conquisita fuit per dominum Edwardum nuper regem Angliae proavum demini principis nunc per quem conquestum tota terra tam de dominio quam in servitiis injuncta fuit annexa coronae Angliae The seventh Argument AFter this conquest of Wales by the overthrow of Rees ap Theodor and the expulsion of his son Griff ap Rees who was forced to fly to Ireland Griff ap Conan being then prince of Northwales and of greatest power of any prince there sithence the said division never stirred for the principality of Southwales which if he had been the supreme Prince of Wales by this occasion he should most properly and justly have done neither did any of the Princes of Northwales succeeding him to the last prince Lhewelyn ap Griffith make claime thereunto Albeit they were all of them one after the other the most powerfull worthy fortunate Princes that had ruled in Northwales since the division as OweÌ„ Gwynâ—th David ap Owen Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth David ap Lhewelyn and that they had the advantage in their times of the alteration of seven Kings of England a troubled state there to have attempted it But Griff ap Rees returning from Ireland to recover his patrimony in the weaknesse of his fortunes retired to Griff. ap Conan then prince of North wales whose daughter he had married had by her worthy sons Of whose return purpose Henry the first King then of England understanding knowing him to be the undoubted heir of Wales and that he would be received by the people sent for the prince of Northwales and drew him in to yield to the delivery of Griff ap Rees into his hands which the Prince attempted and had effected accordingly but that Griff ap Rees upon some notice thereof hardly escaped into the Sanctuary of Aberdaron whence the prince would have forced him but that he was rescued by the whole clergy of the countrey and thence conveyed to Southwales whereupon it is evident that if Griff. ap Conan had been soveraign prince of Wales de jure first no necessity compelling him he would not have been so undiscreet as to have put himselfe into the King of England's hands who claimed the soveraignty thereof neither would the king have suffered him to depart seeing by detaining him he might more easily have compassed his end Secondly the Prince of Northwales would not have been so injurious to himself as to have delivered Griffith ap Rees if he had been his homager of Southwales whereby to divest himself of his right thereunto by his own act But it is plaine that the prince of Northwales in respect of the conquering of Rees ap Theodor having submitted himself to the King of England as his homager and to his peace came to the king at his sending for him knowing well that the King was carelesse of him as touching the right of Soveraignty of Wales And so he yeilded to make his peace the firmer with the King to the betraying of his Superior of his guest and son in law and the son of him who got him the possession of the principality of Northwales Hereupon Griff ap Rees put himselfe in armes and so held himself during King Henries time and a part of King Stephens recovering a great part of Southwales and died leaving his troubles and possessions to his son called the Lord Rees who in the end made peace with king Henry the second and surrendred to him his title to the principality of Wales bringing the chiesest of the Nobility and Gentry of Southwales to Glocester where they submitted themselves to the King and received their lands and possessions by the Kings grant to hold of him And the Lord Rees accepted of the King to be his Justice of Southwales which office continued untill 27. of King Henry the 8. and ended in the Lord Ferrers of Chartley The Answer FOr Answer hereunto you must first conceive that Griffith ap Conan at the time of Rees ap Theodor's death was not so powerfull as you make him to be for as we read in the Author of his life he was then but newly escaped out of the Earl of Chester's prison where he had remained 12. years Secondly that notwithstanding his unsettled state in Northwales by reason of his said imprisonment and the King of Englands displeasure conceived against him he joyned forces with Cadwgan ap Bledhyn his son in law and entring Southwales after they had slaine in battell a great number of Normans a great part thereof though not all became subject to Cadwgan as the British history of the Princes relateth wherein also we find that afterwards Griff ap Conan sent his sons Owen and Cadwalladr twice to Southwales being one time accompanied with 6000 Footmen and 2000 Horsemen they took the Castles of Walter Espec and Richard de la Mare and also the Castles of Aberystwyth Dinerth and Caerwedros subduing the whole countrey to the town of Cardigan and after the slaughter of 3000 Normans in the field they chased the rest out of the Country restoring Griffith ap Rees to his father's inheritance and the ancient inhabitants to their former dwellings Which is sufficient evidence that they made claime to Southwales as soveraign