Kings bench And if the said erroneous judgment shall be in any Action personal the same shall be reversed by bill before the Lord president of the Marches and councel there Officers Ministers Clerks and Writers for the expediting of the said great Sessions First there are the Chamberlains of every the said circuits as hath been said who are properly and Originally the Treasurers of the Revenue within their charge and by the said Statutes are also Keepers of the seals as aforesaid therein they do undertake in part the Office of a Chancellour And in every of the said circuits there is the Atturney or Regius Advocatia and Sollicitor There is a Protonotary or chief Register who draweth all the pleadings Protonotary Clâ—rk of the Crown entereth and engrosseth the Records and Judgments in civil causes and ingrossing Fines And there is also a Clerk of the Crown which draweth and ingrosseth all inditements and proceedings arraignments and judgments in criminal causes and these two Officers are at the King or States appointment There is a Marshal to attend the persons of the Judges at their common sitting and going from the Sessions or Court There is a Marshal There is a Cryer Tanquam publicus preco to call forth such persons whose apparences are necessary and to impose silence to the people And these two Officers last remembred are deposed by the Justices And thus much touching the Justices of the great Sessions There are also other ordinary Officers appointed for every Shire in Wales by the said Statute 34. Henry 8. such and in like manner as in other the Shires in England There is a commission under the great Seal of England to certain Gentlemen What a Justice of peace giving them power to preserve the peace and resist and punish all turbulent persons whose misdemeanour may tend to the disquiet of the people and these are called Justices of peace and every of them may well be termed Eirnarcha the chief of them is called Custos Rotulorum in whose custody all the Records of their proceedings are resident Others there are of that number called Justices of the peace and Quorum because of their Commissions whereby they have power to sit and determine causes concerning breach of peace and misbehaviour the words of the Commission are conceived thus Quorum such and such Vnum vel duos c. Esse volumus and without some one or more of them of the Quorum no Sessions can be holden and for the avoiding of the superfluous number of such Justices 8. Justices onely allowed in every County of Wales for through the ambition of many it is accounted a credit to be burthened with that Authority The Satute of 34 Hen. 8. hath expresly prohibited that there shall be above eight Justices of Peace within every of the Counties and Shires of Wales which if the number were not indefinite for the Shires in England it were the better These Justices do hold their Sessions quarterly And it is further ordained by the Statute of 34 Hen 8. that two Justices of peace whereof one to be of the Quorum may hold their Sessions without any greater number In every of the said Shires where the said Commission of peace is established There is also a Clerk of the peace for the entring and engrossing of all proceedings before the said Justices and this Officer is appointed by the Custos Rotulorum Sr. John Dod fol. 49. Every of the said Shires hath a Sheriff which word being of the Saxon English is as much as to say a Shire-Reeve or Minister or Bailiff of the County his Function or Office is twofold Ministerial and Judicial As touching his Ministerial Office he is the Minister and Executioner of all the Process and Precepts of the Courts of Law and thereof ought to make return and certificate Why the Tourne Court so called and as touching the Judicial Office he hath Authority to hold two several Courts of distinct natures the one called the Tourne because he keepeth a Tourne or Circuit about the Shire holding the same in several places wherein he doth enquire of all offences perpetrated against the common Law and not forbidden by any Statute or Act of Parliament The County Court derived from Justice Communicative And the Jurisdiction of this Court is derived from justice distributive and is for criminal offences The other is called the County Court where he doth determine all petty and small causes civil under the value of 40 s. arising within the said County and thereof it is called the County Court And the Jurisdiction of this Court is drawn from Justice Communicative and is held every Moneth The Office of the Sheriff is annual by the Statute of 34 Hen. 8. it is ordained that the Lord President Councel and Justices of Wales or three of them at the least whereof the President to be one shall yearly nominate three fit persons for that Office of whom the King or State may elect one who thereupon shall have his Patent and be Sheriff of the said Shire Escheator why so called Every of the said Shires hath an Officer called an Escheator which is an Officer to attend the Kings Revenue and to seize into his hands all lands either Escheated goods or lands forfeited therefore he is called Escheator and he is to enquire by good enquest of the death of the Kings Tenants and to whom the lands are descended and to seize the bodies and lands for Ward if they be within age and is accountable for the same And this Officer in Wales is nominated Escheator 34 Hen. 8. cap. 16. by the Lord Treasurer of England by the advice of the Lord President Councel and Justices or three of them at least whereof the Lord President to be one There are also in every of the said Shires two Officers called Coroners they are to enquire by enquest in what manner and by whom every person dying a violent death came to his death and to enter the same of Record which is matter criminal and a plea of the Crown Coroners why so called and thereof they are called Coroners or Crowners as one hath written because their enquiries ought to be publick Et in Corona Populi These Officers are are chosen by the Free-holders of the Shire by vertue of a Writ out of the Chancery De Coronatore Eligendo And of them I need not speak more because these Officers are elsewhere The Goal Forasmuch as every Shire hath one Goal or Prison appointed for the restraint of liberty of such persons as for their offences are thereunto committed until they shall be delivered by course of Law Finally in every hundred of every of the said Shires the Sheriffs thereof shall nominate sufficient persons to be Bailiffs of that hundred and under Ministers of the Sheriff and they are to attend upon the Justices in every of their Courts and Sessions The Government of the Marches of Wales
