enjoyed by his Heirs for ever A.D. 1238 In the Year 1238. Prince Lhewelyn being discomposed in Body called unto him all the Lords and Barons of Wales to Ystratflur where each of them swore to remain true and faithful Subjects and did Homage to David Lhewelyn's Son whom he had named to succeed him Matthew Paris writes that Prince Lhewelyn being impotent by reason of a Palsie and sore disquieted by his Son Gruffydh sent Embassadours to the King of England signifying to him that for as much as he could not expect to live long by reason of his Age he was desirous to lead the remainder of his days in Peace and Tranquility and therefore now purposed to submit himself to the Government and Protection of the King and would hold his Lands of him promising withal that whenever the King should stand in need of his help he would serve him both with Men and Money to the utmost of his power The Bishops of Hereford and Chester were sent Mediators in this behalf though some of the Nobility of Wales openly and peremptorily withstood it and upon no condition whatsoever would accept of such a Peace But David being declared Successor to the Principality began to plague his Brother Gruffydh who though elder was yet base-born and took from him Arustly Ceri Cyfeilioc Mowdhwy Mochnant and Careneon and let him only enjoy the Cantref of Lhyn But a little afterwards he dispossessed him of all and contrary to his Oath to the Bishop of Bangor in whose protection Gruffydh then remained took him Prisoner having upon promise of no Violence obtained to speak with him and sent him to Cricieth Castle But whilst these two Brothers continued to entertain an irreconcilable Odium one to another their Father Prince Lewelyn ap Iorwerth A.D. 1240 to the great Grief and Dissatisfaction of all the Welch departed this Life and was very honourably interred in the Abby of Conwey after he had reigned Six and Fifty Years He was a Prince of great Courage and Audacity and had no less Prudence in contriving than Boldness in executing any martial Adventure he was a great Support to the Welch and no less a Plague to the English he made very considerable Conquests upon the Borders and extended the Frontiers of Wales much beyond their former Limits He had Issue by his only Wife Joan Daughter to King John of England one Son called David who afterwards succeeded in the Principality of Wales and a Daughter named Gladys who was married to Sir Ralph Mortimer He had also a base Son named Gruffydh whom his Brother David kept a close Prisoner to his dying day David ap Lhewelyn PRince Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth being deceased his only legitimate Son David whom all the Barons of Wales had as is said in his Fathers Life-time sworn to obey legally succeeded in the Goverment wherein being actually confirmed he went to the King of England to Glocester and there did him Homage See Appendix for his Principality Then all the Barons both English and Welch who held any Lands in Wales in like manner did Homage and Fealty for the same But the English could not long refrain from their wonted Hostilities towards the Welch and thereupon Gilbert Marshal taking advantage of this Revolution before Matters were throughly settled brought an Army before the Castle of Aberteifi which being delivered up to him he fortified with a strong Garrison Prince David was as yet too weak to appear in the Field and indeed the more by reason that several of his Nobility and others could not affectionately love him for that unnatural Spleen he shew'd to his Brother Gruffydh whom for no visible reason he detained in close custody But above the rest Richard Bishop of Bangor stormed at the Prince and finding that he violated his Promise in setting his Brother at liberty whom under pretence of an amicable Consultation he had fraudulently seized upon in the Bishop's presence without more ado excommunicated him and then retiring to England made a very querimonious relation of the whole matter to the King desiring him to release Gruffydh out of Prison before the Rumour of so heinous a Fact should reach the Court of Rome and so reflect upon his Majesty's Reputation King Henry thereupon sent to his Nephew Prince David blaming him highly for such a treacherous Action and dealing so severely with his Brother and then earnestly requested him to deliver Gruffydh out of custody both to save himself from perpetual Defamation and to deserve an Absolution from the severe Sentence pronounced against him But David absolutely refused to comply to the King's desire assuring him that Wales could never enjoy a peaceable time as long as his Brother Gruffydh had his liberty Gruffydh being acquainted with his Brothers Resolution and thinking that thereby he had unavoidably displeased the King of England privately sent to King Henry assuring him that if by Force he would deliver him out of Prison he would not only hold his Lands for ever from him but also pay him the yearly Acknowledgment of Three Hundred Marks offering both to give his corporal Oath and to deliver up sufficient Pledges for the performance of it and withall to assist the King with all his Power in bringing in the rest of the Welch to his subjection Moreover Gruffydh ap Madawc Lord of Bromfield positively assured the King that in case he would lead an Army into Wales to revenge the Falsity and injurious Practices of David he would give him all possible Aid and Assistance Indeed King Henry besides this solemn Invitation had no weak Pretence to come to Wales for Richard Bishop of Bangor a fiery Man had prosecuted the matter so warmly at Rome that he obtained of the Pope also to excommunicate David which Excommunication being denounced against him his Lands were pretendedly forfeited But the King being chiefly allured with the Promises of the Welch in the behalf of Gruffydh levied a very formidable Army to lead to Wales strictly commanding by Proclamation all the English who owed him any Martial-Service to repair armed to Glocester by the beginning of Autumn This Rendezvouz being accordingly performed the King came thither in person at the time appointed and having regulated his Troops and put all Matters in convenient order he marched to Shrewsbury where he remained Fifteen Days to refresh his Army During his stay there several of the Nobility became Suitors unto him on behalf of Gruffydh whose Condition they desired he would commiserate among whom were Ralph Lord Mortimer of Wigmore Walter Clifford Roger de Monte Alto Steward of Chester Maelgon ap Maelgon Meredith ap Rotpert Lord of Cydewen Gruffydh ap Madawc of Bromfield Howel and Meredith the Sons of Conan ap Owen Gwynedh and Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys These Noblemen prevailed so far with King Henry that a League was concluded between him and Senena the Wife of Gruffydh See Appendix For the performance of these Articles the aforesaid
in Northumberland and was with much rejoycing received by the Inhabitants But before he could secure himself in the Government he was shamefully banished the Country and so the Northumbrians elected one Hircius the Son of Harold for their King But to shew the Inconstancy of an unsettled Multitude they soon grew weary of Hircius and after Three Years space expelled him and voluntarily submitted themselves to Edred who after he had reigned eight Years dyed and was buried at Winchester To him succeeded Edwin the Son of Edmund a Man so immoderately given to Venety that he forcibly married another Man's Wife for which and other Irregularities his Subjects after four Years reign set up his Brother Edgar who was crowned in his stead with A.D. 958 grief of which he soon ended his days The Summer that same Year proved so immoderately hot that it caused a very dismal Plague in the following Spring which swept away a great number of People before which Gwgan the Son of Gwyriad the Son of Roderie dyed At this time Ievaf and Iago forcibly managed the Government of all Wales and acted according to their own good Pleasures no one daring to confront or resist them But for all their Power the Sons of Abloio King of Ireland ventured to land in Anglesey and having burnt Holyhead wasted the Country of Lhyn Also the Son of Edwyn the Son of Colhoyn destroyed and ravaged all the Country to A.D. 961 Towyn where they were intercepted and slain About the same time dyed Meyric the Son of Cadfan Rytherch Bishop of S. Davids and Cadwalhon ap Owen Not long after the Country of North-Wales was cruelly A.D. 965 wasted by the Army of Edgar King of England the occasion of which Invasion was the non-payment of the Tribute that the King of Aberffraw by the Laws of Howel Dha was obliged to pay to the King of London But at length a Peace was concluded upon these Conditions that the Prince of North-Wales instead of Money should pay to the King of England the Tribute of 300 Wolves yearly which Creature was then very pernicious and destructive to England and Wales This Tribure being duly performed for two Years the third Year there were none to be found in any part of the Island so that afterwards the Prince of North-Wales became exempt from paying any Acknowledgment to the King of England A.D. 966 The Terror apprehended from the English being by these means vanished there threatned another Cloud from Ireland for the Irish being animated by their late Expedition landed again in Anglesey and having slain Roderic the Son of Edwal Foel they destroyed Aboffraw And this danger being over Ievaf and A.D. 967 â—ago who had jointly and agreeably till now managed the Government of Wales from the death of Howel â—ha began to quarrel and disagree among themselves and Iago having forcibly laid hands upon his Brother 〈◊〉 confined him to perpetual Imprisonment These Heats and Animosities between the two Brothers A.D. 968 gave occasion and opportunity to Owen Prince of South-Wales to carve for himself who presently â—eized to his hands the Country of Gwyr And to A.D. 969 â—ugment the Miseries of the Welch at this time Mactus the Son of Harold with an Army of Danes â—ntered the Isle of Anglescy and spoiled Penmon King Edgar was so indulgent to these Danes that he permitted them to inhabit through all England insoâ—uch that at length they became to be as numerous â—nd as strong as the English themselves and fell into â—uch lewd courses of Debauchery and such horrid Drinking that very great Mischief ensued thereupon The King to reform this immoderate Sottishness enacted a Law that very one should drink by measure and so stamped a Mark upon every Vessel how â—â—at it should be filled But Harold having taken Pennon A.D. 970 made subject to himself the whole Isle of Anglesey which however he did not keep long being forced to quit the same and to return home as did the Fleet of King Alfred which he had sent to subâ—ue Caâ—rlheon upon Vsc And now being rid of the A.D. 971 English and Danes the Welch begin to raise Commotions among themselves Ievaf continued still in Prison A.D. 972 to rescue whom his Son Howel raised his Power and marched against his Uncle Iago who being vanquished in sight was forced to quit the Country to â—ave himself Howel having won the day took his eldest Uncle Meyric the Son of Edwal Prisoner and pulled out both his Eyes clapt him in Prison where in a woful condition he shortly dyed leaving behind him two Sons Edwal and Ionafal the first of which lived to be afterwards Prince of Wales and to revenge upon the Posterity of Howel that unnatural Barbarity shewed to his Father But though Howel delivered his Father from his long and tedious Imprisonment yet he did not think fit to restore him to his Principality for whether by Age or Infirmity he was incapable Howel took upon him the sole Government of Wales which he kept and maintained for his life-time but afterwards it descended to his Brethren For Ievaf had Issue besides this Howel Meyric Iâ—vaf and Cadwalhan all three Men of great Repuâ—â— and Esteem About this time dyed Morgan Hên in his younger days called Morgan Mawr being an Hundred Yearâ— old having lived Fifty Years after the death of hâ—â— Wife Elen Daughter of Roderic the Great by whoâ— he had one Son called Owen Morgan was a valiant anâ— a victorious Prince and well beloved of his Subjects 〈◊〉 but sometime before his death Owen the Son oâ— Prince Howel Dha laid claim to Ystradwy and Eâ—y called the two Sleeves of Gwent Vwchcoed being thâ— Right of Morgan and seized upon them to his owâ— use But the matter through the mediation of the Clergy and Nobility being by both Parties referred to the decision of Edgar King of England it was by him adjudged that the said Lands did of right belong to Morgan and to the Diocess of Lhandaff and that Owen ap Howel Dha had wrongfully possessed himself of them The Charter of the said Award waâ— made before the Archbishops Bishops Earls and Barons of England and Wales at may be seen at Lhandaff in an old Manuscript called y Cwtta Cyfarwydd 〈◊〉 Forgannwg And there is somewhat to the same purpose in the old Book of Lhandaff only the mistake in both is that they make Howel Dha the Intruder into the said Lands who had been dead at least Twenty Years before King Edgar began his Reign Howel ap Ievaf HOwel after that he had expelled his Uncle Iago and forced him to quit his own Dominions â—â—ok upon himself the Government of Wales in â—â—ght of his Father who tho alive yet by reason of â—â—s Years was willing to decline it About the same 〈◊〉 Dwnwalhon Prince of Stradclwyd took his Jourâ—â—y for Rome and Edwalhon Son of Owen Prince â—f South-Wales died But the English received a â—â—eater Blow by the Death of King Edgar who was Prince of
