respect to his Quality and his Child maintain'd and provided for by the King To these the Archbishop added his Threats That in case they did not comply and submit themselves to the King's Mercy there were very severe and imminent Dangers hanging over their Heads a formidable Army was ready to make an inroad into their Country which would not only gaul and oppress them but in all probability totally eradicate the whole Nation Besides which they were to expect the severest Censure and Punishment of the Church But all this could not force so unlimited a Submission from the Prince but that he would stick upon some certain Conditions and therefore by Letter he acquainted the Archbishop That he was with all willingness desirous to submit himself to the King but withal that he could not do it but in such a manner as was safe and honest for him And because the Form of Submission contained in the Articles sent to him were by himself and his Council thought pernicious and illegal for him to consent to as tending rather to the Destruction than the Security of himself and his Subjects he could in no wise agree to it and in case himself should be willing the rest of his Nobility and People would never admit of it as knowing for certain the Mischief and Inconveniency that would ensue thereby Therefore he desired his Lordship that for a Confirmation of an honest and a durable Peace which he had all this while earnestly laboured for he would manage Matters circumspectly and with due regard to the following Articles For it was much more honourable for the King and far more consonant to Reason that he should hold his Lands in the Country where he was born and dwelt in than that by dispossessing of him his Estate should be bestowed upon Strangers With this was sent the general Answer of the Welch to the Archbishop's Articles viz. 1. Though the King would not consent to treat of the four Cantreds nor of the Isle of Anglesey yet unless these be comprehended in the Treaty the Prince's Council will not conclude a Peace by reason that these Cantreds have ever since the time of Camber the Son of Brutus properly and legally belonged to the Princes of Wales besides the Confirmation which the present Prince obtained by the Consent of the King and his Father at the Treaty before Cardinal Ottobonus the Pope's Legate whose Letters Patents do still appear And more the Justice of the thing it self is plainly evident that it is more reasonable for our Heirs to hold the said Cantreds for Money and other Services due to the King than that Strangers enjoy the same who will forcibly abuse and oppress the People 2. All the Tenants of the Cantreds of Wales do unanimously declare that they dare not submit themselves to the King's Pleasure by reason that he never from the beginning took care to observe either Covenant Oath or any other Grant to the Prince and his People and because his Subjects have no regard to Religion but most cruelly and unchristianly tyranize over Churches and religious Persons and then for that we do not understand our selves any way obliged thereunto seeing we be the Princes Tenants who is willing to pay the King all usual and accustomed Services 3. As to what is required that the Prince should simply commit himself to the King's Will we all declare that for the aforesaid Reasons none of us dare come neither will we permit our Prince to come to him upon those Conditions 4. That some of the English Nobility will endeavour to procure a provision of a Thousand Pounds a Year in England we would let them know that we can accept of no such Pension because it is procured for no other end than that the Prince being disinherited themselves may obtain his Lands in Wales 5. The Prince cannot in honesty resign his paternal Inheritance which has for many Ages been enjoyed by his Predecessours and accept of other Lands among the English of whose Customs and Language he is ignorant and upon that score may at length be fraudulently deprived of all by his malicious and inveterate Enemies 6. Seeing the King intends to deprive him of his antient Inheritance in Wales where the Land is more barren and untilled it is not very probable that he will bestow upon him a more fruitful and an aâ—able Estate in England 7. As to the Clause that the Prince should give the King a perpetual Possession of Snowden we only affirm that seeing Snowden essentially belongs to the Principality of Wales which the Prince and his Predecessors have enjoyed since Brute the Prince's Council will not permit him to renounce it and accept another Estate in England to which he has not equal Right 8. The People of Snowden declare That though the Prince should give the King possession of it they would never own and pay Submission to Strangers for in so doing they would bring upon themselves the same Misery that the People of the Four Cantreds have for a long time groaned under being most rudely handled and unjustly oppressed by the King's Officers as wofully appears by their several Grievances 9. As for David the Prince's Brother we see no reason why against his Will he should be compell'd to take a Journey to the Holy-Land which if he happens to undertake hereafter upon the account of Religion it is no cause that his Issue should be disinherited but rather encouraged Now seeing neither the Prince nor any of his Subjects upon any account whatsoever have moved and begun this War but only defended themselves their Properties Laws and Liberties from the Encroachments of other Persons and since the English for either Malice or Covetousness to obtain our Estates have unjustly occasioned all these Troubles and Broils in the Kingdom we are assured that our Defence is just and lawful and therein depend upon the Aid and Assistance of Heaven which will be most cruelly revenged upon our sacrilegious and inhumane Enemies who have left no manner of Enormities in relation to God and Man uncommitted Therefore your Grace would more justly threaten your Ecclesiastical Censures against the Authors and Abettors of such unparallell'd Villanies than the innocent Sufferers And besides we much admire that you should advise us to part with our own Estates and to live among our Enemies as if when we cannot peaceably enjoy what is our own unquestionable Right we might expect to have quiet possession of another Mans And though as you say it be hard to live in War and perpetual Danger yet much harder it is to be utterly destroyed and reduced to nothing especially when we seek but the Defence of our own Liberties from the insatiable Ambition of our Enemies And seeing your Grace has promised to fulminate Sentence against all them that either for Malice or Profit would hinder and obstruct the Peace it is evident who in this respect are Transgressors and Delinquents the fear and apprehension of Imprisonment
News was brought him that Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys was revolted and was become again the King of England's Subject This unwelcome News struck very deep in the Prince's Mind by reason that Gwenwynwyn was a Man of great Power and Strength in the Country and went a great way to repel the Incursions of the English upon the Marches which now he being gone off could not he feared be so well effected But however to make the best of a bad Market he endeavoured to take him off from the English and to restore him to his former Allegiance due to himself as his Natural Prince and to that end he sent to him some Bishops and Abbots to put him in mind of his Oath and Promise how that he with the rest of the Lords of Wales had obliged himself to oppose the English to the utmost of his Power and had delivered Pledges for the sure performance of what he had then by Oath engaged in and lest he should have forgot what he had then promised he was desired to read his own hand Writing whereby it was apparent that he had very unjustly violated both his Oath and Promise But all the Rhetorick the Bishops could make use of was not of force enough to work Gwenwynwyn to reconciliation with the Prince and an aversion to the King of England and therefore seeing nothing would do Prince Lhewelyn was resolved to make him incapable of serving the English and so entring Powys with a strong Army he subdued the whole Country to himself Gwenwynwyn being forced to fly for Succor to the Earl of Chester Whilst these things passed in Wales Lewis the Dauphin of France being invited by the English Barons against King John landed in the Island of Thanet and marching forward to London he there received Homage of all the Barons that were in actual War against the King And then setting forward to Winchester where King John then lay he took in his way the Castles of Rygat Guildford and Farnham and coming to Winchester had the Town presently surrendred to him King John did not think fit to abide his coming but removing to Hereford in the Marches of Wales he sent to Prince Lhewelyn and Reynold Bruce desiring their Friendship and imploring their Aid aad Assistance against the French But they refusing to hearken to his Proposals he destroyed Radnor and Hay Castles and marching forward to Oswestry which belonged to John Fitzalan he burnt it to the ground and then departed towards the North. But after that he had settled his Affairs there and appointed Governours in all the Towns and Places of Strength whilst he was making all necessary