Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

WALES.

WALES is bounded on all sides with the Sea,* 1.1 except towards England, on the East; from which separated by the River Dee, and a Line drawn to the River Wie. Antiently it extended Eastwards to the River Severn, till by the puissance of Off••, the great King of the Mercians, the Welch or Britans were driven out the plain Countries beyond that River, and forced to betake themselves to the Mountains: where he caused them to be shut up and divided from England by an huge Dich, called in Welch, Claudh Offa, i. e. Offa's D••ke: which beginning at the influx of the Wie into the Severn, not far from Ch••pstow, exten∣deth 84 miles in length, even as far as Chester, where the Dee is mingled with the Sea. Concerning which Ditch, there was a Law made by Harald, That if any Welchman was sound with a Weapon on this side of it, he should have his right hand cut off by the Kings Officers.

The name of Wales some derive from Idwallo, the Sonne of Cadwallader, who with the small re∣mainder of his British Subjects, made good the fastnesses of this Countrie, and was the first who had the title of King of Wales. Others conceive that the name of Welch and Wales was given them by the Saxons: who having possessed themselves of all the rest of the Countrie, called the Britans who lived here by the name of Walsh, which in their Language signifieth as much as Aliens, because they differed from them both in Lawes and Language; which is the generall Opinion. Most pro∣bable it is, that as the Britans derive their Pedigree from the Galls, (as before was proved) so they might still retain the name, and were called Wallish by the Saxons, instead of Gallish: the Saxons using in most words W. for G. as Warre for Guerre, Warden for Guardian, and the like. And this to be believed the rather, because the Frenchmen to this day, call the Countrey Galles; and the El∣dest Sonne of England, Le Prince de Galles: as also that the Dutch or Germans (of whom the Sax∣ons are a part) doe call such Nations as inhabit on the skirts of France by the name of Wallons.

The antient Inhabitants hereof in the time of the Romans, before it had the name of Wales, were the Silu••es, possessing the Counties of Hereford, Brecknock, Radnor, Monmouth and Glamorgan, all Glocestershire beyond the Severn, and the South parts of Worcestershire on the same side also; their chief Towns Ariconium, now Hereford (not reckoned since the time of Offa as a part of Wales;) Balleum, now Buelih in Brecknock; Gobannium, now Abargevenny in Monmouth; Magni, now New Radnor in the Countie so named; and Bovium, now Boverton in Glamorgan. 2 The Dimet••, possessing Cardigan, Caermarthen, and Pembrokeshires, whose chief Towns were, Loventium, now New Castle in Caermarthen; Maridunum, or Caermarthen it self, and Octopitae, where now stands S. Davids, by the Welch called Menew, whence that Bishop hath the name of Menevensis in Latine. 3 The Ordovices, inhabiting the Counties of Merioneth, Carnarvon, Anglesey, Denbigh, Flint, and Montgomery; with the North part of Worcestershire beyond the Severn, and all Shropshire, on the same side of the River. Their chief Towns were, Segontium, now Caer Seont in Carnarvonshire; Cononium, now Conwey in the same County; Bonium, where after stood the famous Monastery of Banchor in Flintshire; and Mediolanium, now Llanvillin in the County of Montgomerie. By these three Nations was all that tract possessed which lyeth on the other side of the Severn, a very stout and hardie people, and so impatient of the yoke, that two of the three Legions which the Romans kept constantly in Britain, as before is said, were planted in and neer these people, the better to contein them in due obedience: that is to say, the second Legion at Caer Leon upon Usk, of which more anon; and the twentieth at Deuvana, where now stands West-Chester. So difficult a thing it was to make this Nation subject to the power of Rome; and no less difficult to bring them under the command of the Saxons: whom they withstood, when all the rest of Britain had been conque∣red by them; and lived to see their Victors overcome by the Normans, before themselves had yiel∣ded to a forrain yoke.

The Christian Faith planted amongst the Britans in the time of Lucius, they still retained, when all the residue of the Iland had replapsed to Paganism: and they retained it not in secret, as afraid to own it, but in a well-constituted Church. Insomuch that Angustine the Monk, when he first preached the Gospell to the English Saxons, found here no fewer than seven Bishops, that is to say, Herefordensis, Tavensis, Paternensis, Banchorensis, Elwiensis, Wicciensis, and Morganensis (or ra∣ther Menevensis:) all which, excepting onely Paternensis, doe still remain amongst us, though in other names, Hereford and Worcester (Wicciensis) reckoned now in England; S. Davids or Me∣nevensis, Tavensis or Landaff, Bangor, and Elwyensis or S. Asaph, in Wales, according to the pre∣sent boundaries and limits of it. And as they did retain the Faith, so they retained it after the tra∣dition of their Predecessors, neither submitting unto Augustine, as Archbishop of Canterbury, nor to the Pope from whom he came, as Occumenicall, or ch••ef Pastor of the Church of Christ; nor re∣ceiving any new doctrines or traditions from them; but standing on those principles of Liberty and Religion which they were possessed of, till all the world almost had yeelded to that powerfull See. Not manumitted from the vassalage and thraldom to it, till they embraced the Reformati∣on

