intricate that the Justice of it could not appear and then the two Champions put an end to the Controversie by Combate Whilst Howel Dha is thus regulating the Customs and meliorating the Laws and Constitutions of Wales Aulafe and Regnald Kings of the Danes forcibly entered the Country of King Edmund who being vexed with their incessant Hostility gathered his Forces together and as some say by the help of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht who was afterwards Prince of Wales followed them to Northumberland and having overcome them in a pitch'd Battel utterly chased them out of his Kingdom and remained a whole Year in those Parts to regulate and bring that Country to some quiet order But finding it impracticable to reduce the Inhabitants of Cumberland to any peaceable Constitution having spoiled and wasted the Country he gave it up to Malcolme King of Scotland upon condition that he should send him Succours in A.D. 942 his Wars whenever demanded of him In the mean time the Welch had but little occasion to rejoyce Hubert Bishop of S. Davids Marclois Bishop of Bangor A.D. 944 and Vssa the Son of Lhafyr being dead And shortly after the English entering into Wales with a very strong Army put the Country into a great consternation but being satisfied with the Destruction and Spoil of Strat Clwyd they returned home without doing any more Mischief The same time Conan the Son of Elis was like to be treacherously put to death by Poyson and Everus Bishop of S. Davids dyed The next Year Edmund King of England was unluckily slain upon S. Augustines day but the manner of his Death is variously delivered some say that discovering a noted Thief who was out-law'd sitting among his Guests being transported with Indignation against so confident a Villain ran upon him very furiously who expecting nothing less than Death thought to dye not unrevenged and therefore with a short Dagger gave the King a mortal Wound in the Breast Others report that as the King would have rescued a Servant of his from an Officer who had arrested him he was unwittingly and unhappily slain by the same But however his Death happened he lies buried at Glastenbury in whose place his Brother Edred was crowned King of England who no sooner had entered upon his Government but he made an Expedition against Scotland and Northumberland which being subdued he received Fealty and Homage by Oath of the Scots and Northumbrians which they did not long observe Shortly after Howel Dha after a A.D. 948 long and peaceable Reign over Wales dyed much lamented and bewailed of all his Subjects being a Prince of a religious and a virtuous inclination and one that ever regarded the Welfare and Prosperity of his People He left Issue behind him Owen Run Roderic and Edwyn betwixt whom and the Sons of Edwal Foel late Prince of North Wales great Wars and Commotions arose afterwards about the chief Rule and Government of Wales But the Sons of Howel Dha as some Writers record were these viz. Owen who did not long survive his Father Eineon Meredyth Dyfnwal and Rodri the two last whereof as is conceived were slain in the Battel fought near Lhanrwst in the Year 952. by the Sons of Edwal Foel Run Lord of Cardigan who was slain before the death of his Father Conan y Cwn who possessed Anglesey Edwin who was also slain as is supposed in the forementioned Battel There was also another Battel fought betwixt Howel and Conan ap Edwal Foel for the Isle of Anglesey wherein Conan fell and Gruffydh his Son renewing the War was likewise overcome and so Cyngar a powerful Person being driven out of the Island Howel enjoyed quiet possession thereof and of the rest of Gwynedh It is supposed that this Howel Dha was chosen Governour of Wales during the minority of his Uncle Anarawd's Sons who at the death of their Father were too young to manage the Principality which he kept till his return from Rome at which time Edwal Foel being come of age he resigned to him the Kingdom of Gwynedh or North-Wales together with the Sovereignty of all Wales Before which time Howel is styled Brenhin Cymry oll that is King of all Wales as is seen in the Preface to that Body of Laws compiled by him Ievaf and Iago the Sons of Edwal Foel AFter the death of Howel Dha his Sons divided betwixt them the Principalities of South-Wales and Powis laying no claim to North-Wales though their Father had been a general Prince of all Wales But Ievaf and Iago the Sons of Edwal Foel having put by their elder Brother Meyric as a Person uncapable of Government and being dissatisfied with the Rule of North Wales only imagined that the Principality of all Wales was their Right as descending from the elder House which the Sons of Howel Dha denyed them Indeed they had been wrongfully kept out of the Government of North Wales during the Reign of Howel in whose time the recovery of their own was impracticable by reason that for his Moderation and other good Qualities he had attracted to himself the universal Love of all the Welch But now he being gone they are resolved to revenge the Injury received by him upon his Sons and upon a small pretence endeavour to reduce the whole Country of Wales to their own subjection Ievaf and Iago were indeed descended from the elder branch but since Roderic the great conferred the Principality of South Wales upon his yonger Son Cadelh the Father of Howel Dha it was but just his Sons should enjoy what was legally descended to them by their Father But Ambition seldom gives place to Equity and therefore right or wrong Ievaf and Iago must have a touch for South-Wales which they enter with a great Army and being opposed they obtained a very opportune Victory over Owen and his Brethren the Sons of Howel at the Hills of Carno The next Year the A.D. 950 two Brothers entred twice into South-Wales destroyed and wasted Dyfet and slew Dwnwalhon Lord of the Countrey Shortly after which Roderic the third A.D. 951 Son of Howel Dha dyed But his Brethren perceiving the Folly of standing only upon the defensive muster'd A.D. 952 all their Forces together and entering North-Wales marched as far as Lhanrwst upon the River Conwy where Ievaf and Iago met them A very cruel Battel ensued upon this and a very great number were slain on both sides among whom were Anarawd the Son of Gwyriad the Son of Roderic the Great and Edwyn the Son of Howel Dha But the Victory plainly favoured the Brothers Ievaf and Iago so that the Princes of South-Wales were obliged to retire to Cardiganshire whither they were warmly pursued and that Country cruelly harrass'd with Fire and Sword The next Year Merfyn was unhappily A.D. 953 drowned and shortly after Congelach King of Ireland was slain The Scots and Northumbrians having lately sworn Allegiance to King Edred he was scarce returned to his own Country but Aulafe with a great Army landed
and had a great Number of their Men slain After this nothing remarkable fell out for a considerable time unless it were that David being released out of Prison by Prince Lhewelyn his Brother most ungratefully forsook him and with all his might sided with his Enemies the English also Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn having taken the Castle of Mold demolished it to the ground During this quiet and unactive interval in Wales Meredith ap Owen the main Support and Defender of South-Wales died to the great disadvantage of the Affairs of that Country And now indeed the Welch were like to be A.D. 1268 made sensible of the Loss of so considerable a Person for King Henry was resolved once more to lead an Army into Wales and to see if he could have better Success than he had hitherto against the Welch But when he was prepared to undertake this Expedition Ottobonus Pope Clement's Legate in England interposed and mediated a Peace which was concluded upon at the Castle of Montgomery wherein it was articled that Prince Lhewelyn should give the King 30000 Marks and the King was to grant the Prince a Charter from thenceforth to receive Homage and Fealty of all the Nobility and Barons of Wales besides one so that they could hold their Lands of no other but himself and from thence forward he was to be lawfully stiled Prince of Wales This Charter being ratified and confirmed as well by the Authority of the Pope as the King's Seal Prince Lhewelyn desisted from any farther Acts of Hostility and punctually observed all the Articles of Agreement betwixt him and King Henry so that nothing more was outragiously transacted between the English and Welch during the remainder of this King's reign Within that space died Grono ap Ednyfed Fychan one of the Chief Lords of the Prince's Council and shortly after him Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield who lies buried at Vale-Crucis A.D. 1272 But the Death of King Henry put an end to the observations of the Peace betwixt the English and Welch who dying on the 16th day of November this year left this Kingdom to his Son Edward Prince Edward was then in the Holy-Land and very active against those Enemies of Christianity the Turks where he had already continued above a year but understanding of his Father's Death and that in his absence he was proclaimed King of England he made all haste to return to receive the Solemnity of Coronation But what by the tediousness of the Journey and what by being honourably detained at Princes Courts in his way it was two years before he could get into England then upon the 15th of August and in the year 1274. he was Crowned at Westminster Prince Lhewelyn was summoned to attend at his Coronation but he flatly refused to appear unless upon sure Terms of safe Conduct for having offended several of the English Nobility he could not in safety pass thro' their Country without the danger of exposing his Person to the inveterate Malice and acceptable Revenge of some of them And thâ—refore without the King's Brother the Earl of Glocester and Robert Burnell Lord Chief Justice of England were delivered up as Pledges for his safe Conduct he would not come up to do his Homage and Fealty at his Coronation according to the Writ directed to him And indeed seeing King Edward had broke the Peace lately concluded upon before the Pope's Legate and did receive and honourably entertain such Noblemen of Wales as for their disloyalty were banished by Prince Lhewelyn by whom he feared some treachery there was no reason that the Prince should pay him any subjection but by the breach of Peace was exempted from all Homage However Prince Lhewelyn to shew that it was not out of any stubborness or disrespect to the King of England that he refused to come sent up his Reasons by the Abbots of Ystratflur and Conwey to Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops then sitting â—n Convocation in the New-Temple at London which were to this effect To the most Reverend Fathers in God Robert Archbishop of Canterbury and Metropolitan of all England the Archbishop of York and the rest of the Bishops in Convocation Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowden sendeth Greeting WE would have your Lordships to understand that whereas formerly most terrible and incessant Wars were continually managed betwixt Henry King of England and our self the same