Preparations at Newark to confront the Barons he fell sick and in a short time died and was buried at Worcester After his Death his Son Henry was by several of the English Nobility proclaimed King and in a little while most of the Barons who upon their hatred to King John had maintained an open War against him came in and owned their Allegiance to his Son Henry tho contrary to their Oath to Lewis the Dauphine A.D. 1217 But what was most pernicious to the Welch Reynald de Bruce who had all this while maintained a Confederacy with Prince Lhewelyn his Father-in-Law against King John underhand made his Peace with King Henry But he suffered severely for his Treachery for young Rhys and Owen his Nephew by his Sister seeing that he in whom they put their greatest Confidence had deceitfully forsaken them came upon him with all their Power and took from him all Buelht excepting only the Castle Prince Lhewelyn was presently made acquainted with Bruce's revolt but as soon as he was informed that his Son-in-Law was gone over to the King of England he went in great fury to Brecknoc and laying Siege to the Town of Aberhondhy he was with much ado prevailed upon by young Rhys to raise the Siege for the summ of a Hundred Marks and then crossing the Mountanous part of Glamorgan called the Black Mountains where his Carriages suffered very much he came to Gwyr and encamping at Lhangruc Reynald Bruce with six Knights in his Company came to meet him desiring his Pardon for his passed Offence assuring him that for the future he would be true and faithful to him and would to his endeavour assist him against the King of England Prince Lhewelyn was too good natured to reject his submission and so did not only receive him to his Favour but bestowed upon him also the Castle of Senghennyth which Reynald committed to the Custody of Rhys Fychan Prince Lhewelyn having settled all things in good Order in Gwyr marched to Dyfed and being at Cefn Cynwarchan the Flemings sent their Agents to him to desire Peace which the Prince by reason that they always adhered to the English Interest would not grant them And so young Rhys having the first Man passed the River Cledeu to Storm the Town Iorwerth Bishop of St. Davids with the rest of his Clergy came to the Prince to intreat for a Peace for the Flemings which after a long debate was granted and concluded upon these Terms First That all the â—nhabitants of Rhôs and the Country of Pembroke should from thence forward swear Allegiance to Prince Lhewelyn and ever after acknowledge his Sovereignty Secondly That towards the defraying of his Charges in this Expedition they should pay one Thousand Marks to be delivered to him before the ensuing Feast of St. Michael Thirdly That for the sure performance of these Articles they should deliver up Twenty Hostages who were to be some of the most Principal Persons in their Country Then Prince Lhewelyn having now brought all Wales subject to himself and put Matters in a settled posture in South Wales returned to North-Wales having purchased very considerable Honour and Esteem for his Martial Achievements in this Expedition And now all Matters of Differences being adjusted and the Welch in good hopes of a durable Freedom from all Troubles and Hostilities another Accident unhappily fell out to cross their Expectation Lewis the Dauphin perceiving the English Barons to slight and forsake him concluded a Peace with King Henry and returned to France and then the Barons the King promising to answer all their Request and to redress their Grievances made their submission without including the Welch in their Articles They had all this while gladly embraced the Friendship and Aid of the Prince of Wales but now upon their Reconciliation to the King thinking they had no farther need of him they very basely forsook him who had been the principal Support and Succour of their Cause And not only so but they conspired together to convert their Arms against Wales thinking they could without any breach of Equity or Conscience take away the Lands of the Welch to make addition to what some of them had already unjustly possessed themselves of William Marshall Earl of Pembroke opened the Scene and coming unexpectedly upon the Welch took the Town of Caerlheon But he
Noblemen offered to be Securities and bound themselves by their several Writings But as if all things had conspired together against Prince David See Appendix several Persons that had been at continual variance and enmity among themselves to this time were now by reason that they equally favoured Gruffydh's Cause made Friends among one another Morgan ap Howel Lord of Cery made his Reconciliation to Sir Ralph Mortimer See Appendix and his Submission to King Henry in a very solemn manner In the same form several others of the Nobility submitted to the King as Owen ap Howel Maelgon ap Maelgon Meredith ap Meredith Howel ap Cadwalhon and Cadwalhon ap Howel David finding himself thus relinquished by the greatest part of his Nobility and particularly by Gruffydh ap Madawc Lord of Bromfield whom he chiefly feared by reason of his great Wisdom and Power and that he was much esteemed by the King of England could not easily conclude how to carry himself in this perplexity of Affairs But in fine considering with himself what a puissant Army King Henry brought against him and how himself was considerably weakened by the defection of his Subjects he thought it most adviseable to truckle to the King and therefore with all speed sent him his Submission See Appendix Prince David having given a plenary Submission to the King desired that being his Nephew and the lawful Heir and Successor of his Father Prince Lhewelyn he should enjoy the Principality of Wales rather than Gruffydh who was illegitimate and in no wise related to the King assuring him further that the War would never be at an end if he was set at liberty King Henry knowing well the truth of all this and withal being assured that Gruffydh was not only valiant himself but had likewise very powerful Abettors and Promoters of his Cause was very inclinable to assent to David's Request and to prevent any farther Troubles willingly granted it Therefore David in a while after sent his Brother Gruffydh to the King together with the Pledges promised for the performance of the Articles lately agreed upon who were all sent to the Tower of London to be kept in safe custody Gruffydh being allowed a Noble a day to provide himself with Necessaries Shortly after David came himself to London and after he had done his Homage and sworn Fealty to the King of England returned to Wales being honourably and peaceably dismissed But as soon as Gruffydh found out King Henry's mind and that it was the least part of his design to set him at liberty having flatly denyed the Bishop of Bangor his request therein he began to set his Brains a working and to devise a means whereby he might make his escape out of the Tower Whereupon having one night deceived his Keepers he let himself down from the top of the Building by a Line which he had composed out of the Sheets and Hangings of the Room which being too weak to bear his weight being a heavy corpulent Person let him down headlong to the ground by the greatness of which Fall he was crushed to pieces and so presently expired King Henry being informed of this unhappy Accident severely punished the Officers for their inexcusable Carelesness and ordered that his Son who was kept Prisoner with him in the Tower should be more narrowly observed After this King Henry fortified the Castle of Dyserth in Flintshire and for their passed Service or rather to oblige them to the like after granted to Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn all his Estate in Powys and to the Sons of Conan ap Owen Gwynedh their Lands in Merionyth And the next Year Maelgon Fychan fortifyed A.D. 1242 the Castle of Garthgrugyn John de Mynoc the Castle of Buelht and Roger Mortimer that of Melyenyth But all these Preparations were not to no purpose for the following Year early King Henry came with A.D. 1243 an Army into Wales and began very unreasonably to molest the Welch and without any just pretence forcibly to seize upon their Lands and Estates Indeed after the death of Gruffydh he had a mind no longer to keep his Promise to David and therefore entitled his eldest Son Edward to the Principality of Wales whom he thought to oblige the Welch to obey But Prince David understanding his design levyed all his Power for the defence of his just Right yet finding himself unable to withstand the Army of the English purposed to effect that by Policy which he could not attain by Force He sent therefore to the Pope complaining how that King Henry of England compelled him unjustly to hold his Lands of him and that upon no legal pretence he seized the Estates of the Welch at his pleasure telling him moreover that Prince Lhewelyn his Father had left him and the Principality of Wales to the Protection of the See of Rome to which he was willing to pay the yearly Sum of Five Hundred Marks obliging himself and his Successors by Oath for the due performance of this Payment The Pope you may be sure gladly accepted of the Offer and thereupon gave commission to the two Abbots of Aberconwey and Cymer to absolve David from his Oath of Allegiance to the King of England and having enquired into the whole Estate