diuers places manie houses burnt to the earth The same yeare died Gruffyth the sonne of Run and Griffri the sonne of Kyngen was slaine by the treason of Elice his brother Howel gaue his brother Conan another battell and slew a great number of his people wherevppon Conan leauied an armie in the yeare 817. chased his brother Howel out of the Ile of Môn or Anglesey compelling him to flie into Man And a little after died Conan chiefe King of the Brytaines or Welshmen leauing behind him a daughter called Esylht which was married to a noble man called Mervyn Vrych the sonne of Gwyriad or Vriet the son of Elidur so forth in the right line to Belinus the brother of Brennus King of the Brytaines and his mother was Nest the daughter of Cadelh King of Powys the sonne of Brochwel Yscithroc that fought with the Saxons at Bangor who was prince of Powys This Brochwel is called of the Latine writers Breciuallus and Brochmaelus of whom I find thus written in Historia diuae Monacellae Fuit olim in Powysia quidam princeps illustrissimus nomine Brochwel Yscithroc Consul Legecestriae qui in vrbe tunc temporis Pengwern Powys nunc verò Salopia dicta est habitabat cuius domicilium seu habitaculum ibi steterat vbi collegiū diui Ceddae nunc situm est That is There was sometimes in Powys a noble Prince named Brochwel Yscithroc Consul or Earle of Chester who dwelt in a towne then called Pengwerne Powys and now Salope whose dwelling house was in the verie same place where the College of Saint Chad now standeth This man with Caduan king of Brytaine Morgan king of Demetia and Bledericus king of Cornewal gaue an ouerthrow to Ethelfred king of Northumberland vpon the riuer of Dee Anno gratiae 617. of whome the ancestors of diuers in VVales liuing at this daie are knowne by ancient bookes and records to haue descended Mervyn Vrych and Esylht Mervyn Vrych Esylht the daughter of Conan THE first yeare of the reigne of Mervyn Vrych and Esylht his wife Egbert King of Westsex entred into VVales with a great armie and destroied the whole countrie vnto Snowden hilles and seised to his hands the countrie of Rhyvonioc in Denbighland About this time there was a sore battell fought in Anglesey called the battell of Lhanuaes In the yeare of Christ 819. Kenulph King of Mertia destroied West Wales and the summer following he ouerranne Powys land and did much hurt and soone after died and Kenelme reigned in his place About the same time also Howel King of Man died The yeare 825. Ceolwulph was made King of Mertia and reigned two yeares After whome Bernulph was created king who was ouerthrowne at Elledowne by Egbert king of the West Saxons who also brought to his subiection the countries of Kent and West Angles Not long after about the yeare 828. Bernulph was slaine by the East Angles After that there was a great battell fought at a place called Gauelford betwixt the Brytaines and the West Saxons of Deuonshire and manie thousands cruellie slaine vpon either side and the victorie vncertaine The yeare 829. Egbert ouerthrew Wyhtlafe King of Mertia and made him subiect to his Kingdome He also passed Humber and wan the land and so was the first Monarch of the Saxons and brought the seauen kingdomes into one and changed the name of Brytaine into England and called the people Englishmen and the language English for the people that came into this Ile from Germanie were Saxons Angles and Iuthes And of the Saxons came the people of Eastsex Southsex Middlesex and West Saxons Of the Angles came the East Angles middle Angles or Mertians and all on the North side of Humber And of the Iuthes came the inhabitants of Kent and the Ile of Wight And the seauen Kingdomes were these 1 The first Kent 2 The second Southsex containing Sussex and Southerie 3 The third East Angles containing Northfolke Southfolke and Cambridgeshire 4 The fourth Westsex containing Barkeshire Deuonshire Somersetshire and Cornewall 5 The fift Mertia containing Glocestershire Herefordshire Worcestershire Shropshire Staffordshire Chesshire Warwikeshire Leycestershire Darbishire Notinghamshire Lincolneshire Northamptonshire Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire and halfe Hertfordshire 6 The sixt was East Saxon containing Essex Middlesex and the other halfe of Hertfordshire 7 The seauenth Kingdome was all the lands vpon the North side of Humber which was also diuided into two kingdomes Deyra and Bernicia Deyra was the land betwixt Humber and Tine Bernicia from Tine to the Scottish sea All these were brought vnder subiection by Egbert king of West Saxons and this realme called England the yeare after the comming of Brutus to this Ile 1968. after the comming of Hengist 383. and after the departure of Cadwalader 149. yeares Which name although it hath continued to this daie for the space of 755. yeares yet was it not verie luckie or fortunate to the Saxons inhabitours of this realme For euen vpon this change of their name and vnition of the kingdome followed the terrible and cruell inuasion of the Danes and after that the conquest of the Normanes of whome the Kings of this time haue descended But to returne to my matter againe The yeare 833. the Danes in great companies landed in diuers places of this realme and fought diuers battels with Egbert wherin sometimes they and sometimes he had the victorie Afterward in the yeare 836. they landed in West Wales and so passed through Wales to England with manie of the Brytaines which ioined with them against Egbert but they were all ouerthrowne by Egbert at Hengestdowne who died the yeare following This Egbert king of England wan the citie of Caer lhêon ar Dhowrdwy or Chester which was the chiefe citie of Venedotia out of the hands of the Brytaines in whose possession it remained vntill that time He caused also as some writers doo affirme the brasen image of Cadwalhon king of Brytaine to be throwne downe