we despise your fatherhoods requests and painefull trauell but with all hartie reuerence according to our dutie do accept the same Neither yet shall it be needefull for the lord the king to vse anie force against vs seeing we are redie to obeie him in all things our rights and lawes as aforesaid reserued And although the kingdome of England be vnder the speciall protection of the sea of Rome and with speciall loue regarded of the same yet when the lord the Pope and the court of Rome shall vnderstand of the great damages which are done vnto vs by the Englishmen to wit the articles of the peace concluded and sworne vnto violated and broken the robbing and burning of churches the murthering of ecclesiasticall persons aswell religious as secular the slaughter of women great with child and children sucking their mothers brests the destroieng of hospitals and houses of religion killing the men and women professed in the holie places and euen before the altars we hope that your fatherhood and the said court of Rome will rather with pittie lament our case than with rigour of punishment augment our sorow Neither shall the kingdome of England be in anie wise disquieted or molested by our meanes as is affirmed so that we may haue the peace dulie kept and obserued towards vs and our people Who they be which are delited with bloodshed and warre is manifestlie apparant by their deedes and behauiour for we would liue quietlie vpon our owne if we might be suffered but the Englishmen comming to our countrie did put all to the sword neither sparing sex age or sicknesse nor any thing regarding churches or sacred places the like whereof the VVelshmen neuer committed That one hauing paid his ransome was afterward slaine wee are right sorie to heare of it neither do we maintaine the offender who escaping our hands keepeth himselfe as an outlaw in the woods and vnknowne places That some began the warre in a time not meete and conuenient that vnderstood not we of vntill now and yet they which did the same do affirme that in case they had not done as they did at that time they had beene slaine or taken themselues being not in safetie in their owne houses and forced continuallie for safegard of their liues to keepe themselues in armour and therefore to deliuer themselues from that feare they tooke that enterprise in hand Concerning those things which we commit against God with the assistance of his grace we will as it becommeth Christians repent and turne vnto him Neither shall the war on our part be continued so that we be saued harmlesse and may liue as we ought but before we be disinherited or slaine we must defend our selues as well as we may Of all iniuries and wrongs done by vs we are most willing and readie vpon due examination and triall of all trespasses and wrongs committed on both sides to make amends to the vttermost of our power so that the like on the kings side be performed in like maner towards vs and our people and to conclude and stablish a peace we are most readie but what peace can be established when as the kings charter so solemnlie cōfirmed is not kept and performed Our people are dailie oppressed with new exactions we send vnto you also a note in writing of the wrongs and iniuries which are done vnto vs contrarie to the forme of the peace before made VVe haue put our selues in armour being driuen therevnto by necessitie for we and our people were so oppressed troden vnderfoote spoiled and brought to slauerie by the kings officers contrarie to the forme of the peace concluded against iustice none otherwise than if we were Saracens or Iewes whereof we haue often times complained vnto the king and neuer could get any redresse but alwaies those officers were afterwards more fierce and cruell against vs. And when those officers through their rauine and extortion were enriched other more hungrie than they were sent afresh to flea those whom the other had shorne before so that the people wished rather to die than liue in such oppression And now it shall not be needefull to leuie anie armie to war vpon vs or to moue the prelats of the church against vs so that the peace may be obserued duelie and trulie as before is expressed Neither ought your holie fatherhood to giue credit to all that our aduersaries do allege against vs for euen as in their deeds they haue and do oppresse vs so in their words they will not sticke to slander vs laieng to our charge what liketh them best Therefore for asmuch as they are alwaies present with you and we absent from you they oppressing and we oppressed we are to desire you euen for his sake from whom nothing is hid not to credit mens words but to examine their deeds Thus we bid your holines farewell Dated at Garth Celyn in the feast of S. Martine Certeine greefes sent from Lhewelyn to the Archbishop translated word by word out of the records of the said Archbishop WHere that it is conteined in the forme of the peace concluded as foloweth 1 If the said Lhewelyn will claime anie right in anie lands occupied by anie other than by the lord the king without the said foure Cantreds the said lord the king shall doo him full iustice according to the lawes and customes of those quarters or parts where the said lands doo lie Which article was not obserued in the lands in Arustly and betwixt the waters of Dyui and Dulas for that when the said Lhewelyn claimed the said lands before the lord the king at Ruthlan and the king granted him the cause to be examined according to the lawes and customes of Wales and the aduocates of the parties were brought in and the Iudges which vulgarlie they call Ynnayd before the king to iudge of the said lands according to the lawes of Wales And the defendant appeared and answered so that the same daie the cause ought to haue béene fullie determined according to the appointment of our lord the king Who at his being at Glocester had assigned the parties the said daie and though the same cause was in diuers places often heard and examined before the Iustice and that the lands were in Northwales and neuer iudged but by the laws of Wales neither was it lawfull for the king but according to the lawes of Wales to proroge the cause all that notwithstanding he proroged the daie of his owne motion contrarie to the said lawes And at the last the said Lhewelyn was called to diuers places whither he ought not to haue béene called neither could he obteine iustice nor anie iudgement vnlesse it were according to the lawes of England contrarie to the said article of the peace And the same was doone at Montgomery when the parties were present in iudgement and a daie appointed to heare sentence they proroged the said daie contrarie to the foresaid lawes and at the last the king himselfe at
for me in September last requesting me to peruse and correct it in such sort as it might be committed to the presse But I knowing my selfe to be far vnable to performe and accomplish those things which are requisite to the publishing of such an historie and being otherwise called and imploied was verie loath anie thing to medle therein and so excused my selfe yet he conceiuing a better opinion of me than there was cause would needs haue me to doo mine indeuour in that behalfe VVhose request I was not of dutie to gainesaie or withstand and therevpon I promised to doo my best which trauell two things haue caused me to be the more willing to take it in hand First because I see the politike and martiall actes of all other inhabitants of this Iland in the time of their gouernment to be set out to the vttermost and that by diuers and sundrie writers and the whole doings and gouernment of the Brytaines the first inhabitants of the land who continued their rule longer than anie other nation to be nothing spoken of nor regarded of anie especialie sithence the reigne of Cadwalader hauing so manie monuments of antiquitie to declare and testifie the same if anie would take the paines to open and discouer them to the vew of the world The second thing that mooued me therevnto is the slanderous report of such writers as in their bookes do inforce euerie thing that is done by the Welshmen to their discredit leauing out all the causes and circumstances of the same which doo most commonlie not onelie eleuate or dissemble all the iniuries and wrongs offered and done to the Welshmen but also conceale or deface all the actes worthie of commendation atchieued by them Search the common Chronicles touching the Welshmen and commonlie thou shalt find that the King sendeth some noble man or other with an armie to Wales to withstand the rebellious attempts the proud stomachs the presumptuous pride stirre trouble and rebellion of the fierce vnquiet craking fickle and vnconstant Welshmen and no open fact laid downe to charge them withall why warre should be leuied against them nor yet they swaruing abrod out of their owne countrie to trouble other men Now this historie dooth shew the cause and circumstances of most of those warres whereby the qualitie of the action may be iudged And certeinlie no man is an indifferent witnesse against him whom he counteth his enimie or aduersarie for euill will neuer speaketh well The Welshmen were by the Saxons and Normans counted enimies before the twelfth yeare of Edward the first while they had a gouernour among themselues and afterward when king Edward had brought the countrie to his subiection he placed English officers to keepe them vnder to whome most commonlie he gaue the forfaits and possessions of such Welshmen as disobeied his lawes and refused to be ruled by the said officers the like did the other Kings that came after him The said officers were thought oftentimes to be ouer-seuere and rigorous for their owne profit commoditie which things caused the people often to disobeie manie times like desperate men to seeke reuengement hauing those for their iudges which were made by their ouerthrow and also wanting indifferencie in their causes and matters of griefes for the Kings alwaies countenanced and beleeued their owne officers by them preferred and put in trust before their accusers whom they liked not of Wherevpon the inhabitants of England fauoring their countriemen and freends reported not the best of the Welshmen This hatred and disliking was so increased by the stirre and rebellion of Owen Glyndoure that it brought foorth such greeuous lawes as few Christian kings euer gaue or published the like to their subiects These things being so anie man may easilie perceiue the verie occasion of those parentheseis and briefe notes of rebellion and troubles obiected to the Welshmen without opening of cause or declaration of circumstances The Normans hauing conquered England and gotten all the lands of the Saxon nobilitie would faine haue had the lands of the Welshmen also wherevpon diuers of them entred VVales with an armie so that the VVelshmen were driuen for their owne defense to put themselues in armour for the which fact they are by some writers accused of rebellion wheras by the law of Nature it is lawfull for all men to withstand force by force They were in their owne countrie the land was theirs by inheritance and lawfull possession might they not therefore defend themselues from violence and wrong if they could What right or lawfull title had the Earle of Chester to Ryuonioc Tegengl or the Earle of Salope to Dyuet Caerdigan Powys or Rob. Fitzhamon to Glamorgan or Barnard Newmarch to Brechnoke or Ralph Mortimer to Eluel or Hugh Lacy to the land of Ewyas or anie other of them to anie countrie in VVales By what reason was it more lawfull for those men to dispossesse them of these countries with violence and wrong than for them to defend and keepe their owne Shall a man be charged with disobedience because he seeketh to keepe his purse from him that would robbe him I meane not by this to charge those Noble men which wan these countries by the sword but I speake it to note the parcial dealing of the writers setters foorth of those histories that should haue reported things indifferentlie as they were done and laid downe the causes and circumstances of euerie action truelie who being altogither parciall fauoring the one side hating the other do pronounce of the fact according to their priuate affections condemning oftentimes the innocent and iustifieng the wrong doers These considerations I saie besides my bounden duty caused me to venture to take this thing in hand The translation of H. Lhoyd I haue conferred with the Brytish booke whereof I had two ancient copies and corrected the same when there was cause so to doo And after that the most part of the booke was printed I receiued another larger copie of the same translation being better corrected at the hands of Robert Glouer Somerset Herald a learned and studious Gentleman in his profession the which if I had had at the beginning manie things had come foorth in better plight than they now be Againe I got all the authors that I could come by which haue anie thing written of the affaires of VVales as Gildas Asser Meneuensis Galfride William of Newborow Matthew Paris Matthew Westminster Thomas Walsingham Ponticus Virunnius Polydor Virgil Io. Leyland Io. Bale I. Prise Matthew Parker Io. Caius VVilliam Lambert and all the English Chronicles printed In written hand I had Gildas Sapiens alias Nennius Henrie Huntington VVilliam Malmsbury Marianus Scotus Ralph Cogshall Io. Euersden Nicholas Triuet Florentius Vigorniensis Simon of Durham Roger Houedon and other which remaine in the custodie of I. Stowe citizen of London who deserueth cōmendation for getting togither the ancient writers of the histories of this land I had also the
Shrewesburie were Richard de Belmersh or de Beleasmo as some doo call him who being chéefe dooer about Roger Mountgomery Earle of Salop was preferred to the Bishopricke of London and afterwards appointed by this King Henrie to be warden of the Marches and gouernour of the countie of Salop Walter Constable the father of Milo Earle of Hereford and Rayner the kings lieutenant in the countie of Salop. About this time as Bale noteth the church of Meneuia or S. Dauids began to be subiect to the sea of Canturburie being alwaies before the Metrapolitane church of all Wales In the yeare 1103. Owen ap Edwyn died after great miserie and long sicknesse Then also Richard the sonne of Baldwyn did fortifie the castell of Ridcors and chased Howel ap Grono out of the countrie to whom the King had giuen the custodie of that castell who neuerthelesse returned shortlie after and burned all the countrie houses corne and haie and slew a great number of the Normanes as they returned homeward and kept all the countrie in his subiection except the castels and these garrisons At this time the King did take the rule of Dyuet from Saer to whom he had committed the same and gaue it to Gerald who had beene sometimes Steward there under Arnulph Then the Normanes who were in the castell of Rydcors and other castels there abouts seeing they could not haue the vpper hand of Howel ap Grono in open fight fell to their accustomed practise of treason and so obtained their purpose in this manner There was one Gwgan ap Meyric who had nursed a sonne to Howel ap Grono and therefore verie well trusted and loued of him as the manner of Wales is This traitour being corrupted by the Normanes procured his maisters death bidding him one night to his house to make merrie whither he came gentlie Then Gwgan gaue notise thereof to the garrisons of the castels who in the dawning of the daie entred the towne comming about the house gaue a great showte wherewith Howel awooke and coragiouslie leapt out of his bed and sought his weapons but the traitor Gwgan had conueied them awaie when he was asleepe Then he called for his men but they were all fled to saue their liues and as he would haue gotten awaie he was taken by Gwgan and his companie and strangled whose bodie he deliuered to the Normanes which cut off his head and brought it to the castell of Rydcors And this traitorous murther of the kings lieutenant was left vnpunished For whatsoeuer fault the Normanes committed was alwaies winked at and if the Welshmen did neuer so little offend the lawes of the king it was thought an heinous fault which was the cause that afterwards they rebelled against the king who sought nothing but their vtter destruction About this time Anselme Archbishop of Canturburie called a synod at London where among other things it was ordeined and decreed that priests should not marrie which was not before that time forbidden in Brytaine This ordinance or decree seemed to some verie cleanlie and honest but of other it was thought perilous and dangerous least they seeking to be cleane and honest as they termed it should fall into horrible uncleanlinesse and dishonestie abhominable to a christian man and this was a thousand one hundered and odde yeares after the incarnation of Christ. King Henrie in the fift yeare of his reigne sailed with a great power to Normandie where his brother Robert with Robert de Belesmo Arnulph and William Earle of Mauritania gaue him battell but the King got the victorie and tooke the Duke his brother and William de Mauritania prisoners and carried them to England whom he committed to perpetuall prison and caused his brothers eies to be put out Then shortlie after died Edgar king of Scots and Alexander his brother was crowned in his place by consent of king Henrie At this time Meyric and Gruffyth the sonnes of Trahaern ap Caradoc were both slaine by Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn Also Meredyth ap Blethyn brake the prison where he had been a long time and came home and gat his owne inheritance againe and enioied it quietlie The yeare 1108. the rage of the sea did ouerflow and drowne a great part of the lowe countrie of Flanders in such sort that the inhabitants were driuen to seeke themselues other dwelling places who came to King Henrie and desired him to giue them some void place to remaine in who being verie liberall of that which was not his owne gaue them the land of Ros in Dyuet or Westwales where Penbrooke Tenby and Hauerford are now built there they remaine to this daie as may well be perceiued by their speach and conditions farre differing from the rest of the countrie At that time Gerald steward did build againe the castell of Penbrooke in a place called Congarth Vechan and brought thither all his houshold stuffe and other goods with his wife and children Then also Cadogan ap Blethyn made a great feast in Christmas and bad all the Lords of the countrie to his house in Dyuet among whom came Owen his sonne who being at his fathers house and hearing the beautie of Nest wife to Gerald steward of Penbrooke praised aboue all the women in the land was meruelous desirous to see hir And for so much as Gladys wife to Rees ap Theodor or Tewdor and mother to Nest was the daughter of Rywalhon ap Convyn and coosen germane to Cadogan his father he with a few vnder the colour of freendship and coosenage went to see hir finding the truth to surmount the fame he came home all inflamed with hir loue and in that doting moode the same night returning thither againe with a sort of wild companions entred the castell priuilie and compassed the chamber about and set the house on fire wherewith Gerald and his wife awoke and he would haue issued out to know what that noise meant but his wife fearing some treason staied him and counselled him to go to the priuie and so pulling vp the boord she helped him out that waie and then she came to the chamber dore and said that there was none but she and hir children yet they entred in and sought al about but when they could not find him they tooke hir and hir two sons and a sonne and a daughter borne by a concubine to Gerald and caried them awaie to Powys and so burning the castell they spoiled all the countrie Now when Cadogan hard this he was verie sorie and feared the kings displeasure and forthwith went to Powys and willed his sonne to send home to Gerald his wife and children with his goods but Owen in no wise would depart with the woman yet at hir request he sent to Gerald his children againe And when Richard bishop of London whom the king had appointed Warden of the Marches being at Shrewsburie hard of this hee was verie sore offended and
part of his armie with guides of the countrie to burne Bangor who did so taking Rotpert the bishop prisoner who was afterward ransomed for 200. hawkes Then the prince seeing all England and Wales against him a great part of his land won from him thought it best to entreat with the king And thervpon he sent Ione his wife the kings daughter to hir father to make a peace who being a discreet woman found the meanes that vpon pledges giuen for safe conduct the prince came to the king and made peace with him and did him homage Then giuing him pledges he promised vnto him towards his charges 20000. heads of cattell and fortie horsses Moreouer he granted to the king the Inland for euer wherevpon the king returned to England with great triumph after that he had brought all Wales vnder his subiection sauing Rees Owen the sonnes of Gruffyth ap Rees Therfore at his departure he gaue straite commandement to Foulke Vicount of Caerdyff called Warden of the Marches a cruell tyrant but yet wel loued of the king to take an armie with him that he ioining with Maelgon and Rees Vachan might compell the aforesaid sonnes of Gruffyth to obeie him This Foulke or Falcasius de Breant a Norman borne and a bastard being a cruell and a wicked man was called by king Iohn to his aid against the Barons who vsed himselfe cruellie towards them for which cause she said king gaue him in mariage Margaret de Riparijs an inheritrice of great possessions This Foulke calling vnto him Maelgon and Rees came to the Cantref of Penwedic then the yoong lords seing no remedie sent to him for peace and safeconduct to passe to the court which he granted them When they came to the court vpon their submission to the king with the gift of all their lands betwixt Aeron and Dyui they were receiued of him very gentlie and curteouslie intreated and after they had doone him homage they returned home againe Then Foulke before his departure out of the countrie fortified the castell of Aberystwyth and manned it to the kings behoofe But within a while Maelgon as he was verie vnconstant and Rees Vachan repented them of the peace they had made with the king and therevpon laid siege to the castell of Aberystwyth getting the same destroied it When their nephues Rees and Owen sawe that their vncles had broken the kings peace they made a roade vnto Maelgons countrie and slew a great number of his men and returned with a rich bootie The next yeare prince Lhewelyn being not able to abide the displeasures which the garrisons that the king left in his nephues castels in Northwales did to his people called to him Gwenwynwyn from Powys Maelgon ap Rees from Southwales Madoc ap Gruffyth Maylor from Bromfield Meredyth ap Rotpert from Cydewen and opened to them this miserable case how they which were woont to haue a prince of their owne nation now by their owne wilfulnesse were brought in subiection to a stranger and declared also vnto them how that if they would agree among themselues they might defend their ancient estate still which thing they all promised to do swore fealtie to prince Lhewelyn forthwith gathered an armie wan all the castels sauing Ruthlan Dyganwy then comming to Powys they laid siege to the castell which Robert Vepont had made at Mathraual But when the king was informed of all this he leuied an armie and came thither to raise the siege and after caused the castell to be rased then returned home hauing greater matters in hand betweene him his nobles Then being at Notingham hering how the prince of Wales destroied all the Marches he caused the pledges which he had receiued the last yere to be hanged as Howel the son of Cadwalhon Madoc the sonne of Maelgon and others to the number of 28. striplings Also Robert Vepont did hang at Shrewesburie Rees the sonne of Maelgon not being yet seuen yeares of age and so cruellie murthered the innocent to reuenge the offenses of others In the meane while that the king remained at Notingham he receiued letters from the princesse of Northwales his daughter declaring that his nobles had conspired with the French king against him and for proofe thereof she alledged that Robert Fitzwater Eustace de Vescy and Stephan Ridell were secretelie fled into France and that the French king prepared an armie to come to England vnder the colour that the king was a rebell from the church for that he would not condescend to the bishop of Romes requests The yeare 1213. Innocentius Pope of Rome did release prince Lhewelyn Gwenwynwyn and Maelgon of those oths that they had made to king Iohn and willed them vnder the paines of cursing to annoie and trouble him all that they could as the enimie of the church Wherevpon forthwith Lhewelyn receiued all the Inland countrie which to this time was in the kings hands But within a little after the king by the persuasion of Pandulph the legat granted the Pope his request and obteined absolution at his hands and releasement of the interdiction vpon performance of his promises Then king Iohn hearing how the French king was in Flanders and had a great nauie at Dam purposing to bring the Earldome into his subiection sent William de Longaspata Earle of Salisburie Reginald Earle of Boleyn and Hugh de Noua villa or Neuill thither with a great nauie who ouerthrew the Frenchmen and returned home with great spoile Shortlie after king Iohn sailed to Rochell where the Earle of those marches and Geffrey de Landanamo were reconciled to him The yeare folowing king Iohn made peace with the French king for fiue yeares Then Rees son to Gruffyth ap Rees which was heire to prince Rees seeing he could haue no part of his fathers lands but that his vncles did keepe all from him by force made his complaint to the king And the king pittieng his estate sent to Foulke Vicount of Caerdyff warden of the marches and to the steward of Hereford commanding them to take all Stratywy from Rees Vachan whom other call Rees Gryc vnlesse he would let his nephues enioie the castell of Lhauymdhyfry with the territorie belonging thereto And they sent to Rees to know his mind who answered them stoutlie that they should not haue one foote of land of him Therefore Foulke gathered a great armie and met with yoong Rees at Talhwynelgain where he looked for him with a number of men that he had gotten in Brechnock and thence they marched in three battelles towardes Dyneuowr of which yoong Rees lead the first Foulke the second and Owen brother to Rees the third Then Rees Vachan came boldlie and gaue them battell where in the end he was put to flight with the losse of a great number of his men Then he went straight and manned the castell of Dineuowr and burned the towne of
by law he ought to be imprisoned or no. Item the said Gruffyth and his heires will stand to the iudgement of the kings court for and concerning that portion of the inheritance of the said Lhewelyn his father which of right ought to appertaine vnto him Item the said Senena vndertaketh for the said Gruffyth and his heires that the said Gruffyth and his heirs shall yéeld and paie yearelie to the king for the same lands the summe of thrée hundreth markes Whereof the first third part to be paid in monie the second in kine and the third in horses by the estimation of indifferent men and the same to be paid yearelie at Michaelmas and Easter by euen portions by the hands of the Shirife of the countie of Salop for the time being Item the said Senena vndertaketh further for the said Gruffyth and his heires that they and euerie of them shall obserue the peace against the said Dauid and suffer him quietlie to enioy such portion of his fathers inheritance as to him shall be found to be due Item the said Senena doth further vndertake for the said Gruffyth hir husband and his heires that in case anie Welshman hereafter shall happen to rebell against the king they at their owne costes and charges shall compell the said offender to make satisfaction to the king for his disobedience Item for the performance of the premisses the said Senena will deliuer vnto the lord the king Dauid and Roderike hir sonnes for pledges with prouiso that if the said Gruffyth and Owen or either of them shall happen to die before their deliuerie out of the said prison it shall be lawfull for the said Senena to haue one of hir sonnes released the other remaining with the king for pledge Item the said Senena hath sworne vpon the holie Euangelist that the said Gruffyth hir husband and his heires and euerie of them shall accomplish and performe all the premisses on their behalfe further vndertaketh that the said Gruffyth hir husband vpon his deliuerie out of prison shall take the same oth Item the said Senena in the name of the said Gruffyth hir husband submitteth hir selfe concerning the obseruation of the premisses vnto the iurisdiction of the reuerend fathers the bishops of Hereford and Lichfield so that the said bishops or either of them at the kings request shall compell the said Gruffyth and his heires to obserue all and singular the premisses on their behalfe by sentence of excommunication vpon their persons and interdiction vpon their lands Lastlie the said Senena both vndertake and promise bona fide to sée and procure the full performance of all the premisses and that the said Gruffyth hir husband and his heires shall allow and performe the same and thereof shall deliuer his instrument in writing to the king in forme aforesaid To this charter both parties put their seales Gruffyth and Senena to that part which remained with the king and the king to that part which remained with Senena Moreouer for the sure performance of these articles the said Senena for and in the name of hir husband put in for pledges the aforenamed noble men to wit Ralph Mortimer Walter Clifford Roger de monte alto c. Who bound themselues by their seuerall writings obligatorie to the king in maner and forme following Omnibus hoc scriptum visuris Rogerus de monte alto Senescallus Cestriae Salutem Sciatis quòd ego me constitui plegium c. TO all and singular to whome this writing shall come Roger de monte alto Steward of Chester sendeth greeting Know yee that I haue constituted my selfe pledge for Senena the wife of Gruffyth the sonne of Lhewelyn sometimes prince of Northwales and haue vndertaken for hir to our souereigne lord Henrie king of England that the said Senena shall accomplish and performe all and singular those couenants and articles agreed vpon betweene our said souereigne Lord and the said Senena for and concerning the deliuerance of the said Gruffyth hir husband and Owen his son out of the prison of Dauid his brother the portion of inheritance due vnto the said Gruffyth which the said Dauid keepeth from him by force In witnesse whereof to this present writing I haue put my seale Dated at Salop the mundaie before the feast of the Assumption of the blessed virgin Marie in the 25. yeare of the reigne of the said King The like charters were made by euerie one of the other noble men pledges who bound themselues with the like words Further such of the said lords which fauored Gruffyths cause as were out among themselues were now made fréends as Morgan ap Howel lord of Kery Sir Ralph Mortimer which before were at variance Wherevpon Dauid being driuen to extremities hauing most of the nobilities of Wales against him especiallie Gruffyth ap Madoc lord of Bromfield fauored him not who being a man of great wisedome and power was entirelie loued of the king Againe the sentence of excommunication the interdiction of his land did not a little vexe him But the kings presence with so puisant an armie did so moue his spirits that he could not be quiet till he had sent to the king to desire peace with this submissiō folowing The Charter of the Articles of Dauids submission to the King Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos praesentes literae peruenerint Dauid filius Leolini salutem Sciatis quòd concessi domino meo Henrico regi Angliae illustri c. TO all Christian people to whome these present letters shall come Dauid the sonne of Lhewelyn sendeth gréeting Know yée that I haue granted and promised to deliuer vnto the lord Henrie the noble king of England Gruffyth my brother with his sonne and heire whom I kéepe in prison and all other prisoners who by occasion of the said Gruffyth lie in durance Item I shall stand to the iudgement of the kings court aswell in that case whether the said Gruffyth ought to be detained prisoner or no as also for and concerning the part of the inheritance of the said Lhewelyn my father claimed by the said Gruffyth according to the custome of Wales so that the peace be maintained betwéene me and the said Gruffyth Item I and the said Gruffyth and either of vs shall hold our portions of land of our said soueraigne Lord the king in Capite acknowledging him chiefe lord thereof Item I shall restore vnto Roger de monte alto Steward of Chester his land of Montalt or Mould with the appurtenances Item I shall likewise restore to all other Barons all such lands lordships and castels as were taken from them sithence the beginning of the wars betwéene the lord Iohn king of England and the said Lhewelyn prince of Wales my father sauing the right of all couenants and grants by writing to be reserued vnto the iudgement and determination of the kings court Item I shall giue and restore vnto our souereigne lord the king all his charges
