to Brytaine Armorike where they remaine to this daie and gaue Lhoegria now England to the Saxons And albeit that Caduan Cadwalhon Cadwalader were sithence intituled Kings of all Brytaine yet they could neuer recouer againe the quiet possession of the whole Iland afterwards After the departure of Cadwalader out of the land the Brytaines were gouerned within the countrie of Wales or Cambria by those men whereof this historie following doth intreate which were commonlie called Kings of such prouinces and countries as they possessed vntill the time of Owen Gwyneth who being in the daies of King Stephen and Henrie the second was the first that named himselfe Prince of Wales and so the rest after him kept that title and stile and yet neuertheles they are sometimes called Princes before him and Kings after him as I haue obserued by diuers charters and old records which I haue séene in the Tower of London and else-where Howbeit this author calleth the chiefest of them Kings till the time of the said Owen and sithence Princes IVOR IVOR the sonne of Alan Wherevpon Kentwinus King of Westsex gathered a great number of Saxons and Angles together and came against the Brytaines which were readie to abide the battell and as the armies were both in sight they were not verie desirous to fight but fell to a composition and agreement that Iuor should take Ethelburga to wife which was cousen to Kentwyn and quietlie enioie all that he had during the reigne of Iuor This Iuor is he whom the English Chronicles do call Iue or Iew King of West Saxons that reigned after Cedwall and they saie that he was a Saxon for Kentwyn reigned but fiue yeares after Iuors comming to England and after him his nephew Cedwall who after he had reigned ouer the West Saxons two yeares went to Rome and left his kingdome to Iue his cousen This Iue or Iuor whome the Brytaines call the sonne of Alan and the Saxons the sonne of Kenred being King of the Saxons and Brytaines which inhabited the west partes of England after manie victories atchieued against the Kings of Kent Southsex and Mertia left his kingdome to Adelred or as some call him Adelerdus his cousen and tooke his iournie to Rome where he made a godly end about the yeare of our Lord 720. Of Cadwalader Cedwall and Iuor there be diuers opinions Some hold that Cadwalader and Cedwall are the selfesame man and that the Saxon writers call him Cedwall whome the Brytaines do name Cadwalader who as the Brytish Chronicles do affirme after his foresaid vision did resigne all his right title and interest in great Brytaine to the said Alan king of Brytaine Armorike and so despairing that either he or his should euer haue anie thing to doo there leauing his sonne Edwal Ywrch and his people to the ordering of his cousen Alan went to Rome But this opinion séemeth to varie from the assertion of Bernardus Guidonius But certainelie in mine opinion it is more probable that this Cedwall was Edwal the sonne of Cadwalader for the name Edoal which in the ancient Brytish copie is written Etoal may well agrée with that which Guidonius writeth and an easie matter it were especiallie in proper names for the C. capitall to créepe in which is almost all one with that character which the Lawyers do call a paraph and is vsed commonlie in all old text hands at the beginning of periods or sections Of this matter thus writeth Guidonius In suo pontificali Catalogo sub Sergio primo Per idem tempus Ethoal rex Brytonum cùm per decem annos multis regulis obuiasset plura mala illis irrogasset tandem ipsis in pacem deuenientibus super occidentales Saxones regnauit annis duobus Videns autem Brytanniam multis miserijs contritam regnum spreuit terrenum propter aeternum Romam veniens paucis diebus transactis migrauit ad Christum Et paulo post Hic ex toto illud regnum antiquissimum Brytonum corruit quod omnibus ferè regnis diuturnius fuit A tempore Heli Sacerdotis vsque ad hoc tempus per annos 1825. Rob. Caenalis lib. 2. per. 2. That is At the same time Ethoal King of the Brytaines when he had by the space of ten yeares warred with diuers Kings and often put them to the woorse at length growing to an agréement with them he reigned ouer the West Saxons two yeares and then perceiuing Brytaine to be ouerworne with miseries preferring the heauenlie kingdome before the earthlie came to Rome and within few daies died and in him ended wholie that ancient kingdome of the Brytaines which continued in a maner longer than anie other from Helie the priest to this time by the space of 1825. yeares Further it is not like that Iuor comming to the aid of Edwal his cousen would euer séeke the kingdome to himselfe and defeate the right heire but verie well it may be if this Iuor be that man whome the Saxon writers call Inas or Iue after these Brytaines had arriued in the south part of this realme and fought diuers times with the Saxon kings and continued in Cornewall Deuonshire and Somersetshire by the space of two yeares that they should afterwards méet Centwyn in the field and so fall to an agréement that Iuor taking Ethelburga the cousen of Centwyn to wife should enioie the kingdome of the West Saxons after Centwyn and that therevpon Edwal resigning his title and interest to Iuor departed to Rome and so died as Guidonius saith All this notwithstanding it séemeth by the report of other writers of verie good account that Inas or Iue king of the West Saxons whose lawes are extant in print set out by maister William Lamberd Esquier a woorthie searcher and preseruer of the antiquities of this land was not a Brytaine but a Saxon who had warre against the Brytaines diuers times and vanquished them Matth. West reporteth that Inas or Iue fought with Gerent King of the Brytaines I haue an ancient booke written as Iohn Leland thinketh by Iohn Castoreus or Beuer sometimes Monke of Westminster who liued in the time of Edward the third which reporteth the historie of Inas in this sort About the yeare of grace 689. Iuor and Henyr sonnes of the daughter of Cadwalader sometime King of Brytaine came ouer from Ireland and taking to their aid the two Kings of Wales destroied the prouince of Chester and sent messengers to the Saxon Kings commanding them to restore againe to the Brytaines the countrie of Lhoyger out of the which they had wrongfullie expelled their parents and ancesters adding that if they would not so doo within fiftéene daies they should not enioie it anie longer The which message Inas the noble King of Westsex signified vnto all the other Saxon Kings who soone met together in Mount Campeden to whom Sibertus King of Essex spake thus Deare frends and companions let vs
wey and consider not onlie what we are our selues but also what our enimies are which come against vs they are the verie Brytaines whose fathers and ancesters our fathers haue béereft of their inheritance and expelled out of their owne land and now they iustlie come against vs to claime that which our ancesters by violence haue taken from theirs Let vs therefore like other nations choose vnto vs a head to leade direct and gouerne vs whome as chiefe lord in time of peace and warre we as members may obeie and sticke to sith without a head there is no victorie to be looked for Haue not the Brytaines after two yeares of their dispersion set vpon the ancient Saxons a more valiant people than we are fiftéene times within seauen yeares Did they not spoile their kingdomes killed their people and left such as remained aliue sore wounded and maimed at their departure The rest of the Saxon kings agréed vnto his mind and with one assent chose that worthie Knight Inas King of Westsex to be their souereigne who hauing taken their homage aduanced his standard and marched forward against Iuor and Henyr and set vpon them so that they were faine to forsake their tents and flie into Wales Thus Inas hauing obteined the victorie with the other Saxon Kings sauing Sibertus who by reason of his age and impotencie had departed home before returned to South hampton where his cousen Adelard informed him that Iuor and Henyr had gathered and leauied a puissant armie afresh to set vpon the Saxons where vpon Inas foreslowed not the matter but went against them and laid séege to the Castell of Snowdon compelling the Brytaines to flie to their ships and while he was at Bangor with the other Saxon Kings and the nobles of Wales he kept the feast of S. Dauid and then dismissed the other Kings home to their countrie vntill they should be called for againe and departed himselfe with Adelard his cousen to Quéene Ethelburga being then at Manchester and continued there almost thrée moneths In the meane while Adelard minding to trauell about all Wales met thrée spies of whome being by him taken and examined he learned that Iuor and Henyr were returning againe with a huge armie of such strength and force as all the Saxon Kings were not able to resist Then went he and shewed Inas what he had heard wherefore Inas foorthwith certified the other Saxon Kings of the same commanding them without delaie to be readie at Chester with horse and armour to go against their enimies and to defend their countrie from violence Who accordinglie met at Chester and following the Kings standard gaue the Brytaines battell and put them to flight Howbeit the Brytaines eftsoones inuaded England and made seauen roades in two yeares destroieng townes and villages wheresoeuer they came and neuer returning without great and rich booties Inas after this victorie returned home and reigned ouer the West Saxons 36. yeares and then bequeathed his kingdome to his cousen Adelard Thus much out of Castoreus This Iuor made the fratrie of Glastenburie called in the Brytish toong Ynys Aualon Ioseph of Aremathia being sent by Philip the Apostle as Gildas reporteth came into this Iland in the daies of Aruiragus King of Brytaine about the yeare of Christ 53. and instructed the Brytaines in the doctrine of saluation in the Ile of Aualon where he builded a Church for the Christians which Church this Iuor if it be he that gouerned the West Saxons conuerted to an Abbey and endowed the same with large possessions which was the more famous because the bodies of the said Ioseph of Aremathia and king Arthur were there buried He gaue also great lands to the Church of Winchester In the second yeare of Iuors reigne Brythe a subiect to Egfride King of Northumberland did ouerrun and destroie a great part of the countrie of Ireland In the fourth yeare of his reigne there was a great earthquake in the Ile of Man and the yeare following it reigned bloud in Brytaine and in Ireland The milke likewise and the butter turned to the colour of bloud The second yeare after that the Moone appeared all bloudie After the departure of Iuor to Rome Adelard or Adelred tooke the rule of the Saxons And Rodericus or Roderi Molwynoc the sonne of Edwal Ywrch did take the rule of the Brytaines in the west part of England Roderike Molwynoc Roderike or Rodri the sonne of Edwal Ywrch The yeare 733. died Beda priest brought vp in the Abbey of Wyrnetham a great clearke that wrote manie works among which there is one intituled The Ecclesiasticall historie of the English nation dedicated vnto Cleolwolfe King of Northumberland This yeare Adelard King of Westsex and Ethelbald King of Mertia ioined their powers against the Brytaines and gaue them battell and after a long fight and great slaughter vpon either part obteined a bloudie victorie The yeare 735. Adelard King of Westsex died and Cudred reigned in his place And the yeare following died Edwyn King of the Pictes And in the yeare 746. there was a great battell fought at Hereford betwixt Cudred and Ethelbaldus where after a long fight Cudred had the victorie Also the next yeare ensuing he gaue the Brytaines and ouerthrow and died shortlie after The Brytaines seeing they could little preuaile against the Saxons ioined in league with Cuthred King of the West Saxons who then was out with Ethelbald King of Mertia wherevpon the said Ethelbald entred into Wales with a strong armie and the Brytaines met him and were there discomfited After that Cuthred and Ethelbald met in the field where Ethelbald was put to flight but anon after they two were made friends and ioined together their powers against the Brytaines and ouercame them After Cuthred in the yeare 749. was Sigebert created King who for his euill behauiour was expelled by his nobles out of his Kingdome and was miserablie slaine by a swineheard after whome Kenulph was made King of West Saxons the yeare 750. About the same time died Theodor the sonne of Belin a man of great estimation among the Brytaines Not long after there was a great battell fought betwixt the Brytaines and the Pictes at a place called Magedawc where Dalargan King of the Pictes was slaine Within a little after Roderi or Roderike Molwynoc was driuen by the Saxons to forsake the west countrie to come to seeke his own inheritance in Northwales where ruled at that time the children of Bletius or Bledericus prince of Cornewal Deuonshire who was one of them that gaue Adelred and Ethelbert the ouerthrow at Bangor vpon the riuer Dee who enioied the gouernance of Northwales euer sithence Caduan was chosen King of Brytaine vntill this time By this historie it should séeme that the Brytaines continued their gouernement in the west part of Lhoegria vntill this time But surelie the consent in a maner of all
of this realme or dissembleth the same to the aduancement and praise of himselfe and his countrie which to the learned and indifferent reader shall appeare to be the onelie occasion he tooke that worke in hand for all his booke redoundeth onlie to the praise and honour of the Romans as well spirituall as temporall and to blase forth their acts and deeds within this realme and vpon the other part dooth either openlie slaunder or els priuilie extenuate or shamefullie denie the martiall prowesse and noble acts as well of Saxons Danes and Normans as of the Brytains all inhahiters of this Ile Which thing he that list to prooue let him read and conferre Caesars Commentaries Cornelius Tacitus Herodianus and other ancient writers as well in Latine as in Greeke with his worke As for the ancient writers of the Brytish historie as the Brytish chronicle the historie of Gildas Ponticus Verunnius yea the golden worke of Matthew Paris moonke of Saint Albon which wrote from VVilliam Bastard to the last yeares of Henrie the third I dare well saie he neuer sawe them they be in diuers places to be had so that the truth may be easilie prooued To make an end I saie that he being first a straunger borne and also ignorant as well in the histories of this realme as of those toongs and languages wherin the same were written could neuer set foorth the true and perfect Chronicle of the same But he hauing a good grace and a pleasant stile in the Latine toong and finding himselfe in a countrie where euerie man either lacked knowledge or spirit to set forth the historie of their owne countrie tooke this enterprise in hand to their great shame and no lesse dispraise bicause he a blind leader shall drawe a great number of vndiscreet and rash folowers as well Geographers and Cosmographers as Chroniclers and Historiographers to the darke pit of ignorance where I leaue them at this time remitting the reader to the apologie of Sir Iohn Pryse knight and his Brytish historie written by him of purpose against the enuious reports and slaunderous taunts of the said Polydor where he shall see a great number of his errors confuted at large And to returne to my former matter of the name of Wales which name to be giuen of late by a straunge nation may be otherwise prooued for the Welshmen themselues doo not vnderstand what these words VVales and Welsh doo signifie nor know anie other name of their countrie or themselues but Cambry nor of their language but Cambraec which is as much to saie as Cambers language or speech So likewise they know not what England or English meaneth but commonlie they call the countrie Lhoyger the Englishmen Sayson and the English toong Saysonaec Which is an euident token that this is the same language which the Brytaines spake at the beginning for the works of Merdhyn and of Taliessin who wrote aboue 1000. yeares past are almost the same words which they vse at this daie or at the least easie to be vnderstanded of euerie one which knoweth perfectlie the Welsh toong especiallie in Northwales Beside this where at this daie there doo remaine three remnants of the Brytaines diuided euerie one from other with the seas which are in Wales Cornewall called in Brytish Cerniw and little Brytaine 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 maruell seeing that the pronunciation in one realme is often so diuers that the one can scant vnderstand the other But it is rather a wonder that the Welshmen being separated from the Cornish well nigh these 900. yeares and the Brytaines from either of them 290. yeares before that and hauing small traffike or concourse togither sithence that time haue still kept their owne Brytish toong They are not therefore to be credited which denie the Welsh to be the old Brytish toong And here I cannot passe ouer what one of these fine Chroniclers wrote of late of the name of Brytaine affirming that it should be so called of Brytaine in France as the elder of that name But surelie he had either neuer seene Ptolomie nor Caesar nor anie other ancient writer or read them with small iudgement and memorie For there he might haue learned that when this land was called Brytaine the other was called Armorica how in Maximus time Conan Meriadoc was the first that gaue it that name inhabited it with Brytaines out of this Ile Other deriuations of these words Brytania and Albion out of Greeke Latine I am ashamed to rehearse for vnto such errors doo they commonlie fall that either puffed vp with vaine glorie of their owne wits or pinched with despite and enuie at other mens works or blinded with ignorance do go about to write set foorth anie historie or chronicle But passing ouer this matter vntill an other time I will returne to the description of Wales which as I said was of old time compassed almost about with the Irish seas the riuers Dee and Seauerne although afterwards the Saxons wan by force from the Brytaines all the plaine and champion countrie ouer the riuers and speciallie Offa king of Mercia who made a ditch of a great breadth and depth to be a meare betwixt his kingdome and Wales which ditch began at the riuer Dee by Bassing werke betweene Chester and Ruthlan and ran along the hils sides to the south sea a little from Bristowe reaching aboue a hundreth miles in length and is in manie places to be seene at this daie bearing the name of Clawdh Offa that is to saie Offas ditch and the countrie betweene it and England is commonlie called in Welsh Y Mars although the greatest part of it be now inhabited by Welshmen namlie in Northwales which yet keepeth the ancient limits to the riuer Dee and in some places ouer it Other as Syluester Giraldus make the riuer VVy called in Welsh Gwy to be the meare betweene England and Wales on the South part called Southwales who measureth the breadth of Wales from Salowe or Willoweford called Rhydyrhelig vpon VVy to Saint Dauids in Meneuia 100. miles and the length from Caerlheon vpon Vsce in Gwentland to Holihead called Caergybi in Anglisey in Welsh called Môn aboue 100. miles and these be the common meares at this daie although the Welsh toong is commonlie vsed and spoken Englandward beyond these old meeres a great waie as in Herefordshire Glocestershire and a great part of Shropshire And thus for the generall description of Wales which afterward about the yeare of Christ 870. Rodericus Magnus king of Wales diuided it into three territories which they called kingdomes which remained vntill of late daies These three were Gwynedh in English Northwales Deheubarth in English Southwales and Powys land in euerie of the which he ordeined a princelie seat or court for the Prince to remaine at
