being there writ a description of the Country as he did also of England and Wales Some affirm he was Archdeacon of Landaff Of Brecknock and St. Davids he was for certain being elect unto this See An. 1199 he made challenge unto the title of an Archbishop at Rome which controversy how it was debated and ended ye may read at large in R. Hoveden his report of the year aforesaid He was once accused of treason but happily acquitted lived till he was 70. years of age and upward and dying was buryed in his own Church He writ many books the Catalogue whereof ye may find in Bale 50. Jorwerth or Edward was consecrated 1215. 51. Alselmus or Anselmus 52. Thomas Archdeacon of Lincolne a Welshman and a great Clerk forsaking other great preferments accepted of this Bishoprick being a miserable poor thing at that time the year 1247. 53. Richard Carren 54. Thomas Beck he founded two Colledges one at Abergwily and another at Lhan-dewybreny 55. David Martin 56. Henry Gower he built the Bishops Pallace at Saint Davids and dyed in the year 1347. 57. John Teresbie or Thorsby Translated to Worcester 1349 and thence to York 1352. 58. Riginald Brian translated to Worcester 1352. 59. Thomas Fastock died the year 1361. 60. Adam Houghton founded a colledg neer to the Cathedral Church of St. David he was Chancellour of England for a time about the year 1376. 61. John Gilbert Bishop of Bangor was translated to Hereford 1376. and thence hither 1389. 62. Guido de Mona died in the year 1407 who while he lived saith Walsingham was a cause of much mischief 63. Henry Chichley was consecrated at Sienna by the Popes own hand June the 12. 1409. sat five years and was translated to Canterbury 64. John Keterich or Catarich sometime Archdeacon of Surry was translated hence to Coventry and Lichfield the year 1415. and after to Exceter 65. Stephen Patrington a Jacobine Fryer as one saith or rather a Carmelite as another saith being at the Councel of Constance was by the Pope translated to Chichester in December 1417. as the records of St. Davids do affirm others say and I take it to be true that he refused to accept of the Popes gift 66. Benit Nicols Bishop of Bangor suceeded him 67. Thomas Rodborn a man of great learning was brought up in Oxford and became first Archdeacon of Sudbury then Bishop of St. Davids he writ divers works amongst the rest a History or Chronicle The year 1434 the King endeavoured to translate him to Ely but could not 68. William Lynwood Doctour of Law first Chancellour to the Archbishop of Canterbury then keeper of the privy seal having first been employed in Embassages to the Kings of Spain Portugal and other Princes He writ much amongst other his works he is famous for putting in order such provincial constitutions as had been made by the Archbishops of Canterbury from the time of Stephen Langton unto Henry Chichley he florished about the year 1440 but just what time he became Bishop or when he died I cannot tell He lyeth buryed at St. Stephens in Westminster 69. John Langton dyed within 15. dayes after his consecration 70. John de le Beer 71. Robert Tully a Monk of Glocester This man I take to be him that by the name of Robert Sherborne is said to have been translated to Chichester the year 1508. 72. Richard Martin 73. Thomas Langton 74. Hugh Pany he impropried to the Vicars Choral of St. Davids the Church of Lan-saint-Fred 75. John Morgan dyed in the Priory of Caermarthyn and was buried in his own Church 76. Edward Vaughan built a new chappel in his church of St. David 77. Richard Rawlin 78. William Barlow translated to VVells having sat here 10 years about the year 1548 and after to Chichester 79. Robert Ferrar of whom read Fox if ye please 80. Henry Morgan died Decemb. 23. 1559. 81. Thomas Young staying here but a very short time was translated to York February 25. 1561. 82. Richard Davis Bishop of Asaph 83. Marmaduke Midleton Bishop of Waterford in Ireland 84. Anthony Rud Doctor of Divinity born in Yorkshire brought up in Cambridge after he had been the space of nine years Dean of Glocester was consecrated June the 9. 1594. 85. Richard Milbourne translated to Carlile 86. VVilliam Laud 1621. translated to VVells 1626. from thence to London being Chancellor of Oxford lastly translated to Canterbury 1633. and lastly beheaded on Tower-hill 87. Theoph. Field 1627. translated to Hereford 1635. 88. Roger Mainwaring Bishop of St. Davids 1641. at the beginning of that Parliament so fatall to Bishops The Bishoprick of St. Davids was valued in the Exchequer at 426 l 22d ob and in the Popes books at 1500 Ducates Let us now return to our former matter in hand About the year 1149. Owen Prince of Northwales did build a castle at Yale Yale Castle Lhanrystyd castle built and his brother Cadwalader built another at Lhanrystyd and gave Cadogan his son part of Caerdigan Toward the end of this year Madoc the son of Meredyth ap Blethyn did build the castle of Oswestrie which now gives the title of a Barony to the honourable family of the Howards and gave his Nephews Owen and Meiric the sons of Gruffith ap Meredyth his part of Cynelioc Oswestrie Castle built The year after Prince Owen did imprison Conan his son for certain faults committed against his father Also Prince Owens son took his Uncle Cadwalader prisoner and brought his country and castle to his subjection At this time also Cadelh the son of Gruffith ap Rees fortified the castle of Caermarthyn and from thence conducted his army to Cydwely where he destroyed and spoyled all the country and after his return he joyned his forces with Meredyth and Rees his brothers and entering Caerdigan wan that part called Is-Aeron Not long after there fell a variance betwixt Randol Earl of Chester and Owen Prince of Northwales The Welsh still joyn with their enemies to cut their own throats which caused Randal to gather supplies and Auxilaries from all his friends in England to whom Madoc ap Meredyth Prince of Powis disdaining to hold his lands of Owen joyned all his power and they both together entred Prince Owens land who like a worthy Prince not suffering the spoyle of his Subjects met them at Counsylht and boldly bade them battail which they refused not but being more in number The Welsh obtained an admirable victory against the Normans and better armed and weaponed were glad of the occasion yet before the end they threw away both weapons and armour and trusted to their feet whom the Northwales men did so pursue that few escaped but were either slain or taken the chief Chieftains excepted whose nimble horses carryed them swiftly away In the year 1150. Cadelh Meredyth and Rees the sons of Gruffith ap Rees Prince of Southwales conquered all Caerdigan from Howel the son of Prince Owen except the Castle of Lhanvihengel
Lord Herbert of Cherbery and Castle Island unto whom it was presented by Dr. Johnson a grave and learned Physitian in Worcester who had it from a Manuscript in the Library of the right honourable Thomas Lord Windesore which here I will insert for my Readers recreation As it fell out upon a Pentecost day King Arthur at Camelot kept his Court Royal With his fair Queen Gwinever the gay And many princes sitting in hall Hold Barons Knights and Squires that day Ladies attired in purple and pall With Herehaughts in hewkes howling full high Cried Larges Larges Chaveliers treshardie A doughty Dwarf to the uppermost Desk Boldly gan prick kneeling on knee Said King Arthur God thee save and see Sr. Reimes of North Gales greeteth well thee And bids thee anon thy Beard thou him send Else from thy jawes he will it off rend For his robe of State is a rich scarlet mantle With eleven Knights beards bordred about And there is room left yet in a Kantle For thine to stand to make the twelfth out This must be done be thou never so stout This must be done I tell thee no fable Maugre the teeth of all the round table When this mortal message from his mouth past The Kings fum'd the Queens scrich't Ladies were agast Princes pufft Barons blusterd Lords began to lower Knights storm'd Squires startl'd like steeds in a Stower Pages and Yeomen yeld out in the hall With that came in Sr. Kay the Seneschal Silence my Soveraign quoth the courteous Knight And therewith all the stur began to still The Dwarfs dinner full deerly was dight Of Wine and wisely he had his fill An hundred peices of fine coyned Gold Were given the Dwarf for his message bold But say to Sr. Rayns thou Dwarf quoth the King â—hat for his bold message I him defie â—or shortly I mean with Basons him to ring â—â—t of North Gales where he and I â—ith swords and not rasors will quickly try Whether he or K. Arthur will prove the best Barbor And therewith he struck his good sword Esculabor Concerning the mantle trimd with beards of Kings or Knights Fol. 62. Mr. Draiton in his Polialbion giveth a hint but something differing from the preceding Relation his lines are these Then told how himself great Arthur did advance To meet with his Allies the puissant force of France By Lucius thither led those Armies that while ere Affrighted all the World by him struck dead with fear Th' report of his great acts that over Europe ran Is that most famous field which he with Emp'rour wan This is but a Poetical fancy for Helena was never ravished As how great Rithout self be slew in his repair Who ravisht Howels Neece young Helena the fair And for a Trophie brought the Giants coat away Made of the beards of Kings then bravely chaunted they The several twelve picht fields he with the Saxons fought The certain day and place to memory they brought Then by false Mordreds hand how last he chanc't to fall The hour of his decease the place of buriall These I have intermingled as Poets do interludes in the playes setting Horace his rules before me Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. Constantine Howes ut sup Constantine Kinsman to Arthur and son to Cador Duke of Cornewal was ordained King of Brittain and reigned three years This man was by the two sons of Mordred grievously vexed for they claimed the land by the right of their father But after many battails they fled the one to London the other to Winchester which Cities they obtained and took them But Constantine followed and subdued them and gained the Cities And one of these young Lords he found in an Abbey at London here he slew him neer the Altar cruelly and then buried him near Vter Pendragon at Stone-hedge The other brother was found at Winchester where he was also slain flying into the Church of St. Amphibalus Aurelius Conanus a Brittain raised mortal War against Constantine the King and afer sore fight slew him in the field after three years reign he was buryed at Stone-hedge Of this Constantine that seemeth to be meant which holy Gildas writeth in his Book entituled De excidio Brittaniae where inveighing against the Rulers of the Brittains in his time he writeth thus Brittain hath Kings but they be Tyrants Judges it hath but they be wicked oft-times killing and harming the innocent people revenging and defending but whom such as be guilty persons and robbers having many wives but yet breaking wedlock oft-times swearing and yet forswearing themselves vowing and for the more part lying warring but maintaing civil and unjust war pursuing rude thieves that are abroad in the Country and yet not only cherishing those that sit even at table with them but also highly rewarding them giving almes largely but on the other part heaping up a mighty mount of sins sitting in the seat of sentence but seldome seeking the rule of righteous judgment despising the humble and innocent persons exalting so far as in them lyeth even up to the heavens the bloody and proud murderers thieves and adulterers yea the very expresse enemies of God if he would so permit keeping many in prison whom they oppresse in loading them with Irons through craft rather to serve their own purpose then for any guilt of the persons imprisoned taking solemn oathes before the Altars and shortly after despising the same Altars as vile and filthy stones of which heinous and wicked offence Constantine the tyrannical whelp of the Lioness of Devonshire is not ignorant who this year after the receiving of his dreadfull oath whereby he bound himself that in no wise he would hurt his subjects God first and then his oath with the company of Saints and his mother being there present did notwithstanding in the reverent laps of the two mothers as the Church and their carnal mother under the Coul of the holy Abbot devour with sword and spear instead of teeth the tender sides yea and the entrails of two Children of noble and Kingly race and likewise of their two Governours yea and that as said among the sacred Altars the arms of which persons so slain not stretched forth to defend themselves with weapons the which few in those dayes handled more valiantly then they but stretched forth I say to God and to his altar in the day of judgment shall set up the ensignes of their patience and faith at the gates of the City of Christ which so have covered the seat of the coelestial sacrifice as it were with the red mantle of their clottered blood And those things he did not after any good deeds done by him deserving praise For many years before overcome with the often and changeable filths of adultery forsaking his lawfull Wife contrary to the Laws of God c. he now brought forth this Crime of killing his own Kinsman and violating the Church but neither being loosed or unbound from his