were at last composed and all matters of Differences were adjusted by the means of his Excellency Cardinal Ottobonus the Pope's Legate who having drawn the Articles and Conditions of the Peace agreâ—d upon they were signed and swore to not only by the Kâ—ng but also the Prince his Son now King of England Among these Articles were comprehended that we and our Successors should hold of the King and his Successor the Principality of Wales so that all the Welch Lords one Baron excepted should hold their Baronies and Estates in Capite of us and should pay their Homage and Fealty for the same to us we in like manner doing Homage to the King of England and his Successors And besides that the King and his Successors should never offer to receive and entertain any of our Enemies nor any such of our own Subjects as were lawfully banished and excluded our Dominions of Wales nor by any means defend and uphold such against us Contrary to which Articles King Edward has forcibly seized upon the Estates of certain Barons of Wales of which they and their Ancestors have been immemorably possessed of and detains a Barony which by the form of Peace should have been delivered to us and moreover has hitherto entertained David ap Gruffydh our Brother and Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn with several others of our Enemies who are Out-laws and Fugitives of our Country And tho' we have often exhibited our Grievances and Complaints against them for destroying and pillaging our Country yet we could never obtain of the King any relief or redress for the several Wrongs and Injuries we received at their hands but on the contrary they still persist to commit wastes and other outrages in our Dominions And for all this he summons us to do him Homage at a place which is altogether dangerous to our Person where our inveterate Enemies and which is worse our own unnatural Subjects bear the greatest sway and respect w th the King And tho' we have alledged several Reasons to the King and his Council why the place by him assigned is nâ—t safe and indifferent for us to come and desire him to appoint another whereto we might with more safety resort or else that he would send Commissioners to receive our Oath and Homage till he could more opportunely receive them in Person yet he would not assent to our just and reasonable Request nor be satisfied with the Reasons we exhibited for our non-appearance Therefore we desire your Lordships earnestly to weigh the dismal effects that will happen to the Subjects
Chad stands He was a great Friend and a Favourer to the Monks of Bangor whose part he took against the Saxons that were set on by Augustine the Monk to prosecute them with Fire and Sword because they would not forsake the Customs of their own Church and conform to those of Rome Merfyn Frych and Esylht COnan being dead Merfyn Frych and his Wife Esylht who was sole Heir to Conan took upon them the Government or Principality of Wales This Merfyn was King of Man and Son to Gwyriat and Nest the Daughter of Cadelh ap Brochwel ap Elis King of Powys Howel being forcibly ejected out of Anglesey by his Brother Conan Tindaethwy and escaping to the Island of Man was honourably and kindly received by Merfyn in return of whose Civilities Howel used such means afterwards that Merfyn married Esylht the Daughter and Heir of his Brother Conan tho others say that he died presently after his Escape to Merfyn Howel after that he had for about five years enjoyed the Isle of Man and other Lands in the North given him by Merfyn to hold under him dyed about the year 825 after whose Death they again returned to Merfyn whose Ancestors had always held the same under the Kings of the Britains and so upon his Marriage with Esylht the Isle of Man was annexed to the Crown of Wales In the first year of their Reign Egbert the powerful King of the West Saxons entred with a mighty Army into Wales destroyed and wasted the Countrey as far as Snowden Hills and seized upon the Lordship of Rhyvoniec in Denbighland About the same time a very sore Battel was fought in Anglesey between the Saxons and the Welch called from the place where this Fight happened the Battel of Lhanvaes A.D. 819 Fortune seemed all this while to frown upon the Welch and their Affairs succeeded very ill for shortly after that Egbert had advanced his Colours as far as Snowden Kenulph King of Mercia wasted the Country of West Wales over-ran and destroyed â—owis-land and greatly disturbed and incommoded â—he Welch Nation Soon after this Kenulph died â—nd was succeeded by Kenelm and he in a short â—â—me by Ceolwulph who after two years Reign left â—he Kingdom of Mercia to Bernulph Egbert King of the West Saxons was grown very â—trong and powerful able to reduce all the petty Kingâ—oms in Britain under one single Monarchy upon â—he thoughts of which he set upon Bernulph King of Mercia and vanquished him at Elledowne and afterwards brought under Subjection the Countries of Kent and of the West Angles But the Britains could â—ot be so easily subdued for after a long and a cruel â—ight at Gavelford between them and the West Saxons of Devonshire in which several thousands were â—â—ain on both sides the Victory remained uncertain He had better Success against Wyhtlafe King of Mercia A.D. 829 whose Dominions he easily added to his now inâ—reasing Monarchy and passing Humber he quickly â—educed that Country to his Subjection The Saxon Heptarchy was now become one Kingdom and Egâ—ert sole Monarch of all the Countries that the Saxons â—ossessed in Britain which Name he ordered should â—e changed to England his People to be called Enâ—lishmen and the Language English They who came over out of Germany into this â—sland to aid the Britains against their Enemies the Picts and Scots were partly Saxons Angles and â—uthes from the first of which came the People of Essex Suffex Middlesex and the West-Saxons from â—he Angles the East Angles the Mercians and they â—hat inhabited the North side of Humber from the Juthes the Kentishmen and they that settled in the Isle of Wight These Germans after that they had drove â—he Britains beyond Severn and Dee erected seven Kingdoms called the Heptarchy in the other part of â—he Island whereof 1. Kent 2. Of the South-Saxons containing Sussex and Surrey 3. The East-Angles in Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgshire 4. The Kingdom of the West-Saxons comprehending Berkshire Devonshire Somersetshire and Cornwal 5. Mercia containing Glocester Hereford Worcester Shropshire Stafford Cheshire Warwick Leicester Darby Nottingham Lincoln Northampton Oxford Buckingham Bedford and half Hartfordshire 6 The East-Saxons containing Essex Middlesex and the other part of Hartford 7. Of the Northumbrians taking in all the Country beyond Hamber which was divided into two parts Deyra and Bernicia the first from Humber to Tyne the other from Tyne to the Scottish Sea Egbert King of the West-Saxons having severally conquer'd these Kingdoms annexed them together and comprehended them under one Monarchy which was called the Kingdom of England 96â— years after the coming of Brute to this Island 383 Years after the landing of Hengist and 149 after the Departure of Cadwalader to Rome Egbert having thus united under one Governmeâ—â— these several Kingdoms which used continually molest and to incroach upon each others Territories might reasonably have expected to enjoy his neâ—â— A.D. 883 Kingdom quietly and not fear any disturbance oâ— trouble in his Dominions But no sooner was hâ— established King of England but the Danes began 〈◊〉 threaten new Commotions and landed in great numbers and in divers places of the Kingdom Egberâ— fought several Battels with them and with varioâ—â— Success at length the Danes landed in West-Wales marched forward for England being joined by a greaâ— number of Welch and met Egbert upon Hengist doâ—â— where a severe Battel was fought and the Danes pâ—â— to a total Rout The Welch suffered severely fâ—â— this Egbert being highly incens'd that the Danâ—â— were supported by them laid siege to Caer Lheon 〈◊〉 Dhyfrdwy or Chester the chief City of Venedotiâ—â— which hitherto had remained in the hands of the Welch took the Town and among other Tokeâ— of his Indignation he caused the Brazen Effigies oâ— Cadwalhon King of Britain to be pulled down and defaced and upon pain of Death forbad the erecting 〈◊〉 such again He issued out also a Proclamation by thâ— â—nstigation of his Wife Redburga who always bore an â—â—veterate Malice to the Welch commanding all that â—ere any ways extracted from British Blood to deâ—art with all their Effects out of his Kingdom within â—â—x Months upon pain of death These were very â—â—vere and insupportable Terms but he did not live â—ong to see them put in execution for dying shortly â—fter the Battel of Hengestdown he was succeeded by â—on Ethelwulph This King Ethelwulph married his Daughter to Berthred who was his tributary King of Mercia by whose help he successfully opposed the â—ruel Incursions of the Danes who miserably destroyed the Sea-coasts of England with Fire and 〈◊〉 These Danish Commotions being indiffeâ—ently well appeased Berthred King of Mercia set â—pon the Welch between whom a remarkable Battel â—as sought at a place called Kettell where Merfyn â—rych King of the Britains was killed leaving to â—â—cceed him in the Government of Wales his Son Roâ—eric Mawr or the Great Roderic the Great MErfyn Frych having lost his Life and with it his A.D. 843 Kingdom in
the Battel of Kettell his Son Roderic surnamed the Great without any Opposiâ—ion or Contest succeeded in the Principality of Wales The first thing he effected after his Advancement to â—he Crown was the dividing of Wales into several Provinces which he distinguished into these three Aberffraw Dinevowr and Mathraval Berthred King â—f Mercia being animated by his late Success against Merfyn Frych purposed to perform the like Exploits â—gainst his Son Roderic And having gained the Aid â—nd Assistance of King Ethelwulph he entred North Wales with a strong Army and advanced as far as Anglesey which he cruelly and miserably destroyed Roderic met him several times and the Welch did at length so gaul and torment him that in fine he had little or nothing to boast of only Meyric one of the chiefest Princes among the Britains was slain But he was soon forced to quit his Expedition against the Welch and to convert his Forces another way his own Dominions requiring their constant Residence being severely threatned by a foreign Invasion A.D. 846 For the Danes were by this time grown so very powerful that they over-ran a great part of England fought with Athelstan King of Kent Brother to Ethelwulph and obtained so much Conquest that whereas before they returned to their own Country when the Weather grew too cold for Action they now took up their Winter-quarters in England The Welch in the mean time being secure from any Violence which might otherwise be expected from the English began to quarrel and fall out amongst themselves Ithel King of Gwent or Wâ—ntland for what occasion not known fell foul upon the Meâ— of Brecknock who were so resolute as to fight him and the Event proved very unfortunate to Ithel