Princes And Griffith ap Conan cannot be imagined to interest himselfe in the cause especially in his weaknesse by sending his subjects to the field but that he challenged the soveraignty thereof as due by inheritance and his son Owen Gwynedd prince of Northwales would not have entred Southwales in the first year of his reign as the Chronicle witnesseth overthrowing the Castles of Ystratmeuric Stephens and Hwmphreys and burning the town of Carmarthen and compelling part of Dyved to pay tribute unto him as Gwalchmai ap Meilir that lived in that age hath recorded retaining most of Cardigan in his own hands without claime or pretence of title Likewise when Henry 2. King of England made his third Expedition against Wales the Lord Rees and the power of Southwales and all the other Lords of Wales with their forces marched against the King under the conduct of the Prince of Northwales which directly proveth his soveraignty over all Wales After these tumults and turmoils Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth Prince of Northwales to prevent all doubt that might arise concerning his right made all Southwales and Powis swear fealty unto him as the book of Conwey makes good wherein we read that they acknowledged the like fealty to David his son and Lhewelyn the last Prince But as concerning the unkind dealing of Griff ap Conan with Gr ap Rees and Gr ap Conan's going to the King of England I cannot see how that deserves an answer as an Argument for the soveraignty in the Princes of Southwales Lastly you affirme that the Lord Rees surrendred his title to the principality of Wales to the King of England which seems unto me most improbable considering he would not voluntarily depose himself of such royall preheminence and
soveraignty without he were brought to such extremity that there were no other remedy whereas it is evident that the Lord Rees was in great favour with King Henry the second at the time you mention and had been for many years before witnesse the Office of being Justice of Southwales which the King had given him three years before that peace at Glocester as the book of Conwey mentioneth then also that he brought to the King's peace at Glecester no lords of Northwales or Powis but few of Southwales such as had formerly offended the King whereby it appears that his said resignation if there were any such extended no farther then his title of Southwales only and yet in regard that all the English writers do terme and stile the said Lord Rees King of Southwales even to the last period of his life I cannot readily believe that there was any such surrender made untill the same do appear by some Authentick record The eighth Argument THat the Princes of Northwales though some late writers of those parts call them Princes and Kings of Wales did not write themselues so nor were taken to be so in their time when there was fit occasion to set forth their title But ever since the conquering of Rees ap Theodor they did acknowledge this title from the Kings of England as may appear by the said submissions and transactions between the kings of England and the Princes of Northwales from the death of Rees ap Theodor to the death of Lhewelyn the last prince even as they are related by the writers of Northwales And which maketh it more evident when the Pope did absolve Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth from his oath of obedience made to King John and David ap Lhewelyn from his oath of obedience made to King Henry the third he gave them the title of Princes of Northwales only whereas both the Princes would have sought and the Pope would have yeilded them the title of Princes of Wales in that case especially for the larger extent of their absolutions if there had been ground for it Likewise it appeareth by the excommunication of Lhewelyn ap Iorweth when as he persisted in action against King Iohn after the Pope had made his end with the King that the Pope stiled him Prince of Northwales only and the colour that those writers do take to terme them of Northwales Princes of Wales was for that after the subduing of Rees ap Theodor the people of Wales had no other in their distresses to resort unto for protection but the Princes of Northwales And in that respect and not otherwise there being then no Princes of Southwales Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth Prince of Northwales being incited by the Pope and Barons against King Iohn did assume a command in most parts of Wales but it ceased in short time and he submitted himselfe and his country to King Henry the third The Answer IT it is certain that the Princes of Northwales howsoever they did lay down their titles were alwaies reputed and taken to be the soveraign Kings of Britaine Princes of Wales for Caradoc Lancarvan in Glamorganshire speaking of Anarawd prince of Northwales gives him the title and honour of King of the Britaines and chief King of Wales as is manifest in the ancient copies of his History Idwall oel his son is called by William Malmesbury and others