A description of Wales by Sr John Prise Knight.

Aedan the sonne of BLEGORED.

THe death of both these Princes (for so much as Me∣redyth had no issue Male, and Edwal had left be∣hind him a Child under age, not able to take the charge of a Common-wealth) did cause much trouble to ensue: for in Northwales severall did aspire to the Government, and sought the Rule of the Land, as Conan the sonne of Howel, and Aedan the sonne of Blegored, who tried the matter in open field, where Conan was slaine in the yeare 1003.

{fleur-de-lys} I doe not know, neither could I ever find, what Colour or pretence of Title, this Aedan ap Blegored had to the Principality of Northwales, nor yet of whom he descended, or who came of him: whereas all the other Princes are notoriously known, of what Families they descended, and who came of them. Neither yet doe I read of any Blegored, whose sonne he might be, except it be that Doctor of Law, of whom mention is made in the Laws of Howel Dha, his Estate may be thought too meane to challenge the Princi∣pality. He is reported to have Governed about XII years. Of the Acts by him atchieved, there is very little written, saving of those two Battels, the one wherein he overcame Conan ap Howel, and the other wherein he was overcome himselfe, and slaine with his foure sonnes, by Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht.

In the yeare 1004, Gulfath and Ubiad Irish Lords, were taken by the Scots, and their eyes put out, which Scots did also destroy the Country and Towne of Dublyn. Likewise the Danes, who had destroyed againe Westwales went to England, spoyling and burning the Land all before

them, especially Somersetshire, Dorsetshire, and so through Hampshire and Sussex, they came towards the River of Thames without any Let or Stay, and so sailed along the Ri∣ver to the place, where the River Mydwey entreth the Thames, along which they came to Rochester, where they ouerthrew the Kentishmen that gave them battell. Edelred King of England was at this time in Cumberland the chiefe Den of the Danes, which land he brought to his subiection: but in the meane while another army of Danes fought againe with the men of Somersetshire, and got the victory, and ruled the countrey at their pleasure. Then Edelred hearing of the great worthines of Richard Duke of Normandy sent to him for his Daughter Emma in marriage, thinking to have succour thereby: But God intending to punish the great sinnes and enormities of the Saxons moued the King thereto, that as they being instruments of Gods wrath, vnder colour of friends and hired soldiours, had traiterously slaine the Brytaines, and driuen them out of their own land, so should the Normans by colour of this affinity first enter the land as friends, and bring succour against the Danes, and afterward come as foes, and be the vtter destruction of the Saxons and Angles: which was then foreseen and told the King by an Anachoret, who inspired with the spirit of God, saw the plagues which he had certainly appointed to fall vpon the Saxons: but the King puffed vp with pride, and hope of this affinity, did priuily write to all the English Rulers through the realme, to kill the Danes in one night, who then liued peaceably; this murther was cruelly executed vpon S. Brices day at night. But yet the Danes would not giue ouer so with losse. Therefore the yeare following, there came an army of them to Deuonshire, and over-ran the land with fire & sword, sparing nothing that had life, that they might revenge the murther of their Cousens. They rased the citie of Excester, and slue Hugh the Norman, whom the Queene had appointed Gouernour there. Then Almarus Earle of Deuon gathered a great army out of Hamp∣shire, Wiltshire, and all the Country about, and met the Danes: but he and his were put to flight, and the Danes pursued them to Wilton, and destroyed it and Salisbury, and returned to their ships with rich spoiles and great triumph.

{fleur-de-lys} Some are of another opinion, who affirme, that the said Hugh the Norman enticed and procured the Danes to come and besiege the City of Excester, which they burned, and vsed the people with great cruelty, vntill in the end the said Almarus Earle of Deuon, and the Gentlemen of the countrey submitted themselues, and so obtained peace.

