Sermone vis infinita est Brittanicarum aictionum atque vetus cultus Hibernorum ut ait Cornelius Tacitus non multum differt à Brittanico Denique à Scriptoribus antiquis omnibus Insula ea Brittanica nominatur praefertius cum Romani suum imperium undique propagassent multi proculdubio ex Hispanis Gallia Brittannia se receperunt in Hiberniam ne potentiae Romanae subjicerentur quae res fecit Julium Agricolam persuadere Romanis capere Hiberniam si Britannos in officio continere vellent Attamen Hibernia licet ipso situ fuerit Imperio Romano summè necessaria ejusque aditus Portus per commercia cognita Romanis Julius Agricola quendam Hibernum Regulum seditionis expulsum retinuerit ad occasionem capiendae Insulae nunquam tamen à Romanis in ditionem accepta fuit If it be true which the Irish Writers affirm their Island may justly be called Ogygia that is very ancient for they aver Cesara to have there inhabited before the Deluge and the History of Brittany avoucheth that Hiberus and Hermio two Spaniards many ages after by the appointment of Gurguint King of Great Brittaine inhabited it with their Colonies and Planters I will neither say it nor gain-say it quoth Cambden but certainly it is very probable that Ireland was very anciently Inhabited when mankind was dispersed and spread abroad over the face of the whole earth and manifest it is the first Inhabitants to have come thither out of Brittannia for in the Irish Speech there are a multitude of Brittish words and accents and as Cornelius Tacitus tells us the mode of the Irish differs not much from the Brittains And for a Conclusion of this Discourse by the most ancient Writers that Island is called Brittanica or Brittish and evident it is that when the Roman valour and glory had conquered and spread it self almost throughout the whole known world divers as well out of Spain as France and Britttain fled thither for shelter not willing to submit their necks and shoulders under the Roman yoke which was indeed the very cause that moved Julius Agicola to perswade the Romans to get Possession of Ireland if they ever meant to keep the Brittains in s bjection And although that Iland was of great consequence and necessary to the Romans neither were their Ports and Haven by reason of the constant and dayly Commerce and Trafick to them unknown And Julius Agricola having got a certain Irish petty King into his clutches driven by sedition from his native soyl intended to make him his decoy to seize and fasten upon the Irish jurisdictions yet for all these stratagems Ireland never came under the Roman slavery or obedience Gurguint being hitherto victorious and fortunate returns home having his head enriched with Laurels of choicest honour and renown being a Prince of singular prudence and justice and having laid the Sword aside he applies himself to build Cities and Towns for the great beauty of his Kingdome The first place which he erected was as saith Howes citing J. Rouse Caierwerith that is Lancaster of which place the Learned Cambden speaking Lancaster built by Gurguim hath these words ' Vbi sub Britanniarum duce ut est in Notitia Provinciarum numerus Longovicariorum qui è loco suum nomen sunt mutuati stationem habuit Whereas we find in the notice of Provinces a company of the Longovicarians under the Lieutenant General of Brittain lay which took their name from the place that is from the River Lon which gave name also to Loncaster and Longovicum this is onely a Market town at this day the ancient Town stood where after was a Cloyster at the foot of the hill are fragments of old walls and oft-times Roman Coyns are found but above all there are the ruins of a very antique structure which is called Werywall Recentiori ut videtur hujus oppidi nomine Hoc enim oppidum saith Mr. Cambden ilii Caerwerid i. e. Vrbem viridem dixerunt à viridanti forsitan illo colle This Town the Brittains called Caerwerid that is to say the Green town perchance taking its Name from the Green hill which is there The first time this place became an Earldome was when K. Hen. 3. conferred that Title on his second Son Edm. and it was destinate to greatnesse in the first Foundation there being laid unto it at the very first besides this County the whole confiscated Estates of the Earls of Leicester and Derby and the Barony of Monmouth And into this by Marriages accrued in time the great Estates of William de Fortibus Earl of Aumerl and Lord of Holderness Beauford and other goodly Lands in France the Earldom of Lincoln and good part of that of Salisbury the Lordships of Ogncare and Kidwelly in Wales which were once the Chaworths John of Gaunt added thereunto the Castles and Honors of Hertford and Tickhill and his Son Bullingbroke a moiety of the Lands of Bohun being Earl of Hertford Essex and Northampton so that it was the greatest Patrimony as I verily think of any Subject Prince in Christendome Lancaster finally was made a County Palatine by King Ed. the 3. and hath been honoured with these Dukes and Earles of Lancaster Edmund Plantagenet 2. Son to K. Hen. 3. E. of Lan. Thomas Plantagenet Henry Plantagenet Henry Plantagenet first D. of Lan. John of Gaunt Son to K. Ed. 3. married the Lady Blanch Daughter of Henry D. of Lan. Henry of Bullinbroke Son of John of Gaunt after King of England by whom this County Palatine and all the Lands and Honors belonging and incorporate into the Dutchy of Lancaster were brought unto the Crown of England though governed as an Estate apart then by its proper Officers as it continued till the time of K. Ed. 4. who did appropriate it to the Crown and dissolved the former Government thereof to which it was restored again by K. Hen. 7. and so still remaineth under the guidance of Chancellor and other Officers of the same The next Town which Gurgunstus as Howes calls him built was Porchester in Hampshire of which place Cambden speaking of those parts saith In cujus interiori recessu olim floruit Port Peris ad quem Vespasianum appulisse nostri produnt Saxones novo Nomine Portchester dixerunt non à Porta Saxone sed à portu Ptolomaeo enim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. portus magnus vocatur castrumque sanc amplum superest quod in subjectum portum longe lateque prospectat where in times past Port Peris flourished where in succeeding Ages our Writers affirm Porchester built by Garguint Vespasian when he came into Brittain first landed the Saxons changed the Name into Portchester but not deriving it from Porta the Saxon Chieftain but from Port i. e. Haven or Harbour in which sense Ptolomy useth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great Harbour or Port this by the ancient Brittains was called Caer Peris and was one of the eight and twenty Sees
Masbrook Chitbury Caurs Clonn which are now in Shropshire Ewyas Lacy Ewyas Harold Clifford VVinsorton Yardley Huntington VVhitney Loghardneis in Herefordshire Also this country of Southwales as all the rest of Brittain was first inhabited by the Brittains which remain there to this day saving that in divers places specially along the sea shore they have been mingled with Saxons Normans which the VVelsh history calleth Frenchmen and Flemings For that the Princes of VVales since the conquest of the Normans could never keep quiet possession thereof but what for strangers and what for disloyalty of their own people vexation and war were for the most part compelled to keep themselves in Caermardhenshire This shall suffice for the description of the Country After this great King had as it is said before disposed of his affairs had had war with Burchved King of Mercia which by the aid of Ethelwaph entred Northwales with a great power and destroyed Anglesey fought with the VVelshmen divers times and slew Meric a great Prince amongst them 846. Math. West Kongen P. of Pendieth at Rome 871. The year 846. was Ithel King of Gwent or Wetland slain in fight by the men of Brechnoch and in the year 854 Kongen King of Powis died at Rome being slain or choaked as some say by his own men Much about this time dyed Gwyan King of Cardigan This was that noble Gwyan ap Mevric ap Dunwal ap Arthen ap Sitsylt King or Prince of Cardigan who as some Brittish books have was at this time drowned by misfortune The Danes having entred the land being with shame and ignominy beaten and repulsed and compelled to abjure the Isle they bent whether equivocally or perfidiously their force against Wales and entred the Isle of Môn with a great army in the year of Christ eight hundred seventy three where Roderick gave them two battails one at a place called Menegd in Anglesey Dav. Powel fol. 34. 879. I find also saith my Authour that about this time Halden and Hungare two Captains of the Danes arrived in Southwales and overrun the whole Countrey destroying all before them with fire and sword neither sparing Churches nor Religious houses but within a while after they received their deserved reward at the hands of the West Saxons who awaiting for them on the coasts of Devonshire slevv both Halden and Hungare vvith 1200 of their people At this time Endon Bishop of Menevia or St. Davids died and Hubert was installed in his place And within two years after Dungarth King of Cornwal was drowned by a mischance In the year 876 the Englishmen entred into Anglesey and fought with the Welshmen a sore battail who in the year following slew Roderike King or Prince of Wales and Gwyriad his brother or as some say his son This Roderike had by his wife Enharad the daughter of Meyric the son of Difnwal or Dunwal the son of Arthen ap Sytsylt divers sons as Anarawd his Eldest son to whom he gave Aberfraw with Northwales Cadelh the second son vvho had Dinevour vvith Southvvales and also took Mathraval and Powis land by force from his brethren after the death of Mervin the third son to whom the father had given the same A Welsh manuscript which I have saith Rodri the great did bear G. a cheveron between three Roses arg Quarterly Gules and Or four Lions passant gardant Counterchange The Authour who sets down this coat as belonging to this King or Prince Mr. Mills catologue of honour fol. 209. compendiously gives us this relation Roderike the great in Welsh called Rodero Mawr Prince of all Wales a man of much strength and courage the son Essilt begotten by Mervin King of the Isles whose Grandfather by the Mothers side was Conan the son of Roderike the son of Idwall the son of Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains This Idwall conveyed the miserable Brittains that were oppressed and afflicted with the invasions and inroads of the Saxons into Cambria now called Wales and worthily governed them under the name and title of Prince of Wales Some are of of opinion that the Cambres were called Welshmen by this Idwallo as in old time the Brittains took their name from Brute But this is of no more truth then theirs is that would have them of one Wallo their Duke and governour or of Wendola a Queen of whom there is no mention made among them This Roderike of all the Princes of Wales The Authour also put Camber before Albanact preferring Wales before Scotland was the first that caused the histories of the Brittains to be written He renewed good Lawes he caused strong Castles to be built and procured that Churches or Temples should be kept and maintained for Divine Service at his decease he left the Principality of all Wales to be divided unto his three sons following the example of Brute who made Locrine Camber and Albanact Kings This matter of division was the very true and first Originall of the Welsh mens ruine as being divided into three Kingdomes which they called Principalities For allbeit whilst they lived one man held and maintained his own with much stoutness and magnanimity yet their posterity being distracted and falling to war among themselves were enforced every each to defend his part as well from their general enemies the English as from their Neighbours and Countreymen the Welsh by which the whole Kingdome of VVales was wrackt and overthrown Roderike ended his life in the eighty ninth year of his Age Mr. Wills ut ante and in the year of Christ eight hundreed seventy seven Alured the son of the godly King Ethelwolph being then King of the English Saxons He was buryed at Keyby Castle in Anglesey Engharad Princesse of VVales Wife of Roderike the great was daughter and heir to Meirich the son of Dyfnwal the son of Arthen ap Sytsilt King of Cardigan Their Issue Mervin Prince of Venâ—dosia or North-Wales of whom more hereafter Anarandus was second Son to whom his Father gave the 105. Cantreds or hundreds of Powis Land and for that of all his Brethren he was the most valiant and approved Warriour he seated him in the Marches or Borders of VVales his principal Seat and Mannour was at Mathraval The patrimony of this Anarandus namely the Principality of Powis in process of time devolved and came into the hands of a Woman named Hawis as her Right and Inheritance She being married to one John Chorlton an Englishman enfeoffed him with her Right and made him Lord of Powis From this Family it descended at last to the Greys of the North and thereby utterly lost that Name and Title of Principality For Andornus or Owen the Father of Hawis or Avis being called and sent for to a Parliament which King Edward the First held at Shrewsbury by the Decree and Judgment of the King and Barons took his Lands to be held in Capite under the Title and Tenure of Free Baronage of England and
