Death 〈◊〉 Edward to secure the Kingdom of England for h◠〈◊〉 was honourably dismissed Upon his return to England by the persuasions of Caradoc the Son of â—ruffydh ap Rytherch himself with his Brother Tosty â—iled a great Army and entred into South-Wales â—hich they destroyed after that manner that the Welch were glad to deliver up Hostages for the â—ayment of the antient Tribute which afore-time â—hey were used to pay Gruffydh hearing of the Inâ—lencies of the English in South Wales made all posâ—â—ble haste and preparation to oppose them but all 〈◊〉 no purpose Harold having already treacherously â—â—ed some of Gruffydh's nearest Friends to Murder 〈◊〉 who watching their opportunity executed their â—icked Design and brought his Head to Harold Gruffydh being dead Harold by King Edward's Orders â—â—pointed Meredith Son of Owen ap Edwyn Prince 〈◊〉 South Wales and the Government of North-Wales 〈◊〉 Blethyn and Rywaâ—hon the Sons of Coâ—fyn Brothers 〈◊〉 the Mother side to Prince Gruffydh and who proâ—ably for the desire of Rule were accessary to the Murder of that Noble Prince This Gruffydh ap Lheâ—â—â—yn enjoyed the Principality of Wales for the space of thirty four years a Prince of incomparable Verâ—â—â— both Wise and Valiant Beloved of his Subjects â—nd Formidable to his Enemies in all his Actions he â—ehaved himself Great and Princely and having Demanded his Country so bravely against all Foreign Opposition he was far unworthy of that treacherous â—nd cruel Death which his unkind Subjects and unâ—atural Friends bestowed upon him He left Issue â—ut â—â—e Daughter called Nest abused first by Fleaâ—ce â—on of Bâ—ncho and afterwards married to Trahaern â—p Caradoc Prince of North-Wales Blethyn and Rywalhon AFter the deplorable Murder of Prince Gruffyâ—â— Meredith the Son of Owen ap Edwyn who aâ—cording to some was Son to Howel Dha did take 〈◊〉 on him as 't is said the Government of South-Waâ—â—â— and Blethyn and Rywalhon the Sons of Confyn hâ—â— Brothers to Gruffydh as descended from Augboâ— Daughter to Meredith sometime Prince of Walâ—â— entered upon the Principality of North-Wales Câ—â—â—â— the Son Iago ap Edwal the right Heir to that Croâ—â— being then with his Father-in-Law in Ireland Tâ—â— partition of Wales fell much short of the expectation of Caradoc ap Gruffydh ap Rytherch who bâ—ing the chief promoter of Harold's making an â—â—pedition against Gruffydh ap Lhewolyn made no qâ—stion to attain to the Government of South-Wales â—â—case Gruffydh got the worse But it happened otheâ—wise Harold being sensible of Caradoc's Subtilty aâ—â— Knavery and doubting whether if he was maâ—â— Prince of South-Wales he could obtain a certain Loâ—â—â—ship nigh Hereford which he had a longing mindâ— made a Composition with Meredith ap Owen for 〈◊〉 said Lordship and created him Prince of South-Walâ—â— and on the contrary banished Caradoc out of 〈◊〉 Country Harold having obtained his Request buâ— a very magnificent House at a place called Portasâ—â— in Monmouth-shire and storing it with great quaâ—tity of Provision splendidly entertained the King who honoured him with a Visit This was by a means pleasing to Tofty to see his younger Brother in greater Esteem and Favour with the King thâ—â— himself and having concealed his displeasure for 〈◊〉 time could not forbear at length but discover 〈◊〉 grievance For one day at Windsor while Harâ—â— reached the Cup to King Edward Tosty ready to burâ— for Envy that his Brother was so much respected beyond himself could not refrain to run furiously upon him and pulling him by the Hair dragged him to the Ground for which unmannerly Action the King forbad him the Court But he with continued Rancour and Malice rides to Hereford where Harold had many Servants preparing an Entertainment for the King and setting upon them with his Followers â—â—opped off the Hands and Legs of some the Arms and Heads of others and threw them into the Buts of Wine and other Liquors which were put in for the King 's drinking and at his departure charged the Servants to acquaint him That of other fresh Meats he might carry with him what he pleased but for â—ince he should find plenty provided ready for him for which barbarous Offence the King pronounced a Sentence of perpetual Banishment upon him But Saradoc ap Gruffydh gave a finishing stroak to Harold's House and the King's Entertainment at Portascyth for coming thither shortly after Tosty's departure to be revenged upon Harold he killed all the Work-men and Labourers with all the Servants he could find and utterly defacing the Building carried away all the Costly Materials which with great Charges and Exâ—ence had been brought thither to beautify and adorn the Structure Soon after which the Northumbrians who could not endure the Insolencies of the two Brothers Harold and Tosty who bearing an uncontroulâ—ble sway in the Kingdom were used to practise most hellish Villanies to encompass any Man's Estate that displeased them in a Tumult at York beset the Palace of Tosty and having pillaged his Treasure â—â—ew all his Family as well English-men as Danes Then adjoining to themselves the People of Lincoln Nottingham and Derby shire they elected Marcher the Son of Earl Algar their General to whom came his Brother Edwyn with a considerable number of Forces â—nd a great party of Welch men Then they marched in an hostile manner to Northampton where Harold met them being sent by the King to know their Demands to whom they laid open their Grievances and the Cruelty of Tosty's Government and at last with an absolute refusal of admitting him again desired that Marcher should be appointed Earl over them which the King upon the reasonable Complaints of Injuries done by Tosty easily granted and willingly confirmed Marcher's Title Whereupon they peaceably returned back to the North and the Welch with several Prisoners and other Booties got in this Expedition returned to Wales A.D. 1066 The year following King Edward died and was buried at Westminster being the last King of the Saxon Blood before the Conquest that Governed the Kingdom of England which from Cerdic King of the West-Saxons had continued 544 and from Egbert the first Monarch 171 Years Edward being dead the next debate was about an Election of a Successor Edgar Edeling being set up by some as lawful Heir to the Crown which Harold as being a Person of greater Power and Authority in the Kingdom much wealthier and better befriended presently thwarted and brought Matters so cunningly about that himself was chosen King without any regard observed to the Oath and Promise he had formerly made to William Duke of Normandy Duke William upon notice of Harold's advancement how that he had accepted of the Crown of England contrary to the Articles between them convened together his Nobles and laid before them the several Wrongs and Affronts be had received at the Hands of Harold as the Death of his Cosin Alfred the Banishment of Archbishop Robert Earl Odan and all the Normans and lastly the Breach of his Oath and
Gruffydh Llwyd Son of Rhys ap Gruffydh ap Ednyfed Fychan a stout and a valiant Gentleman tho' not very fortunate and as Florus says of Sertorius he was magnae quidem sed calamitosae virtutis He was Knighted by King Edward the First upon his bringing the first News of the Queen 's safe delivery of a Son at Caernarvon Castle the King holding then a Parliament at Ruthlan This Sir Gruffydh continued for some time very gratious with the King of England but observing at length the intolerable Oppression and Tyranny exercised by the English Officers especially by Sir Roger Mortimer Lord of Chirke and Justice of North-Wales towards his Country-men the Welch became so far concerned and discontented with such unwarrantable Practices that he presently brake out into open Rebellion against the English And the better to effect what he purposed he treated with Sir Edward Bruce Brother to Robert then King of Scotland who had conquered Ireland to bring or send over some Forces to assist him in his Design against the English upon which account he sent him the following Letter Nobili in Christo Conquestori Domino Edvardo Illustrissimo Regi Hiberniae suus si placet Griffinus Llwyd in North-Wall reverentiam debitam in honore AVditâ nobis vestri in terrarum conquisitione fama egregia in partibus nostris praecipuè debelland aemulos nostros vestros qui tam vos quam nos ab Haereditatibus vi injustè expellendo destruxerunt nomen nostrum memoriamque in terris delere conati fuerunt ab initio supra modum applaudimus ut meritò debemus omnes unanimiter in partibus nostris unde vobis ex parte Wallensium Nobilium significo per praesentes quod si ad Walliam cum hominibus vestris dignemini venire vel si vos in propriâ personâ accedere illuc non poteritis aliquem Nobilem Albanen Comitem Baronem vel Militem cum paucis si plurimi nequeant adesse ad dictas partes nostras volueritis mandare Parati erimus omnes unanimiter ........ dicem eo quod nomen vestrum celebre ubique publicetur expugnat si quid Saxonibus in Albaniâ per illustrem Regem fratrem vestrum ultim per vos in Hibernia per vos nos in Wallia statum vestrum pristinum per Brutum conquisitum recuperabimus ipsisque suppeditatis confusis dispersis Britannia juxta discretam vestrae dominationis ordinationem inter Britones Albaneos in posterum divisa cohaereditabitur Valeat dominatio vestra Regia per cuncta Saecula To this Letter of Sir Gruffydh Llwyd's Sir Edward Bruce returned the following Answer OMnibus desiderantibus à servitute liberari saâ—utem in eo Qui desiderant in se relevat liberat ab angustiis temporibus opportunis quia quilibet Christianus obligatur suo proximo in omni angustiâ subvenire praecipuè illis qui ex unâ radâ—ce originis sive parentelae patriae primitus processerunt ideo compatientes vestrae servituti angustiae jam ....... Anglicana molestia indigenti decrevimus auxiliante altissimo vestro gravamini occurrere innaturalem barbaricam totis viribus Anglicanam de vestris finibus expellere servitutem ut sic sicut à principio Albanicus Britannicus populus expulsis hostibus in perpetuum fiet unus Et quia nullus inimicus faciliter relevatur libenter praecipimus si jugum Anglicanum in tantum vos deprimit quantum nuper depresserat populum Scotianum ut sic ex vestro concordi conamine nostro superveniente juvamine dispenente semper divino positis jura vestra justitiam recuperare proprietatem ....... haereditatem pacificè possidere Veruntamen Dei cum omnia serviunt in isto proposito filium invocamus quod non ex praesumptione ambitione injusti dominii talia attemptamus sed ex mera compassione effusionis innocentis vestri sanguinis subjectionis intollerabilis signant ad hoc quod vellemus inimicorum vestrorum nostrorum vtres reprimere qui nec pacem nec concordiam defiderant Imo vestram nostram finalem destructionem sicut à principio ingressionis eorum in Britanniam incessanter diebus ac noctibus molientur quia nullo modo est nostrae conscientioe quemquam decipere nec etiam decipi à quocunque nostram intentionem Proposit sine â—ergiversatione aliquâ declaramus quod libenter sciremus vestram voluntatem si rationem nostri laboris conaminis intuitu relevationis vestrae acceptare decrement nobis committere prosecutionem querelae vestrae justitiae nec non capitale dominium vestri prout alius hactenus Princeps vester liberius habere consuevit Ità quod vos omnes singuli cujuscunque extiteritis conditionis pristinis haereditatibus terris libertatibus possessionibus consuetis omnibus conditionibus ad vos expectantibus integrè finaliter gaudeatis Vestram igitur voluntatem super hiis quibuscunque aliis in quibus vos consolari poterimus si videatur expediens cautè celeriter nobis remandetis Valete Domini in Domino But for all that these Letters passed betwixt them whether by reason that Bruce's Terms were conceived unreasonable nothing however was concluded upon and the whole Treaty came to nothing But Sir Gruffydh tho' without any hopes of assistance from the Scots would not lay aside what he had once undertaken and therefore having gathered all the Forces he could desperately set upon and almost in an instant over-ran all North-Wales and the Marches seising upon all the Castles and Strong-holds thro' the Country But all to no purpose for as the most violent stream is quickly over so Sir Gruffydh's Army was presently spent and then being met with by a strong Detachment of English his Party was easily discomfited and himself taken Prisoner The same Year being the 15th of the reign of King A.D. 1322 Edward the Second his eldest Son Edward born at Windsor in a Parliament holden at York was created Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitaine and Earl of Chester This Prince succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of England by the Name of Edward the Third one of the greatest and most powerful Monarchs that ever sat upon the English Throne Edward born at Woodstock eldest Son and Heir to A.D. 1343 King Edward the Third was created Prince of Wales upon the 12th day of May in the 17th year of his Father's reign being then about fourteen years of age He was a Prince of incomparable Qualifications but so signally Famous in Martial Affairs that upon the account of the several Actions he was engaged in he received the Name of Black-Prince He took John the French King Prisoner at the Battel of Poictiers and shamefully vanquished the French Army in the Battel of Cressy He did not live to enjoy the Crown but died one year before his Father in the Forty Sixth Year of his Age no Prince was in his life-time better beloved and after
Let but that Courage and those Arms make us Conquerors and we shall refuse no Service you shall please to impose To this Message the Saxons returned this short Answer Assure your selves the Saxons will be true Friends to the Britains and as such shall be always ready both to relieve their Necessities and to advance their Interest The Saxons being thus happily courted to what themselves had a thousand times wish'd for arriv'd soon after in Britain in three Gallies called in their own Language Kiules under the Conduct of two Brethren Hengist and Horsa Being honourably received by the King and affectionately treated by the People their Faith was given of both sides the Saxons stipulating to defend the Britains Countrey and the Britains to give the Saxons a satisfactory Reward for all the Pains and Dangers they should undergo upon their account At first the Saxons shewed themselves very diligent in their Employment and successfully repell'd the Scots and Picts who being probably ignorant of the landing of the Saxons and fearing no opposition boldly advanc'd to the Heart of the Countrey But when the Saxons became better acquainted with the Island and happily discovered the Weakness and Inability of the Britains under pretence that their Pay was not answerable to their Service and Deserts they quarrelled with the Britains and instead of supporting them according to Oath entered into a League with their Enemies the Scots Moreover Hengist perceiving with whom he had to do sent over to acquaint his Countreymen with the Beauty and Fertility of the Island the Infirmity and Effeminacy of the Inhabitants inviting them to be Sharers of his future Success and Expectations To his Invitation they readily comply and sailing over in great Numbers they thought to take possession of that Countrey which Fortune promised should be their own But they must fight for it first the Britains being resolved to the last to defend themselves and their Country against these treacherous Practices of the Saxons and if possible to drive them to their primitive Habitations For when the Britains became sensible of the undermining aim of the Saxons how they secretly endeavoured the total extirpation of the British Nation they presently betook themselves to their Swords and in a short time became signally famous for their Valour and Conduct This the Saxons afterwards grievously felt though the total recovery of Britain proved impracticable for want of Power the Saxons having by Massacres and other treacherous means most unmercifully lessened the Force and Number of the Britains King Vortigern loved his Ease too well to observe their Practices and besides became so foolishly enamour'd with the Daughter of Hengist which purposely was laid to intrap him that the Saxon upon the strength of their Marriage began to carve for himself and during Vortigern's Reign laid so firm a Foundation for the Saxon Conquest that the succeeding British Kings tho' famously valiant could never undermine it This Sottishness of his Father young Vortimer could not at length endure to see himself and his Country so openly and shamefully imposed upon by Strangers and therefore he resolved to take the British Government upon himself and to endeavour the universal Expulsion of the Saxons With him the British Nobility willingly joyn and after several famous Victories over the Saxons he was unhappily poysoned by a Saxon Lady After him the Britains bravely defended themselves against the prevailing Greatness of the Saxons under these valiant Princes Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthur Constantine II. Aurelius Conanus Vortiper and Maelgon To him succeeded Careticus in whose time the Saxons aspiring to a total Conquest of Britain invited over one Gurmundus a Norwegian Pyrate who had lately signalized himself in Ireland and obtain'd a Conquest over that Kingdom Him they employ to march against Careticus who being overcome and vanquished by him the Britains were forced some to retire beyond the Rivers Severn and Dee some to Cornwal and the rest to Little Britain in France The British Affairs were now brought very low and their Government reduced within a very narrow compass so that the Title of the Kings of Britain can be but superficially attributed to the succeeding Princes Cadwan Cadwallan and Cadwalader Cadwalader Cadwalader surnamed Bbendiged or the Blessed was the last of British Race that enjoyed the Title of King of Britain after him the Welch who were the most numerous remains of the Britains disdaining to own any Subjection to the oppressing Saxons set up a new Government among themselves and alter'd the Stile of British Kings to that of Princes of Wales But whilst Cadwalader ruled in Britain a very severe Famine attended with a raging Pestilence which assuredly sprung from the continued War which was so eagerly carryed on betwixt the Britains and Saxons happen'd in the Island which occasioned a most lamentable Mortality among his Subjects insomuch that he was compell'd together with a great Number of his Nobility and others to retire for Refuge to his Cousin Alan King of Lhydaw or Little Britain in France There he was sure to meet with all Civility suitable to his Quality and Condition as well because of his own near Relation and Consanguinity to Alan as upon the account that their Subjects were originally one and the same People For the Britains of France about the year of Christ 384. went over out of this Island under the Command of Conan Lord of Meriadoc to the aid of Maximus the Tyrant against the Emperour Gratianus For this Service Maximus granted to Conan and his Followers the Country of Armorica where the Britains having driven out the former Inhabitants seated themselves and erected a Kingdom which lasted for many Years under several Kings whose Names and Succession are as follows The Catalogue of the Armorican Kings 1. Conan Meriadoc 2. Gradlonus 3. Salomon I. 4. Auldranus 5. Bâ—â—â—ous I. 6. Hoâ—â—lus Magnus 7. Howâ—lus II. 8. Alâ—mâ— I. 9. Hoâ—â—lus III. â—0 Cilâ—uâ—llus â—1 Salomon II. â—2 Alanâ—â— II. 13. Conobertus 14. Budicus II. 15. Theodoricus 16. Rubalhonus 17. Daniel Dremrost i. e. rubicunda facie 18. Aregstanus 19. Maconus 20. Neomenius 21. Haruspogius 22. Salomon III. Alan II. then reigned in Little Britain when Cadâ—alader was forced to forsake his own Dominions â—nd to retire beyond the Seas He was descended â—â—om Ruâ—â— the Son of Mailgon Gwyneth King of Great Britain by a Daughter married to Howel the Second King of Little Britain This Kingdom remained â—â—rm till Salomon III. who was treacherously slain â—y his own Subjects upon which unlucky Accident â—he Kingdom was converted to an Earldom whereof â—ne Alan was the first a valiant and warlike Prince who stoutly resisted the Normans and frequently vanâ—uished and overcame them But after that Cadwalader had continued some time with Alan the Plague being abated in Britain he â—urposed to return and if possible to recover that â—art of his Kingdom which the Saxons were now in â—ossession of He received frequent Intelligence of â—heir Number and
he was â—â—le to draw together not doubting the Conquest of â—â—me part of Britain in case the whole should prove â—ecoverable He was the more encouraged to this â—xpedition by reason that the Advantage was like to 〈◊〉 his own and no one could challenge the Governâ—ent of Britain in case Fortune should deliver it to â—â—s Hands Cadwalader was gone to Rome and in all â—â—obability never to return his Son Edwal Ywrch or â—â—e Roe was young and under the Tuition of Alan 〈◊〉 that the event of this Expedition must of necessity â—ll to himself or by his Concession to his Son Ivor â—ho was to be chief in the Undertaking Having â—ised a considerable Army consisting chiefly of his â—wn Subjects with what remain'd of the Britains â—â—at came over with King Cadwaladar he dispatch'd 〈◊〉 for Britain under the Command of his Son Ivor â—â—d his Nephew Ynyr They safely landed in the Western Parts of Britain which put the Saxons inâ—â— so great a Fright that immediately they drew up â—â—l their Power to oppose them and to hinder their â—rogress into the Country The Britains tho someâ—hat fatigued with their Voyage however gave â—hem Battel and after a very great slaughter of the â—axons possessed themselves of the Countries of â—ornwal Devon and Somersetshires This proved a â—ortunate beginning for the Britains and gave them â—reat hopes of farther Success in the recovery of their Country but that could not be expected withoâ—â— great Opposition and several hot Engagements wâ—â—â— the Saxons This they were immediately made seâ—sible of for they had scarce time to breath and to â—â—cover their Spirits after the last Battel but Kentwiâ—â— King of the West-Saxons marched against them wiâ—â— a powerful Army consisting of Saxons and Anglâ—â— The Britains resolved to fight them but whilst boâ—â— Armies were in view of each other they thoughâ— more adviseable to cease from any Hostility and 〈◊〉 enter into Articles of Composition Ivor seem already satisfied with his Conquest and willinâ—â—â— agreed to marry Ethelberga Kentwyn's Cousin aâ—â— peaceably to enjoy for his life so much as he was aâ—ready in possession of This he faithfully observed â—â—ring the Reign of Kentwyn and his Nephew Cadâ—â— who after two Years resign'd the Kingdom of 〈◊〉 West-Saxons to his Cousin Ivor And now Ivor wâ—â—â— become unexpectedly powerful being King as wâ—â—â— of the Saxons as Britains that inhabited the Wâ—stern parts of the Island He was now able to â—â—dertake somewhat considerable and therefore begâ—â— to fall foul upon his Neighbours the Kings of Kâ—â—â— the West-Saxons and Mercia whom he vanquishâ—â— in several Battels But being at length tir'd with tâ—â— Weight of Government he went to Rome after tâ—â— Example of Cadwalader and resign'd the Rule of 〈◊〉 Saxons to his Cosin Adelred leaving the Britains 〈◊〉 the care of Roderick Molwynoc the Son of Edwal Ywâ—â— This Ivor founded the Abby of Glastenbury callâ—â— in the British Tongue Ynys Avalon where there 〈◊〉 been a Christian Church for several Years before aâ—â— the first that was ever erected in Britain For Josâ—â—â— of Arimathea being sent by Philip the Apostle in tâ—â— days of Arviragus An. Chr. 53. to preach the Gosâ—â—â— in Britain seated himself here and built a Chuâ—â—â— for the British Christians This Church afterwaâ—â—â— Ivor converted into an Abby which he endowâ—â— with very large Possessions being famous for tâ—â— Burying-place of Joseph of Arimathea and Kiâ—â— Arthur He bestowed also some Lands upon tâ—â— Church of Winchester But there happen'd several Casualties in his time Brythâ— a Subject to Egfride King of Northumberland â—assed over to Ireland and wasted and destroyed a great part of that Kingdom In the Fourth Year of â—is Reign their happen'd a remarkable Earthquake â—n the Isle of Man which much disturbed and anâ—oyed the Inhabitants and the year following it rain'd Blood both in Britain and in Ireland This occasion'd the Butter and Milk to resemble the colour of Blood â—nd two Years after the Moon also appear'd all bloody These Accidents of Nature might probably presage â—ome Tumults and Disturbances in the Kingdom which were very great in his time For he was almost in perpetual Hostility with the Kings of Kent West-Sex and Mercia which occasion'd great Blood-â—hed and Slaughter in Britain His Journey to Rome â—ut an end to all these Commotions from whence he â—ever did return but ended his Days there in the practice of Piety and Religion Roderick Molwynoc THE Government of the Britains Ivor resign'd A.D. 720 to Roderick Molwinoc the Son of Edwal Ywrch who began his Reign An. 720. But Adelred King of the West-Saxons was displeased that Ivor had not bestowed upon him his whole Kingdom and upon that account he is resolved to trouble and plague Roderick and his Britains He rais'd immediately a powerfull Army and with all his Forces marched to Devonshire which he destroyed with Fire and Sword From whence he proceeds to Cornwal intending to make that Country sensible of the same Misery but he came far short of his Expectation for upon his entrance into the Country the Britains opposed him and gave him Battel where he was vanquished and forced to retire with all speed to his own Dominions This Victory the Britains called Gwaeth Heilyn from thâ— A.D. 721 place where this Battel was fought The Year following the Britains again obtained two notable Victories over the Saxons the one at a place called Gaâ—â— Maclawch in North-Wales the other at Pencoct in South-Wales But the Joy and Satisfaction which the Brâ—tains entertained of these Successes was somewhâ—â— abated by the Death of Belin the Son of Elphin 〈◊〉 Man of noble Birth and great Worth among theâ— About the same time Celredus King of Mercia dieâ— and was succeeded by Ethelbaldus who being veâ—â—desirous to annex that fertile and pleasant Countrâ— lying between the Rivers Severn and Wye to hâ—â— Kingdom of Mercia entred Wales with a puissaâ—â— Army He destroyed and ravaged the Country bâ—fore him to Carno a Mountain lying not far froâ— Abergavenny where he was met with by the Britainâ— between whom a bloody and sore Battel was fougâ—â— in the Year 728. but the Victory proved very dubâ—table A.D. 733 Not long after dyed Venerable Bede who was â—ducated and brought up in the Abby of Wyrnetham 〈◊〉 Iarewe a Man of great Learning and extensiâ—â— Knowledg who wrote several Books one of whicâ— entitled The Ecclesiastical History of the English Nâ—tion he dedicated to Cleolwolfe King of Northumbeâ—land The same time Adeired King of the West-Sâ—xons and Ethelbald King of Mercia united their Foâ—ces and joyntly marched to fight against the Britaâ—â—â— The Welch were now put to very hard Streights anâ— forced to oppose the numerous Armies of two poweâ—ful Kings However fight they must or suffer thâ—â— Country to be miserably over-run by their inveterâ—â— Enemies Both Armies being engaged a very diâ—mal Battel ensued thereupon and a very great slaughter happen'd on both sides but the Saxons prevailing by the number of their
Chad stands He was a great Friend and a Favourer to the Monks of Bangor whose part he took against the Saxons that were set on by Augustine the Monk to prosecute them with Fire and Sword because they would not forsake the Customs of their own Church and conform to those of Rome Merfyn Frych and Esylht COnan being dead Merfyn Frych and his Wife Esylht who was sole Heir to Conan took upon them the Government or Principality of Wales This Merfyn was King of Man and Son to Gwyriat and Nest the Daughter of Cadelh ap Brochwel ap Elis King of Powys Howel being forcibly ejected out of Anglesey by his Brother Conan Tindaethwy and escaping to the Island of Man was honourably and kindly received by Merfyn in return of whose Civilities Howel used such means afterwards that Merfyn married Esylht the Daughter and Heir of his Brother Conan tho others say that he died presently after his Escape to Merfyn Howel after that he had for about five years enjoyed the Isle of Man and other Lands in the North given him by Merfyn to hold under him dyed about the year 825 after whose Death they again returned to Merfyn whose Ancestors had always held the same under the Kings of the Britains and so upon his Marriage with Esylht the Isle of Man was annexed to the Crown of Wales In the first year of their Reign Egbert the powerful King of the West Saxons entred with a mighty Army into Wales destroyed and wasted the Countrey as far as Snowden Hills and seized upon the Lordship of Rhyvoniec in Denbighland About the same time a very sore Battel was fought in Anglesey between the Saxons and the Welch called from the place where this Fight happened the Battel of Lhanvaes A.D. 819 Fortune seemed all this while to frown upon the Welch and their Affairs succeeded very ill for shortly after that Egbert had advanced his Colours as far as Snowden Kenulph King of Mercia wasted the Country of West Wales over-ran and destroyed â—owis-land and greatly disturbed and incommoded â—he Welch Nation Soon after this Kenulph died â—nd was succeeded by Kenelm and he in a short â—â—me by Ceolwulph who after two years Reign left â—he Kingdom of Mercia to Bernulph Egbert King of the West Saxons was grown very â—trong and powerful able to reduce all the petty Kingâ—oms in Britain under one single Monarchy upon â—he thoughts of which he set upon Bernulph King of Mercia and vanquished him at Elledowne and afterwards brought under Subjection the Countries of Kent and of the West Angles But the Britains could â—ot be so easily subdued for after a long and a cruel â—ight at Gavelford between them and the West Saxons of Devonshire in which several thousands were â—â—ain on both sides the Victory remained uncertain He had better Success against Wyhtlafe King of Mercia A.D. 829 whose Dominions he easily added to his now inâ—reasing Monarchy and passing Humber he quickly â—educed that Country to his Subjection The Saxon Heptarchy was now become one Kingdom and Egâ—ert sole Monarch of all the Countries that the Saxons â—ossessed in Britain which Name he ordered should â—e changed to England his People to be called Enâ—lishmen and the Language English They who came over out of Germany into this â—sland to aid the Britains against their Enemies the Picts and Scots were partly Saxons Angles and â—uthes from the first of which came the People of Essex Suffex Middlesex and the West-Saxons from â—he Angles the East Angles the Mercians and they â—hat inhabited the North side of Humber from the Juthes the Kentishmen and they that settled in the Isle of Wight These Germans after that they had drove â—he Britains beyond Severn and Dee erected seven Kingdoms called the Heptarchy in the other part of â—he Island whereof 1. Kent 2. Of the South-Saxons containing Sussex and Surrey 3. The East-Angles in Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgshire 4. The Kingdom of the West-Saxons comprehending Berkshire Devonshire Somersetshire and Cornwal 5. Mercia containing Glocester Hereford Worcester Shropshire Stafford Cheshire Warwick Leicester Darby Nottingham Lincoln Northampton Oxford Buckingham Bedford and half Hartfordshire 6 The East-Saxons containing Essex Middlesex and the other part of Hartford 7. Of the Northumbrians taking in all the Country beyond Hamber which was divided into two parts Deyra and Bernicia the first from Humber to Tyne the other from Tyne to the Scottish Sea Egbert King of the West-Saxons having severally conquer'd these Kingdoms annexed them together and comprehended them under one Monarchy which was called the Kingdom of England 96â— years after the coming of Brute to this Island 383 Years after the landing of Hengist and 149 after the Departure of Cadwalader to Rome Egbert having thus united under one Governmeâ—â— these several Kingdoms which used continually molest and to incroach upon each others Territories might reasonably have expected to enjoy his neâ—â— A.D. 883 Kingdom quietly and not fear any disturbance oâ— trouble in his Dominions But no sooner was hâ— established King of England but the Danes began 〈◊〉 threaten new Commotions and landed in great numbers and in divers places of the Kingdom Egberâ— fought several Battels with them and with varioâ—â— Success at length the Danes landed in West-Wales marched forward for England being joined by a greaâ— number of Welch and met Egbert upon Hengist doâ—â— where a severe Battel was fought and the Danes pâ—â— to a total Rout The Welch suffered severely fâ—â— this Egbert being highly incens'd that the Danâ—â— were supported by them laid siege to Caer Lheon 〈◊〉 Dhyfrdwy or Chester the chief City of Venedotiâ—â— which hitherto had remained in the hands of the Welch took the Town and among other Tokeâ— of his Indignation he caused the Brazen Effigies oâ— Cadwalhon King of Britain to be pulled down and defaced and upon pain of Death forbad the erecting 〈◊〉 such again He issued out also a Proclamation by thâ— â—nstigation of his Wife Redburga who always bore an â—â—veterate Malice to the Welch commanding all that â—ere any ways extracted from British Blood to deâ—art with all their Effects out of his Kingdom within â—â—x Months upon pain of death These were very â—â—vere and insupportable Terms but he did not live â—ong to see them put in execution for dying shortly â—fter the Battel of Hengestdown he was succeeded by â—on Ethelwulph This King Ethelwulph married his Daughter to Berthred who was his tributary King of Mercia by whose help he successfully opposed the â—ruel Incursions of the Danes who miserably destroyed the Sea-coasts of England with Fire and 〈◊〉 These Danish Commotions being indiffeâ—ently well appeased Berthred King of Mercia set â—pon the Welch between whom a remarkable Battel â—as sought at a place called Kettell where Merfyn â—rych King of the Britains was killed leaving to â—â—cceed him in the Government of Wales his Son Roâ—eric Mawr or the Great Roderic the Great MErfyn Frych having lost his Life and with it his A.D. 843 Kingdom in
