tidings being brought to Marius he leaveth a considerable Army and marcheth towards his Enemies to give them battle in which Londricus or as others call him Rodicus with a great part of his Army was slain In remembrance of which Victory King Marius caused to be erected a great stone and thereon to be ingraven Marii Victoria or the Victory of Marius but VVilliam of Malmsbury is of opinion that this stone was erected in memory of Marius the Roman Consul the country round about being called Fince that time Westmaria and now VVestmerland and it pleased K. Ri. the second to add unto the Titles of the Nevills of Raby the higher and more eminent stile of EARLS of Westmerland 1 Raph Nevill Lord of Raby Sir Marshall 2 Raph Nevill 3 Raph Nevill 4 Raph Nevill 5 Hen. Nevill 6 Charls Nevill Gules a Salton Argent Francis Fane Eldest son of Mary Lady Dispencer descended from the Nevills Earl of VVestmerland created Earl of VVestmerland 22. Ja. Decemb. 29. Mildmay Fane Earl of VVestmerland Azure 3 left hand Gauntlets Or. The Picts being thus slain and vanquisht those who where left undestroyed with all humble submission requested of King Marius to graunt them a place of habitation who assigned unto them an angle or canton in the remotest parts of Scotland which by some Authors was called Cathenesia which these people the Brittains disdaining to give them their Daughters the Irish contracted their children which in processe of time increased into a great Colony and the Country as affirmeth Policronicon in the 37. Chap. of the first book was first called Ireland Secondly Pictania and lastly Scotland Marius giving way to fate was buried at Caerlile Having in short shewed you the Lives and Deaths of the Brittish Kings and Princes to the death of Marius let ut cast our eyes a while upon the Romans and view the remainder of their proceedings not yet related in this Isle The a The ancient Inhabitants of the Counties of Gloucester and Oxford Boduni then living under the Government of the b The ancient Inhabitants of Buckingham Bedford and Hertford Cattieuchlani betook themselves to the protection of Plautius who leaving Garisons in those parts marched towards a River over which the Brittains supposed that the Romans could not passe without a Bridge and therefore imagined themselves safe having pitched their Camp on the other side of the water But Plautius sent over certaine Germans who being accustomed to swim over Rivers with swift currents even in their Armour found an easie passage to the further bank and there set upon the Brittains wounding the Horses withdrew their Chariots and by that means overthrowing their Riders and disordering their whole power Then was Flavius Vespasian who had the leading of the second Legion and Sabinus his brother appointed to passe over and to charge them on a sudden as they were dispersed if we follow John Harding he will tell us that St. Joseph and his Religious company came hither with Vespasian Lieutenant to the Roman Emperour and that by the intreaty of Vespasian the then King and Queen of the Brittains Arviragus and Gennissa those Favours and Freedoms which by our Histories he enjoyed at Glastenbury were bestowed upon him for thus speaking of Vespasian he saith With whom Joseph full holy and full wise Of Aramathie with his fellowes fourteen Into this Land then came and gave content For whom so then Vespasian pray'd the King The Queen also to him to be good Lord And good Lady which they granted in all thing When Vespasian returned to Rome home again The King indued Joseph in Meatrine Which relation wanteth no probability to make it good for Vespasian came hither out of Germany by which St. Joseph must needs passe in his journey towards Brittain from the Asiatical Gallia and the adjoyning Countries neither was Vespasian an Enemy but a Friend and lover of Christians of whom we shall have occasion to speak more when we come to the time of his being Emperour Some of the Brittains being slain and others taken prisoners the night made an end of the skirmish The next morning the rest of the dispersed rout shewed themselves upon the shore and gave occasions of a new Fight which continued a long time with equall advantage till C. Sydius Geta being in danger to have been taken recovered himself and at the last enforced the Brittains to retire For which service he had afterwards triumphal honors assigned him although he were no Consul in this conflict Vespasian being beset round about with the Brittains was in great danger either to have been slain or taken if he had not been timely rescued by Titus his son who then exercised the office of Tribune of the Souldiers and began in his tender years to give some proof of his valour After this battle the Brittains withdrew themselves to the mouth of the River Thamesis near the place where it falls into the Sea and being skilful in the shallowes and firm grounds passed over in safety when as the Romans that pursued them not knowing the dangerous places were oftentimes in great hazard Some of the Germans that were most forward to adventure by reason of their skill in swimming as soon as they had got to the further shore were compassed about and killed by the Natives and the rest of the Roman Army that followed was much distrested in the passage and sharply assailed at their comming on land where began a bloody fight in the which Togodumius a Brittish Prince one of Cunobelines Sons was slain whose death did nothing abate the courage of the Brittains but rather enflamed them with desire of revenge for the effecting whereof they gathered together new Forces from divers parts of the Isle Plautius fearing the greatnesse of their power and being straightned in a place of disadvantage and danger proceeded no further at that time but fortifying only such Townes as he had already taken advertised Claudius of the doubtful state of his Affairs In the mean time Vespasian was imployed in the other parts of the Isle where fortune seemed to lay the Foundation of that greatnesse unto which he afterwards attained for in short space he fought thirty times with the Brittains overcoming two Warlike Nations and tameing the fierce a The Inhabitants of the Countries of Somerset Wilton and South-Hampton Belga whose Ancestors coming hither out of Gallia Belgica at the first either to take booties or to make war gave the name of their own Country to such places as they had subdued a custome commonly used amongst the Gaules when they seated themselves in any part of this Island Which like fortunate successe Vespasian proceeded in attempting and conquering the Isle Vectis that lyeth on the South side of Brittain when Claudius the Emperour being now furnished of all things necessary for the Brittish expedition set forward with a mighty Army consisting of Horsemen Footmen and Exphanes He marched first to Ostria from hence to Masselia the
PORREX FErrex and Porrex the Sons of Gorbodug were joyntly made Rulers of Great Brittain four thousand seven hundred and eleven or as some say thirteen this amity continued for a while betwixt the brothers but ambition of sole command and a Spirit not brooking a Collegue so inflamed Porrex the younger that he intends to lay violent hands upon his elder brother these tidings are brought to Ferrex but the warning comes not so speedily but that the danger is at the heels of it and the elder brother to avoid the snares laid for him hath no other way but to flie into Gallia and there as an humble suppliant to crave aid and succour of a Duke whom Gaufride calls Gunhardus or Suardus who most willingly accords to his desire and furnishing a Navy well provided with Munition as well men as weapons and the very nerves of war sends him back into Brittain Porrex who lets no occasions slip which may advantage his design attends his landing and at his very arrival scarce affording him leisure to order and marshal his forces gives him battel wherein Bellona was so propitious unto him that victory crowned his Souldiers although with the death of his brother and loss or at least discomfiture of all his Army Porrex though some mistake who make Ferrex the surviver being now an absolute King without a Competitor makes himself sure of all the kingdom but long he enjoyed not his unnatural Conquest For the more unnatural mother Idone Widen or Idone whose affection more enclined to her elder Son vows revenge and arming her self with cruelty cruelty indeed before not heard of and taking her Maids to assist her in the night enters Porrex Pavilion where finding him profoundly sleeping these she devils became his Hellish Executioners and after inhumanely tear him to pieces after this most horrid murther followed a Race of people wholly addicted to war and bloodshed daily inventing and contriving broyls and seditions and even in the quietest times of peace blood thirsting insomuch that the weakest went to the wall and he who imagined he had strength enough presumed he had right enough to the Kingdom thus had the Brittains daily domestick Wars till at the length the whole power came into the hands of five Tyrants or petty Lords and Governours who Ruled questionless with Arbitrary power with a sic volo sic jubco but deserve not to be named as Kings of this Island Gaufride affirmeth that after the death of Ferrex and Porrex great discord and civil dissension arose amongst the Brittains which continued long insomuch that five Kings were erected which was a great plague and oppression to the Country Guido de Columna relateth that the Brittains so abhorred the linage and off-spring of Gorbodug partly for the unnatural quarrels and hatred betwixt the two brothers but above all for the horrid inhumane and barbarous cruelty of the mother that had there been any Lawfull Heir to succeed they resolved none of that issue should enjoy the Government this caused a mighty distraction in the Commonwealth insomuch that one took upon him the guiding of Albania or Caledonia now Scotland another seized upon Loegria or England a third took Cambria or Wales and the fourth usurped Cornwall for his share a fifth there was but by many Authors not distinctly specified This difference continued till Mulmutius which Fabian saith was 51. years and to give some light what the names of those five Kings should be he brings An Addition of Robert Record thus The five Kings that be omitted here are found in certain old Pedegrees and although their names be much corrupted in divers Copies yet these are the most agreeable Rudaucus King of Wales Lotenus King of Cornwall Pinnor King of Loegria Statorius King of Scotland Yevan King of Northumberland Quocirca Piremen Loegriae Regem aggreditur praelio interfecit Vitus fol 181. lib. 2. notius ad Mulmut inde factus victor arma tendit in Rudacum Cambriae Regem qui faedere inito cum Albania Rege Staterio conabatur junctis viribus exercitum movere in provincias Mulmutii quibus ille obviam comitatus triginta millibus fortissimorum virorum comissoque diu praelio cum videret differri victoriam usus est fraude similitudinis armorum quibus induti erant hostes ejus atque sic pessundatis regibus ipsis caeteros palantes fugavit ad urbes oppida quibus incensis agrisque devastatis totam omnino insulam suae potestati suaeque Jurisdictioni subjecit ac primus ex auro factum Diadema capite gestavit Quis erat rex quintus Cantii nescitur ex historia Brittanica quae numerat reges quinque nec alios quam cos qui bella gesserunt commemorat tres fortasse quod illi reliqui in societatem venerint aut sponte se subjecerint Where Mulmutius sets upon Piremen or Pinmor as the other Author calls him and kills him in the field and being now victorious and a Conqueror in his first attempt full of courage and boldness he bends all his power and forces against Rudacus King of Wales who having made an offensive and defensive League with Statorius King of Albania with joyned forces and banner displayed had invaded his Territories Mulmutius delays no time but being in the head of a gallant Army consisting of thirty thousand experienced Souldiers gives them the meeting and joyns Battell but thinking victory to hover too long before she enclined to his paâ—t he makes use of a stratagem and counterfeiting the Arms Weapons and habits of his enemies in a friendly appearance gives them a most discourteous and unfriendly overthrow insomuch that the two Kings being quite overthrown he pursues the stragling Souldiers who flie to Towns and fortified places which he presently sets on fire and destroying all round about brings the whole Kingdom under his own power and subjection and being an absolute Monarch he encircles his conquering Temples with a Diadem of purest Gold being the first of the Brittish Kings that ever did the like Who was the fifth King either in Kent or as others say in Northumberland the Brittish Histories do not fully declare only the three who waged war against Mulmutius are expresly treated of the other either for that they combined or submitted are silently passed over After the death and murder of Ferrex and Porrex ended the lineal descent of old Brute but here a curious diver into Antiquities may object How then was the promise in the Prophecy by the Oracle made good that to the Kings of his seed Totius terrae subditus orbis erit This Vniverse shall them obey If after the space of 600 and some few years his Race should be extinct this objection is nothing to the Oracle for it was not specified whether it should be fulfilled in the direct or collateral Line so that if any of a Brittish off-spring should obtain the Dominion over the whole world that is so far as ever any Emperour had command
we may worthily Register Brittain for one of the first believing Nations though so far distant from the place of the life death and first preaching of Christ and boldly say it was the first chiefest principal and onely Kingdome that sent so great Forces and so far off through so great difficulties to execute the just revenge of God upon his enemies And the Christian either publick profession or known disposition of many Brittish Souldiers there mixed with the Roman under Vespasian must needs be a motive to justifie his words for true to force Josephus to these forcible complaints to the Jews at that time That they could not expect any help from God for as they had forsaken him so he also had forsaken them and he that was wont to defend them Ora. Josephi ad Judaeos Egesip l. 5. excid Hierosol c. 15. was gone to the Romans their enemies who then worshipped the true God whom the Jews had offended the true God was with the Romans Au praesidium speratur divinum atque auxilium de penetralibus sed qui nos defendebat ad hostem migravit quoniam quem nos colebamus Romani venerantur nos offendimus Quis autem ignorat cum illis esse Deum So that whithersoever we go where Brittains were in that time either in Jury about Hierusalem or at Rome in Italy or in Brittain then termed by Josephus and Egesippus another world Quid asseram Brittannias interfuso Mari à toto orbe divisas à Romanis in orbem terrarum reductas We find there were many Christians among them and their chief Rulers even in temporal Affairs not unchristianly minded as Vespasian in Jury King Marius in Brittain at Rome Coillus a great Friend to Christians both there and in Brittain when he came to Rule The Lieutenantship which was assigned to Petilius Cerealis a man that had given good proof of his sufficiency in former services upon his first entrance into office he invaded the Country of the Brigants the most populous state of the whole Province the greatest part whereof after many bloody Battels was either conquered or wasted and the hope of the Brittains greatly abated when as Julius Frontinus whose reputation was nothing impared by the Fame of his Predecessor took upon him the charge which he afterwards executed with great commendation in subduing the strong and warlike Nation of the Silures The praise of the South-wales men among whom he seemed to fight not onely with men whose strength and valour was able to make opposition against his Attempts but also with mountains straits and places of very great and difficult accesse In this Estate Julius Agricola having been trained up for the most part in the Brittish war did find the Province at his first coming thither He crossed the narrow seas about the midst of Summer at which time as though the season of the year had been past to begin a new War the Roman souldiers attended an end of their travel and the Brittains a beginning of an annoyance to their enemies The a North-wales men Ordovices a little before he had landed had almost cut in pieces a Troop of Horsemen that lay in their borders upon which Attempt the Country being awaked as desirous of war allowed the example and some then staid to see how the new Lieutenant would take it Agricola in the mean time although the Summer was spent and the Bands lay dispersed in the Province his Souldiers presumed of rest for that year and divers Officers of the Army being of opinion that it were better to assure and keep the places suspected then to make any new attempt yet all this notwithstanding he resolved directly to encounter the danger and gathering together the Ensignes of the Legions and some few Auxiliaries because the Ordovices durst not descend into indifferent ground himself first of all to give others like courage marched up to begin the assault And having in that Conflict destroyed almost all the whole Nation of the Ordovices and knowing right well that Fame must with instance be followed for as the rest should fall out so the rest would succeed he deliberated to conquer the Isle of Mona from the possession whereof Paulinus had been formerly revoked by the general Rebellion of Brittany But Ships being then wanting as in an enterprize not intended before the policy and resolutenesse of the Captain devised a speedy passage for he commanded the most chief of the Aids to whom all the shallows were known and who after the use of their Country were able to swim in their armour if need were to lay aside their carriage and putting over at once suddenly to invade it which thing so amazed the Inhabitants who supposed that the Romans would have a certain time for Ships and such like provision by sea that now believing nothing could be hard or invincible to men which came so minded to make war they humbly intreated for peace and yielded the Iland This Agricola at his first entrance into office which time others used to consume in vain ostentation and ambitious seeking of Ceremonies entring withall into labours and dangers became famous indeed and of great reputation Howbeit he abused not the prosperous proceedings of his Affairs to vanity or braving in speeches for he esteemed it an action not worthy the name of a Conquest to keep in order onely persons subdued by force neither decked he with laurel his Letters of Advertisement but stopping and suppressing the same of his doings he greatly augumented it when men began to discourse upon what great presumptions of future successe he should make so light an account of so great actions lately performed As touching the civil Government Agricola knowing how the Province stood affected and being taught of others that Armies avail little to settle a new conquered State if violence and wrongs be permitted determined at the first to cut off all causes of War and Rebellion and beginning at home he first of all reformed his own house a point of more hardnesse to some men then to govern a Province He committed no manner of publick Affairs to Bondmen or Libertines he received no Souldier near his person upon private affection of partial Suiters nor upon commendation or intreaty of Centurions but elected the best and most serviceable He would look narrowly into all things yet not exact all things to the very most light faults he would pardon and the great severely correct not alwayes punishing Offenders but ofttimes satisfied with repentance choosing rather not to prefer to office such as were likely to offend then after the offence to condemn them The augmentation of Tribute and Corn he tempered with equal dividing of burdens cutting away those petty extortions which grieved the Brittains more then the Tribute it self for the poor people in former times were constrained in a mockery to wait at the barn-doors which were locked againg them first to lay Corn and after to sell at a low price
Prince commending therein his former zealous disposition in embraceing the truth then exhorting him to read with humility and reverence the holy Scripture the divine Law which he had lately received in his Dominions and out of that by Gods grace and advice of faithful Counsellors to collect meet observations for the framing of Laws necessary for the preservation of his estate which observations so collected and Lawes so framed he did affirm to be much better then the Imperial constitutions of the Romans or any other whatsoever that to make Lawes and execute Justice was the proper office of a Prince who was upon earth the Vicar of God himself and received from him that Title and Authority to the end he should use the same to the good of the Catholick Church and of the people living under his obedience hereupon Lucius began first of all to provide for establishment of that Religion whereof he was become at the self same time both a professour and practiser Then was the worshipping of Idols forbidden the seats of the Arch-flamens at London York and Caerlegion or Caerleon upon Vsk were changed into Sees of three Arch-bishops in the same places and those of the Flamens into so many Bishopricks whereby the Temples vowed by Idolatrous Priests to prophane gods were consecrated to the service of the only true God the temporal estate he also adorned with good profitable Laws conformable to the rule of Christian Religion whereupon ensued the blessings of plenty and peace in his dayes It is reported that he was Foundet of a Church at Cornhill in London which he dedicated to St. Peter placeing therein one Thean an Archbishop to have the superintendence over other Bishops within his principality and the Metropolitan seat continued there in the succession of thirteen Archbishops about the space of 400 years until the coming of St. Aug. who translated it to Canterbury And now Christianity being thus Generally received amongst the Brittains kept on her course untainted and without opposition till the time of Dioclesian the Emperour who kindled the fire of that raging persecution the last and longest in the Primitive Church which consumed the lives of many Christian Martyrs as well in Brittain as other places but returning to the Reign of Lucius and considering the state of Brittain under his Government we may justly admire the Felicity of those times ascribing to the Brittains for their greatest glory that among all other Nations they had the happinesse to see and enjoy the first Christian Prince Thus far compendiously and succinctly the Brittish History but let us peruse a while to the great renown of the Brittish Nation the writings of that late but rare light of Antiquity the day star of his Countrey Mr. Broughton and consider what he expresseth concerning the passages and conversion of King Lucius thus he begins They who write of King Lucius his Nobles and Countries conversion do write also how he wrote for and entreated it by supplyant letters to Pope Elutherius not to Evaristus as some have imagined Gildas saith that King Lucius was baptized with all his Nobles of Brittain 164 years after the coming of Christ and Nennius saith it was three year after so that whither we will take the account of Gildas or Nennius for King Lucius his time of conversion though others make a greater difference by 20 years and more we see that King was converted 44 years after the death of Evaristus whom some will have the Instrument of his conversion and 54 from his first entrance into the Papacy seven Popes St. Alexander Sextus Telesphorus Higinus Pius Anicetus and Soter being between him and St. Elutherius in whose time by all account St Lucius was converted of which two such renowned Writers could not be ignorant much lesse may we judge without great injury and dishonour unto them and bold rashnesse in our selves that they would or could erre in so high a degree the one of them Nennius the meanest stiled by our Catalogists of such men both ancient and modern The most excellent Doctor of the Brittains Principal or Arch-abbot of the renowned Monastery of Bangor famous both for Wisdom and Religion The other St. Gildas by common consent of all Writers is stiled Gildas the Wise or sirnamed the Wise The first and principal means of the Conversion of K. Lucius is ascribed to certain learned Scholars of Cambridge Theater of Brit. l. 6. c. 9. Sect. 9. Hollins disc Brit. The Theatre of Great Brittain tells us That there were Christians at these times though some exceptions may be taken against the Monk of Burton the Reporter thereof who saith in the year 141 and Reign of Hadrian nine Masters of Grantcester were baptized themselves and preached to others the Gospel in Brittain The ancient Charter which the Antiquities of Cambridge ascribed to K. Arthur do give this honour or a great part thereof to the learned Scholars of Cambridge K. Lucius perswaded to be a Christian by the Christians of Cambridge which being converted to the Faith of Christ and divers of them now become Clergymen and Preachers moved K. Lucius by their preaching to be a Christian which is more confirmed by the ancient Bull of Pope Honorius the first of that Name to confirm the Priviledges of the University of Cambridge 1000 years since and other Testimonies there are that say that both K. Lucius did confer and confirm by his publick Charter great Priviledges and Immunities to that School and Pope Elutherius likewise Chart. Reg. Arturi 7. Apr. an 531. Bulla Honorii Acad. Cantab. concess 20. die Seb. an Dom. 624. Caius Antiq. Cant. l 1. p. 75. 76. which he did not so for any thing we find in Histories to any other School or University in the World nor any of his Successors many years after The chiefest motive of these exemtions and prerogatives to that place we cannot interpret in any better sense then that King Lucius had received much spiritual Benefit from thence which he requited with temporal honour and dignity and the holy Pope Elutherius bestowed such singular grace and favour to that School for the holy labours and fruitful effects it had wrought in the Church of Christ by their Conversion and Preaching moving King Lucius and so many men of sundry degrees in Brittain to forsake superstitious Idolatry and embrace the Christian Faith and Religion We find some Apostolick Men in this very time to have preached the faith in Brittain to King Lucius himself as well as to his Subjects and these to have been of this Nation Pet. Marsaeus Catal. Epis Tungren Archiepis Treve Among those two are chiefly commended unto us in this businesse Saint Timothy and Saint Marcellinus or Marcellus And to begin with St. Timothy We find that he so far prevailed with King Lucius that by his Learning our King was induced to the Religion of Christ and to make this Opinion clear Henricus Pantaâ—eon writeth Math. West an 159.
Debates others affirm to win honour to himself he being accounted very greedy and ambitious thereof and to reduce the Kingdom wholly to the Roman subjection not willing that any Brittain here born should reign and therefore as some write they made a decree and law among them Hector Boetius Scot. Hist l. 5. f. 86. against such Government Eo fere tempore post Lucium Regem Brittorum extinctum Romani gnari Brittannos Reges multarum in populo seditionum rebellionum in se fuisse autores ut res Romana in Brittannia soret quietior publico vetuere decreto ne quispiam Brittanici sanguinis deinceps regia insignaretur dignitate If there was any such decree of the Romans it could neither be upon this surmised motive that the Brittish Kings had been the occasion of any rebellions or seditions against the Romans for it is evident that in the time of the three last Kings Merius Coillus and Lucius peace was duely kept with the Romans and their tribute paid unto them and these Kings descended of Genuista a Roman Lady of the Emperors kindred so as well as from King Arviragus the Brittain did participate both of the Brittish and Roman blood And these were the onely Kings which were here after the composition between the Romans and Brittains in the time of Claudius and Arviragus when Arviragus marrying the daughter of the Emperour joining the Brittish and Roman Regal and Imperial lines together thereby ended all debates between them Neither did any such Decree probably pass the Roman Senate that none born of Brittish blood should afterwards be King of Brittain if we will be guided either by reason or authority herein for how could the Romans then neither having such power or possession take upon them such a definitive sentence Mr. B. 362 This had been the next way to have made a general defection from them here of all the Brittains And the Brittains Will. Harrison Disc Brit. c. 22. Harding Chr. c. 52. f. 45. alii apud Harrison Hollenshed Hist of Eng. l. 4. c. 21. except in some municipal places were governed by their own and not by the Roman Laws And for authority we want not those that write how both our next Kings here who came from Rome after this imagined Decree Severus and Basianus his son and successor here were Brittanici sanguinis born of Brittish blood and yet both of them our Kings in Brittain and Emperours also and by some Antiquaries the next heirs to the Crown of Brittain Harding in his Chronicle thus testifieth from antiquity of Severus Severus thus the worthy Senator Descended down-right heir to Androgeos The eldest son of Lud that was the Emperour Out of Brittain went with Julius Which Senator aforesaid Severus To Brittain came and was inthronisate And with a Crown of Gold was Coronate Therefore if Severus the Emperour was descended down right heir to Andro geos the eldest son of King Lud the words of the Authors so obsolutely and consequently not without good warrant affirming it he must needs be both descended of the Regal Brittish race and be also the undoubted next true heir to the Crown of this Kingdom at that time all other lines which might by any probability make claim before him being now extinct and this of it self is more then any Authour of like credit to him I have alledged doth bring to prove that Severus was not descended by lineal and lawful birth Flor. Wigorn. Chro. an 181 and 182. Matth. West an 192. Mar. Scot. Aetat 6. Mart. Polon an 213. Hen. Hunt l. 1. Hist in Severo from our Brittish Regal race but some other in which I find a silence in Antiquity onely divers write and nothing hindering his Regal Brittish Genealogy that he was born at Leptis in the Province of Tripolis in Africk and was the onely African that ever was Emperour yet none of them denieth thereby his descent from Brittish Parentage but some of them yield to that which confirmeth it and his ancestors being strangers so long out of Brittain as from Julius Caesars time no wonder if he was born in that place of Africk for I have shewed before in the time of Vespasian we had many thousands of Brittains went into those parts and without question divers of them married and continued there in their posterity So did divers Brittains at other times even with wives and children go to Rome and from thence were disposed into divers parts never returning hither Now to speak somewhat of Severus his alienation or affection from or to Christian Religion it is the common opinion and our own Antiquaries be of the same Mar. Sco. l. 2. Aetat 6. an 153. Matth. West an 195. Flor. Wigorn. in Chro. an 189. and 211. Judas Scriptor Eccl. temp Severi apud Euseb that in divers places of the Empire he was an enemy so far unto it that many term him the fifth Persecutor among the Emperours after Nero and many Christians in divers Provinces were martyred in his Empire Post Neronem Severus quintam persecutionem in Christianos excitavit Plurimique Sanctorum per diversas provincias martyrio Coronantur And it is so certain by all forreign antiquities that there was such persecution in his time that it was almost a common opinion that the coming of Antichrist was at hand as an Ecclesiastical Writer of that time hath left to posterity Propterea quod persequutionis tumultus contra nos excitatus multorum mentes tam graviter per turbaret Antichristi adventum omnium ore atque sermone jactatum jam tum appropinquare arbitratus est Yet we do not find any express Edict or Prohibition of him until about the tenth year of his Empire when as Spartanus writeth in his journey from Syria to Alexandria he made many Laws forbidding under great penalty any man to be either a Jew or Christian and as Dio and others witness Mr. B. 365. he consented men by his Imperial Letters both to the depriving of St. Philip of the Augustal Prefectship of Egypt being become a professed Christian and giving authority to Terentius his successor secretly to Martyr him But for Severus excuse we find the greatest and almost onely persecution of his time either to have been in or about Jury occasioned by the Tumults of the Jews or in Africa where Severus was born and principally in Egypt then full of Christians the Praefect himself St. Philip a Christian and so potent as the Letters of Severus unto him say he lived more like an absolute King than Praefect that Praefecture of Egypt being of so great authority and dignity Therefore Africk being the Countrey of Severus birth and so formidable an enemy in former times to the Romans as all Historians report and now so abounding with Christians slanderously accused by their Pagan enemies to be enemies to the Roman Empire Niceph l. 4. Hist Eccle. Iâ—e apud euiâ—dem adversus Hâ—ro l. 1. c. 24. Severus
all and his Son Jesus Christ he alone by right obtained this honour by the will of God to have that which was buried in death to reign among men Howe 's of the Romans f. 45. In the 20. year of this Constantine was held as saith Mr. Howes the Councel of Nice with great Solemnity wherein were condemned and suppressed the damnable Heresies of Arius Bigot the vain-glorious and dissembling Minister whereof the Arian Heresie took the Name and for a long space after much troubled Christendom And at this time the Nicene Creed was commanded to be sung and said in all Churches And the forenamed Arius pretending to make a Retract of all his Heresies took his leave of the Emperor The fearfull end of an arch Heretick as if he had great necessity to take Physick to purge his Body which Purgation never ceased working till it had purged him of all his bloud and bowels and so he died most miserably and shamefully How es ibid. About this time saith the same Author Octavius whom Constantine left Governor in Brittain rebelled against whom Constantine sent Traherne his Uncle with a Legion of Romans who after divers Conflicts was slain Old English Chronic. f. 34 p. 4. The old English Chronicle saith When Constantine went from this Land to Rome he took all his lond to keep to the Earl of Cornwall that was called Octavian And anon as this Octavian wist that his Lord dwelt at Rome incontinent be ceased all the lond into his hands and therewith did all his will among hy and low and they held him for King But other Historians both Brittish and English Domestical and Foreign affirm that Constantine at his going from Brittain to Rome committed the Government of this Countrey to the Roman Proconsuls and the named Octavian or Octavius took arms against them slew them and so obtained to be King here The Monk of Westminster saith this Octavius was a King before a Regulus or Prince of the People in and about Worcestershire Harding saith he was Duke of West Sex he must mean where the West Saxons after ruled for they came not into Brittain till a long time after this But after his day came one Octavius Duke of West sex that crowned was for King That slewgh the Werdins of Constantinus Which that he set for Brittain governing In his abscence to keep it in all thing Besides this there be other difficulties among the Historians about this Octavius and such as will discredit him for having had many great and chief and long Commands as a King in this Nation Math Westm setteth down his conquering the Roman Proconsul here in the year of Christ 314 when divers more ancient and received Historians say that S. Helen our Queen and Empress continued here long after that time Br. fol. 543. 4. And her Son Constantine Emperor now at the highest of his Glory Power and Victories and having so many Brittish Soldiers without imployment in France so near unto us cannot be immagined to have suffered any Enemy in his own native Countrey so to have prevailed or how could such a man as Octavius is supposed to be assemble such an Army in Brittain where that victorious Emperor was undoubted King and whence he had so great an Army of Brittains so lately before that by them as our Historians write he vanquished all most innumerable Companies of his most potent Enemies And as these Relators of Octavius his proceedings themselves are Witnesses the power with Constantine was so great that the Romans which came hither unto him seeing his power said No Prince in the world was comparable to him for strength Where then in Brittain could Octavius gather an Army so soon to encounter and overthrow three Legions of Roman Soldiers besides their Adherents as these men say And Eusebius saith that Constantine himself came hither again and was here longer after this pretended Revolt and at his death gave Brittain the ancient Patrimony to his Eldest Son Again these men say Octavius was King here until Maximus his time and married his only Daughter and Heir unto him when it is a common consent in Antiquities that this Maximus or Maximinianus was not King in Brittain till after the 380. year of Christ Therefore he must needs be granted to be very young of too few years at the going of Constantine hence for him to commit the Government of Brittain unto him or for himselfe to have so soon Usurped against it so rightfull and potent King and Emperour Our most ancient and best Historians S. Gildas S. Bede Marianus Florentius Wigorniensis Ethelwardus Henry of Huntington and William of Malmsbury although as diligently as they could recounting our Kings of Brittain never mention any such Octavius or Octavian but the chiefest and most ancient among them S. Gildas plainly saith that this Island was at this time and until Maximus or Maximinian a Brittain took upon him the Empire a Roman Island Insula nomen Romanum tenens And divers Historians both late and ancient do particularly set down our Kings after Constantine the Great and Roman Leivtenants here until these daies as Constantine Constantius Julian Valentinian Gratian Emperors or Kings Martinus Lupicinus Nectaridius Theodosius Fraomarius and other Roman Lievtenants and Governors here And when the Councel of Ariminum was kept about the year of Christ 360 and the 23. year of Constantius son of Constantine the Great it is certain that this Constantius was our King in Brittain and bore the charge of the poorest Bishops of this Kingdom as then under his Government which were present there and he was so far from losing Brittain or any other Countrey of his Empire then as Sozomen and others testifie that Councel thus wrote unto him Epist Arimin Conc. ad Constant Imp. apud Sozoni Hist l. 4. c. 47. at this time this Empire so encreased that all the World was under his Government this was above twenty years after the death of the great Constantine in whose time this Revolt of Brittain from him is thus supposed and above twice so long time of the imagined usurpation here by Octavius And Zonaras writeth that this Constantius in the fourteenth year of his Empire banished or rather carried with him Athanasius into Brittain at his coming hither Therefore I dare not assent that in this time of the greatest flourishing Estate of the Roman Empire and the power thereof in Brittain Harding Cron. c. 63. f. 51. Galf. Mon. Hist Reg. Bri. l. 5. cap. 9. Pont. Virun Hist l. 5. Math. West an 379. especially from whence the glory of it grew to that greatness either Octavius or any other so much prevailed here to bar the Emperors of that honour But he might towards the time of Maximus or Maximianus when the Empire had more Enemies and less power prevail in some such sort as these Historians have written of him although they differ also in Maximian as well as in Octavius one saith he
truth of Christianity which seemed to be born down by the subtil allegations of humane Reason Hereupon the Bishops called a Synod wherein Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Champaigne were appointed to go into Brittain and to undertake the Cause which they afterwards prosecuted with so good success as many Hereticks among the Brittains were openly convinced and Christians confirmed in faith About the same time Ninianus Bernitius of the Race of the Brittish Princes was sent into Pictland to convert the Inhabitants there to Christianity Brittish Hist l. 3. f. 153. Palladius a Grecian was likewise appointed by Celestine Bishop of Rome to Preach the Gospel in Scotland unto such there as yet remained in Infidelity and to suppress the Pelagian Heresie new sprung up in that Kingdom to be the first and chief Bishop of the Church there for which purpose also Patricius surnamed Magonius born in Brittain was sent to the Irish and Scotch men that then dwelt in the Isles of the Orcades and Hebrides these three Religious Fathers were much honoured in those dayes for the reverend opinion which most men had of their Learning and Integrity of life and they are accounted the Apostles and Patrons of the Scotish Irish and Pictish Nations as being the several Instruments of the general Conversion of each of them Within few years after the Brittains were again hotly pursued by the Scotchmen and Picts who swarmed over a great part of the Land taking from the Brittains for a time all opportunities of convening and assembling themselves together as in former dangers they had been accustomed whereby no small number of the Inhabitants of the Province dispairing of better success retired themselves giving way unto the present necessity while each man as in common calamities oft times it falleth out laying aside the care of the publick made provision for his own safety leaving the Enemy in the mean time to take and kill such as resisted Some of the Brittains being driven out of their own houses and possessions fell to robbing one another encreasing their outward troubles with inward tumult and civil dissention by which means a great number of them had nothing left to sustain them but what they got by hunting and killing of wild beasts Others burying their Treasures under ground whereof great store hath been found in this Age Brit. Hist l. 3. fol. 158. did flee themselves either into the Countrey of the a Southwales Silures and b Northwales Ordâ—nices and into the West part of the Isle where the c Cornwall Devonshire Damonians then inhabited or else into Amorica in France the rest being hemmed in with the Sea on the one side and their Enemies on the other sent to the Emperor for aid which they could not obtain for that the Goths and Hunns invading Gallia and Italy the greatest part of the Forces of the Empire was drawn thither for defence of those places by reason whereof the State of Brittain now declining with the Empire and shrinking under the burthen of barbarous Oppression the Brittains sent Embassadors again to Aetius the President in Gallia desiring him to relieve their necessities declaring withall that themselves were the small remnant which survived after the slaughter of so many thousands whom either the Sword or the Sea had consumed for the barbarous Enemy drave them upon the Sea the Sea again upon the Enemies between both which they suffered two kindes of death as being either killed or drowned that it imported the Majesty of the Roman Empire to protect them who had so many hundred years lived under their obedience and were now plunged into the depth of intollerable miseries for besides the calamities of War both civil and foreign at one instant they were afflicted with dearth and famine which forced them sometimes to yield themselves to the merciless Enemy But their complaints availed nothing for the Romans plainly denied to send them any more succour whereof the Scotishmen and Picts being certainly advertised and knowing how small a number of able men remained in the Province to withstand their attempts assailed first such places of strength as guarded the borders and afterwards entred the Province it self where by continual course of Conquests they found a passage into the heart of the Isle spoyled the People of their wealth burnt their Cities and brought the Inhabitants thereof under a miserable Servitude Thus about five hundred years after the Romans first Entrance and four hundred forty six after our Saviours birth the Isle of Brittain which had been not only the principal Member of the Empire but also the seat of the Empire it self and the Seminary of Soldiers sent out into most parts of the World was now in the time of Honorius bereaved of the greatest part of her ancient Inhabitants and left a prey to barbarous Nations SHREWSBURY SHREWSBURY is the principal Town in Shâ—opshire and stands neatly upon a Hill and iâ— almost encompassed round by the River Severus that part thereof which is not fenced by the River being fortified by a very strong Castle built by Roger de Montgomery the first Earl thereof A fair and goodly Town it is well traded and frequented by all sorts of people both Welsh and English by reason of the Trade of Gloath and other Merchandise this being the commont Mart and Empory between England and Wales it standeth in the very midst or centre as it were of the whole Countrey which generally is inferiour to none about it for delight and plenty for the number of Towns and Castles standing exceeding thick on every side as having formerly been a frontier Countrey very far above them It belonged anciently to the Cornavii and at the Norman Conquest was bestowed on Roger de Montgomery who first made it â—eminent and with his Successors and sinâ—e them the honorable Family of the Talbots enjoyed the Stile and Title of Earls of Shrewsbury 1. Roger de Montgomery 2. Hugh de Montgomery 3. Robert de Montgomery 4. John Talbot Marshal of France created Earl of Shrewsbury by K. H. 6. 5. John Talbot L. Tre. 6. John Talbot 7. Geo. Talbot 8. Francis Talbot 9. Geo. Talbot 10. Gilbert Talbot 11. Edward Talbot 12. Geo. Talbot 13. John Talbot now living and Earl of Shrewsbury 1661. The Earl of DERBY Thomas Stanley Earl of Derby Knight of the Garter c. Elinor Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury Tho. Earl of Derby c. Anne Daughter to Ed. L. Hastings which Family descends from the Brittish line as shall appear in its proper place Edward Earl of Derby c. Dorothea Daughter to Thomas Howward Duke of Norfolk by which March this honorable Family descends from the Brittish line as in the Pedegree of the Duke of Norfolk Henry Earl of Derby c. Margaret Daughter to Henry Clifford Earl of Cumberland and Elinor his Wife Daughter and Coheir to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and Mary Queen of France
satisfaction for his former lewd living but casting that aside he seemed with his coule or hood and habit to cast away also all shame and feeling of piety and religion and humanity it self much more Gildas setteth down which drew upon the Brittish Nation the just vengeance which almighty God poured down upon them Cadwane Cadwane Duke of Northwales was made Soveraign of the Brittains Howe 's fol. 56. who gave strong battail to Ethelfred King of Northumberland and forced him to entreat for peace After which concord being made they continued all their life time loving friends he reigned twenty two years The Kingdom of the East Saxons began under Ercheminus about the year of Christ 614. The Kingdome of Mercia or middle England began under Penda 626. Hollenshed also saith that he reigned 22 years though saith he some allow but 13 and was slain by the Northumbers Cadwallin Cadwallin the son of Cadwane ruled over the Brittains How fol. 56. b. St. Martins in London by the Brittains he warred strongly upon the Saxons and made Penda King of Mercia tributary to him He reigned 48 years and was buryed in London in the Church of St. Martine neer unto Ludgate which Church was then new-founded and builded by the Brittains in anno 677. An other Authour maketh a longer relation of this Kings reign Holl. fol. 166. Edwin was not son to Ethelfred but to Alla or Ella and tells us that Cadwallo for so he calls him and Edwin the son of Ethelfred were brought up in France being sent thether unto Solomon King of Brittain by Cadwane when they were very young for this he cites Gaufred and that after their return into this land when they were made Kings Cadwall of the Brittains and Edwin of the Northumbers there continued for the space of two years great friendship betwixt them till at lenghth Edwin required of Cadwall that he might wear a Crown and celebrate appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland as well as Cadwall did in his Country Cadwall taking advice in this matter at length by the perswasion of his Nephew Brian he denyed to grant unto Edwin his request wherewith Edwin took such displeasure that he sent word unto Cadwall that he would be crowned without his license since he would not willingly give it whereunto Cadwall answered that if he did so he would cut off his head under his Diadem if he presumed to wear any within the confines of Britany Hereupon discord arising betwixt these two princes they began to make fierce and cruel war each of them against the other and at length joyning in battail with their main armies Cadwall lost the field with many thousands of his men and being chased fled into Scotland and from thence got over into Ireland and finally passed over the seas into Brittain the lesse called Armorica where of his cofin King Solomon he was courteously received and at length obtained of him ten thousand men to go with him back into his Country to assist him in recovering his lands and dominions the which in the mean time were cruelly spoyled wasted and plundered by K. Edwin The same time Brian the Nephew of Cadwall whom he had sent into Brittanie a little before to kill a certain Wisard or Southsayer whom K. Edwin had gotten out of Spain named Pelitus who by disclosing the purpose of Cadwall unto Edwin greatly impeached Cadwals designes he fortified the City of Exceter meaning to defend it till the coming of Cadwall whereupon Penda King of Mercia besieged that City with a mighty army purposing to take it and Brian within it Cadwall advertised hereof immediately after his arrival hasted towards Exceter and dividing his people into four parts set upon his enemies and took Penda and overthrew his whole army Penda having no other shifs to escape submitted himself wholly unto Cadwall promising to become his liegeman and to fight against the Saxons in his quarrel And this Penda being subdued Cadwall called his Nobles together which had been dispersed abroad a long time and with all speed went against Edwin King of Northumberland and slew him in battail at Hatfield with his son Osfride and Godbold King of the Isles of Ockney who was come thither to his aid By this it should appear that Fabian hath gathered amiss in the account of the reigns of the Brittish Kings for it appeareth by Beda and others that Edwin was slain in the year of our Lord 634. And whereas Fabian attributeth that act and divers others unto Cadwan father of Cadwall yet both Galmon and Beda with the most part of all other writers say that it was done by Cadwall Hollenshed ut sup Harding assigneth but 13 years to the reign of Cadwall and declareth that he died in the year of our Lord 606. in the which year as he saith Cadwall began his reign which opinion seemeth best to agree with that which is set down by others But to return to Cadwall and his acts as we find them recorded by the Brittish writers After he had got this victory against the Northumbers he cruelly pursued the Saxons as though he meant so far as in him lay to destroy the whole race of them out of the land of Brittain and sending Penda against King Oswald who succeeded Edwin though at the first Penda received the overthrow at Havenfield yet afterwards Cadwall himself highly displeased with that chance King Oswald slain pursued Oswald and fought with him at a place called Bourne where Penda slew the said Oswald After that Oswald was slain his brother Osunus succeeded him in the government of the Northumbers and sought the favour of Cadwall now ruling as King over all Brittanie and at length by great gifts of gold and silver and upon his humble submission he obtained peace till at length upon disgust Penda obtained leave of Cadwall to make wars against the said Osunus in with Penda himself was slain Then Cadwal granted after the space of two years Vlfridus the son of Penda should succeed in the Kingdom of Mertia Cadwall absolute Prince of all Brittain and thus Cadwall ruled things after his own will and pleasure and finally when he had reigned as before is said as years he departed this life the 22d. of November His body being embalmed and dressed with sweet confections was put in a brazen Image by mervalous art melted and cast the which being set on a brazen horse of excellent beauty the Brittains erected aloft upon the West gate of London called Ludgate in sign of his victorious conquests and for a terror to the Saxons Cadwallader Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains descending from the Noble race of the Trojans by extreme plagues of death and famine was driven to forsake this his native Country and Kingdom and to sojourne with a great number of his Nobles and Subjects with his Cosin Alan King of Little Brittaine which is called in the Brittish tongue Lhydaw Of the first inhabiting of
this place by the Brittains we have already spoken Conon of Meriadoc now Denbighland in the year of Grace 384. was the first Prince of the Brittish blood in Armorica or Little Brittain the second was 2. Graldonus 3. Solomon I. The names of the Kings of little Brittain 4. Auldranus 5. Budicus I. 6. Howellus Magnus This Howel was with King Arthur in his wars 7. Howellus II. 8. Alanus I. 9. Howellus III. 10. Gilquellus 11. Solomon II. 12. Alanus II. Of whom mentions is made in this place who descended of a daughter of Rune the son of Mailgon Gwyneth King of Great Brittain who was married to the forenamed Howel II King of Little Brittain 13. Conobertus 14. Budicus II. 15. Theodoricus 16. Rualhonus 17. Daniel Dremrost i. e. with the red face 18. Aregstanus 19. Maconus 20. Neomenius 21. Haruspagius 22. Solomon III Who was slain by his own men and then was that Kingdom turned into an Earldom whereof Alen was the first Earl who valiantly resisted the Normans and vanquished them oft at last it was a Dukedom Cadwallader bein in Brittain was certified that a great number of strangers as Saxons Angles and Juthes had arrived in great Brittain and finding it desolate and without inhabitants saving a few Saxons who had called them in and certain poor Brittains who lived by roots in Rocks and Woods had overrun a great part thereof and dividing it into Territories and Kingdomes inhabited that part which was then and yet at this day by the Welsh who are the ancient Brittains called Lhoyger and in English England with all the Cities Townes Castles and Villages which the Brittains had builded ruled and inhabited by the space of 1827. years under divers Kings and Princes of great renown whereupon he purposed to return and by strength of Brittish Knights to recover his own Land again After he had prepared and made ready his Navy for the transporting of his own men with such succours as he had found at Alan's hand an Angel appeared to him in a Vision and declared that it was the will of God that he should not take his voyage towards Brittain but to Rome to Pope Sergius where he should end his life and be afterwards numbred among the blessed Which vision after that Cadwallader had declared to his friend Alan he sent for all his books of prophesies as the works of both Merdhines or Merlins to wit Ambrose and Sylvester surnamed Merdhin Wylht and the words which the Eagle spoke at the building of Caer Septon to be now come whereof they had prophesied To this very day the Welsh the very real ofspring of the Brittains are much addicted unto prophesies and so confident that out of their old books I know some my self and those of good quality they doubt not to tell you things to come but those prophesies are never discerned to have come to pass till it be too late as in Ragland Castle in Monmothshire and others which it concerns me not to speak of Alan upon the relation of Cadwallader his vision or dream counselled him to fullfil the will of God who did so and taking his journey to Rome lived there eight years in the service of God and dyed in the year of Christ 688. So that the Brittains ruled this Isle with the out-Isles of Wight Mon in English called Anglesey Manaw in English Man Orkney and Ewyst 1137. years before Christ until the year of his Incarnation 688. and thus ended the rule of the Brittains over the whole Isle This glorious King bore for his armes Azure a crosse firmie fitched Or. He slew Lothayre King of Kent and Aethelwald King of the South Saxons Ivor the son of Alan After Cadwallader had taken his journey towards Rome Gerard Leigh in his accidence of armory fol. 33. leaving his son named Edwal the Roo and his people with his Cousin Alan which Alan taking courage to him and not despairing of the conquest of Brittain manned his ships as well with a great number of his own people as with those which Cadwallader had brought with him and appointed Ivor his son and Inyr his Nephew to be leaders and chieftains of the same who sailing over the narrow seas landed in the West parts of Brittain of whose arrival when the Saxons were certified they gathered a great Army and gave Ivor battail where they were put to flight and lost a great number of their people and Ivor wan the Countries of Cornwall Devonshire and Somersetshire and peopled them with Brittains Whereupon Kentwinus King of West-Sex gathered a great number of Saxons and Angles together and came against the Brittains which were ready to abide the battail and as the armies were both in sight they were not very desirous to fight but fell to a composition and agreement that Ivor should take Ethelburga to wife who was Cofin to Kentwin and quietly enjoy all that he had during the reign of Ivor This Ivor is he whom our English Chronicles call Ive or Jew King of West Saxons H. Lhoyd that reigned after Cedwel and they say that he was a Saxon for Kentwin reigned full five years after Ivors coming into England and after him his Nephew Cedwel who after he had reigned over the west Saxons two years went to Rome and left his Kingdom to Ive his Cousin This Ive or Ivor whom the Brittains call the son of Alan and the Saxons the son of Kenred being King of the Saxons and Brittains which inhabited the West parts of Brittain after many victories atchived against the Kings of Kent Southsex and Mercia left his Kingdome to Adelred or as some call him Adelerdus his Cousin and took his journey to Rome where he made a godly end about the year of our Lord seven hundred and twenty Roderike or Rodri the Son of Edwal Yworch Roderike over the Brittains began his reign Anno. 720. against whom Adelred King of the West Saxons raised a great Army and destroying the Country of Devonshire The Brittains victorious against the Saxons in three battails entered Cornwall where Roderike with the Brittains gave him battail in with the Brittains had the victory over the Saxons the year after the Brittains obtained two other victories over the Saxons one in Northwales at a place called Garth Maelawc and an other in Southwales at Pencoed At this time Belin the Son of Elphin a noble Man among the Brittains died Ethelbaldus King of Mercia desirous to annex the fertile soil of the Country lying between Severn and Wye to his own Kingdom gathered an Army and entered into Wales A battail near Abergevenny and destroying all before him he came to the Mountain Carno not far from Abergevenny where a sore battail was fought between him and the Brittains Anno seven hundred twenty eight This Mercian King called to his aid Adelard King of the West Saxons and gave battail to the Brittains where after a long and terrible conflict he obtained a bloody victory
And the next year after he gave the Brittains an other overthrow and then departed this life About this time died Theodor the Son of Belin a Man of great estimation among the Brittains Not long after there was a great battail fought betwixt the Brittains and the Picts at a place called Magedawc where the King of the Picts was slain About this time Rodri or Roderike Molwynoc was driven by the Saxons to forsake the West Country and to come to seek his own inheritance in Northwales where ruled at that time the Children of Bletius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwall and Devonshire who was one of them that gave Adelred and Ethelbert the overthrow at Bangor upon the River De and injoyed the Government of Northwales ever since Cadvan was chosen King of Brittain untill this time Powels Chronic fol. 16. By this history it should seem saith my Author that the Brittains continued their Government in the VVest part of Lhoegria untill this time But surely the consent in a manner of all writers is that the Brittish Kingdom ended in Cadwalader after whom the Brittains had nothing to do beyond Severne being constrained to keep themselves within the Countries of Cambria and Cornubia It is also written by divers that Ivor and Inir at their first arriving in Brittain were expelled by the Saxons and driven into Wales where Ivor ruled as Prince many years whom this Rodri the Son of Edwal the Son of Cadwalader succeeded VVhen Rodri or Roderike the King of the Brittains had reigned above 30. years he died leaving two Sons after him Conan Tindaythwy and Howel Conan Tindaythwy the Son of Roderike Conan Tindaythwy began his reign over the Brittains Anno Domini 755. About two years after there was a great battail fought at Hereford between the Brittains and the Saxons where Dyfnwal the Son of Theodor was slain Jo. Castorius In the year 776 the men of Southwales destroyed a great part of Mercia with fire sword and the summer following all the Welshmen gathered together and entered the Kingdom of Mercia and did much harm The Saxons which bordered upon the Country of Cambria or Wales did daily encroach upon the Lands of the Welshmen beyond Severn especially towards the South part of the Country Wherefore the natives put themselves in armour and set upon the Saxons and chased them over Severn again and then returned home with great prey and booty and thus they did oftentimes killing and destroying all before them and alwaies bringing home with them much Cattel which thing caused Offa to conclude a peace with other Saxon Kings and to bend his whole force against the Welshmen Whereupon Offa King of Mercia caused a great ditch to be made large and deep from Sea to Sea Powel John Castor Math. West betwixt his Kingdom and Wales whereby he might the better defend his Country from the incursions of the Welshmen And this ditch is to be seen in many places as yet and is called Clawdh Offa Viz. Offa's ditch at this day Offa's ditch Shrewsbury the ancient Court of the Welsh Princes of Powys After Offa had made this deep ditch and chased the Welshmen from the plain Countries unto the Woods and Mountains the seat of the Kings of Powys was translated from Pengweru now called Salop or Shrewsbury to Marthrual where it continued long after About the year 795 there was a battail fought at Ruthlan between the Saxons and the Welshmen where Caradoc King of Northwales was slain This Carodoc was the son of Gwin the son of Golhoyn the son of Ednowen the son of Blethin the son of Bletius or Cledericus Prince of Cornwal and Devonshire Nole In the year 800. died Arthen the son of Sitsylth the son of Clydawc King of Cardigan and Run King of Dinet and Kadelch King of Powis died in the year 808. This was a troublesome time and as yet no staid government in Wales and therefore such as were chief Lords in any country were called Kings In the year 810. the Moon was Ecclipsed on Christmas day and the same year St. Davids was burnt by the Saxons There was also a general murrain and death of Cattel throughout all Wales the next year ensuing Owen the son of Meredith the son o◠Terudos died the Castle of Degaunwy was destroyed with thunder Conan Prince of Wales and his brother Howel fell at variance in somuch that they tryed the matter by battail wherein Howel had the victory This Howel the brother of Conan King or Prince of Northwales did claim the Isle of Môn or Anglesey for part of his fathers inheritance which Conan refused to give him and thereupon they fell at variance and consequently to make war the one against the other The next year there was much hurt done by thunder in divers places many houses burnt to the earth The same year dyed Gruffith the son of Run and Griffri the son of Kyngen was slain by the treason of Elico his brother Howel gave his brother Conan another battail and slew a great number of his people whereupon Conan levied an army in the year 817 and chased his brother Howel out of Anglesey compelling him to fly into Man And a little after died Conan chief King of the Brittains or Welshmen leaving behind him a daughter called Esylht who was marryed to a Noble man called Mervin Vrich the son of Gwyriad or Vriet the son of Elidur and so forth in the right line to Belinus the brother of Brennus King of the Brittains and his mother was Nest the daughter of Cadelth King of Powis the son of Brochwel Yscithroc that fought with the Saxons at Bangor who was Prince of Powis This Brochwel is called by the Latine writers Brecinellus and Brochmaelus of whom Galfride J. Cast Math. West Mr. Powel fol. 22. saith Mr Powel I find thus written in Historia Divae Monacellae Fuit olim in Powisia quidam princeps illustrissimus nomine Brochwel Yscithroc Consul Legecestriae qui in Vrbe tunc temporis Pengwern Powis nunc vero Salopia dicta est habitabat cujus domicilium seu habitaculum ibi steterat ubi Collegium Divi Ceddae nunc situm est That is There was sometimes in Powis a Noble Prince named Brochwel Yscithroc Consul or Earl of Chester who dwelt in a town then called Pengwern Powis and now Salop whose dwelling house was in the very same place where the Colledge of St. Chad now standeth This man with Cadvan King of Brittain Morgan King of Demetia and Bledericus King of Cornwall gave an overthrow to Ethelfred King of Northumberland upon the river Dee an 617. of whom the Ancestours of divers in Wales living at this day are known by ancient books and records to have descended Mervin Vrich and Esylht the Daughter of Conan The first year of the reign of Mervin Vrich and Esylht his wife Egbert King of the Saxons entered into VVales with a great and puissant army and destroyed the whole Country unto
