!V'': ':■ ■'■ ' ; ■" ' ■".•■■: STORY OF THE Family Qfntttell ImuerBiti} ffitbrarg Strata, New fork BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF HENRY W. SAGE 1891 The date shows when this volume was taken. To renew this book copy the call No. and give to the librarian. HOME USE RULES All books subject to recall All borrowers must regis- ie library to borrow ■oks for home use. All books must be re- turned at end of college year for inspection and repairs. Limited books must be returned within the four week limit and not renewed. Students must return all books before leaving town Officers should arrange fot the return of books wanted during their absence from town. Mf Volumes of periodicals and of pamphlets are held in the library as much as possible. For special pur- poses they are given out for a limited time. Borrowers should not use their library privileges for the benefit of other persons. Books of special value and gift books, when the giver wishes it, are not allowed to circulate. Readers are asked to re- port all cases of books marked or mutilated. Cornell University Library CS459 .G99 1878 + History of the Gwydir family 3 1924 029 787 490 olin Overs Po not deface books by marks and writuuc. cs>. xfc^e Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029787490 Sim John wwke of &weidii s 'Loj±fam,ft-atied&r Robert 'W3inxi.aoii,WJ24 JFenchurefo Jtr&t, THE HISTORY OF THE G.WYDIR FAMILY, WRITTEN BY Sir JOHN WYNNE, KNT. AND BART., UT CREDITUR, & ^ATET. OSWESTRY: WOODALL AND VENABLES, OSWALD ROAD. 1878. WOODALL AND VENABLES, PRINTERS, % BAILEY-HEAD AND OSWALD-ROAD, OSWESTRY. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CLEMENTINA ELIZABETH, (in her own right) BARONESS WILLOUGHBY DE ERESBY, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OLD GWYDIR STOCK AND THE OWNER OF THE ESTATE : THE FOURTEENTH WHO HAS BORNE THAT ANCIENT BARONY : THIS EDITION OF THE HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY IS, BY PERMISSION, RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE PUBLISHERS; Oswald Road, Oswisstry, 1878. PREFACE OF all the works which have been written relating to the general or family history of North Wales, none have been for centuries more esteemed than the History of the Gwydir Family. The Hon. Daines Barrington, in his preface to his first edition of the work, published in 1770, has well said, "The MS. hath, for above a century, been so prized in North Wales, that many in those parts have thought it worth while to make fair and complete transcripts of it." Of these transcripts the earliest known to exist is one in the Library at Brogyntyn. It was probably written within 45 years of the death of the author ; but besides that, it contains a great number of notes and additions of nearly the same date, which have never yet appeared in print. The History of the Gwydir Family has been thrice published. The first edition, edited by the Hon. Daines Barrington, issued from the press in 1770. The second was published in Mr. Barrington's Miscellanies in 1781 ; the third, edited by Miss Angharad Llwyd, made its appearance in 1827. The History of the Gwydir Family is the only one that gives any account of the state of society in North Wales in the 15th, and in the earlier part of the 16th centuries, but unfortunately, it is lamentably deficient in dates. The present edition owes its existence to the long and painstaking labour of of W. W. E. Wynne, Esq., of Peniarth, who has collated his copy of Miss Llwyd's edition with the Brogyntyn, Wynnstay, and Peniarth MSS., adding a very large collection of dates, from contemporary records, including the Ministers' Accounts in the Public Record Office, in London. Mr. Wynne having very, kindly placed his copy at my disposal, it has been my pleasant task during the last three or four months to superintend the issue of the present edition through the press, and I have most heartily to thank the Rev. Canon Williams, of Rhydycroesau, for his advice and assistance, without which several errors would have passed uncorrected. The text followed in the present edition is that of Barrington's Miscellanies, published in 1781, and this has been carefully compared with the other editions, the variations being pointed out in the notes. The Memoirs from page 90 to the end are taken from Miss Llwyd's book. VI PREFACE. In one of the copies of the Gwydir MS. at Mostyn, there is, at the head of it, in a later handwriting than the MS. itself, " A true coppy of a manuscript written by S r Jo n Wynne of Gwydir K nt and Ban* ut Creditur & patet. 1607." It also contains the Latin MS. of Bishop Robinson, mentioned in note 3, page 12 of this book. The same Mostyn MS. also ends the list of the children of Meredith ap Jevan with those by his concubine, which appears as a note on page 87, taken from the Gwydir MS. at Wynnstay. A second written copy preserved at Mostyn has at its commencement the following: — "This book was transcribed from a coppy belonging to S r Morris Parry 1 of Llan Elian Clerk in the year 1674, And afterwards compar'd with & corrected by two coppys, the one belonging to the Reverend Dr. Humphreys Dean of Bangor 2 the other found among the Evidences att Gweder, which last was in many places corrected & interlind, & much of it writt with the hand of S r John Wynn himself the Author. 1683. Thomas Mostyn, of Gloddeath." The references to other editions, in the notes to the present one, are indicated on page 11. The letter " W." is only affixed to a few of the more personal notes by Mr. Wynne ; the bulk of those with no initial attached being also from his pen. The portrait of Sir John is reproduced by photo-lithography from an old engraving, the plate of which Miss Llwyd used for her edition of 1827. The portrait of Sir Richard, by Janson, is also copied by the same process from an engraving by Bartolozzi which has appeared in Pennant's Tours and else- where. The view of Dolwyddelan Castle is reduced from an engraving published by Buck in 1742. The somewhat rude sketch of Gwydir House, -with the arms of the family, is a copy of the one mentioned on page 6 as being on the border of a county map published about 1720. There is one of the original issues of this map at Wynnstay,, but unfortunately the portion containing Gwydir is damaged, and the illustration given in this book has been very faithfully copied on stone by Miss M. W. Minshall from a photograph kindly lent me by W. Wynne Ffoulkes, Esq., of Chester. The still older picture on the title page, which represents Upper Gwydir as it was in 1684, when the Duke of Beaufort in his progress through Wales lodged there, is copied from the Beaufort Progress, and I am indebted for the use of it to Dr. Nicholas in whose Annals of County Families it appeared. The copy of the monument in Dolwyddelan church illustrates a pleasant paper on that attractive district in the Archccologia Cambrensis, by the Rev. D. R. Thomas, to whom my thanks are due for the use of the engraving. ASKEW ROBERTS. Croeswylan, Oswestry. 1 He was rector of Llanelian from 1660 to 1683. 2 I suspect this to be the Wynnstay MS.— W. GWYDIR MEMORIALS. THE life of Sir John Wynn, the historian of the Gwydir Family, was so uneventful that but few records remain to form materials for a memoir. The chief incidents in his career may almost be summed up in a paragraph : — " His character has been held up as all that was worthy, and decried as everything that was crafty. He was Member of Parliament for the county of Carnarvon in 1596, one of the Council of the Marches of Wales, and created a baronet in 1611. Being 'shrewd and successful in his dealings,' people were led to believe he oppressed them, and, says Yorke in his Royal Tribes of Wales, ' it is the superstition of Llanrwst to this day, that the spirit of the old gentleman lies under the great waterfall Rhaiadr y Wennol, there to be punished, purged, spouted upon, and purified from the foul deeds done in his days of nature.' It is recorded that in 1615, Sir John having incurred the displeasure of the Council of the Marches, Lord Ellesmere, the Chancellor, was appealed to, but, the ' shrewd ' baronet made his peace in the surest manner, by paying a bribe °f £35°- He was a man, evidently, who tried to make the best of both worlds, for after squaring the court with his bribe, 1 and managing to keep his name on the Commission for Carnarvonshire, he made his peace with heaven by founding a hospital, endowing a school at Llanrwst, and giving up sundry tithes to support these chari- ties. Sir John bore one of the great standards at the funeral of Henry, Prince of Wales. He died in 1626-7, at tne a S e °f seventy-three." Mr. Barrington, in his introduction to the History of the Gwydir Family (see page 7) inserts the letter of Sir John to his kinsman, Sir Hugh Myddleton, respecting the reclamation of land, where Tremadoc now stands, 2 and Mr. Halliwell, some years back, published " An Ancient Survey of Pen Maen Mawr," which is supposed to be from the pen of Sir John Wynn, and to which Bishop Gibson had access when 1 The following is the " bargain " struck between tural Survey of North Wales : — Honorable the parties: — M'd. Yf Mr. Bernard Lyndesey Sir. — I have received your kind letter. Few are Esquier Groom to his Ma ". Bedchamber pro- the thinges done by me, for which I give God cure a pardon for Sir John Wynn Knight and the glory. It may please you to understand, Baronet and some of his servants of their fynes and my first undertaking of publick workes was in offences inflicted upon them by the Counsell of the my owne countrey, within less than a myle of Marches, upon the sealing of the said pardon he the place where I hadd my first beinge, 24 or is to receave from Richard Wynn Esquier sonne 25 years since, in seeking of coals for the towne and heire to the said Sir Jo : Wynn the somme of of Denbigh. Touching the drowned lands near three hundred and fiftye pounds. In witness of your lyvinge, there are manye things considerable this agreement between us we have both sette our therein. Iff to be gayned, which will hardlie be hands the sixteenth of January 1615. performed without great stones, which was Signed in the presence B. Lyndesey, plentiful at the Weight, as well as wood ; and of me Rich. Wynn. greate sums of monye to be spent, not hundreds Amb. Thelwall. but thousandes — and first of all His Majesty's intereste must be got. As for myself, I am grown »The following reply to the letter of Sir John, int0 yearSj an( jf u ll of busienesse here at the mynes, is published m the Rev. Walter Davies's Agncul- the river at London, and other places, my weeklie viii GWYDIR MEMORIALS. he prepared his edition of Camden. One extract from this is interesting, exhibiting as it does, a considerable mixture of superstition and simplicity in the shrewd baronet's mind. Speaking of a carnedd on Moelfre, a smooth round hill somewhere between Llanvairvechan and the village bearing the dreadful name of Dwygyvylchi, he says : — Neare unto this place there is a ffyne delicate hill called Moelvre, rownd by nature and mownted very highe ; and in the toppe very playne and pleasant : uppon this hill there is a cyrcle marked, where- uppon stood three stones aboutes a yard and a quarter above grownd, the one redd as blood the other white, and the thyrd a litle bluer then the white stone, standynge in a triangle wiese. What shoulde bee the reason of placynge such three stones in such a place upon soe highe and soe pleasant a mounte, and to place there stones of such colloures. I cannott expresse otherwiese than wee have yttby tradicion. The tradicion is this, that GodAllmighty hathwrought in this place a miracle for increasynge of our fayth. And that was thus. Three women, aboutes such tyme as Christianity began to creepe in amongest us, uppon a Sabaoth day in the mornynge went to the toppe of this hill to wynowe there corne, and havynge spread there wynowynge sheete uppon the grownd and begunn there worke, some of there neightbours came unto them and did reprehend them for violatynge and breakynge the Lorde's commaundement by workynge uppon the Saboathe day. These faythless women, regardynge there profytt more than the obsearvynge of God's commaundement, made slight of there neighbours admonition, and healde on in there worke ; whereuppon ytt pleased God instantly to transfourme them into three pillars of stones, and to frame these stones of the same collour as the womens clothes weare, one read, thother white, and the thyrd bluishe, and to trans- fourme there winowyng sheete and corne into earth, and soe to leave them there in example unto others. This is a tradicion wee have and beleeved by the oulde people in that neighbourhood, and housoever, whether ytt was soe or noe, the tradicion is wholesome, and will deterr others from workynge uppon the Sabaoth day. These stones, beynge worth the seynge as they weare there placed, have beene digged uppe by some idle headed youthes within this sixe yeeres, and weare rowled downe the hill, and doe now lie att the foote of the hill. If Sir John Wynn led a life of retirement, it was none the less a busy one. Besides his concern for the reclamation of land on the Carnarvonshire coast, and his survey on the Carnarvonshire mountains, he appears to have been actively engaged in other works for the benefit of his neighbours, but not at the same time forgetting himself. The following extract points to the local manufacture of Welsh Friezes, by Irishmen ; and to mining operations in Anglesey : — Gwydir, 2d Aug. 1623. . . . . One Roper, of Roper's Rest in Ireland, beinge one of the Privie Counsel, would gladly set 300 people here a work to spin woolle, and desired your answer to know whether it might be done. I say it may bee done ; for I have conferred with divers which Mo affyrme the same. And a more fittinge tyme there cannot be than this time of necessity : for if the tymes did amend, they will not goe out of their own countrye. I will find them houseing upon my lands about Llanrwst and Trevriew, beinge within a myle of my house ; and all thynges necessarie for them, and monie afore- hand, for it will require a great somme ot monie to make them loomes and other implements fitte for the occupation, and alsoe to make mylls and tenters. . . . Woolle is to be had in this countrie' good store, and verie cheape. Because it is so charytable a deede, and for the goode of the countrye, I offer my furtherance with all my hearte, and the servise of my people: and I should myselfe be best able to further it of anie in this countrye, all circumstances considered. It is fitte the gentleman should send a sufficient man here, with fulle instructions concerning his intended purpose ; and would best begin a lesse preparation aiminge at a greater. ... Yours, &c, John Wyn. P.S. I pray you doe your endeavoure to selle my lead oare that is at Beaumaris. Methinks those foreiners that have received so much monie of the countrye for the corne they brought in, should be bound to leave some parte thereof for our countrye commoditie, that all the monie of the land be not carried away ; and this shoulde be done by your beinge pryme officer in your towne. I sould always for three pounds a tonne, allowing the long hundred ; but to take monie, now I woulde sell it for somethinge lesse, charge beinge above £200 ; which makth me verie one hour in a daie. My wiefe being also here,, I unwilling to undertake anie other worke, and the cannot leave her in a strange place.. Yet my love least of theise, whether the drowned lands or to publicke workes, and desire to see you (if God mynes, requireth a whole man, with a large purse, permit), maie another tyme drawe me into those Noble Sir, my desire is greate to see you, which partes. Soe with my heartie commendations I should draw me a farr longer waie, yet such commit you and all your good desires to God.