disprove the Name and forged Antiquity of Astrologers saith he can shew no Students thereof before the time of Nebuchodonosor Benedictus Pirerius and Benedictus Pirerius in a Book which he writes de divinatione Astrologiae Tanta est Astrologorum qui vulgo Judiciarii appellantur vel impudentia vel Amentia ut etiam sibi divinam Scripturam suffragari suaeque Astronomatiae fidem Authoritatem firmare jactent etenim verba illa quae dixit Deus creans luminaria Et sint in signa tempora c. ad suam referunt divinationem Astrologicam per quam ipsi profitentur ex observatione siderum futura rerum eventa posse praedici quocirca B. Basilius Ambrosius aliique permulti patres in explanatione eorum verborum bene longam acuratam in refellendi istiusmodi Astrologorum praedictionibus orationem posuerunt quorum nos Patrum exemplis provocati gravissimis Dei sententiis contra Astrologos multifariam in divina Scriptura proditis permoti quin etam justissimo adversus Astrologos odio propter fraudulenta perniciosa eorum figmenta librum hunc ad confutandas eorum praedictiones à nobis scriptum gratum multis utilem fore existimamus scripsit adversus Astrologos quidem copiose Joannes Picus Mirandula sed multos ab ejus lectione deterret prolixitas operis Nos licet in praediviti uberi versemur argumento eo tamen breves erimus quod non omnia quae disputari possent sed aptiora duntaxat causae firmior aque tractabimus quinque autem erunt hujus libri disputationis adversos Astrologos capita primo enim docebimus sacrae Ecclesiasticae doctrinae aivinationem Astrologicam esse contrariam tum ostendemus Astrologos esse rerum caelestium imperitos Deinde divinatricem istam artem rectae rationi ac Philosophiae adversari demonstrabimus ad haec probabimus astra non solum non esse causas efficientes rerum futurarum verum nec esse certa figna quae res futuras praeuotent ac praemonstrent ad extremum cur nonnulla Astrologorum praedicta sint vera causas exponemus This Author reduceth his book into five principall heads against Astrologers First he sheweth Astrology to be contrary to sacred and Ecclesiastical doctrine Secondly Astrologers themselves to be ignorant of Celestial things and that that divining Art is opposite both to sound Reason and Philosophy and that the Stars are not the efficient causes of future things no not so much as certain Signs to point out or shew us things to ensue and lastly he makes appear the Causes why some Astrological predictions may prove true I wish every man of learning would read Pirerius to laugh at the folly of our Age wherein every paltery Almanack-maker will make him to open the Closets and Cabinets of Princes Counsels and condemn Personages of high and eminent Quality to violent and untimely deaths at their pleasure where the best of them even Ly-Ly himself is observed to tell Lyes in the plural Number and Verites scare in the singular DEDANTIVS DEDANTIVS or as other call Dedacus was after his Predecessor King of Great Brittain the space of five years also of this Prince no further mention is made atque per tot alios scil quinque annos Dedacus inde tenuit Dedacus Com. Pal. DETONVS DETONVS Reigned two years as affirmeth Mr. Howes Com. Pa. speaketh nothing of this Prince but after Dedacus saith Enimvero Clotenus nisi duos annos regnabat and Fabian also next to Dedacus puts Clotenus and then Gurgenites and tells us that Lanquet leaveth these out Com. Pal. puts one Gurguineus it may be the same which Fabian calls Gurginetes to rule three years MERIANVS MERIANVS by consent of all Writers was King two years BLADVNVS BLEDVVS as Fabian saith or Bladunus as others ruled two years CAPENVS CAPENVS or Cap was King three years OVINVS OVIMVS Oenus or Owyn ruled other three years SISILIVS SISILIVS or Silius governed the Bittains two years BLEDGABREDVS BLEDGABREDVS or Bledgabridus wore the Brittish purpure ten years as Mr. Howes affirmeth Fabian saith twenty he loved and studied Musick in so much that Com. Pal. tells us tanta canendo excellentia superavit omnes homines ut quidem in arte Musica deus esse videretur he so far excelled all mortal men in the art of singing that he seemed to be the god of Musick this he confirmes in his notes figure the 18. Deinde Galfridus lib. 1. c. 22. Belgridus omnes cantores quos aetas praecedens habuit plurimum excellebat tum in modulis tum in omnibus musicis instrumentis ita ut deus faculatorum esse videretur Belgridus so far excelled all the singers of the precedent age as well in Madrigall and voice as all other Musical instruments that he was called the god of mirth or merry companions nam ita Cajus Belgabridem hominem regem inquit tantum fuisse musicum constaet ut propter excellentem musices cognitionem musicorum deus appellaretur Belgabride a Princely man was so rare and skilful in the Art of Musick that for his excellency therein he was called the god of Musitians I dare not say Minstrils least some should think the King a Fidler many great Princes Kings and Emperours have singularly affected the heavenly melody of Musick and much may be spoken in praise thereof which I forbear yet I am of an opinion that no man can be of a good nature who loves it not ARCHIMALVS ARCHIMALVS Archimelus or Archemall Reigned two years Isti frater Archimalus in regno suffectus est qui ipse post annos duos accepit Eldolum successorem ELDOLVS ELDOLVS Elden or Eldell was King of the Brittaines four years in whose time of Government many prodigious signs were seen as Globes of fire bursting out of the air with great noyse ignei Globi de nubibus erumpentes cum aeris maxime strepitu RODIANVS RODIANVS or Redian was King two years REDARGIVS REDARGIVS Reigned three years Com. Pal. calls him Roderecius saying Roderecius hunc sequitur pro tribus annis but Fabian is so far from speaking of this King that he quite leaves him out making no mention of his name SAMVLIVS SAMVLIVS was King two years Samulius pro duobus Com. Pal. PENISILLVS PENISILLVS Reigned three years rursum pro tribus Penisellus Com. Pal. Fabian saith that Samul Penisel was but one individuum and that he Reigned five years PYRRVS PYRRVS whom Fabian calls Pyr Phyrrus Reigned two years CAPORVS CAPORVS whom Fabian calls Capoir Reigned two years DINELLVS DINELLVS the Son of Caporus whom Fabian calls Glyguell Dinell Vilus fol. 205. ruled the Brittain◠four years Com. Pal. Dinellus autem Caporii filius gerendarum rerum scientissimus princeps pro summa suavitate morum erga singulos benignitate laudatur Quanquam homines ex infima plebe nascerentur tamensi erant bene periti earum rerum quae in deliberatione ponebantur ipsorum sententias libenter audiebat
unknown or of little credit he only preserved the books of the Sybills making also the best choice of them and those he layed up in two guilded chests under the Base of Apollo Palatinus And was so convinced in his understanding by these means of the truth of Christ that as our moderne Writers with others write when the Romans came to him said Te volumus adorare quia deus est in te si hic non esset non tibi omnia tam prospere succederent we will adore thee because God is in thee if he were not here all things could not succeed so prosperously with thee yet he being the greatest Conquerour that ever was in the world and was never Conquered and overthrown in battel Quum ipsum pro Deo colere vellent Romani prohibuit nec se Dominum appellari permisit when the Romans would haue worshipped him for God he forbad it and would not suffer himself to be called Lord. And if we may follow our Brittish Histories Mathew of Westminster a Man as all tell us excellent for History and supputation of years Quantum ad Historiam in recta annorum supputatione singularis and our late Writers By computation of time our King Kymbeline was then in Rome Ja. Bal. l de script cent 3. fol. 143. in Math. Flor. Calf Mon. Hist l. 4. c. 11. Ponticus aerun Hist Brit. l. 4. Heath West Anno Dom. 5. for we are told Post Tenantium ad culmen regale Kimbelinus filius suus miles strenuus quem Caesar Augustus nutriverat promotus est After Tenantius Kimbeline his Sonne a Valiant Knight whom Augustus Caesar had brought up and promoted to the Kingdome of Brittain Kimbeline was but young when Augustus Caesar first brought him up and he stayed in Rome so long that as divers and also Verunnius affirmeth Augustus made him Knight quem Aug. Caesar nutrierat armis decoraverat and if we follow this exact supputator of times Mathew of Westminster he was come from Rome to be King here but five years before the birth of Christ Anno Dominicae Inacrnationis quinto Kimbelonus Rex Brittaniam decem annos tenuisset And most certain it is by all Histories of our Noble and Renowned Brittish Hostages resident in Rome all the time of Augustus Caesar and after that we had many worthy Brittains there both ear and eye witnesses to know these passages by themselves and to testifie them to their Countrymen and Friends at home This Kimbeline Sonne of Tenantius was made King of the Brittains in the year of the world 5180 of his Reign Authors write diversly some shewing no years others very few Fabian fol. 39. part 3. which agreeth not well with the Computation of other Writers The Author of the Flower of Histories affirmeth that he Reigned thirty five years after which time gloriously spent he died and was buried at Caer Lud leaving two Sons Guiderius and Arviragus The Brittish History written by a namelesse Author yet some suppose him Noble and for private reason to have conceal'd his Name maketh little mention of Tiberius concerning our Brittish Affairs but because certain passages with happened during the time of his Empire will redound to the glory of the Brittish Nation it is expedient and I hope will not offend the Reader to write some things hapning in his life time Kimbeline continued King of England till the 15 or 16 year after Christs Nativity which must needs he in this Tiberius his time Mr. Bro. fol. 12. when the true knowledge of Christ was more clearly manifested unto the world and among others to some Brittains of this Nation especially such 〈◊〉 then lived in Rome For as in the time of this Emperour our Saviour began and ended his preaching and suffered his Passion for our Redemption so those things in such order as they were accomplished in the Land of Jury they were presently and truly declared and sent to the Emperor at Rome and others there Matthew of Westminster and Ranulphus Higeden consent in this with others that Tiberius was truly informed at Rome of Christs miraculous life and preaching long before his Passion Mr. Bro. ibid. and being afflicted with a Leprosy was so confident in the heavenly power of Christ esteeming him then at the least for a great Prophet Saint and worker of Miracles that he sent with great solemnity Volusianus to Hierusalem to entreat Christ Jesus to come with him to Rome to cure him of his incurable Malady but the Jewes had caused Pilate to put him to death before The Magdeburgians with others have published to the World an Epistle of Lentulus out of the Annals of the Roman Senators to this Emperour Tiberius before the death of Christ thus beginning Apparuit his temp ribus adhuc est homo magnae virtutis nominatus Iesus Christus qui dicitur à Gentibus Propheta quem ejus Discipuli vocant filium Dei suscitans mortuos sanans omnes languores There appeared in these time and still is a man of great vertue named Christ Jesus who is called of the Gentils a Prophet whom his Disciples call the Son of God raising the dead and curing all diseases And presently upon the death of Christ as it is proved both by our own and Forraign Antiquaries ancient and later Greek and Latine Pontius Pilate wrote unto Tiberius the Emperor of Rome of the Passion of Christ in this manner De passione Dominica Pilatus Tiberio Caesari scripsit in hunc modum Episcopus Anacet de morte Christi Matth. Westm an 33. Flor. Wigorn. an 38. Tertull. Apolon c. 5 21. Eust Hist l. 1. c. 24. Oros l. 7. c. 4. Nuper accedit quod ipse probavi Judaeos per invidiam se suosque posteros crudeli damnatione peremisse nam cum promissum haberent Patres eorum quod Deus illis mitteret de coelo Sanctum suum qui eorum qui eorum merito Rex diceretur ut hunc se promiserit per Virginem missurum ad terram iste me praside Haebraeorum Deus cum venerit ut vidissent eum caecos illuminasse leprosos mundasse paralyticos curasse Daemones ab hominibus fugasse mortuos sucistasse ventis imperasse super mare siccis pedibus ambulasse multa alia mirabilia fecisse cum omnis populus Judaeorum hunc Dei Filium dicerent invidiam contra eum passi sunt Principes Sacerdotum mihique tradiderunt alia pro aliis mentientes dixerunt illum magum esse contra eorum legem agere ego autem credidi ita esse flagellatum tradidi arbitrio eorum At iâ—i crucifixerunt eum sepulto ei custodes adhibuerunt ille vero militibus meis custodientibus eum tertia die resurrexit Sed in tantum exarsit nequitia eorum ut darent eis pecuniam dicentes Dicite quia Discipuli ejus corpus ipsius rapuerunt veruntamen milites cum accepissent pecuniam quod factum fuerat tacere non