number of Lay brethren of that house which lived by the labour of their hands This Brochwel retired over Dee hard by Bangor and defended the Saxons passage till Cadvan King of Northwales Meredith King of Southwales 1066. Saxons slain by the Brittains and Bledrus or Bletius Prince of Cornwall came to succour him and gave the Saxons a sore battail and slew of them the number of 1066. and put the rest to flight After which battail Cadvan was chosen King of Brittain and was chief ruler within the Isle after whom his son Cadwallon who was father to Cadwallador the last of the Brittish blood that bare the name of King of Brittain This was writ by a Northwales man but Southwales far exceedeth it for beauty profit and pleasure was King The third time that Northwales came to a Woman was to Esylht daughter to Conan Tindaythwy the son of Edwal Ywrch the son of Cadwalador She was wife to Mervin Vrich and Mother to Roderike the great as hereafter shall be declared By this you may understand that Northwales hath been a great while the chiefest seat of the last Kings of Brittain it was and is the strongest countrey within this Isle full of high mountains craggy rocks great Woods and deep valleyes straight and dangerous places deep and swift Rivers as Dev which springeth in the hills of Merioneth and runneth Northwest through Mouthwy and by Machinlaeth and so to the sea at Aberdini dividing North and Southwales asunder d ee called in Welsh Dourdwy springeth also in an other side of the said hills runneth East through Penlhin and the lake Tisgyd down to Corwen and Lhangolhen between Chirkland and Bromfield where it boweth Northward toward Bangor to Holt and to Chester and thence Northwest to Flint Castle and so to the sea There is also Conwel rising likewise in Merionithshire and dividing Caernarvon from Denbighshire runneth under Suowdon North-east by the Town of Aberconwey to the sea Also Clwyd which rising in Denbighland runneth down to Kuthin and plain North not far from Denbigh to St. Asaph and so by Kuthlan and to the sea there be many other fair Rivers of which some run to the sea as Mawr at Traethmawr and Avon Y Saint at Caernarvon and others that run to Severn as Murnwy in Powis and to Murny Tanat some other to d ee as Ceirioc betwixt the Lordships of Chirk and Wittington Alin through Yal and Moldes dale and Hopedale and so to Dee a little above Chester And this shal suffice for the perfect description of that which in old time was called Gwineth and Powis and at these dayes the six Shires of Northwales Now remaineth the last Kingdom of Wales called Dinevowr which although it was the greatest Dinevour yet was it not the best as Giraldus writeth chiefly because it was most molested by Flemmings and Normans and also that in divers parts thereof the Lords would not obey their Prince as in Gwent and in Morganwc which wrought their own confusion as shall hereafter appear This was divided into six parts of which Caredigion was the first and contained four Cantrefs and ten comots Caerdigion as Cantref Penwedic had in it these comots Geneurglin Perueth and Crenthin Cantref Canawl had these Mevenith Anhunoc and Pennarch Cantref Castelh had these comots Mabwinion and Caerwedros Cantref Sirwen had these Gwenionith and Iscoed and this part is at this day called in English Caerdiganshire and in Welsh Swidh Aberleini This is a champion country without much wood and hath been divers times overcome by Flemmings and Normans who builded many Castles in it and at last were beaten out of them all It hath on the East Northwales with the River Dini and part of Powis upon the South Caermarthenshire upon the West Pembrockshire with the river Teini and upon the North the Irish sea In this part is the Town of Cardigan upon Teini not far from the sea The Town of Aberystwyth upon the river Ystwith by the sea and Lhanbadern Vawr which was a great Sanctuary and a place of religious and learned men in times past and in this Shire was a great number of Castles as the Castle of Strat Meyric of Walter of Lhanristed of Dynerth of the sons of Mineaon of Aber Reidol and many more with the Towns of Tregaron Lhandhewibreni as you shall understand hereafter The second part was call Dinot and at this day Pembrockshire and had in it eight cantrefs and 23. comots which where these cantref Emlin that had these comots Vwchluch Iscutch and Lenethir Cantref Arberth had these Penrhin or Elays Esterolet and Talacaarn Cantref Dangeld had these Amgoed Pennant and Eudfre Cantref Ycoed had these Lhanhayaden and Castelh Gwis Cantref Penvro had these Coedychaf Maenorbyir and Penvro Cantref Ros had these Hulfforth Castelh Gwalhmai and Ygarne Cantref Pubidioc had these Miniw Pencaer and Pebidioc Cantref Cemas hath these Vwchnener Isnener and Trefdracth In these parts are divers towns and havens at this day as Pembroch Tenby in Welsh Denbigh Y Pis Heref. in welsh Hulforth with the fair haven of Milford called in Welsh Aberdangeldhen S. Davids or Menevia called in Welsh Miniw the chiefest see in all Wales Then Friscare called Abergwain Newport named Trefdraeth these be along the sea coast and not very far of besides these there be divers Castles as Cilgarran Arberth Gwys Lanhayaden Walwin and divers others This part was wan first by the Montgomeries Earls of Shrewsbery and after given to the Marshalls and so to Valence and from thence to the Princes of Wales most troubled with the Normans and Flemmings who do remain and inhabit about Pembrock Tenbie and in Ros to this day which can neither speak Welsh nor good English as yet Dinet for so I will call it hereafter hath on the West and the North the Irish sea upon the South the Spanish sea and upon the East Caermarthenshire and on the North-East Caerdiganshire The third part of Caermardhinshire having 4 cantrefs and 15. comots as cantref Finioc with the comots of Harfryn Dervedh and Isgeneny Cantref Eginoc with these Gwir now in Glamorganshire Cidwel and Carnwillheon Cantref Baehan with these Melhaen Caeo and Maenor Deilo Cantref Mawr with these Cethineoc comot Mab Elvyw comot Mab Vchdrid and Widigada In this Shire are the Townes and Castles of Caermadhin Dinevowr which was the Princes seat of that Country Newton Lhandeilo Lhauymdhyfry Elmin Swansey now in Glamorganshire called in welsh Abertawy upon the sea the Castle of the sons of Vchtryd of Lhanstephan and others It hath upon the West Dinet or Pembrockshire on th North Caerdigâ—â—shire upon the Southwest the sea and upon the Southeast Glamorgan and upon the East Brechnockshire This is counted the strongest part of all Southwales as that which is full of high mountains great Woods and fair rivers specially Tywy In this and in the other two parts of Southwales were the notablest acts that their History treateth of atchived and done The fourth called
contains in it 248. Parishes and in them 18. Market Towns the chief whereof is Dorchester as that which doth denominate the whole County A Town not much famous for much else then that it hath long been and doth still continue the honorary title of those noble Personages which have been severally Marquesses and Earls OF DORSET 1 Osmond de Sees E. 2 John Beaufort Marquess L. Adm. 3 Thomas Beaufort Earl Duke of Exceter Lord Chancellor and Lord Admiral 4 Edmund Beaufort E. and Marque 5 Henry Beaufort Marq. 6 Edmund Beaufort Marq. 7 Thomas Grey Marq. 8 Thomas Grey Marq. 9 Henry Grey Marq. D. of Suffolk 10 Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst created Earl of Dorset 10 Jacobi Lord Treasurer and Chancellour of Oxford 11 Robert Sackvile E. 12 Richard Sackvile E. 13 Edward Sackvile E. Lord Chamberlain to the Queen 14 Edward Sackvile now Earl of Dorset 1661. The Earles of Salisbury and Exceter RObert Sitsylt came into Wales with Robert Fitz Hamon who conquered Jestin Prince of Glamorganshire an inheretrix by whom he had Halterennis and other lands in Herefordshire and Glocestershire James Sitsylt Esq  Iohn Sitsylt Esq The Lady Maud de Frenes Eustace Sitsylt Esq Elianor daughter to Sir VVill. Pembridge Knight Sir Baldwin Sitsylt Knight temp Hen. secundi daughter to Maurice de Brampton Esq Gerald Sitsylt Esq Mavil daughter to Sir Moygne Knight Robert Sitsylt Esq Alice daughter to Sir Rob. Trogois Knight James Sitsylt Esq Isabell daughter to Sir John Knell Knight Gerald Sitsylt Esq Margaret Daughter to Stephan de Ber. John Sitsylt Esq Sibil daughter to Robert of Ewyas Esquire Sir John Sitsylt Knight Alicia sister to Sir Richard Baskervile Knight Iohn Sitsylt Esq Jone daughter to sir Richard Monington Knight Thomas Sitsylt Esq Margaret daughter and heir to Gilbert de Winston Esq Philip Sitsylt Esq Margaret daughter to Iohn Philips Esq Richard Sitsylt Knight Cecil Esq Margaret daughter to Philip Vaughan Esq David Cecil Esq  Sir William Cecil Baron Burley Knight of the Garter c. Mary sister to Sir Iohn Cheek Kt. Rob. Cecil E. of Salisbury Elizab. d. to W. Brook L. of Cob. Will. Cecil E. of Salisbury 1661 Katherine d. to Tho. Howard E. of Suffolk Charles Lord Cranbourne Iane daughter to Maxwell Esq groom of the bed-Chamber to K. Charles of glorious memory Tho. Cecil E. of Exceter Dorothy d. and co-h to I. Nevil L Latimer Will Cecil E. of â—xceter Eliz. d h. of Ed. Mannors E. of Rutland D. Cecil now E of Exceter 1661 descended from a younger son of William L. Burley Eliz. d. to Iohn Egerton Earl of Bridgwater SALISBURY Salisbury is the chief City of Wilts it was at first seated high upon an hill as being a place designed for strength and war yet honoured for a while with a Bishops See and a fair Cathedral But the Bishops and the Clergy finding no good quarter amongst the Soldiers which were there in Garrison and being destitute of water upon so high an hill about the time of Rich. I. began to leave it and plant themselves down lower by the water-side being once setled there and raising a new Cathedral for Gods publick service the people also followed after and left old Sarum to it self which in short time became so totally deserted that now the ruines of it are hardly visible but for new Salisbury that grew up presently to a great renowne pleasantly seated on the river with water in every street thereof and for the populousness of the place plenty of provision and spacious market place and a fair Town hall is esteemed to be the second City of all that Tract and which adds no small lustre to it a place that hath been very fortunate in those eminent persons on whom the Kings of England have bestowed the title of Earls of Salisbury Earles of Salisbury Patrick d' Eureux Will. d' Eureux VVill Longespee base son to K. Henry 2. who married Ella daughter of VVill. d' Eureux VVilliam Longespee VVill. de Montacute VVill. de Mont. John de Mont. Tho. de Mont. Richard Nevil who married Elianor daughter of Thomas Mont. Lord Ch. Richard Nevil Earl of VVarwick George Duke of Clarence who maried Isabel daughter of Richard Earl of VVarwick Edward eldest son of King Richard 3. and Anne the second daughter of Richard Nevil Margaret daughter of George Duke of Clarence created Countess of Salisbury by King Henry 8. Robert Cecil Viscount Crambourne created Earl of Salisbury 3. Jacob. VVilliam Cecil now Earl of Salisbury 1661. EXCETER Exceter is now the chief City of Devonshire a fair and goodly seat it is placed upon the Eastern bank of the River Ex from whence it had the name of Exceter In circuit it contains within the walls about a mile and a half besides the suburbs which every way stretch out to a great length and in the circuit there are numbered fifteen Parish Churches besides the Cathedral the whole environed with deep ditches and very stronge wals having many Towers therein very well disposed and yet the animosity of the Inhabitants is a greater strength unto it then the walls or ditches whereof they have given notable proof in these later times to their great honour here followeth a Catologue of the Dukes Marquesses and Earles John Holland E. of Huntington made Duke of Exceter by Richard 2. Thomas Beaufort E. of Dorset Lord Ch. and Adm. made Duke of Exceter by King Henry 5. Iohn Holland Duke Lord Adm. Henry Holland Duke Lord Adm. Henry Courtney E. of Devon created Marquesse of Exceter by K. Henry 8. Thomas Cecil Lord Burley created Earl of Exceter 3. Jaco VVilliam Cecil David Cecil now Earl 1661. THE SECOND BOOK Arma Paterna year 877 ANARAWD the Son of Roderick began his Reign over VVales in the year of Christ 877. year 878 The year 878. died Fedan the son of Melht a noble man of VVales and the second year following there was a great Battel fought by the Danes and the Englishmen of Mercia against the Welshmen upon the River Conway where the VVelshmen had the Victory and this was called the Revenge of the Death of Roderick year 879 About this time Eveneth the Son of Bledrid a Baron of VVales died Forrain and alwaies pernicious and Anarawd King or Prince of North-Wales came with a great Army of English-men and made War against his Brother Cadeth and spoiled the country of Caerdigan and Ystradgwy The Danes being put hard to their shifts by Alfred left their Wives and children in Essex and passed spoiling the Land to * Forsan Cowbridge Quadbridge upon Severn and so passed the River and spoiled the countries of Brechnock Gwentland and Gwenthwg About the year 900. Igmond with a great number of Souldiers came to Anglesey and the Welshmen gaue him a Battel at Molerein There be some Brittish Copies of this History which affirm that this battel between Igmond Captain of the black Nations and the Brittains wherein Mervin was slain was
fought at a place called Meilon of the which it was called Maes Rhos Meilon year 907 The year 907. died Cadeth King or Prince of South-Wales third Son to Roderick the Great leaving behinde him three Sons Howel Dha that is to say Howel the Good who succeded his Father in the Kingdome of South-Wales Meyric and Clydawc Shortly after there came a great Navy from Tydwick with Vther and Rahald and past the Western Sea to Wales and destroyed Saint Davids and there fought the Battel Dinerth where Mayloc the Son of Peredur Gam was slain year 913 In the year 913 Anaawd chief King of Wales dyed and left behinde him two Sons Edwal Voel who reigned after him and Elise 〈…〉 Mr. Mills fol. 292. Anno 877. Mr. Mills differeth here from Mr. Powel the one setting Voel the other Mervin to succeed I will therefore set down both Writings the former of these two saith Mervin the first begotten son of Rhoderick the Great Prince of all VVales by the Gift and Grant of his Father was made Lord or Prince of that Country of Wales which the Inhabitants call Gwyneth the Englishmen North-VVales and the Latines Venedotia This province was divided into four countries or quarters which contained fifteen Cantreds This word Cantred being compounded of the Brittish and Irish Language is said to be such a portion of Land as may contain an hundred Villages The chief and principal place of this Country was the Isle of Anglesey or Mon and in Aberfraw a city thereof was the Royal pallace of the Kings of North-VVales now the reason why the Kings of Gwyneth were called Kings of Aberfraw was for that in the Laws of the good Howel Prince and Law-giver it was decreed That as the Kings of Aberfraw ought of Right to pay threescore and three pounds in way of Tribute to the King of London so the King of Dynefur and Mathraval should also be hound in like manner to pay the like mony unto the King of Aberfraw as it were also by way of Tribute by vvhich it appeareth that this Lord vvas the chief Prince of VVales The VVife of Mervin the Son of Roderick Prince of Venedotia or North-VVales thus saith Mr. Mills but names her not Their Issue Idwallo surnamed Voel Prince of Venedotia Edwal Voel Ut ante After that Edwal Voel began his Dominion over North-Wales Mr. Powel fol. 46. Howel Dha being King or Prince of South-VVales and Powis land a terrible Comet appeared in the Firmament at which time the year following Leicester was nevv built year 917 The next year follovving the men of Denelm did destroy the Isle of Môn or Anglesey and the year 917. Clydawc the Son of Cadeth vvas slain by the hands of his brother Meyric and about the same time the Englishmen did overthrovv the Danes Much about this time Elfled Dutchess of Mercia sent her vvhole Army into VVales Ren. Cest Math. West Hel. pa. 222. and fought vvith the VVelshmen and vvan Brecknock and took the Queen and three and thirty men This vvas it vvhich is called in VVelsh Gweythy Dinas Newydh that is to say The battel of the new Citty also she vvon the Tovvn of Derby John Castoreus reporteth this story in this manner Huganus Lord of VVest VVales Jo. Cast perceiving King Edward to be occupied in the Danish VVar far enough from him gathered an Army of Brittains and entred the Kings Land whereupon Elfled Lady of Mercia and Sister to King Edward came to Wales with a strong Army and fought with the Welshmen at Brecknock and putting Huganus to flight took his Wife and thirty four Captives and led them with her to Mercia Huganus thus discomfited fled to Derby and there being peaceably entertained of the Countrymen with fifteen men of War and two hundred Souldiers well appointed joyned himself with the Kings adversaries the Danes of which thing when Elfled was certified by the men of Derby she followed him with a great Army and entred the Gates of that Town where Huganus resisted her and slew four of her chief Officers But Gwyane Lord of the Isle of Ely her Steward set the Gates on fire and furiously running upon the Brittains entred the Town then Huganus being overmatched A stout resolution of a valiant Welshman and choosing rather to dye by the Sword then to yield himself to a Woman was there slain The same Authour also reporteth that about this time Leofred a Dane and Gruffith of Madoc Brother in Law to the Prince of West Wales came to Ireland with a great Army to Snowdon and minding to bring all Wales and the Marches thereof to their subjection overran and subdued all the Countrey to Chester before King Edward could be certified of their Arrival whereat he was much discontented and being loth to trouble his subjctes in that behalf made a vow that he and his Sons with their own people would he revenged on Leofred and Gruffith and thereupon came to Chester and wan the City from them after which he divided his army into two Battails whereof he and his Son Athelstane led the first and Edmund and Eldred the second and so followed them with as much celerity as he could and overtook them at the Forrest of Walewood now Sherwood where Leofred and Cruffith set upon him fiercely so that the King in the beginning was in some Distress until Athelstane stepped in between his Father and Leofred and wounded the Dane in the arme in such sort that he being not able to hold his spear was soon taken and committed to the custody of Athelstane In the mean time Edmund and Edred encountring with Gruffith slew him and brought his head to their Father Then Athelstane caused Leofred to be beheaded and so both their heads were set up together on the top of the Tower of Chester The year 933. Owen the Son of Gruffith was slain by the men of Cardigan 933. Wil. Malmsh Hol. p. 225. Jo. Cast Mat. West Ren. Cest Pâ—wâ—l fol. â—50 The Bâ—â—tains removed into Cornwal Math West Hol. pag. 226. Then Athelstane did enter Wales with a great Army and brought the Kings of the Country to subjection and received yearly of Tribute twenty pounds in gold and three hundred paid in silver and two hundred head of Cattel yet the Laws of Howel appointed to the King of Aberfraw to pay yearly to the King of London no more but sixty six pounds for a Tribute and that the Prince of Dinevowre and the Prince of Powis should pay a like summ of sixty six pounds yearly to the King of Aberfraw In the year 936. dyed Euneth the son of Clydawc and Meiric the son of Cadeth at this time also Athelstane did remove the Brittains that dwelt in Exeter and thereabouts to Cornwal and appointed the River Cambria to be the utter Mere towards England as he had before appointed the River Wy to be the Mere of England and Wales About the year 940. Cadeth the son of Arthvael a noble
the cause ended This shall be sufficient for this time Some Authors write that Lhewelin ap Sitsylht who was after Prince of Wales assisted Edmund a Saxon King and entered Cumberland taking the two sons of Dummaille King of the Province put out their eyes and then gave that Country to Malcolme to be holden of him with condition to keep the North part of the Realm from incursion of enemies the which condition was afterwards but slenderly peformed This Malcome was the son of Donald King of Scotland and was the next King after Constantine the third being in number the 76. In the year 942. died Hubert Bishop of St. Davids and the year following Marclois Bishop of Bangor and Vssa the son of Lhavyr died the year 944. the Englishmen entered Wales with a stronge army and spoyled Strad Clwid and returned home At which time Conan the son of Elise was put in danger of death by poyson and Everus Bishop of St. Davids died In the year 948 died Howel Dha the noble and worthy King or Prince of Wales whose death was much lamented by all men for he was a Prince that loved peace and good order and that feared God he left behind him four sons Owen Run Roderike and Edwin betwixt whom and the sons of Edwal there ensued great wars for the chief rule of Wales as shall appear in the history following After the death of Howel Dha his sons did divide Southwales and Powis betwixt them And Janaf and Jago the second and third sons of Edwal Voel ruled North VVales because their elder brother Meyric was not a man worthy to rule who coming of the elder house would have had the chief rule of all Wales which the sons of Howel Dha denyed them And thereupon Jago or James and Janaf entred Southwales with a great power against whom came Owen the son of Howel and his brethren and fought together at the hills of Carno where Jago and Janaf had the victory And the year following the said brethren did twice enter into Southwales and spoyled Dinet and slew Dwnwalhon Lord thereof And within a while after dyed Roderike one of the sons of Howel Dha year 952 In the year 952. the sons of Howel gathered their strength together against Janaf and Jago and entred their land at the river of Conwy where they fought a cruel battail at a place called Gurgustu or Lhanrwst as some think where a great number were slain upon either side as Anarawd the son of Gwyriad or Vriel the son of Roderike the great and Edwin the son of Howel Dha in the which battail were overthrown the sons of Howel whom Janaf Jago pursued to Caerdigan destroyed their Country vvith fire svvord About this time Yarthyr the son of Mervyn vvas drovvned In the year 958 was a wonderful hot summer when Gwyan the son of Gwiriad the son of Roderike dyed After the which heat there followed a great plague in March ensuing In those dayes Jago and Janaf by force and strength ruled all Wales as they thought good And yet for all their power Abloic King of Ireland landed in Môn and having burnt Holyhead spoyled the country of Lhyyn year 961 In the year 961 the sons of Edwin the son of Colhoyn were slain after they had destroyed all the country to Towyn About this time Meyric the son of Cadvan Rytherch Bishop of St. Davids and Cadwalhon ap Owen departed out of this transitory life Not long after the country of Northwales was exceedingly spoyled by the army of Edgar King of England The cause of this was the not payment of the tribute that the King of Abersfraw by the lawes of Howel Dha was to pay to the Kings of London in the end there was a peace concluded Jo. Cast Holl. pag. 232. Wolves destroyed by the Prince of W. for King Edgar understanding what hurt the Countrys of England and Wales received daily by reason of the great multitude of Wolves that then abounded especially in Wales which destroyed much sheep and otherwayes did great harme released the tribute of money appointed by the said lawes of Howel Dha and bound the Princes of Northwales to pay him yearly certain Wolves for his tribute so to be released of the other tribute in mony which the said Prince performed untill he had left never a Wolf in all Wales or England year 966 In the year 966. Roderike the son of Edwal Voel was slain by the Irishmen by whom Abersfraw was destroyed The next year after fell a great debate betwixt the two sons of Edwal Jago and Janaf which had ruled joyntly together from the death of Howel Dha till that time and shortly after Jago having taken his brother Janaf by force very cruelly kept him in prison a long time about the which time Eneon the son of Owen Prince of Southwales wan seised to himself the land of Gwyr And in the year â—69 Machis the son of Haroald with an army of Danes did enter into Anglesey and â—poyled 〈◊〉 year 969 Theâ—â— â—â—â—nes were suffered by Edgar to inhabit quietly through all England till they â—â—re as strong as the Englishmen and then they fell to such ryotousness and drinking that â—â—ch mischief ensued thereof A law against immoderate drinking whereupon Edgar made a law that every man should drink by measure and caused a certain mark to be set in every pot how deep they should drink and so by these means he somewhat stayed the immoderate ingurgation Not long after that Godfryd the son of Haroald did subdue to himself the whole Isle of Anglesey which he enâ—oyed not long year 972 King Edgar likewise in the year 972 did send a great army to Gaâ—â—â—â—on upon Vsk which shortly turned back without doing any notable act Caerleon upon Vsk The next year following Howel the son of Janaf raised a great power against his Uncle Jago for the deliverance of his father out of prison and overcame his Uncle in fight whom he chased out of the land and took his eldest Unckle Meyric the son of Edwal and put out both his eyes and kept him in prison where he dyed shortly after leaving behind him two sons Edwal and Jonaval of the which Edwal came afterwards the most worthy Princes of Wales Howel notwithstanding he had set his father at liberty yet took upon himself the whole rule of the land for his lifetime He had three brethren all men of great estimation Meyrich Janaf and Cadwallon whose lines shall ensue hereafter Howel Son of Janaf After that Howel the son of Janaf had expelled his Uncle from the land Dunwalhon goes to Rome he took the rule to himself And at that time Dwnwalhon Prince of Strad Cwlyd took his journey to Rome Then dyed Edwalhon the son of Owen year 976 The year 976 Eneon the son of Owen King of Southwales destroyed the land of Gwyr the second time the year ensuing Howel the son of Janaf with a great army both of Welshmen
to the Government and sought the rule of the Land as Conan the son of Howel and Aedan the son of Blegored who tried the matter in open field where Conan was slain in the year 1003. I do not know saith my Author neither could I ever finde what colour or pretence of Title this Aedan ap Blegored had to the principality of Northwales nor yet of whom he de cended or who descended from him whereas all the other Princes are notoriosly known of what families they did descend and who from them neither yet do I read of any Blegored whose son he was except it be that Doctor of Law of whom mention is made in the Laws of Howel Dha whose estate was too mean to challenge a principality he is reported to have governed about twelve years Of his Acts by him atchieved there is very little written saving of those two battails the one wherein he overcame Conan ap Howel and the other wherein he was overcome himself and slain with his four sons by Lhewellin ap Sitsylht In the year 1015. Lhewelin the Son of Sitsylht raised a great power against Aedan who by force had taken upon him the rule of Northwales and slew him with his four sons in battel and having no respect to Jago or James the son of Edwal the right heir took upon him the name and authority of King of Wales This Lhewellin was descended from the Kings of Wales by his mothers side whose name was Trawst daughter to Elise second son to Anarawd which was eldest son to Roderik the great who also had to wife Angharac the only daughter of Meredith Prince of Southwales and so by these means he claimed and enjoyed the right of either country as hereafter shall be shewed Lhewellin the son of Sitsylht and Angharat the Daughter of Meredith After that Lhewellin son of Sitsylht had taken into his hands the government of Wales all things did prosper in the Land for the earth brought forth double to the time before passed the people prospered in all their affairs and multiplyed wonderfully the cattel encreased in great number so that there was neither begger nor poor man from the South to the North sea but every man had plenty every house a dweller and every Town inhabitants In the year 1019. Meyric the son of Arthpoel did raise a great army against Lhewelin King or Prince of VVales which met with him in the field and manfully slew him and discomfited his people In the year 1020. a certain Son of low birth came to Southwales and named himself Run the son of Meredith their late King whom the Nobility which loved not Lhewelin exalted to the regal Throne and took him for their King which thing when Lhewelin heard he gathered his power in Northwales and came towards the supposed Run who had gotten all the strength of Southwales together at Abergwili where with great pride he abode the coming of Lhewelin but when both the armies met and were ready to joyn Run full of brags and cracks encouraged his people to fight promising them the Victory yet he himself following the Proverb which biddeth a man to set on his dog and not to run after him set on his people to fight it to the uttermost and withdrew himself privately out of the way whereas upon the contrary part Lhewelin like a bold and couragious Prince came before his people calling for the vile Scot Run that durst so bely a Princes Blood and so both the Armyes joyned together with much malice and hatred for the one party was so couragious to defend the quarrel of so worthy a Prince of their own blood as the other was obstinate in the cause of a stranger in the end after great slaughter upon either part the Northwales men remembring their old Victories and encouraged by the prowess of their Prince put their enemies to flight and pursued Run so narrowly that all his Scottish shifts could not save his life and returned home with great spoil and prey Then Lhewelin ruled all the land quietly till the year following he was slain by Howel and Meredith the Sons of Edwin leaving behinde him a son named Griffith ap Lhewelin After the death of Lhewelin Jago or James the son of Edwal took upon him the rule of Northwales as right heir thereof and Rytherick the son of Jestin governed Southwales by strong hand year 1031 About the year 1031. the Irish Scots entred Southwales by the means of Howel and Meredith the sons of Edwin ap Eneon ap Owen ap Howel Dha who hired them against Rytherick ap Jestin whom they discomfited and slew and by that means attained unto the government of Southwales which they two ruled jointly but yet with small quietness for the sons of Rytherick gathered a number of such as were their fathers friends to avenge his death with whom Howel and Meredith met at Hyarthwy and after long fight put them to flight But in the year following Meredith was slain by the sons of Conan the Son of Sitsylt brother to the worthy Prince Lhewelin to revenge their fathers death whom Meredith and his Brother had slain The year next ensuing certain Englishmen entred the Land of Gwent with whom Rytherick ap Jestin fought and was by them slain In the year 1037. Gruffith the son of Lhewelin ap Sitsylt sometime King of Wales raised a great number of people against Jago then enjoying the Principality or Kingdom of Northwales whom Jago likewise provided for as well as he could but the more part better souldiers were of Gruffiths side for the love they bare to his Father which afterward well appeared for the Armies meeting Jago was soon overthrown and slain This Jago left behind him a son called Conan by his wife Avandred daughter to Gweir the son of Pilh Gruffith ap Lhewlyn ap Sitsylt and Angharat Gruffith ap Lhewlin after he had slain Jago governed Northwales worthily in all things following his fathers steps who overcame both the Danes and the Englishmen divers times and defended his Country and people manfully all his reign In the first year of his government he fought with the Englishmen and Danes at Crosford upon Severn and put them to flight and from thence he led his army to Lhanpadarn Vawr in Caerdiganshire and destroyed it utterly and from thence passed all Southwales throughout and received the people to his subjection for Howel ap Edwin their King fled before his face and forsook the land This Howel procured Edwin the brother of Leofrike Earl of Chester or Mercia to come with an army of Englishmen and Danes to his aid against Prince Gruffith who met his enemies in the field and overcame them and slew the said Edwin but Howel escaped by flight after the which victory Gruffith made sundry invasions upon the Marshes toward Hereford and alwayes returned with great spoyles year 1038 When Gruffith had brought all Wale under his dominion he returned to Northwales again The year ensuing
shall find James King of England to have descended from the Welsh blood year 1054 In the year 1054 Gruffith the son of Rythrick ap Iestyn did gather a great army as well of strangers as of others against Gruffith ap Lhewelyn King or Prince of VVales but commonly called King of Northwales who detracting no time meeting him fought with him and slew him Shortly after Algar Earl of Chester being convicted of Treason against the King fled to Gruffith into VVales who gathered his power to revenge the Wrongs which he had received at the Englishmens hands who ever succoured his enemies against him Therefore he together vvith Algar entred Herefordshire and spoiled all the vvay vvith fire and svvord to the City whether all the people had fled and they boldly issued forth Earl Randulf being their leader and gave him battel which Gruffith wished for above any other things as he that had won five set battels and couragiously receiving his Enemies fought with them which fight was long and doubtfull till such time as Gruffith encouraged his people with the remembrance of the prowess and worthy Acts of the ancient Brittains their forefathers saying that they were the same enemies whose backs they had so often seen formerly which doubled their strength and force and so they pressed forwards that their foes were compelled to forsake the field and trust to their feet and thought to have taken the Town for their defence but Gruffith and his men pursued them so hard that they entred with them and after a great slaughter returned home with many worthy prisoners great triumph and rich spoiles leaving nothing in the Town but blood and ashes and the Walls razed to the ground There be some that think that King Edward by evil counsel as it is thought banished Algar the son of Earl Leofrike whereupon he got him into Ireland and there providing eighteen ships of Rovers returned and joyned himself with Gruffith King or Prince of Wales who both together invaded the Country of Mercia about Hereford where Earl Ranulph Earl of that Country who was Son to King Edwards Sister named Ioda by her first husband Walter de Maunt came against them with a great army and met them above two miles from Hereford where after a sore fight for the space of three houres Ranulph and his army were overcome and five hundred of them slain the rest being totally routed whom Gruffith and Algar pursued to Hereford and entring the Town set the Cathedral Church on fire and slew the Bishop named Leoger A barbarous act amongst Christians an Act fitter for Pagans then Christians with seven of the Canons spoyled and burnt the Town miserably whereupon King Edward being advertised hereof gathered an Army and sent Haroald the Son of Earl Godwin against them who pursuing the enemies to Northwales passed through Stradelwyd to Snowdon but Gruffith and Algor being afraid to meet Harâ—ald got them again into Southwales whereof Haroald having notice left one part of his army in Northwales to resist the enemies there and returning with the residue to Hereford caused a great Trench to be cast round about the Town with a high Rampire strongly fortifying the Gates of the same After this by means of a Parly had with Gruffith and Algar at a place called Beligelhag a peace was concluded whereupon Algar being pardoned by the King and restored again to his Earldome returned home to Chester About two years after Algar was accused again of Treason so that he was the second time exiled the land and repaired to his old friend Gruffith Prince of Northwales by whom he was joyfully received and restored again to his Earldome by the aid of certain strangers which came by chance from Norway whereupon King Edward being highly offended with Gruffith sent Haroald again with an army into Northwales to do revenge upon him who coming to Ruthlen burned the Pallace of Gruffith and his Ships and then returned to the King at Glocester Not long after these Transactions Roderick Son to Haroald King of Denmark came with a great army to Wales and there being friendly received by Gruffith joyning his power to King Gruffiths entred England and cruelly spoiled and burned great part of the Land but shortly after Roderick was compelled to return to his Ships and to sail to Denmark and Gruffith came to Wales loaden with spoiles Mr. Powel fol. 101. This year saith Mr. Powel died Owen the son of Gruffith ap Rytherick Also Haroald and his Brother Tosty by the procurement of Caradoc ap Gruffith ap Rytherick and others gathered a great Power and entred Southwales and subdued a great part thereof and wrought so with those that were about Gruffith the King that as soon as he had gathered his people in Northwales and began his journey to meet with Haroald he was cruelly and traterously slain by his own men and his head brought to Haroald who appointed and placed Meredith the son of Owen ap Edwin Prince and Ruler of Southwales and he with his brother Tosty returned home Some do report that Haroald about Rogation week by the Kings commandement went against the Welshmen and taking the sea sailed by Bristol round about the Coast compassing in a manner all Wales His brother Tosty that was Earl of Northumberland met him by appointment with an host of horsemen and so joyning together they destroyed the Countrey of Southwales in such sort that the Welshmen were compelled to submit themselves to deliver hostages and conditioned to pay the ancient Tribute which before time they had payd Southwales submits to the English The people of that Countrey because Gruffith their Prince fled at the coming of Haroald and left them to be a prey to the enemies hated him so that as soon as he returned again unto them they slew him and sent his head to Haroald which he sent to the King After whose death King Edward granted the Principality of Northwales to Blethyn and Rywalhon the sons of Convyn brethren to Gruffith by the Mothers side who did homage unto him for the same This Gruffiuh ap Lhewelyn governed Wales thirty four years valiantly and worthily he never fough but that he departed out of the field victorious he was gentle and affable to his Subjects and cruel to his foes beloved of the one and feared of the other liberal to strangers costly in apparrel and princely in all his doings and unworthy of that cruel death that the ambitious desire of Rule did provoke his unkinde Subjects and unnatural â—osins to prepare for so noble a Prince and so gentle a Master as he was Blethin and Riwalhon the Sons of Convyn After the decease of King or Prince Gruffith Meredith the son of Owen ap Edwin which Edwin was son as some Writers say to Howel Dha did take upon him the government of Southwales and Blethin and Riwalbon the sons of Convyn and half Brothers to King Gruffith ap Lhewelyn as they which were born of
Angharat daughter to Meredith King of Wales did govern Northwales Conan the son of Jago being all this time with his Father in law in Ireland Caradock ap Gruffith ap Rytheryc was the first that procured Haroald to come into Wales against Gruffith ap Lhewelyn hoping by him to attain unto the Government of Southwales but it fell ontotherwise for when Haroald understood that he should not get that which he looked for at the hands of Caradock which was a certain Lordship within Wales nigh unto Hereford and knowing also Caradoc to be a subtile and deceitfull man compounding with Meredith ap Owen for that Lordship he made him King or Prince of Southwales and banished Caradoc out of the Countrey Afterward Haroald having obtained that Lordship builded there a stately and princely house at a place called Portashlyth and divers times earnestly invited the King to come and see the same and at length the King being then at Glocester not far of granted him his request whereupon Haroald made such preparation as was most wonderfull and as much abused Soon after this the said Caradoc ap Gruffith came to the same house and to be revenged upon Haroald killed all the workmen and labourers that vvere at vvork and all the servants and people of Haroald that he could finde and defacing the vvork carried avvay those things that with great labour and expences had been brought thither and set out and beautified the building William commonly called the Conquerour was now King of England and Edrik Sylvaticus the son of Alfrike Earl of Mercia refusing to submit himself as ohers had done when he saw that the King was departed to Normandy rose against such as were left in his absence to keep the Land in obedience whereupon those that lay in the Castle of Hereford Richard Fitz Scroop and others oftentimes invaded his Lands and wasted the goods of his Tenants but as often as they came against him they alwaies lost some of their own men at length he calling to his aid the Kings of VVales Blethyn and Rywalhon wasted the Country of Hereford even to VVye bridge and then returned with great booty This year also 1068. Meredith and Ithel the sons of Gruffith ap Lhewelyn raised a strong army against Blethyn and Rywalhon Kings of Northwales and met with them at a place called Mechain where after a long fight there were slain upon the one part Ithel and upon the other Rywalhon and Meredith put to flight whom Blethyn pursued so straitly that he starved for cold and hunger upon the mountains and so Blethyn son of Convyn remained the only King of Powis and Northwales Carodoc the son of Gruffith ap Rytherck ap Jestyn caused a great number of Frenchmen for so the Brittish book calleth the Normans to enter Southwales to whom he joyned his power of Gwentland and gave Meredith the King of that countrey an overthrow and slew him upon the River Rympyn About this time the Normans brought great forces into Westwales by sea and destroyed Dynet and the Country of Caerdigan and carried away much spoil and did so likewise the year following Bleythyd Bishop of Menevia or Saint Davids died about this time and Sulien was Bishop in his place Radulf Earl of East Angles his Mother came out of Wales which was the cause of the Welshmens assisting him against William the Conquerour Matth. West lib. 2. fol. 6 Math. Parker p. 11. for Ranulf sent for many of his Mothers friends and kinsmen to come unto him meaning through their aid and procurement to get the Princes and people of VVales to joyn with him in his enterprise but VVilliam having notice of this plot and coming before he was sent for he hanged some of the VVelshmen among others put our the eyes of many and banished the rest In the year 1073. Blethyn ap Convin King of VVales was traiterously and cowardly murthered by Rees ap Owen and the Gentlemen of Ystrad Tywy after he had governed VVales thirteen years This man was very liberal and mercifull doing Justice and Equity all his Reign he had divers weomen and many children First Meredith by Haer daughter to Gythyn Lywarck and Cadogan by another woman Madâ—e and Ryrid by the third Jorwerth by the fourth Trahern the Son of Caradoc After the death of Blethyn Trahern ap Caradoc his cosin German took upon him the rule of Northwales and Rees ap Owen with Rytherck ap Caradoc did jontly rule Southwales Then Gruffith son to Conan son to Jago or James right Inheritour of Northwales came from Ireland with succour with his brethren Encumalhon King of Vltonia and Ranalht and Mathawn had delivered him and landed in the Isle of Môn or Anglesey and brought it to his Subjection At this time Kynwric ap Rynalbon a noble man of Maelor or Bromfield was slain in Northwales This year also Gronow and Lhewelin the sons of Cadogan ap Blethyn did joyn their powers with Caradoc ap Gruffith ap Rytherck to revenge their Grandfathers death and then fought at a place called Camdhwc where the Sons of Cadogan obtained the Victory shortly after Gruffith ap Conan passed over the water from Môn to the main land and Trabern ap Caradoc met with him at Bronyrew where Gruffith was put to flight and retired back to the Isle year 1074 In the year 1074. Rytherc ap Caradoc was slain by Treason of his own cosin German Meyrchaon ap Rees ap Rytherc and Rees ap Owen ruled Southwales alone Nevertheless the sons of Cadogan gathered their powers and came against him and fought with him the second time at Gwaynyttyd where he was put to flight but yet he gathered new forces and kept the land still Then Trahern ap Caradoc King of Northwales moves his forces against Rees who boldly met him with all the power of Southwales at a place called Pwlhgwttic where after long fighting Rees was put to slight and after great slaughter of his men he fled from place to place fearing all things like a stagg that had been lately chased which mistrusteth every noise but at the last he with his Brother Howel fell into the hands of Caradoc aâ— Gruffith who slew them both in revenge of the wise and noble Prince Blethyn ap Convyn At this time Sulien Arch-Bishop of Saint Davids did forsake his Bishoprick and Abraham was chosen Bishop in his place year 1077 In the year 1077. Rees the son of Theodore the son of Eneon the son of Owen the son of Howel Dha as right Inheritor to the Kingdome of Southwales claimed the same and the people received him with much joy and made him their Prince The next year Menevia was all spoiled and destroyed by strangers and Abraham the Bishop died after whose death Sulien was compelled to take the Bishoprick again In the year following Gruffith the son of Conan did bring a great Army of Irishmen and Scots into Wales and joyned with Rees ap Theodore as two right heirs of the
whole Countrey Gruffith of Northwales and Rees of Southwales descending both lineally from Roderic the Great against whom came Trahern ap Caradoc and Caradoc Gruffith and Mailer the sons of Rywalhon ap Gwyn his cosin Germans for Gwyn ap Blethin was their Grandfather who in those daies were the chief Rulers of all Wales and after they had met at the Mountains of Carno they fought a cruel battel and were the more eager because upon that daies work lay the lives and honour of either party but at length the victory fell to Gruffith and Rees and Trahern with his cosins were all slain and most part of their people then the Kingdomes of Wales came under the rule of the right heirs again At this time also a noble man in VVales called Vrgency ap Sitsylht was slain by the sons of Rees Sais i. e. Rees the Englishman for so they used to name all such as had served in England or could speak English Gules three Lyons pass Gardant or other say onely passant which I rather approve of Gruffith the Son of Conan The Welsh Princes do homage to VVilliam the Conquerour After the death of Trahern Gruffith ap Conan did quietly rule Northwales and Rees ap Theodore Southwales In the year 1079. William commonly called the Conquerour entred VVales with a great Army and passed as far as Saint Davids where he offered and took homage of the Kings of the Land And not long after the Sepulchre of VValwey King Arthurs Sisters Son was found upon the sea shore in the Countrey of Ros the body by estimation upon viewing of the bones was thought to be fourteen foot in length VValwey in his life time was a right noble and valiant Warriour of very good reputation who ruled that Country which to this day from him is called VValwethay Caerdiff built And this year Sulion forsook his Bishoprick the second time and VVilfrid was enstalled in his place and in this time also the Town of Caerdyff was built year 1087 About the year 1087. the sons of Blethyn ap Convyn sometime King of VVales gathered their strengths together against Rees of Tewdor who not being able to meet them fled to Ireland and there he purchased to himself great friends and got an Army of Irishmen and Scots to whom he promised great Rewards when he should obtain his Kingdome and so landed in Southwales with those strangers which when his friends heard of they drew to him and the other came in all haste thinking to fight with him before his power should encrease and at Lhechryd they gave him battel where they were overthrown and two of the Brethren slain to wit Madoc and Riryd and the other fled and forsook the Countrey As soon as Rees was in quiet possession of his Kingdome he sent home his strangers with great rewards About this time the Shrine of Saint David was stollen out of the Church and when all the Jewels and Treasures were taken away the Shrine was left where it might be found again About this time the Earls of Hereford and Shrewsbury with the VVelshmen burned all VVorcestershire and Glocestershire to the very gates of VVorcester And in the year 1088. there was a terrible Earthquake through all the land and the year following dyed Sulien the godliest and wisest man and the greatest Clerk in all Wales being 89. years old About this time certain strangers which were Rovers upon the seas landed at St. David and robbed it and burned the Town at which time also Cadinor the the son of Colhoyn Lord of Dinet dyed whose sons Lhewelyn and Eneon moved Gruffith the son of Meredyth to make war against their Lord and Prince Rees ap Tewdor and so joyning all their strength together came against him to Lhandydoc where Rees was who gave them battail and putting them to flight pursued them so sore that he took Gruffith ap Meredith and put him death but Eneon son to Cadinor ap Colhoyn fled to Jestin Lord of Morganwc who likewise rebelled against Rees ap Theodor and promised upon condition to have Jestins daughter in marriage and certain other covenants then agreed upon between them to bring to their succours an army of Normans for he had served in England before and was well known and acquainted with all the English Nobility which things being thus concluded they were fully determined to be revenged upon Rees And so Eneon went to England and wrought such means that he procured Robert Fitzhamon in the reign of William Rufus which twelve other Knights to gather a great army of Frenchmen and Normans to come to their aid who shortly after landed in Glamorganshire where Jestin ap Gurgent Lord of the Land received them with much honour and joyning his power to theirs burned and spoyled Prince Rees it grieved him exceedingly whereupon he suddainly gathered his people and met him not far from Brecknock where after a terrible fight he was slain with whom fell and decayed the Kingdom of Southwales This Rees had by his wife the daughter of Rywalhon ap Convin a son called Gruffith who at his fathers death was but a very child and one Grovo that was in the Kings prison These Normans after they had received their promised Salary and great rewards of Jestin returned to their ships When Eneon burthened Jestin with the promise of his daughter in marriage Jestin laughed him to scorn and told him that he would bestow his daughter otherwise whereupon Eneon full of anger and despite followed the Normans and when he came to the shore they were all a shipboard Then he shouted to them and made a sign with his cloak to call them back and they returned again to know his meaning Then he went to the chiefest of them and shewed his abuse at Jestins hands declaring withall how easie it was for them to win that fair and pleasant Country from Jestin whom for his treason to Rees none other Prince of Wales would succour whereunto they easily perswaded turned all their power against him for whose defence they had come thither and at whose hands they had been well entertained and recompenced with rich gifts and rewards And first they spoyled him of his country who mistrusted them not and took all the fertile and valley land to themselves and left the barren and rough mountains for Eneon his part the names of Robert and the twelve Knights and parcels which fell to each ones share were these Azure a Lyon rampant gardant Or encensed gules Those men whose Coats are mentioned and their Heirs have enjoyed the Country to this day who were the first strangers that ever Inhabited Wales since the time oâ— Camber Of this King or Prince Master Mills saith Griffin Prince of Northwales son and successour of Conan the Prince between this Griffin or rather Gruffith and Blethyn Prince of Powis and Rees the son of Theodore Prince of Demetia there was a great search and enquiry made concerning their Armes and military Ensigns as
Or Kemeys vert on a cheueron Arg 3 pheons Sable Gunter Sable a cheueron inter 3 gantlels clutchc Or Havert Arg a bulls head cabosed inter 3 mulets Gules Walbeise Arg 3 bulle pale wayes Gules armed vnguled Or Gamage Arg a bend losengy Gules on a chiefe Azure 3 escallops Or Wiston Gules a cherÌ„on Ermine Maunsell Arg a cherÌ„on betweene 3 Maunches Sable About this time or shortly after Bernard Newmarsh a noble man also of Normandy obtained by conquest the Lordship of Brecknock containing three cantreds and married Nest the daughter of Nest daughter to Gruffith ap Lhewelin Prince of Waleâ— by whom he had issue Mahael and a daughter This Mahael being a worthy Knight was dis-inherited by the malice of his own mother who contrary to the matrimonial duty kept unlawful company with a Knight whom she set more by then her husband whereupon Mahael being offended with the dissolute life of his mother warned her to avoid infamy and on a time meeting with the said Knight coming from her fought with him and hurt him wherefore Nest to be revenged of her son for that fact went to K. Henry the first and solemnly Gerald Itin. Camb. rather of malice and revengement as Giraldus noteth then of any Truth sware upon the Evangelists that the said Mahael her son was not begotten by Bernard Newmarsh her Husband but by another Lover of hers by reason of which Oath or perjury rather as Giraldus thinketh Mahael was disinherited and his Sister whom the Mother affirmed to be the very Daughter of Bernard was by the said King with the whole Inheritance King Henry the First confesseth the VVelshmen to be the lawfull inheritours of the Country bestowed upon Milo the son of Walter the Constable who was after created Earl of Hereford Lord of Glocester Brecknock and the Forrest of Dean This Milo Earl of Hereford told King Henry the First of the singing and triumphing of Birds by the pool called Lhyn Sanathan at the passing of Gruffith ap Rees ap Theodor the said Milo a Pini-Fitz-John Lord of Ewyas Land being present whereunto the King answered that it was not a thing to be wondred at so much for in truth said he we by our great force and strength do offer injury and violence to that Nation yet are they well known to be the lawfull inheritours of hat Countrey The sons of this Milo dyed all without issue yet he left three daughters First Margaret married to Humphery de Bohune in her right Earl of Hereford Many if not most of the English Nobility by this match desceâ—dâ—d of the Welsh blood Henry the 4th descended from Lhewelin Prince of Wales and Constable of England from which match and so consequently from Bernard Newmarsh his Wife daughter of Nest who was daughter of another Nest daughter from Gruffith ap Lhewelyn Prince of all Wales most of the ancient Nobility descend from Lhewelyn the great Prince for the last Humphry de Bohune Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton and Constable of England had issue two daughters and heirs Elianor the elder was married unto Thomas Plantagenet alias Thomas of Woodstock the sixth son of Edward the Third who was by King Richard the Second created Earl of Buckingham and after Duke of Glocester and in her right Earl of Essex Northampton and Constable of England Mary the second Daughter was married to Henry Plantagenet alias Bullingbrook Earl of Derby after King of England by the name of Henry the Fourth Plantagâ—nets Staffords and Bouochier from Lhewelin Prince of Wales The said Thomas Plantagenet Duke of Glocester c. had Humphry Lord of Brecknock who dyed without Issue and four daughters heirs after their Brother Ann the elde stmarried to Edmund Stafford Earl of Stafford who by her had Issue Humphry Earl of Stafford Hereford and Northampton Lord of Brecknock c. and afterwards the said Ann was married to William Viscount Bourchier created Earl of Ewe in France by King Henry the Fifth Father of Henry created Earl of Essex by King Edward the Fourth This Humphry Earl of Stafford was created Duke of Buckingham by King Henry the Sixt and so the Lordship of Brecknock came to the Dukes of Buckingham and by the Attainder of Edward the last Duke of that family came to the Crown But let us return again to the daughters of Milo you see what gallant Issue proceeded from the first Secondly Bersa the second Daughter was married unto Philip Bruse created by King Stephan Lord Bruse of Gower Bould and Brimber and in his Wives Right Lord of Brecknock Thirdy Lucia the third daughter was married to Herbert the son of Herbert a base son to King Henry the First who was in her Right Lord of all the Forrest of Dean of whom descended the Fitz-Herberts of Derbyshire Awbery Walbeif Gunter and Hanara no Welshmen properly With Bernard Newmarsh before spoken of there came many Gentlemen at that time to Brecknock upon whom he bestowed divers Mannors as to the Awberies the Mannor of Abercynrick and Slowch to the Walbeifes the Mannor of Lhanhamlack and Taly Lhyn and to the Gunters the Mannor of Gilston to the Hanards the Mannor of Pont Willym an easie matter to cut large thongs out of another mans Hide About this time Cadogan ap Blethyn ap Convyn destroyed all Dynet in the end of April and shortly after the same summer the Normans in great companies landed in Dynet or Westwales and Caerdigan and builded Castles there and so began to inhabit the Countrey upon the Sea-shore The Normans having gotten into their hands all the lands and livings of the Nobility of England began to pry and peep into the commodities of Wales and seeing that Robert Fitz-Hamon and other Knights that went with him had sped so well they made suit to the King to grant them the lands of the Welshmen whereupon the King thinking that to be the best way for him as well to encourage them to be more willing to serve him as also to provide for them at other mens cost granted to divers of his Nobles sundry Countries in Wales to hold of him by Knights Service for the which they did Homage and sware fealty unto him as followeth First Roger Montgomery Earl of Arundel and Salop did his homage for the Lordship of Powis and Caerdigan Secondly Hugh Lupus Earl of Chester did homage for Tegengel and Rynonioc with all the Land by the Sea-shore unto the River of Conwey Thirdly Arnulph a younger son of Roger Montgomery for Dinet Fourthly Bernard Newmarch for Brecknock Fifthly Ralph Mortimer for Eluel Sixthly Hugh de Lacie for the land of Ewyes Seventhly Eustace Cruer for Molde and Hopedale and many others for other Lands Montgomery why so called Then Roger de Montgomery to whom the Conquerour had given Powis entred the land and wan the Town and Castle of Baldwyn which he fortified and called it Montgomery after his own name About this time also Gruffith ap Conon