in this present vsage laid out Item I shall make satisfaction for all damages and iniuries doone by me or anie of my subiects vnto the king or his according to the consideration of the kings court and shall deliuer such as shalbe malefactors in that behalfe Item I shall restore vnto the said lord the king all the homages which the late king Iohn his father had which the said lord the king of right ought to haue especiallie of all the noble men of Wales and if the king shall set at libertie anie of his captiues the possessions of that man shall remaine to the king Item the land of Elsiner with the appurtenances shall remaine to the lord the king and his heires for euer Item I shall not receiue or suffer to be receiued within my countrie of Wales anie of the subiects of England outlawed or banished by the said lord the king or his barons of Mercia Item for confirmation and performance of all and singular the premisses on my behalfe I shall prouide by bonds and pledges and by all other waies and meanes as the said lord the king shall award and will accomplish the commandement of the said king and will obeie his lawes In witnesse whereof to this present writing I haue put my seale Dated at Alnet by the riuer of Elwey in the feast of the decollation of S. Iohn Baptist in the 25. yeare of the reigne of the said king For the obseruations of these articles the said prince Dauid and Ednyuet Vachan were sworne Also the said prince Dauid submitted himselfe to the iurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canturburie and of the bishops of London Hereford and Couentrie for the time being That all or one of them whome the king shall appoint may excommunicate him and interdict his land vpon breach of anie the said articles And therevpon he procured the bishops of S. Bangor and S. Asaph to make their charters to the lord the king whereby they granted to execute and denounce all sentences aswell of excommunication as of interdiction sent from the foresaid Archbishop bishops or anie of them The said Dauid also sent priuilie to the king to desire him that he would suffer him being his nephue and the lawfull heire of Lhewelyn his father to enioy the principalitie of Wales rather than Gruffyth which was but a bastard and no kinne vnto the king Giuing him withall to vnderstand that in case he did set Gruffyth at libertie he should be sure to haue the warre renewed Wherevpon the king knowing these things to be true and vnderstanding also that Gruffyth was a valiant stout man and had manie fréends and fauorers of his cause inclined rather to assent vnto Dauids request than otherwise to be in danger of further troubles and therefore willinglie granted the same Shortlie after Dauid sendeth his brother Gruffyth vnto the king and other pledges for himselfe for performance of the said articles which the king sent forthwith to the towre of London there to be safelie kept allowing to Gruffyth a noble a daie for his finding And within few daies after Michaelmas prince Dauid came to the kings court and did his homage and swore fealtie who for so dooing in that he was the kings nephue was sent home againe in peace When Gruffyth saw how althings went that he was not like to be set at libertie he began to deuise waies and meanes to escape out of prison Wherefore deceiuing the watch one night he made a long line of hangings couerings and shéetes and hauing gotten out at a window let downe himselfe by the same from the toppe of the towre but by reason that he was a mightie personage and full of flesh the line brake with the weight of his bodie and so falling downe headlong of a great height his necke and head was driuen into his bodie with the fall whose miserable carcase being found the morowe after was a pitifull sight to the beholders The king being certified thereof commanded Gruffyths sonne to be better looked vnto and punished the officers for their negligence Then the king fortified the castell of Dyserth in Flyntshire Also the king gaue to Gruffyth sonne to Gwenwynwyn lord of Powys his inheritance and to the sonnes of Conan ap Owen Gwyneth their lands in Merionyth Then shortlie after Gilbert Marshall Earle of Penbrooke was slaine by misfortune fighting at the Turnay at Hereford The bishop of Bangor came to the court to sue for the deliuerance of Gruffyth sonne to prince Lhewelyn but the king knowing him to be a man of great courage would in no wise grant him libertie The yeare after king Henrie went to France with an armie to succour Hugh de Brune his father in lawe meaning also to recouer some of that which his father had lost but all in vaine for the people fauoured the French king therfore hauing lost a great number of his men amongst whom was Gilbert de Clare he returned home againe Maelgon Vachan about this time fortified the castel of Garthgrugyn Iohn de Mynoc also fortified the castell of Buelht Roger Mortimer the castell of Melyenyth The summer folowing the king began to trouble the Welshmen verie sore and to take their lands by force without iust title or rightfull cause This yeare died Hugh de Albineto Earle of Arundell whose inheritance was diuided betwixt his foure sisters Whereof Isabel the eldest had maried Iohn Fitzalan lord of Oswalstree and Clun whose sonne named also Iohn Fitzalan was in the right of the said Isabel his mother created Earle of the Earledome of Arundell in the which house it remained to our time Within a while after Rees Mechylh sonne to Rees Gryc of Southwales died This yeare prince Dauid sent to Rome to complaine to the Pope how the king of England compelled him vniustlie to hold his lands of him Therefore the Pope sent to the abbots of Aberconwy and Cymer a commission to enquire of this matter After the death of Gruffyth king Henrie in the 29. yeare of his reigne as appeareth by the records in the towre intituled his eldest sonne Edward to the principalitie of Wales which thing when Dauid vnderstood he put himselfe in armour to defend his inheritance and right and knowing himselfe not able to withstand the kings force he sent to Rome with great gifts to the Pope complaining as is here mentioned and declaring withall that Lhewelyn his father had least him and the principalitie of Wales vnder the protection of the church of Rome His sute therefore to the Pope was that he would accept of the same and that Dauid and his heires might hold it of the church of Rome yéelding and paieng yearelie out of the same the summe of fiue hundreth markes for paiment of which summe he bound himselfe and his successours by solemne oth and writing executed accordinglie Which offer Pope Innocentius ex super abundanti gratia accepted Quia ecclesia Romana nunquam claudit gremium talia
serue for a mans necessarie defense and were not distrainable without the prince his licence 5 Causes of inheritance were not heard or determined but from the ninth of Nouember till the ninth of Februarie or from the ninth of Maie vntill the ninth of August The rest of the yeare was counted a time of vacation for sowing in the spring and reaping in the haruest 6 This also is to be obserued that all matters of inheritance of land were determined and adiudged by the King or Prince in person or his speciall deputie if he were sicke or impotent and that vpon view of the same land calling vnto him the fréeholders of that place two elders of his counsell the Chiefe iustice attending alwaies in the court the ordinarie iudge of the countrie where the land laie and the priest The maner of their procéeding was thus The king or prince sate in his Iudiciall seate higher than the rest with an elder on his right hand and another on his left and the fréeholders on both sides next vnto them which for this cause as I thinke were called Vchelwyr Before him directlie a certaine distance off and a little lower sate his Chiefe iustice hauing the priest on his right hand and the ordinarie iudge of that countrie on the left The court being set the plaintife came in with his aduocate champion and Ringylh or sergeant and stood on the left side then came in the defendant in like maner with his aduocate champion and Ringylh and stood on the right side and last of all the witnesses of both parties came which stood directlie before the Chiefe iustice at the lower end of the hall vntill they were called vp to testifie the truth of their knowledge in the matter in variance The figure of the which I thought good héere to laie downe as you sée in the page next following After the hearing of the books read the depositions of the witnesses and full pleading of the cause in open court vpon warning giuen by the Rhinghylh the Chiefe Iustice the priest and the ordinarie iudge withdrew themselues for a while to consult of the matter and then Secundum allegata probata brought their verdict the court sitting Whervppon the king or prince after consultation had with the elders or seniors which sate by him gaue definitiue sentence except the matter was so obscure and intricate that right and truth appeared not in the which case it was tried by the two champions and so the cause ended This shall be sufficient for this time Now therefore let vs go forward in the historie At this time the foresaid kings Aulafe and Regnald entered the land of Edmund who gathering his strength together folowed them into Northumberland and ouercame them in plaine battell and chased them out of the land and so remained a whole yeare in those parts setting things in order and quieting of that countrie And bicause he could not by anie meanes bring the inhabitants of Cumberland to liue in anie honest order he spoiled that countrie and committed it to the rule of Malcolme king of Scotland vpon condition that he should send him succours in all his warres both by sea and land Some other write that king Edmund being accompanied with Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht which was after prince of Wales entred Cumberland and taking the two sonnes of Dummaile king of that prouince put out their eies and then gaue that countrie to Malcolme to be holden of him with condition to kéepe the North part of the realme from incursion of enimies the which condition was afterward but slenderlie perfourmed This Malcolme was the sonne of Donald King of Scotland and was the next king after Constantine the third being in number the 76. In the yeare 942. died Hubert Bishop of S. Dauids the yeare also following Marclois Bishop of Bangor and Vssa the sonne of Lhavyr died The yeare 944. the Englishmen did enter Wales with a strong armie and spoiled Strad Clwyd and returned home At which time Conan the sonne of Elise was put in danger of death by poison and Everus Bishop of S. Dauids died The yeare after Edmund King of England was slaine by treason as some writers saie vpon S. Augustines daie as he was at dinner Other saie that he espied an outlawe sitting in the hall and as he drew him from the table the outlaw slew the King with a knife And some be of opinion that as the King would haue rescued a man of his from an officer who had arrested him the same officer slue him not knowing that he was the King he lieth buried at Glastenburie After whose death Edred or Edfred his brother was crowned in his place who made an expedition to Scotland and Northumberland and subdued them both and receiued fealtie and homage of the Northumbers and Scots by oth which was not long kept In the yeare 948. died Howel Dha the noble and worthie King or Prince of Wales whose death was sore bewailed of all men for he was a prince that loued peace and good order that feared God He left behind him foure sonnes Owen Run Roderike and Edwyn betwixt whom and the sonnes of Edwal there was great warres for the chiefe rule of Wales as shall appeare in the historie following Ievaf and Iago Ievaf and Iago the sonnes of Edwal Voel AFter the death of Howel Dha his sonnes did diuide Southwales and Powys betwixt them and Ievaf and Iago the second and third sonnes of Edwal Voel ruled Northwales bicause their elder brother Meyric was not a man worthie to rule who comming of the elder house would haue had the chiefe rule of all Wales which the sonnes of Howel Dha denied them And therevpon Iago or Iames and Ievaf entred Southwales with a great power against whome came Owen the sonne of Howel and his brethren and fought together at the hils of Carno where Iago and Ievaf had the victorie and the yeare folowing the same brethren did twise enter into Southwales and spoiled Dyuet and slue Dwnwalhon the Lord thereof And within a while after died Roderike one of the sonnes of Howel Dha In the yeare 952. the sonnes of Howel gathered their strength together against Ievaf and Iago and entered their land to the riuer of Conwy where they fought a cruell battell at a place called Gwrgustu or Lhanrwst as some thinke where a great number were slaine vpon either side as Anarawd the sonne of Gwyriad or Vriet the sonne of Roderike the Great and Edwyn the sonne of Howel Dha in the which battell were ouerthrowne the sonnes of Howel whome Ievaf and Iago pursued to Caerdigan and destroied their countrie with fire and sword About this time Yarthyr the sonne of Mervyn was drowned and the yeare following Congelach King of Ireland was slaine But to returne to Edred King of England As soone as he was returned to his owne land Aulaf with a great armie landed in Northumberland and was receiued of
the people with much gladnes but anon after like fickle and vnconstant men they banished him the land againe and tooke to their king one Hircius the sonne of Haroald whome likewise after three yeares they expelled and willinglie submitted themselues to Edred who after he had ruled the whole land eight yeares died and was buried at Winchester After him reigned Edwyn sonne of Edmund in whose time chanced nothing woorthie to be put in writing but that he married another mans wife hir husband being aliue This man after he had gouerned the realme foure yeares died leauing his kingdome to his brother Edgar who was crowned king of England in his stead In the yeare 958. was a woonderfull hot summer when Gwgan the sonne of Gwyriad the sonne of Roderike died After the which heate there followed a great plague in March following In those daies Iago and Ievaf by force and strength ruled all Wales as they thought good and yet for all their power Abloic king of Ireland landed in Môn and hauing burnt Holyhed spoiled the countrie of Lhyyn In the yeare 961. the sonnes of Edwyn the son of Colhoyn were slaine after they had destroied all the countrie to Towyn About this time Meyric the sonne of Cadvan Rytherch Bishop of S. Dauids and Cadwalhon ap Owen departed out of this transitorie world Not long after the countrie of Northwales was sore spoiled by the armie of Edgar king of England The cause of this warre was the non paiment of the tribute that the King of Aberffraw by the lawes of Howel Dha was to paie to the king of London In the end there was a peace concluded for king Edgar vnderstanding what hurt the countries of England and Wales receiued dailie by reason of the great multitude of Woolues that then abounded especiallie in Wales which destroied much shéepe and otherwise did great harme released the tribute in monie appointed by the said lawes of Howel Dha and bound the prince of Northwales to paie him yearelie certaine Woolues for his tribute and so to be released of that other tribute in monie which the said prince performed vntill he had left neuer a Woolfe in Wales or England In the yeare 966. Roderike the sonne of Edwal Voel was slaine by the Irishmen by whome Aberfraw was destroied The next yeare there fell a great debate betwixt the two sonnes of Edwal Iago and Ievaf which had ruled iointlie together from the death of Howel Dha to that time and shortlie after Iago hauing taken his brother Ievaf by force verie cruellie kept him in prison a long time about the which time Eneon the sonne of Owen prince of Southwales wan and seazed to himselfe the land of Gwyr And in the yeare 969. Mactus the sonne of Haroald with an armie of Danes did enter the Ile of Anglesey and spoiled Penmon These Danes were suffered by Edgar to inhabite quietlie through all England till they were as strong as the Englishmen and then they fell to such riotousnes and drinking that much mischiefe insued thereof wherevpon Edgar made a law that euerie man should drinke by measure and caused a certaine marke to be set in euerie pot how deepe they should drinke and so by these meanes he somewhat staied that immoderate ingurgitation Not long after that Godfryd the sonne of Haroald did subdue to himselfe the whole Ile of Anglesey which he inioied not long King Edgar likewise in the yeare 972. did send a great nauie to Caerlheon vpon Vsc which shortlie turned backe without dooing anie notable act The next yeare following Howel the sonne of Ievaf raised a great power against his vncle Iago for the deliuerance of his father out of prison and ouercame his vncle in fight whome he chased out of the land and tooke his eldest vncle Meyric the sonne of Edwal and put out both his eies and kept him in prison where he died shortlie after leauing behind him two sonnes Edwal and Ionaval of the which Edwal came afterward the most woorthie princes of Wales Howel notwithstanding he had set his father at libertie yet tooke vppon himselfe the whole rule of the land for his life time He had three brethren all men of great estimation Meyric Ievaf and Cadwalhon whose liues shall insue heereafter Howel ap Ievaf Howel the sonne of Ievaf They ouerranne also and spoiled the whole countrie of Deuon and Cornewale burned the towne of Bodman and the cathedrall church of S. Petrokes with the Bishops house Wherevpon the Bishops sea was remooued from thence to S. Germans where the same continued vntill the remoouing and vniting thereof vnto Crediton About this time died S. Dunstane who prophesied of much mischiefe and great destruction of the land by the Danes The yeare 981. Godfryd the sonne of Haroald did gather a great armie and landed in Westwales where spoiling all the land of Dyuet with the church of S. Dauids he fought the battell of Lhanwanoc Likewise in the yeare next ensuing Duke Alfred with a great power of Englishmen spoiled and destroied Brechnock and a great part of the lands of Owen prince of Southwales against whome Eneon the sonne of the said Owen and Howel king of Northwales did raise all their power and ouerthrew them in battell where the greatest part of Alfreds armie was slaine and the rest put to flight The yeare following the Gentlemen of Gwentsland rebelled against their prince and cruellie slue Eneon the son of Owen which came thither to appease them This Eneon was a woorthie and noble Gentleman who did manie notable actes in his fathers time and left behind him two sonnes Edwyn and Theodor or Tewdor Mawr of whome came afterward the kings or princes of Southwales In the yeare 984. Howel the sonne of Ievaf king of Wales entred England with an armie where he was fought withall and slaine valiantlie fighting This Howel had no sonne but his brethren reigned in his place Cadwalhon ap Ievaf Cadwalhon the sonne of Ievaf AFTER the death of Howel his brother Cadwalhon the second sonne of Ievaf tooke in hand the gouernance of Northwales and first made war with Ionaval his coosen the sonne of Meyric and right heire to the land and slue him but Edwal the yongest brother escaped awaie priuilie The yeare following Meredyth the sonne of Owen king or prince of Southwales with all his power entred into Northwales and in fight slue Cadwalhon the sonne of Ievaf and Meyric his brother and conquered the land to himselfe Wherein a man may see how God punished the wrong which Iago and Ievaf the sonnes of Edwal Voel did to their eldest brother Meyric who was first disherited and afterward his eies put out and one of his sonnes slaine For first Ievaf was imprisoned by Iago then Iago with his sonne Constantine by Howel the sonne of Ievaf and afterward the said Howel with his bretherne Cadwalhon and Meyric were slaine and spoiled of all their lands Meredyth ap
