harraffed and deftroyed. But before they could advance any confiderable di- fiance, Roderic was compelled to fail for Denmark, and fo Gruffydh returned laden with fpoils into Wales. The fame time Harold Earl Godwyn's fon failing to Flanders, was driven by force of weather to land, at Poyticrs, where being feized upon, he was brought before William baftard duke of Normandy, to whom he declared the reafon of his voyage, that it was purpofely to tender him his fervice in the af- fairs of England j and fo taking an oath, firft to mar- ry the duke's daughter, and after the death of Ed- ward to fecure the kingdom of England for him, 4 he THE HISTORY OF WAI. ES. 95 he was honourably difmifled. Upon his return to England, by the perfuafions of Caradoc the fon of Gruffydh ap Rytherch, himfelf with his brother Tofty, raifed a great army and entered into South-Wales, which they deftroyed after that manner, that the Welch were glad to deliver up hoftages for the pay- ment of the antient tribute, which afore-time they were ufed to pay. Gruffydh hearing of the infolencies of the Englim in South- Wales, made all poflible hafte and preparation to oppofe them, but all to no pur- pofe ; Harold having already treacheroufly hired fome of Gruffydh's neareft friends to murder him, who watching their opportunity, executed their wicked de- fign and brought his head to Harold. Gruffydh being dead, Harold by King Edward's orders, appointed Meredith fon of Owen ap Edwyn prince of South- Wales, and the government of North- Wales to Blethyn and Ry walhon the fons of Confyn, brothers by the mother fide to Prince Gruffydh, and who probably for the defire of rule, were acceffary to the murder of that noble prince. This Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn enjoyed the principality of Wales for the fpace of thirty four years -, a prince of incomparable virtues, both wife and valiant, beloved of his fubjecls and formidable to his enemines, in all his aftions he behaved himfelf great and princely ; and having defended his country fo bravely againft all foreign oppofition ; he was far unworthy of that treacherous and cruel death, which his unkind fubjefts and unnatural friends beftowed upon him. He left iffue but one daughter called Neft, abufed firft by Fleance fon of Bancho, and afterwards married to Trahaeru ap Caradoc prince of North- ;Wales. BLETHYN H E H 1 S T O R Y o F W A L E BLETtiYN and AFTER the deplorable murder of Prince Gruffydh* Meredith the fon of" Owen ap Edwyn, who ac- cording to fome, was fon to Howel Dha, did take up- on him, as 'tis faid, the government of South- Wales, and Blethyn and Rywalhon the fons of Confyn, half brothers to Gruffydh, as defcended from Angharad daughter to Meredith fometime prince of Wales, entered upon the principality of North-Wales ; Conan the fon of lago ap Edwal the right heir to that crown being then with his father-in-law in Ireland. This partition of Wales fell much fhort of the expectation of Caradoc ap Gruffydh ap Rythereh, who being the chief promoter of Harold's making an expedition againft GrufFydh ap Lhewelyn, made no queftion to attain to the government of South- Wales, in cafe GrufFydh got the worfe. But it happened other- \vife-, Harold being fenfible of Caradoc's fubtilty and knavery, and doubting whether if he was made prince of South-Wales, he could obtain a certain lord- fhip nigh Hereford, which he had a longing mind to, made a compofition with Meredith ap Owen for the faid lordfhip, and created him Prince of South Wales, and on the contrary banifhed Caradoc out of the country. Harold having obtained his requeft, built a very magnificent houfe at a place called Portafcyth in Monmouthfhire, and ftoring it with great quantity of provifion, fplendidly entertained the king, who honoured him with a vifit. This was by no means pleafing to Tofty, to fee his younger brother in greater efteem and favour with the king than him- felf, and having concealed his diipleafure for a time, could not forbear at length but difcover his grievance. For one day at Windfor, while Harold reached the cup to king Edward, Tofty ready to burft 2 for HISTORY OF WALES. for envy that his brother was fo much refpefted be- yond himfelf, could not refrain to run furioufly upon him, and pulling him by the hair, dragged him to the ground, for which, unmannerly aftion, the king forbad him the court. But he with continued rancour and malice rides to Hereford, where Harold had many fer- vants preparing an entertainment for the king, and fet- ting upon them with his followers lopped off the hands and legs of fome, the arms and heads of others, and threw them into the buts of wine and other liquors, which were put in for the king's drinking, and at his departure charged the fervants to acquaint him, " That " of other frefh meats he might carry with him what " he pleafed, but for fauce He mould find plenty provid- " ed ready for him." For which barbarous offence the king pronounced a fentence of perpetual banimment upon him. But Caradoc ap Gruffydh gave a finifhing ftroke to Harold's houfe, and the king's entertainment at Portafcyth ; for coming thither Ihortly after Tofty's departure, to be revenged upon Harold, he killed all the workmen and labourers, with all the fervants he could find, and utterly defacing the building, carried away all the coftly materials, which with great charges and expence had been brought thither to beautify and adorn the ftructure. Soon after which, the Northum- brians (who could not endure the infolencies of the two brothers Harold and Tofty, who bearing an un- controulable fway in the kingdom, were ufed to prac- tife moft hellim villainies to encompafs any man's eftate that difpleafed themj in a tumult at York be- fet the palace of Tofty, and having pillaged his trea- fure, flew all his family, as well Englimmen as Danes. Then adjoining to themfelves the people of Lincoln, Nottingham and Derbyfhire, they elected Marcher the fon of Earl Algar their general, to whom came his bro- ther Edwyn with a conliderable number of forces, and a great party of Welchmen. Then they marched in an hoftile manner to Northampton, where Harold met them, being fent by the king to know their demands ; to whom they laid open their grievances, and the cruelty of Tofty's government, and at laft, with an abfolute H refufal 9 8 THE HISTORY OF WALES. refufal of admitting him again, defired that Marcher Ihould be appointed Earl over them, which the king upon the* reafonable complaints of injuries done by Tofty, eafily. granted, and willingly confirmed March- er's title. Whereupon they peaceably returned back to the North, and the Welch with feveral prifoners and other booties got in this expedition, returned to Wales. D. 10*6 The year following, King Edward died, and was buried at Weftminfter, being the laft king of the Saxon blood before the conqueft that governed the kingdom of England, which from Cerdic king of the Weft Saxons had continued 544, and from Egbert the firft monarch, 171 years. Edward being dead, the next debate was about an election of a fuccefibr, Edgar Edeling being fet up by fome, as lawful heir to the crown, which Harold as being a perfon of greater power and authority in the kingdom, much wealthier and better befriended, prefently thwarted, and brought matters fo cunningly about, that him- felf was chofen king, without any regard obferved to the oath and promife he had formerly made to William Duke of Normandy. Duke William upon notice of Harold's advancement, how that he had ac- cepted of the crown of England contrary to the ar- ticles between them, convened together his nobles, and laid before them the feveral wrongs and affronts he had received at the hands of Harold, as the death of his coufin Alfred, the banimment of archbifhop Robert, Earl Odan and all the Normans, and laftly the breach of his oath and promife. Then he de- clared to them the pretence he had to claim the crown of England, that Edward had given him formerly an abfolute promife in Normandy, that if ever he enjoyed the Englifh crown, William mould be his heir ; which title, though in itfelf weak and infignificant ferved William's purpofe well enough to make an expedi- tion againft an intruder. Duke William's pretence feemed plaufible enough to the Norman nobility, but the difficulty of the undertaking and the danger of this expedition was fomeching perplexive, and made them THE HISTORY OF WALES. 99 them lefs inclinable to encourage fo precipitous an un- dertaking ; which they the more difliked upon the per- fuafion of William Fitzofbert the duke's fewer, whom they pitched upon to deliver their thoughts as to the expedition, unto the duke. But he inftead of diffuad- ing him from this voyage, politically declared that himfelf with all his power were ready to live and die with him in this expedition^ which the reft hearing, could not but offer the duke their fervice in the fame manner 5 and fo all things were prepared for an in- vafion of England. In the mean while Tofty, full of indignation at his brother's advancement to the crown, entered the river Humber with forty fail, but meeting with Earl Edwyn who came to oppofe him, he was forced after a confiderable encounter to bear off, and fecure himfelf by flight. But meeting with Harold king of Norway upon the coaft of Scotland, coming for England with three hundred fail, he joined his forces with Harold, and fo both together entering the Humber, they landed their army and marched to York, where the Earls Edwyn and Marcher unfuc- cefsfully gave them battle. Having pillaged and de- flroyed that city, they pafied on to Stamford -bridge, and there met with King Harold, who with a well difciplined army was come to flop their farther carreer. After a long and a terrible fight, and much bloodlhed on both fides, the Norwegians began at laft to give back, which the Englifh perceiving, fell on fo man- fully that few or none efcaped with their lives, Ha- rold and Tofty being alfo ilain upon the fpot. One of the Norwegians is defervedly recorded for his in- comparable exploits performed in this battle, who with incredible valour maintaining the bridge againfl the whole ftrength of the Englifh army for above an hour with his fmgle refiftance delayed their victory, and having (lain a great number of his enemies, he feemed invincible, till in the end, no one daring to grapple with him fairly, he was run through with a fpear from under the bridge, and fo by his fall, a paflage was opened for purfuit to compleat. the vic- H 2 tory, THEHISTORYOFWALES. tory. King Harold over-joyed with this fuccefs, tri- umphantly entered into York, and whilft he was making merry with his nobles at a fumptuous feaft, news came that Duke William of Normandy was fafely landed at, and began to fortify himfelf in Ha- ftings, with which tidings being no way dafhed, as fearing nothing after his late victory, he forthwith marched towards him, and as foon as he was arrived in Sufiex, without any confideration of the fatigue his army had underwent in their march, bid William battle. The Duke dividing his army into five batta- lions, made a long harrangue to his foldiers, wherein he repeated and commended the noble a6b of their an- ceftors the Danes and Norwegians, who had perpe- tually vanquifhed the Englilh and French, and other nations, as many as they had to do with ; how that themfelves being well horfed and armed, were now to engage with a people void of both, who had no other defence to truit to, than the nimblenefs and fwiftnefs of their heels. Both armies being joined upon the fourteenth day of October, Duke William after fome hours engaging ordered his army fo to retire, as if they feemed to fly, which the Englifh perceiving, broke their ranks in hafte of purfuing the fuppofed chace, which falling out according to the Duke's ex- pectation, he fent in a frefh fupply of Normans, who falling upon the confufed battalions of the Englifh, eafily overcame them, and Harold receiving firft a wound by an arrow, were at length (lain, and then both the field and the victory were left to the Nor- mans. The day being thus won, William from this time called the Conqueror, went ftraight to London, where he was received with all poffible formality, and upon Chriftmas-day folemnly crowned king of England. This change and alteration in England, was afore prognofticated by a comet which appeared in the fpring of this year, upon which a certain poet made the following verfes ; Anno milleno fexageno quoque feno, Anglorum met* flammas cenfere tomst** King THE HISTORY OF WALES* 101 King William having eftablifhed himfelf in the crown of England, pafled over the next year to Nor- mandy, fo to fettle affairs there, as afterwards they might have no need of his prefence. In the mean while Edgar Edeling taking advantage of his abfence, returned from Scotland to York, being declared king by ihe inhabitants of the country, who had already flain Robert, upon whom William had beftowed that earldom with nine hundred of his men. But the king upon his%eturn from Normandy, prefently marched to the North, and having fufficiently revenged himfelf upon the inhabitants, by wafting and deftroying their country, chafed Edgar to Scotland again. The like advantage Edric Sylvaticus the fon of Alfric Earl of Mercia embraced, who refufing to own any fubmif- fion to the conqueror, tpok the opportunity of his de- parture to Normandy to fall foul upon fuch as were appointed vicegerents and governors of the kingdom in his abfence. Whereupon Richard Fitzfcrope go- vernor of the caftle of Hereford, with the forces un- der his command fo bitterly gauled him, by wafting and coniuming his lands, and carrying off the goods of his tenants, that he was compelled to defire aid of Blethyn and Rywalhon princes of Wales, by whofe help, to recompence the Ipfs he had received, he paf- fed into Hereford, and after that he had over- run and pillaged the country to Wyebridge, returned back with exceeding great booty. But no faoner were Ble- thyn and Rywalhon arrived in North Wales, but they received news of a rebellion raifed againft them by Meredith and Ithel the fons of Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn, who had drawn together a confiderable number of men, upon pretence of recovering the principality of North Wales, which they faid was fraudulently de- tained from them. Blethyn and Rywalhon did not delay to march to find the enemies, and meeting with them at a place called Mechain, without any farther ceremonies, fet upon the rebels, who behaved tnem- felves fo gallantly, that after a fight of feveral hours, they wanted nothing but number to compleat the vidory. There fell in this battle on the one fide H 3 Prince THE HISTORY OF WALES. Prince Rywalhon, and on the other Ithel, who being flain, Meredith was forced to give ground, and en- deavour to lave himfelf by flight, which could not fecure him, he being narrowly purfued by Blethyn, that in fine, he was glad to efcape to the mountains, where for want of vicluals and other neceffaries, he quickly perifhed, leaving Blethyn ap Confyn fole Prince of North Wales and Powis. During thefe Welch difturbances, Swane king of Denmark, and Ofburn, his brother with three hundred fa^j came up the Humber, and beipg joined by Edgar Edeling and Earl Waltelfe, marched to York, and taking the caftle difpofed of rheir forces to winter-quarters, be- twixt the rivers of Oufe and Trent. The king under- ftanding the matter, pofted to the North ; whofe coming fo darned the confederates, that they quiekly clifperfed their power, and the Danes efcaped to their ihips, and the king having taken vengeance upon the rebellious inhabitants of the country, and upon his fubmiffion, having pardoned Earl Waltelfe, returnee} back to London. BLETHYN AP CONFYN. A BOUT the fame time Caradoc fon to Gruf- fydh ap Rhytherch ap lefty n all this while being fore- ly diffatisfied that he could not attain to the principa- lity of South Wales, invited over a great number of Normans, to whom he joined all the forces he could raife out of Gwentland, and other parts of Wales. Then fetting upon Prince Meredith who was far too weak to encounter fo confiderable an army, gave him an eafy overthrow near the river Rymhy, where Meredith was flain, and fo Caradoc obtained the go- vernment of South Wales, which for a long time he had endeavoured finiftrioufly to encompafs. He had (bmetime afore procured Harold to make an invafion upon TH E H I S T O R Y OF W A L E S. 103 Upon Gruflfydh ap Lhewelyn, purpofely that himfelf might arrive at the principality of South Wales ; and failing then of his expedition, he now invites over the Normans, not being willing to truft the Englifh any more, by reafon that he had fo ungratefully been baulked by Harold : fo that it feems he cared ndt by what courfe, or by whofe means he mould gain his point i Chough it were by the ruin and deftruc- tion of his country, which hitherto he had earneftly promoted. Being at length advanced to his long ex- pected government of South Wales, (which though not recorded, feems yet very probable, by reafon that his fon Rhytherch ap Caradoc enjoyed the fame very foon after) he did not enjoy this honour long, but dying in a fhort time after his advancement, left to fucceed him, his fon Rytherch ap Caradoc. At the fame time that Caradoc carried on this rebellion in Wales, the Earls Edwyn, Marcher, and Hereward revolted from the king of England j but Edwyn fuf- pedting the fuccefs of their affairs, and determining to retire to Malcolm king of Scotland in his journey thither was betrayed, and flain by his own followers. Then Marcher and Hereward betook themfelves to the Ifle of Ely, which though fufficiently fortified, was fo warmly befieged by the king, that Marcher and his accomplices were in a fhort time forced to fur- render themfelves up prifoners , only Hereward made his efcape to Scotland: but the king followed him fo clofe ; and after he had received homage of Mal- colm king of Scotland, returned back to England ; and after a fhort flay here, paffed over to Normandy, where he received Edgar Edeling again to mercy. The next year, the Normans having already taftedA.D. 1071. of the fweetnefs of wafting and plundering a country, came over again to Wales ; and having fpoiled and deftroyed Dyred and the country of Cardigan, returned home with very great fpoil , and the following year failed over again for more booty. About the fame time, Bleythyd bifhop of St. David's died, and was fucceeded by one Sulien. But this was not all the mbfortune that befel the Welch j for Radulph Earl H 4 of 104 THE HISTORY OF WALES. Of the Eaft Angles, together with Roger Earl of Hereford and Earl Waltelpe, entered into a confpi- racy againft King William, appointing the day of marriage between Radulph and' Roger's filler, which was to be folemnized in EfTex ; to treat of arid con- clude their defign. Radulph's mother was come out of Wales, and upon that account, he invited over feveral of her friends and relations to the wedding; meaning chiefly by this feeming affection, by their help and procurement to bring over the princes and people of Wales, to favour and affift his undertaking. But King William being acquainted with the whole lot, quickly ruined all their intrigues , unexpected- ly coming from Normandy furprifed the confpirators ; only Radulph, who either doubted of the fuccefs of their affairs, or elfe had intimation given him of the king's landing, before hand took (hipping at Norwich, and fled to Denmark. Waltelpe and Roger were ex- ecuted, and all the other adherents ; more particular- ly the Welch, fome of whom were hanged, others had A. D. 1073. their eyes put out, and the reft were banifhed. Soon after, Blethyn ap Confyn Prince of Wales was bafely and treacheroufly murdered by Rhys ap Owen ap Ed- wyn and the gentlemen of Yftrad Tywy,' after he had feigned thirteen years : a prince of fmgular qualifica- tions and virtues, and a great obferver of juftice" and Equity towards his fubjects , he Was very liberal and magnificent, being indeed very able, having a pro- digious and almoft an incredible eftate, as appears by thefe verfes made upon him ; Blethyn ap Confyn bob Cwys Ei bun bioedb hen Bowis. ' He had four wives, by whom he had ifTue, Mere-* dith by Haer daughter of Gylhyn, his" firft wife; Lhywarch and Cadogan by the fecond ; Madoc and Riryd by the third; and lorwerth by his laft. TRAHAERN THE HISTORY OF WALES, TRAHAERN AP CARADOC. B L E T H Y N being, as is faid, traiteroufly mur- dered, there was no regard had to his ifiue, as to their right of fucceflion , but Trahaern ap Caradoc his coufm-german being a perfon of great power and fway in the country was unanimoufly elected Prince of North Wales, and Rhys ap Owen with Rytherch ap Caradoc did jointly govern South Wales. Tra- haern indeed had none of the leaft pretence to that principality, as having married Neft the only furviv- ing iflue of that great prince, Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn ; his two fons Meredith and Ithel being lately (lain in their attempt againft Blethyn and Rywalhon. But his title could not lecure him- in his government as much as his pofleflion, fmce there was one ftill living, though much regarded, who without any difpute, was true Heir and proprietor of the principality of North Wales. And this was Gruffydh fon to Conan, fon to lago ap Edwal, who being informed of the death of Blethyn ap Confyn, and the advancement of Tra- haern, thought this a proper time to endeavour the recovery of what Xvas truly his right, and out of which he had been all this time moft wrongfully excluded. Wherefore having obtained help in Ireland, where he privately fojourned during the reign of Biethyn ap Confyn, from Encumalhon king of Ultonia, Ranalht and Mathawn two other kings of that country, he failed for Wales, and landed in the ifle of Anglefey, which he eafily reduced and brought to fubjection. At the fame time Cynwric ap Rywalhon, a noble - man of Maeler or Bromfield was (lain in North Wales, but how, or upon what account, is not known. But whilft Gruffydh ap Conan endeavours to difpoflefs Trahaern out of North Wales, Gronow and Lhewelyn the fons of Cadwgan ap Blethyn having united their forces THE H I S T O R Y OF W A L E S. forces with Caradoc ap Gruffydh ap Rytherch, intend- ed to revenge the murder of their grandfather Ble- thyn ap Confyn, upon Rys ap Owen and Rytherch ap Caradoc, the joint rulers of South Wales. And then marching confidently to find them, both armies met together and fought at a place called Camdhwr ; where after a fore engagement, the fons of Cadwgan at length obtained a glorious victory. In North Wales the fame time, Gruffydh ap Conan having eftablifhed his pofTef- fion of the ifle of Anglefey, intended to proceed far- ther in the continent of Wales ; to which end, hav- ing tranfported his forces over the river, encamped in the neighbouring country of Carnarvonlhire, pur- pofing to reduce North Wales by degrees. Trahaerrt ap Caradoc being informed of this defcent of Gruf- fydh's, made all poflible fpeed to prevent his farther progrefs ; and having made all neceffary preparations that the fhortnefs. of the opportunity would permit, he drew up his forces to Bron yr Erw, where he gave Gruffydh battle, and in fine put him to a Ihameful flight i fo that he was glad to retire back fafe to Anglefey. A.D. 1074. The next year Rytherch ap Caradoc Prince of South Wales died, being murdered through the unnatural villainy of his coufm-german Meyrchaon ap Rhys ap Jlytherch; after whom Rhys ap Owen obtained the fole government of South Wales : but his enjoyment of the whole principality was not very lafting, and fcarce at all void of trouble and vexation of war, 1075. For fliortly after the death of Caradoc, the fons of Cadwgan thinking they might eafily now foil and van- quifh one, feeing they had fome time ago victorioufly overcome both princes together, with all the forces they could raife, fee upon Rhys again at a place called Gwanyffyd ; who not being able to endure their num- ber, was routed and forced to flee ; however the blow was not fo mortal, but that Rhys gathered together new levies, by the help of which he was emboldened ilill to maintain himfelf in his principality. But For- tune which had advanced him to the crown, feemed now to frown at and crofs all his endeavours and undertak- ings THE HISTORY OF WALES. ings and being reduced to a very weak condition in the late battle, he was fet upon by a frefh enemy, before ie could have fufficient time to recover and recruit nimfelf. For Trahaern ap Caradoc Prince of North Wales, perceiving the weaknefs and inability of Rhys to make oppofition againft any foreign enemy that invaded his territories, thought it now very feafible to obtain the conqueft of South Wales, and then to annex it to his own principality of North Wales. Being egged on by thefe pleafant imaginations, he dif- patched his army to South Wales, to fight with Rhys, who with all the forces he could poffibly levy, as lay- ing his whole fortune upon the event of this battle, boldly met him at Pwlhgwttic ; where after a tedious fight on both fides, Rhys having loft the beft part of his army, was put to flight, and fo warmly purfued, that after long fhifting from place to place, himfelf with his brother Howel fell at length into the hands of Caradoc ap GrufFydh, who put them both to death, m revenge of the bafe murder of Blethyn ap Confyn, by them formerly tranfacted. The principality of South Wales being thus vacant by the death of Rhys ap Owen; Rhys fon to Theodore, apEineon, ap Ow- en, ap Howel Dha, as lawful heir to that government, put in his claim, which being very plain and evident, fo prevailed with the people of the country, that they unanimoufly elected him for their prince ; much againft the expectation of Trahaern ap Caradoc Prince of North Wales. The next year St. David's fufFered greatly by ftrangers, who landing there in a confiderable number,A. D. 1077, fpoiled and deftroyed the whole town ; fhortly after which barbarous action, Abraham bifhop of that fee died ; and then Sulien, who .the year before had re- linquimed and refigned up that bifhoprick, was com- pelled to refume it. The government of all Wales both North and i7> South, had been now for a long time fupplied by ufur- pers, and forcibly detained from the right and legal inheritors;' but Providence would fuffer injuftice to reign no longer, and therefore reftored the rightful Heirs to their principalities. Rhys ap Theodore had *-.-* \ * y , * . . , actual JO* THE HISTORY OF WALES. actual pofieflion of South Wales -, and there wanted no more at this time, but to bring in Gruffydh ap Conan to the principality of North Wales ; both theft princes being indifpucably right and lawful heirs to their refpective governments, as lineally defcended from Roderic the Great, who was legal proprietor of all Wales. Gruffydh ap Conan had already reduced the ifle of Anglefey, but not being able to levy a dif- fident army from thence to oppofe Trahaern, he in- vited over a great party of Irim and Scots, and then with his whole army joined with Rhys ap Theodore Prince of South Wales. Trahaern in like manner af- fociating to himfelf Caradoc ap Gruffydh and Mailyr the fons of Rywalhon ap Gwyn his coufms-german, the greatefl and moft powerful men then in Wales, drew up his forces together, with refolution to fight them. Both armies meeting upon the mountains of Curno, a terrible and cruel battle enfued prefently thereupon ; which proved the more fierce and bloody, by reafon that both parties refolutely referred their whole fortune to the fuccefs of their arms ; and life would prove vain if the day was loft. But after a difmal fight on both fides, the victory fell at laft to Gruffydh and Rhys, Trahaern with his coufins being all flain in the field ; after whofe death Gruffydh took poffeflion of North Wales -, and fo the rule of all Wales, after a tedious interval, was again reftored to the right line. About the fame time, Urgency ap Sit- fylht, a perfon of noble quality in Wales, was treach- eroufly murdered by the fons of Rhys Sais, or the En- glifhman ; by which name, the Welch were accuftomed to denominate all perfons, as either had lived any con- fiderable time in England, or could fluently and hand- ibmely fpeak the Englifh tongue; GRUFFYDH TH E H I S T O R Y or W A L E S. GRUFFYDH AP CONAR VJT RUFFYDH ap Conan being confirmed in the principality of North Wales, and Rhys ap The- odore in that of South Wales ; there was no body that could create them any moleftation or difturbance upon the account of right, which was unqueftionably juft ; fo that they quietly enjoyed for fome time their re- fpective dominions, without apprehenfion of any other pretender. Indeed, it had feldom been known before, but that one of the princes was an ufurper ; and par- ticularly in North Wales, where from the time of Ed- wal Foel, none had legally afcended to the crown, excepting Edwal the fon of Meyric, eldeft fon to Edwal Foel, in whofe line the undoubted title of North Wales lawfully defcended. And the right line being now reftored in Gruffydh ap Conan, the fame le- gally continued to Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh, the laft Prince of the Britifh blood. But during thefe revo- lutions in Wales, fome things memorable were tranf- acted in England ; Malcolm king of the Scots defcend- ing into Northumberland, ravaged and deftroyed the country without mercy, carrying away a great num- ber of prifoners ; after which the Northumbrians fell upon Walter biihop of Durham, whom they flew, to- gether with a hundred men, whilft he fate keeping of court, not dreaming of any fuch treacherous villainy. The fame time Robert Curthoys the Baftard's eldeft fon, being for fome reafon difgufted againft his father, and fet on by the inftigation of the king of France, entered Normandy with an army, and claimed it as his right; which King William being acquainted with, paired over to Normandy, and meeting with his fon hand to hand in battle, was by him overthrown. But being returned from Normandy, he entered with a great army into Wales, and marching after the man- ner lid tHE HISTORY OF WALfeS. ner of a pilgrimage as far as St. David's, he offered and paid his devotion to that, faint, and afterwards re- ceived homage of the kings and princes of the coun- try. About the fame time the tomb of Walwey king Arthur's fitter's for, a moft valiant perfon in his time, and governor of that country, from him called Wai- wethey, was difcovered in the country of Ros, nigh the fea-fhore, whofe body proved monftroufly pro- digious, being in length about fourteen foot. A.D.I086. This year Madawc, Cadwgan and Riryd, the fons of Blethyn ap Confyn fome time Prince of WaleSj raifed a rebellion againft Rhys ap Tewdor ; and hav- ing drawn together a great number of licentious and malecontented people, thought to eject him out of the principality of South Wales. Rhys had not power and forces enough to oppofe them ; the rebels' army increafing daily by the addition of the difcontented multitude, who always rejoice at any new commotion or difturbance; and therefore he was compelled to re- tire to Ireland, where he obtained a very confiderable party of Irifh and Scots, upon promife of a fufficient reward, in cafe he was reftored again to his principa- lity. Having by this meafure got a very fenfible in- creafe to his former ftrength, he landed in South Wales ; the news of whofe arrival being blazed abroad, his friends from all quarters prefently retired to him ; fo that in a fhort time his army became numerous, and able to confront the enemy. The rebels were fen- fible how the Prince's forces daily multiplied, and therefore to prevent any farther addition, they made all poflible hafte to force him to a battle, which in a fhort time after happened at Lhech y Creu, where the rebels were vanquiflied , Madawc and Riryd being (lain, and Cadwgan glad to fave his life by flight. Rhys having won fo fignal a victory, and fearing ho farther difturbance difmifled the Irifh and Scots with great rewards, who honourably returned to their io$ 7 - own country. Within a while after, an unaccountable facrilege was committed at St. David's ; the fhrine belonging to the cathedral^ being felonioufly conveyed out of the church, all the plate and other utenfils were THE HISTORY OF WALES. iif were ftolen, and only the flirine left empty behind. The fame year a civil war broke out in England, and feveral armies in feveral parts of the kingdom were up in arms at the fame time, and among the reft the Welch, who entering into Glocefter and Wor- cefter mires, burnt and deftroyed all before them, to the gate of Worcefter. The king having drawn his army together, proceeded againft his enemies by de- grees, and falling upon their feparate parties, without any great difficulty, reduced all to obedience. With-A.D.xo in two years after, Archbilhop Sulien, the moft pious and learned perfon in Wales, died, in the eightieth year of his age, and in the fixteenth year of his bi- fhoprick; prefently after whofe death the town of St. David's fuffered a more fenfile calamity, being firft plundered, and afterwards burnt by a company of py- rates, who forely infefted the Britifh coafts. About the fame time alfo died Cadifor the fon of Calhoyn Lord of Dyfed, whofe fons Lhewelyn and Eineon mo- ved Gruffydh ap Meredith to take up arms againft his fovereign Prince Rhys ap Tewdor, with whom they joined all the forces they could levy among their te- nants and dependants ; then paffing with their army to Lhandydoch, boldly challenged Rhys to fight 5 who thereupon gave them battle, and after a refolute engagement of both fides, the rebels were at length worfted, and put to flight, and then fo narrowly pur- fued, that Gruffydh ap Meredith was taken prifoner, and in fine executed as a traitor : but Eineon made his efcape, and not daring to truft himfelf with any of his own kindred, he fled to leftyn ap Gurgant, Lord of Morgannwc, who was then in adual rebellion againft Prince Rhys. And to ingratiate himfelf the more in leftyn's favour, he promiled, upon condition of the performance of certain articles, one of which more efpecially was, That he mould receive his daugh* ter in matrimony ; that he would bring over to his aid a confiderable body of Normans, with whom he was fingularly acquainted, as having ferved a long time in England. Thefe articles being agreed to and re- corded, Eineon pofted to England, and in a little time \il TrtE HISTORY OF WALES; time brought matters fo about, that he prevailed with Robert Fitzhamon and twelve more knights, to levy a flrong army of Normans, and to come to Wales to A. D. logo.the protection and aid of leftyn. The beginning of the following year they landed in Glamorganfhire; and were honourably received by leftyn, who joining his power to theirs, marched to Prince Rhys's domi- nionsi where^ without the leaft fhew of mercy to his own countrymen, he encouraged the Normans, by his own example, to fpoil and deftroy all that came be^ fore them. Prince Rhys was mightily grieved to find his country fo unmercifully haraiTed ; and though at this time very antient, being above ninety-eight years of age, he could not refrain but meet his enemies ; and having with all poflible fpeed railed a convenient ar- my ; he met with them near Brecknock, where after a terrible fight, and a great (laughter on both fides, he was unhappily (lain. With him fell the glory and grandeur of the principality of South Wales, being afterwards rent in pieces, and divided into feveral parts and piece-meals among the Norman captains, as mail be by and by more particularly related. Prince Rhys left ifTue behind him by the daughter of Rywalhon ap Confyn, two fons, Gruffydh and Grono, the latter of which was detained prifoner by the king of England ; though the author of the winning of the lordfliip of Glamorgan, affirms, that he was (lain, together with his father, in this battle againft the Normans. The Normans having received a fufficienc reward from leftyn, upon the account of their fervice againft Prince Rhys, returned to their Ihips, in order to their voyage homeward. But before they could loofe an- chor to fail off, Eineon recalled them, being ungrate- fully affronted by leftyn, who abfolutely refufed to make good to him the conditions which they had agreed upon, before the Normans were invited to Wales. Upon this account, Eineon was fo irrecon- cilably incenfed againft leftyn, that to be revenged up- on him, he was willing to facrifice his native country into the hands of ftrangers; and therefore endeavoured to perfuade the Normans concerning the fatnefs and fertility TH E HISTORY OF W,A L E S; fertility of the country-) and how eafily they might conquer and make themfelves matters of it. But he jjeeded not many arguments to perfuade a people that were willing of themfelveSi efpecially being encouraged thereto by a perfon of fome efteem in the country; whereupon, without any more queftions, they pre- fently fell to their bufmefs ; and from friends became unexpectedly foes. leftyn was much furprifed to find the Normans, whom he had but lately honourably difmiffed from his fervice, and as he thought^ with fa- tisfadion, fo foon become his enemies ^ but perceiving a ferpent in the hedgCj and Eineon fo amicably great among them, he quickly gueiled at the reafon, of* which there was no other remedy left but to bewail the unnecefiary folly of his own knavery. The Nor- mans Daftly difpofTefled leftyn of the whole lordfhip of Glamorgan ; the moft pleafant and fertile part of which they divided among themfelves ; leaving the more mountainous and craggy ground to the (hare of Eineon. The knights who accompanied Fitzhamon *n this expedition were, William de Londres or Lon- don j Richard de Grena villa, or Greenfield ; Paganus de Turberville ; Robert de S. Quintino, or Quintin j Richard de Sywarde ; Gilbert de Hurnfrevile ; Roger de Bcrkrolles , Reginald de Sully ; Peter le Spore ; John le Fleming ; Oliver de S. John ; William de Ef- terlingi or Stradling. Thefe perfons having diftributed that fair and pleafant lordfliip among themfelves, and confidering that they were much better provided for here than they could be at home, fettled in Glamorgan, where their pofterity have continued r.o this time. And here we may obferve, what a train of circumftances concurred together, in favour of the Normans, having porTeffion of this lordfhip : for had not Eineon, be- ing vanquifhed by Prince Rhys, fled to leftyn, rather than to another ; or had not leftyn been fo vain as to attempt the conqueft of South Wales, and to that end contented to the advice of Eineon -, there had been ho neceffity of inviting the Normans at all to Wales. And then, the Normans being arrived, had not leftyn ungenteely violated his promife, and refufed to perform I the THE HISTORY OF WALES, the articles agreed upon between him and Eineonj or had not Eineon puriued ib dcfperate revenge, but fatisfied his paffion upon leftyn, without prejudice to his country, the Normans would have returned home with fatisfadiion, and confcquently could never have been proprietors of that noble country they then for- cibly pofiefTed. And now again the Welch expe- rienced the dangerous confequence of calling in a fo- reign nation to their aid -, the Saxons had already dif* polfefied them of the belt part of the ifland of Britain, and now the Normans feized upon a great part of that fmall country, which had efcapcd the fovereignty artd conqueft of the Englifh. But here it will be necefTary to lay down the ftate and condition of this lord- Ihip of Morgannwc or Glamorgan, and what marc each particular knight obtained in the diftribution of it* The lordlhip of Glamorgan reaches in length twenty-feven miles, even from Rymny bridge to the eaft, to Pwlh Conan weftward , and in breadth from Aberthaw, otherwife Ab'erdaon on the fouth part, to the confines of Brecknockshire above Morley's caftle, twenty-two miles. This being a royal lordfhip, the lords thereof owing no other fubjedion than obe- dience only to the crown, aflumed to themfelves all the privileges of a regal court, excepting only the pardoning of criminals in cafe of treafon. And not only Glamorgan, but the feveral petty lordlhips of which it confifted, namely, Sengennyth, Myfcyn, Ru- thin, Lhanblethian, Tir larlh, Glyn Rothney, A van, Neth, Coyty, Talavan, and Lantuit or Boviarton ; exercifed the fame privilege of Jura Regalia, with this difference only, that in cafe of wrong judgment in thefe courts, appeal might be made in the county- court of Glamorgan, which being fuperior to the reft, had power to reverfe any judgment given in them. Within this lordfhip were eighteen catties, and thirty-fix knight's fees ; befides the town and caftle of Kynfig, the town of Cowbridge or PonC Vaen, and the town and caftle of Caerdaf ; in the latter of which the lord of Glamorgan chiefly re- i fided HISTOkY OF WALES. Tided, wherein the county-court was monthly kept. The annual revenue of this lordfhip amounted to a thoufand marks ; whereof four hundred was allowed for the fees and falary of the feveral officers belonging to the fame. This lordfhip of Glamorgan Robert Fitzhamon kept to himfelf ; and the others he dif- tributed between his feveral followers ; namely, to "William de Londres he gave the caftle and manor of Ogmore : to Richard Greenfield the lordihip of Neth ; to Paine Turberville that of Goyty ; to Ro- bert S. Quintine Lhan Blethyan , to Richard Syward Talavan ; to Gilbert Humfrevile the caftle and manor of Penmarc; to Reginald Sully the caftle and manor of Sully; to Roger Berkrolles that of Eaft Orchard; to Peter le Soor that of Peterton ; to John Fleming that of -S. George; to John S, John that of Fonmon or Fenvon ; and laftly, to William le Efterimg or - Stradling that of S. Donats. But that thefe knights fhould have dependence upon, and might feem to hold their feveral lordfhips and eftate from him ; Ro- bert Fitzhamon appointed them their feveral apart- ; mems in his caftle of Caerdaf, where they were ob- liged to give their attendance at every court- day, -which was monthly kept upon Monday. " ' But about the fame time that Robert Fitzhamon took the lordfhip of Glamorgan, Barnard Newmarch, a nobleman likewife of Normandy, obtained by con- queft the lordihip of Brecknock ; and Henry de New- burgh fon to Roger de Bellemont, by the Conqueror made Ear-l of Warwick, the country, of Gower. But Barnard Newmarch gave the people of Wales fome ' fmall fatisfaction and content, by marrying Neft, the daughter alib of Neft, daughter to Lhewelyn ap Gruf- fydh Prince of Wales, by whom he had aTue, a fon. called Mahael. This worthy gentleman being legally to fucceed his father in the lordfhip of Brecknock, was afterwards difinherited by the malice and bafenefs of his own unnatural mother. The occafion was thus, Neft happening to fall in admiration of a cer- tain knight, with whom fhe had more than ordinary familiarity, even beyond what fhe expreft to her own I 2 hufbandj n6 Tua HISTORYop WALES. hufband; Mahael perceiving her dififolute and loofe behaviour, counfelled her to take care of her fame and reputation, and to leave off that fcandalous liberty which fhe took : and afterwards meeting cafually her gallant coming from her, fought and grievoufly wounded him. 'Upon this Neft to be revenged upon her fon, went to Henry the firft, king of Eng- land, and in his prefence took her corporal oath, that her fon Mahael was illegitimate, and not be- got by Barnard Newmarch her hufband, but another perfbn ; by virtue of which oath or rather perjury, Mahael was difmherited, and his fitter, whom her mother attefted to be legitimate, was beftowed by the king upon Milo, the fon of Walter Conftable, after- ward Earl of Hereford, who in right of his wife en- joyed the whole eftate of Barnard Newmarch lord of Brecknock. Of this Milo it is reported, that telling King Henry of a flrange accident which had occurred to him by Lhyn Savathan in Wales, where the birds upon the pond at the pafTing by of Gruffydh the fon of Rhys ap Theodor, feemed by their chirping to be in a manner overjoyed -, the king replied, It was not fo wonderful ; for although, fays he, manifeftly we have violently and injurioufly opprefled that nation, yet it is known, that they are the lawful and original inheritors of that country. But whilft the Normans were thus carvmg for themfelves in Glamorgan and Brecknock, Cadogan ap Blethyn ap Confyn towards the end of April en- tered into Dyved, and having ravaged and destroyed the country, returned back. But within eight weeks after, there fucceeded him a more fatal enemy ; for the Normans landing in Dyved and Cardigan, began to fortify themfelves in caftles and other ftrong places, and to inhabit the country upon the fea-fhore, which be- fore was not in their poflefiion. Indeed the Normans having by the connivance of the Conqueror already got into their hands ail the beft eftates in England, began now to fpy out the commodities of Wales ; and perceiving moreover how bravely Robert Fitzha- mon and Barnard Newmarch had fped there, thought they THE HISTORY OF WALES. they might as well expect the like fortune. Where- fore having obtained a grant from King William (who readily con fen ted to their requeft, becaufe by this means he killed two birds with one flone, procured to himfelf their utmoft fervice upon occafion, and withal provided for them without any charge to him- felf) they came to Wales, and fo entered upon the eftates appointed them by the king, which they held of him by knight-fervice, having firft done homage and fworn fealty for the fame. Roger Montgomery Earl of Arundel did homage for the lordfhips of Powis and Cardigan ; Hugh Lupus Earl of Chefter for Tegengl and Ryfonioc, together with all the land lying upon the fea-lhore to the river Conwey , Arnulph a younger fon of Roger Montgomery for Dyved , Bar- nard Newmarch for Brecknock ; Ralph Mortimer for Eluel , Hugh de Lacy for the land of Ewyas ; Euftace Omer for Mold' and Hapredale ; and feveral others did the like homage for other lands. But Roger Mont- gomery, who by the Conqueror was created Earl of Arundel and Shrewibury, entered in an hoftile manner into Powis-land, and having won the caftle and town of Baldwyn, fortified it in his own right, and called it Montgomery after his own name. King William of England was now in Normandy, and bufily engaged in a war againft his brother Robert ; by the advantage ofwhofe abfence, Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North Wales, and Cadogan ap Blethyn, who now ruled in South Wales, with joint force entered into Cardigan and (lew a great number of Normans, whofe pride and cxceflive cruelties towards the Welch, were altogether iptolerable. But after fufficient execution there, be- ing returned home, the Normans fent for more aid from England -, which being arrived, they thought to make a private in-road into North Wales, and fo to be revenged upon the Welch. But their defign being happily difcovered to Cadogan, he drew up his forces to meet them, and then unexpectedly fetting upon them in the foreft of Yfpys, after a very warm refiftment of the Normans fide, forced them to retire by flight, and then triumphantly marching through Cardigan and 1 3 DyvecU ;tj8 TH E HISTORY OF WALES. Dyved, he deftroyed all the caftles and fortifications, in the country, befides Pembrock and Rydcors, which proved too-ftrong, and impregnable. A, D. 1093. The next year the Normans who inhabited the country of Glamorgan fell upon and deftroyed the countries of Gwyr, Kidwely, and Yftrad Tywy, which they harraiTed in fuch a cruel manner, that they lefc them bare of any people to inhabit. And to increafe as it was thought, the miferies of the Welch, King William Rufus being informed of the great {laughter which Gruffydh ap Conan, and the fons of Bkthyn ap Confyn had lately committed upon the Englifh, as well within Chefhire, Shropfhire, Worcefterfhire, and Herefordfhire, as within Wales ; entered the country at Montgomery, which place the Welch having fome- time fince demolifhed, King William lately rebuilt. But the Welch kept all the paflages through the woods and rivers, and all other itreights fo clofe, that the King could erred nothing confiderable againil them 5 and therefore when he perceived that his labour was 'but loft, in continuing in thofe parts, he forthwith de- camped, and returned with no great honour back to *9* England. But this retreat of King William was not altogether fo favourable to the intereft of the Welch, as the death of William Fitz-Baldwyn, who was owner of the -catlle of Rydcors, and did the greater! mif- chief and hurt to the South Wales^men of any other. He being dead, the garrifon of Rydcors which was wont to keep the Welch in continual awe, forfook that place, and by that means gave opportunity to, the inhabitants of Gwyr, Brecknock, Gwent, and Gwtntlhwc, tofhake off that intolerable yoke the Nor- mnns forced upon them, who after ttey had robbed them of their lands, kept them in perpetual fubjedion. But now W.lliam Fitz Baldwyn being dead, and the garrifon of Rydcors fcattered, they ventured to lay violent hands upon the Normans, who thought them- felves free from all fear ; and prevailed fo fuccefsfully, that they drove r.hem all out of the country, and re- icovered their own antient eftates. But the Normans iliked that country fo well, that they were refolved not to THE HISTORY OF WALES. 119 -to be fo eafily befooled out of what they had with a great deal of pains and danger once poiTeffed ; and therefore having drawn a great number of Englim and Normans to their aid, they were defirous to venture another touch with the Welch, and to return if pof- fible, to their once acquired habitations. But the Welch ib abhorred their pride and tyrannical dominion over them when they were mailers, that they were re- folved not to be fubjcct to fuch tyrants again; and therefore they boldly met them at a place called Celly larfawc, and fet upon them fo manfully, the very ap- prehenfion of fervitude whetting their Ipirits, that they put them to flight with great (laughter, and drove them out of the country. The Normans however were not fo abiblutely routed with this overthrow: but like a fly in the night which deftroys itfelf in the candle, they muft needs covet their own deftruction -, their greedi-r nefs egging them on to venture with few, what was not practicable to be effected by many. Therefore on they came as far as Brecknock, with this abfolute vow and refolution not to leave one living thing re- maining in that country. But they fell fhort of their .policy, the people of the country being removed to a narrow ftreight, to expect their palling through 5 whither the Normans being advanced, they fell upon them, and killed a great number of them. About the fame time, Roger Montgomery Earl of Salop and Arundel, William Fitzeauftace Earl of Gloceftcr, .Arnold de Harecourt, and Neal le Vicount, were flain by the Welch between Caerdaf and Brecknock ; and Walter Eureux Earl of Sarum, Rofmer, and Manti- lake ; Hugh earl of Gourney, were wounded, who afterwards died in Normandy. The Normans finding that they continually loft ground, thought it not ad- vifeable to ftay any longer-, and therefore having placed fufficient garrifons in thofe caftles which they had formerly built, they returned with what fpeed they oould to England. But all the hafle they did tnake, could not fecure them from the fury of the Welch j for Gruffydh and Ifor, the fons of Ednerth 14 ap 120 THE HISTORY OF WALES. ap Cadogan, expected them privately at a place called Aberlhech, where falling unexpectedly upon them ; they (lew the greateft part of their number, the reft narrowly efcaping fafe to England. But the Norman garrifons which were left behind, de- fended themfelves with a great deal of bravery, tiH at laft, finding no profpect of relief, they were forced for their own fafety to deliver them up to the Welch, who from that time, became again propri- etors of thofe places which the Normans had dif- poiTed them from. And this encouraged the Welch to undertake other things againft the Englifh; for immediately after this, certain of the nobility of North- Wales, Uchthed the fon of Edwyn ap Grono by name, together with Howel ap Grono, and the fons of Cadogan ap Blethyn of Powys-land, paffed by Car- digan into Dyved (which country King William had given to Arnulph fon to Roger Montgomery, who had built thereon the caftle of Pembrock, and appointee! Gerald de Windfore governour of the fame) and de- ftroying all the country with fire and fword, ex- cepting Pembrock caftle, which was impregnable, they returned home with a great deal of booty. In recompence of this, when the lords of North- Wales were returned, Gerald iffued out of the caftle, and fpoiled all the country about S. Davids ; and after he had got fufficient plunder, and taken divers pri T foners returned back into the caftle. r>.i95. The year following, King William returned from Normandy, and having heard how that the Welch had cut off a great number of his fubjects in Wales, gathered all his power together, and with great pomp and oftentation entered the marfhes, refolv- ing utterly to eradicate the rebellious and impla- cable humour of the Welch nation. But after all this boaft and feeming relolution, he durft venture no farther than the marfhes, where having built fome few caftles, he returned with no greater ho- ?s&6. nour. than he came. But the next Spring, Hugh de Montgomery earl of Arundel and alop, by the Welch named THE HISTORY OF WALES. | 2 i Tiamed Hugh Goch, and Hugh Fras, or the Fat, Earl of Chefter, being invited by fome difaffeded Welch lords, came into North Wales with a very great ar- my. Prince Gruffydh ap Conan, and Cadogan ap Blethyn, perceiving themfelves to be too weak to op- pofe fo numerous an arrrw, and what was worfe, being very fufpicious of the fidelity and honefty of their own forces, thought it their befl way to take the hills and mountains for their fafety, where they were like to remain molt fecure from the enemy. Then the En- glim army marched towards Anglefey, and being come over againft the ifland, they built the caftle of Aber- Ihiennawc. But Gruffydh and Cadogan could no longer endure to fee their country over-run by the Englifh, and therefore they defcended from the moun- tains, and came to Anglefey, thinking, with what fuc- cours they mould receive from Ireland, of which they were difappointed, to be able to defend the ifland from any attempt that mould be made upon it. And now the whole reafon, and the occafion of the En- glifh coming to Wales was difcovered ; for Owen ap Edwyn, the Prince's chiefeft counfellor, whofe daugh- ter Gruffydh had married (having himfelf alfo mar- ried Everyth the daughter of Confyn, aunt to Cado- fin) upon fome private grudge or other, called in the nglifh into Wales, and at this time openly joined his forces with theirs, and led the whole army over into Anglefey. Gruffydh and Cadogan finding how they were betrayed by their deareft friend, as they thought; for fear of farther treachery, judged it prudent to fail privately for Ireland ; after whofe departure, the Englifh fell cruelly to work, deftroying all they could come at, without any refped to either age or fex. And whilfl the Englifh continued in Anglefey, Mag- mis the fon of Harold, lately King of England, came over with a great fleet, intending to lay fafter hold upon that kingdom, than his father had done, and to recover the fame to himfelf. But whilft he fteered his courfe thitherward, he was driven by contrary winds to the coafts of Anglefey, where he would rain have 2j* THE HISTORY OF WALES, have landed, had not the Englilh army kept him off- But in this fkirmifh Magnus accidentally wounded Hugh Earl of Salop with an arrow in the face, where- of he died ; and then of a fudden both armies relin- quifhed the ifland, the Engliih returning to England, . io97appointing Owen ap Edwyn, who invited them over, prince of the country. But Owen did not enjoy the principality long ; for in the beginning of the follow- ing fpring, GrurTydh ap Conan and Cadogan ap Ble- thyn teturned from Ireland, and having concluded a peace with the Normans, for fome part of their lands in Wales ; GrurTydh remained in Anglefey, and Cado- gan had Cardigan, with part of Powis. But though Cadogan recovered his eftate, yet in a little while after he loft his fon Lhewelyn, who was treacheroufly mur- dered by the men of Brecnock : at which time alfo died Rythmarch archbiihop of S. David's, the fon of Sulien, being in the forty-third year of his age ; a man of the greateft piety, wifdom, and learning, as had flourifhed a long time in Wales, excepting his father, under whofe tutelage he was educated. The year fc$8. following, King William Rufus, as he was hunting in the new forreft, was accidentally flain with an ar- row, which one Walter Tyrrel mot at a flag , and his eldeft brother being then engaged in the holy war, Henry his younger brother, whom in his life-time he had nominated his fuccefibr, was crowned in his ftead. The fame year, Hugh Earl of Chefter, Grono ap Cadogan, and Gwyn ap GrurTydh departed this life. joo. About two years after, a rebellion broke out in England; Robert de Bclefmo, the fon of Roger de Montgomery Earl of Salop, and Arnulph his brother Earl of Pembrock, took up arms againft king Henry; which he being informed of, fent them a very gra- cious meffage to come before him, and declare their grievances, and the reafon of their rifing up in arms againft his Majefty. But the Earls inftead of ap- pearing in perfon, fent him flight and frivolous ex- cufes, and in the mean while made all necefTary pre- parations for the war, both by raifing of forces, and fortifying THE HISTORY OF WALES. 1.23 fortifying their caftles and ftrong holds. And to ftrengthen themfelves the more, they fent rich pre- fents, and made large promifes to lorwerth, Cado- gan, and Meredith, the ions of Blethyn ap Confyn ; for to bring them to their fide. Robert fortified four caftles, namely, Arundel, Tekinhil, Shrewsbury, and Brugge ; which laft, by reaibn that Robert buik it with- out the confent of the king, was the chief occafiort of this war-, and Arnulph fortified his caflle at Pem- brock. After this, they entered in an hoftile manner into the territories of the king of England, wafting and deftroying all before them. And to augment their ftrength, Arnulph fent Gerald his fteward, to Mur- kart King of Ireland, defiring his daughter in wed- lock ; which was eafily granted, with the promife too of great fuccours and large fupplies. King Henry, to put a ftop to their bold adventures, march- ed in perfon againft them; and laying fiege to the caftle of Arundtl, won it without any great oppofi- tion; and quickly afterwards the caftle of Tekinhill ; but that of Brugge, by reafon of the fituation of the place, and the depth of the ditch about it, feemed to require longer time and harder fervice ; and there* fore King Henry was advifed to fend privately to lorwerth ap Blethyn, promifing him great rewards if he forfook the earl's part, and came over to him; urging to him, what mifchief Roger, earl Robert's father, and his brother Hugh, had continually done to the Welch-men. And to make him the more willing to accept of his propofals, he promifed to give him all fuch lands as the earl and his brother had in Wales, without either tribute or homage; which was a part of Powys, Cardigan, and half Dyfed ; the other part being in the pofiefiion of William Fitz* Baldwyn. lorwerth receiving thefe offers, accepted of them very gladly, and then coming to the king, he fent all his forces to earl Robert's lands, who hav- ing received very Uriel: orders, deftroyed without mercy every thing they met with; and what made the fpoil the greater, earl Robert upon his rebelling againft King Henry, had caufed his people to conr vey V2 4 THE HISTORY OF WALES. vey all their goods to Wales, for fear of the Englifh ; not thinking how his father's memory founded a- mong the Welch. But when the News of lor- werth's revolt reached the ears of the earl, Ca- dogan and Meredith, lorwerth's brothers -, their fpirits began to faint, as defpairing any longer to oppofe the king, fmce lorwerth, who was the per- fbn of greateft ftrength in Wales, had left and for- faken them. Arnulph was gone to Ireland to fetch home his wife, and to bring over what fuccour his father-in-law, King Murkart, could afford to fend him ; but he not coming in time, fome other method was to be tried, how to get fome aid again ft the Englilh. A little before this rebellion broke out, Magnus, Harold ? s fon, landed the fecond time in the ifleof Anglefey, and being kindly received by Gruf- fydh ap Conan, he had leave to cut down what tim- ber he had need for ; and fo returning to the Ifle of Man, which he had got by conqueft, he built there three caftles, and then fcnt to Ireland to have the daughter of Murkart in marriage to his fon, which being obtained, he created him king of Man, earl Robert hearing this, fent to Magnus for aid againft king Henry ; but receiving none, he thought it now high time to look to his own Safety ; and therefore he fent to the king, requefting that he might quietly depart the kingdom, in cafe he mould lay down his arms; which the king having granted, he failed to Normandy. And then king Henry fent an exprefs to his brother Arnulph, requiring him either to follow his brother out of the kingdom, or to deliver himfelf up to his mercy ; and fo Arnulph went over alfo for Normandy. When the king was returned to London, lorwerth took his brother Meredith pri- foner, and committed him to the king's cuftody ; his other brother Cadogan having reconciled himfelf beforehand, to whom lorwerth gave Cardigan, with a part of Powys. Then lorwerth went to London, to put the king in mind of his promife, and the fer- vice he had done him againft earl Robert ; but the king finding now all matters at quiet, was deaf to all THE HISTORY OP WALES. 125; all fuch remembrances, and inftead of promifing what he had once voluntarily propofed, againft all rules of equity and gratitude, he took away Dyfed from lorwerth, and gave it to a knight of his own, called Saer; and Stratywy Cydwely, and Gwyr he bellowed upon Howel ap Grono, and fent lorwerth away more empty than he came : nor was this fuf- ficient reward for his former fervices -, but the next year King Henry muft fend fome of his counfelA.D.not. to Shrewsbury, and cite lorwerth to appear there, under pretence of confulting about the king's bufi- nefs and affairs of thofe parts. But the plot was laid deeper ; and when without any fufpicion of treachery he made his appearance, he was furprizedly attainted of high treafon, and then contrary to all right and juftice actually condemned to perpetual im- priibnment ; the true reafon of this unparalleled feverity being, the king feared his ftrength, and was apprehenfive that he would revenge the wrong and affront he received at his hands. And indeed, well had he reafon to fear that, when he fo ungrate- fully treated him, whofe fervice he had experienced to be fo greatly advantageous to him. But the po- licy of Princes is unaccountable ; and whether to value an eminent perfon for his fervice, or to fear him for his greatnels, is a fubjecl: that frequently difturbs their moft fettled confiderations. But the noblemen that were at this time fent by the king to Shrewfbury, were Richard de Belmerih, who being chief agent about Roger Montgomery earl of Salop, was prefered to the bilhoprick of London, and after- wards appointed by this king, to be warden of the marmes, and governour of the county of Salop. With him were joined in company, Walter Conftable, the father of Milo, earl of Hereford, and Rayner the king's lieutenant in the county of Salop. About this time, as Bale writes, the church of Menevia or S. Davids, began to be fubjecl: to the fee of Canter- bury, being always afore the metropolitan church of all Wales. Shortly J2 6 THE HISTORY 6 P W A L E S. A.D.H02. Shortly after this, Owen ap Edwyn, who had beefi author of no fmall mifchief and difturbance to the Welch* in moving the Englim againft his natural prince, and fon-in-law Gruflydh ap Conan, depart- ed this life, after a tedious and miferable ficknefs 5 of which he was fo much the lefs pitied, by how much he had proved an enemy and a traitor to his native country. He was the fon of Grono, by his wife Edelflede the widow of Edmund, furnamed Ironfide, king of England; and had the title of legengl; though the Englim, when they had conv pelled Gruffydh ap Conan to flee to Ireland for fafety, conftituted him prince of all North Wales, After his death, Richard Fitz-Balclwyn laid fiege tOj and took the caftle of Rydcors, and forcibly drove Howel ap Grono, to whom king Henry had committed the cuftody of it, out of the country. But Howel quick- ly returned, and with a high fpirit of revenge, be- gan to deftroy and burn whatfoever he could meet with, and then meeting a party of the Normans in their return homewards, he fell upon the flank of them with a very confiderable (laughter -, and fo brought all the country to his fubjedtion, excepting fome few garrifons and caftles which would not furrendef to him. The fame time King Henry took away from Saer the government of Dyfed, which formerly was lorwerth ap Blethyn's, and beftowed it upon Gerald, who had been fome time earl Arnulph's fleward in thofe parts , and therefore by reafon of his know- ledge of the country, was in all probability belt able to take upon him the management of it. But the Normans in Rydcors caftle being fenfible that they were not able to effect any thing againit Howel ap Grono in open field, after their accuftomed manner, began to put that in execution by trrachery, which they could not compafs by force of arms. And how to make Howel a facrifice to thofe Normans h had lately (lain, they could find no fafer way than by corrupting one Gwgan ap Meyric, a man in great favour and efteem with Howel, upon the account chiefly that one of his children was nurfed by Gwgan's wife. THE HISTORY OF WALES. ^ wife. This ungrateful villain, to carry on his wicked intrigue the more unfufpected, gave Howel a very earneft invitation to his houfe to a merriment, where, without any fufpicion of treachery, being come, he was welcomed with all the feeming affection and kindnefs imaginable. But no fooner was he fettled, A* 35 - 11 ^ but Gwgan gave notice thereof to the Gorman garri- fons , and therefore by break of day they entered the town, and coming about the houfe where Howel lay in bed, they prefently gave a great fhout. Howel hearing the noile, fufpected fomething of mifchief, and therefore leaping in all hade out of bed, he made to his weapons, but could not find them, by reafon that Gwgan had conveyed them away whilft he was afleep. And now being allured of treachery in the cafe, and finding that his men had fled for their lives, he endeavoured all he could to make his efcape ; but Gwgan and his company were too quick for him ; and fo being fecured, they ftrangled hiriii and delivered his body to the Normans, who having cut off his head, conveyed it to the caflle of Rydcorsi This moft villainous murder, fo barbaroufly commit- ted upon the king's lieutenant, was not in the leaft taken notice of; for King Henry was fo unreafonably prejudiced in favour of the Normans, that whatever mifdemeanor, be it of never fo high a nature, was by them committed, it was prefently winked at, and let fall to the ground ; whereas, if the Welch trefpafled but againft the leaft injunction of the king's laws, they were moft feverely punifhed : which was the caufe that they afterwards flood up againft the king in their own defence, being by experience affured, that he minded nothing more than their utter deftruction. About this time Anfelm, archbifhopof Canterbury, convened a fynod at London, wherein among other injunctions then decreed, the celibacy of the clergy was enjoined; marriage being before ever allowed of in Britain, to them in holy orders. But this new injunction created a great deal of heat and animofity among the clergy, fome approving of it as 1 2 8 THE HISTORY bf WALE & as reafonable and orthodoxical ; others condemning it, as an innovation and contrary to the plain letter of fcripture. But during thefe difputes between the clergy, king Henry being now in the fifth year of his reign, failed over with a great army into Normandy, where his brother Robert, together with Robert de Belefmo, Arnulph, and William earl of Mortaign, gave him battle ; but the king having ob- tained the victory, took the duke his brother, with William of Mortaign, prifoners ; and carrying them into England, he caufed firft his brother Robert's eyes to be plucked outj and then condemned them both to perpetual imprifonment in the caftle of Cardyfn A. D. 1 104. About the fame time Meyric and Gruffydh, the fens of Trahaern ap Garadoc were both flain by the means of Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn; whofe uncle Mere- dith ap Blethyn, who had been prifoner for a long time in England, now broke open the prifon, wherein he was very narrowly confined ; and returning to his own country, had his eftate reftored, which afterwards he quietly enjoyed. 