those Strangers into Wales who openly went with his power to them and did lead them to the Isle of Anglesey which thing when Gruffith and Cadogan perceived they sailed to Ireland mistrusting the Treason of their own people Then the Earls spoiled the land and slew all that they found in the Isle and at the very same time Magnus the son of Haroald came with a great Navy of Ships towards England minding to lay faster hold upon that Kingdome then his Father had done and being driven by chance to Anglesey would have landed there but the Earl impeached his landing there and there Magnus with an arrow stroke Hugh Earl of Salop in the face that he dyed thereof and suddenly either part forsook the Isle and the Englishmen returned home and left Owen ap Edwyn Prince thereof who had allured them thither year 1098 In the year 1098. returned Gruffith ap Conan and Cadogan ap Blethyn from Ireland and made peace with the Normans and gave them part of their Inheritance for Gruffith remained in Môn and Cadogan had Caerdigan and a parcel of Powis Land About this time the men of Brercnock slew Lhewelyn the son of Cadogan then Howel ap Ithel of Tegengel went to Ireland Also Rythmarck the Arch-Bishop of Saint Davids dyed the godliest wisest and greatest Clerk Sulien except that had been in VVales many years before About this time also dyed Crono ap Cadogan and Gwyn ap Gruffith year 1101 In the year 1101. Robert de Blesmo son to Roger de Montgomery Earl of Salop and Anulph his Brother Earl of Pembroke did rebel against the King which when the King heard he sent for them to come unto him but they made blinde excuses and gathered their strength and fortified their Castles and then gave great gifts and made large promises to the sons of Blethyn ap Cadogan and Jorwerth Cadogan and Meredyth and inticed them to joyn their powers with them Robert fortified four Castles Arundel Tekinhill Shrewsbury and Brugg which Castle was the cause of the War For Robert had erected it without the Kings leave and Arnulph fortified his Castle of Pembroke Then they entred the Kings Land and burned and spoiled it carrying away rich booties And Arnulph to have more strength sent Gerald his Steward to Murchard King of Ireland to desire his Daughter in marriage which he obtained with promises of great succours which did encourage him the more against the King but Henry the First gathered a great Army and first besieged the Castle of Arundel and took it as also he did Tekinhil and then led his power before Brugg which for the scituation and depth of the ditches being also well mann'd and victualed the King doubted the speedy winning thereof There he was counselled to send privately to Jorwerth ap Blethyn promising him great gifts if he would forsake the Earl and serve him recounting what wrongs the Earls Father Roger and his Brother Hugh had done to the VVelshmen Also the King to make him more willing to stick unto him gave him all such Lands as the Earl and his brother had in VVales without Tribute or Oath which was a Moity of Powis Caerdigan and Dynet and the other half had the son of Baldwyn with Stradtywy and Gwyr Jorwerth being glad of these offers received them willingly and then coming himself to the King he sent his powers to the Earls Land which doing their Masters command destroyed and spoiled all the Countrey for the Earl had caused his people to convey all their cattel and goods to VVales little remembring the mischiefs that the VVelshmen had received at his and his Brothers hands When these tydings came to the Earl to Cadogan and Meredyth Jorwerths Brethren they were all amazed and despaired to be able to withstand the King for Jorwerth was the greatest man of power in VVales And at this time Arnulph was gone to Ireland for his wife and succour also a little before Magnus again had landed in Anglesey and received of Gruffith ap Conan and hewed down as much Timber trees as was needfull for him and so returning to the Isle of Môn which he had won he builded three Castles there and sent to Ireland to have the Daughter of Murchard in marriage for his son which he obtained and made his son King of Môn The Earle Robert hearing this sent to him for aid but obtained none therefore seeing no remedy he sent to the King desiring him that he might forsake the realm which the King granted and he sailed to Normandy And likewise the King sent word to his brother Arnulph that either follow his brother and depart the land or yield himself to the Kings mercy and pleasure but he chose the former proposition he should and so went away Things thus transacted the King returned home and Jorwerth took his brother Meredyth and sent him to the Kings prison for his brother Cadogan agreed with him to whom Jorwerth gave Caerdhyth and a piece of Powis Then Jorwerth himself went to the Kings Court to put the King in remembrance of his promise but Henry when he saw all quiet forgot the service of Jorwerth and his own promise and contrary to the same took Dynet from Jorwerth and gave it to a Knight called Saer and Stradtiwy and Gwyr he gave to Howel ap Grono and Jorwerth was sent home empty At this time K. Henry gave divers Castles and Lordships in Wales to Normans and Englishmen of whom there is mention oftentimes in this history This year died Grono the son of Rees ap Theodore in prison And in the end of this year the King sent divers of his Councel to Shrewsbury and willed Jorwerth ap Blethin to come to meet them there to consult about the Kings business and affairs but when he came thither all the consultation was against him whom contrary to all right and equity they condemned of treason because the King feared his strength and that he would revenge the wrongs which he had received at the Kings hands and so he was committed to prison About this time as Bale noteth the Church of St. Davids began to be subject to the See of Canterbury being alwaies before the Metropolitan Church of Wales since the Pall was carried from Caerleon upon Vsk year 1103 In the Year 1103 Owen ap Edwyn died after great Misery and long sickness Then also Richard the son of Caldwin did fortifie the Castle of Ridcors and chased Howel ap Grono out of that Country to whom the King had given the custody of that Castle who nevertheless returned shortly after and burned all the country houses corn and hay and slew a great number of the Normans as they returned homeward and kept all the Country in his subjection except the Castles and Garrisons At this time the King took the rule of Dynet from Saer to whom he committed the same and gave it to Gerald who had been sometimes Steward there under Arnulph Then the Normans who were in the
Castle of Ridcors and other castles thereabouts seeing they could not have the upperhand of Howel ap Grono in open fight fell to their accustomed practice of treason and so obtained their purpose in this manner There was one Gwgan ap Meyric who had nursed a son to Howel ap Grono and therefore very well trusted and beloved of him as the Custome of Wales is An odious detestable treason This Traitour being corrupted by the Normans procured his Masters death inviting him one night to his house to make merry whether he came willingly Then Gwgan gave notice to the Garrisous of the Castles who in the dawning of the day entred the Town and coming about the house gave a great shout which awaked Howel who couragiously leaped out of his bed and sought his weapons but the Traitor Gwgan had conveyed them away when he was asleep Then he called for his men but they were all fled to save their lives and as he would have gotten away The Welshmen still overthrown by their own nation he was taken by Gwgan and his company and strangled which cut off his head and brought it to the Castle of Ridcors and this traiterous murder of the Kings Lieutenant was left unpunished for whatsoever fault the Normans committed was alwaies winked at and if the VVelshmen did never so little offend the Laws of the King it was thought a most heinous and unpardonable Crime which was the cause that afterward they rebelled against the King who sought nothing but their utter destruction About this time Meirick and Gruffith the sons of Trabern ap Caradoc Easie for an Enemy to overcome where the natives destroy one another were both slain by Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn and Meredith ap Blethyn brake the prison where he had been a long time and recovered again his own Inheritance which he enjoyed in peace and Tranquillity The year 1108. the Rage of the Sea did overflow and drown a great part of the Low-Countries of Flanders in such sort that the inhabitants were forced to seek new dwellings and places of abode who came to King Henry and desired him to give them some void place to remain in who being very liberal of that which was none of his own gave them the land of Ros in Dynet or VVestwales where Pembroke Tenby and Hanerford are now built and there they remain to this day as well may be perceived by their speech and conditions far differing from that of the Countrey At that time Gerald the Steward dyed who built again the Castle of Pembroke in a place called Congarth Vechan and brought thither all his householdstuff and other goods with his wife and children Then also Cadogan ap Blethyn made a great feast in Christmas Christmas observed in those dayes and invited all the Lords of his Countrey to his house in Dynet among whom came Owem his son who being at his Fathers house and hearing Nest the Wife of Gerald Steward of Pembroke praised above all the Weomen in the land he was inflamed with a desire to behold her And forasmuch as Gladis daughter of Rees ap Theodore or Tewdor and Mother to Nest was daughter to Rywalhon ap Convin and cozen Germane to Cadogan his Father he with a few under the colour of Friendship or cosenage went to see her and finding the truth to surmount the fame he came home wounded with Love and in that doting humour the same night returned thither again with a crew of wild companions or Hectors entred the castle privately and compassed the chamber about and set the house on fire which awaked Gerald and his wife who would have issued out to know the cause of the Noise but his wife fearing some Treason impeached him and advised him to go to the Prince where drawing up the board she helped him out that way which done she came to the Chamber door and said that there was no body but she and her children yet they forced in and sought round about but not finding him they seized on her and her two sons and a son and a daughter born by a Concubine to Gerald and carried them away to Powis and burning the Castle they spoyled all the Country When Cadogan understood this rumour he was much displeased fearing the Kings heavy displeasure and forthwith went to Powis and commanded his son to send to Gerald his Wife and Children with his goods but Owen by no means would depart with the Lady yet at her request he sent unto Gerald his Children again And when Richard Bishop of London The Welsh still made authors of their own ruine whom the King had appointed Warden of the Marshes being at Shrewsbury heard of this he was highly offended and sent for Ithel and Madoc the sons of Kyrid ap Blethyn to whom he promised rich gifts and great rewards besides the rule of the Country if they could take or kill Owen to revenge the dishonour that he had done to the King and to them he added Lhywarch the son of Traburne ap Caradoc whose two brethern Owen had slain and Vchtrid the son of Edwyn which four promised the Bishop to bring him Owen and his father either alive or dead and thereupon forthwith gathered their power to destroy the whole Country but Vchtryd sent word privately before that all such of the People as would have their lives saved should come to him And when the Country heard this some fled to Arustly some t◠Melienith and some to Stradtywy and some to Dynet where Gerald was destroying the Country And at that time Walter Bishop of Hereford gathered an army to defend Caermarthyn and met with such as fled to Arustly and Mehenyth and destroyed a great number of them Those that went to Stradtywy were gently received by Meredyth ap Rytherck and Vchtryd saved all such as came unto him and thus these four came with their powers to the Castle of Rydcors and thought best to have entered the Country by night for fear of Ambuscado and to take Cadogan and Owen unawares but Vchtryd disswaded them from that stratagem counselling them to enter by day with their men in good order In the mean time Cadogan and Owen got a ship at Aberystwyth which was lately come from Ireland and escaped away so that the day after when they entered the Land they found none of those whom they sought for laying all the fault upon Vchtryd therefore they burned and plundered all the Country except the Sanctuaries of Padam and Lhandhewi Breni yet they took divers men out of those places and carried them away Prisoners and thus returned to their Castles again Owen with such as had been with him at the rape of the Lady and firing the Castle fled for Ireland to King Murcard who received him with great expressions of joy for he had been there before in time of the war of the two Earles in Anglesey or Môn and had brought the King rich gifts from Wales but
understood that Owen was there with so little company they thought the opportunity very seasonable to be revenged for their old vvorngs and so pursued them to the Woods Owen having intelligence by his men that a great number pursued him advised him to make haste away who utterly refused it Drinking no new vice among the Dutch because he conceived them that followed him to be the Kings friends and nothing doubting of them But when they approached nigh they began to shout at his men who would have had Owen to fly but he turned manfully to his Enemies and encouraged his men to fight A just punishment for one that assisteth a forreign enemy against his own kin and Country affirming that although their enemies were seven to one yet they were but Flemmings and such as feared their names and were good for nothing but to empty cups and with that set upon them couragiously And it chanced that at the first meeting Owen was stricken with an arrow to the heart and slain which when his men perceived they fled and brought word to Lywarck ap Traherne and their followers who suspecting the Kings army seeing they could not trust them in the Kings service returned to their Country After the death of Owen his brethren divided his Lands between them The Children of Cadogan ap Blethyn saving that which he had taken by force from his Unckle Meredyth being the Lands of Madoc ap Riryd ap Blethyn the names of his brethren were these Madoc whose mother was Gwenlhan the Daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Eneon whose mother was Sanna the Daughter of Dyfnwall This Family of Picot if I mistake not were Lords of Ragland Castle in Monmothshire one of which married the d. and h. of Sir Rich. Enderby brother to Sir Will. Enderby from whom descended Percy Ence by the collector of this history Morgan whose Mother was Evelbivv or Elhiw the Daughter of Cadivor ap Colhoyn Lord of Dynet Henry and Gruffith whose mother was the Daughter of the Lord Pigot Cadogans wedded wife Meredyth by Eururon Hoedliw Owen was Son of Inerth the daughter of Edwyn After this Eneon ap Cadogan and Gruffith ap Meredyth ap Blethyn did lead their forces against a Castle that Vchtryd ap Edwyn had built at Cymmer in Merionyth for Cadogan had given to his cosin Germain Vchtryd Merionyth and Cevilioc upon condition that he and his should be friends to his friends and Enemies to his Enemies in all causes but contrary to that condition he and his Sons were ever against Cadogans children in every enterprise that they went about Therefore after they had set upon the Castle and slain divers of the Garrison the rest yeilded unto them and thus when they had won all the Country they divided it betwixt them whereupon Gruffith ap Meridith had Mowthwy Cyneliock and halfe Penlhyn and the other half of Penlhyn and Merioneth came to Eneon In the year 1116. dyed William Strongbow of a Consumption and the next year following fel a great variance betwixt Howel ap Ithel Lord of Ros and Rivonioc now Denbighland and Riryd and Lhywarch the Sons of Owen ap Edwyn Ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris Then Howel sent to Meredyth ap Blethyn and to Eneon and Madoc Cadogans Sons for succour who came down from Merioneth with 400. Men well appointed and met with the Sons of Owen in the vale of Clwyd their own Land which Sons of Owen sent for their cosins the Sons of Vchtryd to come with their aid to relieve and succour them All these met together with enraged hearts and fought manfully but in the end after great slaughter Lhywarch the Son of Owen ap Edwyn was slain and with him Jorwerth the Son of Nudh who was a Noble man and a worthy Soldier and Riryd fled So that Howel ap Ithel had the victory but he was so sore wounded that he dyed within 40 dayes after Meredyth ap Blethyn and the Sons of Cadogan hasted home for fear of the Frenchmen who lay in garrison about Chester About the year 1121. King Henry the first prepared a great army against Wales and came to Powis Land which when the Lords of the Land Meredyth ap Blethyn and the three Sons of Cadogan Eneon Madoc and Morgan saw they sent to Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales to desire succours from him but he answered that they should not have any from him nor enter within his lands for that he had made peace with the King Thus having no hope of aid from him they purposed to defend themselves within their own Land after the best manner they could and set men to keep and defend the Straits whereby the Enemies must needs pass And as it chanced the King himself with a small number came unto one of those defended places for this whole Army had gone a further way about by reason of their carriages at whose coming the Men who kept the straits skirmished with the Kings Men and with their arrowes having the advantage of the ground slew some and hurt many Among those one drew his bow and shooting towards his foes by fortune struck the King a great blow upon his brest but by means of his coat of Male the arrow hurt him not nevertheless he was wonderfully dismaid and considering how rashly by misfortune he might lose in that wild Country the honour and fame which he had won before did send to parle with them that kept the passage and to will them under assurance to come and speak with him which they did then he asked them whose men they were and how they durst be so bold as to put the King in such dangers and they said that they vvere Meredyth ap Blethyns men and did nothing but their masters command in keeping the passage vvhereupon the King vvilled them to go for their master and counsel him to enbrace the Kings peace and he should receive no hurt vvhich he and his cozens did and fined to the King for their offences 1000. year 1122 heads of cattell and the King returned into England leaving the Lord Fitz-VVaren Warden Jo. Cast or Lieutenant of the marches The year ensuing Gruffith ap Rees ap Theodor did kill Gruffith ap Sulbaern and Eneon the Son of Cadogan dyed and gave his part of Powis and Merioneth vvhich he had vvon to his brother Meredyth but his Unckle Meredyth ap Blethyn put him back by force and took it to himself At this time the King did set at liberty Ithel ap Riryd ap Blethyn vvhom he had kept prisoner many years vvho came home thinking to enjoy his Lands When Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales heard that Meredyth ap Blethyn had taken by force the Lands of his Nephevv Meredyth ap Cadogan he sent his Sons Cadwalhon and Owen vvith a povver to Merioneth vvho brought all the Country under their subjection and carried the chiefmen and the cattel to Lhyn And after the Sons of Cadogan destroyed
entered perforce and put many to the Sword and taking the rest razed the Castle to the ground which Victory did so please the Prince that he forgat his doleful accents and solitary retirement and fell to his accustomed pastimes About this time Cadelh Meredyth and Rees the sons of Gruffith ap Rees ap Theodore did conduct their forces against the Castle of Gwys which after they perceived they could not win they sent for Howel the son of Owen Prince of North-VVales to their aid who for his prowess and valour in the field and his discretion in consultation was esteemed the flower of Chivalry whose presence was thought also onely sufficient to overcome any Fortress He being desirous to purchase honour gathered his men and came to these Lords before the Castle of Gwys Granados not yet in request whom they received with general acclamations and great expressions of joy When he had viewed the place he caused Engines to be made to batter the Walls with force of men and others to cast great stones to their enemies The strong Castle of Gwyl taken by the Brittains thereby to disquiet the Garrison which preparations when they within beheld their hearts failed and forthwith they yielded the Fort which done Howell returned home with great honour Shortly after there fell a great dissension betwixt Howell and Conan Prince Owens sons and Cadwalader their Uncle whereupon they rallied their Forces and entred the Countrey of Merloneth which caused the people to fly to Sanctuary for security of their lives These two young Lords made Proclamation that no man should hurt such as would submit themselves whereupon the people which had fled returned to their houses without any dammage or hurt Thus they brought by fair means all the Countrey under their wished subjection and led their Army unto the Castle of Cynvael which Cadwalader had built and fortified wherein was the Abbot of Tuygwyn or Whitehouse to whom the Lord had committed the defence of the Castle A Crosier fitter for an Abbot than a Corslet Howell and Conan summoned the Fort with great threatnings but they within defied them whereupon Howell and Conan promised the Abbot Meruni great rewards to let them have the house But he like a faithful servant whom neither terrible menaces nor gilded promises could move to betray a trust continued faithful and denied them entrance chusing rather to dye with honour than to live with shame with which answer the young Lords were greatly offended that a Priest should stay their prosperous proceedings and thereupon gave an assault to the Castle so terrible that after they had beaten down the Walls they entred by force and slew and wounded all in the Garrison saving the Abbot who escaped privately by means of friends which he had in Howells Army In the year 1147. died Bohthred Bishop of Landaff Mr. Godwyn called him Vthryd and saith he had a daughter before he was Bishop married to Jorwerth ap Owen ap Caradoc Lord of Carleon upon Vsk a great and mighty man in those parts Godwin in Landaff fol. 426. but he affirmeth that he died 1141. Powell saith whom Nicholas ap Gurgant succeeded but Godwyn tells us that H. Jorwerth was his successor who died Anno 1153. In the year 1148. died Barnard Bishop of Davids or Menevia of this Barnard thus writeth Godwyn Barnard a Norman Chaplain unto K. Hen. I. and Chauncellour unto his Queen was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury July the 12. 1115. Godwin Cat. Episco in Landaff fol. 418. not chosen by the Clergy of Wales as hitherto hath been accustomed but forced upon them by the King who had then newly conquered Wales This man being in great favour with the King and presuming upon the goodness of his cause began to take upon him the title of Archbishop and caused his Cross sometime in Wales to be carried before him After long sute and much money spent in this cause betwixt him and the Archbishop of Canterbury Barnard had prevailed at the last as Giraldus Camb. seemeth to perswade had not two suborned Witnesses deposed a flat untruth in the presence of the Pope Giraldus doubteth not confidently to pronounce that the power and wealth of the Archb. of Cant. hath out-born the poor Bishop of St. David in this matter without all right This Bishop saith Giraldus was a man in some other respect praise-worthy but unreasonable proud and ambitious as most of the English-men were in those times who were thrust into Bishopricks again he was a very ill husband to his Church alienating divers lands and letting others for the tenth penny of that his predecessors had made of them so thinking to make a way by gratifying of Courtiers unto some better Bishopricks in England he was deceived of his expectation having been Bishop of St. Davids about 33 years he died 1148. Of this old Menevia in succeeding times called St. David you may read before in this History but I think it not amiss to set down the Succession of that See having now fit opportunity according to Godwin Godwin fol. 413. in St. David The British Histories do all report that in this Island at the first planting of Christian Religion here there were established 28. Episcopal Sees Of these 28. three were Archbishopricks London York and Carlegion or Caerleon upon Vsh in Monmothshire At Caerleon which was then a great and populous City in the time of King Arthur sate Dubritius the son of Eurdila a Gentle-woman of great birth but who was her father it was never known He was a man of excellent learning and singular integrity in regard whereof when first he had taken great pains many years as well in teaching and reading unto his Schollars whereof he had a great number as in preaching unto the people he was appointed first Bishop of Landaff and having stayed there no long time was made Archbishop of all Wales by Germanus and Lupus two Bishops of France that were entreated by Aurelius Ambrosius King of Brittain to come over and yield their best help for the extinguishing of the Palagian heresie that had taken great root in this Countrey Aurelius Ambrosius being dead he crowned Vther Pendragon and afterwards that great Arthur King of this Iland and waxing old he resigned his Bishoprick unto David a Disciple of his he died and was buried in the I le of Enlhi now called Bardsey where he led a solitary life many years October 14. Ann. 612. his bones were after removed to Landaff by Vrbanus Bishop there May 7. 1120. 1. St. David David before named was Unkle unto K. Arthur and son of Xanthus a Prince of VVales begotten upon one Melearta a man very learned eloquent and of incredible austerity of life and conversation he was also very tall of stature and of a comely personage by his diligence Palagianisme was quite rooted out and many earnest professors of the same converted unto the Truth with the consent of K. Arthur he removed
Matthaeus 1358 17 Thomas de Ringsted 1367 18 Gervasius de Castro 1370 19 Howel II. 1374 20 John Gilbert translated to Saint Davids 1376 21 John Clovensis  22 John Swaffan 1400 23 Richard Younge translated to Rochester  24 Lodovicus the II. 1408 25 Benedict Nicols translated to St. Davids 1418 26 VVillyam Barrow translated to Carlile  27 Nicolaus 1436 28 Thomas Cheriton 1448 29 John Stanbery translated to Hereford  30 Jacobus 1464 31 Thomas Edwane 1196 32 Henry Dean translated to Salisbury 1500 33 Thomas Picot 1504 34 John Penvy translated to Carlile 1505 35 Thomas Skenington 1534 36 John Capon translated to Salisbury 1539 37 John Bird translated to Chester 1541 38 Arthur Bulkeley or Bulkeby the bellseller 1555 39 VVillyam Glynn 1559 40 Rowland Meyric 1566 41 Nicholas Robinson 1585 42 Hugh Bellot translated to Chester 1595 43 Rich. Vaughan translated to Chester 1596 44 Henry Rowland 1616 45 Lewes Bayley 1632 46. David Dolvin 1633 47 Edward Gruffith 1637 48 VVillyam Roberts Sub-Almoner Bishop of Bangor 1641. About the year 1162. Howel the son of Jenaf ap Cadogan ap Athelstan Glodrydh got the Castle of VValwern in Cyvelioc and razed it which thing when it was told Owen Prince of Northwales it displeased him wonderfully at the which he was so grieved that nothing could make him merry untill such time as he had gathered his power and came to Lhanthinan in Arustly and thence sent away great spoiles which caused the People of the Country to come unto their Lord Howel ap Jenaf who followed the spoile to the Severn side where the Princes camp was the Prince apprehending now an occasion of revenge offered him was right glad and set upon his Enemies and slew the most part of them the rest with their Lord escaped to the woods and rocks The Prince being well pleased with this revenge built up his Castle again and fortified it strongly Castelh Catrec Hova The year following Owen the son of Gruffith ap Meredyth named Owen Cyvelioc and Owen ap Madoc ap Meredyth got the Castle of Carrechona by Oswestrie and wasted it year 1163 About the year 1163. King Henry the second gathered a strong army against Southwales and came himself as farr as Pencadyr beside Brecknock where Rees came to him and did homage and gave him pledges which done the King went out of Wales About this time Eneon the Son of Anarawd ap Gruffith Nephew to Prince Rees was murdered in his bed by a Man of his own named Lhywarch Also Cadogan ap Meredyth was slain in the like manner by one Walter ap Ricard The Lord Rees as he is called in Welsh or King Rees as Latin Authors call him took the Cantreff Maur which is a great Country and the Land of Dynevowr and enjoyed it And this year died Cadivor ap Daniel Archdeacon of Caerdigan and Henry ap Arthen who was the worthiest Clerk that had been in Wales many years The year ensuing the Lord Rees seeing he was not able to maintain his Estate with such Lands as the King had appointed him entered into the Territory of Roger de Clare Earl of Glocester for by that Earls means his Nephew was murdered and wan the Castles of Aberheidol and of the sons of Wywyaon and raised them And thus in short time he brought all Caerdigan under his subjection from thence he made many inroads against the Flemmings and brought away great spoiles This happy fortune caused all VVales to conspire the shaking off of the Norman yoak whose treason and cruelty they could not abide and to elect Princes of their own Nation In the year 1165. David the son of Owen Prince of Northwales did destroy all Flintshire which was the Kings K. Henry's third voyage in vain against the Welsh and carried all the people and cattel with him to the Dyffryn Cloyd now called Ruthin Land which when the King had notice of he levyed an army in haste and came to releive his Castels and people as far as Ruthlan and after he had rested there three dayes and could do no good he returned into England where he gathered another Army of selected Soldiers and chosen through all his Dominions sending for Auxiliaries from Flanders and Brittain and then returned to Northwales with resolution to destroy all that had life in the Land and coming to Croes Oswalt called Oswaldstree incamped there on the contrary side Prince Owen and his Brother Cadwalader with all the power of Northwales and the Lord Rees withall the forces of Southwales and Owen Cyvelioc and the Sons of Madoc ap Meredyth with the strength of Powis and the two sons of Madoc ap Edwerth with all the people betwixt Wye and Severne gathered themselves together and came to Cawen in Edierneon with purpose to defend their Country But the King understanding that they were so nigh being wonderous desirous of battail came to the river Ceireoc and caused the wood to be felled whereupon a number of the Welsh understanding the passage unknown to their Captains met with the Kings Ward where were placed the choyce men of all the Army where began a hot skirmish and divers worthy Men were slain on each side but in the end the King obtained the passage and came to the Mountain of Berwyn where he lay in camp certain dayes and so both the Armies stood in awe each of other the King kept the plains as being doubtfull to be entrapped in straits but the Welsh watched for the opportunity and advantage of the ground and kept the King so straightly that neither forrage nor victuall might come to his camp The Welsh united invincible against the English neither durst any Soldier stir abroad and to augment these miseries there fell such store of rain that the Kings Men could scarce stand upon their feet upon those slippery places in the end the King was compelled to return home without his purpose and that with great loss of Men and Ammunition besides his charges therefore in a great choler he charged the Pledges eyes A cruel act of K. Henry 2. whom he received long before that to be put out which were Rees and Cadwalhon sons to Owen and Cynwric and Meredyth the sons of Rees Roger Hove and other I find also saith Mr. Powel written by divers that in the assailing of a bridge the King was in no small danger of his life for one of the Welshmen shooting directly at him had pierced him through the body if Hubert de St. Clare Constable of Colchester perceiving the Arrow coming had not thrust himself betwixt the King and it Hol. page 408. whereby he saved his Master and lost his own life Then after long consultation the King came again to North Wales intending to have his Army conveyed by Sea and to Land in some convenient place of the Countrey and with his design he came to Chester and there reposed a certain time till all his Navy was gathered together as
all the rule in South Wales yet his brother Gruffiths sons Rees and his brethren wan from him the chief defence of all his country to wit the Castle of Dyncvowr and Lhanymdhyfri Then William Marshall Earl of Pembrock laid siege to the Castle of Cilgarran and wan it not long after Maelgon ap Rees hired an Irishman to kill Gadiver ap Griffri whose 4 sons Maelgon took and put to death These were hopeful Gentlemen and nobly descended for their mother Susanna was daughter to the said Howel ap Rees by a daughter of Madoc ap Meredyth Prince of Powis The Castle of Abereneon built The year 1205 Maelgon did build a Castle at Abereneon at which there came such abundance of fish to Aberystwyth as the like was never seen before The same year Gwenwynwyn came to Shrewsbury to speak with the Kings Councel and was there detained prisoner whereupon P. Lhewelyn conquered all his countrey with all the Towns and Castles therein and kept the same to his own use which when Maelgon ap Rees understood that and Lhewelyn would visit also South Wales he overthrew his Castles of Aberystwyth Sratmeyric and Dynerth which he before had fortified dispairing to be able to withstand the Prince but the Prince held on his journey to Aberystwyth and reedified the Castle and fortified it and seized to his own hands the Cantref of Penwedic and the land betwixt Dyni and Aeron which he gave to Maelgons nephews the sons of Gruffith ap Rees and so returned home with great joy Within a little after Rees Vachan son to Prince Rees besieged the Castle of Lhangadoc and wanâ—t not regarding his promise and league with the sons of his brother Gruffith ap Rees forgetting how worthily they had served him in his necessity Therefore as soon as they heard of this both Rees and Owen came before the said Castle and wan it by assault and slew and took prisoners all the garrisons and then demolished quite the Castle year 1210 In the year 1210 the Earl of Chester re-edified the Castle of Dyganwy which stood upon the Sea-shore East of the River Conwey which Prince Lhewelyn had formerly ruined also he fortified the Castle Treffynnon or St. Winfride Then Prince Lhewelyn entred the Earls land and destroyed a great part thereof and returned home with the plunder Also Rees Vachan fearing Prince Lhewelyn who defended his nephews the sons of Gruffith in their right went to the King for succour which he received with good will and by their aid he laid siege to the Castle of Lanymdhyfri now when the garison perceived no hope of relief they desired that they might depart with bag and baggage horses and all and so they did Likewise Gwenwynwyn whom the King detained in prison was set at liberty and the King fearing the Prince his power sent an Army with him by whose means he received all his countrey again in short space Maelhon violating his Oath Maelgon also when he heard the same came to the Kings Court and became his man who returning home with a great company of Normans and Englishmen joined to them all the power he could make in Wales and contrary to the Oath that he had made to his nephews Rees and Owen began to spoil their countrey and coming to Cantref Cenwedic encamped at Cilkennyn and lay there all night consulting upon his voyage In the mean time his nephews hearing this having but a small power not above 300 of chosen men came and lodged hard by undiscovered by their enemies and having notice by their Scouts that all was quiet in Maelgons camp and how that his men mistrusting nothing behaved themselves carelesly these two Lords prosecuted boldly the enterprise which they had taken in hand and peaceably entring the camp came where they thought Maelgon lay and before they were discovered they gave an Alarum and slew a great number before they could awake and the rest hearing the noise half amazed by reason of the darkness escaped away A valiant exploit of the Welsh thinking some great power had been there but Maelgons men defended themselves manfully until such time as their Lord had gotten upon his feet and escaped away by the benefit of the night Then his nephew Conan ap Howell and his chief Councellour Gruffith ap Cadogan were both taken and Eneon ap Caradoc with a great number more slain About this time Gilbert Earl of Glocester fortified Bueltht Cruelty against the Welsh revenged by God where a little before he had lost many men This year also Maud de Bruse wife to Gruffith ap Rees died and was buried in a religious habit at Stratflur You have heard before of the great and treacherous usage which William de Bruse used towards the Welsh at Abergavenni and Breconi but King John Gods just judgement so ordaining banished him and his wife into Ireland and seized all his lands yet his wife and son were taken and William himself forced to flye into France The next year ensuing King John had many complaints made unto him by the Marchers against Lhewelyn how he entring their countrey burned and spoiled all as he went and slew their men Wherefore the King gathered a great Army through all England and called to him such Lords and Princes of Wales as held of him as Howell ap Gruffith ap Conan ap Owen Gwyneth whom Lhewelyn had banished Madoc ap Gruffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield Chirk and Yale Meredyth ap Rolpert Lord of Cydewen Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis Maelgon and Rees Vachan the sons of P. Rees Rulers of South Wales The Welsh still enemies to themselves with this great Army he entred into North Wales by Chester resolving to destroy all that had life in that countrey The Prince hearing of all this preparation against him as well of his own countrey as others commanded all such as inhabited the inland or middle countrey which is now part of Denbigh and Flint Shires to remove all their goods and cattel to Snowdon Hills for a time and so the King came along the Sea coast to Ruthlan The English distressed by the Welsh and there passed over the River Clwyd and came to the Castle of Teganwy and there remained a while but Lhewelyn cut off his victuals behind him so that he could have none from England and there could no man scatter from the Skirmishes unfought withal where the North-Walesmen alwayes both for the advantage of the straits King John with dishonour forced to return home and knowledge of the places had the upper hand at the last the English Souldiers were glad to taste horse-flesh for pure need When the King saw no remedy he returned home in great rage leaving the countrey full of dead bodies In August next ensuing he returned again with a great Army and the Lords before named with him and entred into Wales at Blanchmonasterie now Oswastred King John an enemy to Clergy men whereof John the son of William Fitz Allen
Semy 17 VVilliam Herbert 18 VVilliam Herbert Party per pale B. and G. 3 Lyons Ramp Arg. 19. Edward Prince of VVales son of K. Edw. IV. Quarterly France and England a Label Arg. 20 Anne Bullen Marchioness of Pemb. wife to Hen. 8. Arg. a Cheveren G. between 3 Bulls heads coupe Sable 21 VVilliam Herber created Earle by Edw. 6. 22 Henry Herbert 23 VVilliam Herbert Lord Steward and Chancellour of Oxford 24 Philip Herbert Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery 25 Philip Herbert now living Quarterly Band G 3 Lions Ramp Arg. a border Gotone of the second and Or besants this border is now laid aside Lex Talionis This Earle hearing that Lhewelin had taken his Castles and put his men to the sword returned from Ireland with all speed and recovering his forts used the same courtesy towards Lhewelins men as he had shewed to his and then entring further into the Princes Country destroyed all before him as he went Mat. Paâ—is 423 who saith that the Earl had the victory and â—hat there were slain â—000 persons These tidings coming to Lhewelins ear did much vex him whereupon he sent Gruffith his son with a power of men to impeach the Earl from passing further Griffith went to Cyeweli and understanding that the Burgesses of the town meant to betray him burned the town churches and all to the ground Then VVilliam Marshal passed the River Tywy at Caermardhyn where Gruffith met with him and gave him battail which was long time doubtful and endured until night and then either party withdrew themselves and the River betwixt and after they had abode so for certain dayes Gruffith for lack of victuals for his men were about 9000 persons returned back Cilgerran Castle built and the Earle went to Cilgerran and began to build there a very strong castle but receiving letters from the King to come speak with him he went to the Court by sea and left his army to continue the work which he had begun The King and the Archbishop being at Ludlow sent for the Prince and would gladly have composed matters between him and the Earl but it would not be and so they departed And when the Earle would have passed to Pembrock by land with the strength of the Earle of Derby and Henry Pigot Lord of Ewyas the prince sent his son to keep the passage at Carnwylhion and he himself came as farr as Mabedryd which when the Earle understood He retreated back to England and the prince bent his course for North VVales year 1226 The year 1226. Rees Vachan son of Rees Gryc took his father prisoner and would not set him at liberty till he had delivered him the Castle of Lhanymdhfry At this time Meredyth Archdeacon of Caerdigan son to prince Rees was interred by his father at St. Davids The year following K. Henry the III. now King of England came with a great army into Wales as far as Ceri and encamped there K. Henry 3. of England Mat. Paris p. 463. and on the other side Lhewelyn called to him all the power of VVales encamped not far off and there passed divers great skirmishes and chiefly upon one day the most part of both armies was in the field and many of the Kings men at which time William de Bruse son to Reynalt was taken prisoner who offered for his ransom the Country of Buelht P. Lhewelin a worthy prince and a great summe of money beside Then was a peace concluded between the King and the prince whereupon the Prince came and did honour unto the King but not as his King and Lord and every party returned home Mr Powel fol. 282. This History saith Mr. Powel is somewhat otherwaies set down by Matt. Paris which I have thus translated out of the same Author About the same time those Souldies which lay in Garrison in the Castle of Montgomery went out with some of their Neighbours to amend a certain passage in the highway leading through a great wood thereby where the Welshmen were wont to rob and slay such as traveled that way and coming to the place with their axes and other weapons began to fell trees and to cut down the bushes whereby the way might be enlarged which thing when the Welshmen understood they came with a great power and setting upon their enemies compelled them to take the Castle for their defence certain being slain on both sides and then casting a trench about the same laid siege to it The Castle honour of Mâ—ntgâ—mery given to Hubert de Bâ—â—g This being speedily carried to Hubert de Burge Chief Justice of England to whom a little before the same castle and honour was given The King himself with convenient speed coming raised the siege and when his whole army came unto him for few Souldiers came with him thither he went to the said wood which was very large being five miles in length and by reason of the thick growth of the same very hard to be mooted howbeit the King caused the same with great diligence and travail to be asserted and consumed with fire King Henry causeth â—â—â—d a Abbey to be burnt Then leading his army further into the Country he came to an Abbey of white Monks called Cridia being a refuge for the Welsh to fly unto which he caused to be burnt to Ashes where Hubert de Burg to whom the place seemed very fit for fortification having the assent of the King caused a castle to be built but eâ—e the work could be finished many were slain on both sides and Will de Bruse a valiant Souldier and Chieftain who went out to make provision for the army was taken by the Welshmen and secured and divers others went out for the like purpose whereof one being Knighted a few dayes before seeing some of his fellows in danger like to be distressed rushed boldly into the midst of his enemies killing many about him yet in the end with many others of the Kings men was slain several also of the Kings men being confederates with P. Lhewelyn did very remisly defend themselves his cause with whome they came thither whereupon the King wanting necessary provision and perceiving the double dealing of some of his own men was constrained to conclude a dishonourable peace with the Welshmen giving his assent that the Castle which with so great expences of men and money was almost finished should be razed at his own charges An ignoble peace to the English taking of P. Lhewelin 3000 pound toward the same the peace being thus confirmed both parties went homewards Thus the King of England after he had bestowed three moneths in the building of the said Castle and disbursed an incredible some of mony in vain leaving William de Bruse one of his nobles in the Prince his prison returned home with great stain of honour The name also which Hubert the Chief Justice had given to the Castle viz. Huberts folly Stulitia Huberti
intending to deceive them who went about to do the like by him when the Enemies therefore came to the place where the Ambuscado was Haâ—m watch haâ—m catch the Earl Marshals army gave a great shout and so set upon their Enemies being unprovided and suddainly put them all to flight putting to the sword an infinite number of them as well Poictavians as others John of Monmoth himself escaped by flight whose Country with the villages buildings and all that he had therein the Earl Marshall did spoil and plunder leaving nothing but what fire and sword could not destroy and so full fraught with spoil returned home Salop taken by P. Lhewelyn Afterward in the week of Epiphanie Lhewelyn P. of VVales together with the Earl Marshall joyning their forces and entering the Kings land destroyed all with fire and sword from the confines of Wales unto the town of Salop which they also took and burnt a great part thereof enriching themselves with the plunder of the Country The King of England being all this while with the Bishop of Winchester â—t Glocester The K. careless of his honour little regarding war who for want of sufficient strength durst not meet his enemies in the field but being ashamed of the matter departed towards Winchester leaving the marches to be destroyed by the Enemies as any man might imagine The same year Richard Marshall Earl of Pembrock by councel of Geffrey de Marisco went with an army to Ireland where he was slain in fight by treason of his own Men after whom his brother Gilbert succeeded in the Inheritance Mr. Brook reporteth the story thus that whilst he with Lhewelyn was thus busied against the King word was brought him that Morice Fitz Girald and other Irish had sacked his Countries and Lands in Ireland Mr. Brook Alias Yorke fol. 270. upon the hearing whereof he hasted thither with fifteen Knights to encounter with his Enemies and joyned battail with them upon Saturday the first of April 1234. and fought eleven hours untill his horse was slain under him And then he falling to the ground one of the Irish perceiving his back part ill-armed lifted up his Habergeon and thrust a knife into his back up to the halft giving him his deadly wound and then brought him to a Castle of his own named Kilkenny which the said Morice had taken a little before from him where he died fifteen dayes after without issue What K. Hen. cannot do by the sword he thinks to do by the word In that year the King sent the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishops of Rochester and Chester to intreat with Lhewelyn to make peace with the King but they returned without doing any good Mathew Paris saith that the King going at this time to meet Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury and other Bishops which he had sent to conclude a peace with Lhewelyn Prince of Wales came to VVoodstock where being certifi'd of the death of the E. Marshall by certain messengers which came from Ireland he fell into great weeping and sorrow for the death of so valiant a Knight affirming withall that he had not left his Peer behind him in the Realm From thence he went to Glocester where the said Archbishop and Bishops coming unto him declared the treatice and form of peace taken between him and the said Lhewelyn The Welsh constant to their confederates in concluding of peace yet nevertheless upon this condition that the Noblemen of England which were confederates with the said Lhewelyn and by evill councel were exiled should first be reconciled to the King whereby the said peace might be more firm and stable Moreover the Archbishop said that with much ado they had brought the matter to that pass adding sometimes threatnings on the Kings behalfe with his Clergy To the which threatnings the said Lhewelyn is reported to have answered that he more regarded the Kings almes-deeds and his holy behaviour then he did fear the war of all his Clergy Then the King who wished peace with all his heart caused by his letters all the Nobles that were outlawes to be called again unto him to Glocester and Sunday before Ascension day next following to have their pardons and to receive their Inheritance Osculum paâ—â—â— which the King had seised into his own hands then Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent came to the King and obtained his favour whom the King reverently embraced and kissed Prince Lhewelyn also this year set Gruffith his Son at liberty whom he had kept in prison six years for his disobedience and this year Cadwalhon ap Maelgon dyed and the next year Owen the Son of Gruffith ap Rees being a Noble Gentleman and very well beloved was buried by his brother Rees at Stratflur The year after Madoc the son of Gruffith Maylor Lord of the lower Powis or Bromfield Chirk and Pale a Man very just and mercifull dyed and was buried very honourably at the Abbey Lhan Egwest or Vale Crucis which he had built and left behind him a son named Gruffith to inherit his Lands also Owen ap Meredyth ap Rotpert ap Cydewen departed out of this World Marchan Castle The same year Gilbert Earl of Pembrock by treason got the Castle of Morgan ap Howel called Marchan and fortified it very strong for fear of the Prince The next spring Joan the daughter of King John Princess of VVales was buried upon the Sea-shore within the Isle of Anglesey at Lhanvaes as her pleasure was Lhewelyn builds a Fryery at Lhanvaes over his Wives Sepulchre where the Prince did build a house of barefooted Fryers over her grave In the year 1237. Lhewelyn Prince of VVales called all the Lords and Barons of VVales if any such title as Baron was amongst them it being altogether Norman as I conceive before him to Stratflur and there every one of them swore to be faithfull subjects and did homage to David P. Lhewelyns son An Act of a discreet Prince At this time Lhewelyn being impotent by reason of a palsey which had taken him and sore urged and disquieted by his son Gruffith sent Embassadours to the King to signifie unto him that forasmuch as his years were now well near spent The Prince of Wales whom power could not compel voluntarily submits himself he was desirous to lead the rest of his dayes in peace and quietness and therefore purposed now to submit himself to the government and protection of the King of England and that he would hold his lands of him promising withal that whensoever the King should stand in need of his aid he would be ready to help him with men and money to the utmost of his power There were sent as Mediators in this behalf the Bishops of Hereford and Chester who travelled about the same with the good liking of many of the Nobles of Wales although some openly opposed it and in no case would except of any such peace Then the said David
said Gruffith Item I and the said Gruffith and either of us shall hold our portions of Land of our said Soveraign Lord the King in Capite acknowleging him Chief Lord thereof Item I shall restore unto Roger de Monte Alto Steward of Chester his land of Montalt or Mould with the appurtenances Item I shall also restore to all other Barons all such Lands Lordships and Castles as were taken from them since the beginning of the wars between the Lord John King of England and the said Lhewelin Prince of VVales my father saving the right of all covenants and Grants by writing to be reserved unto the judgment and determination of the Kings Court. Item I shall give and restore unto our Soveraign Lord the King all his charges in this present voyage laid out Item I shall make satisfaction for all dammages and injuries done by me or any of my Subjects unto the King or his according to the consideration of the Kings Court and shall deliver such as shall be malefactors in that behalf Item I shall restore unto the said Lord the King all the said homages which the late King John his father had and which the said Lord the King of right ought to have especially of all the noblemen of Wales and if the King shall set at liberty any of his captives the possessions of that man shall remain to the King Item the Land of Elsmere with the appurtenances shall remain to the Lord the King and his heirs for ever Item I shall not receive or suffer to be received within any Countrey of Wales any of the Subjects of England outlawed or banished by the said Lord the King or his Barons of Mercia Item For confirmation and performance of all and singular the premises on my behalf I shall provide by bonds and pledges and all other waies and means as the said Lord the King shall award and will accomplish the commandement of the said King and will obey his laws In witnesse whereof to this present writing I have put to my Seal Dated at Alnet by the River of Elwey in the feast of the dedication of St. John Baptist in the 25 year of the reign of the said King Mr. Powel fol. 306. For the Observation of these Articles the said Prince David and Ednivet Vachan were sworn Upon these atonements David sent privately unto the King Justice done not for Justice sake but for self ends to desire him that he would suffer him being his Nephew and the lawful heir of Lhewelin his father to enjoy the principality of Wales rather then Gruffith who was but a Bastard though some account him legitimate and nothing of kin unto the King giving him withal to understand that in case he did set Gruffith at liberty he should be sure to have the war renewed whereupon the King knowing those things to be true and understanding also that Gruffith was a valiant stout man and had many friends and favourers of his cause inclined rather to assent unto Davids request then otherwise to be in danger of further troubles and therefore willingly granted the same Shortly after David sent his brother Gruffith unto the King and other pledges for himself for the performance of the said Articles M. Paris p. 765 From prison to prison like a fish out of the frying pan into the fire which the King sent forthwith to the Tower of London there to be safely kept allowing to Gruffith a Noble dayly for his maintenance And within few dayes after Michaelmas P. David came to the K. Court and did him homage and swore fealty who for so doing and because he was the Kings Nephew was sent home again in peace When Gruffith saw how all things went and that he was not like to be set at liberty he began to devise means how to escape out of prison Wherefore deceiving the Watch one night he made a long line of hangings An unfortunate end of a desperate attempt coverings and sheets and having got out of a window let down himself by the same from the top of the Tower but by reason that he was a mighty personage and full of flesh the line brake with the weight of his body and so falling down headlong from a great height his neck and head was driven into his body with the fall whose miserable Carkass being found the morrow after was a pittiful spectacle to the beholders The King being certified hereof commanded his son to be better looked unto and punished the Officers for their negligence About this time the King fortified the Castle of Dyserth in Flintshire and gave to Gruffith son to Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis his inheritance and to the sons of Conan ap Owen Gwyneth their Lands in Merionith The Bishop of Bangor a constant friend to that party came to the Court to sue for the deliverance of Gruffith son to Lhewelin the Prince but the King knowing him to be a man of great courage would in no wise grant his liberty About this time Maelgon Vachan fortified the Castle of Garthgrugin John de Mynoc also fortified the Castle of Buelht and Roger Mortimer the Castle of Melienyth The summer following the King began to vex the Welsh extremely and take their Lands by force without just title or rightful cause and now died Rees Mechylh son to Rees Gryc of South Wales During these transactions Varium mutabile semper David gathered all his strength to be revenged of all the wrongs which the Earls of Clare and Hereford which John d◠Monurch and Roger de Alto Monte and other Merebers did to his people whom all the Lords of VVales obeyed and took for their Soveraign saving Gruffith son to Gwenwynwyn and Morgan ap Howel which two also were shortly compelled to obey and then the Prince entered the March Lands spoyling and destroying a great part thereof with whom the said Earles fought divers battails and sometimes the one and sometimes the other had the victory 300 Welshmen slain neer Montgomery M. Par. p. 884. English put to flight K. Hen. 3. nothing fortunate against the Welsh The year ensuing the Marchers and the VVelshmen met not far from Montgomery where was a cruel fight and 300 of the VVelshmen slain and a great number of the English among whom was a noble Knight called Hubert Fitz Matthew whereupon the King being weary of his domestical troubles gathered a vast army of English and Gascoynes and entred Northwales intending to destroy the Country but the prince met with his people in a straight and fought with them and put them to flight There the King lost a great number of his most worthy Soldiers and Nobility and most part of the Gascoines and now seeing he could do no good he sent for the Irishmen who landed in the Isle of Môn or Anglesey and spoyled a great part thereof till the Inhabitants of the Isle gathered themselves together and met with them being loaden with plunder whom they
chased to their ships and thus the King being not able to do any more Mat Paris p. 917. manned and victualled his Castles and so returned home Of this Voyage a certain Nobleman being then in the Kings Camp wrote thus to his friend about the end of Septemb. 1245. year 1245 The King with his army lyeth at Gannock fortifying of that Strong Castle and we lie in our Tents thereby Gannoc castle watching fasting praying and freezing with cold we watch for fear of the Welshmen who are wont to invade and come upon us in the night time we fast for want of meat for the half penny loaf is worth five pence The Welshmen teach the Englishmen three excellent vertues of watching fasting praying we pray to God to send us home again speedily we starve for cold wanting our winter Garments and having no more but a thin linnen cloth betwixt us and the wind there is an arme of the sea under the Castle whereunto the tide cometh and many ships come up the haven thither and bring victuals to the Camp from Ireland and Chester this arme of the sea lyeth betwixt us and Snowdon where the Welshmen abide now and is about a flight shot over when the tide is in There came to the mouth of that haven a certain ship from Ireland with victuals to be sold upon Munday before Michaelmas day which being negligently look't unto Maâ— Par. p. 924. was set on drie ground at the low ebb at the further side of the water over against the Castle which thing when the Welshmen saw they came down from the hills and assaulted the vessel being now upon drie ground whereupon we on the otherside beholding the same sent over by boats 300 Welshmen of the borders of Cheshire and Shropshire with certain Archers and armed men to the rescue of the said ship whereupon the Natives withdrew to their accustomed places in the rocks and woods whom our men followed as far as two miles being on foot by reason they could transport no horses and slew many of them Our men being over geeedy and covetous spoiled the Abbey of Aberconwey and burned all the houses of Office belonging to the same Which doing caused the Welshmen to run thither Aberâ—onwey Abbey plundered by the English who like desperate men set upon our Souldiers being loaden with spoyles and slew a great number of them following the rest to the water side of whom some got to the boats and so escaped and some cast themselves into the water and were drowned and such as they took they hanged and beheaded every one In this conflict we lost many of our men The Welsh revenge the sacriledge especially of those that were under the conduct of Richard Earle of Cornwal and Sr. Alen Buscel Sr. Adam de Maio Sr. Geffry Estuemy one Raymond a Gascoyne whom the King highly fancied and divers others besides 100. of common Soldiers In the mean time Sr. Walter Bisset worthily defended the said ship untill the tide came and then came away with the same manfully wherein there were 60 Tuns of wine besides other provision c. Many other things are contained in the said writing of the hard shifts that we made in the Kings camp for victuals and the dearth of all things that were to be eaten In the beginning of the year 1246. David Prince of Wales after he had gotten the love of his subjects and atchived many notable victories dyed and was buryed at Conwey by his father after he had ruled Wales five years leaving no issue of his body to the great discomfort of the Land Mr. Mills speaking of this David saith he was disquieted with a number of cares in his life time he wasted and destroyed his Country he did many slaughters and after perjury and killing of his brother was overwearied with sundry tribulations He left Wales most miserably desolate and disquiet so as they found this saying true Every Kingdom divided in it self shall be made desolate he caused the Nobles to swear fealty unto him and so continued Prince 6. years and died Anno 1246. Lhewelyn and Owen the sons of Gruffith ap Lhewelyn When all the Lords and Barons of Wales understood of the death of their prince they came together and called for Lhewelin and Owen Goch the sons of Gruffith son to Prince Lhewelyn brother to David as next Inheritors for they esteemed not Roger Mortimer son to Gladis Râ—g Mortimer right heir put by his right sister to David and right inheritor by order of Law and did them homage who divided the principality betwixt them two The King hearing of the death of prince David sent one Nicholas de Miles as Justice of Southwals to Caermarthin and with him in commission Meredyth ap Rees Gryc K. H. 3. makes another attempt against Wales but in vain and Meredyth ap Owen ap Gruffith to dis-inherit Maelgon ap Vachan of all his lands wherefore the said Maelgon fled to the princes into Northwales for succour with Howel ap Meredith whom the Earle of Clare had by force spoyled of all his lands in Glamorgan against whom the King came with a great army who after he had remained a while in the Country and could do no good returned home again The Prince of Northwales was a superiour prince of all Wales to whom the other princes of Southwales and Powis did pay a certain tribute yearly as appeareth by lawes of Howel Dha and in divers places of this history and was the right heir of Cadwalader as is evident by all writers whose line of the heir male from Roden Mawr endeth in this David the son of Lhewelin the son of Jorwerth the son of Owen Gwineth the son of Gruffith the son of Conan the son of Jago the son of Edwal the son of Meiric the son of Edwal Voel the son of Anarawd the son of Roderi Mawr the son of Eselht the daughter and sole heir of Conan Tindathwy the son of Roderike Molwynoc the son of Edwal Ywrich the son of Cadwalader the last King of the Brittains Lhewelin ap Jorwerth prince of Northwales father to David married two wives the first Jone Daughter of K. John by whom he had David who dyed without issue and Gladis married to Mortimer from which match the Kings of England are descended by the mothers side from Cadwalader About this time Harold King of Man came to the Court and did homage to K. Henry M. Paris p. 938 The K. of Man doth homage to the K. of England and he dubbed him Knight the Summer following Rees Vachan son to Rees Mechyl got the Castle of Carvec Cynnen which his mother of meer hatred conceived against him had delivered to the Englishmen The Abbots of Conwey and Stratflur made sute to the King for the body of Gruffith ap Lhewelyn which he granted unto them and they conveyed it unto Conwey where he was honourably buryed In the year 1254.