defaced commanding that no man vpon paine of death should set vp anie such againe forbidding this land to be called Brytain anie more but England and the people Englishmen He also made proclamation by the setting on of Redburga his wife who bearing malice towards the Brytaines could not abide any of that nation that no Brytaine should remaine within the confines of England commanding that al singular which were of the Brytish bloud should within sixe moneths auoide with their wiues and children out of his kingdome vpon paine of losing their heads After the death of Egbert his sonne Ethelwulph reigned in his place who gaue his daughter in mariage to Berthred his tributarie king of Mertia He had great warres and much adoo with the Danes which destroied with fire and sword the sea coast of England The yeare 841. died Idwalhon a noble man of Wales And two yeares after was the battell of Kettell betwixt Burchred king of Mertia and the
Brytaines wherein as some doo write Mervyn Vrych king of the Brytaines was slaine leauing behind him a sonne called Rodri Mawr that is to saie Roderike the Great Roderike the Great Roderike the Great sonne to Mervyn and Esylht The yeare 846. the Danes did ouerrunne a great part of England and fought with Athelstan king of Kent brother to Ethelwulph and remained that winter and wintered in England This yeare also was Ithel king of Gwent or Wentland slaine in fight by the men of Brechnock This yeare 854. Kongen king of Powys died at Rome being slaine of choaked as some saie by his owne men And two yeares after died Cemoyth king of the Picts Ionathan Lord of Abergeley About the yeare 856. Ethelwulph tooke his iourneie to Rome and made his kingdome tributarie to the Pope and paid the Peter pence to the church of Rome The Old Saxons doo bring the genelogie of this Ethelwulph to Adam after this maner Ethelwulph the sonne of Egbert the sonne of Alcmund the sonne of Eaffa the sonne of Eoppa the sonne of Ingils the brother of Inas the sonne of Kenred the sonne of Coelwalde the sonne of Cudwine the sonne of Ceawlin the sonne of Kenrick the sonne of Cerdicke which was the first king of the West Saxons the sonne of Esly the sonne of Gewise of whom the people were called Gwysses the daughter of Gewyn the sonne of Wingy the sonne of Freawyn the sonne of Fridagare the sonne of Brendy the sonne of Beldegy the sonne of VVoden of whose issue came the kings of manie nations the sonne of Frethewold the sonne of Freolaffe the sonne of Frethewolfe the sonne of Finny the sonne of Godulph the sonne of Geta the sonne of Teathwy the sonne of Beane the sonne of Sceldy the sonne of Seafe which reigned in a countrie called Anglia lieng betwixt the Gothes and the Saxons from whence the Angles came first to Brytaine he was the sonne of Heremod the sonne of Itermod the sonne of Hadey the sonne of VVale the sonne of Bedwy the sonne of Sem the sonne of Noe and so foorth to Adam There is another petigrée laid downe by the same author of Offa king of Mercia ascending euen to Adam not in all points agréeing with this so that the author writing the latter séemeth oftentimes to forget what he had written in the former The like also I find in Iohn Castoreus at the end of the historie of Edward the confessor And an other in Matth. Paris in the historie of King Henry .2 Anno. 1155. And these foure genelogies séeme to ascend by the same men although the names doo sometimes varie This genelogie haue I set here that the reader may vnderstand thereby that not onelie the Brytaines or VVelshmen but all other nations haue beene euer desirous to set foorth their antiquitie and progenie which was not verie hard to such nations as were not mingled with other and that had euer among them such as did onlie from time to time professe that art and customablie did write the progenie wiues and children of all such as were of any estimation in the countrie In the which two things VVales had euer passed all other countries as they which haue not mingled with anie other nations vntill of late years with Englishmen and also haue euer had such as did professe the art of genelogie who although they haue sometimes erred or rather haue willinglie flattered in learuing false genelogies yet surelie are able by their bookes to bring anie Gentlemans genelogie of that countrie to such as haue liued nine hundred yeares passed and but few further except such as descended of the kings of Brytaine The Italians before they mingled with the Vandales Gothes and Lumbards brought their genelogies to Aeneas The Spaniards to Hesperus before the Gothes and Mores ouerranne the land The Saxons to VVoden before they mingled with the Danes and Normans Yea the Frenchmen Turkes reioise at this daie to bring themselues to the Thracians and the Germanes to the children of Gwyston and it is possible they may so doo bicause they haue not mingled with anie other and haue not beene ouerrun with anie other nation Therfore let such disdainefull heads as scant knowe their owne Grandfathers leaue their scoffing and tawnting of VVelshmen for that thing that all other nations in the world doo glorie in and let them read the ancient writer Berosus to whome the wise Graecians for the knowledge they learned at his hands made an image of copper and set it vp in Athens in memorie of him and there they shall find the beginning of the most part of all the nations in the world and if they beleeue him let them not denie ours and if they credit him not let them beleeue no more but what they see with their eies or that pleaseth their fond fantasies But to the matter This yeare the Danes chased Burchred out of his kingdome who also went to Rome and there died The yeare 857. died Ethelwulph and left behind him his sonnes Athelbald King of Westsex and Athelbright king of Kent and of the East Saxons Of this Ethelwulph it is written that he was so well