natural Fortifications the Welch still made In-roads into their Territories and seldom returned without some considerable Booty and Advantage The Saxons were heartily nettled at these bo-peeping Ravagers and would compliment them still to their Holes but durst not pursue them further for fear they should be entrapp'd by such as defended the Streights and Passages into the Rocks King Offa perceiving that he could effect nothing by these Measures annexed the Country about Severn and Wye to his Kingdom of Mercia and planted the same with Saxons And for a farther security against the endless Invasions of the Welch he made a deep Ditch extending from one Sea to the other called Clawdâ— Offa or Offa's Dike upon which account the Royal Seat of the Princes of Powys was translated from Pengwern now Shrewsbury to Mathraval in Montgâ—meryshire A.D. 795 While these things are transacted in the West the Danes began to grow powerful at Sea and durst venture to land in the North of England but without doing any great hurt being forced to betake themselves to their Ships again Within Six Years after they landed again in greater numbers and proved much more terrible they ravaged and destroyed a great part of Linsey and Northumberland over-ran the best part of Ireland and miserably wasted Rechreyn At the same time a considerable Battel was fought at Ruthlan between the Saxons and the Welch wherein Caradoc King of North Wales was killed The Government of Wales was as yet green and not firmly rooted by reason of the perpetual Quarrels and Disturbances between the Welch and the Saxons so that the chief Person or Lord of any Country assumed to himself the Title of King Caradoc was a Person of great Esteem and Reputation in North Wales and one that did very much contribute towards the Security of the Countrey against the Incursions of the Saxons He was Son to Gwyn the Son of Colhoyn the Son of Ednowen Son to Blethyn the Son of Blecius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwal and Devonshire Offa King of Mercia did not long survive him and was succeeded by his Son Egfert who in a short time left his Kingdom also to Kenulphus a year after that Egbertus was created King of the West Saxons About the same time dyed Arthen Son to Sitsylht the Son of Clydawc King of Cardigan and sometime after Run King of Dyfed and Cadelh King of Powys who were followed by Elbodius Archbishop of North Wales before whose Death happen'd a very severe Eclipse of the Sun The Year following the Moon was likewise A.D. 808 eclipsed upon Christmas-day These Fatalities and Eclipses did portend no Success to the Welch Affairs the laying of S. Davids in Ashes by the West Saxons being followed by a general and a very grievous Murrain of Cattel which was like to impoverish the whole Country The following Year Owen the Son of Meredith the Son of Terudos dyed and the Castle of Deganwy was ruined and destroyed by Thunder But these several Losses which the Welch sustained could not reconcile Prince Conan and his Brother Howel but they must needs quarrel and contend with one another when they had the greatest occasion to embrace and unite their endeavours against the common Enemy Howel claimed the Isle of Anglesey as part of his Father's Inheritance which Conan would by no means hearken to nor consent that his Brother should take possession of it It was the custom of Wales that a Fathers Estate should be equally distributed between all his Sons and Howel by virtue of this Custom commonly called Gavelkind from the word Gafel to hold claimed that Island as his Fathers Estate This Custom of Gavelkind has been the occasion of the Ruin and Diminution of the Estates of all the antient Nobility in Wales which being endlesly divided between the several Sons of the same Family were at length reduced to nothing From hence also proceeded several unnatural Wars and Disturbances between Brothers who being either not satisfied with their Portions or displeased with the Country they were to possess disputed their Right by Dint of the Sword This proved very true in this present instance for Howel would not suffer himself 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 Victory fell to Howel who immediately thereupon possessed himself of the Island and valiantly maintained it against the Power and Strength of his Brother Conan The Welch being thus at variance and enmity among themselves and striving how to destroy one another had yet another Disaster added to their Misfortune For the following Year they received a very considerable Loss by Thunder which very much spoiled and annoyed the Country and laid several Houses and Towns in Ashes About the same time Gruffith the Son of Run a Person of considerable Quality in Wales dyed and Griffri the Son of Kyâ—gen was treacherously murthered by the Practices of his Brother Elis. But Conan could not rest satisfied with his Brother Howels forcible possession of the Island of Anglesey and therefore he was resolved to give him another Battel and to force him to restore and yield up the Possession of that Country which he had now violently kept in his hands Howel on the other hand being as resolutely bent to maintain his Ground and not to deliver up a foot of what he was now upon a double respect viz. his Fathers Legacy and his late Conquest Owner of willingly met his Brother put him to flight and killed a great number of his Forces Conan was cruelly enraged at this shameful Overthrow and therefore made a firm resolution either to recover the Island from his Brother or to sacrifice his Life and his Crown in the Quarrel Having drawn up all A.D. 817 the Forces he could raise together he marched to Anglesey to seek his Brother Howel who being too weak to encounter and oppose so considerable a Number was compell'd to make his Escape to the Isle of Man and to leave the Island of Anglesey to the mercy of his Brother But Conan did not live long to reap the satisfaction of this Victory but dyed in a short time leaving Issue behind him one onely Daughter called Esylht married to a Nobleman of Wales named Merfyn Frych He was Son to Gwyriad or Vriet the Son of Elidure who lineally descended from Belinus the Brother of Brennus King of the Britains His Mother was Nest the Daughter of Cadelh King of Powys the Son of Brochwel Yscithroc who together with Cadfan King of Britain Morgan King of Demetia and Bledericus King of Cornwal gave that memorable Overthrow to Ethelred King of Northumberland upon the River Dee in the Year 617. This Brochwel by the Latin Writers named Brecivallus and Brochmaelus was a very considerable Prince in that part of Britain called Powys-land as also Earl of Chester and lived in the Town then called Pengwern Powys now Salop in the House where since the College of S.
his mind delivered up to the King being the in-land Country of Denbigh and Flint which Lhewelyn at this time repossessed himself of And well it was he was so quick for within a little while after King John by the persuasions of Pandulph the Pope's Legate granted his Holiness all his Request and so obtained Absolution at Pandulph's hands and upon performance of his Promises an assurance of a releasement from that Ecclesiastical Bull which had so formidably roared against him A.D. 1213 South-Wales had now been quiet for a considerable time and they that used to be commonly very turbulent and contentious were now pretty easy and amicable But it was impossible that such a peaceable Course of Life should hold long where Injustice and Oppression had so much Liberty and where People were wrongfully kept out of their just and rightful Inheritance And this was the occasion of the breach of that quietness which for the two or three years last past they had so satisfactorily enjoyed For Rhys the Son of Gruffydh ap Rhys who was right Heir to Prince Rhys finding he could have no share of his Father's Estate but that his Uncles forcibly kept all from him thought it his best way to make his Case known to the King of England and to desire a remedy and redress from him King John in compassion of the young Man's hard Condition sent to his Deputy Foulke Vicount of Caerdyff Warden of the Marches and to the Steward of Hereford commanding them to take away all Ystratywy from Rhys Fychan by some called Rhys Gryg unless he would permit his Nephews to enjoy Lhanymdhyfry-Castle with all the Lands and Priviledges thereunto belonging Foulke having received such Orders from his Master the King of England sent to acquaint Rhys of the Proposals and so demand of him whether or no he would deliver up Lhanymdhyfry to his Nephews according to the Kin'gs Command who returned answer that he did not know of any such Obligation due from him to the King of England as to part with his Lands at his Command and therefore assured him peremptorily and in plain terms that he would not willingly part with one foot of what he was in present possession of Foulke therefore having received this resolute Answer was likewise as resolute to get that by force which he could not obtain by fair means and so having raised a great Army he marched to Talhwynelgain to meet with young Rhys who was to come thither with all the Forces he could raise in Brecknock and from thence they marched in three Battles towards Dynefawr the first being commanded by young Rhys the second by Foulke and Owen Brother to Rhys led the third Rhys Fychan was not in the least dismayed at their Number but thinking it more advisable to meet them in the Field rather than suffer them to block him up at Dynefawr came out very boldly and gave them Battel but after a warm Engagement on both sides Rhys Fychan in the end got the worse and after a loss of a great number of his Men he was glad at last to make his escape by flight And so retiring to Dynefawr he doubled the Garrison of that place but thinking the Town of Lhandeilo-fawr not to be Tenable he burnt it to the Ground and then kept himself private in the Woods and other desart places But young Rhys and Foulke laid Siege to Dynefawr and in the first Assault came on so fiercely that they forced the Garrison to retire to the Castle which for some time they defended very manfully But the besiegers began to play so violently with their battering Engines and to undermine the Wall in such a manner that the Governour after a short defence began to Capitulate giving three Pledges for security that if they received no Relief by the morrow at Noon the Castle should be surrendred up conditionally that the Garrison should 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 Castle the next day was accordingly surrendred and all the Articles of the Capitulation observed and so young Rhys being possessed of Dynefawr in a little time afterward brought all Cantref-fawr to his subjection When Rhys Fychan was sensible how the stream run violently against him he thought it his wisest way to remove his Wife and Children and all his other Effects to his Brother Maelgon's Country and so leaving Lhanymdhyfry Castle well manned and fortified he departed towards Aberystwyth But as soon as Foulke was returned to the Marches young Rhys came with an Army consisting of Welch and Normans before Lhanymdhyfry intending to besiege that place but before they were encamped before the Town the Governour thought it his best way to surrender upon Condition only that the Garrison should depart away with their Lives And shortly afterwards Rhys Fychan was taken at Caermarâ—dhyn and committed to the King's Prison and so all the Disturbances and Troubles of South-Wales came to a peaceable issue But it was not so in North-Wales for Prince Lhewelyn being desirous to rid his Country from the insupportable Tyranny and Oppression of the English Garrisons laid Siege to the Castles of Dyganwy and Ruthlan the only places now remaining in the hands of the English which he took without any great opposition and so 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 consequently in no good Condition to help himself for having repented of all the indignities and stubborness he expressed against Pope Innocent at this time he received Penance at the hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury to attone for all the severities he had practised against the Church And to restore himself the more to his Holiness Favour he made the Kingdom of England Tributary to the Church of Rome to be holden of the Pope in paying him the summ of 1000 Marks yearly for ever and withal recalled and restored to their former Preferments and Places all such as had been banished or had voluntarily fled the Kingdom upon the account of their strict adherence and submission to the Pope of Rome Nor was this all for the next year King John with A.D. 1215 two of his Nobility the Earls of Chester and Derby was resolved upon a Voyage to the Holy-Land but was unfortunately prevented of his Journey by the Rebellion of his Barons which now broke forth violently by reason that the King would not grant them some antient Laws and Priviledges such as their fore-Fathers always enjoyed Therefore the Barons entered into a Confederacy with Prince Lhewelyn of North-Wales desiring him to make what Diversion he could on his part which they were resolved to do on theirs and so having raised an Army they appointed Robert Fitzwalter their General Coming to Bedford they were honourably received into the Castle by William Beauchamp and from thence marching to London they were
to Gruffydh inviting the King of England to come to invade theiâ— Country and to correct the unnatural Enmity theiâ— Prince expressed to his Brother But when all Differences were over the King of England returned with his Army shamefully back and the Prince anâ— his Nobility reconciled the Welch might have expected a very happy time of it had not Death taken the Prince so unnaturally away before he had well known what a peaceful Reign was Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh â—Rince David being dead the Principality of 〈◊〉 North Wales legally descended to Sir Ralph Morâ—â—â—er in Right of his Wife Gladys Daughter to â—â—â—welyn ap Iorwerth But the Welch Nobility beâ—â—â— assembled together for the electing and nominaâ—â—â—g a Successour thought it by no means advisaâ—â—â— to admit a Stranger to the Crown though his â—â—de was never so lawful and especially an Engâ—â—â—â—man by whose Obligations to the Crown of Engâ—â—â—d they must of necessity expect to become Subâ—â—â—s or rather Slaves to the English Government â—herefore they unanimously agreed to set up Lheâ—â—â—yn and Owen Goch the Sons of Gruffydh a base 〈◊〉 of Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth and Brother to Prince â—â—vid who being sent for and appearing before the â—â—sembly all the Nobles and Barons then present 〈◊〉 them Homage and received them for their Soâ—â—â—eigns But as soon as the King of England unâ—â—rstood of the death of the Prince of Wales he â—â—ought the Country being in an unsettled and waâ—â—ring condition he might effect great matters there â—â—d therefore he sent one Nicholas de Miles to South-â—ales with the Title of Justice of that Country â—â—th whom he joyned in Commission Meredith ap â—â—ys Gryc and Meredith ap Owen ap Gruffydh 〈◊〉 eject and disinherit Maelgon Fychan of all his â—ands and Estate in South-Wales The like injurious â—ractices were committed against Howel ap Meredith â—ho was forcibly robb'd of all his Estate in Glamorâ—â—n by the Earl of Clare These unreasonable Exâ—â—tions being insupportable Maelgon and Howel made â—â—own their Grievances to the Princes of North-Wales â—esiring their Succour and Assistance for the recovery â—f their lawful Inheritance from the Incroachments of the English But the King of England undâ—â—standing their Design led his Army into Wales 〈◊〉 on whose arrival the Welch withdrew themselâ—â—â— to Snowden-Hills where they so tired the Englâ—â—â— Army that the King finding he could do no goâ—â— after some stay there returned back to England Wiâ—â— in a while after Ralph Mortimer the Husband Gladys Dhu dyed leaving his whole Estate and wâ—â— it a lawful Title to the Principality of North-Waâ—â—â— to his Son Sir Roger Mortimer A.D. 1247 The next Year nothing memorable passed betweâ—â— the English and the Welch M. Paris p. 739. only the dismal Effects the last Years Expedition were not worn off 〈◊〉 ground being uncapable of Cultivation and the Câ—â—â—tel being in great measure destroyed by the Englâ—â—â— occasioned great Poverty and Want in the Countâ—â— But the greatest Calamity befel the Bishops S. Asâ—â—â— and Bangor being destroyed and burnt by the Englisâ— the Bishops thereof were reduced to that utmost Eâ—tremity as to get their Subsistence by other Meâ—â— Charity the Bishop also of S. Davids deceased aâ—â— he of Landaff had the Misfortune to fall blind 〈◊〉 the Bishoprick of S. Davids succeeded Thomas sâ—â—â—â— named Wallensis by reason that he was born in Walâ—â— who thinking himself obliged to benefit his own Coâ—â—try what lay in his power desired to be advance from the Archdeaconry of Lincoln to that Sea whicâ— the King easily granted and confirmed him in 〈◊〉 A.D. 1248 The next Summer proved somewhat more favourablâ— to the Welch Rhys Fychan Son to Rhys Mechyl woâ— from the English the Castle of Carrec Cynnen which his unkind Mother out of Malice or some ill Opinion entertained of him had some time afore privately delivered up to them And about the saâ—â— time the Body of Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn base Son 〈◊〉 Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth was recovered from the King oâ— England by the earnest sollicitations of the Abboâ—â— of Conwey and Ystratflur who conveying it to Conwey bestowed upon it a very pompous and honourable Enterment After this the Affairs of the Welch proceeded A.D. 1255 â—â—aceably for a long while and the Country had sufâ—â—â—ient opportunity to recover its former plenty but 〈◊〉 last to make good the Proverb that Plenty begets â—â—ar they began for want of a foreign Enemy to â—â—arrel and fall out among themselves Owen was too â—â—gh and ambitious to be satisfied with half the Prinpality and therefore must needs have a fling at the â—hole wherein Fortune so far deceived him that he â—â—st his own Stake as will afterwards appear But â—â—e better to encompass his Design by sly Insinuaâ—â—ons he persuaded David his younger Brother to seâ—â—nd his Cause and they with joynt Interest levied â—â—eir Power with intention to dethrone their elder â—â—other Lhewelyn But that was no easie matter 〈◊〉 Lhewelyn was prepared to receive them and with puissant Army met them in the Field and so was â—â—â—olved to venture all upon the fortune of a Battel 〈◊〉 was strange and grievous to behold this unnatural â—ivil War and the more grievous now by reason â—â—at it so manifestly weakened the strength of the Welch to withstand the Incursions of the English â—ho were extremely pleased with so fair an opportuâ—â—ty to fall upon them But they were too far enâ—â—ged to consider of future Inconveniencies and a â—â—yal of War they must have though the English â—ere ready to fall upon both Armies The Battel â—eing joyned the day proved bloody of both sides â—nd whether was like to conquer was not presently discovered till at length Owen began to give â—round and in fine was overthrown himself and his â—rother David being taken Prisoners Lhewelyn â—â—ough he had sufficient reason would not put his â—rothers to death but committing them into close Prison seized all their Estates into his own hands â—nd so enjoyed the whole Principality of Wales The English seeing the Welch at this rate oppress â—nd destroy one another thought they had full liberty to deal with them as they pleased and thereâ—pon began to exercise all manner of Wrong and Inâ—ustice against them insomuch that the next Year all A.D. 1256 the Lords of Wales came in a body to Prince Lhewelyn and declared their Grievances how unmercifully Prince Edward whom his Father had sent to Wales and others of the Nobility of England deale with them how without any colour of Justice they seized upon their Estates without any room for Appeal whereas if themselves offended in the least they were punished to the utmost extremity In fine they solemnly declared that they preferred to dye honourably in the Field before to be so unmercifully enslaved to the Will and Pleasure of Strangers Prince Lhewelyn was not a Stranger to all this and now having happily discovered the Bent and Inclination of his Subjects was resolved to prosecute if possible the Expulsion of
Montgomery-shire and are all on the North-side Severn saving a piece of Montgomery-shire And here I think it good to let the Reader understand what the British Chronicle saith of North-Wales which affirmeth that three times it came by Inheritance to Women First to Stradwen Daughter to Cadfan ap Conan ap Endaf and Wife to Coel Godebâ—e Mother to Genaw Dyfyr and Gwawl The second time to the same Gwawl Wife to Edeyrn ap Padarn and Mother to Cunetha Wledic whâ—ch Cunetha inhabiting in the North parts of England about the year 540. after the Incarnation of Christ and hearing how the mingled Nations of Irish-Scots and Picts had over-run the Sea-shore of Cardigan which was part of his Inheritance sent his Sons thither to enjoy their Inheritance of whom Tibiaon his eldest Son died in Man which Land the said Irish-Scots had won For Gildas saith that the Children of Glam Hector which peopled a great part of Ireland Yscroeth 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 words which saith Builke cum filiis suis inhabitavit Euboniam insulam vâ—lgò Manaw quae est in meditullio maris inter Hyberniam Britanniam that is to say Buiâ—ke with his Children inhabited the Isle Eubonia commonly Manaw for so it was and is named in British which lieth in the middle of the Sea between Ireland and Britain This was not called Môna as Polydor faineth The Children of Bethoun inhabited Demetia which is South-Wales with Gwyr and Cydweli till they were chased thence by the Children of Cunetha Thus far Gildas Therefore the Sons of Cunetha being arrived in North Wales as well I think being driven by the Saxons as for their Inheritance divided the Country betwixt them And first Meireaon the Son of Tibiaon the Son of Cunetha had Cantref Meireaon to his part Arustel ap Cunetha had Cantref Arostly Caredic ap Cunetha had Caerdigion now called Cardigan-shire Maelor the Son of Gwran Son to Cunedha had Maeloron that is the two Maeloâ— Maelor Gymbraeg called Br. and Maelor Sâ—esneg Dunod had Cantref Dimodic Edeyrn had Edeyrnion Mael had Dynmael Coel had Colâ—yon Doguael had Dogueilyn Rhyfaon had Rhyfonioc now Denbigh-land Eineon Yrch had Caereneon in Powys Vssa had Maesuswalht now Oswestry For surely that they say commonly of Oswald King of Northumberland to be slain there and of the Well that sprung where his Arm was carried is nothing so For Beda and all other Writers testify that Peanda slew Oswald at Maserfelt in the Kingdom of Northumberland and his Body was buried in the Abby of Bradney in the Province of Lhyndesey But to my former matter These Names given by the Sons of Cunetha remain to this day After this the Irish-Picts or Scots which the Britains called Y Gwydhyl Phictiaid which is to say the Irish-Picts did over-run the Isle of Môn and were driven thence by Caswalhon Lhawhir that is Caswalhon with the long hand the Son of Eineon Yâ—ch ap Cunedha who slew Serigi their King with his own hands at Lhan y Gwydhyl which is the Irish Church at Holyhead This Caswalhon was Father to Maelgon Gwynedh whom the Latins call Maglocunus Prince and King of Britain In his time was the Famous Clerk and great Wiseman Taliessyn Ben Beiâ—dâ— that is to say the chiefest of the Beirdh or Wisemen for this word Bardh in Caesar's time signified as Lucan beareth Witness such as had knowledge of things to come and so it signifieth at this day This Maelgon had a Son called Run in whose time the Saxons invited Gurmond into Britain from Ireland who had come thither from Affric who with the Saxons was the utter destruction of the Britains and flew all that professed Christ and was the first that drove them over Severn This Run was Father to Beli who was Father to Iago for so the Britains call James who was Father to Cadfaâ—â— and not Brochwel called Brecyfal as the English Chronicle saith for this Brochwel called Ysgiâ—hroc that is long toothed was chosen Leader of such as met with Adelred alias Ethelbertus Rex Cantiaâ— and other Angles and Saxons whom Augustine had moved to make War against the Christian Britains and these put Brochwel twice to flight not far from Chester and cruelly slew a 1000 Priests and Monks of Bangor with a great number of lay-Brethren of the same House which lived by the Labour of their Hands and were come bare-footed and woolward to crave Mercy and Peace at the Saxons Hands And here you shall understand that this was not Augustine Bishop of Hippona the great Clerk but Augustine the Monk called the Apostle of England Then this Brochwel retired over Dee hard by Bangor and defended the Saxons the Passage till Cadfan King of North Wales Meredyth King of South-Wales and Bledâ—us or Bletius Prince of Cornwal came to succour him and gave the Saxons a sore Battel and slew of them the number of a 1066 and put the rest to flight After the which Battel Cadfan was chosen King of Britain and was chief Ruler within the Isle after whom his Son Cadwalhon who was Father to Cadwalader the last of the British Blood that bare the Name of King of Britain was King The third time that North-Wales came to a Woman was to Esylht the Daughter of Conan Tindaythwy the Son of Edwal Ywrch the Son of Cadwalâ—dâ—r She was Wife to Merfyn Frych and Mother to Rhodâ—ric the Great as shall be hereafter declared By this you may understand that North-Wâ—les hath been a great while the chiefest Seat of the last Kings of Britain because it was and is the strongest Country within this Isle full of high Mountains Craggy Rocks great Woods and deep Vallies strait and dangerous Places deep and swift Rivers as Dyfi which springeth in the Hills of Merâ—onyth and runneth North-West through Mowthwy and by Machynlaeth and so to the Sea at Aberdyfi dividing Nâ—râ—h and South-Wales asunder d ee called in Welch Dourdwy springing also on the other side of the same Hills runneth East through Penlhyn and the Lake Tegyd 〈…〉 and Lhangolhen between Chirke-Land and Bromfield where it boweth Northward toward â—angor to the Holt and to Chester and thence North-West to Flint-Castle and so to the Sea There is also Conwey rising likewise in Merionyth-â—â—ire and dividing Caernarvon from Denbigh-shire â—â—nneth under Snowden North-East by the Town of â—berconwey to the Sea Also Clwyd which rising in Denbigh Land runâ—eth down to Ruthyn and plain North not far from â—enbigh to St. Asaph and so by Ruthlan and to the Sea There be many other fair Rivers of which some run â—o the Sea as Mawr at Traethmawr and Afon y Saint at â—aernarvon and other that run to Severn as Murnwy 〈◊〉 Powys and to Murnwy Tanat some other to d ee â—s Ceirioc betwixt the Lordships of Chirke and Whitâ—ington Alyn through Yal and Molds dale and Hope â—ale and so
from the Injuries of their barbarous Enemies But as soon as the Roman Legion was transporteâ— into Gaul back return the Picts and Scots and having by a desperate Assault passed the Wall pursue the Britains with a more dreadful and bloody Slaughter than formerly The Britains perceiving their Condition most desperate once more send their miserabâ—â— Complaints to Ætiâ—s in these Tragical Words 〈◊〉 Aetius thrice Consul the Groans of the Britains the Baâ—barians drive us to the Sea and the Sea drives us bâ—â—â— to them and so distracted betwixt two Deaths we 〈◊〉 either drowned or perish by the Sword But they soâ—â—cite to no purpose the Romans having already bid aâ—solute farewel to Britain and the Empire being cruâ—ly oppressed by the Goths and other Barbarous Naâ—â—ons was not in a Condition possible to assist theâ— The Britains therefore finding themselves absolute forsaken by the Romans and conceiving it utterly iâ—practicable to drive away the Barbarians by their owâ— Strength saw it urgently necessary to call in the 〈◊〉 of some Foreign Nation whose Labour in repelliâ—â— their Enemies should be gratefully and satisfactorily Rewarded The Reason that the British Nation was at this time so weak and impotent and so manifestly unable to withstand these barbarous Enemies who were far inferiour as to extent of Countrey and probably in number of People may in great measure be attributed to the Ease and Quietness the Britains enjoy'd under the Roman Government For whilst the Roman Legions continued in Britain they ever undertook the Security and Preservation of it so that the Britains heretofore were little concerned at the Incursions of the Scots and Picts depending wholly upon the Strength and Valour of the Romans insomuch that within a while they fell into a fit of Luxury and Effeminacy and quickly forgot that Martial Prowness and Military Conduct which their Ancestors so Famously excelled in For after their intire Subjection to the Roman Empire they had little or no Opportunity to Experience their Valour excepting in some home-bred Commotions excited by the aspiring Ambition of some male-contented General which were quickly compos'd and reduced to nothing And after the Scots and Picts grew Formidable and durst venture to make Incursions into the Roman Province the Britains were the least concerned in Opposing them leaving that to the Care and Vigilancy of the Roman Garrisons And this Easiness and Supinity of the Britains may not be untruly attributed to the Policy of the Roman Constitution For when the Britains were brought subject to the Empire the first thing the Romans effected towards the Confirmation of their Obedience was to take the Sword out of their Hands They were sensible how Bold and Valorous the Britains naturally were how unlike to submit their Necks to a Foreign Yoke and therefore they found it impracticable to obtain a quiet Possession of this Province as long as the Britains had Power and Opportunity to Oppose them This Course they found very effectual and when they had once lulled them asleep they were not over solicitous to rouse and awaken them The Britains also might possibly be too much taken with this sedentary and unactive Life and as long as they lived Secure under the Protection of the Roman Empire they little feared their Countrey would become a Prey to any barbarous Nation No one would have imagined that that Glorious Empire would be so soon crushed to pieces which could not otherwise be effected than by the insupportable pressure of its own Weight This apprehension of the Greatness and Strength of the Romans made the Britains probably less solicitous of enabling themselves to Defend their Countrey not thinking they would ever forsake and relinquish the Province of Britain But to their Sorrow they experienc'd the contrary the Affairs of the Empire elsewhere requiring the Help of the British Legions so that they were left exposed to the Cruelties of the Northern Invaders having not as yet recovered any Power or Conduct to oppose them For had not the Scots and Picts come on so forcibly at first but had given time to the Britains to shake off that Lethargy they had for many Years been buried in and to renew their Antient Discipline and Vigour there had been no need of calling in the Saxons seeing they would in all probability been able to Maintain their Ground against any Opposition and likely had been in Possession of their whole Countrey to this time But next to the Decree of Heaven the Ruin of the British Nation must be attributed to its too much Luxury and Effeminacy and to the universal Lapse of the Nobility and People into an aversion of an Military Action and Martial Discipline For tho' a continued Peace be in it self desirable yet oftentimes nothing tends more to the future Ruin and Downfal of a Nation For Peace begets in Men generally a habit of Looseness and Debauchery is the occasion of many notorious Extravagancies and vitious Practises which weakens their Hands and cools their Courage and Greatness of Mind so that in case of any open Danger they are uncapable to Defend their Countrey and unfit to Oppose the Common Enemy Scarce any Kingdom or Nation was subverted but the Ruin of it was usher'd in by these means witness the Assyrian under Sardanapalus the Persian under Darius and the Egyptian under Cleopatra so that it was most prudently urged by a Roman Senator that Carthage might not be demolished lest that for want of an Enemy abroad the Valour of the Romans might degenerate and their Conduct be forgotten Had the Britains had the Fortune to be continually in action and not exchanged their Courage and Discipline for Ease and Laziness they had had no reason to dread the Incursions of the Scots and Picts nor any need of the Aid and Assistance of a foreign Nation but the condition of their Affairs then required it and Help must be had or else their Countrey must unavoidably become a Prey to those Northern Invaders To prevent therefore and repel their Violence King Vâ—rtigern held a Council of his Great Men and Nobles where it was concluded to be most advantageous to the Britains to invite the Saxons out of Germany to their aid who in all probability would gladly embrace the opportunity by reason that their own Countrey was grown too scanty for their superfluous Numbers This Message of the Britains however originally delivered is by an antient Saxon Writer repeated in this manner Most noble Saxons the miserable Britains shatter'd and quite worn out by the frequent Incursions of their Enemies upon the news of your many signal Victories have sent us to you humbly requesting that you would assist them at this juncture A Land large and spacious abounding with all manner of Necessaries they give up entirely to your disposal Hitherto we have lived happily under the Government and Protection of the Romans next to the Romans we know none of greater Valour than your selves and therefore in your Arms do now seek refuge
Forces obtained a very bloody Victory over the powerless Britains Bâ—â— Adelred who was shortly follow'd by Edwyn King 〈◊〉 the Picts did not long survive this Battel and Cudâ—â— took upon him the Government of the West-Saxons The Welch found themselves unable to cope with the Saxons and too weak to repress their endless Incursions 3. therefore they apply themselves to Cudred and joyned in league with him who upon some occasion or other was actually fallen out with Ethelbald King of Mercia But Ethelbald was so proud with the success A.D. 746 of the last Engagement that notwithstanding the League with Cudred he must needs again fall upon the Welch He advanced as far as Hereford where the Britains by the help of Cudred gave him a signal Overthrow and caused him to repent of his rash and precipitous Expedition But shortly after Cudred and Ethelbald were unluckily reconciled and made Friends together and Cudred relinquishing the Welch joyned his Forces to Ethelbalds Hereupon ensued another Battel in which the Welch being greatly overpower'd were vanquish'd by the Saxons after which Victory Cudred shortly dyed To him succeeded Sigebert a A.D. 743 Man of a loose and vicious inclination who for his ill Behaviour in the Management of his Kingdom was in a short time expell'd and depriv'd by his Nobility â—nd at last miserably slain by a rascally Swineherd After him Kenulph was chosen King of the West Saxons Ann. 750. in whose time dyed Theodore the Son of A.D. 750 Bâ—lin a Man of great Esteem and Reputation among the Britains And about the same time a remarkable Barâ—el was fought between the Britains and the Picts â—t a place call'd Magedawc in which the Picts were â—ut to a total rout and Dalargan their King casually â—lain But the Britains did not succeed so well against the Saxons for Roderic Molwynoc was at length forced to forsake the Western Countries of Britain and â—o claim his own Inheritance in North Wales The Sons of Bletius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwal and Devonshire who was one of them that vanquished Adelred and Ethelbert at Bangor on the River Dee had enjoyed the Government of North Wales ever since Cadfan was chose King of Britain Roderic therefore demanded the Government of this Country as his â—ight which he was now willing to accept of seeing â—he was forced to quit what he had hitherto possessed But he did long enjoy it but dyed in a short time leaving behind him two Sons Conan Tindaythwy and Howel after that he had in all reigned over the Britains Thirty Years Conan Tindaythwy A.D. 755 ROderic Molwynoc being dead his Son Conan Tindaythwy took upon him the Government and Principality of Wales in the Year 755. He was scarce settled in his Throne but the Saxons began to make in-Roads into his Country to spoil and destroy what they conveniently could meet with They were animated hereto by the bad Success of Roderic and having forced the Britains out of Cornwal and Devonshire they thought it practicable to drive them out of Wales too and so to reduce the Possession of the whole Island to themselves This was their Aim and this they endeavour'd to put in execution but they were met with at Hereford where a severe Battel was fought between them and the Welch in which Dyfnwal the Son of Theodor a stout and valiant Soldier was slain And shortly afterwards dyed Athelbeâ—â— King of Northumberland and was succeeded by Oâ—wald About the same time happened a religious Quarreâ— between the Britains and Saxons concerning the observation of the Feast of Easter which Elbodius 〈◊〉 learned and a pious Man endeavoured to rectifie 〈◊〉 Wales and to reduce it to the Roman Calculation which the Saxons always observed The Britains diâ— differ from the Church of Rome in the celebration oâ— this Feast and the difference was this The Church of Rome according to the order of the Council of Nicâ— always observed Easter-day the next Sunday after thâ— 14th day of the Moon so that it never happen'â— upon the 14th day it self nor passed the 21th Thâ— Britains on the other hand celebrated their Easter upon the 14th and so forward to the 20th which occasioned this Difference that the Sunday observed as Easter-day by the Britains was but Palm-Sunday with the Saxons Upon this account the Saxons did most uncharitably traduce the Britains and would scarcely allow them the Name and Title of Christians Hereupon about the Year 660. a great Contest happen'd managed on the one part by Colman and Hylda who defended the Rites and Celebration of the Britains and Gilbert and Wilfride on the part of the Saxons Hylda was the Neece of Edwine King of Northumberland educated by Pauline and Aedan She publickly opposed Wilfride and other superstitious Monks as to such Trifles and Bigotry in Religion alledging out of Polycrates the Fact of Irenaeus who withstood Victor Bishop of Rome upon the same account and the custom of the Churches of Asia observed by S. John the Evangelist Philip the Apostle Polycarpus and Melito and likewise observed in Britain by Joseph of Arimathea who first preached the Gospel here Offa was made King of Mercia and Brichtrich of A.D. 763 the West-Saxons about which time dyed Fermael the Son of Edwal and Cemoyd King of the Picts The Saxons did daily encroach upon the Lands and Territories of the Welch beyond the River Severn but more especially towards the South part of the Country These Enchroachments the Welch could not endure and therefore were resolved to recover their own and to drive the Saxons out of their Country The Britains of South-Wales as receiving the greatest A.D. 776 Injury and Disadvantage from the Saxons presently took up Arms and entered into the Country of Mercia which they ravag'd and destroyed with Fire and Sword And shortly after all the Welch joyned their Forces together fell upon the Saxons and forced them to retire beyond the Severn and then returned home with a very considerable Spoil of English Cattel The Welch finding the Advantage of this last Incursion and how that by these means they gauled and vexed the Saxons frequently practised the same and entering their Countrey by stealth they killed and destroyed all before them and driving their Cattel beyond the River ravaged and laid waste the whole Countrey Offa King of Mercia not being able to endure these daily Incursions and Depredations of the Welch entered into a League with the rest of the Saxon Kings to bend their whole Force against the Welch who having raised a very strong and numerous Army passed the Severn into Wales The Welch being far too weak to oppose and encounter so great an Army quitted the even and plain Countrey lying upon the Banks of Severn and Wye and retired to the Mountains and Rocks where they knew they could be most safe from the inveterate and revengeful Arms of the Saxons But as soon as the Saxons decamped being not able to effect any thing against them in these strong and
the Battel of Kettell his Son Roderic surnamed the Great without any Opposiâ—ion or Contest succeeded in the Principality of Wales The first thing he effected after his Advancement to â—he Crown was the dividing of Wales into several Provinces which he distinguished into these three Aberffraw Dinevowr and Mathraval Berthred King â—f Mercia being animated by his late Success against Merfyn Frych purposed to perform the like Exploits â—gainst his Son Roderic And having gained the Aid â—nd Assistance of King Ethelwulph he entred North Wales with a strong Army and advanced as far as Anglesey which he cruelly and miserably destroyed Roderic met him several times and the Welch did at length so gaul and torment him that in fine he had little or nothing to boast of only Meyric one of the chiefest Princes among the Britains was slain But he was soon forced to quit his Expedition against the Welch and to convert his Forces another way his own Dominions requiring their constant Residence being severely threatned by a foreign Invasion A.D. 846 For the Danes were by this time grown so very powerful that they over-ran a great part of England fought with Athelstan King of Kent Brother to Ethelwulph and obtained so much Conquest that whereas before they returned to their own Country when the Weather grew too cold for Action they now took up their Winter-quarters in England The Welch in the mean time being secure from any Violence which might otherwise be expected from the English began to quarrel and fall out amongst themselves Ithel King of Gwent or Wâ—ntland for what occasion not known fell foul upon the Meâ— of Brecknock who were so resolute as to fight him and the Event proved very unfortunate to Ithel whâ— was slain upon the spot It is the Unhappiness of a Nation that is governed by several Petty States when it is apprehensive of no Danger from an outward Enemy that it will fall at variance and create Disturbances among it self Had the Britains instead of falling upon one another taken the Advantage of this opportunity wheâ— the Saxons were altogether imployed in opposing and repelling the Danes to increase and strengthen their Number and to fortify their Towns they might aâ— least securely have possessed their own Dominions 〈◊〉 not extended their Government to a great part of England But a sort of an Equality in Power begat aâ— Emulation between the several Princes and this Emulation for the most part ended in Blows and Contention so that instead of strengthning themselves whilst they had respite from the English they rather weakened their Power by inward Differences Kongen King of Powys was gone to Rome there to A.D. 854 â—end his Days peaceably and religiously but his Death did not prove so natural as he expected being barbarously slain or as some say choaked by his own Servants Shortly after died Cemoyth King of the Picts and Jonathan Lord of Abergeley It was now become Customary for Princes wearied with Government to go to Rome and the Pope willingly dispensed with the Resignation of their Crowns by reason that his Holiness seldom lost 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 Genealogists bring the Pedegree of Ethelwulph for several Successions and Generations up to Adam as may be seen in Matthew of Westminster who in like manner derives the Pedigree of Offa King of Mercia This has been the Custom of most Nations both antient and modern and is always practised by them whose Families are any thing Antient and Honourable so that it is a very great mistake to scoff at and deride the Welch because they keep up this antient and laudable Custom Berthred King of Mercia became at length far â—oo weak to repel the daily increasing Power of the Danes who so numerously poured upon him that at last he was forced to relinquish his Kingdom and fly to Rome where in a short time he sorowfully ended his days Ethelwulph shortly followed and left his Sons Athelbald King of the West-Saxons and Athelbright King of Kent and the East-Saxons Ethelwulph is reported to be so Learned and Devout that the Church of Winchester elected him in his youth Bishop of that See which Function he took upon him about seven years before he was made King He is said also to have Conquered the Kingdom of Demetia or South-Wales which together with the Kingdom of the South-Saxons he bestowed upon his Son Alfred upon Condition he would bring a Thousand Men out of Wales to Winchester to the Aid of his Brother Ethelbert against the Danes Athelbald succeeding his Father in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons kept his Mother-in-Law the Wife of Ethelwulph for hiâ— Concubine and afterwards married her in the City of Chester But he did not live long to enjoy the unnatural Conjunction but dying without Issâ— after that he had reigned Eight Years left his Kingdom to his Brother Athelbright About the same time the Danes began again to be stir themselves and fell upon the City of Winchester and destroyed it which Athelbright perceiving after a long Fight forced them to quit the Land and tâ— betake themselves to Sea again But the Danes quickly returned to the Isle of Thanet where they remained for that Winter doing much Mischief upon the Sea-Coast and destroying all places near the shoaâ— of England The English were very glad that they durst venture no further and the more because the Welch began again to be troublesome against whoâ— an Army must be speedily dispatched otherwise they would certainly advance to the English Countrey Both Armies met at Greythen where a fierce Battel was fought and a great Number slain on either side but the Victory was not plainly discoverable Bâ—â— the Welch not long after received a considerable Loâ— by the Death of Conan Nâ—rit Nifer a Stout and Skilful Commander who oftentimes had Valiantly repulsed the English Forces and obtained many signâ—â— Victories over them The Danes had been for some time quiet being â—â—able to venture upon any considerable Action anâ— therefore they thought it advisable to secure only whâ— they had already won and to expect a re-inforcement from their own Countrey This was quickly sent them under the Command of Hungare and Hubâ—â—â— who landed in England with a very considerable Armâ— of Danes King Athelbright whether terrified with a dismal apprehension of these Invaders or otherwisâ— being indisposed quickly afterwards gave up the Ghost leaving the management of his Kingdom together with that of his Army against the Danes to his Brother Ethelred The Danes in the mean time â—ot sure footing and advanced as far as York which â—hey miserably destroyed killing Osbright and Elba â—wo Kings of Northumberland that opposed them â—rom hence they proceeded and over-run all the Countrey as far as Nottingham destroying and spoilâ—â—g all before them and then returned back to York â—ut having once tasted
