BRITISH Antiquities revived OR A friendly Contest touching the soveraignty of the three Princes of VVales in ancient times managed with certain arguments whereunto answers are applyed By ROBERT VAUGHAN Esq To which is added the Pedegree of the right Honourable the Earl of CARBERY Lord President of WALES with A Short account of the five Royall Tribes of CAMBRIA by the same Author Sunt duo tresve qui revelvant Nostrarum tineas ineptiarum Martial l. 11. OXFORD Printed by HEN HALL Printer to the University for THOMAS ROBINSON 1662. To the right worshipfull Sr. RICHARD WYNNE of GWEDIR Baronet and Knight for the County of CARNARVAN in this present Parlament SIR I Had designed this small Treatise being the first fruits of my study in Antiquities for your honoured Father but failing of my purpose by reason of his death which was untimely to his friends though not to himself I thought I might not without being highly injurious present a thing once devoted to him to any else besides your self who as his heir might lay a just claime to it and also to my most humble services I promise my self you will vouchsafe it a kind entertainment since I know both your goodnesse and your interest in the subject as lineally descended from the Princes of Northwales whose rights are therein maintained are more then sufficient to oblige you thereto The writing of it was upon this occasion some Gentlemen of Southwales being dissatisfied with Caradoc of Lancarvan's History of Wales published by Dr. Powel in regard that therein the Prince of Northwales is held forth to be Soveraigne over the other two Princes of Southwales and Powis as being of the elder house thought fit in order to the compiling of a more exact history to draw up certain arguments for the soveraignty of all Wales to be in the Prince of Southwales and to send them also into Northwales to see what could be said in answer to them before any further use should be made of them They were delivered by Sr. Thomas Canon late of Pembrokeshire Kt. to Sr. John Lloyd of the Inner Temple Kt. and Sergeant at Law who delivered them to me above 40 years ago desiring I would take the pains to peruse and answer them as well as I was able At his intreaty I undertook it and as you will find done somewhat in it though in a rude manner which I hope will be excused in a person whose only designe is plainly to set forth the truth which shews alwaies best in its own proper colours without the elaborate dresse and varnish of Rhetorick But some men possibly may object against this undertaking of mine that it was needlesse and that if it had been to any end it was no discretion to revive and publish an old Contest long since God be praised happily decided I confesse we have reason to blesse God for his mercy to us in our happy establishment under one Monarch we may well say we were conquered to our gain and undone to our advantage periissemus nisi periissemus But yet it must be granted that it is no small delight that redounds from the revolving and perusall of old records though Troy hath for severall ages layn buried in its ashes both its glory and government being quite dissolved though the Athenian Spartan Theban and other petit Grecian Estates have long since had their periods yet we still take a great deale of satisfaction in reading their stories how they began grew up flourished strove decayed Besides there may be this good use made of it viz that by reflecting upon our former miseries and divisions while we contended for soveraignty we may be induced to put the greater value upon our present happinesse Thus having given you an account of the worke and what I had to say in its defence I commend it to your protection and with my prayers to God for you and your noble family remain Sir Your faithfull Servant at command ROB VAUGHAN Hengwrt May the 9th 1662. The state of the Question RODERIC the great King of Wales about Aâ— Dom 876. did dispose the three Principalities thereof to three of his sons viz. Southwales to Caedelh who is maintained in this Treatise to be the Eldest Northwales to Anarawd who is held by some late writers of Northwales to be the Eldest and Powis to Mervyn who is held by some other writers of Northwales to be the Eldest which being least probable as touching Mervyn the Question here is Whether Cadell or Anarawd were the Eldest son of Roderic the great and which of them had the soveraigne power and rule over all Wales Arguments proving Cadelh