learned and so deuout that the clarkes of the church of Winchester did choose him in his youth to be their Bishop which function he tooke vpon him was Bishop of Winchester for seauen yeares before he was king It is reported also that he conquered the kingdom of Demetia or Southwales and gaue the same with the kingdome of Southsex to Alfred his sonne and that the said Alfred should bring a thousand soldiers out of Wales to the aid of his brother Ethelbert to Winchester and there put the Danes to flight and destroie a great number of them Athelbald the sonne of Ethelwulph after the death of his father kept his mother in lawe for his concubine and afterward married hir in the citie of Chester After Athelbald had reigned eight yeares he died and Athelbright his brother tooke the rule of his kingdome And that yeare the Danes spoiled Winchester and after a great fight were driuen out of the land but returning to Tenet they remained there for that winter and spoiled by incursions all the sea shore This yeare also was the battell of Gweythen betwixt the Brytaines and the Englishmen and a great number slaine on either side The yeare 865. died Conan Nant Niuer a worthy captaine and a noble warrior And the yeare following came Hungare and Hubba with a great armie of Danes into England In the yeare 867. died Athelbright and Ethelred his brother reigned in his stead The Danes the next yeare insuing spoiled Yorke and slew the two Kings of Northumberland Osbright and Elba and afterward they ouerran all the countrie vnto Notingham spoiling and destroieng all before them and then returned to Yorke and from thence to East Angle where they slue Edmund the King
to Brytaine Armorike where they remaine to this daie and gaue Lhoegria now England to the Saxons And albeit that Caduan Cadwalhon Cadwalader were sithence intituled Kings of all Brytaine yet they could neuer recouer againe the quiet possession of the whole Iland afterwards After the departure of Cadwalader out of the land the Brytaines were gouerned within the countrie of Wales or Cambria by those men whereof this historie following doth intreate which were commonlie called Kings of such prouinces and countries as they possessed vntill the time of Owen Gwyneth who being in the daies of King Stephen and Henrie the second was the first that named himselfe Prince of Wales and so the rest after him kept that title and stile and yet neuertheles they are sometimes called Princes before him and Kings after him as I haue obserued by diuers charters and old records which I haue séene in the Tower of London and else-where Howbeit this author calleth the chiefest of them Kings till the time of the said Owen and sithence Princes IVOR IVOR the sonne of Alan Wherevpon Kentwinus King of Westsex gathered a great number of Saxons and Angles together and came against the Brytaines which were readie to abide the battell and as the armies were both in sight they were not verie desirous to fight but fell to a composition and agreement that Iuor should take Ethelburga to wife which was cousen to Kentwyn and quietlie enioie all that he had during the reigne of Iuor This Iuor is he whom the English Chronicles do call Iue or Iew King of West Saxons that reigned after Cedwall and they saie that he was a Saxon for Kentwyn reigned but fiue yeares after Iuors comming to England and after him his nephew Cedwall who after he had reigned ouer the West Saxons two yeares went to Rome and left his kingdome to Iue his cousen This Iue or Iuor whome the Brytaines call the sonne of Alan and the Saxons the sonne of Kenred being King of the Saxons and Brytaines which inhabited the west partes of England after manie victories atchieued against the Kings of Kent Southsex and Mertia left his kingdome to Adelred or as some call him Adelerdus his cousen and tooke his iournie to Rome where he made a godly end about the yeare of our Lord 720. Of Cadwalader Cedwall and Iuor there be diuers opinions Some hold that Cadwalader and Cedwall are the selfesame man and that the Saxon writers call him Cedwall whome the Brytaines do name Cadwalader who as the Brytish Chronicles do affirme after his foresaid vision did resigne all his right title and interest in great Brytaine to the said Alan king of Brytaine Armorike and so despairing that either he or his should euer haue anie thing to doo there leauing his sonne Edwal Ywrch and his people to the ordering of his cousen Alan went to Rome But this opinion séemeth to varie from the assertion of Bernardus Guidonius But certainelie in mine opinion it is more probable that this Cedwall was Edwal the sonne of Cadwalader for the name Edoal which in the ancient Brytish copie is written Etoal may well agrée with that which Guidonius writeth and an easie matter it were especiallie in proper names for the C. capitall to créepe in which is almost all one with that character which the Lawyers do call a paraph and is vsed commonlie in all old text hands at the beginning of periods or sections Of this matter thus writeth Guidonius In suo pontificali Catalogo sub Sergio primo Per idem tempus Ethoal rex Brytonum cùm per decem annos multis regulis obuiasset plura mala illis irrogasset tandem ipsis in pacem deuenientibus super occidentales Saxones regnauit annis duobus Videns autem Brytanniam multis miserijs contritam regnum spreuit terrenum propter aeternum Romam veniens paucis diebus transactis migrauit ad Christum Et paulo post Hic ex toto illud regnum antiquissimum Brytonum corruit quod omnibus ferè regnis diuturnius fuit A tempore Heli Sacerdotis vsque ad hoc tempus per annos 1825. Rob. Caenalis lib. 2. per. 2. That is At the same time Ethoal King of the Brytaines when he had by the space of ten yeares warred with diuers Kings and often put them to the woorse at length growing to an agréement with them he reigned ouer the West Saxons two yeares