bodies Josephus l. 1. antiq saith that Angels begat those Gyants Tertullian also lib. de hab itu muiebri holdeth the same errour and divers more otherwise good Authours But St. Cylril of Alexandria l. 1. c 9. adv Juli. St. Chrisost hom 22. in Gen. St. Ambrose de Noe a rca c. 4. St. Aug. l. 15. c. 23 de civit St. Hierome Tradit Hebraic and other most principal Doctours teach it to be untrue yea impossible that those Giants should have been begotten by any other creatures then men For that Angels and Devils are meer spirits without all Natural bodies And if they had airy bodies as they have not yet they could not have such generation for the power or force to engender belongeth to the vegitative soul whose proper operations are to turne nutriment into substance of the subject wherein it is and to engender new issue or offspring from the same as Aristotle sheweth l. 2. de anima textu 24. And in what body soever there is a vegitative soul it must needs be that the same was engendered and must sometime decay and die and so the devills should be mortall Moreover if they could have generation together with mankind then such issue should be a distinct species both from man and Divell as a mule differeth both from Horse and Asse and again if spirits had abused women in assumpted bodies and shapes of men yet they did not take them to wives as the Scripture saith they did who begat these giants Finally the holy Scripture expresly calleth the giants men These be the mighty ones famous men The modesty of Scripture terming them famous whom our common phrase would call infamous being more monstrous in wickedness of mind then in hugenesse of body For they were most insolent lascivious covetous cruel and in all kind of vices most impious And if Arthur had not been revoked home to resist his Cozen Mordred that was son to Loth King of Pictland that rebelled in his Country he had passed to Rome intending to make himself Emperour and afterwards to vanquish the other Emperour that then ruled the Empire but for so much as there is not any approved Authour doth speak of any such thing we will let it alone At his returne into Brittain he found that Mordred had caused himself to be made King and having allyed himself with Childrick a Saxon not him whom Gaufride as ye have heard supposeth to have been slain before was ready to have resisted his landing so that before he could come to shore he lost many of his men but yet at length he repulsed his enemies but not without great losse of his own men and at length landed at Sandwich and then joyned in battail with his enemies in this conflict was slain Gawin a noble Chieftain whose death he much lamented who was brother to Mordred who like a faithful Gentleman regarding more his honour and loyal truth then neernesse of blood chose rather to fight in the quarrel of his lawful King and loving master then to take part with his natural brother in an unjust cause and so there in that battail was slain together also with Auguisal to whom Arthur formerly had committed the government of Scotland Mordred fled from this battail and getting ships sailed Westward and finally landed in Cornwall King Arthur caused the corps of Gawin to be interred at Dover as some hold opinion but William of Malmsbury supposeth that he was buryed in Wales as after shall be shewed The dead body of Anguisall was conveyed into Scotland and there buryed After that Arthur had put his enemies to flight he had intelligence into what part Mordred was withdrawn with all speed he reenforced his army with new recruits called out of several places and with his whole puissance hasted forward not resting till he came neer to the place were Mordred was encamped with such an Army as he could assemble together from his friends and adherents Here as apeareth by John Leyland in his book entituled The assertion of Arthur it may be doubted in what place Mordred was encamped but Jeffry of Monmoth sheweth that after Arthur had discomfited Mordred in Kent at the first landing it chanced so that Mordred escaped and fled to Winchester whether Arthur followed and there giving him battail the second time did also put him to flight and following him from thence fought him after at a place called Camblan or Kemelene in Cornewall or as some Authours have it neer Glastenborough This battail was fought with such prowess and eagernesse on both sides that in conclusion Mordred was their slain with the most part of his whole army And Arthur receiving divers mortal wounds died of the same shortly after when he had reigned over the Brittains by the terme of twenty six years His Corps was buryed at Glastenbury in the Church yard betwixt two Pillars where it was found in the dayes of K. Henry the Second about the year of our Lord 1191. which was in the last year of the reign of the same K. Henry more then six of hundred years after the burial thereof He was laid sixteen foot deep under ground for doubt that his enemies the Saxons should have