to the Government and sought the rule of the Land as Conan the son of Howel and Aedan the son of Blegored who tried the matter in open field where Conan was slain in the year 1003. I do not know saith my Author neither could I ever finde what colour or pretence of Title this Aedan ap Blegored had to the principality of Northwales nor yet of whom he de cended or who descended from him whereas all the other Princes are notoriosly known of what families they did descend and who from them neither yet do I read of any Blegored whose son he was except it be that Doctor of Law of whom mention is made in the Laws of Howel Dha whose estate was too mean to challenge a principality he is reported to have governed about twelve years Of his Acts by him atchieved there is very little written saving of those two battails the one wherein he overcame Conan ap Howel and the other wherein he was overcome himself and slain with his four sons by Lhewellin ap Sitsylht In the year 1015. Lhewelin the Son of Sitsylht raised a great power against Aedan who by force had taken upon him the rule of Northwales and slew him with his four sons in battel and having no respect to Jago or James the son of Edwal the right heir took upon him the name and authority of King of Wales This Lhewellin was descended from the Kings of Wales by his mothers side whose name was Trawst daughter to Elise second son to Anarawd which was eldest son to Roderik the great who also had to wife Angharac the only daughter of Meredith Prince of Southwales and so by these means he claimed and enjoyed the right of either country as hereafter shall be shewed Lhewellin the son of Sitsylht and Angharat the Daughter of Meredith After that Lhewellin son of Sitsylht had taken into his hands the government of Wales all things did prosper in the Land for the earth brought forth double to the time before passed the people prospered in all their affairs and multiplyed wonderfully the cattel encreased in great number so that there was neither begger nor poor man from the South to the North sea but every man had plenty every house a dweller and every Town inhabitants In the year 1019. Meyric the son of Arthpoel did raise a great army against Lhewelin King or Prince of VVales which met with him in the field and manfully slew him and discomfited his people In the year 1020. a certain Son of low birth came to Southwales and named himself Run the son of Meredith their late King whom the Nobility which loved not Lhewelin exalted to the regal Throne and took him for their King which thing when Lhewelin heard he gathered his power in Northwales and came towards the supposed Run who had gotten all the strength of Southwales together at Abergwili where with great pride he abode the coming of Lhewelin but when both the armies met and were ready to joyn Run full of brags and cracks encouraged his people to fight promising them the Victory yet he himself following the Proverb which biddeth a man to set on his dog and not to run after him set on his people to fight it to the uttermost and withdrew himself privately out of the way whereas upon the contrary part Lhewelin like a bold and couragious Prince came before his people calling for the vile Scot Run that durst so bely a Princes Blood and so both the Armyes joyned together with much malice and hatred for the one party was so couragious to defend the quarrel of so worthy a Prince of their own blood as the other was obstinate in the cause of a stranger in the end after great slaughter upon either part the Northwales men remembring their old Victories and encouraged by the prowess of their Prince put their enemies to flight and pursued Run so narrowly that all his Scottish shifts could not save his life and returned home with great spoil and prey Then Lhewelin ruled all the land quietly till the year following he was slain by Howel and Meredith the Sons of Edwin leaving behinde him a son named Griffith ap Lhewelin After the death of Lhewelin Jago or James the son of Edwal took upon him the rule of Northwales as right heir thereof and Rytherick the son of Jestin governed Southwales by strong hand year 1031 About the year 1031. the Irish Scots entred Southwales by the means of Howel and Meredith the sons of Edwin ap Eneon ap Owen ap Howel Dha who hired them against Rytherick ap Jestin whom they discomfited and slew and by that means attained unto the government of Southwales which they two ruled jointly but yet with small quietness for the sons of Rytherick gathered a number of such as were their fathers friends to avenge his death with whom Howel and Meredith met at Hyarthwy and after long fight put them to flight But in the year following Meredith was slain by the sons of Conan the Son of Sitsylt brother to the worthy Prince Lhewelin to revenge their fathers death whom Meredith and his Brother had slain The year next ensuing certain Englishmen entred the Land of Gwent with whom Rytherick ap Jestin fought and was by them slain In the year 1037. Gruffith the son of Lhewelin ap Sitsylt sometime King of Wales raised a great number of people against Jago then enjoying the Principality or Kingdom of Northwales whom Jago likewise provided for as well as he could but the more part better souldiers were of Gruffiths side for the love they bare to his Father which afterward well appeared for the Armies meeting Jago was soon overthrown and slain This Jago left behind him a son called Conan by his wife Avandred daughter to Gweir the son of Pilh Gruffith ap Lhewlyn ap Sitsylt and Angharat Gruffith ap Lhewlin after he had slain Jago governed Northwales worthily in all things following his fathers steps who overcame both the Danes and the Englishmen divers times and defended his Country and people manfully all his reign In the first year of his government he fought with the Englishmen and Danes at Crosford upon Severn and put them to flight and from thence he led his army to Lhanpadarn Vawr in Caerdiganshire and destroyed it utterly and from thence passed all Southwales throughout and received the people to his subjection for Howel ap Edwin their King fled before his face and forsook the land This Howel procured Edwin the brother of Leofrike Earl of Chester or Mercia to come with an army of Englishmen and Danes to his aid against Prince Gruffith who met his enemies in the field and overcame them and slew the said Edwin but Howel escaped by flight after the which victory Gruffith made sundry invasions upon the Marshes toward Hereford and alwayes returned with great spoyles year 1038 When Gruffith had brought all Wale under his dominion he returned to Northwales again The year ensuing
Cadogan kept himself privately in Powis and sent to the King to declare and manifest his innocency The King allowed of his submission and allegations and granted that he should remain in the Country and enjoy the town and lands which he had by his Wife for she was daughter to a Lord of Normandy called Pigot de Say Then Madoc and Ithel his two Nephews divided such Lands as he and his son Owen had in Powis betwixt them and ruled it very evil for they could never agree amongst themselves Within a while after Cadogan made such friends to the King that paying 100 pound fine he should injoy his lands again in Caerdigan and that the inhabitants should return to their houses and manure and till their ground for the King had given commandement that no Welshmen nor Norman should dwell within Caerdigan when they that were in Ireland understood this they returned privately and hid themselves in the houses of their kindred and friends after whom Owen followed but not to Cadogan for his father had received that Land upon such condition that he should not suffer Owen to come therein nor aid him either by counsel money or men Howbeit Owen came to Powis and would gladly have sent Messengers unto the King but he could get no man that would venture to speak to him Much about this time there happened â—ome variance between Madoc ap Riryd and the Bishop of London Lieutenant of the Marshes about certain fellows of England that had fled to him for succour whom the Bishop sent for but could not get wherefore he was highly displeased with him Riryd understanding hereof sent to Owen and desired his friendship whose greatest enemy he was before and by this means they were made friends and swore each to other that neither of them should betray the other nor agree by himself with the King or his Officers without the other and thereupon they burned and spoyled the lands of such as they loved not and destroyed all things that they met withall This year appeared a terrible Comet and the King took into consideration Jorwerth ap Blethyn whom he had kept long in prison and sent to know of him what fine he would pay to have his liberty and he promised the King 300 pounds or the worth thereof in cattel or horses then the King set him at liberty and gave him his land again and gave ten pounds of that mony to Henry the son of Cadogan by the daughter of Pigot All this while Owen and Madoc were burning and plundering the Englishmen and Normans and ever withdrew themselves to the land of Jorwerth which thing grieved him greatly whereupon he sent word of his danger desiring them to spare his land and Cadogans For if it were known that they came in any of theirs the Land was forfeited to the King when Owen and Ryrid heard this they frequented his territories the more often then formerly which Jorwerth perceiving chased them quite away Then he went to the country of Vchtryd in Merionethshire and the sons of Vchtrid sent word to their people to withstand them and so they did for meeting them by the way they set upon them and Owen and Madoc defended themselves manfully but at the last they and their men were driven back so that they were forced to fly Owen to Caerdigan to his Fathers Country and Madoc to Powis Then Owen with his companions made divers roads to Dynet and spoyled it carrying away both men and cattel to the ships that came from Ireland and after ransomed them and then gathering fresh recrutes he set upon a town of the Flemmings and fired it returning from thence to Gaerdigan nothing valuing his Fathers danger or the Kings displeasure At this time it chanced that Owens men among other mischiefs Owen guilty first of a Rape and now murder and sacriledge laid wait for a Bishop belonging to the King whose name was William de Brabant and slew him and all his Men Whilst these things were in agitation Jorwerth and Cadogan were at the Court to treat with the King concerning certain business of their own and as the King talked with them behold there came in a Flemming brother to the murdered Bishop who made an exclamation how Owen ap Cadogans men had slain his brother and many more and how they were succoured in Cadogans land The King hereupon highly displeased asked Cadogan what he could say to the matter and he laying all the fault upon his Son excused himself as well as he could Then said the King to Cadogan Seeing thou canst not keep thine own but that thy Son and his adherents shall be succoured there in their disorder I will give it to one that shall keep them out here I will maintain thee all thy life at my proper charges charging thee upon thy Allegiance that thou enter not into Wales until such time as I have taken further order And so the King gave him twenty dayes and set him at liberty to go whether he would Wales excepted when Owen and Madoc heard this they departed to Ireland The King forthwith sent for Gilbert surnamed Strongbow this Gilbert was youngest Son of Gilbert de Clare Lord of the honours of Clare in Suffolk and Grand-child of Robert Fitz-Gilbert and Rohesia his wife daughter to Walter Gilford Earl of Longeville in Normandy Chepflow and Strigul once belonged to the Clares Tyntern Abbey founded by Walter Clare Lord of Caerwent and Unkle to Gilbert Strongbow Earl of Strigul 1131. this Gilbert was Lord of Chepstow and Strigul Castle in Monmothshire part of whose ruines yet remain who for his much keeping of that Castle was commonly called Earl of Strigul he gave Doglesdon to the Church of Worcester and in a certain deed where he gave Lands to an Abbey Gilbert de Gurney Richard Son of the Earl and Henry Maltravers being witnesses he is entitled Earl of Pembrock and Lord of the Rape of Penensel his Unkle Walter de Clare was Lord of Caerwent in Monthmoshire and the Marsh of Leigh by Tunbridge And founded Tyntern Abbey in Wales not far from Strigul 1131. This Gilbert the fourtenth of King Stephen 1149. had been Earl of Pembrock and Strigul ten years whose armes were Or three Cheverens Gules a labell of five B. But to return to our History the King therefore sent for Gilbert Earl of Strigul who was a Valiant and worthy Knight to whom he said thus Thou hast been divers times a suitor to me to have some Lands in Wales and now I give thee all the Lands and Inheritance of Cadogan ap Blethyn win it and take it Gilbert received it joyfully and thanked the King and gathered forces and landed in Caerdiganshire and brought the Country to his subjection without any opposall where he builded two fair Castles one towards Northwales upon the River Ystwyth at the Sea shoar a mile from Lhanbadarn an other towards Dynet upon the River Teini at a place called Dyngerant where Roger
