conquisita fuit per dominum Edwardum nuper regem Angliae proavum demini principis nunc per quem conquestum tota terra tam de dominio quam in servitiis injuncta fuit annexa coronae Angliae The seventh Argument AFter this conquest of Wales by the overthrow of Rees ap Theodor and the expulsion of his son Griff ap Rees who was forced to fly to Ireland Griff ap Conan being then prince of Northwales and of greatest power of any prince there sithence the said division never stirred for the principality of Southwales which if he had been the supreme Prince of Wales by this occasion he should most properly and justly have done neither did any of the Princes of Northwales succeeding him to the last prince Lhewelyn ap Griffith make claime thereunto Albeit they were all of them one after the other the most powerfull worthy fortunate Princes that had ruled in Northwales since the division as OweÌ„ Gwynâ—th David ap Owen Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth David ap Lhewelyn and that they had the advantage in their times of the alteration of seven Kings of England a troubled state there to have attempted it But Griff ap Rees returning from Ireland to recover his patrimony in the weaknesse of his fortunes retired to Griff. ap Conan then prince of North wales whose daughter he had married had by her worthy sons Of whose return purpose Henry the first King then of England understanding knowing him to be the undoubted heir of Wales and that he would be received by the people sent for the prince of Northwales and drew him in to yield to the delivery of Griff ap Rees into his hands which the Prince attempted and had effected accordingly but that Griff ap Rees upon some notice thereof hardly escaped into the Sanctuary of Aberdaron whence the prince would have forced him but that he was rescued by the whole clergy of the countrey and thence conveyed to Southwales whereupon it is evident that if Griff. ap Conan had been soveraign prince of Wales de jure first no necessity compelling him he would not have been so undiscreet as to have put himselfe into the King of England's hands who claimed the soveraignty thereof neither would the king have suffered him to depart seeing by detaining him he might more easily have compassed his end Secondly the Prince of Northwales would not have been so injurious to himself as to have delivered Griffith ap Rees if he had been his homager of Southwales whereby to divest himself of his right thereunto by his own act But it is plaine that the prince of Northwales in respect of the conquering of Rees ap Theodor having submitted himself to the King of England as his homager and to his peace came to the king at his sending for him knowing well that the King was carelesse of him as touching the right of Soveraignty of Wales And so he yeilded to make his peace the firmer with the King to the betraying of his Superior of his guest and son in law and the son of him who got him the possession of the principality of Northwales Hereupon Griff ap Rees put himselfe in armes and so held himself during King Henries time and a part of King Stephens recovering a great part of Southwales and died leaving his troubles and possessions to his son called the Lord Rees who in the end made peace with king Henry the second and surrendred to him his title to the principality of Wales bringing the chiesest of the Nobility and Gentry of Southwales to Glocester where they submitted themselves to the King and received their lands and possessions by the Kings grant to hold of him And the Lord Rees accepted of the King to be his Justice of Southwales which office continued untill 27. of King Henry the 8. and ended in the Lord Ferrers of Chartley The Answer FOr Answer hereunto you must first conceive that Griffith ap Conan at the time of Rees ap Theodor's death was not so powerfull as you make him to be for as we read in the Author of his life he was then but newly escaped out of the Earl of Chester's prison where he had remained 12. years Secondly that notwithstanding his unsettled state in Northwales by reason of his said imprisonment and the King of Englands displeasure conceived against him he joyned forces with Cadwgan ap Bledhyn his son in law and entring Southwales after they had slaine in battell a great number of Normans a great part thereof though not all became subject to Cadwgan as the British history of the Princes relateth wherein also we find that afterwards