of the Church of England, in Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship: the Liturgie whereof was by the command of Queen Elizabeth translated into the Welch or 〈◊〉〈◊〉; as the Bible also was by vertue of an Act of Parliament in the fift of that Queen; the care thereof committed to the Bi∣shop of Hereford, and the four Bishops of Wales. But because the Bible then set forth was onely in the large Church volume; it was in the beginning of the Reign of King Charles reduced to a more portable Bulk, at the cost and charge of my Cousin Mr. Rowland 〈◊〉〈◊〉, one o•• the Alder∣men of London, who also caused the book called The Practice of Pie••ie to be printed in that Lan∣guage for the instruction of the People; and a Welch or British Dictionarie to be made and publi∣shed for the understanding of the Language.

But to return unto the Church, and affairs thereof, for the better ordering of the same, it hath been long agoe divided into four Dioceses (besides that of Herefora) for the exercise of ••ccle••a∣call Discipline, those Dioceses subdivided into 9 Archdcaconries, as before in England: all subject heretofore to their own P••••mate or Archbishop, residing in the City of Isca Silurum, the ••e••re∣polis of the Province of Britannia Secunda; called by the ••••elch or Britans, Ca••-••eon, or the Citie of the Legion, from the second Legion fixt there for defence of the Province; and Ca••-Leon upon ••sk, because situate on the River so named. But this City being too much exposed to the sury of the Saxons, the Archiepiscopall See was translated to Menew, standing on a Promonto••••e in the extreme Angle of Pembrokeshire, by David then Archbishop thereof, and neer of ••in to Arthur that renowned King of the Britans: from whom, in tract of time, the name of Menew being left off, the See and Citie came to be called S. Davids. From David unto Samson, the 26 Archbishop of the VVelch, (being above 400 yeers) did they hold this dignity: but then the Pestilence extremely raging in these parts, Archbish. Samson carried with him the Episcopall Pall, and therewith the dignity it self, to Dole in Bretagne. After which time we hear of no Archbishops in Wales in name and title, though the power proper thereunto still remained amongst them: the VVelch Bishops acknowledging no other Primate, nor receiving consecratio•• from any other hands than their own Bishop of S. Davids, till Bishop Bernard was compelled to submit himself to the power and juris∣diction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the time of King Henry the first.

But its time to look upon the face of the Country as it stands at the present, which we find moun∣tainous and barren; not able to maintain its people but by helps elsewhere. To make amends for which defect there were some Silver mines discovered in it not long since, by Sir Hugh Middl••ton, Knight and Baronet, not onely to the great honour of his own Countrie, but to the profit and renown of the whole Iland of Great Britain. Their chief commodities are course Clothes, entitu∣led commonly by the name of Welch Freeze, and Cottons, which Merchandise was heretofore brought to Oswest••e (the furthest Town of Shropshire) as the common Emporie; and there bought by the Merchants of Shrewsbury: But the Welch coveting to draw the Staple more into their own Countrey, occasioned the Merchant to hold off from buying their commodities: till in the end the Merchant got the better of them, and inforced them to settle the whole trade at Shrewshury, where it still continueth.

To speak of Mountains in a Country which is wholly mountainous, were a thing unnecessary: yet of most note are those of 1 Snowdon, 2 Brech••n, 3 Rarduvaure, and 4 Plinlimmon. Not much observable but for their vast height, and those many notable Rivers which issue from them. The principall whereof are, 1 Dee, in Latine called Deva, arising out of Rarduvaure hils in Me∣rionethshire, and running into the Sea not far from Chester. Over this River Edgar King of Eng∣land was rowed triumphantly in his Barge, by eight inferiour Kings, Vassals and Tributaries to him, that is to say, Kenneth King of the Scots, Malcolm King of Cumberland, Mac-cu••s King of the Isles, Dufwall, Gryffith, Howel, lago, and Indethel, Princes or Kings of Wales: using these words to such as attended on him, that then his Successors might call themselves Kings of England, when they did the like. This was in the yeer 973, and the last of his reigne. 2 Wie, in Latine called Vaga, arising from Plinlimmon hils, and emptying it self into the Severn at Chepstow. More in the heart of the Countrie (for these are but borderers for the greatest part of their course) 3 C••nwy, which rising in Merionethshire, and dividing the Counties of Denbigh and Ca••narvon, mingleth with the Sea at Abur Conwey. 4 Tyvie, which rising in Montgomeryshire, and passing between the Counties of Cardigan, Pembroke, and Carmarthen, runneth into the Sea a little below Cardigan. 5 Chedlaydy, which running quite thorow Pembrokeshire, emptieth it self into Milford Haven, one of the most capacious and safest havens, not of England onely, but of all the world.