Prince of Southwales to be the Eldest Son of Roderic the great King of Wales and that he and his issue after him had a superiority over the rest of the Princes over his two Brethren and the Descendants from them The first Argument THE principalitie of Powys after the death of Mervyn the youngest Brother who died without issue according to the most credible writers of the Antiquities of VVales descended to Cadelh as the Eldest brother and Heir and from him to Howel Dha his Son and so to Bledhyn ap Convyn by due course of inheritance from Cadelh And for the opinion that Mervyn had a Son named Lhewelyn whose Daughter and Heir was married to Mredith ap Owen third son of Owen ap Howel Dha and great Grandchild to Cadelh and that thereby Powys came to the line of Cadelh it is fit the authority thereof do appear before it receive credit Likewise whereas some Writers for Northwales do alledge that Cadâ—lh took Powys by force from his brethren after the death of his brother Mervyn it is therefore impliedly confessed that Mervyn had no children and it is not unlike that he actually entred into and seized Powys as his inheritance and that his brethren might pretend to have portions there by Gavel-kind upon the death of their brother Mervyn But could he carry a principality from all the race of Roderic who had diverse sons besides those three princes by strong hand and without right or opposition whereas it doth not appear throughout the whole course of the histories of Wales that either there was any stirre or claime made by the prince of Northwales or any of the descent of Roderic for Powys or any entries made by them into that country untill after the soveraignty thereof came to the King of England by the conquering of Rees ap Theodor that they made head in those parts as in other parts of Wales against the invasion of the Lords Marchers whereas they might have done it most easily seeing it wholly bordereth on Northwales and is farthest from Southwales and especially being incited and warranted thereunto for recovery of their right And if a judgment may be made that that which is ill gotten cannot long endure Et de male partis tertius haeres non gaudebit then let the long continued descent of diverse parts of
Angharad Prince Llewelyn ap Sitsyllt's widow who was slaine A. D. 1021. to marry Convyn Blethyn's father 1022. Now Gwaethvoed of Cardigan could not be ancienter then Blethyn if so ancient will appear if we examine the 2d book and 4th ch of Giraldus Cambrâ—nsis his Itinerarium Cambriae there we may find that in the year 1188 when Baldwin Arch-Bishop of Canterbury visited Wales with Giraldus in his company to perswade the Welsh to list themselves for the holy war against the Saracens that there was a son of this Gwaethvoed's an aged man then living called Ednowen a Lay Abbot of Lanbadern vawr in Cardiganshire being a 115 years just after the death of Blethyn ap Cynvyn therefore we must needs conclude this Gwaethvoed could not live long before Blethyn and if he did live before him any time he could not so long before him as to be his Grandfather Besides that Gwaethvoed the Earl of Carbery's Ancestor was a distinct person from Gwaethvoed of Cardigan and far ancienter may from hence further be gathered viz. that the generations from him to our time are more in number then the generations from Gwaethvoed of Cardigan as appears by this instance to wit my Lord Vaughan the Earlâ—s son is the 21th generation from Gwaethvoed his Ancestour whereas Sr. Richard Price of Gogerddan Baronet descended from Gwaethvoâ—d of Cardigan my Lord 's equall in age is but the 17th in descent from that Gwaâ—thvoed Also we read in our books of one Morvydh daughter to Yayr ddu King of Gwent now Monmouthshire who lived in King Athâ—lstan's time A. D. 921. as Rog Hovenden hath it recorded that married one Gwaethvoed which could not be that of Cardigan who as is said having a son living 1188. cannot rationally be supposed to be born before the year 1000 or thereabouts but may very well be that Gwaethvoed of Powis the Ancestour of Blethyn this Gwaethvoed might very well be Blethyn's great grandfather there being a 100 years difference of time and above between them The Pedegree of the right honourable Sr. RICHARD VAUGHAN Earl of Carbery Lord Viscount Molingar Baron of Emlyn and Lord President of the Marches of WALES Gwaithvoed vawr Lord of Powis Morvydd da coheir of Yayr ddu king of Gwent Gwerystan Lord of Powis Nest