away from him But Owen was so amorously inexorable with respect to the Woman that he would by no means part with her however upon her request he was willing to restore Gerald his Children back again which forthwith he performed But when Richard Bishop of London whom King Henry had constituted Warden of the Marches being now at Shrewsbury heard of this he sent for Ithel and Madoc the Sons of Ryryd ap Blethyn Persons of great Power and Interest in Wales promising them very considerable Reward besides the Government of the whole Country in case they could bring Owen and his Father Cadwgan either dead or alive to him that he might revenge that hainous Affront which they had done to the King of England With them he joyned Lhywarch the Son of Trahaern ap Caradoc whose two Brethren Owen had slain and Vchtryd the Son of Edwyn which Four undertook to answer effectually the Bishop's Proposal to them But when they had united their Forces and began in an hostile manner to destroy the Country as they passed along Vchtryd sent private notice before him requiring all who were any way desirous of their own Safety to come to him because no Quarters was to be given to any that was found in the Country The People being thus so opportunely forewarned began to bethink with themselves how they might best avoid so eminent a danger and thereupon some fled to Arustly others to Melienyth some to Stradtywy and some to Dyfed but in this latter place they met with very cold welcom for Gerald who was then very busie in exercising Revenge upon that Country falling in among them cut off a considerable number of them The like fate befel them who escaped to Arustly and Melienyth for Walter Bishop of Hereford having raised an Army in defence of the Town of Caermyrdhyn before he could come thither accidentally met with these stragling Fugitives and knowing what Country they belonged to without any further Ceremony he fell upon them and put most of them to the Sword But they who fled to Stradtywy were gently received by Meredith ap Rytherch and such as resorted to Vchtryd were kindly entertained by him and so he marched with the rest of his Confederates to Rydcors Castle it being the general opinion that it was best to enter the Country by Night and to take Cadwgan and Owen his Son by surprize But Vchtryd reflecting upon the Difficulty of the Country and how easily they might be entrapp'd by an Ambuscade dissuaded them from any such nocturnal Undertakings and told them that it was far more advisable to enter the Country in good order when the light gave the Soldiers opportunity to keep and observe their ranks But whilst they were thus considering of the most effectual way to carry on their purpose Owen got a Ship at Aberdyfi bound for Ireland and escaping thither avoided the narrow search that was the following day made for them But when neither Father nor Son could be found all the fault was laid upon Vchtryd who had dissuaded them from falling upon the Castle unexpectedly and therefore all they could do since their escape was to burn and destroy the Country which they did effectually excepting the two Sanctuaries of Lhanpadarn and Lhandewi Brefi out of which however they took several Persons who had escaped thither and carried them away Prisoners to their several Countries But Owen with them who were accessary to the burning of Rydcors Castle being fled into Ireland desired the Umbrage and Protection of King Murcart who received him very gladly upon the account of their former acquaintance for Owen during the War betwixt the Earls of Arundel and Chester and the Welch had fled to King Murcart and brought him very rich Presents from Wales Cadwgan all this while lay privately in Powys but thinking it impossible to continue there long undiscovered he adjudged it his wiser way to send to King Henry and to declare his Innocency and Abhorrence of that Fact which his Son had committed The King was easily persuaded that the old Man was guiltless and wholly ignorant of his Son's Crime and therefore he gave him permission to remain in the Country and to enjoy the Town and Lands he received by his Wife who was the Daughter of a Norman Lord called Pygot de Say But his Lands in Powys were otherwise distributed for his Nephews Madoc and Ithel finding what Circumstances their Uncle Cadwgan lay under upon the account of his Son Owen they divided betwixt themselves such Lands as he and his Son possessed in Powys though afterwards they could never agree about the equal distribution of it To counter-ballance this Cadwgan made such Friends to the King of England that upon paying the Fine of 100 l. he had a grant of all his Lands in Cardigan and a power to recall all the Inhabitants who had rubb'd off upon the publication of the King 's late Order That no Welchman or Norman should dwell in Cardigan Upon information of this grant to Cadwgan several of them that retired to Ireland returned again privately to Wales and lurkingly remained with their Friends but Owen durst not appear in Cardigan by reason that his Father had received that Country from King Henry upon condition that he would never entertain or receive his Son nor by any means succour him either with Men or Money Nevertheless Owen came to Powys and would fain be reconciled to the King and make an Attonement for his late Misdemeanour but he could find no body that would venture to speak in his behalf nor make the King acquainted with his desire and willingness to submit And thus being hopeless and full of Despair he could not possibly divine which way to turn himself till at last a very unexpected opportunity offered him means and occasion to oppose the English The matter was this there happened a Difference betwixt Madoc ap Râ—ryd and the Bishop of London Lieutenant of the Marches of Wales about certain English Felons who being under the Protection of Madoc he would not restore at the Bishop's request The Bishop being much offended at Madawc's denyal threatned him very severely and therefore to make all possible Preparations against an ensuing storm Madawc sent to Owen who heretofore was his greatest Enemy desiring his help against the Bishop and by this means being reconciled they took their mutual Oaths not to betray each other and that neither should make a separate Agreement with the English without the Knowledg and Approbation of the other And so uniting their Power they spoiled and ravaged all the Country about them destroying whatever they could meet with which belonged to those they had no kindness or affection for without the least distinction of English or Welch Iorwerth ap Blethyn had been very unjustly detain'd A.D. 1107 in Prison all this time and now King Henry calling to mind what Hardship he laboured under and that he committed him to custody upon no pretence of Reason sent to know
great Penalty to receive him but that they should account him an open Enemy to their Country and endeavour all they could to secure him and to bring him Prisoner before him When Madawc understood this how that his Person was in continual danger whilâ—t he remained there having drawn to him all the Out-laws and Villains in the Country he kept in the Rocks and Mountains devising all the ways and means he could to be revenged upon Iorwerth and so made a private League and Agreement with Lhywarch ap Trahaern who for a long time had been a mortal Enemy of Iorwerths These two Associates having intelligence that Iorwerth lay one night at Caereineon gathered all their strength and came and encompassed the House at Midnight which when Iorwerth's Servants perceived they arose and defended the House with all the Might they could but the Assailants at last putting the House on fire they were glad as many as could to escape through the Flames the greatest part being forced to yield either to the Enemies Sword or the more conquering Fire Iorwerth seeing no remedy but that he must undergo the same Fate as his Men had done chose rather to dye in the presence of his Enemies with his Sword in his Hand than to commit his Life to the cowardly Flames and therefore rushing out with great Violence he was received upon the points of the Enemies Spears and so being tossed into the Fire he miserably perished by a double death As soon as King Henry heard of his Death he sent for Cadwgan to him and gave him all his Brother's Estate being Powys-land and promising his Son Owen his Pardon upon condition he would demean himself quietly and loyally hereafter willed him to send for him back from Ireland King Henry also about this time married his natural Son Robert to Mabil Daughter and sole Heir to Robert Fiz-hamon Lord of Glamorgan in whose Right this Robert became Lord of Glamorgan being before by the King created E. of Glocester by whom the Castle of Cardaf was built But Madawc finding the matter nothing mended and that his other Uncle Cadwgan who lay under the same Obligation to the King of England ruled the Country hid himself in the most private and inaccessible places watching only an opportunity to commit the like Fact upon Cadwgan and to murder him by one treacherous way or another And this he effected in a little time for Cadwgan having reduced the Country to some sort of Settlement and Quietness and restored the Courts of Judicature where he sate in person to administer Justice came with the rest of the Elders of the Country to Trallwng now Pool and having begun to build a Castle he thought to make that the constant Seat of his Habitation Madawc understanding his Design laid in ambush for him in his way to Trallwng and as Cadwgan unconcernedly passed by without the least suscicion of Treachery he suddenly set upon him and slew him without allowing him any time either to fight or escape Then he sent presently a message to Shrewsbury to the Bishop of London the King's Lieutenant in the Marches to put him in mind of his former Promises to him when he chased Owen out of the Country because that the Bishop bearing an inveterate Enmity to Cadwgan and his Son Owen granted Madawc such Lands as his Brother Ithel was possessed of But Meredith ap Blethyn being informed of the death of both his Brothers went in all hast to the King desiring of him the Lands of Iorwerth in Powys which he had lately granted to Cadwgan which the King granted him till such time as Owen should return from Ireland Owen did not stay long before he came over and then going to King Henry he was honourably received and had all his Fathers Estate restored to him whereupon in gratitude of this signal Favour he voluntarily promised to pay the King a considerable Fine for the due payment of which he gave very responsible Pledges Madawc finding himself alone to be left in the lurch and that he had no seeming Power to bear Head against the King thought it also his wisest way to make what Reconciliation he could and therefore he offered the King a very great Fine if he should peaceably enjoy his former Estate promising withal never to molest or disturb any one that was subject to the Crown of England King Henry willing to bring all matters to a settled condition readily granted his Request and conferred upon him all he could reasonably ask for only with this Proviso that upon his peril he should provide for the Relations of them whom he had so basely murthered A.D. 1109 And thus all matters being brought to a peaceable conclusion in Wales the next Year Robert de Belesmo who had been one of the chief Instruments of these Welch Disturbances in that great Rebellion which himself with Roger de Montgomery Earl of Salop and his Brother Arnulph Earl of Pembroke had raised against the King was taken Prisoner by King Henry in Normandy and committed to perpetual Imprisonment in Warham-Castle The Year following Meredith A.D. 1110 ap Blethyn detached a considerable Party of his Men to make Incursions into the Country of Lhywarch ap Trahaern ap Gwyn who was an inveterate Enemy of himself and Owen by reason that by his Aid and Instigation Madawc was encouraged to kill his Uncles Iorwerth and Cadwgan These Men as they passed through Madawc's Country met a Person in the night-time who belonged to Madawc who being asked where his Master was after some pretence of ignorance at last through fear confessed that he was not far from that place Therefore lying quietly there all Night by break of day they arose to look out their Game and unexpectedly surpizing Madawc they flew a great number of his Men and took himself Prisoner and so carrying him to their Lord they deliver'd him up as the greatest Honour of their Expedition Meredith was not a little proud of his Prisoner and therefore to ingratiate himself the more with his Nephew Owen he committed him to safe Custody till he was sent for who coming thither streight Meredith delivered Madawc up to him Owen though he had the greatest reason for the most cruel Revenge by reason that both his Father and Uncle were basely murthered by this Madawc would not put him to death remembring the intimate Friendship and Oaths that had passed betwixt them but however to secure him from any future Mischief he might practise he pulled out his Eyes and then set him at liberty But least he should be capable of any Revenge by reason of his Estate and Strength in the Country Meredith and Owen thought fit to divide his Lands betwixt them which were Caernarvon Aberhiw with the third part of Deuthwfyr These home-bread Disturbances being pretty well abated a greater storm arose from abroad for the A.D. 1111 next Year King Henry prepared a mighty Army to enter into Wales being provoked thereto by the request
to apprehend him But Gruffydh ap Rhys being aware of the Traps laid against him sent to Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales desiring his Assistance and that he might have Liberty to remain safe in his Country which Gruffydh for his Father's account readily granted and treated him honourably A little after his Brother Howel who was imprisoned by Ardulph Earl of Pembroke in the Castle of Montgomery where he had remained for a great while made his escape and fled to his Brother then with Gruffydh ap Conan in North-Wales But King Henry being informed that Gruffydh ap Rhys and his Brother Howel were entertained by the Prince of North-Wales sent very smooth Letters to Gruffydh ap Conan desiring to speak with him who being come he received him with all the Tokens of Honor and Friendship and bestowed upon him very rich Presents just after the Norman Policy who usually make very much of those whom they design afterwards to be serviceable to them After some time 's general Discourse King Henry came at length to the main Point and promised the Prince even Mountains of Gold in case he would send Gruffydh ap Rhys or his Head to him which the Prince overcome by such fair Words and large Promises promised to perform and so returned joyfully home big with the expectation of his future Reward But some who wished better to Gruffydh ap Rhys and his Brother Howel presently suspected the occasion of the King's Message and therefore they advised them to withdraw themselves privately for some time till Prince Gruffydh's mind be better understood and whether he had made any agreement with the King of England to betray them to him As soon as the Prince was returned to his Palace at Aberffraw he presently enquired for Gruffydh ap Rhys and learning in a little time where he was he sent a Troop of Horse to re-call him to his Court but Gruffydh hearing of their approach with all speed made his escape to the Church of Aberdaron and took Sanctuary there But Prince Gruffydh was so resolute to make his Promise good to the King of England that without any respect to the Religious place he had escaped too commanded the same Messengers to return and to bring him away by Force which the Clergy of the Country unanimously withstood protesting that they would not see the Liberties of the Church in the least infringed And whilst the Clergy and the Prince's Officers were thus at debate that same night some who had Compassion upon the young Prince and seeing how greedily his Life was thirsted for conveyed him away out of North-Wales to Straywy in South-Wales And so being delivered from the treacherous and more dishonourable Practices of the Prince of North Wales he was forced for the Defence of his own Life to bid open Defiance to the King of England and thereupon having raised all the Forces which the shortness of the opportunity would permit he made War upon the Flemings and Normans A.D. 1113 The next year he laid Siege to the Castle which stood over-against Arberth and winning the same made it plain with the Ground and from thence marched to Lhanymdhyfry Castle belonging to Richard de Pwns upon whom the King had bestowed Cantref Bychan but the Garrison commanded by Meredith ap Rytherch ap Caradoc so manfully defended it that Gruffydh after killing only some few of the Besieged and burning the Out-works was forced to remove with no small Loss of his own Men. Finding this place impregnable he came before Abertawy-Castle which was built by Henry Beaumont Earl of Warwick but this proving too strong to be quickly surrendered after he had burnt some of the outward Buildings he returned to Stratywy burning and destroying all the Country as he went along And now his Fame being spread abroad thro' all the Country all the wild and head-strong Youth and they whose Fortunes were desperate resorted unto him from all Parts by which means being waxed Strong and Numerous he made in Roads into Ros and Dyfed spoiling and destroying the Country before him The Normans and Flemings were cruelly enraged with these continual Depredations and how to remedy this Mischief was not easily determined but after long Consultation they thought it the best way to call together such Welch Lords as were Friends to the King of England such were Owen ap Rhytherch and Rhytherch ap Theodore with his Sons Meredith and Owen whose Mother was Heynyth the Daughter of Blethyn ap Confyn and Owen ap Caradoc the Son of Gwenlhian another Daughter of Blethyn and Meredith ap Rhytherch These protesting their Loyalty and Fidelity to King Henry were desired to defend the King's Castle of Carmardhyn and that by turns Owen ap Caradoc the first Fortnight and then by succession by Rhytherch ap Theodore and Mered th ap Rhytherch Owen undertook the Defence of Carmardhyn Castle for the time required of him and Blethyn ap Gadifor had committed to him the Government of Abercomyn or Abercorran-Castle which appertained to Robert Courtmain But for all these Preparations Gruffydh ap Râ—ys had a wishful Eye upon Carmardhyn and therefore he sent out some Spies to learn the Strength and Condition of the Town who bringing him a very kind and hopeful Account he decamped by Night and rushing suddenly into the Town ordered his Men to make a great shout thereby to strike a great Terror into those within Owen ap Caradoc the Governour being surprized with such an unexpected uproar made all possible haste to the place where he had heard the shouting and thinking that his Men were at his Heels fell in among the Enemy but having none to support him his Men being all fled he was after a manful Defence cut in pieces and so the Town being taken Gruffydh burnt every thing to the ground excepting the Castle which was also sore defaced And then returning with a great deal of Spoil and Booty to his usual residence at Stratywy his Forces were considerably increased by the accession of many stout young Men who came to him from all Quarters and thought that Fortune so prospered his Arms that no body was able to stand before him After this he marched to Gwyr but William de Londres thinking it impossible to stand before him forsook the Castle with all his Men in all haste so that when Gruffydh was come thither he found a great deal of Cattel and Spoil and none to own them and therefore having burnt down the Castle he carried away every thing of Value in the Country When the Cardigan-shire Men heard how fortunately he succeeded in all his Attempts and being extreamly fearful lest his next Expedition should be against them sent to him desiring him as being their near Relation and Country man to take upon him the Rule and Government over them Gruffydh willingly accepted of their Offer and coming thither was joyfully received by the Chief Men in the Country who were Cadifor ap Grono Howel ap
Sixty Eight and in her Right created him Lord Powys This John Charleton Lord Powys being aided and supported by the King of England quickly broke all their Measures and having taken Lhewelyn John and David his Wives Uncles he put them in safe custody in the Kings Castle of Harlech and then obtained a Writ from the King to the Sheriff of Shropshire and to Sir Roger Mortimer Lord of Chirkland and Justice of North-Wales for the Apprehension of Gruffydh Fychan with his Sons in Law Sir Roger Chamber and Hugh Montgomery who were then in actual Hostility against him and his Wife Hawys But Gruffydh Fychan and his Accomplices suspecting their own Strength and having lost Thomas Earl of Lancaster their main support thought it most advisable to submit themselves to the King's Pleasure touching the Difference betwixt them and Hawys who finding upon record how that Gruffydh ap Meredith Ancestor to the said Hawys upon his Submission to King Henry the First became Subject to the King of England and thereupon was created Baron of Powys which Barony he and his Posterity had ever since held in capite from the King was of opinion that Hawys had more Right to her Fathers Possessions now in their hands than any pretence they could lay to her Estate But to make a final determination of this matter and to compose the Difference more amicably betwixt them it was agreed that Hawys should enjoy her Inheritance in Fee-Simple to her and her Heirs for ever after the Tenure of England and that her Uncles Lhewelyn John David and Gruffydh should quietly enjoy their Portion and the same to descend to their Heir Males perpetually but in default of such Heir Males the same was to descend to Hawys and her Heirs But William Lord of Mowdhwy the Fourth Brother called otherwise Wilcock Mowdhwy because he did not joyn with the rest against Hawys had all his Lands confirmed to him and to all his Heirs both Male and Female for ever He married Elianor the Sister of Elen Owen Glyndwr's Mother who was lineally descended from Rhys ap Theodore Prince of South-Wales by whom he had Issue John de Mowdhwy whose Daughter Elizabeth being Heir to his whole Estate was married to one Sir Hugh Burgh Knight His Son Sir John Burgh Lord of Mowdhwy married Jane the Daughter of Sir William Clapton of Glocestershire by whom he had four Daughters Elizabeth Ancreda Isabel and Elianor the first of whom was married to Thomas Newport the second to John Leighton of Stretton the third to John Lingen and the younger to Tho. Mytton who by equal Distribution had the Lordship of Mowdhwy divided betwixt them But John Charleton Lord of Powys had Issue by his Wife Hawys a Son named John who enjoyed the same Lordship for about Seven Years and then left it to his Son of the same Name who was Lord of Powys Fourteen Years and then it descended to his Son called also John Charleton who enjoyed his Fathers Estate Twenty Seven Years but dying without Issue the Lordship of Powys fell to his Brother Edward Charleton This Edward had Issue by his Wife Elianor the Daughter and one of the Heirs of Thomas Earl of Kent and the Widow of Roger Mortimer Earl of March two Daughters Jane and Joyce the first of which was married to Sir John Gray Knight and the second to John Lord Tipâ—oft whose Son was by King Henry VI. created Earl of Worcester But after the death of Elianor this Edward Lord Powys marryed Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir John Barkley Knight and so after his death which happened in the Year 1420. the Lordship of Powys was divided into three parts whereof his Widow Elizabeth had for her Joynture Lhannorch Hudol Ystrad Marchelâ— Deudhwr and Teirtref and was afterwards married to Lord Dudley Jane his eldest Daughter had Caereneon Mechain Mochnant and Flasdinas and Joyce had Cyfeilioc and Arustly But the Lordship of Powys continued in the Family of Sir John Gray for five Descents in right of his Wife Jane the last of whom Edward Gray Lord Powys married Anne one of the Daughters and Co-Heirs of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and dyed without any lawful Issue Dugdale Bar. Engl. Tom. II. p. 284. This Edward Lord Powys in 15 Henry VIII accompanied the Duke of Suffolk in the Expedition then made into France and was at the taking of Bray and other places then won from the French And in 36 Henry VIII being again ready to march in the King's Service he made his last Testament whereby he setled the Succession of his whole Barony and Lordship of Powys his Castle and Mannor of Pool with divers other Lordships in the County of Montgomery and all the rest of his Estate in the County of Salop upon the Heirs of his own Body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and in default of such Issue his Castle and Mannor of Charlton and Pontisbury in Shropshire upon Jane Orwell Daughter of Sir Lewis Orwell Knight and her Assigns during her natural Life And in case he should dye without any Issue of his own Body lawfully begotten that then Edward Grey his illegitimate Son by the same Jane Orwell should have and enjoy his said Barony and Mannor of Powys his Castle and Mannor of Pool and all other his Lordships in the County of Montgomery with the Reversion of the Castle and Mannor of Charlton and Pontysbury to him and his Heirs lawfully begotten and for lack of such Issue to remain to that Child in case it should be a Son wherewith the same Jane Orwell was then great by him and to the Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten But if it should not prove a Son or if the Son dye without Issue then that the whole Barony of Powys and all the Premises before-mentioned should come to Jane Grey his Daughter and to the Heirs of her Body lawfully begotten and for lack of such Issue to Anne Grey his other Daughter and the Heirs of her Body lawfully begotten and lastly for default of such Issue to such Woman-Child as should be born of the Body of the said Jane Orwell But after Edward Grey the Title of Lord of Powys lay extinct to the Fifth Year of K. Charles I. when Sir William Herbert Son of Sir Edward Herbert of Redcastle antiently call'd Pool-Castle now Powys-Castle in the County of Montgomery second Son to William Earl of Pembrock was advanced to the Dignity of a Baron of the Realm by the Title of Lord Powys of Powys in the Marches of Wales in whose Family it still continues though the Title has been changed from a Baron to an Earl and since to a Marquess About the same time that the Prince of Powys dyed Cadwalhon ap Madawc ap Ednerth who had been for some considerable time at variance with his Brother Eineon Clyd was taken Prisoner by him who deliver'd him up to Owen Prince of North-Wales But the Prince being willing to gratifie the King of England whose Interest Cadwalhon has
Wales King Edward by a Statute made at Ruthlan incorporated and annexed it to the Crown of England Anno 12. Edw. I. constituting several new and wholsom Laws as concerning the Division of Wales into several Counties the Form and Manner of Writs and Proceedings in Tryals with many others not very unlike the Laws and Constitutions of the English Nation But all this could never win the Affection of the Welch toward him who by no means would own him as their Sovereign unless he would condescend and agree to live and reign among them They had not forgot the cruel Oppressions and intolerable Insolencies oâ— English Officers and therefore they flatly told him they would never yield Obedience to any other than a Prince of their own Nation of their own Language and whose Life and Conversation was spotless and unblameable King Edward perceiving the Welch to be resolute and inflexible and absolutely bent against any other Prince than one of their own Country happily thought of this politick though dangerous Expedient Queen Eleanor was now quick with Child and ready to be delivered and though the Season was very severe it being the depth of Winter the King sent for her from England and remov'd her to Caernarvon Castle the place design'd for her to â—â—ve in When the time of her Delivery was come â—â—ng Edward called to him all the Barons and chief â—ersons throughout all Wales to Ruthlan there to â—onsult about the publick Good and Safety of their â—ountry And being informed that his Queen was â—elivered of a Son he told the Welch Nobility that â—hereas they had oftentimes intreated him to appoint â—â—em a Prince he having at this time occasion to deâ—art out of the Country would comply with their â—equest upon condition they would allow of and â—â—ey him whom he should name The Welch readiâ—â— agreed to the motion only with the same Reserve â—hat he should appoint them a Prince of their own Nation King Edward assured them he would name â—â—ch an one as was born in Wales could speak no â—nglish and whose Life and Conversation no body â—ould stain whom the Welch agreeing to own and â—bey he named his own Son Edward but little before â—â—om in Caernarvon Castle King Edward having by these means deluded the Welch and reduced the whole Country of Wales to â—is own Devotion began to reward his Followers with other Mens Proprieties and bestowed whole Lordships and Towns in the midst of the Country â—pon English Lords among whom Henry Lacy Earl of Lineoln obtained the Lordship of Denbigh Reginald Grey second Son to John Lord Grey of Wilton the Lordship of Ruthyn This Henry Lacy was Son to Edmund Lacy the Son of John Lacy Lord of Halton Pomfret and Constable of Chester who married Margaret the eldest Daughter and one of the Heirs of Robert Quincy Earl of Lincoln This Henry Lacy Lord of Denbigh married the Daughter and sole Heir of William Longspear Earl of Salusbury by whom he had Issue two Sons Edmund and John who both dyed young one by a Fall into a very deep Well within the Castle of Denbigh and a Daughter named Alicia who was married to Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster who in right of his Wife was Earl of Lincoln and Sarum Lord of Denbigh Halton Pomfret and Constable of Chester After his Death King Edward II. bestowed the said Lordship of Denbigh upon Hugâ— Lord Spencer Earl of Winchester upon whose deceasâ—â— King Edward III. gave it together with many otheâ— Lordships in the Marches to Roger Mortimer Earlâ— March in performance of a Promise he had made whilst he remained with his Mother in France thaâ— as soon as he should come to the possession of thâ— Crown of England he would bestow upon the saiâ— Earl of March to the value of a Thousand Pounâ—â— yearly in Lands But within few Years after Mâ—â—timer being attainted of High Treason King Edwaâ—â— bestowed the said Lordship of Denbigh upon Montague Earl of Salusbury but it was quickly restoreâ— again to the Mortimers in which House it continued till the whole Estate of the Earls of March caâ—â— with a Daughter to the House of York and so to the Crown Richard Duke of York Grand-Father to Edward the Fourth having married the sole Daughter and Heir of the House of the Mortimers And so 〈◊〉 continued in the Crown to Queen Elizabeths time who in the Sixth Year of her Reign bestowed the said Lordship upon her great Favourite Robert Earâ— of Leicester who was then created Baron of Denbigh After him it returned again to the Crown where 〈◊〉 has continued to this present Year 1696. when his present Majesty granted a Patent under the great Seaâ— to William Earl of Portland for the Lordships of Denbigh Bromfield and Yale Some of the Welch Representatives perceiving how far such a Grant encroached upon the Properties and Priviledges of the Subject disclosed their Grievances to the Honourable House of Commons who after some consideration resolved nemine contradicente that a Petition should be presented to his Majesty by the Body of the whole House to request him to recall his Grant to the said Earl of Portland which was accordingly done in the manner following May it please Your Most Excellent Majesty WE Your Majesty's most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled Humbly lay before Your Majesty That whereas there is a Grant passing to William Earl of Portland and his Heirs of the Manners of Denbigh Bromfield and Yale and divers other Lands in the Principality of Wales together with several Estates of Inheritance enjoyed by many of Your Majesty's Subjects by Virtue of Antient Grants from the Crown That the said Mannors with the large and extensive Royalties Powers and Jurisdictions to the same belonging are of great Concern to Your Majesty and the Crown of this Realm And that the same have been usually Annex'd to the Principality of Wales and Settled on the Princes of Wales for their Support And that a great number of Your Majesty's Subjects in those Parts hold their Estates by Royal Tenure under great and valuable Compositions Rents Royal-Payments and Services to the Crown and Princes of Wales and have by such Tenure great Dependance on Your Majesty and the Crown of England and have enjoyed great Privileges and Advantages with their Estates under such Tenure We therefore most humbly beseech Your Majesty to put a stop to the Passing this Grant to the Earl of Portland of the said Mannors and Lands and that the same may not be disposed from the Crown but by Consent of Parliament For that such Grant is in Diminution of the Honour and Interest of the Crown by placing in a Subject such large and extensive Royalties Powers and Jurisdictions which ought only to be in the Crown and will Sever that Dependance which so great a Number of Your Majesty's Subjects in those Parts have on Your Majesty and the Crown by reason of their Tenure