The men are of a faithfull carriage towards all men, especially towards one another in a strange Countrie, and towards strangers in their own. Of a temper questionless much inclining to choler, as being subject to the passion by Aristotle called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by which men are quickly moved to an∣ger, and as soon appeased: of all angers the best and noblest. Their Language (the old British) hath the least commixture of forein words of any in Europe, and by reason of its many Consonants and gutturall Letters, is not so pleasing as some others in the Pronunciation. A Language not much studied by those of other Nations, in regard that such of the Inhabitants who have addicted themselves to learning, have rather chose to express themselves in the Latine or English tongues, than that of their own Native Countrie: The principall of which (not to say any thing of Mer∣lin (the Tages of the Welch or British) were 1 Gildas, for his great knowledge surnamed Sapiens; 2 Geofry of Monmouth, and 3 Giraldus Cambrensis the Historians; and of later times. 4 William Morgan, the Translator of the Bible into Welch, for which performance most

deservedly made Bishop of Land••ff. 5 Sir Iohn Price the Antiquary. 6 Owen the Epigram∣matist, &c.

The whole Countrey (not taking the Counties of Shropshire and Monmouth into the reckoning) containing in it 12 Shires onely: of which, seven were set out by King Edward the first, that is to Pembroke, Carmarden, Cardigan, Merioneth, Angleser, and Carnarvon. The o∣ther five, viz the Counties of Denbigh, Flint. Montgomery, Radn••r and B••cc••nock, were after ad∣ded out of the Marchlands by King Henry the 8th. These 12 Shires are again contracted or sub∣divided into 4 Circuits, for the administration of Iustice. Of which the first containeth the Coun∣t•••• of Montgomery, Flint, and Denbigh; the second those of Carnarvon, Anglesey, and Merie∣••••••••; the third those of Carwarden, Cardigan, and Pembroke; and the fourth those of Glamorgan, Br••c••nock, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

In these 12 Shires are reckoned one Chase, 13 Forests, 36 Parks, 230 Rivers, and an hundred Bridges. They contain also 1016 Parishes, amongst which, four Cities, 55 Market-Towns, and •••• Castles on the old erection. The C••ties small, poor, and inconsiderable. The Market Towns, the especially on the Marches and outparts of the Countrie, very fair and strong: as being not only built for commerce and trade, but fortified with Walls and Castles to keep in the Welch: and so employed, till the incorporating Wales with England took away all occasion of the old hostili∣ties. And for the Castles in the In-lands, partly by the iniquity of time, which is Edax rerum, but chiesly by the policie of the Kings of England, who would not suffer any places of strength to re∣main in a Countrie almost inaccessible, and amongst men apt to take the advantage offered; the very ruines of them are now brought to ruine.

But to proceed more particularly, the four Cities (or Episcopall Sees) are 1 S. Davids, formerly the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Wales, situate on the Promontorie in Pembrokeshire, by the Antients called Octo∣pitae; in a safe place and far enough from the Saxons, whom the Welch most feared; but incommo∣dious enough for all the rest of the Clergie to repair unto it: and not so safe neither unto the In∣habitants of it, in respect of sundry other nations who have often spoyled and defaced it. For stan∣ding neer the Sea, it hath been frequently visited and spoyled, by the Danes, Norwegians, and other Boats, insomuch that the Bishops were inforced to remove their dwelling to Caermarthen; which brought the City, (small enough before, when it was at the biggest) to the condition of a Village. 2 LL••••nd••••••••, upon the River Taffe, whence it took the name, LLan in the Welch or British sig∣nifying a Church; LLandaffe the Church upon the Taffe the Bishops whereof derive their Li∣neall succession from those of Caer-Leon upon Vsk, though the Primacie or Archbishops See were removed to Menew: A small Town now it is God wot, nothing to rank it for a City, but the Ca∣thedrall Church and the Prebends houses. 3 St: Asaph, a small Town in Flintshire, so called from St. Asoph, the second Bishop hereof, left here by Kentigern a Scot, by whom the Cathedrall Church was founded about the year 560. Situate on the banks of the River Elwy, thence called LLan-El∣we by the Welch, the Bishop Elwyensis in some Latine Writers. 4 Bangor, upon the Menai, a branch of the Irish Sea, of no more beauty and renown than the other three, but onely for the Ca∣thedrall founded here by the first Bishops, defaced by Owen Glendower, and afterwards reedified by Henry Dean, Bishop hereof, An. 1496.