Rex omnium Wallensium The same stile or the like in effect Caradocus attributeth unto the sons of Idwal Howel ap Jevaf Meredith ap Owen and Bleddyn ap Cynvyn Princes of Northwales Trhayarn ap Caradoc is called King of Wales by George Owen Harry a Gentleman of Southwales Griff ap Conan whom Mr. Camden calleth princeps Walliae was acknowledged by Rees ap Theodor himself to be Brenhin Brenhincedh Cymru that is King of the Kings of Wales as the Author of Griffiths life averreth whereby it clearly appears that the said Rees prince of Southwales pretended no right to the Soveraignty of Wales And Caradocus also saith that Griff ap Conan prince of Northwales was pâ—nna brenhin ac amdhiffynnwr a thangnefedhwr Crmruoll that is the chiefest King defender and peace-maker of all Wales Leoline the great also is by Mathew Paris Mat Westminster Polidor and all our British Antiquities termed prince of Wales and sometimes king of Wales as in an old British Ode dedicated to Lhewelyn by one Encon wan a Bard of that age is extant wherein he is called Gwir frenhin Cymru that is the true or naturall king of Wales And David Benvras a Bard of great estimation in his time in the funerall Elegy of David Lhewelyn's son calleth him mab brenhin Cymru that is the son of the king of Wales In like manner Prince David and Leotine the last are termed most commonly Princes of Wales by all Authors And here I may not passe how that our great Antiquary Mr. Selden in his notes upon Mi Draiton his Polilbion gives our Princes from Anarawd to the last prince the name and title of princes of Wales adding withall that after the division among Roderic Mawr's sons the principality was chiefly in Northwales and the rest as tributaries to the Prince of that part Seeing therefore that the princes of Northwales even from Roderic's time to Lhewelyn ap Griffith were reputed and taken to be the undoubted Princes and Kings of Wales I cannot be induced to change my opinion upon bare pretences be they never so specious Furthermore it is confessed that the Princes of Northwales did acknowledg as well the principality of Wales as the title thereof to the kings of England yet not only after the death of Rees ap Theodor but many hundred years before as it appears by tribute paid by our Princes unto the kings of England in acknowledgment thereof for in the dayes of the old Britains Tair talaith as we find in an old British Manuscript and in the British Triades a dheleid y dala wrth goron Lundain un ym-Henrhyn Rhionydhyny Gogledh ar ail daleith yn Aberfraw ar drydedh yn Gerniw that is three Coronets ought to be held of the Crown of London the one was the Crown or Coronet of Penrhynrhionydd in the North the second was of Aberfraw and the third that of Corawall And touching the Pope's absolution of Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth from an oath of obedience to the king of England by stiling him Prince of Northwales whence you infer that he was not Soveraign of any other part else the Pope would have given it him in his stile it concerns you before you make good your conceit herein to propose unto us the Pope's own words in the Originall and then to shew your self to be of his Counsell that when he named Northwales the chiefest seat you might be sure he did thereby intend to take away the Soveraignty over the rest of Wales And that Northwales exceeded Southwales in respect of supremacy you may be easily convinced if you look back into those times when the Britains
Powys in the heires of Cadelh plead for him that he came justly and lawfully to it for the Lordship of Mowthwy being a part of Powys is enjoyed to this day by descent from Cadelh And a great part thereof was held untill of late time by Grey Lo Powys by like descent and the rest of the possessions continued long in his posterity and line untill by partition they were branched into diverse families whereof a great pâ—rt is now in the Crown by severall meanes howbeit the soveraignty remained still in the heires of Cadelh as Prince of Southwales which appeareth by their chastising the defections and taking pledges for the obedience of the Lords of Powys and such testimonies of Soveraignty related by the writers of Northwales It is alledged also by some of them that the possession of Powys was witheld by the heires of Brochwel Ysgythroc who was Prince thereof about An Dom. 617. If that were true theâ— Cadâ—lh did not take Powys by force from his brethren But for the truth hereof Roderic was lineall heir to Brochwel Ysgyâ—hroc viz. son of Mâ—rvyn Vrych son of Nest sister and heir of Cyngen son to Cadelh son to Brochwel Ysgythroc And thereby Roderic had both the Right and Possession of Powys And therefore untill another Heir be found or other descâ—nts appear from Brochwel Ysgythroc to Bledhyn ap Convyn then by the line of Roderic the great and all the persons be mentioned that held Powys in all that time other then the line of Roderic the beliefe of this allegation may be well suspended And thus the way is cleared to conclude upon this