of the Quarrel to transmit an account of it to him The Abbots See Appendâ—x according to their Commission directed a very positive Mandat to the King of England King Henry admiring the strange Presumption and Confidence of these Abbots or more the unsatiable Avarice and Greediness of the Pope sent also to Rome and with a greater Sum of Money easily adjusted all matters his Holyness being very desirous to make the best advantage of both Parties But Prince David finding that the Pope minded his own Gain more than to justifie his Complaints against the King of England thought it to no purpose to rely upon his Faith but judged it more advisable to vindicate himself by force of Arms. Having therefore gathered his Forces together being now reconciled to and followed by all the Nobility of Wales excepting Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn and Morgan ap Howel who also shortly after submitted to him he drew up his Army to the Marches intending to be revenged upon the Earls of Clare and Hereford John de Monmouth Roger de Monte Alto and others who injured and oppressed his People with whom he fought divers times and with various success A.D. 1245 But in the Lent-time next Year the Marchers and the Welch met near Montgomery between whom was fought a very severe Battel the Governour of that Castle being General of the English and having â—unningly placed an Ambuscade of Men pretended â—fter some short Engagement to flee whom the Welch daringly pursued not thinking of any Treaâ—hery Bat as soon as they were past the Ambushment â—p rises an unexpected Party of Men who falling upâ—n the backs of the Welch put them to a very great â—isorder and killed about Three Hundred
time and so returned to England But Lord James Audley whose Daughter was married to Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield did more mischief and hurt to the Welch who having brought over a great Number of Horsemen from Germany to serve against the Welch so terrified them with the unusual largeness of the Horses and the unaccustomed manner of sighting that in the first Encounter the Welch were easily overcome Buâ— minding to revenge this Disgrace and withal being better acquainted with their method of Arms the Welch in a little after made in-roads into the Lord Audley's Lands where the Germans presently set upon them and pursued them to certain straits which the Welch discovered for a politick retreat The Germans thinking they had entirely drove the Welch away returned carelesly back but being set upon of the sudden without any thought of an Enemy behind they were all in a manner slain by the rallying Welch This year a very great scarcity of Beefs and Horses happened in England whereof several Thousands yearly were supplied out of Wales by reason of which the Marches were perfectly robbed of all their Breed and not so much as a Beast to be seen in all the Borders A.D. 1259 The next Spring all the Nobility of Wales convened together and took their mutual Oaths to defend their Country to Death against the oppressing Invasions of the English and not to relinquish and forsake one another upon pain of Perjury tho' notwithstanding Meredith ap Rhys of South-Wales violated this Agreement and put himself in the Service of the King of England King Henry was ready to fall upon the Welch to which purpose he summoned a Parliament wherein he proposed to raise a Subsidy towards the Conquest of Wales being not able of himself to bear the Expences of this War by reason of several Losses he had already received the Country of Pembroke being lately destroyed and taken by the Welch where they found plenty of Salt which before they were in great necessity of But William de Valentia accusing the Earls of Leicester and Glocester as the Authors of all this Mischief quite broke all their measures so the King was forced to prorogue the Parliament for a time without any grant of a Subsidy But within a while after it sat at Oxford where King Henry and Edward his Son took a Solemn Oath to observe the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and the same being tendred to Guy and William the King's Brothers and to Henry Son to the King of Almain and to Earl Warren they refused to take it and so departed In this Parliament the Lords of Wales fairly proffered to be tryed by the Laws for any Offence they had unjustly commirted against the King which was mainly opposed by Edward who caused one Patrick de Canton to whom the Lordship of Cydwely was given in case he could win and keep the same to be sent to Caermardhyn as Lieutenant for the King with whom Meredith ap Rhys was joyned in Commission Being arrived at Caermardhyn Patrick sent to the Prince to desire him to appoint Commissioners to treat with him concerning a Peace which he consented to and without any suspicion of treachery sent Meredith ap Owen and Rhys ap Rhys to Emlyn if possible to conclude the same But Patrick meaning no such thing laid an ambuscade for the Welch who coming honestly forward were by the way villanously set upon by the English and a great many slain but those that happily escaped calling up the Country presently gave chase to Patrick and his Accomplices who being at length overtaken were almost all put to the Sword But Prince Lhewelyn was now altogether bent upon a Peace and did not only desire it but was willing to purchase it for a summ of Money to which purpose he offered to give the King 4000 Marks to his Son 300 and 200 to the Queen which the King utterly refused replying That it was not a sufficient recompence for all the Damages he had suffered by the Welch Matthew of Westminster reporteth that about Michaelmas this year the Bishop of Bangor was commissioned by the Prince and Nobility of Wales to treat with the King of England about a Peace and to offer him 16000 Pound for the same upon these Conditions that according to their antient Custom the Welch should have all Causes tryed and determined at Chester and that they should freely enjoy the Laws and Customs of their own Country but what was the result of this Treaty my Author does not mention There being no hopes of a Peace Prince Lhewelyn A.D. 1260 early next year appeared in the Field and passed to South-Wales and first fell foul upon Sir Râ—ger Mortimer who contrary to his Oath maintained the King of England's Quarrel Having forcibly dispossessed him of all Buelht and without any opposition taken the Castle where was found a plentiful Magazine he marched thro' all South-Wales confirming his Conquest and afterwards returned to his Palace at Aber A.D. 1261 betwixt Bangor and Conwey The year following A.D. 1262 Owen ap Meredith Lord of Cydewen died But the next Summer was somewhat more noted for Action a party of Prince Lhewelyn's Men took by surprise the Castle of Melienyth belonging to Sir Roger Mortimer and having put the rest of the Garrison to the Sword they took Howel ap Meyric the Governour with his Wife and Children Prisoners and after that the Castle was demolished by the Prince's Order Sir Roger Mortimer hearing of this with a great Body of Lords and Knights came to Melienyth where Prince Lhewelyn met him bur Sir Roger not daring to hazard a Battel planted himself within the Ruins and finding he could do no good desired leave of the Prince to retire peaceably The Prince upon the account of Relation and near Consanguinity betwixt them and withal because he would not be so mean spirited as to fall upon an Enemy who had no power to resist him let him safely depart with his Forces and then passing on himself to Brecknock at the request of the People of that Country who swore Fidelity unto him so passed on and returned to Noâ—th-Wales And now being Confederate with the Barons against King Henry he was resolved to practise something in the prejudice of the English and so set upon the Earldom of Chester destroyed the Castles of Tygannâ—y and Diserth belonging to Edward who coming thither was yet not able to prevent the Mischief done A.D. 1263 to him by the Welch The next year John Strange Junior Constable of Montgomery with a great Number of Marchers came a little before Easter by night thro' Ceri to Cydewen intending to surprise the Castle which when the People of the Country understood they gathered together and setting upon them slew 200 of his Men but Strange with a few got safely back Within a while after the Marchers and the Welch met again near a place called Clun where a hot Engagement happened between them in which the Welch were worsted