Towns of chief note, (for these Cities have not much in them which is worth the nothing) are, 1 Slrewsbury, counted now in England, but heretofore the seat of the Princes of Ponysland, who had here their Palace: which being burnt in some of their broyls with England, is now converted into Gardens for the use of the Townsmen. The Town well traded and frequented by the Welch and English, the common Emporie of both; well built, and strongly situate on a rising ground, almost encompassed with the Severn, that part thereof which is not senced with the River, being fortified with a very strong Castle, the work of Roger de Montgomery the first Earl hereof, An. 1067. Over the River for convenience of passage, it hath two Bridges, and but two, the one towards England, and the other called the Welch-bridge, which is towards Wales, built by Leoline, or LLewellen the first, one of the Princes of Northwales: whose they conceive to be that Statua which is there standing on the Gate. Remarkable since the times of King Henry the sixt, for giving the title of Earl to the Noble Family of the Talbots: a Family of great honour, and as great an Estate, till the parcelling 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lands betwixt the Daughters and Co-heirs of Gilbert Talbot, late Earl hereof; according to the ill custom of England, where many times the Estate goes to the Females, and the Honour (with nothing to mainiain it) to the next Heir Male. 2 Banchor, by Beda called 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a famous Monastery of the Britans; conteining above 2000 Monks, attending their de∣votions at the times appointed, at other times labouring for their livelihood; most cruelly and un∣mercifully slaughtered by the Saxons, at the instigation of Austin the first Archbishop of Canterbu∣ry, offended that they would not yeeld unto his autoritie. 3 Carnarvon, on the Mena•• before∣mentioned, not far from Bangor (the Monastery of Banchor being in Flintshire,) well walled, and fortified with a strong Castle, by King Edward the first, after his conquest of the Countrie; formerly much resorted to for the Chancery and Exchequer of the Princes of North-Wales. 4 Den∣••••••h, well seated on the banks of the River Istrad, which from thence runnes into the Cluyd, the fairest River of all those parts. A Town well traded and frequented, especially since it was made by King Henry the 8th the head-Town of a Countie: before which time of great resort, as being the head-Town of the Baronie of Denbigh, conceived to be one of the goodliest territories in Eng∣land, having more Gentlemen holding of it than any other. 5 Mathravall, not far from Mont∣gomery,

heretofore a fair and capacious Town, honoured with the Palace, and made the chief Seat of the Princes of Powys-land, thence called Kings of Matra••as••; now a poor village. 6 Ca∣crmar then, Maridunum antiently, whence the modern name, the Britans adding Caer unto it: not called so from Caer-Merlin, or the Citie of Me••lin, inchanted by the Lady of the Lake, in a deep Cave hereabouts, as old Fablers and Romances tels ns. A fair large Town, beautified with a Collegiate Church, to which there was a purpose in the time of King Edward the ••th, of re∣moving the Episcopall See from S. Davids. Not far off, on the top of an Hill, stands Din••vour Castle, the chief Seat of the Princes of South-Wales, thence called Kings of Dinevour; who had their Chancery and Exchequer in the Town of Caermarthen. 7 Haverford W••st, situate in the Chersonese or Demy-Iland of Pembr••ke-shire, by the Welch called Ross, by the English, Little England beyond Wales, by reason of the English tongue there spoken; a Town the best traded and frequented of all South Wales. 8 Milford, in the same County of Pembroke, famous for giving name to the most safe and capacious Haven in all the Iland, consisting of sundry' Creeks, Bavs, and Roads for Ships, which makes it capable of entertaining the greatest Navie; the landing place of Henry the 7th when he came for England. 9 Monm••••th, situate at the mouth or influx of the River Munow (where it falleth into the Wie) whence it had the name. A Town belonging antiently to the House of Lancaster, the birth place of King Henry the ••ift, called Henry of Monmouth. That one particular enough to renown the place, and there∣fore we shall add no more. 10 Ludlow, a Town of great resort by reason of the Court and Coun∣cell of the Marches, kept here for the most part ever since the incorporating of Wales with Eng∣land, for the ease of the Welch, and bordering Subjects, in their sutes at Law. Situate on the confluence of the ••emd, and Corve, and beautified with a very strong Castle, the Palace hereto∣fore of some of the Princes of Wales of the blood Royal of England, at such times as they resi∣ded in this Countrey (of which more anon;) and of late times the ordinary Seat of the Lord President of Wales: now reckoned, as all Shrop-shire on that side the Severn, as a part of Eng∣land. Of Anglesey and the Towns thereof, we shall speak hereafter, now taking notice only of Aberf••aw, the Royall Seat sometimes of the Princes of North-wales, called thence Kings of A∣berf••aw.

The Storie of the Britans till the time of Cadwallader their last King we have had before. Af∣ter whose retirement unto Rome, the whole name and Nation became divided into three bodies; that is to say, the Cornish-Britans, the Britans of Cumberland, and the Britans of Wal••s. The Cornish-Britans governed by their own Dukes, till the time of Egbert the first Monarch of England, by whom subdued, Anno 809, and made a Province of that kingdom. The Britans of Cumberland had their own Kings also (some of whose names occur in Storie) till the yeer 946. when conquered by Edmund K. of England, the Son of Athelsta••. But the main body of them getting into the mountainous parts beyond the Severn, did there preserve the name and reputation of their Countrey; although their Princes were no longer called Kings of Britain, but of the Wallish-men or Welch; and much adoe they had to make good that Title: all the plain Countrey beyond Se∣vern being taken from them by Offa King of the Merc••••an••, and themselves made Tributaries for the rest by Egbert before mentioned, by Athelstan afterwards. Which last imposed a tribute on them of 20 pounds of Gold, 300 pounds of Silver, and 200 head of Cattel yeerly, exchanged in following times for a tribute of Wolves. But howsoever they continued for a time the Title of Kings, whose names are thus set down by Glover in his Catalogue of Honour published by Milles.

The Kings of Wales.