first point that Cadelh was the Eldest and soveraigne Prince of Wales by the descending of Powys unto him Anarawd maintained to be the Eldest son of Roderic the great and to have the right of Soveraignty over all Wales and so likewise his successors the Princes of Northwales The Answer to the first Argument THE later Prince of Powys held that by inheritance from the third son of Rodâ—ric the great as Mr. Camden in these words declareth Powissiae principes à tertio filio Roderici magni prognati hunc agrum viz Mountgomerieshire cum aliis perpetuâ serie ad Ed 2. temporatâ—nuerunt Therefore Cadelh prince of Southwales out of whose loines the later princes of Powys were descended must of necessity be the third son oâ— Roderic the great which degree of Birth the white book of Hergest Thoâ— Maylor Jo Leland Hum Llwyd Myles and many more both modern and ancient Authors do attribute to Cadell by name And if to avoid that you will say that Camden by tertio filio did not mean Cadelh theâ— must Mervyn be the man and consequently he must have issue else the later princes of Powys could not derive themselves from Roderic and iâ— he had issue then Cadell could not have Powys by inheritance as being the Eldest of the 3 Brethren what was got otherwise is not the thing in question And truly to deny Mervyn's issue were injury in the highest degree offered to diverse Gentlemen of Wales descending from him and in particular to the reverend and learned Judge Sr. William Jones of Carnarvan shire Kt. and lately one of the Justices of the Kings bench who derives his pedegree lineally from Triffin the son of Mervyn and if you doubt whether Mervyn had such a son a very ancient parchment MS. written above 400 yeares agoe will resolve you O Driffin mab Mervyn mab Rodri mawr ydd benyw gwehelyeith Riw o Leyn that is the inheritors of Rhiw in Llyn are descended of Triffin the son of Mervyn the son of Roderic the great Likewise in a Genealogy of the princes of Northwales Southwales and Powys descending from Roderic the great annexed to a Latine copy of the Lawes of Howel Dha we find that Idwal voel son to Anarawd King of Northwales did marry Avandreg the daughter of Mervyn King of Powis upon whom he begat Meuric the Ancestor of Lhewelin the great prince of Northwales But the ancient and learned Giraldus Cambrensis in the relation of the Genealogy of the said Llewelyn the great hath not only himself fallen into an error but hath drawn many learned and grave Antiquaries that followed his tract into the same snare for speaking of this Avandreg he saith she was the Son and not the Daughter of Mervyn the which Mervyn against all Antiquity and truth he calleth prince of Northwales and so ascendeth to Roderic the great by the feminine line making no mention at all of Idwal voel the son of Anarawd prince of Northwales indeed whom ancient writers term and stile by the name of Ludwallus rex omnium Wallâ—nsium who also as is said before upon this Avandreg the daughter and not the son of Mervyn king of Powis begat the forenamed Meurig the Ancestor of Leoline the great But for your better satisfaction of the ground whence Giraldus did conceive this error behold these Rundlets following Rodric the great Anarawd K. of North. wales Idwal Voel K. of N.W. Mervin K. of Powis Avandrec daughter Meiric Farther more Caradoc Lancarvanensis a Southwales man who lived about 500 yeares agoe saith that a son of Mervyn named Haeardur was drowned An 953. My last witnesse for Mervyn's issue will be George Owen Harry another Southwales man who saith that Angharad daughter and heir of Llewelin the son of Mervyn king of Powis was married to Owen ap Howel dha not to Mredyth the said Owen's son as you say his testimony seeing he was an Antiquary of Southwales and a strong maintainer of Cadelh's Supremacy ought to move you to believe this point especially seeing that this marriage is the only title that the said Author ascribeth to the posterity of Cadelh over Powis which whether it were lawfull as he is of opinion or unlawfull as may be inferred out of the words of the English History of the princes of Cambria I leave others to judge it shall suffice me to prove that the Prince of Northwales not of Southwales had the Soveraignty of Powis as doth appear when Owen surnamed the great prince of Northwales having in his company Cadwalader ap Gr ap Conan his brother and the Lord Rees prince of Southwales entred Powis and chasing Owen Cyveiliog Prince thereof out of the Country seized upon all his inheritance and gave Caerenion to Owen Vachan to hold of the prince of Northwales the rest he reserved to himselfe saving Dywalwern a little piece of Cyueiliog which he gave the Lord Rees because according to the book of Conwey the report went that it stood within the confines of the said Rees his dominions Hereby it is manifest that the soveraignty of Powis did not belong to the prince of Southwales for if it had questionlesse the Lord Rees then present would have chalenged the same as his right by inheritance and that it did of right appertain to the prince of Northwales may farther appear by an ancient Inquisition taken at Bala before Humphrey Duke