great Army to Caerdigan and first he fortified the Castle of Stratmeryc and afterwards the Castle of Humphrey of Dyny of Dynerth and Lhanristyd when these Castles were well manned and fortified VValter Clifford who had the Castle of Lhanyndhyfir made a road to the roads of Rees and returned with a booty after the slaughter of some of Rees his men Upon this Rees sent to the King to complain and to have a Redress who had only fair words and nothing else for the King winked at the faults of the Englishmen and Normans and punished the Welshmen cruelly Rees seeing this begirt the Castle of Lhanyndhyfri and in short space wan it And Enedon the son of Anarawd Rees brothers son being a lusty Gentleman and desirous to make his Countrey free from servitude and perceiving his Unkle to be discharged of his Oath to the King laid siege to the Castle of Humphrey and by force wan it putting the whole Garrison to the sword wherein he found Horses and Armour to furnish a great number of men Likewise Rees seeing he could enjoy no part of his inheritance but what he obtained by the sword gathered his power and entred Cardigan left not a Castle standing in the whole Countrey of those which his enemies had fortified and so brought all under his subjection Wherewith the King being highly offended returned to South Wales and when he saw he could do no good he suffered Rees to enjoy all that he had gotten and took pledges of him to keep the peace in his absence and then returning into England he sailed into Normandy and made Peace with the French King But the next year Rees Prince of South Wales did lead his power to Dynet and destroyed all the Castles that the Normans had fortified there and afterward laid siege to Caermarthyn which when Reignold the Earl of Bristoll the Kings base son heard he called to him the Earl of Clare and his brother in law Cadwalader the brother of Prince Owen with Howell and Conan Prince Owens sons and two other Earls and came to raise the siege with a great Army whose coming Rees stayed not but betook him to the Mountains called Kefu Rester and there kept himself and they camped at Dynwyl hîc and built a Castle there who after they could not heard of Rees returned home without doing any notable act year 1160 In the year 1160 dyed Madoc ap Meredith ap Blethyn Prince of Powis at Winchester This man was ever the King of Englands friend and was one that feared God and relieved the poor his body was conveyed honourably to Powis and buryed in Mynot He had by his wife Susanna the daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales three sons Gruffith Maylor Owen Elise and a daughter also called Marred he had base sons Owen Brogynton Kynric Evelh and Endon Evelh which base sons were not basely esteemed for with the other they had part of their Fathers inheritance and so had others through Wales if they were stout and of noble courage And here I think it convenient to declare how Powis land came to be divided into so many parcels and thereby weakned and brought under the Normans before the rest of Wales Meredyth son to Blethyn ap Convyn Prince of Powis had two sons Madoc of whom we spake and Gruffith between whom Powis was divided Madoc had that part which was called Powis Vadoc which part again was subdivided into three parts betwixt his three sons Gruffith and Maylor had Bromfield Yale Hope Dale Manhewdwy Mochnant ù Rhayard Chirk Glynlhayth and Glyndoverdwy Owen Vachan had Mechain Iscoyd And Owen Brogynton had Dynmael and Edeyrneon The other part of Powis called after Powis Wenwynwyn was the part of Gruffith ap Meredyth after whose death his son called Owen Civilioc enjoyed it The Lordship of Powis before King Offa's time reached Eastward to the Rivers Dee and Severn from a right line from the end of Broxen hills to Salop with all the Country betwen Wy and Severne whereof Brochwel Yscithroc was possessed but after the making of Offa's ditch the plain Country toward Salop being inhabited by Saxons and Normans Powis was in length from Pulford bridge Northeast to the confines of Caerdiganshire in the parish of Lhanguric in the Southwest and in breadth from the furthest part of Cyvilioc Westwards to Elsmere on the Eastside This Country or principality of Powis was appointed by Roderike the great for the portion of his third sons Anarawd and so continued entirely untill the death of Blethyn ap Convyn After whom although the Dominion was diminished by limiting parts in severality amongst his sons Meredyth and Cadogan yet at length it came wholy to the possession of Meredyth ap Blethyn who had issue two sons Madoc and Gruffith between whom the said Dominion was divided Madoc married Susan the daughter of Gruffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales and had that part which was after called from his name Powis Vadoc which dominion and signiory was divided and so forth see Mr. Powel fol. 216. The same year Cadwalhon ap Madoc ap Ednerth was taken by his brother Eneon Clyd and delivered to Owen Prince of Northwales A help to English History printed by Abel Roper MDCIL who sent him to the Kings Officers to be imprisoned at VVinchester from whence he escaped presently after and came to his country The year next following dyed Meiric Bishop of Bangor Bangor another of the Bishopricks of VVales is of antient standing but by whom founded saith this Author not yet known the Cathedral there is dedicated by the name of St Daniel who was Bishop there about the year 516 Bangor which being cruelly defaced by the wretched Rebel Owen Glendour was afterward repaired by Henry Dean who was once there Bishop The ruine of this bishoprick came in the time of bishop Bulkhey a blessed Reformer questionlesse who not content to alienate and let out lands Sacriledge by miracle punished made a sale also of the bells and going to the Seashore to see them shipt in his return was stricken with a suddain blindnesse This Diocess containeth in it the entire Country of Carnarvon wherein Bangor standeth and the whole Isle of Anglesey together with parts of Denbigh Merioneth and Mongomery and in them to the number of 107 Parishes whereof 36 impropriated It hath moreover in it three Archdeaconries viz. of Bangor Anglesey and Merioneth one of which is added to the bishoprick for support thereof This Bishoprick was valued in the Kings books 131 l. 16 s. 4d. and answereth for the Clergies tenth 151 l. 14s 3d. q. Bishops of Bangor An. Ch.  516 1 St. Daniel  2 Hernaeus translated to Ely 1120 3 David 1139 4 Maurituis  5 Gulielmus  6 Guido alias Gwianus 1195 7 Albanus 1197 8 Robertus de Salopia 1215 9 Caducan alias Cadogan 1236 10 Howel 1267 11 Richardus 1306 12 Anianus  13 Cadogan II. 1306 14 Griffith 1320 15 Lodovicus 1334 16
Black Prince about 300 years ago without deductions amounted to 4681 l. 12 s. 5 d. q. is now worn and wasted to the sum of 1865 l. 8 s. 10 d. ob q. and with the ordinary deductions and reprizes taken out of it at this present in charges fees to Officers and other Reprizes is brought to the sum of 1335 l. 2 s. 3 d. ob q. Which small sum also as the Revenue was to Queen Eliz. was much lessened for that a greater sum in the whole amounting yearly to 1789 l. 13 s. 2 d. which did partly arise by reason of the allowance of the diet of the councel of the Marches being yearly 1106 l. 13 s. 4. the fees of the Barons of the Exchequer in Wales the Auditors fees Woodwarps fees Receivers fees Surveyers fees and for the portage of money was charged as well upon this Revenue of the Prince as upon other Lands or Revenues belonging to the Crown within the several Counties of Wales Prince Henry Mr. Holl. pag. 247. James King of Scotland onely son and heir of Henry Stewart King of Scotland the name of Stewart here first presenting it self as concerning the right of succession to the Crown of England I think is convenient to shew unto my Readers out of Mr. Hollenshed the descent of that Noble Antient and Regal Family which hath much of the Welsh blood in it Mackbelih after he had obtained the Crown of Scotland by indirect means fearing the posterity of Banquho a Nobleman whose children and off-spring the three women told should enjoy the Crown and sway the Regal Scepter invited the father Banquho with his son Fleance to his Palace to supper but caused certain of his wicked adherents and Ministers treacherously to murther them before they entred his Court which assascination fell too heavy upon the father for there he lost his life the son by the Divine assistance escaped the massacre and having intelligence by some private friends in the Palace that his life was sought after to avoid the further peril he fled into Wales where by reason of his carriage proportion and Court-like behaviour he found such courteous entainment that better he could not desire from the Prince the Courtiers admire his gallantry the Ladies his person his pleasing and charming behaviour the Princes daughter is so ensnared with Cupids bewitching allurements that she admits him privately into her most secret closet where what hearts content they enjoyed unseen by any but themselves appeared openly to the world in a short time by the encrease and exuberance of Her belly in revenge whereof Fleance is slain and the poor Lady kept in miserable condition for having thus suffered her self to be deflowred by a stranger at the last she was delivered of a son named Walter who within a few years proved a man greater in courage fortitude than any commonly was found although he had no better bringing up by his Grand-fathers command than amongst the baser sort of people howbeit he shewed ever from his infancy that there reigned in him a certain stoutness of stomack ready to attempt high enterprises It chancing that falling out with one of his companions after many taunting words which passed between them the other to his reproach objected that he was a Bastard and begotten out of lawful Wedlock which so incensed him that he slew him forthwith This sad accident forced him to leave Wales and betake himself to Scotland to seek some rising fortune there where he happened into the company of certain Englishmen which came thither with Queen Margaret and behaved himself so soberly in all his actions that within a while he grew into high esteem amongst them Not long after by such means raising high esteem he was sent with a great power of men into the Western Isles and other places of the Realm to free the same from the Tyranous and Injurious oppressions there Walter made Steward of Scotland exercised by divers misgoverned persons which enterprise according to his Commission he atchieved with such prudent policy and manhood that immediately upon his return to the Court he was made Lord Steward of Scotland with assignment to receive the Kings Rents and Duties out of all parts of the Realm This Walter Steward had a son named Allan Steward who went after with Godfrey of Bulloin Duke of Loraine and Robert Duke of Normandy Alan Steward son to King William Conquerour into the Holy Land at what time they with other Western Princes advanced thither An. 1099. Allan had issue Alexander Steward that founded the Abbey of Pasley of St. Benedicts Order who had issue Walter Steward Alex. Steward Walter Steward whose valour was notable in the battail of Largis This same Walter had issue two sons the one named Alexander who fought right valiantly at the foresaid battail in defence of his father Alexander and Robert brothers from whence the Earles of Iénox and Dernly John James Walter inhetor of Bonkil The Crown of Scotland comes to the family of the Stewards John Steward alias Robert Rex Duke of Albanie and the other named Robert Steward got the lands of Terbowtoun and married the heir of Cruckeistoun from whom descended the Earles of Lenox and Dernly Moreover the abovenamed Alexander that founded Pasley had divers other sons as John Iames c. howbeit they took new sirnames by the names of those lands unto the which they succeeded The abovenamed Iohn Steward after the death of his brother Iames married the heir of Bonkil a virgin of great beauty and had by her Walter Steward that inherited the lands of Bonkil Runfrew Rothsay Bute and Stewardrown after that his father Iohn was slain at Fulkyrk He married Margery Bruce daughter to K. Robert Bruse by whom he had issue K. Robert the second of that name This Robert the second took to wife one Isabel Mure a Damosel of excellent beauty she was daughter to Sr. Adam Mure Knight and brought forth issue three sons three daughters the eldest son called John Steward and by some Robert who succeded immediately after his fafathers death in the Kingdom The second called Robert was made Earle of Fyfe and Mentrith also he was created Duke of Albanie and ruled the realm of Scotland under the name of Governour by the space of XV. years The third son named Alexander was Earle of Buchquane and Lord of Bondzenot The Earle of Buckquane a Steward The eldest daughter was married to James the son and heir of William Earle of Dowglas the second daughter was maried to John Dunbar brother to George Dunbar Earle of March and was made to his more honour Earle of Murray He got on her one only daughter that was married to the Dowglas and so Dowglas came to be Earle of Murray The third daughter was married to John Lyoun that was made afterward Lord of Glammis Moreover the foresaid Robert that was the first of the Stewards The Earle of Athol and
Stratherne Stewards which ware the crown of Scotland married Eufamia daughter to the Earle of Ross and had by her two sons Walter E. of Athol and David E. of Stratherne This Walter solicited Robert D. of Albanie to slay David Steward D. of Rothsay After that James the first was returned out of England Nec lex est justior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire sua he did what he could to move him to put to death all the lineage of the said Duke still being in hope after the dispatch of his Kinsmen to come to the crown himself which hope moved him to procure his Nephew Robert Steward and Robert Graham his daughters son to murder K. James the I. also for the which crime the said Walter was convicted and destroyed with all his sons His brother David Earle of Buchquane died without issue and so the lands of both those brethren returned again to the crown without any memory of their blood Sir Robert Steward Duke of Albanie married the E. of Lenox daughter and had by her 3 sons Walter Alexander and James Duke Murdo himself with his first two sons were slain at Striveling by K. James I. and the third brother James in revenge thereof burnt Durbertane and was after chased into Ireland where he deceased without issue Robert the third of that name married Annabel Drommound daughter of Sir John Drommound of Stobhal Knight and had by her David and James the first dyed in Faulkland and the other attained the Crown and was called James the first and married the Lady Jane daughter to John Beauford Earle of Somerset in England he had by her two sons born at one birth Alexander and James the first died young the second reigned by the name James the second James the first had also 6 daughters James the 1. his issue the eldest whereof was given in marriage to the Dolphin in France the second to the Duke of Brittain the third to the Lord Feir the fourth to the Lord of Dalkeith the fifth to the Earle of Hantley and the sixt had no succession James the II. married Margaret daughter to the Duke of Gelderland and begot on her three sons and two daughters The first succeeded him in the Kingdom and was called James the III. the second named Alexander was Duke of Albanie and married the Earle of Orkneys daughter and had by her Alexander that was after Bishop of Murray and then parting with her went into France where he married the Countesse of Bullogne and begot on her John Steward D. of Albany who was Governour of Scotland many years