in among them but in the Action was slain leaving no Issuâ— behind him to succeed in his Principality tho' 〈◊〉 some antient Genealogies he is reputed to have a Soâ— called Conan y Cwn Cadwalhon ap Ievaf HOwel the Son of Ievaf had for a long time enjoyed the Principality of North-Wales more by â—ain Force and Usurpation than any right of Sucâ—ssion he could pretend to it For Ionafal and Edwal â—â—e Sons of Meyric the eldest Son of Edwal Foel â—ere living and tho' their Father had been rejected 〈◊〉 unfit for Government yet that was no reason to â—eprive them of their Right Indeed Howel could â—â—etend to no other Right or Title than that his Faâ—â—er Ievaf had been Prince of North-Wales before 〈◊〉 and this he thought sufficient to maintain his â—ossession against the rightful Heir who was far unâ—â—le to oppose or molest his wrongful Usurpation â—â—â—t he being slain in this rash Expedition against the English and leaving no Issue to succeed him in the â—rown his Brother Cadwalhon thought he might rightâ—â—lly take upon him the Government of North-Wales â—eing his Father and his Brother had without any â—olestation enjoyed the same However to make his â—itle secure he thought fit to remove all manner of â—â—bs which might create any Dispute concerning his â—â—ght of Succession and to that end concluded it â—ecessary to make away his Cosins Ionafal and â—dwal the lawful Heirs the first of which he â—xecuted accordingly but Edwal being aware of his â—ntention privately made his escape and so prevented â—is wicked Design This unnatural Dealing with his Cousins Ionafal and Edwal cost Cadwalhon not only â—is Life but the loss of his Principality and the utter â—uin of his Father's House For he had scarce enjoyâ—d A.D. 985 his Government one Year but Meredith the Son â—f Owen Prince of South-Wales entred into North-Wales slew Cadwalhon and his Brother Meyric the â—nly remains of the House of Ievaf and under the pretence of Conquest possessed himself of the whole Country Here we may observe and admire the Wisdom of Providence in permitting Wrong and Oppression for some time to flourish and wax great and afterwards by secret and hidden Methods in restoring the Posterity of the right and lawful Heir 〈◊〉 the just and pristine Estate of his Ancestors Foâ— after the Death of Edwal Foel Meyric who by righâ— of Birth was legally to succeed was not only deprived of his just and righful Inheritance but had 〈◊〉 Eyes most inhumanly put out and being condemneâ— to perpetual Imprisonment for grief of being so barbarously treated quickly ended his Days But thâ—â— his Brothers Ievaf and Iago and Howel and Caâ—walhon the Sons of the former successively enjoyâ—â— the Principality of North-Wales yet not one diâ— naturally or free from the Revenge of Meyric's ejâ—ction For Ievaf was imprison'd by his Brother Iagâ— and he with his Son Constantine by Howel the Sâ—â— of Ievaf and afterwards Howel fell by the hands oâ— the English and his Brethren Cadwalhon and Meyâ—â— were both slain by Meredith ap Owen On the otheâ— side Edwal ab Meyric who was right Heir of North Wales after the Death of his Brother Ionafal escapâ—â— the snare intended by Cadwalhon and Meredith 〈◊〉 Owen after some time leaving North Wales exposeâ— to the Enemies by reason he had enough to do to preserve South-Wales Edwal was received of the North-Wales Men as their true Prince Meredith ap Owen A.D. 986 MEredith having won the Field and slain Cadwalhâ—â— and his Brother Meyric the only seeming Pretenders to the Principality of North-Wales took upoâ— himself the Rule and Government of it But before â—e could be well confirmed in his Dominions Godfryâ— â—he Son of Harold the third time entred into the â—sle of Anglesey and having taken Lhyarch the Son of Owen with 2000 Men Prisoners most cruelly put out â—is Eyes which so startled and struck such a Terror â—nto Prince Meredith that with the rest of his Army â—e forthwith made his escape and fled to Cardigan This loss to the Welch was the same Year seconded â—y another but of another sort for there happened â—uch a dismal and unusual Murren that the best part â—f the Cattle of Wales perished Neither were the â—nglish at this time free from Adversities and Trouâ—les for the Danes landed again in England with seâ—eral Armies and at Westport and Wâ—test gave two â—nglish Lords Godan and Britchwould such a blow â—hat the King was forced to buy his Peace with the â—ayment of 10000 Pound which was termed Dane â—elt But within a while after King Edelred violated â—nd brake the Peace himself and prepared a great â—eet thinking to vanquish the Danes at Sea But 〈◊〉 proved far otherwise and much contrary to his exâ—â—ctation all his Ships being either destroyed or â—aken together with the Admiral Alfric Earl of Mercin The Danes being animated with this Victoâ—y failed up to the Mouth of the Hâ—mber and landâ—â—g in York shire spoiled and destroyed the City of â—â—rk and Lindsey but in their march through Norâ—humberland were routed and put to flight by Godwyn â—nd Fridgist two English Generals who were sent to â—ppose them The same time Anâ—â—f King of Norway â—nd Swane of Denmark with 94 Gallies sailed up the Thames and besieged London which the Citizens to â—ravely defended that at length the Danes thought â—est to raise and quit the Siege But though they â—ould effect nothing upon the City yet the Country â—as at their mercy and therefore leaving their Ships â—hey landed and wasted with Fire and Sword all Kent Essex Sussex Surry and Hampshire Wherefore King Edelred instead of manly opposition in the Field â—ends Ambassadors to treat about another payment â—nd so the Danes being satisfied with a great Sum of Money and Victuals lay quiet that Winter at Southampton Upon this Composition Anlaf was invited by Adelred and Royally entertained and being dismissed with very many rich Presents he promised upon Oath to depart the Kingdom and never to molest it any more which he faithfully performed A.D. 987 Whilst the English and the Danes were thus for aâ— time agreed Ievaf the Son of Edwal having speâ—â— for several Years a retired and a private Life died And was quickly followed by Owen the Son of Hoâ—â—â— Dha Prince of South-Wales This Owen had thrâ—â— Sons Eineon who in his Father's time was slain by thâ— Rebels of Gwentland and Lhywarch who had 〈◊〉 Eyes put out by Godfryd the Son of Harold the Dâ—â— and Prince Meredith who had already Conquereâ— North Wales and now upon his Father's Death takeâ— possession also of South-Wales without any regard had to Edwyn and Theodore the Sons of Eineon his eldeâ—â— Brother But upon his advancement to his new Principality he was like to meet with no very small troubles for the Danes at Hampton quickly broke tâ—â— League with King Adelred and sailing towards thâ— West mightily annoyed the Coasts of Cornwal and Dâ—vonshire and at last landed in South-Wales
inhumanly put out The Danes also who had lately made their Incursioâ— into South-Wales began now to molest the English and having landed in the West passed through thâ— Counties of Somerset Dorset Hamp-shire and Sussex destroying and burning all before them Having advanced without any Opposition as far as the River Medway they laid Siege to Rochester which the Kentish-men endeavouring to preserve assembled themselves together and gave the Danes Battel bâ—â— were vanquished in the Undertaking King Edelâ—â— was then in Cumberland where the Danes were more numerously planted which Country he kept quieâ— and in subjection But in the mean time another Army of Danes landed in the West against whoâ— the Country People of Somerset-shire assembling themselves shewed their readiness to attack them buâ— wanting a Head to direct them were easily put 〈◊〉 their Heels and the Danes ruled and commanded the Country at their pleasure The King being sorely vexed at the Insolencies and restless Depredations of the Danes thought convenient to strengthen himself by some powerful Affinity and to that end sendâ— Ambassadors to Richard Duke of Normandy desiring his Daughter Emma in Marriage and Succours to â—epel the Danish Incursions Here it is observable â—hat as the Saxons being formerly called over as Friends and Allies to the well-meaning Britains violently and wrongfully possessed themselves of the greatest part of the Island so now the Normans being invited to Aid the English against the Danes â—ook so good a liking to the Country that they never gave over their Design of gaining it till at â—ast they became Conquerors of the whole Island The Mischief of calling in the Normans tho' foretold to King Adelred he was so far concerned about the present Calamities received by the Danes that he was deaf to all futurities how dangerous and mischievous soever they might prove And therefore being puff'd up with hopes of Increase of Strength by this new Affinity he sent private Letters to all Cities and Towns throughout his Dominions where the Danes were quartered requiring them all upon St. Brice's Night to Massacre the Danes which was accordingly performed with much Unanimity and Secrecy This cruel Disaster was so far from discouraging the Danes that they now began to Vow the Eradication of the English Nation and to Revenge that unmanly Massacre of their Country-men to which end they landed in Devon-shire and over-running the Country with Fire and Sword spared nothing that had the least spark of Life in it The City of Exeter they razed to the ground and slew Hugh the Norman whom the Queen had recommended to the Government of it To prevent their further Incursions Almarus Earl of Devon gathered a great Army out of Hamp-shire and Wilt-shire and the Country thereabouts and marched with a Resolution stoutly to oppose the Danes who put Almarus to Flight and pursued him to Wilton and Salisbury which being ransacked and plundered they carried the Pillage thereof triumphantly to their Ships A.D. 1004 The next Year Swane a Prince of great repute in Denmark landed upon the Coast of Norfolk and laid siege to Norwich and wasted the Country thereabouts But Wolfkettel Duke of that Country being too weak to oppose him thought it most convenient to make a Peace with the Dane which was quickly broke and then Swane marched privately to Therford which after he had spoiled and ransack'd he return'd with his Prey to his Ships Wolfkettel hearing this privately drew up his Forces and stoutly marched against the Enemy but being far inferiour in number the Danes got the day and afterwards sailed to their own Country Within Two Years after the Danes returned again bringing with them their usual Companions the Fire the Sword and the Spoil and landed at Sandwich which after they had burnt and pillaged they sailed to the Isle of Wight where they took up their Winter-Quarters till Christmas And then coming forth thence they over-ran by several Parties the Countries of Hamshire and Barkshire as far as Reading Wallingford and Colsey devouring up for want of other Plunder all the Provisions and Victuals they found in the Houses and retributed the same with Fire and Sword at their departure In their return they met with the Army of the West-Saxons near Essington but this consisting only of a raw and unexperienced Rabble they easily broke through and passing triumphantly by the Gates of Winchester they got safe with great Booty to Wight King Adelred all this while lay at his Mannor-House in Shropshire much troubled and concerned at these uninterrupted Devastations of the Danes But the Nobility of England rather to save some than lose all they possessed bought their Peace of the Danes for the Sum of 30000 l. during which interval King Adelred rousing his drooping Spirits ordained that every three Hundred Hides of Land one Hide being as much as one Plough can sufficiently till through his Dominions should man out a Ship and every Eight Hides a Corslet and a Helmet beside which the King had no inconsiderable Navy sent him from Normandy â—his Fleet when rendezvous'd at Sandwich seemed terâ—â—â—le in those days and was the greatest that ever â—ore then rode upon the British Sea And now one â—â—ght have thought that all things would go well â—â—th the English when of a sudden another Cloud â—â—pears for one Wilnot a Noble Man of Sussex beâ—â—g banished by King Adelred got to Sea with a small â—â—mber of Ships and practised Pyracy along the â—â—asts of Britain and mightily annoyed all Merâ—â—ants and Passengers Brightrych Brother to the A.D. 1008 â—â—iterous Edric Earl of Mercia thinking to advance 〈◊〉 Reputation by some signal Exploit promised to â—â—ng Wilnot dead or alive before him To which â—â—d he sets forth with a considerable Fleet which â—â—eeting with a terrible Storm was by the Tempest â—iven back and wreck'd upon the shoars so that great number of the Ships were drowned and the 〈◊〉 burnt by Wilnot and his Company Brightrych beâ—â—g abashed with this unfortunate beginning returnâ—â— ingloriously by the Thames back to London so â—â—at this great Preparation against the Danes was â—â—sh'd to pieces and came to nothing The Danes were not ignorant of the Misfortune the A.D. 1009 â—â—glish received by this Storm and without any furâ—â—er enquiry landed at Sandwich and so passed on Canterbury which they intending to destroy was 〈◊〉 the Citizens bought off for 3000 l. Passing from â—â—ence through Kent Sussex and Hampshire they came 〈◊〉 Burkshire where King Edelred at length met with â—â—em and purposing resolutely to set upon them was the cunning Insinuations and subtile Arguments of â—â—ytor Edric dissuaded from fighting The Danes beâ—â—g thus deliver'd from the danger which they certainâ—â— expected passed on joyfully by the City of London â—â—d with great Booty returned to their Ships The 〈◊〉 Year they landed again at Ipswich upon Ascensionâ—â— where Wolfkettel entertained them with a sharp â—â—counter but being over-power'd by Number he â—as forced to give back and yield the day to the
drew together a great Army consisting partly of Strangers and partly of such as they could raise in Gwentland and Glamorgan and marched to fight with Gruffydh The Prince according to his usual manner detracted no time but animating and solacing his Soldiers with the remembrance of their former Victories and Conquests bid the Enemies battel which proved so very bloody and terrible that nothing could part them beside the darkness of the Night This Battel so tired and tamed both Armies that neither was very desirous of another Engagement and so one being unwilling to set upon the other they both agreed to return to their own Habitations The same time Joseph Bishop of Teilo or Llandaf died at Rome But both Armies being separated Prince Gruffydh enjoyed a quiet and unmolested Possession of all Wales for about Two Years after which the Gentry of Ystrad Towy treacherously slew 140 of the choice of his Army which he took in so high an indignation that to revenge their death he destroyed all Dyfed and Ystrad Towy About the same time Lothen and Hyrling two Danish Pyrats with a great number of Danes landed at Sandwich and having plundered the Town returned again to their Ships and sailed for Holland where they sold the Booty they had taken and then returned to their own Country Shortly afterwards Earl Swayn came out of Denmark with Eight Ships and returned to England and coming to his Fathers House at Pevenese humbly requested of him and his Brothers Harold and Tostie to endeavour his reconciliation with the King Earl Beorned too promised to intercede for him and going to Swayn's Fleet to sail to Sandwich where the King then lay he was by the way most treacherously and ungratefully murthered and his Body cast upon the shoar which lay there exposed till his Friends heating of the Fact came and carried it to Winchester and buried it by the Body of King Cnute â—eorned 's Uncle Swayn having committed this most testable Murder put himself again under the Proâ—â—ction of the Earl of Flanders not daring to shew 〈◊〉 Face in England till his Father by earnest Mediâ—â—on wrought his Peace with the King This Year Conan the Son of Iago raised again an â—â—my of his Friends in Ireland and sailed towards â—ales purposing to recover his Inheritance in 〈◊〉 Country But when he was come near the â—â—lch Coast there suddenly arose such a violent â—â—â—rm that his Fleet was presently scattered and â—â—st of his Ships drowned which rendered this Expeâ—â—â—ion ineffectual About the same time Robert Archâ—â—â—hop of Canterbury impeached Earl Godwyn and his 〈◊〉 Swayn and Harold of Treason and the Queen 〈◊〉 Adultery and upon the account of their non-â—â—â—earance when cited before the Peers at Glocester 〈◊〉 Queen was divorced and Godwyn and his Sons â—â—nished who with his Son Swayn fled to Flanders 〈◊〉 Harold to Ireland But these unlucky Clashings â—â—d the many Troubles that ensued thereupon hapâ—â—â—ed upon this occasion Eustace Earl of Bologne beâ—â—â— Married to Goda the King's Sister came over this â—aâ— to England to pay King Edward a Visit and in 〈◊〉 return to Canterbury one of his Retinue forcibly â—â—manding a Lodging provoked the Master of the â—â—use so far as by Chance or Anger to kill him Euâ—â—â—e upon this Affront returns back to the King and 〈◊〉 the insinuâ—tions of the Archbishop makes a loud â—â—mplaint against the Kentish-men to