whâ— was slain upon the spot It is the Unhappiness of a Nation that is governed by several Petty States when it is apprehensive of no Danger from an outward Enemy that it will fall at variance and create Disturbances among it self Had the Britains instead of falling upon one another taken the Advantage of this opportunity wheâ— the Saxons were altogether imployed in opposing and repelling the Danes to increase and strengthen their Number and to fortify their Towns they might aâ— least securely have possessed their own Dominions 〈◊〉 not extended their Government to a great part of England But a sort of an Equality in Power begat aâ— Emulation between the several Princes and this Emulation for the most part ended in Blows and Contention so that instead of strengthning themselves whilst they had respite from the English they rather weakened their Power by inward Differences Kongen King of Powys was gone to Rome there to A.D. 854 â—end his Days peaceably and religiously but his Death did not prove so natural as he expected being barbarously slain or as some say choaked by his own Servants Shortly after died Cemoyth King of the Picts and Jonathan Lord of Abergeley It was now become Customary for Princes wearied with Government to go to Rome and the Pope willingly dispensed with the Resignation of their Crowns by reason that his Holiness seldom lost by it King Ethelwulph paid very dear for his Entertainment there made his Kingdom tributary to the Pope and paid the Peter-Pence to the Church of Rome The Saxon Genealogists bring the Pedegree of Ethelwulph for several Successions and Generations up to Adam as may be seen in Matthew of Westminster who in like manner derives the Pedigree of Offa King of Mercia This has been the Custom of most Nations both antient and modern and is always practised by them whose Families are any thing Antient and Honourable so that it is a very great mistake to scoff at and deride the Welch because they keep up this antient and laudable Custom Berthred King of Mercia became at length far â—oo weak to repel the daily increasing Power of the Danes who so numerously poured upon him that at last he was forced to relinquish his Kingdom and fly to Rome where in a short time he sorowfully ended his days Ethelwulph shortly followed and left his Sons Athelbald King of the West-Saxons and Athelbright King of Kent and the East-Saxons Ethelwulph is reported to be so Learned and Devout that the Church of Winchester elected him in his youth Bishop of that See which Function he took upon him about seven years before he was made King He is said also to have Conquered the Kingdom of Demetia or South-Wales which together with the Kingdom of the South-Saxons he bestowed upon his Son Alfred upon Condition he would bring a Thousand Men out of Wales to Winchester to the Aid of his Brother Ethelbert against the Danes Athelbald succeeding his Father in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons kept his Mother-in-Law the Wife of Ethelwulph for hiâ— Concubine and afterwards married her in the City of Chester But he did not live long to enjoy the unnatural Conjunction but dying without Issâ— after that he had reigned Eight Years left his Kingdom to his Brother Athelbright About the same time the Danes began again to be stir themselves and fell upon the City of Winchester and destroyed it which Athelbright perceiving after a long Fight forced them to quit the Land and tâ— betake themselves to Sea again But the Danes quickly returned to the Isle of Thanet where they remained for that Winter doing much Mischief upon the Sea-Coast and destroying all places near the shoaâ— of England The English were very glad that they durst venture no further and the more because the Welch began again to be troublesome against whoâ— an Army must be speedily dispatched otherwise they would certainly advance to the English Countrey Both Armies met at Greythen where a fierce Battel was fought and a great Number slain on either side but the Victory was not plainly discoverable Bâ—â— the Welch not long after received a considerable Loâ— by the Death of Conan Nâ—rit Nifer a Stout and Skilful Commander who oftentimes had Valiantly repulsed the English Forces and obtained many signâ—â— Victories over them The Danes had been for some time quiet being â—â—able to venture upon any considerable Action anâ— therefore they thought it advisable to secure only whâ— they had already won and to expect a re-inforcement from their own Countrey This was quickly sent them under the Command of Hungare and Hubâ—â—â— who landed in England with a very considerable Armâ— of Danes King Athelbright whether terrified with a dismal apprehension of these Invaders or otherwisâ— being indisposed quickly afterwards gave up the Ghost leaving the management of his Kingdom together with that of his Army against the Danes to his Brother Ethelred The Danes in the mean time â—ot sure footing and advanced as far as York which â—hey miserably destroyed killing Osbright and Elba â—wo Kings of Northumberland that opposed them â—rom hence they proceeded and over-run all the Countrey as far as Nottingham destroying and spoilâ—â—g all before them and then returned back to York â—ut having once tasted
â—anes Passing from thence to Cambridge they met â—ith Ethelstan King Edelred's Nephew by his Sister who with an Army was come to oppose them but the Danes proving too powerful he with many other Noblemen were slain among whom were Duke Oswyn and the Earls Edwyn and Wolfrike From hence they passed through Essex leaving no manner of Cruelty and Barbarity unpractised and returned laden with Booty to their Ships which lay in the A.D. 1010 Thames But they could not contain themselves long in their Vessels and therefore sallying out they passed by the River side to Oxford which they ransack'd over again adding to their Prey Buckingham Bedford Hartford and Northamptonshire and having accomplished that Years Cruelties at Christmas they returned to their Ships Yet the Prey of the Countrey from the Trent Southward would not satisfie these unmerciful Barbarians but as soon as the Season A.D. 1011 gave them leave to peep out of their Dens they laid siege to the City of Canterbury which being deliver'd up by the Treachery of Almarez the Archdeacon was condemned to Blood and Ashes and Alfegoâ— the Archbishop carried Prisoner to the Danish Fleet where he was at length most cruelly put to death A.D. 1012 The next Year Swane King of Denmark came up the Humber and landed at Gainesborow whitheâ— repaired to him Vthrâ—d Earl of Northumberland with his People the Inhabitants of Lindsey with all thâ— Countries Northward of Watling-street being a high-way crossing from the East to the West Sea and gave their Oath and Hostages to obey him Whereupon King Swane perceiving his Undertaking to prove 〈◊〉 fortunate beyond expectation committed the care oâ— his Fleet to his Son Cnute and marched himself 〈◊〉 to Oxford and then to Winchester which Citieâ— whether for fear of further Calamities readily acknowledged him for their King From thence hâ— marched for London where King Edelred then layâ— and which was so stoutly defended by the Citizens that he was like to effect nothing against that Town and therefore he directed his course to Wallingforâ— and Bath where the principal Men of West-Saxoâ— yielded him Subjection The Londoners too at last â—earing his Fury and Displeasure made their peace â—nd sent him Hostages which City being received to â—ercy Swane from that time was accounted King of â—ll England King Edelred perceiving all his Astairs â—n England to go against him and his Authority and Government reduced to so narrow a compass having sent his Queen with his two Sons Edward and Alfred â—o Normandy he thought convenient within a while â—fter to follow himself Being honourably received by his Brother in Law Richard he had not been there â—ong but News arrived of the death of Swane and that he was desired by the English to return to his Kingdom Being animated and comforted with this surprising News he set forward with a great Army â—or England and landing at Lyndsey he cruelly harâ—ssed that Province by reason that it had owned Subjection to Cnute the Son of Swane whom the Danes â—ad elected King in his Fathers stead King Cnute being at Ipswich and certified of the arrival of King Edelred and the Devastation of Lyndsey fearing that â—is Authority was going down the wind barbarously cut off the Hands and Noses of all the Hostages he received from the English and presently struck sail for Denmark And whilst England was in this general Confusion there fell out no less a storm in Ireland for Brian King of that Island and his Son Murâ—th with other Kings of the Countrey subject to â—â—rian joyned their Forces against Sutric the Son of Aâ—loic King of Dublin and Mailmorda King of Lagoâ—es Sutric being of himself too weak to encounter so numerous a Multitude hired all the Pyrates and Rovers who cruised upon the Seas and then gave Brian battel who with his Son Murcath was slain and on the other side Maihnorda and Broderic General of the Auxiliaries But Cnute though he was in a manner forced to A.D. 1013 forsake England upon the recalling of King Edelred yet he did not abandon all his pretence to the Kingdom and therefore the next year he came to renew his Claim and landed with a strong Fleet in West-â—ex where he exercised very great Hostility To prevent his Incursions Edric and Edmund Bastard-Son to Edelred raised their Forces separately bâ—â— when both Armies were united they durst not whâ—ther for fear or the Dissention of the two Generals fight with the Danes Edmund therefore passed to the North and joyned with Vthred Duke of Northumberland and both together descended and spoiled Stafford Leicester and Shropshire On the otheâ— side Cnute marched forcibly through Buckingham Bedford Huntingtonshire and so by Stafford passed toward York whither Vthred hastened and finding 〈◊〉 other remedy submitted himself with all the Northumbrians to Cnute giving Hostages for the performance of what they then agreed upon But nevertheless this Submission Vthred was treacherously slain not without the permission of Cnute and hiâ— Dukedom bestowed upon one Egrick a Dane whereupon Edmund left them and went to his Father whâ— lay sick at London Cnute returning to his Ships presently followed and sailed up the Thames towardâ— London but before he could draw nigh the City King Edelred was dead having prolonged a long and troublesom Reign for Thirty Seven Years After his decease the English Nobility chose his base Son Edmund for his eminent strength and hardiness in War surnamed Ironside for their King Upon this Cnuâ—â— brought his whole Fleet up the River to London and having cut a deep Trench round about the Town invested it on all sides but being valourously repulsed by the Defendants he detached the best part of his Army to fight with Edmund who was marching to raise the Siege and both Armies coming to battel at Proman by Gillingham Cnute with his Danes were put to flight But as soon as time and opportunity would give him leave to increase his Forces Cnute gave Edmund a second Battel at Caerstane but Edric Almar and Algar under-hand siding with the Danes Edmund was hard put to it to maintain the fight obstinately till Night and Weariness parted them Both Armies having sufficiently suffered in this action Edmund went to West-Sex to reinforce himself and the Danes returned to the siege of London where Edmund â—â—ickly followed raised the siege and forced Cnute â—â—d his Danes confusedly to betake themselves to their â—â—ips and then entered triumphantly into the City â—wo days after passing the Thames at Brentford he â—â—ll upon the Enemies backs by which lucky opporâ—â—nity obtaining a considerable Victory he returned â—gain to raise Recruits among the West-Saxons Cnute â—â—on Edmund's removal appeared again before Lonâ—â—n and invested it by Land and Water but all in â—â—in the besieged so manfully and resolutely defenâ—â—ng themselves that it was impracticable to master â—â—e Town before Edmund could come to the relief of 〈◊〉 And this they presently experienced for Edmund â—â—ter having augmented his Forces crossed again the â—hames