Owen Meredyth the sonne of Owen ap Howel Dha The yeare 987. died Ievaf the sonne of Edwal which had liued manie yeares a priuate life The same yeare also died Owen the son of Howel Dha Prince of Southwales This Owen had three sons Eneon which died in his fathers time Lhywarch which lost both his eies and Meredyth which as before is declared had wonne Northwales and after his fathers death tooke also to his possession all Southwales hauing no respect to his brother Eneon his sonnes Edwyn and Theodor or Tewdor About the same time the Danes sailed from Hampton alongst the coast spoiling Deuonshire Cornewale and so at the last landed in Southwales and destroied S. Dauids Lhanbadarn Lhanrystyd and Lhandydoch which were all places of religion and did so much hurt in the countrie besides that to be rid of them Meredyth was faine to agree with them to giue them a penie for euerie man within his land which was called The tribute of the blacke armie At this time Elwmaen the son of Abloic king of Ireland was slain a great number of people died for hunger The yeare 989. Owen the son of Dyfnwal was slaine Within a yeare after Meredyth king of Wales destroied the towne of Radnor at what time his nephew Edwyn the sonne of Eneon hauing to his aid duke Adelf and a great armie of Englishmen and Danes spoiled all the land of Meredyth in Southwales as Caerdigan Dyuet Gwyr Kydweli and S. Dauids where Edwyn tooke pledges of the chiefe men of those countries In the meane time this Meredyth with his people did spoile Glamorgan so that no place was free from sword and fire but at the last Meredyth and Edwyn fell at an agreement were made freends Soone after Cadwalhon the onelie sonne of Meredyth died Meredyth being thus occupied had so much to do in Southwales that Northwales laie open for the enimie which thing when the Danes perceiued they arriued in Anglesey and destroied the whole Ile Wherevpon the inhabitants of that countrie receiued Edwal the sonne of Meyric the right heire of Northwales for their prince in the yeare 992. After these great troubles there followed within a yeare after such famine scarsitie in Southwales that manie perished for want of food Edwal ap Meyric Edwal ap Meyric the sonne of Meredyth THis Edwal being in possession of the principalitie of Northwales studied to keepe and defend his people from iniuries and wrongs But Meredyth gathered togither all his power intending to recouer againe Northwales with whome Edwal met at Lhangwm and ouerthrew him in plaine battell where Theodor of Tewdor Mawr Meredyth his nephew was slaine who left behind him two sonnes Rees Rytherch a daughter called Elen. A litle after this Swayn the sonne of Haroald destroied the Ile of Man and entring to Northwales slew Edwal the prince therof who left behind him a sonne called Iago In the yeare of Christ 998. the Danes came againe to S. Dauids destroieng all before them and there they slew Morgeney or rather Vrgeney Bishop of that sea The same yeare also died Meredyth the sonne of Owen king or prince of Wales leauing behind him one onlie daughter called Angharad which was maried to Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht and after his death to Conuyn Hirdref or as other do thinke to Conuyn ap Gwerystan who had children by either of them which was the cause of much warre mischief in Wales as shall appeare hereafter Aedan ap Blegored Aedan the sonne of Blegored I doo not know neither could I euer find what colour or pretense of title this Aedan ap Blegored had to the principalitie of Northwales nor yet of whom he descended or who came of him whereas all the other princes are notoriouslie knowen of what families they descended and who came of them Neither yet doo I read of anie Blegored whose sonne he might be except it be that doctor of Law of whom mention is made in the lawes of Howel Dha whose estate was too meane to challenge the principalitie He is reported to haue gouerned about xij yeares Of this acts by him atchieued there is verie litle written sauing of those two battels the one wherin he ouercame Conan ap Howel and the other wherin he was ouercome himselfe and slaine with his foure sonnes by Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht In the yeare 1004. Gulfath and Vbiad Irish Lords were taken by the Scots and their eies put out which Scots did also destroie the countrie and towne of Deuelyn Likewise the Danes which had destroied againe Westwales went to England and there spoiled and burned the land all before them especiallie Somersetshire Dorsetshire and so through Hampshire and Sussex they came towards the riuer of Thames without anie let or staie and so sailed alongst the riuer to the place where the riuer Mydwey entreth to the Thames alongst which water they came to Rochester where they ouerthrew the Kentishmen that bade them battell Edelred king of England was at this time in Cumberland the chiefe denne of the Danes which land he brought to his subiection but in the meane while another armie of Danes fought againe with the men of Somersetshire and got the victorie and ruled the countrie at their pleasure Then Edelred hearing of the great worthines of Richard Duke of Normandie sent to him for his daughter Emma in mariage thinking thereby to haue succour but God intending to punish the great sinnes and enormities of the Saxons did moue the king thereto that like as they being instruments of Gods wrath vnder the colour of friends and hired soldiours had traiterouslie and cruellie slaine the Brytaines and driuen them out of their land so should the Normanes by colour of this affinitie first enter the land as friends and bring succour against the Danes and afterward come as foes and be the vtter destruction of the Saxons and Angles which was then foreseene and told the king by an Anachoret who inspired with the spirit of God sawe the plagues which he had certainelie appointed to fall vpon the Saxons But the king puffed vp with pride and hope of his affinitie did priuilie write to all the english rulers through the realme to kill the Danes in one night which then liued peaceablie which murther was cruellie executed vpon S. Brices daie at night But yet the Danes would not giue ouer so with losse Therefore the yeare following there came an armie of them to Deuonshire and ouerran the land with fire and sword sparing nothing that had life that they might reuenge the murther of their coosens They rased the citie of Excester and slue Hugh the Normane whome the Queene had appointed gouernour there Then Almarus Earle of Deuon gathered a great armie of Hampshire Wilshire and all the countrie about and met the Danes but he and his were put to flight and the Danes pursued them to Wilton and destroied it and Salisburie and returned to their
when the other heard vpon their promise they were readie to follow so made readie a great nauie In the meane while Tosty entred Humber with 40. saile but Earle Edwyn met with him and put him to flight who as he failed toward Scotland met with Haroald king of Norwaie with 300. saile comming towards England and ioining with him they both entred Humber and hauing landed their armie they came to Yorke where both Earles Edwyn Marcher gaue them battell vpon the south part of the towne but Haroald and Tosty bare awaie the victorie and spoiled the citie then marched forwards toward Stamfordbridge where Haroald king of England and all his power did meete with them And after a long fight manie valiant acts atchieued on both sides euen from morning till noone at what time the Norwaies began to retire backe ouer the water one of them worthie not to be forgotten kept the passage vpon the bridge with his axe against all the armie of England till three of the clock and slew 40. men but at the last one got vnder the bridge and with his speare gaue him his deaths wound through the bridge Then the armie passed ouer the bridge and put the Norwaies to flight and slew Haroald their king and Tosty where not one man escaped of all the number that was not either killed or burned Then Haroald entred Yorke with great ioie and triumph as he sate at dinner there came a post who told him how Duke William was landed at Suwerhide and had fortified himself with a trench at Hastings With which tidings Haroald being nothing dismaied made expedition thitherward Where William diuiding his armie into fiue battels made a long oration vnto his soldiours wherein he declared the worthinesse of their forefathers the Danes and Norwaies aswell against the Englishmen which were neuer able to abide their force as against the Frenchmen and other nations and how they were accustomed to ouercome at all times being well horssed well armed and good archers had now to doo with a nation onelie taught to trust to their feete euill horssed vnarmed and such as knew not how to occupie their bowes Then he brought his people to the field but Haroald couched all his armie in one battell as nigh togither as they could well stand and so set vpon his enimies And after long fight William caused his men to retire as if they fled then the Englishmen folowed apase and brake their araie which when William perceiued he brought in a battell of fresh Normanes who entred Haroalds battell and fought so sore that Haroald was hurt with an arrow and afterward slaine and so the Englishmen left the Normanes both the field and the victorie The yeare folowing VVilliam passed the sea to Normandie then Edgar Edeling came out of Scotland to Yorke for the people of the countrie had slaine Robert to whome VVilliam had giuen that Earldome and 900. men with him and had receiued Edgar for their king But VVilliam returning from Normandie destroied all the North countrie and chased Edgar to Scotland againe Also Edrike Syluaticus the sonne of Alfrike Earle of Mercia refusing to submit himselfe as other had done when he saw that the king was departed to Normandie rose against such as were left in his absence to kéepe the land in obedience wherevpon those that laie in the castell of Hereford Richard fitz Scrope and others oftentimes inuaded his lands and wasted the goods of his tenants but as often as they came against him they alwaies lost some of their owne men at length he calling to his aid the kings of Wales Blethyn and Rywalhon wasted the countrie of Hereford euen to Wye bridge and then returned with a maruelous great spoile This yeare also being 1068. Meredyth and Ithel the sonnes of Gruffyth ap Lhewelyn raised a great power against Blethyn and Rywalhon kings of Northwales and met with them at a place called Mechain where after long fight there were slaine vpon the one part Ithel and vpon the other part Rywalhon and Meredyth put to flight whome Blethyn pursued so straightlie that he starued for cold and hunger vpon the mountaines and so Blethyn the sonne of Convyn remained the onlie king of Powys and Northwales About this time Swayne king of Denmarke and Osburne his brother came to Humber with 300. sailes and to them came Edgar Edeling and Earle VValtelfe who all together came to Yorke and wan the castell and laie that winter betwixt Ouse and Trent till the king came thither and chased the Danes to their ships and destroied the inhabitants of the countrie but Earle VValtheof he receiued to mercie At this time Caradoc sonne to Gruffyth ap Rytherch ap Iestyn caused a great number of Frenchmen for so the Brytish booke calleth the Normanes to enter Southwales to whom he ioined his power of Gwentland and gaue Meredyth the king of that countrie an ouerthrow and slue him vpon the riuer of Rympyn At the same time also Dermot Maken Anel the worthiest and noblest prince that euer ruled in Ireland was murthered The two Earles Edwyn and Marcher with Hereward gathered an armie against the king but Edwyn was slaine of his owne people and the other tooke the Ile of Elie which the king so sore besieged that he shortlie tooke Marcher and his complices but Hereward escaped his hands manfully whom the king folowed to Scotland made Malcolme king of the land his subiect and vassall Then after the king passed to Normandie and receiued Edgar Edeling to his mercie And about this time the Normanes did lead a great power to VVestwales by sea and destroied Dyuet and the countrie of Caerdigan and caried awaie much spoile and did so likewise the yeare folowing Bleythyd Bishop of Meneuia or S. Dauids died at this time and Sulien was Bishop in his place Not long after this time Radulph Earle of Eastangles conspired against the king with Roger Earle of Hereford Earle VValtheof at the mariage of the said Radulph with Rogers sister in Essex the matter was opened but it pleased not the rest Therefore Radulph tooke shipping in Norwich fled to Denmarke and the king suddenlie comming ouertooke VValtheof and Roger of whom VValtheof was beheaded Roger committed to prison the people all slaine among whom there were a great number of VVelshmen This Radulphs mother came out of VVales which was the cause of the Welshmens being there for Radulph sent for manie of his mothers friends and kinsmen to come to this marriage meaning through their aid and procurement to get the princes and people of VVales to ioine with him in this enterprise He also and his complices sent to Cnute king of Denmarke promising him the kingdome of England to aid him against VVilliam the bastard But William being aduertised of all these things ouerthrew all their deuises for by his sudden comming vppon them out of Normandie he
the castell of Richard de la Mare and the castell of Dinerth and Caerwedros returned home with much honor Afterward towards the end of the same yeare they returned againe with 6000. footemen and 2000. horsemen well armed and to them came Gruffyth ap Rees Howel ap Meredyth of Brechnoke and his sonnes Madoc ap Ednerth who subdued the whole countrie to Aberteivi placing againe the old inhabitants and chasing awaie the strangers Against them came Stephen constable of Aberteivi Robert Fitzmartyn the sons of Gerald and William Fitziohn with all the power of the Normanes Flemings and Englishmen that were in Wales or the marches Now after a cruell and bloodie fight the strangers after their accustomed vse put all their hope in their forts and forsooke the field and the Welshmen folowed hard that besides 3000. that were slaine a great number were drowned and taken and caried awaie captiues After this victorie Owen and Cadwalader ouerran the whole countrie and returned home with rich spoiles as well in armour and horse as in other things with great triumph And at this time the pride of the nobles of England began to appeare for first Hugh Bigod kept the castell of Norwich but forthwith sore against his will he restored it to the king himselfe The cause of this tumult of the nobles was rumor which went abroad of the death of the king who was then sicke of a lethargie Those which bare him no good will verified the rumor as much as in them laie and stirred the people in the behalfe of the Empresse Such as were his fréends tooke strong castels to saue themselues as this Hugh Bigod for feare of the fréends of the Empresse tooke the castell of Norwich and afterward being certified that the king was well againe he was loth to deliuer the same out of his posession vnlesse it were into the kings owne hands After that the king did besiege Excester which Baldwyn de Reduerijs kept against him and wan it and so he did the Ile of Wight which was the said Baldwynes and banished him out of the land The yeare 1137. died Gruffyth ap Rees ap Theodor the light honor and staie of Southwales who had by his wife Gwenlhian the daughter of Gruffyth ap Conan Rees commonlie called the lord Rees and others Florentius moonke of Worcester in his supplie to Marianus Scotus saith that This Gruffyth ap Rees Prince of Southwales died by the deceitfull practise of his wife He writeth also of a noble knight named Paine a man of great valiancie who being verie earnest in pursuing of the Welshmen was at this time hurt with a speare and so died and was caried to Glocester and there buried Also towards the end of the same yeare died Gruffyth ap Conan king or prince of Northwales the onelie defense and sheeld of all Wales after he had escaped manie great dangers by sea and land in Ireland and Wales and after manie worthie victories and after he had brought