affairs of the holy Land should be neglected that it would please you also to help with your Councel with the Lord and King that he would use us and order us according to the peace agreed upon the which we will no way infringe And if he will not hearken to your Counsel therein which God forbid that you will hold us excused for we will no waies as much as lieth in us procure the trouble and disquietness of the Realm And if it may please you to give credit to our messengers which we do send to the King at the day by him to us appointed to alledge our lawful excuses in those things which they by mouth shall on our part shew unto You resting to do Your will and pleasure if it please You to write again Dated at Talybont the eight Day of October Anno 1275. year 1277 Shortly after the King came to Chester Thom. Walsh fol. 6. Mar. West p. 364. willing the Prince to come thither and do him homage which when the prince detracted to do the King gathered an army to compel him thereto The year following the Countesse of Leicester wife to Simon Montfort which remained at a Nunnery in France sent her daughter to Wales to marry the prince as it was ' agreed betwixt them in her Fathers time and with her came her brother Admerike and a courtly company who fearing the coast of England bent their voyage to the Isle of Sylly whereby chance they met with four ships of Bristol which set upon and took them and brought them to the King who entertains the Lady houourably sending her brother to be kept prisoner in the castle of Corff from whence he was removed to the castle of Sherburne Then the King prepared two armies A prodigious Omen to Wales whereof the one he conducted himself to Northwales as far as Ruthlan and fortified the castle and the other he sent with Paganis de Camurtiis a worthy Souldier to Westwales they burned and destroyed a great part of the Country and this year itrained blood in divers places of Wales The year ensuing the Lords of Southwales came to the Kings peace The jangling of the Welsh among themselves their utter overthrow and did him homage and delivered the Castle of Stratywy unto the K. Lieutenant Paganus de Camurtli if his sirname be not mistaken for de Cadurcis it is the family of Chaworth in Notinghamshire This Prince understanding this and seeing that his own people had forsaken him sent to the King for peace which was agreed upon these conditions 1. First that all such as the Prince kept prisoners of the Kings and for his cause should be set at liberty 2. Item That the Prince should pay to the King for his favour and good will 50000 marks to be paid at the Kings pleasure 3 Item That four Cantreds should reman to the King and his heirs for ever which Cantreds I think were these cantref Ros where the Kings Castle of Teganny stood cantref Rynivioc where Denbigh cantref Tegengl where Ruthlan standeth and cantref Dyffryn Clwd where Ruthin is 4 Item That the Lords Merchers should quietly enjoy all the Lands that they had conquered within Wales 5. Item That the Prince should pay yearly for the Isle of Môn or Anglesey 1000 marks which payment should begin at Michaelmas then next ensuing and that also he should pay 5000 marks out of hand and if the prince dyed without issue the Isle should remain to the King and his heirs 6 Item That the Prince should come to England every Christmas to do the King homage for his lands 7. Item That all the Barons in Wales should hold their lands of the King except 5. in Snowden who should ackowledg the Prince to be their Lord. 8. Items that he should for his lifetime enjoy the name of Prime and none of his heirs after him so that after his death the foresaid five Barons should hold of the King and none other 9. Item that for the performance of the Articles the prince should deliver for hostages ten of the best in Wales without imprisonining disinheriting or time of deliverance determined and also the King to choose twenty within Northwales that should take their oathes with the prince for performance of these Articles and if the Prince should swerve from any of them and being thereof admonished would not amend and redresse the same Th. Walsh p. 7 they should forsake him and become his enemies The prince was also bound to let his brethren enjoy their lands in Wales of whom David had long served the King whom the King had made Knight contrary to the manner of Wales and had given him in marriage the daughter of the Earle of Derby whose first husband was lately deceased to whom the King gave Denbigh in Northwales and 1000l lands therewith And his other brother Roderike was lately fled to England out of prison and Owen the third was delivered at this composition This peace was concluded in the Kings absence who appointed one his Commissioners Mr. Trinet Sol p. 787. to wit the Lord Ripiost to take an oath of him and authorised the said Robert Antonio Becke and William de Southampton Prior Provincial of the Friers predicant Commissioners appointed on his behalf to receive the like oath of the said Lhewelyn for whose part Theodor or Tudor ap Ednivet and Grono ap Heilin were Commissioners At this time the King builded a Castle at Aberystwyth returned into Eng. with much honour unto whom the people granted a subsidy of the twentieth part of their goods towards his charges in this war The year following the marriage was celebrated at Worcester betwixt Elianor daughter to Simon Montfort and prince Lhewelin where the King Queen and the most part of the Nobility of England were present Also the year after Roger Mortimer set up at Killingworth a round table for a hundred Knights to be exercised in the feats of arms The Kof Scots sucâ—ouâ—eth against the Welsh and thither resorted many Knights from divers Countries At this time the King of Scots did homage to K. Edward and obtained the Kings letters that his succours in the last wars of Wales were not done by the name of service but good will The peace concluded betwixt the prince of Wales and the King of England did not long continue by reason of the severe and strict dealing of such Officers as the King appointed rulers in the Marshes and the Inland country of Wales who hunting after their own gains oppressed the Inhabitants burdening them with new exactions contrary to the custom of the country and also shewing themselves too much affectionate and partial in matters of controversy betwixt party party especially when any Englishman had to do in the matter which poling and partiality did altogether alienate the hearts of the people from the King of England so that they had rather die then live in such thraldom whereupon assembling
all sorts of false Religion Superstition Idolatry Heresy and Schisme and such sins as do belong thereto The second is all sort of Injustice as Rapine Immoderate exactions Oppression of the poor effusion of innocent blood and calumniation or slander and such like for the which God punisheth Kingdoms and States at the Holy Ghost signifyeth in Ecclesiasticus saying Regnum de gente in gentem transferetur c. A kingdome is transferred from Nation to Nation for injustice injuries calumniations or slanders and divers deceits The third kind consisteth of Licentiousness Drunkenness and dissolutness of life and manners This Drunken King left after him three Sons Fulgenius Eldad and Androgeos who successively Reigned in this Kingdome FVLGENIVS FVLGENIVS the Eldest Son of Chirimus was Crowned King of Great Brittain but enjoyed his Kingdome only two years ELDRED or ELDREDVS ELDRED the second Son of Chirimus and brother to Fulgenius was Crowned King but enjoyed that honour but one year ANDROGEOS ANDROGEOS the third Son of Chirimus and brother to the two precedent Kings was Crowned but lived only one year after VRIANVS URIANVS the Son of Androgeos wholly gave himself to lust and the sin of the flesh homo saith Comes P. voluptati deditus more pecudum he was King only three years lust hath been the overthrow of many Countries and cause of much blood shed had not Paris seen Helena in the Isle of Cythera in the Temple of Venus whether this Lady out of curiosity to behold the Trojans under pretence of performing some vowes was come and Paris hearing of her presence and beauty entered into the Temple in all Princely bravery as they mutually beheld each other they became so enamoured with the scorching flames of unlawful love or rather lust that presently being now linked together in equal desires and haud caret effectu quod voluere duo they embark together which lustful act caused not onely a ten years siege but also the utter destruction and subvesion of Troy Hereunto I may add another notable example of the overthrow of the Lacedemonians and the losse of the Empire of Greece by the just judgement of God as both Diodorus Siculus and others affirm the story is this Two Lacedemonians passing over the plain of Leuctra were lodged and courteously entertained in the house of one Scadasus who had two handsome Women to his daughters and returning that way shortly after and finding the two young Women at home and their Father absent first ravisht one after kill'd them both their father at his return finding his daughters slain and understanding who had been the doers of it went to Lacedemon to crave justice against the Malefactors but so potent were they and their friends there that he could by no means obtain it whereupon after infinite maledictions poured forth in the sorrow of his heart against them and their state he went home and desperately kil'd himself upon the grave of his Daughters Not long after Wars growing between the Thebans and the Lacedemonians the soul of Scadasus appeared to Pelopidas one of the chief Captaines of the Thebans and encouraged him to give battel to the Lacedemonians in the plain of Leuctra where he and his daughters were buried telling him that their death should be there revenged and so afterwards it fell out for the Lacedemonians lost not only the battel but also the Empire of Greece we will omit the burning of Sodome and Gomorah for the sin of lust and also the rape which those of the town of Gabaa committed upon the wife of a Levit for which percussit eos Dominus in conspectu filiorum Israel who killed of them 25100 men that bore Armes But come a little nearer to our times concerning the punishment of the sins of the flesh we have a notable and fearful example thereof in the Kingdom of Spain conquered by the Moors and possessed by them 700 years for that offence For when the Kingdome had flourished as well in religion as power from the time of K. Recared the first Catholick King thereof the space of 120 years the wicked King Vitiza being a man like this our Vrianus given over to lust and carnality infected and corrupted all Spain not only with the bad example of his own dissolute life having divers Wives at once besides many Concubines but also with abominable Laws whereby he gave leave to all sorts of men to have as many Wives Concubines as they listed yea and forced Priests and such as would have lived chast to marry by which means all Spain became within a while to be no better then a common Stew or Brothel And although Almighty God according to his accustomed mercy expected their conversion and amendment all the time of that Kings Reign and laid onely the penalty thereof upon him whom he deprived both of his Crown and his eye-sight by the means of Roderick who succeedeed him in the Kingdome yet when the said Roderick followed his steps as well in his vicious life as in the maintenance of his abominable Laws it pleased God of his justice to permit him to give the occasion both of his own ruine and also of the overthrow of all Spain by the sin of the flesh wherewith the whole Kingdome was as it were overflowed For whereas King Roderick had sent a Kinsman of his own Count Julian Embassador into Affrick and in the mean time ravished his Daughter or as some write his wife the Count understanding it at his return was so incensed therewith against the King that in revenge thereof he practised with the Moores to bring them into Spain who with his assistance conquered it speedily and with such destruction of the people that the punishment of God was evidently seen therein For having first overthrown King Roderick whose body could never after the Battail be found they subdued almost all Spain in eight Months or in fourteen as some say and slew 700000 of all sorts of people besides great numbers of Captives which they sent Prisoners into Barbary and from that time forward remained in the possession of that Kingdome or of some part thereof for the space of 700 years ELIVD ELIVD Reigned five years he was a great Astronomer Astrologiae peritissimus Rex This vain study especially of judicial Astrology in these our dayes is much in request even amongst Troopers disbanded some of whom I know so ignorant that they cannot write true English nay scarce read The Professors of this Science especially such as would seem to be learned would make it very ancient fetching the Original from the Egyptians and Babylonians the most ancient of all Mortals Jactabant olim Astrologi Chaldaeos quadringinta septuaginta annorum millia in periclitandis experiendisque pueris quicunque nascerentur posuisse To have spent forty and seventy thousand years and yet the Chaldeans had their beginning at the destruction of the Tower of Babel And Picus Mirandulanus in his second Chapter of his 12. Book to
people for County nor for gains do move war invading no mans lands but defending their own Lands Lawes and Liberties and that the King and his people of inveterated hatred and for covetuousnesse to get our Lands invading the same moved war We therefore see our defence is just and lawful and herein we trust God will help us and will turne his revenge upon destroyers of Churches who have rooted up and burned Churches and taken out both all sacraments and sacred things from them killing Priests Clerks Religious Lame Dumb Deaf Younglings Sucklings at their mothers paps Weak and Impotent both man and woman and committing all other enormities as partly it appeareth to your Holinesse Wherefore God forbid that your Holinesse should fulminate sentence against any but such as have done such things we who have suffered all those things at the Kings Officers hands do hope at your hands remedy and comfort and that you will punish such Church Robbers and killers who can defend themselves no wayes least their impunity be cause and example for others to do the like Very many in our Country do much marvel that you councelled us to leave our own land and to go to another mans Lands to live among our Enemies for seeing we cannot have peace in our own Land which is our own right much lesse should we be quiet in an other mans amongst our enemies and though it be hard to live in warr and peril harder it is to be utterly destroyed and brought to nothing especially for Christians seeking nothing else but to defend our own being by necessity driven thereunto and the greedy ambition of our enemies And your Holinesse told us that you had fulminated sentence against all that for hatred or gaines do hinder the peace and it appeareth evidently who do war for those causes the fear of death the fear of imprisonment the fear of perpetual prison the fear of disinheriting no keeping of promise Covenant Grant or Charter tyrannical Dominion and many more like compell us to be in war and this we shew to God and to your Lordship desiring your godly and charitable help Furthermore if any in England have offended the King as many do offend him yet none of them be dis-inherited so if any of us have offended the King let him be punished and make satisfaction as he may without exhereditating As we trust in you we pray you holy father to labour to this end if they lay to us that we break the peace it appeareth evidently that they and not we brake the same who never kept promise nor Covenant nor Order made any amends for Trespasses nor Remedy for our Complaints When the Archbishop could not conclude a peace he denounced the Prince and his Complices accursed then the King sent his army by sea to the Isle of Môn or Anglesey which they wan and slew such as resisted them for the chiefest men served the King as their oath was so they came over against Bangor where the arm of the sea called Mênath Spaniards Scots and Gescoynes Germans Normans and English all concurr against the Welsh Quantae molis erat Britannam perdere gentem Gramercy horse The Welsh rout their enemies which divideth the Isle from the main land is narrowest and the place called Moely Donn and there made a bridge of boats and planks over the water where before Julius Agricola did the like when he subdued the Isle to the Romans and not betwixt Man and Brittain as Polidore Virgil ignorantly affirmeth This bridge was accomplished so that threescore men might well passe over in a front VVilliam Latimer with a great number of the best Souldies and Lucas Thany Steward of Gascoine with his Gascoynes and Spaniards whereof a great number were come to serve the King passed over the bridge and there saw no appearance of enemies but as soon as the sea began to flow down came the VVelshmen from the hills and set upon them fiercely and either slew or chased them to the sea to drown themselves for the water was so high that they could not attain the bridge saving VVilliam Latimer alone whose horse carried him to the bridge and so he escaped There were slain and drowned at this time many worthy Souldiers and amongst others that famous Knight Sr. Lucas Thany Robert Clifford Sr. VVilliam Lindsey and two Gentlemen of good accompt that were brethren to Robert Burnel then Bishop of Bath There perished in all thirteen Knights Hol p. 791. Tho. Walsh p. 11. Chro. Dunst The K. of Eng. hard put to it by the valiant Welsh 17. young Gentlemen and to the number of 200 footmen which happened upon St. Leonards day Thomas Walsingham writeth that the King lost in this voyage a little before this 14 ensignes at which time the Lord William de Audley and the Lord Roger Clifford the younger and many other were slain and the King himself was driven to take the castle of Hope for his safeguard In the mean time was the E. of Glocester and Sr. Edmund Mortimer with an army in Southwales where were many that served the King and there sought with the Princes friends at Lhandeilo Vawr and gave them an overthrow wherein on the Kings side young William de Valence his cosen germane four Knights more were slain All this while the Prince destroyed the country of Caerdigan and all the lands of Rees ap Meredyth who served the King in all those wars But afterward the Prince separated himself from his army with a few and came to Buelht thinking to remain their quietly for a while and by chance as he came by the water Wy there were Edmund Mortimer and John Gifford with a great number of Soldiers and either party were abashed of other Edmund Mortimers men were of that Country for his father was Lord thereof Then the Prince departed from his men and went to the valley with his Esquire alone to talk with certain Lords of the Country who had promised to meet him there Then some of his men seeing the enemy come down from the hill kept the bridge called Pont Orewyn and defended the passage manfully till one declared to the Englishmen where a ford was a little below through the which they sent a number of their men with Helias VValwyn who suddainly fell upon them that defended the bridge in their backs and put them to flight The Princes Esquire told the Prince as he stood secretly expecting the comming of such as promised to meet him in a little grove that he heard a great noise cry at the bridge P. Lhewelyn slain with him the glory of Wales And the prince asked whether his men had taken the bridge and he said Yes then said the prince I passe not if all the power of England were upon the other side But suddainly behold the horsemen about the Grove and as he would have escaped unto his men they pursued him so hard that one Adam Francton ran him through with