affairs of the holy Land should be neglected that it would please you also to help with your Councel with the Lord and King that he would use us and order us according to the peace agreed upon the which we will no way infringe And if he will not hearken to your Counsel therein which God forbid that you will hold us excused for we will no waies as much as lieth in us procure the trouble and disquietness of the Realm And if it may please you to give credit to our messengers which we do send to the King at the day by him to us appointed to alledge our lawful excuses in those things which they by mouth shall on our part shew unto You resting to do Your will and pleasure if it please You to write again Dated at Talybont the eight Day of October Anno 1275. year 1277 Shortly after the King came to Chester Thom. Walsh fol. 6. Mar. West p. 364. willing the Prince to come thither and do him homage which when the prince detracted to do the King gathered an army to compel him thereto The year following the Countesse of Leicester wife to Simon Montfort which remained at a Nunnery in France sent her daughter to Wales to marry the prince as it was ' agreed betwixt them in her Fathers time and with her came her brother Admerike and a courtly company who fearing the coast of England bent their voyage to the Isle of Sylly whereby chance they met with four ships of Bristol which set upon and took them and brought them to the King who entertains the Lady houourably sending her brother to be kept prisoner in the castle of Corff from whence he was removed to the castle of Sherburne Then the King prepared two armies A prodigious Omen to Wales whereof the one he conducted himself to Northwales as far as Ruthlan and fortified the castle and the other he sent with Paganis de Camurtiis a worthy Souldier to Westwales they burned and destroyed a great part of the Country and this year itrained blood in divers places of Wales The year ensuing the Lords of Southwales came to the Kings peace The jangling of the Welsh among themselves their utter overthrow and did him homage and delivered the Castle of Stratywy unto the K. Lieutenant Paganus de Camurtli if his sirname be not mistaken for de Cadurcis it is the family of Chaworth in Notinghamshire This Prince understanding this and seeing that his own people had forsaken him sent to the King for peace which was agreed upon these conditions 1. First that all such as the Prince kept prisoners of the Kings and for his cause should be set at liberty 2. Item That the Prince should pay to the King for his favour and good will 50000 marks to be paid at the Kings pleasure 3 Item That four Cantreds should reman to the King and his heirs for ever which Cantreds I think were these cantref Ros where the Kings Castle of Teganny stood cantref Rynivioc where Denbigh cantref Tegengl where Ruthlan standeth and cantref Dyffryn Clwd where Ruthin is 4 Item That the Lords Merchers should quietly enjoy all the Lands that they had conquered within Wales 5. Item That the Prince should pay yearly for the Isle of Môn or Anglesey 1000 marks which payment should begin at Michaelmas then next ensuing and that also he should pay 5000 marks out of hand and if the prince dyed without issue the Isle should remain to the King and his heirs 6 Item That the Prince should come to England every Christmas to do the King homage for his lands 7. Item That all the Barons in Wales should hold their lands of the King except 5. in Snowden who should ackowledg the Prince to be their Lord. 8. Items that he should for his lifetime enjoy the name of Prime and none of his heirs after him so that after his death the foresaid five Barons should hold of the King and none other 9. Item that for the performance of the Articles the prince should deliver for hostages ten of the best in Wales without imprisonining disinheriting or time of deliverance determined and also the King to choose twenty within Northwales that should take their oathes with the prince for performance of these Articles and if the Prince should swerve from any of them and being thereof admonished would not amend and redresse the same Th. Walsh p. 7 they should forsake him and become his enemies The prince was also bound to let his brethren enjoy their lands in Wales of whom David had long served the King whom the King had made Knight contrary to the manner of Wales and had given him in marriage the daughter of the Earle of Derby whose first husband was lately deceased to whom the King gave Denbigh in Northwales and 1000l lands therewith And his other brother Roderike was lately fled to England out of prison and Owen the third was delivered at this composition This peace was concluded in the Kings absence who appointed one his Commissioners Mr. Trinet Sol p. 787. to wit the Lord Ripiost to take an oath of him and authorised the said Robert Antonio Becke and William de Southampton Prior Provincial of the Friers predicant Commissioners appointed on his behalf to receive the like oath of the said Lhewelyn for whose part Theodor or Tudor ap Ednivet and Grono ap Heilin were Commissioners At this time the King builded a Castle at Aberystwyth returned into Eng. with much honour unto whom the people granted a subsidy of the twentieth part of their goods towards his charges in this war The year following the marriage was celebrated at Worcester betwixt Elianor daughter to Simon Montfort and prince Lhewelin where the King Queen and the most part of the Nobility of England were present Also the year after Roger Mortimer set up at Killingworth a round table for a hundred Knights to be exercised in the feats of arms The Kof Scots sucâ—ouâ—eth against the Welsh and thither resorted many Knights from divers Countries At this time the King of Scots did homage to K. Edward and obtained the Kings letters that his succours in the last wars of Wales were not done by the name of service but good will The peace concluded betwixt the prince of Wales and the King of England did not long continue by reason of the severe and strict dealing of such Officers as the King appointed rulers in the Marshes and the Inland country of Wales who hunting after their own gains oppressed the Inhabitants burdening them with new exactions contrary to the custom of the country and also shewing themselves too much affectionate and partial in matters of controversy betwixt party party especially when any Englishman had to do in the matter which poling and partiality did altogether alienate the hearts of the people from the King of England so that they had rather die then live in such thraldom whereupon assembling
themselves together they so moved David the Lord of Denbigh to be at unity with prince Lhewelin and to take pitty upon their affliction and misery that he being agreed with his brother became their Captain year 1281 This reconciliation consisted chiefly in this that David should never after serve the King of England as he had done before but become his utter enemy who laid siege to the castle of Hawarden and took Roger Clifford a noble Knight slaying all that resisted The Welsh impatient of servitude and after spoyling all the country he with his brother the prince laid siege to the Castle of Ruthlan the King hearing of this hasted thither with a great army to raise the siege whereupon the prince retreated with his army Seek to recover their liberty Aberystwyth castle built by the King taken Godwin in Canterbury fol. 77. Also the same time Rees the son of Maelgon and Gruffith ap Meredith ap Owen which other noble men of Southwales tooâ— the castle of Aberystwyth and divers other castles in the Country spoyling and plundering all the Kings people that inhabited thereabouts Therefore the King sent the Archbishop of Canterbury to confer with the prince and his brethren but he returned without doing any good so that he denounced an excommunication this Archbishops name was Jehn Beckham who as B. Godwin saith took great pains in labouring a peace between K. Edw. l. and prince Lhewelin of Wales unto whom he went in person and travailed long with him but all in vain Articles sent from the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to be intimated to Lhewelin Prince of Wales and to the People of the same Country 1 Because we came to those parts for the spiritual and temporal health of them whom we have ever loved well as divers of them have known 2. That we came contrary to the will of the Lord our King whom our said coming as is said doth much offend 3 That we desire beseech them for the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that they would come to an unity with the English people and to the peace of our Lord the King which we intend to procure them as well as we can 4. We will them to understand that we cannot long tarry in those quarters 5. We would that they considered that after our parting out of the Country they shall not perhaps find any that will so tender the preferring of their cause as we would do if it pleased God with our mortal life we might procure them an honest stable and firm peace 6. That if they do contemn our petition and labour we do intend forthwith to signifie their stubbournesse to the high Bishop and the Court of Rome for the enormity that many wayes happeneth by occasion of this discord this day 7. Let them know that unlesse they do quickly agree to a peace that war shall be aggravated against them which they shall not be able to sustain for the Kings power encreaseth daily 8. Let them understand that the realm of England is under the special protection of the See Apostolick and the See of Rome loveth it better then any other kingdom 9. That the said See of Rome will not in any wise see the state of the Realm of England quaile being under a special protection 10. That we much lament to hear that the Welshmen be more cruel then Saracens for the Saracens when they take christians they keep them to be redeemed for money but they say that the Welshmen by and by do kill all they take and are only delighted with blood and some time cause to be killed them whose ransom they have received 11. That whereas they were ever wont to be esteemed and to reverence God and Ecclesiastical persons they seem much to revolt from that devotion moving sedition and war and committing slaughter and burning in the holy time which is a great injury to God wherein no man can excuse them 12. We desire That as true Christians they would repent for they cannot long continue their begun discord if they had sworn it 13. We will That they signifie unto us how they will or can amend the trouble of the Kings peace and the hurt of the Common-wealth 14. That they signifie unto us How peace and concord may be established for in vain were it to form peace to be daily violated 15. If they say That their Laws or Covenants be not observed that they do signifie unto us what those be 16. That granting it That they were injured as they say which we in no wayes do know they which were Judges in the cause might so have signified to the Kings Majesty 17. That unless they will now come to peace they shall be resisted by decree and censure of the Church The Answer of Prince Lhewelyn to the above-written Articles To the most Reverend Father in Christ the Lord John by Gods grace Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England his humble and devote son Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdon sendeth Greeting With all Reverend Submission and Honour we yield our most humble and hearty thanks unto your Fatherhood for the great and grievous pains which at this present for the love of us and our Nation you have sustained and so much the more we are beholden unto you for that besides the Kings pleasure you would venture to come to us In that you request us to come to the Kings peace we would have your Holiness to know That we are most ready and willing to the same so that our Lord the King will duely and truely observe and keep towards us and ours Moreover although we would be glad of your continuance in Wales yet we hope there shall not be any delay in us but that peace which of all things we most desire and wish for may be forthwith established and rather by your travel and procurement than by any other mens so that it shall not be needful to complain unto the Pope of our wilfulness neither do we despise your Fatherhoods requests and painful travel but with all hearty reverence according to our duty do accept the the same neither yet shall it be needful for the Lord the King to use any force against us seeing we are ready to obey him in all things our Rights and Laws as aforesaid reserved And although the Kingdom of England be under the special protection of the See of Rome and with special love regarded by the same yet when the Lord the Pope with the Court of Rome shall understand of the great dammages which are done unto us by the Englishmen to wit The Articles of the peace concluded and sworn unto violated and broken the robbing and burning of Churches the murthering of Ecclesiastical persons as well religious as secular the slaughter of women great with child the children sucking at their mothers breasts the destroying of Hospitals and Houses of Religion killing the men and women professed in the Holy Places and even before
said Justice had no jurisdiction in those patts and not being contented to get Timber there for building as well of Ruthlan as of other places but also destroyed the same Woods sold it and carried it into Ireland 4. Item Where the said David took certain Out-lawes and Rovers in the Woods and caused them to be hanged yet the said Justice accused David to the King for succouring and maintaining the Thieves aforesaid which was not like to be true seeing he caused them to be hanged 5. Item It is provided in the peace that all the Welshmen and their causes should be judged after the Lawes of Wales This was in no point observed with the said David and his people Of these aforesaid griefs the said David required often amends either according to the Laws and Customs of Wales or of special favour but he could never obtain any of them both at his hands Further the said David was warned in the Kings Court that as soon as Reginald Grey should come from the Court Good service ill requited the said David should be taken and spoiled of his Castle of Hope his Wood should be cut down and his Children taken for Pledges who seeing he had taken great pains and peril for the King in all his wars as well himself as his people both in England and Wales and had lost thereby the most part of the Nobility of his Countrey and yet nevertheless could obtain neither Justice Amends nor favour at his hands having such great wrongs offered unto him and fearing his own life and his Childrens or else perpetual prison being enforced as it were against his will began to defend himself and his people Griefs and Injuries offered by the King and his Officers to the men of Ros. 1. This is the Form of peace which the King of England did promise the men of Ros before they did him homage which he promised them to observe inviolably That is to say That the King should grant to every of them their Right and Jurisdiction as they had in time of King Henry according as the said men do report that they had in the time of King Henry 2. Item The Lord the King did promise the same men that they should have Justice in their Suites after granting of the which Articles the said men did homage unto the King And then the King promised them with his own mouth faithfully to observe the said Articles This notwithstanding a certain Nobleman passing by the Kings high way with his wife in the Kings peace met certain English Labourers and Masons going to Ruthlan where they did then work A notorious ouragious murther and iniustice committed against the Welsh who attempted by force to take away his wife from him and while he defended her as well as he could one of them killed his wife and he who killed her with his followers were taken and when the kindred of her who was slain required Law at the Justice of Chesters hands for their kinswoman they were put in prison and the murtherers delivered 3. Item A certain man killed a Gentleman who had killed the son of Grono ap Heilyn and was taken but when certain of the kindred required justice before the Justice of Chester certain of them were imprisoned and the Offender set at liberty and justice denied to the kindred A profitable Judge to himself but unjust to the oppressed 4. Item Certain Gentlemen claimed some lands and offered the King a great sum of money to have justice by the Verdict of good and lawful men of the Countrey then the lands being adjudged to the Claimers Reginald Grey took the same lands corn goods and all upon the ground so that they lost their lands money corn and cattel 5. Item It is our right That no stranger should cut our Woods without our leave yet this notwithstanding A hard case there was a Proclamation at Ruthlan That it should be lawful for all other men to cut down our Woods but to us it was forbidden 6. Item Where divers honest men had lands of the gift of the said David the Justice taketh the said mens lands away A slavery worse than Jewish 7. Item When any cometh to Ruthlan with Merchandize if he refuse whatsoever any Englishman offereth he is forthwith sent to the Castle to prison and the Buyer hath the things and the King hath the price then the Souldiers of the Castle first spoil and beat the party and then cause him to pay the Porter and let him go 8. Item If any Welshman buy any thing in Ruthland and any Englishman do meet him he will take it from him and give him less than he paid for it 9. Item The King contrary to his promise made to the men of Ros hath given the Territory of Maynan Penmayn and Lhysuayn 10. Item Certain Gentlemen of the Cantref of Ros bought certain Offices and paid their money for the same yet the Justice of Chester took the said Offices from them without cause 11. Item Grono ap Heilyn took to Farm of Godfrey Marliney the Territory of Maynan and Lhysuayn for the term of four years yet Robert de Cruquer with Horses and Armes and 24 Horsemen came to vex the said Grono so that he had no safe going neither to Ruthlan nor Chester without a great guard of his kindred and friends 12. Item Certain Gentlemen were arrested for trespasses done before the wars and imprisoned and could not be delivered until they had paid 16 Mark which was contrary to the peace concluded 13. Item Our causes ought to be decided after the custome of our Lawes but our men be compelled to swear against their Consciences else they be not suffered to swear Furthermore we spent 300 Marks in going to the King for justice in the aforesaid Articles Sr. Reginald Gâ—ey a cruel Tyrant over the Welsh And when we believed to recover full justice the King sent to our parties the Lord Reginald Grey to whom the King hath set all the land to farm to handle the men of the said Cantref as it pleaseth him who compelled us to * To swear by his hand whereas we should swear by the hand of the King swear in his name whereas we should swear in the Kings name and where the Kings Cross ought to be erected he caused his Cross to be erected in token that he is the very true Lord and the said Reginald at his first coming to those parts of Wales sold to certain servants of the King Offices for 60 Marks which the said servants bought before of the King for 24 Mark which Offices ought not to be sold at the choice of the Lord. 14. Item The King gave Meredyth ap Madoc a Captainship for his service Reginald Grey took it from him neither could he get any remedy at the Kings hand for the same 15. Item One of the Councel of the said Reginald Cynwric Vachan told us by mouth that as soon as the
said Reginald Grey returned into Wales he would take 24 men of every Cantref and either behead them or imprison them perpetually 16. Item Whereas we paid our Taxes and Rents in old money half year before the coming of new money they enforced us to pay new money for the old These griefs and the like the said Reginald offered us and threatned that if we would send any to the King to complain he would behead them and when we sent any to the King they could never speak with the King but spent us much money in vain for which griefs we believe our selves free before God from the Oath we have made to the King These Griefs following the King and his Justices offered to Rees Vachan of Stratywy 1. After that the said Rees gave the King his Castle of Dynevowr since the last peace the said Rees then being in the Tent of the Lord Payne de Gadersey at the same time there were slain six Gentlemen of the said Rees his men for whom they never had amends which was to him great grief and loss 2. Item John Gifford claimed the said Rees his Inheritance at Hiruryn and the said Rees requested the Law of his Countrey of the King or the Law of the Countrey of Caermarthen in the which Countrey the Ancestors of the said Rees were wont to have Law when they were of the peace of the Englishmen and under their regiment but the said Rees could have no Law but lost all his lands They would have had him to answer in the County of Hereford where none of his Ancestors ever answered Further in the lands of the said Rees were such enormities committed which do most appertain to the State Ecclesiastical that is to say in the Church of St David which they call Lhangadoc Grievous sacriledge committed by the English they made Stables and plaid the Harlots and took away all the goods of the said Church and burning all the houses wounded the Priest of the said Church before the high Altar and left him there as dead 3. Item In the said Countrey they spoiled and burnt the Churches of Dyngad Lhantredaff and other Churches in other parts they spoiled their Chalices Books and all other Ornaments These be the Griefs which the King and his Justice gave to Lhewelyn ap Rees and Howell ap Rees After that a Form of peace was concluded betwixt Henry then King of England and the Prince of Wales the said King granted and confirmed by his Charter to the said Prince the homage of the said Noblemen so long as they stood friends with the Prince according to the said gift and confirmation But Edward now King disinherited the said Gentlemen of their lands so that they could not have their own lands neither by law nor by favour These be the Griefs done by the Englishmen to the sons of Meredyth ap Owen 1. After that the King had granted the Gentlemen their own inheritance of Geneurglyn and Creuthyn he contrary to the peace disinherited the said Gentlemen denying them all lawes and customs of Wales and of the County of Caermarthyn 2. The said King in his County of Caerdigan by his Justices compelled the said Gentlemen to give judgement upon themselves where their predecessors never suffered the like of Englishmen 3. The said Justices of the King having taken away the Courts of the Noblemen in Wales and compelled the people to satisfie before them for trespasses when as they ought to have satisfied by the said Nobles 4. When a Wrack happeneth upon any of the grounds of the Noblemen whose ancestors had the Wrack they should have the same yet the King forbiddeth them and the said King by colour of that Ship-wrack contrary to their custom and law did condemn them in eight Marks and took away all the goods of the Ship-wrack The Complaints of the Noblemen of Strattalyn of the Wrongs and Griefs done to them by Roger Clifford and Roger Scrochill Deputy to the said Roger Clifford contrary to the Priviledge Justice and Custom of the said Noblemen as they say and prove 1. When the said Roger compelled the said men of Strattalyn to give them to have their customs and priviledges 20 Marks starling and after the payment of the money they brake by and by after this sort to put upon 12 men according to the laws of England which was never the manner or custom of the said Countrey 2. Item Madoc ap Blethyn was condemned in 4 Marks unjustly contrary to the laws and use of the Countrey 3. Item Grono Goch was likewise condemned 5 Marks and 12 Beasts contrary to the customs of his Countrey Dear Venison 4. Item The said Roger took the lands of the men of the Countrey as forfeit and for one foot of a Stagg found in a Dogs mouth three men were spoiled of all they had 5. Item Itlhel ap Gwysty was condemned in a great sum of money for the fact of his father done 40 years before 6. Item The said Rogers laid upon us the finding of all the English Souldiers where as before there was but one half 7. Item We were given to Mr. Maurice de Cruny and were sold to Roger Clifford which was never seen in our parents time 8. Item The widow of Robert of the Mowld asked of the King the third part of the land in the Mowld in Ward whereas it was judged before the King that the said lands were never given in Ward These be the Articles of Grief done to the men of Penlhyn by the Constable of Henry Chambers of the White Abbey and his men 1. Cynwric ap Madoc was spoiled by them in the time of peace of 8 pound 4 Oxen Corn the work of one plough for two years and to the value of 3 pound of 3 of his men and they had the worth of 16 pound for the said 8 pound and did beat him besides which was more wrong for then he was the Princes Constable at Penlhyn and all the cause that they pretended to make this spoyl was only that they said they had found 24 sheafes of Tythe in the house of a servant of the said Cynwric 2. Item Adam Criwr was condemned in 8 s. 8 d. and a Mare price 20 s. and was taken and beaten for that he had taken the Stealer of that Mare and brought him bound with him the which Thief was forthwith delivered 3. Item Jorwerth ap Gurgenen was condemned in 4 l. for that he had scaped out of their prison in time of the wars and was found in the same Town in time of peace and this is directly against the peace concluded betwixt the King and the Prince 4. Item Cadua Dhu servant to the Constable of Penlhyn was condemned because he would not receive the old money for new 5. Item Gruffith ap Grono the Princes man was spoiled of an Oxe price 11 s. 8 d. and after that the Constable had ploughed with the said Oxe 7 moneths he paid to the said Gruffith
Howell Sais Lord of St. Clere y moch Esq Llewellin ap Ivor Lord of S. Clere Esq Lleykye d to Griffith ap Eli Lord of Gilfeild in Powis Ivor ap Llewellin Lord of S. Clere Esq Nest daughter to Cadwgan and Great Grandchilde to Elistan Pr of Ferlix Llewellin ap Ivor Lord of S. Clere and Tredegar Esq Augharand daughter and heir to Sir Morgan Meredith Knight Lord of Tredegar Morgan ap Llewellin Lord of Tredegar Esq Maud daughter to Rhun ap Grono ap Llwarch Lord of Kybor Esq Llewellin Morgan of Tredegar Esq Jonet daughter to Dd. Ychan of Rydodyn Esq Evan Morgan of Tredegar Esq Denis daughter to Tho ap Howell Ychan Esq Sir John Morgan of Tredegar Kt. Jonet daughter and heir of John Matthewes of Landaff Esq Thomas Morgan of Machen Esq his Brother Sir John dying Sans Issue Rowland Morgan of Manghan Esq Thomas Morgan of Maughan and Tredegar Esq Sir William Morgan of Tredegar Knight Daughter to Wintour Kt. Com. Glonc. Thomas Morgan of Maughan and Tredegar Esq now living 1661. Daughter and Heir to Windham Com Somer William Morgan Esq Heir apparent I Have seen a Pedegree of this noble Family deduced even from Brute but because I affect brevity I have only selected what serves for my purpose giving you to understand that all Morgans or of what Name else soever who either bear for their Armes Argent a Lion Rampant gardant sable or else Or a Griffon Sergreant sable for their Paternal Coat must acknowledge themselves to descend from this ancient Family THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE Antient and Modern Brittish and Welsh HISTORY The Princes of VVales of the blood Royal of England collected for the most part out of the Records of the Tower Edward of Caernarvon KIng Edward albeit he had brought all Wales under his subjection and by a statute made at Ruthland An. 12. Edw. I. incorporated and united the same to England in the which Statute there be many good lawes concerning the division of Wales into Counties and concerning divers Offices and Officers and concerning Trial and the divisions of actions and the the formes of many writs and the proceeding therein much like to the lawes of England yet he could never win the good will of the common people of the Country to accept him for their prince except he were of their own nation for the Welshmen having experience of the government of the English Officers and knowing that the King would rule the Country by his Deputies could not abide to have any English man to be their Rulers who often times upon the Kings motion answered that they were content to take for their prince any man whom his Majesty would name so that he were a Welshman and no other answer could he ever get from them by any means whereupon the King sent for Q. Elianor out of England in the deep of Winter being then great with child to the Castle of Caernarvon and when she was nigh to be brought to bed the King went to Ruthlan and sent for all the Barons and best men in Wales to come unto him to consult concerning the Weale publick of the Country And when they were come he deferred the consultation till he was certified that the Queen was delivered of a son then sending certain Lords to the Christening of his child and informing them how he would have him named he called the Welshmen together declaring unto them that whereas they were oftentimes suiters unto him to appoint them a Prince he now having occasion to depart out of the Country would name them a prince if they would allow and obey him whom he should name To the which motion they answered that they would so do if he would appoint one of their own Nation to be their prince whereunto the King replyed that he would name one that was born in Wales and could speak never a word of English whose life and conversation no man was able to stain and when they all had granted that such an one they would obey he named his own son Edward born at Caernarvon Castle a few dayes before Then the King having the whole country at his will gave whole Towns and Lordships in the midst of Wales unto English Lords as the Lordship of Denbigh to Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne the Lordship of Ruthin to the Lord Reginald Grey second son to J. Grey of Wilton and other lands to many of his Nobility This Hen. Lacy Lord of Denbigh was the son of Edmund Lacy the son of John Lacy Lord of Halton Pomfret and Constable of Chester who married Margaret the Eldest Daughter and one of the heirs of Robert Guincy Earl of Lincolne the said Henry married Margaret the daughter and sole heir of William Longesped Earl of Sarum and had Issue Edmund and John which both dyed young of whom the one perished by a fall into a very deep well within the castle of Denbigh and a daughter named Alicia married unto Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster who was in the right of his said wise Earl of Lincolne and Sarum Earl of Denbigh Halton Pomfret and constable of Chester After the death of the said Thomas King Edward the second gave the Lordship of Denbigh to Hugh Lord Spencer Earl of Winchester After whose death the said Lordship was given by King Edward the third Anno regni sui primo as it appeareth on record to Roger Mortimer Earl of March with divers other Lordships in the Marches in performance of the Kings promise while he remained in France with his mother for the provision of 1000 l. lands of a reasonable extent for the said Roger as soon as by Gods grace he should come to the possession of the crown and Kingdom of England which in few years after the Earl of March being attainted the said Lordship of Denbigh was given by the said King to the Lord Mortague Earl of Sarum but shortly after Anno 29. Edward 3. it was restored again with the Earldom of March to the Mortimers in the which family the same remained untill the whole inheritance of the Mortimers came with a Daughter to the house of York and so to the crown A help to English History fol. 263. and it was given by Queen Elizabeth Anno regni 610. to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester who was created Baron of Denbigh it is accounted one of the greatest and best Lordships of England This Town is well seated on the banks of the River Istrad which from thence runneth into the Cluyd the fairest River of this Country a Town well peopled and inhabited especially since it became the head of the Country which was not till the 27. of Hen. 8. what time the 5. new shires were added to the rest of Wales of which this was one but before that it was the head Town of the Barony of Denbigh being conceived to be one of the goodliest Territories of all England as having more Gentlemen holding thereof in Fee and by service then any other
Lords it hath had good store and of several families but none of them a Parliamentary Peer in reverence hereunto till these later times of late it hath given title both to Lord and Earl of two several families Viz. to these year 1564 1. Robert Dudley created Baron of Denbigh and Earl of Leicester Eliz. 6. Sept. 29. 1622. Or a lyon rampant quene fourche vert incensed Cules a cressent for difference William Viscount Fielding created Earl of Denbigh 20. Jac. Sept. 14. Master of the Wardrobe c. Arg. Or a Fess B. 3. Fusils or Lozenges Or. The Lordship of Ruthin continued in the possession of the Greyes untill the Reign of Hen. 7. George Grey Earl of Kent and Lord of Ruthin passed the same upon some bargain to the King There came at the same time with King Edward divers Gentlemen who grew afterwards to be men of great possessions in the County many of whose posterity continue to this day Rees ap Meredyth served the King in all these wars who did most hurt of all men and was in good hope of great preferment at the Kings hand whom after the overthrow of the Prince the King made Knight and fed with many fair and good words After that he and all other his Countrymen and Neighbours had submitted themselves to the Government of the King of England it hapned that the Lord Pain Tiptoft Warden of the Kings castles nigh unto Rees his Country and the Lord Allen Plucknet the Kings Steward in Wales called the said Rees as they did all other of the Country to the Kings Court whether he refused to come alledging his ancient priviledges and liberties with the Kings promises but the said Officers proceeded according to the law against him whereupon a great variance arose between the said Pain Tiptoft and the said Sir Rees ap Meredyth so that sundry Skermishes were fought betwixt them and men slain on both sides to the great disturbance of the Country The King hearing of these things being then beyond Sea wrote unto Rees Meredyth requiring him to keep the peace till his return At what time he promised to reform all things in due and reasonable order but Rees would not give over the enterprise which he had begun Whereupon the King sent to the Earl of Cornwall whom he had left his Lieutenant in the Realm during his absence to send an army of Men into Wales to withstand the disordered attempts of the said Rees who went into Wales himself and overthrew Rees his Castle at Drofolan but by undermining the walls of that Castle with the fall thereof the Baron Stafford and the Lord William de Monchency with many other Knights and Esquires were oppressed and brused to death Afterwards Robert Typtoft Lord Deputy of Wales gathered an army and meeting the said Rees after the slaughter of 4000. of his people discomfited and took him who about Michaelmas following at the Kings going into Scotland was had to York and there condemned and executed Not long after the King wanting money there was a great subsidy granted towards the maintainance of the war in France about levying of which there was much a do in several places but especially the Welshmen who were never wont to be acquainted with such contribution stormed against it so that they took one of their own Captains named Roger de Puelesdon who at the Kings command gathered the said subsidy and hanged him with divers others and afterwards beheaded the said Roger. Whereupon the King being sore offended for the death of the said Roger whom he greatly favoured and hearing that the VVelshmen began to stir against him in divers places for the VVestwales Men had chosen Maelgon Vachan for their Captain and destroyed all Caerdigan and Pembrock and returned with spoiles They of Glamorgan and the Southparts took one named Morgan for their leader and driving the Earl of Glocester out of the Country they restored to the said Morgan again the possessions which the Ancestors of the said Earl by force and great wrong had taken from the said Morgans Predecessours The Northwales men had set upon Madoc being of the kindred of the last Lhewelyn who gathering a great power came to Caernarvon and slew a great number of Englishmen which were come thither to the Fair and spoiled the whole Town then I say the King called back his brother Edmund Earl of Lancaster and Henry Lacy Earl of Lincolne and John Lord Denbigh who had an army ready to pass into Gascoyne The remnant of the Welsh foyle the English These Earls came towards Northwales and as they approached neer unto the castle of Denbigh upon St. Martins day the VVelshmen with great force encountered them and giving them battail drove them back and discomfited their people Upon this ungratefull newes the King himself came into VVales and there kept his Christmas at Aberconwey where Robert VVinchesey Archbishop of Canterbury came unto him and did him homage and then returned home the King as he passed further into the country lost much of his carriages which the Welshmen took being loaden with victualls and provision for the army so that the King and his people endured great penury and were constrained to drink water mixt with hony and eat very gross and course meat where he was very like to have been distressed had not the other part of his army come to him in time While the King remained in Snowdon the Earl of Warwick hearing that a great number of Welshmen were assembled together and lodged in a vally betwixt two woods chose out a company of horsemen with certain cross-bowes and archers and coming upon the Welshmen in the night compassed them round about who pitching the ends of their spears and turning the points against their Enemies stood at defence so to keep off the horsemen But the Earl having placed his battail so that betwixt every two horsemen there stood a crossbow a great part of the Welshmen who stood at defence in manner aforesaid with their spears were overthrown and broken with the shot of the quarrells and then the Earl charged the residue with a troop of horsemen and bare them down with such slaughter as they had not sustained the like losse of people as was thought at any time before After this the King builded a strong Castle within the Isle of Anglesey and called the same Beaumarish and so setting all in quietness and punishing such as had put to death Roger de Puelesdon he returned home with his army Madoc victorious against the Lord Strange of Knooking and the Marchers but Madoc within a while after levying an army came to Oswestred where the people yielded unto him and meeting with the Lord Strange with a company of Marchers not far from Knooking overthrew him and spoiled his Country miserably and shortly after he gave the Marchers another overthrow But for all that the Lords Marchers nothing dismayd at this mischance gathered new forces and met Madoc as he
cloaths was deemed prejudicial lest thereby those pictures should be hid A Nation most warlike and thirsty after blood and slaughter content with a small Shield and Javelin yet having a sword appendent to their naked bodies brest-plate or helmet they undervalue as obstacles and impediments to the passing over Fords and Rivers Plinius de Magia Plinie treating de Magia or Art Magick saith that the Brittains so admirably honoured it with uncough Ceremonies that they may seem to have sent it unto the Persians Another Author saith that the Brittains far exceed the French in Stature and bigness of body affirming Strabo apud cundem that he himself had seen Brittish youths in Rome to surpass their tallest men in height at least half a foot Diodorus Siculus saith Brittains spend their time after the custom of their ancient Forefathers and in wars used Chariots as did the Grecians in time of the Trojan war and who knows The honesty of Brittains commended by Diâ— Siculus Mr. Camb. denies not Brute Mr. Broughton fol. 289. The Brittains called Gens Bruti Leges S. Ed Reg. apud Guli Lamb. l. d. priseu legi fol. 36. Gildas apud Galf. l. 1. c. 17. Vic. l. 1. Pont. Nen. Hist Antiq. Land Eccles Isiadâ—r l. Etâ—m Thom. Eliot apud Stow. proof for Brute Thaliesnanus apud pris p. 27 Gal. Manus apud eundem Hâ—n Hunting Hist de Reg. Brit. cum maltis aliis ibidem Brute landed here in the time of Holy Samuel the Prophet Brittannia so called from Brutus Gualt Oxor. apud Hard. c. 16. Bal. 2. cent Sigib Gembl hist de regn Britt Mariam apud Hard. c. 10. Literâ— defensoris Ed Reg 1. ad â—apam apud Th n Walsin Hist 〈…〉 Yâ— lib. Neustr Aâ— 1301. Griâ— apud Hi. eaâ— M. S. chrâ— c 47. Galf. Mâ—n l 1. Hist Britt but that custom might be continued from their first founder Brutus Their houses compact of wood reed or thatch their sheafs of Corn they stored under dry roofs threshing out every day as much as served for present use honest and just in conversation much differing from the subtilty and cunning of our men content with ordinary and indifferent Diet detesting the gurmandizing of gluttons and Epicures the Isle replenished with multitude of men In matters concerning the Inhabitants of this Isle Mr. Cambden is very copious producing several opinions but I finde no Commander in chief whether King Duke or General named Brute excepted of whom he saith shall I so mean a man give a determinate sentence in so weighty a matter I leave it to the Senate of Antiquaries undecided In the mean time I deny not Brute but leave every one to his own best liking and opinion So that it is manifest Mr. Cambden naming no other principal Commander or Guide of that people who first Colonized and Inhabited this Land doth not altogether deny Brute but leaves it to the Counsell Consent and Decree of the Learned Parliament and Senate of Antiquaries Let us hear what others write Mr. Broughton out of an old Brittish History saith Having thus invincibly proved by all Antiquities that there were among the Gentiles especially in this Kingdom of Brittain not only Flamens but Arch-flamens and they seated in the principal governing Cities in several Provinces and how after the coming of Christ even from the Apostles time and by their Ordinance and Institution their Residences were to be changed into Archiepiscopal or Metropolitan chief commanding Sees in the Christian Religion If we had no other particular proof in this but in general terms St. Edwards Laws the testimony of Gildas Nonnius the Antiquities of Landaff St. Isiodore who as Pope Eleutherius also calleth this Nation Gens Bruti the off-spring and Nation of Brute Thomas Archbishop of York a Norman by birth in time of King VVilliam the first Thaliessianus above a thousand years since VVilliam of Malmesbury Henry of Huntington Gualterus Calenus Sigibertus with many others before Galfrid Mon. wrote and Vicunnius himself with innumerable after both of this and other Nations and publick Parliament as that in the time of Edward the first at Lincoln who after most diligent search of Antiquities and due examination as the greatest matter the right of a Kingdom required sent his Apologetical Letters to the Pope of Rome sealed with an hundred Seals and Witnesses wherein is declared and justified that in the time of Hely and Samuel the Prophets Brutus the Trojan landed here and by his own name called the Country Britannia before named Albion And having three sons Locrinus Camber and Albanact did at his death divide the Land into three parts or portions Leegria now England to Locrinus his eldest Son Cambria Wales to Camber and Albania Scotland to Albanact This might suffice for this business but being testified by so many Domestical and Forreign private and publick witnesses that the Tripartite division was here from the first nâ—me and beginning of Brittain we must needs for every several part and Province assign a several Government and order therein as their Rulers and Governers were divers and distinct But our Antiquaries carrie us further and inform us that not only London Caerlegeon and York were the several chief Cities in this division but the Kings which founded them for such ordained them likewise to be the Seats and Residencies of three several Archflamens or Prâ—â—â—â—amens for the glory and nobleness of London thereupon named Augusta it is the common opinion of Antiquities that it is the most ancient Citie of this Iland builded by Brutus as not only the Brittish History Galfridus Vicunnius and our English Antiquaries after them but Gâ—ldas Sigibertus and others sufficiently witness And except Mr. Stow be deceived in his Authors Aethieus an old Pagan Philosopher testifieth no less affirming that Brutus named this Kingdom Brittannia and John Harding in his plain Verses with others Recordeth how he there from the very first beginning Instituted an Archflamens Seat At Troynovant he made full especially An Arch-flamine his See Harding Chr fol. 16. cap. 14. Cathedral certain A Temple thereof A policy to obtain By Trojan Law This is commonly written to have been a thousand years before Christ and it is a common received opinion among our Antiquaries that Ebrincus son to Mempricius builded the City of York of which more hereafter in its due place That this Island was called Albion before the coming of Brute all Authors seem to agree though there seem to be some difference the just and most rational Writers call Albion ab albis Rupibus from the high and white Cliffs and Rocks discovered by Navigators as they sailed by it yet some will be more quaint and fetch it further as if far fetcht and dear bought were always good for Ladies and tell of a Damasella called Albone or Albina daughter of Dioclesian King of Syria and this some of our Histories seem to aver notwithstanding no Authentick Writer as yet ever produced any such King to
Albania and was a part of Brittany for in the conversion of the Scots which hapned in the time of Pope Victor for Sacerdotibus praeceptoribus quos victor pontifex maximus ad Christi dogma propalandum in extremam miserat Albionem which farthest part of Albion is 300. miles distant from that part of Albania which joyned with Loegria England Therefore we see clearly that the Scots only then lived in the furthest and most remote parts of Albion or some Ilands thereof and possessed not our great Albania the Brittains Country and possession and in such sense they may call their small places of abode Scotia or Scotland yet could it be very small when Josephus in the Age before had testified that it had no Land at all Jâ—seph orat ad Judaeos apud Egisip lib. 3 cap. 13. Scotia terris nil debet of which and there place of habitation hear what Mr. Cambden saith That neither Caesar nor Volanus penetrated so far into Brittain as the Caledonians for as Plinie doth testifie in his time three years after Claudius the Roman Arms knew no further of Brittany then to the Caledonian Woods for Julius Agricola under Domitian Mr. Cambden in Scotland Galgacus a stout Brittain was the first who entred Caledonia where Galgacus commanded Galanc ap Liennanc who is reckoned one of the three Heroes of Brittany a man of strong courage and valiant spirit who so stoutly defended his Country the 11. Legion of the Romans being put to the worst that he never gave over till Fortune rather seemed to forsake him then his own valour or courage These Northern Brittains were the last who enjoyed the Liberty and also the furthest part of the Iland according to Catullus Caesaris visens monumenta magni Gallicum Rhenum horribiles ulti mosque Britannos In the time of the Emperour Severus as Xiphilinus reporteth Argeticoxus a petty King reigned in those Northern parts now called Scotland but then Albania or Caledonia whose Lady being upbraided and taunted by Julia Augusta answered We Brittish Ladies if we transgresse it is with Noble men both of valour worth and quality whereas you Roman in hugger-mugger prostitute your selves to every base varlet and inferiour groom Not far from the River Taw stands Perch in Latine St. Joannis Fanum vulgarly St. Johns Johns a place of late erection the ancient Town of the same name long since being swallowed up by the waters of which Nichanus Transis ample Tai per rura per oppida per Perch Regnum sustentant istâ—us Vrbis opes Rous Homes and Stow. But of Cunedagius the builder because a Brittain not a word from Mr. Cambden Cunedagius having founded Perch in Albania casts his eye upon Cambra and there in the remotest part begins a new Erection at Bangor which Mr. Cambden also calls Banchor a choro pulchro from the fair Quire or as other derive it Locus chori the place of the Quire Owen Glendoverduy the most wicked and arch Rebel amongst many other Towns and Cities of Wales set this also on fire and consumed it Bangor built by Cunedagius the Brittish King which was again in the time of Henry the 7. reedified by bishop Henry Denâ— or Denaeus but not to the pristine glory for formerly it was so large and ample that for the greatnesse thereof it was called Banchor vaur and fortified with a Castle whose very Ruines are not now apparent M. B. fol. 602. Age 4. Ca. 28. We may have some apprehension of the great Devotion of our Brittains both men and women in this age viz. 4. Age to chast and monastical life by the Example of St. Vrsula and so many thousands of holy Virgins with her devoted to that Profession which we may further confirm unto us by the Examples of the Brittains Jo. Bal. cent 1. in Pela Calph. Agric. Congello Bed hist Eccles l. 2. c. 2. Galf. Mon. Hist Britt l. 2. cap. 12. Mat. West super Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 12. l. 11. c. 1. Matth. West an 541. Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. c. 3. Manusc antiq cap. in vita St. David Mene Pits aetat 6. in ead which were then in that part of Brittany now called Wales more free from the Saxons persecution whose Antiquities although not well preserved not naming many Archbishops of Caer legion and very few bishops in that Province having many from the first receiving of their faith yet they do propose and record unto us many Monasteries and of great name and honour as that of Bangor stiling it Fumatum Collegium where Pelagius before his Heresies lived and by some was Abbot Praepositus there having 2100 Monks in it and divided as it were into seven Monasteries every one of them having 300 Monks which Monastery as St. Bernard our late Authors and others write was the head or chief of principal Monasteries and brought forth many thousands of Monks In vita Malachiae Hibernensis Episcopi Bernardus Clarovallensis hunc locum tradit primorum extitisse Monasteriorum Caput multa generavisse Monachorum mille This was the most noble Monastery of this Country nobilissimum Monasterium as St. Bede and others term it and so justly did having so many Monks that being divided into 7 Companies under 7 Pryors under their chief Abbot every one had 300. or more Monks and amongst them most Learned men Viri doctissimi plures de Nobilissimo Monasterio Bancornabury lingua Anglorum Inter caeteras erat in civitate Bangor quaedam Nobilissima Ecclesia in qua tantus fertur fuisse numerus Monachorum ut cum in 7 portiones esset cum praepositis sibi Prioribus Monasterium divisum nulla harum portio minus quam trecentos Monachos haberet Cunedagius builded a third place in Cornwall where he was born but yet I cannot come to a certain knowledge of the place where he erected a Temple and a Flamen to Mercury He Reigned thirty three years and was buried at Troynovant or new Troy now London An Author calleth Perth before spoken of Berth and saith no lesse strange but more lamentable is the remembrance of the great innundation hapning by the sudden rising of Tai which bare away the Walls and Town of Berth or Perth and with it the Cradle and young Son of King William into the Sea wherein the Royal Infant with many others perished the King and his Courtiers scarcely escaping the Danger The ruine of this Town raised another called St. John's Town RIVALLVS RIvallus the Son of Cunedagius took upon him the Government of this Kingdome in the year of the Worlds creation four thousand four hundred and thirty eight this King was stiled the Fortunate and Peacefull for that during the time of his Reign he governed his Subjects with all lenity meeknesse and prosperity yet Authors leave little recorded of this Prince for indeed Tragical Acts and Warlike Scenes better please most Writers in smooth and calm times yet it is
were all marvellous glad Thus came Camillus to take this Charge of General upon him and found there were twenty thousand good fighting men abroad and well Armed Then got he further ayd also of their Allies and Confederates and prepared daily to go and set upon the enemies So was Camillus chosen now Dictator the second time and went into the City of Veies where he spoke with the Romane Souldiers that were there and leavied a great number of Allies besides to go fight with the enemies as soon as he could But whilst Camillus was thus preparing certain of the Gauls in Rome walking out by chance on that side of the Capitol where Pontius Cominius had gotten up the night before spied in divers places the prints of his feet and hands as he had griped and gotten hold stiâ—l digging to get hold and saw the weeds also and herbs growing upon the Rocks and the earth also in the like manner flat trodden down whereupon they went presently unto the King to let him understand the same who forthwith came to view the place and having considered it well did nothing at that time but when dark night was come he called a company of the lightest Gauls together and that used most to dig in Mountains and said unto them our enemies themselves do shew us the way how to take them which we could not have found out but by themselves for they having gone up before us do give us easily to understand that it is no impossible thing for us to clime up also wherefore we were utterly shamed having already began well if we should fail also to end well and to leave this place as invincible for if it were easie for one man alone by digging to clime up to the top thereof much less is it hard for many to get up one after another so that one do help the other Therefore Sirs I do assure you those that do take the pains to get up shall be honourably rewarded according to their just desert when the King had spoken these words unto the Gauls they fell to it lustily every man to get up and about midnight they began many of them to dig and make steps up to the Rock one after another as softly as could possibly with catching hold the best they could by the hanging of the Rock which they found very steep but nevertheless easier to clime then they took it at the beginning so that the foremost of them being up to the top were now ready to take the wall and to set upon the Watch that slept for there was neither man nor dog that heard them It chanced then there were holy Geese kept in the Temple of Juno which at other times were wont to be fed till their crops were full But victuals being very strait and scant at that time even to finde the men the poor Geese were so hardly handled and so little regarded that they were in a manner starved for lack of meat This Fowl indeed naturally is very quick of hearing and so also very fearfull by nature and being in a manner almost famished with their hard allowance they were so much the more wakefull and easier to be afraid upon this occasion therefore they heard the coming of the Gauls and also began to run up and down and cry for fear with which noise they did wake those that were within the Castle The Gauls being bewrayed by these foolish Geese left their stealing upon them and came in with all open noise and terrour they could The Romans hearing this Alarm every man took such weapon as came first to hand and they run suddenly to rescue that place from whence they understood the noyse amongst those the foremost man of all was Marcus Manlius a man that had been Consull who had a lusty body and as stout a heart His hap being to meet with two of the Gauls together as one of them was lifting up his Ax to knock him on the head he prevented him and struck off his hand with his sword and clapt his Target on the others face so fiercely that he threw him backward down the Rock and coming afterwards unto the Wall with others that ran thither with him he repulsed the rest of the Gauls that were gotten up who were not many in number Thus the Romans having escaped this danger the next morning they threw the Captain down the Rocks from the Castle who had charge of the Watch the night before and gave Manlius in recompence of the good service he had done a more honourable then profitable reward which was this every man of them gave him half a pound of the Country Wheat which they call Far and the fourth part of the measure of wine which the Grecians call Cotile and this might be about a Quart being the ordinarie allowance of every man by the day After this Repulse the Gauls began to be discouraged partly for that their victuals failed them and durst no more forrage abroad in the fields for fear of Camillus and partly also for that the Plague came amongst them being lodged amongst heaps of dead bodies lying in every place above ground without burial and amongst burnt houses destroyed where the ashes being blown very high by the wind and vehemency of heat did give a dry piercing ayr that did marvellously poyson their bodies when they came to draw in the breath of it But the greatest cause of all their mischief was the change of their wonted Diet who coming out of a fresh Country where there were excellent pleasant places to retire unto to avoid the discomodity of the parching heat of the Summer were now in a naughty plain Country for them to remain in in the later season of the year All these things together did heap diseases upon them besides the long continuance of the siege about the Capitol for it was then about the 7. moneth by reason whereof there grew a marvellous death in their Camp through the great numbers of them that died daily and lay unburied But notwithstanding all the death and trouble of the Gauls the poor besieged Romans were nothing holpen and the Famine still did grow upon them And because they could hear nothing of Camillus they were almost grown into despair and send unto him they could not the Gauls kept so strait a watch upon them in the City whereupon both parties finding themselves in hard estate first the Watch on each side began to cast out words of peace amongst themselves and afterwards by consent of the heads Sulpitius Tribune of the Souldiers came to parley with Brennus In which parley it was articuled that the Romans should pay a thousand pound weight of gold and that the Gauls should incontinently after the Receit of the same depart out of their City and all their Territories this decree being passed by oath from both the gold was brought And when it came to be weighed the Gauls at the first privily began to deal falsely with