writers is that the Brytish kingdome ended in Cadwalader after whom the Brytaines had nothing to doo beyond Seuerne being constrained to kéepe themselues within the countries of Cambria and Cornubia It is also written by diuers that Iuor and Ynyr at their first arriuing in Brytaine were repelled by the Saxons and driuen to Wales where Iuor ruled as Prince manie yeares whome this Roderi or Roderike the sonne of Edwal the sonne of Cadwalader succéeded When Roderike king of the Brytains had reigned about 30. yeares he died the yeare 750. leauing two sons after him Conan Tindaythwy Howel Conan Tindaethwy Conan Tindaethwy the sonne of Roderike I reade that this Hylda which was the néece of Edwine King of Northumberland brought vp by Pauline and Aedan in a publike synode did withstand Wilfride and other superstitious moonks in these toies and trifles all edging for hir out of Polycrates the fact of Irenaeus who withstood Victor Bishop of Rome in that behalfe and the custome of the church of Asia obserued by S. Iohn the Euangelist Philip the Apostle Polycarpus and Melito and taught in this Iland of Brytaine by Ioseph of Arimathea who first preached the Gospell in the same In the yeare 763. was Offa made King of Mercia and Brichtrich King of West Saxons In the which yeare died Fermael the sonne of Edwal and the yeare following Cemoyd the King of the Pictes The yeare 776. the men of Southwales destroied a great part of Mercia with fire and sword And the summer following all the Welshmen gathered themselues togither and entred the Kingdome of Mercia and did much hurt there The Saxons which bordered vpon the countrie of Cambria or Wales did dailie incroch so vpon the lands of the Welshmen beyond Seauerne that they had gotten much of the same into their hands especiallie toward the south part of the countrie Wherefore the VVelshmen put themselues in armour and set vpon the Saxons and chased them ouer Seauerne againe and then returned home with a great prey and thus they did oftentimes killing and destroieng all before them and alwaies bringing home with them much cattell which thing caused Offa to conclude a peace with the other Saxon Kings and to bend his whole force against the Welshmen Wherevpon Offa King of Mercia caused a great ditch to be made large and deepe from sea to sea betwixt his kingdome and Wales whereby hee might the better defend his countrie from the incursions of the Welshmen And this ditch is to be seene in manie places as yet and is called Clawdh Offa which is Offas ditch at this daie King Offa calling to his aid the other Saxon Kings gathered a huge armie and came ouer Seauerne into Wales vpon whose comming the VVelshmen being not able to encounter with such a multitude of armed souldiers left the plaine and euen countrie by Seauerne side and the land betwéene it and the riuer VVye and withdrew themselues to the mountaines and rockes where they might be most in safetie vntill the enimies were auoided out of the countrie yet neuerthelesse continuallie they made diuers inuasions by stealth into the land of Mercia alwaies returned with aduantage so that the Saxons by keeping themselues encamped could doo no good for they durst not pursue the VVelshmen to the mountaines and woods for feare of intrapping by such as kept the streights and passages When Offa perceiued that by open warre he could do no good he expelled all the Welshmen out of the plaine and euen countrie betwéene Seauerne and Wye and planted Saxons in the same and annexing it to his owne kingdome of Mercia caused this great famous ditch whereof mention is in this place to be made to saue his people from the inuasions of the Welshmen Whervpon the seate of the Kings of Powys was translated from Pengwern now called Salop to Mathrual where it continued long after In the yeare 795. the Danes came first into England and sixe yeares after they came againe destroied a great part of Lindsey and Northumberland and ouerran the most part of Ireland and destroied Rechreyn Also about the same time there was a battell fought at Ruthlan betweene the Saxons and the Welshmen where Caradoc King of Northwales was slaine This Caradoc was the son of Gwyn the sonne of Colhoyn the sonne of Ednowen the sonne of Blethyn the sonne of Blecius or Bledricus prince of Cornewall and Deuonshire Also this yeare died Offa King of Mercia and Egfert his sonne reigned in his stead In the yeare of our Lord 800. Egbertus was made King of Westsex and Kenulphus the yeare following treated King of Mercia Arthen also the sonne of Sitsylht the sonne of Clydawc King of Caerdigan died the same yeare Likewise Run King of Dyuet and Cadelh King of Powys died in the yeare 808. This was a troublesome time and as yet no staied gouernement established in Wales and therefore such as were cheefe lords in anie countrie are heere called kings The next yeare after died Elbodius Archbishop of Northwales before whose death the sunne was sore eclipsed In the yeare 810. was the moone eclipsed vpon Christmas daie The same yeare S. Dauids was burnt by the West Saxons There was also a generall morreine and death of cattell throughout all Wales The next yeare insuing Owen the sonne of Meredyth the sonne of Terudos died and the Castell of Degaunwy was destroied with thunder Conan prince of Wales and his brother Howel could not agree insomuch that they tried the matter by battell wherein Howel had the victorie This Howel the brother of Conan King or Prince of Northwales did claime the Ile of Môn or Anglesey for part of his fathers inheritance which Conan refused to giue him and therevpon they fell at variance and consequentlie to make warre the one against the other which is vnnaturall amongst brethren Héere I thinke it fit to saie somewhat of the custome and tenure of Wales whereof this mischiefe grew that is the diuision of the fathers inheritance amongst all the sonnes commonlie called Gauel kinde Gauel is a Brytishe tearme signifieng a hold because euerie one of the sonnes did hold some portion of his fathers lands as his lawfull sonne and successour This was the cause not onlie of the ouerthrow of all the ancient nobilitie of VVales for by that meanes the inheritance being continuallie diuided and subdiuided amongst the children and the childrens children c. was at length brought to nothing but also of much bloudshead and vnnaturall strife and contention amongst brethren as we haue héere an example and manie other in this historie This kind of partition is verie good to plant and settle anie nation in a large countrie not inhabited but in a populous countrie alreadie furnished with inhabitants it is the verie decaie of great families and as I said before the cause of strife and debate And the next yeare there was much hurt done by thunder and in
diuers places manie houses burnt to the earth The same yeare died Gruffyth the sonne of Run and Griffri the sonne of Kyngen was slaine by the treason of Elice his brother Howel gaue his brother Conan another battell and slew a great number of his people wherevppon Conan leauied an armie in the yeare 817. chased his brother Howel out of the Ile of Môn or Anglesey compelling him to flie into Man And a little after died Conan chiefe King of the Brytaines or Welshmen leauing behind him a daughter called Esylht which was married to a noble man called Mervyn Vrych the sonne of Gwyriad or Vriet the son of Elidur so forth in the right line to Belinus the brother of Brennus King of the Brytaines and his mother was Nest the daughter of Cadelh King of Powys the sonne of Brochwel Yscithroc that fought with the Saxons at Bangor who was prince of Powys This Brochwel is called of the Latine writers Breciuallus and Brochmaelus of whom I find thus written in Historia diuae Monacellae Fuit olim in Powysia quidam princeps illustrissimus nomine Brochwel Yscithroc Consul Legecestriae qui in vrbe tunc temporis Pengwern Powys nunc verò Salopia dicta est habitabat cuius domicilium seu habitaculum ibi steterat vbi collegiū diui Ceddae nunc situm est That is There was sometimes in Powys a noble Prince named Brochwel Yscithroc Consul or Earle of Chester who dwelt in a towne then called Pengwerne Powys and now Salope whose dwelling house was in the verie same place where the College of Saint Chad now standeth This man with Caduan king of Brytaine Morgan king of Demetia and Bledericus king of Cornewal gaue an ouerthrow to Ethelfred king of Northumberland vpon the riuer of Dee Anno gratiae 617. of whome the ancestors of diuers in VVales liuing at this daie are knowne by ancient bookes and records to haue descended Mervyn Vrych and Esylht Mervyn Vrych Esylht the daughter of Conan THE first yeare of the reigne of Mervyn Vrych and Esylht his wife Egbert King of Westsex entred into VVales with a great armie and destroied the whole countrie vnto Snowden hilles and seised to his hands the countrie of Rhyvonioc in Denbighland About this time there was a sore battell fought in Anglesey called the battell of Lhanuaes In the yeare of Christ 819. Kenulph King of Mertia destroied West Wales and the summer following he ouerranne Powys land and did much hurt and soone after died and Kenelme reigned in his place About the same time also Howel King of Man died The yeare 825. Ceolwulph was made King of Mertia and reigned two yeares After whome Bernulph was created king who was ouerthrowne at Elledowne by Egbert king of the West Saxons who also brought to his subiection the countries of Kent and West Angles Not long after about the yeare 828. Bernulph was slaine by the East Angles After that there was a great battell fought at a place called Gauelford betwixt the Brytaines and the West Saxons of Deuonshire and manie thousands cruellie slaine vpon either side and the victorie vncertaine The yeare 829. Egbert ouerthrew Wyhtlafe King of Mertia and made him subiect to his Kingdome He also passed Humber and wan the land and so was the first Monarch of the Saxons and brought the seauen kingdomes into one and changed the name of Brytaine into England and called the people Englishmen and the language English for the people that came into this Ile from Germanie were Saxons Angles and Iuthes And of the Saxons came the people of Eastsex Southsex Middlesex and West Saxons Of the Angles came the East Angles middle Angles or Mertians and all on the North side of Humber And of the Iuthes came the inhabitants of Kent and the Ile of Wight And the seauen Kingdomes were these 1 The first Kent 2 The second Southsex containing Sussex and Southerie 3 The third East Angles containing Northfolke Southfolke and Cambridgeshire 4 The fourth Westsex containing Barkeshire Deuonshire Somersetshire and Cornewall 5 The fift Mertia containing Glocestershire Herefordshire Worcestershire Shropshire Staffordshire Chesshire Warwikeshire Leycestershire Darbishire Notinghamshire Lincolneshire Northamptonshire Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire and halfe Hertfordshire 6 The sixt was East Saxon containing Essex Middlesex and the other halfe of Hertfordshire 7 The seauenth Kingdome was all the lands vpon the North side of Humber which was also diuided into two kingdomes Deyra and Bernicia Deyra was the land betwixt Humber and Tine Bernicia from Tine to the Scottish sea All these were brought vnder subiection by Egbert king of West Saxons and this realme called England the yeare after the comming of Brutus to this Ile 1968. after the comming of Hengist 383. and after the departure of Cadwalader 149. yeares Which name although it hath continued to this daie for the space of 755. yeares yet was it not verie luckie or fortunate to the Saxons inhabitours of this realme For euen vpon this change of their name and vnition of the kingdome followed the terrible and cruell inuasion of the Danes and after that the conquest of the Normanes of whome the Kings of this time haue descended But to returne to my matter againe The yeare 833. the Danes in great companies landed in diuers places of this realme and fought diuers battels with Egbert wherin sometimes they and sometimes he had the victorie Afterward in the yeare 836. they landed in West Wales and so passed through Wales to England with manie of the Brytaines which ioined with them against Egbert but they were all ouerthrowne by Egbert at Hengestdowne who died the yeare following This Egbert king of England wan the citie of Caer lhêon ar Dhowrdwy or Chester which was the chiefe citie of Venedotia out of the hands of the Brytaines in whose possession it remained vntill that time He caused also as some writers doo affirme the brasen image of Cadwalhon king of Brytaine to be throwne downe defaced commanding that no man vpon paine of death should set vp anie such againe forbidding this land to be called Brytain anie more but England and the people Englishmen He also made proclamation by the setting on of Redburga his wife who bearing malice towards the Brytaines could not abide any of that nation that no Brytaine should remaine within the confines of England commanding that al singular which were of the Brytish bloud should within sixe moneths auoide with their wiues and children out of his kingdome vpon paine of losing their heads After the death of Egbert his sonne Ethelwulph reigned in his place who gaue his daughter in mariage to Berthred his tributarie king of Mertia He had great warres and much adoo with the Danes which destroied with fire and sword the sea coast of England The yeare 841. died Idwalhon a noble man of Wales And two yeares after was the battell of Kettell betwixt Burchred king of Mertia and the
whole land by colour of iustice yet he brought the land in such awe of him that a child might haue caried gold openlie through all England without danger of theeues for all such oftenders lost their hands and if anie man forced anie woman he should lose his stones This William left England to William Rufus his sonne and Normandie to his eldest sonne Robert and his treasure he gaue to Henrie his third sonne The same yeare all the sons of Blethyn ap Convyn sometimes king of VVales gathered their strength together against Rees ap Tewdor who not being able to meete with them fled to Ireland and there he purchased himselfe great freends and got an armie of Irishmen and Scots to whom he promised great towards when he should obtaine his kingdome and so landed in Southwales with these strangers Which when his freends hard of they drew to him the other came in all hast thinking to fight with him before his power should increase and at Lhechryd they gaue him battell where they were discomfited and two of the brethren slaine to wit Madoc and Riryd and the other fled and forsooke the countrie As soone as Rees was in quiet possession of his kingdome he sent home his strangers with great rewards About this time the shrine of S. Dauid was stolne out of the church and when all the iewels and treasures were taken away the shrine was left where it might be found againe The Normanes rebelled against the king in diuers places at one time for Odo Bishop of Bayon chiefe gouernour of England began the rebellion in Kent and burned the kings townes so did Roger lord Mortimer at Peuenest Bishop Galfride destroied Bath and Berklay Roger did his indeuour in Northfolke and Southfolke Hugh in Leycester and Northamptonshires and the Bishop of Durham was not behind in his quarter Likewise the Earles of Hereford and Shrewesburie with the Welshmen burned all VVorcestershire and Glocestershire to the gates of VVorcester Then the king gathered his strength together and promising the people their ancient liberties proceeded towards his enimies and first wanne the castell of Tynbridge and after besieged Odo and Roger Mortimer in the castell of Peuenest vj. weekes at which time his brother Robert came with an armie from Normandie and would haue landed but he was driuen backe by such as kept the sea coastes Then Odo yeelded Peuenest to the king promised to depart the land so did Afterwards the king wan the castell of Rochester and lead his armie to Durham tooke it and banished all his enimies the land In the yeare 1088 there was a terrible earthquake through all the land the yeare folowing died Sulien the godliest wisest man and the greatest clerke in all VVales being 80. yeares old About this time certeine strangers which were rouers vpon the seas landed at S. Dauids and robbed it and burned the towne At which time also Cadiuor the sonne of Calhoyn lord of Dyuet died whose sonnes Lhewelyn and Eneon mooued Gruffyth the sonne of Meredyth to make warre against their lord prince Rees ap Theodor and so ioining all their strength togither came against him to Lhandydoch where Rees was who gaue them battell and putting them to flight pursued them so sore that he tooke Gruffyth ap Meredyth and put him to death But Eneon sonne to Cadiuor ap Colhoyn fled to Iestyn lord of Morgannwc who likewise rebelled against Rees