And the yeare following, being 1004, Swayne a mighty Prince of Denmarke, to whom God predestinated the Crowne of England, came with a great number of ships, laid slege to Norwich, and spoiled it, with whom Wol••kettel Duke of the Country made peace: yet the Danes, after they had rested a while, went to Thetford, which they also spoiled, and return∣ed to their ships with their prey, and overthrew Duke Wolf∣kettel (who had gathered and prepared an army to fight with them) and so sailed to their Countrey: And two yeares after returned againe with their companions, fire, sword and spoile, and landed at Sandwich, which they burned, and made England quake as a réed in the wind, and thence sailed to Wight, where they wintered till Christmas, and then entred Hampshire, and passed in diverse Bands through the land to Reding, Walling∣ford and Colsey, deuouring such victuals as they found in the houses, and paying with sword and fire at their departing. And at their returne they met neare Essington the army of the Westsaxons, which did nothing but trouble them with killing, and laded them with spoile, and so passed by the Gates of Winchester, with much triumph to Wight; and all this while was King Edelred at his Mannour in Shropshire full of cares and troubles. And then the Nobility of England bought peace of the Danes for 30000 pound. In which time of Peace Edelred made an Order, that of every 300 Hides of land through the Realme, there should be a ship made and furni∣shed, and of every 8 Hides, a Corselet and a Helmet. An Hide containeth as much ground as a plough may eare by the year. Besides these the King had a Naby from Normandy, which being all together at Sandwich, was one of the greatest that ever was seen in Brytain. But it happened so, that where the King had banished one Wilnot a Noble man of Sussex, he fell a roving upon the Sea, and troubled all passages and

Uictuallers. Then Brightrych brother to the Traitor Edric Earle of Mercia, promised the King to bring before him Wil∣not either alive or dead, but it hapned otherwise, for there fell such a tempest, that he was driven of force to the shore, where many of his ships were lost, and the rest Wilnot and his Company set on fire and burned. Then Brightrych, being a∣bashed at this infortunate beginning, returned again along the Thames to London.

Shortly after there landed a Navy of Danes at Sandwich, and so passed by land to Canterbury, with a mind to destroy the City: but the Citizens bought their peace for 30000 pound. And the Danes passed first through Kent, Suffex, Hamp∣shire, and Barkshire, where King Edelred with all the power of England met them: notwithstanding being perswaded by the Traitor Edric, he would not fight with them, so that they returning back by London (which City defended it selfe manfully) went to their ships. But the yeare following they landed again at Ipswich upon Ascension day, and there overcame and put to flight Duke Wolfkettel, who fought with them. Then passing from thence to Cambridge, they met the Kings sisters sonne with his Army, whom they slew, and with him Duke Oswyn, with Edwyn and Wolfrike Earles, and after took their way by Essex towards Thames, leaving no part of cruelty unpractised by the way. And along the Ri∣ver side they went to Oxford, which they had burned the year before, and so to the three castles upon Ouze, Buckingham, Bedford and Huntingdon, and destroyed Godmanchester, which was then a faire Towne, and burned Northampton, and at Christmas returned to their ships. The next yeare following when they had spoiled all the land from Trent Southward, they laid siege to the City of Canterbury, and won it by the treason of one Almarike (whom Alfege the Archbishop had de∣libered from death) and left nothing behind them, but bloud and ashes, carrying the Archbishop with others to their ships, whom they cruelly slew afterward. Within a while after, Swayn King of Denmarke came along the Humber to Gainsbourgh, to whom Vitred Duke of Northumberland with all his people, and all Linsey with the Countries North of Watlingstreet became subjects, and gave him hostages.