and then perceiuing Brytaine to be ouerworne with miseries preferring the heauenlie kingdome before the earthlie came to Rome and within few daies died and in him ended wholie that ancient kingdome of the Brytaines which continued in a maner longer than anie other from Helie the priest to this time by the space of 1825. yeares Further it is not like that Iuor comming to the aid of Edwal his cousen would euer séeke the kingdome to himselfe and defeate the right heire but verie well it may be if this Iuor be that man whome the Saxon writers call Inas or Iue after these Brytaines had arriued in the south part of this realme and fought diuers times with the Saxon kings and continued in Cornewall Deuonshire and Somersetshire by the space of two yeares that they should afterwards méet Centwyn in the field and so fall to an agréement that Iuor taking Ethelburga the cousen of Centwyn to wife should enioie the kingdome of the West Saxons after Centwyn and that therevpon Edwal resigning his title and interest to Iuor departed to Rome and so died as Guidonius saith All this notwithstanding it séemeth by the report of other writers of verie good account that Inas or Iue king of the West Saxons whose lawes are extant in print set out by maister William Lamberd Esquier a woorthie searcher and preseruer of the antiquities of this land was not a Brytaine but a Saxon who had warre against the Brytaines diuers times and vanquished them Matth. West reporteth that Inas or Iue fought with Gerent King of the Brytaines I haue an ancient booke written as Iohn Leland thinketh by Iohn Castoreus or Beuer sometimes Monke of Westminster who liued in the time of Edward the third which reporteth the historie of Inas in this sort About the yeare of grace 689. Iuor and Henyr sonnes of the daughter of Cadwalader sometime King of Brytaine came ouer from Ireland and taking to their aid the two Kings of Wales destroied the prouince of Chester and sent messengers to the Saxon Kings commanding them to restore againe to the Brytaines the countrie of Lhoyger out of the which they had wrongfullie expelled their parents and ancesters adding that if they would not so doo within fiftéene daies they should not enioie it anie longer The which message Inas the noble King of Westsex signified vnto all the other Saxon Kings who soone met together in Mount Campeden to whom Sibertus King of Essex spake thus Deare frends and companions let vs
wey and consider not onlie what we are our selues but also what our enimies are which come against vs they are the verie Brytaines whose fathers and ancesters our fathers haue béereft of their inheritance and expelled out of their owne land and now they iustlie come against vs to claime that which our ancesters by violence haue taken from theirs Let vs therefore like other nations choose vnto vs a head to leade direct and gouerne vs whome as chiefe lord in time of peace and warre we as members may obeie and sticke to sith without a head there is no victorie to be looked for Haue not the Brytaines after two yeares of their dispersion set vpon the ancient Saxons a more valiant people than we are fiftéene times within seauen yeares Did they not spoile their kingdomes killed their people and left such as remained aliue sore wounded and maimed at their departure The rest of the Saxon kings agréed vnto his mind and with one assent chose that worthie Knight Inas King of Westsex to be their souereigne who hauing taken their homage aduanced his standard and marched forward against Iuor and Henyr and set vpon them so that they were faine to forsake their tents and flie into Wales Thus Inas hauing obteined the victorie with the other Saxon Kings sauing Sibertus who by reason of his age and impotencie had departed home before returned to South hampton where his cousen Adelard informed him that Iuor and Henyr had gathered and leauied a puissant armie afresh to set vpon the Saxons where vpon Inas foreslowed not the matter but went against them and laid séege to the Castell of Snowdon compelling the Brytaines to flie to their ships and while he was at Bangor with the other Saxon Kings and the nobles of Wales he kept the feast of S. Dauid and then dismissed the other Kings home to their countrie vntill they should be called for againe and departed himselfe with Adelard his cousen to Quéene Ethelburga being then at Manchester and continued there almost thrée moneths In the meane while Adelard minding to trauell about all Wales met thrée spies of whome being by him taken and examined he learned that Iuor and Henyr were returning againe with a huge armie of such strength and force as all the Saxon Kings were not able to resist Then went he and shewed Inas what he had heard wherefore Inas foorthwith certified the other Saxon Kings of the same commanding them without delaie to be readie at Chester with horse and armour to go against their enimies and to defend their countrie from violence Who accordinglie met at Chester and following the Kings standard gaue the Brytaines battell and put them to flight Howbeit the Brytaines eftsoones inuaded England and made seauen roades in two yeares destroieng townes and villages wheresoeuer they came and neuer returning without great and rich booties Inas after this victorie returned home and reigned ouer the West Saxons 36. yeares and then bequeathed his kingdome to his cousen Adelard Thus much out of Castoreus This Iuor made the fratrie of Glastenburie called in the Brytish toong Ynys Aualon Ioseph of Aremathia being sent by Philip the Apostle as Gildas reporteth came into this Iland in the daies of Aruiragus King of Brytaine about the yeare of Christ 53. and instructed the Brytaines in the doctrine of saluation in the Ile of Aualon where he builded a Church for the Christians which Church this Iuor if it be he that gouerned the West Saxons conuerted to an