ap Theodor and promised vpon condition to haue Iestyns daughter in mariage and certaine other couenants then agreed vpon betweene them to bring to their succours an armie of Normanes for he had serued in England before and was well knowen acquainted with all the English nobilitie which things being thus concluded they were fully minded to be reuenged vpon Rees And so Eneon went to England wrought such means that he procured Robert Fitzhamon with twelue other knights to gather a great armie of Frenchmen or Normanes to come to their aid who shortlie after landed in Glamorganshire where Iestyn ap Gurgant lord of the land receiued them with much honor and ioining his power to theirs burned spoiled prince Rees his land destroied his people Which thing being declared to Rees grieued him sore wherevpon he suddenlie gathered his power and met them not far from Brechnock where after a terrible fight he was slaine with whome fell and decaied the kingdome of Southwales This Rees had by his wife the daughter of Rywalhon ap Convyn a sonne called Gruffyth who at his fathers death was but a verie child and one Grono that was in the kings prison These Normanes after they had receiued their promised salarie and great rewards of Iestyn returned to their ships When Eneon burthened Iestyn with the promise of his daughter in mariage Iestyn laughed him to scorne and told him that he would bestow his daughter otherwise wherevpon Eneon full of anger and despite folowed the Normanes And when he came to the shoare they were all a shipboard then he shouted to them and made a signe with his cloake to call them backe and they turned againe to know his meaning Then he went to the chiefest of them and shewed of his abuse at Iestyns hands declaring withall how easie it was for them to winne that faire and pleasant countrie from Iestyn whome for his treason to Rees none other prince of Wales would succour wherevnto they were easilie persuaded and so vngratefullie turned all their power against him for whose defense they had come thither and at whose hands they had beene well intertained and recompensed with rich gifts and great rewards And first they spoiled him of his countrie who mistrusted them not and tooke all the fertile and valey ground to themselues and left the barren and rough mountaines to Eneon for his part The names of those twelue knights that came and accompanied Robert Fitzhamon were these Londres or London as the Brytish booke nameth him Stradlyng S. Iohn Turberuile Grenuile Humffreuile S. Quintine Soore Sully Berkeroll Syward and Fleming These men and their heires haue enioied that countrie to this daie who were the first strangers that euer inhabited Wales since the time of Camber The historie of the winning of Glamorgan in maner agréeing with this author is particularlie set in writing by some skilfull and studious Gentleman of that countrie wherein he continueth not onelie the vse and possession of the same Lordship in the heires of those noble men which wan it but also sheweth their progenie and issues euen to our time The copie whereof being deliuered vnto me by the right worshipfull Mistres Blanch Parry one of the Gentlewomen of the Quéenes Maiesties priuie chamber a singular well willer and furtherer of the weale publike of that countrie I thought good héere to insert as followeth The winning of the Lordship of Glamorgan or Morgannwc out of the VVelshmens hands and first of the description of the same
Swydhynogen and Pennwelht Cantref Buelht hath these Swydhyvam Dreulys and Isyrwon Of this part there is at this daie some in Mountgomerie shire some in Radnorshire and some in Brechnockeshire In this part and in the lordships marching to it which although at the time of this diuision which was in the time of the last prince were not in his subiection yet to this daie speake Welsh and are called Wales and in these comots are these townes and castels Mountgomerie called in Welsh Treualdwyn a pretie towne and a faire castell The castell of Clunn called Colunwy which is the Earles of Arundell The towne of Knighton in Welsh Trefyclawd The castell of Cymaron Presteyn in Welsh Lhanandras The towne and castell of Radnor in Welsh Maesyuet at this daie the shire towne The towne of Kyngton and the castell of Huntingdon called in Welsh Y castelh Mayn which were the Bohunes Earles of Hereford and after the dukes of Buckingham Castell Payne Haye Lhanuair in Buelht These lordships with Brechnock and Abergeuennie were belonging to the Bruses lords of Brechnock and after came diuers times and by sundrie meanes to the Bohunes Neuels and Mortimers And so as I haue rehearsed in this territorie or kingdome were found 14. Cantreds and 40. comots Two of these parts which are Powys and Gwyneth are at this daie called Northwales and diuided into sixe shires Môn called Anglesey Caernaruon Merionyth Denbigh Flynt and Mountgomerie shire and are all on the Northside Seauerne sauing a peece of Mountgomerie shire And here I thinke it good to let the reader vnderstand what the Brytish chronicle saith of Northwales which affirmeth that three times it came by inheritance to women First to Stradwen daughter to Caduan ap Conan ap Endaf and wife to Coel Godeboc mother to Cenaw Dyvyr and Gwawl The second time to the same Gwawl wife to Edeyrn ap Padarn and mother to Cunetha Wledic which Cunetha inhabiting in the North parts of England about the yeare 540. after the incarnation of Christ and hearing how the mingled nations of Irish Scots and Pictes had ouer runne the sea shore of Caerdigan which was part of his inheritance sent his sonnes thither to enioie their inheritance of the which Tibiaon his eldest sonne died in Man which land the said Irish Scots had wonne For Gildas saith that of the children of Glam Hector which peopled a great part of Ireland Yscroeth with his people inhabited Dalrienda which is a part of Scotland Builke with his people came to Man But I thinke it good to put in Gildas words which saith Builke cum filijs suis inhabitauit Euboniam insulam vulgò Manaw quae est in meditullio maris inter Hyberniam Brytaniam that is to saie Builke with his children inhabited the Ile Eubonia commonlie Manaw for so it was and is named in Brytish which lieth in the middle of the sea betweene Ireland and Brytaine This was not called Môna as Polydor faineth The children of Bethoun inhabited Demetia which is Southwales with Gwyr and Cydweli till they were chased thence by the children of Cunetha Thus farre Gildas Therefore the sonnes of Cunetha being arriued in Northwales as well I thinke being driuen by the Saxons as for their inheritance diuided the countrie betwixt them And first Meireaon the sonne of Tibiaon the sonne of Cunetha had Cantref Meireaon to his part Arustel ap Cunetha had Cantref Arustly Caredic ap Cunetha had Caerdigion now Caerdigan shire Dunod had Cantref Dunodic Edeyrn had Edeyrnion Mael had Dynmael Coel had Coleyon Doguael had Dogueilyn Ryvaon had Ryuonioc now Denbighland Eneon Yrch had Caereneon in Powys Vssa had Maesvswalht now Oswestree For surelie that they saie commonlie of Oswald king of Northumberland to be slaine there and of the Well that sproong where his arme was caried is nothing so For Beda and all other writers testifie that Peanda slew Oswald at Maserfelt in the kingdome of Northumberland and his bodie was buried in the abbey of Bardney in the prouince of Lhyndesey But to my former matter These names giuen by the sonnes of Cunetha remaine to this daie After this the Irish Picts or Scots which the Brytains called YGwydhyl Phictiaid which is to saie The Irish Pictes did ouerrunne the Ile of Môn and were driuen thence by Caswalhon Lhawhîr that is Caswalhon with the long hand the sonne of Eneon Yrch ap Cunedha who slew Serigi their king with his owne hands at Lhany Gwydhyl which is the Irish church at Holihead This Caswalhon was father to Maelgon Gwyneth whom the Latines call Maglocunus Prince and king of Brytaine In his time was the famous clerke and great wiseman Taliessyn Ben Beirdh that is to saie the cheefest of the Beirdh or wisemen for this word Bardh in Caesars time signified as Lucan beareth witnes such as had knowledge of things to come and so it signifieth at this daie This Maelgon had a sonne called Run in whose time the Saxons inuited Gurmond into Brytaine from Ireland who had come thither from Affrike who with the Saxons was the vtter destruction of the Brytaines and slew all that professed Christ and was the first that droue them ouer Seauerne This Run was father to Beli who was father to Iago for so the Brytaines call Iames who was father to Caduan and not Brochwel called Brecyual as the English chronicle saith for this Brochwel Ysgithroc that is long toothed was chosen leader of such as met with Adelred alias Ethelbertus Rex Cantiae and other Angles and Saxons whom Augustine had mooued to make warre against the christian Brytaines and these put Brochwel twise to flight not farre from Chester and cruellie slew a 1000. preests and monkes of Bangor with a great number of laie bretheren of the same house which liued by the labour of their hands and were come barefooted and woolward to craue mercie and peace at the Saxons hands And heere you shall vnderstand that this was not Augustine bishop of Hippona the great clarke but Augustine the moonke called the apostle of England Then this Brochwel retired ouer Dee hard by Bangor and defended the Saxons the passage till Caduan king of Northwales Meredyth king of Southwales and Bledrus or Bletius Prince of Cornewall came to succour him and gaue the Saxons a sore battell and slew of them the number of a 1066. and put the rest to flight After the which battell Caduan was chosen king of Brytaine was cheefe ruler within the Ile after whom his son Cadwalhon who was father to Cadwalader the last of the Brytish blood that bare the name of king of Brytaine was king The third time that Northwales came to a woman was to Esylht the daughter of Conan Tindaythwy the sonne of Edwal Ywrch the sonne of Cadwalader She was wife to Meruyn Vrych and mother to Roderike the great as shalbe hereafter declared By this you may vnderstand that Northwales hath beene a great while the cheefest seate of the last
toong being the third remnant of the ancient Brytaines The names of the kings of little Brytaine 1 Conan Meriadoc 2 Gradlonus 3 Salomon 1. 4 Auldranus 5 Budicus 1. 6 Howelus Magnus This Howel was with King Arthure in his warres 7 Howelus 2. 8 Alanus 1. 9 Howelus 3. 10 Gilquellus 11 Salomon 2. 12 Alanus 2. Of whome mention is made in this place who descended of a daughter of Rune the sonne of Mailgon Gwyneth king of great Brytaine which was married to the forenamed Howel the second King of little Brytaine 13 Conobertus 14 Budicus 2. 15 Theodoricus 16 Rualhonus 17 Daniel Dremrost id est Ruhicunda facie 18 Aregstanus 19 Maconus 20 Neomenius 21 Haruspogius 22 Salomon 3. Who was slaine by his owne men and then was that Kingdome turned to an Earledom wherof Alan was the first Earle who valiantlie resisted the Normans and vanquished them oftentimes Cadwalader being in Brytaine was certified that a great number of strangers as Saxons Angles and Iuthes had arriued in Brytaine and finding it desolate and without inhabitants sauing a few Saxons which had called them in certaine poore Brytaines that liued by rootes in rocks and woods had ouerrunne a great part thereof and diuiding it into diuers territories and kingdomes inhabited that part which was then and now at this daie is called Lhoyger in the Brytish or Welsh toong and in English England with all the cities townes castels and villages which the Brytaines had builded ruled and inhabited by the space of 1827. yeares vnder diuers Kings and Princes of great renowme wherevpon he purposed to returne and by strength of Brytish Knights to recouer his owne land againe After he had prepared and made readie his nauie for the transporting of his owne men with such succours as he had found at Alans hand an Angell appeared vnto him in a vision and declared that it was the will of God that he should not take his voyage towards Brytaine but to Rome to Pope Sergius where he should make an end of his life and be afterwards numbred among the blessed for GOD had appointed that the Brytaines should haue no more the rule and gouernance of the whole Ile vntill the prophesie of Merlin Ambrose should be fulfilled Which vision after that Cadwalader had declared to his friend Alan he sent for all his bookes of prophesies as the works of both Merdhines or Merlines to wit Ambrose and Syluester surnamed Merdhin Wylht and the words which the Eagle spake at the building of Caer Septon now called Shaftsburie and after long studie found the time to be now come whereof they had prophesied Of this admonition giuen to Cadwalader there be diuers opinions Some hold that this was signified to him in a dreame of the which mind is Polydore Virgil and diuers other Some other doo thinke that if anie such vision were it was some illusion of a wicked spirit or a phantasticall conceite of Cadwalader himselfe being a man of a milde and quiet nature and wearied with troubles and miseries Other reiect it altogether as a fable not woorthie to be recorded in bookes but howsoeuer it was certeine it is that after his going ouer to Alan he neuer returned againe to Brytaine Of these two Merlines thus writeth Girald Camb. in suo Itinerario Erant Merlini duo vnus qui Ambrosius dictus est quia binomius fuerat sub rege Vortigerno prophetauit ab incubo genitus in vrbe ab ipso denominata Caervyrdhin 1. vrbs Merlini inuentus Alter de Albania oriūdus qui Calidonius dictus est à Calidonia sylua in qua prophetauit Syluester quia cùm inter acies bellicas constitutus horribile monstrum nimis in aera suspiciendo prospiceret dementire caepit ad syluam transfugiendo syluestrem vsque ad obitum vitam perduxit Hic autem Merlinus tempore Arthuri fuit longè pleniùs apertiùs quà m alter prophetasse perhibetur Haec Cambrensis In English thus There were two Merlines the one named also Ambrose for he had two names begotten of a spirit and found in the towne of Caermarthen which tooke the name of him and is therefore so called who prophesied vnder King Vortigerne The other borne in Albaine or Scotland surnamed Calidonius of the forrest Calidon wherein he prophesied and was called also Syluestris or of the wood for that he beholding some monstrous shape in the aire being in the battell fell mad and flieng to the wood liued there the rest of his life This Merline was in the time of king Arthure and prophesied fuller and plainer than the other Concerning the words of the Eagle at the building of Caer Septon in Mount Paladour in the time of Rudhudibras in the yeare after the creation of the world 3048. some thinke that an Eagle did then speake prophesie Other are of opinion that it was a Brytaine named Aquila that prophesied of these things of the recouerie of the whole Ile againe by the Brytaines bringing with them the bones of Cadwalader from Rome as in the said prophesies is to be séene By these toies and fables men may learne what follie and vanitie the wit of man being not staied and directed by the word of God is prone and subiect vnto And certaine it is that the simple and ignorant haue bin in all ages deluded and brought to great errors and blindnes by the practise of sathan with these fained reuelations false prophesies and superstitious dreames of hypocrites and lewd persons whereof as it is manifest in histories much bloudshead mischiefe hath ensued and manie relieng vpon the same haue bene vtterlie ouerthrowne and perished Wise men therefore will neuer regard or estéeme such things Alan therefore counselled Cadwalader to fulfill the will of God who did so and taking his iournie to Rome liued there eight yeares in the seruice of God and died in the yeare of Christ 688. So that the Brytaines ruled this Ile with the out Iles of Wight Môn in English called Anglesey Manaw in English Man Orkney and Ewyst 1137. yeares before Christ vntill the yeare of his incarnation 688. And thus ended the rule of the Brytaines ouer the whole Ile The Brytaines being sore troubled with the Scots and Picts and denied of aid at the hands of the Romanes sent for the Saxons to come to defend them against their enimies who comming at the first as fréends to the Brytaines liked the countrie so well that they became their mortall enimies and droue them out of the same About the yeare of Christ 590. Gurmundus an archpirate and capteine of the Norwegians after that he had conquered Ireland being called by the Saxons to their aid against Careticus King of the Brytaines ouercame the same Careticus in battell and compelled him and his Brytaines to flée beyond the riuers of Seauerne and Dee to Cambria now called Wales and to Cornewale and some