in the minority of James V. The 3 son John Steward was E. of Marr whose chance was to be slain in the Cannogat in a Bath-fat The first daughter of James the second was married to the Lord Boyd who had by her a son that was slain by the Lord Montgomery and a daughter that was married to the Earle of Cassels After the death of the Lord Boyd she was married to the Lord Hamilton and by that means was the house of Hamilton decorate with the Kings blood which they have well requited in the late transactions The other sister was married to the Lord Creichton James III. married Margaret daughter to the K. of Denmark of which marriage was born James IV Alexander Bishop of St. Andrews and D. of Albanie and John Steward E. of Marr which two died without issue James the IV. married Margaret daughter to K. Henry VII of England and by her had James the fifth who marrying first the Lady Magdaline daughter of Frances the French King had no issue by her for that she dyed in the year next after her coming into Scotland and then shortly after the said James the fifth married the Lady Mary de Lorayne Dutchesse of Longuile a widdow and by her had he issue Mary Queen of Scotland that took to husband Henry Darnely alias Steward by whom she had issue Charles James after King of England only son as I said before of Henry King of Scotland and of Queen Mary his wife Dowager of France and heir of Scotland who married Anne daughter of Frederike the second King of Denmark by whom he had Issue Henry Frederike created Prince of Wales at whose creation Charles Duke of York Sir Rab. Bartu Lord Willoughby of Earesby after Earle of Lindsey and General for K. Charles at Edgehil and there slain Sir William Compton Lord Compton after Earle of Northampton Sir Grey Bridges Lord Shandos Sir Francis Norris Lord Norris of Ricot after E. of Berks. Sir Will. Cecil after Earle of Salisbury Sir Allan Percy brother to Henry Earle of Northumberland Sir Francis Mannors after Earle of Rutland Sir Thomas Somerset brother to the Earle of Worcester and Viscount Cassel after in Ireland Sir Thom. Howard second son to the E. of Suffolk after E. of Berks. Sir John Harrington son to John Lord Harrington of Exton Prince Charles Charles Duke of Albanie Marquesse of Ormond Earle of Roth and Lord of Ardmanoch the third son of James King of great Brittain was created Duke of York at Whitehal on Tueseday the sixt of January 1604. and after on the 4 of November 1616. he was likewise at Whitehal created Prince of Wales Earle of Chester c. at whose Creation these Knights of the Bath were made James Lord Matravers eldest son to Thomas Earle of Arundel Algernon Lord Percy after Earle of Northumberland James Lord Writchesly eldest son to the Earle of Southampton Kt. Theophilus Lord Clinton after Earle of Lincolne Edward Seymore L. Beauchamp grandchild to the Earle of Hertford George Lord Berckley after Lord Berckley Henry Lord Mordant after Earle of Peterborough The Earle of Mar his eldest son after Lord Fenton Sir Henry Howard after Lord Matravers c. Sir Robert Howard fift son to the Earle of Suffolk Sir Edward Sackvile after Earle of Dorset Sir William Howard sixt son to the Earle of Suffolk Sir Edward Howard seventh son to the said Earle after Lord Escricke in Yorkshire Sir VVilliam Seymor second son to the Lord Beauchampe after Earle of Hertford Sir Montague Bartu son to Robert Earle of Lindsey and after Lord VVilloughby and Earle c. Sir VVilliam Sturton son to the Lord Sturton Sir William Parker after Lord Morley and Monteagle Sir Dudley North after Lord Morth Sir Spencer Compton after Earle of Northampton Sir William Spencer after Lord Spencer Sir Rowland St. John brother to Oliver Earle of Bullingbrook Sir John Cavendish second son to William Earle of Devon Sir Thomas Nevel son to Henry Lord of Abergavenny Sir John Roper after Lord Tenham Sir John North brother to the Lord North. Sir Henry Cary Viscount Faulkland Prince Charles This Prince had the title of Prince of Wales but not the Investure and Creation as had his father and Uncle a thing formerly practised as before is shewed and is also of the Welsh blood though born in England by the line of King James from
Stumpuis partly by petitioning and supplications but without doubt not without emptying his bags obtained that the Church might stand which is now the Parish-Church This Town saith a new Author Anonymus was by Antoninus in his Itinerarium called Cunetio from the River Kennet and Marleburgh as being seated in a Chalkie soyle which in some places still well called by the name of Marle Here Hen. 3. held a Parliament in which were many statutes and as the preamble saith right necessary for the peace and tranquility of the people now a title of honour and hath given stile of EARLE to 1. James L. Ley L. Tr. Created Earle of Marlborough 1. Car. Feb. 7. 2. Henry Ley. 3. James Ley E. of Mal. Argent a cheveron between 3 Bears Heads Couped Sable The next place which Mulmutius Dunwallo built was The-Vies which Florentius Wigorniensis calls Divisio another De vies and Nubrigensis Divisae Here was a Castle built by Roger the rich Bishop of Salisbury for scituation and workmanship giving place to none but Fortune is a Goddesse both blind and fickle for he who even now was the second Head in the Kingdom by the frowns or rather avarice of K. Stephen is not only plunder'd of his vast and almost inexhaustible Treasure but also cast into a loathsome Gaol where the poor old Man with Hunger and what with Afflictions and Miseries betwixt the fear of death and torments of his life would feign have died yet knew not how to die Mulmutius Dunwallo having with great honour rul'd the Brittains by the space of forty years yielded to death what was mortal and was buried in the Temple of Troynovant which he had built leaving his two Sons Bellinus and Brennus joyntly to succeed in the Kingdome BELLINVS and BRENNVS BEllinus and Brennus the two Sons of Mulmutius began to Reign joyntly as Kings of great Brittain in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred and eight To Bellinus according to the agreement of Partition fell Loegria Cambria and Cornwall that is to say England Wales and Cornwall and to Brennus by the same accord all the Land beyond the River of Humber This Partition according to Policron and others pleased and gave full content to both the Brothers for the space of five years The reason why Bellinus had the bigger and better share was Quia erat primogenitus Vitus fol. 209. Trojana consuetudo requirebat ut dignitas Haereditatis perveniret ad eum Hanc vero fuisse consuetudinem Trojanorum scribens Herodotus ad Alexandrum ait non erat perventurum Regnum cum Hector major natu Herodotus virtute praestantior quam ille Regnum defuncto Priamo suscepturus esset Idem scribit Messala Corvinus in libello de Augusti Progenie Troem à quo dicta Troja est Regem Trojanorum habuisse duos filios Ilum Assaracum atque Ilum defuncto patre quod ipse major natu esset obtinuisse Regnum Messala Corvinus Denique is qui dicitur Dares Phrygius in libro de excidio Trojae narrat Priamum commone fecisse filios quos habebat multos ut majores natu minoribus Imperarent ex quo sequitur ut minores majoribus subderentur Adeoque Legem hanc latam in Anglia esse propter ius istud Trojanae consuetudinis atque servatam esse scribit Andreas Taraquellus in praesatione primogenitorum Andreas Taraquellus Bartolus Bartolus ad l. 1. Codicis de summa Trinitate Consuetudinis est in Anglia inquit ut primogenitus succedat in omnibus bonis Because he was eldest and the Trojan custome was that the Inheritance should fall to the Eldest and this to have been the Trojan custome sheweth Herodotus saying that the Kingdom of Troy after the death of Priamus was not to fall to Alexander but to Hector who was both the more Valiant and also the Eldest by birth and Messala Corvinus in his Book of the Progeny of Augustus confirms as much saying that King Tros from whom Troy took its Name had two Sons Ilus and Assaracus and that Ilus his Father being dead for that he was the Eldest enjoyed the Kingdom and he also who is called Dares Phrygius in his Book of the Destruction of Troy tells us That Priamus who had many Sons admonished them that the Elder should have Power over the Younger c. and this Law to have taken root in England as being derived from the old Trojan Custome affirmeth Andreas Tarquellus After five years thus in brotherly love and amity expired Brennus supposing himself injured and intending to enlarge his Territories raised Forces and in hostile manner sets upon his brother Bellinus but as his quarrel was unjust so the sequel proved Fatal for he was totally Routed and to save his life compelled to fly into Armorica now called Little Brittain or as Gaufride will have it into the Country of the Allobroges others affirm that without the knowledge or consent of his Brother he sailed into Norway and there married the Daughter of Elfunge or Elfinge Duke of that place which tydings when they were brought to Bellinus he seized into his hands all the Lands of Brennus and fortified his Cities Castles and other strong Holds with his own Garrisons Fame quickly brought these Rumours to Brennus who neglected no time but gathering a strong Army of Norwegians ships himself for his own Principality where by the way he was met by Guilthdacus or Guiclidacus King of Denmark who being inflamed with the Love of the Lady whom Brennus had espoused awaited his coming and being now met the two Fleets strongly encounter each other and in short time come to grappling a most bitter and bloudy Conflict ensueth But the Danish King having surprized the Vessel in which the Object both of his love and anger was imbarked though he had totally dispersed his Enemies Navy pursued no further thinking himself highly rewarded with the beautiful prize which he had already taken and there withal resolves as a most victorious Conqueror to return to Denmark yet whether Fortune to shew her accustomed fickleness and cross the Designs of such as think themselves most fortunate and her darlings or rather Neptune incensed to see so violent a Rape committed within his watery Kingdom with his revenging trident turned up and undermined the calm waves and ploughed them into hideous ridges such a tempest arose that the Heavens were darkned the winds blustered the billows roared and made such a hideous noise that Guilthdacus each minute expected to be swallowed up in the mercilesse surges of the angry Ocean this death-threatning storm continued for the space of five dayes at the end whereof the skies began to clear the winds and waves to leave their Violence and the Danish King to understand he was driven upon the coasts of his Enemies Country for his tattered Fleet so much as was left of it was now arrived in Northumberland Belâ—inus to make good that he had already begun and
Lancastrian Family placed upon a Hill and fortified with an ancient Castle unto which many neighbouring and adjacent Villages belong being called the Leith Liberty and Forrest of Pickering which Hen. the Third gave unto his Son Edmund Earl of Lancaster Guido contrary to all other Writers saith that Peredurus was cruel and tyrannous to the Brittains and slew and murthered many of the Lords he caused him to become so odious that they rebelled and slew him ELIDVRVS ELIDVRVS now the third time is made King 4941 and ruled four years in the same equity and Princely demeanor as formerly and then died and was buried at Caerleil or Karlile The Count Palatine gives this Character of him Vir omni genere virtutum praestantissimus animi magnitudine superans ipsam fortunam adeo neque prosperis rebus elatus neque adversis dejectus esse voluit diceres fortunam cum eo certasse ut Rex esset neque tamen animum ejus infractum constantemque vincere potuisse quo magis abnuebat eo frequentius ad regendum vocabatur sic honor gloria persequentes fugit fugientes persequitur ut umbrae Corpus after his death he left a son named Gorgonianus or Gorbomannus to succeed him Fabian in the beginning of his Chronicle hath a Caveat for the Computation of years from Elidure to Lud which I thought convenient here to insert To make Histories agree and to keep the order of years begun we must observe as Ranulph of Chester tells us with divers others that Julius Caesar made Brittain Tributary to Rome anno 48 ante Christum natum or in the year of the World 4150. which was in the ninth year of Cassabilane From whence taking from the time of Cassabilane before the Tribute paid nine years and for the time of the Reign of Lud eleven years it followed evidently that King Lud did begin his Reign in the year of the World 5131. and so from the last year of Elidure unto the beginning of the Reign of Lud or in the time of the 33 Kings there passed 186 years GORBOMANNVS GORBONIANUS or Gorbomannus the Son of Regni and Grandchild to Elidure was Crowned King of Brittain in the year of the World 4945. The Count Palatine speaking of Elidurus saith Ei Gorbonias filius Gorboniani succedit Patri similis in rebus prudenter agendis mira fuit in omnes benevolentia ejus atque modus ipse quo in administratione rerum utebatur fecit illum universis esse gratissimum Itaque cum post annos decom quibus optime regit moreretur publico luctu plangebatur honoréque funeris publico majore quam caeteri Sepulchro condebatur Gorbonias the Son of Gorbonian succeeded his Uncle in the Kingdome treading in the same paths of good Government his Benevolence was admirable and his Decorum in managing his Affairs so plausible that he was generally beloved of all men Thus when he had ruled with universal good liking of every one he departed this life whose death was lamented with a general and most doleful mourning and his Funerals celebrated with greater pomp and solemnity then any of his Predecessors MARGAN R. Vitus f. 204. MORGAN or Margan succeeded in the Kingdome he was a younger Son of Archigallo and governed this Land for the space of fourteen years in great Peace and Tranquillity following the Example of his Forefathers EMERIANVS EMERIANVS Brother to Margan succeeded sed longe diversis moribus but of quite an other temper and disposition for he swayed all things after his own Will and