— are my occasiones at this tyme here, for the settlinge Your assured lovinge couzin to command, Hugh of this greate worke, that I can hardlie be spared Myddleton. Lodge, Sept. 2, 1623. GWYDIR MEMORIALS. ix The foregoing letter was addressed to "Humph: Jones, Esq., Receiver of North Wales," and the two that follow were written to Lord Eure, President of the Marches of Wales, respecting the Copper Mines in Parys Mountain, probably some years earlier. They are all taken from the Rev. Walter Davies's Survey of Agriculture : — No. i. ... I sende you the myneral water of Anglesey to be tried ... I saw when Medley made the tiyal before Sir Henry Sidney, and I laid down the particulars. First—a quantitie of iron was beaten small into powder, which was put into the water in a great boiler of lead, whereof there were either half a dozen or more. Anie of these boilers, havinge flat bottoms, and not verie deep, not unlike the form of a cooller, did contain manie barrels of licker, beinge that water ; which beinge boiled with an exceeding hot fire of turf to a great height, and afterwards suffered to coolie, there was congealed in that water a threefolde substance ; — the one copperas, beinge greene, highest ; the second alome, beinge white, in the middle ; and the thirde, called the earth of iron, being yellowe in the bottome. The alome and copperas seemed both to be perfectlie good. The earth of iron, after it was fullie dried, grewe to a substance like the ruste of iron which had long been canckered, yet yellowe. Of this earth of iron I have a greate quantitie laide upon charcoale in a bricke furnace, and blowne downe and smelted like lead ; and downe came a greate quantitie of iron synders intermingled here and there with copper. The i-ioth parte of that which came downe proved to be copper ; whereof parte was sent to the Lo. of the Counsell that were partners in the worke, parte to others of the nobilitie ; and every gentleman of qualitie there presente had parte to carrie in his pockette, who were of opinion that the work would not quitte coste ; and so it proved, for that in a while it was given over. Wishinge your Lo. good successe in all your attempts, and especiallie in these your alcymycall conclusions. I do rest yours, &c. John Wyn. No. 2. I Remember some twentie eighte years agoe that there was a greate myneral worke in Anglesey, some twentie miles beyonde me : that one Mr. Medley had undertaken by boylinge of a water, which wroughte these effectes. It made alome and copperas, and transmuted iron into copper ; all which the selfe same water did perfforme, whereof the manner and particularities I have forgotten, though I have been an eye witnesse of the same ; x for I went thyther in companie with the late Lord Treasurer Burley, the Earl of Leister, and Sir Francis Walsingham, who were partners in that worke ; whereof the evente succeeded not ; whether by reason of Medley's want of skill on his parte, is a questione . . -. One of the most notable events in the career of Sir John that has come down to us, is his controversy with Bishop Morgan. 2 The Bishop would not confirm a lease of church lands held by the baronet, and pleads " conscience," which, he says, " assureth me that youre request ys such, that in grauntyng yt, I shold prove my selfe an unhonest, unconsionable, and irreligiouse man ; ye a sacrilegiouse robber of my church, a perfydiouse spoyler of my Diocese, and an unnaturall hyndrer of preachers and good 1 There is an inconsistency in these two letters 2 The Rev. Canon Williams, in his valuable that requires explanation. In the (previous) Letter Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen, tells us that this the Baronet frankly owns that he had laid down the "incomparable man for piety and industry," was particulars of Mr. Medley transmuting iron into born in the parish of Penmachno, a village not far copper ; — in this (last) Letter, he says he had for- from Gwydir. He was educated at St. John's gotten the manner and particularities thereof. This College, Cambridge, and his first preferment was was Sir John's sophistry, either to save himself the the vicarage of Welshpool, to which he was insti- trouble of giving .the information required by Lord tuted August 8th, 1575. After three years' residence Eure; or, he wished, for private reasons, to con- there he was removed to the Vicarage of Llan- ceal the favourable symptoms that Parys mountain rhaiadr-yn-Mochnant, near Oswestry, and there contained copper. As Mr. Medley is known to he finished his great undertaking of translating the have made his experiments in 1579; and as Sir Bible into the Welsh language. He soon after- John, in this last letter, says they were made " some wards was rewarded with more than one sinecure, twenty-eighte years " back ; — both letters appear to after the manner of the times, and was consecrated be written in the same year, namely, 1607 : and it Bishop of Llandaff in 1595, at the express command is probable that this last letter was written first ; of Queen Elizabeth. He was translated to St. and on being further pressed by Lord Eure the wary Asaph in September, 1601, and he died there Sep- Baronet gave the information contained in letter tember 10, 1604. one. — Rev. Walter Davies. x GWYDIR MEMORIALS. scholars," &c, &c. Sir John, however, as will be seen by his reply, cared little for the charge of robbery and sacrilege ; but very much for what he deemed to be his rights : — Hominibus ingratis loquimini, lapides. The sower went out to sowe ; and some of his seede fell in stonie ground, where hitt wythered, because hitt could take noe roote. The seede was good, but the land nought. I may justly say soe by you. I have in all shewed my selfe your ffreinde, in soe much as yf I had not pointed you the waye with my finger (whereof I have yett good testimonye) you had beene styll Vycar of Llanrhayder. You pleade conscience when you should geve, and make no bones to receave curtesie of your ffreinds. But I appeale to him that searcheth the conscience of all men, whether you have used me well, and whether hitt be conscience (w 1 * . you ever have in your mouth) be the sole hinderance of my request. I wyll avowe and justiffie hitt before the greatest Dyvyns in England, that it hath beene, nowe ys, and ever wylbe, that a man may w th . a salfe conscience be farmour of a lyvinge, payeing in effect for the same as much as hitt ys woorth ; and soe ys this, surmyse you the value to be as you layst. Nether was the losse of the thynge that I regard a dodkyn, but your unkinde dealinge. Hitt shall leson me to expect noe sweete finite of a sower stocke. Your verball love I esteeme as nothinge ; and I make noe doubt (w th . God's good favour) to lyve to be able to pleasure you, as much as you shall me, et € contra. You byd me thanke God for his meny benefyts towards me. God graunt me the grace ever soe to doe. In truth, I did much thanke Him in mynde to see you preferred to the place you are in, as yf you had beene my owne brother; but that I recall, for I never expect good wyll of you, nor good tome by you. John Wyn, of Gwyder. Gwyder, the house that did you and your's good. 2$th February, 1603. [To the Reverend Father, The Lord Busshop of St. Asaphe.] Sir John also writes to Mr. Martyn (who appears to have been a friend of both) a long and bitter letter, in which he threatens the Bishop with his revenge. He says : — Sir, No greefe to the greefe of unkyndnes : They rewarded me yll for good to the great dyscomfort ot my sole. I may say so, and justly complaen unto you of my L. of St. Asaphe, who (besydes what hys ancestors receved by myen) ys dyversly, and in great matters, behouldynge unto me, whereof (beynge schooled by hys late letter, of w eh . I send you a trew coppy) thoghe I expect no rent, yett yt easethe my wronged mynd muche, to lay open hys hard dealyngs towards me, and my benefyts towards hym, befor you, who are not ignorant that I delyver but a truethe, in most of them havynge been an ey wytnes. Hyt squarethe therefor w 01 . a good method in a narration to begyn w* . my deserts, w° h . I wyll run over breefly ; v/° b . I wold have you to put hym in mynd of: 1. in that he protested to hys late servant Tho. Vaghan, that he remembred no more therof, then that I had lent hym my geldyngs to go to Llandda, and had sent hym a fatt oxe att hys fyrst comynge to St. Assaphe. W ol > . ys to strayne a gnatt, and swallow a cam ell. Fyrst, I let hym have a Lease uppon hys farme of Wybernant, parte of the township of Doluthelan for forty years, for forty poundes in money. The farme he hathe sett att the yerly rent of twenty foure poundes per ann: and yeldethe of the Kyng's rent viijs. too pence yerly, as farre as I remember. In measurynge the sayd farme w th . my farme of Penannen, I let hym have, in Pant yr Helygloyn, land, to the valew of iijl. yerly ; for w ch . my uncle Owen Wyn reprooved me muche. I bare the hatred of Jeuan M'dythe, and hys nephew Ed. Morice, the lawyer, durynge his lyfe ; for that I was a daysman, and agaenst hym ; I mean, Jeuan Midythe, and appointed my frends commyssyoners agaenst hym. Was hyt not I that fyrst delt w tt . Mr. Boyer to make hym Bushopp, and made the bargen, S r ? Mr Boyer was nether knowen to hym, nor he to Mr. Boyer ; ergo, yf that had not beene, he had contynued styll Vycar of Llan Rhayder. I know you do not forgett what was obiected against hym and hys wyf to stopp his last translation, and how that my certyfycatt and my frends quitted hym of that imputation, and so made hym prevayle ; for the whch. both they and I wear worse thoght of by those we have good cause hyghly to respect. I labored, as yf, hit had beene to save the lyf of on of my chyldren, to end the cause of dylapidations between hym and my coosin Dd. Holland ; knowynge hit wold have beene his great hynderance to be so matched att first dashe. How sufficyent a man, how well ffrended, and what a toothe-man in hys suets my cousin Holland ys, every man that knowethe hym, knowethe that also. My L. of St. Assaphe I knew to be but poore (hys translation havynge stood him in muche) yett wylfull and heddy to run into law suets ; therefor I was as muche trobled to reclaeme hym to reson and consyderation of hys owen estate as I was to bringe the adversse part to reson and conformyty. My L. Bushopp's cheefe lyvynge was the tenthe of the Paiyshe of Abergele, where my coosin Holland comandeth absolutely. Yf they had gone to suet pf law, he would so have wronged him in the gatherynge of the tythe, as hit shold have beene lyttell worthe unto hym. My self excepted, was ther on Jent. in the GWYDIR MEMORIALS. xi contrey wold once have shewed hym self for hym agaenst my coosin Holland ? and that knew he well. But my L. can make use of Jent. when they serve hys tome, and after decarde them upon pretence of conscyence ; w oh . may appere by the coppye of hys letter 1 unto me, whereof, I avowe on my credyt this ys the trew coppye. Thus much touchynge that matter of my desert ; and now touchynge my request. Mr. Sharp, my L. Chancelor's Chaplen beynge by hys L. collated parson of Llanrwst, leased hy» benefyce to on Rob'. Gwyn of Chester, who appointed a ffrend of myen, on Robt. Vaughan, brother to my brother Tho. Vaughan, his under farmor. Doctor Elice, sometyme a great comander in theese quarters, in favor of Doctor Meryke (who rewarded him w th . a township of teythe whear his mansyon house was in 'Spytty) dyd geeve lev to dysmember the parsonadge of Llan rwst of Tybrithe tythe, and to joyne hit to Corwen. Whearuppon, pyttyinge to see Llan rwst churche dysmembered by unlawfull practyse, acqueanted my L. of S'. Assaphe, that I ment to stand for the right of Llanrwst agaenst Doctor Meryke, w 011 . with an intent to do more for that churche, as I then made knowen to my L. The suet prooved, by Doctor Meryke's weywardnes and hope in his fautors, more chardgeable and troblesom then was expected. Wheruppon I eftsons acquainted my L. Bushop, that I ment to buy Robt. Gwyn's lease into my hands, that, surrendringe hit, Mr. Sharp (in consyderation of my great chardge in the suet) myght grant me a lease of the lyvynge for iij lyves, the only mean in som part to quit my chardge ; W* . he promysed me to confyrme, and that hit should be the fyrst of all other that should receve confirmation. Havynge to my chardge and troble compased Robt. Gwyn's lease of 10 years, and by surrender of the same gott a new lease of three lyves of Mr. Sharp, I sent hyt to be shewed my L. by my servant W m . Lloyd ; who then seemed to myslyke hit, and answered doutfully touchynge the confyrmation, w" 1 . all chidd Mr. Sharp in suche sort, as givynge cause to have my lease new made, he made me pay iol. more then was att fyrst, by reson my L. Bushop had chidd hym. In end, hearynge of a Chapter appointed for the confyrmation of the other leases, I sent myen also by my son Mostyn, and my letter to my L. the contents whearof you shall fynd in my Lord's answer. To w° h . I receved this answer ; w ch . whether hit be fyttynge my desert ys your's to judge, as also to expostulat w th . hym, beynge oure ffrend, common to us bothe. I am not of nature to put up wronge ; for as I have studyed for hys good, and wrought the same, so lett my L. be assured of me as bytter an enemye (yf he dryve me to hit) as ever I was a steadfast frend ; nether ys he com to that heyght, or wantethe enemyes, that he may say, Major sum,, quam cui possit fortuna nocere. For as Honores mutant mores, so mores mutant honores. I am ashamed for hym, that he hathe geeven herby cause to his enemyes and myen to descant of his ungrate dysposition ever aggravated towards hym. Hys answer att lardge I pray you retorne me, yf nothynge els. Your lovynge ffrend Gwtdeb, this xiijth ol Marshe, 1603. * JOHN WYN, of Gwyder. He promysed me an advowson of the lyvynge by Tho. Robts, when^he denyed the confyrmation. I sent unto hym the same man, w th in too dayes after for the same, and my coosin Elice Vaghan w th all ; and he denyed me eny, sayinge he had provyded no preferment for his wife, and that he myght overlyve Sharpe, and have that lyvynge in Comendam. So, to conclude, I must have nothynge but a scorneiull, chetynge letter, in leu of all my good indeavors. In allusion to the taunt of patronage in the letter of Sir John Wynn to him, the Bishop, in one to Mr. Martyn, says : — " I confesse that Mr. Wyn thearein shewed greate love (as then I thought) to me ; but (as nowe I fynde) to hym selfe, hopynge to make a stave of me to dryve preacher's patrydges to his hys netts." The baronet of Gwydir evidently had very little veneration for the clerical office, and his directions to his Chaplain on his manner of life and behaviour, is a curiosity. The poor man is thus counselled : — First. You shall have the chamber, I shewed you in my gate, 2 private to yourself, with lock and key, and all necessaries. In the morning I expect you should rise, and say prayers in my hall, to my houshhold below, before they go to work, and when they come in at nygt — that you call before you all the workmen, specially the yowth and take accompt of them of their belief, and of what Sir Meredith taught them. I beg you to continue for the more part in the lower house : you are to have onlye what is done there, that you may informe me of any misorder there. There is a baylyf of husbandry, and a porter, who will be comanded by you. 1 The letters from the Bishop to Sir John and to at the entrance to Gwydir, from the Bettws-y-eoed Mr. Martyn will be found in the Appendix to road. The gateway (which has the arms and Yorke's Royal Tribes of Wales. initials of Sir John over it) is perhaps the oldest a This chamber, and a gloomy one it is, still stands P ortion of the P lace remaining. xii GWYDIR MEMORIALS. The morninge after you be up, and have said prayers, as afore, I wo* you to bestow in study, or any commendable exercise of your body. Before dinner you are to com up and attend grace, or prayers, if there be any publicke ; and to set up, if there be not greater strangers, above the chyldren— who you are to teach in your own chamber. When the table, from half downwards, is taken up, then are you to rise, and to walk in the alleys near 'at hand, until grace time ; and to come in then for that purpose. After dinner, if I be busy, you may go to bowles, shuffel bord, or any other honest decent recreation, until I go abroad. If you see me voyd of business, and go to ride abroad, you shall comand a geldinge to to be made ready by the grooms of the stable, and to go with me. If I go to bowles, or shuffel bord, I shall lyke of your company, if the place be not made up with strangers. I would have you go every Sunday in the year to some church hereabouts, to preache, giving warnynge to the parish to bring the yowths at atter noon to the church to be catekysed ; in which poynt is my greatest care that you be paynfull and dylygent. Avoyd the alehowse, to sytt and keepe drunkards company ther, being the greatest discredit your function can have. That such an active and energetic country gentleman as Sir John Wynn would be busy at election times, no one can doubt, and the following letter, which has been preserved in manuscript, probably refers to a contest in Carnarvonshire 1 in 1620 : — Sr. the experience of yo* love in this late ellection hath made me to thinke myself infinitelie bound vnto yo T : I pray yo w continewe yt to the end, the rather for that yo r owne reputacon lieth att stake aswell as myne, and in requitall yo w shall find me to answeare yor kindnes in matters of greater ymportance. Co'mending me very kindlie vnto yo w - and yo r good Ladie, and my good Cosyn M™ Ann Brynkir, doe rest Yo* assured Loving Cosyn Gwyder, the igth John Wynn of December 1620. of Gwyder. To the right Wor' my very Loving Cosyn S r . William Maurice Knight. 