both of England and Wales upon the breach of the Articles of Peace and that you would be pleased to inform the King of the sad Consequence of another War which can no way be prevented but by using us according to the Conditions of the former Peace which for our part we will in no measure transgress But if the King will not hearken to your Counsel we hope that you will hâ—ld us excused if the Nation be disquieted and troubled thereupon which as much as in us lieth we endeavour to prevent King Edward would admit of no Excuse noâ— hearken to any manner of Reason in the case but was unmercifully enraged and conceived an unpardonable displeasure against Prince Lhewelyn which yet he thought convenient to conceal and dissemble for a time Indeed he could never abide Lhewelyn â—â—nce the time that he was vanquished and put to â—ight by him at the Marches so that the chief Cause â—f King Edward's anger originally proceeded from 〈◊〉 point of Honor which this refusal of Homage â—â—rved sufficiently to increase But to prosecute his Revenge which upon this score is in Princes very â—erce and unforgetful in a short time he came to â—hester meaning to recover by force what he could â—ot obtain by fair means From hence he sent to â—â—e Prince of Wales requiring him to come over and 〈◊〉 him Homage which Lhewelyn either absolutely reâ—â—sing or willingly detracting to do King Edward â—ade ready his Army to force him to it But there A.D. 1277 â—â—ppened an Accident which took off a great part of â—rince Lhewelyn's stubborness for at this time the â—ountess of Leicester the Widow of Simon Montfort â—ho lived at Montargis a Nunnery in France sent over 〈◊〉 Wales her Daughter the Lady Eleanor whom â—hewelyn extreamly loved with her Brother Aemeâ—ke to be married to the Prince according to the Aâ—reement made in her Father Earl Montfort's time â—ut Aemerike fearing to touch upon the Coast of â—ngland steered his course towards the Islands of â—cilly where by the way they were all taken by four â—ristol Ships and brought to King Edward who reâ—eived the Lady very honourably but committed her â—â—other Prisoner to the Castle of Coff whence he was â—fterward removed to the Castle of Shirburne The â—ing having obtained this unexpected Advantage over â—hewelyn began boldly to fall upon him and so diâ—â—ding his Army into two Battalions led one himself â—â—to North-Wales and advanced as far as Ruthlan where he strongly fortified the Castle The other he ommitted to Paganus de Camurtiis a great Souldier â—ho entring into West-Wales burned and destroyed 〈◊〉 great part of the Country But the People of South-Wales fearing that his next Expedition was levelled â—gainst them voluntarily submitted themselves to the â—ing and did him Homage and then delivered upâ—â—â—he Castle of Ystratywy to Paganus Prince Lhewelyn hearing of this and finding his own Subjects to forsake him but more especially being desirous to recover his espouse the Lady Eleanor thought it likewise advisable to submit and therefore sued to King Edward for a Peace who granted it but upon very severe Conditions upon Lhewelyns side The Agreement consisted of ten Articles which were 1. That the Prince should set at liberty all manner of Prisoners that upon the King's Account were detained in Custody 2. That for the King's favour and good will he should pay 50000 Marks to be received at the King's pleasure 3. That these four Cantreds or Hundreds viz. Cantref Ros where the King's Castle of Teganwy stands Ryfonioc where Denbigh Tegengl where Ruthlan Dyffryn Clwyd where Rhuthyn stands should remain in the King's hands 4. That the Lords Marchers should quietly enjoy all the Lands they had conquered within Wales excepting in the Isle of Anglesey which was wholly granted to the Prince 5. That in consideration of this Island the Prince should pay 5000 Marks in hand with the reserve of a 1000 Marks yearly to begin at Michaelmas and in case the Prince died without Issue the whole Island should return to the King 6. That the Prince should come every year to England to pay his Homage to the King for all his Lands 7. That all the Barons of Wales excepting five in Snowden should hold their Lands and Estates of the King and no other 8. That the Title of Prince should remain only for his Life and not descend to his Successors and after his Death the five Lords of Snowden should hold their Lands only from the King 9. That for the performance of these Articles the Prince should deliver up for Hostages ten Persons of the best Quality in the Country without imprisoning disinheriting and any time of redemption determined And farther that the King should chuse Twenty Persons within North-Wales who besides the Prince should take their Oaths for the due performance of these Articles and in case the Prince should swerve and recede from them and upon admonition â—hereof not repent they should forsake him and beâ—ome his Enemies 10. The Prince was obliged to â—uffer his Brethren quietly to enjoy their Lands in Wales whereof David for his Service was dubbed Knight by the King and had the Earl of Derby's Widow given him in Matrimony and with her as 〈◊〉 Portion the Castle of Denbigh in North-Wales beâ—ides a 1000 Pounds in Lands His other Brother Roderic was lately escaped out of Prison into England â—nd the younger called Owen was upon his Composition delivered out of Prison King Edward having imposed these severe and unmerciful Conditions upon Prince Lhewelyn and for a better security for the performance of them built a Castle at Aberystwyth returned very honourably into England upon whose arrival the People willingly granted him a Subsidy of the Twentieth part of their Estates towards his Charges in this War But it seems very probable that Prince Lhewelyn submitted to these intolerable Conditions more upon the account of his Amours and to regain the Lady Eleanora out of the King of England's hand than that he was apprehensive of any considerable Danger he might receive by the English Troops For it is hardly conceivable that a Prince of such notorious Conduct and Valour would so easily accept of such hard Terms and in a measure deliver up his Principality when there was no necessity so to do without resisting an Enemy whom he had frequently overcome and forced to retire back with greater inequality than the English had at present over him But the force of â—ove worked Wonders and in this case proved moâ—t irresistible which to obtain Lhewelyn did not think hard to forfeit his proper Right to his inveterate Enemies and for ever to exclude his Posterity from succeeding in their lawful Inheritance The next year A.D. 1273 therefore he had his Wish accomplished and was married to Eleanora at Worcester the King and Queen with all the Nobility and Persons of Quality in England honouring the Wedding with their pâ—esence But this specious Amity and the Peace laâ—â— concluded betwixt them
buried as appears by the Testimony of Gutryn Owen who lived in the time of Edward IV. and writ the most exact and perfect Copy of the same All the most notable Occurrences being thus Registred in these Abbies were most generally compared together every third Year when the Beirdh or Bards belonging to these two Houses went their ordinary Visitations which was called Clera And this continued until the Year 1270. a little before the Death of the last Prince Lhewelyn who was slain at Buelht Humphrey Lloyd Gent. who flourished in the Reign of Henry VIII and one greatly skill'd in the British Antiquities continued this History to the Death of Prince Lhewelyn and afterwards having translated the whole into English Language had designed to commit it to the Press But his Death prevented what he purposed and stopped the publication of this History for a long time after until David Powel D. D. in the time of Queen Elizabeth having met with Humphrey Lloyd's Transtation collected what he could out of English Historians which he added by way of Annotations and so published it in the Year 1584. This being the sole History of the Princes of Wales and the only Edition of this History I was moved to prepare it for another Impression by a new modelling the Language making the Body of the History intire without troubling the Reader to see the same thing by way of Annotation Dr. Powel's Notes being for the greatest part but a repetition of the same matter of Fact out of the English Historians with what other Improvements could be made The Additions which I made to the former History I chiefly took out of the Notes of that late great Antiquarian Mr. Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt by whose help also I have corrected supplyed and continued the Chronology Sir John Price's Description of Wales will pretty well answer the Geographical part of this History til we shall be able to recover and fix several of those places whose Names are only left to us at present which we have great hopes will be successfully perfected by the unwearied Labours of my ingenious Friend Mr. Edward Lhwyd in his intended Etymological Dictionary I have added by way of Appendix the several Records belonging to this History and chose rather to insert the Articles of Peace betwixt Prince Lhewelyn and John Peckam Archbishop of Canterbury in the Original with reference thereunto than to insert all the Grievances which the Welch then made in the English Languge which do not so bandsomly bear a Translation A DESCRIPTION OF CAMBRIA Now Called WALES Drawn first by Sir John Price Knight and afterward augmented and made perfect by Humphrey Lloyd Gentleman THE Three Sons of Brutus having divided the whole Isle of Britain into Three Parts that part contained within the French Seas with the Rivers of Severn called in British Hafren Dea and Humber fell to the eldest Son Lorinus which was after his Name called Lhoyger which Name it hath in the British Tongue to this Day and in English now it is called England and 〈◊〉 augmented Northward to the River Tweed The â—econd Son Albanactus had all the Land Northward from Humber to the Sea Orkney called in the British Tongue Mor Werydh and in the Latin Mare Calodonioum The third Son Camber had to his part all that which remained undivided lying within the Spanish and Irish Seas Cambria and separated