for the re-gaining of the said Countrey But the Northern Britains who had settled themselves there having intelligence of his Design for the better security of their Cattel and other Effects removed them beyond the River Conwey Prince Anarawd in the mean time was not idle but drawing together all the Strength he could raise encamped his Army near the Town of Conwey at a place called Cymryt where himself and his Men having made gallant Resistance against the pressing Efforts of the Saxons obtained a very compleat Victory This Battel was by some called Gwaeth Cymryt Conwey by reason that it was fought in the Township of Cymryt near Conwey But Prince Anarawd would have it called Dial Rodri because he had there revenged the Death of his Father Rodri. In this Battel Tadwal Rodri's Son received a wound in the Knee which made him be denominated Tudwal Glôff ever after but for his signal Service in this Action his Brethren bestowed upon him Vchelogoed Gwynedd But the Britains pursuing their Victory chased the Saxons quite out of Wales into Mercia where having burnt and destroyed the Borders they returned home laden with rich Spoils and so took possession of the Country betwixt Chester and Conwey which for a long time after they peaceably enjoyed But Anarawd to express his thankfulness to God for this great Victory gave very considerable Lands and Possessions to the Collegiate Churches of Bangor and Clynnoc Vawr in Arfon After this those Danes that lay at Fulhenham near London crossed the Sea to France and passing to Paris along the River Seyn spoiled the Country thereabouts and vanquished the French that came against them but in their return towards the Sea-Coast they were met with by the Britains of Armorica who slew the greatest part of them and the rest confusedly endeavouring to escape to their Ships were all drowned One should think that the several Misfortunes the Danes sustained first at Sandwich then by King Alfred and now in France would have quite drained their Number and utterly have rid Britain from so troublesome an Enemy But like ill Weeds the more you root them the faster they will grow the Danes were still supplied from abroad and if an Army was vanquished here another was sure to come in their room This the Welch found too true for not long after this famous Defeat by the Armorican Britains the Danes not able to venture upon these were resolved to revenge themselves upon their Friends of Wales and therefore landing in North-Wales they cruelly harassed and destroyed the Country Nor is it strange to consider from whence such a wonderful Number of Danes and Normans could come For the Kingdom of Denmark had under it not only Denmark which is a small Country divided by the Sea into Insulas and Peninsulas as that which joins upon Saxony and Holsatia called Cymbrica Chersonesus with the Islands of Zealand and Finnen but also Normay and the large Country of Sweden reaching to Muscovy and almost to the North-Pole This Country being then scarce known to the World did of a sudden pour out such a multitude of People which like a sudden Storm unexpectedly over-ran all Europe with a great part of the Country of Africa From hence proceeded these Danes who annoyed England And the Normans who conquer'd France both Nations being originally derived from the same Stock A.D. 890 The Danes had not appeared in England for some time and therefore are now resolved to take so sure a footing as they cannot easily be repulsed Two Hundred and Fifty Sail being landed at Lymene in Kent hard by the great Forest of Andreslege they built the Castle of Auldre or Apledore The same time Hasting with a Fleet of Eighty Sail ventured to the Thames mouth and built the Castle of Mydlton having first made an Oath to King Alfred not to molest him or any of his Subjects But having built the Castle of Beamfleet he thought himself to have obtain'd so great a Strength that there was no necessity of observing the Oath lately sworn to King Alfred and therefore invaded the Country round about him But he soon found his Mistake and was forced to betake himself back to his Castle which was quickly pulled down upon his Head and his Wife and two Sons taken Prisoners who being christened were again restored to their Father Upon this Hasting and his Danes departed from England and made their way for France where laying siege to the City of Limogis and despairing of a speedy surrender of it betook himself to his usual way of dealing sinistrously and devised this Trick to win the Town He feigned himself to be dangerously sick and sent to the Bishop and the Consul of the City desiring of them most earnestly that he might be admitted to the Christian Faith and be baptized before his departure out of this World The Bishop and Consul suspecting no Deceit were very glad not only to be delivered from the present danger of being besieged but also to win so great a Person to the Congregation of Christ Whereupon a firm Peace being concluded betwixt both Nations Hasting is baptized the Bishop and Consul being his Godfathers which being ended he was carried back by his Soldiers to his Ships in a very infirm condition as he outwardly pretended About midnight he caused himself with his Arms about him to be laid on a Bier and commanded his â—oldiers to carry their Weapons with them under â—â—eir Coats and so to be ready when he should give â—â—em the word The next day all things being in readiness he was solemnly brought by his Soldiers â—ith great Clamour and counterfeit Mourning to be â—terr'd in the chief Church of the City where the shop and Consul accompanied with all the most â—â—nourable Members of the Town came to honour â—â—e Funeral But when the Bishop had made himself â—â—ady to bury the Body and all the Citizens being 〈◊〉 the Church up starts Hasting with his Sword â—â—awn and killing first the Bishop and the Consul afâ—â—rwards fell in with his armed Soldiers upon the naâ—ed People putting all to the Sword and sparing â—either Age Sex nor Infirmity Having ransack'd â—â—e Town he sent Messengers to Charles the French â—ing to mediate for Peace which he easily obtain'd â—â—gether with the Town of Chartres towards the deâ—aying of his Charges At this time Hennith ap Bledric a Baron of Wales A.D. 891 â—â—ed and Two Years after Anarawd Prince of North A.D. 893 Wales with a considerable number of English marâ—ed against his Brother Cadelh and spoiled the â—ountries of Cardigan and Ystradgwy At the same â—â—me the Danes laid siege to the City of Excester â—nd when Alfred had marched to oppose them they â—â—at continued in the Castle of Auldre passed over to â—ssex and built another Castle at Scobrith and from â—ence marched to Budington seated upon the Severn When Alfred came near to Excester the Danes preâ—ently rais'd the Siege and betaking themselves to â—heir Ships sailed towards Wales
pay the like Sum to the Prince of Aberffraw But King Ethelstane was not less terrible abroad than he was awed and feared at home the Kings of France and Norwâ—â— sending him very great and costly Presents to obtain his Favour and to gain his good Will A.D. 936 This Year Euneth the Son of Clydawe and Meyriâ— the Son of Cadelh died The same time King Athelstane removed the Britains who lived at Excester and the neighbouring Country to Cornwal bounding theâ— with the River Cambria now Tamar as the Britains of Wâ—les with the Wey Not long after the A.D. 939 noble Prince Athelstane dyed to the great and inexpressible sorrow of all his Subjects and was buried at Malmesbury and succeeded by his Brother Edmund not inferiour to him in Courage but preferable by right of Nativity being born in Wedlock In the first Year of his reign he gave a very considerable blow to the Danes took from them the Cities of Leycester Darby Scafford Lincoln and Nottinham Then Aulafe King of the Danes finding it impracticable to withstand the force of King Edmund desired peace and withal to be initiated in the Christian Faith which being granted him he and all his Danes received Baptism King Edmund standing Godfather at the Font after which both Parties concluding a firm and a lasting Peace Edmund honourably returned to West-Sex The same Year dyed Abloic chief King of Ireland And the Year following Cadelh the Son of Arthuael a Nobleman of Wales was for what reason not discovered imprisoned by the English To revenge which Indignity Edwal Foel and his Brother Elis gathered their Forces together and fought against the English and Danes but were both unhappily slain This Edwal â—oel had six Sons Meyric Ievaf Iago Conan Edwal Fychan and Roderic And his Brother Elis had Issue Conan and a Daughter named Trawst the Mother of Conan ap Sitsylht Gruffydh ap Sitsylht and Blethyn ap Confyn which two last were afterwards Princes of Wales Howel Dha HOwel Dha had been for a considerable time Prince of South-Wales and Powis in which Government A.D. 940 he had so justly and discreetly behaved himself that upon the death of Edwal Foel he was worthily preferred to the Principality of Wales Notwithstanding that Edwal had left behind him several Sons who at first seem'd to murmure at and resent the Election of Howel Dha The first thing he took care of was to enact good and wholsom Laws for the benefit of his Country which held in force in Wales till the time of Edward the First when the Welch received the Laws of England yet not so generally but that in some places they continued long after and are still to be seen in the Welch and Latin Tongue For Howel Dha perceiving the Laws and Customs of his Country to have grown to great abuse sent for the Archbishop of Menevia with the rest of the Bishops and chief Clergy to the number of 140. and all the Barons and Nobles of Wales and ordered that Six of the wisest and best esteemed Persons in every Commote should be cited before him at his Palace called y Ty Gwyn ar Taf or the white House upon the River Taf. Thither coming himself he remained with his Nobles Prelates and Subjects for all the Lent in Prayers and Fasting imploring the assistance and direction of Gods Holy Spirit that he might reform the Laws and Customs of the Country of Wales to the Honour of God and the peaceable Government of his Subjects Towards the end of Lent he chose out of that Assembly Twelve of the wisest and gravest and Persons of the greatest Experience to whom he added Blegored a Man of singular Learning and one exquisitely versed in the Laws To these he gave commission to examine the antient Laws and Customs of Wales and to collect out of them what was requisite towards the Government of the Country according to which Charge they retained those that were wholsom and profitable expounded those that were doubtful and ambiguous and abrogated them that were superfluous and hurtful And so these Laws were distinguished into three sorts The first concerned the Order and Regulation of the King's Houshold and Court The second the Affairs of the Country and Common-wealth and the last had regard to special Customs belonging to particular Persons and Places All which being publickly proclaimed and generally allow'd of Prince Howel ordered three Copies to be written one for his own use another to be laid up at his Palace of Aberffraw and the third at Dinefawr so that the three Provinces of Wales might have easie recourse to either of them when need required And for the better observation of these Laws he caused the Archbishop of S. Davids to denounce Sentence of Excommunication against all such of his Subjects as would not obey the same Within a while after Howel to omit nothing that might procure any Countenance or Authority to these his Laws accompanied with Lambert Archbishop of S. Davids Mordaf Bishop of Bangor and Chebur of S. Asaph and Thirteen of the most prudent and learnedst Persons in Wales took a Journey to Rome where the said Laws being recited before the Pope were by his Holiness ratified and confirmed After which Howel with all â—his Retinue returned home to his Country The particulars of these Laws are too numerous to be here â—nserted only it is observable that all matters of Inheritance of Land were determined and adjudged by the Prince in Person or if sick by his special Deputy And that upon view of the same Land citing together the Freeholders of that place two Elders of his Council the chief Justice always attending in the Court the ordinary Judge of the Country where the Land lay and the Priest The Method of their proceeding was in this manner the Prince sate in his â—udicial-Seat above the rest of the Court with an â—â—lder on each hand next to whom the Freeholders on both sides who upon that account were probably called Vchelwyr Below the Prince at a certain distance sate the chief Justice having the Priest on his â—ight hand and the ordinary Judg of the Country concerned upon the left The Court being thus sate â—he Plaintiff with his Advocate Champion and Rhingylh or Sergeant stood on the left side of the Court as did the Defendant in like manner on the â—ight And lastly the Witnesses on both sides appearâ—d and stood at the lower end of the Hall directly opposite to the chief Justice to testifie the best of their knowledg in the matter in debate After the taking the Depositions of the Witnesses and a full pleading of the Cause in open Court upon notice given by the Sergeant the chief Justice the Priest and the ordinary Judg withdrew themselves for a while to consult of the matter and then secundum allegata probata brought in their Verdict Whereupon the Prince after Consultation had with the Elders that sate next him gave definitive Sentence excepting the Cause was so obscure and
intricate that the Justice of it could not appear and then the two Champions put an end to the Controversie by Combate Whilst Howel Dha is thus regulating the Customs and meliorating the Laws and Constitutions of Wales Aulafe and Regnald Kings of the Danes forcibly entered the Country of King Edmund who being vexed with their incessant Hostility gathered his Forces together and as some say by the help of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht who was afterwards Prince of Wales followed them to Northumberland and having overcome them in a pitch'd Battel utterly chased them out of his Kingdom and remained a whole Year in those Parts to regulate and bring that Country to some quiet order But finding it impracticable to reduce the Inhabitants of Cumberland to any peaceable Constitution having spoiled and wasted the Country he gave it up to Malcolme King of Scotland upon condition that he should send him Succours in A.D. 942 his Wars whenever demanded of him In the mean time the Welch had but little occasion to rejoyce Hubert Bishop of S. Davids Marclois Bishop of Bangor A.D. 944 and Vssa the Son of Lhafyr being dead And shortly after the English entering into Wales with a very strong Army put the Country into a great consternation but being satisfied with the Destruction and Spoil of Strat Clwyd they returned home without doing any more Mischief The same time Conan the Son of Elis was like to be treacherously put to death by Poyson and Everus Bishop of S. Davids dyed The next Year Edmund King of England was unluckily slain upon S. Augustines day but the manner of his Death is variously delivered some say that discovering a noted Thief who was out-law'd sitting among his Guests being transported with Indignation against so confident a Villain ran upon him very furiously who expecting nothing less than Death thought to dye not unrevenged and therefore with a short Dagger gave the King a mortal Wound in the Breast Others report that as the King would have rescued a Servant of his from an Officer who had arrested him he was unwittingly and unhappily slain by the same But however his Death happened he lies buried at Glastenbury in whose place his Brother Edred was crowned King of England who no sooner had entered upon his Government but he made an Expedition against Scotland and Northumberland which being subdued he received Fealty and Homage by Oath of the Scots and Northumbrians which they did not long observe Shortly after Howel Dha after a A.D. 948 long and peaceable Reign over Wales dyed much lamented and bewailed of all his Subjects being a Prince of a religious and a virtuous inclination and one that ever regarded the Welfare and Prosperity of his People He left Issue behind him Owen Run Roderic and Edwyn betwixt whom and the Sons of Edwal Foel late Prince of North Wales great Wars and Commotions arose afterwards about the chief Rule and Government of Wales But the Sons of Howel Dha as some Writers record were these viz. Owen who did not long survive his Father Eineon Meredyth Dyfnwal and Rodri the two last whereof as is conceived were slain in the Battel fought near Lhanrwst in the Year 952. by the Sons of Edwal Foel Run Lord of Cardigan who was slain before the death of his Father Conan y Cwn who possessed Anglesey Edwin who was also slain as is supposed in the forementioned Battel There was also another Battel fought betwixt Howel and Conan ap Edwal Foel for the Isle of Anglesey wherein Conan fell and Gruffydh his Son renewing the War was likewise overcome and so Cyngar a powerful Person being driven out of the Island Howel enjoyed quiet possession thereof and of the rest of Gwynedh It is supposed that this Howel Dha was chosen Governour of Wales during the minority of his Uncle Anarawd's Sons 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 resigned to him the Kingdom of Gwynedh or North-Wales together with the Sovereignty of all Wales Before which time Howel is styled Brenhin Cymry oll that is King of all Wales as is seen in the Preface to that Body of Laws compiled by him Ievaf and Iago the Sons of Edwal Foel AFter the death of Howel Dha his Sons divided 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 Ievaf and Iago the Sons of Edwal Foel having put by their elder Brother Meyric as a Person uncapable of Government and being dissatisfied with the Rule of North Wales only imagined that the Principality of all Wales was their Right as descending from the elder House which the Sons of Howel Dha denyed them Indeed they had been wrongfully kept out of the Government of North Wales during the Reign of Howel in whose time the recovery of their own was impracticable by reason that for his Moderation and other good Qualities he had attracted to himself the universal Love of all the Welch But now he being gone they are resolved to revenge the Injury received by him upon his Sons and upon a small pretence endeavour to reduce the whole Country of Wales to their own subjection Ievaf and Iago were indeed descended from the elder branch but since Roderic the great conferred the Principality of South Wales upon his yonger Son Cadelh the Father of Howel Dha it was but just his Sons should enjoy what was legally descended to them by their Father But Ambition seldom gives place to Equity and therefore right or wrong Ievaf and Iago must have a touch for South-Wales which they enter with a great Army and being opposed they obtained a very opportune Victory over Owen and his Brethren the Sons of Howel at the Hills of Carno The next Year the A.D. 950 two Brothers entred twice into South-Wales destroyed and wasted Dyfet and slew Dwnwalhon Lord of the Countrey Shortly after which Roderic the third A.D. 951 Son of Howel Dha dyed But his Brethren perceiving the Folly of standing only upon the defensive muster'd A.D. 952 all their Forces together and entering North-Wales marched as far as Lhanrwst upon the River Conwy where Ievaf and Iago met them A very cruel Battel ensued upon this and a very great number were slain on both sides among whom were Anarawd the Son of Gwyriad the Son of Roderic the Great and Edwyn the Son of Howel Dha But the Victory plainly favoured the Brothers Ievaf and Iago so that the Princes of South-Wales were obliged to retire to Cardiganshire whither they were warmly pursued and that Country cruelly harrass'd with Fire and Sword The next Year Merfyn was unhappily A.D. 953 drowned and shortly after Congelach King of Ireland was slain The Scots and Northumbrians having lately sworn Allegiance to King Edred he was scarce returned to his own Country but Aulafe with a great Army landed
Haviâ—â— destroyed St Davids Lhanbadarn Lhanrhystyd Lhaâ—dydoch and several other Religious places the Couâ—try was so cruelly harassed and weakened that Princâ— Meredith was forced to compound with them and 〈◊〉 A.D. 988 pay a Tribute of one Peny for every Person withâ—â— his Dominions which in Welch was called Glwmaâ— otherwise the Tribute of the Black Army Anâ— Ireland too at this time received no inconsiderablâ— blow from the Danes who slew Elwmaen the Son 〈◊〉 Abloic King of the Country and so spoiled and râ—vaged that Kingdom that a great Number of the Naâ—tives perished by Famine A.D. 989 The year following Owen the Son of Dyfnwal a Maâ— of a considerable Note and Reputation among the Welcâ— was slain besides which nothing remarkable happeâ—ed this year But the next year Edwyn ap Eineon whâ— was right Heir to the Principality of South-Waleâ— having drawn to his help a great Army of English A.D. 990 â—nd Danes hostibly entered into Meredith's Country â—poiled all the Land of Cardigan Dyfed Gwyr Kydâ—ely and St. Davids and received Hostages of the Chief Persons of those Countries to own him as their rightful Prince To return these Outrages upon Edwyn Meredith destroyed the Town of Radnor spoilâ—d A.D. 991 Glamorgan and carried the Chiefest Men therein Prisoners who paying their Ransom were set at Liberty But whilâ— Wales was in this tottering Conâ—ition and scarce any place free from Hostility it happily fell out that Meredith and Edwyn were made Friends and the Differences composed between them â—o that the English and Danes who came in with Edwyn â—nd who expected to fare best by these Civil Disturbances of the Welch were unexpectedly cashiered and sent home And soon after this agreement Cadwalhon the only Son of Meredith died which rendered the Composition between Meredith and Edwyn more firm by reason that this latter thought now without any Dispute to succeed Meredith in his Principality But this fell short of his aim for Meredith being very much disturbed in South-Wales had â—o much work upon his hands to defend that Counâ—ry that he left North-Wales open and exposed to the Common Enemy which the Danes were quickly acquainted with and so landing in Anglesâ—y they ravaged and laid waste the whole Island The North-Wales Men finding themselves thus forsaken by Meredith and their Country like to be over-run by the Danes if not timely prevented set up Edwal the Son A.D. 992 of Meyric the indisputable Heir of North-Wales though long kept from it and owned him for their Prince But those incessant Wars and Commotions in South-Wales occasioned a very dismal Famine and Scarcity in the Country of which a very considerable number of People perished And thus Meredith who had once conquered North-Wales and for a long time had got possession of South-Wales without any Right or Title to either was now obliged to relinquish the one and was scarce able to maintain the other Edwal ap Meyric A.D. 993 EDwal after a long and tedious expectation being now joyfully received by the North-Wales Men for their Prince endeavoured the first thing to defend his Subjects from the Injuries and Depredations they received from the Danes And having in a measure effected that he was accosted by another Enemy for Meredith being resolved to Revenge the Indignity and Disgrace put upon him by the North-Wales Men in depriving him of the Government of their Country gathered and mustered together all his Power intending to recover again that Principality Being advanced as far as Lhangwm Edwal met him and in plain Battel routed his Army in which Action Theodor or Tewdor Mawr Meredith's Nephew was slain leaving behind him two Sons Rhys and Rytherch and a Daughter named Elen. But 't is probable that it was not Tewdor Mawr but his Brother Edwyn that was slain in this Battel which also seems rather to have been fought at Hengwm in Ardudwy in Merioneth shire than at Lhangwm for in that place there are to this Day certain Monuments of Victory to be seen as heaps of Stones Tomb-Stones and Columns which they call Carneddi Hengwm Edwal returning home triumphantly after this Victory thought he had now secured himself in his Government and expected to enjoy his Dominions quietly and without any molestation But he had scarce recovered the Fatigue of the last Engagement when Swane the Son of Harold having lately pillaged and wasted the Isle of Man landed in North-Wales whom Edwal endeavouring to oppose was slain in the Encounter leaving one Son behind him called Iago Within a while after the Danes returned again against St. Davids and destroying all before them with Fire and Swords slew Morgency or Vrgeney Bishop of that Diocese Prince Meredith being highly concerned at the Mischiefs these Barbarous People continually did to his Country and the more because he was not able to â—epel their Insolencies out of Grief and Vexation died having Issue one Only Daughter named Angharad who was twice Married first to Lhewelyn ap Sitsylhe and after his Death to Confyn Hirdref or â—as others think to Confyn ap Gwerystan She had Children by both Husbands which occasioned afterwards great Disturbances and Civil Commotions in Wales the Issue of both Adventures pretending a Right of Succession to the Principality of South-Wales Aedan ap Blegorad EDwal Prince of North-Wales being killed in the Battel against Swane and having no other Issue â—han Iago who was a Minor and too young to take upon him the Government and Meredith Prince of South-Wales dying without any other Issue than a Daughter caused very heavy Quarrels and Contentions among the Welch several without any colour of Right putting in their Claims and Pretensions to the Government In North-Wales Conan the Son A.D. 1003 of Howel and Aedan the Son of Blegorad were the chief Aspirers to that Principality and because they could not agree who should be the Man they fairly consented to try the matter in open Field where Conan had the misfortune to be slain and so Aedan was Victoriously proclaimed Prince of Noâ—th Wales But who this Aedan was descended from or what Colour or Pretence he could lay to this Principality cannot be as much as guessed at there being none of that Name to be met with in any Welch Records excepting that Blegorad who is mentioned in the Lire of Howel Dha whose Estate and Quality was too mean that his Posterity should lay any Claim to the Principality of Wales But be that how it will Aedâ— after his Victory over Conan ap Howel was owned Prince by the North-Wales Men over whom he bore Rule for the space of twelve Years tho' besides his Conquest of Conan ap Howel there be nothing recorded of him excepting his being slain together with his four Sons by Lhewelyn ap Sitsylhe But whilst the Welch are in this inconstant and unsettled Condition the Scots in Ireland began to grow powerful and having destroyed the Town and Country of Develyn they took Gulfath and Vbiad two Irish Lord prisoners whose Eyes they most
replyed It was not so wonderful for although says he we have violently and injuriously oppressed that Nation yet it is manifestly known that they are the lawful and original Inheritors of that Country But whilst the Normans were thus carving for themselves in Glamorgan and Brecnock Cadogan ap Blethyn ap Confyn towards the end of April entered into Dyved and having ravaged and destroyed the Country returned back But within Eight Weeks after there succeeded him a more fatal Enemy for the Normans landing in Dyved and Cardigan began to fortifie themselves in Castles and other strong places and to inhabit the Country upon the Sea-shoar which before was not in their possession Indeed the Normans having by the connivance of the Conquerour already got into their hands all the best Estates in England began now to spy out the Commodities of Wales and perceiving moreover how bravely Robert Fitzhamon and Barnard Newmarch had sped there thought they might as well expect the like fortune Wherefore having obtained a Grant from King William who readily consented to their Request because by this means he killed two Birds with one Stone procured to himself their utmost Service upon occasion and withal provided for them without any Charge to himself they came to Wales and so entered upon the Estates appointed them by the King which they held of him by Knight-service having first done Homage and sworn Fealty for the same Roger Montgomery Earl of Arundel did Homage for the Lordships of Powis and Card gan Hugh Lupus Earl of Chester for Tegengl and Râ—fonioc together with all the Land lying upon the Sea shoar to the River Câ—nwey Arnulph a younger Son of Roger Montgomery for Dyved Barnard Newmarch for Brecnock Ralph Mortimer for Eluel Hugh de Lacy for the Land of Ewyas Eustace Omer for Mold and Hapredale and several others did the like Homage for other Lands But Roger Montgomery who by the Conquerour was created Earl of Arundel and Shrewsbury entered in an hostile manner into Powys-land and having won the Castle 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 busily engaged in a War against his Brother Robert by the advantage of whose absence Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales and Cadogan ap Blethyn who now ruled in South Wales with joynt Forces entered into Cardigan and slew a great number of Normans whose Pride and excessive Cruelties towards the Welch were altogether intolerable But after sufficient execution there being returned home the Normans sent for more Aid from England which being arrived they thought to make a private in-road into North-Wales and so to be revenged upon the Welch But their Design being happily discovered to Cadogan he drew up his Forces to meet them and then unexpectedly setting upon them in the Forest of Yspys after a very warm Resistment of the Normans side forced them to retire by slight and then triumphantly marching through Cardigan and Dyved he destroyed all the Castles and Fortifications in the Country besides Pembrock and Rydcors which proved too strong and impregnable A.D. 1093 The next Year the Normans who inhabited the Country of Glamorgan fell upon and destroyed the Countries of Gwyr Kidwely and Ysâ—â—âd Tywy which they harrassed in such a cruel manner that they left them bare of any People to inhabit And to increase as it was thought the Miseries of the Welch King William Rufus being informed of the great slaughter which Gruffydh ap Conan and the Sons of Blethyn ap Confyn had lately committed upon the English as well within Cheshire Shropshire Worcestershire and Herefordshire as within Wales entered the Country at Montgomery which place the Welch having sometime since demolished King William lately rebuilt But the Welch kept all the Passages through the Woods and Rivers and all other Streights so close that the King could effect nothing considerable against them and therefore when he perceived that his labour was but lost in continuing in those Parts he forthwith decamped and returned with no great Honour back to England But this retreat of King William was not altogether so favourable to the Interest of the A.D. 1094 Welch as the death of William Fitz-Baldwyn who was Owner of the Castle of Rydcors and did the greatest mischief and hurt to the South-Wales Men of any other He being dead the Garrison of Rydcors which was wont to keep the Welch in continual a we forsook that place and by that means gave opportunity to the Inhabitants of Gwyr Brecnock Gwent and Gwentlhwe to shake off that intolerable Yoak the Normans forced upon them who after they had rob'd them of their Lands kept them in perpetual subjection But now William Fitz-Baldwyn being dead and the Garrison of Rydcors scatter'd they ventur'd to lay violent hands upon the Normans who thought themselves free from all fear and prevailed so successfully that they drove them all out of the Countrey and recover'd their own antient Estates But the Normans liked that Country so well that they were resolved not to be so easily befooled out of what they had with a great deal of Pains and Danger once possessed and therefore having drawn a great number of English and Normans to their aid they were desirous to venture another touch with the Welch and to return if possible to their once acâ—uir'd Habitations But the Welch so abhorr'd their Pride and tyrannical Dominion over them when they were Masters that they were resolved not to â—e subject to such Tyrants again and therefore they â—oldly met them at a place called Celly Iarfawc and â—et upon them so manfully the very apprehension of Servitude whetting their Spirits that they put them â—o flight with great slaughter and drove them out of â—he Country The Normans however were not so absolutely routed with this Overthrow but like a Fly in the night which destroys it self in the Candle they must needs covet their own Distruction their greediness egging them on to venture with few what was not practicable to be effected by many Therefore they came as far as Brecnock with this absolute â—ow and Resolution not to leave one living thing remaining in that Country But they fell short of their Policy the People of the Country being removed to a narrow Streight to expect their passing â—hrough whither the Normans being advanced they fell upon them and killed a great number of them About the same time Roger Montgomery Earl of Salop and Arundel William Fitzeustace Earl of Glocester Arnold de Harecourt and Neal le Vicount were slain by the Welch between Caerdà f and Brecnock and Walter Eureux Earl of Sarum Rosmer and Mantiâ—ake Hugh Earl of Gourney were wounded who afterwards dyed in Normandy The Normans finding that they continually lost ground thought it not advisable to stay any longer and therefore having placed sufficient Garrisons in those Castles which they had formerly built they returned with what speed they
easily granted with the Promise too of great Succours and large Supplies King Henry to put a stop to their bold Adventures marched in person against them and laying siege to the Castle of Arundel wan it without any great Opposition and quickly afterwards the Castle of Tekinhill but that of Brugge by reason of the scituation of the place and the depth of the Ditch about it seemed to require longer time and harder service and therefore King Henry was advised to send privately to Iorwerth ap Blethyn promising him great Rewards if he forsook the Earl's part and came over to him urging to him what Mischief 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 Proposals he promised to give him all such 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 possession of William Fitz-Baldwyn Iorwerth receiving these Offers accepted of them very gladly and then coming to the King he sent all his Forces to Earl Robert's Lands who having received very strict Orders destroyed without Mercy every thing they met with and what made the Spoil the greater Earl Robert upon his rebelling against King Henry had caused his People to convey all their Goods to Wales for fear of the English not thinking how his Father's Memory sounded among the Welch But when the News of Iorwerth's Revolt reached the Ears of the Earl Cadogan and Meredith Iorwerth's Brothers their Spirits began to faint as despairing any longer to oppose the King since Iorwerth who was the Person of greatest strength in Wales had left and forsaken them Arnulph was gone to Ireland to fetch home his Wife and to bring over what succour his Father in Law King Murkart could afford to send him but he not coming in time some other Method was to be tryed how to get some Aid against the English A little before this Rebellion broke out Magnus Harold's Son landed the second time in the Isle of Anglesey and being kindly received by Gruffydh ap Conan he had leave to cut down what Timber he had need for and so returning to the Isle of Man which he had got by Conquest he built there three Castles and then sent to Ireland to have the Daughter of Murkart in marriage to his Son which being obtained he created him King of Man Earl Robert hearing this sent to Magnus for Aid against King Henry but receiving none he thought it now high time to look to his own Safety and therefore he sent to the King requesting that he might quietly depart the Kingdom in case he should lay down his Arms which the King having granted he sail'd to Normandy And then King Henry sent an Express to his Brother Arnulph requiring him either to follow his Brother out of the Kingdom or to deliver himself up to his Mercy and so Arnulph went over also for Normandy When the King was returned to London Iorwerth took his Brother Meredith Prisoner and committed him to the King's custody his other Brother Cadogan having reconciled himself beforehand to whom Iorwerth gave Cardigan with a part of Powys Then Iorwerth went to London to put the King in mind of his Promise and the Service he had done him against Earl Robert but the King finding now all matters at quiet was deaf to all such Remembrances and instead of promising what he had once voluntarily proposed against all Rules of Equity and Gratitude he took away Dyfed from Iorwerth and gave it to a Knight of his own called Saer and Stratywy Cydwely and Gwyr he bestowed upon Howel ap Grono and sent Iorwerth away more empty than he came Nor was this sufficient Reward for his former Services but the next Year King Henry must send some of his Counsel to Shrewsbury and cite Iorwerth to appear there A. D. 1101. under pretence of consulting about the King's Business and Affairs in those Parts But the Plot was laid deeper and when without any suspicion of Treachery he made his appearance he was surprizedly attainted of High-Treason and then contrary to all Right and Justice actually condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment the true reason of this unparallel'd Severity being the King feared his Strength and was apprehensive that he would revenge the Wrong and Affront he received at his hands And indeed well had he reason to fear that when he so ungratefully treated him whose Service he had experienced to be so greatly advantagious to him But the Policy of Princes is unaccountable and whether to value an eminent Person for his Service or to fear him for his Greatness is a Subject that frequently disturbs their most settled Considerations But the Noblemen that were at this time sent by the King to Shrewsbury were Richard de Belmersh who being chief Agent about Roger Montgomery Earl of Salop was preferred to the Bishoprick of London and afterwards appointed by this King to be Warden of the Marches and Governour of the County of Salop. With him were joyned in company Walter Constable 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 subject to the See of Canterbury being always afore the Metropolitan Church of all Wales A.D. 1102 Shortly after this Owen ap Edwyn who had been Author of no small Mischief and Disturbance to the Welch in moving the English against his natural Prince and Son in Law Gruffydh ap Conan departed this Life after a tedious and miserable Sickness of which he was so much the less pityed by how much he had proved an Enemy and a Traytor to his native Country He was the Son of Grono by his Wife Edelflede the Widow of Edmund surnamed Ironside King of England and had the Title of Tegengl though the English when they had compelled Gruffydh ap Conan to flee to Ireland for safety constituted him Prince of all North-Wales After his death Richard Fitz-Baldwyn laid siege to and took the Castle of Rydcors and forcibly drove Howel ap Grono to whom King Henry had committed the custody of it out of the Country But Howel quickly returned and with a high Spirit of Revenge began to destroy and burn whatsoever 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 considerable slaughter and so brought all the Country to his subjection excepting some few Garrisons and Castles which would not surrender to him The same time King Henry took away from Saer the Government of Dyfed which formerly was Iorwerth ap Blethyn's and bestowed it upon Gerald who had been some time Earl Arnulph's Steward in those Parts and therefore by reason of his knowledg of the Country was in all probability best able to take
upon him the Management of it But the Normans in Rydcors Castle being sensible that they were not able to effect any thing against Howel ap Grono in open Field after their accustomed manner began to put that in execution by Treachery which they could not compass by force of Arms. And how to make Howel a Sacrifice to those Normans he had lately slain they could find no safer way than by corrupting one Gwgan ap Meyric a Man in great Favour and Esteem with Howel upon the account chiefly that one of his Children was nursed by Gwgan's Wife This ungrateful Villain to carry on his wicked Intrigue the more unsuspected gave Howel a very earnest invitation to his House to a Merriment where without any suspicion of Treachery being come he was welcomed with all the seeming Affection and Kindness imaginable But no sooner was he settled A.D. 1103 but Gwgan gave notice thereof to the Norman Garrisons and therefore by break of day they entered the Town and coming about the House where Howel lay in Bed they presently gave a great shout Howel hearing the noise suspected something of Mischief and therefore leaping in all haste out of Bed he made to his Weapons but could not find them by reason that Gwgan had conveyed them away whilst he was asleep And now being assured of Treachery in the case and finding that his Men had fled for their Lives he endeavour'd all he could to make his escape but Gwgan and his Company were too quick for him and so being secured they strangled him and deliver'd his Body to the Normans who having cut off his Head convey'd it to the Castle of Rydcors This most villainous Murther so barbarously committed upon the King's Lieutenant was not in the least taken notice of for King Henry was so unreasonably prejudiced in favour of the Normans that whatever Misdemeanour be it of never so high a nature was by them committed it was presently winked at and let fall to the ground whereas if the Welch trespassed but against the least injunction of the King's Laws they were most severely punished which was the cause that they afterwards stood up against the King in their own defence being by experience assured that he minded nothing more than their utter Destruction About this time Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury convened a Synod at London wherein among other Injunctions then decreed the Celibacy of the Clergy was enjoyned Marriage being before ever allowed of in Britain to them in Holy Orders But this new Injunction created a great deal of Heat and Animosities among the Clergy some approving of it as reasonable and orthodoxical others condemning it as an innovation and contrary to the plain Letter of Scripture But during these Disputes between the Clergy King Henry being now in the Fifth Year of his Reign sailed over with a great Army into Normandy where his Brother Robert together with Robert de Belesmo Arnulph and William Earl of Mortaign gave him battel but the King having obtained the Victory took the Duke his Brother with William of Mortaign Prisoners and carrying them into England he caused first his Brother Robert's Eyes to be plucked out and then condemned them A.D. 1104 both to perpetual imprisonment in the Castle of Cardyff About the same time Meyric and Gruffydh the Sons of Trahaern ap Caradoc were both slain by the means of Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn whose Uncle Meredith ap Blethyn who had been Prisoner for a long time in England now brake open the Prison wherein he was very narrowly confined and returning to his own Country had his Estate restored which afterwards he quietly enjoyed A.D. 1105 The next Year a very dismal and calamitous Accident happening in the Low-Countries proved very incommodious and prejudicial to the Welch for a great part of Flanders being drowned by the overflowing of the Sea the Inhabitants were compell d to seek for some other Country to dwell in their own being now covered with Water And therefore a great many being come over to England they requested of King Henry to assign them some part of his Kingdom which was empty and void of Inhabitants where they might settle and plant themselves The King taking advantage of this charitable opportunity and being in a manner assured that these Flemings would be a considerable Thorn in the side of the Welch bestowed upon them very liberally what was not justly in his power to give and appointed them the Country of Ros in Dyfed or West-Wales where they continue to this day But Gerald the King's Lieutenant in those Parts was resolved to be afore-hand with them and rebuilt the Castle of Pembrock in a place called Congarth Fechan whither he removed his Family and all his Goods A. D. 1106. But here a very unfortunate accident happened to him for Cadwgan ap Blethyn having prepared a sumptuous Feast in the Christmas invited all the Lords to his Country-House in Dyfed and among the rest his Son Owen who lived in Powys This young Gentleman being at his Father's House and hearing Nest the Wife of Gerald universally praised for her incomparable Beauty was so smitten with the rumour that went abroad of her that by all means he must see the Lady who was by all so much admired And forasmuch as Gwladys Wife to Rhys ap Theodore and Mother to Nest was the Daughter of Râ—walhon ap Confyn Cosin-German to Cadwgan his Father under pretence of Friendship and Relation he made bold to pay her a Visit But finding the truth far to surpass the Fame that went of her he returned home so inflam'd with her Charms that not being able to keep the Mastery over himself he went back again the very same night and being attended by a company of wild head-strong Youths they privily entered into the Castle and encompassing the Chamber about where Gerald and his Wife lay they set the House on fire Gerald hearing a noise would fain go out to know the meaning of such unseasonable Disturbance but his Wife fearing some Treachery persuaded him to make as private an Escape as he could and then pulling up a Board in the Privy let him go that way Then returning to her Chamber she would fain assure those notorious Youths that there was no body besides her self and Children there but this being not satifactory they forcibly broke in and having searched every the most private Corner and not finding Gerald they took his Wife and two Sons with a Son and a Daughter born by a Concubine and carried them away to Powys having first set fire to the Castle and destroyed the Country as they went along Cadwgan Owen's Father hearing of what outragious Crime his Son had committed was exceedingly concerned and sorry chiefly because hereby he was like to incur King Henry's great Displeasure and therefore he went with all speed to Powys and desired his Son with all Intreaties to send home to Gerald his Wife and Children with whatever else he had taken
away from him But Owen was so amorously inexorable with respect to the Woman that he would by no means part with her however upon her request he was willing to restore Gerald his Children back again which forthwith he performed But when Richard Bishop of London whom King Henry had constituted Warden of the Marches being now at Shrewsbury heard of this he sent for Ithel and Madoc the Sons of Ryryd ap Blethyn Persons of great Power and Interest in Wales promising them very considerable Reward besides the Government of the whole Country in case they could bring Owen and his Father Cadwgan either dead or alive to him that he might revenge that hainous Affront which they had done to the King of England With them he joyned Lhywarch the Son of Trahaern ap Caradoc whose two Brethren Owen had slain and Vchtryd the Son of Edwyn which Four undertook to answer effectually the Bishop's Proposal to them But when they had united their Forces and began in an hostile manner to destroy the Country as they passed along Vchtryd sent private notice before him requiring all who were any way desirous of their own Safety to come to him because no Quarters was to be given to any that was found in the Country The People being thus so opportunely forewarned began to bethink with themselves how they might best avoid so eminent a danger and thereupon some fled to Arustly others to Melienyth some to Stradtywy and some to Dyfed but in this latter place they met with very cold welcom for Gerald who was then very busie in exercising Revenge upon that Country falling in among them cut off a considerable number of them The like fate befel them who escaped to Arustly and Melienyth for Walter Bishop of Hereford having raised an Army in defence of the Town of Caermyrdhyn before he could come thither accidentally met with these stragling Fugitives and knowing what Country they belonged to without any further Ceremony he fell upon them and put most of them to the Sword But they who fled to Stradtywy were gently received by Meredith ap Rytherch and such as resorted to Vchtryd were kindly entertained by him and so he marched with the rest of his Confederates to Rydcors Castle it being the general opinion that it was best to enter the Country by Night and to take Cadwgan and Owen his Son by surprize But Vchtryd reflecting upon the Difficulty of the Country and how easily they might be entrapp'd by an Ambuscade dissuaded them from any such nocturnal Undertakings and told them that it was far more advisable to enter the Country in good order when the light gave the Soldiers opportunity to keep and observe their ranks But whilst they were thus considering of the most effectual way to carry on their purpose Owen got a Ship at Aberdyfi bound for Ireland and escaping thither avoided the narrow search that was the following day made for them But when neither Father nor Son could be found all the fault was laid upon Vchtryd who had dissuaded them from falling upon the Castle unexpectedly and therefore all they could do since their escape was to burn and destroy the Country which they did effectually excepting the two Sanctuaries of Lhanpadarn and Lhandewi Brefi out of which however they took several Persons who had escaped thither and carried them away Prisoners to their several Countries But Owen with them who were accessary to the burning of Rydcors Castle being fled into Ireland desired the Umbrage and Protection of King Murcart who received him very gladly upon the account of their former acquaintance for Owen during the War betwixt the Earls of Arundel and Chester and the Welch had fled to King Murcart and brought him very rich Presents from Wales Cadwgan all this while lay privately in Powys but thinking it impossible to continue there long undiscovered he adjudged it his wiser way to send to King Henry and to declare his Innocency and Abhorrence of that Fact which his Son had committed The King was easily persuaded that the old Man was guiltless and wholly ignorant of his Son's Crime and therefore he gave him permission 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 Powys were otherwise distributed for his Nephews Madoc and Ithel finding what Circumstances their Uncle Cadwgan lay under upon the account of his Son Owen they divided betwixt themselves such Lands as he and his Son possessed in Powys though afterwards they could never agree about the equal distribution of it To counter-ballance this Cadwgan made such Friends to the King of England that upon paying the Fine of 100 l. he had a grant of all his Lands in Cardigan and a power to recall all the Inhabitants who had rubb'd off upon the publication of the King 's late Order That no Welchman or Norman should dwell in Cardigan Upon information of this grant to Cadwgan several of them that retired to Ireland returned again privately to Wales and lurkingly remained with their Friends but Owen durst not appear in Cardigan by reason that his Father had received that Country from King Henry upon condition that he would never entertain or receive his Son nor by any means succour him either with Men or Money Nevertheless Owen came to Powys and would fain be reconciled to the King and make an Attonement for his late Misdemeanour but he could find no body that would venture to speak in his behalf nor make the King acquainted with his desire and willingness to submit And thus being hopeless and full of Despair he could not possibly divine which way to turn himself till at last a very unexpected opportunity offered him means and occasion to oppose the English The matter was this there happened a Difference betwixt Madoc ap Râ—ryd and the Bishop of London Lieutenant of the Marches of Wales about certain English Felons who being under the Protection of Madoc he would not restore at the Bishop's request The Bishop being much offended at Madawc's denyal threatned him very severely and therefore to make all possible Preparations against an ensuing storm Madawc sent to Owen who heretofore was his greatest Enemy desiring his help against the Bishop and by this means being reconciled they took their mutual Oaths not to betray each other and that neither should make a separate Agreement with the English without the Knowledg and Approbation of the other And so uniting their Power they spoiled and ravaged all the Country about them destroying whatever they could meet with which belonged to those they had no kindness or affection for without the least distinction of English or Welch Iorwerth ap Blethyn had been very unjustly detain'd A.D. 1107 in Prison all this time and now King Henry calling to mind what Hardship he laboured under and that he committed him to custody upon no pretence of Reason sent to know