sororis sui Here is you see most infallible proof that Gwlades was not the sole sister and heir of David but the only sister of Griffith Lhâ—welyn the great his eldest son who by equity should have succeeded his father in the principality of Wales although you and others do averre that he was a Bastard but how truly I appeale to the judgment of impartiall Antiquaries for do but equally consider whether a Bastard would offer to disquiet his father and Prince because he intended that his lawfull heir should succeed him in his dominions or presume to bandy with the legitimate heir for his due inheritance or whether the King of England would maintaine such an execrable quarrell against his naturall nephew or the Lords of VVales against their true legitimate prince in a Bastard's behalf These circumstances might satisfy that Griffith was not only born in wedlock but also the right proper prince of Wales by inheritance Consider likewise how Lhewelyn called all the Lords and Barons of Wales before him to Ystratflur and caused them to swear to be faithfull subjects and to do homage to David his son and that long before his death which had been needlesse and frivolous if David had been his heir and Griff his bastard consider I say how that Henry the third immediately after the death of Griffith assuming the title of his said prisoner into his own hands intituled his eldest son Edw to the principality of Wales accounting David no lawfull prince as it appears thereby yea and how that neither the Bruses Lords of Brechnock Lacies Earls of Lincoln nor any other that married Prince Davids sisters of the whole blood pretended any right to the principality of Wales after his death though he left no issue or his body to survive him which such mighty persons would hardly have omitted if David had been the true heir of Leoline the great and lawfull prince of Wales â—urthermore David Benvras in a funerall Elegy to Lhewelyn and his two sons gives them in generall the name of Princes and prefers Griff before David Whereupon I do conclude that if Griff had been a bastard in all likelihood the Bard would not presume to prefer him before David being legitimate neither have given him the title of Prince but that it was his Birth-right Again Polydor Virgil in the 16. book of his History of England denoteth that Griff was his fathers lawfull heir and that David was an usurper of the principality upheld by the King of Englana's favour in these words Id temporis Lewelinus Walliae princeps è vita migravit deinde inter Gruffinum David filios ejus de principatu disceptatum est quem ad ultimum David etsi minor natu favente Henrico assecutus est and a little after multos Wallorum miserebat casus Griffini qui per proditionem avito principatu fraudatus in carcere esset insidebatque in illorum animis tanti facinoris memoria Adde hereunto how Leolinus Gervaâ—ii filius desponsavit Tanglwist de qua genuit Griffith as I said before adde I say the testimony of the book of Hergest before mentioned with the which agrees John Griff Eyton an Author of above an hundred and fifty years antiquity Here I might cite the opinion of Guttun Owen and the Bards who with one consent do testify that Gr was his fathers eldest son and heir apparent whose testimonies seeing their function was nothing else but truly to decant the famous deeds and true pedegrees of the Princes and Nobility of Wales I hold it good reason that we follow and preferre before the traditions of Strangers who most commonly being enemies to the Welchmen were carelesse of their affaires and therefore apt to erre in relating their histories especially since they looked upon it as their interest to conceale or extenuate rather then declare their glory And the Translators of the Chrâ—nicle of VVales tracing their steps and forgetting the fidelity of Translation added at their pleasure that Griffith was a Bastard and that Gwlades was the sister of David going besides the old text wherein you shall find no such matter Also Bastards by the lawes of Howel Dha were excluded from any share of inheritance with their Brethren legitimate but Gruff as Dr. Powell out of Math Paris relateth claimed a portion of his fathers inheritance according to the customes of VVales even so much as of right ought to appertain unto him VVhich words do insinuate that he was ready to prove his Father and Mothers marriage lawfully consummated And David confesseth a portion due to his Brother when in the third article of his submission to H. 3. he saith Item I and the said Griffith and either of us shall hold our portions of land of our said soveraign Lord the King in capite Lastly the Bastards of the Princes of VVales were not tolerated to bear their fathers Arms and if permitted yet not without difference as may be observed in the Coats of Madoc the son of Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis David goch the son of