Albania and was a part of Brittany for in the conversion of the Scots which hapned in the time of Pope Victor for Sacerdotibus praeceptoribus quos victor pontifex maximus ad Christi dogma propalandum in extremam miserat Albionem which farthest part of Albion is 300. miles distant from that part of Albania which joyned with Loegria England Therefore we see clearly that the Scots only then lived in the furthest and most remote parts of Albion or some Ilands thereof and possessed not our great Albania the Brittains Country and possession and in such sense they may call their small places of abode Scotia or Scotland yet could it be very small when Josephus in the Age before had testified that it had no Land at all Jâ—seph orat ad Judaeos apud Egisip lib. 3 cap. 13. Scotia terris nil debet of which and there place of habitation hear what Mr. Cambden saith That neither Caesar nor Volanus penetrated so far into Brittain as the Caledonians for as Plinie doth testifie in his time three years after Claudius the Roman Arms knew no further of Brittany then to the Caledonian Woods for Julius Agricola under Domitian Mr. Cambden in Scotland Galgacus a stout Brittain was the first who entred Caledonia where Galgacus commanded Galanc ap Liennanc who is reckoned one of the three Heroes of Brittany a man of strong courage and valiant spirit who so stoutly defended his Country the 11. Legion of the Romans being put to the worst that he never gave over till Fortune rather seemed to forsake him then his own valour or courage These Northern Brittains were the last who enjoyed the Liberty and also the furthest part of the Iland according to Catullus Caesaris visens monumenta magni Gallicum Rhenum horribiles ulti mosque Britannos In the time of the Emperour Severus as Xiphilinus reporteth Argeticoxus a petty King reigned in those Northern parts now called Scotland but then Albania or Caledonia whose Lady being upbraided and taunted by Julia Augusta answered We Brittish Ladies if we transgresse it is with Noble men both of valour worth and quality whereas you Roman in hugger-mugger prostitute your selves to every base varlet and inferiour groom Not far from the River Taw stands Perch in Latine St. Joannis Fanum vulgarly St. Johns Johns a place of late erection the ancient Town of the same name long since being swallowed up by the waters of which Nichanus Transis ample Tai per rura per oppida per Perch Regnum sustentant istâ—us Vrbis opes Rous Homes and Stow. But of Cunedagius the builder because a Brittain not a word from Mr. Cambden Cunedagius having founded Perch in Albania casts his eye upon Cambra and there in the remotest part begins a new Erection at Bangor which Mr. Cambden also calls Banchor a choro pulchro from the fair Quire or as other derive it Locus chori the place of the Quire Owen Glendoverduy the most wicked and arch Rebel amongst many other Towns and Cities of Wales set this also on fire and consumed it Bangor built by Cunedagius the Brittish King which was again in the time of Henry the 7. reedified by bishop Henry Denâ— or Denaeus but not to the pristine glory for formerly it was so large and ample that for the greatnesse thereof it was called Banchor vaur and fortified with a Castle whose very Ruines are not now apparent M. B. fol. 602. Age 4. Ca. 28. We may have some apprehension of the great Devotion of our Brittains both men and women in this age viz. 4. Age to chast and monastical life by the Example of St. Vrsula and so many thousands of holy Virgins with her devoted to that Profession which we may further confirm unto us by the Examples of the Brittains Jo. Bal. cent 1. in Pela Calph. Agric. Congello Bed hist Eccles l. 2. c. 2. Galf. Mon. Hist Britt l. 2. cap. 12. Mat. West super Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 12. l. 11. c. 1. Matth. West an 541. Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. c. 3. Manusc antiq cap. in vita St. David Mene Pits aetat 6. in ead which were then in that part of Brittany now called Wales more free from the Saxons persecution whose Antiquities although not well preserved not naming many Archbishops of Caer legion and very few bishops in that Province having many from the first receiving of their faith yet they do propose and record unto us many Monasteries and of great name and honour as that of Bangor stiling it Fumatum Collegium where Pelagius before his Heresies lived and by some was Abbot Praepositus there having 2100 Monks in it and divided as it were into seven Monasteries every one of them having 300 Monks which Monastery as St. Bernard our late Authors and others write was the head or chief of principal Monasteries and brought forth many thousands of Monks In vita Malachiae Hibernensis Episcopi Bernardus Clarovallensis hunc locum tradit primorum extitisse Monasteriorum Caput multa generavisse Monachorum mille This was the most noble Monastery of this Country nobilissimum Monasterium as St. Bede and others term it and so justly did having so many Monks that being divided into 7 Companies under 7 Pryors under their chief Abbot every one had 300. or more Monks and amongst them most Learned men Viri doctissimi plures de Nobilissimo Monasterio Bancornabury lingua Anglorum Inter caeteras erat in civitate Bangor quaedam Nobilissima Ecclesia in qua tantus fertur fuisse numerus Monachorum ut cum in 7 portiones esset cum praepositis sibi Prioribus Monasterium divisum nulla harum portio minus quam trecentos Monachos haberet Cunedagius builded a third place in Cornwall where he was born but yet I cannot come to a certain knowledge of the place where he erected a Temple and a Flamen to Mercury He Reigned thirty three years and was buried at Troynovant or new Troy now London An Author calleth Perth before spoken of Berth and saith no lesse strange but more lamentable is the remembrance of the great innundation hapning by the sudden rising of Tai which bare away the Walls and Town of Berth or Perth and with it the Cradle and young Son of King William into the Sea wherein the Royal Infant with many others perished the King and his Courtiers scarcely escaping the Danger The ruine of this Town raised another called St. John's Town RIVALLVS RIvallus the Son of Cunedagius took upon him the Government of this Kingdome in the year of the Worlds creation four thousand four hundred and thirty eight this King was stiled the Fortunate and Peacefull for that during the time of his Reign he governed his Subjects with all lenity meeknesse and prosperity yet Authors leave little recorded of this Prince for indeed Tragical Acts and Warlike Scenes better please most Writers in smooth and calm times yet it is