Pleasure and not according to Reasons law and dictamen practising Tyranny towards both Nobles and Commons which rendered him so odious unto all that after the space of seven years he was deposed and quite thrust out of all Government and Princely Authority YDWALLO YDWALLO or Ivall the Son of Vigenius was promoted unto the Regal Throne who being admonished by the evil Example of Emerianus had learn'd a better Lesson he was very indulgent to his Subjects avoiding Tyranny as the very bain of Princes and administred justice and equity to all men bonos in officio continebat upholding honest men in their places malos qua debuit indignatione persequebatur correcting the wicked with condigne punishment and like a good Steward relieved as well the one as the other in their wants and necessities After thus he had Reigned twenty years he forsook this World and left to succeed him RIMO RIMO the Son of Peredurus a Prince adorned with true and perfect Nobility and ambitious of Honour who after he had most happily Reigned sixteen years highly renowned for his heroick Spirit and activity and glory in martial Affairs he gave way to Geruntius to ascend the Regal Throne GERVNTIVS GERVNTIVS the Son of Elidure with the general good liking of all is Crowned King of Great Brittain a great lover of goodnesse Peace and justice he commanded a strict observation of the Laws by which means he preserved Unity and Concord among his people and became highly honoured of them yet for all this after he had reigned twenty years death seized upon him to the great grief and sorrow of all the Kingdome leaving to succeed him his Son CATELL or CATELLVS CATELL or Catellus the Son of Geruntius is solemnly invested with the Royal Ensigns of the Brittish Monarchy a great Benefactor to the poor and distressed insomuch that he caused all Oppressors to be taken and hanged Were such justice put in Execution in these our dayes such heavy Oppressions would not break the hearts of honest-meaning men This King Reigned in great peace ten years and then died COILVS COILVS Reigned ten years in great peace and quiet PORREX PORREX the second a vertuous and gentle Prince Reigned five years CHIRIMVS CHIRIMVS or Chirinus through his drunkennesse Reigned but one year drunkennesse is a vice so far unbeseeming a Prince that we commonly say As drunken as beggers yet in our potting times it is now come to that passe that we say as drunk as a Lord drunkennesse hath been the overthrow of Chieftaines Armies and Kingdomes as we may read in sacred writ of Holofernes that great General Borro Holofernes jacebat in lecto nimiae ebrietate sopitus when Judith percussit bis in cervicem ejus abscidit caput ejus and the Army of the Gaules under the command of Breunus was full of wine when Camillus totally routed it neither had our Brittains so foolishly been Massacred and lost their Kingdome to the Saxons had they not been drunken at the entrapping banquet on Salisbury Downes or Plaines for as there are three things which do maintain and uphold a Common-wealth and for the which God doth blesse and prosper it the first Religion and Piety towards God the second Justice and Equity amongst men the third good Discipline in Life and Manners so there are three other things contrary to those which do subvert Common-wealths and provoke the wrath of God against them The first is
seem to say Petrus Cluniacensis and I may add Tertullian tells us that the people of Brittain in the North where the Scots now be were the first Christians Petrus Cluniacensis calleth the Scots the more ancient Christians and hereto we may add the testimony of Tertullian who saith the places of the Brittains which were unaccessible to the Romans were subject to Christ and addeth of the Brittains the name of Christ reigned among them which our English late Authors in their Theatre confirm in this manner It is certain that the Brittains were with the first Converts and Tertullian who lived within 200 years of Christs Nativity sheweth no lesse who the more to provoke the Jewes against whom we wrote calleth to witnesse the fruitful encrease of the Gospel of salvation through many countries and nations and among them nameth the Brittains to have received the word of life The power whereof saith he hath pierced into those places whither the Romans could not come Whence Petrus Cluniacensis supposeth the Scottish men the more ancient Christians The like have other late Writers and those their cited Authors which cannot be otherwise verified but by applying this preaching of the faith of Christ unto those Northern Brittains either by this their holy Countryman St. Mansuetus the first Bishop we â—â—n find of this Kingdome or some other associate of his sent hither at or about that time 〈◊〉 the same holy Apostle St. Peter for in all other respects whether we speak of the Brittish Christians here in the time of Claudius or Nero of which these modern Antiquaries will tell us more hereafter or the coming of St. Joseph of Arimathea in his Religious companions into this Kingdome in the days of Nero or the general conversion of the Kingdome of Brittain unto the trenches of Severus in the time of King Lucius by Elutherius all these were long before the conversion of the Scots in the time of K. Donaldus either by Pope Victor or Zepherinus as Harrison rather supposeth the first time which is assigned by any being in the 203 year of Christ and if it was under Pope Zepherine it was after that time for he was not chosen Pope until the year 209. before which time or the beginning it self of the papacy of St. Victor which was in the year 198. this our Brittain on this side the division had generally and publickly received the faith of Christ And the very words of Tertullian living and dying before the conversion of Scotland within the first two hundred years writing in his book against the Jews that the places of Brittain which the Romans could never conquer or come to did acknowledge Christ and his name did reign in them do manifestly convince it to be so For Tertullian living and writing in Affrica could not possibly take notice of things done here in an Island so far off presently after they were first effected and by no means could either he or any other Writer speak of things done so long after truly to report them done so long before he had been the greatest prophet that ever was St. Claudia of whom mention is formerly made was the daughter of Brittish parents which then lived as Hostages at Rome to the Emperor for this land and Kingdome of Brittain and by that means it was their happiness and honour to give the first entertainment to that blessed Apostle St. Peter at his first coming thither as that Roman tradition of that their house after by marriage with the holy Brittish Lady Claudia Mr. Bro. f. 53.3 their daughter and heir with Pudens the Senator Floren. Wigor Hist an 38. and 60. Stow and Howes and so long after this coming of St. Peter to Rome named the house of Pudens the Senator assures us which I prove by another undoubted tradition of the Romans That St. Peter was 15 years in Rome before St. Paul came thither so writeth Florentius Wigorn with the common consent of Antiquity and Writers both ancient and modern And the Roman Martyrology tells us of this Pudens the Senator Mr. Bro. f. 56. that he was baptized by the Apostles And there calleth him plainly Pudens the Senator Father of St. Pudentiana the Virgin so that being baptized by the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul for no others were then in Rome this could not be by true account untill at the soonest fiveteen years after St. Peter was first received in that house And if the Martyrology could carry that interpretation to understand by the Apostles in the plural number one Apostle one proper constructoin yet by this Friendly and more then lawful interpretation he must needs be baptized by St. Peter and so also a most unprobable thing that divers Christians then being in Rome St. Peter would first commit himself to a Pagan or Catechumen and he and the Christians of Rome make such an house their chiefest Church and place of Assembly for Divine things Martial 11. Epig. 54. de Clau. Ruff. This Lady Claudia though born of Brittish parents yet was not born in this Isle Martiall saith Claudia caeruleis cum sit prognata Brittannis but not in Brittain only she is called of the same Poet peregrina a stranger as the children of strangers usually are termed both with us and other people And the time of her birth and age so convince And whereas we find no memory at all of any natural parents of St. Pudens dwelling at Rome we have sufficient testimony not only of the permanent dwelling both of the Father and Mother of St. Claudia there but that by divers probable Arguments they dwelled in that very House where Pudens continued with them after his marriage with their Daughter and were holy and renowned Christians although their native Country of Brittain hath hitherto been almost wholly deprived of their honour and so must needs be by the Roman Tradition the first entertainers of St. Peter in Rome for as a late Author writeth Pudens and Claudia were two young persons but faithful Christians Godwin com of Brittain p 17. c. 3. 2 Tim. 4.21 at that time unmarried when Paul writ the second Epistle unto Timothy which was in the last year of Nero as all men suppose that I have read except Baronius and that they were married in the later end of Vespasian or about the beginning of Domitian Therefore Pudens being so young in the end of Nero his Empire although we grant him then newly married yet this was by all Computations at the least 24 years after the coming of St. Peter to Rome and so it could not possibly be Pudens but the parents of Claudia our Brittains that entertained first St. Peter in their House at Rome who for certain being Brittains of Noble Order and Degree and living in Rome as Hostages by all judgement they enjoyed more freedome and liberty in matters of Religion then the Romans did at that time The Emperors of Rome then nor long after intermedling with the
satisfaction for his former lewd living but casting that aside he seemed with his coule or hood and habit to cast away also all shame and feeling of piety and religion and humanity it self much more Gildas setteth down which drew upon the Brittish Nation the just vengeance which almighty God poured down upon them Cadwane Cadwane Duke of Northwales was made Soveraign of the Brittains Howe 's fol. 56. who gave strong battail to Ethelfred King of Northumberland and forced him to entreat for peace After which concord being made they continued all their life time loving friends he reigned twenty two years The Kingdom of the East Saxons began under Ercheminus about the year of Christ 614. The Kingdome of Mercia or middle England began under Penda 626. Hollenshed also saith that he reigned 22 years though saith he some allow but 13 and was slain by the Northumbers Cadwallin Cadwallin the son of Cadwane ruled over the Brittains How fol. 56. b. St. Martins in London by the Brittains he warred strongly upon the Saxons and made Penda King of Mercia tributary to him He reigned 48 years and was buryed in London in the Church of St. Martine neer unto Ludgate which Church was then new-founded and builded by the Brittains in anno 677. An other Authour maketh a longer relation of this Kings reign Holl. fol. 166. Edwin was not son to Ethelfred but to Alla or Ella and tells us that Cadwallo for so he calls him and Edwin the son of Ethelfred were brought up in France being sent thether unto Solomon King of Brittain by Cadwane when they were very young for this he cites Gaufred and that after their return into this land when they were made Kings Cadwall of the Brittains and Edwin of the Northumbers there continued for the space of two years great friendship betwixt them till at lenghth Edwin required of Cadwall that he might wear a Crown and celebrate appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland as well as Cadwall did in his Country Cadwall taking advice in this matter at length by the perswasion of his Nephew Brian he denyed to grant unto Edwin his request wherewith Edwin took such displeasure that he sent word unto Cadwall that he would be crowned without his license since he would not willingly give it whereunto Cadwall answered that if he did so he would cut off his head under his Diadem if he presumed to wear any within the confines of Britany Hereupon discord arising betwixt these two princes they began to make fierce and cruel war each of them against the other and at length joyning in battail with their main armies Cadwall lost the field with many thousands of his men and being chased fled into Scotland and from thence got over into Ireland and finally passed over the seas into Brittain the lesse called Armorica where of his cofin King Solomon he was courteously received and at length obtained of him ten thousand men to go with him back into his Country to assist him in recovering his lands and dominions the which in the mean time were cruelly spoyled wasted and plundered by K. Edwin The same time Brian the Nephew of Cadwall whom he had sent into Brittanie a little before to kill a certain Wisard or Southsayer whom K. Edwin had gotten out of Spain named Pelitus who by disclosing the purpose of Cadwall unto Edwin greatly impeached Cadwals designes he fortified the City of Exceter meaning to defend it till the coming of Cadwall whereupon Penda King of Mercia besieged that City with a mighty army purposing to take it and Brian within it Cadwall advertised hereof immediately after his arrival hasted towards Exceter and dividing his people into four parts set upon his enemies and took Penda and overthrew his whole army Penda having no other shifs to escape submitted himself wholly unto Cadwall promising to become his liegeman and to fight against the Saxons in his quarrel And this Penda being subdued Cadwall called his Nobles together which had been dispersed abroad a long time and with all speed went against Edwin King of Northumberland and slew him in battail at Hatfield with his son Osfride and Godbold King of the Isles of Ockney who was come thither to