Tiranidis jugo liberavi civitatem S. P. Q. R. libertatem vindicans pristinae amplitudini splendori restitui You have here viewed Illustrious Prince our first Christian Emperor and his Father fit patterns for imitation Cast your Gracious eyes upon our first Catholick King Lucius and you shall find him Christianity being now established thus Charactered Interea gloriosus ille Britonum Rex Lucius cum intra regnum suum cultum vere fidei magnificatum esse vidisset maximo gaudio fluctuans possessiones territoria quae prius templa Idolorum possidebant in meliorem usum vertens Ecclesiis fidelium permancre concessit quia majorem honorem ipsis impendere debuerat augmentavit illas amplioribus agris mansis omnique libertate sublimavit And a little after Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Brittain founded the first Church in London that is to say St. Peters Church upon Cornhill where he setled an Archbishops See making that Church the Metropolis of his Kingdom neither was his zeal and piety confined to that City for you shall find him erecting a goodly Cathedral at Caerlegion in that part of England abusively called Wales which now is known by the name of Monmothshire as also the famous Vniversity of Bangor in the remotest parts thereof This holy King saith my Author granted made and signed many writings Charters and donations for defence maintenance and preservation of Religion as to the Vniversity of Cambridge the School of Shaftsbury with others and when he had done all this Anno 201. Inclitus Britannorum Rex Lucius in bonis actibus assumptus ab hac vita Claudiocesbriae migravit ad Christum in Ecclesia primae sedis sepultus honorifice King Arthur sealed many grants for the advancement of Religion and Learning and by reason of his great victories thrice changed his armorial ensignes at last advancing the cross for my Author saith King Arthur that mighty conquerour and worthy had so great affection and love to this sign that he left his armes which he used before wherein were figured three Dragons another of three crownes or as some say of thirteen and depicted in his shield a cross silver in a field vert and on the first quarter thereof he figured an Image of our B. Lady with her Son in her armes and with this sign he did wonders in Arms. And to this hour we see the Knights of the Noble order of the Garter of which number your Grace the flower of chevaldry is one to bear Argent a plain cross Gules the field signifying pureness of life the cross the blood that Christ shed for this our people whom Trevisa calleth the people of God and the Realm of Gods Land the same ensign did Joseph of Aramathia give unto Arviragus King of Brittain not many years after our Saviours passion Cadwalader the last Brittish Monarch for his armes bore Azure a cross for my fitched Or whole volumes may be compiled of this Subject and the worthy and most Christian acts of your sanctly progenitors But least I should convert an Epistle Dedicatory into History or Chronology I will proceed no further humbly offering up these my weak endeavours before the shrine of your goodness with all integrity beseeching Almighty God that you may if not excel at least equal the most valiant and vertuous of your Royal Progenitors which shall be the daily prayers of Your Royal Highness Most faithful and humble servant PERCY ENDERBY The Duke of York Anarawd King of Northwales Eidwal King of the same Meurick or Meirick Eidwal II. Jago Conan Griffith King of Northwales Owen King of Northwales Jorwerth Son and Heir to Owen married Marret D. to Madoc Prince of Powis Lhewelyn Prince of Northwales Gladis sole Daughter and Heir married to Ralph Lord Mortimer who in her right should have been Prince of Northwales Roger Lord Mortimer Edmund Lord Mortimer Roger Lord Mortimer Earl of March Edmund Lord Mortimer c. Roger Lord Mortimer Edmund Earl of March married Philip D. and H. to Lyonel D. of Clarence Roger Mortimer Earl of March left one only Daughter and Heir married to Richard Earl of Cambridge Richard Duke of York King Edward the Fourth Elizabeth sole daughter and heir married to King Henry the seventh descended from Owen Tudor Margaret eldest daughter to Henry the seventh and in her Issue his Inheretrix was Grandmother to Mary Queen of Scotland France and England Mother to King James King of great Brittain France and Ireland c. Grand-Father to James Duke of York who married Anne daughter to Sir Edward Hyde Baron of Henden and Lord Chancellor of England and hath Issue Charles Duke of Cambridge YORK The City of York anciently called Eboracum is seated upon the river Vre which we call Ouse in the VVest-riding of this County and is the second City of England both for fame and greatness a pleasant large and Stately place all well fortified and beautifully adorned as well with private as publick edifices and rich and populous with all seated on the river Ouse which cutteth it as it were in twain both parts being joyned together with a fair stone-bridge consisting of high and mighty arches a City of great fame in the Roman times and of as eminent reputation in all ages since and in the several turnes and changes which have befallen this Kingdom under the Saxons Danes and Normans hath still preserved its ancient lustre adorned it was with an Archiepiscopal See in the time of the Brittains nor stooped it lower when the Saxons received the Faith Richard the second laying unto it a little Territory on the VVest side thereof made it a county of it self in which the Archbishops of York enjoyed the rights of Palatines and for a further lustre to it Henry the eighth appointed here a councel for the Government of the Northern parts consisting of a Lord President certain Councellors a Secretary and other Officers and yet in none of these hath York been more fortunate then that it adorned so many Princes of the Imperial line of Germany and blood Royal of England with stile and attribute of Dukes and Earls of YORK 1. Otho of Bavaria Earl of York 2. Edmund of Langley fift Son to Edward the third Duke of York 3. Edward Plantagenet Son of Edward of Langley Duke of York 4. Rich. Plantagenet Nephew of Ed. of Langley Duke of York 5. Rich. of Shrewsbury Son of King Edw. Duke of York 6. Henry second Son to King Henry seventh Duke of York after King of England 7. Charles second Son of James King of England 8. James second Son to King CHARLES now Duke of York The Duke of CUMBERLAND It is needless to set down at large the Brittish line of this Heroick and VVarlike Prince Rupertus being sufficient to tell you that he is Son to that Peerless and unparallel'd Princess Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia daughter to James King of great Brittain sister to Charles King of great Brittain
contracted and intermingled by the daily commerce of the English some out of Caesar will infer a consequence that the Gallic and Brittish language were the same when he saith Gallis in more positum ut qui Druidum disciplinam diligentius cognoscere vellent in adversam Britanniam ad Druides proficiscerentur quod eis nihil profuisset nisi idem his cum illis fuisset sermo cum Druides libris non uterentur sed omnia viva voce explicarent but this signifies little to perswade that the language of these two Nations was the same for the language in which the Druides taught their mysteries was that of Greece Carmina multa millia interdum viginti annorum studio cogebantur ediscere qui eorum disciplinae se tradidissent quae Graeca fuisse non temere quis conjecerit so that the inference is that those of Gallia learned from the Brittish Druides the use and speech of the Greek tongue only It is no sufficient proofe to alledge that the continent was first inhabited and that from thence the Islands took their language for it is very probable that some Islands as being the most safe and securest places were even with the first inhabited VVhich Theophilus seems to intimate concerning Brittain and sacred writ tells us that the Islands towards the North were allotted to the off-spring of Japhet amongst which some learned Authors place Brittain Those who endeavour to make good that the Brittains borrowed their language from the Latines let them stop their mouths with this Prisca Italiae lingua sub priscis Italiae regibus quicunque fuerint usurpata Doricae similis fuisse dicitur ejusque initio magna fuit stirilitas quae a poetis Eunio Plauto Pacuvio aliis ab Histiorographis maxime ab Oratoribus detersa est facta a vicinis mutuatione vel novis excogitatis vocibus And again sed veteres Latini summa linguae inopia laborantes tum ob aliorum populorum in jus civitatis admissorum linguis infinita sumpsisse dicuntur tum maxime a Graecis Etruscis quos Aramaea vel Syriaca olim usos credunt voces Latinas quae hodie habentur non errarit si quis censeat esse Tuscae originis So that we see the Latines more fit to borrow then to lend some may say that many Brittish words sound Latin like t is true Est natura hominum novitatis avida The Brittains call that Rhoud which the Latines call Rota in English a wheel not that they wanted a significant word in their own language for they have two Troel and Olwyn they call that Porth which the Romans call Portam yet can they if they please call it as properly Moreb As for their borrowing words from the Greeks the like reason may be given Moreover Bladud when he went to Athens to apply himself to the study of Philosophy at his return brought with him many learned Graecian Philosophers who being conversant with the Druides communicating with them in points of doctrinalls many greek words might become familiar with the Brittains The most constant opinion is that before the confusion of Babel the Hebrew was the sole and only language and in that grand confusion the Brittish questionless was one probably used in Phrigia where Troy stood and from thence conveyed unto this our Island There was a People in Italy in those places which we now call Calabria and Naples called Brutii from the name of Brutus whose nomenclation and language differed very little from that of the Ancient Brittains this people after the destruction of Troy was brought into Italy by Nestor where the Pylians built a City called Metapontus the Brutii built another naming it Nova Troja after by the Tarentines call'd Heraclea So our Brittains in this our Island built Troy Novant now London both taking their name from Brutus and both having the like affection to the memory of old Troy As concerning Brutus his coming hither having more at large spoken of it in the ensuing History I will only here insert this out of our own records In the time of King Edward I. at Lincolne where held a Parliament after much diligent search of Antiquities and due examination as the greatest matter of right of a Kingdom required Apologitical letters were sent to the Pope of Rome sealed with an hundred seals and witnesses thus Rex Angliae ex deliberato concilio apud Lincolniam convocato pro jure suo declarando literam hujus tenoris rescripsit centum sigillis signatam wherein is declared and justified that in the time of Hely and Samuel the Prophet Brutus a Trojan landed here and by his own name called the Country Britannia before named Albion De nomine suo Britanniam sociosque suos Britones appellavit and having three Sons Locrinus Albanactus and Camber at his death devided the Island into three parts or provinces Loegria now England though VVelsh keep the old name was given to Locrinus the eldest Son Albania Scotland to Albanact the second Son Cambria now miscalled Wales to Camber his third Son Locrino primogenito dedit illam partem quae quondam Loegria nunc vero Anglia nominatur Albanacto filio Secundo dedit Albaniam quae nunc Scotia Vocitatur Cambrio vero tertio filio dedit Cambriam quae wallia appellatur reservata Locrino regia dignitate this conjecture may suffice for this business it being testified by so many Domesticall and forrain private and publick witnesses that this his tripartite division was here from the begining and the first name of Brittain given by Brutus Other remarkable things might have been added to this History as that of St. Winefreds well and many more note worthy which I leave to other pens who happily may write the descriptions of each County in particular as God willing I do speedily intend to publish that of Monmothshire had I been near the press to have perused every sheet as it past I would have affixed an Alphabetical index at the end of this work of all memorable passages but I intreat the courteous Reader to accept in good part my weak endeavours and what Errata's he shall find not mended by the Printer to dash them lightly with his quill and not impute them to me who desire to be esteemed by all From my Chamber at Lantarnam in Monmothshire 16. of May 1661. Their faithful friend and Servant PERCY ENDERBIE THE ANCIENT AND MODERN BRITTISH and WELSH HISTORY Beginning with BRVTE and continued untill KING CHARLES the First The First Part. THe state of every Kingdom well managed by prudent government seems to represent a humane body guided by the soveraignty of a reasonable soul the Country and the Land representing the one the Actions and State-affairs the other The Island of Great Brittaine containeth the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and is of many counted the greatest Island in the world though Justus Lipsius gives that praise to Cuba in America as the Oriental Navigators unto Sumatra taken from Ptolomey's
which Nomen-clation it yet keeps and Camber imitating his Father and Brother named his Moiety from Camber Cambria This partition or Cambers portion was formerly divided from that of Loegria by the River Severne in the East and on the North side by the River Dee and on the South by the River Vaga now called the River Wye at the Castle of Stringlinge Fabian fol. 11. a name which I find not elsewhere or rather Chepstow Castle but of this place what Mr. Cambden speaks take these his own words Chepstow in Monmouthshire Hinc fluctuoso volumine descendit in Austrum Vaga in quo Copiosa est Salmonum piscatura à Septembri ad Aprilem and by the way give me leave to tell you that when Salmons grow out of kind or season in Wye in the River Vsk which runneth through Caerlegion but ten Miles distant in the same County Salmons come in season so that in the County of Monmouth all the whole year Salmons are fit to be presented to an Emperors Table and if a Wye Salmon chance to come into Vsk or e contra the Fishermen are so skilfull as to tell you this is an Vsk Salmon this of Wye limes hodie inter Glocestrenses Monumethenses olim inter Anglos Wallos juxta illud Nichami versiculam Inde Vagos Vaga Cambrenses hinc respicit Anglos Qui cum jam ad ostium ferè devenerit Chepstow praeterfluit id est si e Saxonico interpreteris Forum viz. Negationis locus Brittannis Castle-went and is this day called Cass Gwent Oppidum hoc est celebre clivo a flumine surgenti Impositum manibus circumvallatur magno cambitu quae agros hortos in se includunt Castrum habet ad occiduum latus flumini impeudens in which Castle there is a stately Fabrick called Longius or Longinus Tower supposed to be built by that Centurion who was present at the death of our most sacred and blessed Saviour and out of this opinion it is hard to beat many of the Natives but who so pleaseth to read Surius xv Martii shall find That Longinus the Centurion one of the Jews who thirsted after his blood who most willingly shed it for the Redemption of Mankind signis prodigiis discussis tenebris veritatis splendorem Christi ipsius gratia quem in Crucem sustulerat videre meruit and detesting the impiety of the Jewes freely manifested the most glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus this his so confident and publick affirming of the truth for Crucis ei custodia ut Centurioni mandata postquam autem vivificum Christi Corpus sepulturae mandatum fuit eadem sacrosancti corporis custodia Longino commissa fuit caused the Jews to procure from Caesar a Sentence of death against him Longinus flies from Hierusalem leaving all his military Preferments with some religious and devout Christians he betakes himself into Capadocia where he converted many by his instruction and exemplar Life and Vertues to the faith knowledge and adoration of the true Messias Jesus Christ In Capadocia he is aprehended and there obtains the glorious Crown of Martyrdome his Head as a great Trophee is sent unto Pilate who to ingratiate himself and please the perfidious and stony-hearted Jews caused the holy relique to be placed before one of the Gates of that once holy City Hierusalem so that Longinus could not be the Founder or Erecter of that Edifice before spoken of But to follow Mr. Cambden a little further concerning Chepstow he continueth his Discourse saying Et e rigione stetit Prioratus cujus parte meliore demolita quod reliquum est in Ecclesiam parochialem convertitur Pons vero quo Vaga jungitur sublicius est admodum excelsus quia accedente aestu in magnam altitudinem fli vius exsurgit hujus Domini fuerunt e Clarensium familia nobiles a proximo castro Strigul quod incoluerunt Striguliae Pembrochiae comites dicti quorum ultimus Richardus vir infracto animo projectissimis brachiis StrongBow cognominatus quod arcu intentissimo uteretur nihil levi brachio ageret c. This place after by a Daughter and Heir came to the Bigots and now the Earls of Worcester or at least before the late Wars enjoyed both Town and Castle the eldest Son of that Family being stiled Lord Herbert of Chepstow To Albanact the third Son of Brutus was given the third part of great Britain now called Scotland which as it is now is called the second Kingdom of Great Britain and the North part of this Iland hath on the East the German Ocean on the North the Orkneys and Deucalidon Sea the West affronted by Ireland on the South it hath the River Tweed the Cheviot Hills and the adjacent Tract reaching to the Sulway Sands whereby it is separated from England This Kingdome is spacious and from the South borders spreadeth it self wide into the East and West till again it contracts it self narrower into the Northern Promontories furnished with all things befitting a famous Kingdom both for Air Soil Rivers Wood Mountains Fish Fowl Cattle and Corn so plenteous that it supplieth these with other Countries in their want Their Nobility and Gentry are very studious of learning and all civil knowledge for which end they not only frequent the three Universities of their own Kingdom St. Andrews Glasco and Edenborough the Nurseries of their Muses but also much addict themselves to travel into Forraign Countries especially France whose King hath a Guard of Scots the double Treshure florie in the Arms of the Kingdome makes manifest the French Interest in former time in that Nation If it is desired to know more of Scotland read their own Authors it is enough for me to say that Albanack from his own name called it Albania This Country is divided from Loegria or England as saith Venreable Bede by two arms of the Sea but they meet not The East arm of which beginneth about two Miles from the Minster of Eburcuring in the West side of Penulton The West arm had some time a strong City named Alclino which in the Brittish Tongue was called Clincston and stood upon the River Clint. Thus Brute having divided Britain into three Parts after he had ruled twenty two or four years after most Concordance of Writers he died and was interred in Troynovant commonly called London or Luds Town Locrinus second King of Brittain LOcrinus the first and eldest Son of the late deceased Brutus takes possession of his Kingdom of Loegria now England in the year from the Creation of the World four thousand fourscore and seven This Kingdome as it was the largest so was it the most beautifull rich and commodious both in respect of Navigable Rivers Ports and Havens as also fruitfulness of the Soils and abundance of stately Woods and Groves and according to the relation and assertion of Policronica and Guido de Collumna it stretched forth and extended it self as far as to the River Humber as