the prophesie is fulfilled which was made good in Constantine the Great who as both King of Great Brittain and son of Hellen the daughter of Coillus a Brittish King born in this Isle and Emperour of Rome which is as much as to say of the whole world Rome being stiled Totius terrarum orbis Regina or Domina Lady and Queen of the whole world Vitus sets down the order and succession of the Kings of Brutus his Lineage with the terms and continuance of their Reigns but differs much from the account of Fabian and other Writers for he saith 1. Rex Brutus Priscus began in the year from the worlds Creation 2855. and Reigned four and twenty years 2. Locrinus 2879. and reigned 10. 3. Madanus 2889. and reigned 40. 4. Membritius 2929. and reigned 20. 5. Ebrancus 2949. and reigned 40. 6 Brutus Junior 2980. and reigned 12. 7. Leilus 3001. and reigned 25. 8. Rudibras 3026. and reigned 39. 9. Fladus 3065. and reigned 20. 10. Leir 3085. and reigned 60. 11. Cordeilla 3145. and reigned 5. 12. Morganus Cunedagius began to reign 3150. 13. Rivallo 3185. and reigned 46. 14. Gurgustius 3231. and reigned 38. 15. Sisillius 3269. and reigned 49. 16. Jago 3318. and reigned 25. 17. Chynemarces 3343. and reigned 54 18. Gorbodio 3397. and reigned 63. 19. Ferrex Porrex 3460. and reigned 5. Which computation as he tells us compleats six hundred and ten years during all which time the Progeny of Brute held the Scepter of Brittany and then followed the Pentarchy Epilogus Libri Primi BY reason that divers and various are the opinions of Authors and Antiquaries concerning the computation of years since the Creation of the world and framing of the first Adam the overthrower of mankinde and his whole posterity unto the birth of the second Adam that sacred Messias that long lookt for Emanuel and most blessed Jesus who repaired that loss by his Incarnation death and passion opening to the sons of Eve the gates of the Celestial Paradice which untill his glorious Ascension were close lockt up against all mankinde It will not be amiss to give a brief Compendium and abridgement of the variety of opinions The Hebrews account from the said Term three thousand nine hundred and fourty three The seventy Interpreters assign five thousand one hundred ninety and nine others there are who number five thousand two hundred and twenty eight In the third or fourth Book of Policronicon there are other conceits and judgements shewed concerning calculation of these years whereof saith Fabian the most certain is five thousand and two hundred years there are not wanting others whereof some reckon some more some less some account from the first building and structure of Rome some from the overthrow and subversion of the most famous City of Troy others from the founding of Troynovant or London and not a few from divers Edifices and Foundations But since that the account of the Septuagint or seventy Interpreters both by venerable Bede and other Learned Writers is esteemed as most authentick I will follow their judgement and accordingly give you to understand in what year of the world Brute first entred this Isle then called Albion now England First therefore from Adam to Noe was two and twenty hundred and fourty two years From Noe to Abraham was nine hundred and fourty two years From David to the captivity of the Jews three hundred and five years And from the Captivity to the Incarnation of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ five hundred fourscore and ten The which in all make 5199 years After which accompt although divers Authors have their several Computations the ancient and glorious City of Troy was subverted and felt its dismal Catastrophe by the hands of the Conquering Grecians as Learned Eusebius and others testifie in the year of the worlds Creation four thousand and twenty three It was the first year of Achas and before Hezekias xvi years after Eusebius iiii M cccc xliii And according to the same Eusebius the foundations of Rome were laid in the eleventh year of Hezekiah then King of Judah the which year maketh after the computation of the said Authors 4470. who also affirm that the said City was edified after the destruction of Troy four hundred and fourty seven years so that it must by consequence follow that it was built Anno mundi as before Peter Pictaniensis and others testifie that Brute entred first this â—sle of Albion called now England in the eighteenth year of the Priest and Judge of Israel named Hely and Hely as divers Writers avouch began to rule the Israelites the year of the third Age that is from Abraham to David eight hundred and fourty one years which maketh the years of the world four thousand and five Whereunto if there be joyned the abovesaid eighteen years then must it follow that Brute entred this Land Anno mundi four thousand sixty three to this agreeth the Author of Policronicon who saith that Brute entred Albion fourty years after the subversion of Troy which forty years joyned to the former saying of Eusebius iiii M. lxii xlii compleat the number of four thousand and fourty three years Another Historian called Jacobus Philippus saith that Troy was taken by the Grecians in the third year that Abdon or Labdon judged the Israelites who began his Rule over the said Israelites iiii M. xviii after the accord of most Writers Anno mundi four thousand and twenty whereunto if there he added three years for the third year of his rule in which year as before is declared iiii M. xviii Troy was sacked and destroyed and forty years which passed before Brute entered Albion It must follow that Brute came into this Island in the year of the worlds Creation xlii four thousand threescore and three MVLMVTIVS DVNWALLO MVlmutius Dunwallo or as others please Dunwallo Mulmutius the Son of Glotene Duke or King of Cornwall as the English book and also Gaufride affirm after he had fully subdued and conquered the five petty Kings or Princes before mentioned and had brought the Iland into a Pentarchy took upon him the Government of Brittany in the year of the worlds creation 1748. This Prince in some Histories is called Donebant iiii M. vii C. lxix and was of a Noble and Heroick Spirit but much after he came to be fully setled in his Government inclined to peace insomuch that in the City of Troynovant in a place which now as some are of opinion is called Blackwell-Hall he builded a Temple calling it the Temple of Peace or Concord The Laws which he made and established were of such Authority and esteem that holy Gildas translated them out of the Brittish Language into Latine and Aluredus King of England out of Latine into English Vitus tells us that these Laws or at least the heads of them were Vt deorum templa tantam dignitatem consequantur nequis illo confugiens extrabi possit prius quam