• A. Ch.
• 690. 1 Idwallo, Sonne of Cadwallader.
• 720. 2 Rodorick. 25.
• 755. 3 Conan. 63.
• 818. 4 Mervin. 25.
• 843. 5 Rodorick II. surnamed the Great, who divided his Kingdom small enough before amongst his Sonnes: giving Guined••h, or North-Wales, to Amarawdh his eldest Sonne; to Cadel his second Sonne Deheubarth or Souh-Wales. and Powis-land to his youngest Sonne Mervin, conditioned that the two younger Sonnes and their Successors should hold their Estates in Fee of the Kings of North-Wales, and acknowledge the Soveraignty thereof, as Leigemen and Hom••∣gers. According unto which appointment it was ordained in the Constitutions of Howell Dha, the Legislator of Wales, that as the Kings to Abersraw were bound to pay 63 pounds in way of tri∣bute to the Kings of London; ••o the Kings of Dynevour and Matravall should pay in way of tri∣bute the like summe to the Kings of Abersraw. But notwithstanding the Reservation of the So∣veraignty to the Kings of North-Wales, Roderick committed a great Soloecism in point of State by this dismemb••ing of his Kingdom; especially at a time when all the kingdoms of the Saxons were brought into one, and that one apt enough upon all occasions to work upon the weakness of the neighbouring Welch: which had they been continued under one sole Prince, might have preserved their Liberty, and themselves a Kingdom, as well as those of Scotland, for so long a time against the power and puissance of the Kings of England: Yet was not this the worst of the mischier nei∣ther; his Successors subdividing (by his example) their small Estates into many, insomuch that of the eight tributary Kings which rowed King Edgar on the Dee, five of them were the Kings or Princes of Wales. But Roderick did not think of that which was to come, whom we must follow

• in our Storie according to the Division of the Countrey made by him into three Estates, of North∣Wales, South-Wules, and Powys-land.

1. NORTH-WALES, or Guinedth, contained the Counties of Merioneth and Carnarvon, the Isle of Aaglesey, and the greatest parts of Denbigh and Flint-shires. The chief Towns where∣of are Bangor, Denbigh, Carnarvon, Abersraw, spoken of before, and some in Anglesey whereof we shall speak more hereafter. The Countrey (Anglesey excepted) the most barren and unfruitfull part of all Wales; but withall the safest, and furthest from the danger of the incroaching English; which possibly might be the reason why it was set out for the portion of the Eldest Sonne, in whom the Soveraignty of the Welch was to be preserved, by the Kings or

Princes of North-wales.

• A. Ch.
• 877. 1 Amarawd. 36.
• 913. 2 Idwallo.
• 3 Merick.
• 4 Iames or Iago.
• 1067. 5 Conan, Sonne of Iames.
• 1099. 6 Gryssith ap Conan.
• 1120. 7 Owen Guinedth.
• 1178. 8 David ap Owen.
• 1194. 9 LLewellen ap Iarweth.
• 1240. 10 David ap Llewellen.
• 1246. 11 LLewellen II. Sonne of Gryffith, the Brother of David ap LLwellen, the last Prince of Wales of the British Race. Of whom it is said, that once consulting with a W••tch, he was told by her that it was his destiny to be caried in triumph thorow London with a Crown on his head. Hereupon ma∣king some excursions on the Engl••••h Borders, he drew upon himself the whole power of King Ed∣ward the first, which not being able to withstand, and the King as willing on the other side not to sight with Mountains; Commissioners were appointed to conclude the differences: Robert Lord Tiptoff, and some others for the King of England; and for the Welch Prince, Grono ap Heylyn, a great man of that Countrey, descended from Brockwell Skythrac, one of the Princes of Powys-land (from whom, if Camd••a•• ••renti••ux be of any credit, the Author of these Papers doth derive his Pedegree under whom that Family had the Office of Hereditarie Cup-Bearer, and from thence their name; (Heylyn, Promus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 à poculis, quae vox ••a proprium ••omen abiit, saith the Welch Di∣ctionarie) By those Commissioners it was concluded and agreed on that LLewellen should en∣joy a part of the Countrey with the Title of Prince during his life: the rest in present, and the whole after his decease, to be surrendred over to the King of England. But David the Brother of LLewellen finding himself excluded by this Agreement, from the hope of succession, incensed his Brother and the Welch to a new Revolt: the issue whereof was the taking of David, executed by the hand of justice; and the death of LLewellen, slain in Battail, neer the Buelth in Brecknock∣s••ire. Whose head being pitched upon a stake and adorned with a Paper-Crown, was by a Horse∣man caried triumphantly thorow London, Anno 1282. And so the Prophecie was fulfilled. In him ended the Line of the Princes of North-Wales, after they had for the space of 405 yeers resisted not only the private undertakers and Adventurers of England, but the Forces of many puissant Monarchs: whose attempts they alwayes made frustrate by retiring into the heart of their Coun∣trey, and leaving nothing for the English to encounter with but their Woods and Mountains. But now the fatall period of the ••ritish Liberty being come, they were constrained to yeeld to the stronger. What followed after this we shall see anon.