Stumpuis partly by petitioning and supplications but without doubt not without emptying his bags obtained that the Church might stand which is now the Parish-Church This Town saith a new Author Anonymus was by Antoninus in his Itinerarium called Cunetio from the River Kennet and Marleburgh as being seated in a Chalkie soyle which in some places still well called by the name of Marle Here Hen. 3. held a Parliament in which were many statutes and as the preamble saith right necessary for the peace and tranquility of the people now a title of honour and hath given stile of EARLE to 1. James L. Ley L. Tr. Created Earle of Marlborough 1. Car. Feb. 7. 2. Henry Ley. 3. James Ley E. of Mal. Argent a cheveron between 3 Bears Heads Couped Sable The next place which Mulmutius Dunwallo built was The-Vies which Florentius Wigorniensis calls Divisio another De vies and Nubrigensis Divisae Here was a Castle built by Roger the rich Bishop of Salisbury for scituation and workmanship giving place to none but Fortune is a Goddesse both blind and fickle for he who even now was the second Head in the Kingdom by the frowns or rather avarice of K. Stephen is not only plunder'd of his vast and almost inexhaustible Treasure but also cast into a loathsome Gaol where the poor old Man with Hunger and what with Afflictions and Miseries betwixt the fear of death and torments of his life would feign have died yet knew not how to die Mulmutius Dunwallo having with great honour rul'd the Brittains by the space of forty years yielded to death what was mortal and was buried in the Temple of Troynovant which he had built leaving his two Sons Bellinus and Brennus joyntly to succeed in the Kingdome BELLINVS and BRENNVS BEllinus and Brennus the two Sons of Mulmutius began to Reign joyntly as Kings of great Brittain in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred and eight To Bellinus according to the agreement of Partition fell Loegria Cambria and Cornwall that is to say England Wales and Cornwall and to Brennus by the same accord all the Land beyond the River of Humber This Partition according to Policron and others pleased and gave full content to both the Brothers for the space of five years The reason why Bellinus had the bigger and better share was Quia erat primogenitus Vitus fol. 209. Trojana consuetudo requirebat ut dignitas Haereditatis perveniret ad eum Hanc vero fuisse consuetudinem Trojanorum scribens Herodotus ad Alexandrum ait non erat perventurum Regnum cum Hector major natu Herodotus virtute praestantior quam ille Regnum defuncto Priamo suscepturus esset Idem scribit Messala Corvinus in libello de Augusti Progenie Troem à quo dicta Troja est Regem Trojanorum habuisse duos filios Ilum Assaracum atque Ilum defuncto patre quod ipse major natu esset obtinuisse Regnum Messala Corvinus Denique is qui dicitur Dares Phrygius in libro de excidio Trojae narrat Priamum commone fecisse filios quos habebat multos ut majores natu minoribus Imperarent ex quo sequitur ut minores majoribus subderentur Adeoque Legem hanc latam in Anglia esse propter ius istud Trojanae consuetudinis atque servatam esse scribit Andreas Taraquellus in praesatione primogenitorum Andreas Taraquellus Bartolus Bartolus ad l. 1. Codicis de summa Trinitate Consuetudinis est in Anglia inquit ut primogenitus succedat in omnibus bonis Because he was eldest and the Trojan custome was that the Inheritance should fall to the Eldest and this to have been the Trojan custome sheweth Herodotus saying that the Kingdom of Troy after the death of Priamus was not to fall to Alexander but to Hector who was both the more Valiant and also the Eldest by birth and Messala Corvinus in his Book of the Progeny of Augustus confirms as much saying that King Tros from whom Troy took its Name had two Sons Ilus and Assaracus and that Ilus his Father being dead for that he was the Eldest enjoyed the Kingdom and he also who is called Dares Phrygius in his Book of the Destruction of Troy tells us That Priamus who had many Sons admonished them that the Elder should have Power over the Younger c. and this Law to have taken root in England as being derived from the old Trojan Custome affirmeth Andreas Tarquellus After five years thus in brotherly love and amity expired Brennus supposing himself injured and intending to enlarge his Territories raised Forces and in hostile manner sets upon his brother Bellinus but as his quarrel was unjust so the sequel proved Fatal for he was totally Routed and to save his life compelled to fly into Armorica now called Little Brittain or as Gaufride will have it into the Country of the Allobroges others affirm that without the knowledge or consent of his Brother he sailed into Norway and there married the Daughter of Elfunge or Elfinge Duke of that place which tydings when they were brought to Bellinus he seized into his hands all the Lands of Brennus and fortified his Cities Castles and other strong Holds with his own Garrisons Fame quickly brought these Rumours to Brennus who neglected no time but gathering a strong Army of Norwegians ships himself for his own Principality where by the way he was met by Guilthdacus or Guiclidacus King of Denmark who being inflamed with the Love of the Lady whom Brennus had espoused awaited his coming and being now met the two Fleets strongly encounter each other and in short time come to grappling a most bitter and bloudy Conflict ensueth But the Danish King having surprized the Vessel in which the Object both of his love and anger was imbarked though he had totally dispersed his Enemies Navy pursued no further thinking himself highly rewarded with the beautiful prize which he had already taken and there withal resolves as a most victorious Conqueror to return to Denmark yet whether Fortune to shew her accustomed fickleness and cross the Designs of such as think themselves most fortunate and her darlings or rather Neptune incensed to see so violent a Rape committed within his watery Kingdom with his revenging trident turned up and undermined the calm waves and ploughed them into hideous ridges such a tempest arose that the Heavens were darkned the winds blustered the billows roared and made such a hideous noise that Guilthdacus each minute expected to be swallowed up in the mercilesse surges of the angry Ocean this death-threatning storm continued for the space of five dayes at the end whereof the skies began to clear the winds and waves to leave their Violence and the Danish King to understand he was driven upon the coasts of his Enemies Country for his tattered Fleet so much as was left of it was now arrived in Northumberland Belâ—inus to make good that he had already begun and
Brittains in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred seventy and nine The English Chronicle calls this King Seizill either he lived in great peace and tranquilâ—ity as well he might his most worthy Parents both the heroick Prince his Father and beautiful and prudent Queen his Mother having quite extinguisht all even the least sparks of Sedition and Rebellion and left the Realm in perfect quietnesse or else the Records of his life perished for Writers relate very little of him only Mr. Howes tells us as the Scotch Writers say that he Reigned seven years and that in the very first year after his coming to the Crown Picts arrive in Brittain the Picts arrived in Brittain and possessed those parts which now be the Marches of both Kingdomes betwixt England and Scotland and confusedly makes no distinction betwixt Scots and Picts whereas Authors affirm that the Highland-men the natural Scots indeed are supposed to descend from the Scythians who with the Getes infesting Ireland The Author of a Book of Maps printed 1646. printed for Wil. Humble Anonymus left both their Issue there and their manners apparent in the wild Irish and Highlanders even to this day And from Scythia as is thought the name of Scots grew for so the Netherlands by Scutten expresse indifferently the Scythian and Scot so Gildas calleth the Irish Brittains Scythians so King Elfred in translating the History of Orosius turneth Scots in Scyttan and so saith Walsingbam from one and the same Original Scythe Scytici Scotae Scotini take their names as from Getae Getici Goti Gotici have done As for the Picts saith the same Author anciently inhabiting part of that Kingdome they were Inborn Brittains and such as thither fled to avoid the Romans servitude whose Names began first to be distinguished under Dioclesian the Emperour when they were termed Picts from painting their bodies like the Brittains as saith Flavius Vigetius which is more strengthned for that the Northern Brittains converted by St. Columb are called Brittan Picts but the Conversion of that Nation may more properly be attributed to Saint Ninian Ninianus Bernicius ex Regio Brittannorum sanguine procreatus Italiam adhuc adolescens literarum studio petit Romae apud divini Verbi ministros mysteria Veritatis edoctus ad plenum celer in-patriam remigrabat ubi Magister Paedonomus non vulgaris concreditum à Deo Talentum per Brittannorum Scotorum Australiumque Pictorum terras latissime profudit Hujus pia industria Picti primum relicto Idololatriae cultu St. Ninian a Brittain veram Christi fidem percepere Ninian born of the Royal Brittish Bloud being yet a youth went into Italy to follow his Studies and at Rome was fully taught the Mysteries of Truth by the Teachers of the divine Word and then returned into his own Country where becoming a Master and Instructor above the ordinary pitch of men he distributed the Talent bestowed upon him by Almighty God amongst the Brittains Jo. Bal. li. de Ser. Brit. cen 1. iu Niniano Bernicio Hector Boetius Scot. Hist li. 7. Fol. 119. Scots and Southern Picts cast off the bondage of Idolatry and embraced the sweet yoak of Christianity And for those holy labours was in former times as our Histories testifie by all throughout all Brittanny called by the title of Doctor and Inctructor of the Scots Picts and Brittains Scotorum Pictorum Britonumque Doctor Paedonomus non vulgaris eo nomine omnibus qui Albionem incolunt vel hac nostra aetate in multa veneratione habitus and in that respect was had in great veneration by all the Inhabitants of the Kingdome of Albion The first King I read of of that Nation that was Christian was Hiergustus King of the Picts who with his Pictish people and subjects were Christians Mr. Br. fo 582. and publickly professed that Religion but in the time of Maximus all the Scots were banished out of this Land which was in the year of Christ Hec. Boe. l. 6. Histo Buchan Rer. Sco. l. 4. in Rege 39. 379. ' Annus à Christi adventu in carnem tricentesimus septuagesimus nonus the Picts were generally and publickly instructed and professed Christians And also in the days of King Fincomark of Scotland who reigned 47 years and died multis virtutibus nobilis and in the year of Christ 358. ' Salutis humanae anno trecentesimo quinquagesimo octavo the Picts had received the Faith of Christ and before that time For whilst King Fincomark reigned Annal. Scot. Hec. Boe. sup l. 6. fol. 104. Hollish Hist of Ireland Fincomarko Rege Scotis adhuc imperante By divers Writers many of the Irish people received the law of Christ by means of a worthy Christian woman of the Picts as the Scottsh and other Histories testifie Per id tempus mulier Christianae pietatis cultrix Pictici eam fuisse sanguinis Scotici asserunt Annales Regina insinuata Christi nomen illi mirifice praedicavit reverendumque effecit This our Brittish St. Ninian deserveth eternal memory for converting the Picts Interea Sanctus Ninianus Australes Pictos quibus adhuc error gentilis inhaerens Idola venerari ac colere compellebat aggrediens Evangelii veritatem sequentibus signis praedicabat caeci vident claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur surdi audiunt mortui resurgunt oppressi à daemonibus liberantur sicque fides suscipitur error abdicatur destructis Templis Ecclesiae eriguntur currunt ad salutis lavacrum divites pauperes gratias Deo agunt in insulis quae procul sunt habitantes Ordinavit Presbyteros Episcopos consecravit totam terram per certas parochias divisit In the mean time St. Ninian going to the Picts which yet were Pagans and worshipped Idols preached the Truth of the Gospell unto them with these signes following The b lind see the lame walk lepers are cleansed the dead are raised and they which were oppressed with Divels are delivered And so the Faith is received Error abandoned Pagan Temples are destroyed Christian Churches erected Rich and poor are baptized those that inhabit in the Isles a far off give thanks to God He ordained Priests consecrated Bishops and divided the whole Land by certain Parishes Bede Hist lib. 3. cap. 4. Capgr in St. Ninio Guli Malm. l. 4. de gest Pont Angl. The first Stone building in Britt And having thus converted and confirmed the people unto and in the Faith of Christ being the chiefest end of his Mission and coming hither he returned to his Church Confirmatis in fide omnibus ad Ecclesiam suam est regressus This House and Episcopal Church which he now returned unto was the same which he had built before of stone called for the rarenesse of such building in Brittain that being the first as our History saith and thereby named Candida Casa the white House or Church at a place called Witerne between Scotland and England as they are now termed upon the Sea coast
Author that he both was a Christian and Converted by St. Joseph and plainly alledgeth Nennius Authority Thus he writeth Joseph converted this King Arviragus By his Preaching to know the Law divine And baptized him as written hath Nennius The Chronicler in Brittain Tongue full fine And to Christ's Law made him incline The Antiquity of the Crosse for England And gave him then a Shield of silver white A Cross end long overthwart full perfect Thus writeth this Author but without Warrant of any thing I can find for whereas as he citeth Nennius to have written thus in the Brittish Language it is evident by all Antiquities that Nennius which wrote in that Tongue was long before the Birth of Arviragus or St. Joseph and dead 50 years before the Nativity of Christ and was Brother to King Lud and Cassibelin and was named Nennius Helius and he could not write any such thing the other Nennius called Bancharensis as all Authors agree wrote onely in Latine and consequently could not write so in the Brittish Tongue as that Author thinketh or our best modern Authors affirm they find no such thing in any copy of Nennius Codices ii quos consuluisse me Nennii antiquos contigit hnjusce rei parum sunt memores Neither is King Arviragus or St. Joseph named by him The places which he allowed to St. Joseph and his companions were propter munitiones Arundineti fluminis paludis so compassed and invironed with Reeds River and Fens that they builded a poor Oratory themselves of such base Elderwands as that Fenny wildernesse afforded which giveth sufficient testimony how far Arviragus was from being a Christian that had nothing but such abject and outcast things to allow to Christ and his servants when for the maintenance of the Pagan Idolatry which he professed both as the Brittish History Matthew of Westminster Ponticus Virunnius and as well Modern as Ancient are witnesses he was Author of stately and sumptuos buildings and so far from diminishing any honour that was then given to the false gods of the Brittains that he added more unto them namely worshipped the wicked Emperor Claudius whose Bastard-daughter he had taken as wife as god dedicated a costly Temple unto him soon after his death yet after this his acquaintance with S. Joseph for as I find in an old Manuscript-history and others do not dissent the City of Gloucester then Caer Glou Anonymus his Maps in Glocestershire the City of Claudius was built by King Arviragus in the year of Christ 66. This City was first won from the Brittains by Chenlin the first King of the West Saxons about the year of Christ 570. and afterwards under the Mercians it flourished with great honour where Offirick King of Northumberland by the sustenance of Ethelred of Mercia founded a most stately Monastery of Nuns whereof Kinelburgh Eadburgh and Eve Queens of the Mercians were Prioresses successively each after other Edelfled a most renowned Lady Sister to King Edward the Elder in this City built a fair Church wherein her self was interr'd which being overthrown by the Danes was afterwards rebuilt and made the Cathedral of that See dedicated unto the honour of St. Peter in this Church the unfortunate Prince King Ed. 2. under a Monument of Alabaster doth lie who being murdered at Berkley Castle by the cruelty of the French Isabell his wife was there intombed And not far from him an other Prince as unfortunate namely Robert Curthose the eldest Son of William the Conqueror lyeth in a painted wooden Tomb in the midst of the Quire whose eyes were pluckt out in Cardiff Castle where he was kept Prisoner twenty years with all contumelious indignities until through extreme anguish he ended his life and before any of these saith our Brittish Historian the body of Lucius our first Christian King or rather at Caerleon in Monmouthshire was Interred and before his days the Brittain Arviragus This City hath given Honourable Titles to these Dukes and Earls 1 Robert Base Son to K. Hen. 1 Earle Gules three rests Or. 2 William 3 John Sansterre Son to K. Hen. 1 who Married Isabell Daughter and Coheir of Will E. of Gloucester England a bend Azure 4 Geofry de Mandevile E. of Essex 2d Husband of Isabell Quarterly Or and Gules over all an Escurbuncle Pomet and Flory Sable 5 Almerich de Evereux Son of Mabell another Coheir of E. William some put this Almerich before Geofry but erroneously as I conceive Partly perpale endented Arg. and Gules 6 Gilbert de Clare Son of Annice another of the Coheirs 7 Rich. de Clare 8 Gilbert de Clare who Married Joan of Acres Daughter to King Edw. 1. Or 3 Cheverons Gules 9 Ralph de mont Hermen 2 d. Husband of Joan of Acres Or an Eagle displayed Vert membred and leaked Gules 10 Gilbert de Clare Son of Gilbert and Joan. Or three Cheverous Or. 11 Hugh de Audley Married Isabell sister and Coheir of Gilbert Gules Alfret Or. border argent 12 Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Gloucester and Lord Constable Quarterly France and England a border arg 13 Thomas Lord Spencer Grand-son to Elinor Coheir of Gilbert Earl Quarterly the 1. and 4. or 2. and 3. Gules there on a fret Or a bend sable 14 Rich. Plantagenet Brother to K. Edw. 4. Lord Adm. and Constable D. Quarterly France and England a Label of 3 Ermine as many Cantons Gules 15 Humphrey Plantagenet son to King Hen. 4. This Hump. place immediately before Rich. Quarterly France and England a border argent 16 Henry 3d. Son of the late King Charles declared by his Royal Father Duke of Gloucester Anno 1641. but not create And to demonstrate that he both lived and died a Pagan this King Arviragus was and that by his own order buried in that Pagan Temple in the year of our Lord Christ 73. ten years after St. Josephs coming hither Arviragus ut dies suos explevit sepultus est Claudiocestriae in quodam templo quod in honore Claudii dedicaverat ut construxerat And Scut Virunnius further addeth that he did every month offer sacrifice in that Temple after the Pagans manner so much be loved him singulis mensibus sacrificabat tanto eum amore prosequibatur And it is further evident by many Antiquities that Arviragus did many publick acts besides this which Christian Religon could not permit as that after he had been long time Married to Voada sister to Cataracus King of the Scots and had divers Children by her he disinherited the Children put away and imprisoned the Mother and Married Genuisse the supposed Bastard Daughter of Claudius and kept her the other yet living and left the Kingdome to Marius her Son and was so far from repenting this barbarous act contrary to Christian Religion that being challenged for that impiety he wrote a book in defence of this his wickednesse Mr. Bron. fol. 132. affirming therein that it was lawful for him to have plurality of Wives because