Abbey and endowed the same with large possessions which was the more famous because the bodies of the said Ioseph of Aremathia and king Arthur were there buried He gaue also great lands to the Church of Winchester In the second yeare of Iuors reigne Brythe a subiect to Egfride King of Northumberland did ouerrun and destroie a great part of the countrie of Ireland In the fourth yeare of his reigne there was a great earthquake in the Ile of Man and the yeare following it reigned bloud in Brytaine and in Ireland The milke likewise and the butter turned to the colour of bloud The second yeare after that the Moone appeared all bloudie After the departure of Iuor to Rome Adelard or Adelred tooke the rule of the Saxons And Rodericus or Roderi Molwynoc the sonne of Edwal Ywrch did take the rule of the Brytaines in the west part of England Roderike Molwynoc Roderike or Rodri the sonne of Edwal Ywrch The yeare 733. died Beda priest brought vp in the Abbey of Wyrnetham a great clearke that wrote manie works among which there is one intituled The Ecclesiasticall historie of the English nation dedicated vnto Cleolwolfe King of Northumberland This yeare Adelard King of Westsex and Ethelbald King of Mertia ioined their powers against the Brytaines and gaue them battell and after a long fight and great slaughter vpon either part obteined a bloudie victorie The yeare 735. Adelard King of Westsex died and Cudred reigned in his place And the yeare following died Edwyn King of the Pictes And in the yeare 746. there was a great battell fought at Hereford betwixt Cudred and Ethelbaldus where after a long fight Cudred had the victorie Also the next yeare ensuing he gaue the Brytaines and ouerthrow and died shortlie after The Brytaines seeing they could little preuaile against the Saxons ioined in league with Cuthred King of the West Saxons who then was out with Ethelbald King of Mertia wherevpon the said Ethelbald entred into Wales with a strong armie and the Brytaines met him and were there discomfited After that Cuthred and Ethelbald met in the field where Ethelbald was put to flight but anon after they two were made friends and ioined together their powers against the Brytaines and ouercame them After Cuthred in the yeare 749. was Sigebert created King who for his euill behauiour was expelled by his nobles out of his Kingdome and was miserablie slaine by a swineheard after whome Kenulph was made King of West Saxons the yeare 750. About the same time died Theodor the sonne of Belin a man of great estimation among the Brytaines Not long after there was a great battell fought betwixt the Brytaines and the Pictes at a place called Magedawc where Dalargan King of the Pictes was slaine Within a little after Roderi or Roderike Molwynoc was driuen by the Saxons to forsake the west countrie to come to seeke his own inheritance in Northwales where ruled at that time the children of Bletius or Bledericus prince of Cornewal Deuonshire who was one of them that gaue Adelred and Ethelbert the ouerthrow at Bangor vpon the riuer Dee who enioied the gouernance of Northwales euer sithence Caduan was chosen King of Brytaine vntill this time By this historie it should séeme that the Brytaines continued their gouernement in the west part of Lhoegria vntill this time But surelie the consent in a maner of all
South Powys and vpon the West Dyui and Caerdiganshire In this countrie standeth the towne of Harlech and a great lake called â—hyn Tegyd through which the riuer Dee runneth and mingleth not with the water of the lake which is three miles long and also the salmons which are commonlie taken in the riuer hard by the lake are neuer seene to enter the lake Likewise a kind of fish called Gwyniaid which are like to whitings and are full in the lake are neuer taken in the riuer Not farre from this lake is a place called Caergay which was the house of Gay Arthurs foster brother This shire as well as Aruon is full of cattell foule and fish with great number of read deere and roes but there is great scarsitie of corne The fourth part of Gwyneth was called Y Beruedhwlad which may be Englished the inland or middle countrie which conteined fiue Cantreds and 13. comots as Cantref Ryuonioc had in it these comots Vwchalet and Isalet Cantref Ystrat had Hiraethoc and Cynmeirch Cantref Ros these Vwchdulas Isdulas and Creuthyn which all are in the lordship of Denbigh sauing the Creuthyn which is in Carnaruonshire wherin the castell of Dyganwy did stand which was the Earles of Chester and is commonlie called in the Latine and English chronicle Gannoc The fourth Cantref was Dyffryn Clwyd which may be Englished the vallie of Clwyd and now is called the lordship of Ruthyn and hath these comots Coleigion Lhannerch and Dogueilyn The fift Cantref is Tegengl and is now a part of Flyntshire hauing these comots Counsylht Prestatyn and Ruthlan And in this part is one of the fairest vallies within this Ile containing 18. miles in length and 4.5.6 or 7. in breadth as the hils either drawe inward togither or backward asunder which high hils doo inclose it on the East West and South parts and Northward the sea It is plentifull of cattell fish and foule corne hey grasse and wood and diuided along in the middest with the riuer Clwyd to whom runneth Clywedoc Ystrat VVhilar Elwy and a great number of other riuers from the hils In this vallie two miles from the sea is the towne and castell of Ruthlan where sometimes a parliament hath beene kept And two miles aboue it is the see of Saint Asaph betweene the riuers Clwyd and Elwy called in the old time the bishops see of Lhan Elwy Foure miles thence and two miles from the riuer is situate vpon a rocke the towne and castell of Denbigh where is one of the greatest markets in the marches of Wales and one of the fairest and strongest castels within this realme which being the house of Dauid brother