1105. The next year a very difmal and calamitous ac-- cident happening in the Low-countries, proved very incommodious and prejudicial to the Welch j for a great part of Flanders being drowned by the over- flowing of the fea, the inhabitants were compelled to feek for fome other country to dwell in, their own being how covered with water. And therefore a great many being come over to England, they re- quefted of King Henry to aflign them fome part of his kingdom which was empty and void of inha- bitants, where they might fettle and plant themfelves. The king taking advantage of this charitable oppor- tunity, and being in a manner allured, that thefe Flemings would be a confiderable thorn in the fide of the Welch, beftowed upon them very liberally what was not juftly in his power to give ; and ap- pointed them the country of Ros, in Dyfed or Wdt- Wales, where they continue to this day. But Gerald the king's lieutenant in thofe parts, was refolved to be afore-hand with them, and rebuilt the caftle of Pembrock, THE HISTORY OF WALES. 129 Pembrock, in a place called Congarth Fechan ; whi- ther he removed his family and all his goods. But A .D. no6. here a very unfortunate accident happened to him for Cadwgan ap Biethyn having prepared a fumptuous feaft in the Chriftmas, invited all the lords to his coun- try-houfe in Dyfed, and among the reft his Ion Owen, who lived in Powis. This young gentleman being at his father's houfe, and hearing Neil the wife of Ge- rald univerfally praifed for her incomparable beauty, was fo fmitten with the rumour that went abroad of her, that by all means he mud fee the lady, who was by all fo much admired, And ibrafmuch as Gwladys, wife to Rhys ap Theodore, and mother to Neft, was the daughter of Rywalhon ap Confyn, coufm-german. to Cadwgan his father ; under pretence of friend fhip and relation, he made bold to pay her a vifit. But finding the truth far to fufpafs the fame that went of her, he returned home fo inflamed with her charms, that not being able to keep the maftery over himfelf, he went back again the fame night, and being attended by a company of wild, head-ftrong youths, they pri- vily entered into the caftle, and encompafling the cham- ber about, where Gerald and his wife lay, they fet the houfe on fire. Gerald hearing a noife, would fain go out to know the meaning of fuch unfeafonable di- fturbance j but his wife fearing fome treachery, per- fuaded him to make as private an efcape as he could : and then pulling up a board in the privy, let him go that way. Then returning to her chamber, me would fain allure thofe notorious youths, that there was no body befides herfelf and children there; but this be- ing not fatisfactory, they forcibly broke in, and having fearched every the moft private corner, and not find- ing Gerald, they took his wife and two fons, with a fon and a daughter born by a concubine, and carried them away to Powis ; having firft fet fire to the caftle, and deftroyed the country as they went along, Cad- wgan, Owen's father, hearing of what outrageous crime his fon had committed, was exceedingly con- cerned and forry, chiefly becaufe hereby he was like to incur King Henry's great difpleafure j and therefore K he i 3 6 T H E H I S T O R Y OF WALES. he went with all fpeed to Powis, and defired his fort with ail intreaties, to fend home to Gerald his wife and children, with whatever elfe he had taken away from him. But Owen was fo amouroufly inexorable with refpec"l to th'e woman, that he would by no means part with her -, however, upon her requeft, he was will- ing to feftore Gerald his children back again, which forthwith he performed. But when Richard biihop of London, whom King Henry had conftituted War- den of the Marches, being now at Shrewsbury, heard of this, he fent for Ithel and Madoc the fons of Ryryd ap Ble'thyn, "perfons of great power and ihtercft in Wale?;, promifing them very considerable rewards, be- fides the government of the whole country, in cafe they could bring Owen and his father Cadwgan, either dead or alive, to him, that he m ; ght revenge that heinous affront which they had done to the king of England. With them he joined Lhywarch the fon of Trahaefn ap Caradoc, whofe two brethren Owen had flain, and Uchtryd the fon of Edwyn ; which four un- dertook to anfwer effectually the bifhop's propofal to them. But when they had united their forces, and be- gan in an hoftile manner to deftroy the country as they paffed along ; Uchtfyd fent private notice before him, requiring all who were any way deiirous of their own fafety, to come to him , becaufe no quarters was to be given to any that was found in the country. The peo- ple being thus fo opportunely forewarned, began to bethink with themfelves how they might beft avoid fo eminent a -danger; and thereupon fome fled to Aruftly, others to Melicnyth, fome to Stradtywy, and fome td Dyfe'd ; but in this latter place they met with very cold welcome ; for Gerald, who was then very bufy in exercifing -revenge upon that country, falling irt among them* cut off a confiderable number of them; The like fate befel them who efcaped to Aruftly and Mt-lienyth , for Walter bifhop of Hereford having raifoi an army in defence of the town of Caermyrdhyn, bdbre he could come thither, accidentally met witll thefe llragling fugitives, and knowing to what country they belonged to, without any further ceremony, he fell tHE HISTORY OF WALES. fell upon them, and put moft of them to the (word. But they who fled to Stradtywy, were gently received by Meredith ap Rytherch, and fuch as referred to Uchtryd, were kindly entertained by him ; and fo he marched with the reft of his confederates to Rydcors taftle ; it being tfre general opinion, that it was bed to enter tha country by night, and to take Cadwgan and Owen his Ion by furpiiie. But Uchtryd reflecting upon the difficulty of the country, and howeafiiy they might be entrapped by an ambuicade, difiTuaded them from any fuch nocturnal undertakings ; and told them, that it was far more advisable to enter the country in 'good order, when the light gave the foldiers opportu- nity to keep and obferve thcrir ranks. But whilil they Were thus confidering of t u e moft effectual way to car- ry on their purpofe, Owen got a fhip at Aberdyfi, bound for Ireland ; and cfcaping thither, avoided the harrow fearch that was the following day made for them. But when neither father nor fon could be found, all the fault was laid upon Uchtryd, who had difluaded them from falling upon the caftle unexpectedly ; and therefore all they could do, fince their efcape, was to burn and deftroy the country -, which they did effec- tually, excepting the two fanctuaries of Lhanpadarn and Lhandewi Brefi , out of which however they took feveral perfohs who had efcaped thither, and carried them away prifoners to their feveral countries. But Owen, with them who were accefiafy to the burning of Rydcors caftle, being fled into Ireland, defired the Umbrage and protection of King Murcart -, who re- ceived him very gladly, upon the account of their for- mer acquaintance > for Ov/en, during the war betwixt the Earls of Arundel and Cheiter, and the Welch, had fled to King Murdarr, and brought him very rich prefents from Wales, Cadwgan all this while lay pri- vately in Powis-, but thinking it impoffible to conti- nue there long undiscovered, he adjudged it his wifer way to fend to King Henry, and to declare his inno- cency and abhorrence of that fact which' his fon had committed. The King was eafily perfuaded that the old man 'was -guilders, and wholly ignorant of his K 2 fon's i 3 2 THE HISTORY OF WALES. fon's crime ; and therefore he gave him permiflion to remain in the country,, and to enjoy the town and lands he received by his wife, who was the daughter of a Norman lord, called Pygot de Say. But his lands in Powis were otherwife diftributed ; for his ne- phews Madoc and Ithel, finding what circumftances their uncle Cadwgan lay under, upon the account of his fon Owen , they divided betwixt themfelves fuch lands as he and his fon poffefled in Powis, though af- terwards they could never agree about the equal di- ftribution of it. To counterbalance this, Cadwgan made fuch friends to the King of England, that up- on paying the fine of lool. he had a grant of all his lands in Cardigan, and a power to recall all the inha- bitants, who had rubbed off upon the publication of the King's late order, That no Welchman or Norman fhould dwell in Cardigan. Upon information of this grant to Cadwgan, feveral of them that retired to Ire- land returned again privately to Wales, and lurkingly remained with their friends , but Owen durft not ap- pear in Cardigan, by reafon that his father had received that country from King Henry, upon condition that he would never entertain nor receive his fon, nor by any means fuccour him either with men or money. Neverthelefs, Owen came to Powis, and would fain be reconciled to the king, and make an atonement for his late mifdemeanor ; but he could find no body that would venture to fpeak in his behalf, nor make the king acquainted with his defire and willingneis to fub- mit. And thus being hopelefs and full of defpair, he could not poflibly divine which way to turnhimfelf; till at laft, a very unexpected opportunity offered him means and occafion tooppofe the Englifh. The matter was this, there happened a difference betwixt Madoc ap Ryryd and the bifhop of London, lieutenant of the marches of Wales, about certain Englim felons, who being under the protection of Madoc, he would not reftore at the bimop's requeft. The bifhop being much offended at Madawc's denial, threatened him very feverely , and therefore to make all poffible preparations THE HISTORY OF WALES. i- preparations againfl an enfuing florm, Madawc fcnt to Owen, who heretofore was his greatefl enemy, de- firing his help againfl the bimop ; and by this means being reconciled, they took their mutual oaths not to betray each other, and that neither Ihould make a fe- parate agreement with the Englifh without the know- ledge and approbation of the other. And fo uniting their power, they fpoiled and ravaged all the country about them, deflroying whatever they could meet with xvhich belonged to thofe they had no kindnefs or af- fection for, without the leaft diftindion of Englifh or Welch. lorwerth ap Blethyn had been very unjuftly detained A.D. 110 in prifon all this time ; and now King Henry calling to mind what hardfhip he laboured under, and that he committed him to cuftody upon no pretence of reafon, fent to know of him, what he was willing to pay for his liberty, lorwerth being now almoil ready- to fink under a fatigue of fo long imprifonment, was glad to give any thing he was able, to obtain that which he had fo long in vain hoped forj and therefore he promifed either 300 1. in fpecie, or to the value of it in cattle and horfes ; for the payment of which, lor- werth and Ithel the fons of his brother Ryryd were delivered for pledges. Then the king releafed him out of prifon, and reftored him all his lands which were taken from him ; and of the due for his liberty, the king bellowed id. upon Henry, Cadwgan's fon by the daughter of Pygot de Say the Norman. Owen and Madawc all this while committed all the wade and deftruftion poflible, and cruelly annoyed both the Englifh and Normans ^ and always withdrew and re- tired to lorwerth's eftate, which fo troubled him, by reafon of the king's ftricl: orders, not to permit Owen to come to his or Cadwgan's territories, that at length he fent to them this pofitive and peremptory rebuke ; " Since it hath pleafed God to place us in the midft " of our enemies, and to deliver us into their hands - 9 " and hath fo far weakened us, as that we are not able " to do any thing by our own ftrength; and your fa- " ther Cadwgan and myfelf, aje particularly com- K 3 " manded 134 THE HISTORY OF WALES. manded, under penalty of forfeiting our lands and eftates, not to afford you any fuccour or refuge during thefe your rebellious p radices ; therefore as a friend I inrreat you, command you as a lord, and defire you as a kinfman, that you come no more to mine of your father Cadwgan's territories." Owen arid Madawc receiving fuch a prefumptuous meffage, were the more enraged, and in the way of a malignant retribution, did more frequently than hereto- fore, fhelterthemfelves in I orwerth's country i in fomuch, that at laft, fince that they would neither by threats nor intreades defift from their wonted courfes, he was forced to gather his power, and drive them out by force of arms. Being chafed out hence, they made in-road? into Uchtryd's country in Merionethfhire ^ but Uch- tryd's fons, being then in Cyveilioc, hearing of it, they fent to the people of the country, with pofitive orders to oppofe and refift any offer they would make to en- ter the country. The pepple, though wanting a (kil- ful commander, were reiblved to do as much as lay in (heir power ; and fb meeting with them by the way, they let upon them fo furioufly, that Owen and Ma- dawc, though after a brave defence, were forced to bear back, and to take the heels ; Owen to Cardigan to his father Cadwgan, and Madawc to Powis. Yet all this misfortune coqld not fupprefs the reftlefs fpirit of Owen i for as foon as he could rally together his fcat- tered troops, he made divers inroads into Dyfed, and carrying away feveral perfons to the (hips, that they came in from Ireland , he fjrft ranfomed them, and then lifting them under his own command, made fuch addition to his army, that he ventured to fet upon a town in Dyfed belonging to the Flemings, and having rated it to the ground, he returned to Cardigan , having no regard to what inconveniency might b.cfal his father from the king of England, upon thjs account : which a little afterwards unhappily fell out. For it happened thatfome of Owen's mt-n having had intelligence, that a certain bifliop called William de Brabant, was upon his journey through that country to the court of Eng- land, laid wait for his coming j who without any ap- prehehfion. THE HISTORY OF WALES. prehenfion of treachery, paflmg through the country was unexpectedly flain, he and all his retinue. lor- werth and Cadwgan were then at court, to fpeak with King Henry, concerning certain bufmefs of their own j but whilft they difcourfed the king, in comes a Fie- r ming, that was a brother to the deceaff d bimop, and with a very loud exclamation, complained how that Owen, Cadwgan's fon had flain his brother and the reft of his company ; and that he was luccoured ancl entertained in Cardigan's country. King Henry hear- ing this, was wrathful ly difpleafed at fuch cruel bar- barity, that a perfon of that quality and profcffion ihould be fo treacheroufly murdered ; and therefore he asked Cadwgan what he could fay to "the matter ; who anfwered, that what had fo unhappily fell out, was done without the leaft of his knowledge or ap- probation, and therefore defired his Majefty to impute all the blame and guilt of that unfortunate aftion to his fon Owen. , But King Henry was fo far from being - fatisHed with this reply, that he told Cadwgan in a violent pafiion^ That fmce he could not keep his fon, fo, but that he was aided and continually entertained in his country, he would beftow it upon another per- fon, who was better able and more willing to keep him out ; and would allow him a maintenance upon his own proper charges, upon thefe conditions, that he mould not enter into Wales any more, without his far; her orders ; and fo granting him twenty days for the ordering his affairs, he gave him liberty to retire to any part of his dominions, excepting Wales. When Owen and Madawc were informed how Ca^wgan was treated by the king of England, and that Cardi- gan, which was their chiefeft place of refuge, was to be given to another perfon, they thought that their condition by this time was defperare, and that they had not better ftay any longer in Britain ; and there- fore with all fpeed they took {hipping for Ireland, where they were fure to be honourably entertained by King Murkart. Then King Henry fent for Gilbert S^rongbow, Earl of Strygill, a perfon of noted wprth 4 and 136 THE HISTORY OE WALES. and valour, and one who had often fued to the king for to grant him fome lands in Wales, and bcitowed upon him all the lands and inheritance of Cadwgan ap Ble- thyn, in cafe he could conquer and bring the country .under. Gilbert very thankfully accepted of the pro- pofal, and having drawn together all the forces he was able to raife, he pafled to Wales, and being come to Cardigan, without the leaft trouble or oppofition, he reduced the whole country to his fubjection. The firft thing he did, was the beft he could to fecure himfelf in this new-purchafed inheritance; in order to which, he erected two caftles, one upon the fron- tiers of North Wales, upon the mouth of the river Yftwyth, a- mile diftant from Lhanbadarn ; the other towards Dyfed, upon the river Teifi, at a place called Dyngerant ; where, as fome think, Roger Montgo- mery had fome time before laid the foundation of Cil- garran eaftle, Owen and Madawc were all this while in Ireland ; but this latter being at length tired with the country, and not willing to endure the manners and cuftoms of the Irifh, came over for Wales, and patted to the coun- try of his uncle lorwerth, lorwerth being acquainted with his arrival was feaful to fuffer the fame fate with his brother Cadwgan, by winking at his being there j and there-fore without any regard to relation or con- ianguinity, he prefently iffued out a proclamation, for- bidding any of his fubje&s under a great penalty to receive him, but that they mould account him an open enemy to their country, and endeavour all they could to fecure him, and to bring him prifoner be- fore him. When Madawc underftood this, how that his perfon was in continual danger whilft he remained there; having drawn to him all the out laws and vil- lains in the country, he kept in the rocks and moun- tains deviling all the ways and means he could to be revenged upon lorwerth ; and fo made a private league and agreement with Lhywarch ap Trahaern, who for a Jong time had been a mortal enemy of lorwerth's. Theie two afTc dates, having intelligence that THE HISTORY OF WALES. , 37 that lonverth lay one night at Caereineon, gathered all their ftrengrh, and came and encompafled the houfe at midnight ; which when lorwerth's fervants perceived, they arofe and defended the houfe with all the might they could ; but the afTailnnts at laft putting the houfe on fire, they were- glad, as many as could, to efcape through the flames ; the greatefb part being forced to yield, either to the enemies fword, or the more conquering fire. lonverth feeing no remedy, but that he muft undergo the fame face as his men had done, chofe rather to die in the prefence of his enemies, with his fword in his hand, than to com- mit his life to the cowardly flames ; and therefore ruining out with great violence, he was received up- on the points of the enemies fpears, and fo being tof- fed into the fire, he miferably perifhed by a double death. As foon as King Henry heard of his death, he fent for Cadwgan to him, and gave him all his bro- ther's eftate, being Powys-land; and promifmg his foil Owen his pardon, upon condition he would de- mean himfelf quietly and loyally hereafter, willed him to fend for him back from Ireland. King Henry alfo about this time, married his natural fon Robert to Mabil daughter and fole heir to Robert Fitz-hamon, lord of Glamorgan, in whofe right this Robert became lord of Glamorgan, being before the king created earl of Glocefter ; by whom the caftle of Cardaf was built. But Madawc finding the matter nothing mended, and that his other uncle Cadwgan, who lay under the fame obligation to the king of England, ruled the country, hid himfelf in the moft private and inac- ceflible places, v/atching only an opportunity to com- mit the like fact upon Cadwgan, and to murder him by one treacherous way or another. And this he effected in a little time ; for Cadwgan having reduced the country to fome fort of fettlement and quietnefs, and reftored the courts of judicature, where he fate in perfon to adminifter juftice ; came with the reft of the elders of the country to Trallwng, now Pooh and having begun to build a caftle, he thought to make that the conftant feat of his habitation. Madawc under- 138 THE HISTORY OF WALES. underftanding his defign, laid in ambufh for him in his way to Trallwng j and as Cadwgan unconcernedly pafied by, without the leaft fufpicion of treachery, he fuddenly fet upon him, and flew him, without al- lowing him any time either to fight or efcape.. Then he fent prefently a meflage to Shrewfbury, to the bifhop of London, the king's lieutenant in the marches, to put him in mind of his former promiies to him, when he chafed Owen out of the country j becaufe that .the bimop bearing an inveterate enmity to Cadwgan, and his fon Owen, granted Madawc fuch lands, as his brother Ithel was pofTeiled of. But Meredith ap Ble- thyn, being informed of the death of both his brothers,, went in all hade to the king,, deliring of him the lands of lorwerth in Powys, which he had lately granted to Cadwgan ; which the king granted him, till fuch time as Owen fliould return from Ireland. Owen did not ilay long before he came over ; and then going to King Henry, he was honourably received, and had all his fathers eftate reflqred, to him ; whereupon, in gratitude of this fignal favour, he voluntarily promifed to pay the king a confiderable fine, for the due pay- ment of which, he gave very refponfible pledges. Madawc finding himfelf alone to be left in the lurch, and that he had no fecming power to bear head againft the king, thought it alfo his wifeft way to make what reconciliation he could ^ and therefore he offered the king a very great fine, if he fliould peaceably enjoy his former eftate, promifing withal, never to moleft or difturb any one that was fubject to the crown qf England. King Henry willing to bring all matters to a fettled condition, readily granted his requeft, and conferred upon him all he could reafonably afk for ; only with this provifo, that upon his peril, he IhouUl provide for the relations of them whom he had fo bafely murdered. A.D. 1109. And thus all matters being brought to. a peaceable conclufion in Wales ; the next year, Robert de Belefmo, who had been one of the chief inftruments of thefe Welch difturbances, in that great rebellion, which himfelf, with Roger de tylontgoinery, earl of Salop, and THE HISTORY OF WALES. ,^ his brother Arnulph earl of Pembroke had raifed againfl the king , was taken prifoner by King Henry in Normandy, and committed to perpetual imprifon- ment in Warham-caftle. The year following, Mere- A. D. mo. dith ap Blethyn detatched a confiderable party of his men, to make incurfions into the country of Lhy warch ap Trahaern ap Gwyn, who was an inveterate enemy pf himfelf and Owen ; by reafon that by his aid and inftigation, Madawc was encouraged to kill his un- cles lorwerth and Cadwgan. Thefe men as they pafled through Madawc's country, met a perfon in the night- time who belonged to Madawc ; who being afked where his mafter was, after fome pretence of igno- rance, at laft through fear confefled, that he was nor far from that place. Therefore lying quietly there all night, by break of day they arofe to look out their game ; and unexpectedly furprizing Madawc, they flew a great number of his men, and took himfelf prifoner ; and fo carrying him to their Lord, they Delivered him up, as the greateft honour of their ex- pedition. Meredith was not a little proud of his pri- loner, and therefore to ingratiate himfelf the more with his nephew Owen, he committed him to fafe cuftody, till he was fent for; who coming thither ftreight, Meredith delivered Madawc up to him. Owen, though he had the greateft reafon for the moft cruel revenge, by reafon that both his father and uncle were bafely murdered by this Madawc, would not put him to death, remembering the intimate friendfhip and oaths that hacj pafTed betwixt them; but however, to fecurehim from any future mifchief he might prac- tife, he pulled out his eyes, and then fet him at li- berty. But leaft he mould be capable of any re- yenge, by reafon of his eftate and ftrength in the country, Meredith and Owen thought fit to divide his lands betwixt them ; which were Caernarvon, Aber- hiw, with the third part of Peuthwfyr. Thefe home-bred difturbances being pretty well ". abated, a greater ftorm arofe from abroad ; for the next year, King Henry prepared a mighty army to en- ter into Wales, being provoked thereto by the requeft of , 4 o THE HISTORY OF WALES. of thofe who enjoyed a great part of the Welchmens lands, but would not be fatisfied till they got all. For Gilbert Strongbow earl of Strygill, upon whom the king had beftowed Cardigan, made great com- plaints of Owen ap Cadwgan, declaring how that he received arid entertained fuch perfons as fpoiled and robbed in his country ; and Hugh earl of Chefter made the like of GrufFydh ap Conan Prince of North -Wales, how that his fubjects and the men of Grono ap Owen ap Edwyn Lord of Tegengl, unreproved, wafted, and burnt the country of Chelhire ; and to aggravate the matter the more, he added farther, that Gruffydh nei- ther owed any fervice, nor paid any tribute to the king. Upon thefe complaints, King Henry was fo cruelly enraged, that he fwore he would not leave one living creature remaining in North- Wales and Powys-land ; but having extirpated utterly the prefent race of people, he would plant a colony of new inhabitants. And then dividing his army into three parts, he de- livered one to the conduct of the Earl of Strygill, to go againft South- Wales, which comprehended the whole power of the fourth part of England and Cornwall : the next battle was deligned againft North- Wales, in which was all the ftrength of Scotland and the North, and was commanded by Alexander king of the Scots, and Hugh Earl of Chefter : the third the king led him- felf againft Powys, wherein was contained the whole ftrength of the middle part of England. Meredith ap Blethyn hearing of thefe mighty preparations, and be- ing informed that this vaft army was defigned againft Wales, was quickly apprehenfive that the Welch were not able to make any great defence ; and therefore thought it his fafeft way to provide for himfelf before- hand ; and fo coming to the king, yielded himfelf up to his mercy. But Owen fearing to commit himfelf to thofe whom he knew fo greedily to covet his eftate, and whom he was afflired were far more defirous to difpoflefs the Welch of their lands, than any other way to punifh them for former crimes and rnifcarriages, fled to Gruffydh ap Conan to North-Wales. Upon that, king Henry converted his whole force that way. THE HISTORY OF WALES. 141 way, and came himfelf as far as MurcafMh, and the Scotch king to Pennant Bachwy , but the people flying to the mountains, carried with them all the cattle and provifion they had ; fo that the Englifh could not follow them, and as many as attempted to come at them, were either flain or wounded in the ftreights. But Alexander king of the Scots finding that nothing could poffibly be effected againft the Welch, as long as they kept the rocks and mountains, fcnt to Prince Gruffydh advifmg him to fubmit himfelf to the king, promifmg him all his intereft to obrain an honourable peace. But the prince was too well acquainted with Engliih promifes, and therefore refufed his propofals ; and fo King Henry being very unwilling to return with- out doing fomething in this expedition, fent to Owen to forfake the prince, who was not able to defend himfelf, but was ready to ftrike a peace with the Scot- tifh king and the earl of Chefter. But this cunning in- fmuation would not take effect ; for Owen was for his life as diftruftful of King Henry as Prince Gruffydh; and therefore he would hearken to no intreaties for revolting from him, who had all this while afforded him refuge, till at length his uncle Meredith, an old infmuating politician, perfuaded him, with much ado, not to forfake the king of England's propofals, who offered him all his lands without tribute, in cafe he would come to his fide ; and therefore Meredith ad- vifed him inftantly to accept of his offer, before Prince Gruffydh made a peace with the king, which if it was once done, he would be glad upon any fcore to purchafe the king's mercy. Owen being prevailed up- on by fuch arguments, came to the king, who re- ceived him very gracioufly, and told him, that becaufe he believed his promife, he would not only perform that, but likewife exalt him above any of his kindred, and grant him his lands free from any payment of tribute. Prince Gruffydh perceiving how that Owen had fubmitted to the king, thought it alfo his wifeft way to fue for peace ; and fo promifmg the king a great fum of money, a peace was then actually agreed upon, and confirmed; which the King of England i 4 l THE HISTORY OF W A I. E 8. England was the more ready to content to, becaufe he found it impoffible to do him any hurt, whilft he con- tinued encamped in that place. Some affirm, that the fubmillion as well of Prince Gruffydh as Owen, was procured by the policy of Meredith ap Blethyn and the earl of Chefter , this lad working with Gruffydh, and affuring him that Owen had made his peace with the king before any fuch thing was in agitation, Ib that the prince yielding fomewhat to the earl's requeft ? if Owen had gone contrary to his oath, which thejf had mutually takeri, not to make any peace with the Englilh, without one anothers knowledge, feemed to incline to a peace. On the other hand, Meredith going in perfon to his nephew Owen, affirmed for truth, that the prince and the earl of Chefter were actually agreed, and the prince was oh his journey to the king to make his fubmiffion. And in the mean while Meredith took efpecial care that all meffengers betwixt the prince and Owen mould be intercepted, and by that means Owen wilfully fubmitted himfelf to the king. King Henry having thus rimmed and brought to an end all his bufmefs in Wales, calling Owen to him, told hirn^ that in cafe he would go over with him to Normandy, and there be faithful to him, he would upon his return confirm all his prornifes upon him; and fo Owen accepting of the king's offer, went with him to Normandy, where he behaved himfelf fo gal- lantly, that he was made a knight ; and after his re- turn the year following, he had all his lands arid . Riiii.eftate confirmed unto him. About the fame time Grirrri bifhop of St. David's died, and king Henry ap- pointed to fucceed him one Barnard a Norman, much againft the good-will and inclination of the Welch, who before this time were ever ufed to elecl: their own bifhop. And this year the rumour of Gruffydh fon to Rhys ap Theodore was fpread throughout South- Wales, who, as the report went, for fear of the king had been from a child brought up in Ireland, and having come over about two years afore, paft his time privately among his relations, particularly with THE H I S T O R V OF WALE S. Gerald Steward of Pembroke his brother- in law. And now the noife of a new prince being fpread a- broad, it came at laft to the ears of the king of Eng- land, that a certain perfon appeared in Wales, who pretended to be the fon of Rhys ap Theodore, late prince of South Wales, and laid claim to that princi- pality, which was now in the king's hands. King Henry being ibmewhat concerned with fuch a report, and fearing left that this new ftarter fhonld create him iome greater trouble, he thought to nip him in the bud, and fent down orders to apprehend him. But GrurTydh ap Rhys being aware of the traps laid againft him, fent to GrurTydh ap Conan prince of North Wales, defiring his affiitance, and that he might have liberty to remain fafe in his country, which Gruffydh for his father's account, readily granted, and treated him honourably. A little after, his bro- ther Howel who was imprifoned by Ardulph Earl of . Pembroke in the cattle of Montgomery, where he had remained for a great while, made his efcape and f>d to his brother, then with Gruffydh ap Conan in North Wales. But King Henry being informed that Gruf- fydh ap Rhys and his brother Howel were entertained by the Prince of North Wales, fent very fmooth letters to GrurTydh ap Conan, defiring to fpeak with him, who being come, he received him with all the Tokens of honour and friend fhip, and beftowed upon him very rich preients, juft after the Norman policy, Who ufually make very much of thofe whom they de- fign afterwards to be ferviceable to them. After ibme time's general difcourfe, King Henry came at length to the main point, and protriifrd the prince even mountains of gold, in cafe he would fend Gruffydh ap Rhys or his head to him, which the Prince, over- come by fuch fair words and large promiffs, promifed to perform, and fo returned joyfully home, big with, the expectation of his future reward. But fome who wifhed better to GrufTydh ap Rhys and his brother Howel, prefently fufpefted the occafion of 'the king's meiTage, and therefore they advifed them to withdraw themlelves privately for fome time, till Prince Gnaf- fydh's 144 THE HISTORY OF WALES, fydh's mind be better underftood, and whether he had made any agreement with the king of England to betray them to him. As foon as the Prince was returned to his palace at Aberffraw, he prefently en- quired for Gruffydh ap Rhys, and learning in a little time where he was, he fent a troop of horfe to recall him to his court, but Gruffydh hearing of their ap- proach, with all fpeed made his efcape to the church of Aberdaron, and took fanctuary there. But Prince Gruffydh was fo refolute to make his promife good to the king of England, that without any refpecl: to the religious place he had efcaped too, he com- manded the fame meilengers to return, and to bring him away by force, which the clergy of the country unanimoufly withftood, protefting that they would not fee the liberties of the church in the leaft in- fringed. And whilft the clergy and the prince's of- ficers were thus at debate, that fame night, fome who had compaffion upon the young prince, and feeing how greedily his life was thirfted for, cnveyed him away out of North Wales to Stray wy in South Wales. And fo being delivered from the treacherous and more difhonourable practices of the Prince of North Wales, he was forced for the defence of his own life to bid open defiance to the king of England, and thereupon having raifed all the forces which the mormeis of the opportunity would permit, he made war upon the Fle- mings and Normans. A. D. 1113. The next year, he laid fiege to the caftle which flood over-againft Arberth, and winning the fame, made it plain with the ground, and from thence marched to Lhanymdhfry caftle, belonging to Ri- chard de Pwns, upon whom the King had beftowed Cantref Bychan, but the garrifon commanded by Meredith ap Rytherch ap Caradoc, fo manfully de- fended it, that Gruffydh after killing only fome few of the befieged, and burning the out-works, was forced to remove with no fmall lofs of his own men. Finding this place impregnable, he came before A- bertawy-caille, which was built by Henry Beaumont Earl THE HISTORY OF WALES. 145 Earl of Warwick, but this proving too ftrong to be quickly furrendered, after he had burnt fome of the outward buildings, he returned to Stratywy, burning and deftroying all the country as he went along. And now his fame being fpread abroad through all the country, all the wild and head-ftrong youth, and they whole fortunes were defperate, reforted unto him from all parts, by which means being waxed ftrong and numerous, he made in-roads into Ros and Dyfed, fpoiling and deftroying the country before him. The Normans and Flemings were cruelly enraged with thefe continual depredations, and how to remedy this mifchief, was not eafily determined ; but after a long confutation, they thought it the bed way to call to- gether fuch Welch lords as Were friends to the king of England, fuch were Owen ap Rhytherch, and Rhytherch ap Theodore, with his fons Meredith and Owen, whofe mother was Heynyth the daughter of Blethyn ap Confyn, and Owen ap Caradoc the fon of Gwenlhian another daughter of Blethyn, and Meredith ap Rhytherch. Thefe protefting their loyalty and fidelity to King Henry were defired to defend the king's caftle of Carmardhyn, and that by turns ; Owen ap Caradoc the firft fortnight, and then by fuccefiion by Khytherch ap Theodore and Meredith ap Rhy- therch. Owen undenook the defence of Carmard- hyn caftle for the time required of him, and Blethyn ap Gadifor had committed to him the government of Abercomyn or Abercorran caftle, which appertained to Robert Courtmain. But for all thefe preparations, Gruffydh ap Rhys had a wifhful eye upon Carmard- hyn, and therefore he fent out fome fpies to learn the ftrength and condition of the tov/n, who bringing hiri\ a very kind and hopeful account, he decamped by night, and ruining fuddenly into the town, ordered his men to make a great input, thereby to ftrike a great terror into thofe within. Owen ap Caradoc the governor, being furprifed with fuch an unexpected up- roar, made all poffible hafte to the place where he had heard the fhouting, and thinking that his men were at his heels, fell in among the enemy ; but L having THE HISTORY OF WALES. none to fupport him, his men being all fled, he was after a manful defence cut in pieces, and fo the town being taken, Gruffydh burnt every thing to the ground, excepting the caftle, which was alfo fore de- faced. And then returning with a great deal of fpoil and booty to his ufual refidence at Stratywy ; his forces were confiderably increafed by the accefilon of many young men, who came to him from all quar- ters, and thought that fortune fo profpered his arms, that no body was able to Hand before him. After this he marched to Gwyr* but William de Londres thinking it impoffible to ftand before him, forlbok the caftle with all his men in all hafte, fo that when GrufFydh was come thither, he found a great deal of cattle and fpoil, and none to own them, and there- fore having burnt down the caftle, he carried away every thing of value in the country. Wlien the Car- diganfhire men heard how fortunately he luccecded in all his attempts, and being extremely fearful, left his next expedition mould be againft them, fent to him, defiring him, as being their near relation and country- man, to take upon him the rule and government over them. Gruffydh willingly accepted of their ofier, and coming thither, was joyfully received by the chief men in the country, who were Cadifor ap Grono, Howel ap Dinerth, and Trahaern ap Ithel, which three perfons had forfaken Dyfed, by reafon that it was fo thwacked with Normans, Flemings and En- glim men. Nor was Cardigan free from ftrangers, who pretended to fway and rule the country, but the people bearing in mind the continual wrong and op- preffion they received from them, bore an inveterate hatred to them, and were very glad to be delivered from their inlbient and imperious oppreiTors. For King Henry what by force and banifnment of thoie that flood up iliff for their liberty, and what by cor- rupting of thofe that were wavering, had brought all that country to his fubjeclion, and beftowed what lands he thought fit upon his Englifh or Norman favourites. But notwithstanding the ftrength of the JEnglifh in this country, Gruflydh was not a whit cap: 3 down. TH E H I S T O R Y OF W A L E S. 147 down, but boldly coming on to Cardigan Ifcoed, he laid fiege to a fort that Earl Gilbert and the Flemings had built at a place called Blaen Forth Gwythan. After divers aflaults, and the killing of feveral of the befiegedj with the lofs only of one of his men, Gruftydh took the place, and razing it to the ground, brought all the country thereabouts to fubjection. This action proved very fatal to the Englifh, for immediately upon this, they began to forfake their houfes and ha- bitations, as thinking it too hot for them to flay any longer in the country, and fo the Welch burnt and de- flroyed as far as Penwedie all the houfes of thofe ftrangers whom Earl Gilbert had brought with him. Then Gruffydh befieged the caftle of Stradpythylh which belonged to Ralph Earl Gilbert's fteward, and having made himfelf matter of it, he put all the gar- rifon to the fword. Removing from thence, he in- camped at Glafgryg a mile from Lhanbadarn, pur- pofing to befiege Aberyftwith caftle next morning, but for want of provifion necefiary for his army, he was forced to make bold with fome cattle which grazed within the limits of the fanctuary. And here it may be obferved, that not only men enjoyed the privilege of thefe fanfluaries, but alfo cattle and horfes, and whatever elfe lived within the liberties of them. But the day following, Gruffydh marched cHtbrderly to- wards the caftle, being apprehenfive of no great op- pofidon, by reafon that he was ignorant of the number of the garrifon, and fo encamping upon an oppofite hill, which was divided from the caftle by a river, with a bridge over it, he called a council to determine with what engines they might with belt iuccefs play againft it, and fo make a general afiault. The Nor- mans obferving their diibrdcr, very cunningly fent out fome of their archers to skirmifh with them, and ib by little and little to entice them to the bridge, where fome of the beft armed horfemen were ready to iflue out upon them. The Welch not thinking the garrifon to be fo ftrong approached near the bridge,^ ftill skirmifhing with the Normans, who pretended to give ground j but when they came very near, out fal- L 2 lies THE HISTORY OF WALES. lies one on horfeback, who would fain pafs the bridge; but being received upon the points of their fpears, he began to flag, and as he endeavoured to return, he fell off his horfe, and fo the Welch purfued him over the bridge. The Englifhmen feeing this, fled towards the caftle, and the Welch with all fpeed followed them to the top of the hill j but whilit they thought that the day was their own, up rifes a party of horle which lay in ambufcade under the hill, and (landing betwixt the Welch and the bridge, prevented any fuc- cour to come to them. And the Welch being thus hemmed in betwixt both parties, the former recoiling \yiih greater ftrength, were fo unmercifully cut off, that Icarce one man was left living. When the reft of the Welch army, that ftaid on the other fide of the river, faw what number the garrifon contained, and that they were ftrong beyond their expectation, prefently decamped, and with all fpced departed out of the country. When King Henry was informed of all the mifchief and cruelties that Gruffydh ap Rhys had committed among his fubjects in Wales, he fent for Owen ap Cadwgan, defiring him and Lhywarch ap Trahaern to ufe all the effectual methods pomble to take or kill the arch-rebel Gruffydh, promifing very fpeedily to fend his fon Robert with an army to Wales for that purpofe. Owen being very proud that the king put iuch confidence in him, encouraged his men to be now fo induftrious to merit the king's favour, as they had been formerly to deferve his difpleafure ; and fo joining his forces with Lhywarch, they both marched to meet Prince Robert at Stratywy, where they fuppofed Gruffydh ap Rhys had hid himfelf in the woods. When they were come to the frontiers of the country, they made a vow, that they would let neither man, woman, or child efcape alive -, which fo affrighted the people of the country, that all made what fhift they could to fave their lives, fome by flee- ing to the woods and mountains, and fome by ger- ting into the king's caftles, from whence they had come but a littk before, Then Owen and Lhywarch feparated THE HISTORY OF WALES, feparated with diftinct parties to fcour the woods, which about. Stratywy are very defertous ; and Owen having entered with an hundred men, prefently difco- vered the trafb of men and cattle, and followed their footfteps fo clofe, that within a little while he over- took them-, and having (lain a great many of them, and put the reft to flight, he carried away all their cattle back to his army. But whilft Owen was bufy in fearching the woods, Gerald fteward of Pembrock, who with a great power of Flemings was upon his march to join the king's fon, met with them who fled from Owen ; who de- firing help of Gerald, declared how Owen had for- cibly drove thern out, (lain a great many of their com- panions, and fpoiled them of all their goods. Ge- rald and his Flemings understanding that Owen was fo nigh with fuch a fmall number of men, thought he had now very convenient opportunity to be revenged of him upon the account of his wife ; and therefore to make fure work with him, he purfued him clofe into the woods. Owen being forewarned by his men that a great number followed him, and advifed to make all fpeed to get away, was deaf to all fuch counfels, as thinking that they of whom his men were fo much afraid of, were the king's friends, and there- fore their integrity need not be queftioned, fince they had all refpecl: to the fame common caufe. But he found, that a private quarrel is fometime more regarded than the publick good j and therefore when Gerald was advanced within bowihot, he greeted him with a vol- ley of arrows, to mew how great a friend he was ; but Owen, though perfuaded to flee, was fo little ter- rified at fuch an unwelcome falutation, that though the enemy were feven to one, yet he told them, that they were but Flemings, and fuch as always trembled at the hearing of his name. And then falling on with a great deal of courage, he was at the firft onfet ftruck with an arrow into the heart, of which wound he pre- fently died ; which when his men faw they all fled, and brought word to Lhywarch and the rett of their fel- lows of what had happened ; and fo fuipecling the L 3 .king's THE HISTORY OF WALES. king's army, feeing they could not be trufted in their fervice, they all returned to their refpeclive coun- tries. Owen being in this manner unhappily (lain, his brethren divided his lands betwixt them ; excepting Caereneon, which properly belonged to Madawc ap Ryryd ap Blethyn j and which he had forcibly taken away from his uncle Meredith. His father Cadwgan had feveral children by different women ; and befides himfelf, he had ifTue Madawc by Gwenlhian the daughter of Gruffydlv ap Conan ; Eineon by Sanna the daughter of Dyfnwal ; Morgan, by Efelhiw or Elhiw the daughter of Cadjfor ap Colhoyn lord of Dyfed ; Henry and Gruffydh were by the daughter of the lord Pigot his wedded wife ; Meredith by Euroron Hoodliw ; and himfelf by Inerth the daugh- ter of Edwyn. But a while afterwards, Eineon ap Cadwgan and Gruffydh ap Meredith ap Blethyn, be- fieged the caftle of Cymmer in Merionethfhire, which \vas lately built by Uchtryd ap Edwyn , for Ca- dwgan had beftowed upon Uchtryd his coufin-ger- man Merioneth and Cyfeilioc, upon condition, that in all cafes he mould appear his friend, and his fons after him ; contrary to which promiie he bore no manner of regard to Cadwgan's children after Owen's death; but to ftrengthen himfelf the better, he erec- ted this caftle of Cymmer, which very much d>f- pleafed many of Cadwgan's fons. And therefore Ei- neon and Gruffydh, to make Uchtryd fenfible of his error in defpifingof them, furioufly fet upon Cymmer caftle, and having flain divers of the garrifon, the reft furrendered themfelves ; and fo taking pofieffion of ir, they divided the country betwixt them , Mow- dhwy Cyfyeilioc and half Penlhyn to Gruffydh ap Meredith ; and the other half of Penlhyn with all Merioneth to Eineon. The next year King Henry failed with a great ar- rny into Normandy, againft the French king, who with the Earl of Flanders and others, went about to make William the fon of Robert Curthoife duke THE HISTORY OF WALES. 151 of Normandy ; but at the appearance of the king of England, they all fcattered, and laid afide their in- tended defign. About the lame time Gilbert Strong- bow Earl of Strigill, to whom King Henry had given all Cardigan, departed this life, after a long fit of a confumption ; much to the joy and fatisfaction of the Welch, who were in great meafure difpleafed, that they jQiould be deprived of their own natural lord Cadwgan, from whom this country was taken away, and be forced to ferve and be fubje<5t to a ftranger, whole kindnefs they had no great reafon to expecl. But the year following, an irreconcileable quarrel A. r. m happened betwixt Howel ap Ithel lord of Ros and Ryfonioc, now Denbigh-land, and Riryd and Lhywarch the fons of Owen ap Edwyri. And when they could not otherwife agree, they broke out into open war ; and thereupon Howel fent to Meredith ap Blethyn, and to Eineon and Madawc, Cadwgan's fons ; who came down from Merioneth with a party of four hundred well-difciplined men, and encamped in Dyflf- ryn Clwyd. Riryd and Lhywarch on the other hand, defired the affiftance of their coufms the fons of Uclv tryd-, and fo both armies meeting in the vale of Clwyd, they fell to blows with a great deal of fpirit and alacrity, and after a tedious and a bloody fight, Lhywarch, Owen ap Edwyn's ion, was at laft flain, and with him lor- werth the fon of Nudh, a noble and a valorous per- fon ; and Riryd was forced to make his efcape by flight. But though Howel obtained the victory, yet he did not long furvive his flain enemies ; for having received a ddperate wound in the action, died of it within forty days , and then Meredith ap Blethyn, and the fons of Cadwgan finding it dangerous to flay longer there, for fear of fome French, who lay garriibned in Chefter, returned home with all fpeed. King Henry was ftjll in Normandy, and about this ui6;. time, a very great battle was fought betwixt him, and the French king, who was fhamefully vanquished and overthrown, and had a great number of his nobles taken prifoners. But as King Henry returned the fol- "f. lowing year for England, one of the Ihips happened, JL4 by .j$a THE HISTORY OF WALES. by the negligence of the pilot, to be caft away, where- in perifhed the king's two fons, William who was le- gitimate and heir apparent to the crown, and Richard his bafe f >n , together with his daughter and niece, and feveral others of his nobility, to the number in all of one hundred and fifty perfons. This unparalr Jelled iofs of fo many kindred and friends did not per- plex his mind fo long, but that within a fhort time, he began to iolace and raife his drooping fpirits with A. D. m?,the thoughts of a new wiie -, and having married A- delice the daughter of the duke of Lovain, he pur- poied to go againft Wales, and having prepared his forces, he led them in perfon lo powis-lar.d. When Meredith ap JUethyn and Eineon, Madawc and Morgan, the fons of Cadwe^n and lords of the country heard of it, they fent to Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North Wales, dcfiring forne help at his hands; who flatly refufed, alluring them, that becaufe he was at peace with the king of England, he could neither with, honour nor fufety fend them any fuccour, nor permit them to come within his dominions. The loids of Powis receiving this unwelcome anfwer, and having now no manner of hopes of any aid, were re- folvcd however to defend themfclvcs as well as they could ; and therefore they thought it the moft effectual means to annoy the enemy, and to keep them from entering into the country, was to obferve and defend the ftreights, by which the enemy muft of necefiity pafs. Neither were they out in their policy ; for ic happened that the king himfelf, with a fmall number, advanced to one of thefe narrow paflages, the reft of the army, by reafon of their carriages, having taken fome compafs about; which the Welch per- ceiving, prefently poured a mower of arrows upon them, and the advantage of the ground giving help to their execution, they flew and wounded a great many of the Englifh. The king himfelf was ftruck in the breaft, but for all that the arrow could not hurt him, by reafon of his armour; yet he was fo terri- fied with this unexpected conflict, and confidering with , himfelf, that he muft receive feveral fu.cn. brushes before he THE HISTORY OF W A L EJS. 153 he could advance to the plain country ; and what was above all, being fenfible that by fuch a rafh misfortune he might lofe all the honour and fame which he had before obtained, fent a meflage to parly with them who kept the paflage, and with all alfurance of fafety, to defire them to come to the king. The Welch be- ing come, and queftioned how they had fuch confi- dence to oppofe the king, and to put his life in fo much danger ; made anfwer, that they belonged to Meredith ap Blethyn, and according to their matter's orders they were refolved to keep the pafTage, or to die upon the fpot. The king rinding them fo re- iblute, defired them to go to Meredith, and propofe to him an agreement of peace, which he and his coufins the fons of Cadwgan accepted of; and pro- mifed to pay the king 10,000 head of cattle, in retri- bution for former offences. And fo King Henry leav^ jng all things in a peaceable and quiet pofture in Wales, and appointing the Lord Fitz-Warren war- den or lieutenant of the Marches, returned to Eng- land. But when a foreign enemy was removed out of the A.D. 1120, country, the Welch could never forbear quarrelling with each other , for Gruffydh ap Rhys ap Theodore, who had been now for fome time quier, fell upon Gruffydh ap Sulhaern, and for what reafon not diico- vered, treacheroufly flew him. But the next year there 1121, happened another occafion of difturbances and falling out among the Welch ; for Eineon the fon of Car dwgan dying, left all his ihare of Powis and Merioneth to his brother Meredith. But his uncle Meredith ap Blethyn, thinking that thefe lands more properly be- longed to him, ejected his -nephew Meredith to whom his brother Eineon had left them, and took pofiefiion. of them himfelf. And what augmented thefe differ- ences, King Henry let now at liberty Ithel ap Riryd ap Blethyn, Meredith's nephew, who had been for a long time detained in prifon; who coming to his own country, was in expe&ation to enjoy his eitate, which, upon his being put in cuftody, his relations had di^ vided betwixt tliernj of which, the greateft fha.re fe\l J54 THE HISTORY OF WALES, to his uncle Meredith. But when Gruffydh ap Co*- nan was informed, how that Meredith ap Blethyn, contrary to all juftice, had taken away by force the lands of his nephew Meredith ap Cadwgan, he fent his fons Cadwalhon and Owen with an army into Me- rioneth, who conquering and bringing to fubjection all the country, carried away the chief of the people, and all the cattle to Lhyn. And at the fame time the fons of Cadwgan entered into the lands of Lhywarch ap Trahaern, and cruelly wafted and deftroyed it, by reafon that he had countenanced the doings of their uncle Meredith ap Blethyn. But thefe inward clafh- ings and animofities concerning eftates and titles, were feconded by moft unnatural bloodfhed and unparallel- led cruelties ; for Meredith ap Blethyn, when he found that his nephew Meredith ap Cadwgan was affifted by the Prince of North Wales, and that it was imprac- ticable to keep Merioneth from him, he was refolved to practife that upon his nephew, which he had failed A.l>-""r.o ffe& upon another. And therefore left his other nephew Ithel ap Riryd mould meet with the like help and encouragement to recover thofe lands, which du- ring his imprifonment were taken away from him, of which his uncle actually enjoyed a confiderable mare >, Meredith thought it his wifeft way to prevent all man- ner of difputes, by fending Ithel out of the world, which upon mature deliberation he treacheroufly ef- fected. Nor was this the only murder committed at this time , for Cadwalhon the fon of Gruffydh ap Co* nan exceeded him far, and flew his three uncles, Gro- n^, Ryryd, and Meilyr the fons of Owen ap Edwyn ; but which was moft unnatural of all, Morgan ap Ca- dwgan with his own hands killed his brother Meredith ; a crime moft execrable, though he did afterwards re- pent of it. Not long after this, Gruffydh ap Rhys, by the falfe and invidious accufations of the Normans, was djfr poffeffed of all the lands which King Henry had foiv merly granted him, an4 which he had for a confi- derable time peaceably enjoyed. And towards the end of the fame year died Daniel ap Sulgien bjlhop THE HISTORY OF WALES. 155 of St. David's, and archdeacon of Fowls, a man of .extraordinary piety and learning, and one who made it his continual employment to endeavour to work a reconciliation betwixt North Wales and Powis, which in his time were at perpetual variance and enmity with one another. The next year died likewife Gruf^A.D. 11 fydh the (on of Meredith ap Blethyn ; and about the fame time Owen ap Cadwgan having got into his hands Meredith ap Lhywarch, delivered him to Pain Jritz-John, to be kept fafe prifoner in the caftle of Bridgnorth. The reafon of this was, becaufe Mere- dith had (lain Meyric his coufm-german, and very barbaroufly had pulled out the eyes of two more of his coufins the fons of Griffri. This cruel and in- human cuftom of plucking out the eyes of fuch as they hated or feared, was too frequently practifed in Wales ; for the following year levaf the fon of Owen 1126. ferved two of his brethren after this unnatural man- ner, and thinking that too little, pafTed a fentence of perpetual banjmment upon them. A little after, his brother Lhewelyn ap Owen flew lorwerth ap Lhywarch ; but all this mifchief pradifed by theie two brothers levaf and Lhewelyn, turned at laft up- on themfelves ; for their uncle Meredith ap Blethyn being apprehenfive that his two nephews were a con- fiderable rub in his way, and if they trooped off, that all their eftate would of right fall to him ; flew levaf outright, and having plucked out Lhewelyn's eyes, caftrated him, for fear he Ihould beget any children to inherit his lands after him. Thefe no doubt were implacable times, when for the leaft offence, nay fome- time fufpicion, murder was fo openly and incorrigibly committed ; which muft of neceflity be attributed to this one principle, That fo many petty ftates having equal power and authority in their own territories, and being fubjecl to none but the king of England, ftilj endeavoured to outvie and overtop each other. An4 fo, nearnefs of relation giving way to ambition, they never regarded thofe of the fame blood, fo thac themfelves might add to their ftrength, and increafp. their eftate by their fall , and fur this reafon Mey- THE HISTORY OF WALES. ric flew Lhywarch, and his Ton Madawc, his own coufins ; but before he could make any advantage of their death, he was himfelf fcrved after the fame manner. But the only perfon who afterwards re- pented of fuch a foul crime, was Morgan ap Ca- dwgan, who being feverely troubled in mind for the murder he had lately committed upon his brother Meredith, took a journey to Jerufalem to expiate for his crime, and in his rerurn from thence, died in the ifle of Cyprus. But this treacherous way of private murdering thofe by whom they were offended, could . 1129. not be forgot among the Welch; for Eineon the fon of Owen ap Edwyn calling to mind how that Cad- walhon the fon of Gruffydh ap Conan had bafely fiain three of his brothers, and taking the opportunity of his being at Nanhewdwy, aflifred by Cadwgan ap Gro- no ap Kdvvyn, fet upon him, and flew him. About the fame time, that great ufurper Meredith an Blethyn ap Confyn, who by moft unnatural and moft heUiih practices, had got the lands of all his brothers and ne- phews, and by that means was become a man of the greateft ftrength and fway in Powis, died of a fevere fit of fickneis, which reduced him to that apprehen* fion of his former mifcarriages, that he endured pe- nance for the expiation of former guilt. 5134. In the year 1134, till which time nothing of mo. ment was tranfacted in Wales, Henry, the firil of that name, king of England, died in Normandy in the month of October -, after whom Stephen Earl of Bu- loign fon to the Earl of Blois, his fitter's fon, by the means of Hugh Bygod, was crowned king by the archbimop of Canterbury, all the nobility of England conferring thereunto; though contrary to a former oath they had taken to Maud the Emprefs. The firft thing that employed his thoughts after his acceflion to the government, was againft David king of the Scots; who taking advantage of this new revolution in Eng- land, by fome treacherous means or other, got the towns of Carlifle and Newcaftle into his hands. But King Stephen, though fcarcely fettled in his throne, prefemly marched towards the' North; of whofc com- THE HISTORY OF WALES. 