great Army to Caerdigan and first he fortified the Castle of Stratmeryc and afterwards the Castle of Humphrey of Dyny of Dynerth and Lhanristyd when these Castles were well manned and fortified VValter Clifford who had the Castle of Lhanyndhyfir made a road to the roads of Rees and returned with a booty after the slaughter of some of Rees his men Upon this Rees sent to the King to complain and to have a Redress who had only fair words and nothing else for the King winked at the faults of the Englishmen and Normans and punished the Welshmen cruelly Rees seeing this begirt the Castle of Lhanyndhyfri and in short space wan it And Enedon the son of Anarawd Rees brothers son being a lusty Gentleman and desirous to make his Countrey free from servitude and perceiving his Unkle to be discharged of his Oath to the King laid siege to the Castle of Humphrey and by force wan it putting the whole Garrison to the sword wherein he found Horses and Armour to furnish a great number of men Likewise Rees seeing he could enjoy no part of his inheritance but what he obtained by the sword gathered his power and entred Cardigan left not a Castle standing in the whole Countrey of those which his enemies had fortified and so brought all under his subjection Wherewith the King being highly offended returned to South Wales and when he saw he could do no good he suffered Rees to enjoy all that he had gotten and took pledges of him to keep the peace in his absence and then returning into England he sailed into Normandy and made Peace with the French King But the next year Rees Prince of South Wales did lead his power to Dynet and destroyed all the Castles that the Normans had fortified there and afterward laid siege to Caermarthyn which when Reignold the Earl of Bristoll the Kings base son heard he called to him the Earl of Clare and his brother in law Cadwalader the brother of Prince Owen with Howell and Conan Prince Owens sons and two other Earls and came to raise the siege with a great Army whose coming Rees stayed not but betook him to the Mountains called Kefu Rester and there kept himself and they camped at Dynwyl hîc and built a Castle there who after they could not heard of Rees returned home without doing any notable act year 1160 In the year 1160 dyed Madoc ap Meredith ap Blethyn Prince of Powis at Winchester This man was ever the King of Englands friend and was one that feared God and relieved the poor his body was conveyed honourably to Powis and buryed in Mynot He had by his wife Susanna the daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales three sons Gruffith Maylor Owen Elise and a daughter also called Marred he had base sons Owen Brogynton Kynric Evelh and Endon Evelh which base sons were not basely esteemed for with the other they had part of their Fathers inheritance and so had others through Wales if they were stout and of noble courage And here I think it convenient to declare how Powis land came to be divided into so many parcels and thereby weakned and brought under the Normans before the rest of Wales Meredyth son to Blethyn ap Convyn Prince of Powis had two sons Madoc of whom we spake and Gruffith between whom Powis was divided Madoc had that part which was called Powis Vadoc which part again was subdivided into three parts betwixt his three sons Gruffith and Maylor had Bromfield Yale Hope Dale Manhewdwy Mochnant ù Rhayard Chirk Glynlhayth and Glyndoverdwy Owen Vachan had Mechain Iscoyd And Owen Brogynton had Dynmael and Edeyrneon The other part of Powis called after Powis Wenwynwyn was the part of Gruffith ap Meredyth after whose death his son called Owen Civilioc enjoyed it The Lordship of Powis before King Offa's time reached Eastward to the Rivers Dee and Severn from a right line from the end of Broxen hills to Salop with all the Country betwen Wy and Severne whereof Brochwel Yscithroc was possessed but after the making of Offa's ditch the plain Country toward Salop being inhabited by Saxons and Normans Powis was in length from Pulford bridge Northeast to the confines of Caerdiganshire in the parish of Lhanguric in the Southwest and in breadth from the furthest part of Cyvilioc Westwards to Elsmere on the Eastside This Country or principality of Powis was appointed by Roderike the great for the portion of his third sons Anarawd and so continued entirely untill the death of Blethyn ap Convyn After whom although the Dominion was diminished by limiting parts in severality amongst his sons Meredyth and Cadogan yet at length it came wholy to the possession of Meredyth ap Blethyn who had issue two sons Madoc and Gruffith between whom the said Dominion was divided Madoc married Susan the daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales and had that part which was after called from his name Powis Vadoc which dominion and signiory was divided and so forth see Mr. Powel fol. 216. The same year Cadwalhon ap Madoc ap Ednerth was taken by his brother Eneon Clyd and delivered to Owen Prince of Northwales A help to English History printed by Abel Roper MDCIL who sent him to the Kings Officers to be imprisoned at VVinchester from whence he escaped presently after and came to his country The year next following dyed Meiric Bishop of Bangor Bangor another of the Bishopricks of VVales is of antient standing but by whom founded saith this Author not yet known the Cathedral there is dedicated by the name of St Daniel who was Bishop there about the year 516 Bangor which being cruelly defaced by the wretched Rebel Owen Glendour was afterward repaired by Henry Dean who was once there Bishop The ruine of this bishoprick came in the time of bishop Bulkhey a blessed Reformer questionlesse who not content to alienate and let out lands Sacriledge by miracle punished made a sale also of the bells and going to the Seashore to see them shipt in his return was stricken with a suddain blindnesse This Diocess containeth in it the entire Country of Carnarvon wherein Bangor standeth and the whole Isle of Anglesey together with parts of Denbigh Merioneth and Mongomery and in them to the number of 107 Parishes whereof 36 impropriated It hath moreover in it three Archdeaconries viz. of Bangor Anglesey and Merioneth one of which is added to the bishoprick for support thereof This Bishoprick was valued in the Kings books 131 l. 16 s. 4d. and answereth for the Clergies tenth 151 l. 14s 3d. q. Bishops of Bangor An. Ch.  516 1 St. Daniel  2 Hernaeus translated to Ely 1120 3 David 1139 4 Maurituis  5 Gulielmus  6 Guido alias Gwianus 1195 7 Albanus 1197 8 Robertus de Salopia 1215 9 Caducan alias Cadogan 1236 10 Howel 1267 11 Richardus 1306 12 Anianus  13 Cadogan II. 1306 14 Griffith 1320 15 Lodovicus 1334 16
prison but shortly after by Gods help they broke the prison and escaped home In the year 1199. Maelgon son to prince Rees laid seige to the Castle of Dinerth and getting it slew all the Garrison which his brother Gruffith had left to defend it But at the same time Gruffith won the Castle of Cilgarran and fortified it This year as King Richard did view the Castle of Chalens in France The end of K. Rich. and beginning of K. Johns reign he was strucken with a quarrel and sore wounded whereof he dyed the ninth of Aprill and left by his Testament John his brother Inheritor of all his lands having no respect to Arthur who being son of an elder brother was right heir The year after Gruffith son of Conan ap Owen Gwineth a noble man died Noblemen buried in Monks habits and was buryed in a Monks Cowle at the Abbey of Conwey and so were all the Nobles for the most part of that time buried This year Maelgon ap Rees seeing he could not well keep Aberteini The Key of Wales sold treacherously of very spite to his brother and hatred to his Country sold it to the Englishmen for a small summe of money being the very key of VVales The same year Madoc the son of Gruffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield did build the Abbey of Lhannegwest called in English commonly Vale Crucis The year 1201 Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth Prince of North Wales being a proper young Chivalier banished out of the land his cozen Meredyth the son of Conan ap Owin Gwyneth suspected of Treason and seized the Cantref of Lhyyn and Evvyonyth to his own hands which were Conans lands Then shortly after Meredyth the son of P. Rees was slain at Carnwelhion by Treason year 1202 whose elder brother Gruffith seized upon his Castle in Lhanymdhfri and all his lands this Gruffith was a wise and discreet Gentleman and one who was like to bring all South Wales to good order and obedience who in all things followed his Fathers steps whom as he succeeded in Government so did he in all Martial prowess and nobility of mind but cruel fortune which frowned upon that Countrey suffered him not long to enjoy his land this Prince died on St. James day ensuing and was buried at Stratflur with great solemnity he left behinde him a son called Rees as right Inheritor of South Wales whose mother was Maud the daughter of William de Bruse Gwerthryneon Castle destroyed The next year after certain Lords of Wales got the Castle of Gwerthryneon which was Roger Mortimers and laid it plain with the ground Then Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth P. of North Wales calling to memory his Estate and Title and how all the other Princes by the Ordinance of Roderike the great and by the lawes of Howell Dha ought of right to acknowledge the King or P. of North Wales as their liege Lord and hold their lands of him and of none other notwithstanding that of late years by negligence of his predecessors they had not used their accustomed duty but some held of the King of England A Parliament called by the P. of Wales others ruled as Supreme power within their own Countries wherefore he called a Parliament of all the Lords in Wales which for the most part appeared before him and swore to be his liege men but Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis would not come thither nor take the Oath of Allegiance which disobedience the Prince declared to all his Lords and they all thought that it was requisit that Gwenwynwyn should be constrained by force to do his duty or else to lose his lands yet one of his Lords named Elise ap Madoc would not condescend to hurt Gwenwynwyn in any case but departed away suddenly Then Lhewelyn came with an Army to Powis but by the means of certain learned men Gwenwynwyn and the Prince were made friends and Gwenwynwyn became the P. his liege man and confirmed that both by Oath and Writing Then Lhewelyn remembring how Elise ap Madoc had served him seized upon all his lands and Elise fled the Countrey but afterward yielded himself to the Princes mercy who gave him the Castle of Crogen and 7 townships withal Concerning the by-name Crogen And here I think it not amiss to declare the cause why the English call the Welsh Crogens as a word of reproach and despite but if they knew the beginning they should find the contrary for in the voyage which K. Henry the 2d. made against the Welshmen to the Mountains of Berwin as he lay at Oswalstred certain of his men that were sent to try the passages as they would have passed Offas ditch at the Castle of Crogen at which place there was and is at this day a narrow way through the same ditch these men I say as they would have passed the strait Adwy'r bedhev were met withal and a great number slain as doth appear by their graves there yet to be seen whereof the strait beareth the name Therefore the Englishmen after not forgetting the slaughter used to cast the Welshmen in the teeth in all their troubles with the name of Crogen as if they would signifie unto them thereby that they should look for no favour but rather revenge at their hands which word in process of time grew to be taken in another signification Balani Castle fortified Lhanymdhyfri Castle taken Now when Lhewelyn had all those parties in good order he returned to North Wales and by the way fortified the Castle of Balani Penlhyn about the same time Rees son of Gruffith ap Rees by right P. of South Wales got the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri upon Michael-Mass day The Prince of Wales marrieth the King of Englands Daughter About this time Lhewelyn Prince of Wales took to wife Jone daughter of K. John with whom the said King gave the Lordship of Elsmere in the Marches of Wales The year next ensuing the aforesaid Rees ap Gruffith ap Rees got the Castle of Lhangadoc and fortified it to his own use but shortly after Maelgon his Unkle with his friend Gwenwynwyn came with a stronge power before the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri and wan it and from thence they removed to Lhangadoc year 1204 got the same likewise suffering the garrison to depart Gwenwynwyn From thence Maelgon went to Dinerth and finished the Castle which he had begun there About this time David sonne of Owen Gwyneth after that Prince Lhewelyn his nephew had set him at liberty fled to England and got an Army to restore him to his antient estate in North Wales but all in vain for his nephew met him and overthrew him in the way whereupon he returned into England and there shortly after died for very grief and sorrow The next year to this Howell the son to Prince Rees being blind was slain at Cemaes by his brother Maelgons men and buried by his brother Gruffith at Stratflur Although this Maelgon in those dayes bare