2 The last record of Sir John we are able to present to our readers, is an Inventory of his Waidrobe, taken from the Appendix to Pennant's Tours: — A noate of all my clothes: taken the eleventh day of June, 1616. Imprimis, i tawnie klothe cloake, lined thoroughe with blacke velvett ; one other black cloake of clothe, lined thouroughe with blacke velvett ; another blacke cloake of velvett, lined with blacke taffeta. Item, ii ridinge coates of the same colour, laced with silke and golde lace ; i hood and basses of the same ; one other olde paire of basses. Item, ii blacke velvett jerkins; two clothe jerkins laced with goulde lace, of the same colour. Item. One white satten doublett, and blacke satten breeches ; one silke grogram coloured suite ; and one suite of blacke satten cutt, that came the same time from London. Item. One other blacke satten suite cutt ; and one blacke satten doublett, with a wroughte velvett breeches. Item. One leather doublett, laced with blacke silke lace; one suite of Pteropus, laced with silke and golde lace ; another suite of Pteropus, laced with greene silke lace. Item. One olde blacke silke grogram suite cutt ; two blacke frise jerkins. Item. One blacke velvett coate for a footman. Item. One redd quilte waskoote. Item, ij pare of olde boothose, toppes lined with velvett in the topps. Item, ij pare of blacke silke stockins ; and two pare of blacke silke garters, laced. Item. One pare of perle colour silke stockins ; one pare of white Siterop stockins ; three pare of wosted stockins. Item, ij girdles, and one hanger, wroughte with golde ; one also blacke velvett girdle ; one blacke cipres scarfe. Item. Nine blacke felte hattes, wherof fowre bee mens hattes ; and five cipres hatbands. Item. One guilte rapier and dagger, and one ridinge sworde with a scarfe, with velvett scabbards. 1 Mr. Breese in his Kalendars of Gwynedd, under 2 Seal — Owen Gwynedd, and Griffith ap Conan, the heading of "Members for the County and quarterly. In the centre of the shield, the Baronet's Borough of Caernarvon," gives "John Griffith, jun., badge— The Shield on the Breast of an Eagle, as of Llyn, Esq.," as a Knight of the Shire, elected now borne by Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart. 27 Dec, 1620. GWYDIR MEMORIALS. xiii Item, ij pare of Span! she leather shooes. Item. One russett frise jerkin. Item. Two pare of leather Yamosioes, and one of clothe. Item, ij pare of white boots ; one pare of russett boots. Item, iij pare of newe blacke boots, and five pare of old blacke boots. Item, ij pare of damaske spurres, iii pare of guilte spurres. Before we proceed to give copies of the monumental inscriptions to the memory of the family in the Gwydir Chapel and elsewhere, there are two letters that will be interesting to readers of this book. The original of the first is at Brogyntyn. The writer was Sir John Wynn, Knight, eldest son of Sir John Wynn of Gwydir, Bart. He died before his father : — S* According to my promise, I have sent to you hearby what I receaved of late from London as newes. The Prince 1 as I heare died not of any wronge doen him by the Physitians, as was hertofore receaved for truth, but of a surfett : during his disease which was not long, he patiently gave God thanks by prayer for his visitacoen. The kinge being desirous to see him in his perplexitie, was persuaded therefrom by the Counsell, who besought him to ride to Theobalds, ther to continewe for a while, which he did accordinglie, till the tyme of his departure which was within three dayes after — he ys generally Lamented of all. My father ys stayed by my Lord Chamberlain to continewe for ten dayes after the tearme, to be a mourner. These do mourne but Earles and Barrons, & Barronetts. My cosin Pierse Gruffithes 2 cause ys dismissed the Court of wardes, & the possession of the land in question setteled in the adverse partie. Sir John Egerton's cause was heard in the Court of wardes, & a case made of hitt which longe will not be vndecided. Mr. Needham is like to be dismissed that Courte, & I feare to be undoen, for as yt ys thought there is noe hope for him to Prevaile. This ys all the last news I heard which I could not choose (seeinge I have mett with so convenient a messenger) but write to you, although I was in hast to meet a gent, this morninge, and ready to take horse. Comending me very kindly to yourself your good Lady & the rest of your good Companie at Carnarvon do ever rest your loving cosin & ffrinde assured to vse, John Wynn. Llanvrothen the xxvi 01 of Nov. 1612. Whether the mariadge goe forward or not, I know not, neather have I receaved thereof any thinge. The Palgraves stile ys this — The high & mihty Prince Fredericks the fift, by the grace of God, Counte Pallatyn of the Rhein, Duke of Bavaria, Elector, & Arch sewer of the sacred Romaine Empire, & in Vacancie of the same, Vicar thereof &c: Born at Amberge in his upper Pallatinat the 16 of August I5g6. This did I finde intituled above his pickture — farwell in great hast. J. W. The other one — or rather the one from which only an extract is taken — is from Owen Wynn, afterwards Sir Owen Wynn, Bart., to Sir Wm. Maurice of Clenenney, and is dated 5 July 1622 : — My Lo. 3 hath not bought Penrhyn 4 as yet, nor likelie to buy it for ought I heare, so as the Treavours must find out another to buy it, except they let it at that rate which it is worthe — my Lo. hath offered 8000 pound for it beinge fullie as much as it is woorthe, which they have refused, & as I doe heare now they truly repent them of their refusal. My lo. Cookes great Cause in the Courte of wardes is heard, & ended this tearme, & he hath the glorie of the day, which I am sure you wilbe glad of beeinge such a speciall ffriend of yours. The greate cause in Chauncerie, for the burninge of the chauncerie office, betweene M! Tothill, one of the six clearkes, & Sir Robert Riche, is also heard & determyned, this terme : there is a decree in that cause by which everie man is ordered to set by his owne losse, & be quiett, for the certayntie where the fire began could not be knowne. There is noe newes woorth the writing of— the generall want of money maketh all the officers both of the starrechamber & of other courtes sitt ydle, for. want of employment,. & long may they be ydle for anie goodnes they have. 5 . 1 Henry, Prince of Wales, son of King James I. 5 The sea i t0 this i etter bears an i mpression of tne 2 Of Penrhyn. arms of the Wynns of Gwydir — the 3 eagles— first » John Williams, Archbishop of York.. a " d {ont } h ; sec ° nd and * ird » a c ^vron between J ' v ,. 3 fleurs-de-lys. In the centre of the shield, a crescent 4 The great estate of Penrhyn, in Carnarvonshire, f or difference. which the Archbishop afterwards bought. XIV GWYDIR MEMORIALS. The memory of Meredith ap Ievan, who may be called the founder of the Family at Gwydir, is commemorated by a brass in Dolwyddelan Church, a facsimile of which, reduced in size, is given below. 1 The Rev. D. R. Thomas, in the paper alluded to in the preface, incorporates the following description of this brass, from the pen of Mr. Bloxam : — The effigy, represented as kneeling, is bare-headed, with the hair clubbed in the fashion which prevailed in the early part of the reign of Henry VIII. Round the neck is worn a collar of mail. The body- armour consists of a globular breastplate with angular-shaped tuilles attached to the shirt, and beneath these is an apron of mail of that peculiar kind represented on Welsh sepulchral effigies. On the shoulders are pass-guards, the arms above and below the elbows are protected by epaulienes and vambraces, the elbows by coudes, the hands are uncovered ; the thighs are protected by cuisses, the knees by genouilleres, the legs by jambs, the feet by sollerets, broad-toed, and apparently laminated,— a fashion as to broad-toed which prevailed not before the reign of Henry VIII. On the left side is a sword, on the right a dagger; the hands are conjoined, as in prayer. The peculiarity in this effigy consists in the representation of the collar and apron of mail. In this and other sepulchral effigies in Wales, the mail-armour appears very different to that description of armour in England. Was it so in fact ? This is a problem to be solved. Mail-armour, though restricted in use to cover certain portions only of the body, as in this instance the neck and loins, was worn so late as the middle of the sixteenth century. I have a pair of splints (armour so called), viz., a breast- and back-plate temp. Philip and Mary, «rca 1555. To the breast-plate is attached an apron of mail. Are there any small portions of mail-armour, I do not mean Asiatic, existing in any of the inhabited castles or country houses in Wales ? ^^gteCtoeft amroaw poitctetue ^m^§ t ®$s (Drawn to quarter original size). 1 I have a strong impression that the shield of arms stood originally in the centre of this monu- ment, and that there was a brass representation of the wife of Meredith opposite to him. — W. GWYDIR MEMORIALS. xv In the Gwydir Chapel at Llanrwst there is a marble tablet containing the following pedigree, comprising a period of Five hundred years : — This Chappel was erected Anno Dom 1633, By Sr. Richard Wynn, of Gwyder, in the Covnty of Carnarvon, Knight & Baronet, treasvrer to the high and mightie Princess Henriette Maria, queen of England, daughter to Henry the fourth, King of France, and wife to our sovaraigne King Charles. Where lyeth buried his father, Sr. John Wynn, of Gwyder, in the Covnty of Carnarvon, Knight and Baronet, sonne and heyre to Maurice Wynn, sonne and heyre to John Wynn, sonne and heyre to Meredith ; which three lyeth buried in the Church of Dolwethelan, with tombes over them. This Meredith was sonne and heyre to Evan, sonne and heyre to Robert, sonne and heyre to Meredith, sonne and heyre to Howell, sonne & heyre to David, sonne and heyre to Griffith, sonne and heyre to Caeradock, sonne and heyre to Thomas, sonne and heyre to Rodericke, lord of Anglisey, sonne to Owen Gwyneth, prince of Wales ; and younger brother to David prince of Wales; who married E'me Plantaginet, sister to King Henry the second. There succeeded this David three princes : his nephew Leolinus Magnvs, who married lone, daughter to King John ; David his sonne, nephew to King Henry the third ; and Leolyn, the last prince of Wales of that house and line, who lived in King Edward the first's time. Sr. Iohn Wynn married Sidney, -who lyeth buried here, the daughter of Sir William Gerrard, Knight, lord chancellor of Ireland, by whom he had issue, Sr> Iohn Wynn, who died at Lvca, in Italy ; Sr. Richard Wynn, now living ; Thomas Wynn, who lyeth here; Owen Wynn, now living; Robert Wynn, who lyeth here; Roger Wynn, who lyeth here ; William Wynn, now living; Maurice Wynn, now living; Ellis Wynn, who lyeth buried att Whitford, in the covnty of Flynt ; Henry Wynn, now living ; Roger Wynn, who lyeth here ; and two daughters ; Mary, now living, married to Sr. Roger Mostyn, in the Covnty of Flynt, Knight ; and Elizabeth, now living, married to Sr. Iohn Bodvill, in the Covnty of Carnarvon, Knight. This Chapel is referred to on page 9 as being probably from designs by- Inigo Jones, Some years ago a local printer issued a handbill purporting to be a description of the building, and giving copies of the monumental inscriptions. Partly availing ourselves of this handbill (a copy of which hangs in the chapel, and, we are told is often transcribed by visitors), but restoring the inscriptions to their original language and spelling, the following is its substance : — A brass, fixed on the wall, beneath the Tablet, is described as " a superb engraving of Dame Sarah Wynne . . executed by one William Vaughan in a style of elegance hardly to be met with." Beneath the figure there is the following inscription :— Here lyeth the body of Dame Sarah Wynne wife to the Honoured Sr. Richard Wynne of Gwyddur Barronet and one of the daughters of Sr. Thomas Middleton of Chirke Castle Knight Shee departed this life the 16th day of Iune, 1671. [Guil : Vaughan, Sculpsit]. On each side of the Tablet are brasses (with the heads finely engraved) bearing the following inscriptions : — Here lyeth the body of John Wynn of Gwedvr Here lyeth ye body of ye La. Sydney Wynn 1 wife Kt. and Baronet who died first of March 1626. of Sir John Wynn of Gwedvr Kt & Baronet who. died ye eight of Ivne 1632, Beneath a table which stands in front of the reading desk, (and which contains some figures in old oak, of the eagle and griffin), there is a marble monument, ruthlessly marred by the initials of the vulgar ; on which reclines the quaint figure of a child, with a raised shield of arms on each side, and underneath, this inscription : — 1 The following letter by this lady is from an Good Sonne Ri chard> autograph formerly in the possession of Maurice j am glad to hear of TOr safe ret0 urne Wynne L.L.D., Rector of Bangor Iscoed Sir out of Spayne and that yow have yor health well Richard, to whom it was addressed, was, by birth, (wch £ £ on tinue) for I much feared the same, second son of Sir John, but the elder son John, who and & d heartily for you. Thus having was also a Knight died without issue, at Lucca, nothmg J e i s t0 ^ rite vnt £ you DUt my best wishes and Richard succeeded to the Baronetcy. He was and Lo 5 ue vnt0 Daughte J r y or wife recommended, Groom of the Bed-chamber to Charles Prmce of with s J t0 Go 5 t0 b]esse x rest Wales, afterwards King Charles I., and accompanied . ' r J y or £ouing Mother him and Buckingham, in the Prince's matrimonial Gwydder June 16 Sydney Wynn. ' expedition to Spain in 1623. Sir Richard wrote an J jq^, account of that elcpedition, which is published in To very 'Louing Sonne Sr Richard Wynn, Kt. Hearne's Htstona Vita et Regnt Ricardi II., Vol. ' J 6 ' ,' 1, page 297. xvi GWYDIR MEMORIALS. Here lieth the Bodie of Sidney Wyn davghter to Owin Wyn Esqr. which was borne the 6th of September & departed this life the eight of Octobr, following, Anno D'ni 1639. " On the South side," says the handbill, " are two stately Pyramidal Columns of variegated Marble, decorated with Martial Insignias, one to the memory of Meredith Wynn, the other to Sir John Wynn, and Sydney his wife : on their Pedestals are Latin inscriptions on black Marble " : — Meredith Wyn a'r, Oweni Gwynedd qvondam Iohnnes Wyn de Gwyder Miles & baronettus Cvm Cambria? Principis progenies faslicibus avspicijs Sydneia filia Wm. Gerrardi 1 Militis regni Hybernia? fvndavit domvm Gvyder ffanvm S'ti Gwyddelan cancellarij, vnica et iwentvtis conivge, cvi peperit transtulit et reedificavit in expeditione Tornatensi filios vndecem et filias dvas hie Iacent Christi 5 H. 8. ffortissimvs dvx fato cessit Mense Marcij adventvm in Gloria expectante. I525- Between the " Pyramidal Columns " there is a tablet to the memory of John Wynn ap Meredith, with this inscription : — Iohannes Wyn de Gwyder filivs Meredith ar' paternse virtvtis emvlvs vir ivstvs et pivs, Cvi Elena vxor eivs peperit qvinqve filios et dvas filias. Obijt. 