of those who enjoyed a great part of the Welchmens Lands but would not be satisfied till they got all For Gilbert Strongbow Earl of Strygill upon whom the King had bestowed Cardigan made great Complaints of Owen ap Cadwgan declaring how that he received and entertained such Persons as spoiled and robbed in his Country and Hugh Earl of Chester made the like of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales how that his Subjects and the Men of Grono ap Owen ap Edwyn Lord of Tegengl unreproved wasted and burnt the Country of Cheshire and to aggravate the matter the more he added farther that Gruffydh neither owed any Service nor paid any Tribute to the King Upon these Complaints King Henry was so cruelly enraged that he swore he would not leave one living Creature remaining in North-Wales and Powys-land but having extirpated utterly the present Race of People he would plant a Colony of new Inhabitants And then dividing his Army into three parts he deliver'd one to the conduct of the Earl of Strygill to go against South-Wales which comprehended the whole Power of the fourth part of England and Cornwal The next Battel was designed against North-Wales in which was all the strength of Scotland and the North and was commanded by Alexander King of the Scots and Hugh Earl of Chester the Third the King led himself against Powys wherein was contained the whole strength of the middle part of England Meredith ap Blethyn hearing of these mighty Preparations and being informed that this vast Army was design'd against Wales was quickly apprehensive that the Welch were not able to make any great Defence and therefore thought it his safest way to provide for himself before-hand and so coming to the King yielded himself up to his Mercy But Owen fearing to commit himself to those whom he knew so greedily to covet his Estate and whom he was assured were far more desirous to dispossess the Welch of their Lands than any other way to punish them for former Crimes and Miscarriages fled to Gruffydh ap Conan to North-Wales Upon that King Henry converted his whole Force that way and came himself as far as Murcastelh and the Scotch King to Pennant Bachwy but the People flying to the Mountains carried with them all the Cattel and Provision they had so that the English could not follow them and as many as attempted to come at them were either slain or wounded in the streights But Alexander King of the Scots finding that nothing could possibly be effected against the Welch as long as they kept the Rocks and Mountains sent to Prince Gruffydh advising him to submit himself to the King promising him all his Interest to obtain an honourable Peace But the Prince was too well acquainted with English Promises and therefore refused his Proposals and so King Henry being very unwilling to return without doing something in this Expedition sent to Owen to forsake the Prince who was not able to defend himself but was ready to strike a Peace with the Scottish King and the Earl of Chester But this cunning Insinuation would not take effect for Owen was for his life as distrustful 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 insinuating Politician persuaded him with much a do not to forsake the King of England's Proposals who offered him all his Lands without Tribute in case he would come to his side and therefore Meredith advised him instantly 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 score to purchase the King's Mercy Owen being prevailed upon by such Arguments came to the King who received him very gratiously and told him that because he believed his Promise he would not only perform that but likewise 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 submitted to the King thought it also his wisest way to sue for Peace and so promising the King a great Sum of Money a Peace was then actually agreed upon and confirmed which the King of England was the more ready to consent to because he found it impossible to do him any hurt whilst he continued encamped in that place Some affirm that the submission as well of Prince Gruffydh as Owen was procured by the Policy of Meredith ap Blethyn and the Earl of Chester this last working with Gruffydh and assuring him that Owen had made his Peace with the King before any such thing was in agitation so that the Prince yielding somewhat to the Earl's Request if Owen had gone contrary to his Oath which they had mutually taken not to make any Peace with the English without one anothers Knowledge seemed to incline to a Peace On the other hand Meredith going in Person to his Nephew Owen affirmed for Truth that the Prince and the Earl of Chester were actually agreed and that the Prince was on his Journey to the King to make his Submission And in the mean while Meredith took especial care that all Messengers betwixt the Prince and Owen should be intercepted and by that means Owen wilfully submitted himself to the King King Henry having thus finished and brought to an end all his Business in Wales calling Owen to him told him that in case he would go over with him to Normandy and there be faithful to him he would upon his return confirm all his Promises upon him and so Owen accepting of the King's Offer went with him to Normandy where he behaved himself so gallantly that he was made a Knight and after his return A.D. 1112 the Year following he had all his Lands and Estate confirmed unto him About the same time Griffri Bishop of St. Davids died and King Henry appointed to succeed him one Barnard a Norman much against the Good-will and Inclination of the Welch who before this time were ever used to Elect their own Bishop And this Year the rumour of Gruffydh Son to Rhys ap Theodore was spread 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 past his time privately among his Relations particularly with Gerald Steward of Pembroke his Brother-in-Law And now the noise of a new Prince being spread abroad it came at last to the Ears of the King of England that a certain Person appeared in Wales who pretended to be the Son of Rhys ap Theodore late Prince of South Wales and laid Claim to that Principality which was now in the King's Hands King Henry being somewhat concerned with such a Report and fearing lest that this new Starter should create him some greater trouble he thought to nip him in the bud and sent down Orders
first On-let struck with an Arrow into the Heart of which Wound he presently dyed which when his Men saw they all fled and brought word to Lhywarch and the rest of their Fellows of what had happen'd and so suspecting the King's Army seeing they could not be trusted in their Service they all returned to their respective Countries Owen being in this manner unhappily slain his Brethren divided his Lands betwixt them excepting Caereneon which properly belonged to Madawc ap Ryryd ap Blethyn and which he had forcibly taken away from his Uncle Meredith His Father Cadwgan had several Children by different Women and besides himself he had Issue Madawc by Gwenlhian the Daughter of Gruffydh ap Conan Eineon by Sanna the Daughter of Dyfnwal Morgan by Efelhiw or Elhiw the Daughter of Cadifor ap Colhoyn Lord of Dyfed Henry and Gruffydh were by the Daughter of the Lord Pigot his wedded Wife Meredith by Eururon Hoedliw and himself by Inerth the Daughter of Edwyn But a while afterwards Eineon ap Cadwgan and Gruffydh ap Meredith ap Blethyn besieged the Castle of Cymmer in Merionythshire which was lately built by Vchtryd ap Edwyn for Cadwgan had bestowed upon Vchtryd his Cofin-German Merionyth and Cyfeilioc upon condition that in all Cases he should appear his Friend and his Sons after him contrary to which Promise he bore no manner of regard to Cadwgan's Children after Owen's death but to strengthen himself the better he erected this Castle of Cymmer which very much displeased many of Cadwgan's Sons And therefore Eineon and Gruffydh to make Vchtryd sensible of his Error in despising of them furiously set upon Cymmer Castle and having slain divers of the Garrison the rest surrender'd themselves and so taking possession of it they divided the Country betwixt them Mowdhwy Cyfyeilioc and half Penlhyn to Gruffydh ap Meredith and the other half of Penthyn with all Merionyth to Eineon The next Year King Henry failed with a great Army into Normandy against the French King who with the Earl of Flanders and others went about to make William the Son of Robert Curthoise Duke of Normandy but at the appearance of the King of England they all scatter'd and laid aside their intended Design About the same time Gilbert Strongbow Earl of Strigill to whom King Henry had given all Cardigan departed this Life after a long Fit of a Consumption much to the Joy and Satisfaction of the Welch who were in great measure displeased that they should be deprived of their own natural Lord Cadwgan from whom this Country was taken away and be forced to serve and be subject to a Stranger whose Kindness they had no great reason to expect But the Year following A.D. 1115 an irreconcilable Quarrel happen'd betwixt Howel ap Ithel Lord of Ros and Ryfonioc now Denbigh-land and Riryd and Lhywarch the Sons of Owen ap Edwyn And when they could not otherwise agree they broke out into open War and thereupon Howel sent to Meredith ap Blethyn and to Eineon and Madawc Cadwgan's Sons who came down from Merionyth with a Party of Four Hundred well-disciplin'd Men and encamped in Dyffryn Clwyd Riryd and Lhywarch on the other hand deâ—â—red the Assistance of their Cosins the Sons of Vchtryd and so both Armies meeting in the Vale of Clwyd they fell to Blows with a great deal of Spirit and Alacrity and after a tedious and a bloody Fight Lhywarch Owen ap Edwyn's Son was at last slain and with him Iorwerth the Son of Nudh a noble and a valorous Person and Riryd was forced to make his Escape by flight But though Howel obtained the Victory yet he did not long survive his slain Enemies for having received a desperate Wound in the Action dyed of it within Fourty Days and then Meredith ap Blethyn and the Sons of Cadwgan finding it dangerous to stay longer there for fear of some French who lay garrisoned in Chester returned home with all speed King Henry was still in Normandy and about this A.D. 1116 time a very great Battel was fought betwixt him and the French King who was shamefully vanquished and overthrown and had a great number of his Nobles taken Prisoners But as King Henry returned the following A.D. 11 7. Year for England one of the Ships happened by the negligence of the Pilot to be cast away wherein perished the King's two Sons William who was legitimate and Heir apparent to the Crown and Richard his base Son together with his Daughter and Neece and several others of his Nobility to the number in all of 150 Persons This unparallel'd Loss of so many Kindred and Friends did not perplex his Mind so long but that within a short time he began to solace and raise his drooping Spirits with the thoughts of a new Wife and having married Adelice A.D. 1118 the Daughter of the Duke of Lovain he purposed to go against Wales and having prepared his Forces he led them in person to Powys-land When Meredith ap Blethyn and Eineon Madawc and Morgan the Sons of Cadwgan and Lords of the Country heard of it they sent to Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North Wales desiring some help at his hands who flatly refused assuring them that because he was at peace with the King of England he could neither with Honour nor Safety send them any Succour nor permit them to come within his Dominions The Lords of Powys receiving this unwelcom Answer and having now no manner of hopes of any Aid were resolved however to defend themselves as well as they could and therefore they thought it the most effectual means to annoy the Enemy and to keep them from entering into the Country was to observe and defend the Streights by which the Enemy must of necessity pass Neither were they out in their Policy for it happened that the King himself with a small number advanced to one of these narrow Passages the rest of the Army by reason of their Carriages having taken some compass about which the Welch perceiving presently poured a Shower of Arrows upon them and the advantage of the ground giving help to their Execution they slew and wounded a great many of the English The King himself was struck in the Breast but for all that the Arrow could not hurt him by reason of his Armour yet he was so terrified with this unexpected Conflict and considering with himself that he must receive several such Brushes before he could advance to the plain Country and what was above all being sensible that by such rash Misfortune he might lose all the Honour and Fame which he had before obtained sent a Message to parly with them who kept the Passage and with all assurance of Safety to desire them to come to the King The Welch being come and question'd how they had such Confidence to oppose the King and to put his Life in so much danger made Answer that they belonged to Meredith ap Blethyn and according to their Master's Orders they were
interdicted and forbidden to enter any Man's House or to compose any Song of any one without the special leave and warrant of the Party concerned with many other Ordinances relating to the like purpose Owen Gwynedh AFter the death of Gruffydh ap Conan his eldest Son Owen surnamed Gwynedh succeeded in the Principality of North Wales who no sooner had entered upon the Government but together with the rest of his Brethren he made an Expedition into South-Wales and having demolished and overthrown the Castles of Stradmeyric Stephan and Humffreys and laid in Ashes the Town of Caermardhyn he returned home with no less Honor than Booty and Plunder About the same time John Arch-Deacon of Lhanbaran departed this Life a Man of singular Piety and strictness of Life who for his rigid Zeal in Religion and Virtue was thought worthy to be canonized and to be counted among the number of the Saints This Year likewise King Stephen passed 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 opportunity for greater Undertakings David King of Scots upon the King of England's going to France last Summer had entered the Borders of England and continued to make considerable Wast and Havock in that part of the Country Whereupon King Stephen to rid his Country and his Subjects from so dangerous an Enemy marched with an Army towards the North whose coming the King of Scots hearing of he relinquished the Borders of England and retired to his own Country But that would not satisfie King Stephen who desired to be further revenged for the unpardonable Hostilities committed by the Scots in his Country and therefore pursuing the Scots to their own Country he harassed and laid wast all the South part of the Kingdom of Scotland But the King's absence animated several of the English Nobility to rebel to which purpose they fortified every one their Castles and strong Holds William Earl of Glocester those of Leeds and Bristol Ralph Lunel Cari William Fitz-Allen Shrewsbury Paganellus Ludlow William de Moyun Dunester Robert de Nichol Warham Eustace Fitz-John Merton and Walklyn Dover But for all these mighty Preparations the King in a short time became Master of them all some he won by assault others upon fair Promises and advantageous Conditions were surrendred up and some he got by treacherous and under-hand Contrivances The Scots thought to make good advantage of these Commotions in England and thereupon as soon as they heard that some of the English Nobility were in actual Rebellion against the King they entered into the Borders and began as they thought without any apprehension of Opposition to ravage and lay waste the Country before ' em But William Earl of Albemarle William Pyppell Earl of Nottingham Walter Espec and Gilbert Lacy gathered together all the Forces they could raise in the North and being animated and encouraged by the eloquent and pressing Oration of Ralph Bishop of Orkneys which he delivered in the audience of the whole Army they set upon the Scots at Almerton with such unanimous Courage that after a very great slaughter of his Men King David was glad to escape with his Life by flight After this King Stephen seized to his own use the Castles of Ludlow and Leeds and pressed the Bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln so hard that to prevent their perishing by Famine they were constrained to surrender the former the Castles of Vises and Shirburn the latter those of Newark upon Trent and Sleeford This did not a little augment the King's strength against the ensuing Storm for in the Summer this Year Maud the Empress Daughter and Heir to King Henry to whom King Stephen with all the Nobility of England had sworn Allegiance landed at Arundel with her Brother Robert Earl of Glocester and was there honourably received by William de Albineto who was lately married to Queen Adeliz King Henry's Widow with whom he received the Earldom of Arundel in Dowry But as soon as King Stephen heard of her landing he marched with all possible speed to Arundel and laid siege to the Castle but finding it upon tryal impregnable he raised the siege and by that means suffered the Empress and her Brother to escape to Bristol A.D. 1138 The next Year an unlucky Accident fell out in Wales Cynric one of Prince Owen's Sons having by some means or other disgusted Madawc ap Meredith ap Blethyn ap Confyn a Person of considerable Esteem and Estate in the Country was with his connivance set upon and slain by his Men. But the Affairs of England this Year afforded greater rarity of action King Stephen with a formidable Army laid siege to the City of Lincoln to the relief of which Ranulph Earl of Chester and Robert Earl of Glocester 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 battel who on the other side was as ready to receive them King Stephen drew up his Forces in three Battels the first being led by the Earls of Britain Mellent Norfolk Hampton and Warren the second by the Earl of Albemarle and William of Ypres and the third by the King himself assisted by Baldwyn Fitz-Gilbert with several others of his Nobility Of the Enemies side the disinherited Barons had the first place the Earl of Chester with a considerable Party of Welchmen far better couraged than armed led the second and the Earl of Glocester the third Battel After a hot and bloody Dispute of both sides the Victory at length favoured the Barons King Stephen being first taken Prisoner and a little after the Queen together with William of Ypres and Bryan Fitz-Count But within a while after William Martell and Geffrey de Mandeville gathered together some fresh Forces and fought the Empress and her Brother at Winchester and having put the Empress to flight took Earl Robert Prisoner for exchange of whom the King was set at liberty The next Year King Stephen would A.D. 1139 try the other Adventure and received a second Overthrow at Wilton which however did not so much discourage him but that he laid so close a siege to the Empress at Oxford that she was glad to make her escape to Wallingford The same Year dyed Madawc ap Ednerth a Person of great Quality and Note in Wales and Meredith ap Howel a Man of no mean Esteem was slain by the Sons of Blethyn ap Gwyn For the two succeeding Years nothing remarkable A.D. 1140 passed in Wales excepting that this Year Howel ap Meredith ap Rhytherch of Cantref Rychan and Rhys ap Howel were cowardly slain by the Treachery and perfidious Practices of the Flemings and the next A.D. 1141 Year Howel ap Meredith ap Blethyn was basely murthered by his own Men at which time Howel and Cadwgan the Sons of Madawc ap Ednerth upon some unhappy Quarrel did kill
they placed themselves in an ambuscade and when the Game came that way they unexpectedly set upon the unarmed Sports-men and having easily made all the rest fly away they wounded Cadelh so cruelly that he narrowly escaped their hands alive who making shift to get home lay for a long time dangerously ill and with great difficulty at length recovered his Life Upon this his Brothers Meredith and Rhys passed with an Army into Gwyr and having burnt and destroyed the Country thereabouts they besieged and took the Castle of Aberlhychwr but finding they could not keep it they rased it to the Ground and after that returned home with great Booty to Dynefawr and repaired the Fortifications of the Castle there About the same time also Howel Prince Owen Gwynedh's Son fortified Humphry's Castle in the Valley of Caletwr A.D. 1151 But the following Year Prince Owen did a very barbarous Action to Cunetha his Brother Cadwalhon's Son for fearing lest that this young Man should lay claim to any part of his Estate as his Father 's right he first pulled out his Eyes and afterwards castrated him for fear he should beget any Children who might some time or other renew their claim and right to Cadwalhon's Estate This inhuman severity was succeeded by another of no small remark Lhewelyn Son to Madoc ap Meredith having watched a convenient Opportunity set upon and slew Stephen the Son of Baldwin But Cadwalader Prince Owen's Brother after a tedious Imprisonment which he had sustained thro' the Malice and Rancour of his Nephew Howel at length made his escape and flying to the Isle of Anglesey brought a considerable part of that Island under his subjection But Prince Owen hearing how that his Brother had got loose from custody and that he was in actual possession of a great part of Anglesey he presently dispatched an Army over which proving too formidable to Cadwalader's Party he was constrained to escape to England and to desire Succor from his Wife's Relations who was the Daughter of Gilbert Earl of Clare This Year Galfrede Arthur commonly called Geffrey of Monmouth was made Bishop of St. Asaph and at the same time Simon Archdeacon of Cyfeilioc a Man of great Worth and Esteem in his Country died But the Year following Meredith and Rhys the Sons A.D. 1152 of Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales laid Siege to Penwedic Castle which belonged to Howel Prince Owen's Son and after great pains and considerable loss of Men of their side at last made themselves Masters of it From thence they marched by Night to Tenby and unexpectedly falling upon the Castle of which one William Fitzgerald was Governor they scaled the Walls before the Garrison were aware of any Danger and so possessing themselves of the Castle they fell foul upon the Garrison in Revenge of the Mischief they had done and further designed to their Brother Cadelh For Cadelh at this time was gone upon a Pilgrimage and during his absence had committed his whole Inheritance and all other concerns in Wales to the Care of his Brethren Meredith and Rhys But after the taking Tenby-Castle they divided their Army into two Parties with one of which Rhys marched to Ystratcongen and after great havock and waste committed there he passed to Cyfeilioc which fared in like manner with Ystratcongen Meredith with the other Party sat before Aberavan-Castle and after a short Siege won and got possession of it and then returned home with very considerable Booty and many rich Spoils About the same time Rondel Earl of Chester who had lived in continual Enmity and frequent Hostility with Prince Owen of North-Wales departed this Life leaving his Son Hugh to enjoy both his Titles and Estate in England and to prosecute the Feuds and Hostilities against the Welch A.D. 1153 And shortly after died Meredith Son to Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales who was Lord of Cardigan Ystratywy and Dyfed being not passed the Twenty Fifth Year of his Age a Person of incomparable Valor and Audacity and in all his Warlike Attempts and Atchievements very Fortunate He was presently followed by Geoffrey Bishop of Llandaf a Man as Famous for Learning and a good Life as the other was for Masculine Bravery and Martial Prowess In England the face of things looked very lowring Henry Surnamed Shortmantel the Empress Son landed in England and in his progress thro' the Country took several Castles among which were Malmesbury Wallingford and Shrewsbury But his Fury was quickly appeased by the Death of Eustace King Stephen's Son so that the sole obstacle for his succeeding to the Crown being now removed he willingly concluded a Peace with King Stephen permitting him to enjoy the Crown peaceably for his life upon Condition A. D 1154 that himself was declared his Successor But King Stephen did not long survive this Treaty and then Henry Plantagenet the Empress Son was Crowned in A.D. 1155 his stead Towards the beginning of King Henry's reign Rhys Gruffydh ap Rhys King of South Wales upon apprehension that Owen Gwynedh had raised an Army for the Conquest of South-Wales drew together all his Strength and marched to Aberdyfi to face the Enemy upon their own Borders But finding the Rumor to be false and that the Prince of North-Wales had no such Design in hand having built a Castle at Aberdyfi which might defend the Frontiers from any future Design of his Country he returned back without attempting any thing farther At the same time Madoc ap Meredith built a Castle at Caereneon near Cymer and then Eglwys Fair in Myfot was founded About this time also Meyric Nephew to Prince Madoc ap Meredith made his escape out of Prison wherein he had been detained by his Uncle for a considerable time The same Year King Henry being displeased with the Flemings whom his Predecessor King Stephen had brought over into England issued out a Proclamation charging the greatest part of them to depart his Dominions and to retire to their Country-men in West-Wales where his Grandfather Henry the First the Bastard's Son had planted them And thus that part of Wales called Pembroke-shire was over-run with these Strangers who being better befriended by the Kings of England than the Welch could well expect to be made sure footing in that Country where they have ever since continued firm It was the English Policy of those times to accept of any opportunity to curb and keep under the Welch whom they experienced to be none of the safest Neighbours and therefore the Kings of England did grant any Lands and Privileges in Wales to any that would accept of them which honestly they had no Power to bestow But this was not enough in detriment to the Welch A.D. 1156 for the Year following King Henry raised a very great Army which he gathered from all parts of England with purpose to subdue all North-Wales being principally moved hereto by the instigation of Cadwalader the Prince's Brother whom Owen Gwynedh for what Reasons not
known deprived of his Estate and banished the Country Also Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis who maligned the Liberty and Priviledge of the Princes of North-Wales who owned subjection to no other than the King of England whereas those of Powis were obliged to do homage to the Prince of North-Wales did joyntly consent to this Invitation The King of England accepting of their Proposals led his Army to West-Chester and encamped upon the Marsh called Saltney in Welch Morfa-Caer-Lleon Prince Owen all this while was not ignorant of this intended Invasion and therefore having made all possible Preparations to confront the Enemy he marched his Army to the Frontiers of England and encamping at Basingwerk resolved to give the English Battel King Henry understanding of the Prince's Resolution detached some of the chiefest Troops out of the Main-body under the command of several Earls and other Lords and sent them towards the Prince's Camp But after they had advanced some little way and were passing thro' a Wood called Coed-Eulo David and Conan Prince Owen's Sons unexpectedly set upon them and what by the advantage of the Ground and the suddeness of the Action the English were born down with a great Slaughter and those who survived narrowly escaped to the King's Camp This was a very unwelcome beginning to King Henry but however in order to prosper better hereafter he thought it advisable to decamp from Saltney and to rank his Troops along the Sea-Coast thinking thereby to get betwixt Prince Owen and his Country which if he could effect he was sure to reduce the Welch to a very great inconveniency But the Prince foreseeing the Danger of this retired with his Army to a place called Cîl Owen that is Owen's Retreat which when King Henry perceived he let fall his Design Lib. 2. Cap. 5. and came to Ruthlan W. Parnus writes that in this Expedition against the Welch King Henry was in great danger of his Life in passing thro' a strait at Counsylth near Flint where Henry Earl of Essex who by inheritance enjoyed the Office of bearing the Standard of England being over-charged by the Enemy cast down the same and fled This accident so incouraged the Welch that they bore on so violently that the King himself narrowly escaped having of his Party Eustace Fitz-John and Rob. Curcie two valiant Knights together with several others of his Nobility and Gentry slain in the Action After this Prince Owen decamped from Cîl Owen and intrenched himself upon Bryn y Pin where little of moment passed betwixt the two Armies only some slight Skirmishes happened frequently King Henry in the mean time fortified the Castle of Ruthlan and during his stay there Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis sailed with the English Fleet to Anglesey and having put some Men on shoar they burnt two Churches and ravaged part of the Country about But they paid very dear for it for all the Strength of the Island being met together they set upon them in their return to their Ships and cut them off in such a manner that not one remained to bring Tidings to the Fleet of what had befel them But they on Board quickly perceived what had happened and therefore thought it not very safe harbouring upon that Coast but judging it more advisable to weigh Anchor they presently set Sail for Chester when they were arrived thither they found that a Peace was actually concluded betwixt King Henry and Prince Owen upon these Articles That Cadwalader should have all his Lands restored to him and he received to the Favour and Friendship of his Brother Then King Henry leaving the Castles of Ruthlan and Basingwerk well manned and fortified and having near the latter founded a Publick Structure for the Order of Knights Templars returned to England But the troubles of Wales did not end with him for Iorwerdh Goch ap Meredith who had taken part with the King of England during this War laid Siege to the Castle of Yale which was built by Prince Owen and making himself Master of it rased it to the ground The next Year commenced with a very unfortunate A.D. 1157 Action Ifor ap Meyric having long before cast a very wishful Eye upon the Land and Estate of Morgan ab Owen was now resolved to put in execution what he had before contrived and as Covetousness seldom bears any regard to Vertue or Honor he treacherously set upon him and slew him and with him fell Gurgan ap Rhys the most Famous British Poet of his time Morgan's Estate Ifor bestowed upon his Brother Iorwerth who about the same time got also possession of the Town of Caer-Lheon But these inward and home-bread Disturbances were quickly mitigated by a general Peace which was presently after this concluded betwixt the King of England and all the Princes and Lords of Wales Rhys ab Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales only excepted For this Prince Rhys who probably would not rely too far upon the King of England's Fidelity refused to consent to a Peace but however to secure himself the best he could from the English whom he had no small reason to be afraid of he thought it his best Prudence to issue out his Orders commanding his Subjects to remove their Cattel and other Effects to the Wilderness of Tywy where they were like to remain securest from the Eyes and reach of the Enemies But he had not continued there long when he received a more positive Express from King Henry commanding him to appear forthwith at his Court and to accept of the Proposals of Peace before the joynt Forces of England and Wales were sent to fetch him up Prince Rhys having received such a threatning Message thought it now high time to repent of what he had afore so rashly resolved upon and therefore after long Consultation he judged it his wisest way to accept of the King's Proposals and to appear at Court There it was agreed upon that Rhys whose Lands heretofore lay scattered about and were intermixed with other Person 's Estate should enjoy Cantref Mawr and any other Cantref which the King should be pleased to bestow upon him But contrary to this Article the King assigned him several Lordships and other Lands far remote from each other and particularly intermixed them with the Estates of English-men whom he was sure would be a watch and a curb to all the motions of Prince Rhys This was indeed a very politick Contrivance or King Henry to keep under the high and restless Spirit of Rhys but the Justice of the Action does not so evidently appear in breaking one of the chiefest Articles of the Peace and chopping and bestowing that which was not justly in his Power to give But 't is manifestly apparent that the English of these times were mainly concerned right or wrong to oppress and keep under the Welch of whose mortal hatred to subjection they had so frequently and so cruelly felt Prince Rhys was not at all ignorant of these
wrongful and deceitful Dealings of King Henry but knowing himself to be unable to redress these Grievances he thought it more advisible for a time to live quietly with a little than rashly to hazard all But in a short time he had opportunity either to demand redress from the King or else to endeavour it himself by Force of Arms. For as soon as Roger Earl of Clare was informed of the distribution which the King of England had granted to Prince Rhys he came to King Henry requesting of his Majesty that he would grant him such Lands in Wales as he could win by force of Arm◠The King readily complied with his Request being always very forward to grant any thing which seemed to curb and discommode the Welch and therefore the Earl of Clare marched with a great Army into Cardigan and having fortified the Castles of Ystrat-Meyric Humphrey Dyfi Dynerth and Lhanrhystyd he made several Incursions into the Country In the same manner Walter Clyfford who was Governour of Lhanymdhyfri Castle made in-roads into the Territories of Prince Rhys and after he had slain several of the Welch and made great waste in the Country returned with considerable Booty Prince Rhys as he was unable to bear these outrages so he was resolved either to have immediate redress or else to proclaim open War against the English and therefore he sent an Express to King Henry complaining of the Hostilities which his Subjects the Earl of Clare and Walter Clifford had committed in in his Country But finding the King to put him still off with only smooth Words and fair Promises and that he always winked at the Faults of the English and Normans without any farther Consultation about the Matter he laid Siege to the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri and in short time made himself Matter of it Also Eineon the Son of Anarawd Rhy's Brother's Son and a Person of great Valor being desirous to free his Country from that miserable servitude they now groaned under and judging withal that his Uncle was now discharged from the Oath he had lately sworn to the King of England sat before the Castle of Humphrey and having forcibly made his entrance into it he put all the Garrison to the Sword where he found a great number of Horses and Armour enough to arm a considerable Body of Men And whilst Eineon was thus engaged at Humphrey's Castle Prince Rhys perceiving that he could not enjoy any part of his Inheritance but what he afterwards got by the Sword drew all his Power together and entred Cardigan where like a most violent Torrent he over-run the Country that he left not one Castle standing of those which his Enemies had fortified and so brought all the Country to his subjection King Henry being sore offended at the progress which Prince Rhys so suddenly made against him returned with a great Army into South-Wales but finding it to no purpose to attempt any thing against the Prince he thought it more advisable to permit him to enjoy all that he had gotten and only to take Hostages for his observing of Peace during his absence out of the Kingdom which Prince Rhys promising to do he forthwith returned to England and soon after went for Normandy where he concluded a Peace with the French King A.D. 1158 But the Year following Prince Rhys of South-Wales without any respect to his promise to King Henry last Year led his Forces to Dyfed and destroyed all the Castles that the Normans had fortified in that Country and then laid Siege to Caermardhyn But Reynold Earl of Bristol the King 's base Son being informed of it called together the Earl of Clare his Brother-in-Law Cadwalader Prince Owen of North-Wales's Brother Howel and Conan Owen's Sons with two Earls more who with their joynt Forces marched to raise the Siege But Prince Rhys was wiser than to abide their coming and therefore upon the first intimation of such great Opposition he retired to the Mountains called Cefn Rester and there encamped being sufficiently secure from any Enemy by the natural Fortification of the place The Confederate Army lay at Dynwylhîr and there built a Castle but finding no news or tidings of Prince Rhys they returned home without effecting any thing of Note King Henry was still in Normandy and there made War against the Earl of St. Giles for the City and Earldom of Tholouse Towards the beginning of this Year Madoc ap Meredith ap Blethyn Prince of Powis died at Winchester whence his Body was honourably conveyed to Powis and buried at Myfod He was a Prince very much affected to Piety and Religion very charitable to the necessitous and good to the distressed but his great Fault was that he stickled too hard for the Interest of the English and was always in Confederacy with King Henry against the good Success of his Native Country He had Issue by his Wife Susanna the Daughter of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales three Sons Gruffydh Maylor Owen and Elis and a Daughter named Marred He had also three natural Sons Owen Brogynton Cynwric Efelh and Eineon Efelh who tho' base born yet according to the Custom of Wales co-inherited with their Brethren who were legitimate And here it will not be amiss once for all to give a particular account of the Principality afterwards the Lordships of Powis how it came to be divided into many shares and portions and by that means became so irrecoverably broken and weakened that it was made subject to the Normans before the rest of Wales For Powis before King Offa's time reached Eastward to the Rivers of Severn and Dee in a right Line from the end of Broxen Hills to Salop and comprehended all the Country between the Wye and Severn which was antiently the Estate of Brochwel Yscithroc of whom mention is made before But after the making of Offa's dike Powis was contracted into a narrower compass the plain Country toward Salop being inhabited by Saxons and Normans so that the length of it reached North-East from Pulford-Bridge to Lhangiric-Parish on the Confines of Cardigan-shire to the South-West and the breadth from the farthest part of Cyfeilioc Westward to Elsmere on the East-side This Principality Roderic the Great gave to his youngest Son Merfyn in whose Posterity it remained intire till the death of Blethyn ap Confyn who tho' he had divided it betwixt his Sons Meredith and Cadwgan yet it came again whole and intire to the possession of Meredith ap Blethyn But he again broke the Union and left it between his two Sons Madawe and Gruffydh the first of which was Married to Susanna 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 Lordship was divided also betwixt his Sons Gruffydh Maelor Owen ap Madawc and Owen Brogynton which last tho' basely born had however for his incomparable Valour and Courage a share of his Father's Estate namely
the Queen his Mother his Brothers Geffrey and Richard the French King the Earl of Flanders together with the Earl of Chester William Patrick with several other valiant Knights and Gentlemen But the old King having a stout and a faithful Army consisting of Almanes and Brabanters was not in the least dismay'd or discourag'd at such a seeming Storm and which made him more bold and adventurous he was joyned by a strong Party of Welchmen which Lord Rhys had sent him under the command of his Son Howel King Henry overthrew his Enemies in divers Encounters and having either killed or taken Prisoners most of them who were rose up against him he easily dissipated the Cloud which at first seemed so black and threatning Iorwerth ap Owen was not very sory to see the English clash and fall into civil Dissentions among themselves and therefore taking advantage of such a seasonable opportunity he drew his Army against Caerlheon which stood out very stifly against him But after many warm Disputes of both sides Iorwerth at length prevailed and entering the Town by force he took most of the Inhabitants Prisoners and then laying siege to the Castle it was surrender'd up in exchange for the Prisoners he had taken in the Town Howel his Son at the same time was busie in Gwent îs Coed and having reduced all that Country excepting the Castle to subjection he took Pledges of the Inhabitants to be true and faithful to him and to withdraw their Allegiance from the King of England At the same time something of action passed in North-Wales for David ap Owen Gwynedh Prince of North-Wales bringing an Army over the River Menai into Anglesey against his Brother Maelgon who kept that Island from him forced him to make his escape to Ireland in his return from whence the following Year he was accidentally discovered and seized upon and then by his Brothers orders committed to close Prison Prince David having brought the Isle of Anglesey to its pristine state of subjection to him was resolved to move all manner of Obstacles which might at any time for the future endanger its falling off from him and these he judged to be his own next Relations A.D. 1174 and therefore he expell'd and banish'd all his Brethren and Cosins out of his Territories of North-Wales But before this Sentence was put in execution his Brother Conan dyed and so escaped the Ignominy of being banished his native Country for no other reason but the Jealousie of an ambitious Brother About the same time Howel the Son of Iorwerth ap Owen of Caerlheon took Prisoner his Uncle Owen Pencarn who was right Heir of Caerlheon and Gwent and now having him secure and to prevent his getting any Children to inherit those places which himself was next Heir to he first pulled out his Eyes and then very inhumanly cut off his Testicles But Vengeance did not permit such a base Action to go unpunished for upon the Saturday following a great Army of Normans and Englishmen came unexpectedly before the Town and wan both it and the Castle notwithstanding all the Opposition which Howel and his Father Iorwerth made though this last was not privy to his Sons Action About the same time King Henry came over to England a little after whose arrival William King of Scots and Roger de Moubray were taken Prisoners at Alnewike by the Barons of the North as they came to destroy the Northern part of the Country in the Quarrel of the young King But old King Henry having committed them to the safe custody of the Earl of Leicester and received Hugh Bygod Earl of Chester to his Mercy returned to Normandy with a very considerable Army of Welchmen which David Prince of North-Wales had sent him in return of which he gave him his Sister Emme in Marriage When he was arrived in Normandy he sent a Detachment of the Welch to cut off some Provisions which were going to the Enemies Camp but in the mean time the French King came to a Treaty of Peace which was shortly afterwards concluded upon so that all the Brethren who had all this time maintained such an unnatural Rebellion against their Father were forced to beg the old King's Forgiveness and Pardon for all their former Misdemeanours David Prince of North-Wales began to grow very bold and assuming by reason of his new Alliance with the King of England and nothing would serve his turn but he must put his Brother Roderic in Prison and secure him with Fetters for no other account than because he demandod his share of his Fathers Lands It was the custom of Wales as is said before to make an equal division of the Father's Inheritance between all the Children and therefore David had no colour of Reason or Pretence to deal so severely with his Brother unless it were to verifie 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 reason that he let slip no opportunity to further the King's Interest and Affairs in Wales and by that means was a very necessary and useful Instrument to keep under the Welch and to promote the surer Settlement of the English in the Country Not that he bore any Love or Affection to either King Henry or his Subjects but because he was sufficiently rewarded for former Services and was still in expectation of receiving more Favours at the King's hands he was resolved to play the Politician so far as to have regard to his own Interest more than the Good of his native Country And what did ingratiate him to King Henry most of all upon the Feast of S. James he brought all such Lords of South-Wales as were at Enmity with the King to do him Homage at Glocester namely Cadwalhon ap Madawc of Melyenyth his Cosin-German Eineon Clyt of Eluel and Eineon ap Rhys of Gwerthrynion his Sons in Law Morgan ap Caradoc ap Iestyn of Glamorgan Gruffydh ap Ifor ap Meiric of Sengennyth and Sitsylht ap Dyfnwal of Higher Gwent all three his Brothers in Law who had married his Sisters together with Iorwerth ap Owen of Caerlheon King Henry was so well pleased with this Stratagem of Rhys that notwithstanding these Persons had been his implacable Enemies he readily granted them their Pardon and received them to Favour and restored to Iorwerth ap Owen the Town and Castle of Caerlheon which he had unjustly taken from him A.D. 1175 This Reconciliation betwixt King Henry and these Welch Lords some of the English in Wales took advantage 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 Design by reason that Sitsylht ap Dyfnwal the Person of greatest sway and Power in the Country was an inveterate Enemy to all the English But being now reconciled to the King William de
of Lhanymdhyfri thence they removed to Lhangadoc and wan the Castle likewise upon this Condition that the Garrison be permitted to march out quietly When they had taken these two Castles they went to Dinerth where Maelgon finished the Castle he had formerly begun there This Year likewise Prince Lhewelyn set at liberty his Uncle David ap Owen Gwynedh who made but a sorry return to this Kindness for instead 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 restore himself to his antient Estate of North-Wales but he missed his Mark for his prudent Nephew immediately met him on his March and gave him a shameful Over-throw wherewith David was so mightily disheartened that he presently returned for England and shortly after died for meer sorrow The next Year Howel a blind A.D. 1204 Son of Prince Rhys was slain at Camaes by his Brother Maelgon's Men and buried just by his Brother Gruffydh at Ystratflur But notwithwanding that Maelgon in those days usurped all the Rule and Government of South-Wales yet his Brother Gruffydh's Sons Rhys and his Brethren wan from him the chief Defence of all that Country to wit the Castles of Dynefowr and Lhanymdhyfri About this time William Marshal Earl of Pembrock besieged the Castle of Cilgerran and took it and not long after Maelgon A.D. 1205 hired an Irishman to kill Gadifor ap Griffri after which horrid Fact Maelgon seized upon his Four Sons and put them to death these were forward promising young Gentlemen and descended from a Noble Stock for their Mother Susanna was a Daughter of the said Howel ap Rhys by a Daughter of Madawc ap Meredith Prince of Powys In the Year 1206. Maelgon A.D. 1206 built a Castle at Abereneon At which time there was such abundance of Fish seen at Aberystwyth that the like number was never known to have come there in the memory of Man before A.D. 1207 This Year the King of England banished the Realm William de Bruce and his Wife on the account of a Grudg that he bore his Son and then seized upon all his Lands whereupon William with his Wife and Son fled to Ireland and there continued for some time And this Hardship he now underwent was the less pitied because he exercised the great Power he had in the Marches of Wales with extreme Cruelty and Injustice The same Year Gwenwynwyn came to Shrewsbury to speak with the King's Council where he was detained Prisoner Whereupon Prince Lhewelyn conquered all his Country took all his Towns and Castles and garrison'd them for his own use This Expedition of Prince Lhewelyn mightily alarm'd the usurping Maelgon and the more because he had intelligence that Lhewelyn was on his march towards South-Wales therefore he now puts himself in the best posture he could to receive him but finding himself not able to abide the Prince's coming and to withstand his Forces he demolisheth his Castles of Aberystwyth Ystratmeyric and Dinerth which before he had fortified Notwithstanding which the Prince comes to Aberystwyth and rebuildeth the Castle and puts a Garrison therein after this he seized upon the Cantref of Penwedic and the Land betwixt Dyfi and Aeron which he gave to Maelgon's Nephews the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys and then returned home with great Joy and Triumph Not long after Rhys Fychan Son to Prince Rhys besieged the Castle of Lhangadoc and took it contrary to the Promise and League he had made with his Nephews forgetting likewise how freely and readily they had administred to him in his necessity therefore to be avenged of this Ingratitude and breach of promise Rhys and Owen no sooner heard of it but they furiously attack'd the Castle and took it by assault and put to the Sword or took Prisoners all the Garrison and then burnt the Castle to the ground A.D. 1209 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 murther'd a Priest The Officer desired to know the King's Pleasure how he would have the Delinquent punished but the King instead of ordering any Punishment to be inflicted upon him suitable to the heinousness of his Crime discharged him with a Well done thou good Servant thou hast slain mine Enemy for such he reckon'd the Clergy of those days who were very ill-affected to his usurped arbitrary Government and therefore he slightly regarded any Injuries that were done them nay thought those did him good service 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 afore to have quitted England for fear of him and to have fled here for shelter Upon his return to England he brought these in triumph along with him and committed them to Windsor-Castle where by his Orders not long after they were inhumanly famished The reason of King John's Displeasure against William de Bruce Lord of Brecnock Pag. 303. Matthew Paris delivers to be this When the Pope had excommunicated the Realm of England the King to prevent any Inconveniences that might ensue thereupon took Pledges of such of his Nobles as he thought were disaffected to him and would be like if occasion offered to countenance and promote a Rebellion Amongst others he sends Messengers to William de Bruce to demand his Sons for Pledges to whom Mawd de Bruce's Wife being the readier speaker answered though what she said was no less her Husband's Sentiment than her own Thar the King who had proved so base a Guardian to his Nephew Prince Arthur whom instead of setting in he deprived of his Right should have none of her Children This Answer the Messengers deliver'd to the King whereat he was highly displeased that he ordered some Soldiers should be sent to seize this Lord but he having timely intelligence of this Order fled into Ireland with his Wife and Children where now his Wife Mawd with her Son were unfortunately taken by King John but he himself escaped and fled into France where not long after he dyed This Year the Earl of Chester rebuilt the Castle of Dyganwy situate on the Sea-shore East of the River Conway which Prince Lhewelyn had before demolished He likewise fortifies the Castle of Treffynon or S. Wenefrid Upon this Lhewelyn enters into the Earl's Land which when he had ravaged sufficiently he returns home with considerable Booty About this time Rhys Fychan Son to Prince Rhys fearing lest Prince Lhewelyn should fall upon him for the wrong he had done to his Nephews whom he Prince Lhewelyn stifly defended in their right made his Application to the King of England who readily granted him what Succours he desired and with these he besieged the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri the Garrison