they would send Letters and Ambassadors unto those barbarous people in their behalf They sent unto them three of the best and most honourable persons of the City all three of the house of the Fabians The Gauls received them very courteously because of the name of Rome and leaving to assault the City Brennus a Brittain King of the Gauls they gave them audience The Roman Ambassadors did ask them what injury the Clusians had done unto them that they came to make Wars with them Brennus King of the Gauls hearing this question smiled and answered them thus The Clusians do us wrong in this they being but few people together and not able to occupy much Land do notwithstanding possess much and will let us have no part with them that are strangers and out of our Country and stand in need of seat and habitation the like wrong was offered unto you Romans in old time by those of Alba by the Fidenates and Ardeates and the Volsci against whom ye have taken and do take Arms at all times and as oft as they will let you have no part of their goods ye imprison their persons rob and spoil their goods and destroy their Cities and in doing this you do them no wrong at all but follow the oldest Law that is in the world which ever leaveth unto the stronger that which the weaker cannot keep nor enjoy beginning with the gods and ending with beasts the which have this property in nature that the bigger and stronger have ever the advantage of the weaker and lesser therefore leave your pitty to see these Clusians besieged lest you teach us Gauls to take compassion also of those you have oppressed By this answer the Romans knew very well there was no way to make peace with King Brennus wherefore they entered into the City of Clusium and incouraged the Inhabitants to sally out with them upon these barbarous people either because they had a desire to prove the valiantness of the Gauls or else to shew their own manhood and valour so the Citizens went out and skirmished with them hard by the wals in which one of the Fabians called Quintus Fabius Ambustus being excellently well horsed and putting spurs to him did set upon a goodly big personage of the Gauls that had advanced himself far before all the Troop of his Companions he was not known at the first encounter as well for the sudden meeting and skirmishing together as for that his glistering armour dimmed the eyes of the enemies But after he had slain the Gaul and came to strip him Brennus then knew him and protested against him Brennus reproacheth Fabius for breaking the Law of Armes calling the Gods to witness how he had broken the Law of Arms that coming as an Ambassador he had taken upon him the form of an Enemy Hereupon Brennus forthwith left skirmishing and raising the Siege from Clusium marched with his Army to Rome gates And to the end that the Romans might know that the Gauls were not well pleased for the injury they had received to have an honest colour to begin war with the Romans he sent an Herald before to Rome to demand livery of the man that had offended him that he might punish him accordingly In the mean while he himself came marching after by small journeys to receive their answer The Senate hereupon assembled and many of the Senators blamed the rashness of the Fabians but most of all the Priests called the * Heralds very ancient Faeciales for they followed it very closely as a matter that concerned Religion and the honour of the Gods declaring how the Senate in discharge of all the residue of the City for the offence committed should lay the whole weight and burden of it upon him alone that only had done the Fact Numa Pompilius the wisest and most peaceable of all the Kings of Rome that had been was he that erected the Colledge of those * Heralds Faeciales and did ordain that they should be Keepers of Peace and Judges to hear and allow all the causes for the which they should justly begin any War Nevertheless the Senate in the end turned over the ordering of the whole matter to the Will and Judgement of the people before whom also the Faeciales or Heralds did accuse Fabius Ambustus The people made so little account of their propounded Religion and honour of the Gods in that case that instead of delivering this Fabius to the enemy they did choose him for one of the Tribunes of the Souldiers with his brothers The Gauls understanding this were so furious and angry thereat that they would no longer linger their journeys but marched with all speed to Rome The people that dwelt by the High-wayes where they should passe by were marvellously afraid to see the multitude of them and their brave and gallant Furniture beginning to doubt the fury of their rage they imagined that first of all they would destroy the Champion Countrey before them and afterwards would take the strong Cities They contrariwise did take nothing at all out of the Fields neither did any hurt or displeasure unto any body but passing by their Cities cryed out They went to Rome and would have no Wars but with the Romans and how otherwise they desired to be friends with all the world These barbarous people march on in this wise towards Rome the Tribunes of the Souldiers brought their Army to the Field to encounter them they were no lesse in number then the Gauls for they were 40000 Foot men howbeit most part of them were raw souldiers that had never served in the Wars before They were very carelesse of their Gods and dissolute in matters of Religion for they passed neither for good signes in their Sacrifices neither to ask councel of their Soothsayers which the Romans were religiously wont to doe before they gave any battel To make the matter worse the number of the Captains having Power and Authority alike did as much or more then the rest disorder and confound their doings for oft-times before in far lesse Matters and Dangers then these One Supreme better then Many they did use to choose special Officers that had sole and soveraign Authority which they called Dictators knowing very well of how great importance it is in dangerous times to have but one Head and General to command all to have supreme Authority of justice in his hands Monarchy and not to be bound to deliver account of his doings to any The injury also which they had too ungratefully done to Camillus brought great mischief then and inconvenience upon them for the Captains after him durst no more command the people roughly but ever after did flatter them much When their Armies were now brought into the Field they Encamped themselves by a little River called Allia about the eleventh stone from Rome and not far from the place where the same River falleth into Tiber thither came Brennus with his
be indeed truly vertuous religious For two Causes The first thereby to obtain the assistance of God's grace which how necessary it is for the illumination of mans understanding in all matters of Counsel is most evident to all good Men. The second Cause why it behoveth a Counsellor to be truly religious and vertuous is for that such is the force of vertue that it giveth credit to the Possessors thereof and maketh them the more easily believed and their Counsel better accepted And therefore we see that all men of discretion and judgement do demand Counsel rather of those who are reputed wise and vertuous then of wicked men who have onely the reputation of wisdom For as St. Ambrose saith Amb. li. de offi 2. c. 10. Where wisdom and vertue are conjoyned Magna erit Consiliorum salubritas there is all good and wholsome counsel to be had and all men are willing to hear the wise and vertuous man as well for the admiration of his wisdome as for the love of his vertue In which respect he also saith that men addresse themselves commonly for Counsel to those who are more vertuous then themselves for no man hath reason to think him who is inferior to himself in manners to be his superior in Wisdom and Counsel Furthermore such is the dignity and authority of vertue that evil men bear a reverend respect thereto and stand as it were in awe of good men whereof we have an Example in Herod who although he held St. John Baptist in prison and would not follow his counsel in the matter of his divorce yet for the reverence he bore to his vertue he consulted many other things with him and followed his advice therein and as the Scripture also saith metuebat eum be feared him and no doubt but wise and vertuous Princes much more esteem and respect the Counsel of wise men that are vertuous then of others of equal wit and judgement that are vicious and wicked knowing that as Solomon saith Consilia impiorum fraudulenta the counsels of wicked men are fraudulent Pro. c. 12. and that he who hath no care of his Conscience will have no care of his Duty towards Men. Basilius the Emperor advised his Son to choose those for his Counsellors who had given Proof and Experience of their Wisdome in the good Conduct and Direction of their own private Affairs and it is very necessary that Counsellors in Conference with their Prince use all sincerity truth and plainnesse without flattery for although the common Proverb say Obsequium amicos Veritas odium parit Flattery gaineth Friends and Truth hatred Yet as there is nothing more pernicious to Princes then flattery so by consequence there is nothing more unfit to be used of Counsellors whose Office is and special care should be to undeceive their Prince in all things wherein they are any way deceived and to labour therein so much the more by how much less other men do it seeing one of the greatest infelicities of Princes is that all or most men flatter and sooth them in all things in which respect Seneca saith Quid omnia possidentibus deest ille qui verum dicat What wants he who hath all marry one to tell the truth And Quintus Curtius saith Regum opes The States of Princes are oftener overthrown by Flattery then by Force But this must be done with great moderation and discretion for commonly those do offend in this kind I mean of being forward and rigorous in admonishing who presume over much either of their own wits and power or of their Princes weaknesse or of his over great favour and familiarity or of the need he hath of them or else perhaps are of nature severe insolent or passionate for such sometimes do forget themselves yea and take a pride in contradicting or admonishing their Princes with less duty respect then were convenient and such an one was Callisthenes of whom Arrianus writeth that he made himself odious to Alexander the Great Tum ob intempestivam libertatem tum ob superbam stultitiam both for his unseasonable liberty of speech and also for his proud folly But Haephestion Counsellor to the same Alexander avoided that error for he alwayes admonished him discreetly and freely as occasion served yet he ever did it in such sort that it seemed rather to be Alexander's Will and Pleasure that he should so doe then that he challenged any right to himself yea a Councellor though he should fear to incur displeasure for his plainness Plutarch in Themist yet he ought to discharge his Conscience and to say as Themistocles said to Euribiades who took up a staffe to strike him for his free speech strike me so you hear me after Seneca most excellently saith Sunt duo contraria Consilio festinatio ira Two things are contrary to Counsell haste and anger And again saith he Deliberandum est diu quod statuendum est femel The thing that is once to be determined is to be deliberated by leisure And Aristotle tells us That a wise Man ought to counsel slowily and execute speedily Had Archigallo followed with his Councellors these Rules and Principles he had not been thrust out of his Throne ELIDVRVS ELIDVRVS third Son to Morindus and Brother to Archigallo was by common consent and applause of all the States of the Brittains chosen and crowned King in the year of the World four thousand nine hundred and fifteen This Prince in the English Chronicle is called Hesider or Esodir he was of such a temperate and mild disposition that his Subjects called him Elidure the Meek but I suppose this Appellation of Meek in Latine Pius came upon another occasion for the Count Palatine thus delivers unto us the Kings life Elidurum tertio natum Morindi statuunt Regem qui totidem annos Rempublicam sed diversa ratione humanitatis benevolentiae fratri sc per omnia dissimilem tenebat Archigallo jam privatus imperio à provincialibus Regnis ad quae proficiscitur auxiliares copias petit Nusquam auditus pro animi disiderio redit donium militibusque decem tantum modo comitatus visit eos quos nuper habebat amicos transit nemus Calaterium in quo Rex venebatur qui forte temerè casit Fratrem non speratum intuens pietate motus amplectitur eum secum ad Arcluidam perducit Ibi concilium cum proceribus capit de fratre restituendo in Regnum quam ejus cogitationem graviter iniquo animo omnes tulerunt quod nihil pro sano ab Archigallione sperarent usus igitur arte quad am fingendi morbum vocat ad se singulos secreto ingredientibus persuadet ac minatur etiam nisi Archigallioni ut tanquam Regi suo fidem spondeant deinde per alia Cubicula educi singillatim custodiri quibus ita concitatis fratri per terrorem suaque oratione confirmatis de morum ejus commutatione ducit Elidrus
Brute entered Brittain eleven hundred and thirty six After Alexander the Great near upon a eleven hundred and twenty five After the building of Rome seven hundred and twenty nine GVIDERIVS GVIDERIVS the first Son of Kimbeline was advanced to the Legal command of the Brittains who were under his Fathers subjection he was invested in the year of the world 5216. Anno Dom. 170. This King was potent and abounded in Treasure which indeed are the sinews of War and was alwaies a Prince of Haughty courage and where wealth and courage meet almost miracles may be wrought if the cause be good and guided by a celestial providence but self-Love Pride and Arrogancy often bringeth confusion Guiderius bolstered up with these supporters denies the covenanted Tribute to the Romans which if thus confirmed by Authors Expletis diebus vitae suae cessit gubernaculum Regni Guiderio Mr. Bro. fol. 23. 8. cum ergo Tributum quod appetebant Romani ipsis denegaret supervenit Claudius qui in Imperium subrogatus fuerat When Kimbeline was dead Guiderius succeeeded in the Kingdome therefore when he denied the Tribute the Roman Claudius came hither being then Emperor Mr. Br. 335. And I have read in a very good Author That in Claudius the Roman Emperors time he with his Romans brought the Orchades and after them Anglesey under the Roman subjection though this Act be commonly ascribed to Julius Agricola Fabian confirms my Authors Assertion saying Wherefore Claudius who was Uncle to Caius Caligula the Fourth Emperor of Rome arrived in Brittain with a great Army and not only as writeth Polychronican constrained the Inhabitants to pay the Tribute but also subjected to the Roman yoke the Iles of Orchades or Orkeys which are scituate beyond Scotland and at the end of six Months returned to his Imperial City In this Army as tells us the English Chronicle and Gaufride was a Captain called Hame or Hamo who to compasse his purpose against the Ilanders changed his Armour and Shield arming himself like a Brittain and in this Disguise did extreme Damage unto his Enemies and still pressing forward at length came to the very place where King Guiderius was fighting and by this unexpected Stratagem and Policy slew him which his Brother Arviragus perceiving used the like policy immediately investing himself in Princely Array that the Fall of the King was not perceived and thus personating a Soveraign in his Regal Ensignes he encouraged the Brittains and by his own Example Courage and Valour so animated them that they did Feats beyond belief insomuch that they put the Romans to flight Thus was Guiderius by the opinion of several Authors slain by Hamo after he had reigned the space of twenty eight years leaving his Brother Arviragus by reason that he had no Issue of his own to succeed him ARVIRAGVS ARviragus the youngest Son of Kimbeline and brothor to Guiderius was Crowned King of Great Brittain in the year of Christs Incarnation forty and four The English Chronicle calls him Armiger he was a Prince of a high Spirit and skilful in warlike Affairs maintaining with great resolution and prosperous successe his Wars against the invading Romans neither suffered he the death of his Brother to passe unrevenged For with his own hands he slew Hamo the Murderer of Guiderius near a Port or Haven which by reason of that Fact was called Hamons Haven and now with some alteration South-Hampton a Town populous rich and beautiful from which the whole Shire deriveth her Name most strongly walled with square stone containing in Circuit one thousand and two hundred Paces having seven Gates for entrance and twenty nine Towers for Defence two very stately Keyes for Ships arrivage and five fair Churches for God's divine Service besides an Hospital called God's House wherein the unfortunate Richard Earl of Cambridge beheaded for Treason lyeth inter'd On the West of this Town is mounted a beautiful Castle in form Circular and wall within wall the Foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by stairs carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the Walls a goodly Church sometimes stood called St Maries which was pulled down for that it gave the French direction of Course who with fire had greatly endangered the Town instead thereof is newly Erected a small and unfinisht Chappel In this place saith Learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium a Fort of the Romans whose Circuit on that side extended it self to the Sea this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrown In K. Ed. 3. time it was fired by the French under the conduct of the King of Sicills Son whom a Countryman encountred and struck down with his Club he crying Rancon that is Ransome but he neither understanding his Language nor the Law that arms doth allow laid on more soundly I know thee a Francon and therefore thou shalt die And in Richard the Seconds time it was somewhat removed and built in the place where now it is In this Clausentium Canute to evict his Flatterers made tryal of his Deity commanding the Seas to keep back from his Feet but being not obeyed acknowledged God to be the only supreme Governour and in a religious Devotion gave up his Crown to the rood at Winchester Earls of this Southampton have been 1067. 1 Bevis of Hampton that famous Souldier so much talked of Azure 3 Lyons passant gardant Or. 2 William Fitz-Williams Losenge arg and Gules 3 Thomas Wricthesley L. Ch. created E. by Ed. 6. and King at Arms. 4 Henry Wricthesley 5 Henry Wricthesley 6 Thomas Wricthesley 1641. Azure a Cross Or 4 fulcons closed argent Policr l. 4. c. 8. cited by Fabian fol. 41. After divers changes and alterations in War and Peace an Agreement was concluded between Claudius the Roman Emperor and Arviragus insomuch that the Emperor sent to Rome for his Daughter Genniss or Gennissa and espoused her to the Brittish King who had by her his Son and Heir Marius his Successor in the Kingdome This King Reigned in Brittain when St. Joseph came hither Mr. Bro. f. 22. who gave to him and his Followers a place of Residence in lateribus suae Regionis in the outside of K. Arviragus his Countrey in Regionis suae finibus saith the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury in the very end of his Dominion Math. Parker A late Writer speaking of King Arviragus saith Quidam Historici testantur ipse omnium Regum Brittannorum primus Joes Pitseus Rel. Hist in Arvirago Fidem Christi cum Sacramentis Christianis Christianus factus suscepit Some Historians witness that of all Brittish Kings he was the first that being made a Christian received the Faith of Christ with the Christian Sacraments Another thus plainly writeth of St. Joseph He converted to the Christian Faith Marius and Coillus Son and Nephew to Arviragus and John Harding is
people the present occasion seemed to offer means of redresse while the Roman General was making War in Mona whereupon they resolved to take Arms inciting the Trinobants and other Nations that were wholly brought under subjection to doe the like Then they began to discourse of their miseries of bondage to lay their injuries together aggravating them by their own constructions and complaining that their patience had profited them nothing but to draw heavy burdens upon them as men that would gently bear That whereas in former times they had only one Commander now there was two thrust upon them the Lieutenant to suck their blood the Procurator their substance whose disagreement was the vexation of the subject and agreement utter undoing while the one burdened them with Souldiers and Captains the other with wrongs and indignities That the lust and covetousnesse of these their Enemies laid hold upon all persons without exception that though in the field he that spoileth be commonly the stronger yet themselves were by Cowards and Weaklings for the most part dispossessed of their Houses bereft of their Children enjoyned to yield Souldiers for other mens behoof as though they were such a kind of people as knew how to doe any thing else save onely to die for their Country For otherwise there was but a handful of Souldiers come over if they did but reckon their own number considering withall that Germany had already shaken off the yoak having no Ocean-Sea but a River to defend it That the causes then moving them to take Arms were just and honourable namely to recover their liberty and to defend their Parents Wives Children and Country whereas the Romans had nothing to provoke them to war but their own covetousnesse and wanton lust and were likely enough to depart as Julius Caesar had done if themselves would imitate the vertues of their Progenitors and not be dismaid with the doubtful event of one skirmish or two seeing that men in misery have commonly more courage then at other times and more constancy to continue and now the Heavens themselves seemed to pity their poor estate by sending the Roman Governour out of the way and confining the Army as it were into another Iland by which means opportunity of revenge and hope of liberty was offered and finally that being Assembled to advise and deliberate together they had obtained the hardest point in an action of that nature wherein it were more dangerous to be taken consulting then doing with these and the like Speeches they stirred up one another each man laying his own particular grievances and adding them to the common cause About this time divers prodigious Signs were noted to portend the subversion of the Roman Colony as namely an Image of victory falling down reversed at Camalodunum strange noyses sounding in the Air strange apparitions seen in the Sea the Ocean bloody in shew and the prints of mens bodies on the Sands diverse constructions were made of these things as ominous whether that they proceeded of some natural causes though not alwaies observed or else that they do necessarily forgoe the ruine and change of great states howbeit commonly in such cases mens minds do misgive them while they frame the future event of things answerable to their own fearful imaginations and great alterations falling out sometimes after like accidents they superstitiously suppose them to be alwaies the certaine forerunners of destruction the apprehension of these things at the first struck the Romans with great fear by reason of the absence of their General and thereupon they required the aid of Catus Decianus the a Receiver of the revenues of the Province Procurator who sent a small company badly armed to re-enforce the Garison The old Souldiers that had been left within the Town although few in number yet trusting to the Frenchise of the Temple and not doubting the secret conspiracies of their confederates were in a manner carelesse as in times of peace following their pleasures and making no provision for defence The Brittains having in the mean time taken Armes under the conduct of Voadica a Lady of the blood of their Kings for in matter of Government they made no difference of Sex and being informed of the state of the Colony determined first to assaile the Towns and Forts in their passage thither which they attempted accordingly and with no great difficulty surprised the greatest number of them The good successe the Brittains had in taking in some places of defence as they marched forward made them desirous and adventerous to invade the Colony it self and Voadica as their Leader being a Woman of great Spirit and comely Personage apparaled in a loose Gown of divers colours with a Golden Chain about her Neck and a light Spear in her hand standing upon a heap of Turfes the better to be seen her Daughters on each side of her with a shrill voice uttered these or the like words The Oration of the gallant Lady Voadica to the Brittains IT is no new custome for the Brittains to make War under the leading of a Woman Enobled by their Birth and Discent the examples of former times can well witnesse the experience thereof howbeit at this present I will disclaim all Titles of Dignity and Prerogatives of blood and what difference soever there is in our Estates yet shall our Fortune in this action be indifferent and common to us both it shall not need to repeat that which you all know but too well namely what miseries we have endured under the Tyranny of this proud Nation you have had the triall both of Liberty and Bondage and I doubt not but you find now how much the one is to be preferred before the other and howsoever some of you heretofore for private respects have inclined to the Roman Governours as Favourers of their usurped Sovereignty yet I suppose you will now confesse with me that freedome in a poor Estate is better then Golden Fetters for what abuse can there be named so vile or indignity so disgraceful that hath not been offered us without respect of Degree Age or Sex we Till our ground and sweat for other Men that reap the sweat of our Travels the wealth that we gather together to maintain our selves and our Families is by other men wastfully and riotously mispent we have nothing our own but what they leave us and nothing left us but labour and vexation our bodies and estates being consumed to satisfie their ambition and covetousnesse we have not so much as our heads toll-free so narrowly we are sifted from the highest to the lowest Other subdued Nations are yet by death free from Bondage but we even after death seem to live still in Thraldome while we are inforced to pay Tribute as well for the dead as the living what are we a Nation so contemptible that we can serve to no other use then to be slaves or so unhappy that death it self cannot acquit us from being miserable How long