Griff ap Conan sent his sons Owen and Cadwalladr twice to Southwales being one time accompanied with 6000 Footmen and 2000 Horsemen they took the Castles of Walter Espec and Richard de la Mare and also the Castles of Aberystwyth Dinerth and Caerwedros subduing the whole countrey to the town of Cardigan and after the slaughter of 3000 Normans in the field they chased the rest out of the Country restoring Griffith ap Rees to his father's inheritance and the ancient inhabitants to their former dwellings Which is sufficient evidence that they made claime to Southwales as soveraign Princes And Griffith ap Conan cannot be imagined to interest himselfe in the cause especially in his weaknesse by sending his subjects to the field but that he challenged the soveraignty thereof as due by inheritance and his son Owen Gwynedd prince of Northwales would not have entred Southwales in the first year of his reign as the Chronicle witnesseth overthrowing the Castles of Ystratmeuric Stephens and Hwmphreys and burning the town of Carmarthen and compelling part of Dyved to pay tribute unto him as Gwalchmai ap Meilir that lived in that age hath recorded retaining most of Cardigan in his own hands without claime or pretence of title Likewise when Henry 2. King of England made his third Expedition against Wales the Lord Rees and the power of Southwales and all the other Lords of Wales with their forces marched against the King under the conduct of the Prince of Northwales which directly proveth his soveraignty over all Wales After these tumults and turmoils Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth Prince of Northwales to prevent all doubt that might arise concerning his right made all Southwales and Powis swear fealty unto him as the book of Conwey makes good wherein we read that they acknowledged the like fealty to David his son and Lhewelyn the last Prince But as concerning the unkind dealing of Griff ap Conan with Gr ap Rees and Gr ap Conan's going to the King of England I cannot see how that deserves an answer as an Argument for the soveraignty in the Princes of Southwales Lastly you affirme that the Lord Rees surrendred his title to the principality of Wales to the King of England which seems unto me most improbable considering he would not voluntarily depose himself of such royall preheminence and
sororis sui Here is you see most infallible proof that Gwlades was not the sole sister and heir of David but the only sister of Griffith Lhâ—welyn the great his eldest son who by equity should have succeeded his father in the principality of Wales although you and others do averre that he was a Bastard but how truly I appeale to the judgment of impartiall Antiquaries for do but equally consider whether a Bastard would offer to disquiet his father and Prince because he intended that his lawfull heir should succeed him in his dominions or presume to bandy with the legitimate heir for his due inheritance or whether the King of England would maintaine such an execrable quarrell against his naturall nephew or the Lords of VVales against their true legitimate prince in a Bastard's behalf These circumstances might satisfy that Griffith was not only born in wedlock but also the right proper prince of Wales by inheritance Consider likewise how Lhewelyn called all the Lords and Barons of Wales before him to Ystratflur and caused them to swear to be faithfull subjects and to do homage to David his son and that long before his death which had been needlesse and frivolous if David had been his heir and Griff his bastard consider I say how that Henry the third immediately after the death of Griffith assuming the title of his said prisoner into his own hands intituled his eldest son Edw to the principality of Wales accounting David no lawfull prince as it appears thereby yea and how that neither the Bruses Lords of Brechnock Lacies Earls of Lincoln nor any other that married Prince Davids sisters of the whole blood pretended any right to the principality of Wales after his death though he left no issue or his body to survive him which such mighty persons would hardly have omitted if David had been the true heir of Leoline the great and lawfull prince of Wales â—urthermore David Benvras in a funerall Elegy to Lhewelyn and his two sons gives them in generall the name of Princes and prefers Griff before David Whereupon I do conclude that if Griff had been a bastard in all likelihood the Bard