9 Ivlij A Dom. IS59- On the floor is a stone effigy in armour, with the feet resting on a lion couchant, of Howel Coetmore ap Grufnth Vychan ap Griffith David Goch, natural son to David Prince of Wales, from whose descendants, according to tradition, Gwydir was purchased by the Wynns. "Near to the effigy of Howel is the underpart of a stone coffin in which Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, surnamed The Great, the son-in-law of King John, was buried at the Abbey of Conwy." On a brass attached to this the fact is recorded that — This is the coffin of Leoninus Magnus, Prince of Wales, who was buried at the Abbey of Conwy, which upon the dissolution was removed thence, " On going from the chapel to the church you pass over a large square flag of freestone, having on its sides a Latin inscription " : — Monvment. Fllior. Io : Wyn de Gwyder milit. et baronet, qvi. obierunt, svperstite patre. Io : Eques avrat. sepvlt. Lvccae Italic civitate Libera, A seta, 30 A°D 1613. Robert, in Art. Ma. Sacris Iniciat. A Eta, 24, Do. 1612. Tho. Rog. et Rog. in Minori etate. Fvnvs Fvmvs Fvimvs Ecce. In addition to the foregoing there are two brasses on the same wall as the Tablet but to the right of the window, with inscriptions as follow : — Fili'eius natu secund. Iohes Mostyn Armiger Conditum • in • hoc ■ tumulo • Iacit • corpus • mserens posuit an'o Dom 1658. eximiaa • admodum ■ dnae ■ dnse ■ Mariae • Mostyn ■ Obijt 25 die Febr. anno domini 1653. conivgis • Rog : Mostyn de Mos : in com : Flin. eq : Avrati • primogenitce • Io : Wynne de gue : com : car : eq : et : bar : fili • ejus ' natu • secundse • Iohes ■ Mostyn • armig' • mserens ■ posuit. Ano' dni' 1657. Both these brasses have heads engraved on them, and the one to the right bears the name of the artist; — " Silvanus Crue, sculp." A smaller brass, with only an inscription, records that " Here resteth the body of Sr. Owen Wynne of Gwedvr Baronet, who dyed the 15 of August 1660, aged 68." And, on the opposite wall, there is also a brass (with female figure engraved on it) to the memory of " Katherine Lewis, eldest davghter of Maurice Lewis, of Festyniog, Esq.," who died at the age of 16, in 1669. The heiress of the Lewises was married to one of the Wynns, which will account for the presence of the brass in the Gwydir Chapel, 1 There is a monument to " Sir William Gerrard, of Wales, &c-," in St. Oswald's Church, Chester. Knight, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, one of Her He died 1 May 1581, and was one of the Welsh Majesty's Most Honourable Council in the Marches Judges, and Recorder of Chester. GWYDIR MEMORIALS. xvii In Pennant's time (1781) these brasses 1 were "trampled under feet," and there is yet another inscription in the chapel that shows to whose care it was that the place has been restored to order : — " Pet : Rob : Drvmmond Willovghby Dom : de Eresby et Gvydir Restitvit a.d. mdcccxxxv." The inscriptions on two of the monuments to members of the Gwydir family are given on pages 4 and 9, the former being that to the memory of Sir Richard at Wimbledon, and the latter to Henry, tenth son of Sir John Wynn, in the Temple Church, London. In Pennant's History of the Parish of Whitford (1796) the following inscription i3 given from a monument in the church of that place : — Here lyeth interred the body of Ellici Wynn, the gth son of Sir John Wynne of Gwydyr, Knight and Baronet, aged xx, who died the xxth of gber, and was buried the xxiii. of the said month. Ao Domini i6ig. Omnis caro foenum. And there is yet another monumental inscription which was formerly amongst those in the Chapel at Llanrwst : — Mpricius Wyn de Gwydder ar : hie jacet pacis et Justiciar Acerrimus assertor cui prima conjux Jana fil. Rici' Bulkley Venedocie camerarii. Secunda Anna fil. Edw. Grevyll de Mycot 2 militis. Tertia Katharina fil. et hseres Tuderi ap Rob'ti Ar: x° die augusti mortuus. 1580. Local tradition asserts that Sir John Wynn was one of the first to obtain a hint of the existence of the Gunpowder Plot, and that he did so through his cousin Dr. Thomas Williams of Trevriw, a zealous Roman Catholic. The story goes that this cousin sent the baronet an enigmatical letter foretelling some dire catastrophe, and recommending him to absent himself from Parliament. Sir John took the warning with him to London, and found a member who had also received anonymous advice to the same effect. Of course a secret held by two soon became no secret at all, and the plot was frustrated as history tells us. But Sir John was too shrewd to betray a secret, so his kinsman's name was never mentioned to Protestant or Papist. One interesting incident in the family history is its connection with so cele- brated a figure in Welsh annals as Catherine de Berain. It will be seen on Table III. (opposite page 48) that " Mam Gwalia " — as she was popularly called — was the third wife of Morris Wynn. Her portrait, taken in old age, was ex- hibited by the Rev. R. H. Howard, at the North Wales Exhibition, held at Wrexham in 1876; and there is, in Yorke's Royal Tribes, the copy of a portrait of her when a young and blooming woman. " We are told that Catherine had for her first husband, Salisbury, heir of Lleweni, and by him had a son, Thomas, who was executed for Babington's plot in Sep., 1587. Her second son, ' Sir John Salisbury, The Strong,' succeeded at Lleweni. Her Beren estate followed the heiress of the Lleweni house into the Combermere family t Her second husband was Sir Richard Clough ; by him she had two daughters ; one married Wynn of Melai, and the other Salisbury of Bachegraig, and from this marriage descended Dr. Johnson's friend Mrs. Thrale. Catherine's third husband was Maurice Wynn of Gwydir. Her fourth husband, who survived her, was Edward Thelwall, a widower, and his son, by a former marriage, married the daughter of Catherine by Maurice Wynn. . . ' Mam Gwalia ' is said by Yorke to have been a ' singular character,' but in what her singularity consisted — further than she had four husbands — we are not informed. The story goes that 1 Mr. Pennant, writing of the brass in memory of and Robert — of whom nothing is definitely known. Dame Sarah, says it was "by far the most beautiful The latter (see page 3), who engraved the very engraving he ever saw, yet neither the names of rare print of Sir John Wynn, was supposed by Mr. this (Vaughan) or the foregoing artist (Crew) are on Barrington to be the Antiquary of Hengwrt, but the records of the fine arts." It is also singular that Mr. W. W. E. Wynne is sure that this is an error, there should have been two Vaughans— William 2 Milcote in Warwickshire. xviii GWYDIR MEMORIALS. she lost no time in courting. After the funeral of her first husband she left the church in company of Maurice Wynne, who, it is said, ' proposed ' to her. He was too late, Sir Richard Clough having done so, and been accepted, as the funeral procession wended its way to the grave yard. However, she promised Maurice that, in case there should be another opening, he should be her third. And he was!" J The first Sir Richard, who was buried at Wimbledon, died without issue. He was succeeded by his brother Sir Owen, 2 whose son Sir Richard is stated to have been chamberlain to Catherine, queen of Charles the Second, and to have presented to her majesty a pearl from the river Conwy, which is said at one time to have been a con- spicuous object in the royal crown. The pearl fisheries in those days seem to have been more productive off Trevriw than nearer the mouth of the river, and singular stories are still told in the district, of fortunate discoveries of these gems, now never to be met with. A box containing a great number of large Conwy pearls was in the possession of the last Sir R. W. Vaughan, Bart. One of them was given to Mr. Wynne, and is now at Peniarth. The only daughter of the second Sir Richard became the wife of Lord Willoughby, the first duke of Ancaster. The Baronetage of Gwydir " continued and ended in Sir John Wynn of Wynnstay, the grandson of Sir John of Gwydir, by his tenth son Henry and the heiress of Rhiw Goch. Sir John of Wynnstay married the heiress of Watstay. He changed the name, as nearer his own, to Wynnstay. . . He died at the age of ninety-one, and lies buried at Rhuabon. . . He left Wynnstay, and his other estates of great value, to his kinsman Watkin Williams, afterwards Sir Watkin Williams Wynn." 3 Gwydir, it is said, derives its name from gwy = water, and tir = land; or from gwaed dir=the bloody land, in allusion to the battle fought there by Llywarch Hen about the year 610. Mr. Cradock, in his Welsh Tour, says, " the word Gwedir is supposed to signify glass, and the Wynne family was probably the first who, in these parts, had a house with glazed windows." 1 See Bye-gones 1876, pp. 132-3. is now noe tyme to thynke of those kynd of - We have already given one letter by Owen, busynes, yet I beleive it is great negligence & a afterwards Sir Owen Wynn, Bart. The following fau1 ^ "\ anle of 7 s tha * be wellwishers either to the from him, relative to the manuscripts of Dr. Davies P artle feceassed or to the Antiquities of the Coun- of Mallwyd, is from the original at Peniarth :— tr y< l ? lett a11 hls a P a ynes come to nothing, if they Coosen Vaughan, ma y J? e preserved by ame of vs. Dei I writte' heertofore by John Thomas of , Th!s is all „ x have , t0 s fy at th 's tyme, & w" my Jlegelle vnto you to entreate you to thynke of love t0 y ou & vours > * end > & . rest ' ° .-..../- .L. iir.l.i..' :_.-- -r- Vrmr lnvin u I doe herebie second that my request about the ™ " these, selfe same busynes, & though I well know, that it 3 See Yorke's Royal Tribes, p. 10. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Adnitt, H. W., Esq., Lystonville, Shrewsbury. Anwyl, R. C, Esq., Llugwy, Merioneth. Barnes, Jas. R., Esq., Brookside, Chirk. Beedham, B., Esq., Ashfield House, Kimbolton. Bennett, N., Esq., Glan-yr-afon, Caersws. Blaikie, Robert, Esq., Oswestry. Breese.E., Esq., F.S.A., Morva Lodge, Portmadoc. Bridgeman, the Rev. Hon. Canon, Wigan Hall. Burrell, the Honourable Willoughby, n, Merrion Square East, Dublin. Cholmbndeley, the Most Noble the Marquess of, i, Hyde Park, London, W. Chester, Col. Joseph Lemuel, LL.D., Linden Villas, 124, Blue Anchor Road, Bermondsey, London. Coombs, Howard, Esq., Elmley House, Worcester. Davies, David, Esq., M.P., Broneirion, Llandinam. Davies, Henry, Esq., Castle House, Oswestry. Davies, J. Sides, Esq., The Poplars, Oswestry. Davies, John, Esq., 103, London-road, Southwark. Davies, J. Pryce, Esq., Bronfelen. Davies, John, Esq., Treasury, London. Davies, James, Esq., Plasnewydd, Llanrhaiadr. Dovaston, J., Esq., Westfelton. Davies, Rev. J., St. David's Vicarage, Blaenau. Davies, Rev. James, Prebendary of Hereford, Moor Court, Kington, Herefordshire. Downing, W., Esq., 74, New-street, Birmingham. Edwards, Mr. J. G., Llangedwyn. Edwards, Mr. Richard, Sefton-street, Litherland. Edwards, R., Esq., The Cottage, Llanbrynmair. Evans, Joseph, Esq., Haydock Grange, St. Helens. Evans, Owen, Esq., Broom Hall, near Pwllheli. Evans, Rev. W. Howell, Vicarage, Oswestry. Evans, Rev. Thomas Henry, Llanwddyn Vicarage. Evans, Rev. Edward, Llanfihangel Rectory. Evans, Rev. D. Silvan, B.D. , Llanwrin Rectory. Evans, S., Esq., Llanfair, Welshpool. Evans, Stephen, Esq., Bryntirion, Hornsey Lane, London, N. (two copies.) Ffoulkes, W. Wynne, Esq. , M.A., Judge of County Courts, Old Northgate House, Chester (tieo copies.) Fletcher, P. Lloyd, Esq., Nerquis Hall, Mold. Fuller, Dr., Oswestry. Gillart, Richard, Esq., Llynlloedd, Machynlleth. Girardot, Mrs., Rose Hill, Rhuabon. Griffith, J. Lloyd, Esq., M.A., Frondeg, Holyhead. Guest, Dr., Master of Caius College, Cambridge. Gwylim Davydd, 77, Everton Terrace, Liverpool. Hanmer, the Rt. Hon. Lord, Bettisfield ( two copies.) Harlech, the Rt. Hon. Lord, Brogyntyn, Oswestry. Hamilton, Sir E. A., Chorlton, Malpas. Hancock, Mr. T. W., 5, Furnival's Inn, London. Howell, David, Esq., Machynlleth. Hughes, R. H., Esq., Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire. Kinmel Park, Abergele. Hughes, Thomas, Esq., F.S.A., The Groves, Chester. Hughes, Mr. Wm., Tanner, Oswestry. James, Rev. T., M.A., LL.D., F.S.A., Netherthong Vicarage, Huddersfield (two copies.) Jebb, A. T. Esq-. The Lyth, Ellesmere. Jenkins, R. H., Esq., 16, Abchurch-Iane, London. Jeudwine, Rev. Wm., Chicheley Vicarage, Newport- Pagnel. Jones, E. P., Esq., Diphwys Casson Co., Festiniog. Jones, John, Esq., St. John's, Wrexham. Jones, Mr. T. G., Llansantffraid, Oswestry. Jones, Mr. Jacob, Cambrian House, Bala. Jones, Rev. R., B.D., Editor |of \Y Cymmrodor, Vicar of All Saints', Rotherhithe, London. Jones, J., Esq., Ashlands, Oswestry. Jones, John. Esq., Ynysfor, Penrhyndeudraeth. Jones, Morris C, Esq., F.S.A., Gungrog, Welshpool. Jones, R. E., Esq., Cefn-Bryntalch, Abermule. Jones, Rev. John, M.A., Rector of Llanaber. Jones, Rev. Richard, The Rectory, Llanfrothen. Jones, R. Watkins, Esq., Wesleyan Coll., Didsbury. Jones, W. Eccles, Esq., Tynyllan, Llansilin. Kenyon, Hon. George T. , Llanerch Panna. Kenyon, J. R., Esq., Q.C., Pradoe, West Felton. Kirkham, Rev. J. W., M.A., Rector of Llanbryn mair, Rural Dean of Cyfeiliog and Mawddwy . Lee, Rev. M. H., Hanmer. Leighton, Rev. W. Allport, Shrewsbury. XX LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Leighton,' Stanley, Esq., M.P., Sweeney Hall. Lewis, Dr. James, 50, Broad-street, Oxford. Lewis, Geo., Esq., Frankton Grange. Lewis, Rev. Evan, Dolgelley. Lewis, Rev. David, Rector of Llangyniew. Liverpool Free Public Library, William Brown- street, Mr. P. Cowell, Librarian. Lloyd, Alfred, Esq., 28, Park-road, Haverstock Hill, London, -N.W. Lloyd, Edward Evans, Esq., Moelygarnedd, Bala. Lloyd, Howel W., Esq., 22, Scarsdale Villas, Ken- sington, Lloyd, John, Esq., Queen's Hotel, Oswestry. Lloyd, J. Y. Wm., Esq., Clochfaen, Llangurig ( two copies. ) Lloyd, Rev. T. H., Vicar of Nerquis. Loxdale, James, Esq., Castle Hill, Aberystwyth. Mostyn, the Right Hon. Lord, Mostyn, Flintshire. Mainwaring, Salusbury Kynaston, Esq., Oteley. Mainwaring, Townshend, Esq., Galltfaenan. Markey, George, Esq., Oswestry. Matkin, Mrs., Gwydir Castle, Llanrwst. Mclntyre, Peter, Esq., Agent, Llanrwst. Middleton, John, Esq., Westholme, Cheltenham. ■Minshall, Charles, Esq., Beechfield, Oswestry. Minshall, Miss M. Wynne, Castle View, Oswestry, Minshall, P. H, Esq,, Oswestry. Morgan, Rev. D., Vicarage, Penrhyndeudraeth. Morris, E. R., Esq., Homestay, Newtown. Morris, Henry, Esq.,3g2, Strand, London, W.C. Moses, Mr., Trevor Issa, Rhosymedre, Rhuabon. Nicholl, G. W., Esq., The Ham, Cowbridge. Nicholas, Thomas, Ph.D., M.A., F.G.S., 156, Crom- well Road, South Kensington, S.W. Nunnerley, John, Esq., the Priory, Warrington. Owen, A. C. Humphreys, Esq. , Glansevern. Owen, Rev. Elias, M.A., Diocesan Inspector of Schools, Ruthin. Owen, D. C. Lloyd, Esq. , Birmingham, Owen, Rev. R.Trevor, Llangedwyn ( two copies.) Owen, George, Esq., Park Issa, Oswestry. Owen, Morris, Esq., Solicitor, Carnarvon. Powis, the Rt. Hon. the Earl of, Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire, Powis Castle, Welshpool. Pamplin, Wm,,Esq.,Llandderfel, Merionethshire. Parkins, Wm. Trevor, Esq,, Glasfryn, Gresford. Payne, William, Esq., Woodleigh, Southsea. Penson, R. Kyrke, Esq., F.S.A., Ludlow. Pierce, Mr. Ellis, Bookseller, Dolwyddelan. Pierce, Mrs., Sherbourne House, Leamington. Pryce, Elijah, Esq., Trederwen House, Llansant- ffraid. Pryce, Rev. Shadrach, M.A., Penymorfa, Carmar- then. Quaritch, Bernard, Esq., 15, Piccadilly, London, Reid, Augustus H., Esq., Temple