number of Servants to attend him according to his estate and dignity which should be at diet in the Kings house untill the said prince should accomplish the age of 14 years and that the King should have all such summes of money as should clearly remain unto the prince due of all manner of Issues and Revenues which the Prince then had in respect of his said Principality Dutchy and Earledom untill the said age of 14. years The said Revenues to be accounted for to the King in his exchequer reserving unto the said Prince untill he should come to be of the age of eight years 1000 l. yearly and from that age till he came at fourteen The K. to have the revenues till the P. accomplish the age of 14 2000 marks yearly for his Wardrobes Wages of Servants and other necessary expences But saving alwaies unto the King the Advousons of Bishopricks and spiritual livings and the gifts of all Offices Wards Reliefs and Escheats belonging to the said Prince untill he should accomplish the said age of fourteen years saving such estate in certain of the said lands as the Queen had to her before the said time assured untill the Prince should be of the said age of fourteen years and saving certain particular summes of money in the said Act of Parliament mentioned as were formerly appointed out of the said lands as well for expence of the Kings of England for their houshould as otherwise during such particular times as are therein declared provided that all Offices formerly granted by the King and needing actual exercise and the Fees to the same should not be prejudiced by the same Act. Afterwards by another Charter Ex Charta Regia dat In Scaccaria penes Rememor Thesaur remoâ—te the said King doth release unto the said Prince all the said Grant of the said yearly summes of money issuing out of the revenues aforesaid and all things by the said Act granted and appointed unto the said King yearly 527 marks 4 s. 7 d. ob and out of the said Dutchy untill the said prince should be of eight years of age then reserving out of the said Principality and Earldom yearly unto the King 277 marks 4 s. 7 d. ob and out of the said Dutchy yearly 517 marks 11 s. 7. ob untill the said age of 14. years of the Prince for the said Dutchy and to be employed towards the charges of the Kings houshould and not otherwise And the said King by his letters Patents dated 18 of January anno regni 35. during the minority of the said Prince ordained the then Archbishop of York In Chartes l. 35. H. 6 part 2. a Privy Councellors appointed to the Prince the bishops of Winchester Hereford Lichfield and Coventry and the Lord Keeper of the privy Seal the Earles of Shrewsbury Stafford and Wilts the then Viscount Beamont and also John Sutton and Thomas Stanley Knights to be of the privy Counsel to the said Prince enjoyning all Officers and Ministers of the Prince that they and every of them should be obedient to the execution of all commandements and warrants of the said Councellours or at least four of them together with the assent and consent of the Queen in all causes and matters concerning the titles rights possessions and Interests of the said Prince and that the said commandements and warrants should be as available in that behalf as if the said had been made or done by the said Prince himself being of full age which commandement in all leases of the said Princes inheritance was pursued accordingly In the 39. year of the said K. Henry VI. reign he being of the house of Lancaster such is the mutability and so unstable are all humane things that the said King being a man devout and religious the founder of Schooles and Colledges vertuous and a lover of peace was by the violence of the heirs of the house of York put from his Kingdom and secured in prison and Edward Earle of March son and heir to Richard Duke of York reigned in his stead by the name of Edw. IV. But yet behold the hand of God for in the tenth year of the said King Edward IV. upon a discontentment conceived against him by Richard Earle of Warwick a man more popular and potent then was fit for a Subject the said Richard with a collected power so pressed the King that he was driven to fly the realme and to seek forraign aid seeing his homebred subjects proved so unfaithful In Chartes pat 35. H. 6. pars 2. Then King Henry VI. after 10 years imprisonment readepted the Kingdom and in the said tenth year of King Edward IV. wrote the 49 year of his reign having endured 10 years intermission in the computation of his time as appeareth in the books of law of that age but being thus seated he was unsetled after much effusion of blood for in a civil war there is no true victory in as much as he that prevaileth is a loser K. H. 6 was compelled again to give place to his adversary after to make that part sure was deprived of life having lost also Edw. his son P. before spoken of the hope of all his posterity in the battail at Tukesbury Edward of Westminster Edward IV. having gotten the Crown which had been thus shaken from his head did by his Charter dated the 26 of June 11 regni created Edward of Westminster his son and heir apparant P. of Wales and E. of Chester 11 Ed. 4 pars 1. memb 1. and by another like Charter of the same year gave unto him the lands and revenues of the said principality to have and to hold to him and his heirs Kings of Engl. This Ed. the P. being of tender years was born in the Sanctuary whether the Queen his mother was fled for security and during the time that the King her husband had avoided the realm Afterwards the said King by his letters patents dated the 8. of July in the said 11 year of his reign ordained his Queen the then Archbishop of Canterbury George Duke of Clarence Richard Duke of Glocester brothers to the said King the then Bishop of Bath and Wells and Durham Sr. J. Dodridge fol. 25. Anthony Earle Rivers the then Abbot of Westmonastery Chancelour to the Prince Will. Hastings Knight Lord Chamberlain to the King Rich. Fines Lord Dacres Steward of the said Prince John Fogg John Scot Knight Thomas Vaughan Chamberlain to the Prince J. Alcock and Rich. Farler to be of Councel to the said Prince giving unto them and every 4 of them thereby with the advice and expresse consent of the Queen large power to advise and councel the said Prince and to order and dispose the lands revenues and possessions of the said Prince and the nomination of officers to him belonging when they should happen to become void or that the parties were insufficient The said authority thus given unto the said councelours to continue untill
the said Baronies Merchers were then in his own hands And for that also divers murders rapes roberies and enormities and odious offences had been there committed and by reason of the flight of the offendours Monmoth made an English Shire from one Barony as is usual upon the borders they had escaped due and condigne punishment for their such enormities and crimes he ordained also that the county of Monmoth formerly being a shire of Wales should be governed from thenceforth in like manner Stat. 27. H. 8. cap. 26. and by the same Judges as other Shires of England and for the other 12 Shires he ordered a special jurisdiction and Officers but yet in substance agreable and after the lawes of England although for the circumstance of time and place and persons in some few things discordant He ordained that out of every of the said Shires of Wales there should be one Knight and out of every of the Shire Towns of Wales named in the said Act of Parliament Stat. 276. cap 26. there should be one Burgesse elected after the English manner which Knights and Burgesses so elected and duly upon the summons of every parliament in England returned should have place and voice in the parliament of England as other the Knights and Burgesses of England used to have Circuits 34. H 8. cap. 26. Stat As for the administration of justice in the said 12 Shires of Wales there was by an Act of parliament of 34. H. 8. ordained 4. several circuits precints or Conventus Juridicus allotting to every of them three of these Shires so that the Chief Justice of Chester hath under his jurisdiction the three several Shires of Denbigh Flint and Montgomery his Fee is yearly 100 l. Justice The Shires of Carnarvon Merioneth and Anglesey are under the Justice of Northwales whose Fee is 50 l. The counties of Carmardhin Pembrock and Cardigan have also their Justice whose Fee is 50 l. The counties of Radnor Brecknock and Glamorgan have also their Justice whose Fee is 50 l. After by an Act of parliament made 18. Eliz. cap. 8. one other Justice assistant was ordained to the former Justices Stat. 18. Eliz. cap. 8. so that now every of the said four circuits have two Justices viz. one chief Justice and a second Justice assistant Their Jurisdiction These Justices in every of their circuits have almost the same Jurisdiction that the ancient Justices in Eyre or Justices Itenerants had First they had power to hear and determine all criminal causes which are called in the lawes of England the pleas of the Crown and herein they have the same absolute jurisdiction that the Judges have of the K. bench commonly so called They have also Jurisdiction to hear and determine all civil causes which are called in the lawes of England common pleas and to take the acknowledgment of Fines levied of lands or hereditaments without suing any dedimus potestatem and herein they have the same jurisdiction that the Justices of the Common pleas do execute in the hall at Westminster also they may hear and determine all Assizes upon disseisons of lands or hereditaments wherein they equal the jurisdiction of the Justices of Assize They may hear and determine all notable violences and outrages perpetrated or done within their several precints and therein they have the power authority and jurisdiction of the Justices of Oyer and Terminer Their Chancery Seal and Writs For as much as no suite can commence between party and party nor orderly Justice can be done without complaint of the pursevant and summons and admonition given unto the defendant which summons the policy of England from the beginning of the first foundation of this Common-wealth hath appointed to be performed by that kind of formulae juris which the common law calleth a Writ or Brief so called as Bracton saith Breve quia rem quae est intentionem petentis breviter enarrat and which writ is alwaies conceived in form quondam of the Kings name in manner of a preecept Royal and sealed with the Kings or Potestates great seal Writt either Judicial or Original Therefore in the appointing of this Jurisdiction there is ordained to every Circuit or precint a several Seal for the sealing of such writs and commissions as the case shall require within that Circuit And for as much as all Writts are either Original such as begin the suite or else judicial such as command and warrant the execution thereof It is by the said Statute made in the 34 Hen. 8. ordained that the Seal serving for Original process in several shires of Denbigh and Montgomery should be in the custody of the Chamberlain of Denbigh and what the original Seal of Chester shall be and stand for the Original Seal of Flint and shall be in the custody of the Chamberlain of Chester the like seal serving for the several shires of Carnarvon Merioneth and Anglesey to be in the custody of the Chamberlain of Northwales The like seal concerning the several Shires of Radnor Brecknock and Glamorgan is committed to the custody of the Steward of Brecknoc And finally the like Seal serving for the several Shires of Caermardhyn Pembrockâ— and Cardigan is in the usage of the Chamberlain of Southwales These Chamberlains are as Chancellours in this behalf and have the sealing of all Original writs and commissions within the several precints and these Chamberlains may also award out several writs to all Under-Receivers of the Revenues and ministers to make their accounts The Seal for sealing judicial writs is appointed by the said Statute 34 H. 8. to be and remain by the Justices of every the said circuits for the more expedite execution of their Judgment The great sessions Their Sessions and manner of Sitting Every of these Justices in their several circuits shall be Itenerant twice every year and sit in every of the Shires with their authority by the space of six dayes together at a place certain by them so appointed and upon proclamation of summons to be made 15 dayes before the said sittings Adjournments where all persons requiring Justice may purchase their writs and proceed in their suits And where Adjournments of the causes there depending shall be De die in diem and if the cause can have no end during the sitting then from Sessions to Sessions as the nature of the business shall require and according to the discretion of the said Justices and these sittings are called the great Sessions 34. H 8 cap. 26. â— 33 Petâ—y Sessions And if their shall be such multitudes of pleas personal as that they cannot be tryed at the same great Sessions then the issues there in trial shall and may be tried at some Sessions before the Deputy Justice which is therfore called the petty sessions And if any erroneous judgment be given by the said Justices in any real Action the same shall be reversed by writ of error before the Justices of the