The Arms of these Princes was quarterly Gules and Or, four Lions Passant gardant, counter∣changed.

2 POWISLAND contained the whole Counties of Montgomery and Radnor, all Shropshire beyond the Severn, with the Town of Shrewsbury, and the rest of Denbigh and Flin••shires; com∣prehending by the estimate of those times, 15 Cantreds or hundreds of Villages, the word Cant signifying an hundred, and Tret a Village. The principall Cities or Towns of it, were S. Asaph, Shrewsbury, Matravall, spoken of before. A Countrey more partaking of the nature and ferti∣lity of England, than the parts belonging unto Guinedth, or North-Wales, but alwayes lying in harms way, by reason of the Neighbourhood of the more potent English; and therefore given by Roderick, to Mer••yn, his youngest Sonne, partly because he was the youngest, but chiefly be∣cause he was a man of approved valour, and so more fit to have his portion upon the Borders. In his Line it continued a long time together, but much afflicted and dismembred by the ••arks of Chester and Shrewsbury, who took from them a good part of Flint and Denbigh, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and by the Princes of North-Wales, who cast many a greedy eye upon it. Of the Successors of Prince Mervyn, I find no good Ca••ta••, more than of Brockwell Skythrac be∣fore remembred. The last that held it all entire was Meredyth ap Blethyn, who following the ill example of Roderick Mawr, divided it betwixt Madoc and Gryffith, his two Sonnes. Of which Ma••e•• died at Wi••chest••r, Anno 1160, in the time of King Henry the 2d, his part hereof depend∣ing after his decease on the Fortunes of Guined••h: and Gryffith was by Henry the first made Lord of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the stile of Prince left off as too high and lofty.) In his Race it continued till the time of King Edward the first, to whom at a Parliament holden in Sh••ewsbury, Owen ap G••yffi••••h the fifth from Gry••••ith ap Meredith before mentioned surrendred his place and Title, and received them of the King again to be holden in Capite and free Baronage, according to the Custom of England. Avis, or Hawis, Daughter and Heir of this Owen ap Gryffith, was maried unto Iohn Charl••ton Valect (or Gentleman of the Privie Chamber) to King Edward the 2d, by whom, in right of his Wife, he was made Lord Powis, Edward, the fift also of this Line of the Charle••ons,

was the last of that House; his Daughter J••ne conveying the Estate and Title to the House of the Greyes: and of them also five enjoyed it, the last Lord Powis of the Line or Race of Mervyn, be∣ing Edward Grey, who died in the dayes of our Grand Fathers. And so the title lay extinct, untill revived again in the person of Sir William Herbert of Red-castle, descend from the Herberts, Earls of Pembroke, created Lord Powys by K. Charles the first, Anno 1629.

The Arms of the Princes of Powysland, were Or, a Lyon Rampant Gules.

2 SOUTH-WALES, or Deheubar••h, conteined the Counties of Monmouth, Glamorgan, Ca∣ermarden, Cardigan, and Brecknock; the greatest and most fruitfull part of all Wales, but more ex∣posed to the invasion of forrain Nations, English, Danes, Flemmings, and Norwegians, by whom the Sea-Coasts were from time to time most grievously plagued; Insomuch that the Kings and Princes hereof were inforced to remove their seat from Caermarthen, where it was fixt at first, unto Dynevour Castle, as a place of greater strength and safety; where it continued till the Princes of it were quite extinct, called from hence Kings of Dynevour, as before is said. The chief Towns of it, Caermarthen, Monmouth, Landaffe, S. Davids, spoken of alreadie. The Kings and Princes, as farre I can find upon any certainty, are these that follow.

The Princes of South-Wales.

• A. Ch.
• 877. 1 Cadel.
• 2 Howel.
• 907. 3 Howel Dha.
• 948. 4 Owen.
• 5 Aeneas.
• 6 Theodore the great.
• 1077. 7 Rhese ap Theodore.
• 1093. 8 Gryffith ap Rhese.
• 9 Rhese II. ap Gryffith.
• 10 Gryffith ap Rhese, the last Prince of South-Wales of the Line of Cadel, after they had with great strugling maintained their liberty for the space of 300 years and upwards: but so, that though they still preserved the title of Princes, they lost a great part of their Countrie to the Norman-English. For in the reign of William Rusus, Bernard de Newmark a noble Norman, seized upon those parts which now make the Countie of Brecknock, being then a fair and goodly Lordship; and Robert Fitz-Haymon, with some other noble adventures, made themselves masters of Glamorgan; in which the posteritie of some of them are still remaining. Incouraged by their good success, Arnulp of Montgomery, in the time of King Henry the first, won from the Welch a great part of Dyvet, which we now call Pembro••••∣shire; as the Earls of Warren, and Lord Mortimer, about the same times, did prevail exceedingly in the conquest of Cardigan and Monmouth. So that the poor Princes had no one Countrie left en∣tire but Caermarthen onely; too little to maintain them in so high a title. And though this last Gryffith, in the time of the Warres in England, betwixt Maud the Empress and King Stephen, had recovered a great part of this lost Estate: yet neither he nor his did enjoy it long; himself decea∣sing shortly after, and his two Sonnes, Cymmerick and Meredith being taken by King Henry the second, who most cruelly put out their eyes: yet did the Welch, as well as possibly they co••ld, en∣deavour to preserve the liberty which their Fathers left them, till the felicitie and wisdome of King Edward the first put an end unto the warre of Wales, and setled them in some degree of peace and quiet.