from England with the Rivers Severn and Dee and this part was after his Name called Cambria and the Inhabitants thereof Cambry and their Language Camberaâ—c and so are at this Day So that they have kept the same Country and Language this 2700 and odd years without commixtion with any other Nation especially in North-Wales as it shall hereafter appear And because the Name of this 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 where the Saxons a People of Germany were the first that after the Britains inhabited and ruled the greatest part of this Isle and drove the Britains to that Corner which according to the manner of their Country they called Wales and the People Welch-men and the Tongue Welch that is to say Strange or not of them understood For at this Day the Inhabitants of the Low Countries call their next Neighbours Language of Henegaw or other that speak French Walsh as a Language to them unknown Likewise the dwellers of Tyroll and other the higher Countries of Germany do Name the Italian their next Neighbour a Welch-man and his Language Walsh And this is an evident Proof that they which harped upon a Queen Gwalaes and of a Prince Wala of whom neither British Latin nor English History maketh mention were foully deceived and so likewise was a great Historiographer of late Days which saith that it was called Wallia quasi Italia because the rest of the Romans which remained in the Isle were driven thither Neither is this any new invention although Polydore Virgil with an Italian brag doth glorify himself to be the first that espied it out for divers antient Writers do alledge the same cause of the Name of Wales of whom Sylvester Gyraldus is one who wrote in the time of Henry the Second after the Conquest before 380 years passed which is an â—vident Token that the said Polydore did either neâ—er see nor read the antient Histories of this Realm â—r dissembleth the same to the Advancement and Praise of himself and his Country which to the â—earned and indifferent Reader shall appear to be the â—nly occasion he took that work in hand for all his â—ook redoundeth only to the Praise and Honour of â—he Romans as well Spiritual as Temporal and to â—lase forth their Acts and Deeds within this Realm â—nd upon the other part doth either openly slander â—r else privily extenuate or shamefully deny the marâ—ial prowess and noble Acts as well of Saxons Danes â—nd Normans as of the Britains all Inhabiters of this â—sle Which thing he that lift to prove let him read â—nd confer Caesar's Commentaries Cornelius Tacitus Herodianus and other antient Writers as well in Latin as in Greek with his Work As for the antiâ—ent Writers of the British History as the British Chronicle the History of Gildas Ponticus Vorunnius â—ea the Golden Work of Matthew Paris Monk of St. Alban which wrote from William Bastard to the â—ast years of Henry the Third I dare well say he â—ever saw them they be in divers places to be had â—o that the truth may be easily proved To make â—n end I say that he being first a Stranger born and â—lso ignorant as well in the Histories of this Realm as â—f those Tongues and Languages wherein the same were written could never set forth the true and perfect Chronicle of the same But he having a good Grace and a pleasant Stile in the Latin Tongue and finding himself in a Country
upon him the Management of it But the Normans in Rydcors Castle being sensible that they were not able to effect any thing against Howel ap Grono in open Field after their accustomed manner began to put that in execution by Treachery which they could not compass by force of Arms. And how to make Howel a Sacrifice to those Normans he had lately slain they could find no safer way than by corrupting one Gwgan ap Meyric a Man in great Favour and Esteem with Howel upon the account chiefly that one of his Children was nursed by Gwgan's Wife This ungrateful Villain to carry on his wicked Intrigue the more unsuspected gave Howel a very earnest invitation to his House to a Merriment where without any suspicion of Treachery being come he was welcomed with all the seeming Affection and Kindness imaginable But no sooner was he settled A.D. 1103 but Gwgan gave notice thereof to the Norman Garrisons and therefore by break of day they entered the Town and coming about the House where Howel lay in Bed they presently gave a great shout Howel hearing the noise suspected something of Mischief and therefore leaping in all haste out of Bed he made to his Weapons but could not find them by reason that Gwgan had conveyed them away whilst he was asleep And now being assured of Treachery in the case and finding that his Men had fled for their Lives he endeavour'd all he could to make his escape but Gwgan and his Company were too quick for him and so being secured they strangled him and deliver'd his Body to the Normans who having cut off his Head convey'd it to the Castle of Rydcors This most villainous Murther so barbarously committed upon the King's Lieutenant was not in the least taken notice of for King Henry was so unreasonably prejudiced in favour of the Normans that whatever Misdemeanour be it of never so high a nature was by them committed it was presently winked at and let fall to the ground whereas if the Welch trespassed but against the least injunction of the King's Laws they were most severely punished which was the cause that they afterwards stood up against the King in their own defence being by experience assured that he minded nothing more than their utter Destruction About this time Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury convened a Synod at London wherein among other Injunctions then decreed the Celibacy of the Clergy was enjoyned Marriage being before ever allowed of in Britain to them in Holy Orders But this new Injunction created a great deal of Heat and Animosities among the Clergy some approving of it as reasonable and orthodoxical others condemning it as an innovation and contrary to the plain Letter of Scripture But during these Disputes between the Clergy King Henry being now in the Fifth Year of his Reign sailed over with a great Army into Normandy where his Brother Robert together with Robert de Belesmo Arnulph and William Earl of Mortaign gave him battel but the King having obtained the Victory took the Duke his Brother with William of Mortaign Prisoners and carrying them into England he caused first his Brother Robert's Eyes to be plucked out and then condemned them A.D. 1104 both to perpetual imprisonment in the Castle of Cardyff About the same time Meyric and Gruffydh the Sons of Trahaern ap Caradoc were both slain by the means of Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn whose Uncle Meredith ap Blethyn who had been Prisoner for a long time in England now brake open the Prison wherein he was very narrowly confined and returning to his own Country had his Estate restored which afterwards he quietly enjoyed A.D. 1105 The next Year a very dismal and calamitous Accident happening in the Low-Countries proved very incommodious and prejudicial to the Welch for a great part of Flanders being drowned by the overflowing of the Sea the Inhabitants were compell d to seek for some other Country to dwell in their own being now covered with Water And therefore a great many being come over to England they requested of King Henry to assign them some part of his Kingdom which was empty and void of Inhabitants where they might settle and plant themselves The King taking advantage of this charitable opportunity and being in a manner assured that these Flemings would be a considerable Thorn in the side of the Welch bestowed upon them very liberally what was not justly in his power to give and appointed them the Country of Ros in Dyfed or West-Wales where they continue to this day But Gerald the King's Lieutenant in those Parts was resolved to be afore-hand with them and rebuilt the Castle of Pembrock in a place called Congarth Fechan whither he removed his Family and all his Goods A. D. 1106. But here a very unfortunate accident happened to him for Cadwgan ap Blethyn having prepared a sumptuous Feast in the Christmas invited all the Lords to his Country-House in Dyfed and among the rest his Son Owen who lived in Powys This young Gentleman being at his Father's House and hearing Nest the Wife of Gerald universally praised for her incomparable Beauty was so smitten with the rumour that went abroad of her that by all means he must see the Lady who was by all so much admired And forasmuch as Gwladys Wife to Rhys ap Theodore and Mother to Nest was the Daughter of Râ—walhon ap Confyn Cosin-German to Cadwgan his Father under pretence of Friendship and Relation he made bold to pay her a Visit But finding the truth far to surpass the Fame that went of her he returned home so inflam'd with her Charms that not being able to keep the Mastery over himself he went back again the very same night and being attended by a company of wild head-strong Youths they privily entered into the Castle and encompassing the Chamber about where Gerald and his Wife lay they set the House on fire Gerald hearing a noise would fain go out to know the meaning of such unseasonable Disturbance but his Wife fearing some Treachery persuaded him to make as private an Escape as he could and then pulling up a Board in the Privy let him go that way Then returning to her Chamber she would fain assure those notorious Youths that there was no body besides her self and Children there but this being not satifactory they forcibly broke in and having searched every the most private Corner and not finding Gerald they took his Wife and two Sons with a Son and a Daughter born by a Concubine and carried them away to Powys having first set fire to the Castle and destroyed the Country as they went along Cadwgan Owen's Father hearing of what outragious Crime his Son had committed was exceedingly concerned and sorry chiefly because hereby he was like to incur King Henry's great Displeasure and therefore he went with all speed to Powys and desired his Son with all Intreaties to send home to Gerald his Wife and Children with whatever else he had taken