never hearken to his Redemption alledging that he wilfully threw himself into the hands of Glyndwr But about the midst of August to correct the presumptuous Attempts of the Welch the King went in Person with a great Army into Wales but by reason of extraordinary excess of weather which some attributed to the Magic of Glyndwr he was glad to return safe But the Earl of March perceiving that he was not like to obtain his Liberty by King Henry's means whether out of compliance by reason of his tedious Captivity or Affection to the young Lady he agreed to take part with Owen against the King of England and to marry his Daughter with them joyned the Earl of Worcester and his Brother the Earl of Northumberland with his Son the valiant Lord Percy who conspiring to depose the King of England in the House of the Archdeacon of Bangor by their Deputies divided the Realm amongst them causing a tripartite Indenture to be made and to be sealed with every one's Seal by which Covenant all that Country lying betwixt the Severn and the Trent Southward was assigned to the Earl of March all Wales and the Lands beyond the Severn Westward were appointed Glyndwr and all from the Trent Northward to the Lord Percy This was done as some said thro' a foolish Credit they gave to a vain Prophecy as tho' King Henry was the execrable Moldwarp and they three the Dragon the Lion and the Wolf which should pull him down and distribute his Kingdom among themselves After that they exhibited Articles of their Grievances to King Henry and divulged their Reasons for taking up Arms at length they marched with all their Power towards Shrewsbury to fight the King depending mainly upon the arrival of Glyndwr and his Welch-men But the matter was gone so far that whether he came in or no they must fight and so both Armies being joyned the King's Party prevailed young Percy being slain upon the spot and Douglas besides most of the English of Quality who with a Party of Scotch had come to the Aid of the Confederates was taken Prisoner but afterwards honourably set at Liberty by the Intercession of the Prince of Wales In the mean time the Earl of Northumberland was a marching forward with a great Party from the North but the King having settled Matters about Shrewsbury coming to York and sending to him to lay down his Arms he voluntarily submitted and dismissed his Forces Then the King returning from York-shire determined to pass over to North-Wales to chastise the presumptuous Practices of the immorigerous Welch who after his departure from Shrewsbury had made in-Roads into the Marches and done much hurt to his English Subjects But other Business of greater Consequence intervening he detached his Son the Prince of Wales who took the Castle of Aberystwyth which was quickly again retaken by Owen Glyndwr who thrust into it a strong Garrison of Welch But â—n the Battel of Huske sought upon the fifteenth of March the Welch received a very considerable Blow from the Prince's Men Glyndwr's Son being taken Prisoner besides Fifteen Hundred more taken and slain After this we hear little of Glyndwr excepting that he continued and persisted to vex and plague the English upon the Marches to the tenth year of King Henry's reign when he miserably ended his life being as Holingshed reporteth Holins towards his â—atter days driven to that extremity that despairing of all comfort he fled and lurked in Caves and other the most solitary places fearing to shew his face to any Creature till at length being starved for hunger and lack of sustenance he miserably ended his life But these rebellious Practices of Glyndwr highly exasperated King Henry against the Welch insomuch that several rigorous and unmerciful Laws were enacted relating to Wales which in effect destroyed all the Liberties of the Welch Subject They were made incapable of purchasing any Lands or to be elected Members of any County or Burrough and to undertake any Office whether Civil or Military in any Town incorporated If any Suit at Law happened betwixt an English Man and a Welch Man the former could not be convicted but by the Sentence of an English Judge and the Verdict of an English Jury besides that any English Man who married a Welch Woman was thereby forthwith disfranchised from all the Liberties of an English Subject It was farther enacted that no Welch Man should be in possession of any Castle or other place of Strength and that no Victuals or Armour should be brought into Wales without a special Warrant from the King or his Council and farther that no Welch Man was capable of undertaking the Office of Justice Chamberlain Sheriff or any other place of Trust in any part of Wales notwithstanding any Patent or License heretofore given to the contrary These with many others most rigorous and unjust Laws particularly that forbidding any Welch Man to bring up his Children to Learning or to bind them Apprentices to any Trade or Occupation were enacted by the King against the Welch so that nothing could cool his displeasure but that a whole Nation should be wrongfully oppressed for the fault and miscarriage of one Person But one might think that this was no politick method to secure a Nation in its Allegiance which upon lighter Affronts was used to defend its Priviledges and therefore we may well attribute the quiet disposition of the Welch towards this time to the moderation of Henry the Fifth who within a little time succeeded his Father in the Crown of England Co-temporary with Glyndwr was Sir David Gam so called by reason he had but one Eye the Son of Lhewelyn ap Howel Vaughan of Brecknock by Mawd the Daughter of Iefan ap Rhys ap Ifor of Eluel He was a great stickler for the Duke of Lancaster and for that reason became mortal Enemy to Glyndwr who having his Education as is said before at one of the Inns of Court got to be preferred to the service of King Richard the Second who as Walsingham says made him his Scutifer or Shield-bearer But being informed that his Master Richard was deposed and murdered and withal being provoked by several Wrongs and Affronts done him by his Neighbour the Lord Gray of Rhuthyn whom King Henry greatly countenanced and looking upon Henry as an Usurper he caused himself to be proclaimed Prince of Wales And for a better grace of the matter he feigned himself to be descended by a Daughter from Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh the last Prince whereas in truth he came Paternally but from a younger Brother of the House of Powys But as Ambition has no moderation so Glyndwr for a time acted the part of a Prince and summoned a Parliament to meet at Machynlleth whither the Nobility and Gentry of Wales appeared and among the rest Sir David Gam but not upon the same design with the rest having an intention in this meeting to murder Glyndyfwr But the Plot being discovered and
Deheufraint ap Eidigant ap Endeirn ap Enid ap Endos ap Enddolau ap Afallach ap Afflech ap Beli mawr to whom King Henry the Seventh is Son by Angharad Mother to Ednyfed Fychan in forty Degrees How King Henry the Seventh cometh of Beli mawr by Gwenllian Wife to Ednyfed Fychan and Daughter to the Lord Rhys called Arglwydd Rhys by Issue-Female Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Gwenllian Daughter to Rhys Prince of South-Wales ap Gruffydh Prince 〈◊〉 Rhys Prince ap Tudor mawr Prince ap â—adell Prince ap Rodri mawr Prince of all Wales This Rodri had three Sons and diâ—â—ded the Principality of Wales between them 〈◊〉 three Parts to Merfyn his first Son Prince â—f North-Wales all North-Wales which died â—ithout Issue and Anarawd Prince of Powys â—nd Cadell Prince of South-Wales of whom King Henry the Seventh descendeth by â—wenllian Daughter to Prince Rhys called Arglwydd Rhys Wife to Ednyfed Fychan and â—he said King Henry the Seventh is Son to Rodri mawr in the seventeenth Degree which Rodri mawr was Son to Merfyn first King of Man which wedded Essillt Daughter and Heir â—o Cynan Dyndaethwy This Merfyn frych was Son to Gwriad ap Elidur ap Handdear Alcwn ap Tegid ap Gwiar â—p Dwywc ap Llywarch hên ap Elidur Lydanwin â—p Meirchion ap Grwst ap Cenaw ap Coel â—odeboc King of Britain as before This Coel was King of Britain and Earl of Colchester a â—ight worthy King to whom King Henry the â—eventh is Son by the said Gwenllian Wife to Ednyfed Fychan in the thirty first Degree by â—he said Gittin Owen and Sir John Leia's Books How Owen Grandsire to King Henry the Seventh cometh of Beli mawr by Essillt Daughter to Cynan Dyndaethwy Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Gwenllian Daughter of Prince Rhys ap Gruffydh ap Rhys ap Tudor mawr ap Engion ab Owen ap Howell Dda ap Cadell ap Rodri mawr ap Essillt Daughter of Cynan Dyndaethwy and Heir Prince of Wales ap Rodri Moelwynoc ap Idwal jwrch ap Cadwalader Fendigaid King of all Britain to whom King Henry the Seventh is Son in the twenty second Degree Cadwalader was Son to Cadwallan King ap Cadfan King ap Iago ap Beli ap Rhun ap Maelgwn Gwynedd King ap Casswallan Lawhîr ap Eineoâ—irth ap Cynedda weledig ap Edeirn which wedded Gwawl Ferch Coel Godeboc King which Edeirn was Son to Padarn Peisrydd ap Tegid ap Iago ap Genedawc ap Cain ap Gwrgain ap Doli ap Gwrtholi ap Dufu ap Gorddufu ap Amwerid ap Omwedd ap Diwe Brichwain ap Owen ap Affallach ap Afflech ap Beli mawr to whom King Henry the Seventh is Son by the said Gwenllian in the fiftieth Degree Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Gwenllian Daughter to Arglwydd Rhys Son to Gwenllian Daughter of Gruffydh Prince ap Cynan Prince of North-Wales Son of Iago Prince ap Idwall Prince ap Meuric Prince ap Idwall Foel Prince ap Anarawd Prince ap Rodri mawr Prince of all Wales to whom King Henry the Seventh is Son by Gwenllian Mother to the Arglwydd Rhys in the seventeenth Degree Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Gwenllian Ferch Arglwydd Rhys ap Gwladis Ferch Rhywallâ—n ap Cynfyn Prince of Powys and Angharad Wife to Cynfyn Daughter and Heir to Meredith Prince of Powys Son of Owen Prince of Powys and South-Wales Son to Cadell Prince there Which Owen ap Howell dda had two Sons Meredith and Eineon and Owen their Father gave the Principality of South-Wales to Eineon his Son and the Principality of Powys to Meredith his other Son Which Meredith had Issue Angharad that wedded Cynfyn by whom he was Prince of Powys which Cadell was Son to Rodri mawr Prince of all Wales Son to Merfyn frych c. to Beli mawr as above written by Guttin Owen 's Book Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Gwenllian Ferch Arglwydd Rhys ap Gruffydh ap Rhys ap Tudor ap Eineon ap Eineon ap Howell Dda ap Cadell ap Angharad Wife to Rodri mawr Daughter to Meyric ap Dyfnwal ap Arthen ap Seissillt ap Clydawc ap Artholes ap Arnothen ap Brothan ap Seirwell ap Ussa ap Caredic ap Cwnedda weledic ap Edeirn ap Padarn Peisrydd which Edeirn wedded Gwawl ferch Coel Godeboc Mother to Cwnedda weledyc c. How Owen cometh of Meuryc Lord of Gwent by Morfydd's Daughter Wife to Gronw ap Ednyfed Fychan Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor ap Morfydd Ferch Meuryc L. of Gwent How Owen cometh of Rodri mawr by Angharad Daughter to Ithel Fychan ap Ithel Llwyd and Wife of Tudor ap Gronw ap Ednyfed Fychan Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Angharad ferch Ithel Fychan ap Ithel Llwyd ap Ithel Gam ap Meredith ap Vchdrud ap Edwin King of Tegengle in Flintshire How Owen cometh of Rodri mawr by Adleis Wife to Ithel Fychan Daughter to Ricart Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Angharad Ferch Adleis Wife to Ithel Fychan Daughter to Ricart ap Cadwalader ap Gruffydh ap Kynan Prince of North-Wales ap Iago ap Idwal Foel ap Anarawd ap Rodri Mawr c. All this by Gyttin Owen 's Book How Owen cometh of Beli Mawr by Gwerfill Ferch Madawc o'r hên dwr Wife to Gronw ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Ednysed Fychan Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gwerfill Ferch Madawc o'r hên dwr ap Iers ap Madawc ap Meredith ap Bleddyn ap Kynfin Prince of Powis c. and so to Beli Mawr How Owen cometh to Beli Mawr by the Mother of the said Gwerfill Ferch Madawc Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gwerfill Ferch Madawc o'r hên dwr ap Lleucu Ferch Angharad Ferch Meredith ap Madawc ap Gruffudh Maelor Prince of Powis This Madawc ap Gruffudh Maelor builded the Abby of Valacrucis in Welsh Manachlog Llan Egwestl the Year of our Lord 12â—â— and lyeth there buried and this Gruffudh Maelor was Son to Madawc ap Meredith ap Bleddin ap Cynfin ap Gweristan ap Gwalthfoed ap Gwrydor ap Cariadawc ap Lles Llaw Ddeawc ap Edwal ap Gwnnan ap Gwnnawc Farf Sych ap Keidic ap Corf ap Cadnawc ap Tegonwy ap Teon ap Gwinaf Daufreuddwyd ap Powyr lêw ap Bywdec ap Rhun rhudd baladr ap Llary ap Casfar Wledic ap Lludd ap Beli Mawr King of all England and Wales to whom King Henry the Seventh is Son this way by Ludd in 36 degrees How Owen cometh to Beli Mawr by the Mothers side of Gwerfill Ferch Madawc Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gwerfill Ferch Eva Ferch Llewelyn ap Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwin ap Owen Cyfeilioc ap Gruff ap Madawc ap Meredith of Powis ap Bleddyn ap Cynfin c. to Beli
Mawr Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gwerfill Ferch Eva Ferch Margret Ferch Meredith gôch ap Meredith ap Iers Fychan ap Iers gôch ap Meredith ap Bleddyn ap Cynfin c. to Beli. Owen ap Meredith ap Tudor ap Gwerfyll Ferch Eva Ferch Margret Ferch Meredith gôch ap Christin ap Bledrws ap Edwal Owen Bendew one of the fifteen Tribes of North-Wales Son to Cynan Feiniard ap Gwalthfoed ap Gwlyddien ap Gwridor ap Caradawc ap Lles Llaw ddeawc ap Edwal ap Gwnnan ap Gwnnawc Farf sych ap Ceidio ap Corf ap Cadnawc ap Tegonwy ap Teon ap Gwinau dau Freuddwyd c. and so to Beli. Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Tomas ap Lhewelin ap Owen ap Meredith Lord Iscoed ap Owen ap Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South Wales so to Rodri Mawr Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Tomas ap Llywelin ap Angharad Ferch Arglwydd Sion John of Hasson by William ap David ap Gruffydh Dubium Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Tomas ap Llewelyn ap Angharad Ferch Margret Ferch Philip ap Ifor Lord Iscoed by William ap Gruffydh Dubium Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Tomas ap Llewelyn ap Angharad Ferch Margret Ferch Angharad Ferch Llewelyn ap Iers drwyndwn Prince of all Wales This Llewelyn wedded Inet Daughter of King John which was Son to Henry the Second Son to Mawd the Empress Daughter to Henry the First Son to William the Conquerour Son to Robert Duke of Normandy Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Tomas ap Elinor Ferch ..... Lord Barre by Gyttin Owen by information of Dr. Owen Pool and Mr. Lingam 's Wife by an old Pedigree Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Tomas ap Elinor ferch Elinor Ferch Edward Longshanks King of England Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Tomas ap Elinor Ferch Elinor Ferch Elinor second to King Edward abovesaid Dubium Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Elinor Ferch Meredith ap Owen ap Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales by Madawc ap Llewelyn ap Howel his Books Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Elinor Ferch Catrin ferch Llewelyn ap Gruffydh last Prnce of Wales Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Elinor Ferch Llewelyn ap Gruffydh ap Tangwistl Ferch Llywarch gôch ap Lhowarch ap Pyll ap Cynan ap Einion ap Gwridor gôch ap Helic ap Glannawc ap Gwgon Gleddyfrudd ap Cariadawc Freichfras ap Llir Merini ap Einion irth ap Cunedda wledic Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Elinor Ferch Caterin Ferch Elinor ap Gruffydh ap Tangwistl Ferch Tangwistl Ferch Llowarch ap Bran ap Dinawal ap Efnydd ap Alawe Alser ap Tudwal ap Rodri mawr by Gyttin Owen Gwen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Elinor Fychan Ferch Simon Montford Earl of Leicester by Gyttin Owen Owen ap Meredith ap Margret Ferch Elinor Ferch Caterin Ferch Elinor Fychan Ferch Elenor Ferch John King of England Hereafter followeth the antient Lineage of the said Owen's Mother Margret Wife to Meredith ap Tudor Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Dafydd Llwyd ap Cyner ap Gronw ap Cyner ap Iers ap Hwfa ap Cwmus ap Cillin ap Maeloc dda ap Gredef ap Kwmus du ap Cillin Ynad ap Predur Teirnoe ap Meilir Eryr gwyr gorsedd ap Tiday ap Tyfodde ap Gwybfyw ap Marchwin ap Branap Pill ap Cerfyr ap Meilir Meilirion ap Goron ap Cunedda wledic ap Gwawl Ferch Coel Godeboc as before Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Dafydd Llwyd ap Cyner ap Gronw ap Cyner ap Iers ap Hwfa ap Generis Ferch Ednowain Bendew ap Cynon Finiaid ap Gwarthfoed ap Gwridr ap Cradoc ap Lles llaw ddeuawc ap Edwal ap Gwynnan and so to Ludd ap Beli mawr as before by Gyttin Owen Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Dafydd Lhwyd ap Cyner ap Llaysedd Daughter to Sir William Twychet Knight by William Indub Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Dafydd Lhwyd ap Alis Ferch Robert ap Turstan Holland Capitain of Harlech by William Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Dafydd Lhwyd ap Alis Ferch Margret Ferch Alan Norris Knight by William Indub Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Angharad Ferch Howell ap Meredith ap Iers ap Cadwgan ap Llywarch ap Bran as before c. Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Angharad Ferch Howell ap Meredith ap Iers ap Gwenllian Ferch Cynan ap Owen Gwynedd ap Gruffydh ap Cynan c. Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Angharad Ferch Owen ap Bleddin ap Owen Bregennwn ap Madawc ap Meredith ap Bleddin ap Cynfin Prince of Powis these 3 by Gyttin Owen Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Angharad Ferch Gwladis Ferch Llewelin gethni ap Edwal ap Gruffydh ap Meuric ap Cadhayarn ap Gwrydd ap Rhys gôch one of the 15 Tribes of North Wales which was Son to Sandwr ap Iarddwr ap Mor ap Tegerin ap Aelaw ap Gredres ap Cwmus du ap Cillin Ynad c. to Coel Godeboc Owen ap Margret Ferch Dafydd Fychan ap Angharad Ferch Gwladus Ferch Mali Llwyd Ferch Iers ap Engion ap Geraint ap Tegwared ap Cynfawr ap Madawc diffaeth which were Rulers and Great Men in Pentraeth Owen ap Margaret Ferch Nest Ferch Jermy ap Gruffydh ap Howell ap Meredith ap Engion ap Gwgon ap Merwydd ap Golwyn one of the 15 Tribes of North-Wales Son to Tangno ap Cadfael ap Lludd ap Llen ap Llaminod Angel ap Pasgen ap Urien Rheged ap Meirchion ap Grwst ap Cennaf ap Coel godeboc King as before Owen ap Margret Ferch Nest Ferch Jermy ap Gwerfill ferch Gwladus Ferch Edwal Fychan as before Owen ap Margret Ferch Nest Ferch Angharad Ferch Gruffydh ap Dafydd gôch ap Gruffydh ap Llewelyn Prince of Wales Owen ap Margret Ferch Nest Ferch Angharad Ferch Gruffydh ap Dafydd gôch ap Dafydd ap Gruffydh ap Tangwistl Ferch Llowarch gôch ap Llowarch Holbwrch ap Pill ap Cynan ap Gwridor gôch ap Helic ap Glannoc as before Owen ap Margret Ferch Nest Ferch Angharad Ferch Gruffydh ap Dafydd gôch ap Rhanullt Ferch Rheinallt King of Man Owen ap Margret Ferch Nest Ferch Angharad Ferch Gruffydh ap Angharad Ferch Heylyn ap Tudor ap Ednyfed Fychan Owen ap Margret Ferch Nest Ferch Anghahad Ferch Gruffydh ap Angharad Ferch Heylyn ap Adleir Ferch Ricart ap Cadwalader ap Gruffydh ap Cynan Prince These 4 by Gyttin Owen Owen ap Margret Ferch Nest Ferch Angharad ferch Gruffydh ap Angharad ferch Heylyn ap Adleis Ferch Ricart ap Cadwalader ap Gruffydh ap Cynan ap Afandrec Wife to Iago Daughter to Gwayr ap Pill ap Cynan ap Cynddelw gam ap Elgudi ap Grwyfnad ap Diwgludd ap Tegawc ap Cyfnerth ap Madoc Madogion ap Sauddl bryd Angel ap Llylwarch
Increase how they fairly bid for â—he Conquest of that Country which had been goâ—erned by British Kings for the space of 1827. Years This troubled him exceedingly and tho he had litâ—le hopes of prevailing by the Strength and Numâ—er of his Forces yet he made the best preparation that the Opportunity would permit and dispatched his Fleet for the transportation of his Army which consisted partly of his own Subjects and partly of such Succours as he received from Alan Whilst he vigorously prosecuted this Design and was ready to strike sail for Britain his Voyage was prevented by a Message from Heaven which counselled him to lay aside the thoughts of recovering his Kingdom because it was already decreed above that the Britains should no longer enjoy the Government of Britain till the Prophesie of Merlyn Ambrose was fulfilled And instead of a Voyage to Britain he is ordered to take his Journey to Rome where he should receive Holy Orders at the hands of Pope Sergius and instead of recovering the British Crown have his own Crown shaved off and be initiated into the Order of the Monks Whether this Vision was signified to him in a Dream or by the impositious Illusion of some wicked Spirit or whether it may be a phantastical Conceit of his own being a Man of a mild and easie temper wearied with Troubles and Miseries is very dubious Only this is certain thaâ— he never returned again to Britain after he had gone over to Alan But Cadwaladar had no sooner received this Vision but immediately he relates the whole to his Friend Alan who presently consults all his prophetical Books chiefly the famous Works of the two Merlins Ambrose and Silvester The first is said to be begotten on a Spirit and born in the Town of Carmarthen whence he received the Name of Merliâ— and to flourish in the Reign of King Vortigern The latter called Caledonius from the Forest Caledon in Scotland and Silvester or Merlyn Wylbt by reason he fell mad and lived desolately after that he had seen a monstrous shape in the Air prophesied in the time of King Arthur and far more full and intelligible than the former Both these were in great Reverence and Reputation among the Britains and their Works very religiously preserved and upon any considerable occasion most venerably consulted They were of opinion that nothing could escape their Knowledg and that no Accident of moment or revolution could happen which they did not foretel and was to be â—â—covered in their Writings In the consultation â—â—erefore of their Prophesies and the Words which 〈◊〉 Eagle is said to have spoken at the building of â—â—er Septon now Shaftsbury namely that the Briâ—â—ns must lose the Government of Britain till the â—â—nes of King Cadwalader were brought back from â—â—me Alan found out that the time was now come â—hen these Prophesies were to be accomplished and â—â—e Britains forced to quit their native Inheritance to â—â—â—angers and Invaders Upon this he advised Cadâ—lader to obey the Commands and follow the Counâ—â—â— of the Vision and to hasten his Journey for Rome â—â—is he was willing to submit to being desirous to â—â—end the remainder of his Days in Peace and Quietâ—â—ss which before he had no opportunity to enjoy â—o Rome therefore he hastens where he was kindly â—â—ceived by Pope Sergius and after eight Years spent â—ere in Piety and Devotion he died in the Year â—â—8 and with him the Kingdom and total Governâ—ent of the Britains over this Island King Cadwalader is said to have been a consideraâ—â—e Benefactor to the Abby of Clynnoc Vawr in Arvon â—â—on which he bestowed the Lordship of Grayanoc â—his place was primarily founded by S. Beuno to â—hom it is dedicated who was the Son of Hywgi ap â—wynlliw ap Glywis ap Tegid ap Cadell a Prince or â—ord of Glewilig Brothers Son to S. Cadoc ap Gwynâ—â—â—w sometime Bishop of Beneventum in Italy He 〈◊〉 by the Mothers side Cosin German to Laudatus â—â—e first Abbot of Enlli or the Island of Bardsey â—â—d to Kentigern Bishop of Glascow in Scotland and 〈◊〉 Lhanolwey or S. Asaph in Wales which last was â—on to Owen Regent of Scotland and Grandson to â—rien King of Cumbria The building of a Monaâ—â—ry at Glynnoc happened upon this occasion Baeuno â—aving raised to life as the Tradition goes S. Weniâ—â—yd who was beheaded by one Caradoc a Lord in North Wales upon the account that she would not â—ield to his unchast Desires became in very great â—steem with King Cadvan who bestowed upon him â—ertain Lands whereon to build a Monastery Cadwallon also Cadrans Son gave him the Lands oâ— Gwareddoc where beginning to build a Church 〈◊〉 certain Woman with a Child in her Arms preventeâ— his further progress assuring him that those Landâ— were the proper inheritance of that Child Beâ—â—â— was so exceedingly troubled at this and withouâ— any more consideration on the matter taking thâ— Woman along with him he went in all haste to Caâ— Sevant called by the Romans Segontium now Câ—â—narvon where King Cadwallon then kept his Court when he was come before the King he told him witâ— a great deal of Zeal and Concern that he had nâ—â— done well to devote to God's Service what was aâ—other Man's Inheritance and therefore demandâ—â— back of him the Golden Scepter he had given him 〈◊〉 lieu and consideration of the said Land which thâ— King refusing to do was presently excommunicated bâ— Beuno who thereupon departed and went away Bâ— a certain person called Gwyddeiant the King 's Cosin-German hearing what had happened immediatelâ— pursued after Beuno whom when he had overtakeâ— he bestowed upon him for the good of his own Soâ— and the Kings the Township of Clynncovawr being his undoubted Inheritance where Beuno built a Church about the Year 616. about which time King Cadvan dyed leaving his Son Cadwallon to succeed him And not long before this time Eneon Ehreâ—â— or Anianus King of the Scots a considerable Prince in the North of Britain leaving all his Royalty iâ— those Parts came to Lhyn in Gwyneth where he built a Church which is still called from him Lhaâ— Eingan Bhrenin where he is said to have spent the remainder of his Days in the Fear and Service of God He was Son to Owen Danwyn the Son of Eneon Yrth Son to Cunedha Wledig King of Cambria and a great Prince in the North and Cosin-German to the great Maelgwn Gwyneth King of Britain whose Father was Caswallon law-hîr the Brother of Owen Danwyn and his Mother Medif the Daughter of Voylda ap Talâ— Traws of Nanconwâ—y This Maclywn died about the Year 586. Ivor and Edwal Ywrch WHen Cadwalader was departed for Rome Alan began to reflect upon the state and condition Great Britain he imagin'd with himself that the â—ecovery of it was not impracticable but that a conâ—â—â—erable Army might regain what the Saxons now â—â—ietly possessed Therefore he was resolved to try â—â—e utmost and to send over all the Forces
natural Fortifications the Welch still made In-roads into their Territories and seldom returned without some considerable Booty and Advantage The Saxons were heartily nettled at these bo-peeping Ravagers and would compliment them still to their Holes but durst not pursue them further for fear they should be entrapp'd by such as defended the Streights and Passages into the Rocks King Offa perceiving that he could effect nothing by these Measures annexed the Country about Severn and Wye to his Kingdom of Mercia and planted the same with Saxons And for a farther security against the endless Invasions of the Welch he made a deep Ditch extending from one Sea to the other called Clawdâ— Offa or Offa's Dike upon which account the Royal Seat of the Princes of Powys was translated from Pengwern now Shrewsbury to Mathraval in Montgâ—meryshire A.D. 795 While these things are transacted in the West the Danes began to grow powerful at Sea and durst venture to land in the North of England but without doing any great hurt being forced to betake themselves to their Ships again Within Six Years after they landed again in greater numbers and proved much more terrible they ravaged and destroyed a great part of Linsey and Northumberland over-ran the best part of Ireland and miserably wasted Rechreyn At the same time a considerable Battel was fought at Ruthlan between the Saxons and the Welch wherein Caradoc King of North Wales was killed The Government of Wales was as yet green and not firmly rooted by reason of the perpetual Quarrels and Disturbances between the Welch and the Saxons so that the chief Person or Lord of any Country assumed to himself the Title of King Caradoc was a Person of great Esteem and Reputation in North Wales and one that did very much contribute towards the Security of the Countrey against the Incursions of the Saxons He was Son to Gwyn the Son of Colhoyn the Son of Ednowen Son to Blethyn the Son of Blecius or Bledericus Prince of Cornwal and Devonshire Offa King of Mercia did not long survive him and was succeeded by his Son Egfert who in a short time left his Kingdom also to Kenulphus a year after that Egbertus was created King of the West Saxons About the same time dyed Arthen Son to Sitsylht the Son of Clydawc King of Cardigan and sometime after Run King of Dyfed and Cadelh King of Powys who were followed by Elbodius Archbishop of North Wales before whose Death happen'd a very severe Eclipse of the Sun The Year following the Moon was likewise A.D. 808 eclipsed upon Christmas-day These Fatalities and Eclipses did portend no Success to the Welch Affairs the laying of S. Davids in Ashes by the West Saxons being followed by a general and a very grievous Murrain of Cattel which was like to impoverish the whole Country The following Year Owen the Son of Meredith the Son of Terudos dyed and the Castle of Deganwy was ruined and destroyed by Thunder But these several Losses which the Welch sustained could not reconcile Prince Conan and his Brother Howel but they must needs quarrel and contend with one another when they had the greatest occasion to embrace and unite their endeavours against the common Enemy Howel claimed the Isle of Anglesey as part of his Father's Inheritance which Conan would by no means hearken to nor consent that his Brother should take possession of it It was the custom of Wales that a Fathers Estate should be equally distributed between all his Sons and Howel by virtue of this Custom commonly called Gavelkind from the word Gafel to hold claimed that Island as his Fathers Estate This Custom of Gavelkind has been the occasion of the Ruin and Diminution of the Estates of all the antient Nobility in Wales which being endlesly divided between the several Sons of the same Family were at length reduced to nothing From hence also proceeded several unnatural Wars and Disturbances between Brothers who being either not satisfied with their Portions or displeased with the Country they were to possess disputed their Right by Dint of the Sword This proved very true in this present instance for Howel would not suffer himself to be cheated out of his paternal Inheritance and therefore he would endeavour to recover it by Force of Arms. Both Armies being engaged the Victory fell to Howel who immediately thereupon possessed himself of the Island and valiantly maintained it against the Power and Strength of his Brother Conan The Welch being thus at variance and enmity among themselves and striving how to destroy one another had yet another Disaster added to their Misfortune For the following Year they received a very considerable Loss by Thunder which very much spoiled and annoyed the Country and laid several Houses and Towns in Ashes About the same time Gruffith the Son of Run a Person of considerable Quality in Wales dyed and Griffri the Son of Kyâ—gen was treacherously murthered by the Practices of his Brother Elis. But Conan could not rest satisfied with his Brother Howels forcible possession of the Island of Anglesey and therefore he was resolved to give him another Battel and to force him to restore and yield up the Possession of that Country which he had now violently kept in his hands Howel on the other hand being as resolutely bent to maintain his Ground and not to deliver up a foot of what he was now upon a double respect viz. his Fathers Legacy and his late Conquest Owner of willingly met his Brother put him to flight and killed a great number of his Forces Conan was cruelly enraged at this shameful Overthrow and therefore made a firm resolution either to recover the Island from his Brother or to sacrifice his Life and his Crown in the Quarrel Having drawn up all A.D. 817 the Forces he could raise together he marched to Anglesey to seek his Brother Howel who being too weak to encounter and oppose so considerable a Number was compell'd to make his Escape to the Isle of Man and to leave the Island of Anglesey to the mercy of his Brother But Conan did not live long to reap the satisfaction of this Victory but dyed in a short time leaving Issue behind him one onely Daughter called Esylht married to a Nobleman of Wales named Merfyn Frych He was Son to Gwyriad or Vriet the Son of Elidure who lineally descended from Belinus the Brother of Brennus King of the Britains His Mother was Nest the Daughter of Cadelh King of Powys the Son of Brochwel Yscithroc who together with Cadfan King of Britain Morgan King of Demetia and Bledericus King of Cornwal gave that memorable Overthrow to Ethelred King of Northumberland upon the River Dee in the Year 617. This Brochwel by the Latin Writers named Brecivallus and Brochmaelus was a very considerable Prince in that part of Britain called Powys-land as also Earl of Chester and lived in the Town then called Pengwern Powys now Salop in the House where since the College of S.