the Battel of Kettell his Son Roderic surnamed the Great without any Opposiâ—ion or Contest succeeded in the Principality of Wales The first thing he effected after his Advancement to â—he Crown was the dividing of Wales into several Provinces which he distinguished into these three Aberffraw Dinevowr and Mathraval Berthred King â—f Mercia being animated by his late Success against Merfyn Frych purposed to perform the like Exploits â—gainst his Son Roderic And having gained the Aid â—nd Assistance of King Ethelwulph he entred North Wales with a strong Army and advanced as far as Anglesey which he cruelly and miserably destroyed Roderic met him several times and the Welch did at length so gaul and torment him that in fine he had little or nothing to boast of only Meyric one of the chiefest Princes among the Britains was slain But he was soon forced to quit his Expedition against the Welch and to convert his Forces another way his own Dominions requiring their constant Residence being severely threatned by a foreign Invasion A.D. 846 For the Danes were by this time grown so very powerful that they over-ran a great part of England fought with Athelstan King of Kent Brother to Ethelwulph and obtained so much Conquest that whereas before they returned to their own Country when the Weather grew too cold for Action they now took up their Winter-quarters in England The Welch in the mean time being secure from any Violence which might otherwise be expected from the English began to quarrel and fall out amongst themselves Ithel King of Gwent or Wâ—ntland for what occasion not known fell foul upon the Meâ— of Brecknock who were so resolute as to fight him and the Event proved very unfortunate to Ithel whâ— was slain upon the spot It is the Unhappiness of a Nation that is governed by several Petty States when it is apprehensive of no Danger from an outward Enemy that it will fall at variance and create Disturbances among it self Had the Britains instead of falling upon one another taken the Advantage of this opportunity wheâ— the Saxons were altogether imployed in opposing and repelling the Danes to increase and strengthen their Number and to fortify their Towns they might aâ— least securely have possessed their own Dominions 〈◊〉 not extended their Government to a great part of England But a sort of an Equality in Power begat aâ— Emulation between the several Princes and this Emulation for the most part ended in Blows and Contention so that instead of strengthning themselves whilst they had respite from the English they rather weakened their Power by inward Differences Kongen King of Powys was gone to Rome there to A.D. 854 â—end his Days peaceably and religiously but his Death did not prove so natural as he expected being barbarously slain or as some say choaked by his own Servants Shortly after died Cemoyth King of the Picts and Jonathan Lord of Abergeley It was now become Customary for Princes wearied with Government to go to Rome and the Pope willingly dispensed with the Resignation of their Crowns by reason that his Holiness seldom lost by it King Ethelwulph paid very dear for his Entertainment there made his Kingdom tributary to the Pope and paid the Peter-Pence to the Church of Rome The Saxon Genealogists bring the Pedegree of Ethelwulph for several Successions and Generations up to Adam as may be seen in Matthew of Westminster who in like manner derives the Pedigree of Offa King of Mercia This has been the Custom of most Nations both antient and modern and is always practised by them whose Families are any thing Antient and Honourable so that it is a very great mistake to scoff at and deride the Welch because they keep up this antient and laudable Custom Berthred King of Mercia became at length far â—oo weak to repel the daily increasing Power of the Danes who so numerously poured upon him that at last he was forced to relinquish his Kingdom and fly to Rome where in a short time he sorowfully ended his days Ethelwulph shortly followed and left his Sons Athelbald King of the West-Saxons and Athelbright King of Kent and the East-Saxons Ethelwulph is reported to be so Learned and Devout that the Church of Winchester elected him in his youth Bishop of that See which Function he took upon him about seven years before he was made King He is said also to have Conquered the Kingdom of Demetia or South-Wales which together with the Kingdom of the South-Saxons he bestowed upon his Son Alfred upon Condition he would bring a Thousand Men out of Wales to Winchester to the Aid of his Brother Ethelbert against the Danes Athelbald succeeding his Father in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons kept his Mother-in-Law the Wife of Ethelwulph for hiâ— Concubine and afterwards married her in the City of Chester But he did not live long to enjoy the unnatural Conjunction but dying without Issâ— after that he had reigned Eight Years left his Kingdom to his Brother Athelbright About the same time the Danes began again to be stir themselves and fell upon the City of Winchester and destroyed it which Athelbright perceiving after a long Fight forced them to quit the Land and tâ— betake themselves to Sea again But the Danes quickly returned to the Isle of Thanet where they remained for that Winter doing much Mischief upon the Sea-Coast and destroying all places near the shoaâ— of England The English were very glad that they durst venture no further and the more because the Welch began again to be troublesome against whoâ— an Army must be speedily dispatched otherwise they would certainly advance to the English Countrey Both Armies met at Greythen where a fierce Battel was fought and a great Number slain on either side but the Victory was not plainly discoverable Bâ—â— the Welch not long after received a considerable Loâ— by the Death of Conan Nâ—rit Nifer a Stout and Skilful Commander who oftentimes had Valiantly repulsed the English Forces and obtained many signâ—â— Victories over them The Danes had been for some time quiet being â—â—able to venture upon any considerable Action anâ— therefore they thought it advisable to secure only whâ— they had already won and to expect a re-inforcement from their own Countrey This was quickly sent them under the Command of Hungare and Hubâ—â—â— who landed in England with a very considerable Armâ— of Danes King Athelbright whether terrified with a dismal apprehension of these Invaders or otherwisâ— being indisposed quickly afterwards gave up the Ghost leaving the management of his Kingdom together with that of his Army against the Danes to his Brother Ethelred The Danes in the mean time â—ot sure footing and advanced as far as York which â—hey miserably destroyed killing Osbright and Elba â—wo Kings of Northumberland that opposed them â—rom hence they proceeded and over-run all the Countrey as far as Nottingham destroying and spoilâ—â—g all before them and then returned back to York â—ut having once tasted
and spoiled the â—ea-Coast thereof and advanced as far as Buellt But the Danes at Budington being informed that King Alfred marched against them fled back to their Castle in Essex So that the King was fain to alâ—er his march and to convert his Forces against Leyâ—ester where a Party of Danes was so warmly beâ—â—eged that at length they were reduced to that Exâ—â—remity as to feed upon their Horses But the Season â—f the Year for Action being ended and the Extremity of the Weather being advanced Alfred 〈◊〉 forced to raise the Siege and to wait the next Oppoâ—tunity A.D. 895 for the recovery of the Town But before 〈◊〉 could appear before it again the Danes fairly quittâ—â— it and together with those in Northumberland passâ—â— by the North-Sea to Meresige an Isle in Essex Thâ— A.D. 896 next Year they entred the Thames and built a Caâ—â—â—â— twenty Miles distant from London upon the strengâ—â— of which they ventur'd to spoil and wast the Coâ—â—trey thereabouts but paid very dear for their Coâ—rage being accidentally met with they received 〈◊〉 bloody Overthrow having four of their Princes slâ—â— upon the Spot and the rest very glad to make their â—scape to the Castle Upon this Alfred divided the Riâ—â—â— into three Streams by which Stratagem the Waâ— became so diminished in the Thames that the Danâ—â—â— Ships could not return back into the Sea When tâ—â— Danes perceived this and found it impracticable 〈◊〉 them to escape in their Ships they left their Wiâ—â—â— and Children and all their Effects in Essex and 〈◊〉 passed by Land to Enadbryge upon the Severn aâ—â— then passing the River spoiled the Countries 〈◊〉 Brecknock Gwentland and Gwentlhwg Some of the at the same time passed over to France and anothâ—â— Company coasting about Devonshire destroyed tâ—â— maritime Countries but being met with by the Eâ—glish A.D. 897 lost Six of their Ships in the Dispute Tâ—â— following Summer the Kingdom of Ireland suffered eâ—tremely by Locusts who consumed all the Corn aâ—â— the Grass through the whole Country but were 〈◊〉 length by continued Prayers and Fasting quite destroâ—ed These are common in Africke and other hot Râ—gions but seldom seen in colder Climates and whâ—â— they happen to travel so far they are always veâ—â— pestilentious and destructive to that Country thâ—â— come to A.D. 900 This Year Igmond with a great number of Danâ—â— landed in Anglesey and was met with by the Welâ—â— at a place call'd Molerain where Merfyn was slaiâ— Though others call it Meilon and from the Batâ—â—â— fought there Maes Rhôs Meilon The same Yeâ—â— Kiâ—g Alfred dyed who translated the antient Laws 〈◊〉 â—yfnwall Moelmut King of Britain and the Laws 〈◊〉 Queen Marsia out of Brittish into English and â—â—â—â—d it Marsian Law which was afterwards called â—â—â—st Saxon Law and observed in part of Mercia â—â—â—h all the Countries on the South of Thames The â—â—â—er part of the Country having another Law call'd â—â—â—e Lex both which remained to the time of â—â—â—ard the Confessor who of these two made one 〈◊〉 It is very observable what is related of King â—â—â—â—ed concerning his division of the Natural Day inâ—â—â—hree parts the one he set apart for Devotion and â—â—â—â—dy the next for the Affairs of the Commonâ—â—alth and the third for his own Rest and Refreshâ—â—â—t â—lfred being dead Edward his eldest Son took upâ—â—â—im the Crown which so displeased the ambitious â—â—â—it of his Brother Adelwulph that presently he raisâ—â— a cruel War against him and flying to Northumâ—â—â—â—and stirred up the Danes against his Brother â—â—â—ard The Danes were glad of the opportunity â—â—â—ing now a fair pretence to render themselves â—â—sters of the whole Island and therefore Adelâ—â—ph is made King as well of the Angles as of the â—â—â—es who by this time were grown to be one Peoâ—â—â— Marching then proudly with a very considerable â—â—â—y at his heels he subdued the East Saxons spoilâ—â— the Country of Mercia and passing over the Thames â—rickland destroyed Brythend and returned home â—â—â—h very great Booty At the same time Euneth 〈◊〉 slain in Arwystly But Edward being informed of Brothers retreat pursued him very eagerly but â—â—â—sing of him over-ran and destroyed all the Counâ—â—â— betwixt Ouse and the Dike of S. Edmund and a returned home with his whole Army saving the â—â—â—tish Men who being too greedy of Plunder rashâ—â—â—arried behind For the Danes perceiving the Boâ—â— of the Army to be returned and that a small â—â—â—y still continued to ravage the Country presentâ—â—â—â—t upon them slue a great Number of them and 〈◊〉 the rest to a shameful Flight Nor were the Danes only powerful in England but molested anâ— A.D. 905 grew prevalent in Ireland For this Year they entâ—â—â—â— that Kingdom slew Carmot King and Bishop of 〈◊〉 Ireland a religious and a vertuous Person the Son 〈◊〉 Cukeman and Kyrnalt Son of Murgan King of Lâ—gines A.D. 906 The Year after dyed Asser Archbishop of S. Dâ—vids Uncle to the famous and learned Asser surnaâ—ed Menevensis who being Chancellour to his Uncâ—â— the Archbishop was sent for by King Alfred to iâ—struct his Children whose Life he afterwards wroâ—â— and was made Bishop of Shireburn Edward to force his Brother from his Countrâ— and to revenge the death of the Kentishmen dâ—â—patch'd an Army to Northumberland which havinâ— spoiled the Country returned home Upon whiâ—â— the Danes to return their Kindness destroyed a greâ—â— part of Mercia But within a while after Edwâ—â—â— having raised a very considerable Army gave tâ—â— Danes battel overthrew them and slue their Kinâ—â— Alden and Edelwulph with a great number of the Nobles This added very much to his Dominionâ— which were the more increased and strengthned 〈◊〉 the Addition of the Cities of London and Oxford which upon the death of Edelred Duke of Merâ—â—â— Edward seized into his own hands permitting 〈◊〉 Wife Elfleda to enjoy the rest of his Dukedoâ— A.D. 907 Shortly after Cadelh Prince of South Wales diâ—â— leaving behind him three Sons Howel Dha or tâ—â— Good who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom 〈◊〉 South Wales Meyric and Clydawe King Edward â—â—ving obtained so signal a Victory over the Danes aâ—â— rendered his Kingdom for some time quiet began 〈◊〉 build places of strength which might be serviceabâ—â— against a future Storm He built a Castle at Hartforâ— betwixt the Rivers Benefic Minier and Lige anâ— also erected the Burrough of Wytham in Essex anâ— continued sometime in Wealdyne to keep those Couâ—tries in awe But in spite of all this precaution thâ— Danes of Leycester and Hampton began the followinâ— Year to be very troublesom slew a great number 〈◊〉 English at Hotchnorton and in their return homâ— â—ard destroyed the Country of Oxford About the â—â—me time a considerable Fleet from Tydwike under â—â—e command of Vther and Rahald sailed by the Weâ—â—ern Sea to Wales and destroyed S. Davids where â—as fought the Battel of Dinarth and Mayloc the â—on of Peredur Gam was slain After this they enâ—â—â—ed A.D. 911 into Herefordshire where they were
drew together a great Army consisting partly of Strangers and partly of such as they could raise in Gwentland and Glamorgan and marched to fight with Gruffydh The Prince according to his usual manner detracted no time but animating and solacing his Soldiers with the remembrance of their former Victories and Conquests bid the Enemies battel which proved so very bloody and terrible that nothing could part them beside the darkness of the Night This Battel so tired and tamed both Armies that neither was very desirous of another Engagement and so one being unwilling to set upon the other they both agreed to return to their own Habitations The same time Joseph Bishop of Teilo or Llandaf died at Rome But both Armies being separated Prince Gruffydh enjoyed a quiet and unmolested Possession of all Wales for about Two Years after which the Gentry of Ystrad Towy treacherously slew 140 of the choice of his Army which he took in so high an indignation that to revenge their death he destroyed all Dyfed and Ystrad Towy About the same time Lothen and Hyrling two Danish Pyrats with a great number of Danes landed at Sandwich and having plundered the Town returned again to their Ships and sailed for Holland where they sold the Booty they had taken and then returned to their own Country Shortly afterwards Earl Swayn came out of Denmark with Eight Ships and returned to England and coming to his Fathers House at Pevenese humbly requested of him and his Brothers Harold and Tostie to endeavour his reconciliation with the King Earl Beorned too promised to intercede for him and going to Swayn's Fleet to sail to Sandwich where the King then lay he was by the way most treacherously and ungratefully murthered and his Body cast upon the shoar which lay there exposed till his Friends heating of the Fact came and carried it to Winchester and buried it by the Body of King Cnute â—eorned 's Uncle Swayn having committed this most testable Murder put himself again under the Proâ—â—ction of the Earl of Flanders not daring to shew 〈◊〉 Face in England till his Father by earnest Mediâ—â—on wrought his Peace with the King This Year Conan the Son of Iago raised again an â—â—my of his Friends in Ireland and sailed towards â—ales purposing to recover his Inheritance in 〈◊〉 Country But when he was come near the â—â—lch Coast there suddenly arose such a violent â—â—â—rm that his Fleet was presently scattered and â—â—st of his Ships drowned which rendered this Expeâ—â—â—ion ineffectual About the same time Robert Archâ—â—â—hop of Canterbury impeached Earl Godwyn and his 〈◊〉 Swayn and Harold of Treason and the Queen 〈◊〉 Adultery and upon the account of their non-â—â—â—earance when cited before the Peers at Glocester 〈◊〉 Queen was divorced and Godwyn and his Sons â—â—nished who with his Son Swayn fled to Flanders 〈◊〉 Harold to Ireland But these unlucky Clashings â—â—d the many Troubles that ensued thereupon hapâ—â—â—ed upon this occasion Eustace Earl of Bologne beâ—â—â— Married to Goda the King's Sister came over this â—aâ— to England to pay King Edward a Visit and in 〈◊〉 return to Canterbury one of his Retinue forcibly â—â—manding a Lodging provoked the Master of the â—â—use so far as by Chance or Anger to kill him Euâ—â—â—e upon this Affront returns back to the King and 〈◊〉 the insinuâ—tions of the Archbishop makes a loud â—â—mplaint against the Kentish-men to repress whose â—â—olencies Earl Godwyn is commanded to raise Forâ—â—â— which he refusing to do for the Kindness he bore 〈◊〉 his Country-men of Kent the King summons a â—â—rliament at Glocester and commands Godwyn to â—â—pear there But he mistrusting either his own â—use or the Malice of his Adversaries gathered a â—â—werful Army out of his own and his Sons Earlâ—â—ms and marched towards Glocester giving out â—â—â—t their Forces were to go against the Welch who â—â—â—ended to invade the Marshes But King Edward â—â—â—ng satisfied by the Welch that they had no such Design in hand commanded Godwyn to dismiss his Aâ—my and to appear himself to answer to the Articles exhibited against him Godwyn refusing to obey the Kiâ—â— by the Advice of Earl Leofrick summoned an Asseâ—bly at London whither a great Number of Forces aâ—rived from Mercia which Godwyn perceiving and wiâ—â—al finding himself unable to withstand the King â— proceedings privately retired with his Sons out 〈◊〉 the Kingdom and fled into Flanders Whereupon the King issued out an Edict proclaiming Godwâ—â— and his Sons Out-Laws and then confiscating thâ—â—â— Estates bestowed them upon others of his Nobiliâ—â— And to pursue his Displeasure the farther he Divâ—â—ced his Queen Edith Earl Godwyn's Daughter aâ—â— committed her to a Cloyster where in a mean Coâ—dition she spent some part of her Life In the distâ—â—bution of the forfeited Estates Adonan obtained 〈◊〉 Earldoms of Devon and Dorset and Algar the Sâ—â— of Leofrick that of Harold But Godwyn could 〈◊〉 patiently behold his Estate bestowed upon anotheâ— and therefore having hired some Men and Ships 〈◊〉 Flanders he sailed to the Isle of Wight where aâ—â—â—â— that he had made a sufficient havock he put in 〈◊〉 Portland which he treated after the same manâ—â—â— The same time Harold having sailed from Ireland 〈◊〉 length met with his Father and then with their unâ—â—â—â— Navy they burnt Preveneseny Romney Heath Fâ—â—â—ston Dover and Sandwich and entering the Thâ—â—â—â— they destroyed Cheppey and burnt the King's Hoâ—â— at Middletown Then they sailed up the River â—â—wards London where the King's Army being reaâ—â— to oppose them a Treaty of Peace was by the meâ— of Bishop Stigand agreed upon which proved so â—â—fectual of Godwyn's side that the King received 〈◊〉 again to his Favour restored him and Sons to all thâ— Estates re-called the Queen and banished the Arâ—â—bishop with all the French-men who had been pâ—â—moters of that unhappy Suspicion the King had enâ—â—â—tained of them About this time Rhys Brother to Gruffydh Prâ—â—â—â— of Wales who by several Irruptions upon the Bordeâ—◠〈◊〉 considerably gauled and damaged the English â—â—s taken and put to Death at Bulendun whose â—â—â—d being cut off was presented to the King then Glocester But he received better News some time 〈◊〉 from the North for Siward Earl of Northumberâ—â—â—d having sent his Son against Macbeth King of â—â—gland vanquished the Scots tho not without the 〈◊〉 of his Son and many others both English and â—â—nes But Siward was not cast down at his Son 's â—â—â—th but enquiring whether he received his Death's â—â—nd before or behind and being assured that it 〈◊〉 before replied He was very glad of it for he â—â—d not wish his Son to die otherwise After this â—tory King Edward marched in Person to Scotland and having again overcome Macbeth in Battel made the whole Kingdom of Scotland Tributary the Crown of England The next year Earl â—â—â—â—yn sitting with the King at Table sunk down â—â—d of a sudden being choak'd as 't is thought in â—â—llowing a morsel of Bread whose Earldom the â—â—ng bestowed upon his
Son Harold and his upon â—â—gar Earl of Chester To this time is referred the Original of the Steâ—â—rds in Scotland which being a remarkable passage 〈◊〉 in a great measure dependant upon the Affairs 〈◊〉 the Welch is requisite to be here recorded Macâ—â—â—h King of Scotland having caused Bancho a Noble-â—â—n of that Kingdom to be inhumanly murdered â—ence Bancho's Son to avoid the like Cruelty to â—â—â—self fled to Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn Prince of Wales â—o taking a very great liking to his Person and â—â—thal commiserating his Condition shewed him all â—â—e Respect and Kindness possible But Fleance had 〈◊〉 continued long with Gruffydh when he fell enaâ—â—red upon the Prince's Daughter and having obâ—â—â—ed her Good-Will without any regard had to â—â—r Father's Civility towards him abused her so far 〈◊〉 to beget her with Child Gruffydh being acâ—â—ainted with the Matter of Fact so hainously reâ—â—â—ted the Affront that he occasioned Fleance to be â—â—â—in and treated his Daughter most servilely for prostrating her Chastity especially to a Strangâ—â— However she was in a short time delivered of a Sâ—â— whose Name was Christened Walter a Child wâ—â— in his Youth expressed very great hopes and in 〈◊〉 probability like to make a very considerable Mâ—â— which happened according to expectation But 〈◊〉 first Original of his future Greatness happened upâ—â— a very accidental occasion being reproached of 〈◊〉 stardism by one of his Fellow Companions he 〈◊〉 it in so unpardonable a dudgeon that nothing 〈◊〉 satisfy his Revenge but the Life of the Aggreâ—â—â—â— Being upon this Mischance affraid to undergo the â—â—nishment of the Law he thought it safe to fly 〈◊〉 Scotland where falling in Company with ceâ—â—â—â—â— English Men who were come thither with Quâ—â—â— Margaret Sister to Edgar Edeling he behaved himâ—â—â—â— so soberly and discreetly that he won the Favour 〈◊〉 good Character of all that knew him But his 〈◊〉 daily increasing he grew at length to that height 〈◊〉 Reputation as to be employed in the most inwâ—â—â— Affairs of the Commonwealth and at last was maâ—â— Lord Steward of Scotland from which Office 〈◊〉 Posterity retained the Surname of Steward the Kiâ—â— of Scotland of that Name with several other Fâ—â—lies of Quality in that Kingdom being descended 〈◊〉 him But to return to England Siward the worthy 〈◊〉 of Northumberland died about this time of the Blooâ— Flux a Man of a rough Demeanour and a mâ—â—â— Soldierly Temper as he plainly manifested at 〈◊〉 point of Death For bewailing his Misfortune 〈◊〉 had escaped so many dangerous Engagements 〈◊〉 withal disdaining to die so effeminately in Bed 〈◊〉 caused himself to be compleatly Armed and aâ—â—◠〈◊〉 were in Defiance of Death presently expired in Martial Bravery But his Son being too young 〈◊〉 King bestowed his Earldom upon Tosty the Son 〈◊〉 Earl Godwyn A.D. 1054 Wales had been now a long time quiet and 〈◊〉 of all troubles both abroad and at home but it coâ—â—â— not be expected that such a Life should prove duâ—â—bâ—◠〈◊〉 but something or other would create New Comâ—â—tions and Disturbances Gruffydh Son to Rytherch ap â—â—yn having recruited and recovered himself after the 〈◊〉 Blow he received from Prince Gruffydh must needs â—â—â—ture another trial for the Principality of South-Wales 〈◊〉 Prince protracting no time speedily marched aâ—â—â— him and both Armies being joined Gruffydh 〈◊〉 Ryâ—herch was easily vanquished and in fine slain 〈◊〉 the troubles of the Welch did not end with him 〈◊〉 Algâ—â— Earl of Chester being convicted of Treason 〈◊〉 thereupon banished the Kingdom fled to Gruffydh 〈◊〉 of Wales requesting his Aid against King â—â—â—ard who repeating the frequent Wrongs he had 〈◊〉 at the hands of the English by upholding 〈◊〉 Enemies against him gladly embraced the Opâ—â—â—tunity and promised him all imaginable Support â—â—d thereupon assembling his Forces he entred with 〈◊〉 into Hereford shire and advancing into the â—â—â—â—try within two Miles of the City of Hereford 〈◊〉 were opposed by Randulph Earl of that Counâ—â—◠〈◊〉 boldly gave them Battel The Fight conâ—â—â—â—â—â— very dreadful and dubious for some hours till 〈◊〉 Gruffydh so encouraged his Soldiers with the â—â—â—â—mbrance of their former Victories over the 〈◊〉 that they fell on a main and easily disâ—â—â—â—red Randulph and slew the best part of his Army â—â—terwards they pursued their Chase to the Town 〈◊〉 having made all the waste and havock they were â—â—â—e they laid the Town it self in ashes and so reâ—â—â—ned home triumphantly laden with rich Booty 〈◊〉 Plunder King Edward receiving notice of this 〈◊〉 presently gathered a great Army at Glocester â—â—der the Conduct of Harold Earl Godwyn's Son â—o couragiously pursuing the Enemies entred into â—ales and encamped beyond Stradelwyd But Gruâ—â—dh and Algar dreading to oppose him retired furâ—â—â—r into South Wales of which Harold being certified 〈◊〉 one part of his Army behind with Orders to â—â—ght if occasion offered and with the other passed 〈◊〉 Hereford which he fortified with a strong Wall â—â—â—â—nd the Town Gruffydh perceiving his undaunted Industry after many Messages concluded a Peâ—â—â— with Harold at a place called Biligelhag by wâ—â—â—â— Articles Algar was pardoned by the King and â—â—stored to his Earldom of Chester But he did 〈◊〉 continue long in the King's Favour for about 〈◊〉 years after upon Conviction of Treason he was â—gain banished the Land so that he was forced to 〈◊〉 take himself to his old Friend Gruffydh Prince 〈◊〉 Wales by whose Aid and a Fleet from Norway 〈◊〉 spight of the King he was restored to his Earldâ—â— But King Edward was sore offended with the Priâ—â—â— of Wales for harbouring Traytors and therefore 〈◊〉 be Revenged upon him he dispatched Harold 〈◊〉 with an Army to North-Wales who coming 〈◊〉 Ruthlan burnt the Prince's Palace there and his 〈◊〉 that lay in the Harbor and then returned to 〈◊〉 King at Glocester This year Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside 〈◊〉 was sent for out of Hungary being designed Succession the Crown came to England but in a short time 〈◊〉 his coming died at London leaving behind him 〈◊〉 Son called Edgar Edeling and a Daughter naâ—â—â— Margaret who was afterwards Queen of the 〈◊〉 and Mother to Maud the Wife of Henry the fâ—â—â—â— A.D. 1056 About two Years after Roderic Son to Harold King of Denmark came with a considerable Army 〈◊〉 Wales and being kindly received by Prince Gruffâ—â—â— united his Power with the Welch and so entred 〈◊〉 England which they cruelly harassed and destroyâ—â— But before they could advance any considerable â—â—stance Roderic was compelled to Sail for Denmark and so Gruffydh returned laden with Spoils 〈◊〉 Wales The same time Harold Earl Godwyn's 〈◊〉 sailing to Flanders was driven by force of Weaâ—â—â— to Land at Poytiers where being seized upon 〈◊〉 was brought before William Bastard Duke of Nâ—â—mandy to whom he declared the reason of his Vâ—â—age that it was purposely to tender him his Serâ—â—â—â— in the Affairs of England and so taking an Oath 〈◊〉 to Marry the Duke's Daughter and after the