But before we come to speak of this, we are to shew another Catalogue of the Kings and Princes of Wales, different from the succession of them before laid down; and made according to the Hi∣story of Wales writ by Humfrey LLoyd: this Catalogue conteining the Succession of the greater and predominant Princes, whether of Guynedh, Deheuharth, or Powysland; such as gave law unto the rest, and had the honour to be called Kings of Wales, though Princes onely of their own pro∣per and particular Countries; as formerly we had a Catalogue of the Monarchs of the English Sax∣ons, made out of the Predominant Princes of the Saxon Heptarchi••. Onely we shall find some in the following Catalogue, who were not naturally and lineally Princes of any of the three, and therefore not expressed in the former Tables; but such as by strong hand had intruded into those Estates, to the prejudice of the right heirs, over-powred by them.

The Kings and Princes of Wales, according to the Welch History.

• A. Ch.
• 688. 1 Ivor.
• 690. 2 Idwallo, or Edwall, Sonne of Cadwallader,
• 720. 3 Roderick Molwinnoe.
• 755. 4 Conan ••eudaethwy.
• 820. 5 Mervin Vrich.
• 843. 6 Roderick Mawre, who divided Wales into 3 Estates.
• 877. 7 Amarawdh, Prince of Guynedth.
• 913. 8 Edwall Voel, Prince of Guynedh.
• 940. 9 Howel Dha (or the Good) Prince of Dehenbarth.
• 948. 10. Ievaf, and Iago, Sonnes of Edwall Voel, to whom King Edgar did release the tribute paid in money for a tribute of Wolves.
• ...

• 982. 11. Howel, the Sonne of Ievaf, succeeded in the Kingdom of Wales, his Father being still alive, and of right Prince of Guinedh.
• 984. 12 Cadwallan, the brother of Howell.
• 986. 13 Meredith ap Owen, Prince of Debe••barth.
• 992. 14 Edwall, Sonne of Merick, the Eldest Sonne of Edwall Voel, which Merick had been pretermitted, as unfit for Government.
• 1003. 15 Aedan ap Blethored, an Vsurper.
• 1015. 16 LLewellen ap Sitsylht, descended from the house of Dehenbarth.
• 1021. 17 Iago ap Edwall, Prince of Guinedh.
• 1037. 18 Gryffith ap LLewellen.
• 1061. 19 Blethyn and Rhywallon, Sonnes of Angharad the Daughten of Meredith ap Owen Prince of Debenbarth, by a second Husband.
• 1073. 20 Trahaern ap Caradoc, Cousin to Blethyn.
• 1078. 21 Gryffith Prince of Guinedh, Sonne of Conan, the Sonne of Iago ap Edwall, one of the Princes of the same, did Homage to William the Conquerour, and was the last that had the title of King of Wales.
• 1137. 22 Owen Guinedh, Prince of Guinedh, and Soveraign Prince of Wales.
• 1169. 23 David ap Owen Prince of Guinedh.
• 1194. 24 LLewellen, Sonne of Iorweth, Eldest Sonne of Owen Guinedh, excluded by David his younger Brother.
• 1240. 25 David ap LLewellen, Prince of Guinedh.
• 1246. 26 LLewellen, Sonne of Gryffith, the Brother of David, the last Soveraign Prince of Wales, of the race of Cadwallader, overcome and slain in battell by King Edward the first, An. 1282. as before is said: by means whereof the Principalitie of Wales was added to the Crown of England.

When King Edward had thus fortunately effected this great business, he gave unto his English Barons and other Gentlemen of note, many fair Signeuries and Estates; as well to reward them for their service in the conquest, as to engage so many able men, both in purse and power, for the perpetuall defence and subjugation of it. As for the Lordship of Flint, and the Towns and Estates lying on the sea-coasts, he held them into own hands, both to keep himself strong, and to curb the Welch: and (wherein he dealt like the politick Emperour Emperour Augustus) preten∣ding the ease of such as he had there placed; but indeed to have all the Arms, and men of employ∣ment under himself onely.