seem to say Petrus Cluniacensis and I may add Tertullian tells us that the people of Brittain in the North where the Scots now be were the first Christians Petrus Cluniacensis calleth the Scots the more ancient Christians and hereto we may add the testimony of Tertullian who saith the places of the Brittains which were unaccessible to the Romans were subject to Christ and addeth of the Brittains the name of Christ reigned among them which our English late Authors in their Theatre confirm in this manner It is certain that the Brittains were with the first Converts and Tertullian who lived within 200 years of Christs Nativity sheweth no lesse who the more to provoke the Jewes against whom we wrote calleth to witnesse the fruitful encrease of the Gospel of salvation through many countries and nations and among them nameth the Brittains to have received the word of life The power whereof saith he hath pierced into those places whither the Romans could not come Whence Petrus Cluniacensis supposeth the Scottish men the more ancient Christians The like have other late Writers and those their cited Authors which cannot be otherwise verified but by applying this preaching of the faith of Christ unto those Northern Brittains either by this their holy Countryman St. Mansuetus the first Bishop we â—â—n find of this Kingdome or some other associate of his sent hither at or about that time 〈◊〉 the same holy Apostle St. Peter for in all other respects whether we speak of the Brittish Christians here in the time of Claudius or Nero of which these modern Antiquaries will tell us more hereafter or the coming of St. Joseph of Arimathea in his Religious companions into this Kingdome in the days of Nero or the general conversion of the Kingdome of Brittain unto the trenches of Severus in the time of King Lucius by Elutherius all these were long before the conversion of the Scots in the time of K. Donaldus either by Pope Victor or Zepherinus as Harrison rather supposeth the first time which is assigned by any being in the 203 year of Christ and if it was under Pope Zepherine it was after that time for he was not chosen Pope until the year 209. before which time or the beginning it self of the papacy of St. Victor which was in the year 198. this our Brittain on this side the division had generally and publickly received the faith of Christ And the very words of Tertullian living and dying before the conversion of Scotland within the first two hundred years writing in his book against the Jews that the places of Brittain which the Romans could never conquer or come to did acknowledge Christ and his name did reign in them do manifestly convince it to be so For Tertullian living and writing in Affrica could not possibly take notice of things done here in an Island so far off presently after they were first effected and by no means could either he or any other Writer speak of things done so long after truly to report them done so long before he had been the greatest prophet that ever was St. Claudia of whom mention is formerly made was the daughter of Brittish parents which then lived as Hostages at Rome to the Emperor for this land and Kingdome of Brittain and by that means it was their happiness and honour to give the first entertainment to that blessed Apostle St. Peter at his first coming thither as that Roman tradition of that their house after by marriage with the holy Brittish Lady Claudia Mr. Bro. f. 53.3 their daughter and heir with Pudens the Senator Floren. Wigor Hist an 38. and 60. Stow and Howes and so long after this coming of St. Peter to Rome named the house of Pudens the Senator assures us which I prove by another undoubted tradition of the Romans That St. Peter was 15 years in Rome before St. Paul came thither so writeth Florentius Wigorn with the common consent of Antiquity and Writers both ancient and modern And the Roman Martyrology tells us of this Pudens the Senator Mr. Bro. f. 56. that he was baptized by the Apostles And there calleth him plainly Pudens the Senator Father of St. Pudentiana the Virgin so that being baptized by the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul for no others were then in Rome this could not be by true account untill at the soonest fiveteen years after St. Peter was first received in that house And if the Martyrology could carry that interpretation to understand by the Apostles in the plural number one Apostle one proper constructoin yet by this Friendly and more then lawful interpretation he must needs be baptized by St. Peter and so also a most unprobable thing that divers Christians then being in Rome St. Peter would first commit himself to a Pagan or Catechumen and he and the Christians of Rome make such an house their chiefest Church and place of Assembly for Divine things Martial 11. Epig. 54. de Clau. Ruff. This Lady Claudia though born of Brittish parents yet was not born in this Isle Martiall saith Claudia caeruleis cum sit prognata Brittannis but not in Brittain only she is called of the same Poet peregrina a stranger as the children of strangers usually are termed both with us and other people And the time of her birth and age so convince And whereas we find no memory at all of any natural parents of St. Pudens dwelling at Rome we have sufficient testimony not only of the permanent dwelling both of the Father and Mother of St. Claudia there but that by divers probable Arguments they dwelled in that very House where Pudens continued with them after his marriage with their Daughter and were holy and renowned Christians although their native Country of Brittain hath hitherto been almost wholly deprived of their honour and so must needs be by the Roman Tradition the first entertainers of St. Peter in Rome for as a late Author writeth Pudens and Claudia were two young persons but faithful Christians Godwin com of Brittain p 17. c. 3. 2 Tim. 4.21 at that time unmarried when Paul writ the second Epistle unto Timothy which was in the last year of Nero as all men suppose that I have read except Baronius and that they were married in the later end of Vespasian or about the beginning of Domitian Therefore Pudens being so young in the end of Nero his Empire although we grant him then newly married yet this was by all Computations at the least 24 years after the coming of St. Peter to Rome and so it could not possibly be Pudens but the parents of Claudia our Brittains that entertained first St. Peter in their House at Rome who for certain being Brittains of Noble Order and Degree and living in Rome as Hostages by all judgement they enjoyed more freedome and liberty in matters of Religion then the Romans did at that time The Emperors of Rome then nor long after intermedling with the
9. Sect. 5. As concerning St. Peters preaching himself in Brittain the Theatre of Great Brittain saith If Peter were here at all it was before he went to Rome and that the Gospell was preached here before it was in Rome if Peter were the first as some hold who preached there both which may be more probable if we consider the huge multitudes of Christians 1500 saith Baronius which dispersed themselves into all parts of the world upon the Martyring of St. Stephen at Hierusalem Baron Annal. Tom. 1. an Chr. 58. p. 597. Metaphr die 29 Jul. And Baronius himself speaketh in this manner When we knew that the rest of the Apoples were not sent into the West as into the Eastern parts of the world except only Barnabas who a short time taught the Ligurians or James if we shall consent to them who deliver that quickly to return from thence he went into Spain it manifestly appeareth that none of the others were sent into the West part of the world Therefore it was the Office of Peter who having travelled very many provinces of the East in preaching the Gospel now which was left to doe he should compasse the Western world and as Metaphrastes and others witnesse penetrate to the Brittains preaching the Faith of Christ Where he maketh it a certain known truth and manifestly apparent in Histories That none of the twelve Apostles but only St. Peter preached the Word of God in Brittain And among others he citeth Metaphrastes for that manifest Truth and when he had alledged divers and approved Authors for Christs appearing unto St. Peter and sending him into the West part of the World he addeth Metaphrastes consenting unto these writeth thus Our Lord appeared unto St. Peter in a Vision Baron Anueal Tom. 1. in Indice v. Petrus Theater of great Brit. l. 6. saying O Peter arise and go to the West for it hath need to be lighted by thy links and I will be with thee And he saith plainly for his own opinion Peter admonished by our Lord so to do came into the West and setteth down the time of his coming hither into Brittain in the time of Claudius the Emperor But to come to things certain and undoubted in this History of St. Peters living and teaching in this I le it is an Historical Verity out of Question that he was here both in the time of Claudius and Nero also his being here in the time of Claudius what time soever it was of his Empire must needs be long before St. Paul St. Joseph of Arimathea or any other that is thought to have preached here or came into these parts to which I add the Testimony of Gildas our most ancient and renowned Historian who in his Book De excidio Brittanniae of the Destruction of Brittain Gildas Epist de excid Brit. thus writeth So that this Iland might rather be deemed Romania then Brittania and whatsoever coyn it had either brass silver or gold it was stamped with the Image of the Roman Emperor in the mean time while these things were doing Christ who is the true Sun not onely from the temporal Firmament but from the high Tower of Heaven exceeding all times shewing his exceeding brightnesse to the whole world doth first afford his beams to wit his precepts to this Iland stiffe with frozen cold by a long distance of Land removed from the visible Sun Therefore seeing this Nation did first receive the Faith of Christ it must needs be in the time of Claudius when first and never before this Iland was in that state Mr. Bron. fol 86. 3. And this is that very time which so many Antiquaries Sameon Metaph. Surius Luppomannus Cambden Audrie Chesne and others agree upon that St. Peter preached in this Kingdom To which St. Paul himself by his Epistle written to the Romans at that time and amongst so many Christians in Rome then which he remembreth and never once saluting either St. Paul St. Aristobulus who some Authors say died here and by Martyrdome at Glastenbury Arnoldus Mermannus saith in the time of Domitian St. Clement Soph. Hier. li. de laboribus St. Petri Pauli Metap die 29. Junii Mr. Brough fol. 88. 