upon him the Management of it But the Normans in Rydcors Castle being sensible that they were not able to effect any thing against Howel ap Grono in open Field after their accustomed manner began to put that in execution by Treachery which they could not compass by force of Arms. And how to make Howel a Sacrifice to those Normans he had lately slain they could find no safer way than by corrupting one Gwgan ap Meyric a Man in great Favour and Esteem with Howel upon the account chiefly that one of his Children was nursed by Gwgan's Wife This ungrateful Villain to carry on his wicked Intrigue the more unsuspected gave Howel a very earnest invitation to his House to a Merriment where without any suspicion of Treachery being come he was welcomed with all the seeming Affection and Kindness imaginable But no sooner was he settled A.D. 1103 but Gwgan gave notice thereof to the Norman Garrisons and therefore by break of day they entered the Town and coming about the House where Howel lay in Bed they presently gave a great shout Howel hearing the noise suspected something of Mischief and therefore leaping in all haste out of Bed he made to his Weapons but could not find them by reason that Gwgan had conveyed them away whilst he was asleep And now being assured of Treachery in the case and finding that his Men had fled for their Lives he endeavour'd all he could to make his escape but Gwgan and his Company were too quick for him and so being secured they strangled him and deliver'd his Body to the Normans who having cut off his Head convey'd it to the Castle of Rydcors This most villainous Murther so barbarously committed upon the King's Lieutenant was not in the least taken notice of for King Henry was so unreasonably prejudiced in favour of the Normans that whatever Misdemeanour be it of never so high a nature was by them committed it was presently winked at and let fall to the ground whereas if the Welch trespassed but against the least injunction of the King's Laws they were most severely punished which was the cause that they afterwards stood up against the King in their own defence being by experience assured that he minded nothing more than their utter Destruction About this time Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury convened a Synod at London wherein among other Injunctions then decreed the Celibacy of the Clergy was enjoyned Marriage being before ever allowed of in Britain to them in Holy Orders But this new Injunction created a great deal of Heat and Animosities among the Clergy some approving of it as reasonable and orthodoxical others condemning it as an innovation and contrary to the plain Letter of Scripture But during these Disputes between the Clergy King Henry being now in the Fifth Year of his Reign sailed over with a great Army into Normandy where his Brother Robert together with Robert de Belesmo Arnulph and William Earl of Mortaign gave him battel but the King having obtained the Victory took the Duke his Brother with William of Mortaign Prisoners and carrying them into England he caused first his Brother Robert's Eyes to be plucked out and then condemned them A.D. 1104 both to perpetual imprisonment in the Castle of Cardyff About the same time Meyric and Gruffydh the Sons of Trahaern ap Caradoc were both slain by the means of Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn whose Uncle Meredith ap Blethyn who had been Prisoner for a long time in England now brake open the Prison wherein he was very narrowly confined and returning to his own Country had his Estate restored which afterwards he quietly enjoyed A.D. 1105 The next Year a very dismal and calamitous Accident happening in the Low-Countries proved very incommodious and prejudicial to the Welch for a great part of Flanders being drowned by the overflowing of the Sea the Inhabitants were compell d to seek for some other Country to dwell in their own being now covered with Water And therefore a great many being come over to England they requested of King Henry to assign them some part of his Kingdom which was empty and void of Inhabitants where they might settle and plant themselves The King taking advantage of this charitable opportunity and being in a manner assured that these Flemings would be a considerable Thorn in the side of the Welch bestowed upon them very liberally what was not justly in his power to give and appointed them the Country of Ros in Dyfed or West-Wales where they continue to this day But Gerald the King's Lieutenant in those Parts was resolved to be afore-hand with them and rebuilt the Castle of Pembrock in a place called Congarth Fechan whither he removed his Family and all his Goods A. D. 1106. But here a very unfortunate accident happened to him for Cadwgan ap Blethyn having prepared a sumptuous Feast in the Christmas invited all the Lords to his Country-House in Dyfed and among the rest his Son Owen who lived in Powys This young Gentleman being at his Father's House and hearing Nest the Wife of Gerald universally praised for her incomparable Beauty was so smitten with the rumour that went abroad of her that by all means he must see the Lady who was by all so much admired And forasmuch as Gwladys Wife to Rhys ap Theodore and Mother to Nest was the Daughter of Râ—walhon ap Confyn Cosin-German to Cadwgan his Father under pretence of Friendship and Relation he made bold to pay her a Visit But finding the truth far to surpass the Fame that went of her he returned home so inflam'd with her Charms that not being able to keep the Mastery over himself he went back again the very same night and being attended by a company of wild head-strong Youths they privily entered into the Castle and encompassing the Chamber about where Gerald and his Wife lay they set the House on fire Gerald hearing a noise would fain go out to know the meaning of such unseasonable Disturbance but his Wife fearing some Treachery persuaded him to make as private an Escape as he could and then pulling up a Board in the Privy let him go that way Then returning to her Chamber she would fain assure those notorious Youths that there was no body besides her self and Children there but this being not satifactory they forcibly broke in and having searched every the most private Corner and not finding Gerald they took his Wife and two Sons with a Son and a Daughter born by a Concubine and carried them away to Powys having first set fire to the Castle and destroyed the Country as they went along Cadwgan Owen's Father hearing of what outragious Crime his Son had committed was exceedingly concerned and sorry chiefly because hereby he was like to incur King Henry's great Displeasure and therefore he went with all speed to Powys and desired his Son with all Intreaties to send home to Gerald his Wife and Children with whatever else he had taken
wrongful and deceitful Dealings of King Henry but knowing himself to be unable to redress these Grievances he thought it more advisible for a time to live quietly with a little than rashly to hazard all But in a short time he had opportunity either to demand redress from the King or else to endeavour it himself by Force of Arms. For as soon as Roger Earl of Clare was informed of the distribution which the King of England had granted to Prince Rhys he came to King Henry requesting of his Majesty that he would grant him such Lands in Wales as he could win by force of Arm◠The King readily complied with his Request being always very forward to grant any thing which seemed to curb and discommode the Welch and therefore the Earl of Clare marched with a great Army into Cardigan and having fortified the Castles of Ystrat-Meyric Humphrey Dyfi Dynerth and Lhanrhystyd he made several Incursions into the Country In the same manner Walter Clyfford who was Governour of Lhanymdhyfri Castle made in-roads into the Territories of Prince Rhys and after he had slain several of the Welch and made great waste in the Country returned with considerable Booty Prince Rhys as he was unable to bear these outrages so he was resolved either to have immediate redress or else to proclaim open War against the English and therefore he sent an Express to King Henry complaining of the Hostilities which his Subjects the Earl of Clare and Walter Clifford had committed in in his Country But finding the King to put him still off with only smooth Words and fair Promises and that he always winked at the Faults of the English and Normans without any farther Consultation about the Matter he laid Siege to the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri and in short time made himself Matter of it Also Eineon the Son of Anarawd Rhy's Brother's Son and a Person of great Valor being desirous to free his Country from that miserable servitude they now groaned under and judging withal that his Uncle was now discharged from the Oath he had lately sworn to the King of England sat before the Castle of Humphrey and having forcibly made his entrance into it he put all the Garrison to the Sword where he found a great number of Horses and Armour enough to arm a considerable Body of Men And whilst Eineon was thus engaged at Humphrey's Castle Prince Rhys perceiving that he could not enjoy any part of his Inheritance but what he afterwards got by the Sword drew all his Power together and entred Cardigan where like a most violent Torrent he over-run the Country that he left not one Castle standing of those which his Enemies had fortified and so brought all the Country to his subjection King Henry being sore offended at the progress which Prince Rhys so suddenly made against him returned with a great Army into South-Wales but finding it to no purpose to attempt any thing against the Prince he thought it more advisable to permit him to enjoy all that he had gotten and only to take Hostages for his observing of Peace during his absence out of the Kingdom which Prince Rhys promising to do he forthwith returned to England and soon after went for Normandy where he concluded a Peace with the French King A.D. 1158 But the Year following Prince Rhys of South-Wales without any respect to his promise to King Henry last Year led his Forces to Dyfed and destroyed all the Castles that the Normans had fortified in that Country and then laid Siege to Caermardhyn But Reynold Earl of Bristol the King 's base Son being informed of it called together the Earl of Clare his Brother-in-Law Cadwalader Prince Owen of North-Wales's Brother Howel and Conan Owen's Sons with two Earls more who with their joynt Forces marched to raise the Siege But Prince Rhys was wiser than to abide their coming and therefore upon the first intimation of such great Opposition he retired to the Mountains called Cefn Rester and there encamped being sufficiently secure from any Enemy by the natural Fortification of the place The Confederate Army lay at Dynwylhîr and there built a Castle but finding no news or tidings of Prince Rhys they returned home without effecting any thing of Note King Henry was still in Normandy and there made War against the Earl of St. Giles for the City and Earldom of Tholouse Towards the beginning of this Year Madoc ap Meredith ap Blethyn Prince of Powis died at Winchester whence his Body was honourably conveyed to Powis and buried at Myfod He was a Prince very much affected to Piety and Religion very charitable to the necessitous and good to the distressed but his great Fault was that he stickled too hard for the Interest of the English and was always in Confederacy with King Henry against the good Success of his Native Country He had Issue by his Wife Susanna the Daughter of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales three Sons Gruffydh Maylor Owen and Elis and a Daughter named Marred He had also three natural Sons Owen Brogynton Cynwric Efelh and Eineon Efelh who tho' base born yet according to the Custom of Wales co-inherited with their Brethren who were legitimate And here it will not be amiss once for all to give a particular account of the Principality afterwards the Lordships of Powis how it came to be divided into many shares and portions and by that means became so irrecoverably broken and weakened that it was made subject to the Normans before the rest of Wales For Powis before King Offa's time reached Eastward to the Rivers of Severn and Dee in a right Line from the end of Broxen Hills to Salop and comprehended all the Country between the Wye and Severn which was antiently the Estate of Brochwel Yscithroc of whom mention is made before But after the making of Offa's dike Powis was contracted into a narrower compass the plain Country toward Salop being inhabited by Saxons and Normans so that the length of it reached North-East from Pulford-Bridge to Lhangiric-Parish on the Confines of Cardigan-shire to the South-West and the breadth from the farthest part of Cyfeilioc Westward to Elsmere on the East-side This Principality Roderic the Great gave to his youngest Son Merfyn in whose Posterity it remained intire till the death of Blethyn ap Confyn who tho' he had divided it betwixt his Sons Meredith and Cadwgan yet it came again whole and intire to the possession of Meredith ap Blethyn But he again broke the Union and left it between his two Sons Madawe and Gruffydh the first of which was Married to Susanna the Daughter of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales and had with her that part afterward called by his Name Powis Fadoc After his death this Lordship was divided also betwixt his Sons Gruffydh Maelor Owen ap Madawc and Owen Brogynton which last tho' basely born had however for his incomparable Valour and Courage a share of his Father's Estate namely
following Maelgon who had before routed his Brother Prince Gruffydh's Army and taken him Prisoner begins now to enlarge his Territories and takes in his Brothers Castles of Aberteifi and Ystratmeyric Also the youngest Son of Prince Rhys about this time recovered the Castle of Dynefowr from the Normans The same Summer Gwenwynwyn took up a resolution of attempting to extend Wales to its antient Limits and for this purpose he raises a powerful Army with which he first designs to be avenged of William de Bruce for the inhuman Death of his Cosin Trahaern Fychan and therefore he besiegeth his Castle of Payn in Elfel where he makes a Protestation that as soon as he had taken it for a farther satisfaction to his Revenge he would unmercifully ravage the whole Country as far as Severn But these mighty Menaces were soon blown over for he had neither Battering Engins nor Pioneers so that he was forced to lay before the Castle for three Weeks without effecting any thing whereby the Murtherers had time enough to apply themselves to England for Succours which they obtained For upon this Geoffrey Fitz-Peter Lord Chief Justice of England levies a considerable Army to which he joyns all the Lords Marchers and comes in all hast to the Relief of the place where he meets Gwenwynwyn with whom before he would hazard a Battel he was desirous to have a Treaty of Peace to which Gwenwynwyn and his Adherents would in no wise hearken or condescend but returned in answer that their business there was to be revenged of old Injuries done them Hereupon the English Lords resolved to enlarge Prince Gruffydh of South-Wales whom they knew to be an inveterate Enemy of Gwenwynwyn as he that delivered him up to their hands and likewise to be a Man of great Authority in his Country therefore they rightly concluded he might be more serviceable to them when at liberty than under confinement wherein they were not disappointed for he immediately got together a strong Body of his Countrymen and joyning with the English advanced towards the Castle where they furiously attack'd Gwenwynwyn who made no less vigorous defence hereupon there ensued a bloody Battel with a great slaughter on both sides but at length the English got the Victory and Gwenwynwyn lost a great number of common Soldiers if we believe Matthew Paris 3700 Men besides a great many of his best Commanders among whom were Anarawd Son of Eineon Owen ap Cadwalhon Richard ap Iestyn and Robert ap Howel Meredith ap Conan was likewise taken Prisoner with many more After this the English returned home triumphantly and requited Prince Gruffydh's Service with a perfect Liberty who immediately partly by his own Force partly by the Affection of his People repossessed himself of all his Dominions save the Castles of Aberteifi and Ystratmeyrie which his usurping Brother Maelgon by the Assistance of Gwenwynwyn had during his Confinement by the English taken from him and still unjustly detained Hereupon some of Prince Gruffydh's prime Nobility and Clergy came to him and offered him their Endeavours of reconciling him to his Brother and made him so apprehensive of his just Displeasure at him that he took a solemn Oath before them that in case his Brother would give him Hostages for the security of his own Person he would deliver him up his Castle of Aberteifi by a day appointed which Proposals Prince Gruffydh accepted of and accordingly sent him his Demands But it was the least of Maelgon's intention to make good his part or else he was very unconstant in his resolution for he had no sooner received the Hostages but instead of delivering up the Castle he fortifies it and puts in a Garrison for his own use and commits the Hostages to the custody of Gwenwynwyn Prince Gruffydh's mortal Enemy but not long after their Innocency procured them an opportunity of an Escape In the Year 1199 Maelgon still pursuing his Hatred A.D. 1199 of his Brother Prince Gruffydh gets an Army wherewith he besiegeth his Castle of Dynerth which he was Master of in a short time and then put all the Garrison to the Sword But about the same time Prince Gruffydh in lieu of this wan the Castle of Cilgerran and strongly fortified it This Year Richard the First of England as he was besieging the Castle of Chalons in France was shot from the Walls with an Arrow whereof he not long after dyed and left his Kingdom to his Brother John who thereupon was with great Solemnity crown'd at Westminster But he could not expect to enjoy this Kingdom peaceably for his elder Brother Geoffry Plantagenet had left a Son behind him named Arthur whose Right the Crown of England was by lineal descent which now therefore he justly lays claim to and by the assistance of King Philip of France who espoused his Quarrel endeavours to recover But before Prince Arthur had made sufficient Preparations to carry on his Design he was unexpectedly set upon by his Uncle his Army routed and he himself taken Prisoner and committed to safe custody not long after which he dyed and so King John was rid of his Competitor A.D. 1200 The following Year Gruffydh ap Conan ap Owen Gwynedh dyed and was buried in a Monk's Cawl in the Abby of Conway which way of burying was very much practised especially by the better sort in those days for the Monks and Friers had deluded the People into a strong Conceit of the Merits of it and had firmly persuaded them it was highly conducing to their future Happiness to be thus interr'd But this Superstition together with the Propagators of it they had lately received from England For the first Abby or Monastery we read of in Wales since the Destruction of that famous House of Bangor which favour'd of Romish Dregs was the Ty-Gwyn built in the Year 1146. after which they mightily increased and spread over all the Country and now the Fountain Head began to be corrupted for the Clergy maintained a Doctrin which their Ancestors abhorr'd as may easily be gathered from the Writings of that worthy Divine Ambrosius Telesinus who flourished in the Year 540. when the Christian Faith which we suppose to be deliver'd at the Isle of Afalon by Joseph of Arimathea flowed in this Land in a pure and uncorrupted Stream before it was infected and polluted by that proud and blood-thirsty Monk Augustine I say he then wrote and left behind him as his own Opinion and the Opinion of those days these following Verses Gwae'r offeiriad byd Nys angreifftia gwyd Ac ny phregetha Gwae ny cheidw ei gail Ac ef yn figail Ac nys areilia Gwae ni cheidw ei dhefaid Rhae bleidhie Rhufeniaid A'i ffon gnwppa From whence it is apparent that the Church of Rome was then corrupt and that the British Churches persevered in the primitive and truly Apostolical Profession of Christianity as it was at first planted in the Island and that no Roman Innovations had crept in
Warden of the Marches of Wales who thinking to get to himself an eternal Name in conquering the Welch raised all the Power he could and imagining that the Welch could not be privy to his purpose he apprehended he could fall upon the Earl-Marshal unexpected But in this he was to his sorâ—ow most widely mistaken for the Earl having received private intimation of his Design hid himself â—n a certain Wood by which the English were to march and when they were come so far the Welch of a sudden gave a great shout and leaping out of the place they had absconded themselves in they fell â—pon the English being unprovided and putting their whole Army to flight they slew an infinite number both of the English and their Auxiliaries John of Monmouth himself made his escape by flight but the Earl-Marshal entering his Country destroyed it with Fire and Sword And what added to the Misery of the English Prince Lhewelyn in the Week after Epiphany joyning the Earl-Marshal made an Incursion into the King's Territories destroying all before them from the Confines of Wales to Shrewsbury a great part of which they laid in Ashes King Henry was all this while with the Bishop of Winchester at Glocester and for want of sufficient Power or Courage to confront the Enemy durst not take the Field of which being at length perfectly ashamed he removed to Winchester leaving the Marches naked to the mercy of the Enemy And now there being no apprehension of fear from the English the Earl of Pembrock by the Counsel of Geoffrey de Marisco transported his Army into Ireland thinking to obtain a Conquest in that Kingdom but in the first Encounter with the Irish he was unfortunately slain through the Treachery of his own Men And so his Estate and Title descended to his Brother Gilbert But King Henry finding it impracticable to force the Welch to a Submission and being in a great measure weary of continual Wars and incessant Hostilities thought it his best Prudence to make some honourable Agreement with the Prince of Wales and therefore he deputed Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Rochester Coventry and Lichfield and Chester to treat with Prince Lhewelyn about a Peace When the King came to meet with them in their return from this Negotiation being at Woodstock he was certified of the death of the Earl of Pembrock which he took so much to heart that he presently melted into Tears being afflicted for the death of so great a Person whom he openly declared had not left his Second in all his Kingdom Going from thence to Glocester he met with the Archbishop and Bishops who delivered to him the * See the Appendix Form of the Treaty of Peace with Prince Lhewelyn which he would not conclude unless upon this condition That all the English Nobility who were confederated with him and by evil Counsel were exil'd should be recalled and restored to the King's Favour The Archbishop further acquainted his Majesty with what Difficulty he had brought the matter to this conclusion being sometimes forced to add Threatnings on the King's behalf with his Clergy to which Menaces the Prince is said to have answered That he bore more regard to the King's Charity and Piety than he did fear his Arms or dread his Clergy But the King who was very desirous of a Peace readily consented to what the Prince required and therefore he issued out his Letters recalling all the Nobles who were out-law'd or otherwise exil'd requiring them to appear at Glocester upon Sunday next before Ascension day where they should receive their Pardons and be restored to their Estates which the King had taken into his own hands The Peace being thus concluded betwixt the English and Welch Prince Lhewelyn set his Son Gruffydh at liberty whom for his disobedient and restless Humour he had detained in close Prison for the space of Six Years About the same time Cadwalhon ap Maelgon of Melienydh departed this Life who was quickly follow'd by Owen Gruffydh ap Rhys's Son a Person of great Worth and exceedingly beloved and A.D. 1235 was buried at Ystratflur by his Brother Rhys And the Year following dyed Owen ap Meredith ap Rotpert of Cydewen and not long after him Madawc A. D. 1236. the Son of Gruffydh Mayelor Lord of Bromfield Chirk and Yale who was buried at the Abby of Lhan Egwest or Vale Crucis which he had built leaving Issue behind him one Son called Gruffydh who succeeded into the Possession of all these Lordships A little after Gilbert Earl of Pembrock got by Treachery Marchen Castle which belonged to Morgan ap Howel and fortified the same very strongly for fear of Prince Lhewelyn The next Spring Joan King John's Daughter and Princess of Wales departed this Life and was A.D. 1237 buried according to her own desire upon the Sea-shore at a place called Lhanfaes in the Isle of Anglesey where the Prince in memory of her afterwards founded a religious House for the Order of Mendicant-Friars About the same time also dyed John Scot Earl of Chester without any Issue upon which account the King seized that Earldom into his own hands Hugh Lupus was the first that enjoyed this Honour who coming over to England with the Conquerour was by him created Earl of Chester and Sword-bearer of England Habendum tenendum dictum comitatum Cestriae sibi haeredibus suis ita liberè ad gladium sicut ipse Rex totam tenebat Angliam ad coronam To have and to hold the said County of Chester to him and his Heirs by right of the Sword so freely and securely as the King held the Realm of England in the right of the Crown After Five Descents Randulph Bohun came to be Earl of Chester who was Uncle to this John the last Earl This Randulph had several Encounters with Prince Lhewelyn and was in continual agitation against him but once more particularly meeting with the Prince and being sensible of his Inability to withstand him he was obliged to retire for Refuge to the Castle of Ruthlan which the Prince presently besieged Randulph perceiving himself to be in danger sent to Roger Lacy Constable of Chester requesting him to raise what strength he could possible and come to succour him in this Extremity Wherefore Lacy having received this Express called to him presently all his Friends desiring them to make all the Endeavours imaginable to rescue the Earl from that imminent Danger which so severely threatned him At whose request Ralph Dutton his Son in Law a valorous Youth assembled together all the Players and Musicians and such as then being Fair-time had met to make merry and presenting them to the Constable he forthwith marched to Ruthlan raised the Siege and delivered the Earl from all his fear In recompence of this Service the Earl granted the Constable several Freedoms and Priviledges and to Dutton the ruling and ordering all Players and Musicians within the said Country to be
and may be to their great Oppression in those Rights which they have purchased and hitherto enjoyed with their Estates And also on Occasion of great Vexation to many of Your Majesty's Subjects who have long had the absolute Inheritance of several Lands comprehended in the said Grant to the Earl of Portland by Antient Grants from the Crown His MAJESTY'S Answer Gentlemen I Have Kindness for my Lord Portland which he has deserved of Me by long and faithful Services but I should not have given him these Lands if I had imagined the House of Commons could have been concern'd I will therefore Recal the Grant and find some other way of shewing My Favour to him The Lordship of Ruthyn continued in the possession of the Grays till the Reign of Henry VII when George Grey Earl of Kent and Lord of Ruthyn upon some Bargain passed the same over to the King since which it has been in the possession of some of the Earls of Warwick and afterwards came to the Middletons of Chirk Castle in the County of Denbigh where it still continues being now enjoyed by the Right Worshipful Sir Richard Middleton Baronet But besides Henry Lacy and Reginald Grey several other Gentlemen of Quality came at this time with King Edward to North-Wales who in some time became to be Men of great Possessions and Sway in the Country whose Posterity enjoy the same to this time But he that expected to fare best in the distribution of these Lordships and Estates in Wales was one Rhys ap Meredith a Welch Man and one that contrary to the Allegiance sworn to his Prince and his Duty to his Native Country had served the King of England in all these Wars and done the greatest hurt of any Man to the Interest of Prince Lhewelyn For these great Services done to King Edward Rhys expected no less than to be promoted to the highest Preferments whom the King after the Prince of Wales's Overthrow first dubbed Knight and afterwards fed him with fair Words and great Promises But when he and all his Neighbours and Countrymen had submitted themselves to the Government of the King of England it happened that the Lord Pain Tiptost Warden of the King's Castles which joyned to Rhys's Country and the Lord Alan Plucknet the King's Steward in Wales cited Sir Rhys ap Meredith with all the rest of the Country to the King's Court which he refusing to do alledging his antient Priviledges and Liberties together with the King's Promises to him the foresaid Officers proceeded against him according to Law Whereupon A.D. 1289 Sir Rhys being greatly vexed to be thus served by those whole Interest he had all this while so warmly espoused thought to be revenged of Pain Tiptost and the rest of the English And to that end having drawn together some of his Tenants and Countrymen he fell upon the said Pain Tiptost between whom several Skirmishes afterwards happened and several Men were slain on both sides King Edward was now at Arragon to compose the Difference betwixt the Kings of Arragon and Naples but being informed of the Disturbances which had happened in Wales betwixt his Ministers there and Sir Rhys ap Meredith he writ to this latter requiring him to keep the Peace till his return at what time he would redress all Grievances and reduce Matters to a good and reasonable Order But Sir Rhys haveing already waited sufficiently upon the King's Promises and being now in a good condition to offend his Enemies by force of Arms would not give over the Enterprize he saw so promising but marching with his Forces to his Enemies Lands burnt and spoiled several Towns belonging to the English Upon this the King sent to the Earl of Cornwal whom he had appointed his Deputy during his absence to march with an Army into Wales to repress the Insolencies and to prevent any farther disorderly Attempts of the Welch The Earl accordingly prepared an Army and went against Sir Rhys's whose Army he quickly dispersed and overthrew his Castle of Drefolan but not without the loss of some of his Chief Men. For as they besieged and undermined the said Castle the Walls unexpectedly fell down by which unlucky Accident several of the English were oppressed and bruised to Death among whom were the Lord Strafford and the Lord William de Monchency But within a while after Robert Tiptost Lord Deputy of Wales raised a very powerful Army against Sir Rhys and after a slaughter of 4000 of the Welch took him Prisoner who the Michaelmas following at the King 's going to Scotland was condemned and executed at York A.D. 1293 But the Death of Sir Rhys did not put a final period to all the Quarrels betwixt the English and Welch for in a short time after there happened a new occasion for the Welch to murmur against and upbraid the Government of the English over them King Edward was now in actual Enmity and War with the King of France for the carrying on of which he wanted a liberal Subsidy and Supply from his Subjects This Tax was with a great deal of passion and reluctancy levied in divers places of the Kingdom but more especially in Wales the Welch being never acquainted with such large Contributions before A.D. 1294 violently stormed and exclaimed against it But not being satisfied with villifying the King's Command they took their own Captain Roger de Puelesdon who was appointed Collector of the said Subsidy and hanged him up together with divers others who abetted the collecting of the Tax Then West-Wales Men chose Maelgon Fychan for their Captain and so entring into Caermardhyn and Pembroke-shires they cruelly harassed all the Lands that belonged to the English and then returned laden with considerable Booty The Glamorgan-shire Men and they towards the South Parts chose one Morgan for their Leader and set upon the Earl of Glocester whom they forced to make his escape out of the Country and so Morgan was put in possession of those Lands which the Ancestors of the Earl of Glocester had forcibly taken away from Morgan's fore-Fathers On the other side the North-Wales Men set up one Madoc related to the last Lhewelyn slain at Buelht who having drawn together a great Number of Men came to Caernarvon and setting upon the English who in great multitudes had then resorted thither to a Fair slew a great many and afterwards spoiled and ransacked the whole Town King Edward being acquainted with these different Insurrections and Rebellions in Wales and desirous to quell the Pride and Stubborness of the Welch but most of all to revenge the Death of his great favourite Roger de Pulesdon recalled his Brother Edmund Earl of Lancaster and Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Lord of Denbigh who with a considerable Army were ready to embark for Gascoign and countermanded them into Wales Being arrived there they passed quietly forward till they came to Denbigh and as soon as they drew near unto the Castle upon St. Martin's day the Welch