especially being encouraged thereto by a Person of some esteem in the Country whereupon without any more Questions they presently fell to their business and from Friends became unexpectedly Foes Iestyn was much surprised to find the Normans whom he had but lately honourably dismissed from his service and as he thought with Satisfaction so soon become his Enemies but â—erceiving a Serpent in the Hedg and Eineon so amiâ—ably great among them he quickly guessed at the â—eason of which there was no other remedy left but â—o bewail the unnecessary Folly of his own Knavery The Normans easily dispossessed Iestyn of the whole Lordship of Glamorgan the most pleasant and fertile â—art of which they divided among themselves leaâ—ing the more mountainous and craggy ground to the â—hare of Eineon The Knights who accompanied Fitzhamon in this Expedition were William de Lonâ—res or London Richard de Grena villa oâ— Greenfield Paganus de Turberville Robert de S. Quintino or Quinâ—n Richard de Sywarde Gilbert de Humfrevile Roâ—er de Berkrolles Reginald de Sully Peter le Soore Iohn le Fleming Oliver de S. John William de Esterâ—ing or Strading These Persons having distributed â—hat fair and pleasant Lordship among themselves and â—onsidering that they were much better provided for â—ere than they could be at home settled in Glamorgan where their Posterity have continued to this time And â—ere we may observe what a Train of Circumstances â—oncurr'd together in favour of the Normans having â—ossession of this Lordship For had not Eineon beâ—ng vanquished by Prince Rhys fled to Iestyn rather â—han to another or had not Iestyn been so vain as to â—ttempt the Conquest of South-Wales and to that end â—onsented to the Advice of Eineon there had been â—o necessity of inviting the Normans at all to Wales And then the Normans being arrived had not Iestyn â—â—ngenteely violated his Promise and refused to perform the Articles agreed upon between him and Eineon or had not Eineon pursued so desperate a Revenge but satisfied his Passion upon Iestyn without prejudice to his Country the Normans would have returned home with satisfaction and consequently could never have been Proprietors of that noble Country they then forcibly possessed And now again the Welch experienced the dangerous Consequence of calling in a foreign Nation to their aid the Saxons had already dispossessed them of the best part of the Island of Britain and now the Normanâ— seized upon a great part of that small Country which had escaped the Sovereignty and Conquest of the Enâ—lish But here it will be necessary to lay down the state and condition of this Lordship of Morgannwe oâ— Glamorgan and what share each particular Knight obtained in the distribution of it The Lordship of Glamorgan reaches in length 2â— Miles even from Rymny-Bridge to the East to Pâ—â—â— Conan Westward and in breadth from Aberthâ—â— otherwise Aberdaon on the South-part to the Confines of Brecnockshire above Morleys Castle 22 Miles This being a Royal Lordship the Lords thereof owing no other Subjection than Obedience only to the Crown assumed to themselves all the Priviledges of 〈◊〉 regal Court excepting only the pardoning of Criminals in case of Treason And not only Glamorgan but the several petty Lordships of which it consisted namely Sengennyth Myscyn Ruthin Lhanblethâ—â— Tir Iarlh Glyn Rothney Avan Neth Coyty Talava and Lantuit or Boviarton exercised the same Privelege of Jura Regalia with this difference only that in case of wrong Judgment in these Courts appeâ—â— might be made in the County-Court of Glamorgan which being superiour to the rest had power to reverse any Judgment given in them Within thâ— Lordship were 18 Castles and 36 Knights Fees besides the Town and Castle of Kynfig the Town of Cowbridge or Pont Vaen and the Town and Castle of Caerdà f in the latter of which the Lord of Glamorgan chiefly resided wherein the County-Couâ—â— was monthly kept The annual Revenue of this Lordship amounted to a Thousand Marks whereof Four Hundred was allowed for the Fees and Sallary of the several Officers belonging to the same This Lordship of Glamorgan Robert Fitzhamon kept to himself and the others he distributed between his several Followers namely to William de Londres he gave the Castle and Mannor of Ogmore to Richard Greenfield the Lordship of Neth to Paine Turberville that of Coyty to Robert S Quintine Lhan Blechyan to Richard Syward Talavan to Gilbert Humfrevile the Castle and Mannor of Penmarc to Reginald Sully the Castle and Mannor of Sully to Roger Berkrolles that of East Orchard to Peter le Scor that of Peâ—erton to John Fleming that of S. George to John S. John that of Fonmon or Fenvon and lastly to William le Esterling or Stradling that of S. Donats But that these Knights should have dependence upon and might seem to hold their several Lordships and Estate from him Robert Fitzhamon appointed them their several Apartments in his Castle of Caerdà f where they were obliged to give their attendance at every Court-day which was monthly kept upon Monday But about the same time that Robert Fitzhamon took the Lordship of Glamorgan Barnard Newmarch a Nobleman likewise of Normandy obtained by Conquest the Lordship of Brecknock and Henry de Newburgh Son to Roger de Bellemont by the Conquerour made Earl of Warwick the Country of Gower But Barnard Newmarch gave the People of Wales some small Satisfaction and Content by marrying Nest the Daughter also of Nest Daughter to Lhewelyn ap Gruffydh Prince of Wales by whom he had Issue a Son called Mahael This worthy Gentleman being legally to succeed his Father in the Lordship of Brecknock was afterwards disinherited by the Malice and Baseness of his own unnatural Mother The occasion was thus Nest happening to fall in admiration of a certain Knight with whom she had more than ordinary Familiarity even beyond what she exprest to her own Husband Mahael perceiving her dissolute and loose Behaviour counselled her to take care of her Fame and Reputation and to leave off that scandalous Liberty which she took and afterwards meeting casually her Gallant coming from her fought and grievously wounded him Upon this Nest to be revenged upon her Son went to Henry the First King of England and in his presence took her corporal Oath that her Son Mahael was illegitimate and not begot by Barnard Newmarch her Husband but another Person by virtue of which Oath or rather Perjury Mahael was disinherited and his Sister whom her Mother attested to be legitimate was bestowed by the King upon Milo the Son of Walter Constable afterward Earl of Hereford who in right of his Wife enjoyed the whole estate of Barnard Newmarch Lord of Brecnock Of this Milo it is reported that telling King Henry of a strange Accident which had occurred to him by Lhyn Savathan in Wales where the Birds upon the Pond at the passing by of Gruffydh the Son of Rhys ap Theodor seemed by their chirping to be in a manner overjoy'd The King
first On-let struck with an Arrow into the Heart of which Wound he presently dyed which when his Men saw they all fled and brought word to Lhywarch and the rest of their Fellows of what had happen'd and so suspecting the King's Army seeing they could not be trusted in their Service they all returned to their respective Countries Owen being in this manner unhappily slain his Brethren divided his Lands betwixt them excepting Caereneon which properly belonged to Madawc ap Ryryd ap Blethyn and which he had forcibly taken away from his Uncle Meredith His Father Cadwgan had several Children by different Women and besides himself he had Issue Madawc by Gwenlhian the Daughter of Gruffydh ap Conan Eineon by Sanna the Daughter of Dyfnwal Morgan by Efelhiw or Elhiw the Daughter of Cadifor ap Colhoyn Lord of Dyfed Henry and Gruffydh were by the Daughter of the Lord Pigot his wedded Wife Meredith by Eururon Hoedliw and himself by Inerth the Daughter of Edwyn But a while afterwards Eineon ap Cadwgan and Gruffydh ap Meredith ap Blethyn besieged the Castle of Cymmer in Merionythshire which was lately built by Vchtryd ap Edwyn for Cadwgan had bestowed upon Vchtryd his Cofin-German Merionyth and Cyfeilioc upon condition that in all Cases he should appear his Friend and his Sons after him contrary to which Promise he bore no manner of regard to Cadwgan's Children after Owen's death but to strengthen himself the better he erected this Castle of Cymmer which very much displeased many of Cadwgan's Sons And therefore Eineon and Gruffydh to make Vchtryd sensible of his Error in despising of them furiously set upon Cymmer Castle and having slain divers of the Garrison the rest surrender'd themselves and so taking possession of it they divided the Country betwixt them Mowdhwy Cyfyeilioc and half Penlhyn to Gruffydh ap Meredith and the other half of Penthyn with all Merionyth to Eineon The next Year King Henry failed with a great Army into Normandy against the French King who with the Earl of Flanders and others went about to make William the Son of Robert Curthoise Duke of Normandy but at the appearance of the King of England they all scatter'd and laid aside their intended Design About the same time Gilbert Strongbow Earl of Strigill to whom King Henry had given all Cardigan departed this Life after a long Fit of a Consumption much to the Joy and Satisfaction of the Welch who were in great measure displeased that they should be deprived of their own natural Lord Cadwgan from whom this Country was taken away and be forced to serve and be subject to a Stranger whose Kindness they had no great reason to expect But the Year following A.D. 1115 an irreconcilable Quarrel happen'd betwixt Howel ap Ithel Lord of Ros and Ryfonioc now Denbigh-land and Riryd and Lhywarch the Sons of Owen ap Edwyn And when they could not otherwise agree they broke out into open War and thereupon Howel sent to Meredith ap Blethyn and to Eineon and Madawc Cadwgan's Sons who came down from Merionyth with a Party of Four Hundred well-disciplin'd Men and encamped in Dyffryn Clwyd Riryd and Lhywarch on the other hand deâ—â—red the Assistance of their Cosins the Sons of Vchtryd and so both Armies meeting in the Vale of Clwyd they fell to Blows with a great deal of Spirit and Alacrity and after a tedious and a bloody Fight Lhywarch Owen ap Edwyn's Son was at last slain and with him Iorwerth the Son of Nudh a noble and a valorous Person and Riryd was forced to make his Escape by flight But though Howel obtained the Victory yet he did not long survive his slain Enemies for having received a desperate Wound in the Action dyed of it within Fourty Days and then Meredith ap Blethyn and the Sons of Cadwgan finding it dangerous to stay longer there for fear of some French who lay garrisoned in Chester returned home with all speed King Henry was still in Normandy and about this A.D. 1116 time a very great Battel was fought betwixt him and the French King who was shamefully vanquished and overthrown and had a great number of his Nobles taken Prisoners But as King Henry returned the following A.D. 11 7. Year for England one of the Ships happened by the negligence of the Pilot to be cast away wherein perished the King's two Sons William who was legitimate and Heir apparent to the Crown and Richard his base Son together with his Daughter and Neece and several others of his Nobility to the number in all of 150 Persons This unparallel'd Loss of so many Kindred and Friends did not perplex his Mind so long but that within a short time he began to solace and raise his drooping Spirits with the thoughts of a new Wife and having married Adelice A.D. 1118 the Daughter of the Duke of Lovain he purposed to go against Wales and having prepared his Forces he led them in person to Powys-land When Meredith ap Blethyn and Eineon Madawc and Morgan the Sons of Cadwgan and Lords of the Country heard of it they sent to Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North Wales desiring some help at his hands who flatly refused assuring them that because he was at peace with the King of England he could neither with Honour nor Safety send them any Succour nor permit them to come within his Dominions The Lords of Powys receiving this unwelcom Answer and having now no manner of hopes of any Aid were resolved however to defend themselves as well as they could and therefore they thought it the most effectual means to annoy the Enemy and to keep them from entering into the Country was to observe and defend the Streights by which the Enemy must of necessity pass Neither were they out in their Policy for it happened that the King himself with a small number advanced to one of these narrow Passages the rest of the Army by reason of their Carriages having taken some compass about which the Welch perceiving presently poured a Shower of Arrows upon them and the advantage of the ground giving help to their Execution they slew and wounded a great many of the English The King himself was struck in the Breast but for all that the Arrow could not hurt him by reason of his Armour yet he was so terrified with this unexpected Conflict and considering with himself that he must receive several such Brushes before he could advance to the plain Country and what was above all being sensible that by such rash Misfortune he might lose all the Honour and Fame which he had before obtained sent a Message to parly with them who kept the Passage and with all assurance of Safety to desire them to come to the King The Welch being come and question'd how they had such Confidence to oppose the King and to put his Life in so much danger made Answer that they belonged to Meredith ap Blethyn and according to their Master's Orders they were
Edeyrneon and Dinmael which he left to his Sons Gruffydh Blethyn and Iorwerth Owen Madawc had to his Portion Mechain-Is-Coed and had Issue Lhewelyn and Owen Fychan But Gruffydh Maelor the eldest Son Lord of Bromfield had to his part both the Maelors with Mochnant-is-Raydar and married Angharad the Daughter of Owen Gwynedh Prince of North-Wales by whom he had Issue one Son named Madawc who held his Father's Inheritance intirely and left it so to his only Son Gruffydh who was called Lord of Dînas Brân because he lived in that Castle He married Emma the Daughter James Lord Audley by whom he had Issue Madawc Lhewelyn Gruffydh and Owen This Gruffydh ap Madawc took part with King Henry the Third and Edward the First against the Prince of North-Wales and therefore for fear of the said Prince he was forced to keep himself secure within his Castle of Dinas Brân which being situated upon the summity of a very steep Hill seemed impregnable to all the daring Efforts that could be used against it After his death Edward the first dealt very unkindly with his Children who were of Age to manage their own Concerns and making two of them privately away bestowed the Wardship of Madoc his eldest Son who had by his Father's Will the Lordships of Bromfield and Yale with the reversion of Maelor Saesnec Hopesdale and Mouldsdale his Mother's Joynture on John Earl Warren and the Wardship of Lhewelyn to whose share fell the Lordships of Chirke and Nanheudwy to Roger Mortimer third Son to Roger Mortimer the Son of Ralph Mortimer Lord Mortimer of Wigmor But Emma Gruffydh's Wife having in her possession for her Dowry Maelor Saesnec Hopesdale and Moulsdale with the presentation of Bangor Rectory and seeing two of her Sons disinherited and done away and the fourth dead without Issue and doubting lest Gruffydh her only surviving Child could not long continue she conveyed her Estate to the Audley's her own Kin who getting possession of it took the same from the King from whom it came to the House of Derby where it continued for a long time till at length it was sold to Sir John Glynne Serjeant at Law in whose Family it still remaineth But Earl Warren and Roger Mortimer forgetting what signal Service Gruffydh ap Madoc had performed for the King guarded their new Possessions with such caution and strictness that they took especial care they should never return to any of the Posterity of the legal Proprietor and therefore having obtained the King's Patent they began to secure themselves in the said Lordships John Earl Warren began to build Holt-Castle which was finished by his Son William and so the Lordships of Bromfield and Yale continued in the name of the Earls of Warren for three Descents viz. John William and John who dying without Issue the said Lordships together with the Earldom of Warren descended to Alice Sister and Heir to the last John Earl Warren who was married to Edmond Fitz Alan Earl of Arundel in which House they remained for three Descents namely Edmund Richard Richard his Son and Thomas Earl of Arundel But for want of Issue to this last Thomas Earl of Arundel and Warren the said Lordships fell to two of his Sisters whereof one named Elizabeth was married to Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk and the other called Joan to William Beauchamp Lord of Abergavenny But since they came to the Hands of Sir William Stanley Knight who being attainted of High Treason they devolved by forfeiture to the Crown and now are annexed to the Principality of Wales But Roger Mortimer the other sharer in the Lands of Gruffydh ap Madoc was made Justice of North-Wales built the Castle of Chirke and married Lucia the Daughter and Heir of Sir Robert de Wafre Knight by whom he had Issue Roger Mortimer who was married to Joan Turbervill by whom he had John Mortimer Lord of Chirke This John sold the Lordship of Chirke to Richard Fitzalan Earl of Arundel Edmund's Son and so it was again annexed to Bromfield and Yale The third Son of Gruffydh Lord of Dinas Brân named also Gruffydh had for his part Glyn Dwrdwy which Gruffydh ap Gruffydh had Issue Madoc Crupl who was the Father of Madoc Fychan the Father of Gruffydh the Father of Gruffydh Fychan who was the Father of Owen Glyndwr who rebelling in the days of Henry the Fourth Glyndwrdwy by confiscation came to the King of whom it was afterwards purchased by Robert Salisbury of Rug in whose Family it still remaineth Owen the Fourth Son of Gruffydh Lord of Dinas Brân had for his share Cynlhaeth with the Rights and Priviledges thereunto belonging The other part of Powys comprehending the Countries of Arustly Cyfeilioc Lhannerch-hudol Caereneon Mochnach uwch Rayadr Mechan uwch Coed Moudhwy Deudhwr Ystrad Marchelh and Teir Tref or the three Towns rightfully descended to Gruffydh ap Meredith ap Blethyn by Henry the first created Lord Powys Who married Gweyryl or Weyryl the Daughter of Vrgene ap Howel ap Iefaf ap Cadogan ap Athlestan Glodryth by whom he had Issue Owen Surnamed Cyfeilioc This Owen enjoyed his Father's Estate intire and married Gwenlhiam the Daughter of Owen Gwynedh Prince of North-Wales who bore him one Son named Gwenwynwyn or Wenwynwyn from whom that part of Powys was afterwards called Powys Wenwynwyn He had moreover a base Brother called Caswalhon upon whom he bestowed the Countries of Swydh Lhannerch Hudol and Braniarth Gwenwynwyn succeeded his Father in all his Estate saying what Caswalhon enjoyed and married Margaret the Daughter of Rhys ap Theodor Prince of South Wales by whom he had Gruffydh ap Gwenâ—ynwyn who succeeding his Father in all his Possessions had Issue six Sons by Margaret the Daughter of Robert Corbet Brother to Thomas Lord Corbet of Cous and so the intire Estate of Gruffydh ap Meredith ap Blethyn Lord of Powys became shattered and torn into divers Pieces Owen Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn's eldest Son had for his part Arustly Cyfeilioc Lhannerch Hudol and a part of Caereneon Lhewelyn had Mochnant uwch Rayadr and Mechain uwch Coed John the third Son had the fourth part of Caerenion William had Moudhwy Gruffydh Fychan had Deudh rr Ystrat-Marchelh and Teir Tref and David the sixth and youngest Son had the other fourth part of Caereneon Owen ap Gruffydh had Issue one only Daughter named Hawys Gadarn or the Hardy whom he left his Heir but her Uncles Lhewolyn John Gruffydh Fychan and David thinking it an easy matter to dispossess an Orphan challenged the Lands of their Brother Owen alledging for a Cloak to their Usurpation that a Woman was not capable of holding any Lands in that Country But Hawys made such Friends in England that her Case was made known to King Edward the Second who bestowed her in Marriage upon a Servant of his named John Charleton termed Valectus Domini Regis who was born at Appley near Wellington in the County of Salop Anno One Thousand Two Hundred
by their Valour than by their Birth and Parentage He had by Gwladus the Daughter of Lhywarch ap Trahaern ap Caradoc Iorwerth Drwyndwn or the broken Nose Conan Maelgon and Gwenlhian by Christian the Daughter of Grono ap Owen ap Edwyn he had David Roderic Cadwalhon Abbot of Bardsey and Angharad afterwards married to Gruffydh Maylor He had by other Women several other Children as Conan Lhewelyn Meredith Edwal Rhun Howel Cadelh Madawc Eineon Cynwric Philip and Ryrid Lord of Clochran in Ireland Of these Run Lhewelyn and Cynwric died before their Father and the rest will be mentioned in the Sequel of this History David ap Owen PRince Owen Gwynedh being dead the Succession was of right to descend to his eldest legitimate Son Iorwerth Drwyndwn otherwise called Edward with the broken Nose but by reason of that Blemish upon his Face he was laid aside as unfit to take upon him the Government of North-Wales Therefore his younger Brothers began every one to aspire in hopes of succeeding their Father but A.D. 1170 Howel who was of all the eldest but base born begotten of an Irish Woman finding they could not agree stept in himself and took upon him the Government But David who was legitimately born could not brook that a Bastard should ascend his Fathers Throne and therefore he made all the Preparations possible to pull him down Howel on the other hand was as resolute to maintain his ground and was not willing so quickly to deliver up what he had not very long got possession of and so both Brothers meeting together in the Field were resolved to try their Title by the point of the Sword The Battel had not lasted long but Howel was slain and then David was unanimously proclaimed and saluted Prince of North-Wales which Principality he enjoyed without any Molestation till Lhewelyn Iorwerth Druryndwn's Son came of age as will hereafter appear But Madawc another of Owen Gwynedh's Sons finding how his Brothers contended for the Principality and that his native Country was like to be turmoil'd in a Civil War did think it his better Prudence to try his Fortune abroad and therefore leaving North-Wales in a very unsettled condition sailed with a small Fleet of Ships which he had rigg'd and man'd for that purpose to the Westward and leaving Ireland upon the North he came at length to an unknown Country where most things appeared to him new and uncustomary and the manner of the Natives far different from what he had seen in Europe This Country says the learned H. Lhoyd must of necessity be some part of that vast tract of ground of which the Spaniards since Hanno's time boast themselves to be the first Discoverers and which by order of Cosmography seems to be some part of Nova Hispania or Florida whereby it is manifest that this Country was discovered by the Britains long before either Columbus or Americus Vesputius sailed thither But concerning Madawc's Voyage to this Country and afterwards his return from thence there be many fabulous Stories and idle Tales invented by the Vulgar who are sure never to diminish from what they hear but will add to and increase any Fable as far as their Invention will prompt them However says the same Author it is certain that Madawc arrived in this Country and after he had viewed the Fertility and Pleasantness of it he thought it expedient to invite more of his Countrymen out of Britain and therefore leaving most of those he had brought with him already behind he returned for Wales Being arrived there he began to acquaint his Friends with what a fair and extensive Land he had met with void of any Inhabitants whilst they employed all their Skill to supplant one another only for a ragged Portion of Rocks and Mountains and therefore he would persuade them to change their present state of Danger and continual Clashings for a more quiet Being of Ease and Enjoyment And so having got a considerable Number of Welch together he bid his final adieu to his Native Country and sailed with Ten Ships back to them he had left behind It is therefore to be supposed says our Authour that Madawc and his People inhabited part of that Country since called Florida by reason that it appears from Francis Loves an Author of no small Reputation that in Acusanus and other places the People honoured and worshipped the Cross whence it may be naturally concluded that Christians had been there before the coming of the Spaniards and who these Christians might be unless it were this Colony of Madawcs cannot be easily imagined But by reason that the Welch who came over were not many they intermixt in a few Years with the Natives of the Country and so following their Manners and using their Language they became at length undistinguishable from the Barbarians But the Country which Madawc landed in is by the learned Dr. Powel supposed to be part Mexico for which Conjecture he lays down these following Reasons First as it is recorded in the Spanish Chronicles of the Conquest of the West-Indies the Inhabitants and Natives of that Country affirm by Tradition that their Rulers descended from a strange Nation which came thither from a strange Country as it was confessed by King Montezeuma in a Speech at his Submission to the King of Castile before Hernando Cortez the Spanish General And then the British Words and Names of Places used in that Country even at this day do undoubtedly argue the same as when they speak and confabulate together they use this British Word Gwrando which signifies to hearken or listen and a certain Bird with a white Head they call Fengwyn which signifies the same in Welch But for a more complete confirmation of this the Island of Corroeso the Cape of Bryton the River of Gwyndor and the white Rock of Pengwyn which are all British Words do manifestly shew that it was that Country which Madawe and his People inhabited As soon as the Troubles of North-Wales were over and Prince David securely settled in his Throne A.D. 1171 the Storm fell presently upon Powys For Owen Cyfeilioc the Lord of that Country had always as much as in him lay opposed the Interest and Advantage of Rhys Prince of South Wales upon which account Prince Rhys came with a great Army against Powys and having subdued Owen Cyfeilioc his Enemy he was for all that so favourable to him that upon his delivering him Pledges for his future Behaviour he presently departed out of Powys and returned with much Honour to South Wales And now all the States of Britain being at perfect Rest and Amity with one another the whole Tide and Scene of Action returned to Ireland for Henry King of England having called together all his Nobility began to consult about the Irish Expedition which had already been determined to be taken in hand To this Consultation there came some Messengers from Richard Strongbow Earl of Strigule Marshal of England to deliver up