ENDERBIE CAMBRIA TRIVMPHANS OR BRITTAIN IN ITS PERFECT LUSTRE SHEVVING THE Origen and Antiquity OF THAT ILLUSTRIOUS NATION THE Succession of their Kings and Princes from the First to KING CHARLES Of Happy Memory The Description of the Countrey The History of the Antient and Moderne Estate The manner of the Investure of the Princes with the Coats of Arms Of the Nobility By PERCIE ENDERBIE Gent. LONDON Printed for Andrew Crooke and are to be sold at the Green Dragon in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1661. TO HIS SACRED MAJESTY Charles the Second KING of Great BRITTAIN and PRINCE of WALES c. Most DREAD SOVERAIGN HE who is so brain-sick as to question or dispute the Antiquity of KINGS and MONARCHICAL Government will put the choicest Wits to their Trumps to find out a Nomenclation to expresse his Folly the Word Fanatick being too weak and slender KINGS write in the plural Number Mandamus volumus facimus c. which is GOD's own Stile And in Scripture we oft find them called GODS and Man as a civil Creature was directed to that kind of subjection as if the sole Observation of Nature had necessarily led this Affections of Men to this kind of STATE Whence it is also that whilst Others of the most curious in Philosophy tell us of Angels and the Supreme Heavens being immediately Governed by the Maker of all things they add together that upon the Earth KINGS are in like sort of Government as if natural Reason had at first Ordained them on Earth by an unavoidable imitation of their Creators Providence and questionlesse MONARCHY as far exceeds Oligarchy Democratie Aristocratie or that so much lately gaped after Anarchy as the Sun in its purest and most perfect lustre the smallest Star Why then O why then should the Commons of England Vote the Office of King in this Nation and to have the Power thereof in any single person unnecessary and burdensome to the liberty and publick Interest of this Nation This pleased their palats whose proper Advance and not the common Good was sought after and therefore one King was more then laid aside to whom all Allegiance was due and Forty Tyrants set up to whom we owe no allegiance at all Great Monarch Man proposeth but God disposeth and therefore after a dark and tedious night of care and anxiety hath reduced and plac'd you in your proper sphere like to a morning Sun and Sun of Justice to drive away our cares and rectifie our miseries by this your auspicious return assured hope shines in us that the Prophesie is fullfil'd Carolus a Carolo descendens erit Carolo Magno Major This ensuing Treatise will lay open and unfold the manner of Great Brittains Government which was ever Princely contrary to this Chymerical Anarchy the which your Majesties most faithful and humble Subject with much of fear and reverence as being too rustick and homely to appear before so great a Majesty offers up begging of Almighty God to grant You a long and happy Reign Fruitful and Princely Off-spring adorned with all Vertues and heroick Endowments to Succeed You that You may say with the Prophetical King and Kingly Prophet Blessed be the Lord my God who hath caused my Eyes to see this day that one of my own Loyns shall sit upon my Throne And for this all Loyal Subjects ought pray and so shall he incessantly who is Your MAJESTIES Most Loyall And Obedient Subject P. E. THE GENEALOGY OF CHARLES THE II d. MONARCH of Great BRITTAIN from the WELSH Blood CAdeth King of South-wales Howell Dha Prince of South-wales Owen King of Wales who Married Augharad D. and Heir to Lhewely Prince of Powis Meredith King of Wales Lhewelyn ap Sissylht Descended from Anarawd King of North-wales by the Marriage of Angharad D. and H. of King Meredith was King of Wales Griffith ap Lhewelyn King Wales Nest the Daughter of Griffith ap Lhewelyn was Married Fleance Son of Banquo whose Issue was Walter Stuart Alan Lord Stuart Alexander Lord Stuart Walter Lord Stuart Alexander Lord Stuart John Lord Stuart Walter Lord Stuart Married Margery D. and Heir of Robert the first King of Scots and had Issue Robert the Second King of Scots Robert the Third King of Scots James the First King of Scots James the Second King of Scots James the Third King of Scots James the Fourth King of Scots Married Margaret Eldest Daughter to King Henry the 7 th King of England James the Fifth King of Scots Henry in Right of his Wife Queen Mary sole Daughter and Heir to James the Fifth King of Scots James Monarch of Great Brittain Charles Monarch of Great Brittain Charles the Second Monarch of Great Brittain whom God of his infinite Goodnesse protect from his Enemies TO THE Gentle Reader VVhether WELSH or ENGLISH P. E. wisheth all Happiness Courteous Reader LET it not seem strange unto you that being no Native of Waies but born as far remote as Caer luid Coyd I should attempt to compile a General History and entitle it The Ancient and Modern Brittish and Welsh History Sir Walter Raleigh wrote a History of the whole World Mr. Knolls composed the Transactions of the Turkish Empire both English both excellent and approved Authors many more have done the like The enducements which drew me on to attempt this work were first the marriage of a person of quality of that Nation Secondly my long continuance and aboad in that Country which hath rendered me in a manner a Native the civilities of the Gentry prick me forwards and the help of a good Library of Sir Edward Morgans of Lantarnam encouraged me to bring the Embrion to its full maturity many and those most learned both Accademicks honoured with the scarlet robe and Martialists enobled with sword and spurs have added much lustre to the almost perisht Brittish glory unto whose writings I must acknowledge my self highly engaged from their Hives I have ext acted many drams of hony and laid it up in store to present unto the VVorld in a whole Mass that many may undeceive themselves and rectifie there misled judgments who apprehend the thirteen Counties of Wales to produce nothing but Barrenness as for the language if any seem to make a question this I suppose may give satisfaction unto his curiosity That The beginning and original thereof as yet was never fully discovered some dream that it was had from the Gallick as Neighbouring others from the Romans as conquering yet is it so far different from all the Europaean and VVestern tongues at least as now they are and hath so little affinity and resemblance of them that its improbable from them to have either extraction or derivation They I think do not judge amiss who affirm that amongst the rest it received its first being at the confusion of Babel for it sounds most after the Eastern way having little or no congruence or affinity with the VVest unless some few words scattered and left by the subduing Roman and so lately
King of Northwales with Cadogan ap Blethyn who then ruled Southwales entred the Land of Caerdigan and killed a great number of Normans being not able any longer to suffer their great Pride and Cruelty but after their Return the English Captains sent to England for more men and thought privately to make a Road into Northwales which journey was discovered unto Cadogan who gathered his Power and met with them in the Wood or Forrest of Yspys and set upon them with great Hue and Cry and they defended themselves manfully but in the end they were put to flight with great loss and Cadogan followed them hard and spoiled the Countrey of Cadogan and Dinet and destroyed all the Castles saving two which were Pembroke and Rydeors which he could not get and so returned to Powis with much Joy King Rufus not able to prevail against the Welsh to his dishonour returneth home year 1093 In the year 1093. the Normans that inhabited the Countrey of Glamorgan spoiled the Territories of Kydwely and Yâ—rad Tywy and left them without any Inhabitants When VVilliam Rufus had been informed of the great slaughter of his Subjects as well in Cheshire Shropshire VVorcestershire and Herefordshire as in VVales which Gruffith ap Conan and the sons of Blethyn Convyn had done he gathered his power together and entred VVales at Mountgomery which Castle being lately overthrown by the VVelshmen he re-edified again but the VVelshmen kept so the straits of the mountains with the Woods and Rivers that the King did no good but lost his labour and his men therefore he returned back to his great Dishonour year 1094 In the year 1094. dyed VVilliam the son of Baldwyn who at the Kings commandement had built the Castle of Rydcors after whose death the Castle was forsaken by his men and the Inhabitants of Gwyr Brecknock Gwent and Gwent Ihwc Welshmen hardly overcome unless by Treason among themselves cast from their Necks the burthen of the Normans that had won their Countries and held them in subjection and chased them out of their Territories but shortly after they returned again with greater Power Then the countrymen detesting their insolency met with them at a place called Celly Tarvawc and couragiously encountred them so that they put them to flight with great Slaughter and chased them back again out of the Land nevertheless the greedy Normans would not give over but recruiting returned again to Brecknockshire making a vow to leave no living thing within that Countrey it is not good to reckon before mine Host nor count our Chickins before they be hatch'd for the country people flying before them staied at a strait passage and killed many of them About this time Roger Montgomery Earl of Salop and Arundel Powel fol. 153. and VVilliam Fitz Eustace Earl of Glocester though I read of no such man for Master Mills fol. 358. as also other Authors set Robert base Son to King Henry the First the first Earl of that place Arnold de Harecourt and Neale le Vicount were slain between Cardiff and Brecknock by the VVelshmen and VValter Evereux Earl of Sarum who dyed in Normandy and Hugh Earl Gurney were there hurt Patrick de Evereux was first Earl of Sarum or Salisbury created so by King Stephen and therefore could not be in this time but it is he that was son to Walter Evereux Mr. Mills fol. 1034. who built the Abby of Bradenstock 1139. the fift of King Stephen and being an old man did take upon him the habit of a Monk there others say this Walter was Earl of Rosemer When the Normans saw that they had all the loss they manned and victualed the Castles which formerly they had builded and returned home but in their retreat Gruffith and Ivor the sons of Edverth ap Cadogan met them unexpectedly at Aberlhech and encountring them slew most part of them the rest escaping into England Notwithstanding the Norman Captains defended the Castles valiantly and kept them till they were driven by force for safeguard of their lives to forsake them then the ancient Inhabitants possessed their own quietly Moreover certain