4. or any one that is supposed to have been in these parts with St. Peter giveth no small allowance And St. Paul saluting the Family of Aristobulus in Rome and omitting him doth sufficiently insinuate that St. Peter had acquainted him with this his Western Voyage and taking St. Aristobulus with him or sending him hither before him for except Identity of Name both Sophronius and Metaphrastes deceive us St. Aristobulus brother to St. Barnabas was Father in law to St. Peter and so following him did likely at the coming of St. Peter to Rome remove his Family thither and left it there and he himself employed by St. Peter Probable that St. Peter was in Brittain or sent Disciples about the coming of Claudius hither Baron Tom. 1. ann in S. Petro. Auth. of the 3 conversions Math. West ann 49. Mich. Singel in Martyrio Dion Ariopac Clem. Rom. ep 1. Hist antiq Mos Eccles Cant. ad ciâ—c ann 49. Guliel Eiseng cent 1 dist 3. Math. West an 46. Eiseng sup in St. Mansuet Epist Gall. Arnold Mir. Therat Conc. gent. Cent. 1. Francis Bell. Cosmagr Tem. 1. in Touâ— Mr. Brou f. 89. Anton. Doniocharuz l. 2. de miss Cont. Cal. c. 30. Eiseng cent 1. fol. 56. Bed Mart. prid Cal. Jan. Pet. de Natale l. 2. c. 25. Anton. part 1. tit 6. c. 25. Sect. 3. Mart. in Chr. Vicol in Hagiol Vnâ—r Carth. in fascul temp Eiseng Cent. 1. Fran. Bell. Tom. 1. p. 202. l. 2. Godwyn Con. of Brittain c. 1. p. 6. and p. 5. and by him ordained Bishop of this our Brittain must needs be here or in his journey hither at that time Whether St. Peter was here in or about the beginning of the Empire of Claudius and his Invasion of this Nation in the Fourth year of his Reign as the common opinion of Antiquaries is I dere not absolutely determine though divers together with Baronius incline to that opinion and reasons be not wanting to give probability to it For if Pomponia Graecina the wife of Aulus Plautius the Emperors Lieut. in Brittain was converted here to the Faith of Christ this being before the persecution which they say Claudius raised against the Christians the 49. year of Christ Aulus Plantius then being returned to Rome together with his Wife and Company to triumph there therefore she could not be converted here by any which they say fled hither from Rome in the beginning of that persecution and they can find no other Christians here except St. Peter or some other sent by him which they do not expresse our late Writers to perform that holy Office Secondly whereas it is manifest that St. Peter after his coming to Rome changed the darknesse of the West into most bright splendour and was commanded to
he after addeth thereunto Hermanius Sehedelius addeth also how he went into Rhetia with Emerita his Sister and near unto the City Augusta converted the Curienses unto the Faith of Christ and there likewise being put to death in Castro Martis lyeth buried in the same Town where his feast is held upon the third day of December The Curienses converted to the faith by a Brittain That Schedelius erreth not herein also the ancient monuments of the said Abbey whereof he was the original beginner do yield sufficient testimony beside an Hymne made in the commendation intituled Gaude Lucionum c. The said Schedelius setteth down likewise that his sister Emerita was martyred in Trine castle neer unto the place where the said Lucius dwelled and the same Authour saith further that he converted all Bavaria and Rhetia between the Alps and this narration is confirmed by Gaspar Bruchius thus Bavaria and Rhetia converted to Christianity by a Brittain St. Lucius which preached to the Germans was born of the regal race among the Brittains and propogating the faith of Christ came out of Brittainy into Germany and preached first at Salisbury then at Austburg from whence he was cast out by the Infidels there and then went with his sister St. Emerita to the City of Chur where preaching again both he and his sister Emerita were martyred by the Pagans St. Lucius at Chur in the castle of Mars and St. Emerita at Trine Castle Lucius and Emerita being thus by means of the Roman Emperours Dioclesian and Maximian both banished and martyred to make all sure in their proceedings they detained Constantine the other child as Hostage at their command and placed here in Brittain none to bear office but such as were Pagans ready to execute the cruel and savage resolutions of that bloody persecuting Tyrant against the holy christians here These things thus compleated the state of Brittain by such means was now brought into the same condition for persecution with other nations or rather worse the number of christians being here then far greater both in respect it was a christian Kingdom and so had both more christian inhabitants then other nations and by the immunities and priviledges it should have enjoyed many christians of other regions fled and resorted hither in hope of quiet and security from persecution This violent storme of persecution raging through the whole Roman Empire acted many tragical Scaenes in this Isle Harding in his Chronicle saith Hard. c. 57. f. 41 The Emperour Dioclesian Into Brittaon sent Maximian This Maximian to sirname Hercelius A Tyrant false that Christenty annoyd Through all Brittain a work malicious The Christen folk felly and sore destroyed And thus the people with him foul accloyed Religious men the Priests and Clerks all Women with child and bedrid folk all Children sucking upon their their Mothers pappis The mothers also without any pitty And children all in their mothers lappis The Creples eke and all the Christentee He killed and slew with full great cruelty The Churches brent all books and ornaments Bells Relicks that to the Church appends Dioclesian came to the Empire in the year of Christ 282 and did within two years after begin his most cruel persecution the first that felt the heavy but yet most blessed stroak here in Brittain was St. Allan Dicetus Dean of St. Pauls London doth set down this persecution in Brittain in the year of Christ 287. The old manuscript Annals of Winchester say that S. Allan in the eight year of Dioclesian Maximian was put to death and the same antiquities tell us that the Monks of Winchester were martyred by the Officers of Dioclesian in the second year of his reign and their Church then destroyed Godwin a late Bishop as he citeth from some Antiquities of that Church saith this happened in the year of Christ 289. and addeth that at this time Dioclesian endeavouring to root out Christian Religion in Brittain not only killed the professours of the same Mr Br. f. 415. Hollen Hist of Engl. l. 4. but also pulled down all churches anywhere consecrated to the exercise thereof The instruments of Dioclesian herein were Quintus Bassianus Hircius Alectus Gallus as the most principal with others of inferior degrees and Mamertinus the Panegyrist hath avouched to Maximian the persecutor before that he was here in Brittain in his own person which is confirmed by our own Antiquaries Adding further that he persecuted in the Occidental parts by commission from Dioclesian John Lydgat l. 8. so testifieth John Lydgate the Monck of Bury with others Ant. Brit. Antiq. in tit S. Alb. Cadgrave in eodem St. Alban our first Martyr was rather descended of Noble Roman then Brittish blood but probably both of Roman and Brittish blood his abode and dwelling was at Caermunip or Verulam where all professed Roman Paganisme and there he entertained either for old acquaintance for they were both Knighted at the same time in Rome or hospitality sake as being a man eminent and by some stiled High Steward of the Brittains St. Amphibalus but when he began to speak of Jesus Christ the son of God and incarnate for mans redemption he was so farr off from being a christian that he had scarce heard of Christ before but said this testimony of Christ was strange unto him and St. Amphibalus more particularly declaring the mysteries of Christs Nativity Passion Resurrection and Ascension Alban was yet so far from believing that he told St. Amphibalus he was mad to preach such things that understanding did not apprehend nor reason allow and if the Citizens of that place did know what he spake concerning Christ they would most cruelly put him to death and feared much that he would fall into trouble before he could go forth of his house But what the preaching of St. Amphibalus prevailed not in his earnest prayer and watching obtained of God for Alban For as the old Brittish writer of his life living in that time relateth this History St. Amphibalus watching in prayers all the night following a strange and admirable vision appeared to Alban wherewith he being exceedingly terrified and perplexed presently rose and went to St. Amphibalus thus declaring his vision and desiring the exposition thereof in this order and these words O my friend if these things which thou preachest of Christ are true I beseech thee be not afraid to tell unto me the true meaning of my dream or vision I did attend and behold a Man came from Heaven whom a great and innumerable multitude of Men apprehended and laid divers kinds of Torments upon him his hands were bound with cords his body worne with whips and grievously torne his body hanged upon a cross and his hands stretched cross upon it The Man which was thus tortured was naked and had no shoes upon his feet His hands and feet were pierced with nails his side thrust through with a spear and as it seemed to me
Auxiliarie forces out of Gallia By this means the fury of those warlike Nations was somewhat restrained until the coming of Theodosius who first appeased the mutiny among the Souldiers in Brittain and afterwards prosecuted the service there with such good successe as he restored the decayed Townes strengthning the borders appointing night-watches to be kept there and in the end recovered the Province which was then contented to admit of Governors as in former times as a new conquered State have a new name given it For in the honor of the Emperor Valentinian the Province was for a time called Valentia not long after one Valentinian a Pannonian entred into a new conspiracy there which being discovered before it was ripe the peril like to have ensued thereby was easily avoided Gratian. Gratian the brother of Valentinian was then created Emperor He Howe 's fo 46. to the intent he might the better repair the decayed state of the Empire made Theodosius a Copartner with him in it The year 369 being the second year of Valentinian the Emperor A universal earth-quake strange rain and Hail was St. Jerome made Cardinal and the next year after was St. Ambrose made Archbishop of Millain and in the year aforesaid the vnerable Beda in his little book recordeth that there was a great universal Earthquake throughout the whole World And the next year as other historians write it reigned Wool and there withall it hailed which hail-stones were of wonderous greatnesse and flew great numbers of the men and beasts at Constantinople Nice destroyed by an Earth-quake and the next year after the City of Nice was utterly thrown down and ruinated by an Earth-quake and this year died S. Hillary Bishop of Poytiers so oft-spoken of before This Gratian succeeding Valentinian elected Valentinian the second his brother and Theodosius the Son of another Theodosius to be his associates in Government Maximus Maximus then ruling the Army in Brittain Baron Annal. Tom. 4. an 383. Sigebert Chr. an 383. Virun Brit. Hist l. 5. Galf. Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 11. Virun l. 5. Theat of G. Brit. l. 6. p. 272. Socrat. Hi. l. 5. c. 11. Ruffi l. 2. c. 15 16. Beda l. 1. c. 9. Malms l. 1. Stow Howe 's in Maxi. upon emulation and envy of Theodosius his glory usurped the Empire there This Maximus was a Brittain by birth as Socrates and other forrain Authors as well as our own Writers testifie and although he seemeth to think that he did untruly derive his descent from St. Hellen yet he giveth some way to that opinion when he confesseth he claimed descent from great Constantine her Son And Sigeberius Gemblacensis plainly confesseth that he both was of the Emperial Race and was kinsman of Constantine the Great claiming part of the Empire by that title The like hath Ponticus Virunnius in his Brittish history he being an Italian and addeth that he was the Son of Leoninus uncle to St. Hellen and great uncle to Const the Great in which as in many other things he differeth from the printed Brittish history translated by Galfridus by common opinion which calling Maximianus and not Maximus maketh him both true heir of Brittain Grand-child descended from King Coel Father to St. Hellen born both of the Regal Race of the Brittains and Romans bringing in Caradocus Duke of Cornewall for perswading Octavius to marry his daughter and heir unto him making his title to Brittain better than that Octavius had Our Writers of the Theatre of great Brittain alledging Camden also for their opinion affirm of this Maximus Clemens Maximus descended linealy from Constantine the Great And Ponticus himselfe doth after confesse as much howsoever he can be accorded to himselfe before saying that Leotinâ— was his Father And Socrates with others doth free him from the name of Usurper of the Empire when he confesseth that Valentinian did admit him in for Emperor And St. Beda writeth of him that he was a valiant and worthy man and so far from intruding himselfe into the Empire that he was by the Army created Emperor almost against his will which Will. of Malm. also with others confirmeth which is sufficiently confirmed not only by the triumphant enemy of our Catholick Brittains and other such Nations assisting him But our Brittish history Virunnius and others prove that he was first incited invited and sent for into Brittain both to be King here and afterwards to take upon him the Empire as his Right yet as some say plainly Maximus a valiant man and worthy was forced in Brittain to take the Empire upon him Mr. Broug f. 572. Hect. Boe. George Buch. Hist Scot. Holishn Hist Scot. And if any man saith he was infamed by Writers for persecuting Christians I dare not assent unto him for ever from his first power and greatness he honored and favoured Religion here in Brittain making it all subject unto him when he expelled the Scots he gave or allowed by their own historians the Isle of Jonas to their Bishops Priests and other Clergy and religious men and it is evident that the Brittish Christians Catholicks and as sincere as any in the World were they whom he most loved and favoured and by whom with other Chatholick Countries as France Spain and others he was assisted in his wars and by their aid and assistance became so potent Sozom. ut sup and he was far from being a Persecutor of Christians especially of Catholicks that even by the ancient Writers of Roman histories themselves that excepting his title to the Empire he made it a chief motive of taking armes against Valentinian the younger seduced by his Arrian Mother Justina because they went about to set up heresie and persecute Catholicks And Theodore relateth the heretical proceedings of this Valentinian and his mother especially against St. Ambrose that holy Doctor and Catholick Bishop of Millain and testifieth that Maximus understanding thereof wrote unto Valentinian Theodoret. Hi. Eccle. l. 5. c. 13. Paul Oros l. 5. c. 34. Paulus Diaco l. 1. c. 3. perswading him to desist from such persecuting and heretical proceedings otherwise he would warr against him in dafence of the Catholick religion which he performed and Valentinian forced to fly dearly tasted what his Mothers heretical Counsels had brought him unto Paulus Orosius also and Paulus Diaconus call this our Maximus a valiant and good man and worthy to be Emperor A worthy Emperor St. Senerus Sulpitius is a sufficient witness also how renowned a man this our Brittish Emperor was in many respects for concerning that great blemish which some cast upon him for usurping the Empire and for deposing one Emperor and killing another which were the great exceptions which that great and Apostolick Bishop St. Martine took unto him and therefore though often envited to his Table refused to come unto it He thus declareth himselfe that the Empire was not sought by him but rather against his will imposed upon him by the
Will. of Malms de Reg. Angliae first requiting his banishment with great detriment and loss to those his Enemies wherein he was partaker by his just desert of his Uncles worthy praise for that he stayed for a great many years the destruction of his country which was now runing headlong into utter ruine and decay Hollenshed Hist of Engl. fol. 156. But Arthurs grave no were appeareth but the others tombe was in the dayes of William the Conquerour upon the Sea side and contained in length fourteen foot where he was as some say wounded by his Enemies and cast up by shipwrack but other write that he was slain at a publick feast or banquet by his own Countrimen But here you must consider that Malmesbury departed this life about the begining of the reign of King Henry 2. certain years before the bones of King Arthur were found But now to speak some things of the Queen King Arthur his consort some are of opinion that she took that name from her excellent beauty because Cuynne if truly written in the Welsh tongue signifieth fair so that she was named Guenuere or Guenllean even as you would say the fair and butifull Heonere or Helen she was brought up in the house of Cador D. or E. of Cornwall before Arthur married her and as it appeareth by writers she was evill reported of as noted of Incontinency and breech of faith to her husband but excellent beauties seldom escape the venemous blasts of detracting and envious tongues and never want the amorous courtings of lascivious wantons The Brittish history affirmeth that she did not only abuse her self by unlawfull company with Mordred but that also in Arthurs absence she consented to take him to husband It is likewise found recorded by an old writer that Arthur besieged the Marches near Glastenbury for displeasure that he bore unto a certain Lord called Melva who had ravished Guuennere and led her into those Marches and there did keep her Arthur had two wives as Girald Cam. affirmeth of which the later saith he was buried with him and her bones found in his own Sepulchre so devided yet that two parts of the Tombe towards the head were appointed to receive the bones of the man and the third part towards the feet contained the womans bones a part by themselves Hector Boetius writeth that Queen Guennere being taken by the Picts was conveyed into Scotland were finally she died and was there buried in Angus And this may be true if Arthur had three several wives each of them bearing the name of Guenhere as Sir John Price avoucheth But by reason of the disagreeing of writers touching the great acts atchieved by this Arthur and also for that some difference there is amongst them about the time in which he should reign many have doubted of the truth of the whole history which is written of him The Brittish histories as also the Scotch do agree that he reigned in the dayes of the Emperour Justinian about the fifteenth year of whose reign he died which was in the year of our Lord five hundred forty one as Harrison also confirmeth some write otherwayes The writer of the book called Aurea Historia affirmeth that in the tenth year of Cerdicus King of West Saxons Leyland Arthur the warriour arose amongst the Brittains Also Divionensis writeth that Cerdicus fighting oftimes with Arthur if he were overcame in one moneth he rose in another more strong and fierce then before At length King Arthur over toyled with hard labour and warfair after the twelfth year of the coming of Cerdicus gave unto him upon his homage done and fealty received the Shires of South-Hampton and Somerset the which Country Cerdicus named West Saxon. West Saxon. In the while that this Kingdom was thus troubled with war and destruction between the Brittains and Saxons the Christian Religion was not only abolished in places where the Saxons seated themselves but also among the Brittains the right faith was brought into danger by the reviving of the Pelagian Heresie which began to be broached saith Hollenshed by divers naughty persons and questionless they were so and all such as follow them And although in the first part of this History speaking of this most pestiferous Arch-heretick and his damnable doctrine I then expressed not his Theses yet upon better consideration that all vertuous Christians may avoid them I think it not altogether amiss to lay them open to the World and I must heartily wish that none may follow them The Heresies of Pelagius 1. First he was charged that Adam was made motral and should have died whether he had sinned or no. 2. That his sin did only hurt himself and not humane kind 3. That infants new born are in the same State wherein Adam was before his fall 4. That by the death and prevarication of Adam all Mankind doth not die nor all mankind rise again by the Resurrection of Christ 5. Children may have eternal life though they be not baptized 6. Rich men that be baptized except they renounce all their goods if they are taught to do any good thing it shall not be reputed to them neither can they have the Kingdom of God 7. That the grace and help of God is not given to every act but is from the will or in the Law or Doctrine 8. That the grace of God is given according to our own demerits 9. That Men cannot be called the Children of God except they be altogether without sin 10. And that it is not free-will if it wanteth the help of God because every one hath in his own will to do any thing or not to do it 11. That our victory is not from the help of God but from freewill 12 That to them that seek pardon pardon is not given according to the Grace and mercy of God but according to the labour and merits of them which by penance are worthy of mercy St. Augustine in divers places speaketh of this Arch-heritique and of the Articles whereof he was charged and recanted by Pelagius though dissemblingly for fear as appeared by him afterward so did divers others and add more errours which he held as that 1. Before Christ man was without sin 2. Prayer is not necessary 3. Man is able by the power of Freewill not onely not to sin but not to be tempted 4. That Women ought to sing in the Church 5. That all men ought to be cloathed like Monks St. Augustine addeth that 1. Man might not â—ear at all 2. The life of just men in this life to be altogether without sin and that the Church of Christ in this world consisteth of such 3. He denyed that the Church should offer prayers either for Infidels and such as resisted the doctrine of God that they might be converted unto him or for the faithfull that their faith might be encreased and they persevere in it For these heresies as is said before he was condemned by a
Brittain was imprisoned and Edwal Voel the Son of Anarawd and Elise his Brother were slain in a battel which they fought against the Danes and Englishmen This Edwal had six sons Meiric Janaf or Jenan Jago which is James Conan Edwal Vachan and Roderick after whose death Howel Dha his Cosin German ruled all VVales during his life Elise also had Issue Conan and a Daughter named Trawst which was Mother to Conan ap Sitsylht Gruffith ap Sitsylht and Blethin ap Covyn which two last were afterwards Princes of VVales Howel Dha This Howel Dha King or Prince of Southwales and of Powis long before this time after the death of Edwal Voel his cosin took upon him the rule and government of all VVales about the year of Christ 940. who notwithstanding the sons of Edwal did something murmur against him was for his godly behaviour discreet and just rule beloved of men This Howel constituted and made Laws to be kept through his Dominions which were used in Wales till such time as the Inhabitants received the laws of England in the time of King Edward the First and in some places thereof long after These laws are to be seen at this day both in VVelsh and Latine Howel Dha perceiving the laws and customes of his country to have grown unto great abuse sent for the Arch-Bishop of Menenia and all the other Bishops and chief of the Clergy A pious example for all Princes to the number of one hundred and forty Prelates and all the Barons and Nobles of VVales and caused six men of the wisest and best esteemed in every Comote to be called before him whom he commanded to meet altogether at his house called Y Tuy Gwyn Taf that is The white house upon the River Taf. Thither he came himself and there remained with those his Nobles Prelates and Subjects all the Lent in prayer and fasting craving the Assistance and direction of Gods holy Spirit that he might reform the Laws and Customes of the Country of VVales to the honour of God and quiet government of the people About the end of Lent he chose out of that company twelve men of the wisest gravest and of the greatest experience to whom he added one Clerk or Doctour of the lawes named Blegored a singular learned and perfect wise man These had in charge to examine the old lawes and customes of Wales and to gather of such as were meet for the government of the