Northwales which he found full of strangers to peace and quietnesse hauing ruled the same worthilie 50. yeares This prince had manie children by diuerse women first by Angharat the daughter of Owen ap Edwyn he had sonnes Owen Cadwalader and Cadwalhon who was slaine before his father died and daughters Marret Susanna Ranulht Agnes and Gwenlhian And by another woman he had Iago Ascain 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 behauior of the Welsh minstrels by a verie good Statute which is extant to this daie There are thrée sorts of minstrels in Wales 1 The first sort named Beirdh which are makers of songs and odes of sundrie measures wherein not onelie great skill and cunning is required but also a certeine naturall inclination and gift which in Latine is termed Furor poëticus These doo also kéepe records of Gentlemens armes and petegrées and are best esteemed and accounted of among them 2 The second sort of them are plaiers vpon instruments théefelie the Harpe and the Crowth whose musike for the most part came to Wales with the said Gruffyth ap Conan who being on the one side an Irishman by his mother and grandmother and also borne in Ireland brought ouer with him out of that countrie diuers cunning musicians into Wales who deuised in a manner all the instrumentall musike that is now there vsed as appéereth as well by the bookes written of the same as also by the names of the tunes and measures vsed amongst them to this daie 3 The third sort called Atcaneaid are those which doo sing to the instrument plaied by another and these be in vse in the countrie of Wales to this daie This statute or decrée here mentioned dooth not onelie prescribe and appoint what reward euerie of the said minstrels ought to haue and at whose hands but also of what honest behauiour and conuersation they ought to be to wit no make bates no vagabounds no ale-househanters no drunkards no brallers no whoorehunters no théeues nor companions of such In which things if they offend euerie man by the said statute is made an officer and authorized to arrest and punish them yea and take from them all that they haue then about them They are also in the same statute forbidden to enter into anie mans house or to make anie song of anie man without speciall licence of the partie himselfe And this statute or decrée hath béene oftentimes allowed by publike authoritie of the chéefe magistrats of that countrie as appeareth by sundrie commissions directed to diuers Gentlemen in that behalfe Owen Gwyneth Owen Gwyneth the sonne of Gruffyth ap Conan In the yeere 1140. Cynwric the sonne of Owen was slaine by the men of Madoc ap Meredyth ap Blethyn ap Convyn and the next yeare after king Stephen with a great armie did besiege Lincolne against whome came Ranulph Earle of Chester Robert Earle of Glocester with his father in law and the Barons which were disinherited to raise the siege But before they came the towne was won then passing a dangerous marrish they camped hard by the king readie to giue him battell who likewise brought foorth his men in three battels In the first were these Alan Earle of Brytaine the Earle of Mellent Hugh Bygod Earle of Norfolke Simon Earle of Hampton and Earle Warren In the second the Earle of Albemarle and William of Ypres a noble man a worthie souldiour And in the third the king with Baldwyn Fitzgilbert and a great number of nobles more And of the other part the disinherited Barons had the first place the Erle of Chester with his succours of Wales better couraged than armed had the second place and the Earle of Glocester lead the last battell These after a cruell fight tooke the king prisoner and afterward the Queene and
to the castell of Lhangadoc and wan it not regarding his promise and league with the sonnes of his brother Gruffyth ap Rees forgetting how worthilie they had serued him in his necessitie Therefore assoone as they heard of this both Rees and Owen came before the said castell wan it by assault slew or tooke prisoners all the garrison and then burned the castell to the earth The yeare 1210. king Iohn made a voiage to Ireland with an armie of great power and wanne the countrie of Conacht and tooke Cathol their prince prisoner In this voiage of King Iohn towards Ireland as he was in his iournie in the borders of Wales there was one taken and brought before him who had killed a préest The officer desired to vnderstand the kings pleasure what he would haue doone to him Let him go saith the king for he hath slaine mine enimie The churchmen of those daies persecuted king Iohn with booke bell and candell and therefore he little regarded the losse of some of them Also he spoiled Hugh de Lacie Lord of Meth of his castels and lands and tooke William de Bruse the yoonger and Mawd de Saint Valerike his mother and brought them both to England with him and caused them cruellie to be famished in the castell of Wyndsor The cause of the kings displeasure taken against this William de Bruse Lord of Brecknock as Matthew Paris reporteth the same was this When the Pope had excommunicated the realme of England The king fearing a further inconuenience tooke pledges of such of his nobles as he suspected would make anie stirre against him sending his messengers to the said William de Bruse demanded his sons for pledges Then Mawd the wife of the said William more malipart than manerlie taking the word out of hir husbands mouth answered roundlie that the king who had shamefullie slaine Arthur his nephue whom he ought rather to haue kept and preserued should haue none of hir children These words being by the messengers signified vnto the king put him in such a heat against the said Lord that he sent certeine souldiours to take him wherevpon he his wife and children were faine to flie into Ireland to saue their liues where the said Mawd and hir sonne were now taken but the father escaped and fled into France where he died afterward as the same author saith This yeare the Earle of Chester reedified the castell of Dyganwy which stood vpon the sea shore East of the riuer Conwy which prince Lhewelyn had before destroied Also he fortified the castell of Treffynnon or S. Wenefride Then prince Lhewelyn entered the Earles land and destroied a great part thereof and returned home with a great spoile Also Rees Vachan sonne to prince Rees fearing prince Lhewelyn who defended his nephues the sonnes of Gruffyth in their right went to the king for succours which he receiued with good will and by their aid he laid siege to the castell of Lhanymdhyfry Now when the garrison sawe no hope of succours they desired that they might depart bag baggage horsses all and so they did Likewise Gwenwynwyn whom the king held in prison was set at libertie and the king fearing the princes power sent an armie with him by whose means he receiued all his countrie againe in short space Maelgon also when he heard the same came to the kings court became the kings man who returning home with a great number of Normanes and Englishmen ioined to them all the power he could make in Wales and contrarie to the oth that he had made to his nephues Rees and Owen began to spoile their countrie and comming to Cantref Penwedic encamped at Cilkennyn and laie there all night consulting vpon his voiage In the meane time his nephues hearing this hauing but a small power not aboue 300. of chosen men came and lodged hard by vnknowing to their enimies And when they vnderstood by their spies that all was in quiet in Maelgons campe and how that his men mistrusting nothing behaued themselues careleslie these two lords prosecuted boldlie the enterprise which they had taken in hand and peaceablie entring the campe did come where they thought Maelgon laie or euer they were espied they gaue alarum and slew a great number before they awoke and the rest hearing the noise halfe amazed by means of the darkenesse escaped awaie thinking some great power had beene there But Maelgons men defended them manfullie vntill such time as their lord had gotten vpon his feete and escaped awaie by benefite of the night Then his nephue Conan ap Howel and his chiefe counseller Gruffyth ap Cadogan were both taken and Eneon ap Caradoc with a great number more slaine About this time Gilbert Earle of Glocester fortified the castell of Buelht where a litle before he had lost manie of his men This yeare also Mawd de Bruse wife to Gruffyth ap Rees died and was buried in a moonks coule in Stratflur by hir husband The next yeare ensuing king Iohn had manie complaints made vnto him by the Marchers vpon prince Lhewelyn how he entring their countrie burned and spoiled all as he went and slew their men Wherfore the king gathered a great armie through all England and called to him such lords and princes of Wales as held of him as Howel ap Gruffyth ap Conan ap Owen Gwyneth whom Lhewelyn had banished Madoc ap Gruffyth Maylor lord of Bromfield Chirke and Yale Meredyth ap Rotpert lord of Cydewen Gwenwynwyn lord of Powys Maelgon and Rees Vachan the sonnes of prince Rees rulers of Southwales With this great armie he entred into Northwales by Chester minding to destroie all that had life within that countrie Then the prince hearing of all this preparation against him aswell of his owne countriemen as others commanded all such as inhabited the Inland or Midle countrie which is now part of Denbigh and Flynt shires to remooue all their goods and cattels to Snowden hils for a time And so the king came along the sea coast to Ruthlan and so passed ouer the riuer Clwyd and came to the castell of Teganwy and there remained a while but Lhewelyn cut off his victuals behind him so that he could haue none from England and there cold not a man scatter from the skirmishes vnfought withall where the Northwales men alwaies both for the aduantage of the straits and knowledge of the places had the vpper hand At the last the English souldiours were glad to taste horsse flesh for pure neede Then when the king saw no remedie he returned home in great rage leauing the countrie full of dead bodies In August next ensuing he returned againe with a great armie and the lords before named with him entred into Wales at Blanch-monasterie now Oswestree whereof Iohn the sonne of William Fitzalan was lord At this time the king passing the riuer of Conwey encamped there by the riuer side and sent
Reynald Bruse came to him with sixe knights in his companie and desired his father in law of pardon for his offense who receiuing him gentlie did not onlie forgiue him but also gaue him the castell of Senghennyth and Reynald committed the same to the custodie of Rees Vachan Lhewelyn after he had set all things in good order in that countrie marched to Dyuet and being at Cefn Cynwarchan the Flemings sent to him to desire peace but the Prince would not grant them their request Then yoong Rees was the first that passed the riuer Cledheu to fight with them of the towne Wherevpon Iorwerth bishop of S. Dauids with all his clergie came to the Prince to desire peace to the Flemings which after long debating was thus concluded First that all the inhabitants of Ros and the land of Penbrooke should become the princes subiects and euer from thencefoorth take him for their liege Lord. Secondarilie that they should paie him a 1000. markes towards his charges before Michaelmas next cōming Thirdlie that for the performance of these they should deliuer forthwith to the Prince twentie pledges of the best in all the countrie which things they did Then the prince after he had brought all VVales to his subiection returned to Northwales with much honour Shortlie after there was a peace concluded betwixt the king and Lewys the French kings sonne Wherevpon the king promising the barons all their requests Lewys returned toward France Then shortlie after VVilliam Marshall Earle of Penbrooke got the towne of Caerlhêon and made warre against the VVelshmen whom contrarie to their promise the barons leaft out of the conclusion of peace The barons were verie glad of the fréendship and aid of the prince of Wales to serue their turne But now in the generall conclusion of the peace contrarie to their oth and promise they reserue out Wales to kéepe them plaie withall hoping to get some more land thereby Therefore let men take héed how they build vpon Turne-seruing Freendship Wherevpon Rees Vachan rased the castell of Senghennyth all the castels he had in his custodie in that countrie and banished all the Englishmen that dwelled there with their wiues and children for euer and diuided the countrie to the Welshmen who haue kept it vnto this daie The yeare ensuing prince Lhewelyn put his garrisons in the castels of Caermardhin and Aberteiui Then yoong Rees by the princes consent went to the king did him homage for his lands At this time William Earle of Arundell Rondell Earle of Chester William Ferrers Earle of Derbie and Bryan Lisle tooke their voiage toward the holie land In the yeare folowing Rees Gryc sonne to prince Rees married the daughter of the Earle of Clare and Iohn de Bruse married Marret the daughter of prince Lhewelyn At that time William Marshall the elder died leauing after him fiue sonnes and fiue daughters which daughters were thus married Mawd to Hugh Bygod Ioane to Warren de Mount Chensey Isabell to Gilbert de Clare Sibill to William Earle of Derbie and Eua to William de Bruse betwixt which fiue all his great inheritance was after diuided for all his sonnes died without issue and were euerie one after another Erles of Penbrooke The yeare 1220. Lhewelyn prince of VVales lead an armie to Penbrooke against the Flemings who contrarie to their oth and league had taken the castell of Aberteiui which castell the Prince wanne and destroied putting the garrison to the sword rased the castell went thence to the land of Gwys where he rased that castell and burned the towne Also he caused all Hauerford to be burned to the castell gates and destroied all Ros and Daugledhau and they which kept the castell sent to him for truse till Maie which was concluded vpon conditions and so he returned home Also this yeare certeine lords of Wales besieged the castell of Buelht which was Reynalds de Bruse Therefore the king came with an armie to the marches and raised the siege and came as far as Mountgomerie and built a new castell there As William de Albineto Earle of Arundell Henrie de Bohune Earle of Hereford and Sayer de Quincie Earle of Winchester were comming home from the holie land they died by the waie The yeare following there fell a great dissention betwixt prince Lhewelyn and Gruffyth his sonne for this Gruffyth enioied the Cantref of Merionyth without his fathers consent and therefore his father sent for him to come vnto him but he would not come therefore the Prince sware that he would be reuenged vpon him and his complices for that dishonor and then came with a great armie to Merionyth but his sonne fearing not the father got his people in the field readie to abide the battell but as they were in fight there was a peace concluded and Gruffyth yeelded to his father and cried him mercie Then Lhewelyn although he forgaue his sonne his offense yet he tooke Merionyth and Ardydwy from him building a castell there returned home againe At this time yoong Rees forsooke prince Lhewelyn bicause Aberteiui was not deliuered him as the promise was at the diuiding of Southwales and went to William Marshall Earle of Penbrooke therefore Lhewelyn came to Aberystwyth and seased the castell and all that territorie to his owne vse Then yoong Rees hearing this went vnto the king to complaine vpon the Prince and the king sent for the prince to Shrewesburie and made him and Rees freends the prince promising to deale with Rees for Aberteiui as he had done with Maelgon for Caermardhin This winter Iohn de Bruse by the consent of prince Lhewelyn fortified the castell of Senghennyth at that time also Isabell the kings mother maried the son of Hugh de Brune Earle of March without making the king priuie thereto William de Fortibus Earle of Albemarle about this time made an insurrection in Lincolneshire which was soone appeased then the king seased into his hands certaine honors and castels that diuerse men kept in their possessions without iust cause as Foulke de Breant kept the Earldoms of Northampton Oxford Bedford and Buckingham with the castels and holdes Peter de Malo lacu the castels of Corff and Shirburne with Somersetshire and Dorcestershire and the liberties and forrests Philip de Marke the castels of Peke and Notingham Notinghamshire and Derbyshire Gigelard de Siconia kept Windsore and Odhiam which for the most part the king receiued to his hands Also Hubert de Burgh was created Earle of Kent and chiefe Iustice of England who tooke to wife the king of Scots sister The yeare after yoong Rees sonne to Gruffyth ap Rees departed out of this world being a lustie gentleman and endued with manie notable vertues and was buried at Stratflur whose inheritance Lhewelyn diuided betweene his brother Owen and his vncle Maelgon The yeare after Christes incarnation 1223. William Marshall came from Ireland and landed at S. Dauids with