for some time made a vigorous defence but having no hopes of any Relief they thought it their wisest course to Capitulate and so they desired they might march out with their Arms Bag and Baggage and all that belonged to them which was granted them About this time likewise Gwenwynwyn was set at Liberty whom the King had hitherto detained Prisoner and withal lends him some Forces to attempt the recovery of his Country which Prince Lhewelyn had seized upon during his Imprisonment and tho' by his own Strength he was not able to cope with the Prince yet by this Assistance granted him by the King he soon re-possessâ—d himself of his Dominions This Success of Gwenwynwyn encouraged Maelgon likewise to endeavour the recovery of that part of his Country which the Prince had taken from him in the same Expedition Now he makes his application to the King of England and swears Allegiance to him Hereupon the King grants him a considerable Army as well English as Normans to these he joyns what Forces he could raise in Wales and then contrary to the Oath and Agreement he had made with his Nephews Rhys and Owen he in a hostile manner enters their Country when he was come to Cantred Penwedic he encamped at Cilcenny where he staid some time to take measures for the better accomplishment of his Designs by this time his Nephews had got together about 300 chosen well disciplined Men but with so small a Number durst not oppose their Uncle's numerous Army in open Field therefore they were to endeavour to overthrow those by a Stratagem which they could not do by main force Herein they proved very successful for coming as near their Enemies as they could without being discovered they sent out their Spies that Night for Intelligence who brought back the good News that all was quiet in Maelgon's Camp and that they kept no strict Watch being not aware of an approaching Enemy This Intelligence mightily encouraged the Brothers to prosecute their Designs and now they march as silently as they can towards their Enemies Camp where they met with no opposition being not discovered because all were fast asleep When they were advanced as they thought as far as Maelgon's Tent they furiously fell on and slew a great number of his Men afore they awak'd the rest being frightened with the noise and shouts of their Enemies and withal thinking their Numbers to be far greater than it was were glad to make use of the darkness of the Night to quit the Field only Maelgon's Guard valiantly kept their Post and defended their Lord till he had time and opportunity to escape But Maelgon's Army suffered very much in this Action his Nephew Conan ap Howel with his Chief Counsellor Gruffydh ap Cadwgan were both taken Prisoners and Eineon ap Caradoc with a great number more were slain upon the spot About the same time Gilbert Earl of Glocester fortified the Castle of Buelht where a little before he had lost a considerable number of his Men by reason that the place was not very strong and tenable And towards the conclusion of this year Mallt or Mawd de Bruce the Wife of Gruffydh ap Rhys departed this Life and was interred by her Husband in a Monk's Coul in Ystratflur But the following Year a great Storm threatened A.D. 1210 North-Wales by reason that the Marchers made frequent and grievous Complaints to King John how that Prince Lhewelyn perpetually molested their Country slew their Men and committed all the waste and destruction possible as he passed along The King hearing of such intolerable Depredations continually exercised by the North-Wales Men thought it high time to redress his Subjects and therefore he raised a mighty Army throughout all England and called to 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 Lhewelyn had banished out of North-Wales Madoc ap Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield Chirke and Yale Meredith ap Rotpert Lord of Cydewen Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys Maelgon and Rhys the Sons of Prince Rhys and Governours of South Wales With this formidable Army he came to Chester intending to enter into North-Wales by that way and being fully resolved to execute the severest Vengeance upon the Inhabitants and not to let one living Soul remain alive throughout the whole Country But Matters of this nature are easier resolved upon than accomplished Prince Lhewelyn was no sooner informed of these mighty preparations against him comprehending the whole Strength of the English Nation and what was worst of all being assisted by his own Country-men but he issued forth his Orders commanding all his Subjects of the In-land Counties of Denbigh and Flint together with them of the Island of Anglesey to remove for a time all their Cattel and other Effects to Snowden-Hills where they were sure to remain securest from their Enemies But King John marched his Army along the Sea-Coast to Ruthlan and there passing the River Clwyd he came to the Castle of Teganwy where he encamped for some time to refresh and recreate his Army which by reason of the long Marches they made was in a great measure weary and fatigued But what the more augmented their misery Lhewelyn getting behind them cut off all their hopes of Provision from England and the Welch by the Advantage of being acquainted with the straits and narrow Passages cut off all that straggled from the English Camp so that in time they were glad to take up with Horse-flesh and any thing were it never so mean which might till up their greedy and empty Stomachs At last King John finding no other Remedy and perceiving it impossible to continue longer there so hungry and fainty thought it his wisest way to march for England and leave the Welch to themselves and so he decamped in a great fury leaving Lhewelyn to bury that great number of Dead which had starved in this successless Expedition But to recover the Honour he had now lost he was resolved to try another touch with the Welch but possibly not with the same confidence and assurance of Victory And therefore returning to Wales in the next August he entred with such another terrible Army of English and was assisted by the same Welch Lords at Blanchmonastery now Oswestry being in the Lordship of John the Son of William Fitzalan In this Expedition King John passing the River Conwey and encamping at the other side towards Snowden-Hills sent part of his Army conducted by Guides who were acquainted with the Country to burn Bangor which they effectually did and taking Roâ—pert Bishop of that See out of Church they carried him Prisoner to the English Camp where he continued for some time till he obtained his Ransom for a present of two hundred Hawks But Prince Lhewelyn finding the whole Strength of England and almost Wales to fight against him and judging it impossible for himself alone to
News was brought him that Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys was revolted and was become again the King of England's Subject This unwelcome News struck very deep in the Prince's Mind by reason that Gwenwynwyn was a Man of great Power and Strength in the Country and went a great way to repel the Incursions of the English upon the Marches which now he being gone off could not he feared be so well effected But however to make the best of a bad Market he endeavoured to take him off from the English and to restore him to his former Allegiance due to himself as his Natural Prince and to that end he sent to him some Bishops and Abbots to put him in mind of his Oath and Promise how that he with the rest of the Lords of Wales had obliged himself to oppose the English to the utmost of his Power and had delivered Pledges for the sure performance of what he had then by Oath engaged in and lest he should have forgot what he had then promised he was desired to read his own hand Writing whereby it was apparent that he had very unjustly violated both his Oath and Promise But all the Rhetorick the Bishops could make use of was not of force enough to work Gwenwynwyn to reconciliation with the Prince and an aversion to the King of England and therefore seeing nothing would do Prince Lhewelyn was resolved to make him incapable of serving the English and so entring Powys with a strong Army he subdued the whole Country to himself Gwenwynwyn being forced to fly for Succor to the Earl of Chester Whilst these things passed in Wales Lewis the Dauphin of France being invited by the English Barons against King John landed in the Island of Thanet and marching forward to London he there received Homage of all the Barons that were in actual War against the King And then setting forward to Winchester where King John then lay he took in his way the Castles of Rygat Guildford and Farnham and coming to Winchester had the Town presently surrendred to him King John did not think fit to abide his coming but removing to Hereford in the Marches of Wales he sent to Prince Lhewelyn and Reynold Bruce desiring their Friendship and imploring their Aid aad Assistance against the French But they refusing to hearken to his Proposals he destroyed Radnor and Hay Castles and marching forward to Oswestry which belonged to John Fitzalan he burnt it to the ground and then departed towards the North. But after that he had settled his Affairs there and appointed Governours in all the Towns and Places of Strength whilst he was making all necessary Preparations at Newark to confront the Barons he fell sick and in a short time died and was buried at Worcester After his Death his Son Henry was by several of the English Nobility proclaimed King and in a little while most of the Barons who upon their hatred to King John had maintained an open War against him came in and owned their Allegiance to his Son Henry tho contrary to their Oath to Lewis the Dauphine A.D. 1217 But what was most pernicious to the Welch Reynald de Bruce who had all this while maintained a Confederacy with Prince Lhewelyn his Father-in-Law against King John underhand made his Peace with King Henry But he suffered severely for his Treachery for young Rhys and Owen his Nephew by his Sister seeing that he in whom they put their greatest Confidence had deceitfully forsaken them came upon him with all their Power and took from him all Buelht excepting only the Castle Prince Lhewelyn was presently made acquainted with Bruce's revolt but as soon as he was informed that his Son-in-Law was gone over to the King of England he went in great fury to Brecknoc and laying Siege to the Town of Aberhondhy he was with much ado prevailed upon by young Rhys to raise the Siege for the summ of a Hundred Marks and then crossing the Mountanous part of Glamorgan called the Black Mountains where his Carriages suffered very much he came to Gwyr and encamping at Lhangruc Reynald Bruce with six Knights in his Company came to meet him desiring his Pardon for his passed Offence assuring him that for the future he would be true and faithful to him and would to his endeavour assist him against the King of England Prince Lhewelyn was too good natured to reject his submission and so did not only receive him to his Favour but bestowed upon him also the Castle of Senghennyth which Reynald committed to the Custody of Rhys Fychan Prince Lhewelyn having settled all things in good Order in Gwyr marched to Dyfed and being at Cefn Cynwarchan the Flemings sent their Agents to him to desire Peace which the Prince by reason that they always adhered to the English Interest would not grant them And so young Rhys having the first Man passed the River Cledeu to Storm the Town Iorwerth Bishop of St. Davids with the rest of his Clergy came to the Prince to intreat for a Peace for the Flemings which after a long debate was granted and concluded upon these Terms First That all the â—nhabitants of Rhôs and the Country of Pembroke should from thence forward swear Allegiance to Prince Lhewelyn and ever after acknowledge his Sovereignty Secondly That towards the defraying of his Charges in this Expedition they should pay one Thousand Marks to be delivered to him before the ensuing Feast of St. Michael Thirdly That for the sure performance of these Articles they should deliver up Twenty Hostages who were to be some of the most Principal Persons in their Country Then Prince Lhewelyn having now brought all Wales subject to himself and put Matters in a settled posture in South Wales returned to North-Wales having purchased very considerable Honour and Esteem for his Martial Achievements in this Expedition And now all Matters of Differences being adjusted and the Welch in good hopes of a durable Freedom from all Troubles and Hostilities another Accident unhappily fell out to cross their Expectation Lewis the Dauphin perceiving the English Barons to slight and forsake him concluded a Peace with King Henry and returned to France and then the Barons the King promising to answer all their Request and to redress their Grievances made their submission without including the Welch in their Articles They had all this while gladly embraced the Friendship and Aid of the Prince of Wales but now upon their Reconciliation to the King thinking they had no farther need of him they very basely forsook him who had been the principal Support and Succour of their Cause And not only so but they conspired together to convert their Arms against Wales thinking they could without any breach of Equity or Conscience take away the Lands of the Welch to make addition to what some of them had already unjustly possessed themselves of William Marshall Earl of Pembroke opened the Scene and coming unexpectedly upon the Welch took the Town of Caerlheon But he
so the English retired over the River Matthew Paris writes that the Earl obtained a very signal Victory and that of the Welch there were Nine Thousand slain and taken though the Welch Account which in this case is in all likelihood the best makes the whole Army of the Welch to consist but of that number But both Armies having layn for certain Days in that posture and the River Tywy being betwixt them Gruffydh by reason that Provision began to grow scarce in his Camp returned back and then the Earl decamped and marched to Cilgerran where he began to build a very strong Castle But before he could have time to finish it he received an Express from the King with orders to come to him and so he went by Sea to London leaving his Army at Cilgerran to continue the Work which he had begun Shortly after the King together with the Archbishop of Canterbury came to Ludlow and sending for Prince Lhewelyn thither they had good hopes to adjust all Differences and to make an amicable Composition betwixt him and the Earl But when this could not be effected both Parties sticking close to their private Interest the Earl being assisted by the Earl of Derby and Henry Pyggot Lord of Ewyas designed to pass by Land to Pembrock but his purpose being discovered to the Prince he detached his Son to secure the Passage of Carnwylhion and came in person to Mabedryd which when the Earl understood finding it dangerous to prosecute his Design any further he returned to England and then the Prince marched to North-Wales The next Action that passed in Wales A.D. 1227 was somewhat rare and not redounding much to the Credit and Esteem of the Welch for Rhys Fychan having by some sinistrous means or other taken his Father Rhys Gryc contrary to all filial Affection and Duty detained him Prisoner and would not set him at liberty till he had delivered up Lhanymdhyfri Castle to him About the same time Meredith Archdeacon of Cardigan Prince Rhys's Son departed this Life and was honourably interred at S. Davids by his Father But a while after a great Storm threatned the A.D. 1228 Welch King Henry having raised a great Army was resolved to make a violent Prosecution of the Earl of Pembrock's Quarrel against the Prince of Wales and if possible to make all that Country for ever subject to the Crown of England and so being advanced into the Marches he encamped at Ceri Prince Lhewelyn on the other hand being informed of these mighty Preparations in England and understanding that they were intended against him did use all the Endeavours possible to make a vigorous Resistance and having drawn together all the Forces he was able to levy thought it his wisest way to meet the English upon the Marches and not to permit the Enemy to enter his Country Both Armies being come in sight of each other frequent Skirmishes happened betwixt 'em but one day almost the whole Armies engaged and after a vigorous Attack of both sides the English at last got the worst and were forced to retire having a great many Men slain and taken Prisoners Among the latter was William Bruce Reynald's Son who offered for his Ransom all Buelht together with a considerable Sum of Money which the Prince would not accept of But King Henry finding that his Army was worsted in this Rencounter thought it best to make Peace with the Prince of Wales which being concluded Lhewelyn came to the King and having paid him all other Respects besides that of Submission and Allegiance he returned in great Honour to North-Wales But this Action is somewhat otherwise laid down by Matthew Paris who writes that this Skirmish betwixt the English and Welch happened upon an other account for the Garrison of Montgomery issuing out of the Castle to enlarge a certain Passage leading through a Wood where the Welch were wont to rob and kill all Passengers began to fell the Timber and cut down all the Bushes which lessened the Road thereby to make the Passage more clear and secure The Welch receiving intelligence of this came presently upon him in great Numbers and surprizing the Enemies being busie at their Labour forced as many as could escape to betake themselves for refuge into the Castle which afterwards having first cast a deep Trench about it they smartly invested Hâ—bert de Burgh Lord Chief Justice of England and Owner of the Castle having notice of this sent presently to King Henry desiring his speedy help against the Welch who thereupon came in Person with part of his Army and raised the Siege Then the rest of his Forces being arrived he marched into the Wood which was Five Miles in length and by reason of the thickness of the growth impassable and for an easie passage through it caused it to be burnt down After that he led his Army farther into the Country and coming to an Abby called Cridia which the Welch were wont to take for refuge he caused it to be burnt down but finding it a very convenient place for a Fortress he granted leave to Hubert de Burgh to build a Castle there But whilst the Work was going on the Welch-men gauled the English and skirmished with them frequently so that many were slain on both sides but at last William Bruce with many others that went abroad to fetch Provision was intercepted by the Welch and taken Prisoner and most of his Company were slain among whom one who was knighted a few days before seeing some of his Fellows in great danger rushed boldly into the midst of his Enemies and after a manful defence bravely lost his Life Several of King Henry's Men were corrupted by Prince Lhewelyn and upon that account took no great pains to repulse the Enemy which when the King perceived and finding withal the Provision was grown very scarce in his Camp he was forced to conclude a dishonourable Peace with the Welch consenting to demolish that Castle which with so great an Expence both of Men and Mony was now almost finished upon his own Charges Prince Lhewelyn paying only Three Thousand Pounds towards it Then both Armies separated Prince Lhewelyn marching to North-Wales and the King leaving William Bruce Prisoner with the Welch returned to England having purchased no small Discredit in this Expedition William Bruce was brought to Wales and there had A.D. 1230 an honourable Confinement in the Prince his Palace but he had not continued there very long when he began to be suspected of being too familiar with the Princess King Henry's Sister and as the report went was takeâ— in the very act of Adultery for which the Prince caused him to be hanged forthwith About the same time Lhewelyn Maelgon's Son dyed in North-Wales and was buried at Conwey and Maelgon Prince Rhys his Son in South-Wales and was buried in Ystratflur whose Estate descended to his Son Maelgon And a little after William Marshall Earl of Pembrock A.D. 1231 dyed one that ever entertained an
Men not without a considerable Loss of their own side aâ—ong whom was slain a valiant Knight called Huâ—ert Fitz-Matthew But King Henry being weary of â—hese perpetual Skirmishes and daily Clashings beâ—ween the English and Welch thought to put an â—nd to the whole with one stroak and therefore â—aised a very great Army of English and Gascoignes â—nd entered into North-Wales purposing to waste â—nd destroy the Country But before he could adâ—ance very far Prince David intercepted him in a arrow Pass and so violently set upon him that a â—reat number of his Nobility and bravest Soldiers â—nd in a manner all the Gascoignes were slain The King finding he could effect nothing against the Welch invited over the Irish who landing in Angleâ—ey began to pillage and waste the Country but the â—nhabitants gathering themselves together in a Body â—uickly forced them to their Ships after which King Henry having victualled and manned all his Castles returned dissatisfied to England But concerning this Expedition to Wales and the continuance of the English Army therein a certain Person in the Camp Mat. Par. wrote to this effect to his Friends â—n England The King with his Army is encamped at Gannock and is busie in fortifying that place sufficiently strong already about which we lay in our Tents in watching fasting praying and freezing We watch for fear of the Welch who were used to come suddenly upon us in the night-time We fast for want of Provision the Half-penny Loaf being now risen and advanced to Five Pence We pray that we may speedily return safe and Scot-free home And we freez for want of Winter-Garments having but a thin Linnen Shirt to keep us from the Wind. There is a small Arm of the Sea under the Castle where we lye which the Tide reached by the Conveniency of which many Ships bring 〈◊〉 Provision and Victuals from Ireland and Chester This Arm lies betwixt us and Snowden where thâ— Welch are encamped and is in breadth when thâ— Tide is in about a Bow-shot Now it happened that upon the Monday before Michaelmas-day anâ— Irish Vessel came up to the Mouth of the Haven with Provision to be sold to our Camp which being negligently lookt to by the Mariners was upon low ebb stranded on the other side of the Castle near the Welch The Enemy perceiving this descended from the Mountains and laid siege to the Ship which was fast upon the dry Sands whereupon we detached in Boats Three Hundred Welch of the Borders of Cheshire and Shropshire with some Archers and armed Men to rescue the Ship But the Welch upon the approach of our Men withdrew themselves to their usual Retirements iâ— the Rocks and Woods and were pursued for about two Miles by our Men afoot who slew a great number of them But in their return back our Soldiers being too covetous and greedy of Plunder among other sacrilegious and profane Actions spoiled the Abbey of Aberconwey and burnt all the Books and other choice Utensils belonging to it The Welch being distracted at these irreligious Practices got together in great number and in a desperate manner setting upon the English killing a great number of them and following the rest to the Water-side forced as many as could not make their escape into the Boats to commit themselves to the mercy of the Waves Those they took Prisoners they thought to reserve for exchange but hearing how we put some of their captive Nobility to death they altered their minds and in a revengeful manner scattered their dilacerated Carcasses along the surface of the Water In this Conflict we lost a considerable number of our Men and chiefly those under the Command of Richard Earl of Cornwal as Sir Alan Buscell Sir Adam de Maio Sir Geoffry Estuemy and one Raimend a Gascoign with about a Hundred common Soldiers In the mean time Sir Walter Bisset stoutly defended the Ship till Midnight when the Tide returned whereupon the Welch who assailed us of all sides were forced to withdraw being much concerned that we had so happily escaped their hands The Cargo of this Ship were Three Hundred Hogsheads of Wine with a plenty of other Provision for the Army which at that time it stood in very great need of But the next Morning when the Sea was returned the Welch came merrily down again to the Ship thinking to surprize our Men but as Luck would have it they had at full Sea the Night before relinquished the Ship and returned safe to the Camp The Enemy missing of our Men set upon the Cargo of the Ship carryed away all the Wine and other Provisions and then when the Sea began to slow they put Fire to the Vessel and returned to the rest of the Army And thus we lay incamped in great Misery and Distress for want of Necessaries exposed to great and frequent Dangers and in great fear of the private Assaults and sudden Incursions of our Enemies Oftentimes we set upon and assailed the Welch and in one Conflict we carried away a Hundred Head of Cattel which very triumphantly we conveyed to our Camp For the scarcity of Provision was then so great that there remained but one Hogshead of Wine in the whole Army a Bushel of Corn being sold for Twenty Shillings a fed Ox for Three or Four Marks and a Hen for Eight Pence so that there happened a very lamentable Mortality both of Man and Horse for want of necessary Sustenance of Life The English Army having undergone such Miseries as are here described and King Henry as is â—aid perceiving it was in vain for him to continue â—ny longer in Wales where he was sure to gain no great Credit he returned with his Army into England being not very desirous to make another Expeditiâ—â— into Wales Then all the Nobility and Barons Wales and those that had favoured and maintainâ—â— Gruffydh's Cause were made Friends and recorâ—â— led to Prince David to whom they vowed true aâ—â— perpetual Allegiance But the Prince did not loâ—â— survive this Amity and Agreement between him aâ—â— his Subjects for falling sick toward the beginning 〈◊〉 A.D. 1246 this Year he dyed in March at his Palace in Aâ—â—â— and was buryed at Conwey leaving no Issue to suâ—ceed The only thing unpardonable in this Princâ— was his over Jealousie and Severity against his Bâ—â—ther Gruffydh a Person so well-beloved of the Welcâ— that upon his account their Affection was much coâ—â—ed and in some entirely alienated from their Princâ— Indeed thus much may be said for David that Gruâ—fydh was a valorous and an aspiring Man and if sâ— at liberty would bid fair to eject him out of 〈◊〉 Principality which King Henry of England too whâ— thought he might bring over David a milder Maâ— to what Terms he pleased was sensible of when 〈◊〉 would by no persuasion dismiss him from custody iâ— the Tower of London But this occasioned all thâ— Disturbances that happened in his time the Welâ—â— themselves for the Love they bore
and may be to their great Oppression in those Rights which they have purchased and hitherto enjoyed with their Estates And also on Occasion of great Vexation to many of Your Majesty's Subjects who have long had the absolute Inheritance of several Lands comprehended in the said Grant to the Earl of Portland by Antient Grants from the Crown His MAJESTY'S Answer Gentlemen I Have Kindness for my Lord Portland which he has deserved of Me by long and faithful Services but I should not have given him these Lands if I had imagined the House of Commons could have been concern'd I will therefore Recal the Grant and find some other way of shewing My Favour to him The Lordship of Ruthyn continued in the possession of the Grays till the Reign of Henry VII when George Grey Earl of Kent and Lord of Ruthyn upon some Bargain passed the same over to the King since which it has been in the possession of some of the Earls of Warwick and afterwards came to the Middletons of Chirk Castle in the County of Denbigh where it still continues being now enjoyed by the Right Worshipful Sir Richard Middleton Baronet But besides Henry Lacy and Reginald Grey several other Gentlemen of Quality came at this time with King Edward to North-Wales who in some time became to be Men of great Possessions and Sway in the Country whose Posterity enjoy the same to this time But he that expected to fare best in the distribution of these Lordships and Estates in Wales was one Rhys ap Meredith a Welch Man and one that contrary to the Allegiance sworn to his Prince and his Duty to his Native Country had served the King of England in all these Wars and done the greatest hurt of any Man to the Interest of Prince Lhewelyn For these great Services done to King Edward Rhys expected no less than to be promoted to the highest Preferments whom the King after the Prince of Wales's Overthrow first dubbed Knight and afterwards fed him with fair Words and great Promises But when he and all his Neighbours and Countrymen had submitted themselves to the Government of the King of England it happened that the Lord Pain Tiptost Warden of the King's Castles which joyned to Rhys's Country and the Lord Alan Plucknet the King's Steward in Wales cited Sir Rhys ap Meredith with all the rest of the Country to the King's Court which he refusing to do alledging his antient Priviledges and Liberties together with the King's Promises to him the foresaid Officers proceeded against him according to Law Whereupon A.D. 1289 Sir Rhys being greatly vexed to be thus served by those whole Interest he had all this while so warmly espoused thought to be revenged of Pain Tiptost and the rest of the English And to that end having drawn together some of his Tenants and Countrymen he fell upon the said Pain Tiptost between whom several Skirmishes afterwards happened and several Men were slain on both sides King Edward was now at Arragon to compose the Difference betwixt the Kings of Arragon and Naples but being informed of the Disturbances which had happened in Wales betwixt his Ministers there and Sir Rhys ap Meredith he writ to this latter requiring him to keep the Peace till his return at what time he would redress all Grievances and reduce Matters to a good and reasonable Order But Sir Rhys haveing already waited sufficiently upon the King's Promises and being now in a good condition to offend his Enemies by force of Arms would not give over the Enterprize he saw so promising but marching with his Forces to his Enemies Lands burnt and spoiled several Towns belonging to the English Upon this the King sent to the Earl of Cornwal whom he had appointed his Deputy during his absence to march with an Army into Wales to repress the Insolencies and to prevent any farther disorderly Attempts of the Welch The Earl accordingly prepared an Army and went against Sir Rhys's whose Army he quickly dispersed and overthrew his Castle of Drefolan but not without the loss of some of his Chief Men. For as they besieged and undermined the said Castle the Walls unexpectedly fell down by which unlucky Accident several of the English were oppressed and bruised to Death among whom were the Lord Strafford and the Lord William de Monchency But within a while after Robert Tiptost Lord Deputy of Wales raised a very powerful Army against Sir Rhys and after a slaughter of 4000 of the Welch took him Prisoner 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 period to all the Quarrels betwixt the English and Welch for in a short time after there happened a new occasion for the Welch to murmur against and upbraid the Government of the English over them King Edward was now in actual Enmity and War with the King of France for the carrying on of which he wanted a liberal Subsidy and Supply from his Subjects This Tax was with a great deal of passion and reluctancy levied in divers places of the Kingdom but more especially in Wales the Welch being never acquainted with such large Contributions before A.D. 1294 violently stormed and exclaimed against it But not being satisfied with villifying the King's Command they took their own Captain Roger de Puelesdon who was appointed Collector of the said Subsidy and hanged him up together with divers others who abetted the collecting of the Tax Then West-Wales Men chose Maelgon Fychan for their Captain and so entring into Caermardhyn and Pembroke-shires they cruelly harassed all the Lands that belonged to the English and then returned laden with considerable Booty The Glamorgan-shire Men and they towards the South Parts chose one Morgan for their Leader and set upon the Earl of Glocester whom they forced to make his escape out of the Country and so Morgan was put in possession of those Lands which the Ancestors of the Earl of Glocester had forcibly taken away from Morgan's fore-Fathers On the other side the North-Wales Men set up one Madoc related to the last Lhewelyn slain at Buelht who having drawn together a great Number of Men came to Caernarvon and setting upon the English who in great multitudes had then resorted thither to a Fair slew a great many and afterwards spoiled and ransacked the whole Town King Edward being acquainted with these different Insurrections and Rebellions in Wales and desirous to quell the Pride and Stubborness of the Welch but most of all to revenge the Death of his great favourite Roger de Pulesdon recalled his Brother Edmund Earl of Lancaster and Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Lord of Denbigh who with a considerable Army were ready to embark for Gascoign and countermanded them into Wales Being arrived there they passed quietly forward till they came to Denbigh and as soon as they drew near unto the Castle upon St. Martin's day the Welch
with great Fury and Courage faced them and joyning Battels forced them back with a very considerable loss Polydore Virgil says but upon what Authority is not known that the Welch obtained this Victory rather upon the account that the English Army was hired with such Money as had been wrongfully taken out of the Abbies and other Religious places so that it was a Judgment from above more than the Force of the Welch that overcame the English Army But be the cause of it what it will 't is certain the English were vanquished upon which account King Edward came in Person to Wales and kept his Christmas at Aberconwey where Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury being returned from Rome came to him and having done Homage returned honourably again to England But as the King advanced farther into the Country having but one part of his Army with him the Welch set upon and took most of his Carriages which contained a great quantity of Victuals and Provision so that the King with all his followers were constrained to endure a great deal of hardships in so much that at last Water mixed with Honey and very course and ordinary Bread with the saltest Meat were accounted the greatest Delicacies for his Majesty 's own Table But their misery was like to be greater had not the other part of the Army come in time because the Welch had encompassed the King round in hopes to reduce him to the utmost distress by reason that the Water was so risen that the rest of the Army could not get to him But the Water within some time after abating the remainder of the Army came in whereupon the Welch presently retired and made their escape One thing is very remarkable of King Edward during his distress at Snowden that when the Army was reduced to very great extremity a small quantity of Wine was found which they thought to reserve for the King 's own use But he to prevent any discontent which might thereupon be raised in his Souldiers absolutely refused to taste thereof telling them That in time of Necessity all things should be common and as he was the Cause and Author of thâ—ir Distress he would not be preferred before them in his Diet. But whilst the King remained in Snowden the Earl of Warwick being informed that a great Number of Welch were assembled and had lodged themselves â—n a certain Valley betwixt two Woods chose out a Troop of Horse together with some Cross-Bows and Archers and set upon them in the Night time The Welch being thus surprised and unexpectedly encompassed about by their Enemies made the best they could to oppose them and so pitching their Spears in the ground and directing the points towards their Enemies endeavoured by such means to keep off the Horse But the Earl of Warwick having ordered his Battel so as that between every two Horse there stood a Cross-Bow so gauled the Welch with the shot of the quarrels that the Spear-men fell apace and then the Horse breaking easily in upon the rest bare them down with so great a slaughter as the Welch had never received before After this King Edward to prevent any more rebellious attempts of the Welch cut down all the Woods in Wales wherein in any time of Danger they were wont to hide and save themselves And for a farther security he repaired and fortified all the Castles and places of Strength in Wales and built the Castle of Bewmoris in the Isle of Anglesey and so having put all things in a settled posture and punished those that had been the occasion of the Death of Roger de Pulesdon he returned with his Army into England But as soon as the King had left the Welch Madoc who as it is said before was chosen Captain by the North-Wales Men gathered some Forces together and came to Oswestry which presently yielded to him And then meeting with the Lord Strange near Knookine who with a Detachment of the Marchers came to oppose him gave him Battel vanquished his Forces and miserably ravaged his Country The like Success he obtained a second time against the Marchers but at last they brought together a very great Number of Men and met Madoc marching towards Shâ—ewsbury upon the Hills of Cefn Digolh not far from Camrs Castle where after a bloody Fight on both sides Madoc was taken Prisoner and his Army vanquished and put to flight Then he was sent to London and there sentenced to remain in perpetual Imprisonment in the Tower tho' others affirm that Madoc was never taken but that after several Adventures and severe Conflicts whereby the Welch were reduced to great extremities he came in and submitted himself to the King who received him upon Condition he would not desist to pursue Morgan Captain of the Glamorgan-shire Men till he brought him Prisoner before him Madoc having performed this and the whole Country being peaceable and undisturbed several Hostages from the Chiefest Nobility of Wales for their orderly and quiet behaviour were delivered to the King who disposed of them into divers Castles in England where they continued in safe Custody till the end of the War which was presently-commencâ—d with Scotland A.D. 1301 In the 29th year of King Edward's reign the Prince of Wales came down to Chester and received Homage of all the Free-holders in Wales as follows Henry Earl of Lancaster for Monmouth Reginald Gray for Ruthyn Foulke Fitzwarren for his Lands the Lord William Martyn for his Lands in Cemaes Roger Mortimer for his Lands in Wales Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln for Rhos and Rhyfoneioc Robert Lord Montalt for his Lands and Gruffydh Lord of Poole for the Lordship of Powys at the same time paid their Homage Tudor ap Grono of Anglesey Madoc ap Tudor Archdeacon of Anglesey Eineon ap Howel of Caernarvon Tudor ap Gruffydh Lhewelyn ap Ednyfed Gruffydh â—ychan Son of Gruffydh ap Iorwerth Madoc Fychan Denglfield Lhewelyn Bishop of St. Asaph and Richard de Pulesdon This last in the Twelfth Year of King Edward was constituted Sheriff of Caernarvon for life with the stipend of Forty Pounds sterling yearly At the same place Gruffydh ap Tudor Ithel Fychan Ithel ap Blethyn 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 said Barony of Malpas Thence the Prince removed to Conwey where Eineon Bishop of Bangor and David Abbot of Maynan did their Homage as did Lewis de Felton Son of Richard Felton for the Lands which his Father held of the Prince in Maelor Saesneg or English Maelor John Earl Warren swore Homage for the Lordships of Bromfield and Yale and his Lands in Hope-Dale at London in the Chappel of the Lord John de Kirkby sometime Bishop of Ely as also a while after Edmund Mortimer for his Lands of Cery and Cydewen But besides all these there paid Homage to the Prince of Wales at Chester Sir
leaving his Estate to Gwenwynwyn his Son 217. Owen Glendwr his Family Education and Employment 315. opposed by the Lord Ruthyn without Redress takes up Arms and makes him Prisoner 316. prevails takes the Earl of March Prisoner 317. retakes Aberystwyth Castle 319. Summons a Parliament at Machynlleth 320. Secures David Gam upon a suspicion of a design he had to murder him 321. burnt his House and his Verse upon it ibid. P. PAtent of Lands granted in Wales to the Earl of Portland 302. Commons address upon it 303. King's Answer 304. Peckham John Archbishop of Canterbury endeavours a Reconciliation of Prince Llewelyn and his Brother with the King 286. his Remonstrance to the Prince and People 287 288 289 290. Solicites 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. Vnjustly dealt with 177. Powis Prince of removes his Seat from Pengwern to Mathraval 20. An account of it while a Principality and a Lordship with the several Divisions and Possessors thereof whether of British or English Blood 175 to 185. R. REbellion in the North caused by Earl Tosty's Insolence 97. Appeased 98. Rhydderch seizes upon South-Wales 82. Rhydderch and Rhys the Sons of Rhydderch ap Iestyn put in their Claim to South-Wales 88. Rhys Brother to Prince Gruffydh taken by the English and put to death at Bulendun 91. Rhys ap Owen and Rhydderch ap Caradoc joyntly govern South-Wales 105. The latter dies 106. A Rebellion against the other ibid. Invaded also from North-Wales flies pursued and slain 187. Rhys ap Theodor allowed Prince of South-Wales as lawful Heir 107. A Rebellion formed against him flies into Ireland returns and defeats his Enemy 110. Suppresses another Rebellion 111. Slain near Brecknock in a Fight against the invading Normans and his own rebellious Subjects 112. Rhys ap Gruffydh Prince of South-Wales takes Llanymddyfri Castle 177. Subdues Cardigan 178. Gives Henry II. Hostages to observe the Peace made between them ib. Besieges Carmarthen then forced to quit it 179. Possessed himself of divers Lands belonging to Foreigners in Wales as did others according to his Example 189. Takes Aberteifi Castle and razes it 191. Subdues Owen Cyfeilioc 197. Brings the Lords of South-Wales at Enmity with K. Henry to do him Homage 203. Makes a great Feast at Christmas at Aberteifi where the Bards of North-Wales and South-Wales strive for the Mastery 205 206. Takes advantage upon King Henry's death to enlarge his Country 209. His Family diminishes 210. Made Prisoner by his own Sons 211. Escapes 212. Takes two of his Sons Prisoners 214. Enlarges his Conquest and defeats the English and Normans 214 215. Dies his Character and Issue 216. Rhys Fychan takes Lhanymdhysri Castle 227. 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 revolts â—05 Defeated taken Prisoner and executed 306. Rhythmarch Archbishop of S. David dies 122. Richard King of England's feasts in the Holy Land 210. Taken Prisoner in Austria ibid. Died of his Wounds received at Chalons in France 219. Richard of Bourdeaux created Prince of Wales 315. Robert Cyrthois rebels against his Father in Normandy 110. Robert Earl of Salop rebels against Henry I. 122. Engages the Welch in the Quarrel 123. Seeks Aid of Magnus Harold's Son and fails banished with his Brother Arnulph into Normandy 124. Robert de Belissimo a great Disturber of the Welch committed to perpetual imprisonment by King Henry 139. Roderic Molwynoc succeeded Ifor Anno 720.15 Driven by the Saxons out of the Western Countries to his Inheritance in North-Wales 17. dyed soon after 18. Roderic the Great Prince of VVales 27. Beats the Danes out of his Country â—3 Fightâ— the English anâ— with his Brother Gwyriad it slain 34. His Pedigreâ— and Division of Wales between iâ—â—â— three Sons ibid his Imprudence herein 36. S. SAxons their Answer to the British Message 5. They first repel the Scots and Picts 6. Enter into League with the Scots ib. They incroacâ— upon the Britains 19â— Scots and Picts invade Britain 1. Sâ—ward Earl his Saying upon his Sons being slain in Battel 19. His soldierly Temper at his â—earâ— 92. South Wales invaded twice in one Year by Ieâ—af and 〈◊〉 Princes of North-Wales â—5 They quarres and 〈◊〉 Consequence of it 57. Embroyled 〈◊〉 between Rhyâ— ap Gruffydh and Rhys Fychan and the former supported by the English 235 236. Stephen King of England agrees with the King of Scotâ— 157. Ravages Scotland 160. Suppresses Injurie â—â—ons at home and â—ouâ—s the Scots by his Lieutenants 161. Besieges Arundel Castle in vain 162. Takes Lincoln is defeated and taken Prisoner ibid. Exchanged for Earl Robert and overthrown a second time at Wilton 163. Wins the Battel of Farendon agrees with Henry the Empress's Son and dies 172. Stewards the Family and their Original 91 92. Sulien Archb shop of S. Davids dies 111. Sulien a learned Man of Llanbadarn dies 165. Swane the Dane wasts the Isle of Man Lands in North-Wales 68. Kills Edwal Prince of the Country ib. His Success in England and esteemed King hereof 74 75. Swane King of Denmark invades England and takes York 102. forced to fly ibid. T. TRahern Fychan strangely hanged 217. Trahern ap Caradoc made Prince of North-Wales 105. His Country invaded from Ireland by Gruffydh ap Conan the right Heir ibid. They fight and Trahern with his Cosins worsted and all slain 108. Tâ—â—bute paid by the Prince of Wales to the Kings of England 48. Tudor Vaughan ap Grono his Family would be sâ—◠〈◊〉 Knight and his Reasons for it to King Edward III. who confirmed the Honour of it 314. V. VOrtigern invites the Saxons into Britain 5. Vortimer repels the Saxons 7. W. WAles wasted by the Merciâ—â—s 24. by King Egbert ibid. Divided into three Provinces 27. Invaded by the English 52. Forcibly managed by Ievaf and Iago Princes of North-Wales only 56. Afflicted by the Danes and a Murrain 65. Gives Hostages to pay the antient Tribute 95. Seldom governed by the right Heir 109. Wasted by the English as far as Anglesey 121. Embroiled with Civil Divisions 151. Item 153 154. In great scarcity 276. annnext to the Crown of England 300. Walwey King Arthur's Nephew his Tomb found whose Body was of a prodigious length 110. Welch quarrel amongst themselves 22. Ibid. 23. They defeat the Mercians at Conwey and call it Dial Rhodri 38. Disable the Danes and English that invaded them then fall out among themselves 61. Too late see the folly of foreign Aid 114. Miserably slaughter'd 130 131. Being at peace from abroad they fall to their wonted Method of destroying one another 208. Complain to their Prince of their Oppression from the English 272. Beaten by the English 279. Worst the English 297 298. Beaten in Buelht ibid. Revolt because of an heavy Tax from Edward I. every where 306. Beat the English 307. Take the King's Carriages ibid. Routed by the Earl of Warwick 308. Beat the Marchers but are at last overcome and their Leader Madoc made Prisoner 309. Welch Minstrels reformed whereof were three sorts 159. William Duke of Normandy claims the Crown of England 98. Lands at Hastings and defeats the English 100. William I. goes with an Army on Pilgrimage to S. Davids 100. William Rufus invades the Welch without Success 118. Item 120. Killed 122. FINIS BOOKS Printed for and sold by ROBERT CLAVâ—â—â— THE plausible Arguments of a Roman Catholick answered by an English Protestant in the Welch Tongue Price 4 d. The Church-History clear'd from the Roman Forgeries and Corruptions found in the Councils and Baronius in Four Parts from the beginning of Christianity to the end of the Fifth General Council By Thomas Comber D. D. Dean of Durham 40. An Historical Vindication of the Diviâ—◠〈◊〉 of Tythes from Scripture Reaso◠〈◊〉 Opinion and Practice of Jews Goâ—◠〈◊〉 Christians in all Ages to which is added a Discourse concerning Excommunication By Tho. Comber D. D. Dean of Durham 40.