David Lord of Denbigh and Fradhsham Eneon and Cynwric twinnes the sons of Mad ap Mred Prince of Powis and Tegwared y bais wen being the Bastard of Prince Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth had therefore a peculiar Coat of Arms given him and his posterity to wit Ar. a cheveron S. charged with 3. Mullets pierced But Griffith father of Llywelyn the last Prince gave his fathers Coat without any change or difference at all and so did his progeny after him which proveth that he was lawfully born These reasons and testimonies do perswade me to think that Griffith was unworthily defamed of Bastardy and deâ—eated of his Birthright under that pretence But in regard herein I thwart the judgment of good Antiquaries both ancient and modern I leave the matter to a farther debate The tenth Argument THE late writers of Northwales cannot agree whether Mervyn or Anarawd were elder Mr. Humphry Lloyd following Giraldus preferreth Mervyn Doctor Powel Anarawd How can they then fitly decide this point or conclude against Cadelh to be the eldest It is probable that Giraldus living in Henry 2ds time being a native of VVales and best seen of any as his works do shew in the antiquities thereof and living in a time when there were more store of them then now are or have been in this last age and otherwise a great learned man and Bishop of St. Davids had as good grounds and helps to prove for Mervyn as any later writer for Anarawd Therefore upon this doubt and uncertainty which of these two were elder it is safest for the truth to agree upon so good authorities and grounds of reasons for Cadelh to be the eldest which is confirmed also by the authentick Authority of a countrey man of Northwales David Nantmor the famous Bard who was and still is of such estimation in Northwales as none will contradict any thing written by him Neither would he have declared the truth so plainly
if there had been any doubt in the matter And thus he writeth Tri meib i Rodri meun tremyn i keid Cadelh Nerawd Mervyn Rhannodh ef yr hwn oedh vn Rhodhiad holl Kymry rhydhyn Rhannodh a gadodh er gwelh dawn yfydh Dinefwr i Gadelh Ymab hynaf oi stafelh Pennaf o wyr pwyvn welh Nerawd wr gwastawd dan go yn gyfan A gafas Aberffro May dayoni Duw yno Fe biau i bryniaw ay bro. Gwir gwir a dhoydyr i dhyn paen ifank Powys cafas Mervyn Lhymar modh yr adrodhyn Ytreir rhwyng y trywyr hyn In English thus Three sons we find were unto Roderi VVhom Cadelh Nerawd Mervyn men do call Divide he did that was a Monarchy Of Cambria a guift between them all Divide and leave for best O justly done Dinevowr unto Cadelh did he then Within his bower the first begotten son And who so good the chiefest of the men And courteous Anarawd did possesse Aberffro for his portion mark you this Whom God I pray with goodnesse all to blesse Both hills and dales the same his own it is The tale is true yea true it came to passe That Powis should young Mervyn's portion be And thus for truth the very manner was How all divided stood between them three The Answer I cannot think it reason from the doubt of Northwales writers whether Anarawd or Mervyn were the eldest son of Roderic the great to conclude Cadelh to be the eldest especially seeing neither our writers nor any else do make any thing for Cadelh and also that all in generall do agree that the King of Northwales howsoever he were called was the eldest of the Brethren Not only Dr. Powel but a multitude of most ancient writers do prefer Anarawd to the Kingdome of Northwales as our ancient Bards and writers of Genealogies Illorum enim saith Dr. Powel constans assertio est Anaratum primogenitum principem fuisse Venedotiae The ancient Author of Griffith ap Conan's life brings the pedegree of the said Griffith lineally to Anarawd Meilir Brydydh that flourished in William the Conqueror's time averres the said Griffith to be descended of Anarawd Caradocus Lancarvanensis affirmes that Anarawd the eldest son of Roderic the great was King of Northwal s. And last of all Niâ—nius the old British writer and Disciple of Elv dugus who lived in the daies of Roderic and his children saith thus Anaraught rex Moniae i.e. Môn qui regit modo regnum Wencdociae regionis i. Gweinedh Therefore Giraldus Cambrensis with his followers Leyland and Lhwyd must needs be in an error when he gives his voice for Mervyn And truly Giraldus Cambrensis though in antiquity he were most expert and skilfull yet seems not a little to be ignorant of the true history of Roderic the great and his children for besides the former error in the 2d chapter of his book intituled Descriptio Cambriae he avers that the said Roderic was the cause of the division of Wales into the three kingdomes of Northwales Southwales and Powis whereas it is apparent that the said three kingdomes had their severall Kings many years before his birth as Dr. Powâ—l most truly proveth in his notes upon the said chapter then also he saith that Cadelh to whom Roderic had given Southwales for his portion survived Anarawd and Mervyn whereby he got the