a great armie and shortlie after laid siege to Aberteiui and got it and from thence marched to Caermardhin and likewise got the same Lhewelyn prince of Wales at what time William Marshall Earle of Penbrooke prosecuted the warres in Ireland against the kings enimies there tooke by force two castels in Wales belonging to the said Earle putting all his men which kept the same to the sword and fortifieng the same with a garrison of his owne men in either of them departed home againe whereof when the said Earle was aduertised he returned from Ireland with all spéed and recouering his castels againe vsed the same courtesie towards Lhewelyns men that he had shewed to his and then entring further into the Princes countrie destroied all before him as he went These newes comming to Lhewelyns eares did sore offend him wherevpon he sent Gruffyth his sonne with a power of men to staie the Earle for passing further Then Gruffyth went to Cydweli and vnderstanding that the Burgesses of the towne meant to betraie him burned the towne churches and all to the earth Then William Marshall passed the riuer Tywy at Caermardhin where Gruffyth met with him gaue him battell which was verie doubtfull and endured vntill night and then either partie withdrew themselues and the riuer betwixt And after they had laien so certen daies Gruffyth for lacke of victuals for his men which were about 9000. persons returned back and the Earle went to Cilgerran and began to build there a verie strong castell Then receiuing letters from the king to come and speake with him he went to the court by sea and left his armie to continue the worke he had begon Then the king and the archbishop of Canturburie being at Ludlowe sent for the Prince and would faine haue agreed him and the Earle but it would not be and so they departed And when the Earle would haue passed to Penbrooke by lande with the strength of the Earle of Derby and Henrie Pygot lord of Ewyas the Prince sent his son to keepe the passage at Carnwylhion he himselfe came as far as Mabedryd Which when the Erle vnderstood he returned backe to England the Prince went to Northwales Certeine of the barons also misliking the rule of Hubert de Burgh conspired against the king and him as Randulph Earle of Chester VVilliam de Fortibus Earle of Albemarle Iohn constable of Chester Foulke de Breant Hugh de Veteri ponte Bryan Lysle Patrike de Malo lacu Philip Marke and VVilliam lord de Cantilupo But the matter was appeased and the king got the castell of Bedford by long siege wherein was William de Breant brother to Foulke About this time died William de longa Spata Earle of Salisburie The yeare folowing Sarancus de malo Leone deliuered Rochell to the French king Also Foulke de Breant was at this time banished England and came to such pouertie that he begged from dore to dore The yeare 1226. Rees Vachan sonne to Rees Gryc did take his father prisoner and would not set him at libertie till he had deliuered him the castell of Lhanymdhyfri At this time died Meredyth archdecon of Caerdigan sonne to prince Rees and was buried by his father at S. Dauids The yeere folowing king Henrie came with a great armie to Wales as farre as Ceri and incamped there vpon the other side prince Lhewelyn called to him all the power of Wales and incamped not farre off and there were diuerse great skirmishes and chieflie vpon one daie the most part of both armies was in the field and a great number slaine of the kings men At which time William de Bruse sonne to Reynald was taken prisoner who offered for his ransome the countrie of Buelht and a great summe of monie beside then there was a peace concluded betweene the king and the Prince wherevpon the Prince came to the king and did honor him but not as his king and lord and euerie partie returned home This historie is somewhat otherwise laid downe by Matthew Paris which I haue thus translated out of the same author About the same time those souldiers which laie in garrison in the castell of Mountgomery went out with some of their neighbours to amend a certeine passage in the high waie leading through a great wood thereby where the Welshmen were woont to rob and slaie such as trauelled that waie and comming to the place with their axes and other weapons began to fell the trées and to cut downe the bushes whereby the waie might be inlarged Which thing when the Welshmen vnderstood they came with a great power and setting vpon their enimies compelled them to take the castell for their defense certeine being slaine on both sides and then casting a trench about the same laid siege vnto it This being quickelie certified vnto Hubert de Burgh chiefe Iustice of England to whom a little before the same castell and honor was giuen the king himselfe with conuenient spéed comming raised the siege and when his whole armie came to him for few soldiours came with him thither he went to the said wood which was verie large being fiue miles in length and by reason of the thicke growth of the same verie hard to be stocked howbeit the king caused the same with great diligence and trauell to be asserted and consumed with fire Then leading his armie further into the countrie he came to an abbeie of white moonks called Cridia being a refuge for the Welshmen to flie vnto which he caused to be burnt to ashes where Hubert de Burgh to whome the place seemed verie fit for fortification hauing the assent of the king caused a castell to be builded But or euer the worke was finished manie were slaine on both sides and William de Bruse a noble warriour who went out to make prouision for the armie was taken by the Welshmen and cast in prison and diuerse other went out for the like purpose whereof one being knighted a few daies before seing some of his felowes in danger and like to be distressed rushed boldlie into the middest of his enimies killing manie about him who in the end with manie other of the kings men was there slaine Manie also of the kings 〈◊〉 soldiours being confederate with prince Lhewelyn did verie faintlie defend his cause with whom they came thither Wherevpon the king wanting necessarie prouision and perceiuing the double dealing of some of his owne men was constrained to conclude a dishonorable peace with the Welshmen giuing his assent that the castell which with so great expenses of men and monie was now almost finished should be rased at his owne charges taking of prince Lhewelyn thrée thousand pounds towards the same The peace being thus confirmed both parties departed homeward So the king of England after that he had bestowed thrée moneths in the building of the said castell and disbursed an infinite summe of monie in vaine leauing William
Also that which is more perilous he called vs vnto a place not to vs safe amongst our deadlie enimies our fugitiues and felons and their spies and murderers to doo him homage and fealtie to the which place we can no waies come without danger of our bodie especiallie seeing our enimies aboue said be in that place at the kings table and sometime in counsell and openlie brag themselues And though lawfull and reasonable excuses were alledged by our messengers before the king and his councell why the place was not safe nor indifferent yet he refused to allow or appoint anie other place indifferent for vs to doo our homage and fealtie which we were and are readie to doo vnto him in anie safe place by him to be appointed if he will appoint anie and to performe the other articles of the peace concluded and sworne And for that it pleased him not to come to anie place where we could with safetie do him homage we were suiters to him to send anie from him to receiue our oth and homage vntill it pleased him to appoint a place where we shall doo our homage to him personallie the which thing he vtterlie denied to doo We therfore beseech your Fatherhoods earnestlie that it please you to consider what danger should happen to the people both of England and of Wales by reason of the breach of the couenants of peace aboue said if now warres and discord should follow which God forbid attending and calling to remembrance the prohibition of the holie father the Pope latelie in the councell at Lions that no warre should be mooued amongst Christians least thereby the affaires of the holie land should be neglected that it would please you also to helpe with your counsell with the lord and king that he would vse vs and order vs according to the peace agreed vpon the which we will no waie infringe And if he will not harken to your counsell therein which God forbid that you will hold vs excused for we will no waies as much as in vs lieth procure the trouble or disquietnes of the Realme And if it may please you to giue credit to our messengers which we doo send to the king at the daie by him vnto vs appointed to alledge our lawfull excuses in those things which they by mouth shall on our part shew vnto you resting to doo your will and pleasure if it please you to write againe Dated at Talybont the 6. daie of October An. 1275. Shortlie after the king came to Chester willing the Prince to come thither and doo him homage which when the Prince detracted to doo the king gathered an armie to compell him thereto The yeare folowing the countesse of Leycester wife to Symon Montfort which remained at a Nunrie in Montargis in France sent hir daughter to Wales to marie the Prince as it was agreed betwixt them in hir fathers time and with hir came hir brother Aemerike and a goodlie companie who fearing the coast of England kept their course to the Iles of Sylle where by chance they met with foure ships of Bristowe which set vpon them and tooke them and brought them to the king who intertained the ladie honourablie sending hir brother to be kept prisoner in the castell of Corff from whence he was remooued to the castell of Shirburne Then the king prepared two armies whereof he lead one himselfe to Northwales as farre as Ruthlan and fortified that castell And the other he sent with Paganus de Camurtijs a worthie soldiour to Westwales who burned and destroied a great part of the countrie And this yere it rained blood in diuers places in Wales The yeare ensuing the lords of Southwales came to the kings peace and did him homage and deliuered the castell in Stratywy vnto the kings lieutenant Paganus de Camurtijs Then the prince vnderstanding this and seeing that his owne people had forsaken him sent to the king for peace which was agreed vpon these conditions First that all those which the Prince kept prisoners of the kings freends and for his cause should be set at libertie Item that the Prince should paie to the king for his fauour and good will 50000. markes to be paid at the kings pleasure Item that foure Cantreds should remaine to the king and his heires for euer which Cantreds I thinke were these Cantref Ros where the kings castell of Teganwy stood Cantref Ryuonioc where Denbigh is Cantref Tegengl where Ruthlan standeth and Cantref Dyffryn Clwyd where Ruthyn is Item that the lords Marchers should quietlie enioy all the lands that they had conquered within Wales Item that the prince should paie yearelie for the Ile of Môn or Anglesey 1000. marks which paiement should begin at Michaelmas then next ensuing that also he should paie 5000. marks out of hand and if the Prince died without issue the Ile should remaine to the king and his heires Item that the Prince should come to England euerie Christmas to doo the king homage for his lands Item that all the Barons in Wales should hold their lands of the king sauing fiue in Snowdon who should acknowledge the Prince to be their lord Item that he should for his life enioy the name of Prince and none of his heires after him so that after his death the foresaid fiue Barons should hold of the king and of none other Item that for the performance of these articles the Prince should deliuer for hostages ten of the best in VVales without imprisoning disinheriting or time of deliuerance determined also the king to choose twentie within Northwales which should take their othes with the Prince to performe all these articles and if the Prince should swarue from anie of them and being thereof admonished would not amend and redresse the same they should forsake him and become his enimies The Prince was also bound to let his brethren enioy their lands in VVales of whom Dauid had long serued the king whom the king had made knight contrarie to the maner of VVales and had giuen him in mariage the daughter of the Earle of Derby whose first husband was latelie deceased to whom the king gaue Denbigh in Northwales and a 1000. pound lands therewith His other brother Roderike was latelie fled to England out of prison and Owen the third was deliuered at this composition This peace was concluded in the kings absence who appointed one of his Commissioners to wit the lord Robert Tiptoft to take an oth for him and authorized the said Robert Anthonie Beke and William de Southampton Prior prouinciall of the Friers preachers Commissioners nominated on his behalfe to receiue the like oth of the said Lhewelyn for whose part Theodor or Tuder ap Ednyuet and Grono ap Heilyn were Commissioners At this time the king builded a castell at Aberystwyth and returned to England with much honor vnto whom the people granted a subsidie of the twentie part of their goods towards his
London denied him iustice vnlesse he would be iudged according to the English lawes in the said matter 2 All iniuries trespasses and faults on either part doone be clearelie remitted vnto this present daie This article was not kept for that as soone as the lord Reginald Gray was made Iustice he mooued diuers and innumerable accusations against the men of Tegengl Ros for trespasses doone in the time of king Henrie when they bare rule in those parties wherby the said men dare not for feare kéepe their own houses 3 Where as it was agréed that Rees Vachan ap Rees ap Maelgon shall enioie his possessions with all the land which he now holdeth c. After the peace concluded he was spoiled of his lands of Geneu'rglyn which he then held with the men and cattell of the same 4 Also our lord the king granteth that all tenants holding lands in the foure Cantreds and in other places which the king holdeth in his owne hands shall hold and enioie the same as fréelie as they did before the time of the warres and shall vse the same liberties customes which they vsed before Contrarie to this article the lord Reginald Gray hath brought manie new customes against the forme of peace aforesaid 5 All controuersies mooued or to be mooued betwixt the Prince and anie other shall be decided after the lawe of the marches if they haue their beginning in the marches and after the lawes of Wales such as in Wales haue their beginning Contrarie to this article the king dooth and sendeth Iustices to Anglesey who presume to iudge there the men and subiects of the Prince setting fines vpon them contrarie to the lawes of Wales séeing neither this nor anie like was euer heard in times past imprisoning some outlawing others when the Prince is at all times readie to doo iustice to all men that complaine vpon anie of his men 6 Where it is in the peace that Gruffyth Vachan should doo homage to the king for the land in Yale to the Prince for the land in Ederneon the kings iustices brought the ladie of Maylor into all the said lands of Edeyrneon The knowledge of which cause onelie pertained to the Prince and not to the said Iustices and yet for peace sake the Prince did tollerate all this being at all times readie to minister iustice to the said Ladie 7 And though the said Prince submitted himselfe vnto vs and our will yet we neuerthelesse will and grant that our will in no case goo furder than is conteined in those articles Contrarie to this article gold was exacted for the Quéenes workes at euerie paiment made to the King which gold was neuer demanded in time of king Henrie or anie other king of England Which gold yet for quietnes sake the Prince paid though it were not spoken of or mentioned in the peace And now further it is exacted for the old Quéene the kings mother that now is for the peace concluded with king Henrie 2000. marks and a halfe and vnlesse it be paid the king threatneth to occupie the goods and lands of Lhewelyn and his people which he could find in his realme and sell men and beasts vntill the said summe were paid 8 Item when the king inuited the Prince to his feast at Worcester promising with verie faire words that he would giue his kinsewoman to him to wife and enrich him with much honor neuerthelesse when he came thither the selfe same daie they should be maried before Masse the king required a bill to be sealed by the Prince conteining amongst other things that he would neuer kéepe man against the kings will nor neuer mainteine anie whereby it might come to passe that all the Princes force should be called from him The which letter sealed he deliuered the king by iust feare which might mooue anie constant man yet was not this conteined in the peace whereas the conclusion of the peace was that the king should require nothing that was not conteined in the same 9 Item where in the said peace all customes be confirmed to the said Prince as his ancestors of long and dailie obserued custome haue receiued to their owne vse all wrecks hapning vpon his owne lands the Iustice of Chester tooke a distresse of the Prince for goods of shipwrecke receiued by him before the warres contrarie to the forme of the said peace By the which all trespasses of either side were remitted and contrarie to the customes before said and if in case it were forfeited yet he tooke such a distresse fiftéene pounds of honie and manie horsses and imprisoned his men And this he tooke of the Princes owne proper goods and further tooke booties of Bagiers which came to Lyrpoole with merchandize and neuer redeliuered the same vntill he had taken so much monie for the same as it pleased him 10 Item when certeine men of Geneurglyn had taken certeine goods of some of their neighbors of Geneurglyn when they were in the dominion of the prince in Meyreon the kings men of Lhanbadarn did take awaie the said goods out of the said dominion of the Prince and when the Prince his men came thither and asked the cause why they tooke the said preie the kings men killed one of them and wounded other and the rest they did imprison neither could the prince get anie iustice for the said goods to this daie 11 And where it is conteined in the peace that all things committed in the Marches should be redressed in the Marches yet the kings men would no where heare the princes men but put them in the castell of Lhanbadarn which is against the peace afore said In these articles and diuers others the king standeth sworne to the prince and to his people And although the prince as well by himselfe as by his people haue often requested the king to cause the said peace to be kept yet was it in no point kept but dailie the kings Iustices doo more and more heape iniuries and griefs vpon the people of those parts So that it cannot be blamed if the Prince did assent to them that first began the wars séeing the oth which the lord Robert Typtost sware for the king was kept in no point and chéeflie séeing the Prince was forewarned that he should be taken so soone as the king came to Ruthlan as he had béene in déede if the king had come thither after Christmasse as he purposed These greefes folowing were done by the king and his officers to the lord Dauid ap Gruffyth WHen the said Dauid came to the lord Edward then Earle of Chester and did him homage the said lord Edward did giue by his letters patents to the said Dauid two Cantreds Dyffryncluyd and Ceinmeyrch with all the appurtenances afterward when he was made king he confirmed the said gift to the said Dauid and gaue him possession of them Then afterward Guenlhian Lacy died who held some townes in the said Cantreds for terme of life which after