the British Race 8. Retires to Alan King of Little Britain ibid. Learned in a Vision to go to Rome and there shorn a Monk 10. Cadwalader with his Brother Owen Gwynedh from North-Wales in conjunction with several South Wales Lords made an horrible slaughter of the Normans and Flemings and drove them out of South-Wales 157 158. Cadwalader forced to flee from his Brother Owen to Ireland 163. Returns with Irish Forces concludes a Peace with his Brother made Prisoner by the Irish rescued by his Brother 164. Escapes out of Prison 171. Flies to England ibid. His Death and Issue 200. Canterbury redeemed by the Citizens from being burnt by the Danes for 3000 l. 73. Betrayed afterward to them and burnt 74. Caradoc King of North-Wales fights and is slain by the Saxons 21. His Pedigree ibid. Celibacy enjoyned to the Clergy in a Synod held at London 127. Christian Faith pure in the British Church 221. Charles Duke of York created Prince of Wales 328. Charles eldest Son of King Charles the First created Prince of Wales 328. Civil War in Wales and Edwal Son of Meyric the indisputable Heir set up in North-Wales 67. Clare Earl of possessed himself of divers Strong-holds in Cardigan 177. Clynnoc fawr an Abby in Arfon 11. When and by whom built 12. Endowed by Prince Anarawd 39. Cnute the Dane chosen King and his Cruelty to the English Hostages 75. Returns to England ibid. The Northumbers submit to him 76. Besieges London is Routed by Edmund ibid. Combats Edmund agree and divide England between them 78. Generously punishes Edmund Ironside's Murder ibid. Marries Emma Edelred's Widdow 80. Requires a Subsidy of the English ibid. Made a pompous Journey to Rome 82. Makes the Scots do him Homage ibid. Dies and is succeeded by his Son Harold Harefoot 83. Conel prognosticating the Norman Invasion and Success 100. Commotions in England 158. Conâ—n War between him and his Brother Howel 22. Dies 23. His Pedigree ibid. Conspiracy against William the Conqueror by the English and the Welch detected and the Conspirators executed 104. Constable Walter marries Nest's Daughter and has the Lordship of Brecknock 116. A strange Passage related by him to Henry the First concerning Gruffydh ap Rhys ibid. Crogens used as a Term of reproach by the English to the Welch 223. No reason for it 224. Cynric Prince Owen's Son slain 162. D. DAnes begin to disturb England 20 21. They prevail and Winter in England 28. They take and destroy Winchester 30. Kill Osbright and Elba Kings of Northumberland 31. Slew Edmund King of the Angles ibid. Fought five Battles with Ethelred ibid. They won London and Redding 33. Routed by the West-Saxons 34. Are defeated by Alfred and received the Christian Faith 37. They harrass North-Wales 39. Defeated by the Armorican Britains ibid. Forced to rise from before Exeter and spoil the Sea-Coast of Wales 41. Receive a great overthrown 42. They grow powerful not only in England but also in Ireland 44. Thrice overthrown by the English 45. Cruelly overthrown by Tottenhale 46. Routed by King Edward 48. Driven out of the Kingdom by King Edmund 52. Force the English to pay the Dane-Gelt 65. Make a terrible Havock in Wales and had Tribute paid them 66. Make fresh devastations in Wales and England 70. They are massacred by the English 71. Force the English Nobility to buy their Peace for 30000 l. 72. They beat Wolfkettel 73. Slew Ethelstan and ransack'd the Country 74 Dafydh ab Owen kiâ—l'd his Brother Howel in Battel and gâ—ts to be Prince of North-Wales 195. Secures â—is Brother Maelgon reduces Anglesey and banishes his Brethren 202. Sends a Band of Welch to accompany King Henry into Normandy ibid. Is dispossest by his eldest Brother's Son Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth 213. Vngrateful to Prince Lhewelyn for his Liberty 224. Dafydh ap Lhewelyn Prince of Wales did Homage at Glocester to the King of England 259. Is excommunicated by the Bishop of Bangor for detaining his Brother Gruffydh in Prison whom he refused to deliver at the King's Request 260. Submits to the King of England 262. Caâ—ols the King to detain his Brother Gruffydh Prisoner ibid. Engages the Pope on his side against the King but he proves false 264. Fights the English often with various Success ibid. Dies without Issue 268. Davids St. burnt by the West-Saxons 21. Destroyed by the Danes 45. Again by the Danes 69. Destroyed by Strangers 107. The Cathedral sacrilegiously robbed 111. Made subject to the See of Canterbury 125. Dunstan St. Bishop of Canterbury his Prediction and Death 61. E. EAster the Britains and Saxons quarrel about the Observation of it 18 19. Edgar advanced to the Kingdom in his Brother Edwin's room 56. He wasts North-Wales and agrees for a yearly Tribute of 300 Wolves ibid. Regulates drinking Vessels because of the Danes excess 57. Rowed in his Barge by six Kings on the River Dee 59. Edgar Edeling proclaimed King forced into Scotland 101. Received to King William's Mercy 103. Edmund King of England's Death and the uncertain manner of it 53. Edmund Ironside slain by Edric's Son 78. Edwal Foel and his Brother Elis fight the English and are slain 49. Their Issue ibid. Edward sent for from Normandy and made King 86 The Confessor's death 98. Edward I. King of England invades Wales and prevails 283. Insists upon Prince Lhewelyn's submission without reserve 292. Sets Prince Lhewelyn's Head upon the Tower of London and puts his Brother David to death 299. Subdues all Wales ibid. Kept his Christmas at Aber-Conwey 307. In necessity would taste no Wine for the satisfaction of his Soldiers 308. Cuts down all the Woods in Wales and builds Beumaris-Castle 309. Edward of Caernarvon first Prince of Wales of the English Blood 301. Received Homage at Chester of all the Free-holders of Wales 310. Goes farther into the Country to the same purpose ibid. Edward eldest Son to King Edward II. created Prince of Wales 313. Edward eldest Son to King Edward III. created Prince of Wales 313 His Character and Death 314. Edward Son to Henry VI. created Prince of Wales 323. Murdered ibid. Edward eldest Son to King Edward VI. created Prince of Walts murdered 223. Edward VI. inclined to favour the Welch 323. Edward Son to Richard III. created Prince of Wales 324. Edward Son to Henry VIII created Prince of Wales 325. Edwyn King of England vitious dispossess'd and dies 56. Egbert sole Mâ—narch in Britain 25. Calls the Country England ibid. He fights the Danes 26. Eincon invites the Normans into Wales and persuades them to stay 112 Elfleda Mercian Queen her Valiant Acts both against the Danes and Welch 46. Her death 47. Left a Daughter Alfwyden disinherited by King Edward ibid. Ethelwulph King of the West-Saxons paid Peter-pence to Rome 29. Learned and devout ibid. Eyes of several pluck'd out a barbarous Custom 155. Ethelbald King of Mercia invades Wales 16. In conjunction with Adelred overthrow the Britains ibid. F. FLanders a part of it drowned prejudicial to
THE HISTORY OF WALES Comprehending the Lives and Succession OF THE PRINCES of WALES FROM CADWALADER the last King to Lhewelyn the last Prince of British Blood WITH A short Account of the Affairs of WALES under the Kings of England Written originally in British by Caradoc of Lhancarvan and formerly published in English by Dr. Powel Now newly augmented and improved by W. WYNNE A. M. and Fellow of Jesus Colledg Oxon. LONDON Printed by M. Clark for the Author and are to be sold by R. Clavell at the Peacock at the West-End of S. Pauls 1697. TO THE Right Rev d Father in GOD HUMPHREY Lord BISHOP of BANGOR My Lord WHEN I had finished the following Book I was not long to determin under whose Patronage I should make it publick your Lordship 's Extraordinry Knowledge in all the British Antiquities especially that Part which relates to the Welch justly claiming what I now make bold to offer to your Favour For it seems to be as Natural a Design of a Dedication to present one's Labours to the greatest Judge as to him who is the greatest Encourager of his Writings and if so my Lord this single Reason would sufficiently justify me from any Presumption in submitting the following Papers to your Lordship's Protection But where the Obligation is corroborated by an equal Engagement and since your Lordship has been pleased to encourage and promote the Design before it came to any Growth I hope I may safely present now in its perfect Strength and Vigor what you were then pleased to receive in its Infancy The History of our Country my Lord has been so much neglected that there seems a very great Necessity of reviving what to the generality of the Kingdom is almost lost and there are too many otherwise very Learned Persons nay some of our own Nation who are so great Strangers to this Subject that they are almost ignorant that there is such a History in being We have hopes indeed that from your Lordship's Excelling Knowledge in the Welch History and other British Antiquities with those Curious Collections you have with great Labour made towards that Matter and from others now Travelling the same good Way we may expect that the World shall receive such Information relating to our Country that they who have hitherto despised our History will be ready to Light that Candle which they now purposely extinguish and ignorantly undervalue In the mean time if by the following History I can revive the Memories of the several Princes therein contained which in the English Histories are either totally omitted or but partially interwoven and render our History more generally Known I have my Aim and especially since I gain the Opportunity of Acknowledging my self Your Lordship 's most humble Servant W. WYNNE THE PREFACE THE History of the Britains may not improperly be distinguished into two Periods the former comprehending the interval from Brute to Cadwalader whilst the Britains are thought to have enjoyed a general Possession of the whole Island the other containing the Memoirs and Transactions of the Britains under their several Princes after their recession to that part of the Island since called Wales The former of these has been generally accounted of late absolutely false and unhistorical and 't is undoubtedly concluded that all the Passages in Geoffrey of Monmouth the only remaining Monument of the Affairs of the antient Britains which are not consonant to and agreeable with the Roman Historians that speak of Britain are absolutely fabulous and unsincere The History of the Princes of Wales has indeed met with better fortune and the Author Caradoc of Lhancarvan is accounted just and authentick so that there need no other Apology for the following Work than that it is for the best part the genuine History of that Author But because the History of Wales has no small dependance upon and relation to the History of the antient Britains published by Geoffrey I think it necessary to make some general reflection in relation to the Truth and Authority of that Copy And here in the first place I must take notice of two sorts of Opinions most widely repugnant and as I may say diametrically opposite to each other and both in my opinion equally deviating from the right apprehension of the matter in debate The one perfectly rejecting the whole foundation and process of Geoffrey's History will not believe so much as one passage relating to the antient Britains but what is delivered by Roman Writers as if nothing remarkable could happen in Britain but what must needs fall under their special Cognizance and Observation The other without any allowance to the Age when these British Affairs were transacted not to mention the utmost Antiquity of some part of this History cotemporary with which nothing is certain among the more civilized Greeks and Romans will believe the whole Frame and all the Circumstances of Geoffrey's History be they never so ridiculous and extravagant But not to insist on so bigotted an Opinion as to think that the British History is universally true and altogether authentick I will confine my self to the examination of the other Extream to see whether that History published by Geoffrey be so absolutely fabulous as is frequently represented and generally believed Now they who discredit this History either wholly attribute the Frame and Invention of it to Geoffrey or else granting him to be a faithful Translator assure themselves that the Copy he received was fictitious and perfectly owing to the unwarrantable Forgeries of the fabulous Monks So that the subject of my present enquiries will naturally fall under those two Disquisitions 1. Whether Geoffrey be the real Contriver and Composer of this History And 2ly Supposing him to be innocent of this Suspicion whether the History published by him be perfectly fabulous and in all respects a Monkish Legend 1. As to what relates to Geoffrey though methinks there need no greater Argument to evidence his Innocency from so suspected an Imposture as his being the Contriver of this History than that be professedly owns the receipt of the British Manuscript from Walter Arch Deacon of Oxford yet because the Prejudice of some Men oftentimes obscures their Understanding in things otherwise very clear and open it will be requisite to dwell somewhat more particularly upon that Subject or if the World be once perswaded that the whole Invention is owing to Geoffrey and that there was no such Account of the Britains in being before he published his History the whole series of British Affairs not mentioned in the Writings of the Roman Authors and all that long continued Succession of British Kings for so many Ages must of necessity be accounted fabulous and a perfect Legend But before that Geoffrey should be so unreasonably attainted of such notorious Forgery and his History be so generally condemned one might expect that such evident Proofs could be produced to evince so absolute a Position as to render it past all Dispute and Contradiction
where every Man either â—acked Knowledge or Spirit to set forth the History of their own Country took this Enterprise in hand to â—heir great shame and no less dispraise because he a blind Leader shall draw a great Number of undiscreet and rash Followers as well Geographers and Cosmographers as Chroniclers and Historiographers to the Hark Pit of Ignorance where I leave them at this time remitting the Reader to the Apology of Sir John Price Knight and his British History written by him of purpose against the envious Reports and slanderous Taints of the said Polydore where he shall see a great number of his Errors confuted at large And to return to my former matter of the Name of Wales Wales which Name to be given of late by a strange Nation may be otherwise proved for the Welch-men themselves do not understand what these words Wales and Welch do signify nor know any other Name of thee Country or themselves but Cambry nor of their Language but Cambraec which is as much to say as Camber's Language or Speech So likewise they know not what England or English meaneth but commonly they call the Country Lhoyger the English Men Saison A Loâ—rino A Saxon. and the English Tongue Saisonace Which is an evident token that this is the same Language which the Britains spake at the beginning for the Works of Merdhyn and of Taliessin who wrote above 1000 years past are almost the same words which they use at this day or at the least easy to be understood oâ— every one which knoweth perfectly the Welch Tongue especially in North Wales Beside this where at this day there do remain three remnants of the Britains divided every one from other with the Seas which are in Wales Cornwall called in British Cerniw and little Britain yet almost all the particular words of these three People are all one although in pronunciation and Writing of the Sentences they differ somewhat which is no marvel seeing that the pronunciation in one Realm is often so diverse that the one can scarce understand the other But it is rather a wonder thaâ— the Welch-men being separated from the Cornish wel nigh these 900 years and the Britains from either of them 290 years before that and having smal Traffick or Concourse together since that time have still kept their own British Tongue They are not therefore to be credited which deny the Welch to be the old British Tongue And here I cannot pass over what one of these fine Chroniclers wrote of late of the Name of Britain affirming that it should be so called of Britanie in France as the Elder of that Name But surely he had either never seen Ptolomy nor Caesar nor any other antient Writer or read them with small Judgment and Memory For there he might have learned that when this Land was called Britain the other was called Armorica Rob. Caenal lib. 2. Per. 2. and how in Maximus's time Conan Meriadoc was the first that gave it that Name and inhabited it with Britains out of this Isle Other derivations of these words Britannia and Albion out of Greek and Latin I am ashamed to rehearse for unto such Errors do they commonly fall that either puffed up with vain-glory of their own Wits or pinched with despite and envy at other Men's Works or blinded with Igorance do go about to write and set forth any History or Chronicle But passing over this matter until another time I will return to the Description of Wales The mears bounds of Wales which as I said was of old time compassed almost about with the Irish Seas and the Rivers Dee and Severn although afterwards the Saxons wan by force from the Britains all the plain and champion Country over the Rivers and specially Offa King of Mercia who made a Ditch of great breadth and depth to be 〈◊〉 Mear betwixt his Kingdom and Wales which Ditch began at the River Dee by Bassingwerk between Chester and Ruthlan and ran along the Hills sides to the South Sea a little below Bristol reaching above a hundred Miles in length and is in many places to be seen at this day bearing the Name of Clawdh Offa that is to say Offa's Ditch and the Country between it and England is commonly called in Welch Y Mars although the great part of it be now inhabited by Welch-men namely in North-Wales which yet keepeth the antient limits to the River Dee and in some places over it Other as Sylvester Giraldus make the River Wy called in Welch Gwy to be the Mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-Wales who measureth the breadth of Wales from Salow or Willoweford called Rhyd yr helig upon Wy to St. Davids in Menevia 100 Miles and the length from Caerlheon upon Ysc in Gwentland to Holybead called Caergybi in Anglesey in Welch called Môn above 100. Miles and these be the common Mears at this day altho' the Welch Tongue is commonly used and spoken in England beyond these old Mears a great way as in Hereford-shire Glocester-shire and a part of Shropshire And thus for the general Description of Wales which afterward about the Year of Christ 870. Rodericus Magnus King of Wales divided into three Territories which they called Kingdoms which remained until of late days These three were Gwynedh in English North-Wales Deheubarth in English South-Wales and Powys-Land in every of the which he ordained a Princely Seat or Court for the Prince to remain at most commonly as in Gwynedh which some old Writers call Venedoâ—â—â— for Gwynethia Aberffraw in the Islle of Môn or Anglesey Aberffraw In Deheubarth called in Latin Demetia Caâ—mardyn from whence it was afterward removed to Dynefowr Dynefowr Mathrafal eight Miles thence In Powys Pengwern call'd Y Mwythic and in English Shrewsbury from whence it was removed to Mathrafal in Powys-Land And because this History doth as well intreat of Wars betwixt these three Provinces as betwixt them and the Saxons Normans and Flemings I think it good to set forth the particular Description of every part by it self And first of North-Wales as the chiefest part which he gave his Eldest Son ordaining that either of the other two should pay him yearly 200 l. of Tribute North-Wales as it appeareth in the Laws of Howel Dha which are to be had in Welch and also in Latin Therefore Gwynedh called North-Wales had upon the North-side the Sea from the River Dee at Basing-werke to Aberdyfi and upon the West and South-West the River Dyfi which divideth it from South-Wales and in some places from Powys-Land And on the South and East it is divided from Powys sometimes with Mountains and sometimes with Rivers till is come to the River Dee again This Land was of old time divided to four parts of which the chiefest was Môn Môn in English called Anglesey where the Prince's chief House was at Aberffraw which is an Island separated from
Increase how they fairly bid for â—he Conquest of that Country which had been goâ—erned by British Kings for the space of 1827. Years This troubled him exceedingly and tho he had litâ—le hopes of prevailing by the Strength and Numâ—er of his Forces yet he made the best preparation that the Opportunity would permit and dispatched his Fleet for the transportation of his Army which consisted partly of his own Subjects and partly of such Succours as he received from Alan Whilst he vigorously prosecuted this Design and was ready to strike sail for Britain his Voyage was prevented by a Message from Heaven which counselled him to lay aside the thoughts of recovering his Kingdom because it was already decreed above that the Britains should no longer enjoy the Government of Britain till the Prophesie of Merlyn Ambrose was fulfilled And instead of a Voyage to Britain he is ordered to take his Journey to Rome where he should receive Holy Orders at the hands of Pope Sergius and instead of recovering the British Crown have his own Crown shaved off and be initiated into the Order of the Monks Whether this Vision was signified to him in a Dream or by the impositious Illusion of some wicked Spirit or whether it may be a phantastical Conceit of his own being a Man of a mild and easie temper wearied with Troubles and Miseries is very dubious Only this is certain thaâ— he never returned again to Britain after he had gone over to Alan But Cadwaladar had no sooner received this Vision but immediately he relates the whole to his Friend Alan who presently consults all his prophetical Books chiefly the famous Works of the two Merlins Ambrose and Silvester The first is said to be begotten on a Spirit and born in the Town of Carmarthen whence he received the Name of Merliâ— and to flourish in the Reign of King Vortigern The latter called Caledonius from the Forest Caledon in Scotland and Silvester or Merlyn Wylbt by reason he fell mad and lived desolately after that he had seen a monstrous shape in the Air prophesied in the time of King Arthur and far more full and intelligible than the former Both these were in great Reverence and Reputation among the Britains and their Works very religiously preserved and upon any considerable occasion most venerably consulted They were of opinion that nothing could escape their Knowledg and that no Accident of moment or revolution could happen which they did not foretel and was to be â—â—covered in their Writings In the consultation â—â—erefore of their Prophesies and the Words which 〈◊〉 Eagle is said to have spoken at the building of â—â—er Septon now Shaftsbury namely that the Briâ—â—ns must lose the Government of Britain till the â—â—nes of King Cadwalader were brought back from â—â—me Alan found out that the time was now come â—hen these Prophesies were to be accomplished and â—â—e Britains forced to quit their native Inheritance to â—â—â—angers and Invaders Upon this he advised Cadâ—lader to obey the Commands and follow the Counâ—â—â— of the Vision and to hasten his Journey for Rome â—â—is he was willing to submit to being desirous to â—â—end the remainder of his Days in Peace and Quietâ—â—ss which before he had no opportunity to enjoy â—o Rome therefore he hastens where he was kindly â—â—ceived by Pope Sergius and after eight Years spent â—ere in Piety and Devotion he died in the Year â—â—8 and with him the Kingdom and total Governâ—ent of the Britains over this Island King Cadwalader is said to have been a consideraâ—â—e Benefactor to the Abby of Clynnoc Vawr in Arvon â—â—on which he bestowed the Lordship of Grayanoc â—his place was primarily founded by S. Beuno to â—hom it is dedicated who was the Son of Hywgi ap â—wynlliw ap Glywis ap Tegid ap Cadell a Prince or â—ord of Glewilig Brothers Son to S. Cadoc ap Gwynâ—â—â—w sometime Bishop of Beneventum in Italy He 〈◊〉 by the Mothers side Cosin German to Laudatus â—â—e first Abbot of Enlli or the Island of Bardsey â—â—d to Kentigern Bishop of Glascow in Scotland and 〈◊〉 Lhanolwey or S. Asaph in Wales which last was â—on to Owen Regent of Scotland and Grandson to â—rien King of Cumbria The building of a Monaâ—â—ry at Glynnoc happened upon this occasion Baeuno â—aving raised to life as the Tradition goes S. Weniâ—â—yd who was beheaded by one Caradoc a Lord in North Wales upon the account that she would not â—ield to his unchast Desires became in very great â—steem with King Cadvan who bestowed upon him â—ertain Lands whereon to build a Monastery Cadwallon also Cadrans Son gave him the Lands oâ— Gwareddoc where beginning to build a Church 〈◊〉 certain Woman with a Child in her Arms preventeâ— his further progress assuring him that those Landâ— were the proper inheritance of that Child Beâ—â—â— was so exceedingly troubled at this and withouâ— any more consideration on the matter taking thâ— Woman along with him he went in all haste to Caâ— Sevant called by the Romans Segontium now Câ—â—narvon where King Cadwallon then kept his Court when he was come before the King he told him witâ— a great deal of Zeal and Concern that he had nâ—â— done well to devote to God's Service what was aâ—other Man's Inheritance and therefore demandâ—â— back of him the Golden Scepter he had given him 〈◊〉 lieu and consideration of the said Land which thâ— King refusing to do was presently excommunicated bâ— Beuno who thereupon departed and went away Bâ— a certain person called Gwyddeiant the King 's Cosin-German hearing what had happened immediatelâ— pursued after Beuno whom when he had overtakeâ— he bestowed upon him for the good of his own Soâ— and the Kings the Township of Clynncovawr being his undoubted Inheritance where Beuno built a Church about the Year 616. about which time King Cadvan dyed leaving his Son Cadwallon to succeed him And not long before this time Eneon Ehreâ—â— or Anianus King of the Scots a considerable Prince in the North of Britain leaving all his Royalty iâ— those Parts came to Lhyn in Gwyneth where he built a Church which is still called from him Lhaâ— Eingan Bhrenin where he is said to have spent the remainder of his Days in the Fear and Service of God He was Son to Owen Danwyn the Son of Eneon Yrth Son to Cunedha Wledig King of Cambria and a great Prince in the North and Cosin-German to the great Maelgwn Gwyneth King of Britain whose Father was Caswallon law-hîr the Brother of Owen Danwyn and his Mother Medif the Daughter of Voylda ap Talâ— Traws of Nanconwâ—y This Maclywn died about the Year 586. Ivor and Edwal Ywrch WHen Cadwalader was departed for Rome Alan began to reflect upon the state and condition Great Britain he imagin'd with himself that the â—ecovery of it was not impracticable but that a conâ—â—â—erable Army might regain what the Saxons now â—â—ietly possessed Therefore he was resolved to try â—â—e utmost and to send over all the Forces