' Imperator victoriam suam gaudenter attribuit And this I take to be the chiefest occasion of the mistakings in some Historians or their Scribes setting down so many and several times when King Lucius received the Christian Faith or professed it many saying it was in the year of Christ 156. Others in the year 164. and others 185 as William of Malmesbury and others Henry of Hartford 169. and others in other and later times That such was the state of Brittany for spiritual Affairs in this Idolatry and superstition daily diminishing and decaying and Christian Religion in all places and persons increasing and multiplying both Authority and the known certain effect it self the surest testimony in such cases shall witnesse And this was the condition thereof until about the beginning of the Papacy of St. Soter or in the end of the first year thereof about the year of our Redemption 175. when as it appeareth by the Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperor before the strange delivery of him and his Army by the Christians miraculous prayers he suffered many Christians to live in quiet and had a great number of them about him Invenique magnam eorum multitudinem and seeing himself and his Army in distresse sent for them and intreated them to pray for his delivery Eos qui apud nos Christiani dicuntur ac accersivi ac rogavi Which he would not have done being a wise and learned Emperor but that either by the Apology of Athenagoras the Vertues and miracles of many Christians or some other invincible Argument his judgement was then wholly or almost convicted that their Religion was holy and they also and therefore likely to be powerable with God to procure his safety which his own prayers and sacrifices to his Pagan gods were not able to doe ' Deos patrios votis ' susceptis rogavi sed cum ab eis negligerer as himself publickly professed and therefore preferring the prayers of the Christians appealed unto them But after God by the prayers of the Christians which he procured them to make had so miraculously delivered him and his Army consisting but of four Legions not 27 thousand Men environed almost with a thousand thousands of Enemies as the common reading is ' Hostium nonagintorum septuaginta ' septem millia and his people distressed with thirst and hunger not having drunk in five days by sending a most cooling and comforting Rain into the Camp of the distressed Emperor and Hail like fire and lightning among his Enemies confounding and discomfitting them he presently sent out his Imperial Letters and Edict charging the Senate of Rome to confirm them with their Decree wherein wholly ascribing this Delivery of his Army and himself and confusion of his Enemies to the God of the Christians and their prayers unto him wherein he gave free Liberty for any man to be a Christian Concedamus talibus ut sint Christiani And no Man should be molested for being a Christian for Religion censeo neminem quod CHRISTIANVS sit esse in Crimen vel Judicium vocandum And he that should accuse any Christian for Religion should be burned alive and that he that shall professe himself to be a Christian shall be freed from all danger intended against him for that cause and no Governour of any Province shall punish any such for his Religion or deprive him of Liberty Volo eum qui Christianum accusarit vivum exuri illum vero qui se Christianum esse professus fuerit periculo omni quod ob eam rem intendebatur liberatum Is cui provincia commissa est nequaquam ad poenitentiam adigat aut libertatem ei adimat And he willed these things to be confirmed by the Senates decree and this his edict to be proposed in open market place to be read and that the prefect of the City then Vetrasius Pollio should cause it to be sent to all Provinces and no man should be forbidden to write it out Haec autem Senatus consulto etiam sanciri volo atque hoc meum edictum in foro Divi Trajani proponi ut legi possit curae autem erit Vetrasio Pollioni praefecto urbis ut ad omnes provincias haec constitutio mittatur neque quisquam qui eam exscribere vel ipse uti voluerit prohibeatur This was sent to the whole Senate of Rome Senatui Populoque Romano and by the Emperours publick charge and command as into other Provinces so likewise sent into Brittany for the priviledge of all Christians there by the Emperours publick Officer in such Affairs the Ruler of the Ctiy of Rome ad omnes Provincias haec constituo mittatur Any man that would might freely be a Christian and no man under pain of cruel death to burnt be alive might call any into question for that cause And to give greater testimony of those things in Brittain and see this Imperial edict for the freedom of Christians here take place and effect whereas our English Antiquaries and others tells us Floren. Wigorn. Chronic. anno 159. 181. that Trebellius and Pertinax the Roman Lieutenants here about this time were Christians our Countryman Florentius VVigorniensis plainly affirmeth that Pertinax was a chief Commander in the Emperours Army when this miraculous victory was by the Christians prayers and this edict written and decreed for their freedome and liberty and probably was then converted to the faith by this miracle and the Emperour himself who in his publick cited edict doth say of Christians that in equity he must think them now to be defended by God whom before he accounted for wicked men and alienated from God must needs be a Christian in Conscience and Judgement and he must needs at the least believe that true God whom he said the Christians did bear in their conscience And in no wise a learned Emperour could or would in Judgement Reason Equity and Conscience make a Law to condemn men to so cruel a death as burning alive which he afflicted upon the accusers of Christians except he knew or probably thought their accusation was unjust and the cause of the accused Lawful Just and Holy COILLVS COILLVS the Son of Marius was after his Fathers decease made King of Brittain in the year of our Lord 125. K. Coillus brought up at Rome saith Holinshed Fabian saith 126. This Coillus or Coill had his youthful education amongst the Romans in the very Imperial City it self who being of a Martial spirit applyed his time to warlike exercises in which he so excelled that he was both admired and beloved by the Romans and to requite their favours and to continue towards him their good affections he payed without any grudging or seeming discontent their accustomed Tribute by which means he spent his dayes in peace and tranquillity he so far excelled in bounty liberality that he drew unto himself the hearts and good wills both of the Nobles and Commons The building of Colchester is ascribed to this King which is the
now much worse then before the Saxons arrival that strangers under the colour of friendship robbed them of their goods and bereaved them of their lands that the secret practises of such as they trusted were no lesse to be feared then open Hostility and that if speedy order were not taken to expell them they would in short time root out the ancient Brittains and make themselves Lords of the whole Island But Vorteger whose affection to his wife and her Kindred weighed down all other respects whatsoever neglected their complaints till by his own experience he was taught what dangerous inconveniences proceed from wilful rashnesse and mis-government For the Brittains disdaining to be any longer commanded by such a Prince Vortiger despised by his own Subjects as had neither power to command his own affections nor care to provide for the safety of his Subjects declared him uncapable and by a general consent deprived him of all Regall Authority Vortimer Vortimer the Son of Vortiger a Man in disposition of mind much like his Father was declared King and renewed the war with the Saxons whom he encountered in a pitcht field near Alisford in Kent In that conflict Catigern his Brother and Horsa the Brother of Hengist fighting hand to hand were both slain whereby though the Saxons perished in greater number then the Brittains yet by the loss of the Generals on both sides the fortune of the Battail seemed in a manner to be equal On the part of the Brittains there died no man of name save only Catigern in remembrance of whose death there was afterwards a Sepulchre of stone erected where the battail was fought the like monument was also built by the Saxons for Horsa their Captain though time hath now defaced it howbeit the memory of the place it self if credit may be given to the inhabitants there iscontinued amongst them even to this day by a small village in East Kent yet bearing his name After this the Brittains made divers attempts upon their Enemies sometimes winning sometimes loosing and then recovering again that which they had lost when Vortimer the King ended his dayes either by a natural death or by the treachery of Rowen his Stepmother He was a Prince of great courage adorned with many morall vertues and as some writers have reported a favourer and professor of Christian religion Vortiger restored Now was Vortiger either by an hope that adversity had wrought upon him a reformation of mind Brittish Hist part second fol. 191. or else for fear least any civil discord should arise by the election of an other revoked with common consent of the Brittains and restored to his former Estate During his Sons reign as Histories report he lived a private life near Radnor in Wales where he bestowed much cost in building a Castle for defence as he vainly imagined against any suddain assault In the mean time the strength of the Saxons encreased by new supplies which came daily out of Germany and the Brittains doubted their own Estates so much the more by reason that the Picts and Scottish Men their ancient Enemies were dispersed in most parts of the Isle The Saxons also for their own advantage entering often times into secret conferences and mutual leagues with them But Hengist supposing that he could not with safety enjoy the possession of that Territory which Vortiger had assigned unto him so long as the chief and most valiant of the Brittish Nation remained alive The treachery of the Saxons devised by a cunning practice under pretence of hospitality and friendship to draw them together into one place and on the suddain to supprise them To this end he prepared a solemne banquet at which the King with divers noble personages as bidden guests were present suspecting nothing less then what was intended against them For the Brittains being warm with good cheer and wine whereof they had drunk immeasurably were scoft at by the Saxons Drunkenness the ruine of the Brittains the one provoking the other so far with reproachfull terms that in the end they fell from words to blowes in such furious manner as the Brittains being about 300 in number all un armed and surcharged with wine were slain in the place and Vortiger their King taken prisoner who soon after delivering for his ransome the whole Country of Kent with other Provinces thereto belonging and adjoyning into the Saxons hands fled to his Castle in Wales where supposing himself free from danger he continued his vitious and prophane manner of living till in the end both himself and his Castle as some writers affirm was by lighting from Heaven consumed to ashes Thus Vortiger the last King of the Brittish blood a Prince in manners dissolute and weak in actions was by strangers dispossessed of his Kingdom living to see the ruine of his Country whereof himself was the principal cause and dying in the end a strange and unnatural death which is commonly the issue of a disordered and infamous life The report goeth that this fatal meeting was held upon Salisbury-plains where not many years after Aurelius Ambrosius caused that strange building of stone now call'd Stone-hedge to be erected as a perpetual monument of so many worthy Brittains slain and buried there concerning which sundry conjectures have been made as being either framed according to mens particular conceits or grounded upon common reports received by tradition But by what means so ever they came thither they are accounted at this day one of the miracles of England in regard both of the stones themselves which are of a huge bigness as also of their position and order whereby they seem in a manner to be supported with their own weight in hanging one by an other considering withall that there are no stones for building to be found within many miles of that place Now were the Brittains driven from place to place some flying to the mountains others hiding themselves in Caves under ground where they either perished for want of food or coming abroad to seek for relief were cruelly murdered their Enemies in the mean time ranging up and down without resistance rafing their houses The wofull condition of the Brittains polluting the Altars in their Temples with the blood of their Priests burning the Temples themselves and committing all manner of sacriledge and outrage without regard of place or person For the Saxons as by little and little they planted themselves in the most wealthy and fruitfull parts of the Isle so they endeavoured to supplant the true Christian religion whereof they professed themselves open Enemies as men meerly addicted to heathenish superstition in worshipping divers Gods and Goddesses among whom the Images of Thor Woden Frea and Eoster were placed in their Temples as their chief Patrons they painted Thor with a Scepter in his hand after the same manner that the Poets used to describe the Image of Jupiter and him they reverenced as the commander and disposer of thunder and lightning
their memory with some worthy monument caused these stones to be set up in the place of their murther and burial the which stones had been first brought from Affrick into Ireland and had been placed on Mount Killare and from thence by the industrious means of Merlin were conveyed to this place to the foresaid end There are about this place certain little hills or banks under which are found sometimes bones of big men and pieces of armour also not far from thence remain old ruines of the manner of a fortress which the Romans most likely did build there in times past Such was the devotion of this time as we may gather by old Writers testifying that after the Pagan Saxons had destroyed the Churches and Abbeys in Brittain yet many still remained Will. Lamb. Peram of Kent p. 330. Mr. Broug fol. 601. Mat. West an 490. Idem an 498. Galf. Mon. hist Brit. l. 7. c. 16 and their Abbats were honoured and Will. Lamb. perambulation in Kent tells us In ancient time even the greatest personages held Monks and Nuns in such veneration and liking that they thought no Citty in case to flourish no house to have long continuance no castles sufficiently defenced where was not an Abbey Priory or Nunnery either placed within the walls or planted at hand or near adjoyning and numbred among our Nobles spiritual Lords before the temporal So it was in that great solemnity when Aurelius Ambrosius kept the feast of Penticost at Amesbury he had there many Bishops Abbots and many other Noble persons And after Brittain was more decayed by those Pagans yet there were still both Bishops and Abbats here and they buried the body of their King Aurelius Ambrosius in regall manner thus it was in all places and Provinces in this Kingdom where these Pagans reigned most London Winchester Lincolne York and other parts where they destroyed Churches and all holy monuments Mat. West an 462. martyred the Priests at the Altars burnt holy Scriptures defaced and obscured Martyrs tombs They found every where Religious persons who flying their persecution hid themselves in caves woody places and desart crags of hills and mountains Alla and his three sons Kymon Plineing and Cissa came into Brittain with three ships and landed with them in a place called Kimon shore Howe 's Brit. Saxon. fol. 53. and there slew many of the Brittains forcing the rest to take their flight into a wood called Andredsleage This Alla fighting with the Brittains in a place neer unto Macreds Boorn or Micreds Rilear slew many of them and put the rest to flight Alla and Cissa his sons after long seige brake into the Citty of Andredcester and slew the inhabitants Andredcester from the greatest to the smallest Port and his two sons Byda and Moegla arrived in Brittain with two ships in a place called Portesmouth Portsmouth and there slew a young Gentleman one of the Nobility of the Brittains and divers others The same year two Dukes to wit Cerdic and Kenric his son came into Brittain with five ships and arrived in a place called Cerdic shore the same day they fought with the Brittains and put them to flight Howes ut sup Cerdic and his son Kenrie slew Natanland King of the Brittains and 5000 men of whose name that countrey as far as Cerdicsford was called by the name of Natanleend I beseech Mr. Howe 's to give me leave to tell him that Port could not land at Portsmorth nor Cerdic at Cerdicshore being names at their arrivall utterly unknown and questionlesse had other Brittish names these nomenclations seemed to be taken from Port and Cerdic and therefore the Authour should better have given their first appellations Ambrosius Aurelianus or Aurelius being poysoned dyed when he had reigned thirty five years and was buryed at Stone-hedge then called Chorsa Gigantum It is strange to me that a Prince so much a Christian and a restaurator and repairer of Churches Monasteries and sacred places consecrated for the Sepulture of devout Christians and that both Bishops and Abbots should be present at the funerals and obsequies of so deserving a King and not afford him a Sepulcher in a Church he having repaired and re-edified so many Vter Pendragan After that Aurelius Ambrosius was dead his brother Vter Pendragon whom Harrison calleth Aurelius Vterîus Ambrosianus was made King in the year of our Lord 500. The cause why he was sirnamed Pendragon was for that Merlin the great Prophet likened him to a Dragons head that at the time of his nativity marveilously appeared in the Firmament Hollenshed Hist of Engl. fol. 127. Howes Stow Brittains and Saxons fol. 53 at the corner of a blazing star as is reported Others suppose that he was so called of his wisdome and serpentine subtilty or for that he gave the Dragons head for his arms This Vter hearing that the Saxons with their Captains Octa or Occa the Son of Hengist and his brother Osca had besieged the Citty of York hasted thither and giving them battail put them to flight and took Osca and Occa prisoners Hector Boetius in his Chronicle is of an other opinion for he saith Vter Pendragon at the death of his brother Aurelius was in Wales as not yet fully recovered of a dangerous sicknesse wherewith lately he had been extreemly molested yet the Lords of Brittain after the funerall of their last King came unto him and set the Diadem upon his head and though he was not able to go against the Saxons who by reason of Aurelius his death were very busy and more earnest in pursuing the war then before and army was yet prepared and sent forth with all convenient speed under the leading of one Nathaliod a man neither of ancient extraction nor skill in military affairs The Noble men were nothing pleased herewith and misliking altogether the lack of discretion in their new King they doubted much least in time to come he would have more delight to advance men of base lineage and degree then such as were descended of noble parentage yet because they would not put the state of the Land in danger through any mutiny they agreed to go forth with him in that journey Occa had advertisement given him by secreet letters sent to him by some close friends among the Brittains of the whole matter and therefore in hope of the better successe he made all possible speed to encounter the Brittains and thus the one army coming in fight of the other they prepare to the battail and shortly after the first onset the Brittains retreated and turned their backs by reason that one of their chiefest Commanders called Gothlois disdaining to be under Nathaliod got him up to the top of the next hill with such as were under his power and charge leaving the other Brittains in eminent danger which they perceiving began also to save themselves by flight There dyed no great number of the natives for Occa mistrusting what Gothlois