repress whose â—â—olencies Earl Godwyn is commanded to raise Forâ—â—â— which he refusing to do for the Kindness he bore 〈◊〉 his Country-men of Kent the King summons a â—â—rliament at Glocester and commands Godwyn to â—â—pear there But he mistrusting either his own â—use or the Malice of his Adversaries gathered a â—â—werful Army out of his own and his Sons Earlâ—â—ms and marched towards Glocester giving out â—â—â—t their Forces were to go against the Welch who â—â—â—ended to invade the Marshes But King Edward â—â—â—ng satisfied by the Welch that they had no such Design in hand commanded Godwyn to dismiss his Aâ—my and to appear himself to answer to the Articles exhibited against him Godwyn refusing to obey the Kiâ—â— by the Advice of Earl Leofrick summoned an Asseâ—bly at London whither a great Number of Forces aâ—rived from Mercia which Godwyn perceiving and wiâ—â—al finding himself unable to withstand the King â— proceedings privately retired with his Sons out 〈◊〉 the Kingdom and fled into Flanders Whereupon the King issued out an Edict proclaiming Godwâ—â— and his Sons Out-Laws and then confiscating thâ—â—â— Estates bestowed them upon others of his Nobiliâ—â— And to pursue his Displeasure the farther he Divâ—â—ced his Queen Edith Earl Godwyn's Daughter aâ—â— committed her to a Cloyster where in a mean Coâ—dition she spent some part of her Life In the distâ—â—bution of the forfeited Estates Adonan obtained 〈◊〉 Earldoms of Devon and Dorset and Algar the Sâ—â— of Leofrick that of Harold But Godwyn could 〈◊〉 patiently behold his Estate bestowed upon anotheâ— and therefore having hired some Men and Ships 〈◊〉 Flanders he sailed to the Isle of Wight where aâ—â—â—â— that he had made a sufficient havock he put in 〈◊〉 Portland which he treated after the same manâ—â—â— The same time Harold having sailed from Ireland 〈◊〉 length met with his Father and then with their unâ—â—â—â— Navy they burnt Preveneseny Romney Heath Fâ—â—â—ston Dover and Sandwich and entering the Thâ—â—â—â— they destroyed Cheppey and burnt the King's Hoâ—â— at Middletown Then they sailed up the River â—â—wards London where the King's Army being reaâ—â— to oppose them a Treaty of Peace was by the meâ— of Bishop Stigand agreed upon which proved so â—â—fectual of Godwyn's side that the King received 〈◊〉 again to his Favour restored him and Sons to all thâ— Estates re-called the Queen and banished the Arâ—â—bishop with all the French-men who had been pâ—â—moters of that unhappy Suspicion the King had enâ—â—â—tained of them About this time Rhys Brother to Gruffydh Prâ—â—â—â— of Wales who by several Irruptions upon the Bordeâ—◠〈◊〉 considerably gauled and damaged the English â—â—s taken and put to Death at Bulendun whose â—â—â—d being cut off was presented to the King then Glocester But he received better News some time 〈◊〉 from the North for Siward Earl of Northumberâ—â—â—d having sent his Son against Macbeth King of â—â—gland vanquished the Scots tho not without the 〈◊〉 of his Son and many others both English and â—â—nes But Siward was not cast down at his Son 's â—â—â—th but enquiring whether he received his Death's â—â—nd before or behind and being assured that it 〈◊〉 before replied He was very glad of it for he â—â—d not wish his Son to die otherwise After this â—tory King Edward marched in Person to Scotland and having again overcome Macbeth in Battel made the whole Kingdom of Scotland Tributary the Crown of England The next year Earl â—â—â—â—yn sitting with the King at Table sunk down â—â—d of a sudden being choak'd as 't is thought in â—â—llowing a morsel of Bread whose Earldom the â—â—ng bestowed upon his
of those who enjoyed a great part of the Welchmens Lands but would not be satisfied till they got all For Gilbert Strongbow Earl of Strygill upon whom the King had bestowed Cardigan made great Complaints of Owen ap Cadwgan declaring how that he received and entertained such Persons as spoiled and robbed in his Country and Hugh Earl of Chester made the like of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales how that his Subjects and the Men of Grono ap Owen ap Edwyn Lord of Tegengl unreproved wasted and burnt the Country of Cheshire and to aggravate the matter the more he added farther that Gruffydh neither owed any Service nor paid any Tribute to the King Upon these Complaints King Henry was so cruelly enraged that he swore he would not leave one living Creature remaining in North-Wales and Powys-land but having extirpated utterly the present Race of People he would plant a Colony of new Inhabitants And then dividing his Army into three parts he deliver'd one to the conduct of the Earl of Strygill to go against South-Wales which comprehended the whole Power of the fourth part of England and Cornwal The next Battel was designed against North-Wales in which was all the strength of Scotland and the North and was commanded by Alexander King of the Scots and Hugh Earl of Chester the Third the King led himself against Powys wherein was contained the whole strength of the middle part of England Meredith ap Blethyn hearing of these mighty Preparations and being informed that this vast Army was design'd against Wales was quickly apprehensive that the Welch were not able to make any great Defence and therefore thought it his safest way to provide for himself before-hand and so coming to the King yielded himself up to his Mercy But Owen fearing to commit himself to those whom he knew so greedily to covet his Estate and whom he was assured were far more desirous to dispossess the Welch of their Lands than any other way to punish them for former Crimes and Miscarriages fled to Gruffydh ap Conan to North-Wales Upon that King Henry converted his whole Force that way and came himself as far as Murcastelh and the Scotch King to Pennant Bachwy but the People flying to the Mountains carried with them all the Cattel and Provision they had so that the English could not follow them and as many as attempted to come at them were either slain or wounded in the streights But Alexander King of the Scots finding that nothing could possibly be effected against the Welch as long as they kept the Rocks and Mountains sent to Prince Gruffydh advising him to submit himself to the King promising him all his Interest to obtain an honourable Peace But the Prince was too well acquainted with English Promises and therefore refused his Proposals and so King Henry being very unwilling to return without doing something in this Expedition sent to Owen to forsake the Prince who was not able to defend himself but was ready to strike a Peace with the Scottish King and the Earl of Chester But this cunning Insinuation would not take effect for Owen was for his life as distrustful of King Henry as Prince Gruffydh and therefore he would hearken to no Intreaties for revolting from him who had all this while afforded him Refuge till at length his Uncle Meredith an old insinuating Politician persuaded him with much a do not to forsake the King of England's Proposals who offered him all his Lands without Tribute in case he would come to his side and therefore Meredith advised him instantly to accept of his offer before Prince Gruffydh made a Peace with the King which if it was once done he would be glad upon any score to purchase the King's Mercy Owen being prevailed upon by such Arguments came to the King who received him very gratiously and told him that because he believed his Promise he would not only perform that but likewise exalt him above any of his Kindred and grant him his Lands free from any payment of Tribute Prince Gruffydh perceiving how that Owen had submitted to the King thought it also his wisest way to sue for Peace and so promising the King a great Sum of Money a Peace was then actually agreed upon and confirmed which the King of England was the more ready to consent to because he found it impossible to do him any hurt whilst he continued encamped in that place Some affirm that the submission as well of Prince Gruffydh as Owen was procured by the Policy of Meredith ap Blethyn and the Earl of Chester this last working with Gruffydh and assuring him that Owen had made his Peace with the King before any such thing was in agitation so that the Prince yielding somewhat to the Earl's Request if Owen had gone contrary to his Oath which they had mutually taken not to make any Peace with the English without one anothers Knowledge seemed to incline to a Peace On the other hand Meredith going in Person to his Nephew Owen affirmed for Truth that the Prince and the Earl of Chester were actually agreed and that the Prince was on his Journey to the King to make his Submission And in the mean while Meredith took especial care that all Messengers betwixt the Prince and Owen should be intercepted and by that means Owen wilfully submitted himself to the King King Henry having thus finished and brought to an end all his Business in Wales calling Owen to him told him that in case he would go over with him to Normandy and there be faithful to him he would upon his return confirm all his Promises upon him and so Owen accepting of the King's Offer went with him to Normandy where he behaved himself so gallantly that he was made a Knight and after his return A.D. 1112 the Year following he had all his Lands and Estate confirmed unto him About the same time Griffri Bishop of St. Davids died and King Henry appointed to succeed him one Barnard a Norman much against the Good-will and Inclination of the Welch who before this time were ever used to Elect their own Bishop And this Year the rumour of Gruffydh Son to Rhys ap Theodore was spread throughout South-Wales who as the report went for fear of the King had been from a Child brought up in Ireland and having come over about two Years afore past his time privately among his Relations particularly with Gerald Steward of Pembroke his Brother-in-Law And now the noise of a new Prince being spread abroad it came at last to the Ears of the King of England that a certain Person appeared in Wales who pretended to be the Son of Rhys ap Theodore late Prince of South Wales and laid Claim to that Principality which was now in the King's Hands King Henry being somewhat concerned with such a Report and fearing lest that this new Starter should create him some greater trouble he thought to nip him in the bud and sent down Orders
they placed themselves in an ambuscade and when the Game came that way they unexpectedly set upon the unarmed Sports-men and having easily made all the rest fly away they wounded Cadelh so cruelly that he narrowly escaped their hands alive who making shift to get home lay for a long time dangerously ill and with great difficulty at length recovered his Life Upon this his Brothers Meredith and Rhys passed with an Army into Gwyr and having burnt and destroyed the Country thereabouts they besieged and took the Castle of Aberlhychwr but finding they could not keep it they rased it to the Ground and after that returned home with great Booty to Dynefawr and repaired the Fortifications of the Castle there About the same time also Howel Prince Owen Gwynedh's Son fortified Humphry's Castle in the Valley of Caletwr A.D. 1151 But the following Year Prince Owen did a very barbarous Action to Cunetha his Brother Cadwalhon's Son for fearing lest that this young Man should lay claim to any part of his Estate as his Father 's right he first pulled out his Eyes and afterwards castrated him for fear he should beget any Children who might some time or other renew their claim and right to Cadwalhon's Estate This inhuman severity was succeeded by another of no small remark Lhewelyn Son to Madoc ap Meredith having watched a convenient Opportunity set upon and slew Stephen the Son of Baldwin But Cadwalader Prince Owen's Brother after a tedious Imprisonment which he had sustained thro' the Malice and Rancour of his Nephew Howel at length made his escape and flying to the Isle of Anglesey brought a considerable part of that Island under his subjection But Prince Owen hearing how that his Brother had got loose from custody and that he was in actual possession of a great part of Anglesey he presently dispatched an Army over which proving too formidable to Cadwalader's Party he was constrained to escape to England and to desire Succor from his Wife's Relations who was the Daughter of Gilbert Earl of Clare This Year Galfrede Arthur commonly called Geffrey of Monmouth was made Bishop of St. Asaph and at the same time Simon Archdeacon of Cyfeilioc a Man of great Worth and Esteem in his Country died But the Year following Meredith and Rhys the Sons A.D. 1152 of Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales laid Siege to Penwedic Castle which belonged to Howel Prince Owen's Son and after great pains and considerable loss of Men of their side at last made themselves Masters of it From thence they marched by Night to Tenby and unexpectedly falling upon the Castle of which one William Fitzgerald was Governor they scaled the Walls before the Garrison were aware of any Danger and so possessing themselves of the Castle they fell foul upon the Garrison in Revenge of the Mischief they had done and further designed to their Brother Cadelh For Cadelh at this time was gone upon a Pilgrimage and during his absence had committed his whole Inheritance and all other concerns in Wales to the Care of his Brethren Meredith and Rhys But after the taking Tenby-Castle they divided their Army into two Parties with one of which Rhys marched to Ystratcongen and after great havock and waste committed there he passed to Cyfeilioc which fared in like manner with Ystratcongen Meredith with the other Party sat before Aberavan-Castle and after a short Siege won and got possession of it and then returned home with very considerable Booty and many rich Spoils About the same time Rondel Earl of Chester who had lived in continual Enmity and frequent Hostility with Prince Owen of North-Wales departed this Life leaving his Son Hugh to enjoy both his Titles and Estate in England and to prosecute the Feuds and Hostilities against the Welch A.D. 1153 And shortly after died Meredith Son to Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales who was Lord of Cardigan Ystratywy and Dyfed being not passed the Twenty Fifth Year of his Age a Person of incomparable Valor and Audacity and in all his Warlike Attempts and Atchievements very Fortunate He was presently followed by Geoffrey Bishop of Llandaf a Man as Famous for Learning and a good Life as the other was for Masculine Bravery and Martial Prowess In England the face of things looked very lowring Henry Surnamed Shortmantel the Empress Son landed in England and in his progress thro' the Country took several Castles among which were Malmesbury Wallingford and Shrewsbury But his Fury was quickly appeased by the Death of Eustace King Stephen's Son so that the sole obstacle for his succeeding to the Crown being now removed he willingly concluded a Peace with King Stephen permitting him to enjoy the Crown peaceably for his life upon Condition A. D 1154 that himself was declared his Successor But King Stephen did not long survive this Treaty and then Henry Plantagenet the Empress Son was Crowned in A.D. 1155 his stead Towards the beginning of King Henry's reign Rhys Gruffydh ap Rhys King of South Wales upon apprehension that Owen Gwynedh had raised an Army for the Conquest of South-Wales drew together all his Strength and marched to Aberdyfi to face the Enemy upon their own Borders But finding the Rumor to be false and that the Prince of North-Wales had no such Design in hand having built a Castle at Aberdyfi which might defend the Frontiers from any future Design of his Country he returned back without attempting any thing farther At the same time Madoc ap Meredith built a Castle at Caereneon near Cymer and then Eglwys Fair in Myfot was founded About this time also Meyric Nephew to Prince Madoc ap Meredith made his escape out of Prison wherein he had been detained by his Uncle for a considerable time The same Year King Henry being displeased with the Flemings whom his Predecessor King Stephen had brought over into England issued out a Proclamation charging the greatest part of them to depart his Dominions and to retire to their Country-men in West-Wales where his Grandfather Henry the First the Bastard's Son had planted them And thus that part of Wales called Pembroke-shire was over-run with these Strangers who being better befriended by the Kings of England than the Welch could well expect to be made sure footing in that Country where they have ever since continued firm It was the English Policy of those times to accept of any opportunity to curb and keep under the Welch whom they experienced to be none of the safest Neighbours and therefore the Kings of England did grant any Lands and Privileges in Wales to any that would accept of them which honestly they had no Power to bestow But this was not enough in detriment to the Welch A.D. 1156 for the Year following King Henry raised a very great Army which he gathered from all parts of England with purpose to subdue all North-Wales being principally moved hereto by the instigation of Cadwalader the Prince's Brother whom Owen Gwynedh for what Reasons not