found him But those that digged into the ground there to find his body after they had entered about seven foot deep into the earth found a mighty broad stone with a leaden Crosse fastened to that part which lay downwards towards the Corps containing this inscription Hic jacet sepultus Inclitus Rex Arthurius in Insula Avelonia This inscription was graven on that side of the Crosse which was next to the stone so that till the Crosse was taken off it was not seen His body was found not inclosed within a Tomb of Marble or other stone curiously wrought but within a great tree made hallow like a trunk the which being found and digged up was opened and therein were found the Kings bones of such marveilous bigness that the shin bone of his leg being set on the ground reached up to the middle thigh of a right tall man as a Monk of that Abbey hath written Hapsfield exâ—b Alisto Aug. fol. 39. and Nic. Hapsfield saith the same in manner viz. Os tibiae procerissimam tum hominis tibiam adtrium digitorum longitudinem superaret the length of the shin bone exceeded in length the shin bone of the tallest man then living three fingers in length which lived in those dayes and saw it but Giraldus Cambressis which also lived in those dayes and spake with the Abbot of the place by whom the bones of Arthur were then found affirmeth that by the report of the same Abbot he learned that the shin bone of the said Arthur being set up by the leg of a very tall man the which the Abbat shewed to the said Giraldus came above the knee of the same man the length of three fingers breadth which is much more likely then the other The skull of his head was also of a
prison but shortly after by Gods help they broke the prison and escaped home In the year 1199. Maelgon son to prince Rees laid seige to the Castle of Dinerth and getting it slew all the Garrison which his brother Gruffith had left to defend it But at the same time Gruffith won the Castle of Cilgarran and fortified it This year as King Richard did view the Castle of Chalens in France The end of K. Rich. and beginning of K. Johns reign he was strucken with a quarrel and sore wounded whereof he dyed the ninth of Aprill and left by his Testament John his brother Inheritor of all his lands having no respect to Arthur who being son of an elder brother was right heir The year after Gruffith son of Conan ap Owen Gwineth a noble man died Noblemen buried in Monks habits and was buryed in a Monks Cowle at the Abbey of Conwey and so were all the Nobles for the most part of that time buried This year Maelgon ap Rees seeing he could not well keep Aberteini The Key of Wales sold treacherously of very spite to his brother and hatred to his Country sold it to the Englishmen for a small summe of money being the very key of VVales The same year Madoc the son of Gruffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield did build the Abbey of Lhannegwest called in English commonly Vale Crucis The year 1201 Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth Prince of North Wales being a proper young Chivalier banished out of the land his cozen Meredyth the son of Conan ap Owin Gwyneth suspected of Treason and seized the Cantref of Lhyyn and Evvyonyth to his own hands which were Conans lands Then shortly after Meredyth the son of P. Rees was slain at Carnwelhion by Treason year 1202 whose elder brother Gruffith seized upon his Castle in Lhanymdhfri and all his lands this Gruffith was a wise and discreet Gentleman and one who was like to bring all South Wales to good order and obedience who in all things followed his Fathers steps whom as he succeeded in Government so did he in all Martial prowess and nobility of mind but cruel fortune which frowned upon that Countrey suffered him not long to enjoy his land this Prince died on St. James day ensuing and was buried at Stratflur with great solemnity he left behinde him a son called Rees as right Inheritor of South Wales whose mother was Maud the daughter of William de Bruse Gwerthryneon Castle destroyed The next year after certain Lords of Wales got the Castle of Gwerthryneon which was Roger Mortimers and laid it plain with the ground Then Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth P. of North Wales calling to memory his Estate and Title and how all the other Princes by the Ordinance of Roderike the great and by the lawes of Howell Dha ought of right to acknowledge the King or P. of North Wales as their liege Lord and hold their lands of him and of none other notwithstanding that of late years by negligence of his predecessors they had not used their accustomed duty but some held of the King of England A Parliament called by the P. of Wales others ruled as Supreme power within their own Countries wherefore he called a Parliament of all the Lords in Wales which for the most part appeared before him and swore to be his liege men but Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis would not come thither nor take the Oath