THE HISTORY OF WALES Comprehending the Lives and Succession OF THE PRINCES of WALES FROM CADWALADER the last King to Lhewelyn the last Prince of British Blood WITH A short Account of the Affairs of WALES under the Kings of England Written originally in British by Caradoc of Lhancarvan and formerly published in English by Dr. Powel Now newly augmented and improved by W. WYNNE A. M. and Fellow of Jesus Colledg Oxon. LONDON Printed by M. Clark for the Author and are to be sold by R. Clavell at the Peacock at the West-End of S. Pauls 1697. TO THE Right Rev d Father in GOD HUMPHREY Lord BISHOP of BANGOR My Lord WHEN I had finished the following Book I was not long to determin under whose Patronage I should make it publick your Lordship 's Extraordinry Knowledge in all the British Antiquities especially that Part which relates to the Welch justly claiming what I now make bold to offer to your Favour For it seems to be as Natural a Design of a Dedication to present one's Labours to the greatest Judge as to him who is the greatest Encourager of his Writings and if so my Lord this single Reason would sufficiently justify me from any Presumption in submitting the following Papers to your Lordship's Protection But where the Obligation is corroborated by an equal Engagement and since your Lordship has been pleased to encourage and promote the Design before it came to any Growth I hope I may safely present now in its perfect Strength and Vigor what you were then pleased to receive in its Infancy The History of our Country my Lord has been so much neglected that there seems a very great Necessity of reviving what to the generality of the Kingdom is almost lost and there are too many otherwise very Learned Persons nay some of our own Nation who are so great Strangers to this Subject that they are almost ignorant that there is such a History in being We have hopes indeed that from your Lordship's Excelling Knowledge in the Welch History and other British Antiquities with those Curious Collections you have with great Labour made towards that Matter and from others now Travelling the same good Way we may expect that the World shall receive such Information relating to our Country that they who have hitherto despised our History will be ready to Light that Candle which they now purposely extinguish and ignorantly undervalue In the mean time if by the following History I can revive the Memories of the several Princes therein contained which in the English Histories are either totally omitted or but partially interwoven and render our History more generally Known I have my Aim and especially since I gain the Opportunity of Acknowledging my self Your Lordship 's most humble Servant W. WYNNE THE PREFACE THE History of the Britains may not improperly be distinguished into two Periods the former comprehending the interval from Brute to Cadwalader whilst the Britains are thought to have enjoyed a general Possession of the whole Island the other containing the Memoirs and Transactions of the Britains under their several Princes after their recession to that part of the Island since called Wales The former of these has been generally accounted of late absolutely false and unhistorical and 't is undoubtedly concluded that all the Passages in Geoffrey of Monmouth the only remaining Monument of the Affairs of the antient Britains which are not consonant to and agreeable with the Roman Historians that speak of Britain are absolutely fabulous and unsincere The History of the Princes of Wales has indeed met with better fortune and the Author Caradoc of Lhancarvan is accounted just and authentick so that there need no other Apology for the following Work than that it is for the best part the genuine History of that Author But because the History of Wales has no small dependance upon and relation to the History of the antient Britains published by Geoffrey I think it necessary to make some general reflection in relation to the Truth and Authority of that Copy And here in the first place I must take notice of two sorts of Opinions most widely repugnant and as I may say diametrically opposite to each other and both in my opinion equally deviating from the right apprehension of the matter in debate The one perfectly rejecting the whole foundation and process of Geoffrey's History will not believe so much as one passage relating to the antient Britains but what is delivered by Roman Writers as if nothing remarkable could happen in Britain but what must needs fall under their special Cognizance and Observation The other without any allowance to the Age when these British Affairs were transacted not to mention the utmost Antiquity of some part of this History cotemporary with which nothing is certain among the more civilized Greeks and Romans will believe the whole Frame and all the Circumstances of Geoffrey's History be they never so ridiculous and extravagant But not to insist on so bigotted an Opinion as to think that the British History is universally true and altogether authentick I will confine my self to the examination of the other Extream to see whether that History published by Geoffrey be so absolutely fabulous as is frequently represented and generally believed Now they who discredit this History either wholly attribute the Frame and Invention of it to Geoffrey or else granting him to be a faithful Translator assure themselves that the Copy he received was fictitious and perfectly owing to the unwarrantable Forgeries of the fabulous Monks So that the subject of my present enquiries will naturally fall under those two Disquisitions 1. Whether Geoffrey be the real Contriver and Composer of this History And 2ly Supposing him to be innocent of this Suspicion whether the History published by him be perfectly fabulous and in all respects a Monkish Legend 1. As to what relates to Geoffrey though methinks there need no greater Argument to evidence his Innocency from so suspected an Imposture as his being the Contriver of this History than that be professedly owns the receipt of the British Manuscript from Walter Arch Deacon of Oxford yet because the Prejudice of some Men oftentimes obscures their Understanding in things otherwise very clear and open it will be requisite to dwell somewhat more particularly upon that Subject or if the World be once perswaded that the whole Invention is owing to Geoffrey and that there was no such Account of the Britains in being before he published his History the whole series of British Affairs not mentioned in the Writings of the Roman Authors and all that long continued Succession of British Kings for so many Ages must of necessity be accounted fabulous and a perfect Legend But before that Geoffrey should be so unreasonably attainted of such notorious Forgery and his History be so generally condemned one might expect that such evident Proofs could be produced to evince so absolute a Position as to render it past all Dispute and Contradiction
buried as appears by the Testimony of Gutryn Owen who lived in the time of Edward IV. and writ the most exact and perfect Copy of the same All the most notable Occurrences being thus Registred in these Abbies were most generally compared together every third Year when the Beirdh or Bards belonging to these two Houses went their ordinary Visitations which was called Clera And this continued until the Year 1270. a little before the Death of the last Prince Lhewelyn who was slain at Buelht Humphrey Lloyd Gent. who flourished in the Reign of Henry VIII and one greatly skill'd in the British Antiquities continued this History to the Death of Prince Lhewelyn and afterwards having translated the whole into English Language had designed to commit it to the Press But his Death prevented what he purposed and stopped the publication of this History for a long time after until David Powel D. D. in the time of Queen Elizabeth having met with Humphrey Lloyd's Transtation collected what he could out of English Historians which he added by way of Annotations and so published it in the Year 1584. This being the sole History of the Princes of Wales and the only Edition of this History I was moved to prepare it for another Impression by a new modelling the Language making the Body of the History intire without troubling the Reader to see the same thing by way of Annotation Dr. Powel's Notes being for the greatest part but a repetition of the same matter of Fact out of the English Historians with what other Improvements could be made The Additions which I made to the former History I chiefly took out of the Notes of that late great Antiquarian Mr. Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt by whose help also I have corrected supplyed and continued the Chronology Sir John Price's Description of Wales will pretty well answer the Geographical part of this History til we shall be able to recover and fix several of those places whose Names are only left to us at present which we have great hopes will be successfully perfected by the unwearied Labours of my ingenious Friend Mr. Edward Lhwyd in his intended Etymological Dictionary I have added by way of Appendix the several Records belonging to this History and chose rather to insert the Articles of Peace betwixt Prince Lhewelyn and John Peckam Archbishop of Canterbury in the Original with reference thereunto than to insert all the Grievances which the Welch then made in the English Languge which do not so bandsomly bear a Translation A DESCRIPTION OF CAMBRIA Now Called WALES Drawn first by Sir John Price Knight and afterward augmented and made perfect by Humphrey Lloyd Gentleman THE Three Sons of Brutus having divided the whole Isle of Britain into Three Parts that part contained within the French Seas with the Rivers of Severn called in British Hafren Dea and Humber fell to the eldest Son Lorinus which was after his Name called Lhoyger which Name it hath in the British Tongue to this Day and in English now it is called England and 〈◊〉 augmented Northward to the River Tweed The â—econd Son Albanactus had all the Land Northward from Humber to the Sea Orkney called in the British Tongue Mor Werydh and in the Latin Mare Calodonioum The third Son Camber had to his part all that which remained undivided lying within the Spanish and Irish Seas Cambria and separated from England with the Rivers Severn and Dee and this part was after his Name called Cambria and the Inhabitants thereof Cambry and their Language Camberaâ—c and so are at this Day So that they have kept the same Country and Language this 2700 and odd years without commixtion with any other Nation especially in North-Wales as it shall hereafter appear And because the Name of this Country is changed or rather mistaken by the Inhabitants of England and not by them called Cambry but Wales I think it necessary to declare the occasion thereof which is that where the Saxons a People of Germany were the first that after the Britains inhabited and ruled the greatest part of this Isle 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 say Strange or not of them understood For at this Day the Inhabitants of the Low Countries call their next Neighbours Language of Henegaw or other that speak French Walsh as a Language to them unknown Likewise the dwellers of Tyroll and other the higher Countries of Germany do Name the Italian their next Neighbour a Welch-man and his Language Walsh And this is an evident Proof that they which harped upon a Queen Gwalaes and of a Prince Wala of whom neither British Latin nor English History maketh mention were foully deceived and so likewise was a great Historiographer of late Days which saith that it was called Wallia quasi Italia because the rest of the Romans which remained in the Isle were driven thither Neither is this any new invention although Polydore Virgil with an Italian brag doth glorify himself to be the first that espied it out for divers antient Writers do alledge the same cause of the Name of Wales of whom Sylvester Gyraldus is one who wrote in the time of Henry the Second after the Conquest before 380 years passed which is an â—vident Token that the said Polydore did either neâ—er see nor read the antient Histories of this Realm â—r dissembleth the same to the Advancement and Praise of himself and his Country which to the â—earned and indifferent Reader shall appear to be the â—nly occasion he took that work in hand for all his â—ook redoundeth only to the Praise and Honour of â—he Romans as well Spiritual as Temporal and to â—lase forth their Acts and Deeds within this Realm â—nd upon the other part doth either openly slander â—r else privily extenuate or shamefully deny the marâ—ial prowess and noble Acts as well of Saxons Danes â—nd Normans as of the Britains all Inhabiters of this â—sle Which thing he that lift to prove let him read â—nd confer Caesar's Commentaries Cornelius Tacitus Herodianus and other antient Writers as well in Latin as in Greek with his Work As for the antiâ—ent Writers of the British History as the British Chronicle the History of Gildas Ponticus Vorunnius â—ea the Golden Work of Matthew Paris Monk of St. Alban which wrote from William Bastard to the â—ast years of Henry the Third I dare well say he â—ever saw them they be in divers places to be had â—o that the truth may be easily proved To make â—n end I say that he being first a Stranger born and â—lso ignorant as well in the Histories of this Realm as â—f those Tongues and Languages wherein the same were written could never set forth the true and perfect Chronicle of the same But he having a good Grace and a pleasant Stile in the Latin Tongue and finding himself in a Country
the main Land with an Arm of the Sea called Maenai and had in it self three Cantreds or Hundreds which were subdivided to six Comots as Cantref Aberffraw to Comot Lhion and Comot Malheraâ—th Cantref Cemais to the Comots Taliboâ—ion and Twr Celyn Cantref Rossyr to the Comots Tyndaethwy and Maenai And at this day there is a â—ine Town in that Isle called Bewmoris and a common Passage to Ireland at Caergybi called in English Holyhead But here I cannot wink at that notable Error of Polydor which after his accustomed fashion denieth this Isle to be called Môna but Anglesia or Anglorum Insula because it is called in English Anglesey and giveth this Name Môna to Man and so hath lost the Names of both Isles which ignorance and forgetfulness 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 these Isles which may be easily proved First because the Inhabitants of the Isle do know none other Name but Môn and it is called through all Wales Tir Môn that is to say the Land of Môn unto this day So that neither by memory of Man neither by any Monument in Writing in the British Tongue can it appear that ever it had any other Name but Môn yet there be manifest Monuments for these â—000 years It is also grown to a Proverb through Wales for the fertility of the ground Môn mam Gymry â—hat is to say Môn Mother of Wales The antient History of Cornelius Tacitus which be like Age had beaten out of Polydor's Head saith that the Souldiers of Paulinus Suetonius and afterward of Julius Agricola after they had passed thro' North-Wales then came over against Môna where they did swim over an Arm of the Sea of 200 paces and so by force won the Isle Now whether it is more reasonable thus to swim over 200 paces or 20 miles I know there is no Man that believeth Polydor in this point I see all Men therefore judge the rest As for that which he saith of the great Woods it is nothing for both the Romans and after when the Christian Faith took place in this Realm the Christians did fall and root them out for the Idolatry and absurâ— Religion which was used there that the King 〈◊〉 Man sent for Timber to Môn read the Life of Hugâ— Earl of Chester which also is evident by the greaâ— Beeches and other Trees found in the Earth at these days His other reason is because it is called Anglesey in the English Tongue so is Lhoyger England and Cambry Wales Are those therefore the old Names No surely And what if the Inhabitanâ— called it so as they did not had it not a Namâ— before the Angles won it Yes I warrant you bâ— he had forgotten that Now to the Name of Man 〈◊〉 was ever or at the least these 1000 years named iâ— British Manaw of which cometh the English Name Man The Inhabitants thereof call it so and 〈◊〉 Nation about it did ever call it Môn no nor any Writer but Polydor which was too young a God father to name so old a Child For Gildas who wrote above 900 years passed whose Writings Polydor never saw but untruly Fathers upon him his own devise Giraldus in his Description of Ireland to Henrâ— the Second and Henry Huntington do plainly caâ—â— Man in Latin Eubâ—nia adding thereto either Manâ—â— or Man for the better understanding of the Name Will you believe them or Polydor Other Argumentâ— there are which I will pass over till I have more leasure and occasion to write of this Matter Arfon The second part of North-Wales was called Arfoâ— which is as much as to say over against Môn anâ— had in it four Cantreds and ten Comots Cantref Aber had in it three Comots Y Lhechwedh-uchaf Y Lhechwedh-isaf and Nant-Conway Cantref Arfon had two Comots Ywch Gwyrfai and Isgwyrfai Cantref Dunodic had two Comots Ardudwy and Efionyth Cantref Lhyn containeth three Comots Cyâ—nytmayâ— Tinlhayn and Canologion This is now called Caernarvon-shire as Môn is called Anglesey-shire and have the same division at this day In this Shire are â—nowden-Hills called Eryri neither in height fertiâ—ity of the Ground Wood Cattel Fish and Fowl â—iving place to the Famous Alps and without Conâ—roversy the strongest Country within Britain Here is the Town of Caernarâ—on called in the old â—ime Caersegonce and there is also Conwey called Caerâ—yffyn And the See of Bangâ—r with divers other â—ntient Castles and Places of Memory and was the â—ast part of Wales that came under the Dominion of â—he Kings of England It hath on the North the Sea â—â—d Maenai upon the East and South East the River â—onwey which divideth it from Denbigh shire altho' â—t now pass the River in one place by the Sea-shore And on the South-West and West it is separated from Merionyth by high Mountains and Rivers and other Mears The third part of Gwynedh was Merionyth conâ—aining three Cantreds Merionyth and every Cantred three Coâ—ots As Cantref Meyreon hath three Comots Talyhont Pennal and Ystumaner Cantref Aâ—ustly had these Vwchoâ—ed Iscoed and â—warthrenion Cantref Paâ—lhyn had these Vwchmeloch Ismeloch â—nd Micuâ—ins and this keepeth the said Name till this â—ay but not within the same Mears and is full of Hills â—nd Rocks and hath upon the North the Sea notable â—t this day for the great resort and number of People â—hat repair thither to take Herrings It hath upon â—he East Arfon and Denbigh-Land upon the South Powys and upon the West Dyfi and Cardigan-shire In this Country standeth the Town of Harlech Tegyd and 〈◊〉 great Lake called Lhyn-Tegyd through which the River Dee runneth and mingleth not with the Water of the Lake which is three Miles long and also the â—almons which are commonly taken in the River â—ard by the Lake are never seen to enter the Lake Likewise a kind of Fish called Gwyniaid which are like â—o Whitings and are full in the Lake are never taken â—n the River Not far from this Lake is a place called Caergay which was the House of Gay Arthur's Foster-Brother This Shire as well as Arfon is full of Cattel Fowl and Fish with great number of Red Deer and Roes but there is great scarcity of Corn. y Berfedhwlad The fourth part of Gwynedh was called y Berfedhwlad which may be Englished the in-land or middle Country which contained five Cantrede and thirteen Comots as Cantref Rhyfonioc had in it these Comots Vwchalet and Isales Cantref Ystrad had Hiraethoâ— and Cynineiroh Cantref Rhos these Vwchdulas Isdulas and Crouthyn all which are in the Lordship of Denbigh saving the Creuthyn which is in Caernarvon shire wherein the Castle of Dyganwy did stand which was the Earls of Chester and is commonly called in the Latin and English Chronicle Gannoe Dyffryn Clwyd The fourth Cantref was Dyffryn Clwyd which may be Englished the Valley of Clwyd and now is called the Lordship of Rhuthyn
to Dee a little above Chester And this â—â—all suffice for the perfect Description of that which 〈◊〉 old time was called Gwynedh and Powys and at â—hese days the six Shires of North-Wales Now remaineth the last Kingdom of Wales Dynefawr called Dynefawr which although it was the greatest yet was 〈◊〉 not the best as Giraldus witnesseth chiefly beâ—ause it was much molested with Flemings and Normans and also that in divers parts thereof the Lords would not obey their Prince as in Gwent and in Morganwe which was their own confusion as shall â—ereafter appear This was divided into six Parts of the which Caredigion was the first Caredigion and contained â—our Cantreds and ten Comots as Cantref Penwedic had â—n it these Comots Geneurglyn Perfedh and Creuthyn Cantref Canawl had these Mefenyth Anhunoc and Pennarth Cantref Castelh had these Comots Mabwynion and Caerwedros Cantref Syrwen had these Gwenionyth and Iscoed and this part is at this day called in English Cardigan-shi e and in Welch Swydh-Aberteifi This is a Champion Country without much Wood and hath been divers times overcome with Flemings and Normans which builded many Castles in it and at the last were beaten out of them all It hath on the East North-Wales with the River Dyfi and part of Powys upon the South Caermardhyn shire upon the West Pembroke shire with the River Teifi and upon the North the Irish Sea In this part is the Town of Cardigan upon Teifi noâ— far from the Sea The Town of Aberystwyth upoâ— the River Ystwyth by the Sea and Lhanbadarn Faâ—â— which was a great Sanctuary and a place of Religious and Learned Men in times past And in thâ— Shire were a great number of Castles as the Castlâ— of Ystratmeyric of Walter of Lhanrysted of Dynertâ— of the Sons of Wyneaon of Aber-Reidol and a greâ—â— number more with the Town of Tregaron and Lhâ—â—dhewibrefi Dyfet The second part was called Dyfed and at this daâ— Pembroke-shire and had in it eight Cantreds anâ— twenty three Comots which were these Cantreâ— Emlyn had these Comots Vwchcuch Iscuch anâ— Lefethyr Cantref Arberth had these Penrhyn ar Elays Esterâ—lef and Talacharn Cantref Daugledheu had these Amgoed Pennaâ— and Efelfre Cantref Y Coed had these Lhanhayaden and Casteâ— Gwys Cantref Penfro hath these Coed yr haf Maenor byâ— and Penfro Cantref Rhos hath these Hulfforth Castelh Gwalch mai and Ygarn Cantref Pubidioc hath these Mynyw Pencaer anâ— Pebidioc Cantref Cemais hath these Vwchnefer Isnefer anâ— Trefdraeth In this part are divers Towns and Havens at thiâ— day as Pembroke Tenby in Welch Dynbegh-y-pyscâ—â— Hereford-West in Welch Hulfforth with the fair Haven of Milford called in Welch Aberdaugledheâ— St. Davids or Menevia called in Welch Mynyw the chiefest See in all Wales Then Fiscard called Abergwayn and Newport named Trefdraeth these be along the Sea-coast or not very far off Besides these â—â—ere be divers Castles as Cilgerran Arberth Gwys â—â—anhayaden Walwyn and divers others This part was â—on first by the Montgomery's Earls of Shrewsbury and â—â—ter given to the Marshalls and so to Valence and from â—ence were the Princes of Wales most troubled with â—â—e Normans and Flemings who do remain and inâ—â—bit about Tenby Pembroke and Rhos to this day â—hich can neither Welch nor good English as yet â—â—fed for so will I call it hereafter hath on the â—â—e West and North the Irish Sea upon the South the â—anish Sea and upon the East Caermardhyn-shire â—â—d on the North-East Cardigan-shire The third â—â—rt was Caermardhyn-shire having four Cantreds Caermardhyn â—â—d fifteen Comots as Cantref Finâ—oc with the Coâ—ots of Harfâ—yn Derfedh and Isgeneny Cantref Eginoc with these Gwyr now in Glamorganâ—â—â—re Cydweli and Carnwilheon Cantref Bachan with these Malhaen Caeo and â—â—aenor Deilo Cantref Mawr with these Cethineoc Comot mabElfyw â—omot mabVchdryd and Wydigada In this Shire are the â—owns and Castles of Caermardhyn Dynefowr which was â—â—e Prince's Seat of the Country Newtown Lhandeilo â—â—anymdhyfri Emlyn Swansey now in Glamorganâ—â—â—re called in Welch Abertawy upon the Sea the â—â—stle of the Sons of Vchtryd of Lhanstephan and â—â—â—ers It hath upon the West Dyfed or Pembroke-shire 〈◊〉 the North Cardigan-shire upon the South-West 〈◊〉 Sea and upon the South-East Glamorgan and on the East Brecknock-shire This is counted the â—â—â—ongest part of all South-Wales as that which is â—â—l of high Mountains great Woods and fair Rivers â—â—ecially Tywy In this and in the other two parts 〈◊〉 South-Wales were the notablest Acts that this Hiâ—â—â—ry treateth of atchieved and done The fourth called Morganwe now Glamorgan-shire Morganwc â—â—ntaining four Cantreds with fifteen Comots As â—â—ntref Croneth with these Comots Rwngneth ac Afan 〈◊〉 yr Hwndrwd and Maenor Glynogwr Cantref Pennythen with these Meyscyn Glynrhodny â—aenor Talafan and Maenor Ruthyn Cantref Brenhinol with these Cibowr Senghennyth Vwchcaeth and Iscaeth Cantref Gwentlhwg which is now in Monmouthshire with these Comots y Rhardh Ganol and Eithafdylygion In this part are these Towns and Castles Lhandaf the Bishop's See Caerdyffe called Caerdhyf Cowbridge called in Welch Y bont faen which is as much as to say Stone-bridge Lantwyd Caerffyli and others and hath divers Rivers which run to the South-Sea as Lay Taf Tawy Neth Afan Ogwr and Lhychwr it hath on the South the Sea of Severn which divideth it from Devon-shire and Cornwall upon the West and North-West Caermardhyn-shire upon the North East Brecknock-shire and upon the East Monmouth-shire Of this you shall read very little for one Iestyn being Chief of the Country and having War with his Neighbours called one Robert Fitzhamâ—â— with a great number of Strangers to his succours which after they had atchieved the Enterprise liked so well the Country that they found occasion to falâ— out with Iestyn and inhabited the Country themselves and their Heirs to this day The fifth part was called Gwent and now in Monmouth shire which had three Cantreds and ten Comots as Cantref Gwent which hath these Comots Y mynyth Iscoed Lhefnydh and Tref y grug Cantref Iscoed these Brynbuga Vwchcoed y Teirtref and Erging ac ewyas now in Hereford-shire Cantref Côch was the seventh Cantred of Morganwc which is now in Glocester-shire and is called the Forest of Dean In this part was the antient City of Caerlheon upoâ— Vsk where was the Archbishop's See of Wales here are also divers Towns and Castles as Chepstow Glyâ— Strigul Rhos Tyntern upon the River Wy there is also Newport called y Castelh Newydh Vysc called Brynbuga Grosmont Raglan White-Castle Abergefenny and many others This is a fair and a fertile Country oâ— which likewise the Gentlemen were never obedient to their Prince which was the cause of their own destruction It hath on the West Glamorgan and Brecknock-shires upon the North Hereford-shire upon â—â—e East Glocester-shire with the River Wy and upon â—â—e South and South-East Severn Last of all cometh Brecheinoc now Brecknock-shire Brecheinoc â—hich hath three Cantreds and eight Comots As
Let but that Courage and those Arms make us Conquerors and we shall refuse no Service you shall please to impose To this Message the Saxons returned this short Answer Assure your selves the Saxons will be true Friends to the Britains and as such shall be always ready both to relieve their Necessities and to advance their Interest The Saxons being thus happily courted to what themselves had a thousand times wish'd for arriv'd soon after in Britain in three Gallies called in their own Language Kiules under the Conduct of two Brethren Hengist and Horsa Being honourably received by the King and affectionately treated by the People their Faith was given of both sides the Saxons stipulating to defend the Britains Countrey and the Britains to give the Saxons a satisfactory Reward for all the Pains and Dangers they should undergo upon their account At first the Saxons shewed themselves very diligent in their Employment and successfully repell'd the Scots and Picts who being probably ignorant of the landing of the Saxons and fearing no opposition boldly advanc'd to the Heart of the Countrey But when the Saxons became better acquainted with the Island and happily discovered the Weakness and Inability of the Britains under pretence that their Pay was not answerable to their Service and Deserts they quarrelled with the Britains and instead of supporting them according to Oath entered into a League with their Enemies the Scots Moreover Hengist perceiving with whom he had to do sent over to acquaint his Countreymen with the Beauty and Fertility of the Island the Infirmity and Effeminacy of the Inhabitants inviting them to be Sharers of his future Success and Expectations To his Invitation they readily comply and sailing over in great Numbers they thought to take possession of that Countrey which Fortune promised should be their own But they must fight for it first the Britains being resolved to the last to defend themselves and their Country against these treacherous Practices of the Saxons and if possible to drive them to their primitive Habitations For when the Britains became sensible of the undermining aim of the Saxons how they secretly endeavoured the total extirpation of the British Nation they presently betook themselves to their Swords and in a short time became signally famous for their Valour and Conduct This the Saxons afterwards grievously felt though the total recovery of Britain proved impracticable for want of Power the Saxons having by Massacres and other treacherous means most unmercifully lessened the Force and Number of the Britains King Vortigern loved his Ease too well to observe their Practices and besides became so foolishly enamour'd with the Daughter of Hengist which purposely was laid to intrap him that the Saxon upon the strength of their Marriage began to carve for himself and during Vortigern's Reign laid so firm a Foundation for the Saxon Conquest that the succeeding British Kings tho' famously valiant could never undermine it This Sottishness of his Father young Vortimer could not at length endure to see himself and his Country so openly and shamefully imposed upon by Strangers and therefore he resolved to take the British Government upon himself and to endeavour the universal Expulsion of the Saxons With him the British Nobility willingly joyn and after several famous Victories over the Saxons he was unhappily poysoned by a Saxon Lady After him the Britains bravely defended themselves against the prevailing Greatness of the Saxons under these valiant Princes Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthur Constantine II. Aurelius Conanus Vortiper and Maelgon To him succeeded Careticus in whose time the Saxons aspiring to a total Conquest of Britain invited over one Gurmundus a Norwegian Pyrate who had lately signalized himself in Ireland and obtain'd a Conquest over that Kingdom Him they employ to march against Careticus who being overcome and vanquished by him the Britains were forced some to retire beyond the Rivers Severn and Dee some to Cornwal and the rest to Little Britain in France The British Affairs were now brought very low and their Government reduced within a very narrow compass so that the Title of the Kings of Britain can be but superficially attributed to the succeeding Princes Cadwan Cadwallan and Cadwalader Cadwalader Cadwalader surnamed Bbendiged or the Blessed was the last of British Race that enjoyed the Title of King of Britain after him the Welch who were the most numerous remains of the Britains disdaining to own any Subjection to the oppressing Saxons set up a new Government among themselves and alter'd the Stile of British Kings to that of Princes of Wales But whilst Cadwalader ruled in Britain a very severe Famine attended with a raging Pestilence which assuredly sprung from the continued War which was so eagerly carryed on betwixt the Britains and Saxons happen'd in the Island which occasioned a most lamentable Mortality among his Subjects insomuch that he was compell'd together with a great Number of his Nobility and others to retire for Refuge to his Cousin Alan King of Lhydaw or Little Britain in France There he was sure to meet with all Civility suitable to his Quality and Condition as well because of his own near Relation and Consanguinity to Alan as upon the account that their Subjects were originally one and the same People For the Britains of France about the year of Christ 384. went over out of this Island under the Command of Conan Lord of Meriadoc to the aid of Maximus the Tyrant against the Emperour Gratianus For this Service Maximus granted to Conan and his Followers the Country of Armorica where the Britains having driven out the former Inhabitants seated themselves and erected a Kingdom which lasted for many Years under several Kings whose Names and Succession are as follows The Catalogue of the Armorican Kings 1. Conan Meriadoc 2. Gradlonus 3. Salomon I. 4. Auldranus 5. Bâ—â—â—ous I. 6. Hoâ—â—lus Magnus 7. Howâ—lus II. 8. Alâ—mâ— I. 9. Hoâ—â—lus III. â—0 Cilâ—uâ—llus â—1 Salomon II. â—2 Alanâ—â— II. 13. Conobertus 14. Budicus II. 15. Theodoricus 16. Rubalhonus 17. Daniel Dremrost i. e. rubicunda facie 18. Aregstanus 19. Maconus 20. Neomenius 21. Haruspogius 22. Salomon III. Alan II. then reigned in Little Britain when Cadâ—alader was forced to forsake his own Dominions â—nd to retire beyond the Seas He was descended â—â—om Ruâ—â— the Son of Mailgon Gwyneth King of Great Britain by a Daughter married to Howel the Second King of Little Britain This Kingdom remained â—â—rm till Salomon III. who was treacherously slain â—y his own Subjects upon which unlucky Accident â—he Kingdom was converted to an Earldom whereof â—ne Alan was the first a valiant and warlike Prince who stoutly resisted the Normans and frequently vanâ—uished and overcame them But after that Cadwalader had continued some time with Alan the Plague being abated in Britain he â—urposed to return and if possible to recover that â—art of his Kingdom which the Saxons were now in â—ossession of He received frequent Intelligence of â—heir Number and
he was â—â—le to draw together not doubting the Conquest of â—â—me part of Britain in case the whole should prove â—ecoverable He was the more encouraged to this â—xpedition by reason that the Advantage was like to 〈◊〉 his own and no one could challenge the Governâ—ent of Britain in case Fortune should deliver it to â—â—s Hands Cadwalader was gone to Rome and in all â—â—obability never to return his Son Edwal Ywrch or â—â—e Roe was young and under the Tuition of Alan 〈◊〉 that the event of this Expedition must of necessity â—ll to himself or by his Concession to his Son Ivor â—ho was to be chief in the Undertaking Having â—ised a considerable Army consisting chiefly of his â—wn Subjects with what remain'd of the Britains â—â—at came over with King Cadwaladar he dispatch'd 〈◊〉 for Britain under the Command of his Son Ivor â—â—d his Nephew Ynyr They safely landed in the Western Parts of Britain which put the Saxons inâ—â— so great a Fright that immediately they drew up â—â—l their Power to oppose them and to hinder their â—rogress into the Country The Britains tho someâ—hat fatigued with their Voyage however gave â—hem Battel and after a very great slaughter of the â—axons possessed themselves of the Countries of â—ornwal Devon and Somersetshires This proved a â—ortunate beginning for the Britains and gave them â—reat hopes of farther Success in the recovery of their Country but that could not be expected withoâ—â— great Opposition and several hot Engagements wâ—â—â— the Saxons This they were immediately made seâ—sible of for they had scarce time to breath and to â—â—cover their Spirits after the last Battel but Kentwiâ—â— King of the West-Saxons marched against them wiâ—â— a powerful Army consisting of Saxons and Anglâ—â— The Britains resolved to fight them but whilst boâ—â— Armies were in view of each other they thoughâ— more adviseable to cease from any Hostility and 〈◊〉 enter into Articles of Composition Ivor seem already satisfied with his Conquest and willinâ—â—â— agreed to marry Ethelberga Kentwyn's Cousin aâ—â— peaceably to enjoy for his life so much as he was aâ—ready in possession of This he faithfully observed â—â—ring the Reign of Kentwyn and his Nephew Cadâ—â— who after two Years resign'd the Kingdom of 〈◊〉 West-Saxons to his Cousin Ivor And now Ivor wâ—â—â— become unexpectedly powerful being King as wâ—â—â— of the Saxons as Britains that inhabited the Wâ—stern parts of the Island He was now able to â—â—dertake somewhat considerable and therefore begâ—â— to fall foul upon his Neighbours the Kings of Kâ—â—â— the West-Saxons and Mercia whom he vanquishâ—â— in several Battels But being at length tir'd with tâ—â— Weight of Government he went to Rome after tâ—â— Example of Cadwalader and resign'd the Rule of 〈◊〉 Saxons to his Cosin Adelred leaving the Britains 〈◊〉 the care of Roderick Molwynoc the Son of Edwal Ywâ—â— This Ivor founded the Abby of Glastenbury callâ—â— in the British Tongue Ynys Avalon where there 〈◊〉 been a Christian Church for several Years before aâ—â— the first that was ever erected in Britain For Josâ—â—â— of Arimathea being sent by Philip the Apostle in tâ—â— days of Arviragus An. Chr. 53. to preach the Gosâ—â—â— in Britain seated himself here and built a Chuâ—â—â— for the British Christians This Church afterwaâ—â—â— Ivor converted into an Abby which he endowâ—â— with very large Possessions being famous for tâ—â— Burying-place of Joseph of Arimathea and Kiâ—â— Arthur He bestowed also some Lands upon tâ—â— Church of Winchester But there happen'd several Casualties in his time Brythâ— a Subject to Egfride King of Northumberland â—assed over to Ireland and wasted and destroyed a great part of that Kingdom In the Fourth Year of â—is Reign their happen'd a remarkable Earthquake â—n the Isle of Man which much disturbed and anâ—oyed the Inhabitants and the year following it rain'd Blood both in Britain and in Ireland This occasion'd the Butter and Milk to resemble the colour of Blood â—nd two Years after the Moon also appear'd all bloody These Accidents of Nature might probably presage â—ome Tumults and Disturbances in the Kingdom which were very great in his time For he was almost in perpetual Hostility with the Kings of Kent West-Sex and Mercia which occasion'd great Blood-â—hed and Slaughter in Britain His Journey to Rome â—ut an end to all these Commotions from whence he â—ever did return but ended his Days there in the practice of Piety and Religion Roderick Molwynoc THE Government of the Britains Ivor resign'd A.D. 720 to Roderick Molwinoc the Son of Edwal Ywrch who began his Reign An. 720. But Adelred King of the West-Saxons was displeased that Ivor had not bestowed upon him his whole Kingdom and upon that account he is resolved to trouble and plague Roderick and his Britains He rais'd immediately a powerfull Army and with all his Forces marched to Devonshire which he destroyed with Fire and Sword From whence he proceeds to Cornwal intending to make that Country sensible of the same Misery but he came far short of his Expectation for upon his entrance into the Country the Britains opposed him and gave him Battel where he was vanquished and forced to retire with all speed to his own Dominions This Victory the Britains called Gwaeth Heilyn from thâ— A.D. 721 place where this Battel was fought The Year following the Britains again obtained two notable Victories over the Saxons the one at a place called Gaâ—â— Maclawch in North-Wales the other at Pencoct in South-Wales But the Joy and Satisfaction which the Brâ—tains entertained of these Successes was somewhâ—â— abated by the Death of Belin the Son of Elphin 〈◊〉 Man of noble Birth and great Worth among theâ— About the same time Celredus King of Mercia dieâ— and was succeeded by Ethelbaldus who being veâ—â—desirous to annex that fertile and pleasant Countrâ— lying between the Rivers Severn and Wye to hâ—â— Kingdom of Mercia entred Wales with a puissaâ—â— Army He destroyed and ravaged the Country bâ—fore him to Carno a Mountain lying not far froâ— Abergavenny where he was met with by the Britainâ— between whom a bloody and sore Battel was fougâ—â— in the Year 728. but the Victory proved very dubâ—table A.D. 733 Not long after dyed Venerable Bede who was â—ducated and brought up in the Abby of Wyrnetham 〈◊〉 Iarewe a Man of great Learning and extensiâ—â— Knowledg who wrote several Books one of whicâ— entitled The Ecclesiastical History of the English Nâ—tion he dedicated to Cleolwolfe King of Northumbeâ—land The same time Adeired King of the West-Sâ—xons and Ethelbald King of Mercia united their Foâ—ces and joyntly marched to fight against the Britaâ—â—â— The Welch were now put to very hard Streights anâ— forced to oppose the numerous Armies of two poweâ—ful Kings However fight they must or suffer thâ—â— Country to be miserably over-run by their inveterâ—â— Enemies Both Armies being engaged a very diâ—mal Battel ensued thereupon and a very great slaughter happen'd on both sides but the Saxons prevailing by the number of their
Cadelh King of Powis his Father's Mother These three Dominions Roderic divided between hâ—â— three Sons appointing North-Wales for his eldest Soâ— Anarawd South-Wales to Cadelh who shortly after 〈◊〉 Father's Death forcibly seised upon his Brother Mâ—â—fyn's Portion upon whom Roderic had bestoweâ— Powis-Land Wales being thus divided between the three Princes they were called Y Tri Tywysoc Taâ—â—thioc or the three crowned Princes by reason thâ—â— each of them did wear on his Helmet a Coronet 〈◊〉 Gold being a broad Head-band indented upwarâ— set and wrought with Precious Stones which in 〈◊〉 British Tongue is called Talaeth To each of the Princes Roderic built a Royal Seat for the Prinâ—â— of Gwyneth or North-Wales at Aberffraw of Souâ—â—Wales at Dinefawr for the Prince of Powis at Mâ—thrafel Roderic had Issue also besides these threâ— Roderic Meyric Edwal or Tadwal Gwyriad aâ—â— Gathelic But Roderic having divided his Principality betwixt his eldest Sons namely Aberffraw with the fifteen Cantreds thereunto belonging to Anarawd Dinefawr with its fifteen Cantreds extending from the mouth of the River Dofi to the mouth of Severn to Cadelh and Powis with fifteen Cantreds from the mouth of the River Dee to the Bridge over Severn at Glocester to Merfyn ordained that his eldest Son Anarawd and his Successors should continue the payment of the antient Tribute to the Crown of England and the other two their Heirs and Successors should acknowledge his Sovereignty and that upon any Foreign Invasion they should mutually Aid and Protect one another And he farther appointed that when any Difference should arise betwixt the Princes of Aberffraw and Cardigan or Dynefawr the three Princes should meet at Bwlch y Pawl and the Prince of Powys should be Umpire But if the Prince of Aberffraw and Powys fell at Variance they should meet at Dôl Rhianedd probably Morva Rhianedd on the Bank of the River Dee where the King of Cardigan was to adjust the Controversy and if the Quarrel happened betwixt the Princes of Powys 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 frustrate any attempt of the English he ordained moreover that all Strong-holds Castles and Citradels should be fortified and kept in repair that all Churches and Religious Houses should be re-edified and adorned and that in all ages the History of Britain being faithfully registred and transcribed should be kept therein Anarawd THE Welch had often sorrowfully felt the unnatural Effects of inward Seditions and of being governed by several Princes which were now unavoidably to be renewed by reason of Roderic's imprudent Division of his Dominions between his three Sons For the several Principalities being united in him it was certainly the most politick means for the preservation of the Countrey from the inveterate Fury of the English to compose the inward Differences which would otherwise happen by perpetuating the whole Government of Wales in one Prince For it was impossible effectually to oppose the Common Enemy by separate Armies and where a different Interest interfered as if the Safety of the same Countrey and the Honor of the same Prince were unanimously regarded This was the unhappiness of the antient Britains when the Romans invaded their Countrey domestick Broils and inward Dissentions being sownâ— among themselves they could not agree to unite their Powers and jointly to oppose the Common Enemy so that Tacitus wisely concludes dum singuâ—â— pugnant universi vincuntur There are few Nationâ— but have experienced the folly of being rent into several Portions and the downfal of that greaâ— Body the Roman Empire may not be absurdly attributed to Constantine's dividing of it between hiâ— Sons But the Welch at this time presently felt the unhappiness of it Cadelh Prince of South-Wales being dissatisfied with his Portion and desirous to feed his Ambition with larger Territories could not spare his Brother Merfyn's Countrey but must needs forcibly dispossess him of his lawful Inheritance and so involve the Welch in a Civil War But the Succession of the Princes of Wales proceeds in Anarawd the eldest Son of Roderic who began his Reign over North-Wales in the Year 877. A.D. 877 At that time Rollo with a numerous Army of Normans descended into France and possessed themselves of the Countrey of Neustria which from them has since received the Name of Normandy But the treacherous Danes in England who had retired to the City of Exeter quickly violated the Capitulation which they had lately sworn to observe and upon that account were so warmly pursued by King Alfred that they gladly delivered up Hostages for the performance of the Articles formerly agreed upon between them But it was not their Intention to keep them long for the next Year they again broke lose possessed themselves of all the Countrey upon the North-side of Thames and passing the River put the English to flight and made themselves Masters of Chippenham in West-Sax But their whole Army did not succeed so well for Alfred meeting with a Party of them slew their Captain and took their Standard which the Danes called Raven After this he vanquished them again at Edendown where after that the Danes had given Hostages for their peaceable behaviour Godrun their Commander received the Christian Faith and so reigned in East-Angle But this opportunity seemed to threaten a great Storm upon Wales for besides the Death of Aedan the Son of A.D. 878 Melht a Noble-man of the Countrey the Articles of Composition between the English and the Danes occasioned these last to join their Power with the People of Mercia to Fight against the Welch between whom a severe Battel was fought at Conwey wherein the Welch obtained a very signal Victory which was called Dial Rodri or the Revenge of the Death of Prince Roderic The Reason why the Mercians were so irreconcilably enraged against the Welch at this time was this After the Death of Roderic the Great the Northern Britains of Stratelwyd and Cumberland were mightily infested and weakened thro' the daily Incursions of the Danes Saxons and Scots insomuch that as many of them as would not submit their Necks to the Yoke were forced to quit their Countrey and to seek for more quiet Habitations Therefore towards the beginning of Anarawd's Reign several of them came to Gwyneth under the Conduct of one Hoberet whose distressed Condition the Prince commiserating granted them all the Countrey betwixt Chester and Conwey to seat themselves in in case they could drive out the Saxons who had lately possessed themselves of it The Britains having returned their thanks to Anarawd presently fell to work and Necessity giving edge to their Valour they easily dispossessed the Saxons who were not as yet warm in their Seats For some time they continued peaceably in this part of Wales but Eadred Duke of Mercia called by the Welch Edryd Wallthîr not being able any longer to bear such an ignominious ejection made great Preparations
and spoiled the â—ea-Coast thereof and advanced as far as Buellt But the Danes at Budington being informed that King Alfred marched against them fled back to their Castle in Essex So that the King was fain to alâ—er his march and to convert his Forces against Leyâ—ester where a Party of Danes was so warmly beâ—â—eged that at length they were reduced to that Exâ—â—remity as to feed upon their Horses But the Season â—f the Year for Action being ended and the Extremity of the Weather being advanced Alfred 〈◊〉 forced to raise the Siege and to wait the next Oppoâ—tunity A.D. 895 for the recovery of the Town But before 〈◊〉 could appear before it again the Danes fairly quittâ—â— it and together with those in Northumberland passâ—â— by the North-Sea to Meresige an Isle in Essex Thâ— A.D. 896 next Year they entred the Thames and built a Caâ—â—â—â— twenty Miles distant from London upon the strengâ—â— of which they ventur'd to spoil and wast the Coâ—â—trey thereabouts but paid very dear for their Coâ—rage being accidentally met with they received 〈◊〉 bloody Overthrow having four of their Princes slâ—â— upon the Spot and the rest very glad to make their â—scape to the Castle Upon this Alfred divided the Riâ—â—â— into three Streams by which Stratagem the Waâ— became so diminished in the Thames that the Danâ—â—â— Ships could not return back into the Sea When tâ—â— Danes perceived this and found it impracticable 〈◊〉 them to escape in their Ships they left their Wiâ—â—â— and Children and all their Effects in Essex and 〈◊〉 passed by Land to Enadbryge upon the Severn aâ—â— then passing the River spoiled the Countries 〈◊〉 Brecknock Gwentland and Gwentlhwg Some of the at the same time passed over to France and anothâ—â— Company coasting about Devonshire destroyed tâ—â— maritime Countries but being met with by the Eâ—glish A.D. 897 lost Six of their Ships in the Dispute Tâ—â— following Summer the Kingdom of Ireland suffered eâ—tremely by Locusts who consumed all the Corn aâ—â— the Grass through the whole Country but were 〈◊〉 length by continued Prayers and Fasting quite destroâ—ed These are common in Africke and other hot Râ—gions but seldom seen in colder Climates and whâ—â— they happen to travel so far they are always veâ—â— pestilentious and destructive to that Country thâ—â— come to A.D. 900 This Year Igmond with a great number of Danâ—â— landed in Anglesey and was met with by the Welâ—â— at a place call'd Molerain where Merfyn was slaiâ— Though others call it Meilon and from the Batâ—â—â— fought there Maes Rhôs Meilon The same Yeâ—â— Kiâ—g Alfred dyed who translated the antient Laws 〈◊〉 â—yfnwall Moelmut King of Britain and the Laws 〈◊〉 Queen Marsia out of Brittish into English and â—â—â—â—d it Marsian Law which was afterwards called â—â—â—st Saxon Law and observed in part of Mercia â—â—â—h all the Countries on the South of Thames The â—â—â—er part of the Country having another Law call'd â—â—â—e Lex both which remained to the time of â—â—â—ard the Confessor who of these two made one 〈◊〉 It is very observable what is related of King â—â—â—â—ed concerning his division of the Natural Day inâ—â—â—hree parts the one he set apart for Devotion and â—â—â—â—dy the next for the Affairs of the Commonâ—â—alth and the third for his own Rest and Refreshâ—â—â—t â—lfred being dead Edward his eldest Son took upâ—â—â—im the Crown which so displeased the ambitious â—â—â—it of his Brother Adelwulph that presently he raisâ—â— a cruel War against him and flying to Northumâ—â—â—â—and stirred up the Danes against his Brother â—â—â—ard The Danes were glad of the opportunity â—â—â—ing now a fair pretence to render themselves â—â—sters of the whole Island and therefore Adelâ—â—ph is made King as well of the Angles as of the â—â—â—es who by this time were grown to be one Peoâ—â—â— Marching then proudly with a very considerable â—â—â—y at his heels he subdued the East Saxons spoilâ—â— the Country of Mercia and passing over the Thames â—rickland destroyed Brythend and returned home â—â—â—h very great Booty At the same time Euneth 〈◊〉 slain in Arwystly But Edward being informed of Brothers retreat pursued him very eagerly but â—â—â—sing of him over-ran and destroyed all the Counâ—â—â— betwixt Ouse and the Dike of S. Edmund and a returned home with his whole Army saving the â—â—â—tish Men who being too greedy of Plunder rashâ—â—â—arried behind For the Danes perceiving the Boâ—â— of the Army to be returned and that a small â—â—â—y still continued to ravage the Country presentâ—â—â—â—t upon them slue a great Number of them and 〈◊〉 the rest to a shameful Flight Nor were the Danes only powerful in England but molested anâ— A.D. 905 grew prevalent in Ireland For this Year they entâ—â—â—â— that Kingdom slew Carmot King and Bishop of 〈◊〉 Ireland a religious and a vertuous Person the Son 〈◊〉 Cukeman and Kyrnalt Son of Murgan King of Lâ—gines A.D. 906 The Year after dyed Asser Archbishop of S. Dâ—vids Uncle to the famous and learned Asser surnaâ—ed Menevensis who being Chancellour to his Uncâ—â— the Archbishop was sent for by King Alfred to iâ—struct his Children whose Life he afterwards wroâ—â— and was made Bishop of Shireburn Edward to force his Brother from his Countrâ— and to revenge the death of the Kentishmen dâ—â—patch'd an Army to Northumberland which havinâ— spoiled the Country returned home Upon whiâ—â— the Danes to return their Kindness destroyed a greâ—â— part of Mercia But within a while after Edwâ—â—â— having raised a very considerable Army gave tâ—â— Danes battel overthrew them and slue their Kinâ—â— Alden and Edelwulph with a great number of the Nobles This added very much to his Dominionâ— which were the more increased and strengthned 〈◊〉 the Addition of the Cities of London and Oxford which upon the death of Edelred Duke of Merâ—â—â— Edward seized into his own hands permitting 〈◊〉 Wife Elfleda to enjoy the rest of his Dukedoâ— A.D. 907 Shortly after Cadelh Prince of South Wales diâ—â— leaving behind him three Sons Howel Dha or tâ—â— Good who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom 〈◊〉 South Wales Meyric and Clydawe King Edward â—â—ving obtained so signal a Victory over the Danes aâ—â— rendered his Kingdom for some time quiet began 〈◊〉 build places of strength which might be serviceabâ—â— against a future Storm He built a Castle at Hartforâ— betwixt the Rivers Benefic Minier and Lige anâ— also erected the Burrough of Wytham in Essex anâ— continued sometime in Wealdyne to keep those Couâ—tries in awe But in spite of all this precaution thâ— Danes of Leycester and Hampton began the followinâ— Year to be very troublesom slew a great number 〈◊〉 English at Hotchnorton and in their return homâ— â—ard destroyed the Country of Oxford About the â—â—me time a considerable Fleet from Tydwike under â—â—e command of Vther and Rahald sailed by the Weâ—â—ern Sea to Wales and destroyed S. Davids where â—as fought the Battel of Dinarth and Mayloc the â—on of Peredur Gam was slain After this they enâ—â—â—ed A.D. 911 into Herefordshire where they were