Co-heir to Randolph Blundevill her Brother John Fitz Alan Lord of Clun and Owalstre two Lordships in Wales Isabell D. and Coh after the death of her brothers William and Hugh to William de Albeneio or Albany Richard Fitz Alan Grandchild to John 1. E. of Arundel of that Name Alizan D. to the Marquesse of Sluce in Italy Edmund Fitz Alan E. of Arundell Alice D. of William and Sister and Co-h. of John E. Warren and Surrey Richard Fitz Alan E. of Arundel c. Lord of Yale Bromfield Chirkland and Dinas Bran in Northwales Elinor D. to Henry Plantagenet E. of Lancaster Richard E. of Arundell c. Eliza. D. to William de Bohun E. of Northampton Thomas E. of Arundell c. Beatrix base D. to John King of Portugall Thomus E. of Arundell c. sans Issue so the Lands of the Earldome of Surrey were divided betwixt the Sisters and the Earldome of Arundell fell to John Fitz Alan being entailed John Fitz Alan E. of Arundell Knight of the Garter great Grand-child to John Maud. D. and H. of Robert Lovell and Eliz. his wife D. and Co-h. to Sir Guy Bryan To John Fitz Alan and Elinor his wife sister and Coh of Henry Lord Maltravers Humphrey Earle of Arundell sans Issue William Fitz Alan Uncle and Heir to Humphrey Margaret D. of Richard Woodvile E. Rivers Sister and Co-h. to E. Rich. her Brother William Fitz Alan Earl of Arundell Ame D. of Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland by which Match this Honourable Family also descends from the Welsh Line as in that Pedegree shall appear Henry Lord Maltravers sans Issue Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Mary D. and Co-h. of Henry Fitz Alan Earl of Arundell Philip Howard eldest Son of D. Thomas did assume the Name and Title of Earl of Arundell Anne D. of Thomas Lord Dacres of Gilestand and Sister and H. of George Lord Dacres Thomas Howard Earl of Arundell Alathen D. and Co-h. and at last sole H. to Gilbert Talbot E. of Shrewsbury by which Match the Honourable Family descends from the Welsh Line as in its proper place shall appear Henry Earl of Arundell c. Eliz. D. to Elsme Stewart D. of Lennox by which Match this House again springs from the Welsh blood as the Princely Line of the Stewarts do shew Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Henry Howard second Son Heir apparent Anne Daughter to Edward Marquesse and Earl of Worcester c. by which Conjunction the Welsh Alliance is strengthned NORFOLK is the greatest County of England next to Yorkshire but far more populous then that as comprehending in the whole 660 Parish Churches of which 27 are Market Townes The soyl according to the variety of places is of different nature some fat rank and full of moisture in others very light and sandy yet so that one contributing to the other and the Sea giving help to both it is a very plentifull County for Corn Sheep and Fish It is observed by a great Antiquary of this Kingdome that in this County are 100 Families of ancient Gentry were never attainted of High Treason The Dukes and Earls of Norfolke have been as followeth year 1070 1070. 1 Ralph de Ware Earl of Norfolk 2 Hugh Bigot 3 Roger Bigot 4 Hugh Bigot 5 Roger Bigot 6 Roger Bigot 7 Thomas de Brotherton Son of K. Edw. 1. E. of Norfolk 8 Margaret Daughter of Thomas de Brotherton Duch. of Norfolk 9 Thomas Lord Mowbrey Son of Marg. D. of Norfolke Duke of Norfolk 10 John Mowbrey D. 11 John Mowbrey D. 12 John Mowbrey D. 13 Richard D. of York and Norfolk 14 John Lord Howard Descended from the Lady Marg. Daughter to Thomas Duke of Norfolk 15 Thomas Howard D. Lord Treasurer and Admirall 16 Thomas Howard D. L. Treas 17 Thomas Howard D. of Norfolk 18. Thomas Howard D. of Norfolk 1660. The Duke of Somerset THis Honourable Family hath been Seated formerly in Wales whose Habitation was Penhow in Monmouthshire where I find their Arms cut in stone and depicted in glasse in the Church Windows which Church was Dedicated to St. Maurus from which Name questionlesse that illustrious Family took the Name De S to Mauro and yet to this day there is a Piece of Ground called Park Seymour and to confirm this I judge it not amisse to shew you parcel of an ancient Record The Saturday after the Feast of St. Michael in the full Court of Strigull in the 55. year of Hen. the Son of K. John before William de Walste then Steward of Strigull who ought to have House Bote and Hey-bote in Wentwood The JVRY The Abbot of Tynterne the Prior of Strigull Lord Robertson of Pagan William Bloet William Denford of Creeke Richard de More Robert de St. Maure Bartholomew of More Knights Matthew Denbane Robert de More and John Morbell who say in their Faith that William Lord Bloet ought to have to his House at Langston House Bote by complaint or request Lord William de St. Maure to his House or Castle of Penhow by the same means c. Henry Gray Marquess Dorset and Duke of Suffolk Descended from Sir John Gray Kt. Lord Powis who married Jane Daughter and one of the Heirs of Edward Charleton Lord Powis Son of John of another John Charleton who married Hawis Daugh. and sole Heir of Howel ap Griffith lineally descended from the Princes of Powis Frances D. and Co-h. to Charles Brandon D. of Suffolk and Queen Mary D. to Hen. 7. who by Owen Tudor descended lineally from the Princes of Southwales and from Rees ap Tewdor King of Demetia who died 1090. and was buried at St. Davids Edward de S to Manro Earl of Hertford Joan D. to L. Hen. Piercy E. of Northumberland by which Match this Family is the 3. time descended from Wales Edward Seymour E. of Hertford and Duke of Somerset Katharine D. to Henry Grey and Frances D. and Co-h. to Charles Brandon D. of Suffolk and Mary Queen of France William Seymor Duke of Somerset who married Sister and Co-heir to Robert Earle of Essex Seymor Lord Beauchampe Daughter to the Lord Capell that Loyall and Heroick Spirit who lost his life on the Kings behalf SEYMOR now DUKE of SOMERSET 1660. Somersetshire is a Country of a fertile Soyl both for Corn and Pasture exceeding populous as comprehending in the whole 385 Parish-Churches whereof 33 are Market Towns and furnished also with commodious Havens for Trade and Traffick in the parts towards Wilts it is hilly and stony which places about Mendip especially afford rich veins of Lead the rest of the Country is very fertile abounding with rich Meadows and Pastures it hath formerly been known by the name of Somertonshire but now it is ordinarily called Somersetshire by which name it hath given the Honorary Title of Dukes and Earles of Somerset 1 William de Mohun E. 2 William Longespe E. of Salisbury and Somerset 3 Reynald de Mohun 4 John Beauford eldest Son of John of Gaunt by his 3. wife
to Conquer the whole a thing common to them with other Nations who have found the like effects to proceed from the like cause for the most part of the Brittains in those dayes delighted in War neglecting Husbandry or perhaps not then knowing the use of it Their manner of living and customes were much like to those of the Inhabitants of Gallia Their Diet was such as nature yielded of her self without the industry of man for though they had great store of Cattle yet they lived especially in the Inland Country with Milk It was held among them as a thing unlawful to eat of a Hare a Hen or a Goose and yet they nourished them for Creation sake Their apparel was made of the skins of Beasts though their bodies were for the most part naked and stained with woad which gave them a blewish colour and as they supposed made their Aspect terrible to their Enemies in Battail Their b Yet had they Cities wald and strong this must be understood of those which we now call Peasants and Cottagers Houses were compact of stakes reeds and boughes of trees fastned together in a round Circle They had ten or twelve wives a piece common among them though the issue were alwayes accounted his that first married the Mother being a Maiden They were in stature taller then the Gauls by this time Volusenus who durst not set foot on land to hazard himself among the Ilanders returned to Caesar to wit the fifth day after his setting forth and made relation of such things as he had seen and heard by report in roving up and down the Coast in view of the Iland Caesar having composed some Tumults in the hither part of Gallia that he might leave no Enemy behind him to annoy him in his absenee pursued the Enterprize of Brittain having to that end prepared a Navy which consisted of about fourscore Ships of burden a number sufficient as he thought for the transportation of two Legions besides his long Boats wherein the Questor the Lieutenant and other Officers of the Camp were to be embarked There were also eighten ships of burden that lay wind bound about eight miles from the Port appointed to waft over the Horse-men P. Pulpitius Rufus a Lieutenant of a Legion was commanded to keep the Haven it self with such power as was thought sufficient These things being thus ordered and a good part of the summer being now spent Caesar put out to Sea about the third watch of the night having given direction that the Horsemen should embarke in the upper Haven and follow him wherein while they were somewhat slack Caesar with his shipping about the fourth hour of the day Arrived upon the Coast of Brittain where he beheld the Clifts possessed with a multitude of people rudely armed but ready to make resistance The nature of the place was such as by reason of the steep hills encloasing the Sea on each side in a narrow strait it gave great advantage to the Brittains in casting down their darts upon their Enemies underneath them Caesar finding this place unfit for landing his Forces put off from the shore and cast Anchor expecting the rest of his Fleet and in the mean time calling a Council of the Lieutenants and Tribunes of the Souldiers he declared unto them what he had understood by Volusenus and directed what he would have done warning them that as the state of War and especially the Sea service required they would be ready to weigh Anchor and to remove Too and Fro upon all occasions at a beek and in an instant This done having advantage both of Wind and Tide he set forward with his Navy about four League from that place and then lay at Anchor in view of the open and plain shore But the Ilanders upon intelligence of the Romans purpose had sent thither before Caesars coming a company of Horsemen and Chariots called Esseda which they then used in their Wars and following afterwards with the rest of their Forces empeached their Enemies from Landing whose ships by reason of their huge bulks drawing much water could not come near to the shore so as the Roman Souldiers were thereby enforced in places unknown their bodies being charged with their Armour to leap into the water and encounter the Brittains who assailed them nimbly with their Darts and drove their Horses and Chariots with main force upon them The Romans being therewith terrified as Men unacquainted with that kind of Fight failed much of the wonted courage which they had shewed in their former land Services and Caesar perceiving it caused the long boats which seemed more strange to the Brittaines and were more serviceable by reason of the swiftnesse of their motion to put off by little and little from the great Ships and to Row towards the shore from whence they might more easily charge the Ilanders with their Arrowes Slings and other Warlike Engines which being then unknown to the Inhabitants as also the fashion of the ships and motion of the Oares in the long Boats having stricken them with fear and amazement caused them to make a stand and afterwards to draw back a little But the Roman Souldiers making no haste to pursue them by reason of the water which they suspected in some place to be deep and dangerous the Standerd-bearer of the Eagle for the tenth Legion praying that his attempt might prove succesful then the Legion cryed out with a loud voice saying Fellow Souldiers leap out of your Boats and follow me except you mean to betray your Standard to the Enemy for my own part I mean to discharge the duty I owe to the Commonwealth and to my Generall This said he cast himself into the water and carried the Standard boldly against the Brittains whereupon the Souldiers exhorting one another to follow the Ensign what fortune so ever befel with a common consent leapt out of their long Boats one seconding another and so wading through the water at length got to shore where began a sharp and bloody Fight on both sides The Romans were much Incumbred by reason that they could neither keep their ranks nor fight upon firm ground nor follow their own Standard for every one as he came on Land ran confusedly to that which was next him some of the Brittains who knew the flats and shallow places espying the Romans as they came single out of their ships pricked forward their horses and set upon them overlaying them with number and finding them unwieldy and unready to make any great resistance by reason of the depth of the water and weight of their Armour while the greater part of the Natives with their Darts assailed them fierely upon the shore which Caesar perceiving commanded the Cock-boats and Scouts to be Manned with Souldiers whom he sent in all haste to rescue their Fellows There was a Souldier of Caesars Company called Cassius Scaeva who with some other of the same Band was carried in a small Boat unto the Rock
with his Countrymen by working their subversion to his own dishonour and advantage of a Forraign enemy His Father Imanentius having been sometime chief Ruler of the City of Trinobantes and well esteemed among them was slain by Cassibelin the present Governour against whom the Citizens desired Caesar to protect Mandubratius and to commit unto him the Government of that City which Caesar granted upon delivery of a certain number of Pledges and a sufficient proportion of Victuals for provision of his Army Hereupon divers petty states thereabout sent Embassadors and yielded themselves to Caesar who understood by them that Cassibelina his Town being well stored with Men and Cattle was not far from thence this Town was only a circuit of ground inclosed with wood and marshes or else entrenched with a Ranger of Earth about it Caesar coming with his Legion to this place which he found very strong as being fortifyed Naturally and also by the industry of man began to assail it on both sides The Brittains having expected a while the event of the enterprise and perceiving themselves unable to withstand the assault issued out at a back way where many of them being slain and some taken as they fled the Town it self and all the provisions within it were left as a spoil to the Romans while these things were doing among the Trinobants Cassabelin dispatched messengers into Kent or Cantium that lyes upon the Sea The Inhabitants of these parts were better furnished to make War then any other of the Isle the Country at that time was Governed by four Kings as Caesar himself calleth them either for that they had among them a kind of absolute Government in several or else for that being the Register of his own Acts he supposed it would be more for his glory to be reputed a Conqueror of Kings their names were Cingetorix Carvilius Taximugulus and Segonax whom Cassibelin then required to raise all the power they could make and on the sudden to assail the Roman Forces that Guarded their ships at the Sea side This was attempted accordingly but with ill successe for that the Romans having timely advertisement of their purpose prevented the execution thereof by setting upon them as they drew near the Roman Army and so after a great slaughter made of the Brittains Cingetorix a Noble Captain and one of the Princes being taking prisoner the Romans returned safe to their Camp Cassibelin hearing of the unhappy issue of his enterprize after so many losses sustained on his part his Country being wasted with War and himself in a manner forsaken by the revolt of the Cities round about which most of all discâ—uraged him sent Embassadors to Caesar by Comius of Arras offering to submit himself upon reasonable conditions Caesar determining to winter in Gallia the state of his affairs there requiring it and the summer being almost spent commanded that he should deliver certain pledges for assurance of his obedience and that he should offer no wrong nor give cause of offence to Mandubratius or the Troynobants whom he had taken into special protection and then having imposed a Tribute to be paid yearly by the Brittains to the people of Rome he marched towards the sea side where he embarked his Forces and arrived with them safely in the Continent Thus Caesar having rather shewed some part of Brittain to the Romans then made a Conquest of the whole supposed he had done sufficiently for his own glory in undertaking a matter so rare and difficult in those Times At his coming to Rome he presented there certain Captives which he had taken in the Brittish Wars whose strangenesse of shape and behaviour filled the peoples eyes both with wonder and delight He offered also in the Temple of Venus Genetrix a Surcote embroidered with Brittish Pearl as a Trophy and spoil of the Ocean leaving to posterity a perpetual remembrance of his Enterprize in this Iland to the honour both of his own Name and of the Roman Nation After the death of Julius Caesar by reason of the civil Wars among the Romans the Isle of Brittain was for a time neglected and Augustus Caesar being setled in the Empire which was then grown to such greatness as it seemed even cumbred therewith accounted it good policy to contain the same within it known bounds Besides the attempt was like to prove dangerous and a matter of very great expence to send an Army so far off to make War with the Brittish Nation for desire of glory only no special cause besides moving thereto Howbeit as some Writers Report above Twenty years after Julius Caesar's first Entrance Augustus intended a Voyage hither in person alledging for pretence of the War the wrong offered to the Roman State by such Princes of the Isle as had for certaine years witheld the Tribute which Caesar his Praedecessor had imposed upon them intelligence whereof being got the Brittains sent over Embassadours who meeting the Emperour in a The Countrey between the Rivers Garony and Seinin France Gallia Celtica declared their submission and desired pardon And the better to win favour they had carried over certain gifts of good value to be presented as offerings in the Roman Capitol having already learned the Art to flatter for Advantage and to appease Princes by rewards Hereupon a conditional peace was granted them and the Emperour having pacifyed some troubles in Gallia returned to Rome then began the Ilanders to pay Tribute and Custome of all kind of Wares which they exchanged with the Gaules as namely Ivory boxes Iron chaines and other trinkets of Amber and Glasse which were Transported Too and Fro both out of Gallia and Brittain The year following the Brittains having failed in performance of Conditions he prepared for another expedition but being set forward on his Voyage the revolt of the b The Biscayans Cantabrians and c The Inhabitants between Gallicia and Portugal Assyrians stayed him from proceeding any further therein after which time the Brittains were left to themselves to enjoy their Liberty and use their own Laws without molestation of forraign Invaders for that the Romans having found the sweetnesse of peace after long civil Wars sought rather to keep in obedience such Provinces as had been before time brought under subjection then by attempting new Conquests to hazard the losse of that they had already gotten In those dayes the Countrey of the Troynobants in Brittain was Governed by Conobelin who kept his residence at a Malden in Essex Camalodunum he began first to reclaim the Brittains from their ill customes and to make his state more respected he afterwards caused his own Image to be stamped on his Coyne after the manner of the Romans a custome never used by the Brittains before his dayes and but then newly received by the Romans themselves for before that time the Brittains used Rings of Iron and little plates of Brasse of a certaine weight instead of Coyne During the time of his Government
abroad least they should make head again and that a Faithlesse or a cloaked peace might not give either the Captain or Souldier any time of idle repose he Disarmed all those whom he suspected and Hemmed them in with Garrisons between a The River on which Northampton is seated as it is conjectured Antona and b the River of Severn Pabrina The first that began to stir were the d The ancient Inhabitants of Norfolke Canbridgeshire and Huntingtonshire Icenians a strong people and unshaken with Wars as having of their own accord in former times sought the Roman Alliance and Amity The Countries also adjoyning neer unto them following their example prepared themselves to Fight choosing a place that was compassed about with a rude trench which had a narrow entrance to impeach the coming in of the Horsemen That Fence the Roman Captain not having the strength of the Legions went about to force with the aid of the Confederates alone and having placed his Cohorts in rancks he set his Troops of Horsemen also in like readinesse then giving the sign of battle he assailed the Rampire and brake it disordering the Brittains who being touched with a kind of remorse for their rebellious attempts and seeing the passages stopped up on all sides shewed very great courage and valour in defending themselves as it falleth out oft times where extremity of danger it self takes away all fear of danger In this fight M. Ostorius his son was Crowned with an Oaken Garland as an Honourable reward for saving a Roman Citizen Now by the slaughter of the Icenians the rest of the Brittains who stood upon doubtful termes as wavering between War and peace were well quieted and Ostorius led his Army against the a The Inhabitants of Cheshire as is conjectured Caugi whose Countrey he spoiled and wasted whilst the inhabitants doth not come into the Field but privately surprised such as they found stragling behind the Roman Army which was now come near to the Sea Coast that looks towards Ireland when as certain tumults stirred among the Brittains brought back the General who thought it best not to enter into any new action before he had made all sure in those parts howbeit upon his coming thither some few of the Brittains that first began to take Arms being taken in and put to death the residue were pardoned and the Country quieted For the General wisely considering that in such cases Lenity sometimes prevaileth where Force and Rigour cannot did seek to win favour of the Brittains by courteous usage of such as either fled unto him for protection or else by the fortune of War fell into his Hands sometimes pardoning them sometimes rewarding them and sometimes using them in service against their own Nation as he did Cogidunus a Brittish Prince The ancient Inhabitants of Southwales upon whom he had bestowed certain Cities in free gift according to an ancient custome amongst the Brittains who used even Kings themselves for instruments of bondage But the Silures could neither by cruelty nor fair means be held in so as the General saw there was no way to keep them under but with a Garison of Legionary Souldeirs and to that end the Colony of Camalodunum consisting of a strong Company of old Souldiers was brought into the subdued Country to defend it against such as should rebell and to make the Confederates more willing to live in obedience This done the Army marched against the Silures who besides their natural boldnesse relied much upon the strength of Caracticus their Leader a man that had waded through great dangers and had been fortunate in many adventures having gotten thereby such reputation as he was preferred before all the British Captains But as in policy and knowledge of the Country he had an advantage of the Romans so perceiving himself to be unequally matched in strength he removed the War to the a The ancient Inhabitants of Northwales Ordovices who entering into the action with him as fearing alone the Roman power resolved jointly to hazard the chance of War and hereupon they prepared for battle having chosen a place very commodious for themselves and disadvantageable to their Enemies then they went to the top of an Hill and where they found an easie passage up they stopped the way with heaps of stones in manner of a Rampire not far off ran a River with an uncertain ford where upon the bank a company of the best Souldiers were placed for a defence in the foreward the Leaders went about exhorting and encouraging the common Souldiers using such perswasions as may best fit their humors and the present occasion and Caracticus himself posting up and down protested that that day and that battle should be either the beginning of the recovery of their Liberty or of perpetual Servitude Then he called upon the names of his Ancestors that had chased Caesar the Dictator out of the Island and had delivered them from Hatches and Tributes and had protected their Wives and Children from shame and violence while he uttered these or the like speeches the people round about him made a noyse and every man sware according to the Religion of his Country that neither the Enemies Weapons nor their own Wounds should make them give over that chearful cry terrified and astonished the Roman General and the rather when he considered how he was couped in having the river beneath him the Fort before him the high Hills hanging over it and all things on every side threatning danger and destruction to the Assailers howbeit his fellow Souldiers demanded the battle crying That there was no thing which Valour could not overcome using the like speeches added courage to the rest Then Ostorius having viewed the places of difficulty led his Souldiers being hot or eager of the Fight unto the further side of the river and from thence to the Rampire where while they fought with their Darts they had the first but having broken down the rude compacted heap of stones with a Testudo and both Armies coming to handy stroaks upon equal advantage the Brittains turned their backs and ran to the Hill top the Romans pursuing them both with their light and heavy armed Souldiers the one assailing with Darts the other as they marched thick together breaking the ranks and beating down the Natives who had neither Head piece nor Armour to defend themselves so that being hedged in between the Legionary Souldiers and the Auxiliaries the greatest part of them was slain in the place At this assault Caracticus his Wife and Daughter were taken prisoners and his Brethren yielded to the Enemies but himself driven to extremity scaped by Flight into the Country of the Brigants hoping to receive some aid of Cartismandua the Soveraigne Lady there But as it falleth out commonly with men in adversity to be forsaken and left succourlesse so instead of finding the relief which he expected he fell into the danger which he little doubted for
was made greater then indeed it was to terrifie the new Governor who also made use of the same policy to serve his own turn for by encreasing the Fame of that which he heard reported he supposed either to win greater praise if he prevailed or to purchase a more favourable Censure of his actions if he miscarriede The Silures had made many roads into the subdued Country wasting and spoiling round about when Didius the Lieutenant upon his first arrival entering into the Field restrained their outrage and for a while kept them in some awe After Caracticus was taken Venutius a Prince faithfull to the Romans and protected by them so long as Cartismandua his wife and he agreed together upon private discontentment began a new rebellion For Cartismandua whom the Romans specially favoured for the Delivery of Cataracticus abounding now in peace wealth and plenty which are commonly the Nurses of licentious living fell in love with Velocatus one of her husbands servants and forgetting in the end her own honour preferred him before Venutius who being deeply touched with such an open injury and disgrace raised a power to expell her and her Paramour out of the Kingdome The War seemed at the first to have been maintained between themselves and their private followers onely till Cartismandua by pollicy had taken Venutius his brother and certain of his kinsmen and then the Inhabitants round about fearing the event and disdaining to be brought under the servile yoak of a Woman declared themselves for Venutius and with a choice number of youthful and well experienced Souldiers invaded the Country whereof Didius having timely intelligence sent certain Cohorts to encounter them Hereupon issued a sharp Conflict the Successe whereof was much doubted in the beginning but in the end the Romans prevailed The like Fortune also had Caesius Nasica with his Legion for Didius himself as a man stricken in years and fitter to direct then execute used for the most part the Ministery of other men keeping that which his Predecessors had gotten and building onely some few Castles and Places of Defence within the Land to win thereby a Fame of augmenting the Office The year following Claudius the Emperor by the treachery of Agrippina his wife who practised to prevent Brittanicus and to prefer her own Son Nero to the Empire died of poyson leaving to posterity no greater Fame of any thing by him attempted during his Government then of his fortunate Expedition into Brittany Finis Libri Secundi To the Right Honourable and Illustrious EDWARD Marquess and Earl of VVorcester Earl of Glamorgan Lord Herbert c. HENRY Marquess Dorchester Earl of Kingston Viscount Newark c. The Marquess of WORCESTER Bernard Newmarsh Lord of Brecon Nest D. of Griffith ap Llewellyn Prince of Southwales Milo Earl of Hereford Sibill D. and H. of Bernard Newmarsh Henry Fitz Herbert Lord oâ— the Forrest of Deane Lucy Daughter and Coheir of Milo Fitz Walter Earl of Hereford Peter Fitz Herbert Alice D. and H. of Blethin Broad-Spear Lord of Lhanthloell in Monmothshire a Welsh Prince Reinold Fitz Peter Lord of Llanthloell jure matris Margaret Daughter of Sir John Welsh Adam ap Reinold Lord of Llanthloell Christian D. and H. of Gwaren ddy of Gwaren ddy the armes belonging to this Family are the same which Inyr King of Gwent did bear Viz. party per pale S. B. 3. de liz Or. Jenkin ap Adam Gwenllian Daughter to Sir Aron ap Bledry Lord of Kilsant Guillim Jenkin Esquire Gwenllian D. to Howell Vichan ap Howel ap Jorworth Thomas ap Guillim Jenkin Esquire Maud Daughter to Sir John Morley Knight Sir William Thomas Knight Gladis D to Sir David Gam Knight this was that valiant Knight who when the French so over numbered the English as to be ten for one boldly told his King there were sufficient to kill sufficient to take prisoners and a jolly company left to run away William Herbert Earl of Pembroke Anne D. to Sir Walter Devereux William Herbert Earl of Huntingdon Mary D. to Richard Woodvile Earl Rivers Charles Somerset Earl of Worcester Elizabeth sole daughter and heir of William Herbert Earl of Huntingdon Henry Somerset Earl of Worcester Eliz. D. to Sir Anthony Brown William Somerset Earl of Worcester Christian D. to Edward Lord North. Edward Earl of Worcester Eliz. D. of Francis Hastings Earl of Huntingdon Henry Earl and Marquess of Worcester Anne Daughter and sole Heir of John Lord Russel Son and Heir apparent to the Earl of Bedford by which means also this family descends from the Welsh blood Edward Earl and Marquess of Worcester and Earl of Glamorgan Elizabeth D. to William Lord Dormer Henry Lord Herbert D. to the Lord Câ—pel Widow to the Lord Beauchamp and Mother to the Duke of Somerset The Marquess of DORCHESTER John Lord Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury descended from Gilbert Talbot Mr. Brock fol. 291. temp Hen. 3. who married Gwenllian D. to Rees ap Gruffith Prince of Southwales and assumed for his armes G. a Lyon rampant d' Or ala bordure endente de mesne which armes were Rees ap Gruffith's Prince of Southwales Maud Daugher and only Heir of Thomas Nevil Lord â—urnival John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Verdon by which family also comes in the Welshblood for Theobald Lord Verdon married Maud daughter of Edm. Mortimer L. of Wigmore son of Ralph who married Gladis d. and h. to Llewellyn ap Jorworth P. of Northwales Eliz. D. of James Butler E. of Ormond John L. Talbot E. of Shrewsbury Iatherine D. to Humphrey D. of Buckingham George Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Anne D. to William Lord Hastings Francis Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Mary D. to Thomas L. Dacres of Gilsland George Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Gertrude D. to Thomas Lord Mannors by which match this Honourable Family again descendeth from a Welsh line as in the descent of the Earls of Rutland Henry Talbot fourth son of Earle George Eliz. D. to Sir William Reyner Robert Pierpoint Earle of Kingston c. Gertrude D. and coh of Henry Talbot Son to the Earl of Shrewsbury Henry Pierpoint Earl of Kingston and Marquesse of Dorchester Cecely D. of Paul Viscount Banning THE ANCIENT AND MODERN BRITTISH and WELSH HISTORY Beginning with BRVTE and continued untill KING CHARLES the First The Third Book The Succession of the Roman Emperors from Nero unto Domitian 6 Nero 14 years 7 Galba 7 Months 8 Otho 4 Months 9 Vitellius 8 Months 10 Vespasian 9 years 11 Months 11 Titus 2 years 12 Domitian 15 years LIeutenants under Nero. Veranius Suetonius Paulinus Petronius Turpilianus Trebellius Maximus Lieutenants under Vespasian Petilius Cerealis Julâ—us Frontinus Julius Agricola Lieutenant under Galba Trebellius Maxmius Lieutenant under Titus Julius Agricola Lieutenant under Otho Trebellius Maximus Lieutenants under Domitian Julius Agricola Salustius Lucullus Lieutenant under Vitellius Vectius Bolanus  The Princes and Men of Note among the Brittains In the time of Suetonius Paulinus Government under Nero
Several wayes also and far distant places had been assigned them by the purveyors appointmment for carrying provisions from the nearest standing Camps to those which were far off and out of the way petty Officers in the mean time making a gain thereof by sparing some and charging others at their pleasures so as that which lay open to all at hand was turned onely to the private profit of a few By repressing these abuses in his first year a good opinion was conceived of the peace which either by negligence or partiality of former Lieutenants had been no lesse feared then War In times of service he was very painful and ofttimes more adventurous in his own person then was fit for a General for himself would alwayes appoint his ground for piâ—ching the Camp as also be the first man in pruning the Thickets Bogs or any other places of danger nor suffering any corners or secret harbours unsearched but wasting and spoiling everywhere with sudden incursions and assaults Howbeit when by these means he had terrified the Brittains then would he again spare and forbear as hoping thereby to allure them to peace whereupon many Cities which before that time stood upon terms of equality â—â—ave hostages and meekly submitted themselves receiving Garisons and permitting the Romans to fortifie a work performed with such foresight and judgement as nothing was ever attempted against them while he continued in office whereas before that time no fortified place in all Brittain escaped unsailed Thus far had Agricola proceeded when Newes came that Vespasian was dead and Titus his Son invested in the Empire The Winter ensuing was spent in a most profitable and politick device For whereas the Brittains were rude and dispersed and therefore prone upon every occasion to War Agricola that he might induce by pleasures to quietnesse and rest exhorted them in private and commanded his Souldiers to help them to build Temples Houses and places of publick resort commending such as were forward therein and checking the slow and idle persons seeming thereby to impose a kind of necessity upon them while every man contended to gain the Lieutenants good will Moreover the Noblemens Sons he took and caused to be instructed in the liberal Sciences preferring the wits of the Brittains before those of the Students in Gallia The Brittains also themselves being now curious to attain to the Eloquence of the Roman Language whereas they lately rejected the Speech after that the Roman Attire grew to be in account and the Gown much used among them and so by little and little they proceeded to those provocations of Vices namely sumptuous Galleries hot Baths and exquisite banquettings which things the ignorant people termed common civility though it were indeed a badge of their bondage In the third year of his Government he discovered new Countries wasting all before him till he came to the Firth of a The River of Tweed Taus which thing so terrified the Northern Brittains that although the Roman Army had been toyled and wearied with many sharp conflicts yet they durst not assail it whereby the Romans had the more leisure to encamp themselves and to fortifie wherein Agricola was either so skilful or so fortunate that no Castle planted by him was either forced by strength or by conditions surrendered or as not defensible forsaken In all these Actions Agricola never sought to draw to himself the glory of any Exploit done by another but were he Centurion or of other Degree that had atchieved it he would faithfully witnesse the Fact and yield him alwayes his due commendation The fourth year of his Office was spent in viewing and ordering that which he had over-run and if the valiant minds of his Souldiers and the glory of the Roman Name could have so permitted it there should have been no need to have sought other limits of Brittany then were at that time discovered For b The Firth of Dunbretton in Scotland Glota and c The Firth of Edenborough Bodotria two arms of the two contrary Seas shooting mightily into the Land are only divided asunder by a narrow partition of ground which passage was guarded and fortified with Garisons and Castles so that the Romans were now absolute Lords of all on this side having cast their Enemies as it were into another Island The Fifth year of the War Agricola subdued with many and prosperous conflicts strange Nations before that time unknown and furnished with Forces that part of Brittany which lyeth against Ireland And this he did more for hope of advantage then for fear of danger for if Ireland might have been won lying as it doth betwixt Brittany and Spain and commodious also for Gallia it would aptly have united to the use and profit one of another those strongest members of the Empire The nature and fashion of the Irish did not then much differ from the Brittish but the Ports and Haven Townes in Ireland were more known and frequented by reason of greater resort thither of Merchants Agricola having received a Prince of that Country driven thence by civil dissensions under colour of courtesie and friendship did retain him till occasion should serve to make use of him It was afterwards reported that with one Legion and some few Aides Ireland might then have been won and possessed and that it would have been also a means to have kept Brittany in obedience if the Roman Forces had been planted each where and liberty as it were even banished out of sight Now in the summer following because a General rising in Armes of the further Nations beyond Bodotria was feared the passages being all beset with the power of those people he manned a Fleet to search the Creeks and harbours of the ample Regions beyond it backing them first of all with a Navy and a goodly shew bringing War both by Sea and Land and oftentimes it chanced that the Horsemen Footmen and the Sea Souldiers met and made merry in the same Camp each man extolling his own prowesse and adventures and making vaunts and comparisons Souldier like some of the Woods and high Mountains that they had passed others of dangers of Rocks Tempests that they had endured the one of the Land and the enemy defeated the other of the Ocean assaied and subdued The Brittains as by the prisoners it was understood were much amazed at the fight of the Navy supposing that the secrets of their Sea being now disclosed there remained no refuge for them if they were overcome whereupon the Caledonians arming with great preparation and great fame as the manner is of matters unknown began to assail their Enemies Castles and some of the Roman Captaines which would seem to be wise being indeed but Cowards counselled the Generall to retire on this side Bodotria and rather to depart of his own accord then to be driven back with shame In the mean time Agricola had knowledge that the Brittains meant to divide themselves and give the onset in several
with ease shaken off the yoak and prevented our perill we as yet never touched never subdued but born to be free not slaves to the Romans we I say are now to make proof of our Valour and to shew in this encounter what manner of men Calidonia hath reserved in store for her self Do you think that the Romans be Valiant in War as they are wanton in peace no you are deceived for they are grown famous not by their own vertue but by our jars and discord while they make use of their enemies faults to the glory of their own Army composed of most divers Nations and therefore as by present prosperity it is holden together so doubtlesse if fortune frown on that side it will soon be dissolved unlesse you suppose the Gauls and the Germans and to our shame be it spoken many of our own Nation which now lend their lives to establish a Foreign Usurper to be led with any true-hearted and faithful affection No it is rather with terrour and distrust weak-workers of love which if you remove then those which have made an end to fear will soon begin to hate All things that may encourage and give hope of Victory are now for us The Romans have no Wives to hearten them on if they faint nor Parents to upbraid them if they fly most of them have no Country at all or if they have it is some other mens They stand like a sort of fearful persons trembling and gazing at the strangenesse of Heaven it self at the sea and the Woods And now the Heavens favouring our cause have delivered them mewed up as it were and fettered into our hands be not terrified or dismaid with the vain-shew and glittering of their gold and silver which of themselves do neither offend nor defend And think that even amongst our enemies we shall find some of our side when the Brittains shall acknowledge their own cause the Gauls remember their old Freedom and the rest of the Germans forsake them as of late the Vsipians did what then should we fear The Castles are empty the Colonies peopled with aged and impotent persons the free Cities discontented and distracted with factions whilst they which are under obey with ill will and they do govern and rule without right Here is the Roman General and the Army their Tributes Mines with other miseries inseparably following such as live under subjection of others which whether we are to endure for ever or speedily to revenge it lieth this day in this Field to determine wherefore being now to joyn Battel bear in mind I beseech you both your Ancestors which lived in the happy estate of Liberty and your Successors who if you fail in this enterprize shall live hereafter in perpetual servitude This Speech delivered with great vehemency of voice and action was chearfully received by the Brittains with a Song after their fashion accompanied with confused cries and acclamations As the Roman Cohorts drew together and discovered themselves whilst some of the boldest pressed forward the rest put themselves in array and Agricola albeit his Souldiers were glad of that day and could scarce with words have been withholden yet supposing it fit to say somewhat He encouraged them in this wise AGRICOLA his Speech to his Souldiers FEllow-souldiers and Companions in Arms your faithful diligence and service these eight years so painfully performed by the Vertue and Fortune of the Roman Empire hath at length conquered Brittany In so many Journeys so many Battels we were of necessity to shew our selves either valiant against the Enemy or patient and laborious above and against nature it self in all which Exploits we have both of us carried our selves as neither I desired better Souldiers nor you other Captains We have exceeded the limits I of my Predecessors and you likewise of yours The end of Brittany is now found not by Fame and Report but we are with our Arms and Pavillions really invested thereof Brittany is found and subdued In your marching heretofore when the passage of Bogs Mountains and Rivers troubled and tired you how often have I heard the valiant Souldiers say When will the Enemy present himself Lo now they are put out of their holes and here they are come lo now your wish lo here the place for trial of your Vertue and all things likely to follow in a good and easie course if you win contrariwise all against you if you lose For as to have gone so much ground escaped the Woods and Bogs and passed over so many arms of the sea are honourable testimonies of your forwardnesse so if we fly the advantage we have had will become our greatest disadvantage For we are not so skilful in the Countrey we have not the like store of provision we have only hands and weapons wherein our Hopes our Fortune and all things else are included For mine own part I have been long since resolved that to shew our backs is dishonourable both for Souldier and General and therefore a commendable death is better then life with reproach surety and honour commonly dwelling together Howbeit if ought should mishappen in this Enterprize yet this will be a glory for us to have died even in the utmost end of the world and of nature if new Nations and Souldiers unknown were in the field I would by the example of other Armies encourage you But now I require you only to recount your own victorious Exploits and to ask counsel of your own eyes these are the same men which the last year assailed one Legion by stealth in the night and were suddenly and in a manner by the blasts of your mouths overthrown These of all the Brittains have been most nimble in running away and by that means have escaped the longest alive For as in Forrests and Woods the strongest Beasts are chased away by main force and the cowardly and fearful scarce only by the noise of the Hunters so the most valiant of the Brittish Nation we have already dispatched the raskal herd of dastardly cowards only remaineth and lo we have now at length found them not as intending to stay and making Head against us but as last overtaken and by extreme passion of fear standing like stocks and presenting to us occasion in this place of a worthy and memorable Victory Now therefore make a short work of a long warfare and to almost fifty years travel let this day impose a glorious end Let each of you shew his Valour and approve to your Country that this Army of ours could never justly be charged either with protracting the War for fear or upon false pretences for not accomplishing the Conquest As Agricola was speaking the Souldiers gave great tokens of their fervent desire to fight and when he had ended his Speech they joyfully applauded it running streight wayes to their weapons and rushing furiously forward which the Roman General perceiving forthwith ordered his Army in this manner with the Auxiliary Footmen he fortified the
middle Battle The Horsemen he placed in the wings on both sides The Legions he commanded to stand behind Before the Trench of the Camp to the greater glory of the Victory if it were obtained without Roman blood or otherwise for assistance if the forward should be distressed The Brittains were marshalled on the higher ground fitly to shew and to terrifie their enemies The first Troop standing on the plain the rest on the ascent of the hill rising up as it were by degrees one over another The middle of the Field was filled with Chariots and Horsemen clattering and running round about Then Agricola finding them to exceed him in number and fearing least he should be assailed on the Front and Flanks both at one instant thought it best to display his Army in length and although by that means the Battel would become disproportionably long and many advised him to take the Legions yet he confidently rejected the counsel and leaving his Horse advanced himself before the Ensignes on Foot In the first Encounter before they joyned both sides discharged and threw their darts The Brittains imploying both Art and Valour with great Swords and little Targets defended themselves and wounded their Enemies till Agricola espying his advantage appointed three a Companies of Hollanders Battanian Cohorts and two of the b The ancient Inhabitants of the Territory of Leige in the Low Countries Tungrians to presse forward and to bring the matter to Handy-stroaks and dint of sword which they by reason of their long service were able readily to perform to the prejudice of the other side in regard of their little Bucklers and huge Swords For the Swords of the Brittains being weighty and blunt-pointed were neither fit either for the close or open fight Now as the Battanians began to strike them on the faces with the pikes of their Bucklers and having overborn such as resisted to march up to the Mountains the rest of the Cohorts gathering Courage upon emulation violently beat down all about them and running forward left some of the Brittains half dead some wholly untouched for haste as desirous to have part of the glory in winning the Field In the mean time both the Chariots of the Brittains mingled themselves with their enemies Battel of Footmen and also their Troops of Horsemen albeit they had lately terrified others yet now themselves beginning to fly were distressed by the unevenness of the ground and the thick ranks of their enemies who continued the Fight till the Brittains by main weight of their own Horses and Chariots were born down one upon another the masterless Horses afrighted running up and down with the Chariots and many times over-bearing their Friends which either met them or thwarted their way Now the Brittains who stood aloof from the Battel upon the top of the Hills and did at the first in a manner disdain the small number of their enemies began to come downe by little and little and sought to fetch a compasse about the backes of the Romans which were then in train of winning the Field But Agricola suspecting as much opposed them with certain wings of horsemen purposely retained about him for sudden dispatches upon all chances and repulsed them as fiercely as they ran to assaile So the council of the Brittains turning to their own hurt the Roman wings were commanded to forsake the battle and follow the Flight then were there pitifull spectacles to be seen pursuing wounding taking prisoners and then killing such as were taking as soon as others came in the way Then the whole Regiments of the Brittains though armed and more in number turned their backs to the fewer others unarmed fought their own death offering themselves voluntarily to the slaughter The fields every where were imbrued with blood every where weapons lay scattered wounded bodies mangled limbs some slain out right some half dead some yielding up the Ghost and yet even at the last gaspe seeming by their countenances to discover both anger and valour such of the Brittains as in flying recovered the Woods joyned themselves together again and intrapped unawares some of the Roman Souldiers that unadvisedly followed not knowing the Countrey and if Agricola had not by his presence and direction assisted at need setting about them his most expert Footmen as it were in form of a Tayle and commanded some of his Horsemen to leave them Horses where the passage was narrow and others to enter single on horseback where the wood was thin doubtless the Romans had taken a blow by their own over much boldnesse but after that the Brittains saw them again in good array and orderly following the chase they fled not in Troops as before when they attended each other but utterly disbanded shunning ill company toward the desart and farre distant places the darknesse of the night and satiety of the blood made an end of the chase of the Brittains were then stain about ten thousand of the Romans 300 and 40. amongst whom the chief man of note was Aulus Atticus the Captain of a Cohort who upon a youthful heat and through the fierceness of his Horse was carried into the middest of his Enemies that night the winners refreshed themselves taking pleasure in talking of the victory and dividing the spoile but the Brittains uttterly discouraged crying and howling both men and women together took and drew with them their wounded persons calling the not wounded forsaking their own Houses and in despair setting them on fire then seeking holes abroad to lurk in and having found them straight awayes again forsaking them sometimes communicating Councels together conceiving some little hope and then by and by dejected and desperate sometimes moved with pity at the sight of their Kinsfolks and Friends and sometimes stirred with rage and envy in thinking and speaking of their Enemies which was most lamentable some of them by way of compassion and mercy killing their own Children and Wives The day following did more plainly discover the greatness of the victory by the calamity of the vanquished desolation and silence every where the smoak of the houses fired appeared a far off no sallies out of the woods no stirring in the Mountains no man to make resistance or to meet with the Roman spies who being sent abroad into all quarters found by the print of the Brittains footsteps that their flight was uncertain and that they were no where in companies together but scattered in divers places and altogether unable to make any new attempt upon the sudden wherefore Agricola the summer being now spent in this journey and the time past for any other imployment brought his Army into the borders of the a The Ancient Inhabitants of Eskdale in Scotland as it is construed Horestians Countrey where having received Hostages of the Inhabitants he commanded the Admiral of his Navy being furnished with Souldiers and sufficient strength for that purpose to saile about Brittain whether the Fame and Terror of the Roman Name
in high estimation with the Popes there as a principal learned and holy Priest of the Church of Rome as appeareth in the first Epistle of St. Pius to Justus Bishop of Vienna wherein he only sendeth him Salutations from St. Soter after Pope and Elutherius as the chiefest Priests then in Rome and so he recommendeth them which Epistle was written Pius Epist 1. ad Justum Vien Epist Tom. 1. Biblioth Sanct. and this honour given to St. Elutherius by that holy Pope almost twenty years before Elutherius was Pope And yet he must needs be a renowned Man long before that time and so no marvel if divers Letters were written to him from Brittain and from him hither before his Papacy especially if we reflect and consider how probable a thing it is that he was most resident with our Christian Brittains there and the Popes of that time committed unto him to have a peculiar care of this Country with his great credit and familiarity with Pope Pius conversing so much with our Brittains there Euseb Hist Chronic. Math. West an 157. Ethelwerd Chronic. and with such principal Men as were sent into these parts such as St. Justus of Vienna then was will induce to think And our own Annals doe sufficiently witnesse that the Fame and Renown of St. Elutherius was great here in Brittain before he was chosen pope And that this his glory was so great in Brittain before he was Pope those our both ancient and later Historians prove which say that King Lucius wrote unto him the first year of his Consecration to take order for the general conversion of this Kingdome Mr. B f. 221. Man Scot. aetat 6. in Eluth So doth the most authentical and approved relation of this History testifie that it was in the very beginning of his Papacy that King Lucius sent those Letters and solemn Embassage unto him about this business which plainly proveth that same and honor of St. Elutherius so well known in Brittain did not now begin here with his papacy but was of far more ancient continuance and antiquity For the very beginning of any ruler or Governour cannot give him so singular a commendation so soon especially where his Regiment is so great and ample that in so short a time he can hardly take notice of the state of those things which belong unto his charge much lesse take so good order for them all that his Fame and Honour should be for that doing reported in all the World And King Lucius sending unto him in the first year of his papacy and the very beginning thereof could not possibly have notice of his so renowned carriage therein consult with all his Nobles Flamens and Arch-flamens so dispersed in this so large a Kingdome and have their general consent for a general conversion and send notice of this by solemn Embassadours so long a journey to be there in the beginning of his papacy but that this great honour and fame of St. Elutherius was here renowned long before and this publick and general assent to forsake idolatry and embrace Christian Religion had been formerly concluded and agreed upon in Brittain and very probably as our Cambridge Antiquities have told us not only St. Timothy was sent or returned to Rome about this businesse but Eluanus and Meduvinus also as they write being but Catechumens to be instructed and consecrated there towards the performing so great a work in this Kingdom Neither can we with equality of judgement think that among so many Brittains now converted or so disposed here these two onely went from hence thither to such end and purpose But although these be the onely men remembred in Histories to have been there employed as more worthy or else designed and sent by King Lucius yet there went many others about this time from Brittain thither the better to enable themselves for a general Conversion of this their Country and there continued to enable themselves with Learning and Religion to be made fit Instruments and Workmen in those holy Labours and were therein assisted both by the popes of those times much conversant with our Country Brittains and in their Houses at Rome and others the most Renowned in the Clergy at that time among whom St. Elutherius after Pope and happy Converter of this Nation was a chief Man 〈…〉 Lud in their opinion which held the Title Cardinall was given to that holy Priest Onupheius Panuin l. de Episc Titul Diac. Cardinal Damasus alii in Cleto Evaristo Higenio which was the chief and most eminent commanding Priest in every Church or Titulus in Rome according to the Institution and Ordinance of the Holy Popes Saint Cletus Saint Evaristus and Saint Higinus in whose time we now are I cannot but probably think that Saint Elutherius so high in Dignity and Renown both with Saint Higinus and Pius and his brother Saint Pastor to whose disposing and distribution the first Titles or Churches in Rome founded by our Christian Brittains and still called by their names Saint Pudentiana and Saint Praxedes and to this day giving the names of Honour to the Roman Cardinals so stiled were left was an eminent Cardinall and chief Priest presently after this time S. Pastor Epist ad Timoth. Epist ad Pasto To. 1. Bib. Sanct. Tom. 1. Annal. Bar. Pius Epist ad Justum Fox Acts Mon. l. 1. p. 5 in one of those our Brittish Churches in Rome which among other bonds tyed him so firmly in love to this Nation and this Nation to him that he is so often honoured in Titles of Letters and otherwise by our Antiquaries above all other Popes Some add another testimony which if it be true it greatly maketh for the especial honour wherewith our Historians adorned him thinking that Saint Elutherius came personally into Brittaine and preached here and this is that opinion which Mr. Fox thus remembreth Timotheus in his story thinketh that Elutherius came himself which wanteth not probable Arguments if they speak of his preaching here beforn he was Pope sent hither by St. Timothy our Countreyman or some others sent by any of the Popes before him Mr. Howe 's saith that King Lucius sent two Embassadours Elevanus and Meduvinus Brittains most probably though great controversies be amongst Antiquaries concerning the truth thereof two learned men in the Scriptures with his loving Letters to Elutherius Bishop of Rome desiring him to send some devout and Learned men by whose instruction both he and his people might be taught the Faith and Religion of Christ Howe 's f. 38. in Lucio whereof Elutherius being very glad baptized these two Messengers making Eluanus a Bishop and Meduvinus a Teacher and sent also with them into Brittain two Famous Clerks Faganus and Damianus by whose diligence Lucius and his people of Brittain were baptized and instructed in the Faith of Christ There is saith the same Author and remaineth till this day in Somersetshire in the Deanery of Dunster