would not presume to prefer him before David being legitimate neither have given him the title of Prince but that it was his Birth-right Again Polydor Virgil in the 16. book of his History of England denoteth that Griff was his fathers lawfull heir and that David was an usurper of the principality upheld by the King of Englana's favour in these words Id temporis Lewelinus Walliae princeps è vita migravit deinde inter Gruffinum David filios ejus de principatu disceptatum est quem ad ultimum David etsi minor natu favente Henrico assecutus est and a little after multos Wallorum miserebat casus Griffini qui per proditionem avito principatu fraudatus in carcere esset insidebatque in illorum animis tanti facinoris memoria Adde hereunto how Leolinus Gervaâ—ii filius desponsavit Tanglwist de qua genuit Griffith as I said before adde I say the testimony of the book of Hergest before mentioned with the which agrees John Griff Eyton an Author of above an hundred and fifty years antiquity Here I might cite the opinion of Guttun Owen and the Bards who with one consent do testify that Gr was his fathers eldest son and heir apparent whose testimonies seeing their function was nothing else but truly to decant the famous deeds and true pedegrees of the Princes and Nobility of Wales I hold it good reason that we follow and preferre before the traditions of Strangers who most commonly being enemies to the Welchmen were carelesse of their affaires and therefore apt to erre in relating their histories especially since they looked upon it as their interest to conceale or extenuate rather then declare their glory And the Translators of the Chrâ—nicle of VVales tracing their steps and forgetting the fidelity of Translation added at their pleasure that Griffith was a Bastard and that Gwlades was the sister of David going besides the old text wherein you shall find no such matter Also Bastards by the lawes of Howel Dha were excluded from any share of inheritance with their Brethren legitimate but Gruff as Dr. Powell out of Math Paris relateth claimed a portion of his fathers inheritance according to the customes of VVales even so much as of right ought to appertain unto him VVhich words do insinuate that he was ready to prove his Father and Mothers marriage lawfully consummated And David confesseth a portion due to his Brother when in the third article of his submission to H. 3. he saith Item I and the said Griffith and either of us shall hold our portions of land of our said soveraign Lord the King in capite Lastly the Bastards of the Princes of VVales were not tolerated to bear their fathers Arms and if permitted yet not without difference as may be observed in the Coats of Madoc the son of Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis David goch the son of David Lord of Denbigh and Fradhsham Eneon and Cynwric twinnes the sons of Mad ap Mred Prince of Powis and Tegwared y bais wen being the Bastard of Prince Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth had therefore a peculiar Coat of Arms given him and his posterity to wit Ar. a cheveron S. charged with 3. Mullets pierced But Griffith father of Llywelyn the last Prince gave his fathers Coat without any change or difference at all and so did his progeny after him which proveth that he was lawfully born These reasons and testimonies do perswade me to think that Griffith was unworthily defamed of Bastardy and deâ—eated of his Birthright under that pretence But in regard herein I thwart the judgment of good Antiquaries both ancient and modern I leave the matter to a farther debate The tenth Argument THE late writers of Northwales cannot agree whether Mervyn or Anarawd were elder Mr. Humphry Lloyd following Giraldus preferreth Mervyn Doctor Powel Anarawd How can they then fitly decide this point or conclude against Cadelh to be the eldest It is probable that Giraldus living in Henry 2ds time being a native of VVales and best seen of any as his works do shew in the antiquities thereof and living in a time when there were more store of them then now are or have been in this last age and otherwise a great learned man and Bishop of St. Davids had as good grounds and helps to prove for Mervyn as any later writer for Anarawd Therefore upon this doubt and uncertainty which of these two were elder it is safest for the truth to agree upon so good authorities and grounds of reasons for Cadelh to be the eldest which is confirmed also by the authentick Authority of a countrey man of Northwales David Nantmor the famous Bard who was and still is of such estimation in Northwales as none will contradict any thing written by him Neither would he have declared the truth so plainly