Brytaines wherein as some doo write Mervyn Vrych king of the Brytaines was slaine leauing behind him a sonne called Rodri Mawr that is to saie Roderike the Great Roderike the Great Roderike the Great sonne to Mervyn and Esylht The yeare 846. the Danes did ouerrunne a great part of England and fought with Athelstan king of Kent brother to Ethelwulph and remained that winter and wintered in England This yeare also was Ithel king of Gwent or Wentland slaine in fight by the men of Brechnock This yeare 854. Kongen king of Powys died at Rome being slaine of choaked as some saie by his owne men And two yeares after died Cemoyth king of the Picts Ionathan Lord of Abergeley About the yeare 856. Ethelwulph tooke his iourneie to Rome and made his kingdome tributarie to the Pope and paid the Peter pence to the church of Rome The Old Saxons doo bring the genelogie of this Ethelwulph to Adam after this maner Ethelwulph the sonne of Egbert the sonne of Alcmund the sonne of Eaffa the sonne of Eoppa the sonne of Ingils the brother of Inas the sonne of Kenred the sonne of Coelwalde the sonne of Cudwine the sonne of Ceawlin the sonne of Kenrick the sonne of Cerdicke which was the first king of the West Saxons the sonne of Esly the sonne of Gewise of whom the people were called Gwysses the daughter of Gewyn the sonne of Wingy the sonne of Freawyn the sonne of Fridagare the sonne of Brendy the sonne of Beldegy the sonne of VVoden of whose issue came the kings of manie nations the sonne of Frethewold the sonne of Freolaffe the sonne of Frethewolfe the sonne of Finny the sonne of Godulph the sonne of Geta the sonne of Teathwy the sonne of Beane the sonne of Sceldy the sonne of Seafe which reigned in a countrie called Anglia lieng betwixt the Gothes and the Saxons from whence the Angles came first to Brytaine he was the sonne of Heremod the sonne of Itermod the sonne of Hadey the sonne of VVale the sonne of Bedwy the sonne of Sem the sonne of Noe and so foorth to Adam There is another petigrée laid downe by the same author of Offa king of Mercia ascending euen to Adam not in all points agréeing with this so that the author writing the latter séemeth oftentimes to forget what he had written in the former The like also I find in Iohn Castoreus at the end of the historie of Edward the confessor And an other in Matth. Paris in the historie of King Henry .2 Anno. 1155. And these foure genelogies séeme to ascend by the same men although the names doo sometimes varie This genelogie haue I set here that the reader may vnderstand thereby that not onelie the Brytaines or VVelshmen but all other nations haue beene euer desirous to set foorth their antiquitie and progenie which was not verie hard to such nations as were not mingled with other and that had euer among them such as did onlie from time to time professe that art and customablie did write the progenie wiues and children of all such as were of any estimation in the countrie In the which two things VVales had euer passed all other countries as they which haue not mingled with anie other nations vntill of late years with Englishmen and also haue euer had such as did professe the art of genelogie who although they haue sometimes erred or rather haue willinglie flattered in learuing false genelogies yet surelie are able by their bookes to bring anie Gentlemans genelogie of that countrie to such as haue liued nine hundred yeares passed and but few further except such as descended of the kings of Brytaine The Italians before they mingled with the Vandales Gothes and Lumbards brought their genelogies to Aeneas The Spaniards to Hesperus before the Gothes and Mores ouerranne the land The Saxons to VVoden before they mingled with the Danes and Normans Yea the Frenchmen Turkes reioise at this daie to bring themselues to the Thracians and the Germanes to the children of Gwyston and it is possible they may so doo bicause they haue not mingled with anie other and haue not beene ouerrun with anie other nation Therfore let such disdainefull heads as scant knowe their owne Grandfathers leaue their scoffing and tawnting of VVelshmen for that thing that all other nations in the world doo glorie in and let them read the ancient writer Berosus to whome the wise Graecians for the knowledge they learned at his hands made an image of copper and set it vp in Athens in memorie of him and there they shall find the beginning of the most part of all the nations in the world and if they beleeue him let them not denie ours and if they credit him not let them beleeue no more but what they see with their eies or that pleaseth their fond fantasies But to the matter This yeare the Danes chased Burchred out of his kingdome who also went to Rome and there died The yeare 857. died Ethelwulph and left behind him his sonnes Athelbald King of Westsex and Athelbright king of Kent and of the East Saxons Of this Ethelwulph it is written that he was so well learned and so deuout that the clarkes of the church of Winchester did choose him in his youth to be their Bishop which function he tooke vpon him was Bishop of Winchester for seauen yeares before he was king It is reported also that he conquered the kingdom of Demetia or Southwales and gaue the same with the kingdome of Southsex to Alfred his sonne and that the said Alfred should bring a thousand soldiers out of Wales to the aid of his brother Ethelbert to Winchester and there put the Danes to flight and destroie a great number of them Athelbald the sonne of Ethelwulph after the death of his father kept his mother in lawe for his concubine and afterward married hir in the citie of Chester After Athelbald had reigned eight yeares he died and Athelbright his brother tooke the rule of his kingdome And that yeare the Danes spoiled Winchester and after a great fight were driuen out of the land but returning to Tenet they remained there for that winter and spoiled by incursions all the sea shore This yeare also was the battell of Gweythen betwixt the Brytaines and the Englishmen and a great number slaine on either side The yeare 865. died Conan Nant Niuer a worthy captaine and a noble warrior And the yeare following came Hungare and Hubba with a great armie of Danes into England In the yeare 867. died Athelbright and Ethelred his brother reigned in his stead The Danes the next yeare insuing spoiled Yorke and slew the two Kings of Northumberland Osbright and Elba and afterward they ouerran all the countrie vnto Notingham spoiling and destroieng all before them and then returned to Yorke and from thence to East Angle where they slue Edmund the King
The sixt yeare of Ethelred came another host of Danes through VVestsex and to Reding with Basrecke and Alding and fought fiue battels with Ethelred and Alfred his brother in two of the which the Danes were ouercome at Henglefild Estondowne and in the three other the Englishmen were ouerthrowne at Reding Basing Mereton The yeare 871. King Ethelred died Alfred his brother reigned in his stead Alfred assoone as he had taken the kingdome vpon him considering with himselfe what a heauie burthen he did sustaine inquired after the wisest and the best learned men that he could heare of that he might be directed by them whome he worthilie intertained vsing their aduise as well in the publike gouernment of the common welth as in his priuate studies and conference of learning He sent for two famous learned men out of Wales the one named Iohn De Erigena sirnamed also Scotus borne at Meneuia or S. Dauids brought vp in that colledge who hauing for learning sake trauelled to Athens and bestowed there manie yéeres in the studie of the Gréeke Hebrue and Chaldie toongs and the secret mysteries of Philosophie came from thence to France where he was well accepted with Carolus Calnus and Ludouicus Balbus and there translated the works of Dionysius Areopagita De coelesti hierarchia out of the Gréeke into the Latine toong and at the last being returned home to Wales was sent for by this King Alfred who then founded and erected the vniuersitie of Oxford was the first that professed learning and read publikelie in the said Uniuersitie The other was Asserius or Asser of whom I shall haue occasion to speake hereafter He would not suffer anie to beare office in his court but such as were learned exhorting all men generallie to embrace and honour learning and learned men Alfred in the first yeare of his reigne fought two battels with the Danes vpon the south side of Thames and slue of them one King and nine Earles About this yeare died Gwgan King of Caerdigan This was that noble Gwgan ap Mevric ap Dunwal ap Arthen ap Sitsylht King or prince of Caerdigan who as some Brytish bookes haue was at this time drowned by misfortune At this time the Danes destroied the towne of Alclyde and wan London and Reding and all the inland and kingdome of Mercia And one King or leader of them tooke the countrie of Northumberland and he and his people did much trouble the Pictes Likewise the yeare following three Kings of the Danes went from Cambridge to VVarham in Dorcetshire and Alfred would haue giuen them battell but the Danes desired peace and foresware England which they neuer did before and the same night their horsemen tooke their iournie toward Excester and their footemen which went to the sea were all drowned at Sandwitch When the Danes had thus abiured England they bent their force against VVales and entred the Ile of môn with a great armie in the yeare of Christ 873. where Roderike gaue them two battels one at a place called Bangole and another at a place called Menegid in Anglesey I find also that about this time Halden and Hungare two Captaines of the Danes arriued in Southwales and ouerran the whole countrie destroieng all before them with fire and sword neither sparing churches nor religious houses but within a while after they receiued their deserued reward at the hands of the West Saxons who méeting with them on the coast of Deuonshire slew both Halden and Hungare with 1200. of their people At this time Eneon Bishop of Meneuia or S. Dauids died and Hubert was installed in his place And within two yeares after Dungarth king of Cornewall was drowned by a mischance In the yeare 876. the Englishmen entred into Anglesey and fought with the VVelshmen a sore battell who in the yeare following slue Roderike king or prince of VVales and Gwyriad his brother or as some saie his son This Roderike had by his wife Enghârad the daughter of Meyric the son of Dyfnwal or Dunwal the son of Arthen ap Sitsylht diuers sonnes as Anarawd his eldest sonne to whome he gaue Aberfraw with Northwales Cadelh the second son who had Dinevwr with Southwales and also tooke Mathraual and Powys land by force from his brethren after the death of Mervyn the third sonne to whome his father had giuen the same Roderike the Great is counted of all writers to be the vndoubted owner and possessor of all Wales Venedotia or Northwales descended vnto him from his mother Esylht the daughter and sole heire of Conan Tindaethwy as is euident by this historie Demetia or Southwales as some doo affirme came to him by his wife the daughter heire of Meyricap Dyfnwal ap Arthen ap Sitsylht king of Caerdigan hir brethren who are thought to be illegitimate holding of hir husband Powys he had by Nest the sister and heire of Congen ap Cadelh King of Powys which was his fathers mother These thrée dominions he appointed vnder their meares and bounds with a princelie house in euerie of them which he named Y tair Talaeth and left the same vnto thrée of his sonnes Anarawd Cadelh and Mervyn which were called Y tri twysoc Talaethioc that is The thrée crowned princes because euerie of them did weare vpon his bonet or helmet a coronet of gold being a broade lace or headband indented vpward set and wrought with pretious stones which in the Brytish or Welsh speach is called Talaeth and so to this daie nurses doo name that broade headband wherewith a childs head is bound vppermost vpon some other linen cloathes Talaeth Aberffraw was the chiefe house of the prince of Gwyneth whose dominion was therfore called Talaeth Aberffraw Dinevowr the princelie house of Dehevbarth whereof that part is named Talaeth Dinevowr and in like maner Talaeth Mathraval is so called of the princelie seate of Powys called Mathraval Giraldus Cambrensis in his booke intituled Descriptio Cambriae is of opinion that Mervyn was the eldest sonne of Roderike to whome Venedotia was giuen and was the father of Anandhrec which was the father of Meyric which was the father of Edwal which was the father of Iago c and that Anarawd had Powys and died without issue But the common opinion of all other writers is to the contrarie agréeable to that which this Author affirmeth Roderike had also Roderike Meyric Edwal or Tudwal Gwyriad and Gathelic of whome you shall heare in the historie following ANARAWD Anarawd the sonne of Roderike Other kingdomes and countries of Europe were disquieted with this persecution of the Danes as well as England For of this Hasting it is written that laieng séege to the citie of Limogis in France and despairing of the spéedie winning of the same hée deuised this traine to get it He fained himselfe to be dangerouslie sicke and sent to the Bishop and the Consul of the same citie desiring them most instantlie
countriemen and kinsmen the one being the vncle was Archbishop of S. Dauids of whome mention is made in this place The other Asser the nephew was a man of excellent learning and wisedome and for that cause being Chancellour to his vncle was sent for by King Alfred to teach his children who wrote the actes of the same Alfred and was afterward Bishop of Shireburne of whom mention is made in the English Chronicles About this time Edward sent a great armie to Northumberland which spoiled the countrie and then returned home neuerthelesse the Danes folowed them and destroied a great part of Mercia But within a while after Edward gathered an armie and giuing them battell ouerthrew them and slue their kings Alden and Edelwulph and a great number of their nobles This yeare died Edelred Duke of Mercia which had long been sicke after whome Elfleda his wife enioied the countrie of Mercia sauing the cities of London and Oxford which king Edward seised into his owne hands The yeare 907. died Cadelh King or Prince of Southwales second sonne of Roderike the great leauing behind him three sonnes Howel Dha that is to saie Howel the good who succeeded his father in the kingdome of Southwales Meyric and Clydawc About two yeares after King Edward did build the Castell of Hartford betwixt the riuers Benefic Minier and Lige and also the borough of Wytham in Essex and laie at Wealdyne where he subdued those countries The yeare following the Danes of Leycester and Hampton slew a great number of Englishmen at Hochnorton and in their returne homeward spoiled all Oxfordshire The next yeare after that there came a great nauie from Tydwike with Vther and Rahald and past by the westerne sea to VVales and destroied S. Dauids and there fought the battel of Dinerth where Mayloc the sonne of Peredur Gam was slaine And afterward they entred Herefordshire where they were fought withall and Rahald slaine and the rest compelled to forsweare the Kings land Then the King caused the southside of Seauerne to be kept with a great armie yet did the Danes twise enter his land once by the East at VVerd and another time at Portogan but they were at either time ouerthrowne by the Englishmen And from thence they departed to the Ile of Stepen frō whence they were driuen by hunger to Southwales where they were beaten and constrained to depart into Ireland The yeare insuing there was a great battell fought betwixt the Kentishmen and the Danes at Holme but who had the victorie is not certainelie reported In the yeare 913. Anarawd chiefe King of VVales died and left behind him two sonnes Edwal Voel which reigned after him and Elise Edwal Voel Edwal Voel sonne of Anarawd I thinke that the name of Leycester is héere mistaken for Legecestria that is Chester called of the Romanes Legionum Cestria which being destroied by the Danes was about this time by the procurement of a Adelred Duke of Mercia and Elflede his wife repaired and reedified as Matth. Westm. writeth and as the ancient records of the citie of Chester doo testifie Besides that I find no mention of the reedifieng of Leycester at this time neither in the Brytish Chronicle nor yet in anie ancient English writer The next summer after the men of Deuelyne did destroie the Ile of Môn or Anglesey And the yeare 917. Clydawc the sonne of Cadelh was slaine by the hands of his brother Meyric and about the same time the Englishmen did ouerthrowe the Danes after a great fight at Tottenhale Io. Castoreus reporteth this storie in this maner Huganus Lord of Westwales perceiuing King Edward to be occupied in the Danish warre farre enough from him gathered an armie of Brytaines and entered the Kings land Wherevpon Elfled Ladie of Mercia the sister of King Edward came to VVales with a strong armie and fought with the Welshmen at Brechnocke and putting Huganus to flight tooke his wife and 34. men captiues and lead them with hir to Mercia Huganus thus discomfited fled to Derbie there being peaceablie receiued of the countriemen with fiftéene men of war and two hundred souldiors well appointed ioined himselfe with the Kings aduersaries the Danes of which thing when Elfled was certified by the men of Derby shée folowed him with a great armie and entred the gates of that towne where Huganus resisted hir and slue foure of hir chiefe officers But Gwyane Lord of the Ile of Elie hir Steward set the gates on fire and furiouslie running vpon the Brytaines entred the towne Then Huganus being ouermatched and choosing rather to die by the sword than to yéeld himselfe vnto a woman was there slaine Thus out of Castoreus The yeare insuing Elfled wan Leycester and subdued to hir all the Danes that laie there The Yorkeshiremen also did hir homage and seruice she died at Tamworth after that she had worthilie ruled Mercia eight yeares and lieth buried at Glocester by S. Peters porch vpon whose toombe this Epitaph was written O Elfleda potens ô terror virgo virorum O Elfleda potens nomine digna viri Te quoque splendidior fecit natura puellam Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri Te mutare decet sed solùm nomina sexus Tu regina potens réxque trophea parans I am nec Caesareos tantùm mirere triumphos Caesare splendidior virgo virago vale After the death of Elfled Edward disinherited hir daughter Alfwyen and seazed the land of Mercia to his owne hands The cause why Edward disinherited this yoong Ladie his néece whose mother Elfled being his owne sister had done so much for him was as Castoreus writeth for that Alfwyen not making the king hir vncle whome hir mother had appointed gardian and ouerséer of hir priuie to hir doings had promised and contracted mariage with Raynald king of the Danes wherevpon king Edward to preuent his enimie entred the land of Mercia and seazed the same to his owne hands and caried also the said Ladie with him into Westsex The same Author also reporteth that about this time Leofred a Dane and Gruffyth ap Madoc brother in law to the prince of Westwales came from Ireland with a great armie to Snowdon and minding to bring all Wales and the marches thereof to their subiection ouerran and subdued all the countrie to Chester before King Edward was certified of their arriuall Whereat he was verie sore offended and being loath to trouble his subiects in that behalfe made a vowe that he and his sonnes with their owne people would be reuenged vpon Leofred and Gruffyth and therevpon came to Chester and wan the citie from them Then he diuided his armie into two batels whereof he and his sonne Athelstan lead the first and Edmund and Edred the second and so folowed them with as much celeritie as he could and ouertooke them at the forest of Walewode now Sherwode where Leofred and Gruffyth set vpon him fierselie so that the king in