Mar. Scel an 163. Bar. Tom. 2. Annal. an eod That King Lucius of Brittain was the Disciple of St. Timothy for which he citeth the Magdeburgians Stumphius and the Annals of Curre in Germany And Naeuclerus with others writeth clearly That one St. Timothy came into Brittain and Lucius King of Brittain and his Kingdome did receive the Faith of Christ from him Mr. Broughton affirmeth That this our glorious Countryman St. Timothy was Son unto the Lady Claudia and Brother to St. Novatus St. Pudentiana and Praxedes Great honour it was for the first Christian King of this Nation the first Christian King in the World to be instructed in the Faith by so Noble a renowned Apostle of his own Nation What were the Impediments in temporal respects which hindred King Lucius from publick profession of Christian Religion wherein he was thus instructed until or near the Papacy of St. Elutherius shall be shewed hereafter This St. Timothy was assisted by St. Marcellus a Britain also and preached here and the Annals of the Archbishops of Trevers say of this Man That Lucius King of Brittain now England was baptized by his preaching The Historie of Tungers speaketh more plainly That this St Marcellus did by his preaching convert Lucius Prince of Brittain with all his Nation to Christ And the same Catalogue of Trevers saith That King Lucius was made a Christian and Baptized by this our Renowned Countryman St. Marcellus When the estate of Ecclesiasticall affairs had taken in Brittain so happy proceeding and effect that both our King and many principall men were thus converted to the Faith of Christ from their former errors and superstitions and so great hope and forwardnesse there was to have that faith publickly professed which they privately embraced and acknowledged for the only Truth many worldly temptations and oppositions did presently arise to hinder these new and untrained Souldiers of Christ to make so bold and open profession of their holy Religion as many holy Martyrs at that time and they themselves not long after did and the glory of that required Divers humane fears and impediments now chancing and hindring of K. Lucius from open profession of Christian Religion in Brittain for as we may probably with many Antiquities affirme that the favourable edicts of divers Emperours and among them Antoninus sirnamed Pius yet Reigning had somewhat encouraged them in temporal respects actually to be baptized in that Religion which their internal understanding and judgement was by many invincible motives and arguments convinced before to be only true so now by like contrary worldly events and letts they were for some time more slow and dull to professe it openly They did perfectly understand that not withstanding the pretended and expected favour from the present Emperour either by his command or permission two holy Popes to omit many other places St. Telesphorus and St. Higinus procurers of their conversion cruelly were put to Death for that Religion even in Rome it self under the Emperours sight within the space of four years or little more by all accounts and because present and home dangers do most terrifie they did see and taste that the present Emperour Antoninus was at this time incensed against the Brittains and had already sent Lollius Vrbicus with forces hither and he had Fought some battles against the Brittains as both our own and the Roman Historians testifie And to maintain and foster these conceived and ingendred humane fears and impressions to live and continue longer then Antoninus was like to live now being old and long time Emperour when he came first to the Empire by the Adoption of Adrian he was commanded or directed by him that Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Act. St. Praxed per St. Pastor Vsuard Ado. Peter Catal. l. 5. c. 58. Baron Tom. 2. An. 164. whom from his Infancy he had trayned up in the Gentiles Superstitions should succeed him in the Empire when he was but eight years of Age he was put by Adrian into the Colledge of the Salii most superstitious Priest of Mars and was made Priest and chief Ruler of the Southsayers So that there could be little hope but this man so superstitiously brought up and such a maker and unmaker of their sacrifices and an enchanter would still continue the same and professe himself an enemy to all Impugners of such proceedings such as all Christians were which he performed when he came to be Emperor raising a general persecution against Christians which to omit but as it concerned this Kingdome and the Christians thereof the holy house of our glorious Countreywoman St. Praxedes in Rome which until then both in the time of St. Novatus her brother her holy parents St. Pudens and St. Claudia Baron Tom. 2. an 166. Sabinella or Priscilla and likely before as under her parents also Christian Brittains had been a safe refuge and as a sanctuary for persecuted Christians was now cruelly ransacked and tweny two holy Martyrs together with the sacred Priest St. Simitrius most barbarously without tryal question judgement presently put to death of which blessed company we may not but think divers of this Country to have been and St. Timothy himself returning from hence to Rome Julius Capil Marc. Aurel. was there Martyred if we may believe Matthew of Westminster his computation Ibid. Virgil. in Hist Angl. l 2. p. 42. These and such were the worldly temptations which allured King Lucius and many Noble Brittains to be more timerous and lingering to professe the Christian faith with such constancy openly as inwardly they firmly believed and honoured until the Emperour himself convicted by the written Apologies and Miracles wrought by Christians was enforced to yield the honour to Christ and abstain from persecution and many of his noble Pagans embraced the Christian Religion Tertul. Apol. c. 6. Euseb Eccle. Hist l. 5. c. 5. Math. West an 174. and this I take to be the chiefest occasion of mistaking in some Historian or their Scribes setting down so many and several times when King Lucius received the Faith of Christ or professed it many saying it was in the year of Christ 156. others in the year 164. others 165. as William of Malmesbury with others Henry of Hartford in the year 169. and others in other and later times All which be true if we speak of the Religion of Christ which he held and believed from the very first of these assigned times but for his and his Nobles publick profession thereof and the Kingdome generally receiving it with building of Churches placing of Christian Bishops and Priests in them abandoning the superstitious rites of pagan Gentils we must expect a later date in the time of Pope Elutherius And this holy Pope had long before he was Pope the often occasion of K. Lucius others here writing sending to Rome about this publick work might occasion some error in the Titles of Letters to Elutherius when he was not yet Pope but
the dissensions of the Brittains as other Historians do and maketh them of as long continuance only he saith that Severus the Emperor came hither four years after the death of King Lucius to seek to appease things so doth Matthew of Westminster Florentius and others as far as Harding doth This holy King graunted made and signed many writings Charters and Donations for the defence maintainance and preservation of Religion and the chief teachers and professors thereof as to the University of Cambridge the School of Bangor Monastery of Salisbury and such others and to every Archiepiscopal or Episcopal See in Brittain both for the assuring the old revenues and priviledges of the Archflamens and Flamens as others new and more ample which he conferred unto them and such as should sit and succeed them for ever And we find in Antiquities that in the very time of King Lucius besides the Cathedral Churches in Great Cities there were others also builded in them as namely Glocester Worcester Caerleon and others for we read of divers kinds of Churches in them all both Cathedral and others King Lucius was buried at Glocester in the Church of the Chief or first Order The same distinction is given for Winchester which necessarily inferreth other Churches or a Church in either of them of inferiour Order for the word first proveth a second for the Inferiour Churches besides the Cathedral in Caerleon they are remembred in Histories Viz. of St. Julius and St. Aaron so of other Cities not inferiour unto these Glocester being then but a new and no great City we find others as at Abington in Oxfordshire Amsbury in Wiltshire Cambridge Stanford and other places where to have been Christian Churches in that time there is still sufficient testimony left us Mr. Bro. 307. 5. Gal Mon Hist l. 5 c. 1. Math. West an 201. Bulla Honorii an 624. Chart. Regis Cadw an 685. Chart. Reg. Art An. 531. die 7. apud Caium l. 1. de Antiq. Cont. John Harding Chron c. 25. fol. 22. John Ross Hist Manus Jo Caius Apol A ca. Cantib de Antiq l. 1. Will. Harri Dis Bâ—iâ— c. 3. Tâ— of Universitie p. 146. 〈◊〉 H st Bladud Bal. pref in l de scrip Twin l. de Antiq Ox. Ha â—is sup a Ha â—s manu G aston Chron. Bal l. de ser Brit cent 1. in Congello Barnachoren Gal Mor Hist Brit l 1. c. 12. Math. West an 603. Harding Chron. c. 50. f. 42 p. 2. Ma. h. West an 124. Harding Chron. c. 51. f. 43. Hâ—llershed H st of Brit. fol. 57. And to provide as well for the continuall maintainance and repair of the house of God at the first founding and building thereof these ancient Schools or Universities of this Kingdom which all now had received the faith and Religion of Christ and so were to be as Seminaries and Mothers of Christian Divinity and holy learning for preservation and upholding of Gods Church King Lucius endowed with great priviledges and Immunities that they might more quietly and diligently employ themselves to their so profitable and holy studies This his Charter of priviledges to the University of Cambridge the Antiquaries thereof prove by divers Ancient Testimonies The Bull of Pope Honorius 1000. years ago the Charter of King Cadwalladrus and King Arthur long before wherein is contained that he granted to the University of Cambridge as King Lucius with other Kings had done before to be free from all publick Vectigalls and burdens that they might the more freely and quietly attend their studies The like I may affirm of Stanford which from the time of King Bladud untill it was interdicted by St. Gregory for the Pelagian heresie continued an University so of Glamorgan claiming but a little later original Greeklade and Liechlade of such Antiquity Bellisilum now Oxford as it pleadeth Therefore whereas a late writer confidently sayeth there were 600. Students in ancient times and others not so well remembred to all which now converted to the faith of Christ and training up spiritual Soldiers for the defence profession and maintainance thereof we have sufficiently grounds to affirm King Lucius gave the like priviledges as unto Cambridge one and the same reason being for all and yet besides these which he found founded before he himself was founder of others namely Bangor in Wales which long continued in that State untill it was after changed into so great a Monastery that above 2000. Moncks as our Histories testifie abode there A late Author tells us of another University for so he calleth it by the name of Accademia Legionensis the University of Caerlegion which he would to have to be Westchester others rather take it to be Caerlegion upon Vsk in Glamorgan making it a fourth distinct place from the Metropolitan Church and the several Churches of St. Julius wherein were sacred Nuns and St. Aaron of Canon Regulars In the time of Sixtus Bishop of Rome reigned here in Brittain either Coillus or Lucius his son according to the diversity of opinions of several Authors but seeing all Antiquities and Antiquaries confess so many great and renowned things and of such labour and difficulty to have been performed for receiving generally Christian Religion and abandoning the Pagan superstitions in this Kingdom in the time of K. Lucius we must not keep the crown of Brittain from him long after the death of Pope Sixtus Harding who saith his Father Coillus reigned but 13. years will make him King all this Popes time which Matthew of Westminster doth confirm with four years addition at least to the time of his reign in the time of Pope Alexander before And yet he maketh the years of his whole age but 87 from which if we deduct the whole terme between the year 124. when the Monck of Westminster saith Lucius began his reign untill the year 142. or 143. when St. Sixtus was Martyred to prove by all accounts King Lucius reigned in some part of the Papacy of Pope Sixtus we make the time of his reign being very younge at the death of his Father not so many years as some ascribe John Harding saith Lucius King of Brittain reigned 54 years others allow but 53 years Hollenshed in his History of England tells us that Lucius having brought his people to perfect light and understanding of the true God that they needed not to be deceived any longer with the crafty temptations and feigned miracles of wicked spirits he abolished all prophane worshippings of false Gods and converted such Temples as had been dedicated to their service unto the use of the Christian Religion and thus studying only how to advance the glory of almighty God and the knowledg of his word without seeking the vain glory of worldly triumph which is gotten with slaughter of many a guiltless person he left his Kingdom though not enlarged with broader Dominion then he found it yet greatly augmented and enriched with quiet rest good ordinances and that which is more to be esteemed
of immortal fame and memory and Aunt to Charles now King of great Brittain whom we may justly call the miraculous God of his infinite goodness having so miraculously preserved and restored and doubtless will still protect him CUMBERLAND Cumberland is the farthest County of England on the North-VVest side anciently part of the Brigants It is called Cumbria as being inhabited by the true and natural Brittains who in our language are called Kymry when as the residue of those Northern parts had yielded to the conquering Saxon a country for the Scituation of it neither unpleasant nor unprofitabe the valleys yielding corn sufficiently the Mountains breeding great flocks of sheep the Meeres replenished with all kind of wild fowle and the adjoyning Sea affording variety of fish It containeth in it not above 58. parish Churches but very many Chappels of ease as big and large as are the Churches of these there are nine market Townes whereof the chief next Carlile for dispatch of business is that of Parith wherein they hold their Sessions and Assises Late was it ere this County became an Earldom being now become a Dukedom when Henry the eighth bestowed the stile and dignity of Earl of Cumberland upon Henry Lord Clifford and Charles the first the dignity of Dukedom upon his Nephew Prince Rupert Earls and Dukes of CUMBERLAND Henry Lord Clifford created Earl of Cumberland by K. Henry the 8. Henry Clifford Earl George Clifford Earl Francis Clifford Earl Henry Clifford Earl Prince Rupert Duke of Cumberland Tomus Secundus THE ANCIENT and MODERN BRITTISH and WELSH HISTORY AFter the Romans had given over the Government and protection of the Brittains the inhabitants of the South part of the Isle being altogether Brit. Hist part 2. l. 1. fol. 176 by their own strength unable any longer to withstand the furious assaults of the Scottish men and Picts who were already come with their power as far as Stanford upon the River of Welland assembled themselves together in several companies A Town in Lincolnshire and the most ancient and best respected among them entred into consultation what means might then be used for defence in a case of such necessity But first of all for that they had found by their late experience what dangerous effects proceed from civil jars they resolved with common consent to run all joyntly one and the same course and for the better strengthening of this their purpose they elected a King whose name was Vortiger a man much esteemed both for the Nobility of his birth as being extract from the line of the Brittish Princes and also for the General good opinion conceived of his sufficiency to undergo so weighty a charge though the eminency of his degree did soon after lay open those vices and infirmities which his private life had concealed To him did all the petty Princes in the Isle submit themselves They then entered into Consultation together and called to minde the Conditions of such Nations as were most known unto them considering well with themselves that from the Romans there was no more relief to be expected Italy it self the seat of the Empire being invaded by strangers and France was assailed as well as Brittain That Germanie though a mighty and ample Region was not altogether free from incumbrance For this Countrey had formerly been the common â—eceptacle of those Northren people that dwelling beyond the Rhene and Panon and being very fruitful in generation came usually thither to disburden themselves and to seek new habitations by reason whereof the Germains themselves were much distressed and now and then forced to abandon their Native Soyl being sometimes also by consent among themselves chosen out by lots for that purpose howbeit those strangers which