Lords of Northwales namely Vokthed the son of Edwin ap Grono and Howel ap Grono with the Children of Cadogan ap Blethyn of Powis land Pembroke Castle built by a Norman gathered a competent Army and passed through Caerdiganshire to Dynet which Country a little before the King had given to Arnulph son to Roger Montgomery who had builded the Castle of Pembroke and appointed Keeper and Governour thereof one Giraldo de Windsore and there burned spoiled and destroyed all the countrey except Pembroke Castle which they could not win and so returned home with great booty After the return of these Lords Girald issued out of the Castle and spoiled the lands of Saint Davids and took many Prisoners The year following William Rufus returning from Normandy to England Fasting and Prayer used by the Welsh in their greatest danger and hearing of the great slaughter of his men committed by the Welshmen gathered all his forces and with great pomp and pride entred VVales But the Brittains fearing the great strength of the King put all their hope onely in Almighty God returning to him in Fasting Prayer and Repentance of their sins and he that never forsaketh the penitent and contrite heart heard their prayers so that the Normans and Englishmen durst not enter the land but such as presumed were slain and the King returned with small Honour after he had built certain Castles in the Marches In the year following viz. 1096. The Arms of Hugh Montgomery Hugh de Montgomery who as his Father before him had for his Arms Azure a Lyon rampant Or within a border his Father before spoken of builded the Abbey of Shrewsbury wherein he was buried the Earl of Arundel and Salop whom the Welshmen call Hugh Goch that is Hugh with the red head and Hugh Vral that is Hugh the fat Earl of Chester who bore for his Arms Azure six Garbs 3 2. and 1. Or. and many Nobles more did gather a strong and powerfull army and entred into Northwales The Welsh ever their own destroyers being thereto moved by certain Lords of the Country But Gruffith ap Conan the Prince and Cadogan ap Blethyn fled to the Hills and Mountains for their defence as not being of force sufficient to fight the Earls neither durst they well trust their own men and so the Earls approached the Isle of Môn or Anglesey where they built the Castle of Aberthiennawc Then Gruffith and Cadogan went to Anglesey thinking to defend the Isle Aberthiennawe Castle built by the Normans and sent for succour to Ireland but found there little comfort and now the Treason began to break forth for Owen ap Edwin who was the Princes chief Councellour and his Father in Law whose Daughter Gruffith had married having himself also married Everyth the Daughter of Convyn Aunt to Cadogan was the chief Caller of
Montgomery had begun a Castle before And shortly after Madoc ap Riryd returned from Ireland because he could not well brook the Manners and conditions of the Irishmen and being arrived came to the Country of his Unkle Jorwerth who hearing that and fearing the loss of his Lands as his Brother Cadogan had done made a Proclamation that no Man should aid him but take him as an Enemy which when Madoc understood he enticed many unthrifts and outlaws and kept himself in the Rocks and Woods contriving how he might be revenged on Jorwerth for so great a discourtesie as he imagined and thereupon concluded a friendship privately with Lhywarch ap Trahearn who hated Jorwerth to death and having intelligence that Jorwerth lay one night at Caerneon they two gathered all their strength and environ'd the house about midnight which Jorwerth and his Men perceiving armed themselves and defended the place till their foes set it on fire which when Jorwerth's Men perceived every one shifted for himself so that some were slain others burnt few escaping Jorwerth having the true heart of a noble Prince chose rather to adventure and manfully to dye with sword in hand then to be burnt without a glorious action came out but his merciless Enemies received him with the point of their spears and violently cast him into the flames of the raging fire where that gallant man payed what was due to nature death yet by which his name is eternized As soon as the King understood this he called Cadogan before him and gave him his brothers Land which was Powis and promised Owen his pardon willing his Father to send him to Ireland When Madoc saw his other Unkle Cadogan rule the Country he hid himself in rough and desert places and adding one mischief upon an other determined also to murder him by one way or an other Therefore after Cadogan had brought the Country to some stay of quietness and administred Justice therein having ever an eye and respect to the King he came to Trallwug now called Pool and the elders of the Country with him and determining to dwell there began to build a Castle But Madoc hatching nothing but mischief hearing this came suddainly upon him and Cadogan thinking no hurt was slain before he could either fight or fly After this Madoc sent incontinently to the Bishop of London the Kings Lieutenant at Shrewsbury and entreated him to remember what he had promised when he chased Owen out of his Land for the Bishop hated Owen and Cadogan and gave Madoc all such Lands as his brother Ithel was possessed of Meredyth the Son of Blethyn hearing of the death of both his brethren posted to the King desiring of him the Lands of Jorwerth which Cadogan had lately obtained and the King gave him the rule thereof till such time as Owen Son to Cadogan should come from Ireland who came shortly after and went to the King who received him to his peace and gave him his Lands whereupon Owen promised to the King a great Fine and gave pledges for payment of the same likewise Madoc did fine to the King for his peace and lands nevertheless the King wisht him to take heed of the Kinsfolks of such as he had murdered upon his own peril year 1112 In the year 1112. Meredyth ap Blethyn sent a party to make an Inroad into the Country of Lhywarch ap Trahearn ap Gwyn who was Meredyths and Owens Enemy as he that succoured Madoc to kill his Unkles Jorwerth and Cadogan Meredyths brethren These Men as they passed through the Country of Madoc in the night met with a Man which belonged to Madoc The welsh despairing one of another make way for their enemy to subvert them all whom they took and examined where his Master was he at first said that he could not tell but being threatned with death he confessed that he was not far from thence Therefore they lay quietly all that night and in twy-light next morning they came suddainly upon Madoc and his men where they slew many of them and taking Madoc prisoner they brought him to their Lord who was right glad thereof and secured his person till he had sent word to his Nephew Owen who immediately upon the news repaired thither A great curtesie no question to put out a mans eyes and save his life then Meredyth delivered Madoc unto him And albeit he had slain Owens Father his own Unkle yet Owen remembering the friendship and Oath that had been betwixt them in times past would not put him to death but putting out his eyes let him go Then Meredyth and Owen divided the Lands betwixt them which was Caerneon Aberhiw and the third part of Devthwr year 1113 The year following King Henry prepared an Army against Wales being thereunto provoked by such as would have the Welshmens Lands to wit Gilbert Strongbow Earl of Strigyl to whom the King had given Caerdigan who made grievous complaints against Owen ap Cadogan declaring that he received and maintained such as robbed and plundered the Country Also Hugh Earl of Chester said no less by Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales A rash and unchristian oath how that his men and the Men of Grono ap Owen ap Edwyn Lord of Tegengl wasted the Country of Cheshire adding to aggravate the matter that Gruffith did neither acknowledg to owe service nor pay tribute to the King whereupon the King swore that he would not leave one living Creature in Northwales and Powis Land but new colonize them Then dividing his army into three parts the leading of the first he committed to Gilbert Earl of Strygull Two great Kings against two petty princes a great conquest no doubt wherein was the whole power of all the fourth part of England and Cornwall against Southwales Alexander King of Scotland had the leading of the second division with Hugh Earl of Chester wherein the power of Scotland and the North was which went against Northwales and the King led the third himself wherein was the strength of midle England Then Meredith ap Blethyn fearing this came and yielded himself to the King But Owen fearing to commit himself to them who were so greedy of his Lands fled to Gruffith ap Conan to Northwales whereupon the King turning all his strength that way came himself as far as Murcastelh and the King of Scots as far as Pennant Bachwy but the people fled to the mountains and woods and carried all their victualls and cattel with them so that the King could not follow them and such of his Men as entered the Land were either slain or galled in the Straits Then the Scottish King sent to the Prince to come and yield himself to the King and promised him the Kings peace but he was acquainted with such promises and would not The King therefore because he would not return without doing something sent to Owen to come to him and to forsake the Prince who was not able to defend
being there writ a description of the Country as he did also of England and Wales Some affirm he was Archdeacon of Landaff Of Brecknock and St. Davids he was for certain being elect unto this See An. 1199 he made challenge unto the title of an Archbishop at Rome which controversy how it was debated and ended ye may read at large in R. Hoveden his report of the year aforesaid He was once accused of treason but happily acquitted lived till he was 70. years of age and upward and dying was buryed in his own Church He writ many books the Catalogue whereof ye may find in Bale 50. Jorwerth or Edward was consecrated 1215. 51. Alselmus or Anselmus 52. Thomas Archdeacon of Lincolne a Welshman and a great Clerk forsaking other great preferments accepted of this Bishoprick being a miserable poor thing at that time the year 1247. 53. Richard Carren 54. Thomas Beck he founded two Colledges one at Abergwily and another at Lhan-dewybreny 55. David Martin 56. Henry Gower he built the Bishops Pallace at Saint Davids and dyed in the year 1347. 57. John Teresbie or Thorsby Translated to Worcester 1349 and thence to York 1352. 58. Riginald Brian translated to Worcester 1352. 59. Thomas Fastock died the year 1361. 60. Adam Houghton founded a colledg neer to the Cathedral Church of St. David he was Chancellour of England for a time about the year 1376. 61. John Gilbert Bishop of Bangor was translated to Hereford 1376. and thence hither 1389. 62. Guido de Mona died in the year 1407 who while he lived saith Walsingham was a cause of much mischief 63. Henry Chichley was consecrated at Sienna by the Popes own hand June the 12. 1409. sat five years and was translated to Canterbury 64. John Keterich or Catarich sometime Archdeacon of Surry was translated hence to Coventry and Lichfield the year 1415. and after to Exceter 65. Stephen Patrington a Jacobine Fryer as one saith or rather a Carmelite as another saith being at the Councel of Constance was by the Pope translated to Chichester in December 1417. as the records of St. Davids do affirm others say and I take it to be true that he refused to accept of the Popes gift 66. Benit Nicols Bishop of Bangor suceeded him 67. Thomas Rodborn a man of great learning was brought up in Oxford and became first Archdeacon of Sudbury then Bishop of St. Davids he writ divers works amongst the rest a History or Chronicle The year 1434 the King endeavoured to translate him to Ely but could not 68. William Lynwood Doctour of Law first Chancellour to the Archbishop of Canterbury then keeper of the privy seal having first been employed in Embassages to the Kings of Spain Portugal and other Princes He writ much amongst other his works he is famous for putting in order such provincial constitutions as had been made by the Archbishops of Canterbury from the time of Stephen Langton unto Henry Chichley he florished about the year 1440 but just what time he became Bishop or when he died I cannot tell He lyeth buryed at St. Stephens in Westminster 69. John Langton dyed within 15. dayes after his consecration 70. John de le Beer 71. Robert Tully a Monk of Glocester This man I take to be him that by the name of Robert Sherborne is said to have been translated to Chichester the year 1508. 