Whereupon Swayn finding his enterprises succesfull, com∣mitted his Navy to Cnute his sonne, and went himselfe to Oxford and Winchester, which Cities with all the Coun∣tries about acknowledged him for their King. Then he came to London, where King Edelred was, but the Citizens defen∣ded the City so manfully and valiantly, that Swayn returned to Wallingford, and so to Bath, and received homage of all Westsaxon, and afterward coming to London, received the City to mercy, and was called King throughout the Land. Then Edelred perceiving all things to goe against him, sled to Normandy, to his Wife and his two sonnes, Edward and Alfred, whom he had sent thither before. And Swayne, after he had brought the whole land to his obedience, dyed suddainly, after whose death, the Danes chose Cnute his sonne for their King; but the Englishmen sent for Edelred home a∣gaine. who coming with a great Army destroyed Lynsey, because that Province was become subject to Cnute; Which thing when Cnute understood being at Ipswich, he cut off the hands and noses of all the Pledges that he had, and returned to Denmarke. About this time, Brian King of Ireland, and Murcath his sonne, and other Kings of that land subject to him, did gather a great Power against Sutric the sonne of A∣bloic King of Dyuelyn, and Mailmorda King of Lagines; which Sutric hired a number of strangers, all armed men, and rovers upon the seas to his succour, and gave Brian battell, where the sayd Brian and his sonne were slaine, and on the o∣ther side Mailmorda, and Broderike Captain of the strangers. In the yeare 1013, Cnute came again from Denmarke, and landed in Westsex, and spoyled all the Country. Then Edric with Edmund King Edelreds bastard sonne, gathered an Ar∣my, but yet they durst not give him Battell. Then went Ed∣mund to Vitred Duke of Northumberland, and together they spoyled Staffordshire, Leycestershire, and Shropshire. Cnute likewise, upon the other side, came downe through Buckin∣ghamshire, Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and so by Stafford passed toward Yorke, to whom Vitred came and yeelded him∣selfe, yet he lost his life, whose possessions Cnute gave to one Egricke, and made him Duke in his stead, whereupon Edmund went to his Father, which lay sick at London. Then Cnute

returned to his ships, and sailed to the Thames mouth, and up the River towards London: but before he came thither, Edelred was departed, after he had reigned with much trou∣ble and misery 37 years. After whose death, the Englishmen chose his base sonne Edmund, surnamed Ironside for his strength and hardines in War, to be their King. This Ed∣mund went to Westsex, and brought all that Country to his subjection. Then the Danes laid siege to London, and made a great trench about it, that no man could escape out, and gave Edmund battell (who came to raise the siege) at Proman by Gillingham, where Edmund had the vpper hand. The se∣cond battell fought at Caerstan, wherein Edric, Almar and Algar behaved themselves traiterously against Edmund, where after a long fight the night parted both the Armies. The third battell was at London, where Edmund pursued the Danes to their ships, and entred the City triumphantly, and two days after they fought the fourth Battell at Brenford, from whence Edmund bare the honour away: and went to gather a new Army, whiles Cnute did besiege London by Water and Land, but it was manfully defended. Then Ed∣mund with his Army passed the Thames at Brenford, and en∣tred into Kent, and fought the fift Battell, where the Danes fled as sheep before him, but he staied the pursuit by the wic∣ked counsell of the Lraitor Edric, whom he had received to mercy & made Steward of the Land; this Battel was fought at Essedowne in Essex, with the whole power of the Danes and Englishmen, there Edmund shewed his prowes, and for∣saking his place, which was betwixt the Dragon and the Standard, he entred the Army of his enemies, breaking their thickest rankes, and compelling the proudest of them to turne their backs. Which when Edric saw, fearing the overthrow of the Danes, he cried aloud, Fledd Engle, Fledd Engle, Edmund is Dead: and thereupon fled with his people, all the Army following him, to the great slaughter of the English; there were slaine there Edmund, Alfric, Godwyn, and Ul••kettel, all Dukes, and all the Chevalry of England. After which victo∣ry, Cnute entred London, and was Crowned King of the Land. And Edmund having gathered his Army together they met in Glocestershire, but both Armies fearing one the other