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
natural Fortifications the Welch still made In-roads into their Territories and seldom returned without some considerable Booty and Advantage The Saxons were heartily nettled at these bo-peeping Ravagers and would compliment them still to their Holes but durst not pursue them further for fear they should be entrapp'd by such as defended the Streights and Passages into the Rocks King Offa perceiving that he could effect nothing by these Measures annexed the Country about Severn and Wye to his Kingdom of Mercia and planted the same with Saxons And for a farther security against the endless Invasions of the Welch he made a deep Ditch extending from one Sea to the other called Clawdâ— Offa or Offa's Dike upon which account the Royal Seat of the Princes of Powys was translated from Pengwern now Shrewsbury to Mathraval in Montgâ—meryshire A.D. 795 While these things are transacted in the West the Danes began to grow powerful at Sea and durst venture to land in the North of England but without doing any great hurt being forced to betake themselves to their Ships again Within Six Years after they landed again in greater numbers and proved much more terrible they ravaged and destroyed a great part of Linsey and Northumberland over-ran the best part of Ireland and miserably wasted Rechreyn At the same time a considerable Battel was fought at Ruthlan between the Saxons and the Welch wherein Caradoc King of North Wales was killed The Government of Wales was as yet green and not firmly rooted by reason of the perpetual Quarrels and Disturbances between the Welch and the Saxons so that the chief Person or Lord of any Country assumed to himself the Title of King Caradoc was a Person of great Esteem and Reputation in North Wales and one that did very much contribute towards the Security of the Countrey against the Incursions of the Saxons He was Son to Gwyn the Son of Colhoyn the Son of Ednowen Son to Blethyn the Son of Blecius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwal and Devonshire Offa King of Mercia did not long survive him and was succeeded by his Son Egfert who in a short time left his Kingdom also to Kenulphus a year after that Egbertus was created King of the West Saxons About the same time dyed Arthen Son to Sitsylht the Son of Clydawc King of Cardigan and sometime after Run King of Dyfed and Cadelh King of Powys who were followed by Elbodius Archbishop of North Wales before whose Death happen'd a very severe Eclipse of the Sun The Year following the Moon was likewise A.D. 808 eclipsed upon Christmas-day These Fatalities and Eclipses did portend no Success to the Welch Affairs the laying of S. Davids in Ashes by the West Saxons being followed by a general and a very grievous Murrain of Cattel which was like to impoverish the whole Country The following Year Owen the Son of Meredith the Son of Terudos dyed and the Castle of Deganwy was ruined and destroyed by Thunder But these several Losses which the Welch sustained could not reconcile Prince Conan and his Brother Howel but they must needs quarrel and contend with one another when they had the greatest occasion to embrace and unite their endeavours against the common Enemy Howel claimed the Isle of Anglesey as part of his Father's Inheritance which Conan would by no means hearken to nor consent that his Brother should take possession of it It was the custom of Wales that a Fathers Estate should be equally distributed between all his Sons and Howel by virtue of this Custom commonly called Gavelkind from the word Gafel to hold claimed that Island as his Fathers Estate This Custom of Gavelkind has been the occasion of the Ruin and Diminution of the Estates of all the antient Nobility in Wales which being endlesly divided between the several Sons of the same Family were at length reduced to nothing From hence also proceeded several unnatural Wars and Disturbances between Brothers who being either not satisfied with their Portions or displeased with the Country they were to possess disputed their Right by Dint of the Sword This proved very true in this present instance for Howel would not suffer himself to be cheated out of his paternal Inheritance and therefore he would endeavour to recover it by Force of Arms. Both Armies being engaged the Victory fell to Howel who immediately thereupon possessed himself of the Island and valiantly maintained it against the Power and Strength of his Brother Conan The Welch being thus at variance and enmity among themselves and striving how to destroy one another had yet another Disaster added to their Misfortune For the following Year they received a very considerable Loss by Thunder which very much spoiled and annoyed the Country and laid several Houses and Towns in Ashes About the same time Gruffith the Son of Run a Person of considerable Quality in Wales dyed and Griffri the Son of Kyâ—gen was treacherously murthered by the Practices of his Brother Elis. But Conan could not rest satisfied with his Brother Howels forcible possession of the Island of Anglesey and therefore he was resolved to give him another Battel and to force him to restore and yield up the Possession of that Country which he had now violently kept in his hands Howel on the other hand being as resolutely bent to maintain his Ground and not to deliver up a foot of what he was now upon a double respect viz. his Fathers Legacy and his late Conquest Owner of willingly met his Brother put him to flight and killed a great number of his Forces Conan was cruelly enraged at this shameful Overthrow and therefore made a firm resolution either to recover the Island from his Brother or to sacrifice his Life and his Crown in the Quarrel Having drawn up all A.D. 817 the Forces he could raise together he marched to Anglesey to seek his Brother Howel who being too weak to encounter and oppose so considerable a Number was compell'd to make his Escape to the Isle of Man and to leave the Island of Anglesey to the mercy of his Brother But Conan did not live long to reap the satisfaction of this Victory but dyed in a short time leaving Issue behind him one onely Daughter called Esylht married to a Nobleman of Wales named Merfyn Frych He was Son to Gwyriad or Vriet the Son of Elidure who lineally descended from Belinus the Brother of Brennus King of the Britains His Mother was Nest the Daughter of Cadelh King of Powys the Son of Brochwel Yscithroc who together with Cadfan King of Britain Morgan King of Demetia and Bledericus King of Cornwal gave that memorable Overthrow to Ethelred King of Northumberland upon the River Dee in the Year 617. This Brochwel by the Latin Writers named Brecivallus and Brochmaelus was a very considerable Prince in that part of Britain called Powys-land as also Earl of Chester and lived in the Town then called Pengwern Powys now Salop in the House where since the College of S.
fought withâ—â— and Rahald was slain and the rest compell'd to â—â—swear the King's Land and never to return any â—ore to England King Edward to prevent any fuâ—â—re Disturbance from such open Invaders caused a â—â—rong Army to be quartered upon the South side of â—â—vern but the Danes for all he could do enter'd â—â—vice into his Country once at Werd and then at â—ortogan but were both times overthrown by the â—nglish From thence they departed to the Isle of â—â—epen whence they were forced by Hunger to sail to â—outh Wales intending to make a considerable Prey of â—hat Country but failing of their aim they were â—onstrained to make the best of their way for Ireland But the next Year a Party of Danes fought a very â—evere Battel with the Kentish-men at Holm but which of them obtain'd the Victory is not certainly â—eported About the same time Anarawd Prince of A.D. 913 North Wales died leaving behind him two Sons Edwal Foel and Elis and some say a third named Meyric Edwal Foel AFter the death of Anarawd his eldest Son Edwal Foel took upon him the Government of Northwales Howel Dha holding the Principality of Southwales and Powis At what time a terrible Comet appeared in the Heavens The same Year the City of Chester which had been destroyed by the Danes was by the procurement of Elfleda new built and repaired as the antient Records of that City do â—â—stifie This in the antient Copy is called Leycestâ—â— by an easie mistake for Legecestria or Chester callâ—â— by the Romans Legionum Cestria The next Suâ—mer the Men of Dublin cruelly destroyed the Isle 〈◊〉 Anglesey and soon after Clydawe the Son of Caâ—â—â— was unnaturally slain by his Brother Meyric about tâ—â— same time that the Danes received a cruel overthroâ—â— by the English at Tottenhale But Elfleda did 〈◊〉 long survive the rebuilding of the City of Chester a Woman of singular Virtues and one that greaâ—â—â— strengthned the Kingdom of Mercia by buildinâ— of Towns and Castles against the Incursions of tâ—â— Danes as Strengat and Bruge by the Forrest 〈◊〉 Morph Tamworth Stafford Edelburgh Cherenburgâ— Wadeburgh and Runcofe After this she entered wâ—â— her whole Army into Wales wan Brecknock 〈◊〉 took the Queen with 33 of her Men Prisonerâ— which in Welch is called Gwaith y Ddinas Newydh 〈◊〉 the Battel of the new City From hence she marched for Derby which she took from the Danes losâ— only four of her chief Commanders in the Actioâ— The occasion of these two Expeditions according 〈◊〉 some was this Huganus Lord of West Wales peâ—ceiving King Edward to be unavoidably busie in thâ— Danish War gathered an Army of Britains and â—â—tring into England destroyed the Kings Countâ—â— Upon the News of this Elfleda came to Wales witâ— a great Army fought with the Welch at Breekâ—â— and putting Huganus to flight took his Wife anâ— some of his Men Prisoners whom she carried wiâ—â— her to Mercia Huganus being thus defeated fled 〈◊〉 Derby and being there kindly received joined hiâ—self with the Kings Enemies the Danes Elfleda being certified of that followed him with her Army but in storming the Gates of the Town had Four 〈◊〉 her best Officers kill'd by Huganus But Gwyane Loâ— of the Isle of Ely her Steward setting fire to thâ— Gates furiously ran upon the Britains and entereâ— the Town upon which