Mr. Brou fol. 124. Jo. Pitseus l. de viris Illust aetat 8. an 720 in cremit Brit. Ananimus in li. de St. Graal Jo. Capg in Catal. in S. Joseph of Ar. As concerning his descent to leave the Trojon line it is no hard matter to derive him from St. Joseph of Aramathea for a learned Antiquary speaking of that blessed Saint and his associates saith Although our universal histories of St. Joseph of Aramathea chiefly speak of the coming of him and his religious companions not above fourteen by any account yet we have Antiquities testifying that great number of other Christians came with him hither or to our Islands adjoyning at that time Among these a Brittish Eremite living when Glastenbury Abby was builded by King Inas where the Antiquities thereof were diligently sought and examined and he so conversant in them that he wrote a book of that subject doth plainly testify in his history here of named The holy Graal that there came hither in the company of St. Joseph and his religious associates which continued with him at Glastenbury in Eremitical conversation above 600 Men and Women that were Christians Fits supra and had vowed chastity or continency untill they should arrive in this Land miraculously assigned as it seemeth unto them to continue in Ant. Glast in Tab. Antiq. and because some take exception to this Author the most warranted and allowed Manuscript Antiquities of Glastenbury written in old letters in parchment upon broad tables anciently belonging to the Monastery affirm the same and how divers of them were noble personages and such as in those times in small Islands were stiled Kings and some of our Brittish Kings descended from them among these was first Helaius Nephew of St. Joseph K. Arthurs pedigree from the family of St. Jo. of Arem by his mother of whom this old Manuscript-Antiquity thus relateth Helaius Nephew to St. Joseph begat Josue Josue begat Aminadab Aminadab begat Castellors Castellors begat Manaclaniel Manaclaniel begat Lambrord Lambrord begat a Son which begat Igerna of whom Uter Pendracon begat the noble and renowned Arthur by which it appeareth that King Arthur did descend of the race of Joseph And these antiquities do thus further relate unto us Peter Kinsman of Joseph of Aramathea King of Orcany begat Erlan Erlan begat Melianus Melianus begat Arguth Antiq. Glasten Cap. in St. Joseph Arguth begat Edor Edor begat Loth who took to wife the Sister of King Arthur of whom he begat four Sons to wit Walwan Agranayans Gwerches and Gaheries Again the same Antiquities speak of St. Josephs Imprisonment presently after his coming into this Island which was in Venedocia now Northwales neer the Isle of Mona Harris M. S. Hist l. 1. c. 25. Hist Boet. Hist Sco. in Crathlinit Bald. de Script cent lib. in Amp. Theater of great Brittain l. 6. c. 9. §. 4. St. Josephs Sister married to a Brittain â—i h. Vignier Biblior Hist an 63. Theater of great Brittain l. 6. c. 9. S. 9. who was set at liberty by a noble Man whom he had converted to the faith named Mordraius whom the antiquity calleth a King A late writer thinketh this Mordraius to be the then King or Ruler of the Island Mona and that the place where he was converted named the City Saract was Soder in the Isle of Man which was the first Bishops See we read of in those parts in the time and persecution of Dioclesian And the writers of the Theater of Great Brittain tell us of some others of this company of St. Joseph that lived in the World and were not of the Religious number that setled at Glastenbury and among them they name a Sister of St. Josephs called Eurgaine who to speak in their words afterwards married to a Brittain named Siarklos and they cite George Owen Harry for the same opinion And Nicholas Vignier a French Writer in his Bibliotheke Historial in the year of Christ 63 plainly affirmeth Joseph of Aramathea arrived this year in great Brittain with a troop or great number of his companions To these I may add the testimony of Tertullian of the timely receiving of the faith of Christ by our Northern Brittains commonly confounded in Histories with the Scottish Nation by reason of their dwelling long together and how Petrus Cluniacensis writing to St. Bernard cited by the Theater which followeth him therein supposeth the Scottishmen the more ancient Christians as not being in the like subjection to the Romans as the other then were which cannot more probably be affirmed of any then those that came by those Antiquities with St. Joseph into those outward Islands where the Scots then inhabited and with whom they united themselves as also with our Northern Brittains neither can we think but among so many even hundreds which came hither at that time some of them left a posterity of Children as is exemplified in two before one the Nephew the other the Kinsman of St. Joseph and we may take notice from the names themselves of some of those that be recited as Josue Aminadab and Loth that they were Christians no others in those parts in that time taking names from Scripture but they only and for Loth one of them that is named certain it is by our Brittish and other Histories that he was a Christian so of Igerna and King Arthur which likewise by these antiquities did descend from those of the company of Joseph of Aramathea and although these three last were late in respect of that first age of Christ and lived when Brittain generally professed Christian Religion yet Helaius Nephew or Grandsonne of Joseph placed in the first of that Genealogy in this Land at the time of St. Josephs coming hether and his Son Josue being by his name a Christian did probably live until the dayes of King Lucius and Donaldus to be of those which continued a succession of Christianity here Mr. Broughton proving that nine Schollers of Cambridge were converted to the faith Cambridge the School of the Brittish Kingdomes K. Arthur a Benefactor to Schollers learning and Religion Apud Caium li. 1. de Antiq. Cant. in arce London Howes fol. 53. and became fervent labourers in the Vineyard of our blessed Saviour saith which is further confirmed by the publick Charter of priviledges and immunities of King Arthur to that renowned ancient Town School and University of Cambridge where among other memorable things he declareth that his christian predecessours Kings of Brittain had been instructed there in learning and Religion and in particular speaking there of King Lucius what immunities he granted to that University testifieth further that this our first Christian King did receive the faith of Christ by the preaching of the learned Christian Schollers of Cambridge This Charter was dated at London in the year of Christ 531 rhe 7th day of April Arthur therefore the Son of Vter born in Cornwal at the age of fifteen years was crowned