the yeare following he was slaine by Howel and Meredyth the sonnes of Edwyn leauing behind him a sonne named Gruffyth ap Lhewelyn Iago ap Edwal Iago the sonne of Edwal ap Meyric ap Edwal Voel About the yeare 1031. the Irish-scots entred Southwales by the meanes of Howel and Meredyth the sonnes of Edwyn ap Eneon ap Owen ap Howel Dha who hired them against Rytherch ap Iestyn whom they discomfited and slew by that means attained vnto the gouernement of Southwales which they two ruled iointly but yet with small quietnesse for the sonnes of Rytherch gathered a number of such as were their fathers friends to reuenge his death with whom Howel and Meredyth met at Hyarthwy after long fight put them to flight But in the yeare folowing Meredyth was slaine by the sons of Conan the sonne of Sitsylht brother to the worthie prince Lhewelyn to reuenge their fathers death whome Meredyth and his brother had slaine The yeare next ensuing certaine Englishmen entred the land of Gwent with whom Rytherch ap Iestyn fought and was by them slaine Not long after died Cnute the most famous and mightiest prince in the West parts of the world as he that had vnder his dominion the great countrie of Swethen from Germanie to the Northpole with Norway and Denmarke and all the noble Ile of Brytaine After whom Haroald Harfote his son begotten vpon Alwyn the daughter of Duke Alfelyn was created king For Hardie Cnute his other sonne by Emma was then in Denmarke This Haroald in the first yeare of his reigne banished Emma his stepmother out of the realme In the yeare 1037. Gruffyth the son of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylth sometimes king of Wales raised a great number of people against Iago then enioieng the principalitie or kingdome of Northwales whome Iago likewise prouided for as well as he could but the more part and the better souldiours were of Gruffyths side for the loue they bare to his father which afterward well appeared for after the armies once met Iago was soone ouerthrowne and slaine This Iago left behind him a sonne called Conan by his wife Auandred daughter to Gweir the sonne of Pylh. Gruffyth ap Lhewelyn Gruffyth the sonne of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht and Angharat This Howel procured Edwyn the brother of Leofrike Earle of Chester or Mercia to come with an armie of Englishmen and Danes to his aide against prince Gruffyth who met his enimies in the field and ouercame them and slue the said Edwyn but Howel escaped by flight After the which victorie Gruffyth made sundrie inuasions vpon the marches towards Hereford and alwaies returned with great spoiles When Gruffyth had brought all Wales vnder his dominion he returned to Northwales againe The yeare insuing 1038. Hernun Archbishop of Meneuia or S. Dauids died a man both learned and godlie The yeare next following Howel king of Southwales gathered a great power of his friends and strangers and entred the land intending to recouer it againe Wherefore Gruffyth like a worthie prince came with all speed to succour his people and meeting with Howel at Pencadair after he had incouraged his souldiours gaue him battell and ouerthrew him and pursued him so narrowlie that hee tooke Howels wife whome hee had brought to the field to see the ouerthrow of Gruffyth which chanced otherwise whome Gruffyth liked so well that he kept hir for his concubine About this time Haroald king of England died and his brother Hardycnute reigned in his stead a noble and a liberall prince who as it is reported caused his tables to be couered and furnished four times euerie daie for strangers and all commers and after he had reigned two yeares he died at Lambeth in the floure of his age After whose death the Englishmen sent for Alfred the eldest son of Edelred from Normandy but that message pleased not Earle Godwyn which was the mightiest man in the land because he knew the yoong prince to be couragious and stout and therefore one that would not suffer him to rule the land as he intended to doo Therefore he persuaded the people that Alfred who had come well accompanied with Normanes had promised them the whole rule of the land and therevpon they tooke all the Normanes and bound them and afterward tithed them putting euerie tenth man to death And yet they thought there were too manie wherefore they tithed them the second time and lead Alfred from Gilford where this crueltie was committed to Gillingham and there put out his eies and remoued him thence to Ely where he was pitifullie murthered Afterward they sent for Edward the yonger sonne whome they receiued as king the yeare folowing after that he had maried Godwynes daughter who in the first yeere of his reigne banished Earle Swayne sonne to the said Earle Godwyn who was receiued of the Earle of Flanders In the yeare 1041. Howel came againe to Southwales and remained there awhile and shortlie after a number of strangers landed in Westwales spoiled the countrie against whom Howel gathered a number of people and fought with them and droue them to their ships with much losse At this time Conan the sonne of Iago who had fled to Ireland to saue his life with the power of Alfred king of Deuelyn whose daughter Ranulph he had maried entred Northwales and by treason had taken Gruffyth the king and caried him towards the ships but when it was knowen the countrie vpon the sudden folowed the Irishmen and ouertaking them rescued their prince requiting their foes with much slaughter to their ships who returned streight with Conan to Ireland The yeare folowing Howel the sonne of Owen Lord of Glamorgan died being a man full of yeares Then Howel ap Edwyn called to his succour Danes and Englishmen with all the power he could make in Southwales Whereof Gruffyth being certified gathered his power togither in Northwales came couragiouslie to meete his enimies whom he had twise before discomfited and ouercame them and chased them as farre as the spring of the riuer Towy where after a long and dangerous battell Howel was slaine and his armie discomfited and so narrowlie pursued that few escaped aliue After whose death Rytherch and Rees the sonnes of Rytherch ap Iestyn aspiring againe to the rule and gouernment of Southwales which their father had once obtained gathered a great armie aswell of strangers as out of Gwentland and Glamorgan and met with Gruffyth king of Wales who after his accustomed maner detracting no time but couragiouslie animating his men with the remembrance of their former fortune and diuerse victories vnder his standard ioined battell with his enimies whom he found disposed to abide to win againt the honor which before they had lost wherfore when they met the fight was cruell bloudie continued till night which easilie departed both armies being werie with fighting and either fearing other returned to their countries to gather more strength This
when the other heard vpon their promise they were readie to follow so made readie a great nauie In the meane while Tosty entred Humber with 40. saile but Earle Edwyn met with him and put him to flight who as he failed toward Scotland met with Haroald king of Norwaie with 300. saile comming towards England and ioining with him they both entred Humber and hauing landed their armie they came to Yorke where both Earles Edwyn Marcher gaue them battell vpon the south part of the towne but Haroald and Tosty bare awaie the victorie and spoiled the citie then marched forwards toward Stamfordbridge where Haroald king of England and all his power did meete with them And after a long fight manie valiant acts atchieued on both sides euen from morning till noone at what time the Norwaies began to retire backe ouer the water one of them worthie not to be forgotten kept the passage vpon the bridge with his axe against all the armie of England till three of the clock and slew 40. men but at the last one got vnder the bridge and with his speare gaue him his deaths wound through the bridge Then the armie passed ouer the bridge and put the Norwaies to flight and slew Haroald their king and Tosty where not one man escaped of all the number that was not either killed or burned Then Haroald entred Yorke with great ioie and triumph as he sate at dinner there came a post who told him how Duke William was landed at Suwerhide and had fortified himself with a trench at Hastings With which tidings Haroald being nothing dismaied made expedition thitherward Where William diuiding his armie into fiue battels made a long oration vnto his soldiours wherein he declared the worthinesse of their forefathers the Danes and Norwaies aswell against the Englishmen which were neuer able to abide their force as against the Frenchmen and other nations and how they were accustomed to ouercome at all times being well horssed well armed and good archers had now to doo with a nation onelie taught to trust to their feete euill horssed vnarmed and such as knew not how to occupie their bowes Then he brought his people to the field but Haroald couched all his armie in one battell as nigh togither as they could well stand and so set vpon his enimies And after long fight William caused his men to retire as if they fled then the Englishmen folowed apase and brake their araie which when William perceiued he brought in a battell of fresh Normanes who entred Haroalds battell and fought so sore that Haroald was hurt with an arrow and afterward slaine and so the Englishmen left the Normanes both the field and the victorie The yeare folowing VVilliam passed the sea to Normandie then Edgar Edeling came out of Scotland to Yorke for the people of the countrie had slaine Robert to whome VVilliam had giuen that Earldome and 900. men with him and had receiued Edgar for their king But VVilliam returning from Normandie destroied all the North countrie and chased Edgar to Scotland againe Also Edrike Syluaticus the sonne of Alfrike Earle of Mercia refusing to submit himselfe as other had done when he saw that the king was departed to Normandie rose against such as were left in his absence to kéepe the land in obedience wherevpon those that laie in the castell of Hereford Richard fitz Scrope and others oftentimes inuaded his lands and wasted the goods of his tenants but as often as they came against him they alwaies lost some of their owne men at length he calling to his aid the kings of Wales Blethyn and Rywalhon wasted the countrie of Hereford euen to Wye bridge and then returned with a maruelous great spoile This yeare also being 1068. Meredyth and Ithel the sonnes of Gruffyth ap Lhewelyn raised a great power against Blethyn and Rywalhon kings of Northwales and met with them at a place called Mechain where after long fight there were slaine vpon the one part Ithel and vpon the other part Rywalhon and Meredyth put to flight whome Blethyn pursued so straightlie that he starued for cold and hunger vpon the mountaines and so Blethyn the sonne of Convyn remained the onlie king of Powys and Northwales About this time Swayne king of Denmarke and Osburne his brother came to Humber with 300. sailes and to them came Edgar Edeling and Earle VValtelfe who all together came to Yorke and wan the castell and laie that winter betwixt Ouse and Trent till the king came thither and chased the Danes to their ships and destroied the inhabitants of the countrie but Earle VValtheof he receiued to mercie At this time Caradoc sonne to Gruffyth ap Rytherch ap Iestyn caused a great number of Frenchmen for so the Brytish booke calleth the Normanes to enter Southwales to whom he ioined his power of Gwentland and gaue Meredyth the king of that countrie an ouerthrow and slue him vpon the riuer of Rympyn At the same time also Dermot Maken Anel the worthiest and noblest prince that euer ruled in Ireland was murthered The two Earles Edwyn and Marcher with Hereward gathered an armie against the king but Edwyn was slaine of his owne people and the other tooke the Ile of Elie which the king so sore besieged that he shortlie tooke Marcher and his complices but Hereward escaped his hands manfully whom the king folowed to Scotland made Malcolme king of the land his subiect and vassall Then after the king passed to Normandie and receiued Edgar Edeling to his mercie And about this time the Normanes did lead a great power to VVestwales by sea and destroied Dyuet and the countrie of Caerdigan and caried awaie much spoile and did so likewise the yeare folowing Bleythyd Bishop of Meneuia or S. Dauids died at this time and Sulien was Bishop in his place Not long after this time Radulph Earle of Eastangles conspired against the king with Roger Earle of Hereford Earle VValtheof at the mariage of the said Radulph with Rogers sister in Essex the matter was opened but it pleased not the rest Therefore Radulph tooke shipping in Norwich fled to Denmarke and the king suddenlie comming ouertooke VValtheof and Roger of whom VValtheof was beheaded Roger committed to prison the people all slaine among whom there were a great number of VVelshmen This Radulphs mother came out of VVales which was the cause of the Welshmens being there for Radulph sent for manie of his mothers friends and kinsmen to come to this marriage meaning through their aid and procurement to get the princes and people of VVales to ioine with him in this enterprise He also and his complices sent to Cnute king of Denmarke promising him the kingdome of England to aid him against VVilliam the bastard But William being aduertised of all these things ouerthrew all their deuises for by his sudden comming vppon them out of Normandie he
tooke Roger his coosen and VValtheof whome he committed to prison and caused to be executed afterward but Radulph escaped and departed the realme Of the VVelshmen which were at this marriage VVilliam hanged some put out the eies of others and banished the rest After that in the yeare 1073. Blethyn ap Convyn king of VVales was traitorouslie and cowardlie murthered by Rees ap Owen ap Edwyn and the gentlemen of Ystrad Tywy after he had worthilie gouerned VVales 13. yeares This man was verie liberall and mercifull and loued iustice and equitie in all his reigne This Blethyn had by diuerse women manie children first Meredyth by Haer daughter to Gylhyn Lhywarch and Cadogan by another woman Madoc and Riryd by the third and Iorwerth by the fourth Trahaern ap Caradoc Trahaern the sonne of Caradoc AFter the death of Blethyn Trahaern ap Caradoc his coosen germane tooke vpon him the rule of Northwales Rees ap Owen with Rytherch ap Caradoc did iointlie rule Southwales Then Gruffyth sonne to Conan sonne to Iago or Iames right inheritour of Northwales came from Ireland with succor which his brethren Encumalhon king of Vltonia and Ranalht and Mathawn had deliuered him and he landed in the Ile of Môn or Anglesey and brought it to his subiection At this time Kynwric ap Rywalhon a noble man of Maelor or Bromefield was slaine in Northwales This yeare also Gronow and Lhewelyn the sons of Cadogan ap Blethyn did ioine their powers with Caradoc ap Gruffyth ap Rytherch against Rees ap Owen and Rytherch ap Caradoc to reuenge their grandfathers death and then fought at a place called Camdhwr where the sonnes of Cadogan obteined the victorie Shortlie after Gruffyth ap Conan passed ouer the water from Môn to the maine land and Trahaern ap Caradoc met with him at Bronyrerw where Gruffyth was put to flight and retired backe to the Ile In the yeare 1074. Rytherch ap Caradoc was slaine by treason of his coosen germane Meyrchaon ap Rees ap Rytherch and Rees ap Owen ruled Southwales alone Neuerthelesse the sonnes of Cadogan gathered their powers and came against him and fought with him the second time at Gwaynyttyd where he was put to flight but yet he gathered a new power kept the land still Then Trahaern ap Caradoc king of Northwales mooued his power against Rees who boldlie met him with all the power of Southwales at a place called Pwlhgwttic where after long fighting Rees was put to flight and after great slaughter of his men he fled from place to place fearing all things like a stag that had beene latelie chased which mistrusteth euerie noise but at the last he with his brother Howel fell into the hands of Caradoc ap Gruffyth who slue them both in reuenge of the death of the wise and noble prince Blethyn ap Convyn At this time Sulien Archbishop of S. Dauids did forsake his Bishopricke and Abraham was chosen Bishop in his place In the yeare 1077. Rees the soone of Theodor the sonne of Eneon the sonne of Owen the sonne of Howel Dha as right inheritour to the kingdome of Southwales claimed the same and the people receiued him with much ioie made him their prince The next yeare after Meneuia was all spoiled and destroied by strangers and Abraham the Bishop died after whose death Sulien was compelled to take the Bishopricke againe In the yeare folowing Gruffyth the sonne of Conan did bring a great armie of Irishmen and Scots into Wales and ioined with Rees ap Theodor as two right heires of the whole countrie Gruffyth of Northwales and Rees of Southwales descending both linealie fró Roderike the great against whom came Trahaern ap Caradoc and Caradoc Gruffyth and Mailyr the sons of Rywalhon ap Gwyn his coosen germanes for Gwyn ap Blethyn was their grandfather who in those daies were the chiefe rulers of all Wales And after they had met at the mountains of Carno they fought a cruell battell and were the more eger bicause vpon that daies worke laie the liues honor of either partie But at the length the victorie fell to Gruffyth and Rees and Trahaern with his coosens were all slaine and the most part of their people then the kingdomes of Wales came vnder the rule of the right heires againe At this time also a noble man of Wales called Vrgeney ap Sitsylht was slaine by the sons of Rees Sais which is to saie Rees the Englishman for so they vsed to name all such as had serued in England could speake the English toong Gruffyth ap Conan Gruffyth the sonne of Conan This Thrustan comming from Rome brought with him a new kind of note for the ordinarie seruice of the church which he would haue had his moonks to vse in their dailie seruice but they not willing to change their old Mumpsimus for his new Sumpsimus as the priest said to the Bishop of his masse did stoutlie withstand their Abbot and thereof came this moonkish brall wherein these thrée moonks were slaine and eightéene more hurt About this time or not long after the sepulchre of Walwey king Arthurs sisters sonne was found vpon the sea shore in the countrie of Ros the bodie by estimation vpon viewing of the bones was thought to be xiiij foote in length Walwey in his life time was a right noble and valiant warriour of verie good reputation who ruled that countrie which to this daie of him is called Walwethay And this yeare Sulien forsooke his Bishoprike the second time and Wylfred was stalled in his place At this time also the towne of Caerdyff was built In the yeare 1087. William Bastard king of all Brytaine and Duke of Normandie died when he had left neuer a noble man of English bloud within England but had robbed spoiled and slaine or banished them all and giuen their lands to his owne men for God had brought in the Normanes to reuenge his anger vpon the Angles and Saxons which Normanes were counted the cruellest people in the world for euer when they had brought their enimies to subiection that they were not able to rebell against them they commonlie destroied one another and so euer exercised their crueltie vpon themselues as it appeared in England Normandie Apulia Calabria Sicilia Antiochia which countries they brought to their subiection It is noted also by Iohn Rous and Castoreus that no Englishman bare office of anie credit or countenance in the Conquerours daies and that it was counted a great reproch and shame for a noble man or gentleman to be called an Englishman or to ioine in affinitie by mariage with the English nation they hated them so sore whereby it appéereth that all the ancient noble men and gentlemen within this land are descended either from the Normans and French or from the Brytaines When William had obtained full possession of the realme he appointed ordeined such officers as spoiled the