Haganus perceiving himseâ—â— to be over-match'd chose rather to fall by the Sword â—â—an cowardly to yield himself to a Woman The â—ext Year Elfleda laid siege to the City of Leicester which was quickly surrender'd and the Danes thereâ—â— perfectly subdued The Fame of these several Aâ—tions being noised abroad her Neighbours became somewhat fearful and timorous and the Yorkshireâ—â—n voluntarily did her Homage and proffer'd their Service She died at Tamworth after Eight Years â—ule over Mercia and lies buried at Glocester by S. Peters After the death of Elfleda King Edward most ungratefully disinherited her Daughter Alfwyen and â—ntering into Mercia seized all the Land into his own hands upon pretence that she without his knowledg whom her Mother had appointed her Guardian had privily promised and contracted Marâ—iage with Reynald King of the Danes But this unâ—ust and unnatural Action of King Edwards might possibly bring upon him those vehement Troubles which presently ensued upon it For Leofred a Dane â—nd Gruffydh ap Madoc Brother in Law to the Prince of West Wales came from Ireland with a great Army to Snowdon and minding to bring all Wales and the Marches thereof to their subjection over-ran and subdued all the Country to Chester before King Edward was certified of their arrival Whereat being sore offended and loth to trouble his Subjects for help vowed that himself and his Sons with their single Forces would be revenged upon Leofred and Gruffydh and thereupon marching to Chester forced the City from them Then he divided his Army into â—wo Battels whereof he and his Son Ethelstan lead the first Edmund and Edred the second and followed them so close that he overtook them at the Forest of Walewode now Sherwode where Leofred and Gruffydh set upon them so fiercely that the King at first was in some danger until Athelstane stepped in and wounded the Dane in the Arm in that manner that being no longer able to hold his Spear the was taken Prisoner and committed to the custody of Atholstâ—ne In the mean time Edmund and Edred encountring with Gruffydh slew him and brought his Head to their Father and Leofreds Head being likewise cut off they were both set up upon the Town of Chester and then Edward together with his Sons victoriously returned home But King Edward having A.D. 924 built Glademutham soon after this dyed at Farandon and his Son Alfred the same time at Oxford and were both buried at Winchester Edward being dead his base Son Athelstane for many excellent Virtues appearing in him was preferred to the Crown the worthiest Prince of the Saxon Blood that ever reigned He overcame Cudfryd the Father of Raynald King of the Danes at York and being invaded by Hawlaf King of Ireland who with all the Power of the Scots and Danes marched against him gave him battel at Brimestbury and obtained a very notorious Victory King Hawlaf together with the King of the Scots five Kings of the Danes and Normans being slain upon the spot so that the whole Country of England and Scotland became subject to him which none of his Predecessoâ—â— A.D. 933 ever attempted Sometime after Owen the Son of Gruffydh was slain by the Men of Cardigan And then Athelstane entring with his Army into Wales forced the Princes thereof to pay a yearly Tribute of 20 l. in Gold 300 l. in Silver and 200 Head of Cattel which notwithstanding was not observed as appears by the Laws of Howel Dha wherein it is appointed that the Prince of Aberffraw should pay no more to the King of London than 66 l. Tribute and that the Princes of Dinefawr and Powis should
in Northumberland and was with much rejoycing received by the Inhabitants But before he could secure himself in the Government he was shamefully banished the Country and so the Northumbrians elected one Hircius the Son of Harold for their King But to shew the Inconstancy of an unsettled Multitude they soon grew weary of Hircius and after Three Years space expelled him and voluntarily submitted themselves to Edred who after he had reigned eight Years dyed and was buried at Winchester To him succeeded Edwin the Son of Edmund a Man so immoderately given to Venety that he forcibly married another Man's Wife for which and other Irregularities his Subjects after four Years reign set up his Brother Edgar who was crowned in his stead with A.D. 958 grief of which he soon ended his days The Summer that same Year proved so immoderately hot that it caused a very dismal Plague in the following Spring which swept away a great number of People before which Gwgan the Son of Gwyriad the Son of Roderie dyed At this time Ievaf and Iago forcibly managed the Government of all Wales and acted according to their own good Pleasures no one daring to confront or resist them But for all their Power the Sons of Abloio King of Ireland ventured to land in Anglesey and having burnt Holyhead wasted the Country of Lhyn Also the Son of Edwyn the Son of Colhoyn destroyed and ravaged all the Country to A.D. 961 Towyn where they were intercepted and slain About the same time dyed Meyric the Son of Cadfan Rytherch Bishop of S. Davids and Cadwalhon ap Owen Not long after the Country of North-Wales was cruelly A.D. 965 wasted by the Army of Edgar King of England the occasion of which Invasion was the non-payment of the Tribute that the King of Aberffraw by the Laws of Howel Dha was obliged to pay to the King of London But at length a Peace was concluded upon these Conditions that the Prince of North-Wales instead of Money should pay to the King of England the Tribute of 300 Wolves yearly which Creature was then very pernicious and destructive to England and Wales This Tribure being duly performed for two Years the third Year there were none to be found in any part of the Island so that afterwards the Prince of North-Wales became exempt from paying any Acknowledgment to the King of England A.D. 966 The Terror apprehended from the English being by these means vanished there threatned another Cloud from Ireland for the Irish being animated by their late Expedition landed again in Anglesey and having slain Roderic the Son of Edwal Foel they destroyed Aboffraw And this danger being over Ievaf and A.D. 967 â—ago who had jointly and agreeably till now managed the Government of Wales from the death of Howel â—ha began to quarrel and disagree among themselves and Iago having forcibly laid hands upon his Brother 〈◊〉 confined him to perpetual Imprisonment These Heats and Animosities between the two Brothers A.D. 968 gave occasion and opportunity to Owen Prince of South-Wales to carve for himself who presently â—eized to his hands the Country of Gwyr And to A.D. 969 â—ugment the Miseries of the Welch at this time Mactus the Son of Harold with an Army of Danes â—ntered the Isle of Anglescy and spoiled Penmon King Edgar was so indulgent to these Danes that he permitted them to inhabit through all England insoâ—uch that at length they became to be as numerous â—nd as strong as the English themselves and fell into â—uch lewd courses of Debauchery and such horrid Drinking that very great Mischief ensued thereupon The King to reform this immoderate Sottishness enacted a Law that very one should drink by measure and so stamped a Mark upon every Vessel how â—â—at it should be filled But Harold having taken Pennon A.D. 970 made subject to himself the whole Isle of Anglesey which however he did not keep long being forced to quit the same and to return home as did the Fleet of King Alfred which he had sent to subâ—ue Caâ—rlheon upon Vsc And now being rid of the A.D. 971 English and Danes the Welch begin to raise Commotions among themselves Ievaf continued still in Prison A.D. 972 to rescue whom his Son Howel raised his Power and marched against his Uncle Iago who being vanquished in sight was forced to quit the Country to â—ave himself Howel having won the day took his eldest Uncle Meyric the Son of Edwal Prisoner and pulled out both his Eyes clapt him in Prison where in a woful condition he shortly dyed leaving behind him two Sons Edwal and Ionafal the first of which lived to be afterwards Prince of Wales and to revenge upon the Posterity of Howel that unnatural Barbarity shewed to his Father But though Howel delivered his Father from his long and tedious Imprisonment yet he did not think fit to restore him to his Principality for whether by Age or Infirmity he was incapable Howel took upon him the sole Government of Wales which he kept and maintained for his life-time but afterwards it descended to his Brethren For Ievaf had Issue besides this Howel Meyric Iâ—vaf and Cadwalhan all three Men of great Repuâ—â— and Esteem About this time dyed Morgan Hên in his younger days called Morgan Mawr being an Hundred Yearâ— old having lived Fifty Years after the death of hâ—â— Wife Elen Daughter of Roderic the Great by whoâ— he had one Son called Owen Morgan was a valiant anâ— a victorious Prince and well beloved of his Subjects 〈◊〉 but sometime before his death Owen the Son oâ— Prince Howel Dha laid claim to Ystradwy and Eâ—y called the two Sleeves of Gwent Vwchcoed being thâ— Right of Morgan and seized upon them to his owâ— use But the matter through the mediation of the Clergy and Nobility being by both Parties referred to the decision of Edgar King of England it was by him adjudged that the said Lands did of right belong to Morgan and to the Diocess of Lhandaff and that Owen ap Howel Dha had wrongfully possessed himself of them The Charter of the said Award waâ— made before the Archbishops Bishops Earls and Barons of England and Wales at may be seen at Lhandaff in an old Manuscript called y Cwtta Cyfarwydd 〈◊〉 Forgannwg And there is somewhat to the same purpose in the old Book of Lhandaff only the mistake in both is that they make Howel Dha the Intruder into the said Lands who had been dead at least Twenty Years before King Edgar began his Reign Howel ap Ievaf HOwel after that he had expelled his Uncle Iago and forced him to quit his own Dominions â—â—ok upon himself the Government of Wales in â—â—ght of his Father who tho alive yet by reason of â—â—s Years was willing to decline it About the same 〈◊〉 Dwnwalhon Prince of Stradclwyd took his Jourâ—â—y for Rome and Edwalhon Son of Owen Prince â—f South-Wales died But the English received a â—â—eater Blow by the Death of King Edgar who was Prince of