to Lhewelyn the last Prince of the Welsh blood was enlarged and strengthned by Henrie Lacy Earle of Lincolne to whom king Edward gaue the same lordship it is also the shire towne of that Shire Fiue miles aboue this is the towne of Ruthyn with a faire castell which sometimes belonged to the Lords Gray Earles of Kent This part of Northwales hath vpon the North the riuer Dee and the sea Vpon the West Aruon and the riuer Conwey South and East Merionyth and the countrie then called Powys And these be the meeres and bounds of Gwyneth or Venedotia for the name of Northwales conteineth beside this all Powys at these daies So there was vnder the territorie of Aberfraw 15. Cantreds and in them 38. comots The second kingdome was Mathraual which in right order was the third as that which came to the third brother yet for the better vnderstanding of the historie folowing I haue placed it here To this kingdome belonged the countrie of Powys and the land betwixt Wy and Seauerne Which part had vpon the South and West Southwales with the riuers Wy and Tywy and other meeres Vpon the North Gwyneth and vpon the East the marches of England from Chester to Wy a little aboue Hereford and therefore it was most troubled with wars as well of the Saxons as afterwards of the Normanes Lords marchers who dailie wanne some part thereof and by that meanes it was the first part that serued the kings of England and therefore lesse esteemed of all the rest This part called Powys was diuided againe into Powys Vadoc and Powys Wenwynwyn Powys Vadoc contained in it selfe fiue Cantreds and 15. comots Cantref Y Barwn which hath three comots Dynmael Edeyrneon and Glyndourdwy which be now in Merionithshire sauing Dinmael which is in Denbighshire Cantref Y Rhiw whose comots were these Yal now in Denbighshire Stratalyn and Hop now in Flyntshire Cantref Vwchnant hath these comots Merfforth in Flyntshire Maelor Gymraeg in English Bromfield now in Denbighshire and Maelor Saesneg in Flyntshire Cantref Trefred containeth these comots Croesvain Tref Y VVayn in English Chirke and in Denbighshire Croes of Wallt English Oswestree and in Shropshire Cantref Rayder with his comots Mochnant Israider Cynlhaeth Nanheudwy all in Chirke land in Denbighshire Also the lordship of Whytington now in Shropshire was in this part of Powys which part at this daie hath lost the name of Powys and is situate in diuerse shires as it appeereth by the discourse before passed In this part is the castell of Holt in Bromefield and the castell of Chirke in Chirkeland Likewise the lordship and castell of Whytington which came by mariage to Fulke Fitzwarren There is beside these the lordship of Oswesire of the which the Fitzalans haue been lords these 300. and odde years and of diuers other lordships in those marches as Shrarden the eleuen townes Clun and manie others which be all now in Shropshire The second part called Powys Wenwynwyn had likewise fiue Cantreds and twelue comots Cantref Y Vyrnwy had these comots Mochnant vwch Rayader Mechain Iscoed and Lhannerch Hudol Cantref Ystlyc had these Devthwr Gorthwr Isaf and Strat Marchelh Cantref Lhyswynaf had these Caereneon and Mechain Vwchcoed Cantref Cydewen had comot Conan and comot Hauren Cantref Conan had Cyueilioc and Mouthwy which is now in Merionyth shire Of all these the three first Cantreds doo onlie at this daie beare the name of Powys which are vpon the Northside of Seauerne and are all fiue sauing the comot of Mowthwy in Mongomry shire This is a countrie full of woods hils and riuers and hath in it these townes the Poole Newtowne and Machynlhaeth Arustly was in old time in this part but afterwards it came to the Princes of Gwyneth These lordships came by iust descent from the Princes thereof to a woman named Hawys the daughter of Owen ap Gruffyth as appeareth in the historie following page 215. Arustly and Cyuelioc came to the Baron of Dudley and afterwards it was sold to the king The third part belonging to Mathraual was the land betweene Wy and Seauerne containing foure Cantreds and 13. comots Cantref Melienyth hath these comots Ceri Swythygre Riwalalht and Glyn Ieithon Cantref Eluel hath these Vwchmynydh Ismynydh and Lhechdhyfnog Cantref Yclawdh these Dyffryn Teyueydiat
toong being the third remnant of the ancient Brytaines The names of the kings of little Brytaine 1 Conan Meriadoc 2 Gradlonus 3 Salomon 1. 4 Auldranus 5 Budicus 1. 6 Howelus Magnus This Howel was with King Arthure in his warres 7 Howelus 2. 8 Alanus 1. 9 Howelus 3. 10 Gilquellus 11 Salomon 2. 12 Alanus 2. Of whome mention is made in this place who descended of a daughter of Rune the sonne of Mailgon Gwyneth king of great Brytaine which was married to the forenamed Howel the second King of little Brytaine 13 Conobertus 14 Budicus 2. 15 Theodoricus 16 Rualhonus 17 Daniel Dremrost id est Ruhicunda facie 18 Aregstanus 19 Maconus 20 Neomenius 21 Haruspogius 22 Salomon 3. Who was slaine by his owne men and then was that Kingdome turned to an Earledom wherof Alan was the first Earle who valiantlie resisted the Normans and vanquished them oftentimes Cadwalader being in Brytaine was certified that a great number of strangers as Saxons Angles and Iuthes had arriued in Brytaine and finding it desolate and without inhabitants sauing a few Saxons which had called them in certaine poore Brytaines that liued by rootes in rocks and woods had ouerrunne a great part thereof and diuiding it into diuers territories and kingdomes inhabited that part which was then and now at this daie is called Lhoyger in the Brytish or Welsh toong and in English England with all the cities townes castels and villages which the Brytaines had builded ruled and inhabited by the space of 1827. yeares vnder diuers Kings and Princes of great renowme wherevpon he purposed to returne and by strength of Brytish Knights to recouer his owne land againe After he