Country which they did retaining those that were wholesome and profitable expounding those that were doubtful and ambiguous and abrogating those that were superfluous and hurtful and so ordained three sorts of Laws The first for ordering of the King or Princes Houshold and his Court. The second of the affairs of the Country and Common-wealth The third of the special customes belonging to particular places and persons Of all the which being read allowed and proclamed he caused three severall books to be written one for his dayly use to follow his Court an other to lye in his Palace at Abersfrew and the third at Dinevour that all the three Provinces of Wales might have the use of the same when need required The King and Princes of Brittain much observant of the See Apostolike And for the better observation of these lawes he procured of the Archbishop of St. Davids to denounce sentence of excommunication against such of his Subjects as refused to obey the same whithin a while after Howel because he would omit nothing that could bring countenance and authority to his said laws went to Rome taking with him the Archbishop of St. Davids the Bishop of Bangor and Asaph and thirteen other of the learnedst and wisest men in VVales where the said lavves being recited before the Pope vvere by his authority confirmed then having finished his devoted pilgrimage he returned home again vvith his company 1. By these lawes they might not morgage their lands but to one of the same family or kindred which were de eadem Parentela 2. Every tenant holding of any other then his Prince or Lord of the Fee paid a fine pro defensione Regia which was called Arian Ardhel in Latine Advocarii 3. No Legacy of goods by Will was good otherwise then those which were given to the Church to the Lord of the Fee or for payment of debts 4. Every man might destrain as well for debts as for rent of Lands any goods or Cattel saving horses which were counted to serve for a mans necessary defence and were not destrainable without the Princes licence 5. Causes of Inheritance were not heard or determined but from the ninth of November till the ninth of February or from the ninth of May until the ninth of August the rest of the year was counted a time of vacation for sowing in the spring and reaping in the harvest This also is to be observed that all matters of inheritance of Land were determined and adjudged by the King or Prince in person or his special Deputy if he were sick or impotent and that upon the view of the said Land calling unto him the Freeholders of the same place two Elders of his Councel the Chief Justice attending alwaies in the Court the ordinary Judge of the Country where the Land lay and the Priest The manner of their proceeding was thus the King or Prince sat in his Judicial seat higher then the rest with an Elder on his right hand and an other on his left and the Freeholders on both sides next unto them which for this cause as I think were called Vchelwyr Before him directly a certain distance off and a little lower sat the Chief Justice having the Priest on his right hand and the ordinary Judg of that Countrey on the left The court being set the Plaintiff came in with his Advocate Champion and Rhyngyth and stood on the right side and last of all the Witnesses on both parties came which stood directly before the Chief Justice at the lower end of the Hall untill they were called up to testify the truth of their knowledge in the matter in varitance The figure of which I thought good here to lay down as ye see Vnderneath Uchelwyr An Elder The King An Elder Uchelwyr The Priest THE Chief Justice The Judge The Defendant  The Plaintiff Rhyngyth  Rhyngyth Advocate  Advocate Champion The VVitnesses Champion After the hearing of this book read the depositions of the witnesses and full pleading of the cause in open Court upon warning given by the Rhyngyth the chief Justice the Priest and the Ordinary Judge withdrew themselves for a while to consult of the matter and then secundum Allegata probata brought their verdict the Court sitting Whereupon the King or Prince after consultation had with the Elders or Seniors which sat by him gave definitive sentence except the matter was so obscure and intricate that right and truth appeared not in the which case it was tryed by the two Champions and so
Gwentland to a feast at his Castle of Abergavenny which he had received of them by composition and they mistrusting no harm came thither but like a Traytor and a Murtherer he had a great number of armed men within the Castle which fell upon this Lord and the rest Hol. pag 439. Marthi West lib. 2. and without any mercy or remorse put them to the sword and forthwith went to Silsyts house being not far from thence and took his wife and slew Cadwalader his son before his mothers face and destroyed the house and this was a lamentable day to all Gwent and a lesson to all men to take heed of a reconciled enemy This William Lord Bruse having the Welshmen within his Castle of Abergavenny to seek a quarrel propounded unto them certain Articles to be by them kept and performed among other things that none of them should at any time carry about them in their journey either Bow or Sword for the observing of the which he would have had them to be sworn which they refused to do Whereupon he falling out with them called his men which were ready for that purpose and caused them all to be murdered and when that deed was done to cloak this Treason with some reasonable excuse he caused it to be reported abroad that this he did in the revenge of the death of his unkle Henry de Hereford whom they on an Easter even before had slain In North Wales Roderike brake his brothers prison and escaping came to Anglesey where all the Countrey received him for their Lord because they abhorred the ingratitude of the Prince who unnaturally had disinherited all his brethren in boldness of his brother in Law the King This Roderike also was received as Lord and Prince in all the Country about the River of Conwey Then Prince David fled over Conwey and there remained for a time This year died Cadelh the son of Gruffith ap Rees and brother to the Lord Rees after long sickness and was honourably enterred at Stratflur The next year died David Fitz Girald Bishop of Menevia and Peirs was installed in his place This year the Lord Rees Prince of South Wales made a great feast at Christ-mass a time now almost forgot if not denied in the Castle of Aberteini which feast he caused to be proclaimed through all Brittain long before A sumptuous Invitation of P. Rees and thither came many strangers which were honourably entertained so that no man departed discontended and among deeds of Arms and other Courtly pastimes Rees caused all the Poets of Wales which are makers of Songs and Recorders of Gentlemens Pedegrees and Armes of whom every one is intituled Bardh in Latine Bardus to come thither and provided chairs for them to sit in the Hall where they should dispute together and try their cunning and gift in their faculties where great rewards and gifts were appointed for the Victors amongst whom they of North Wales wan the prize and among the Musicians Reeses own houshold-servants were accounted best Shortly after Eneon Clyt and Morgan ap Meredyth were both slain by Treason of the Normans who inhabited the Marches At this time the Lord Rees built the Castle of Rayder Gwy that is to say The Fall of Wye Rayder Gwy Castle built for the River of Wye falleth there over a high Rock About this time the sons of Conan ap Owen Gwyneth made war against him then also Cadwalhon the brother of Owen Gwyneth and unkle to David and Roderike who had fled to the King for succour as he was conveyed home by the Kings men to enjoy his patrimony was cruelly murthered by the way and found those whom he imagined to be his assistants and friends to be indeed Traytors and Butchers This year the bones of K. Arthur and Queen Gwenhonar his wife were found in the Isle of Avilon without the Abby of Glastenbury 15 foot within the earth in a hollow Elder-tree but of this formerly And now Ranulph de Poer with a great number of Gentlemen was slain by certain young men of Gwentland Giral Cam. This Ranulph was Sheriff of Herefordshire as saith Girald whose death the same Authour seemeth to impute unto himself for his cruel and unreasonable dealing with the Welsh but the King construed it otherwayes who being sore incensed against them assembled a mighty Army and came with the same to Worcester meaning to invade Wales The Prince South Wales becomes liege man to the K. of Engl. but the Lord Rees ap Gruffith fearing the Kings puissance thus bent against him and his Countrey men came by safe conduct unto Worcester where submitting himself he sware fealty to the King and became his liege-man promising to bring his son and nephews to him for Pledges But when according to his promise he would have brought them they remembring how the other Pledges were before used refused to go with him and so the matter rested for that time About this time Cadwalader the son of Lord Rees was slain privily in West Wales and buried in Twy Gw yn The next year Owen Vachan the son of Madoc ap Meredyth was slain in the Castle of Carregona hard by Oswestred in the night time by Gwenwynwyn and Cadwalhon the son of Owen Cyvelioc And shortly after Lhewelin son to Cadwalhon ap Gruffith ap Conan was taken and had his eyes put out The Visitation made by the Archb. of Canterbury into Wales Many noble Welshmen list themselves for the Holy land 1188. Tenbie destroyed About the year 1187. Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury having in his company Giraldus Cambrensis Arch-Archdeacon of Brecon visited that Countrey whom the Clergy of Wales began to resist alledging the liberties and priviledges of their Metropolitan Church of St. David but they prevailed not In this visitation he perswaded which Giraldus describeth calling his Book Itinerarium Cambriae and exhorted as many as ever he could to take the Cross and to vow the voyage against the Saracens whereunto he perswaded many of the Nobles of Wales as appeareth by the same Giraldus In the year 1188. Maelgon son to Lord Rees brought his Army against Tenbie and by plain force wan the Town and spoiling the same burned it to ashes This Lord was fair and comely of person honest and just beloved of his friends and feared of his foes against whom especially the Flemmings he atchieved divers victories This year also the Lord Rees gathered all his strength and wan the Castles of Seynclere Abercorran and Lhanstephen and brought all the whole Countrey under his subjection taking Maelgon his son The father imprisoneth his son in whom remained all the hope of South Wales whom he kept in prison In the year following Rees did build the Castle of Chewely and Gwenlhian his daughter the fairest and goodliest woman of all Wales died At this time also Gruffith Mailor Lord of Bromfield a noble man and wise and one that in liberality passed all the Lords and