fought withâ—â— and Rahald was slain and the rest compell'd to â—â—swear the King's Land and never to return any â—ore to England King Edward to prevent any fuâ—â—re Disturbance from such open Invaders caused a â—â—rong Army to be quartered upon the South side of â—â—vern but the Danes for all he could do enter'd â—â—vice into his Country once at Werd and then at â—ortogan but were both times overthrown by the â—nglish From thence they departed to the Isle of â—â—epen whence they were forced by Hunger to sail to â—outh Wales intending to make a considerable Prey of â—hat Country but failing of their aim they were â—onstrained to make the best of their way for Ireland But the next Year a Party of Danes fought a very â—evere Battel with the Kentish-men at Holm but which of them obtain'd the Victory is not certainly â—eported About the same time Anarawd Prince of A.D. 913 North Wales died leaving behind him two Sons Edwal Foel and Elis and some say a third named Meyric Edwal Foel AFter the death of Anarawd his eldest Son Edwal Foel took upon him the Government of Northwales Howel Dha holding the Principality of Southwales and Powis At what time a terrible Comet appeared in the Heavens The same Year the City of Chester which had been destroyed by the Danes was by the procurement of Elfleda new built and repaired as the antient Records of that City do â—â—stifie This in the antient Copy is called Leycestâ—â— by an easie mistake for Legecestria or Chester callâ—â— by the Romans Legionum Cestria The next Suâ—mer the Men of Dublin cruelly destroyed the Isle 〈◊〉 Anglesey and soon after Clydawe the Son of Caâ—â—â— was unnaturally slain by his Brother Meyric about tâ—â— same time that the Danes received a cruel overthroâ—â— by the English at Tottenhale But Elfleda did 〈◊〉 long survive the rebuilding of the City of Chester a Woman of singular Virtues and one that greaâ—â—â— strengthned the Kingdom of Mercia by buildinâ— of Towns and Castles against the Incursions of tâ—â— Danes as Strengat and Bruge by the Forrest 〈◊〉 Morph Tamworth Stafford Edelburgh Cherenburgâ— Wadeburgh and Runcofe After this she entered wâ—â— her whole Army into Wales wan Brecknock 〈◊〉 took the Queen with 33 of her Men Prisonerâ— which in Welch is called Gwaith y Ddinas Newydh 〈◊〉 the Battel of the new City From hence she marched for Derby which she took from the Danes losâ— only four of her chief Commanders in the Actioâ— The occasion of these two Expeditions according 〈◊〉 some was this Huganus Lord of West Wales peâ—ceiving King Edward to be unavoidably busie in thâ— Danish War gathered an Army of Britains and â—â—tring into England destroyed the Kings Countâ—â— Upon the News of this Elfleda came to Wales witâ— a great Army fought with the Welch at Breekâ—â— and putting Huganus to flight took his Wife anâ— some of his Men Prisoners whom she carried wiâ—â— her to Mercia Huganus being thus defeated fled 〈◊〉 Derby and being there kindly received joined hiâ—self with the Kings Enemies the Danes Elfleda being certified of that followed him with her Army but in storming the Gates of the Town had Four 〈◊〉 her best Officers kill'd by Huganus But Gwyane Loâ— of the Isle of Ely her Steward setting fire to thâ— Gates furiously ran upon the Britains and entereâ— the Town upon which Haganus perceiving himseâ—â— to be over-match'd chose rather to fall by the Sword â—â—an cowardly to yield himself to a Woman The â—ext Year Elfleda laid siege to the City of Leicester which was quickly surrender'd and the Danes thereâ—â— perfectly subdued The Fame of these several Aâ—tions being noised abroad her Neighbours became somewhat fearful and timorous and the Yorkshireâ—â—n voluntarily did her Homage and proffer'd their Service She died at Tamworth after Eight Years â—ule over Mercia and lies buried at Glocester by S. Peters After the death of Elfleda King Edward most ungratefully disinherited her Daughter Alfwyen and â—ntering into Mercia seized all the Land into his own hands upon pretence that she without his knowledg whom her Mother had appointed her Guardian had privily promised and contracted Marâ—iage with Reynald King of the Danes But this unâ—ust and unnatural Action of King Edwards might possibly bring upon him those vehement Troubles which presently ensued upon it For Leofred a Dane â—nd Gruffydh ap Madoc Brother in Law to the Prince of West Wales came from Ireland with a great Army to Snowdon and minding to bring all Wales and the Marches thereof to their subjection over-ran and subdued all the Country to Chester before King Edward was certified of their arrival Whereat being sore offended and loth to trouble his Subjects for help vowed that himself and his Sons with their single Forces would be revenged upon Leofred and Gruffydh and thereupon marching to Chester forced the City from them Then he divided his Army into â—wo Battels whereof he and his Son Ethelstan lead the first Edmund and Edred the second and followed them so close that he overtook them at the Forest of Walewode now Sherwode where Leofred and Gruffydh set upon them so fiercely that the King at first was in some danger until Athelstane stepped in and wounded the Dane in the Arm in that manner that being no longer able to hold his Spear the was taken Prisoner and committed to the custody of Atholstâ—ne In the mean time Edmund and Edred encountring with Gruffydh slew him and brought his Head to their Father and Leofreds Head being likewise cut off they were both set up upon the Town of Chester and then Edward together with his Sons victoriously returned home But King Edward having A.D. 924 built Glademutham soon after this dyed at Farandon and his Son Alfred the same time at Oxford and were both buried at Winchester Edward being dead his base Son Athelstane for many excellent Virtues appearing in him was preferred to the Crown the worthiest Prince of the Saxon Blood that ever reigned He overcame Cudfryd the Father of Raynald King of the Danes at York and being invaded by Hawlaf King of Ireland who with all the Power of the Scots and Danes marched against him gave him battel at Brimestbury and obtained a very notorious Victory King Hawlaf together with the King of the Scots five Kings of the Danes and Normans being slain upon the spot so that the whole Country of England and Scotland became subject to him which none of his Predecessoâ—â— A.D. 933 ever attempted Sometime after Owen the Son of Gruffydh was slain by the Men of Cardigan And then Athelstane entring with his Army into Wales forced the Princes thereof to pay a yearly Tribute of 20 l. in Gold 300 l. in Silver and 200 Head of Cattel which notwithstanding was not observed as appears by the Laws of Howel Dha wherein it is appointed that the Prince of Aberffraw should pay no more to the King of London than 66 l. Tribute and that the Princes of Dinefawr and Powis should
inhumanly put out The Danes also who had lately made their Incursioâ— into South-Wales began now to molest the English and having landed in the West passed through thâ— Counties of Somerset Dorset Hamp-shire and Sussex destroying and burning all before them Having advanced without any Opposition as far as the River Medway they laid Siege to Rochester which the Kentish-men endeavouring to preserve assembled themselves together and gave the Danes Battel bâ—â— were vanquished in the Undertaking King Edelâ—â— was then in Cumberland where the Danes were more numerously planted which Country he kept quieâ— and in subjection But in the mean time another Army of Danes landed in the West against whoâ— the Country People of Somerset-shire assembling themselves shewed their readiness to attack them buâ— wanting a Head to direct them were easily put 〈◊〉 their Heels and the Danes ruled and commanded the Country at their pleasure The King being sorely vexed at the Insolencies and restless Depredations of the Danes thought convenient to strengthen himself by some powerful Affinity and to that end sendâ— Ambassadors to Richard Duke of Normandy desiring his Daughter Emma in Marriage and Succours to â—epel the Danish Incursions Here it is observable â—hat as the Saxons being formerly called over as Friends and Allies to the well-meaning Britains violently and wrongfully possessed themselves of the greatest part of the Island so now the Normans being invited to Aid the English against the Danes â—ook so good a liking to the Country that they never gave over their Design of gaining it till at â—ast they became Conquerors of the whole Island The Mischief of calling in the Normans tho' foretold to King Adelred he was so far concerned about the present Calamities received by the Danes that he was deaf to all futurities how dangerous and mischievous soever they might prove And therefore being puff'd up with hopes of Increase of Strength by this new Affinity he sent private Letters to all Cities and Towns throughout his Dominions where the Danes were quartered requiring them all upon St. Brice's Night to Massacre the Danes which was accordingly performed with much Unanimity and Secrecy This cruel Disaster was so far from discouraging the Danes that they now began to Vow the Eradication of the English Nation and to Revenge that unmanly Massacre of their Country-men to which end they landed in Devon-shire and over-running the Country with Fire and Sword spared nothing that had the least spark of Life in it The City of Exeter they razed to the ground and slew Hugh the Norman whom the Queen had recommended to the Government of it To prevent their further Incursions Almarus Earl of Devon gathered a great Army out of Hamp-shire and Wilt-shire and the Country thereabouts and marched with a Resolution stoutly to oppose the Danes who put Almarus to Flight and pursued him to Wilton and Salisbury which being ransacked and plundered they carried the Pillage thereof triumphantly to their Ships A.D. 1004 The next Year Swane a Prince of great repute in Denmark landed upon the Coast of Norfolk and laid siege to Norwich and wasted the Country thereabouts But Wolfkettel Duke of that Country being too weak to oppose him thought it most convenient to make a Peace with the Dane which was quickly broke and then Swane marched privately to Therford which after he had spoiled and ransack'd he return'd with his Prey to his Ships Wolfkettel hearing this privately drew up his Forces and stoutly marched against the Enemy but being far inferiour in number the Danes got the day and afterwards sailed to their own Country Within Two Years after the Danes returned again bringing with them their usual Companions the Fire the Sword and the Spoil and landed at Sandwich which after they had burnt and pillaged they sailed to the Isle of Wight where they took up their Winter-Quarters till Christmas And then coming forth thence they over-ran by several Parties the Countries of Hamshire and Barkshire as far as Reading Wallingford and Colsey devouring up for want of other Plunder all the Provisions and Victuals they found in the Houses and retributed the same with Fire and Sword at their departure In their return they met with the Army of the West-Saxons near Essington but this consisting only of a raw and unexperienced Rabble they easily broke through and passing triumphantly by the Gates of Winchester they got safe with great Booty to Wight King Adelred all this while lay at his Mannor-House in Shropshire much troubled and concerned at these uninterrupted Devastations of the Danes But the Nobility of England rather to save some than lose all they possessed bought their Peace of the Danes for the Sum of 30000 l. during which interval King Adelred rousing his drooping Spirits ordained that every three Hundred Hides of Land one Hide being as much as one Plough can sufficiently till through his Dominions should man out a Ship and every Eight Hides a Corslet and a Helmet beside which the King had no inconsiderable Navy sent him from Normandy â—his Fleet when rendezvous'd at Sandwich seemed terâ—â—â—le in those days and was the greatest that ever â—ore then rode upon the British Sea And now one â—â—ght have thought that all things would go well â—â—th the English when of a sudden another Cloud â—â—pears for one Wilnot a Noble Man of Sussex beâ—â—g banished by King Adelred got to Sea with a small â—â—mber of Ships and practised Pyracy along the â—â—asts of Britain and mightily annoyed all Merâ—â—ants and Passengers Brightrych Brother to the A.D. 1008 â—â—iterous Edric Earl of Mercia thinking to advance 〈◊〉 Reputation by some signal Exploit promised to â—â—ng Wilnot dead or alive before him To which â—â—d he sets forth with a considerable Fleet which â—â—eeting with a terrible Storm was by the Tempest â—iven back and wreck'd upon the shoars so that great number of the Ships were drowned and the 〈◊〉 burnt by Wilnot and his Company Brightrych beâ—â—g abashed with this unfortunate beginning returnâ—â— ingloriously by the Thames back to London so â—â—at this great Preparation against the Danes was â—â—sh'd to pieces and came to nothing The Danes were not ignorant of the Misfortune the A.D. 1009 â—â—glish received by this Storm and without any furâ—â—er enquiry landed at Sandwich and so passed on Canterbury which they intending to destroy was 〈◊〉 the Citizens bought off for 3000 l. Passing from â—â—ence through Kent Sussex and Hampshire they came 〈◊〉 Burkshire where King Edelred at length met with â—â—em and purposing resolutely to set upon them was the cunning Insinuations and subtile Arguments of â—â—ytor Edric dissuaded from fighting The Danes beâ—â—g thus deliver'd from the danger which they certainâ—â— expected passed on joyfully by the City of London â—â—d with great Booty returned to their Ships The 〈◊〉 Year they landed again at Ipswich upon Ascensionâ—â— where Wolfkettel entertained them with a sharp â—â—counter but being over-power'd by Number he â—as forced to give back and yield the day to the
with loud Acclamations and joyfully saluted Prince of North-Wales who treading in his Father's steps behaved himself in his Government with that Prudence and Conduct that he manfully defended his Country from the frequent Invasions of the English and Danes For he was scarce settled in his Throne when these inveterate Enemies of the Welch entered in an hostile manner into Wales and advanced as far as Crosford upon the Severn where Gruffydh met them and forced them shamefully to fly and retire back to their own Country From thence Gruffydh passed to Lhanbadarn Vawr in Cardiganshire which he laid in Ashes and afterwards marched through all the Country of South Wales receiving of the People Oaths of Fidelity and Subjection to him In the mean time Howel ap Edwyn Prince of South-Wales fled to Edwyn Brother to Leofric Earl of Chester and prevailed with him to come with an Army consisting of English and Danes to his aid against Gruffydh who meeting his Enemies in the Field easily overcame them Edwyn being slain upon the spot and Howel forced to preserve his Life by flight After which Victory Gruffydh having reduced all the Country of Wales to subjection returned again to North Wales But Howel as soon as he could recover himself and A.D. 1039 recruit his Army entred again into South-Wales intending the recovery of that Principality which he was now so well assur'd of that he brought his Wife with him to the Field to let her see how easily he could conquer and overcome Prince Gruffydh 〈◊〉 too great an assurance of Victory seldom proves prosperous which Howel presently experienced for Gruffydh meeting with him at Pencadair gave him so warm an Entertainment that he was forced presently to take his Heels which however could not so well secure him but that he was narrowly pursued and his Wife who was to be entertained with the Conquest of Gruffydh on the contrary saw her self taken Prisoner by him and forced to comply so far to his humour as to be his Concubine The same time Harold King of England died and was succeeded by his Brother Hardycnute a Prince very famous for Hospitality and a great lover of good Chear having his Table covered four times a day with great plenty and variety of Dishes with other Superfluities for all Comers But he likewise dying at Lambeth after two Years reign the English agreed to send for Alfred the eldest Son of Edelred from Normandy and to make him King This Message by no means pleased Earl Godwyn a Man of great sway now in England who knowing Alfred to be a person of greater spirit than to permit him to domineer as he pleased endeavoured all he could to dissuade the English from sending for Alfred He shewed them how dangerous it was to permit a warlike Nation to take root in their Country and how well Alfred was accompanied with Normans to whom he had promised the chief Places and Rule of the Kingdom by which and other like Insinuations he so disgusted the English Nobility against the Normans that to diminish their number they put every tenth Man to death But seeing this was not sufficient they acted the same part over again and tythed them the second time and being highly enraged against the Normans they lead Alfred who had brought them over from Gilford where this Execution was committed to Gillingham where having put out his Eyes they removed him to Ely and there at length pitifully murthered him Then they sent for Edward out of Normandy and made him King who according to his promise to Earl Godwyn married â—is Daughter Edith a Lady much commended not only for Beauty Modesty and other feminine Qualifications but also beyond what is requisite for a Woman Learning But King Edward did not deal so favourably with her Brother Swane Son to Earl Godwyn who upon some Distaste was banished England and thereupon forced to betake himself to Baldwyn Earl of Flanders by whom he was very honourably received A.D. 1041 These Troubles and Revolutions in England were succeeded by others of no less consequence in Wales For Howel not brooking to be kept so shamefully out of his Kingdom returns again the third time into South-Wales where he had not continued long but a great number of Strangers landed in the West of Wales and advancing farther into the Country pillaged and destroyed all places they came to Howel tho desirous to reserve his Army to fight with Prince Gruffydh yet could not behold his Country so miserably wasted and over-run by Strangers and thinking moreover that by so charitable an Action he should win the universal Love of the South-Wales Men drew up his Forces against them and overtaking them at Pwll Fynach forced them with much loss to retire to their Ships which Action was call'd in Welch Gwaith Pwll Fynach At the same time Conan the Son of Iago ap Edwal who was forced for fear of Prince Gruffydh to flee to Ireland with the Forces of Alfred King of Dublin whose Daugher named Ranulph he had married landed in North-Wales and having by some treacherous Stratagem taken Gruffydh triumphantly carried him Prisoner towards his Ships This unhappy accident being discovered and publickly known the North Wales Men did rise on a sudden and so unexpectedly overtook the Irish that they easily recover'd their Prince and drove his Enemies with great slaughter to their Ships who without any farther consultation were glad to strike sail with Conan for Ireland And now Wales both North and South is free from all foreign Invasion and Howel as yet too weak to dispute his Title with Gruffydh so that A.D. 1042 the next Year could be subject to no great Action in which nothing happen'd remarkable saving the death of Howel the Son of Owen Lord of Glamorgan a Man of great Quality and Esteem in Wales But as A.D. 1043 soon as Howel could call in his Danes to whom he added all the Forces he could raise in South-Wales he intended presently to march against Prince Gruffydh But he being aware aforehand to what end those Levies were designed prepared against the ensuing storm and to avert the War from his own Country marched courageously to South Wales not fearing to face an Enemy whom he had shamefully vanquished twice already Both Armies being joyned Gruffydh easily overcame and pursued Howel as far as the Spring-Head of the River Towy where after a long and a bloody Fight Howel was at last slain and his Army so universally routed that few escaped with their Lives But though Howel was dead yet there remained still more Pretenders to the Principality of South-Wales so that Gruffydh was in no great prospect to enjoy the same peaceably For as soon as it was published that Howel's Army was defeated and himself slain Rytherch and Rhys the Sons of Rytherch ap Iestyn put in their claim to South-Wales in right of their Father who had once enjoyed the Sovereignty of that Country And in order to the recovery of the same they
drew together a great Army consisting partly of Strangers and partly of such as they could raise in Gwentland and Glamorgan and marched to fight with Gruffydh The Prince according to his usual manner detracted no time but animating and solacing his Soldiers with the remembrance of their former Victories and Conquests bid the Enemies battel which proved so very bloody and terrible that nothing could part them beside the darkness of the Night This Battel so tired and tamed both Armies that neither was very desirous of another Engagement and so one being unwilling to set upon the other they both agreed to return to their own Habitations The same time Joseph Bishop of Teilo or Llandaf died at Rome But both Armies being separated Prince Gruffydh enjoyed a quiet and unmolested Possession of all Wales for about Two Years after which the Gentry of Ystrad Towy treacherously slew 140 of the choice of his Army which he took in so high an indignation that to revenge their death he destroyed all Dyfed and Ystrad Towy About the same time Lothen and Hyrling two Danish Pyrats with a great number of Danes landed at Sandwich and having plundered the Town returned again to their Ships and sailed for Holland where they sold the Booty they had taken and then returned to their own Country Shortly afterwards Earl Swayn came out of Denmark with Eight Ships and returned to England and coming to his Fathers House at Pevenese humbly requested of him and his Brothers Harold and Tostie to endeavour his reconciliation with the King Earl Beorned too promised to intercede for him and going to Swayn's Fleet to sail to Sandwich where the King then lay he was by the way most treacherously and ungratefully murthered and his Body cast upon the shoar which lay there exposed till his Friends heating of the Fact came and carried it to Winchester and buried it by the Body of King Cnute â—eorned 's Uncle Swayn having committed this most testable Murder put himself again under the Proâ—â—ction of the Earl of Flanders not daring to shew 〈◊〉 Face in England till his Father by earnest Mediâ—â—on wrought his Peace with the King This Year Conan the Son of Iago raised again an â—â—my of his Friends in Ireland and sailed towards â—ales purposing to recover his Inheritance in 〈◊〉 Country But when he was come near the â—â—lch Coast there suddenly arose such a violent â—â—â—rm that his Fleet was presently scattered and â—â—st of his Ships drowned which rendered this Expeâ—â—â—ion ineffectual About the same time Robert Archâ—â—â—hop of Canterbury impeached Earl Godwyn and his 〈◊〉 Swayn and Harold of Treason and the Queen 〈◊〉 Adultery and upon the account of their non-â—â—â—earance when cited before the Peers at Glocester 〈◊〉 Queen was divorced and Godwyn and his Sons â—â—nished who with his Son Swayn fled to Flanders 〈◊〉 Harold to Ireland But these unlucky Clashings â—â—d the many Troubles that ensued thereupon hapâ—â—â—ed upon this occasion Eustace Earl of Bologne beâ—â—â— Married to Goda the King's Sister came over this â—aâ— to England to pay King Edward a Visit and in 〈◊〉 return to Canterbury one of his Retinue forcibly â—â—manding a Lodging provoked the Master of the â—â—use so far as by Chance or Anger to kill him Euâ—â—â—e upon this Affront returns back to the King and 〈◊〉 the insinuâ—tions of the Archbishop makes a loud â—â—mplaint against the Kentish-men to repress whose â—â—olencies Earl Godwyn is commanded to raise Forâ—â—â— which he refusing to do for the Kindness he bore 〈◊〉 his Country-men of Kent the King summons a â—â—rliament at Glocester and commands Godwyn to â—â—pear there But he mistrusting either his own â—use or the Malice of his Adversaries gathered a â—â—werful Army out of his own and his Sons Earlâ—â—ms and marched towards Glocester giving out â—â—â—t their Forces were to go against the Welch who â—â—â—ended to invade the Marshes But King Edward â—â—â—ng satisfied by the Welch that they had no such Design in hand commanded Godwyn to dismiss his Aâ—my and to appear himself to answer to the Articles exhibited against him Godwyn refusing to obey the Kiâ—â— by the Advice of Earl Leofrick summoned an Asseâ—bly at London whither a great Number of Forces aâ—rived from Mercia which Godwyn perceiving and wiâ—â—al finding himself unable to withstand the King â— proceedings privately retired with his Sons out 〈◊〉 the Kingdom and fled into Flanders Whereupon the King issued out an Edict proclaiming Godwâ—â— and his Sons Out-Laws and then confiscating thâ—â—â— Estates bestowed them upon others of his Nobiliâ—â— And to pursue his Displeasure the farther he Divâ—â—ced his Queen Edith Earl Godwyn's Daughter aâ—â— committed her to a Cloyster where in a mean Coâ—dition she spent some part of her Life In the distâ—â—bution of the forfeited Estates Adonan obtained 〈◊〉 Earldoms of Devon and Dorset and Algar the Sâ—â— of Leofrick that of Harold But Godwyn could 〈◊〉 patiently behold his Estate bestowed upon anotheâ— and therefore having hired some Men and Ships 〈◊〉 Flanders he sailed to the Isle of Wight where aâ—â—â—â— that he had made a sufficient havock he put in 〈◊〉 Portland which he treated after the same manâ—â—â— The same time Harold having sailed from Ireland 〈◊〉 length met with his Father and then with their unâ—â—â—â— Navy they burnt Preveneseny Romney Heath Fâ—â—â—ston Dover and Sandwich and entering the Thâ—â—â—â— they destroyed Cheppey and burnt the King's Hoâ—â— at Middletown Then they sailed up the River â—â—wards London where the King's Army being reaâ—â— to oppose them a Treaty of Peace was by the meâ— of Bishop Stigand agreed upon which proved so â—â—fectual of Godwyn's side that the King received 〈◊〉 again to his Favour restored him and Sons to all thâ— Estates re-called the Queen and banished the Arâ—â—bishop with all the French-men who had been pâ—â—moters of that unhappy Suspicion the King had enâ—â—â—tained of them About this time Rhys Brother to Gruffydh Prâ—â—â—â— of Wales who by several Irruptions upon the Bordeâ—◠〈◊〉 considerably gauled and damaged the English â—â—s taken and put to Death at Bulendun whose â—â—â—d being cut off was presented to the King then Glocester But he received better News some time 〈◊〉 from the North for Siward Earl of Northumberâ—â—â—d having sent his Son against Macbeth King of â—â—gland vanquished the Scots tho not without the 〈◊〉 of his Son and many others both English and â—â—nes But Siward was not cast down at his Son 's â—â—â—th but enquiring whether he received his Death's â—â—nd before or behind and being assured that it 〈◊〉 before replied He was very glad of it for he â—â—d not wish his Son to die otherwise After this â—tory King Edward marched in Person to Scotland and having again overcome Macbeth in Battel made the whole Kingdom of Scotland Tributary the Crown of England The next year Earl â—â—â—â—yn sitting with the King at Table sunk down â—â—d of a sudden being choak'd as 't is thought in â—â—llowing a morsel of Bread whose Earldom the â—â—ng bestowed upon his
Death 〈◊〉 Edward to secure the Kingdom of England for h◠〈◊〉 was honourably dismissed Upon his return to England by the persuasions of Caradoc the Son of â—ruffydh ap Rytherch himself with his Brother Tosty â—iled a great Army and entred into South-Wales â—hich they destroyed after that manner that the Welch were glad to deliver up Hostages for the â—ayment of the antient Tribute which afore-time â—hey were used to pay Gruffydh hearing of the Inâ—lencies of the English in South Wales made all posâ—â—ble haste and preparation to oppose them but all 〈◊〉 no purpose Harold having already treacherously â—â—ed some of Gruffydh's nearest Friends to Murder 〈◊〉 who watching their opportunity executed their â—icked Design and brought his Head to Harold Gruffydh being dead Harold by King Edward's Orders â—â—pointed Meredith Son of Owen ap Edwyn Prince 〈◊〉 South Wales and the Government of North-Wales 〈◊〉 Blethyn and Rywaâ—hon the Sons of Coâ—fyn Brothers 〈◊〉 the Mother side to Prince Gruffydh and who proâ—ably for the desire of Rule were accessary to the Murder of that Noble Prince This Gruffydh ap Lheâ—â—â—yn enjoyed the Principality of Wales for the space of thirty four years a Prince of incomparable Verâ—â—â— both Wise and Valiant Beloved of his Subjects â—nd Formidable to his Enemies in all his Actions he â—ehaved himself Great and Princely and having Demanded his Country so bravely against all Foreign Opposition he was far unworthy of that treacherous â—nd cruel Death which his unkind Subjects and unâ—atural Friends bestowed upon him He left Issue â—ut â—â—e Daughter called Nest abused first by Fleaâ—ce â—on of Bâ—ncho and afterwards married to Trahaern â—p Caradoc Prince of North-Wales Blethyn and Rywalhon AFter the deplorable Murder of Prince Gruffyâ—â— Meredith the Son of Owen ap Edwyn who aâ—cording to some was Son to Howel Dha did take 〈◊〉 on him as 't is said the Government of South-Waâ—â—â— and Blethyn and Rywalhon the Sons of Confyn hâ—â— Brothers to Gruffydh as descended from Augboâ— Daughter to Meredith sometime Prince of Walâ—â— entered upon the Principality of North-Wales Câ—â—â—â— the Son Iago ap Edwal the right Heir to that Croâ—â— being then with his Father-in-Law in Ireland Tâ—â— partition of Wales fell much short of the expectation of Caradoc ap Gruffydh ap Rytherch who bâ—ing the chief promoter of Harold's making an â—â—pedition against Gruffydh ap Lhewolyn made no qâ—stion to attain to the Government of South-Wales â—â—case Gruffydh got the worse But it happened otheâ—wise Harold being sensible of Caradoc's Subtilty aâ—â— Knavery and doubting whether if he was maâ—â— Prince of South-Wales he could obtain a certain Loâ—â—â—ship nigh Hereford which he had a longing mindâ— made a Composition with Meredith ap Owen for 〈◊〉 said Lordship and created him Prince of South-Walâ—â— and on the contrary banished Caradoc out of 〈◊〉 Country Harold having obtained his Request buâ— a very magnificent House at a place called Portasâ—â— in Monmouth-shire and storing it with great quaâ—tity of Provision splendidly entertained the King who honoured him with a Visit This was by a means pleasing to Tofty to see his younger Brother in greater Esteem and Favour with the King thâ—â— himself and having concealed his displeasure for 〈◊〉 time could not forbear at length but discover 〈◊〉 grievance For one day at Windsor while Harâ—â— reached the Cup to King Edward Tosty ready to burâ— for Envy that his Brother was so much respected beyond himself could not refrain to run furiously upon him and pulling him by the Hair dragged him to the Ground for which unmannerly Action the King forbad him the Court But he with continued Rancour and Malice rides to Hereford where Harold had many Servants preparing an Entertainment for the King and setting upon them with his Followers â—â—opped off the Hands and Legs of some 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 Servants to acquaint him That of other fresh Meats he might carry with him what he pleased but for â—ince he should find plenty provided ready for him for which barbarous Offence the King pronounced a Sentence of perpetual Banishment upon him But Saradoc ap Gruffydh gave a finishing stroak to Harold's House and the King's Entertainment at Portascyth for coming thither shortly after Tosty's departure to be revenged upon Harold he killed all the Work-men and Labourers with all the Servants he could find and utterly defacing the Building carried away all the Costly Materials which with great Charges and Exâ—ence had been brought thither to beautify and adorn the Structure Soon after which the Northumbrians who could not endure the Insolencies of the two Brothers Harold and Tosty who bearing an uncontroulâ—ble sway in the Kingdom were used to practise most hellish Villanies to encompass any Man's Estate that displeased them in a Tumult at York beset the Palace of Tosty and having pillaged his Treasure â—â—ew all his Family as well English-men as Danes Then adjoining to themselves the People of Lincoln Nottingham and Derby shire they elected Marcher the Son of Earl Algar their General to whom came his Brother Edwyn with a considerable number of Forces â—nd a great party of Welch men Then they marched in an hostile manner to Northampton where Harold met them being sent by the King to know their Demands to whom they laid open their Grievances and the Cruelty of Tosty's Government and at last with an absolute refusal of admitting him again desired that Marcher should be appointed Earl over them which the King upon the reasonable Complaints of Injuries done by Tosty easily granted and willingly confirmed Marcher's Title Whereupon they peaceably returned back to the North and the Welch with several Prisoners and other Booties got in this Expedition returned to Wales A.D. 1066 The year following King Edward died and was buried at Westminster being the last King of the Saxon Blood before the Conquest that Governed the Kingdom of England which from Cerdic King of the West-Saxons had continued 544 and from Egbert the first Monarch 171 Years Edward being dead the next debate was about an Election of a Successor Edgar Edeling being set up by some as lawful Heir to the Crown which Harold as being a Person of greater Power and Authority in the Kingdom much wealthier and better befriended presently thwarted and brought Matters so cunningly about that himself was chosen King without any regard observed to the Oath and Promise he had formerly made to William Duke of Normandy Duke William upon notice of Harold's advancement how that he had accepted of the Crown of England contrary to the Articles between them convened together his Nobles and laid before them the several Wrongs and Affronts be had received at the Hands of Harold as the Death of his Cosin Alfred the Banishment of Archbishop Robert Earl Odan and all the Normans and lastly the Breach of his Oath and
Disturbances Swane King of Denmark and Osburn his Brother with 300 Sail came up the Humber and being joyned by Edgar Edeling and Earl Waltelfe marched to York and taking the Castle disposed of their Forces to Winter Quarters betwixt the Rivers of Ouse and Trent The King understanding the Matter posted to the North whose coming so dashed the Confederates that they quickly dispersed their Power and the Danes escaped to their Ships and the King having taken Vengeance upon the rebellious Inhabitants of the Country and upon his submission having pardoned Earl Waltelfe returned back to London Blethyn ap Confyn A.D. 1070 ABout the same time Caradoc Son to Gruffydh ap Rytherch ap Iestyn all this while being sorely dissatisfied that he could not attain to the Principality of South Wales invited over a great Number of Normans to whom he joined all the Forces he could raise out of Gwentland and other Parts of Wales Then setting upon Prince Meredith who was far too weak to Encounter so considerable an Army gave him an easy over-throw near the River Rymhy where Meredith was slain and so Caradoc obtained the Government of South-Wales which for a long time he had endeavoured sinistrously to encompass He had sometime afore procured Harold to make an Invasion upon Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn purposely that himself might arrive at the Principality of South-Wales and failing then of his expectation he now invites over the Normans not being willing to trust the English any more by reason that he had so ungratefully been balked by Harold So that it seems he cared not by what course or by whose means he should gain his point though it were by the Ruin and Destruction of his Country which hitherto he had earnestly promoted Being at length advanced to his long expected Government of South-Wales which though not recorded seems yet very probable by reason that his Son Rytherch ap Caradoc enjoyed the same very soon after he did not enjoy this Honour long but dying in a short time after his Advancement left to succeed him his Son Rytberch ap Caradoc At the same time that Caradoc carried on this Rebellion in Wales the Earls Edwyn Marcher and Hereward revolted from the King of England but Edwyn suspecting the success of their Affairs and determining to retire to Malcolm King of Scotland in his Journey thither was betrayed and slain by his own Followers Then Marcher and Hereward betook themselves to the Isle of Ely which though sufficiently fortified was so warmly besieged by the King that Marcher and his Accomplices were in a short time forced to surrender themselves up Prisoners only Hereward made his escape to Scotland But the King followed him close and after he had received Homage of Malcolm King of Scotland returned back to England and after a short stay here passed over to Normandy where he received Edgar Edeling again to Mercy The next Year the Normans having already tasted A.D. 1071 of the sweetness of wasting and plundering a Country came over again to Wales and having spoiled and destroyed Dyfed and the Country of Cardigan returned home with very great Spoil and the following Year sailed over again for more Booty About the same time Bleythyd Bishop of S. Davids died and was succeeded by one Sulien But this was not all the Misfortune that befel the Welch for Radulph Earl of the East-Angles together with Roger Earl of Hereford and Earl Waltelpe entered into a Conspiracy against King William appointing the day of Marriage between Radulph and Roger's Sister which was to be solemnized in Essex to treat of and conclude their Design Radulph's Mother was come out of Wales and upon that account he invited over several of her Friends and Relations to the Wedding meaning chiefly by this seeming Affection by their help and procurement to bring over the Princes and People of Wales to favour and assist his Undertaking But King William being acquainted with the whole Plot quickly ruined all their Intrigues unexpectedly coming from Normandy surprized the Conspirators only Radulph who either doubted of the success of their Affairs or else had intimation given him of the King 's landing before hand took shipping at Norwich and fled to Denmark Waltelpe and Roger were executed and all the other Adherents more particularly the Welch some of whom were hanged others had A.D. 1073 their Eyes put out and the rest were banished Soon after Blethyn ap Confyn Prince of Wales was basely and treacherously murthered by Rhys ap Owen ap Edwyn and the Gentlemen of Ystrad Tywy after he had reigned 13 Years A Prince of singular Qualifications and Virtues and a great Observer of Justice and Equity towards his Subjects he was very liberal and magnificent being indeed very able having a prodigious and almost an incredible Estate as appears by these Verses made upon him Blethyn ap Confyn bôb Cwys Ei hûn bioedh hên Bowis He had four Wives by whom he had Issue Meredith by Haer Daughter of Gylhyn his first Wife Lhywarch and Cadogan by the second Madoc and Riryd by the third and Iorwerth by his last Trahaern ap Caradoc BLethyn being as is said traiterously Murdered there was no regard had to his Issue as to their fight of Succession but Trahaern ap Caradoc his Couâ—in-German being a Person of great Power and Sway â—n the Country was unanimously elected Prince of North-Wales and Rhys ap Owen with Rytherch ap Caradoc did joyntly govern South-Wales Trahaern indeed had none of the least Pretence to that Principality as having married Nest the only surviving Issue of that great Prince Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn his two Sons Meredith and Ithel being lately slain in their attempt against Blethyn and Rywalhon But his Title could not secure him in his Government as much as his possession since there was one still living tho' not much regarded who without any Dispute was true Heir â—nd Proprietor of the Principality of North-Wales And this was Gruffydh Son to Conan Son to Iago ap Edwal who being informed of the Death of Blethyn ap Confyn and the Advancement of Trahaern thought this a proper time to endeavour the Recovery of what was truly his Right and out of which he had been all this time most wrongfully excluded Wherefore having obtained help in Ireland where he privately sojourned during the Reign of Blethyn ap Confyn from Encumalhon King of Vltonia Ranalht and Mathawn two other Kings of that Country he sailed for Wales and landed in the Isle of Anglesey which he easily reduced and brought to subjection At the same time Cynwric ap Rywalhon a Noble-Man of Maeler or Bromfield was slain in North-Wales but how or upon what account is not known But whilst Gruffydh ap Conan endeavours to dispossess Trahaern out of North-Wales Gronow and Lhewelyn the Sons of Cadwgan ap Blethyn having united their Forces with Caradoc ap Gruffydh ap Rytherch intended to revenge the Murther of their Grandfather Blethyn ap Confyn upon Rys ap Owen
especially being encouraged thereto by a Person of some esteem in the Country whereupon without any more Questions they presently fell to their business and from Friends became unexpectedly Foes Iestyn was much surprised to find the Normans whom he had but lately honourably dismissed from his service and as he thought with Satisfaction so soon become his Enemies but â—erceiving a Serpent in the Hedg and Eineon so amiâ—ably great among them he quickly guessed at the â—eason of which there was no other remedy left but â—o bewail the unnecessary Folly of his own Knavery The Normans easily dispossessed Iestyn of the whole Lordship of Glamorgan the most pleasant and fertile â—art of which they divided among themselves leaâ—ing the more mountainous and craggy ground to the â—hare of Eineon The Knights who accompanied Fitzhamon in this Expedition were William de Lonâ—res or London Richard de Grena villa oâ— Greenfield Paganus de Turberville Robert de S. Quintino or Quinâ—n Richard de Sywarde Gilbert de Humfrevile Roâ—er de Berkrolles Reginald de Sully Peter le Soore Iohn le Fleming Oliver de S. John William de Esterâ—ing or Strading These Persons having distributed â—hat fair and pleasant Lordship among themselves and â—onsidering that they were much better provided for â—ere than they could be at home settled in Glamorgan where their Posterity have continued to this time And â—ere we may observe what a Train of Circumstances â—oncurr'd together in favour of the Normans having â—ossession of this Lordship For had not Eineon beâ—ng vanquished by Prince Rhys fled to Iestyn rather â—han to another or had not Iestyn been so vain as to â—ttempt the Conquest of South-Wales and to that end â—onsented to the Advice of Eineon there had been â—o necessity of inviting the Normans at all to Wales And then the Normans being arrived had not Iestyn â—â—ngenteely violated his Promise and refused to perform the Articles agreed upon between him and Eineon or had not Eineon pursued so desperate a Revenge but satisfied his Passion upon Iestyn without prejudice to his Country the Normans would have returned home with satisfaction and consequently could never have been Proprietors of that noble Country they then forcibly possessed And now again the Welch experienced the dangerous Consequence of calling in a foreign Nation to their aid the Saxons had already dispossessed them of the best part of the Island of Britain and now the Normanâ— seized upon a great part of that small Country which had escaped the Sovereignty and Conquest of the Enâ—lish But here it will be necessary to lay down the state and condition of this Lordship of Morgannwe oâ— Glamorgan and what share each particular Knight obtained in the distribution of it The Lordship of Glamorgan reaches in length 2â— Miles even from Rymny-Bridge to the East to Pâ—â—â— Conan Westward and in breadth from Aberthâ—â— otherwise Aberdaon on the South-part to the Confines of Brecnockshire above Morleys Castle 22 Miles This being a Royal Lordship the Lords thereof owing no other Subjection than Obedience only to the Crown assumed to themselves all the Priviledges of 〈◊〉 regal Court excepting only the pardoning of Criminals in case of Treason And not only Glamorgan but the several petty Lordships of which it consisted namely Sengennyth Myscyn Ruthin Lhanblethâ—â— Tir Iarlh Glyn Rothney Avan Neth Coyty Talava and Lantuit or Boviarton exercised the same Privelege of Jura Regalia with this difference only that in case of wrong Judgment in these Courts appeâ—â— might be made in the County-Court of Glamorgan which being superiour to the rest had power to reverse any Judgment given in them Within thâ— Lordship were 18 Castles and 36 Knights Fees besides the Town and Castle of Kynfig the Town of Cowbridge or Pont Vaen and the Town and Castle of Caerdà f in the latter of which the Lord of Glamorgan chiefly resided wherein the County-Couâ—â— was monthly kept The annual Revenue of this Lordship amounted to a Thousand Marks whereof Four Hundred was allowed for the Fees and Sallary of the several Officers belonging to the same This Lordship of Glamorgan Robert Fitzhamon kept to himself and the others he distributed between his several Followers namely to William de Londres he gave the Castle and Mannor of Ogmore to Richard Greenfield the Lordship of Neth to Paine Turberville that of Coyty to Robert S Quintine Lhan Blechyan to Richard Syward Talavan to Gilbert Humfrevile the Castle and Mannor of Penmarc to Reginald Sully the Castle and Mannor of Sully to Roger Berkrolles that of East Orchard to Peter le Scor that of Peâ—erton to John Fleming that of S. George to John S. John that of Fonmon or Fenvon and lastly to William le Esterling or Stradling that of S. Donats But that these Knights should have dependence upon and might seem to hold their several Lordships and Estate from him Robert Fitzhamon appointed them their several Apartments in his Castle of Caerdà f where they were obliged to give their attendance at every Court-day which was monthly kept upon Monday But about the same time that Robert Fitzhamon took the Lordship of Glamorgan Barnard Newmarch a Nobleman likewise of Normandy obtained by Conquest the Lordship of Brecknock and Henry de Newburgh Son to Roger de Bellemont by the Conquerour made Earl of Warwick the Country of Gower But Barnard Newmarch gave the People of Wales some small Satisfaction and Content by marrying Nest the Daughter also of Nest Daughter to Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh Prince of Wales by whom he had Issue a Son called Mahael This worthy Gentleman being legally to succeed his Father in the Lordship of Brecknock was afterwards disinherited by the Malice and Baseness of his own unnatural Mother The occasion was thus Nest happening to fall in admiration of a certain Knight with whom she had more than ordinary Familiarity even beyond what she exprest to her own Husband Mahael perceiving her dissolute and loose Behaviour counselled her to take care of her Fame and Reputation and to leave off that scandalous Liberty which she took and afterwards meeting casually her Gallant coming from her fought and grievously wounded him Upon this Nest to be revenged upon her Son went to Henry the First King of England and in his presence took her corporal Oath that her Son Mahael was illegitimate and not begot by Barnard Newmarch her Husband but another Person by virtue of which Oath or rather Perjury Mahael was disinherited and his Sister whom her Mother attested to be legitimate was bestowed by the King upon Milo the Son of Walter Constable afterward Earl of Hereford who in right of his Wife enjoyed the whole estate of Barnard Newmarch Lord of Brecnock Of this Milo it is reported that telling King Henry of a strange Accident which had occurred to him by Lhyn Savathan in Wales where the Birds upon the Pond at the passing by of Gruffydh the Son of Rhys ap Theodor seemed by their chirping to be in a manner overjoy'd The King
could to England But all the haste they did make could not secure them from the Fury of the Welch for Gruffydh and Ifor the Sons of Ednerth ap Cadogan expected them privately at a place called Aberlhech where falling unexpectedly upon them they slew the greatest part of their number the rest narrowly escaping safe to England But the Norman Garrisons which were left behind defended themselves with a great deal of Bravery till at last finding no prospect of Relief they were forced for their own safety to deliver them up to the Welch who from that time became again Proprietors of those Places which the Normans had dispossess'd them from And this encouraged the Welch to undertake other things against the English for immediately after this certain of the Nobility of North-Wales Vchthed the Son of Edwyn ap Grono by name together with Howel ap Grono and the Soâ—â— of Cadogan ap Blethyn of Powys-land passed by Cardigan into Dyved which Country King William had given to Arnulph Son to Roger Montgomery who had built thereon the Castle of Pembrock and appointed Gerald de Windsore Governour of the same and destroying all the Country with Fire and Sword excepting Pembrock Castle 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 issued out of the Castle and spoiled all the Country about S. Davids and after he had got sufficient Plunder and taken divers Prisoners returned back into the Castle A.D. 1095 The Year following King William being return'd from Normandy and having heard how that the Welch had cut off a great number of his Subjects in Wales gathered all his Power together and with great Pomp and Ostentation entered the Marches resolving utterly to eradicate the rebellious and implacable humour of the Welch Nation But after all this Boast and seeming Resolution he durst venture no farther than the Marches where having built some few Castles he returned with no greater Honour A.D. 1096 than he came But the next Spring Hugh de Montgomery Earl of Arundel and Salop by the Welch â—â—med Hugh Goch and Hugh Fras or the sat Earl 〈◊〉 Chester being invited by some disaffected Welch â—â—rds came into North-Wales with a very great â—â—my Prince Gruffydh ap Conan and Cadogan ap â—â—â—thyn perceiving themselves to be too weak to â—â—pose so numerous an Army and what was worse â—â—â—ng very suspicious of the Fidelity and Honesty of â—â—â—ir own Forces thought it their best way to take 〈◊〉 Hills and Mountains for their safety where they â—â—re like to remain most secure from the Enemy â—â—en the English Army marched towards Anglesey 〈◊〉 being come over against the Island they built 〈◊〉 Castle of Aberlhiennawc But Gruffydh and Caâ—â—an could no longer endure to see their Country â—â—er run by the English and therefore they descendâ—â— from the Mountains and came to Anglesey thinkâ—â—g with what Succours they should receive from â—â—â—land of which they were disappointed to be able 〈◊〉 defend the Island from any attempt that should 〈◊〉 made upon it And now the whole Treason and 〈◊〉 occasion of the English coming to Wales was â—â—â—covered for Owen ap Edwyn the Prince his chiefâ—â—â— Counsellour whose Daughter Gruffydh had marâ—â—â—d having himself also married Everyth the Daughâ—â—â— of Confyn Aunt to Cadogan upon some private â—â—rudge or other called in the English into Wales â—â—d at this time openly joyned his Forces with â—â—eirs and led the whole Army over into Anglesey â—ruffydh and Cadogan finding how they were beâ—â—ayed by their dearest Friend as they thought for â—â—â—r of farther Treachery judged it prudent to sail â—â—â—vately for Ireland after whose departure the Engâ—â—â—h fell cruelly to work destroying all they could â—â—me at without any respect to either Age or Sex â—nd whilst the English continued in Anglesey Magâ—â—s the Son of Harold lately King of England came â—ver with a great Fleet intending to lay faster hold â—pon that Kingdom than his Father had done and 〈◊〉 recover the same to himself But whilst he steered â—is Course thitherward he was driven by contrary Winds to the Coasts of Anglesey where he would fain have landed had not the English Army kept him off But in this Skirmish Magnus accidentally wounded Hugh Earl of Salop with an Arrow in the Face whereof he dyed and then of a sudden both Armies relinquished the Island the English returning A.D. 1097 to England appointing 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 following Spring Gruffydh ap Conan and Cadogan ap Blethyn returned from Ireland and having concluded a Peace with the Normans for some part of their Lands in Wales Gruffydh remained in Anglesey and Cadogan had Cardigan with part of Powys But though Cadogan recovered his Estate yet in a little while after he lost his Son Lhewelyn who was treacherously murthered by the Men of Brecnock at which time also dyed Rythmarch Archbishop of S. Davids the Son of Sulien being in the 43 Year of his Age a Man of the greatest Piety Wisdom and Learning as had flourished a long time in Wales excepting his Father under whose A.D. 1098 Tutelage he was educated The Year following King William Rufus as he was hunting in the new Forrest was accidentally stain with an Arrow which one Walter Tyrrell shot at a Stag and his eldest Brother being then engaged in the Holy War Henry his younger Brother whom in his life-time he had nominated his Successor was crowned in his stead The same Year Hugh Earl of Chester Grono ap Cadogan and Gwyn ap Gruffydh departed this life A.D. 1100 About two Years after a Rebellion broke out in England Robert de Belesmo the Son of Roger de Montgomery Earl of Salop and Arnulph his Brother Earl of Pembrock took up Arms against King Henry which he being informed of sent them a very gracious Message to come before him and declare their Grievances and the reason of their rising up in Arms against his Majesty But the Earls instead of appearing in Person sent him flight and frivolous Excuses and in the mean while made all necessary Preparations for the War both by raising of Forces and fortifying their Castles and strong Holds And to strengthen themselves the more they sent rich Presents and made large Promises to Iorwerth Cadogan and Meredith the Sons of Blethyn ap Confyn for to bring them to their side Robert fortified four Castles namely Arundel Tekinhil Shrewsbury and Brugge which last by reason that Robert built it without the consent of the King was the chief occasion of this War and Arnulph fortified his Castle at Pembrock After this they entered in an hostile manner into the Territories of the King of England wasting and destroying all before them And to augment their strength Arnulph sent Gerald his Steward to Murkart King of Ireland desiring his Daughter in Wedlock which was