had prepared and made readie his nauie for the transporting of his owne men with such succours as he had found at Alans hand an Angell appeared vnto him in a vision and declared that it was the will of God that he should not take his voyage towards Brytaine but to Rome to Pope Sergius where he should make an end of his life and be afterwards numbred among the blessed for GOD had appointed that the Brytaines should haue no more the rule and gouernance of the whole Ile vntill the prophesie of Merlin Ambrose should be fulfilled Which vision after that Cadwalader had declared to his friend Alan he sent for all his bookes of prophesies as the works of both Merdhines or Merlines to wit Ambrose and Syluester surnamed Merdhin Wylht and the words which the Eagle spake at the building of Caer Septon now called Shaftsburie and after long studie found the time to be now come whereof they had prophesied Of this admonition giuen to Cadwalader there be diuers opinions Some hold that this was signified to him in a dreame of the which mind is Polydore Virgil and diuers other Some other doo thinke that if anie such vision were it was some illusion of a wicked spirit or a phantasticall conceite of Cadwalader himselfe being a man of a milde and quiet nature and wearied with troubles and miseries Other reiect it altogether as a fable not woorthie to be recorded in bookes but howsoeuer it was certeine it is that after his going ouer to Alan he neuer returned againe to Brytaine Of these two Merlines thus writeth Girald Camb. in suo Itinerario Erant Merlini duo vnus qui Ambrosius dictus est quia binomius fuerat sub rege Vortigerno prophetauit ab incubo genitus in vrbe ab ipso denominata Caervyrdhin 1. vrbs Merlini inuentus Alter de Albania oriūdus qui Calidonius dictus est à Calidonia sylua in qua prophetauit Syluester quia cùm inter acies bellicas constitutus horribile monstrum nimis in aera suspiciendo prospiceret dementire caepit ad syluam transfugiendo syluestrem vsque ad obitum vitam perduxit Hic autem Merlinus tempore Arthuri fuit longè pleniùs apertiùs quà m alter prophetasse perhibetur Haec Cambrensis In English thus There were two Merlines the one named also Ambrose for he had two names begotten of a spirit and found in the towne of Caermarthen which tooke the name of him and is therefore so called who prophesied vnder King Vortigerne The other borne in Albaine or Scotland surnamed Calidonius of the forrest Calidon wherein he prophesied and was called also Syluestris or of the wood for that he beholding some monstrous shape in the aire being in the battell fell mad and flieng to the wood liued there the rest of his life This Merline was in the time of king Arthure and prophesied fuller and plainer than the other Concerning the words of the Eagle at the building of Caer Septon in Mount Paladour in the time of Rudhudibras in the yeare after the creation of the world 3048. some thinke that an Eagle did then speake prophesie Other are of opinion that it was a Brytaine named Aquila that prophesied of these things of the recouerie of the whole Ile againe by the Brytaines bringing with them the bones of Cadwalader from Rome as in the said prophesies is to be séene By these toies and fables men may learne what follie and vanitie the wit of man being not staied and directed by the word of God is prone and subiect vnto And certaine it is that the simple and ignorant haue bin in all ages deluded and brought to great errors and blindnes by the practise of sathan with these fained reuelations false prophesies and superstitious dreames of hypocrites and lewd persons whereof as it is manifest in histories much bloudshead mischiefe hath ensued and manie relieng vpon the same haue bene vtterlie ouerthrowne and perished Wise men therefore will neuer regard or estéeme such things Alan therefore counselled Cadwalader to fulfill the will of God who did so and taking his iournie to Rome liued there eight yeares in the seruice of God and died in the yeare of Christ 688. So that the Brytaines ruled this Ile with the out Iles of Wight Môn in English called Anglesey Manaw in English Man Orkney and Ewyst 1137. yeares before Christ vntill the yeare of his incarnation 688. And thus ended the rule of the Brytaines ouer the whole Ile The Brytaines being sore troubled with the Scots and Picts and denied of aid at the hands of the Romanes sent for the Saxons to come to defend them against their enimies who comming at the first as fréends to the Brytaines liked the countrie so well that they became their mortall enimies and droue them out of the same About the yeare of Christ 590. Gurmundus an archpirate and capteine of the Norwegians after that he had conquered Ireland being called by the Saxons to their aid against Careticus King of the Brytaines ouercame the same Careticus in battell and compelled him and his Brytaines to flée beyond the riuers of Seauerne and Dee to Cambria now called Wales and to Cornewale and some
writers is that the Brytish kingdome ended in Cadwalader after whom the Brytaines had nothing to doo beyond Seuerne being constrained to kéepe themselues within the countries of Cambria and Cornubia It is also written by diuers that Iuor and Ynyr at their first arriuing in Brytaine were repelled by the Saxons and driuen to Wales where Iuor ruled as Prince manie yeares whome this Roderi or Roderike the sonne of Edwal the sonne of Cadwalader succéeded When Roderike king of the Brytains had reigned about 30. yeares he died the yeare 750. leauing two sons after him Conan Tindaythwy Howel Conan Tindaethwy Conan Tindaethwy the sonne of Roderike I reade that this Hylda which was the néece of Edwine King of Northumberland brought vp by Pauline and Aedan in a publike synode did withstand Wilfride and other superstitious moonks in these toies and trifles all edging for hir out of Polycrates the fact of