and Rytherch 〈◊〉 Caradoc the joynt Rulers of South-Wales And the marching confidently to find them both Armies meâ— together and fought at a place called Camdhwr wheâ— after a sore Engagement the Sons of Cadwgan at length obtained a glorious Victory In North Wales the same time Gruffydh ap Conan having established his Possession of the Isle of Anglesey intended to proceed farther in the Continent of Wales to which end having transported his Forces over the River incampâ—â—â— in the neighbouring Countrey of Carnarvonshire prâ—posing to reduce North-Wales by degrees Trahaâ—â— ap Caradoc being informed of this Descent of Grâ—fydh's made all possible speed to prevent his farther progress and having made all necessary Preparation that the shortness of the Opportunity would permit he drew up his Forces to Bronyr Erw where he gave Gruffydh battel and in fine put him to a shamefuâ— flight so that he was glad to retire back safe tâ— Anglesey A.D. 1074 The next Year Rytherch ap Caradoc Prince of South-Wales dyed being murthered through the unnaturaâ— Villainy of his Cosin-German Meyrchaon ap Rhys ap Rytherch after whom Rhys ap Owen obtained the soâ—â— Government of South-Wales But his enjoyment oâ— the whole Principality was not very lasting and scarcâ— A.D. 1075 at all void of Trouble and Vexation of War Foâ— shortly after the death of Caradoc the Sons of Cadwgan thinking they might easily now foil and vanquish one seeing they had sometime ago victoriously overcome both Princes together with all the Forces they could raise set upon Rhys again at a place called Gwanyffyd who not being able to endure their Number was rouâ—ed and forced to flee however the Blow was not so mortal but that Rhys gathered together new Levies by the help of which he was embolden'd still to maintain himself in his Principality But Fortune which had advanced him to the Crown seemed now to frown at and cross all his Endeavours and Undertakeings and being reduced to a very weak condition in the 〈◊〉 Battel he was set upon by a fresh Enemy before 〈◊〉 could have sufficient time to recover and recruit â—â—self For Trahaern ap Caradoc Prince of North-â—ales perceiving the Weakness and Inability of Rhys make opposition against any foreign Enemy that â—â—â—aded his Territories thought it now very feasible 〈◊〉 obtain the Conquest of South-Wales and then 〈◊〉 annex it to his own Principality of North-Wales â—â—ing egg'd on by these pleasant Imaginations he disâ—â—â—ched his Army to South-Wales to fight with Rhys 〈◊〉 so with all the Forces he could possibly levie as layâ—â—g his whole Fortune upon the event of this Battel â—â—dly met him at Pwlhgwttic where after a tedious â—â—ght on both sides Rhys having lost the best part of his â—â—my was put to flight and so warmly pursu'd that â—â—er long shifting from place to place himself with his â—â—other Howel fell at length into the hands of Caradoc 〈◊〉 Gruffydh who put them both to death in revenge 〈◊〉 the base Murther of Blethyn ap Confyn by them â—â—merly transacted The Principality of South-Wales â—â—ing thus vacant by the death of Rhys ap Owen Rhys â—â—n to Theodor ap Eineon ap Owen ap Howel Dha â—â—lawful Heir to that Government put in his Claim â—hich being very plain and evident so prevailed with â—â—e People of the Country that they unanimously â—â—ected him for their Prince much against the expeâ—â—tion of Trahaern ap Caradoc Prince of North-Wales â—he next Year S. Davids suffer'd greatly by Strangers A.D. 1077 â—ho landing there in a considerable number spoiled â—â—d destroyed the whole Town shortly after which â—â—rbarous Action Abraham Bishop of that Sea â—â—ed and then Sulien who the Year before had â—â—linquished and resigned up that Bishoprick was â—ompelled to resume it The Government of all Wales both North and A.D. 1079 â—â—uth had been now for a long time supply'd by Usurâ—ers and forcibly detained from the right and legal â—nheritors but Providence would suffer Injustice to â—eign no longer and therefore restored the rightful Heirs to their Principalities Rhys ap Theodor had actual possession of South-Wales and there wanteâ— no more at this time but to bring in Gruffydh ap Câ—nan to the Principality of North-Wales both the Princes being indisputably right and lawful Heirs 〈◊〉 their respective Governments as lineally descendeâ— from Roderic the Great who was legal Proprietor 〈◊〉 all Wales Gruffydh ap Conan had already reduced thâ— Isle of Anglesey but not being able to levy a sufficieâ— Army from thence to oppose Trahaern he invited oâ— a great Party of Irish and Scots and then with 〈◊〉 whole Army joyned with Rhys ap Theodor Prince 〈◊〉 South-Wales Trahaern in like manner associating himself Caradoc ap Gruffydh and Mailyr the Sons 〈◊〉 Rywalhon ap Gwyn his Cosin-Germans the greatest aâ—â— most powerful Men then in Wales drew up his Fâ—â—ces together with resolution to fight them Boâ—â— Armies meeting upon the Mountains of Carno a teâ—rible and a cruel Battel ensued presently thereupon which proved the more fierce and bloody by reasâ—â— that both Parties resolutely referred their whole Foâ—tune to the success of their Arms and Life woâ—â—â— prove vain if the Day was lost But after a disâ—â—â— Fight on both sides the Victory fell at last to Gruffyâ—â— and Rhys Trahaern with his Cosins being all slain 〈◊〉 the Field after whose death Gruffydh took possessâ—â—â— of North Wales and so the Rule of all Wales afâ—â—â— a tedious interval was again restored to the rigâ—â— Line About the same time Vrgency ap Sitsyâ—â—â—â— Person of noble Quality in Wales was treacherouâ— murthered by the Sons of Rhys Sais or the Englisâ—man by which Name the Welch were accustomâ—â— to denominate all Persons as either had lived any coâ—siderable time in England or could fluently and hanâ—somly speak the English Tongue Gruffydh ap Conan GRuffydh ap Conan being confirmed in the Principality of North-Wales and Rhys ap Theodor in â—â—â—t of South-Wales there was no body that could â—â—â—ate them any Molestation or Disturbance upon the â—â—count of Right which was unquestionably just that they quietly enjoyed for some time their reâ—â—â—ctive Dominions without apprehension of any other â—â—â—â—etender Indeed it had seldom been known before â—â—â—t that one of the Princes was an Usurper and parâ—â—â—ularly in North-Wales where from the time of Edâ—â—â— Foel none had legally ascended to the Crown â—â—â—cepting Edwal the Son of Meyric eldest Son to â—â—wal Foel in whose Line the undoubted Title of â—â—rth-Wales lawfully descended And the right Line â—â—â—ng now restored in Gruffydh ap Conan the same leâ—â—lly continued to Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh the last â—â—ince of the British Blood But during these Revoâ—â—tions in Wales some things memorable were transaâ—â—ed in England Malcolm King of the Scots descenâ—â—ng into Northumberland ravaged and destroyed the â—ountry without Mercy carrying away a great numâ—â—r of Prisoners after which the Northumbrians fell â—â—on Walter Bishop of Durham whom they slew toâ—â—ther with a hundred Men whilst he sate keeping
Sixty Eight and in her Right created him Lord Powys This John Charleton Lord Powys being aided and supported by the King of England quickly broke all their Measures and having taken Lhewelyn John and David his Wives Uncles he put them in safe custody in the Kings Castle of Harlech and then obtained a Writ from the King to the Sheriff of Shropshire and to Sir Roger Mortimer Lord of Chirkland and Justice of North-Wales for the Apprehension of Gruffydh Fychan with his Sons in Law Sir Roger Chamber and Hugh Montgomery who were then in actual Hostility against him and his Wife Hawys But Gruffydh Fychan and his Accomplices suspecting their own Strength and having lost Thomas Earl of Lancaster their main support thought it most advisable to submit themselves to the King's Pleasure touching the Difference betwixt them and Hawys who finding upon record how that Gruffydh ap Meredith Ancestor to the said Hawys upon his Submission to King Henry the First became Subject to the King of England and thereupon was created Baron of Powys which Barony he and his Posterity had ever since held in capite from the King was of opinion that Hawys had more Right to her Fathers Possessions now in their hands than any pretence they could lay to her Estate But to make a final determination of this matter and to compose the Difference more amicably betwixt them it was agreed that Hawys should enjoy her Inheritance in Fee-Simple to her and her Heirs for ever after the Tenure of England and that her Uncles Lhewelyn John David and Gruffydh should quietly enjoy their Portion and the same to descend to their Heir Males perpetually but in default of such Heir Males the same was to descend to Hawys and her Heirs But William Lord of Mowdhwy the Fourth Brother called otherwise Wilcock Mowdhwy because he did not joyn with the rest against Hawys had all his Lands confirmed to him and to all his Heirs both Male and Female for ever He married Elianor the Sister of Elen Owen Glyndwr's Mother who was lineally descended from Rhys ap Theodore Prince of South-Wales by whom he had Issue John de Mowdhwy whose Daughter Elizabeth being Heir to his whole Estate was married to one Sir Hugh Burgh Knight His Son Sir John Burgh Lord of Mowdhwy married Jane the Daughter of Sir William Clapton of Glocestershire by whom he had four Daughters Elizabeth Ancreda Isabel and Elianor the first of whom was married to Thomas Newport the second to John Leighton of Stretton the third to John Lingen and the younger to Tho. Mytton who by equal Distribution had the Lordship of Mowdhwy divided betwixt them But John Charleton Lord of Powys had Issue by his Wife Hawys a Son named John who enjoyed the same Lordship for about Seven Years and then left it to his Son of the same Name who was Lord of Powys Fourteen Years and then it descended to his Son called also John Charleton who enjoyed his Fathers Estate Twenty Seven Years but dying without Issue the Lordship of Powys fell to his Brother Edward Charleton This Edward had Issue by his Wife Elianor the Daughter and one of the Heirs of Thomas Earl of Kent and the Widow of Roger Mortimer Earl of March two Daughters Jane and Joyce the first of which was married to Sir John Gray Knight and the second to John Lord Tipâ—oft whose Son was by King Henry VI. created Earl of Worcester But after the death of Elianor this Edward Lord Powys marryed Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir John Barkley Knight and so after his death which happened in the Year 1420. the Lordship of Powys was divided into three parts whereof his Widow Elizabeth had for her Joynture Lhannorch Hudol Ystrad Marchelâ— Deudhwr and Teirtref and was afterwards married to Lord Dudley Jane his eldest Daughter had Caereneon Mechain Mochnant and Flasdinas and Joyce had Cyfeilioc and Arustly But the Lordship of Powys continued in the Family of Sir John Gray for five Descents in right of his Wife Jane the last of whom Edward Gray Lord Powys married Anne one of the Daughters and Co-Heirs of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and dyed without any lawful Issue Dugdale Bar. Engl. Tom. II. p. 284. This Edward Lord Powys in 15 Henry VIII accompanied the Duke of Suffolk in the Expedition then made into France and was at the taking of Bray and other places then won from the French And in 36 Henry VIII being again ready to march in the King's Service he made his last Testament whereby he setled the Succession of his whole Barony and Lordship of Powys his Castle and Mannor of Pool with divers other Lordships in the County of Montgomery and all the rest of his Estate in the County of Salop upon the Heirs of his own Body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and in default of such Issue his Castle and Mannor of Charlton and Pontisbury in Shropshire upon Jane Orwell Daughter of Sir Lewis Orwell Knight and her Assigns during her natural Life And in case he should dye without any Issue of his own Body lawfully begotten that then Edward Grey his illegitimate Son by the same Jane Orwell