known deprived of his Estate and banished the Country Also Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis who maligned the Liberty and Priviledge of the Princes of North-Wales who owned subjection to no other than the King of England whereas those of Powis were obliged to do homage to the Prince of North-Wales did joyntly consent to this Invitation The King of England accepting of their Proposals led his Army to West-Chester and encamped upon the Marsh called Saltney in Welch Morfa-Caer-Lleon Prince Owen all this while was not ignorant of this intended Invasion and therefore having made all possible Preparations to confront the Enemy he marched his Army to the Frontiers of England and encamping at Basingwerk resolved to give the English Battel King Henry understanding of the Prince's Resolution detached some of the chiefest Troops out of the Main-body under the command of several Earls and other Lords and sent them towards the Prince's Camp But after they had advanced some little way and were passing thro' a Wood called Coed-Eulo David and Conan Prince Owen's Sons unexpectedly set upon them and what by the advantage of the Ground and the suddeness of the Action the English were born down with a great Slaughter and those who survived narrowly escaped to the King's Camp This was a very unwelcome beginning to King Henry but however in order to prosper better hereafter he thought it advisable to decamp from Saltney and to rank his Troops along the Sea-Coast thinking thereby to get betwixt Prince Owen and his Country which if he could effect he was sure to reduce the Welch to a very great inconveniency But the Prince foreseeing the Danger of this retired with his Army to a place called Cîl Owen that is Owen's Retreat which when King Henry perceived he let fall his Design Lib. 2. Cap. 5. and came to Ruthlan W. Parnus writes that in this Expedition against the Welch King Henry was in great danger of his Life in passing thro' a strait at Counsylth near Flint where Henry Earl of Essex who by inheritance enjoyed the Office of bearing the Standard of England being over-charged by the Enemy cast down the same and fled This accident so incouraged the Welch that they bore on so violently that the King himself narrowly escaped having of his Party Eustace Fitz-John and Rob. Curcie two valiant Knights together with several others of his Nobility and Gentry slain in the Action After this Prince Owen decamped from Cîl Owen and intrenched himself upon Bryn y Pin where little of moment passed betwixt the two Armies only some slight Skirmishes happened frequently King Henry in the mean time fortified the Castle of Ruthlan and during his stay there Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis sailed with the English Fleet to Anglesey and having put some Men on shoar they burnt two Churches and ravaged part of the Country about But they paid very dear for it for all the Strength of the Island being met together they set upon them in their return to their Ships and cut them off in such a manner that not one remained to bring Tidings to the Fleet of what had befel them But they on Board quickly perceived what had happened and therefore thought it not very safe harbouring upon that Coast but judging it more advisable to weigh Anchor they presently set Sail for Chester when they were arrived thither they found that a Peace was actually concluded betwixt King Henry and Prince Owen upon these Articles That Cadwalader should have all his Lands restored to him and he received to the Favour and Friendship of his Brother Then King Henry leaving the Castles of Ruthlan and Basingwerk well manned and fortified and having near the latter founded a Publick Structure for the Order of Knights Templars returned to England But the troubles of Wales did not end with him for Iorwerdh Goch ap Meredith who had taken part with the King of England during this War laid Siege to the Castle of Yale which was built by Prince Owen and making himself Master of it rased it to the ground The next Year commenced with a very unfortunate A.D. 1157 Action Ifor ap Meyric having long before cast a very wishful Eye upon the Land and Estate of Morgan ab Owen was now resolved to put in execution what he had before contrived and as Covetousness seldom bears any regard to Vertue or Honor he treacherously set upon him and slew him and with him fell Gurgan ap Rhys the most Famous British Poet of his time Morgan's Estate Ifor bestowed upon his Brother Iorwerth who about the same time got also possession of the Town of Caer-Lheon But these inward and home-bread Disturbances were quickly mitigated by a general Peace which was presently after this concluded betwixt the King of England and all the Princes and Lords of Wales Rhys ab Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales only excepted For this Prince Rhys who probably would not rely too far upon the King of England's Fidelity refused to consent to a Peace but however to secure himself the best he could from the English whom he had no small reason to be afraid of he thought it his best Prudence to issue out his Orders commanding his Subjects to remove their Cattel and other Effects to the Wilderness of Tywy where they were like to remain securest from the Eyes and reach of the Enemies But he had not continued there long when he received a more positive Express from King Henry commanding him to appear forthwith at his Court and to accept of the Proposals of Peace before the joynt Forces of England and Wales were sent to fetch him up Prince Rhys having received such a threatning Message thought it now high time to repent of what he had afore so rashly resolved upon and therefore after long Consultation he judged it his wisest way to accept of the King's Proposals and to appear at Court There it was agreed upon that Rhys whose Lands heretofore lay scattered about and were intermixed with other Person 's Estate should enjoy Cantref Mawr and any other Cantref which the King should be pleased to bestow upon him But contrary to this Article the King assigned him several Lordships and other Lands far remote from each other and particularly intermixed them with the Estates of English-men whom he was sure would be a watch and a curb to all the motions of Prince Rhys This was indeed a very politick Contrivance or King Henry to keep under the high and restless Spirit of Rhys but the Justice of the Action does not so evidently appear in breaking one of the chiefest Articles of the Peace and chopping and bestowing that which was not justly in his Power to give But 't is manifestly apparent that the English of these times were mainly concerned right or wrong to oppress and keep under the Welch of whose mortal hatred to subjection they had so frequently and so cruelly felt Prince Rhys was not at all ignorant of these
wrongful and deceitful Dealings of King Henry but knowing himself to be unable to redress these Grievances he thought it more advisible for a time to live quietly with a little than rashly to hazard all But in a short time he had opportunity either to demand redress from the King or else to endeavour it himself by Force of Arms. For as soon as Roger Earl of Clare was informed of the distribution which the King of England had granted to Prince Rhys he came to King Henry requesting of his Majesty that he would grant him such Lands in Wales as he could win by force of Arm◠The King readily complied with his Request being always very forward to grant any thing which seemed to curb and discommode the Welch and therefore the Earl of Clare marched with a great Army into Cardigan and having fortified the Castles of Ystrat-Meyric Humphrey Dyfi Dynerth and Lhanrhystyd he made several Incursions into the Country In the same manner Walter Clyfford who was Governour of Lhanymdhyfri Castle made in-roads into the Territories of Prince Rhys and after he had slain several of the Welch and made great waste in the Country returned with considerable Booty Prince Rhys as he was unable to bear these outrages so he was resolved either to have immediate redress or else to proclaim open War against the English and therefore he sent an Express to King Henry complaining of the Hostilities which his Subjects the Earl of Clare and Walter Clifford had committed in in his Country But finding the King to put him still off with only smooth Words and fair Promises and that he always winked at the Faults of the English and Normans without any farther Consultation about the Matter he laid Siege to the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri and in short time made himself Matter of it Also Eineon the Son of Anarawd Rhy's Brother's Son and a Person of great Valor being desirous to free his Country from that miserable servitude they now groaned under and judging withal that his Uncle was now discharged from the Oath he had lately sworn to the King of England sat before the Castle of Humphrey and having forcibly made his entrance into it he put all the Garrison to the Sword where he found a great number of Horses and Armour enough to arm a considerable Body of Men And whilst Eineon was thus engaged at Humphrey's Castle Prince Rhys perceiving that he could not enjoy any part of his Inheritance but what he afterwards got by the Sword drew all his Power together and entred Cardigan where like a most violent Torrent he over-run the Country that he left not one Castle standing of those which his Enemies had fortified and so brought all the Country to his subjection King Henry being sore offended at the progress which Prince Rhys so suddenly made against him returned with a great Army into South-Wales but finding it to no purpose to attempt any thing against the Prince he thought it more advisable to permit him to enjoy all that he had gotten and only to take Hostages for his observing of Peace during his absence out of the Kingdom which Prince Rhys promising to do he forthwith returned to England and soon after went for Normandy where he concluded a Peace with the French King A.D. 1158 But the Year following Prince Rhys of South-Wales without any respect to his promise to King Henry last Year led his Forces to Dyfed and destroyed all the Castles that the Normans had fortified in that Country and then laid Siege to Caermardhyn But Reynold Earl of Bristol the King 's base Son being informed of it called together the Earl of Clare his Brother-in-Law Cadwalader Prince Owen of North-Wales's Brother Howel and Conan Owen's Sons with two Earls more who with their joynt Forces marched to raise the Siege But Prince Rhys was wiser than to abide their coming and therefore upon the first intimation of such great Opposition he retired to the Mountains called Cefn Rester and there encamped being sufficiently secure from any Enemy by the natural Fortification of the place The Confederate Army lay at Dynwylhîr and there built a Castle but finding no news or tidings of Prince Rhys they returned home without effecting any thing of Note King Henry was still in Normandy and there made War against the Earl of St. Giles for the City and Earldom of Tholouse Towards the beginning of this Year Madoc ap Meredith ap Blethyn Prince of Powis died at Winchester whence his Body was honourably conveyed to Powis and buried at Myfod He was a Prince very much affected to Piety and Religion very charitable to the necessitous and good to the distressed but his great Fault was that he stickled too hard for the Interest of the English and was always in Confederacy with King Henry against the good Success of his Native Country He had Issue by his Wife Susanna the Daughter of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales three Sons Gruffydh Maylor Owen and Elis and a Daughter named Marred He had also three natural Sons Owen Brogynton Cynwric Efelh and Eineon Efelh who tho' base born yet according to the Custom of Wales co-inherited with their Brethren who were legitimate And here it will not be amiss once for all to give a particular account of the Principality afterwards the Lordships of Powis how it came to be divided into many shares and portions and by that means became so irrecoverably broken and weakened that it was made subject to the Normans before the rest of Wales For Powis before King Offa's time reached Eastward to the Rivers of Severn and Dee in a right Line from the end of Broxen Hills to Salop and comprehended all the Country between the Wye and Severn which was antiently the Estate of Brochwel Yscithroc of whom mention is made before But after the making of Offa's dike Powis was contracted into a narrower compass the plain Country toward Salop being inhabited by Saxons and Normans so that the length of it reached North-East from Pulford-Bridge to Lhangiric-Parish on the Confines of Cardigan-shire to the South-West and the breadth from the farthest part of Cyfeilioc Westward to Elsmere on the East-side This Principality Roderic the Great gave to his youngest Son Merfyn in whose Posterity it remained intire till the death of Blethyn ap Confyn who tho' he had divided it betwixt his Sons Meredith and Cadwgan yet it came again whole and intire to the possession of Meredith ap Blethyn But he again broke the Union and left it between his two Sons Madawe and Gruffydh the first of which was Married to Susanna the Daughter of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales and had with her that part afterward called by his Name Powis Fadoc After his death this Lordship was divided also betwixt his Sons Gruffydh Maelor Owen ap Madawc and Owen Brogynton which last tho' basely born had however for his incomparable Valour and Courage a share of his Father's Estate namely