bodies Josephus l. 1. antiq saith that Angels begat those Gyants Tertullian also lib. de hab itu muiebri holdeth the same errour and divers more otherwise good Authours But St. Cylril of Alexandria l. 1. c 9. adv Juli. St. Chrisost hom 22. in Gen. St. Ambrose de Noe a rca c. 4. St. Aug. l. 15. c. 23 de civit St. Hierome Tradit Hebraic and other most principal Doctours teach it to be untrue yea impossible that those Giants should have been begotten by any other creatures then men For that Angels and Devils are meer spirits without all Natural bodies And if they had airy bodies as they have not yet they could not have such generation for the power or force to engender belongeth to the vegitative soul whose proper operations are to turne nutriment into substance of the subject wherein it is and to engender new issue or offspring from the same as Aristotle sheweth l. 2. de anima textu 24. And in what body soever there is a vegitative soul it must needs be that the same was engendered and must sometime decay and die and so the devills should be mortall Moreover if they could have generation together with mankind then such issue should be a distinct species both from man and Divell as a mule differeth both from Horse and Asse and again if spirits had abused women in assumpted bodies and shapes of men yet they did not take them to wives as the Scripture saith they did who begat these giants Finally the holy Scripture expresly calleth the giants men These be the mighty ones famous men The modesty of Scripture terming them famous whom our common phrase would call infamous being more monstrous in wickedness of mind then in hugenesse of body For they were most insolent lascivious covetous cruel and in all kind of vices most impious And if Arthur had not been revoked home to resist his Cozen Mordred that was son to Loth King of Pictland that rebelled in his Country he had passed to Rome intending to make himself Emperour and afterwards to vanquish the other Emperour that then ruled the Empire but for so much as there is not any approved Authour doth speak of any such thing we will let it alone At his returne into Brittain he found that Mordred had caused himself to be made King and having allyed himself with Childrick a Saxon not him whom Gaufride as ye have heard supposeth to have been slain before was ready to have resisted his landing so that before he could come to shore he lost many of his men but yet at length he repulsed his enemies but not without great losse of his own men and at length landed at Sandwich and then joyned in battail with his enemies in this conflict was slain Gawin a noble Chieftain whose death he much lamented who was brother to Mordred who like a faithful Gentleman regarding more his honour and loyal truth then neernesse of blood chose rather to fight in the quarrel of his lawful King and loving master then to take part with his natural brother in an unjust cause and so there in that battail was slain together also with Auguisal to whom Arthur formerly had committed the government of Scotland Mordred fled from this battail and getting ships sailed Westward and finally landed in Cornwall King Arthur caused the corps of Gawin to be interred at Dover as some hold opinion but William of Malmsbury supposeth that he was buryed in Wales as after shall be shewed The dead body of Anguisall was conveyed into Scotland and there buryed After that Arthur had put his enemies to flight he had intelligence into what part Mordred was withdrawn with all speed he reenforced his army with new recruits called out of several places and with his whole puissance hasted forward not resting till he came neer to the place were Mordred was encamped with such an Army as he could assemble together from his friends and adherents Here as apeareth by John Leyland in his book entituled The assertion of Arthur it may be doubted in what place Mordred was encamped but Jeffry of Monmoth sheweth that after Arthur had discomfited Mordred in Kent at the first landing it chanced so that Mordred escaped and fled to Winchester whether Arthur followed and there giving him battail the second time did also put him to flight and following him from thence fought him after at a place called Camblan or Kemelene in Cornewall or as some Authours have it neer Glastenborough This battail was fought with such prowess and eagernesse on both sides that in conclusion Mordred was their slain with the most part of his whole army And Arthur receiving divers mortal wounds died of the same shortly after when he had reigned over the Brittains by the terme of twenty six years His Corps was buryed at Glastenbury in the Church yard betwixt two Pillars where it was found in the dayes of K. Henry the Second about the year of our Lord 1191. which was in the last year of the reign of the same K. Henry more then six of hundred years after the burial thereof He was laid sixteen foot deep under ground for doubt that his enemies the Saxons should have found him But those that digged into the ground there to find his body after they had entered about seven foot deep into the earth found a mighty broad stone with a leaden Crosse fastened to that part which lay downwards towards the Corps containing this inscription Hic jacet sepultus Inclitus Rex Arthurius in Insula Avelonia This inscription was graven on that side of the Crosse which was next to the stone so that till the Crosse was taken off it was not seen His body was found not inclosed within a Tomb of Marble or other stone curiously wrought but within a great tree made hallow like a trunk the which being found and digged up was opened and therein were found the Kings bones of such marveilous bigness that the shin bone of his leg being set on the ground reached up to the middle thigh of a right tall man as a Monk of that Abbey hath written Hapsfield exâ—b Alisto Aug. fol. 39. and Nic. Hapsfield saith the same in manner viz. Os tibiae procerissimam tum hominis tibiam adtrium digitorum longitudinem superaret the length of the shin bone exceeded in length the shin bone of the tallest man then living three fingers in length which lived in those dayes and saw it but Giraldus Cambressis which also lived in those dayes and spake with the Abbot of the place by whom the bones of Arthur were then found affirmeth that by the report of the same Abbot he learned that the shin bone of the said Arthur being set up by the leg of a very tall man the which the Abbat shewed to the said Giraldus came above the knee of the same man the length of three fingers breadth which is much more likely then the other The skull of his head was also of a
Snowden hills and seised into his hands the Country of Rhyvonioc in Denbighshire About this time there was a great battail fought in Anglesey called the battail of Lhanvaes In this year being the 819. ab incarnatione 819. Kenulph King of Mercia destroyed West VVales and the Summer following he overcame Powis land and did much hurt and after died and Kenelme reigned in his place About the same year also Howel King of Man died much about this time 828. a great battail was fought at a place called Gavelford betwixt the Brittains and the VVest Saxons of Devonshire and many thousands cruelly slain upon either side the victory being uncertain In or about the year 836. the Danes landed in VVest VVales and so passing through VVales into England with many of the Brittains which joyned with them against Egbert but they were all overthrown by Egbert at Hengistdown who died the year following In the year 841. died Edwalhan a noble man of Wales And two years after was the battail of Kettel betwixt Burchard King of Mercia and the Brittans where in as some do write 841. Mervin Vrich King of the Brittains was slain leaving behind him a son called Rodri Maur that is to say Roderick the great from Rodri by his son Anarawd who bore for his arms Or three Lyons passant Gules Mervin whose coate was Or a Lyon rampant Gules and Cadel who took for his armes Gules a Lyon Ramp within a border engraled Or the worshipful and flourishing families of the Morgans in Monmothshire who to this day quarter the two last coats by matches and coheirs are rightly descended of which line William Morgan of Lantarnam Esq who marryed Lady Frances daughter to the Earl of VVorcester derived his pedegree leaving issue Sr Edward Morgan first Baronet of that linage father to Sr. Edward Morgan Baronet now living Henry Morgan and Winefred Wife to Percy Enderbid Compiler of this book Roderike the Great Roderike the great began his reign over VVales the year after Christ his incarnation 843. This Prince divided all VVales into the three territories of Aberstraw Dinivour The description of Wales by Sr. John Price Kt and Hump. Lhoyd Gent. and Mathraval But before we proceed any further be pleased to read over the description of Cambria now called VVales drawn first by Sir John Price Knight and afterwards augmented and made perfect by Humphrey Lhoyd Gent. Forasmuch as it is necessary for the understanding of the VVelsh history to know the perfect description of the Country of VVales to the end the acts atchieved and done may the better be known I thought good somewhat to travail therein and so to lay down the same as it was in those daies and as it is now that the Reader may by conference of both times the better understand both what hath passed from the time of Cadwalader and what hereafter is to ensue Therefore after the three Sons of Brutus had divided the whole Isle of Brittain into three parts that part contained within the French Seas with the Rivers of Severn called in Brittish Hafern Dee and Humber fell to the eldest Son Locrinus which was after his name called Lhoyger which name it hath in the Brittish Tongue to this day but in English called England and is augmented Northward to the River Tweed The second Son or as some say the third Albanactus had all the Land Northward from Humber to the Sea Orkney called in the Brittish Tongue Norweryth and in Latine Mare Calidonium The third Son Camber or rather the second had for his part that remained undivided lying within the Spanish and Irish Seas and separated from England by the Rivers Severn Dee part was after his name called Cambria and the Inhabitants thereof Cambri and their Language Camberaec and so are at this day so that they have kept the same Countrey and Language this 2690. years and above saith this Authour when that Chronicle was printed which bears no date without commixtion with any other Nation especially in North Wales And because the name of the Country is changed or rather mistaken by the inhabitants of England and not by them called Cambry but Wales I think it necessary to declare the occasion thereof which is That whereas the Saxons a people of Germany were the first that after the Brittains inhabited and ruled the greatest part of this Island and drove the Brittains into that corner a which according to the manner of their countrey they called VVales Wales why so called and the countreymen VVelshmen and the Tongue VVelsh that is to say strange or not of them understood for at this day the Inhabitants of the Low-countreys call all their next Neighbours Language Henegaw or others that speak French VValsh as a Language to them unknown Likewise the Inhabitants of Tyroll and other the higher countryes of Germany do name the Italian their next Neighbour a VValshman and his language VValsh And this is an evident proof that they which harped upon a Queen Gwallaes Not from Queen Gwalaes Nor from Prince Wala and of a Prince VValla of whom neither Brittish Latine or English History makes mention were fouly deceived and so likewise was a great Historiographer of late daies who saith that it was called VValia quasi Italia because the rest of the Romanes which remained in the Isle were driven thither Neither is this any new invention although Polidore Virgil with an Italian brag doth glory his self to be the first that found it out Polidore Virgil his brag for divers antient Writers do alledge the same cause of the name of VVales of whom Sylvester Giraldus is one who writ in the time of Henry the Second after the Conquest before 380 passed which is an evident token that the said Polidore Virgil did either never see it or at least not read the ancient Histories of this Kingdome or else dissembleth the same to the advancement and praise of himself and his countrey which to the learned and indifferent Reader shall appear to be the only occasion he took that work in hand Polidores jugling in his History for all his book redoundeth only to the praise and honour of the Romanes as well Spiritual as Temporal and to blaze forth their Acts and Deeds within this Realm and upon the other part he doth either openly slander or else privately extenuate or shamefully deny the Martial prowess and Noble Acts as well of Saxons Danes and Normans as of the Brittains all inhabiters of this Isle which thing he that lists to prove let him read and confer Caesars Commentaries Cornelius Tacitus Herodianus and other ancient Writers as well in Latine as in Greek with his works As for the Ancient Writers of the Brittish History as the Brittish Chronicle the History of Gildas Ponticus Virunnius yea the golden work of Matthew Paris Monk of Saint Alban who writ from William the Conquerour to the last year of Henry the Third I dare say he
Brittain was imprisoned and Edwal Voel the Son of Anarawd and Elise his Brother were slain in a battel which they fought against the Danes and Englishmen This Edwal had six sons Meiric Janaf or Jenan Jago which is James Conan Edwal Vachan and Roderick after whose death Howel Dha his Cosin German ruled all VVales during his life Elise also had Issue Conan and a Daughter named Trawst which was Mother to Conan ap Sitsylht Gruffith ap Sitsylht and Blethin ap Covyn which two last were afterwards Princes of VVales Howel Dha This Howel Dha King or Prince of Southwales and of Powis long before this time after the death of Edwal Voel his cosin took upon him the rule and government of all VVales about the year of Christ 940. who notwithstanding the sons of Edwal did something murmur against him was for his godly behaviour discreet and just rule beloved of men This Howel constituted and made Laws to be kept through his Dominions which were used in Wales till such time as the Inhabitants received the laws of England in the time of King Edward the First and in some places thereof long after These laws are to be seen at this day both in VVelsh and Latine Howel Dha perceiving the laws and customes of his country to have grown unto great abuse sent for the Arch-Bishop of Menenia and all the other Bishops and chief of the Clergy A pious example for all Princes to the number of one hundred and forty Prelates and all the Barons and Nobles of VVales and caused six men of the wisest and best esteemed in every Comote to be called before him whom he commanded to meet altogether at his house called Y Tuy Gwyn Taf that is The white house upon the River Taf. Thither he came himself and there remained with those his Nobles Prelates and Subjects all the Lent in prayer and fasting craving the Assistance and direction of Gods holy Spirit that he might reform the Laws and Customes of the Country of VVales to the honour of God and quiet government of the people About the end of Lent he chose out of that company twelve men of the wisest gravest and of the greatest experience to whom he added one Clerk or Doctour of the lawes named Blegored a singular learned and perfect wise man These had in charge to examine the old lawes and customes of Wales and to gather of such as were meet for the government of the Country which they did retaining those that were wholesome and profitable expounding those that were doubtful and ambiguous and abrogating those that were superfluous and hurtful and so ordained three sorts of Laws The first for ordering of the King or Princes Houshold and his Court. The second of the affairs of the Country and Common-wealth The third of the special customes belonging to particular places and persons Of all the which being read allowed and proclamed he caused three severall books to be written one for his dayly use to follow his Court an other to lye in his Palace at Abersfrew and the third at Dinevour that all the three Provinces of Wales might have the use of the same when need required The King and Princes of Brittain much observant of the See Apostolike And for the better observation of these lawes he procured of the Archbishop of St. Davids to denounce sentence of excommunication against such of his Subjects as refused to obey the same whithin a while after Howel because he would omit nothing that could bring countenance and authority to his said laws went to Rome taking with him the Archbishop of St. Davids the Bishop of Bangor and Asaph and thirteen other of the learnedst and wisest men in VVales where the said lavves being recited before the Pope vvere by his authority confirmed then having finished his devoted pilgrimage he returned home again vvith his company 1. By these lawes they might not morgage their lands but to one of the same family or kindred which were de eadem Parentela 2. Every tenant holding of any other then his Prince or Lord of the Fee paid a fine pro defensione Regia which was called Arian Ardhel in Latine Advocarii 3. No Legacy of goods by Will was good otherwise then those which were given to the Church to the Lord of the Fee or for payment of debts 4. Every man might destrain as well for debts as for rent of Lands any goods or Cattel saving horses which were counted to serve for a mans necessary defence and were not destrainable without the Princes licence 5. Causes of Inheritance were not heard or determined but from the ninth of November till the ninth of February or from the ninth of May until the ninth of August the rest of the year was counted a time of vacation for sowing in the spring and reaping in the harvest This also is to be observed that all matters of inheritance of Land were determined and adjudged by the King or Prince in person or his special Deputy if he were sick or impotent and that upon the view of the said Land calling unto him the Freeholders of the same place two Elders of his Councel the Chief Justice attending alwaies in the Court the ordinary Judge of the Country where the Land lay and the Priest The manner of their proceeding was thus the King or Prince sat in his Judicial seat higher then the rest with an Elder on his right hand and an other on his left and the Freeholders on both sides next unto them which for this cause as I think were called Vchelwyr Before him directly a certain distance off and a little lower sat the Chief Justice having the Priest on his right hand and the ordinary Judg of that Countrey on the left The court being set the Plaintiff came in with his Advocate Champion and Rhyngyth and stood on the right side and last of all the Witnesses on both parties came which stood directly before the Chief Justice at the lower end of the Hall untill they were called up to testify the truth of their knowledge in the matter in varitance The figure of which I thought good here to lay down as ye see Vnderneath Uchelwyr An Elder The King An Elder Uchelwyr The Priest THE Chief Justice The Judge The Defendant  The Plaintiff Rhyngyth  Rhyngyth Advocate  Advocate Champion The VVitnesses Champion After the hearing of this book read the depositions of the witnesses and full pleading of the cause in open Court upon warning given by the Rhyngyth the chief Justice the Priest and the Ordinary Judge withdrew themselves for a while to consult of the matter and then secundum Allegata probata brought their verdict the Court sitting Whereupon the King or Prince after consultation had with the Elders or Seniors which sat by him gave definitive sentence except the matter was so obscure and intricate that right and truth appeared not in the which case it was tryed by the two Champions and so