had there planted themselves were for the most part better able to annoy other Countreys then to maintain in peace what by intrusion and violence they had gotten Saxons renowned both by sea land Among all the Germains there was at that time no one Nation which for great adventures both by Sea and Land was more renowned then the Saxons For touching qualities of the minde they were bold hardy and vain glorious patiently enduring labour hunger and cold whereunto by the constitution of their bodies and temperance of the Climate they seemed to be framed as being very strong and yet not unwieldy tall of stature but not uncomely or out of due proportion For the North Region by reason of the coldnesse of the air which driveth the natural heat inward bringeth forth men commonly of greater courage and ability of body then those countreys that lye nearer the sun Their dyet was simple and homely neither knew they any other a long time till by attaching some of the Roman ships stragling about the coasts of France and the Lower Germany they became first acquainted with their manner of Victualling Their habit was neither costly nor cumbersome but serving indeed rather for decency and ornament then for defence against the sharpnesse of the air or such like annoyances For their garments were commonly of linnen or yarne woven with divers colours and hanging loose about them the locks of their hair which in former time they had been accustomed to shave being then curled and spread abroad in compasse so that they covered their shoulders and upper parts of their cassocks The weapons which they ordinarily used in fights were long spears round targets and betle axes having also trussed up at their backs certain short swords which they did wear continually for readinesse upon all occasions In the art of Navigation they were very expert and lived at the first by pilfery and afterwards by open robbery being trained up therein even from their childhood under a kind of discipline stormes at sea unseasonable weather perils of Rocks and Sands loss of goods and shipwracks which terrifie other men they carelessely contemned while they seemed to have not only a certain knowledge of them The customes and manners of the Saxons but also a certain familiarity with them The Offices of Souldiers and Marriners they executed with like skill and often times with equall advantage There was no kind of Cruelty in a manner new or strange unto them Neither were they altogether void of policie in watching opportunity of time and place to further their designs albeit they were for the most part more suddain in attempting and procuring other mens harmes then wary or well advised in avoiding their own Superiority in degrees they hardly admitted but each man commanded and obeyed as the cause required being as ready to learn of his fellowes what he knew not as to instruct others in those things wherein he happened to be skillfuller then the rest Of their blood they were nothing at all sparing but they exercised cruelty sometimes even upon themselves as making no account to cast away their own lives rather then to endure any publick shame scorn or disgrace The wicked Sacrifices of the Saxons When
now much worse then before the Saxons arrival that strangers under the colour of friendship robbed them of their goods and bereaved them of their lands that the secret practises of such as they trusted were no lesse to be feared then open Hostility and that if speedy order were not taken to expell them they would in short time root out the ancient Brittains and make themselves Lords of the whole Island But Vorteger whose affection to his wife and her Kindred weighed down all other respects whatsoever neglected their complaints till by his own experience he was taught what dangerous inconveniences proceed from wilful rashnesse and mis-government For the Brittains disdaining to be any longer commanded by such a Prince Vortiger despised by his own Subjects as had neither power to command his own affections nor care to provide for the safety of his Subjects declared him uncapable and by a general consent deprived him of all Regall Authority Vortimer Vortimer the Son of Vortiger a Man in disposition of mind much like his Father was declared King and renewed the war with the Saxons whom he encountered in a pitcht field near Alisford in Kent In that conflict Catigern his Brother and Horsa the Brother of Hengist fighting hand to hand were both slain whereby though the Saxons perished in greater number then the Brittains yet by the loss of the Generals on both sides the fortune of the Battail seemed in a manner to be equal On the part of the Brittains there died no man of name save only Catigern in remembrance of whose death there was afterwards a Sepulchre of stone erected where the battail was fought the like monument was also built by the Saxons for Horsa their Captain though time hath now defaced it howbeit the memory of the place it self if credit may be given to the inhabitants there iscontinued amongst them even to this day by a small village in East Kent yet bearing his name After this the Brittains made divers attempts upon their Enemies sometimes winning sometimes loosing and then recovering again that which they had lost when Vortimer the King ended his dayes either by a natural death or by the treachery of Rowen his Stepmother He was a Prince of great courage adorned with many morall vertues and as some writers have reported a favourer and professor of Christian religion Vortiger restored Now was Vortiger either by an hope that adversity had wrought upon him a reformation of mind Brittish Hist part second fol. 191. or else for fear least any civil discord should arise by the election of an other revoked with common consent of the Brittains and restored to his former Estate During his Sons reign as Histories report he lived a private life near Radnor in Wales where he bestowed much cost in building a Castle for defence as he vainly imagined against any suddain assault In the mean time the strength of the Saxons encreased by new supplies which came daily out of Germany and the Brittains doubted their own Estates so much the more by reason that the Picts and Scottish Men their ancient Enemies were dispersed in most parts of the Isle The Saxons also for their own advantage entering often times into secret conferences and mutual leagues with them But Hengist supposing that he could not with safety enjoy the possession of that Territory which Vortiger had assigned unto him so long as the chief and most valiant of the Brittish Nation remained alive The treachery of the Saxons devised by a cunning practice under pretence of hospitality and friendship to draw them together into one place and on the suddain to supprise them To this end he prepared a solemne banquet at which the King with divers noble personages as bidden guests were present suspecting nothing less then what was intended against them For the Brittains being warm with good cheer and wine whereof they had drunk immeasurably were scoft at by the Saxons Drunkenness the ruine of the Brittains the one provoking the other so far with reproachfull terms that in the end they fell from words to blowes in such furious manner as the Brittains being about 300 in number all un armed and surcharged with wine were slain in the place and Vortiger their King taken prisoner who soon after delivering for his ransome the whole Country of Kent with other Provinces thereto belonging and adjoyning into the Saxons hands fled to his Castle in Wales where supposing himself free from danger he continued his vitious and prophane manner of living till in the end both himself and his Castle as some writers affirm was by lighting from Heaven consumed to ashes Thus Vortiger the last King of the Brittish blood a Prince in manners dissolute and weak in actions was by strangers dispossessed of his Kingdom living to see the ruine of his Country whereof himself was the principal cause and dying in the end a strange and unnatural death which is commonly the issue of a disordered and infamous life The report goeth that this fatal meeting was held upon Salisbury-plains where not many years after Aurelius Ambrosius caused that strange building of stone now call'd Stone-hedge to be erected as a perpetual monument of so many worthy Brittains slain and buried there concerning which sundry conjectures have been made as being either framed according to mens particular conceits or grounded upon common reports received by tradition But by what means so ever they came thither they are accounted at this day one of the miracles of England in regard both of the stones themselves which are of a huge bigness as also of their position and order whereby they seem in a manner to be supported with their own weight in hanging one by an other considering withall that there are no stones for building to be found within many miles of that place Now were the Brittains driven from place to place some flying to the mountains others hiding themselves in Caves under ground where they either perished for want of food or coming abroad to seek for relief were cruelly murdered their Enemies in the mean time ranging up and down without resistance rafing their houses The wofull condition of the Brittains polluting the Altars in their Temples with the blood of their Priests burning the Temples themselves and committing all manner of sacriledge and outrage without regard of place or person For the Saxons as by little and little they planted themselves in the most wealthy and fruitfull parts of the Isle so they endeavoured to supplant the true Christian religion whereof they professed themselves open Enemies as men meerly addicted to heathenish superstition in worshipping divers Gods and Goddesses among whom the Images of Thor Woden Frea and Eoster were placed in their Temples as their chief Patrons they painted Thor with a Scepter in his hand after the same manner that the Poets used to describe the Image of Jupiter and him they reverenced as the commander and disposer of thunder and lightning
meant by his retreat would not suffer the Saxons to follow the pursuit but in the night following Gothlois departed secretly and rested not till he was out of danger Occa then perceiving himself to have the upper hand sent an Herald unto King Vter with a certain message threatning destruction to him and his people if he refused to do that which he should appoint Vter perceiving what disloyalty rested in the hearts of his own Subjects agreed that the matter might be committed to eight grave and wise Councellours four Brittains and as many Saxons which might have full power to make an end of all controversies and variances depending between the two Nations Occa was likewise contented therewith whereupon by the award agreement and sentence of these so nominated eight persons sufficiently authorised thereto a league was concluded upon certain articles concluded and approved among the which the chiefest was that the Saxons from thenceforth should quietly enjoy all that part of Brittain which lyeth before the Almain and Germain Ocean the same to be called ever after England and all the residue should remain to the Brittains as their own rightful inheritance Thus Hector Boetius a true Scot Thus far Hect Boetius but all he writes is not absolutely truth Fabian calls this Castle Tintagel ut supra and the Lady Igwarne or Igorne but we shall find the name of England imposed upon this Kingdom otherwayes both in respect of time and circumstance But let us return saith Hollenshed to Vter Pendragon according to that which we find in the Brittish Histories To proceed therefore after our own writers when he had vanquished the Saxons and taken their two chief Commanders prisoners in processe of time he fell in love with a most beautyful Lady called Igwarne or Igerna wife to one Garolus or Garlois Duke of Cornewall the which Duke he slew at length neer his own Castle called Dinulioc or Dunilioc to the end he might enjoy the said * Lady whom afterwards he marryed and begat on her that noble Knight Arthur and a daughter named Agnis or Anna. Occa and Osca escaping also out of prison assembled fresh powers and again began to vex the Brittains whereof Vter having advertisement prepared to resists them and finally went himself in person against them and at St. Albans as some write gave them battail and slew them both in the field Polidor Virgil will have that battail fought in this Kings reign wherein St. German caused the Alleluja to be used but questionlesse he mistaketh as is before specified But now to the incidents which happened in the reign of Vter we find that one Porth a Saxon with his two Sons Megla and Beda landed at Portsmouth about the beginning of the said Vters reign Hollenshed ut sup fol. 130. and slew a noble young man of the Brittains and many others of the meaner sort with him Of this Porth the town and haven of Portsmouth took the name as some have thought Moreover about sixty years after the comming of the Saxons into this land with their leader Hengist one Nazaleod a mighty King among the Brittains assembled all the power he could make to fight with Certicus the King of the West Saxons who understanding the great power of his enemies required aid of Oska King of Kent also of Elle King of Sussex and of Porth and his Sons which were lately arrived Certicus being then furnished with a competent army divided the same into two battails reserving the one to himself and the other he appointed to his son Kenrick King Nazaleod perceiving that the wing which Certicus led was of more strength then the other which Kenrick governed he set first upon Certicus thinking that if he might distresse that part of the Enemies army he should easily overcome the other Hereupon he gave such a fierce charge that by pure force he opened the same and so overthrew the Saxons on that side making great slaughter of them as they were scattered The Brittish King Nazaleod slain The Brittains overthrown Mat. West Hen. Hunt Stuff and Whitgar arrived 514 An other overthrow of the Brittains by the Saxons The which manner of dealing when Kenrick saw he made forward with all speed to succour his Father and rushing in among the Brittains he brake their army in pieces slew their King and put his people to flight There died of the Brittains that Day five thousand the residue escaping by flight In the fixt year after this battail Stufft and Wightgar who were Nephews to Certicus came with three ships and landed at Certicestshore and overthrew a number of Brittains who came against them in order of battail and so by the coming of those his Nephews being right valiant and hardy men the part of Certicus became much stronger About the year of our Lord 519. the Brittains fought with Certicus and his son Kenrick at ‖ This place was formerly called Nazalcoy from Nazaleod King of the Brittains The Isle of Wight conquered by the Saxons with loss of the Brittains Howes ut sup Certicestford where the Brittains valiantly behaved themselves yet in the end for who can resist what the he highest hath decreed were put to flight not without great slaughter when greater would have been had not night befriended them which impeached the bloody and barbarous enemy from further execution In the thirteenth year of the reign of Cerdicus he with his son Kenrick and other of the Saxon Captains fought with the Brittains in the Isle of Wight at Witgaresbridge where they slew a great number of the Brittains and so conquered the Isle which about four years after was given by Cerdicus or Cerdicius to his two Nephewes Stuff and Wightgar This King Vter reigned eight years and was buryed at Stone-hedge Fabian saith he dyed not without suspition of poyson after he had reigned sixteen years and was buryed at Corsa Gigantum The Fable of Pendragons taking upon him the shape of Igernies Lord and Husband and so injoying the pleasures of her bed by the inchantments of Merlin I imagine to be a phantasie taken out of Plautus the comical poet where Jove took the shape of Amphitrio and so leave it King Arthur Before I enter too far into the discription of this King I shall desire my Reader to believe that as I would not willingly add or insert any thing which may be fabulous or without Historical grounds so would I not leave out any thing which may redound to the true honour of so glorious a King so heroick a souldier and so good a Christian Whereas he is commonly branded with the note of bastardy if Hollenshed and others relate his history truly that can not be for if Vter first slew the husband and then married the wife and after wedlock begot this so much as Gordon calls him decantatum illum Arthurum admired and famed Arthur Though the act was equally cupable with that of Davids yet were the children questionlesse legitimate