with the rest is sufficient to prove that Anarawd Prince of Northwales was the eldest son of Roderic the great and therefore soveraign King of the Britains which Merdhin Silvester 300 years before Anarawds birth foretold to wit that he should be supreme prince of the Britains after his father Roderic Now time calleth me to come to my last argument which is that the Princes of Southwales and Powis payed a tribute to the Prince of Northwales Wherein to deale briefly I will not trouble you here with the testimony of our great Antiquary Mr. Selden before mentioned in my Answer to your 8. Argument nor with the authorities of our other late writers but will content my selfe with the ancient laws of our British Princes where thus we read Try mychdeyrn dyledoc a dhylu gwladychu Cymruoll danei thervyneu brenin Aberffraw arglwydh Dinefwr a hwn Mathraval Tri phrif lys arbenic sydh ir tri theyrn hyn yn essyddyneu breiniawl ydhynt Vn yw Aberffraw yngwynedh Dynevwr yny Deheu a Mathraval wynva ym Powys a llyma mal y dosparthwyd eu teyrnasau hwynt yn dair rhan vn bie vchafiaeth ar y dhwy nit amgen noc Aberffraw pie y bendevigaeth Teir mychdeyrn dhylyet adhylyir o Gymru olh Aberffraw gan y dhwylys hynny adhylu vn o Dhinefwr sef yw honno melget pedeir tunelh o vel a gassei pedeir mu ymhob tunelh dwy grenneit ymhob mu lhwyth deuwr ar drossol ym hob gren Peillget o Wynva a ymodh hunw hefyd Thus Englished Three lawfull Kings ought to rule all Wales under its bounds the King of Aberffraw in Northwales the Lord of Dinefwr and this of Mathraval these three Princes have three principall courts for their Princely dwellings Aberffraw in Northwales Dinefwr in Southwales and Mathraval wynfa in Powis Thus their Dominions were divided into three parts one hath a soveraignty over the other two viz. Aberffraw hath the Primacy Three princely Tributs are due out of all Wales whereof Aberffraw ought to have from those two seats one from Dinefwr which is a tribute of honey viz. 4. tuns of Honey every tun containing 4. mu every mu 4. grens every gren as much as two men could carry between them on a leaver the other is the like quantity of flower of Mathraval wynva This I hold sufficient proof that that Southwales and Powis were tributaries to Northwales and this should suffice me for this time had not Howel Dha a prince of Southwales and the son of Cadelh decreed in his Laws that as the King of Northwales was to pay a tribute to the King of London so should all the Kings of Wales pay tribute to the King of Northwales LXIII libras est mychdeyrn dyled quod rex Aberfrau reddere debet regi Londoniae semel cùm acceperit terram suam ab eo pâ—stea verò omnes reges Walliae debent terram suam ab eoaccipere i. e. à rege Aberffraw illi reddere meicheerd deleet abediw pâ—st eorum mortem verbum illius verbum est super omnes reges nullius verbum est super ipsum that is to say sixty three pounds is the Monarchicall tribute which the King of Aberfraw ought to the King of London when once he hath received his lands of him afterwards all the Kings of Wales ought to take their lands of him that is of the King of Aberfraw and to pay him a reliefe after their death And his law is a law over the Kings and no mans law is over him So saith Howel Dha The weight of these reasons makes me omit diverse others and many conjectures together with the vulgar opinion for seeing before Roderic's time the case is made out by good proofs and that in Roderic and his sons times and their posterity it is still strengthned with the authorities of both Southwales and Northwales new and old writers I see no reason why you should not conclude with me That the Princes of Northwales had the soveraignty over all Wales THE END A Mistake touching the Pedegree of the Earl of CARBERY corrected FInding a mistake in a book lately printed called Cambria triumphans touching the Pedegree of the right honourable the Earl of Carbery the Author making him to be descended from Gwaethvoed of Cardigan whereas indeed Gwaethvoed of Powis was his Ancestor I thought I should be wanting to my duty to that Noble person and the truth if I did not when I had an opportunity endeavour what lay in me the rectifying of it The Gentleman the