Dinerth and Trahaern ap Ithel which three Persons had forsaken Dyfed by reason that it was so thwacked with Normans Flemings and English Men. Nor was Cardigan free from Strangers who pretended to sway and rule the Country but the People bearing in mind the continual Wrong and Oppression they received from them bore an inveterate hatred to them and were very glad to be delivered from their insolent and imperious Oppressours For King Henry what by Force and Banishment of those that stood up stiff for their Liberty and what by corrupting of those that were wavering had brought all that Country to his subjection and bestowed what Lands he thought fit upon his English or Norman Favourites But notwithstanding the Strength of the English in this Country Gruffydh was not a whit cast down but boldly coming on to Cardigan Iscoed he laid Siege to a Fort that Earl Gilbert and the Flemings had built at a place called Blaen Porth Gwythan After divers Assaults and the killing of several of the besieged with the loss only of one of his Men Gruffydh took the place and rasing it to the ground brought all the Country thereabouts to subjection This Action proved very fatal to the English for immediately upon this they began to forsake their Houses and Habitations as thinking it too hot for them to stay any longer in the Country and so the Welch burnt and destroyed as far as Penwedic all the Houses of those Strangers whom Earl Gilbert had brought with him Then Gruffydh besieged the Castle of Stradpythylh which belonged to Ralph Earl Gilbert's Steward and having made himself Master of it he put all the Garrison to the Sword Removing from thence he incamped at Glasgryg a mile from Lhanbadarn purposing to Besiege Aberystwith-Castle next morning but for want of Provision necessary for his Army he was forced to make bold with some Cattel which grazed within the Limits of the Sanctuary And here it may be observed that not only Men enjoyed the Privilege of these Sanctuaries but also Cattel and Horses and whatever else lived within the Liberties of them But the day following Gruffydh marched disorderly towards the Castle being apprehensive of no great opposition by reason that he was ignorant of the number of the Garrison and so encamping upon an opposite Hill which was divided from the Castle by a River with a Bridge over it he called a Council to determin with what Engines they might with best Success play against it and so make a general Assault The Normans observing their Disorder very cunningly sent out some of their Archers to skirmish with them and so by little and little to entice them to the Bridge where some of the best armed Horse-men were ready to issue out upon them The Welch not thinking the Garrison to be so strong approached near the Bridg still skirmishing with the Normans who pretended to give ground but when they came very near out sallies one on horse back who would fain pass the Bridg but being received upon the points of their Spears he began to flag and as he endeavoured to return he fell off his Horse and so the Welch pursued him over the Bridg. The Englishmen seeing this fled towards the Castle and the Welch with all speed followed them to the top of the Hill but whilst they thought that the day was their own up rises a Party of Horse which lay in ambuscade under the Hill and standing betwixt the Welch and the Bridg prevented any Succour to come to them And the Welch being thus hemm'd in betwixt both Parties the former recoiling with greater strength were so unmercifully cut off that scarce one Man was left living When the rest of the Welch Army that staid on the other side of the River saw what number the Garrison contained and that they were strong beyond their expectation presently decamped and with all speed departed out of the Country When King Henry was informed of all the Mischief and Cruelties that Gruffydh ap Rhys had committed among his Subjects in Wales he sent for Owen ap Cadwgan desiring him and Lhywarch ap Trahaern to use all the effectual Method possible to take or kill the Arch Rebel Gruffydh promising very speedily to send his Son Robert with an Army to Wales for that purpose Owen being very proud that the King put such Confidence in him encouraged his Men to be now so industrious to merit the King's Favour as they had been formerly to deserve his Displeasure and so joyning his Forces with Lhywarch they both marched to meet Prince Robert at Stratywy where they supposed Gruffydh ap Rhys had hid himself in the Woods When they were come to the Frontiers of the Country they made a Vow that they would let neither Man Woman or Child escape alive which so affrighted the People of the Country that all made what shift they could to save their Lives some by fleeing to the Woods and Mountains and some by getting into the King's Castles from whence they had come but a little before Then Owen and Lhywarch separated with distinct Parties to scour the Woods which about Stratywy are very desertous and Owen having entred with an Hundred Men presently discovered the tract of Men and Cattel and follow'd their Foot-steps so close that within a little while he overtook them and having slain a great many of them and put the rest to flight he carried away all their Cattel back to his Army But whilst Owen was busie in searching the Woods Gerald Steward of Pembrock who with a great Power of Flemings was upon his march to joyn the King's Son met with them who fled from Owen who desiring help of Gerald declared how Owen had forcibly drove them out slain a great many of their Companions and spoiled them of all their Goods Gerald and his Flemings understanding that Owen was so nigh with such a small number of Men thought he had now very convenient opportunity to be revenged of him upon the account of his Wife and therefore to make sure Work with him he pursued him close into the Woods Owen being fore-warned by his Men that a great number followed him and advised to make all speed to get away was deaf to all such Counsels as thinking that they of whom his Men were so much afraid of were the King's Friends and therefore their Integrity need not be questioned since they all had respect to the same common Cause But he found that a private Quarrel is sometime more regarded than the publick Good and therefore when Gerald was advanced within bow-shot he greeted him with a Volloy of Arrows to shew how great a Friend he was but Owen tho persuaded to flee was so little terrified at such an unwelcom Salutation that tho' the Enemy were Seven to One yet he told them that they were but Flemings and such as always trembled at the hearing of his Name And then falling on with a great deal of Courage he was at the
entertained with all the Expressions and Tokens of Joy King John perceiving how powerful they were like to prove and how that the Country did in a great measure favour their Cause thought it his wisest way to nip them in the bud and to fall upon them before they grew too strong and therefore having levied his Forces he marched together with William Marshall Earl of Pembroke towards the Castle of Rochester Being arrived there he laid close Siege to the Castle but the Governour William de Abbineto so bravely defended it that it could hardly be taken after three Months Siege but at length the King's Men bore on so violently that they took it by a Storm where besides William de Abbineto the King took several of the Barons Prisoners This was an ill beginning to the Design of the Confederates and what did not add a little to their Misfortune the Pope presently issues out his Bull of Excommunication against Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and all the English Barons as made War against King John who was under the protection of the Church of Rome But Prince Lhewelyn did not regard his threatning Anathemas and therefore having raised an Army he came to Shrewsbury which was delivered up to him without any resistance And whilst Lhewelyn remained there Giles de Bruce Bishop of Hereford one of the chief of this Conspiracy sent his Brother Reynold to Brecnock whom all the People readily owâ—ed for their Lord and so without the least grumbling or opposition he received the Castles of Abergefenny and Pencelhy the Castelh Gwyn or the White Castle together with Grosmont Castle and the Island of Cynuric But when the Bishop came thither in Person he had the Castles of Aberhondhy Hay Buelht and Blaenlhyfny delivered up to him but thinking he had enough himself and being rather desirous to secure his Interest and to strengthen his Party in the Country than