great Penalty to receive him but that they should account him an open Enemy to their Country and endeavour all they could to secure him and to bring him Prisoner before him When Madawc understood this how that his Person was in continual danger whilâ—t he remained there having drawn to him all the Out-laws and Villains in the Country he kept in the Rocks and Mountains devising all the ways and means he could to be revenged upon Iorwerth and so made a private League and Agreement with Lhywarch ap Trahaern who for a long time had been a mortal Enemy of Iorwerths These two Associates having intelligence that Iorwerth lay one night at Caereineon gathered all their strength and came and encompassed the House at Midnight which when Iorwerth's Servants perceived they arose and defended the House with all the Might they could but the Assailants at last putting the House on fire they were glad as many as could to escape through the Flames the greatest part being forced to yield either to the Enemies Sword or the more conquering Fire Iorwerth seeing no remedy but that he must undergo the same Fate as his Men had done chose rather to dye in the presence of his Enemies with his Sword in his Hand than to commit his Life to the cowardly Flames and therefore rushing out with great Violence he was received upon the points of the Enemies Spears and so being tossed into the Fire he miserably perished by a double death As soon as King Henry heard of his Death he sent for Cadwgan to him and gave him all his Brother's Estate being Powys-land and promising his Son Owen his Pardon upon condition he would demean himself quietly and loyally hereafter willed him to send for him back from Ireland King Henry also about this time married his natural Son Robert to Mabil Daughter and sole Heir to Robert Fiz-hamon Lord of Glamorgan in whose Right this Robert became Lord of Glamorgan being before by the King created E. of Glocester by whom the Castle of Cardaf was built But Madawc finding the matter nothing mended and that his other Uncle Cadwgan who lay under the same Obligation to the King of England ruled the Country hid himself in the most private and inaccessible places watching only an opportunity to commit 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 some sort of Settlement and Quietness and restored the Courts of Judicature where he sate in person to administer Justice came with the rest of the Elders of the Country to Trallwng now Pool and having begun to build a Castle he thought to make that the constant Seat of his Habitation Madawc understanding his Design laid in ambush for him in his way to Trallwng and as Cadwgan unconcernedly passed by without the least suscicion of Treachery he suddenly set upon him and slew him without allowing him any time either to fight or escape Then he sent presently a message to Shrewsbury to the Bishop of London the King's Lieutenant in the Marches to put him in mind of his former Promises to him when he chased Owen out of the Country because that the Bishop bearing an inveterate Enmity to Cadwgan and his Son Owen granted Madawc such Lands as his Brother Ithel was possessed of But Meredith ap Blethyn being informed of the death of both his Brothers went in all hast to the King desiring of him the Lands of Iorwerth in Powys which he had lately granted to Cadwgan which the King granted him till such time as Owen should return from Ireland Owen did not stay long before he came over and then going to King Henry he was honourably received and had all his Fathers Estate restored to him whereupon in gratitude of this signal Favour he voluntarily promised to pay the King a considerable Fine for the due payment of which he gave very responsible Pledges Madawc finding himself alone to be left in the lurch and that he had no seeming Power to bear Head against the King thought it also his wisest way to make what Reconciliation he could and therefore he offered the King a very great Fine if he should peaceably enjoy his former Estate promising withal never to molest or disturb any one that was subject to the Crown of England King Henry willing to bring all matters to a settled condition readily granted his Request and conferred upon him all he could reasonably ask for only with this Proviso that upon his peril he should provide for the Relations of them whom he had so basely murthered A.D. 1109 And thus all matters being brought to a peaceable conclusion in Wales the next Year Robert de Belesmo who had been one of the chief Instruments of these Welch Disturbances in that great Rebellion which himself with Roger de Montgomery Earl of Salop and his Brother Arnulph Earl of Pembroke had raised against the King was taken Prisoner by King Henry in Normandy and committed to perpetual Imprisonment in Warham-Castle The Year following Meredith A.D. 1110 ap Blethyn detached a considerable Party of his Men to make Incursions into the Country of Lhywarch ap Trahaern ap Gwyn who was an inveterate Enemy of himself and Owen by reason that by his Aid and Instigation Madawc was encouraged to kill his Uncles Iorwerth and Cadwgan These Men as they passed through Madawc's Country met a Person in the night-time who belonged to Madawc who being asked where his Master was after some pretence of ignorance at last through fear confessed that he was not far from that place Therefore lying quietly there all Night by break of day they arose to look out their Game and unexpectedly surpizing Madawc they flew a great number of his Men and took himself Prisoner and so carrying him to their Lord they deliver'd him up as the greatest Honour of their Expedition Meredith was not a little proud of his Prisoner and therefore to ingratiate himself the more with his Nephew Owen he committed him to safe Custody till he was sent for who coming thither streight Meredith delivered Madawc up to him Owen though he had the greatest reason for the most cruel Revenge by reason that both his Father and Uncle were basely murthered by this Madawc would not put him to death remembring the intimate Friendship and Oaths that had passed betwixt them but however to secure him from any future Mischief he might practise he pulled out his Eyes and then set him at liberty But least he should be capable of any Revenge by reason of his Estate and Strength in the Country Meredith and Owen thought fit to divide his Lands betwixt them which were Caernarvon Aberhiw with the third part of Deuthwfyr These home-bread Disturbances being pretty well abated a greater storm arose from abroad for the A.D. 1111 next Year King Henry prepared a mighty Army to enter into Wales being provoked thereto by the request
to apprehend him But Gruffydh ap Rhys being aware of the Traps laid against him sent to Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales desiring his Assistance and that he might have Liberty to remain safe in his Country which Gruffydh for his Father's account readily granted and treated him honourably A little after his Brother Howel who was imprisoned by Ardulph Earl of Pembroke in the Castle of Montgomery where he had remained for a great while made his escape and fled to his Brother then with Gruffydh ap Conan in North-Wales But King Henry being informed that Gruffydh ap Rhys and his Brother Howel were entertained by the Prince of North-Wales sent very smooth Letters to Gruffydh ap Conan desiring to speak with him who being come he received him with all the Tokens of Honor and Friendship and bestowed upon him very rich Presents just after the Norman Policy who usually make very much of those whom they design afterwards to be serviceable to them After some time 's general Discourse King Henry came at length to the main Point and promised the Prince even Mountains of Gold in case he would send Gruffydh ap Rhys or his Head to him which the Prince overcome by such fair Words and large Promises promised to perform and so returned joyfully home big with the expectation of his future Reward But some who wished better to Gruffydh ap Rhys and his Brother Howel presently suspected the occasion of the King's Message and therefore they advised them to withdraw themselves privately for some time till Prince Gruffydh's mind be better understood and whether he had made any agreement with the King of England to betray them to him As soon as the Prince was returned to his Palace at Aberffraw he presently enquired for Gruffydh ap Rhys and learning in a little time where he was he sent a Troop of Horse to re-call him to his Court but Gruffydh hearing of their approach with all speed made his escape to the Church of Aberdaron and took Sanctuary there But Prince Gruffydh was so resolute to make his Promise good to the King of England that without any respect to the Religious place he had escaped too commanded the same Messengers to return and to bring him away by Force which the Clergy of the Country unanimously withstood protesting that they would not see the Liberties of the Church in the least infringed And whilst the Clergy and the Prince's Officers were thus at debate that same night some who had Compassion upon the young Prince and seeing how greedily his Life was thirsted for conveyed him away out of North-Wales to Straywy in South-Wales And so being delivered from the treacherous and more dishonourable 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 raised all the Forces which the shortness of the opportunity would permit he made War upon the Flemings and Normans A.D. 1113 The next year he laid Siege to the Castle which stood over-against Arberth and winning the same made it plain with the Ground and from thence marched to Lhanymdhyfry Castle belonging to Richard de Pwns upon whom the King had bestowed Cantref Bychan but the Garrison commanded by Meredith ap Rytherch ap Caradoc so manfully defended it that Gruffydh after killing only some few of the Besieged and burning the Out-works was forced to remove with no small Loss of his own Men. Finding this place impregnable he came before Abertawy-Castle which was built by Henry Beaumont Earl of Warwick but this proving too strong to be quickly surrendered after he had burnt some of the outward Buildings he returned to Stratywy burning and destroying all the Country as he went along And now his Fame being spread abroad thro' all the Country all the wild and head-strong Youth and they whose Fortunes were desperate resorted unto him from all Parts by which means being waxed Strong and Numerous he made in Roads into Ros and Dyfed spoiling and destroying the Country before him The Normans and Flemings were cruelly enraged with these continual Depredations and how to remedy this Mischief was not easily determined but after long Consultation they thought it the best way to call together such Welch Lords as were Friends to the King of England such were Owen ap Rhytherch and Rhytherch ap Theodore with his Sons Meredith and Owen whose Mother was Heynyth the Daughter of Blethyn ap Confyn and Owen ap Caradoc the Son of Gwenlhian another Daughter of Blethyn and Meredith ap Rhytherch These protesting their Loyalty and Fidelity to King Henry were desired to defend the King's Castle of Carmardhyn and that by turns Owen ap Caradoc the first Fortnight and then by succession by Rhytherch ap Theodore and Mered th ap Rhytherch Owen undertook the Defence of Carmardhyn Castle for the time required of him and Blethyn ap Gadifor had committed to him the Government of Abercomyn or Abercorran-Castle which appertained to Robert Courtmain But for all these Preparations Gruffydh ap Râ—ys had a wishful Eye upon Carmardhyn and therefore he sent out some Spies to learn the Strength and Condition of the Town who bringing him a very kind and hopeful Account he decamped by Night and rushing suddenly into the Town ordered his Men to make a great shout thereby to strike a great Terror into those within Owen ap Caradoc the Governour being surprized with such an unexpected uproar made all possible haste to the place where he had heard the shouting and thinking that his Men were at his Heels fell in among the Enemy but having none to support him his Men being all fled he was after a manful Defence cut in pieces and so the Town being taken Gruffydh burnt every thing to the ground excepting the Castle which was also sore defaced And then returning with a great deal of Spoil and Booty to his usual residence at Stratywy his Forces were considerably increased by the accession of many stout young Men who came to him from all Quarters and thought that Fortune so prospered his Arms that no body was able to stand before him After this he marched to Gwyr but William de Londres thinking it impossible to stand before him forsook the Castle with all his Men in all haste so that when Gruffydh was come thither he found a great deal of Cattel and Spoil and none to own them and therefore having burnt down the Castle he carried away every thing of Value in the Country When the Cardigan-shire Men heard how fortunately he succeeded in all his Attempts and being extreamly fearful lest his next Expedition should be against them sent to him desiring him as being their near Relation and Country man to take upon him the Rule and Government over them Gruffydh willingly accepted of their Offer and coming thither was joyfully received by the Chief Men in the Country who were Cadifor ap Grono Howel ap
each other But A.D. 1142 shortly after this an irreconcilable Difference fell out betwixt Anarawd Son to Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales and his Father in Law Cadwalader the Son of Gruffydh ap Conan and Brother to Prince Owen Gwynedh which from Words quickly proceeded to Blows In this Scuffle Anarawd was unhappily slain which so exasperated Prince Owen against his Brother Cadwalader that together with his Son Howel he marched with an army into his Brothers Country and after a considerable Waste and Destruction burnt to the ground the Castle of Aberystwyth Cadwalader upon the News of Prince Owen's approach withdrew himself and fled to Ireland where having hired a great number of Irish and Scots for Two Thousand Marks under the Command of Octer and the Sons of Turkel and Cherulf he struck sail for Wales and landed at Abermenay in Carnarvonshire The Prince to protract no time marched with all speed to prevent their farther progress into the Country and both Armies being come in view of each other a Peace was happily concluded betwixt the two Brothers The Irish understanding this and how that their coming over was like to prove but a Fool 's Errant to them they surprized and secured Cadwalader till their Wages and Arrears were paid who to obtain his Liberty deliver'd to them two thousand Heads of Cattel besides many Prisoners and other Booty which they had taken in the Country But as soon as the Prince was informed that his Brother Cadwalader was set loose without any farther demur upon the case he fell in upon the Irish and having slain a very considerable number of them recovered all the Booty they purposed to ship off and forced as many as could escape to return with great loss and a greater shame back to Ireland But the Normans sped far better in Wales Hugh Son to Radulph Earl of Chester having fortified his Castle of Cymaron set upon and won the Country of Melienyth a second time and the Castle of Clun being fortified by another Lord all Eluel became subject to the Normans The same time King Stephen took Geffry Mandeville Prisoner at S. Albans where the Earl of Arundel by the slip of his Horse was like to be drowned in the River But the Earl of Mandeville to obtain his liberty delivered up to the King the Tower of London with the Castles of Walden and Plassey which reduced him to that condition that he was forced to live upon the Plunder and Spoil of Abbies and other religious Houses till at length he was slain in a Skirmish against the King and his Son banished the Kingdom The next Year a Skirmish happened betwixt Hugh A.D. 1144 de Mortimer and Rhys ap Howel wherein the latter was taken Prisoner with many others of his Accomplices who were all committed to Prison by the English But it fared much better with Howel and Conan the Sons of Prince Owen who having raised an Army against the Flemings and Normans gain'd a considerable Victory at Aberteifi and having placed a Garrison in the Town returned home with great Honour and much Booty About the same time Sulien ap Rhythmarch one of the Colledg of Lhanbadarn and a Person of great Reading and extensive Learning departed this Life Shortly after Gilbert Earl of Clare came with a great number of Forces to Dyfed and built the Castle of Caermardhyn and the Castle of the Sons of Vchtryd Hugh Mortimer A.D. 1145 likewise slew Meyric ap Madawc ap Riryd ap Bleddu and Meredic ap Madawc ap Ednerth And so far it went of the side of the English but now the Welch begin to gain ground Cadelh the Son of Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South Wales laid siege to the Castle of Dynefowr belonging to Earl Gilbert which being surrender'd up Cadelh assisted by his Brethren Meredith and Rhys brought his Army before the Castle of Caermardhyn which after a short siege yielded in like manner reserving only this one Condition that the Garison should not be put to the Sword From thence he marched to Lhanstephan and set before the Castle to the Relief of which the Normans and Flemings coming with their Forces were shamefully vanquished and overcome and so the Castle was easily deliver'd up to the Welch But the Normans were so cruelly nettled at this that they muster'd up all the Forces they could possibly draw together out of the neighbouring Countries and unexpectedly surrounded the Castle intending by all possible means to recover the same But the Governour Meredith ap Gruffydh a Man of great Years and no less Experience so animated and encouraged the besieged that when the Normans and Flemings ventured to scale the Walls they were bear back with such Vigour and Loss of their side that at length they were compell'd to raise the Siege and leave the Welch in possession of the Castle Shortly after this Run the Son of Prince Owen of North-Wales a Youth of excellent hopes and incomparable Qualifications dyed whose Death his Father took so much to heart that for some time he seemed to be past all Comfort being faln into such a melancholy Disposition that he was diverted with nothing but Retirement But an Accident fell out which rouz'd him out of this lethargical Fit of Sorrow and Discontent the Castle of Mould was so very strong and well garrison'd by the English that it mightily annoyed the Country thereabouts and had been frequently besieged but could never be taken Prince Owen at this time levied an Army and laid close siege to it and the Garison for several assaults behaved it self so manfully that the place seemed impregnable and invincible But the Presence and Example of Prince Owen so encouraged his Men that they fell on with all possible Vigour and Might and at last forced their entrance into the Castle Having put a great number of the Garrison to the Sword and taken the rest Prisoners the Castle was rased to the ground and this fortunate Attempt so pleased the Prince that he forgot all Sorrow for his Son and returned to his usual Temper and accustomed Merriments At the same time King Stephen of England obtained a remarkable Victory over his Enemies at Farendon and although the ensuing Year Rondel Earl of Chester and he were reconciled yet he thought it more adviseable to detain him Prisoner though contrary to his promise until such time as the Earl would deliver up the Castle of Lincoln with all the Forts and places of strength in his custody A.D. 1146 The next Year Cadelh Meredith and Rhys the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys ap Theodor brought an Army before the Castle of Gwys but finding themselves too weak to master it they desired Howel Son to Prince Owen Gwynedh a Person famously remarkable for martial Endowments to come to their assistance Howel who was ever very desirous to signalize himself and to evidence his Valour to the World readily consented to their Request and having drawn his Forces together marched directly towards
Gwys where being arrived he was joyfully received and honourably entertain'd by such Lords as desired his help Having viewed the Strength and Fortification of the Castle he found it was impracticable to take the place without the Walls could be destroyed and therefore he gave orders that certain battering Engines should be provided whilst the rest should gaul and molest the besieged by throwing of great Stones into the Castle The Enemies perceiving what irresistible Preparations the Besiegers contrived thought it to no purpose to withstand their Fury and therefore to do that voluntarily which must be done by compulsion they presently yielded up the Castle Shortly after this a great Difference happen'd betwixt the Sons of Prince Owen Howel and Conan and their Uncle Cadwalader whereupon the former entered with an Army into the Country of Merionyth and committed great Wastes and Hostilities there insomuch that the Inhabitants flock'd into Sanctuaries to save their Lives But the young Lords finding what fearful and unstable condition the People were in and the better to draw them to their side issued out their Proclamation assuring that all who would favour their Country should not only enjoy their Lives but their former Liberty and accustomed Priviledges upon the publication of which Edict the People returned to their own Habitations Having by this Stratagem brought all the Country under their own Pleasure and good Will they lead their Army before the Castle of Cynfael belonging to Cadwalader which he had built and strongly fortified The government of this Castle Cadwalader had committed to Merfyn Abbot of Tygwyn or the White-House who being summoned to surrender by the Brothers Howel and Conan did not only refuse but defied their utmost Efforts upon the place The Lords finding they could do no good by Threats and Menaces judged it more convenient to make use of the other Extream and therefore promised the Abbot a very high Reward if he would deliver the Castle into their hands But all proved to no effect the Abbot being a Person of more Honesty and greater Honour than to be corrupted to betray his Trust told them flatly That he would not deceive his Masters expectation and therefore would choose rather to dye with Honour than to live with Shame The Lords finding him inexorable and withal being vexed that a Church-man should put such a stop to their fortunate Proceedings made such a vigorous Assault upon the Castle that after they had pulled down some part of the Walls they entred in by force and ravaged so furiously that they killed and wounded the whole Garrison the Abbot only escaping who by the help of some of his Friends in Howel's Army got away safe Towards the close of this Year several Persons of Note departed this Life among whom were Robert Earl of Glocester and Gilbert Earl of Clare as also Vchthryd Bishop of Llandaf a Man of great Piety and Learning in whose See succeeded Nicholas ab Gurgant A.D. 1147 The following Year also died Bernard Bishop of St. Davids and was succeeded by David Fitzgerald A.D. 1148 then Archdeacon of Cardigan Sometime after Prince Owen Gwynedh built a Castle in Yale called Castelh y Rodwyth and his Brother Cadwalader built another at Lhanrystid and bestowed his part of Cardigan upon his Son Cadwgan Also Madoc the Son of Meredith ap Blethyn founded the Castle of Oswestry and gave his Nephews Owen and Meyric the Sons of Gruffydh ap Meredith his share of Cyfeilioc A.D. 1149 The next Year Conan Son to Prince Owen Gwynedh for certain Faults and Miscarriages committed against his Father tho' the particulars are not discovered was put in Prison where for some time he continued in Custody But it fared better with his Brother Howel who having made his Uncle Cadwalader his Prisoner reduced all his Country together with his Castle subject to himself In South-Wales some Business of moment happened this Year Cadelh the Son of Gruffydh ap Rhys having fortified the Castle of Carmardhyn marched with his Army towards Cydwely wasted and destroyed the whole Country and being returned home joyned his Army with his Brothers Meredith and Rhys who entring into the Country of Cardigan won that part called Is Aeron This was succeeded by an Action of greater Importance in North-Wales some irreconcilable Difference arising betwixt Prince Owen and Rondel Earl of Chester quickly broke out into open War The Earl made all the possible Preparations the opportunity would permit and drew together a considerable Army from all parts of England and which strengthened and incouraged him the more he was joyned by Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powys who disdaining to hold his Lands of Prince Owen Gwynedh chose rather to side with and abet his Enemies The Prince on the other hand was not backward in his Preparations and perceiving the Enemy to come upon him thought it not advisable to suffer him to advance too far into the Country but to stop and prevent his Carreer before he should take too firm a footing in his Dominions To this end he marched with his whole Power as far as Counsylht with full Resolution to give the Earl of Chester Battel which the English were glad of as thinking themselves far more numerous and much better Armed and Disciplined than the Welch But both Armies having joyned Battel they quickly faltered in their expectation of undoubted Success and finding the Welch to press so irresistibly severe upon them they thought it wiser to retire and endeavour to save themselves by flight But the Welch pursued them so hard that few escaped without being either slain or taken Prisoners and they some of the Chief Commanders who thro' the fleetness of their Horses avoided the Fury of their pursuers The next Year the Scene of Action removed to A.D. 1150 South-Wales Cadelh Meredith and Rhys the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales being entred with an Army into Cardigan wan all the Country from Howel the Prince of North-Wales Son excepting the Castle of Lhanfihangel in Pengwern The Siege of Lhanrystyd Castle proved so difficult and unmanagable that the young Lords of South-Wales lost a great part of their bravest Souldiers before it which so troubled and vexed them that when they got possession of the Castle they put all the Garrison to the Sword From thence they marched to Ystratmerric Castle which after they had won manned and re-fortified they disbanded their Forces and returned home But Cadelh the eldest of the Brothers was upon the point of receiving his last Blow by treachery at home which he had escaped from the Enemies abroad For some of the Inhabitants of Tenbigh in Pembroke shire having conceived some displeasure and hatred against Cadelh were resolved to revenge themselves and to lay a Trap for his Life and having observed what pleasure he took in Hunting were resolved to execute their Plot whilst he was hot and eager at his Sport Observing therefore one day how he went a Hunting with only a few Companions
as much as in him lay opposed sent him to the King's Officers to be imprisoned at Winchester from whence he quickly found a way to escape And by the advice of the rest of his Brethren he returned home to his Country King Henry continued all this while in Normandy and during his stay there a Match was concluded upon betwixt his Son Henry and Margaret Daughter to Lewis King of France But this new alliance could not prevent these two Monarchs from A.D. 1160 falling at variance with each other which happened the Year following and thereupon King Henry marched with his Army to Gascoyne to quell certain Rebels who upon first notice of this Breach between both Kings were up in Arms against the English But the next Year a Peace was again concluded and so all things returned to their former state of A.D. 1161 Amity and Quietness But it was not so in Wales for Howel the Son of Ievaf ap Cadwgan ap Athlestlan Glodryth having got to his hand the Castle of Walwern in Cyfeilioc rased it to the ground which so incensed Prince Owen who was Owner of it that nothing could lay his fury till he had drawn his Forces together and made an incursion into Lhandhinam in Arustly Howel's Country which he cruelly harrassed and carried away considerable Booty The People of the Country perceiving these Devastations of the North-Wales Men came together to the number of 300 Men offering their Service to their natural Lord Howel ap Iefaf who upon this addition of strength followed the Enemy to the Banks of Severn where they were encamped Prince Owen finding them to march after him was glad of the opportunity to be further revenged upon Howel and so turning suddenly upon them he slew about Two Hundred Men the rest narrowly escaping with Howel to the Woods and Rocks Owen being more joyful for the Revenge he had taken of Howel than for any Victory he had gained rebuilt Walwern Castle and having well fortified and mann'd it returned home to North-Wales A.D. 1162 The Year following the like thing happened Owen the Son of Gruffydh ap Meredith commonly called Owen Cyfeilioc o Wynedh together with Owen ap Madawc ap Meredith and Meredith ap Howel set upon Carrechofa Castle near Oswestry and having over-power'd the Garison committed great Waste and Destruction therein But about the same time a pleasant passage happened in England Robert Mountford and Henry de Essex who had both fought against the Welch upon the Marches and both run began now to impeach each other as being the first occasion of flying The Dispute was to be tryed by Combat in which being engaged Henry was overcome and for his false accusing of Robert he was sentenced to have his Estate forfeited and then having his Crown shorn he was entered a Monk at Redding Within a little after King Henry calling to mind what Prince Rhys had committed during his absence out of the Kingdom drew up a great Army against South-Wales and having marched as far as Pencadyr near Brecknock Rhys met him and did his Homage and having delivered up Hostages for his future Behaviour stopp'd the King's farther progress so that thence he returned to England But after the King's departure two very unlucky Accidents happened in Wales Eineon the Son of Anarawd ap Gruffydh Nephew to Prince Rhys being villainously murthered in his Bed by his own Servant called Walter ap Lhywarch as also Cadwgan ap Meredith in like manner by one Walter ap Riccart But the loss of his Nephew Prince Rhys made up by possessing himself of that large Country called Cantref Maâ—r and the Land of Dynefowr which he afterwards enjoyed Of men of Learning there dyed this Year Cadifor ap Daniel Archdeacon of Cardigan and Henry ap Arthen the greatest Scholar that had flourished in Wales for many Years The next Year a total Rupture broke forth betwixt A.D. 1163 the English and Welch Prince Rhys a Man of an active and uncontroulable Spirit being now experimentally sensible he could never carry on the Greatness and Grandeur of his Quality with such lands as the King of England had allotted him made an Invasion into the Lordship of Roger de Acre Earl of Glocester being moved thereto in a great measure by reason that his Nephew Anarawd ap Gruffydh was murthered by his motive and instigation Being advanced with a strong Army into the Earl of Glocester's Estate without any great opposition he took Aberheidol Castle with those belonging to the Sons of Wyhyaon all which he rased to the ground Thence he marched to Cardigan bringing all that Country under his subjection and from thence he marched against the Flemings whose Country he cruelly harassed with Fire and Sword The rest of the Estates of Wales perceiving Prince Rhys to prosper so successfully against the English thought they might equally succeed and shake off the English Yoke which so unreasonably oppressed them And therefore they unanimously agreed to cast off their Subjection to the English whose Tyranny they could no longer bear and to put over them Princes of their own Nation whose Superiority they could better tolerate And so this Year concluded with making suitable Preparations for the following Campaign A.D. 1164 And therefore as soon as the time of year for action was advanced David Son of Owen Prince of North-Wales fell upon Flintshire which pertained to the King of England and carrying off all the People and Cattel with him brought them to Dyffryn Clwyd otherwise Ruthyn Land King Henry understanding this gathered together his Forces and with all speed marched to defend both his Subjects and Towns from the Incursions and Depredations of the Welch Being come to Ruthlan and encamped there three days he quickly perceived he could do no great matter by reason that his Army was not sufficiently numerous and therefore he thought it more advisable to return back to England and to augment his Forces before he should attempt any thing against the Welch And accordingly he levied the most chosen Men throughout all his Dominions of England Normandy Anjou Gascoin and Gwien besides those Succours from Flanders and Britain and then set forward for North-Wales purposing to destroy without Mercy every living thing he could possibly meet with and being advanced as far as Croes-Oswalt called Oswestry he incamped there On the other side Prince Owen and his Brother Cadwalader with all the strength of North-Wales Prince Rhys with those of South-Wales Owen Cyfeilioc and Madawc ap Meredith with all the Power of Powys the two Sons of Madawc ap Ednerth with the People living betwixt the Rivers of Severn and Wye met together and pitched their Camp at Corwen in Edeyrneon intending unanimously to defend their Country against the King of England King Henry understanding that they were so near was very desirous to come to Battel and to that end he removed to the Banks of the River Ceireoc causing all the Woods thereabouts to be cut down for fear of
any Ambushment lurking therein and for a more clear prospect of the Enemy But some of the Welch took advantage of this opportunity who being well acquainted with the Passage without the knowledg of their Officers fell upon the King's Guard where all the Pike-men were posted and after a hot Skirmish several were slain on both sides But in fine the King wan the passage and so marched on to the Mountain of Berwyn where he lay sometime without any Hostility on either side both Armies standing in fear of each other The English kept the open Plains and were afraid to be entrapp'd in the Streights and narrow Passages and the Welch on the other hand watched the Advantage of the place and observed the English so narrowly that neither Forage or Victuals could pass to the King's Camp And what augmented the misery of the English Army there happened to fall such a Rain that mightily disturbed their Encampment in so much that the Soldiers could scarcely stand for the disadvantage of those slippery Hills But in the end King Henry was forced to decamp and after a very considerable loss of Men and Ammunition besides the great Charges of this Expedition was compell'd to return back to England But to express the great dissatisfaction he entertained of this Enterprize in a great fury he plucked out the Eyes of the Hostages which he had some time afore received from the Welch which were Rhys and Cadwalhon the Sons of Owen Prince of North-Wales and Cynric and Meredith the Sons of Rhys of South-Wales Some write that in assailing of a Bridg the King was in no small 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 Constable of Colchester who perceived the Arrow a coming thrust himself betwixt the King and it though to the loss of his own Life But though King Henry was shamefully forced to return to England yet he did not give over the thoughts of subduing the Welch and therefore after a long Consultation he made a third Expedition into Wales conveying his Army by Sea as far as Chester There he staid for some time till all his Fleet as well those Ships that he had hired out of Ireland as his own were all arrived But when they were all come together and got safely to Chester his mind was altered and instead of a design against Wales he unexpectedly dismissed his whole Army Prince Rhys was glad of this opportunity and therefore withdrawing his Forces from the Confederate Army he marched to the Siege of Aberteifi Castle which being surrendred to him he rased to the ground From thence he got before Cilgerran which he used after the same manner and therein took Prisoner Robert the Son of Stephen his Cosin-German who was the Son of Nest his Aunt who after the death of Gerald had married Stephen Constable The joy of these happy Successes on the part of the Welch was somewhat clouded by the death of Lhewelyn Son of Owen Prince of North-Wales a Person of great Worth and exceedingly well beloved of all his Country A.D. 1165 And now the Welch being something secure from any Invasion from the English there rose up another Enemy to create them Disturbance the Flemings and Normans finding the English to fail in their Attempt against the Welch thought they might with better success quell and subdue them And therefore they came to West-Wales with a great Army and laid siege to the Castle of Cilgerran which Rhys had lately fortified but after two different Assaults they were manfully beat back and forced to depart home again But what the Flemings could not effect against the Welch in South-Wales the Welch easily brought about against the English in North-Wales for Prince Owen having besieged Basingwerk Castle then in the possession of the King of England without much time spent made himself Master of it But it was always the misfortune of the Welch that when they found themselves secure from any Enemy abroad they were sure to quarrel and fall out at home though indeed it could not be well otherwise expected where so many petty States endeavoured still to surmount and out-vie one another And now when all things went very successfully of their sides in opposition to the English two ambitious Persons began to kindle a Flame in their own bosoms Owen Cyfeilioc the Son of Gruffydh ap Maredith Lord of Powys and Owen Fychan second Son to Madawc ap Meredith forcibly dispossessed Iorwerth Goch of his Estate in Powys which they divided betwixt themselves Mochnant Vwch Rayadr to Owen Cyfeilioc and Mochnant is Rayadr to Owen Fychan But the rest of the Princes of Wales could not brook this Injury done to Iorwerth Goch and therefore A.D. 1166 Owen Prince of North-Wales with his Brother Cadwalader and Rhys Prince of South-Wales went with an Army into Powys against Owen Cyfeilioc and having chased him out of the Country they bestowed Caereneon upon Owen Fychan to hold it of Prince Owen and Rhys had Walwern by reason that it lay near his own Territories But within a while after Owen Cyfeilioc returned with a numerous band of Normans and English along with him and laid siege to the Castle of Caereneon which he burnt to the ground But the loss of this place was made up by the taking of Ruthlan Castle which Owen Rhys and Cadwalader joyntly besieged and which was so strongly fortified and so manfully defended that it cost them three Months before they could make themselves Masters of the place Afterwards they won the Castle of Prestatyn and reduced the whole Country of Tegengl subject to Prince Owen and then returned home to their respective Dominions And from henceforward nothing of moment was transacted during the remainder of Prince Owen's Reign A.D. 1167 only his Son Conan most unmercifully slew Vrgeney Abbot of Lhwythlawr together with his Nephew Lhawthen But a little after Prince Rhys of South-Wales A.D. 1168 released out of Prison his Nephew Robert Son to Stephen Constable whom as is said before he had taken at the Siege of Calgarran Castle and sent him to Ireland to the aid of Dermot the Son of Murchart King of Linster who was then in actual war with the King of Leimster With him and his Brother Morris Fitz-Gerald and their Nephews Robert Meyler and Raymond went over a strong Detachment of Welchmen under the command of Richard Strongbow Earl of Strigule who were the chief motive of the Conquest of Ireland when it was first brought in subjection to the Crown of England A.D. 1169 But the next Year Owen Gwynedh Son of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales departed this Life in the Two and Thirtieth Year of his Reign He was a wise and a valourous Prince ever fortunate and victorious in all his Undertakings insomuch as he never undertook any Design but what he accomplished He had by different Women several Issues who gat themselves greater Esteem
Companions and slew them to a Man King Henry was implacably enrag'd at this News and so cruelly incensed that he presently raised and drew together all his Power and came to Worcester intending to march forward to Wales and to invade the Enemies Country But the Lord Rhys ap Gruffydh a subtile and a politick Prince thinking it impossible to withstand the English Army and fearing the King's Puissance which he perceived to be so implacably bent against the Welch went in person to Worcester and swearing Fealty to the King became his perpetual Liege-Man and for the due observance of this Contract he promised to send his Sons and Nephews for Pledges But when he would have persuaded them to answer his request the young Men considering with themselves how former Pledges had not been very genteely treated by the English refused to go and so the whole matter rested for that time What became of the matter afterwards we know not but probable it is that King Henry returned to England satisfied with Rhys's Submission for we hear no more of his coming to Wales And so the Country remained quiet and undisturbed for a long time till at length the Welch began to fall to their wonted Method of killing and murdering one another A.D. 1186 Cadwalader Prince Rhys's Son was privately murdered in West-Wales and buried in the Ty Gwyn And the Year following Owen Fychan the Son of Madawe A.D. 1187 ap Meredith was slain by night in the Castle of Carrergova near Oswestry by Gwenwynwyn and Cadwalhon the Sons of Owen Cyfeilioc But what was most unnatural of all Lhewelyn whose Father Cadwalhon ap Gruffydh ap Conan was lately murdered by the Englishmen was taken by his own Brothers who very barbarously put out his Eyes About the same time Baldwyn Archbishop of Canterbury being attended by Giraldus Cambrensis took a Progress into Wales being the first Archbishop of Canterbury that visited that Country whose Authority the Clergy of Wales in vain opposed though they stifly alledged the Liberties and Priviledges of their Metropolitan Church of S. Davids In this Visitation described by Giraldus in his Itinerarium Cambriae he persuaded many of the Nobility of Wales to go to the Holy Land against those prevailing Enemies of Christianity the Saracens to whose prevailing Greatness Jerusalem it self was now in great danger A.D. 1188 to become subject The Archbishop having left the Country Maelgon the Son of Lord Rhys brought all his Power against Tenbigh and having by force made himself Master of it burnt the whole Town to the ground and so carried away very considerable Spoil He was a Person of such civil Behaviour and easie Access of so comly Personage and Honesty in all his Actions that he attracted the most earnest Love and Affection of all his Friends by which means he became very terrible and formidable to his Enemies especially the Flemings of whom he obtained divers Victories and Conquests The next Year being the Year of Christ 1189. A.D. 1189 Henry the Second surnamed Courtmantel King of England dyed and was buried at Fonteverard after whom his Son Richard called Curdelyon was by the unanimous consent of all the Peers and Nobility of England crowned in his place Prince Rhys being thus deprived of his greatest Friend thought it his wisest way to make the best provision he could for himself by enlarging his Dominions and extending the Bounds of his present Territories and therefore having raised all the Strength he could he wan the Castles of Seynclere Abercorran and Lhanstephan and having taken and committed to Prison Maelgwn his Son who was the greatest Thorn in his Side as one that was most passionately beloved by the South-Wales Men he brought the whole Country to his subjection Then he built the Castle of Cydwely but A.D. 1190 what took away from him the Joy of all this good Fortune he lost his Daughter Gwenlhian a Woman of such incomparable Beauty and exceeding in all feminine Qualifications that she was accounted the fairest and best accomplished Lady in all the Country And not long after her dyed Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield A.D. 1191 a Man of great Prudence and Experience and one that excelled all the Nobility of his time in Hospitality and all other Acts of Generosity and Liberality His Corps were carried to Myfod and honourably interr'd there being attended by most of the Persons of Quality throughout the whole Country He had Issue by his Wife Angharad Daughter of Owen Gwynedh Prince of North-Wales a Son called Madawc who succeeded his Father in that part of Powys called from him Powys Fadawc Rhys Prince of South-Wales was growing very powerful and had made himself Master of the greatest part of South-Wales only with some few places more Dynefowr held out still which however upon the first Assault he made against it was delivered up to him But as he increased 〈◊〉 â—he number of Towns and Castles he had the Misfortune to have that of his Children diminished for his Daughter Gwenlhian was lately deceased and now he had no sooner got Dynefowr Castle into his possession but his Son Owen dyed at Strata Florida or Ystratflur King Richard was gone to the Holy Land against the Saracens but in his return to England he wan the Kingdom of Cyprus and gave it to Gwido King of Jerusalem upon condition he would resign his former Title to him During his stay in this Island he marryed Berengaria the Daughter of the King of Navarr A.D. 1192 Maeâ—gon Prince Rhys's Son had been now detain'd a long time in Prison where his Father had shut him up but being at last utterly weary of such a close Confinement he found some means or other to get out and to make his escape His Father Prince Rhys was not so troubled at his being broke out and that he had got his liberty as to give over the Conquest which all this while he had gone so furiously on with but laying siege to Lhanhayaden Castle he took it without any great Opposition and brought all the Country about to his subjection And what favoured him more in his Attempts against the English King Richard A.D. 1193 having most bravely signalized himself against the Infidels in his return home through Austria was taken Prisoner by Duke Leopold who presented him to the Emperour Henry who demanded 200000 Marks for his Ransom laying to his charge that he had spoiled and plundered the Island of Sicily in his Voyage to the Holy Land And as Rhys took the advantage of King Richard's absence to subject South-Wales so Roderic Brother to David Prince of North Wales made use of Gothrike's the King of Man's help to get the Principality of North-Wales to himself and eject his Brother And therefore entring into Anglâ—sey he quickly reduced the whole Island to his subjection But he did not enjoy it long for before the Year was over the Sons of his Brother Conan came with an Army against him and forcing him together with the
ensuing Year Prince Rhys levies a great Army whose first Attempt was upon the Town and Castle of Caermadthyn both which he took in a short time and destroyed and then returned with considerable Booty Not long after he led the said Army to the Marches and invested the Castle of Clun which was not so easily taken as the former for this cost him a long Siege and many a fierce Assault and therefore to be revenged of it when he took it he laid it in Ashes thence he proceeded to the Castle of Radnor which he likewise wan but immediately after it cost him a bloody Battel for he was no sooner Master of the Castle but Roger Mortimer and Hugh de Say came with a numerous and well-disciplin'd Army consisting of Normans and English to the relief of it Whereupon Prince Rhys thinking it not his best course to confine his Men within the Walls led 'em up into a Champion Ground hard by and there like a valiant Prince resolved to give his Enemies Battel though they had much the advantage of him for his Men were neither so well armed nor so much accustomed to Battel as the others were however their Courage made amends for their Arms and their Leaders Prudence and Conduct supply'd the Defects of their Discipline for they chose rather to die honourably in the Defence of their Country than shamefully to survive the Loss of it and therefore they attack'd their Enemies so valiantly that they were not long able to withstand their Force but quitted the Field in great Disorder leaving a great number of their Men behind them slain upon the spot and Prince Rhys pursued them so warmly that they were glad of the shelter of the Night to protect them from his Fury After this Victory he besieged the Castle of Payne in Elfel which he easily took and kept in his own hands till William de Bruce the Owner thereof came to him and humbly desired Peace of him which he granted him and withal deliver'd him up his Castle again Not long after the Archbishop of Canterbury whom King Richard had substituted his Lieutenant in England marches with a powerful Army towards Wales and besieges the Castle of Gwenwynwyn at the Pool but the Garrison made such a vigorous Defence that he lost a great many of his Men and all his Aâ—â—empts proved ineffectual therefore he sent for some Pyoneers whom he ordered to undermine the Walls which when the besieged understood they bethought of securing themselves on the most honourable Terms they could they were not willing to put themselves to the hazard of a Battel for their Enemies were thrice their Number therefore they proposed to surrender up the Castle on condition they should carry off all their Arms along with them Which Offer the Archbishop accepted of and so permitted the Garrison to march out quietly Then fortifying the Castle for the King's use and putting a strong Garrison in it for its defence he returned again to England But Gwenwynwyn was not so willing to part from his Castle as never to attempt the Recovery of it therefore as soon as he understood that the Archbishop was gone back he immediately besieged it and shortly after received it on the same Terms that his Men had deliver'd it up and afterwards kept it for his own use A.D. 1197 The following Year there broke out a terrible Plague which spread over all Britain and France and carried off a great number of the Nobility besides common People This Year likewise dyed the valiant Rhys Prince of South-Wales the only Stay and Defence of that part of Wales for he it was that got them their Liberty and secured it to them He often very readily exposed his own Life for the defence of theirs and their Country generally he got the better of his Enemies and at last either brought them entirely under his Subjection or forced them to quit their Country He was no less illustrious for his virtuous Endowments than for his Valour and Extraction so that it was with good reason that the British Bards and others wrote so honourably of him and so mightily deplored his Death To this Prince were born many Sons and Daughters whereof his elder Son Gruffydh succeeded him the others were Cadwalhon Maelgon Meredith and Rhys Of his Daughters one called Gwenthtan was married to Ednyfed Fychaâ— Ancestor to Owen Tudor that married Kitharine Queen-Dowager to King Henry the Fifth And the rest were very well match'd with some of the Nobility of the Country Prince Gruffydh being settled in the Government of his Country did not long enjoy it peaceably for his troublesom Brother Maelgon thought it now a fit time to endeavour the recovery of the Inheritance his Father had deprived him of To this purpose he makes a League with Gwenwynwyn the Son of Owen Cyfeilioc Lord of Powys and by their joynt Interest got together a considerable Body of Men wherewith they surprized Prince Gruffydh at Aberystwyth whom after they had slain a great many of his Men they took Prisoner Thus Maelgon effectually accomplished his Design in the recovery of the Castle and the whole Country of Cardigan His unfortunate Brother he committed to the custody of his spiteful Confederate Gwenwynwyn who immediately out of Malice deliver'd him up to the Mercy of his inveterate Enemies the English After this Gwenwynâ—yn having got together an Army entered Arustly and brought it to his subjection David ap Owen whom Prince Lhewelyn had forâ—ed to quit his Usurpation of the Principality of North-Wales had hitherto lived quietly and peaceably not so much out of kindness to his Nephew as because he knew not how to redress himself but now having got a great Army of English and Welch he used his utmost Efforts to recover his Principality Whereupon Prince Lhewelyn who was the right Heir and in possession of it came on boldly to meet him and gave him battel wherein he shamefully routed his Army and took his Uncle David Prisoner whom he delivered into safe custody whereby he secured to himself and his Country Peace and Quietness Towards the close of this Year Owen Cyfeilioc Lord of the higher Powys departed this Life and left his Estate to Gwenwynwyn his Son after whom that part of Powys was called Powys-Wenwynwyn to distinguish 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 suddenly seized upon as he was going to Llancors to confer about some business with William de Bruce Lord thereof and by an Order of the Lords tyed to an Horse Tail and dragged through the Streets of Brecknock to the Gallows where he was beheaded and his Body hung up by the Feet for three Days Which Barbarity inflicted upon him for no known just Cause so frightned his Brothers Wife and Children that they fled their Country for fear of the same Usage The A.D. 1198 Year
following Maelgon who had before routed his Brother Prince Gruffydh's Army and taken him Prisoner begins now to enlarge his Territories and takes in his Brothers Castles of Aberteifi and Ystratmeyric Also the youngest Son of Prince Rhys about this time recovered the Castle of Dynefowr from the Normans The same Summer Gwenwynwyn took up a resolution of attempting to extend Wales to its antient Limits and for this purpose he raises a powerful Army with which he first designs to be avenged of William de Bruce for the inhuman Death of his Cosin Trahaern Fychan and therefore he besiegeth his Castle of Payn in Elfel where he makes a Protestation that as soon as he had taken it for a farther satisfaction to his Revenge he would unmercifully ravage the whole Country as far as Severn But these mighty Menaces were soon blown over for he had neither Battering Engins nor Pioneers so that he was forced to lay before the Castle for three Weeks without effecting any thing whereby the Murtherers had time enough to apply themselves to England for Succours which they obtained For upon this Geoffrey Fitz-Peter Lord Chief Justice of England levies a considerable Army to which he joyns all the Lords Marchers and comes in all hast to the Relief of the place where he meets Gwenwynwyn with whom before he would hazard a Battel he was desirous to have a Treaty of Peace to which Gwenwynwyn and his Adherents would in no wise hearken or condescend but returned in answer that their business there was to be revenged of old Injuries done them Hereupon the English Lords resolved to enlarge Prince Gruffydh of South-Wales whom they knew to be an inveterate Enemy of Gwenwynwyn as he that delivered him up to their hands and likewise to be a Man of great Authority in his Country therefore they rightly concluded he might be more serviceable to them when at liberty than under confinement wherein they were not disappointed for he immediately got together a strong Body of his Countrymen and joyning with the English advanced towards the Castle where they furiously attack'd Gwenwynwyn who made no less vigorous defence hereupon there ensued a bloody Battel with a great slaughter on both sides but at length the English got the Victory and Gwenwynwyn lost a great number of common Soldiers if we believe Matthew Paris 3700 Men besides a great many of his best Commanders among whom were Anarawd Son of Eineon Owen ap Cadwalhon Richard ap Iestyn and Robert ap Howel Meredith ap Conan was likewise taken Prisoner with many more After this the English returned home triumphantly and requited Prince Gruffydh's Service with a perfect Liberty who immediately partly by his own Force partly by the Affection of his People repossessed himself of all his Dominions save the Castles of Aberteifi and Ystratmeyrie which his usurping Brother Maelgon by the Assistance of Gwenwynwyn had during his Confinement by the English taken from him and still unjustly detained Hereupon some of Prince Gruffydh's prime Nobility and Clergy came to him and offered him their Endeavours of reconciling him to his Brother and made him so apprehensive of his just Displeasure at him that he took a solemn Oath before them that in case his Brother would give him Hostages for the security of his own Person he would deliver him up his Castle of Aberteifi by a day appointed which Proposals Prince Gruffydh accepted of and accordingly sent him his Demands But it was the least of Maelgon's intention to make good his part or else he was very unconstant in his resolution for he had no sooner received the Hostages but instead of delivering up the Castle he fortifies it and puts in a Garrison for his own use and commits the Hostages to the custody of Gwenwynwyn Prince Gruffydh's mortal Enemy but not long after their Innocency procured them an opportunity of an Escape In the Year 1199 Maelgon still pursuing his Hatred A.D. 1199 of his Brother Prince Gruffydh gets an Army wherewith he besiegeth his Castle of Dynerth which he was Master of in a short time and then put all the Garrison to the Sword But about the same time Prince Gruffydh in lieu of this wan the Castle of Cilgerran and strongly fortified it This Year Richard the First of England as he was besieging the Castle of Chalons in France was shot from the Walls with an Arrow whereof he not long after dyed and left his Kingdom to his Brother John who thereupon was with great Solemnity crown'd at Westminster But he could not expect to enjoy this Kingdom peaceably for his elder Brother Geoffry Plantagenet had left a Son behind him named Arthur whose Right the Crown of England was by lineal descent which now therefore he justly lays claim to and by the assistance of King Philip of France who espoused his Quarrel endeavours to recover But before Prince Arthur had made sufficient Preparations to carry on his Design he was unexpectedly set upon by his Uncle his Army routed and he himself taken Prisoner and committed to safe custody not long after which he dyed and so King John was rid of his Competitor A.D. 1200 The following Year Gruffydh ap Conan ap Owen Gwynedh dyed and was buried in a Monk's Cawl in the Abby of Conway which way of burying was very much practised especially by the better sort in those days for the Monks and Friers had deluded the People into a strong Conceit of the Merits of it and had firmly persuaded them it was highly conducing to their future Happiness to be thus interr'd But this Superstition together with the Propagators of it they had lately received from England For the first Abby or Monastery we read of in Wales since the Destruction of that famous House of Bangor which favour'd of Romish Dregs was the Ty-Gwyn built in the Year 1146. after which they mightily increased and spread over all the Country and now the Fountain Head began to be corrupted for the Clergy maintained a Doctrin which their Ancestors abhorr'd as may easily be gathered from the Writings of that worthy Divine Ambrosius Telesinus who flourished in the Year 540. when the Christian Faith which we suppose to be deliver'd at the Isle of Afalon by Joseph of Arimathea flowed in this Land in a pure and uncorrupted Stream before it was infected and polluted by that proud and blood-thirsty Monk Augustine I say he then wrote and left behind him as his own Opinion and the Opinion of those days these following Verses 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 From whence it is apparent that the Church of Rome was then corrupt and that the British Churches persevered in the primitive and truly Apostolical Profession of Christianity as it was at first planted in the Island and that no Roman Innovations had crept in