Row, Wrexham. Richards, Captain E., Morben Hall, Machynlleth. Roberts, Mr. D. , Willow-street, Oswestry. Roberts, Mr. Tom, M.R.C.V.S., Oswestry. Roberts, Thomas, Esq., C.E., Portmadoc. Rochdale Free Library, Mr. G. Hanson, Librarian. Rowland.William, Esq., The Oak Hotel, Welshpool. Rylands, J. Paul, Esq., F.S.A., Highfields, Thel- wall, near Warrington. Sandbach, Henry R., Esq., Hafudunos, Abergele. Salisbury, E. R. G., Esq., Glan Aber, Chester. Salusbury, Philip H. B., Esq., do. Savin, John, Esq., Bodegroes, Pwllheli. Scott, Mrs., Peniarth Ucha, Towyn. Southern, Francis R., Esq., Ludlow, Southwell, T. Martin, Esq., The Woodlands, Bridg- north. Smith, Hubert, Esq., Belmont, Bridgnorth, Stuart, Major, Betton Strange, Shrewsbury. St. David's College, Lampeter. Taylor, Edw. James, Esq., F.S.A., Newc, Bishops- wearmouth. Temple, Rev. R., M.A., Glanbrogan, Oswestry. Thomas, Howel, Esq., Local Government Board, London. Thomas, John, Esq. (Pencerdd Gwalia), 53, Wel- beck-street, Cavendish Square, London. Thomas, John, Esq., Slate Wharf, Portmadoc. Thomas, John, Esq., Castle Buildings, Oswestry. Thomas, Rev. D. R., M.A., F.R.H.S., Editor of Archceologia Cambrensis, Meifod Vicarage. Thomas, Rev. Llewelyn, Jesus College, Oxford. Thomas, Mr., The Buildings, Baschurch. Thursfield, T. H., Esq., Barrow, Broseley, Salop. Tomkies, John, Esq., Copenhagen Terrace, George- street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester (two copies.) Treherne, George M., Esq., St. Hilary, Cowbridge. Tucker, Stephen, Esq., Rouge Croix, Heralds' Col- lege, London. . Vaughan, Henry F. J., Esq., B.A., S.C.L., 30 Edwardes-square, Kensington, W. Verney, Captain Edmund H., Rhianva, Bangor. Venables, Rowland Geo., Esq., Oakhurst, Oswestry. Willoughby de Eresby, the Baroness, Grimsthorpe, Bourne, Lincolnshire (four copies.) Webb, T., Esq., Talworth House, Cardiff. West, W. Cornwallis, Esq., Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire, Ruthin Castle, Ruthin. Wheldon, Rev. T. J., B.A., Bethania, Carnarvon. Williams, Edward Esq., Broomhall, Oswestry. Williams, J. Ignatius, Esq., Goldsmith Buildings, Temple, London. Williams, Pryce, Esq., Holly House, Bristol. Williams, Richard, Esq., Celynog, Newtown. Williams, Rev. Canon R., Rhydycroesau Rectory. Williams, Rev. Canon, Llanfyllin. Williams, Rev. H. E., Vicarage, Dolwyddelan. Williams, Rev. W. Wynn, Menaifron, Anglesey. Williams, Stephen, Esq., Penralley, Rhayader. Williams, T. Humphrey, Esq., Llwyn, Dolgelley. Wilkins, Charles, Esq., Springfield, Merthyr Tydvil. Wood, R. H., Esq., F.S.A., Pantglas, Traws- fynydd, Merionethshire. Wynn, Sir Watkin Williams, Bt., M.P., Wynnstay. Wynne, Wm. W. E., Esq., Peniarth, Towyn- Merioneth (two copies.) Wynne, Wm. R. M., Esq. do. Wynne, Owen S., Esq., Plas-Newydd, Rhuabon. Wynne, J., Kendrick, Esq., Eccleshall, Staff. W,ynne, Robert Vaughan, Esq., Eccleshall, Staft. Printed for Robert Weffcuw0/i,Jg£ jFmchurck Stj-eet. Warafctzj- J&fttfittyt THE HISTORY OF THE GWEDIR FAMILY, BY SIR JOHN WYNNE, The first Baronet of that Name, who was born in 1553. INTRODUCTION. 1 IT may not be improper to give the reader some account of what he is, or is not, to expect from the present publication, as well as to throw together what few particulars can be now col- lected with regard to its author. The MS. hath, for above a century, been so prized in North Wales, that many in those parts have thought it worth while to make fair and complete transcripts of it. One of these Carte had consulted, and he refers to it as, his authority for the Welsh Bards having been massacred by Edward the First 2 . This circumstance alone may stamp a most intrinsic value on the MS., as it hath given rise to an ode which will be admired by our latest posterity. The whole passage relative to this tradition is also cited by the Rev. Mr. Evans, in his Specimens of Welsh Poetry, and it ap- pears that he had made the extract from a copy in the collection of Sir Roger Mostyn, Bart. 3 •* 1 This history of the Gwedir family was first pub- 2 See Carte, vol.JII'. p. 196, where it is entitled lished in octavo, 1770; but the impression having Sir John Wynne's History of 'the'fiwedir family. — B. been sold, it hath for some years been in consider- ,. , . . J , . i-j-ffTi re Jones's History of Breconshire, and , H „ ji-*- 1 * d t* .« Stephens's Literature of the Cymry, for a com printed, with some additional notes.— B. It was f ' \ ■" again reprinted, in 18: Miss Angharad Llwyd " . ' . . , . „ ... ,,...' ." _.„ . , plete refutation of Sir John's statement about the again reprinted, in 1827, w.th additional notes by P^^ rf ^ ^ B 2 INTRODUCTION. It is believed likewise that there is another transcript 1 in the possession of Mr. Panton, of Plasgwyn in Anglesey, who, together with Mr. Holland, of Conway, and the Rev. Mr. Jones (late Vicar of Llanrwst), have been so obliging as to communicate many particulars with regard to the Gwedir family. The author was indeed a general collector of what related not only to his own ancestors, but the antiquities of the Principality 2 , as Rowland cites an Extent 3 or Survey of North Wales, illustrated by useful remarks of Sir John Wynne. There was some difficulty in settling the time of the author's birth and death, till Mr. Granger's Biographical Dictionary was consulted, who gives the following inscription under a copy made by Vertue, from an engraving of the author by Vaughan : — i " Johannes Wynn de Gwedir in Com. Carnarvon Eques & Ba- ronettus 5 ; obiit i mo die Martii, 1626, set. 73." 6 The accuracy of these dates seemed at first to be very suspicious, as there is an account of a voyage to Spain by Sir Richard Wynne, of Gwedir, Baronet, in 1623, which is prefixed to that volume of Hearne's Tracts that begins with the Life of Richard the se- cond. Application was however made to the late Mr. West, Pr. R. S., for leave to examine the original print, in his very va- luable and curious collection. Mr. Granger's dates are thereby most exactly confirmed, and it may not be improper here to add the inscription under the engraving : 1 The present publication is also from a copy 26th of Edward the third. It is called the " Record that belonged to Capt. Joseph Williams of Glan- of Caernarvon," in the Harleian Collection. It ravon, which he kindly communicated.— B. relates only to the counties of Mon, Caernarvon, 2 See Mon. Antiq. p. 123. and Meirionydd. No. 4776.— L. 3 This extent or survey of North Wales is now in * 0ne of the P rints of sir J°h n Wynn, by the Harleian Collection. It is a very fine MS. in Vau g han > sold, many years ago, in London, for Folio, and appears to have been made in the 26th year about £**• There is one at Wynnstay, and another of Edward the Third. It relates only to the counties at Pematth - of Anglesey, Carnarvon, and Merioneth.— B. A "He was created Baronet in 1611. (See Gwil- MS. amongst Dr. Foulkes's papers says that this lim's Heraldry, 6th ed.) — B. extent was begun in Edward the first's time, and « The words .. nee timet nec tumet „ are inBCribed continued by Edward the second, and finished the on Sir John Wynn - S picture at Mojtyn _ L . INTRODUCTION. 3 " Vera effigies Domini Clarissimi Johannis Wynn de Gwedir in Com. Carnarvon, Equitis & Baronetti. " Obiit primo die Martii 1626, setat. 73. 1 " Honoris ipsius causa Rob. Vaughan sculpsit, prolique D.D." This was possibly Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt the great an- tiquary, who was a particular friend of Sir John Wynn, as also of his son Sir Richard, to whom he dedicated his book entitled "British Antiquities revived." I find also by the letter subjoined, that Mr. Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt engraved himself, and that the expression of sculpsit therefore is strictly accurate. "Sir, " I wold intreate you to send me certayne directions, whether itt shold be three Egletts in a Scutcheon, or one Eagle on a Wreath ; for to doe it in a Scutcheon with one Eagle is contrary to the rules of heraldry, and not your cote : likewise whether itt shold not have a Labell for the distinction of an elder brother, during the life-time of his father, in this manner ; /"TFtT"") ^ y° u please to send by the weekly post I will answer you HA 4, 5. J ^y the next convenient messenger. When these troubles began I wWyjfl I had drawne the pedigree of Sir Richard from Owen Gwynedd line- ^"■^'^w^ ally to himselfe ; now in my absence from London both the copper plate which I had began to 'grave and the draught was embezzeld from me : now I am resolved (God willing) this vacation time to sett it a foote agayne. I onely want the names of your ancestors from Owen Gwynedd to your selfe, of which you are the 15th (leaving out young Sir John and Sir Richard) because they died issueless. For the faces I am at my own fancy till I come to Sir John Wyn your father ; for the rest that are beyond him I thinke you have no true pictures of them extant. This (if I have your, fayre leave) I wold dedicate to posterity, in some small measure, to expresse my duty I owe to your honor'd family ; and during life remayne, " Your evervowed servant "London, June 22, 1650. "Robert Vaughan. 2 "To the Hon. Sir Owen Wynne, Knt. " Baronet at Gwedur, " These, with his service, present." [Communicated by Paul Panton, Esq.] 1 He died, at Gwydir, on Thursday, March 1, 2 Mr. W. W. E. Wynne is quite certain that 1626-7, and > as was said < was buried at Llanrwst this was not Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt. the next day. (See Arch. Camb. Oct., 1864, p. 3*2v> 4 INTRODUCTION It seems improbable that the engraver could be inaccurate in the dates of Sir John Wynne's birth and death, when the print is dedicated to his family. The title therefore given by Hearne to a voyage of Sir Richard Wynne 1 of Gwedir, Baronet, in 1623, when he only became so in 1627, must have arisen from his being a Baronet when he, per- haps, made a more fair and complete copy of his Travels. If this could want any confirmation, it may receive it from two commissions in Rymer 2 ; in the first of which, dated in 1626, mention is made of Sir John Wynne, Baronet ; and in the second, dated in 1627 3 , 0I " Sir Richard Wynne, Baronet. Though Mr. Granger therefore seems to be accurate, with re- gard to the birth and death of the first Baronet, yet, from a simila- rity of names, he hath made a mistake in ascribing the republi- cation of " Dr. Powel's History of Wales from Cadwalader to Llewelyn, by W. Wynne, A.M.," to this Baronet. The author, who was born in 1553, seems to have lived chiefly in retirement, during which period no very interesting particulars can ' be expected. 4 The building a new house is an event of some consequence in such a life; he began Upper Gwedir 5 in 1604, as appears by an inscription over the entrance. 1 An inscription in Wimbleton church. — Hie hominum qui vidit, & urbes. [MS. Letter penes jacet Ric: Wyn de Gwedir in Com: deCaernar: Paul Panton, Esq.] — Which circumstance is perhaps Mil : et Baron : thesaurarius nee non conciliarius confirmed by his son. having visited Italy when Honoratissimus Principis et Henriette Maria? young, as fathers generally wish that their reginae qui linea parentali et illustri ilia Familla sons should be educated in the same manner et antiquissima Stirpe Britanica North Walliae with themselves. B. A letter in Mr. Panton's Principum Oriundus Denatus 19 die Julii 1649 possession from Mr. Williams, afterwards Arch- ^Etatis 61. — L. bishop of York, speaks ol Sir J. Wynne's sons * See Rymer's Feed. vol. VIII. part ii. p. 145 as verv promising scholars. By No. 2129 of and 233. Hague ed.— B. Harleian MSS., it appears that there was a room ,„..,„, , , . ... „ , within the hall at Gwydir painted with the arms » Sir John Wynn probably died on March 3 and descent of the famUy ._ L . 1626. — B. (See note 1 page 3). , ,, . „ ,, . .. . . , , . „ . . .. 5 The house, called Lower Gwedir, he mentions * It should seem, that he had travelled in his • ,1,. MO . , . , , u . ,. j a uv x. 1I7-H- ,., 1 ,. in this M S. to have been built by his great grand- younger days, as Archb^hop Williams (then tutor father _ As for G ^ ft ^ ^ to his sons at St. Johns College, Cambridge) almost whh injBcri ^ ionB in different languages . speaks of him as a man, Multorum mores scarce ly any of which remain, as the wainscot hath INTRODUCTION. 5 It was considered as one of the best houses in the Principality,. because there is a tradition that it was calculated to receive any of the Royal Family, who might have occasion to go to Ireland x . As in the year 1604 none of the blood Royal could probably think of such a journey, it may rather be supposed that it was destined for the reception of the Lords Deputies of Ireland, as v it is little out of the road to Holyhead, if at this time they did not go from Chester to Dublin. Be this as it may, some reason for any mention being made of this house arises from a possibility of its having been designed by Inigo Jones, in his first manner, before he had been in Italy, as this great architect was protected by Sir John Wynne. The name of Jones sufficiently proves him to have been of Welsh extraction ; to which it may be added, that his cast of been lately used in repairing farm-houses on other parts of the estate. The Pigeon-house appears by the date to have been built in 1597. There is an engraving of Lower Gwedir in a map of Denbigh and Flintshire, which was published 40 or 50 years ago, by William Williams. A Welsh inscription, which is still legible, over the entrance, is here subjoined : Bryn Gwydir gwelir golau adeilad, Uwch dolydd a chaerau, Bryn gwych adail yn ail ne, Bron wen henllys brenhinlle. Hugh bach ap Howell ap Shenkin a ganodd yr Englyn uchod, ddeng mlynedd cyn amcanu ^gwneuthur yr adeilad hon. ' ' A conspicuous edifice on Gwydir hill, towering over the adjacent land, a well chosen situa- tion, a second paradise, a fair bank, a palace of royalty. " This Englyn was written by little Hugh Shenkin, ten years before the building was designed." [ It should seem from this, that little Hugh Shenkin was a prophet, as well as poet.]— B. The late reverend Mr. Jones, vicar of Llanrwst, was so obliging as to copy the above inscription and to accompany it with the translation here given. He also observes, that this Welsh compo- sition is a. sort of jingle, for which he knows no English name, or any similar metre. — B. Gwydir Summer House bears date 1673. — L. 1 A correspondent of his son Sir Richard Wynne speaks thus of Gwedir, in 1661. " Deare Sir, "I Know not how in part to acquit myselfe of the obligation you have layd on me, without giving my acknowledgement to your excellent lady whom I have taken the boldness to visit, and find her in the happy condition I desired, being very well, and upon inquiry, continuing in the hopeful way you left her to increase your family. Really upon my view and consideration of the seate of Gwidder, I conclude it to be the best place in Wales, and inferiour to few in England* I need not urge those things to hasten your re- turne ; but I should judge very weakly of those that have such conveniencys, and will not enjoy them, if not detained by very great consider- ations. In fine, I am in the buttery, just taking leave, and drinking your health, bidding adieu to your house, and the like at this time to your- selfe. " Your most humble servant, " And obliged Cosen, " Thomas Bulkely." " Gwydder, this 27th May, 1661. [Present this to the Hon. Sir Richard Wynne, Bart.] " John Win ap Meredith dwellith at Gweder at two bows shots above Conway town, on t»e ripe of Conway River: it is a praty place." Lei. Itin. vol. V. p. 40. Leland here most evidently mistakes Conway for Llanrwst. — B. 6 INTRODUCTION. features, as represented in Hollar's engraving of his portrait, seems to show that he must have been an inhabitant of the Princi- pality. All traditions have generally some foundation, and it is com- monly believed in the neighbourhood of Llanrwst, that Jones was born either at that town, or Dolwyddelan, which is equally situated near considerable estates of the Gwedir family. The tra- dition is also so circumstantial, as to suppose that he was christened by the name of Ynyr, 1 which, after his travels into Italy, he exchanged for Inigo as sounding better. 