Author I do very much respect and honour for his love expressed to our Country in his worthy pains to maintain the honour of it and do not so much impute the mistake to him being a stranger as to our late unskilfull Recorders of Genealogies who by reason of their not examining things throughly and not studying Chronology better have been the occasion of his Error In their writings they deliver to posterity that Gwaethvoed of Cardigan was the Father of Gweristan the Grandfather of Blethyn ap Cynvyn King of Wales the Earl's Ancestor but without any grounds for it as I shall make it to appear by shewing 1. That there were two Gwaethvoeds 2ly that Gwaethvoed of Cardigan could not be the great Grandfather of Blethyn ap Cynvyn and so not the Earl of Carbery's Ancestor That there were two Gwaethvoeds our boâ—ks of Pedâ—grees assure us which make often mention both of Gwaethvoed vawr of Powis and of Gwaethveed of Cardigan They are recorded as distinct persons the one being stiled of Powis the other of Cardigan for distinction's sake And they appear further to be distinct by their distinct Coates of Arms and distinct Pedegrees he of Powis beareth vert a Lyon rampant A. imbrued head feet and tayle the other Or a Lyon rampant regardant S. langued and armed G. And for their Pedegrees books written about 400 years ago say that Gwaethvoed of Powis was the son of Gwrhydr ap Caradawc ap Lles Llawddeawc c. to Beli Mawr Belinus magnus Monarch of Britaine the father of King Lud and of Cassibâ—lan who was King when Julius Caesar first entred Britaine And there are other books that derive the Pedegree of Gwaethvoed of Cardigan to Gwythno Garanir Lord of Cantre Gwaelod to wit that large Plaine extending it self between the Countyes of Carnarvan Cardigan and Pembroke long since swallowed up by the Sea thus Gwaethvoed ap Eunydd as Lewis Morgannwc saith but others leaving out Eunydd say he was the son of Cadivor ap Peredur peiswydh ap Eneon ap Eunydd and so to the said Gwythno Garanir and in a direct line from him to Cunedha wledig King of the North and Cambria That Gwaethvoed of Cardigan could not be the great Grandfather of Blethyn ap Cynvyn c. for Blethyn was neer of this Gwaethvoed's age Caradoc of Lancarvan in his history of Wales tells us that Blethyn was slaine A. D. 1073. being born as may be conjectured about 1023. supposing
Angharad Prince Llewelyn ap Sitsyllt's widow who was slaine A. D. 1021. to marry Convyn Blethyn's father 1022. Now Gwaethvoed of Cardigan could not be ancienter then Blethyn if so ancient will appear if we examine the 2d book and 4th ch of Giraldus Cambrâ—nsis his Itinerarium Cambriae there we may find that in the year 1188 when Baldwin Arch-Bishop of Canterbury visited Wales with Giraldus in his company to perswade the Welsh to list themselves for the holy war against the Saracens that there was a son of this Gwaethvoed's an aged man then living called Ednowen a Lay Abbot of Lanbadern vawr in Cardiganshire being a 115 years just after the death of Blethyn ap Cynvyn therefore we must needs conclude this Gwaethvoed could not live long before Blethyn and if he did live before him any time he could not so long before him as to be his Grandfather Besides that Gwaethvoed the Earl of Carbery's Ancestor was a distinct person from Gwaethvoed of Cardigan and far ancienter may from hence further be gathered viz. that the generations from him to our time are more in number then the generations from Gwaethvoed of Cardigan as appears by this instance to wit my Lord Vaughan the Earlâ—s son is the 21th generation from Gwaethvoed his Ancestour whereas Sr. Richard Price of Gogerddan Baronet descended from Gwaethvoâ—d of Cardigan my Lord 's equall in age is but the 17th in descent from that Gwaâ—thvoed Also we read in our books of one Morvydh daughter to Yayr ddu King of Gwent now Monmouthshire who lived in King Athâ—lstan's time A. D. 921. as Rog Hovenden hath it recorded that married one Gwaethvoed which could not be that of Cardigan who as is said having a son living 1188. cannot rationally be supposed to be born before the year 1000 or thereabouts but may very well be that Gwaethvoed of Powis the Ancestour of Blethyn this Gwaethvoed might very well be Blethyn's great grandfather there being a 100 years difference of time and above between them The Pedegree of the right honourable Sr. RICHARD VAUGHAN Earl of Carbery Lord Viscount Molingar Baron of Emlyn and Lord President of the