the cause ended This shall be sufficient for this time Some Authors write that Lhewelin ap Sitsylht who was after Prince of Wales assisted Edmund a Saxon King and entered Cumberland taking the two sons of Dummaille King of the Province put out their eyes and then gave that Country to Malcolme to be holden of him with condition to keep the North part of the Realm from incursion of enemies the which condition was afterwards but slenderly peformed This Malcome was the son of Donald King of Scotland and was the next King after Constantine the third being in number the 76. In the year 942. died Hubert Bishop of St. Davids and the year following Marclois Bishop of Bangor and Vssa the son of Lhavyr died the year 944. the Englishmen entered Wales with a stronge army and spoyled Strad Clwid and returned home At which time Conan the son of Elise was put in danger of death by poyson and Everus Bishop of St. Davids died In the year 948 died Howel Dha the noble and worthy King or Prince of Wales whose death was much lamented by all men for he was a Prince that loved peace and good order and that feared God he left behind him four sons Owen Run Roderike and Edwin betwixt whom and the sons of Edwal there ensued great wars for the chief rule of Wales as shall appear in the history following After the death of Howel Dha his sons did divide Southwales and Powis betwixt them And Janaf and Jago the second and third sons of Edwal Voel ruled North VVales because their elder brother Meyric was not a man worthy to rule who coming of the elder house would have had the chief rule of all Wales which the sons of Howel Dha denyed them And thereupon Jago or James and Janaf entred Southwales with a great power against whom came Owen the son of Howel and his brethren and fought together at the hills of Carno where Jago and Janaf had the victory And the year following the said brethren did twice enter into Southwales and spoyled Dinet and slew Dwnwalhon Lord thereof And within a while after dyed Roderike one of the sons of Howel Dha year 952 In the year 952. the sons of Howel gathered their strength together against Janaf and Jago and entred their land at the river of Conwy where they fought a cruel battail at a place called Gurgustu or Lhanrwst as some think where a great number were slain upon either side as Anarawd the son of Gwyriad or Vriel the son of Roderike the great and Edwin the son of Howel Dha in the which battail were overthrown the sons of Howel whom Janaf Jago pursued to Caerdigan destroyed their Country vvith fire svvord About this time Yarthyr the son of Mervyn vvas drovvned In the year 958 was a wonderful hot summer when Gwyan the son of Gwiriad the son of Roderike dyed After the which heat there followed a great plague in March ensuing In those dayes Jago and Janaf 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 having burnt Holyhead spoyled the country of Lhyyn year 961 In the year 961 the sons of Edwin the son of Colhoyn were slain after they had destroyed all the country to Towyn About this time Meyric the son of Cadvan Rytherch Bishop of St. Davids and Cadwalhon ap Owen departed out of this transitory life Not long after the country of Northwales was exceedingly spoyled by the army of Edgar King of England The cause of this was the not payment of the tribute that the King of Abersfraw by the lawes of Howel Dha was to pay to the Kings of London in the end there was a peace concluded Jo. Cast Holl. pag. 232. Wolves destroyed by the Prince of W. for King Edgar understanding what hurt the Countrys of England and Wales received daily by reason of the great multitude of Wolves that then abounded especially in Wales which destroyed much sheep and otherwayes did great harme released the tribute of money appointed by the said lawes of Howel Dha and bound the Princes of Northwales to pay him yearly certain Wolves for his tribute so to be released of the other tribute in mony which the said Prince performed untill he had left never a Wolf in all Wales or England year 966 In the year 966. Roderike the son of Edwal Voel was slain by the Irishmen by whom Abersfraw was destroyed The next year after fell a great debate betwixt the two sons of Edwal Jago and Janaf which had ruled joyntly together from the death of Howel Dha till that time and shortly after Jago having taken his brother Janaf by force very cruelly kept him in prison a long time about the which time Eneon the son of Owen Prince of Southwales wan seised to himself the land of Gwyr And in the year â—69 Machis the son of Haroald with an army of Danes did enter into Anglesey and â—poyled 〈◊〉 year 969 Theâ—â— â—â—â—nes were suffered by Edgar to inhabit quietly through all England till they â—â—re as strong as the Englishmen and then they fell to such ryotousness and drinking that â—â—ch mischief ensued thereof A law against immoderate drinking whereupon Edgar made a law that every man should drink by measure and caused a certain mark to be set in every pot how deep they should drink and so by these means he somewhat stayed the immoderate ingurgation Not long after that Godfryd the son of Haroald did subdue to himself the whole Isle of Anglesey which he enâ—oyed not long year 972 King Edgar likewise in the year 972 did send a great army to Gaâ—â—â—â—on upon Vsk which shortly turned back without doing any notable act Caerleon upon Vsk The next year following Howel the son of Janaf raised a great power against his Uncle Jago for the deliverance of his father out of prison and overcame his Uncle in fight whom he chased out of the land and took his eldest Unckle Meyric the son of Edwal and put out both his eyes and kept him in prison where he dyed shortly after leaving behind him two sons Edwal and Jonaval of the which Edwal came afterwards the most worthy Princes of Wales Howel notwithstanding he had set his father at liberty yet took upon himself the whole rule of the land for his lifetime He had three brethren all men of great estimation Meyrich Janaf and Cadwallon whose lines shall ensue hereafter Howel Son of Janaf After that Howel the son of Janaf had expelled his Uncle from the land Dunwalhon goes to Rome he took the rule to himself And at that time Dwnwalhon Prince of Strad Cwlyd took his journey to Rome Then dyed Edwalhon the son of Owen year 976 The year 976 Eneon the son of Owen King of Southwales destroyed the land of Gwyr the second time the year ensuing Howel the son of Janaf with a great army both of Welshmen
and Englishmen made war against such as succoured and defended his Uncle Jago and spoyled the Countries of Lhyyn and Kelynnoc Vawr whereby shortly after Jago was taken by Howels men who enjoyed his part of the land peaceably year 979 About the year 979. Edwal Vachan the son of Edwal Voel was slain by his Nephew Howel At this time Custenym Dhu that is Constantine the black son to Jago which then was prisoner hired Godfryd the son of Haroald with his Danes against his Cosin and they both together destroyed Anglesey and Lhyyn whereupon Howel gathered his army together and setting upon them at a place called Gwath Hirbarth overthrew them where Constantine was slain year 981 The year 981. Godfryd the son of Haroald gathered a great army and entred West Wales where spoyling all the Land of Dynet with the Church of St. Davids he fought the battail of Lhanwanoc Likewise in the year next ensuing Duke Alfred with an army of Englishmen spoyled and destroyed Brechnock and great part of the lands of Owen Prince of Southwales against whom Eneon the son of the said Owen and Howel King of Northwales did raise all their power and overthrow them in battail where the greatest part of Alfreds army was slain and the rest put to flight The year following the Gentlemen of Gwentland rebelled against their Prince and cruelly slew Eneon the soâ— of Owen which came thither to appease them This Eneon was a worthy and noble Gentleman who did many notable acts in his fathers time and left behind two sons Edwin and Theodor or Tewdor Mawr of whom came afterwards the Kings and Princes of Southwales In the year 984. Howel the son of Janaf King of Wales entered England with an army where he was fought and slain valiantly fighting This Howel had no son but his brethren reigned in his place Cadwallon the Son of Janaf After the death of Howel his Brother Cadwallon the second Son of Janaf took in hand the government of Northwales and first made War with Jonaval his Cofin the Son of Meyric and right heir to the Land and slew him but Edwal the youngest Brother escaped away secretly The year following Meredyth the Son of Owen King or Prince of Southwales with all his People entred into Northwales and in fight slew Cadwallon the son of Janaf and Meyric his Brother and conquered the land to himself wherein a man may see how God punished the wrong which Jago and Janaf the Sons of Edwal Voel did to their eldest brother Meyrick who was first disinherited and afterwards his eys put out and one of his Sons slain for first Janaf was imprisoned by Jago then Jago with his Son Constantine by Howel the Son of Ianaf and afterward the said Howel with his brethren Cadwallon and Meyric were slain and spoiled of their Lands Meredyth the Son of ap Howel Dha year 986 This Meredyth ap Owen havingslain Cadwallon obtained the Rule and government of Northwales in the year 986. Godfrid the Son of Haroald the third time entring the isle of Anglesey where having taken Lywarck the Son of Owen with two thousand prisoners besides he cruelly put out his eys whereupon Meredyth the Prince with the rest escaped and fled to Cardigan and the same year there was a great murrain of cattel throughout all Wales year 987 In the year 987. dyed Ianaf the Son of Edwal who had lived many years a private life The same year also dyed Owen the son of Howel Dha prince of Southwales This Owen had three Sons Eneon which dyed in his Fathers life time Lhywarck which lost both his eyes and Meredyth which as â—â—fore is declared had won Northwales and after his Fathers death took also into his possession all Southwales having no respect to his Brother Eneon his Sons Edwin and Theodor or Tewdor About the same time the Danes sailed from Hampton alongst the Sea coast The Tribute of the black Army spoiled Devonshire and Cornwall and so at last landed in Southwales and destroyed Saint Davids Lanbadarn Lhanrystid and Lhandydock which were all places of Religion and did so much hurt in the country besides that to be rid of them Meredyth was fain to agree with them and to give them a penny for every man within his land which was called the Tribute of the black Army year 989 The year 989. Owen the son of Dyfnwal was slain within a year after Meredith King of Wales destroyed the Town of Radnor at which time his Nephew Edwin the son of Encon having to his aid Duke Adelf and a great army of Englishmen and Danes spoiled all the land of Meredith in Southwales as Caerdigan Dynet Gwyr Kydwch and Saint Davids where Edwin took pledges of the chief men of those Countries In the mean time this Meredith with his people did spoil Glamorgan so that no place was free from Sword and fire but at the last Meredith and Edwin fell to an agreement and were made Friends Soon after Cadwalhon the son of Meredith dyed Meredith being thus imployed had so much to do in Southwales that Northwales lay open for the enemy which thing when the Danes perceived they arrived in Anglisey and destroyed the whole Isle Matth. West pag. 383. Jâ—a Castor 992. whereupon the Inhabitants of that country received Edwal the son of Meyric the right heir of Northwales for their Prince in the year 992. After these great troubles there followed within a year after such famine and scarcity in Southwales that many perished for want of food Edwal ap Meyric the son of Meredith This Edwal being in possession of the principality of Northwales studied to keep and defend his people from injuries and wrongs But Meredith gathered together all his power intending to recover again Northwales with whom Edwal met at Lhagwm and overthrew him in plain battel where Theodor or Tewdor Manor Meredith his Nephew was slain who left behinde him two Sons Rees and Rytherck and a Daughter called Elen. A little after this Swain the son of Haroald destroyed the Isle of Man and entring into Northwales slew Edwal the prince thereof who left behinde him a son called Jago In the year of Christ 998. the Danes came again to Saint Davids destroying all before them and there they slew Morgency or rather Vrgency Bishop of that See the same year also dyed Meredith the son of Owen King or Prince of Wales leaving behinde him one only Daughter called Angharad which was married to Lewellin ap Sitsylht and after his death to Convyn Hirdref or as other do think to Convyn ap Gwerystan who had children by either of them which was the cause of much war and mischief in Wales as shall appear hereafter Aedan the Son of Blegored The death of both these Princes forsomuch as Meredith had no Issue male and Edwal left behinde him a childe within years not able to take the charge of a Common-wealth did cause much trouble to ensue for in Northwales divers did aspire
Castle of Ridcors and other castles thereabouts seeing they could not have the upperhand of Howel ap Grono in open fight fell to their accustomed practice of treason and so obtained their purpose in this manner There was one Gwgan ap Meyric who had nursed a son to Howel ap Grono and therefore very well trusted and beloved of him as the Custome of Wales is An odious detestable treason This Traitour being corrupted by the Normans procured his Masters death inviting him one night to his house to make merry whether he came willingly Then Gwgan gave notice to the Garrisous of the Castles who in the dawning of the day entred the Town and coming about the house gave a great shout which awaked Howel who couragiously leaped out of his bed and sought his weapons but the Traitor Gwgan had conveyed them away when he was asleep Then he called for his men but they were all fled to save their lives and as he would have gotten away The Welshmen still overthrown by their own nation he was taken by Gwgan and his company and strangled which cut off his head and brought it to the Castle of Ridcors and this traiterous murder of the Kings Lieutenant was left unpunished for whatsoever fault the Normans committed was alwaies winked at and if the VVelshmen did never so little offend the Laws of the King it was thought a most heinous and unpardonable Crime which was the cause that afterward they rebelled against the King who sought nothing but their utter destruction About this time Meirick and Gruffith the sons of Trabern ap Caradoc Easie for an Enemy to overcome where the natives destroy one another were both slain by Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn and Meredith ap Blethyn brake the prison where he had been a long time and recovered again his own Inheritance which he enjoyed in peace and Tranquillity The year 1108. the Rage of the Sea did overflow and drown a great part of the Low-Countries of Flanders in such sort that the inhabitants were forced to seek new dwellings and places of abode who came to King Henry and desired him to give them some void place to remain in who being very liberal of that which was none of his own gave them the land of Ros in Dynet or VVestwales where Pembroke Tenby and Hanerford are now built and there they remain to this day as well may be perceived by their speech and conditions far differing from that of the Countrey At that time Gerald the Steward dyed who built again the Castle of Pembroke in a place called Congarth Vechan and brought thither all his householdstuff and other goods with his wife and children Then also Cadogan ap Blethyn made a great feast in Christmas Christmas observed in those dayes and invited all the Lords of his Countrey to his house in Dynet among whom came Owem his son who being at his Fathers house and hearing Nest the Wife of Gerald Steward of Pembroke praised above all the Weomen in the land he was inflamed with a desire to behold her And forasmuch as Gladis daughter of Rees ap Theodore or Tewdor and Mother to Nest was daughter to Rywalhon ap Convin and cozen Germane to Cadogan his Father he with a few under the colour of Friendship or cosenage went to see her and finding the truth to surmount the fame he came home wounded with Love and in that doting humour the same night returned thither again with a crew of wild companions or Hectors entred the castle privately and compassed the chamber about and set the house on fire which awaked Gerald and his wife who would have issued out to know the cause of the Noise but his wife fearing some Treason impeached him and advised him to go to the Prince where drawing up the board she helped him out that way which done she came to the Chamber door and said that there was no body but she and her children yet they forced in and sought round about but not finding him they seized on her and her two sons and a son and a daughter born by a Concubine to Gerald and carried them away to Powis and burning the Castle they spoyled all the Country When Cadogan understood this rumour he was much displeased fearing the Kings heavy displeasure and forthwith went to Powis and commanded his son to send to Gerald his Wife and Children with his goods but Owen by no means would depart with the Lady yet at her request he sent unto Gerald his Children again And when Richard Bishop of London The Welsh still made authors of their own ruine whom the King had appointed Warden of the Marshes being at Shrewsbury heard of this he was highly offended and sent for Ithel and Madoc the sons of Kyrid ap Blethyn to whom he promised rich gifts and great rewards besides the rule of the Country if they could take or kill Owen to revenge the dishonour that he had done to the King and to them he added Lhywarch the son of Traburne ap Caradoc whose two brethern Owen had slain and Vchtrid the son of Edwyn which four promised the Bishop to bring him Owen and his father either alive or dead and thereupon forthwith gathered their power to destroy the whole Country but Vchtryd sent word privately before that all such of the People as would have their lives saved should come to him And when the Country heard this some fled to Arustly some t◠Melienith and some to Stradtywy and some to Dynet where Gerald was destroying the Country And at that time Walter Bishop of Hereford gathered an army to defend Caermarthyn and met with such as fled to Arustly and Mehenyth and destroyed a great number of them Those that went to Stradtywy were gently received by Meredyth ap Rytherck and Vchtryd saved all such as came unto him and thus these four came with their powers to the Castle of Rydcors and thought best to have entered the Country by night for fear of Ambuscado and to take Cadogan and Owen unawares but Vchtryd disswaded them from that stratagem counselling them to enter by day with their men in good order In the mean time Cadogan and Owen got a ship at Aberystwyth which was lately come from Ireland and escaped away so that the day after when they entered the Land they found none of those whom they sought for laying all the fault upon Vchtryd therefore they burned and plundered all the Country except the Sanctuaries of Padam and Lhandhewi Breni yet they took divers men out of those places and carried them away Prisoners and thus returned to their Castles again Owen with such as had been with him at the rape of the Lady and firing the Castle fled for Ireland to King Murcard who received him with great expressions of joy for he had been there before in time of the war of the two Earles in Anglesey or Môn and had brought the King rich gifts from Wales but
entered perforce and put many to the Sword and taking the rest razed the Castle to the ground which Victory did so please the Prince that he forgat his doleful accents and solitary retirement and fell to his accustomed pastimes About this time Cadelh Meredyth and Rees the sons of Gruffith ap Rees ap Theodore did conduct their forces against the Castle of Gwys which after they perceived they could not win they sent for Howel the son of Owen Prince of North-VVales to their aid who for his prowess and valour in the field and his discretion in consultation was esteemed the flower of Chivalry whose presence was thought also onely sufficient to overcome any Fortress He being desirous to purchase honour gathered his men and came to these Lords before the Castle of Gwys Granados not yet in request whom they received with general acclamations and great expressions of joy When he had viewed the place he caused Engines to be made to batter the Walls with force of men and others to cast great stones to their enemies The strong Castle of Gwyl taken by the Brittains thereby to disquiet the Garrison which preparations when they within beheld their hearts failed and forthwith they yielded the Fort which done Howell returned home with great honour Shortly after there fell a great dissension betwixt Howell and Conan Prince Owens sons and Cadwalader their Uncle whereupon they rallied their Forces and entred the Countrey of Merloneth which caused the people to fly to Sanctuary for security of their lives These two young Lords made Proclamation that no man should hurt such as would submit themselves whereupon the people which had fled returned to their houses without any dammage or hurt Thus they brought by fair means all the Countrey under their wished subjection and led their Army unto the Castle of Cynvael which Cadwalader had built and fortified wherein was the Abbot of Tuygwyn or Whitehouse to whom the Lord had committed the defence of the Castle A Crosier fitter for an Abbot than a Corslet Howell and Conan summoned the Fort with great threatnings but they within defied them whereupon Howell and Conan promised the Abbot Meruni great rewards to let them have the house But he like a faithful servant whom neither terrible menaces nor gilded promises could move to betray a trust continued faithful and denied them entrance chusing rather to dye with honour than to live with shame with which answer the young Lords were greatly offended that a Priest should stay their prosperous proceedings and thereupon gave an assault to the Castle so terrible that after they had beaten down the Walls they entred by force and slew and wounded all in the Garrison saving the Abbot who escaped privately by means of friends which he had in Howells Army In the year 1147. died Bohthred Bishop of Landaff Mr. Godwyn called him Vthryd and saith he had a daughter before he was Bishop married to Jorwerth ap Owen ap Caradoc Lord of Carleon upon Vsk a great and mighty man in those parts Godwin in Landaff fol. 426. but he affirmeth that he died 1141. Powell saith whom Nicholas ap Gurgant succeeded but Godwyn tells us that H. Jorwerth was his successor who died Anno 1153. In the year 1148. died Barnard Bishop of Davids or Menevia of this Barnard thus writeth Godwyn Barnard a Norman Chaplain unto K. Hen. I. and Chauncellour unto his Queen was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury July the 12. 1115. Godwin Cat. Episco in Landaff fol. 418. not chosen by the Clergy of Wales as hitherto hath been accustomed but forced upon them by the King who had then newly conquered Wales This man being in great favour with the King and presuming upon the goodness of his cause began to take upon him the title of Archbishop and caused his Cross sometime in Wales to be carried before him After long sute and much money spent in this cause betwixt him and the Archbishop of Canterbury Barnard had prevailed at the last as Giraldus Camb. seemeth to perswade had not two suborned Witnesses deposed a flat untruth in the presence of the Pope Giraldus doubteth not confidently to pronounce that the power and wealth of the Archb. of Cant. hath out-born the poor Bishop of St. David in this matter without all right This Bishop saith Giraldus was a man in some other respect praise-worthy but unreasonable proud and ambitious as most of the English-men were in those times who were thrust into Bishopricks again he was a very ill husband to his Church alienating divers lands and letting others for the tenth penny of that his predecessors had made of them so thinking to make a way by gratifying of Courtiers unto some better Bishopricks in England he was deceived of his expectation having been Bishop of St. Davids about 33 years he died 1148. Of this old Menevia in succeeding times called St. David you may read before in this History but I think it not amiss to set down the Succession of that See having now fit opportunity according to Godwin Godwin fol. 413. in St. David The British Histories do all report that in this Island at the first planting of Christian Religion here there were established 28. Episcopal Sees Of these 28. three were Archbishopricks London York and Carlegion or Caerleon upon Vsh in Monmothshire At Caerleon which was then a great and populous City in the time of King Arthur sate Dubritius the son of Eurdila a Gentle-woman of great birth but who was her father it was never known He was a man of excellent learning and singular integrity in regard whereof when first he had taken great pains many years as well in teaching and reading unto his Schollars whereof he had a great number as in preaching unto the people he was appointed first Bishop of Landaff and having stayed there no long time was made Archbishop of all Wales by Germanus and Lupus two Bishops of France that were entreated by Aurelius Ambrosius King of Brittain to come over and yield their best help for the extinguishing of the Palagian heresie that had taken great root in this Countrey Aurelius Ambrosius being dead he crowned Vther Pendragon and afterwards that great Arthur King of this Iland and waxing old he resigned his Bishoprick unto David a Disciple of his he died and was buried in the I le of Enlhi now called Bardsey where he led a solitary life many years October 14. Ann. 612. his bones were after removed to Landaff by Vrbanus Bishop there May 7. 1120. 1. St. David David before named was Unkle unto K. Arthur and son of Xanthus a Prince of VVales begotten upon one Melearta a man very learned eloquent and of incredible austerity of life and conversation he was also very tall of stature and of a comely personage by his diligence Palagianisme was quite rooted out and many earnest professors of the same converted unto the Truth with the consent of K. Arthur he removed