of Allegiance which disobedience the Prince declared to all his Lords and they all thought that it was requisit that Gwenwynwyn should be constrained by force to do his duty or else to lose his lands yet one of his Lords named Elise ap Madoc would not condescend to hurt Gwenwynwyn in any case but departed away suddenly Then Lhewelyn came with an Army to Powis but by the means of certain learned men Gwenwynwyn and the Prince were made friends and Gwenwynwyn became the P. his liege man and confirmed that both by Oath and Writing Then Lhewelyn remembring how Elise ap Madoc had served him seized upon all his lands and Elise fled the Countrey but afterward yielded himself to the Princes mercy who gave him the Castle of Crogen and 7 townships withal Concerning the by-name Crogen And here I think it not amiss to declare the cause why the English call the Welsh Crogens as a word of reproach and despite but if they knew the beginning they should find the contrary for in the voyage which K. Henry the 2d. made against the Welshmen to the Mountains of Berwin as he lay at Oswalstred certain of his men that were sent to try the passages as they would have passed Offas ditch at the Castle of Crogen at which place there was and is at this day a narrow way through the same ditch these men I say as they would have passed the strait Adwy'r bedhev were met withal and a great number slain as doth appear by their graves there yet to be seen whereof the strait beareth the name Therefore the Englishmen after not forgetting the slaughter used to cast the Welshmen in the teeth in all their troubles with the name of Crogen as if they would signifie unto them thereby that they should look for no favour but rather revenge at their hands which word in process of time grew to be taken in another signification Balani Castle fortified Lhanymdhyfri Castle taken Now when Lhewelyn had all those parties in good order he returned to North Wales and by the way fortified the Castle of Balani Penlhyn about the same time Rees son of Gruffith ap Rees by right P. of South Wales got the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri upon Michael-Mass day The Prince of Wales marrieth the King of Englands Daughter About this time Lhewelyn Prince of Wales took to wife Jone daughter of K. John with whom the said King gave the Lordship of Elsmere in the Marches of Wales The year next ensuing the aforesaid Rees ap Gruffith ap Rees got the Castle of Lhangadoc and fortified it to his own use but shortly after Maelgon his Unkle with his friend Gwenwynwyn came with a stronge power before the Castle of Lhanymdhyfri and wan it and from thence they removed to Lhangadoc year 1204 got the same likewise suffering the garrison to depart Gwenwynwyn From thence Maelgon went to Dinerth and finished the Castle which he had begun there About this time David sonne of Owen Gwyneth after that Prince Lhewelyn his nephew had set him at liberty fled to England and got an Army to restore him to his antient estate in North Wales but all in vain for his nephew met him and overthrew him in the way whereupon he returned into England and there shortly after died for very grief and sorrow The next year to this Howell the son to Prince Rees being blind was slain at Cemaes by his brother Maelgons men and buried by his brother Gruffith at Stratflur Although this Maelgon in those dayes bare
suffered to return and received into the Kings favour he travelled homeward and died at Glocester Novemb. 17 1215. he left great possessions descended unto him by his ancestors which he left to Reginald Bruse his brother that married the daughter of Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth Prince of North Wales This man lyeth buried upon the North side of the Presbytery the Image that lyeth upon his Tombe holdeth the likeness of a Steeple in his hand whereby it should seem he built one of the Towers or Steeples thus far B. Godwyn This Giles as chief of the conspiracy sent his brother Reynold to Brecnock and all the people received him as their Lord The large possessions of that Bruse in Monmothshire and so he got all his Castles without gain-saying of any man to wit Abergwenny Penkelhy Gastelth Gwyn or White Castle Grismond and the Isle of Cynuric But when the Bishop came thither himself they delivered him the Castles of Abechodny Hay Bueltht and Blaynthyfery and he to strengthen himself in that Countrey promised Castle Payn Clune withal Eluel to Walter Vachan the son of Eneon Clyd In the mean time young Rees son to Griffith ap Rees and Maelgon his Unkle were made friends and went both to Dyneth where they recovered all the land to themselves saving Cemai and overthrew the Castle of Aberth and Maynclochoc Then Maelgon and Owen brothers to Rees went to North Wales to P. Lhewelyn and did to him homage and young Rees gathered an Army and came to Cydwely and brought withal Caruwylheon to his subjection and razed the Castle there Lhychwr Castle razed and likewise the