said Reginald Grey returned into Wales he would take 24 men of every Cantref and either behead them or imprison them perpetually 16. Item Whereas we paid our Taxes and Rents in old money half year before the coming of new money they enforced us to pay new money for the old These griefs and the like the said Reginald offered us and threatned that if we would send any to the King to complain he would behead them and when we sent any to the King they could never speak with the King but spent us much money in vain for which griefs we believe our selves free before God from the Oath we have made to the King These Griefs following the King and his Justices offered to Rees Vachan of Stratywy 1. After that the said Rees gave the King his Castle of Dynevowr since the last peace the said Rees then being in the Tent of the Lord Payne de Gadersey at the same time there were slain six Gentlemen of the said Rees his men for whom they never had amends which was to him great grief and loss 2. Item John Gifford claimed the said Rees his Inheritance at Hiruryn and the said Rees requested the Law of his Countrey of the King or the Law of the Countrey of Caermarthen in the which Countrey the Ancestors of the said Rees were wont to have Law when they were of the peace of the Englishmen and under their regiment but the said Rees could have no Law but lost all his lands They would have had him to answer in the County of Hereford where none of his Ancestors ever answered Further in the lands of the said Rees were such enormities committed which do most appertain to the State Ecclesiastical that is to say in the Church of St David which they call Lhangadoc Grievous sacriledge committed by the English they made Stables and plaid the Harlots and took away all the goods of the said Church and burning all the houses wounded the Priest of the said Church before the high Altar and left him there as dead 3. Item In the said Countrey they spoiled and burnt the Churches of Dyngad Lhantredaff and other Churches in other parts they spoiled their Chalices Books and all other Ornaments These be the Griefs which the King and his Justice gave to Lhewelyn ap Rees and Howell ap Rees After that a Form of peace was concluded betwixt Henry then King of England and the Prince of Wales the said King granted and confirmed by his Charter to the said Prince the homage of the said Noblemen so long as they stood friends with the Prince according to the said gift and confirmation But Edward now King disinherited the said Gentlemen of their lands so that they could not have their own lands neither by law nor by favour These be the Griefs done by the Englishmen to the sons of Meredyth ap Owen 1. After that the King had granted the Gentlemen their own inheritance of Geneurglyn and Creuthyn he contrary to the peace disinherited the said Gentlemen denying them all lawes and customs of Wales and of the County of Caermarthyn 2. The said King in his County of Caerdigan by his Justices compelled the said Gentlemen to give judgement upon themselves where their predecessors never suffered the like of Englishmen 3. The said Justices of the King having taken away the Courts of the Noblemen in Wales and compelled the people to satisfie before them for trespasses when as they ought to have satisfied by the said Nobles 4. When a Wrack happeneth upon any of the grounds of the Noblemen whose ancestors had the Wrack they should have the same yet the King forbiddeth them and the said King by colour of that Ship-wrack contrary to their custom and law did condemn them in eight Marks and took away all the goods of the Ship-wrack The Complaints of the Noblemen of Strattalyn of the Wrongs and Griefs done to them by Roger Clifford and Roger Scrochill Deputy to the said Roger Clifford contrary to the Priviledge Justice and Custom of the said Noblemen as they say and prove 1. When the said Roger compelled the said men of Strattalyn to give them to have their customs and priviledges 20 Marks starling and after the payment of the money they brake by and by after this sort to put upon 12 men according to the laws of England which was never the manner or custom of the said Countrey 2. Item Madoc ap Blethyn was condemned in 4 Marks unjustly contrary to the laws and use of the Countrey 3. Item Grono Goch was likewise condemned 5 Marks and 12 Beasts contrary to the customs of his Countrey Dear Venison 4. Item The said Roger took the lands of the men of the Countrey as forfeit and for one foot of a Stagg found in a Dogs mouth three men were spoiled of all they had 5. Item Itlhel ap Gwysty was condemned in a great sum of money for the fact of his father done 40 years before 6. Item The said Rogers laid upon us the finding of all the English Souldiers where as before there was but one half 7. Item We were given to Mr. Maurice de Cruny and were sold to Roger Clifford which was never seen in our parents time 8. Item The widow of Robert of the Mowld asked of the King the third part of the land in the Mowld in Ward whereas it was judged before the King that the said lands were never given in Ward These be the Articles of Grief done to the men of Penlhyn by the Constable of Henry Chambers of the White Abbey and his men 1. Cynwric ap Madoc was spoiled by them in the time of peace of 8 pound 4 Oxen Corn the work of one plough for two years and to the value of 3 pound of 3 of his men and they had the worth of 16 pound for the said 8 pound and did beat him besides which was more wrong for then he was the Princes Constable at Penlhyn and all the cause that they pretended to make this spoyl was only that they said they had found 24 sheafes of Tythe in the house of a servant of the said Cynwric 2. Item Adam Criwr was condemned in 8 s. 8 d. and a Mare price 20 s. and was taken and beaten for that he had taken the Stealer of that Mare and brought him bound with him the which Thief was forthwith delivered 3. Item Jorwerth ap Gurgenen was condemned in 4 l. for that he had scaped out of their prison in time of the wars and was found in the same Town in time of peace and this is directly against the peace concluded betwixt the King and the Prince 4. Item Cadua Dhu servant to the Constable of Penlhyn was condemned because he would not receive the old money for new 5. Item Gruffith ap Grono the Princes man was spoiled of an Oxe price 11 s. 8 d. and after that the Constable had ploughed with the said Oxe 7 moneths he paid to the said Gruffith
all sorts of false Religion Superstition Idolatry Heresy and Schisme and such sins as do belong thereto The second is all sort of Injustice as Rapine Immoderate exactions Oppression of the poor effusion of innocent blood and calumniation or slander and such like for the which God punisheth Kingdoms and States at the Holy Ghost signifyeth in Ecclesiasticus saying Regnum de gente in gentem transferetur c. A kingdome is transferred from Nation to Nation for injustice injuries calumniations or slanders and divers deceits The third kind consisteth of Licentiousness Drunkenness and dissolutness of life and manners This Drunken King left after him three Sons Fulgenius Eldad and Androgeos who successively Reigned in this Kingdome FVLGENIVS FVLGENIVS the Eldest Son of Chirimus was Crowned King of Great Brittain but enjoyed his Kingdome only two years ELDRED or ELDREDVS ELDRED the second Son of Chirimus and brother to Fulgenius was Crowned King but enjoyed that honour but one year ANDROGEOS ANDROGEOS the third Son of Chirimus and brother to the two precedent Kings was Crowned but lived only one year after VRIANVS URIANVS the Son of Androgeos wholly gave himself to lust and the sin of the flesh homo saith Comes P. voluptati deditus more pecudum he was King only three years lust hath been the overthrow of many Countries and cause of much blood shed had not Paris seen Helena in the Isle of Cythera in the Temple of Venus whether this Lady out of curiosity to behold the Trojans under pretence of performing some vowes was come and Paris hearing of her presence and beauty entered into the Temple in all Princely bravery as they mutually beheld each other they became so enamoured with the scorching flames of unlawful love or rather lust that presently being now linked together in equal desires and haud caret effectu quod voluere duo they embark together which lustful act caused not onely a ten years siege but also the utter destruction and subvesion of Troy Hereunto I may add another notable example of the overthrow of the Lacedemonians and the losse of the Empire of Greece by the just judgement of God as both Diodorus Siculus and others affirm the story is this Two Lacedemonians passing over the plain of Leuctra were lodged and courteously entertained in the house of one Scadasus who had two handsome Women to his daughters and returning that way shortly after and finding the two young Women at home and their Father absent first ravisht one after kill'd them both their father at his return finding his daughters slain and understanding who had been the doers of it went to Lacedemon to crave justice against the Malefactors but so potent were they and their friends there that he could by no means obtain it whereupon after infinite maledictions poured forth in the sorrow of his heart against them and their state he went home and desperately kil'd himself upon the grave of his Daughters Not long after Wars growing between the Thebans and the Lacedemonians the soul of Scadasus appeared to Pelopidas one of the chief Captaines of the Thebans and encouraged him to give battel to the Lacedemonians in the plain of Leuctra where he and his daughters were buried telling him that their death should be there revenged and so afterwards it fell out for the Lacedemonians lost not only the battel but also the Empire of Greece we will omit the burning of Sodome and Gomorah for the sin of lust and also the rape which those of the town of Gabaa committed upon the wife of a Levit for which percussit eos Dominus in conspectu filiorum Israel who killed of them 25100 men that bore Armes But come a little nearer to our times concerning the punishment of the sins of the flesh we have a notable and fearful example thereof in the Kingdom of Spain conquered by the Moors and possessed by them 700 years for that offence For when the Kingdome had flourished as well in religion as power from the time of K. Recared the first Catholick King thereof the space of 120 years the wicked King Vitiza being a man like this our Vrianus given over to lust and carnality infected and corrupted all Spain not only with the bad example of his own dissolute life having divers Wives at once besides many Concubines but also with abominable Laws whereby he gave leave to all sorts of men to have as many Wives Concubines as they listed yea and forced Priests and such as would have lived chast to marry by which means all Spain became within a while to be no better then a common Stew or Brothel And although Almighty God according to his accustomed mercy expected their conversion and amendment all the time of that Kings Reign and laid onely the penalty thereof upon him whom he deprived both of his Crown and his eye-sight by the means of Roderick who succeedeed him in the Kingdome yet when the said Roderick followed his steps as well in his vicious life as in the maintenance of his abominable Laws it pleased God of his justice to permit him to give the occasion both of his own ruine and also of the overthrow of all Spain by the sin of the flesh wherewith the whole Kingdome was as it were overflowed For whereas King Roderick had sent a Kinsman of his own Count Julian Embassador into Affrick and in the mean time ravished his Daughter or as some write his wife the Count understanding it at his return was so incensed therewith against the King that in revenge thereof he practised with the Moores to bring them into Spain who with his assistance conquered it speedily and with such destruction of the people that the punishment of God was evidently seen therein For having first overthrown King Roderick whose body could never after the Battail be found they subdued almost all Spain in eight Months or in fourteen as some say and slew 700000 of all sorts of people besides great numbers of Captives which they sent Prisoners into Barbary and from that time forward remained in the possession of that Kingdome or of some part thereof for the space of 700 years ELIVD ELIVD Reigned five years he was a great Astronomer Astrologiae peritissimus Rex This vain study especially of judicial Astrology in these our dayes is much in request even amongst Troopers disbanded some of whom I know so ignorant that they cannot write true English nay scarce read The Professors of this Science especially such as would seem to be learned would make it very ancient fetching the Original from the Egyptians and Babylonians the most ancient of all Mortals Jactabant olim Astrologi Chaldaeos quadringinta septuaginta annorum millia in periclitandis experiendisque pueris quicunque nascerentur posuisse To have spent forty and seventy thousand years and yet the Chaldeans had their beginning at the destruction of the Tower of Babel And Picus Mirandulanus in his second Chapter of his 12. Book to