the Queen his Mother his Brothers Geffrey and Richard the French King the Earl of Flanders together with the Earl of Chester William Patrick with several other valiant Knights and Gentlemen But the old King having a stout and a faithful Army consisting of Almanes and Brabanters was not in the least dismay'd or discourag'd at such a seeming Storm and which made him more bold and adventurous he was joyned by a strong Party of Welchmen which Lord Rhys had sent him under the command of his Son Howel King Henry overthrew his Enemies in divers Encounters and having either killed or taken Prisoners most of them who were rose up against him he easily dissipated the Cloud which at first seemed so black and threatning Iorwerth ap Owen was not very sory to see the English clash and fall into civil Dissentions among themselves and therefore taking advantage of such a seasonable opportunity he drew his Army against Caerlheon which stood out very stifly against him But after many warm Disputes of both sides Iorwerth at length prevailed and entering the Town by force he took most of the Inhabitants Prisoners and then laying siege to the Castle it was surrender'd up in exchange for the Prisoners he had taken in the Town Howel his Son at the same time was busie in Gwent îs Coed and having reduced all that Country excepting the Castle to subjection he took Pledges of the Inhabitants to be true and faithful to him and to withdraw their Allegiance from the King of England At the same time something of action passed in North-Wales for David ap Owen Gwynedh Prince of North-Wales bringing an Army over the River Menai into Anglesey against his Brother Maelgon who kept that Island from him forced him to make his escape to Ireland in his return from whence the following Year he was accidentally discovered and seized upon and then by his Brothers orders committed to close Prison Prince David having brought the Isle of Anglesey to its pristine state of subjection to him was resolved to move all manner of Obstacles which might at any time for the future endanger its falling off from him and these he judged to be his own next Relations A.D. 1174 and therefore he expell'd and banish'd all his Brethren and Cosins out of his Territories of North-Wales But before this Sentence was put in execution his Brother Conan dyed and so escaped the Ignominy of being banished his native Country for no other reason but the Jealousie of an ambitious Brother About the same time Howel the Son of Iorwerth ap Owen of Caerlheon took Prisoner his Uncle Owen Pencarn who was right Heir of Caerlheon and Gwent and now having him secure and to prevent his getting any Children to inherit those places which himself was next Heir to he first pulled out his Eyes and then very inhumanly cut off his Testicles But Vengeance did not permit such a base Action to go unpunished for upon the Saturday following a great Army of Normans and Englishmen came unexpectedly before the Town and wan both it and the Castle notwithstanding all the Opposition which Howel and his Father Iorwerth made though this last was not privy to his Sons Action About the same time King Henry came over to England a little after whose arrival William King of Scots and Roger de Moubray were taken Prisoners at Alnewike by the Barons of the North as they came to destroy the Northern part of the Country in the Quarrel of the young King But old King Henry having committed them to the safe custody of the Earl of Leicester and received Hugh Bygod Earl of Chester to his Mercy returned to Normandy with a very considerable Army of Welchmen which David Prince of North-Wales had sent him in return of which he gave him his Sister Emme in Marriage When he was arrived in Normandy he sent a Detachment of the Welch to cut off some Provisions which were going to the Enemies Camp but in the mean time the French King came to a Treaty of Peace which was shortly afterwards concluded upon so that all the Brethren who had all this time maintained such an unnatural Rebellion against their Father were forced to beg the old King's Forgiveness and Pardon for all their former Misdemeanours David Prince of North-Wales began to grow very bold and assuming by reason of his new Alliance with the King of England and nothing would serve his turn but he must put his Brother Roderic in Prison and secure him with Fetters for no other account than because he demandod his share of his Fathers Lands It was the custom of Wales as is said before to make an equal division of the Father's Inheritance between all the Children and therefore David had no colour of Reason or Pretence to deal so severely with his Brother unless it were to verifie that Proverb Might overcomes Right But though Prince David might depend much upon his Affinity with the King of England yet Rhys Prince of South-Wales gained his Favour and Countenance the more by reason that he let slip no opportunity to further the King's Interest and Affairs in Wales and by that means was a very necessary and useful Instrument to keep under the Welch and to promote the surer Settlement of the English in the Country Not that he bore any Love or Affection to either King Henry or his Subjects but because he was sufficiently rewarded for former Services and was still in expectation of receiving more Favours at the King's hands he was resolved to play the Politician so far as to have regard to his own Interest more than the Good of his native Country And what did ingratiate him to King Henry most of all upon the Feast of S. James he brought all such Lords of South-Wales as were at Enmity with the King to do him Homage at Glocester namely Cadwalhon ap Madawc of Melyenyth his Cosin-German Eineon Clyt of Eluel and Eineon ap Rhys of Gwerthrynion his Sons in Law Morgan ap Caradoc ap Iestyn of Glamorgan Gruffydh ap Ifor ap Meiric of Sengennyth and Sitsylht ap Dyfnwal of Higher Gwent all three his Brothers in Law who had married his Sisters together with Iorwerth ap Owen of Caerlheon King Henry was so well pleased with this Stratagem of Rhys that notwithstanding these Persons had been his implacable Enemies he readily granted them their Pardon and received them to Favour and restored to Iorwerth ap Owen the Town and Castle of Caerlheon which he had unjustly taken from him A.D. 1175 This Reconciliation betwixt King Henry and these Welch Lords some of the English in Wales took advantage of and more particularly William de Bruce Lord of Brecnock who having for a long time a great longing to Gwentland could not bring about his Design by reason that Sitsylht ap Dyfnwal the Person of greatest sway and Power in the Country was an inveterate Enemy to all the English But being now reconciled to the King William de
of Lhanymdhyfri thence they removed to Lhangadoc and wan the Castle likewise upon this Condition that the Garrison be permitted to march out quietly When they had taken these two Castles they went to Dinerth where Maelgon finished the Castle he had formerly begun there This Year likewise Prince Lhewelyn set at liberty his Uncle David ap Owen Gwynedh who made but a sorry return to this Kindness for instead of living peaceably at home and enjoying that Liberty that was granted him he flees to England and there gets an Army wherewith he attempts to restore himself to his antient Estate of North-Wales but he missed his Mark for his prudent Nephew immediately met him on his March and gave him a shameful Over-throw wherewith David was so mightily disheartened that he presently returned for England and shortly after died for meer sorrow The next Year Howel a blind A.D. 1204 Son of Prince Rhys was slain at Camaes by his Brother Maelgon's Men and buried just by his Brother Gruffydh at Ystratflur But notwithwanding that Maelgon in those days usurped all the Rule and Government of South-Wales yet his Brother Gruffydh's Sons Rhys and his Brethren wan from him the chief Defence of all that Country to wit the Castles of Dynefowr and Lhanymdhyfri About this time William Marshal Earl of Pembrock besieged the Castle of Cilgerran and took it and not long after Maelgon A.D. 1205 hired an Irishman to kill Gadifor ap Griffri after which horrid Fact Maelgon seized upon his Four Sons and put them to death these were forward promising young Gentlemen and descended from a Noble Stock for their Mother Susanna was a Daughter of the said Howel ap Rhys by a Daughter of Madawc ap Meredith Prince of Powys In the Year 1206. Maelgon A.D. 1206 built a Castle at Abereneon At which time there was such abundance of Fish seen at Aberystwyth that the like number was never known to have come there in the memory of Man before A.D. 1207 This Year the King of England banished the Realm William de Bruce and his Wife on the account of a Grudg that he bore his Son and then seized upon all his Lands whereupon William with his Wife and Son fled to Ireland and there continued for some time And this Hardship he now underwent was the less pitied because he exercised the great Power he had in the Marches of Wales with extreme Cruelty and Injustice The same Year Gwenwynwyn came to Shrewsbury to speak with the King's Council where he was detained Prisoner Whereupon Prince Lhewelyn conquered all his Country took all his Towns and Castles and garrison'd them for his own use This Expedition of Prince Lhewelyn mightily alarm'd the usurping Maelgon and the more because he had intelligence that Lhewelyn was on his march towards South-Wales therefore he now puts himself in the best posture he could to receive him but finding himself not able to abide the Prince's coming and to withstand his Forces he demolisheth his Castles of Aberystwyth Ystratmeyric and Dinerth which before he had fortified Notwithstanding which the Prince comes to Aberystwyth and rebuildeth the Castle and puts a Garrison therein after this he seized upon the Cantref of Penwedic and the Land betwixt Dyfi and Aeron which he gave to Maelgon's Nephews the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys and then returned home with great Joy and Triumph Not long after Rhys Fychan Son to Prince Rhys besieged the Castle of Lhangadoc and took it contrary to the Promise and League he had made with his Nephews forgetting likewise how freely and readily they had administred to him in his necessity therefore to be avenged of this Ingratitude and breach of promise Rhys and Owen no sooner heard of it but they furiously attack'd the Castle and took it by assault and put to the Sword or took Prisoners all the Garrison and then burnt the Castle to the ground A.D. 1209 This Year King John levied a powerful Army with which he made a Voyage to Ireland but as he was on the Borders of Wales on his Journey thitherwards there was a Criminal brought before him who had murther'd a Priest The Officer desired to know the King's Pleasure how he would have the Delinquent punished but the King instead of ordering any Punishment to be inflicted upon him suitable to the heinousness of his Crime discharged him with a Well done thou good Servant thou hast slain mine Enemy for such he reckon'd the Clergy of those days who were very ill-affected to his usurped arbitrary Government and therefore he slightly regarded any Injuries that were done them nay thought those did him good service who did them wrong He had not been long in Ireland but he got into his clutches the unfortunate William de Bruce the younger and his Mother Mawd de Saint Valerike whom we have mentioned afore to have quitted England for fear of him and to have fled here for shelter Upon his return to England he brought these in triumph along with him and committed them to Windsor-Castle where by his Orders not long after they were inhumanly famished The reason of King John's Displeasure against William de Bruce Lord of Brecnock Pag. 303. Matthew Paris delivers to be this When the Pope had excommunicated the Realm of England the King to prevent any Inconveniences that might ensue thereupon took Pledges of such of his Nobles as he thought were disaffected to him and would be like if occasion offered to countenance and promote a Rebellion Amongst others he sends Messengers to William de Bruce to demand his Sons for Pledges to whom Mawd de Bruce's Wife being the readier speaker answered though what she said was no less her Husband's Sentiment than her own Thar the King who had proved so base a Guardian to his Nephew Prince Arthur whom instead of setting in he deprived of his Right should have none of her Children This Answer the Messengers deliver'd to the King whereat he was highly displeased that he ordered some Soldiers should be sent to seize this Lord but he having timely intelligence of this Order fled into Ireland with his Wife and Children where now his Wife Mawd with her Son were unfortunately taken by King John but he himself escaped and fled into France where not long after he dyed This Year the Earl of Chester rebuilt the Castle of Dyganwy situate on the Sea-shore East of the River Conway which Prince Lhewelyn had before demolished He likewise fortifies the Castle of Treffynon or S. Wenefrid Upon this Lhewelyn enters into the Earl's Land which when he had ravaged sufficiently he returns home with considerable Booty About this time Rhys Fychan Son to Prince Rhys fearing lest Prince Lhewelyn should fall upon him for the wrong he had done to his Nephews whom he Prince Lhewelyn stifly defended in their right made his Application to the King of England who readily granted him what Succours he desired and with these he besieged the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri the Garrison
for some time made a vigorous defence but having no hopes of any Relief they thought it their wisest course to Capitulate and so they desired they might march out with their Arms Bag and Baggage and all that belonged to them which was granted them About this time likewise Gwenwynwyn was set at Liberty whom the King had hitherto detained Prisoner and withal lends him some Forces to attempt the recovery of his Country which Prince Lhewelyn had seized upon during his Imprisonment and tho' by his own Strength he was not able to cope with the Prince yet by this Assistance granted him by the King he soon re-possessâ—d himself of his Dominions This Success of Gwenwynwyn encouraged Maelgon likewise to endeavour the recovery of that part of his Country which the Prince had taken from him in the same Expedition Now he makes his application to the King of England and swears Allegiance to him Hereupon the King grants him a considerable Army as well English as Normans to these he joyns what Forces he could raise in Wales and then contrary to the Oath and Agreement he had made with his Nephews Rhys and Owen he in a hostile manner enters their Country when he was come to Cantred Penwedic he encamped at Cilcenny where he staid some time to take measures for the better accomplishment of his Designs by this time his Nephews had got together about 300 chosen well disciplined Men but with so small a Number durst not oppose their Uncle's numerous Army in open Field therefore they were to endeavour to overthrow those by a Stratagem which they could not do by main force Herein they proved very successful for coming as near their Enemies as they could without being discovered they sent out their Spies that Night for Intelligence who brought back the good News that all was quiet in Maelgon's Camp and that they kept no strict Watch being not aware of an approaching Enemy This Intelligence mightily encouraged the Brothers to prosecute their Designs and now they march as silently as they can towards their Enemies Camp where they met with no opposition being not discovered because all were fast asleep When they were advanced as they thought as far as Maelgon's Tent they furiously fell on and slew a great number of his Men afore they awak'd the rest being frightened with the noise and shouts of their Enemies and withal thinking their Numbers to be far greater than it was were glad to make use of the darkness of the Night to quit the Field only Maelgon's Guard valiantly kept their Post and defended their Lord till he had time and opportunity to escape But Maelgon's Army suffered very much in this Action his Nephew Conan ap Howel with his Chief Counsellor Gruffydh ap Cadwgan were both taken Prisoners and Eineon ap Caradoc with a great number more were slain upon the spot About the same time Gilbert Earl of Glocester fortified the Castle of Buelht where a little before he had lost a considerable number of his Men by reason that the place was not very strong and tenable And towards the conclusion of this year Mallt or Mawd de Bruce the Wife of Gruffydh ap Rhys departed this Life and was interred by her Husband in a Monk's Coul in Ystratflur But the following Year a great Storm threatened A.D. 1210 North-Wales by reason that the Marchers made frequent and grievous Complaints to King John how that Prince Lhewelyn perpetually molested their Country slew their Men and committed all the waste and destruction possible as he passed along The King hearing of such intolerable Depredations continually exercised by the North-Wales Men thought it high time to redress his Subjects and therefore he raised a mighty Army throughout all England and called to him all the Lords and Princes of Wales as held their Lands and Patents from him as Howel ap Gruffydh ap Conan ap Owen Gwynedh whom Prince Lhewelyn had banished out of North-Wales Madoc ap Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield Chirke and Yale Meredith ap Rotpert Lord of Cydewen Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys Maelgon and Rhys the Sons of Prince Rhys and Governours of South Wales With this formidable Army he came to Chester intending to enter into North-Wales by that way and being fully resolved to execute the severest Vengeance upon the Inhabitants and not to let one living Soul remain alive throughout the whole Country But Matters of this nature are easier resolved upon than accomplished Prince Lhewelyn was no sooner informed of these mighty preparations against him comprehending the whole Strength of the English Nation and what was worst of all being assisted by his own Country-men but he issued forth his Orders commanding all his Subjects of the In-land Counties of Denbigh and Flint together with them of the Island of Anglesey to remove for a time all their Cattel and other Effects to Snowden-Hills where they were sure to remain securest from their Enemies But King John marched his Army along the Sea-Coast to Ruthlan and there passing the River Clwyd he came to the Castle of Teganwy where he encamped for some time to refresh and recreate his Army which by reason of the long Marches they made was in a great measure weary and fatigued But what the more augmented their misery Lhewelyn getting behind them cut off all their hopes of Provision from England and the Welch by the Advantage of being acquainted with the straits and narrow Passages cut off all that straggled from the English Camp so that in time they were glad to take up with Horse-flesh and any thing were it never so mean which might till up their greedy and empty Stomachs At last King John finding no other Remedy and perceiving it impossible to continue longer there so hungry and fainty thought it his wisest way to march for England and leave the Welch to themselves and so he decamped in a great fury leaving Lhewelyn to bury that great number of Dead which had starved in this successless Expedition But to recover the Honour he had now lost he was resolved to try another touch with the Welch but possibly not with the same confidence and assurance of Victory And therefore returning to Wales in the next August he entred with such another terrible Army of English and was assisted by the same Welch Lords at Blanchmonastery now Oswestry being in the Lordship of John the Son of William Fitzalan In this Expedition King John passing the River Conwey and encamping at the other side towards Snowden-Hills sent part of his Army conducted by Guides who were acquainted with the Country to burn Bangor which they effectually did and taking Roâ—pert Bishop of that See out of Church they carried him Prisoner to the English Camp where he continued for some time till he obtained his Ransom for a present of two hundred Hawks But Prince Lhewelyn finding the whole Strength of England and almost Wales to fight against him and judging it impossible for himself alone to
enjoyed by his Heirs for ever A.D. 1238 In the Year 1238. Prince Lhewelyn being discomposed in Body called unto him all the Lords and Barons of Wales to Ystratflur where each of them swore to remain true and faithful Subjects and did Homage to David Lhewelyn's Son whom he had named to succeed him Matthew Paris writes that Prince Lhewelyn being impotent by reason of a Palsie and sore disquieted by his Son Gruffydh sent Embassadours to the King of England signifying to him that for as much as he could not expect to live long by reason of his Age he was desirous to lead the remainder of his days in Peace and Tranquility and therefore now purposed to submit himself to the Government and Protection of the King and would hold his Lands of him promising withal that whenever the King should stand in need of his help he would serve him both with Men and Money to the utmost of his power The Bishops of Hereford and Chester were sent Mediators in this behalf though some of the Nobility of Wales openly and peremptorily withstood it and upon no condition whatsoever would accept of such a Peace But David being declared Successor to the Principality began to plague his Brother Gruffydh who though elder was yet base-born and took from him Arustly Ceri Cyfeilioc Mowdhwy Mochnant and Careneon and let him only enjoy the Cantref of Lhyn But a little afterwards he dispossessed him of all and contrary to his Oath to the Bishop of Bangor in whose protection Gruffydh then remained took him Prisoner having upon promise of no Violence obtained to speak with him and sent him to Cricieth Castle But whilst these two Brothers continued to entertain an irreconcilable Odium one to another their Father Prince Lewelyn ap Iorwerth A.D. 1240 to the great Grief and Dissatisfaction of all the Welch departed this Life and was very honourably interred in the Abby of Conwey after he had reigned Six and Fifty Years He was a Prince of great Courage and Audacity and had no less Prudence in contriving than Boldness in executing any martial Adventure he was a great Support to the Welch and no less a Plague to the English he made very considerable Conquests upon the Borders and extended the Frontiers of Wales much beyond their former Limits He had Issue by his only Wife Joan Daughter to King John of England one Son called David who afterwards succeeded in the Principality of Wales and a Daughter named Gladys who was married to Sir Ralph Mortimer He had also a base Son named Gruffydh whom his Brother David kept a close Prisoner to his dying day David ap Lhewelyn PRince Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth being deceased his only legitimate Son David whom all the Barons of Wales had as is said in his Fathers Life-time sworn to obey legally succeeded in the Goverment wherein being actually confirmed he went to the King of England to Glocester and there did him Homage See Appendix for his Principality Then all the Barons both English and Welch who held any Lands in Wales in like manner did Homage and Fealty for the same But the English could not long refrain from their wonted Hostilities towards the Welch and thereupon Gilbert Marshal taking advantage of this Revolution before Matters were throughly settled brought an Army before the Castle of Aberteifi which being delivered up to him he fortified with a strong Garrison Prince David was as yet too weak to appear in the Field and indeed the more by reason that several of his Nobility and others could not affectionately love him for that unnatural Spleen he shew'd to his Brother Gruffydh whom for no visible reason he detained in close custody But above the rest Richard Bishop of Bangor stormed at the Prince and finding that he violated his Promise in setting his Brother at liberty whom under pretence of an amicable Consultation he had fraudulently seized upon in the Bishop's presence without more ado excommunicated him and then retiring to England made a very querimonious relation of the whole matter to the King desiring him to release Gruffydh out of Prison before the Rumour of so heinous a Fact should reach the Court of Rome and so reflect upon his Majesty's Reputation King Henry thereupon sent to his Nephew Prince David blaming him highly for such a treacherous Action and dealing so severely with his Brother and then earnestly requested him to deliver Gruffydh out of custody both to save himself from perpetual Defamation and to deserve an Absolution from the severe Sentence pronounced against him But David absolutely refused to comply to the King's desire assuring him that Wales could never enjoy a peaceable time as long as his Brother Gruffydh had his liberty Gruffydh being acquainted with his Brothers Resolution and thinking that thereby he had unavoidably displeased the King of England privately sent to King Henry assuring him that if by Force he would deliver him out of Prison he would not only hold his Lands for ever from him but also pay him the yearly Acknowledgment of Three Hundred Marks offering both to give his corporal Oath and to deliver up sufficient Pledges for the performance of it and withall to assist the King with all his Power in bringing in the rest of the Welch to his subjection Moreover Gruffydh ap Madawc Lord of Bromfield positively assured the King that in case he would lead an Army into Wales to revenge the Falsity and injurious Practices of David he would give him all possible Aid and Assistance Indeed King Henry besides this solemn Invitation had no weak Pretence to come to Wales for Richard Bishop of Bangor a fiery Man had prosecuted the matter so warmly at Rome that he obtained of the Pope also to excommunicate David which Excommunication being denounced against him his Lands were pretendedly forfeited But the King being chiefly allured with the Promises of the Welch in the behalf of Gruffydh levied a very formidable Army to lead to Wales strictly commanding by Proclamation all the English who owed him any Martial-Service to repair armed to Glocester by the beginning of Autumn This Rendezvouz being accordingly performed the King came thither in person at the time appointed and having regulated his Troops and put all Matters in convenient order he marched to Shrewsbury where he remained Fifteen Days to refresh his Army During his stay there several of the Nobility became Suitors unto him on behalf of Gruffydh whose Condition they desired he would commiserate among whom were Ralph Lord Mortimer of Wigmore Walter Clifford Roger de Monte Alto Steward of Chester Maelgon ap Maelgon Meredith ap Rotpert Lord of Cydewen Gruffydh ap Madawc of Bromfield Howel and Meredith the Sons of Conan ap Owen Gwynedh and Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys These Noblemen prevailed so far with King Henry that a League was concluded between him and Senena the Wife of Gruffydh See Appendix For the performance of these Articles the aforesaid
and had a great Number of their Men slain After this nothing remarkable fell out for a considerable time unless it were that David being released out of Prison by Prince Lhewelyn his Brother most ungratefully forsook him and with all his might sided with his Enemies the English also Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn having taken the Castle of Mold demolished it to the ground During this quiet and unactive interval in Wales Meredith ap Owen the main Support and Defender of South-Wales died to the great disadvantage of the Affairs of that Country And now indeed the Welch were like to be A.D. 1268 made sensible of the Loss of so considerable a Person for King Henry was resolved once more to lead an Army into Wales and to see if he could have better Success than he had hitherto against the Welch But when he was prepared to undertake this Expedition Ottobonus Pope Clement's Legate in England interposed and mediated a Peace which was concluded upon at the Castle of Montgomery wherein it was articled that Prince Lhewelyn should give the King 30000 Marks and the King was to grant the Prince a Charter from thenceforth to receive Homage and Fealty of all the Nobility and Barons of Wales besides one so that they could hold their Lands of no other but himself and from thence forward he was to be lawfully stiled Prince of Wales This Charter being ratified and confirmed as well by the Authority of the Pope as the King's Seal Prince Lhewelyn desisted from any farther Acts of Hostility and punctually observed all the Articles of Agreement betwixt him and King Henry so that nothing more was outragiously transacted between the English and Welch during the remainder of this King's reign Within that space died Grono ap Ednyfed Fychan one of the Chief Lords of the Prince's Council and shortly after him Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield who lies buried at Vale-Crucis A.D. 1272 But the Death of King Henry put an end to the observations of the Peace betwixt the English and Welch who dying on the 16th day of November this year left this Kingdom to his Son Edward Prince Edward was then in the Holy-Land and very active against those Enemies of Christianity the Turks where he had already continued above a year but understanding of his Father's Death and that in his absence he was proclaimed King of England he made all haste to return to receive the Solemnity of Coronation But what by the tediousness of the Journey and what by being honourably detained at Princes Courts in his way it was two years before he could get into England then upon the 15th of August and in the year 1274. he was Crowned at Westminster Prince Lhewelyn was summoned to attend at his Coronation but he flatly refused to appear unless upon sure Terms of safe Conduct for having offended several of the English Nobility he could not in safety pass thro' their Country without the danger of exposing his Person to the inveterate Malice and acceptable Revenge of some of them And thâ—refore without the King's Brother the Earl of Glocester and Robert Burnell Lord Chief Justice of England were delivered up as Pledges for his safe Conduct he would not come up to do his Homage and Fealty at his Coronation according to the Writ directed to him And indeed seeing King Edward had broke the Peace lately concluded upon before the Pope's Legate and did receive and honourably entertain such Noblemen of Wales as for their disloyalty were banished by Prince Lhewelyn by whom he feared some treachery there was no reason that the Prince should pay him any subjection but by the breach of Peace was exempted from all Homage However Prince Lhewelyn to shew that it was not out of any stubborness or disrespect to the King of England that he refused to come sent up his Reasons by the Abbots of Ystratflur and Conwey to Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops then sitting â—n Convocation in the New-Temple at London which were to this effect To the most Reverend Fathers in God Robert Archbishop of Canterbury and Metropolitan of all England the Archbishop of York and the rest of the Bishops in Convocation Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowden sendeth Greeting WE would have your Lordships to understand that whereas formerly most terrible and incessant Wars were continually managed betwixt Henry King of England and our self the same were at last composed and all matters of Differences were adjusted by the means of his Excellency Cardinal Ottobonus the Pope's Legate who having drawn the Articles and Conditions of the Peace agreâ—d upon they were signed and swore to not only by the Kâ—ng but also the Prince his Son now King of England Among these Articles were comprehended that we and our Successors should hold of the King and his Successor the Principality of Wales so that all the Welch Lords one Baron excepted should hold their Baronies and Estates in Capite of us and should pay their Homage and Fealty for the same to us we in like manner doing Homage to the King of England and his Successors And besides that the King and his Successors should never offer to receive and entertain any of our Enemies nor any such of our own Subjects as were lawfully banished and excluded our Dominions of Wales nor by any means defend and uphold such against us Contrary to which Articles King Edward has forcibly seized upon the Estates of certain Barons of Wales of which they and their Ancestors have been immemorably possessed of and detains a Barony which by the form of Peace should have been delivered to us and moreover has hitherto entertained David ap Gruffydh our Brother and Gruffydh ap Gwenwynwyn with several others of our Enemies who are Out-laws and Fugitives of our Country And tho' we have often exhibited our Grievances and Complaints against them for destroying and pillaging our Country yet we could never obtain of the King any relief or redress for the several Wrongs and Injuries we received at their hands but on the contrary they still persist to commit wastes and other outrages in our Dominions And for all this he summons us to do him Homage at a place which is altogether dangerous to our Person where our inveterate Enemies and which is worse our own unnatural Subjects bear the greatest sway and respect w th the King And tho' we have alledged several Reasons to the King and his Council why the place by him assigned is nâ—t safe and indifferent for us to come and desire him to appoint another whereto we might with more safety resort or else that he would send Commissioners to receive our Oath and Homage till he could more opportunely receive them in Person yet he would not assent to our just and reasonable Request nor be satisfied with the Reasons we exhibited for our non-appearance Therefore we desire your Lordships earnestly to weigh the dismal effects that will happen to the Subjects