157 Ing David being aflfured, and fearing to meet. him, voluntarily reftored Newcaftle, and compounded for Carlifle ; but would not fwear to him by reafon of his oath to Maud ; which, however, his ion Henry did not ftick at-, and thereupon was by King Stephen created Earl of Huntington. This change and alte- ration of affairs in England made alfo the Welch be- ilir themfelves ; for Morgan ap Owen, a man of con- A. D.I 1 fiderable quality and eftate in Wales, remembering the wrong and injury he had received at the hands of Ri- chard Fitz-Gilbert, (lew him, together with his fon Gilbert. And mortly after, Cadwalader and Owen Gwyneth the fons of GrurTydh ap Conan Prince of North Wales, having raifed a mighty army, marched againft the Normans and Flemings, and coming to Cardigan, committed very confiderable wafle and ha- vock in the country, and took two of the ftrongeft places, one belonging to Walter Efpec, and the caftle of Aberyftwyth. In this laft place they were joined by Howel ap Meredith, and Rhys ap Madawc ap Ednenh , who marching forward, took the caftle of Richard de la Mare, together with thofe of Dinerth. and Caerwedros, and then returned with very valuable booty. But having fucceeded fo well in this expedi- tion, they could not reft fatisfied, till they had rid the whole country from the intolerable pride and oppref- lion of the Normans and Flemings , and therefore re- turning the fame year to Cardigan with 6000 foot, and 2000 horfe, well difciplined and experienced foldiers ; and being joined by Gruffydh ap Rhys and Howel ap Meredith of Brecknock with his fons, and Madawc ap Ednerth , they over-ran the country, as far as Aberteifi, refloring all the former inhabitants to their proper inheritances, and discarding all flich ftrangers as the Jate Earl of Strygil had placed in the country. But when Stephen, who was governor of Aberteifi, faw that, he called to him Robert Fitz-Martyn, the fons of Gerald, and William Fitz-John, with. all the ftrength of the Normans, Flemings, and Englifh in Wales, or the Marches , and meeting with the Welch bcrwixt Abcr Ned and Aber Pyfi, gave them battle. But 153 1 f H E HISTORY OF WALES. after avery fore and bloody encounter, the Englifh began to give ground, and according to their ufual manner, truiting too much to the ftrength of their towns and fortifications, began to look how to fave themfelves that way. But the Welch preffed upon them fo hard, that they killed above 3000 men, befides feveral that were drowned and taken prifoners. This victory being fo happily obtained, Cadwalader and Owen over-ran the whole country, forcing all the Normans and Fle- mings to depart the country with all fpeed, and placing in their room thofe mifcrable Welch, who had been fo long deprived and kept from their own eftates -, and after they had weeded the country of thofe infatiable caterpillars, they returned to North Wales, laden with very rich fpoils and acceptable plunder. The king of England was not in a condition to take notice to what extremities his fubjects were reduced to in Wales, by reafon that his own nobles of England were rifen ins arms againfl him ; the reafon of which tumult among the nobility was occafioned by a fallacious report that went about of the king's death, who then lay fick of a lethargy. They that bore him no good will, veri- fied the rumour as much as they could, and flirred up the common people in behalf of the Emprefs , whereas on the other hand the king's friends betook themfelves to caftles and frrong holds for fear of the Emprefs, and among others Hugh Bygod fecured the caftle of Nor- wich, and after that he was allured that the king was- well again, he was loth to deliver the fame out of his A-D. 1136. P ^ 6 011 ' unlefs it were to the king's own hands. Bus during thefe commotions and troubles in England, Gruffydh ap Rhys, fon to Rhys ap Theodore, the right heir to the principality of South Wales, died, leaving iflue behind him a fon called Rhys, commonly known by the name of Lord Rhys, by Gwenlhian the daugh- ter of Gruffydh ap Conan, who by fome is faid to have poifoned her hufband. Towards the end of the fame year died likewife Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North Wales, after he had reigned 57 years j to the great grief and difcontent of all his fubjects, as being a Prince of incomparable qualities, and one who after divers THE HISTORY o* WALES. divers victories obtained over the Englifh, had thorough- ly purged North Wales from all ftrangers and foreigners. He had ifTue by Angharad the daughter of Owen ap Edwyn, three fons, namely, Owen, Cadwalader, and Cadwalhon, and five daughters, Marret, Sufanna, Ranulht, Agnes, and Gwenlhian ; and by a eoncu- bine, lago, Afcain, Edwal abbot of Penmon, Dolhing, and Elen, who was married to Hova ap Ithel Felyn of Yal. There were feveral good and wholfome laws and flatutes enacted in his time ; and among the reft, he reformed the great diforders of the Welch minftrels, which were then grown to great abufe. Of thefe there were three forts in Wales ; the firft were called Beirdh$ who compofed feveral fongs and odes of various mea- fures, wherein the poet's skill was not only required, but alfo a natural endowment, or a vein which the La- tins term furor poeticus. Thefe likewife kept the re- cords of all gentlemen's arms and pedigrees, and were principally eiteemed among all the degrees of the Welch poets. The next were fuch as played upon mufical inftruments, chiefly the harp and the crowd ; which mufick Gruffydh ap Conan firft brought over into Wales ; who being born in Ireland, and defcended by his mother's fide of Irilh parents, brought with him from thence feveral skilful muficians, who invented almoft all the inftruments as were afterwards played upon in Wales. The laft fort were called Atcaneaid, whofe bufinefs it was to fing to the inftruments played upon by another. Each of thefe, by the fame ftatute, had their feveral reward and encouragement alloted to them ; their life and behaviour was to be fpotlefs and unblameable, otherwife their punilhment was very fe- vere and rigid, every one having authority to punifh and correct them, even to the deprivation of all they had. They were alfo interdicted and forbidden to en- ter any man's houfe, or to compofe any fong of any one, without the fpecial leave and warrant of the party concerned -, with many other ordinances relating to the like purpofe. OWEN j6o THE HISTORY OF WALES. OWEN GWYNEDH. A FTER the defath of Gruffydh ap Conan', his eldeft fon Owen, furnamed Gwynedh, fucceeded in the principality of North Wales ; who no fooner had entered upon the government, but together with the reft of his brethren, he made an expedition into South Wales , and having demolifhed and overthrown the caftles of Stradmeyric, Stephan, and HumfFreys, and laid in afhes the town of Caermardhyn, he returned home with no lefs honour than booty and plunder. About the fame time, John archdeacon of Lhanbaraa departed this lirej a man of fingular piety and ftricl:- neis of life, who for his rigid zeal in religion and vir- tue, was thought worthy to be canonized, and to be counted among the number of the faints. This year likewife King Stephen paffed over to Normandy, and having concluded a peace with the French king, and the duke of Anjou, returned back to England without any further delay. But the following Spring gave op- portunity for greater undertakings 5 David king of Scots, upon the king of England's going to France laft fummer, had entered the borders of England, and continued to make confiderable wafte and havock in that part of the country. Whereupon King Stephen, to rid his country and his fubjects from fo dangerous an enemy, marched with an army towards the North, whofe coming the king of Scots hearing of, he relin- quifhed the borders of England, and retired to his own country. But that would not fatisfy King Stephen, who defired to be further revenged for the unpardon- ; able hoftilities committed by the Scots in. his country; | and therefore purfuing the Scots to their own country, I he harafled and laid wafte all the ibuth part of the kingdom THE HISTORY OF WALES. i6t kingdom of Scotland. But the king's abfence ani- mated feveral of the Englim nobility to rebel ; to which rju'rpofe they fortified every one their caftles and ftrong holds -, William Earl of Glocefter thofe of Leeds and Briitol , Ralph Luriel, Cari i William Fitz- Allen, Shrewfbury -, Paganellus, Ludlow , William de Moyun, Dunefter; Robert de Nichol, Warhamj.Eu- fhce Fitz-John, Merton ; and Walklyn, Dover. But for all thele mighty preparations, the king in a more time became mailer of them all ', fome he won by ai- fault, others upon fair promifes and advantageous con- ditions were furrendered up, and fome he got by trea- cherous and .under-hand contrivances. The Scots thought to make good advantage of thefe commotions in England ; and thereupon, as foon as they heard that fame of the nobility were in aclual rebellion againft the king, they entered into the borders, and began, as they thought, without any apprehenfion of oppo- fition, to ravage and lay wafte the country before them. But William, Earl of Albemarle; William Pyppell, Earl of Nottingham ; Walter Efpec and Gilbert La- cy^ gathered together all the forces they could raife in the North- arid being animated and encouraged by the eloquent and prefimg oration of Ralph bifhop of Ork- iieys, which he delivered in the audience of the whole army, they fet upon the Scots at Almerton with fuch unanimous courage, that after a very great (laughter of his men, King David was glad to elcape with his life by flight. After this, King Stephen feized to his own ufe the caftles of Ludlow and Leeds, and prefTed the bifhops of Salifbury and Lincoln, fo hard, that to prevent their perifhing by famine, they were con- ilrained to furrendery the former the caftles of Vifes and Shirburn , the latter thofe of Newark upon Trent and Sleeford. This did not a littb augment the king's ftrengch againft the enfuing ftorm , for in the fummer this year, Maud the Emprefs, daughter and heir to King Henry, to whom King Stephen, with all the nobility of England, had fworn allegiance, landed at Arundel, with her brother Robert Earl of Glocefter, and was there honourably received by William de Albineto, M who 1 62 THE HISTORY OF WALES. who was lately married to Queen Adeliz, King Hen- ry's widow, with whom he received the earldom of A- rundel in dowry. But as foon as King Stephen heard of her landing, ht, marched with all poffible fpeed to Arundel, and laid fiege to the caftle -, but finding it upon trial impregnable, he raifed the fiege, and by that means fuffered the Emprefs and her brother to efcape to Briftol. A.D. 1138. The next year an unlucky accident fell out in Wales ; Cynric, one of Prince Owen's fons, having by fome means or other difgufted Madawc ap Mere- dith ap Blethyn ap Confyn, a perfon of conliderable efteem and eftate in the country, was, with his conni- vance fet upon aad (lain by his men. But the affairs of England this year, afforded greater rarity of aftion ; King Stephen with a formidable army laid fiege to the city of Lincoln, to the relief of which, Ranulph Earl of Chefler, and Robert Earl of Glqcefter, marched with their forces. But before they could arrive, the town was taken ; whereupon they drew up their forces in order to give the king battle, who on the other fide, was as ready to receive them. King Stephen drew up 'his forces in three battles, the firft being led by the Earls of Britain, Mellent, Norfolk, Hampton, and Warren ; the fecond by the Earl of Albemarle, and William of Ypres ; and the third by the king him- felf, afllfted by Baldwyn Fitz- Gilbert, with ieveral others of his nobility. Of the enemy's fide, the difin- herited barons had the firft place -, the Earl of Chefter, with a confiderable party of Welchmen, far bet- ter couraged than armed, led the iecond ; and the . Earl of Glocefter the third battle. After a hot and bloody difpute of both fides, the victory at length fa- voured the barons, King Stephen being firft taken pri- foner, and a little after the queen, together with Wil- liam of Ypres, and Bryan Fitz-Count. But within a while after, William Martell and Geffrey de Man- deville gathered together fome frelh forces, and fought the Empreis and her brother at Winchefter, and hav- ing put the Emprefs to flight, took Earl Robert pri- foner, for exchange of whom, the king was fet at li- berty. fnE HISTORY OF WALES. 'i kerty. The next year King Stephen would try the A. 0.1 other adventure, and received a fecond overthrow at Wilton i which* however, did not fo much difcourage, him, but that he laid fo clofe a fiege to the Emprefs at Oxford, that fhe was glad to niake her eicape to Wallingford. The fame year died Madawc ap Ed- nerth, a perfon of great quality and note in Wales 5 land Meredith ap Howe!, a man of no mean eftcem^ was (lain by the foris of Blethyn ap Gwyn. For the two fucceeding years nothing remarkable 1J 4 pafTed in Wales -, excepting that this year Howel ap Meredith ap Rhytherch of Cantref Bychan, and Rhys ap Howel were cowardly (lain by the treachery and perfidious practices of the Flemings; and the next 1141; year Howel ap Meredith ap Blethyn was bafely mur- dered by his own men ; at which time, Howel and Cadwgan the fons of Madawc ap Ednerth^ upon fome Unhappy quarrel, did kill each other. But mortly af- Il4il ter this, an irreconcileable difference fell out betwixt Anarawd fon to Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South Wales, and his father-in-law Cadwalader the fon of Gruffydh ap Conan, and brother to Prince Oweri Gwynedh ; which from words quickly proceeded to blows. In this feuffle Anarawd was unhappily flain ; which fo exafperated Prince Owen againft his brother Cadwaladerj that together with his fon Howel, he marched with an army into his brother's country, and after a confiderable wafte and deirruction, burnt to the ground the caftle of Aberyflwyth. Cadwalader, upon the news of Prince Owen's approach, withdrew himfelf and fled to Ireland -, where having hired a great number of Iriih arid Scots for two thoufand marksj under the command of OtSterj and the ions of Turkel and Gherulf, he ftrucl: fail for Wales, and landed at Abermeny in Carriarvonfhire. The Prince, to protra. 1 158. But the year following. Prince Rhys of South Wales without any refpect to his promife to King Henry laft year, led his forces to Dyfed, and deftroyed all the caftles that the Normans had fortified in thai country,- and then laid fiege to Caermardhyn. But Reynold Earl of Briftol, the king's bafe fon, being informed of it, called together the Earl of Clare, his brother- in-law ' Cadwakder, Prince Owen of North Wales's brother, Howel and Conan Owen's fons, with two Earls more, who with their joint forces marched to raife the fiege. But Prince Rhys was wifer than to abide their coming, and therefore upon the firft intimation of fuch great oppofition, he retired to the mountains called Cefn Refttr, and there encamped being f H E "U I S T O fc tf OF WALES. being fufficiently fecure from arty enemy, by the ha- tnral fortification of the place. The confederate army lay at Dynwylhir and there built a caftle, but finding no news or tidings of Prince Rhys, they re- turned home without effecting any thing of note. King Henry was ftill in Normandy, and there made war againft the Earl of St. Giles, for the city and earldom of Tholoufe. Tov/ards the beginning of this, year, MadoC ap Meredith ap Blethyn Prince of Powis died at Win- chefter, whence his body was honourably conveyed to Powis, and buried at Myfod. He was a Prince very much affected to piety and religion, very cha- ritable to the neceffitous, and good to the djftreffed ; but his great fault was, that he ftickled too hard for the intereft of the Englifh, and was always in confe- deracy with King Henry againft the good fuccefs of his native country. He had ififue by his wife Su- fanna, the daughter of Gruffydfy ap Conan Prince of North Wales, three fons, Gruffydh May lor, Owen and Elis, and a daughter named Marred. He had alfo three natural fons, Owen Brogynton, Cynwric Efelh, and Eineon Efelh, who though bafe born* yet according to the cuftom of Wales, co-inherited with their brethren who were legitimate. And here it will not be amifs, once for all, to giv a particular account of the principality, afterwards the lordmips of Powis, how it came to be divided into many mares and portions, and by that means be- came fo irrecoverably broken and weakened, that it was made fubject to the Normans before the reft of* Wales. For Powis before King Offa's time, reached eaftwards to the rivers of Severn and Dee, in a righs line from the end of Broxon hills to Salop, and com- prehended all the country between the Wye and Se- vern, which was antiently the eftate of Brochwel Yfcithroc, of whom mention is made before. But aftef the making of Offa's dike, Powis Was contracted into a narrower compafs, the plairi country towards Salop being inhabited by Saxons and Normans^ fo that the length of it reached riortri-eaft from "Pul- N 2 ' ' ford THE HISTORY OF WALES, ford bridge to Lhangiric parilri on the confines of Cardiganfhire, to the ibuth-weft, and the breadth from the fartheft part of Cyfeiiioc weflward, to Elf- mere on the eaft-fide. This principality, Rpderic the Great gave to his youngeit fon Merfyn, in whofe po- fterity it remained entire, till the death of Blethyn ap Confyn, who though he had divided it betwixt his fons Meredith and Cadwgan j yet it came again whole and entire to the poffeffion of Meredith ap Blethyn. But he again broke the union, and left it between his two fons Madawc and Gruffydh ; the firft of which was married to Sufanna the daughter of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North Wales, and had with her that part, afterward called by his name, Powis Fadoc. After his death, this lordfhip was divided alfo be- twixt his fons Gruffydh Maelor, Owen ap Madawc, and Owen Brogynton, which laft, though bafely born, had however, for his incomparable valour and courage, a mare of his father's eftate, namely, Edeyr- neon and Dinmael, which he left to his fons Gruffydh, Blethyn and lorwerth. Owen Madawc had to his por- tion Mechain-is-Coed, and had iffue Lhewelyn and Owen Fychan. But Gruffydh Maelor the eldeft fon, lord of Bromfield, had to his part, both the Maelors with Mochnant-is-Raydar, and married Angharad the daughter of Owen Gwynedh Prince of North Wales, by whom he had iffue one fon named Madawc, who held his father's inheritance entirely, and left it fo to his only fon Gruffydh, who was called Lord of Dinas Bran, becaufe he lived in that caftle : he married Em- ma the daughter of James Lord Audley, by whom he had iffue Madawc, Lhewelyn, Gruffydh and Owen. -This Gruffydh ap Madawc took part with King Henry the Third and Edward the Firft againft the Prince of North Wales , and therefore for fear of thefaid prince, he was forced to keep himfelf fccure within his caftle of Dinas Bran, which being fituated upon the fum- mit of a very fteep hill, feemed impregnable to all the daring efforts that could be ufed againft it. Af- ter his death, Edward the Firft dealt very unkindly with his children, who were of age to manage their own THE HISTORY OF WALES. 181 own concerns ; and making two of them privately away, beftowed the wardihip of Madoc his eldeft fon, who had by his father's will, the lordfhips of Brom- field and Yale, with the reverfion of Maelor Saefnec Hopefdale and Mouldfdale his mother's jointure, on John Earl Warren j and the wardfhip of Lhewelyn, to whofe mare fell the lordfhips of Chirke and Nan- heudwy, to Roger Mortimer, third fon to Roger Mor- timer the fon of Ralph Mortimer, Lord Mortimer of Wigmor. But Emma, Gruffydh's wife, having in her polfeflion for her dowry, Maelor Saefnec, Hopefdale, and Moulfdale with the prefentation of Bangor rec- tory j and feeing two of her fons difinherited and done away, and the fourth dead without iflue, and doubting left Gruffydh her only furviving child could not long continue, me conveyed her eftate to the Audley's, her own kin, who getting poffeffion of it took the fame from the king, from whom it came to the houfe of Derby, where it continued for a long time ; till at length it was fold to Sir John Glynne, ferjeann at law, in whofe family it ftill remaineth. But Earl Warren and Roger Mortimer forgetting what fignal fervice Gruffydh ap Madoc had performed for the king, guarded their new pofiefiions with fuch caution and ftrictnefs, that they took efpecial care they mould never return to any of the pofterity of the legal pro- prietor -, and therefore having obtained the king's par- tent, they began to fecure themfelves in the faid lord-' fhips. John Earl Warren began to build Holt caflle, which was finimed by his fon William, and fo the lordfhips of Bromfield and Yale continued in the name of the Earls of Warren for three delcents, viz. John, William and John, who dying without iflue ; the faid lordfhips, together with the earldom of War- ren defcended to Alice filter and heir to the laft John Earl Warren, who was married to Edmond Fitz Alan Earl of Arundel, in which houfe they remained for three defcents, namely, Edmund, Richard, Richard .his fon, and Thomas Earl of Arundel. But for wane of ifiue to this laft, Thomas Earl of Arundel and Warren, the faid lordftups fell to two of his fifters, N 3 whereof 182 THE HIS TORYop WALES; whereof one named Elizabeth was married to Tho- mas Mowbray duke of Norfolk, and the other called Joan, to William Beauchamp Lord of Abergavenny : but fince they came to the hands of Sir William Stan* ley knight, who being attainted of High treafon, they devolved by forfeiture to the crown, and now are an- nexed to the principality of Wales. But Roger Mor- timer the other lharer in the lands of Gruffydh ap Madoc, was made Juftice of North Wales, built the caftle of Chirke, and married Lucia the daugh- ter and heir of Sir Robert de Wafre knight, by whom he had iffue Roger Mortimer, who was mar- ried to Joan Turbervill, by whom he had John Mor- timer Lord of Chirke. This John fold the lordihip of Chirke to Richard Fitzalan Earl of Arundel, Ed- mund's fon, and fo it was again annexed to Bromfield and Yale. The third fon of Gruffydh Lord of Dinas Bran, named alfo Gruffydh, had for his part Glyn Dwr- dwy, which Gruffydh ap Gruffydh had iffue Madoc Crupl, who was the father of Madoc Fychan, the father of Gruffydh, the father of Gruffydh Fychan, who was the father of Owen Glyndwr, who rebel- ling in the days of Henry the Fourth, Glyndwrdwy by confifcation came to the King, of whom it was af- terwards purchafed by Robert Salisbury of Rug, in, whofe family it dill remaineth. Owen the fourth fon of Gruffydh Lord of Dinas Bran had for his mare (pynlhaeth with the rights and privileges thereunto, belonging. The other part of Powys, comprehending the countries of Aruftly, Cyfeilioc, Lhannerch-hudol, Caereneon, Mochnach uwch Rayadr, Mechan uwch Coed, Moudhwy, Deudhwr, Yftrad Marchelch, and Teir Tref, or the Three Towns, rightfully defcended to Gruffydh ap Meredith ap Blethyn,. by Henry the Jr'irft, created Lord Powis, who married Qweyryl or "Weyryl the daughter of Urgene ap Howel ap lefaf ap Cadogan ap Athleftan Glodryth, by whom he had iffue Owen furnamed Cyfeilioc. This Owen enjoyed his far ther's eftate entire, and married Gwenlhiam the daugh^ I ^rfc ter THE HISTORY OF WALES, ter of Owen Gwynedh Prince of North Wales, who bore him one fon, named Gwenwynwyn or Wenwyn- wyn, from whom that part of Powis was afterwards called Powis Wenwynwyn. He had moreover a bafe brother, called Cafwalhon, upon whom he bellowed the countries of Swydh Lhannerch Hudol, and Brani- arth. Gwenwynwyn fucceeded his father in all his eftate, faving what Cafwalhon enjoyed, and married Margaret the daughter of Rhys ap Theodor Prince of South Wales, by whom he had Gruffydh ?tp Gwen- wynwyn, who fucceeding his father in all his pof- feffions, had iffue fix fons, by Margaret the daugh- ter of Robert Corbet, brother to Thomas Lord Cor- bet of Cous ; and fo the entire eftate of Gruffydh. ap Meredith ap Blethyn Lord of Powis, became Shattered, and torn into divers pieces. Owen, Gruf- fydh ap Gwenwynwyn's eldeft ion, had for his part Aruftly, Cyfeilioc, Lhannerch Hudol, and a part of Caereneon ; Lhewelyn had Mochnant uwch Rayadr and Mechain uwch Coed ; John the third fon, had the fourth part of Caereneon ; William had Moud- hwy , Gruffydh Fychan had Deudhwr Yftrat-Mar- chelh, and Teir Tref ; and David the fixth and youngeft fon, had the other fourth part of Caere- neon. Owen ap Gruffydh had iflue one only daugh- ter, named Hawys Gadarn, or the Hardy, whom he left his heir ; but her uncles Lhewelyn, John, Gruf- fydh Fychan and David, thinking it an eafy matter |to difpofTefs an orphan, challenged the lands of their brother Owen, alledging for a cloak to their ufur- pation, that a woman was not capable of holding any lands in that country. But Hawys made fuch friends in England, that her cafe was made known to King Edward the Second, who beftowed her in marriage upon a fervant of his, named John Charleton, termed Valerius domini regis, who was born at Appley rear Wellington, in the county of Salop, anno One thou- fand two hundred fixty-eight, and in her right, freated him Lord Powis. N 4 This .184 THE HISTORY OF WALES. This John Charleton Lord Powis, being aided and fupported by the King of England* quickly broke all their meafures ; and having taken Lhewelyn, John, and David, his wives uncles, he put them in fafe cuftody, in the king's cattle of Harlech ; and then obtained a writ from * the King tq the She- riff of Shropfhire, and to Sir Roger Mortimer, Lord of Chirkland, and Juftice of North Wales, for the apprehenfion of Gruffydh Fychan, with his fons- in-law, Sir Roger Chamber and Hugh Montgomery, who were then in actual hoftility againft him and his wife Hawys. But Gruffydh Fychan and his accom- plices fufpecting their own ftrength, and having loft Thomas Earl of Lancafter, their main fupport, thought it moft advifeable to fubmit themfelves to the king's pleafure, touching the difference betwixt them and Hawys; who finding upon record, how that Gruf- fydh ap Meredith, anceftor to the faid Hawys, upon his fubrniflion to King Henry the Firft, became fub- jeci: to the King of England, and thereupon was created Baron of Powis, which barony he and his pofterity had ever fmce held in capte from the king ; was of opinion, that Hawys had more right to her fa- ther's poffeffions now in their hands, than any pretence they could lay to her eftate. But to make a final de- termination of this matter, and to compofe the diffe- rence more amicably betwixt them ; it was agreed, that Hawys fhould enjoy her inheritance in fee-fimple to her and her heirs for ever, after the tenure of Eng- land; and that her uncles Lhewelyn, John, David, and Gruffydh, Ihould quietly enjoy their portion, and the fame to defcend to their heir males perpetual- ly ; but in default of fuch heir males, the fame was to defcend to Hawys and her heirs. But William Lord of Moudhwy, the fourth brother, called otherwife Wilcock Mowdhwy, becaufe he did not join with the reft againft Hawys, had all his lands confirmed to him, and to all his heirs, both male and female for .ever. He married Elianor, the filler of Elen, Owen Glyndwr's mother, who was lineally defcended from Rhys ap Theodore,, Prince of South Wales, by whom THE HISTORY OF WALES. 185 whom he had iffue John de Mowdhwy , whofe daugh- ter Elizabeth, being heir to his whole eftate, was mar- ried to one Sir Hugh Burgh, knight. His fon Sir John Burgh, Lord of Moudhwy, married Jane the daughter of Sir William Clapton of Glocefterihire, by whom he had four daughters, Elizabeth, Ancreda, Ifabel and Elianor ; the firft of whom was married to Thomas Newport, the fecond to John. Leighton of Stretton ; the third to John Lingen , and the younger to Tho. Mytton; who, by equal diftribution, had the lordfiiip of Modhwy divided betwixt them. But John Charleton Lord of Povvis had iiTue by his wife Hawys, a fon named John, who enjoyed the fame lordmip for about leven years, and then left it to his fon, of the fame name, who was Lord of Powis fourteen years , and then it defcended to his ion, called alfo John Charelton who enjoyed his fa- ther's eftate twenty-feven years ; but dying without iffue, the lordmip of Powis fell to his brother Ed- ward Charleton. This Edward had iffue by his wife Elianor, the daughter and one of the heirs of Thomas Earl of Kent, and the widow of Roger Mortimer Earl of March, two daughters, Jane and Joyce , the firft of which was majried to Sir John Gray, knight ; and the fecond to John Lord Tiptoft, whofe fon was by King Henry VI. created Earl of Worcefter. But after the death of Elianor, this Edward Lord Powis married Elizabeth the daughter of Sir John Barkley, knight ; and fo after his death, which happened in the year 1420, the lordfhip of Powis was divided into three parts, whereof his widow Elizabeth had for her jointure Lhannerch Hudol, Yftrad Marchelh, Deudhwr and Teirtref , and was afterwards married to Lord Dudley. Jane his eldeft daughter had Ca- ereneon, Mechain, Mochnant, and Plafdinas ; and Joyce had Cyfeilioc, and Aruftly. But the lordmip of Powis continued in the family of Sir John Gray, for five defcents, in right of his wife Jane ; the laft of whom, Edward Gray, Lord Powis, married Anne, one of the daughters ancj co-Jhcir$ gf; Charles Bran- don, duke of Su.ffb.lk, -an$ died w;uhp.ut any lawful iffue. rifrg THE HISTORY OF WALE'S. giiaic iffue. This Edward Lord Powys, in 15 Henry VIII.' n" 2 '' accompanied the Duke of Suffolk in the expedition 284. ' then made into France, and was at the taking of Bray, and other places then won from the French. And in 36 Henry VIII. being again ready to march in the King's fervice, he made his laft teftament, whereby he fettled the fucceflion of his whole ba- rony and lordlhip of Powys, his caftle and manor of Pool, with divers other lordfhips in the county of Montgomery, and all the reft of his eftate in the county of Sal6p, upon the heirs of his own body law- fully begotten, or to be begotten -, and in default of fuch iffue, his caftle and manor of Charkon and Pon- tifbury in Shropshire, upon Jane Orwell, daughter of Sir Lewis Orwell, knight, and her affigns, during her natural life. And in cafe he mould die without any iffue of his own body lawfully begotten, that then Edward Grey, his illegitimate fon by the fame Jane Orwell, fhould have and enjoy his faid barony and manor, of Powis, his caftle and manor of Pool, and all other his lordfhips in the county of Mont- gomery ; with the reverfion of the caftle and ma- nor of Charkon and Pontifbury, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten ; and for lack of fuch iffue, to remain to that child, in cafe it mould be a fon, wherewith the fame Jane Orwell was then great by him, and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. But if it mould not prove a fon, or if the fon die without iffue, then that the whole barony of Powis and all the premifes before-mentioned, mould come to Jane Grey his daughter, and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten ; and for lack of fuch iffue, to Anne Grey, his other daughter, and heirs of her body lawfully begotten ; and laftly for default of fuch iffue, to fuch woman- child as fhould be born of the body of the faid Jane Orwell. But after Edward Grey, the title of Lord of Powis lay extinct to the fifth year of King Charles I. when Sir William Her- bert fon of Sir Edward Herbert of Redcaftle (an- tiently called Pool-caftle, now Powis caftle) in the county of Montgomery, fecond fon to William Earl of TH E HISTORY OF WALES. 18; of Pembrock, was advanced to the dignity of a Ba- ron of the realm, by the title of Lord Powis of Powis, in the marches of Wales ; in whofe family it ftill con- tinues, though the title has been changed from a Ba- ron to an Earl, and lince to a Marquifs. About the fame time that the Prince of Powis died, Cadwalhon ap Madawc ap Ednerth, who had been for fome confiderable time at variance with his bro- ther Eineon Clyd, was taken prilbner by him ; who delivered him up to Owen Prince of North Wales. But the Prince being willing to gratify the king of England, whofe intereft Cadwalhon has as much as in him lay oppofed, fent him to the king's officers to be jmprifoned at Winchefter ; from whence he quickly found a way to efcape : and by the advice of the relt of his brethren he returned home to his country. King Henry continued all this while in Normandy, and during his ftay there, a match was concluded up- on betwixt his fon Henry and Margaret daughter to Lewis king of France. But this new alliance could A.o.n not prevent thefe two monarchs from falling at vari- ance with each other, which happened the year fol- lowing ; and thereupon King Henry marched with his army into Gafcoyne, to quell certain rebels, who upon firft notice of this breach between both kings, were up in arms againft the Englifh. But the next year, a Il6l . peace was again concluded, and fo all things returned to their former Hate of amity and quietnefs. But it was not fo in Wales , for Howel the fan of levaf ap Cadwgan ap Athleftan Glodryth, having got into his hand the caftle of Walwern inCyfeilioc, rated it to the ground, which fo incenfed Prinde Owen, who was owner of it, that nothing could lay his fury, till he had drawn his forces together, and made an incur- fion into Lhandhinam in Aruftly, Howel's country ; which he cruelly harrafTed, and carried away confider- able booty. The people of the country perceiving thefe devaluations of the North Wales men, came to- gether to the number of three hundred men, offering their fery ice. to their natural Lord, Howel ap Jefaf; who 288 TH E H I S T O R Y o F W A L E S. who upon this addition of ftrength, followed the ene- my to the banks of Severn, where they were en- camped. Prince Owen finding them to march after him, was glad of the opportunity to be further re- venged upon Howel ; and ib turning luddenly upon them, he flew about two hundred men ; the reft nar- rowly escaping with Howel to the woods and rocks. Owen being more joyful for the revenge he had taken of Howel, than for any vidlory he had gained, re- built Walwern caftle, and having well fortified and manned it, returned home to North Wales. A 0.1162. The year following, the like thing happened; Owen the fon of Gruffydh ap Meredith, commonly called Owen Cyfeilioc o Wynedh, together with Owen ap Madawc ap Meredith, and Meredith ap Howel, fet upon Carrechofa caftle near Ofweftry, and having over-powered the garrilbn, committed great wafte and deftruction therein. But about the fame time, a pleafant pafTage happened in England ; Robert Mountford and Henry de EfTex, who had both fought againft the Welch upon the marches, and both run, began now to impeach each other, as being the firft occafion of flying. The dilpute was to be tried by combat, in which being engaged, Henry was over- come , and for his falfe acculing of Robert, he was fentenced to have his eftate forfeited, and then having his crown fhorn, he was entered a monk at Redding. Within a little after, King Henry calling to mind what Prince Rhys had committed during his abfcnce out of the kingdom, drew up a great army againft ' South Wales, and having marched as far as Pencadyr near Brecknock, Rhys met him, and did his homage; and having delivered up hoftages for his future beha- viour, (topped the king's farther progrefs, fo that thence he returned to England. But after the king's departure, two very unlucky accidents happened in Wales , Eineon the fon of Anaraxvd ap Gruffydh, ne- phew to Prince Rhys, being villainoufly murdered in his bed by his own fervant, called Walter ap Lhy- warch ; as alfo Cadwgaa -ap Meredith, :in like man- ner, THE HISTORY OF WALES. 1% ner, by one Walter ap Riccart. But the lofs of his nephew Prince Rhys made up, by poffefimg himfclf of that large country called Cantref Mavvr, .and the land of Dynefowr, which he afterwards enjoyed. Of men of learning there died this year, Cadifor ap Da- niel, archdeacon of Cardigan ; and Henry ap Arthen, the greateft fcholar that had flourilhed in Wales for many years. The next year, a total rupture broke forth betwixt A.D. nC 3 . the Englifli and Welch ; Prince Rhys, a man of an active and uncontronlable fpirit, being now experi- mentally fenlible he could never carry on the greatnefs and grandeur of his quality, with iuch lands as the king of England had allotted him, made an invafion into the lordfhip of Roger de Acre Earl of Glocefter j being moved thereto in a great meafure, by reafon that his nephew Anarawd ap Gruffydh was murdered by his motive and instigation. Being advanced with a ftrong army into the Earl of Glocefter's eftate, with- out any great oppofition he took Aberheidol caftle, with thofe belonging to the fons of Wyhyaon ; all which he rafed to the ground. Thence he marched to Cardigan, bringing ail that country under his fubjec- tion -, and from thence he marched againft the Fle- mings, whofe country he cruelly harrafled with fire and fword. The reft of the eftates of Wales, per- ceiving Prince Rhys to profper fo fuccefsfully againfl: the Englifh, thought they might equally fucceed, and (hake off the Englifti yoke, which fo unreatbnably op- preffed them. And therefore they unanimouily agreed to caft off their fubjection to the Englim, .whole ty- ranny they could no longer bear, and to put over them princes of their own nation, whofe fuperiority they could better tolerate. And fo this year concluded with making fuitable preparations for the following cam-, paign. And therefore as foon as the time of year for action 1164* Was advanced, David fon of Owen Prince of North- Wales fell upon Flintshire, which pertained to the king of England; and carrying off all the people and cattle with him, brought them to Dyffryn Clwyd, other- ipo THE H I S T O R Y OF WALES. otherwife Ruthyn land. King Henry underftanding' this, gathered together his forces, and with all fpeed marched to defend both his fubjecls and towns from the incurfions and depredations of the Welch. Being come to Ruthlan, and encamped there three days, he quickly perceived he could do no great matter, by reafon that his army was not fufficiently numerous ; and therefore he thought it more advifeable to return back to England, and to augment his forces, before he mould attempt any thing againft the Welch. And accordingly he levied the moft chofen men throughout all his dominions of England, Normandy, Anjou, Gal- coin and Gwien , befides thqfe fuccours from Flanders and Britain ; and then fet forward for North Wales* purpofing to deftroy without mercy every living thing he could pombly meet with , and being advanced as far as Croes-Ofwalt, called Ofweftry, he encamped there. On the other fide, Prince Owen and his bro- ther Cadwalader, with all the ftrength of North Wales ; Prince Rhys with thofe of South Wales , Owen Cy* feilioc and Madawc ap Meredith with all the power of Powis ; the two fons of Madawc ap Edherth, with the people living betwixt the rivers of Severn and Wye, met together, and pitched their camp at Convert in Edeyrneon, intending unanimoufly to defend their country againft the king of England. King Henry underftanding that they were fo near, was very de- firous to come to battle ; and to that end he re- moved to the banks of the river Ceireoc, caufing all the woods thereabouts to be cut down, for fear of any ambumment lurking therein, and for a more clear profpect of the enemy. But fome of the Welch took advantage of this opportunity, who being well acquainted with the paflage, without the knowledge .of their officers, fell upon the king's guard, where all the pikemen were pofted ; and after a hot skirmim, feveral were flam on both fides. But in fine, the king won the paflage, and fo marched on to the mountain of Berwynj where he lay fometime without any ho- ftility on either fide, both armies (landing in fear of each other. Jhe Englifh kept the open plains, and were THE HISTORY OF WALES. 191 were afraid to be entrapped in the ftreights and nar- row pafiages j and the Welch on the other hand watched the advantage of the place, and obferved the Englilh fo narrowly, that neither forage or victuals could pafs to the king's camp. And what augmented the mifery of the Englifh army, there happened tq fall fuch a rain, that mightily difturbed their encamp- ment, in fo much that the foldiers could fcarcely ftand, for the difadvantage of thofe ilippery hills. But in the end King Henry was forced to decamp, and after a very confiderable lofs of men and ammunition, be- fides the great charges of this expedition, was com- pelled to return back to England. But to exprefs the great difTatisfadtion he entertained of this enter- prize, in a great fury he plucked out the eyes of the hoftages, which he had fome time afore received from the Welch , which were Rhys and Cadwalhon the fons of Owen Prince of North Wales, and Cynric and Meredith the fons of Rhys of South Wales. Some write, that in afiailing of a bridge, the king was in no fmall danger of his life ; one of the Welch having aimed directly at him, was like to pierce him through the body, had not Hubert de Clare, Conflable of Col- chefter, who perceived the arrow a-coming thruft himfelf betwixt the king and it, though to the lofs of his own life. But though King Kenry was mamefully forced to return to England, yet he did not give over the thoughts of fubduing the Welch ; and therefore after a long confutation, he made a third expedition into Wales, conveying his army by fea, as far as Chefter. There he ftaid for fome time, till all his fleet, as well thofe {hips that he had hired out of Ireland, as his own, were all arrived. But when they were all come together, and got fafely to Chefter, his mind was al- tered ; and inftead of a defign againft Wales, he un expecliedly difmiffed his whole army* Prince Rhys was glad of this opportunity, and therefore withdraw- ing his forces from the confederate army, he marched to the fiege of Aberteifi caftle, which being furren- kred to him, he rafcd to the ground. From thence * lie i2 THE HISTORY OF WALES. he got before Cilgerran, which he ufed after the fam manner, and therein took prifoner Robert the fon of Stephen his coufin-german, who was the fon of Neft his aunt, who after the death of Gerald, had married Stephen Conftable. The joy of thefe happy fuccefles on the part of the Welch, was fomewhat clouded by the death of Lhewelyn, fon of Owen Prince of North Wales, a perfon of great worth and exceedingly well beloved of all his country. A. 0.1165. And now the Welch being fomething lecure from any invafion from the Englifh ; there rofe up another enemy to create them difturbance ; the Flemings and Normans finding the Englim to fail in their attempt againft the Welch, thought they might with better fuccefs quell and fubdue them. And therefore they came to Weft Wales with a great army, and laid fiege to the caftle of Cilgerran, which Rhys had lately for- tified ; but after two different aflaults, they were man- fully beat back, and forced to depart home again. But what the Flemings could not affeb againft the Welch in South Wales, the Welch eafily brought about againft the Englim in North Wales , for Prince Owen having befieged Bafingwerk caftle, then in the pofiefllon of the king of England, without much time fpent, made himfelf mafter of it. But it was always the misfortune of the Welch, that when they found themfelves fecure from any enemy abroad, they were fure to quarrel and fall out at home -, though in- deed it could not be well otherwife expected, where fo rnany petty ftates endeavoured ftill to furmount and out-vie one another. And now when all things went very fuccefsfully of their fides, in oppofition to the Englim ; two ambitious perfons began to kindle a flame in their own bofoms ; Owen Cyfeilioc the fon of Gruffydh ap Meredith Lord of Powis, and Owen Fychan lecond fon to Madawc ap Meredith, forcibly difpofiefied lorwerth Goch of his eftate in Powis, which they divided betwixt themftlves ; Mochnant uwch Rayadr to Owen Cyfeilioc, and Mochnant is Rayadr to Owen Fychan. But tkE &I STORY 6r WALES. 393 But the reft of the princes of Wales could notA.D. nee. l)Took this injury done to lorwerth Goch j and there- fore Owen Prince of North Wales^ with his brother Cadwalader^ and Rhys Prince of South Wales, went \vith art afrriy into Powis againft Owen Cyfeilioc, and having chafed him out of the country, they he- flowed Gaereneon upon Owen Fychan, to hold it of Prince Owen ; and Rhys had Walwern, by reafon that it. lay near his own territories. But within a while af- ter, Owen Cyfcilioc returned with a numefous band of Normans and Englifh along with him, and laid fiege to the caftle of Gaereneon, which he burnt to the ground. But the lofs of this place was made up by the taking of Ruthlan caftle, which Owen, Rhys, and Cadwalader jointly befieged ; and which was fo ftrongly fortified, and fo manfully defended, that it coft them three months before they could make themfelves mafters of the place. Afterwards they won the caftle of Preftatyn, and reduced the whole country of Tegengl, fubjecl: to Prince Owen; and then returned home to their refpective dominions. And from henceforward nothing of moment was tranf- "Dr- afted, during the remainder of Prince Owen's reign, only his fon Conan moft unmercifully flew Urgency abbot of Lhwythlawr, together with his nephew Lhawthen. But a little after, Prince Rhys of South "fit. Wales releafed out of prifon his nephew Robert, fon to Stephen Conftable, whom as is faid before, he had taken at the fiege of Cilgarran caftle, and fent him to Ireland to the aid of Dermot the fon of Mur- chart king of Linfter, who was then in adlual war with the king of Leimfter. With him and his bro- ther Morris Fitz-Gerald, and their nephews Robert Meyler and Raymond, went over a ftrong detach- ment of Welchmen, under the command of Richard Strongbow Earl of Srrigule, who were the chief motive of the conqueft of Ireland, when it was firft brought in fubjection to the crown of England. But the next year, Owen Gwynedh fon of Gruf- 1169* fydh ap Conan prince of North Wales, departed this life in the two and thirtieth year of his reign. O He i 9 4 THE HISTORY OF WALE'S. 1 A.D. ii6 9 .He was a wife and valourous prince, ever fortu- nate and victorious in all his undertakings, info- rnuch, as he never undertook any defign but what he accomplished. He had by different women fe- veral iiTues, who got themfclves greater efteem by tHeir valour, than by their birth and parentage. He had by Gwaldus the daughter of Lhywarch ap Tra- haern ap Caradoc, Iorv.erth Drvvyndwn, or the Broken Nofe, Conan Maelgon, snd Gwenlhian-, by Chriftian the daughter of Grono ap Owen ap Ed- xvyn, he had DavidJ Roderic, Cadwalhon abbot of Bardfey and Angharad, afterwards married to Gruf- fydh May lor. He had by other women feveral other children, as Conan, Lhewelyn, Meredith, Edwal, Khun, Howel, Cadelh, Madawc, Eineon, Cynwric, Philip, and Ryrid Lord of Clochran in Ireland. Of thefe, Run, Lhewelyn, and Cynwric died before their father ; and the reft will be mentioned in the fequel of this hiftory. DAVID AP OWEN. A R I N C E Owen Gwynedh being dead, the fuc- ceflion was of right to defcend to his eldeft legitimate ion, lorwerth Drwyndwn, otherwiie called Edward with the Broken Nofe ; but^ by reafon of that ble- mifli upon his face, he was laid afide as unfit to take upon him the government of North Wales, There- fore his younger brothers began every one to afpire, 1170 in hopes of fucceeding their father , but Howel, who was of all the eldeft, but bafe born, begotten of an Irifh woman, finding they could not agree, ftept in himfelf and took upon him the government. But David, who was legitimately born, could not brook that a baftard fliould afcend his father's throne ; and 3 therefore THE HISTORY OF WALES. 195 therefore he made all the preparations poffible to pull him down. Howel on the other hand was as refolute to maintain his ground, and was not willing fo quick- ly to deliver up, what he had not very long got pof- feffion of; and fo both brothers meeting together in the field, were refolved to try their title by the point of the fword. The battle had not lafted long, but Howel was (lain ; and then David was unanimoufly proclaimed and faluted Prince of North Wales, which principality he enjoyed without any moleftation, till Lhewelyn, lorwerth Drwyndwn's fon came of age, as will hereafter appear. But Madawc, another of Owen Gwynedh's fons, finding how his brothers contended for the principality, and that his native country was like to be turmoiled in a civil war, did think it his better prudence ta try his fortune abroad ; and therefore leaving North Wales in a very unfettled condition, failed with a fmall fleet of fhips which he had rigged and manned for that purpofe, to the weftward ; and leaving Ireland on the north, he came at length to an xmknown country, where moft things appeared to him new and uncuftomary, and the manner of the natives far different from what he had feen in Europe. This country, fays the learned H. Lhoyd, muft of necef- fity be fome part of that vaft tracl: of ground, of which the Spaniards, fince Hanno's time, boaft themfelves to be the firil difcoverers ; and which by order of Cof- mography, feems to be fome part of Nova Hifpania or Florida ; whereby it is manifeft, that this country was difcovered by the Britains, long before either Co- lumbus or Americus Vefputius failed thither. But concerning Madawc's voyage to this country, and afterwards his return from thence ; there be many fa- bulous ftories and idle tales invented by the vulgar, who are fure never to diminifh from what they hear, . but will add to and increafe any fable as far as their invention will prompt them. However fays the fame author, it is certain that Madawc arrived in this country, and after he had viewed the fertility and pleafantnefs of it, he thought it expedient to invite more of his coun- trymen out of Britain -, and therefore leaving moft of Q 2 thofe. THE H I S T O R Y OF W A L E Sv thofe he had brought with him already behind, he re- turned for Wales. Being arrived there, he began to ac- quaint his friends with what a fair and extenfive land he had met with, void of any inhabitants, whilft they em- ployed all their fkill to fupplant one another, only for a ragged portion of rocks and mountains ; and there- fore "he would perfuade them to change their prefent ilate of danger and continual clamings for a more quiet being of eafe and enjoyment. And fo having got a confiderable number of Welch together, he bid his final adieu to his native country, and failed with ten mips back to them he had left behind. It is there- fore to be fuppofed, fays our author, that Madawc and his people inhabited part of that country, fince called Florida, by reafon that it appears from Francis Loves, an author cf no fmall reputation, that in A- culanus and other places, the people honoured and vvormipped the crofs ; whence it may be naturally con- cluded, that chriftians had been there before the com- ing of the Spaniards ; and who thefe chriftians might be, unlefs it were this colony of Maclawc's cannot be eaiily imagined. But by reafon that the Welch who came over, were not many, they intermixt in a few years with the natives of the country, and fo following their manners and ufmg their language, they became at length undiftinguifhable from the barbarians. But the country which Madawc landed in, is by the learned Dr. Powel fuppofed to be part of Mexico ; for which conjecture he lays down thefe following reafons ; firft, as it is recorded in the Spanim chronicles of the con- queft of the Weft Indies, the inhabitants and natives of that country affirm by tradition, that their rulers defcended from a ftrange nation, which came thither from a ftrange country -, as it was confefled by King Montezuma, in a fpeech at his fubmiffion to the king of CafHle, before Hernando Cortez the Spanifh ge- neral. And . then the Britifli words and names of places ufed in that country, even at this day do un- doubtedly argue the fame ; as when they fpeak and confabulate together, they ufe this Britifh worcl Gwrando, T H E H I S T O R Y o F W A L E S. 197 Gwrando, which fignifies to hearken or liften , and a certain bird with a white head, they call Pengwyn, which fignifies the fame in Welch. But for a more complete confirmation of this, the ifland of Corroefo, the cape of Bryton, the river of Gwyndor, and the white rock of Pengwyn, which are all Britifh words do manifeftly (hew, that it was that country which Madawc and his people inhabited. As foon as the troubles of North Wales \vere over, A. D. m 7 . and Prince David fecurely fettled in his throne, the ftorm fell prefently upon Powis : for Owen Cyfcilioc the lord of the country, had always, as much as in him lay, oppofed the intereft and advantage of Rhys Prince' of South Wales ; upon which account Prince Rhys came with a great army againft Powis, and having fubdued Owen Cyfeilioc his enemy, he was for all that fo favourable to him, that upon his de- livering him pledges for his future behaviour, he prefently departed out of Powis, and returned with much honour to South Wales. And now all the Hates of Britain being at perfed reft and amity with one another, the whole tide and fcene of adion re- turned to Ireland ; for Henry king of England hav- ing called together all his nobility, began to confult about the I rim expedition, which had already been determined to be taken in hand. To this confulta- tion there came fome meflengers from Richard Strong- bow Earl of Strigule Marlhal of England, to deliver up to the king's hands the city of Dublin, the town of Waterford, with all fuch towns and caftles as he got in right of his wife j whereupon the king reftored to him all his lands both in England and Normandy, . and created him Lord Steward of Ireland. For this Earl Strigule had lately, without the king's permifllon, gone over to Ireland, and had married the daughter of Dermott king of Dublin j which King Henry took in fuch indignation, that he prefently feized upon all his lands in England and Normandy. There- fore the king having now fome footing in Ireland, the expedition was unanimoufly concluded upon , and O fo 198 THE HISTORY OF WALES. fo the king fet upon his journey, and coming towards Wales was received by Prince Rhys, whole iubmifiion the king liked fo well a that he prefently confirmed to him all his lands in South Wales. To return the king's favour, Rhys promifed to his Majefty three hundred horfes and four thoufand oxen toward the conqueft of Ireland ; for the fure payment of which he delivered fourteen pledges. Then King Henry marching forward, came to Caerlheon upon Ufke, and entering the town, he difpofiefied the right owner lorwerth ap Owen ap Caradoc, and kept it for his own proper ufe, placing a garrilbn of his own men therein. But lorwerth was not fo eafy-mouthed, as to be fo unreafonably curbed by the king ; and therefore de- parting in a great fury from the king's prefence, he called to him his two fons Owen and Howel, whom he had by Angharad the daughter cf Uchtryd bifhop of Llandaf, and his filler's Ion Morgan ap Sitfyhlt ap Dyfnwal ; and bringing together all the forces they were able, upon the king's departure they entered the country, and committing all the wafte and de- ftru6tion as they came along, they at laft came before Caerlheon, which when they took, they ufed in the like manner, fpoiling ana deftroying whatever they could meet with ; fo that nothing efcaped their fury, excepting the calile, which they could not win. The king was in the mean time upon his journey to Pern- brock, where being accompanied by Prince Rhys, he gave him a grant of all Cardigan, Yftratywy, Arultly, and Eluel ; in recompence of all the civilities and honour he paid him. And fo Rhys returned to Aber- teifi, a town he had lately won from the Earl of Glo- cefter, and there having prepared his prefent, about the beginning of October he returned again to Pern- brock, having ordered eighty-fix horfes to follow him -, which being prefented to the king, he accepted of thirty-fix of the choiceft, and returned the reft with great thanks. The fame day King Henry went to St. David's, and after he had offered to the memory of that faint, he dined with the bifhop, who was the fon THE HISTORY OF WALES. j fon of Gerald, coufm-german to Rhys; whither Ri- chard Strongbow Earl of Strygule came from Ireland to confer with the king. Within a while after, King Henry being entertained by Rhys at the White-Houfe, reftored to him his fon Howel, who had been for a confiderable time detained as a pledge, and appointed him a certain day for payment of his tribute, at which time, all the reft of the pledges ihould be fet at Ji- berty. The day following, being the next after the feaft of St. Luke, the king went on board, and the wind blowing very favourably, fet fail for Ireland ; and being fafely arrived upon thofe coafts, he landed at Dublin ; where he refted for that whole winter, in order to make greater preparations againft the fol- lowing campaign. But the change of the air and climate occafioned fuch a raging diftemper and infection among the fol- diers, that to prevent the perimingof his whole army,A.i>, the king was forced to return with what fpeed he could back for England ; and fo having ihipped off all his army and effedts, he loofed anchor, and landed in Wales in the Paflion-week next year, and coming to Pembrock,v he ftaid there on Eafter-day, and then pro- ceeded upon his journey towards England. Rhys hearing of the king's return, was very officious to pay him his devotion, and would gladly feign to be one of the firft who fhould welcome him over ; and fo meet- ing with him at Talachan, he exprefiec} all the ceremo- nies of duty and allegiance. Then the king paffed on, and as he came from Caerdyf by the new caftle upon Ufk, meaning to leave Wales in a peaceable condition, he fent for lorwerth ap Owen ap Caradoc, who was the only perfon in open enmity againft him, and that upon very juft ground, willing him to come and treat about a peace, and afluring him of a fafe conduct for himfelf, his ions, and all the reft of his aflfociates. lorwerth was willing to accept of the propofal, and thereupon fet forward to meet the king, having fent an exprels to his fon Owen, a valourous young gentleman, to meet him by the way. Owen, according to his fa- ther's orders, fee 'forward on his journey, with a fmall Q'4 retinue, 200 THE HISTORY OF WALES, retinue, without any thing of arms or weapons of war, as thinking it folly to clog himfelf with fuch needlefs carriage, when the king had promifed a fafc conduct. But he did not find it fo fafe -, for as he patted the new cattle upon Ufke, the Earl of Briftol's men, who were garrifoned therein, laid in wait for him as he came along, and fetting cowardly upon him, flew him, with mod of his company. But fome few efeaped to ac c quaint his fathei lorwerth of fuch a treacherous ac- tion ; who hearing that his fon was fo balely murdered^ contrary to the king's abfolute promifc of a fafe paf- fage; without any farther confuhation about the matr ter, prefently returned home with Howtl his fon, and all his friends, and would no longer put any trufl or confidence in any thing that the kiag of England, or any of his fubjecls, promifed to do. But on the other fide to avenge the death of his fon, who was fo cowardly cut off; he prefently raifed all the forces that himfelf and the reft of his friends were able to do ; and fo entering into England, he deftroyed with fire and fword all the country, to the gates of Here- ford and Glocefter. But the king was fo intent upon his return, that he feeined to take no great notice of what lorwerth was doing ; and therefore having by commifiion constituted Lprd Rhys Chief Juftice of all South Wales, he forthwith took his journey to Nor- mandy. About this time died Cadwalader ap Gruf- fydh, the fon of GrurTydh ap Conan, fometime Prince of North Wales , who by his wife, Alice the daughter of Richard Clare Earl of Gloceiler, had iffue, Cu- netha, Radulph, and Richard , and by other women, Cadfan, Cadwalader, Eineon, Meredith Goch, an4 Cadwalhon, Towards the end of this year Sitiylht ap Pyfnwal, and lefan ap Sitfyhlt ap Riryd, furprifed the cattle of Abergavenny, which belonged to the king of England, and having made thernfelyes mailers of ir, they took the whole garrifon priloncn, A.B. 1173. t But the following year, there happened a very great difference, and a falling out betwixt King Henry and his fon of the fame name ; this latter being upholden by the queen his rrlotherj his brothers Geffrey antf Richard, THE HISTORY OF WALES. Richard, the French King, the Earl of Flanders, to* gether with the Earl of Chefter, William Patrick, with feveral other valiant knights and gentlemen. But the old King having a flout and faithful army, conlifting pf Almanes and Brabanters, was not in the leaft di mayed or difcouraged at fuch a feeming ftorm ; and which made him more bold and adventurous^ he was joined by a ftrong party of Welchmen, which Lord Rhys had fent him, under the command of his foil Howd. King Henry overthrew his enemies in divers encounters, and having either killed or taken prifoners mod of them who were role up againft him, he eafily diflipated the cloud which at firft leemed fo black and threatening, lorwerth ap Owen was not very forry to fee the Englifh clam, and fall into civil diflentions among themfelves ; and therefore taking advantage of fuch a feafonable opportunity, he drew his army againft Caerlheon, which ftood out very ftiflly againft him. But after many warm difputes of both fides, Jprwerth at length prevailed, and entering the town by force, he took moft of the inhabitants prifoners ; and then lay^ ing fiege to the caftle, it was furrendered up in ex-: change for the prifoners he had taken in the town. Howel his fon at the fame time was bufy in Gwent is Coed ; and having reduced all that country, excepting the caftle, to fubjection, he took pledges of the inha- bitants, tq be true arid faithful to him, and to with- flraw their allegiance from the King of England. At the fame time, fomething of action pafifed in North- ^YVales; for Da^vid ap Owen Gwynedh, Prince of North- "YVdles, bringing an army over the river Menai into Anglcfey, againft his brother Maelgon who kept that jfland from him, forced him to make his efcape to Ireland 5 in his return from whence the following year, he was accidentally difco'vered and feized upon, and then by hjs brother's orders committed to clofc prifon. Prince David having brought the iile of Ang. lefey to its priftine ftate of fubjec^ion to him, was re- folved to move all manner of obftacles which might at any time for the future endanger its falling off from 'him 5 and thefe he judged to be his own next relations, 202 THE HISTORY OF WALES. 1174- and therefore he expelled and banifned all his bre- thren and coufms out of his territories of North- Wales. But before this fentence was put in exe- cution, his brother Con an died, and fo efcaped the ignominy of being banifhed his native country, for no other reafon but the jealoufy of an ambitious brother. About the fame time, Howel the fon of lorwerth ap Owen of Caerlheon, took prifoner his uncle Owen Pencarn, who was right heir of Caerlheon and Gwent; and now having him fec'ure, and to prevent his get- ting any children to inherit thofe places which him- felf was next heir to, he firft pulled out his eyes., and then very inhumanly cut off his tefticles. But ven- geance did not permit fuch a bale action to go un- punifhed ; for upon the Saturday following, a great army of Normans and Englimmen came unexpectedly before the town, and won both it and the caftle, not- withftanding all the oppofition which Howel and his father lorwerth made -, though this laft was not privy to his fon's action. About the fame time King Henry came over to England, a little after whofe arrival, William king of Scots, and Roger de Moubray, were taken prifoners at Alnewike by the Barons of the north, as they came to deftroy the northern part of the country in the quarrel of the young King. But old King Henry having committed them to the fafe cuf- tody of the Earl of Leicefter, and received Hugh Bygod Earl of Cheiler to his mercy, returned to Nor- mandy with a very confiderable army of Welchmen, which David prince of North-Wales had fent him -, in return of which, he gave him his fitter Emme in mar- riage. When he was arrived in Normandy, he fent a detachment of the Welch to cut off feme provifions which were going to the enemies camp ; but in the mean time the French King came to a treaty of peace, which was Ihortly afterwards concluded upon ; fo that all the brethren, who had all this time maintained fuch an unnatural rebellion againft their father, were forced to beg the, old King's forgivenefs and pardon for all their former mifdemeanours. David Prince of North TrTE^HISTORY OF WALES. 