72. Richard Martin 73. Thomas Langton 74. Hugh Pany he impropried to the Vicars Choral of St. Davids the Church of Lan-saint-Fred 75. John Morgan dyed in the Priory of Caermarthyn and was buried in his own Church 76. Edward Vaughan built a new chappel in his church of St. David 77. Richard Rawlin 78. William Barlow translated to VVells having sat here 10 years about the year 1548 and after to Chichester 79. Robert Ferrar of whom read Fox if ye please 80. Henry Morgan died Decemb. 23. 1559. 81. Thomas Young staying here but a very short time was translated to York February 25. 1561. 82. Richard Davis Bishop of Asaph 83. Marmaduke Midleton Bishop of Waterford in Ireland 84. Anthony Rud Doctor of Divinity born in Yorkshire brought up in Cambridge after he had been the space of nine years Dean of Glocester was consecrated June the 9. 1594. 85. Richard Milbourne translated to Carlile 86. VVilliam Laud 1621. translated to VVells 1626. from thence to London being Chancellor of Oxford lastly translated to Canterbury 1633. and lastly beheaded on Tower-hill 87. Theoph. Field 1627. translated to Hereford 1635. 88. Roger Mainwaring Bishop of St. Davids 1641. at the beginning of that Parliament so fatall to Bishops The Bishoprick of St. Davids was valued in the Exchequer at 426 l 22d ob and in the Popes books at 1500 Ducates Let us now return to our former matter in hand About the year 1149. Owen Prince of Northwales did build a castle at Yale Yale Castle Lhanrystyd castle built and his brother Cadwalader built another at Lhanrystyd and gave Cadogan his son part of Caerdigan Toward the end of this year Madoc the son of Meredyth ap Blethyn did build the castle of Oswestrie which now gives the title of a Barony to the honourable family of the Howards and gave his Nephews Owen and Meiric the sons of Gruffith ap Meredyth his part of Cynelioc Oswestrie Castle built The year after Prince Owen did imprison Conan his son for certain faults committed against his father Also Prince Owens son took his Uncle Cadwalader prisoner and brought his country and castle to his subjection At this time also Cadelh the son of Gruffith ap Rees fortified the castle of Caermarthyn and from thence conducted his army to Cydwely where he destroyed and spoyled all the country and after his return he joyned his forces with Meredyth and Rees his brothers and entering Caerdigan wan that part called Is-Aeron Not long after there fell a variance betwixt Randol Earl of Chester and Owen Prince of Northwales The Welsh still joyn with their enemies to cut their own throats which caused Randal to gather supplies and Auxilaries from all his friends in England to whom Madoc ap Meredyth Prince of Powis disdaining to hold his lands of Owen joyned all his power and they both together entred Prince Owens land who like a worthy Prince not suffering the spoyle of his Subjects met them at Counsylht and boldly bade them battail which they refused not but being more in number The Welsh obtained an admirable victory against the Normans and better armed and weaponed were glad of the occasion yet before the end they threw away both weapons and armour and trusted to their feet whom the Northwales men did so pursue that few escaped but were either slain or taken the chief Chieftains excepted whose nimble horses carryed them swiftly away In the year 1150. Cadelh Meredyth and Rees the sons of Gruffith ap Rees Prince of Southwales conquered all Caerdigan from Howel the son of Prince Owen except the Castle of Lhanvihengel
noblemen of his time died and was buryed at Mynot Mynot he had by his wife Angharat the daughter of Owen Gwyneth Prince of Northwales a son called Madoc who succeeded his father in that part of Powis called Powis Vadoc And prince Rees wone the Castle of Dinevowr and Owen his son died a Stratta florida or Stratflar and shortly after Maelgon his other son escaped out of prison where his Father had kept him long time Lhanhayaden castle won But the Lord Rees got the Castle of Lhanhayaden and the Country about At which time Gruffith ap Cadogan died In this year Roderike the son of Owen Gwyneth by the help of Gothrick King of Man entred the Isle of Môn and reduced it under his subjection bâ—â— before the End of the Year the sons of his brother Conan chased him out of the Isle and got it to themselves And at this time Maelgon laid sieg to the Castle of Strat-Meiric and wan it Stratmeiâ—c castle takeâ— Also Howell surnamed Saer that is to say the Saxon or English because he had served in England son to the said Prince Rees got the Castle of Gwys by surprise and took Philip de Gwys his wife and his two sons Prisoners therein Gwys castle surprised but because he had more Castles then he could well defend he determined to dismantle the Castle of Lhanhayaden whereof the Flemmings having notice gathered all their power and came thither the day appointed to raise the Castle and fiercely assaulted the men of Howel and Maelgon and put many of them to the sword the rest escaping by flight neverthelesse shortly after they gathered new forces and came thither again and demolished the Castle without any impeachment Lhanhayaden castle destroyed Upon this Anarawd another son of Prince Rees moved with filthy ambition and covetousness of lands took his two brethren Howel and Madoc prisoners under pretext of friendship and put out both their eyes year 1194 In the year 1194 Maelgon the son of Prince Rees gave his brother Anarâwd the Castle of Stratmeiric for his prisoners whom he set at liberty then Rees himself did re-edifie the Castle of Rayader Gwy and his own sons laid wait for him and took their father prisoner fearing least he would revenge their cruel and unnatural deeds The sons imprison the father but by means of Howel who was blind he escaped out of prison and took the Castle of Dynevowr which Maelgon kept and destroyed it also the sons of Cadwalhon wan the castle of Rayader Gwy and fortified it for themselves At this time Lhewelin the son of Jorwerth Drwyndwn who was the eldest son of Owen Gwineth prince of Northwales remembring his right and title to his inheritance in Northwales although his father had been dis-inherited by his brother David called together his friends by his mother which was Marred daughter of Madoc ap Meredyth P. of Powis also drew to his side his cosens the sons of Conan ap Owen Gwineth then challenged the rule of Northwales and entered the country to whom the people willingly yielded and took him for their Lord and so without bloodshed he received all Northwales into his protection and tuition except three castles which his Uncle David kept by force of Englishmen in whom was all his trust having married Emma daughter of Jeffrie Plantagenet Earle of Ancow and Cevoman or Maine and Maud the Empresse and sister to King Henrie the second and thus David lost his land and Lewelin got his birthright 1194. Quarterly G. and Or 4. Lions passâ—guar counterchang Lhewelin or Leoline magnus After that Lhewelin or Leoline the great as Mr. Mills call him the son of Jorwerth Mr. Mill f. 306 had gotten the principality of Northwales Roger Mortimer came against him with great forces to Melyenith and built the castle of Cimaron and so brought that country under his command Cimaron castle built and chased away the two sons of Cadwalhon ap Madoc Lords of that place About the same time Rees and Meredith the sons of Prince Rees being two valiant Gentlemen gathered together a company of Madcaps or Hectors as we now call such hair-baind fellows and came to Dinevowr and got the Castle from their Fathers Garrison and after that exployt they went to Cantred Bachan where the whole Country received them gently and delivered the castle to their hands which much displeased their father who laid privy wait for them and by treason of their own men who were afraid any further to incense their Lord and Prince they were taken and brought to their father who presently secured them Caermarthyn destroyed The year ensuing Prince Rees listed a gallant army and laid seige to the town and castle of Caermarthyn and in short time wan them both spoyling and destroying the same and then returned with great plunder Clun Castle fired by P. Rees After which conquest he conducted the same forces to the Marshes before the Castle of Clun which after a long siege and many a fierc assault he got and burned it and from thence he marched to the Castle of Radnor and likewise wan it to the defence wherof caâ—â— Roger Mortimer and Hugh de Says with a strong army of Normans and English but Reâ—â— who had won the Castle determined not immure his men within the walls but boldly like a worthy Prince came into the plain besides before the town and gave them battail where his men although for the most part unarmed and not accustomed to field discipline declared that they descended of Brittish blood A brave resolution of the Welsh and a famous victory against the English whose title the Noble Roman Emperours did so much desire as a token of manhood and worthinesse chosing rather to dye with honour in the defence of their Country then to live with shame and did so worthily behave themselves that their enemies forsook the field with great losse of their men whom Rees pursued till the benefit of the night shadowed them with her darknesse and forthwith he laid siege to the Castle of Paine in Elvel and got it Thither came William de Bruse the owner thereof Payne Castle taken The Archb. of Cant. led an army against the Welsh Matth. Park pag. 138. and made peace with Rees from whom he received the same Castle again Not long after the Archbishop of Canterbury whom Richard who was then King of England had substituted his Lieutenant in England came with a huge power towards VVales and laid siege to the Castle of Gwenwinwin at the pool but the garrison defended the hold so manfully that he lost many of his men but could do no good for the Welshmen made him know that it was better and more secure to be in a pulpit then a pavilion and that the miter and helmet fitted not the same head yet the Martial Prelate would not so be bafled but sent for Miners and set them on work to
Semy 17 VVilliam Herbert 18 VVilliam Herbert Party per pale B. and G. 3 Lyons Ramp Arg. 19. Edward Prince of VVales son of K. Edw. IV. Quarterly France and England a Label Arg. 20 Anne Bullen Marchioness of Pemb. wife to Hen. 8. Arg. a Cheveren G. between 3 Bulls heads coupe Sable 21 VVilliam Herber created Earle by Edw. 6. 22 Henry Herbert 23 VVilliam Herbert Lord Steward and Chancellour of Oxford 24 Philip Herbert Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery 25 Philip Herbert now living Quarterly Band G 3 Lions Ramp Arg. a border Gotone of the second and Or besants this border is now laid aside Lex Talionis This Earle hearing that Lhewelin had taken his Castles and put his men to the sword returned from Ireland with all speed and recovering his forts used the same courtesy towards Lhewelins men as he had shewed to his and then entring further into the Princes Country destroyed all before him as he went Mat. Paâ—is 423 who saith that the Earl had the victory and â—hat there were slain â—000 persons These tidings coming to Lhewelins ear did much vex him whereupon he sent Gruffith his son with a power of men to impeach the Earl from passing further Griffith went to Cyeweli and understanding that the Burgesses of the town meant to betray him burned the town churches and all to the ground Then VVilliam Marshal passed the River Tywy at Caermardhyn where Gruffith met with him and gave him battail which was long time doubtful and endured until night and then either party withdrew themselves and the River betwixt and after they had abode so for certain dayes Gruffith for lack of victuals for his men were about 9000 persons returned back Cilgerran Castle built and the Earle went to Cilgerran and began to build there a very strong castle but receiving letters from the King to come speak with him he went to the Court by sea and left his army to continue the work which he had begun The King and the Archbishop being at Ludlow sent for the Prince and would gladly have composed matters between him and the Earl but it would not be and so they departed And when the Earle would have passed to Pembrock by land with the strength of the Earle of Derby and Henry Pigot Lord of Ewyas the prince sent