to heap more upon his own shoulders than he was well able â—o support he bestowed Payn Castle Clune and all Eluel upon Walter Fychan the Son of Eineon Clyd In the mean time young Rhys the Son of Gruffydh â—p Rhys and his Uncle Maelgon were reconciled and made Friends and so coming both to Dyfed they destroyed Arberth and Maenclochoc Castles and recovered all such Lands as formerly belonged to them exâ—epting Cemais But Rhys's Brothers Maelgon and Owen went to North-Wales and did Homage and Fealâ—y to Prince Lhewelyn whilst their Brother Prince Rhys marched forward to Cydwely and having rased the Castles of Carnwylheon and Lhyâ—hwr brought all the Country about under his subjection But this was â—ot enough to satisfy the ambitious humour of that young Prince for having once tasted the pleasure of Victory and the taking and demolishing of Towns â—e was resolved to prosecute his Conquest whilst Fortune seemed to favour his Undertakings and therefore he lead his Army against Talybont Castle which belonged to Hugh de Miles and forcing his entrance into the same he put a great number of the Garrison to the Sword The next day he marched to Sengennyth Castle but the Garrison which kept it thinkâ—ng it fruitless and to no purpose to oppose him burnt the place and departed to Ystymlhwynarth But he followed them at the Heels and the next day took it and rased it to the ground and over-ran the Country in such a violent manner that in three days time he became Master of all the Castles and Fortresses in all Gowerland and Morgannwe and so returned home with great Victory and Triumph At the same time Rhyt Fychan otherwise Rhys Gryg young Prince Rhys's Uncle obtained his Liberty from the King of England leaving his Son with two more for Pledges for his modest and peaceable Behaviour towards his Subjects whom at other times he was wont to molest and oppress About this time the Abbots of Tal y Llecheu and Tuy Gwyn were consecrated Bishops the former of St. Davids and the other of Bangor But the Bishop of Hereford who seemed to be the most violently inclined against King John and was otherwise unwilling to part with what he had got in Wales's could not for all that refuse the Injunction of the Pope by whose express Command he was constrained to make Peace with the King which being concluded in his return homeward he died at Glocester leaving his Estate to his Brother Reginald who had married the Daughter of Prince Lhewelyn But for all that Giles de Bruce Bishop of Hereford was fallen off and reconciled to King John yet Prince Lhewelyn did not think it convenient to follow his Example and therefore with his whole Army he marched against Carmardhyn and took the Castle in five days having rased it to the ground he successively laid Siege to the Castles of Lhanstephan St. Cleare and Talacharn which he used after the same manner From thence he went to Cardigan and winning Emlyn Castle he subdued Cemaes and then laying Siege to Trefdraeth Castle in English called Newport he quickly took it and afterwards rased it to the ground His next Design was upon Aberteifi and Cilgerraâ— Castles but the Garrisons which defended them finding it to no purpose to wait his coming and so to withstand all his Attempts against those places voluntarily surrendred and by that means prevented all the Mischief which in opposing him would in all probability unavoidably attend them And so Prince Lhewelyn having successfully over-run and subdued all Carmardhyn and Cardigan triumphantly returned to North-Wales being attended by several of the Welch Nobility such as Howel ap Gruffydh ap Conan Lhewelyn ap Meredith Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys Meredith ap Rotpert Maelgon and Rhys Fychan the Sons of Prince Rhys of South Wales Rhys and Owen the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys together with all the Power of Madoc ap Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield A.D. 1216 But the next year Prince Lhewelyn returned to Aberteifi to compose a Difference which since his departure had happened betwixt Maelgon and Rhys Fychan Prince Rhys's Sons on the one side and Rhys and Owen Gruffydh ap Rhys's Sons on the other Therefore to make up this Quarrel and to reduce all Matters to a quiet and amicable issue Prince Lhewelyn made an equal distribution of South-Wales betwixt them allotting to Maelgâ—n three Cantrefs in Dyfed viz. Gwarthaf Penlhwynoc Cemaes and Emlyn with Cilgerran Castle to young Rhys two Castles in Ystratywy Hiruryn and Maelhaen Maenor Bydfey with the Castle of Lhanymdhyfry and two in Cardigan Gwyâ—tâ—yth and Mabwyneon His Brother Owen had to his share the Castles of Aberteifi and Nant yr Arian with three Cantress in Cardigan and Rhys Fychan otherwise called Rhys Gryc had Dynefawr Castle the Cantref Mawr the Cantref Bychan excepting Hiruryn and Midhfey together with the Comotes of Cydwely and Carnwylhion This Division being accomplished to every one's Satisfaction and all the Lords of South-Wales being amicably reconciled Prince Lhewelyn took his Journey for North-Wales but he had not advanced very far when
with great Fury and Courage faced them and joyning Battels forced them back with a very considerable loss Polydore Virgil says but upon what Authority is not known that the Welch obtained this Victory rather upon the account that the English Army was hired with such Money as had been wrongfully taken out of the Abbies and other Religious places so that it was a Judgment from above more than the Force of the Welch that overcame the English Army But be the cause of it what it will 't is certain the English were vanquished upon which account King Edward came in Person to Wales and kept his Christmas at Aberconwey where Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury being returned from Rome came to him and having done Homage returned honourably again to England But as the King advanced farther into the Country having but one part of his Army with him the Welch set upon and took most of his Carriages which contained a great quantity of Victuals and Provision so that the King with all his followers were constrained to endure a great deal of hardships in so much that at last Water mixed with Honey and very course and ordinary Bread with the saltest Meat were accounted the greatest Delicacies for his Majesty 's own Table But their misery was like to be greater had not the other part of the Army come in time because the Welch had encompassed the King round in hopes to reduce him to the utmost distress by reason that the Water was so risen that the rest of the Army could not get to him But the Water within some time after abating the remainder of the Army came in whereupon the Welch presently retired and made their escape One thing is very remarkable of King Edward during his distress at Snowden that when the Army was reduced to very great extremity a small quantity of Wine was found which they thought to reserve for the King 's own use But he to prevent any discontent which might thereupon be raised in his Souldiers absolutely refused to taste thereof telling them That in time of Necessity all things should be common and as he was the Cause and Author of thâ—ir Distress he would not be preferred before them in his Diet. But whilst the King remained in Snowden the Earl of Warwick being informed that a great Number of Welch were assembled and had lodged themselves â—n a certain Valley betwixt two Woods chose out a Troop of Horse together with some Cross-Bows and Archers and set upon them in the Night time The Welch being thus surprised and unexpectedly encompassed about by their Enemies made the best they could to oppose them and so pitching their Spears in the ground and directing the points towards their Enemies endeavoured by such means to keep off the Horse But the Earl of Warwick having ordered his Battel so as that between every two Horse there stood a Cross-Bow so gauled the Welch with the shot of the quarrels that the Spear-men fell apace and then the Horse breaking easily in upon the rest bare them down with so great a slaughter as the Welch had never received before After this King Edward to prevent any more rebellious attempts of the Welch cut down all the Woods in Wales wherein in any time of Danger they were wont to hide and save themselves And for a farther security he repaired and fortified all the Castles and places of Strength in Wales and built the Castle of Bewmoris in the Isle of Anglesey and so having put all things in a settled posture and punished those that had been the occasion of the Death of Roger de Pulesdon he returned with his Army into England But as soon as the King had left the Welch Madoc who as it is said before was chosen Captain by the North-Wales Men gathered some Forces together and came to Oswestry which presently yielded to him And then meeting with the Lord Strange near Knookine who with a Detachment of the Marchers came to oppose him gave him Battel vanquished his Forces and miserably ravaged his Country The like Success he obtained a second time against the Marchers but at last they brought together a very great Number of Men and met Madoc marching towards Shâ—ewsbury upon the Hills of Cefn Digolh not far from Camrs Castle where after a bloody Fight on both sides Madoc was taken Prisoner and his Army vanquished and put to flight Then he was sent to London