were loth to fight, so that they moved the Kings to make an end of this cruell bloudshed by Combat, whereunto both Prin∣ces agreed, and the place being appoynted, fought together manfully, and they were both of them found so Ualiant and Worthy men, as few the like. But Cnute fearing the incom∣parable strength of Edmund moved him to accord, whereun∣to be agreed: Thereupon Peace was concluded with much joy, that Edmund should Keigne in Westsex, and Cnute in Mercia: and so they departed, Cnute to London, and Edmund to Oxford, where he was traiterously murthered by a sonne of Edric with a sharpe knife, as he was at the Privie. Edric being quickly certifyed of the déed came to Cnute (with much joy) and gréeted him as only King of England, declaring how Edmund was slaine at Oxford. To whom Cnute replied, that for his good service be would reward him, as his deserts re∣quired, and set him above all the Nobles of England: There∣upon he caused his Head to be cut off forthwith, and to be set upon a Pole, on the highest Lower in London, and then he caused execution to be done upon all the other, that were consenting to the murther. In the yeare 1015 Lhewelyn the sonne of Sitsylht raised a great power against Aedan, who had by usurpation possessed himselfe of the rule of North∣wales, and having slaine him with his foure sonnes in bat∣tell (without any respect to Jago (or James) the sonne of Ed∣wal the right heire) he took upon himselfe, the name and au∣thority of King of Wales. This Lhewelyn was descended from the Kings of Wales by his Mothers side, whose name was Trawst, Daughter to Elise, second sonne to Anarawd, the eldest sonne of Roderike the Great: He had to wife An∣gharat, the only daughter of Meredyth Prince of Southwales, and so by these means he claimed and enjoyed the right of both Countries, as hereafter shall be declared.

¶ Elystan Glodrydd Prince of Ferlix, or the Country be∣tween Wy and Severne, who is reckoned the 4th Royall Tribe of Cambria, reigned about this time. Our Writers stile him al∣so Earle of Hereford. Athelstan King of England was his God∣father, and gave him his own name at his Baptisme.

Edelstanus eum sacro de fonte levavit, Infanti{que} dedit proprium de nomine nomen.

He was the son of Cyhelyn ap Ivor ap Severus ap Cadwr Wenwyn, and so to Casnar Wledig ap Gloyw Wl••d lydan (that is, with the large Dominions) the son of Tenantius and Bro∣ther of Cynobelinus Kings of Britaine, as Ievan Brechva, who lived in the dayes of Henry the 6th hath left upon record, which also an old MS. in Parchment written about 200 years before his time witnesseth concerning the said Gloyw: But Rich. Powel of Ednop in Shropshire Esq. a Gentleman well seen in the Antiquities of Wales, and lineally descended from the sayd Elystan sayth, Gloyw was the sonne of Arviragus, the sonne of Cynobelinus, and not the son of the Emperour Claudius, as Ieffrey of Monmouth would have it. Our Antiquities say, that the posterity of Casnar Wledig the sonne of Gloyw had their habitations on both sides os Severne, as in Powis, Arustli, Ceri, Cydewen, Radnorshire, being the Lands and Possessions of Ble∣thyn ap Convyn, Trahayrn ap Caradoc, Elystan Glodrydd, and of their Ancestors descended from the sayd Casnar: So were also Glocester, Worcester, Ewyas, Erging, and the rest of Herefordshire with Gwerthrynion and Buellt, the Lands of Vortigern King of Britaine, whose Pedegree Gildas Albanius deriveth to the sayd Gloyw thus, Guorthigern map Guorthineu map Guitaul map Guitolin map Glovi. Bonus, Paulus & Mauron fuerunt tres filii Glovi, qui aedificavit Urbem magnam super ripam fluminis Sabrinae, quae vocatur Britannico sermone Caer Glovi, Saxoni∣cè Gloucester. But this Glovi cannot be the same with the for∣mer Gloyw, unlesse ••t might so happen that some names have been left out in the Pedigree between Vortigern and Glovi. Al∣so wee read in the same Author, that Embrisius (commonly called Ambrosius Aurelianus) King and Monarch of Britaine gave unto Pascen the sonne of Vortigern upon his submission some part of his Fathers inheritance, to wit, Buellt and Gwer∣thrynion, which (according to Nennius) he left to his sonne Brin∣cat father of Mempric father of Paul father of Eldoc father of Eldat father of Merwydd father of Guevan father of Theudibir King of Buellt father of Fermael King of Gwerthrynion, both which last named lived together as may be gathered out of Ninnius and Samuel Beulan, about the yeare of our Lord 820. But how the forementioned lands came to Elystan and his An∣cestors a 100 years after, I have not yet learned. His Mother was Rhieingar the daughter and heire of Grono ap Tuder Tre∣vor,

of whom mention is made before p. 27, 28.