203 North Wales began to grow very bold and aflutning, by reafon of his new alliance with the King of England ; and nothing would lerve his turn, but he mlift put his brother Roderic in prifon, and fecure him- with fetters, for no other account, than becaufe he demanded his lhare of his father's lands. It was the cuftom of Wales, as is faid' before, to make an equal divifion of the fa- ther's inheritance between all the children j and there- fore David had no colour of reafon or pretence to deal ib feverely with his brother ; unlefs it were to verify that proverb-, Might overcomes right. .But though Prince David might depend much upon his affinity with the King of England-, yet Rhys Prince of South- Wales gained his favour and countenance the more, by reafon th,at he let flip no opportunity to further the King's mtereft and affairs in Wales, and by that means was a very neceflary and ufeful inftrument to keep under the Welch ; and to promote the furer fettlement of the Englim in the country. Not that he bore any love or affection to either King Henry or his fubjects j but becaufe he was fufficiently rewarded for former fer- vices, and was ftill in expectation of receiving more favours at the King's hands, he was refolved to play the politician fo far, as to have regard to his own in- tereft, more than the good of his native country. And what did ingratiate him to King Henry moft of all, up- on the feaft of St. James he brought all fuch lords of South -Wales as were at enmity with the King, to do him homage at Glocefter; namely, Cadwalhon ap Ma- dawc of Melyenyth, his coufm-german; Eineon Clyt of Eluel, and Eineon ap Rhys of Gwerthrynion, his ions* in-law ; Morgan ap Caradoc ap leftyn of Glamorgan ; GrufFydhap ifor apMeiricof Sengennyth, andSitfylht ap Dyfnwal of Higher Gwent, all three his brothers-in- law, who had married his fitters ; together with lorwerth ap Owen of Caerlheon. King Hsnry was fo well pleafed with this ftratagem of Rhys, that notwithftandingthefe peribns had been his implacable enemies, he readily granted them their pardon, and received them to favour j and reftored to lorwerth ap Owen the town and caftle of Caerlheon, which he had unjuftly taken from him. This 204- THE HISTORY OF WALES. A.D. 1175- This rconciliation betwixt King Henry and thefe Welch lords, fome of the Englifh. in Wales took ad- vantage of, and more particularly William de Bruce Lord of Brecnock, who having for a long time a great longing to Gwentland, could not bring about his de- fign, by reafon that Sitfylht ap-Dyfnwal, the perfon of greateft fway and power in the country, .was an in- veterate enemy to all the Englifh. But being now re- conciled to the King, William de Bruce, under pre- tence of congratulating this new peace and agreement between the Englifh and Welch, invited Sitfylht and Geffrey his fon, with feveral others of the perfons of chiefeft note in Gwentland, to a feaft in his caftle of Abergavenny, which by compofition he had lately re- ceived from them. Sitfylht, with the reft, came ac- cording to appointment, and without the lead fufpicion of any treafonable defigns; but after they had been civilly entertained for fome time, William Bruce, to move a quarrel againft them, began at laft to pro- pound certain articles to them, to be by them kept and performed ; and among other unreafonable con- ditions, they were to fwear, that none of them mould at any time carry with them bow or fword. The Welch refufing to confent to and fign fuch improper articles as thefe ; William Bruce prefently calls out his men, who were ready for that purpofe, and bid- ding them fall to their bufmefs, they moft treacherouf* ly fell upon and flew the innocent and naked Welch ; and as if it did not fufficiently exprefs their cruelty and inhumanity, they immediately went to Sitfylht's houfe, which flood not far from Abergavenny, and taking hold of Gwladus his wife, they flew her fon Cadwalader before her face, and then fetting fire to the houfe, they packed her away to the caftle. This exe- crable murder being thus moft barbaroufly, and which was worft of all, under pretence of friendfhip and kindnefs, committed ; William Bruce, to cloak his treafon with fome reafonable excufe, and to make the world believe it was not for any private intereft or expectation he had done fuch an act, as he knew would be by all men abhorred i caufed it to be re- ported THE HISTORY or WALES. ported abroad, that he had done fuch a thing in re- venge of the death of his uncle Henry of Hereford, whom the Welch on the Eaftern-Even before had (lain. But whilft theie things palled in South-Wales, Rode- ric, David Prince of North-Wales's brother, made his efcape by fome means or other out of prifon, and fleeing to Anglefey, he was received and acknowledged by all the country on the other fide the river Conwey, for their Lord and Prince ; which they were the more willing to do, by reafon that they conceived an utter abhorrence of Prince David, who contrary to all rules of equity, and almoft nature, had difmherited all his brethren and coufms -, as boldly relying upon his affinity and relation to the King of England. But Da- vid perceiving the ftorm to grow very violent, and that the country did numeroufly flock and adhere to his brother Cadwalader, thought it his belt way to ftay a while, till the ftorm was abated -, and fo retired over the river Conwey. Towards the end of this year, Ca- delh the fon of Gruffydh ap Rhys, and brother to Lord Rhys, after a tedious fit of ficknefs. and taken upon him the Monkiih order, departed this life, whofe body was very honourably interred at Stratflur. In the fpring of the following year, died alfo David n Fitz-Gerald Bifhop of Menevia, or S. Davids, whofe fee was fuppl;ed by one Piers, being nominated there- unto by the King of England. But what happened moll remarkable this year ; the Lord Rhys Prince of South- Wales made a very great feafl at Chriftmas in his caftle of Aberteifi, which he caufed to be pro- claimed through all Britain, Ireland, and the iflands adjacent, fome considerable time before ; and accord- ing to their invitation, many hundreds of Englifh, Normans, and others coming to Aberteifi, were very honourably received, and courteoufly entertained by Prince Rhys. But among other tokens of their wel- come and entertainment, Rhys caufed all the bards or poets throughout all Wales to come thither; and for a better diverfion to the company, he provided chairs to be fet in the hall, in which the bards being fcated, they were to anfwer each other in rhyme j and thofe that fcoS TH E H I S T O R Y OF W A L E S. that acquitted" themfelves moft handfomely, and over- came the reft, were promifed great rewards and rich prefents. In this poetical difceptation, the North- Wales bards obtained the victory, with the applaufe and approbation of the whole company ; and among the profeflbrs of mufick, between whom there was no A.P. ii77.fmall ftrife, Prince Rhys's own fervants were ac- counted the moft expert. But for all this civil and obliging treatment of Prince Rhys, the Normans upon the marches fell to their accnftomed manner of trea- cherous way-laying, and privately afiaulting the harm- Jefs and undefigning Welch ; and therefore tineon Clyt Rhys his fon-in-law, and Morgan ap Meredith, falling into the net which the Normans had deceitfully laid for them, were- treacheroufly murdered. Therefore, to keep the Normans under greater fear and awe for the future, Prince Rhys built a caftle at Rhayadr Gwy, being a place where the river Wye falls with a very great noife and precipitation down a great rock. But 1173. this caftle was like to ftand him in a double ftead ; for it was not long after he had perfectly finifhed it, that the fons of Conan ap Owen Gwynedh made war againft him -, but finding upon trial that their defign againft Rhys was impracticable, they thought it more advifeable to retire back to North- Wales. 1179- The next year, Cadwalhon, brother 1*0 Owen Gwy- nedh, an uncle to David and Roderic, who for fear of his brother had fome time ago fled for refuge to the King of England ; as he was conveyed home by ibme of the King's fervants, to enjoy his patrimonial Eftate in Wales, was by thofe barbarous and treache- rous villains murdered in his journey. This year the fcpulchre of that famous and noble Britim King Ar- thur, with his wife Gwenhofar (by the means of fome Welch bard, whom King Henry had heard at Pem- brock relate in a fong the worthy and mighty acts of that great Prince, and the place where he was buried) was found in the ifle of Afalon, without the Abbey of Glaftenbury , their bodies being laid in a hollow el- der tree, buried fifteen foot in the earth. The bones of King Arthur were of marvelous and almoft incre- dible THE HISTORY OF WALES. 207 tfcble bignefs, having ten wounds in the fkull, whereof one being confiderably larger than the reft, feemed to be his death-blow -, and the Queen's hair feemed to the fight to be fair and yellow, but when touched crumbled prefently to duft. Over the bones was laid a (lone, with acrois of lead, upon the lower fide of which done were engraven thefe words : HIC JACET SEPULTUS INCLYTUS REX ARTHURUS IN INSULA AVALONIA. Here lies buried the famous King ARTHUR in the ifle of Afalon. No action of moment had pafied in Wales this long time, and the Welch were in perfect amity and concord with the King of England ; but fome un- lucky accident fell out at laft to diflblve this happy union and agreement. One Ranulph de Poer, who was n8z; fheriff of Glocefterfhire, or rather as Giraldus Cam- brenfis obferves, of Herefordfhire, being a cruel and unreafonable oppreflbr of the Welch, put the Lord of Gwentland to death ; in revenge of whom a certain young perfon of that country, let upon Ranulph with ieveral other gentlemen his companions, and flew them to a man. King Henry was implacably enraged at this news, and fo cruelly incenfed, that he pre- fently raifed and drew together all his power, and came to Worcefter, intending to march forward to Wales, and to invade the enemies country. But the Lord Rhys ap Grufrydh, a fubtile and a politick Prince, thinking it impoffible to withftand the Englifh army, and fearing the King's puiflance, which he perceived to be fo implacably bent againft the Welch, went in perfon to Worcefter, and fwearing fealty to the King, became his perpetual liege-man ; and for the due ob- fervance of this contract, he promifed to fend his fons and nephews for pledges. But when he would have perfuaded them to aniwer his requeft, the young men confidering with themfelves, how former pledges had not been very genteely treated by the Englilh, refued TH E HISTORY OF WALES. refufed to go , and fo the whole matter refted for that time. "W hat became of the matter afterwards we know not , but probable it is* that King Henry returned to England fatisfiecl with Rhys's fubmiflibn ; for we hear no more of his coming to Wales. And fo the country remained quiet and undifturbed for a long time ; till at length the Welch began to fall to their wonted method of killing and murdering one another. Cad- walader Prince Rhys's fon was privately murdered in Weft- Wales, and buried in the Ty Gwyn. And the 1187. year following, Owen Fychan the Ton of Madawc ap Meredith, was flain by night in the caftle of Gar-* rergova near Ofweftry, by Gwenwynwyn and Caeiwal- hon the fons of Owen Cyfeilioc. But what was moft un- natural of all, Lhewelyn, whofe father Cadwalhon ap GrurTydh ap Conan was lately murdered by the Englifh- men, was taken by his own brothers, who very barba- roufly put out his eyes. About the fame time, Bald wyn, Archbifhop of Canterbury, being attended by Giraldus Cambrenfis/took a progrefs into Wales-, being the firft Archbifhop of Canterbury that vifited that country- whofe authority the clergy of Wales in vain oppofed, though they ftifly alledged the liberties and priviledges of their metropolitan church of S. Davids. In this vifitation, defcribed by Giraldus in his Itinerarium Cambriae, he perfuaded many of the nobility of Wales to go to the Holy Land againft thofe prevailing enemies of chriftianity, the Saracens ; to whofe prevailing greatnefs, Jerufalem itfelf was now in great danger llg8 ' to become fubjeft. The Archbifhop having left the country, Malegon the fon of Lord Rhys brought all his power againft Tenbigh, and having by force made himfelf matter of it, burnt the whole town to the ground, and fo carried away very confiderable fpoil. He was a perfon of fuch civil behaviour and eafy ac- cefs, of fo comely peribnage, and honefty in all his ac- tions, that he attracted the moft earneft love and affec- tion of all his friends ; by which means he became very terrible and formidable to his enemies, eipecially the Flemings, of whom he obtained divers victories and conquefts. The THE HI S TORY OF WALES. 209 The next year, being the year of Chrift 1189, A.D. n Henry the Second, furnamed Courtmantel, king of England died, and was buried at Fonteverard ; after Whom, his fon -Richard, called Curdelyon, was by the unanimous confent of all the peers and nobility of England, crowned in his place. Prince Rhys being thus deprived of his greateft friend, thought it his wifeft way to make the beft provifion he could for himfelf, by enlarging his dominions, and extending the bounds of his prefent territories ; and therefore having raifed all the ftr-ngth he could, he won the caftles of Seynclere, Abercorran, and Lhanftephan -, and having taken and committed to prifon Maelgwn his fon, who' was the greateft thorn in his fide, as one that was moft paffionately beloved by the South Wales men, he brought the whole country to his fub- jection. Then he built the caftle of Cydwely ; but n 90 , what took away from him the joy of all this good for- tune, he loft his daughter Gwenlhian, a woman of fuch incomparable beauty, and exceeding in all femi- nine qualifications, that fhe was accounted the faireft and beft accomplifhed lady in all the country. And 1191 not long after her died GrufFydh Maylor, lord of Brom- field, a man of great prudence and experience, and one that excelled all the nobility of his time in hof- pitality, and all other acts of generofity and libera- lity. His corps was carried to Myfod, and honour- ably interred there, being attended by moft of the per- fons of quality throughout the whole country. He had iflfue by his wife Angharad daughter of Owen Gwynedh prince of North Wales, a fon called Ma- dawc, who fucceeded his father in that part of Powys, called from him Powys Fadawc. Rhys, prince of South Wales, was growing very powerful, and had made himfelf mafter of the greateft part of South Wales, only with fome few places more, Dynefawr held out ftill ; which however, upon the firft afiault he made againft it, was delivered up to him. But as he increafed in the number of towns and caftles, he had the misfortune to have that of his children diminished ; for his daughter Gwenlhian was lately deceafed ; and P 210 THE HISTOPvY OF WALES. now he had no fooner got Dynefawr caftle into his pofleflfion, but his fon Owen died at Strata Florida, or Yftratflur. King Richard was gone to the Holy Land againil the Saracens , but on his return to England, he won the kingdom of Cyprus, and gave it to Gwido king of Jeruialein, upon condition he would refign his former title to him : during his ilay in this ifland, he married Berengaria the daughter of the king of Navarre. A. D. 1192. Maelgon, Prince Rhy's ion had been now detained a long time in prifon, where his father had (hut him up i but being at lail utterly weary of fuch a clofe confinement, he found fome means or other to get out, jind to make his efcape. His father Prince Rhys was not fo troubled at his being broke out, and that he had got his liberty, as to give over the conqueft, which all this while he had gone fo furioufly on with; but laying fiege to Lhanhayaden caftle he took it with- out any great oppofition, and brought all the country about to his fubjeclion. And what favoured him more in his attempts againil the Englifh, King Richard having moil bravely fignalized himfelf againil the in- fidels, in his return home through Auflria, was taken XI9it prifoner by Duke Leopold, who prefented him to the Emperor Henry, who demanded 200,000 marks for his ranlbmj laying to his charge, that he had fpoiled and plundered the ifland of Sicily in his voyage, to the Holy Land. And as Rhys took the advantage of King Richard's abfence to fubjec~l South Wales j fo Roderic brother to David Prince of North Wales, made ufe of Gothrike's the king of Man's help, to get the principality of North Wales to himfelf, and ejedl his brother. And therefore entering into Angle- fey, he quickly reduced the whole ifland to his fub- jeclion. But he did not enjoy it long ; for before the year was over, the fons of his brother Conan came with an army againft him, and forcing him together with the king of Man to fly the ifland, they took prefent pofleffion of it themfelves. And while thefe things were done in North Wales, Maelgon, Prince Rhys of South Wales his fon, who was lately efcaped from pri- fon, befieged Yftratmeyric caftle, and after fome fmall oppo- THE HISTORY OF WALES. 211 oppofition got into his own hands upon Chriftmas night , which encouraged him to farther attempts. And at the fame time, his brother Howel, furnamed Says, or the Englimman, by realbn that he had ferved for fome time under the king of England, another fon of Prince Rhys, got by furprife the caftle of Gwys, and having fecured Philip de Gwys the owner, with his wife and two Tons, he made them all prifoners of war. Then the two. brothers Howel and Maelgon joined their forces; but fearing that they had more caftles than what they were able to defend, they thought it conve- nient to rafe Lhanhayaden caftle ; which the Flemings having notice of, they gathered all their power toge- ther, and coming to Lhanhayaden at the day appointed, they unexpectedly fet upon the Welch, and flew a great number of them. But notwithftanding this fudden and unhappy accident, they thought it necefTary to deftroy the caftle ; and fo coming to Lhanhayaden the fecond time, they rafed it to the ground, without any mole- iiation from, or appearance of any enemy to difturb them. But when Anarawd, another fon of Prince Hhys, faw how profperoufly his brothers fucceeded, he thought to make himfelf as rich as they, and by a Ihorter and an eafier method ; and therefore having under a fmooth pretence of friendfliip and love got his brothers Howel and Madawc in private, being moved with 'ambition and covetoufnefs to enjoy their eftates, he firft made them prifoners, and then very unnaturally pulled out their eyes. But Maelgon efcaped this fnare, and hearing what a foul action was committed, he pro- mifed his brother Anarawd the caftle of Yftratmeyric, for the liberty and releafement of his two brothers, which Anarawd granted. But it is no wonder that A. D. 1194. thofe brothers could be unnatural and cruel to one another, who could join and agree to rebel againft their father ; and now Prince Rhys having rebuilt the caftle of Rhayadr Gwy, was laid wait for, and taken pri- foner by his own fons, who were afraid, that in cafe their father had them once in his power, he would feverely revenge their cruel and unnatural deeds. But Howel proved more kind and dutiful than the reft ; p 2 who, ai2 THE HISTORY o* WALES. who, though blind, found a way to let his father efcape out of Maelgon's prifon, and fo Prince Rhys being let at liberty, he took and deftroyed the caftle of Dyne- fowr, which belonged to his fon Maelgon. But tho' he fucceeded in this attempt, yet he loft another ca- ftle elfewhere ; for the fons of Cadwalhon ap Madawc of Melyenydh being informed that Prince Rhys was detained prifoner by his ion Maelgon, they befieged Rhayadr Gwy caftle, which being lurrcndered up to them, they fortified for their own ufe. But whilft thefe unhappy differences, and unna- tural clamings betwixt Prince Rhys and his fons, continue and rage in South Wales, a new revolution of affairs happened in North Wales. Prince David had now enjoyed the fceptre of North Wales for above twenty- four years , and one would think, that fo long a poffefiion would fecure him in his throne, that it could not be very eafy to pull him down. But pof- fefiion is not always thefureft card, which proved very true in Prince David's cafe at this time ; for Lhewelyn the fon of lorwerth Drwyndwn, who was the eldeft fon of Owen Gwynedh prince of North Wales, being now arrived to years of maturity, and having fenfe enough to underftand what a juft title and claim he had to the principality of North Wales, of which his uncle David had ib unjuftly kept him out ; he thought it high time to endeavour to recover what was lawfully his own, which however he was well perfuaded his uncle David would never eafily part with. And there- fore being well affured that the juftnefs of his title would never mount him up to the throne, without he had an army at his heels to help him on ; he called :: .c .together all his friends and relations by his mother's fide, who was Marred the daughter of Madawc ap Meredith prince of Powys, and having drawn to his fide his coufins the fons of Conon ap Owen Gwynedh, and Rhodri ap Owen, he came into North Wales, proclaiming how againft all juftice his uncle David had firft djfinherited his father lorwerth, and then had kept the government from him who was the right heir. And though his father lorwerth had been incap- able TB: : E HISTORY OF WALES. 2 r 3 able of taking upon him the government by reafon of fome infirmity ; yet there was no reafon that his fa- ther's weaknefs mould exclude and turn him out; and therefore, being now fenfible of what he was not cap- able to underftand in his youth, he laid claim to the principality, which was juftly his own. But there was no great need of conjuring to underftand his claim, nor of much rhetorick to perfuade the people to own him for their prince ; whofe affection was cooled, and almoft worn off from David, ever fmce he had dealt fo unnaturally with his brothers, whom after he had deprived of their eflates, he banifhed out of the coun- try. And therefore before Lhewelyn could expect to have any fure footing, the whole country of North Wales was at his devotion, excepting only three ca- ftles, which David by the help of the Englifh, in whom, by reafon of his affinity with the late King Henry, he depends much upon, kept to himfelf. And thus David being deprived of almoft all that he formerly pofleffed, we mall reckon him no more among the princes of North Wales, but reftore the principality to the true heir Lhewelyn ap lorwerth. LHEWELYN AP IORWERTH. LH EWELYN ap lorwerth the fon of Owen Gwynedh, having thus fuccefsfully carried on his juft claim to the dominion of North Wales, and being quietly fettled in the government of it, Roger Mor- timer marches with a ftrong body to Melyenith, and built the caftle of Cymaron, whereby he reduced that country to his fubjection, and forced thence the two fons of Cadwalhon ap Madawc that were gover- nors thereof. About this time Rhys and Meredith, two valiant, but undutifUl fons of Prince Rhys, having got together a- body of hot-headed, daring foldiers, came before Dynefawr, and took the caftle that was garrifoned by their father's men : hence they proceeded to Cantre-Fychan, where the. country civily P 3 receive^ 214 THE HISTORY OF WALES. received them, and furrendered up the cattle to them. At this their father was juftly incenfed, and therefore to put a ftop to their farther proceedings, he endea- voured by all means to take them, whicu not long after happened -, for their adherents now began to be touched with the fenfe as well of their treafon againft, as of their allegiance due to their lawful lord Prince Rhys -, and therefore to atone for their pan: faults, and to procure his futute favour, they betrayed their rebel- lious leaders to their offended father, who immediately committed them to fafe cuflody. The enfuing year Prince Rhys levies a' great army, .D.n 9 6.whofe firft attempt was upon the town and caftle of Caermadthyn, both which he took in a Ihort time and deftroyed, and then returned with confiderable booty. Not long after he led the faid army to the marches, and invefted the caftle of Clun, which was not fo eafily taken as the former ; for this coft him a long fiege, and many a fierce aflault , and therefore to be revenged of it, when he took it he laid it in ames ; thence he proceeded to the caftle of Radnor, which he likewife won , but immediately after it coft him a bloody battle ; for he was no fooner matter of the caftle, but Roger Mortimer and Hugh de Say came with a numerous and well-difciplined army, con- fifting of Normans and Englifh, to the relief of it. Whereupon Prince Rhys thinking it not his beft courfe to confine his men within the walls, led them up into a champaign ground hard by, and there, like a valiant prince, refolved to give his enemies battle, though they had much the advantage of him; for his men were neither fo well armed, nor fo much accuftomcd to bat- tle as the others were , however, their courage made amends for their 'arms ; and their leader's prudence and conduct fupplied the defects of their difcipline ; for they chofe rather to die honourably in the de- fence of their country, 1 than fhamefully to furvive the lofs of it : and therefore they attacked their enemies fo valiantly, that they were not long able to with- ftand their force, but quitted the field in great dif- order, leaving a great number of their men behind them THE HISTORY OF WALES. i. them flain upon the fpot; and Prince Rhys purfued them fo warmly, that they were glad of the 'fhelter of the night to protect them from his fury. After this' victory, he befieged the caftle of Payne in Elfel, which he eafily took, and kept in his own hands, till William de Bruce, the owner thereof, came to him, and humbly defired peace of him, which he granted him, 'and withal delivered him up his caftle again. Not long after, the archbimop of Canterbury (whom King Richard had fubftituted his lieutenant in Eng- land) marches with a powerful army towards Wales, and befieges the caftle of Gwenwynwyn, at the pool ; but the garrifon made fuch a vigorous defence, that he loft a great many of his men, and all his attempts proved ineffectual , therefore he fent for fome pioneers, whom he ordered to undermine the walls j which when the befieged underftood, they bethought of fecuring themfelves on the moft honourable terms they could ; they were not willing to put themfelves to the hazard of a battle, for their enemies were thrice their num- ber ; therefore they propofed to furrender up the ca- ftle, on condition they fhould carry off all their arms along with them : which offer the archbifhop accepted of, and fo permitted the garrifon to march out quietly. Then fortifying the caftle for the king's ufe, and put* ting a ftrong garrifon in it for its defence, he returned again to England. But Gwenwynwyn was not fo will- ing to part from his caftle, as never to attempt the recovery of it; therefore as foon as he underftood that the archbiftop was gone back, he immediately befieged it, and fhortly after received it on the fame terms that his men had delivered it up, and after- words kept it for his own ufe. The following year there broke out a terrible plague, which fpread over all Britain and France, and carried off a great number of the nobility, befides common people. This year likewife died the valiant Rhys, Prince of South Wales ; the only flay and de- fence of that part of Wales ; for he it was that got them their liberty, and fecured it to them. He often rery readily expofed his own life for the defence of P 4 theirs S j6 THE HISTORY OF W ALES. A.D. ii97.theirs and their country; generally he got the betier of his enemies, and at lad either brought them entirely under his fubjection, or forced them to quit their coun- try. He was no lefs illuftrious for his virtuous en- dowments, than for his valour and extraction ; fo that it was with good reafon that the Britim bards and others wrote fo honourably of him, and fo mightily deplored his death. To this prince were born many fons and daughters, whereof his eldeft fon Gruffydh fucceedcd him :" the others were Cadwalhon, Maelgon, Meredith, and Rhys'. Of his daughters, one called Gwenlhian was married to Ednyfed Fychan, anceftor to Owen Tudor that married Katharine queen-dowager to King Henry the Fifth : and the reft were very well matched with fome' of the nobility of the country. Prince GrufTydh being fettled in the government of his country, did not long enjoy it peaceably ; for his troublefome brother Mael- gon thought it now a fit time to endeavour the reco- very of the inheritance his father had deprived him of. To this purpofe he makes a league with Gwenwyn- wyn, the fon of Owen Cyfeilioc, lord of Powys, and by their joint intereft got together a confiderable body of men, wherewith 'they furprifed Prince Gruffydh at Aberyftvvyth, whom, after they had flain a great many of his men, they took prifoner. Thus Maelgon ef- fectually accomplifhed his defign in the recovery of the caftle, and the whole country of Cardigan. His unfortunate brother he committed to the cuftody of his fpiteful confederate Gwenwynwyn, who immediate- ly out of malice delivered him up to the mercy of his inveterate enemies the Englifh. After this Gwenwyn- wyn having got together an army entered Aruftly, and brouglit it to his fubjeetiqri. David ap Owen, whom Prince Lhewelyn had for- ced to quit his ufurpation of the principality of North Wales, had hitherto lived quietly and peaceably, not fo much 'out of kihdnefs to his nephew, -as becaufe he knew not how to redrefs himfelf ; but now having got a great army' of Englilh and Welch, he ufed his ntmofl: eiforts to recover his principality. Whereupon Prince Lhewelyn THE ^ISTORY OF WALES. 213 \yho~vvas the right heir, and in pofleflion of it, came-Qn.Jboldly to meet him, and gave him bat- tle, wherein he fhamefully routed his army, and took his uncle David prifoner, whom he delivered into fafe cuftody,- whereby he fccured to himfelf and his coun-^ try peace and quietnefs. Towards the clofe of this year Owen Cyfeilioc lord of the Higher Powys de- parted this life, and left his eftate to Gwenwynwyn his fan ; after whom that part of Powys was called Powys- Wenwynwyn, to diftingnim it from the other called Powys-Fadoc, the inheritance of the lords of Bromfield. Much about this time Trahaern Fychan, a man of great power and authority in the county of Brecknock, was iuddenly feized upon as he was going to Llancors to confer about fome bufmefs with Wil- liam de Bruce lord thereof, and by an order of the lords, tied to an horfe's tail and dragged through the ftreets of Brecknock to the gallows, where he was be- headed, and his body hung up by the feet for three days. Which barbarity inflicted on him for no known juft caufe, fo frightened his brother's wife and children, that they fled their country for fear of the fame ulage. The year following Maelgon, who had before routed A. D.I 198. his brother Prince Gruffydh's army, and taken him prifoner, begins now to enlarge his territories, and takes in his brother's caftles of Aberteiri and Yftrat- meyric. Alfo the youngeft fon of Prince Rhys about this time recovered the caftle of Dynefowr from the Normans. The fame fummer, Gwenwynwyn took up a refolu- tion of attempting to extend Wales to its antient li- mits , and for this purpofe he raifes a powerful army, with which he firft defigns to be avenged of William de Bruce for the inhuman death of his cou fin Trahaern F ychan, and therefore he befiegeth his caftle of Payn in Elfel, where he makes a proteftation, that as foon as he had taken it, for a farther fatisfa&ion to his re- venge, he would unmercifully ravage the whole coun- try as far as Severn. But thefe mighty menaces were foon blown over ; for he had neither battering en- gines nor pioneers, fo that he was forced to lay before the THE HISTORY OF WALES. the caftle for three weeks without effecting any thing ; whereby the murderers had time enough to apply themfelves to England for fuccours, which they ob- tained. For upon this Geoffrey Fitz-Peter, Lord Chief Juftice of England levies a confiderable army, to which he joins all the Lords Marchers, and comes in all hade to the relief of the place, where he meets Gwenwynwyn $ with whom before he would hazard a battle, he was defirous to have a treaty of peace, to which Gwenwynwyn and his adherents would in no- wife hearken or condefcend, but returned in anfwer, that their bufmefs there was to be revenged of old in- juries done them. Hereupon the Englifh lords refol- ved to enlarge Prince Gruffydhof South Wales, whom they knew to be an inveterate enemy of Gwenwynwyn, as he that delivered him up to their hands ; and like- wife to be a man of great authority in his country, therefore they rightly concluded he might be more fer- viceable to them when at liberty than under confine- ment, wherein they were not difappointed ; for he im- mediately got together a ftrong body of his country- men, and joining with the Englifh advanced towards the caftle, where they furioufly attacked Gwenwyn- wyn, who made no lefs vigorous defence -, hereupon there enfued a bloody battle, with a great (laughter on both fides, but at length the Englifh got the vic- tory, and Gwenwynwyn loft a great number of com- mon foldiers (if we believe Matthew Paris, 3700 men) befides a great many of his beft commanders, among whom were Anarawd, fon of Eineon, Owen ap Cad- walhon, Richard ap leftyn, and Robert ap Howel. Meredith ap Conan was likewife taken priibner, with many more. After this the Englifh returned home triumphantly, and requited Prince Gruffydh's fervice with a perfect liberty, who immediately, partly by his own force, partly by the affection of his people, repoffeffed himfelf of all his dominions, fave the ca- ftles of Aberteifi and Yftratmeyric, which his ufurping brother Maelgon, by the affi (lance of Gwenwynwyn, had, during his confinement by the Englifh, taken from him, and ftill unjuftly detained. Hereupon, fome THE HISTORY OF WAL:S. 219 fome of Prince Gruffydh's prime nobility and clergy came to him, and offered him their endeavours of re- conciling him* to his brother, and made him fo ap- prehenfive of his juft difpleafure at him, that he took a folemn oath before them, that in cafe his brother would give him hoftages for the fecurity of his own perfon, he would deliver him up his caftle of Aber- teili by a day appointed ; which propofals Prince Gruf- fydh accepted of, and accordingly fent him his de- jnands : but it was the leaft of Maelgon's intention to make good his part, or elfe he was very inconftant in his refolution > for he had no fooner received the ho- ftages, but inftead of delivering up the caftle, he for- tifies it, and puts in a garrifon for his own ufe, and commits the hoftages to the cuftody of Gwenwynwyn, Prince Gruffydh's mortal enemy ; but not long after, their innocency procured them an opportunity of an efcape. In the year 1199, Maelgon ftill purfuing his hatred A. D.ii 99 . of his brother Prince Gruffydh, gets an army, where- with he befiegeth his caftle of Dynerth, which he was mafter of* in a fhort time, and then put all the gar- rifon to the fword. But about the fame time Prince Gruffydh in lieu of this, won the caftle of Cilgerran, and ftrongly fortified it. This year Richard the Firft of England, as he was befieging the caftle of Chalons in France, was fhot from the walls with an arrow, whereof he not long after died, and left his kingdom to his brother John, who thereupon was with great fo- lemnity crpwned at Weftminfter. But he could not expect to enjoy this kingdom peaceably ; for his el- der brother Geoffrey Plantagenet had left a fon behind him named Arthur, whofe right to the crown of Eng- land was by lineal defcent; which now therefore he juftly lays claim to, and by the afliftance of King Phi- lip of France (who efpoufed his quarrel) endeavours jfo recover. But before Prince Arthur had made fuf- ficient preparations to carry on his defign, he was un- expectedly fet upon by his uncle, his army routed, and he himielf taken prifoner, and committed to fafe 220 THE HISTORY OF WALES. fafe cuftody ; not long after which, he died, and fo King John was rid of his competitor. ~ The following year Gruffydh ap Conan ap Owen *-* *-OO* . 1 I'll 1*1' 11 4 Gwynedh died, and was buried in a monk s cawl in the abbey of Conway, which way of burying was very much practifed (efpecially by the better fort) in thofc days ; for the monks and friars had deluded the peo- ple into a ftrong conceit of the merits of it, and had firmly perfuaded them it was highly conducive to their future happinefs to be thus interred. But, this fuperftition, together with the propagators of it, they had lately received from England : for the firft abbey or monaftery we read of in Wales, fmce the ' deftruction of that famous houfe of Bangor, which favoured of Romifh dregs, was the Ty-Gwyn built in the year 1 146, after which they mightily increafed and fpread over all the country ; and now the foun- tain head began to be corrupted ; for the clergy maintained a doctrine which their anceftors abhor- red, as may eafily be gathered from the writings of that worthy divine Ambrofius Telefmus, who flourifh- ed in the year 540, when the chriftian faith (which we fuppofe to be delivered at the ifle of Afalon by Jofeph of Arimathea) flowed in this land in a pure and uncorrupted flream, before it was infected and polluted by that proud and blood-thirfty monk Au- guftine. I fay, he then wrote and left behind him as his own opinion, and the opinion of thofe days, thefe following verfes : Gwae'r offeiriad byd Nys angreifftia gwyd Ac ny phregetha: Gwae ny cheidw ei gail Ac ef yn figail Ac nys areilia; Gwae ni cheidw ei dhefaid Rhae bleidhie Rhufeniaid A'i ffon gnwppa. i. e. Woe be to the bifhop who does not rebuke vice, and give good example ; and who does not preach. THE HISTORY OF WALES. 221 preach. Woe be to him, if he does not keep well his fold : and he a fhepherd. And does not keep together and guard his fheep from popifli wolves, with his paftoral ftaff. From whence it is apparent, that the Church of Rome was then corrupt, and that the Britilh churches perfevered in the primitive and truly apbftolical profefiion of chriftianity, as it was at firft planted in the ifland ; and that no Roman innovations had crept in among them, which afterwards mightily in- creafed, when they were once introduced by Augu- ftine the monk. This year like wife we find the Ipiteful and turbu- lent Maelgon, choofmg rather to perfift ftill in his rebellion, than to return'to his allegiance, and to pre- fer a fmall lucre to the. love and fafety of his coun- try. For now finding that the caftle of Aberteifi was not tenable by his own power and force, yet rather than deliver it up to his brother Prince Gruffydh, and thereby procure his favour, he chofe to fell it to his bitter enemies the Englifh, for an inconfiderable fum of money, whereby he opened them a free paflage into all Wales; this being reckoned one of its chief de- fences and bulwarks. About this time Mad awe fon of Gruffydh May lor lord of Bromfield built the ab- bey of Lanegweft, commonly known by the Engliih by the name of Vale Crucii. In the year 1201, the valiant Lhewelyn ap Ior- werth, prince of North Wales banilhed out of his territories his coufin Meredith the fon of Conan ap Owen Gwynedh, whom he fufpeded of treafonable practices, and therefore confifcated his lands which were the Cantref of Lhyn and Efyonyth. Much about the fame time Meredith the fon of Prince Rhys was flain at Carnwilhion by treafon, where- upon his elder brother Gruffydh poflefled himfelf of his caftle in Lhanymdhyfri and all his lands. This Gruffydh was a valiant and difcreet prince, and one that was like to bring all South Wales to 222 TH E H I S T O R Y o F W A L E S. to good order and obedience ; for in all things he trod in his father's fteps, and made it his bufineis to fucceed him as well in his valour and virtuous en- dowments, as in his government. But the vaft hopes . conceived of him foon proved abortive; for in the enfuing year, on St. James's day, he died, 19 the great grief and lofs of his .Country, and fhprtjy after was buried at Yftratflur with great pomp and" folemnity. He left behind him for a iucceiTor a fon called Rhys, which Maud the daughter of William.de Bruce had bore him. The following year fome of the Welch nobility marched with an army towards the caftle of Gwerthrynion, which belonged to Roger Mortimer, and after .a fhort fiegej : -tfyey took it and levelled it with the ground. This year Lhewelyn ap lorwerth calling to mind his eflate and title, and how ail the Welch princes were obliged both by the laws of Roderrc the Great, ancj thofe of Howel Dha to acknowledge the king or prince of North Wales for their foyereign lord, and to do homage to him for their dominions : yet notwith- flanding that they knew this to be their duty, and that they formerly had readily performed it ; yet ber caufe of late years his predeceflors, had neglected to call them to their duty, they now began to imagine themfely.es exempted from it ; and fome thought them- felves accountable to no fuperior prince ; others de- nied fubjection to Prince Lhewelyn, and held their dominions of the king of England. T.p put a flop therefore to the further growth of this contempt, and to aflert his own right, Prince Lhewelyn fummons all the Welch lords, vyho for the moft part appeared and fwore allegiance to him. But Gyvenwynwyn lord of Powys, neither came to this meeting, nor would own the prince's fupremacy ; v/hich /lubborneis and difobedience the prince acquainted his lords with, whereupon they delivered jheir opinion, that it was but realbnable, that Gwenwynwyn fhould be com- pelled to his duty, or elfe forfeit his eflate : this all the lords consented to, but Elis ap Madawc, who was an intimate friend of Gwenwynwyn, and therefore 4 would THE HISTORY OF WALES. Would not confent to,. xfye- enabling any thing that might be prejudicial to him, but broke off from the meeting much difiatisfied with their proceedings. Notwithftanding which, Prince Lhewelyn, purfuant to the advice of the reft of his lords, raijes an army, and marches towards Powys; but before he made any ufe.o'f it, he was by the mediation of fome learned and able men reconciled to Gwenwynwyn," and fo Gwenwynwyn ' became his dutiful fubjecT: ; which he confirmed both by oath a,n.d writing : and indeed it was not without good reafon, that Prince Lhewelyn ufed all the caution imaginable to bind this man ; for he had fworrf allegiance before to the king of Eng- land. ' Lhewelyn having thus fubjected Gwenwynwyn., he thought It now convenient to {hew likewlfe fome marks of his refentmejnts againft hi$ adherent Elis ap Madawc, and therefore he ftript him of all his lands y'wnereupon Elis fled the country, but not long sifter, yielding himfelf to ^tfte prince's merc ( y ? he re- ceived of him the caftle-of/Crogen, and fey eh tow.n- fhips befides. And now having mentioned Crogen, it will not be improper to ftep a little out of the way, and here 'take notice of the reafon why the Englifh formerly) \yhe,n they hacl a mind to reproach the Welch, called them Crogens. The firft occafion of it was this, King Henry the Second in his expedition againft the Welch 'to the mountains of Berwin, lay a while at Ofweftre, during' which time'lie detached a number of his men to try the paflages into Wales, who as they would have pafled Offa's ditch at the caftle of Crogen, at which place there was a narrow way through the fame ditch, which appears now very deep through all that country, and bears its old name ; thefe men, I fay, as they would have patted this ftreight, were met by a party of Welch, and a great many of them flain and buried in that ditch, as appears by their graves there to be feen ; and the name of the ftreight imports as much, being called in Welch Adwfr bedhaw. The Englilh therefore bearing in mind this Daughter, whenever they got any of the Welch into their clutches, upbraided them with the name of Crogen, intimating thereby 224 THE HISTORY OF WALES. thereby that they mould expe<5b no more favour or mercy at their hands, than they mewed them in the ikirmifh. But this word, which at firft was rather a badge of reputation than difgrace to the Welch, came afterwards to be ufed hi a bad fenie, and only then applied when they defigned to reproach and abufe them. But to return to Prince Lhewelyn, whom we find returning home after he had luccefsfully afferted his fovereignty over all Wales, and let all things in good order : And by the way he fortifies the caftle of Bala in Penlhyn. About this time Rhys the fon of Gruffydh ap Rhys the right prince of South-Wales took the caftle of Lhanymdhyfry upon Michaelmas- day. This year' Lhewelyn Prince of Wales took to wife Joan trie daughter of king John, which Agatha daughter of Robert Ferrers Earl of Derby bore him, with whom he gave the Prince for a dowry the lord- ihip of Elfmere in the marches of Wales. A.p.i2t>3. Prince Rhys whom we mentioned the year before to have taken the caftle of Lhanymdhyfri, wins like- wife the caftle of Llangadoc, and puts a garriibn therein ; but he enjoyed neither of them long ; for mortly after, his uncle Maelgon, with his friend Gwenwynwyn, levied a powerful army, and with it befieged and took the caftle of Lhanymdhyfri -, thence they removed to Llangadoc, and wan the caftle like- wife, upon this condition, that the garrifon be per- mitted to march out quietly. When they had taken thefe two caftles, they went to Dinerth, where Mael- gon finimed the caftle he had formerly begun there. This year likewife Prince Lhewelyn fet at liberty his uncle David ap Owen Gwynedh, who made but a forry return to his kindnefs ; for inftead of living peaceably at home, and enjoying that liberty that was granted him, he flees to England, and there gets an army, wherewith he attempts to reftore himfelf to his ancient eftate of North- Wales ; but he miffed his mark ; for his prudent nephew immediately met him on his march, and gave him a (hameful overthrow, wherewith David was fo mightily disheartened, that he THE HISTORY OF WALES. 225 he-prefently returned for England, and fhortly after died for meer forrow. The next year Howel, a blind A . D.I 204. fon of Prince Rhys was (lain at Camaes by his bro- ther Maelgon's men, and buried juft by his brother Gruffydh at Yftratflur. But notwithftanding that, Maelgon in thofe days ufurped all the rule and go- vernment of South Wales ; yet his brother Gruffydh's fons, Rhys and his brethren, won from him the chief defence of all that country, to wit, the caftles of Dynefowr and Lhanymdhyfri. About this time Wil- liam Marmal Earl of Pembrock, befieged the caftle t)f Cilgerran, and took it ; and not long after, Mael* SI gon hired an Irifhman to kill Gadifor ap Griffri -, after which horrid fadr., Maelgon feized upon his four ions, and put them to death ; thefe were forward promifmg young gentlemen, and defcended from a noble ftock -, for their mother Sufanna was a daughter of the faid Howel ap Rhys, by a daughter of Madawc ap Mere- dith Prince of Powis. In the 'year 1206, Maelgon "$i built a caftle at Abereneon. At which time there Was fuch abundance of Mi feen at Aberyftwyth, that the like number was never known to have come there in the memory of man before. This year the king of England banifhed the realm 1207; William de Bruce and his wife, on the account of a grudge that he bore his fon, and then feized upon all his lands -, whereupon, William with his wife and fon fled to Ireland, and there continued for fome time. And this hardfhip he now underwent was the lefs pitied, becaufed he exercifed the great power he had in the marches of Wales with extreme cruelty and injuftice. The fame year Gwenwynwyn came to Shrewfbury to fpeak with the king's council, where he was detained prifoner : Whereupon Prince Lhewelyn conquered all his country, took all his towns and ca- ftles, and garrifoned them for his own ufe. This ex- pedition of Prince Lhewelyn mightily alarmed the iifurping Maelgon, and the more, becaufe he had in- telligence that Lhewelyn was on his march towards South Wales ; therefore he now puts himfelf in the beft pofture he could to receive him ; but finding him- 22 6 THE HISTORY OF WALES. felf not able to abide the Prince's coming, and ;to withstand his forces, he demolifheth his caftles of A- 'beryftwyth, Yftratmeyric, and Dinerth, which before he had fortified. Notwithftanding which, the Prince comes to Aberyftwy th, and rebuildeth the caftle and puts a garrifon therein ; after this he feized upon the Cantref of Penwedic and the land betwixt Dyfi and Aeron which he gave to Maelgon's nephews the Ions of Gruffydh ap Rhys, and then returned home with great joy and triumph. Not long'after Rhys Fychan, ion to Prince Rhys, befieged the caftle Lhangadoc, and took it, contrary to the promife and league he had made with his nephews, forgetting likewiie how freely and readily they had adminiftered to him in his necefuty ; therefore to be revenged of this ingratitude and breach of promiie, Rhys and Owen no fooner heard of it, but they furioufiy attacked the caille, and took it by aflault,- and put to the fword, or took pri- ibners all the garrifon, and then burnt the caftle to the ground. A..D. iic?. This year King John levied a powerful army with which he made a voyage to Ireland , but as he was on the borders of Wales on his journey thitherwards, there was a criminal brought before him who had murdered a prieft. The officer deiired to know the king's pleafure, how he would have the delinquent pumfhed ; but the king, inftead of ordering any pu- nifhment to be inm'cled upon him fuitable to the hei- noufnefs of his crime difcharged him with a Weil done thou good fervant, thou haft (lain mine enemy ; for fueh he reckoned the clergy of thofe days, who were very ill-affected to his ufurped, arbitrary govern- ment, and therefore he (lightly regarded any injuries that were done them, nay, thought thofe did him good fervice who did them wrong, He had not been long in Ireland, but he got into his clutches the unfortunate William de Bruce the younger, and his mother Mawd de Saint Valerike, whom we have mentioned before to have quitted England for fear of him, and to have fled here for fhelter. Upon his return to England he brought theie in triumph along with him, and com- mitted THE HISTORY OF WALES. 227 mitted them to Windfor caille, where, by his orders, not long after they were inhumanly famimed. The reafon of King John's difpleafure againft William de Bruce Lord of Brecknock, Matthew Paris delivers, to pa ^ e j3 be this -, When the Pope had excommunicated the realm of England, the king, to prevent any inconveniencies that might enfue thereupon, took pledges of fuch of his nobles as he thought were difaffected to him, and would be like, if occafion offered, to countenance and promote a rebellion. Amongft others, he fends meffengers to William de Bruce to demand his fons for pledges, to whom Mawd, de Bruce's wife, being the readier fpeaker, anfwered, (though what me (aid \vas no lefs her hufband's fentiment than her' own) That the king, who had proved fo bafe a guardian to -his nephew Prince Arthur, whom inftead of fetting in, he deprived of his right, fliould have none of her chil- dren. This anf\ver the meffengers delivered to the king, whereat he was fo highly dilpleafed, that he ordered 'Ibme foldiers mould be fent to feize this lord -, but he having timely intelligence of this order, fled into Ire- iand with his wife and children, where now his wife Mawd, with her fon, were unfortunately taken by -King John, but he himfelf elcaped, and fled into France, where not long after he died. This year the Earl of Chefter rebuilt the cattle of Dyganwy, fituate on the fea-fhore, eaft of the river Conway, which Prince Lhewelyn had before demolifh- d. He likewife fortifies the caftle of TrefFynon or St. WenefVicl. Upon this Lhewelyn enters into the Earl's land, which when he had ravaged fufficiently, he returns home with confiderable booty. About this time, Rhys Fychan fon to Prince Rhys, fearing left Prince Lhewelyn mould fall upon him for the wrong he had done to his nephews, whom he, Prince Lhe- welyn, ftiffly defended in their right ; made his appli- cation to the king of England, who readily granted him what fuccours he defired ; and with thefe he be- fieged the caftle of Lhanymdhyfri ; the garrifon for fome time made a vigorous defence, but having Q2 tO 228 THE HISTQRY OF WALES. no hopes of any relief, they thought it their wifdl courfe to capitulate, and fo they defired they might march out with their arms, bag and baggage, and all that belonged to them, which was granted them. About this time likewife Gwemvymvyn was fet at li- berty, whom the king had hitherto detained prifoner, and withal lends him fome forces to attempt the re- covery of his country which Prince Lhewelyn had feized upon during his imprifonment , and though by his own flrength he was not able to cope with the Prince, yet by this affiftance granted him by the king, he foon re-pofieffed himfeif of his dominions. This fuccefs of Gwenwynwyn encouraged Maelgon likewife to endeavour the recovery of that part of his country which the Prince had taken from him in the fame expedition. Now he makes his application to the king of England, and fwears allegiance to him. Hereupon the king grants him a confiderable army as well Englifh as Normans ; to thefe he joins what forces he could raife in Wales, and then contrary to the oath and agreement he had made with his ne- phews Rhys and Owen, he in an hoilile manner enters their country ; when he was come to Cantred Penwe- dic, he encamped at Cilcenny where he (laid fome time to take meafures for the better accompliihment of his defigns ; by this time his nephews had got together about 300 chofen well dilciplined men, but with fo fmall a number durfl not oppofe their uncle's numerous army in open field ; therefore they were to endeavour to overthrow thofe by a ftratagem which they could not do by main force. Herein they proved very fuccefsful, for coming as near their enemies as they could without being difcovered, they fent out their fpies that night for intelligence, who brought back the good news, that all was quiet in Maelgon's camp, and that they kept no ftrict watch, being not aware of an approaching enemy. This intelligence mightily encouraged the brothers to profecute their defigns, and now they march as filently as they can towards their enemies camp, where they met with no oppofition, being not difcovered becaufe all were fait afleep. T H E H I S T O R Y o F W A L E S. 229 afleep. When they were advanced as they thought as far as Maelgon's tent, they furioufly fell on, and flew a great number of his men before they awaked ; the reft being frightened with the noife and fhouts of their enemies, and withal thinking their numbers to be far greater than it was, were glad to make ufe of the darknefs of the night to quit the field, only Mael- gon's guard valiantly kept their poft, and defended their lord till he had time and opportunity to efcape. But Maelgon's army fuffered very much in this action, his nephew Conan ap Howel with his chief counfdlor Gruffydh ap Cadwgan were both taken prifoners, and Eineon ap Caradoc with a great number more were (lain upon the fpot. About the fame time Gilbert Earl of Glocefter fortified the caftle of Buelht, where a little before he had loft a confiderable number of his men, by reafon that the place was not very ftrong and tenable. And towards the conclufion of this year, Mallt or Ma\vd de Bruce, the wife of Gruffydh ap Rhys departed this life, and was interred by her huf- band in a monk's coul in Yftratflur. But the following year a great florm threatened North Wales, by reafon that the Marchers made fre- quent and grievous complaints to King John how that Prince Lhewelyn perpetually molefted their coun- try, flew their men, and committed all the wafte and deftruction poflible as he pafied along. The king hearing of fuch intolerable depredations continually exerciled by the North Wales men, thought it high time to redreis his fubjects, and therefore he raifed a mighty army throughout all England, and called tq him all the lords and princes of Wales as held their lands and patents from him, as Howel ap Gruffydh ap Conan ap Owen Gwynedh, whom Prince Lhe- welyn had banilhed out of North Wales : Madoc ap Gruffydh Maylor lord of Bromfield, Chirke and Yale, Meredith ap Rotpert Lord of Cydewen, Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis, Maelgon and Rhys the Ions of Prince Rhys and governors of South Wales. With this for,- midable army he came to Chefter, intendin 230 THE HISTORY OF WALES. into North Wales by that way, and being fully rc- folved to execute the fevereft vengeance upon the inhabitants, and not to lee one living foul remain alive throughout the whole country. But matters of this nature are eafier refolved upon, than ac- complifhed , Prince Lhewelyn was no fooner in- formed of thefe mighty preparations againfl him, comprehending the whole itrength of the Englifh nation, and what was worft of all, being aflifted by his own countrymen, but he iflued forth his or- ders, commanding all his fubjects of the inland counties of Denbigh and Flint, together with them of the ifland of Anglefey, to remove for a time all their cattle and other effects to Sno\vden-hills, where they were fure to remain fecureft from their ene- mies. But King John marched his army along the fea-coaft to Ruthlan, and there paffing the river Clwyd, he came to the caftle of Tegamvy, where he encamped for fome time to refrefh and recreate his army, which by reafon of the long marches they made, was in a great meafure weary and fatigued. But what the" more augmented their mifery, Lhe- welyn getting behind them, cut off all their hopes of provifion from England, and the Welch by the ad- vantage of being acquainted v:irh the flraits and nar- row paffages, cut off all that draggled from the En- glim camp, fo that in time, they were gkd to take up with horie-fleih, and any thing were it never fo mean, which might fill up their greedy and empty ftomachs. At laft King John finding no other remedy, and per- ceiving it impoffible to continue longer there fo hun- gry and faintly, thought it his wifelt way to march for England, and leave the Welch to themfelves, and fo he decamped in a great fury, leaving Lhewelyn to bury that great number of dead, which had' ftarved in this fuccefslefs expedition. But to recover the ho- nour he had now loll, he was refolved to try another touch with the Welch, but poffibly not with the fame confidence and affurance of victory. And therefore returning to Wales in the next Auguft, he entered with fuch another terrible army of Englifh, and was al- fifted THE HISTORY OF WALES. 231' fitted by the fame Welch lords, at Blanch monaftery, now Oiweftry, being in rhe lordfhip of John the ion of William Fitzalan. In this expedition, King John pafiing the river Conwey, and encamping at the other fide towards Snowden hills, fent part of his army conducted by guides wRo were acquainted with the country, to burn Bangor, which they effectually did; and taking Rotpcrt bifhop of that fee out of church, they carried him pri loner to the Englilh camp, where he continued for fome time, till he obtained his ran- forn for a prefent of two hundred hawks. But Prince Lhewelyn finding the whole ftrength of England and almoft Wales to. fight againft him, and judging it impoffible for himielt alone, to withftand fo great a mul- titude, thought it his bed \\ay to endeavour to find out fome method or other, to reconcile himfelf to the king. And no better meafures could poffibly be thought of, than to fend Joan his wife, King John's daughter, to intreat with her father about a peace, and a ceflation of all hoftilities ; who being a prudent, fly woman, fo prevailed upon the king, that he granted Prince Lhewelyn her huiband, a fife conduct to come' to him, and to renew the former peace and amity that was betwixt them. And fo Lhewelyn having done homage, promiled the king towards his expences in this expadition, 20,000 head of cattle and 40 horfes, and what was more than all, he granted all the inland countries of Wales, with the appurtenances, to him and his heirs for ever. And then King John having received better fuccefs in this, than the former expe- dition, returned to England in great triumph, having fubdned all Wales, excepting that part which Rhys and Owen the fons of Gruffydh ap Rhys, ftill kept and maintained againft the Engliih. But having no. leifure to march againft them himfclf at his depar- ture out of the country, he gave ftrid charge to Foulke Vifcount of Caerdyff, warden of the marches, a cruel tyrant, though well beloved and favoured by the king, to take an army with him, and fo joining with Maelgon and Rhys Fyclnn, to compel the fons 0.4 of *3* THE HISTORY OF WALES. of GrufFydh ap Rhys to acknowledge him for their fovereign, and to do him homage. Foulke having received fo pofitive a command, prefently raifed his forces, and calling Maelgon and Rhys, came to the Cantref of Penwedic ; which when the young lords Rhys and Owen heard of, and being allured that this blow was levelled againft them, which they knew they were not able to bear, before the ftroke was ftruck, they fent to Foulke to fue for peace, and a fate condu6t for them to pafs to the court of England. . This be- ing granted, they came to London, and making their fubmifiion to the king, and requeuing bis pardon for all former mifdemeanors, they gave up all pretence to their lands betwixt Aeron and Dyfi ; and Ip paying their homage, they were difmiiled very gracioufly. But Foulke before his departure out of the country, fortified the caftle of Aberyftwytb, and placing a ftrong gar'rifon therein, kept it for the king's ufe. But Maelgon and Rhys Fychan, a couple of head- ftrong, inconftant people, quickly repented them of the peace they had made with the u king of England, and thereupon, without the leaft reafon or provoca- tion, they laid fiege to Aberyftwyth caftle, and with much ado having made themlelves mafters of it, they deftroyed thofe fortifications, which Foulke had lately erected, and defaced the caftle to the ground. But they paid fauce for this another way, for as foon as Rhys and Owen had heard that their uncles had broken and violated the king's peace, they made in- roads into Ifaeron, which was Matlgon's country,, and having ilain a confiderable number of his men, among whom was one brave and lufty youth called Bachglas, they leturned with very rich booty. Maelgon and Rhys Fychan were quickly followed by the North Wales men in their revolt from the king of England, for Prince Lhewelyn being not able to endure any longer the tyranny and opprefiion which the king's garrifons exercifed in his country ; calleci together Gwenwynwyn from Powis, Maelgon ap Rhys from South Wales, Madoc ap GrufFydh Maylor from Bromfield, and Meredith ap Rotpert from Cydewen, and i plainly THE HISTORY OF WALES. 233 plainly declared before them the pride and infolency of the Engiifh, and how that they who were always ufed to have a prince of their own nation, .were now by their own wilfulnefs and neglect become fubjec"r. to Grangers. However, it was not too late to recover their ancient liberty, and if they did but unanimoufly agree among themfelves, they might eafily caft off that yoke which was fo intolerably burdenfome to them. Then the lords being fcnfible of the truth and reafonablenefs of what Prince Lhewelyn delivered, and being confcious to themfelves that their prefent flavery and fubjeclion to the Englim, was wholly owing to their own fear and cowardice, fwore fealty to Prince Lhewelyn, and fwore to be true and faithful to him, and to (tick by each other to the utmoft of their lives and fortunes. And fo joining their forces together, they took all the caftles in North Wales which were in the hands of the Englim, excepting Ruthlan and Dyganwy, and then going to Powis, they laid fiege to the caftle which Robert Ufpont had built at Ma- thrafal. But King John being informed how the Welch had confpired againft him, and that they had taken and feized upon almoft all his caftles in North Wales, and how that they were now in actual befiege- ment of Mathrafal, prefcntly drew up his army, and coming to Mathrafal, quickly raifed the fiege, and to prevent the Welch from coming any more againft it, he burnt it to the ground and fo returned to England, having no time to ftay any longer in Wales, by reafon of the differences that happened betwixt him and his nobility. But being afterwards at Not- tingham, and hearing how that Prince Lhewelyn cruelly harraffed and lieftroyed the marches, he caufed all the Welch pledges which he had received the laft. year to be hanged, among whom were Howel the fon of Cadwalhon, and Madoc the fon of Maelgon, with many others of the nobility's ions,' to the number of twenty-eight. And about the fame time Robert Ve- pont caufed Rhys the fon of Maelgon to be hanged at Shrewsbury, being a youth of about feventeen years of TH'-E HISTORY OF WALES; of age, and fo cruelly murdered the innocent child to* revenge the crimes and offences committed by his fa- ther and others. But though King John was fo fevere to the Welch, yet the Princefs of North Wales was more dutiful and favourable to him, for whilft he {laid at Notting- ham, me fent him an exprefs, declaring how that the barons had entered into a confpiracy with the French king againft him, and that the latter was preparing and raifmg an army to come over to England, upon pretence that the king was a rebel, and bid open de- fiance to the Holy Church, in as much as he would not condefcend nor yield to the Bifhop of Rome's re- queft. And in confirmation of all this, me told him that Robert Fitzwalter, Euftace de Vefcy and Ste- phen Reclell, were fecretly fled into France, to pro- mote and carry on this intrigue. And that this defign againft King John was no feigned furmife, the next. i2i2.year Pope Innocent the Third detached one of his nuncios to Wales, who abfolved Prince Lhcwelyn, Gwenwynwyn and Maelgon from their oaths of al- legiance to King John, and withal gave them a ft rift command under the penalty of excommunication, to moleft and annoy him with all their endeavours, as an open enemy to the church of God. Prince Lhewelyn, you may be fure, was not in the leaft troubled at this, for now he gained the fitted opportunity imaginable, to reftore fuch lands as he had formerly much againft his mind delivered up to the king, being in the inland country of Denbigh and Flint, which Lhewelyn at this time repoffeflld himfelf of. And well it was he was fo quick, for within a little while after, King John by the perfuafions of Pandulph the Pope's le- gate, granted his Holinefs all his requeft, and fo ob- tained absolution at Pandulph's hands, and upon per- formance of his promifes, an afili ranee of a releafe- ment from that Ecclefiaftical Bull, which had fo for- midably roared againft him. 3- South Wales had now been quiet for a confiderable time, and they that ufed to be commonly very tur- bulent and contentious, were now pretty eafy and amic able. THE HISTORY OF WALES. 235 amicable. But it was impoffible that fuch a peace- able courfe of life, mould hold long, where injuitice and oppreffion had fo much liberty, and where people were wrongfully kept out of their juft and rightful in- heritance. And this was the occafion of the breach of that quietnefs, which for the two or three years la(t pafl: they had fo fatisfaclorily enjoyed. For Rhys the fort of Gruffydh ap Rhys, who was right heir to Prince Rhys, rinding he could have no fhare of his father's eftate, but that his uncles forcibly kept all from him, thought it his befl way to make his cafe known to the king of England, and to defire a remedy and redrefs from him. King John in companion of the young man's hard condition, fent to his deputy Foulke Vif- count of CaerdyrF warden of the marches, and to the Steward of Hereford, commanding them to take away all Yftratywy from Rhys Fychan, by fome called Rhys Gryg, unlefs he would permit his nephews to enjoy Lhanymchyfry caftle, with all the lands and pri- viledges thereunto belonging. Foulke having received fuch orders from his mailer the king of England, fent to acquaint Rhys of the propofals, and fo demand of him whether or no he would deliver up Lhanym- dhyfry to his nephews, according to the king's com- mand j who returned anfwer, that he did not know of any fuch obligation due from him to the king of Eng- land as to part with his lands at his command, and therefore affured him peremptorily and in plain terms, that he would not willingly part with one foot of what he was in prefent pofTHFion of. Foulke therefore hav- ing received this refolute anfwer, was likewife as re- folute to get that by force which he could not obtain by fair means ; and fo having raifed a great army, he marched to Talhwynelgain to meet with young Rhys, who was to come thither with all the forces he could raife in Brecknock , and from thence they marched in three battles towards Dynefawr, the firft being com- manded by young Rhys, the fecond by Foulke and Owen brother to Rhys led the third, Rhys Fychan was not in the leaft difmayed at their number, but thinking 236 THE HISTORY OF WALES. thinking it more advifeable to meet them in the field, rather than fuffer them to block him up at Dynefawr, came out very boldly, and gave them battle, but after a warm engagement on both fides, Rhys Fychan in the end got the worfe, and after a lofs of a great number of his men, he was glad at laft to make his efcapc by flight. And fo retiring to Dynefawr, he doubled the garrifon of that place, but thinking the town of Lhandeilo-fawr not to be tenable, he burnt it to the ground, and then kept himfelf private in the woods and other defart places. But young Rhys and Foulke laid fiege to Dynefawr, and in the firft.affault came on fo fiercely, that they forced the garrifon to retire to the caftle, which for fome time they defended very manfully. But the befiegers began to play fo violently with their battering engines, and to under- mine the wall in fuch a manner, that the governor af- ter a mort defence began to capitulate, giving three pledges 'for fecurity, that if they received no relief by the morrow at noon, the caftle mould be furrendered Up, conditionally that the garrifon fhould march out with all the tokens of honour, and carry their arms and all other implements of war along with them. No relief being arrived, the caftle the next day was accordingly furrendered, and all the articles of the ca- pitula'ion obferved; and fo young Rhys being pof- lefied of Dynefawr, in a little time afterward, brought all Cantreffawr to his fubjection. When Rhys Fy- chan was fenfible how the ftream run violently againfl him, he thought it his wifeft way to remove his wife and children, and all his other erFefls, to his brother Maelgon's country, and fo leaving Lhanymdhyfry taftle well manned and fortified, he departed towards Aberyftwyth. But as foon as Foulke was returned to the marches, young Rhys came with an army confift- ing of Welch and Normans before Lhanymdhyfry, intending to beficge that place, but before they were encamped before the town, the governor thought it liis beft way to furrender, upon condition only, that ithe garrifon fhould depart away with their lives. And Ihortly THE HISJOHY OF WALES. 