of the Empire and Baron of VVardor Blanch Daughter of Edward Earl of VVorcester by which Match this Honourable Family severall wayes descends from the Brittish bloud Royol Henry Arundel Count of the Empire and Baron of VVardor now living 1661. Cicely Daughter to Sir Henry Compton Knight of the Bath Thomas Arundel Heir Apparent THE THIRD BOOK OF THE Antient and Modern Brittish and Welsh HISTORY THis Owyn with five of the chiefest of Wales did homage to Henry the second and likewise to his eldest son Henry at Woodstock in the eighth year of Henry the father Anno Dom. 1165. Quarterly Gules and Or 4 Lyons pass gard Counter-change David the son of Owen Gwyneth AFter the death of Owen his sons fell in debate who should inherit after him for the eldest son born in Matrimony Edward or Jorwerth Drwndwn was counted unmeet to Govern because of the maim upon his face Howell base son of Owen slain and Howell who took upon him all the Rule was a base son begotten upon an Irish woman Therefore David gathered all the power he could and came against Howell and fighting with him slew him and afterwards enjoyed quietly the whole land of North Wales until his brother Jorwerths son came to age as shall hereafter appear Madoc another of Owen Gwyneths sons Mahoc betakes himself to Navigation left the land in contention betwixt his brethren and prepared certain ships with men and ammunition and sought Adventures by Sea sailing West and leaving the cost of Ireland so far North that he came to a land unknown where he saw many strange things This land must needs be some part of that which the Spaniards affirm themselves to be the first Finders of H. Lhoyd since Hanno's time for by reason and order of Cosmography this land to which Madoc came must needs be some part of Nova Hispania or Florida whereupon it is manifest that the Countrey was long before by Brittains discovered India first discovered by the Brittains before either Columbus or Americus Vespasius conveyed any Spaniards or Portugues thither Of this Voyage and return of this Madoc there be many fictions as the common people do use in distance of place and length of time rather to augment than diminish but sure it is that there he was And after he had returned home and declared the pleasant and fruitful Countreys that he had seen without inhabitants and upon the contrary part for what barren and wild ground his brethren and nephews did murther one another he prepared a number of ships and got with him such men and women as were desirous to live in quietness and taking leave of his friends Madocs second voyage to the Indies took his journey thitherward again Therefore it is to be supposed that he and his people Colonized part of those Countreys for it appeareth by Francis Lones that in Ancusanus and other places the people honoured the Cross whereby it may be gathered that Christians had been there before the Spaniards but because this people were not many they followed the manners of the land unto which they arrived and used the Language they found there This Madoc arriving into that Western Countrey unto which he came in the year 1170. Mr. Powel left most of his people there and returning back for more of his own Nation Acquaintance and Friends to inhabit that fair and large Countrey went thither again with ten Sails as I find noted by Gutyn Owen I am of opinion that the land whereunto he came was some part of Mexico the causes which makes me think so are these 1. First The common report of the Inhabitants of that Countrey who affirmed that their Rulers descended from a strange Nation that came thither from a far Countrey which thing is confessed by Mutezuma King of that Province in an Oration made for quietting of his people at his submission to the King of Castile Hernando or Fernando Curtâ—â—â— being then present which is declared in the Spanish Chronicles of the conquest of these Indies Evident proofs that the Welsh first discovered the West Indies 2. Secondly The Brittish words and names of places used there even unto this day do argue the same as when they talk together they use this word Gwrando which is hearken or listen Also they have a certain Bird which they call Pengwin that is Whitehead but the Island of Corroeso the Cape of Bryton the River of Gwyndor and the white Rock of Pengwyn which be all Brittish or Welsh words do manifestly shew that it was that Countrey which Madoc and his people inhabited About this time Rees Prince of South Wales came with great power into Powis and subdued Owen Cyvelioc the Lord thereof and took Pledges of him and then returned home with honour K. Henry and P. Rees attoned Rees supplyeth the King in his journey towards Ireland When King Henry prepared for the Conquest of Ireland Prince Rees came and met him who received him courteously and confirmed all what formerly had been accorded insomuch that Rees promised the King towards his expedition into Ireland 300 Horses and 400 Oxen and gave him 14 Pledges Thus done the King came to South Wales and entring Caerlheon upon Vsk took the formerly sumptuous City from the Lord thereof Jorwerth ap Owen ap Caradoc keeping the same to his own use The Arms of of this Lord were Gules 3 Towers Arg. now quartered by the Morgans wherefore Jorwerth departed from the King and calling to him his two sons Owen and Howell who was called Howell of Caerlheon and bare for his Arms Gules 3 Towers Argent which Coat is now quarted by the Morgans of Mahan and Lantarnam c. and his sisters son Morgan ap Sylsit ap Dyfnwal gathered forces and upon the Kings departure entred the Countrey spoiling and burning as they went and took the Town of Caerlheon and destroyed it saving the Castle now ruined by time which they could not get The destruction of the once famous Caerlheon The King kept on his journey to Pembrock and there he gave Rees all Caerdigan Stratywy Aberustly and Eluel Rees coming to Aberteini which he had won from the Earl of Glocester and lately fortified removed from thence to Pembrock in the Kalends of October and spake with the King returning the day after and then culled out of his Horses the promised number or at least 86 and sent them to the King who chose out 36 and sent the rest back with many thanks K. Hen. 2. offereth at St. Davids The same day the King went to St. Davids and offering there dined with the Bishop the son of Girald cousin german to Rees Whether Rich. Strongbow Earl of Strigull an antient Castle formerly in Monmothshire part of whose ruines yet remain came from Ireland to confer with the King and after dinner the King returned to Pembrock within a while after the King being at the white house rendred to Rees