his son to keep the passage at Carnwylhion and he himself came as farr as Mabedryd which when the Earle understood He retreated back to England and the prince bent his course for North VVales year 1226 The year 1226. Rees Vachan son of Rees Gryc took his father prisoner and would not set him at liberty till he had delivered him the Castle of Lhanymdhfry At this time Meredyth Archdeacon of Caerdigan son to prince Rees was interred by his father at St. Davids The year following K. Henry the III. now King of England came with a great army into Wales as far as Ceri and encamped there K. Henry 3. of England Mat. Paris p. 463. and on the other side Lhewelyn called to him all the power of VVales encamped not far off and there passed divers great skirmishes and chiefly upon one day the most part of both armies was in the field and many of the Kings men at which time William de Bruse son to Reynalt was taken prisoner who offered for his ransom the Country of Buelht P. Lhewelin a worthy prince and a great summe of money beside Then was a peace concluded between the King and the prince whereupon the Prince came and did honour unto the King but not as his King and Lord and every party returned home Mr Powel fol. 282. This History saith Mr. Powel is somewhat otherwaies set down by Matt. Paris which I have thus translated out of the same Author About the same time those Souldies which lay in Garrison in the Castle of Montgomery went out with some of their Neighbours to amend a certain passage in the highway leading through a great wood thereby where the Welshmen were wont to rob and slay such as traveled that way and coming to the place with their axes and other weapons began to fell trees and to cut down the bushes whereby the way might be enlarged which thing when the Welshmen understood they came with a great power and setting upon their enemies compelled them to take the Castle for their defence certain being slain on both sides and then casting a trench about the same laid siege to it The Castle honour of Mâ—ntgâ—mery given to Hubert de Bâ—â—g This being speedily carried to Hubert de Burge Chief Justice of England to whom a little before the same castle and honour was given The King himself with convenient speed coming raised the siege and when his whole army came unto him for few Souldiers came with him thither he went to the said wood which was very large being five miles in length and by reason of the thick growth of the same very hard to be mooted howbeit the King caused the same with great diligence and travail to be asserted and consumed with fire King Henry causeth â—â—â—d a Abbey to be burnt Then leading his army further into the Country he came to an Abbey of white Monks called Cridia being a refuge for the Welsh to fly unto which he caused to be burnt to Ashes where Hubert de Burg to whom the place seemed very fit for fortification having the assent of the King caused a castle to be built but eâ—e the work could be finished many were slain on both sides and Will de Bruse a valiant Souldier and Chieftain who went out to make provision for the army was taken by the Welshmen and secured and divers others went out for the like purpose whereof one being Knighted a few dayes before seeing some of his fellows in danger like to be distressed rushed boldly into the midst of his enemies killing many about him yet in the end with many others of the Kings men was slain several also of the Kings men being confederates with P. Lhewelyn did very remisly defend themselves his cause with whome they came thither whereupon the King wanting necessary provision and perceiving the double dealing of some of his own men was constrained to conclude a dishonourable peace with the Welshmen giving his assent that the Castle which with so great expences of men and money was almost finished should be razed at his own charges An ignoble peace to the English taking of P. Lhewelin 3000 pound toward the same the peace being thus confirmed both parties went homewards Thus the King of England after he had bestowed three moneths in the building of the said Castle and disbursed an incredible some of mony in vain leaving William de Bruse one of his nobles in the Prince his prison returned home with great stain of honour The name also which Hubert the Chief Justice had given to the Castle viz. Huberts folly Stulitia Huberti
intending to deceive them who went about to do the like by him when the Enemies therefore came to the place where the Ambuscado was Haâ—m watch haâ—m catch the Earl Marshals army gave a great shout and so set upon their Enemies being unprovided and suddainly put them all to flight putting to the sword an infinite number of them as well Poictavians as others John of Monmoth himself escaped by flight whose Country with the villages buildings and all that he had therein the Earl Marshall did spoil and plunder leaving nothing but what fire and sword could not destroy and so full fraught with spoil returned home Salop taken by P. Lhewelyn Afterward in the week of Epiphanie Lhewelyn P. of VVales together with the Earl Marshall joyning their forces and entering the Kings land destroyed all with fire and sword from the confines of Wales unto the town of Salop which they also took and burnt a great part thereof enriching themselves with the plunder of the Country The King of England being all this while with the Bishop of Winchester â—t Glocester The K. careless of his honour little regarding war who for want of sufficient strength durst not meet his enemies in the field but being ashamed of the matter departed towards Winchester leaving the marches to be destroyed by the Enemies as any man might imagine The same year Richard Marshall Earl of Pembrock by councel of Geffrey de Marisco went with an army to Ireland where he was slain in fight by treason of his own Men after whom his brother Gilbert succeeded in the Inheritance Mr. Brook reporteth the story thus that whilst he with Lhewelyn was thus busied against the King word was brought him that Morice Fitz Girald and other Irish had sacked his Countries and Lands in Ireland Mr. Brook Alias Yorke fol. 270. upon the hearing whereof he hasted thither with fifteen Knights to encounter with his Enemies and joyned battail with them upon Saturday the first of April 1234. and fought eleven hours untill his horse was slain under him And then he falling to the ground one of the Irish perceiving his back part ill-armed lifted up his Habergeon and thrust a knife into his back up to the halft giving him his deadly wound and then brought him to a Castle of his own named Kilkenny which the said Morice had taken a little before from him where he died fifteen dayes after without issue What K. Hen. cannot do by the sword he thinks to do by the word In that year the King sent the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishops of Rochester and Chester to intreat with Lhewelyn to make peace with the King but they returned without doing any good Mathew Paris saith that the King going at this time to meet Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury and other Bishops which he had sent to conclude a peace with Lhewelyn Prince of Wales came to VVoodstock where being certifi'd of the death of the E. Marshall by certain messengers which came from Ireland he fell into great weeping and sorrow for the death of so valiant a Knight affirming withall that he had not left his Peer behind him in the Realm From thence he went to Glocester where the said Archbishop and Bishops coming unto him declared the treatice and form of peace taken between him and the said Lhewelyn The Welsh constant to their confederates in concluding of peace yet nevertheless upon this condition that the Noblemen of England which were confederates with the said Lhewelyn and by evill councel were exiled should first be reconciled to the King whereby the said peace might be more firm and stable Moreover the Archbishop said that with much ado they had brought the matter to that pass adding sometimes threatnings on the Kings behalfe with his Clergy To the which threatnings the said Lhewelyn is reported to have answered that he more regarded the Kings almes-deeds and his holy behaviour then he did fear the war of all his Clergy Then the King who wished peace with all his heart caused by his letters all the Nobles that were outlawes to be called again unto him to Glocester and Sunday before Ascension day next following to have their pardons and to receive their Inheritance Osculum paâ—â—â— which the King had seised into his own hands then Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent came to the King and obtained his favour whom the King reverently embraced and kissed Prince Lhewelyn also this year set Gruffith his Son at liberty whom he had kept in prison six years for his disobedience and this year Cadwalhon ap Maelgon dyed and the next year Owen the Son of Gruffith ap Rees being a Noble Gentleman and very well beloved was buried by his brother Rees at Stratflur The year after Madoc the son of Gruffith Maylor Lord of the lower Powis or Bromfield Chirk and Pale a Man very just and mercifull dyed and was buried very honourably at the Abbey Lhan Egwest or Vale Crucis which he had built and left behind him a son named Gruffith to inherit his Lands also Owen ap Meredyth ap Rotpert ap Cydewen departed out of this World Marchan Castle The same year Gilbert Earl of Pembrock by treason got the Castle of Morgan ap Howel called Marchan and fortified it very strong for fear of the Prince The next spring Joan the daughter of King John Princess of VVales was buried upon the Sea-shore within the Isle of Anglesey at Lhanvaes as her pleasure was Lhewelyn builds a Fryery at Lhanvaes over his Wives Sepulchre where the Prince did build a house of barefooted Fryers over her grave In the year 1237. Lhewelyn Prince of VVales called all the Lords and Barons of VVales if any such title as Baron was amongst them it being altogether Norman as I conceive before him to Stratflur and there every one of them swore to be faithfull subjects and did homage to David P. Lhewelyns son An Act of a discreet Prince At this time Lhewelyn being impotent by reason of a palsey which had taken him and sore urged and disquieted by his son Gruffith sent Embassadours to the King to signifie unto him that forasmuch as his years were now well near spent The Prince of Wales whom power could not compel voluntarily submits himself he was desirous to lead the rest of his dayes in peace and quietness and therefore purposed now to submit himself to the government and protection of the King of England and that he would hold his lands of him promising withal that whensoever the King should stand in need of his aid he would be ready to help him with men and money to the utmost of his power There were sent as Mediators in this behalf the Bishops of Hereford and Chester who travelled about the same with the good liking of many of the Nobles of Wales although some openly opposed it and in no case would except of any such peace Then the said David