Forces obtained a very bloody Victory over the powerless Britains Bâ—â— Adelred who was shortly follow'd by Edwyn King 〈◊〉 the Picts did not long survive this Battel and Cudâ—â— took upon him the Government of the West-Saxons The Welch found themselves unable to cope with the Saxons and too weak to repress their endless Incursions 3. therefore they apply themselves to Cudred and joyned in league with him who upon some occasion or other was actually fallen out with Ethelbald King of Mercia But Ethelbald was so proud with the success A.D. 746 of the last Engagement that notwithstanding the League with Cudred he must needs again fall upon the Welch He advanced as far as Hereford where the Britains by the help of Cudred gave him a signal Overthrow and caused him to repent of his rash and precipitous Expedition But shortly after Cudred and Ethelbald were unluckily reconciled and made Friends together and Cudred relinquishing the Welch joyned his Forces to Ethelbalds Hereupon ensued another Battel in which the Welch being greatly overpower'd were vanquish'd by the Saxons after which Victory Cudred shortly dyed To him succeeded Sigebert a A.D. 743 Man of a loose and vicious inclination who for his ill Behaviour in the Management of his Kingdom was in a short time expell'd and depriv'd by his Nobility â—nd at last miserably slain by a rascally Swineherd After him Kenulph was chosen King of the West Saxons Ann. 750. in whose time dyed Theodore the Son of A.D. 750 Bâ—lin a Man of great Esteem and Reputation among the Britains And about the same time a remarkable Barâ—el was fought between the Britains and the Picts â—t a place call'd Magedawc in which the Picts were â—ut to a total rout and Dalargan their King casually â—lain But the Britains did not succeed so well against the Saxons for Roderic Molwynoc was at length forced to forsake the Western Countries of Britain and â—o claim his own Inheritance in North Wales The Sons of Bletius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwal and Devonshire who was one of them that vanquished Adelred and Ethelbert at Bangor on the River Dee had enjoyed the Government of North Wales ever since Cadfan was chose King of Britain Roderic therefore demanded the Government of this Country as his â—ight which he was now willing to accept of seeing â—he was forced to quit what he had hitherto possessed But he did long enjoy it but dyed in a short time leaving behind him two Sons Conan Tindaythwy and Howel after that he had in all reigned over the Britains Thirty Years Conan Tindaythwy A.D. 755 ROderic Molwynoc being dead his Son Conan Tindaythwy took upon him the Government and Principality of Wales in the Year 755. He was scarce settled in his Throne but the Saxons began to make in-Roads into his Country to spoil and destroy what they conveniently could meet with They were animated hereto by the bad Success of Roderic and having forced the Britains out of Cornwal and Devonshire they thought it practicable to drive them out of Wales too and so to reduce the Possession of the whole Island to themselves This was their Aim and this they endeavour'd to put in execution but they were met with at Hereford where a severe Battel was fought between them and the Welch in which Dyfnwal the Son of Theodor a stout and valiant Soldier was slain And shortly afterwards dyed Athelbeâ—â— King of Northumberland and was succeeded by Oâ—wald About the same time happened a religious Quarreâ— between the Britains and Saxons concerning the observation of the Feast of Easter which Elbodius 〈◊〉 learned and a pious Man endeavoured to rectifie 〈◊〉 Wales and to reduce it to the Roman Calculation which the Saxons always observed The Britains diâ— differ from the Church of Rome in the celebration oâ— this Feast and the difference was this The Church of Rome according to the order of the Council of Nicâ— always observed Easter-day the next Sunday after thâ— 14th day of the Moon so that it never happen'â— upon the 14th day it self nor passed the 21th Thâ— Britains on the other hand celebrated their Easter upon the 14th and so forward to the 20th which occasioned this Difference that the Sunday observed as Easter-day by the Britains was but Palm-Sunday with the Saxons Upon this account the Saxons did most uncharitably traduce the Britains and would scarcely allow them the Name and Title of Christians Hereupon about the Year 660. a great Contest happen'd managed on the one part by Colman and Hylda who defended the Rites and Celebration of the Britains and Gilbert and Wilfride on the part of the Saxons Hylda was the Neece of Edwine King of Northumberland educated by Pauline and Aedan She publickly opposed Wilfride and other superstitious Monks as to such Trifles and Bigotry in Religion alledging out of Polycrates the Fact of Irenaeus who withstood Victor Bishop of Rome upon the same account and the custom of the Churches of Asia observed by S. John the Evangelist Philip the Apostle Polycarpus and Melito and likewise observed in Britain by Joseph of Arimathea who first preached the Gospel here Offa was made King of Mercia and Brichtrich of A.D. 763 the West-Saxons about which time dyed Fermael the Son of Edwal and Cemoyd King of the Picts The Saxons did daily encroach upon the Lands and Territories of the Welch beyond the River Severn but more especially towards the South part of the Country These Enchroachments the Welch could not endure and therefore were resolved to recover their own and to drive the Saxons out of their Country The Britains of South-Wales as receiving the greatest A.D. 776 Injury and Disadvantage from the Saxons presently took up Arms and entered into the Country of Mercia which they ravag'd and destroyed with Fire and Sword And shortly after all the Welch joyned their Forces together fell upon the Saxons and forced them to retire beyond the Severn and then returned home with a very considerable Spoil of English Cattel The Welch finding the Advantage of this last Incursion and how that by these means they gauled and vexed the Saxons frequently practised the same and entering their Countrey by stealth they killed and destroyed all before them and driving their Cattel beyond the River ravaged and laid waste the whole Countrey Offa King of Mercia not being able to endure these daily Incursions and Depredations of the Welch entered into a League with the rest of the Saxon Kings to bend their whole Force against the Welch who having raised a very strong and numerous Army passed the Severn into Wales The Welch being far too weak to oppose and encounter so great an Army quitted the even and plain Countrey lying upon the Banks of Severn and Wye and retired to the Mountains and Rocks where they knew they could be most safe from the inveterate and revengeful Arms of the Saxons But as soon as the Saxons decamped being not able to effect any thing against them in these strong and
natural Fortifications the Welch still made In-roads into their Territories and seldom returned without some considerable Booty and Advantage The Saxons were heartily nettled at these bo-peeping Ravagers and would compliment them still to their Holes but durst not pursue them further for fear they should be entrapp'd by such as defended the Streights and Passages into the Rocks King Offa perceiving that he could effect nothing by these Measures annexed the Country about Severn and Wye to his Kingdom of Mercia and planted the same with Saxons And for a farther security against the endless Invasions of the Welch he made a deep Ditch extending from one Sea to the other called Clawdâ— Offa or Offa's Dike upon which account the Royal Seat of the Princes of Powys was translated from Pengwern now Shrewsbury to Mathraval in Montgâ—meryshire A.D. 795 While these things are transacted in the West the Danes began to grow powerful at Sea and durst venture to land in the North of England but without doing any great hurt being forced to betake themselves to their Ships again Within Six Years after they landed again in greater numbers and proved much more terrible they ravaged and destroyed a great part of Linsey and Northumberland over-ran the best part of Ireland and miserably wasted Rechreyn At the same time a considerable Battel was fought at Ruthlan between the Saxons and the Welch wherein Caradoc King of North Wales was killed The Government of Wales was as yet green and not firmly rooted by reason of the perpetual Quarrels and Disturbances between the Welch and the Saxons so that the chief Person or Lord of any Country assumed to himself the Title of King Caradoc was a Person of great Esteem and Reputation in North Wales and one that did very much contribute towards the Security of the Countrey against the Incursions of the Saxons He was Son to Gwyn the Son of Colhoyn the Son of Ednowen Son to Blethyn the Son of Blecius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwal and Devonshire Offa King of Mercia did not long survive him and was succeeded by his Son Egfert who in a short time left his Kingdom also to Kenulphus a year after that Egbertus was created King of the West Saxons About the same time dyed Arthen Son to Sitsylht the Son of Clydawc King of Cardigan and sometime after Run King of Dyfed and Cadelh King of Powys who were followed by Elbodius Archbishop of North Wales before whose Death happen'd a very severe Eclipse of the Sun The Year following the Moon was likewise A.D. 808 eclipsed upon Christmas-day These Fatalities and Eclipses did portend no Success to the Welch Affairs the laying of S. Davids in Ashes by the West Saxons being followed by a general and a very grievous Murrain of Cattel which was like to impoverish the whole Country The following Year Owen the Son of Meredith the Son of Terudos dyed and the Castle of Deganwy was ruined and destroyed by Thunder But these several Losses which the Welch sustained could not reconcile Prince Conan and his Brother Howel but they must needs quarrel and contend with one another when they had the greatest occasion to embrace and unite their endeavours against the common Enemy Howel claimed the Isle of Anglesey as part of his Father's Inheritance which Conan would by no means hearken to nor consent that his Brother should take possession of it It was the custom of Wales that a Fathers Estate should be equally distributed between all his Sons and Howel by virtue of this Custom commonly called Gavelkind from the word Gafel to hold claimed that Island as his Fathers Estate This Custom of Gavelkind has been the occasion of the Ruin and Diminution of the Estates of all the antient Nobility in Wales which being endlesly divided between the several Sons of the same Family were at length reduced to nothing From hence also proceeded several unnatural Wars and Disturbances between Brothers who being either not satisfied with their Portions or displeased with the Country they were to possess disputed their Right by Dint of the Sword This proved very true in this present instance for Howel would not suffer himself to be cheated out of his paternal Inheritance and therefore he would endeavour to recover it by Force of Arms. Both Armies being engaged the Victory fell to Howel who immediately thereupon possessed himself of the Island and valiantly maintained it against the Power and Strength of his Brother Conan The Welch being thus at variance and enmity among themselves and striving how to destroy one another had yet another Disaster added to their Misfortune For the following Year they received a very considerable Loss by Thunder which very much spoiled and annoyed the Country and laid several Houses and Towns in Ashes About the same time Gruffith the Son of Run a Person of considerable Quality in Wales dyed and Griffri the Son of Kyâ—gen was treacherously murthered by the Practices of his Brother Elis. But Conan could not rest satisfied with his Brother Howels forcible possession of the Island of Anglesey and therefore he was resolved to give him another Battel and to force him to restore and yield up the Possession of that Country which he had now violently kept in his hands Howel on the other hand being as resolutely bent to maintain his Ground and not to deliver up a foot of what he was now upon a double respect viz. his Fathers Legacy and his late Conquest Owner of willingly met his Brother put him to flight and killed a great number of his Forces Conan was cruelly enraged at this shameful Overthrow and therefore made a firm resolution either to recover the Island from his Brother or to sacrifice his Life and his Crown in the Quarrel Having drawn up all A.D. 817 the Forces he could raise together he marched to Anglesey to seek his Brother Howel who being too weak to encounter and oppose so considerable a Number was compell'd to make his Escape to the Isle of Man and to leave the Island of Anglesey to the mercy of his Brother But Conan did not live long to reap the satisfaction of this Victory but dyed in a short time leaving Issue behind him one onely Daughter called Esylht married to a Nobleman of Wales named Merfyn Frych He was Son to Gwyriad or Vriet the Son of Elidure who lineally descended from Belinus the Brother of Brennus King of the Britains His Mother was Nest the Daughter of Cadelh King of Powys the Son of Brochwel Yscithroc who together with Cadfan King of Britain Morgan King of Demetia and Bledericus King of Cornwal gave that memorable Overthrow to Ethelred King of Northumberland upon the River Dee in the Year 617. This Brochwel by the Latin Writers named Brecivallus and Brochmaelus was a very considerable Prince in that part of Britain called Powys-land as also Earl of Chester and lived in the Town then called Pengwern Powys now Salop in the House where since the College of S.
how sweet the Spoil of a Countrey much more fertile than their own was â—hey could not rest satisfied with what they had alâ—eady obtained but must needs make a farther Proâ—ress into the Countrey and fall upon the Kingdom â—f the East-Angles Edmund King of that Countrey â—eing not able to endure their Insolencies endeaâ—oured to oppose them but in the Undertaking was â—nfortunately slain And now after the same manâ—er that the Saxons had formerly attained to the Conquest of Britain the Danes proceeded to the Conâ—uest of England For the Saxons having found out â—he Sweetness of this Island and withal discovered â—he weakness and inability of the Britains to oppose â—hem brought over their Numbers by degrees and â—n several Companies by which they wearied and â—ired out the British Armies For it is certain that â—othing can conduce more to the Conquest of an â—sland than the landing an Army at several Places â—nd at several Times which distracts the Counsels â—nd Proceedings of the Inhabitants and which at â—his time for want of sufficient Power at Sea could â—ot be prevented And so the Danes being informed of the good Success of Hungare and Hubba in England sent over another Army under the Command of Basreck and Alding who landed in West-Sax and â—ought five Battels with King Ethelred and his Brother Alfred namely at Henglefield Estondown Redding Basing and Mereton in which two first the English overcame and the three last the Danes got the Victory Soon after this Ethelred died leaving his Kingdom to his Brother Alfred who no sooner had taken the Government upon him but considered with himself what a heavy Burthen he was to sustain and therefore he began to enquire after the Wisest and Learned est Men that he could hear of to be directed by them whom he worthily Entertained making use of their Advice as well in the Publick Government of the Kingdom as in his Private Studies and Conference of Learning He sent for two Men famously Learned out of Wales the one called John de Erigena Surnamed Scotus the other Asserius Surnamed Menevensis Dâ— Erigena was born at Menevia or St. Davids and was brought up in that College who for the sake oâ— Learning having travelled to Athens and bestowed there many Years in the Study of the Greek Hebreâ— and Caldaick Tongues and the secret Mysteries oâ— Philosophy came to France where he was well accepted of by Carolus Calvus or Charles the Bald anâ— Ludovicus Balbus or Lewis the Stammerer and therâ— translated the Works of Dionysius Areopagita Dâ— Coelesti Hierarchia out of the Greek into the Laâ—â— Tongue Being returned home to Wales he wâ—â— sent for by this King Alfred who was then foundinâ— and erecting the University of Oxford of whicâ— Erigena became the first Professor and publick Reader But King Alfred bore so great a respect tâ— Learning that he would suffer none to bear any considerable Office in his Court but such as were Learned and withal exhorted all Persons to embracâ— Learning and to Honour Learned Men. But tho' 〈◊〉 Love to Learning be seldom reconcilable with a Warlike and a Military Life King Alfred was also forceâ— to regard the Discipline of War to defend his Kingdom against the increasing Power of the Danes Foâ— he was scarce settled in his Throne but this restlesâ— and ever troublesom People began to molest and destroy his Countrey insomuch that he was of necessity forced to oppose them which he did twice upon thâ— South-side of the River Thames in which Engagements he slew of the Danes one King nine Earls together with an innumerable multitude of inferior Souldiers About the same time Gwgan ap Meyric 〈◊〉 Dunwal ap Arthen ab Sitsylht Prince of Cardigan died being as some say unfortunately drowned But the â—ate Victories which Alfred had obtained over the Danes did not so much weaken and dishearten them â—ut that in a short time they recovered their Spirits â—nd began again to look terrible and threatning For 〈◊〉 soon as they could reunite their scattered Forces â—hey set upon and destroyed the Town of Alclyde wan â—he City of London and Redding over-ran all the inâ—â—nd Countrey and the whole Kingdom of Mercia â—nother Army of Danes at the same time proved â—ery successful in the North and possessed themselves of â—he Countrey of Northumberland which Action did â—ot so much grieve the English as trouble and vex â—he Picts and Scots who were incessantly gauled and â—â—equently beat off by these Danish Troops The â—ext Year three of the Danish Captains marched â—â—om Cambridge towards Warham in Dorset-shire of â—hich Expedition King Alfred being informed preâ—â—ntly detached his Forces to oppose them and to â—ffer them Battle The Danes were so startled at â—â—is that they immediately desired Peace and wilâ—â—ngly consented forthwith to depart out of the Counâ—y and to forswear the sight of English Ground â—ccording to which Capitulation the Horse that â—â—ght marched for Exeter and the Foot being shipped â—ff were all of them drowned at Sandwich The Danes having thus abjured England were not willing â—o return home empty but thought it Prudent to â—end their Course against Wales They fancied that â—â—ey were like to meet with no great opposition from â—â—e Welch and therefore could carve for themselves â—ccording as their Fancy directed them But having â—nded their Army in Anglesey they quickly experiâ—nced the contrary Prince Roderic opposing them â—ave them two Battels one at a place called Bengole A.D. 873 â—nd the other at Menegid in Anglesey At the same time â—nother Army of Danes under the Command of â—alden and Hungare landed in South-Wales over-ran â—â—e whole Country destroying all before them neiâ—â—er sparing Churches nor Religious Houses But â—â—ey received their due Reward at the hands of the â—est-Saxons who meeting with them on the Coasts of Devonshire slew both Halden and Hungare with 1200 of their Men. The same Year Einion Bishop of St. Davids died and was the following Year succeeded by Hubert who was installed in his place A.D. 876 The English being rid of their powerful and ever restless Enemies the Danes began now to quarrel with the Welch entring into Anglesey with a numerous Army fought a fore Battel with Roderic who together with his Brother or as others say his Son Gwyriad was unhappily slain in the Field which Battel is called by the Welch Gwaith Duw Sul y Mon. This Roderic had Issue by his Wife Anghârad Anarawd Cadelh and Merfyn the last of which Giraldus Cambrensis contrary to the vulgar and received Opinion will have to be the eldest Son of Roderic upon whom was bestowed the Principality of North-Wales For it is unanimously granted that Rodeâ—â—â— was undoubted Proprietor of all the Dominions oâ— Wales North-Wales descending unto him by his Mother Esylht the Daughter and sole Heir of Conan Tyâ—daethwy South-Wales by his Wife Anghârad the Daugâ—ter of Meyric ap Dyfnwal ap Arthen ap Sitsylht Kâ—â—â— of Cardigan Powis by Nest the Sister and Heir oâ— Congen ap
intricate that the Justice of it could not appear and then the two Champions put an end to the Controversie by Combate Whilst Howel Dha is thus regulating the Customs and meliorating the Laws and Constitutions of Wales Aulafe and Regnald Kings of the Danes forcibly entered the Country of King Edmund who being vexed with their incessant Hostility gathered his Forces together and as some say by the help of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht who was afterwards Prince of Wales followed them to Northumberland and having overcome them in a pitch'd Battel utterly chased them out of his Kingdom and remained a whole Year in those Parts to regulate and bring that Country to some quiet order But finding it impracticable to reduce the Inhabitants of Cumberland to any peaceable Constitution having spoiled and wasted the Country he gave it up to Malcolme King of Scotland upon condition that he should send him Succours in A.D. 942 his Wars whenever demanded of him In the mean time the Welch had but little occasion to rejoyce Hubert Bishop of S. Davids Marclois Bishop of Bangor A.D. 944 and Vssa the Son of Lhafyr being dead And shortly after the English entering into Wales with a very strong Army put the Country into a great consternation but being satisfied with the Destruction and Spoil of Strat Clwyd they returned home without doing any more Mischief The same time Conan the Son of Elis was like to be treacherously put to death by Poyson and Everus Bishop of S. Davids dyed The next Year Edmund King of England was unluckily slain upon S. Augustines day but the manner of his Death is variously delivered some say that discovering a noted Thief who was out-law'd sitting among his Guests being transported with Indignation against so confident a Villain ran upon him very furiously who expecting nothing less than Death thought to dye not unrevenged and therefore with a short Dagger gave the King a mortal Wound in the Breast Others report that as the King would have rescued a Servant of his from an Officer who had arrested him he was unwittingly and unhappily slain by the same But however his Death happened he lies buried at Glastenbury in whose place his Brother Edred was crowned King of England who no sooner had entered upon his Government but he made an Expedition against Scotland and Northumberland which being subdued he received Fealty and Homage by Oath of the Scots and Northumbrians which they did not long observe Shortly after Howel Dha after a A.D. 948 long and peaceable Reign over Wales dyed much lamented and bewailed of all his Subjects being a Prince of a religious and a virtuous inclination and one that ever regarded the Welfare and Prosperity of his People He left Issue behind him Owen Run Roderic and Edwyn betwixt whom and the Sons of Edwal Foel late Prince of North Wales great Wars and Commotions arose afterwards about the chief Rule and Government of Wales But the Sons of Howel Dha as some Writers record were these viz. Owen who did not long survive his Father Eineon Meredyth Dyfnwal and Rodri the two last whereof as is conceived were slain in the Battel fought near Lhanrwst in the Year 952. by the Sons of Edwal Foel Run Lord of Cardigan who was slain before the death of his Father Conan y Cwn who possessed Anglesey Edwin who was also slain as is supposed in the forementioned Battel There was also another Battel fought betwixt Howel and Conan ap Edwal Foel for the Isle of Anglesey wherein Conan fell and Gruffydh his Son renewing the War was likewise overcome and so Cyngar a powerful Person being driven out of the Island Howel enjoyed quiet possession thereof and of the rest of Gwynedh It is supposed that this Howel Dha was chosen Governour of Wales during the minority of his Uncle Anarawd's Sons who at the death of their Father were too young to manage the Principality which he kept till his return from Rome at which time Edwal Foel being come of age he resigned to him the Kingdom of Gwynedh or North-Wales together with the Sovereignty of all Wales Before which time Howel is styled Brenhin Cymry oll that is King of all Wales as is seen in the Preface to that Body of Laws compiled by him Ievaf and Iago the Sons of Edwal Foel AFter the death of Howel Dha his Sons divided betwixt them the Principalities of South-Wales and Powis laying no claim to North-Wales though their Father had been a general Prince of all Wales But Ievaf and Iago the Sons of Edwal Foel having put by their elder Brother Meyric as a Person uncapable of Government and being dissatisfied with the Rule of North Wales only imagined that the Principality of all Wales was their Right as descending from the elder House which the Sons of Howel Dha denyed them Indeed they had been wrongfully kept out of the Government of North Wales during the Reign of Howel in whose time the recovery of their own was impracticable by reason that for his Moderation and other good Qualities he had attracted to himself the universal Love of all the Welch But now he being gone they are resolved to revenge the Injury received by him upon his Sons and upon a small pretence endeavour to reduce the whole Country of Wales to their own subjection Ievaf and Iago were indeed descended from the elder branch but since Roderic the great conferred the Principality of South Wales upon his yonger Son Cadelh the Father of Howel Dha it was but just his Sons should enjoy what was legally descended to them by their Father But Ambition seldom gives place to Equity and therefore right or wrong Ievaf and Iago must have a touch for South-Wales which they enter with a great Army and being opposed they obtained a very opportune Victory over Owen and his Brethren the Sons of Howel at the Hills of Carno The next Year the A.D. 950 two Brothers entred twice into South-Wales destroyed and wasted Dyfet and slew Dwnwalhon Lord of the Countrey Shortly after which Roderic the third A.D. 951 Son of Howel Dha dyed But his Brethren perceiving the Folly of standing only upon the defensive muster'd A.D. 952 all their Forces together and entering North-Wales marched as far as Lhanrwst upon the River Conwy where Ievaf and Iago met them A very cruel Battel ensued upon this and a very great number were slain on both sides among whom were Anarawd the Son of Gwyriad the Son of Roderic the Great and Edwyn the Son of Howel Dha But the Victory plainly favoured the Brothers Ievaf and Iago so that the Princes of South-Wales were obliged to retire to Cardiganshire whither they were warmly pursued and that Country cruelly harrass'd with Fire and Sword The next Year Merfyn was unhappily A.D. 953 drowned and shortly after Congelach King of Ireland was slain The Scots and Northumbrians having lately sworn Allegiance to King Edred he was scarce returned to his own Country but Aulafe with a great Army landed
excellent Qualities both warlike and reâ—â—gious and one that founded several Monasteries and â—â—ligious Houses and particularly at Bangor For Iago ap Edwal having fled to King Edgar preâ—â—iled so far with him that he brought an Army inâ—â— North-Wales to restore him to his Right Being â—â—vanced as far as Bangor he was honourably receiv'd 〈◊〉 Howel who at his request was contented his Unâ—â—â— Iago should have a share in the Government as he â—â—d in his Father Ievaf's time Then Edgar founded 〈◊〉 new Church at Bangor on the South-side of the Caâ—â—edral which he dedicated to the Blessed Virgin â—ary and confirmed the antient Liberties of that â—â—â—e and bestowed Lands and Gifts upon it And â—â—en with Howel and Iago in his company he marchâ—â— towards Chester where met him by appointment â—â—x Kings more viz. Keneth King of the Scots Malâ—â— King of Cumberland Macon King of Man and â—â—fnwal Sifrethus and Ithel three British Kings â—hese Eight Princes having done Homage and sworn â—ealty to him entred with him into his Barge and â—wed him four of each side from his Palace to the â—hurch or Monastery of S. John Baptist and Divine â—ervice being ended in like state rowed him back â—gain To King Edgar succeeded his Son Edward surnamed the Younger who after four Years reign wâ— treacherously slain through the Treason of his Stepmother Elfrida to make room for her own Son Edelred upon pretence of whose minority being a Child oâ—ly of Seven Years she might have the managemeâ—â— of the Kingdom in her own hands But whilst thâ— A.D. 976 English were in this waving and unsettled conditioâ— Eineon the Son of Owen King of South-Wales tâ—â— second time entered the Country of Gwyr and havâ—â—â— spoiled and wasted it returned home again Thâ—â— though an unsufferable Affront to Howel Prince 〈◊〉 North-Wales yet he thought it most convenient 〈◊〉 pass by and wink at it being then warmly engagâ—â— against the Aiders and Abettors of his Uncle Iagâ— and marching against them with a numerous Aâ—â—â— consisting of Welch and English pursued them to Lâ—â—â— and Kelynnoc Fawr the very extremity of Walâ—â— where after cruel ravaging and miserable harassing 〈◊〉 the Country about Iago was at last taken Prisoneâ— but so generously received by Howel that he granâ— his Uncle to enjoy his portion of the Country peâ—â—ably for his Life But he did not deal so kindly wâ—â—â— his Uncle Edwal Fychan the Son of Edwal Foel wâ—â—â— A.D. 979 for what pretence not discover'd was slain by hâ—â— It may be that being in a manner secure of his Uâ—cle Iago he was apprehensive that Edwal Fychan woâ—â—â— put in his Pretence for the Principality and therefâ—â—â— he judged it convenient to remove this Obstacle 〈◊〉 time and to send him to seek for it in another Woâ—â—â— For nothing can be the cause of greater Injustice aâ—â— Inhumanity in Princes than the jealousie and appâ—â—hension of Rivals and Pretenders to their Governmeâ—â— to prevent which they will sacrifice any thing tâ—â—â— is just and legal so that the Person offending be 〈◊〉 moved out of the way But though Howel had â—â—thered his Uncle Edwal Fychan yet he could not 〈◊〉 move all Disputes and Pretences to North Waleâ— For at the same time that he was employed in tâ—â— unnatural Action Cystenyn Dhu or Constantine 〈◊〉 Black Son to Iago then Prisoner to Howel having â—â—red an Army of Danes under the command of Godfâ—â—â— â—â—e Son of Harold marched against his Cousin Howel â—â—d entring North-Wales destroyed Anglesey and Lhyn â—hereupon Howel having drawn his Forces together 〈◊〉 upon them at a place called Gwayth Hirbarth â—here the Danes received a very shameful overthrow â—nd Constantine the Son of Iago was slain But anoâ—â—er Army of Danes fared better in England who haâ—â—ng landed at and spoiled Southampton over-ran the â—ountries of Devon and Cornwal burnt the Town of â—odman whereby the Cathedral Church of St. Peâ—kes with the Bishop's Palace were laid in Ashes â—y reason of which Disaster that Bishop's See was â—â—anslated to St. Germains where it continued till the â—â—iting thereof to Crediton Within a while after 〈◊〉 Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury died a Pious â—nd Religious Person who fore-told of very great and â—â—supportable Calamities the English should endure â—y the cruel Outrages of the Danes But Godfryd the Son of Harold being highly disguâ—â—ed A.D. 981 at the shameful rout he received of Howel in the Quarrel of Constantine was resolved to recover his Credit and to revenge himself of the Welch And â—ccordingly he landed with a powerful Army in West-Wales where after that he had spoiled the Land of â—yfed with the Church of St. Davids he fought the â—â—mous Battle of Lhanwanoc But Harold being forced â—pon this to retire and forsake the Country the folâ—owing A.D. 982 Year Duke Alfred with a considerable number of English came to supply his room and to conquer â—he Welch But he received as little Advantage or Honor as Harold in this Expedition for after that â—e had laid waste and destroyed the Town of Brecâ—â—ck with some part of South-Wales he was shameâ—ully vanquished and his Army almost totally cut off by the Troops of Eineon the Son of Owen Prince of South-Wales and Howel Prince of North Wales who had joined their Forces against him And now A.D. 983 the Welch having quite disabled the Danes and the English began to fall to their old Courses to make â—â—fe of their Prosperity and Quietness from abroad for quarrelling and creating Disturbances at home The Inhabitants of Gwentland imagined themselveâ— very Strong and Powerful and therefore must need endeavour to shake off their Allegiance to their Prince and to set up one of their own making Owen Princâ— of South-Wales to pacify the rebellious Humor oâ— these seditious and turbulent People sent his Soâ— Eineon to persuade them to Obedience But a diâ—stracted multitude got loose is not to be worked upon by Arguments which Eineon fatally experienceâ— who was so far from persuading them in their Allegiance by fair means that they presently set upoâ— him and thinking that they had the Bird in the fist who was next to succeed put him to preseâ—â— Death And thus most ignobly fell this worthy Prince who in his Father's time was the only Support of his Country being a stout and a valiaâ—â— Commander and one famously experienced in thâ— Art and Discipline of War He had Issue two Sonâ— Edwyn and Tewdor Mawr or Theodor the Great oâ— of whose Loins several Princes of South-Wales weâ—â— A.D. 984 since descended But Howel Prince of North Walâ—â— did not regard this Dissention and Rebellion in South Wales and therefore took opportunity to strengtheâ— and multiply his Army with which he marched thâ— next Year for England intending to revenge the â—â—cursions and Invasions of the English upon Wales and to destroy and waste their Country But having entred into England he was presently foughâ— with upon which being resolved either to returâ— Victoriously or to die Couragiously he fell