his aid By this it should appear that Fabian hath gathered amiss in the account of the reigns of the Brittish Kings for it appeareth by Beda and others that Edwin was slain in the year of our Lord 634. And whereas Fabian attributeth that act and divers others unto Cadwan father of Cadwall yet both Galmon and Beda with the most part of all other writers say that it was done by Cadwall Hollenshed ut sup Harding assigneth but 13 years to the reign of Cadwall and declareth that he died in the year of our Lord 606. in the which year as he saith Cadwall began his reign which opinion seemeth best to agree with that which is set down by others But to return to Cadwall and his acts as we find them recorded by the Brittish writers After he had got this victory against the Northumbers he cruelly pursued the Saxons as though he meant so far as in him lay to destroy the whole race of them out of the land of Brittain and sending Penda against King Oswald who succeeded Edwin though at the first Penda received the overthrow at Havenfield yet afterwards Cadwall himself highly displeased with that chance King Oswald slain pursued Oswald and fought with him at a place called Bourne where Penda slew the said Oswald After that Oswald was slain his brother Osunus succeeded him in the government of the Northumbers and sought the favour of Cadwall now ruling as King over all Brittanie and at length by great gifts of gold and silver and upon his humble submission he obtained peace till at length upon disgust Penda obtained leave of Cadwall to make wars against the said Osunus in with Penda himself was slain Then Cadwal granted after the space of two years Vlfridus the son of Penda should succeed in the Kingdom of Mertia Cadwall absolute Prince of all Brittain and thus Cadwall ruled things after his own will and pleasure and finally when he had reigned as before is said as years he departed this life the 22d. of November His body being embalmed and dressed with sweet confections was put in a brazen Image by mervalous art melted and cast the which being set on a brazen horse of excellent beauty the Brittains erected aloft upon the West gate of London called Ludgate in sign of his victorious conquests and for a terror to the Saxons Cadwallader Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains descending from the Noble race of the Trojans by extreme plagues of death and famine was driven to forsake this his native Country and Kingdom and to sojourne with a great number of his Nobles and Subjects with his Cosin Alan King of Little Brittaine which is called in the Brittish tongue Lhydaw Of the first inhabiting of
delcent from the Princes thereof to a Woman named Hawys the daughter of Owen ap Gruffith as appeareth in the history following Arustly and Cyneloc came to the Baron of Dudley and afterwards was sold to the King The third part belonging to Mathrual was the land between Wye and Severn containing four Cantreds and 13. comots Cantref Melienith hath these Comots Cery Swithygre Lewalalht and Glin Seithon Cantref Elnel hath these Vwch Minydh and Lhochdhiffnog Cantref Yclawdh these Dyffryn Teyveydat Swydhygnogen and Pennwelht Cantref Bulcht hath these Swidhi Vam Drenlies and Isyrwon Of this part there is at this day some in Montgomery shire some in Radnorshire and some in Brechnockshire in this part and in the Lordship marching to it which although at the time of the division which was in the time of the last prince were not in his subjection yet to this day speak Welsh and are called Wales and in those comots are these Towns and Castles Montgomery in these late wars utterly destroyed and levelled with the ground though the Lord thereof Edward Lord Herbert took armes with the Parliament called in Welsh Trevaldwin a small Town but a most beautiful Castle a little before its desolation much and magnificently enlarged and adorned by the said Lord and for situation almost impregnable The Castle of Clun called Colunwy which is the Earles of Arundel who amongst his other honourable titles is Baron of Clun and Oswestrie The Town of Knighton in Welsh Trefilcawd The Castle of Cymaron Presthyn in Welsh Lhanandras The Town and Castle of Radnor in Welsh Maesynet at this day the Shire-Town The Town of Knighton and the Castle of Huntington called in Welsh Y Castelh Mayn which were the Bohunes Earles of Hereford and after the D. of Buckingham Castle Haye Payne Lhanvair in Buecht These Lordships with Brechvoc and Aberganeny were belonging to the Bruses Lords of Brechnoch and after came divers times and by sundry means to the Bohunes Nevils and Mortimers and so in this Kingdom or Territory were found 14 Cantreds and 40 comots Two of these parts which are Powis and Gwineth are at this day called Northwales and divided into six shires Môn called Anglesey Carnarvon Merioneth Denbigh Flint and Montgomeryshire are of all on the Northside Severn saving a piece of Montgomeryshire And here I think it good to let the Reader understand what the Brittish Chronicle saith of Northwales which affirmeth that three times by inheritance it came to Women first to Stradwen Daughter to Cadvan ap Conan ap Endaf and wife to Coel Godeboc Mother to Genaw Dyvor and Gwawl The second time to the same Gwawl wife to Edeyrn ap Padern and mother to Cunetha Wledic which Cunetha inhabiting in the North parts of England about the year 540. after the incarnation of Christ and hearing how the mingled Nations of the Irish Scots and Picts had overrun the sea shore of Cardigan which was part of his inheritance sent his sons thither to enjoy their inheritance of the which Tibiaon his eldest son died in Man which land the said Irish Scots had wan for Gildas saith that of the Children of Clam Hector which peopled a great part of Ireland Yscroeth with his people inhabited Dalrienda which is a part of Scotland Builke with his people came to Man but I think it good to put in Gildas words which saith Builke cum filiis suis inhabitavit Euboniam Insulam vulgo Manaw quae est in meditullio maris inter Hiberniam Brittanniam that is to say Builke with his Children inhabited the Isle Eubonia commonly called Manaw for so it is and was named in Brittish which lyeth in the middle of the sea between Ireland and Brittain This was not called Mona as Polidore saith The children of Bethoun inhabited Demetia which is Southwales with Gwyr and Cydweli till they were chased thence by the children of Cunetha thus far Gildas Therefore the Sons of Cunetha being arived in Northwales as well I think being driven by the Saxons as for their inheritance divided the Country betwixt them And first Micreaon the son of Tibiaon the son of Cunetha had Cantref Meireaon to his part Arustel ap Gwenetha had cantref Arust Caradoc ap Cunetha had Caerdegion now Cardiganshire Dunod had cantref Dunodic Edeyrn had Edeyhnion Mael had Dynmmael Coel had Coleyon Dogvael had Dogvelyn Ryvaon had Rivomoc now Denbighland Eneore Yrch had Caerneon in Powis Vssa had Maesuswlht now Oswestre For surely that which they say commonly of Oswald King of Northumherland to be slain there and of the Well which sprung where his arm was carried is nothing so For Beda and all writers testify that Penda slew Oswald at Maserfelt in the Kingdom of Northumberland and his body was buryed in the Abbey of Bardney in the province of Lindsey on the third part of Lincolnshire which Province gave title of Earl to Robert Bertu Lord Willoughbie of Eresbie who was created being Lord great Chamberlain of England by inheritance Earl of Lindsey 2. Car. Novemb. 29 and was General for the King at Edgehill where he valiantly lost his life in his Masters right and quarrel bearing for his arms Argent 3 battering rams barwise proper headed and hooped Azure The ruines of Bardney Abbey are yet to be seen But to my former matter these names given by the sons of Cunetha remain to this day After this the Irish-Picts and Scots which the Brittains called Y Gwidhyl Phichiaid which is to say the Irish Picts did overrun the Isle of Môn and were driven thence by Caswalhon Lhawhir that is Caswalhon with the long hand the Son of Eneon Yrch ap Cunedha who slew Seoigi their King with his own hands at Lhany Gwydhyl which is the Irish church at Holyhead This Caswalhon was father to Maelgon Gwyneth whom the Latines call Maglocunus Prince and King of Brittain In this time was the famous Clerk and great wise man Talissyn Ben Beirdh that is to say the chiefest of the Beirdh or wise men for this word Bardh in Caesars time signified as Lucan beareth witnesse such as had knowledg of things to come and so it signifieth at this day This Maelgon had a son called Run in whose time the Saxons united Gurmund unto Brittain from Ireland who had come hither from Affrick who with the Saxons was the utter destruction of the Brittains and slew all that professed Christ Gurmund an Affrican King of Ireland was the first that drove the Brittans over Severne and was the first that drove them over Severne This Run was father to Beli who was father to Jago for so the Brittains call James who was father to Cadvan and not Brochwell called Brecyval as the English Chronicle saith for this Brochwell Ysgithroc that is long-toothed was chosen leader of such as met with Adelred alias Ethelbertus Rex Cantiae and other Angles and Saxons who put Brochel twice to flight not far from Chester and cruelly slew 1000 Priests and Monks of Bangor with a great
well hired ships of Ireland as his own and upon the suddain he brake up his Camp and gave both ships and men leave to depart The same year Rees Prince of South Wales laid siege to the Castle of Aberteini Aberteini Castle won by the Welsh and wan it and laid it flat with the ground and likewise wan Pilgeran and razed it At which time he took prisoner Robert the son of Stephen his cozen German son to Nost his aunt who after the death of Girald had married Stephen Constable and so returned home with great honour and rich spoil About the same time died Lhewelin son to Pr Owen a worthy Gentleman and of great towardness In the year ensuing the Flemmings and Normans came to West Wales with a great power against the Castle of Cilgerran which Rees had fortified and laid siege unto it assaulting it divers times but it was so manfully defended that they returned home as they came and shortly after they came before it again where they lost many of their best men and so departed The same year Owen Pr. of North Wales laid siege to the Castle of Basygwerke which the King had fortified and in short time wan it and dismantled it About the same time Jorwerth Goch was spoiled of his lands in Powis by Owen Cyvelioc the son of Gruffith ap Meredyth Lord of Powis by Owen Bachen second son to Madock ap Meredyth which lands they divided betwixt them so that Owen Cyvelioc had Mochant above Rayader and Owen Vachan Mochnant beneath Rayader In the year 1167 Owen Prince of North Wales Cadwalader his brother and Rees Prince of South Wales brought an Army into Powis against Owen Cyvelioc and wan all his lands and chased him out of the Countrey and gave Caereneon to Owen Vachan the son of Madoc ap Meredyth to hold of Prince Owen and the Lord Rees had Walwern because it stood within his Countrey but within a while after Owen Cyvelioc returned with a strength of Normans and Engleshmen to recover his Estate and laid siege to the Castle of Caereneon and winning the same burnt it to the ground Also the same year the aforesaid Princes Ruthlan Castle taken by the Welsh which King Henry had built Owen Rees and Cadwalader laid siege to the Castle of Ruthlan which the King had lately built and fortified where the Garrison defended it most valiantly yet the Princes would not depart until they had won it which they did at two months end and razed it After that they gat the Castle of Prostatyn and destroyed it and then brought all Tegeugl to Owens subjection and returned home with much honour In the year following Conon the son of Prince Owen slew Vrgeney Abbot of Lhwythlawr and Lhawthen his nephew In this year also Robert the son of Stephen the Constable was released out of his cozens the Lord Rees his prison and was sent to Ireland with great Forces to Dermot the son to Murchart who landed at Lochgarmon and won it and so went forward In the year 1169 Meyric ap Adam of Bueltht was murthered in his bed by Meredyth Bengoch his cozen german A Giants body 50 foot found Also this year there were found the bones of a Gyant cast up by the Sea of such length that his body seemed to contain after fifty foot in height This year Owen Gwyneth the son of Gruffith ap Conan Prince of North Wales passed out of this life he had Governed his Countrey well and worthily 32 years This Prince was fortunate and victorious in all his affairs he never took any enterprise in his hand but he atchived it he left behind him many children begotten by divers women which were not esteemed by their mothers and birth but by their prowess and valiantness first he had by Gladus the daughter of Lhywarch ap Trahevern ap Caradoc Jorwerth Drwyndwn that is Edward with the broken nose Conan Maelgon and Gwenlhian by Christian the daughter of Grono ap Owen ap Edwin he had David Roderik Cadwalhon Abbot of Bardsey and Augharat wife to Griffith Maylor he had besides these Conan Lhewelin Meredyth Edwal Run Howell Cadelh Madoc Enâ—on Cynrwric Philip and Riryd Lord of Clocharn in Ireland by divers women of whom Run Lhewelyn and Cynwric died before their father the rest you shall hear of hereafter THE Third Book OF THE ANTIENT MODERN BRITTISH AND WELSH History TO THE Right Honourable JOHN Earle of Bridgwater Baron of Elsmere Viscount Brackley Earle of Carnarvon Lord Dormer RICHARD Earle of Carburie Baron of Emlyn ANTHONY Viscount Montague c. JOHN Lord Abergavenny WILLIAM Lord Sturton c. HENRY Lord Arundel Count of the sacred Roman Empire and Baron of Wardor The Earles of BRIDGWATER Edward Earle of Derbie Dorothea Daughter of Tho. Howard Duke of Norfolk by which Match this Honourable Family of the Egertons by Frances Daughter and Coheir to Ferdinando Earl of Derbie descends from the Brittish line as appears at large in the Pedegree of the D. of Norfolk Henry Earle of Derbie Margaret Daughter to Henry Clifford Earle of Cumberland and Elinor his wife Daughter and Coheir of Charls Brandon Duke of Suffolk and his wife Mary Queen of France Daughter to K. Henry VII and Elizabeth Heir general to the house of York and Lord Mortimer whose Ancestour Ralph Lord Mortimer married to Gladis sister and Coheir  to David and Daughter to Llewelin Prince of Northwales and K. Henry VII was Grand-childe to Owen Tudor lineally descended from the Princes of South Wales Ferdinando Earle of Derbie Alice Daughter to Sir John Spencer Knight Sir John Egerton Knight of the Bath Lord President of Wales Earle of Bridgwater Baron of Elsmere Frances Daughter and Coheir of Ferdinando Earle of Derbie John Egerton Baron of Elsmere Viscount Brackley Earle of Bridgwater now living 1661. BRIDGWATER but more properly in old Records Burgh-walter that is VValters Burgh so called of VValter de Duaco who came in with the Normans and had fair Lands given him in those parts by the Conquerour is a Town in Sommersetshire A great and populous Town descending by the Chawworths to the Dutchy of Lancaster and was by King Henry VIII Heir of the Lancastrian line adorned with the Title of an Earldom which he bestowed on Sir Henry Daubeney son of that Giles Daubeney who came in with King Henry the Seventh from Brittain in France and was by him made Lord Chamberlain and Knight of the Garter which Henry dying without issue this Title lying long asleep was afterwards awakened in another Family ordained to be a Seminary for the Earles of Bridgwater Henry Lord Daubeney created Earle of Bridgwater 30. Hen. John Egerton Viscount Brackley created Earle of Bridgwater May 15. Lord President of Wales c. John Viscount Brackley created Earle of Bridgwater now living 1661. The Earle of CARNARVON THis Right honourable Earle now living is the worthy Heir of that most worthy and Heroick Robert Lord Dormer and Earle of