Semy 17 VVilliam Herbert 18 VVilliam Herbert Party per pale B. and G. 3 Lyons Ramp Arg. 19. Edward Prince of VVales son of K. Edw. IV. Quarterly France and England a Label Arg. 20 Anne Bullen Marchioness of Pemb. wife to Hen. 8. Arg. a Cheveren G. between 3 Bulls heads coupe Sable 21 VVilliam Herber created Earle by Edw. 6. 22 Henry Herbert 23 VVilliam Herbert Lord Steward and Chancellour of Oxford 24 Philip Herbert Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery 25 Philip Herbert now living Quarterly Band G 3 Lions Ramp Arg. a border Gotone of the second and Or besants this border is now laid aside Lex Talionis This Earle hearing that Lhewelin had taken his Castles and put his men to the sword returned from Ireland with all speed and recovering his forts used the same courtesy towards Lhewelins men as he had shewed to his and then entring further into the Princes Country destroyed all before him as he went Mat. Paâ—is 423 who saith that the Earl had the victory and â—hat there were slain â—000 persons These tidings coming to Lhewelins ear did much vex him whereupon he sent Gruffith his son with a power of men to impeach the Earl from passing further Griffith went to Cyeweli and understanding that the Burgesses of the town meant to betray him burned the town churches and all to the ground Then VVilliam Marshal passed the River Tywy at Caermardhyn where Gruffith met with him and gave him battail which was long time doubtful and endured until night and then either party withdrew themselves and the River betwixt and after they had abode so for certain dayes Gruffith for lack of victuals for his men were about 9000 persons returned back Cilgerran Castle built and the Earle went to Cilgerran and began to build there a very strong castle but receiving letters from the King to come speak with him he went to the Court by sea and left his army to continue the work which he had begun The King and the Archbishop being at Ludlow sent for the Prince and would gladly have composed matters between him and the Earl but it would not be and so they departed And when the Earle would have passed to Pembrock by land with the strength of the Earle of Derby and Henry Pigot Lord of Ewyas the prince sent his son to keep the passage at Carnwylhion and he himself came as farr as Mabedryd which when the Earle understood He retreated back to England and the prince bent his course for North VVales year 1226 The year 1226. Rees Vachan son of Rees Gryc took his father prisoner and would not set him at liberty till he had delivered him the Castle of Lhanymdhfry At this time Meredyth Archdeacon of Caerdigan son to prince Rees was interred by his father at St. Davids The year following K. Henry the III. now King of England came with a great army into Wales as far as Ceri and encamped there K. Henry 3. of England Mat. Paris p. 463. and on the other side Lhewelyn called to him all the power of VVales encamped not far off and there passed divers great skirmishes and chiefly upon one day the most part of both armies was in the field and many of the Kings men at which time William de Bruse son to Reynalt was taken prisoner who offered for his ransom the Country of Buelht P. Lhewelin a worthy prince and a great summe of money beside Then was a peace concluded between the King and the prince whereupon the Prince came and did honour unto the King but not as his King and Lord and every party returned home Mr Powel fol. 282. This History saith Mr. Powel is somewhat otherwaies set down by Matt. Paris which I have thus translated out of the same Author About the same time those Souldies which lay in Garrison in the Castle of Montgomery went out with some of their Neighbours to amend a certain passage in the highway leading through a great wood thereby where the Welshmen were wont to rob and slay such as traveled that way and coming to the place with their axes and other weapons began to fell trees and to cut down the bushes whereby the way might be enlarged which thing when the Welshmen understood they came with a great power and setting upon their enemies compelled them to take the Castle for their defence certain being slain on both sides and then casting a trench about the same laid siege to it The Castle honour of Mâ—ntgâ—mery given to Hubert de Bâ—â—g This being speedily carried to Hubert de Burge Chief Justice of England to whom a little before the same castle and honour was given The King himself with convenient speed coming raised the siege and when his whole army came unto him for few Souldiers came with him thither he went to the said wood which was very large being five miles in length and by reason of the thick growth of the same very hard to be mooted howbeit the King caused the same with great diligence and travail to be asserted and consumed with fire King Henry causeth â—â—â—d a Abbey to be burnt Then leading his army further into the Country he came to an Abbey of white Monks called Cridia being a refuge for the Welsh to fly unto which he caused to be burnt to Ashes where Hubert de Burg to whom the place seemed very fit for fortification having the assent of the King caused a castle to be built but eâ—e the work could be finished many were slain on both sides and Will de Bruse a valiant Souldier and Chieftain who went out to make provision for the army was taken by the Welshmen and secured and divers others went out for the like purpose whereof one being Knighted a few dayes before seeing some of his fellows in danger like to be distressed rushed boldly into the midst of his enemies killing many about him yet in the end with many others of the Kings men was slain several also of the Kings men being confederates with P. Lhewelyn did very remisly defend themselves his cause with whome they came thither whereupon the King wanting necessary provision and perceiving the double dealing of some of his own men was constrained to conclude a dishonourable peace with the Welshmen giving his assent that the Castle which with so great expences of men and money was almost finished should be razed at his own charges An ignoble peace to the English taking of P. Lhewelin 3000 pound toward the same the peace being thus confirmed both parties went homewards Thus the King of England after he had bestowed three moneths in the building of the said Castle and disbursed an incredible some of mony in vain leaving William de Bruse one of his nobles in the Prince his prison returned home with great stain of honour The name also which Hubert the Chief Justice had given to the Castle viz. Huberts folly Stulitia Huberti
Convenit inter Dominum Hen. 3. regem Anglorum illustrem ex una parte Senenam uxorem Griffini filii Leolini quondam Principis North-walliae quem David frater ejus tenet carceri mancipation cum Owino silio sao nomine ejusdem Gruffini ex altera c. Articles of Agreement between Hen. 3. King of Eng. on the one party and Senena the wife of Gruffith the son of Lhewelyn sometimes Prince of North-wales whom David his brother detaineth in Prison with Owen his son in the name of the said Gruffith on the other party I. Inprimis The said Senena undertaketh that the said Gruffith her huâ—band will give unto the King six hundred Marks upon condition that the King do cause the said Griffith and Owen his son to be delivered from prison wherein they are kept and will stand at the Judgement of the Kings Court whether by Law he ought to be imprisoned or no. II. Item The said Gruffith and his heirs will stand to the Judgement of the Kings Court for and concerning that portion of the Inheritance of the said Lhewelyn his father which of right ought to pertain unto him III. Item The said Senena undertaketh for the said Gruffith and his heirs that the said Gruffith and his heirs shall yield and pay yearly to the King for the same lands the sum of 300 hundred Marks whereof the first third part to be paid in money the second in kine and the third in horses by the estimation of indifferent men and the same to be paid yearly at Michael-Mass and Easter by even portions by the hands of the Sheriff of the County of Salop for the time being IV. Item The said Senena undertaketh further for the said Gruffith and his heirs that they and every of them shall observe the peace against the said David and suffer him quietly to enjoy such portion of his fathers inheritance as to him shall be found to be due V. Item The said Senena doth further undertake for the said Gruffith her husband his heirs that in case any Welshmen hereafter shall happen to rebel against the King that they at their own costs and charges shall compel the said Offender to make satisfaction to the King for his disobedience VI. Item For the performance of the Premises the said Senena will deliver unto the Lord the King David and Roderike her sons for Pledges who promise that if the said Gruffith and Owen or either of them shall happen to dye before their delivery out of prison it shall be lawful for the said Senena to have one of her sons released the other remaining with the King for Pledge VII Item The said Senena hath sworn upon the holy Evangelists that the said Gruffith her husband and his heirs and every of them shall accomplish and perform all the Premises on their behalf and further undertaketh that the said Gruffith her husband upon his delivery out of prison shall take the same Oath VIII Item The said Senena in the name of the said Gruffith her husband submitteth her self concerning the observation of the Premises unto the jurisdiction of the reverend fathers the Bishops of Hereford and Liechfield so that the said Bishops or either of them at the Kings request shall compel the said Gruffith and his heirs to observe all and singular the Premises on their behalf by sentence of excommunication upon their persons and interdiction upon their lands IX and lastly The said Senena doth undertake promise bona fide to see procure the full performance of all the Premises and that the said Gruffith her husband and his heirs shall allow and perform the same and thereof shall deliver his instrument in writing to the King in form aforesaid to this Charter both parties put their Seal Gruffith and Senena to that part which remained with the King and the King to that part which remained with Senena Moreover for the sure performance of these Arricles the said Senena for and in the name of her husband put in for Pledges the aforesaid noble men to wit Ralph Mortimer Walter Clifford Roger de Monte Alto c. who bound themselves by their several writings obligatory to the King in manner and form as followeth Omnibus hoc scriptum visaris Rogerus de Monte Alto Senescallus Cestriae salutem c. To all and singular to whom this writing shall come Roger de Monte Alto Steward of Chester sendeth greeting Know ye that I have constituted myself pledge for Senena the wife of Gruffith the son of Lhewelin sometimes Prince of Northwales and have undertaken for her to our Soveraign Lord King Henry of England that the said Senena shall accomplish and perform all and singular those Covenants and Articles agreed upon between our said Soveraign Lord and the said Senena for and concerning the Deliverance of the said Gruffith her huâ—band and Owen his son out of the prison of David his brother and the portion of Inheritance due unto the said Gruffith which the said David keepeth from him by force In Witnesse whereof to this present writing I have put to my seal Dated at Salop the Munday before the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the 25 year of the Reigne of the said King The like Charters were made by every one of the other Noble men Pledges who bound themselves with the like words further such of the said Lords as favoured Gruffiths cause were out among themselves and were now made Friends as Morgan ap Howel Lord of Kery and Sr. Ralph Mortimer who before were at variance whereupon David being driven to extremities having most of the Nobility against him especially Gruffith ap Madoc Lord of Bromfield favoured him not who being a man of great wisdom and power was entirely beloved of the King again the sentence of excommunication and the interdiction of his Land did not a little vex him But the Kings presence with so puissant an army did so move his spirits that he could not be quiet till he had sent to the King to desire peace with this submission following The Charter of the Articles of Davids submission to the King Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint David filius Leolini salutem c. To all Christian People to whom these present Letters shall come David the Son of Lhewelin sendeth greeting Know ye that I have granted and promised to deliver unto Lord Henry the Noble King of England Gruffith my Brother with his Son and Heir whom I keep in in prison and all other Prisoners who by occasion of the said Gruffith lie in durance Item I shall stand to the judgment of the Kings Court as well in that case whether the said Gruffith ought to be detained prisoner or No as also for and concerning the part of the Inheritance of the said Lhewelin my father claimed by the said Gruffith according to the custome of Wales so that the peace be maintained between me and the
said Gruffith Item I and the said Gruffith and either of us shall hold our portions of Land of our said Soveraign Lord the King in Capite acknowleging him Chief Lord thereof Item I shall restore unto Roger de Monte Alto Steward of Chester his land of Montalt or Mould with the appurtenances Item I shall also restore to all other Barons all such Lands Lordships and Castles as were taken from them since the beginning of the wars between the Lord John King of England and the said Lhewelin Prince of VVales my father saving the right of all covenants and Grants by writing to be reserved unto the judgment and determination of the Kings Court. Item I shall give and restore unto our Soveraign Lord the King all his charges in this present voyage laid out Item I shall make satisfaction for all dammages and injuries done by me or any of my Subjects unto the King or his according to the consideration of the Kings Court and shall deliver such as shall be malefactors in that behalf Item I shall restore unto the said Lord the King all the said homages which the late King John his father had and which the said Lord the King of right ought to have especially of all the noblemen of Wales and if the King shall set at liberty any of his captives the possessions of that man shall remain to the King Item the Land of Elsmere with the appurtenances shall remain to the Lord the King and his heirs for ever Item I shall not receive or suffer to be received within any Countrey of Wales any of the Subjects 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 premises on my behalf I shall provide by bonds and pledges and all other waies and means as the said Lord the King shall award and will accomplish the commandement of the said King and will obey his laws In witnesse whereof to this present writing I have put to my Seal Dated at Alnet by the River of Elwey in the feast of the dedication of St. John Baptist in the 25 year of the reign of the said King Mr. Powel fol. 306. For the Observation of these Articles the said Prince David and Ednivet Vachan were sworn Upon these atonements David sent privately unto the King Justice done not for Justice sake but for self ends to desire him that he would suffer him being his Nephew and the lawful heir of Lhewelin his father to enjoy the principality of Wales rather then Gruffith who was but a Bastard though some account him legitimate and nothing of kin unto the King giving him withal to understand that in case he did set Gruffith at liberty he should be sure to have the war renewed whereupon the King knowing those things to be true and understanding also that Gruffith was a valiant stout man and had many friends and favourers of his cause inclined rather to assent unto Davids request then otherwise to be in danger of further troubles and therefore willingly granted the same Shortly after David sent his brother Gruffith unto the King and other pledges for himself for the performance of the said Articles M. Paris p. 765 From prison to prison like a fish out of the frying pan into the fire which the King sent forthwith to the Tower of London there to be safely kept allowing to Gruffith a Noble dayly for his maintenance And within few dayes after Michaelmas P. David came to the K. Court and did him homage and swore fealty who for so doing and because he was the Kings Nephew was sent home again in peace When Gruffith saw how all things went and that he was not like to be set at liberty he began to devise means how to escape out of prison Wherefore deceiving the Watch one night he made a long line of hangings An unfortunate end of a desperate attempt coverings and sheets and having got out of a window let down himself by the same from the top of the Tower but by reason that he was a mighty personage and full of flesh the line brake with the weight of his body and so falling down headlong from a great height his neck and head was driven into his body with the fall whose miserable Carkass being found the morrow after was a pittiful spectacle to the beholders The King being certified hereof commanded his son to be better looked unto and punished the Officers for their negligence About this time the King fortified the Castle of Dyserth in Flintshire and gave to Gruffith son to Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis his inheritance and to the sons of Conan ap Owen Gwyneth their Lands in Merionith The Bishop of Bangor a constant friend to that party came to the Court to sue for the deliverance of Gruffith son to Lhewelin the Prince but the King knowing him to be a man of great courage would in no wise grant his liberty About this time Maelgon Vachan fortified the Castle of Garthgrugin John de Mynoc also fortified the Castle of Buelht and Roger Mortimer the Castle of Melienyth The summer following the King began to vex the Welsh extremely and take their Lands by force without just title or rightful cause and now died Rees Mechylh son to Rees Gryc of South Wales During these transactions Varium mutabile semper David gathered all his strength to be revenged of all the wrongs which the Earls of Clare and Hereford which John d◠Monurch and Roger de Alto Monte and other Merebers did to his people whom all the Lords of VVales obeyed and took for their Soveraign saving Gruffith son to Gwenwynwyn and Morgan ap Howel which two also were shortly compelled to obey and then the Prince entered the March Lands spoyling and destroying a great part thereof with whom the said Earles fought divers battails and sometimes the one and sometimes the other had the victory 300 Welshmen slain neer Montgomery M. Par. p. 884. English put to flight K. Hen. 3. nothing fortunate against the Welsh The year ensuing the Marchers and the VVelshmen met not far from Montgomery where was a cruel fight and 300 of the VVelshmen slain and a great number of the English among whom was a noble Knight called Hubert Fitz Matthew whereupon the King being weary of his domestical troubles gathered a vast army of English and Gascoynes and entred Northwales intending to destroy the Country but the prince met with his people in a straight and fought with them and put them to flight There the King lost a great number of his most worthy Soldiers and Nobility and most part of the Gascoines and now seeing he could do no good he sent for the Irishmen who landed in the Isle of Môn or Anglesey and spoyled a great part thereof till the Inhabitants of the Isle gathered themselves together and met with them being loaden with plunder whom they