Castle Lhychwr From thence he conducted his army to the Castle of Hugh de Miles at Talybont and having taken the same by force slew many of the garison the day after he took his journey to Senghennyth where the garison which lay there burnt the Town and departed Therefore Rees laying siege to the Castle of Ystymlhwynarth Senghennyth burnt by its own garison got the same the next day following and set both it and the Town on fire and he got the Castles of Gurland within three dayes after and then returned home with Victory and Triumph At this time Rees Vachan unkle to young Rees and son to the Lord Rees was set at liberty by the King Young Rees prosperous in Glamorgan leaving his son and two other Pledges for him This year two Abbots were made Bishops Jorwerth of St. Davids and Cadogan of whom formerly Shortly after Lhewelyn Prince of North Wales came with a great Army to Caermarthyn and laid siege to the Castle which was yielded unto him the 5th day after which he razed to the ground as he did also the Castles of Lhanstephan St. Clare and Talachern P. Lhewelyns fortune from thence he went to Caerdigan and winning the new Castle in Emlyn he subdued Cemaes and got the Castle of Trefdracth called in English Newport and razed the same to the ground Then the garison which kept the Castle of Aberteini delivered the same unto him upon St. Stephens day and the day after he had the Castle of Cilgerran from whence he returned to North Wales with great Honour and Triumph In the which voyage these Lords accompanied him viz. Howell ap Gruffith ap Conan Lhewelyn ap Meredyth Gwenwynwyn Lord of Powis Meredyth ap Rotpert Maelgon and Rees Vachan the sons of P. Rees Rees and Owen the sons of Gruffith ap Rees and the power of Madoc ap Gruffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield The year following the Prince went to Aberteini to make an agreement betwixt Maelgon and Rees Vachan sons to Prince Rees on the one side and their nephews young Rees and Owen on the other part where he divided South Wales betwixt them after this manner to Maelgon he gave three Cantrefs in Dyneth Gwarthaf Penlhwynoc Cemaes and Emlyn with the Castle of Cylgerran two in Stratywy Hiruryn and Malhaen and Maenor Bydvey with the Castle Lanymdhifri and two in Caerdigan Gwynionyth and Mabwyneon to young Rees and to Owen his brother he gave the Castle of Aberteini and the Castle of Nant yr arian or silver dale and three Cantress in Caerdigan withal and to Rees Vachan the Castle of Dynevowr the Cantref Mewr and the Cantref Bachan except Hyruryn and Mydhuey and the Comots of Cydwely and Carnwylhion This division being accomplished the Prince returned homeward to whom by the way it was signified that Gwenwynwyn contrary to his Oath and bonds in Writing had forsaken him A fickle Lord. and became the Kings subject which grieved the Prince very much and therefore he sent unto him Bishops and Abbots to move him to remember his Oath and Promise and Pledges given to the Prince and to shew him his owr hand and thereby to see if he would come again and to promise him the Princes favour but he would in no case hear of reconciliation wherefore the Prince entred into Powis with fire and sword and subdued the Countrey to himself which caused Gwenwynwyn to flye unto the Earl of Chester for relief where he stayed a while In the mean time Reynalt de Bruse who had received many favours from the Welsh did agree with the King without the knowledge or consent of P. Lhewelyn and contrary to his promise whereupon young Rees and Owen his sisters sons seeing that he in whom they trusted most deceived them rose against him and won all Buelht from him saving the castle but when the prince heard of this agreement he was much offended therewith and coming with an army to Brecknock he laid siege to the town of Aberhadny where the Burgesses of the town came to him and by means of young Rees the prince taking 100. marks and five pledges of them raised the siege and took his journey over the black mountains towards Gwyr where he lost much of his carriages And as he encamped at Lhangruc Reynalt Bruse came to him with six Knights in his company and desired of his father in Law pardon for his defence who receiving him lovingly did not only forgive him but gave him also the castle of Sengbennyth and Reynalt committed the same to the custody of Rees Vachar Lhewelin after he had set all things in good order in that country marched to Dynet and being at Cefu Cinwarchan the Flemmings sent to him to desire peace but the prince would not grant them their request Then young Rees was the first that passed the River Cledhen to fight with them of the town whereupon Jorwerth Bishop of St. Davids with all his clergy came to the prince to desire peace to the Flemmings which after long debating was thus concluded First that all the Inhabitants of Ros and the Land of Pembrock should become the Prince his Subjects Articles of peace between Lhewelin and the Flemmings and ever from thenceforth take him for their Leige Lord. Secondly that they should pay him a 1000 marks towards his charges before Michaelmas next