noblemen of his time died and was buryed at Mynot Mynot he had by his wife Angharat the daughter of Owen Gwyneth Prince of Northwales a son called Madoc who succeeded his father in that part of Powis called Powis Vadoc And prince Rees wone the Castle of Dinevowr and Owen his son died a Stratta florida or Stratflar and shortly after Maelgon his other son escaped out of prison where his Father had kept him long time Lhanhayaden castle won But the Lord Rees got the Castle of Lhanhayaden and the Country about At which time Gruffith ap Cadogan died In this year Roderike the son of Owen Gwyneth by the help of Gothrick King of Man entred the Isle of Môn and reduced it under his subjection bâ—â— before the End of the Year the sons of his brother Conan chased him out of the Isle and got it to themselves And at this time Maelgon laid sieg to the Castle of Strat-Meiric and wan it Stratmeiâ—c castle takeâ— Also Howell surnamed Saer that is to say the Saxon or English because he had served in England son to the said Prince Rees got the Castle of Gwys by surprise and took Philip de Gwys his wife and his two sons Prisoners therein Gwys castle surprised but because he had more Castles then he could well defend he determined to dismantle the Castle of Lhanhayaden whereof the Flemmings having notice gathered all their power and came thither the day appointed to raise the Castle and fiercely assaulted the men of Howel and Maelgon and put many of them to the sword the rest escaping by flight neverthelesse shortly after they gathered new forces and came thither again and demolished the Castle without any impeachment Lhanhayaden castle destroyed Upon this Anarawd another son of Prince Rees moved with filthy ambition and covetousness of lands took his two brethren Howel and Madoc prisoners under pretext of friendship and put out both their eyes year 1194 In the year 1194 Maelgon the son of Prince Rees gave his brother Anarâwd the Castle of Stratmeiric for his prisoners whom he set at liberty then Rees himself did re-edifie the Castle of Rayader Gwy and his own sons laid wait for him and took their father prisoner fearing least he would revenge their cruel and unnatural deeds The sons imprison the father but by means of Howel who was blind he escaped out of prison and took the Castle of Dynevowr which Maelgon kept and destroyed it also the sons of Cadwalhon wan the castle of Rayader Gwy and fortified it for themselves At this time Lhewelin the son of Jorwerth Drwyndwn who was the eldest son of Owen Gwineth prince of Northwales remembring his right and title to his inheritance in Northwales although his father had been dis-inherited by his brother David called together his friends by his mother which was Marred daughter of Madoc ap Meredyth P. of Powis also drew to his side his cosens the sons of Conan ap Owen Gwineth then challenged the rule of Northwales and entered the country to whom the people willingly yielded and took him for their Lord and so without bloodshed he received all Northwales into his protection and tuition except three castles which his Uncle David kept by force of Englishmen in whom was all his trust having married Emma daughter of Jeffrie Plantagenet Earle of Ancow and Cevoman or Maine and Maud the Empresse and sister to King Henrie the second and thus David lost his land and Lewelin got his birthright 1194. Quarterly G. and Or 4. Lions passâ—guar counterchang Lhewelin or Leoline magnus After that Lhewelin or Leoline the great as Mr. Mills call him the son of Jorwerth Mr. Mill f. 306 had gotten the principality of Northwales Roger Mortimer came against him with great forces to Melyenith and built the castle of Cimaron and so brought that country under his command Cimaron castle built and chased away the two sons of Cadwalhon ap Madoc Lords of that place About the same time Rees and Meredith the sons of Prince Rees being two valiant Gentlemen gathered together a company of Madcaps or Hectors as we now call such hair-baind fellows and came to Dinevowr and got the Castle from their Fathers Garrison and after that exployt they went to Cantred Bachan where the whole Country received them gently and delivered the castle to their hands which much displeased their father who laid privy wait for them and by treason of their own men who were afraid any further to incense their Lord and Prince they were taken and brought to their father who presently secured them Caermarthyn destroyed The year ensuing Prince Rees listed a gallant army and laid seige to the town and castle of Caermarthyn and in short time wan them both spoyling and destroying the same and then returned with great plunder Clun Castle fired by P. Rees After which conquest he conducted the same forces to the Marshes before the Castle of Clun which after a long siege and many a fierc assault he got and burned it and from thence he marched to the Castle of Radnor and likewise wan it to the defence wherof caâ—â— Roger Mortimer and Hugh de Says with a strong army of Normans and English but Reâ—â— who had won the Castle determined not immure his men within the walls but boldly like a worthy Prince came into the plain besides before the town and gave them battail where his men although for the most part unarmed and not accustomed to field discipline declared that they descended of Brittish blood A brave resolution of the Welsh and a famous victory against the English whose title the Noble Roman Emperours did so much desire as a token of manhood and worthinesse chosing rather to dye with honour in the defence of their Country then to live with shame and did so worthily behave themselves that their enemies forsook the field with great losse of their men whom Rees pursued till the benefit of the night shadowed them with her darknesse and forthwith he laid siege to the Castle of Paine in Elvel and got it Thither came William de Bruse the owner thereof Payne Castle taken The Archb. of Cant. led an army against the Welsh Matth. Park pag. 138. and made peace with Rees from whom he received the same Castle again Not long after the Archbishop of Canterbury whom Richard who was then King of England had substituted his Lieutenant in England came with a huge power towards VVales and laid siege to the Castle of Gwenwinwin at the pool but the garrison defended the hold so manfully that he lost many of his men but could do no good for the Welshmen made him know that it was better and more secure to be in a pulpit then a pavilion and that the miter and helmet fitted not the same head yet the Martial Prelate would not so be bafled but sent for Miners and set them on work to
prison but shortly after by Gods help they broke the prison and escaped home In the year 1199. Maelgon son to prince Rees laid seige to the Castle of Dinerth and getting it slew all the Garrison which his brother Gruffith had left to defend it But at the same time Gruffith won the Castle of Cilgarran and fortified it This year as King Richard did view the Castle of Chalens in France The end of K. Rich. and beginning of K. Johns reign he was strucken with a quarrel and sore wounded whereof he dyed the ninth of Aprill and left by his Testament John his brother Inheritor of all his lands having no respect to Arthur who being son of an elder brother was right heir The year after Gruffith son of Conan ap Owen Gwineth a noble man died Noblemen buried in Monks habits and was buryed in a Monks Cowle at the Abbey of Conwey and so were all the Nobles for the most part of that time buried This year Maelgon ap Rees seeing he could not well keep Aberteini The Key of Wales sold treacherously of very spite to his brother and hatred to his Country sold it to the Englishmen for a small summe of money being the very key of VVales The same year Madoc the son of Gruffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield did build the Abbey of Lhannegwest called in English commonly Vale Crucis The year 1201 Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth Prince of North Wales being a proper young Chivalier banished out of the land his cozen Meredyth the son of Conan ap Owin Gwyneth suspected of Treason and seized the Cantref of Lhyyn and Evvyonyth to his own hands which were Conans lands Then shortly after Meredyth the son of P. Rees was slain at Carnwelhion by Treason year 1202 whose elder brother Gruffith seized upon his Castle in Lhanymdhfri and all his lands this Gruffith was a wise and discreet Gentleman and one who was like to bring all South Wales to good order and obedience who in all things followed his Fathers steps whom as he succeeded in Government so did he in all Martial prowess and nobility of mind but cruel fortune which frowned upon that Countrey suffered him not long to enjoy his land this Prince died on St. James day ensuing and was buried at Stratflur with great solemnity he left behinde him a son called Rees as right Inheritor of South Wales whose mother was Maud the daughter of William de Bruse Gwerthryneon Castle destroyed The next year after certain Lords of Wales got the Castle of Gwerthryneon which was Roger Mortimers and laid it plain with the ground Then Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth P. of North Wales calling to memory his Estate and Title and how all the other Princes by the Ordinance of Roderike the great and by the lawes of Howell Dha ought of right to acknowledge the King or P. of North Wales as their liege Lord and hold their lands of him and of none other notwithstanding that of late years by negligence of his predecessors they had not used their accustomed duty but some held of the King of England A Parliament called by the P. of Wales others ruled as Supreme power within their own Countries wherefore he called a Parliament of all the Lords in Wales which for the most part appeared before him and swore to be his liege men but Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis would not come thither nor take the Oath of Allegiance which disobedience the Prince declared to all his Lords and they all thought that it was requisit that Gwenwynwyn should be constrained by force to do his duty or else to lose his lands yet one of his Lords named Elise ap Madoc would not condescend to hurt Gwenwynwyn in any case but departed away suddenly Then Lhewelyn came with an Army to Powis but by the means of certain learned men Gwenwynwyn and the Prince were made friends and Gwenwynwyn became the P. his liege man and confirmed that both by Oath and Writing Then Lhewelyn remembring how Elise ap Madoc had served him seized upon all his lands and Elise fled the Countrey but afterward yielded himself to the Princes mercy who gave him the Castle of Crogen and 7 townships withal Concerning the by-name Crogen And here I think it not amiss to declare the cause why the English call the Welsh Crogens as a word of reproach and despite but if they knew the beginning they should find the contrary for in the voyage which K. Henry the 2d. made against the Welshmen to the Mountains of Berwin as he lay at Oswalstred certain of his men that were sent to try the passages as they would have passed Offas ditch at the Castle of Crogen at which place there was and is at this day a narrow way through the same ditch these men I say as they would have passed the strait Adwy'r bedhev were met withal and a great number slain as doth appear by their graves there yet to be seen whereof the strait beareth the name Therefore the Englishmen after not forgetting the slaughter used to cast the Welshmen in the teeth in all their troubles with the name of Crogen as if they would signifie unto them thereby that they should look for no favour but rather revenge at their hands which word in process of time grew to be taken in another signification Balani Castle fortified Lhanymdhyfri Castle taken Now when Lhewelyn had all those parties in good order he returned to North Wales and by the way fortified the Castle of Balani Penlhyn about the same time Rees son of Gruffith ap Rees by right P. of South Wales got the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri upon Michael-Mass day The Prince of Wales marrieth the King of Englands Daughter About this time Lhewelyn Prince of Wales took to wife Jone daughter of K. John with whom the said King gave the Lordship of Elsmere in the Marches of Wales The year next ensuing the aforesaid Rees ap Gruffith ap Rees got the Castle of Lhangadoc and fortified it to his own use but shortly after Maelgon his Unkle with his friend Gwenwynwyn came with a stronge power before the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri and wan it and from thence they removed to Lhangadoc year 1204 got the same likewise suffering the garrison to depart Gwenwynwyn From thence Maelgon went to Dinerth and finished the Castle which he had begun there About this time David sonne of Owen Gwyneth after that Prince Lhewelyn his nephew had set him at liberty fled to England and got an Army to restore him to his antient estate in North Wales but all in vain for his nephew met him and overthrew him in the way whereupon he returned into England and there shortly after died for very grief and sorrow The next year to this Howell the son to Prince Rees being blind was slain at Cemaes by his brother Maelgons men and buried by his brother Gruffith at Stratflur Although this Maelgon in those dayes bare