237 mortly afterwards, Rhys Fychan was taken at Caer- mardhyn, and committed to the king's prifon, and fo all the diiturbances and troubles of South Wales came to a peaceable iflue. But it was not fo in North Wales, for Prince Lhewelyn being defirous to rid his country from the infupportable tyranny and oppreffion of the EngHm garrifons, laid fiege to the caftles of Dyganwy and Ruthlan, the only places now remain- ing in the hands of the Englifh, which he took with- out any great oppofition, and fo freed his country from any title or pretence the king of England might claim in North Wales. King John indeed was engaged another way, and confequently in no good condition to help himfelf, for having repented of all the indig- nities and ftubbornnefs he exprefled againil Pope Inno- cent -, at this time he received penance at the hands of the Archbifhop of Canterbury, to atone for all the fe- verities he had practifed againft the church. And to reftore himfelf the more to his Holinefs's favour he made the kingdom of England tributary to the church of Rome, to be holden of the Pope, in paying him the fum of 1000 marks yearly for ever-, and withal recalled and reftored to their former preferments and places all fuch as had been bammed, or had vo- luntarily fled the kingdom upon the account of their ftric"t adherence and fubmiffion to the Pope of Rome. Nor was this all, for the next year King John with A. D. U two of his nobility, the Earls of Cheftcr and Derby, was refolved upon a voyage to the Holy Land, but was unfortunately prevented of his journey, by the rebellion of his barons, which now broke forth vio- lently by reafon that the king would not grant them fome antient laws and privileges, fuch as their fore- fathers always enjoyed. Therefore the barons en- tered into a confederacy with Prince Lhewelyn of North Wales, defiring him to make what diverfion he could on his part, which they were refolved to do on theirs i and fo having raifed an army, they ap- pointed Robert Fitzwalter their general. Coming to Bedford THE HISTORY OF WALE & Bedford, they were honourably received into the ca- file by William Beaiichamp, and from thence march- ing to London, they were entertained with all the ex- preflions and tokens of joy. King John perceiving how powerful they were like to prove, and how that the country did in a great meafure favour their caufe, thought it his wifeft way to nip them in the bud, and to fall upon them before they grew too ftrong ; and therefore having levied his forces, he marched to- gether with William Marlhal Earl of Pembroke, to- wards the caftle of Rochefter. Being arrived there, he laid clofe fiege to the caftle, but the governor Wil- liam de Abbineto fo bravely defended it, that it could hardly be taken after three months fiege, but at length the king's men bore on fo violently, that they took it by ftorm, where befides William de Abbineto, the king took feveral of the barons prifoners. This was an ill beginning to the defign of the confederates, and what did not add a little to their misfortune, the Pope prefently iiTues out his Bull of Excommunication againft Lhewelyn Prince of Wales, and all the En* glifh barons as made war againft King John, who was under the protection of the Church of Rome. But Prince Lhewelyn did not regard his threatening anathemas, and therefore having raifed an army, he came to Shrewfbury, which was delivered up to him without any refiftance. And whilft Lhewelyn re- mained there, Giles de Bruce bifhop of Hertford, one of the chief of this confpiracy, fent his brother Rey- nold to Brecknock, whom all the people readily owned for their lord ; and fo without the leaft grum- bling or oppofition he received the caftles of Abep- gefenny and Pencelhy, the Caftelh Gwyn, or the White Caftle, together with Grofmont caftle and the ifland of Cynuric. But when the bifhop came thi- ther in perfon, he had the caftles of Aberhondhy, Hay, Buelht, and Blaenihyfny, delivered up to him ; but thinking he had enough himfelf, and being rather defirous to fecure his intereft, and to ftrengthen his party in the country, then to heap more upon his own moulders than he was well able to fupport, he beftowed THE HISTORY o F W A L E S. Tbeftowed Payn caftle, Clune and all Eluel upon Wal- ter Fychan, the fon of Eineon Clyd. In the mean time, young Rhys the Ton of Gruf- fydh ap Rhys, and his uncle Maeigon were reconciled and made friends, and fo coming both to Dyfed, they deftroyed Arberth and Maenclochoc caftles, and re- covered all fuch lands as formerly belonged to them, excepting Cemais. But Rhys's brothers Maeigon and Owen went to North Wales, and did homage and feal- ty to Prince Lhewelyn, whilft their brother Prince Rhys marched forward to Cydvvely, and having rafed the caftles of Carnwylheon and Lhychwr, brought all the country about under his fubjedion. But this \vas not enough to fatisfy the ambitious humour of that young prince, for having once tailed the plea- fure of victory, and the taking and demolifhing of towns, he was refolved to profecute his conqueft \vhilft Fortune fcemed to favo.ur his undertakings ; and therefore he led his army againft Talybonc caftle, which belonged to Hugh de Miles, and forc- ing his entrance into the fame, he put a great num- ber of the garrifon to the fword. The next day he marched to Sengennyth caftle, but the garrifon which kept it, thinking it fruitlefs and to no purpofe to op- pofe him, burnt the place and departed to Yftymlh- wynarth. But he followed them at the heels, and the next day took it, and raied it ^to the ground, and over-ran the country in fuch a violent manner, that in three days time, he became mafter of all the caftles and fortrefies in all Gowerland and Morgan- nvvc, and fo returned home with great victory and triumph. At the fame time Rhys Fychan, otherwife Rhys Gryg, young Prince Rhys's uncle obtained his liberty from the king of England, leaving his fon with two more for pledges for his modeft and peace- able behaviour towards his fubjecls, whom at other times he was wont to moleft and opprefs. About this time the abbots of Tal y Llecheu and Tuy Gwyn, were confecrated bilhops, the former of St. David's, and the other of Bangor. But the bifhop of Hereford who feemed to be the moft violently inclined againft 240 THE HISTORY OF WALES. againft King John, and was otherwife unwilling t<$ part with what he had got in Wales, could not for all that refufe the injunction of the Pope, by whofe exprefs command he was conftrained to make peace with the king, which being concluded, in his return homeward, he died at Glocefter, leaving his eflate to his brother Reginald, who had married the daughter of Prince Lhewelyn. But for all that, Giles de Bruce bifhop of Hereford was fallen off, and reconciled to King John, yet Prince Lhewelyn did not think it convenient to follow his ex- ample, and therefore with his whole army he marched againft Carmardhyn, and took the caftle in five days, having rafed it to the ground, he fucceffively laid fiege to the caftles of Lhanftephan, St. Cleare, and Talach- arn, which he ufed after the fame manner. From thence he went to Cardigan, and winning Emlyn caftle, he fub- dued Cemaes, and then laying fiege to Trefdaeth caftle, in Engliih called Newport, he quickly took it, and af- terwards rafed it to the ground. His next defign was upon Aberteifi and Cilgerran caftles, but the garrifons which defended them, finding it to no purpofe to wait his coming, and fo to withftand all his attempts againft thofe places voluntarily furrendered, and by that means prevented all the mifchief, which in oppofing him, would in all probability unavoidably attend them. And fo Prince Lhewelyn having fuccefsfully over-run and fubdued all Carmardhyn and Cardigan, triumphantly returned to North Wales, being attended by feveral of the Welch nobility, fuch as Howel ap Gruffydh ap Co- nah, Lhewelyn ap Meredith, Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis, Meredith ap Rotpert, Maelgon and Rhys Fy- chan the fons of Prince Rhys of South Wales, Rhys and Owen the fons of Gruffydh ap Rhys, together with all the power of Madoc ap Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Brom field. A. P. me. But the next year Prince Lhewelyn returned to A- berteifi to compofe a difference, which fmce his de- parture, had happened betwixt Maelgon and Rhys Fychan, Prince Rhys's fons on the one fide, and Rhys and Owen, Gruffydh ap Rhys's forts on the other. There- THE HISTORY OF WALES. 241 Therefore to make up this quarrel, and to reduce all matters to a quiet and amicable iflue, Prince Lhe- welyn made an equal diftribution of South Wales be- twixt them, alloting to Maelgon, three Cantrefs in Dyfed, viz. Gwarthaf, Penlhwynoc, Cemaes, and Em- lyn with Cilgerran caftle; to young Rhys, two ca- ftles in Yftratywy, Hiruryn and Maelhaen, Maenor Bydfey, with the caftle of Lhanymdhyfry, and two in Cardigan Gwynionyth and Mali wy neon. His brother Owen had to his iliare the caftles of Aberteifi and Nant yr Arian, with three Cantrefs in Cardigan ; and Rhys Fychan> otherwife called Rhys Gryc, had Dy- nefawr caftle, the Cantref Mawr, the Cantref Bychan, excepting Hiruryn and Midhfey, together with the Comotes of Cydwely and Carnwylhion. This divi- fion being accomplifhed to every one's fatisfaftion, and all the lords of South Wales being amicably recon- ciled, Prince Lhewelyn took his journey for North Wales ; but he had not advanced very far, when news was brought him that Gwenwynwyn lord of Powis was revolted, and was become again the king of England's fubje6b. This unwelcome news ftruck very deep in the prince's mind, by reafon that Gwenwynwyn was a man of great power and ftrength in the country, and went a great way to repel the incurfions of the Englilh Upon the marches, which now he being gone off, could nor, he feared, be fo well effected. But however, to make the beft of a bad market, he endeavoured to take him off from the Englifh, and to reftore him to his former allegiance due to himfelf as his natural prince ; and to that end, he fent to him fome bilhops and abb,ots to put him in mindjof his oath and promife, how that he with the reft of the lords of Wales, had obliged himfelf to oppofe the Engliih to the utmoft of his power, and had delivered pledges for the fure performance of what he had then by oath engaged in ; and left he mould have forgot what he had then promifed, he was defired to read his own hand writ- ing, whereby it was apparent that he had very un- juftly violated both his oath and promife. But all the rhejorick the bifhops could make ufe of, was not R of 242 TH E H I S T O R Y o F W A L E S. of force enough to work Gwenwynwyn to a reconci- liation with the Prince, and an averfion to the king of England; and therefore feeing nothing would do, Prince Lhewelyn was refcived to make him incapable of ferving the Englifh, and fo entering Powis with a iftrong army, he fubdued the whole country to him- felf, Gwenwynwyn being forced to fly for fuccour to the Earl of Chefter. Whilft th'efe things patted in Wales, Lewis the Dauphin of France being invited by the Englifh ba- rons againft King John, landed in the ifland of Tha- net, and inarching forward to London, he there re- ceived homage of all the barons, that were in aclual war againft the king. And then fetting forward to Wine heller, where King John then lay, he took in his way the caftles of Rygat, Guildford and Farn- ham, and coming to Winchefter, had the town pre- fently furrendered to him. King John did not think fit to abide his coming, but removing to Hereford, in the marches of Wales, he fent to Prince Lhewelyn and Reynald Bruce, defiring their friendfhip, and im- ploring their aid and afliftance againft the French. But they refuting to hearken to his propofals, he deftroyed Radnor and Hay caftles, and marching forward to Ofweftry, which belonged to John Fitzalan, he burnt * it to the ground, and then departed towards the North. But after that he had fettled his affairs there, and appointed governors in all the towns and places of ftrength ; whilft he was making all neceffary pre- parations at Newark to confront the barons, he fell Tick, and in a Ihort time died, and was buried at Wor- cefter. After his death his fon Henry was by feveral of the Englifh nobility proclaimed king, and in a little while, moft of the barons, who upon their hatred to King John, had maintained an open war againft him, came in, and owned their allegiance to his ion Henry, though contrary to their oath to Lewis the Dauphin. A-r.iai7-But what was moft pernicious to the Welch, Reynald de Bruce who had all this while maintained a confe- deracy with Prince Lhewelyn his father-in-law, againft King THE HISTORY OF WALES. 243 King John, underhand made his peace with King Henry. But he fuffered feverely for his treachery for young Rhys, and Owen his nephew by his lifter, feeing that he in whom they put their greateft con- fidence, had deceitfully forfaken them, came upon him with all their power, and took from him all Buelht, excepting only the caftle. Prince Lhewelyn was prefently made acquainted with Bruce's revolt, but as foon as he was informed that his fon-in-law was gone over to the king of England, he went in great fury to Brecknoc, and laying fiege to the town of A- berhondhy, he was with much ado prevailed upon by young Rhys to raife the fiege for the fum of a hundred marks , and then crofling the mountainous part of Glamorgan, called the Black Mountains, where his carriages fuffered very much, he came to Gwyr, and encamping at Lhangruc, Reynald Bruce with fix knights in his company, came to meet him, defiring his pardon for his paft offence, afTuring him that for the future, he would be true and faithful to him, and would do his endeavour to afiift him againfl the King of England. Prince Lhewelyn was too good natured to reject his fubmifllon, and fo did not only receive him to his favour, but beftowed upon him al- ib the caftle of Senghermyth, which Reynald commit- ted to the cuftody of Rhys Fychan. Prince Lhewelyn having fettled all things in good order in Gwyr, marched to Dyfed and being at Cefrt Cynwarchon, the Flemings fent their agents to him to defire peace, which the Prince, by reafon that they always adhered to the Englim intereft, would not grant them. And fo young Rhys, being the firft man, pafled the river Cledeu to ftorm the town, lor- werth bilhop of St. David's, with the reft of his clergy came to the prince to intreat for a peace for the Flemings, which after a long debate, was grant- ed, and concluded upon thefe terms; firft, That all the inhabitants of Rhos, and the country of Pem- broke mould from thence forward fwear allegiance to Prince Lhewelyn, and ever after acknowledge his fovereienty , fecondly, That towards the defraying of R 2 his THE HISTORY OF WALES' charges in this expedition, they fhould pay one thou- fand marks to ,be delivered to him before the enfuing feaft of St. Michael ; thirdly, That for the fure per- formance of thefe articles they fhould deliver up twenty hoftages, who were to be fome of the molt principal perfons in their country. Then Prince Lhe- welyn having now brought all Wales fubject to him- felf, and put matters in a fettled pofture in South Wales, returned to North Wales, having purchafed very confiderable honour and efteem for his martial atchievements in this expedition. And now all matters of differences being adjufted, and the Welch in good hopes of a durable freedom from all troubles and hoftilities ; another accident un- happily fell out to crofs their expectation. Lewis the Dauphin perceiving the Englifh barons to flight and forfake him, concluded a peace with King Henry, and returned to France; and then the barons, the king promifing to anfwer all their requefts, and to redrefs their grievances, made their fubmifTion, without in- cluding the Welch in their articles. They had all this while gladly embraced the friendfhip and aid of the Prince of Wales j but now upon their reconciliation to the king, thinking they had no farther need of him, they very bafely forfook him, who had been the prin- cipal fupport and fuccour of their caufe. And not only fo, but they confpired together to convert their arms againft Wales, thinking they could without any breach of equity or confcience, take away the lands of the Welch, to make addition to what fome of them had already unjuftly pofTefTed themfelves of. William Marfhal Earl of Pembroke opened the fcene, and coming unexpectedly upon the Welch, took the town of Caerlheon. But he got nothing by this, for Rhys Fychan perceiving what he would fain be at, rafed Senghennyth caftle, and all the reft in his cuftody in that country, and banifhing the Englifh with their wives and children, divided the country betwixt the .'Wdch, who kept fure pofiefrion of ir. Prince Lhe- \vd>'n alfo .finding thofe to become his foes, who had but THE HISTORY OF WALES. 245 but lately courted his friendfhip, and fearing left that the Englim being now in arms fhould make any at- tempt upon his caftles, augmented the garrifons of Carmardhyn and Aberteifi, to make them capable of withftanding the Englim, in cafe they mould come againft them. But though the Welch and Englim were at open variance and in actual hoftility one a- gainft another, yet young Rhys with Prince Lhewe- lyn's approbation and confent, thought it advifeable to go and do homage to the king of England, for his lands in Wales. This might be thought a mat- ter of fupererogation, to make courtmip to one who was declared enemy to all the Welch, and one that would not in all probability, fuffer him to enjoy a quiet pofiefiion of his eftate, in cafe he had ability and opportunity to eject him. But the Welch inte-A.D.i 2 f^. reft was in a great meafure augmented by a new al- liance with fome of the moft powerful among, the Englifh ; Rhys Gryc, Prince Rhys's fon, being mar- ried to the Earl of Clare's daughter; and Marret, Prince Lhewelyn's daughter, to John Bruce, The Prince of Wales had quickly an occafion to i 220 > experience his power, for the Flemings in Dyfed, who had lately fworn allegiance to him, began now to re- pent of what they had but a little time ago gladly fubmitted to, and contrary to their oaths, and the league they had fworn to obferve, they fell upon A- berteifi ^caftle, which they took. Prince Lhewelyn being highly difpleafed with the treacherous prac- tices of thefe perjured Flemings, marched with all fpeed to Aberteifi, and having recovered the caftle, which he afterwards rafed, he put all the garrifon to the fvvord. Gwys was ferved in the fame manner, and the town of Haverford was burnt to the ground, and overrunning Rhos and Daugledhau, he committed a lamentable deftruction throughout the whole coun- try. This the Flemings received as the due reward of their finiftrous dealing, which made them quickly apprehenfive of their folly, and their imprudent be- haviour towards the Prince of Wales j and therefore R 3 246 THE HISTORY OF WALES. being forrowfully fenfible how unable they were to put a ftop to his farther progrefs by force of arms, they made overtures for cefTation of all hoftilities till the May following, which being granted them upon ftrict conditions, Prince Lhewelyn returned to North Wales. In the mean time fome Welch lords befieged Buelht caftle, which was in the pofleffion of Rey- nald Bruce, but before they could take it, King Hen- ry brought an army to the marches and railed the fiege, and then marching forward to Montgomery, built a new caftle in that town. .D.I22I. The next year an unhappy diflention fell out be- twixt Prince Lhewelyn and his fon Gruffydh this lat- ter having kept himfelf in poffefTion of the Cantref of Merionyth, contrary to the confent and well-liking of his father. The Prince therefore having now no great matter of moment abroad, was refolved to curb the infolency of his fon, and therefore fent to him to command his appearance, and to wifh him to deliver up the Cantref quietly, left he mould be forced to take it violently out of his hands. Gruf- fydh was not in the leaft difmayed at his threaten- ings, but being refolved to keep what at prefent lie enjoyed, would neither go to his father, nor deliver tip the Cantref to him. The Prince being enraged that he (hould be fo flighted by his fon, made a vehe- ment proteftation, that he would be feverely revenged both of him and all his accomplices ; and therefore coming to Merionyth with a great army, was refolved to drive his fon out of the country. But Gruffydh. in' ad e all poflible preparations to oppofe his father, and drew up his forces to give him battle, but when both armies were ready to join, the differences be- twixt them was happily compofed, and Gruffydh pre- vailed upon to make his fubmiffion to his father. But the : Prince, though he forgave his fon his offence, and received him to favour, would not however, per- mit him v to enjoy Merionyth and Ardydwy ; but taking them away from him, and building a caftle in the latter, returned home. But he had not conti- jjued long at his palace at Aberffraw, when another occafion THE HISTORY OF WALES. 247 occafion called him abroad; for young Rhys being difappointed of Aberteifi, which in the divifion of South Wales was allotted to his fhare, forfook the .prince, and put himfelf under the protection of Wil- liam Marfhal Earl of Pembroke. Prince Lhewelyn hearing this, marched in great hafte to Aberyftwyth, and being defirous to punim Rhys for his defertion from his allegiance due to him, feized to his own ufe that caftle, together with all the domain and lands be- longing to it. When Rhys underftood what the prince had done, he prefently made his complaint to the king of England, who coming to Shrewfbury, and fending for Prince Lhewelyn, adjufted matters fo betwixt them, that the Prince promifed to treat with Rhys for Aberteifi, after the fame manner as he had done with Maelgon for Caermardhyn. And towards the clofe of the year, John Bruce, Prince Lhewelyn's fon- in-law, obtained leave to fortify Senghennyth caftle, which in right to the prince's grant to Reynald Bruce, belonged to him. But young Rhys did not long fur- vive the agreement betwixt him and Prince Lhewelyn; for he died the following year, and was buried at Yftratflur ; after whofe death, the prince divided his eftate betwixt his brother Owen and his uncle Ma- elgon. William Marflial Earl of Pembroke was now in A.D. 111 Ireland, and very bufy in profecuting the war againft the king of England's enemies in that kingdom ; the opportunity of whofe abfence Prince Lhewelyn taking advantage of, won the caftles of Aberteifi and Caer- mardhyn, belonging to the Earl ; and putting both the garrifons to the fword, placed in their room a ftrong party of his own men. But when the Earl was informed of what the Prince of Wales had done, he prefently left Ireland, and landed at St. David's with , a great army, and having recovered his caftles, he treated the Welch after the fame manner, as Prince Lhewelyn had ufed his garrifons, and patting forward into the prince's country, deftroyed all before him as he went along. The Prince underftanding how vio- lently he came forward, fent his ion Gruffydh with a R 4. confiderable 248 THE HISTORY OF WALES. confiderable body of men to check his fury -, who coming to Cydwely, and receiving intelligence that the magiftrates of that place, had a private de- fign to betray him t,o the enemy, he put the whole town in flames, and burnt it to the ground, without fparing either churches, or other religious houfes. The Earl of Pembroke had pafied the river Tywy at Caermardhyn, where GrufFydh met him, and gave him battle; but the victory proved fo uncertain, that the night was forced to part them ; a.nd ib the Englifh retired over the river. Matthew Paris writes, that the Earl obtained a very fignal victory, and that of the Welch there were nine thoufand (lain and taken ; . though the Welch account, which in this cafe is in all likelihood the beft, makes the whole army of the Welch to confift but of that number. But both armies having lain for certain days in that pofture, and the river Tywy being betwixt them ; Gruffydh, by reafon that provifion began to grow fcarce in his camp, return- ed back , and then the Earl decamped, and marched to Cilgerran, where he began to build 3 very ftrong ca- ftle. But before he could have time to finim it, he received an exprefs from the king, with orders to come to him ; and ib he went by fea to London, leav- ing his army at Cilgerran, to continue the work which he had begun. Shortly after, the king, together with the Archbifhop of Canterbury, came to Ludlow, and fending for Prince Lhevvelyn thither, they had good hopes to adjuft all differences, and to make an ami- ,cable compofition betwixt him and the Earl. But when this could not be effected, both parties flicking clofe to their private intereft , the Earl being afiifled by the Jiarl of Derby and Henry Pyggot Lord of Ewyas, defigned to pafs by land to Pembroke ; but his purpofe being difcovered to the prince, he de- tached his fpn to fecure the paffage of Carnwylhion, and came in perfon to Mahedryd ; which when the Earl underilood, finding it dangerous to profecute his defign any further, he returned to England ; and then the prince marched to North Wales. The next ac- 4 ticn THE HISTORY OF WALES. 249 tion that pafled in Wales, was fomewhat rare, and A. 0.1227. not redounding much to the credit and efteem of the Welch ; for Rhys Fychan, having by fome fmiftrous means or other, taken his father Rhys Gryc, contrary to all filial affection and duty, detained him prifoner, and would not let him at liberty, till he had delivered up Lhanymdhyfri caftle to him. About the fame time, Meredith Archdeacon of Cardigan, Prince Rhys's fon, departed this life, and was honourably interred at St. David's, by his father. But a while after, a great ftorm threatened the 1228. Welch ; King Henry having raifed a great army, was refolved to make a violent prolecution of the Earl of Pembroke's quarrel againft the Prince of Wales, and if pofiible, to make all that country, for ever fubject to the crown of England ; and fo being advanced into the marches, he encamped at Ceri. Prince Lhe- welyn on the other hand, being informed of thefe mighty preparations in England, and underftanding that they were intended againft him, did ufe all the endeavours poffible, to make a vigorous refiftance ; and having drawn together all the forces he was able to levy, thought it his wifeft way to meet the Engliih upon the marches, and not to permit the enemy to enter his country. Both armies being come in fight of each other, frequent fkirmifhes happened betwixt them , but one day, almoft the whole armies engaged, and after a vigorous attack of both fides, the Engliih at laft got the worft, and were forced to retire, having a great number of men (lain and taken prifoners. Among the latter, was William Bruce, Reynald's fo, who offered for his ranfom all Buelhr, toge- ther with a cbnfiderable fum of money, which the prince would not accept of. But King Henry rinding that his army was worfted in this rencounter, thought it beft to make peace with the prince of Wales, which being concluded, Lhewelyn came to the king, and having paid him all other refpecls, befides that of fub- miflion and allegiance, he returned in great honour to North Wales. But this a&ipn is fomewhat other- wife THE HISTORY OF WALES. wife laid down by Matthew Paris, who writes, that this fkirmifh betwixt the Englilh and Welch hap- pened upon another account ; for the garrifon of Montgomery iffuing out of the caftle, to enlarge a certain paffage leading through a wood, where the Welch were wont to rob and kill all paffengers ; be- gan to fell the timber, and cut down all the bufhes which leffened the road, thereby to make the paffage more clear and fecure. The Welch receiving intel- ligence of this, came prefently upon him in great num- bers, and furprifmg the enemies, being bufy at their labour, forced as many as could efcape, to betake themfelves for refuge into the caftle, which afterwards, having firft caft a deep trench about it, they fmartly invefted. Hubert de Burgh, Lord Chief Juftice of England, and owner of the caftle, having notice of this, fent prefently to King Henry, defiring his fpeedy help againft the Welch, who thereupon came in per- fon with part of his army, and raifed the fiege. Then, the reft of his forces being arrived, he marched into the wood, which was five miles in length, and by rea- fon of the thicknefs of the growth, impaflable ; and for an eafy paffage through it, caufed it to be burnt down. After that, he led his army farther into the country, and coming to an abbey called Cridia, which the Welch were wont to take for refuge, he caufed it to be burnt down ; but finding it a very convenient place for a fortrefs, he granted leave to Hubert de Burgh to build a caftle there. But whilft the work was going on, the Welchmen gauled the Englifh, and fkirmifhed with them frequently, fo that many were flain on both fides -, but at laft William de Bruce with many others that went abroad to fetch provifion, was intercepted by the Welch, and taken prifoner, ^nd moft of his company were flain, among whom, one who was knighted a few days before, feeing fome of his fellows in great danger, rufhed boldly into the midft of his enemies, and after a manful defence, bravely loft his life. Several of King Henry's men were corrupted by Prince Lhewelyn, and upon that account took no great pains to repulle the enemy-, which THE HISTORY OF WALES. 251 which when the king perceived, and finding withal that provifion was grown very fcarce in his camp, he was forced to conclude a difhonourable peace with the Welch, confenting to demolifh that caftle, which with Ib great an expence both of men and money was now almoft finifhed, upon his own charges, Prince Lhewelyn paying only three thou- fand pounds towards it. Then both armies fepa- rated, Prince" Lhewelyn marching to North Wales, and the king leaving William Bruce prifoner with the Welch, returned to England, having purchafed no fmall difcredit in this expedition. William Bruce was brought to Wales, and thereA. D. 1*30. had an honourable confinement in the prince's palace; but he had not continued there very long, when he began to be fufpected of being too familiar with the princefs, King Henry's fifter ; and as the report went, was taken in the very at of adultery ; for which the prince caufed him to be hanged forthwith. About the fame time, Lhewelyn, Maelgon's fon died in North Wales, and was buried at Conwey: and Maelgon, Prince Rhys's fon in South Wales, and was buried at Yftratflur ; whofe eftate defcended to his fon Maelgon. And a little after, William Marfhal Earl of Pembroke 1231. died, one that ever entertained an inveterate enmity to the Welch, and upon whofe account King Henry had chiefly brought his army into Wales. He was fuc- ceeded both in his title and eftate by his brother Ri- chard, who was much more favourably inclined to- wards the Welch, and never attempted any thing a- gainft them. But the king of England was refolved to retrieve the honour he had loft in the late expedi- tion againft the Welch ; and therefore being returned from France, whither he had made a defcent, to re- cover what his father had loft in that kingdom, he came to Wales ; and having remained fome time in the marches, he returned again to England, leaving his army under the command of Hubert Burgh Earl of Kent, to defend the marches againft any in-road which the Welch might attempt. And he had not remained there long when he received intelligence, that THE HI STORY OF WALES. that a party of Welch had entered the marches near Montgomery, whom he forthwith purfued, and fetting upon them furprifedly, he put a great number of them to the fword. Prince Lhewelyn hearing this, came in perfon with a great army to the marches, and fitting before Montgomery caftle, he forced Hu- bert to withdraw, and then making himfelf mailer of the place, he burnt it to the ground, and put the garrifon to the fword; the like fate attended the caftles of Radnor, Aberhondhy, Rhayadr Gwy, Caerlheon, Neth, and Cydwely ; though Caerlheon- held out very ftubbornly, and the prince had feveral of his men de- ftroyed before the place. King Henry being informed of what miferable delblation the Prince of Wales fo fuc- cefsfully committed upon his fubjects in thefe coun- tries, had him prefently excommunicated ; and then coming to Hereford with a mighty army, he detached the greateft part of it, with a great number of his nobility to Wales. Thefe by the direction of a friar of Cymer, unexpectedly as they thought, fell upon a party of Welch ; who at the firft encounter feemed to fly, till they had allured the Englifh to purfue them to a place where a greater party of Welch lay in am- bufcade ; who rufhing of a fudden upon the Englifh, put them in fuch a confufion, that the greateil part of them was cut off. The king being fenfible, that this was a treacherous infmuation of the friar, was refolved to be revenged, by burning the abbey of Cymer , but the prior, for three hundred marks, prevented it; and fo the king returned to England, having effected no- thing in this expedition, befides the building of Mawd caftle. In the mean time, Maelgon, fon of Maelgon ap Rhys, laid fiege to Aberteifi, and having by force got entry into the town, he put all the inhabitants to the fword, then deftroyed all before him to the caftle gates, which were fo ftrongly fortified, that it feemed almoft impracticable to take it in any (hort time. But Maelgon, being joined by his coufin Owen, Gruffydh ap Rhys's fon, was refolved to try the utmoft that .could be effected ; and therefore taking with him ibme of Prince Lhewelyn's moft experienced officers, he TH E HISTORY OF WALES. 253 he broke down the bridge upon the river Teifi, and then inverting the caftle more clofely, he fo battered and undermined it, that he became in a little time mafter of it. The year following, Prince Lhewelyn made a de-A.r>. 12 jz. fcent upon England, and having committed very con- fiderable ,wafte and deftruction upon the borders, he returned to North Wales with a rich booty both of men and cattle. King Henry, to correct the Welch for thefe grievous devaftations, and to prevent their further incurfions into England, demanded a very great fubfidy of his fubjecls to Carry on the war againft the Welch ; which being granted him, he made all poffible preparations for his expedition to Wales. In the mean time, Randulph Earl of Chefter died, and was fucceeded in that honour by John his filler's fon, who was afterwards married to Prince Lhewelyn's daughter. But the Englifh in Wales being in expec- tation of King Henry's coming thither, began to re- pair and fortify their caftles ; and particularly, Ri- 33- chard Earl of Cornwal rebuilt Radnor caftle, which the prince had lately deftroyed. Prince Lhewelyn was fufficiently fenfible, that the king of England intended an invafion, and therefore to be before hand with him, he came with an army to Brecknock, deftroyed all the towns and caftles throughout the country, excepting Brecknock caftle, which held out fo manfully, that af- ter a month's fitting before it, he was at laft conftrained to raife the fiege. In his return to North Wales, he burnt the town of Clun, recovered all that country called Dyffryn Tefeidiat, in the pofleflion of John Fitzalan, deftroyed Red caftle in Powis, and burnt Ofweftry. But what happened very fortunately to the Welch, Richard Marfhal Earl of Pembroke be- ing fallen at variance with King Henry, took part with Prince Lhewelyn ; with whom joined Hubert de Burgh, who had lately made his efcape out of the ca- ftk of Devizes, where the king, upon fome articles of information brought againft him, had committed him to prifon. But the Earl of Pembroke, attended by Owen ap Gruffydh ap Rhys, came to St. David's ; and 254 THE HISTORY OF WALES. and being very glad of an opportunity to revenge himfelf upon the king, flew every one that owned any dependance upon the crown of England. Mael- EDn and Rhys Gryc, with all the forces of Prince hewelyn, quickly joined the Earl ; who in their inarch through the country, took the caftles of Car- dyff, Abergevenny, Pencelhy, Blaenlhefyni, and Bwlch y Ddinas, which all, excepting Cardyff, they burnt to the ground. The king receiving intelligence, that the Earl of Pembroke had entered into a confe- deracy with the Prince of Wales, and that he was now in open hoftility againft his fubjects in that country, gathered a very formidable army, confiding, befides Englifh, of Flemings, Normans, and Gafcoigns ; and coming to Wales, he encamped at Grofmont, where the Earl, with the Welch army met him. But when the Englifh would have endeavoured to advance fur- ther into the country, the Welch oppofed them, and fo a battle enfued, wherein the Englifh loft five hun- dred horfe, befides a far greater number of their in- fantry. The Welch having gained a confiderable victory in this action, the king was advifed to with- draw his forces, for fear left that the Welch fhould again fet upon them, and fo fuftain a greater lofs, which counfel the king willingly hearkened unto, and fo he returned for England. The Englifh being withdrawn, the Earl likewife decamped, and marched to Caermardhyn, which he befieged ; but after three months vain afTault, the garrifon moft bravely de- fending the place -, and the Englifh fleet, having thrown in new provifions, he thought it moft advife- able to raife the fiege. Shortly after, Rhys Gryc, fon to Prince Rhys died at Lhandeilo Fawr, and was ho- nourably interred by his father at St. David's. About the fame time, Maelgon Fychan, Maelgon ap Rhys'.< fon, finifhed Trefilean caftle, which was begun in his father's time. A,D. 1234. King Henry was not willing to hazard any mor< campaigns in Wales, and therefore he appointed Job) of Monmouth, a great foidier and general of the En glifh forces, warden of the marches of Wsles -, whf " thinkin<: THE HISTORYoF WALES. 255 thinking to get to himfelf an eternal name in con- quering the Welch, raifed all the power he could ; and imagining that the Welch could not be privy to his purpofe, he apprehended he could fall upon the Earl Marfhal unexpected. But in this, he was to his forrow moft widely miftaken ; for the Earl having re- ceived private, intimation of his defign, hid himfelf in a certain wood, by which the Englifh were to march ; and when they were come fo far, the Welch of a fud- den gave a great fhout, and leaping out of the place they had abfconded themfelves in, they fell upon the Engliih, being unprovided; and putting their whole army to flight, they flew an infinite number both of the Engliih and their auxiliaries. John of Monmouth himfelf made his efcape by flight ; but the Earl Mar- fhal entering his country, deitroyed it with fire and fword. And what added to the mifery of the En- glim, Prince Lhewelyn in the week after Epiphany, joining the Earl Marfhal, made an incurfion into the king's territories, deftroying all before them, from the confines of Wales to Shrewfbury ; a great part of which they laid in aihes. King Henry was all this while with the bifhop of Winchefter at Glocefter, and for want of fufficient power or courage to confront the enemy, durft not take the field ; of which being at length perfectly afhamed, he removed to Winchefter, leaving the marches naked to the mercy of the enemy. And now, there being no apprehenfion of fear from the Engliih, the Earl of Pembroke, by the counfel of Geoffrey de Marifco, tranfported his army into Ireland, thinking to obtain a conqueft in that king- dom ; but in the firft encounter with the Irifh, he was unfortunately flain through the treachery of his own men : and fo his eftate and title defcended to his bro- ther Gilbert. But King Henry finding it impracticable to force the Welch to a fubmrffion, and being in a great mea- fure weary of continual wars and incefifant hoftilities, thought it his beft prudence to make fome honourable agreement with the Prince of Wales ; and therefore he deputed Edmund Archbifhop of Canterbury, the bifhops 256 THE HISTORY OF WALES; bimops of Rochefter, Coventry, Litchfield and Che- fter, to treat with Prince Lhewelyn about a peace. When the king came to meet with them in their re- turn from this negociation, being at Woodftock, he was certified of the death of the Earl of Pembroke, which he took fo much to heart, that he prefently melted into tears, being afflicted for the death of fo great a perfon, whom he openly declared had not left his fecond in all his kingdom. Going from thence to Glocefter, he met with the archbifhop and bimops, * See the who delivered to him the * form of the treaty of peace Appendix. w j tn Prince Lhewelyn, which he would not conclude, unlefs upon this condition -, That all the Englifh no- bility who were confederated with him, and by evil counfel were exiled, mould be recalled, and reftored to the king's favour. The Archbifhop further ac- quainted his Majefty with what difficulty he had brought the matter to this conclufion, being fometimes forced to add threatenings on the king's behalf, with his clergy ; to which menaces the prince is faid to have anfwered, That he bore more regard to the king's charity and piety, than he did fear his arms, or dread his clergy. But the king, who was very defirous of a peace, readily confented to what the prince re- quired ; and therefore he ifiued out his letters, re- calling all the nobles who were outlawed, or other- wife exiled, requiring them to appear at Glocefter, upon Sunday next before Afcenfion-day, where they Ihould receive their pardons, and be reftored to their eftates, which the king had taken into his own hands. The peace being thus concluded betwixt the En- glifh and Welch, Prince Lhewelyn fet his fon Gruf- fydh at liberty, whom for his difobedient and reftlefs humour he had detained in clofe prifon for the fpace of fix years. About the fame time, Cadwalhon ap Maelgon of Melienydh, departed this life, who was quickly followed by Owen, Gruffydh ap Rhys's fon, a perfon of great worth, and exceedingly beloved, and A.D. i235. was buried at Yftratflur, by his brother Rhys. And " the year following died Owen ap Meredith ap Rotpert of THE HIS TORY opWALES. 257 of Cydewen ; and not long after him, Madawc theA.D.i> 3 6. fon of Grufrydh Mayelor, Lord of Bromfteld, Chirk, and Yale, who was buried at the abbey of Lhan Eg- weft, of" Vale Grucis, which he had built ; leaving il- iue behind him one fon, called GrufFycih, who fuc- cceded into the poffeffion cf all thefe lordihips. A little after, Gilbert Earl of Pembroke, got by treachery Marchen caftle, which belonged ro Morgan ap Howe), and fortified the fame very ilrongly, for fear of Prince Lhewelyn. The next fpring Joan ^ King John's daugh- I2 37- ter, and Princefs of Wales, departed this life, and was buried, according to her own dtfire, upon the fea- fhore, at a place called Lhanfaes-, in the ifle v of An- glefey, where the Prince, in memory of her, after- wards founded a religious houfe, for the order of mendicant friars. About the fame time alio died John Scot, Earl of Chefter, without any ifTue, upon which account the king feized that earldom into his own hands. Hugh Lupus was the firft that enjoyed this honour, who coming over to England with the Con- queror, was by him created Earl of Chefter, and dftvord- bearer of England; Habendiim & temndum die-. turn ccmitatum Ceftrite, fibi f? b hen the fea began to flow, they put fire to the veflel, and returned to the reft of the army. And thus we lay encamped in great mifery and diftrefs for want of neceflaries, expofed to great and frequent dangers, and in great fear of the pri- vate affaults and fudden incurfions of our enemies. Oftentimes we fet upon and aflailed the Welch, and in one conflict we carried away an hundred head of cattle, which very triumphantly we conveyed to our camp. For the fcarcity of provifion was then fo great, that there remained but one hogfhead of wine in the whole army ; a bufhel of corn being fold for twenty millings ; a fed ox for three or four marks ; and an hen for eight pence ; fo that there happened a very lamentable mortality both of man and horfe, for want of necefiary fuftenance of life.' The Englim army having undergone fuch mife- ries as are here defcribed, and King Henry, as is faid, perceiving it was in vain for him to continue any longer in Wales, where he was fure to gain no great credit, he returned with his army into England, being not very defirous to make another expedition into Wales. Then all the nobility and barons of Wales, and thofe that had favoured and maintained GrufFydh's 2 63 THE HISTORY OF WALES. Gruffydh's caufe, were made friend sand reconciled tt> Prince David, to whom they vowed true and perpe- tual allegiance. But the Prince did not long furvive this amity and agreement between him and his fub- jects : for falling fick toward the beginning of this year, he died in March, at his palace in Aber, and was buried at Conwey, leaving no ifiue to fucceed. A.D. 1246. The only thing unpardonable in this prince, was his over jealoufy and feverity againil his brother Gruf'^ fydh, a perfon fo well beloved of the Welch, that ypon his account their affection was much cooled, and in fome entirely alienated from their prince. Indeed thus much may be faid for David, that Gruf- fydh was a valourous and an afpiring man, and if fet at liberty, would bid fair to eject him out of his princi- pality, which King Henry of England too (who thought he might bring over David, a milder man, to what terms he pleafed,) was ienfible of, when he would by no perfuafion difmifs him from cuftody in the tower of London. But this occafioned all the disturbances that happened in his time, the Welch themfelves, for the love they bore to GrufFydh* in- viting the king of England to come to invade their country, and to correct the unnatural enmity their Prince exprefled to his brother. But when all dif- ferences were over, the king of England returned with his army lhamefully back, and the Prince and his no- bility reconciled ; the Welch might have expected a very happy time of it, had not death taken the Prince fo unnaturally away, before he^had well known what a peaceful reign was. LHEWELYN THE HISTORY OF WALES. LHEWELYN AP GRUFFYDH. R I N C E David being dead, the principality of North Wales legally defcended to Sir Ralph Morti- mer, in right of his wife Gladys, daughter to Lhe- wclyn ap'Iorwerth. But the Welch nobility being af- fembled together for the electing and nominating a fucceffor, thought it by no means advifeable to ad- mit a ftranger to the crown, though his title was ne- ver ib lawful -, and efpecially an Englifnman, by whofe obligations to the crown of England, they -muft of neceflity expect to become fubjects, or ra- ther (laves to the Englifh government. Where- fore 'they unanimoufly agreed to fet up Lhewelyn and Owen Goch, the fons of Gruffydh, a bafe fon of Lhe- welyn ap lorwerth, and brother to Prince David , who being fent for, and appearing before the affembly, all the nobles and barons then prefent, did them homage, and received them for their fovereigns. But as foon as the king of England underftood of the death of the Prince of Wales ; he thought the country being in an unfettled and wavering condition, he might effect great matters there ; and therefore he fent one Nicholas de Miles to South Wales, with the title of Juftice of that country, with whom he joined in commiflion Mere- dith ap Rhys Gryc, and Meredith ap Owen ap Gruf- fydh , to eject and difinherit Maelgon Fychan of all his lands and eftate in South Wales. The like in- jurious practices were committed againft Howel ap Meredith, who was forcibly robbed of all his eftate in Glamorgan by the Earl of Clare. Thefe unreafonable extortions being infupportable , Maelgon and Howel made known their grievances to the Princes of North Wales, defiring their fuccour and afiiftance for the re- covery of their lawful inheritance from the encroach- ments 2 7 o T H E H I S T O R Y OF W A L E S. ments of the Englifh. But the king of England un- cierftanding their defign, led his army into Wales ; upon whole arrival, the Welch withdrew thetnfeives to Snowden hills, where they fo tired the Englifh army, that the king finding he could do no good, after fome ftay there returned back to England. With- in a while after, Ralph Mortimer, the hufband of Gladys Dhu died; leaving his whole eftate, and with it a lawful title to the principality of North Wales, to his fon'Sir Roger Mortimer. A. P. 1247. The next year nothing memorable paHed between M Pars *ke E n gli m anc * tne Welch, only the difmal effects of r ? s e 739' {he laft year's expedition, were not worn oft; the ground being uncapable of cultivation, and the cattle being .in great meaiure deftroyed by the Engiim, occafioned great poverty and want in the country. But the freateft calamity befel the bifhops ; St. Afaph and angor being deftroyed and burnt by the hnglifh, the bilhops thereof were reduced to that utmolt ex- tremity, as to get their fubfiftence by other mens charity ; the bifhop alfo of St. David's deceafed, and he of Landaff had the misfortune to fall blind. In the bifhoprick of St. David's fucceeded Thomas, fur- named Wallcnfis, by reafon that he was born in Wales; who thinking himielf obliged to benefit his own coun- try what lay in his power, defired to be advanced from the archdeaconry of Lincoln to that fee : which the king eafily granted, and confirmed him in it. The s next fummer proved fomewhat more favourable to the Welch ; Rhys Fychan fon to Rhys Mechyl, won from the Engiim the caftle of Carrec Cynnen, which his unkind mother, out of malice, or fome ill opi- nion entertained of him, had fome time before pri- vately delivered up to them. And about the fame time the body of Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn bafe fon to Lhewelyn ap lorwerth, was recovered from the king of England, by the earned follicitations of the ab- bots of Conwey and Yftratflur; who conveying it to Conwey, be flowed upon it a very pompous and honourable interment. After THE HISTORY OF WALES. 271 After this, the affairs of the Welch proceeded A. D. 1255. peaceably for a long while, and the country had fuf- ticient opportunity to recover its former plenty *, but at laft, to make good the proverb, that Plenty begets War ; they began, for want of a foreign enemy, to quar- rel and fall out among themfelves. Owen was too high and ambitious to be fatisfied with half the principality, and therefore muft needs have a fling at the whole; wherein fortune ib far deceived him, that he loft his own flake, as will afterwards appear. But the better to encompafs his defign, by fly infmuations he per- fuaded David his younger brother to fecond his caufe; and they with joint intereft levied their power, with intension to dethrone their elder brother Lhewelyn, But that was no eafy matter -, for Lhewelyn was pre- pared to receive them, and with a puifiant army met them in the field, and fo was refolved to venture all upon the fortune of a battle. It -was, ftrange and grievous to behold this unnatural civil war; and the more grievous now, by reafon that it fo manifeftly weakened the ftrength of the Welch to withftand the incurfions of the Engliih, who were extremely pleafed with fo fair an opportunity to tali upon them. But. they were too far engaged, to confider of future in- conveniencies ; and a trial of war they muft have, though the Englilh were ready to fall upon both ar- mies. The battle being joined, the day proved bloody on both fides,, and which was like to conquer was not prefently difcovered ; till at length Owen began to give ground, and in fine was overthrown, himfelf and his brother David being taken prifoners. Lhe- welyn, though he had fufficient reafcn, would not put his brothers to death , but committing them into clofe prilon, feizecl all their eftates into his own hands, and fo enjoyed the whole principality of Wales. The Englifh feeing the Welch at this rate opprefs and deftroy one another, thought they had full li- berty to deal with them as they pleafed , and there- upon began to exercife all manner of wrong and in- juftice againft them ; infomuch that the next year, all 1*5*. the 272 THE HISTORY OF WALES. the lords of Wales cnme in a body to Prince Lhe- } welyn, and declared their grievances, how unm rci- fully Prince Edward (whom his father had lent to Wales) and others of the; nobility of England dealt with them, how without '-any colour of j lift ice they feized upon their eftatesy without any- room for ap- peal ; whereas, if themselves offended in the Icait, they were punifhed to the'utmoft extremity. In fine, they folemnly declared,- that they preferred to die ho- nourably in the field, before to be ib unmercifully en- flaved to the will and pleafure of ftrangers. Prince Lhewelyn was not a ftranger to all -this y and now having hnppily difcovered the bent and inclination of his fubjects, was refolded to profecute, if poulble, the expulfion of the Englifh, and to be revenged up- on them for their moft cruel, and almoft inhuman . practices towards the Welch. Having therefore drawn * all his power together, being accompanied by Mere- dith ap Rhys Gryc, in the fpace of one week he re- covered out of the hands of the Englifh all the in- land country of North Wales, and then all Merio- nyth with fuch lands as Prince Edward had ufurped in Cardigan, which he beftowed upon Meredith the fon .of Owen ar> GrufFydh. Having alfo forced Rhys Fychan out of Buelht, he conferred it upon Mere- dith ap Rhys ; and in like manner beftowed all the lands which he recovered, between his nobles; referv- ing nothing to his own ufe, befides Gwerthryneon, A.D.i2 5 7.the eftate of Sir Roger Mortimer. The next fum- mer, he entered into Powis, and made war againft GrufFydh ap Gwenwymvyn, who always had taken part with, and owned fubjecVion to the king of Eng- land, which he totally overcame, excepting the caftle of Poole, fome fmall part of Caerneon, and the coun- try lying upon the banks of the Severn. But Rhys Fychan was not fatisfkd with the lofs of Buelht, and therefore was refolved to try to recover it ; to which end, he went to the king of England, of whom he obtained a very ftrong army, com- manded by one Stephen Bacon, which being fent by lea, landed at Caermardhyn in the Whitfun-week.| j From j THE HISTORY OF WALES. 273 From thence the Englim marched to Dynefawr, and laid fiege to the caftle, which valiantly held out, until Lhewelyn's army came to its relief. Upon the ar- rival of the Welch, the Englifh decamped from be- fore the caftle, and put themlelves in pofture of bat- tle, which the Welch perceiving, they made all hafte to anfwer and oppofe them. Whereupon there enfued a very terrible engagement which lafled a very long while ; this being for number of men the greatest battle that had been fought between the Englifh and the Welch. But the victory favoured the Welch, the Englishmen being at length forced to fly, having loft above two thouland men, betides feveral barons and knights who were taken prifoners. After this the prince's army pafled to Dyfed, where having burnt all the country, and deftroyed the caftles of Aber- eorran, Lha.nftephan, Maenclochoc and Arberth, with all the towns thereunto belonging, returned to North \Valcs with much fpoil. But as foon as he was ar- rived, great complaints were exhibited to Prince Lhe- welyn againft Jeffrey Langley lieutenant to Edward Earl of Cheiler, who without any regard to equity and confcience, mod wrongfully opprefled the in- habitants of Wales under his jurilcliclion. Where- upon the prince to punim the mafter for the fervant's fault, entered with fome part of his army into the Earl's eftate, burnt and deftroyed all his country on both fides the river Dee, to the gates of Chefter. Edward had no power at prefent to oppofe him, but being rcfolved to be revenged upon the Welch with the firft opportunity, he defired aid of his uncle, then chofe king of the Romans, who fent him a ftrong detachment, with which he purpofed to give Prince Lhewclyn battle. But finding him too ftrong, he thought it more advifeable to defift from hpftibty, the prince's army confiding of ten thouiand expe- rienced men, who were obliged by oath, rather all to die in the field, than fuffer the Englifh to gain any advantage over the Welch. But Gruffyclh ap Madoc Maelor, Lord of Dinas Bran, a per Ton of notorious reputation for injuftice and qpprefliojY, bufely for- T " look 274 THE HISTORY OF WALES. fook the Welch his countrymen, and with all his forces went over to the Earl of Chefter. A.D.I258. The next year Prince Lhewelyn paffed to South Wales, and feized into his hands the land of Ce- maes, and having reconciled the difference betwixt Rhys Gryg and Rhys Fychan, he won the caftle of Trefdraeth, with the whole country of Rhos, except- ing Haverford. There he marched in an hoftile manner toward Glamorgan, and rafed to the ground the ca- flle of Lhangymwch, and then returning to North Wales, he met by the way with Edward Earl of Chefter, whom he forced precipitouily to return back. But before he would put an end to this expedition, he muft needs be revenged upon that ungrateful fugitive Gruffydh ap Madoc Maelor, and thereupon palling through Bromfield, he miferably laid wafte the whole country. Upon this the kings of England and Scot*, land fent to Lhewelyn requiring him to ceafe from ho- ilility, and after that unmerciful manner to devour, and forcibly to take away other mens eftates. The prince was not over follicitous to hearken to their requeft, but finding the time of the year very fea- fonable for action againfl the Englifh, he divided his army into two battles, each of thefe confifting of 1500 foot and 500 horfe, with which he purpofed to enlarge his conqueft. Edward Earl of Chefter, to prevent the blow which fo defperately hung over his head, fent over for fuccours from Ireland, of whole coming Prince Lhewelyn being certified, manned out a fleet to intercept them, which meeting with the Irifh at fea, after a fharp difpute, forced them to return back with lofs. King Henry being acquainted with the mifcarriage of the Irifh, refolved to come in perfon againft the Welch, and having drawn to- gether the whole ftrength of England, even from St. Michael's mount in Cornv/al to the river Tweed, marched with his fon Edward in a great rage to North Wales, and without any oppofition advanced as far as Teganwy. But the Prince had flopped his farther progrefs and prevented any long flay he coulo^ make in Wales, having before hand caufed all manner of THE HISTORY OF W A JL E S. of provifion and forage to be carried over the river, and then fecuring the ftrait and narrow paffages where- by the Englifh might get farther into the country; the army was in a fhort time fo mortally fatigued, that the king for want of neceffary fubfiftence was forced to retire in hafte to England with confider- able lofs. The prince after that fending for all the forces in South Wales, came to the marches, where Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield finding that the king of England was not able to defend his eftate yielded himfelf up, and then paffing to Powis, he banifhed Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn, and took all the lands in the country into his hands. Proceeding farther, he was encoun- tered with by Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocefter, who with a choice party of Englim gave him battle. But Lhewelyn's army exceeding both in number and cou- rage, eafily vanquifhed and overcame the Englim, and fo the victory being quickly obtained, the prince pre- fently reduced to his power all the caftles belonging to the Earl of Glocefter. King Henry hearing of the Earl's overthrow, was much concerned at the lofs of fo many brave foldiers, in whofe valour and ex- perience he always put a very great confidence, and therefore to revenge their deaths, he was again re- folved to march againft the Welch. Having called his forces together, and received fupply from Gafcoign and Ireland he came to Wales, but not daring to venture far into the country, for fear of being forced to make another fhameful retreat, he only deftroyed the corn near the borders, it being harveft time, and fo returned to England. But Lord James Audley, whofe daughter was married to GrufFydh, Lord of Bromfield, did more mifchief and hurt to the Welch, who having brought over a great number of horfe- men from Germany to ferve againft the Welch, fo terrified them with the unufual largenefs of the horfes, and the unaccuftomed manner of fighting, that in the firft encounter the Welch were eafily overcome. But minding to revenge this difgrace, and withal be- ing better acquainted with their method of arms, T 2 the THE HISTORY OF WALES. the Welch in a little time after made in-roads into the Lord Audley's lands, where the Germans prefently fet upon them, and purfued them to certain ftraits, which the Welch difcovered for a politick retreat. The Germans thinking they had entirely drove the Welch away, returned carelefsly back, but being fet upon of the fuclden, without any thought of an enemy behind, they were all in a manner flain by the raliying Welch. This year a very great fcarcity of beefs and horfes happened in England, whereof feveral thouiands year- ly were fupplied out of Wales, by realbn of which, the marches were perfectly robbed of all their breed, and not fo much as a beafl to be ieen in all the bor- ders. A. D. 1259 The next fpring all the nobility of Wales convened together and took their mutual oaths to defend their country to death, againft the opprefling invaOons of the Englifh, and not to relinquish and forfake one . another upon pain of perjury ; though notwithftand- ing, Meredith ap Rhys of South Wales violated this agreement, and put himfelf in the fervice of the king of England. King Henry was ready to fall upon the Welch, to which purpofe he fummoned a par- liament, wherein he propoled to raife a fubfidy to- wards the conqueft of Wales, being not able of him- felf to bear the exp'ences of this war, by reafon of feveral lofles he had already received, the country of Pembroke being lately deftroved and taken by the Welch, where they found plenty of fak, which be- fore they were in great neceffity of.- But William de Valentia accufing the Earls of Leicefter and Glo- cefter as the authors of all this mifchief quite broke all their meafures, fo the king was forced to prorogue the parliament for a time without any grant of a fubfidy. But within a while after, it fat at Oxford, where King Henry and Edward his fon took a fo- lemn oath to obferve the laws and ilatutes of the realm, and the fame being tendered to Guy and William the king's brothers, and to Henry fon to the king of Almain, and to Earl Warren, they refuftd to take it, and fo departed. In this par- liament TH'E HISTORY OF WALES. 