Marches of WALES Gwaithvoed vawr Lord of Powis Morvydd da coheir of Yayr ddu king of Gwent Gwerystan Lord of Powis Nest danghter of Cadell ap Brochw l. Convyn Lord of Powis Aagharad Queen of Wales da heir of Mredith ap Owen king of Wales the relict of Llywelyn ap Bledhyn ap Cyâ—vyn King of Wales Haer da coheir of Cilliâ—â— Blaidd rudd of Seissylt Gest Meredith ap Bleddyn Prince of Powis Hunyth da of Eynydd Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis Eva da of Madoc ap Urien ap Egmir ap Lles ap Idaerth Benvras of Maesbroke ER. Gh. Enion Evell Arddyn da. of Madoc Van ap Madoc ap Enion hael ap Urien of Main Gwinedd R. C. Run ap Enion Elizabeth da to Jo. Lord Strange of Cnoâ—kin Gh. ER. Cyhelyâ— ap Rhâ—â— Eva da. and heir of Grono ap Cadwgan Saethydd Lord of Henvache Gh. ER. Ivaf ap Cyhelyn Eva da to Adda ap Awr of Trevor Gh. ER. Madoc Coch. Lleuki da of Howel goch ap Mared Van c. to Bleddyn ap Cynvyn Gh. ER. Madoc Kyffin the da of Griffith ap Rees ap Madoc ap Ririd Ulaidd Gh. David ap Mad. Kyffin Catharin da of Morgan ap Davydd ap Madoc ap David Van ap David up Griff. ap Jorwerth ap Howel ap Moriddig ap Sandde Gh. RC. David Va. of Gartheryr Gwervyl da to Griffith ap Rees ap Griffith ap Madoc ap Jorwerth ap Madoc ap Ririd ulaidd Gh. Griffith Vaugh. Tibod da to Meredith ap Tudur ap Gronw ap Howel y gadair Gh. Hugh Vaughan Esq Jane da of Moris ap Owen ap Griff. ap Nicôlas Gh. John Vaugh. Esq Catherin da. of Harry ap Trahayarn of Bodlysgwm Gh Walter Vaugh. of Golden Grove Mary da. of Griffith Rees of Tresnewyth in Carmartbin shire John Earl of Carbury c. Margaret da. of Sr. Gely Meuric Kt. Richard Earl of Carbury c. Alice da. of John Earl of Bridgewater He beareth Or. a lyoa rampant G. the coat of Blethyn ap Kynvyn not the Coat of Prince Madoc ap Meredith being A. a lyon rampant S. armed and langued G. The 5. Royall Tribes of Cambria 1. GRiffith ap Conan King of Northwales is the first registred in our books he was the Grandchild of Prince Jago ap Edwal whose son Conan was forced to fly into Ireland for safety where he married Ranullt daughter of Auloedd King of Dublin Man and the Isles and the reliâ—â— of Mathganyn King of Vlster and had issue by her this Griffith He beareth G. 3 lioncels passant in pale barry A. armed Az. 2. Rees ap Tewdwr mawr the second Royall Tribe who took upon him the government of Southwales A. D. 1077. G. a Lyon rampant Or. within a bordure indented 3. Blethyn ap Cynvyn the third royall Tribe was King of Northwales and Prince of Powis and after the death of his grandfather Meredith ap Owen Prince of Southwales he became King of all Wales Or a Lyon rampant G. armed and langued Or. 4. The fourth Royall tribe Elystan Glodrydd Prince of the country between Wy and Severne He was the son of Cyhelyn ap Jvâ—r by Rhiâ—ingar the daughter and heir of Grâ—nw ap Tuder Trevor from whom he had derived to him the title of the Earldome of Hereford Athelstan King of England was his Godfather Elystan's two Coates quartered A. 3 boars heads cobazed S. langued G. tusked Or. His Mothers Coaâ— Parted per Bend sinister Ermine and ermines over all a lyon rampant Or. 5. Jestyn ap Gurgant the fifth Royall Tribe was Prince or Lord of Glamorgan he descended from Iewdric King of Gwent in King Arthur's time He lost his Country to Robert Fitz hamon the Norman and his 12 knights whom by the procurement of Eneon ap Cadivor ap Colwyâ— he had hired to come with an army to assist him against Rees ap Tewdwr Prince of Southwales Blethyn ap Maenyrch Lord of Breeknock a just judgment upon him for his disloyalty to the said Rees his Lord Prince God being pleased suddenly to permit treachery to be punishedwith treachery Rees and Blethyn after a very bloudy fight not far from Brecknock were both slaine in the field G. 3 cheâ—onels in pale A. Prince Griffith ap Conan Rees ap Tewawr and Blethyn ap Cynvyn made diligent search after the Armes Ensignes and Pedegrees of their Ancestours the Nobility and Kings of the Britains what they discovered by their pains in any papers and records was afterwards by the Bards digested and put into books And they ordained 5. royall Tribes there being only 3 before to whom their pollerity to this day can derive themselves and also 15 speciall Tribes of whom the Gentry especially of Northwales are for the most part descended And in our books we have mention of the Tribe of the Marcâ—â— c. besides other Tribes called Gweâ—â—lyth and Gwehelaethan THE END