work or act of the Gauls having done nothing for their part to make them carry away the Victory but that they should think it was no other thing but fortune alone who would needs shew her power Therefore it were now a notable and honourable Enterprize although somewhat dangerous to drive those strangers out of their Country considering that the onely end of their Victory was but to destroy and consume as fire all that fell into their hands wherefore if they would but onely take a good lusty heart and courage he would with opportunity and place assure them the Victory without danger The young men were pleased with these words of life and comfort whereupon Camillus went to break the matter also unto the Magistrates and Counsellours and having drawn them by perswasions unto this Enterprize Camillus perswades the Ardeans to take Arms against the Gauls he armed all that were of age to carry Armour and would not suffer a man to go out of the City for fear lest the Enemies which were not far off should have intelligence of the same Now after the Gauls had run over the Champian Country and were loaden with all sorts of spoils they did encamp themselves negligently in open fields and never charged Watch nor Ward but having their full Carriage of Wine laid them down to sleep and made no noise at all in their Camp Camill. Camillus being advertized thereof by his several Scouts caused the Ardeans with as little noise as might be forthwith to go out into the fields and having marched somewhat roundly the distance between the City and the Camp of the Gauls they came thither much about midnight Then he made his Souldiers make great shouts and cries and the Trumpets to be sounded on every side to put a fear in their enemies who yet with all the loud noise they made could hardly be made to wake they were so deadly drunk yet there were some notwithstanding that for fear to be taken tardy did bustle up at this sudden noise and coming to themselves fell to their weapons to resist Camillus which were slain by and by the rest and the greatest number of them lay here and there scattered in the middle of the field without any weapon dead asleep stark drunk with wine and were put to the sword and never struck stroke those that fled out of the Camp that night which were but few in numher were overthrown also next day by the horsemen which followed and killed them as they took them straggling here and there in the Field The bruit of this victory was blown abroad incontinently through all the Towns and Villages thereabouts which caused many young men to come and joyn themselves to Camillus but especially the Romans desired the same who had saved themselves in the City Veies after the battel lost at Allia who made their moans among themselves saying O Gods what a Captain hath Fortune taken from the City of Rome What honour hath the City of Ardea by the valiantness and worthy deeds of Camillus and in the mean season his natural City that brought him forth is now lost and utterly destroyed we for lack of a Captain to lead us are shut up here within others walls and do nothing but suffer Italy in the mean space to go to ruine and utter destruction before our eyes why then do we not send to the Ardeans for our Captain or why dowe not arm our selves and go to him for he is now no more a banished man nor we poor Citizens since our City is possessed with a Forreign power of our hatefull enemies so they all agreed to this counsel and sent to Camillus to beseech him to be their Captain and lead them But he made answer he would in no case consent unto it unless they that were besieged in the Capitol had lawfully first confirmed it by their voices for those said he as long as they do remain within the City represent the State and body thereof therefore if they commanded him to take this charge upon him he would most willingly obey them if otherwise they misliked of it that then he would not meddle against their good wills and commandment They having received this answer there was not a Roman amongst them but greatly honoured and extolled the wisdom and justice of Camillus But now they knew not how to make them privy to it that were besieged in the Capitol for they saw no possibility to convey a Messenger unto them considering the enemies were Lords of the City and laid siege unto it Howbeit there was one Pontius Cominius among the young men a man of a mean house but yet desirous of honour and glory that offered himself very willingly to venter to get in if he could so he took no Letters to convey with him to them that were besieged for fear lest they might be intercepted and so they should discover Camillus intention but putting on an ill favoured gown upon him he conveyed certain pieces of Cork under it and travelling at noon days kept on his way without fear untill he came to Rome bringing dark night with