This done, he divided Wales into seven Shires, viz. 1 Glamorgan, 2 Carmarden, 3 Pembroke, 4 Cardigan, 5 Merioneth, 6 Carnarvon, and 7 Anglesey, after the manner of England. Over each of these, as he placed a particular English Lieutenant, so he was very desirous to have one generall English Vicegerent, over the whole body of the Welch. But this when they mainly with∣stood, he sent for his wife, then great with child, to Carnarvon: where she was delivered of a Sonne. Upon the newes whereof, the King assembled the British Lords, and offered to name them a Governour born in Wales, which could speak not one word of English, and whose life no man could tax. Such a one when they had all sworn to obey, he named his young Sonne Edward; since which time our Kings Eldest Sonnes are called Princes of Wales. Their Investiture is perfor∣med by the imposition of a cap of estate, and a Coronet on his head that is invested, as a to••en of his Principality; by delivering into his hand a verge, being the Emblem of government; by putting a ring of gold on his finger, to shew him how now he is a Husband to the Countrey, and a Father to her Children; and by giving him a patent, to hold the said Principality, to him and his heirs Kings of England. By which words, the separation of it from the Crown is prohibited; and the Kings keep in themselves so excellent an occasion of obliging unto them their eldest Sonne, when they please. In imitation of this custom, more ex Anglia translato (saith Mariana) Iohn the first of Ca∣stile and Leon, made his Sonne Henry Prince of the Asturia's; which is a countrey so craggie and and mountainous, that it may not improperly be called the Wales of Spain. And all the S••anish Princes even to these times are honoured with this title of Prince of the Astu∣ria's.

Notwithstanding this provident care of Edward the first, in establishing his Empire here, and the extreme rigor of Law here used by Henry the 4th, in reducing them to obedience, after the re∣bellion of Owen Gl••ndower: yet till the time of Henry the 8th, and his Father, (both being extract from the Welch blood) they seldom or never contained themselves within the bounds of true Al∣legeance. For whereas before they were reputed as Aliens, this Henry made them (by Act of Par∣liament) one Nation with the English, subject to the same Laws, capable of the same preferments, and privileged with the same immunities: He added 6 Shires to the former number, out of those Countries which were before reputed, as the Borders and Marches of Wales; and enabled them to send Knights and Burgesses unto the English Parliaments; so that the name and language only excepted, there is now no difference between the English and Welch; an happy Vnion.

The same King Henry established for the ease of his Welch Subjects, a Court at Ludlow, like un∣to the ordinary Parliaments in France: wherein the Laws are ministred according to the fashion of the Kings Courts of Westm••nster. The Court consisteth of one President, who is, for the most part, of the Nobility, and is generally called, the Lord President of Wales; of as many Counsel∣lors

as it shall please the King to appoint; one Attourney, one Sollicitor, one Secretary,* 1.2 and the Iustices of the Counties of W••les: The Town it self (for this must not be omitted) adorned with a very fair Castle which hath been the Palace of such Princes of Wales, of the English blood, as have come into this Countrie, to solace themselves among their people. Here was young ••dward the 5th, at the death of his Father, and here dyed Prince Arthur, Eldest Sonne to Henry the 7th, both being sent hither by their Fathers to the same end; viz, by their presence to satisfie and keep in Order the unquiet Welchmen. And certainly, as the presence of the Prince was then a terror to the rebellious, so would it now be as great a comfort to this peaceable people.

What the Revenues of this Principal••ty are, I cannot say: yet we may boldly affirm that they are not very small, by these reasons following, viz. 1 By the Composition which LLewellen, the last Prince of Wales, made with Edward the first: who being Prince of North-Wales onely, and dis∣possessed of most of that, was fain to redeem the rest, of the said King Edward, at the price of 50000 Marks (which comes to 100000 pounds of our present mony) to be paid down in ready Coin, and for the residue to pay 1000 l. per Annum. And 2dly, by those two circumstances, in the mariage of the Lady Katharine of Spain, to the above named Prince Arthur. For first, her Father Ferdinando being one of the wariest Princes that ever were in Europe, giving with her in Dowry 200000 Ducats, required for her loynture, the third part only of this Principality, and of the Earldom of Chester. And secondly, After the death of Prince Arthur, the Nobles of the Realm perswaded Prince Henry to take her to Wise; that so great a Treasure as the yeer∣ly Revenne of her lonyture, might not be carried out of the Kingdom.

The Arms of the Princes of Wales differ from those of England, only by the addition of a Labell of three points. But the proper and peculiar device, and which we commonly, though corruptly, call the Princes Arms, is a Coronet beautified with thee Ostrich Feathers, and inseimbed round with ICH DIEN, that is, I serve: alluding to that of the Apostle, The Heir while he is a Child dif∣fereth not from a Servant. This Coronet was won by that valiant Prince, Edward the black Prince, at the battell of Cressie, from Iohn King of Bohemia; who there wore it, and whom he there slew. Since which time it hath been the Cognizance of all our Princes.

I will now shut up my discourse of Wales with that testimony of the people, which Henry the 2d used in a Letter to Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople: The Welch Nation is so adventurous, that they dare encounter naked with armea men; ready to spend their blood for their Countrey, and pawn their life for praise: and adding onely this, that since their incorporating with the English, they have shewed themselves most loyall, hearty, and affectionate Subjects of the State: cordially devoted to their King; and zealous in defence of their Laws, Liberties, and Religion, as well as any of the best of their fellow-subjects, whereof they have given good proof in these later times.

There are in Wales Arch-Bishops 0. Bishops 4.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Wales.
• * 1.2

  Tre Bo••∣ders.