to him that searcheth out their Histories but I intending to finish the History during the Government of the Brittains have sought out in other Chronicles written in the Latine tongue especially in the Chronicle of Nicholas Trivet King Hen 3. dyeth who wrote from the begining of the raign of King Stephen to the Coronation of Edward the second and such other as much as I could find concerning this matter In the year 1272. dyed King Henry the third and Edward his Son coming from the holy Land two years after was crowned at Westminster King of England to which Coronation the Prince of Wales refused to come although he was sent for alledging for his excuse that he had offended many Noblemen of England and therefore would not come in danger without he had for pledges the Kings brother with the Earl of Glocester and Robert Burnell Chief Justice of England wherewith the King was highly displeased year 1274 King Edward could never brook P. Lhewelyn since the time that he was compelled to flight by him at their meeting in the Marches as before Thom. Walsh on the other side Lhewelyn liked no better of the King then the King did of him again those Noblemen who for their disobedience were dis-inherited by Lhewelyn were received and entertained by King Edward which things caused the Prince to fear some evil practice by those and other such as hated him if he should have been at the Kings Coronation to do his homage and fealty according to the writ directed unto him in that behalfe as appeareth by an instrument sent by the said Prince to Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury the Archbishop of Yorke and other Bishops sitting then at their Convocation in the new Temple at London Anno. 1275. wherein the causes of this war are contained which instrument it self as it was then sent is extant to this day written in parchment with the Princes great seal thereunto appendant which I have seen saith this Author and copied out of the Original verbatim Mr. Lhoyd being then in the custody of Thomas Yale Doctor of Law of late Dean of the Arches a great searcher and preserver of the antiquities of Wales which I thought convenient here to lay down for the fuller understanding of this History Reverendissimis in Christo Patribus Dominis Roberto Dei gratia Archiepiscopo Cant. totius Angliae Primati Archiepis Eborum ac eorum suffraganis c. To the most Reverend Fathers in Christ and Lords Robert Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England and the Archbishop of Yorke and their Suffragans being now together at London in Councel Their devote Son Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdon greeting with due Obedience Reverence and Honour in all things Be it known unto your reverend Father-hoods that where heretofore contention and discord whereof war followed and long continued arose betwixt the King of Noble memory Henry King of England of the one party and us of the other party the same contentions and strife were at the last appeased by authority of the See Apostolick and means of the reverend Father Lord Otobanus Deacon and Cardinal of St. Adrian Legate into England as it appeareth in the form of Treaty and Peace betwixt the said King and Edward his first begotten Son Lord Edward now King of England and their Successors on the one party and us and our Successors on the other party by the corporal Oath of both parties assured Which form of peace was committed to writing with the said Legate with the seal of the said King and the seal of the said Lord Edward now King and with our seal also in the which peace it is contained amongst other things as you do well know as we believe that we and our Successors should hold of the King and his Successors the Principality of Wales So that all Welsh Barons should hold their Baronies and Lands of us and our Successors in Capite and should do homage and fealty to us and to our heirs one Baron excepted for the which we and our Successors should do homage and fealty to the Lord the King and his Successors It is further contained in the same peace that neither the said King nor his Successors should receive any of our Enemies or any running from us or our Successors nor should help or maintain any such against us or our Successors The which all are contained in the form of peace the Tenor whereof the Reverend Fathers of Strata Florida and Aberconwey bearers hereof can shew you But see Reverend Fathers the Lord Edward now King of England after the said peace taketh into his hands certain Barons Lands in Wales of which they and their Ancestors have been long possessed and keepeth a Barony in his hands which should be ours by the form of peace other Barons of our Land being from us fugitives runing to him he keepeth helpeth and maintaineth David ap Gruffith and Gruffith ap Gwenwynwyn who purposed our death and destruction Notwithstanding that since their departure they have robbed within our Land committed slaughter and burning of houses do daily the like against the peace aforesaid and although we have often sent our griefs and complaints by solemn messengers to the said Noble Lord Edward as well before he was King as since yet unto this day he never did any redress therein also that which is more perilous he called us unto a place not to us safe amongst our deadly Enemies our fugitives and fellons and their spies and murderers to do him homage and fealty to which place we can no wayes come without danger of our body especially seeing our Enemies above said to be in that place at the Kings table and sometimes in Councel and openly brag themselves And though lawfull and reasonable excuses were alledged by our messengres before the King and his Councel why the place was not safe nor indifferent yet he refused to allow or appoint any other place indifferent for us to do homage and fealty which we were and are ready to do unto him in any safe place by him to be appointed if he will appoint any and to perform the other articles of the peace concluded and sworn And for that it pleaseth him not to come to any place where we could with safety do him homage we were suiters to him to send any from him to receive our oath and homage untill it pleased him to appoint a place where we shall do our homage to him personally the which thing he utterly denyed to do We therefore beseech your Father-hoods earnestly that it may please you to consider what danger should happen to the people both of England and of Wales by reason of the breach of Covenants of peace abovesaid if now wars and discord should follow which God forbid attending and calling to remembrance the prohibition of the Holy Father the Pope lately in the Councel at Lyons that no war should be moved amongst Christians least thereby the
the Altars We hope that your Fatherhood and the said Court of Rome will rather with pity lament our case than with rigor of punishment augment our sorrow Neither shall the Kingdom of England be in any wise disquieted or troubled by our means as is affirmed so that we may have the peace duely kept and observed towards us and our people Who they be that are delighted with blood-shed and war is manifestly apparent by their deeds and behaviour for we would live quietly upon our own if we might be suffered but the Englishmen coming to our Countrey did put all to the sword neither sparing sex age or sickness or any thing regarding Churches or sacred Places the like whereof the Welshmen never committed That one having paid his ransom was afterwards slain we are right sorry to hear of it neither do we maintain the offender who escaping our hands keepeth himself as an Out-law in the Woods and unknown places That some began the war in a time not meet or convenient that understood not we of till now and yet they who did the same do affirm that in case they had not done as they did at that time they had been slain or taken prisoners being not in safety in their own houses and forced continually for safeguard of their lives to keep themselves in Armour and therefore to deliver themselves from that fear they took that enterprise in hand Concerning those things which we commit against God with the assistance of his grace A true Christian resolution in Lhewelyn we will as it becometh Christians repent and turn unto him neither shall the war on our part be continued so that we be saved harmless and may live as we ought but before we be disinherited or slain we must defend our selves as well as we may Of all injuries and wrongs done by us we are most willing and ready upon the due examination and trial of the trespasses and wrong committed on both sides to make satisfaction to the utmost of our power so that the like on the Kings side be performed in like manner towards us and our people and to conclude and establish a peace we are most ready But what peace can be established when as the Kings Charter so solemnly confirmed is not kept and performed Our people are daily oppressed with new exactions We send unto you also a note in writing of the wrongs injuries which are done unto us contrary to that Form of the peace before made we have put our selves in Armour being driven thereunto by necessity for we and our people were so oppressed trodden under foot spoiled and brought to slavery by the Kings Officers contrary to the Form of peace concluded against justice none otherwise then if we were Saracens or Jewes whereof we have oftentimes complained unto the King and never could get any Redress but alwayes those Officers were afterwards more fierce and cruel against us and when those Officers through their ravine and extortion were enriched other more hungry than they were sent afresh to flea those whom the other had shorn before so that the people wished rather to dye than to live in such oppression And now it shall not be needful to leavy any Army to war upon us or move the Prelates of the Church against us so that the peace may be observed duely and truly as before is expressed Neither ought your holy fatherhood to give credit to all that our adversaries do alleadge against us for even as in their deeds they have and do oppress us so in their words they will not stick to slaunder us laying to our charge what liketh them best Therefore forasmuch as they are alwayes present with you and we absent from you they oppressing we oppressed we are to desire you even for his sake from whom nothing is hid not to credit mens words but to examine their deeds Thus we bid your Holiness farewell Dated at Garth Celyn in the Feast of Saint Martin Certain Griefs sent from Lhewelyn to the Archbishop translated word by word out of the Records of the said Archbishop Where that it is contained in the Form of Peace concluded as followeth 1. If the said Lhewelyn will claim any right in any lands occupied by any other then by the Lord the King without the said 4 Cantress the said Lord the King shall do him full justice according to the Laws and Customs of those quarters or parts where the said lands do lye Which Article was not observed in the lands of Frustly and betwixt the waters of Dyni 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 Laws and Customs of Wales and the Advocates of the parties were brought in and the Judges which vulgarly they called Ynnayd before the King to judge of the said lands according to the Lawes of Wales and the Defendant appeared and answered so that the same day the cause ought to have been fully determined according to the appointment of our Lord the King who at his being at Glocester had assigned the parties the said day and though the same cause was in divers places often heard and examined before the Justice and the lands were in North Wales and never judged but by the Laws of Wales neither was it lawful for the King but according to the Laws of Wales to prorogue the cause All that notwithstanding he prorogued the day of his own motion contrary to the said Laws and at the last the said Lhewelyn was called to divers places whither he ought not to have been called neither could he obtain justice nor any judgement unless it were according to the Laws of England contrary to the said Article of peace and the same was done at Montgomery when the parties were present in judgement and a day appointed to hear the Sentence they prorogued the said day contrary to the aforesaid Laws and at the last the King himself at London denied him justice unless he would be judged according to the English Laws in the said matter 2. All Injuries Trespasses and Faults on either part done be clearly remitted unto this present day This Article was not kept for that as soon as the Lord Reginald Grey was made Justice he moved divers and innumerable accusations against the men of Tegengl and Ros for trespasses done in the time of King Henry when they bare rule in those parts whereby the said men dare not for fear keep their own houses 3. Whereas it was agreed That Rees Vachan ap Rees ap Maelgon shall enjoy his possessions with all the land which he now holdeth c. After the peace concluded he was spoiled of his lands in Geneurglyn which he then held with the men and cattel of the same 4. Also our Lord the King granteth That all Tenants holding lands in the 4 Cantrefs or in other places which the King holdeth in
his own hands shall hold and enjoy the same as freely as they did before the time of the wars and shall use the same liberties and customs which they used before contrary to this Article the Lord Reginald Grey hath brought many new customs against the Form of peace aforesaid 5. All Controversies moved or to be moved betwixt the Prince and any other shall be decided after the Law of the Marches if they have their beginning in the Marches and after the Laws of Wales such as in Wales have their beginning contrary to this Article the King doth and sendeth Justices to Anglesey who presume to judge there the men and subjects of the Prince setting fines upon them contrary to the Lawes of Wales seeing neither this nor any like was ever heard of in times past imprisoning some out-lawing others when the Prince is at all times ready to do justice to all men that complain upon any of his men 6. Where it is in the peace That Gruffith Vachan should do homage for the land in Yale and to the Prince for the land in Ederneon The Kings Justices brought the Lady of Maylor into the said land of Ederneon The knowledge of which cause onely pertained to the Prince and not to the said Justices and yet for peace sake the said Prince tollerated all this being at all times ready to minister justice to the said Lady 7. And though the said Prince submitted himself unto us and our will yet we nevertheless will and grant that our will in no case go further than is contained in those Articles Contrary to this Article Gold was exacted for the Queens works at every payment made to the King which Gold was never demanded in the time of King Henry or any other King of England which Gold yet for quietness sake the Prince paid though it were not spoken of or mentioned in the peace And now further it is exacted for the old Queen the Kings mother that now is for the peace concluded with King Henry 2000 Marks and a half and unless it be paid the King threatneth to occupy the goods and lands of Lhewelyn and his people which he could find in his Realm and sell men and beasts till the sum were paid 8. When the King invited the Prince at his Feast at Worcester promising with very fair words that he would give his kinswoman to him for wife and enrich him with much honour nevertheless when he came thither the self same day they should be married before Mass the King required a Bill to be sealed by the Prince containing amongst other things That he would never keep man against the Kings will nor never maintain any whereby it might come to pass That all the Princes forces should be called from him the which Letter sealed he delivered the King by just fear which might move any constant man yet was not this contained in the peace whereas the conclusion of peace was That the King should require nothing that was not contained in the same 9. Where in the peace all Customs be confirmed to the said Prince as his ancestors of long and daily observed Custom have received to their own use all Wrecks hapning upon his own lands The Justice of Chester took a distress of the Prince for goods of Shipwrack received by him before the wars contrary to the Form of the said peace by the which all trespasses on either side were remitted and contrary to the Customs aforesaid and if in case it were forfeited yet he took such a distress 15 pounds of honey and many horses and imprisoned his men and this he took of the Princes own proper goods And further took booties of Bagiers which came to Lyrpool with Marchandize and never delivered the same until he had taken so much money for the same as it pleased him 10. When certain men of Geneurglyn had taken certain goods of some of their Neighbours of Geneurglyn when they were in the Dominion of the Prince in Meyreon the Kings men of Lhanbadarn did take away the said goods out of the said Dominion of the Prince and when the Princes men came thither and asked the cause why they took the said prey the Kings men killed one of them and wounded others and the rest they did imprison neither could the Prince get any justice for the said goods to this day 11. And where it is contained in the peace That all things committed in the Marches shall be redressed in the Marches yet the Kings men would no where hear the Princes men but put them in the Castle of Lhanbadarn which is against the peace aforesaid In these Articles and divers others the King standeth sworn to the Prince and his people And although the Prince as well by himself as by his people have often requested the King to cause the said peace to be kept yet was it in no point kept but daily the Kings Justices did more and more heap injuries and griefs upon the people of those parts So that it cannot be blamed if the Prince did assent to them that first began the wars seeing the Oath which the Lord Robert Typtoft sware unto the King was kept in no point and chiefly seeing the Prince was forewarned that he should be taken as soon as the King came to Ruthlan as he had been indeed if the King had come thither after Christmas as he purposed These Griefs following were done by the King and his Officers to the Lord David ap Gruffith 1. When the said David came to the Lord Edward then Earl of Chester and did him homage the said Lord Edw. did give by his Letters Patents to the said David two Cantrefs Dyffryn Cluyd and Crinmeyrch with all the appurtenances afterwards when he was made King he confirmed the said gift to the said David and gave him possession of them After when Gwenlhian Lacy died who held some Towns in the said Cantrefs for term of life which after her decease appertained to David by force of the aforesaid grant which Towns yet the King took from him contrary to his Letters Patents 2. Item When the said David did hold of the Lord the King the Villages of Hope and Eston in Wales of the which he ought to answer no man but according to the Laws of Wales yet the Justice of Chester caused the said David to be called to Chester at the suite of one William Venable an Englishman to answer for the Title of the said Villages and although the said David did often and instantly desire him the said justice not to proceed against him injuriously in the County of Chester where he was not bound to answer by the form of the peace yet he plainly denied him to be judged either in Wales or after the Laws of Wales 3. Item The said Justice of Chester to the injury of the said David did cut down his Wood of Lhyweny and his Woods at Hope as well by the Dwellers of Ruthlan as others and yet the
said Justice had no jurisdiction in those patts and not being contented to get Timber there for building as well of Ruthlan as of other places but also destroyed the same Woods sold it and carried it into Ireland 4. Item Where the said David took certain Out-lawes and Rovers in the Woods and caused them to be hanged yet the said Justice accused David to the King for succouring and maintaining the Thieves aforesaid which was not like to be true seeing he caused them to be hanged 5. Item It is provided in the peace that all the Welshmen and their causes should be judged after the Lawes of Wales This was in no point observed with the said David and his people Of these aforesaid griefs the said David required often amends either according to the Laws and Customs of Wales or of special favour but he could never obtain any of them both at his hands Further the said David was warned in the Kings Court that as soon as Reginald Grey should come from the Court Good service ill requited the said David should be taken and spoiled of his Castle of Hope his Wood should be cut down and his Children taken for Pledges who seeing he had taken great pains and peril for the King in all his wars as well himself as his people both in England and Wales and had lost thereby the most part of the Nobility of his Countrey and yet nevertheless could obtain neither Justice Amends nor favour at his hands having such great wrongs offered unto him and fearing his own life and his Childrens or else perpetual prison being enforced as it were against his will began to defend himself and his people Griefs and Injuries offered by the King and his Officers to the men of Ros. 1. This is the Form of peace which the King of England did promise the men of Ros before they did him homage which he promised them to observe inviolably That is to say That the King should grant to every of them their Right and Jurisdiction as they had in time of King Henry according as the said men do report that they had in the time of King Henry 2. Item The Lord the King did promise the same men that they should have Justice in their Suites after granting of the which Articles the said men did homage unto the King And then the King promised them with his own mouth faithfully to observe the said Articles This notwithstanding a certain Nobleman passing by the Kings high way with his wife in the Kings peace met certain English Labourers and Masons going to Ruthlan where they did then work A notorious ouragious murther and iniustice committed against the Welsh who attempted by force to take away his wife from him and while he defended her as well as he could one of them killed his wife and he who killed her with his followers were taken and when the kindred of her who was slain required Law at the Justice of Chesters hands for their kinswoman they were put in prison and the murtherers delivered 3. Item A certain man killed a Gentleman who had killed the son of Grono ap Heilyn and was taken but when certain of the kindred required justice before the Justice of Chester certain of them were imprisoned and the Offender set at liberty and justice denied to the kindred A profitable Judge to himself but unjust to the oppressed 4. Item Certain Gentlemen claimed some lands and offered the King a great sum of money to have justice by the Verdict of good and lawful men of the Countrey then the lands being adjudged to the Claimers Reginald Grey took the same lands corn goods and all upon the ground so that they lost their lands money corn and cattel 5. Item It is our right That no stranger should cut our Woods without our leave yet this notwithstanding A hard case there was a Proclamation at Ruthlan That it should be lawful for all other men to cut down our Woods but to us it was forbidden 6. Item Where divers honest men had lands of the gift of the said David the Justice taketh the said mens lands away A slavery worse than Jewish 7. Item When any cometh to Ruthlan with Merchandize if he refuse whatsoever any Englishman offereth he is forthwith sent to the Castle to prison and the Buyer hath the things and the King hath the price then the Souldiers of the Castle first spoil and beat the party and then cause him to pay the Porter and let him go 8. Item If any Welshman buy any thing in Ruthland and any Englishman do meet him he will take it from him and give him less than he paid for it 9. Item The King contrary to his promise made to the men of Ros hath given the Territory of Maynan Penmayn and Lhysuayn 10. Item Certain Gentlemen of the Cantref of Ros bought certain Offices and paid their money for the same yet the Justice of Chester took the said Offices from them without cause 11. Item Grono ap Heilyn took to Farm of Godfrey Marliney the Territory of Maynan and Lhysuayn for the term of four years yet Robert de Cruquer with Horses and Armes and 24 Horsemen came to vex the said Grono so that he had no safe going neither to Ruthlan nor Chester without a great guard of his kindred and friends 12. Item Certain Gentlemen were arrested for trespasses done before the wars and imprisoned and could not be delivered until they had paid 16 Mark which was contrary to the peace concluded 13. Item Our causes ought to be decided after the custome of our Lawes but our men be compelled to swear against their Consciences else they be not suffered to swear Furthermore we spent 300 Marks in going to the King for justice in the aforesaid Articles Sr. Reginald Gâ—ey a cruel Tyrant over the Welsh And when we believed to recover full justice the King sent to our parties the Lord Reginald Grey to whom the King hath set all the land to farm to handle the men of the said Cantref as it pleaseth him who compelled us to * To swear by his hand whereas we should swear by the hand of the King swear in his name whereas we should swear in the Kings name and where the Kings Cross ought to be erected he caused his Cross to be erected in token that he is the very true Lord and the said Reginald at his first coming to those parts of Wales sold to certain servants of the King Offices for 60 Marks which the said servants bought before of the King for 24 Mark which Offices ought not to be sold at the choice of the Lord. 14. Item The King gave Meredyth ap Madoc a Captainship for his service Reginald Grey took it from him neither could he get any remedy at the Kings hand for the same 15. Item One of the Councel of the said Reginald Cynwric Vachan told us by mouth that as soon as the