England both as to the Substance and Form of Worship But what may more truly be attributed to Mr. Gouge is that since his Travels into Wales and the propagating of his Doctrine among the ignorant of that Country Presbytery which before had scarce taken root has daily increased and grown to a Head Henry eldest Son of King James the First being arrived to the Age of Seventeen Years was created Prince of Wales on the 30th of May Anno 1610 but he dying of a malignant Feaver about Two Years after his Brother Charles being Fifteen Years of Age was created Prince of Wales in his room Anno 1615. For joy of this new Creation the Town of Ludlow and City of London performed very great Triumphs and the more to honour this Solemnity the King made Twenty Five Knights of the Bath all Lords or Barons Sons and the Inns of Court to express their Joy elected out of their Body Forty choice Gentlemen to perform solemn Justs and Barryers Charles eldest Son of King Charles the First by Henrietta Maria Daughter to King Henry the Fourth of France was born May 29. 1630. and afterwards created Prince of Wales Since the happy Incorporation of the Welch with the English the History of both Nations as well as the People is united and therefore I shall not repeat that which is so copiously and frequenty delivered by the English Historians but shall conclude with Dr. Heylyn That since the Welch have been incorporated with the English they have shewed themselves most loyal hearty and affectionate Subjects of the State â—ordially devoted to their King and zealous in Defence â—f their Laws Liberties and Religion as well as any â—f the best of their Fellow-Subjects APPENDIX The return of a Commission sent into Wales by King Henry the Seventh to search out the Pedigrees of Owen Tudor HENRY the Seventh King of England c. Son of Edmund Earl of Richmond Son of Owen ap Meredith and of Queen Catherine his Wife Daughter â—o Charles the Sixth King of France This Owen was Son of Meredith ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Ednyfed Fychan Baron of Brinfeingle in Denbigh Land Lord of Kricâ—th Chief Justice and Chief of Council to Llewelyn ap Iorwerth Drwyndwn Prince of all Wales And in the time of Prince Llewelyn grew a Variance between King John of England and the said Prince whereupon Ednyfed came with the Prince's Host and Men of War and also a number of his own People and met these English Lords in a Morning at what time these English Lords were hostied and slain and immediately brought their Heads being yet bloody to the said Prince Llewelyn The Prince seeing the same caused Ednyfed Fychan from thenceforth to bear in his Arms or Shield three bloody Heads in token of his Victory where he had born in his Arms before a Saracen's Head and so ever after this Ednyfed bore the said Arms his Son and his Son's Son unto the time of Tuder ap Gronw ap Tudor ap Gronw ap Ednyfed Fychan And after this Ednyfed wedded one Gwenllian Daughter to Rhys Prince of South Wales and had Issue by her Gronw which Ednyfed Fychan had in Wales divers goodly Houses Royally adorn'd with Turrets and Garrets some in Anglesey some other in Caernarvon-shire and and some in Denbigh-Land but his chiefest Mannor-House was in the Commot of Crythin in Caernarvon-shire which was a Royal Palace now decay'd for want of Reparations Also he builded there a Chappel in the Worship of our Lady and had License of the Pope for evermore to sing Divine Service therein for his Soul and his Ancestors and Progenitors Souls always and had Authority to give his Tythes and Offerings to his Chaplain there Vid. an serving starving which Ednyfed Fychan was Son to Kyner ap lers ap Gwgan ap Marchudd which was one of the fifteen Tribes of North-Wales and Son to Kynan ap Elfyn ap Mor ap Mynan ap Isbwis Newintyrche ap Isbwis ap Cadrod Calch Efynydd Earl of Dunstable and Lord of Northampton ap Cywyd Cindion ap Cynfelyn ap Arthuys ap Morydd ap Cynnaw ap Coel Godeboc King of Britain of whom King Henry the Seventh descended lineally by Issue-Male and is Son to the said Coel in the thirty first Degree as it is approved by old Chronicles in Wales Which Coel was Son of Tegfan ap Deheufraint ap Tudâ—wyl ap Urban ap Gradd ap Rhyfedel ap Rhydeirne ap Endigant ap Endeyrn ap Enid ap Endos ap Enddolaw ap Afalach ap Afflech ap Beli mawr King of Britain of whom King Henry the Seventh descendeth by Issue-Male â—nd is Son to him in forty one Degree Which Beli was Son to Monnogon King ap King â—axor ap King Pyr ap King Sawl Benissel ap Rhytherech King ap Rydion King ap Eidol King ap Arthafel King ap Seissilt King ap Owen King ap Caxho King ap Bleuddyd King â—p Meirion King ap Gwrgust King ap Elydno King ap Clydawc King ap Ithel King ap Urien King ap Andrew King ap Kereni King ap Porrex King ap Coel King ap Cadell King ap Geraint King ap Elidr King ap Morydd King ap Dan King ap Seissilt King ap Cyâ—elyn King ap Gwrgan King alias Farfâ—rwch ap Beli King ap Dyfnwal King ap Dodion King ap Enyd ap Kwrwyd ap Cyrdon ap Dyfufarth Prydain ap Aedd mawr ap Antonius ap Seisillt King ap Rhegaw Daughter and Heir of King Lyr and Wife of Henwin Prince of Cornwall This Lyr was Son of Bleuddyd ab Rhunbaladr brâs ap Lleon ap Brutus darian lâs ap Effroc Cadarn ap Mymbyr ap Madoc ap Locrine ap Brutus which inherited first this Land and after his Name was called Britain and had three Sons Locrine Kamber and Albanactus Locrine the eldest parted the Isle with his Brethren and kept half the Land for himself and called it Loegria Kamber second Son had the Land beyond Severn and named it Kambria in English Wales Albanactus had Scotland which he then called Albania after his own Name Of which Brute King Henry the Seventh is lineally descended by Issue-Male saving one Woman and is Son to Brute in five score Degrees How Owen Grandsire to King Henry the Seventh cometh of Beli mawr by Angharad Mother to Ednyfed by Issue-Female by Gittin Owen and Sir John Leiaf's Books THE Mother of Ednyfed was Angharad Daughter of Hwfa ap Cyner ap Rhywallon ap Dinged ap Tudor Trefor ap Mymbyr ap Cadfarch ap Gwrgenaw ap Gwaethiawe ap Bywyn ap Biordderch ap Gwriawn ap Gwnnan ap Gwnfiw frych ap Cadell Dehurnlluc ap Pasgan ap Rhydwf ap Rhudd Fedel frych ap Cyndeirn ap Gwrtheirn Gwrthenau called in English Vertiger by whom King Henry the Seventh by the foresaid Angharad Mother to Ednyfed Fychan and Wife to Cyner ab Iers ap Gwgon is Son to the said Vortiger in thirty Degrees Which Vortiger was Son to Rhydeyrn ap
canonized 160. John K. of England in his way to Ireland through Wales discharged a Criminal that murther'd a Priest 226. Famished Will de Bruce and Maud his Aunt at Windsor after his return 227. The reason of his Cruelty and Disaffection to Priests ib. Marches with a great Army into VVales and returns without Success 229 230. Makes a second Expedition ib. Orders Foulk Viscount Cardyff to subdue those that oppose in South-VVales and they at last do him Homage but quickly revolt 231 232. makes an Expedition into VVales 229. Makes a second and third and hangs the Welch Pledges reconciles himself to Rome and engages in a Civil War with his Barons 237. Dies and is succeeded by his Son Henry 242. Iorwerth ap Blethyn revolts from the Earl of Salop 124. Basely used by K. Henry for it the reason of it 125. delivered out of Prison 133. Forbids Owen and Madawc to retire to his Estate 134. Beset and slain by Madawc and Llywarch ap Trahern 137. Joseph Bishop of Llandaff dies at Rome 88. Ireland molested with Locusts 42. Ithel King of Gwent slain 28. L. LHewelyn ap Sytsylht makes himself Prince of all VVales 79. His good Government ib. Slays Meuric that rebelled against him with his own hand 80. suppresses another Rebellion 81. Basely slain ibid. Lhewelyn P. of North-VVales takes David ap Owen Prisoner 217. Receives Homage of most of the Welch Lords 222. Conquers Gwenwynwyn's Country 225. Makes an Expedition into South-VV and Maelgon flees 225 226. Marries Joan King John's Daughter 224. Sues and obtains Peace of the King by the means of his Wife 231. Animates the Lords of North-Wales to joyn with him in a Revolt against the King 233. Dispossesses the English of all their Holds in his Country 237. Takes Shrewsbury though excommunicated by the Pope 238. Subdues Cardigan and Carmarthen 240. Reconciles the â—onds in South-Wales 241. Subdues Powis 242. Refuses Assistance to King John against the Dauphine ibid. Makes Rynald Bruce who had revolted submit to him â—43 Receives the Submission and Allegiance of the Flemings in Dyfed ibid. Subdues the revolted Flemings again 246. Makes his Son Gruffydh submit ibid. Complained of to the King of England by young Rhys adjusts Matters with him 247. Seizes the Castle of William Marshal Earl of Pembroke in Wales and occasions a War between them 247 248. Worsts the English Army pays Homage to Henry III. 249. Destroys the Marches 252. Makes a Descent upon England 253. Being joyned by the Earl of Pembroke against King Henry routs his Army 254. Makes an Incursion into the King's Territories 255. Makes peace with the King 256. Sets his Son Gruffydh at liberty ibid. Buries his Princess Joan 257. Forced to quit the Siege of Ruthlan 258. Makes the Welch do Homage to his Son David ibid. Dies his Character and Issue â—59 Llewelyn ap Gruffydh and Owen Gôch his Brother declared Princes of North-Wales 269. Quarrel and Owen with his Brother David made close Prisoners 271. Recovers the In-land Country of North-Wales from the English 272. Wastes Cheshire ibid. Beats the Irish by Sea 273. Desires peace with the King but fails 277. Kind to Sir Roger Mortimer 278. Makes a Peace by the Popes Mediation with the King 279. Refuses to attend upon King Edward's Coronation 280. The Reasons for his refusal 281. An Accident made him pliable 283. Severe Conditions of Peace imposed upon him 284. Married to Elianor Earl Montfords Daughter at Worcester 285. Reconciled with his Brother David and joyn against the English 286. Offers to submit to the King conditionally 292. Sends a Letter to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the general Answer of the Welch to his Proposals 293 294 295. Betrayed in Buellt and killed 297. London besieged by the Danes 65. M. MAhael dispossest of his Inheritance by his unnatural Mother Nests means and how 115. Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis sticks to the English Interest 173. Madawc reconciled to King Henry 138. Taken Prisoner by Meredith ap Blethin 139. Has his Eyes pulled out by Owen ibid. Madawc ab Owen Gwynedh sails into America 196. Plants a Colony there ib. Maelgon disturbs South-VVales 228. Beaten by his Nephews Rhys and Owen 229. March Earl of marries Owen Glyndwr's Daughter 318. Consented by indenture to divide England between Owen Piercy and himself 318. Maud the Empress lands in England and is received at Arundel 162. Meredith ap Owen possest of all Wales 64. Dispossest of North-Wales 67. And routed by Edwal ap Meuric their new Prince 68. Died without Issue Male 69. Meredith ap Owen made Prince of South-Wales 96. Slain in Battel against Caradoc ap Gruffydh 102. Meredith and Rhys ap Gruffydh prevail in South-Wales 171. Meredith's Death and Character 172. Merfyn frych is made King of Wales 24. is slain 27. Merlyn Ambrose and Sylvester their Time Country and Prophesies 10 11. Morgan Hên dies an Hundred Years old his Marriage Estate and Issue 58. Morgan ap Owen kills Robert Fitz-Gilbert and his Son 157. slain 175. Morgan ap Cadogan repents of his Murder committed 156. Murders committed 156. Item 163. N. NEwmarch a Norman obtains the Lordship of Brecknock and marries Nest Daughter to Llewelyn ap Gruffydh 115. Normans twice decimated and put to death in England 86. They waste and plunder Dyfed 103. They seize upon the Lordship of Glamorgan 113. The Names of the Adventurers ibid. They possess themselves of several Lordships in Wales 117. Divers of them slain in Cardigan ibid. Routed again by Cadwgan ap Blethyn Prince of South-Wales and their Castles destroyed 118. Slaughter'd divers times by the Welch and forced to quit the Country 119 120. Northumberland invaded by the Scots 109. O. OFfa King of Mercia makes a Ditch from Sea to Sea 20. his death 21. Owen ap Edwyn a Traytor to his Country 121. Made Prince of Wales by the English but soon lost it 122. his Death and Pedigree 126. Owen the Son of Cadwgan enamoured of Nest the Wife of Gerald King Henry's Lieutenant in Wales 129. steals her away ibid. flies into Ireland 135. returns and wasts the Country in conjunction with Maradoc ap Riryd 133. his Men slay an English Bishop the cause of Cadwgan his Fathers being dispossessed of his Estate 135. forced to flee into Ireland with Madawc ibid. returns and is reconciled to the King 138. divides Madawc's Estate between himself and Meredith ap Blethyn 139. flees for fear of King Henry into North-VVales 140. reconciled to the King 141. Owen is brave and Knighted in Normandy 142. imployed by King Henry against Gruffydh ap Rhys 148. slain by Gerald 149. Owen Gwynedh succeeds Prince of North-Wales 160. mightily concerned at the Death of his Son Run 165. takes and rases the Castle of Mould 166. pulls out his Nephew Cunedah's Eyes and castrates him 170. being provoked invades Llandhinam 193. dies his Character and Issue 194. Owen Cyfeilioc and Owen Fychan dispossess Iorwerth Gôch of his Estate in Powis 192. Cyfeilioc dies
intricate that the Justice of it could not appear and then the two Champions put an end to the Controversie by Combate Whilst Howel Dha is thus regulating the Customs and meliorating the Laws and Constitutions of Wales Aulafe and Regnald Kings of the Danes forcibly entered the Country of King Edmund who being vexed with their incessant Hostility gathered his Forces together and as some say by the help of Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht who was afterwards Prince of Wales followed them to Northumberland and having overcome them in a pitch'd Battel utterly chased them out of his Kingdom and remained a whole Year in those Parts to regulate and bring that Country to some quiet order But finding it impracticable to reduce the Inhabitants of Cumberland to any peaceable Constitution having spoiled and wasted the Country he gave it up to Malcolme King of Scotland upon condition that he should send him Succours in A.D. 942 his Wars whenever demanded of him In the mean time the Welch had but little occasion to rejoyce Hubert Bishop of S. Davids Marclois Bishop of Bangor A.D. 944 and Vssa the Son of Lhafyr being dead And shortly after the English entering into Wales with a very strong Army put the Country into a great consternation but being satisfied with the Destruction and Spoil of Strat Clwyd they returned home without doing any more Mischief The same time Conan the Son of Elis was like to be treacherously put to death by Poyson and Everus Bishop of S. Davids dyed The next Year Edmund King of England was unluckily slain upon S. Augustines day but the manner of his Death is variously delivered some say that discovering a noted Thief who was out-law'd sitting among his Guests being transported with Indignation against so confident a Villain ran upon him very furiously who expecting nothing less than Death thought to dye not unrevenged and therefore with a short Dagger gave the King a mortal Wound in the Breast Others report that as the King would have rescued a Servant of his from an Officer who had arrested him he was unwittingly and unhappily slain by the same But however his Death happened he lies buried at Glastenbury in whose place his Brother Edred was crowned King of England who no sooner had entered upon his Government but he made an Expedition against Scotland and Northumberland which being subdued he received Fealty and Homage by Oath of the Scots and Northumbrians which they did not long observe Shortly after Howel Dha after a A.D. 948 long and peaceable Reign over Wales dyed much lamented and bewailed of all his Subjects being a Prince of a religious and a virtuous inclination and one that ever regarded the Welfare and Prosperity of his People He left Issue behind him Owen Run Roderic and Edwyn betwixt whom and the Sons of Edwal Foel late Prince of North Wales great Wars and Commotions arose afterwards about the chief Rule and Government of Wales But the Sons of Howel Dha as some Writers record were these viz. Owen who did not long survive his Father Eineon Meredyth Dyfnwal and Rodri the two last whereof as is conceived were slain in the Battel fought near Lhanrwst in the Year 952. by the Sons of Edwal Foel Run Lord of Cardigan who was slain before the death of his Father Conan y Cwn who possessed Anglesey Edwin who was also slain as is supposed in the forementioned Battel There was also another Battel fought betwixt Howel and Conan ap Edwal Foel for the Isle of Anglesey wherein Conan fell and Gruffydh his Son renewing the War was likewise overcome and so Cyngar a powerful Person being driven out of the Island Howel enjoyed quiet possession thereof and of the rest of Gwynedh It is supposed that this Howel Dha was chosen Governour of Wales during the minority of his Uncle Anarawd's Sons who at the death of their Father were too young to manage the Principality which he kept till his return from Rome at which time Edwal Foel being come of age he resigned to him the Kingdom of Gwynedh or North-Wales together with the Sovereignty of all Wales Before which time Howel is styled Brenhin Cymry oll that is King of all Wales as is seen in the Preface to that Body of Laws compiled by him Ievaf and Iago the Sons of Edwal Foel AFter the death of Howel Dha his Sons divided betwixt them the Principalities of South-Wales and Powis laying no claim to North-Wales though their Father had been a general Prince of all Wales But Ievaf and Iago the Sons of Edwal Foel having put by their elder Brother Meyric as a Person uncapable of Government and being dissatisfied with the Rule of North Wales only imagined that the Principality of all Wales was their Right as descending from the elder House which the Sons of Howel Dha denyed them Indeed they had been wrongfully kept out of the Government of North Wales during the Reign of Howel in whose time the recovery of their own was impracticable by reason that for his Moderation and other good Qualities he had attracted to himself the universal Love of all the Welch But now he being gone they are resolved to revenge the Injury received by him upon his Sons and upon a small pretence endeavour to reduce the whole Country of Wales to their own subjection Ievaf and Iago were indeed descended from the elder branch but since Roderic the great conferred the Principality of South Wales upon his yonger Son Cadelh the Father of Howel Dha it was but just his Sons should enjoy what was legally descended to them by their Father But Ambition seldom gives place to Equity and therefore right or wrong Ievaf and Iago must have a touch for South-Wales which they enter with a great Army and being opposed they obtained a very opportune Victory over Owen and his Brethren the Sons of Howel at the Hills of Carno The next Year the A.D. 950 two Brothers entred twice into South-Wales destroyed and wasted Dyfet and slew Dwnwalhon Lord of the Countrey Shortly after which Roderic the third A.D. 951 Son of Howel Dha dyed But his Brethren perceiving the Folly of standing only upon the defensive muster'd A.D. 952 all their Forces together and entering North-Wales marched as far as Lhanrwst upon the River Conwy where Ievaf and Iago met them A very cruel Battel ensued upon this and a very great number were slain on both sides among whom were Anarawd the Son of Gwyriad the Son of Roderic the Great and Edwyn the Son of Howel Dha But the Victory plainly favoured the Brothers Ievaf and Iago so that the Princes of South-Wales were obliged to retire to Cardiganshire whither they were warmly pursued and that Country cruelly harrass'd with Fire and Sword The next Year Merfyn was unhappily A.D. 953 drowned and shortly after Congelach King of Ireland was slain The Scots and Northumbrians having lately sworn Allegiance to King Edred he was scarce returned to his own Country but Aulafe with a great Army landed
upon him the Management of it But the Normans in Rydcors Castle being sensible that they were not able to effect any thing against Howel ap Grono in open Field after their accustomed manner began to put that in execution by Treachery which they could not compass by force of Arms. And how to make Howel a Sacrifice to those Normans he had lately slain they could find no safer way than by corrupting one Gwgan ap Meyric a Man in great Favour and Esteem with Howel upon the account chiefly that one of his Children was nursed by Gwgan's Wife This ungrateful Villain to carry on his wicked Intrigue the more unsuspected gave Howel a very earnest invitation to his House to a Merriment where without any suspicion of Treachery being come he was welcomed with all the seeming Affection and Kindness imaginable But no sooner was he settled A.D. 1103 but Gwgan gave notice thereof to the Norman Garrisons and therefore by break of day they entered the Town and coming about the House where Howel lay in Bed they presently gave a great shout Howel hearing the noise suspected something of Mischief and therefore leaping in all haste out of Bed he made to his Weapons but could not find them by reason that Gwgan had conveyed them away whilst he was asleep And now being assured of Treachery in the case and finding that his Men had fled for their Lives he endeavour'd all he could to make his escape but Gwgan and his Company were too quick for him and so being secured they strangled him and deliver'd his Body to the Normans who having cut off his Head convey'd it to the Castle of Rydcors This most villainous Murther so barbarously committed upon the King's Lieutenant was not in the least taken notice of for King Henry was so unreasonably prejudiced in favour of the Normans that whatever Misdemeanour be it of never so high a nature was by them committed it was presently winked at and let fall to the ground whereas if the Welch trespassed but against the least injunction of the King's Laws they were most severely punished which was the cause that they afterwards stood up against the King in their own defence being by experience assured that he minded nothing more than their utter Destruction About this time Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury convened a Synod at London wherein among other Injunctions then decreed the Celibacy of the Clergy was enjoyned Marriage being before ever allowed of in Britain to them in Holy Orders But this new Injunction created a great deal of Heat and Animosities among the Clergy some approving of it as reasonable and orthodoxical others condemning it as an innovation and contrary to the plain Letter of Scripture But during these Disputes between the Clergy King Henry being now in the Fifth Year of his Reign sailed over with a great Army into Normandy where his Brother Robert together with Robert de Belesmo Arnulph and William Earl of Mortaign gave him battel but the King having obtained the Victory took the Duke his Brother with William of Mortaign Prisoners and carrying them into England he caused first his Brother Robert's Eyes to be plucked out and then condemned them A.D. 1104 both to perpetual imprisonment in the Castle of Cardyff About the same time Meyric and Gruffydh the Sons of Trahaern ap Caradoc were both slain by the means of Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn whose Uncle Meredith ap Blethyn who had been Prisoner for a long time in England now brake open the Prison wherein he was very narrowly confined and returning to his own Country had his Estate restored which afterwards he quietly enjoyed A.D. 1105 The next Year a very dismal and calamitous Accident happening in the Low-Countries proved very incommodious and prejudicial to the Welch for a great part of Flanders being drowned by the overflowing of the Sea the Inhabitants were compell d to seek for some other Country to dwell in their own being now covered with Water And therefore a great many being come over to England they requested of King Henry to assign them some part of his Kingdom which was empty and void of Inhabitants where they might settle and plant themselves The King taking advantage of this charitable opportunity and being in a manner assured that these Flemings would be a considerable Thorn in the side of the Welch bestowed upon them very liberally what was not justly in his power to give and appointed them the Country of Ros in Dyfed or West-Wales where they continue to this day But Gerald the King's Lieutenant in those Parts was resolved to be afore-hand with them and rebuilt the Castle of Pembrock in a place called Congarth Fechan whither he removed his Family and all his Goods A. D. 1106. But here a very unfortunate accident happened to him for Cadwgan ap Blethyn having prepared a sumptuous Feast in the Christmas invited all the Lords to his Country-House in Dyfed and among the rest his Son Owen who lived in Powys This young Gentleman being at his Father's House and hearing Nest the Wife of Gerald universally praised for her incomparable Beauty was so smitten with the rumour that went abroad of her that by all means he must see the Lady who was by all so much admired And forasmuch as Gwladys Wife to Rhys ap Theodore and Mother to Nest was the Daughter of Râ—walhon ap Confyn Cosin-German to Cadwgan his Father under pretence of Friendship and Relation he made bold to pay her a Visit But finding the truth far to surpass the Fame that went of her he returned home so inflam'd with her Charms that not being able to keep the Mastery over himself he went back again the very same night and being attended by a company of wild head-strong Youths they privily entered into the Castle and encompassing the Chamber about where Gerald and his Wife lay they set the House on fire Gerald hearing a noise would fain go out to know the meaning of such unseasonable Disturbance but his Wife fearing some Treachery persuaded him to make as private an Escape as he could and then pulling up a Board in the Privy let him go that way Then returning to her Chamber she would fain assure those notorious Youths that there was no body besides her self and Children there but this being not satifactory they forcibly broke in and having searched every the most private Corner and not finding Gerald they took his Wife and two Sons with a Son and a Daughter born by a Concubine and carried them away to Powys having first set fire to the Castle and destroyed the Country as they went along Cadwgan Owen's Father hearing of what outragious Crime his Son had committed was exceedingly concerned and sorry chiefly because hereby he was like to incur King Henry's great Displeasure and therefore he went with all speed to Powys and desired his Son with all Intreaties to send home to Gerald his Wife and Children with whatever else he had taken