monarchy of all Wales Cadelh saith he praemortuis fratâ—ibus totius Walliâ— monarchiam obtinait And Caradâ—cus a more ancient writer testifieth that Cadelh died 6. years before Anarawd with whom agreeth your countreyman George Owen Harry and another most ancient British Chronologer which beginneth thus Oes Gwrtheyrn Gortheneu c. mentioned by Sr. John Prise p. 121. defensionis Britannicae historiae Lastly he faith that Cadâ—lh's successors even to Theodor enjoyed the said mâ—narchy whereas it is clear that diverse of the line of Anarawd ruled the Kingdome of Northwales during that time so that we cannot but conclude Giraldus to be in a grosse error And as to the testimony of David Nanmor on whom relies your whole hope for Cadelh's soveraignty it is answered that his Authority had it been as you make it to be which shall appear to be far otherwise especially in so ancient a matter as we now handle being favoured or strengthned by no antiquity and himselfe not flourishing before the middle of the raign of Henry the sixth would have been too weak to encounter not only Dr. Powel but a multitude of most ancient Anthors well seen in antiquity that maintain the contrary I cannot be perswaded that he was ever of that opinion nor that those verses you are pleased to lay to him are his They do not savor of the skill of the meanest Bard much lesse of Nanmor that sometimes contended with David ap Edmond for the chair at the Eistedhfa in Caermarthen and by his Compod manuel his Gorchestion Cywydhau Odes and Epigramms is well known to surpasse most men of his time in Poeticall science They have faults as to the measures in 4. seveâ—all places such as our Bards terme Twyll gynghanedh and Twyll odl which by the teachers of the faculty to wit Dr. David du of Hiradhic Edyrn dafod Aur Eneon yffâ—irad and divers others have been damned for schismes and solaecismes in the art and so forbid to be used It being so as to the Poetry the History may justly be suspected of mistakes if not of forgery in order to the promoting of a small designe And there are mistakes in the history for Rodâ—ric was not the divider of Wales and Cadelh is denyed by all writers to be the eldest of the 3. Brethren nor was the K. of Aberffraws name Nerawd but Anarawd And in the 5th and last Stanza which you forbear the mention of there is a manifest error for therein it is said that Roderic made his division betwen his 3. sons A.D. 811. long before his reign and probably before he was born for Caradocus saith he began his reign A. 843. and his father Mervyn frych but in the year 817. at which time Prince Conan Tindaethwy dyed The eleventh Argument THese authorities and reasons are delivered simply to beat out the the truth of this point in question and chiefly out of a desire to clear the way for a perfect History of Wales if any shall undertake it which otherwise cannot be for besides this evidence of the soveraignty of the Prince of Southwales where there never failed a lawfull prince to govern untill the period thereof by the fatall overthrow of the last and worthy prince Prince Rees ap Thâ—odor it seems not fit to register the acts of Wales for a great part of 200. years under Usurpers And therefore it is desired that if any shall be disposed to answer hereunto or to give reasons for maintaining their allegation it be done without prejudice or partiality and that they range not out of the limits of the question The Answer WHereas you alledge that your authorities and reasons are delivered simply to
with the rest is sufficient to prove that Anarawd Prince of Northwales was the eldest son of Roderic the great and therefore soveraign King of the Britains which Merdhin Silvester 300 years before Anarawds birth foretold to wit that he should be supreme prince of the Britains after his father Roderic Now time calleth me to come to my last argument which is that the Princes of Southwales and Powis payed a tribute to the Prince of Northwales Wherein to deale briefly I will not trouble you here with the testimony of our great Antiquary Mr. Selden before mentioned in my Answer to your 8. Argument nor with the authorities of our other late writers but will content my selfe with the ancient laws of our British Princes where thus we read Try mychdeyrn dyledoc a dhylu gwladychu Cymruoll danei thervyneu brenin Aberffraw arglwydh Dinefwr a hwn Mathraval Tri phrif lys arbenic sydh ir tri theyrn hyn yn essyddyneu breiniawl ydhynt Vn yw Aberffraw yngwynedh Dynevwr yny Deheu a Mathraval wynva ym Powys a llyma mal y dosparthwyd eu teyrnasau hwynt yn dair rhan vn bie vchafiaeth ar y dhwy nit amgen noc Aberffraw pie y bendevigaeth Teir mychdeyrn dhylyet adhylyir o Gymru olh Aberffraw gan y dhwylys hynny adhylu vn o Dhinefwr sef yw honno melget pedeir tunelh o vel a gassei pedeir mu ymhob tunelh dwy grenneit ymhob mu lhwyth deuwr ar drossol ym hob gren Peillget o Wynva a ymodh hunw hefyd Thus Englished Three lawfull Kings ought to rule all Wales under its bounds the King of Aberffraw in Northwales the Lord of Dinefwr