hir decease apperteined to Dauid by force of the foresaid grant which townes yet the king tooke from him contrarie to his letters patents 2 Item when the said Dauid did hold of the lord the king the villages of Hope and Eston in Wales of the which he ought to answere no man but according to the lawes of Wales yet the Iustice of Chester caused the said Dauid to be called to Chester at the sute of one William Vanable an English man to answere for the title of the said villages And although the said Dauid did often instantlie desire him the said Iustice not to procéed against him iniuriouslie in the countie of Chester where he was not bound to answere by the forme of the peace yet he plainlie denied him to be iudged either in Wales or after the lawes of Wales 3 Item the said Iustice of Chester to the iniurie of the said Dauid did cut downe his wood of Lhyweny and his woods at Hope as well by the dwellers of Ruthlan as others and yet the said Iustice had no iurisdiction in those parts And not being contented to get timber there for building as well for Ruthlan as other places in the countrie but also destroied the said woods sold it and carried it into Ireland 4 Item where the said Dauid tooke certeine outlawes and rouers in the woods and caused them to be hanged yet the said Iustice accused Dauid to the king for succoring and mainteining the théeues aforesaid which was not like to be true séeing he caused them to be hanged 5 Item it is prouided in the peace that all Welshmen in their causes should be iudged after the lawes of Wales This was in no point obserued with the said Dauid and his people Of these foresaid gréefs the said Dauid required often amends either according to the lawes and customes of Wales or of speciall fauour but he could neuer obteine anie of them both at his hands Further the said Dauid was warned in the kings court that assoone as Reginald Gray should come from the court the said Dauid should be taken and spoiled of his castell of Hope his woods should be cut downe and his children taken for pledges who séeing he had taken much paines and perill for the king in all his warres as well himselfe as his people both in England and in Wales and had lost therebie the most part of the nobilitie of his countrie and yet neuerthelesse could obteine neither iustice amends nor fauour at his hands hauing such great wrongs offred vnto him and fearing his owne life and his childrens or else perpetuall prison being enforced as it were against his will began to defend himselfe and his people Greefs and iniuries offered by the king and his officers to the men of Ros. THis is the forme of peace which the king of England did promise the men of Ros before they did him homage which he promised them to obserue inuiolablie That is to saie the king should grant to euerie of them their right and iurisdiction as they had in time of king Henrie according as the said men doo report that they had in the time of king Henrie 2 Item the lord the king did promise the said men that they should haue iustice in their sutes after granting of the which articles the said men did homage to the king And then the king promised them with his owne mouth faithfullie to obserue the said articles This notwithstanding a certeine noble man passing by the kings hie waie with his wife in the kings peace met certeine English laborers and Masons going to Ruthlan where they did then worke who attempted by force to take awaie his wife from him and while he defended hir as well as he could one of them killed the wife and he who killed hir with his fellowes were taken and when the kinred of hir which was slaine required law at the Iustice of Chesters hands for their kinswoman they were put in prison and the murtherers were deliuered 3 Item a certeine man killed a Gentleman who had killed the sonne of Grono ap Heilyn and was taken but when certeine of the kinred required iustice before the Iustice of Chester certeine of them were imprisoned the offender set at libertie and iustice denied to the kinred 4 Item certeine Gentlemen claimed some lands and offered the king a great péece of monie to haue iustice by the verdict of good lawfull men of the countrie then the lands being adiudged to the claimers Reginald Gray tooke the same lands corne goods and all vpon the ground so that they lost their lands monie corne and cattell 5 Item it is our right that no stranger should cut our woods without our leaue yet this notwithstanding there was a proclamation at Ruthlan that it should be lawfull for all other men to cut downe our woods but to vs it was forbidden 6 Item where diuerse honest men had lands of the gift of the said Dauid the Iustice taketh the said mens lands awaie 7 Item when anie commeth to Ruthlan with merchandize if he refuse whatsoeuer anie English man offereth he is forthwith sent to the castell to prison and the buier hath the thing and the king hath the price then the soldiours of the castell first spoile and beate the partie and then cause him to pay the porter and let him go 8 Item if anie Welshmen buie anie thing in Ruthlan and anie English man doo méet him he will take it from him and giue him lesse than he paid for it 9 Item the king contrarie to his promise made to the men of Ros hath giuen the territorie of Maynan Penmayn and Lhysuayn 10 Item certeine Gentlemen of the Cantred of Ros bought certeine offices and paid their monie for the same yet the Iustice of Chester tooke the said offices from them without cause 11 Item Grono ap Heilyn tooke to farme of Godfrey Marliney the territorie of Maynan and Lhysuayn for the terme of foure yeares yet Robert de Cruquer with horses and armes and foure and twentie horssemen came to vexe the said Grono so that he had no safe going neither to Ruthlan nor Chester without a great garrison of his kindred and fréends 12 Item certeine Gentlemen were arrested for trespasses doone before the warres and imprisoned and could not be deliuered vntill they had paied xvj markes which was contrarie to the peace concluded 13 Item our causes ought to be decided after the custome of our lawes but our men be compelled to sweare against their consciences else they be not suffered to sweare furthermore we spent thrée hundreth markes in going to the king for iustice in the foresaid articles And when we beléeued to recouer full iustice the king sent to our parties the lord Reginald Gray to whom the king hath set all the lands to farme to handle the men of the said Cantreds as it pleaseth him who compelled vs to sweare in his name whereas we should sweare in the kings
of tyth in the house of a seruant of the said Cynwric 2 Item Adam Criwr was condemned in eight shillings eight pence and a mare price twentie shillings and was taken and beaten for that he had taken the stealer of that mare and brought him bound with him the which théefe was forthwith deliuered 3 Item Iorwerth ap Gurgeneu was condemned in foure pound for that he had scaped out of their prison in time of the warres and was found in the said towne in the time of peace and this is directlie against the peace concluded betwixt the king and the Prince 4 Item Caduan Dhu seruant to the constable of Penlhyn was condemned bicause he would not receiue the old monie for new 5 Item Gruffyth ap Grono the Princes man was spoiled of an oxe price eleuen shillings eight pence and after that the constable had plowed with the said oxe seuen moneths he paid to the said Gruffyth for the said oxe thrée shillings foure pence 6 Item two seruants of one named Y Bongam were spoiled of two pounds for that they tooke a théefe that robbed them by night and yet the théefe was deliuered 7 Item Eneon ap Ithel was taken beaten and spoiled of two oxen price foure twentie shillings two pence for this cause onelie that the said oxen went from one stréete to an other in the towne 8 Item Guyan Maystran was spoiled of his monie because a certeine merchant of Ardudwy owed them certeine things and yet the said merchant was not of their bailiwicke The greefes of Grono ap Heilyn A Tenant of Grono ap Heilyn was called to the kings court without anie cause then Grono came at the daie appointed to defend his tenant demanded iustice for him or the law which the men of his countrie did vse all this being denied the said tenant was condemned in seuen and twentie pound j.d. ob Then the said Grono went to London for iustice which was promised him but he could neuer haue anie where he spent in his iournie fiftéene markes 2 A certeine Gentelman was slaine who had fostered the sonne of Grono ap Heilyn and he that killed him was taken and brought to Ruthlan castell then the said Grono and the kindred of him that was slaine asked iustice but some of them were imprisoned and the killer discharged Then Grono went againe to London for iustice which the king did promise him but he neuer had anie but spent twentie markes 3 The third time Grono was faine to go to London for iustice in the premisses where he spent xviij marks vj.s. viij d And then likewise the king promised him that he should haue iustice but when he certeinelie beléeued to haue iustice then Reginald Gray came to the countrie and said openlie that he had all doings in that countrie by the kings charters and tooke away all Bailiwicks which the king had giuen the said Grono and sold them at his pleasure then the said Grono asked iustice of the said Reginald but he could not be heard 4 The said Grono tooke to farme for foure yeares of Godfrey Marliney Maynan and Lhysfayn then Robert Cruquer came with his horsses and armes to get the said lands by force and for that Grono would not suffer him to haue the said lands before his yeares came out he was called to the law and then the said Reginald Gray came with xxiiij horssemen to take the said Grono And for that they could not that daie haue their purpose they called Grono the next daie to Ruthlan and then Grono had counsell not to go to Ruthlan Then they called him againe to answere at Caerwys but the said Grono durst not go thither but by the conduct of the bishop of S. Asaph for that Reginald Gray was there and his men in harnesse 5 For these gréefes for the which he could get no iustice but labour and expenses of liiij markes and more and for that he durst not in his owne person go to the court he sent letters one to the king an other to his brother Lhewelyn to signifie to the king that he should loose all the fauour of the countrie if he kept no promise with them and so it came to passe because the men of Ros and Englefild could get no iustice the king neglecting the correction of these things lost the whole countrie Humblie sheweth to your holines lord Archbishop of Canturburie primate of all England the noble men of Tegengl that when the said noble men did their homage to the lord Edward king of England the said king promised them to defend them and their goods and that they should vse all kind of right priuilege and iurisdiction which they did vse in time of king Henrie of the graunt of the said king whereof they were after spoiled FIrst they were spoiled of their right and priuileges and customes of the countrie and were compelled to be iudged by the lawes of England wheras the tenor of that their priuilege was to be iudged according to the lawes of Wales at Tref Edwyn at Ruthlan and at Caerwys and the best men of the countrie were taken bicause they desired to be iudged at Tref Edwyn according to the tenor of their priuileges by the lawes of Wales 2 Whatsoeuer one Iustice dooth his successor dooth reuerse the same for in Dauids cause Reginald Gray reuoked that which his predecessor confirmed and allowed 3 If he doo take anie Gentleman of the countrie he will not let him go vpon suertie which he ought to doo 4 If anie Gentleman be brought to the castell of the Flynt vpon small accusation and his cattell withall they can neither be deliuered nor haue delaie vntill they giue the constable an oxe and vntill they paie thrée pound fées to Cynwric for the hauing of the delaie 5 Reginald Gray gaue the lands of the men of Merton to the Abbot and couent of Basingwerke against the lawes of Wales and the custome of the countrie and contrarie to the forme of the peace betwixt prince Lhewelyn and the king that is to saie xvj Caratatasterrae 6 The noble and best of the countrie be iniured for that the king builded the castell of Flynt vpon their ground and the king commanded the Iustices to giue the men as much and as good ground or the price But they are spoiled of their lands and haue neither other lands nor monie 7 Reginald Gray will not suffer men to cut their owne wood vntill he haue both monie and reward and vntill they paie for it also but permitteth others to cut it downe fréelie which they ought not to doo by the lawes and customes of Wales 8 Where the men of Cyrchynan couenant with the king to giue the king halfe a medow of condition the king should not suffer the woods to be cut downe Howel ap Gruffyth being present yet Reginald Gray hath broken the same permitting euerie man to cut their woods and spoile them also of their medowe 9 The sonne of