the Lands of Lhyarch ap Trahern Murder upon Murder because he joyned vvith the Sons of the Prince The year 1125. Meredith ap Blethyn slew his brothers son Ithel ap Ririd And shortly after Gadwalhon ap Gruffith ap Conan slew his three Unckles Crono Riryd and Meiler the sons of Owen ap Edwin And also Morgan ap Cadogan slew his be brother Meridith with his own hands About the year 1127 Gruffith ap Rees was put besides his lands which the King had suffered him quietly to possesse by the false accusations of the Normans which dwelt in the Country with him And then also Daniel Arch-Deacon of Powis died a man both learned and pious who travelled all His life time to set Peace and Concord betwixt His Countreymen Anno 1128. died Gruffith ap Meredyth ap Blethyn and the same year Lhewelin the son of Owen ap Cadogan took Meredyth ap Lhywarck and delivered him to Pain Fitz John to be kept safe in the Castle of Bridgnorth this Meredyth had slain Meyric his cosen german An easy matter for the Normans to conquer when the Welsh murder and betray their own kindred and countrymen and had put out the eyes his two cozen germans the sons of Griffith The year ensuing Jevaf the son of Owen put out the eyes of two of his brethren and banished them the country Also Lhewelin ap Owen slew Jorwerth ap Lhywarck And Meredyth ap Blethyn took the same Lhewelyn ap Owen his Nephew and putting out his eyes gelded him to the end he should beget no children that he might have his lands and slew Jevaf ap Owen his brother Putting out of eyes a common revenge in those times Also Meyrick slew Lhywark and Madoc his son his own cozens who himself was so served a while after Then Morgan the son of Cadogan repented exceedingly for the murder of his brother Meredyth wherefore he took his journey to Jerusalem and died in his returne at Cyprus About the year 1133. Cadwalhon the son of Gruffith ap Conan was slain at Nanhawdwy by Eneon the son of Owen ap Edwin his Unkle whose three brethren he had slain with Cadogan ap Grono ap Edwin That year also dyed Meridyth ap Blethin and Convin the greatest Lord and chiefest man in Powis as he that had gotten his brethren and nephews lands by hook and crook into his own hands An excellent character of Cadwalader Owen Gwyneth the sons of Gruffith ap Conan About the year 1135. Richard before spoken of and Gilbert his son were slain by Morgan and Owen And shortly after Cadwalader and Owen Gwineth the sons of Gruffith ap Conan in whom remained the hope of all Wales for they were gentle and liberal to all men terrible and cruel to their enemies meek and humble to their friends the succour and defence of widdow and fatherlesse and all that were in necessity and they transcended all other in good and laudable exercises and vertues so they were paragons of strength beauty and well proportion'd bodies gathered a great power against the Normans and Flemmings Walter Especs Aberystwyth Castles taken who entred Caerdigan subdued destroyed and fired the whole Country with the Castle of Walter Espec the Castle of Aberystwith which was very strong and well manned And thither came Howel ap Meredyth and Rhees ap Madoc ap Ednerth who went forward and razed the Castle of Richard de la Mare and the Castle of Dynerth and Caerwedros The Castle of Rich de la Mers Dynerth Caerwedros taken from the strangers and returned home with much honor Afterward towards the end of the same year they returned again with 6000 footmen and 2000 horsemen well armed to them came Gruffith ap Rees Howel ap Meredyth ap Breckaock his son Madoc ap Ednerth who subdued the whole Country to Aberteini placing again the old inhabitants and chasing away the strangers Against this army came Steph. Constable of Aberteini R Fitz Martin the sons of Girald Will Fitz John with all the power of Normans and Flemmings and Englishmen that were in Wales or the Marshes And after a most fierce and cruel battel the strangers according to their manner put all their hope in their forts and forsooke the field and the Welshmen followed so close that besides 3000 that were slain The Natives obtained a glorious victory over the strangers a great number were drowned taken and carried away Captives This victory atchived Owen and Cadwaladen â—â—rran the whole Country and returned home with rich spoyles in armour and horses as well as in other things with much triumph The year 1137. dyed Gruffith ap Rees ap Theodore the light The praise of Rees ap Theodore honour and stay of Southwales who had by his wife Gwenlhian the daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Rees commonly called the Lord Rhees Floren Wigorn. saith that this Gruffith ap Rees Prince of Southwales died by the deceitful practise of his wife Towards the end of the same year died Griffith ap Conan King or Prince of Northwales Flor. in r. Sc ot Ma the only defence and shield of all Wales after he had escaped many great dangers by sea land in Ireland and Wales and after many worthy victories when he had brought Northwales which he found full of strangers to peace and quietnesse having ruled the same worthily 50 years 1. This Prince had many children by divers women first by Angharat the daughter of Conan ap Edwin he had sons Owen Cadwalador and Caddalhon who was slain before his father died and daughters Marret Susanna Ranulht Agnes and Gwenleban 2. And by his second wife he had Jago Iscani Edwal Abbot of Penmon Dolhing who was also a Priest and well learned and Elen the wife of Hova ap Ithel Velyn of Yal he reformed the disordered behaviour of Welsh Minstrels by a very good sttatute which is extant to this day There are three sorts of Minstrels in Wales The first sort named Beirdh which are makers of songs and odes of sundry measures wherein not only great skill and cunning is required but also a certain natural inclination and gift which in Latine is called furor poeticus these do also keep records of Gentlemens armes and pedegrees till of late the Welsh are so mingled with the English that these kind of Heralds are to seek and of no such estem as formerly using yearly visitations and are the best esteemed and accounted of amongst them The second sort of them are players upon Instruments chiefly the Harp and the Croutch whose musick for the most part came into Wales with the said Gruffith ap Conan who being on the one side an Irish man by the mother grandmother also borne in Ireland brought over with him out of that Country divers cunning Musitians into Wales who devised in manner all the instrumental Musick that is now there used as appeareth as well by the books
written of the same as also by the names of the tunes and measures used amongst them at this day The third sort called Atteneaid as those who do sing to the Instrument whilst an other doth play and those as yet be in use in Wales This statute or decree here mentioned doth not only prescribe and appoint what reward every of the said Minstrils ought to have and at whose hands but also of what behaviour and conversation they ought to be to wit to make no debates no vagabonds nor Ale-house hunters no drunkards nor brawlers nor Whoremongers no thieves nor companions of such In which things if they offend every man by the said statute is made and officers are authorised to arrest and punish them yea and take from them all that they have then about them and they are also in the same statute forbidden to enter into any mans house or to make any song of any man without special licence of the party himself And this statute or decree hath been oftentimes allowed by publick authority of the chief Magistrates of that Country as appeareth by sundry commissions directed to divers Gentlemen in that behalf Owen Gwyneth soâ— of Gruffith ap Conan The name of King ceaseth in Wales After the death of Gruffith ap Conan his sons divided his lands betwixt them after the manner of Wales And Owen surnamed Gwineth the eldest son was made Prince of Northwales for the name of King is no further used in the Brittish book who in the beginning of his reign Caermarthyn and three castles destroyed together with his brethren made their expedition into Southwales and overthrew the Castle of Strad Meyric and Castle Stephan and Humphreys Castle and burned the town of Caermarthyn and returned home with much honour At this time dyed John Archbishop of Lhanbadarn who for his godly life is canonized amongst the Saints In the year 1140. Cynwric the son of Owen was slain by the men of Madoc ap Meredyth ap Blethyn ap Convyo About the year 1141 Madoc ap Ednerth a man of great estimation in Wales died and the sons of Blethyn ap Gwyn slew Meredyth ap Howel Two noble Welshment slain by the treason of the Flemmings In the year 1142. Howel-ap Meredyth ap Rytherc of Cantref Bychan and Rees ap Howel were slain by treason of the Flemmings likewise Howel-ap Meredyth ap Beethyn was slain by the treachery of his own men Then also Howel and Cadogan the sons of Madoc ap Enerth did kill each other And shortly after there fell a variance betwixt Anarawd son to Gruffith ap Rees Prince of Southwales and his father in law Cadwalader the son of Gruffith ap Conan and brother to Prince Owen Gwineth By homebred quarrels the Welsh destroy one another and make way for the Norman who from words grew to blowes where Anarawd was slain the hope and prop of Southwales for the which thing Prince Owen took such displeasure at his brother that he and his son Howel gathered an army against him and destroyed all his country and burnt his Castle of Aberistwith for Cadwalader himself had fled to Ireland and had hired Octer son to Octer and the son of Turkel and the son of Cherulfe with a great number of Irishmen and Scots for 2000 markes to his succour and landed at Abermenay in Caernarvonshire against whom the Prince came with great forces but before the armies met there was a peace concluded betwixt the brethren which when the Irishmen understood they detained Cadwalader as prisoner for their wages he delivered unto them 2000 heads of cattle Wales plentiful of Cattel besides many prisoners and spoyles that were taken in the Country But as soon as the Prince had notice that his brother was set at liberty he fell upon the Irishmen and slew a great number of them and recovered all the cattel with the prisoners and other spoyles as many as escaped alive returned home with great losse and shame Flemmings Normans defeated by the Welsh About the year 1143 Howel and Gadogan the sons of Prince Owen gathered an army against the Flemmings and Normans and gave them an overthrow at Aberteini and keeping the town returned home with great honour also this year dyed Sulien ap Rythmarck a man of great knowledg one of the Colledge of Lhanpardarn Carmarthen Castle built Neer this time Gilbert Earl of Clare came with a great power to Dynet and built the castle of Carmarthen and the castle of the sons of Vtchtryd Then also Hugh Mortimer slew Meiryc ap Madoc ap Ryrid and Meredyth ap Madoc ap Edwerth Cadelth the son of Gruffith ap Rees Prince of South Wales won the castle of Dynevowr which Earl Gilbert had built and after he and his brethern Meredyth and Rees gathered their powers and laid seige to the castle of Carmarthen which was yielded unto them reserving only the lives to them of the Garrison Carmarthen Castle yielded to the Welsh And from thence they conducted their army before the castle of Lhan Stephan where the Normans and Flemmings meeting with them had a great overthrow and so the castle was reduced Whereupon the Normans and Flemmings inhabiting that country all about The Normans Flemmings overthrown by the Welsh gathered their power their captains and leaders were the sons of Girald and William de Hay who laid seige to the same castle without discovery But Meredyth ap Gruffith to whose custody the castle was committed encouraged his men to fight and defend the place and that which was wanting in him in strength for he was very aged he supplied in courage and discretion he suffered his enemies to scale the Walls and when the Ladders were full he gave the Watch word and signal A politick stratagem of the Welsh and his Souldiers did both manfully and with great dextery over-turn the Ladders with certain Engines contrived for such purposes and maimed many both armed men and expert Souldiers putting the rest to flight Shortly after died Run the son of Prince Owen of North VVales a fair and goodly young man whose death when it came to his fathers ears did so trouble him that no kinde of pleasure could comfort his heavy heart so that he spent the night in tears and the day in sadness till God who took compassion upon the poor remnants of the Brittains Mould Castle a curb to the Welsh even as he had discomforted the Prince with the death of his son so he did glad his sorrowful heart with the overthrow of his enemies for there was a Castle at the Mould very strong and well manned which did trouble the whole Countrey and had been oftentimes assaulted but never won Prince Owen levied an Army and beleaguered it yet the Garrison defended it and endured many assaults Mould Castle utterly dismantled by the Brittains at last maugre all their endeavours the presence of the Prince did so encourage his men that they