known deprived of his Estate and banished the Country Also Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis who maligned the Liberty and Priviledge of the Princes of North-Wales who owned subjection to no other than the King of England whereas those of Powis were obliged to do homage to the Prince of North-Wales did joyntly consent to this Invitation The King of England accepting of their Proposals led his Army to West-Chester and encamped upon the Marsh called Saltney in Welch Morfa-Caer-Lleon Prince Owen all this while was not ignorant of this intended Invasion and therefore having made all possible Preparations to confront the Enemy he marched his Army to the Frontiers of England and encamping at Basingwerk resolved to give the English Battel King Henry understanding of the Prince's Resolution detached some of the chiefest Troops out of the Main-body under the command of several Earls and other Lords and sent them towards the Prince's Camp But after they had advanced some little way and were passing thro' a Wood called Coed-Eulo David and Conan Prince Owen's Sons unexpectedly set upon them and what by the advantage of the Ground and the suddeness of the Action the English were born down with a great Slaughter and those who survived narrowly escaped to the King's Camp This was a very unwelcome beginning to King Henry but however in order to prosper better hereafter he thought it advisable to decamp from Saltney and to rank his Troops along the Sea-Coast thinking thereby to get betwixt Prince Owen and his Country which if he could effect he was sure to reduce the Welch to a very great inconveniency But the Prince foreseeing the Danger of this retired with his Army to a place called Cîl Owen that is Owen's Retreat which when King Henry perceived he let fall his Design Lib. 2. Cap. 5. and came to Ruthlan W. Parnus writes that in this Expedition against the Welch King Henry was in great danger of his Life in passing thro' a strait at Counsylth near Flint where Henry Earl of Essex who by inheritance enjoyed the Office of bearing the Standard of England being over-charged by the Enemy cast down the same and fled This accident so incouraged the Welch that they bore on so violently that the King himself narrowly escaped having of his Party Eustace Fitz-John and Rob. Curcie two valiant Knights together with several others of his Nobility and Gentry slain in the Action After this Prince Owen decamped from Cîl Owen and intrenched himself upon Bryn y Pin where little of moment passed betwixt the two Armies only some slight Skirmishes happened frequently King Henry in the mean time fortified the Castle of Ruthlan and during his stay there Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis sailed with the English Fleet to Anglesey and having put some Men on shoar they burnt two Churches and ravaged part of the Country about But they paid very dear for it for all the Strength of the Island being met together they set upon them in their return to their Ships and cut them off in such a manner that not one remained to bring Tidings to the Fleet of what had befel them But they on Board quickly perceived what had happened and therefore thought it not very safe harbouring upon that Coast but judging it more advisable to weigh Anchor they presently set Sail for Chester when they were arrived thither they found that a Peace was actually concluded betwixt King Henry and Prince Owen upon these Articles That Cadwalader should have all his Lands restored to him and he received to the Favour and Friendship of his Brother Then King Henry leaving the Castles of Ruthlan and Basingwerk well manned and fortified and having near the latter founded a Publick Structure for the Order of Knights Templars returned to England But the troubles of Wales did not end with him for Iorwerdh Goch ap Meredith who had taken part with the King of England during this War laid Siege to the Castle of Yale which was built by Prince Owen and making himself Master of it rased it to the ground The next Year commenced with a very unfortunate A.D. 1157 Action Ifor ap Meyric having long before cast a very wishful Eye upon the Land and Estate of Morgan ab Owen was now resolved to put in execution what he had before contrived and as Covetousness seldom bears any regard to Vertue or Honor he treacherously set upon him and slew him and with him fell Gurgan ap Rhys the most Famous British Poet of his time Morgan's Estate Ifor bestowed upon his Brother Iorwerth who about the same time got also possession of the Town of Caer-Lheon But these inward and home-bread Disturbances were quickly mitigated by a general Peace which was presently after this concluded betwixt the King of England and all the Princes and Lords of Wales Rhys ab Gruffydh ap Rhys Prince of South-Wales only excepted For this Prince Rhys who probably would not rely too far upon the King of England's Fidelity refused to consent to a Peace but however to secure himself the best he could from the English whom he had no small reason to be afraid of he thought it his best Prudence to issue out his Orders commanding his Subjects to remove their Cattel and other Effects to the Wilderness of Tywy where they were like to remain securest from the Eyes and reach of the Enemies But he had not continued there long when he received a more positive Express from King Henry commanding him to appear forthwith at his Court and to accept of the Proposals of Peace before the joynt Forces of England and Wales were sent to fetch him up Prince Rhys having received such a threatning Message thought it now high time to repent of what he had afore so rashly resolved upon and therefore after long Consultation he judged it his wisest way to accept of the King's Proposals and to appear at Court There it was agreed upon that Rhys whose Lands heretofore lay scattered about and were intermixed with other Person 's Estate should enjoy Cantref Mawr and any other Cantref which the King should be pleased to bestow upon him But contrary to this Article the King assigned him several Lordships and other Lands far remote from each other and particularly intermixed them with the Estates of English-men whom he was sure would be a watch and a curb to all the motions of Prince Rhys This was indeed a very politick Contrivance or King Henry to keep under the high and restless Spirit of Rhys but the Justice of the Action does not so evidently appear in breaking one of the chiefest Articles of the Peace and chopping and bestowing that which was not justly in his Power to give But 't is manifestly apparent that the English of these times were mainly concerned right or wrong to oppress and keep under the Welch of whose mortal hatred to subjection they had so frequently and so cruelly felt Prince Rhys was not at all ignorant of these
any Ambushment lurking therein and for a more clear prospect of the Enemy But some of the Welch took advantage of this opportunity who being well acquainted with the Passage without the knowledg of their Officers fell upon the King's Guard where all the Pike-men were posted and after a hot Skirmish several were slain on both sides But in fine the King wan the passage and so marched on to the Mountain of Berwyn where he lay sometime without any Hostility on either side both Armies standing in fear of each other The English kept the open Plains and were afraid to be entrapp'd in the Streights and narrow Passages and the Welch on the other hand watched the Advantage of the place and observed the English so narrowly that neither Forage or Victuals could pass to the King's Camp And what augmented the misery of the English Army there happened to fall such a Rain that mightily disturbed their Encampment in so much that the Soldiers could scarcely stand for the disadvantage of those slippery Hills But in the end King Henry was forced to decamp and after a very considerable loss of Men and Ammunition besides the great Charges of this Expedition was compell'd to return back to England But to express the great dissatisfaction he entertained of this Enterprize in a great fury he plucked out the Eyes of the Hostages which he had some time afore received from the Welch which were Rhys and Cadwalhon the Sons of Owen Prince of North-Wales and Cynric and Meredith the Sons of Rhys of South-Wales Some write that in assailing of a Bridg the King was in no small danger of his Life one of the Welch having aimed directly at him was like to pierce him through the Body had not Hubert de Clare Constable of Colchester who perceived the Arrow a coming thrust himself betwixt the King and it though to the loss of his own Life But though King Henry was shamefully forced to return to England yet he did not give over the thoughts of subduing the Welch and therefore after a long Consultation he made a third Expedition into Wales conveying his Army by Sea as far as Chester There he staid for some time till all his Fleet as well those Ships that he had hired out of Ireland as his own were all arrived But when they were all come together and got safely to Chester his mind was altered and instead of a design against Wales he unexpectedly dismissed his whole Army Prince Rhys was glad of this opportunity and therefore withdrawing his Forces from the Confederate Army he marched to the Siege of Aberteifi Castle which being surrendred to him he rased to the ground From thence he got before Cilgerran which he used after the same manner and therein took Prisoner Robert the Son of Stephen his Cosin-German who was the Son of Nest his Aunt who after the death of Gerald had married Stephen Constable The joy of these happy Successes on the part of the Welch was somewhat clouded by the death of Lhewelyn Son of Owen Prince of North-Wales a Person of great Worth and exceedingly well beloved of all his Country A.D. 1165 And now the Welch being something secure from any Invasion from the English there rose up another Enemy to create them Disturbance the Flemings and Normans finding the English to fail in their Attempt against the Welch thought they might with better success quell and subdue them And therefore they came to West-Wales with a great Army and laid siege to the Castle of Cilgerran which Rhys had lately fortified but after two different Assaults they were manfully beat back and forced to depart home again But what the Flemings could not effect against the Welch in South-Wales the Welch easily brought about against the English in North-Wales for Prince Owen having besieged Basingwerk Castle then in the possession of the King of England without much time spent made himself Master of it But it was always the misfortune of the Welch that when they found themselves secure from any Enemy abroad they were sure to quarrel and fall out at home though indeed it could not be well otherwise expected where so many petty States endeavoured still to surmount and out-vie one another And now when all things went very successfully of their sides in opposition to the English two ambitious Persons began to kindle a Flame in their own bosoms Owen Cyfeilioc the Son of Gruffydh ap Maredith Lord of Powys and Owen Fychan second Son to Madawc ap Meredith forcibly dispossessed Iorwerth Goch of his Estate in Powys which they divided betwixt themselves Mochnant Vwch Rayadr to Owen Cyfeilioc and Mochnant is Rayadr to Owen Fychan But the rest of the Princes of Wales could not brook this Injury done to Iorwerth Goch and therefore A.D. 1166 Owen Prince of North-Wales with his Brother Cadwalader and Rhys Prince of South-Wales went with an Army into Powys against Owen Cyfeilioc and having chased him out of the Country they bestowed Caereneon upon Owen Fychan to hold it of Prince Owen and Rhys had Walwern by reason that it lay near his own Territories But within a while after Owen Cyfeilioc returned with a numerous band of Normans and English along with him and laid siege to the Castle of Caereneon which he burnt to the ground But the loss of this place was made up by the taking of Ruthlan Castle which Owen Rhys and Cadwalader joyntly besieged and which was so strongly fortified and so manfully defended that it cost them three Months before they could make themselves Masters of the place Afterwards they won the Castle of Prestatyn and reduced the whole Country of Tegengl subject to Prince Owen and then returned home to their respective Dominions And from henceforward nothing of moment was transacted during the remainder of Prince Owen's Reign A.D. 1167 only his Son Conan most unmercifully slew Vrgeney Abbot of Lhwythlawr together with his Nephew Lhawthen But a little after Prince Rhys of South-Wales A.D. 1168 released out of Prison his Nephew Robert Son to Stephen Constable whom as is said before he had taken at the Siege of Calgarran Castle and sent him to Ireland to the aid of Dermot the Son of Murchart King of Linster who was then in actual war with the King of Leimster With him and his Brother Morris Fitz-Gerald and their Nephews Robert Meyler and Raymond went over a strong Detachment of Welchmen under the command of Richard Strongbow Earl of Strigule who were the chief motive of the Conquest of Ireland when it was first brought in subjection to the Crown of England A.D. 1169 But the next Year Owen Gwynedh Son of Gruffydh ap Conan Prince of North-Wales departed this Life in the Two and Thirtieth Year of his Reign He was a wise and a valourous Prince ever fortunate and victorious in all his Undertakings insomuch as he never undertook any Design but what he accomplished He had by different Women several Issues who gat themselves greater Esteem
to the Kings hands the City of Dublyn the Town of Waterford with all such Towns and Castles as he got in right of his Wife whereupon the King restored to him all his Lands both in England and Normandy and created him Lord Steward of Ireland For this Earl of Strigule had lately without the King's Permission gone over to Ireland and had married the Daughter of Dermott King of Dublyn which King Henry took in such an indignation that he presently seized upon all his Lands in England and Normandy Therefore the King having now some footing in Ireland the Expedition was unanimously concluded upon and so the King set upon his Journey and coming towards Wales he was received by Prince Rhys whose Submission the King liked so well that he presently confirmed to him all his Lands in South-Wales To return the King's Favour Rhys promised his Majesty 300 Horses and 4000 Oxen toward the Conquest of Ireland for the sure payment of which he delivered Fourteen Pledges Then King Henry marching forward came to Caeriheon upon Vske and entering the Town he dispossessed the right Owner Iorwerth ap Owen ap Caradoc and kept it for his own proper use placing a Garrison of his own Men therein But Iorwerth was not so easie-mouth'd as to be so unreasonably curb'd by the King and therefore departing in a great fury from the King's presence he called to him his two Sons Owen and Howel whom he had by Angharad the Daughter of Vchtryd Bishop of Llandaf and his Sisters Son Morgan ap Sitsylht ap Dyfnwal and bringing together all the Forces they were able upon the King's departure they entered the Country and committing all the Waste and Destruction as they came along they at last came before Caerlheon which when they took they used in the like manner spoiling and destroying whatever they could meet with so that nothing escaped their Fury excepting the Castle which they could not win The King was in the mean time upon his Journey to Pembroke where being accompanied by Prince Rhys he gave him a grant of all Cardigan Ystratywy Arustly and Eluel in Recompence of all the Civilities and Honour he paid him And so Rhys returned to Aberteifi a Town he had lately won from the Earl of Glocester and there having prepared his Present about the beginning of October he returned again to Pembrock having ordered Eighty Six Horses to follow him which being presented to the King he accepted of Thirty Six of the choicest and returned the rest with great Thanks The same day King Henry went to S. Davids and after he had offered to the Memory of that Saint he dined with the Bishop who was the Son of Gerald Cosin-German to Rhys whither Richard Strongbow Earl of Strygile came from Ireland to confer with the King Within a while after King Henry being entertained by Rhys at the White-House restored to him his Son Howel who had been for a considerable time detained as a Pledg and appointed him a certain day for payment of his Tribute at which time all the rest of the Pledges should be set at liberty The day following being the next after the Feast of S. Luke the King went on board and the Wind blowing very favourably set sail for Ireland and being safely arrived upon those Coasts he landed at Dublyn where he rested for that whole Winter in order to make greater Preparations against the following Campaign But the change of the Air and Climate occasion'd such a raging Distemper and Infection among the Soldiers that to prevent the perishing of his whole Army A.D. 1172 the King was forced to return with what speed he could back for England and so having shipp'd off all his Army and Effects he loosed Anchor and landed in Wales in the Passion Week next Year and coming to Pembrock he stayed there on Easter-day and then proceeded upon his Journey towards England Rhys hearing of the King's return was very officious to pay him his Devotion and would gladly feign to be one of the first who should welcome him over and so meeting with him at Talacharn he expressed all the Ceremonies of Duty and Allegiance Then the King passed on and as he came from Caerdyf by the new Castle upon Vsk meaning to leave Wales in a peaceable condition he sent for Iorwerth ap Owen ap Caradoc who was the only Person in open Enmity against him and that upon very just ground willing him to come and treat about a Peace and assuring him of a safe Conduct for himself his Sons and all the rest of his Associates Iorwerth was willing to accept of the Proposal and thereupon set forward to meet the King having sent an Express to his Son Owen a valourous young Gentleman to meet him by the way Owen according to his Fathers Orders set forward on his Journey with a small retinue without any thing of Arms or Weapons of War as thinking it Folly to clog himself with such needless Carriage when the King had promised a safe Conduct But he did not find it so safe for as he passed the new Castle upon Vske the Earl of Bristol's Men who were garrison'd therein laid in wait for him as he came along and setting cowardly upon him slew him with most of his Company But some few escaped to acquaint his Father Iorwerth of such a treacherous Action who hearing that his Son was so basely murthered contrary to the King 's absolute promise of a safe Passage without any farther consultation about the matter presently returned home with Howel his Son and all his Friends and would no longer put any trust or confidence in any thing that the King of England or any of his Subjects promised to do But on the other side to avenge the Death of his Son who was so cowardly cut off he presently raised all the Forces that himself and the rest of his Friends were able to do and so entering into England he destroyed with Fire and Sword all the Country to the Gates of Hereford and Glocester But the King was so intent upon his return that he seemed to take no great notice of what Iorwerth was doing and therefore having by Commission constituted Lord Rhys Chief Justice of all South-Wales he forthwith took his Journey to Normandy About this time dyed Cadwalader ap Gruffydh the Son of Gruffydh ap Conan sometime Prince of North-Wales who by his Wife Alice the Daughter of Richard Clare Earl of Glocester had Issue Cunetha Radulph and Richard and by other Women Cadfan Cadwalader Eineon Meredith Goch and Cadwalhon Towards the end of this Year Sitsylht ap Dyfnwal and Iefan ap Sitsylht ap Riryd surprized the Castle of Abergavenny which belonged to the King of England and having made themselves Masters of it they took the whole Garrison Prisoners A.D. 1173 But the following Year there happened a very great difference and a falling out betwixt King Henry and his Son of the same Name this latter being upholded by
Companions and slew them to a Man King Henry was implacably enrag'd at this News and so cruelly incensed that he presently raised and drew together all his Power and came to Worcester intending to march forward to Wales and to invade the Enemies Country But the Lord Rhys ap Gruffydh a subtile and a politick Prince thinking it impossible to withstand the English Army and fearing the King's Puissance which he perceived to be so implacably bent against the Welch went in person to Worcester and swearing Fealty to the King became his perpetual Liege-Man and for the due observance of this Contract he promised to send his Sons and Nephews for Pledges But when he would have persuaded them to answer his request the young Men considering with themselves how former Pledges had not been very genteely treated by the English refused to go and so the whole matter rested for that time What became of the matter afterwards we know not but probable it is that King Henry returned to England satisfied with Rhys's Submission for we hear no more of his coming to Wales And so the Country remained quiet and undisturbed for a long time till at length the Welch began to fall to their wonted Method of killing and murdering one another A.D. 1186 Cadwalader Prince Rhys's Son was privately murdered in West-Wales and buried in the Ty Gwyn And the Year following Owen Fychan the Son of Madawe A.D. 1187 ap Meredith was slain by night in the Castle of Carrergova near Oswestry by Gwenwynwyn and Cadwalhon the Sons of Owen Cyfeilioc But what was most unnatural of all Lhewelyn whose Father Cadwalhon ap Gruffydh ap Conan was lately murdered by the Englishmen was taken by his own Brothers who very barbarously put out his Eyes About the same time Baldwyn Archbishop of Canterbury being attended by Giraldus Cambrensis took a Progress into Wales being the first Archbishop of Canterbury that visited that Country whose Authority the Clergy of Wales in vain opposed though they stifly alledged the Liberties and Priviledges of their Metropolitan Church of S. Davids In this Visitation described by Giraldus in his Itinerarium Cambriae he persuaded many of the Nobility of Wales to go to the Holy Land against those prevailing Enemies of Christianity the Saracens to whose prevailing Greatness Jerusalem it self was now in great danger A.D. 1188 to become subject The Archbishop having left the Country Maelgon the Son of Lord Rhys brought all his Power against Tenbigh and having by force made himself Master of it burnt the whole Town to the ground and so carried away very considerable Spoil He was a Person of such civil Behaviour and easie Access of so comly Personage and Honesty in all his Actions that he attracted the most earnest Love and Affection of all his Friends by which means he became very terrible and formidable to his Enemies especially the Flemings of whom he obtained divers Victories and Conquests The next Year being the Year of Christ 1189. A.D. 1189 Henry the Second surnamed Courtmantel King of England dyed and was buried at Fonteverard after whom his Son Richard called Curdelyon was by the unanimous consent of all the Peers and Nobility of England crowned in his place Prince Rhys being thus deprived of his greatest Friend thought it his wisest way to make the best provision he could for himself by enlarging his Dominions and extending the Bounds of his present Territories and therefore having raised all the Strength he could he wan the Castles of Seynclere Abercorran and Lhanstephan and having taken and committed to Prison Maelgwn his Son who was the greatest Thorn in his Side as one that was most passionately beloved by the South-Wales Men he brought the whole Country to his subjection Then he built the Castle of Cydwely but A.D. 1190 what took away from him the Joy of all this good Fortune he lost his Daughter Gwenlhian a Woman of such incomparable Beauty and exceeding in all feminine Qualifications that she was accounted the fairest and best accomplished Lady in all the Country And not long after her dyed Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield A.D. 1191 a Man of great Prudence and Experience and one that excelled all the Nobility of his time in Hospitality and all other Acts of Generosity and Liberality His Corps were carried to Myfod and honourably interr'd there being attended by most of the Persons of Quality throughout the whole Country He had Issue by his Wife Angharad Daughter of Owen Gwynedh Prince of North-Wales a Son called Madawc who succeeded his Father in that part of Powys called from him Powys Fadawc Rhys Prince of South-Wales was growing very powerful and had made himself Master of the greatest part of South-Wales only with some few places more Dynefowr held out still which however upon the first Assault he made against it was delivered up to him But as he increased 〈◊〉 â—he number of Towns and Castles he had the Misfortune to have that of his Children diminished for his Daughter Gwenlhian was lately deceased and now he had no sooner got Dynefowr Castle into his possession but his Son Owen dyed at Strata Florida or Ystratflur King Richard was gone to the Holy Land against the Saracens but in his return to England he wan the Kingdom of Cyprus and gave it to Gwido King of Jerusalem upon condition he would resign his former Title to him During his stay in this Island he marryed Berengaria the Daughter of the King of Navarr A.D. 1192 Maeâ—gon Prince Rhys's Son had been now detain'd a long time in Prison where his Father had shut him up but being at last utterly weary of such a close Confinement he found some means or other to get out and to make his escape His Father Prince Rhys was not so troubled at his being broke out and that he had got his liberty as to give over the Conquest which all this while he had gone so furiously on with but laying siege to Lhanhayaden Castle he took it without any great Opposition and brought all the Country about to his subjection And what favoured him more in his Attempts against the English King Richard A.D. 1193 having most bravely signalized himself against the Infidels in his return home through Austria was taken Prisoner by Duke Leopold who presented him to the Emperour Henry who demanded 200000 Marks for his Ransom laying to his charge that he had spoiled and plundered the Island of Sicily in his Voyage to the Holy Land And as Rhys took the advantage of King Richard's absence to subject South-Wales so Roderic Brother to David Prince of North Wales made use of Gothrike's the King of Man's help to get the Principality of North-Wales to himself and eject his Brother And therefore entring into Anglâ—sey he quickly reduced the whole Island to his subjection But he did not enjoy it long for before the Year was over the Sons of his Brother Conan came with an Army against him and forcing him together with the
ensuing Year Prince Rhys levies a great Army whose first Attempt was upon the Town and Castle of Caermadthyn both which he took in a short time and destroyed and then returned with considerable Booty Not long after he led the said Army to the Marches and invested the Castle of Clun which was not so easily taken as the former for this cost him a long Siege and many a fierce Assault and therefore to be revenged of it when he took it he laid it in Ashes thence he proceeded to the Castle of Radnor which he likewise wan but immediately after it cost him a bloody Battel for he was no sooner Master of the Castle but Roger Mortimer and Hugh de Say came with a numerous and well-disciplin'd Army consisting of Normans and English to the relief of it Whereupon Prince Rhys thinking it not his best course to confine his Men within the Walls led 'em up into a Champion Ground hard by and there like a valiant Prince resolved to give his Enemies Battel though they had much the advantage of him for his Men were neither so well armed nor so much accustomed to Battel as the others were however their Courage made amends for their Arms and their Leaders Prudence and Conduct supply'd the Defects of their Discipline for they chose rather to die honourably in the Defence of their Country than shamefully to survive the Loss of it and therefore they attack'd their Enemies so valiantly that they were not long able to withstand their Force but quitted the Field in great Disorder leaving a great number of their Men behind them slain upon the spot and Prince Rhys pursued them so warmly that they were glad of the shelter of the Night to protect them from his Fury After this Victory he besieged the Castle of Payne in Elfel which he easily took and kept in his own hands till William de Bruce the Owner thereof came to him and humbly desired Peace of him which he granted him and withal deliver'd him up his Castle again Not long after the Archbishop of Canterbury whom King Richard had substituted his Lieutenant in England marches with a powerful Army towards Wales and besieges the Castle of Gwenwynwyn at the Pool but the Garrison made such a vigorous Defence that he lost a great many of his Men and all his Aâ—â—empts proved ineffectual therefore he sent for some Pyoneers whom he ordered to undermine the Walls which when the besieged understood they bethought of securing themselves on the most honourable Terms they could they were not willing to put themselves to the hazard of a Battel for their Enemies were thrice their Number therefore they proposed to surrender up the Castle on condition they should carry off all their Arms along with them Which Offer the Archbishop accepted of and so permitted the Garrison to march out quietly Then fortifying the Castle for the King's use and putting a strong Garrison in it for its defence he returned again to England But Gwenwynwyn was not so willing to part from his Castle as never to attempt the Recovery of it therefore as soon as he understood that the Archbishop was gone back he immediately besieged it and shortly after received it on the same Terms that his Men had deliver'd it up and afterwards kept it for his own use A.D. 1197 The following Year there broke out a terrible Plague which spread over all Britain and France and carried off a great number of the Nobility besides common People This Year likewise dyed the valiant Rhys Prince of South-Wales the only Stay and Defence of that part of Wales for he it was that got them their Liberty and secured it to them He often very readily exposed his own Life for the defence of theirs and their Country generally he got the better of his Enemies and at last either brought them entirely under his Subjection or forced them to quit their Country He was no less illustrious for his virtuous Endowments than for his Valour and Extraction so that it was with good reason that the British Bards and others wrote so honourably of him and so mightily deplored his Death To this Prince were born many Sons and Daughters whereof his elder Son Gruffydh succeeded him the others were Cadwalhon Maelgon Meredith and Rhys Of his Daughters one called Gwenthtan was married to Ednyfed Fychaâ— Ancestor to Owen Tudor that married Kitharine Queen-Dowager to King Henry the Fifth And the rest were very well match'd with some of the Nobility of the Country Prince Gruffydh being settled in the Government of his Country did not long enjoy it peaceably for his troublesom Brother Maelgon thought it now a fit time to endeavour the recovery of the Inheritance his Father had deprived him of To this purpose he makes a League with Gwenwynwyn the Son of Owen Cyfeilioc Lord of Powys and by their joynt Interest got together a considerable Body of Men wherewith they surprized Prince Gruffydh at Aberystwyth whom after they had slain a great many of his Men they took Prisoner Thus Maelgon effectually accomplished his Design in the recovery of the Castle and the whole Country of Cardigan His unfortunate Brother he committed to the custody of his spiteful Confederate Gwenwynwyn who immediately out of Malice deliver'd him up to the Mercy of his inveterate Enemies the English After this Gwenwynâ—yn having got together an Army entered Arustly and brought it to his subjection David ap Owen whom Prince Lhewelyn had forâ—ed to quit his Usurpation of the Principality of North-Wales had hitherto lived quietly and peaceably not so much out of kindness to his Nephew as because he knew not how to redress himself but now having got a great Army of English and Welch he used his utmost Efforts to recover his Principality Whereupon Prince Lhewelyn who was the right Heir and in possession of it came on boldly to meet him and gave him battel wherein he shamefully routed his Army and took his Uncle David Prisoner whom he delivered into safe custody whereby he secured to himself and his Country Peace and Quietness Towards the close of this Year Owen Cyfeilioc Lord of the higher Powys departed this Life and left his Estate to Gwenwynwyn his Son after whom that part of Powys was called Powys-Wenwynwyn to distinguish it from the other called Powys Fadoc the Inheritance of the Lords of Bromfield Much about this time Trahaern Fychan a Man of great Power and Authority in the County of Brecknock was suddenly seized upon as he was going to Llancors to confer about some business with William de Bruce Lord thereof and by an Order of the Lords tyed to an Horse Tail and dragged through the Streets of Brecknock to the Gallows where he was beheaded and his Body hung up by the Feet for three Days Which Barbarity inflicted upon him for no known just Cause so frightned his Brothers Wife and Children that they fled their Country for fear of the same Usage The A.D. 1198 Year