and had a great Number of their Men slain After this nothing remarkable fell out for a considerable time unless it were that David being released out of Prison by Prince Lhewelyn his Brother most ungratefully forsook him and with all his might sided with his Enemies the English also Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn having taken the Castle of Mold demolished it to the ground During this quiet and unactive interval in Wales Meredith ap Owen the main Support and Defender of South-Wales died to the great disadvantage of the Affairs of that Country And now indeed the Welch were like to be A.D. 1268 made sensible of the Loss of so considerable a Person for King Henry was resolved once more to lead an Army into Wales and to see if he could have better Success than he had hitherto against the Welch But when he was prepared to undertake this Expedition Ottobonus Pope Clement's Legate in England interposed and mediated a Peace which was concluded upon at the Castle of Montgomery wherein it was articled that Prince Lhewelyn should give the King 30000 Marks and the King was to grant the Prince a Charter from thenceforth to receive Homage and Fealty of all the Nobility and Barons of Wales besides one so that they could hold their Lands of no other but himself and from thence forward he was to be lawfully stiled Prince of Wales This Charter being ratified and confirmed as well by the Authority of the Pope as the King's Seal Prince Lhewelyn desisted from any farther Acts of Hostility and punctually observed all the Articles of Agreement betwixt him and King Henry so that nothing more was outragiously transacted between the English and Welch during the remainder of this King's reign Within that space died Grono ap Ednyfed Fychan one of the Chief Lords of the Prince's Council and shortly after him Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield who lies buried at Vale-Crucis A.D. 1272 But the Death of King Henry put an end to the observations of the Peace betwixt the English and Welch who dying on the 16th day of November this year left this Kingdom to his Son Edward Prince Edward was then in the Holy-Land and very active against those Enemies of Christianity the Turks where he had already continued above a year but understanding of his Father's Death and that in his absence he was proclaimed King of England he made all haste to return to receive the Solemnity of Coronation But what by the tediousness of the Journey and what by being honourably detained at Princes Courts in his way it was two years before he could get into England then upon the 15th of August and in the year 1274. he was Crowned at Westminster Prince Lhewelyn was summoned to attend at his Coronation but he flatly refused to appear unless upon sure Terms of safe Conduct for having offended several of the English Nobility he could not in safety pass thro' their Country without the danger of exposing his Person to the inveterate Malice and acceptable Revenge of some of them And thâ—refore without the King's Brother the Earl of Glocester and Robert Burnell Lord Chief Justice of England were delivered up as Pledges for his safe Conduct he would not come up to do his Homage and Fealty at his Coronation according to the Writ directed to him And indeed seeing King Edward had broke the Peace lately concluded upon before the Pope's Legate and did receive and honourably entertain such Noblemen of Wales as for their disloyalty were banished by Prince Lhewelyn by whom he feared some treachery there was no reason that the Prince should pay him any subjection but by the breach of Peace was exempted from all Homage However Prince Lhewelyn to shew that it was not out of any stubborness or disrespect to the King of England that he refused to come sent up his Reasons by the Abbots of Ystratflur and Conwey to Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops then sitting â—n Convocation in the New-Temple at London which were to this effect To the most Reverend Fathers in God Robert Archbishop of Canterbury and Metropolitan of all England the Archbishop of York and the rest of the Bishops in Convocation Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowden sendeth Greeting WE would have your Lordships to understand that whereas formerly most terrible and incessant Wars were continually managed betwixt Henry King of England and our self the same were at last composed and all matters of Differences were adjusted by the means of his Excellency Cardinal Ottobonus the Pope's Legate who having drawn the Articles and Conditions of the Peace agreâ—d upon they were signed and swore to not only by the Kâ—ng but also the Prince his Son now King of England Among these Articles were comprehended that we and our Successors should hold of the King and his Successor the Principality of Wales so that all the Welch Lords one Baron excepted should hold their Baronies and Estates in Capite of us and should pay their Homage and Fealty for the same to us we in like manner doing Homage to the King of England and his Successors And besides that the King and his Successors should never offer to receive and entertain any of our Enemies nor any such of our own Subjects as were lawfully banished and excluded our Dominions of Wales nor by any means defend and uphold such against us Contrary to which Articles King Edward has forcibly seized upon the Estates of certain Barons of Wales of which they and their Ancestors have been immemorably possessed of and detains a Barony which by the form of Peace should have been delivered to us and moreover has hitherto entertained David ap Gruffydh our Brother and Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn with several others of our Enemies who are Out-laws and Fugitives of our Country And tho' we have often exhibited our Grievances and Complaints against them for destroying and pillaging our Country yet we could never obtain of the King any relief or redress for the several Wrongs and Injuries we received at their hands but on the contrary they still persist to commit wastes and other outrages in our Dominions And for all this he summons us to do him Homage at a place which is altogether dangerous to our Person where our inveterate Enemies and which is worse our own unnatural Subjects bear the greatest sway and respect w th the King And tho' we have alledged several Reasons to the King and his Council why the place by him assigned is nâ—t safe and indifferent for us to come and desire him to appoint another whereto we might with more safety resort or else that he would send Commissioners to receive our Oath and Homage till he could more opportunely receive them in Person yet he would not assent to our just and reasonable Request nor be satisfied with the Reasons we exhibited for our non-appearance Therefore we desire your Lordships earnestly to weigh the dismal effects that will happen to the Subjects
both of England and Wales upon the breach of the Articles of Peace and that you would be pleased to inform the King of the sad Consequence of another War which can no way be prevented but by using us according to the Conditions of the former Peace which for our part we will in no measure transgress But if the King will not hearken to your Counsel we hope that you will hâ—ld us excused if the Nation be disquieted and troubled thereupon which as much as in us lieth we endeavour to prevent King Edward would admit of no Excuse noâ— hearken to any manner of Reason in the case but was unmercifully enraged and conceived an unpardonable displeasure against Prince Lhewelyn which yet he thought convenient to conceal and dissemble for a time Indeed he could never abide Lhewelyn â—â—nce the time that he was vanquished and put to â—ight by him at the Marches so that the chief Cause â—f King Edward's anger originally proceeded from 〈◊〉 point of Honor which this refusal of Homage â—â—rved sufficiently to increase But to prosecute his Revenge which upon this score is in Princes very â—erce and unforgetful in a short time he came to â—hester meaning to recover by force what he could â—ot obtain by fair means From hence he sent to â—â—e Prince of Wales requiring him to come over and 〈◊〉 him Homage which Lhewelyn either absolutely reâ—â—sing or willingly detracting to do King Edward â—ade ready his Army to force him to it But there A.D. 1277 â—â—ppened an Accident which took off a great part of â—rince Lhewelyn's stubborness for at this time the â—ountess of Leicester the Widow of Simon Montfort â—ho lived at Montargis a Nunnery in France sent over 〈◊〉 Wales her Daughter the Lady Eleanor whom â—hewelyn extreamly loved with her Brother Aemeâ—ke to be married to the Prince according to the Aâ—reement made in her Father Earl Montfort's time â—ut Aemerike fearing to touch upon the Coast of â—ngland steered his course towards the Islands of â—cilly where by the way they were all taken by four â—ristol Ships and brought to King Edward who reâ—eived the Lady very honourably but committed her â—â—other Prisoner to the Castle of Coff whence he was â—fterward removed to the Castle of Shirburne The â—ing having obtained this unexpected Advantage over â—hewelyn began boldly to fall upon him and so diâ—â—ding his Army into two Battalions led one himself â—â—to North-Wales and advanced as far as Ruthlan where he strongly fortified the Castle The other he ommitted to Paganus de Camurtiis a great Souldier â—ho entring into West-Wales burned and destroyed 〈◊〉 great part of the Country But the People of South-Wales fearing that his next Expedition was levelled â—gainst them voluntarily submitted themselves to the â—ing and did him Homage and then delivered upâ—â—â—he Castle of Ystratywy to Paganus Prince Lhewelyn hearing of this and finding his own Subjects to forsake him but more especially being desirous to recover his espouse the Lady Eleanor thought it likewise advisable to submit and therefore sued to King Edward for a Peace who granted it but upon very severe Conditions upon Lhewelyns side The Agreement consisted of ten Articles which were 1. That the Prince should set at liberty all manner of Prisoners that upon the King's Account were detained in Custody 2. That for the King's favour and good will he should pay 50000 Marks to be received at the King's pleasure 3. That these four Cantreds or Hundreds viz. Cantref Ros where the King's Castle of Teganwy stands Ryfonioc where Denbigh Tegengl where Ruthlan Dyffryn Clwyd where Rhuthyn stands should remain in the King's hands 4. That the Lords Marchers should quietly enjoy all the Lands they had conquered within Wales excepting in the Isle of Anglesey which was wholly granted to the Prince 5. That in consideration of this Island the Prince should pay 5000 Marks in hand with the reserve of a 1000 Marks yearly to begin at Michaelmas and in case the Prince died without Issue the whole Island should return to the King 6. That the Prince should come every year to England to pay his Homage to the King for all his Lands 7. That all the Barons of Wales excepting five in Snowden should hold their Lands and Estates of the King and no other 8. That the Title of Prince should remain only for his Life and not descend to his Successors and after his Death the five Lords of Snowden should hold their Lands only from the King 9. That for the performance of these Articles the Prince should deliver up for Hostages ten Persons of the best Quality in the Country without imprisoning disinheriting and any time of redemption determined And farther that the King should chuse Twenty Persons within North-Wales who besides the Prince should take their Oaths for the due performance of these Articles and in case the Prince should swerve and recede from them and upon admonition â—hereof not repent they should forsake him and beâ—ome his Enemies 10. The Prince was obliged to â—uffer his Brethren quietly to enjoy their Lands in Wales whereof David for his Service was dubbed Knight by the King and had the Earl of Derby's Widow given him in Matrimony and with her as 〈◊〉 Portion the Castle of Denbigh in North-Wales beâ—ides a 1000 Pounds in Lands His other Brother Roderic was lately escaped out of Prison into England â—nd the younger called Owen was upon his Composition delivered out of Prison King Edward having imposed these severe and unmerciful Conditions upon Prince Lhewelyn and for a better security for the performance of them built a Castle at Aberystwyth returned very honourably into England upon whose arrival the People willingly granted him a Subsidy of the Twentieth part of their Estates towards his Charges in this War But it seems very probable that Prince Lhewelyn submitted to these intolerable Conditions more upon the account of his Amours and to regain the Lady Eleanora out of the King of England's hand than that he was apprehensive of any considerable Danger he might receive by the English Troops For it is hardly conceivable that a Prince of such notorious Conduct and Valour would so easily accept of such hard Terms and in a measure deliver up his Principality when there was no necessity so to do without resisting an Enemy whom he had frequently overcome and forced to retire back with greater inequality than the English had at present over him But the force of â—ove worked Wonders and in this case proved moâ—t irresistible which to obtain Lhewelyn did not think hard to forfeit his proper Right to his inveterate Enemies and for ever to exclude his Posterity from succeeding in their lawful Inheritance The next year A.D. 1273 therefore he had his Wish accomplished and was married to Eleanora at Worcester the King and Queen with all the Nobility and Persons of Quality in England honouring the Wedding with their pâ—esence But this specious Amity and the Peace laâ—â— concluded betwixt them