was Lord at this time the King passing the river of Conwey encamped there by the river side and sent part of his Army with guides of the countrey to burn Bangor who did so taking Rotpert the Bishop prisoner A strange ransome for a Bishop who was afterwards ransomed for 200 Hawks The distressed yet couragious Prince seeing all England and Wales against him and a great part of his land won from him thought it best to capitulate with the King and thereupon he sent Joan his wife the Kings daughter to her father The Inland of NorthWales granted to K. John for ever to make a peace who being a discreet woman found the means that upon pledges given for safe conduct the prince came to the King and made peace with him and did him homage And giving pledges promised towards his charges 20000 heads of Cattel and forty Horses Moreover he granted to the King the Inland for ever whereupon the King returned to England with great triumph after he had brought all Wales under his subjection saving Rees and Owen the sons of Gruffith ap Rees Therefore at his departure he gave strict command to Fulk Visconnt of Caerdâ—ff called Warden of the Marshes a cruel Tyrant Caerdif honoured with a Viscount yet well beloved by the King to take an army with him that he joyning with Maelgon and Rees Vachan might compell the aforesaid sons of Gruffith to obey him This Foulk calling to him Maelgon and Rees came to the Cantref of Penwedic when the young Lords seeing no remedy sent to him for peace and safe conduct to passe to the Court upon their submission to the King with the gift of all their Lands betwixt Aeron and Dynâ— All Wales in homage to K. John they were received by him very gently and courteously entertained and after they had done him homage they returned home again Fulk before his departure out of the Country fortified the Castle of Aberystwith and manned it to the Kings use But within a while after Maelgon as he was very unconstant and Rees Vachan repented them of the peace they had made with the King and thereupon sat down before Aberistwyth and getting the same destroyed it When the Nephews Rees and Owen perceived that their Uncle had broken the Kings peace they made a road into Maelgons country and slew a great number of his men and returned home with great booty The next year prince Lhewelin being not able to endure the displeasures which the garrisons left in his Nephews castles in Northwales did to his people called to him Gwenwinwyn from Powis Maelgon ap Rees from Southwales Madoc ap Gruffith Maylor from Bromfield Meredyth ap Rotpert from Cydewen and opened to them this miserable case how they which were wont to have a prince of their own Nation now by their own willfulness were brought under subjection to a stranger and declared also unto them how that if they would agree among themselves they might defend their antient Estate still which they all promised to do and swore fealty to prince Lhewelyn and forthwith gathered an army and wan all the Castles except Ruthlan and Dyganwy then coming to Powis they laid siege to the Castle which Robert Vepont had made at Mathraval Mathraval Castle razed by K. Johns command The King no sooner had notice of these transactions but he leavied an army and came thither to raise the siege and after caused the Castle to be razed and then returned home having greater matters in hand between him and his Nobles and being at Notingham he caused all the pledges out of Wales to be hanged A tyrannous execution as Howel the son of Cadwalhon Madoc the son of Maelgon and others to the number of 28. striplings also Robert Vepont did hang at Shrewsbury Rees the son of Maelgon not being yet 7 years of age and so cruelly murdred the innocent to revenge the the offences of others Rees the son of Gruffith ap Rees who was heir to prince Rees seeing he could have no part of his Fathers Lands but that his Uncles did keep all from him by force made his complaint to the King and the King pittying his Estate sent to Foulk Viscount of Caerdyf and to the Steward of Hereford commanding them to take all Stratywy from Rees Vachan whom others call Rees Gryc unlesse he would let his nephews enjoy the castle of Lanymdhfry with the territory belonging thereunto and they sent to Rees to know his resolution who answered them stoutly that they should not have one foot of Land of him Therefore Foulk gathered a great army together and met with young Rees at Talhwynelgain where he looked for him with a number of men that he had gotten in Brecon and thence they marched in three battails towards Dynevowr of which young Rees had the leading of the first Foulk the second and Owen brother to Rees the third Rees Vachan notwithstanding came boldly to give them battail where in the end he was put to flight with great losse of his men whereupon he went immediately and manned the castle of Dynevowr and set fire to the town of Lhandeilo vawr keeping himself in the wild and rough places his enemies seeing this besieged the castle of Dynevour and at the first assault they wan the first ward so that they of the garrison were compelled to take the Koxe for their defence which they manfully defended but the assailiants made engines to cast stones of great bigness and began to undermine the walls in such sort that the Captain fell to that composition that if he were not succoured by the next day at noon he would deliver up the castle upon condition that all his men might depart with their armour and weapons and so they did for they had no relief Afterward they brought the Cantref Maur under subjection which caused Rees Vachan to remove his wife and children to his brothers country and left the castle of Lhanymdhfry well fortified and manned After the departure of Fulke young Rees came with an army of Welshmen and Normans to Lhanymdhfri but before they were encamped the Captain delivered up the castle and the garrison departed their lives granted And shortly after Rees Vachan was taken at Caermarthyn and committed to the Kings prison At this time prince Lhewelyn laid siege to the castle of Dyganwy and Ruthlan won them both so that he left the King neither hold nor castle within his land After this fortunate success and happy attempts Lhewelyn in the head of a gallant Army marched to Shrewsbury which Town and Castle were delivered unto him without any resistance and there he remained a while In the mean time Giles de Bruse the son of William de Bruse a man of great power and nobility was consecrated Bishop of Hereford Godwin in Hereford Sept. the 24 1200. In the Barons Wars he took part with them against the King and at last was fain to flye the land afterwards being