danghter of Cadell ap Brochw l. Convyn Lord of Powis Aagharad Queen of Wales da heir of Mredith ap Owen king of Wales the relict of Llywelyn ap Bledhyn ap Cyâ—vyn King of Wales Haer da coheir of Cilliâ—â— Blaidd rudd of Seissylt Gest Meredith ap Bleddyn Prince of Powis Hunyth da of Eynydd Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis Eva da of Madoc ap Urien ap Egmir ap Lles ap Idaerth Benvras of Maesbroke ER. Gh. Enion Evell Arddyn da. of Madoc Van ap Madoc ap Enion hael ap Urien of Main Gwinedd R. C. Run ap Enion Elizabeth da to Jo. Lord Strange of Cnoâ—kin Gh. ER. Cyhelyâ— ap Rhâ—â— Eva da. and heir of Grono ap Cadwgan Saethydd Lord of Henvache Gh. ER. Ivaf ap Cyhelyn Eva da to Adda ap Awr of Trevor Gh. ER. Madoc Coch. Lleuki da of Howel goch ap Mared Van c. to Bleddyn ap Cynvyn Gh. ER. Madoc Kyffin the da of Griffith ap Rees ap Madoc ap Ririd Ulaidd Gh. David ap Mad. Kyffin Catharin da of Morgan ap Davydd ap Madoc ap David Van ap David up Griff. ap Jorwerth ap Howel ap Moriddig ap Sandde Gh. RC. David Va. of Gartheryr Gwervyl da to Griffith ap Rees ap Griffith ap Madoc ap Jorwerth ap Madoc ap Ririd ulaidd Gh. Griffith Vaugh. Tibod da to Meredith ap Tudur ap Gronw ap Howel y gadair Gh. Hugh Vaughan Esq Jane da of Moris ap Owen ap Griff. ap Nicôlas Gh. John Vaugh. Esq Catherin da. of Harry ap Trahayarn of Bodlysgwm Gh Walter Vaugh. of Golden Grove Mary da. of Griffith Rees of Tresnewyth in Carmartbin shire John Earl of Carbury c. Margaret da. of Sr. Gely Meuric Kt. Richard Earl of Carbury c. Alice da. of John Earl of Bridgewater He beareth Or. a lyoa rampant G. the coat of Blethyn ap Kynvyn not the Coat of Prince Madoc ap Meredith being A. a lyon rampant S. armed and langued G. The 5. Royall Tribes of Cambria 1. GRiffith ap Conan King of Northwales is the first registred in our books he was the Grandchild of Prince Jago ap Edwal whose son Conan was forced to fly into Ireland for safety where he married Ranullt daughter of Auloedd King of Dublin Man and the Isles and the reliâ—â— of Mathganyn King of Vlster and had issue by her this Griffith He beareth G. 3 lioncels passant in pale barry A. armed Az. 2. Rees ap Tewdwr mawr the second Royall Tribe who took upon him the government of Southwales A. D. 1077. G. a Lyon rampant Or. within a bordure indented 3. Blethyn ap Cynvyn the third royall Tribe was King of Northwales and Prince of Powis and after the death of his grandfather Meredith ap Owen Prince of Southwales he became King of all Wales Or a Lyon rampant G. armed and langued Or. 4. The fourth Royall tribe Elystan Glodrydd Prince of the country between Wy and Severne He was the son of Cyhelyn ap Jvâ—r by Rhiâ—ingar the daughter and heir of Grâ—nw ap Tuder Trevor from whom he had derived to him the title of the Earldome of Hereford Athelstan King of England was his Godfather Elystan's two Coates quartered A. 3 boars heads cobazed S. langued G. tusked Or. His Mothers Coaâ— Parted per Bend sinister Ermine and ermines over all a lyon rampant Or. 5. Jestyn ap Gurgant the fifth Royall Tribe was Prince or Lord of Glamorgan he descended from Iewdric King of Gwent in King Arthur's time He lost his Country to Robert Fitz hamon the Norman and his 12 knights whom by the procurement of Eneon ap Cadivor ap Colwyâ— he had hired to come with an army to assist him against Rees ap Tewdwr Prince of Southwales Blethyn ap Maenyrch Lord of Breeknock a just judgment upon him for his disloyalty to the said Rees his Lord Prince God being pleased suddenly to permit treachery to be punishedwith treachery Rees and Blethyn after a very bloudy fight not far from Brecknock were both slaine in the field G. 3 cheâ—onels in pale A. Prince Griffith ap Conan Rees ap Tewawr and Blethyn ap Cynvyn made diligent search after the Armes Ensignes and Pedegrees of their Ancestours the Nobility and Kings of the Britains what they discovered by their pains in any papers and records was afterwards by the Bards digested and put into books And they ordained 5. royall Tribes there being only 3 before to whom their pollerity to this day can derive themselves and also 15 speciall Tribes of whom the Gentry especially of Northwales are for the most part descended And in our books we have mention of the Tribe of the Marcâ—â— c. besides other Tribes called Gweâ—â—lyth and Gwehelaethan THE END