should have and enjoy his said Barony and Mannor of Powys his Castle and Mannor of Pool and all other his Lordships in the County of Montgomery with the Reversion of the Castle and Mannor of Charlton and Pontysbury to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten and for lack of such Issue to remain to that Child in case it should be a Son wherewith the same Jane Orwell was then great by him and to the Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten But if it should not prove a Son or if the Son dye without Issue then that the whole Barony of Powys and all the Premises before-mentioned should come to Jane Grey his Daughter and to the Heirs of her Body lawfully begotten and for lack of such Issue to Anne Grey his other Daughter and the Heirs of her Body lawfully begotten and lastly for default of such Issue to such Woman-Child as should be born of the Body of the said Jane Orwell But after Edward Grey the Title of Lord of Powys lay extinct to the Fifth Year of K. Charles I. when Sir William Herbert Son of Sir Edward Herbert of Redcastle antiently call'd Pool-Castle now Powys-Castle in the County of Montgomery second Son to William Earl of Pembrock was advanced to the Dignity of a Baron of the Realm by the Title of Lord Powys of Powys in the Marches of Wales in whose Family it still continues though the Title has been changed from a Baron to an Earl and since to a Marquess About the same time that the Prince of Powys dyed Cadwalhon ap Madawc ap Ednerth who had been for some considerable time at variance with his Brother Eineon Clyd was taken Prisoner by him who deliver'd him up to Owen Prince of North-Wales But the Prince being willing to gratifie the King of England whose Interest Cadwalhon has
of Lhanymdhyfri thence they removed to Lhangadoc and wan the Castle likewise upon this Condition that the Garrison be permitted to march out quietly When they had taken these two Castles they went to Dinerth where Maelgon finished the Castle he had formerly begun there This Year likewise Prince Lhewelyn set at liberty his Uncle David ap Owen Gwynedh who made but a sorry return to this Kindness for instead of living peaceably at home and enjoying that Liberty that was granted him he flees to England and there gets an Army wherewith he attempts to restore himself to his antient Estate of North-Wales but he missed his Mark for his prudent Nephew immediately met him on his March and gave him a shameful Over-throw wherewith David was so mightily disheartened that he presently returned for England and shortly after died for meer sorrow The next Year Howel a blind A.D. 1204 Son of Prince Rhys was slain at Camaes by his Brother Maelgon's Men and buried just by his Brother Gruffydh at Ystratflur But notwithwanding that Maelgon in those days usurped all the Rule and Government of South-Wales yet his Brother Gruffydh's Sons Rhys and his Brethren wan from him the chief Defence of all that Country to wit the Castles of Dynefowr and Lhanymdhyfri About this time William Marshal Earl of Pembrock besieged the Castle of Cilgerran and took it and not long after Maelgon A.D. 1205 hired an Irishman to kill Gadifor ap Griffri after which horrid Fact Maelgon seized upon his Four Sons and put them to death these were forward promising young Gentlemen and descended from a Noble Stock for their Mother Susanna was a Daughter of the said Howel ap Rhys by a Daughter of Madawc ap Meredith Prince of Powys In the Year 1206. Maelgon A.D. 1206 built a Castle at Abereneon At which time there was such abundance of Fish seen at Aberystwyth that the like number was never known to have come there in the memory of Man before A.D. 1207 This Year the King of England banished the Realm William de Bruce and his Wife on the account of a Grudg that he bore his Son and then seized upon all his Lands whereupon William with his Wife and Son fled to Ireland and there continued for some time And this Hardship he now underwent was the less pitied because he exercised the great Power he had in the Marches of Wales with extreme Cruelty and Injustice The same Year Gwenwynwyn came to Shrewsbury to speak with the King's Council where he was detained Prisoner Whereupon Prince Lhewelyn conquered all his Country took all his Towns and Castles and garrison'd them for his own use This Expedition of Prince Lhewelyn mightily alarm'd the usurping Maelgon and the more because he had intelligence that Lhewelyn was on his march towards South-Wales therefore he now puts himself in the best posture he could to receive him but finding himself not able to abide the Prince's coming and to withstand his Forces he demolisheth his Castles of Aberystwyth Ystratmeyric and Dinerth which before he had fortified Notwithstanding which the Prince comes to Aberystwyth and rebuildeth the Castle and puts a Garrison therein after this he seized upon the Cantref of Penwedic and the Land betwixt Dyfi and Aeron which he gave to Maelgon's Nephews the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys and then returned home with great Joy and Triumph Not long after Rhys Fychan Son to Prince Rhys besieged the Castle of Lhangadoc and took it contrary to the Promise and League he had made with his Nephews forgetting likewise how freely and readily they had administred to him in his necessity therefore to be avenged of this Ingratitude and breach of promise Rhys and Owen no sooner heard of it but they furiously attack'd the Castle and took it by assault and put to the Sword or took Prisoners all the Garrison and then burnt the Castle to the ground A.D. 1209 This Year King John levied a powerful Army with which he made a Voyage to Ireland but as he was on the Borders of Wales on his Journey thitherwards there was a Criminal brought before him who had murther'd a Priest The Officer desired to know the King's Pleasure how he would have the Delinquent punished but the King instead of ordering any Punishment to be inflicted upon him suitable to the heinousness of his Crime discharged him with a Well done thou good Servant thou hast slain mine Enemy for such he reckon'd the Clergy of those days who were very ill-affected to his usurped arbitrary Government and therefore he slightly regarded any Injuries that were done them nay thought those did him good service who did them wrong He had not been long in Ireland but he got into his clutches the unfortunate William de Bruce the younger and his Mother Mawd de Saint Valerike whom we have mentioned afore to have quitted England for fear of him and to have fled here for shelter Upon his return to England he brought these in triumph along with him and committed them to Windsor-Castle where by his Orders not long after they were inhumanly famished The reason of King John's Displeasure against William de Bruce Lord of Brecnock Pag. 303. Matthew Paris delivers to be this When the Pope had excommunicated the Realm of England the King to prevent any Inconveniences that might ensue thereupon took Pledges of such of his Nobles as he thought were disaffected to him and would be like if occasion offered to countenance and promote a Rebellion Amongst others he sends Messengers to William de Bruce to demand his Sons for Pledges to whom Mawd de Bruce's Wife being the readier speaker answered though what she said was no less her Husband's Sentiment than her own Thar the King who had proved so base a Guardian to his Nephew Prince Arthur whom instead of setting in he deprived of his Right should have none of her Children This Answer the Messengers deliver'd to the King whereat he was highly displeased that he ordered some Soldiers should be sent to seize this Lord but he having timely intelligence of this Order fled into Ireland with his Wife and Children where now his Wife Mawd with her Son were unfortunately taken by King John but he himself escaped and fled into France where not long after he dyed This Year the Earl of Chester rebuilt the Castle of Dyganwy situate on the Sea-shore East of the River Conway which Prince Lhewelyn had before demolished He likewise fortifies the Castle of Treffynon or S. Wenefrid Upon this Lhewelyn enters into the Earl's Land which when he had ravaged sufficiently he returns home with considerable Booty About this time Rhys Fychan Son to Prince Rhys fearing lest Prince Lhewelyn should fall upon him for the wrong he had done to his Nephews whom he Prince Lhewelyn stifly defended in their right made his Application to the King of England who readily granted him what Succours he desired and with these he besieged the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri the Garrison
to Gruffydh inviting the King of England to come to invade theiâ— Country and to correct the unnatural Enmity theiâ— Prince expressed to his Brother But when all Differences were over the King of England returned with his Army shamefully back and the Prince anâ— his Nobility reconciled the Welch might have expected a very happy time of it had not Death taken the Prince so unnaturally away before he had well known what a peaceful Reign was Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh â—Rince David being dead the Principality of 〈◊〉 North Wales legally descended to Sir Ralph Morâ—â—â—er in Right of his Wife Gladys Daughter to â—â—â—welyn ap Iorwerth But the Welch Nobility beâ—â—â— assembled together for the electing and nominaâ—â—â—g a Successour thought it by no means advisaâ—â—â— to admit a Stranger to the Crown though his â—â—de was never so lawful and especially an Engâ—â—â—â—man by whose Obligations to the Crown of Engâ—â—â—d they must of necessity expect to become Subâ—â—â—s or rather Slaves to the English Government â—herefore they unanimously agreed to set up Lheâ—â—â—yn and Owen Goch the Sons of Gruffydh a base 〈◊〉 of Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth and Brother to Prince â—â—vid who being sent for and appearing before the â—â—sembly all the Nobles and Barons then present 〈◊〉 them Homage and received them for their Soâ—â—â—eigns But as soon as the King of England unâ—â—rstood of the death of the Prince of Wales he â—â—ought the Country being in an unsettled and waâ—â—ring condition he might effect great matters there â—â—d therefore he sent one Nicholas de Miles to South-â—ales with the Title of Justice of that Country â—â—th whom he joyned in Commission Meredith ap â—â—ys Gryc and Meredith ap Owen ap Gruffydh 〈◊〉 eject and disinherit Maelgon Fychan of all his â—ands and Estate in South-Wales The like injurious â—ractices were committed against Howel ap Meredith â—ho was forcibly robb'd of all his Estate in Glamorâ—â—n by the Earl of Clare These unreasonable Exâ—â—tions being insupportable Maelgon and Howel made â—â—own their Grievances to the Princes of North-Wales â—esiring their Succour and Assistance for the recovery â—f their lawful Inheritance from the Incroachments of the English But the King of England undâ—â—standing their Design led his Army into Wales 〈◊〉 on whose arrival the Welch withdrew themselâ—â—â— to Snowden-Hills where they so tired the Englâ—â—â— Army that the King finding he could do no goâ—â— after some stay there returned back to England Wiâ—â— in a while after Ralph Mortimer the Husband Gladys Dhu dyed leaving