it to be recorded to the end the same of that fact might ever live to his eternal honour and renown of the noble order 9. That if any complaint were made at the Court of this mighty King of perjury or oppression then some Knight of the order whom the King should appoint ought to revenge the same 10. That if any Knight of forrain Nation did come unto the Court with desire to challenge or make shew of his prowess were he single or accompanied those Knights ought to be ready in armes to make answer 11. That if any Lady Gentlewoman or VVidow or Maid or other oppressed person did present a petition declaring that they were or had been in this or that Nation injured or offered dishonour they should be graciously heard and without delay one or more Knights should be sent to take revenge 12. That every Knight should be willing to inform young Princes Lords and Gentlemen in the orders and exercises of armes thereby not only to avoid Idleness but also to encrease the honour of Knighthood and Chevalrie Divers other Articles inciting to magnanimous actions of honour in armes those Knights were sworn to observe Sir William Segar ib. which for brevity I omit nevertheless being used to lose my labour I will adventure to say this little and the rather because this order of Knighthood is ancient I do not read of any Robe or habit prescribed unto these Knights nor with what ceremonie they were made The place of meeting and Convocation was the City of Winchester where King Arthur caused a great round table to be made and at the same the Knights at Pentecost or VVhitsunday did sit and eat the proportion thereof was such as no room could be thought of more dignity then the rest yet as some writers say one seat thereof was called the Sea Perilous reserved for that Knight that did excel the rest in vertue That place by thet consent of all the rest of the Knights was allotted to King Arthur who for his valour surpassed all other Knights and professors of armes Of Officers and Ministers belonging unto this order I do not read but of a Register whose duty was to enter and keep records of all and every action enterprised attempted or performed by any of all those Knights which records were read and sung publickly to the eternizing of their honour and fame Whether the number of these Knights was many or few I do not find but it seemeth imparted to a great many all persons of high dignitie and much prowess for unto King Arthur at Caerleon in Monmoth-Shire resorted at one time ten Kings Caerleon more honoured then any City of Brittain and thirteen Earls besides many Barons and other Knights of meaner qualitie As the conquests of the King were many so was his bounty notable for it is written that unto his chief Scheneshal or Steward called Kay he gave the province of Avion on his Butler Bedwere he bestowed Normandy and to his Cozen Berel he granted the Dutchy of Buriundy and unto many other Lords and valiant Knights he allotted other magnificent gifts according to their vertue Sir John Hayward fol. 4. in Will Conq. Some are of opinion the truth whereof I will not dispute that this most victorious King was not born in lawfull wedlock some make the like quere of Alexander others of Julius Caesar many such have been brought into the World to the great admiration and astonishment of Posterity and that bastards should inherit Kingdomes Principalities and other Seigniories it was no unusual thing Sir John Hayward writing the life of William the Conquerour who is commonly called William the bastard tells us it was a generall custome at that time in France that bastards did succeed even in dignities of highest degree and condition no otherwise then children lawfull begotten Thierry bastard of Clovis had for his partage with the dutifull Children of the said Clovis the Kingdom of Austrasie now called Lowain Sigisbert bastard to King Dagobert the first had his part in the Kingdom of France with Clovis the twelfth lawfull Son to Dagobert Loys and Carloman bastards to King Loyis le Begue succeeded after the death of their Father so likewise in England Alfride bastard Son to Oswine succeeded his Brother Egfride So Adelstane the bastard Son of Edward the Elder succeeded his Father before Edmund and Eldred his younger Brothers notwithstanding they were lawfully begotten So St. Edmund the Martyr bastard Son to King Edgar succeeded him in the state before Ethelbred his lawfull issue Afterward Harold surnamed Harefoot bastard to Canutus succeeded him in the Kingdom before Hardi Canutus his lawfull son The like custome hath been observed in Spain in Portugall and in divers other Countries And it is probable that this use was grounded upon often experience that bastards begotten in the highest heat and strength of affection have many times been men of excellent proof both in courage and understanding this was verified in Hercules Alexander the great Romulus Timotheus Brutus Themistocles Arthur in Homer Demosthenes Bion Bartholus Gracian Peter Lumbard Peter Comestor John Andreas and divers of most florishing name but this custome now concerning succession of bastards in Kingdomes Royalties and other inheritances is obsolete and quite abolished Concerning the Coronation of King Arthur some Authours have written thus the appointed time of the solemnity approaching The Coronation of King Arthur and all being ready assembled in the City of Caerleon the Archbishops of London and York and in the City of Caerleon the Archbishop Dubrick were conveyed to the place with royal solemnity to Crown King Arthur Dubritius therefore because the Court lay within his Diocesse He was crowned at Lanturnam an ancient Abbey but now the house of St. Edward Morgan Baronet furnished him accordingly to perform and solemnize this charge in his own person The King being crowned was with all pompe brought to the Cathedral Church of that Metropolitan See on either hand of him both right and left did the Archbishops support him and four Kings to wit Angusell King of Albania Cadvall King of Venedotia Cador Kings of Cornewall and Sater King of Demetia went before him carrying four golden swords The Companies also and concourse of sundry sorts of Officers played before him most melodious and heavenly harmony On the other part the Queen was brought to the Church of professed * St. Julians now the house of the Lord of Cherbery Nuns being conducted and accompanied by Archbishops and Bishops with her armes and titles royally garnished and the Queens consorts to the four Kings aforesaid carryed before her as the order and custome was four white Doves or Pigeons At a solemnity held by this renowned King upon the feast of Pentecost which was the usual day for the Knights of the Round-table to convene a challenge was brought to King Arthur from a King of Northwales the Copy whereof was given me by the right honorable Richard
this place by the Brittains we have already spoken Conon of Meriadoc now Denbighland in the year of Grace 384. was the first Prince of the Brittish blood in Armorica or Little Brittain the second was 2. Graldonus 3. Solomon I. The names of the Kings of little Brittain 4. Auldranus 5. Budicus I. 6. Howellus Magnus This Howel was with King Arthur in his wars 7. Howellus II. 8. Alanus I. 9. Howellus III. 10. Gilquellus 11. Solomon II. 12. Alanus II. Of whom mentions is made in this place who descended of a daughter of Rune the son of Mailgon Gwyneth King of Great Brittain who was married to the forenamed Howel II King of Little Brittain 13. Conobertus 14. Budicus II. 15. Theodoricus 16. Rualhonus 17. Daniel Dremrost i. e. with the red face 18. Aregstanus 19. Maconus 20. Neomenius 21. Haruspagius 22. Solomon III Who was slain by his own men and then was that Kingdom turned into an Earldom whereof Alen was the first Earl who valiantly resisted the Normans and vanquished them oft at last it was a Dukedom Cadwallader bein in Brittain was certified that a great number of strangers as Saxons Angles and Juthes had arrived in great Brittain and finding it desolate and without inhabitants saving a few Saxons who had called them in and certain poor Brittains who lived by roots in Rocks and Woods had overrun a great part thereof and dividing it into Territories and Kingdomes inhabited that part which was then and yet at this day by the Welsh who are the ancient Brittains called Lhoyger and in English England with all the Cities Townes Castles and Villages which the Brittains had builded ruled and inhabited by the space of 1827. years under divers Kings and Princes of great renown whereupon he purposed to return and by strength of Brittish Knights to recover his own Land again After he had prepared and made ready his Navy for the transporting of his own men with such succours as he had found at Alan's hand an Angel appeared to him in a Vision and declared that it was the will of God that he should not take his voyage towards Brittain but to Rome to Pope Sergius where he should end his life and be afterwards numbred among the blessed Which vision after that Cadwallader had declared to his friend Alan he sent for all his books of prophesies as the works of both Merdhines or Merlins to wit Ambrose and Sylvester surnamed Merdhin Wylht and the words which the Eagle spoke at the building of Caer Septon to be now come whereof they had prophesied To this very day the Welsh the very real ofspring of the Brittains are much addicted unto prophesies and so confident that out of their old books I know some my self and those of good quality they doubt not to tell you things to come but those prophesies are never discerned to have come to pass till it be too late as in Ragland Castle in Monmothshire and others which it concerns me not to speak of Alan upon the relation of Cadwallader his vision or dream counselled him to fullfil the will of God who did so and taking his journey to Rome lived there eight years in the service of God and dyed in the year of Christ 688. So that the Brittains ruled this Isle with the out-Isles of Wight Mon in English called Anglesey Manaw in English Man Orkney and Ewyst 1137. years before Christ until the year of his Incarnation 688. and thus ended the rule of the Brittains over the whole Isle This glorious King bore for his armes Azure a crosse firmie fitched Or. He slew Lothayre King of Kent and Aethelwald King of the South Saxons Ivor the son of Alan After Cadwallader had taken his journey towards Rome Gerard Leigh in his accidence of armory fol. 33. leaving his son named Edwal the Roo and his people with his Cousin Alan which Alan taking courage to him and not despairing of the conquest of Brittain manned his ships as well with a great number of his own people as with those which Cadwallader had brought with him and appointed Ivor his son and Inyr his Nephew to be leaders and chieftains of the same who sailing over the narrow seas landed in the West parts of Brittain of whose arrival when the Saxons were certified they gathered a great Army and gave Ivor battail where they were put to flight and lost a great number of their people and Ivor wan the Countries of Cornwall Devonshire and Somersetshire and peopled them with Brittains Whereupon Kentwinus King of West-Sex gathered a great number of Saxons and Angles together and came against the Brittains which were ready to abide the battail and as the armies were both in sight they were not very desirous to fight but fell to a composition and agreement that Ivor should take Ethelburga to wife who was Cofin to Kentwin and quietly enjoy all that he had during the reign of Ivor This Ivor is he whom our English Chronicles call Ive or Jew King of West Saxons H. Lhoyd that reigned after Cedwel and they say that he was a Saxon for Kentwin reigned full five years after Ivors coming into England and after him his Nephew Cedwel who after he had reigned over the west Saxons two years went to Rome and left his Kingdom to Ive his Cousin This Ive or Ivor whom the Brittains call the son of Alan and the Saxons the son of Kenred being King of the Saxons and Brittains which inhabited the West parts of Brittain after many victories atchived against the Kings of Kent Southsex and Mercia left his Kingdome to Adelred or as some call him Adelerdus his Cousin and took his journey to Rome where he made a godly end about the year of our Lord seven hundred and twenty Roderike or Rodri the Son of Edwal Yworch Roderike over the Brittains began his reign Anno. 720. against whom Adelred King of the West Saxons raised a great Army and destroying the Country of Devonshire The Brittains victorious against the Saxons in three battails entered Cornwall where Roderike with the Brittains gave him battail in with the Brittains had the victory over the Saxons the year after the Brittains obtained two other victories over the Saxons one in Northwales at a place called Garth Maelawc and an other in Southwales at Pencoed At this time Belin the Son of Elphin a noble Man among the Brittains died Ethelbaldus King of Mercia desirous to annex the fertile soil of the Country lying between Severn and Wye to his own Kingdom gathered an Army and entered into Wales A battail near Abergevenny and destroying all before him he came to the Mountain Carno not far from Abergevenny where a sore battail was fought between him and the Brittains Anno seven hundred twenty eight This Mercian King called to his aid Adelard King of the West Saxons and gave battail to the Brittains where after a long and terrible conflict he obtained a bloody victory
Snowden hills and seised into his hands the Country of Rhyvonioc in Denbighshire About this time there was a great battail fought in Anglesey called the battail of Lhanvaes In this year being the 819. ab incarnatione 819. Kenulph King of Mercia destroyed West VVales and the Summer following he overcame Powis land and did much hurt and after died and Kenelme reigned in his place About the same year also Howel King of Man died much about this time 828. a great battail was fought at a place called Gavelford betwixt the Brittains and the VVest Saxons of Devonshire and many thousands cruelly slain upon either side the victory being uncertain In or about the year 836. the Danes landed in VVest VVales and so passing through VVales into England with many of the Brittains which joyned with them against Egbert but they were all overthrown by Egbert at Hengistdown who died the year following In the year 841. died Edwalhan a noble man of Wales And two years after was the battail of Kettel betwixt Burchard King of Mercia and the Brittans where in as some do write 841. Mervin Vrich King of the Brittains was slain leaving behind him a son called Rodri Maur that is to say Roderick the great from Rodri by his son Anarawd who bore for his arms Or three Lyons passant Gules Mervin whose coate was Or a Lyon rampant Gules and Cadel who took for his armes Gules a Lyon Ramp within a border engraled Or the worshipful and flourishing families of the Morgans in Monmothshire who to this day quarter the two last coats by matches and coheirs are rightly descended of which line William Morgan of Lantarnam Esq who marryed Lady Frances daughter to the Earl of VVorcester derived his pedegree leaving issue Sr Edward Morgan first Baronet of that linage father to Sr. Edward Morgan Baronet now living Henry Morgan and Winefred Wife to Percy Enderbid Compiler of this book Roderike the Great Roderike the great began his reign over VVales the year after Christ his incarnation 843. This Prince divided all VVales into the three territories of Aberstraw Dinivour The description of Wales by Sr. John Price Kt and Hump. Lhoyd Gent. and Mathraval But before we proceed any further be pleased to read over the description of Cambria now called VVales drawn first by Sir John Price Knight and afterwards augmented and made perfect by Humphrey Lhoyd Gent. Forasmuch as it is necessary for the understanding of the VVelsh history to know the perfect description of the Country of VVales to the end the acts atchieved and done may the better be known I thought good somewhat to travail therein and so to lay down the same as it was in those daies and as it is now that the Reader may by conference of both times the better understand both what hath passed from the time of Cadwalader and what hereafter is to ensue Therefore after the three Sons of Brutus had divided the whole Isle of Brittain into three parts that part contained within the French Seas with the Rivers of Severn called in Brittish Hafern Dee and Humber fell to the eldest Son Locrinus which was after his name called Lhoyger which name it hath in the Brittish Tongue to this day but in English called England and is augmented Northward to the River Tweed The second Son or as some say the third Albanactus had all the Land Northward from Humber to the Sea Orkney called in the Brittish Tongue Norweryth and in Latine Mare Calidonium The third Son Camber or rather the second had for his part that remained undivided lying within the Spanish and Irish Seas and separated from England by the Rivers Severn Dee part was after his name called Cambria and the Inhabitants thereof Cambri and their Language Camberaec and so are at this day so that they have kept the same Countrey and Language this 2690. years and above saith this Authour when that Chronicle was printed which bears no date without commixtion with any other Nation especially in North Wales And because the name of the Country is changed or rather mistaken by the inhabitants of England and not by them called Cambry but Wales I think it necessary to declare the occasion thereof which is That whereas the Saxons a people of Germany were the first that after the Brittains inhabited and ruled the greatest part of this Island and drove the Brittains into that corner a which according to the manner of their countrey they called VVales Wales why so called and the countreymen VVelshmen and the Tongue VVelsh that is to say strange or not of them understood for at this day the Inhabitants of the Low-countreys call all their next Neighbours Language Henegaw or others that speak French VValsh as a Language to them unknown Likewise the Inhabitants of Tyroll and other the higher countryes of Germany do name the Italian their next Neighbour a VValshman and his language VValsh And this is an evident proof that they which harped upon a Queen Gwallaes Not from Queen Gwalaes Nor from Prince Wala and of a Prince VValla of whom neither Brittish Latine or English History makes mention were fouly deceived and so likewise was a great Historiographer of late daies who saith that it was called VValia quasi Italia because the rest of the Romanes which remained in the Isle were driven thither Neither is this any new invention although Polidore Virgil with an Italian brag doth glory his self to be the first that found it out Polidore Virgil his brag for divers antient Writers do alledge the same cause of the name of VVales of whom Sylvester Giraldus is one who writ in the time of Henry the Second after the Conquest before 380 passed which is an evident token that the said Polidore Virgil did either never see it or at least not read the ancient Histories of this Kingdome or else dissembleth the same to the advancement and praise of himself and his countrey which to the learned and indifferent Reader shall appear to be the only occasion he took that work in hand Polidores jugling in his History for all his book redoundeth only to the praise and honour of the Romanes as well Spiritual as Temporal and to blaze forth their Acts and Deeds within this Realm and upon the other part he doth either openly slander or else privately extenuate or shamefully deny the Martial prowess and Noble Acts as well of Saxons Danes and Normans as of the Brittains all inhabiters of this Isle which thing he that lists to prove let him read and confer Caesars Commentaries Cornelius Tacitus Herodianus and other ancient Writers as well in Latine as in Greek with his works As for the Ancient Writers of the Brittish History as the Brittish Chronicle the History of Gildas Ponticus Virunnius yea the golden work of Matthew Paris Monk of Saint Alban who writ from William the Conquerour to the last year of Henry the Third I dare say he