He quarters these Coates, A. 3 boares heads Cobazed S lan∣gued G. tusked Or. And G. a lyon rampant, regardant Or.

Some say Elystan marryed Gwenllian the daughter of Eneon ap Owen ap Howel Dda, by whom he had Cadwgan, the Ance∣stor of many worthy Families.

Families descended from Elystan Glodrydd.

The Pryces of Newtowne, Owens of Rhiwsaeson, the Lloyds, Williamses and others in Mountgomeryshire, some Gentlemen in Shropshire, most of the Gentry of Radnorshire, and very many in other parts of Southwales, whose names I have not. Sir Wil∣liam Thomas of Aber in Carnarvonshire Kt, Granchild to Sir William Thomas of Llangathan in Carmarthenshire Kt, descen∣ded from Elystan. Lewis Owen of Penyarth in Merionethshire Esq. a Learned, accomplished Gentleman comes also from him, so Hugh ap Iohn ap Hugh of Llanvendiged.

The Pedegree of the Prices of Newtowne.

Sir Matthew Price Baronet, sonne of Sir Iohn Price Baronet, who was the son of Edward the eldest son of Iohn Price the el∣dest son of Matthew Gôch the eldest son of Thomas Price of New∣town, which Thomas was 2d son to Rees ap David Lloyd (Esquire of the body to K. Edw. 4. and slain at Banbury) ap David ap E∣neon ap Howel ap Tuder ap Eneon Vychan ap Eneon or graig ap Ievaf ap Grono ap Ivor ap Idnerth ap Cadwgan ap Elystan Glo∣drydd. Iohn Price of Parke Esq. is descended from Matthew 2d son to the foresayd Iohn Price. Arthur Price of Vaenor was 2d son to Matthew Gôch; He married a Daughter of the Earle of Bath, & had by her Edward Price & Iohn Price of Llinwént. The said Edward married a daughter of Dr Nic: Robinson Bp. of Bangor, by whom he had Arthur Price Esq. whose daughter & Heire by Mary daughter to Owen Vaughan of Llwydiarth Esq. marryed George Devereux Esq. eldest son to Sir George Devereux of Sheldon in Warwickeshire Kt, by whom she had Price D'eve∣reux Esq. and other Children. Oliver the 2d son of the forena∣med Thomas Price had Neuadd wen, from whom are descended the Bolvirs of Llanyrvil. From Meredyth the eldest son of Rees ap David Lloyd comes Price of Keri.

The Paternall Coate of the Prices of Newtowne and Vaenor. Quarterly 1. A. 3 boares heads cooped S. langued G. tusked Or, 2. G. a lyon rampant regardant Or. the 3d as the 2d, the 4th as the 1st.

Notes

• 1003
• 1004
• Matt. West.
• The Danes murthered. Matt. West. pag, 39••.
• Matt. West. pag. 393. H. Hunt. Sim. Dunel.
• Io. Cast. Si. Dunelm. Hol pag. 243. Io. Vowel.
• 1004.
• Hol. pag 243.
• Hol. pag, 244.
• Io. Cast.
• H. Hunt.
• Io, Cast. Matt. West.
• 1008
• Io, Cast.
• 1010.
• Gwlfach and Vbiad had their eyes put out. Hol. pag. 245. Io. Cast. Iarddur Monke of En∣lli dyed.
• 1011
• Io. Cast. Hol. pag, 246. Matt. Park. pag. 68.
• Hol. pag. 249. Io. Castor.
• Sim. Dunel,
• Hol. pag. 248.
• 1013.
• Io. Cast.
• 1
• 2
• Io. Castor. Matth. West. pag. 498.
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Matth. West. pag, 399
• Hol. pag. 255. Matth. West. page, 399,
• Hol. pag. 256. Matt. West. page. 400. Io. Castor.
• Sim. Dunel. Fabian. Matt. West. pag. 401.
• Matt. West. pag. 402.
• 1015
• Prawst.
• R. Powel.