for the said Oxe 3 s. 4 d. 6. Item Two servants of one named YBongan were spoiled of 2 l. for that they took a Thief that robbed them by night and yet the Thief was delivered 7. Item Eneon ap Ithel was taken beaten and spoiled of two Oxen price 24 s. and 2 d. for this cause onely That the said Oxen went from one street to another in the Town 8. Item Guyan Maystran was spoiled of his money because a certain Merchant of Ardudwy owed them certain things and yet the said Merchant was not of their Baliwicke The Griefs of Grono ap Heilyn 1. A Tenant of Grono ap Heilyn was called to the Kings Court without any cause Then Grono came at the day appointed to defend his Tenant and demanded justice for him or the Law which the men of his Countrey did use All this being denied the said Tenant was condemned in 27 l. 1 d. ob which caused the said Grono to go to London for justice which was promised him but he could never have any where he spent in his journy 15 marks 2. A certain Gentleman was slain who had fostered the son of Grono ap Heilyn and he that killed him was taken and brought to Ruthlan Castle then the said Grono and the kindred of him that was slain asked justice but some of them were imprisoned and the Killer discharged Then Grono went again to London for justice which the King did promise him but he never had any but spent 20 Marks 3. The third time Grono was fain to go to London for justice in the premises where he spent 18 Marks 6 s. 6 d. And then likewise the King promised him that he should have justice but when he certainly believed to have justice Reginald Grey came into the Countrey and said openly that he had all doings in that Countrey by the Kings Charters and took away all the Baliwikes which the King had given to the said Grono and sold them at his pleasure Then the said Grono asked justice of the said Reginald but he could not be heard 4. The said Grono took to Farm for 4 years of Godfrey Marliney Maynan and Lhyffayn then Robert Cruquer came with his Horses and Armes to get the said land by force and for that Grono would not suffer him to have the said lands before his years were out he was called to the Law and then the said Reginald Grey came with 24 Horses to take the said Grono And for that that day they could not have their purpose they called Grono the next day to Ruthlan and then Grono had councel not to go to Ruthlan Then they called him again to answer at Caerwys but the said Grono durst not go thither but by the conduct of the Bishop of St. Asaph for that Reginald Grey was there and his men in Harness 5. For these griefs for the which he could get no justice but labour and expences of 54 Marks and more and for that he durst not in his own person go to the Court he sent Letters one to the King another to his brother Lhewelyn to signifie to the King that he should lose all the favour of the Countrey if he kept no promise with them and so it came to pass because the men of Ros and Englefield could get no justice the King neglecting the correction of these things lost the whole Countrey Humbly sheweth to your Holiness Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England the Noblemen of Tegengl That when the said Noblemen 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 use all kind of Right Priviledge and Jurisdiction which they did use in the time of King Henry by the Grant of the said King whereof they were after spoiled First they were spoiled of their Right and Priviledges and Customs of the Countrey and were compelled to be judged by the Lawes of England whereas the Tenure of that their priviledge was to be judged according to the Laws of Wales at Tref Edwyn at Ruthlan and at Caerwys and the best men of the Countrey were taken because they desired to be judged at Tref Edwyn according to the Tenure of their priviledges by the Laws of Wales 2. Whatsoever one Justice doth his successor doth reverse the same for in Davids case Reginald Grey revoked that which his predecessor confirmed and allowed 3. If he do take any Gentleman of that Countrey he will not let him go upon security which he ought to do 4. If any Gentleman be brought to the Castle of Flint upon a small accusation and his cattel withal they can neither be delivered or have delay until they give the Constable an Oxe and until they pay 3 l. fees to Cynwrick for having of the delay 5. Reginald Grey gave the lands of the men of Merton to the Abbot and Covent of Basingwerk against the Laws of Wales and Custom of the Countrey and contrary to the Form of peace betwixt Lhewelyn and the King that is to say 16 Caratatas terrae 6. The Noble and Best of the Countrey be injured for that the King builded the Castle of Flint upon their ground and the King commanded the Justices to give the men as much good ground or the price but they are spoiled of their lands and have neither other lands nor their money 7. Reginald Grey will not suffer men to cut their own Wood until he have both money and reward and until they pay for it also but permitteth others to cut it down freely which they ought not to do by the Laws and Customs of Wales 8. When the men of Cyrchynan Covenant with the King to give the King half a Meadow upon condition the King should not suffer the Woods to be cut down Howel ap Gruffith being present yet Reginald Grey hath broken the same permitting every man to cut their Woods and spoil them also of their Meadow 9. The same Cynwric ap Grono was taken at Ruthlan and put in prison without any cause at all neither would the Kings Officers deliver him unless he would redeem the gage of a certain woman for the which he was constrained to pay much more than the pawn lay for 10. When the Bailiff of Ruthlan was at a Feast Hicken Lemaile wounded a Gentleman cruelly in the presence of the said Bailiff by occasion of which wound Hicken was condemned in 8 l. and when he which was hurt would have demanded the 8 l. he was put in prison by Hicken 11. The messengers of Reginald Grey attempted an absurdity not heard of and requiring the people of the Countrey to plough his ground and sowe the same and the messengers were Cynwric Says and Hicken Lemayl and the said Cynwric swore openly before the whole company that unless all men should plough Reginald Greys ground they should shortly repent it then the people feared much as in that case any constant man would fear 12. The heirs of
Tegengl bought their Offices for 30 Marks of the King but afterward Reginald Grey spoiled them of their Offices and money contrary to the Laws and Customs of England 13. Seven Gentlemen were wrongfully killed by the Englishmen but as yet the Parents of the Gentlemen can have 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 souldiers in prison for that they took an Englishman who had wounded a man All these things contained in these Articles are contrary to the priviledge liberty and right of the said men and contrary to the Laws and Customs of Wales neither dare the Inhabitants send their Complaints to the King for fear of Reginald Grey which fear any constant man might have because the said Reginald said openly that if he could come by any such their messengers he would cut off their heads as it is certainly told us by one of his Councel further neither tongue can tell nor pen write how cruelly the men of Tegengl have been ordered Humbly complaineth to your Lordship my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England Lhewelyn ap Gruffith ap Madoc of the Constable of Oswalds Cross the King and of the men of that Town who have spoiled the said Lhewelyn of the third part of a Town called Lhedrot and his fathers house without any Law or Right or Custom of the Countrey Further the said Constable and his Complices have against the Laws and Customs of the Countrey spoiled the said Lhewelyn of his Common and Pasture which he and his predecessors have used time out of mind and further condemned the said Lhewelyn for the said Pasture in 70 Marks And further the King of England granted certain Letters to a Bastard called Gruffith 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 200 l. of good money Also the said Constable compelled the said Lhewelyn to send two Gentlemen to him whom when they came to him he caused to be hanged which Gentlemen ought not by right to have been hanged whose parents had rather have given him 300l Afterward the said Constable imprisoned 60. of the Men of the said Lhewelyn no cause alledged but that a certain Page spake a word who could not be delivered out of prison untill every one of them paid 10 s. When the Men of the said Lhewelyn came to the said Town to sell their Oxen the said Constable would cause the beast to be driven to the Castle neither would he restore the beasts nor mony for them Further the said Constable and his men took away the Cattle of the said Lhewelyn from his own ground and did their will with them Further the Kings Justices compelled the said Lhewelyn contrary to the law and custome of Wales to deliver to the Sons of Eneon ap Gruffith a certain Town which both he and his Ancestors ever had held The said Constable took the horse of Lhewelyns Baliffe when the said Baliffe owed him nothing who could never get his horse again nor any satisfaction for it Furthermore when the said Lhewelyn should have gone to a Town called Caerlheon to appear there as he was appointed the Sons of Gruffith ap Gwenwynwyn and the Soldiers of Robert Strange by the Councel of the said Roger took the said Lhewelyn and his Men and imprisoned them to their great damage which the said Lhewelyn would not for 300 l. starling who could by no means be delivered untill they had found sufficient sureties The Archbishop receiving 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 having so just cause of grief who answered that the Welshmen were to be excused yet he said he was ever ready to do Justice to all them that complained Whereupon the Archbishop besought the King again that the Welshmen might have free access to his Grace to declare their griefs and to seek remedy the King answered they should freely come and depart if it should seem that by Justice they deserved to depart The Archbishop hearing this went and came to the Prince of Wales in Snowdon that he might move him and his Brother David and the other company to submit themselves whereby he might incline the King to admit them to which after much talke and conference with the Archbishop the Prince answered that he was ready to submit to the King reserving two things that is to say his conscience which he ought to have for the rule and safe-guard of his people and also the decency of his State and calling which answer the Archbishop brought and reported to the King At the which the King said that he would not any other treaty of peace then that the Prince and his people should simply submit themselves But the Archbishop knowing well that the Welshmen would not submit themselves but in form aforesaid or in other form to them tolerable and of them liked requested the King that he might have conference in this matter with all the Noble Englishmen then present who after much conference agreed to all these Articles following The which Articles the Archbishop did send in writing to the Prince by John Wallensis These are to be said to the Prince before his Councel 1. First that the four Cantreds and the Lands by the King given to his Nobles and the Isle of Anglesey we will have no treaty of 2 Item Of the Tenants of the four Cantreds if they will submit themselves he purposeth to do as becometh a Kings Majesty and we verily believe he will deal with them mercifully and to that end we will labour and trust to obtain 3. As touching the Lord Lhewelyn we can have none other answer but that he shall submit himself simply to the King and we believe certainly he will deal mercifully with him and to that end we travail all we can and verily believe to be heard The following are to be said to the Prince in secret 1. First that the Nobility of England have conceived this form of a favourable peace That the Lord Lhewelyn should submit himself to the King and the King should honourably provide for him 1000l starling and some honourable County in England so that the said Lhewelyn would put the King in quiet possession of Snowdon Durum telum necessitas and the King will provide honourably for the daughter of Lhewelyn according to the State and condition of his own blood and to these they hope to perswade the King 2. Item if it happen that Lhewelyn marry a wife and so have by her any heir Male they trust to intreat the King that the same heir Male and his heirs for ever shall have the same 1000l and County 3. Item to the people subject to the said Lhewelyn the
King will provide as becometh their Estates and condition and to that the King is well enclined These are to be said to David Brother to Lhewelyn in secret A specious banishment First That if for the honour of God Juxta debitum crucis assumptae he will go to the holy land he shall be provided for according to his degree so that he do not return unless he be called by the King and we trust to intreat the King to provide for his child 2. And these things we tell our selves to the Welshmen that a great deal greater peril do hang over them then we told them by mouth when we were with them These things which we write seem grievous but it is a great deal more grievous to be oppressed with armes and finally to be rooted out because every day more and more their danger doth increase One of Jobs comforters 3. Item It is more hard to be alwayes in war in anguish of mind and danger of body alwayes sought and beseiged and so to dye in deadly sin and continual rancor and malice 4. Item We fear whereof we be sorry unless you do agree to peace we must certainly aggravate the sentence Ecclesiastical against you for your faults of the which you cannot excuse your selves whereas you shall find both grace and mercy if you will come to peace And send us your answer of these in writings To the most Reverend Father in Christ the Lord John by Gods grace Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England his Obedient Son Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdon sendeth greeting Most heartily with all Reverence and Honour we are content and ready holy Father as you have committed us to submit our selves unto the Kings grace so it be in that form that shall be safe and honest for us But because the form of submission contained in the Articles which were sent unto us is neither safe nor honest as we and our Councel do think at the which Articles all men do marvail tending rather to the destruction of us and our people then any security or honest dealing we may in no wise yield our assent unto it and if we should so do our Nobles and People would not agree to the same knowing the mischiefs and inconvenience that is like to ensue thereof Nevertheless we beseech your holy Father-hood that for the reformation of a decent honest and firm peace for the which you have taken so great pains you do circumspectly provide having respect unto the Articles which we send unto you in writing It is more honourable for the King more agreable to reason that we should hold our Lands in the County where we do dwell then that we should be dis-inherited and our Land given to other Men. Dated at Carth Celyn The Answer of the Welshmen First though the Lord the King will have no treaty of the four Cantreds the Lands that he gave to his Nobles The right of lands derived from Camber nor the Isle of Anglesey yet the Princes Councel will no peace be made unless treaty be had of them For that the four Cantreds be of the mere Tenure of the Prince whereas the Princes of Wales had more right since the time of Camber Son of Brute so that they be of the principality of VVales The confirmation of the which the Prince obtained by Otobanus the Popes Legate in England by the consent of the King and his Father As it doth appear by the Letters Patentes And more just and equal it is that our heirs do hold the said Cantreds of the King for mony The P. of Wales justly taxeth the K. of England and used service then the same to be given to strangers which abuse the people by force and power 2. All the Tenents of all the Cantreds of VVales altogether do say that they dare not submit themselves to the King to do his pleasure first for that the King kept neither covenant nor oath nor grant by charter from the beginning to the Prince or his people Secondly that the Kings men do cruelly exercise Tyranny towards the Church and Churchmen Thirdly that they be not bound to any such matter seeing they be the Princes Tenants who is ready to do used and accustomed service and to obey the King with and by the said service 3. To that which is said that the Prince should simply commit himself to the Kings will it is answered that none of us will dare come to the King for the cause aforesaid we altogether will not suffer our Prince to come in that manner 4. Item where the great Men of England would procure a provision of a 1000l per annum in England let it be answered that such provision is not to be accepted for it that is procured by them who go about to disinherit the Prince to have his Lands in VVales 5. Item The Prince ought not to dismiss his inheritance which his predecessours held in VVales since the time of Brutus and confirmed by the See Apostolick and to take lands in England where he knoweth neither tongue manners lawes nor customes wherein he shall be soon entrapped by his neighbours the Englishmen his old malicious enemies whereby he should lose land also 6. Item Seeing the King goeth about to deprive him of his ancient inheritance it is not like that he would suffer him to possesse Lands in England where he claimeth no right seeing that the Princes Lands in VVales of his own inheritance is but barren and untilled it is lesse like the King would suffer him to enjoy good fertile land in England 7. Item The Prince should give the King possession of Snowdon for ever Let it be answered that seeing that Snowdon is of the appurtenances of the principality of VVales which the Prince and his predecessours hold since the time of Brute His Councell will not suffer him to renounce that place and to take a place in England lesse due unto him 8. Item The people of Snowdon do say that although the prince would give the King possession of it yet they would never do homage to strangers of whose tongue Manners Lawes they should be ignorant for so they should be for ever Captives and as cruelly handled as the Cantreds have been by the Kings Bayliffs and other the Kings men handled more cruelly then Saracens as it doth well appear by the notes of their griefs which the men of the Cantreds sent to you holy Father These are to be Answered For David the Kings Brother When he is disposed to see the Holy Land will do it for Gods sake voluntarily not by such inforcement against his will for he intendeth not to go on pilgrimage in that sort because he knoweth enforced service not to please God and if he hereafter shall for devotion see the holy land that it is no cause for ever to disinherit his Ofspring but rather to reward them And for that neither the Prince nor his