there arose a great debate between the princes of Wales for Owen could not be content with halfe the principality but got his young brother David unto him All cover all lose or Harme watch harme catch and they two levied an army to dis-inherit Lhewelin who with his men met with them in the field and after a long fight gave them an overthrow where he took them both prisoners and then seized all their lands into his own hands enjoying alone the whole principality of Wales The year ensuing all the Lords came to prince Lhewelin and made their complaints to him with weeping eyes how cruelly they were handled by prince Edward and others of the Nobility of England their lands being taken from them by force and if at any time they did offend they were punished with extremity but where they were wronged they found no remedy Therefore they protested before God and him A gallant re-sold on of the Welsh that they would rather die in the field in defence of their right then to be made slaves by strangers whereupon the prince pittying both his own estate and theirs determined together utterly with them to refuse the rule of the Englishmen rather to dye in liberty then to live in thraldom shame and opprobry And gathering all his power first recovered again all the Inland Country of Northwales and afterward all Merionith and such lands as Edward had usurped in Caerdigan which he gave to Meredith the son of Owen ap Gruffith An heroick Prince and Buelht he gave to Meredyth ap Rees chasing away Rees Vachan out or the same and so honourably divided all that he wan among his Barons that he kept nothing to himself but a perpetual fame of his liberality Then also he recovered Gwerthryneon from Sr. Roger Mortimer The Summer following prince Lhewelin made war against Gruffith ap Gwenwinwin who served the King and wan all Powis from him saving the Castle of Pole and a little of Caerneon and landed by Severne side Rees Vachan ap Rees Mechylh meaning to recover his lands again A bloody battail obtained of the King a great army whereof one Stephen Bacon was Captain and came to Caermarthin by sea and marching from thence towards Dynevowr laid siege to the Castle The English overthrown but the princes power came with his cosens to raise the siege where there was fought a bloody battail as ever had been in Wales of so many men and in the end the Englishmen were put to flight and lost of their men above 2000 Soldiers from thence the Princes army went to Dynet and burned all the Country and destroyed the the castles of Abercorran Lhanstephan Maenclochoc The Welsh victorious and Aberth and then returned home with much spoyle and forthwith not being able to abide the wrongs which Greffry Lanley Lieutenant to the Earle of Chester did to them M. Par. p 1251 Tho. Walsh Hypodigma p. 61. Brave-spirited men the Prince entred the Earles lands and destroyed all to the gates of Chester on either side the water Whereupon Edward the Earle fled to his Uncle who was then chosen King of the Romans for succour and returning back with an army durst not fight with the prince who had 10000 armed men every one sworn to dye in the field if need requred in the defence of their country A Judas amongst his countrymen M. Par. p. 1253 yet Griffith ap Madoc Maelor commonly sirnamed Lord of Dynas Bran which is a castle standing upon a very high Mountain of scituation impregnable in the Lordship of Chirk forsook the Prince and served the Earl with all his power which Earle was counted a cruell and unjust man having no regard to right promise or oath Mat. West p. 277. The next year Prince Lhewelyn seising into his hands Cymeys and making peace between Rees Gâ—yc and Rees Vachan his brothers son got the Castle of Trefdraeth or Newport with all Ros A â—ust punishment for a traytor o his Country Oâ— thirds not caught with chief saving Hanerford Then destroying the Country in his way towards Glamorgan he raised the Castle of Lhangymwch and returning to Northwales met with Edward Earl of Chester by the way whom he caused to retire back and then destroyed the Lands of the said Gruffith Lord of Bromfield Therefore the Kings of England and Almain wrote to him gently to depart home which he refused to do but deviding his army into two battails in every of which as Mathew Paris said there were 1500. Mat. Par. fol. 12â—8 The Welsh beat the Irish at Sea Mat. Par. fol. 1271. A prudent and politick Prince King Hen. unfortunate in his undertakings against Wales Mat. Paris fol. 12â—5 English Almains Gascoâ—nes and Irish against Wales Mat. Paris fol. 1274 1279. footmen and 500. horsemen well appointed Whereupon Edward sent to the Irishmen to come to him to his succour whereof the Prince being certified made ready his Bishops and sending them to Sea with sufficient power to resist the coming of his Enemies that way prevented him so that the Irish were overcome and sent home with great loss wherefore the King with his Son being in a great rage gathered all the strength of England from St. Michaels mount to Twede and came to Northwales as far as Tegenwy but the Prince caused all the victualls to be removed over the River Conwey and kept all the Straits and passages so narrowly that the King was compelled to tetire to England with great loss Then Prince Lhewelyn calling unto him all the power of Southwales came to the marches where Gruffith Lord of Bromfield yielded himself unto him because the King could not defend his lands and seising into his own hands all the lands in Powis he banished the Lord Gruffith ap Gwenwynwyn and wan the Castle of Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester where also he gave the English men an overthrow and slew a great number of the worthiest Soldiers and such as the King loved well which caused the King to call his strength unto him and sent to Gascoyne and Ireland for succoâ—â—s and then coming into Wales in harvest time destroyed all the corn that was in his way yet he went not far beyond Chester but returned back without doing any notable act for God as Matthew Paris saith defended the poor people that put their whole confidence in him The Lord James Audly whose daughter Gruffith Lord of Bromfield had married brought a great number of horsemen from Almain to serve against the Welshmen God the Protectour of the Welsh who with their great horses and unaccustomed kind of fight overthrew the Welshmen at the encounter wherefore the Welshmen minding shortly after to revenge the displeasure made roads into the said Lord Audleyes Lands where the Almains set upon them pursuing hard such as fled to the Straits who using that flight for a policy returned again so suddainly and so fi rcely upon the Almains that they
King will provide as becometh their Estates and condition and to that the King is well enclined These are to be said to David Brother to Lhewelyn in secret A specious banishment First That if for the honour of God Juxta debitum crucis assumptae he will go to the holy land he shall be provided for according to his degree so that he do not return unless he be called by the King and we trust to intreat the King to provide for his child 2. And these things we tell our selves to the Welshmen that a great deal greater peril do hang over them then we told them by mouth when we were with them These things which we write seem grievous but it is a great deal more grievous to be oppressed with armes and finally to be rooted out because every day more and more their danger doth increase One of Jobs comforters 3. Item It is more hard to be alwayes in war in anguish of mind and danger of body alwayes sought and beseiged and so to dye in deadly sin and continual rancor and malice 4. Item We fear whereof we be sorry unless you do agree to peace we must certainly aggravate the sentence Ecclesiastical against you for your faults of the which you cannot excuse your selves whereas you shall find both grace and mercy if you will come to peace And send us your answer of these in writings To the most Reverend Father in Christ the Lord John by Gods grace Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England his Obedient Son Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdon sendeth greeting Most heartily with all Reverence and Honour we are content and ready holy Father as you have committed us to submit our selves unto the Kings grace so it be in that form that shall be safe and honest for us But because the form of submission contained in the Articles which were sent unto us is neither safe nor honest as we and our Councel do think at the which Articles all men do marvail tending rather to the destruction of us and our people then any security or honest dealing we may in no wise yield our assent unto it and if we should so do our Nobles and People would not agree to the same knowing the mischiefs and inconvenience that is like to ensue thereof Nevertheless we beseech your holy Father-hood that for the reformation of a decent honest and firm peace for the which you have taken so great pains you do circumspectly provide having respect unto the Articles which we send unto you in writing It is more honourable for the King more agreable to reason that we should hold our Lands in the County where we do dwell then that we should be dis-inherited and our Land given to other Men. Dated at Carth Celyn The Answer of the Welshmen First though the Lord the King will have no treaty of the four Cantreds the Lands that he gave to his Nobles The right of lands derived from Camber nor the Isle of Anglesey yet the Princes Councel will no peace be made unless treaty be had of them For that the four Cantreds be of the mere Tenure of the Prince whereas the Princes of Wales had more right since the time of Camber Son of Brute so that they be of the principality of VVales The confirmation of the which the Prince obtained by Otobanus the Popes Legate in England by the consent of the King and his Father As it doth appear by the Letters Patentes And more just and equal it is that our heirs do hold the said Cantreds of the King for mony The P. of Wales justly taxeth the K. of England and used service then the same to be given to strangers which abuse the people by force and power 2. All the Tenents of all the Cantreds of VVales altogether do say that they dare not submit themselves to the King to do his pleasure first for that the King kept neither covenant nor oath nor grant by charter from the beginning to the Prince or his people Secondly that the Kings men do cruelly exercise Tyranny towards the Church and Churchmen Thirdly that they be not bound to any such matter seeing they be the Princes Tenants who is ready to do used and accustomed service and to obey the King with and by the said service 3. To that which is said that the Prince should simply commit himself to the Kings will it is answered that none of us will dare come to the King for the cause aforesaid we altogether will not suffer our Prince to come in that manner 4. Item where the great Men of England would procure a provision of a 1000l per annum in England let it be answered that such provision is not to be accepted for it that is procured by them who go about to disinherit the Prince to have his Lands in VVales 5. Item The Prince ought not to dismiss his inheritance which his predecessours held in VVales since the time of Brutus and confirmed by the See Apostolick and to take lands in England where he knoweth neither tongue manners lawes nor customes wherein he shall be soon entrapped by his neighbours the Englishmen his old malicious enemies whereby he should lose land also 6. Item Seeing the King goeth about to deprive him of his ancient inheritance it is not like that he would suffer him to possesse Lands in England where he claimeth no right seeing that the Princes Lands in VVales of his own inheritance is but barren and untilled it is lesse like the King would suffer him to enjoy good fertile land in England 7. Item The Prince should give the King possession of Snowdon for ever Let it be answered that seeing that Snowdon is of the appurtenances of the principality of VVales which the Prince and his predecessours hold since the time of Brute His Councell will not suffer him to renounce that place and to take a place in England lesse due unto him 8. Item The people of Snowdon do say that although the prince would give the King possession of it yet they would never do homage to strangers of whose tongue Manners Lawes they should be ignorant for so they should be for ever Captives and as cruelly handled as the Cantreds have been by the Kings Bayliffs and other the Kings men handled more cruelly then Saracens as it doth well appear by the notes of their griefs which the men of the Cantreds sent to you holy Father These are to be Answered For David the Kings Brother When he is disposed to see the Holy Land will do it for Gods sake voluntarily not by such inforcement against his will for he intendeth not to go on pilgrimage in that sort because he knoweth enforced service not to please God and if he hereafter shall for devotion see the holy land that it is no cause for ever to disinherit his Ofspring but rather to reward them And for that neither the Prince nor his