and there sentenced to remain in perpetual Imprisonment in the Tower tho' others affirm that Madoc was never taken but that after several Adventures and severe Conflicts whereby the Welch were reduced to great extremities he came in and submitted himself to the King who received him upon Condition he would not desist to pursue Morgan Captain of the Glamorgan-shire Men till he brought him Prisoner before him Madoc having performed this and the whole Country being peaceable and undisturbed several Hostages from the Chiefest Nobility of Wales for their orderly and quiet behaviour were delivered to the King who disposed of them into divers Castles in England where they continued in safe Custody till the end of the War which was presently-commencâ—d with Scotland A.D. 1301 In the 29th year of King Edward's reign the Prince of Wales came down to Chester and received Homage of all the Free-holders in Wales as follows Henry Earl of Lancaster for Monmouth Reginald Gray for Ruthyn Foulke Fitzwarren for his Lands the Lord William Martyn for his Lands in Cemaes Roger Mortimer for his Lands in Wales Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln for Rhos and Rhyfoneioc Robert Lord Montalt for his Lands and Gruffydh Lord of Poole for the Lordship of Powys at the same time paid their Homage Tudor ap Grono of Anglesey Madoc ap Tudor Archdeacon of Anglesey Eineon ap Howel of Caernarvon Tudor ap Gruffydh Lhewelyn ap Ednyfed Gruffydh â—ychan Son of Gruffydh ap Iorwerth Madoc Fychan Denglfield Lhewelyn Bishop of St. Asaph and Richard de Pulesdon This last in the Twelfth Year of King Edward was constituted Sheriff of Caernarvon for life with the stipend of Forty Pounds sterling yearly At the same place Gruffydh ap Tudor Ithel Fychan Ithel ap Blethyn with many more did their Homage Then the Prince came to Ruthlan where the Lord Richard de Sutton Baron of Malpas paid Homage and Fealty for the said Barony of Malpas Thence the Prince removed to Conwey where Eineon Bishop of Bangor and David Abbot of Maynan did their Homage as did Lewis de Felton Son of Richard Felton for the Lands which his Father held of the Prince in Maelor Saesneg or English Maelor John Earl Warren swore Homage for the Lordships of Bromfield and Yale and his Lands in Hope-Dale at London in the Chappel of the Lord John de Kirkby sometime Bishop of Ely as also a while after Edmund Mortimer for his Lands of Cery and Cydewen But besides all these there paid Homage to the Prince of Wales at Chester Sir
canonized 160. John K. of England in his way to Ireland through Wales discharged a Criminal that murther'd a Priest 226. Famished Will de Bruce and Maud his Aunt at Windsor after his return 227. The reason of his Cruelty and Disaffection to Priests ib. Marches with a great Army into VVales and returns without Success 229 230. Makes a second Expedition ib. Orders Foulk Viscount Cardyff to subdue those that oppose in South-VVales and they at last do him Homage but quickly revolt 231 232. makes an Expedition into VVales 229. Makes a second and third and hangs the Welch Pledges reconciles himself to Rome and engages in a Civil War with his Barons 237. Dies and is succeeded by his Son Henry 242. Iorwerth ap Blethyn revolts from the Earl of Salop 124. Basely used by K. Henry for it the reason of it 125. delivered out of Prison 133. Forbids Owen and Madawc to retire to his Estate 134. Beset and slain by Madawc and Llywarch ap Trahern 137. Joseph Bishop of Llandaff dies at Rome 88. Ireland molested with Locusts 42. Ithel King of Gwent slain 28. L. LHewelyn ap Sytsylht makes himself Prince of all VVales 79. His good Government ib. Slays Meuric that rebelled against him with his own hand 80. suppresses another Rebellion 81. Basely slain ibid. Lhewelyn P. of North-VVales takes David ap Owen Prisoner 217. Receives Homage of most of the Welch Lords 222. Conquers Gwenwynwyn's Country 225. Makes an Expedition into South-VV and Maelgon flees 225 226. Marries Joan King John's Daughter 224. Sues and obtains Peace of the King by the means of his Wife 231. Animates the Lords of North-Wales to joyn with him in a Revolt against the King 233. Dispossesses the English of all their Holds in his Country 237. Takes Shrewsbury though excommunicated by the Pope 238. Subdues Cardigan and Carmarthen 240. Reconciles the â—onds in South-Wales 241. Subdues Powis 242. Refuses Assistance to King John against the Dauphine ibid. Makes Rynald Bruce who had revolted submit to him â—43 Receives the Submission and Allegiance of the Flemings in Dyfed ibid. Subdues the revolted Flemings again 246. Makes his Son Gruffydh submit ibid. Complained of to the King of England by young Rhys adjusts Matters with him 247. Seizes the Castle of William Marshal Earl of Pembroke in Wales and occasions a War between them 247 248. Worsts the English Army pays Homage to Henry III. 249. Destroys the Marches 252. Makes a Descent upon England 253. Being joyned by the Earl of Pembroke against King Henry routs his Army 254. Makes an Incursion into the King's Territories 255. Makes peace with the King 256. Sets his Son Gruffydh at liberty ibid. Buries his Princess Joan 257. Forced to quit the Siege of Ruthlan 258. Makes the Welch do Homage to his Son David ibid. Dies his Character and Issue â—59 Llewelyn ap Gruffydh and Owen Gôch his Brother declared Princes of North-Wales 269. Quarrel and Owen with his Brother David made close Prisoners 271. Recovers the In-land Country of North-Wales from the English 272. Wastes Cheshire ibid. Beats the Irish by Sea 273. Desires peace with the King but fails 277. Kind to Sir Roger Mortimer 278. Makes a Peace by the Popes Mediation with the King 279. Refuses to attend upon King Edward's Coronation 280. The Reasons for his refusal 281. An Accident made him pliable 283. Severe Conditions of Peace imposed upon him 284. Married to Elianor Earl Montfords Daughter at Worcester 285. Reconciled with his Brother David and joyn against the English 286. Offers to submit to the King conditionally 292. Sends a Letter to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the general Answer of the Welch to his Proposals 293 294 295. Betrayed in Buellt and killed 297. London besieged by the Danes 65. M. MAhael dispossest of his Inheritance by his unnatural Mother Nests means and how 115. Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis sticks to the English Interest 173. Madawc reconciled to King Henry 138. Taken Prisoner by Meredith ap Blethin 139. Has his Eyes pulled out by Owen ibid. Madawc ab Owen Gwynedh sails into America 196. Plants a Colony there ib. Maelgon disturbs South-VVales 228. Beaten by his Nephews Rhys and Owen 229. March Earl of marries Owen Glyndwr's Daughter 318. Consented by indenture to divide England between Owen Piercy and himself 318. Maud the Empress lands in England and is received at Arundel 162. Meredith ap Owen possest of all Wales 64. Dispossest of North-Wales 67. And routed by Edwal ap Meuric their new Prince 68. Died without Issue Male 69. Meredith ap Owen made Prince of South-Wales 96. Slain in Battel against Caradoc ap Gruffydh 102. Meredith and Rhys ap Gruffydh prevail in South-Wales 171. Meredith's Death and Character 172. Merfyn frych is made King of Wales 24. is slain 27. Merlyn Ambrose and Sylvester their Time Country and Prophesies 10 11. Morgan Hên dies an Hundred Years old his Marriage Estate and Issue 58. Morgan ap Owen kills Robert Fitz-Gilbert and his Son 157. slain 175. Morgan ap Cadogan repents of his Murder committed 156. Murders committed 156. Item 163. N. NEwmarch a Norman obtains the Lordship of Brecknock and marries Nest Daughter to Llewelyn ap Gruffydh 115. Normans twice decimated and put to death in England 86. They waste and plunder Dyfed 103. They seize upon the Lordship of Glamorgan 113. The Names of the Adventurers ibid. They possess themselves of several Lordships in Wales 117. Divers of them slain in Cardigan ibid. Routed again by Cadwgan ap Blethyn Prince of South-Wales and their Castles destroyed 118. Slaughter'd divers times by the Welch and forced to quit the Country 119 120. Northumberland invaded by the Scots 109. O. OFfa King of Mercia makes a Ditch from Sea to Sea 20. his death 21. Owen ap Edwyn a Traytor to his Country 121. Made Prince of Wales by the English but soon lost it 122. his Death and Pedigree 126. Owen the Son of Cadwgan enamoured of Nest the Wife of Gerald King Henry's Lieutenant in Wales 129. steals her away ibid. flies into Ireland 135. returns and wasts the Country in conjunction with Maradoc ap Riryd 133. his Men slay an English Bishop the cause of Cadwgan his Fathers being dispossessed of his Estate 135. forced to flee into Ireland with Madawc ibid. returns and is reconciled to the King 138. divides Madawc's Estate between himself and Meredith ap Blethyn 139. flees for fear of King Henry into North-VVales 140. reconciled to the King 141. Owen is brave and Knighted in Normandy 142. imployed by King Henry against Gruffydh ap Rhys 148. slain by Gerald 149. Owen Gwynedh succeeds Prince of North-Wales 160. mightily concerned at the Death of his Son Run 165. takes and rases the Castle of Mould 166. pulls out his Nephew Cunedah's Eyes and castrates him 170. being provoked invades Llandhinam 193. dies his Character and Issue 194. Owen Cyfeilioc and Owen Fychan dispossess Iorwerth Gôch of his Estate in Powis 192. Cyfeilioc dies