in among them but in the Action was slain leaving no Issuâ— behind him to succeed in his Principality tho' 〈◊〉 some antient Genealogies he is reputed to have a Soâ— called Conan y Cwn Cadwalhon ap Ievaf HOwel the Son of Ievaf had for a long time enjoyed the Principality of North-Wales more by â—ain Force and Usurpation than any right of Sucâ—ssion he could pretend to it For Ionafal and Edwal â—â—e Sons of Meyric the eldest Son of Edwal Foel â—ere living and tho' their Father had been rejected 〈◊〉 unfit for Government yet that was no reason to â—eprive them of their Right Indeed Howel could â—â—etend to no other Right or Title than that his Faâ—â—er Ievaf had been Prince of North-Wales before 〈◊〉 and this he thought sufficient to maintain his â—ossession against the rightful Heir who was far unâ—â—le to oppose or molest his wrongful Usurpation â—â—â—t he being slain in this rash Expedition against the English and leaving no Issue to succeed him in the â—rown his Brother Cadwalhon thought he might rightâ—â—lly take upon him the Government of North-Wales â—eing his Father and his Brother had without any â—olestation enjoyed the same However to make his â—itle secure he thought fit to remove all manner of â—â—bs which might create any Dispute concerning his â—â—ght of Succession and to that end concluded it â—ecessary to make away his Cosins Ionafal and â—dwal the lawful Heirs the first of which he â—xecuted accordingly but Edwal being aware of his â—ntention privately made his escape and so prevented â—is wicked Design This unnatural Dealing with his Cousins Ionafal and Edwal cost Cadwalhon not only â—is Life but the loss of his Principality and the utter â—uin of his Father's House For he had scarce enjoyâ—d A.D. 985 his Government one Year but Meredith the Son â—f Owen Prince of South-Wales entred into North-Wales slew Cadwalhon and his Brother Meyric the â—nly remains of the House of Ievaf and under the pretence of Conquest possessed himself of the whole Country Here we may observe and admire the Wisdom of Providence in permitting Wrong and Oppression for some time to flourish and wax great and afterwards by secret and hidden Methods in restoring the Posterity of the right and lawful Heir 〈◊〉 the just and pristine Estate of his Ancestors Foâ— after the Death of Edwal Foel Meyric who by righâ— of Birth was legally to succeed was not only deprived of his just and righful Inheritance but had 〈◊〉 Eyes most inhumanly put out and being condemneâ— to perpetual Imprisonment for grief of being so barbarously treated quickly ended his Days But thâ—â— his Brothers Ievaf and Iago and Howel and Caâ—walhon the Sons of the former successively enjoyâ—â— the Principality of North-Wales yet not one diâ— naturally or free from the Revenge of Meyric's ejâ—ction For Ievaf was imprison'd by his Brother Iagâ— and he with his Son Constantine by Howel the Sâ—â— of Ievaf and afterwards Howel fell by the hands oâ— the English and his Brethren Cadwalhon and Meyâ—â— were both slain by Meredith ap Owen On the otheâ— side Edwal ab Meyric who was right Heir of North Wales after the Death of his Brother Ionafal escapâ—â— the snare intended by Cadwalhon and Meredith 〈◊〉 Owen after some time leaving North Wales exposeâ— to the Enemies by reason he had enough to do to preserve South-Wales Edwal was received of the North-Wales Men as their true Prince Meredith ap Owen A.D. 986 MEredith having won the Field and slain Cadwalhâ—â— and his Brother Meyric the only seeming Pretenders to the Principality of North-Wales took upoâ— himself the Rule and Government of it But before â—e could be well confirmed in his Dominions Godfryâ— â—he Son of Harold the third time entred into the â—sle of Anglesey and having taken Lhyarch the Son of Owen with 2000 Men Prisoners most cruelly put out â—is Eyes which so startled and struck such a Terror â—nto Prince Meredith that with the rest of his Army â—e forthwith made his escape and fled to Cardigan This loss to the Welch was the same Year seconded â—y another but of another sort for there happened â—uch a dismal and unusual Murren that the best part â—f the Cattle of Wales perished Neither were the â—nglish at this time free from Adversities and Trouâ—les for the Danes landed again in England with seâ—eral Armies and at Westport and Wâ—test gave two â—nglish Lords Godan and Britchwould such a blow â—hat the King was forced to buy his Peace with the â—ayment of 10000 Pound which was termed Dane â—elt But within a while after King Edelred violated â—nd brake the Peace himself and prepared a great â—eet thinking to vanquish the Danes at Sea But 〈◊〉 proved far otherwise and much contrary to his exâ—â—ctation all his Ships being either destroyed or â—aken together with the Admiral Alfric Earl of Mercin The Danes being animated with this Victoâ—y failed up to the Mouth of the Hâ—mber and landâ—â—g in York shire spoiled and destroyed the City of â—â—rk and Lindsey but in their march through Norâ—humberland were routed and put to flight by Godwyn â—nd Fridgist two English Generals who were sent to â—ppose them The same time Anâ—â—f King of Norway â—nd Swane of Denmark with 94 Gallies sailed up the Thames and besieged London which the Citizens to â—ravely defended that at length the Danes thought â—est to raise and quit the Siege But though they â—ould effect nothing upon the City yet the Country â—as at their mercy and therefore leaving their Ships â—hey landed and wasted with Fire and Sword all Kent Essex Sussex Surry and Hampshire Wherefore King Edelred instead of manly opposition in the Field â—ends Ambassadors to treat about another payment â—nd so the Danes being satisfied with a great Sum of Money and Victuals lay quiet that Winter at Southampton Upon this Composition Anlaf was invited by Adelred and Royally entertained and being dismissed with very many rich Presents he promised upon Oath to depart the Kingdom and never to molest it any more which he faithfully performed A.D. 987 Whilst the English and the Danes were thus for aâ— time agreed Ievaf the Son of Edwal having speâ—â— for several Years a retired and a private Life died And was quickly followed by Owen the Son of Hoâ—â—â— Dha Prince of South-Wales This Owen had thrâ—â— Sons Eineon who in his Father's time was slain by thâ— Rebels of Gwentland and Lhywarch who had 〈◊〉 Eyes put out by Godfryd the Son of Harold the Dâ—â— and Prince Meredith who had already Conquereâ— North Wales and now upon his Father's Death takeâ— possession also of South-Wales without any regard had to Edwyn and Theodore the Sons of Eineon his eldeâ—â— Brother But upon his advancement to his new Principality he was like to meet with no very small troubles for the Danes at Hampton quickly broke tâ—â— League with King Adelred and sailing towards thâ— West mightily annoyed the Coasts of Cornwal and Dâ—vonshire and at last landed in South-Wales
â—anes Passing from thence to Cambridge they met â—ith Ethelstan King Edelred's Nephew by his Sister who with an Army was come to oppose them but the Danes proving too powerful he with many other Noblemen were slain among whom were Duke Oswyn and the Earls Edwyn and Wolfrike From hence they passed through Essex leaving no manner of Cruelty and Barbarity unpractised and returned laden with Booty to their Ships which lay in the A.D. 1010 Thames But they could not contain themselves long in their Vessels and therefore sallying out they passed by the River side to Oxford which they ransack'd over again adding to their Prey Buckingham Bedford Hartford and Northamptonshire and having accomplished that Years Cruelties at Christmas they returned to their Ships Yet the Prey of the Countrey from the Trent Southward would not satisfie these unmerciful Barbarians but as soon as the Season A.D. 1011 gave them leave to peep out of their Dens they laid siege to the City of Canterbury which being deliver'd up by the Treachery of Almarez the Archdeacon was condemned to Blood and Ashes and Alfegoâ— the Archbishop carried Prisoner to the Danish Fleet where he was at length most cruelly put to death A.D. 1012 The next Year Swane King of Denmark came up the Humber and landed at Gainesborow whitheâ— repaired to him Vthrâ—d Earl of Northumberland with his People the Inhabitants of Lindsey with all thâ— Countries Northward of Watling-street being a high-way crossing from the East to the West Sea and gave their Oath and Hostages to obey him Whereupon King Swane perceiving his Undertaking to prove 〈◊〉 fortunate beyond expectation committed the care oâ— his Fleet to his Son Cnute and marched himself 〈◊〉 to Oxford and then to Winchester which Citieâ— whether for fear of further Calamities readily acknowledged him for their King From thence hâ— marched for London where King Edelred then layâ— and which was so stoutly defended by the Citizens that he was like to effect nothing against that Town and therefore he directed his course to Wallingforâ— and Bath where the principal Men of West-Saxoâ— yielded him Subjection The Londoners too at last â—earing his Fury and Displeasure made their peace â—nd sent him Hostages which City being received to â—ercy Swane from that time was accounted King of â—ll England King Edelred perceiving all his Astairs â—n England to go against him and his Authority and Government reduced to so narrow a compass having sent his Queen with his two Sons Edward and Alfred â—o Normandy he thought convenient within a while â—fter to follow himself Being honourably received by his Brother in Law Richard he had not been there â—ong but News arrived of the death of Swane and that he was desired by the English to return to his Kingdom Being animated and comforted with this surprising News he set forward with a great Army â—or England and landing at Lyndsey he cruelly harâ—ssed that Province by reason that it had owned Subjection to Cnute the Son of Swane whom the Danes â—ad elected King in his Fathers stead King Cnute being at Ipswich and certified of the arrival of King Edelred and the Devastation of Lyndsey fearing that â—is Authority was going down the wind barbarously cut off the Hands and Noses of all the Hostages he received from the English and presently struck sail for Denmark And whilst England was in this general Confusion there fell out no less a storm in Ireland for Brian King of that Island and his Son Murâ—th with other Kings of the Countrey subject to â—â—rian joyned their Forces against Sutric the Son of Aâ—loic King of Dublin and Mailmorda King of Lagoâ—es Sutric being of himself too weak to encounter so numerous a Multitude hired all the Pyrates and Rovers who cruised upon the Seas and then gave Brian battel who with his Son Murcath was slain and on the other side Maihnorda and Broderic General of the Auxiliaries But Cnute though he was in a manner forced to A.D. 1013 forsake England upon the recalling of King Edelred yet he did not abandon all his pretence to the Kingdom and therefore the next year he came to renew his Claim and landed with a strong Fleet in West-â—ex where he exercised very great Hostility To prevent his Incursions Edric and Edmund Bastard-Son to Edelred raised their Forces separately bâ—â— when both Armies were united they durst not whâ—ther for fear or the Dissention of the two Generals fight with the Danes Edmund therefore passed to the North and joyned with Vthred Duke of Northumberland and both together descended and spoiled Stafford Leicester and Shropshire On the otheâ— side Cnute marched forcibly through Buckingham Bedford Huntingtonshire and so by Stafford passed toward York whither Vthred hastened and finding 〈◊〉 other remedy submitted himself with all the Northumbrians to Cnute giving Hostages for the performance of what they then agreed upon But nevertheless this Submission Vthred was treacherously slain not without the permission of Cnute and hiâ— Dukedom bestowed upon one Egrick a Dane whereupon Edmund left them and went to his Father whâ— lay sick at London Cnute returning to his Ships presently followed and sailed up the Thames towardâ— London but before he could draw nigh the City King Edelred was dead having prolonged a long and troublesom Reign for Thirty Seven Years After his decease the English Nobility chose his base Son Edmund for his eminent strength and hardiness in War surnamed Ironside for their King Upon this Cnuâ—â— brought his whole Fleet up the River to London and having cut a deep Trench round about the Town invested it on all sides but being valourously repulsed by the Defendants he detached the best part of his Army to fight with Edmund who was marching to raise the Siege and both Armies coming to battel at Proman by Gillingham Cnute with his Danes were put to flight But as soon as time and opportunity would give him leave to increase his Forces Cnute gave Edmund a second Battel at Caerstane but Edric Almar and Algar under-hand siding with the Danes Edmund was hard put to it to maintain the fight obstinately till Night and Weariness parted them Both Armies having sufficiently suffered in this action Edmund went to West-Sex to reinforce himself and the Danes returned to the siege of London where Edmund â—â—ickly followed raised the siege and forced Cnute â—â—d his Danes confusedly to betake themselves to their â—â—ips and then entered triumphantly into the City â—wo days after passing the Thames at Brentford he â—â—ll upon the Enemies backs by which lucky opporâ—â—nity obtaining a considerable Victory he returned â—gain to raise Recruits among the West-Saxons Cnute â—â—on Edmund's removal appeared again before Lonâ—â—n and invested it by Land and Water but all in â—â—in the besieged so manfully and resolutely defenâ—â—ng themselves that it was impracticable to master â—â—e Town before Edmund could come to the relief of 〈◊〉 And this they presently experienced for Edmund â—â—ter having augmented his Forces crossed again the â—hames
Name of Run and puâ— out that he was the Son of Meredith Prince of South-Wales to whom joyned a great Number of the Nobility who had no great Affection to Lhewelyn and proclaimed Run Prince of South-Wales Lhewelyn being then in North Wales and certified of this famous Impostor drawing his Army together marched to meet him who with the whole strength of South-Wales then lay at Abe gwili where he abode the arrival of Lhewelyn When both Armies were ready to joyn battel Run makes a vaunting Speech to his Soldiers assuring them of Victory and so persuading them couragiously to fall on privately himself retired out of harms way there one might have observed on the one side a valiant Army under a cowardly General and on the other part a valiant and a noble Commander engaging with a slow and a faint-hearted Army for Lhewelyn like a bold and couragious Prince ventur'd into the midst of his Enemies whilst Run priâ—â—tely sneaked off out all danger and the South-Wales Men were more fierce and eager in the Cause of a Preâ—ender than the North Wales Men to maintain the Qâ—â—rrel of a Prince of their own Blood But after great slaughter on both sides the North Wales Men calling to mind the several Victories they had obtained and withal being in a very great measure animated by the incomparable Valour of their Prince fell on so warmly that they put their Enemies to flight and pursu'd Râ—â— so close that notwithstanding his several shifts he was at last overtaken and slain Lhewelyn after this Victory returned laden with Spoil into North-Wales and for some time lived peaceably and without Disturbance But the next Year Howel and Meredith the Sons of Edâ—yn conspired against him and slew him â—aving behâ—nd him a Son called Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn who afterwards though not immediately ascended to the Principality of North-Wales Iago ap Edwal AFter the death of Lhewelyn Iago the Son of Edwal the true Heir to the Principality of North-Wales who had been all his time wrongfully kept from it thought this the best opportunity to enter upon his Right by reason of the minority of Gruffydh the Son of Lhewelyn upon which pretence likewise Rytherch the Son of Iestyn forcibly assumed the Principality of South-Wales About the same time Cnute King of England sailed over to Denmark and Sweden against Vlf and Alaf who had moved the Finlanders against him whom he subdued with the loss of a great part of his Army as well English as Danes Within a while after his return to England he made 〈◊〉 very pompous and magnificent Journey to Rome more to satisfie his ambitious Temper and to signifie to the World his Greatness and Might which he express'd by his costly Presents and princely Behaviour than any way to make atonement for the Oppression and Bloodshed by which he had established himself in his Kingdom For what Holiness and Mortification he had learnt at Rome presently appeared upon his return to England for upon no provocation he marched with an Army into Scotland and forced Malcolm the King thereof together with Molbeaâ—â— and Jermare the Kings of the Orkners and Ewist to do him Homage A.D. 1031 But the Affairs of Wales were at this time very turbulent and uneasie for Howel and Meredith after the Murther of Prince Lhewelyn expected to enjoy some part of his Principality themselves but finding Iago to have seized upon North-Wales and Rytherch upon South-Wales and withal perceiving their own Power too weak to oppose their Designs they invited over the Irish-Scots to their aid against Rytherch ap Iestâ—â— Prince of South-Wales By the help of these Howel and Meredith prevailed over Rytherch who being at length slain they joyntly took upon them the Rule and Government of South Wales But this was not a sufficient title to establish them so firmly in it that their Usurpation would not be called in question for A.D. 1032 the Sons of Râ—therch presently after their Fathers death gathered their Forces together to fight with the Brothers Howel and Meredith who met at Irathwy where a cruel Battel was fought called Gwaith Irathwy and at last the Sons of Rytherch were put to flight But though these Victories the one over Rytherch and the second over his Sons seemed in a great measure to favour Howel and Meredith's pretence to and establishment in the Principality yet so unpardonable a Crime as the murther of â—hewelyn a Prince of so A.D. 1033 extraordinary Qualities could not remain long unrevenged for the Sons of Conan the Son of Sitsylht Prince Lhewelyn's Brother were resolved to return their Uncles Murther upon the two Usurpers which in a short time they effected against Meredith who met with the same end from the Sons of Conan that he had formerly inflicted upon Lhewelyn But these civil A.D. 1034 Discords in Wales were quickly discovered by the English who taking advantage of so fair an opportunity entered with a great Army into the Land or Gwent where after they had committed considerable Wasts for some time Caradoc the Son of Rytherch ap Iestyn gave them battel but was in that Engagement unhappily slain And shortly afterwards dyed King Cnute A.D. 1035 the most famous and mightiest Prince then in the Western Parts of the World whose Dominions extended over all Sweden from Germany almost to the North-Pole together with the Kingdoms of Norway and Denmark and the noble Island of Britain To him succeeded his Son Harold for his Swiftness surnamed Harefoot begotten upon Alwyn the Daughter of Duke Alselyn though several stickled firmly for Harâ—â—enute his other Son by Emma who was then in Denmark But Harold being once advanced into the Throne took care to establish himself as firmly as he could in it and to that end thought it expedient to banish out of his Dominions his Mother in Law Emma who was restless to promote the Interest of her own Son Hardycnute and to bring him to the Crown of England A.D. 1037 And whilst Harold was by these measures settled in his Throne Iago ap Edwal was just upon the point of losing his Principality of North Wales For Gruffydh the Son of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht sometime Prince of North-Wales having once hinted a Rebellion against Iago was so generally encouraged and universally follow'd by all People for the love they bore to his Father that in a short time his Army mounted to an invincible number However Iago was not so throughly affrighted that he would deliver up his Principality without drawing Sword for it but providing for himself as well as he could and drawing together what Forces he was able he gave Gruffydh battel But his number being far too weak to oppose so great an Army as sided with Gruffydh was presently over-power'd and put to the rout and himself slain leaving after him a Son called Conan by his Wife Afandred Daughter to Gweir the Son of Pylh. Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn IAgo ap Edwal being killed Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn was received
of â—â—ourt not dreaming of any such treacherous Villainy â—â—he same time Robert Curthoys the Bastards eldest Son â—â—eing for some reason disgusted against his Father and â—â—t on by the instigation of the King of France enâ—â—red Normandy with an Army and claimed it as his â—â—ight which King William being acquainted with â—â—ssed over to Normandy and meeting with his Son â—and to hand in Battel was by him overthrown â—ut being returned from Normandy he entered with 〈◊〉 great Army into Wales and marching after the manner of a Pilgrimage as far as S. Davids he offered aâ—â— paid his Devotion to that Saint and afterwards â—â—ceived Homage of the Kings and Princes of the Coâ—â—try About the same time the Tomb of Walwey Kiâ—â— Arthurs Sister Son a most valiant Person in his tiâ—â— and Governour of that Country from him calâ—â—â— Walwethey was discovered in the Country of 〈◊〉 nigh the Sea-shoar whose Body proved monstrouâ—â—â— prodigious being in length about fourteen foot A.D. 1086 This year Madawc Cadwgan and Riryd the Son 〈◊〉 Blethyn ap Confyn sometime Prince of Wales raise◠〈◊〉 Rebellion against Rhys ap Tewdor and having draâ—â— together a great number of licentious and maleconteâ—ted People thought to eject him out of the Principâ—lity of South-Wales Rhys had not Power and fâ—â—ces enough to oppose them the Rebels Army increâ—sing daily by the addition of the discontented Muâ—â—â—tude who always rejoyce at any new Commotion 〈◊〉 Disturbance and therefore he was compell'd to 〈◊〉 to Ireland where he obtained a very considerable pâ—â—â— of Irish and Scots upon promise of a sufficient Râ—ward in case he was restored again to his Principaliâ—â— Having by this measure got a very sensible increase his former strength he landed in South-Wales tâ—â— News of whose arrived being blazed abroad 〈◊〉 Friends from all quarters presently retired to him that in a short time his Army became numerous aâ—â— able to confront the Enemy The Rebels were seâ—sible how the Princes Forces daily multiplyed aâ—â— therefore to prevent any farther addition they maâ— all possible haste to force him to a Battel which iâ— a short time after happened at Lhech y Creu where thâ— Rebels were vanquished Madawc and Riryd being slaiâ— and Cadwgan glad to save his Life by flight Rhys having won so signal a Victory and fearing no farther Disturbance dismissed the Irish and Scots with greaâ— Rewards who honourably returned to their owâ— A.D. 1087 Country Within a while after an unaccountablâ— Sacriledg was committed at S. Davids the Shriâ—â— belonging to the Cathedral being feloniously convey'd out of the Church all the Plate and other Utensiâ—â— were stoln and only the Shrine left empty behind â—he same Year a Civil-War broke out in England â—â—d several Armies in several parts of the Kingdom â—ere up in Arms at the same time and among the â—â—st the Welch who entering into Glocester and Worâ—â—ster Shires burnt and destroyed all before them to â—â—e Gate of Worcester The King having drawn his â—rmy together proceeded against his Enemies by deâ—â—ees and falling upon their seperate Parties without â—â—y great difficulty reduced all to Obedience Withâ—â— A.D. 1089 two Years after Archbishop Sulien the most pious â—â—d learned Person in Wales dyed in the Eightieth â—ear of his Age and in the Sixteenth Year of his Biâ—oprick presently after whose death the Town of 〈◊〉 Davids suffered a more sensible Calamity being first â—undered and afterwards burnt by a company of Pyâ—â—ts who sorely infested the British Coasts About â—â—e same time also dyed Cadifor the Son of Calhoyn â—ord of Dyfed whole Sons Lhewelyn and Eineon moâ—â—d Gruffydh ap Meredith to take up Arms against his â—overeign Prince Rhys ap Tâ—wdor with whom they â—yned all the Forces they couly levy among their â—enants and Dependants then passing with their Arâ—y to Lhandydoch boldly challenged Rhys to fight â—ho thereupon gave them battel and after a resolute â—ngagement of both sides the Rebels were at length â—orsted and put flight and then so narrowly pursued â—hat Gruffydh ap Meredith was taken Prisoner and in â—ne executed as a Traitor But Eineon made his â—scape and not daring to trust himself with any of â—is own Kindred he fled to Iestyn ap Gurgant Lord â—f Morganwc who was then in actual Rebellion â—gainst Prince Rhys And to ingratiate himself the â—hore in Iestyn's favour he promised upon condition â—f the performance of certain Articles one of which more especially was That he should receive his Daughter in Matrimony That he would bring over â—o his aid a considerable Body of Normans with whom he was singularly acquainted as having served a long time in England These Articles being agreed to and recorded Eineon posted to England and in a little time brought matters so about that he prevailed with Robert Fitzhamon and Twelve more Knights to levâ— A.D. 1090 a strong Army of Normans and to come to Wales tâ— the protection and aid of Iestyn The beginning of the following Year they landed in Glamorganshire and were honourably received by Iestyn who joyning his Power to theirs marched to Prince Rhys his Domininions where without the least shew of Mercy to his own Countrymen he encouraged the Normans by his own Example to spoil and destroy all that came before them Prince Rhys was mightily grieved to finâ— his Country so unmercifully harassed and though aâ— this time very antient being above 98 Years of age he could not refrain but meet his Enemies and having with all possible speed raised a convenient Army hâ— met with them near Brecnock where after a terrible Fight and a great slaughter on both sides he was unhappily slain With him fell the Glory and Grandeâ—â— of the Principality of South-Wales being afterwards rent in pieces and divided into several parts and piece-meals among these Norman Captains as shall be by and by more particularly related Prince Rhys less Issue behind him by the Daughter of Rywalhon ap Coâ—fyn two Sons Gruffydh and Grono the latter of which was detained Prisoner by the King of England thâ—â— the Author of the winning of the Lordship of Glamagan affirms that he was slain together with his Father in this Battel against the Normans The Normans having received a sufficient Reward from Iestyn upon the account of their Service against Prince Rhys returned to their Ships in order to their Voyage homeward But before they could loose Anchor to sail off Eineon recalled them being ungratefully affronted by Iestyn who absolutely refused to make good to him the Conditions which they had agreed upon before the Normans were invited to Wales Upon this account Eineon was so irreconcilably incensed against Iestyn that to be revenged upon him he was willing to sacrifice his native Country into the hands of strangers and therefore endeavoured to persuade the Normans concerning the Fatness and Fertility of the Country and how easily they might conquer and make themselves Masters of it But he needed not many Arguments to persuade a People that were willing of themselves
could to England But all the haste they did make could not secure them from the Fury of the Welch for Gruffydh and Ifor the Sons of Ednerth ap Cadogan expected them privately at a place called Aberlhech where falling unexpectedly upon them they slew the greatest part of their number the rest narrowly escaping safe to England But the Norman Garrisons which were left behind defended themselves with a great deal of Bravery till at last finding no prospect of Relief they were forced for their own safety to deliver them up to the Welch who from that time became again Proprietors of those Places which the Normans had dispossess'd them from And this encouraged the Welch to undertake other things against the English for immediately after this certain of the Nobility of North-Wales Vchthed the Son of Edwyn ap Grono by name together with Howel ap Grono and the Soâ—â— of Cadogan ap Blethyn of Powys-land passed by Cardigan into Dyved which Country King William had given to Arnulph Son to Roger Montgomery who had built thereon the Castle of Pembrock and appointed Gerald de Windsore Governour of the same and destroying all the Country with Fire and Sword excepting Pembrock Castle which was impregnable they returned home with a great deal of Booty In recompence of this when the Lords of North-Wales were returned Gerald issued out of the Castle and spoiled all the Country about S. Davids and after he had got sufficient Plunder and taken divers Prisoners returned back into the Castle A.D. 1095 The Year following King William being return'd from Normandy and having heard how that the Welch had cut off a great number of his Subjects in Wales gathered all his Power together and with great Pomp and Ostentation entered the Marches resolving utterly to eradicate the rebellious and implacable humour of the Welch Nation But after all this Boast and seeming Resolution he durst venture no farther than the Marches where having built some few Castles he returned with no greater Honour A.D. 1096 than he came But the next Spring Hugh de Montgomery Earl of Arundel and Salop by the Welch â—â—med Hugh Goch and Hugh Fras or the sat Earl 〈◊〉 Chester being invited by some disaffected Welch â—â—rds came into North-Wales with a very great â—â—my Prince Gruffydh ap Conan and Cadogan ap â—â—â—thyn perceiving themselves to be too weak to â—â—pose so numerous an Army and what was worse â—â—â—ng very suspicious of the Fidelity and Honesty of â—â—â—ir own Forces thought it their best way to take 〈◊〉 Hills and Mountains for their safety where they â—â—re like to remain most secure from the Enemy â—â—en the English Army marched towards Anglesey 〈◊〉 being come over against the Island they built 〈◊〉 Castle of Aberlhiennawc But Gruffydh and Caâ—â—an could no longer endure to see their Country â—â—er run by the English and therefore they descendâ—â— from the Mountains and came to Anglesey thinkâ—â—g with what Succours they should receive from â—â—â—land of which they were disappointed to be able 〈◊〉 defend the Island from any attempt that should 〈◊〉 made upon it And now the whole Treason and 〈◊〉 occasion of the English coming to Wales was â—â—â—covered for Owen ap Edwyn the Prince his chiefâ—â—â— Counsellour whose Daughter Gruffydh had marâ—â—â—d having himself also married Everyth the Daughâ—â—â— of Confyn Aunt to Cadogan upon some private â—â—rudge or other called in the English into Wales â—â—d at this time openly joyned his Forces with â—â—eirs and led the whole Army over into Anglesey â—ruffydh and Cadogan finding how they were beâ—â—ayed by their dearest Friend as they thought for â—â—â—r of farther Treachery judged it prudent to sail â—â—â—vately for Ireland after whose departure the Engâ—â—â—h fell cruelly to work destroying all they could â—â—me at without any respect to either Age or Sex â—nd whilst the English continued in Anglesey Magâ—â—s the Son of Harold lately King of England came â—ver with a great Fleet intending to lay faster hold â—pon that Kingdom than his Father had done and 〈◊〉 recover the same to himself But whilst he steered â—is Course thitherward he was driven by contrary Winds to the Coasts of Anglesey where he would fain have landed had not the English Army kept him off But in this Skirmish Magnus accidentally wounded Hugh Earl of Salop with an Arrow in the Face whereof he dyed and then of a sudden both Armies relinquished the Island the English returning A.D. 1097 to England appointing Owen ap Edwyn who invited them over Prince of the Country But Owen did not enjoy the Principality long for in the beginning of the following Spring Gruffydh ap Conan and Cadogan ap Blethyn returned from Ireland and having concluded a Peace with the Normans for some part of their Lands in Wales Gruffydh remained in Anglesey and Cadogan had Cardigan with part of Powys But though Cadogan recovered his Estate yet in a little while after he lost his Son Lhewelyn who was treacherously murthered by the Men of Brecnock at which time also dyed Rythmarch Archbishop of S. Davids the Son of Sulien being in the 43 Year of his Age a Man of the greatest Piety Wisdom and Learning as had flourished a long time in Wales excepting his Father under whose A.D. 1098 Tutelage he was educated The Year following King William Rufus as he was hunting in the new Forrest was accidentally stain with an Arrow which one Walter Tyrrell shot at a Stag and his eldest Brother being then engaged in the Holy War Henry his younger Brother whom in his life-time he had nominated his Successor was crowned in his stead The same Year Hugh Earl of Chester Grono ap Cadogan and Gwyn ap Gruffydh departed this life A.D. 1100 About two Years after a Rebellion broke out in England Robert de Belesmo the Son of Roger de Montgomery Earl of Salop and Arnulph his Brother Earl of Pembrock took up Arms against King Henry which he being informed of sent them a very gracious Message to come before him and declare their Grievances and the reason of their rising up in Arms against his Majesty But the Earls instead of appearing in Person sent him flight and frivolous Excuses and in the mean while made all necessary Preparations for the War both by raising of Forces and fortifying their Castles and strong Holds And to strengthen themselves the more they sent rich Presents and made large Promises to Iorwerth Cadogan and Meredith the Sons of Blethyn ap Confyn for to bring them to their side Robert fortified four Castles namely Arundel Tekinhil Shrewsbury and Brugge which last by reason that Robert built it without the consent of the King was the chief occasion of this War and Arnulph fortified his Castle at Pembrock After this they entered in an hostile manner into the Territories of the King of England wasting and destroying all before them And to augment their strength Arnulph sent Gerald his Steward to Murkart King of Ireland desiring his Daughter in Wedlock which was