never saw them they be in divers places to be had so that the Truth may be eastly proved To make an end I say that he being a stranger born as also ignorant in our Histories and in the Tongues and Languages wherein they were written Polidores ignorance the cause of many mens errours in History could never set forth a true and perfect Chronicle of the same but he having a good Grace and fluent Phrase in the Latine Tongue and finding himself in a countrey where every man either lacked Knowledge or a Spirit to set forth the History of their own country took this enterprize in hand to their great shame and no less dispraise because he a blinde leader should draw a great number of undiscreet and rash followers as well Geographers Cosmographers as Chroniclers Historiographers to the dark pit of Ignorance where I leave them at this time remitting the Reader to the Apology of Sir John Price Kt. and his Brittish History written by him on purpose against the envious Reports slandrous taunts of the said Polidore where he shall see a great number of his Errours confuted at large And to return to my former matter concerning the name of Wales which name to be given of late by a stranger Nation may be otherwise proved That which is now abusively called Welsh was the ancient Language of the first Brittains for the Welshmen themselves do not understand what these words Wales and Welsh do signifie nor know any other Name of their countrey or themselves but Cambry nor of their Language but Cambrae which is as much as to say as Cambers Language or Speec so likewise they know not what England or English meaneth but commonly they call the Countrey Lhogier the Englishmen Sayson and the English Tongue Saysonaec which is an evident token that this is the same Language which the Brittains spake at the beginning for the works of Merdhin and of Taliessin who wrote above 1000. years since are almost the same words which they use at this day or at the least easie to be understood by every one which knoweth perfectly the Welsh Tongue especially in North-Wales Besides this whereas at this day there do remain three Remnants of the Brittains divided every one from the other with the seas which are in Wales Cornwal called in British Cerniw little Brittain yet almost all the particular words of these three people are all one although in pronunciation writing of the sentences they differ somewhat which is no marvell seeing that the pronunciation in one realm is often so different that the one can scant understand the other But it is rather a wonder that the Welshmen being separated from the Cornish well nigh these 900 years and the Brittains from either of them * In this Authors time 290 before that and having small traffick or concourse together since that time have still kept their own Brittish tongue They are not therefore to be credited which deny the Welsh to be the old Brittish tongue And here I cannot passe over what one of the five Chroniclers writ of late of the name of Brittain affirming that it should be so called of Brittain in France as the elder of that name but sure he had either never seen Ptolomy nor Caesar nor any other ancient writer or read them with small judgment and memory for there he might have learned that when this land was called Brittain the other was called Armorica and how in Maximus time Conan Meriadoc was the first that gave it that name and inhabited it with Brittains out of this Isle other derivations of these words out of Greek and Latine I am ashamed to relate of which I have spoken formerly I will therefore returne to the description of Wales which was almost in old time compassed about with the Irish seas and the Rivers Dee and Severne although afterwards the Saxons wan by force from the Brittains all the plain as is already said and champion Countries over the rivers and specially Offa King of Mercia who made a ditch of great breadth and depth to be a Meare betwixt his Kingdom and Wales which ditch began at the river Dee by Basingwerk between Chester and Ruthlan and ran along the hills sides to the South sea a little from Britstol reaching above an hundred miles in length and is in many places to be seen at this day bearing the name of Clawdh Offa viz. Offa's ditch and the Country between it and England is commonly called in Welsh Y Mars although the greatest part of it be now inhabited by Welshmen namely in Northwales which yet keepeth the ancient limits to the River Dee and in some places over it Other as Sylvester Giraldus make the river Wy called in Welsh Guy to be a mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-VVales who measureth the breadth of VVales from Sallowe or VVillowford called Rhydyrhelig upon VVy to St. Davids in Menevia a 100 miles and the length from Caertheon upon Vsk in Gwentland to Holy head called Caergibi in Anglesey in Welsh called Môn above a 100 miles And these be the common mears at this day although the Welsh tongue is commonly used and spoken England-ward beyond these old mears a great way as in Herefordshire Glocestershire and a great part of Shropshire and thus for the general description of Wales which afterward about the year of Christ 870. Rodericus Magnus King of Wales divided it into three territories which he called Kingdoms which remained till of late dayes These three were Gwyneth Northwales Dehenbarth Southwales and Powis land in every of which he ordained a princely seat or Court for a Prince to remain at most commonly as in Gwyneth which some old writers call Venedocia Abersfraw for Gwinethia Abersfraw in the Isle of Môn or Anglesey In Deheuberth called in Latine Demetia ' Caermardhyn from whence it was afterwards removed to Dinevowr eight miles thence Dinevowr In Powis Penguerne called Y Mwythic and in English Shrewsbury Methraval from whence it was removed to Mtheraval in Powis land And because this history doth as well intreat of wars betwixt these three Provinces as betwixt them and the Saxons Normans and Flemmings I think good to set forth the particular description of every part by it self and first of Northwales as the chiefest part which he gave his Eldest Son Northwales ordering that either of the other two should pay him yearly 200. pound of tribute as it appeareth in the lawes of Howel Dha which are to be had in Welsh and also in Latine Therefore Gwyneth called Northwales had upon the Northside the Sea from the River Dee at Basingwerck to Aberdyni and upon the West and Southwest the river Dini which divideth it from Southwales and in some place from Powis land And on the South and East it is divided from Powis land sometimes by the mountains and sometimes with rivers till it come
to the River Dee again This land was of old time divided into four parts of which the chifest was Môn in English Anglesey Môn where the Princes chief house was at Abersfraw which is an Island separated from the mainland with an arme of the sea called Maenai and had in it self three Cantreds or hundreds which were subdivided into six Comots as Cantreff Abersfraw to comot Lhion and comot Malhtraeth Cantreff Cemais to the comots Talebolion and Tur Celyn An other absurd errour in Polidore Cantref Rossir to the comots Tindaethwy and Menai And at this day there is a trim town in that Island called Buemarish and a common passage to Ireland at Caergibi called in English Holy-head but here I cannot wink at that notable error of Polidore which after his accustomed fashion deemeth this Isle to be called not Môna but Anglesia or Anglorum Insula because it is called in English Anglesey and giveth this name Mona to Man and so hath lost the names of both Isles which ignorance and forgetfulness might be forgiven him if he had not drawn a great number to this errour with him which in their Charters do daily wrong-name these Isles which may be easily proved First because the Inhabitants of the Isle do know no other name but Môn and it is called through all VVales Tîr Môn that is to say the land of Môn unto this day so that neither by memory of Man neither by any Monument in writing in the British tongue can it appear that ever it had any other name but Môn yet there be manifest monuments for these 1000. years It is also grown to a proverb through VVales for the fertility of the ground Môn mam Gymry that is to say Môn mother of VVales The ancient history of Cornelius Tacitus which it seems age had beaten out of Polidors head saith that the Souldiers of Paulinus Suetonius and after of Julius Agricola after they had passed through Northwales then came over against Mona where they did swim over an arme of the sea 200. paces and so by force wan the Isle Now whether is it more reasonable thus to swim over 200 paces or 20 miles I know there are many believe Polidor in this point let all men therefore by this judge the rest As for that which he saith of the great woods Môn the seat of the superstitious Druids it is nothing for both the Romans and after when the Christian faith took place in the Realm the Christians did fall and root them out of the abominable Idolatry and superstition practised by the Druids in them as is touched before that the King of Man sent for timber to Mon Great trees found in the Earth read the life of Hugh E. of Chester which also is evident by the great beeches and other trees found in the earth in those dayes His other reason is because it is called Anglesey in the English tongue So is Lhoyger called England and Cambry Wales are those therefore the old names no surely and what if the inhabitants called it so as they did not had it not a name before the Angles wan it yes I warrant you but he had forgotten that Now the name of Man was ever or at the least these 1000 years named in Brittish Manaw of which cometh the English name Man The Inhabitants there call it so and no nation about it did ever call it Môn nor any writer but Polidor which was too young a Godfather to name so old a child For Gildas writ above 900. years since whose writings Polidor never saw but untruly fathers upon his own device Geraldus in his description of Ireland to Henry II and Henry Huntington do plainly call Man in Latine Eubonia adding thereto either Manaw or Man for the better understanding of the name will you believe them or Polydor other arguments there are which I passe over till I have more leisure and occasion to write of this matter Arvon The seccond part of Northwales was called Arvon which is as much as to say over against Mon and had in it four â—cantrefs and ten comots Cantref Abeer had in it three comots Y Lhechwedh Vchaf Y Lechwedhisat and Nanconwy Cantref Arvon had two comots Ywch Owyrnai and Isgwyrnai Cantref Dunodic had two comots Ardudwy and Enionyth Cantref Lhyyn containeth three comots Cymitmain Tinlhain and Canclogion This is now called Carnarvonshire the chief Town whereof is Carnarvon heretofore it was strongly walled and had a very fair Castle Edward the II. King of England was here borne and hence according to the custome of those times entituled Edward of Carnarvon The Princes of Wales had in this place their Chancery and Exchequer for all Northwales which was no small improvement to it Earl it had never any till this present age in which the late K. Charles conferred that title 1628. on Robert Lord Dormer of Wing created Earl of Carnarvon 4o. Carol. Aug. 2. and lost his life in the said Kings service Lord Dormer his son Earl of Carnarvon now living Azure 10 billets 4 3 2 and 1. Or in a chief of the second a Lyon Issuant sable incensed Gules And as Carnarvon hath given title to an Earl so hath Anglesey also though not by her ancient name Môn for anno 1624. Christopher Villiers brother to the D. of Buckingham was created E. of Anglesey September 24. Charles Villiers second Earl Argent on a crosse Gules five escolops Or a mullet for difference This Môn is also called Anglesey shire and hath both it and Carnarvonshire the same divisions at this day In this shire are Snowden hills called Eryri neither in height fertility of ground wood cattel fish and foul giving place to the famous Alps and without controversie the strongest country in Brittain Here is the Town of Carnarvon called in old time Caersegonce and there is also Conwey called Caer Giffin and See of Bangor with divers other ancient Castles and places of memory and vvas the last part of Wales that came under the Dominions of the Kings of England It hath on the North the Sea and Maenai upon the East and South East the River Conwey vvhich divideth it from Denbighshire vvhose principal Tovvn is Denbigh vvhich hath had Lords good store and of several families but none of them Parliamentary Peers in reverence to it till these latter times Of late it hath given title both of Lord and Earl to tvvo several families viz. to these 1 Robert Lord Dudley created Baron of Denbigh and Earl of Leicester Eliz. 6. Sep. 29 Or a Lyon Rampant his tail double forked vert 2 William Viscount Fielding created Earl of Dinbigh 20. Jac. Sept. 14. Master of the Ward robe c. Argent on fess Azure 3. fusils Or. This Shire is parted on the South West and West from Mirioneth with high mountains and Rivers and other Mears Merionith The third part of Gwineth was Merioneth containing three Cantrefs and every Cantref three comots
resigned to the King his Heirs and to the Crown of England the name and Title of Principality Cadel the youngest son and Prince of Demetia or South-VVales which the VVelshmen call'd Dehenbarsh that is the Right Side or South part this Country although it be very fruitfull and far greater then North Wales yet was it alwaies esteemed the worser part and the reason was for that the Nobles thereof refused to obey their Princes and the sea-coast was evermore infested and troubled with the invasion of the English men Normans and Flemings by which the Prince was enforced to leave his royal Seat at Marydune and place the same at Dynefar in Cantremaur And although these Princes had great Authority in VVales yet after Rhese the Son of Theodore the great was by Treason of his own people slain in the time of VVilliam Rufus Anno Domini 1093 they were no more called by the names of Dukes or Princes but onely Lords until at last by civil Wars amongst themselves and the Lands divided among strangers and many others the English seeking to possess all the Principality was so weakned and brought so low that after the death of Rhese the Son of Griffith a most worthy man they lost both Name and Authority of Principality and Lordship And all this while the Lines of the Princes of Venedosia or North-VVales did prosperously continue and held on their course as shall hereafter be specified by that which followeth THE SECOND BOOK TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ANTHONY GREY Earl of Kent Lord Grey of Ruthen Hastings and Valence John Mannors Earl of Rutland Lord Ross of Hamlake Trusbut and Belvoir Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery Lord Herbert of Cardiff Ross of Kendal Par Marnnon and Saint Quintin Edward Sackvil Earl of Dorset Lord Buâ—khurst William Earl of Salisbury Viscount Crambourn Lord Cecil of Essenden David Earl of Exeter Lord Burley THE EARLES OF KENT GRiffith ap Meredith ap Blethin Owen Cynelioc Gwenwynwyn Griffith of Gwenwynwyn Owen ap Griffith Lord Powis John Charleton Lord of Powis by the gift of King Edward the first to whom he was Valectus Regis jure uxoris Lord of Powis Hawis Gardan i. e. the Hardy Son and Heir to Owen ap Griffith Lord of Powis John Charleton second Lord of Powis of that name John Charleton third Lord of Powis of that Name One of these Johns married a daughter to Roger Lord Mortimer by which means this Family descended from the Brittish blood Edward Charleton fourth Lord of Powis of that Name Alianor daughter and one of the heirs of Thomas Holland Earl of Kent Edward Charleton the last John dying without Issue fifth Lord of Powis and last of that Family who left onely two daughters his heirs  Sir John Grey Knight Jane daughter and co-heir to Edward Charleton Lord of Powis Henry Grey Lord Powis created Earl of Tankervile Antigone natural daughter to umphery Duke of Glocester Edward * Or Edmund Grey Lord of Ruthine descended from the Lord Grey Lord of Powis created Earl of Kent Katherine daughter to Henry Percy second Earl of Northumberland by which match the Brittish blood descended George Grey Earl of Kent Anne Daughter to Richard Woodvile Earl Rivers Richard Grey Earl of Kent sans Issue Elizabeth Daughter to Sir VVilliam Hussey Knight Lord chief Justice Reiginold Grey grand-child to George by his second Wife daughter of VVilliam Herbert Earl of Pembroke by which match comes in the Brittish blood sans Issue  Henry Grey Brother and Heir to Reginold Earl of Kent Sans Issue Mary daughter to Sir George Cotton of Cheshire Knight Charles Grey Brother to the two former Earls and their Heir Susan daughter to Richard Cotton of Hantshire squire Henry Grey Earl of Kent sans Issue Elizabeth daughter and co-heir to Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury Anthony Grey of Burbage Com. Leic. son of George son of Anthony Grey of Branspath son of George Hrey Lord Grey of Ruthin second Earl of Kent by his wife Daughter to William Herbert Earl of Pembroke continueth the Brittish line Henry Lord Grey KENT Kent is a very rich and pleasant Country lying between the Thames and the narrow Seas A country very good for Corn and fit for pastorage according to the several Plots and parts thereof and wondrous full of fruitfull and well ordered Orchards from whence the City of London is supplyed with most sort of Fruit the Villages and Towns stand exceeding thick being in all three hundred ninety eight parishes besides lesser Hamlets which make up the two Diocesses of Canterbury and Rochester It hath also divers safe Roads and sure Harbours for Ships and those exceeding well defended with Forts and Castles Caesar when he arrived in Kent found here four Kings for so they called the chief of the principal Families and gives this Testimony of the People that they were the most courteous and civil of all the Brittains in the declining of whose Empire Vortiger gave this County unto the Saxons who being Heathens when the rest of the Isle were Christians gave an occasion to the Proverb Kent and Christendome at that time it was made a Kingdome as in the entrance of the Normans it was made an Earldome and so it hath continued in the persons of these Earles of KENT Odo Bishop of Baieux half Brother to the Conquerour Lord chief Justice and Lord Treasurer William of Ypres Hugh de Burg Lord chief Justice Edmund of Woodstock Son to King Edward the First Edmund Plantagenet John Plantagenet Thomas Holland Thomas Holland Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey Edmund Holland Lord Admiral Edmund Grey Lord Ruthin Earl of Kent George Grey Richard Grey Reginald Grey Henry Grey Charles Grey Henry Grey Anthony Grey now living 1661 Henry Lord Grey heir apparent The Earle of Rutland Owen ap Griffith Lord of Powis who left one only daughter and heir who married as followeth Iohn Charleton born in Appley near Wellington was Valectus Regis Hawis Guardan i. e. the hardy sole daughter and heir to Griffith L. of Powis formerly a Prinpality Iohn Charleton L. of Powis  Iohn Charleton L. of Powis  Iohn Charleton L. of Powis  Edward Charleton his brother dying without issue Lord of Powis who left two daughters his heirs Elinor one of the daughters and coheirs of T. Holland E. of Kent Iohn Lord Typtoft of Worcester Ioyce D. and Co-h. to Ed. L. Powis Iohn L. Typtoft E. of Wocester sans issue left his four sisters his co-heirs  Thomas L. Ross of Hamlack which line devolved into the family of Mannours E. of Rutland by the marriage of Elianor sister and heir of Ed. L. Ross of Hamlack Belvoir Trusbut to Sr Roger Mannours Grandfather to Thomas first E. of Rutland of that name Philip the eldest daughter and coheir to Iohn L. Tiptoft E. of Worcester Thom. Mannours first E. of Rutland Elinor daughter to Sr. Will. Paston of Norfolk Sir Iohn Mannours second son Kt. Elizabeth daughter and co-heir of George Vernon of Haddon in