said Reginald Grey returned into Wales he would take 24 men of every Cantref and either behead them or imprison them perpetually 16. Item Whereas we paid our Taxes and Rents in old money half year before the coming of new money they enforced us to pay new money for the old These griefs and the like the said Reginald offered us and threatned that if we would send any to the King to complain he would behead them and when we sent any to the King they could never speak with the King but spent us much money in vain for which griefs we believe our selves free before God from the Oath we have made to the King These Griefs following the King and his Justices offered to Rees Vachan of Stratywy 1. After that the said Rees gave the King his Castle of Dynevowr since the last peace the said Rees then being in the Tent of the Lord Payne de Gadersey at the same time there were slain six Gentlemen of the said Rees his men for whom they never had amends which was to him great grief and loss 2. Item John Gifford claimed the said Rees his Inheritance at Hiruryn and the said Rees requested the Law of his Countrey of the King or the Law of the Countrey of Caermarthen in the which Countrey the Ancestors of the said Rees were wont to have Law when they were of the peace of the Englishmen and under their regiment but the said Rees could have no Law but lost all his lands They would have had him to answer in the County of Hereford where none of his Ancestors ever answered Further in the lands of the said Rees were such enormities committed which do most appertain to the State Ecclesiastical that is to say in the Church of St David which they call Lhangadoc Grievous sacriledge committed by the English they made Stables and plaid the Harlots and took away all the goods of the said Church and burning all the houses wounded the Priest of the said Church before the high Altar and left him there as dead 3. Item In the said Countrey they spoiled and burnt the Churches of Dyngad Lhantredaff and other Churches in other parts they spoiled their Chalices Books and all other Ornaments These be the Griefs which the King and his Justice gave to Lhewelyn ap Rees and Howell ap Rees After that a Form of peace was concluded betwixt Henry then King of England and the Prince of Wales the said King granted and confirmed by his Charter to the said Prince the homage of the said Noblemen so long as they stood friends with the Prince according to the said gift and confirmation But Edward now King disinherited the said Gentlemen of their lands so that they could not have their own lands neither by law nor by favour These be the Griefs done by the Englishmen to the sons of Meredyth ap Owen 1. After that the King had granted the Gentlemen their own inheritance of Geneurglyn and Creuthyn he contrary to the peace disinherited the said Gentlemen denying them all lawes and customs of Wales and of the County of Caermarthyn 2. The said King in his County of Caerdigan by his Justices compelled the said Gentlemen to give judgement upon themselves where their predecessors never suffered the like of Englishmen 3. The said Justices of the King having taken away the Courts of the Noblemen in Wales and compelled the people to satisfie before them for trespasses when as they ought to have satisfied by the said Nobles 4. When a Wrack happeneth upon any of the grounds of the Noblemen whose ancestors had the Wrack they should have the same yet the King forbiddeth them and the said King by colour of that Ship-wrack contrary to their custom and law did condemn them in eight Marks and took away all the goods of the Ship-wrack The Complaints of the Noblemen of Strattalyn of the Wrongs and Griefs done to them by Roger Clifford and Roger Scrochill Deputy to the said Roger Clifford contrary to the Priviledge Justice and Custom of the said Noblemen as they say and prove 1. When the said Roger compelled the said men of Strattalyn to give them to have their customs and priviledges 20 Marks starling and after the payment of the money they brake by and by after this sort to put upon 12 men according to the laws of England which was never the manner or custom of the said Countrey 2. Item Madoc ap Blethyn was condemned in 4 Marks unjustly contrary to the laws and use of the Countrey 3. Item Grono Goch was likewise condemned 5 Marks and 12 Beasts contrary to the customs of his Countrey Dear Venison 4. Item The said Roger took the lands of the men of the Countrey as forfeit and for one foot of a Stagg found in a Dogs mouth three men were spoiled of all they had 5. Item Itlhel ap Gwysty was condemned in a great sum of money for the fact of his father done 40 years before 6. Item The said Rogers laid upon us the finding of all the English Souldiers where as before there was but one half 7. Item We were given to Mr. Maurice de Cruny and were sold to Roger Clifford which was never seen in our parents time 8. Item The widow of Robert of the Mowld asked of the King the third part of the land in the Mowld in Ward whereas it was judged before the King that the said lands were never given in Ward These be the Articles of Grief done to the men of Penlhyn by the Constable of Henry Chambers of the White Abbey and his men 1. Cynwric ap Madoc was spoiled by them in the time of peace of 8 pound 4 Oxen Corn the work of one plough for two years and to the value of 3 pound of 3 of his men and they had the worth of 16 pound for the said 8 pound and did beat him besides which was more wrong for then he was the Princes Constable at Penlhyn and all the cause that they pretended to make this spoyl was only that they said they had found 24 sheafes of Tythe in the house of a servant of the said Cynwric 2. Item Adam Criwr was condemned in 8 s. 8 d. and a Mare price 20 s. and was taken and beaten for that he had taken the Stealer of that Mare and brought him bound with him the which Thief was forthwith delivered 3. Item Jorwerth ap Gurgenen was condemned in 4 l. for that he had scaped out of their prison in time of the wars and was found in the same Town in time of peace and this is directly against the peace concluded betwixt the King and the Prince 4. Item Cadua Dhu servant to the Constable of Penlhyn was condemned because he would not receive the old money for new 5. Item Gruffith ap Grono the Princes man was spoiled of an Oxe price 11 s. 8 d. and after that the Constable had ploughed with the said Oxe 7 moneths he paid to the said Gruffith