among them which afterwards mightily increased when they were once introduced by Augustin the Monk This Year likewise we find the spiteful and turbulent Maelgon choosing rather to persist still in his Rebellion than to return to his Allegiance and to prefer a small Lucre to the Love and Safety of his Country For now finding that the Castle of Aberteifi was not tenable by his own Power and Force yet rather than deliver it up to his Brother Prince Gruffydh and thereby procure his Favour he chose to sell it to his bitter Enemies the English for an inconsiderable Sum of Money whereby he opened them a free passage into all Wales this being reckoned one of its chief Defences and Bulwarks About this time Madawc Son of Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield built the Abby of Lanegwest commonly known by the English by the Name of Vale Crucii In the Year 1201. the valiant Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth A.D. 1201 Prince of North-Wales banished out of his Territories his Cosin Meredith the Son of Conan ap Owen Gwynedh whom he suspected of treasonable Practices and therefore confiscated his Lands which were the Cantref of Lhyn and Efyonyth Much about the same time Meredith the Son of Prince Rhys was slain at Carâ—wilhion by Treason whereupon his elder Brother Gruffydh possessed himself of his Castle in Lhanymdhyfri and all his Lands This Gruffydh was a valiant and discreet Prince and one that was like to bring all South-Wales to good order and Obedience for in all things he trod in his Fathers steps and made it his business to succeed him as well in his Valour and vertuous Endowments as in his Government But the vast hopes conceived of him soon proved abortive for in the ensuing A.D. 1202 Year on S. James's day he dyed to the great Grief and Loss of his Country and shortly after was buried at Ystratflur with great Pomp and Solemnity He left behind him for a Successor a Son called Rhys which Maud the Daughter of William de Bruce had bore him The following Year some of the Welch Nobility marched with an Army towards the Castle of Gwerthrynion which belonged to Roger Mortimer and after a short Siege they took it and levell'd it with the ground This Year Lhewelyn ap Iorwerth calling to mind his Estate and Title and how all the Welch Princes were obliged both by the Laws of Roderic the Great and those of Howel Dha to acknowledg the King or Prince of North-Wales for their Sovereign Lord and to do Homage to him for their Dominions Yet notwithstanding that they knew this to be their duty and that they formerly had readily performed it yet because of late Years his Predecessors had neglected to call them to their Duty they now began to imagin themselves exempted from it and some thought themselves accountable to no superiour Prince others denyed Subjection to Prince Lhewelyn and held their Dominions of the King of England To put a stop therefore to the further growth of this Contempt and to assert his own Right Prince Lhewelyn summons all the Welch Lords who for the most part appeared and swore Allegiance to him But Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys neither came to this meeting nor would own the Princes Supremacy Which Stubborness and Disobedience the Prince acquainted his Lords with whereupon they delivered their Opinion that it was but reasonable that Gwenwynwyn should be compell'd to his Duty or else forfeit his Estate This all the Lords consented to but Elis ap Madawc who was an intimate Friend of Gwenwynwyn and therefore would not consent to the enacting any thing that might be prejudicial to him but broke off from the Meeting much dissatisfied with their Proceedings Notwithstanding which Prince Lhewelyn pursuant to the Advice of the rest of his Lords raises an Army and marches towards Powys but before he made any use of it he was by the Mediation of some learned and able Men reconciled to Gwenwynwyn and so Gwenwynwyn became his dutiful Subject which he confirmed both by Oath and Writing and indeed it was not without good reason that Prince Lhewelyn used all the caution imaginable to bind this Man for he had sworn Allegiance before to the King of England Lhewelyn having thus subjected Gwenwynwyn he thought it now convenient to shew likewise some Marks of his Resentments against his Adherent Elis ap Madawc and therefore he strips him of all his Lands whereupon Elis fled the Country but not long after yielding himself to the Prince's Mercy he received of him the Castle of Crogen and Seven Townships besides And now having mentioned Crogen it will not be improper to step a little out of the way and here take notice of the reason why the English formerly when they had a mind to reproach the Welch called them Crogens The first occasion of it was this King Henry the Second in his Expedition against the Welch to the Mountains of Berwin lay a while at Oswestre during which time he detached a number of his Men to try the Passages into Wales who as they would have passed Offa's Ditch at the Castle of Crogen at which place there was a narrow way through the same Ditch which appears now very deep through all that Country and bears its old Name these Men I say as they would have passed this Streight were met by a Party of Welch and a great many of them strain and buried in that Ditch as appears by their Graves there to be seen and the Name of the Streight imports as much being called in Welch Adwy'r bedhaw The English therefore bearing in mind this Slaughter when ever they got any of the Welch into their Clutches upbraided them with the Name of Crogen intimating thereby that they should expect no more Favour or Mercy at their hands than they shew'd them in the Skirmish But this word which at first was rather a Badg of Reputation than Disgrace to the Welch came afterwards to be used in a bad Sense and only then applyed when they designed to reproach and abuse them But to return to Prince Lhewelyn whom we find returning home after he had successfully asserted his Sovereignty over all Wales and set all things in good order And by the way he fortifies the Castle of Bala in Penlhyn About this time Rhys the Son of Gruffydh ap Rhys the right Prince of South-Wales took the Castle of Lhanymdhyfry upon Michaelmas-day This Year Lhewelyn Prince of Wales took to Wife Joan the Daughter of King John which Agatha Daughter of Robert Ferrers Earl of Derby bore him with whom he gave the Prince for a Dowry the Lordship of Elsmere in the Marches of Wales A.D. 1203 Prince Rhys whom we mentioned the Year before to have taken the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri wins likewise the Castle of Llangadoc and puts a Garrison therein but he enjoyed neither of them long for shortly after his Unkle Maelgon with his Friend Gwenwynwyn levied a powerful Army and with it besieged and took the Castle
entertained with all the Expressions and Tokens of Joy King John perceiving how powerful they were like to prove and how that the Country did in a great measure favour their Cause thought it his wisest way to nip them in the bud and to fall upon them before they grew too strong and therefore having levied his Forces he marched together with William Marshall Earl of Pembroke towards the Castle of Rochester Being arrived there he laid close Siege to the Castle but the Governour William de Abbineto so bravely defended it that it could hardly be taken after three Months Siege but at length the King's Men bore on so violently that they took it by a Storm where besides William de Abbineto the King took several of the Barons Prisoners This was an ill beginning to the Design of the Confederates and what did not add a little to their Misfortune the Pope presently issues out his Bull of Excommunication against Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and all the English Barons as made War against King John who was under the protection of the Church of Rome But Prince Lhewelyn did not regard his threatning Anathemas and therefore having raised an Army he came to Shrewsbury which was delivered up to him without any resistance And whilst Lhewelyn remained there Giles de Bruce Bishop of Hereford one of the chief of this Conspiracy sent his Brother Reynold to Brecnock whom all the People readily owâ—ed for their Lord and so without the least grumbling or opposition he received the Castles of Abergefenny and Pencelhy the Castelh Gwyn or the White Castle together with Grosmont Castle and the Island of Cynuric But when the Bishop came thither in Person he had the Castles of Aberhondhy Hay Buelht and Blaenlhyfny delivered up to him but thinking he had enough himself and being rather desirous to secure his Interest and to strengthen his Party in the Country than to heap more upon his own shoulders than he was well able â—o support he bestowed Payn Castle Clune and all Eluel upon Walter Fychan the Son of Eineon Clyd In the mean time young Rhys the Son of Gruffydh â—p Rhys and his Uncle Maelgon were reconciled and made Friends and so coming both to Dyfed they destroyed Arberth and Maenclochoc Castles and recovered all such Lands as formerly belonged to them exâ—epting Cemais But Rhys's Brothers Maelgon and Owen went to North-Wales and did Homage and Fealâ—y to Prince Lhewelyn whilst their Brother Prince Rhys marched forward to Cydwely and having rased the Castles of Carnwylheon and Lhyâ—hwr brought all the Country about under his subjection But this was â—ot enough to satisfy the ambitious humour of that young Prince for having once tasted the pleasure of Victory and the taking and demolishing of Towns â—e was resolved to prosecute his Conquest whilst Fortune seemed to favour his Undertakings and therefore he lead his Army against Talybont Castle which belonged to Hugh de Miles and forcing his entrance into the same he put a great number of the Garrison to the Sword The next day he marched to Sengennyth Castle but the Garrison which kept it thinkâ—ng it fruitless and to no purpose to oppose him burnt the place and departed to Ystymlhwynarth But he followed them at the Heels and the next day took it and rased it to the ground and over-ran the Country in such a violent manner that in three days time he became Master of all the Castles and Fortresses in all Gowerland and Morgannwe and so returned home with great Victory and Triumph At the same time Rhyt Fychan otherwise Rhys Gryg young Prince Rhys's Uncle obtained his Liberty from the King of England leaving his Son with two more for Pledges for his modest and peaceable Behaviour towards his Subjects whom at other times he was wont to molest and oppress About this time the Abbots of Tal y Llecheu and Tuy Gwyn were consecrated Bishops the former of St. Davids and the other of Bangor But the Bishop of Hereford who seemed to be the most violently inclined against King John and was otherwise unwilling to part with what he had got in Wales's could not for all that refuse the Injunction of the Pope by whose express Command he was constrained to make Peace with the King which being concluded in his return homeward he died at Glocester leaving his Estate to his Brother Reginald who had married the Daughter of Prince Lhewelyn But for all that Giles de Bruce Bishop of Hereford was fallen off and reconciled to King John yet Prince Lhewelyn did not think it convenient to follow his Example and therefore with his whole Army he marched against Carmardhyn and took the Castle in five days having rased it to the ground he successively laid Siege to the Castles of Lhanstephan St. Cleare and Talacharn which he used after the same manner From thence he went to Cardigan and winning Emlyn Castle he subdued Cemaes and then laying Siege to Trefdraeth Castle in English called Newport he quickly took it and afterwards rased it to the ground His next Design was upon Aberteifi and Cilgerraâ— Castles but the Garrisons which defended them finding it to no purpose to wait his coming and so to withstand all his Attempts against those places voluntarily surrendred and by that means prevented all the Mischief which in opposing him would in all probability unavoidably attend them And so Prince Lhewelyn having successfully over-run and subdued all Carmardhyn and Cardigan triumphantly returned to North-Wales being attended by several of the Welch Nobility such as Howel ap Gruffydh ap Conan Lhewelyn ap Meredith Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powys Meredith ap Rotpert Maelgon and Rhys Fychan the Sons of Prince Rhys of South Wales Rhys and Owen the Sons of Gruffydh ap Rhys together with all the Power of Madoc ap Gruffydh Maylor Lord of Bromfield A.D. 1216 But the next year Prince Lhewelyn returned to Aberteifi to compose a Difference which since his departure had happened betwixt Maelgon and Rhys Fychan Prince Rhys's Sons on the one side and Rhys and Owen Gruffydh ap Rhys's Sons on the other Therefore to make up this Quarrel and to reduce all Matters to a quiet and amicable issue Prince Lhewelyn made an equal distribution of South-Wales betwixt them allotting to Maelgâ—n three Cantrefs in Dyfed viz. Gwarthaf Penlhwynoc Cemaes and Emlyn with Cilgerran Castle to young Rhys two Castles in Ystratywy Hiruryn and Maelhaen Maenor Bydfey with the Castle of Lhanymdhyfry and two in Cardigan Gwyâ—tâ—yth and Mabwyneon His Brother Owen had to his share the Castles of Aberteifi and Nant yr Arian with three Cantress in Cardigan and Rhys Fychan otherwise called Rhys Gryc had Dynefawr Castle the Cantref Mawr the Cantref Bychan excepting Hiruryn and Midhfey together with the Comotes of Cydwely and Carnwylhion This Division being accomplished to every one's Satisfaction and all the Lords of South-Wales being amicably reconciled Prince Lhewelyn took his Journey for North-Wales but he had not advanced very far when
so the English retired over the River Matthew Paris writes that the Earl obtained a very signal Victory and that of the Welch there were Nine Thousand slain and taken though the Welch Account which in this case is in all likelihood the best makes the whole Army of the Welch to consist but of that number But both Armies having layn for certain Days in that posture and the River Tywy being betwixt them Gruffydh by reason that Provision began to grow scarce in his Camp returned back and then the Earl decamped and marched to Cilgerran where he began to build a very strong Castle But before he could have time to finish it he received an Express from the King with orders to come to him and so he went by Sea to London leaving his Army at Cilgerran to continue the Work which he had begun Shortly after the King together with the Archbishop of Canterbury came to Ludlow and sending for Prince Lhewelyn thither they had good hopes to adjust all Differences and to make an amicable Composition betwixt him and the Earl But when this could not be effected both Parties sticking close to their private Interest the Earl being assisted by the Earl of Derby and Henry Pyggot Lord of Ewyas designed to pass by Land to Pembrock but his purpose being discovered to the Prince he detached his Son to secure the Passage of Carnwylhion and came in person to Mabedryd which when the Earl understood finding it dangerous to prosecute his Design any further he returned to England and then the Prince marched to North-Wales The next Action that passed in Wales A.D. 1227 was somewhat rare and not redounding much to the Credit and Esteem of the Welch for Rhys Fychan having by some sinistrous means or other taken his Father Rhys Gryc contrary to all filial Affection and Duty detained him Prisoner and would not set him at liberty till he had delivered up Lhanymdhyfri Castle to him About the same time Meredith Archdeacon of Cardigan Prince Rhys's Son departed this Life and was honourably interred at S. Davids by his Father But a while after a great Storm threatned the A.D. 1228 Welch King Henry having raised a great Army was resolved to make a violent Prosecution of the Earl of Pembrock's Quarrel against the Prince of Wales and if possible to make all that Country for ever subject to the Crown of England and so being advanced into the Marches he encamped at Ceri Prince Lhewelyn on the other hand being informed of these mighty Preparations in England and understanding that they were intended against him did use all the Endeavours possible to make a vigorous Resistance and having drawn together all the Forces he was able to levy thought it his wisest way to meet the English upon the Marches and not to permit the Enemy to enter his Country Both Armies being come in sight of each other frequent Skirmishes happened betwixt 'em but one day almost the whole Armies engaged and after a vigorous Attack of both sides the English at last got the worst and were forced to retire having a great many Men slain and taken Prisoners Among the latter was William Bruce Reynald's Son who offered for his Ransom all Buelht together with a considerable Sum of Money which the Prince would not accept of But King Henry finding that his Army was worsted in this Rencounter thought it best to make Peace with the Prince of Wales which being concluded Lhewelyn came to the King and having paid him all other Respects besides that of Submission and Allegiance he returned in great Honour to North-Wales But this Action is somewhat otherwise laid down by Matthew Paris who writes that this Skirmish betwixt the English and Welch happened upon an other account for the Garrison of Montgomery issuing out of the Castle to enlarge a certain Passage leading through a Wood where the Welch were wont to rob and kill all Passengers began to fell the Timber and cut down all the Bushes which lessened the Road thereby to make the Passage more clear and secure The Welch receiving intelligence of this came presently upon him in great Numbers and surprizing the Enemies being busie at their Labour forced as many as could escape to betake themselves for refuge into the Castle which afterwards having first cast a deep Trench about it they smartly invested Hâ—bert de Burgh Lord Chief Justice of England and Owner of the Castle having notice of this sent presently to King Henry desiring his speedy help against the Welch who thereupon came in Person with part of his Army and raised the Siege Then the rest of his Forces being arrived he marched into the Wood which was Five Miles in length and by reason of the thickness of the growth impassable and for an easie passage through it caused it to be burnt down After that he led his Army farther into the Country and coming to an Abby called Cridia which the Welch were wont to take for refuge he caused it to be burnt down but finding it a very convenient place for a Fortress he granted leave to Hubert de Burgh to build a Castle there But whilst the Work was going on the Welch-men gauled the English and skirmished with them frequently so that many were slain on both sides but at last William Bruce with many others that went abroad to fetch Provision was intercepted by the Welch and taken Prisoner and most of his Company were slain among whom one who was knighted a few days before seeing some of his Fellows in great danger rushed boldly into the midst of his Enemies and after a manful defence bravely lost his Life Several of King Henry's Men were corrupted by Prince Lhewelyn and upon that account took no great pains to repulse the Enemy which when the King perceived and finding withal the Provision was grown very scarce in his Camp he was forced to conclude a dishonourable Peace with the Welch consenting to demolish that Castle which with so great an Expence both of Men and Mony was now almost finished upon his own Charges Prince Lhewelyn paying only Three Thousand Pounds towards it Then both Armies separated Prince Lhewelyn marching to North-Wales and the King leaving William Bruce Prisoner with the Welch returned to England having purchased no small Discredit in this Expedition William Bruce was brought to Wales and there had A.D. 1230 an honourable Confinement in the Prince his Palace but he had not continued there very long when he began to be suspected of being too familiar with the Princess King Henry's Sister and as the report went was takeâ— in the very act of Adultery for which the Prince caused him to be hanged forthwith About the same time Lhewelyn Maelgon's Son dyed in North-Wales and was buried at Conwey and Maelgon Prince Rhys his Son in South-Wales and was buried in Ystratflur whose Estate descended to his Son Maelgon And a little after William Marshall Earl of Pembrock A.D. 1231 dyed one that ever entertained an
Warden of the Marches of Wales who thinking to get to himself an eternal Name in conquering the Welch raised all the Power he could and imagining that the Welch could not be privy to his purpose he apprehended he could fall upon the Earl-Marshal unexpected But in this he was to his sorâ—ow most widely mistaken for the Earl having received private intimation of his Design hid himself â—n a certain Wood by which the English were to march and when they were come so far the Welch of a sudden gave a great shout and leaping out of the place they had absconded themselves in they fell â—pon the English being unprovided and putting their whole Army to flight they slew an infinite number both of the English and their Auxiliaries John of Monmouth himself made his escape by flight but the Earl-Marshal entering his Country destroyed it with Fire and Sword And what added to the Misery of the English Prince Lhewelyn in the Week after Epiphany joyning the Earl-Marshal made an Incursion into the King's Territories destroying all before them from the Confines of Wales to Shrewsbury a great part of which they laid in Ashes King Henry was all this while with the Bishop of Winchester at Glocester and for want of sufficient Power or Courage to confront the Enemy durst not take the Field of which being at length perfectly ashamed he removed to Winchester leaving the Marches naked to the mercy of the Enemy And now there being no apprehension of fear from the English the Earl of Pembrock by the Counsel of Geoffrey de Marisco transported his Army into Ireland thinking to obtain a Conquest in that Kingdom but in the first Encounter with the Irish he was unfortunately slain through the Treachery of his own Men And so his Estate and Title descended to his Brother Gilbert But King Henry finding it impracticable to force the Welch to a Submission and being in a great measure weary of continual Wars and incessant Hostilities thought it his best Prudence to make some honourable Agreement with the Prince of Wales and therefore he deputed Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Rochester Coventry and Lichfield and Chester to treat with Prince Lhewelyn about a Peace When the King came to meet with them in their return from this Negotiation being at Woodstock he was certified of the death of the Earl of Pembrock which he took so much to heart that he presently melted into Tears being afflicted for the death of so great a Person whom he openly declared had not left his Second in all his Kingdom Going from thence to Glocester he met with the Archbishop and Bishops who delivered to him the * See the Appendix Form of the Treaty of Peace with Prince Lhewelyn which he would not conclude unless upon this condition That all the English Nobility who were confederated with him and by evil Counsel were exil'd should be recalled and restored to the King's Favour The Archbishop further acquainted his Majesty with what Difficulty he had brought the matter to this conclusion being sometimes forced to add Threatnings on the King's behalf with his Clergy to which Menaces the Prince is said to have answered That he bore more regard to the King's Charity and Piety than he did fear his Arms or dread his Clergy But the King who was very desirous of a Peace readily consented to what the Prince required and therefore he issued out his Letters recalling all the Nobles who were out-law'd or otherwise exil'd requiring them to appear at Glocester upon Sunday next before Ascension day where they should receive their Pardons and be restored to their Estates which the King had taken into his own hands The Peace being thus concluded betwixt the English and Welch Prince Lhewelyn set his Son Gruffydh at liberty whom for his disobedient and restless Humour he had detained in close Prison for the space of Six Years About the same time Cadwalhon ap Maelgon of Melienydh departed this Life who was quickly follow'd by Owen Gruffydh ap Rhys's Son a Person of great Worth and exceedingly beloved and A.D. 1235 was buried at Ystratflur by his Brother Rhys And the Year following dyed Owen ap Meredith ap Rotpert of Cydewen and not long after him Madawc A. D. 1236. the Son of Gruffydh Mayelor Lord of Bromfield Chirk and Yale who was buried at the Abby of Lhan Egwest or Vale Crucis which he had built leaving Issue behind him one Son called Gruffydh who succeeded into the Possession of all these Lordships A little after Gilbert Earl of Pembrock got by Treachery Marchen Castle which belonged to Morgan ap Howel and fortified the same very strongly for fear of Prince Lhewelyn The next Spring Joan King John's Daughter and Princess of Wales departed this Life and was A.D. 1237 buried according to her own desire upon the Sea-shore at a place called Lhanfaes in the Isle of Anglesey where the Prince in memory of her afterwards founded a religious House for the Order of Mendicant-Friars About the same time also dyed John Scot Earl of Chester without any Issue upon which account the King seized that Earldom into his own hands Hugh Lupus was the first that enjoyed this Honour who coming over to England with the Conquerour was by him created Earl of Chester and Sword-bearer of England Habendum tenendum dictum comitatum Cestriae sibi haeredibus suis ita liberè ad gladium sicut ipse Rex totam tenebat Angliam ad coronam To have and to hold the said County of Chester to him and his Heirs by right of the Sword so freely and securely as the King held the Realm of England in the right of the Crown After Five Descents Randulph Bohun came to be Earl of Chester who was Uncle to this John the last Earl This Randulph had several Encounters with Prince Lhewelyn and was in continual agitation against him but once more particularly meeting with the Prince and being sensible of his Inability to withstand him he was obliged to retire for Refuge to the Castle of Ruthlan which the Prince presently besieged Randulph perceiving himself to be in danger sent to Roger Lacy Constable of Chester requesting him to raise what strength he could possible and come to succour him in this Extremity Wherefore Lacy having received this Express called to him presently all his Friends desiring them to make all the Endeavours imaginable to rescue the Earl from that imminent Danger which so severely threatned him At whose request Ralph Dutton his Son in Law a valorous Youth assembled together all the Players and Musicians and such as then being Fair-time had met to make merry and presenting them to the Constable he forthwith marched to Ruthlan raised the Siege and delivered the Earl from all his fear In recompence of this Service the Earl granted the Constable several Freedoms and Priviledges and to Dutton the ruling and ordering all Players and Musicians within the said Country to be