lesse by Gruffyth ap Conan prince of Northwales how that his men and the men of Grono ap Owen ap Edwyn Lord of Tegengl spoiled and burned the countrie of Cheshire adding to aggrauate the matter that Gruffyth did neither owe seruice nor paied anie tribute to the king wherefore the king swore that he would not leaue one liuing creature in Northwales and Powys land but destroie the land vtterlie put in new inhabitants Then parting his armie into three bands the leading of the first he committed to Gilbert Earle of Strigill wherein was the whole power of all the fourth part of England Cornwall against Southwales the leading of the second had Alexander king of Scotland Hugh Earle of Chester wherein the power of Scotland and the North was who went against Northwales and the king lead the third himselfe wherin was the strength of middle England Then Meredyth ap Blethyn hearing this came and yeelded himselfe to the king But Owen fearing to commit himselfe to them which were so greedie of his lands fled to Gruffyth ap Conan to Northwales whervpon the king turned all his strength that waie and came himselfe as far as Murcastelh and the king of Scots as far as Pennant Bachwy but the people fled to the mountaines and woods and caried all their victuals and cattell with them so that the king could not folow them and such of his men as entred the land were either slaine or galled in the straites Then the Scottish king did send to the prince to come and yeeld him to the king and promised him the kings peace but he was acquainted with such promises and would not Then the king because hee would not returne without owing of some thing sent to Owen to come to him and to forsake the prince who was not able to defend himselfe but was readie to make peace with the Scottish king and the Erle of Chester Yet for all this Owen would not trust the king vntill such time as his vncle Meredyth came from the king to him and counselled him not to forsake the king of Englands offer but to trust his promise and to make hast before the prince agreed with the king who offered him all his lands without tribute Then Owen hearing this came to the king who receiued him thankfullie and told him that because he had trusted the kings word and promise he would not onlie performe that but also exalt him aboue all his kinne and giue him his lands without tribute The Prince also hearing of this sent to the king to haue his peace which because the king could not come by him he obtained for a great summe of monie Some Brytish copies affirme that the submission both of Gruffyth ap Conan also of Owen ap Cadogan was procured by the subtile policie of Meredyth ap Blethyn and the Earle of Chester the one working with Gruffyth and bearing him in hand that Owen had submitted himselfe to the king made his peace with him before it was so in déede so that the prince somewhat yéelding to the Earles request if Owen had so done contrarie to his oth for they were sworne either to other the one not to agrée without the assent of the other séemed to incline to peace On the other side Meredyth going himselfe in person to his Nephew Owen affirmed for a truth that the Prince and the Earle of Chester were throughlie agréed concerning peace and that the Prince was on his iournie towards the king to make his submission and in the meane time all messengers betwéene Owen and the Prince were by the procurement of Meredyth intercepted wherevpon Owen willinglie yéelded himselfe to the King Then the king hauing finished his busines in Wales called Owen vnto him and told him that if he would go with him to Normandie and be faithfull vnto him he would performe all his promises with him Wherevpon Owen went with the king to Normandie where he was made knight had all promises performed at the kings hand at his returne from Normandie the yeare following At this time died Griffri bishop of Meneuia and the king made one Barnard a Norman bishop in his place contrarie to the minds of all the Clergie of Wales who were alwaies accustomed to choose their bishop At the same time there was a talke through Southwales of Gruffyth the sonne of Rees ap Theodor who for feare of the king had beene of a child brought vp in Ireland and had come ouer two yeares passed which time he had spent priuilie with his freends kinsfolks and affines as with Gerald steward of Penbrooke his brother in law and others But at the last he was accused to the king that he intended the kingdome of Southwales as his father had enioied it which was now in the kings hands and that all the countrie hoped of libertie through him therefore the king sent to take him But Gruffyth ap Rees hering this sent to Gruffyth ap Conan prince of Northwales desiring him of his aid and that he might remaine safelie within his countrie which he granted and receiued him ioiouslie for his fathers sake At this time also Howel the brother of this Gruffyth being committed to prison by Arnulph Earle of Penbrooke in the castell of Mountgomery where he remained prisoner a great while made an escape and being sore hurt and maimed fled to Gruffyth ap Conan where his brother was Which things when the king heard he sent gentle letters to the Prince desiring him to come and speake with him which Gruffyth ap Conan did whom the king receiued honorablie and gaue him rich gifts and pretious iewels after the vsage of the Normanes who make much of men for to serue their turne Then afterward he talked with him of Gruffyth ap Rees promising him mountaines of gold to send the said Gruffyth or his head vnto him the which thing the Prince being deceiued with the faire words of the king promised to doo and so returned home ioifullie But Gruffyth ap Rees and Howel his brother had counsell giuen them to withdraw themselues out of the waie awhile vntill they vnderstood what the Prince would doo for their freends suspected the kings message The Prince assoone as euer he came to his palace at Arberffraw inquired for Gruffyth ap Rees and learning where he was sent certaine horsemen for him to come to his court and as they came towards the house where he was he had warning of their comming and with much adoo escaped to the Church of Aberdaron and tooke Sanctuarie there Then the messengers returned againe and declared to the Prince how all things fell out and the Prince being sore offended commanded him to be pulled out by force but the Clergie of the whole countrie withstood that and defended the liberties of the Church That night some that pitied to see that yoong innocent to be sought as a lambe to the slaughter conueied him away out of Northwales to
had by his wife Angharat the daughter of Owen Gwyneth prince of Northwales a sonne called Madoc who succeeded his father in that part of Powys called Powys Vadoc About the same time diuerse noble men of England died at Acon as Henrie Earle of Leycester the Earle Ferrers Ranulph de Fulgerijs Ranulph de Alta ripa In those daies VVilliam Marshall Geffrey Fitzpeter Hugh Bardulf and VVilliam Briwer were the nobles that bare most rule in England in the kings absence Then also Rees prince of Southwales wan the castell of Dynevowr and Owen his sonne died at Strata florida or Stratflur About this time king Richard wan the kingdome of Cypres and gaue it to Gwido king of Ierusalem vpon condition that he should release to Richard his claime of Ierusalem which he did Then the king being at Cyprus maried Berengaria the daughter of the king of Nauarra Shortlie after Maelgon the sonne of the lord Rees escaped out of prison where his father had kept him a long time But the lord Rees gat the castell of Lhanhayaden and the countrie about At that time Gruffyth ap Cadogan died Then king Richard after he had atchieued with his nobles the Earle of Leycester Bartholomew Mortimer Randulph de Malo leone N. de Furnevale Roger de Lacy William de Stagno Hugh de Neuella William de Porcell and Henrie Duch his standardbearer manie worthie deeds of arms against the infidels in his returne homeward through Austrich was taken prisoner by Lupold the duke thereof who presented him to Henrie the Emperour he kept him vntill he had paid him 200000. markes for his ransome laieng to his charge that he had spoiled the Ile of Sicilie in his viage towards the holie land The same yeare Roderike the sonne of Owen Gwyneth by the help of Gothrike king of Man entred the Ile of Môn and brought it to his subiection but before the end of the yeare the sonnes of his brother Conan chased him out of the Ile and got it themselues At this time Maelgon the sonne of Rees prince of Southwales laid siege to the castell of Stratmeyric and wanne it Also Howel surnamed Says that is to saie Saxon or English because he had serued in England sonne to the said prince Rees gat the castell of Gwys vpō the sudden tooke Philip de Gwys his wife his two sonnes prisoners therein Then because he had more castels than he could well defend he determined to rase the castell of Lhanhayaden but the Flemings hauing vnderstanding thereof gathered all their strength and came thither the daie appointed to rase the castell and set fierslie vpon the men of Howel and Maelgon and slewe manie of them putting the rest to flight Neuerthelesse they gathered a great power shortlie after and came thither againe and rased the castell to the ground without anie let or staie Upon this Anarawd the sonne also of prince Rees moued with filthie ambition and couetousnesse of lands tooke his two brethren Howel and Madoc prisoners vnder the color of freendship and put out both their eies In the yeare 1194. king Richard came into England and being at dinner in his litle hall of Westminster hearing that the French king besieged Vernoyle he sware that he would neuer turne his face till he had fought with him if he did abide caused the wall to be broken before him and so passed to Normandie and receiuing his brother Iohn to mercie raised the siege for the French king fled as soone as he heard of king Richards comming This yeare Maelgon sonne to prince Rees gaue his brother Anarawd the castell of Stratmeyric for his prisoners whom he set at libertie Then Rees himselfe did reedifie againe the castell of Rayader Gwy and his owne sonnes laid wait for him and tooke their father prisoner fearing least he would reuenge their cruell and vnnaturall deeds but by the meanes of Howel his sonne which was blind he escaped out of his sonne Maelgons prison and tooke the castell of Dineuwor which Maelgon kept and destroied it Also the sonnes of Cadwalhon ap Madoc of Melyenyth wan the castell of Rayder Gwy and fortified it for themselues At this time Lhewelyn the son of Iorwerth Drwyndwn who was the eldest sonne of Owen Gwyneth prince of Northwales remembring his right title to his inheritance of Northwales although his father had beene disinherited by his brother Dauid called togither his freends by his mother which was Marred the daughter of Madoc ap Meredyth prince of Powys and also drew to his side his coosins the sons of Conan ap Owen Gwyneth and so challenged the rule of Northwales and entred the countrie to whom the people willinglie yeelded and tooke him for their lord and so without bloodshed he receiued all Northwales to his subiection except three castels which his vncle Dauid kept by force of Englishmen in whom was all his trust because of his wife Emme aunt to the king of England And thus Dauid lost his land and Lhewelyn began to rule in the yeare of our Lord 1194. Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth Lhewelyn the sonne of Iorwerth the sonne of Owen Gwyneth called Leolinus Magnus The yeare ensuing there was a combat appointed betwixt the French king with fiue knights with him and king Richard with fiue other which should end all controuersies of which fight king Richard was glad but the French king like a snaile drew in his hornes and forsooke the battell And in Wales prince Rees gathered a great armie and laid siege to the towne and castell of Caermarthin and in short time wanne them both spoiling and destroieng the same and then returned with great bootie Then he lead his said armie to the marches before the castell of Clun which after a long siege and manie a fierse assault he got and burned it and from thence he went to the castell of Radnor and likewise wanne it to the defense whereof came Roger Mortimer and Hugh de Saye with a great armie of Normanes and Englishmen well armed and tried soldiours Then Rees which had wonne the castell determined not to keepe his men within the walles but boldlie like a worthie prince came into the plaine besides the towne and gaue them battell where his men although for the most part vnarmed and not accustomed to the battell declared that they came of Brytaines bloud whose title the noble Romane Emperours did so much desire as a token of manhood and worthines choosing rather to die with honour in the defense of their countrie than to liue with shame did so worthilie behaue themselues that their enimies forsooke the field with great losse of their men whom Rees pursued till the benefit of the night shadowed them with hir darknes and forthwith he laid siege to the castell of Payne in Eluel gat it Thither came William de Bruse the owner thereof and made peace with Rees of whom he receiued the same castell againe Not long after
Lhandeilo vawr keeping himselfe in the wild and rough places then his enimies laid siege to the castell of Dyneuowr and at the first assault they wanne the first ward so that they of the garrison were faine to take the Koxe for their defense and defended the same manfullie but they without made engines to cast in great stones and began to vndermine the walles in such sort that the captaine fell to that composition that if he were not succoured by the next daie at noone he would deliuer vp the castell vpon condition that all his men might depart with their armour and weapons and so they did for they had no succours Afterward they brought the Cantref Mawr to their subiection Then Rees Vachan remooued his wife and children to his brother Maelgons countrie and leaft the castell of Lhauymdhyfry well fortified and manned After the departure of Foulke yoong Rees came with an armie of Welshmen and Normanes to Lhauymdhyfry but before they were encamped the captaine deliuered vp the castell the garrison departing with their liues And shortlie after Rees Vachan was taken at Caermarthyn and committed to the kings prison The Brytish booke of the Abbeie of Stratflur doth in this place set downe the earnest repentance of king Iohn of all the extremities that he had vsed against the churchmen and how that he called home againe such of them as were either expelled or voluntarilie went out of the realme and restored to them all such things as his officers had taken from them At what time also he made the kingdome of England tributarie to the church of Rome to be holden of the Pope yéelding and paieng vnto him the summe of a thousand markes yearelie for euer At this time prince Lhewelyn laid siege to the castell of Dyganwy and Ruthlan and wanne them both so that he leaft the king neither hold nor castell within his land In the yeare 1215. king Iohn with the Earles of Chester and Derbie tooke the crosse but the rebellion of his barons staid his iournie for they required of him certeine auncient lawes and customes to be kept which he denied to doo Therefore they were confederate with Lhewelyn prince of Wales that he should stirre vpon his part and they would vpon theirs then gathering an army they appointed Robert Fitzwater captaine and came to Bedford where William Beauchamp receiued them into the castell and from thence they went to London and were there ioifullie receiued Then the king leuied a power with William Marshall Earle of Penbrooke and laid siege to the castell of Rochester which was manfullie defended three moneths by William de Abbineto but at the last it was taken by force And at that time there were taken with the said William William de Lancaster VVilliam de Emmford Thomas de Moletun Quince Gyfford Odinel Bobi and Odinel de Albineto whom the king sent to the castell of Corff to be imprisoned sure At this time the Pope curssed all such as made warre against king Iohn There is a bull of excommunication among the Records kept in the towre against Lhewelyn prince of Wales and others for making warre against king Iohn being vnder the protection of the church of Rome Thus the Pope can blow hot and cold out of one mouth A litle before he released prince Lhewelyn the Barons and all the commons of the realme from their oth of obedience and subiection to king Iohn commanding them vpon paine of cursse to make warre against him and now hauing brought his purpose to passe he cursseth them for doing of that which he commanded So the Pope setteth at variance kings and princes at his