Cynwric ap Grono was taken at Ruthlan and put in prison without anie cause at all neither would the kings officers deliuer him vnlesse he would redéeme the gage of a certeine woman for the which he was constrained to paie much more than the pawne laie for 10 When the bailiffe of Ruthlan was at a feast Hicken le Maile wounded a Gentleman cruellie in the presence of the said bailiffe by the occasion of which wound Hicken was condemned in eight pound and when he which was hurt would haue demanded the said eight pound he was put in prison with Hicken 11 The messengers of Reginald Gray attempted an absurditie not heard of requiring the people of the countrie to plow his ground and sowe the same and the messengers were Cynwric Says and Hicken Lemayl and the said Cynwric sware openlie before the whole companie that vnlesse all men should plow Reginald Grayes ground they should shortlie repent it then the people feared much as in that case anie constant man would feare 12 The heires of Tegengl bought their offices for xxx markes of the king But afterward Reginald Gray spoiled them of their offices and monie against the lawes and customes of England 13 Seauen Gentlemen were wrongfullie killed by the Englishmen but as yet the parents of the Gentlemen can haue no amends and though the offenders were taken yet the said constable let them go without punishment 14 The constable of Ruthlan kept two of the kings soldiours in prison for that they tooke an Englishman who had wounded a man All these things conteined in these articles are contrarie to the priuilege libertie and right of the said men and contrarie to the lawes and customes of Wales neither dare the inhabitants send their complaints to the king for feare of Reginald Gray which feare anie constant man might haue because the said Reginald Gray said openlie that if he could come by anie such their messengers he would cut off their heads as it is certeinelie told vs by one of his counsell further neither toong can expresse nor penne can write how euill the men of Tegengl haue béene ordered Humblie complaineth vnto your lordship my lord Archbishop of Canturburie Primate of all England Lhewelyn ap Gruffyth ap Madoc of the constable of Oswaldes Crosse the king and of the men of that towne who haue spoiled the said Lhewelyn of the third part of a towne called Lhedrot and his fathers house without any law or right or custome of the countrie Further the said Constable and his complices haue against the lawes and the custome of the countrie spoiled the said Lhewelyn of the common and pasturage which he and his predecessors haue had and vsed time out of mind and further condemned the said Lhewelyn for the said pasture in lxx markes And further the king of England granted certeine letters to a bastard called Gruffyth Vachan of Cynlhaeth to law with the said Lhewelyn for his whole lordship and possessions by the occasion of the which letters the said Lhewelyn hath spent two hundreth pound of good monie Also the said Constable compelled the said Lhewelyn to send two of his Gentlemen to him whom when they came to him he caused to be hanged which Gentlemen ought not by right to haue béene hanged whose parents had rather haue giuen him thrée hundreth pound Afterward the said Constable imprisoned thréescore of the men of the said Lhewelyn no cause alledged but that a certeine Page spake a word who could not be deliuered out of prison vntill euerie of them paid ten shillings When the men of the said Lhewelyn came to the said towne to sell their oxen the said Constable would cause the beasts to be driuen to the castell neither would he restore the beastes nor monie for them Further the said Constable and his men tooke awaie the cattell of the said Lhewelyn from his owne ground and did their will with them Further the kings Iustices compelled the said Lhewelyn contrarie to the law and custome of Wales to deliuer to the sonnes of Encon ap Gruffyth a certeine towne which both he and his ancestors euer had held The said Constable tooke the horsse of Lhewelyns Bailiff when the said Bailiff owed him nothing who could neuer get his horsse againe nor anie satisfaction for it Furthermore when the said Lhewelyn should haue gone to a towne called Caerlhêon to appeare there as he was appointed the sonnes of Gruffyth ap Gwenwynwyn and the soldiours of Roger Strainge by the counsell of the said Roger tooke the said Lhewelyn and his men and imprisoned them to their great damage which the said Lhewelyn would not for 300. pound starling who could by no meanes be deliuered vntill they had found sufficient suerties The Archbishop receiuing these and other articles came to the king and requested him to consider these wrongs and to cause amends to be made or at the least excuse the Welshmen hauing so iust cause of gréefe Who answered that the Welshmen were to be excused yet he said he was euer readie to doo iustice to all them that complained Wherevpon the Archbishop besought the king againe that the Welshmen might haue frée accesse to his Grace to declare their gréefes and to séeke remedie the king answered they should fréelie come and depart if it should séeme that by iustice they deserued to depart The Archbishop hearing this went and came to the Prince of Wales in Snowdon that he might mooue him and his brother Dauid and the other companie to submit themselues whereby he might incline the king to admit them Which after much talke and conference with the Archbishop the Prince answered that he was readie to submit himselfe to the king reseruing two things that is to say his conscience which he ought to haue for the rule and safegard of his people and also the decencie of his state and calling Which answere the Archbishop brought and reported to the king At the which the king said that he would not anie other treatie of peace than that the Prince and his people should simplie submit themselues But the Archbishop knowing well that the Welshmen would not submit themselues but in the forme aforesaid or in other forme to them tollerable and of them liked requested the king that he might haue conference in this matter with all the noble Englishmen then present who after such conference agréed all to these articles following The which articles the Archbishop did send in writing to the Prince by Iohn Wallensis These are to be said to the Prince before his councell FIrst that of the foure Cantreds and the lands by the king giuen to his nobles and the Isle of Anglesey he will haue no treatie of 2 Item of the tenants of the foure Cantreds if they will submit themselues he purposeth to doo as becommeth a kings maiestie and we verelie beléeue he will deale with them mercifullie and to that end we will labour and trust to obtaine 3 As
touching the lord Lhewelyn we can haue none other answer but that he shall submit himselfe simplie to the king and we beléeue certeinlie he will deale mercifullie with him and to that end we trauell all we can and verelie beléeue to be heard These following are to be said to the Prince in secret FIrst that the nobilitie of England haue conceiued this forme of fauorable peace that the lord Lhewelyn should submit himselfe to the king and the king should honorablie prouide for him a thousand pound starling and some honorable countie in England So that the said Lhewelyn would put the king in quiet possession of Snowdon and the king will prouide honorablie for the daughter of Lhewelyn according to the state and condecencie of his owne bloud and to these they hope to persuade the king 2 Item if it happen that Lhewelyn marrie a wife and to haue by hir anie heire male they trust to intreate the king that the same heire male and his heires for euer shall haue the same thousand pound and countie 3 Item to the people subiect to the said Lhewelyn the king will prouide as becommeth their estates and condition and to that the king is well inclined These are to be said to Dauid brother to Lhewelyn in secret FIrst that if for the honor of God Iuxta debitum crucis assumptae he will go to the holie land he shall be prouided for according to his degrée so that he doo not returne vnlesse he be called by the king and we trust to entreat the king to prouide for his child 2 And these things we tell our selues to the Welshmen that a great deale greater perill dooth hang ouer them than we told them by mouth when we were with them these things which we write séeme gréeuous but it is a great deale more gréeuous to be oppressed with armes and finallie to be rooted out bicause euerie daie more and more their danger dooth increase 3 Item it is more hard to be alwaies in warre in anguish of mind and danger of bodie alwaies sought besieged and so to die in deadlie sinne and continuall rancor and malice 4 Item we feare whereof we be sorie vnlesse you doo agrée to peace we most certeinlie will aggrauate the sentence Ecclesiasticall against you for your faults of the which you can not excuse your selues whereas yée shall find both grace and mercie if you will come to peace And send vs your answer of these in writing Reuerendissimo in CHRISTO Patri ac Domino Iohanni dei gratia Archiepiscopo Cantuar. ac totius Angliae Primati suus in Christo debitus filius Lhewelinus Princeps VValliae Dominus Snowdon salutem CVm desiderijs beneuolentiae filialis ac reuerentijs multimodis honoribus Sancte Pater sicut vosmet consuluistis ad gratiam Regiam parati sumus venire sub forma tamen nobis secura honesta Sed quia forma consenta in articulis and nos missis nec secura est nec honesta prout nobis concilio nostro videtur de quamultùm admirantur omnes quòd plùs tendit ad ruinam destructionem nostram populi nostri quà m ad nostram securitatem honestatem nùllo modo possumus consensum nostrum in eam praebere sivellemus alúque nobiles populus nobis subiectus nullo modo consentirent ob indubitatam destructionem dissipationem quae inde eis possit euenire Tamen supplicamus vestram sanctam paternitatem quatenus ad reformationem pacis debitae honestae securae ob quam tot labores assumpsistis prouidè laboretis collationem habentes ad articulos quos vobis mittimus in scriptis Honorabilius est magis rationi consentaneum vt de domino Rege teneamus terras in quibus nos habitamus quà m nos exhaeredari eas tradere alijs Datae apud Garth Celyn To the most reuerend Father in Christ the lord Iohn by gods grace Archbishop of Canturburie and Primate of all England his obedient sonne Lhewelyn prince of VVales and lord of Snowdon sendeth greeting MOst hartily with all reuerence and honor we are content and readie holie father as you haue counselled vs to submit our selues vnto the kings Grace so it be in that forme that shall be safe and honest for vs but because that forme of submission conteined in the articles which were sent vnto vs is neither safe nor honest as we and our councell do thinke at the which articles all men do maruell tending rather to the destruction of vs and our people than anie securitie and honest dealing we may in no wise yeeld our assent vnto it and if we should so doo our nobles and people would not agree to the same knowing the mischiefe and inconuenience that is like to ensue thereof Neuerthelesse we beseech your holie fatherhood that for the reformation of a decent honest and firme peace for the which you haue taken so great paines you doo circumspectlie prouide hauing respect vnto the articles which we send vnto you in writing It is more honorable for the king more agreable to reason that we should hold our lands in the countrie where wee dwell than that wee should be disinherited and our lands giuen to other men Dated at Garth Celyn The Answers of the VVelshmen FIrst though the lord the king will haue no treatie of the foure Cantreds the lands that he gaue his nobles nor the Isle of Anglesey yet the Princes councell will no peace to be made vnlesse treatie be had of them For that the foure Cantreds be of the more tenure of the Prince where alwaies the Princes of Wales had more right since the time of Camber the sonne of Brutus so that they be of the principalitie of Wales The confirmation of the which the Prince obtained by Octobonus the Popes legate in England by the consent of the king and his father as it doth appeare by the letters patents And more iust and equall it is that our heires doo hold the said Cantreds of the king for monie and vsed seruice than the same to be giuen to strangers which abuse the people by force and power 2 All the tenants of all the Cantreds of Wales altogither doo saie that they dare not submit themselues to the king to doo his pleasure First for that the king kept neither couenant nor oth nor grant by charter from the begining to the Prince or his people Secondlie for that the kings men doo cruellie exercise tyrannie towards the Church and Church-men Thirdlie that they be not bound to anie such matter séeing they be the Princes tenants who is readie to doo vsed and accustomed seruice and to obey the king with and by the said seruice 3 To that which is said that the Prince should simplie commit himselfe to the kings will it is answered that none of vs all dare come to the king for the causes aforesaid we altogither will not suffer our Prince to come in that
29. yeare of king Edward the first Edward prince of Wales came to Chester where he receiued the homage of the fréeholders of Wales as Henrie Earle of Lancaster did homage and fealtie for Monmouth Reginald Gray for Ruthyn Fulke Fitzwarren for his lands in VVales The lord William Martin for his lands in Cemaes Roger Mortimer for his lands in VVales Henrie Lacy Earle of Lincolne for the land of Ros and Ryuoneoc in VVales Robert lord Mount alt for his land in VVales Gruffyth lord of Poole for the lordship of Powys Sir Gruffyth Lhoyd knight Tuder ap Grono of Anglesey Madoc ap Tuder Archdeacon of Anglesey Encon ap Howel of Caernaruon Tuder ap Gruffyth Lhewelyn ap Ednyuet Gruffyth Vachan the sonne of Gruffyth ap Iorwerth Madoc Vachan Denglfield Lhewelyn bishop of S. Asaph Maister Richard de Puelesdon This man as appeareth by the Records in the Towre was made Sheriffe of Caernaruon shire during his life with the stipend of fourtie pound starling yearelie An. 12. Ed. 1. Gruffyth ap Tuder Ithel Vachan Ithel ap Blethyn c. The lord Richard de Sutton Baron of Malpas did homage and fealtie to Edward Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester for the said Baronie of Malpas Apud Ruthlan 27. Die Aprilis An. supra dicto Anianus or Eneon bishop of Bangor and Dauid Abbot of Maynan did homage and fealtie to the said Edward Prince of Wales Apud Conwey 28. Aprilis An. supra dicto Lewys de Felton the sonne of Richard de Felton did homage and fealtie to Edward Prince of Wales for the lands which the said Richard held of the prince in Maelor Saesneg Iohn Erle Warren did homage fealtie to Edward prince of VVales in the chappell of the lord Iohn de Kirkbie sometime bishop of Elie at London 25. die Iulij An. 30. E. 1. for the lordships of Bromfield and Yal The same Iohn Earle Warren swore fealtie vnto the said Prince for the lands in Hopdale The lord Edmund Mortimer the first daie of Nouember An. 30. Ed. 1. in the house of the bishop of Elie at London did homage and fealtie to Edward prince of VVales before his councell for his lands of Cery and Cydewen About the yeare 1322. one Sir Gruffyth Lhoyd knight gathered a great number of Welshmen and tooke diuers castles in Wales which were kept by the people of the lord Mortimer the elder He tooke also the castels of Mould Chirk c. The kéepers whereof comming to Prince Edward at Shrewesburie who then was king of England submitted themselues to him and were shortlie after sent to the Towre of London Edward of VVindsore THe same yeare béeing the fiftéenth of the reigne of king Edward the second Edward de Windsore the kings eldest sonne was in a parliament holden at Yorke created prince of VVales and Duke of Aquitane Edward of VVoodstoke surnamed the blacke Prince EDward borne at Woodstoke sonne and heire to king Edward the third was created Prince of Wales the twelfe daie of Maie in the xvij yeare of his fathers reigne when he was fouretéene yeares of age who in time grue to be the flowre of chiualrie of all Europe He tooke Iohn the French king prisoner at the battell of Poytiers and died his father yet liuing the eight of Iulie in the xlvj yeare of his age and the fiftie of his fathers reigne a prince of such excellent demeanor so valiant wife and politike in his dooings that the verie and perfect representation of knighthood appeared most liuely in his person for such was his towardnesse or rather perfection in princelie gouernement that if he had liued and atteined the crowne euerie man iudged that he would surelie haue excéeded the glorious renowme of all his ancestors Richard of Burdeuxe RIchard the sonne of Edward Prince of Wales was after the death of his father created Prince of Wales at Hauering at Bowre the 20. daie of Nouember in the 50. yeare of king Edward the third his Grandfather he was after the death of his said Grandfather king of England by the name of king Richard the second Henrie of Monmouth In the time of king Richard the second there was one Owen ap Gruffyth Vachan descended of a yoonger sonne of Gruffyth ap Madoc lord of Bromfield This Owen was first a student at the lawes of the Realme and became an vtter barrester or an apprentise of the law as they terme him and serued king Richard in great credit and fauour betwéene whom and the lord Gray of Ruthyn happened some discord about a péece of commons lieng betwéene the lordship of Ruthyn and the lordship of Glyndourdwy wherof Owen was owner and thereof tooke his surname of Glyndour During the reigne of king Richard Owen was too hard for the lord Gray being then a seruitour in court with king Richard with whom he was at the time of his taking by the duke of Lancaster in the castell of Flynt but after that king Richard was put downe the lord Gray being now better fréended than Owen entred vpon the said commons wherevpon Owen hauing manie fréends and folowers in his countrie as those that be great with Princes commonlie haue put himselfe in armour against the lord Gray whom he méeting in the field ouercame and tooke prisoner This was the verie begining and the cause of Owens rising and attempts Upon the taking of the lord Gray and spoiling of his lordship of Ruthyn manie resorted to Owen from all partes of VVales some thinking that he was aswell in fauour now as he was in king Richards daies some other putting in his head that now the time was come wherein the Brytaines through his meanes might recouer againe the honour and liberties of their ancestors These things being laid before Owen by such as were verie cunning in Merlins prophesies and the interpretations of the same for there were in those daies as I feare there be now some singular men which are déepelie ouerséene in those mysteries and hope one daie to méete veluet vpon London bridge with their bowes brought him into such a fooles paradise that he neuer waieng what title he might pretend nor what right he had procéeded and made warre vpon the Earle of March who was the right inheritour aswell to the Principalitie of VVales as appeareth before pag. 315. as to the kingdome of England after the death of king Richard being descended of the elder brother next to Edward prince of Wales father to king Richard Of which stirre and rebellion there insued much mischiefe to the VVelshmen For the king conceiuing great hatred against them shewed himselfe a manifest oppressor of all that nation making rigorous lawes against them whereby he tooke in a maner all the liberties of subiects from them prohibiting all VVelshmen to purchase lands or to be chosen or receiued to be citizens or burgesses in anie citie borough or market towne or be receiued or accepted to anie office of Maior Bailiffe Chamberlaine