his whole Estate and wâ—â— it a lawful Title to the Principality of North-Waâ—â—â— to his Son Sir Roger Mortimer A.D. 1247 The next Year nothing memorable passed betweâ—â— the English and the Welch M. Paris p. 739. only the dismal Effects the last Years Expedition were not worn off 〈◊〉 ground being uncapable of Cultivation and the Câ—â—â—tel being in great measure destroyed by the Englâ—â—â— occasioned great Poverty and Want in the Countâ—â— But the greatest Calamity befel the Bishops S. Asâ—â—â— and Bangor being destroyed and burnt by the Englisâ— the Bishops thereof were reduced to that utmost Eâ—tremity as to get their Subsistence by other Meâ—â— Charity the Bishop also of S. Davids deceased aâ—â— he of Landaff had the Misfortune to fall blind 〈◊〉 the Bishoprick of S. Davids succeeded Thomas sâ—â—â—â— named Wallensis by reason that he was born in Walâ—â— who thinking himself obliged to benefit his own Coâ—â—try what lay in his power desired to be advance from the Archdeaconry of Lincoln to that Sea whicâ— the King easily granted and confirmed him in 〈◊〉 A.D. 1248 The next Summer proved somewhat more favourablâ— to the Welch Rhys Fychan Son to Rhys Mechyl woâ— from the English the Castle of Carrec Cynnen which his unkind Mother out of Malice or some ill Opinion entertained of him had some time afore privately delivered up to them And about the saâ—â— time the Body of Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn base Son 〈◊〉 Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth was recovered from the King oâ— England by the earnest sollicitations of the Abboâ—â— of Conwey and Ystratflur who conveying it to Conwey bestowed upon it a very pompous and honourable Enterment After this the Affairs of the Welch proceeded A.D. 1255 â—â—aceably for a long while and the Country had sufâ—â—â—ient opportunity to recover its former plenty but 〈◊〉 last to make good the Proverb that Plenty begets â—â—ar they began for want of a foreign Enemy to â—â—arrel and fall out among themselves Owen was too â—â—gh and ambitious to be satisfied with half the Prinpality and therefore must needs have a fling at the â—hole wherein Fortune so far deceived him that he â—â—st his own Stake as will afterwards appear But â—â—e better to encompass his Design by sly Insinuaâ—â—ons he persuaded David his younger Brother to seâ—â—nd his Cause and they with joynt Interest levied â—â—eir Power with intention to dethrone their elder â—â—other Lhewelyn But that was no easie matter 〈◊〉 Lhewelyn was prepared to receive them and with puissant Army met them in the Field and so was â—â—â—olved to venture all upon the fortune of a Battel 〈◊〉 was strange and grievous to behold this unnatural â—ivil War and the more grievous now by reason â—â—at it so manifestly weakened the strength of the Welch to withstand the Incursions of the English â—ho were extremely pleased with so fair an opportuâ—â—ty to fall upon them But they were too far enâ—â—ged to consider of future Inconveniencies and a â—â—yal of War they must have though the English â—ere ready to fall upon both Armies The Battel â—eing joyned the day proved bloody of both sides â—nd whether was like to conquer was not presently discovered till at length Owen began to give â—round and in fine was overthrown himself and his â—rother David being taken Prisoners Lhewelyn â—â—ough he had sufficient reason would not put his â—rothers to death but committing them into close Prison seized all their Estates into his own hands â—nd so enjoyed the whole Principality of Wales The English seeing the Welch at this rate oppress â—nd destroy one another thought they had full liberty to deal with them as they pleased and thereâ—pon began to exercise all manner of Wrong and Inâ—ustice against them insomuch that the next Year all A.D. 1256 the Lords of Wales came in a body to Prince Lhewelyn and declared their Grievances how unmercifully Prince Edward whom his Father had sent to Wales and others of the Nobility of England deale with them how without any colour of Justice they seized upon their Estates without any room for Appeal whereas if themselves offended in the least they were punished to the utmost extremity In fine they solemnly declared that they preferred to dye honourably in the Field before to be so unmercifully enslaved to the Will and Pleasure of Strangers Prince Lhewelyn was not a Stranger to all this and now having happily discovered the Bent and Inclination of his Subjects was resolved to prosecute if possible the Expulsion of
his Death more lamented by the English Nation who had he lived to sit upon the Helm no one doubted but that he would have exceeded as to all Qualifications the most glorious Renown of the greatest of his Ancestors In the time of Edward the Third lived Sir Tudor Vaughan ap Grono descended lineally from Ednyfed Vaughan a Person as to Estate Power and Interest one of the Chiefest in North Wales Upon some motive either of Ambition or Fancy he assumed to himself the Honor of Knighthood requiring all People to call and stile him Sir Tudor ap Grono as if he did prognosticate and fore-see that out of his Loyns should arise those that should have Power to confer that Honor. King Edward being informed of such unparallell'd Presumption sent for Sir Tudor and asked him With what Confidence he durst invade his Prerogative by assuming the degree of Knighthood without his Authority Sir Tudor replied That by the Laws and Constitution of King Arthur he had the Liberty of taking upon himself that Title in regard he had those three Qualifications which whosoever was endued with could by those Laws claim the Honor of a Knight 1. He was a Gentleman 2. He had a sufficient Estate And 3. He was Valiant and Adventurous adding this withal If my Valour and Hardiness be doubted of loe here I throw down my Glove and for due proof of my Courage I am ready to Fight with any Man whatever he be The King appproving and liking well the Man's forwardness and resolution was easily persuaded to confirm the Honor of Knighthood upon him From this Sir Tudor lineally descended Henry the Seventh King of England who was the Son of Edmund Earl of Richmond the Son of Sir Owen Tudor Son to Meredith the Son of this Sir Tudor ap Gono After the Death of the Black Prince his Son Richard born at Bourdeaux in France being but Ten Years of age was created Prince of Wales at Havering at Bowre on the 20th day of November and in the A.D. 1377 50th Year of Edward the Third his Grandfather's reign whom he succeeded in the Crown of England Henry born at Monmouth Son and Heir to Henry the Fourth King of England upon the 15th of October in the 1st Year of his Father's reign was created Prince of Wales at Westminster who succeeded his Father in the English Crown by the Name of Henry the Fifth Whilst Richard the Second reigned one Owen ap Gruffydh Fychan descended of a younger Son of Gruffydh ap Madoc Lord of Bromfield was not a little Famous This Owen had his Education in one of the Inns-of-Court where he became Barister at Law and afterwards in very great Favour and Credit served King Richard and continued with him at Flint Castle till at length the King was taken by Henry Duke of Lancaster Betwixt this Owen and Reginald Lord Gray of Rhuthyn there happened no small Difference touching a Common lying between the Lordship of Rhuthyn whereof Reginald was Owner and the Lordship of Glyndowrdwy in the possession of Owen whence he borrowed the Name of Glyndwr During the reign of Richard the Second Owen as being a Courtier and in no mean esteem with the King did over-power Reginald who was neither so well befriended at Court nor beloved in the Country as Owen was But after King Richard's deposal the Scene was altered and Reginald as then better befriended than Owen entred upon the Common which occasioned Owen in the first Year of Henry the Fourth to make his Complaint in Parliament against him for thus divesting him of his Right No redress being found the Bishop of St. Asaph wished the Lords to take care that by thus slighting his Complaint they did not irritate and provoke the Welch to an Insurrection to which some of the Lords replied That they did not fear those rascally bare-foâ—ted People Glyndwr therefore perceiving how his Petition was slighted in Parliament and finding no other method to redress himself having several Friends and Followers put himself in Arms against Reginald and meeting him in the Field overcame and took him prisoner and spoiled his Lordship of Rhuthyn Upon this many resorted to him from all parts of Wales some thinking him to be in as great Favour now as in King Richard's days others putting in his head that now the time was come when the Britains by his means might again recover the Honor and Liberties of their Ancestors But Reginald being thus kept prisoner and very severely handled by Owen to terrify him into compliance with him in his rebellious Actings and not permitted to have his Liberty under Ten Thousand Marks for his Ransom whereof Six Thousand to be paid upon the Feast of St. Martyn in the 4th Year of Henry the Fourth and to deliver up his eldest Son with some other Persons of Quality as Hostages for the remainder the King at the humble sute of Reginald seeing no other way for his enlargement gave way thereto authorizing Sir William de Roos Sir Richard de Grey Sir William de Willughby Sir William le Zouche Sir Hugh Huls as also John Harvey William Vaus John Lee John Langford Thomas Payne and John Elnestow to treat with Owen and his Council and to conclude in what they should conceive most expedient and necessary to be done for his redemption Whereupon they consenting to give the sum demanded by Glyndwr for his deliverance the King gave License to Robert Braybroke Bishop of London as also to Sir Gerard Braybroke the Father and Sir Gerard the Son then Feoffees of divers Lordships for this Reginald to sell the Mannor of Hertelegh in the County of Kent towards the raising of that Money And for the better enabling him to pay so great a Fine the King was pleased to grant that whereas it was enacted that such Persons who were owners of Lands in Ireland and did not there reside should for such their neglect forfeit two parts of the Profits of them to the King that notwithstanding this Act he should forfeit nothing for non-residence there during the term of six years next ensuing This good Success over the Lord Gray together with the numerous resort of the Welch to him and the favourable interpretations of the Prophecies of Merdhyn which some construed very advantagioussy made the swelling mind of Glyndwr overflow its Banks and gave him some hopes of restoring this Island back to the Britains Wherefore he set upon the Earl of March who met him with a numerous party of Hereford-shire Men but when they came to close the Welch-men proved too powerful and having killed above a Thousand Men of the English they took the Earl of March Prisoner King Henry upon this was frequently requested to Ransom the Earl but to no purpose for whether by reason that Mortimer had a juster Title to the Crown than himself he being the next Heir in Blood after King Richard who was as yet living or because of some other private odium the King would