fought at a place called Meilon of the which it was called Maes Rhos Meilon year 907 The year 907. died Cadeth King or Prince of South-Wales third Son to Roderick the Great leaving behinde him three Sons Howel Dha that is to say Howel the Good who succeded his Father in the Kingdome of South-Wales Meyric and Clydawc Shortly after there came a great Navy from Tydwick with Vther and Rahald and past the Western Sea to Wales and destroyed Saint Davids and there fought the Battel Dinerth where Mayloc the Son of Peredur Gam was slain year 913 In the year 913 Anaawd chief King of Wales dyed and left behinde him two Sons Edwal Voel who reigned after him and Elise 〈…〉 Mr. Mills fol. 292. Anno 877. Mr. Mills differeth here from Mr. Powel the one setting Voel the other Mervin to succeed I will therefore set down both Writings the former of these two saith Mervin the first begotten son of Rhoderick the Great Prince of all VVales by the Gift and Grant of his Father was made Lord or Prince of that Country of Wales which the Inhabitants call Gwyneth the Englishmen North-VVales and the Latines Venedotia This province was divided into four countries or quarters which contained fifteen Cantreds This word Cantred being compounded of the Brittish and Irish Language is said to be such a portion of Land as may contain an hundred Villages The chief and principal place of this Country was the Isle of Anglesey or Mon and in Aberfraw a city thereof was the Royal pallace of the Kings of North-VVales now the reason why the Kings of Gwyneth were called Kings of Aberfraw was for that in the Laws of the good Howel Prince and Law-giver it was decreed That as the Kings of Aberfraw ought of Right to pay threescore and three pounds in way of Tribute to the King of London so the King of Dynefur and Mathraval should also be hound in like manner to pay the like mony unto the King of Aberfraw as it were also by way of Tribute by vvhich it appeareth that this Lord vvas the chief Prince of VVales The VVife of Mervin the Son of Roderick Prince of Venedotia or North-VVales thus saith Mr. Mills but names her not Their Issue Idwallo surnamed Voel Prince of Venedotia Edwal Voel Ut ante After that Edwal Voel began his Dominion over North-Wales Mr. Powel fol. 46. Howel Dha being King or Prince of South-VVales and Powis land a terrible Comet appeared in the Firmament at which time the year following Leicester was nevv built year 917 The next year follovving the men of Denelm did destroy the Isle of Môn or Anglesey and the year 917. Clydawc the Son of Cadeth vvas slain by the hands of his brother Meyric and about the same time the Englishmen did overthrovv the Danes Much about this time Elfled Dutchess of Mercia sent her vvhole Army into VVales Ren. Cest Math. West Hel. pa. 222. and fought vvith the VVelshmen and vvan Brecknock and took the Queen and three and thirty men This vvas it vvhich is called in VVelsh Gweythy Dinas Newydh that is to say The battel of the new Citty also she vvon the Tovvn of Derby John Castoreus reporteth this story in this manner Huganus Lord of VVest VVales Jo. Cast perceiving King Edward to be occupied in the Danish VVar far enough from him gathered an Army of Brittains and entred the Kings Land whereupon Elfled Lady of Mercia and Sister to King Edward came to Wales with a strong Army and fought with the Welshmen at Brecknock and putting Huganus to flight took his Wife and thirty four Captives and led them with her to Mercia Huganus thus discomfited fled to Derby and there being peaceably entertained of the Countrymen with fifteen men of War and two hundred Souldiers well appointed joyned himself with the Kings adversaries the Danes of which thing when Elfled was certified by the men of Derby she followed him with a great Army and entred the Gates of that Town where Huganus resisted her and slew four of her chief Officers But Gwyane Lord of the Isle of Ely her Steward set the Gates on fire and furiously running upon the Brittains entred the Town then Huganus being overmatched A stout resolution of a valiant Welshman and choosing rather to dye by the Sword then to yield himself to a Woman was there slain The same Authour also reporteth that about this time Leofred a Dane and Gruffith of Madoc Brother in Law to the Prince of West Wales came to Ireland with a great Army to Snowdon and minding to bring all Wales and the Marches thereof to their subjection overran and subdued all the Countrey to Chester before King Edward could be certified of their Arrival whereat he was much discontented and being loth to trouble his subjctes in that behalf made a vow that he and his Sons with their own people would he revenged on Leofred and Gruffith and thereupon came to Chester and wan the City from them after which he divided his army into two Battails whereof he and his Son Athelstane led the first and Edmund and Eldred the second and so followed them with as much celerity as he could and overtook them at the Forrest of Walewood now Sherwood where Leofred and Cruffith set upon him fiercely so that the King in the beginning was in some Distress until Athelstane stepped in between his Father and Leofred and wounded the Dane in the arme in such sort that he being not able to hold his spear was soon taken and committed to the custody of Athelstane In the mean time Edmund and Edred encountring with Gruffith slew him and brought his head to their Father Then Athelstane caused Leofred to be beheaded and so both their heads were set up together on the top of the Tower of Chester The year 933. Owen the Son of Gruffith was slain by the men of Cardigan 933. Wil. Malmsh Hol. p. 225. Jo. Cast Mat. West Ren. Cest Pâ—wâ—l fol. â—50 The Bâ—â—tains removed into Cornwal Math West Hol. pag. 226. Then Athelstane did enter Wales with a great Army and brought the Kings of the Country to subjection and received yearly of Tribute twenty pounds in gold and three hundred paid in silver and two hundred head of Cattel yet the Laws of Howel appointed to the King of Aberfraw to pay yearly to the King of London no more but sixty six pounds for a Tribute and that the Prince of Dinevowre and the Prince of Powis should pay a like summ of sixty six pounds yearly to the King of Aberfraw In the year 936. dyed Euneth the son of Clydawc and Meiric the son of Cadeth at this time also Athelstane did remove the Brittains that dwelt in Exeter and thereabouts to Cornwal and appointed the River Cambria to be the utter Mere towards England as he had before appointed the River Wy to be the Mere of England and Wales About the year 940. Cadeth the son of Arthvael a noble
did now move many to laugh at those things who seeing that costly and sumptuous building to be laid even with the earth said that Hubert was a prophet and much more then a prophet so much out of Paris About the year 1230 Lhewelyn the son of Maelgon deceased and was entombed at Conwey Adultery punished by death Abergaveny businesse revenged Prince Lhewelin caused William Bruse to be hanged being as t is reported taken in adultery with his wife who was the Sister of K. Henry About this time Maelgon was buried at Stratflur whose patrimony young Maelgen his son inherited after his father This year the King led a great army to Wales and after he had remained in the Marshes a while he returned into England and left Hubert de Burge Earle of Kent with his army to defend the Marshes and hereby his spies understood where certain Welshmen had entred the Marshes to plunder and set upon them by Montgomery killing many of them The Prince herewith being much troubled gathered his forces and to revenge his men A gallant revenge entering the Marshes he destroyed all with fire and sword who withstood him and burnt the Castles and Garrisons without mercy year 1231 and first the Castle of Montgomery for the Earle withdrew himself for fear then the castle of Radnor Aberhodny Rayader Gwy and so he went to Caerlheon and after long fight and loss of many of his men got the Town and left nothing therein but Ashes the like he did with the Castles of Neth and Cydwely The utter destruction of Caerlheon Therefore the King came to Hereford with a mighty army and sent a great number of his nobles with the most part of his army to VVales who using the direction of a Fryer of Cymer met with a company of VVelshmen which at the first encounter sled whom the Englishmen followed to the Straits where the ambushments lay which fell upon them A Fryer ventureth his life in behalf of his country Maud Castle built by K. Henry the III. The Welsh well enough required for deâ—erring their own Countrymen and slew a great number of the best Souldiers the rest escaped by flight Therefore the King would have burnt the house of Cymer yet the Prior redeemed it by paying 300 marks and so the King returned into England after he had built the Castle of Maud whilst these things were in agitation Maelgon the son of Maelgon ap Rees laidsiege to Aberteini and got the Town and destroyed it to the Castle gates putting all the inhabitants to the sword And shortly after he returned with his cozen Owen son to Gruffith ap Rees with certain of the Princes Captains and brake down the bridge upon the River Teini and laid siege to the Castle and with engines and mines threw down the same and so with much honour returned home The next year this gallant and heroick Brittain Lhewelyn entered England and brought back a rich spoyle both of goods cattel and men which forced the King to impose a subsidy to subdue the Brittains About this time John Earle of Chester surnamed Le Scot from the place of his birth Mr Brook York Herald fol. â—5 The murder at Abergaveny punished in the Family of de Bruse Earl of Huntington and Cambridge c. son of David brother to the King of Scots who bore for his armes Or three garbs Gules married Helin daughter to Lhewelin P. of Northwales also Ephraim Bishop of Lhanelwy died and John de Bruse falling off his horse his foot sticking fast in the stirrup was drag'd till he dyed most miserably The year following Richard E. of Cornwal fortified the Castle of Radnor which the Prince had lately destroyed Shortly after Prince Lhewelin came with an army to Brecknock and destroyed all the towns and castles of the Country and lay a moneth at the siege of the Castle of Brecknock P. Lhewelin a scourge to the English adherents but yet went without it and burning the town retreated home with great plunder In his journey by the way he burned the Town of Clun and recovered all the Country called Diffrin Teneidiat which was the possession of John Fitz Allen but he could not get the Castle After that he overthrew the Red Castle in Powis now the house of the Right Honourable Sir Percy Herbert Lord Powis a right worthy Gentleman Red castle in Montgomery shire a Garrison formerly for the Parliament and at this present and burned the town of Oswestre and so came home And about this time Richard Marshal fell at variance with the King who with Huber de Burge that escaped out of the castle of Devises where the Bishop of Winchester intended to have starved him came to Wales and joyned with the prince against the King Then the Earle with Owen ap Gruffith ap Rees came to Menevia or St. Davids The English with the Welsh against their King Abergavenny with other Castles taken K. Henry by Grismont lost 500. Horse and killed and spoiled all the Kings Friends within the Town Also Maelgon and Rees Gryc with the power of the prince joyned with them who in that voyage wan all these Castles Caerdiff Abergaveny Pencelhy Blaynlhefyini and Bwlchy Dynet which they razed all except Caerdif This so incensed the King that he raised a mighty army as well Flemmings Normans and Gascoines and Englishmen and entred VVales thinking to destroy the whole Country and encamped at Grismont where the Earle with the power of Wales encamped hard by him and as the Kings men would have entred further they were met withall and lost 500 horse and so upon better consideration returned home after whose departure the Earl with the power aforesaid lay before Caermarthyn three moneths but it was so manfully defended that they went without it and at last there came in the Kings ships and manned and victualed the town which caused the besiegers to rayse their siege and depart About this time Rees Gryc Son to the Lord or prince Rees dyed at Lhandeilo vawr and was buried honourably by his Father at St. Davids and then also Maelgon the son of Maelgon finished the Castle of Tresilan which his father had begun John of Mermeth forced to â—y In the year 1234. John Lord Monumetensis a noble warriour Captain or General of the Kings Army being made Ward of the marches of Wales levied a power and came against Earl Marshall and the Welshmen but when he had once entred Wales he came back in post leaving his Men for the most part slain and taken behind Maâ— Paris p. 520. This History is reported by Mathew Paris after this manner About the feast of St. John Baptist John of Monmoth a noble and expert warriour who was with the King in his wars in Wales gathered a great army meaning to invade the Earl Marshal at unawares but he being certifi'd thereof hid himself in a certain wood by the which lay the way of his Enemies
chased to their ships and thus the King being not able to do any more Mat Paris p. 917. manned and victualled his Castles and so returned home Of this Voyage a certain Nobleman being then in the Kings Camp wrote thus to his friend about the end of Septemb. 1245. year 1245 The King with his army lyeth at Gannock fortifying of that Strong Castle and we lie in our Tents thereby Gannoc castle watching fasting praying and freezing with cold we watch for fear of the Welshmen who are wont to invade and come upon us in the night time we fast for want of meat for the half penny loaf is worth five pence The Welshmen teach the Englishmen three excellent vertues of watching fasting praying we pray to God to send us home again speedily we starve for cold wanting our winter Garments and having no more but a thin linnen cloth betwixt us and the wind there is an arme of the sea under the Castle whereunto the tide cometh and many ships come up the haven thither and bring victuals to the Camp from Ireland and Chester this arme of the sea lyeth betwixt us and Snowdon where the Welshmen abide now and is about a flight shot over when the tide is in There came to the mouth of that haven a certain ship from Ireland with victuals to be sold upon Munday before Michaelmas day which being negligently look't unto Maâ— Par. p. 924. was set on drie ground at the low ebb at the further side of the water over against the Castle which thing when the Welshmen saw they came down from the hills and assaulted the vessel being now upon drie ground whereupon we on the otherside beholding the same sent over by boats 300 Welshmen of the borders of Cheshire and Shropshire with certain Archers and armed men to the rescue of the said ship whereupon the Natives withdrew to their accustomed places in the rocks and woods whom our men followed as far as two miles being on foot by reason they could transport no horses and slew many of them Our men being over geeedy and covetous spoiled the Abbey of Aberconwey and burned all the houses of Office belonging to the same Which doing caused the Welshmen to run thither Aberâ—onwey Abbey plundered by the English who like desperate men set upon our Souldiers being loaden with spoyles and slew a great number of them following the rest to the water side of whom some got to the boats and so escaped and some cast themselves into the water and were drowned and such as they took they hanged and beheaded every one In this conflict we lost many of our men The Welsh revenge the sacriledge especially of those that were under the conduct of Richard Earle of Cornwal and Sr. Alen Buscel Sr. Adam de Maio Sr. Geffry Estuemy one Raymond a Gascoyne whom the King highly fancied and divers others besides 100. of common Soldiers In the mean time Sr. Walter Bisset worthily defended the said ship untill the tide came and then came away with the same manfully wherein there were 60 Tuns of wine besides other provision c. Many other things are contained in the said writing of the hard shifts that we made in the Kings camp for victuals and the dearth of all things that were to be eaten In the beginning of the year 1246. David Prince of Wales after he had gotten the love of his subjects and atchived many notable victories dyed and was buryed at Conwey by his father after he had ruled Wales five years leaving no issue of his body to the great discomfort of the Land Mr. Mills speaking of this David saith he was disquieted with a number of cares in his life time he wasted and destroyed his Country he did many slaughters and after perjury and killing of his brother was overwearied with sundry tribulations He left Wales most miserably desolate and disquiet so as they found this saying true Every Kingdom divided in it self shall be made desolate he caused the Nobles to swear fealty unto him and so continued Prince 6. years and died Anno 1246. Lhewelyn and Owen the sons of Gruffith ap Lhewelyn When all the Lords and Barons of Wales understood of the death of their prince they came together and called for Lhewelin and Owen Goch the sons of Gruffith son to Prince Lhewelyn brother to David as next Inheritors for they esteemed not Roger Mortimer son to Gladis Râ—g Mortimer right heir put by his right sister to David and right inheritor by order of Law and did them homage who divided the principality betwixt them two The King hearing of the death of prince David sent one Nicholas de Miles as Justice of Southwals to Caermarthin and with him in commission Meredyth ap Rees Gryc K. H. 3. makes another attempt against Wales but in vain and Meredyth ap Owen ap Gruffith to dis-inherit Maelgon ap Vachan of all his lands wherefore the said Maelgon fled to the princes into Northwales for succour with Howel ap Meredith whom the Earle of Clare had by force spoyled of all his lands in Glamorgan against whom the King came with a great army who after he had remained a while in the Country and could do no good returned home again The Prince of Northwales was a superiour prince of all Wales to whom the other princes of Southwales and Powis did pay a certain tribute yearly as appeareth by lawes of Howel Dha and in divers places of this history and was the right heir of Cadwalader as is evident by all writers whose line of the heir male from Roden Mawr endeth in this David the son of Lhewelin the son of Jorwerth the son of Owen Gwineth the son of Gruffith the son of Conan the son of Jago the son of Edwal the son of Meiric the son of Edwal Voel the son of Anarawd the son of Roderi Mawr the son of Eselht the daughter and sole heir of Conan Tindathwy the son of Roderike Molwynoc the son of Edwal Ywrich the son of Cadwalader the last King of the Brittains Lhewelin ap Jorwerth prince of Northwales father to David married two wives the first Jone Daughter of K. John by whom he had David who dyed without issue and Gladis married to Mortimer from which match the Kings of England are descended by the mothers side from Cadwalader About this time Harold King of Man came to the Court and did homage to K. Henry M. Paris p. 938 The K. of Man doth homage to the K. of England and he dubbed him Knight the Summer following Rees Vachan son to Rees Mechyl got the Castle of Carvec Cynnen which his mother of meer hatred conceived against him had delivered to the Englishmen The Abbots of Conwey and Stratflur made sute to the King for the body of Gruffith ap Lhewelyn which he granted unto them and they conveyed it unto Conwey where he was honourably buryed In the year 1254.