easily granted with the Promise too of great Succours and large Supplies King Henry to put a stop to their bold Adventures marched in person against them and laying siege to the Castle of Arundel wan it without any great Opposition and quickly afterwards the Castle of Tekinhill but that of Brugge by reason of the scituation of the place and the depth of the Ditch about it seemed to require longer time and harder service and therefore King Henry was advised to send privately to Iorwerth ap Blethyn promising him great Rewards if he forsook the Earl's part and came over to him urging to him what Mischief Roger Earl Robert's Father and his Brother Hugh had continually done to the Welch-Men And to make him the more willing to accept of his Proposals he promised to give him all such Lands as the Earl and his Brother had in Wales without either Tribute or Homage which was a part of Powys Cardigan and half Dyfed the other part being in the possession of William Fitz-Baldwyn Iorwerth receiving these Offers accepted of them very gladly and then coming to the King he sent all his Forces to Earl Robert's Lands who having received very strict Orders destroyed without Mercy every thing they met with and what made the Spoil the greater Earl Robert upon his rebelling against King Henry had caused his People to convey all their Goods to Wales for fear of the English not thinking how his Father's Memory sounded among the Welch But when the News of Iorwerth's Revolt reached the Ears of the Earl Cadogan and Meredith Iorwerth's Brothers their Spirits began to faint as despairing any longer to oppose the King since Iorwerth who was the Person of greatest strength in Wales had left and forsaken them Arnulph was gone to Ireland to fetch home his Wife and to bring over what succour his Father in Law King Murkart could afford to send him but he not coming in time some other Method was to be tryed how to get some Aid against the English A little before this Rebellion broke out Magnus Harold's Son landed the second time in the Isle of Anglesey and being kindly received by Gruffydh ap Conan he had leave to cut down what Timber he had need for and so returning to the Isle of Man which he had got by Conquest he built there three Castles and then sent to Ireland to have the Daughter of Murkart in marriage to his Son which being obtained he created him King of Man Earl Robert hearing this sent to Magnus for Aid against King Henry but receiving none he thought it now high time to look to his own Safety and therefore he sent to the King requesting that he might quietly depart the Kingdom in case he should lay down his Arms which the King having granted he sail'd to Normandy And then King Henry sent an Express to his Brother Arnulph requiring him either to follow his Brother out of the Kingdom or to deliver himself up to his Mercy and so Arnulph went over also for Normandy When the King was returned to London Iorwerth took his Brother Meredith Prisoner and committed him to the King's custody his other Brother Cadogan having reconciled himself beforehand to whom Iorwerth gave Cardigan with a part of Powys Then Iorwerth went to London to put the King in mind of his Promise and the Service he had done him against Earl Robert but the King finding now all matters at quiet was deaf to all such Remembrances and instead of promising what he had once voluntarily proposed against all Rules of Equity and Gratitude he took away Dyfed from Iorwerth and gave it to a Knight of his own called Saer and Stratywy Cydwely and Gwyr he bestowed upon Howel ap Grono and sent Iorwerth away more empty than he came Nor was this sufficient Reward for his former Services but the next Year King Henry must send some of his Counsel to Shrewsbury and cite Iorwerth to appear there A. D. 1101. under pretence of consulting about the King's Business and Affairs in those Parts But the Plot was laid deeper and when without any suspicion of Treachery he made his appearance he was surprizedly attainted of High-Treason and then contrary to all Right and Justice actually condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment the true reason of this unparallel'd Severity being the King feared his Strength and was apprehensive that he would revenge the Wrong and Affront he received at his hands And indeed well had he reason to fear that when he so ungratefully treated him whose Service he had experienced to be so greatly advantagious to him But the Policy of Princes is unaccountable and whether to value an eminent Person for his Service or to fear him for his Greatness is a Subject that frequently disturbs their most settled Considerations But the Noblemen that were at this time sent by the King to Shrewsbury were Richard de Belmersh who being chief Agent about Roger Montgomery Earl of Salop was preferred to the Bishoprick of London and afterwards appointed by this King to be Warden of the Marches and Governour of the County of Salop. With him were joyned in company Walter Constable the Father of Milo Earl of Hereford and Rayner the King's Lieutenant in the County of Salop. About this time as Bale writes the Church of Menevia or S. Davids began to be subject to the See of Canterbury being always afore the Metropolitan Church of all Wales A.D. 1102 Shortly after this Owen ap Edwyn who had been Author of no small Mischief and Disturbance to the Welch in moving the English against his natural Prince and Son in Law Gruffydh ap Conan departed this Life after a tedious and miserable Sickness of which he was so much the less pityed by how much he had proved an Enemy and a Traytor to his native Country He was the Son of Grono by his Wife Edelflede the Widow of Edmund surnamed Ironside King of England and had the Title of Tegengl though the English when they had compelled Gruffydh ap Conan to flee to Ireland for safety constituted him Prince of all North-Wales After his death Richard Fitz-Baldwyn laid siege to and took the Castle of Rydcors and forcibly drove Howel ap Grono to whom King Henry had committed the custody of it out of the Country But Howel quickly returned and with a high Spirit of Revenge began to destroy and burn whatsoever he could meet with and then meeting a Party of the Normans in their return homewards he fell upon the flank of them with a very considerable slaughter and so brought all the Country to his subjection excepting some few Garrisons and Castles which would not surrender to him The same time King Henry took away from Saer the Government of Dyfed which formerly was Iorwerth ap Blethyn's and bestowed it upon Gerald who had been some time Earl Arnulph's Steward in those Parts and therefore by reason of his knowledg of the Country was in all probability best able to take
interdicted and forbidden to enter any Man's House or to compose any Song of any one without the special leave and warrant of the Party concerned with many other Ordinances relating to the like purpose Owen Gwynedh AFter the death of Gruffydh ap Conan his eldest Son Owen surnamed Gwynedh succeeded in the Principality of North Wales who no sooner had entered upon the Government but together with the rest of his Brethren he made an Expedition into South-Wales and having demolished and overthrown the Castles of Stradmeyric Stephan and Humffreys and laid in Ashes the Town of Caermardhyn he returned home with no less Honor than Booty and Plunder About the same time John Arch-Deacon of Lhanbaran departed this Life a Man of singular Piety and strictness of Life who for his rigid Zeal in Religion and Virtue was thought worthy to be canonized and to be counted among the number of the Saints This Year likewise King Stephen passed over to Normandy and having concluded a Peace with the French King and the Duke of Anjou returned back to England without any further delay But the following Spring gave opportunity for greater Undertakings David King of Scots upon the King of England's going to France last Summer had entered the Borders of England and continued to make considerable Wast and Havock in that part of the Country Whereupon King Stephen to rid his Country and his Subjects from so dangerous an Enemy marched with an Army towards the North whose coming the King of Scots hearing of he relinquished the Borders of England and retired to his own Country But that would not satisfie King Stephen who desired to be further revenged for the unpardonable Hostilities committed by the Scots in his Country and therefore pursuing the Scots to their own Country he harassed and laid wast all the South part of the Kingdom of Scotland But the King's absence animated several of the English Nobility to rebel to which purpose they fortified every one their Castles and strong Holds William Earl of Glocester those of Leeds and Bristol Ralph Lunel Cari William Fitz-Allen Shrewsbury Paganellus Ludlow William de Moyun Dunester Robert de Nichol Warham Eustace Fitz-John Merton and Walklyn Dover But for all these mighty Preparations the King in a short time became Master of them all some he won by assault others upon fair Promises and advantageous Conditions were surrendred up and some he got by treacherous and under-hand Contrivances The Scots thought to make good advantage of these Commotions in England and thereupon as soon as they heard that some of the English Nobility were in actual Rebellion against the King they entered into the Borders and began as they thought without any apprehension of Opposition to ravage and lay waste the Country before ' em But William Earl of Albemarle William Pyppell Earl of Nottingham Walter Espec and Gilbert Lacy gathered together all the Forces they could raise in the North and being animated and encouraged by the eloquent and pressing Oration of Ralph Bishop of Orkneys which he delivered in the audience of the whole Army they set upon the Scots at Almerton with such unanimous Courage that after a very great slaughter of his Men King David was glad to escape with his Life by flight After this King Stephen seized to his own use the Castles of Ludlow and Leeds and pressed the Bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln so hard that to prevent their perishing by Famine they were constrained to surrender the former the Castles of Vises and Shirburn the latter those of Newark upon Trent and Sleeford This did not a little augment the King's strength against the ensuing Storm for in the Summer this Year Maud the Empress Daughter and Heir to King Henry to whom King Stephen with all the Nobility of England had sworn Allegiance landed at Arundel with her Brother Robert Earl of Glocester and was there honourably received by William de Albineto who was lately married to Queen Adeliz King Henry's Widow with whom he received the Earldom of Arundel in Dowry But as soon as King Stephen heard of her landing he marched with all possible speed to Arundel and laid siege to the Castle but finding it upon tryal impregnable he raised the siege and by that means suffered the Empress and her Brother to escape to Bristol A.D. 1138 The next Year an unlucky Accident fell out in Wales Cynric one of Prince Owen's Sons having by some means or other disgusted Madawc ap Meredith ap Blethyn ap Confyn a Person of considerable Esteem and Estate in the Country was with his connivance set upon and slain by his Men. But the Affairs of England this Year afforded greater rarity of action King Stephen with a formidable Army laid siege to the City of Lincoln to the relief of which Ranulph Earl of Chester and Robert Earl of Glocester marched with their Forces But before they could arrive the Town was taken whereupon they drew up their Forces in order to give the King battel who on the other side was as ready to receive them King Stephen drew up his Forces in three Battels the first being led by the Earls of Britain Mellent Norfolk Hampton and Warren the second by the Earl of Albemarle and William of Ypres and the third by the King himself assisted by Baldwyn Fitz-Gilbert with several others of his Nobility Of the Enemies side the disinherited Barons had the first place the Earl of Chester with a considerable Party of Welchmen far better couraged than armed led the second and the Earl of Glocester the third Battel After a hot and bloody Dispute of both sides the Victory at length favoured the Barons King Stephen being first taken Prisoner and a little after the Queen together with William of Ypres and Bryan Fitz-Count But within a while after William Martell and Geffrey de Mandeville gathered together some fresh Forces and fought the Empress and her Brother at Winchester and having put the Empress to flight took Earl Robert Prisoner for exchange of whom the King was set at liberty The next Year King Stephen would A.D. 1139 try the other Adventure and received a second Overthrow at Wilton which however did not so much discourage him but that he laid so close a siege to the Empress at Oxford that she was glad to make her escape to Wallingford The same Year dyed Madawc ap Ednerth a Person of great Quality and Note in Wales and Meredith ap Howel a Man of no mean Esteem was slain by the Sons of Blethyn ap Gwyn For the two succeeding Years nothing remarkable A.D. 1140 passed in Wales excepting that this Year Howel ap Meredith ap Rhytherch of Cantref Rychan and Rhys ap Howel were cowardly slain by the Treachery and perfidious Practices of the Flemings and the next A.D. 1141 Year Howel ap Meredith ap Blethyn was basely murthered by his own Men at which time Howel and Cadwgan the Sons of Madawc ap Ednerth upon some unhappy Quarrel did kill
as much as in him lay opposed sent him to the King's Officers to be imprisoned at Winchester from whence he quickly found a way to escape And by the advice of the rest of his Brethren he returned home to his Country King Henry continued all this while in Normandy and during his stay there a Match was concluded upon betwixt his Son Henry and Margaret Daughter to Lewis King of France But this new alliance could not prevent these two Monarchs from A.D. 1160 falling at variance with each other which happened the Year following and thereupon King Henry marched with his Army to Gascoyne to quell certain Rebels who upon first notice of this Breach between both Kings were up in Arms against the English But the next Year a Peace was again concluded and so all things returned to their former state of A.D. 1161 Amity and Quietness But it was not so in Wales for Howel the Son of Ievaf ap Cadwgan ap Athlestlan Glodryth having got to his hand the Castle of Walwern in Cyfeilioc rased it to the ground which so incensed Prince Owen who was Owner of it that nothing could lay his fury till he had drawn his Forces together and made an incursion into Lhandhinam in Arustly Howel's Country which he cruelly harrassed and carried away considerable Booty The People of the Country perceiving these Devastations of the North-Wales Men came together to the number of 300 Men offering their Service to their natural Lord Howel ap Iefaf who upon this addition of strength followed the Enemy to the Banks of Severn where they were encamped Prince Owen finding them to march after him was glad of the opportunity to be further revenged upon Howel and so turning suddenly upon them he slew about Two Hundred Men the rest narrowly escaping with Howel to the Woods and Rocks Owen being more joyful for the Revenge he had taken of Howel than for any Victory he had gained rebuilt Walwern Castle and having well fortified and mann'd it returned home to North-Wales A.D. 1162 The Year following the like thing happened Owen the Son of Gruffydh ap Meredith commonly called Owen Cyfeilioc o Wynedh together with Owen ap Madawc ap Meredith and Meredith ap Howel set upon Carrechofa Castle near Oswestry and having over-power'd the Garison committed great Waste and Destruction therein But about the same time a pleasant passage happened in England Robert Mountford and Henry de Essex who had both fought against the Welch upon the Marches and both run began now to impeach each other as being the first occasion of flying The Dispute was to be tryed by Combat in which being engaged Henry was overcome and for his false accusing of Robert he was sentenced to have his Estate forfeited and then having his Crown shorn he was entered a Monk at Redding Within a little after King Henry calling to mind what Prince Rhys had committed during his absence out of the Kingdom drew up a great Army against South-Wales and having marched as far as Pencadyr near Brecknock Rhys met him and did his Homage and having delivered up Hostages for his future Behaviour stopp'd the King's farther progress so that thence he returned to England But after the King's departure two very unlucky Accidents happened in Wales Eineon the Son of Anarawd ap Gruffydh Nephew to Prince Rhys being villainously murthered in his Bed by his own Servant called Walter ap Lhywarch as also Cadwgan ap Meredith in like manner by one Walter ap Riccart But the loss of his Nephew Prince Rhys made up by possessing himself of that large Country called Cantref Maâ—r and the Land of Dynefowr which he afterwards enjoyed Of men of Learning there dyed this Year Cadifor ap Daniel Archdeacon of Cardigan and Henry ap Arthen the greatest Scholar that had flourished in Wales for many Years The next Year a total Rupture broke forth betwixt A.D. 1163 the English and Welch Prince Rhys a Man of an active and uncontroulable Spirit being now experimentally sensible he could never carry on the Greatness and Grandeur of his Quality with such lands as the King of England had allotted him made an Invasion into the Lordship of Roger de Acre Earl of Glocester being moved thereto in a great measure by reason that his Nephew Anarawd ap Gruffydh was murthered by his motive and instigation Being advanced with a strong Army into the Earl of Glocester's Estate without any great opposition he took Aberheidol Castle with those belonging to the Sons of Wyhyaon all which he rased to the ground Thence he marched to Cardigan bringing all that Country under his subjection and from thence he marched against the Flemings whose Country he cruelly harassed with Fire and Sword The rest of the Estates of Wales perceiving Prince Rhys to prosper so successfully against the English thought they might equally succeed and shake off the English Yoke which so unreasonably oppressed them And therefore they unanimously agreed to cast off their Subjection to the English whose Tyranny they could no longer bear and to put over them Princes of their own Nation whose Superiority they could better tolerate And so this Year concluded with making suitable Preparations for the following Campaign A.D. 1164 And therefore as soon as the time of year for action was advanced David Son of Owen Prince of North-Wales fell upon Flintshire which pertained to the King of England and carrying off all the People and Cattel with him brought them to Dyffryn Clwyd otherwise Ruthyn Land King Henry understanding this gathered together his Forces and with all speed marched to defend both his Subjects and Towns from the Incursions and Depredations of the Welch Being come to Ruthlan and encamped there three days he quickly perceived he could do no great matter by reason that his Army was not sufficiently numerous and therefore he thought it more advisable to return back to England and to augment his Forces before he should attempt any thing against the Welch And accordingly he levied the most chosen Men throughout all his Dominions of England Normandy Anjou Gascoin and Gwien besides those Succours from Flanders and Britain and then set forward for North-Wales purposing to destroy without Mercy every living thing he could possibly meet with and being advanced as far as Croes-Oswalt called Oswestry he incamped there On the other side Prince Owen and his Brother Cadwalader with all the strength of North-Wales Prince Rhys with those of South-Wales Owen Cyfeilioc and Madawc ap Meredith with all the Power of Powys the two Sons of Madawc ap Ednerth with the People living betwixt the Rivers of Severn and Wye met together and pitched their Camp at Corwen in Edeyrneon intending unanimously to defend their Country against the King of England King Henry understanding that they were so near was very desirous to come to Battel and to that end he removed to the Banks of the River Ceireoc causing all the Woods thereabouts to be cut down for fear of
Companions and slew them to a Man King Henry was implacably enrag'd at this News and so cruelly incensed that he presently raised and drew together all his Power and came to Worcester intending to march forward to Wales and to invade the Enemies Country But the Lord Rhys ap Gruffydh a subtile and a politick Prince thinking it impossible to withstand the English Army and fearing the King's Puissance which he perceived to be so implacably bent against the Welch went in person to Worcester and swearing Fealty to the King became his perpetual Liege-Man and for the due observance of this Contract he promised to send his Sons and Nephews for Pledges But when he would have persuaded them to answer his request the young Men considering with themselves how former Pledges had not been very genteely treated by the English refused to go and so the whole matter rested for that time What became of the matter afterwards we know not but probable it is that King Henry returned to England satisfied with Rhys's Submission for we hear no more of his coming to Wales And so the Country remained quiet and undisturbed for a long time till at length the Welch began to fall to their wonted Method of killing and murdering one another A.D. 1186 Cadwalader Prince Rhys's Son was privately murdered in West-Wales and buried in the Ty Gwyn And the Year following Owen Fychan the Son of Madawe A.D. 1187 ap Meredith was slain by night in the Castle of Carrergova near Oswestry by Gwenwynwyn and Cadwalhon the Sons of Owen Cyfeilioc But what was most unnatural of all Lhewelyn whose Father Cadwalhon ap Gruffydh ap Conan was lately murdered by the Englishmen was taken by his own Brothers who very barbarously put out his Eyes About the same time Baldwyn Archbishop of Canterbury being attended by Giraldus Cambrensis took a Progress into Wales being the first Archbishop of Canterbury that visited that Country whose Authority the Clergy of Wales in vain opposed though they stifly alledged the Liberties and Priviledges of their Metropolitan Church of S. Davids In this Visitation described by Giraldus in his Itinerarium Cambriae he persuaded many of the Nobility of Wales to go to the Holy Land against those prevailing Enemies of Christianity the Saracens to whose prevailing Greatness Jerusalem it self was now in great danger A.D. 1188 to become subject The Archbishop having left the Country Maelgon the Son of Lord Rhys brought all his Power against Tenbigh and having by force made himself Master of it burnt the whole Town to the ground and so carried away very considerable Spoil He was a Person of such civil Behaviour and easie Access of so comly Personage and Honesty in all his Actions that he attracted the most earnest Love and Affection of all his Friends by which means he became very terrible and formidable to his Enemies especially the Flemings of whom he obtained divers Victories and Conquests The next Year being the Year of Christ 1189. A.D. 1189 Henry the Second surnamed Courtmantel King of England dyed and was buried at Fonteverard after whom his Son Richard called Curdelyon was by the unanimous consent of all the Peers and Nobility of England crowned in his place Prince Rhys being thus deprived of his greatest Friend thought it his wisest way to make the best provision he could for himself by enlarging his Dominions and extending the Bounds of his present Territories and therefore having raised all the Strength he could he wan the Castles of Seynclere Abercorran and Lhanstephan and having taken and committed to Prison Maelgwn his Son who was the greatest Thorn in his Side as one that was most passionately beloved by the South-Wales Men he brought the whole Country to his subjection Then he built the Castle of Cydwely but A.D. 1190 what took away from him the Joy of all this good Fortune he lost his Daughter Gwenlhian a Woman of such incomparable Beauty and exceeding in all feminine Qualifications that she was accounted the fairest and best accomplished Lady in all the Country And not long after her dyed Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield A.D. 1191 a Man of great Prudence and Experience and one that excelled all the Nobility of his time in Hospitality and all other Acts of Generosity and Liberality His Corps were carried to Myfod and honourably interr'd there being attended by most of the Persons of Quality throughout the whole Country He had Issue by his Wife Angharad Daughter of Owen Gwynedh Prince of North-Wales a Son called Madawc who succeeded his Father in that part of Powys called from him Powys Fadawc Rhys Prince of South-Wales was growing very powerful and had made himself Master of the greatest part of South-Wales only with some few places more Dynefowr held out still which however upon the first Assault he made against it was delivered up to him But as he increased 〈◊〉 â—he number of Towns and Castles he had the Misfortune to have that of his Children diminished for his Daughter Gwenlhian was lately deceased and now he had no sooner got Dynefowr Castle into his possession but his Son Owen dyed at Strata Florida or Ystratflur King Richard was gone to the Holy Land against the Saracens but in his return to England he wan the Kingdom of Cyprus and gave it to Gwido King of Jerusalem upon condition he would resign his former Title to him During his stay in this Island he marryed Berengaria the Daughter of the King of Navarr A.D. 1192 Maeâ—gon Prince Rhys's Son had been now detain'd a long time in Prison where his Father had shut him up but being at last utterly weary of such a close Confinement he found some means or other to get out and to make his escape His Father Prince Rhys was not so troubled at his being broke out and that he had got his liberty as to give over the Conquest which all this while he had gone so furiously on with but laying siege to Lhanhayaden Castle he took it without any great Opposition and brought all the Country about to his subjection And what favoured him more in his Attempts against the English King Richard A.D. 1193 having most bravely signalized himself against the Infidels in his return home through Austria was taken Prisoner by Duke Leopold who presented him to the Emperour Henry who demanded 200000 Marks for his Ransom laying to his charge that he had spoiled and plundered the Island of Sicily in his Voyage to the Holy Land And as Rhys took the advantage of King Richard's absence to subject South-Wales so Roderic Brother to David Prince of North Wales made use of Gothrike's the King of Man's help to get the Principality of North-Wales to himself and eject his Brother And therefore entring into Anglâ—sey he quickly reduced the whole Island to his subjection But he did not enjoy it long for before the Year was over the Sons of his Brother Conan came with an Army against him and forcing him together with the