2 It is part like- wise of the same tradition, that he was patronised by the Wynnes of Gwedir, and that he built Plasteg, belonging to the Trevor family, on the road from Wrexham to Mold. 3 As every particular which relates to this great architect is in- teresting, it may not be improper also to observe, that Jones, who went a second time to Italy in 1612, might possibly have travelled* under the protection of the author's eldest son, John, who died at Lucca in that year. As for his being patronised by the -Earl of Pembroke at this time, it seems to be very justly doubted by Mr. Walpole. 5 1 1 think with much more probability, that it was under which Jones was born, if a native of Llan- Inco, which I find was a name not very uncom- rwst. — B. [ By Snowdon is here meant, what was mon in those times, and there is a house not anciently included in the forest of that name. — B.] far from Llanrwst which is called to this day Davydd Rhys, changed his surname into Rizzio; " Pen-craig Inco." P. B. Williams.— L. his father, Dr. John Davydd Rhys studied Physic » Thus Cooper (master for the Viol da Gamba in the University of Sienna, in I555-— L. to Charles the First) after he had been in Italy » There is an engraving of the front of this changed his name to Coperario. Hawkins's house on the side of a large map of Denbigh- History of Music, vol. IV. He also altered his shire and Flintshire, which was published about Christian name, stiling himself Giovanni instead forty or fifty years ago. — B. ot John. Ibid, vol IV. p. 55. Thus likewise 4 The universit of 0x ford, A.D. 1605, upon Peter Philips, another musician who had been Ri s ^ . hired one ^ ^ much m Italy, stiled himself PietroPhihpp.. Ibtd. traveller, who undertook to further them v. III. p. 327- Jones was branded by Ben much) and fumish them with rafe &&y . but . Jonson for his vanity, as one of the. latter s performed very little, to that which was expected, epigrams » addressed to In.go Marquis would th h id £ for his gervice- Ai ^ £ be. Jones indeed contrived the scenes for Jon- ^ gecond v0 , ume , Le , CMe ^ g 6 _ R son s masques, which being perhaps more ad- mired than the poetry, excited Jonson's envy. "Anecdotes of Painting in England (article It is remarkable also that one of these scenes Jones) ; where notice is likewise taken, that this represents Craig Eryri, or the rocks of Snowdon, great architect was possibly protected by the Earl INTRODUCTION. 7 It is not improbable likewise that Jones might have obtained the considerable station he afterwards rose to from the patronage of this family, which considered him as a promising genius, that did particular honour to Gwedir and its neighbourhood. But to re- turn to what more immediately concerns the author of these Memoirs, and his family. In 1610 Sir John Wynne erected at Llanrwst some almshouses (to which he gave the name of Jesus Hospital) for the reception of twelve poor men, and drew up regulations for the manage- ment of his benefaction. He also endowed this charity very libe- rally with the rectorial tithes of Eglwys Fach, which are now valued at ^200. per annum. In 1615 he had incurred the displeasure of the Council of the Marches, as the then Chancellor (Lord Ellesmere) is informed, that Sir John Wynne, Knight and Baronet, is improper to be con- tinued a member thereof, and also that his name should not remain in the commission of the peace for Carnarvonshire. 1 The year before his death he was desirous of promoting a con- siderable embankment on the confines of Carnarvon and Meri- onethshire ; 2 as appears by the following letter : " Right worthee Sir, my good Cousyn, and one of the greate Honours of Veneration, " I Understand of a greate work "that you have performed in the Isle of Wight, in gaininge two thousand acres from the sea: I may saie to you as the Jewes said to Christ ; we have heard of thy great workes done abroad, doe somewhat in thine owne Countrey. " There are two wayis in Merionythshire whereon some parte of my living 3 lieth, of Arundel B. Inigo Jones was employed by a Engineers have lately made their reports in Q. Eliz. in repairing one of the piers of London favour of this undertaking ; but hitherto no work- Bridge, which gained him repute, after being re- men have been employed. — B. Readers of the commended to that Queen by Sir John Wynne. present edition of this hook will scarcely need to be This anecdote the late Rev. John Lloyd, Rector informed that by the embankment made by Mr. ' of Caerwys, received from Mr. Stoddart, of Llan- Madocks early in this century, nearly 3,000 acres dderfel, who had it from the late Mr. Wynn, of of land have been reclaimed. Bodscallen, who was possessed of several anec- 8 Anciently used for an estate, thus, " I have dotes relat.ve to Inigo Jones.— L. a little lMng m thig town »_ The London Prodiga i 1 MS. Letter, penes Mr. Fanton. — B. ascribed to Shakespeare. — B. S INTRODUCTION. called Traethmawr and Traethbychan, of a greate extent of ground, and entringe into the sea by one Issue, which ys not a mile broade at full sea and verie shallow : the fresh currents that run into the sea, are both vehement and greate, and carrie with them much sand, beside the southerly winde, which bloweth to the haven's mouth, carrieth with it so much sand that it hath overwhelmed a greate quantitie of the ground adjacent. There are also in the boarderinge countreys abundance of wood, brush, and other materials fit to make mounts, to be had at a verie cheape rate, and easilie brought to the place, which I hear they do in Lin- colnshire to repell the sea. My skill ys little, and my experience none at all in such matters ; yet I ever had a desire to further my country in such actions as might be for their profit, and leave a remembrance of my endeavours ; but hindered with other matters, I have onelie wished well and done nothinge. " Now seinge yt pleased God to bringe you into this countrey, I am to desire you to take a view of the place, not beinge above a daie's journey from you ; and yf you doe see things fit to be undertaken, I ame content to adventure a brace of hundreth pounds to joine with you in the worke. " I have leade oare on my ground in greate store, 1 and other minerals neere my house, yf it please you to come hither, being not above two daies journey from you, you shall be most kindely welcome; yt may be you shall find here that will tend to your commoditie and myne : yf I did knowe the day certaine when you would come to view Traithmawr, my sonne Owen Wynn shall attend you there, and conduct you thence along to my house. Commending me verie kindely unto you, doe rest, " Your loving Cousyn and Friend, "dwyder, Sept. i, 1625. "John Wynne," To the Hon. Sir Hugh Myddleton, Knight and Baronet. [A coppie ol a letter to Sir Hugh Myddleton, Knight and Baronet, at the Silver Mines 2 in Cardiganshire.] In 1626, at the age of seventy-three, he died much lamented both by his family and neighbourhood, which may be inferred from the engraving by Vaughan already mentioned, as in those times few had such respect shewn to their memories, who were not very singularly esteemed. 1 These mines have been lately worked, and I formed also that money hath been coined from am told with some success. — B. them. — B. This was done by Mr. Bushel in_the * There is so much silver in some of the lead time of Charles 1st. See the grant to [him for mines not far from Aberystwith, that they have that purpose in Rymer's Fcedera. been stiled the Welsh Potosi; I have been in- w o Q 2 n u I -i •J INTRODUCTION. 9 How many of Sir John Wynne's children were living at his death cannot now be accurately known ; he had, however, by Sidney, daughter of Sir William Gerard, chancellor of Ireland, eleven sons and two daughters. 1 * Sir Richard Wynne, who became the eldest son upon the death of his brother John, was one of the Grooms of the bedchamber to Charles the First when Prince of Wales, and was appointed afterwards Treasurer to Queen Henrietta. In 1633 Sir Richard built the chapel at Llanrwst, which is sup- posed by tradition to have been planned by Jones, and in 1636 the bridge over the Conway at the end of the town was completed. This bridge is also considered as a work of Jones's, and is so elegant a structure that it sufficiently speaks itself to be the plan of a masterly architect. 2 Having stated the few circumstances which could be collected with regard to the author, it may not be improper to mention, that no liberties have been taken in improving his orthography or style, except now and then by breaking a very long and compli- cated period into two, so as to make it more perspicuous and in- telligible. 1 This appears by the inscription over the husband ol Jane, grandaughter and heiress to author's tomb at Llanrwst. A letter from Arch- William Wynn, of Garthgynnan, who was the bishop Williams states, that some of his elder sons fourth son of Sir J. Wynn, of Gwydyr, upon were promising scholars. — B. condition of his taking the name and arms of In the Temple Church is a monument to Henry Wynn. The present Sir W. W. Wynn is the lineal Wynn, one of the eleven sons of Sir John Wynn descendant, and representative of Sir William of Gwedir, Bart. This Henry Wynn married Williams. — L. It was to Mr. Watkin Williams, Catherine, the daughter and heiress of Ellis the eldest son of Sir William, that Sir John Wynn Lloyd, Esq., of Rugoch in Merioneth. He was left the estates. Judge of the Marshalsea, Prothonotary of the 2 M r. Panton hath informed me, from the records N.W. Circuit, and Secretary to the Court of of the Quarter Sessions for Denbighshire, that the Marches. He died in 1671. See also No. this bridge was directed to be rebuilt in the gth 2129. p. 148 & seq. of the Harleian MSS. for of C ar. I. by a letter from the Privy Council, many inscriptions on the tomb-stones of the j ones being then surveyor of the workS) and) author's ancestors in Llanrwst church, which having therefore probably procured this order in seem to have been copied about a century ago, favour of the place of his nativity. The estimate and many of which are now scarcely legible.— B. amounted to £ 1000. which was to be levied Henry Wynn was father to Sir J. Wynn, of Wynn- n the two counties of Denbigh and Carnarvon, stay, Bart, who, having no children, left his estates [A modern lawyer would probably dispute the to Sir William Williams, Bart, of Llanvorda, the legality of such a requisition.]— B. C IO INTRODUCTION. It is not pretended that the present publication is entitled to any merit of this sort, as it appears to have been com- piled merely for the author's information, and that of his des- cendants. His intention in these memoirs of his family was to deduce his pedigree from Owen Gwynedd 1 , Prince of N. Wales in 1138. So long therefore as his ancestors continued to be some of the reguli of that country, it may be considered as a history, or rather brief chronicle of the Principality. Imperfect however as it is, yet it may be entitled to some degree of value, in the light of a sup- plement to Dr. Powel's Chronicle of Wales. It appears by this MS. that the author was furnished with some materials, which neither Powel, nor "Wynne, the only other his- torian of Wales, had ever seen. In different parts of these memoirs he cites as his authorities, The copy of a Fragment of a Welsh Chronicle, in the possession of his cousin Sir Thomas Williams of Trefriw ; Welsh Pedigrees ; The records kept in Carnarvon Castle; Records copied for him at the Tower by J. Broughton, Esq., then Justice of N. Wales ; as also the tradition of the country. What seems to be most interesting in the work, are some anec- dotes and circumstances which relate to the more immediate an- cestors of the author, as they are strongly characteristick of the manners and way of living in the Principality during that period. As the places mentioned are often nothing more than farms* and in a part of Wales not much known probably to English Readers, it hath been thought proper to subjoin in a note some account of their situations. If this had been done, howeve'r, in every instance, it would have greatly increased the size of the. publication ; it therefore may not be improper to premise, that the scene chiefly lies in 1 Owen Gwynedd succeeded his father Griff, ab Cynan, in the Principality of North Wales, in the year 1137, an d reigned 32 years. — L. INTRODUCTION. II Eifionydd 1 , Dolwyddelan 2 , and Gwedir, all of which are in Car- narvonshire. I conceive it to be much to the credit of these Family Memoirs that the very learned and ingenious Dr. Percy (Dean of Carlisle) hath perused them with such attention as to have drawn out four genealogical tables, 3 as also to have added some notes, for the il- lustration of certain parts, and more particularly with regard to the pedigrees. I am proud to insert these, and the reader will find them under the mark of P. I have likewise added some ob- servations for which I am indebted to the Rev. Mr. Evan Evans, translator of some specimens of ancient Welsh Poetry, published for Dodsley, in quarto : these are marked E. 4 1 Evionydd is a tract of country lying between and in the present edition they are iurther aug- the promontory of Lleyn and the mountainous mented by Mr. W. W. E. Wynne. region of Snowdon. It was formerly a comot of 4 In the preEent edition these initials are retainedi the cantrev, or hundred of Dunodig; the other and the other notes in the two editions ; ssued by comot was Ardudwy, now a part of Meirionydd- the Hon> Daines Barrington have the letter B. shire, between Harddlech and Barmouth. Walter attached t0 them . Those for which Miss L i wyd Davies. L. ; s reS p 0ns £bi e are marked L. The most important 2 Dolwyddelan, a parish near Capel Curig L. notes now added (including all the references to , _, ^ , . , , . , the existing copies of the Gwydir MS., and most * These tables were largely augmented m the of the dates from other SOUTC( ? g) are the WQrk rf «dit.on ,ssued by M.ss Angharad Liwyd m 1827 ; w . w . E . Wynn£) Esq>) of Peniarthi _ A . R . 12 Written by Sir John Wynne of Gwyder, Knt. and Baronet, Ut creditur, & patet. GRUFFITH ap Conan, 1 Prince of Wales, had by his wife Anghared, the daughter of Owen ap Edwyn, Lord of Englefield, Owen Gwynedd, Cadwalader and Cadwallon, who was slaine before his father's death : he reigned over Wales fifty years. His troublesome life and famouse actes are compiled by a most auncient frier or monke of Wales: this was found by the posterity of the said Gruffith ap Conan in the house of Gwedir 2 in North Wales, and at the request of Morice Wynne, Esq. (who had the same written in a most ancient booke and was lineally descended from him) was translated into Latine by Ni- cholas Robinson, Bishop of Bangor. 3 1 Gruffith ap Conan died in 1137. In the MS. copy of the Gwydir History at Wynnstay, the arms of the wife of Griffith ap Conan are given as, Sable, a chevron between 3 roses, argent, and those of the wife of his son, Owen Gwynedd, as argent, a cross ingrailed, flory, sable, between 3 Cornish choughs, proper. 