the said Prince should accomplish the age of 14. years which was performed by them accordingly in all leases dispositions and grants of the revenues of the said prince The said K. Edw. by another Charter composed in English and bearing date 10 of Novem. 13o. regni appointed the said E. Rivers being brother unto the Queen to be governour of the person of the said prince and to have the education and institution of him in all vertues worthy his birth and to have the government and direction of his servants King Edward the fourth having reigned full 22. years left this mortal life 24. regni at VVestminster and was enterred at VVindsor Edward his Son and Heir then being at Ludlow neer the Marches of Wales for the better ordering of the Welsh under the Government of the Lord Rivers his Unkle on the Mothers side and upon the death of his Father drawing towards London to prepare for his Coronation fell into the hands of his Unkle by the Fathers side Richard D. of Glocester and the said Lord Rivers being upon his way to London Dulce vennum regnum was intercepted and lost his head at Pomfret for what cause I know not other then this that he was thought to be too great an obstacle between a thirsty Tyrannous desire and the thing that was so thirstily and Tyrannously desired Edward the 5. King of England for so he was although he enjoyed it not long being thus surprised under the power of his natural or rather most unnatural Unkle and mortal enemy was brought to London with great solemnity and pompe and with great applause of the People flocking about to behold his person as the manner of the English Nation is to do whose new joyes cannot endure to be fettered with any bonds His said Unkle calling himself Protector of the King and his realm but indeed was a wolfe to whom the lamb was committed for having thus surprised the Kings person he laboured by all means to get into his possession also the younger brother being D. of Yorke knowing that they both being sundered Vindex nocentes sequitur a tergo Deus the safety of the younger would be a means to preserve the elder and therefore by all sinister perswasions and fair pretences having obtained the younger D. from his mother the King and the D. both for a time remained in the Tower of London Ed. v. upon his return to England and there shortly after both in one bed were in the night smothered to death and buried in an obscure and secret place unknown how or where untill one of the Executioners thereof after many years being condemned to dye for many other his manifold crimes confessed also his guilty fact in this tragical business and the circumstance thereof of which by reason of the secresie and incertainty divers had before diversly conjectured And by this means all for the Coronation of Innocent Edward served the turn to set the Crown upon the head of Tyrannous Richard Out of which by the way I cannot but observe how hatefull a bloody hand is to Almighty God the King of Kings who revenged the bloodshed of those civil broyles whereof Edward the Father had been the occasion and the breach of his oath upon these his two Innocent Infants Edward Son of Richard III. This Tyrant and stain of the English story Inter warr ad magnum sigillum in Cancellaria Henricus rosas Richard D. of Glocester usurped the Kingdom by the name of Richard the third and became King yet as our Records of Law witness de facto non de jure and in the first year of his reign created Edward his son being a child of ten years of age Prince of Wales Lieutenant of the Realm of Ireland But for that the prosperity of the wicked is but as the florishing of a green tree which whiles man passes by is blasted dead at the roots and his place knoweth it no more so shortly afterwards God raised up Hen. Earl of Richmond the next heir of the house of Lancaster to execute justice upon that unnatural and bloody Usurper and cast him that had been the rod of Gods Judgment upon others into the fire also for in the third year of his reign at the battail of Bosworth whereunto the said Richard entered in the morning crowned with all Kingly pomp he was slain and his naked carkass with as much despight as could be devised was carried out thereof at night and the said Henry Earle of Richmond the Solomon of England Reigned in his stead by the name of King Henry the Seventh Arthur Son of K. Henry VII Henry the VII took to wife Elizabeth the eldest daughter and after the death of her brothers the Relict heir of King Edward IV. by which marriage all occasions of contention between those two noble Families of York and Lancaster were taken away and utterly quenched and the red Rose joyned with the white The said K. Henry the seventh by his letters patents dated the first day of December 5. regni created Arthur his Eldest son heir apparent being then about the age of three years Prince of Wales But before we proceed any further treating of the Princes of Wales let us consider from whence this Arthur descended and admire the goodnesse and providence of the highest and great God towards the VVelsh nation to bring the honour and principality to one descended of the Ancient Welsh or British blood I will bring the pedegree ascendent the noble Prince Arthur was son to Henry the VII Arthur The King of England from the Welsh blood first thus Henry VII Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to K. Edward IV. Edmund Earle of Richmond Margaret Daughter and Heir to John Duke of Somerset Sr. Owen Tudor Katherine Queen Dowager to K. Henry the V. Meredyth son to Tudor Tudor son to Grono Grono son to Tudyr Tudyr son to Grono Grono son to Ednivet Ednivet Vachan married Gwenlhian daughter to Rees Prince of Southwales Gruffith King of Southwales Rees ap Tudyr King of Southwales Whose Armes were Gules a Lyon Ramp within a border indented Or. I could deduce this family from several English matches as Holland Tuckets Norris but I should be too prolix and seem to exspaciate beyond my bounds and therefore I will return to our Prince of whom we now speak Dodridge fol. 28. Also there was a Charter of the Grant of the Lands of the said principality Earledom of Chester and Flint dated the 20 of February in the said fift year of the said King made unto the said Prince The said King Henry the VII by his Charter bearing date the 20. day of March in the eight year of his reign did constitute and appoint the said Prince Arthur to be his Justice in the County of Salop Inter war ad magnum sigillvm in Cancellaria Hereford Glocester and the Marches of Wales adjoyning to the said Shires to enquire of all liberties priviledges and
Kings bench And if the said erroneous judgment shall be in any Action personal the same shall be reversed by bill before the Lord president of the Marches and councel there Officers Ministers Clerks and Writers for the expediting of the said great Sessions First there are the Chamberlains of every the said circuits as hath been said who are properly and Originally the Treasurers of the Revenue within their charge and by the said Statutes are also Keepers of the seals as aforesaid therein they do undertake in part the Office of a Chancellour And in every of the said circuits there is the Atturney or Regius Advocatia and Sollicitor There is a Protonotary or chief Register who draweth all the pleadings Protonotary Clâ—rk of the Crown entereth and engrosseth the Records and Judgments in civil causes and ingrossing Fines And there is also a Clerk of the Crown which draweth and ingrosseth all inditements and proceedings arraignments and judgments in criminal causes and these two Officers are at the King or States appointment There is a Marshal to attend the persons of the Judges at their common sitting and going from the Sessions or Court There is a Marshal There is a Cryer Tanquam publicus preco to call forth such persons whose apparences are necessary and to impose silence to the people And these two Officers last remembred are deposed by the Justices And thus much touching the Justices of the great Sessions There are also other ordinary Officers appointed for every Shire in Wales by the said Statute 34. Henry 8. such and in like manner as in other the Shires in England There is a commission under the great Seal of England to certain Gentlemen What a Justice of peace giving them power to preserve the peace and resist and punish all turbulent persons whose misdemeanour may tend to the disquiet of the people and these are called Justices of peace and every of them may well be termed Eirnarcha the chief of them is called Custos Rotulorum in whose custody all the Records of their proceedings are resident Others there are of that number called Justices of the peace and Quorum because of their Commissions whereby they have power to sit and determine causes concerning breach of peace and misbehaviour the words of the Commission are conceived thus Quorum such and such Vnum vel duos c. Esse volumus and without some one or more of them of the Quorum no Sessions can be holden and for the avoiding of the superfluous number of such Justices 8. Justices onely allowed in every County of Wales for through the ambition of many it is accounted a credit to be burthened with that Authority The Satute of 34 Hen. 8. hath expresly prohibited that there shall be above eight Justices of Peace within every of the Counties and Shires of Wales which if the number were not indefinite for the Shires in England it were the better These Justices do hold their Sessions quarterly And it is further ordained by the Statute of 34 Hen 8. that two Justices of peace whereof one to be of the Quorum may hold their Sessions without any greater number In every of the said Shires where the said Commission of peace is established There is also a Clerk of the peace for the entring and engrossing of all proceedings before the said Justices and this Officer is appointed by the Custos Rotulorum Sr. John Dod fol. 49. Every of the said Shires hath a Sheriff which word being of the Saxon English is as much as to say a Shire-Reeve or Minister or Bailiff of the County his Function or Office is twofold Ministerial and Judicial As touching his Ministerial Office he is the Minister and Executioner of all the Process and Precepts of the Courts of Law and thereof ought to make return and certificate Why the Tourne Court so called and as touching the Judicial Office he hath Authority to hold two several Courts of distinct natures the one called the Tourne because he keepeth a Tourne or Circuit about the Shire holding the same in several places wherein he doth enquire of all offences perpetrated against the common Law and not forbidden by any Statute or Act of Parliament The County Court derived from Justice Communicative And the Jurisdiction of this Court is derived from justice distributive and is for criminal offences The other is called the County Court where he doth determine all petty and small causes civil under the value of 40 s. arising within the said County and thereof it is called the County Court And the Jurisdiction of this Court is drawn from Justice Communicative and is held every Moneth The Office of the Sheriff is annual by the Statute of 34 Hen. 8. it is ordained that the Lord President Councel and Justices of Wales or three of them at the least whereof the President to be one shall yearly nominate three fit persons for that Office of whom the King or State may elect one who thereupon shall have his Patent and be Sheriff of the said Shire Escheator why so called Every of the said Shires hath an Officer called an Escheator which is an Officer to attend the Kings Revenue and to seize into his hands all lands either Escheated goods or lands forfeited therefore he is called Escheator and he is to enquire by good enquest of the death of the Kings Tenants and to whom the lands are descended and to seize the bodies and lands for Ward if they be within age and is accountable for the same And this Officer in Wales is nominated Escheator 34 Hen. 8. cap. 16. by the Lord Treasurer of England by the advice of the Lord President Councel and Justices or three of them at least whereof the Lord President to be one There are also in every of the said Shires two Officers called Coroners they are to enquire by enquest in what manner and by whom every person dying a violent death came to his death and to enter the same of Record which is matter criminal and a plea of the Crown Coroners why so called and thereof they are called Coroners or Crowners as one hath written because their enquiries ought to be publick Et in Corona Populi These Officers are are chosen by the Free-holders of the Shire by vertue of a Writ out of the Chancery De Coronatore Eligendo And of them I need not speak more because these Officers are elsewhere The Goal Forasmuch as every Shire hath one Goal or Prison appointed for the restraint of liberty of such persons as for their offences are thereunto committed until they shall be delivered by course of Law Finally in every hundred of every of the said Shires the Sheriffs thereof shall nominate sufficient persons to be Bailiffs of that hundred and under Ministers of the Sheriff and they are to attend upon the Justices in every of their Courts and Sessions The Government of the Marches of Wales