and this of Mathraval these three Princes have three principall courts for their Princely dwellings Aberffraw in Northwales Dinefwr in Southwales and Mathraval wynfa in Powis Thus their Dominions were divided into three parts one hath a soveraignty over the other two viz. Aberffraw hath the Primacy Three princely Tributs are due out of all Wales whereof Aberffraw ought to have from those two seats one from Dinefwr which is a tribute of honey viz. 4. tuns of Honey every tun containing 4. mu every mu 4. grens every gren as much as two men could carry between them on a leaver the other is the like quantity of flower of Mathraval wynva This I hold sufficient proof that that Southwales and Powis were tributaries to Northwales and this should suffice me for this time had not Howel Dha a prince of Southwales and the son of Cadelh decreed in his Laws that as the King of Northwales was to pay a tribute to the King of London so should all the Kings of Wales pay tribute to the King of Northwales LXIII libras est mychdeyrn dyled quod rex Aberfrau reddere debet regi Londoniae semel cùm acceperit terram suam ab eo pâ—stea verò omnes reges Walliae debent terram suam ab eoaccipere i. e. à rege Aberffraw illi reddere meicheerd deleet abediw pâ—st eorum mortem verbum illius verbum est super omnes reges nullius verbum est super ipsum that is to say sixty three pounds is the Monarchicall tribute which the King of Aberfraw ought to the King of London when once he hath received his lands of him afterwards all the Kings of Wales ought to take their lands of him that is of the King of Aberfraw and to pay him a reliefe after their death And his law is a law over the Kings and no mans law is over him So saith Howel Dha The weight of these reasons makes me omit diverse others and many conjectures together with the vulgar opinion for seeing before Roderic's time the case is made out by good proofs and that in Roderic and his sons times and their posterity it is still strengthned with the authorities of both Southwales and Northwales new and old writers I see no reason why you should not conclude with me That the Princes of Northwales had the soveraignty over all Wales THE END A Mistake touching the Pedegree of the Earl of CARBERY corrected FInding a mistake in a book lately printed called Cambria triumphans touching the Pedegree of the right honourable the Earl of Carbery the Author making him to be descended from Gwaethvoed of Cardigan whereas indeed Gwaethvoed of Powis was his Ancestor I thought I should be wanting to my duty to that Noble person and the truth if I did not when I had an opportunity endeavour what lay in me the rectifying of it The Gentleman the Author I do very much respect and honour for his love expressed to our Country in his worthy pains to maintain the honour of it and do not so much impute the mistake to him being a stranger as to our late unskilfull Recorders of Genealogies who by reason of their not examining things throughly and not studying Chronology better have been the occasion of his Error In their writings they deliver to posterity that Gwaethvoed of Cardigan was the Father of Gweristan the Grandfather of Blethyn ap Cynvyn King of Wales the Earl's Ancestor but without any grounds for it as I shall make it to appear by shewing 1. That there were two Gwaethvoeds 2ly that Gwaethvoed of Cardigan could not be the great Grandfather of Blethyn ap Cynvyn and so not the Earl of Carbery's Ancestor That there were two Gwaethvoeds our boâ—ks of Pedâ—grees assure us which make often mention both of Gwaethvoed vawr of Powis and of Gwaethveed of Cardigan They are recorded as distinct persons the one being stiled of Powis the other of Cardigan for distinction's sake And they appear further to be distinct by their distinct Coates of Arms and distinct Pedegrees he of Powis beareth vert a Lyon rampant A. imbrued head feet and tayle the other Or a Lyon rampant regardant S. langued and armed G. And for their Pedegrees books written about 400 years ago say that Gwaethvoed of Powis was the son of Gwrhydr ap Caradawc ap Lles Llawddeawc c. to Beli Mawr Belinus magnus Monarch of Britaine the father of King Lud and of Cassibâ—lan who was King when Julius Caesar first entred Britaine And there are other books that derive the Pedegree of Gwaethvoed of Cardigan to Gwythno Garanir Lord of Cantre Gwaelod to wit that large Plaine extending it self between the Countyes of Carnarvan Cardigan and Pembroke long since swallowed up by the Sea thus Gwaethvoed ap Eunydd as Lewis Morgannwc saith but others leaving out Eunydd say he was the son of Cadivor ap Peredur peiswydh ap Eneon ap Eunydd and so to the said Gwythno Garanir and in a direct line from him to Cunedha wledig King of the North and Cambria That Gwaethvoed of Cardigan could not be the great Grandfather of Blethyn ap Cynvyn c. for Blethyn was neer of this Gwaethvoed's age Caradoc of Lancarvan in his history of Wales tells us that Blethyn was slaine A. D. 1073. being born as may be conjectured about 1023. supposing