did not last long the Eâ—glish Governours in the Marches and in-land Coâ—â—tries of Wales presuming upon the Prince's submiâ—sion to the King grievously oppressed the Inhabâ—tants of the Country with new and unheard of 〈◊〉 actions and with intolerable partiality openly eâ—couraged the English to defraud and oppress tâ—â— Welch These insupportable practices moved tâ—â— Welch to go in a Body to David Lord of Denbigâ— to endeavour a reconciliation between him and 〈◊〉 Brother the Prince that they both being at Unity might easily deliver themselves and their Couâ—try from the unmerciful Tyranny of the English David was not ignorant of the miseries of his Couâ—try-men A.D. 1281 and therefore gladly submitted to be recoâ—ciled to his Brother with promise never to side agaiâ— with the King of England but to become his 〈◊〉 Enemy This happy Union being thus effected David was chose General of the Army with which he presently marched to Hawarden and surprizing the Castle slew all that opposed him and took Rogeâ— Clifford Prisoner who had been sent by King Edward Justitiar into those parts From thence being joyned by the Prince he passed to Ruthlan and laid Siege to the Castle but upon notice given that the King was marching to raise the Siege he thought convenient to withdraw and to retire back At the same time Rhys ap Maelgon and Gruffydh ap Meredith ap Owen with other Lords of South-Wales took from the English the Castle of Aberystwyth with divers others in that Country and spoiled all the People thereabouts who owned subjection to the Crown of England In the mean while John Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury perceiving how matters were like to proceed between the King and the Prince and how the Kingdom was effectually involved in a War of his own proper motion came to Prince Lhewelyn to endeavour a re-submission from him and his Brother David to King Edward and so to put a stop to any farther Hostilities But he sent before-hand to the Prince and People of Wales intimating to them That for the Love he bore to the Welch Nation he undertook this Arbitration without the knowledg and contrary to the King 's liking and therefore earnestly desired that they would submit to a Peace with the English which himself would endeavour to bring to pass And because he could make no long continuance in those Parts he wished them to consider how that if he should be forced to depart before any thing was brought to a conclusion they could hardly find another who would so heartily espouse their Cause and farther threatned that in case they contemned and derided his Endeavours he would not only instigate the English Army now greatly strengthned and increased to fall upon them but also signifie their Stubbornness to the Court and Bishop of Rome who esteemed and honoured England beyond any other Kingdom in the World Moreover he much lamented to hear of the excessive Cruelty of the Welch even beyond that of the Saracens and other Infidels who never refused to permit Slaves and Captives to be ransomed which the Welch were so far from practising that even some time they slew those for whose Redemption they received Money And whereas they were wont to esteem and reverence holy and ecclesiastical Persons they are now so far degenerated from Devotion and Sanctity that nothing is more acceptable to them than War and Sedition which they had now great need to forsake and repent of Lastly he proposed that they would signifie to him wherein and what Laws and Constitutions of theirs was violated by the English and by what means a firm and a lasting Peace might be established which if they rejected they must expect to incur the Decree and Censure of the Church as well as endure the violent In-roads and Depredations of a powerful Army To these partly Admonitions and partly Threatnings of the Archbishop Prince Lhewelyn returned an Answer That he humbly thanked his Grace for the Pains and Trouble he undertook in his and his Subjects behalf and more particularly because he would venture to come to Wales contrary to the pleasure and good liking of the King And as for concluding a Peace with him he would not have his Grace be ignorant that with all readiness he was willing to submit to it upon condition that the King would duly and sincerely observe the same And though he would be glad of his longer A.D. 1201 continuance in Wales yet he hoped that no Obstructions would happen of his side why a Peace which of all things he most desired might not be forthwith concluded and rather by his Graces procuring than any others so that there would be no farther need of acquainting the Pope with his Obstinacy nor moving the King of England to use any Force against him And though the Kingdom of England be under the immediate Protection of the See of Rome yet when his Holiness comes to understand of the great and unsufferable Wrongs done to him by the English how the Articles of Peace were broken Churches and all other religious Houses in Wales were burned down and destroyed and religious Persons unchristianly murthered he hoped he would rather pity and lament his Condition than with addition of Punishment increase and augment his Sorrow Neither shall the Kingdom of England be any wise disquieted and molested by his means in case the Peace be religiously observed towards him and his Subjects But who they are that delight themselves with War and Bloodshed manifestly appears by their Actions and Behaviour the Weâ—ch being glad to live quietly upon their own if they might be permitted by the English who coming to the Country utterly destroy whatever comes in their way without regard either to Sex Age or religious places But he was extreme sorry that any one should be slain having paid his Râ—â—â—â—â— the Author of which unworthy Action he did not pretend to maintain but would inflict upon him his condign Punishment in case he could be got out of the Woods and Desarts where as an Outlaw â—he lives undiscovered But as to commencing a War in a Season inconvenient he protested he knew nothing of that till now yet those that did so do solemnly attest that to be the only measure they had to save themselves and that they had no other security for their Lives and Fortunes than to keep themselves in Arms. Concerning his Sins and Trespasses against God with the assistance of his Grace he would endeavour to repent of neither should the War be willingly continued by him in case he might save himself harmless but before he would be unjustly dispossessed of his legal Propriety he thought it but reasonable by all possible measures to defend himself And he was very willing upon due Examination of the Trespasses committed to make Satisfaction and Retribution of all Wrongs committed by him and his Subjects so that the English would observe the same of their side and likewise was ready to conclude a Peace which he thought was impossible
to be established as long as the English had no regard to Articles and still oppress his People with new and unwarrantable Exactions Therefore seeing his Subjects were unchristianly abused by the King's Officers and all his Country most tyrannically harassed he saw no reason why the English upon any fault of his side should threaten to bring a formidable Army to his Country nor the Church pretend to censure him seeing also he was very willing upon the aforesaid Conditions to submit to a Peace And lastly he desired his Grace that he would not give the more credit to his Enemies because they were near his Person and could deliver their Complaints frequently and by word of mouth for they who made no conscience of oppressing would not in all probability stick to defame and make false Accusations and therefore his Grace would make a better Estimation of the whole matter by examining their Actions rather than believing their Words Prince Lhewelyn having to this purpose replyed in general to the Archbishops Articles presented him with a Copy of the several Grievances which himself and others of his Subjects had wrongfully and unjustly received at the hands of the English And these though somewhat tedious are thought necessary to be particularly inserted in the Appendix by reason that they demonstrably vindicate the Welch Nation from the unreasonable Aspersions which the English of these times cast upon it For the breach of Peace and the occasion of those dismal Disturbances in the Kingdom are by the English Writers of those times wholly attributed to the restless and rebellious Humour and unconstant Temper of the Welch Whereas had they looked at home they might have found the Original of all these Troubles to have proceeded from the intolerable Extortions and insupportable Oppressions of their own Nation For whoever considers these unmerciful Grievances and the manifold Wrongs the Welch endured it cannot in reason be expected but that they would endeavour to vindicate themselves and repel Force by Force For had the English the liberty of dispossessing them wrongfully of their proper Inheritance and Estates and it was not lawful for the Welch to endeavour the defending and keeping their own And must they be reckoned disobedient and Promoters of Sedition upon the account that they would not be trampled under and enslaved by the English These Measures were too hard and intolerable and scarce allowable in an Infidel Nation to oppress and what in them lay eradicate a People for no other reason than because they were weaker and more helpless than themselves and then what is worse to accuse them of being Authors of Sedition because they would not suffer themselves to be peaceably enslaved but endeavoured to vindicate their Right by main Force But it is highly probable that King Edward had no inclination to observe what Articles of Agreement soever were concluded upon and therefore encouraged his Deputies in the Marches and inland Country of Wales in all their Oppressions and sinistrous Dealings towards the Welch This was the best Method and the most expedient Means to reduce the Country of Wales to subjection to the Crown of England which the King had long ago intentionally effected And to accuse the Welch of not observing the Conditions of Peace was a specious Pretence to bring that actually to pass and to lead an Army into the Country But whaever the English might pretend 't is evident the Welch had the greater occasion to complain See the Appendix as appears from the Grievances committed as well against the Prince himself as others of his Subjects The Archbishop having read over these Grievances and finding the Welch to be upon good reason guiltless of that severe Character which by the malicious Insinuations of the English he had conceived of them went to King Edward requesting him to take into consideration the unjust Wrongs and Injuries done to the Welch which if he would not redress at least he might excuse them from any breach of Obedience to him seeing they had so just a reason for what they did The King replyed That he willingly forgave them and would make reasonable Satisfaction for any Wrong done so that they had free access to declare their Greivances before him and then might safely depart in case it would appear just and lawful they should The Archbishop upon this thought he had obtained his purpose and therefore without any stay posted it to Snowden where the Prince and his Brother David resided and having acquainted them with the King's mind earnestly desired that they and the rest of the Nobility of Wales would submit themselves and by him be introduced to the King's presence Prince Lhewelyn after some times Conference and Debate declared that he was ready to submit to the King with the reserve only of two particulars namely his Conscience whereby he was obliged to regard the Safety and Liberties of his People and then the decency of his own State and Quality But the King understanding by the Archbishop how that the Prince stood upon Terms positively refused to consent to any more Treaty of Peace than that he should simply submit without any farther Conditions The Archbishop had experience enough that the Welch would never agree to such Proposals and therefore desired of his Majesty that he would give him leave with the rest of the English Nobility present to confer and conclude upon the matter which being granted they unanimously resolved upon the following Articles and sent them to the Prince by John Wallensis Bishop of S. Davids I. The King will have no Treaty of the four Cantreds and other Lands which he has bestowed upon his Nobles nor of the Isle of Anglesey II. In case the Tenants of the four Cantreds submit themselves the King purposeth to deal kindly and honourably with them which we are sufficiently satisfied of and will what in us lyes endeavour to further III. We will do the like touching Prince Lhewelyn concerning whom we can return no other Answer than that he must barely submit himself to the King without hopes of any other Conditions These were the publick Articles agreed upon by the English Nobility and sent to Prince Lhewelyn besides which they sent some private Measures of Agreement relating both to him and his Brother David promising that in case he would submit and put the King in quiet possession of Snowden his Majesty would bestow an English County upon him with the yearly Revenue of a Thousand Pound Sterling And moreover his Daughter should be provided for suitable to her Birth and Quality and all his Subjects according to their Estate and Condition and in case he should have Male Issue by a second Wife the aforesaid County and a Thousand Pound should remain to his Posterity for ever As for David the Prince's Brother if he would consent to go to the Holy Land upon condition not to return but upon the King's Pleasure all things should be honourably prepared for his Journey with
canonized 160. John K. of England in his way to Ireland through Wales discharged a Criminal that murther'd a Priest 226. Famished Will de Bruce and Maud his Aunt at Windsor after his return 227. The reason of his Cruelty and Disaffection to Priests ib. Marches with a great Army into VVales and returns without Success 229 230. Makes a second Expedition ib. Orders Foulk Viscount Cardyff to subdue those that oppose in South-VVales and they at last do him Homage but quickly revolt 231 232. makes an Expedition into VVales 229. Makes a second and third and hangs the Welch Pledges reconciles himself to Rome and engages in a Civil War with his Barons 237. Dies and is succeeded by his Son Henry 242. Iorwerth ap Blethyn revolts from the Earl of Salop 124. Basely used by K. Henry for it the reason of it 125. delivered out of Prison 133. Forbids Owen and Madawc to retire to his Estate 134. Beset and slain by Madawc and Llywarch ap Trahern 137. Joseph Bishop of Llandaff dies at Rome 88. Ireland molested with Locusts 42. Ithel King of Gwent slain 28. L. LHewelyn ap Sytsylht makes himself Prince of all VVales 79. His good Government ib. Slays Meuric that rebelled against him with his own hand 80. suppresses another Rebellion 81. Basely slain ibid. Lhewelyn P. of North-VVales takes David ap Owen Prisoner 217. Receives Homage of most of the Welch Lords 222. Conquers Gwenwynwyn's Country 225. Makes an Expedition into South-VV and Maelgon flees 225 226. Marries Joan King John's Daughter 224. Sues and obtains Peace of the King by the means of his Wife 231. Animates the Lords of North-Wales to joyn with him in a Revolt against the King 233. Dispossesses the English of all their Holds in his Country 237. Takes Shrewsbury though excommunicated by the Pope 238. Subdues Cardigan and Carmarthen 240. Reconciles the â—onds in South-Wales 241. Subdues Powis 242. Refuses Assistance to King John against the Dauphine ibid. Makes Rynald Bruce who had revolted submit to him â—43 Receives the Submission and Allegiance of the Flemings in Dyfed ibid. Subdues the revolted Flemings again 246. Makes his Son Gruffydh submit ibid. Complained of to the King of England by young Rhys adjusts Matters with him 247. Seizes the Castle of William Marshal Earl of Pembroke in Wales and occasions a War between them 247 248. Worsts the English Army pays Homage to Henry III. 249. Destroys the Marches 252. Makes a Descent upon England 253. Being joyned by the Earl of Pembroke against King Henry routs his Army 254. Makes an Incursion into the King's Territories 255. Makes peace with the King 256. Sets his Son Gruffydh at liberty ibid. Buries his Princess Joan 257. Forced to quit the Siege of Ruthlan 258. Makes the Welch do Homage to his Son David ibid. Dies his Character and Issue â—59 Llewelyn ap Gruffydh and Owen Gôch his Brother declared Princes of North-Wales 269. Quarrel and Owen with his Brother David made close Prisoners 271. Recovers the In-land Country of North-Wales from the English 272. Wastes Cheshire ibid. Beats the Irish by Sea 273. Desires peace with the King but fails 277. Kind to Sir Roger Mortimer 278. Makes a Peace by the Popes Mediation with the King 279. Refuses to attend upon King Edward's Coronation 280. The Reasons for his refusal 281. An Accident made him pliable 283. Severe Conditions of Peace imposed upon him 284. Married to Elianor Earl Montfords Daughter at Worcester 285. Reconciled with his Brother David and joyn against the English 286. Offers to submit to the King conditionally 292. Sends a Letter to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the general Answer of the Welch to his Proposals 293 294 295. Betrayed in Buellt and killed 297. London besieged by the Danes 65. M. MAhael dispossest of his Inheritance by his unnatural Mother Nests means and how 115. Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis sticks to the English Interest 173. Madawc reconciled to King Henry 138. Taken Prisoner by Meredith ap Blethin 139. Has his Eyes pulled out by Owen ibid. Madawc ab Owen Gwynedh sails into America 196. Plants a Colony there ib. Maelgon disturbs South-VVales 228. Beaten by his Nephews Rhys and Owen 229. March Earl of marries Owen Glyndwr's Daughter 318. Consented by indenture to divide England between Owen Piercy and himself 318. Maud the Empress lands in England and is received at Arundel 162. Meredith ap Owen possest of all Wales 64. Dispossest of North-Wales 67. And routed by Edwal ap Meuric their new Prince 68. Died without Issue Male 69. Meredith ap Owen made Prince of South-Wales 96. Slain in Battel against Caradoc ap Gruffydh 102. Meredith and Rhys ap Gruffydh prevail in South-Wales 171. Meredith's Death and Character 172. Merfyn frych is made King of Wales 24. is slain 27. Merlyn Ambrose and Sylvester their Time Country and Prophesies 10 11. Morgan Hên dies an Hundred Years old his Marriage Estate and Issue 58. Morgan ap Owen kills Robert Fitz-Gilbert and his Son 157. slain 175. Morgan ap Cadogan repents of his Murder committed 156. Murders committed 156. Item 163. N. NEwmarch a Norman obtains the Lordship of Brecknock and marries Nest Daughter to Llewelyn ap Gruffydh 115. Normans twice decimated and put to death in England 86. They waste and plunder Dyfed 103. They seize upon the Lordship of Glamorgan 113. The Names of the Adventurers ibid. They possess themselves of several Lordships in Wales 117. Divers of them slain in Cardigan ibid. Routed again by Cadwgan ap Blethyn Prince of South-Wales and their Castles destroyed 118. Slaughter'd divers times by the Welch and forced to quit the Country 119 120. Northumberland invaded by the Scots 109. O. OFfa King of Mercia makes a Ditch from Sea to Sea 20. his death 21. Owen ap Edwyn a Traytor to his Country 121. Made Prince of Wales by the English but soon lost it 122. his Death and Pedigree 126. Owen the Son of Cadwgan enamoured of Nest the Wife of Gerald King Henry's Lieutenant in Wales 129. steals her away ibid. flies into Ireland 135. returns and wasts the Country in conjunction with Maradoc ap Riryd 133. his Men slay an English Bishop the cause of Cadwgan his Fathers being dispossessed of his Estate 135. forced to flee into Ireland with Madawc ibid. returns and is reconciled to the King 138. divides Madawc's Estate between himself and Meredith ap Blethyn 139. flees for fear of King Henry into North-VVales 140. reconciled to the King 141. Owen is brave and Knighted in Normandy 142. imployed by King Henry against Gruffydh ap Rhys 148. slain by Gerald 149. Owen Gwynedh succeeds Prince of North-Wales 160. mightily concerned at the Death of his Son Run 165. takes and rases the Castle of Mould 166. pulls out his Nephew Cunedah's Eyes and castrates him 170. being provoked invades Llandhinam 193. dies his Character and Issue 194. Owen Cyfeilioc and Owen Fychan dispossess Iorwerth Gôch of his Estate in Powis 192. Cyfeilioc dies
could to England But all the haste they did make could not secure them from the Fury of the Welch for Gruffydh and Ifor the Sons of Ednerth ap Cadogan expected them privately at a place called Aberlhech where falling unexpectedly upon them they slew the greatest part of their number the rest narrowly escaping safe to England But the Norman Garrisons which were left behind defended themselves with a great deal of Bravery till at last finding no prospect of Relief they were forced for their own safety to deliver them up to the Welch who from that time became again Proprietors of those Places which the Normans had dispossess'd them from And this encouraged the Welch to undertake other things against the English for immediately after this certain of the Nobility of North-Wales Vchthed the Son of Edwyn ap Grono by name together with Howel ap Grono and the Soâ—â— of Cadogan ap Blethyn of Powys-land passed by Cardigan into Dyved which Country King William had given to Arnulph Son to Roger Montgomery who had built thereon the Castle of Pembrock and appointed Gerald de Windsore Governour of the same and destroying all the Country with Fire and Sword excepting Pembrock Castle which was impregnable they returned home with a great deal of Booty In recompence of this when the Lords of North-Wales were returned Gerald issued out of the Castle and spoiled all the Country about S. Davids and after he had got sufficient Plunder and taken divers Prisoners returned back into the Castle A.D. 1095 The Year following King William being return'd from Normandy and having heard how that the Welch had cut off a great number of his Subjects in Wales gathered all his Power together and with great Pomp and Ostentation entered the Marches resolving utterly to eradicate the rebellious and implacable humour of the Welch Nation But after all this Boast and seeming Resolution he durst venture no farther than the Marches where having built some few Castles he returned with no greater Honour A.D. 1096 than he came But the next Spring Hugh de Montgomery Earl of Arundel and Salop by the Welch â—â—med Hugh Goch and Hugh Fras or the sat Earl 〈◊〉 Chester being invited by some disaffected Welch â—â—rds came into North-Wales with a very great â—â—my Prince Gruffydh ap Conan and Cadogan ap â—â—â—thyn perceiving themselves to be too weak to â—â—pose so numerous an Army and what was worse â—â—â—ng very suspicious of the Fidelity and Honesty of â—â—â—ir own Forces thought it their best way to take 〈◊〉 Hills and Mountains for their safety where they â—â—re like to remain most secure from the Enemy â—â—en the English Army marched towards Anglesey 〈◊〉 being come over against the Island they built 〈◊〉 Castle of Aberlhiennawc But Gruffydh and Caâ—â—an could no longer endure to see their Country â—â—er run by the English and therefore they descendâ—â— from the Mountains and came to Anglesey thinkâ—â—g with what Succours they should receive from â—â—â—land of which they were disappointed to be able 〈◊〉 defend the Island from any attempt that should 〈◊〉 made upon it And now the whole Treason and 〈◊〉 occasion of the English coming to Wales was â—â—â—covered for Owen ap Edwyn the Prince his chiefâ—â—â— Counsellour whose Daughter Gruffydh had marâ—â—â—d having himself also married Everyth the Daughâ—â—â— of Confyn Aunt to Cadogan upon some private â—â—rudge or other called in the English into Wales â—â—d at this time openly joyned his Forces with â—â—eirs and led the whole Army over into Anglesey â—ruffydh and Cadogan finding how they were beâ—â—ayed by their dearest Friend as they thought for â—â—â—r of farther Treachery judged it prudent to sail â—â—â—vately for Ireland after whose departure the Engâ—â—â—h fell cruelly to work destroying all they could â—â—me at without any respect to either Age or Sex â—nd whilst the English continued in Anglesey Magâ—â—s the Son of Harold lately King of England came â—ver with a great Fleet intending to lay faster hold â—pon that Kingdom than his Father had done and 〈◊〉 recover the same to himself But whilst he steered â—is Course thitherward he was driven by contrary Winds to the Coasts of Anglesey where he would fain have landed had not the English Army kept him off But in this Skirmish Magnus accidentally wounded Hugh Earl of Salop with an Arrow in the Face whereof he dyed and then of a sudden both Armies relinquished the Island the English returning A.D. 1097 to England appointing Owen ap Edwyn who invited them over Prince of the Country But Owen did not enjoy the Principality long for in the beginning of the following Spring Gruffydh ap Conan and Cadogan ap Blethyn returned from Ireland and having concluded a Peace with the Normans for some part of their Lands in Wales Gruffydh remained in Anglesey and Cadogan had Cardigan with part of Powys But though Cadogan recovered his Estate yet in a little while after he lost his Son Lhewelyn who was treacherously murthered by the Men of Brecnock at which time also dyed Rythmarch Archbishop of S. Davids the Son of Sulien being in the 43 Year of his Age a Man of the greatest Piety Wisdom and Learning as had flourished a long time in Wales excepting his Father under whose A.D. 1098 Tutelage he was educated The Year following King William Rufus as he was hunting in the new Forrest was accidentally stain with an Arrow which one Walter Tyrrell shot at a Stag and his eldest Brother being then engaged in the Holy War Henry his younger Brother whom in his life-time he had nominated his Successor was crowned in his stead The same Year Hugh Earl of Chester Grono ap Cadogan and Gwyn ap Gruffydh departed this life A.D. 1100 About two Years after a Rebellion broke out in England Robert de Belesmo the Son of Roger de Montgomery Earl of Salop and Arnulph his Brother Earl of Pembrock took up Arms against King Henry which he being informed of sent them a very gracious Message to come before him and declare their Grievances and the reason of their rising up in Arms against his Majesty But the Earls instead of appearing in Person sent him flight and frivolous Excuses and in the mean while made all necessary Preparations for the War both by raising of Forces and fortifying their Castles and strong Holds And to strengthen themselves the more they sent rich Presents and made large Promises to Iorwerth Cadogan and Meredith the Sons of Blethyn ap Confyn for to bring them to their side Robert fortified four Castles namely Arundel Tekinhil Shrewsbury and Brugge which last by reason that Robert built it without the consent of the King was the chief occasion of this War and Arnulph fortified his Castle at Pembrock After this they entered in an hostile manner into the Territories of the King of England wasting and destroying all before them And to augment their strength Arnulph sent Gerald his Steward to Murkart King of Ireland desiring his Daughter in Wedlock which was
following Maelgon who had before routed his Brother Prince Gruffydh's Army and taken him Prisoner begins now to enlarge his Territories and takes in his Brothers Castles of Aberteifi and Ystratmeyric Also the youngest Son of Prince Rhys about this time recovered the Castle of Dynefowr from the Normans The same Summer Gwenwynwyn took up a resolution of attempting to extend Wales to its antient Limits and for this purpose he raises a powerful Army with which he first designs to be avenged of William de Bruce for the inhuman Death of his Cosin Trahaern Fychan and therefore he besiegeth his Castle of Payn in Elfel where he makes a Protestation that as soon as he had taken it for a farther satisfaction to his Revenge he would unmercifully ravage the whole Country as far as Severn But these mighty Menaces were soon blown over for he had neither Battering Engins nor Pioneers so that he was forced to lay before the Castle for three Weeks without effecting any thing whereby the Murtherers had time enough to apply themselves to England for Succours which they obtained For upon this Geoffrey Fitz-Peter Lord Chief Justice of England levies a considerable Army to which he joyns all the Lords Marchers and comes in all hast to the Relief of the place where he meets Gwenwynwyn with whom before he would hazard a Battel he was desirous to have a Treaty of Peace to which Gwenwynwyn and his Adherents would in no wise hearken or condescend but returned in answer that their business there was to be revenged of old Injuries done them Hereupon the English Lords resolved to enlarge Prince Gruffydh of South-Wales whom they knew to be an inveterate Enemy of Gwenwynwyn as he that delivered him up to their hands and likewise to be a Man of great Authority in his Country therefore they rightly concluded he might be more serviceable to them when at liberty than under confinement wherein they were not disappointed for he immediately got together a strong Body of his Countrymen and joyning with the English advanced towards the Castle where they furiously attack'd Gwenwynwyn who made no less vigorous defence hereupon there ensued a bloody Battel with a great slaughter on both sides but at length the English got the Victory and Gwenwynwyn lost a great number of common Soldiers if we believe Matthew Paris 3700 Men besides a great many of his best Commanders among whom were Anarawd Son of Eineon Owen ap Cadwalhon Richard ap Iestyn and Robert ap Howel Meredith ap Conan was likewise taken Prisoner with many more After this the English returned home triumphantly and requited Prince Gruffydh's Service with a perfect Liberty who immediately partly by his own Force partly by the Affection of his People repossessed himself of all his Dominions save the Castles of Aberteifi and Ystratmeyrie which his usurping Brother Maelgon by the Assistance of Gwenwynwyn had during his Confinement by the English taken from him and still unjustly detained Hereupon some of Prince Gruffydh's prime Nobility and Clergy came to him and offered him their Endeavours of reconciling him to his Brother and made him so apprehensive of his just Displeasure at him that he took a solemn Oath before them that in case his Brother would give him Hostages for the security of his own Person he would deliver him up his Castle of Aberteifi by a day appointed which Proposals Prince Gruffydh accepted of and accordingly sent him his Demands But it was the least of Maelgon's intention to make good his part or else he was very unconstant in his resolution for he had no sooner received the Hostages but instead of delivering up the Castle he fortifies it and puts in a Garrison for his own use and commits the Hostages to the custody of Gwenwynwyn Prince Gruffydh's mortal Enemy but not long after their Innocency procured them an opportunity of an Escape In the Year 1199 Maelgon still pursuing his Hatred A.D. 1199 of his Brother Prince Gruffydh gets an Army wherewith he besiegeth his Castle of Dynerth which he was Master of in a short time and then put all the Garrison to the Sword But about the same time Prince Gruffydh in lieu of this wan the Castle of Cilgerran and strongly fortified it This Year Richard the First of England as he was besieging the Castle of Chalons in France was shot from the Walls with an Arrow whereof he not long after dyed and left his Kingdom to his Brother John who thereupon was with great Solemnity crown'd at Westminster But he could not expect to enjoy this Kingdom peaceably for his elder Brother Geoffry Plantagenet had left a Son behind him named Arthur whose Right the Crown of England was by lineal descent which now therefore he justly lays claim to and by the assistance of King Philip of France who espoused his Quarrel endeavours to recover But before Prince Arthur had made sufficient Preparations to carry on his Design he was unexpectedly set upon by his Uncle his Army routed and he himself taken Prisoner and committed to safe custody not long after which he dyed and so King John was rid of his Competitor A.D. 1200 The following Year Gruffydh ap Conan ap Owen Gwynedh dyed and was buried in a Monk's Cawl in the Abby of Conway which way of burying was very much practised especially by the better sort in those days for the Monks and Friers had deluded the People into a strong Conceit of the Merits of it and had firmly persuaded them it was highly conducing to their future Happiness to be thus interr'd But this Superstition together with the Propagators of it they had lately received from England For the first Abby or Monastery we read of in Wales since the Destruction of that famous House of Bangor which favour'd of Romish Dregs was the Ty-Gwyn built in the Year 1146. after which they mightily increased and spread over all the Country and now the Fountain Head began to be corrupted for the Clergy maintained a Doctrin which their Ancestors abhorr'd as may easily be gathered from the Writings of that worthy Divine Ambrosius Telesinus who flourished in the Year 540. when the Christian Faith which we suppose to be deliver'd at the Isle of Afalon by Joseph of Arimathea flowed in this Land in a pure and uncorrupted Stream before it was infected and polluted by that proud and blood-thirsty Monk Augustine I say he then wrote and left behind him as his own Opinion and the Opinion of those days these following Verses Gwae'r offeiriad byd Nys angreifftia gwyd Ac ny phregetha Gwae ny cheidw ei gail Ac ef yn figail Ac nys areilia Gwae ni cheidw ei dhefaid Rhae bleidhie Rhufeniaid A'i ffon gnwppa From whence it is apparent that the Church of Rome was then corrupt and that the British Churches persevered in the primitive and truly Apostolical Profession of Christianity as it was at first planted in the Island and that no Roman Innovations had crept in