time and so returned to England But Lord James Audley whose Daughter was married to Gruffydh Lord of Bromfield did more mischief and hurt to the Welch who having brought over a great Number of Horsemen from Germany to serve against the Welch so terrified them with the unusual largeness of the Horses and the unaccustomed manner of sighting that in the first Encounter the Welch were easily overcome Buâ— minding to revenge this Disgrace and withal being better acquainted with their method of Arms the Welch in a little after made in-roads into the Lord Audley's Lands where the Germans presently set upon them and pursued them to certain straits which the Welch discovered for a politick retreat The Germans thinking they had entirely drove the Welch away returned carelesly back but being set upon of the sudden without any thought of an Enemy behind they were all in a manner slain by the rallying Welch This year a very great scarcity of Beefs and Horses happened in England whereof several Thousands yearly were supplied out of Wales by reason of which the Marches were perfectly robbed of all their Breed and not so much as a Beast to be seen in all the Borders A.D. 1259 The next Spring all the Nobility of Wales convened together and took their mutual Oaths to defend their Country to Death against the oppressing Invasions of the English and not to relinquish and forsake one another upon pain of Perjury tho' notwithstanding Meredith ap Rhys of South-Wales violated this Agreement and put himself in the Service of the King of England King Henry was ready to fall upon the Welch to which purpose he summoned a Parliament wherein he proposed to raise a Subsidy towards the Conquest of Wales being not able of himself to bear the Expences of this War by reason of several Losses he had already received the Country of Pembroke being lately destroyed and taken by the Welch where they found plenty of Salt which before they were in great necessity of But William de Valentia accusing the Earls of Leicester and Glocester as the Authors of all this Mischief quite broke all their measures so the King was forced to prorogue the Parliament for a time without any grant of a Subsidy But within a while after it sat at Oxford where King Henry and Edward his Son took a Solemn Oath to observe the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and the same being tendred to Guy and William the King's Brothers and to Henry Son to the King of Almain and to Earl Warren they refused to take it and so departed In this Parliament the Lords of Wales fairly proffered to be tryed by the Laws for any Offence they had unjustly commirted against the King which was mainly opposed by Edward who caused one Patrick de Canton to whom the Lordship of Cydwely was given in case he could win and keep the same to be sent to Caermardhyn as Lieutenant for the King with whom Meredith ap Rhys was joyned in Commission Being arrived at Caermardhyn Patrick sent to the Prince to desire him to appoint Commissioners to treat with him concerning a Peace which he consented to and without any suspicion of treachery sent Meredith ap Owen and Rhys ap Rhys to Emlyn if possible to conclude the same But Patrick meaning no such thing laid an ambuscade for the Welch who coming honestly forward were by the way villanously set upon by the English and a great many slain but those that happily escaped calling up the Country presently gave chase to Patrick and his Accomplices who being at length overtaken were almost all put to the Sword But Prince Lhewelyn was now altogether bent upon a Peace and did not only desire it but was willing to purchase it for a summ of Money to which purpose he offered to give the King 4000 Marks to his Son 300 and 200 to the Queen which the King utterly refused replying That it was not a sufficient recompence for all the Damages he had suffered by the Welch Matthew of Westminster reporteth that about Michaelmas this year the Bishop of Bangor was commissioned by the Prince and Nobility of Wales to treat with the King of England about a Peace and to offer him 16000 Pound for the same upon these Conditions that according to their antient Custom the Welch should have all Causes tryed and determined at Chester and that they should freely enjoy the Laws and Customs of their own Country but what was the result of this Treaty my Author does not mention There being no hopes of a Peace Prince Lhewelyn A.D. 1260 early next year appeared in the Field and passed to South-Wales and first fell foul upon Sir Râ—ger Mortimer who contrary to his Oath maintained the King of England's Quarrel Having forcibly dispossessed him of all Buelht and without any opposition taken the Castle where was found a plentiful Magazine he marched thro' all South-Wales confirming his Conquest and afterwards returned to his Palace at Aber A.D. 1261 betwixt Bangor and Conwey The year following A.D. 1262 Owen ap Meredith Lord of Cydewen died But the next Summer was somewhat more noted for Action a party of Prince Lhewelyn's Men took by surprise the Castle of Melienyth belonging to Sir Roger Mortimer and having put the rest of the Garrison to the Sword they took Howel ap Meyric the Governour with his Wife and Children Prisoners and after that the Castle was demolished by the Prince's Order Sir Roger Mortimer hearing of this with a great Body of Lords and Knights came to Melienyth where Prince Lhewelyn met him bur Sir Roger not daring to hazard a Battel planted himself within the Ruins and finding he could do no good desired leave of the Prince to retire peaceably The Prince upon the account of Relation and near Consanguinity betwixt them and withal because he would not be so mean spirited as to fall upon an Enemy who had no power to resist him let him safely depart with his Forces and then passing on himself to Brecknock at the request of the People of that Country who swore Fidelity unto him so passed on and returned to Noâ—th-Wales And now being Confederate with the Barons against King Henry he was resolved to practise something in the prejudice of the English and so set upon the Earldom of Chester destroyed the Castles of Tygannâ—y and Diserth belonging to Edward who coming thither was yet not able to prevent the Mischief done A.D. 1263 to him by the Welch The next year John Strange Junior Constable of Montgomery with a great Number of Marchers came a little before Easter by night thro' Ceri to Cydewen intending to surprise the Castle which when the People of the Country understood they gathered together and setting upon them slew 200 of his Men but Strange with a few got safely back Within a while after the Marchers and the Welch met again near a place called Clun where a hot Engagement happened between them in which the Welch were worsted
with great Fury and Courage faced them and joyning Battels forced them back with a very considerable loss Polydore Virgil says but upon what Authority is not known that the Welch obtained this Victory rather upon the account that the English Army was hired with such Money as had been wrongfully taken out of the Abbies and other Religious places so that it was a Judgment from above more than the Force of the Welch that overcame the English Army But be the cause of it what it will 't is certain the English were vanquished upon which account King Edward came in Person to Wales and kept his Christmas at Aberconwey where Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury being returned from Rome came to him and having done Homage returned honourably again to England But as the King advanced farther into the Country having but one part of his Army with him the Welch set upon and took most of his Carriages which contained a great quantity of Victuals and Provision so that the King with all his followers were constrained to endure a great deal of hardships in so much that at last Water mixed with Honey and very course and ordinary Bread with the saltest Meat were accounted the greatest Delicacies for his Majesty 's own Table But their misery was like to be greater had not the other part of the Army come in time because the Welch had encompassed the King round in hopes to reduce him to the utmost distress by reason that the Water was so risen that the rest of the Army could not get to him But the Water within some time after abating the remainder of the Army came in whereupon the Welch presently retired and made their escape One thing is very remarkable of King Edward during his distress at Snowden that when the Army was reduced to very great extremity a small quantity of Wine was found which they thought to reserve for the King 's own use But he to prevent any discontent which might thereupon be raised in his Souldiers absolutely refused to taste thereof telling them That in time of Necessity all things should be common and as he was the Cause and Author of thâ—ir Distress he would not be preferred before them in his Diet. But whilst the King remained in Snowden the Earl of Warwick being informed that a great Number of Welch were assembled and had lodged themselves â—n a certain Valley betwixt two Woods chose out a Troop of Horse together with some Cross-Bows and Archers and set upon them in the Night time The Welch being thus surprised and unexpectedly encompassed about by their Enemies made the best they could to oppose them and so pitching their Spears in the ground and directing the points towards their Enemies endeavoured by such means to keep off the Horse But the Earl of Warwick having ordered his Battel so as that between every two Horse there stood a Cross-Bow so gauled the Welch with the shot of the quarrels that the Spear-men fell apace and then the Horse breaking easily in upon the rest bare them down with so great a slaughter as the Welch had never received before After this King Edward to prevent any more rebellious attempts of the Welch cut down all the Woods in Wales wherein in any time of Danger they were wont to hide and save themselves And for a farther security he repaired and fortified all the Castles and places of Strength in Wales and built the Castle of Bewmoris in the Isle of Anglesey and so having put all things in a settled posture and punished those that had been the occasion of the Death of Roger de Pulesdon he returned with his Army into England But as soon as the King had left the Welch Madoc who as it is said before was chosen Captain by the North-Wales Men gathered some Forces together and came to Oswestry which presently yielded to him And then meeting with the Lord Strange near Knookine who with a Detachment of the Marchers came to oppose him gave him Battel vanquished his Forces and miserably ravaged his Country The like Success he obtained a second time against the Marchers but at last they brought together a very great Number of Men and met Madoc marching towards Shâ—ewsbury upon the Hills of Cefn Digolh not far from Camrs Castle where after a bloody Fight on both sides Madoc was taken Prisoner and his Army vanquished and put to flight Then he was sent to London and there sentenced to remain in perpetual Imprisonment in the Tower tho' others affirm that Madoc was never taken but that after several Adventures and severe Conflicts whereby the Welch were reduced to great extremities he came in and submitted himself to the King who received him upon Condition he would not desist to pursue Morgan Captain of the Glamorgan-shire Men till he brought him Prisoner before him Madoc having performed this and the whole Country being peaceable and undisturbed several Hostages from the Chiefest Nobility of Wales for their orderly and quiet behaviour were delivered to the King who disposed of them into divers Castles in England where they continued in safe Custody till the end of the War which was presently-commencâ—d with Scotland A.D. 1301 In the 29th year of King Edward's reign the Prince of Wales came down to Chester and received Homage of all the Free-holders in Wales as follows Henry Earl of Lancaster for Monmouth Reginald Gray for Ruthyn Foulke Fitzwarren for his Lands the Lord William Martyn for his Lands in Cemaes Roger Mortimer for his Lands in Wales Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln for Rhos and Rhyfoneioc Robert Lord Montalt for his Lands and Gruffydh Lord of Poole for the Lordship of Powys at the same time paid their Homage Tudor ap Grono of Anglesey Madoc ap Tudor Archdeacon of Anglesey Eineon ap Howel of Caernarvon Tudor ap Gruffydh Lhewelyn ap Ednyfed Gruffydh â—ychan Son of Gruffydh ap Iorwerth Madoc Fychan Denglfield Lhewelyn Bishop of St. Asaph and Richard de Pulesdon This last in the Twelfth Year of King Edward was constituted Sheriff of Caernarvon for life with the stipend of Forty Pounds sterling yearly At the same place Gruffydh ap Tudor Ithel Fychan Ithel ap Blethyn with many more did their Homage Then the Prince came to Ruthlan where the Lord Richard de Sutton Baron of Malpas paid Homage and Fealty for the said Barony of Malpas Thence the Prince removed to Conwey where Eineon Bishop of Bangor and David Abbot of Maynan did their Homage as did Lewis de Felton Son of Richard Felton for the Lands which his Father held of the Prince in Maelor Saesneg or English Maelor John Earl Warren swore Homage for the Lordships of Bromfield and Yale and his Lands in Hope-Dale at London in the Chappel of the Lord John de Kirkby sometime Bishop of Ely as also a while after Edmund Mortimer for his Lands of Cery and Cydewen But besides all these there paid Homage to the Prince of Wales at Chester Sir
ei Diaboâ—s delegavit Praeterea in regem impungitis dicenâ— quod regales Ecclesias personas Ecclesiasticas â—udeli vastavit tyrannide consumunt Ad quod tater respondemus quod Dominus Rex praedicta mala â—ec fieri mandavit nec rata habuit quin potius nobis â—btulit ultronei quod quam citò aderit oportunitas â—cclesiarum proponit dispendia resarcire quod differt â—sque ad sedatam guerrae tempestatem ne si prius fieâ—t destruerentur iterum per latrones Praeterea timetis 〈◊〉 Anglia honorem suscipere ne consequenter vobis ocâ—asionata malitia auferatur cum tamen fateamini quod Dominus Rex nullum suum exhaeredaverit inimicum â—uod frustra vos timere credimus si legaliter vivere â—os vestri didiceritis non a pari cum domino â—estro contendere vel certare Mores vobis popuâ—o vestro causamini incognitos nos è contrario opiâ—amur quod expediret vobis omnibus in modum alium mores penitus transformari Cum enim sitis sicut â—aeteri homines donis Dei gratuitis adornati sed in veâ—tro Anglo devoramini ut nec Ecclesiam juvetis conâ—ra hostes fidei militando Nec Clerum studio sapientiae exceptis paucissimis decoretis quin potius maâ—or pars vestrûm torpet otio lasciviis ut pene neâ—ciat mundus vos esse populum nisi per paucos ex vobis qui videntur ut plurimum in mendicare Deinde â—cribitis quod creditis altissimum vos juvare pro justitia decertantes utinam inquam altissimus juvet vos salubriter dirigat ad salutem Sed ne ruinas aliquas Anglorum ex inconsideratione sua provenientes vestris velitis meritis arrogare curetis ad vertere qualiter qui iâ— coelis habitat fatuos sublimat elevat ad modicum ut perpetuo allidat sic certe olim populus Dei electuâ— ante harum repertam civitatem pro unius Anathemate Consortis versus in fugam quosdam suorum perdidiâ— bellatorum Sic certe quater centena millia bellatorum duodecim tribuum Israel in suo numero fortitudine confidentes ab unius tribus modico populo occisis ex 40 millibus bellatorum per vices varias sunt confusi Cum tamen purgato unius Anathemate praedicta Civitas finaliter deleta fuerit per illos qui prius confusi fuerant per lacrymas placato Domino cum jejuniis oblatis Sacrificiis tribus illa quae praevaluerat prius per prius confusos quasi totaliter sit deleta sic certe aliter flagellat Dominus filios quos recipit aliter quos decernit ut arbores steriles extirpare Ista vobis scribimus in cordis amaritudine ab his partibus recedentes nec prenidicare intendimus salubriori consilio si vobis coelitus destinetur nec latere vos volumus quod nullum per vos invenimus excusationis sufficiens remedium quo obstante minime debeatis in excors Irnam incidisse pernuntiari Dudum latet in Oxon consilio contra pacis regiae turbatores viam autem pacis aliam invenire non possumus nec adhuc in spe sumus aliud obtinendi Sed si nobis aliquid consultius videatur agendum vobis numquam claudemus gremium nec auxilium denegabimus opportunum Dat. apud Ruthelan 18 Calend Decemb. Ann. Dom. 1282. Lewelinus autem princeps Walliae praedictus spretis omnibus oblationibus pacis formis post scriptis invasit hostiliter terram Domini Regis Angliae destruendo eam incendio rapina nec non homines terrae illius ad se trahendo à bonitate pacis regiae separando Qui tamen princeps infra mensem illum ignominosa morte primus de exercitu suo occisus est per familiam Domini Cadmundi de mortuo mari filii Domini Rogeri de mortuo mari totus exercitus suus vel occisus vel in fugam conversus in partibus Montis Gomerici die Veneris proximo ante Festum S. Lucae videlicet 3. Id. Decemb. sub Anno Dom. 1282. In decima litera dominicali D. currente A TABLE OF THE Most Remarkable Things in this BOOK A. ABerffraw destroyed by the Irish page 57. Adelred King of the West-Saxons vanquished by the Britains 15. Adelred married Emma Daughter of the Duke of Normandy and the reasons of it 70. The consequence of the Marriage 71. Flies with his Wife and Children into Normandy 75. Returns ibid. His Death 78. Aedan ap Blegorad having slain his Competitor Conan is proclaimed Prince of North-Wales 69. Is slain with his four Sons in Battel 79. Alan the 2d King of Little Britain assisted Cadwalader 9. Advised him to obey the Vision 11. Alfred King an Encourager of Learning and Founder of the Vniversiity of Oxford 32. Routs the Danes ibid. Makes them forswear the sight of English Ground 33. He caused the Laws of Dyfnwal Moelmut and Queen Marsia to be translated into English c. 43. Alfred proposed to be sent for to be King over the English 85. Opposed by Earl Goodwyn 68. Had his Eyes put out ibid. Anarawd Prince of North-Wales succeeds his Father Rodri 37. Dyes his Issue 45. Anglesey destroyed by the Men of Dublin 46. Ravaged by Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powys but all his Men were cut off 175. Arthur King of Britain his Sepulchre found in the Isle of Afalon 206. The Inscription upon it 207. Arthur eldest Son to King Henry the Seventh created Prince of Wales and Dies at Ludlow 324. Athelstane tho' a Bastard the worthiest Prince of the Saxon Blood 48. His Victory over the Danes Scots and Normans ibid. Removes the Britains to Cornwal Dies 49. Aulase and all his Danes received Baptism 49. Swears never to molest England 66. B. BAldwin Archbishop of Canterbury the first that made his Visitation in Wales 208. Bede his Education and Writings 16. Bible how when and by whom translated into Welch 326. Blethyn and Rhywalhon Princes of North-Wales asist Edric against the King of England 101. A Rebellion formed against them by Meredith and Ithel ap Gruffydh ibid. Battel wherein Rhywalhon and Ithel were slain Blethyn murdered Rich. 104. Britain how and when forsaken by the Roman Forces 1. Invaded by the Scots and Picts ibid. Britains their sad Complaints to Aetius thrice Consul 2. The Reasons of their weakness 3 and 4. Their Message to the Saxons 5. The Britains of Stratclwyd and Cumberland settle in North-Wales 38. Brochwel once Prince of Powys a great Defender of the Monks of Bangor 23. Bruce de William Lord of Brecknock under pretence of Friendship barbarously murders Sitsylht ap Dyfnwal his Son and followers 204. Bruce Sir Edward his Letter to Sir Griffydh Llwyd 312 and 313. C. CAdelh Prince of South-Wales dyes his Issue 44. Cadelh takes Caermardhyn and beats the Normans and Flemings 165. Like to be murdered 170. Gone upon Pilgrimage 171. Cadwgan murdered by Madawc 138. Cadwalader the last King of Britain of
the Welch 128. Flemings settled in part of VVales 128. G. GAllio routs the Scots and Picts 2. Builds a Wall cross the Land ibid. Gam Sir David imprisoned by Owen Glyndyfwr and released 321. Revolts from Owen ibid. His answer in France to Henry V. concerning the French Army mortally wounded at Agincourt Knighted and died 322. Gavelkind that Custom in Wales 22. Geoffrey of Monmouth made Bishop of St. Davids 171. Glamorgan Lordship described 314. The best of it Fitzhamon the Chief of the Normans kept to himself 115. Godwyn Earl rebels against King Edward 89. Invades the Land and is reconciled to the King 90. Dies suddenly sitting at the King's Table 91. Gray Reginald Lord of Ruthyn taken Prisoner by Owen Glyndyfwr and ransomed 316 317. Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn declared Prince of North-Wales 84. His Country invaded by the English and Danes and routed by him 85. Reduced all Wales under his subjection ibid. Routs Howel Prince of South-Wales at Pencader ibid. Taken Prisoner by the Irish under the command of Iago ap Edwal and recovered by his own Men 87. Overcomes and slays Gruffydh ap Rhyderch and his Army c. ibid. Concludes a Peace with Harold King Edward's General 94. His Palace at Ruthlan burnt by the English ibid. Prince Gruffydh murdered by Harold's Contrivance after he had reigned 30 years 95. Gruffydh ap Conan confirmed in the Principality of Wales 109. Refused at first an accommodation with King Henry at last sues and obtains Peace 141. Caressed by the King and promised to deliver up Gruffydh ap Rhys 143. Dies 158. His Issue 159. Gruffydh the Son of Rhys ap Tudor laid claim to South-VVales 143. Flies to North-VVales 143. Wished with his Brother Howel to withdraw into South-VVales 144. Forced to bid open defyance to the King of England ibid. The Flemings and VVelch Lords joyn together to oppose him 145. He takes Caermardhyn 146. Invited to the Government of Cardigan-shire ibid. Succeeds 147. War at Aberystwyth 148. Invidiously dispossess'd of his Estate 154. Dies 158. Gruffydh Son to the Lord Rhys succeeded his Father 116. Plagued with his Brother Maelgon 219. A hopeful Prince dies 222. Gruffydh ap Conan ap Owen ap Gwynedh buried in a Monk's Cowl the Superstition of it 221. Gruffydh Prince David's Brother endeavouring to make his escape out of the Tower of London breaks his Neck 263. His Body recovered and conveyed to Conwey and honourably buried 270. Gruffydh Llwyd Knighted by King Edward I. rebels 311. Treats with Sir Robert Bruce for Succours against the English with his Letter to him ibid. Over-runs North-Wales and the Marches and is taken Prisoner 313. Gurmundus a Norwegian from Ireland invades Britain 7. Gwenwynwyn worsted by the English 218. Refuses Homage to Prince Lhewelyn 222. At last consents to it 223. Detained Prisoner at Shrewsbury 225. Set at Liberty re-gains his Country 228. Revolts from Prince Lhewelyn and is dispossest 242. H. HArold succeeds Canute his Brother in England 83. Dies and is succeeded by Hardi Canute his Brother 85. Harold's favour with the King envied by his Brother Tosty who barbarously murder'd his Men at his House in Hereford and his Saying 7. Made King 98. Slain 100. Hasting a Dane invades France 40. His Policy to obtain Limogis 41. His Cruelty ibid. Henry I. his partiality in favour of the Normans 127. Makes his Brother Robert Prisoner and puts out his Eyes 128. Kind to Cadwgan the Father of Owen 132 Invades Wales with three Armies 140. Overcomes the French King 151. Lost his Children at Sea and marries 152. Invades Wales in danger ibid. Agrees with Meredith ap Blethyn and returns 153. his Death and Successor 156. Henry II. sends the Flemings into West-Wales 173. Invited to the Conquest of Wales ibid. Repulsed and in danger of his Life 174. Concludes a Peace with Prince Owen 175. Quarrels and concludes a Peace with France 187. Invades VVales and brings Prince Rhys to do him Homage 188. Invades VVales again with a most potent Army 190. Returns without any thing memorable and for Revenge puts out the Eyes of the Hostages 191. Makes a third Expedition into VVales to as little purpose ibid. Passes thro' VVales receiving Homage of Prince Rhys in his way to the Conquest of Ireland 198 199. Returns thro' VVales and inclined to leave it in a peaceable Condition 199 200. Engaged in a Civil War against his Son Henry 201. Makes a Peace with France and his Children forced to submit 202. Dies 209. Henry III. King of England invades Wales and is worsted 251. Inâ—ades Wales again 254. Makes Henry of Mâ—nmouth his General against the Welch but with in Suâ—â—ess 255 Laments the death of the Earl of Pembrock 256. Inâ—ades Wales and makes Prince David to submit 261 2 2 Invades Wales 263. Fights the Welch with no success and invites the Irish into Anglesey 265. Oppresses Wales and returns dissatisfied 269 270. Item 274. Wasts the Borders 275. Requires a Subsidy to subdue Wales 276. Dies 280. Henry eldest Son to Henry IV. created Prince of W. 318. Henry IV. makes unmerciful Laws against the Welch 319. Henry Duke of York created Prince of VVales 324. Henry VII grants the VVelch a Charter of Liberty and directed a Commission to enquire into the Birth and Quality of his Grandfather Owen Tudor 325. Henry VIII incorporates the VVelch with the English 326. Henry eldest Son to King James created Prince of VVales 328. Howel Dha preferred to be Prince of all VVales 50. His Laws ibid. Goes to Rome to have them confirmed 51. His Death and Issue 53. Howel ap Ievan expelled his Vncle Iago and took the Government of VVales upon him â—9 At last agree 60. Kills Edwal Fychan and the Reasons of it ibid. Overthrows the Danes 61. Invades England and is slain 62. He is succeeded by his Brother Cadwalhan who was quickly slain 63. Howel and Meredith Prince Lhewelyn's Murderers invite the Irish Scots into South-VVales 82. Slew Rhydderch and take the Government 83. Meredith slain by the Sons of Conan ap Sitsylht ibid. Howel attempts the recovery of South-VVales is overcome and slain by Prince Gruffydh near Tywy-Head 87. Howel ap Grono driven out of Rydcors Castle by the Normans 126. Basely betrayed to them and murthered 127. Howel ap Owen Gwynedh won the Castle of Ewyas 167. with his Brother Conan quarrel with their Vncle Cadwalader besiege and take the Castle of Cynfael from him 168. makes Cadwalader his Prisoner and possesses his Land ib. he lost all his Country to Cadelh Meredith and Rhys ap Gruffydh who put the Garison of Llanâ—hystyd to the Sword 169. I. IAgo ap Edwal recovers his Right to North-Wales 82. Slain in Battle against Gruffydh ap Lhewelyn 84. Ifor sent into Britain with an Army by his Father Alan 13. Routs the Saxons ibid. Marries Ethelburga â—entwyn's Cosin and succeeded him in the West-Saxon Kingdom 14. Founded Glastenbury-Abby ib. Dyed at Rome 15. John Arch-Deacon of Llanbadarn dies and is
Gruffydh Llwyd Son of Rhys ap Gruffydh ap Ednyfed Fychan a stout and a valiant Gentleman tho' not very fortunate and as Florus says of Sertorius he was magnae quidem sed calamitosae virtutis He was Knighted by King Edward the First upon his bringing the first News of the Queen 's safe delivery of a Son at Caernarvon Castle the King holding then a Parliament at Ruthlan This Sir Gruffydh continued for some time very gratious with the King of England but observing at length the intolerable Oppression and Tyranny exercised by the English Officers especially by Sir Roger Mortimer Lord of Chirke and Justice of North-Wales towards his Country-men the Welch became so far concerned and discontented with such unwarrantable Practices that he presently brake out into open Rebellion against the English And the better to effect what he purposed he treated with Sir Edward Bruce Brother to Robert then King of Scotland who had conquered Ireland to bring or send over some Forces to assist him in his Design against the English upon which account he sent him the following Letter Nobili in Christo Conquestori Domino Edvardo Illustrissimo Regi Hiberniae suus si placet Griffinus Llwyd in North-Wall reverentiam debitam in honore AVditâ nobis vestri in terrarum conquisitione fama egregia in partibus nostris praecipuè debelland aemulos nostros vestros qui tam vos quam nos ab Haereditatibus vi injustè expellendo destruxerunt nomen nostrum memoriamque in terris delere conati fuerunt ab initio supra modum applaudimus ut meritò debemus omnes unanimiter in partibus nostris unde vobis ex parte Wallensium Nobilium significo per praesentes quod si ad Walliam cum hominibus vestris dignemini venire vel si vos in propriâ personâ accedere illuc non poteritis aliquem Nobilem Albanen Comitem Baronem vel Militem cum paucis si plurimi nequeant adesse ad dictas partes nostras volueritis mandare Parati erimus omnes unanimiter ........ dicem eo quod nomen vestrum celebre ubique publicetur expugnat si quid Saxonibus in Albaniâ per illustrem Regem fratrem vestrum ultim per vos in Hibernia per vos nos in Wallia statum vestrum pristinum per Brutum conquisitum recuperabimus ipsisque suppeditatis confusis dispersis Britannia juxta discretam vestrae dominationis ordinationem inter Britones Albaneos in posterum divisa cohaereditabitur Valeat dominatio vestra Regia per cuncta Saecula To this Letter of Sir Gruffydh Llwyd's Sir Edward Bruce returned the following Answer OMnibus desiderantibus à servitute liberari saâ—utem in eo Qui desiderant in se relevat liberat ab angustiis temporibus opportunis quia quilibet Christianus obligatur suo proximo in omni angustiâ subvenire praecipuè illis qui ex unâ radâ—ce originis sive parentelae patriae primitus processerunt ideo compatientes vestrae servituti angustiae jam ....... Anglicana molestia indigenti decrevimus auxiliante altissimo vestro gravamini occurrere innaturalem barbaricam totis viribus Anglicanam de vestris finibus expellere servitutem ut sic sicut à principio Albanicus Britannicus populus expulsis hostibus in perpetuum fiet unus Et quia nullus inimicus faciliter relevatur libenter praecipimus si jugum Anglicanum in tantum vos deprimit quantum nuper depresserat populum Scotianum ut sic ex vestro concordi conamine nostro superveniente juvamine dispenente semper divino positis jura vestra justitiam recuperare proprietatem ....... haereditatem pacificè possidere Veruntamen Dei cum omnia serviunt in isto proposito filium invocamus quod non ex praesumptione ambitione injusti dominii talia attemptamus sed ex mera compassione effusionis innocentis vestri sanguinis subjectionis intollerabilis signant ad hoc quod vellemus inimicorum vestrorum nostrorum vtres reprimere qui nec pacem nec concordiam defiderant Imo vestram nostram finalem destructionem sicut à principio ingressionis eorum in Britanniam incessanter diebus ac noctibus molientur quia nullo modo est nostrae conscientioe quemquam decipere nec etiam decipi à quocunque nostram intentionem Proposit sine â—ergiversatione aliquâ declaramus quod libenter sciremus vestram voluntatem si rationem nostri laboris conaminis intuitu relevationis vestrae acceptare decrement nobis committere prosecutionem querelae vestrae justitiae nec non capitale dominium vestri prout alius hactenus Princeps vester liberius habere consuevit Ità quod vos omnes singuli cujuscunque extiteritis conditionis pristinis haereditatibus terris libertatibus possessionibus consuetis omnibus conditionibus ad vos expectantibus integrè finaliter gaudeatis Vestram igitur voluntatem super hiis quibuscunque aliis in quibus vos consolari poterimus si videatur expediens cautè celeriter nobis remandetis Valete Domini in Domino But for all that these Letters passed betwixt them whether by reason that Bruce's Terms were conceived unreasonable nothing however was concluded upon and the whole Treaty came to nothing But Sir Gruffydh tho' without any hopes of assistance from the Scots would not lay aside what he had once undertaken and therefore having gathered all the Forces he could desperately set upon and almost in an instant over-ran all North-Wales and the Marches seising upon all the Castles and Strong-holds thro' the Country But all to no purpose for as the most violent stream is quickly over so Sir Gruffydh's Army was presently spent and then being met with by a strong Detachment of English his Party was easily discomfited and himself taken Prisoner The same Year being the 15th of the reign of King A.D. 1322 Edward the Second his eldest Son Edward born at Windsor in a Parliament holden at York was created Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitaine and Earl of Chester This Prince succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of England by the Name of Edward the Third one of the greatest and most powerful Monarchs that ever sat upon the English Throne Edward born at Woodstock eldest Son and Heir to A.D. 1343 King Edward the Third was created Prince of Wales upon the 12th day of May in the 17th year of his Father's reign being then about fourteen years of age He was a Prince of incomparable Qualifications but so signally Famous in Martial Affairs that upon the account of the several Actions he was engaged in he received the Name of Black-Prince He took John the French King Prisoner at the Battel of Poictiers and shamefully vanquished the French Army in the Battel of Cressy He did not live to enjoy the Crown but died one year before his Father in the Forty Sixth Year of his Age no Prince was in his life-time better beloved and after