277 Irament the lords of Wales fairly proffered to be tri- ed by the laws for any offence they had unjuftly committed againft the king, which was mainly op- pofed by Edward, who caufed one Patrick de Canton (to whom the lord (hip of Cydwely was given, in cafe he could win and keep the Jame) to be fenc to Caer- mardhyn as lieutenant for the king with whom Me- redith ap Rhys was joined in commiflion. Being ar- rived at Carmardhyn, Patrick fent to the Prince, to defire him to appoint commiflioners to treat with him concerning a peace, which he contented to, and with- out any fufpicion of treachery, fent Meredith ap Owen, and Rhys ap Rhys to Emlyn, if pofllble, to conclude the fame. But Patrick meaning no fuch thing, laid an ambufcade for the Welch, who coming honeftly forward, were by the way villainoufly fet upon by the Englifh, and a great many flam j but thofe that happily efcaped, caliing up the country, prefent- ly gave chafe to Patrick and his accomplices, who being at length overtaken, were almoft all put to the fword. But Prince Lhewelyn was now altoge- ther bent upon a peace, and did not only defire it, but was willing to purchafe it for a fum of money, to which purpofe he offered to give the king 4000 marks, to his ion 300, and 200 to the queen, which the king utterly refufed, replying, That it was not a Sufficient recompence for all the damages he had fuf- fered by the Welch. Matthew of Weftminftcr re- porteth, that about Michaelmas this year, the bifhop t>f Bangor was commiffioned by the prince and no- bility of Wales to treat with the king of England a- bout a peace, and to offer him 16,000 pounds for the fame, upon thefe conditions, that according to their antient cuftom, the Welch mould have all caufes tried and determined at Ghefter, and that they mould freely enjoy the laws and cuftoms of their own country -, but what was the refult of this treaty, my author does not mention. There being no hopes of a peace, Prince Lhewelyn A.D. i*6 early next year appeared in the field, and paffed to South Wales, and firft fell foul upon Sir Roger Mor- T 3 timer, fe 7 8 THE HISTORY OF WALES. timer, who contrary to his oath, maintained the king of England's quarrel* Having forcibly difpoffefled him of all Buelht, and without any oppofition taken the caftle, where was found a plentiful magazine, he marched through all South Wales, confirming his con- A.r>. i*6i.queft, and afterwards returned to his palace at Aber, i*6z. betwixt Bangor and Conwey. The year following, Owen ap Meredith Lord of Cydewen died. But the next fummer was fomewhat more noted for action, a party of Prince Lhewelyn's men took by furprife the caftle of Melieny th, belonging to Sir Roger Mor- timer, and having put the reft of the garrilbn to the fword, they took Howel ap Meyric the governor with his wife and children prifoners ; and after that, the caftle was demoliflied by the prince's order. Sir Roger Mortimer hearing of this, with a great body of lords and knights came to Melienyth, where Prince Lhewelyn met him, but Sir Roger not daring to hazard a battle, planted himfelf within the ruins, and finding he could do no good, defired leave of the prince to retire peaceably. The Prince upon the ac- count of relation and near confanguinity betwixt them, and withal becaufe he would not be fo mean fpirited as to fall upon an enemy, who had no power to refift him, let him fafely depart with his forces, and then pafiing on himfelf to Brecknock at the requeft of the people of that country, who fwore fidelity unto him ; fo pafi"ed on and returned to North Wales. And now being confederate with the barons againft King Henry, he was refolved to praftife fomething in the prejudice of the Englilh, and fo fet upon the earldom of Chefter, deftroyed the caftles of Tygannmy and Diferth belong- ing to Edward, who coming thither, was yet not able to prevent the mifchief done to him by the Welch. 1*63. The next year John Strange junior, conftable of Mont- gomery with a great number of marchers, came a little before E after by night, through Ceri to Cydewen, in- tending to furprife the caftle, which when the people of the country underftood, they gathered together, and fetting upon them, flew two hundred of his men, but Strange with a few got fafely back. 4 [Within THE HISTORY OF WALES. 279 Within a while after, the marchers and the Welch met again near a place called Clun, where a hot en- gagement happened between them, in which the Welch were worfted, and had a great number of their men (lain. After this, nothing remarkable fell out for a confiderable time, unlefs it were, that David being re- leafed out of prifon by Prince Lhewelyn his brother, moft ungratefully forfook him, and with all his might, fided with his enemies the Englifh ; alfo Gruftydh ap Gwenwynwyn having taken the caftle of Mold, de- molimed it to the ground. During this quiet and un- active interval in Wales, Meredith ap Owen, the main fupport and defender of South \Yales died, to the great difadvantage of the affairs of that country. And A. D. 1168, now indeed, the Welch were like to be made fenfible of the lofs of fo confiderable a perfon, for King Henry was refolved once more to lead an army into Wales, and to fee if he could have better fuccefs than he had hitherto againft the Welch. But when he was pre- pared to undertake this expedition, Ottobonus, Pope Clement's legate in England, interpofed and meditated a peace, which was concluded upon at the caftle of Montgomery, wherein it was articled, that Prince Lhewelyn mould give the king thirty thoufand marks, and the king was to grant the prince a charter, from thenceforth to receive homage and fealty of all the no- bility and barons of Wales, befides one, fo that they could hold their lands of no other but himfelf, and from thence forward he was to be lawfully filled Prince of Wales. This charter being ratified and confirmed as well by the authority of the pope, as the king's feal ; Prince Lhewelyn defifted from any far- ther afts of hoftility, and punctually obferved all the articles of the agreement betwixt him and King Henry, fo that nothing more was outrageoufly tranfaded be- tween the Englifh and Welch, during the remainder of this king's reign. Within that fpace, died Grono ap Ednyfed Fychan one of the chief lords of the prince's council, and fhortly after him Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield, who lies buried at Vale Crucis. T 4 But 280 THE HIS TOR Y OF WALES. A. D.I27*. But the death of King Henry put an end to the ob- fervations of the peace betwixt the Englifh and Welch, \vho dying on the fixteemh day of November this year, Lft this kingdom to his fon Edward. Prince Edward was then in the Holy Land, and very active againft thole enemies of chriitianity, the Turks, where he had already continued above an year-, but understanding of his father's death, and that in his abiencc he was pro- claimed king of England, he made all hafte to return to receive the folemnity of coronation. But what by the tedioufnefs of the journey, and what by being ho- nourably detained at princes' courts in his way, it was two years before he could get into England, then upon the fifteenth of Auguft, and in the year 1274, he was crowned at Weftminfter. Prince Lhewelyn was fummoned to attend at his coronation, but he flatly rcfufed to appear, unlefs upon fure terms of fafe con- 'duct, for having offended feveral of the Englfh nobi- lity, he could not in fafety pafs through their country without the danger of expofing his peribn to the inve- terate malice and acceptable revenge of fome of them. And therefore without the king's brother, the Earl of Glocefter, and Robert Burnell Lord Chief Juftice of England, were delivered up as pledges for his fafe con- duct, he would not come to do his homage and fealty at his coronation, according to the writ directed to him. And indeed, feeing King Edward had broke the peace lately concluded upon before the Pope's legate, and did receive", and honourably entertain luch noble-- men of Wales, as for their difloyalty were banifhed by Prince Lhewelyn, by whom he feared fome trea- chery ; there was no reafon that the prince mould pay him any fubjection, but by the breach of peace was exempted from all homage. However, Prince Lhe- welyn to mew that it was not out of any ftubbornnefs or difrefpec't to the king of England, that he refufed to come, fent up his reafons by. the abbots of Yftrat- flur and Conwey to Robert Kilwarby archbifhop of Canterbury, and the reft of the bifhops then fitting in convocation in the New Temple at London, which were to this effect. To THE HISTORY OF WALES. To the moft Reverend Fathers in God, Robert, Archbifhop of Canterbury, and Metropolitan of all England, the Archbifliop of York, and the reft of the Bifliops in Convocation ; Lhe- welyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowden, fendeth greeting. WE would have your Lordfhips to understand, that whereas formerly moft terrible and in- ceffant wars were continually managed betwixt Henry king of England and Ourfelf ; the fame were at laft compofed, and all matters of differences were adjufted by the means of his Excellency Cardinal Ottobonus, the Pope's legate, who having drawn the articles and conditions of the peace agreed upon, they were figned and fwore to, not only by the king, but alfo the prince his fon, now king of England. Among thefe articles were comprehended, that We and our fuccef- fors mould hold of the king and his fucceflbr, the principality of Wales, fo that all the Welch lords, one baron excepted, mould hold their baronies and eftates in cfipite of Us, and mould pay their homage and fealty for the lame to Us ; We in like manner doing homage to the king of England and his fucceflbrs. And be- fides, thst the king and his fucceflbrs mould never of* fer to receive and entertain any of Our enemies, nor x ;:ny fuch of Our own fubjects as were lawfully ba- nimed and excluded our dominions of Wales, nor by any means defend and uphold fuch againft Us. Con- trary to which articles, King Edward has forcibly feized upon the eftates of certain barons of Wales, of which they and their anceftors have been imme- morably pofleffed of and detains a barony, which by the form of peace mould have been delivered to us ; and moreover, has hitherto entertained David ap Gruffydh our brother, and Gruflfydh ap Gwenwyn- i wyn, *82 THE HISTORY OF WALES. wyn, with feveral other of Our enemies who are outlaws and fugitives of Our country, and though We have of- ten exhibited Our grievances and complaints againft them, for deftroying and pillaging our country, yet We could never obtain of the king any relief or redrefs for the feveral wrongs and injuries we received at their hands -, but on the contrary they ftill perfift to commit waftes and other outrages in Our dominions. And for all this, he fummons Us to do him homage at a place which is altogether dangerous to Our perfon, where Our inveterate enemies, and which is worfe, Our own unnatural fubjects, bear the greateft fvvay and refpect with the king. And though we have alledged feveral reafons to the king and his council, why the place by him afiigned, is not fafe and indifferent for Us to come, and defire him to appoint another, whereto we might with more fafety refort, or elfe that he would fend com- rnifiioners to receive Our oath and homage, till he could more opportunely receive them in perfon -, yet he would not aflent to Our juft and reafonable requeft, nor be fa- tisfied with the reafons We exhibited for Our non-ap- pearance. Therefore We defire your lordfhips earneft- ly to weigh the difmal effects that will happen to the fubjects both of England and Wales upon the breach of the articles of peace, and that you would be pleafed to inform the king of the fad confequence of another war, which can no way be prevented, but by ufing Us according to the conditions of the former peace, which for Our part, We will in no meafure tranfgrefs. But if the king will not hearken to your counfel, We hope that you will hold Us excufed, if the nation be difquieted and troubled thereupon, which as much as in Us lieth We endeavour to prevent. King Edward would admit of no excufe, nor hearken to any manner of reafon in the cafe, but was unmercifully enraged, and conceived an unpar- donable difpleafure againft Prince Lhewelyn, which yet he thought convenient to conceal and diflemble for a time. Indeed, he conld never abide Lhewelyn, fmce THE HISTORY OF WALES. fmce the time that he was vanquifhed and put to flight by him at the marches, fo that the chief caufe of King Edward's anger, originally proceeded from a point of honour, which this refufal of homage ferved Sufficiently to increafe. But to profecute his revenge, which upon this fcore is in princes very fierce and un- forgetful, in a fhort time he came to Chefter, meaning to recover by force what he could not obtain by fair means. From hence he fent to the Prince of Wales, requiring him to come over and do him homage, which Lhewelyn either abfolutely refufing or willingly detracting to do, King Edward made ready his army to force him to it. But there happened an accident A. 1X1277; which took off a great part of Prince Lhewelyn's ftub- bornnefs ; for at this time the countefs of Leicefter the widow of Simon Montfort who lived at Montargis a nunnery in France fent over for Wales her daughter, the Lady Eleanor, (whom Lhewelyn extremely loved) with her brother Aemerike, to be married to the prince, according to the agreement made in her fa- ther, Earl Montfort's time. But Aemerike fearing to touch upon the coaft of England, fleered his courfe towards the iQands of Scilly, where by the way they were all taken by four Briftol mips, and brought to King Edward, who received the lady very honourably, but committed her brother prifoner to the caftle of Coff, whence he was afterward removed to the caftle of Shirburne. The king having obtained this unexpec- ted advantage over Lhewelyn, began boldly to fall upon him, and fo dividing his army into two batta- lions, led one himfelf into North Wales, and advanced as far as Ruthlan, where he ftrongly fortified the ca- ftle. The other he committed to Paganus de Ca- mutiis, a great foldier, who entering into Weft Wales, burned and deftroyed a great part of the country. But the people of South Wales, fearing that his next expedition was levelled againft them voluntarily fub- mitted themfelves to the king, and did him homage, and then delivered up the caftle of Yftratywy to Paganus. Prince 2*4 TriE HISTORY OF WALES. Prince Lhewelyn hearing of this and finding his own fubjefts to forfake him, but more efpecially being delirous to recover his efpoufe the Lady Eleanor', thought it likewife advifeable to fubmit, and there- fore fued to King Edward for a peace, who granted it, but upon very fevere conditions upon Lhewelyn's fide. The agreement confifted of ten articles, which were, I. That the prince fhould fet at liberty all mari- ner of prifoners, that upon the king's account were de- tained in cuftody. II. That for the king's favour and good-will; he mould pay 50,000 marks, to be re- ceived at the king's pleafure. III. That thefe four cantreds or hundreds, viz. Cantref Ros, where the king's caftle of Teganwy (lands ; Ryfonioc, where Denbigh ; Tegengl, where Ruthlan ; Dyffryn Clwyd^ where Rhuthyn ftands, mould remain in the king's hands. IV. That the Lords Marchers mould quietly enjoy all the lands they had conquered within Wales, excepting in the ifle of Anglefey, which was wholly granted to the Prince. V. That in confideration of this ifland, the prince fliould pay 5000 marks in hand, with the referve of a 1000 marks yearly to be- gin at Michaelmas ; and in cafe the prince died with- out ifTue, the whole ifland fliould return to the king. VI. That the prince fhould come every year to Eng- land to pay his homage to the king for all his lands. VII. That all the barons of Wales, excepting five in Snowden, fliould hold their lands and eftates of the king, and no other. VIII. That the title of Prince ftiould remain only for his life, and not defcend to his fucceffors, and after his death, the five lords of Snowden fliould hold their lands only from the king. IX. That for the performance of thefe articles, the prince Ihould deliver up for hoftages ten perfons of the beft quality in the country, without imprifon- ing, disinheriting, and any time of redemption de- termined. And farther, that the king fliould chufe twenty perfons in North Wales, who befides the prince, mould take their oaths' for the due performance of thefe articles, and in cafe the prince fliould fwerve and recede from them, and upon admonition thereof not repent, they THE HISTORY OF WALES. they fnould forfake him,and become his enemies. X.The Prince was obliged to fuffer his brethren quietly to enjoy their lands in Wales, whereof David for his fer- vice was dubbed knight by the king, and had the Earl of Derby's widow given in matrimony, and with her as a portion, the cattle of Denbigh in North Wales, b>efides a 1000 pounds in lands. His other brother* Roderic was lately efcaped out of prilbn into England, and the younger called Owen, was upon his competition delivered out of prifon. King Edward having impofed thefe fevere and un- merciful conditions upon Prince Lhewelyn, and for a better fecurity for the performance of them, builc a cattle at Aberyftwyth, returned very honourably into England , upon whofe arrival, the people will- ingly granted him a fubfidy of the twentieth part of their eftates towards mis charges in this war. But it feems very probable that Prince Lhewelyn fubmit- ted to thefe intolerable conditions, more upon the ac- count of his amours, and to regain the Lady Eleanora out of the king of England's hand, than that he was apprehenfive of any confiderable danger he might re- ceive by the Englilh troops. For it is hardly con- ceiveable, that a prince of fnch notorious conduct and valour, would ib eafily accept of fuch hard terms, and in a meafure deliver up his principality, when there was no neceflity fo to do, without refilling an enemy, whom he had frequently overcome, and forced to retire back with greater inequality than the En- glilh had at prefent over him. But the force of love worked wonders, and in this cafe proved moil irre- fiftible, which to obtain, Lhewelyn did not think hard to forfeit his proper right to his inveterate enemies, and for ever to exclude his pofterity from fucceed- ing in their lawful inheritance. The next year therefore, he had his wilh accomplilhed, and wa married to Eleanora at Worcefter, the king and queen, with all the nobility and perfons of quality in England, honouring the wedding with their pre- fence. But 236 THE HISTORY OF WALES- But this fpecious amity, and the peace lately con- cluded betwixt them did not laft long, the Englifh governors in the marches and in-land countries of Wales, prefuming upon the prince's fubmifilon to the king, grievoufly opprefled the inhabitants of the country, with new and unheard of exactions, and with intolerable partiality openly encouraged the Englifli to defraud and opprefs the Welch. Thefe infupportable practices moved the Welch to go in a body to David Lord of Denbigh, to endeavour a reconciliation between him and his brother the prince, that they both being at unity, might eafily deliver themfelves and their country from the unmerciful. A.D.i28i.tyranny of the Englifh. David was not ignorant of the miferies of his countrymen, and therefore gladly fubmitted to be reconciled to his brother, with promife never to fide again with the king of England, but to become his utter enemy. This happy union being thus effected, David was chofe general of the army, with which he prefently marched to Hawarden, and furprifing the caftle flew all that oppofed him, and took Roger Clifford prifoner, who had been fent by King Edward, Juftitiar into thofe parts. From thence, being joined by the prince, he palled to Ruthlan, and laid fiege to the caftle ; but upon notice given that the king was marching to raife the fiege, he thought convenient to withdraw, and to retire back. At the fame time Rhys ap Maelgon and Gruffydh ap Mere- dith ap Owen, with other lords of South Wales, took from the Englifh the caftle of Aberyftwyth, with di- vers others in that country, and fpoiled all the peo- ple thereabouts, who owned fubjection to the crown of England. In the mean while, John Peckham archbifhop of Canterbury, perceiving how matters were like to proceed between the king and the prince, and how the kingdom was effectually involved in a war, of his own proper motion came to Prince Lhe- welyn, to endeavour a re-fubmifiion from him and his brother David to King Edward, and fo to put a flop to any farther hoftilities, But THE HISTORY OF WALES, But he fent before-hand 'to the prince and peo- ple of Wales, intimating to them, ' That for the love he bore to the Welch nation, he undertook this arbitration, without the knowledge, and contrary to the king's liking , and , therefore earneftly defired, that they would fubmit to a peace with the Englilh, which himfelf would endeavour to bring to pafs. And becaufe he could make no long continuance in thofe parts, he wifhed them to confider, how that if he Ihould be forced to depart before any thing was brought to a conclufion, they could hardly find ano- ther who would fo heartily efpoufe their caufe -, and farther threatened, that in cafe they contemned and de- rided his endeavours, he would not only inftigate the Englifh army, now greatly ftrengthened and in- creafed, to fall upon them, but alfo fignify their ftub- bornnefs to the court and bilhop of Rome, who efteemed and honoured England, beyond any other kingdom in the world. Moreover, he much la- mented to hear of the excefllve cruelty of the Welch, even beyond, that of the Saracens and other infidels, who never refilled to- permit flaves and captives to be ranfomed ; which the Welch were fo far from prac- tifing, that even fome time they (lew thofe for whofe redemption they received money. And whereas they were wont to eileem and reverence holy and eccle- fiaftical perfons, they are now fo far degenerated from devotion and fanctity, that nothing is more ac- ceptable to them than war and fedition, which they had now great need to forfake and repent of. Laftly, he propofed, that they would fignify to him, where- in, and what laws and conftitutions of their's was violated by the Englifh, and by what means a firm and a lafting peace might be eftablifhedi which, if they rejected, they muft expect to incur the decree and cenfure of the church, as well as endure the violent in-roads and depredations of a powerful ar- my.' To thefe, partly admonitions, and partly threaten- ings of the arcjibilhop, Prince Lhewelyn returned an anfwer : $ THE HISTORY OF WALES. anfwer : * That he humbly thanked his Grace for the pains and trouble he undertook in his, and his fub- je and as to the breach of the peace, it is notorious that they were the authors, who never regarded either pro- mile or covenant, never made amends, for trefpaircs,. nor remedy for our complaints. 2 "When THE HISTORY OF WALE& When the archbimop faw there was no likelihood of a mediation, and that a peace was impoffible to be concluded as long as the Welch (tuck upon con- ditions , he prefently relinquilhed his pretended af- fection towards them, and denounced a fentence of excommunication againft the prince and all his ad- herents. It was a fubject of no little wonder, that a perfon of fo reputed a fanctity, who efleemed the feveral grievances done to the Welch to be intolerable, fhould now condemn them for refufal of unlimited fubmifiion to the king of England ; whereas he had already owned it to be unreafonable. But this eccle- fiaftical cenfure was only a prologue to a more me- lancholy fcene ; King Edward immediately upon it, fending an army, by fea to Anglefey, without any great oppofition, conquered the ifland, and without any mercy, put all that withftood him to the fword. From thence defigning to pals over to the continent, he caufed a bridge of boats covered with planks to be built over the Menay (being an arm of the fea which parteth the ifle from the main land) at a place called Moel y don, not far from Bangor, where the water is narroweft. The bridge being finifhed, which was fo broad as that threefcore men might pafs in a breaft, William Latimer, with a flrong party of the beft ex- perienced foldiers, and Sir Lucas Thany, commander of the Gafcoigns and Spaniards, whereof a great num- ber ferved the king, palled over, but could difcover no fign, or any the leait intimation of an enemy. But as foon as the tide began to appear, and the fea had overflown befide the bridge, down come the Welch fiercely out of the mountains, and fetting upon the diflieartened Englifh, killed or drowned their whole number, excepting Latimer, who 'by the fwimming of his horfe got fafe to the bridge. In this action, feveral worthy foldiers of the Englilh fide were loft ; among whom were Sir Lucas Thany, Robert Clifford, Sir Walter Lyndfey, two brothers of Robert Burnel bimop of Bath, with many others ; in all to the number of thirteen knights, feventeen young gentle- men, THE HISTORY OF WALES. men, and two hundred common foldiers. A little after, or as fome fay before, another engagement patted between the Englifh and the Welch, wherein the for- mer loft fourteen colours, the Lords Audley and Clif- ford the younger being (lain, and the king himfelf forced to retreat for fafety to the caftle of Hope. And while thefe things pafled in North Wales, the Earl of Glocefter and Sir Edmund Mortimer acted vigoroufly with their forces in South Wales ; and fighting the Welch at , Lhandeilo Fawr, overthrew them with the lofs of no confiderable perfon, faving William de Valence the king's coufin-german, and four knights befides. Prince Lhewelyn was all this while in Cardigan, wafting and deftroying all the coun- try, and principally the lands of Rhys ap Meredith, who very unnaturally held with the king of England in all thefe wars. But being at length tired with ac- tion, with a few men privately feparated himfelf from his army, and came to Buelht, thinking to cafe and re- fpite himfelf there undifcovered. But coming to the river Wye, he met with Edmund Mortimer and John Gifford, with a confiderable party of the people of that country which Mortimer was lord of. But neither party venturing to afiail the other, Prince Lhewelyn with one only fervant retired to a private grove in a neigh- bouring valley, there to confult with certain lords of the country, who had appointed to meet him. In the mean time Mortimer deicends from the hill, with in- tention to fall upon Lhewelyn's men ; which they per- ceiving, betook themfelves to the bridge called Pont Orewyn, and manfully defended the pafiage he was to crofs. Mortimer could effect nothing againft therrij till he had gaine^ the bridge, the river being impaf- fable , and to force them to quit it, feemed altogether impracticable. But at laft, the river was difcovered to be fordable a little below, and fo Helias Walwyn was detached with a party through the river, who unex- pectedly falling upon the backs of the defendants, eafily forced them to leave the bridge, and fave them- felves by flight. Prince Lhewelyn all this while in vain THE HISTORY OP WALES. 499 vain expected the lords of Buelht, and in fine con- tinued to wait fo long, till Mortimer having pafled over the bridge, furrounded the wood he was in with armed men. The prince perceiving himfelf to be be- trayed, thought to make his efcape to his men ; but the Englifli - -fo clofely purfued him, that before he could come in, one Adam Franclion, not knowing who he was, run him through with his fword, being unarmed. The Welch ftill expected the arrival of their prince, and though but a few in number, fo gal- lantly maintained their ground, that in fpite of the far greater number of the Englifh, they were at length with much ado put to flight. The battle being over, Frandton returned to plunder his dead ; but perceiving him to be the prince of Wales, he thought himfelf to have obtained a fufficient prize, and thereupon pre- fently chopt off his head, and fent it to King Edward at Conwey, who very joyfully caufed it to be placed upon the higheft pinnacle of the tower of London. And thus fell this worthy prince, the greateft, though the laft of the Britifh blood, betrayed mod bafely by the lords of Buelht, and being dead, mod unworthily dealt with by the king of England -, who, contrary to all precedents, treated a lawful prince like a traitor, and expofed his crowned head to the derifion of the multitude. Not long after, David the prince's brother was de- livered up by the Welch themfelves, and in a par- liament for that purpofe affembled at Shrewfbury, was condemned to die ; his head to be fent to accompany his brother's upon the tower of London, and his four quarters to the four cities of Briftol, Northampton, York, and Winchefter. Then the king for the eafier keeping the Welch in due fubjection, built two ftrong caftles in North Wales , the one at Conwey and the other at Caernarvon. There was none that now ftood out befides Rhys Fychan of Yftratywy ; and he find- ing David was gone, and himfelf like to do nothing to purpofe, fairly yielded himfelf up to the Earl of Hereford, who by the king's orders committed him prifoner 300 TH HISTORY OF WALES. prifoner to the tower of London; and fo all the coun- try of Wales became ever jftnce fubject to the crowrt of England. ' The PHINCES of WALES of ENGLISH! BLOOD. I NCE Lhewelyii and his brother David being fo bafely taken off, and leaving no body to lay any T2 . fpecious claim to the principality of Wales ; King Ed- i. ward by a flatute made at Ruthlan, incorporated and annexed it to the crown of England ; conftituting fe- yeral new and wholefome laws.; as concerning the di- vifion of Wales into feveral counties, the forth and manner of writs and proceedings in triabj with many others notjvery unlike the laws and conftitutions of the Englifn nation. But all this could never win the af- fei'tion of the Welch toward him ; who by no means would own him as their fovereign, unlefs he would con- defcend and agree to live and reign among them.' They .had not forgot "the cruel oppreffions and intolerable in- folencies of Englifh officers j and therefore they flatly told him, they would never yield obedience to any other, than a prince of their own nation, of their own language, and whole life and converfation was -fpotlefs and unblameable. King Edward perceiving the Welch to be refolute and inflexible, and abfolutely bent againft any other prince, than one of their own country, hap- pily thought of this politic, though dangerous expe- dient. Queen Eleanor was now quick with child, and ready to be delivered ; and though the feafon was very fevere, it being the depth of winter, the king fent for her from England, and removed her to Caernarvon cattle, the place defigned for her to lye in. When the time THE HISTORY OF W A L E S. 301 time of her delivery was come, King Edward called to him all the barons and chief perfons throughout all Wales to Ruthlan, there to confult about the publick good and fafety of their country. And being informed that his queen was delivered of a fon, he told the Welch nobility, that Whereas they had oftentimes intreated him to appoint them a pftnce, he having at this time occa- flon to depart out of the country, with their; requeft, upon condition they would allow of, would comply and obey him whom he mould name. The Welch readily agreed to the motion only with the fame referve, that he Ihould appoint them a prince of their own nation. King Edward afTured them, he would name fuch an one as was born in Wales, could fpeak no Englifh, and whofe life and converfation no body- could ftain -, whom the Welch agreeing to own and obey, he named his own fon Edward, but little before born in Caer- narvon caftle. King Edward having by thefe means deluded the Welch, and reduced the whole country of Wales to his own devotion, began to reward . his followers with other mens properties, and beftowed whole lordfhips and towns in the midft of the country upon Engli'h lords, among whom Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln ob- tained the lordlhip of Denbigh -, Reginald Grey, fecond fon to John Lord Grey of Wilton, the lordlhip of Ruthyn. This Henry Lacy was fon to Edmund Lacy, the fon of John Lacy, Lord of Halton Pom- fret, and conftable of Chefter, who married Marga- ret the eldeft daughter, and one of the heirs of Robert Quincy Earl of Lincoln. This Henry Lacy lord or Denbigh married the daughter and fole heir of Wil- liam Longfpear Earl of Salifbury, by whom he had iffue two ions, Edmund and John, who both died young, one by a fall into a very deep well within the caftle 1 of Denbigh; and a daughter named Alicia, who was married to Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lan- cafter, who in right of his wife was Earl of Lincoln and Sarum, Lord of Denbigh, Halton Pomfret, and conftable of Chefter. Aiter his death, King Ed- ward 02 THE HISTORY OF WALES. ward II. beftowed the faid lordfhip of Denbigh upon Hugh Lord Spencer Earl of Winchefter, upon whofe deceafe, King Edward III. gave it, together with many other lordfhips in the marches, to Roger Mor- timer Earl of March, in performance of a promife he had made, whilft he remained with his mother in France, that as foon as he mould come to the pof- fefiion" of the crown of England, he would beftow upon the faid Earl of March, to the value of a thou- fand pound yearly in lands. But within few years af- ter, Mortimer being attainted of high treafon, King Edward beftowed the laid lordfhip of Denbigh upon Montague Earl of Salisbury ; but it was quickly re- flored again to the Mortimers, in which houfe it con- tinued, till the whole eftate of the Earls of March, came with a daughter to the houfe of York, and fo to the crown, Richard Duke of York, grandfather to Edward the fourth, having married the fole daughter and heir of the houfe of the Mortimers. And fo it continued in the crown to Queen Elizabeth's time, who in the fixth year of her reign, beftowed the faid lordfhip upon her great favourite Robert Earl of Leicefter, who was then created Baron of Den- bigh. After him it returned again to the crown, where it has continued to this prefent year 1696, when his prefent Majefty granted a patent under the Great Seal to William Earl of Portland, for the lordfhips of Denbigh, Bromfield, and Yale. Some of the Welch reprefentatives, perceiving how far fuch a grant en- croached upon the properties and privileges of the fubjec~b, difclofed their grievances to the honourable Houfe of Commons, who after fome confideration, refolved (nemme contradicente) that a petition mould be prefented to his Majefty by the body of the whole Houfe, to requeft him ro recall his grant to the faid Earl of Portland ; which was accordingly done in the manner following : May THE HISTORY OF WALES. May it pleafe Your Moft Excellent Majefty, WE Your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fub- jeds, the knights, citizens, and burgefies in parliament aflembled; humbly lay before Your Ma- jefty, That whereas there is a grant pafllng to Wil- liam Earl of Portland, and his heirs, of the manors of Denbigh, Brom6eld, and Yale, and divers other lands in the principality of Wales; together with fe- yeral eftates of inheritance, enjoyed by many of Your Majefty's fubjefts by virtue of antient grants from the crown : That the faid manors, with the large and extenfive royalties, powers, and jurifdictions to the fame belong- ing, are of great concern to Your Majefty and the crown of this realm : and that the fame have been ufually annexed to the principality of Wales, and fettled on the Princes of Wales for their fupport: and that a great number of Your Majefty's fubjects, in thofe parts, hold their eftates by royal tenure, under great and valuable compofitions, rents, royal payments, and fervices to the crown and princes of Wales -, and have by fuch tenure great dependance on Your Ma- jefty and the crown of England ; and have enjoyed great privileges and advantages with their- eftates, un- der fuch tenure. We therefore moft hum.bly befeech Your Majefty, to put a ftop to the pafllng this grant to the Earl of Portland, of the faid manors and lands , and that the fame may not be difpofed from the crown, but by confent of parliament : for that fuch grant, is in dimi- nution of the honour and intereft of the crown, by placing in a fubjecb, fuch large and extenfive royal- ties, powers, 'and jurisdictions, which ought only to be in the crown ; and will fever that dependance, which fo great a number of Your Majefty's fubjects in thofe parts, have on Your Majefty and the crown, by rea- fon of their tenure; and may be to their great oppref- fion in thofe rights which they have ptirchafed, and hitherto enjoyed with their eftates : and alfb, on occa- ficn 303 304 THE HISTORY OF WALES. fion of great vexation to many of Your Majefty's fubjefts, who have long had the abfolute inheritance of feveral lands (comprehended in the faid grant to the Earl of Portland) by antient grants from the crown. His M A j E s T Y'S Anfwer. Gentlemen, I Have a kindnefs for my Lord Portland ; which he has deferred of Me, by long and faithful fervices ; but I mould not have given him thefe lands, if I had imagined the Houfe of Commons could have been concerned ; I will therefore recall the grant, and find fome other way of mewing My favour to him. The lordfhip of Ruthyn continued in the pofTcf- fion of the Greys, till the reign of Henry VII. when George Grey Earl of Kent, and Lord of Ruthyn, upon fome bargain, pafled the fame over to the king, fince which it has been in the pofleflion of fome of the Earls of Warwick, and after wards came to the Mid- dletons of Chirk caftle in the county of Denbigh, where it dill continues ; being now enjoyed by the right worfhipful Sir Richard Middleton, baronet. But befides Henry Lacy and Reginald Grey, feveral other gentlemen of quality came at this time with King Edward to North Wales, who in fome time be- came to be men of greac pofiefiions and fway in the country, whofe potterity enjoy the fame to this time. But he. that expected to fare beft in the di- ftribution of thefe lordfhips and eflates in Wales, was one Rhys ap Meredith a Welchman, and one that, contrary to the allegiance fworn to his prince, and his duty to his native counyy, had ferved the king of England, in all thefe wars, and done the greateft hurt of any man to the intereft of Prince Lhewelyn. For thefe great fervices done to King Edward, Rhys expeded no lefs than to be promoted to THE HISTORY OF WALES. 305 to the higheft preferments ; whom the king after the Prince of Wales's overthrow firft dubbed knight, and afterwards fed him with fair words and great promifes. But when he, and all his neighbours and country- -men had fubmitted themfelves to the governmentbf the king of England; it happened that the Lord Pain Tiptoft, warden of the king's caftles which joined to Rhys's country, and the Lord Alan Plucknet, the king's fleward in Wales, cited Sir Rhys ap Mere- dith, with all the reft of the country, to the king's court ; which he refufing to do, alledging his antient pri- vileges and liberties, together with the king's promifes to him, the aforefaid officers proceeded againft him -according to law. Whereupon Sir Rhys being greatly A>D - 128 *' vexed to be thus ferved by thofe whofe intereft he had all this while fo warmly efpoufed, thought to be re- venged of Pain Tiptoft, and the reft of the En- glim. And to that end, having drawn together fome of his tenants and countrymen, he fell upon the faid Pain Tiptoft; between whom feveral fkirmifhes .after- wards happened, and feveral men were flain on both fides. King Edward was now at Arragon to compofe the differences betwixt the kings of Arragon and Naples ; but being informed of the difturbances which had hap- pened in Wales, betwixt his minifters there, and Sir Rhys ap Meredith ; he wrote to his latter, requiring him to keep the peace, till his return ; at what time he would redrels all grievances, and reduce matters to a good and reafonable order. But Sir Rhys hav- ing already waited fufficiently upon the king's pro- mifes, and being now in a good condition to offend his enemies by force of arms, would not give over the enterprize he faw fo promifmg, but marching with his forces to his enemies' lands, burnt and fpoiled feveral towns belonging to the Englifh. Upon this, the king fent to the Earl of Cornwal, whom he had appointed his deputy during his, ab- fence, to march with an army into Wales, to reprefs the infolencies, and to prevent any farther diforderly attempts of the Welch. The Earl accordingly pre- X pared 3 o6 THE HISTORY OF WALES. pared an army and went againft Sir Rhys's, whofe army he quickly difperfed, and overthrew his caftle of Drefolan, but not without the lofs of fome of his chief men: For as they befieged and undermined the faid caftle, the walls unexpectedly fell down, by which unlucky accident, feveral of the Englilh were oppref- fed and bruifed to death, among whom were the Lord Strafford, and the Lord William de Monchency. But within a while after, Robert Tiptoft Lord Deputy of Wales, raifed a very powerful army againft Sir Rhys, and after a (laughter of 4000 of the Welch, took him prifoner, who the Michaelmas following, at the king's going to Scotland, was condemned and executed at York. A. D. 1293. But the death of Sir Rhys did not put a final pe- riod to all the quarrels betwixt the Englifh and Welch, for in a mort time after, there happened a new occafion for the Welch to murmur againft, and upbraid the government of the Englilh over them. King Edward was now in actual enmity and war with the king of Francei for the carrying on of which, he wanted a liberal fubfidy and fupply from his lub- jects. This tax was with a great deal of paffion and reluctancy levied in divers places of the kingdom, but more efpecially in Wales, the Welch being never acquainted with fuch large contributions before, vio- 1194. lently ftormed and exclaimed againft it. But not being fatisfied with villifying the king's command, they took their own captain Roger de Pulefdon, who was appointed collector of the faid fubfidy, and hanged him up, together with divers others who abettted the collecting of the tax. Then the Weft Wales men chofe Maelgon Fychan for their captain, and fo enter- ing into Caermardhyn and Pembroke (hires, they cru- elly harrafied all the lands that belonged to the lin- lim, and then returned laden with confiderable booty. The Glamorganfhire men, and they towards the fouth parts, chofe one Morgan for their leader and fet upon the Earl of Glocefter, whom they forced to make his cfcape out of the country ; and fo Morgan was put in pofleffion of thofe lands which the anceftors of the Earl THE HISTORY OF WALES. 307 Earl of Glocefter had forcibly taken away from Mor- jgan's forefathers. On the other fide, the Nouh Wales fmen fet up -one Madoc related to the laft Lhewelyn flain at Buelht, who having drawn together a great number of men, came to Caernarvon, and fetting upon the Englifh, who in great multitudes had then refortecl thither to a fair, flew a great many,and afterwards fpoiled and ranfacked the whole town. King Edward being acquainted with thefe different infurreftions and re- bellions in Wales, and defirous to quell the pride and ilubbornefs of the Welch, but molt of all to revenge the death of his great favourite Roger de Pulddon, recalled his brother Edmund Earl of Lancafter, and Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and lord of Denbigh, who with a confidcrable army were ready to embask for Gafcoign, and countermanded them into Wales. Being arrived there, they paffed. quietly forward, till they came to Denbigh, and as foon as they drew near unto the caftle, upon St. Martin's day the Welch with great fury and courage faced them, and joining bat- tle, forced them back with a very confiderable lofs. Polydore Virgil fays, (but upon what authority is not known) that the Welch obtained this victory rather upon the account that the Englifli army was hired with fuch money as had been wrongfully taken out of the abbies and other religious places, fo that it was a judgment from above, more than the force of the Welch, that overcame the Englilh army. But be the caufe of it what it frill, it is certain the Englim were vanquifhed, upon which account King Edward came in perfon to Wales, and kept his Chriftmas at Aber- conwey, where Robert Winchelfey archbifliop of Can- terbury being returned from Rome, came to him, and having done homage, returned honourably again to Eno-land; But as the king advanced farther into the country, having but one part of his army with him, the Welch fet upon and took mod of his carriages, which contained a great quantity of victuals and pro- vifion, fo that the king with all his followers were con-' (trained to endure a great deal of hardships, in fo much that at laft water mixed with honey, and very X 2 coarie THE H I S T O R Y OF W A L E S; coarfe and ordinary bread with the falteft meat, were accounted the greateft delicacies for his Majefty's own table. But their mifery was like to be greater, had not the other part of the army come in time, becaufe the Welch had encompafled the king round, in hopes to reduce him to the utmoft diftrefs, by reafon that the water was fo rifen, that the reft of the army could not get to him. But the water within fome time a- ter abating, the remainder of the army came in, where- upon the Welch prefently retired, and made their efcape. One thing is very remarkable of King Ed- ward during his diftrefs at Snowden, that when the army was reduced to very great extremity, a fmall quantity of wine was found, which they thought to referve for the king's own ufe. But he to prevent any difcontent, which might thereupon be raifed in his foldiers ablblutely rdfufed to tafte thereof, telling them, ' That in time of neceffity all tilings mould be common, and as he was the caule and author of their diftrefs, he would not be preferred before them in his diet.' But whilft the king remained in Snowden, the Earl of Warwick being informed that a great number of Welch were afiembled, and had lodged themfelves in a certain valley betwixt two woods, chofe out a troop of horfe, together with fome crofs-bows and archers, and fet upon them in the night-time. The Welch being thus furprifed and unexpectedly encompafied about by their enemies, made the beft hafte they could to oppofe them, and fo pitching their fpears in the ground, and directing the points towards their ene- mies, endeavoured by fuch means to keep off the horfe. But the Earl of Warwick having ordered his battle fo, as that between every two horfes there flood a crofs-bow, fo gauled the Welch with the fliot of the quarrels, that the fpear-men fell apace, and then the horfe breaking eafily in upon the reft, bare them down with io great a (laughter, as the Welch had never received before. After this, King Edward to prevent any more rebellious attempts of the Welch, cue TH E H I S T O R Y OF W A L E S. 309 cut down all the woods in Wales, wherein, in any time of danger, they were wont to hide and fave them- felves. And for a farther fecurity, he repaired and fortified all the caftles and places of ftrength in Wales, and built the caftle of Bewmoris in the ifle of Angle-' 'fey, and fo having put all things in a fettled pofture, and punifhed thofe that had been the occafion of the death of Roger de Pulefdon, he returned with his army ' into England. But as foon as the king had left the Welch, Madoc, who, as it is faid before, was chofen captain by the North Wales men gathered fome forces together, and came to Ofweftry, which prefently yielded to him. And then meeting with the Lord Strange near Knookine, who with a detachment of the marchers came to oppofe him, gave him battle, vanquifhed his forces, and miferably ravaged his country. The like fuccefs he obtained a fecond time againft the marchers, but at laft they brought together a very great number of men, and met Madoc marching towards Shrewsbury, upon the hills of Cefn Digolh, not far from Camrs ca- ftle, where after a bloody fight on both fides, Madoc was taken prifoner, and his army vanquifhed and put to flight. Then he was fent to London, and there fen- tenced to remain in perpetual imprifonment in the Towerj thqugh others affirm, that Madoc was never taken, but that after feveral adventures and fevere con- flicts, whereby the Welch were reduced to great extre- mities, he came in and fubmitted himfelf to the king, who received him upon condition he would not defift to purfue Morgan captain of the Glamorganshire men, till he brought him prifoner before him. Ma- doc having performed this, and the whole country being peaceable and undifturbed, feveral hoftages from the chiefeft nobility of Wales for their orderly and quiet behaviour were delivered to the king, who dif- poied of them into divers caftles in England, where they continued in fafe cuftody till the end of the war, which was prefently commenced with Scotland. In the 29th year of King Edward's reign, the prince A D . lp of Wales came down to Chefter, and received homage of all the freeholders in Wales as follows, Henry . X 3 Earl 3 ip THE HISTORY OF WALES. Karl of Lancafter for Mohmouth ; Reginald Gray for Ku'hyn; Foulke Fitzwarren. for his lands -, the Lord .William Martyn for his lands in Cemaes; Roger Mor- timer for his lands in Wales ; Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln for Rhos and Rhyfoneioc; Robert Lord Mon- talt, for his lands, and GrufFydh Lord of Poole, for the lordfhip of Powys, at the lame time paid their ho- mage Tudor ap Grono of" Anglefey, Madoc ap Tudor archdeacon of Angleiey, Eineon ap Howel of Caernar- von, Tudor ap GrufFydh, Lhewelyn ap Ednyfcd, Gruf- fydh Fychan fon of GrufFydh ap lorwerth, Madoc Fy- chan Denglrield, Lhewclyn bifhop of St. Afaph, and Richard de Puleklon. 1'his lafl in the twelfth year of King Edward was conftituted fheriff of Caernar- von for life, with the ftipend of forty pounds flerling yearly. At the fame place, Gruffydh ap Tudor, Ithel Fychan, Ithel ap Blahyn, with many more did their homage. Then the prince came to Ruthlan, where the Lord Richard de Sutton Baron of Malpas, paid homage and fealty for the faid barony of Malpas. Thence the prince removed to Conwey, where Eineon bifhop of Bangor, and David abbot of Maynan did their homage ; as did Lewis de Felton fon of Richard Felton, for the lands, which his father held of the prince in Maelor Saefncg, or Englifh Maelor. John Earl Warren fwore homage for the lordfhips of Brom- field and Yale, and his lands in Hope-Dale, at Lon- don in the chapel of the Lord John de Kirkby fome- tinje bifhop of Ely ; as alfo a while after, Edmund Mortimer for his lands of Cery and Cydewen. But befides all thefe, there paid homage to the prince of Wales at Chefter, Sir Grnflfydh Llwyd fon of Rhys ap GrufFydh ap Ednyftd Fychan, a ftout and a valiant gentleman, though not very fortunate, and as Florus fays of Sertorius, he was rnagn* quidem, fed calamitcfte virtuiis. He was knighted by King Edward the Firll, upon his bringing the firit news of the queen's lafe delivery of a fon at Caernarvon caftle, the king holding then a parliament at Ruthlan. This Sir GrufFydh continued for fome time very gracious with THE HISTORY OF WALES. 3 u with the king of England, but obferving at length the intolerable opprefiion and tyranny exercifed by the English officers, efpecially by Sir Roger Mortimer Lord of Chirke and Juftice of North Wales, towards his countrymen the Welch, became fo far concerned and difcontented with fuch unwarrantable practices, that he prefently brake out into open rebellion, againfl the Englifh. And the better to effect what he purpofed, he treated with Sir Edward Bruce brother to Robert then king of Scotland, who had conquered Ireland, to bring or fend over fome forces to affift him in his defign againft the Englifh, upon which account he fent him the following letter. Nobili in Chrifto conqueflori domino EDVARDO, illuftriffirno regi Hibernian, fuus, fi. placet, GRIFFINUS LLWYD in North- Wall : reverentiam debitam in honore. /% U D I T A nobis veftri in terrarum conquifitione ,/X fama egregia in partibus noflris prsecipue debel- land. asmulos noftros & veftros, qui tarn vos quam nos ab hasreditatibus vi injufte expellendo deflruxerunt, & nomen noflrum memoriamque in terris delere conati fuerunt, ab initio fupra modum applaudimus, ut me- rito debemus, omnes unanimiter in partibus noftris, unde vobis ex parte Wallenfium nobilium fignifico per prasfemes, quod fi ad Walliam cum hominibus veftris dignemini venire, vel fi vos in propria perfona accederc illuc non poteritis, aliquem nobilem Albanen. comitem, baronem vel miletem, cum paucis, fi plurimi nequeant adefie, ad diclas partes noftras volueritis mandare. Pa- rati erimus omnes unanimiter dicem eo qupd nomen veflrum celebre ubique publicetur expug- nat ; fi quid Saxonibus in Albania, per illuftrem regeni fratrem veflrum ultim. per vos in Hibernia, per vos & nos in Wallia flatum veflrum priftinum per Brutum conquifnum recuperabimus, ipfifque flipped itatis, con- X 4 futts THE HISTORY OF WALES. fufis & difperfis, Britannia juxta difcretam veftras do minationis ordinationem inter Britones & Albaneos in pofterum divifa cohasreditabitur. Valeat dominatio veftra regia per cuncta fecula. To this letter of Sir Gruffydh Llwyd's, Sir Ed- ward Bruce returned the following anfwer. OMNIBUS defiderantibus a fervitute liberari falutem in eo. Qui deficferant in fe releavat. & liberat. ab anguftiis, temporibus opportunis, quia qui- libet chriftianus obligatur fuo proximo in omni angu- flia fubvenire, & pnecipue illis qui ex una radice ori- ginis five parentel^ & patrite primitus procefferunt, ideo compatientes veftrae fervituti & anguftias, jam Ar.glicana moleftia indigent! decrevimus (auxiliante altiffimo) veftro gravamini occurrere, & innaturalem & barbaricam totis viribus Anglicanam de veftris finibus expellere fervitutem, ut fie ficut a prin- cipio Albanians et Britannicus populus expulfis hofti- bus in perpetuum fiet unus. . Et quia nullus inimicus faciliter relevatur libenter prsecipimus, fi jugum Angli- canum in tantum vos deprimir, quantum nuper de- preflerat populum Scotianum, ut fie ex veftro concordi conamine, & noftro fuperveniente (juvaminedifponente femper divino) pofitis jura veftra & juftitiam recupe- rare & proprietatem hsteditatem pacifice poffidere. Veruntamen dei cum omnia ferviunt in ifto propofito filium invocamus, quod, non ex prscfumpti- one & ambitione injufti dominii talia attemptamus, fed ex mera compaffione effufionis innocentis veftri fan- guinis & fubjectionis intollerabilis & fignant : ad hoc quod vcllemus inimicorum veftrorum & noftrorum vi- res reprimere, qui nee pacem nee concordiam defide- rant. Imo veftram & noftram finalem deftruclionem, ficut a principio ingrefilonis eorum in Britanniam incef- fanter cliebus ac no&ibus molientur, & quia nullo mo- do eft noilrse confcientise quemquam dccipere, nee etiam dccipi a qr.ocunque, noftram intentionem & propofir. line tergiverfatione aliqua declaramus quod libenter fcircmus veftram voluncatem, fi rationem noftri THE HISTORY OF WALES. 313 laboris & conaminis intuitu revelationis veftrs accep- tare decrement, nobis committere profecutionem que- relae veftras & juftitias nee non capitale dominium veftri pro ut alius hactenus princeps vefter liberius habere confuevit. Ita quod vos omnes & finguli cujufcunque extiteritis conditionis priftinis hasreditatibus, terris, li- bertatibus, pofieffionibus confuetis, & omnibus condi- tionibus ad vos expectantibus integre & finaliter gau* deatis. Veftram igitur voluntatem fuper hi is & qui- bufcunque aliis in quibus vos confolari poterimus, Ii videatur expediens caute & celeriter nobis remandetis. Valete domini in domino. But for all that thefe letters patted betwixt them whether by reafon that Bruce's terms were conceived unreafonable, nothing however was concluded upon, and the whole treaty came to nothing. But Sir Gruf- fydh, though without any hopes of affiftance from the Scots, would not lay afide what he had once under- taken, and therefore having gathered all the forces he could, defperately fet upon, and almoft in an inftant over-ran all North Wales and the Marches, feizing upon all the caftles and ftrong holds through the coun- try. But all to no purpofe, for as the moft violent ftream is quickly over, fo Sir Gruffydh's army was prefently fpent, and then being met with by a ftrong detachment of Englilh, his party was eafily difcom- fited, and himfelf taken prifoner. The fame year being the i5th of the reign of King A D Edward the Second, his eldeft fon Edward born at Windfor, in a parliament holden at York, was created Prince of Wales, Duke of Aquitaine, and Earl of Chefter. This prince fucceeded his father in the kingdom of England, by the name of Edward the Third, one of the greateft and moft powerful mo- narchs that ever fat upon the Englifti throne. Edward born at Woodftock, eldeft fon and heir to 1343- King Edward the Third, was created prince of Wales, upon the i2th day of May in the i;th year of his father's reign, being then about fourteen years of age. 1 THE HISTORY OF WALES. He was a prince of incomparable qualifications, but fo fignally famous in martial affairs, that upon the account of the feveral actions he was engaged in, he received the name of Black Prince. He took John the French king prifoner at the battle of Poic- tiers, and fhamefully vanquifhed the French army in the battle of Crefly. He did not live to enjoy the crown, but died one year before his father in the fprty-fixth year of his age ; no prince was in his life- time better beloved, and after his death more la- mented by the Englim nation, who had he lived to fit at the helm, no one doubted but that he would have exceeded as to all qualifications, the moft glo- rious renown of the greateft of his anceftors. In the time of Edward the Third, lived Sir Tudor Vaughan ap Grono, defcended lineally from Ednyfed Vaughan, a perfon as to eftate, power and intereft, one of the chiefeft in North Wales. Upon fome motive, either of ambition or fancy, he aflumed to himfelf the honour of knighthood, requiring all peo- ple to call and ftile him Sir Tudor ap Grono, as if he did prognoiticate and forefee, that out of his loins mould arife thofe that fhould have power to confer that honour. King Edward being informed of fuch unparalleled prefumption, fent for Sir Tu- dor, and afked him, with what confidence he durft invade his prerogative, by afluming the degree of knighthood, without his authority, Sir Tudor replied, That by the laws and conftitution of King Arthur, he had the liberty of taking upon himfelf that title, in regard he had thofe three qualifications, which who- foever was endued with, could by thofe laws claim the honour of a knight. Firft, he was a gentleman. Second, he had a fuflicient eftate. And thirdly, he was valiant and adventurous 5 adding this withal, If my valour and hardinefs be doubted of, lo, here I throw down my glove, and for due proof of my cou- rage, I am ready to fight with any man, whatever he be. The king approving and liking well the man's forwardnefs and refolution, xvas eafily perfuaded to confirm the honour of knighthood upon him. From thi* THE HISTORY OF WALES. this Sir Tudor lineally defcended Henry the Seventh, king of England, who was the fon of Edmund Earl of Richmond, the fon of Sir Owen Tudor, fon to Meredith, the fon of this Sir Tudor ap Grono. After the death of the Black Prince, his fon Ri- chard born at Bourdeaux in France, being but ten years of age, was created prince of Wales at Ha- vering at Boure, on the twentieth day of November, A. D.I - and in the fiftieth year of Edward the Third, his grandfather's reign, whom he fucceeded in the crown of England. Henry born at Monmouth, fon and heir to Henry the Fourth, king of England, upon the fifteenth of October, in the firft year of his father's reign, was created prince of Wales at Weftminfter, who fuc- ceeded his father in the Englifh crown by the name of Henry the Fifth. Whilil Richard the Second reigned, one Owen ap Gruffydh Fychan, defcended of a younger fon of Gruffydh ap Madoc Lord of Bromfield, was not a little famous. This Owen had his education in one of the Inns of Court, where he became barrifter at law, and afterwards in very great favour and credit ferved King Richard, and continued with him at Flint Caftle, till at length the king was taken by Henry Duke of Lancafter. Betwixt this Owen and Reginald Lord Gray of Rhuthyn, there happened no fmall difference touching a common lying between the lordfhip of Rhuthyn, whereof Reginald was owner, and the lordfhip of Glendowrdwy in the pof- feflion of Owen, whence he borrowed the name of Glyndwr. During the reign of Richard the Second, Owen as being a courtier, and in no mean efteem with the king, did overpower Reginald, who was neither fo well befriended at court, nor beloved in the coun- try as Owen was. But after King Richard's depofal, the fcene was altered, and Reginald as then better befriended than Owen, entered upon the common, which occafioned Owen in the firft year of Henry the Fourth to make his complaint in parliament againft him, for thus, diverting him of his right. No redrefs being THE HISTORY OF WALES. being found, the biftiop of St. Afaph wifhed the lords to take care, that by thus flighting his complaint, they did not irritate and provoke the Welch to an infur- rection, to which fome of the lords replied, That they did not fear thofe rafcally barefooted people. Glyn- dwr therefore perceiving how his petition was flighted in parliament, and finding no other method to redrefs himfelf having feveral friends and followers, put himfelf in arms againft Reginald, and meeting him in the field, overcame and took him prifoner, and fpoiled his lordihip of Rhuthyn. Upon this many reforted to him from all parts of Wales, fome thinking him to be in as great favour now, as in King Ri- chard's days, others putting in his head, that now the time was come when the Britains by his means might again recover the honour, and liberties of their anceftors. But Reginald being thus kept prifoner, and very feverely handled by Owen, to terrify him into compliance with him in his rebellious aclings, and not permitted to have his liberty, under ten thoufand marks for his ranfom, whereof fix thoufand to be paid upon the feaft of St. Martyn, in the fourth year of Henry the Fourth, and to deliver up his eldeft fon with fome other peribns of quality as hoftages for the remainder i the king at the humble fuit of Reginald, feeing no other way for his enlargement, gave way thereto, authorifing Sir William de Roos, Sir Richard de Grey, Sir William de Willoughby, Sir William le Zouche, Sir Hugh Huls, as alfo, John Harvey, Wil- liam Vaus, John Lee, John Langford, Thomas Payne, and John Elneftow, to treat with Owen and his coun- cil, and to conclude in what they fhould conceive moft expedient and neceflary to be done for his re- demption. Whereupon they confenting to give the fum demanded by Glyndwr for his deliverance, the king gave licence to Robert Braybroke bifhop of London, as alfo to Sir Gerard Braybroke the father, and Sir Gerard the fon, then feoffees of divers lord- fhips for this Reginald, to fell the manor of Hertelegh in the county of Kent, towards the raifing of that mo- ney. And for the better enabling him to pay fo great a fine THE HISTORY OF WALES. 317 a fine, the king was pleafed to grant, that whereas it was enacted, that fuch perfons who were owners of lands in Ireland, and did not there refide, fhould for fuch their neglect, forfeit two parts of the profits of them to the king , that notwithftanding this aft, he jfhould forfeit nothing for non-refidence there, during the term of fix years next enfuing. This good fuccefs over the Lord Gray, together with the numerous refort of the Welch to him, and the favourable interpretation of the prophecies of Merdhyn, which fome conftrued very advantageoufly, made the fwelling mind of Glyndwr overflow its banks, and gave him fome hopes of refloring this ifland back to the Britains. Wherefore he fet upon the Earl of March, who met him with a numerous party of He- refordlhire men, but when they came to clofe, the Welchmen proved too powerful, and having killed above a thoufand men of the Englilh, they took the Earl of March prifoner. King Henry upon this was fre- quently requefted to ranfom the Earl but to no pur- pofe, for whether by reafon that Mortimer had a jufter title to the crown than himfelf he being the next heir in blood after King Richard who was as yet living, or becaufe of fome other private odium, the king would never hearken to his redemption, alledging that he wilfully threw himfelf into the hands of Glyndwr. But about the midft of Auguft, to correct the prefumptu- ous attempts of the Welch, the king went in perfon with a great army into Wales -, but by reafon of ex- traordinary excefs of weather, which fome attributed to the magic of Glyndwr, he was glad to return fafe. But the Earl of March perceiving that he was not like to obtain his liberty by King Henry's means, whether out of compliance, by reafon of his tedious captivity, or affection to the young lady, he agreeci to take part with Owen againft the king of England, and to marry his daughter ; with thern joined the Earl of Worcefter, and his brother the Earl of Nor^ thumberland, with his fon the valiant Lord Percy, who confpiring to depofe the king of England, in the houfe pf the archdeacon of Bangor, by their deputies chvided As 318 T E H H I STORY OF WALES. the realm amongft them, caufing a tripartite indenture to be made, and to be fealed with every one's feal : by which covenant all that country lying betwixt the Severn and the Trent, fouthward, was afilgned to the Earl of March -, all Wales, and the lands beyond the Severn, weftward, were appointed to Glyndwr ; and all from the Trent, northward to the Lord Percy. This ivas done (as fome faid) through a foolifh credit they gave to a vain prophecy, as though King Henry was the execrable moldwarp, and they three the dragon, the lion, and the wolf which mould pull him down, and diftribute his kingdom among them- felves; After that they had exhibited articles of their grievances to King Henry, and divulged their rea- ibns for taking up arms ; at length they marched with all their power towards Shrewfbury to fight the king, depending mainly upon the arrival of Glyndwr and his Welchrnen. But the matter was gone fo far, that whether he came in or no, they muft fight, and fo both armies being joined, the king's party pre- vailed, young Percy being (lain upon the fpot, and Douglas, bcfides mod of the Englifh of quality, who with a party of Scotch had come to the aid of the confederates, was taken prifoner, but afterwards honourably fet at liberty by the intercefiion of the prince of Wales. In the mean time the Earl of Northumberland was marching forward with a great party from the North, but the king having fettled matters about Shrewfbury, coming to York, and fending to him to lay down his arms, he volunta- rily fubmitted and difmified his forces. Then the king returning from Yorkfhire, determined to pafs over to North Wales, to chaftife the prefnmptuous practices of the immorigerous Welch, who after his departure from Shrewfbury, had made in-roads into the marches, and done much hurt to his En- glifh fubjects. But other bufinefs of greater con- fequence intervening, he detached his fon the prince of Wales, who took the caftle of Aberyftwyth, which was quickly again retaken by Owen Glyndwr, who THE HISTORY OF WALES. 