among them which afterwards mightily increased when they were once introduced by Augustin the Monk This Year likewise we find the spiteful and turbulent Maelgon choosing rather to persist still in his Rebellion than to return to his Allegiance and to prefer a small Lucre to the Love and Safety of his Country For now finding that the Castle 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 chose to sell it to his bitter Enemies the English for an inconsiderable Sum of Money whereby he opened them a free passage into all Wales this being reckoned one of its chief Defences and Bulwarks About this time Madawc Son of Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield built the Abby of Lanegwest commonly known by the English by the Name of Vale Crucii In the Year 1201. the valiant Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth A.D. 1201 Prince of North-Wales banished out of his Territories his Cosin Meredith the Son of Conan ap Owen Gwynedh whom he suspected of treasonable Practices and therefore confiscated his Lands which were the Cantref of Lhyn and Efyonyth Much about the same time Meredith the Son of Prince Rhys was slain at Carâ—wilhion by Treason whereupon his elder Brother Gruffydh possessed himself of his Castle in Lhanymdhyfri and all his Lands This Gruffydh was a valiant and discreet Prince and one that was like to bring all South-Wales to good order and Obedience for in all things he trod in his Fathers steps and made it his business to succeed him as well in his Valour and vertuous Endowments as in his Government But the vast hopes conceived of him soon proved abortive for in the ensuing A.D. 1202 Year on S. James's day he dyed to the great Grief and Loss of his Country and shortly after was buried at Ystratflur with great Pomp and Solemnity He left behind him for a Successor a Son called Rhys which Maud the Daughter of William de Bruce had bore him The following Year some of the Welch Nobility marched with an Army towards the Castle of Gwerthrynion which belonged to Roger Mortimer and after a short Siege they took it and levell'd it with the ground This Year Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth calling to mind his Estate and Title and how all the Welch Princes were obliged both by the Laws of Roderic the Great and those of Howel Dha to acknowledg the King or Prince of North-Wales for their Sovereign Lord and to do Homage to him for their Dominions Yet notwithstanding that they knew this to be their duty and that they formerly had readily performed it yet because of late Years his Predecessors had neglected to call them to their Duty they now began to imagin themselves exempted from it and some thought themselves accountable to no superiour Prince others denyed Subjection to Prince Lhewelyn and held their Dominions of the King of England To put a stop therefore to the further growth of this Contempt and to assert his own Right Prince Lhewelyn summons all the Welch Lords who for the most part appeared and swore Allegiance to him But Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys neither came to this meeting nor would own the Princes Supremacy Which Stubborness and Disobedience the Prince acquainted his Lords with whereupon they delivered their Opinion that it was but reasonable that Gwenwynwyn should be compell'd to his Duty or else forfeit his Estate This all the Lords consented to but Elis ap Madawc who was an intimate Friend of Gwenwynwyn and therefore would not consent to the enacting any thing that might be prejudicial to him but broke off from the Meeting much dissatisfied with their Proceedings Notwithstanding which Prince Lhewelyn pursuant to the Advice of the rest of his Lords raises an Army and marches towards Powys but before he made any use of it he was by the Mediation of some learned and able Men reconciled to Gwenwynwyn and so Gwenwynwyn became his dutiful Subject which he confirmed both by Oath and Writing and indeed it was not without good reason that Prince Lhewelyn used all the caution imaginable to bind this Man for he had sworn Allegiance before to the King of England Lhewelyn having thus subjected Gwenwynwyn he thought it now convenient to shew likewise some Marks of his Resentments against his Adherent Elis ap Madawc and therefore he strips him of all his Lands whereupon Elis fled the Country but not long after yielding himself to the Prince's Mercy he received of him the Castle of Crogen and Seven Townships besides And now having mentioned Crogen it will not be improper to step a little out of the way and here take notice of the reason why the English formerly when they had a mind to reproach the Welch called them Crogens The first occasion of it was this King Henry the Second in his Expedition against the Welch to the Mountains of Berwin lay a while at Oswestre during which time he detached a number of his Men to try the Passages into Wales who as they would have passed Offa's Ditch at the Castle of Crogen at which place there was a narrow way through the same Ditch which appears now very deep through all that Country and bears its old Name these Men I say as they would have passed this Streight were met by a Party of Welch and a great many of them strain and buried in that Ditch as appears by their Graves there to be seen and the Name of the Streight imports as much being called in Welch Adwy'r bedhaw The English therefore bearing in mind this Slaughter when ever they got any of the Welch into their Clutches upbraided them with the Name of Crogen intimating thereby that they should expect no more Favour or Mercy at their hands than they shew'd them in the Skirmish But this word which at first was rather a Badg of Reputation than Disgrace to the Welch came afterwards to be used in a bad Sense and only then applyed when they designed to reproach and abuse them But to return to Prince Lhewelyn whom we find returning home after he had successfully asserted his Sovereignty over all Wales and set all things in good order And by the way he fortifies the Castle of Bala in Penlhyn About this time Rhys the Son of Gruffydh ap Rhys the right Prince of South-Wales took the Castle of Lhanymdhyfry upon Michaelmas-day This Year Lhewelyn Prince of Wales took to Wife Joan the 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 Lordship of Elsmere in the Marches of Wales A.D. 1203 Prince Rhys whom we mentioned the Year before to have taken the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri wins likewise the Castle of Llangadoc and puts a Garrison therein but he enjoyed neither of them long for shortly after his Unkle Maelgon with his Friend Gwenwynwyn levied a powerful Army and with it besieged and took the Castle
withstand so great a multitude thought it his best way to endeavour to find out some method or other to reconcile himself to the King And no better measures could possibly be thought of than to send Joan his Wife King John's Daughter to intreat with her Father about a Peace and a cessation of all Hostilities who being a prudent sly Woman so prevailed upon the King that he granted Prince Lhewelyn her Husband a safe Conduct to come to him and to renew the former Peace and Amity that was betwixt them And so Lhewelyn having done Homage promised the King towards his Expences in this Expedition 20000 Head of Cattel and forty Horses and what was more than all he granted all the in-land Countries of Wales with the Appurtenances to him and his Heirs for ever And then King John having received better Success in this than the former Expedition returned to England in great Triumph having subdued all Wales excepting that part which Rhys and Owen the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys still kept and maintained against the English But having no leisure to march against them himself at his departure out of the Country he gave strict charge to Foulke Vicount of Caerdyff Warden of the Marches a cruel Tyrant tho' well beloved and favoured by the King to take an Army with him and so joyning with Maelgon and Rhys Fychan to compel the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys to acknowledge him for their Sovereign and to do him Homage Foulke having received so positive a Command presently raised 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 assured that this Blow was levelled against them which they knew they were not able to bear before the Stroak was struck they sent to Foulke to sue for Peace and a safe Conduct for them to pass to the Court of England This being granted they came to London and making their submission to the King and requesting his Pardon for all former Misdemeanors they gave up all pretence to their Lands betwixt Aeron and Dyfi and so paying their Homage they were dismissed very graciously But Foulke before his departure out of the Country fortified the Castle of Aberystwyth and placing a strong Garrison therein kept it to the King's use But Maelgon and Rhys Fychan a couple of head-strong inconstant People quickly repented them of the Peace they had made with the King of England and thereupon without the least reason or provocation they laid Siege to Aberystwyth Castle and with much ado having made themselves Masters of it they destroyed those Fortifications which Foulke had lately erected and defaced the Castle to the ground But they paid sawce for this another way for as soon as Rhys and Owen had heard that their Uncles had broken and violated the King's Peace they made in-roads into Isaeron which was Maelgon's Country and having slain a considerable number of his Men among whom was one brave and lusty Youth called Bachglâs they returned with very rich Booty A.D. 1211 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 oppreission which the King's Garrisons exercised in his Country called together Gwenwynwyn from Powys Maelgon ap Rhys from South-Wales Madoc ap Gruffydh Maylor from Bromfield and Meredith ap Rotpert from Cydewen and plainly declared before them the Pride and insolency of the English and how that they who were always used to have a Prince of their own Nation were now by their own wilfulness and neglect become subject to Strangers However it was not too late to recover their antient Liberty and if they did but unanimously agree among themselves they might easily cast off that Yoke which was so intolerably burdersome to them Then the Lords being sensible of the truth and reasonableness of what Prince Lhewelyn delivered and being conscious to themselves that their present slavery and subjection to the English was wholly owing to their own fear and cowardise swore fealty to Prince Lhewelyn and swore to be true and faithful to him and to stick by each other to the utmost of their Lives and Fortunes And so joyning their Forces together they took all the Castles in North-Wales which were in the hands of the English excepting Ruthlan and Dyganwy and then going to Powys they laid Siege to the Castle which Robert Vspont had built at Mathrafal But King John being informed how the Welch had conspired against him and that they had taken and sezied upon almost all his Castles in North-Wales and how that they were now in actual besiegement of Mathrafal presently drew up his Army and coming to Mathrafal quickly raised the Siege and to prevent the Welch from coming any more against it he burnt it to the ground and so returned to England having no time to stay any longer in Wales by reason of the Differences that happened betwixt him and his Nobility But being afterwards at Nottingham and hearing how that Prince Lhewelyn cruelly harrassed and destroyed the Marches he caused all the Welch Pledges which he had received the last year to be hanged among whom were Howel the Son of Cadwalhon and Madoc the Son of Maelgon with many others of the Nobilities Sons to the number of Twenty Eight And about the same time Robert Vepont caused Rhys the Son of Maelgon to be hanged at Shrewsbury being a Youth of about seventeen years of age and so cruelly murdered the innocent Child to revenge the Crimes and Offences committed by his Father and others But tho' King John was so severe to the Welch yet the Princess of North-Wales was more dutiful and favourable to him for whilst he staid at Nottingham she sent him an Express declaring how that the Barons had entred into a Conspiracy with the French King against him and that this latter was a preparing and raising an Army to come over to England upon pretence that the King was a Rebel and bid open Defiance to the Holy Church in as much as he would not condescend nor yield to the Bishop of Rome's Request And in confirmation of all this she told him that Robert Fitzwalter Eustace de Vescy and Stephen Redell were secretly fled into France to promote and carry on this intrigue And that this design against King John was no feigned surmise the next A.D. 1212 year Pope Innocent the Third detached one of his Nuncio's to Wales who absolved Prince Lhewelyn Gwenwynwyn and Maelgon from their Oaths of Allegiance to King John and withal gave them a strict command under the penalty of Excommunication to molest and annoy him with all their Endeavours as an open Enemy to the Church of God Prince Lhewelyn you may be sure was not in the least troubled at this for now he gained the fittest opportunity imaginable to restore such Lands as he had formerly much against
got nothing by this for Rhys Fychan perceiving what he would fain be at raâ—ed Senghennyth Castle and all the rest in his Custody in that Country and banishing the English with their Wives and Children divided the Country betwixt A.D. 1218 the Welch who kept sure possession of it Prince Lhewelyn also finding those to become his Foes who had but lately courted his Friendship and fearing lest that the English being now in Arms should make any Attempt upon his Castles augmented the Garrisons of Carmardhyn and Aberteifi to make them capable of withstanding the English in case they should come against them But tho' the Welch and English were at open Variance and in actual Hostility one against another yet young Rhys with Prince Lhewelyn's approbation and consent thought it advisable to go and do Homage to the King of England for his Lands in Wales This might be thought a matter of Supererogation to make courtship to one who was declared Enemy to all the Welch and one that would not in all probability suffer him to enjoy a quiet possession of his Estate in case he had Ability and Opportunity to eject him But the Welch Interest was A.D. 1219 in a great measure augmented by a new Alliance with some of the most powerful among the English Rhys Gryc Prince Rhys's Son being married to the Earl of Clare's Daughter and Marret Prince Lhewelyn's Daughter to John Bruce The Prince of Wales had quickly an occasion to A.D. 1220 experience his Power for the Flemings in Dyfed who had lately sworn Allegiance to him began now to repent of what they had but a little time ago gladly submitted to and contrary to their Oaths and the League they had sworn to observe they fell upon Aberteifi Castle which they took Prince Lhewelyn being highly displeased with the treacherous practices of these perjured Flemings marched with all speed to Aberteifi and having recovered the Castle which he afterwards rased he put all the Garrison to the Sword Gwys was served in the same manner and the Town of Haverford was burnt to the ground and over-running Rhos and Daugledhau he committed a lamentable Destruction throughout the whole Country This the Flemings received as the due reward of their sinistrous Dealing which made them quickly apprehensive of their folly and their imprudent Behaviour towards the Prince of Wales and therefore being sorrowfully sensible how unable they were to put a stop to his farther progress by force of Arms they made Overtures for Cessation of all Hostilities till the May following which being granted them upon strict Conditions Prince Lhewelyn returned to North-Wales In the mean time some Welch Lords besieged Buelht Castle which was in the possession of Reynald Bruce but before they could take it King Henry brought an Army to the Marches and raised the Siege and then marching forward to Montgomery built a new Castle in that Town A.D. 1221 The next year an unhappy dissention fell out betwixt Prince Lhewelyn and his Son Gruffydh this latter having kept himself in possession of the Cantref of Merionyth contrary to the Consent and well-liking of his Father The Prince therefore having now no great matter of moment abroad was resolved to curb the Insolency of his Son and therefore sent to him to command his appearance and to wish him to deliver up the Cantref quietly lest he should be forced to take it violently out of his Hands Gruffydh was not in the least dismayed at his threatnings but being resolved to keep what at present he enjoyed would neither go to his Father nor deliver up the Cantref to him The Prince being enraged that he should be so slighted by his Son made a vehement Protestation that he would be severely revenged both of him and all his accomplices and therefore coming to Merionyth with a great Army was resolved to drive his Son out of the Country But Gruffydh made all possible preparations to oppose his Father and drew up his Forces to give him Battel but when both Armies were ready to joyn the Differences betwixt thâ—m was happily composed and Gruffydh prevailed upon to make his submission to his Father But the Prince tho' he forgave his Son his Offence and received him to favour would not however permit him to enjoy Meâ—ionyth and Ardydwy but taking them away from him and building a Castle in the latter returned home But he had not continued long at his Palace aâ— Aberffraw when another occasion called him abroad for young Rhys being disappointed of Aberteifi which in the division of South Wales was allotted to his share forsook the Prince and put himself under the protection of Willam Marshal Earl of Pembrock Prince Lhewelyn hearing this marched in great haste to Aberystwyth and being desirous to punish Rhys for his desertion from his Allegiance due to him seized to his own use that Castle together with all the Demain and Lands belonging to it When Rhys understood what the Prince had done he presently made his Complaint to the King of England who coming to Shrewsbury and sending for Prince Lhewelyn adjusted matters so betwixt them that the Prince promised to treat with Rhys for Aberteifi after the same manner as he had done with Maelgon for Caermardhyn And towards the close of the Year John Bruce Prince Lhewelyn's Son in Law obtained leave to fortifie Senghennyth Castle which in right to the Prince's grant to Raynald Bruce belonged to him But young Rhys did not long survive the Agreement betwixt him and Prince Lhewelyn for he dyed the following A.D. 1222 Year and was buried at Ystratflur after whose death the Prince divided his Estate betwixt his Brother Owen and his Uncle Maelgon William Marshal Earl of Pembrock was now in Ireland and very busie in prosecuting the War against the King of England's Enemies in that Kingdom the opportunity of whose absence Prince Lhewelyn taking advantage of won the Castles of Aberteifi and Caermardhyn belonging to the Earl and putting both the Garrisons to the Sword placed in their room a strong Party of his own Men. But when the Earl was informed of what the Prince of Wales had done he presently left Ireland and landed at S. Davids with a great Army and having recovered his Castles he treated the Welch after the same manner as Prince Lhewelyn had used his Garrisons and passing forward into the Prince's Country destroyed all before him as he went along The Prince understanding how violently he came forward sent his Son Gruffydh with a considerable Body of Men to check his Fury who coming to Cydwely and receiving intelligence that the Magistrates of that place had a private design to betray him to the Enemy he put the whole Town in Flames and burnt it to the ground without sparing either Churches or other Religious Houses The Earl of Pembrock had passed the River Tywy at Caermardhyn where Gruffydh met him and gave him battel but the Victory proved so uncertain that the Night was forced to part them and
the English and to be revenged upon them for their most cruel and almost inhuman Practices towards the Welch Having therefore drawn all his Power together being accompany'd by Meredith ap Rhys Gryc in the space of one Week he recovered out of the hands of the English all the inland Country of North-Wales and then all Merionyth with such Lands as Prince Edward had usurped in Cardigan which he bestowed upon Meredith the Son of Owen ap Gruffydh Having also forced Rhys Fychan out of Buelht he conferr'd it upon Meredith ap Rhys and in like manner bestowed all the Lands which he recovered between his Nobles reserving nothing to his own use besides Gwerthryneon the A.D. 1257 Estate of Sir Roger Mortimer The next Summer he entered into Powys and made War against Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn who always had taken part with and owned Subjection to the King of England which he totally overcame excepting the Castle of Poole some small part of Caerneon and the Country lying upon the bank of the Severn But Rhys Fychan was not satisfied with the loss of Buelht and therefore was resolved to try ro recover it to which end he went to the King of England of whom he obtained a very strong Army commanded by one Stephen Bacon which being sent by Sea landed at Caermardhyn in the Whitsun-Week From thence the English marched to Dynefawr and laid Siege to the Castle which valiantly held out until Lhewelyn's Army came to its Relief Upon the arrival of the Welch the English decamped from before the Castle and put themselves in posture of Battel which the Welch perceiving they made all haste to answer and oppose them Whereupon there ensued a very terrible Engagement which lasted a very long while this being for number of Men the greatest Battel that had been fought between the English and the Welch But the Victory favoured the Welch the English-men being at length forced to fly having lost above Two Thousand Men besides several Barons and Knights who were taken Prisoners After this the Prince's Army passed to Dyfed where having burnt all the Country and destroyed the Castles of Abercorran Lhanstephan Maenclochoc and Arberth with all the Towns thereunto belonging returned to North-Wales with much Spoil But as soon as he was arrived great Complaints were exhibited to Prince Lhewelyn against Jeffrey Langley Lieutenant to Edward Earl of Chester who without any regard to Equity and Conscience most wrongfully oppressed the Inhabitants of Wales under his Jurisdiction Whereupon the Prince to punish the Master for the Servant's Fault entred with some part of his Army into the Earl's Estate burnt and destroyed all his Country on both sides the River Dee to the Gates of Chester Edward had no power at present to oppose him but being resolved to be revenged upon the Welch with the first opportunity he desired Aid of his Uncle then chose King of the Romans who sent him a strong Detachment with which he purposed to give Prince Lhewelyn Battel But finding him too strong he thought it more advisable to desist from Hostility the Prince's Army consisting of Ten Thousand experienced Men who were obliged by Oath rather all to die in the Field than suffer the English to gain any Advantage over the Welch But Gruffydh ap Madoc Maelor Lord of Dinas Brân a Person of notorious Reputation for Injustice and Oppression basely forsook the Welch his Country-men and with all his Forces went over to the Earl of Chester A.D. 1258 The next Year Prince Lhewelyn passed to South-Wales and seized into his Hands the Land of Cemaes and having reconciled the Difference betwixt Rhys Gryg and Rhys Fychan he won the Castle of Trefdraeth with the whole Country of Rhos excepting Haverford Thence he marched in an hostile manner toward Glamorgan and rased to the ground the Castle of Lhangymwch and then returning to North-Wales he met by the way with Edward Earl of Chester whom he forced precipitously to return back But before he would put an end to this Expedition he must needs be revenged upon that ungrateful fugitive Gruffydh ap Madoc Maelor and thereupon passing thro' Bromfield he miserably laid waste the whole Country Upon this the Kings of England and Scotland sent to Lhewelyn requiring him to cease from Hostility and after that unmerciful manner to devour and forcibly to take away other Mens Estates The Prince was not over sollicitous to hearken to their Request but finding the time of the year very seasonable for Action against the English he divided his Army into two Battles each of these consisting of 1500 Foot and 500 Horse with which he purposed to enlarge his Conquest Edward Earl of Chester to prevent the Blow which so desperately hung over his Head sent over for Succors from Ireland of whose coming Prince Lhewelyn being certified manned out a Fleet to intercept them which meeting with the Irish at Sea after a sharp Dispute forced them to return back with loss King Henry being acquainted with the miscarriage of the Irish resolved to come in Person against the Welch and having drawn together the whole Strength of England even from St. Michael's Mount in Cornwal to the River Tweed marched with his Son Edward in a great Rage to North-Wales and without any opposition advanced as far as Teganwy But the Prince had stopped his farther Progress and prevented any long stay he could make in Wales having before hand caused all manner of Provision and Forrage to be carried over the River and then securing the strait and narrow Passages whereby the English might get on farther into the Country the Army was in a short time so mortally fatigued that the King for want of necessary Subsistance was forced to retire in haste to England with considerable loss The Prince after that sending 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 Estate yielded himself up and then passing to Powys he banished Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn and took all the Lands in the Country into his Hands Proceeding farther he was encountred with by Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester who with a choice Party of English gave him Battel But Lhewelyn's Army exceeding both in Number and Courage easily vanquished and overcame the English and so the Victory being quickly obtained the Prince presently reduced to his Power all the Castles belonging to the Earl of Glocester King Henry hearing of the Earl's overthrow was much concerned at the loss of so many brave Souldiers in whose Valor and Experience he always put a very great Confidence and therefore to revenge their Deaths he was again resolved to march against the Welch Having called his Forces together and received Supply from Gascoign and Ireland he came to Wales but not daring to venture far into the Country for fear of being forced to make another shameful retreat he only destroyed the Corn near the Borders it being Harvest
time and so returned to England But Lord James Audley whose Daughter was married to Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield did more mischief and hurt to the Welch who having brought over a great Number of Horsemen from Germany to serve against the Welch so terrified them with the unusual largeness of the Horses and the unaccustomed manner of sighting that in the first Encounter the Welch were easily overcome Buâ— minding to revenge this Disgrace and withal being better acquainted with their method of Arms the Welch in a little after made in-roads into the Lord Audley's Lands where the Germans presently set upon them and pursued them to certain straits which the Welch discovered for a politick retreat The Germans thinking they had entirely drove the Welch away returned carelesly back but being set upon of the sudden without any thought of an Enemy behind they were all in a manner slain by the rallying Welch This year a very great scarcity of Beefs and Horses happened in England whereof several Thousands yearly were supplied out of Wales by reason of which the Marches were perfectly robbed of all their Breed and not so much as a Beast to be seen in all the Borders A.D. 1259 The next Spring all the Nobility of Wales convened together and took their mutual Oaths to defend their Country to Death against the oppressing Invasions of the English and not to relinquish and forsake one another upon pain of Perjury tho' notwithstanding Meredith ap Rhys of South-Wales violated this Agreement and put himself in the Service of the King of England King Henry was ready to fall upon the Welch to which purpose he summoned a Parliament wherein he proposed to raise a Subsidy towards the Conquest of Wales being not able of himself to bear the Expences of this War by reason of several Losses he had already received the Country of Pembroke being lately destroyed and taken by the Welch where they found plenty of Salt which before they were in great necessity of But William de Valentia accusing the Earls of Leicester and Glocester as the Authors of all this Mischief quite broke all their measures so the King was forced to prorogue the Parliament for a time without any grant of a Subsidy But within a while after it sat at Oxford where King Henry and Edward his Son took a Solemn Oath to observe the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and the same being tendred to Guy and William the King's Brothers and to Henry Son to the King of Almain and to Earl Warren they refused to take it and so departed In this Parliament the Lords of Wales fairly proffered to be tryed by the Laws for any Offence they had unjustly commirted against the King which was mainly opposed by Edward who caused one Patrick de Canton to whom the Lordship of Cydwely was given in case he could win and keep the same to be sent to Caermardhyn as Lieutenant for the King with whom Meredith ap Rhys was joyned in Commission Being arrived at Caermardhyn Patrick sent to the Prince to desire him to appoint Commissioners to treat with him concerning a Peace which he consented to and without any suspicion of treachery sent Meredith ap Owen and Rhys ap Rhys to Emlyn if possible to conclude the same But Patrick meaning no such thing laid an ambuscade for the Welch who coming honestly forward were by the way villanously set upon by the English and a great many slain but those that happily escaped calling up the Country presently gave chase to Patrick and his Accomplices who being at length overtaken were almost all put to the Sword But Prince Lhewelyn was now altogether bent upon a Peace and did not only desire it but was willing to purchase it for a summ of Money to which purpose he offered to give the King 4000 Marks to his Son 300 and 200 to the Queen which the King utterly refused replying That it was not a sufficient recompence for all the Damages he had suffered by the Welch Matthew of Westminster reporteth that about Michaelmas this year the Bishop of Bangor was commissioned by the Prince and Nobility of Wales to treat with the King of England about a Peace and to offer him 16000 Pound for the same upon these Conditions that according to their antient Custom the Welch should have all Causes tryed and determined at Chester and that they should freely enjoy the Laws and Customs of their own Country but what was the result of this Treaty my Author does not mention There being no hopes of a Peace Prince Lhewelyn A.D. 1260 early next year appeared in the Field and passed to South-Wales and first fell foul upon Sir Râ—ger Mortimer who contrary to his Oath maintained the King of England's Quarrel Having forcibly dispossessed him of all Buelht and without any opposition taken the Castle where was found a plentiful Magazine he marched thro' all South-Wales confirming his Conquest and afterwards returned to his Palace at Aber A.D. 1261 betwixt Bangor and Conwey The year following A.D. 1262 Owen ap Meredith Lord of Cydewen died But the next Summer was somewhat more noted for Action a party of Prince Lhewelyn's Men took by surprise the Castle of Melienyth belonging to Sir Roger Mortimer and having put the rest of the Garrison to the Sword they took Howel ap Meyric the Governour with his Wife and Children Prisoners and after that the Castle was demolished 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 bur Sir Roger not daring to hazard a Battel planted himself within the Ruins and finding he could do no good desired leave of the Prince to retire peaceably The Prince upon the account of Relation and near Consanguinity betwixt them and withal because he would not be so mean spirited as to fall upon an Enemy who had no power to resist him let him safely depart with his Forces and then passing on himself to Brecknock at the request of the People of that Country who swore Fidelity unto him so passed on and returned to Noâ—th-Wales And now being Confederate with the Barons against King Henry he was resolved to practise something in the prejudice of the English and so set upon the Earldom of Chester destroyed the Castles of Tygannâ—y and Diserth belonging to Edward who coming thither was yet not able to prevent the Mischief done A.D. 1263 to him by the Welch The next year John Strange Junior Constable of Montgomery with a great Number of Marchers came a little before Easter by night thro' Ceri to Cydewen intending to surprise the Castle which when the People of the Country understood they gathered together and setting upon them slew 200 of his Men but Strange with a few got safely back Within a while after the Marchers and the Welch met again near a place called Clun where a hot Engagement happened between them in which the Welch were worsted
and had a great Number of their Men slain After this nothing remarkable fell out for a considerable time unless it were that David being released out of Prison by Prince Lhewelyn his Brother most ungratefully forsook him and with all his might sided with his Enemies the English also Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn having taken the Castle of Mold demolished it to the ground During this quiet and unactive interval in Wales Meredith ap Owen the main Support and Defender of South-Wales died to the great disadvantage of the Affairs of that Country And now indeed the Welch were like to be A.D. 1268 made sensible of the Loss of so considerable a Person for King Henry was resolved once more to lead an Army into Wales and to see if he could have better Success than he had hitherto against the Welch But when he was prepared to undertake this Expedition Ottobonus Pope Clement's Legate in England interposed and mediated a Peace which was concluded upon at the Castle of Montgomery wherein it was articled that Prince Lhewelyn should give the King 30000 Marks and the King was to grant the Prince a Charter from thenceforth to receive Homage and Fealty of all the Nobility and Barons of Wales besides one so that they could hold their Lands of no other but himself and from thence forward he was to be lawfully stiled Prince of Wales This Charter being ratified and confirmed as well by the Authority of the Pope as the King's Seal Prince Lhewelyn desisted from any farther Acts of Hostility and punctually observed all the Articles of Agreement betwixt him and King Henry so that nothing more was outragiously transacted between the English and Welch during the remainder of this King's reign Within that space died Grono ap Ednyfed Fychan one of the Chief Lords of the Prince's Council and shortly after him Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield who lies buried at Vale-Crucis A.D. 1272 But the Death of King Henry put an end to the observations of the Peace betwixt the English and Welch who dying on the 16th day of November this year left this Kingdom to his Son Edward Prince Edward was then in the Holy-Land and very active against those Enemies of Christianity the Turks where he had already continued above a year but understanding of his Father's Death and that in his absence he was proclaimed King of England he made all haste to return to receive the Solemnity of Coronation But what by the tediousness of the Journey and what by being honourably detained at Princes Courts in his way it was two years before he could get into England then upon the 15th of August and in the year 1274. he was Crowned at Westminster Prince Lhewelyn was summoned to attend at his Coronation but he flatly refused to appear unless upon sure Terms of safe Conduct for having offended several of the English Nobility he could not in safety pass thro' their Country without the danger of exposing his Person to the inveterate Malice and acceptable Revenge of some of them And thâ—refore without the King's Brother the Earl of Glocester and Robert Burnell Lord Chief Justice of England were delivered up as Pledges for his safe Conduct he would not come up to do his Homage and Fealty at his Coronation according to the Writ directed to him And indeed seeing King Edward had broke the Peace lately concluded upon before the Pope's Legate and did receive and honourably entertain such Noblemen of Wales as for their disloyalty were banished by Prince Lhewelyn by whom he feared some treachery there was no reason that the Prince should pay him any subjection but by the breach of Peace was exempted from all Homage However Prince Lhewelyn to shew that it was not out of any stubborness or disrespect to the King of England that he refused to come sent up his Reasons by the Abbots of Ystratflur and Conwey to Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops then sitting â—n Convocation in the New-Temple at London which were to this effect To the most Reverend Fathers in God Robert Archbishop of Canterbury and Metropolitan of all England the Archbishop of York and the rest of the Bishops in Convocation Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowden sendeth Greeting WE would have your Lordships to understand that whereas formerly most terrible and incessant Wars were continually managed betwixt Henry King of England and our self the same were at last composed and all matters of Differences were adjusted by the means of his Excellency Cardinal Ottobonus the Pope's Legate who having drawn the Articles and Conditions of the Peace agreâ—d upon they were signed and swore to not only by the Kâ—ng but also the Prince his Son now King of England Among these Articles were comprehended that we and our Successors should hold of the King and his Successor the Principality of Wales so that all the Welch Lords one Baron excepted should hold their Baronies and Estates in Capite of us and should pay their Homage and Fealty for the same to us we in like manner doing Homage to the King of England and his Successors And besides that the King and his Successors should never offer to receive and entertain any of our Enemies nor any such of our own Subjects as were lawfully banished and excluded our Dominions of Wales nor by any means defend and uphold such against us Contrary to which Articles King Edward has forcibly seized upon the Estates of certain Barons of Wales of which they and their Ancestors have been immemorably possessed of and detains a Barony which by the form of Peace should have been delivered to us and moreover has hitherto entertained David ap Gruffydh our Brother and Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn with several others of our Enemies who are Out-laws and Fugitives of our Country And tho' we have often exhibited our Grievances and Complaints against them for destroying and pillaging our Country yet we could never obtain of the King any relief or redress for the several Wrongs and Injuries we received at their hands but on the contrary they still persist to commit wastes and other outrages in our Dominions And for all this he summons us to do him Homage at a place which is altogether dangerous to our Person where our inveterate Enemies and which is worse our own unnatural Subjects bear the greatest sway and respect w th the King And tho' we have alledged several Reasons to the King and his Council why the place by him assigned is nâ—t safe and indifferent for us to come and desire him to appoint another whereto we might with more safety resort or else that he would send Commissioners to receive our Oath and Homage till he could more opportunely receive them in Person yet he would not assent to our just and reasonable Request nor be satisfied with the Reasons we exhibited for our non-appearance Therefore we desire your Lordships earnestly to weigh the dismal effects that will happen to the Subjects
both of England and Wales upon the breach of the Articles of Peace and that you would be pleased to inform the King of the sad Consequence of another War which can no way be prevented but by using us according to the Conditions of the former Peace which for our part we will in no measure transgress But if the King will not hearken to your Counsel we hope that you will hâ—ld us excused if the Nation be disquieted and troubled thereupon which as much as in us lieth we endeavour to prevent King Edward would admit of no Excuse noâ— hearken to any manner of Reason in the case but was unmercifully enraged and conceived an unpardonable displeasure against Prince Lhewelyn which yet he thought convenient to conceal and dissemble for a time Indeed he could never abide Lhewelyn â—â—nce the time that he was vanquished and put to â—ight by him at the Marches so that the chief Cause â—f King Edward's anger originally proceeded from 〈◊〉 point of Honor which this refusal of Homage â—â—rved sufficiently to increase But to prosecute his Revenge which upon this score is in Princes very â—erce and unforgetful in a short time he came to â—hester meaning to recover by force what he could â—ot obtain by fair means From hence he sent to â—â—e Prince of Wales requiring him to come over and 〈◊〉 him Homage which Lhewelyn either absolutely reâ—â—sing or willingly detracting to do King Edward â—ade ready his Army to force him to it But there A.D. 1277 â—â—ppened an Accident which took off a great part of â—rince Lhewelyn's stubborness for at this time the â—ountess of Leicester the Widow of Simon Montfort â—ho lived at Montargis a Nunnery in France sent over 〈◊〉 Wales her Daughter the Lady Eleanor whom â—hewelyn extreamly loved with her Brother Aemeâ—ke to be married to the Prince according to the Aâ—reement made in her Father Earl Montfort's time â—ut Aemerike fearing to touch upon the Coast of â—ngland steered his course towards the Islands of â—cilly where by the way they were all taken by four â—ristol Ships and brought to King Edward who reâ—eived the Lady very honourably but committed her â—â—other Prisoner to the Castle of Coff whence he was â—fterward removed to the Castle of Shirburne The â—ing having obtained this unexpected Advantage over â—hewelyn began boldly to fall upon him and so diâ—â—ding his Army into two Battalions led one himself â—â—to North-Wales and advanced as far as Ruthlan where he strongly fortified the Castle The other he ommitted to Paganus de Camurtiis a great Souldier â—ho entring into West-Wales burned and destroyed 〈◊〉 great part of the Country But the People of South-Wales fearing that his next Expedition was levelled â—gainst them voluntarily submitted themselves to the â—ing and did him Homage and then delivered upâ—â—â—he Castle of Ystratywy to Paganus Prince Lhewelyn hearing of this and finding his own Subjects to forsake him but more especially being desirous to recover his espouse the Lady Eleanor thought it likewise advisable to submit and therefore sued to King Edward for a Peace who granted it but upon very severe Conditions upon Lhewelyns side The Agreement consisted of ten Articles which were 1. That the Prince should set at liberty all manner of Prisoners that upon the King's Account were detained in Custody 2. That for the King's favour and good will he should pay 50000 Marks to be received at the King's pleasure 3. That these four Cantreds or Hundreds viz. Cantref Ros where the King's Castle of Teganwy stands Ryfonioc where Denbigh Tegengl where Ruthlan Dyffryn Clwyd where Rhuthyn stands should remain in the King's hands 4. That the Lords Marchers should quietly enjoy all the Lands they had conquered within Wales excepting in the Isle of Anglesey which was wholly granted to the Prince 5. That in consideration of this Island the Prince should pay 5000 Marks in hand with the reserve of a 1000 Marks yearly to begin at Michaelmas and in case the Prince died without Issue the whole Island should return to the King 6. That the Prince should come every year to England to pay his Homage to the King for all his Lands 7. That all the Barons of Wales excepting five in Snowden should hold their Lands and Estates of the King and no other 8. That the Title of Prince should remain only for his Life and not descend to his Successors and after his Death the five Lords of Snowden should hold their Lands only from the King 9. That for the performance of these Articles the Prince should deliver up for Hostages ten Persons of the best Quality in the Country without imprisoning disinheriting and any time of redemption determined And farther that the King should chuse Twenty Persons within North-Wales who besides the Prince should take their Oaths for the due performance of these Articles and in case the Prince should swerve and recede from them and upon admonition â—hereof not repent they should forsake him and beâ—ome his Enemies 10. The Prince was obliged to â—uffer his Brethren quietly to enjoy their Lands in Wales whereof David for his Service was dubbed Knight by the King and had the Earl of Derby's Widow given him in Matrimony and with her as 〈◊〉 Portion the Castle of Denbigh in North-Wales beâ—ides a 1000 Pounds in Lands His other Brother Roderic was lately escaped out of Prison into England â—nd the younger called Owen was upon his Composition delivered out of Prison King Edward having imposed these severe and unmerciful Conditions upon Prince Lhewelyn and for a better security for the performance of them built a Castle at Aberystwyth returned very honourably into England upon whose arrival the People willingly granted him a Subsidy of the Twentieth part of their Estates towards his Charges in this War But it seems very probable that Prince Lhewelyn submitted to these intolerable Conditions more upon the account of his Amours and to regain the Lady Eleanora out of the King of England's hand than that he was apprehensive of any considerable Danger he might receive by the English Troops For it is hardly conceivable that a Prince of such notorious Conduct and Valour would so easily accept of such hard Terms and in a measure deliver up his Principality when there was no necessity so to do without resisting an Enemy whom he had frequently overcome and forced to retire back with greater inequality than the English had at present over him But the force of â—ove worked Wonders and in this case proved moâ—t irresistible which to obtain Lhewelyn did not think hard to forfeit his proper Right to his inveterate Enemies and for ever to exclude his Posterity from succeeding in their lawful Inheritance The next year A.D. 1273 therefore he had his Wish accomplished and was married to Eleanora at Worcester the King and Queen with all the Nobility and Persons of Quality in England honouring the Wedding with their pâ—esence But this specious Amity and the Peace laâ—â— concluded betwixt them
in Northumberland and was with much rejoycing received by the Inhabitants But before he could secure himself in the Government he was shamefully banished the Country and so the Northumbrians elected one Hircius the Son of Harold for their King But to shew the Inconstancy of an unsettled Multitude they soon grew weary of Hircius and after Three Years space expelled him and voluntarily submitted themselves to Edred who after he had reigned eight Years dyed and was buried at Winchester To him succeeded Edwin the Son of Edmund a Man so immoderately given to Venety that he forcibly married another Man's Wife for which and other Irregularities his Subjects after four Years reign set up his Brother Edgar who was crowned in his stead with A.D. 958 grief of which he soon ended his days The Summer that same Year proved so immoderately hot that it caused a very dismal Plague in the following Spring which swept away a great number of People before which Gwgan the Son of Gwyriad the Son of Roderie dyed At this time Ievaf and Iago forcibly managed the Government of all Wales and acted according to their own good Pleasures no one daring to confront or resist them But for all their Power the Sons of Abloio King of Ireland ventured to land in Anglesey and having burnt Holyhead wasted the Country of Lhyn Also the Son of Edwyn the Son of Colhoyn destroyed and ravaged all the Country to A.D. 961 Towyn where they were intercepted and slain About the same time dyed Meyric the Son of Cadfan Rytherch Bishop of S. Davids and Cadwalhon ap Owen Not long after the Country of North-Wales was cruelly A.D. 965 wasted by the Army of Edgar King of England the occasion of which Invasion was the non-payment of the Tribute that the King 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 these Conditions that the Prince of North-Wales instead of Money should pay to the King of England the Tribute of 300 Wolves yearly which Creature was then very pernicious and destructive to England and Wales This Tribure being duly performed for two Years the third Year there were none to be found in any part of the Island so that afterwards the Prince of North-Wales became exempt from paying any Acknowledgment to the King of England A.D. 966 The Terror apprehended from the English being by these means vanished there threatned another Cloud from Ireland for the Irish being animated by their late Expedition landed again in Anglesey and having slain Roderic the Son of Edwal Foel they destroyed Aboffraw And this danger being over Ievaf and A.D. 967 â—ago who had jointly and agreeably till now managed the Government of Wales from the death of Howel â—ha began to quarrel and disagree among themselves and Iago having forcibly laid hands upon his Brother 〈◊〉 confined him to perpetual Imprisonment These Heats and Animosities between the two Brothers A.D. 968 gave occasion and opportunity to Owen Prince of South-Wales to carve for himself who presently â—eized to his hands the Country of Gwyr And to A.D. 969 â—ugment the Miseries of the Welch at this time Mactus the Son of Harold with an Army of Danes â—ntered the Isle of Anglescy and spoiled Penmon King Edgar was so indulgent to these Danes that he permitted them to inhabit through all England insoâ—uch that at length they became to be as numerous â—nd as strong as the English themselves and fell into â—uch lewd courses of Debauchery and such horrid Drinking that very great Mischief ensued thereupon The King to reform this immoderate Sottishness enacted a Law that very one should drink by measure and so stamped a Mark upon every Vessel how â—â—at it should be filled But Harold having taken Pennon A.D. 970 made subject to himself the whole Isle of Anglesey which however he did not keep long being forced to quit the same and to return home as did the Fleet of King Alfred which he had sent to subâ—ue Caâ—rlheon upon Vsc And now being rid of the A.D. 971 English and Danes the Welch begin to raise Commotions among themselves Ievaf continued still in Prison A.D. 972 to rescue whom his Son Howel raised his Power and marched against his Uncle Iago who being vanquished in sight was forced to quit the Country to â—ave himself Howel having won the day took his eldest Uncle Meyric the Son of Edwal Prisoner and pulled out both his Eyes clapt him in Prison where in a woful condition he shortly dyed leaving behind him two Sons Edwal and Ionafal the first of which lived to be afterwards Prince of Wales and to revenge upon the Posterity of Howel that unnatural Barbarity shewed to his Father But though Howel delivered his Father from his long and tedious Imprisonment yet he did not think fit to restore him to his Principality for whether by Age or Infirmity he was incapable Howel took upon him the sole Government of Wales which he kept and maintained for his life-time but afterwards it descended to his Brethren For Ievaf had Issue besides this Howel Meyric Iâ—vaf and Cadwalhan all three Men of great Repuâ—â— and Esteem About this time dyed Morgan Hên in his younger days called Morgan Mawr being an Hundred Yearâ— old having lived Fifty Years after the death of hâ—â— Wife Elen Daughter of Roderic the Great by whoâ— he had one Son called Owen Morgan was a valiant anâ— a victorious Prince and well beloved of his Subjects 〈◊〉 but sometime before his death Owen the Son oâ— Prince Howel Dha laid claim to Ystradwy and Eâ—y called the two Sleeves of Gwent Vwchcoed being thâ— Right of Morgan and seized upon them to his owâ— use But the matter through the mediation of the Clergy and Nobility being by both Parties referred to the decision of Edgar King of England it was by him adjudged that the said Lands did of right belong to Morgan and to the Diocess of Lhandaff and that Owen ap Howel Dha had wrongfully possessed himself of them The Charter of the said Award waâ— made before the Archbishops Bishops Earls and Barons of England and Wales at may be seen at Lhandaff in an old Manuscript called y Cwtta Cyfarwydd 〈◊〉 Forgannwg And there is somewhat to the same purpose in the old Book of Lhandaff only the mistake in both is that they make Howel Dha the Intruder into the said Lands who had been dead at least Twenty Years before King Edgar began his Reign Howel ap Ievaf HOwel after that he had expelled his Uncle Iago and forced him to quit his own Dominions â—â—ok upon himself the Government of Wales in â—â—ght of his Father who tho alive yet by reason of â—â—s Years was willing to decline it About the same 〈◊〉 Dwnwalhon Prince of Stradclwyd took his Jourâ—â—y for Rome and Edwalhon Son of Owen Prince â—f South-Wales died But the English received a â—â—eater Blow by the Death of King Edgar who was Prince of