then all the rest adorned with Christian Religion and perfectly instructed with his holy word and doctrine He reigned as some write 21 years though others affirme but twelve Again some testify that he reigned 77. others say 54. and Harrison 43. King Lucius dyed without issue by reason whereof ensued much trouble as is said before Concerning the first inclination of K. Lucius to christian Religion in the time of Pope Higinius Mr. Broughton thus discourseth Although I do not find it expresly affirmed by any Antiquary but Harding that St. Higinius in that time Bishop of Rome did so particularly give assistance and direction in this business of our Brittains conversion yet many and very renowned Writers give such testimony therein that we must needs grant that to be most true which Harding affirmeth and that after-coming Scribes and Copiers of their Histories have done the Authors wrong by their negligence or ignorance in writing one man for another Elutherius for Higinius for among others St. Bede as he is extant saith that King Lucius of Brittain did write to the Pope of Rome in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 156. that by his order and command he might be a Christian The M. S. Antiquities of the Church of Landaff more ancient in probable judgment then St. Bede and written by a Brittain which should not be ignorant in that the greatest businesse of his Country giveth the same testimony of the same year 156. The ancient author of the Brittish History also a Brittain maketh K. Lucius a christian in and before this year 156 in direct termes So Testifyeth the old History called Brutus ancient Records belonging to Guild-hall in London the Antiquities of St. Edwards lawes Goceline in the life of St. Aug. so writeth Naucl. and divers ancient manuscript writers which I have seen saith the learned Mr. Br. This was the state of the Church in Brittain when new troubles began to the disturbance of the Province For the Northern Brittains making a breach in the wall Mr. Br. fol. 210. which Adrian the Emperour had built and finding the borders but weakly guarded entered the province and surprised the Roman General and killed many of his Souldiers then ranging the Countries they wasted and spoyled everywhere without resistance till Vlpius Marcellus being sent over by Commodus the Emperor stayed the fury and with great difficulty forced them to retire within the wall by which means the Province being quieted he applied himself to reforme abuses in his Campe reviving the ancient discipline of war which had been for a time discontinued among the Roman Souldiers whom long service and many victories had made bold to say and to do oftentimes more then became them For Marcellus indeed was a man somthing austere in reproving and punishing otherwise very temperate diligent in time of war not idle in peace his diet was the same which the common Souldier used in quantity more sparing for he would eat no bread but such as was brought from Rome which he did to the end he might avoid excesse and take no more then sufficed nature the staleness of his bread having taken away all tast that might either please the sense or provoke the appetite The day time for the most part he spent in viewing his campe and training young Souldiers and giving direction to Officers In the night he wrote letters and made dispatches into divers parts of the Province as occasion required He slept very little by reason of his thin diet and much business wherewith he was continually occupied for he thought that man who slept a whole night together was no meet man to be either a Counsellour to a Prince or a Commander of an army Every evening he used to write instructions upon twelve Tables made of Linden tree which tables he delivered to one of his servants appointing him to carry them at sundry hours of the night to certain of his Souldies who thereby supposing that their General was still waking and not gone to bed were the more careful in keeping the watch and preventing suddain attempts in the night season he was severe in execution of Justice not to be led by favour nor to be corrupted with bribe he levied monies only as necessary for the war not to enrich himself or his friends as other Governours in former times had done for he never preferred his own private before the publick nor a wealthy estate before an honorable reputation The fame of those vertues as they made him much respected both of his own Souldiers and the Brittains so they procured Envy which alwaies followeth vertue inseparably as a shadow doth the body For Commodus the Emperor understanding how Marcellus had carried himself in Brittain was much displeased therewith and thought it best to cut him off but some accidents happening in the mean time to make him change that purpose he only sent letters of discharge and so dismissed him of the Office After departure of Marcellus the army having been kept in by hard hand and finding now the reine let loose upon a suddain began to be mutinous and refused to acknowledge Commodus for their Emperor these disorders Perennius one of his favorites took upon him to redresse by displacing such persons as he suspected and committing their Offices to Men of meaner quality wherewith the Legions were much discontented disdaining that instead of Senators Men of consular degree they should now be governed by upstarts and base companions In the heat of those broyles about fifteen soldiers forsook the Army and went to Rome where they exhibited to the Emperor a bill of complaint against Perennius whom they charged as the chief Author of the dissention in the Army by bringing in new customes by exceeding his commission and doing things derogatory to the Majesty of the Roman Empire These and other things as well false as true were objected against him by the multitude who for the most part dislike such as exercise authority over them and keep no measure in their affections either in love or hatred But that which touched to the quick was an accusation of treason put up against him for conspiracy against the life of the Emperor and in seeking to advance his Son to the Empire this point was quickly apprehended by Commodus who thought that the suspicion of the fact or the report only to have intended it was a sufficient cause of condemnation howsoever the party accused was either indeed guilty or innocent Hereupon Perennius was declared Traitor and delivered to the Soldiers who stripped him of his apparel whipped him with rods and in the end cruelly murdered him Then Helvius Pertinax a Man of mean fortune by Birth as having risen from the State of a common Soldier to the dignity of a Commander was sent into Brittain to appease the tumults there He was one of them that Perennius had before discharged from bearing office and sent into Liguria where he was born At his first entrance
or the Mother of Histories in our Tongue that this Carausius or as he calls him Carassius was first a Treasurer or such a high Officer among the Romans by reason whereof he engrossed great abundance of Riches and by that means became gracious with the Senators and in time was elected Senator and became a man of such authority that Basianus made him Protector of the City and Country of Alexandria from this his advancement and greatnesse issued pride and that pride begat Tyranny insomuch that the Country grew weary of their heavy and servile bondage and impositions insomuch that his death was conspired and decreed which he perceiving first revenged himself upon the conspirators and then left the Country and Province At his comming to Rome the Senate finding him to be of an austere and ridged disposition assigned unto him the rule of Brittain with three Legions This is Fabians relation but what is formerly set down from Mr. Broughton carrieth with it more authority Alectus Alectus sent from Rome by the Emperour and Senate began the time of his government Fabian fol. 49 c. 64. in the year of our Lord 227. We do not find that Alectus after he had slain Carausius in battail and taken upon him the Kingdom which he held for the space of three years did persecute the Christian Brittains under pretence of Religion but for following Carausius and not yielding subjection to the Romans as they required where we see the reason of that affliction of the Brittains by the Romans because they had forsaken the Common-Wealth and Government thereof and followed Carausius an Usurper as the Romans estemed him And other Historians make it plain that only the followers of Carausius and no others were thus persecuted by Alectus and Mathew of Westm. also saith that Alectus did afflict only those Brittains who forsaking their Country had committed themselves to the command of Carausius which Harding more plainly confesseth when he saith of Alectus Pont. Virum l. 5. Galf. Mon. l. 5. c. 4. Mat. West an 294. Harding c 56. Hollersh Hist of Eng. l 4. c. 23. Stow Stowes in Ascepiod Hard. c. 56. Galf. Mon. 5. c. 5. Virum l. 5. Mat. West an 294. Allecto then crowned and made King of all Brittain reigning fully years three and well he ruled in all manner of working or if Alectus or his Pagan Souldiers and under-Rulers did unjustly persecute any Brittains for Religion neither he nor they did escape the just vengeance of God executed upon them by the Christian Brittains in the like kind for when Alectus and his Infidel consorts were at London gathered together to make solemn sacrifice to their Idols they were by the Christians driven from their sacrifice Alectus shamefully put to flight and slain his army scattered and though by Livius Gallus his Collegue in some part renewed again yet both the General Gallus and all his Romans were slain by the Christian Brittains in one day and their Leader Gallus contemptuously thrown into a brook taking name thereof as our modern Antiquaries with antiquity thus deliver Asclepiodotus recocovered Britain and slew the Romans Captain named Livius Gallus neer unto a brook there at that time running into which brook he threw him by reason whereof it is called in Brittish Nant Gallon since in the Saxon tongue Gallus or Wallus brook and to this day the street where sometime the brook ran is called Walbrook And proveth the History of this brook both by publick Records and Inquisitions This Alectus reigned according to Fabian six years Asclepiodotus Asclepiodotus Duke of Cornewal as saith Gaufride but after the saying of Eutropius and Beda he was President of the Pretory of Rome began his dominion over the Brittains in the year of our Lord 232 who upon his victory was crowned King of Brittain by Parliament saith Harding and by common consent of the people as both the Brittish History Pont. Virun and Matthew of Westm being Duke of Cornwal before All these last writers except Matt. West say Dioclesian his persecution began here in his time of which I shall speak hereafter And it seemeth that divers Historians not observing that Constantius was here twice marrying St. Helena the first time and the second time receiving her again when Maximian the persecuting Emperour had forced him to put her away do thereupon vary and differ much about the years of our Kings in those times an old manuscript Chronicle doth say Bassianus reigned 27 years Carausius whom it calleth Carencius 39 years Alectus 15 years Asclepiodotus 10 years Coel 4 years and after him his son in law and daughter Constantius and Helena 11 years The moderne Catalogue of our Kings hath told us that Asclepiodotus did reign 30 years the same hath Hellenshed calling it the common accompt of our Chroniclers and by the same Authors and divers others King Coel in the latter end of whose reign the Romans by Constantius came in again c. Authours excuse Asclepiodotus from being any mover of that persecution which then was in Brittain but suffering the Tyrant Maximian to prosecute it and not resisting him therein which is rather imputed to want of power than will and desire in him when he saith I mean Harding Who for great fear suffered all this pain Of Christians And durst nothing against this Tyrant steer But him withdrew to hide him was full fain Where he doth insinuate that Asclepiodotus was in judgement a friend rather than persecutor of Christians and himself in some sort persecuted by the Roman Pagans in that respect which seemeth expressed in that this Authour sayeth of him That he was inforced to hide himself from the Pagan Roman persecutors And we find divers Antiquities testifying that before there was not any persecution here against Christians but their Religion was in peace and quiet publickly professed and this Asclepiodotus to redeem and preserve such Brittains liberty in that and all other priviledges warred against Alectus the Pagan Roman Governour and in sign of his detestation of their Idolatry beset and assaulted him and his Confederates when they were doing their greatest and most solemn sacrifices to their gods Now to calm these Tempests of Troubles I suppose by our best Histories that this persecution of Dioclesian and Maximinian here raged about the space of nine or ten years in the time of Asclepiodotus principally and that now at the Martyrdom of St. Amphibalus so great miseries and afflictions had been laid upon our holy Christians here long time as their flying from hence unto other Nations their abode there return hither again and continuing no short space before they were put to death as is manifest in the case of St. Amphibalus not martyred till almost a year after St. Alban who was kept in prison six moneths before his Martyrdom that now thousands were converted to Christ and the chief municipal Cities themselves where Idolatry so reigned that a Christian was rare to be then found
Souldiers and pleasure of God S. Severinus de vita S. Martini Cap. 23. for defence and necessity of the Empire God himself sufficiently giving testimony thereto by the incredible event and victory following and that he slew none of his adversaries but in the feild upon which satisfaction St. Martin came to the feast and was far more honored of this Emperor there than any Prince the Emperors uncle brothers and such others there present sitting next unto the Emperor himself and his own Priest and Chaplain sat among those Princes Mr. Broug fo 573. And such was the honour and reverence our Emperor did yeeld publickly to that holy Bishop that in that solemn feast he refused to drink untill S. Martin had drunk out of the same bole before he condemned Priscillianus the heretick his Sectaries to death and banishment Justantius Tiberianus into our Brittish Island named Silley his judgement against those Hereticks was for things by them committed against his temporal estate Hâ—rris Hist Tom. 4. c. 34. Magdeb. cent 4. c. 16. Sylvius bonus C. Max. Caes Laudes Io. Leland Io. â—its in Silvio Bonâ— Harris sup Zosim l. 4. Baro. Spondan 382 in Anâ—al Annal. Scot. apud Hect. Boet. l. 7. Scot. Hist initio Yet do I not so contend saith Mr. Broughton to free Maximus that I would wash him clean from all spots and aspersions wherewith he is stained by some Writers I rather excuse him in profession of Religion then conversation of life yet both Symmachus Consul of Rome and our Brittish Writer Sylvius stiled the good Sylvius living in his time wrote Books in his praise and the very Scotish Antiquaries the greatest enemies he had for conquering and expelling them out of Brittain are forced to confesse that his carriage was such that it drew even his enemies to love honour and follow him and give him that honour here in Brittain which never any Emperor King or Ruler in it since the first inhabiting thereof enjoyed before him Which is that Ruling here 17 years he possessed and ruled over all Albion or Brittain And in this his general command here was a friend favourer to good Christians that Hiergustus being then King of the Picts both he and all his subjects Christians he freely for a small Tribute to testifie the whole Island belonged to the Roman Empire in his time suffered though a stranger quietly to reign as King among the Picts And plainly confessed that in Brittain divers years he behaved himself and in all mens judgement governed vertuously couragiously and as a good Emperor ought to do And that both the Christian Brittains and Picts the only then inhabitants here did marvelously well love him his Brittish Wife Queen and Empress daughter of Octavius is commended in the Histories to have been a very vertuous Lady The Brittish History sayth that Maximus being overthrown by Theodosius fled into Aquileia when by the treason of his own Souldiers whilst he was paying them their wages he was delivered to Theodostus disrobed of his Imperial ornaments and speedily put to an ignominious Death Theodosius Maximus being dead Theodosius the elder as he was Emperor so was he King and Ruler in Brittany this man is most renowned in Histories for the honoring the Church hate of heresies his praises be exceeding many among ancient Writers therefore I will onely and briefly use the testimonies of modern Historians in his behalf in their own words Stow Howe 's hist Tit. Rom. in Thedosio Magdeburg Cent. 4. c. 7. Col. 568. Mag. Cent. c. 10. Theod. Hist l. 6. c. 8. Theodosius the elder a most Christian Emperor Theodosius did open pennance in Millaine and fasted and prayed eight Months together according as St. Ambrose had enjoyned him because in the first part of his Empire he had commanded 5000 Citizens of Thessalonica to be slain and for the executing the innocent with the wicked in form of civil justice therefore the Arch-bishop would not permit him to rule in the Church nor to receive the Sacrament until he had performed his pennace The Magdeburgians of Germany say this Sacrament was Sacratissimum Domini Corpus preciosus Domini Sanguis Howes saith that St. Vrsula with 11000 Virgins which were sent into little Brittain to be married were martyred in this Theodosius his reign but others say it was in the time of Maximus Surius in St. Vrsula one give this relation Maximus entred into France possessed it all but especially one Province which was then called Formorica which is now called Little-Brittain because the Brittains did conquer and rase it and with great rage and fury put to Sword all the Natives thereof left it uninhabited as a wildernesse Maximus thought it necessary to people that Province again because it lay fit for him therein to conserve and transport his Brittish Souldiers Surius Ri. badeneira octob 21. and for that purpose he divided the fertile feilds lands of the Lesser-Brittain amongst his Souldiers which came to him out of Brit. to the end they might Till and Husband it and reap the fruit thereof But because his Souldiers might marry and have succession and settle themselves in that Province where there was no women for that they were also put to the Sword he determined to send unto the Island of Brittain Scotland and Ireland for a great number of Virgins which being brought into the new and lesse Brittain might marry with those Souldiers who were for the most part naturals of their own Country The chief Commander of all that Army was called Conanus a man of great birth and of greatest estimation of all the Brittains The Hist of St. Vrsula whom Maximus hath made his Leiuetenant General and Warden of all the Ports of that Coast Conanus desired to marry with the daughter of Dionecius King of Cornwal called Vrs a most Noble and vertuous Lady in whom did shine all the gifts of chastity beauty grace which might be desired in a woman throughout the Province of there were called forth 11000 Virgins as well for the intent above mentioned as also that they might accompany Vrsula who was to be their leader and Lady some of these Virgins went of their own accord others by constraint But seeing that the command of Maximus then Emperour was so peremptory that no excuse could be admitted they embarked themselves in those ships which were prepared for their passage unto the new Province of Brittain It pleased our Lord that these ships lancing out of the Haven met with a quite contrary wind which instead of carrying that blessed company towards Brittaine it furiously carried them quite contrary and passing by Zeland and Holland drove them into the mouth of the River of Rhene a River of great capacity and depth and carried them so high as the water did ebb and flow At that time when this happened Gratian the Emperour understanding what Maximus had done in Brittain and France and
so testifie So did the great number of Councels gathered to condemn him so did also the particular best learned men in those daies St. Aug. Jerom Innocentius Orosius Genadius and others which wrote against him all the Errors wherewith he was charged he at length renounced though dissembled for fear as appears by him after I think it not convenient to set down his errors the world being so apt to broach new doctrines lest any giddy brain-sick new molded Saint make use of them both to the destruction of his own Soul and of many other the ordinary sort of people being so prone to follow after new Preachers Yet to free our Kingdom of Brittain Wales also of giving life to such a man St. Hier. saith he was by nation a Scot as Isidore Pelusiota noteth and also a voluptuous Monk both which may be reconciled if we say he was born among the Scots and bred in our great Monastery of Bangor and there long time a holy Monk but after falling both into heresie and lewdnesse of life he was often condemned in divers Councels in Asia Africa and Europe whether he had spread his heresies but not perfectly untill the time of Pope Zosimus about the year of Christ 418 being by him finally condemned both he and his followers were driven into exile by Honorius the Emperor and that heresie condemned in all the World This Pelagius though he had many followers yet were they all strangers for the great honour to this Nation that it had such learned men that even one of them falling into error did so much prevail and dilate it both in Europe Africa and Asia and yet in his own Country could nothing prevail but was at the first convinced rejected and exiled and did only indeavour to infect Brittain his native Country but could not effect his desire therein Now the Romans about four hundred and seventy yeares after their first enterance into this Isle waxed weary of the Government of Brittain and Brittains that had been many times assailed by their uncivil neighbours consorted with strangers of divers Nations perceived themselves unable to make resistance as in the former times whereupon they sent Embassadors to Rome requiring aid and promising fealty if the Romans would rescue them from the oppression of their enemies Then was there a Legion sent over into the Island to expulse the barbarous people out of the province which being with good successe effected the Romans counselled the Brittaines for their better defence to make a stone wall betwixt * The firth of Dunbretton in Scotland Glota and ‖ Edenbur Firth Bedatria the two armes of the Sea that ran into the Island and so departed thence but this Wall was only afterwards made of Turves and not of stone as they were directed the Baittains then not having any skill in such kind of buildings by which means it served to little purpose for the Scotshmen and Picts understanding that the Romans were gone passed over the water in boats at both ends of the Wall invaded the borders of the province and with main force bare down all before them whereupon the Embassadors were sent again out of Brittain to declare the miserable state of the Province which without speedy succour was likely to be lost Upon the complaint and earnest sollicitation of the Brittains there was another Legion sent over by Aetius the President of Gallia under the Conduct of Gallio of Ravenna to aid the distressed Brittains and the Romans having reduced the Povince into her former state did tell the Brittains that it was not for their ease to take any more such long Journies being costly and paineful considering that the Empire it self was assailed and in a manner overrunne by Strangers and therefore that from thenceforth they should provide for their own safety that they should learn to use Armour and Weapons and trust to their own valour Howbeit the Romans in regard of the good service done by the Brittish Nation in former times began to build a Wall of Stone from East to West in the self same place where Severiâ—s the Emperor had cast his Trench the labour and charges of the work being born partly by the Romans and partly by the Brittains themselves This Wall contained eight foot in bredth and twelve in hight some Reliques thereof saith the Brittish History remaine to this day upon the Sea-coast towards the South they raised Bulwarks one somewhat distant from another to empeach the Enemies landing in those parts and this done they took their last farewell transporting their Legions into Gallia as men resolved to return hither no more As soon as they were gone the barbarous people having intelligence thereof presumed confidently that without any great assistance they might now enter the Province and thereupon accounting as their own whatsoever was without the Wall they gave an assault to the Wall it self and with Graples and such like Engines pulled down to the ground a great part thereof while the Brittains inhabiting the borders being awaked with the suddenness of the Enterprise gave warning to the rest of their Countreymen within the Land to arm themselves with speed and to make resistance About this time also which was about the year of our Redemption 430 the state of the Church in Brittain was much incumbred by the Heresie of Pelagius of which a little before yet I here again repeat it in another Authors Language for fuller satisfaction of my Reader which being by birth a Brittain by profession a Monk and as some think trained up in the Monastery of Bangor travelled first into Italy Brittish Hist fol. 152. l. 3. then into Sicilia Egypt and other East parts of the World to learn and study as he professed whereby he wound himself into the good opinion of many men of great fame in those daies for learning and piety as namely of Paulinus Bishop of Nola and by his means of S. Augustine till the Heretical assertions which himself and his Disciple Celestinus a Scotch-man secretly taught being by St. Hierom discovered were afterwards condemned by the Bishop of Rome Innocentius the first whereupon they returned again into Brittain being obstinately bent to maintain their former Heresie which Agricola the Son of Severianus a Bishop of that Sect had not long before brought thither whereby the same in short time was received and approved among the Christians in divers parts of the Isle so that betwixt Heresie among the Brittains themselves and Paganism professed by their Enemies the light of Christian Religion seemed for a time to be eclipsed Howbeit some of the Brittains disliking those heretical Opinions which as yet they were unable by knowledge in the Scriptures to confute and perceiving withal what dangerous inconveniences to the State arose oft times by reason of their disagreement one from another in matters of Religion earnestly required the Bishops of France to send over some godly wise and learned men that might defend the
of immortal fame and memory and Aunt to Charles now King of great Brittain whom we may justly call the miraculous God of his infinite goodness having so miraculously preserved and restored and doubtless will still protect him CUMBERLAND Cumberland is the farthest County of England on the North-VVest side anciently part of the Brigants It is called Cumbria as being inhabited by the true and natural Brittains who in our language are called Kymry when as the residue of those Northern parts had yielded to the conquering Saxon a country for the Scituation of it neither unpleasant nor unprofitabe the valleys yielding corn sufficiently the Mountains breeding great flocks of sheep the Meeres replenished with all kind of wild fowle and the adjoyning Sea affording variety of fish It containeth in it not above 58. parish Churches but very many Chappels of ease as big and large as are the Churches of these there are nine market Townes whereof the chief next Carlile for dispatch of business is that of Parith wherein they hold their Sessions and Assises Late was it ere this County became an Earldom being now become a Dukedom when Henry the eighth bestowed the stile and dignity of Earl of Cumberland upon Henry Lord Clifford and Charles the first the dignity of Dukedom upon his Nephew Prince Rupert Earls and Dukes of CUMBERLAND Henry Lord Clifford created Earl of Cumberland by K. Henry the 8. Henry Clifford Earl George Clifford Earl Francis Clifford Earl Henry Clifford Earl Prince Rupert Duke of Cumberland Tomus Secundus THE ANCIENT and MODERN BRITTISH and WELSH HISTORY AFter the Romans had given over the Government and protection of the Brittains the inhabitants of the South part of the Isle being altogether Brit. Hist part 2. l. 1. fol. 176 by their own strength unable any longer to withstand the furious assaults of the Scottish men and Picts who were already come with their power as far as Stanford upon the River of Welland assembled themselves together in several companies A Town in Lincolnshire and the most ancient and best respected among them entred into consultation what means might then be used for defence in a case of such necessity But first of all for that they had found by their late experience what dangerous effects proceed from civil jars they resolved with common consent to run all joyntly one and the same course and for the better strengthening of this their purpose they elected a King whose name was Vortiger a man much esteemed both for the Nobility of his birth as being extract from the line of the Brittish Princes and also for the General good opinion conceived of his sufficiency to undergo so weighty a charge though the eminency of his degree did soon after lay open those vices and infirmities which his private life had concealed To him did all the petty Princes in the Isle submit themselves They then entered into Consultation together and called to minde the Conditions of such Nations as were most known unto them considering well with themselves that from the Romans there was no more relief to be expected Italy it self the seat of the Empire being invaded by strangers and France was assailed as well as Brittain That Germanie though a mighty and ample Region was not altogether free from incumbrance For this Countrey had formerly been the common â—eceptacle of those Northren people that dwelling beyond the Rhene and Panon and being very fruitful in generation came usually thither to disburden themselves and to seek new habitations by reason whereof the Germains themselves were much distressed and now and then forced to abandon their Native Soyl being sometimes also by consent among themselves chosen out by lots for that purpose howbeit those strangers which had there planted themselves were for the most part better able to annoy other Countreys then to maintain in peace what by intrusion and violence they had gotten Saxons renowned both by sea land Among all the Germains there was at that time no one Nation which for great adventures both by Sea and Land was more renowned then the Saxons For touching qualities of the minde they were bold hardy and vain glorious patiently enduring labour hunger and cold whereunto by the constitution of their bodies and temperance of the Climate they seemed to be framed as being very strong and yet not unwieldy tall of stature but not uncomely or out of due proportion For the North Region by reason of the coldnesse of the air which driveth the natural heat inward bringeth forth men commonly of greater courage and ability of body then those countreys that lye nearer the sun Their dyet was simple and homely neither knew they any other a long time till by attaching some of the Roman ships stragling about the coasts of France and the Lower Germany they became first acquainted with their manner of Victualling Their habit was neither costly nor cumbersome but serving indeed rather for decency and ornament then for defence against the sharpnesse of the air or such like annoyances For their garments were commonly of linnen or yarne woven with divers colours and hanging loose about them the locks of their hair which in former time they had been accustomed to shave being then curled and spread abroad in compasse so that they covered their shoulders and upper parts of their cassocks The weapons which they ordinarily used in fights were long spears round targets and betle axes having also trussed up at their backs certain short swords which they did wear continually for readinesse upon all occasions In the art of Navigation they were very expert and lived at the first by pilfery and afterwards by open robbery being trained up therein even from their childhood under a kind of discipline stormes at sea unseasonable weather perils of Rocks and Sands loss of goods and shipwracks which terrifie other men they carelessely contemned while they seemed to have not only a certain knowledge of them The customes and manners of the Saxons but also a certain familiarity with them The Offices of Souldiers and Marriners they executed with like skill and often times with equall advantage There was no kind of Cruelty in a manner new or strange unto them Neither were they altogether void of policie in watching opportunity of time and place to further their designs albeit they were for the most part more suddain in attempting and procuring other mens harmes then wary or well advised in avoiding their own Superiority in degrees they hardly admitted but each man commanded and obeyed as the cause required being as ready to learn of his fellowes what he knew not as to instruct others in those things wherein he happened to be skillfuller then the rest Of their blood they were nothing at all sparing but they exercised cruelty sometimes even upon themselves as making no account to cast away their own lives rather then to endure any publick shame scorn or disgrace The wicked Sacrifices of the Saxons When
cogitations he nourished his ambitious humour howbeit knowing well that the forces which were already brought into the Isle would not be sufficient to accomplish the enterprize he perswaded Vortiger it was very necessary that more aid should be sent for out of Germany and to that end he named his Brother Octha and his Son Ebusa men of approved valour who might be directed to land with a power in the Picts own Country and to assail the Inhabitants there while himself in the South parts pursued the rest of them with whom he had already encountered whose Forces being by that means diverted from the heart of the Isle to succour their Country men at home or wanting their wanted supplies which should then of force be employed elsewhere for defence there might be some hope of a speedy and full end of the war The event whereof otherwise was now more to be feared then in former times if the North Brittains whetted with the desire of revenge and having space of breathing given them should make head and assail them again This counsel seeming profitable howsoever it proved pernicious in the end was allowed by the King either for that he foresaw not the peril likely to ensue thereupon or else for that such things as God himself hath determined are doubtlesse though sometimes foreseen yet never prevented In the mean while the Germains inflamed with continual reports of the wealth and fruitfulnesse of the Isle and sollicited by Hengist who discovered unto them the weak estate of the Brittains and the facility of supplanting them hired certain small vessels wherein themselves Wives Children and Families were transported into divers parts of the land At which time Rowen the Daughter of Hengist a woman of excellent beauty and not of the worst behaviour having been specially sent for by her Father arrived in Kent and was forthwith conveyed to the Pallace where Vortiger and Hengist made their abode Of those Germains that then came over there were three several kinds of people namely Saxons Juites and Angles though the Saxons seemed to bear the most sway by reason both of the general respect of that Nation for their many and great exployts A God of the Saxons from whence we call the third day in the week Wedesnday and also for the authority of their Captains Hengist and Horsa who where of the linage of Woden from whom the Saxon Princes that afterwards raigned in this Isle used alwaies for honours sake to derive their descent From these Saxons the East West and South Saxons had their Original The Juites as some Authours report and as the affinity of the names may seem in some sort to inferr were descended from the Jetes and Bothes and dwelt in the upper part of Denmark which is at this day called Juiteland from them the Kentish men The Kentish men from whence with the Inhabitants of the Isle of Wight and of that part of the Land which lyeth over against it had their beginning The name of the Juites was of no long continuance in Brittain notwithstanding their posterity was incorporated into the Saxons and Angels who were accounted but one Nation the name of either of them being indifferently used as common to both till in the end the Angles possessing the greatest part of the land they were all known and called by that name alone The Angles in those dayes were a people well esteemed among the Germains and in number exceeded both Saxons and Juites Lin olnsh Yorlsh Northum Noting Derby c. from whence Touching their ancient seat the opinions of writers are differing though it be most probable that they did sometimes inhabit that part of Denmark yet retaining the name of Angle which lyeth between Juitland and Holsutia From them came the East Angles Mercians and Northumbers But Hengist knowing well that fraud and cunning practises oft times prevail where force it self cannot resolved as occasion might serve to make use of both and to that end observing well the Kings humour he applyed himself in all things to follow it specially by soothing and nourishing him in those vices to which by nature he was most addicted supposing thereby to strengthen his own estate and with more security to accomplish his desire while the King intended nothing more then the satisfaction of his own immoderate appetites in sensuall pleasures Brittish Hist par 2. fol. 188 which had already brought him in contempt and hatred with his people and would by all likelyhood open the way to his speedy destruction Whereupon one day inviting Vortiger to a feast he appointed Rowen his daughter to attend upon him as his Cup-bearer at which time by her fathers instruction she behaved her self in such manner as the King fell in love with her and although he had a wife then living yet was he not ashamed to tell Hengist in plain termes that he earnestly desired to become his Son in Law if he might attain his consent for the marriage of his daughter Hengist who had cast out this bait on purpose to catch him pretended respect of Vortigers own reputation which as he said should be too much impaired by matching with a poor maid a stranger by birth far inferiour to him in degree and no way worthy of so great Fortune howbeit in the end he seemed by intreaty to yield to that which himself would voluntarily have offered and so making use of the occasion he was content to take the thanks which he of right should have given Hereupon Vortiger having cast behind him all regard both of Divine and Humane Lawes did put away his lawful wife by whom he had three children and contrary to the advice of his faithful Councellours Vortiger marrieth Hengistâ— daughter having a wife of his own married Hengist the Saâ—â—â—s daughter Upon the conclusion of this marriage a great part of the Country of Kent which had been many years together governed by Guorongus as the Kings Deputy there was assigned to Hengist who like a wilie serpent having now gotten in his head found means in short time to wind in his whole body It is reported by some writers that Vodin then Arch-bishop of London reproving the King for his incontinency and other vices which drew him down with his Realm to ruine was by the commandment of Hengist put to death The Archbishop of London put to death by Hengists command with many other Priests and religious Votaries as persons too well affected to their Country and odious to the Saxons for profession of Christianity This inconsiderate match and immeasurable bounty of the King was much disliked by the Brittains for that the Saxons presuming of the Kings favour by reason of his new affinity with them came over daily in great numbers pestering the East parts of the Isle and many times offering abuse to the natural Inhabitants whereupon the Brittish Nobility complained to the King Vortiger neglects to hear his Brittish Nobles counsell that their estate was
with all those Meteors which are engendered in the middle Region of the Air From whence the name Thursday first derived consecrating to him the fifth day of the week which was afterwards called Thursday The name of Woden they attributed to Mercury or as some write to Mars whom they reverenced as a Protector in war and a giver of strength and courage against their Enemies To him they usually sacrificed with mans blood and dedicated the fourth day of the week naming it Wodensday as yet retaining the first denomination with very little difference Wednesday from whence Under the name of Freâ— they sacrificed to Venus as the giver of peace and pleasure whom they adored sometimes under the figure of Priapus committing to her the Patronage of the sixth day called Frea-day Of these three Thor was placed upon a three footed stool in the midst Friday from whence and Woden and Frea on each side To the Goddess Eoster they alwayes offered Sacrifice in the moneth of April which thereupon was called Eoster-moneth In their consultations of any weighty matter they observed south-saying and casting of lots Their custom of casting of lots was first to cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree into many pieces which being distinguished with several marks they did cast upon a white garment at a venture then if the matter concerned the Common-Wealth in general the Priest The manner of casting lots among the Saxons if a private person only the Master of the house having prayed the Gods and looked towards heaven did take up every one of the said pieces three times and interpreted the future success according to the form and similitude of the marks if the lots fell out contrary to their minds they consulted no more that day if otherwayes yet they would make further tryal by observing the flying and singing of birds They had another practise also to search out the event of great and weighty battails with their Enemies For they would get some one of that Nation with which the war should be made and then take another choice man of their own arming them both after their Country guise Horses much honoured by the Saxons and so make trial of their valour conjecturing by the success of that fight on whose side the victory should afterwards fall but of all other passages the neying of horses was of greatest credit both with the Preists and People who fondly supposed that those beasts understood and were privy to their secrets Why a horse for the Saxons Armes And hereupon as some suppose the Dukes of Saxony in times past gave a horse for their Ensign The names also of Hengist and Horsa the first men of note of the Saxon Nation that arrived in Brittain do signifie in their own language a horse Brit. Hist part 2. fol. 195. Mr. Bro. fol. 199. Jo. Gosc Hist Eccle. Mat. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 8. Antiq. Glast Capgrave in vita St. Patricii Gul. Malm. l. de Antiq. Caenob Glast which denominations whether they were given in respect of their strength and courage qualities by nature proper to that beast or whether they received them upon any other occasion or accident I cannot certainly affirm sayes my Authour In this age we had here in Brittain many Monasteries and Religious houses both of Men and Women Our old Religious house in Glastenbury continued in this age as in the former having twelve religious Eremites belonging unto it dwelling in the places and Cells of the first twelve in the time of St. Joseph of Aramathea This is testified by the old Manuscripts of that place and Will of Malms in his book of the antiquity thereof witnesseth that those holy men in the number of twelve thus successively lived and served God untill St. Patricks coming The names of the twelve then living were Brunbam Dyregaan The great sanctity of the Brittish Nobility Viwall Wentreth Bantonnewing Adeloobre Loyor Wellyas Breden Swellwis Hinloirmus and Alius all of them descended of noble families rather preferred this poor penitential eremitical life then worldly honour The antiquities of Glestenbury further witness that about this time there was new founded or renewed an other little Religious house in honour of St. Michael the Archangel and particularly to honour and pray to him And that Arnulphus and Ogmar two religious holy men were the first that supplyed that office and duty there Math. West an 543. That there were divers Monasteries in Brittain as well in London Winchester Kent and other places appeareth evidently by divers Authors For say they Hengist the Pagan Saxon at his coming into Kent Stow. Howes Brit. Sax. in Const Vortiger found many religious houses both of Men and Women and many of them were glorious Martyrs by the Saxon persecutors Hengist slew the good Archbishop Vodine and many other Priests and Religious Men. All the Churches in Kent were polluted with blood the Nunns with other Religious persons were by force put from their houses and goods These religious houses must needs be builded and so furnished with goods and consecrated persons before the Saxons entred and so in or before this age these men being then Pagans were no founders but destroyers of such monuments Bed 1. c. 6. not only in Kent but all places where they prevailed by all histories Among these these sumptuous and stately Church Math. West an 313. 586. and Monastery of St. Alban builded within ten years after his Martyrdome was one for the Monastery there was not as Math. West proveth founded first by King Offa Kaer Carodoc Salisbury Manuscript Gallic Antiq. c. 24. Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 9 but being destroyed by the Saxons was re-edified by him There was also a noble monastery at Amsbury in Wiltshire near Salisbury in which as an old French Manuscript and others say there were at this time three hundred This was founded long before the Saxons came by one Ambrius near Kaer Carodoc Salisbury Our old English Chronicle treating of the desolation which the Pagan Saxons wrought in this Kingdom in destroying religious Houses and Churches and how Aurelius Ambrosius restored and builded them again thus delivereth that in general and particularly of this Monastery King Aurelambros went throughout the Land Mr. Breugron fol. 610. and put away the name of Hengist Land that Hengist after his name had called it before Then he let call it again great Brittain and let make again Churches and Houses of Religion Castles and Cities and Boroughs Old English Chronicle part 5. fol. 43. and Townes that the Saxons had destroyed The Brittains led him to the Mount of Ambrian where sometime was an house of Religion which then was destroyed through the Paynims whereof a Knight that was called Ambross that sometime was founder of that house and therefore the hill was called the holy Mount of Ambrian and after it was called Ambesbury The King Aurclambros let amend and
Will. of Malms de Reg. Angliae first requiting his banishment with great detriment and loss to those his Enemies wherein he was partaker by his just desert of his Uncles worthy praise for that he stayed for a great many years the destruction of his country which was now runing headlong into utter ruine and decay Hollenshed Hist of Engl. fol. 156. But Arthurs grave no were appeareth but the others tombe was in the dayes of William the Conquerour upon the Sea side and contained in length fourteen foot where he was as some say wounded by his Enemies and cast up by shipwrack but other write that he was slain at a publick feast or banquet by his own Countrimen But here you must consider that Malmesbury departed this life about the begining of the reign of King Henry 2. certain years before the bones of King Arthur were found But now to speak some things of the Queen King Arthur his consort some are of opinion that she took that name from her excellent beauty because Cuynne if truly written in the Welsh tongue signifieth fair so that she was named Guenuere or Guenllean even as you would say the fair and butifull Heonere or Helen she was brought up in the house of Cador D. or E. of Cornwall before Arthur married her and as it appeareth by writers she was evill reported of as noted of Incontinency and breech of faith to her husband but excellent beauties seldom escape the venemous blasts of detracting and envious tongues and never want the amorous courtings of lascivious wantons The Brittish history affirmeth that she did not only abuse her self by unlawfull company with Mordred but that also in Arthurs absence she consented to take him to husband It is likewise found recorded by an old writer that Arthur besieged the Marches near Glastenbury for displeasure that he bore unto a certain Lord called Melva who had ravished Guuennere and led her into those Marches and there did keep her Arthur had two wives as Girald Cam. affirmeth of which the later saith he was buried with him and her bones found in his own Sepulchre so devided yet that two parts of the Tombe towards the head were appointed to receive the bones of the man and the third part towards the feet contained the womans bones a part by themselves Hector Boetius writeth that Queen Guennere being taken by the Picts was conveyed into Scotland were finally she died and was there buried in Angus And this may be true if Arthur had three several wives each of them bearing the name of Guenhere as Sir John Price avoucheth But by reason of the disagreeing of writers touching the great acts atchieved by this Arthur and also for that some difference there is amongst them about the time in which he should reign many have doubted of the truth of the whole history which is written of him The Brittish histories as also the Scotch do agree that he reigned in the dayes of the Emperour Justinian about the fifteenth year of whose reign he died which was in the year of our Lord five hundred forty one as Harrison also confirmeth some write otherwayes The writer of the book called Aurea Historia affirmeth that in the tenth year of Cerdicus King of West Saxons Leyland Arthur the warriour arose amongst the Brittains Also Divionensis writeth that Cerdicus fighting oftimes with Arthur if he were overcame in one moneth he rose in another more strong and fierce then before At length King Arthur over toyled with hard labour and warfair after the twelfth year of the coming of Cerdicus gave unto him upon his homage done and fealty received the Shires of South-Hampton and Somerset the which Country Cerdicus named West Saxon. West Saxon. In the while that this Kingdom was thus troubled with war and destruction between the Brittains and Saxons the Christian Religion was not only abolished in places where the Saxons seated themselves but also among the Brittains the right faith was brought into danger by the reviving of the Pelagian Heresie which began to be broached saith Hollenshed by divers naughty persons and questionless they were so and all such as follow them And although in the first part of this History speaking of this most pestiferous Arch-heretick and his damnable doctrine I then expressed not his Theses yet upon better consideration that all vertuous Christians may avoid them I think it not altogether amiss to lay them open to the World and I must heartily wish that none may follow them The Heresies of Pelagius 1. First he was charged that Adam was made motral and should have died whether he had sinned or no. 2. That his sin did only hurt himself and not humane kind 3. That infants new born are in the same State wherein Adam was before his fall 4. That by the death and prevarication of Adam all Mankind doth not die nor all mankind rise again by the Resurrection of Christ 5. Children may have eternal life though they be not baptized 6. Rich men that be baptized except they renounce all their goods if they are taught to do any good thing it shall not be reputed to them neither can they have the Kingdom of God 7. That the grace and help of God is not given to every act but is from the will or in the Law or Doctrine 8. That the grace of God is given according to our own demerits 9. That Men cannot be called the Children of God except they be altogether without sin 10. And that it is not free-will if it wanteth the help of God because every one hath in his own will to do any thing or not to do it 11. That our victory is not from the help of God but from freewill 12 That to them that seek pardon pardon is not given according to the Grace and mercy of God but according to the labour and merits of them which by penance are worthy of mercy St. Augustine in divers places speaketh of this Arch-heritique and of the Articles whereof he was charged and recanted by Pelagius though dissemblingly for fear as appeared by him afterward so did divers others and add more errours which he held as that 1. Before Christ man was without sin 2. Prayer is not necessary 3. Man is able by the power of Freewill not onely not to sin but not to be tempted 4. That Women ought to sing in the Church 5. That all men ought to be cloathed like Monks St. Augustine addeth that 1. Man might not â—ear at all 2. The life of just men in this life to be altogether without sin and that the Church of Christ in this world consisteth of such 3. He denyed that the Church should offer prayers either for Infidels and such as resisted the doctrine of God that they might be converted unto him or for the faithfull that their faith might be encreased and they persevere in it For these heresies as is said before he was condemned by a
Snowden hills and seised into his hands the Country of Rhyvonioc in Denbighshire About this time there was a great battail fought in Anglesey called the battail of Lhanvaes In this year being the 819. ab incarnatione 819. Kenulph King of Mercia destroyed West VVales and the Summer following he overcame Powis land and did much hurt and after died and Kenelme reigned in his place About the same year also Howel King of Man died much about this time 828. a great battail was fought at a place called Gavelford betwixt the Brittains and the VVest Saxons of Devonshire and many thousands cruelly slain upon either side the victory being uncertain In or about the year 836. the Danes landed in VVest VVales and so passing through VVales into England with many of the Brittains which joyned with them against Egbert but they were all overthrown by Egbert at Hengistdown who died the year following In the year 841. died Edwalhan a noble man of Wales And two years after was the battail of Kettel betwixt Burchard King of Mercia and the Brittans where in as some do write 841. Mervin Vrich King of the Brittains was slain leaving behind him a son called Rodri Maur that is to say Roderick the great from Rodri by his son Anarawd who bore for his arms Or three Lyons passant Gules Mervin whose coate was Or a Lyon rampant Gules and Cadel who took for his armes Gules a Lyon Ramp within a border engraled Or the worshipful and flourishing families of the Morgans in Monmothshire who to this day quarter the two last coats by matches and coheirs are rightly descended of which line William Morgan of Lantarnam Esq who marryed Lady Frances daughter to the Earl of VVorcester derived his pedegree leaving issue Sr Edward Morgan first Baronet of that linage father to Sr. Edward Morgan Baronet now living Henry Morgan and Winefred Wife to Percy Enderbid Compiler of this book Roderike the Great Roderike the great began his reign over VVales the year after Christ his incarnation 843. This Prince divided all VVales into the three territories of Aberstraw Dinivour The description of Wales by Sr. John Price Kt and Hump. Lhoyd Gent. and Mathraval But before we proceed any further be pleased to read over the description of Cambria now called VVales drawn first by Sir John Price Knight and afterwards augmented and made perfect by Humphrey Lhoyd Gent. Forasmuch as it is necessary for the understanding of the VVelsh history to know the perfect description of the Country of VVales to the end the acts atchieved and done may the better be known I thought good somewhat to travail therein and so to lay down the same as it was in those daies and as it is now that the Reader may by conference of both times the better understand both what hath passed from the time of Cadwalader and what hereafter is to ensue Therefore after the three Sons of Brutus had divided the whole Isle of Brittain into three parts that part contained within the French Seas with the Rivers of Severn called in Brittish Hafern Dee and Humber fell to the eldest Son Locrinus which was after his name called Lhoyger which name it hath in the Brittish Tongue to this day but in English called England and is augmented Northward to the River Tweed The second Son or as some say the third Albanactus had all the Land Northward from Humber to the Sea Orkney called in the Brittish Tongue Norweryth and in Latine Mare Calidonium The third Son Camber or rather the second had for his part that remained undivided lying within the Spanish and Irish Seas and separated from England by the Rivers Severn Dee part was after his name called Cambria and the Inhabitants thereof Cambri and their Language Camberaec and so are at this day so that they have kept the same Countrey and Language this 2690. years and above saith this Authour when that Chronicle was printed which bears no date without commixtion with any other Nation especially in North Wales And because the name of the 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 whereas the Saxons a people of Germany were the first that after the Brittains inhabited and ruled the greatest part of this Island and drove the Brittains into that corner a which according to the manner of their countrey they called VVales Wales why so called and the countreymen VVelshmen and the Tongue VVelsh that is to say strange or not of them understood for at this day the Inhabitants of the Low-countreys call all their next Neighbours Language Henegaw or others that speak French VValsh as a Language to them unknown Likewise the Inhabitants of Tyroll and other the higher countryes of Germany do name the Italian their next Neighbour a VValshman and his language VValsh And this is an evident proof that they which harped upon a Queen Gwallaes Not from Queen Gwalaes Nor from Prince Wala and of a Prince VValla of whom neither Brittish Latine or English History makes mention were fouly deceived and so likewise was a great Historiographer of late daies who saith that it was called VValia quasi Italia because the rest of the Romanes which remained in the Isle were driven thither Neither is this any new invention although Polidore Virgil with an Italian brag doth glory his self to be the first that found it out Polidore Virgil his brag for divers antient Writers do alledge the same cause of the name of VVales of whom Sylvester Giraldus is one who writ in the time of Henry the Second after the Conquest before 380 passed which is an evident token that the said Polidore Virgil did either never see it or at least not read the ancient Histories of this Kingdome or else dissembleth the same to the advancement and praise of himself and his countrey which to the learned and indifferent Reader shall appear to be the only occasion he took that work in hand Polidores jugling in his History for all his book redoundeth only to the praise and honour of the Romanes as well Spiritual as Temporal and to blaze forth their Acts and Deeds within this Realm and upon the other part he doth either openly slander or else privately extenuate or shamefully deny the Martial prowess and Noble Acts as well of Saxons Danes and Normans as of the Brittains all inhabiters of this Isle which thing he that lists to prove let him read and confer Caesars Commentaries Cornelius Tacitus Herodianus and other ancient Writers as well in Latine as in Greek with his works As for the Ancient Writers of the Brittish History as the Brittish Chronicle the History of Gildas Ponticus Virunnius yea the golden work of Matthew Paris Monk of Saint Alban who writ from William the Conquerour to the last year of Henry the Third I dare say he