number of Servants to attend him according to his estate and dignity which should be at diet in the Kings house untill the said prince should accomplish the age of 14 years and that the King should have all such summes of money as should clearly remain unto the prince due of all manner of Issues and Revenues which the Prince then had in respect of his said Principality Dutchy and Earledom untill the said age of 14. years The said Revenues to be accounted for to the King in his exchequer reserving unto the said Prince untill he should come to be of the age of eight years 1000 l. yearly and from that age till he came at fourteen The K. to have the revenues till the P. accomplish the age of 14 2000 marks yearly for his Wardrobes Wages of Servants and other necessary expences But saving alwaies unto the King the Advousons of Bishopricks and spiritual livings and the gifts of all Offices Wards Reliefs and Escheats belonging to the said Prince untill he should accomplish the said age of fourteen years saving such estate in certain of the said lands as the Queen had to her before the said time assured untill the Prince should be of the said age of fourteen years and saving certain particular summes of money in the said Act of Parliament mentioned as were formerly appointed out of the said lands as well for expence of the Kings of England for their houshould as otherwise during such particular times as are therein declared provided that all Offices formerly granted by the King and needing actual exercise and the Fees to the same should not be prejudiced by the same Act. Afterwards by another Charter Ex Charta Regia dat In Scaccaria penes Rememor Thesaur remoâ—te the said King doth release unto the said Prince all the said Grant of the said yearly summes of money issuing out of the revenues aforesaid and all things by the said Act granted and appointed unto the said King yearly 527 marks 4 s. 7 d. ob and out of the said Dutchy untill the said prince should be of eight years of age then reserving out of the said Principality and Earldom yearly unto the King 277 marks 4 s. 7 d. ob and out of the said Dutchy yearly 517 marks 11 s. 7. ob untill the said age of 14. years of the Prince for the said Dutchy and to be employed towards the charges of the Kings houshould and not otherwise And the said King by his letters Patents dated 18 of January anno regni 35. during the minority of the said Prince ordained the then Archbishop of York In Chartes l. 35. H. 6 part 2. a Privy Councellors appointed to the Prince the bishops of Winchester Hereford Lichfield and Coventry and the Lord Keeper of the privy Seal the Earles of Shrewsbury Stafford and Wilts the then Viscount Beamont and also John Sutton and Thomas Stanley Knights to be of the privy Counsel to the said Prince enjoyning all Officers and Ministers of the Prince that they and every of them should be obedient to the execution of all commandements and warrants of the said Councellours or at least four of them together with the assent and consent of the Queen in all causes and matters concerning the titles rights possessions and Interests of the said Prince and that the said commandements and warrants should be as available in that behalf as if the said had been made or done by the said Prince himself being of full age which commandement in all leases of the said Princes inheritance was pursued accordingly In the 39. year of the said K. Henry VI. reign he being of the house of Lancaster such is the mutability and so unstable are all humane things that the said King being a man devout and religious the founder of Schooles and Colledges vertuous and a lover of peace was by the violence of the heirs of the house of York put from his Kingdom and secured in prison and Edward Earle of March son and heir to Richard Duke of York reigned in his stead by the name of Edw. IV. But yet behold the hand of God for in the tenth year of the said King Edward IV. upon a discontentment conceived against him by Richard Earle of Warwick a man more popular and potent then was fit for a Subject the said Richard with a collected power so pressed the King that he was driven to fly the realme and to seek forraign aid seeing his homebred subjects proved so unfaithful In Chartes pat 35. H. 6. pars 2. Then King Henry VI. after 10 years imprisonment readepted the Kingdom and in the said tenth year of King Edward IV. wrote the 49 year of his reign having endured 10 years intermission in the computation of his time as appeareth in the books of law of that age but being thus seated he was unsetled after much effusion of blood for in a civil war there is no true victory in as much as he that prevaileth is a loser K. H. 6 was compelled again to give place to his adversary after to make that part sure was deprived of life having lost also Edw. his son P. before spoken of the hope of all his posterity in the battail at Tukesbury Edward of Westminster Edward IV. having gotten the Crown which had been thus shaken from his head did by his Charter dated the 26 of June 11 regni created Edward of Westminster his son and heir apparant P. of Wales and E. of Chester 11 Ed. 4 pars 1. memb 1. and by another like Charter of the same year gave unto him the lands and revenues of the said principality to have and to hold to him and his heirs Kings of Engl. This Ed. the P. being of tender years was born in the Sanctuary whether the Queen his mother was fled for security and during the time that the King her husband had avoided the realm Afterwards the said King by his letters patents dated the 8. of July in the said 11 year of his reign ordained his Queen the then Archbishop of Canterbury George Duke of Clarence Richard Duke of Glocester brothers to the said King the then Bishop of Bath and Wells and Durham Sr. J. Dodridge fol. 25. Anthony Earle Rivers the then Abbot of Westmonastery Chancelour to the Prince Will. Hastings Knight Lord Chamberlain to the King Rich. Fines Lord Dacres Steward of the said Prince John Fogg John Scot Knight Thomas Vaughan Chamberlain to the Prince J. Alcock and Rich. Farler to be of Councel to the said Prince giving unto them and every 4 of them thereby with the advice and expresse consent of the Queen large power to advise and councel the said Prince and to order and dispose the lands revenues and possessions of the said Prince and the nomination of officers to him belonging when they should happen to become void or that the parties were insufficient The said authority thus given unto the said councelours to continue untill
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