pleasure to worke his owne commoditie and when the same is brought about he cursseth them with booke bell and candle if they without consideration of their own gréefs will not agrée againe when he will wheras fire being kindled is not easilie quenched hatred once stirred vp betwéene princes and growne by displeasures to open war wherin manie are slaine other taken the most spoiled and vndoone is not so soone put off with a Mandamus from Rome and shaking of hands at the Popes pleasure Neuerthelesse prince Lhewelyn leuied an armie and came to Shrewesburie which towne and castell were deliuered to him without any resistance and there he remained a while In the mean time Giles de Bruse bishop of Hereford and chiefe of this conspiracie sonne to William de Bruse sent his brother Reynold to Brechnock and all the people receiued him as their lord and so he got all his castels without gaine-saieng of anie man to wit Abergeuenny Penkelhy Castelh Gwyn or the White castell Grosmont the Ile of Cynuric But when the bishop came thither himselfe they deliuered him the castels of Aberhodny Hay Bnelht Blaynlhyfny and he to strengthen himselfe in that countrie promised castell Payn Clune with all Eluel to Walter Vachan the sonne of Eneon Clyd In the meane time of this yoong Rees sonne to Gruffyth ap Rees and Maelgon his vncle were made freends and went both to Dyuet where they recouered all the land to themselues sauing Cemais and ouerthrew the castell of Arberth Maynclochoc Then Maelgon and Owen brother to Rees went to Northwales to prince Lhewelyn and did to him homage and yoong Rees gathered a great power and came to Cydwely and brought it with all Carnwylheon to his subiection and rased the castell there and likewise the castell of Lhychwr Frō thence he lead his armie to the castell of Hugh de Myles at Talybont and hauing taken the same by force slew a great number of the garrison Then the daie after he tooke his iournie to Senghennyth where the garrison which laie there burnt the towne and departed Therfore Rees laieng siege to the castell of Ystymlhwynarth got the same the next daie folowing and burned it and the towne also and so he got all the castels of Gwyrland within three daies after and then returned home with victorie and triumph At this time Rees Vachan or Rees Gryc vncle to yoong Rees and sonne to the lord Rees was set at libertie by the king leauing his sonne and two other pledges for him This yeare also two Abbots were consecrated bishops Iorwerth of S. Dauids and Cadogan of Bangor Giles de Bruse bishop of Hereford by the Popes commandement went and made peace with the king and died in his returne homeward at Glocester whose inheritance descended to his brother Reginald who maried the daughter of prince Lhewelyn Shortlie after Lhewelyn prince of Northwales came with a great armie to Caermardhyn and laid siege to the castell which was yeelded vnto him the fifth daie after which he rased to the ground and so he did with the castels of Lhanstephan S. Cleare Talacharn From thence he went to Caerdigan and winning the new castell in Emlyn he subdued Cemaes and got the castell of Trefdraeth called in English Newport and rased the same to the ground Then the garrison
charges in this warre The yeare folowing the mariage was celebrated at VVorcester betwixt Elianor daughter to Symon Montfort and prince Lhewelyn where the King the Queene and the most part of the nobilitie of England were present Also the yeare after Roger Mortimer set vp at Killingworth a round table for a hundreth knights to be exercised in the feats of armes and thither resorted manie knights from diuerse countries At this time the king of Scots did his homage to king Edward and obtained the kings letters that his succors in the last warres of VVales were not done by the name of seruice but of good will And at this time a generall inquisition was made how and by what title euerie man held his lands and liberties and the first that was called was the Earle VVaren who drawing out an old sword said By this warrant mine ancestours wanne their lands and by this I doo and will hold mine And all the Barons applied to this answere and the Quo warranto was no more talked of The peace concluded betwéene the prince of Wales and the king of England did not long continue by reason of the seuere and stricte dealing of such officers as the king appointed rulers in the Marches and the Inland countrie of Wales who hunting after their owne gaines oppressed the inhabitants burthening them with new exactions contrarie to the customes of the countrie and also shewing themselues too much affectionate in matters of controuersie betwéene partie and partie especiallie when anie Englishman had to doo in the matter which poling and parcialitie did altogither alienate the harts of the people from the king of England so that they had rather die than liue in such thraldome Wherevpon assembling themselues togither they so moued Dauid lord of Denbigh to be at vnitie with prince Lhewelyn and to take pitie vpon their affliction and miserie that he being agréed with his brother became their captaine Not long after Dauid lord of Denbigh being reconciled to his brother the Prince vpon condition he should neuer after serue the king of England as he had done before but become his vtter enimie laid siege to the castell of Hawarden and tooke Roger Clifford a noble knight slaieng all that resisted and after spoiling all the countrie he with his brother the Prince laid siege to the castell of Ruthlan the king hearing of this hasted thither with a great armie to raise the siege then the Prince retired backe with his armie Also the same time Rees the sonne of Maelgon and Gruffyth ap Meredyth ap Owen with other noble men of Southwales tooke the castell of Aberystwyth and diuerse other castels in that countrie spoiling all the kings people that inhabited there abouts Therefore the king sent the Archbishop of Canturburie to talke with the Prince and his brethren which returned without doing anie good and by the kings commandement denounced them and all their complices accursed This Archibishop here mentioned was Iohn Peckham who was sent from king Edward to prince Lhewelyn as this author thinketh but he himselfe affirmeth that he tooke that enterprise in hand of his owne motion contrarie or beside the kings mind to the which assertion of his Nicholas Triuet and Thomas Walsingham séeme to agrée His whole dooings in this matter are to be found in the records of Canturburie the copie of the which records being collected and for the most part translated out of Latine into English by Doctor Thomas Yale chanceller to that worthie prelate of reuerend memorie Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canturburie whose carefull search painfull trauell and chargeable setting out of the antiquities of this land euerie man that loueth his countrie cannot choose but commend and thankefullie accept and take in good part I thought necessarie here to set downe for the laieng open of the truth to the view of all men which heretofore was either maliciouslie concealed or negligentlie omitted by all the writers of this historie Articles sent from the Archbishop of Canturburie to be intimated to Lhewelyn Prince of VVales and the people of the same countrie BIcause we came to those parts for the spirituall and temporall health of them whom we haue euer loued well as diuers of them haue knowne 2. That we come contrarie to the will of our Lord the king whom our said comming as it is said dooth much offend 3 That we desire and beséech them for the bloud of our lord Iesus Christ that they would come to an vnitie with the English people and to the peace of our lord the king which we intend to procure them so well as we can 4 We will them to vnderstand that we cannot long tarrie in these quarters 5 We would they considered that after our parting out of the countrie they shall not perhaps find anie that will so tender the preferring of their cause as we would doo if it pleased God with our mortall life we might procure them an honest stable and firme peace 6 That if they doo contemne our petition labour we intend foorthwith to signifie their stubbernes to the high bishop and the court of Rome for the enormitie that manie waies hapneth by occasion of this discord this daie 7 Let them know that vnlesse they doo quickelie agrée to a peace that warre shall be aggrauated against them which they shall not be able to sustaine for the kings power increaseth dailie 8 Let them vnderstand that the realme of England is vnder the speciall protection of the sea of Rome that the sea of Rome loueth it better than anie other kingdome 9 That the said sea of Rome will not in anie wise sée the state of the realme of England quaile being vnder speciall protection 10 That we much lament to heare that the Welshmen be more cruell then Saracens for Saracens when they take christians they kéepe them to be redéemed for monie But they saie that the Welshmen by and by doo kill all that they take and are onelie delighted with blood and sometime cause to be killed them whose ransome they haue receiued 11 That whereas they were euer woont to be estéemed and to reuerence God Ecclesiasticall persons they séeme much to reuolt from that deuotion moouing sedition and warre and committing slaughter and burning in the holie time Which is great iniurie to God wherein no man can excuse them 12 We desire that as true christians they would repent for they cannot long continue their begun discord if they had sworne it 13 We will that they signifie vnto vs how they will or can amend the trouble of the kings peace and the hurt of the common wealth 14 That they signifie vnto vs how peace and concord may be established for in vaine were it to forme peace to be dailie violated 15 If they saie that their lawes or couenants be not obserued that they doo signifie vnto vs which those be 16 That granting it that they were iniured as they saie
we despise your fatherhoods requests and painefull trauell but with all hartie reuerence according to our dutie do accept the same Neither yet shall it be needefull for the lord the king to vse anie force against vs seeing we are redie to obeie him in all things our rights and lawes as aforesaid reserued And although the kingdome of England be vnder the speciall protection of the sea of Rome and with speciall loue regarded of the same yet when the lord the Pope and the court of Rome shall vnderstand of the great damages which are done vnto vs by the Englishmen to wit the articles of the peace concluded and sworne vnto violated and broken the robbing and burning of churches the murthering of ecclesiasticall persons aswell religious as secular the slaughter of women great with child and children sucking their mothers brests the destroieng of hospitals and houses of religion killing the men and women professed in the holie places and euen before the altars we hope that your fatherhood and the said court of Rome will rather with pittie lament our case than with rigour of punishment augment our sorow Neither shall the kingdome of England be in anie wise disquieted or molested by our meanes as is affirmed so that we may haue the peace dulie kept and obserued towards vs and our people Who they be which are delited with bloodshed and warre is manifestlie apparant by their deedes and behauiour for we would liue quietlie vpon our owne if we might be suffered but the Englishmen comming to our countrie did put all to the sword neither sparing sex age or sicknesse nor any thing regarding churches or sacred places the like whereof the VVelshmen neuer committed That one hauing paid his ransome was afterward slaine wee are right sorie to heare of it neither do we maintaine the offender who escaping our hands keepeth himselfe as an outlaw in the woods and vnknowne places That some began the warre in a time not meete and conuenient that vnderstood not we of vntill now and yet they which did the same do affirme that in case they had not done as they did at that time they had beene slaine or taken themselues being not in safetie in their owne houses and forced continuallie for safegard of their liues to keepe themselues in armour and therefore to deliuer themselues from that feare they tooke that enterprise in hand Concerning those things which we commit against God with the assistance of his grace we will as it becommeth Christians repent and turne vnto him Neither shall the war on our part be continued so that we be saued harmlesse and may liue as we ought but before we be disinherited or slaine we must defend our selues as well as we may Of all iniuries and wrongs done by vs we are most willing and readie vpon due examination and triall of all trespasses and wrongs committed on both sides to make amends to the vttermost of our power so that the like on the kings side be performed in like maner towards vs and our people and to conclude and stablish a peace we are most readie but what peace can be established when as the kings charter so solemnlie cōfirmed is not kept and performed Our people are dailie oppressed with new exactions we send vnto you also a note in writing of the wrongs and iniuries which are done vnto vs contrarie to the forme of the peace before made VVe haue put our selues in armour being driuen therevnto by necessitie for we and our people were so oppressed troden vnderfoote spoiled and brought to slauerie by the kings officers contrarie to the forme of the peace concluded against iustice none otherwise than if we were Saracens or Iewes whereof we haue often times complained vnto the king and neuer could get any redresse but alwaies those officers were afterwards more fierce and cruell against vs. And when those officers through their rauine and extortion were enriched other more hungrie than they were sent afresh to flea those whom the other had shorne before so that the people wished rather to die than liue in such oppression And now it shall not be needefull to leuie anie armie to war vpon vs or to moue the prelats of the church against vs so that the peace may be obserued duelie and trulie as before is expressed Neither ought your holie fatherhood to giue credit to all that our aduersaries do allege against vs for euen as in their deeds they haue and do oppresse vs so in their words they will not sticke to slander vs laieng to our charge what liketh them best Therefore for asmuch as they are alwaies present with you and we absent from you they oppressing and we oppressed we are to desire you euen for his sake from whom nothing is hid not to credit mens words but to examine their deeds Thus we bid your holines farewell Dated at Garth Celyn in the feast of S. Martine Certeine greefes sent from Lhewelyn to the Archbishop translated word by word out of the records of the said Archbishop WHere that it is conteined in the forme of the peace concluded as foloweth 1 If the said Lhewelyn will claime anie right in anie lands occupied by anie other than by the lord the king without the said foure Cantreds the said lord the king shall doo him full iustice according to the lawes and customes of those quarters or parts where the said lands doo lie Which article was not obserued in the lands in Arustly and betwixt the waters of Dyui and Dulas for that when the said Lhewelyn claimed the said lands before the lord the king at Ruthlan and the king granted him the cause to be examined according to the lawes and customes of Wales and the aduocates of the parties were brought in and the Iudges which vulgarlie they call Ynnayd before the king to iudge of the said lands according to the lawes of Wales And the defendant appeared and answered so that the same daie the cause ought to haue béene fullie determined according to the appointment of our lord the king Who at his being at Glocester had assigned the parties the said daie and though the same cause was in diuers places often heard and examined before the Iustice and that the lands were in Northwales and neuer iudged but by the laws of Wales neither was it lawfull for the king but according to the lawes of Wales to proroge the cause all that notwithstanding he proroged the daie of his owne motion contrarie to the said lawes And at the last the said Lhewelyn was called to diuers places whither he ought not to haue béene called neither could he obteine iustice nor anie iudgement vnlesse it were according to the lawes of England contrarie to the said article of the peace And the same was doone at Montgomery when the parties were present in iudgement and a daie appointed to heare sentence they proroged the said daie contrarie to the foresaid lawes and at the last the king himselfe at