him and because he could not pass by the bridge for that the Gauls kept watch upon it he wrapped such cloaths as he had about his neck which were not many nor heavy and took the River and swimming with these Corks which he had brought at length he got over to the other side where the City stood then taking up those lanes where he thought the enemies were not seeing fire and hearing noise in other places he went to the gate Carmentall where he found more silence then in other places on the which side also the hill of the Capitol was more steep and upright by reason of the great rocks that were hard to clime up upon But he digged and crept up so long amongst them that he got up with great pain unto the wall of the Fortress on the which side also the enemy kept no watch and saluting the watch of the Capitol he told them what he was so they plucked him up to them and brought him to the Magistrates that ruled them who caused the Senate to assemble presently to whom he told the news of Camillus Victory which they had not heard of before and therewith also he did declare unto them the determination of the Roman Souldiers that were abroad which was to make Camillus their Captain and General and did perswade them also to grant him the Charge for that he was the only man abroad whom the Citizens gave consent to obey when they heard this all that were within the Capitol consulted thereupon among themselves and so did choose Camillus Dictator and returned the Messenger Pontius Cominius back again the self same way he came unto them this fortune in returning back was like unto his coming thither for the enemies never saw him And so he brought report to them that were abroad of the Senates decree and consent whereof they
people for County nor for gains do move war invading no mans lands but defending their own Lands Lawes and Liberties and that the King and his people of inveterated hatred and for covetuousnesse to get our Lands invading the same moved war We therefore see our defence is just and lawful and herein we trust God will help us and will turne his revenge upon destroyers of Churches who have rooted up and burned Churches and taken out both all sacraments and sacred things from them killing Priests Clerks Religious Lame Dumb Deaf Younglings Sucklings at their mothers paps Weak and Impotent both man and woman and committing all other enormities as partly it appeareth to your Holinesse Wherefore God forbid that your Holinesse should fulminate sentence against any but such as have done such things we who have suffered all those things at the Kings Officers hands do hope at your hands remedy and comfort and that you will punish such Church Robbers and killers who can defend themselves no wayes least their impunity be cause and example for others to do the like Very many in our Country do much marvel that you councelled us to leave our own land and to go to another mans Lands to live among our Enemies for seeing we cannot have peace in our own Land which is our own right much lesse should we be quiet in an other mans amongst our enemies and though it be hard to live in warr and peril harder it is to be utterly destroyed and brought to nothing especially for Christians seeking nothing else but to defend our own being by necessity driven thereunto and the greedy ambition of our enemies And your Holinesse told us that you had fulminated sentence against all that for hatred or gaines do hinder the peace and it appeareth evidently who do war for those causes the fear of death the fear of imprisonment the fear of perpetual prison the fear of disinheriting no keeping of promise Covenant Grant or Charter tyrannical Dominion and many more like compell us to be in war and this we shew to God and to your Lordship desiring your godly and charitable help Furthermore if any in England have offended the King as many do offend him yet none of them be dis-inherited so if any of us have offended the King let him be punished and make satisfaction as he may without exhereditating As we trust in you we pray you holy father to labour to this end if they lay to us that we break the peace it appeareth evidently that they and not we brake the same who never kept promise nor Covenant nor Order made any amends for Trespasses nor Remedy for our Complaints When the Archbishop could not conclude a peace he denounced the Prince and his Complices accursed then the King sent his army by sea to the Isle of Môn or Anglesey which they wan and slew such as resisted them for the chiefest men served the King as their oath was so they came over against Bangor where the arm of the sea called Mênath Spaniards Scots and Gescoynes Germans Normans and English all concurr against the Welsh Quantae molis erat Britannam perdere gentem Gramercy horse The Welsh rout their enemies which divideth the Isle from the main land is narrowest and the place called Moely Donn and there made a bridge of boats and planks over the water where before Julius Agricola