3^ who thruft into it a ftrong garrifon of Welch. But .in the battle of Hulke fought upon the fifteenth of March, the Welch received a very confiderable blow from the prince's men, Glyndwr's ibn being taken prifoner, befides fifteen hundred more taken and flain. After this, we hear little of Glyndwr, excepting that he continued and perfifted to vex and plague the Englifh upon the marches, to the tenth year of King Henry's reign, when he miitrably ended his life ; being as Hol-Hoiiinflu lingfhed reporteth towards his latter days driven to that extremity, that defpairing of all comfort, he fled and lurked in caves and other the moft folitary places, fearing to (hew his face to any creature, till'at length being flarved for hunger and lack of fuflenance, he miferably ended his life. But thefe rebellious practices of Glyndwr, highly exafperated King Henry againfl the Welch, infomuch that feveral rigorous and unmerciful laws were en- acted, relating to Wales, which in effect deflroyed all the liberties of the Welch fubject. They were made incapable of purchafing any lands, or to be elected members of any county or borough, and to undertake any office, whether civil or military in any town incorporated. If any fuit at law happened betwixt an Englishman and a Welchman, the for- mer could not be convicted, but by the fentence of an Englifli judge, and the verdict of an Englifh jury \ befides that any Englishman who married a Welch- woman was thereby forthwith disfranchifed from all the liberties of an Englifh fubject. It was further enacted, that no Welchman mould be in pofTcflion of any caftle, or other place of flrength, and that no victuals or armour mould be brought into Wales, without a fpecial warrant from the king or his coun^ cil ; and farther, that no Welchman was capable of undertaking the office of juftice, chamberlain, fherirT or any other place of truft in any part of Wales, notwithftanding any patent or licenfe heretofore given to the contrary. Thefe, with many others moft rU gorous and unjuft laws, particularly that forbidding any 320 THE HIS TORY or WALES. any Wclchman to bring up his children to learning, or to bind them apprentices to any trade or occu- pation, were enacted by the king againfl the Welch ; fo that nothing could cool his difpleafure, but that a whole nation fhou Id be wrongfully opprdTed, for the fault and mifcarriage of one perfon. But one might think, that this was no politic method to fecure a nation in its allegiance, which upon lighter affronts was ufed to defend its privileges -, and therefore we may well attribute the quiet difpofition of the Welch towards this time, to the moderation of Henry the Fifth, who within a little time fucceeded his father in the crown of England. Contemporary with Glyndwr was Sir David Gam, fo called by reafon he had but one eye, the fon of Lhewelyn ap Howel Vaughan of Brecknock, by Mawd the daughter of lefan ap Rhys ap Ifor of Eluel. He was a great ftickler for the Duke of Lancafter, and for that reafon became a mortal ene- my to Glyndwr, who having his education as is faid before, at one of the Inns of Court, got to be pre- ferred to the fervice of King Richard the Second, who, as Walfingham, lays, made him his Scutifer^ or fhield- bearer. But being informed that his mafter Richard was depofed and murdered, and withal being pro- voked by feveral wrongs and affronts done him by his neighbour the Lord Gray of Rhuthyn, whom King Henry greatly countenanced, and looking upon Henry as an ufurper, he caufed himfelf to be pro- claimed Prince of Wales. And for a better grace of the matter he feigned himfelf to be defcended by a daughter from Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh the laft prince-, whereas in truth, he came paternally but from a younger brother of the houfe of Powys. But as ambition has no moderation, fo Glyndwr for a time aded the part of a prince, and fum- inoned a parliament to meet at Machynlleth, whi- ther the nobility and gentry of Wales appeared, and among the reft Sir David Gam, but not upon tlie fame defign with the reft, having an intention in this THE HISTORY OF WALES. 32 i this meeting to murder Glyndyfwr. But the plot being difcovered, and Sir David fecured, he had liked to undergo prefent execution, had not Glyn- dyfwr's beft friends, and the greateft upholders of his caufe, pleaded in his behalf, by whofe intercef- liori he was prevailed with to grant Sir David both his life and liberty upon condition he would ever after continue true and loyal to him. Sir David promifed very loudly, but with the refervation never to perform ; for as foon as he came to his own coun- try, where he was a perfon of very confiderable fway and intereft, he did exceedingly annoy and moleft thofe that any way favoured or adhered to Glyn- dyfwr. While Sir David lay in prifon at Mach- ynlleth, for his attempt againft Owen's life^ this Englyn was made upon him. Dafydd Gam dryglam dreigl, iti yn wari frwydr^ Fradwr RhTiart Bhrenin, Llwyr y rhoes Diawl (hawri hwyl Flin Y fath yftad) ei fys ith Dim i. e< David Gam thou wilt be a wanderer and an ill end will come to thee. Thou wilt be weak in battle, thou traitor to King Richard. So eagerly vexatious in thy ftation that the devil wholly entered thy heart. But Glyndyfwr receiving information how that Sir David Gam contrary to the promife he had made at his releafement, endeavoured all he could to deftroy his intereft among the Welch, entered the marches, and among other tokens of his in- dignation, burned the houfe of Sir David, and as the report goes, calling to him one of Sir Da- vid's tenants, fpake to him thus merrily in verfej Y O Gweli 342 TH B H I S T O R Y OF W A L E S, O Gweli di wr coch Cam Yn ymofyn y Girnigwen Dywed ei bod hi Tan y Lan A nod y glo ar ei Phenn. i.e. 1 If them feeft a red-haired, fquint-eyed * man looking for the loft fheep, tell him me is below the hill, and he may know her as ihe is marked with fire. But Sir David had the Kick to efcape his reach, and was conftrained to retire to England, where he lived for the moft part at court, till the death of Glyndyfwr. When King Henry the Fifth went with an army to France againft the French king, Sir David Gam brought into his fervice a numerous party of ftout and valourous Welchmen, who upon all occafions exprefifed; -their courage and refolution. In the bat- tle of Agincourt, news being brought to the king that the Frbndi army was advancing towards him, and that they were exceeding numerous, he detached Captain Gam, to obferve their motions, and to re- view their number. The Captain having narrowly eyed the French, found them twice to exceed the Englrfh, but not being in the leaft daunted at fuch a multitude, he returned to the king, who enquiring of him what the.num'ber of the French might be, he made anfwer, An't pleafe you my liege, they are enough to be killed, enough to run away, and enough to be taken prifoners. King Henry was well pleafed, 2nd much encouraged with this reiblute and un- daunted arifwer of Sir. David's, whofe tongue did not exprefs more valour than his hands performed. For in the heat of battle, the king's peribn being in danger, Sir David charged the enemy with that eagernefs and malouline bravery, that they were glad to * Souint-eycJ is Gam in Welch, from which he took his name, rnd his family continue it to this day, and all fquint with one (ye: Sir David Gam was the >perfon who Shakefpeare described n the character of Captain Fltulin, THE HISTORY OF WALES. give ground, and fo fecured the king, though with the lofs of milch blood, and alfo his life, himfelf and his fon-in-law Roger Vaughan, and his kinfman Wal- ter Llwyd of Brecknock, having received their mor- tal wounds in that encounter. When the kino- heard of their condition, how that they were pail all hopes of recovery, he came to them, and in recompence of their good fervices, knighted them all three in the field, where they foon after died and fo ended the life, but not the fame of the fignally valiant Sir Da- vid Gam. Edward of Weftminiler, the fole ifTue of that un- fortunate prince King Henry the Sixth, by Margaret the daughter of Rayner duke of Anjou, and titular king of Jerufalem, Sicily, and Arragon ; was created Prince of Wales, in a parliament held at Weftminfter, on the fifteenth day of March, in the thirty-fecond year of his father's reign. When the day was loft at Tewkefbury, this young prince thought to make his efcape by flight, but being unfortunately taken, and brought to the prefence of King Edward the Fourth, who then fat upon the helm, made fuch refo- lute and unexpected replies, that he put the king into fuch a paflion, that he fmote him on the mouth with his gauntlet; and then his brother Richard the Crouch- back, ran him into the heart with his dagger. Edward, born in the Sanctuary at Weftminfter, the eldeft fon of King Edward the Fourth, was, after his father's expulfion out of England, in the forty-ninth year of King Henry the Sixth, created Prince of Wales and Earl of Cheiter, in the eleventh year of his father's reign. Upon the death of Edward the Fourth, this young prince being then at Ludlow in the marches of Wales, was prefently fent for to London, and pro- claimed king of England, but never lived to be crowned ; for his uncle Richard duke of Glocefbr, who was appointed his protector, moft villainoufly made him away, together with his brother the duke of York ; and afterwards was himfelf proclaimed and crowned king, Y 2 Edward 3 2 3 THE HISTORY OF WALES. Edward the Fourth, in his wars againft Henry the Sixth, was very much afiifted by the Welch ; in re- compence of which fervice, he defigned to reform matters fo in Wales, as that intolerable oppreflion which they had hitherto endured, mould be regulated and taken off. And to that end, he meant to efta- bliih a court within the faid principality, and con- fhtuted John bifhop of Worcefter prefident of the prince's council in the marches -, who, together with Anthony Earl of Rivers, fat in the town-hall of Shrewfbury, and conftituted certain ordinances for the public good and tranquility of that place. But the matter proceeded no farther ; for the troubles and difquietnefs of his kingdom, coming heavy upon him, and the fhortnefs of his reign after his eftablilh- ment not permitting, he was forced to leave that to others, which himfelf thought once to bring about. Edward, born at Middleham near Richmond in the county of York, the only fon of King Richard the Third, was at ten years of age created by his father Prince of Wales, and died foon after. Arthur, the eldeft fon of King Henry the Seventh, born at Winchester, was in the leventh year of his father's reign created Prince of Wales. About the fifteenth year of his age, being then newly married to Katherine the Infanta of Spain, he was fent by his father into Wales, that by his prefence he might Wokins keep that country in better awe. With him King r- 7^9- Henry fent Dr. William Smith, afterwards made bi- fhop of Lincoln, as prefident of his council ; toge- ther with Sir Richard Pool, his chamberlain, Sir Henry Vernon, Sir Richard Crofts, Sir David Philip, Sir William Udal, Sir Thomas Englefield, Sir Peter New- ton, and others, to be his counsellors and directors in his management of affairs. But the prince had not continued long there, hut he fell fick at his caftle at Ludlow, of which indifpofition he mortly after died, and was buried with great iblemnity in the cathe- dral church of Worcefter. But the creating of his brother Henry duke of York Prince of Wales in his ftead, THE HISTORY OF WALES. 325 flead, was deferred for about the fpace of a month, to difcover whether the Lady Katherine was with child by Prince Arthur. But when it appeared for certain, me had not conceived ; on the eighteenth day of February, in the nineteenth year of his fa- ther King Henry the Seventh's reign, Henry duke of York was created Prince of Wales. King Henry the Seventh, being by his grandfather Owen Tudor delcended out of Wales, and having fufficiently experienced the affection of the Welch to^ wards him; firft of thofe, who upon his firft landing, i opportunely joined him under Sir Rhys ap Thomas, and then of thofe, who under the command of Sir William Stanley, Lord of Bromfield, Yale, and Chirk- land, aided him in Bofworth-field ; could not in ho- nour and equity, but bear fome regard to the mifer- | able (late and condition of the Welch, under the i Englifh government. And therefore this prudent prince, finding the calamities of the Welch to be in- fupportable, and feeing what grievous and unmerci- ful laws were enacted againlt them by his predecefibrs, he took occafion to rcdrefs and reform the fame, and granted to the Welch a charter of liberty and immu- nity, whereby they were releafed from the cruel op- | preffion, which fmce their fubjection to the Englifh I government, they had moft cruelly fuftained. And i feeing the birth and quality of his grandfather Owen Tudor was called in queftion, and that he was by many upbraided of being of a mean and ignoble pa- ; rentage ; King Henry directed a cornmiflion to the abbot of Lhan Egweft, Dr. Owen Pool canon of Hereford, and John King herald at arms, to make inquifition concerning the pedigree of the faid Owen ; who coming to Wales, made a diligent enquiry into this matter ; and by the afiiftance of Sir John Leyaf, Guttyn Owen Bardh, Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn ap Efan Fyclian, and others, in the confutation of the Britifh books of pedigrees, they drew up an exact genealogy of Owen Tudor, which upon their return they pi fente.d to the king. ' Y 3 Edward, 3 26 THE HISTORY OF WALES. Edward, fon to Henry the Eighth, by the Lady Jane Seymour, his third wife; was born at Hampton Court, on the twelfth of October; and upon the eighteenth of the faid month, was created Prince of "Wales, Duke of Cornwal, and Earl of Chefter. King Henry the Seventh, had already abrogated thofe unreafonable and intolerable laws, which the former kings of England, particularly Henry the Fourth, had made againft the Welch ; and now, King Henry the Eighth, willing to make a plenary reformation of what his father had wifely begun, thought it neceflary towards the good and tranqui- lity of both nations, to make the Welch fubject to the fame laws, and the fame government with the Engliflb. He underftood that the ufual hoftilities and depredations were ftill continued and kept up by both (ides upon the borders ; and though his father had eafed the yoke of the Welch, yet he perceived, that it did contribute but little towards the difannulling of that inveterate and implacable envy and animo- lity which raged in the marches. Therefore to re- medy this, otherwife unavoidable, diftemper, he con- cluded that it was the only effectual method, to incor- porate the Welch with the Englilh, that they being fubjecl: to the fame laws, might equally fear the vio- jft..D.i536.1ation of them. And accordingly, in the twenty-fe- ' venth year of his reign, an act of parliament patted to that purpofe, which together with another act in the thirty-fifth year of his reign, made a plenary incorpo- ration of the Welch with the Englifh, which union has had that blefled effect, that it has difpelled alj thofe unnatural differences which heretofore were fo rife and irreconcilable. When the Reformation was firfl eftablifhed in Wales, it was a mighty inconveniency to the vulgar people, fiich as were unacquainted with the Englifli tongue, that the bible was not tranflated into their native language. Queen Elizabeth was quickly ap- prehenfive of the inconveniency which the Welch in-: "curred, for the want of fuch a tranflation 5 and there J for THE HISTORY OF WALES; fore in the eighth year of her reign, an act of parlia- 15 6 9 . ment was pafled, whereby the bifhops of Hereford, St. David's, St. Afaph, Bangor, and LandafF, were ordered to take care that the Bible cqntaining the Old and New Teftaments, with the Book of Common Prayer, and Adminiftration of the Sacraments, be truly and exactly tranflated into the Britifh or Welch tongue, and that the fame fo tranflated, being by them perufed and approved, be printed to fuch a number at leaft ; as that every cathedral, collegiate and pa- church and chapel-of-eafe within the faid diocefe where that tongue is vulgarly fpoken, might be fupplied be- fore the firft of March, anno 1566, And from that time forward, the Welch divine fervice Ihould be ufed in the Britifh tongue, in all places throughout thofe dioceffes, where the Welch is commonly fpoke, after the fame manner as it was ufed in the Englifh tongue 5 and that the charge of procuring the faid Bible and Common Prayer, mould equally depend betwixt the parfon and the parifh : the former being obliged to pay one half of the expence ; and that the price of the book ihould be fet by the aforefaid bifhops, or by three of them at the leaft. But this act of parliament was not punctually obferved ; for the Old Teftament was whol- ly omitted, and only the New, with the Book of Com- mon Prayer and Adminiftration of the Sacraments, then tranflated, which tranflation was chiefly owing to Richard bifhop of St. David's, who was afiifted by William Salufbury, a perfect critick in the Welch tongue, and one excellently converfant in all Britifh antiquities. But in the year 1588, Dr. William Mor- gan, firft bifhop of Landaff, and then of St. Afaph, undertook the tranflation of the whole Bible ; and by the help of the bifhops of St. Afaph and Bangor, Ga- briel Goodman, dean of Weftminfter, David Powel, D. D. Edmund Price archdeacon of Merionyth, and Richard Vaughan, he effectually finifhed it. This was of fmgular profit and advantage to the Welch, to have the whole Scripture read and perufed in their own na- $}ye tongue 5 by which means they received a clearer Y 4 demon- 3 2* THE HISTORY or-WA-LES. demonftration of the corruptions of the church or* Rome, when they faw many of their principles appa- rently contradicting, and others not very firmly founded upon the Holy Scriptures. And on the other hand they perceived the necefiity and advantage of the Re- formation, they eafily difcovered that the whole doctrine of the church of England was found and orthodox, and that they were now happily delivered from that popifh flavery which their forefathers ignorantly adored; and therefore being convinced of the truth of their re- ligion, they became, and continued generally, very ftrict adherents and firm obfervers of the doctrine and dif- cipline of this church. And here by the bye, I cannot but obferve what a reverend writer has lately infmuated, relating to the chriftian religion planted in Wales. For that learned perfon in his funeral fermon upon Mr. Gouge, would fain induce the world to believe, that chriftianity was very corrupt and imperfedt among the Welch, before it was purified by that, whom he terms apoftolical man. Whereas it is notoriouily evident, that fince the Re- formation was fettled in that country, and the Bible, with the Book of Common Prayer, tranflated into the Welch tongue, no place has been more ex- act, in keeping to the ftrict rubrick and constitution of the Church of England, both as to the fubftance and form of worfhip. But what may more truly be attributed to Mr. Gouge, is that fince his travels into Wales, and the propagating of his doctrine among the ignorant of that country, prefbytery, which before had fcarce taken root, has daily increafed, and grown to 4 head. Henry, eldeft fon of King James the Firft, being arrived to the age of feventeen years, was created prince of Wales, on the 3Oth of May, anno 1610, but he dy- ]j ing of a malignant fever, about two years after ; his I brother Charles being fifteen years of age, was created prince of Wales in his room, anno 1615. For joy of this new creation the town of Ludlow, and city of" Condon, performed very great triumphs j and thq mor a THE HISTORY OF WALES. 329 more to honour this folemnity, the king made twenty- five Jcnights of the Bath, all lords* or barons' fons ; and the Inns of Court, to exprefs their joy, elected out of their body forty choice gentlemen, to perform folemn jufts and barriers. Charles, eldeft fon of King Charles the Firft, by Henrietta Maria, daughter to King Henry the "Fourth of France, was born May 29, 1630, and afterwards created prince of Wales. Since the happy incorporation of the Welch with the Englifh, the hiilory of both nations, as well as the people is united -, and therefore I fhall not repeat that which is fo copioufly and frequently delivered by the Englifh hiftorians ; but fhall conclude with Dr. Heylyn, c That fince the Welch have been in- corporated with the Englim, they have fhewed them- felv3s moft loyal, hearty and affectionate iubjefts of the ftate , cordially devoted to their king, and zealous in defence of their laws, liberties and religion, as wel} ^3 any of the beft of their fellow-fubjects.' APPENDIX APPENDIX. The return of a Commiffion fent into Wales by King Henry the Seventh, to fearch out the Pedigrees of Oweq. Tudor. JLlENRY the Seventh, king of England, &o fon of Edmund Earl of Richmond, fon of Owen ap Meredith, and of Queen Catherine his wife, daughter to Charles the Sixth, king of France. This Owen was fon of Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor, ap Gronw, ap Ednyfed Fychan, baron ot Brinfeinale in Denbigh-land, Lord of Knceth, Chiet Tuftice and chief of council to Lhewelyn ap lorwerth Drwyndwn prince of all Wales. And in the time of Prince Llewelyn grew a variance between King John of England and the faid prince ; whereupon Ednyfed came with the prince's holt, and men of war, and alfo a number of his own people, and met thefe Engirt lords in a morning, at what time thefe Lnglifh lords were hoftied and flain -, and immediately brought then- heads, being yet bloody, to the faid Prince Llewelyn. The prince, feeing the fame, caufed Ednyfed Fychan, from thenceforth to bear in his arms or Ihield three bloody heads in token of his victory, where he had torn in his arms before a Saracen's heads and lo APPENDIX. ever after this Ednyfed bore the faid arms, his fon> and his fon's fon, unto the time of Tudor ap Gronw, ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Ednyfed Fychan. And after this Ednyfed wedded one Gwenllian daughter to Rhys prince of South Wales, and had ifflie by her Gronw : which Ednyfed Fychan had in Wales divers goodly houfes, royally adorned with turrets and gar- rets ; fome in Anglefey, fome other Caernarvonfhire, and fome in Denbigh-land; but his chiefeft manor- houfe was in the commot of Crythin in Caernarvon- fliire, which was a royal palace, now decayed for want of reparations. Alfo he builded there a chapel in the worlhip of our lady, and had licenfe of the pope for evermore to fmg divine fervice therein for his foul, and his anceftors' and progenitors' fouls always ; and had authority to give his tythes and offerings to his * vide an chaplain there * ftarving , which Ednyfed Fychan was femng. { Qn to Ky ner a p J crs ap Gwgan, ap Marchudd, which was one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales, and fon to Kynan ap Elfyn, ap Mor, ap Mynan, ap Ifbwis Newintyrche, ap Ifbwis ap Cadrod Calch Efynydd, Earl of Dunftable and Lord of Northampton, ap Cy- wyd Cindion, ap Cynfelyn ap Arthuys, ap Morydd ap Cynnaw, ap Coel Godeboc king of Britain, of whom King Henry the Seventh defcended lineally by if- fue-male, and is fon to the faid Coel in the thirty- firft degree, as it is approved by old chronicles in Wales. Which Coel was fon of Tegfan ap Deheu- fraint, ap Tudbwyl, ap Urban, ap Gradd, ap Rhy- fedel, ap Rhydeirne, ap Endigant, ap Endeyrn, ap Enid, ap Endos, ap Enddolaw, ap Afalach, ap Af- fiech, ap Beli mawr king of Britain, of whom King Henry the Seventh defcendeth by iflTue-male, and is fon to him in forty-one degree. Which Beli was fon to Monnogon king, ap King Kaxor, ap King Pyr, ap King Sawl Benniffd, ap Rhytherch king, ap Ry- dion king, ap Eidol king, ap Arthafel king, ap Seif- filt king, ap Owen king, ap Caxho king, ap Bleuddyd king, ap Meirion king, ap Gwrguft king, ap Elydno king, ap Clydawc king, ap Ithel king, ap Urien king, A P P E N D I X. 333 king, ap Andrew king, ap Kereni king, ap Porrex king, ap Coel king, ap Cadell king, ap Geraint king, ap Elidr king, ap Morydd king, ap Dan king, ap Seifiilt king, ap Cyhelyn king, ap Gwrgan king (alias) Farfdrwch, ap Beli king, ap Dyfnwal king, ap Do- dion king, ap Enyd, ap Kwrwyd, ap Cyrdon ap Dy- fufarth Prydain, ap Aedd mawr, ap Antonius ap Seif- ilt king, ap Rhegaw daughter and heir of King Lyr, and wife of Henwin prince of Cornwall. This Lyr was fon of Bleuddyd, ap Rhunbaladr bras, ap Lleon, ap Brutus darian las, ap Effroc Cadarn, ap Mymbyr, ap Madoc, ap Locrine, ap Brutus which inherited firft this land, and after his name was called Britain, and had three fons Locrine, Kamber, and Albanactus. Locrine the eldeft, parted the ifle with his brethren, and kept half the land for himfelf, and called it Leogria. Kamber fecond fon had the land beyond Severn, and named it Kambria, in Englifh, Wales. Albanaclus had Scot- land, which he then called Albania after his own name. Of which Brute King Henry the Seventh is lineally defcended by iffue-male, faving one woman, and is fon to Brute in fivefcore degrees. How Owe?i grandfire to King Henry the Seventh, cometb of Beli mawr by Angharad, mother to JLdnyfed by iffue -female, by Gittin, Owen, and Sir John Leiaf's books. JL HE mother of Ednyfed was Angharad, daugh- ter of Hwfa, ap Cyner, ap Rhywallon, ap Dinged, ap Tudor Trefor, ap Mymbyr, ap Cadfarch, ap Gwr- genaw, ap Gwaethiawc, ap Bywyn, ap Biordderch, ap Gwriawn, ap Gwnnan, ap Gwnfiw frych, ap Cadell Dehurnlluc, ap Pafgan, ap Rhydwf, ap Rhudd Fedel frych, ap Cyndeirn, ap Gwrtheirn Gwrthenau, called in Englifh Vortiger, by whom King Henry the Se- venth, by the aforefaid Angharad, mother to Ednyfed Fychan, and wife to Cyner ap lers, ap Gwgon, is fon to 334 APPENDIX. to the faid Vortiger in thirty degrees. Which Vor- tiger was fon to Rhydeyrn ap Deheufraint, ap Eidi- gant, ap Endeirn, ap Enid, ap Endos, ap Enddolau, ap Afallach, ap Afflech, ap Beli mawr, to whom King Henry the Seventh is fon by Angharad, mother to Ednyfed Fychan in forty degrees. How King Henry the Seventh comet h of Beli mawr by Gwenllian wife to E,dnyfedPychan 3 and daugh- ter to the Lord Rhys, called Arglwydd Rhys, by ijjue -female. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Tudor, ap Gronw, ap Gwenllian, daughter to Rhys prince of South-Wales, ap Gruffydh prince, ap Rhys prince, ap Tudor mawr prince, ap Cadell prince, ap Rodri mawr, prince of all Wales. This Rodri had three fons, and divided the principality of Wales between them in three parts ; to Merfyn his firft fon, prince of North Wales, all North Wales, who died without iflvie ; and Anarawd prince of Powys, and Cadell prince of South Wales, of whom King Henry the Seventh defcendeth, by Gwenllian daughter to Prince Rhys, called Arglwydd Rhys, wife to Ednyfed Fy- chan ; and the faid King Henry the Seventh is fon to Rodri mawr in the feventeenth degree ; which Ro- dri mawr was fon to Merfyn firit king of Man, which wedded Effilt daughter and heir to Cynan Dyn- daethwy. This Merfyn frych was fon to Gwriad ap Elidur, ap Handdear Alcwn, ap Tegid, ap Gwiar, ap Dwywc, ap Llywarch hen, ap Elidur Lydanwin, ap Meirchion, ap Grwft, ap Cenaw, ap Coel Godeboc king of Bri- tain as before. This Coel was king of Britain and Earl of Colchefter, a right worthy king, to whom King Henry the Seventh is fon, by the faid Gwenl- lian wife to Ednyfed Fychan, in the thirty-firft de- gree, by the faid Gittin Owen, and Sir John Leiai's books. 4 How A -P E N D a X. How Owen Grandjlre to King Henry the Seventh cometh of Beli mawr, by Effillt daughter to Cynan Dyndaethwy. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Gwenllian daughter of Prince Rhys, ap GrufFydh ap Rhys, ap Tudor mawr, ap Engion, ap Owen, ap Howell Dda, ap Cadell, ap Rodri rnawr, ap Effillt daughter of Cynan Dyndaethwy and heir, Prince of Wales, ap Rodri Moelwynoc, ap Idwal jwrch, ap Cadwalader Fendigaid King of all Britain, to whom King Henry the Seventh is fon in the twenty fecond degree. Cadwalader was fon to | Cadwallan King, ap Cadfan King, ap lago, ap Beli, j ap Rhun, ap Maelgwn Gwynedd King, ap CafT- i wallan Lawhir, ap Eineon irth, ap Cynnedda weledig, ! ap Edeirn, which wedded Gwawl, Ferch Coel Gode- boc King, which Edeirn was fon to Padarn Peifrydd, ap Tegid, ap lago, ap Genedawc, ap Cain, ap Gwr- gain, ap Doli, ap Gwrtholi, ap Duiu, ap Gorddufu, ap Amwerid, ap Omwedd, ap Duve Brichwain, ap Owen, ap Affallach, ap Afflech, ap Beli mawr, to whom King Henry the Seventh is fon by the faid Gwenllian in the fiftieth degree. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Gwenllian, daughter to Arglwydd Rhys, fon to Gwenllian daughter of GrufFydh Prince, ap Cynan Prince of North Wales, fon of lago Prince, ap Idwall Prince, ap Meuric Prince, ap Id wall Foel Prince, ap Anarawd Prince, ap Rodri mawr Prince of all Wales, to whom King Henry the Seventh is fon by Gwenllian mother to the Arglwydd Rhys in the feven- teenth degree. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Tudor, ap Gronw, ap Gwenllian, Ferch Arglwydd Rhys, ap Gwladis, Ferch Rhywallon ap Cynfyn Prince of Powys, and Angharad wife to Cynfyn, daughter and heir to Meredith Prince of Powys, fon of Owen Prince of Powys and South- Wales, fon to Cadell Prince there. Which Owen ap Howell Dda, had two fons, Meredith and Eineon, and Owen their father gave the principality A P E N D* I X. principality of South Wales, to Eineon his fon, ana the Principality of Powys to Meredith his other fon. Which Meredith had iffue Angharad, that wedded Cynfyn, by whom he was Prince of Powys, which Cadell was fon to Rodri mawr Prince of all Wales, fon to Merfyn frych, &c. to Beli mawr, as above written by Guttin Owen's book. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Tudor, ap Gronw, ap Gwenllian, Ferch Arglwydd Rhys, ap Gruffydhi ap Rhys, ap Tudor, ap Eineon, ap Howell Dda, ap Cadell, ap Angharad, wife to Rodri mawr, daughter to Meyric ap Dyfnwal, ap Arthen, ap Seimllt, ap Clydawc, ap Artholes, ap Arnothen, ap Brothan, ap Seirwell, ap Ufla, ap Caredic, ap Cwnedda weledic, ap Edeirn, ap Padarn Peifrydd, which Edeirn wedded Gwawl ferch Coel Godeboc, Mother to Cwnedda weledyc, &c. How Owen cometh of Meuryc Lord of Gwent, by Morfydd's daughter, wife to Gronw ap Ednyfed Fychan. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Tudor, ap Morfydd, Ferch Meuryc L. of Gwent. How Owen comet b of Rodri mawr, by Angharad, daughter to Itbel Fycban, ap Ithel Llwyd, and ivife of 'Tudor ap Gronw , ap Rdmfed Fychan* Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Ang- harad, ferch Ithel Fychan, ap Ithel Llwyd, ap Ithel Gam, ap Meredith ap Vchdrud, ap Edwin King of Tegengle in Flintmire, How Owen cometh of Rodri mawr by Adleis t wife to Itbel Fycban t daughter to Ricarti Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw, ap Ang- harad Ferch Adleiswireto Ithel Fychan, daughter to Ricarr, ap Cadwalader, ap GrurTydh, ap Kynan Princc : APPENDIX, 337 Prince of North-Wales, ap lago, ap Idwal Foel, ap Anaravvd, ap Rodri Mawr, &c. all this by Gyttni Owen's book. How Owen cometh of Bell Mawr by Gwerfill Perch Madawc t or hen dwr, wife to Gronw ap Tudor, ap Gronw, ap Ednyfed Fycban. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gwerfill Ferch Madawc o'r hen dwr, ap lers, ap Madavvc, ap Me* redith, ap Bleddyn, ap Kynfin prince of Powis, &c and fo to Beli Mawr. How Owen comet b to Beli Mawr by the mother of the faid Gwerfill Perch Madawc. Owen ap Meredith, ap Tudor, ap Gwerfill Ferch Madawc o'r hen dwr, ap LleucU Ferch Angharad, Ferch Meredith, ap Madawc, ap Gruffudh Maelor prince of Powis. This Madawc ap Gruffudh Maelor, built the abbey of Valacrucis, in Welch, Manachlog Llan Egweftl, the year of our Lord 1200, and lieth. there buried, and this Gruffudh Maelor was fon to Madawc, ap Meredith, ap Bleddin, ap Cynfin, ap Gweriftan, ap Gwalthfoed, ap Gwrydor, ap Ca- nadawc, ap Lies LlaW Ddeawc, ap Edwal, ap Gwnnan, ap Gwnnawc Farf Sych, ap Keidic, ap Corf, ap Cadnavvc, ap Tegonwy, ap Teon, ap Gwinaf Dau- freuddwyd, ap Powyr lew, ap Bywdec, ap Rhun rhudd baladr, ap Llary, ap Casfar Wledic, ap Lludd, ap Beli Mawr king of all England and Wales, to whom King Henry the Seventh is fon this way by Ludd in thirty -fix degrees. How Owen cometh to Beli Mawr by the mother s fide of Gwerfill Ferch Madawc. Owen ap Meredith, ap Tudor, ap Gwerfill Ferch Eva, Ferch Llewelyn ap Gruffydh, ap Gwenwynwin, ap Owen Cyfeilioc, ap Gruffydh ap Madawc, ap Z Meredith 33 8 A P P E N D I X. Meredith of Powis, r ap Bleddyn, ap Cynfin, &c. to Bcli Mawr. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gwerfill Kerch Eva, Ferch Margret, Ferch Meredith goch, ap Mere- dith, ap lers Fychan, ap lers goch, ap Meredith ap Bleddyn, ap Cynfin, &c. to Beli. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor, ap Gwerfyll, Ferch Eva, Ferch Margrer, Ferch Meredith goch, ap Chri- flin, ap Bledrws, ap Edwal Owen Bendew one of the fif- teen tribes of North Wales, fon to Cynan Fieniard ap Gwakhfoed, ap Gwlyddien, ap Gwridor, ap Caradawc, ap Lies Llaw ddeawc, ap Edwal, ap Gwnnan, ap Gwannawc Farf fych, ap Ceidio, ap Corf, ap Cad- nawc, ap Tegonwy, ap Teon, ap Gwinan dau Freud- dwyd, &c. and fo to Beli. Owen ap Meredith, ap Marget Ferch Tomas, ap Lhewelin, ap Owen ap Meredith Lord Ifcocd, ap Owen, ap Gruffydh, ap Rhys prince of South Wales, fo to Rodri Mawr. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margret, Ferch Tomas ap Llewelyn, ap Angharad, Ferch Arglwydd Sion, John of Haflbn by William ap David ap Gruffydh. Du- bium. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margrer, Ferch Tomas ap Llewelyn, ap Angharad Ferch Margrer, Ferch Philip, ap Ifor Lord Ifcoed by William ap Gruffydh. Dubium. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margrer, Ferch Tomas ap Llewelyn, ap Angharad, Ferch Margret, Ferch An- gharad, Ferch Llewelyn ap lers drwyndwn prince of all W T ales. This Llewelyn wedded Inet daughter of King John, who was fon to Henry the Second, fon to Mawd the emprefs, daughter to Henry the Firft, fon to William the Conqueror, fon to Robert duke of Normandy. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margrer, Ferch Tomas ap Elinor Ferch Lord Barre by Gyttin Owen, by information of Dr. Owen Pool, and Mr. Lingam's wife by an old pedigree. Owen APPENDIX. 339 Owen ap Meredith, ap Margrer, Ferch Tomas, ap Elinor, Ferch Elinor, Ferch Edward Longfhanks king of England. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margret, Ferch Tomas ap Elinor Ferch Elinor, Ferch Elinor fecond to King Edward abovefaid. Dubium. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margret, Ferch Elinor Ferch Meredith, ap Owen, ap Gruffydh, ap Rhys prince of South Wales, by Madawc ap Llewelyn ap Howel his books. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margret, Ferch Elinor, Ferch Catrin, Ferch Llewelyn ap Gruffydh lad prince of Wales. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margret, Ferch Elinor, Ferch Llewelyn ap Gruffydh, ap Tangwiftl, Fercii Llywarch goch, ap Lhowarch ap Pyll, ap Cynan, ap Einion ap Gwridor goch, ap Helic, ap Glannawc, ap Gwgon Gleddyfrudd, ap Cariadawc Freichfas, ap Llir Merini, ap Einion irth, ap Cunedda wledic. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margret, Fercii Elinor, Ferch Caterin, Ferch Elinor ap Gruffydh ap Tang- wiftl, Ferch Tangwiftl, Ferch Llowarch, ap Bran, ap Dinawal, ap Efnydd, ap Alawe, Alfer, ap Tudwal, ap Rodri mawr : ap Gyttin Owen. Gwen ap Meredith, ap Margret, Ferch Elinor Fy- chan. Ferch Simon Montford earl of Leicefter : by Gyttin Owen. Owen ap Meredith, ap Margret, Ferch Elinor, Ferch Caterin, Ferch Elinor Fychan, Ferch Elenor, Ferch John king of England. Hereafter followeth the ancient lineage of tbefaid Owen's mother Margaret wife to Meredith ap Tudor. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap Da- fydd Llwyd, ap Cyner, ap Gronw, ap Cyner, ap lers, ap Hv/fa, ap Cwmus, ap CUlin, ap Maeloc dda, ap Gredef, ap Kwmus du, ap Cillin Ynad, ap Predur Teirnec 340 A P P E N D I X. Teirnee, ap Meilir Eryr, gvvyr gorfedd, ap Tiday, ap Tyfbdde, ap Gwybfyw, ap Marchwin, ap Branap Pill, ap Cerfyr, ap Meilir Meilirion, ap Goron, ap Cuned- da wledic, ap Gwawl Ferch Coel Godeboc as before. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap Da- fydd Llwyd, ap Ceyner, ap Gronw, ap Cyner, ap lers, ap Hwfa, ap Generis Ferch Ednowain, Bendew, ap Cynon Finiaid, ap Gwarthfoed, ap Gvvridr ap Cra- doc, ap Lies Haw ddeuawc, ap Edwal, ap Gwynnan 5 and fo to Lucid, ap Beli mawr, as before by Gyttin Owen. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap Dafydd Lhwyd ap Cyner, ap Llayfedd daughter to Sir William Twychet, knight, by William. Indnb. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap Da- fydd Lhwyd, ap Alis, Ferch Robert, ap Turftan Hol- land captain of Harlech : by William. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap Da* fydd Lhwyd, ap Alis, Ferch Margret, Ferch Alan Norris, knight, by William. Indub. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap An- gharad, Ferch Howell ap Meredith, ap Iqrs, ap Ca- dvvgan, ap Llywarch, ap Bran, as before, &c. Owen ap Margaret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap An- gharad Ferch Howell ap Meredith, ap Icrs, ap Gwenl- lian, Ferch Cynan ap Owen Gwynedd, ap Gruffydh ap Cynan, &c. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap An- gharad, Ferch Owen ap Bleddin, ap Owen Brogen- nwn, ap Madawc, ap Meredith, ap Bleddin, ap Cyn- fin prince of Powis j thefe three by Gyttin Owen. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd 'Fychan, ap An- gharad, Ferch Gwladis, Ferch Llewelin gethni, ap Edwal, ap Gruffydh, ap Meuric, ap Cadhay.arn, ap Gwrydd, ap Rhys goch one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales -, which was fon to Sandwr ap larddwr, ap Mor, ap Tegerin, ap Aelaw, ap Gredrcs, ap C\v- nuis du, ap Cillin Ynad, &c. to Coel Godeboc. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Dafydd Fychan, ap An- gharad, Ferch Gwladus, Ferch Mali- Llwyd, Ferch krs APPENDIX. 341 lers ap Engion, ap Geraint, ap Tegwared, ap Cyn- fawr, ap Mad a we diffaeth, which were rulers and great men in Pentraeth. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Neft, Ferch Jermy, ap Gruffydh, ap Howell, ap Meredith, ap Engion, ap Gwgon, ap Merwydd, ap Golvvyn, one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales, fon to Tangno, ap Cadfael, ap Lludd, ap Lien, ap J .laminod Angel, ap Pafgen, ap Urien Rheged, ap Meirchion, ap Grwft, ap Cen- naf, ap Coel Godeboc king as before, Owen ap Margret, Ferch Neft, Ferch Jermy, ap Gwerfjll, Ferch Gwladus, Ferch Eclwal Fychan as before. Owen ap Margret, Ferch Neft, Ferch Angharad, Ferch Gruffydh, ap Dafydd goch, ap GrufFydh, ap Llewelyn prince of Wales. Owen ap Margret Ferch Neft, Ferch Angharad, Ferch Gruffydh ap Dafydd goch, ap Dafydd, ap Gruf- fydh, ap Tangwiitl, Ferch Llowarch goch, ap Llo- v/arch Holbwrch, ap Pill, ap Cynan, ap Gwridor goch, ap Plelic, ap Glannoc as before. Owen ap Margret Ferch Neft, Ferch Angharad, Ferch Gruffydh, ap Dafydd goch, ap Rhanullc, Fercli Rheinalt king of Man. Owen ap Mergret Ferch Neft, Ferch Angharad, Ferch Gruffydh, ap Angharad, Ferch Heylyn, ap Tu- dor, ap Ednyfed Fychan. Owen ap Margret Ferch Neft, Ferch Angharad, Ferch Gruffydh, ap Angharad, Ferch Heylyn, ap Ad- leir, Ferch Ricart, ap Cadvvalader, ap Gruffydh, ap Cynan prince. Thefe four by Gyttin Owen. Owen ap Margret Ferch Neft, Ferch Angharad, Ferch Gruffydh, ap Angharad, Ferch Heylyn, ap Adleis, Ferch Ricart, ap Cadwalader, ap Gruffydh, ap Cynan, ap Afandrec wife to lago, daughter to Gwayr, ap Pill, ap Cynan, ap Cyriddeiw gam, ap Elgudi, ap Grwyfnad, ap Diwgludd, ap Tegawc, ap Cyf- nerth, ap Madoc Madogion, ap Sauddl bryd An- {, ap Llylwarch hen, ap Elidor Ludanvyin, ap Me- ^ irchon 342 APPENDIX. irchion gulj ap Erwft galedlwm, ap Cenaw, ap Cold Godeboc king as before. Owen ap Margret Ferch Neft, Ferch Angharad, Ferch Marret, Ferch Tudor, ap lers, ap Ewrgwnon, ap Cyfnerth, ap Rhuon, ap Nefydd hardd, one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales. Owen ap Margret Ferch Neft, Ferch Angharad, Ferch Margret, Ferch Tangwiftl, Ferch Madawc, ap Cyfnerth, ap Cyhelyn, ap Llywarch Fychan, ap Lly- warch goch, ap Llowarch Holbwrch, ap-Pill, ap Cy- non, ap Gwrydr goch, ap Helic ap Glannoc, ap Gwgon gleddyfrud, ap Cariadoc freich fras, ap Glir Meirini, ap Engion yrth, ap Cynedda wledic, by Gyttin Owen. Abftrafted out of the old Chronicles of Wales, by Sir "John Leiaf, pricft, Gut- tin Owen, Gruff'ydb ap Llewelyn ap Jermy, Fychan, Madawc ap Llewelyn ap Howell, Robert ap IIowcl ap Tho- mas, John King, with many, others, at the Kings Maje/iy's cojls and charges* T/je abbot of Llanegweflle, and Dr* Owen Pool) canon of Harf s overfcers. APPENDIX APPENDIX. S Rex omnibus, &c. C I AXIS quod cum Lewelinus princeps de A- berffraw & dominus Snawerden, nobis conceilerk &; firmirer promiferit, qnod ftabit provifioni venerabilium patrum Redulphi Ciceftrenfis epiicopi & cancellarii noftri, & Alexandri Conventrenfis & Lichfield epif- copi, & diledorum & fidelium noftrorum Richardi Marefchalli comids Pembroch, Joannis de.Lafcy co- mitis Lincolnia; 8c conftabularri Ceftria?, Stephani dc Segrave Jufticiarii noftri Anglire, & Radulphi filli Ni- cholai Scnefchalli noftri, una cum Idnevet Senefchallo ipfius Lewelini & Werrenoc fratre ejus, InlanoVachan & David Clerico, quam ipfi faduri iunt fuper congruis emendis nobis faciendis, de omnibus exceffibus nobis & noftris, ab eo & fuis faclis & de reftitutione nobis & honiinibus noftris facienda de omnibus terris & poiTeffionibus noftris & noftrorum per ipfum Leweli- num & Wallenfes occupatis, occafione Werras inter nos & ipfum motas -, fimul etiam de recipienda reftitu- tione a nobis & noftris, de omnibus terris ipfius Le- welini & hominum fuorum per nos & noftros occupa- tis, occafione Werras prasdichc, & de aOignando Da- vid filio ipfius Lewelini & Ifabellje uxori ejus primo- genit^e filiae & haerercdis. Gullielmi de Breus, rationa- bili portione ipfam Ifabeliam contingency, de terris qua; fuerunt prcedifti Gulliclmi partis lui, & de refufionc pecunice nobis, facienda, pro prsedictis exccflibus con- Z 4 S ruc 344 APPENDIX. grue emendandis & portior.e praedicta aflignanda; pro- vifa tamen fuper hoc ab cifdem fufficiente fecuritate de fideli feruitio nobis praaftando & de tranquilitate nobis & regno noftro Anglias, obfervanda. lu quod damp- num vel periculum, nee nobis nee regno noftro inde pofih evenire. Et fi pendente proviftone praedicla, aliquid de novo emerferit emandandum, idem Lcwc- linus voluerit & conceffirit, quod per prsedictos pro- vifores emendetur. Nos provifionem eorundem quam facluri funt fuper omnibus praemifTis, gratam habe- mus & acceptam pro nobis, & noftris ficut pnefatus Lewelinus pro fe & fuis & in hujus rei teftimonium has literas patentes inde fieri fecimus. Tefte me ipfo apud Salop feptimo die Decembris & decimo ieptimo anno regni noitri. Rex, &c. JL/ EWE LI NO principi de Aberfraw falutem. Sciatis quod recipimus in gratiam nofcram, Giibertum Marelchallum & omnes qui fuerunt imprifii Richardi Marelclialli tarn de Anglia quam de Wallia qui ad pa- ccm noftram venire voluerunt 8c eis reddidimus omnes terras & tenementa fua qu^ de nobis tenuerunt, & d-j quibus difleffiti fuerunt occafione guerrce mot^ inter nos & prasdi&um comitem, & nobis remanent quieta quascunque fuper nos & noilros per prasJictum co- mitem, vel fuDs imprifios occupata fuerunt quas vobis duximus fignincanda. Volentes quod vobis innotef- cant qua^ penes nos ac"la funt in hac parte, & quia per venerabilem patrem Edmundum Cantuarienfem archi- epifcopum & co-epifcopos fuos captae funt treugas inter nos & vos fub firma fpe tradtandi de pace inter nos & vos fbrmanda & fortiqs firmanda. Mittimus propter hoc pr^ediclum archiepifcopum & venerabiles patres Alexandrum Coventrenfem & Lichfieldenfem & Hen- ricum Roffenfem co epifcopos fuos ad partes marchire ; jta quod erunt apud Salop die Lunae in craftino fandlie trinitaus ; APPENDIX. 345 trinitatis : et rogamus vos quatenus ficut noftram de- fideratis amicitiam non omiitatis quin in craftino die Martis loco tuto & competenti, quern prasdiclus archi- epifcopus vobis fignificabit ipfi archiepifcopo & co- epifcopus fuis occuratis ad traftatum cum eis haben- dum fuper prasmiffis. In quorum etiam ore qua^dam qnse non duximus fcripto commendanda pofuirmis vo- bis plenius exponenda ; rogantes quatinus ficut decec taliter ea quas reformationem pacis rtfpiciunt & qua: ipfi plenius in hac parre vobis explicabunt audire cum effcclu & eifdem adquiefcere velitis, quod non (let per vos quin firmum & ftabile pacis vinculum inter nos & vos roboretur ad noflrum pariter & veftrum commo- dum & honorem. D Rex, &c. I L EC TO & fidcli fuo Richardo comiti Cornubiae & PiftavifE fakuem. Sciatis quod treugse captae funt inter nos & Lewelinum principem de Aber- fraw per vcnerabilem patrcm Edmundum archiepilco- pum Cantuarieniem & epifcopos fecum adjnntos & quofdam alios fideles noilros propter hoc ad partes Wallias deiiinatos duraturs a fefto Sandi Jacobi anno regni noftri decimo odavo ulque in duos annos fe- quentes in hac forma. Quod omnes injurias & damns hinc inde facia infra ukimam treugam captam per ve- nerabilem patrem Hcnricum RofTenfcm epiicopurh in media quadregiMima proximo prseterita per dicftatores ejufdem treugae emendabuntur, quod omnes terr^ hinc inde occupatas per ukimam guerram motam, reftitu- entur his quibus poftea fint oblats, homines etiam illi qui hinc inde receflerint a fidelitate dominorum fuorum & le tenuerunt ex parte auverft libere revertantur. Ita quidem quod durantibus trcugis prsedi6lis in nullo occafionabuntur nee aliquid dampni vel mali eis fiet pccaf;one prardida. Adjeclum eft etiam in eadem pro- vifione trengaruni j qucd fi vos & dikctus & fidelis nofter APPENDIX. nofter Radnlphus de Thorny nolueritls fub elfdeni treugis comprehend! bene placebit eidem Lewelino. Sin autem nihilominus, quod ad nos & alios fideles noftros eas firmiter obfervabit. Et fub tali conditione quod fi forte tenere non velletis contra vos fe defender.. Ita quod contra ipfum & defenfionem fuam nullum vobis faciemus nee facere poterimus per nos vel per aliquem de marchia vel alium interim confilium vel auxilium ad ipfum gravandum, & taliter funt treugs predicts ex parte ipfius Lewelini juratae & afiecurats & in adventu praedidli archiepifcopi ad nos fimiliter ex parte noftra eas jurari faciemus &: aflecurari, & ideo vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes, quatinus pras- diclis treugis fine difficultate aliqua adguiefcentes eas teneatis & ex parte veftra eas teneri faciatis. Quia modis omnibus volumus quod eas teneatis & firmiter obfervetis. Quid autem inde facere propofueritis aper- te refponfum veftrum nobis fub"feiltnaUone fcire faci- atis. Tefte rege apud Weftmonafterium tricefimo die Junii. Radolphus Herefordenfis epifcopus, decanus Here- ford iae, Waherus de ClifTord & Walterus de Bello Campo iterum conftituti funt dicftatores emendarum, faciendarum 8z: recipiendarum de interceptionibus fac- tis, ut dicitur Lewelino principi de Aberfraw, See. ec- Morgano de Carleon quoad caftrum Carleon & eifdem didtatoribus aflbciati iimt prior de Wenloc & Joannes cxtraneus & debent convenire in craflino claufi Pafchs apud vadum de Montgomery ad confequendum quod piiore die ad hoc conftituto debuiflet fuirTe executum. Tefte rege apud Northamton fexto die Martii. REX APPENDIX, 34; R omnibus ad quod prsefent.es liters perve- nerint. Sciatis quod concefiimus bona fide & fine malo ingenio & ratas habemus et gratas treugas captas apud Theokfburiam die Veneris in feilo Sancti Bene- clicti, anno regni noflri vicefimo per Venerabilem pa- trem Edmundum Cantuarienfem archiepifcopum inter nos et omnes homines et imprifios noftros apertos ex vma parte, et Lewelinum principem de Aberfraw et dominum de Snaudan et omnes homines et imprifios fuos apertos tarn Wallenfes quam alios ex alia parte duraturos a fefto Sanfti Jacobi, anno eodem ufque in unum annum completum. Ita fcilicet quod tarn nos et noftri quam prasdictus Lewelinus et fui fimus in eifdem terris et tenementis, hominibus et homagiis in quibus fuimus praxliclo die captionis treugarum ifta- rum. Salva Morgano de Carleon reftitutione fua tam de terris quam de bonis et mobilibus fuis quse comes Gilberrus Marefchallus occuparerat, fuper eum infra treugas alias inter nos et ipfurn Lewelinum ultimo cap- tas. Siquid autem interim fuerit foris factum per cap- tionem terrarum vel caftrorum vel bonorum mobilium et manifeftum de captione terrarum vel caftrorum illo- rum terras , et caftra ftatim reddantur non expectata aliqna correclione emendatorum treugse, fed de bonis mobilibus ita captis per ipfos correctores fiant emendas, treugis nihilominus durantibus in fua firmitate in for- ma prasdiclia. Ita quod hinc inde nulla namia capi- antur pro aliqua interceptione fada infra treugas iftas de bonis mcbilibus, nee pro aliqua contentione ante captionem hujus treugse orta, fed per ipfos correftores fiant. Nullus etiam receptet in poteftate fua impri- fios alterius inde emendas ficut prsedicl:um eft duran- tibus treugis. Nullum etiam caftrum novum firme- tur in marchia vel dirutum reficiatur durantibus treu- gis, et terras fint communes fecundum formam treu- garum quss ultimo captse fuerunt inter nos et ipfum Lewelinum, A P P ' E- N D I X. Lewelinum. Juraverunt autem in animam nofbam ex pane noftra in hanc treugam bona fide, et fine malo ingenio fideliter obfervandam ufque ad praedi&um ter- minum dilicli et fideles noftri Henricus de Aldithely. Joannes Leftrange et Henricus de Stafford, in cujus. &c. Tefte me ipfo apud Theokefburiam, undecimo die Julii, anno regni noftri vicelimo. Sciant pnefentes et futuri, quod ita convenit inter dominum Henricum regem Anglias illuftrem ex una parte, et David filiuni Lewclini quondam principis Norwallias ec dominum de Aberfraw ex altera, apud Glouceftriam die Martis proximo ante feftum Sancti Dunftanni, anno regni ipfitis regis viccfimo quarto, de homagio ipfius David quod ipfe ofrcrrebat eidem do- mino regi pro jure fuo Nor wall ias et de terris quas ba- rones ipfius domini regis fcilicet Griffinus filius Wen- miwan et alii barones domini regis petebant verfus ip- fum David ut jura fua except* de monte alto fecundum quod continetur in fcripto nuper confecto apud cru- cem Griffini per Senefchallos domini regis, quas ad prasfens excipitur ab arbitrio, lalvo tamen in pofterum jure fenefchalli Ceftrias in terra ilia fi quod habent. Scilicet, quod prsedichis dominus rex cepit homagi- m prxfati David de prxdi6to jure fuo Norwallias, ec quod tarn idem dominus rex pro prxfatis baronibus iuis de confcenfu eorundem quam praeiatus David pro fe et fuis et hseredibus eorum fuper omnibus terris praedi&is fe fubmiferunt, arbitrio venerabilium patruni Ottonis Sanfli Nicolai in carcere Tulliano diaconi, car- dinalis apoilolici fedis legati , Wigorni^e et Noriveci epifcoporum, et nobilis viri Richardi comitis Pidtaviae et Cornubiae, fratris ipfius domini regis et Joannis de Monemue ex parte ipfius domini regis, et venerabilis patris epifcopi de Sandto Afaph Idnevet Vaghan, Eyn- guan Vaghan ex parte pra?fati David. Ita quod quo- xnodo libet ab ipfis omnibus vel a majori parte eorun- dem,fuper prsemiinis fuerit arbitratum, utraque pars ip- forum ftabit arbitrio et illud in perpetuum firmiter ob- fcrvabit ; et ad hsec fideliter fine fraude fervanda Gu- lielmUs APPENDIX. lielmus de Cantelupo de prascepto regis juravit in ani- mam ipfius rcgis ct idem David in propria perfona fua corporate prasftitit facramentum. Et infuper fe fub- miierunt jurifdictioni et inordinationi prasfati domini legati quamdiu in Anglia legationis fungatur officio, nt partem contra prasmiffa venientem per cenfuram ec- elefiafticam modis omnibus quibus melius viderit ex- pedire, tam ad prsedidlum arbitrium obfervandum quam ad tranfgrefTionem contra illud perpetratam emendan- dam valeat coercere, ordine juris obfervato. Dum ta- men idem David vel fui, fi forfuan contra prasdicla ve- nire prefumpferint prius coram diclo domino Itgato vel aliquibus aliis ad hoc ab ipfo depurandis et parti- bus merito non fufpedtis in confinio marchiae loco ei- dem David et fuis tuto legitime comrhunicantur, fi ad hoc vocati venirent : vel fi legitime vocati non vene- rint pro contumacibus habeantur nifi rationabile et fui- ficiens habeant itnpedimentum, finite vero prsedidls legationis officio fub forma prefcripta et cohercioni ct jurisdiction i domini Cantuarienfi archiepifcopi et fuc- ceflbrum fuorum et ecclefi^e Cantuacienfis fe partes praedicls fubmiferunt. Et fciendum quod per hanc pacem remanent domino regi et hasredibus fuis omnia homagia baronum Wallisequieta, et remittuntur omnia incendia, homicidia, et alia mala tam ex parte Angli- corum quam Wallenfium perpetrata ; ita quod ad in- vicem plene reconcilicntur. Salvo prasfati David jure fuo, fi quod habet in aliis terris. Et fi forte aliquis prasdi&orum arbitrorum ante hoc arbitrium completutn in fata deceflerit, vel per impedimentum rationabile prazditfto arbitrio faciendo non pofllt interefTe- alius loco fuo fubftituetur qui neutri partium merito fufpec- tus habeatur : ad hoc pra^fati epifcopus de Sando A- faph Idnevet et Ignari et Griffinus filius Rotherich prseftiterunt facramentum, quod quantum in eis eft, prasdifta fideliter obfervabnnt et ab ipfo David et fuis jr.odis omnibus quibus pctercnr, facient obfervari : ad majorem autem hujus rei fecuritatem faclum eft hoc fcriptum inter ipibs regem et David in modo chirogra- phi. Ita quod parti remanenti penes ipfum dommum rco-em appofuum eft figillum ipfius una cum figillo prediito:um 350 APPENDIX. praedwftorum epifcopi de San6lo Afapho Idnevet, I -n'' VVMNIBUS hoc fcriptum vifuris Rogerus de Monte Alto fcncfchallus Ceftriae falutem. Sciacis qupcl ego me conftituti plegium Senanae uxoris Griffini filii Leplini quondam principis Norwalliae, ec manu cepi A a 2 pro 35 6 APPENDIX. pro ea erga dominum meum Henricum regem An- gliae illuftrem, quod omnia quae conventionavit eidem domino meo nomine praefati viri fui a carcere in quo David fratcr ejus cos detinet et pro ponione quae ip- fum Griffinum contingit de haereditate quae fuit prae- di6ti Leolini patris fuis et quam praefarus David fra- ter ejus ei deforciat, domino regi firmiter obfervabk. In cujus rei tettimonium huic Icripto figillum meum appofui. Actum apud Salopefbury die Lunae ante aflumptionem Beatae Mariae, anno regni ipfius vie- fimo quinto. Sub eadem forma fecerunt finguli plegii praefcriptr. Sciant praefentes et futuri quod ego Mereducus fili- us Howel, taftis facro-fanftis juravi quod ab ifto die in antea omnibus dicbus vitae meae ero ad fidelitatem domini regis Angliae, et ferviam ei fideliter et devote cum omnibus viribus meis et toto pofle meo quan- docunque indiguerit fervitio meo, et treugam inter dominum Radulphum de Mortuo Mari et me ini- tam ufque ad feftum S. Michaelis anno regni regis Henrici vigefimo quinto ex parte mea fideliter obfer- vabo : et tam ad fidelitatem domino regi in perpetuum obfervandum quaiu ad treugas praediclas obfervandas ufque ad terminum praedi6tum iuppofui me jurifdic- tioni domini Herefordenfis epifcopi, et domini Coven- trenfis et Lichfieldenfis epifcopi, vel aherius eorum, quern dominus rex ad hoc elegerit, ut fi in aliquo contra praedictam fidelitatem domini regis, vel contra obfervantiam praediclarum treugarum venerit, liceat eis vel eorum alteri quern dominus rex ad hoc elegerit perfonam meam et omnes meos excommunicare et terrain meam interdicere, donee de tranfgreffione ipfam fatisfccero ad plenum. Et fi forfitan infra praediclum feftum S. Michaeli inter praedifturn Radulphum de Mortuo Mari et me nulla pax fuerit formata, licet poft feRum illud bellum moveant praedidlo Radulpho, non obligabit me praedidlum juramentum dum tamen erga dominum regem fidelitatem oblervam continuam, ficuc praedidum APPENDIX, praediaum eft., Etfi bellum poll praediftum termi- .num inter nos movcatur, niliilominus dominus re- .fuftinebit quod ego et mei receptemur in terra fua fi- cut alii fideles fui. Ad praedicta autem obfervanda domino regi et haeredibus fuis obligo me per jura- .mentum praedidum, et per figilli mei appofitibnetn quod huic icripto appofui, ad majorcm confirmati- onem praediftorum. Aftum in cratlino aflumptionis Beatae Mariae, anno regni regis Henrici vigefimo quinto. Sub eifdcm verbis fccerunt domino regi chartas fuas, Owen filius Hoyvel). Mailgon films Mailgun. Mereduc filius Mereduc. Howel filius Cadwach- lan, et Cadwachlan filius Howel. o M N I B U S Chrifti fidehbus ad quos praefentes literae pervcnerunt, David, filius Leolini, falutem. Sciatis quod concern" domino meo Henrico regi An- gliae illultri filio domino Joannis regis : quod delibe- rabo Grrffinum fratrern meum quern teneo incarcera- tum una cum filio fuo primogenito et aliis qui oc- cafione praedicli Griffini funt in parte mea incarcerati, et ipfbs eidem domino meo regi tradam. Et poftea flabo juri curiae ipfius domini regis tarn fuper eo, u- trum idem Grifiinus debeat teneri captus quam fuper portione terrae quae fuit praedicti Leolini patris mei, fi qua ipfum Griffinum contingere debeat, fecundam coniuetidinem Walenfium. Ita quod pax fervetur inter me et praedidum Griffinum fratrem meum quod caveatur de ipfa tenenda fecundum confiderationem cu- riae ipfius domini regis, et quod tarn ego quam prae- diclus Grifflnus portiones noftras que nos contingent de praedi&is terris tenebimus in capite de praedi&o do- mino rege. Et quod reddam Rogero de Monte Alro fenefchallo Ceftriae terrain fuam de Monthaut cum pertinentiis : et fibi et aliis baronibus et fidelibus domi- ni regis fcifinas terrarurn fuarum cccapataruin a teni- A a 3 pore APPENDIX. pore belli orti inter ipfurn dominum J mannon reg m et prat-dictum Leolinum patrem meum, falvo jure prc- prictatis cujuflibet pacti et inftrumcnti fuper quo fta- bitur juri hinc inde in curia ipfius domirii regis : et quod reddam ipfi domino rcgi omnes expenfas quis ipfe et fui fecerunt occafione excrcitus iftius. Et quod fatisfaciam de damnis et injuriis illatis fibi ct fuis fe- cundum confiderationem praedictae curiae vel male- factores ipfos, ipfi domino regi reddam omnia homa- gia quae dominus Johannes rex pater e;us -habuit, et quae dorninus rex de jure habtrre dcbct ; et fpc- cialiter omnium nobilium Wallenfium. Et quod idem dominus rex non dimittit aliquem de Juis captivis quin ipfi domino regi et fuis remaneant ieifmae fuae. Et quod terra de Engufmere cum pertinentiis fuis in perpetuum remancbit domino regi, vcl haeredibus fuis, "et quod de caetero non receptabo vilagas vel foris banniatos ipfius domini regis, vel baronum fuorum de marchia in terra mea, nee permittam receptari; et de omnibus articulis fupradicTis, et fingulis firmiter ct in perpetuum obfervandi.% domino regi, et haeredibus fuis, pio me et haeredibus meis cavebo per obfides et pigncra et aliis modis quibus dominus rex dicere vo- 'luit vcl dictate. Et in his et in omnibus aliis ftabo vo- luntati, et mandatis ipfius domini regis etjuriparebo omnibus in curia fua. In cujus rei tcftimonium, praefenti fcripto figillum meum append!. A6lum apiid Atrieum juxta fluyium Elvey de S. Afapho in fefto decollationis S. Johanni Baptiitae, anno pracdidli domi- regis Henrici vigeiimo quinto. Sciendum quod ill! qui capti detinentur cum prae- diclo Grjilino, eodem modo tradentur domino regi donee per curiam fuam confideratum fuerit, utrum et quomodo debe-mt deliberari. Et ad omnia firmiter tenenda, ego David juravi fuper crucem fandrani quam coram me feci deportari. Venerabilis etiam pater Howelus epifcopus de S. Afaph ad petitioncm rneam firmiter promifit in ordine fuo, quod haec om nia praedicla facier, et procurabit modis quibus po- terit, obfervari. Edncvet fiquidem Waugam per prae- ceptum meum, illud idem juravi; fuper crucem prae- dictam, APPENDIX." S59 dictam. Actum uc fupra. Prseterea conceHl pro me ct hceredibus meis quod fi ego, vtl hasredes mci con- tra pacem domini regis, vei haeredium fuorum, vel conrra a'rticulos prasji&os, aliquid attentaverimus tota haereditas noftra domino regi, ct haeredibus fuis in- curratur. De quibus omnibus et fingulis fuppofui me, ec haeredes meos, juriidictioni archk-pifcopi Cantuari- enfis, ec . cpifcoporum Londinenfis, Herefordenfis, ct Coventrenfis, qui pro tempore praeerunt, quodomnes, vel unus eorum quern dominus rex ad hoc elegerit, poflit nos excommunicare, et terram noftram inrcr- dicere, fi aliquid contra praedi&a attentaverimus. Ec procuravi quod epifcopi de Bangor et de S. Afaph chartas fuas domino regi fecerunt per q'uas concefferunr, quod omnes fententias turn excomumcarionis quani interdifti a prastliftis archiepifcopo, epifcopis, vel aliquo eorum, fercndas, ad mandatum eorum exe- quentur. Rex omnibus, &c. \J AVID filius Lewelini quondam principis Norwailisc, Salutem. Noverint univerfitas vcftrae- me fpontanea voluntate mea pepegifie domino meo Henrico Dei gratia Anglian, quod ego et haeredes mei eidem domino regi, et hjeredibus iuis omnibus diebns vitse noftra? conftanter et 6deliter ierviemus, nee aliquo tempore contra eos t-rimus : quod fi forte evenerit, quod afideli fervicio fuo, vel hicredum iuorum, quod abfit, receflerimus, tota terra noft:a erga ipfum do- minum regem et hsredes fuos iricurratur, et in ufus eorum perpetuis cedat temporibus. Hanc autem pac- tionem et conceflionem figilli mei appofuione roboravi, et ad majorem hujus rei declarationem venerabilt-s patres Bangorenfem, et de S. Afaph epifcopi., ad pe- titionem meam prasknti fcripto figiila fua appofuerunt. A&um apud Rothetan tricefimo primo die Auguili. A a 4 ILLUSTRI 360 APPENDIX. J-LLUSTRI viro domino Henrico Dei gratia rc- gi Anglorum, &c. abbates Haberconwias, tt de Ke- inere Ciftercienfis ordinis inquifitores dati a domino Papa, falutem in domino. Mandatum domini Papae reci'pimus in hszc verba, ' Innocentius Epifcopus, fer- vus fervorum Dei, dileclis filiis abbatibus de Haber- conwis, &: de Kemere Ciftercienfis ordinis Bangorum diocefis falutem et apoftolicam benediftionem. Ex parte dilecti filii noltri nobilis viri David principis Norwallias fuit propofitum coram nobis, quod cum inter ipkim, quern parentes ejus in alumnum Roma- nas ecclefis donaverunt, et charifTimurn in Chrifto fili- um noilrum regem Anglorum illuftrem bellum longo tcmpore perduraflet, tandem poftquam fuit in venera- bilem fratrem noftrum epilcopum de S. Afaph et col- legas ipfius de ftando hinc inde eorum arbitrio fuper omnibus querelis juramento a partibus prceftito con- corditer bonis viris mediantibus conpromiffum. Idem rex, non attendens quod pendente illorum arbitrio, fibi fuper hoc aliquid attentare non licebit in prasdic- tum principem ex infperato hoftiliter iruit ad prcefran- dum, quod fuper prsedidis de quibus conpromiflimi fuerit & juratum, ac aliis ipfius regis, mandare per vim computit, fc metum qui cadcre potcrat in con- itantem. Cum igitur ea qu^ vi & metu fiant, carere debeant robore firmitatis, difcretioni veftrse per apoitolica fcrip- ta mandamus, quatenus inquifita fuper hoc diligentius veritate, fi rem inveneritis ita effe, auclioritate noitra prxdiclum principem ab obfervatione fie extorti jura- menti penitus ablblventes, fententia, fi qua occaiione ejufrhodi in tjus perfonam, vel terrain ab aliquo forfan tota fuerit, juxta formam ccclefis fine difficultate qua^ libet, ficut juftum fuerit relaxetis. Teites vcro, &c. Datum Janiice feptimo calendas Augufti poniificatus noftri anno fecundo. Hujus igitur automate muniti vobis mandamus quatenus in vigilia S. Agnetis Vir- ginis, apud Keyrus in ecclefia Guilefend coram vobis compareatis, fuper contentis in autentico dido prin- cipi rcfponiuri, fi vobis videritis expedire, Jfli APPENDIX. Ifti funt ART I CU LI intimati Do- mino LEOLINO Principi WALLIJB, et populo ejufdem Icci, ex parte Archi- cpifcopi fupra didli. P JL R I M O, Quod propter falutem eorum fpiritu- alem, et temporalem ad partes iftas venimus, quas fcmper dileximus, uc plures eorum noverunt. Secundo, Quia venimus contra domini regis volun- tatem, cui ctiam adventus nofter dicitur plurimum difplicere. Tcrtio, Quia rogamus eos et fupplicamus eis pro fanguine Jefu Chrifli, quacenus venire velint ad uni- tatemj cum gente Anglorum, et ad pacetn domini regis, quam eis intendimus, quanto melius poterimus procurare. Quarto, Volumus eos fcire quod in his. partibus domini non poterimus remanere. Quinto, Volumus eos attendere quod poft recefilim noftrum non invenient aliquem, qui ita velit fua am- plecli negotia promovenda, qui vellemus, ii placeret. Altiffima vita noftra temporal! corporum pacem ho- neftam et ftabilem perpetuo procurafle. Sexto, Quia fi noftras preces ipreverint et labores, ilatim intendimus eorum pertinaciam fcribere fummo pontifici et curiae Romanae, propter peccata mor- t&lia, quae mukiplicantur occafione difcordiae om- ni die. Septimo, Noverint quod nifi citius ad pacem vene- rint aggravabitur eis bellum, quod non poterunt fuili- nere, quia crefcit regia potentia omni die. Octavo, Noverint quod regnum Angliae eft Tub fpeciali protectione fedis apoftolicae, ct quod Romar.a curia plus inter regna caetera diligere confucvir. Nono, APPENDIX. Nono, Quod eadem curia nullo modo volet per- mittere ftatum regni Angliae vacillare, quod fibi fpe- cialibus obfequiis eft devotum. Decimo, Amarilnme plangimus hoc quod dicitur Wallenfes crudeliores exiftere Saracenis ; quia cum Saraceni capiunt Chriftianos, eos fervant pecunia re- dimendos, quos Wallenfes captos dicuntur illico ju- gulare quafi folo fanguine dek&entur , immo quod eft deterius, quos promittunt redimi, tradunt accepta pecunia jugulandos. Undecirno, Quod cum confueverit deum et perfo- nas ecclefiafticas revereri, a devotione hominum vi- demur mukipliciter recefilfle, qui in tempore fanctif- fimo in redemptoris injuriatn moverunt feditionem, homicidia et incendia perpetrantes, in quo eos nullus poterit excufare. Duodecimo, Petimus ut tanquam veri Chrilliani nj cor redeant pcenitentes, quia cceptam difcordiam non poflent continuare etiam fi juraflent. Tertkxkcimo, Petimus ut nobis fignirkent quibus modis velint et valeant turbationem pacis regiae, lae- fionem reipublicae, te mala alia errendare. Quartodecimo, Ut fignificent nobis qualiter valeat ipfa concordia ftabiliri, fruftra enim pax firmari vide- bitur quae tarn aflldue violatur. Quintodecimo, Ut fi dicant leges fuas vel fcedera ex pacto inito non fervari, nobis fignificent quac iunt ilia. Sextodecimo, Noverint quod etiam pofito quod eis derogatum fuifiet, quod nefcimus, nullo modo li- cebit eis quafi efTent judices in caufa fua taliter ma- jeftatem regiam impugnare. Septimodecimo, Quod nifi modo pax fiat procedi- tur contra eos forfitan ex decreto militiae, facerdoti, et populi convocati. Reveren- A---P P' E 'N -D I' X.' 363 T j/Ujt'ijjino^ -.uk'i'jk eiilfi m pLutbiCpixjur;! TUT R. .cbn-J-vf^tjWgrri j? Evereridiffirr.o patri in Ghrifto domino J. de gratia cantuarieiUr-archiepiiCopo totius Anglic primati, fuus humiii$ p et d^votus filius Leolinus princcps Wallise, dominus Snatidon, falutem et filialem dileclionem cum omnimoda : reverentia, fubjeftione et Jianbre, lanftse paternitati Veftrae pro- labore vobis qiiafi incolerabile quern a'ffumpfiftis ad pr^elens pro dile<5bione quam erga nos et- ntrftram nationem gericis, omni qua pofllimus devotiorte fegrbtiantes V6bis aflurgimiis ; -et eo amplius qtiod "contra 1 domini regis voluntatem vcniftis prout nobis intimaftis. 