which hapned vpon S. Leonards daie Thomas Walsingham writeth that the king lost in this viage a little before this fouretéene ensignes at which time the lord William de Audeley and the lord Roger Clifford the yoonger and manie other were slaine and the king himselfe was driuen to take the castell of Hope for his safegard In the meane time was the Earle of Glocester Sir Edmund Mortimer with an armie in Southwales where were manie that serued the king and there fought with the princes freends at Lhandeilo Vawr and gave them an overthrow wherein on the kings side yoong William de Valence his coosen germane and foure knightes more were slaine And all this while the Prince destroied the countrie of Caerdigan and all the lands of Rees ap Meredyth who serued the king in all these warres But afterward the prince separated himselfe from his armie with a few and came to Buelht thinking to remaine there quietlie for a while and by chance as he came by the water Wy there were Edmund Mortimer and Iohn Gifford with a great number of soldiours and either partie were abashed of other Edmund Mortimers men were of that country for his father was lord therof Then the prince departed from his men and went to the vallie with his esquire alone to talke with certeine lords of the countrie who had promised to meete him there Then some of his men seeing their enimies come downe from the hill kept the bridge called Pont Orewyn defended the passage manfullie till one declared to the Englishmen where a foord was a little beneath through the which they sent a number of their men with Helias Walwyn who suddenlie fell vpon them that defended the bridge in their backs and put them to flight The princes esquire told the Prince as he stood secretlie abiding the comming of such as promised to meete him in a little groue that he heard a great noise and crie at the bridge and the prince asked whether his men had taken the bridge and he said Yes Then said the Prince I passe not if all the power of England were vpon the other side But suddenlie behold the horssemen about the groue and as he would haue escaped to his men they pursued him so hard that one Adam Francton ranne him thorough with a staffe being vnarmed and knew him not and his men being but a few stood and fought boldlie euer looking for their Prince till the Englishmen by force of archers mixt with the horssemen wanne the hill and put them to flight And as they returned Francton went to spoile him whome he had slaine and when he saw his face he knew him verie well and stroke off his head and sent it to the king at the Abbie of Conwey who receiued it with great ioy and caused it to be set vpon one of the highest turrets of the Towre of London This was the end of Lhewelyn beetraied by the men of Buelht who was the last Prince of Brytaines blood who bare dominion and rule in Wales So that the rule and gouernment of the Brytaines euer continued in some place of Brytaine from the first comming of Brutus which was in the yeare before Christes incarnation 1136. to the yeare after Christ 1282. by the space of 2418. yeares Shortlie after that the King had brought all the countrie to his subiection the countrie men themselues brought to him Dauid the Princes brother whome he kept in Ruthlan castell and after put him to death at Shrewesburie Then the king builded two strong holdes in Northwales the one at Conwey and the other at Caernaruan When Rees Vachan hard how all things went he yeelded himselfe to the Earle of Hereford who at the kings commandement sent him to the Towre of London to be imprisoned there And so the king passed through all Wales and brought all the countrie in subiection to the crowne of England to this daie Thus endeth the Historie of the Brytish Princes The Princes of Wales of the blood royall of England collected for the most part out of the Records in the Towre Edward of Caernaruon Then the king hauing the countrie at his will gaue whole lordships and townes in the middest of Wales vnto English lords as the lordship of Denbigh to Henrie Lacy Earle of Lincolne the lordship of Ruthyn to the lord Reginald Gray second sonne to Iohn lord Gray of Wilton and other lands to manie of his nobilitie This Henrie Lacy lord of Denbigh was the sonne of Edmund Lacy the sonne of Iohn Lacy lord of Halton Pomfret and Constable of Chester who maried Margaret the eldest daughter and one of the heires of Robert Quincy Erle of Lincolne the said Henrie married Margaret the daughter and sole heire of William Longspee Earle of Sarum and had issue Edmund and Iohn which both died yoong of whom the one perished by a fall into a verie déepe well within the castell of Denbigh and a daughter named Alicia maried vnto Thomas Plantagenet Earle of Lancaster who was in the right of his said wife Earle of Lincolne and Sarum lord of Denbigh Halton Pomfret and constable of Chester After the death of the said Thomas king Edward the second gaue the lordship of Denbigh to Hugh lord Spencer Earle of Winchester after whose death the same lordship was giuen by king Edward the third Anno Regni sui primo as appeareth of Record to Roger Mortimer Earle of March with diuerse other lordships in the Marches in performance of the kings promise while he remained in France with his mother for the prouision of a thousand pound lands of a reasonable extent for the said Roger assoone as by Gods grace he should come to the possession of the crowne and kingdome of England Within few yeares after the Earle of March being attainted the said lordship of Denbigh was giuen by the same king to the lord Montagu Earle of Sarum but shortlie after An. 29. Ed. 3. it was restored againe with the Earldome of March to the Mortimers in the which house the same remained vntill the whole inheritance of the Mortimers came with a daughter to the house of Yorke and so to the crowne as appeareth before pag. 317. And now of late it was giuen by the Quéenes Maiestie that now is An. Regni sui 6. to the right honorable Robert Earle of Leycester who was then created Baron of Denbigh it is counted now one of the greatest and best lordships in England The lordship of Ruthyn continued in the possession of the Grayes vntill in the time of king Henrie the seuenth George Gray Earle of Kent and lord of Ruthyn passed the same vpon some bargaine to the king and now it is of the possession of the right honorable the Earle of Warwicke There came the same time with king Edward to Northwales diuerse Gentlemen who grew afterward to be men of great possessions in the countrie whose posteritie doo enioy the same to this daie Rees ap
learned and wise and in great fauour with the king who sent him sundrie times in embassages to forreine Princes and now he had the gouernement of the kings onelie daughter ladie Marie Princesse of Wales Of all the Bishops in the land he was counted the courtlikest and the best Courtier and although he was well reported of for his learning yet was he better liked for his courtlike behauiour which in the end turned not so much to his credit as to the vtter ruine and spoile of his church for of xxij lordships and manours which his predecessors had and least vnto him of a goodlie yearelie reuenue he leaft but thrée and them also leased out And where he found fouretéene houses well furnished he leaft onlie one house bare and without furniture and yet charged with sundrie fées and annuities by meanes whereof that bishopricke which sometimes was counted one of the best is now become in temporall lands one of the meanest and a place scarse leaft for the Bishop to laie and rest his head in yet neuerthelesse he was a great fauorer of learned men and speciallie of diuines whom he preferred in his church aboue all others He was verie bounteous and liberall vnto all men but speciallie vnto courtiers vnto his owne kindred and countrimen Upon many he bestowed vnto the confusion of some of them and vpon other he spent much by building of a towne named Sutton Colshull where he was borne which he procured to be incorporated and made a market towne and set vp therein making of kersies but all in the end came to small effect ELIZABETH Rowland Lee bishop of Couentrie and Lichfield was in the 26. yéere of king Henrie the eight sent to be Lord President of the kings maiesties Counsell in the marches of Wales in whose time the principalitie and countrie of Wales was by Parlement incorporated and vnited vnto the kingdome of England and all the inhabitants thereof made equall in fréedomes liberties rights priuileges lawes and in all other respects to the naturall subiects of England and all inheritances were made of English tenure to descend without diuision or partition after the maner of England Also the lawes statutes and ordinances of the realme of England were commanded to be executed and put in practise within the contrie and principalitie of Wales and none other And to the end the said lawes should be dulie put in execution the whole dominion of Wales togither with the lordships marchers bordering vpon the same was diuided into xiij shires or counties wherefore xij made foure circuits to the which circuits there were seuerall Iudges appointed who should administer iustice to the inhabitants of euerie of the said shires twise in the yéere The first circuit was the thrée shires of Eastwales Denbygh Flynt and Mountgomrie wherin the Iustice of Chester kéepeth sessions twise in the yéere hearing and deciding all titles trespasses variance and misdemeanours within the countrie The Iustice of Northwales doth the like in the thrée shires of Northwales Anglesey Caernaruon and Meryonyth which doo make the second circuit The third circuit are the thrée shires of Westwales Caerdigan Caermardhyn and Penbrooke where the Iustice of that countrie kéepeth his sessions euerie yéere twise The thrée shires of Southwales Radnor Brechnocke and Glamorgan doo make the fourth circuit in the which the Iustice of Southwales dooth kéepe sises twise euerie yéere And bicause all matters as well of lawe as of equitie are heard and determined in these circuits the same doo continue sixe daies in euerie of the shires aforenamed Monmouthshire dooth followe the common order of the shires of England suing all originall writs out of the high court of chancerie In all these shires there were appointed Shirifes Iustices of peace Crowners and all other officers accordinglie as they are in England Further for the kéeping of the countrie in continuall obedience and the controlling of the outrage of wilfull and vnrulie persons there was ordeined a President and counsell to remaine within the dominion and Principalitie of Wales with all officers appertaining to the same Which President and councell haue power and authoritie to heare and determine by their wisdomes and discretions such causes and matters as are assigned to them by the Kings or Quéens of England for the time being And certeinlie let men imagine what they will this house was it that after great hatred and persecution whereof disobedience and rudenes folowed reduced the countrie of Wales to quietnesse obedience and ciuilitie by authoritie whereof not onelie great outrages are appeased the offendors punished and the wilfull brideled but also the quiet and obedient subiect is protected and defended from iniurie so that he may possesse his owne in quietnesse Wherein this Bishop Rowland Lee and his associats did notable good seruice And surelie there haue béene of the same house verie wise gouernors and men of great credit namelie Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancelor of England Thomas Yoong Archbishop also of Yorke Iohn Whitgift now Archbishop of Canturburie and diuers other of whom I am to speake héereafter In the 29. yéere of king Henrie the eight prince Edward his sonne was borne at Hampton court on S. Edwards euen being the 12. of October who bicause the principalitie of Wales was now by statute as I said before incorporated to the crowne and kingdome of England being vnder the same lawes and iurisdiction was none otherwise Prince of Wales than vnder the generall title of England as the king his father was king of England and vnder that name K. of Wales as a member of England neither doo I read of anie other creation or inuestiture that he had to that principalitie therefore I thought it not conuenient to make any speciall title of him after the said statute He afterward succéeded his father in the crowne of this realme by the name of king Edward the sixt The said Rowland Lee died L. President in the xxxiiij yéere of King Henrie the eight and lieth buried at Shrewesburie After him Richard Sampson bishop of Chichester was remooued to Couentrie and Lichfield and appointed Lord President of Wales in the xxxv yéere of king Henrie the eight and so continued L. President vntill the end of the 2. yéere of the reigne of king Edward the sixt Iohn Sutton alias Dudley Earle of Warwike and knight of the noble order of the garter was in the third yéere of King Edward the sixt appointed Lord President of Wales in the which office he continued vntill the fourth yéere of the same king He descended out of Wales by a daughter of the Lord Powys for he was the sonne of Edmund the sonne of Iohn a yoonger sonne of Iohn Lord Dudley the sonne of Iohn Lord Dudley the sonne of Iohn Lord Dudley the son of Iohn Lord Dudley the sonne of Iohn Sutton Baron Dudley who maried Isabell the daughter of sir Iohn Charlton
of Salope 155. he is slaine 156. Hugh Earle of Chester winneth Mehenyth 197. Hugh Lacy 151. I. IAgo ap Edwal 59.62 Iago ap Edwal 87. Iestyn ap Gurgant lord of Glamorgan 119. Ieuaf ap Edwal 59.60.70 Igmond commeth to Anglisey 41. Iohn king of England made Knight goeth to Ireland returneth againe 240. lost Normandie Aniow Mayne and Poytiers 258. goeth to Ireland 261. goeth to Wales 264. and againe 265. maketh his kingdome tributarie to the Pope 270. he destroieth the Marches of Wales 275. he dieth 276. Iohn le Fleming 125. his heires 136. Iohn de Cremona a Cardinal 186. Iohn Scot Earle of Chester 288.293 Iohn of Monmouth 290.310 Iohn Peckam Archbishop of Canturburie 338. Iohn Uoisye bishop of Excester 393. Iohn Sutton alias Dudley Earle of Warwike 397. Iohn Williams L. Williams of Thame 399. Ionaual the son of Meyric 67. Iorwerth Drwyndwn 227. Iorwerth ap Blethyn 157.158 condemned and cast into prison 160. set at libertie 167. slaine cruellie 170. Iorwerth ap Owen ap Caradoc lord of Caerlheon vpon Usc 230. wan Caerlheon again 234. obtained the kings fauour 236. Ioseph of Aremathia 12. Ithel K. of Gwent 29. Iuor the sonne of Alan 7. Iuor the sonne of Ednerth ap Cadogoan 154. K. KEntwine K. of Westsex 8. Kenulph K. of Wests 16. he destroieth Wales 25. L. LHanbadarn destroied by the Danes 71. Lhanvaes 293. Loegria Lhoeger 1. Lhechryd 117. Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht 83.84 Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth 245. taketh his vncle Dauid prisoner 250. calleth a parlement 257. marieth Ione the daughter of King Iohn 259. maketh peace with K. Iohn 265. released by the Pope of his oth of allegeance to the K. of England commanded to war against him 267. he winneth Ruthlan and Dyganwy 270. excommunicated by the Pope 271. he winneth Shrewesburie ibidem goeth with an armie to Southwales 273. also to Brechnocke 277. leadeth an armie to Penbrooke 279. cōmeth to the K. at Shrewesburie 281. destroieth all the marches to Southwales 287. entreth into England 288. commeth with an armie to Brechnocke ibid. taketh the towne of Salop againe 291. concludeth peace with K. Henrie the third 292. calleth all the Lords and Barons of Wales togither 297. he dieth 298. Lhewelyn ap Gruffyth chosen Prince of Wales 314. diuided the principalitie betwene him and his brother Owen ibidem entred the Earle of Chestersland 321. causeth the Earle to retire ibid. destroieth the Erldom of Chester 326. maketh peace with the K. 326. refuseth to come to K. Edwards coronation 328. excuseth himselfe to the Archbishops 329. maketh peace with K. Edward 334. he is maried 336. his answer to the Archbishop of Canturburie 340. his answer to the kings offer 366. he is slaine 374. Lhywarch ap Owen 69. Lhywarch ap Trahaern 164.169.171 Lhyyn destroied 65. Locusts destroie Ireland 42. Lumbards whence they came 39. M. MAdoc ap Riryd 164.166.172 Madoc ap Meredyth ap Blethyn 210. Madoc ap Owen Gwyneth 227. Madoc ap Gruffyth Maylor 255.293 Madoc coosen to Prince Lhewelyn 380. discomfiteth Edmund the kings brother and H. Lacie Earle of Lincolne ibid. taken and sent to prison 381. Maelgon Gwyneth 2. Maelgon ap Rées 242. escapeth out of prison 243. winneth the castel of Strat meyric ibid. his vnconstancie 266. dieth 286. Maelgon the son of Maelgon 287.289.290.308.315.380 Magedawc 16. Manaw D 14.5 Marie princesse of walles 393. Mathraual D 6. 11.267 Mawd the empresse cōmeth to England 195. she dieth 240. Meneuia D 18. destroied 114. spoiled 154. the see made subiect to the see of Canturburie 160. spoiled 289. Merdhin or Merlin 4. Meredyth ap Owen 69.71 he dieth 73. Meredyth ap Owen ap Edwyn prince of Southwales 103. he is slaine 110. Meredyth ap Blethyn 157.158 taken by his brother Iorwerth and sent to the kings prison 159. he escapeth out of prison 162. Meredyth ap Gruffyth ap Rees lord of Caerdigan and Stratywy 204. Meriadoc 2. Merionyth D 9. Meruyn Urych 22.24 he is slaine 28. Meyric the son of Arthpoel 85. Miles Fitzwater Earle of Hereford 148. Moon D 6.7 destroied 29.65.69.71 Monkes and Freers lately receiued in Wales 253. Mooren of cattell in Wales 69. Morgan of Glamorgan 380.382 Morganwc D 19. ¶ See Glamorgan Mont Paladour 5. Montgomerie 152.280 Murcasteth 173. N. NIcholas Heath bishop of worcester 397. Normans whence they came 39. Tithed and put to death 92. they destroie Dyuet 110. Northwales described D 6. descended thrée times to a woman D 13. O. OFfa K. of Mercia 18. his ditch 19 D 5. he draue the welshmen beyond the ditch ibid. Oswestrie castell built 201. the towne burnt 288. Owen ap Iorwerth traitorouslie slaine 232 Owen ap Meredyth lord of Cydewen 325. Owen Tuver 390.391 Owen the son of Howel Dha 58. Owen the sonne of Dyfnwal 71. Oliuer De S. Iohn 125. his heires 136. Owen ap Edwyn 155. he dieth 160. Owen ap Cadogan taketh awaie Geralds wife 163. flieth to Ireland 165. pardoned and called home againe 170. submitteth himself to K. H. 1.174 he goeth with the King to Normandie and is made knight 175. he is slaine 182. Owen Gwyneth 188.193 he burneth Caermardhyn 193. taketh the castell of Moulde 199. builded a castell at yal 201. wanne the castell of Basingwerke 223. maketh war vpon Owen Cyuelioc 224. wanne the castell of Ruthlan and all Tegengl ibid. he dieth 225. Owen ap Gruffyth 314.334 P. PAganus de Turberuile 125 his issue and heires 132. Parlement when it first began 182. Penant Bachwy 173. Penbrooke D 18. the castell built 154. the same castell built againe 163. Peter le Soore 125. his heires 135. Polydor Uirgil reprehended D 23. Poole taken by the Archbishop of Canturburie 248. the castell ouerthrowen 288. Powys D 11.35 the partition of it 211. Priests forbidden to marrie 162. Prophesies causes of much hurt 5. Pwlhgwitie 113. Q. Quo Warránto 336. R. RAdnor destroied 71. Rees ap Owen ap Edwyn 111. he obtaineth the rule of Southwales 112. he is slaine 113. Rees ap Theodor Prince of Southwales 113. he ioyneth with Gruffyth ap Conan 114. ouerthrew and put to flight the children of Blethyn ap Convyn 117. ouercōmeth his enimies at Lhandydoch 119. he is slaine ibid. Rees ap Gruffyth called the lord Rees 204. maketh peace with the King 208. laieth siege to Caermardhin 210. did his homage to the King 220. maketh warre vpon the Earle of Clare ibid. wanne the castell of Aberteiui and Cilgerran 223. came with a power to Powys 230. came to the K. at Penbrooke 231. commeth to the court 235. his feast 237. he wanne the castels of S. Clere Abercorran and Lhanstephan 242. likewise the castell of Dineuowr Lhanhayaden 243. taken prisoner by his sons 244. he taketh Caermarthin Ciun Radnor the castell of Payne in Eluel 247. he dieth 249. Rees ap Meredyth knight 378 Reginald de Sully 125. his heires 135. Reginald Graylord of Ruthyn 377. Richard de Granuile or greenféeld 125. his issue 131. Richard de Syward 125. his heires