prince of Southwales and attributing the same wholly to the power of a third son whereas it is evident that he had neither force nor authority to perform it but as his fathers minister and subject whom his father thought good to honour with the fruit of his valour and victory being atchieved propriâ manu not proprio marte more then the conquests of the famous prince Edward called the black prince whose everlasting honours they are but the possessory right of them was to his fathers crown And it is to be observed that as the division of Wales by Roderic the great did give the ground of the subduing thereof to the crown of England so it bred these preparatives thereunto first the continuall usurpation of the Descendants of Anarawd upon his lawfull heirs Insomuch as for 200 yeares after the division five of that line did intermissively usurp the government of Northwales and only two lawfull princes ruled there and those not past 12 yeares if they be allowed to be the issue of Anarawd which some writers of Northwales do gainsay in which licentious times one Aedan ap Blegored a meer private man neither of the bloud of the Prince nor of the Nobility that any antiquity doth record intruded into the government and held it 12. yeares untill he was expelled by the prince of Southwales Secondly it gave the Danes and English opportunity to invade and weaken all the parts of Wales who were often called in by the usurpers of Northwales to joyn with them against the prince of Southwales By those occasions the princes of Southwales as supreme lords of Wales for the generall quiet preservation thereof did seize assume into their hands the government of Northasales wherein six of them ruled the said 200. yeares which had not they done the government in all likelihood had been in that time translated from the race of Roderic the great But in the end of those 200 yeares Rees ap Theodor prince of Southwales with great valour and wisdome did overcome all these long grown evills and being the most powerfull prince that was since Roderic the great and lineal heir to Cadelh expelled Trahern ap Caradoc the last usurper of Northwales and placed Griffith ap Conan who was held to be the lawfull prince of the house of Anarawd in the quiet and settled possession thereof which honourable dealing was very ill requited by Griffith ap Conan towards the son of Rees ap Theodor in his distresse as shall be after declared By all which may appear the generall care of the princes of Southwales over the whole dominion of Wales derived from their supreme power authority and jurisdiction For confirmation hereof it is further to be observed that sithence the said division no prince of Northwales did ever rule in Southwales or by any occasion did make claime to the principality thereof and therefore upon this disposing of the principality of Northwales by the princes of Southwales it is further concluded that the princes of Southwales were the soveraign princes of Wales The Answer IT is recorded by Caradocus that Anarawd King of Northwales made a road into the country of Cardigan Ystradtywi the possession of his brother Cadelh but being that the Author alleageth not the cause thereof as whether it were lawfull or unlawfull it might with better reason be said that it was made for the defect of Payment of the Tribute due to the crown of Abersraw from Southwales then such a Rebellion as thereby forfeiture of Royalty should ensue and considering also that no chastisement was executed by Cadelh or Howel Dha his son upō Anarawd who lived long after it may seem great rigor and tyranny in him and much to derogate from his title of Dha that is the good if he did deprive Idwal's son of his inheritance for the offence of Anarawd his grandfather committed many yeares before his birth not upon the countries of Howel as you say but of Cadelh his father Therefore if you hold his coming to Northwales to be upon good and lawfull grounds it will be your best course rejecting offences and forfeitures wholly to stick to the incapacity of the heir of Northwales by reason whereof Howel's coming to Northwales whether it were as being next of blood able and worthy to undertake such a charge or by the appointment of his cousen Idwal foreseeing perhaps the weaknesse of his son or else by the election of the people was good just and lawfull And in regard of his said regency over the house of Northwales and the right thereunto belonging I do confesse that he was the soveraign prince of all Wales But considering that after his death the other sons of Idwal Voel and their successors the