The Cantref Mereon hath three camots Talibont Pennal and Ysttumaner the Cantef of Arustly hath these Vwchcoed Iscoed and Guarthrenion Guarthrenion Cantref Perilhum hath these Vwchmeloch Ismeloh and Micnaint and this keepeth the said name till this day but not within the same Mears it is full of hills and rocks and hath upon the Northside the sea notable at this day for the great resort and number of people that repair thither to take herings it hath upon the East Arnon and Denbighland upon the south Powis and upon the West Dini and Cardiganshire In this Country standeth the Town of Harlech and a great lake called Lhin Tigid through which the river Dee runneth and medleth not withī the water of the Lake Note a wonder which is three miles long and also the Salmons which are commonly taken in the river hard by the Lake are never seen to enter the Lake likewise a kinde of fish called Guymaid which are like to Whitings and are full in the Lake and are never taken in the River not far from this Lake is a place called Garergay which was the house of Gay Arthurs foster brother This shire as well as Arvon is full of Cattel Fowl and Fish with great number of Deer and Roes but there is great scarcity of corn The fourth part of Gwenith was called Y Berusdhwlad which may be Englished the Inland or middle Countrey which contains 5. Cantrefs and had thirteen comots as cantref Rivomoc had in it these comots Vwbhalet and Isalet Cantref Ystrat had Hiraethoc and Cynmeirch Cantref Roff these Vwchdulas Isdulas and Crenthin which all are in the Lordship of Denbeigh saving the Crenthin which is in Carnarvonshire wherein the Castles of Dygandwy did stand which was the Earl of Chester and is commonly called in Latine English Chronicles Gannoc The 4th Cantref was Difrin Clwid which may be Englished the valley of Clwid and now is called the Lordship of Ruthin and hath those comots Coleigion Lhannerth and Dogvelin The fifth Cantref is Tengle and is now a part of Flintshire having these comots Counsylht Prestatyn and Ruthlan and in this part is one of the fairest valleys within this Isle containing 18. miles in length and 4 5 6 or 7. in breadth as the hills either draw inward together or backward asunder which high hills do enclose it on the East West and South parts and Northward the sea it is plentiful of Cattel fish and foul corn hay grasse and wood and divided along in the middle with the river Clwy to whom runneth Clywedoc Ystrad Whilar Elwy and a great number of other rivers from the hills In this valley two miles from the sea is the town and Castle of Ruthlan where sometime a Parliament hath been kept and two miles above it is the See of Asaph between the rivers Cly and Elwy called in the old time the Bishops See of Lhan Elup Four miles thence and two miles from the river is situate upon a rock the town and Castle of Denbigh where is one of the gratest Markets of the Marshes of Wales and one of the fairest and strongest Castles within this Realm which being the house of David brother of Lhewelin the last Prince of the Welsh blood was enlarged and strengthened by Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln to whom K. Edward gave the same Lordship It is also the Shire Town of that Shire Anno 12. Ed. 1. five miles above this is the Town of Ruthin with a fair Castle which sometimes belonged to the Lords Grey Earles of Kent This part of Northwales hath upon the North the river Dee and the sea upon the West Arnon and the river Conwey South and east Merionith and the country he called Powys and these be the mears and bounds of Gwyneth or Venedotia for the name of Northwales containeth beside this all Powis in these dayes so there was under the territory of Terffraw 15. Cantrefs and in them 38 comots The second Kingdom was Mathranal which in right order was the third as that which came to third brother yet for the better understanding of the History following I have placed it here To this Kingdom belonged the Country of Powis and the land betwixt Wy and Severne which part had upon the South and West Southwales with the river Wy and Twyl and other meers upon the North Gwineth and upon the East the Marshes of England from Chester to Wy a little above Hereford and therefore it was most troubled with wars as well of the Saxons as afterwards of the Normans Lords Marchers who afterwards daily wan some part thereof and by that means it was the first part that served the Kings of England and therefore lesse esteemed of all the rest This part called Powis was divided again into Powis Vadoc and Powis Wenwin win Powis Vadoc contained in it self five Cantreds and 15 comots Cantref Y Barwn which hath three comots Dynmael Edeyrneon and Glindourdwy which be now in Merionithshire saving Dinmael which is in Denbighshire Cantref Y Rhiw whose comots are these Yal now in Denbigshire Staytalin and Hop now in Flintshire Cantref Treferd containeth these comots Creosuam Tref Y wayn in English Chirk and in Denbighshire Toesoswallt English Oswestred and in Shropshire Cantref Vwchnant hath these comots Merforth in Flintshire Maelor Gymraeg in English Bromfield now in Denbighshire and Meoler Saesneg in Flintshire Cantref Rayder with his comots Morchnant Israider Clynhaeth and Nanhendwy all in Chirkland and in Denbighshire Also the Lordship of Whittington now in Shropshire was in this part of Powis which part at this day hath lost the name of Powis and is situate in divers Shires as it appeareth by the discourse before passed In this part is the Castle of Holt in Bromfield and the Castle of Chirk in Chirkland likewise the Lordship and Castle of Whittington which came by marriage to Goulh Fitzwarren There is besides these the Lordship of Oswestre of the which the Fitz Allans have been Lords these 300 years and odd and of divers other Lordships in those Marches as Shrarden the eleven townes Clun and many others which are now in Shropshire The second part call'd Powis Wenwinwin had likevvise five cantreds and tvvelve comots Cantref Y Vyrnwy had these comots Mechnant Vwch Rayader Mechain Iscoed and Lhanerch Hudol Cantref Ystile hath these Deuthwr Gorthwr Isaf and Strat Marchelch Cantref Lhyswinaf had these Caerneneon and Mechain Vwchcoed Cantref Cydowen had comot Conan and comot Hauren Cantref Conan had Cyveilioc and Mouthwy which is now in Merionithshire of all these the three first Cantreds do only at this day bear the name of Powis which are upon the Northside of Severne and are all five saving the comot of Mothwy in the County of Montgomery This is a Country full of Wods Hills and Rivers and hath in it these towns the Pool Newtown Machinlheth Arustly was in old time in this part but afterwards it came to the Princes of Gwineth These Lordships came by just
Morganwc now Glamorganshire containeth 4 cantrefs with 15 comots as cantref Croveth with these comots Rwngueth ac Vvan Tir Yr Hwndrwd and Maenor Clynogwr Cantref Pennythen with these Meyskin Glynrhodny Maenor Talavan and Maenor Ruthyn Cantref Brenbinol with these Gibowr Senghennyth Vwcheaeth and Iscaeth Cantref Gwenthwy which is now in Monmothshire with these comots Yrhardh Ganol and Eithafdylygion In this part are these towns and castles Lhandaf the Bishops See Caerdiffe called Caerdhyeth Cowbridge called in Welsh Y bont Vaen which is as much as to say Stonebridge Lantwid Caerftyli and others and hath divers rivers which run to the South sea as Lay Taf Tawy Neth Avan Ogwr and Lhychwr it hath on the South the sea of Severne which divideth it from Devonshire and Cornewall upon the West and Northwest Caermardhynshire upon the Northeast Brechnocshire and upon the East Monmothshire of this you shall read very little for one Jestyn being chief of the Country and having war with his Neighbours called on Robert Fitz Hamon with a great number of strangers to his aid who after they had atchived his desires liked so well the Country that they found occasion to fall out with Jestyn and inhabited the country themselves and their heirs at least some of them to this day The fifth pat was called Gwent and now is in Monmothshire which hath three cant and ten comots as cant Gwent which had these comots Ymynyth Iscoed Lhefnydh and Tref Y Grug Cant. Iscoed these Brinbuga Vwchcoed Y Teirtref and Ergnig ac Ewyas now in Hereford-shire Cant. Cough was the 7th cant of Morgamoc which is now in Glocester-shire and is called the Forrest of Dean In this part is the ancient City of Caerlheon upon Vsk where was the Archbishops See of Wales here are also divers Towns and Castles as Chepstow Glyn Strigol Ros Tinterne upon the River Wy There is also Newport called Ycastelh Newyth Visc called Brynbuga Grosmond Raglan White Castle Abergaveny and many others as I shall shew God willing in my description of Monmothshire this is a fair and fertile Countrey of 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 Brechnock-shire on the North Hereford-shire Glocester-shire and the River VVy and upon the South and South-East Severne Last of all cometh Brecheinoc now Brechnoch shire which hath three cant and 8. comots as cant Selef which hath these comots Selef and Trahayern Cantref Canol these Talgarth Ystradyw and Brwynlhys or Eglwys yail. Cant. Mawr hath these Tir Raulfe Lhywel and Cerrig Howel In this part is the town of Brechnock upon the meeting of Vsk and Hodui and is called Aberhodni and Hay called Y Celhy which Talgarth Buelt Lhangors it hath West Carmardhin-shire with the river of Tawy upon the North Radnor-shire with Wy upon the East Hereford-shire and Monmoth upon the South Glamorgan This for the most part is full of Mountains Woods and Rivers especially Buelt And the Lords of that Country called Bruses with the Mortimers most of all other Lords Marches sometimes by might Omne regnum in se divisum nō postest stare but oftner by treason have molested and grieved the Princes of Wales as you shall understand by the Historie following This Land came after the Bruses to the Bohunes Earls of Hereford and so to the Straffords D. of Buckingham Proditionem amo Proditorem odi These six Shires being subject to the Territory of Dynevour with Radnorshire which was belonging to Mathraval are now commonly called Southwales which Countrey is both great and large with many fair plains and valleys for corn high mountains and rocks full of pasture for cattel great and thick woods with forrests and parks for red and fallow dear clear and deep rivers full of fish of which Severne is the chiefest which with Wy and Reidol springs out of a high mountain called Pymlhyman in the edge of Cardigan-shire and are commonly called the Three Sisters Severne runneth full East through Cydwin and under the Castle of Shraden to Shrewsberie from whence it turneth Southward and turneth to Bridgenorth Beaudley VVorcester Glocester and so to the sea The second Sister is Gwy in English VVy which took her journey South-East by Rayader Gwy to Buelt where Irwon meeteth her thence to Glacebury and so to Hereford and Monmoth and to the sea of Severne at Chepstow for so they call Môr Hafren the sea which severeth VVales from Somerset-shire Devon-shire and Conwall The third Sister named Reidol ran Northward to the sea being not farr of at Aberystwyth There be other fair rivers as Vsk which riseth in a high mountain called Y Mynydh duy in the Southwest part of Brechnochshire it runneth to Brechnoch and so to Monmothshire to the town of Vsk Caerleon Newport and so to the said south sea Tywy also rising not far from Wy runneth South to Lhanymdhyfri and then South West by Lhandeilo and Dinevour to Abingwily and Gaermardhen so by Lhansteshen to the sea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek Fiber Latine Beaver English Avane Brit. Teini likewise which riseth in the edge of Caermardhenshire and runneth North West by Embly Cilgerren Caerdegion and so to the North sea In Teini above all the rivers in Wales were in Giraldus time a great number of Castors which may be Englished Beavers and are called in Welsh Avane which name only remaineth in Wales at this day but what it is very few can tell It is a beast not much unlike the Otter but that it is bigger all hairy saving the tail which is like a fish tail as broad as a mans head this beast useth as well the water as the land and hath very sharp teeth and biteth cruelly till he perceive the bones crack his stones be of great efficacy in physick He that will learn what strong nests they make And believe him if ye please this species here spoken of is now I think quite lost if it ever were which Giraldus calls Castles which they build upon the face of the water with great boughs which they cut with their teeth and how some lye upon their backs holding the wood with his fore feet which the other draweth with a crosse stick the which he holdeth in his mouth to the water side with all other particularities of their nature let him read Giraldus in his Topographia of Wales There be besides these a great number of Rivers of which some run to the South and some to the West and North sea as Tywy in Glamorganshire Taf also in Caermardhenshire which runneth to Cledhen two rivers either called Cledhen which do give Milford the name of Abergavgledhw in Pembrockshire Arth Aeron and Ystwyth in Caerdigan There be also divers Lordships which be added to other shires and were taken heretofore for parts of Wales and in most part of them at this day the Welsh language is spoken as Oswestre Knocking VVhittington Esmer
Brittain was imprisoned and Edwal Voel the Son of Anarawd and Elise his Brother were slain in a battel which they fought against the Danes and Englishmen This Edwal had six sons Meiric Janaf or Jenan Jago which is James Conan Edwal Vachan and Roderick after whose death Howel Dha his Cosin German ruled all VVales during his life Elise also had Issue Conan and a Daughter named Trawst which was Mother to Conan ap Sitsylht Gruffith ap Sitsylht and Blethin ap Covyn which two last were afterwards Princes of VVales Howel Dha This Howel Dha King or Prince of Southwales and of Powis long before this time after the death of Edwal Voel his cosin took upon him the rule and government of all VVales about the year of Christ 940. who notwithstanding the sons of Edwal did something murmur against him was for his godly behaviour discreet and just rule beloved of men This Howel constituted and made Laws to be kept through his Dominions which were used in Wales till such time as the Inhabitants received the laws of England in the time of King Edward the First and in some places thereof long after These laws are to be seen at this day both in VVelsh and Latine Howel Dha perceiving the laws and customes of his country to have grown unto great abuse sent for the Arch-Bishop of Menenia and all the other Bishops and chief of the Clergy A pious example for all Princes to the number of one hundred and forty Prelates and all the Barons and Nobles of VVales and caused six men of the wisest and best esteemed in every Comote to be called before him whom he commanded to meet altogether at his house called Y Tuy Gwyn Taf that is The white house upon the River Taf. Thither he came himself and there remained with those his Nobles Prelates and Subjects all the Lent in prayer and fasting craving the Assistance and direction of Gods holy Spirit that he might reform the Laws and Customes of the Country of VVales to the honour of God and quiet government of the people About the end of Lent he chose out of that company twelve men of the wisest gravest and of the greatest experience to whom he added one Clerk or Doctour of the lawes named Blegored a singular learned and perfect wise man These had in charge to examine the old lawes and customes of Wales and to gather of such as were meet for the government of the Country which they did retaining those that were wholesome and profitable expounding those that were doubtful and ambiguous and abrogating those that were superfluous and hurtful and so ordained three sorts of Laws The first for ordering of the King or Princes Houshold and his Court. The second of the affairs of the Country and Common-wealth The third of the special customes belonging to particular places and persons Of all the which being read allowed and proclamed he caused three severall books to be written one for his dayly use to follow his Court an other to lye in his Palace at Abersfrew and the third at Dinevour that all the three Provinces of Wales might have the use of the same when need required The King and Princes of Brittain much observant of the See Apostolike And for the better observation of these lawes he procured of the Archbishop of St. Davids to denounce sentence of excommunication against such of his Subjects as refused to obey the same whithin a while after Howel because he would omit nothing that could bring countenance and authority to his said laws went to Rome taking with him the Archbishop of St. Davids the Bishop of Bangor and Asaph and thirteen other of the learnedst and wisest men in VVales where the said lavves being recited before the Pope vvere by his authority confirmed then having finished his devoted pilgrimage he returned home again vvith his company 1. By these lawes they might not morgage their lands but to one of the same family or kindred which were de eadem Parentela 2. Every tenant holding of any other then his Prince or Lord of the Fee paid a fine pro defensione Regia which was called Arian Ardhel in Latine Advocarii 3. No Legacy of goods by Will was good otherwise then those which were given to the Church to the Lord of the Fee or for payment of debts 4. Every man might destrain as well for debts as for rent of Lands any goods or Cattel saving horses which were counted to serve for a mans necessary defence and were not destrainable without the Princes licence 5. Causes of Inheritance were not heard or determined but from the ninth of November till the ninth of February or from the ninth of May until the ninth of August the rest of the year was counted a time of vacation for sowing in the spring and reaping in the harvest This also is to be observed that all matters of inheritance of Land were determined and adjudged by the King or Prince in person or his special Deputy if he were sick or impotent and that upon the view of the said Land calling unto him the Freeholders of the same place two Elders of his Councel the Chief Justice attending alwaies in the Court the ordinary Judge of the Country where the Land lay and the Priest The manner of their proceeding was thus the King or Prince sat in his Judicial seat higher then the rest with an Elder on his right hand and an other on his left and the Freeholders on both sides next unto them which for this cause as I think were called Vchelwyr Before him directly a certain distance off and a little lower sat the Chief Justice having the Priest on his right hand and the ordinary Judg of that Countrey on the left The court being set the Plaintiff came in with his Advocate Champion and Rhyngyth and stood on the right side and last of all the Witnesses on both parties came which stood directly before the Chief Justice at the lower end of the Hall untill they were called up to testify the truth of their knowledge in the matter in varitance The figure of which I thought good here to lay down as ye see Vnderneath Uchelwyr An Elder The King An Elder Uchelwyr The Priest THE Chief Justice The Judge The Defendant  The Plaintiff Rhyngyth  Rhyngyth Advocate  Advocate Champion The VVitnesses Champion After the hearing of this book read the depositions of the witnesses and full pleading of the cause in open Court upon warning given by the Rhyngyth the chief Justice the Priest and the Ordinary Judge withdrew themselves for a while to consult of the matter and then secundum Allegata probata brought their verdict the Court sitting Whereupon the King or Prince after consultation had with the Elders or Seniors which sat by him gave definitive sentence except the matter was so obscure and intricate that right and truth appeared not in the which case it was tryed by the two Champions and so
and Englishmen made war against such as succoured and defended his Uncle Jago and spoyled the Countries of Lhyyn and Kelynnoc Vawr whereby shortly after Jago was taken by Howels men who enjoyed his part of the land peaceably year 979 About the year 979. Edwal Vachan the son of Edwal Voel was slain by his Nephew Howel At this time Custenym Dhu that is Constantine the black son to Jago which then was prisoner hired Godfryd the son of Haroald with his Danes against his Cosin and they both together destroyed Anglesey and Lhyyn whereupon Howel gathered his army together and setting upon them at a place called Gwath Hirbarth overthrew them where Constantine was slain year 981 The year 981. Godfryd the son of Haroald gathered a great army and entred West Wales where spoyling all the Land of Dynet with the Church of St. Davids he fought the battail of Lhanwanoc Likewise in the year next ensuing Duke Alfred with an army of Englishmen spoyled and destroyed Brechnock and great part of the lands of Owen Prince of Southwales against whom Eneon the son of the said Owen and Howel King of Northwales did raise all their power and overthrow them in battail where the greatest part of Alfreds army was slain and the rest put to flight The year following the Gentlemen of Gwentland rebelled against their Prince and cruelly slew Eneon the soâ— of Owen which came thither to appease them This Eneon was a worthy and noble Gentleman who did many notable acts in his fathers time and left behind two sons Edwin and Theodor or Tewdor Mawr of whom came afterwards the Kings and Princes of Southwales In the year 984. Howel the son of Janaf King of Wales entered England with an army where he was fought and slain valiantly fighting This Howel had no son but his brethren reigned in his place Cadwallon the Son of Janaf After the death of Howel his Brother Cadwallon the second Son of Janaf took in hand the government of Northwales and first made War with Jonaval his Cofin the Son of Meyric and right heir to the Land and slew him but Edwal the youngest Brother escaped away secretly The year following Meredyth the Son of Owen King or Prince of Southwales with all his People entred into Northwales and in fight slew Cadwallon the son of Janaf and Meyric his Brother and conquered the land to himself wherein a man may see how God punished the wrong which Jago and Janaf the Sons of Edwal Voel did to their eldest brother Meyrick who was first disinherited and afterwards his eys put out and one of his Sons slain for first Janaf was imprisoned by Jago then Jago with his Son Constantine by Howel the Son of Ianaf and afterward the said Howel with his brethren Cadwallon and Meyric were slain and spoiled of their Lands Meredyth the Son of ap Howel Dha year 986 This Meredyth ap Owen havingslain Cadwallon obtained the Rule and government of Northwales in the year 986. Godfrid the Son of Haroald the third time entring the isle of Anglesey where having taken Lywarck the Son of Owen with two thousand prisoners besides he cruelly put out his eys whereupon Meredyth the Prince with the rest escaped and fled to Cardigan and the same year there was a great murrain of cattel throughout all Wales year 987 In the year 987. dyed Ianaf the Son of Edwal who had lived many years a private life The same year also dyed Owen the son of Howel Dha prince of Southwales This Owen had three Sons Eneon which dyed in his Fathers life time Lhywarck which lost both his eyes and Meredyth which as â—â—fore is declared had won Northwales and after his Fathers death took also into his possession all Southwales having no respect to his Brother Eneon his Sons Edwin and Theodor or Tewdor About the same time the Danes sailed from Hampton alongst the Sea coast The Tribute of the black Army spoiled Devonshire and Cornwall and so at last landed in Southwales and destroyed Saint Davids Lanbadarn Lhanrystid and Lhandydock which were all places of Religion and did so much hurt in the country besides that to be rid of them Meredyth was fain to agree with them and to give them a penny for every man within his land which was called the Tribute of the black Army year 989 The year 989. Owen the son of Dyfnwal was slain within a year after Meredith King of Wales destroyed the Town of Radnor at which time his Nephew Edwin the son of Encon having to his aid Duke Adelf and a great army of Englishmen and Danes spoiled all the land of Meredith in Southwales as Caerdigan Dynet Gwyr Kydwch and Saint Davids where Edwin took pledges of the chief men of those Countries In the mean time this Meredith with his people did spoil Glamorgan so that no place was free from Sword and fire but at the last Meredith and Edwin fell to an agreement and were made Friends Soon after Cadwalhon the son of Meredith dyed Meredith being thus imployed had so much to do in Southwales that Northwales lay open for the enemy which thing when the Danes perceived they arrived in Anglisey and destroyed the whole Isle Matth. West pag. 383. Jâ—a Castor 992. whereupon the Inhabitants of that country received Edwal the son of Meyric the right heir of Northwales for their Prince in the year 992. After these great troubles there followed within a year after such famine and scarcity in Southwales that many perished for want of food Edwal ap Meyric the son of Meredith This Edwal being in possession of the principality of Northwales studied to keep and defend his people from injuries and wrongs But Meredith gathered together all his power intending to recover again Northwales with whom Edwal met at Lhagwm and overthrew him in plain battel where Theodor or Tewdor Manor Meredith his Nephew was slain who left behinde him two Sons Rees and Rytherck and a Daughter called Elen. A little after this Swain the son of Haroald destroyed the Isle of Man and entring into Northwales slew Edwal the prince thereof who left behinde him a son called Jago In the year of Christ 998. the Danes came again to Saint Davids destroying all before them and there they slew Morgency or rather Vrgency Bishop of that See the same year also dyed Meredith the son of Owen King or Prince of Wales leaving behinde him one only Daughter called Angharad which was married to Lewellin ap Sitsylht and after his death to Convyn Hirdref or as other do think to Convyn ap Gwerystan who had children by either of them which was the cause of much war and mischief in Wales as shall appear hereafter Aedan the Son of Blegored The death of both these Princes forsomuch as Meredith had no Issue male and Edwal left behinde him a childe within years not able to take the charge of a Common-wealth did cause much trouble to ensue for in Northwales divers did aspire
King of Northwales with Cadogan ap Blethyn who then ruled Southwales entred the Land of Caerdigan and killed a great number of Normans being not able any longer to suffer their great Pride and Cruelty but after their Return the English Captains sent to England for more men and thought privately to make a Road into Northwales which journey was discovered unto Cadogan who gathered his Power and met with them in the Wood or Forrest of Yspys and set upon them with great Hue and Cry and they defended themselves manfully but in the end they were put to flight with great loss and Cadogan followed them hard and spoiled the Countrey of Cadogan and Dinet and destroyed all the Castles saving two which were Pembroke and Rydeors which he could not get and so returned to Powis with much Joy King Rufus not able to prevail against the Welsh to his dishonour returneth home year 1093 In the year 1093. the Normans that inhabited the Countrey of Glamorgan spoiled the Territories of Kydwely and Yâ—rad Tywy and left them without any Inhabitants When VVilliam Rufus had been informed of the great slaughter of his Subjects as well in Cheshire Shropshire VVorcestershire and Herefordshire as in VVales which Gruffith ap Conan and the sons of Blethyn Convyn had done he gathered his power together and entred VVales at Mountgomery which Castle being lately overthrown by the VVelshmen he re-edified again but the VVelshmen kept so the straits of the mountains with the Woods and Rivers that the King did no good but lost his labour and his men therefore he returned back to his great Dishonour year 1094 In the year 1094. dyed VVilliam the son of Baldwyn who at the Kings commandement had built the Castle of Rydcors after whose death the Castle was forsaken by his men and the Inhabitants of Gwyr Brecknock Gwent and Gwent Ihwc Welshmen hardly overcome unless by Treason among themselves cast from their Necks the burthen of the Normans that had won their Countries and held them in subjection and chased them out of their Territories but shortly after they returned again with greater Power Then the countrymen detesting their insolency met with them at a place called Celly Tarvawc and couragiously encountred them so that they put them to flight with great Slaughter and chased them back again out of the Land nevertheless the greedy Normans would not give over but recruiting returned again to Brecknockshire making a vow to leave no living thing within that Countrey it is not good to reckon before mine Host nor count our Chickins before they be hatch'd for the country people flying before them staied at a strait passage and killed many of them About this time Roger Montgomery Earl of Salop and Arundel Powel fol. 153. and VVilliam Fitz Eustace Earl of Glocester though I read of no such man for Master Mills fol. 358. as also other Authors set Robert base Son to King Henry the First the first Earl of that place Arnold de Harecourt and Neale le Vicount were slain between Cardiff and Brecknock by the VVelshmen and VValter Evereux Earl of Sarum who dyed in Normandy and Hugh Earl Gurney were there hurt Patrick de Evereux was first Earl of Sarum or Salisbury created so by King Stephen and therefore could not be in this time but it is he that was son to Walter Evereux Mr. Mills fol. 1034. who built the Abby of Bradenstock 1139. the fift of King Stephen and being an old man did take upon him the habit of a Monk there others say this Walter was Earl of Rosemer When the Normans saw that they had all the loss they manned and victualed the Castles which formerly they had builded and returned home but in their retreat Gruffith and Ivor the sons of Edverth ap Cadogan met them unexpectedly at Aberlhech and encountring them slew most part of them the rest escaping into England Notwithstanding the Norman Captains defended the Castles valiantly and kept them till they were driven by force for safeguard of their lives to forsake them then the ancient Inhabitants possessed their own quietly Moreover certain Lords of Northwales namely Vokthed the son of Edwin ap Grono and Howel ap Grono with the Children of Cadogan ap Blethyn of Powis land Pembroke Castle built by a Norman gathered a competent Army and passed through Caerdiganshire to Dynet which Country a little before the King had given to Arnulph son to Roger Montgomery who had builded the Castle of Pembroke and appointed Keeper and Governour thereof one Giraldo de Windsore and there burned spoiled and destroyed all the countrey except Pembroke Castle which they could not win and so returned home with great booty After the return of these Lords Girald issued out of the Castle and spoiled the lands of Saint Davids and took many Prisoners The year following William Rufus returning from Normandy to England Fasting and Prayer used by the Welsh in their greatest danger and hearing of the great slaughter of his men committed by the Welshmen gathered all his forces and with great pomp and pride entred VVales But the Brittains fearing the great strength of the King put all their hope onely in Almighty God returning to him in Fasting Prayer and Repentance of their sins and he that never forsaketh the penitent and contrite heart heard their prayers so that the Normans and Englishmen durst not enter the land but such as presumed were slain and the King returned with small Honour after he had built certain Castles in the Marches In the year following viz. 1096. The Arms of Hugh Montgomery Hugh de Montgomery who as his Father before him had for his Arms Azure a Lyon rampant Or within a border his Father before spoken of builded the Abbey of Shrewsbury wherein he was buried the Earl of Arundel and Salop whom the Welshmen call Hugh Goch that is Hugh with the red head and Hugh Vral that is Hugh the fat Earl of Chester who bore for his Arms Azure six Garbs 3 2. and 1. Or. and many Nobles more did gather a strong and powerfull army and entred into Northwales The Welsh ever their own destroyers being thereto moved by certain Lords of the Country But Gruffith ap Conan the Prince and Cadogan ap Blethyn fled to the Hills and Mountains for their defence as not being of force sufficient to fight the Earls neither durst they well trust their own men and so the Earls approached the Isle of Môn or Anglesey where they built the Castle of Aberthiennawc Then Gruffith and Cadogan went to Anglesey thinking to defend the Isle Aberthiennawe Castle built by the Normans and sent for succour to Ireland but found there little comfort and now the Treason began to break forth for Owen ap Edwin who was the Princes chief Councellour and his Father in Law whose Daughter Gruffith had married having himself also married Everyth the Daughter of Convyn Aunt to Cadogan was the chief Caller of
himself but was ready to make peace with the Scottish King and the Earl of Chester but for all this Owen would not trust the King until such time as his Unkle Meredyth came from the King to him and counselled him not to forsake the King of Englands offer but rather to trust to his promise and to make haste before the Prince agreed with the King who offered him all his Lands without tribute Owen hearing this came to the King who received him graciously and told him because he had trusted the Kings word and promise he would not only perform that but also exalt him above all his â—kin and give him his lands without tribute The Prince also hearing of this sent to the King to have his peace which because the King could not come by him he obtained for a great summe of mony Some Brittish copies write that the submission both of Gruffith ap Conan and also of Owen ap Cadogan was procured by subtle policy of Meredyth ap Blethyn and the Earl of Chester the one working with Gruffith and bearing him in hand that Owen had submitted himself to the King and made his peace with him before it was so indeed so that the Prince something yeilding to the Earls request if Owen had so done contrary to his oath for they were sworn each to other the one not to agree without the assent of the other seemed to encline to peace On the otherside Meredyth going himself in person to his Nephew Owen This Nation still brought to ruine by the nobles thereof affirmed for a truth that the Prince and the Earl of Chester were throughly agreed concerning peace and that the Prince was on his journey towards the King to make his submission and in the mean time all messengers between Owen and the Prince were by the procurement of Meredyth intercepted where upon Owen willingly yielded himself to the King The King having finished his businesse in Wales called Owen to him and told him that if he would go with him into Normandy and be faithful unto him he would perform all his promises with him whereupon Owen went with the King into Normandie where he was made Knight and had all promises performed by the King at his return the Year following At which time dyed Griffith Bishop of Menevia and the King made one Bernard a Norman Bishop in his place contrary to the minds of all the Clergy of Wales who were alwaies accustomed to choose their Bishop At this time there was a rumour through all Southwales of Gruffith the son of Rees ap Theodore who for fear of the King had been of a child brought up in Ireland and had come over two years since which time he had spent privately with his friends and Kinsfolk and Allies as with Girald Steward of Pembrock his brother in law and others but at last he was accused to the King that he intended the Kingdom of Southwales as his father had enjoyed it which was now in the Kings hands and that all the Country hoped for Liberty by his means therefore the King sent to secure him but Griffith ap Rees hearing of this sent to Griffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales desiring his and and that he might remain safely with him in his country which he granted and received him joyfully for his fathers sake Howel the brother of this Griffith being committed to prison Arnulph Earl of Chester in the Castle of Montgomery where he remained prisoner a long time made an escape and being sore hurt and bruised fled to Gruffith ap Conan where his brother was Which thing when the King heard he sent gentle letters to the Prince desiring him to come and speak with him which Griffith ap Conan did whom the King received honourably and gave him rich gifts and pretious Jewels after the usage of the Normans who make much of men to serve their turns afterwards he talked with him of Gruffith ap Rees promising him mountains of gold to send the said Griffith or his head unto him the which thing the Prince being deceived with the fair words of the King promised to do and so returned home joyfully But Gruffith ap Rees and Howel his brother had counsel given them to withdraw themselves out of the way awhile untill they understood what the Prince would do for their friends suspected the Kings message The Prince as soon as ever he came to his pallace at Aberfraw inquired for Griffith ap Rees and learning where he was sent certain horsemen for him to come to his Court and as they came towards his house where he was he had warning of their coming and with much ado escaped to the Church of Aberdaron and took Sanctuary there Then the Messengers returned again and declared to the Prince how all things fell out and the Prince being highly offended commanded him to be taken out by force but the Clergy of the whole Country with stood that and defended the liberties of their Church That night some who took compassion to see the young man innocent to be sought as a Lamb to the slaughter conveyed him away out of Northwales to Stratywy in Southwales where he was compelled for safeguard of his own life to rebell against the King and so gathering all the power he could to him made war against the Flemmings and Normans year 1116 The next year after to wit 1116. Gruffith ap Rees did gather his forces and laid seidg to a Castle that was over against Arberth and wan the same and utterly dismantled it laying it level with the ground which done he approached the Castle of Richard de Pwns at Lhanymdhyfry to whom the King had given the Cantref Bychan and would have burnt it but Meredyth ap Rytherck ap Caradoc Lieutenant of the same and the Garrison defended it couragiously yet Gruffith fired the outworks and slew many of the Souldiers but not without losse on his own part and then returned without any advantage From thence he went to Abertawy and beleagur'd a Castle which Henry Beaumont Earl of Warwick had built burning the outguards and destroying the Country of Stratywy Upon these transactions several haire-brain'd young men in great numbers from all parts adjoyned themselves to Gruffith So that his power began to be considerable which so elevated his thoughts that he made attempts and inroads into Ros and Dynet spoyling and plundering the Country The Normans and Flemmings seeing this mischief entered into consultation how to remedy so grand a tempest calling unto their aid and assistance all such as were the Kings friends amongst which were Owen ap Ritherck and Rytherck ap Theodore and his sons Meredyth and Owen whose mother was Heynyth the daughther of Blethin ap Convin and Owen ap Caradoo whose mother was Genlhian an other daughter of Blethin ap Convin and Meredyth ap Rytherck and asked whether they were true and faithful to the King of England who answered affirmatively If you be said they you
must keep and defend the Castle of Carmarthin and that after this manner first Owen ap Caradoc shall keep it a fortnight and Rytherck ap Theodor and his sons an other fortnight and so by course which they were content to do Then Owen took upon him the keeping of the Castle and the Castle of Robert Courtmain in Abercomin or Abercorran was committed to Blethyn ap Cadovor Shortly after Gruffith ap Rees sent his scouts to discover the condition of Caermarthyn and the Castle who surveying it returned with welcome news whereupon he came unexpected and beleaguered the Town ecchoing great shouts and outcries which caused Owen ap Caradoc to repair speedily to the place where the noise was thinking that his men would have followed him but the most part of them fled and so Owen dyed in the bed of honour making his valour sufficiently appear in which conflict the Town was won and the Castle defaced This done Gruffith returned to his place of Residence and strength full fraught with spoyl and plunder This fortunate attempt allured fresh supplies of young and gallant spirits who came Volunteers to serve under his banner thinking all to be their own puft up with this good successe Gruffith attempteth Gwyr and surpriseth a strong fort committing it to the mercilesse Element of fire which William de Londres perceiving forsakes his own Castle and with his men betakes himself to his heels which gave an easie entrance to Gruffith who sets fire to the Castle and carries away all the cattle and spoyle of the Country Fortune seemeth now a propitious deity to Gruffith which animates the men of Cardigan to invite him to be their Protector and defender as being both their kinsman and Countryman the hitherto fortunate Gruffith embraceth their election and proffer friendly visits them and is joyfully received by Cadavor ap Grono and Howel ap Diverth and Traberne ap Ithel who had forsaken Dynet leaving it full of Normans Flemings and Englishmen There were also many strangers in Caerdigan which ruled that Country whom the people hated not forgeting the wrongs which they had formerly received from them Notwithstanding Henry King of England had brought all that Country into subjection partly banishing the Natives partly by force but especially by gifts fair promises and rewards but all this could not dismay or impeach heroick Gruffith from coming to Caerdigan Iscoed where he fiercely begin a strong fortresse which Earl Gilbert and the Flemings had erected at Blaen Porth Gwithan were after long fight and divers assaults with great destruction of the besieged and the onely losse of one of his men the place was committed to fire and flames and the Country brought into subjection This so affrighted the strangers that they fled confusedly relinquishing the houses and habitations to the mercy of the Natives who burnt all before them to Penwedic The next enterprise taken in hand was the assailing of a fort in Stradpythilk which belonged to Ralph Earle Gilberts Stewart which was won and the souldiers therein put to the sword From thence they encamped at Glasgryg a mile from Lhanbadarn where they offered violence to the Church took away cattle to Victual themselves which were within compasse of Sanctuary purposing the day following to besiege the Castle of Aberystwith which being declared to Ralph the Steward he sent secretly to the Castle of Stratmeyric which Gilbert had built for succour which from thence came to him by night The day following Gruffith came to the Castle out of order and discipline as fearing nothing nor knowing what strength was within and so stood upon a hill the river being betwixt him and the Castle with a bridge to passe over where he and his Chieftains called a Counsel of War concerning the fabricating of Engins to give the assault this consultation continued till night at which time the Normans seeing their disorder sent archers to the Riverside to skirmish with them hoping thereby to allure and draw the Welshmen to the Bridge that the armed horsemen might suddenly issue out and fall upon them The Welshmen ignorant of this design and stratagem approach the bridge with manful resolution fight 〈◊〉 enemy when suddainly issued forth one single horseman who would have passed the bridge but his horse was wounded by a pike and began to fail and as he endevoured to retreat he fell from his horse and the Natives pursued him over the bridge When the Englishmen saw that they fled towards the Castle and the Welshmen followed to the hill top when suddainly the Ambuscado of horsemen that lay under the hill interposed betwixt them and their fellow souldiers and those who seemed to fly returned with haughty spirits having fresh recruits so that the Welshmen were surrounded and the bridge so maintained that no rescue could come to them where they were for the most part slain as being naked and unprovided for such an entertainment The rest seing the great number of men armed which they look't not for turn'd faces about and departed the Countrie But when the King of England heard all these transactions and passages he sent for Owen ap Cadogan to whom when he came the King said Owen I have found thee true and faithful unto me Therefore I desire thee to take or kill that murderer Gruffith ap Rees who doth so molest my loving Subjects I assure thee my chief trust is in the and in Lhywarch ap Traberne who shall go with thee and you two shall wait upon my son Robert whom I will send shortly against that Traitour with an army and look how thou servest me at this time so will I recompence thee without fail Owen herewith being overjoyed that the King put such confidence in him encouraged his men to do their endeavour at this time to work the Kings ends as they had done heretofore to offend him and so joyning with Lywarck they went toward Stratywy to meet with the Kings son And when they came to the confines of the Country they made a vow that neither man woman or child should escape their hands alive A cruel vow VVhen the people understood of this cruel and bloodthirsty army they fled out of the Country some to woods other to rocks and caves and some to the Kings Castles to save their lives thus they divided their forces to enter the Woods and Straits which vvere very many in that Country and Owen himself took with him about 100 men and entered the wood and perceived that men and cattle had passed that way whom he followed and overtook and slaying some of them put the rest to flight then taking their cattle returned back towards his company But at the instant behold Girald the Steward of Pembroke with all his power of Flemings was coming to meet the Kings son and met with them that fled who cryed out to him for help and declared to him that Owen ap Cadogan had spoyled them of all their goods now when Girald and the Flemmings
the Lands of Lhyarch ap Trahern Murder upon Murder because he joyned vvith the Sons of the Prince The year 1125. Meredith ap Blethyn slew his brothers son Ithel ap Ririd And shortly after Gadwalhon ap Gruffith ap Conan slew his three Unckles Crono Riryd and Meiler the sons of Owen ap Edwin And also Morgan ap Cadogan slew his be brother Meridith with his own hands About the year 1127 Gruffith ap Rees was put besides his lands which the King had suffered him quietly to possesse by the false accusations of the Normans which dwelt in the Country with him And then also Daniel Arch-Deacon of Powis died a man both learned and pious who travelled all His life time to set Peace and Concord betwixt His Countreymen Anno 1128. died Gruffith ap Meredyth ap Blethyn and the same year Lhewelin the son of Owen ap Cadogan took Meredyth ap Lhywarck and delivered him to Pain Fitz John to be kept safe in the Castle of Bridgnorth this Meredyth had slain Meyric his cosen german An easy matter for the Normans to conquer when the Welsh murder and betray their own kindred and countrymen and had put out the eyes his two cozen germans the sons of Griffith The year ensuing Jevaf the son of Owen put out the eyes of two of his brethren and banished them the country Also Lhewelin ap Owen slew Jorwerth ap Lhywarck And Meredyth ap Blethyn took the same Lhewelyn ap Owen his Nephew and putting out his eyes gelded him to the end he should beget no children that he might have his lands and slew Jevaf ap Owen his brother Putting out of eyes a common revenge in those times Also Meyrick slew Lhywark and Madoc his son his own cozens who himself was so served a while after Then Morgan the son of Cadogan repented exceedingly for the murder of his brother Meredyth wherefore he took his journey to Jerusalem and died in his returne at Cyprus About the year 1133. Cadwalhon the son of Gruffith ap Conan was slain at Nanhawdwy by Eneon the son of Owen ap Edwin his Unkle whose three brethren he had slain with Cadogan ap Grono ap Edwin That year also dyed Meridyth ap Blethin and Convin the greatest Lord and chiefest man in Powis as he that had gotten his brethren and nephews lands by hook and crook into his own hands An excellent character of Cadwalader Owen Gwyneth the sons of Gruffith ap Conan About the year 1135. Richard before spoken of and Gilbert his son were slain by Morgan and Owen And shortly after Cadwalader and Owen Gwineth the sons of Gruffith ap Conan in whom remained the hope of all Wales for they were gentle and liberal to all men terrible and cruel to their enemies meek and humble to their friends the succour and defence of widdow and fatherlesse and all that were in necessity and they transcended all other in good and laudable exercises and vertues so they were paragons of strength beauty and well proportion'd bodies gathered a great power against the Normans and Flemmings Walter Especs Aberystwyth Castles taken who entred Caerdigan subdued destroyed and fired the whole Country with the Castle of Walter Espec the Castle of Aberystwith which was very strong and well manned And thither came Howel ap Meredyth and Rhees ap Madoc ap Ednerth who went forward and razed the Castle of Richard de la Mare and the Castle of Dynerth and Caerwedros The Castle of Rich de la Mers Dynerth Caerwedros taken from the strangers and returned home with much honor Afterward towards the end of the same year they returned again with 6000 footmen and 2000 horsemen well armed to them came Gruffith ap Rees Howel ap Meredyth ap Breckaock his son Madoc ap Ednerth who subdued the whole Country to Aberteini placing again the old inhabitants and chasing away the strangers Against this army came Steph. Constable of Aberteini R Fitz Martin the sons of Girald Will Fitz John with all the power of Normans and Flemmings and Englishmen that were in Wales or the Marshes And after a most fierce and cruel battel the strangers according to their manner put all their hope in their forts and forsooke the field and the Welshmen followed so close that besides 3000 that were slain The Natives obtained a glorious victory over the strangers a great number were drowned taken and carried away Captives This victory atchived Owen and Cadwaladen â—â—rran the whole Country and returned home with rich spoyles in armour and horses as well as in other things with much triumph The year 1137. dyed Gruffith ap Rees ap Theodore the light The praise of Rees ap Theodore honour and stay of Southwales who had by his wife Gwenlhian the daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Rees commonly called the Lord Rhees Floren Wigorn. saith that this Gruffith ap Rees Prince of Southwales died by the deceitful practise of his wife Towards the end of the same year died Griffith ap Conan King or Prince of Northwales Flor. in r. Sc ot Ma the only defence and shield of all Wales after he had escaped many great dangers by sea land in Ireland and Wales and after many worthy victories when he had brought Northwales which he found full of strangers to peace and quietnesse having ruled the same worthily 50 years 1. This Prince had many children by divers women first by Angharat the daughter of Conan ap Edwin he had sons Owen Cadwalador and Caddalhon who was slain before his father died and daughters Marret Susanna Ranulht Agnes and Gwenleban 2. And by his second wife he had Jago Iscani Edwal Abbot of Penmon Dolhing who was also a Priest and well learned and Elen the wife of Hova ap Ithel Velyn of Yal he reformed the disordered behaviour of Welsh Minstrels by a very good sttatute which is extant to this day There are three sorts of Minstrels in Wales The first sort named Beirdh which are makers of songs and odes of sundry measures wherein not only great skill and cunning is required but also a certain natural inclination and gift which in Latine is called furor poeticus these do also keep records of Gentlemens armes and pedegrees till of late the Welsh are so mingled with the English that these kind of Heralds are to seek and of no such estem as formerly using yearly visitations and are the best esteemed and accounted of amongst them The second sort of them are players upon Instruments chiefly the Harp and the Croutch whose musick for the most part came into Wales with the said Gruffith ap Conan who being on the one side an Irish man by the mother grandmother also borne in Ireland brought over with him out of that Country divers cunning Musitians into Wales who devised in manner all the instrumental Musick that is now there used as appeareth as well by the books
written of the same as also by the names of the tunes and measures used amongst them at this day The third sort called Atteneaid as those who do sing to the Instrument whilst an other doth play and those as yet be in use in Wales This statute or decree here mentioned doth not only prescribe and appoint what reward every of the said Minstrils ought to have and at whose hands but also of what behaviour and conversation they ought to be to wit to make no debates no vagabonds nor Ale-house hunters no drunkards nor brawlers nor Whoremongers no thieves nor companions of such In which things if they offend every man by the said statute is made and officers are authorised to arrest and punish them yea and take from them all that they have then about them and they are also in the same statute forbidden to enter into any mans house or to make any song of any man without special licence of the party himself And this statute or decree hath been oftentimes allowed by publick authority of the chief Magistrates of that Country as appeareth by sundry commissions directed to divers Gentlemen in that behalf Owen Gwyneth soâ— of Gruffith ap Conan The name of King ceaseth in Wales After the death of Gruffith ap Conan his sons divided his lands betwixt them after the manner of Wales And Owen surnamed Gwineth the eldest son was made Prince of Northwales for the name of King is no further used in the Brittish book who in the beginning of his reign Caermarthyn and three castles destroyed together with his brethren made their expedition into Southwales and overthrew the Castle of Strad Meyric and Castle Stephan and Humphreys Castle and burned the town of Caermarthyn and returned home with much honour At this time dyed John Archbishop of Lhanbadarn who for his godly life is canonized amongst the Saints In the year 1140. Cynwric the son of Owen was slain by the men of Madoc ap Meredyth ap Blethyn ap Convyo About the year 1141 Madoc ap Ednerth a man of great estimation in Wales died and the sons of Blethyn ap Gwyn slew Meredyth ap Howel Two noble Welshment slain by the treason of the Flemmings In the year 1142. Howel-ap Meredyth ap Rytherc of Cantref Bychan and Rees ap Howel were slain by treason of the Flemmings likewise Howel-ap Meredyth ap Beethyn was slain by the treachery of his own men Then also Howel and Cadogan the sons of Madoc ap Enerth did kill each other And shortly after there fell a variance betwixt Anarawd son to Gruffith ap Rees Prince of Southwales and his father in law Cadwalader the son of Gruffith ap Conan and brother to Prince Owen Gwineth By homebred quarrels the Welsh destroy one another and make way for the Norman who from words grew to blowes where Anarawd was slain the hope and prop of Southwales for the which thing Prince Owen took such displeasure at his brother that he and his son Howel gathered an army against him and destroyed all his country and burnt his Castle of Aberistwith for Cadwalader himself had fled to Ireland and had hired Octer son to Octer and the son of Turkel and the son of Cherulfe with a great number of Irishmen and Scots for 2000 markes to his succour and landed at Abermenay in Caernarvonshire against whom the Prince came with great forces but before the armies met there was a peace concluded betwixt the brethren which when the Irishmen understood they detained Cadwalader as prisoner for their wages he delivered unto them 2000 heads of cattle Wales plentiful of Cattel besides many prisoners and spoyles that were taken in the Country But as soon as the Prince had notice that his brother was set at liberty he fell upon the Irishmen and slew a great number of them and recovered all the cattel with the prisoners and other spoyles as many as escaped alive returned home with great losse and shame Flemmings Normans defeated by the Welsh About the year 1143 Howel and Gadogan the sons of Prince Owen gathered an army against the Flemmings and Normans and gave them an overthrow at Aberteini and keeping the town returned home with great honour also this year dyed Sulien ap Rythmarck a man of great knowledg one of the Colledge of Lhanpardarn Carmarthen Castle built Neer this time Gilbert Earl of Clare came with a great power to Dynet and built the castle of Carmarthen and the castle of the sons of Vtchtryd Then also Hugh Mortimer slew Meiryc ap Madoc ap Ryrid and Meredyth ap Madoc ap Edwerth Cadelth the son of Gruffith ap Rees Prince of South Wales won the castle of Dynevowr which Earl Gilbert had built and after he and his brethern Meredyth and Rees gathered their powers and laid seige to the castle of Carmarthen which was yielded unto them reserving only the lives to them of the Garrison Carmarthen Castle yielded to the Welsh And from thence they conducted their army before the castle of Lhan Stephan where the Normans and Flemmings meeting with them had a great overthrow and so the castle was reduced Whereupon the Normans and Flemmings inhabiting that country all about The Normans Flemmings overthrown by the Welsh gathered their power their captains and leaders were the sons of Girald and William de Hay who laid seige to the same castle without discovery But Meredyth ap Gruffith to whose custody the castle was committed encouraged his men to fight and defend the place and that which was wanting in him in strength for he was very aged he supplied in courage and discretion he suffered his enemies to scale the Walls and when the Ladders were full he gave the Watch word and signal A politick stratagem of the Welsh and his Souldiers did both manfully and with great dextery over-turn the Ladders with certain Engines contrived for such purposes and maimed many both armed men and expert Souldiers putting the rest to flight Shortly after died Run the son of Prince Owen of North VVales a fair and goodly young man whose death when it came to his fathers ears did so trouble him that no kinde of pleasure could comfort his heavy heart so that he spent the night in tears and the day in sadness till God who took compassion upon the poor remnants of the Brittains Mould Castle a curb to the Welsh even as he had discomforted the Prince with the death of his son so he did glad his sorrowful heart with the overthrow of his enemies for there was a Castle at the Mould very strong and well manned which did trouble the whole Countrey and had been oftentimes assaulted but never won Prince Owen levied an Army and beleaguered it yet the Garrison defended it and endured many assaults Mould Castle utterly dismantled by the Brittains at last maugre all their endeavours the presence of the Prince did so encourage his men that they