Irenaeus who withstood Victor Bishop of Rome in that behalfe and the custome of the church of Asia obserued by S. Iohn the Euangelist Philip the Apostle Polycarpus and Melito and taught in this Iland of Brytaine by Ioseph of Arimathea who first preached the Gospell in the same In the yeare 763. was Offa made King of Mercia and Brichtrich King of West Saxons In the which yeare died Fermael the sonne of Edwal and the yeare following Cemoyd the King of the Pictes The yeare 776. the men of Southwales destroied a great part of Mercia with fire and sword And the summer following all the Welshmen gathered themselues togither and entred the Kingdome of Mercia and did much hurt there The Saxons which bordered vpon the countrie of Cambria or Wales did dailie incroch so vpon the lands of the Welshmen beyond Seauerne that they had gotten much of the same into their hands especiallie toward the south part of the countrie Wherefore the VVelshmen put themselues in armour and set vpon the Saxons and chased them ouer Seauerne againe and then returned home with a great prey and thus they did oftentimes killing and destroieng all before them and alwaies bringing home with them much cattell which thing caused Offa to conclude a peace with the other Saxon Kings and to bend his whole force against the Welshmen Wherevpon Offa King of Mercia caused a great ditch to be made large and deepe from sea to sea betwixt his kingdome and Wales whereby hee might the better defend his countrie from the incursions of the Welshmen And this ditch is to be seene in manie places as yet and is called Clawdh Offa which is Offas ditch at this daie King Offa calling to his aid the other Saxon Kings gathered a huge armie and came ouer Seauerne into Wales vpon whose comming the VVelshmen being not able to encounter with such a multitude of armed souldiers left the plaine and euen countrie by Seauerne side and the land betwéene it and the riuer VVye and withdrew themselues to the mountaines and rockes where they might be most in safetie vntill the enimies were auoided out of the countrie yet neuerthelesse continuallie they made diuers inuasions by stealth into the land of Mercia alwaies returned with aduantage so that the Saxons by keeping themselues encamped could doo no good for they durst not pursue the VVelshmen to the mountaines and woods for feare of intrapping by such as kept the streights and passages When Offa perceiued that by open warre he could do no good he expelled all the Welshmen out of the plaine and euen countrie betwéene Seauerne and Wye and planted Saxons in the same and annexing it to his owne kingdome of Mercia caused this great famous ditch whereof mention is in this place to be made to saue his people from the inuasions of the Welshmen Whervpon the seate of the Kings of Powys was translated from Pengwern now called Salop to Mathrual where it continued long after In the yeare 795. the Danes came first into England and sixe yeares after they came againe destroied a great part of Lindsey and Northumberland and ouerran the most part of Ireland and destroied Rechreyn Also about the same time there was a battell fought at Ruthlan betweene the Saxons and the Welshmen where Caradoc King of Northwales was slaine This Caradoc was the son of Gwyn the sonne of Colhoyn the sonne of Ednowen the sonne of Blethyn the sonne of Blecius or Bledricus prince of Cornewall and Deuonshire Also this yeare died Offa King of Mercia and Egfert his sonne reigned in his stead In the yeare of our Lord 800. Egbertus was made King of Westsex and Kenulphus the yeare following treated King of Mercia Arthen also the sonne of Sitsylht the sonne of Clydawc King of Caerdigan died the same yeare Likewise Run King of Dyuet and Cadelh King of Powys died in the yeare 808. This was a troublesome time and as yet no staied gouernement established in Wales and therefore such as were cheefe lords in anie countrie are heere called kings The next yeare after died Elbodius Archbishop of Northwales before whose death the sunne was sore eclipsed In the yeare 810. was the moone eclipsed vpon Christmas daie The same yeare S. Dauids was burnt by the West Saxons There was also a generall morreine and death of cattell throughout all Wales The next yeare insuing Owen the sonne of Meredyth the sonne of Terudos died and the Castell of Degaunwy was destroied with thunder Conan prince of Wales and his brother Howel could not agree insomuch that they tried the matter by battell wherein Howel had the victorie This Howel the brother of Conan King or Prince of Northwales did claime the Ile of Môn or Anglesey for part of his fathers inheritance which Conan refused to giue him and therevpon they fell at variance and consequentlie to make warre the one against the other which is vnnaturall amongst brethren Héere I thinke it fit to saie somewhat of the custome and tenure of Wales whereof this mischiefe grew that is the diuision of the fathers inheritance amongst all the sonnes commonlie called Gauel kinde Gauel is a Brytishe tearme signifieng a hold because euerie one of the sonnes did hold some portion of his fathers lands as his lawfull sonne and successour This was the cause not onlie of the ouerthrow of all the ancient nobilitie of VVales for by that meanes the inheritance being continuallie diuided and subdiuided amongst the children and the childrens children c. was at length brought to nothing but also of much bloudshead and vnnaturall strife and contention amongst brethren as we haue héere an example and manie other in this historie This kind of partition is verie good to plant and settle anie nation in a large countrie not inhabited but in a populous countrie alreadie furnished with inhabitants it is the verie decaie of great families and as I said before the cause of strife and debate And the next yeare there was much hurt done by thunder and in