princes of Northwales recovered and held as I said before as well the soveraignty of all Wales as the rule of Northwales it plainly appears that the right of soveraignty belonged not to Southwales Moreover Owen the son of Howel Dha was never ruler of Northwales nor had any action against Cadwalhon ap Jeuaf whereby to deprive him of his Crown and Kingdome as you say neither is it likely if he had so conquered him that he would preferre his yonngest son to the Government of that Kingdome lest by exalting the younger brother to honours and dignities above the elder discord and sedition might breed between them and in a word your own countryman Caradocus that lived about 250 years after this time attributeth the overthrow of Cadwalhon ap Jevaf and conquest of Northwales to the only power of Mredith ap Owen who then in his Mothers right did rule all Powis land whereby his power to undertake that voyage may plainly appear in these words Mredyth ap Owein a lathawdh Cadwallawn ap Jevaf drwy fuddugoliaeth a chaffael meddiant oi gyuoeth sef gwyneth a Mon a ddarystngawdh iddaw that is Mredith ap Owen slew Cad ap Jeuaf in battell and seised on his dominions for Northwales and the isle of Anglesey submitted to him Here is no mention had of Owen or his power and therefore our writers of Northwales being only Interpreters of your Caradocus are free from that scandalous imputation that you charge them with And Lhewelyn ap Seissyllt prince of Southwales who overcame Aedan ap Blegowryd did not challenge the regency of Northwales for Jago the son of Idwal the lawfull heir as is thought was not as yet in full age as appertaining any way to the crown of Southwales as you could wish it but as he was next heir of blood unto the said Jago for as Caradocus saith he was descended from the kings of Wales by the mother side whose name was Trawst the daughter and heir of Elissau the second son of Anarawd the eldest son of Roderic the great and by that meanes according to the same Author he claimed and enjoyed the right of Northwales therefore his coming to the rule of that Kindome doth not at all favour or confirme
sororis sui Here is you see most infallible proof that Gwlades was not the sole sister and heir of David but the only sister of Griffith Lhâ—welyn the great his eldest son who by equity should have succeeded his father in the principality of Wales although you and others do averre that he was a Bastard but how truly I appeale to the judgment of impartiall Antiquaries for do but equally consider whether a Bastard would offer to disquiet his father and Prince because he intended that his lawfull heir should succeed him in his dominions or presume to bandy with the legitimate heir for his due inheritance or whether the King of England would maintaine such an execrable quarrell against his naturall nephew or the Lords of VVales against their true legitimate prince in a Bastard's behalf These circumstances might satisfy that Griffith was not only born in wedlock but also the right proper prince of Wales by inheritance Consider likewise how Lhewelyn called all the Lords and Barons of Wales before him to Ystratflur and caused them to swear to be faithfull subjects and to do homage to David his son and that long before his death which had been needlesse and frivolous if David had been his heir and Griff his bastard consider I say how that Henry the third immediately after the death of Griffith assuming the title of his said prisoner into his own hands intituled his eldest son Edw to the principality of Wales accounting David no lawfull prince as it appears thereby yea and how that neither the Bruses Lords of Brechnock Lacies Earls of Lincoln nor any other that married Prince Davids sisters of the whole blood pretended any right to the principality of Wales after his death though he left no issue or his body to survive him which such mighty persons would hardly have omitted if David had been the true heir of Leoline the great and lawfull prince of Wales â—urthermore David Benvras in a funerall Elegy to Lhewelyn and his two sons gives them in generall the name of Princes and prefers Griff before David Whereupon I do conclude that if Griff had been a bastard in all likelihood the Bard would not presume to prefer him before David being legitimate neither have given him the title of Prince but that it was his Birth-right Again Polydor Virgil in the 16. book of his History of England denoteth that Griff was his