his mind delivered up to the King being the in-land Country of Denbigh and Flint which Lhewelyn at this time repossessed himself of And well it was he was so quick for within a little while after King John by the persuasions of Pandulph the Pope's Legate granted his Holiness all his Request and so obtained Absolution at Pandulph's hands and upon performance of his Promises an assurance of a releasement from that Ecclesiastical Bull which had so formidably roared against him A.D. 1213 South-Wales had now been quiet for a considerable time and they that used to be commonly very turbulent and contentious were now pretty easy and amicable But it was impossible that such a peaceable Course of Life should hold long where Injustice and Oppression had so much Liberty and where People were wrongfully kept out of their just and rightful Inheritance And this was the occasion of the breach of that quietness which for the two or three years last past they had so satisfactorily enjoyed For Rhys the Son of Gruffydh ap Rhys who was right Heir to Prince Rhys finding he could have no share of his Father's Estate but that his Uncles forcibly kept all from him thought it his best way to make his Case known to the King of England and to desire a remedy and redress from him King John in compassion of the young Man's hard Condition sent to his Deputy Foulke Vicount of Caerdyff Warden of the Marches and to the Steward of Hereford commanding them to take away all Ystratywy from Rhys Fychan by some called Rhys Gryg unless he would permit his Nephews to enjoy Lhanymdhyfry-Castle with all the Lands and Priviledges thereunto belonging Foulke having received such Orders from his Master the King of England sent to acquaint Rhys of the Proposals and so demand of him whether or no he would deliver up Lhanymdhyfry to his Nephews according to the Kin'gs Command who returned answer that he did not know of any such Obligation due from him to the King of England as to part with his Lands at his Command and therefore assured him peremptorily and in plain terms that he would not willingly part with one foot of what he was in present possession of Foulke therefore having received this resolute Answer was likewise as resolute to get that by force which he could not obtain by fair means and so having raised a great Army he marched to Talhwynelgain to meet with young Rhys who was to come thither with all the Forces he could raise in Brecknock and from thence they marched in three Battles towards Dynefawr the first being commanded by young Rhys the second by Foulke and Owen Brother to Rhys led the third Rhys Fychan was not in the least dismayed at their Number but thinking it more advisable to meet them in the Field rather than suffer them to block him up at Dynefawr came out very boldly and gave them Battel but after a warm Engagement on both sides Rhys Fychan in the end got the worse and after a loss of a great number of his Men he was glad at last to make his escape by flight And so retiring to Dynefawr he doubled the Garrison of that place but thinking the Town of Lhandeilo-fawr not to be Tenable he burnt it to the Ground and then kept himself private in the Woods and other desart places But young Rhys and Foulke laid Siege to Dynefawr and in the first Assault came on so fiercely that they forced the Garrison to retire to the Castle which for some time they defended very manfully But the besiegers began to play so violently with their battering Engines and to undermine the Wall in such a manner that the Governour after a short defence began to Capitulate giving three Pledges for security that if they received no Relief by the morrow at Noon the Castle should be surrendred up conditionally that the Garrison should march out with all the Tokens of Honour and carry their Arms and all other Implements of War along with them No Relief being arrived the Castle the next day was accordingly surrendred and all the Articles of the Capitulation observed and so young Rhys being possessed of Dynefawr in a little time afterward brought all Cantref-fawr to his subjection When Rhys Fychan was sensible how the stream run violently against him he thought it his wisest way to remove his Wife and Children and all his other Effects to his Brother Maelgon's Country and so leaving Lhanymdhyfry Castle well manned and fortified he departed towards Aberystwyth But as soon as Foulke was returned to the Marches young Rhys came with an Army consisting of Welch and Normans before Lhanymdhyfry intending to besiege that place but before they were encamped before the Town the Governour thought it his best way to surrender upon Condition only that the Garrison should depart away with their Lives And shortly afterwards Rhys Fychan was taken at Caermarâ—dhyn and committed to the King's Prison and so all the Disturbances and Troubles of South-Wales came to a peaceable issue But it was not so in North-Wales for Prince Lhewelyn being desirous to rid his Country from the insupportable Tyranny and Oppression of the English Garrisons laid Siege to the Castles of Dyganwy and Ruthlan the only places now remaining in the hands of the English which he took without any great opposition and so freed his Country from any Title or Pretence the King of England might claim in North-Wales King John indeed was engaged another way and consequently in no good Condition to help himself for having repented of all the indignities and stubborness he expressed against Pope Innocent at this time he received Penance at the hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury to attone for all the severities he had practised against the Church And to restore himself the more to his Holiness Favour he made the Kingdom of England Tributary to the Church of Rome to be holden of the Pope in paying him the summ of 1000 Marks yearly for ever and withal recalled and restored to their former Preferments and Places all such as had been banished or had voluntarily fled the Kingdom upon the account of their strict adherence and submission to the Pope of Rome Nor was this all for the next year King John with A.D. 1215 two of his Nobility the Earls of Chester and Derby was resolved upon a Voyage to the Holy-Land but was unfortunately prevented of his Journey by the Rebellion of his Barons which now broke forth violently by reason that the King would not grant them some antient Laws and Priviledges such as their fore-Fathers always enjoyed Therefore the Barons entered into a Confederacy with Prince Lhewelyn of North-Wales desiring him to make what Diversion he could on his part which they were resolved to do on theirs and so having raised an Army they appointed Robert Fitzwalter their General Coming to Bedford they were honourably received into the Castle by William Beauchamp and from thence marching to London they were
and had a great Number of their Men slain After this nothing remarkable fell out for a considerable time unless it were that David being released out of Prison by Prince Lhewelyn his Brother most ungratefully forsook him and with all his might sided with his Enemies the English also Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn having taken the Castle of Mold demolished it to the ground During this quiet and unactive interval in Wales Meredith ap Owen the main Support and Defender of South-Wales died to the great disadvantage of the Affairs of that Country And now indeed the Welch were like to be A.D. 1268 made sensible of the Loss of so considerable a Person for King Henry was resolved once more to lead an Army into Wales and to see if he could have better Success than he had hitherto against the Welch But when he was prepared to undertake this Expedition Ottobonus Pope Clement's Legate in England interposed and mediated a Peace which was concluded upon at the Castle of Montgomery wherein it was articled that Prince Lhewelyn should give the King 30000 Marks and the King was to grant the Prince a Charter from thenceforth to receive Homage and Fealty of all the Nobility and Barons of Wales besides one so that they could hold their Lands of no other but himself and from thence forward he was to be lawfully stiled Prince of Wales This Charter being ratified and confirmed as well by the Authority of the Pope as the King's Seal Prince Lhewelyn desisted from any farther Acts of Hostility and punctually observed all the Articles of Agreement betwixt him and King Henry so that nothing more was outragiously transacted between the English and Welch during the remainder of this King's reign Within that space died Grono ap Ednyfed Fychan one of the Chief Lords of the Prince's Council and shortly after him Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield who lies buried at Vale-Crucis A.D. 1272 But the Death of King Henry put an end to the observations of the Peace betwixt the English and Welch who dying on the 16th day of November this year left this Kingdom to his Son Edward Prince Edward was then in the Holy-Land and very active against those Enemies of Christianity the Turks where he had already continued above a year but understanding of his Father's Death and that in his absence he was proclaimed King of England he made all haste to return to receive the Solemnity of Coronation But what by the tediousness of the Journey and what by being honourably detained at Princes Courts in his way it was two years before he could get into England then upon the 15th of August and in the year 1274. he was Crowned at Westminster Prince Lhewelyn was summoned to attend at his Coronation but he flatly refused to appear unless upon sure Terms of safe Conduct for having offended several of the English Nobility he could not in safety pass thro' their Country without the danger of exposing his Person to the inveterate Malice and acceptable Revenge of some of them And thâ—refore without the King's Brother the Earl of Glocester and Robert Burnell Lord Chief Justice of England were delivered up as Pledges for his safe Conduct he would not come up to do his Homage and Fealty at his Coronation according to the Writ directed to him And indeed seeing King Edward had broke the Peace lately concluded upon before the Pope's Legate and did receive and honourably entertain such Noblemen of Wales as for their disloyalty were banished by Prince Lhewelyn by whom he feared some treachery there was no reason that the Prince should pay him any subjection but by the breach of Peace was exempted from all Homage However Prince Lhewelyn to shew that it was not out of any stubborness or disrespect to the King of England that he refused to come sent up his Reasons by the Abbots of Ystratflur and Conwey to Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops then sitting â—n Convocation in the New-Temple at London which were to this effect To the most Reverend Fathers in God Robert Archbishop of Canterbury and Metropolitan of all England the Archbishop of York and the rest of the Bishops in Convocation Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowden sendeth Greeting WE would have your Lordships to understand that whereas formerly most terrible and incessant Wars were continually managed betwixt Henry King of England and our self the same were at last composed and all matters of Differences were adjusted by the means of his Excellency Cardinal Ottobonus the Pope's Legate who having drawn the Articles and Conditions of the Peace agreâ—d upon they were signed and swore to not only by the Kâ—ng but also the Prince his Son now King of England Among these Articles were comprehended that we and our Successors should hold of the King and his Successor the Principality of Wales so that all the Welch Lords one Baron excepted should hold their Baronies and Estates in Capite of us and should pay their Homage and Fealty for the same to us we in like manner doing Homage to the King of England and his Successors And besides that the King and his Successors should never offer to receive and entertain any of our Enemies nor any such of our own Subjects as were lawfully banished and excluded our Dominions of Wales nor by any means defend and uphold such against us Contrary to which Articles King Edward has forcibly seized upon the Estates of certain Barons of Wales of which they and their Ancestors have been immemorably possessed of and detains a Barony which by the form of Peace should have been delivered to us and moreover has hitherto entertained David ap Gruffydh our Brother and Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn with several others of our Enemies who are Out-laws and Fugitives of our Country And tho' we have often exhibited our Grievances and Complaints against them for destroying and pillaging our Country yet we could never obtain of the King any relief or redress for the several Wrongs and Injuries we received at their hands but on the contrary they still persist to commit wastes and other outrages in our Dominions And for all this he summons us to do him Homage at a place which is altogether dangerous to our Person where our inveterate Enemies and which is worse our own unnatural Subjects bear the greatest sway and respect w th the King And tho' we have alledged several Reasons to the King and his Council why the place by him assigned is nâ—t safe and indifferent for us to come and desire him to appoint another whereto we might with more safety resort or else that he would send Commissioners to receive our Oath and Homage till he could more opportunely receive them in Person yet he would not assent to our just and reasonable Request nor be satisfied with the Reasons we exhibited for our non-appearance Therefore we desire your Lordships earnestly to weigh the dismal effects that will happen to the Subjects
did not last long the Eâ—glish Governours in the Marches and in-land Coâ—â—tries of Wales presuming upon the Prince's submiâ—sion to the King grievously oppressed the Inhabâ—tants of the Country with new and unheard of 〈◊〉 actions and with intolerable partiality openly eâ—couraged the English to defraud and oppress tâ—â— Welch These insupportable practices moved tâ—â— Welch to go in a Body to David Lord of Denbigâ— to endeavour a reconciliation between him and 〈◊〉 Brother the Prince that they both being at Unity might easily deliver themselves and their Couâ—try from the unmerciful Tyranny of the English David was not ignorant of the miseries of his Couâ—try-men A.D. 1281 and therefore gladly submitted to be recoâ—ciled to his Brother with promise never to side agaiâ— with the King of England but to become his 〈◊〉 Enemy This happy Union being thus effected David was chose General of the Army with which he presently marched to Hawarden and surprizing the Castle slew all that opposed him and took Rogeâ— Clifford Prisoner who had been sent by King Edward Justitiar into those parts From thence being joyned by the Prince he passed to Ruthlan and laid Siege to the Castle but upon notice given that the King was marching to raise the Siege he thought convenient to withdraw and to retire back At the same time Rhys ap Maelgon and Gruffydh ap Meredith ap Owen with other Lords of South-Wales took from the English the Castle of Aberystwyth with divers others in that Country and spoiled all the People thereabouts who owned subjection to the Crown of England In the mean while John Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury perceiving how matters were like to proceed between the King and the Prince and how the Kingdom was effectually involved in a War of his own proper motion came to Prince Lhewelyn to endeavour a re-submission from him and his Brother David to King Edward and so to put a stop to any farther Hostilities But he sent before-hand to the Prince and People of Wales intimating to them That for the Love he bore to the Welch Nation he undertook this Arbitration without the knowledg and contrary to the King 's liking and therefore earnestly desired that they would submit to a Peace with the English which himself would endeavour to bring to pass And because he could make no long continuance in those Parts he wished them to consider how that if he should be forced to depart before any thing was brought to a conclusion they could hardly find another who would so heartily espouse their Cause and farther threatned that in case they contemned and derided his Endeavours he would not only instigate the English Army now greatly strengthned and increased to fall upon them but also signifie their Stubbornness to the Court and Bishop of Rome who esteemed and honoured England beyond any other Kingdom in the World Moreover he much lamented to hear of the excessive Cruelty of the Welch even beyond that of the Saracens and other Infidels who never refused to permit Slaves and Captives to be ransomed which the Welch were so far from practising that even some time they slew those for whose Redemption they received Money And whereas they were wont to esteem and reverence holy and ecclesiastical Persons they are now so far degenerated from Devotion and Sanctity that nothing is more acceptable to them than War and Sedition which they had now great need to forsake and repent of Lastly he proposed that they would signifie to him wherein and what Laws and Constitutions of theirs was violated by the English and by what means a firm and a lasting Peace might be established which if they rejected they must expect to incur the Decree and Censure of the Church as well as endure the violent In-roads and Depredations of a powerful Army To these partly Admonitions and partly Threatnings of the Archbishop Prince Lhewelyn returned an Answer That he humbly thanked his Grace for the Pains and Trouble he undertook in his and his Subjects behalf and more particularly because he would venture to come to Wales contrary to the pleasure and good liking of the King And as for concluding a Peace with him he would not have his Grace be ignorant that with all readiness he was willing to submit to it upon condition that the King would duly and sincerely observe the same And though he would be glad of his longer A.D. 1201 continuance in Wales yet he hoped that no Obstructions would happen of his side why a Peace which of all things he most desired might not be forthwith concluded and rather by his Graces procuring than any others so that there would be no farther need of acquainting the Pope with his Obstinacy nor moving the King of England to use any Force against him And though the Kingdom of England be under the immediate Protection of the See of Rome yet when his Holiness comes to understand of the great and unsufferable Wrongs done to him by the English how the Articles of Peace were broken Churches and all other religious Houses in Wales were burned down and destroyed and religious Persons unchristianly murthered he hoped he would rather pity and lament his Condition than with addition of Punishment increase and augment his Sorrow Neither shall the Kingdom of England be any wise disquieted and molested by his means in case the Peace be religiously observed towards him and his Subjects But who they are that delight themselves with War and Bloodshed manifestly appears by their Actions and Behaviour the Weâ—ch being glad to live quietly upon their own if they might be permitted by the English who coming to the Country utterly destroy whatever comes in their way without regard either to Sex Age or religious places But he was extreme sorry that any one should be slain having paid his Râ—â—â—â—â— the Author of which unworthy Action he did not pretend to maintain but would inflict upon him his condign Punishment in case he could be got out of the Woods and Desarts where as an Outlaw â—he lives undiscovered But as to commencing a War in a Season inconvenient he protested he knew nothing of that till now yet those that did so do solemnly attest that to be the only measure they had to save themselves and that they had no other security for their Lives and Fortunes than to keep themselves in Arms. Concerning his Sins and Trespasses against God with the assistance of his Grace he would endeavour to repent of neither should the War be willingly continued by him in case he might save himself harmless but before he would be unjustly dispossessed of his legal Propriety he thought it but reasonable by all possible measures to defend himself And he was very willing upon due Examination of the Trespasses committed to make Satisfaction and Retribution of all Wrongs committed by him and his Subjects so that the English would observe the same of their side and likewise was ready to conclude a Peace which he thought was impossible
never hearken to his Redemption alledging that he wilfully threw himself into the hands of Glyndwr But about the midst of August to correct the presumptuous Attempts of the Welch the King went in Person with a great Army into Wales but by reason of extraordinary excess of weather which some attributed to the Magic of Glyndwr he was glad to return safe But the Earl of March perceiving that he was not like to obtain his Liberty by King Henry's means whether out of compliance by reason of his tedious Captivity or Affection to the young Lady he agreed to take part with Owen against the King of England and to marry his Daughter with them joyned the Earl of Worcester and his Brother the Earl of Northumberland with his Son the valiant Lord Percy who conspiring to depose the King of England in the House of the Archdeacon of Bangor by their Deputies divided the Realm amongst them causing a tripartite Indenture to be made and to be sealed with every one's Seal by which Covenant all that Country lying betwixt the Severn and the Trent Southward was assigned to the Earl of March all Wales and the Lands beyond the Severn Westward were appointed Glyndwr and all from the Trent Northward to the Lord Percy This was done as some said thro' a foolish Credit they gave to a vain Prophecy as tho' King Henry was the execrable Moldwarp and they three the Dragon the Lion and the Wolf which should pull him down and distribute his Kingdom among themselves After that they exhibited Articles of their Grievances to King Henry and divulged their Reasons for taking up Arms at length they marched with all their Power towards Shrewsbury to fight the King depending mainly upon the arrival of Glyndwr and his Welch-men But the matter was gone so far that whether he came in or no they must fight and so both Armies being joyned the King's Party prevailed young Percy being slain upon the spot and Douglas besides most of the English of Quality who with a Party of Scotch had come to the Aid of the Confederates was taken Prisoner but afterwards honourably set at Liberty by the Intercession of the Prince of Wales In the mean time the Earl of Northumberland was a marching forward with a great Party from the North but the King having settled Matters about Shrewsbury coming to York and sending to him to lay down his Arms he voluntarily submitted and dismissed his Forces Then the King returning from York-shire determined to pass over to North-Wales to chastise the presumptuous Practices of the immorigerous Welch who after his departure from Shrewsbury had made in-Roads into the Marches and done much hurt to his English Subjects But other Business of greater Consequence intervening he detached his Son the Prince of Wales who took the Castle of Aberystwyth which was quickly again retaken by Owen Glyndwr who thrust into it a strong Garrison of Welch But â—n the Battel of Huske sought upon the fifteenth of March the Welch received a very considerable Blow from the Prince's Men Glyndwr's Son being taken Prisoner besides Fifteen Hundred more taken and slain After this we hear little of Glyndwr excepting that he continued and persisted to vex and plague the English upon the Marches to the tenth year of King Henry's reign when he miserably ended his life being as Holingshed reporteth Holins towards his â—atter days driven to that extremity that despairing of all comfort he fled and lurked in Caves and other the most solitary places fearing to shew his face to any Creature till at length being starved for hunger and lack of sustenance he miserably ended his life But these rebellious Practices of Glyndwr highly exasperated King Henry against the Welch insomuch that several rigorous and unmerciful Laws were enacted relating to Wales which in effect destroyed all the Liberties of the Welch Subject They were made incapable of purchasing any Lands or to be elected Members of any County or Burrough and to undertake any Office whether Civil or Military in any Town incorporated If any Suit at Law happened betwixt an English Man and a Welch Man the former could not be convicted but by the Sentence of an English Judge and the Verdict of an English Jury besides that any English Man who married a Welch Woman was thereby forthwith disfranchised from all the Liberties of an English Subject It was farther enacted that no Welch Man should be in possession of any Castle or other place of Strength and that no Victuals or Armour should be brought into Wales without a special Warrant from the King or his Council and farther that no Welch Man was capable of undertaking the Office of Justice Chamberlain Sheriff or any other place of Trust in any part of Wales notwithstanding any Patent or License heretofore given to the contrary These with many others most rigorous and unjust Laws particularly that forbidding any Welch Man to bring up his Children to Learning or to bind them Apprentices to any Trade or Occupation were enacted by the King against the Welch so that nothing could cool his displeasure but that a whole Nation should be wrongfully oppressed for the fault and miscarriage of one Person But one might think that this was no politick method to secure a Nation in its Allegiance which upon lighter Affronts was used to defend its Priviledges and therefore we may well attribute the quiet disposition of the Welch towards this time to the moderation of Henry the Fifth who within a little time succeeded his Father in the Crown of England Co-temporary with Glyndwr was Sir David Gam so called by reason he had but one Eye the Son of Lhewelyn ap Howel Vaughan of Brecknock by Mawd the Daughter of Iefan ap Rhys ap Ifor of Eluel He was a great stickler for the Duke of Lancaster and for that reason became mortal Enemy to Glyndwr who having his Education as is said before at one of the Inns of Court got to be preferred to the service of King Richard the Second who as Walsingham says made him his Scutifer or Shield-bearer But being informed that his Master Richard was deposed and murdered and withal being provoked by several Wrongs and Affronts done him by his Neighbour the Lord Gray of Rhuthyn whom King Henry greatly countenanced and looking upon Henry as an Usurper he caused himself to be proclaimed Prince of Wales And for a better grace of the matter he feigned himself to be descended by a Daughter from Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh the last Prince whereas in truth he came Paternally but from a younger Brother of the House of Powys But as Ambition has no moderation so Glyndwr for a time acted the part of a Prince and summoned a Parliament to meet at Machynlleth whither the Nobility and Gentry of Wales appeared and among the rest Sir David Gam but not upon the same design with the rest having an intention in this meeting to murder Glyndyfwr But the Plot being discovered and
Sir David secured he had liked to undergo present Execution had not Glyndyfwr's best Friends and the greatest Upholders of his Cause pleaded in his behalf by whose intercession he was prevailed with to grant Sir David both his Life and Liberty upon condition he would ever after continue True and Loyal to him Sir David promised very loudly but with the reservation never to perform for as soon as he came to his own Country where he was a Person of very considerable Sway and Interest he did exceedingly annoy and molest those that any way favoured or adhered to Glyndyfwr While Sir David lay in Prison at Machynlleth for his attempt against Owen's Life this Englyn was made upon him Dafydd Gam dryglam dreigl iti yn wan frwydr Fradwr Rissiart Bhrenin Llwyr y rhoes Diawl hawn hwyl Flîn Y fath ystâd ei fys i th Dîn. But Glyndyfwr receiving information how that Sir David Gam contrary to the Promise he had made at his releasement endeavoured all he could to destroy his Interest among the Welch entred the Marches and among other tokens of his Indignation burned the House of Sir David and as the report goes calling to him one of Sir David's Tenants spake to him thus merrily in Verse O Gweli di wr côch Cam Yn ymofyn y Girnigwen Dywed ei bôd hi Tan y Lan A nôd y glo ar ei Phenn But Sir David had the luck to escape his reach and was constrained to retire to England where he lived for the most part at Court till the Death of Glyndyfwr When King Henry the Fifth went with an Army to France against the French King Sir David Gam brought into his service a numerous Party of Stout and Valorous Welch-Men who upon all occasions expressed their Courage and Resolution In the Battel of Agincourt News being brought to the King that the French Army was advancing towards him and that they were exceeding numerous he detached Captain Gam to observe their motion and review their number The Captain having narrowly eyed the French found them twice to exceed the English but not being in the least dâ—unted at such a multitude he returned to the King who enquiring of him what the Number of the French might be he made answer An 't please you my Liege they are enough to be killed enough to run away and enough to be taken Prisoners King Henry was well pleased and much encouraged with this resolute and undaunted answer of Sir David's whose Tongue did not express more Valor than his Hinds performed For in the heat of Battel the King's Person being in danger Sir David charged the Enemy with that eagerness and masculine Bravery that they were glad to give ground and so secured the King tho' with the loss of much Blood and also his Life himself and his Son-in-Law Roger Vaughan and his Kinsman Waâ—ter Llwyd of Brecknock having received their mortal Wounds in that encounter When the King heard of their Condition how that they were past all hopes of recovery he came to them and in recompence of their good Services Knighted them all three in the Field where they soon after died and so ended the Life but not the Fame of the signally Valiant Sir David Gam Edward of Westminster the sole Issue of that unfortunate Prince King Henry the Sixth by Margaret the Daughter of Rayner Duke of Anjou and titular King of Jerusalem Sicily and Arragon was created Prince of Wales in a Parliament held at Westminster on the 15th day of March in the Thirty Second Year of his Fathers Reign When the Day was lost at Tewksbury this young Prince thought to make his escape by flight but being unfortunately taken and brought to the presence of King Edward the Fourth who then sat upon the Helm made such resolute and unexpected Replies that he put the King to such a passion that he smote him on the Mouth with his Gauntlet and then his Brother Richard the Crouch-back ran him into the Heart with his Dagget Edward born in the Sanctuary at Westminster the eldest Son of King Edward the Fourth was after his Fathers Expulsion out of England in the Fourty Ninth Year of King Henry the Sixth created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in the Eleventh Year of his Fathers Reign Upon the death of Edward the Fourth this young Prince being then at Ludlow in the Marches of Wales was presently sent for to London and proclaimed King of England but never liv'd to be crowned for his Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester who was appointed his Protector most vilainously made him away together with his Brother the Duke of York and afterwards was himself proclaimed and crowned King Edward the Fourth in his Wars against Henry the Sixth was very much assisted by the Welch in recompence of which Service he design'd to reform Matters so in Wales as that intolerable Oppression which they had hitherto endured should be regulated and taken off And to that end he meant to establish a Court within the said Principality and constituted John Bishop of Worcester President of the Prince's Council in the Marches who together with Anthony Earl of Rivers sat in the Town-Hall of Shrewsbury and constituted certain Ordinances for the publick Good and Tranquility of that place But the matter proceeded no farther for the Troubles and Disquietness of his Kingdom coming heavy upon him and the shortness of his Reign after his Establishment not permitting he was forced to leave that to others which himself thought once to bring about Edward born at Middleham near Richmond in the County of York the only Son of King Richard the Third was at Ten Years of Age created by his Father Prince of Wales and dyed soon after Arthur the eldest Son of King Henry the Seventh born at Winchester was in the Seventh Year of his Fathers Reign created Prince of Wales About the Fifteenth Year of his Age being then newly married to Katherine the Infanta of Spain he was sent by his Father into Wales that by his presence he might keep that Country in better awe With him King Henry sent Dr. William Smith afterwards made Bishop of Lincoln Wokins p. 789. as President of his Council together with Sir Richard Pool his Chamberlain Sir Henry Vernon Sir Richard Crofts Sir David Philip Sir William Vdal Sir Thomas Englefield Sir Peter Newton and others to be his Counsellors and Directors in his management of Affairs But the Prince had not continu'd long there but he fell sick at his Castle at Ludlow of which Indisposition he shortly after dyed and was buried with great Solemnity in the Cathedral Church of Worcester But the creating of his Brother Henry Duke of York Prince of Wales in his stead was deferred for about the space of a Month to discover whether the Lady Katherine was got with Child by Prince Arthur But when it appeared for certain she had not conceived on the 18th day of February in the Nineteenth Year of his Father King