his See from Caerlegion to Menevia which ever since of him is called St. Davids a place neither pleasant fertile or safe for as Girald Cam. reporteth of it it is neither furnished with Wood watered with Rivers beautified with Meadows nor inriched with any kind of fruitful soil affording plentifully nothing but Rocks and barren Hills vehement Windes and Tempests and lastly dangers and injuries whereunto solitary places near unto the Sea are subject by Pirates and otherwise It seemeth he misliked the frequency of people at Caerlegion as a means to withdraw him from contemplation whereunto that he might be the more free he made choice of this place for his See rather than for any fitness otherwise St. David liv'd 146 years built 12 Monasteries He sate long viz. 65. years and died at the last Anno 642. having first built 12. Monasteries in the Countrey thereabout being now 146 year of age as Bale out of the Brittish Histories reporteth he was buried in his own Cathedral Church and many hundred years after Canonized a Saint by Pope Calixtus the second many things are reported of him which I leave unspoken of referring those that are desirous of further satisfaction to Mr. Porter who writeth his life at large and Laurentius Surius although I doubt not but God afforded many Miracles in the infancy of his Church yea and daily yet doth neither therefore would I be so peremptory in derogating too much from such reports as we see no reason why they may not be true Of him they say that his Birth was foretold 30 years before hand That he was alwayes attended by an Angel that kept him company That he bestowed upon the waters at Bath that extraordinary heat they have and to report no more That upon a time preaching to a great multitude of people at Brevy the plain ground grew up so high in their sight and encreased under feet to a pretty hillock After St. David sate successively these as Giraldus setteth them down 2 Cenauc 3 Eliud or Teilau 4 Ceven 5 Morwal 6 Haerunen or Haernurier 7 Edward 8 Gurnuen 9 Leudiuord 10 Gorwyst 11 Gorgan 12 Cledauc 13 Anian 14 Elvoed 15 Ethelmen 16 Elanc 17 Malsced 18 Sadermen 19 Catellus 20 Sulhiathnay 21 Noais 22 Etwoll 23 Asser 24 Arthuael A certain antiquity belonging to the Church of St. David reporteth a Catalogue somewhat differing from this of Giraldus to wit this that followeth 1. St. David 2 Eliud 3 Kenea 4 Mornael 5 Haenurier 6 Elnaeth 7 Gurnel 8 Leudywyth 9 Gorwist 10 Gorgan 11 Cledaucke 12 Eynaen 13 Eludgeth 14 Eldunen 15 Elnaeth 16 Maelsdhwyth 17 Madenew 18 Catulus 19 Sylnay 20 Namys 21 Sathveney 22 Doythwall 23 Asser 24 Alhuael 25 Sampson Of these forenamed Bishops until Sampson there remaineth no memorial but their names only 7 Suffragans under St. Davids In this time the See of St. David had 7 Bishops Suffragans subject unto it as the afore Antiquity declareth viz. Exceter Bathe Hereford Landaff Banger St. Asaph and Fernes in Ireland while he was Bishop it happened the people of all that Countrey were wonderfully vexed with the Jaundice so that great numbers of them died daily of that disease By the importtnity of his Clergy and Disciples he was induced to fly the Countrey and sailed into Brittain where the Bishoprick of Dola being void he was straight way elected unto the same He brought thither with him the Archiepiscopal Pall of St. David and used it during his life as did also his Successors for many years until they were compelled by the Pope at the sute of the Archbishop of Turon to leave it and make profession of obedience unto him as in former times By this occasion it fell out that the Successors of Sampson in St. Davids what for want of their Pall or for poverty or negligence or some other occasion lost their title of Archbishop and to this day never recovered the same Howbeit they used all Authority belonging to an Archbishop by consecrating of other Bishops c. neither ever did they make profession of subjection unto Canterbury until the time of K. Hen. I. of England whereof formerly and more hereafter After Sampson succeeded these 26 Rucline 27 Rodherch 28 Elguni 29 Lunuerd or Lywarch 30 Nergu or Vergu 31 Sulhidir or Sulhidu 32 Eneuris 33 Morgeneu This man saith Giraldus of all the Bishops of St. Davids presumed first to eat flesh which none of them had ever done before for punishment of which hainous offence he supposeth it fell out that afterwards he was murdered by Pirates reporting withal how that after his death he appeared to a Bishop in Ireland using these words Quia carnes comedi caro factus sum For eating of flesh I am become nothing but flesh 34 Nathan 35 Jevan he continued Bishop but onely one night 36 Argustel 37 Morgenueth 38 Ervyn or Hernnu a godly and learned man died anno 1038. 39 Tramerin or Carmerin 40 Joseph 41 Bleithud he died the year 1070. 42 Sulghein he forsook his Bishoprick the year 1070. 43 Abraham the year 1078. or thereabouts St. Davids was spoiled and destroyed by strangers and Abraham the Bishop what through grief or sickness died whereupon Sulghein was constrained to re-assume his Bishoprick which notwithstanding he resigned again about the year 1085 and 1088 died being 80 years of age the godliest and wisest man and the greatest Clerk in all Wales so saith the Chronicle of him 44 After him a son of his called Rythmarch succeded as the Chronicle delivereth and died about the year 1100. 45 Wylfrid he died 1115 this is he whom the Chronicle stileth Griffri 46 Bernard a Norman of whom before 47 David Fitz Girald Archdeacon of Cardigan succeeded he died the year 1176. 48 Peter or Peirs a Benedictine Monk Prior of Wenloch was consecrated the same year this Cathedral Church dedicated to St. Andrew and St. David had been oftentimes formerly destroyed by Danes other Pirates and in his time was almost quite ruinated he bestowed much in re-edifying the same and may in some sort be said to have built the church which now standeth 48. Geffry Prior of Lanthony a Religious house in Monmothshire very ancient of which I will take occasion in the end of this work to speak when I shall God willing give an account by way of supplement of all the Monasteries throughout VVales a Regular Canon was prefered to this See by the means of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury 49. Silvester Giraldus was born in Pembrockshire neer Tinby of very noble parentage being neer of kin to the Princes of Wales a very comely and personable man of body and for his mind witty discreet studious vertuous and well given In his youth he travelled over most part of Christendom At Paris he read publickly in the English Colledge with great commendation returning home he grew in great esteem with K. Henry the II. and became Secretary unto his son John with whom he went into Ireland and
being there writ a description of the Country as he did also of England and Wales Some affirm he was Archdeacon of Landaff Of Brecknock and St. Davids he was for certain being elect unto this See An. 1199 he made challenge unto the title of an Archbishop at Rome which controversy how it was debated and ended ye may read at large in R. Hoveden his report of the year aforesaid He was once accused of treason but happily acquitted lived till he was 70. years of age and upward and dying was buryed in his own Church He writ many books the Catalogue whereof ye may find in Bale 50. Jorwerth or Edward was consecrated 1215. 51. Alselmus or Anselmus 52. Thomas Archdeacon of Lincolne a Welshman and a great Clerk forsaking other great preferments accepted of this Bishoprick being a miserable poor thing at that time the year 1247. 53. Richard Carren 54. Thomas Beck he founded two Colledges one at Abergwily and another at Lhan-dewybreny 55. David Martin 56. Henry Gower he built the Bishops Pallace at Saint Davids and dyed in the year 1347. 57. John Teresbie or Thorsby Translated to Worcester 1349 and thence to York 1352. 58. Riginald Brian translated to Worcester 1352. 59. Thomas Fastock died the year 1361. 60. Adam Houghton founded a colledg neer to the Cathedral Church of St. David he was Chancellour of England for a time about the year 1376. 61. John Gilbert Bishop of Bangor was translated to Hereford 1376. and thence hither 1389. 62. Guido de Mona died in the year 1407 who while he lived saith Walsingham was a cause of much mischief 63. Henry Chichley was consecrated at Sienna by the Popes own hand June the 12. 1409. sat five years and was translated to Canterbury 64. John Keterich or Catarich sometime Archdeacon of Surry was translated hence to Coventry and Lichfield the year 1415. and after to Exceter 65. Stephen Patrington a Jacobine Fryer as one saith or rather a Carmelite as another saith being at the Councel of Constance was by the Pope translated to Chichester in December 1417. as the records of St. Davids do affirm others say and I take it to be true that he refused to accept of the Popes gift 66. Benit Nicols Bishop of Bangor suceeded him 67. Thomas Rodborn a man of great learning was brought up in Oxford and became first Archdeacon of Sudbury then Bishop of St. Davids he writ divers works amongst the rest a History or Chronicle The year 1434 the King endeavoured to translate him to Ely but could not 68. William Lynwood Doctour of Law first Chancellour to the Archbishop of Canterbury then keeper of the privy seal having first been employed in Embassages to the Kings of Spain Portugal and other Princes He writ much amongst other his works he is famous for putting in order such provincial constitutions as had been made by the Archbishops of Canterbury from the time of Stephen Langton unto Henry Chichley he florished about the year 1440 but just what time he became Bishop or when he died I cannot tell He lyeth buryed at St. Stephens in Westminster 69. John Langton dyed within 15. dayes after his consecration 70. John de le Beer 71. Robert Tully a Monk of Glocester This man I take to be him that by the name of Robert Sherborne is said to have been translated to Chichester the year 1508. 72. Richard Martin 73. Thomas Langton 74. Hugh Pany he impropried to the Vicars Choral of St. Davids the Church of Lan-saint-Fred 75. John Morgan dyed in the Priory of Caermarthyn and was buried in his own Church 76. Edward Vaughan built a new chappel in his church of St. David 77. Richard Rawlin 78. William Barlow translated to VVells having sat here 10 years about the year 1548 and after to Chichester 79. Robert Ferrar of whom read Fox if ye please 80. Henry Morgan died Decemb. 23. 1559. 81. Thomas Young staying here but a very short time was translated to York February 25. 1561. 82. Richard Davis Bishop of Asaph 83. Marmaduke Midleton Bishop of Waterford in Ireland 84. Anthony Rud Doctor of Divinity born in Yorkshire brought up in Cambridge after he had been the space of nine years Dean of Glocester was consecrated June the 9. 1594. 85. Richard Milbourne translated to Carlile 86. VVilliam Laud 1621. translated to VVells 1626. from thence to London being Chancellor of Oxford lastly translated to Canterbury 1633. and lastly beheaded on Tower-hill 87. Theoph. Field 1627. translated to Hereford 1635. 88. Roger Mainwaring Bishop of St. Davids 1641. at the beginning of that Parliament so fatall to Bishops The Bishoprick of St. Davids was valued in the Exchequer at 426 l 22d ob and in the Popes books at 1500 Ducates Let us now return to our former matter in hand About the year 1149. Owen Prince of Northwales did build a castle at Yale Yale Castle Lhanrystyd castle built and his brother Cadwalader built another at Lhanrystyd and gave Cadogan his son part of Caerdigan Toward the end of this year Madoc the son of Meredyth ap Blethyn did build the castle of Oswestrie which now gives the title of a Barony to the honourable family of the Howards and gave his Nephews Owen and Meiric the sons of Gruffith ap Meredyth his part of Cynelioc Oswestrie Castle built The year after Prince Owen did imprison Conan his son for certain faults committed against his father Also Prince Owens son took his Uncle Cadwalader prisoner and brought his country and castle to his subjection At this time also Cadelh the son of Gruffith ap Rees fortified the castle of Caermarthyn and from thence conducted his army to Cydwely where he destroyed and spoyled all the country and after his return he joyned his forces with Meredyth and Rees his brothers and entering Caerdigan wan that part called Is-Aeron Not long after there fell a variance betwixt Randol Earl of Chester and Owen Prince of Northwales The Welsh still joyn with their enemies to cut their own throats which caused Randal to gather supplies and Auxilaries from all his friends in England to whom Madoc ap Meredyth Prince of Powis disdaining to hold his lands of Owen joyned all his power and they both together entred Prince Owens land who like a worthy Prince not suffering the spoyle of his Subjects met them at Counsylht and boldly bade them battail which they refused not but being more in number The Welsh obtained an admirable victory against the Normans and better armed and weaponed were glad of the occasion yet before the end they threw away both weapons and armour and trusted to their feet whom the Northwales men did so pursue that few escaped but were either slain or taken the chief Chieftains excepted whose nimble horses carryed them swiftly away In the year 1150. Cadelh Meredyth and Rees the sons of Gruffith ap Rees Prince of Southwales conquered all Caerdigan from Howel the son of Prince Owen except the Castle of Lhanvihengel
great Army to Caerdigan and first he fortified the Castle of Stratmeryc and afterwards the Castle of Humphrey of Dyny of Dynerth and Lhanristyd when these Castles were well manned and fortified VValter Clifford who had the Castle of Lhanyndhyfir made a road to the roads of Rees and returned with a booty after the slaughter of some of Rees his men Upon this Rees sent to the King to complain and to have a Redress who had only fair words and nothing else for the King winked at the faults of the Englishmen and Normans and punished the Welshmen cruelly Rees seeing this begirt the Castle of Lhanyndhyfri and in short space wan it And Enedon the son of Anarawd Rees brothers son being a lusty Gentleman and desirous to make his Countrey free from servitude and perceiving his Unkle to be discharged of his Oath to the King laid siege to the Castle of Humphrey and by force wan it putting the whole Garrison to the sword wherein he found Horses and Armour to furnish a great number of men Likewise Rees seeing he could enjoy no part of his inheritance but what he obtained by the sword gathered his power and entred Cardigan left not a Castle standing in the whole Countrey of those which his enemies had fortified and so brought all under his subjection Wherewith the King being highly offended returned to South Wales and when he saw he could do no good he suffered Rees to enjoy all that he had gotten and took pledges of him to keep the peace in his absence and then returning into England he sailed into Normandy and made Peace with the French King But the next year Rees Prince of South Wales did lead his power to Dynet and destroyed all the Castles that the Normans had fortified there and afterward laid siege to Caermarthyn which when Reignold the Earl of Bristoll the Kings base son heard he called to him the Earl of Clare and his brother in law Cadwalader the brother of Prince Owen with Howell and Conan Prince Owens sons and two other Earls and came to raise the siege with a great Army whose coming Rees stayed not but betook him to the Mountains called Kefu Rester and there kept himself and they camped at Dynwyl hîc and built a Castle there who after they could not heard of Rees returned home without doing any notable act year 1160 In the year 1160 dyed Madoc ap Meredith ap Blethyn Prince of Powis at Winchester This man was ever the King of Englands friend and was one that feared God and relieved the poor his body was conveyed honourably to Powis and buryed in Mynot He had by his wife Susanna the daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales three sons Gruffith Maylor Owen Elise and a daughter also called Marred he had base sons Owen Brogynton Kynric Evelh and Endon Evelh which base sons were not basely esteemed for with the other they had part of their Fathers inheritance and so had others through Wales if they were stout and of noble courage And here I think it convenient to declare how Powis land came to be divided into so many parcels and thereby weakned and brought under the Normans before the rest of Wales Meredyth son to Blethyn ap Convyn Prince of Powis had two sons Madoc of whom we spake and Gruffith between whom Powis was divided Madoc had that part which was called Powis Vadoc which part again was subdivided into three parts betwixt his three sons Gruffith and Maylor had Bromfield Yale Hope Dale Manhewdwy Mochnant ù Rhayard Chirk Glynlhayth and Glyndoverdwy Owen Vachan had Mechain Iscoyd And Owen Brogynton had Dynmael and Edeyrneon The other part of Powis called after Powis Wenwynwyn was the part of Gruffith ap Meredyth after whose death his son called Owen Civilioc enjoyed it The Lordship of Powis before King Offa's time reached Eastward to the Rivers Dee and Severn from a right line from the end of Broxen hills to Salop with all the Country betwen Wy and Severne whereof Brochwel Yscithroc was possessed but after the making of Offa's ditch the plain Country toward Salop being inhabited by Saxons and Normans Powis was in length from Pulford bridge Northeast to the confines of Caerdiganshire in the parish of Lhanguric in the Southwest and in breadth from the furthest part of Cyvilioc Westwards to Elsmere on the Eastside This Country or principality of Powis was appointed by Roderike the great for the portion of his third sons Anarawd and so continued entirely untill the death of Blethyn ap Convyn After whom although the Dominion was diminished by limiting parts in severality amongst his sons Meredyth and Cadogan yet at length it came wholy to the possession of Meredyth ap Blethyn who had issue two sons Madoc and Gruffith between whom the said Dominion was divided Madoc married Susan the daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales and had that part which was after called from his name Powis Vadoc which dominion and signiory was divided and so forth see Mr. Powel fol. 216. The same year Cadwalhon ap Madoc ap Ednerth was taken by his brother Eneon Clyd and delivered to Owen Prince of Northwales A help to English History printed by Abel Roper MDCIL who sent him to the Kings Officers to be imprisoned at VVinchester from whence he escaped presently after and came to his country The year next following dyed Meiric Bishop of Bangor Bangor another of the Bishopricks of VVales is of antient standing but by whom founded saith this Author not yet known the Cathedral there is dedicated by the name of St Daniel who was Bishop there about the year 516 Bangor which being cruelly defaced by the wretched Rebel Owen Glendour was afterward repaired by Henry Dean who was once there Bishop The ruine of this bishoprick came in the time of bishop Bulkhey a blessed Reformer questionlesse who not content to alienate and let out lands Sacriledge by miracle punished made a sale also of the bells and going to the Seashore to see them shipt in his return was stricken with a suddain blindnesse This Diocess containeth in it the entire Country of Carnarvon wherein Bangor standeth and the whole Isle of Anglesey together with parts of Denbigh Merioneth and Mongomery and in them to the number of 107 Parishes whereof 36 impropriated It hath moreover in it three Archdeaconries viz. of Bangor Anglesey and Merioneth one of which is added to the bishoprick for support thereof This Bishoprick was valued in the Kings books 131 l. 16 s. 4d. and answereth for the Clergies tenth 151 l. 14s 3d. q. Bishops of Bangor An. Ch.  516 1 St. Daniel  2 Hernaeus translated to Ely 1120 3 David 1139 4 Maurituis  5 Gulielmus  6 Guido alias Gwianus 1195 7 Albanus 1197 8 Robertus de Salopia 1215 9 Caducan alias Cadogan 1236 10 Howel 1267 11 Richardus 1306 12 Anianus  13 Cadogan II. 1306 14 Griffith 1320 15 Lodovicus 1334 16
noblemen of his time died and was buryed at Mynot Mynot he had by his wife Angharat the daughter of Owen Gwyneth Prince of Northwales a son called Madoc who succeeded his father in that part of Powis called Powis Vadoc And prince Rees wone the Castle of Dinevowr and Owen his son died a Stratta florida or Stratflar and shortly after Maelgon his other son escaped out of prison where his Father had kept him long time Lhanhayaden castle won But the Lord Rees got the Castle of Lhanhayaden and the Country about At which time Gruffith ap Cadogan died In this year Roderike the son of Owen Gwyneth by the help of Gothrick King of Man entred the Isle of Môn and reduced it under his subjection bâ—â— before the End of the Year the sons of his brother Conan chased him out of the Isle and got it to themselves And at this time Maelgon laid sieg to the Castle of Strat-Meiric and wan it Stratmeiâ—c castle takeâ— Also Howell surnamed Saer that is to say the Saxon or English because he had served in England son to the said Prince Rees got the Castle of Gwys by surprise and took Philip de Gwys his wife and his two sons Prisoners therein Gwys castle surprised but because he had more Castles then he could well defend he determined to dismantle the Castle of Lhanhayaden whereof the Flemmings having notice gathered all their power and came thither the day appointed to raise the Castle and fiercely assaulted the men of Howel and Maelgon and put many of them to the sword the rest escaping by flight neverthelesse shortly after they gathered new forces and came thither again and demolished the Castle without any impeachment Lhanhayaden castle destroyed Upon this Anarawd another son of Prince Rees moved with filthy ambition and covetousness of lands took his two brethren Howel and Madoc prisoners under pretext of friendship and put out both their eyes year 1194 In the year 1194 Maelgon the son of Prince Rees gave his brother Anarâwd the Castle of Stratmeiric for his prisoners whom he set at liberty then Rees himself did re-edifie the Castle of Rayader Gwy and his own sons laid wait for him and took their father prisoner fearing least he would revenge their cruel and unnatural deeds The sons imprison the father but by means of Howel who was blind he escaped out of prison and took the Castle of Dynevowr which Maelgon kept and destroyed it also the sons of Cadwalhon wan the castle of Rayader Gwy and fortified it for themselves At this time Lhewelin the son of Jorwerth Drwyndwn who was the eldest son of Owen Gwineth prince of Northwales remembring his right and title to his inheritance in Northwales although his father had been dis-inherited by his brother David called together his friends by his mother which was Marred daughter of Madoc ap Meredyth P. of Powis also drew to his side his cosens the sons of Conan ap Owen Gwineth then challenged the rule of Northwales and entered the country to whom the people willingly yielded and took him for their Lord and so without bloodshed he received all Northwales into his protection and tuition except three castles which his Uncle David kept by force of Englishmen in whom was all his trust having married Emma daughter of Jeffrie Plantagenet Earle of Ancow and Cevoman or Maine and Maud the Empresse and sister to King Henrie the second and thus David lost his land and Lewelin got his birthright 1194. Quarterly G. and Or 4. Lions passâ—guar counterchang Lhewelin or Leoline magnus After that Lhewelin or Leoline the great as Mr. Mills call him the son of Jorwerth Mr. Mill f. 306 had gotten the principality of Northwales Roger Mortimer came against him with great forces to Melyenith and built the castle of Cimaron and so brought that country under his command Cimaron castle built and chased away the two sons of Cadwalhon ap Madoc Lords of that place About the same time Rees and Meredith the sons of Prince Rees being two valiant Gentlemen gathered together a company of Madcaps or Hectors as we now call such hair-baind fellows and came to Dinevowr and got the Castle from their Fathers Garrison and after that exployt they went to Cantred Bachan where the whole Country received them gently and delivered the castle to their hands which much displeased their father who laid privy wait for them and by treason of their own men who were afraid any further to incense their Lord and Prince they were taken and brought to their father who presently secured them Caermarthyn destroyed The year ensuing Prince Rees listed a gallant army and laid seige to the town and castle of Caermarthyn and in short time wan them both spoyling and destroying the same and then returned with great plunder Clun Castle fired by P. Rees After which conquest he conducted the same forces to the Marshes before the Castle of Clun which after a long siege and many a fierc assault he got and burned it and from thence he marched to the Castle of Radnor and likewise wan it to the defence wherof caâ—â— Roger Mortimer and Hugh de Says with a strong army of Normans and English but Reâ—â— who had won the Castle determined not immure his men within the walls but boldly like a worthy Prince came into the plain besides before the town and gave them battail where his men although for the most part unarmed and not accustomed to field discipline declared that they descended of Brittish blood A brave resolution of the Welsh and a famous victory against the English whose title the Noble Roman Emperours did so much desire as a token of manhood and worthinesse chosing rather to dye with honour in the defence of their Country then to live with shame and did so worthily behave themselves that their enemies forsook the field with great losse of their men whom Rees pursued till the benefit of the night shadowed them with her darknesse and forthwith he laid siege to the Castle of Paine in Elvel and got it Thither came William de Bruse the owner thereof Payne Castle taken The Archb. of Cant. led an army against the Welsh Matth. Park pag. 138. and made peace with Rees from whom he received the same Castle again Not long after the Archbishop of Canterbury whom Richard who was then King of England had substituted his Lieutenant in England came with a huge power towards VVales and laid siege to the Castle of Gwenwinwin at the pool but the garrison defended the hold so manfully that he lost many of his men but could do no good for the Welshmen made him know that it was better and more secure to be in a pulpit then a pavilion and that the miter and helmet fitted not the same head yet the Martial Prelate would not so be bafled but sent for Miners and set them on work to
undermine the walls which when the garrison discovered and knowing that their enemies were three to one they were content to yield up the Castle upon condition that they might depart with their armes freely whichafter the Archbishop took suffering them to pass quietly fortifying the Castle strongly to the Kings use and placing therein a garrison for defence thereof departed into England But immediately VVenwinwin or Gwenwinwin begirt it again and in short space reduced it upon the same conditions that his men had surrendred it and kept the same to his own use P. Rees dieth Hol. p. 534. The next year after the fourth of May Rees the son of Gruffith ap Rees ap Theodore P. of Southwales died the only hope and stay of all that part of VVales as he that brought them out of the thraldom and bondage of strangers and set them at liberty and had defended them divers times in the field manfully Mr. Powel Fol. 249. daunting the pride and courage of their cruel enemies whom he did either chase out of the land or compelled by force to live quietly at home The Encomiums of prince Rees woe to that cruel destiny that spoyled the miserable land of her defence and shield who as he descended of noble and princely blood so he passed all other in commendable qualities and laudable vertues of the mind He was the overthower of the mighty the setter up of the weak the overturner of the holds the separater of troopes the scatterer of his foes among whom he appeared as a wild bore among the whelps or a Lyon that for anger beateth his tail to the ground See more of him in Polychronicon and Grafton The Kings of England descend from this P. Rees This Prince had many sons and daughters as Gruffith who succeeded his father Cadwalhon Maelgon Meredyth Rees and of his daughters one called Gwenlhian was marryed co Ednivet Vachan who was ancestor of Owen Theodore or Tudor that married Queen Katharine the widow of K. Henry the fifth and the rest were marryed to other Lords in the country After the death of Rees Gruffith his son subdueth all the country to himself and enjoyed it in peace untill Maelgon his brother whome his father had dis-inherited made league with Gwinwynwyn the son of Owen Civelioc Lord of Powis who both together levied forces and came suddainly upon Gruffith and slaying many of his people took him prisoner and so recovered all the Country of Caerdigan with the Castle Thus Maelgon having taken his brother sent him to be imprisoned with Gwinwynwyn who in despite delivered him to the English Then Gwenwynwyn gathered his power and entred Arustlie and subdued the same to himself About this time there was a great war in Northwales for the late Prince David ap Owen came with a great army as well English as Welsh purposing to recover the land again but Lhewelin his Nephew who was the lawful heir and then in possession thereof came boldly and met him Powis Wenwynwyn why so called add gave him battail and putting his people to flight took him prisoner and secured him by which means he injoyed his country in quiet tranquillity Towards the end of this year Owen Cyvelioc prince of higher Powis died and left his territories to Gwenwinwin his son after whom that part of Powis was called Powis Gwenwinwin for a difference from the other called Powis Vadoc which was in the possession of the Lords of Bromfield At this time also dyed Owen the son of Gruffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield and Brichtyr the son of Howel ap Jevaf likewise Maelgon the son of Cadwalhon ap Madoc Lord of Melienyth Not long after Traherne Vachan a man of great power in the Country of Brecknock as he came to Lancors to speak with William Bruse Lord thereof was suddainly taken A cruel murther and by the Lords command tyed to a horse tail and drawn through the town of Aberhodny or Brecknock to the gallows and there beheaded and his body hanged up by the feet three dayes This cruelty shewed upon no just cause caused his brother wife and Children to avoid the Country The year ensuing Maelgon the son of Prince Rees after he had imprisoned his elder brother got his Castles of Aberteini and Stratmeiric also the youngest son of P. Rees wan the Castle of Dinevowr from the Normans The Summer following Gwenwinwin intending to extend the limits of VVales to the old Meers gathered a great army and laid siege first to the Castle of Paine in Eluel which was of the possessions of VVilliam de Bruse making a Proclamation that as soon as he had won the Castle he would burn all the whole Country to Severne without mercy in revenge of the murder of Traherne Vachan his Cosen but because he had not Engins and Miners he lay three weeks at the Castle whilst the murderer sent to England for aid whereupon Jeffrie Fitz Peter Lord Chief Justice of England raised forces and joyning with him all the Lords Marchers came to raise the seige And because Fortunes in battails are various and uncertain he sent first Gwenwinwin to have a treaty of peace concluded but he and his adherents would by no means condescend thereunto but answered that they would that journey revenge their old wrongs The Welsh still made instruments to one anothers ruine Whereupon the English Lords did first enlarge Gruffith the son of Prince Rees of Southwales whom they knew to be an enemy to Gwenwynwyn which Gruffith gathered a great power and joyned with the English Lords and so they came towards the Castle against whom Gwenwinwin advanced very stoutly and there began a cruel fight with much slaughter on either side but at the last the English carryed the victory and Gwenwynwyn lost most of his men among whom were Anarawd son of Eneon Owen ap Cadwalhon Richard ap Jestin and Robert ap Howel also Meredith ap Conan was then taken prisoner with divers others Matthew Paris saith that this battail was fought before Mauds Castle and that of the Welshmen were then slain 3700. 3700 Welshmen slain A. Lhoyd Mat. Paris pag 259. and after this victory the English Lords returned with great honour And forthwith Gruffith son to P. Rees recovered by force and favour of the people all his land except the two Castles Aberteini and Stratmeiric which his brother Maelgon by the aid of Gwenwinwin had wrongfully taken from him This his brother Maelgon fearing his displeasure took a solemn Oath before both noble and religious men which endeavoured to make peace betwixt them that if his brother Gruffith would give him pledges for assurance of his own person he would deliver him by a Day the Castle of Aberteini whereupon Gruffith did so Perjury never prospers but as soon as Maelgon got the pledges he fortified the Castle and manned it to his own use and sent the pledges to Gwenwinvvin who hated Gruffith to death there to be kept in
did now move many to laugh at those things who seeing that costly and sumptuous building to be laid even with the earth said that Hubert was a prophet and much more then a prophet so much out of Paris About the year 1230 Lhewelyn the son of Maelgon deceased and was entombed at Conwey Adultery punished by death Abergaveny businesse revenged Prince Lhewelin caused William Bruse to be hanged being as t is reported taken in adultery with his wife who was the Sister of K. Henry About this time Maelgon was buried at Stratflur whose patrimony young Maelgen his son inherited after his father This year the King led a great army to Wales and after he had remained in the Marshes a while he returned into England and left Hubert de Burge Earle of Kent with his army to defend the Marshes and hereby his spies understood where certain Welshmen had entred the Marshes to plunder and set upon them by Montgomery killing many of them The Prince herewith being much troubled gathered his forces and to revenge his men A gallant revenge entering the Marshes he destroyed all with fire and sword who withstood him and burnt the Castles and Garrisons without mercy year 1231 and first the Castle of Montgomery for the Earle withdrew himself for fear then the castle of Radnor Aberhodny Rayader Gwy and so he went to Caerlheon and after long fight and loss of many of his men got the Town and left nothing therein but Ashes the like he did with the Castles of Neth and Cydwely The utter destruction of Caerlheon Therefore the King came to Hereford with a mighty army and sent a great number of his nobles with the most part of his army to VVales who using the direction of a Fryer of Cymer met with a company of VVelshmen which at the first encounter sled whom the Englishmen followed to the Straits where the ambushments lay which fell upon them A Fryer ventureth his life in behalf of his country Maud Castle built by K. Henry the III. The Welsh well enough required for deâ—erring their own Countrymen and slew a great number of the best Souldiers the rest escaped by flight Therefore the King would have burnt the house of Cymer yet the Prior redeemed it by paying 300 marks and so the King returned into England after he had built the Castle of Maud whilst these things were in agitation Maelgon the son of Maelgon ap Rees laidsiege to Aberteini and got the Town and destroyed it to the Castle gates putting all the inhabitants to the sword And shortly after he returned with his cozen Owen son to Gruffith ap Rees with certain of the Princes Captains and brake down the bridge upon the River Teini and laid siege to the Castle and with engines and mines threw down the same and so with much honour returned home The next year this gallant and heroick Brittain Lhewelyn entered England and brought back a rich spoyle both of goods cattel and men which forced the King to impose a subsidy to subdue the Brittains About this time John Earle of Chester surnamed Le Scot from the place of his birth Mr Brook York Herald fol. â—5 The murder at Abergaveny punished in the Family of de Bruse Earl of Huntington and Cambridge c. son of David brother to the King of Scots who bore for his armes Or three garbs Gules married Helin daughter to Lhewelin P. of Northwales also Ephraim Bishop of Lhanelwy died and John de Bruse falling off his horse his foot sticking fast in the stirrup was drag'd till he dyed most miserably The year following Richard E. of Cornwal fortified the Castle of Radnor which the Prince had lately destroyed Shortly after Prince Lhewelin came with an army to Brecknock and destroyed all the towns and castles of the Country and lay a moneth at the siege of the Castle of Brecknock P. Lhewelin a scourge to the English adherents but yet went without it and burning the town retreated home with great plunder In his journey by the way he burned the Town of Clun and recovered all the Country called Diffrin Teneidiat which was the possession of John Fitz Allen but he could not get the Castle After that he overthrew the Red Castle in Powis now the house of the Right Honourable Sir Percy Herbert Lord Powis a right worthy Gentleman Red castle in Montgomery shire a Garrison formerly for the Parliament and at this present and burned the town of Oswestre and so came home And about this time Richard Marshal fell at variance with the King who with Huber de Burge that escaped out of the castle of Devises where the Bishop of Winchester intended to have starved him came to Wales and joyned with the prince against the King Then the Earle with Owen ap Gruffith ap Rees came to Menevia or St. Davids The English with the Welsh against their King Abergavenny with other Castles taken K. Henry by Grismont lost 500. Horse and killed and spoiled all the Kings Friends within the Town Also Maelgon and Rees Gryc with the power of the prince joyned with them who in that voyage wan all these Castles Caerdiff Abergaveny Pencelhy Blaynlhefyini and Bwlchy Dynet which they razed all except Caerdif This so incensed the King that he raised a mighty army as well Flemmings Normans and Gascoines and Englishmen and entred VVales thinking to destroy the whole Country and encamped at Grismont where the Earle with the power of Wales encamped hard by him and as the Kings men would have entred further they were met withall and lost 500 horse and so upon better consideration returned home after whose departure the Earl with the power aforesaid lay before Caermarthyn three moneths but it was so manfully defended that they went without it and at last there came in the Kings ships and manned and victualed the town which caused the besiegers to rayse their siege and depart About this time Rees Gryc Son to the Lord or prince Rees dyed at Lhandeilo vawr and was buried honourably by his Father at St. Davids and then also Maelgon the son of Maelgon finished the Castle of Tresilan which his father had begun John of Mermeth forced to â—y In the year 1234. John Lord Monumetensis a noble warriour Captain or General of the Kings Army being made Ward of the marches of Wales levied a power and came against Earl Marshall and the Welshmen but when he had once entred Wales he came back in post leaving his Men for the most part slain and taken behind Maâ— Paris p. 520. This History is reported by Mathew Paris after this manner About the feast of St. John Baptist John of Monmoth a noble and expert warriour who was with the King in his wars in Wales gathered a great army meaning to invade the Earl Marshal at unawares but he being certifi'd thereof hid himself in a certain wood by the which lay the way of his Enemies
being not able to retreat Great scarcity in England for want of commerce with Wales upon the suddain were almost all slain At this time there was great scarcity of Beeves and horses in England whereof they were wont to have many thousands yearly out of Wales and all the marches were made as a desolate and desert place The next spring all the Nobles of Wales came together and sware to defend their Country to death and never to forsake one another and that upon pain of cursing but shortly after Meredyth ap Rees of Southwales A subsidy demanded to conquer Wales not regarding his oath served the King Then the King called a Parliament for a subsidy to Wales when he had so many losses and of late all the Country of Pembrock burnt and spoiled where the Welshmen had found salt plentifully which they lacked in the which Parliament no Subsidy was granted Mat. Paâ—is fol. 1807. Shortly after the same Parliament by propagation was called at Oxford where the Lords of Wales offered to be tryed by the law for any offence they had committed against the King iâ—iustly To this patrick the Lordship of Cydwely was given if he could win it Easie to give l â—ge thongs out of another mans hide Trea hery revenged by the Welsh but Edward would not hear of it but sent one Patrick de Canton as Lieutenant for the King to Caermarthyn and with him Meredyth ap Rees and this Patrick desired to speak upon peace with the Princes Councel whereupon the Prince meaning good faith sent his brother whom he had set at liberty with Meredyeh ap Owen and Rees ap Rees to Emlyn to treat with them of peace but Patrick meaning to entrap them laid an ambushment of Men armed by the way and as they should have met these miscreants fell upon the Welsh and slew a great number of them but the Lords which escaped raised the Country forthwith and followed Patrick and slew him and the most part of all his men And after this the Prince desirous of peace and quietness to redeem the same and to end all troubles and to purchase the Kings good will offered the King 4000 marks and to his son 300. and to the Queen 200. to have peace but the King answered What is this to our losses and refused it It appeareth by the records in the Tower that about this time to wit An. 43. Hen. 3. there was a commission to William Bishop of Worcester John Mansel Treasurer of York the Kings Chaplain and Peter de Montfort to conclude a peace with the Welshmen but it is like there was nothing done to any effect in that behalfe for the war continued still Notwithstanding I find by Mathew Westminster that there was a certain truce agreed upon between the King and the Welshmen for a year I read also in the same Author that the Bishop of Bangor was this year about Michaelmas sent from Lhewelyn the Prince and all the Barons of Wales to the King to desire peace at his hands and to offer unto him the summe of 16000. pound for the same so that he would grant the Welsh to have all their matters heard and determined at Chester as they were wont to have and to suffer them to enjoy the lawes and customes of their own Country but what answer the Bishop brought again the said Author maketh no mention The year 1260. Prince Lhewelyn destroyed the lands of Sr. Roger Mortimer because he contrary to his oath maintained the Kings quarrel and took from him all Buelht saving the Castle which the Princes men got by night without bloodshed Aber. P. Lhewelyns Court or Palace and therein much ammunition and so after the Prince had passed through all Southwales he returned to his house at Aber betwixt Conwey and Bangor The year following died Owen ap Meredyth Lord of Cydewen and this summer certain of the Princes men surprised the Castle of Sr. Roger Mortimer in Melienyth and slew the garrison taking Howel ap Meyric the Captain thereof with his wife and children and the Princes Lieutenant came and destroyed it Then Sr. Roger Mortimer hearing this came with a great strength of Lords and Knights to Melienyth whether the Prince came also and Sr. Roger kept himself within the walls of the broken Castle and sent to the Prince for licence to depart without hurt the Prince having his Enemie within his power A most Christian and heroick act of Lhewelyn took compassion upon him because he was his cozen and suffered him to depart with his people without hurt from thence the Prince went to Brecknock at the request of the people of that Country which swore fidelity unto him and so returned to Northwales Prince Lhewelyn being confederate with the Barons against the King destroyed the Earldom of Chester and raised two of Edwards Castles Tygannwy and Deserth and thither came Edward but did nothing to speak of This year John Strange the younger being Constable of Montgomery came with a great number of Merchers by night through Ceril to Cydewen which when the Countrymen understood they gathered themselves together and slew 200. of his Men but he escaped with his men back again Shortly after the Merchers and the Welshmen met neer Clun Rara est concordia franum where the English had the victory and slew many of the Welsh At this time David the Princes brother whom he had set at liberty forsook him and succoured his foes with all his power Then Gruffith ap Gwenwynwyn got the Castle of Molde and raised it At this time died Meredyth ap Owen the defender of Southwales The Year ensuing King Henry led a great army towards Wales and by the means of Olobonus the Popes Legate there was a peace concluded betwixt the King and the Prince at Montgomery Castle for the which the Prince gave unto the King 30000. marks and the King granted the Prince a Charter to receive from thenceforth homage fealty of all the Nobility and Barons of Wales saving one so that all the aforesaid Barons should ever after hold of the Prince as their Leige Lord and he to be called and written from thenceforth Prince of Wales and in witness of this the King put his seal and hand to the said Charter which was likewise confirmed by the authority of the Pope The year after this dyed Grono ap Ednyvet Vachan a Noble man and chief of the Princes Councel In the year 1270. dyed Gruffith Lord of Bromfield and was buried at Vale Crucis and here endeth the Brittish copy At this place leaveth the Brittish Copy Mr. Lhoyd and writeth no further of the end of this Prince but leaveth him at the highest and most honourable stay that any Prince of Wales was in of many years before The writer peradventure being ashamed to declare the utter fall and ruine of his Countrymen whereunto their own pride and discord did bring them as it doth evidently appear
people for County nor for gains do move war invading no mans lands but defending their own Lands Lawes and Liberties and that the King and his people of inveterated hatred and for covetuousnesse to get our Lands invading the same moved war We therefore see our defence is just and lawful and herein we trust God will help us and will turne his revenge upon destroyers of Churches who have rooted up and burned Churches and taken out both all sacraments and sacred things from them killing Priests Clerks Religious Lame Dumb Deaf Younglings Sucklings at their mothers paps Weak and Impotent both man and woman and committing all other enormities as partly it appeareth to your Holinesse Wherefore God forbid that your Holinesse should fulminate sentence against any but such as have done such things we who have suffered all those things at the Kings Officers hands do hope at your hands remedy and comfort and that you will punish such Church Robbers and killers who can defend themselves no wayes least their impunity be cause and example for others to do the like Very many in our Country do much marvel that you councelled us to leave our own land and to go to another mans Lands to live among our Enemies for seeing we cannot have peace in our own Land which is our own right much lesse should we be quiet in an other mans amongst our enemies and though it be hard to live in warr and peril harder it is to be utterly destroyed and brought to nothing especially for Christians seeking nothing else but to defend our own being by necessity driven thereunto and the greedy ambition of our enemies And your Holinesse told us that you had fulminated sentence against all that for hatred or gaines do hinder the peace and it appeareth evidently who do war for those causes the fear of death the fear of imprisonment the fear of perpetual prison the fear of disinheriting no keeping of promise Covenant Grant or Charter tyrannical Dominion and many more like compell us to be in war and this we shew to God and to your Lordship desiring your godly and charitable help Furthermore if any in England have offended the King as many do offend him yet none of them be dis-inherited so if any of us have offended the King let him be punished and make satisfaction as he may without exhereditating As we trust in you we pray you holy father to labour to this end if they lay to us that we break the peace it appeareth evidently that they and not we brake the same who never kept promise nor Covenant nor Order made any amends for Trespasses nor Remedy for our Complaints When the Archbishop could not conclude a peace he denounced the Prince and his Complices accursed then the King sent his army by sea to the Isle of Môn or Anglesey which they wan and slew such as resisted them for the chiefest men served the King as their oath was so they came over against Bangor where the arm of the sea called Mênath Spaniards Scots and Gescoynes Germans Normans and English all concurr against the Welsh Quantae molis erat Britannam perdere gentem Gramercy horse The Welsh rout their enemies which divideth the Isle from the main land is narrowest and the place called Moely Donn and there made a bridge of boats and planks over the water where before Julius Agricola did the like when he subdued the Isle to the Romans and not betwixt Man and Brittain as Polidore Virgil ignorantly affirmeth This bridge was accomplished so that threescore men might well passe over in a front VVilliam Latimer with a great number of the best Souldies and Lucas Thany Steward of Gascoine with his Gascoynes and Spaniards whereof a great number were come to serve the King passed over the bridge and there saw no appearance of enemies but as soon as the sea began to flow down came the VVelshmen from the hills and set upon them fiercely and either slew or chased them to the sea to drown themselves for the water was so high that they could not attain the bridge saving VVilliam Latimer alone whose horse carried him to the bridge and so he escaped There were slain and drowned at this time many worthy Souldiers and amongst others that famous Knight Sr. Lucas Thany Robert Clifford Sr. VVilliam Lindsey and two Gentlemen of good accompt that were brethren to Robert Burnel then Bishop of Bath There perished in all thirteen Knights Hol p. 791. Tho. Walsh p. 11. Chro. Dunst The K. of Eng. hard put to it by the valiant Welsh 17. young Gentlemen and to the number of 200 footmen which happened upon St. Leonards day Thomas Walsingham writeth that the King lost in this voyage a little before this 14 ensignes at which time the Lord William de Audley and the Lord Roger Clifford the younger and many other were slain and the King himself was driven to take the castle of Hope for his safeguard In the mean time was the E. of Glocester and Sr. Edmund Mortimer with an army in Southwales where were many that served the King and there sought with the Princes friends at Lhandeilo Vawr and gave them an overthrow wherein on the Kings side young William de Valence his cosen germane four Knights more were slain All this while the Prince destroyed the country of Caerdigan and all the lands of Rees ap Meredyth who served the King in all those wars But afterward the Prince separated himself from his army with a few and came to Buelht thinking to remain their quietly for a while and by chance as he came by the water Wy there were Edmund Mortimer and John Gifford with a great number of Soldiers and either party were abashed of other Edmund Mortimers men were of that Country for his father was Lord thereof Then the Prince departed from his men and went to the valley with his Esquire alone to talk with certain Lords of the Country who had promised to meet him there Then some of his men seeing the enemy come down from the hill kept the bridge called Pont Orewyn and defended the passage manfully till one declared to the Englishmen where a ford was a little below through the which they sent a number of their men with Helias VValwyn who suddainly fell upon them that defended the bridge in their backs and put them to flight The Princes Esquire told the Prince as he stood secretly expecting the comming of such as promised to meet him in a little grove that he heard a great noise cry at the bridge P. Lhewelyn slain with him the glory of Wales And the prince asked whether his men had taken the bridge and he said Yes then said the prince I passe not if all the power of England were upon the other side But suddainly behold the horsemen about the Grove and as he would have escaped unto his men they pursued him so hard that one Adam Francton ran him through with
ordained that the lands so conquered should be holden of the Crown of England in Capite and upon this and such like occasions divers of the nobility of England having lands upon the said borders of Wales made roads and incursions upon the Welsh whereby divers parts of that Country neer or towards the said borders were won by the sword from the Welshmen and were planted partly with English Collonies and the said lands so conquered were holden per Baroniam Another policy and were called therefore Baronies Marchers In such manner did Robert Fitz Hamon acquire unto himself and such others as assisted him the whole Lordship of Glamorgan using in some resemblance the Roman Policy to enlarge Territories by stepping in between two Competitors and by helping the one he subdued the other and afterward turning his sword against him whom he had assisted making this the pretence of his quarrel alledged that he whom he had assisted had denyed to make unto him sufficient recompence for his sustained travels and so made himsel absolute owner of all Likewise Bernard Newmarsh conquered the Lordship of Brecknock containing three cantreds and established his conquest by a marriage in the Welsh blood The Original of the Baronies Marchers but she proved a blemish to her country Hugh Lacy conquered the lands of Ewyas called after his name Ewyas Lacy and others did the like in other places of the borders all which were Baronies Marchers and were holden by such the conquerours thereof in capite of the Crown of England and because they and their posterity might the better keep the said lands so acquired Sr. J. Dod. fol. 38. 13 Fitzh Jur. 23 47 Ed. 1. 5 6 7 6 H. 5. Fitzh Juris 34 7 H. 6. 35. 36. 30. b 6. 6. b and that they might not be withdrawn by sutes of law from the defence of that which they had thus subdued the said Lordships and Lands so conquered were ordained Baronies Marchers and had a kind of palatine Jurisdiction erected in every of them and power to administer Justice unto their Tennants in every of their territories having therein courts with divers priviledges franchises and immunities so that the writs of Ordinary Justice out of the Kings Court were for the most part not currant amongst them Nevertheless if the whole Barony had come in question or that the strife had been between two Baron Marchers touching their Territories or Confines thereof for want of a superiour they had recourse unto the King their supreme Lord and in these and such like cases where their own jurisdiction failed justice was administred unto them in the superiour Courts of this Realme And this was the state of the Government of the Marches of Wales both before and after the general conquest thereof made by K. Edw. I. untill the 27 year of K. Henry VIII And as touching the first councel established in the Marches of Wales it is conceived by the best and most probable opinions amongst Antiquaries that the same began in or about 17o. Edw. IV. when as prince Edward his son was sent into the Marches of Wales under the tuition of the L. Rivers his Unckle by the mothers side at what time also John Bishop of Worcester was appointed L. president of Wales Prince Arthur the son of K. Henry VII in the 17. of his reign went into VVales at what time Dr. VVill. Smith after Bishop of Lincolne and there buried was then president of the Councell of the Marches he founded Brasonnose Colledge in Oxford and bore for his arms arg a fess dancette inter gules This man was also president in the time of King Henry VIII untill the fourth year of the reign of the said King At what time Geffry Blyth Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield succeeded in the Office of president in the said Councel There succeeded him in the office of president of the councel of the Marches of VVales Rowland Lee Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and this was the state and government of the principality of VVales 27o. H. 8. The said King by a Statute made 27o. regni Wales annexed to England the English laws brought into Wales united and annexed the principality and Dominion of VVales unto the Realme of England altering in many parts the former Jurisdiction and Government thereof bringing the same to the like administration of Justice as was and yet is usual in England apponting that the lawes of England should take place there and that all Welsh law Welsh lawes abrogated sinister customes and tenures not agreeable to the Lawes of England should be thenceforth abrogated and abolished Of which union and Annexion First for that thereof hath ensued great peace tranquility and infinite good to the inhabitants of that country of Wales Secondly because in some respect it may serve as a project and president in some other union and annexion of as much of more consequence and importance Peradventure the annexion of Scotland was meant And thirdly because the said union doth contain an expresse Image of the politique Government of this Realme of England I have presumed with convenient brevity upon this good occasion here in this place to expresse the same Therefore whereas in former time there had been in Wales anciently 8 several Shires or Counties Judge Dod. fol 40. Statutum de 24. b. 8. cap. 26 besides the county of Monmoth which was the ninth and that some other Territories in Wales were then no Shire Grounds by reason whereof the Lawes of England could have no currant passage therein For all the ordinary Ministers and Executioners of the processe of the Lawes of England or which have Viscountile Jurisdiction are the Officers of particular Shires as the Sheriffs the Coroners the Escheaters and such like Therefore by the said Act of Parliament there were erected in Wales 4 other new ordained shires of the lands not formerly so divided namely the several shires of Radnor Brecknock Montgomery and Denbigh so that now the shires are 13. viz. 1 Radnor shire 2 Brecknock shire 3 Monmoth shire 4 Glamorgan shire 5 Carmarthyn shire 6 Pembrock shire 7 Cardigan shire 8 Montgomery shire 9 Merionith shire 10 Caernarvon shire 11 Denbigh shire 12 Flint shire 13 Anglesey shire And these four last also with the former antient Shires together are by that Act of Parliament and by Statute of 38. H. 8. subdivided into Cantreds The Marches divided betwixt the Welsh and English Shires and all the March ground being then neither any part of Wales although formerly conquered out of Wales neither any part of the Shires of Engl. The said King by the said Act of Parliament did annex unite partly unto the said Shires of Engl. partly unto the Shires of Wales next adjoyning as was thought then by reason of vicinity of place other correspondency most convenient as by the said Act of Parliament appeareth which the said King was the rather occasioned to do for most of