fathers lawfull heir and that David was an usurper of the principality upheld by the King of Englana's favour in these words Id temporis Lewelinus Walliae princeps è vita migravit deinde inter Gruffinum David filios ejus de principatu disceptatum est quem ad ultimum David etsi minor natu favente Henrico assecutus est and a little after multos Wallorum miserebat casus Griffini qui per proditionem avito principatu fraudatus in carcere esset insidebatque in illorum animis tanti facinoris memoria Adde hereunto how Leolinus Gervaâ—ii filius desponsavit Tanglwist de qua genuit Griffith as I said before adde I say the testimony of the book of Hergest before mentioned with the which agrees John Griff Eyton an Author of above an hundred and fifty years antiquity Here I might cite the opinion of Guttun Owen and the Bards who with one consent do testify that Gr was his fathers eldest son and heir apparent whose testimonies seeing their function was nothing else but truly to decant the famous deeds and true pedegrees of the Princes and Nobility of Wales I hold it good reason that we follow and preferre before the traditions of Strangers who most commonly being enemies to the Welchmen were carelesse of their affaires and therefore apt to erre in relating their histories especially since they looked upon it as their interest to conceale or extenuate rather then declare their glory And the Translators of the Chrâ—nicle of VVales tracing their steps and forgetting the fidelity of Translation added at their pleasure that Griffith was a Bastard and that Gwlades was the sister of David going besides the old text wherein you shall find no such matter Also Bastards by the lawes of Howel Dha were excluded from any share of inheritance with their Brethren legitimate but Gruff as Dr. Powell out of Math Paris relateth claimed a portion of his fathers inheritance according to the customes of VVales even so much as of right ought to appertain unto him VVhich words do insinuate that he was ready to prove his Father and Mothers marriage lawfully consummated And David confesseth a portion due to his Brother when in the third article of his submission to H. 3. he saith Item I and the said Griffith and either of us shall hold our portions of land of our said soveraign Lord the King in capite Lastly the Bastards of the Princes of VVales were not tolerated to bear their fathers Arms and if permitted yet not without difference as may be observed in the Coats of Madoc the son of Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis David goch the son of David Lord of Denbigh and Fradhsham Eneon and Cynwric twinnes the sons of Mad ap Mred Prince of Powis and Tegwared y bais wen being the Bastard of Prince Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth had therefore a peculiar Coat of Arms given him and his posterity to wit Ar. a cheveron S. charged with 3. Mullets pierced But Griffith father of Llywelyn the last Prince gave his fathers Coat without any change or difference at all and so did his progeny after him which proveth that he was lawfully born These reasons and testimonies do perswade me to think that Griffith was unworthily defamed of Bastardy and deâ—eated of his Birthright under that pretence But in regard herein I thwart the judgment of good Antiquaries both ancient and modern I leave the matter to a farther debate The tenth Argument THE late writers of Northwales cannot agree whether Mervyn or Anarawd were elder Mr. Humphry Lloyd following Giraldus preferreth Mervyn Doctor Powel Anarawd How can they then fitly decide this point or conclude against Cadelh to be the eldest It is probable that Giraldus living in Henry 2ds time being a native of VVales and best seen of any as his works do shew in the antiquities thereof and living in a time when there were more store of them then now are or have been in this last age and otherwise a great learned man and Bishop of St. Davids had as good grounds and helps to prove for Mervyn as any later writer for Anarawd Therefore upon this doubt and uncertainty which of these two were elder it is safest for the truth to agree upon so good authorities and grounds of reasons for Cadelh to be the eldest which is confirmed also by the authentick Authority of a countrey man of Northwales David Nantmor the famous Bard who was and still is of such estimation in Northwales as none will contradict any thing written by him Neither would he have declared the truth so plainly