did the like when he subdued the Isle to the Romans and not betwixt Man and Brittain as Polidore Virgil ignorantly affirmeth This bridge was accomplished so that threescore men might well passe over in a front VVilliam Latimer with a great number of the best Souldies and Lucas Thany Steward of Gascoine with his Gascoynes and Spaniards whereof a great number were come to serve the King passed over the bridge and there saw no appearance of enemies but as soon as the sea began to flow down came the VVelshmen from the hills and set upon them fiercely and either slew or chased them to the sea to drown themselves for the water was so high that they could not attain the bridge saving VVilliam Latimer alone whose horse carried him to the bridge and so he escaped There were slain and drowned at this time many worthy Souldiers and amongst others that famous Knight Sr. Lucas Thany Robert Clifford Sr. VVilliam Lindsey and two Gentlemen of good accompt that were brethren to Robert Burnel then Bishop of Bath There perished in all thirteen Knights Hol p. 791. Tho. Walsh p. 11. Chro. Dunst The K. of Eng. hard put to it by the valiant Welsh 17. young Gentlemen and to the number of 200 footmen which happened upon St. Leonards day Thomas Walsingham writeth that the King lost in this voyage a little before this 14 ensignes at which time the Lord William de Audley and the Lord Roger Clifford the younger and many other were slain and the King himself was driven to take the castle of Hope for his safeguard In the mean time was the E. of Glocester and Sr. Edmund Mortimer with an army in Southwales where were many that served the King and there sought with the Princes friends at Lhandeilo Vawr and gave them an overthrow wherein on the Kings side young William de Valence his cosen germane four Knights more were slain All this while the Prince destroyed the country of Caerdigan and all the lands of Rees ap Meredyth who served the King in all those wars But afterward the Prince separated himself from his army with a few and came to Buelht thinking to remain their quietly for a while and by chance as he came by the water Wy there were Edmund Mortimer and John Gifford with a great number of Soldiers and either party were abashed of other Edmund Mortimers men were of that Country for his father was Lord thereof Then the Prince departed from his men and went to the valley with his Esquire alone to talk with certain Lords of the Country who had promised to meet him there Then some of his men seeing the enemy come down from the hill kept the bridge called Pont Orewyn and defended the passage manfully till one declared to the Englishmen where a ford was a little below through the which they sent a number of their men with Helias VValwyn who suddainly fell upon them that defended the bridge in their backs and put them to flight The Princes Esquire told the Prince as he stood secretly expecting the comming of such as promised to meet him in a little grove that he heard a great noise cry at the bridge P. Lhewelyn slain with him the glory of Wales And the prince asked whether his men had taken the bridge and he said Yes then said the prince I passe not if all the power of England were upon the other side But suddainly behold the horsemen about the Grove and as he would have escaped unto his men they pursued him so hard that one Adam Francton ran him through with
Howell Sais Lord of St. Clere y moch Esq Llewellin ap Ivor Lord of S. Clere Esq Lleykye d to Griffith ap Eli Lord of Gilfeild in Powis Ivor ap Llewellin Lord of S. Clere Esq Nest daughter to Cadwgan and Great Grandchilde to Elistan Pr of Ferlix Llewellin ap Ivor Lord of S. Clere and Tredegar Esq Augharand daughter and heir to Sir Morgan Meredith Knight Lord of Tredegar Morgan ap Llewellin Lord of Tredegar Esq Maud daughter to Rhun ap Grono ap Llwarch Lord of Kybor Esq Llewellin Morgan of Tredegar Esq Jonet daughter to Dd. Ychan of Rydodyn Esq Evan Morgan of Tredegar Esq Denis daughter to Tho ap Howell Ychan Esq Sir John Morgan of Tredegar Kt. Jonet daughter and heir of John Matthewes of Landaff Esq Thomas Morgan of Machen Esq his Brother Sir John dying Sans Issue Rowland Morgan of Manghan Esq Thomas Morgan of Maughan and Tredegar Esq Sir William Morgan of Tredegar Knight Daughter to Wintour Kt. Com. Glonc. Thomas Morgan of Maughan and Tredegar Esq now living 1661. Daughter and Heir to Windham Com Somer William Morgan Esq Heir apparent I Have seen a Pedegree of this noble Family deduced even from Brute but because I affect brevity I have only selected what serves for my purpose giving you to understand that all Morgans or of what Name else soever who either bear for their Armes Argent a Lion Rampant gardant sable or else Or a Griffon Sergreant sable for their Paternal Coat must acknowledge themselves to descend from this ancient Family THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE Antient and Modern Brittish and Welsh HISTORY The Princes of VVales of the blood