'C^eterum quod nos rogaftis ut ad pacem domini regis veniarnu^, -icire debet veflra iandiras quod 'ad hoc prompti fumus, dummodo idem ddmintis rex pacem debitam et veram nobis et noftris velit cbfervare.- Ad hoc licet gauderemus de mora veftra facienda in Wallia, tarn en per nos non eritis impedici-quin pax fiat, quantum in nobis eft, quam optamus per vellram induftriam niagis quam alicujus alterius roborari. Et ipc rain 11^5 nee per "Dei gratiarn : erit opportunurh propter noftram pertinaciam aliquid fcribere domino Papre. - Nt?c veftras paternas prcces ac graves labores ipernemus, fed eas : '-am[alVftimi]r o:nni cordis afftflu ut tenemdr. Nee erit 'opus quod dominus rex asgravet cohrfa ribs mantum, ciirn prooipti fumus fibi'obedire juribus noilris et it-gibus njbis yt prfemiitatur'rtfervatis. EC licet -rcgnum Anglics fit Curias Romanae fpecia- liter fubjeCtum etdilecbum, tamen cum dominus Papa, necnon et Curia Romans audiverint quanta nobis per Anglicos mala funt illata, videlicet quod pax prius. formata non fuit nbbis fervata nee pncla ; deinde devaftatione?, combuftiones, et ecclefidfticnnim per- fonarum interfectiones, facvrdotum videlicet ec in- cluforum, ec aliarum reHgiofarum perfonarum paffim mulierum et infantium fuggenrium ubera et in utero portantium, combuftionesttiam hofpiialiura et aiiarum domorum reliiofarum, homicidiorum in cce\i ccclefiis, et fuper altai ia, et aliorum facrilcrgiorum ec flagiciorum auditu etism hprribiliuir, audicu Nagano- rOi^ A P P E : N;rD I X. rum ficut expreffius in aliis rotulis confcripta vobis tranfmittimus inlpicienda. Sprramus imprimis, quod veftra pia et fanfta pa- termtas clementer nobis compatietur, nee non et cu- ria fuper dicta, nee per nos regnum Anglise vacillabit, dum, ut promiiTum eft, pax debita nobis fiat et fer- vetur. Qut vero fanguinis effufione delectantur ma- nifeftum eft factis. Nam Anglici haclenus nullifexui vel setati leu languori peperccrunt, nulla ecclefise vel loco facro detulerunt, qualia vel confimilia Wal- lenfes non facerunt. Super eo autem quod unus rc- ckmptus fuit imerfeclus, multum dolemus, nee oc- ciforem manu tenemus, led in-fylvis uti latro vagatur. De eo vero ,quod inceperunt guerram aliqui in tern- pore indebito, illud ignoravimus ufq.ue poft fadtum, et tamen ipfi aflerunt quod nifi eo tempore hoc fe- ciflfent mortes et captioncs eis imminebunt, nee au- debunt in domibus refidere, nee nifi armad incedere, et fie pne timore tali tempore id fecerunt. De eis vero quas fecimus contra dominum, ut veri chriftiani per Dei gratiam pcenitebimus, nee erit ex parte noftra quod helium continuetur, dum fumus indemnes ut debemus. Ne tamen exhceredemur et pafllm occide- mur, oportet nos defendere ut valemus. Cum vero mjuria et damnahinc inde confiderentur et ponderentur parati fumus emendare pro viribus quce ex parte noftra funt commifla, dum de prsedicliis injuriis et damnis nobis fa6tis et aliis emenda nobis fiat. Et ad paccm firmandam et ftabiliendam fimiliter fumus prompti debitis modis. Quando tamen regales charts et pacla inita nobis non lervatur, ficut nee hucufque funt obfervata, non poteft pax (labiliri, nee quando novas exacYiones et inauditae contra nos et noftros omni die adveniunt. Vobis autem tranfmittimus in rotulis damna nobis iiiata et fcedera non fervata fecundum formam pacts prius faclam. Qiiod vero guerravimus quafi ncccfli- tas nos cogebat ; nam nos et omnes Wallenfes cramus adeo oppreffi et fuppeditati et fpoliati et in fervitutem reda-fti per regales Jufticianos et Ballivos contra formam pads et o/nnem jufticiam amplius quam fi Saraceni APPENDIX. S 6 5 Saracen i cffemus vel Judsei, ficut credimus et fsepe uenunciavimus domino regi, nee aliquam emendam habere potuimus. Sed femper mittebantur jufticiarii et ballivi ferociores et crudeliores, et quando illi erant faturati per fuas injnftas exacliones, alii de novo mit- tebantur and populum excoriandum in tantum quod populus mallebat mori quam vivere. Nee oportet mi- litiam ampliorem convocare, vel contra nos mover! facerdotium dum nobis fiat pax et fervetur modis de- bitis ut fuperius eft exprefium. Nee debitis fancle pater omnibus verbis credere noftrorum adverfariorum ; ficuc enim nos faclis oppreflerunt et opprimunt, ita et vobis diffamant, nobis imponentes quas volunt. Ipfi enim vobis funt praefentes et nos abfentes, ipfi opprimentes et nos oppreffi. Et ideo propter Deum fidem eis in omnibus non exhibeatis; fed facia potius examinetis. Valeat fanftitas veftre ad regimen ecclefise per tempora longa. Primus Articulus efb talis, cum in forma pacis fie contineatur ut fequitur. Si vero idem Leolinusjus vendicaverit in aliquibus terris quas alii praster die- ram dominum regem occupaverint extra quatnor cantredos prasdiftos, pleniariam fibi juftitiam exhibe- bit praefatus dominus rex fecundum leges et confue- tudines partium illarum in quibus terras illas confiilunt : qui articulus non fuit obfervatus fuper terris Arwyft- ley et inter Dyvy et ductus fiuviorum, pro eo quod cum dominus Leolinus dictas terras vendicaflet co- ram domino rege apud Ruthlan, et rex fibi con- cefiTifTet caufam examinare fecundum leges et confue- tudines Wallise ac advocati pretium fuiflent intro- du6li coram rege ut judicarent de diftis terris fecun- dum leges Wallicanas , parte rea comparente et re- fpondente adeo quod eo die deberet finaliter termi- nari ex prsefixione domini regis qui apud Glover- niam exiftens diem prasdiclum partibus affignavit, li- cet fsepius in diverfis locis coram jufticiariis fuiflct difta caufa examinata, et terrse ipfas effent in pura Wallia. Nee unquam judicata fuit fuper eis nifi fe- cundum leges Wallicanas j nee dominus rex poffet - vei A P P E N D I X. yel deberet prorog-are niii fecund um leges Wai lice : diem tamen ipium motu proprio prorogavit et contra leges antedictas, et ad ultimo fuit vocatus ad loca va- riaad qu;e non debuit evocari, nee juftitiam obtinere potuit, nifi iecundum Ifges Anglic contra illud quod in dicto articulo continetur. Et idem factum fuit coram jufiiciariis apud Montgomery, cum partes ei- ient in judicio conltitutas et firmatse, et dies datus ad fentcn'iam audiendam, .diem prorogaveomt leges me- moratas. Demum apud Londinum poll multos labo- res et expenias varias rex ipfe juftitiam iibi denegavit, nifi vellct fecundum leges Anglise fubire judicium in caufa memorata. Secundus articulus non iervatus eft talis. Et omnes tranfgreiTiones injurise ct excelius hinc inde fafta: pce- nitus remittuntur ufque in diern hodiernum. lile ar- ticulus non fuit obiervatus quia dominus Regnialdus de Grey ftatim cum fuit fadus jufticiarius, movit va- rias quseitiones et innumerabiles contra homines de Tcgengl, et nos fuper tranfgreffis qus faftai fuerunt in tempore domini Henrici regis, et di d. et poftquam arraveret conftabukrius cum dicto bove perfeptem menles, folvit didus Gruffynus pro dicto bove, 40 d. Item. Howel ap David fpoliatus fuit per fatel- jUtes albi Monafterii duobus folidis extra villam, eo quod denegaverat prius munera ut folent fatellitcs pe- fere. Item. David ab Gronow ab Eynion fpoliatus fuit 305. eo quod quidam cives albi monafterii dixit, quod quidam de Penlhyn, qui mortuus fuerat, denegabatur ei in quibufdam rebus. Item. Duo famuli Y bongam capti fuerunt et con- demnati in duabus libris, eo quod pofuerunt manum jn qnendam latronem qui fpoliabat eos in villa per noc- tem, et liberaverum latronem. Item. Eneyon fiiius Ichael captus et verberatus fuir, et fpoliatus duobus bobus valoris, 245. et 6d. nulla alia de caufa, nifi quod boves ipfo connivente moverunt |e de platea ad iliam plateam. Item, 380 APPENDIX. Item. Adaf ap Ychael condemnatus fuit in duabus libris pro una libra, et ipfe pofuerat in juramento cu- jufdam civis de albo monafterio quod non tenebatur nifi in una libra proprincipe, nee voluit jurare, et ideo fpoliatus fuit una libra. Item. Guyan Maeftran fpoliatus fuit 5 s. eo quod dicebat quod quidam Mercator de Ardydwy teneba- tur eis in quibufdam rebus, cum ipfe nee erat de dicta Balliva : item condemnatus fuit in 8 d. quia dicebant ipfum vendere quafdam oves extra villam cum ipfe non vendiderat. Item. Famulus Lewelini abGwyn fpoliatus fuit fep- tem ovibus, et 5 s. et fuo pallio, eo quod dicebant ipfum effe de domino Griff ydh ab Gwyn cum ipfe non erat. Item. lorwerch ab Meylir captus fuit et condem- natus in 155. cum pallio, eo quod denegavit dare munus fatellitibus quod petebant, ipfi fmxerunt cum in villa pernoclare. Item. Gives albi monafterii rapuerunt a Madoco Rufo filio Ychael unum bovem valoris, us. et 6d. Ifla omnia facia fuerunt per Henricum Gamber dicti loci conftabularium, cum aliis innumerabilibus articulis. Item. Ybicre captus fuit in negotio domini prin- cipis, et condemnatus in 5 s. abfque aliqua caufa. Htfc funt gravamina Goronow Jllii Heylyn, viz. Quod quidem Villanus diftus Coronon vocatus fuit ad curiam domini regis occafione indebitas caufse. Tune dictus Goronow venit ad fuum vjlla- num defendendum, et petiit pro ipfo veritatem a do- mino jufticiario, aut legem qua utuntur homines fuze patrise; omnibus autem his eidem denegatis, dictus villanus condemnatus fuit in 27 libris, et tnbus obolis : tune dictus Goronow adivit Londonium pro juftitia habenda, et expendit quinque Marcas et qua- tuor Solidos, et promifia fuit fibi juftitia, et nullani fuit aflecutus. Item. Quidam nobilis fuit interfectus, videlicet, qui nutriverat filium di6ti Goronow, et ilie inter- fector APPENDIX. fector captus fuit et deportatus fuit apud caftrum de Ruthlan : tune dictus Goronow et quidem de parentela iaterfecti petierunt juftitiam de interfectore : tune de- negata eis juftititia, quidam fuerunt incarcerati, etille interfector fuit in Caftello liberatus. Tune dictus Go- ronow interum adivit Londonium propter fupradicta gravamina ad juftitiam petendam, et expendit, 20 Marcas, 35. 4 d. Et dominus rex promifit eidetn plenariam juftititiam, et nullam fuit adeptus cum per- venit ad patriam fuam. Item. Tertio ex defectu juftitias oportuit dictum Goronow adire Londonium occafionibus fupradictis projuftitiapetenda, et expendit ilia vice 18 Marcas, 6s. 8 d. bonse et legalis Monetse ; et tune fimpliciter promifit dominus rex eidem juftitiam perhibere ; et quando credebat habere juftitiam, tune venit Regi- naldus de Grey, et dixit aperte quod ipfe deberit trac- tare totam patriam per chartas domini regis, et abftulit totam Ballivam a dicto Goronow ; quam fibi dominus rex concefiit, et vendidit illam Ballivam ad voluntatem fuam, et tune petiit dictus Goronow juftitiam a domino Reginaldo de gravaminibus fupradictis, et nullam fuit adeptus. Item. Dictus Goronow recepit terram, videlicet, Penmaen et Llysfaen ad firmam de Godfrido Merlyn, nfque ad finem quatuor annorum pro certa pecuniar fumma. Tune Robertus de Cruquer venit cum equis fuis et armis ad quaerendum dictam terram per vim, et quia dictus Goronow non permitteret auferre dic- tam terram ab eodem ufque terminum praefignatum, tune vocatus fuit ad curiam dictus Goronow ilia occafione; tune venit Reginaldus de Grey, cum viginti quatuor equitibus armatis ad proponendum capere dictum Goronow, vel ad eundem decapi- tandum -, et quia viderunt quod non poflent implere fuum propofitum illo die, vocaverunt dictum Go- ronow craftino die apud Ruthlan, et tune dictus Go- ronow habuit confilium ita quod non deberent adire dictam curiam : iterum dictus Goronow vocatus fuit adplacitum apud Caerwys, et non aufus fuit adire dic- tum placitum nifi per conductum domini epifcopi Afaphenfis, APPENDIX. Afaphenfis, quia di&us Reginaldus et fui complurcs ibidem erant armati. Item. Propter ifta gravamina de quibus nullam habuit juftitiam nifi laborare et expendere duas libr, quatuor Marcas, et 9 d ; et quia non aufus fuit in pro- pria perfona adire curiam, mifit quendam nuncium deportantem duas literas, unam ad dominum regem, et aliam ad fratrem Lewelinum, ad fignandum do- mino regi quod amitteret totam patriam, et dictum Goronovv quia non obfervavit illud quod eifdem pro- mifit ; et quia nullam poffent homines de Ros et Ar- glifeld affequi juftitiam, et quia noluit corrigere five emendare ifta gravamina propter hoc amiiit totam patriam. Supplicant fanctitati veftrae, domine archipiefcope Cantuarienfis totius Anglian primas, nobiles viri de Tegengyl, et vobis demonftrant quod cum prasdicti nobiles fecerunt homagium domino Edwardo regi Anglia?, ipfe rex eifdem promilit quod eofdem im- munes obfervaret et indcmnes, tarn in bonis, liberta- tibus, juribus, jurifdictionibus, privilegiis quibus uft fuerunt tempore Henrici regis per fuum obtentum privilegium ; ex quibus privilegiis fuerunt poftmodo fpoliati. T . Imprimis. Juribus et confuetudinibus partite fue- runt ipoliati, viz. praedictus Edwardus compellendo quod ipfi procederent in caufis fecundum legem An- glicanam, cum fecundum tenorem privilegii fui fe- cundum legem Wallicanam procedere debuiifent, viz. apud Tref Edwyn, et apud Ruthlan, et apud Caer- wys; et optimati de patria fuerunt manu capti quia ipfi provocabant quocl ipfi procederent in caufa apud Tref Edwyn fecundum legem et confuetudinem Wal- licanam fecundum tenorem privilegii. Secundo. Quia unus jufticiarius duceret in caufis peragendis, alius (bus praedecelfor in irritum revocaret, viz. in caufa Davidis Reginaldus de Grey recitavit procdTum quem fuus anteceflbr ratum habuit, et etiam approbavit. Tertio APPENDIX. og Tertio. Quod fi unus nobilis de patria fuifiet prop- ter calumniam fibi impofitam captus, quod non re- mitterent eundem pro cautione fidevifforia evadere, quod Suret y- facere debuifTent. Quarto. Quod tres unius nobilis deduct! ad caftrum fuerunt de Flynt, propter parvam accufationem, una cum averiis fuis, nee potuerunt de caflro devenire, nee dilationem obtinere donee unufquifque dedit unum bovem conftabulario de Flynt, et donee folverunt tres libras Kynwrico Seis pro dilatione habenda. Quinto. I Reginald us de Grey terras virorum de Mer- ton dedit et conceflit abbati de Bafingwerk ordinis Ci- ilerciend. contra legem Wallicanam, et patrse confue- tudim , et contra formam pacis inita? inter dominum Lewelinum principem et dominum regem, viz. 1 6 can- tatas terrse. Sexto. Mirantur nobiles et optimati patris pro eo quod dominus rex fecit sdificare caftrum fuper terrain et porTcffionem magnatum, et mandavit dominus rex jufticiario fuo quod ipfe folveret eque bonam ter- . ram illis fpoliatis et adhuc aliquam terrain, nee fuaj terrae asftimationem funt confecuti in Flynt. Septimo. Reginaldus de Grey non permitteret pof- feflbres fylvarum uti fylvis fuis, donee ab eifdem pretium et premium fuiflet confecutus, et aliis ruilicis gratis permitreret fylvam pr^diclorum abfcidere, cum non dcbuifTent fecundum patriae confuetudinem et legem Wallicanam. Octavo. Cum homines de Cyrchynan fecerunt pac- tum cum domino rege, quod cum ipfi concederent di- midietatem cujufdam prati, ad hoc quod dominus rex non permitteret fylvam pr^dictorum abfcidere Howelo filio Gruffydd praefente, et poftmodum Reginaldus de Grey prasdictum pratum infirmavit, viz. conce- dendo aliis quod abfciderent fylvam prsedidorum, ec eofdem dimidietate prati fui fpoliando. Nono. Filius Kynwrici ab Goronow fuit captus apud Ruthlan culpa fua minime prsecedente, nift vel- let pignus fuum acquietare a quoddam muliere, et con- Rk itabularius de Ruthlan fecit eundem detradi in car- s " e " cerem 384 APPEND! X. cerem injuriofe, nee potuit exinde deliberari donee prasdictus fuit condemnatus ultra fuorum bonorurn dua. Hypothec a. Decimo. Cumballivus de Ruthlan erat in convivio apud villam Four Hutmus de Limayl quendam virum nobilern crudeliter vulneravit in prasfentia ballivi fu- pradidbi j cujus vulneris occafione prasdictus Hutmus fuit in octo libris condemnatus ; et quum ille cui in- juria fuiffet facta petere voluiflet praedictas libras, eun- dem fecit detrudi in carcerem una. Undecimo, Nuntii Reginald! de Grey propofuerunt facere illud quod erat abfurdum et diflbnum juris fe- cundum canonicas fanctiones ; videlicet petere ab eif- dem quod ipfi ararent Reginaldo de Grey, et quod ipfi feminarent illam araturam ; et illi fuerunt nuntii, viz. Kynwricus Seis et Hutmus de Limayl, quod przediclus vero Kynwricus in praefentia omnium de patria juravit, nifi omnes de patria ararent quod ipfi infra tempus pceniterent, et ipfi multum timuerunt metu qui potuit cadere in conftantem virum. Duodecimo. Quod prascones de Tegeyngl emerunt officium praeconias pro 30 marcis a domino rege, et poftmodum Reginaldus de Grey prsedictos prascones tam pecunia quam prxconia fpoliavit contra legem et confuetudinem Anglicanam. Tertiodecimo. Septem nobiles fuerunt p interfett minus jufte ab Anglicis, et adhuc parentes prsedic- torum aliquam fatisfadtionem non habuerunt, cum illi malefaftores fuerunt capti ; et poftmodum prasdidos malefadtores remiferunt prasdidti conftabularii impu- nitos. Quartodecimo. Conftabularius unus de Ruthlan de- tradit duos Satellites domini regis in carcere, pro eo quod ipfi tenuerunt aliquem Anglicum qui grave deliclum commifit hominem alium vulnerando, Ifti omnes articuli in prasmifils nominati, fuerunt perpetrati contra prsediclorum virorum libertatem, ' jurifdiftionem, et privilegium et centre legem et con- fuetudinem Wallicanam ; videlicet, quod non erant aufi'eorum quasrelas domino regi per fuos nuncios denun- APPENDIX. 385 dcnuntiare, proptcr metum Reginald! ct timorem, qui metus potuit cadere in conft antem virum : quia prse- dictus Reginaklus fua voce Dilvada fuit proteftatus ;O P eni y . quod fin inveniret nuntios prasdi&orum quod eofdem decapitaret prout nobis ex parte unius ex confilio fuo fuit ceruve intimatum. In tantnm quod lingua non poteft proferre, nee penna fcribere in quantum prse- dic~V.i homines de Tegeyngl fuerunt aggravati. Conqueritur vobis, domine archiepifcope Cantuari- cnfis totius Anglise primas, Lewelinusfilius Griffini filii Madoci de conilabulario de cruce Ofwaldi regis, et de hominibus cjufdem villae, qui praediftum Leweli- ! num tertia parte cujufdam villae quae vocatur Ledrot, et curia patris fui, fine obfervatione juris patriae fuae ivel confuetudme inequiter fpoliarunt. Praeterea. Praedi&us conftabularius et fui com- plures eundem Lewelinum communi paftura, qua : praedi&us Lewelinus ufus fuit temporibus retroactis, ordine juris patriae minime obfervaro, fpoliarunr, et in ; 70 libris occafione praedictae pafturae condemnaverint. Cseterum dominu rex Angliae conceflit quafdam literas cuidam Baftardo, fcilicet Griflino Fychan ab Cynlha- eth, ad litigandum contra eundem Lewelinum pro toto i dominio fuo obtinendo, quarum literarum occafione ; idem Lewelinus expendit cc 1. fterlingorum legalis i uiualifas monetae. Iterum. Prasdiclus conftabularius co.mpulfit pras- diclum .J^welinum ad mittendum duos fuos nobiles ad eos fulpendendos ad prasdiclum conftabularium quicquid viri nobiles fufpendi minime debuiffent, quam fufpenfionem nollent parentes praediftorum ho- minum fultinuifle pro ccc libris fterlingorum. Poft- midum prsedictus conftabularius incacerravit bis 60 homines pnedicti Lewelini nulla praemiffa ratione, nifl quod quidam gareo emifit quandam vocem, nee po- tuerunt evadere fuum carcerem donee quilibet eorurn folvit decem folidos pro fua deliberatione. Item. Quando homines prasdicti Lewelini veni- rent ad forum ad fuos boves vendendos, prasdiclus conftabularius faceret boves deduci ad caftrum, nee poftmodum baves Jeftituerit, nee pretium folveret C c . venditorii . 3 86 APPENDIX. venditori : praefertim idem conftabularius et fui cepc- runt jumenta prasdicti Lewelini ad terrain iu am pro- priam, et de cifdem jumentis fecerunt fuarh voluntatem. Praeterea. Jufticiarii domini regis compulferunt pra^didbum Lewelinum ad tradendum quandam vil- Jam filiis Eneoni filii Griffini ; qui quidem pnedictam villam, nee a fe, nee a prsedeccjToribus fueruht con- fecuti, ordine juris patris fuae in hac parte minime obfervato. Idem. Praedi&us conftabularius abftulit equum ballivi praedicli Lewelini fine aliqua ratione, nee fibi aliquid debebatur; hec adhuc prasdiclus ballivus fa- tisfa*clionem aliquam eft confecutus. Casterum. Quando prasdiftus Lewelinus volebat adire villam quae vocatur Caerlleon cum literis do- mini regis ad comperiendum ibidem in die fibi afiig- nata 5 filii Grifrjni fiiii Gwenynny et armigeri do- mini Rogeri Starainge ex confilio Rogeri eundem Le- welinum et fuos incarcerarunt in fui injuriam et fuo- rum non modicam lasfionem ; quam injuriam et Ia2- fionem nollet prsediclus Lewelinus et fui fuftinui(Te pro ccc marcis fterlingorum; nee ab ei'fdem potuic cvadere donee invenit pro fe fufficientcm cautionem. His et aliis receptis in fcriptis accefTit, archiepifco- pus ad doniinum regem , fupplicans ei humiliter ut gravamina fuppradida dignetur averiere, et ca correc- tione debita terminare : et faltem pro tanto habere ex : ccffus Wallenfium excufatos ; qui refpondit Wallenics injuriis fibi illatis efle excufabiks, quia omni tcmpore pofatus extiterat omni facere juftitiam conquerenti : quo audito, archiepifcopus regi iteriim fupplicavit ui permittefet Wallenfes pro fuis grayaminibus expo- nendis et remediis afferendiis ap ipfum habere accefium, liberum et regreffum : qui refpondit quod libere per-' mitteret eos ad fe accedere fed et redira { fi fecundum juftitiam regrefllis eorum meritis refponderet. Qui- bus auditis accefllt archiepifcopus ad principem Wal- liae in Snawdoniam ut tarn ipfum quam Davidem fra- trem fuum et casteros Wallenfes ad aliquam humili- tatis regiilam ipforum animos inclinaret -, per iquam poflet qui ipforum nuntius regiam clementiam ad i>pfo admittendos in gratiam inclinare.' Poft varies ' 38 APPENDIX. 3*7 autem tra&atus refpondit princeps : quod paratus erat voluntati regiae fa fupponere duobus prasfuppofitis, falva fcilicet confcientia fua qua populo fuo'affiftere tenebatur ; falva etiam condefcentia ftatus fui. Qua? cum archiepifcopus retuliflet domino regi, refpondit dominus rex quod nullum alium de pace volebac cum principe ac fubditis fuis habere tractatum, nifi quod ipfi fupponerent fe in omnibus regiae voluntati : et cum conftaret archiepifcopo Wallenfes nullo modo velle fe regime voluntati fupponere, nifi prasche in for- ma eis tolerabili et accepta, traftatum habuit ex per- mifiioni domini regis cum magnatibus tune praefen- tibus, qui omnes confenferunt in arttculos infra fcrip- tos, quos per fratrem Joannem Wallenfem infcriptos principi et fuis archiepifcopus deilinavit. Primo. Quod dominus rex de quatuor cantredis et terris ab eo datis, magnatibus fuis nullum vult ha- bere tra&atum, nee etiam de infula Anglefey. Idem. De tenentibus eorum cantredorum fi ad fuam pacerri venerint, proponit facere prout condecet regiam majeftatem, credimus tamen quod aget cum eis mifericorditer fi ad pacem venerint, et ad hoc proponimus una cum casteris amicis efficaciter labo- rare, fperantes efficaciter exaudiri. Item. De fadlo domini Lewelini nullum potuimus ^liud habere refponfum nifi quod fimpliciter et abfo- lute copformet ad domini regis voluntatem , ut cre- dimus firmiter quod dominus rex cum eo aget mife- recorditer, et ad hoc intendimus cum totis viribus la- borare cum czeterjs amicis exaudiendis ut confidimus cum efFeftu, Primo. Quod proceres hanc formam gratis regia? conceperunt-, ut videlicet domino Lewelino fe regiae gratiae fubmittente, provideatur ei per regem hono- rifice in mille libratis fterlingorum de aliquo honori- fico comitatu, in aliquo loco Angliae , ita tamen quod praedictus Lewelinus ponat dominum regem in Sey- fina Snaudonum abfolute, perpetue et quiete. Et ipfe rex filiae principis fecundum condiceftiam fui proprii fanguinis providebit, et ad hoc fperant fe pofTe regis animum inclinare. C c 2 Item. 388 APPENDIX. Item. Si contingat Lewelinum ducere uxorem ct habere de ea puellam mafculam, intendunt impetrare proceres a domino rege, ut proles ilia fuccedat per- petuo haereditario Lewelini in terra mafculorum li- berorum videlicet comitatu. Item. De populo principi immediate fubjeclo tarn in Snaudon quam alibi providebitiir fecundum deum prout complete faluti ejufdem populi et honori , ct ad hoc eft regia dementia fatis prona, populo defiderans confolabiliter providere. Primo. Quod fi ad honorsm Dei et fuum juxta crucis affumptae debitum velit in terrae fan&ae fub- fidium proficiici, providebitur ei honorifice fecun- dum condefcentiam ftatus fui, ita tamen quod non redeat nifi per regiam clementiam vocatus : rogabi- inus etiam dominum regem, et fperamus efficaciter cxaudiri, ut provideat proli fuae. His omnibus motu noftro fubjungimus Wallenfi- bus omnia pericula imminere longe gravius quam eis diximus oraculo vivae vocis : fcribimus dure valde fed longe durius eft obrui vi et armis, et in fine totaliter extirpari, quoniam prnni die pericula nobis imminen- tia aggravantur. Item. Longe difficilius eft omni tempore in guer- ra efle in anguftia cordis et corporis vivere, et fem- per in inBdiis malignari, et cum hoc vivere et mori in peccato mortali continue et rancore. Item. De quo doleremus valde fi ad pacem mi- nime veniatis, indubitanter timemus contra vos de- bere fententiam ecclefiafticam intolerabiliter aggra- vari pro excefllbus veftris; de quibus non poteritis yos aliquatenus excufare in quibus invenietis miferi- cordiam, fi ad pacem veniatis et de his nobis refpon,- deatur in fcriptis. Reveren- APPENDIX, in Chrlfto patri ac domino J. Dei gratia Archiepifcopo Cantuarienfi ac totius An* glitz primati fuus in Chrifto devotus filius Leitfilinus princeps Walli vaverunt . APPENDIX. 393 vaverunt , qui nullam emendam de quarrimoniis nobis fecerunt, ut patet in rotulis. ...p. cnomssi f ^.,.iK?^- iboc;i:;ju:: so ri; 3;.-..:; -a. Primo auditis refcripjit ArcMepifcopm Wallenfibus in hcsc verba : IN nomine domini, Amen. Cum nos frater J. per- mifiione divirta Cantuarienfis ecclefise minifter hu- ttiilis totius Anglic primas, fcientes noftro incumbere ofHcio, pro vobis domine Leweline princeps Walliaa ac fubditis veftris exponere nos et noftra fpretis viarum incommodis et pericnlis, veftram adjuverimus prsefen- tiam oves erroneas reducturi ; et fpeculatoris fungentis ofHcio vobis myfterias vivas vocis diximus periculaquse genti veftras videbamus luceclarius imminere, fubjunais remediis eorundem ; tefte optantes altiffimo juxtapon- tificale debitufn cuilibet veftrum ecclefiam mmimo de torpore noftro pontem facere ad falutis littora redu- cendo. Tandem veftris auditis precibus et anguftiis eas^ut neceffitatis veftrce nuntius prasfentavimus regime majeftati, quem ab olim ad pcenitentes adverfarios in- troitum fcirnus efle propitium ; ut quidam de veftris et aliis ut nobis certis conftat indiciis ipfius dementia abutantur. Traclavimus infuper cum magnatibus et proceribus Anglise prasfentibus de modifacione gra- tise regias ipforum affiftentia noftris vobis fupplicationi- bus impretranda, cnjus modificationis feriem per fer- yum Dei fratrem Johannem Wallenfem vobis miTimus in fcriptum, una cum confilio noftro quod vobis fe- cundum deum falubrius videbatur j vos autem deli- berationem veftram nobis in quadam remififtis cedula per eundem, cujus cedul pernitiofas latebras vobis paterno affeclu praefentibus aperimus. Primo igitur diftis vos juri nolle cedere quatuor Cantredaruni, quia progenitores veftri a temporibus Cambri filii Bruti in cifdcm juris plenitudinem habuerunt ; fed nd firnplici- ores in vobis de fucceffu hujufmodi gloriantur, falva in omnibus pace veftra, vobis licet inviti ipfius radicem Originis ex geftis Britonum et Anglorum ad mefnoriam revocamns. Difperfis enim olim Trojanis pro eo quod Paridis adulterium defenfarunt} ' fatemur progenitores A-,.*- APPENDIX. veftrse multitudinis interpofitis quibufdam feditionibu.-) fugse fibi prasfidium affumpfiffe; et utinam non maneat in eis hujufmodi contagii memoria qui fie libera matrimonia parvipendunt ut fpurios et inceftu genitos a fuccefiione hsereditaria ut dicitur non rcpel- lunt, quin potins uxores legitimze Howeli da patro- cinias, contra Evangelium dato repudio fama tefte, vel potius infamia repelluntur; qualiter demum Brutus Dianse prasfagiis non fine diaboli praeftigiis per ido- latriam immolato Cervas Venatitiae obtentis, infu- lam Britannicam pervaferit per famofas hiftorias de claratur ; pervaferit inquam inhabitatam infulam^ gentibus ftatura proceris quarum peremit fortiffimum Corineus. Gentibus inquam de boreali prafapia qua? non folum verum etiam Scythiam trans Danubium ab occidente noftro per Aquilonis latera ufque in Orientales terminos occupavit. Quafn ergo quaefumus fecerunt vobis injuriam Angli et Saxones ejufdem generis, fi vos proceffu temporis ab ufurpato dominio perturbarunt : cum fcriptum efle noveritis, vae qui praedaris in omne praedaberis. Non oportet autem fimplices in radice adulterina proceffu idololatria% et ufurpationis fpoliis gloriari. Progenitores infuper veftri moderniores, cum enervati deliciis fibi non fufficerent defenlandis, obruentibus eos Scotis et Pi&is, denegato etiam eis Romani imperil pnefidio poftulato, ad Germanorum refugium convolarunt, qui venientes repudiarunt, hoftes ufque in praefentern diem fuarum labores manuum manducantes. Ex his caufis quum fedet fola a vobis infula olim populo plena, veftro profcribente Jeremia, quia prophetae tui viderunt tibi vana et ftulta; item praediftorum juribus Can- tredorum confirmationem legati frivole allegatis, cum non fuerit intentionis fuae jura regia, feu etiam jura civilia et Canonica, ficut nee potuit enervare: pro crimine enim lefas majeftatis, in quod vos incidiffe dicimini, juxta quod fcribitur fexta quaeftione. Se- cunda paragraph ; Si quis cum militibus, et 22. Quseft. ultima capitulo de forma fidelitatis. Omnc perit jus haereditarium et expirat : in Cantredis igitur praeduftis in quibus ab olim domino regi jus dicitur adquifitum, et in Snawdon ac caeteris quae teneris jure APPENDIX. 395 jure haereditario, nihil poteftis ficut nee fubditi veftri,' lit ex praeallegatis videtur, nifi ex fola regia dementia praeftolari. Dicitur demum quod populus non vult ad gratiam regiam convolare, quia dominus rex, nee pacla, nee juramenta, nee chartarum fcedera principi confervavit. Et nos quaerimus ex cujus vel quorum iftud fit judicio declaratum, nifi per vos qui in caufa propria judicium ufurpatis, et per fingulas luftrales pe- riodos pacem infringitis, innocentes jugulatis, incen- dia facitis, munkiones regias pro viribus vaftatis ; ac domini Howell da quitalia injuriarum remedia in lege fua quatn vidimus inftituk, automate quarn ei diabo- lus delegavit. Praeterea in regem impungitis, diceri- tes, quod regales ecclefias et perfonas ecclefiafticas crudeli vaftavit tyrannide, et confumunt ; ad quod ta- lker refpondemus, quod, dominus rex praedi&a mala nee fieri mandavit, nee rata habuit, quin potius nobis obtulit ultronei, quod quam cito aderit oportunitas ecclefiarum proponit difpendia refacire ; quod differt ufque ad fedatam guerre tempeftatem, ne fi prius fi&. ret deftruerentur iterum per latrones. Prasterea timetis in Anglia honorem fufcipere, neconfequenter vobis oc- cafionata malitia auferatur, cum tamen fateamini quod dominus re nullum fuum exhasredaverk inimicum ; quod fruftra vos timere credimus, fi legalker vivere vos et veftri didiceritis, et non a parti cum domino veftro contendere vel certare. Mores vobis et populo veftro caufamini incognitos ; et nos e contrario ppi- namur quod expediret vobis omnibus in modum ahum ct mores penitus transformari. Cum enim fitis ficut cseteri homines donis Dei gratuitis adornati, fed in veftro Anglo devoramini : ut nececclefiamjuvetis con- tra hoftes fidei militando; nee Clerum ftudio fapien- tiae, exceptis pauciffimis, decoretis , qum potius ma- jor pars veftrum torpet otio et lafciviis, ut pene nelciat mundus vos efle populum, nifi per paucos ex vobis qui videntur ut plurimum in mendicare. Demde fcribitis quod creditis altiffimum vosjuvare projuftitia dccretantes j utinam inquam altiffimus juvet vos i falu- briter et dirigat ad falutem. Sed ne ruinas ahquas Anglorum ex inconfideratione fua provementes veftns 39? A P P E N D I 5C velitls mentis arrogare cnretis advertere qualiter qui irt coelis habitat fatuos fublimat et elevat ad modicum ut perpetuo allidat ; fie certe olium populus Dei eleftus ante harum repertam civitatem pro unius Anathemate confortis verfus in fugam quofdam fuorum perdidit bellatorum : fie certe quater centena millia bellatorum duodecim tribuum Ifrael in fuo numero et fortitudine confidentes ab unius tribus modico populo, occifis ex 40 millibus bellatorum, per vices varias funt confufi j cum tamen purgato unius Anathemate, prfedicta Civi- tas finaliter deleleta fuerit per illos, qui prius confufi fuerant, et per lacrymas placato domino cum jejuniis, oblatis facrificiis, tribus ilia quse praevaluerat prius, per prius confufos quafi totaliter fit deleta ; fie certe ali- ter flagellat dominus filios quos recipit, et aliter quos decernit ut arbores fteriles extirpare. Ifta vobis fcri- bimus in cordis amaritudine ab his partibus recedentes, nee prenidicare intendimus falubriori confilio, fi vobia coelitus deftinetur, nee latre vos volumus quod nullum per vos invenimus excnfatiom's fufficiens remedium, quo obftante minime debeatis in excors Irnam incidiffc pernuntiari : dudum latet in Oxon confilio contra pa- cis regias turbatores, viam autem pacis aliam invenire non poflumus, nee adhuc in fpe fumus aliud obtinendi, Sed fi nobis aliquid confultius videatur agendum, vobia ' numquam claudemus gremium, nee auxilium denega- bimus opportunum. Dat. apud Ruthelan 18 Calend^ Decemb. Ann. Dom. 1282. Lewelinus autem princeps Walliae prsediflus fpretis omnibus oblationibus et pacis formis poft fcriptis, in* vafit hoftiliter terram domini regis Angliae deflruendo earn incendio et rapina, nee non homines terrse illius ad fe trahendo, et a -bonitate pacis regise feparando. Qui tamen princeps infra menfem ilium ignominofa morte primus de exercitu fuo occifus eft, per familiam domini Cadmundi de mortuo mari, filii domini Rogeri de mortuo mari ; et totus exercitus fuus vel occilus, vel in fugam converfus in partibus Montis Gomerici die Veneris proximo, ante Feftum S. Lucse, videlicet 3. Id. Decemb. fub Anno. Dom. 1282. In decima litcra dominicali D. currente, A TABLE TABLE OF THE Remarkable Things in this BOOK. A. ABerfFraw deftroyed by the Irifli, Page 57. Adelred King of the Weft Saxons vanquifhed by the Britains, 15. Adelred married Emma daughter of the duke of Normandy, and the reafons of it, 70. The confequence of the Mar-T- riage, 71. Flies with his wife and children into Nor- mandy, 75. Returns, ibid. His death, 78. Aedan ap Blegorad haying flain his competitor Conan, is pro~ claimed Prince of North- Wales, 69. Is flain with his four fons hi battle, 79. Alan the 2d. King of Little Britain aflifted Cadwalader, 9. Advifed him to obey the vifion, u. Alfred King, an encourager of learning, and founder of the univerfity of Oxford, 32. Routs the Danes, ibid. Makes fhem forfwear the fight of Englifli ground, 33. He caufecl the laws of Pyfnwal Moelmut and queen Marfia to be translated into Englifh, &c. 43. Alfred propofed to be feqt for to be king over the Englifh, 85. Oppofed by earl Goodw'yn, 68. Had his yes put our, ibid. Anarawd prince of North-Wales fucceeds his father Rodri, 37. JDies, his ifiue, 45. Anglefey The TABLE. Anglefey deftroyed by the men of Dublin, 46- Ravaged by Madoc ap Meredith prince of Powys, but all his men were cutoff, 175. Arthuf King of Britain, his fepulchre found in the ifle of Afalon, 206. The infcription upon it., 207. Arthur eldeft fon to king Henry the feventh, created prince of Wales, and dies at Ludlow, 324. Athelftane, tho' a Baftard, the worthiefl prince of the Saxon blood, 48. His victory over the Danes, Scots and Nor- mans, ibid. Removes the Britains to Cornwal, dies, 49. Aulafe and all his Danes received baptifm, 49. Swears ne- ver to moleft England, 66. B. T) Aldwin archbimop of Canterbury, the firfl that made hii JTj vifitation in Wales, 208. Bede his education and writings, 16. Bible, how, "when, and by whom tranflated into Welch, 326. Blethyn and Rhywalhon princes of North-Wales aflift Edric againft the king of England, 101. A rebellion formed againft them by Meredith, and Ithel ap Gruffydh, ibid. Battle wherein Rhywalhon and Ithel were flain, Blethyn murdered Rich. 104. Britain, how and when forfaken by the Roman forces, i. Invaded by the Scots and Pic~ts, ibid. Britains, their fad complaints to /Etios thrice conful, 2. The reafons of their weaknefs, 3 and 4. Their meflage to the Saxons, 5. The Britains of Stiatclwyd and Cum- berland fettle in North-Wales, 38. Brochwel once prince of Powys, a great defender of the Monks of Bangor, 23. Bruce de William, Lord of Brecknock under pretence of friendship, barbaroufly murders Sitfylht ap Dyfnwa], hit fon and followers, 204. Bruce Sir Edward, his letter to fir Griffydh Llwyd, 312, and 313. C. CAdelh prince of South- Wales dies, his iflue, 44. Cadelh takes Caermardhyn, and beats the Normans and Flemings, 165. Like to be murdered, 170. Gone upon pilgrimage, 171. Cadwgan murdered by Madawc, 138. Cadwalader the laft king of Britain of the Briti/h race, 8- Retires to Alan king of Little Britain, ibid. Learned in a vifion to go to Rome, and there fhorn a Monk, 10. Cadwalader with his brother Owen Gwynedh from North- Wales The TABLE. Wales in conjunftion with feveral South- Wales lords mad$ an horrible {laughter of the Normans and Flemings, and drove them out of South-Wales, 157, 158. Cadwalader forced to flee from his brother Owen to Ireland* 163. Returns with Irifh forces, concludes a peace with his brother, made prifoner by the Irifh, refcued by his brother, 164. Efcapes out of prifon, 171. Flies to England, ibid. His death and iflue, 200. Canterbury redeemed by the citizens from being burnt by the Danes, for 3000!. 73. Betrayed afterwards to them and burnt, 74.. Caradoc king of North- Wales fights and is /lain by the Saxons. 21. His pedigree, ibid. Celibacy enjoined to the clergy in a fynod held at Lon- don, 127. Chriftian faith pure in the Btitifli church, 221. Charles duke of York created prince of Wales, 328. Charles eldeft fon of king Charles the Firft created prince of Wales, 318. Civil war in Wales, and Edwal fon of Meyric the indifputable heir fet up in North-Wales, 67. Clare, earl of, poflefled himfelf of divers ftrong-holds in Cardigan, 177. Clynnoc fawr an abby in Arfon, 11. When and by whom built, 12. Endowed by prince Anarawd, 39. Cnute the Dane chofen king, and his cruelty to the Englifh Hoftages, 75. Returns to England, ibid. The Nor- thumbers fubmit to him, 76. Befieges London, is routed by Edmund, ibid. Combats Edmund, agree and divide England between them, 78. Generoufly punifhes Edmund Ironfide s murder, ibid. Marries Emma Edelred's widow* 80. Requires a fubfidy of the Englifh, ibid. Made a pompous journey to Rome, 82. Makes the Scots do him homage, abid. Dies, and is fucceeded by his fon Harold Harefoot, 83. Conel prognofticating the Norman invafion, and fuccefs. H 100. Commotions in England, 158. Conan, War between hifn and his brother Howel, 23. Dies, 23. His pedigree, ibid. Conspiracy againft William the conqueror by the Englifh and the Welch detected, and the confpirators executed, 104.. Conflable, Walter, marries "Neft's daughter, and has the JordfhJpof Brecknock, 1 16. A ftrange paffage related br h? ^ thC ftj concerning 'GrufFydh ap Rhys, Crogens, ufed as a term of reproach by the Englifh to thfl Welch, 123. No reafon for it, 224. P/ nric ;> P r ipce Owen's fon, flain 162. D The TABLE. D. Anes begin to difturb England, 20,21. They prevail and winter in England, 28. They take and deftroy Winchefter, 30. Kill Ofbright and Elba kings of Nor- thumberland 31. Slew Edmund king of the Angles, ibid. Fought five battles with Ethelred, ibid. They win London and Redding, 33. Routed by the Weft- Saxons, 34. Are defeated by Alfred and received the Chriftian faith, 37. They harrafs North-Wales, 39. Defeated by the Armonican Britains, ibid. Forced to rife from before Exeter, and fpoil the fea-coaft of Wales, 41. Receive a great overthrow, 42. They grow powerful, not only in England but alfo in Ireland, 44. Thrice over- thrown by the Engljfli, 45. Cruelly overthrown by Tot- tenhale, 46. Routed by king Edward, 48- Driven out of the kingdom by king Edmund, 52. Force the Englifh to pay the Dane-Gelt, 65. Make a terrible havock in Wales, and had tribute paid them, 66. Make frefh de- veftations in Wales and England, 70. They are maflacred by the Englifh, 71. Force the Englifh nobility to buy their peace for 30,000!. 72. They beat Wolfkettel, 73, Slew Ethelftan and ranfacked the country, 74. Dafydh ap Owen killed his brother Howel in battle, and gets to be prince of North-Wales, 195. Secures his brother Maelgon, reduces Anglefey, and banifhes his brethren, 202. Sends a band of Welch to accompany king Henry into Normandy, ibid. Is difpofieit by his eldeft brother's fon Lhewelyn ap lorwerth, 2 1 3. Ungrate- ful to prince Lhewelyn for his liberty, 224. I)afydh ap Lhewelyn prince of Wales did homage at Glo- cefter to the king of England, 259. Is excommunicated by the bifhop of Bangor for detaining his brother Gruffydh in prifon, -whom he refufed to deliver at the king's requeft, 160. Submits to the king of England, 262. Cajols the king to detain his brother Gruffydh prifoner, ibid. En- gages the Pope on his fide againft the king, but he proves falfe, 264. Fights the Englifh often with various fuccefs, ibid. Dies without iffue, 268. Davids* St. burnt by the Weft-Saxons, 21. Deftroyed by the Danes, 45 Again by the, Danes 69. Deftroyed by ftrangers, 107. The cathedral facrilegioufly robbed, I n. - Made fubjecl to the fee of Canterbury, 125. Punftan, St. bifhop of Canterbury, hi* prediction and . death, i. Eaftcr, v ' The T A B L E.' E. After, the Britains and Saxons quarrel about the ob- fervation of it, 18, 19. gar, advanced to the kingdom in his brother Edwin':, room, 56. He waftes North-Wales, and agrees for a yearly tribute of 300 wolves, ibid. Regulates drinking vcfFels becaufe of the Danes excefs, 57. Rowed in his barge by fix kings on the river Dee, 59. Edgar Edeling proclaimed king, forced into Scotland, jor. Received to king William's mercy, 103. Edmund king of England's death, and the uncertain manner of it, 53. Edmund Ironfide flain by Edric's fon, 78. Edwal Foel and his his brother Elis fight -the Englifii, and are flain, 49. Their ifTue, ibid. Edward fent for from Normandy and made king, 86. The ConfefTor's death, 98.' dward I. king of England invades Wales, and prevails, 283. Infifts upon prince Lhewelyn's fubmiflion without referve, 292. Sets prince Lhewelyn's head upon murdered, 223. Edward VI. inclined to favour the Welch, 323. Edward fon to Richard 111. created prince of Wales, 324. Edward fon to Henry VIII. created prince of Wales, 325. Edwynkingof England vitious, difpoflefled and dies, 56. Egbert fole monarch in Britain, 25. Calls the country Eng- land, ibid. He fights the Danes, 26. Eineon invites the Normans into Wales, and perfuades them .tp ftay, 112. lElfleda, Mercian queen, her valiant ats both againft the D d Danes The TABLE. Danes and Welch, 46. Her death, 47. Left a daughter Alfwyden difmherited by king Edward, ibid. Ethelwulph king of the Weft-Saxons paid Peter-pence to Rome, 29. Learned and devout, ibid. Eyes of feveral plucked outj a barbarous cuftom, 155. Ethelbald king of Mercia invades Wales, 16. In conjunc- tion with Adelred, overthrow the Britains, ibid. I F. Landers, a part of it drowned prejudicial to the Welch,. 128. emings fettled in part of Wales, 128. G. GAllio routs the Scots and Pi&s, 2. Builds a wall crof* the land, ibid. Gam, Sir David, imprifoned by Owen Glyndyfwr, and re- leafed, 321- Revolts from Owen, ibid His anfwer in France to Henry V. concerning the French army, mor- tally wounded at Agincourt, knrghted and died, 322. Gavelkind, that cuftom in Wales, 22. Geoffrey of Monmouth made bifliop of St. Davids, 171. Glamorgan, lordfhip defcribed, 314. Thebeft of it Fitzha- mon the chief of the Normans kept to himfclf, 115. Godwyn, earl, rebels againft king Edward, 89. Invades the land, and is reconciled to the king, 90. Dies fuddenly fitting at the king's table, 91. Gray, Reginald, lord of Ruthyn taken prifoner by Owen Glyndyfwr and ranfomed, 316, 317. Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn declared prince of North- Wales, 84.. His country invaded by the Englifli and Danes, and routed by him, 85. Reduced all Wales under his fubjection, ibid. Routs Howel prince of South-Wales at Pencader, ibid. Taken prifoner by the irifh under the command of lago ap Edwal, and recovered by his own men, 87. Over- comes and flays Gruffydh ap Rhyderch and his army, &c. ibid. Concludes a peace with Harold king Edward's ge- neral, 94.. His palace at Ruthlan burnt by the Englifli, ibid. Prince Gruffydh murdered by Harold's contrivance after he had reigned 30 years, 95. Gruffydh ap Conan confirmed in the principality of Wale?, 109. Refufed at firft an accommodation with king Henry, at laft fues and obtains peace, 141. CarefTed by the king, and promifed to deliver up Gruffydh ap Rhys, 143. Dies 158. His iffue, 159. Qruffydh the fon of Rhys ap Tudor laid claim to South- Wales, 14-3. Flies to North -Wales, 143. Wifhcd with his The T A B L Ei "Vrs brother Howel to withdraw into South-Wales, 144. Forced to bid open defiance to the king of England, ibid. The Flemings and Welch lords join together to oppofe him, 145. He takes Caermardhyn, 146. Invited to the government of Cardigan-fhire^ ibid. Succeeds, 147. War at Aberyftwyth, 148. Invidioufly difpoflefled of his eftate, 154. Dies, 158. Gruffydh fon to the lord Rhys fucceeded his father, 116. PJagued with his brother Maelgon, 219. A hopeful prince, dies, 222. Gruffydh ap Conan ap Owen ap Gwynedh buried in a Monk's Cowl, the fuperftition .of it, 221. Gruffydh prince David's biother endeavouring to make his efcape out of the Tower of London, breaks his neck, 263. His body recovered and conveyed to Con way and honourably buried, 270. Gruffydh Llwyd knighted by king Edward I. rebels, 311. Treats with Sir Robert Bruce for fuccours againft the Englifh wich his letter to him, ibid. Over-runs North- Wales and the Marches, and is taken prifoner, 313. Gurmundus a Norwegian from Ireland, invades Britain, 7. Gwenwynwyn worfted by the Englifh, 218. Refufes ho- mages to prince LheweJyn, 222. At laft confents to it, 223. Detained prifoner at Shrewsbury, 225^ Set at liberty, regains his country, 228. Revolts from prince Lhewelyn and is difpofleft, 242, H. HArold fucceeds Canute his brother in England, 83. Dies, and is fucceeded by Hardi Canute his bro- ther, 85. Harold's favour with the king, envied by his brother Tofty who barbaroufly murdered his men at his houfe in Here- fprd, and his faying, 7. Made king, 0,8. Slain, ico. Hading a Dane invades France, 40. His policy to obtain Limogis, 41. His cruelty, ibid. Henry j. his partiality in favour of the Normans, 127. Makes his brother Robert prifoner, and puts out his eyes, 12$. Kind to Cadwgan the father of Owen, 132. Invades "Wales with three armies, 140. Overcomes the French king, 151. Loft his children at fea, and marries, 152. Invades Wales, in danger, ibid. Agrees with Meredith ap Blethyn and returns, 153. His death and Succeflbr, 156. Henry II. fends the Flemings into Weft- Wales, 17?. In- vited to the conqueft of Wales, ibid. Repulfed and in danger of his life, 174. Concludes a peace with prince D d 2 Owen, The T A B L , E. Owen, 1.75. Quarrels and concludes a- peace with France, 187. Invudes W;iles and brings prince Rhys to do him homage, 188. Invades Wales again with a moft potent army,. Igr. Returns without any thing memorable, and ft.r revenge puts out the eyes of the hofta^es, 191. Makes a rl.ird expedition inio Wales to as little purpofe, ibjd. Psflbs through Wales, receiving hom-.ige of prince Rhys in his way to the conqueft of -Ireland, 198, 199. Re- turns through Wales and inclined to leave it in a peaceable condition, 199, 200. Engaged in a civil war againft his fon, Henry, 201. Makes a peace with France, and his children forced to fubmit, 202. Dies, 209. Heary III. king of England invades Wales, and is worfted, 751. Invades Wales again, 254. Makes Henry of Monmouth his general againft the Welch, but with ill fuccefs, 255. Laments the death of the ear! of Pembrock, 256. Invades Wales, and makes prince David to fub- mit, 261, 262. Invades Wales, 263. Fights the Welch with no fuccefs, and invites the Iriih into Anglefey, 265. Opprtfles Wales, and returns diflatisned, 269, 270. Item, 274. Waftes the borders, 275. Requires a lubfidy to fubdue Wales, 276. Dies, 280. Henry, eldeft fon to Henry IV. created prince of W. 318. Henry IV. makes unmerciful laws againft the Welch, 319. Henry duke of York created prince of Wales, 324. Henry VII. grants the Welch a charter of liberry, and di- recled la commiflion to enquire into the birth and quality of his grandfather Owen Tudor, 325. Henry Vill. incorporates the Welch with the Englifh, 326. Hemy eldeft fon to king James created prince of Wales, 328. Howel Dha preferred to be prince of all Wales, 50. HIS laws, ibid. Goes to Rome to have them confirmed, 51. His death and iflue, 53, Howrl ap levan expelled his uncle lago, and took the go- vernment of Wa!e-s upon him, 59. At laft agree, 60. Kills Edwal Fychan, and the realons of it ibid. Over- throws the Danes, 61. Invades England, and is flain, 62. He is fucceedcd by his brother Cadwaihan, who was quick- ly flain, 63. Howtl and Meredith, prince Lhewelyn's murderers invite ihe Irifh Scots into South Wales, 8z. Slew Rhydderch, and take the government, 83 Meredith flain by the furs of Conan ap Sitfylht, ibid. Howel attempts the recovery of South-Wales, is overcome and flain by prince Gruffydh near Tywy-Head, 87. Howel ap Grono driven out of Rydcors caftlc by the Nor- mans, The T ;A B L E.' mans, jz6. BaCely betrayed to them, and murdered, 1*7. rblW Howel ap Owen Gwynedh won the cafllc of Ewyas, 167. with his brother Conan quarrel with their uncle Cadwa- lader, befiege and take the caftle of Cynfael from him, . 168. Makes Cadwalader his prifoner, and poflefles his land, ib. He loft all his country to Cadelh, Meredith, and Khys-apGruffydh, who put the garifon of Llanrhyftyd to the fword, . 1 69. '.'"<&;' TAgo ap Edwal recovers his right to North-Wales, 82. * Slain in battle againft Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn, 84. Ifor fent into Britain with an army, by his father Alan, 13. Routs the Saxons, ibid. Marries Ethelburga, Kentwyn's coufin, and fucceeded him in the Weft-Saxon kingdom, 14. Founded Glaftenbury Abby, ib. Died at Rome, 15. John, Arch-deacon of Llanbadarn dies, and is canonized, 1 60. John, K. of England in his way to Ireland through Wales, difcharged a criminal that murdered a prieft, 226. Fa- miflied Will de Bruce, and Maud his aunt at Windfor after his return, 227. The reafon of his cruelty and dif- affeclion to priefts, ib. Marches with a great army into Wales, and returns without fuccefs, 229, 230. Makes a fecond expedition, ib. Orders Foulk vifcount Cardyffto fubdue thofe that oppofe in South-Wales, and they at laft do him homage, but quickly revolt, 231, 232. Makes an expedition into Wales, 229. Makes a fecond arid third, and hangs the Welch pledges, reconciles himfelf to Rome, and engages in a civil war with his barons, 237. Dies, and is fucceeded by his fon Henry, 242. lorwerth ap Blethyn revolts from the earl of Salop, 124. Bafely ufcd by king Henry for it, the reafon of it, 125. Delivered out of prifon, 133. Forbids Owen and Madawc to retire to his ellate, 134. Befet and flain by Madawc and Llywarch ap Trahern, 137. Jofeph bifhop of Landaffdies at Rome, 88. Ireland molefted with Locufts, 42. Ithel king of Gwent flain, 28. LHewelyn ap Sytfylht makes himfelf prince of all Wales, 79. His good government, ib. Slays Meuric that re- belled againft him with his own hand, 80. Suppieiles ano- ther rebellion, 81. Bafely flain, ibid. Lhewelyn Tfce T A B L E. Lhewelyn prince of North Wales takes David ap Owen pri- foner, 217. Receives homage of moft of theWelch lords, 222. an exj 226. and obtains peace of the king by the means of his wife, 231. Animates the lords of North Wales to join with him in a revolt againft the king, 233. Difpoflefles the Englifh of all their holds in his country, 237. Takes Shrewfbury, though excommunicated by the Pope, 238. Subdues Cardigan and Carmarthen, 240. Reconciles the the lords in South Wales, 241. Subdues Powis, 242. Refufes affiftance to King John againft the Dauphine, ibid. Makes Rynald Bruce, who had revolted, fubmit to him, 243. Receives the fubmifiion and allegiance of the Flemings in Dyfed, ibid. Subdues the revolted Flemings again, 246. Makes his fon Gruffydh fubmit, ib.. Com- plained of to the king of England by young Rhys, adjufts matters with him, 247. Seizes the caftie of William Marshal Earl of Pembroke in Wales, and occafions a war between them, 247, 248. Worfts the Englifli army, pays homage to Henry III. 249. Deftroys the marches, 252. Makes a defcent upon England, 253. Being joined by the earl of Pembroke againft King Henry, routs his army, 254. Makes an incurfion into the king's territo- ries, 255. Makes peace with the king, 256. Sets his fon Gruffydh at liberty, ibid. Buries his princefs Joan, 257. Forced to quit the fiege of Ruthlan, 258. Makes the Welch do homage to his fon David ibid. Dies, his character and ifiue, 259. Llewelyn ap GrufFyJh, and Owen Goch his brother, de- clared princes of North Wales, 269. Quarrel, and Owen with his brother David made clofe prifontrs, 271. Recovers the inland country of North Wales from the Englifli, 272. Waftes Chefliire, ibid. Beats the Irifh by fea, 273. De- fires peace with theking, but fails, 277. Kind to Sir Ro- ger Mortimer, 278. Makes a peace by the Pope's mediation with the king, 289. Refufes to attend upon K.Edward's co- roronation,28o. Thereafonsfor his refufal, 281. An acci- dent made him pliable, 283, Severe conditions of peace im- pofed upon him, 284. Married to Elianor Earl Montford's daughteratWorcefter,2J5. Reconciled with his brother Da- vid and join againftthe Englifh, 286. Offers to fubmit to the king conditionally, 292. Sends a letter to thearchbifhop of Canterbury, and the general anfwer of the Welch to his 3 proposals, The TABLE. prppofals, 293, 294, 295. Betrayed in Buelht and killed, 297. London belieged by the Danes, 65. M. MAhael difpofleft of his inheritance by his unnatural mo- ther Neft's means, and how, 115. : ap Meredith prince of Powis fticks to the Englifh tn- tereft, 173. Madawc reconciled to King Henry, 138. Taken prifoner by Meredith ap Blethin, 139. Has his eyes pulled out by Owen, ibid. Madawcap Owen Gwynedh fails intoAmerica, 196. Plants a colony there, ibid. Maelgon difturbs South Wales, 228. Beaten by his ne- phews, Rhys and Owen, 229- March, earl of, marries Owen Glyndwr's daughter, 318. Consented by indenture to divide England between Owen, Piercy, and himfelf, 318. M a ud, the emprefs, lands in England, and is received at Arundel, 162- Meredith ap Owen pofieft of all Wales, 64. Difpofleft of North VO'ales, 67. And routed by Edwal ap Meuric their new prince, 68. Died without iflue-male, 69. Meredith ap Owen made prince of South Wales, 96. Slain in battle againft Caradoc ap Gruffydh, 102. Meredith and Rhys ap Gruffydh prevails in South Wales, 171. Meredith's death and character, 172. Merfyn Frych is made king of Wales, 24. Is flain, 27. , Merlyn, Ambrofe, and Sylvefter, their time, country, and prophefies, 10, II. Morgan Hen dies, an hundred years old ; his marriage, eftate, and iflue, 58. Morgan ap Owen kills Robert Fitz-Gilbert and his fon, 157. Slain, 175. Morgan ap Cadogan repents of his murder committed, 156. Murders committed, 156. Item, 163. N NEwmarch, a Norman, obtains the Jordfhip of Breck- nock, and marries Neft, daughter to Llewelyn ap Gruffydh, 115. Normans twice decimated and put to death in England, 86. They wafte and plunder Dyfed, 103. They feize upon The lordfhip of -Glamorgan, 1 1 3. The names of the ad- venturers, ibid. They poflefs themfelves of feveral loid- fhips in Wales, 117. Divers of them flain in Cardigan, ibid. The T A B L E. I ibid. Routed again by Cadwgan ap Blethyn prince of South Wales, and their caftles deftroyed, 118 Slaugh- tered divers times by the Welch, and forced to quit the country, 119, 120. Northumberland invaded by the Scots, 109. O. OFfa king of Mercia makes a ditch from fea to fea, 20. His death, 21. Owen ap Edwyn a traitor to his country, 121. Made prince of Wales by the Englifti, but foon loft jt, 122 . His death and pedigree, 126. Owen the fon of Cadwgan enamoured of Neft the wife of Gerald, King Henry's lieutenant in Wales, 122. Steals her away, ibid. Flies into Ireland, 135. Returns and waftes the country, in conjunction with Maradoc ap Ri- ryd, 133. His men flay an Englifh bifhop the caufe of Cadwgan, his father, being difpoftefled of his eftate, 135. Forced to flee into Ireland with Madawc, ibid. Return?, and is reconciled to the king, 138. Divides Madawc's eftate between himfelf and Meredith ap Blethyn, 139. Flees for fear of King Henry into North Wales, 140. Reconciled to to the king 14.1. Owen is brave and knight- ed in Normandy 142. Employed by King Henry againit Gruffydh ap Rhys, 148. Slain by Gerald, 149. Owen Gwynedh fucceeds prince of North Wales, 160. mightily concerned at the death of his fon Run, 165. takes and rafes the caille of Mould, 166. Pulls out his ne- phew Cunedah's eyes, and caftrates him, 170. Being pro- voked invades Llandhinam, 193. Dies, his character and iffue, 194. Owen Cyfeilioc and Owen Fychan difpofTefs lorwerth Goch of his eftate in Powis, 192. Cyfeilioc dies, leaving his eftate to Gwenwynwyn his fon, 217. Owen Glendwr, his family, education, and employment, '3*5' 'OpPfed by the Lord Ruthyn without redrefs, takes up arms, and makes him prifoner, 316. Prevails, takes the earl of March prifoner, 317. Retakes Aberyftwyth ca- ftle, 319. Summons a parliament at Machynlleth, 320, Secures David Gam upon a fufpicion of a deilgn he had to murder him, 321. Burni his houfe, and his verfe upon it, ibid. "*' ;' 'c.-.i H' ".*?*'> O1 tfrj *;;: ? ~. "' <* P. PAtent of lands granted in Wales to the earl of Portland, 302. Commons addrcfs upon it, 303. King's an- fwer, 304. J Peekhara The TABLE. Peckham, John, archbifhop of Canterbury endeavours a reconciliation of Prince Llewelyn, and his brother, with the king, 286. His remonftrance to the prince and peo- ple, 287, 288, 289, 290. Solicits the king on behalf of the Welch, 291. Sends articles to the Welch, 292, Excommunicates the prince of Wales and his adherents. 297-. Peace in general between England and Wales, except with Prince Rhys, who was forced to comply with the king, 176. Unjuftly dealt with, 177. Powis, prince of, removes his feat from Pengwern to Ma- thraval, 20. An account of it while a principality and a lordfhip, with the feveral divifions and pofleflors thereof, whether of Britifh or Englifh blood, 175, to 185. R. "1^ Ebellion in the North, caufed by Earl Tofty's infolence, \\. 97- Appeafed, 89. Rhydderch feizes upon South Wales, 82. Rhydderch and Rhys the fons of Rhydderch ap leftyn put in their claim to South Wales, 88. Rhys brother to Prince GrufFydh taken by the Englifh, and put to death at Bulendun, 91. Rhys ap Owen and Rhydderch ap Caradoc jointly govern South Wales, 105. The latter dies. 106. A rebellion againft the other, ibid. Invaded alfo from North Wales, flies, purfued, and (lain, 187. Rhys ap Theodor allowed prince of South Wales, as law- ful heir, 107. A rebellion formed againft him, flies into Ireland, returns and defeats his enemy, no. Supprefles another rebellion, in. Slain near Brecknock in a fight againft the invading Normans and his own rebellious fub- jects, ii2. Rhys ap GrufFydh prince of South Wales takes Llanymd- dyfri cattle, 177. Subdues Cardigan, 178. Gives Hen. If. hoftages to obferve the peace made between them, ibid. Befieges Carmarthen, then forced to quit it, 179. PoflefTed himfelf of divers lands belonging to foreigners in Wales, as did othersaccording to his example, 189. Takes Aberteifi caftle and rafes it, \gt. Subdues Owen Cyfei- lioc, 197. Brings the lords of South Wales at enmity with King Henry to do him homage, 203. Makes a great feaft at Chriftmas at Aberteifi, where the bards of North Wales and South Wales ftrive for the maftery, 205, 206. Takes advantage upon King Henry's death to enlarge his country, 209. His family diminifhes, 210. Made prifoner by his own fons, 211. Efcapes,, 212. Takes two of his fons prifoners, 214. Enlarges his conquelt, and defeats the e Enojifh, The TABLE: Englifh and Normans, 214, 215. Dies, his character and iflue, 216. Rhys Fychan takes Lhanymdhyfri caftle, 257. Rhys ap Gruffydh ap Rhys prevails in South Wales, 239. Does homage to Henry III. 145. Dies, 147. Rhys ap Meredith unfaithful to his country, 304. Knighted by King Edward j revolts, 305. Defeated, taken pri- foner, and executed 306. Rhythmarch, archbifhop of St. David's dies, 122. Richard king of England's feafts in the- Holy Land, 210. Taken prifoner in Auftria, ibid. Died of his wounds re* ceived at Chalons in France, 219. Richard of Bourdeaux created prince of Wales, 315. Robert Cyrthois rebels againft his father in Normandy, no. Robert earl of Salop rebels againft Henry I. 122. "Engages the Welch in the quarrel, 123. Seeks aid of Magnus, Harold's fon, and fails ; banifhed with his brother Arnulph into Normandy, 124. Robert de Beliffimo a great difturher of the Welch commit* ted to perpetual imprifonjnent by King Henry, 139. Roderic Molwynoc fucceeded Ifor, anno 720, 15. Driven by the Saxons out of the weftern countries to his inheri- tance in North Wales, 17. Died foon after, 18. Roderic the Great, prince of Wales, 27. Beats the Danes out of his country, 33. Fights the Englifti, and with his brother Gwyriad is flain, 34. His pedigree and divifion of Wales between his three fons, ibid. His imprudence herein, 36. S. SAxons, their anfwer to the Britifli meflage, 5. They firft repel the Scots and Pidts, 6. Enter into league with the Scots ibid. They encroach upon the Britains, 19. Scots and Pidts invade Britain, i. Siward, Earl, his faying upon his fons being flain in battle, 19. His foldierly temper at his death, 92. South Wales invaded twice in one year by levaf and lago, princes of North Wales, 55. They quarrel, and the ccn- iequence of it, 57. Embroiled in war between Rhys ap Gruffydh and Rhys Fychan, and the former fupported by the Englifh, 235, 236. ephen king of Ei Stephen king of England agrees with the king of Scots, 157. Ravages Scotland, 160. Supprefles infurredtions at home, and routs the Scots by his lieutenants, 161, Befieges A- rundel caftle in vain, 162, Takes Lincoln, is defeated and taken prifoner, ibid. Exchanged (or Earl Robert, and overthrown The TABLE. overthrown a fecond time at Wilton, 163. Wins the . battle of Farendon, agrees with Henry the Emprefs's fon, and dies, 172. Stewards, the family, and their original, 91, 92. Sulien, archbifhop of St. David's dies, jji. Sulien, a learned man of Llanbadarn dies, 165. Swane the Dane waftes the ifie of Man. Lands in North Wales, 68. Kills Edwal prince of the country, ibid His fuccefs in England, and efteemed king hereof, 74, 7 2 7 6 - Annexed to the crown of England, 300. Walwey, King Arthur's nephew, his tomb found, whofe : body was of a prodigious length, no. Welch quarrel amonglr. themielves, 22. Ibid. 2?. They defeat the Mercians at Convvey, and call it Dial Rhodri, 3- Difable the Danes and Englifli that invaded them then fall out among themfelves, 61. Too late, fee the folly of foreign aid, 174. Miferably flaughtered, j7 , 131. Being at peace from abroad, they fall to their wonted method of dcftroying one another, 208. Complain to their prince The TABLE. prince of their oppreffion from the Englifh, 272. Beaten by the Englifh, 279. Worft the Englifh, 297, 298. Beaten in Buelht, ibid. Revolt becaufe of an heavy tax from Edward I. every where, 306. Beat the Englifh, 307. Take the king's carriages, ibid. Routed by the Earl of Warwick, 308. Beat the marchers, but are at loft overcome, and their leader Madoc made prifoner, 309. Welch minftrels reformed, whereof were three forts, 159. William duke of Normandy claims the crown of England, 98. Lands at Haftings, and defeats the Englifh, 100. William I. goes with an army on pilgrimage to St. David's, no. William Rufus invades the Welch without fuccefs, nS. Idem, 120. Killed, 122. FINIS. .^01 1 %i 5h ^ u ! ^^ cs ^ >i IO^T ^ 2/1 University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. OCT 07 199) Q !l(