affairs of the holy Land should be neglected that it would please you also to help with your Councel with the Lord and King that he would use us and order us according to the peace agreed upon the which we will no way infringe And if he will not hearken to your Counsel therein which God forbid that you will hold us excused for we will no waies as much as lieth in us procure the trouble and disquietness of the Realm And if it may please you to give credit to our messengers which we do send to the King at the day by him to us appointed to alledge our lawful excuses in those things which they by mouth shall on our part shew unto You resting to do Your will and pleasure if it please You to write again Dated at Talybont the eight Day of October Anno 1275. year 1277 Shortly after the King came to Chester Thom. Walsh fol. 6. Mar. West p. 364. willing the Prince to come thither and do him homage which when the prince detracted to do the King gathered an army to compel him thereto The year following the Countesse of Leicester wife to Simon Montfort which remained at a Nunnery in France sent her daughter to Wales to marry the prince as it was ' agreed betwixt them in her Fathers time and with her came her brother Admerike and a courtly company who fearing the coast of England bent their voyage to the Isle of Sylly whereby chance they met with four ships of Bristol which set upon and took them and brought them to the King who entertains the Lady houourably sending her brother to be kept prisoner in the castle of Corff from whence he was removed to the castle of Sherburne Then the King prepared two armies A prodigious Omen to Wales whereof the one he conducted himself to Northwales as far as Ruthlan and fortified the castle and the other he sent with Paganis de Camurtiis a worthy Souldier to Westwales they burned and destroyed a great part of the Country and this year itrained blood in divers places of Wales The year ensuing the Lords of Southwales came to the Kings peace The jangling of the Welsh among themselves their utter overthrow and did him homage and delivered the Castle of Stratywy unto the K. Lieutenant Paganus de Camurtli if his sirname be not mistaken for de Cadurcis it is the family of Chaworth in Notinghamshire This Prince understanding this and seeing that his own people had forsaken him sent to the King for peace which was agreed upon these conditions 1. First that all such as the Prince kept prisoners of the Kings and for his cause should be set at liberty 2. Item That the Prince should pay to the King for his favour and good will 50000 marks to be paid at the Kings pleasure 3 Item That four Cantreds should reman to the King and his heirs for ever which Cantreds I think were these cantref Ros where the Kings Castle of Teganny stood cantref Rynivioc where Denbigh cantref Tegengl where Ruthlan standeth and cantref Dyffryn Clwd where Ruthin is 4 Item That the Lords Merchers should quietly enjoy all the Lands that they had conquered within Wales 5. Item That the Prince should pay yearly for the Isle of Môn or Anglesey 1000 marks which payment should begin at Michaelmas then next ensuing and that also he should pay 5000 marks out of hand and if the prince dyed without issue the Isle should remain to the King and his heirs 6 Item That the Prince should come to England every Christmas to do the King homage for his lands 7. Item That all the Barons in Wales should hold their lands of the King except 5. in Snowden who should ackowledg the Prince to be their Lord. 8. Items that he should for his lifetime enjoy the name of Prime and none of his heirs after him so that after his death the foresaid five Barons should hold of the King and none other 9. Item that for the performance of the Articles the prince should deliver for hostages ten of the best in Wales without imprisonining disinheriting or time of deliverance determined and also the King to choose twenty within Northwales that should take their oathes with the prince for performance of these Articles and if the Prince should swerve from any of them and being thereof admonished would not amend and redresse the same Th. Walsh p. 7 they should forsake him and become his enemies The prince was also bound to let his brethren enjoy their lands in Wales of whom David had long served the King whom the King had made Knight contrary to the manner of Wales and had given him in marriage the daughter of the Earle of Derby whose first husband was lately deceased to whom the King gave Denbigh in Northwales and 1000l lands therewith And his other brother Roderike was lately fled to England out of prison and Owen the third was delivered at this composition This peace was concluded in the Kings absence who appointed one his Commissioners Mr. Trinet Sol p. 787. to wit the Lord Ripiost to take an oath of him and authorised the said Robert Antonio Becke and William de Southampton Prior Provincial of the Friers predicant Commissioners appointed on his behalf to receive the like oath of the said Lhewelyn for whose part Theodor or Tudor ap Ednivet and Grono ap Heilin were Commissioners At this time the King builded a Castle at Aberystwyth returned into Eng. with much honour unto whom the people granted a subsidy of the twentieth part of their goods towards his charges in this war The year following the marriage was celebrated at Worcester betwixt Elianor daughter to Simon Montfort and prince Lhewelin where the King Queen and the most part of the Nobility of England were present Also the year after Roger Mortimer set up at Killingworth a round table for a hundred Knights to be exercised in the feats of arms The Kof Scots sucâ—ouâ—eth against the Welsh and thither resorted many Knights from divers Countries At this time the King of Scots did homage to K. Edward and obtained the Kings letters that his succours in the last wars of Wales were not done by the name of service but good will The peace concluded betwixt the prince of Wales and the King of England did not long continue by reason of the severe and strict dealing of such Officers as the King appointed rulers in the Marshes and the Inland country of Wales who hunting after their own gains oppressed the Inhabitants burdening them with new exactions contrary to the custom of the country and also shewing themselves too much affectionate and partial in matters of controversy betwixt party party especially when any Englishman had to do in the matter which poling and partiality did altogether alienate the hearts of the people from the King of England so that they had rather die then live in such thraldom whereupon assembling
did take out of the several profits of those years and did cast them all into one summe which they again divided into three several parts equally esteeming one of the said three parts to be the just yearly value of the said Revenues Communibus annis that is one year with an other And in this account we find no other charges allowed then the Justics Fees only This survay and account made about 200 years past is here inserted to the end it might appear what the Revenues of this Principality alone was The said prince of VVales surnamed the Black prince Mr. Mills fol. 315. after many fortunate victories atchieved by him having subdued a great part of France and having taken John the French King prisoner at Poyteers in France and after that also having vanquished Henry at Naveroit in Spain and restored Peter King of Aragon dyed in June Sr. John Dodridge fol. 15. leaving behind him Richard his Son and Heir born at Burdeux and thereof sirnamed Richard of Burdeux Richard of Burdeux Richard son of Edward Prince of VVales was after the death of his father created prince of VVales at Havering at Bower the 20. day of November in the 50. year of King Edw. III. his Grandfather he was after the death of his said Grandfather K. of England by the name of K. Rich. II. This Richard saith Judge Dodridge sirnamed of Burdeux son and heir of Edward the black prince was created prince of VVales ut supra being about the age of XI years and upon Christmas day next following the said King Edward the third caused the said prince being his Nephew or Grandchild to sit at the table in high estate above all his Uncles being the Kings sons as representing the personage of the heir apparent to the Crown and gave to him the two parts of all the said principality Counties Lordships Castles and the most of the said Lands which belonged to the said black prince and the reversion of the third part thereof the possession of the third part there of then being to the mother of the said Rich. to her dowry with an 113 l. 6 s. 8 d. yearly rent payable by the Earle of March as a Fee Farm for the Lordship and Lands of Buelht and 85. marks for the fee farm of the Castle Lordship and Land of Montgomery with the vacations of Bishopricks excepting the Fees of the Baron Marchers of VVales who do alwaies hold of the Crown in Capite and excepting the avoydance of the Bishoprick of St. Davids in VVales which anciently also belonged to the Crown with the like limitation to the estate viz. To the said Richard and his heirs Kings of England It seemeth that these Lordships of Buelht and Montgomery being formerly granted to Edw. the black prince were before this time given away in Fee Farm After the death of the said K. Edw. III. which was in the 51 year of his reign the Kingdom of England descended to the said Richard being his grandchild and he was crowned King thereof by the name of Richard the second and in the 23 year of his reign he resigned his Kingdom or to speak more truly was deposed against his will and after by a violent death departed this life without issue Henry of Monmoth Henry of Bullingbrock a Town or Castle in Lincolneshire and heretofore belonging to the Lacies Earles of Lincolne and by the marriage with Alice daughter and heir of Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne to Thomas Earle of Lancaster this with the residue of the lands of Lincolne became united and incorporated with those of Lancaster It hath been almost ever since this time one of the honours as we call them of the Crown of England but never made any honorary title unto any family untill King James conferred it on Sr. Oliver Saint John who possibly might affect to be thence denominated as fetching his descent from the Lady Margaret Beauchamp Grandmother to King Henry the seventh the heirs of the Lancastrian family by which descent likewise as well as otherwayes he is descended of the Welsh blood and beareth for his armes Argent on a chief gules two mullets Or but to our former matter this Henry of Bullingbrock by the name of Henry IV. who was formerly Duke of Lancaster and Hereford Earle of Derbie Leicester and Lincolne son and heir of John of Gaunt the fourth son to K. Edward the third by his Charter dated at Westminster 15. Octob. in the first year of his reign created Henry his eldest son prince of Wales and invested him in the said princely Ornaments viz. the chaplet gold ring verge or rod of gold To have and to hold unto him and his heirs Kings of England And by another Charter of the same date gave to him and his heirs Kings of England the said principality with the Lordships Sr. John Dodridge fol. 17. Castles and Lands before mentioned in the Charter made to the black prince together with four Comots in the county of Caernarvon viz. the comots of Ifaph Vghaph Nantconwey and Crewthin not named before and the reversion of the Lordship of Haverford with the prices of Wines there and of the Lordships of Newin and Pughby in Northwales which Thomas Percy then Earle of Worcester held for term of life of the demise of King Richard the Second together also with the reversion of the county and lordship of Anglesey in Northwales and the castle of Beaumarish and the comots lands tenements and hereditaments belonging thereunto which Henry Percy son of the Earle of Northumberland then held for terme of his life of the demise of the said K. Hen. IV. and by an act of Parliament made in the first year of K. H. IV. whereby the Dutchy of Lancaster is severed from the Crown of Engl. the stile of the said P. is declared to be this P. of Wales D. of Aquitane of Lancaster of Cornwal E. of Chester for the said K. H. IV. having been himself D. of Lancaster before his assumption to the Crown and knowing that the name of Duke being an inferiour dignity would extinguish and be surrounded in the crown as in the superior desired as by that Act of Parliament appeareth not only to separate the said Dutchy of Lancaster and the lands thereof from the Crown to the intent he might still hold the said Dutchy as his antient patrimony if he were put from the Crown it being but his new acquired dignity but also to preserve the said stile Mr. Lhoyd fol. 385. title and name of Duke of Lancaster in his posterity which as the said act affirmeth his ancestours had so worthily borne and sustained In the time of K. Rich. II. there was one Owen ap Gruffith Vachan descended of a younger son of Gruffith ap Madoc Lord of Bromfield This Owen was first a Student at the Lawes of the Realme and became an utter Barrister or an apprentise of the law as they term it and served King Richard in