2 There are two houses so called at present very near each other, the one Lower Gwydir and the other Upper; they are both in Car- narvonshire, on the western side of the Conway opposite to the town of Llanrwst. One of these houses is so ancient as to be mentioned in Saxton's map of Carnarvonshire, which was en- graved in 1578. — B. Evan Evans Cler. derives the name of Gwydir from Gwy (water) and tir (land), and Mr. Lloyd of Cowden, from Gwaed tir, or the Bloody Land, there having been a great battle there, &c. It is certain, that in the above life of Gruff, ap Cynan, there is an account of a bloody battle between him and Trahayarn ab Cara- dog, fought at a place from thence denominated, Gwaed-erw, or tir gwaedlyd, alias gwaedir; I believe from the circumstances of that battle, that it was fought upon this spot. The foregoing remarks upon the etymology of the word Gwydir bear the stamp of high authority ; at the same time, it is not improbable, when the peculiar situation of the house and lands is considered, being on the banks of the Conway, from which probably the latter was originally recovered, that Gwy dir, or water land, is the true one. Gwy or Wy is the ancient word for water, still found in the names of rivers, i. e. Cynwy the first or chiet river, Elwy, or Ailwy, the second river, and Wye, the river by way of eminence. — L. 8 The late Rev. Mr. Lloyd of Cowden, in Sussex, informed me that he saw this MS. of Bishop Robinson, at the Rev Mr. Hugh Hughes's late vicar of Bangor, whose father and eldest brother were stewards after him at Gwedir. — B. The Life of Griffith ab Cynan was written in Welsh, and translated by Bishop Robinson into Latin. This translation, in his own handwriting, is preserved at Peniarth, and a transcript of the Welsh Text, and of the Latin, was made by the Rev. Canon Williams, of Rhydycroesau, and pub- lished in the Archoeologia Cambrensis in 1866. The MS. said to have been at Wig, Llandegai, is as follows : Sciant tarn praesentes quam futuri TABLE No. I. TABLE I. Pr. Gruffith ap Conan, prince of Wales ;=f Angharad, da. of Owenap Edwyn, reigned 50 years, died 1137. I lord of Englefield. Gwladys, da. to Lly-=j=Pr. Owen Gwynedd,=j=Christian, da. of Gronow, warch ap Trahayarn. reigned 32 years, died in 1 169. ap Owen ap Edwyn, of Englefield. lord Cadwalader, lord= of Cardiganshire. =Alice da, of Richard earl of Clare. Yorworth, or Edward=j=Marged, da. of Madog with the broken nose, ap Meredith, prince of did not reign. Powys. I Pr. David, prince of Wales, married Emma, sister of king Hen. II. =r I Owen did not reign. O. S. P.rt I Rodri, lord of Anglesey, marr. 1st Agnes, da. cf lord Rhys ap Gruffith ap Rys ap Tudor Mawr. (N. B. Rodri marr. 2dly a da. of Gotheric king of Man.) b Cadwallon, abbot of Bardsey. Angtiarad,' wife of Gruffith Maelor. Pr. Llewelyn the Great, prince=f=Tangwystl, da. of of North Wales in 1194, at length prince of all Wales, died in 1240. He marr. Joan, da. of king John, by Agatha, daugh.of Robert Ferrers, earl of Darby. I Llowarch Goch, of Rhos, 1st wife. Thomas ap Rodri, ; =Marged, da. of Einion ap Sei- syllt. I Gruffith ap Rodri. c Einion, 3d. son Gwladys, 2d. w. of Reginald de Braose, married 2dly Ralph lord Mortimer, of Wigmore. Prince David= began his reign in 1240. d CariadogapTho-=j=Eva, da. of Gwyn [or Cynon] mas. ap Gruffith ap Beli. Gruffith ap Lle-= welyn. e =Sina, or Senena / Einion ap Cariadog=f= 1st son. The site of his palace is to be seen at this day in Penychen. Gruffith,=pLewki, da. 1 Prince Llewelyn ap Gruff — last prince of Wales, slain at Buellt, in 1282. David was exe-= cuted at Salop in 1284. 13 Owen Goch. A daughter. Maternal ancestor to Owen Glyndwr. Dafydd Fele ab Dd.=j=A daughter. Rodri ab Gruff — I Tudor, lord of Penychen, &c. h 4 David ap GruflhfeEvji Gwerville, da of Eignan. i I ap Cariadog. g Grffl See his desanit in the next TabU (after page 28) Thomas ab Rodri T Elin the Frenchwoman, [so called because she was in France with her brother] married and had children. Hengwrt MS. — L. * This interesting anecdote identifying Syr Jevan of Wales, (whose chivalrous exploits occupy so large a portion of Froissart's Chronidi Hengwrt MSS. belonging to Gryffydd ap Howel Vaughan, Esq. of Rug, whose kind indulgence in permitting the Editor a perusal of this valual Cadwallon, slain= before his father's I death. Gwenllian, wife of Gruff' ap Rhys ap Tudor mawr, prince of South Wales. Natural sons by various women. i. Conan had 2. Llewellyn part ot Merio- 3. Meredith. neth He had 4. Edward, several sons ; 5. Rhun. scil. 6. Howel. T 7. Cadelh. 8. Madoc. I g. Einion. 1 10. Cynwric. 1 i ii. Philip Gruff ', ob. Meredith, and 1253- & other issue. 12. Riryd. Howell. >warch, &c. and heir of Vaughan. I Will' Cariadog, alias Wilkock Craidog, 3d. son marr. an in- heretrix in Pembrokeshire. Owen Haw goch, or Owen with the " Bloody Hand," who distinguished himself in the wars of France, temp. E. 3, & is celebrated by Sir John Froissart, in his Chronicles, by the name of Syr Ievan of Wales. Murdered by John Lamb, in 1381.*— L. ith the son of Tomas ab Rodri, was discovered in one of the ume is most gratefully acknowledged. — L. j Notes to Table I. a He was living 31 Oct., 1212. b Rodri was living in 1183. c Living 31 Oct., 1212. d Prince David, &c.=f= Ellis ap Jer-=Agnes werth ap Owen Bro- gyntyn. e It has been generally said that Griffith was illegitimate,, but the celebrated Welsh Antiquary, Vaughan of Hengwrt maintained a contrary opinion. / Living A 25 Hen- 3. g See page 25. h Dead in 1328. See Rolls of Parliament. i Angharad coheiress to her brother 2 Edw. 3, 1328. Rolls of Parliament. Se j I strongly suspect that the following is the passage to which Miss Angharad Llwyd refers. It is in Hengwrt MS. 351, the only one she is likely to have had access to, as being at Rhug in Col. Vaughan's time. It is on page 865 , and is a copy of a large MS. in the autograph of Robert Vaughan the Antiquary. Hengwrt MS. g6. " On Loawgoch alas yn Ffrainc gan Jo n Lam ei was drwy frad yn ei wely pan oed yn arfaethy dyfod i oresgyn talaith, Cymru J. B. 30. O. S. P. ' ' Elen Ffrances am ei bod yn Ffrainc gydai brawd ac yn medry Ffrangeg= ap Jor. ap Ednyved Vychan p. Llyfr Mr. Edd. Herbert o Drefaldwyn." It would appear from a letter in the Archceologia Cambrensis No. XXI, third series, page 62, quoting an original record in the Imperial Library of France, that the names of Sir Ievan of Wales were " Ivain agruffin, " doubtless Ievan ap Griffith.. — W. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. *3 Owen Gwynedd was Prince after his father. 1 He married to his first wife Gwladys, daughter to Lowarch ap Trahayarn, Lord of Divet, by whom he had only Yerwerth 2 Drwndwn or Edward with the broken nose, z and by his second wife called Christian, daughter of Gronow ap Owen ap Edwyn Lord of Englefield, being his cosen, he had David who after him was Prince ; he had also Rodri Lord of Anglesey, 4 and Cad- wallon who was Abbot of Bardsey, and Angharad wife of Griffith Maelor. 5 He had besides these by diverse women Conan, Llewellin, Meredith, Edwal, 6 Run, Howel, Cadelh, Madoc, Eneon, Cynw- ric, Philip, and Riryd Lord of Clochran in Ireland, (v. Powel's qd. ego Griff, filius Conani concessi dedi et con- firmavi deo et Ecclesiae Sti Johanis Evang. de Hagemon & Canonicis ibidem deo servientibus ad Ecclesiam eorum de Nevyn tres acres in Nevyn et Abraham Filium Aldredi Sutoris et duosfiliosSerence. Co. W. et Jo. in perpetuam Eleemosynam libere & quiete ad Ecclesiam S. Maria; de Nevyn & praedictis Canon, de Hagemon jure perpetuo pertineat Omnibus Stse dei Eccles. filiis tarn prasentibus quam futuris David rex filius Owini Salutem. Notum sit vobis me concessise Abbati & Canonicis de Hagemon illam terram quam T. D. babuit in villa de Nevyn ab omnibus terrenis consuetu- dinibus immunem concedoque similiter predict' Canonicis decimationem molendini mei de Nevyn ad perpetuam Eleemosynam. T. Jo. de Burcheto Rado de lega . Einion seys &c. David filius Oweni Principis North-Walliae Universis xti fidelibus Francis & Anglis Salutem in Domino Sempiternam. Sciatis me assensu Emms uxoris meae et Oweni haeredis mei &c. His Test. Remo Epo. Rado de lega, Domina Emma soror. Hen : Regis ux. Davidis fil. Oweni Princip. Northwall. &c. &c. Sciatis me assensu Davidis mariti mei et Oweni haeredis mei &c. T. Einion Seys, Rado de lega. — L. In the Brogyntyn MS. the words " and are extant " follow " Bishop of Bangor." [See p. 12, 8 ]. 1 Owen Gwynedd died in 1169. 2 This account differs very materially from that given by Dr. Powel in his History of Cambria, p. 226. It should seem however that the author made use of some materials, in compiling this short chronicle of the Princes of Wales, which Dr. Powel had no opportunity of consulting; and he hath already mentioned a life of Griffith ap Conan written by a most ancient Friar or Monk of Wales. Dr. Powel's History was pub- lished in 1584, and as the author refers to it in this page, it proves that this part of the MS, was written after that year. — B. Evan Evans informed Mr. Barrington of a Latin History of Wales, by one Davydd Maelor, which Dr. Powel. wrote some notes upon ; he likewise told him that the Chronicle of Thomas Williams is in the Hengwrt Library. J. LI. — L. 8"Yerworth Drwyndon near to Brute." Out of a charte of the Genealogie of the Dukes of Yorke inserted in Leland's Collect, vol. II. p. 616. 2d edit.— B. 4 There is a poem addressed to Rodri, by Gwalch- mai, in the Myvyrian Archaeology, ed. 1870, p. 146. The tomb of Rodri was found upon the reparation of the choir of Holyhead church, in 1713, and on it a small brass shell, curiously wrought with net work (Camb. Reg. vol. III. p. 215.) 6 Gryffith Maelor Lord of Bromfield, who died in 1191. [See Anderson's Royal Genealo- gies.'] He was brother of Maryed, mentioned hereafter. — P. 6 Edwal, or Idwal, was murdered at Llyn Idwal, by Dunawt, son of Nefydd Hardd, one of the Fifteen Tribes of North Wales, to whom Owen had entrusted the youth to be fostered. (See Pennant's Tours, vol. 2, p. 162. quarto ed. 1784.) 14 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. Chron.) This Prince Owen with his brother Cadwalader (as the Welsh Chronicle maketh mention) in his father's time made many victorious voyages into South Wales against the Normans that incroached mightilie on that country, and in a pitched field slew 3000 men, and put the rest to flight. Being prince after his father's death, he overthrew the Earle of Chester and a num- ber of March Lords, and (as Giraldus Cambrensis hath it in his History, intituled Itinerarium Cambria?) repulsed K. Henry II. who made three voyages royall against Wales with all the Power of England, Normandy, and Aquitane, together with the suc- cours of Flanders and Britayne. In one of the voyages at Counsyllt wood the whole army of the King' was put to flight, as the French Chronicle 1 sayth, the King's person endangered, and the great standard of England overthrowne and forsaken 2 , which was the cause that Robert Mountfort, a noble baron, im- peached Henry of Essex the standard bearer, (who held that office by inheritance), for beginning the flight, of treason, which being tried by combate, the standard-bearer was overthrowne, his office, lands, and goods, confiscate, and himselfe shaven a monke in the Abbey of Reading. After that this Prince had reigned most victoriously thirty-two years, he died. It is written of him, that he was soe fortunate, as that he never attempted that enterprise which he atchieved not. Cadwalader, brother to prince Owen 3 , was married to Alice, daughter to Richard earl of Clare, and was lord of Ceredigiawn or Cardiganshire. 1 As there are several French Chronicles which 2 See Gulielmus Neubrigensis's account of the occasionally treat of what happened in England, action, 1. 2, c. 5. which agrees with the author's it is difficult to ascertain what History the author in most particulars. B. alludes to. He also does not explain in any in- . ~ . . . , - . _ . . . , ...„,.-, -it n r Cadwalader frater Omni maenv salutem in stance what Welsh Chronicle he so often refers r> ■ ™ .. ■* • ■* •• »«""•=«• u .1. iL * e ,-. j rr .. Domino; Notum sit umversitati vestrae quod ego to, whether that of Caradoc of Lancarvan, that „ . , . , . , H . e ., j » u u v V. ■ Cadwalader pro salute animse mese & omnium before mentioned to have been written by a Friar , „ , . , ,. „ . r „ • .. ., A . antecessorum & heredum meorum dedi & concessi of Conway, or perhaps some other compilation ~„ atriot -tj.jit o „<•<.!,., *„ m l „«,♦ ti,« . „.!,„, „i„„ „•. - .u Deo * Ecche S. Joannis Evan' de Hageman & of the same sort. Ine author also cites the copy ^ . . .... _ ... . of a Welsh Chronicle in the possession of his C , an ° mC1S * ldem De0 ■™? h » » Puram & relation, Sir Thomas Williams of Trefriw. (See %TT * e emosynam Ecclesue de Nev.n. T. afterwards).— B. uxore mea ' Ranul P ho comite HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 15 Though this record is attested 1 by Cadwalader king of Wales 2 because he had kingly authority in this countrey, yet he was no more than a subject to his brother, by whom he was banished, and lost his lands, till by composition the same was restored. The Welsh Chronicle calleth him Prince of Wales : he dwelled most at the castle of Aberystwythe. He was murthered by the English' souldiers which the King sent to conduct him to his countrey. After the death of Owen, Yerwerth (or Edward), his , sonne, being thought unfitt to governe by reason of the deformity of his face, David his brother became Prince in his father's roome. I find that Yerwerth Drwndwn, or Edward with the broken nose, being put from the government of the principality, had assigned him for his part of his father's inheritance, the hundreds of Nanconwy and Ardydwy. 3 He dwelled at the castle of Dol- wyddelan, 4 where it is thought credible his son Llewelyn the Great, or prince Llewelyn 5 , was borne, whose mother was Maryett the daughter of Madog ap Meredydd prince of Powys. Conan ap Owen Gwynedd his son had for his part the country of Merioneth. 6 David married 7 Emma sister to King Henry the II. and had by her a sonne called Owen ; upon confidence of that match he ba- nished his base brethren, and imprisoned his brother Roderike, because he desired the portion of inheritance. But Rodericke, Cestriae, etc. Precipio quod Abbas Salop & frequented part of the mountains. The remains Conventus habeant totam tenuram suam inter at present are very insignificant. — B. Ryblam & Mersam [Two rivers in Lancashire] , ,. . .. , , ... . , _. ,, „ _•' „ .- , _, L „ _ , , , „ J ° It is therefore always stiled by Giraldus Cam- T. R. comite de Clara & Cadwaladro ap Gr. ap . * . ' -, m it- o t> i_ . r> _.» s brensis, Terra fihorum Conani. — B. Cynan rege Walharum, & Roberto Basset & ' J Gaufrid apud Cestriam. — B. 6 A charter of Llewelyn, the son of Griffith, 1 See note 3 page 14. Prince of Wales and Lord of Snaudon, is dated ._ ,' .„...„. . at Dolwyddelan, the next Thursday before the For "» «"«*«* fa y" the Bala MS - has lt Festival of S. Lawrence 1281. {Record of Caernar- " calleth this."— L. „,„„ „ „. v von, p. 2ir). 3 Nantconway is a hundred of Carnarvonshire, through which the river Conway runs ; Ardydwy 7 " What ! in loud reply Madoc exclaimed, is a hundred in the N.W. part of Merionethshire. Hath he forgotten all ! B> David, King Owen's son . . my father's son . ' , . , . Pl _ , . it _ .. _ . He wed the Saxon . . the Plantagenet ! " 4 This castle is situated in the South Eastern . " .. „ , . _ .. , . , .. , ^ (Southey's Madoc, First part, p. 7, 8vo. edit., 1H07J. parts of Carnarvonshire, and m perhaps the least * ' r r " 16 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. breaking his brother's prison, entered the isle of Anglisey, and was received of the people as soveraigne lord thereof, and within a while recovered all that parte of Wales which lyeth above the river of Conway. At such time as Giraldus Cambrensis in the company of Baldwyn Archbishop of Canterbury 1 travailed through Wales, preaching the crosse against the infidells, David had noe other part of the principality of Wales save Ruddlan castle and the territorie adjacent, which he held with a garrison of English, where the Archbishop lodged one night to visit the King's sister, as the same, Giraldus doth testifie in his booke intituled, His Jour- ney through Wales. Giraldus maketh mention, that Roderic was Prince at such time as the Archbishop preached the Crosse in Anglisy, and that he had in his court Llewelyn the son of Yerwerth, or Edward, his nephew, who, though he was overborne by his uncle David (that maried the K. of England's sister, and had by her issue male), as alsoe by his uncle Roderic, (who to strengthen himselfe with the power of South Wales, had maried his own cosen, 2 daugh- ter of the Lord Rys ap Gruffith ap Rys ap Tewdwr mawr, and by her had issue Gruffith and Thomas), yet God soe advanced the right of the young prince Llewelyn, that in time he put down both his uncles from the princely scepter and their poste- rity, yet it may be imagined, (considering what places they held 1 This was in the year 1188. 