franchises being possessed or claimed by any person or persons and which were to be seized into the Kings hands and of all escapes and Fellons and those inquisitions so from time to time to be taken to certifie into the Chancery And by the same Charter gave him power to substitute and appoint others under him for the better execution of the same which afterwards by Commission was executed accordingly And the said King also by his Charter bearing date 14 Junii 8º regni made and constituted the said Arthur Prince of Wales and Governour and Warden of the Marches towards Scotland and substituted as his Lieutenant and Vice-Warden under him Thomas Earle of Surrey for the due execution thereof Likewise the said King by his letters Patents dated 5. Novemb. 9. regni in augmention of the Revenue of the Prince did grant unto the said Prince the Honour Castle and Lordship of Wigmore and divers other Castles Mannours and Lands which some time had been belonging to the Earldom of March which came to the Crown by King Edward the IV. who was himself Earle of March before he assumed the regal estate To have and to hold during the pleasure of the King yielding yearly the Rent of 200 l. A Councel assigned the P. The Prince was sent unto the Marches of Wales for government of that Country and in the 17 regni Henry VII had a Counsell of wise and very worthy men assigned unto him as namely Sr. Richard Pool chief Chamberlain of the said Prince Sir Henry Vernon Sir Richard Crofts Sir David Philips Sir William Vdal Sir Thomas Inglefield and Sir Peter Newton Knights John Wilson Henry Marian Doctor William Smith after Bishop of Lincolne where he was buryed President of the Councel and Doctour Charles where not long afterwards the said Prince died in the Castle of Ludlow without issue I may not let passe what Mr. Lhoyd writeth concerning Sir Owen Tuder he saith that Sir William Stanley then Lord of Cromfield Mr. Lhoyd fol. 391. Yale and Chirkland aided Henry VII being followed by the Welshmen and that the said Henry knowing and pittying the thraldom and iniuries of that Nation from whom he descended took order to reform the same and granted vnto them a Charter of liberties The bondage of Hen. IV. taken from the Welsh by Hen. VII whereby they were released of that oppression wherewith they were afflicted by lawes I have set down before more heathenish then christian and here I cannot omit but some thing answer the reproachful and slanderous assertions of Joannes Bernardus Pontus Henlerus and others I my self have seen a manuscript where he is called a Shereman but rather ignorantly I hope then maliciously who go about to abase the noble parentage of Owen Tuder the Kings Grandfather following more their own affections then any good proof or authority for if they would read that noble work of Matthew Paris they shall find in page 843. of the printed book that Ednivet Vachan one of his Ancestours was the chiefest of Councel to Lhewelin ap Jorwerth otherwise called Leolenus Magnus and to David ap Lhewelin Princes of Wales as formerly They may also find in the Records of the Tower of London in an 29. Edward I. in the general homage done to Prince Edward of Caernavon first prince of Wales of the English bloud that Tuder ap Grono another of the Ancestours of Owen did his homage among the Nobles of Wales Owen Tuder descended from the K. of England as appeareth in the said Records Further the said Owens Grandmother the wife of Tuder ap Grono was Margaret the daughter of Thomas the son of Elianor which was the daughter of the County of Barr by Elianor his wife daughter to Edward I. King of England Besides all this there was a Commission at this time directed by King Edward VII to the Abbot of Lhan Egwest Doctor Owen Pool Canon of Hereford and John King Herald to make inquisition concerning the parentage of the said Owen who coming to VVales travelled in that matter and used the helps of Sir John Levof Guttin Owen Bardh Gruffith ap Lhewelin ap Evan Vachan and others in the search of the Brittish or Welsh books of Pedigrees out of the which they drew his perfect Genealogy from the Antient Kings of Brittain and the Princes of VVales and so returned their Commission which return is extant to be seen at this day And I God willing will set forth what I have in a compendium which I intend to annex to this present treatise of many things which cannot be well digested in method of History yet much conduce to the Glory of the Welsh the several princely stems from whence Owen Tuder and consequently the succeeding Kings of England descended Henry Duke of York After the death of Prince Arthur King Henry VII Charta creationis P. Wal. by his letters patents dated the 18 of February 19 regni in a parliament created Henry then his only son who after was King Henry VIII and whom before that in the 11. he had made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by an other Charter of the same year Constable of the Castle of Dover to be Prince of Wales Earle of Chester being then about the age of twelve years To have and to hold to him and his heirs Kings of England for ever being the like limitation of Estate and with the like investure as in former times had been acustomed But whether the King did grant the lands and revenues belonging to the said principality unto the said Henry or no as he had done unto Prince Arthur his brother doth not appear by any Charter therof that as yet can be found After the death of King Henry VII the said Prince Henry was King of England by the name of King Henry VIII he had a issue son called Henry who dyed very young he likewise had issue the Lady Mary afterwards Queen and the Lady Elizabeth and lastly prince Edward the youngest in years who first reigned after the death of his said father by the name of Edward the Sixt. Mary The Lady Mary daughter to the same King Henry the VIII Mr. Lhoyd fol. 393. by the Queen Catherine his first wife was Princesse of Wales and in the 17. year of King Henries reign he sent John Voiseie Bishop of Exeter to be Lord President of the Councel of the said Princesse in the Marches of Wales Elizabeth Elizabeth daughter to King Henry the VIII Mr. Lhoyd fol. 394. was in a Parliament begun the 15 day of January in the 25 regni declared Princesse and Inheritrix of the Crown of England with all the Dominions to the same belonging in default of issue male of the body of the said King Henry Sr. John Dodridge doth not approve of King Edward VI. Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth to have been Prince or Princesse formally for he saith there cannot be found any Charter among the records whereby it may appear that any of
Stratherne Stewards which ware the crown of Scotland married Eufamia daughter to the Earle of Ross and had by her two sons Walter E. of Athol and David E. of Stratherne This Walter solicited Robert D. of Albanie to slay David Steward D. of Rothsay After that James the first was returned out of England Nec lex est justior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire sua he did what he could to move him to put to death all the lineage of the said Duke still being in hope after the dispatch of his Kinsmen to come to the crown himself which hope moved him to procure his Nephew Robert Steward and Robert Graham his daughters son to murder K. James the I. also for the which crime the said Walter was convicted and destroyed with all his sons His brother David Earle of Buchquane died without issue and so the lands of both those brethren returned again to the crown without any memory of their blood Sir Robert Steward Duke of Albanie married the E. of Lenox daughter and had by her 3 sons Walter Alexander and James Duke Murdo himself with his first two sons were slain at Striveling by K. James I. and the third brother James in revenge thereof burnt Durbertane and was after chased into Ireland where he deceased without issue Robert the third of that name married Annabel Drommound daughter of Sir John Drommound of Stobhal Knight and had by her David and James the first dyed in Faulkland and the other attained the Crown and was called James the first and married the Lady Jane daughter to John Beauford Earle of Somerset in England he had by her two sons born at one birth Alexander and James the first died young the second reigned by the name James the second James the first had also 6 daughters James the 1. his issue the eldest whereof was given in marriage to the Dolphin in France the second to the Duke of Brittain the third to the Lord Feir the fourth to the Lord of Dalkeith the fifth to the Earle of Hantley and the sixt had no succession James the II. married Margaret daughter to the Duke of Gelderland and begot on her three sons and two daughters The first succeeded him in the Kingdom and was called James the III. the second named Alexander was Duke of Albanie and married the Earle of Orkneys daughter and had by her Alexander that was after Bishop of Murray and then parting with her went into France where he married the Countesse of Bullogne and begot on her John Steward D. of Albany who was Governour of Scotland many years in the minority of James V. The 3 son John Steward was E. of Marr whose chance was to be slain in the Cannogat in a Bath-fat The first daughter of James the second was married to the Lord Boyd who had by her a son that was slain by the Lord Montgomery and a daughter that was married to the Earle of Cassels After the death of the Lord Boyd she was married to the Lord Hamilton and by that means was the house of Hamilton decorate with the Kings blood which they have well requited in the late transactions The other sister was married to the Lord Creichton James III. married Margaret daughter to the K. of Denmark of which marriage was born James IV Alexander Bishop of St. Andrews and D. of Albanie and John Steward E. of Marr which two died without issue James the IV. married Margaret daughter to K. Henry VII of England and by her had James the fifth who marrying first the Lady Magdaline daughter of Frances the French King had no issue by her for that she dyed in the year next after her coming into Scotland and then shortly after the said James the fifth married the Lady Mary de Lorayne Dutchesse of Longuile a widdow and by her had he issue Mary Queen of Scotland that took to husband Henry Darnely alias Steward by whom she had issue Charles James after King of England only son as I said before of Henry King of Scotland and of Queen Mary his wife Dowager of France and heir of Scotland who married Anne daughter of Frederike the second King of Denmark by whom he had Issue Henry Frederike created Prince of Wales at whose creation Charles Duke of York Sir Rab. Bartu Lord Willoughby of Earesby after Earle of Lindsey and General for K. Charles at Edgehil and there slain Sir William Compton Lord Compton after Earle of Northampton Sir Grey Bridges Lord Shandos Sir Francis Norris Lord Norris of Ricot after E. of Berks. Sir Will. Cecil after Earle of Salisbury Sir Allan Percy brother to Henry Earle of Northumberland Sir Francis Mannors after Earle of Rutland Sir Thomas Somerset brother to the Earle of Worcester and Viscount Cassel after in Ireland Sir Thom. Howard second son to the E. of Suffolk after E. of Berks. Sir John Harrington son to John Lord Harrington of Exton Prince Charles Charles Duke of Albanie Marquesse of Ormond Earle of Roth and Lord of Ardmanoch the third son of James King of great Brittain was created Duke of York at Whitehal on Tueseday the sixt of January 1604. and after on the 4 of November 1616. he was likewise at Whitehal created Prince of Wales Earle of Chester c. at whose Creation these Knights of the Bath were made James Lord Matravers eldest son to Thomas Earle of Arundel Algernon Lord Percy after Earle of Northumberland James Lord Writchesly eldest son to the Earle of Southampton Kt. Theophilus Lord Clinton after Earle of Lincolne Edward Seymore L. Beauchamp grandchild to the Earle of Hertford George Lord Berckley after Lord Berckley Henry Lord Mordant after Earle of Peterborough The Earle of Mar his eldest son after Lord Fenton Sir Henry Howard after Lord Matravers c. Sir Robert Howard fift son to the Earle of Suffolk Sir Edward Sackvile after Earle of Dorset Sir William Howard sixt son to the Earle of Suffolk Sir Edward Howard seventh son to the said Earle after Lord Escricke in Yorkshire Sir VVilliam Seymor second son to the Lord Beauchampe after Earle of Hertford Sir Montague Bartu son to Robert Earle of Lindsey and after Lord VVilloughby and Earle c. Sir VVilliam Sturton son to the Lord Sturton Sir William Parker after Lord Morley and Monteagle Sir Dudley North after Lord Morth Sir Spencer Compton after Earle of Northampton Sir William Spencer after Lord Spencer Sir Rowland St. John brother to Oliver Earle of Bullingbrook Sir John Cavendish second son to William Earle of Devon Sir Thomas Nevel son to Henry Lord of Abergavenny Sir John Roper after Lord Tenham Sir John North brother to the Lord North. Sir Henry Cary Viscount Faulkland Prince Charles This Prince had the title of Prince of Wales but not the Investure and Creation as had his father and Uncle a thing formerly practised as before is shewed and is also of the Welsh blood though born in England by the line of King James from
Masbrook Chitbury Caurs Clonn which are now in Shropshire Ewyas Lacy Ewyas Harold Clifford VVinsorton Yardley Huntington VVhitney Loghardneis in Herefordshire Also this country of Southwales as all the rest of Brittain was first inhabited by the Brittains which remain there to this day saving that in divers places specially along the sea shore they have been mingled with Saxons Normans which the VVelsh history calleth Frenchmen and Flemings For that the Princes of VVales since the conquest of the Normans could never keep quiet possession thereof but what for strangers and what for disloyalty of their own people vexation and war were for the most part compelled to keep themselves in Caermardhenshire This shall suffice for the description of the Country After this great King had as it is said before disposed of his affairs had had war with Burchved King of Mercia which by the aid of Ethelwaph entred Northwales with a great power and destroyed Anglesey fought with the VVelshmen divers times and slew Meric a great Prince amongst them 846. Math. West Kongen P. of Pendieth at Rome 871. The year 846. was Ithel King of Gwent or Wetland slain in fight by the men of Brechnoch and in the year 854 Kongen King of Powis died at Rome being slain or choaked as some say by his own men Much about this time dyed Gwyan King of Cardigan This was that noble Gwyan ap Mevric ap Dunwal ap Arthen ap Sitsylt King or Prince of Cardigan who as some Brittish books have was at this time drowned by misfortune The Danes having entred the land being with shame and ignominy beaten and repulsed and compelled to abjure the Isle they bent whether equivocally or perfidiously their force against Wales and entred the Isle of Môn with a great army in the year of Christ eight hundred seventy three where Roderick gave them two battails one at a place called Menegd in Anglesey Dav. Powel fol. 34. 879. I find also saith my Authour that about this time Halden and Hungare two Captains of the Danes arrived in Southwales and overrun the whole Countrey destroying all before them with fire and sword neither sparing Churches nor Religious houses but within a while after they received their deserved reward at the hands of the West Saxons who awaiting for them on the coasts of Devonshire slevv both Halden and Hungare vvith 1200 of their people At this time Endon Bishop of Menevia or St. Davids died and Hubert was installed in his place And within two years after Dungarth King of Cornwal was drowned by a mischance In the year 876 the Englishmen entred into Anglesey and fought with the Welshmen a sore battail who in the year following slew Roderike King or Prince of Wales and Gwyriad his brother or as some say his son This Roderike had by his wife Enharad the daughter of Meyric the son of Difnwal or Dunwal the son of Arthen ap Sytsylt divers sons as Anarawd his Eldest son to whom he gave Aberfraw with Northwales Cadelh the second son vvho had Dinevour vvith Southvvales and also took Mathraval and Powis land by force from his brethren after the death of Mervin the third son to whom the father had given the same A Welsh manuscript which I have saith Rodri the great did bear G. a cheveron between three Roses arg Quarterly Gules and Or four Lions passant gardant Counterchange The Authour who sets down this coat as belonging to this King or Prince Mr. Mills catologue of honour fol. 209. compendiously gives us this relation Roderike the great in Welsh called Rodero Mawr Prince of all Wales a man of much strength and courage the son Essilt begotten by Mervin King of the Isles whose Grandfather by the Mothers side was Conan the son of Roderike the son of Idwall the son of Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains This Idwall conveyed the miserable Brittains that were oppressed and afflicted with the invasions and inroads of the Saxons into Cambria now called Wales and worthily governed them under the name and title of Prince of Wales Some are of of opinion that the Cambres were called Welshmen by this Idwallo as in old time the Brittains took their name from Brute But this is of no more truth then theirs is that would have them of one Wallo their Duke and governour or of Wendola a Queen of whom there is no mention made among them This Roderike of all the Princes of Wales The Authour also put Camber before Albanact preferring Wales before Scotland was the first that caused the histories of the Brittains to be written He renewed good Lawes he caused strong Castles to be built and procured that Churches or Temples should be kept and maintained for Divine Service at his decease he left the Principality of all Wales to be divided unto his three sons following the example of Brute who made Locrine Camber and Albanact Kings This matter of division was the very true and first Originall of the Welsh mens ruine as being divided into three Kingdomes which they called Principalities For allbeit whilst they lived one man held and maintained his own with much stoutness and magnanimity yet their posterity being distracted and falling to war among themselves were enforced every each to defend his part as well from their general enemies the English as from their Neighbours and Countreymen the Welsh by which the whole Kingdome of VVales was wrackt and overthrown Roderike ended his life in the eighty ninth year of his Age Mr. Wills ut ante and in the year of Christ eight hundreed seventy seven Alured the son of the godly King Ethelwolph being then King of the English Saxons He was buryed at Keyby Castle in Anglesey Engharad Princesse of VVales Wife of Roderike the great was daughter and heir to Meirich the son of Dyfnwal the son of Arthen ap Sytsilt King of Cardigan Their Issue Mervin Prince of Venâ—dosia or North-Wales of whom more hereafter Anarandus was second Son to whom his Father gave the 105. Cantreds or hundreds of Powis Land and for that of all his Brethren he was the most valiant and approved Warriour he seated him in the Marches or Borders of VVales his principal Seat and Mannour was at Mathraval The patrimony of this Anarandus namely the Principality of Powis in process of time devolved and came into the hands of a Woman named Hawis as her Right and Inheritance She being married to one John Chorlton an Englishman enfeoffed him with her Right and made him Lord of Powis From this Family it descended at last to the Greys of the North and thereby utterly lost that Name and Title of Principality For Andornus or Owen the Father of Hawis or Avis being called and sent for to a Parliament which King Edward the First held at Shrewsbury by the Decree and Judgment of the King and Barons took his Lands to be held in Capite under the Title and Tenure of Free Baronage of England and