Royal of England collected for the most part out of the Records of the Tower Edward of Caernarvon KIng Edward albeit he had brought all Wales under his subjection and by a statute made at Ruthland An. 12. Edw. I. incorporated and united the same to England in the which Statute there be many good lawes concerning the division of Wales into Counties and concerning divers Offices and Officers and concerning Trial and the divisions of actions and the the formes of many writs and the proceeding therein much like to the lawes of England yet he could never win the good will of the common people of the Country to accept him for their prince except he were of their own nation for the Welshmen having experience of the government of the English Officers and knowing that the King would rule the Country by his Deputies could not abide to have any English man to be their Rulers who often times upon the Kings motion answered that they were content to take for their prince any man whom his Majesty would name so that he were a Welshman and no other answer could he ever get from them by any means whereupon the King sent for Q. Elianor out of England in the deep of Winter being then great with child to the Castle of Caernarvon and when she was nigh to be brought to bed the King went to Ruthlan and sent for all the Barons and best men in Wales to come unto him to consult concerning the Weale publick of the Country And when they were come he deferred the consultation till he was certified that the Queen was delivered of a son then sending certain Lords to the Christening of his child and informing them how he would have him named he called the Welshmen together declaring unto them that whereas they were oftentimes suiters unto him to appoint them a Prince he now having occasion to depart out of the Country would name them a prince if they would allow and obey him whom he should name To the which motion they answered that they would so do if he would appoint one of their own Nation to be their prince whereunto the King replyed that he would name one that was born in Wales and could speak never a word of English whose life and conversation no man was able to stain and when they all had granted that such an one they would obey he named his own son Edward born at Caernarvon Castle a few dayes before Then the King having the whole country at his will gave whole Towns and Lordships in the midst of Wales unto English Lords as the Lordship of Denbigh to Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne the Lordship of Ruthin to the Lord Reginald Grey second son to J. Grey of Wilton and other lands to many of his Nobility This Hen. Lacy Lord of Denbigh was the son of 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 Guincy Earl of Lincolne the said Henry married Margaret the daughter and sole heir of William Longesped Earl of Sarum and had Issue Edmund and John which both dyed young of whom the one perished by a fall into a very deep well within the castle of Denbigh and a daughter named Alicia married unto Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster who was in the right of his said wise Earl of Lincolne and Sarum Earl of Denbigh Halton Pomfret and constable of Chester After the death of the said Thomas King Edward the second gave the Lordship of Denbigh to Hugh Lord Spencer Earl of Winchester After whose death the said Lordship was given by King Edward the third Anno regni sui primo as it appeareth on record to Roger Mortimer Earl of March with divers other Lordships in the Marches in performance of the Kings promise while he remained in France with his mother for the provision of 1000 l. lands of a reasonable extent for the said Roger as soon as by Gods grace he should come to the possession of the crown and Kingdom of England which in few years after the Earl of March being attainted the said Lordship of Denbigh was given by the said King to the Lord Mortague Earl of Sarum but shortly after Anno 29. Edward 3. it was restored again with the Earldom of March to the Mortimers in the which family the same remained untill the whole inheritance of the Mortimers came with a Daughter to the house of York and so to the crown A help to English History fol. 263. and it was given by Queen Elizabeth Anno regni 610. to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester who was created Baron of Denbigh it is accounted one of the greatest and best Lordships of England This Town is well seated on the banks of the River Istrad which from thence runneth into the Cluyd the fairest River of this Country a Town well peopled and inhabited especially since it became the head of the Country which was not till the 27. of Hen. 8. what time the 5. new shires were added to the rest of Wales of which this was one but before that it was the head Town of the Barony of Denbigh being conceived to be one of the goodliest Territories of all England as having more Gentlemen holding thereof in Fee and by service then any other