time and so returned to England But Lord James Audley whose Daughter was married to Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield did more mischief and hurt to the Welch who having brought over a great Number of Horsemen from Germany to serve against the Welch so terrified them with the unusual largeness of the Horses and the unaccustomed manner of sighting that in the first Encounter the Welch were easily overcome Buâ— minding to revenge this Disgrace and withal being better acquainted with their method of Arms the Welch in a little after made in-roads into the Lord Audley's Lands where the Germans presently set upon them and pursued them to certain straits which the Welch discovered for a politick retreat The Germans thinking they had entirely drove the Welch away returned carelesly back but being set upon of the sudden without any thought of an Enemy behind they were all in a manner slain by the rallying Welch This year a very great scarcity of Beefs and Horses happened in England whereof several Thousands yearly were supplied out of Wales by reason of which the Marches were perfectly robbed of all their Breed and not so much as a Beast to be seen in all the Borders A.D. 1259 The next Spring all the Nobility of Wales convened together and took their mutual Oaths to defend their Country to Death against the oppressing Invasions of the English and not to relinquish and forsake one another upon pain of Perjury tho' notwithstanding Meredith ap Rhys of South-Wales violated this Agreement and put himself in the Service of the King of England King Henry was ready to fall upon the Welch to which purpose he summoned a Parliament wherein he proposed to raise a Subsidy towards the Conquest of Wales being not able of himself to bear the Expences of this War by reason of several Losses he had already received the Country of Pembroke being lately destroyed and taken by the Welch where they found plenty of Salt which before they were in great necessity of But William de Valentia accusing the Earls of Leicester and Glocester as the Authors of all this Mischief quite broke all their measures so the King was forced to prorogue the Parliament for a time without any grant of a Subsidy But within a while after it sat at Oxford where King Henry and Edward his Son took a Solemn Oath to observe the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and the same being tendred to Guy and William the King's Brothers and to Henry Son to the King of Almain and to Earl Warren they refused to take it and so departed In this Parliament the Lords of Wales fairly proffered to be tryed by the Laws for any Offence they had unjustly commirted against the King which was mainly opposed by Edward who caused one Patrick de Canton to whom the Lordship of Cydwely was given in case he could win and keep the same to be sent to Caermardhyn as Lieutenant for the King with whom Meredith ap Rhys was joyned in Commission Being arrived at Caermardhyn Patrick sent to the Prince to desire him to appoint Commissioners to treat with him concerning a Peace which he consented to and without any suspicion of treachery sent Meredith ap Owen and Rhys ap Rhys to Emlyn if possible to conclude the same But Patrick meaning no such thing laid an ambuscade for the Welch who coming honestly forward were by the way villanously set upon by the English and a great many slain but those that happily escaped calling up the Country presently gave chase to Patrick and his Accomplices who being at length overtaken were almost all put to the Sword But Prince Lhewelyn was now altogether bent upon a Peace and did not only desire it but was willing to purchase it for a summ of Money to which purpose he offered to give the King 4000 Marks to his Son 300 and 200 to the Queen which the King utterly refused replying That it was not a sufficient recompence for all the Damages he had suffered by the Welch Matthew of Westminster reporteth that about Michaelmas this year the Bishop of Bangor was commissioned by the Prince and Nobility of Wales to treat with the King of England about a Peace and to offer him 16000 Pound for the same upon these Conditions that according to their antient Custom the Welch should have all Causes tryed and determined at Chester and that they should freely enjoy the Laws and Customs of their own Country but what was the result of this Treaty my Author does not mention There being no hopes of a Peace Prince Lhewelyn A.D. 1260 early next year appeared in the Field and passed to South-Wales and first fell foul upon Sir Râ—ger Mortimer who contrary to his Oath maintained the King of England's Quarrel Having forcibly dispossessed him of all Buelht and without any opposition taken the Castle where was found a plentiful Magazine he marched thro' all South-Wales confirming his Conquest and afterwards returned to his Palace at Aber A.D. 1261 betwixt Bangor and Conwey The year following A.D. 1262 Owen ap Meredith Lord of Cydewen died But the next Summer was somewhat more noted for Action a party of Prince Lhewelyn's Men took by surprise the Castle of Melienyth belonging to Sir Roger Mortimer and having put the rest of the Garrison to the Sword they took Howel ap Meyric the Governour with his Wife and Children Prisoners and after that the Castle was demolished by the Prince's Order Sir Roger Mortimer hearing of this with a great Body of Lords and Knights came to Melienyth where Prince Lhewelyn met him bur Sir Roger not daring to hazard a Battel planted himself within the Ruins and finding he could do no good desired leave of the Prince to retire peaceably The Prince upon the account of Relation and near Consanguinity betwixt them and withal because he would not be so mean spirited as to fall upon an Enemy who had no power to resist him let him safely depart with his Forces and then passing on himself to Brecknock at the request of the People of that Country who swore Fidelity unto him so passed on and returned to Noâ—th-Wales And now being Confederate with the Barons against King Henry he was resolved to practise something in the prejudice of the English and so set upon the Earldom of Chester destroyed the Castles of Tygannâ—y and Diserth belonging to Edward who coming thither was yet not able to prevent the Mischief done A.D. 1263 to him by the Welch The next year John Strange Junior Constable of Montgomery with a great Number of Marchers came a little before Easter by night thro' Ceri to Cydewen intending to surprise the Castle which when the People of the Country understood they gathered together and setting upon them slew 200 of his Men but Strange with a few got safely back Within a while after the Marchers and the Welch met again near a place called Clun where a hot Engagement happened between them in which the Welch were worsted
the British Race 8. Retires to Alan King of Little Britain ibid. Learned in a Vision to go to Rome and there shorn a Monk 10. Cadwalader with his Brother Owen Gwynedh from North-Wales in conjunction with several South Wales Lords made an horrible slaughter of the Normans and Flemings and drove them out of South-Wales 157 158. Cadwalader forced to flee from his Brother Owen to Ireland 163. Returns with Irish Forces concludes a Peace with his Brother made Prisoner by the Irish rescued by his Brother 164. Escapes out of Prison 171. Flies to England ibid. His Death and Issue 200. Canterbury redeemed by the Citizens from being burnt by the Danes for 3000 l. 73. Betrayed afterward to them and burnt 74. Caradoc King of North-Wales fights and is slain by the Saxons 21. His Pedigree ibid. Celibacy enjoyned to the Clergy in a Synod held at London 127. Christian Faith pure in the British Church 221. Charles Duke of York created Prince of Wales 328. Charles eldest Son of King Charles the First created Prince of Wales 328. Civil War in Wales and Edwal Son of Meyric the indisputable Heir set up in North-Wales 67. Clare Earl of possessed himself of divers Strong-holds in Cardigan 177. Clynnoc fawr an Abby in Arfon 11. When and by whom built 12. Endowed by Prince Anarawd 39. Cnute the Dane chosen King and his Cruelty to the English Hostages 75. Returns to England ibid. The Northumbers submit to him 76. Besieges London is Routed by Edmund ibid. Combats Edmund agree and divide England between them 78. Generously punishes Edmund Ironside's Murder ibid. Marries Emma Edelred's Widdow 80. Requires a Subsidy of the English ibid. Made a pompous Journey to Rome 82. Makes the Scots do him Homage ibid. Dies and is succeeded by his Son Harold Harefoot 83. Conel prognosticating the Norman Invasion and Success 100. Commotions in England 158. Conâ—n War between him and his Brother Howel 22. Dies 23. His Pedigree ibid. Conspiracy against William the Conqueror by the English and the Welch detected and the Conspirators executed 104. Constable Walter marries Nest's Daughter and has the Lordship of Brecknock 116. A strange Passage related by him to Henry the First concerning Gruffydh ap Rhys ibid. Crogens used as a Term of reproach by the English to the Welch 223. No reason for it 224. Cynric Prince Owen's Son slain 162. D. DAnes begin to disturb England 20 21. They prevail and Winter in England 28. They take and destroy Winchester 30. Kill Osbright and Elba Kings of Northumberland 31. Slew Edmund King of the Angles ibid. Fought five Battles with Ethelred ibid. They won London and Redding 33. Routed by the West-Saxons 34. Are defeated by Alfred and received the Christian Faith 37. They harrass North-Wales 39. Defeated by the Armorican Britains ibid. Forced to rise from before Exeter and spoil the Sea-Coast of Wales 41. Receive a great overthrown 42. They grow powerful not only in England but also in Ireland 44. Thrice overthrown by the English 45. Cruelly overthrown by Tottenhale 46. Routed by King Edward 48. Driven out of the Kingdom by King Edmund 52. Force the English to pay the Dane-Gelt 65. Make a terrible Havock in Wales and had Tribute paid them 66. Make fresh devastations in Wales and England 70. They are massacred by the English 71. Force the English Nobility to buy their Peace for 30000 l. 72. They beat Wolfkettel 73. Slew Ethelstan and ransack'd the Country 74 Dafydh ab Owen kiâ—l'd his Brother Howel in Battel and gâ—ts to be Prince of North-Wales 195. Secures â—is Brother Maelgon reduces Anglesey and banishes his Brethren 202. Sends a Band of Welch to accompany King Henry into Normandy ibid. Is dispossest by his eldest Brother's Son Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth 213. Vngrateful to Prince Lhewelyn for his Liberty 224. Dafydh ap Lhewelyn Prince of Wales did Homage at Glocester to the King of England 259. Is excommunicated by the Bishop of Bangor for detaining his Brother Gruffydh in Prison whom he refused to deliver at the King's Request 260. Submits to the King of England 262. Caâ—ols the King to detain his Brother Gruffydh Prisoner ibid. Engages the Pope on his side against the King but he proves false 264. Fights the English often with various Success ibid. Dies without Issue 268. Davids St. burnt by the West-Saxons 21. Destroyed by the Danes 45. Again by the Danes 69. Destroyed by Strangers 107. The Cathedral sacrilegiously robbed 111. Made subject to the See of Canterbury 125. Dunstan St. Bishop of Canterbury his Prediction and Death 61. E. EAster the Britains and Saxons quarrel about the Observation of it 18 19. Edgar advanced to the Kingdom in his Brother Edwin's room 56. He wasts North-Wales and agrees for a yearly Tribute of 300 Wolves ibid. Regulates drinking Vessels because of the Danes excess 57. Rowed in his Barge by six Kings on the River Dee 59. Edgar Edeling proclaimed King forced into Scotland 101. Received to King William's Mercy 103. Edmund King of England's Death and the uncertain manner of it 53. Edmund Ironside slain by Edric's Son 78. Edwal Foel and his Brother Elis fight the English and are slain 49. Their Issue ibid. Edward sent for from Normandy and made King 86 The Confessor's death 98. Edward I. King of England invades Wales and prevails 283. Insists upon Prince Lhewelyn's submission without reserve 292. Sets Prince Lhewelyn's Head upon the Tower of London and puts his Brother David to death 299. Subdues all Wales ibid. Kept his Christmas at Aber-Conwey 307. In necessity would taste no Wine for the satisfaction of his Soldiers 308. Cuts down all the Woods in Wales and builds Beumaris-Castle 309. Edward of Caernarvon first Prince of Wales of the English Blood 301. Received Homage at Chester of all the Free-holders of Wales 310. Goes farther into the Country to the same purpose ibid. Edward eldest Son to King Edward II. created Prince of Wales 313. Edward eldest Son to King Edward III. created Prince of Wales 313 His Character and Death 314. Edward Son to Henry VI. created Prince of Wales 323. Murdered ibid. Edward eldest Son to King Edward VI. created Prince of Walts murdered 223. Edward VI. inclined to favour the Welch 323. Edward Son to Richard III. created Prince of Wales 324. Edward Son to Henry VIII created Prince of Wales 325. Edwyn King of England vitious dispossess'd and dies 56. Egbert sole Mâ—narch in Britain 25. Calls the Country England ibid. He fights the Danes 26. Eincon invites the Normans into Wales and persuades them to stay 112 Elfleda Mercian Queen her Valiant Acts both against the Danes and Welch 46. Her death 47. Left a Daughter Alfwyden disinherited by King Edward ibid. Ethelwulph King of the West-Saxons paid Peter-pence to Rome 29. Learned and devout ibid. Eyes of several pluck'd out a barbarous Custom 155. Ethelbald King of Mercia invades Wales 16. In conjunction with Adelred overthrow the Britains ibid. F. FLanders a part of it drowned prejudicial to