2 Agnes. See Collins's account of the Wynne family in his Baronetage, vol, i. 8vo. 1720. — P. Griffith ap Conan. Prince Owen Gwynnedd Gwenllian, wife of Gryffith Prince of N. Wales. ap Rhys ap Tewdor. Rhys Lord of =j= S. Wales. Roderic younger son, married his cousin Agnes =f= Agnes, da. of lord Rhys, daughter of Lord Rhys. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 17 in their countrys and what friends they had abroad), not with- out an honourable composition and provision for themselves and their posterities first had. It appeareth by the records 1 in K. John's time remayning in the Tower, that the King gave to Owen the son of David, being his cosen german, and to Gruffith the sonne of Rodri 2 three can- treds, viz. Rhos, Rheviniog, and Duffryn Clwyd, excepting the castle of Gannocke 3 and the territorie of Criddyn, wherein the said castle did stand, and alsoe gave them three other cantreds if they could winne them : the record followeth in hsec verba i . By this record, (as also by the Welsh historic which mention- eth that David ap Owen often assayed by the power of the King of England to recover the principality against Prince Llewelyn * Omnibus sanctse Eccliae filiis tam p'sentibus quam futuris David rex filius Oweni salutem. Notum sit vobis meconcessisse Abbati et Canonicis de Hagemon illam terram quam T. D. habuit in villa de Nevyn ab omnibus terrenis consuetudinis (sic) immunem, concedoq similiter p'dict' Canonicis deci- mationem molendini mei de Nevyn ad ppetuam Eleemosynam. T. Jo. de Burcheto, Rad'o de lega. Enion Seys &c : David filius Owini princeps Northwallia? vniv'sis Xti fidelibus Francis & Anglis salutem in domino sempiternam Sciatis me assensu Emmae vxoris meas & Oweni heredis mei &c : his T. Remo Epo', - Rad'o de lega. Domina Emma soror Henric regis uxor Davidis filii Oweni principis Northwallie &c: sciatis me assensu Davidis mariti mei, et .Oweni heredis mei & T. Enion Seys. Rad'o de lega. (From the Brogyntyn MS.) 2 Rodri is a contraction for Roderic. Thus Odri is for Oderic. See Hist. Lit. de la France, t. VIII. p. 108.— B. 3 The castle of Gannocke is supposed to have been situated below Conway, where the river empties itself into the sea. — B. Called also Diganwy. 4 JO' Dei g'ra, &c. Sciatis Nos concessisse & hac charta n'ra confirmasse Audoeno filio y Davidis & Gruff' filio Roderici tria cantreda; sc. Rhos, salvo Nobis castro de Gannocke cum Creythyn ubi castrum illud sedet, Rhevenioc & Duffryn Clwyd cum ptinentiis suis integre tenenda ipsis Audoeno & Gruffino & heredibus suis de Nobis & heredibus n'ris per servicia subscripta ; s. singulis annis xn dextrarios de pretio : s. de uno- quoq; cantred mi dextrarios; & preterea de- illis tribus cantredis unam natam [This is the word used in the MS. ; it should however, probably, be meutam canum, from the French word meutc.~\ canum p' annum, St. decern lepores & omnes accipitres & falcones gentiles & spervarios diet' trium Cantredorum, reddendo inde Nobis & heredibus n'ris singulis annis apud Salop ad Festum S. Petri ad vincula. P'terea ipsi ambo ibunt in servitium n'rum c'u gentibus de diet' cantredis- & alias remanebunt si volumus. P'dicti vero Audoenus & Gruffinus obsides Nobis dabunt de fideli servitio suo. S. Audoenus filius David dabit filiu' suu' de uxore sua desponsat' &c. & si p' posse illorum <&■ p" licentiam n'ram possint conquirere Arfon ar & clawdd et Lleyn, idon' servic' Nobis facient de illis tribus 'pdict' cantredis. His T. Dom', P. Winton E'po, W. Comite Sarum fratre nostra, G. filio Petri Com' Warren, S. Com' Win- ton, Wm Com' Ferrar, WiU'imo Briover, Petro fil' Herberti, Th'o de Ardiner, Pho de Arch Justic' Cestr'. Dat' [p manum mris (sic) Redemarisc' Arched Northumbr'. — Brogyntyn MS.] apud Suwerit' xxxi die Octob' anno regni n'ri xiiii". — B. The word " clawdd " in the MS., should perhaps be " Arllechwedd."— L. In the Peniarth MS. it reads thus : — " Arwn, Arichauit et Lewin " " Re- demarisc'" is " Redimari Sc " in Peniarth MS. l8 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. his nephew), it may appeare that the cosens, Owen the sonne of David, and Graffith the son of Rodri, joyned with the K. of England against their prince Llewelyn ; but all in vaine, for Giraldus maketh mention, they got noe other portion but what they had by composition. In what place it was in Wales the sons of Rodri had possessions graunted them, or whether it was in •diverse places (as is most likely it should be, to weaken men of their alliance, friends, and authority among the commons), it doth not appeare by certayne record. Whether David ap Owen had any more children by the king's sister but Owen, and whether any, or who be descended, either by male or female, of them, I cannot yet find any certainty thereof. In a fragment of a Welsh cronicle, copied by Sir Thomas Williams, I find, that in the end Llewelin killed his uncle David, and all his posterity, at Conway. Soe that I think there is none descended from the said David and the Lady Emma his wife either male or female. The posterity of Rodri had large possessions in Denbigh land, called Rhos Ravoniawg, neare and about Denbigh castle, in the chiefest and best parte of the same, as hereafter in this history shall appeare (whereby it may seeme K. John's graunt of that countrey was not wholly frustrate unto them, or perhaps they had that land given them by the last prince Llewelyn) and also were lords of diverse lordships in the county of Carnarvon, especialie in the hundred of Evioneth. The Evioneth men have it among them by tradition, that Llewelyn the Great gave the lands in Evioneth unto the posterity of Rodri. I find in a fragment of a Welsh cronicle, copied by my kinsman Sir Thomas Williams, that Rodri had another son called Einion (as is afore specified) by the daughter of the Lord Rys, Prince of South Wales, beside Grumth before mentioned and Thomas. Rodri his second wife was daughter to Gotheric, King of Man. In anno Dom. 1243 Rodri ap Owen, by the help of Gotheric K. of Man, invaded Anglisey, but within one yeare was thence re- HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 19 pulsed by the sons of Conan ap Owen Gwynedd, who held the isle to themselves. " Quere, who are descended of this Conan ? There is in the towneshipp of Pennant Evioneth a gwely called gwely wyrion Cynan 1 held very freely ; many suppose that part of this Conan's inheritance was there. I remember the words of Giraldus Cambrensis, that sayeth, I will advisedly omit the cruell and unnaturall warrs that were for ambition of government be- twene Prince Owen's children and offespring in the time of the said Giraldus. Rodri lyeth buried in the Colledge of Kerkyby. 2 This I had out of the Welsh cronicle, copied by Sir Thomas Will' of Trefriw. 3 Thomas ap Rodri maried Marged, the daughter of Einion ap Sisyllt, 4 and had by her Cariadog ap Tho', who maried Eva the daughter of Gwyn ap Gruff', Lord of Kegidfa, and had by her Einion ap Cariadog, Lord of Penychen 5 (where his manor is- called to this day, Llys 6 Einion ap Cariadog), Bala deulyn, 7 Penyberth, 8 and of many places more, as may be imagined by his greatness in his time. He had also Gruff' ap Cariadog Lord of Friwlwyd 9 (where the ruins of his manor house do alsoe appeare), Ystrad, Eskibion, and of other great possessions in Rhos and Ravoniawg. He had likewise Syna maried to Gruff' ap Llewelyn, by whom 1 This may be rendered, The Tenement of the 6 Llys signifies a palace, or great mansion Nephews of Conan. Gwely is literally a bed— house. — B. metaphorically any place of rest, hence house, , Ba]a deulyn . g a( . the outlet of the Nantlle habitation, manor, estate, or tenement.— B. Gwely Lakes _ King Edw . 1. dates charters there in the is likewise metaphorically a family, or household. twelfth year of his re i gn . t believe it to be the same" place as Nenardarchlyn (Neuaddarlyn— the — E. 2 Kerkyby is at present called Holyhead in Angle- hall upon the lake), where, he dates charters in sey. — B. In Welsh still called Caergybi. the same year.— W. 3 Trefriw is a village in Carnarvonshire, situated 8 Penyberth is about two miles to the north- on the southern side of the Conway, about two east of the village of Llanbedrog. It is the largest miles below Gwedir. It signifies the town on the farm upon the Madryn estate. bank or declivity.— B. 9 p r i w i W yd is a township situated in the parish 4 Einion ap Sisyllt of Llanwrin (note to Brogyntyn of Llanarmon and hundred of Evioneth in Car- MS.) He was styled Lord of Meirionydd. — L. narvonshire : a small river runs through it bearing 5 Penychen is the promontory within sight of that name. Ystrad and Eskibion must probably the Avonwen railway station, to the west. It adjoin to this township.-B. now (1878) belongs to Lord Newborough. :20 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. the said Gruff' begat Llewelyn ap Gruffith last Prince of Wales of the Brittish race, who was slayne at Buellt. Llewelyn ap Jerwerth ap Owen Gwynedd haveing by the helpe of his Cosens Conan ap Owen Gwinedd's sonnes, deprived his uncles, began to raigne anno 1194, who atchieved soe many noble enterprises that he obtained the name of Llewelyn the Great among all posteritie and writers. His workes and worthy deeds being remembred by soe many writers, do make me the lesse to dwell upon the reher- sall of them, seeing my purpose is no more than cursoriwise to touch the raigne of the princes, to the end to make the history 1 I write more easie to be understood. 2 Only I have thought good to insert here a coppie of one of King Henry the Third's letters 3 1 The author by this means the history of his own family. — B. 2 Wheii it shall appear in the reign of what Prince everything was done {Ruthyn MS.) — L_ 3 " HENRICUS Rex Anglize, &c. Leolino Principi Aberfr' Dn'o de Snowdon, Salutem & se ■totum. Cum propter innundationes aquarum & viarum discrimina nuncii n'ri ad vos accedere non possint, p'cursorem quendam literas p'sentes dux- imus destinendas, p' quas majestati vestrae signi- ficamus q'd Nos p' Nobis & n'ris vobiscum & cum oi'bus vestris pacem tenuimus & tenebimus in futur', & hoc dedimus ballivis n'ris & impri- siis [This word signifies one who undertakes another's business, from emprendre, an old French term used for entreprendre] in mandatis, ut pacem cum suis Comarchionibus firmiter teneant & ob- ■servent. Quare vestram rogamus serenitatem quod ■ballivis in Marchia comorantib' detis si placet in mandatis q'd cum n'ris pacem teneant inviolatam : beneplacitum vestrum si placet nobis significetis Valeat ex'lentia vestra." This letter is printed as copied by Sir John Wynne. It should not be concealed however that upon examining the re- cords in Rymer tor the year 1233 and 17th of Henry the Third, it turns out to be a letter from Lewelin to Henry the Third, and not from that King to Lewelin. See Rymer, vol. i. par. i. p, 114. Hague Ed. — B. In the Brogyntyn MS. following the words " valeat ex'lentia vestra," there is the following : — Leolinus princips North- walliae oib' fidelib' tarn p'sentib' quam futuris p'sens scriptum inspecturis salutem in vero salutari Noverit vniversitas vestra nos concessisse deo & Ecclie Stt Johannis Evangelistre de Hagemon & canonicis ibidem deo servientibus p' salute animas nrae & patrio n'ri &c. sient charta p'dicti davidis filii Owini testa- tum T. Rainers Epo' Assaph et Rado de lega &c. This letter is preceded by one from Henry the Third to Lewelin in the following words : " Rex Lewelino Principi de Aberfrau, &c. Domino de Snawdun. Salutem. Noveritis quod die lunas, proximo post instans festum nativitatis beatse Mariae mittemus consilium nostrum usque Colewent, in occursum consilii vestri ibidem. Et ideo vos rogamus quod detis consilio vestro plenam potes- tatem ad exponendam consilio nostro plene voluntatem vestram, quia nos dabimus consilio nostro ex parte nostra plenam potestatem ad exponendam consilio vestro voluntatem nostram ad firmiter pacem faciendam inter nos & vos ; ita quod nullus scrupulus sit inter vos & nos. Et volumus quod id providebitur inter nos & vos, quod nullo modo vos, vel David Alius vester aliquo tempore a servitio nostro recedatis. Teste R, apud Hayam 2 die Septembr'." Rymer, ibid. The author seems to have ascribed the first letter to Henry the Third, on account of the expressions Majestas vestra — rogamus serenitatem — valeat excellentia vestra, which he chose should be applied to Lewelin. Whereas it appears by the letter from this King to Lewelin that he considered him as his vassal, Quod nullo modo vos vel David, filius vester aliquo tempore a nostro servitio recedatis. — B. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 21 unto the said Prince Lywelyn, which is extant in the records of the treasurie at Westminster (because it is extant in noe cronicle that I have seen) and was thence brought to light by Richard Broughton, Esq. Justice of North Wales, the chiefe antiquary of England ; a man to whom his countrey is much beholden, pre- ferring nothing more than the honour thereof, which he most carefully raketh out of the ashes of oblivion, in searching, quot- ing, and coppying, to his great chardge, all the ancient records he can come by. Anno Domini 1253 one Grufnth ap Conan ap Owen Gwynedd was buried in a monkes cowle in the Abbey of Conway, as sayeth the Welsh cronicle. Anno 1201 1 Prince Llewelyn banished Meredith the sonne of Conan ap Owen Gwynedd suspected of treason, and seised the cantreds 2 of Llun and Evioneth, which were Conan's lands, into his own hands. Giraldus Cambrensis in his Itinerarium Cambria sayeth, that the cantreds of Llun and Evioneth were the possessions of Owen Gwynedd' s children when he passed through Wales, and that they had two castles ; the one in Carnmadrin in Llun, the other called Dewdraeth juxta mon- tana de Erryri, which confirmeth that Ardydwy and Evioneth made but one cantred, for 3 Penrhyn Deudraeth, where that castle stood, is in Ardydwy 4 . I am of opinion that the cantreds of Llun and Evioneth were the possessions of Rodri, and given by 1 It must be admitted that these facts are not owne 'hands, which were Conan's land." (Ibid. stated with proper attention to their dates. A P-255.) Meredith was one of the founders of the most ingenious and learned friend (the Rev. Dr. Abbey of Cymmer, in Merionethshire. Benjamin Pye) hath suggested, that if the two 2 A cantred is a distr j ct of countryi wh ich is dates were transposed, they would agree with thus describe d by Giraldus Cambrensis ; " Unius Wynne's History of Wales.-B. " The yeare after commoti solunl) ;. e . quarta pars cantredi ; habet (1200) Griffith Sonne to Conan ap Owen Gwyneth autem hffiC msula (sc _ Mona) trecentas quadraginta a noble man died, and was buried m a monks villaS) & p ro tHbus cantredis reputatur." The cowle at the Abbey of Conwy, and so were all cantreds of L i un and Evioneth are in the S W. the nobles (for the most part) of that time buried." parts of Carnammshire . The latter ;- so caIled (Powell's History of Wales, 1584, p. 253). " The from its being watered with streams, as yeare 1201, Llewelyn ap Jorwerth prince of North- Aquitaine in France is supposed to be> _ B _ wales, being a lustie young man, banished out of .... . „ the land his coosen Meredyth the sonne of Conan 3 Abenaen in Penrhyn Deudraeth.-L. ap Owen Gwynedd suspected of treason, and 4 Ardydwy is a hundred in the N. Western seased the Cantref of Lhyn and Euyonyth to his part of Merionethshire.— B. 22 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. this Prince Llewelyn, upon the expulsion of Rodri from the principality, to this Meredith ap Conan : howsoever it was, the posterity of Rodri held it till the conquest of Wales by the King of England, and then how they lost what remayned undivided into small portions, shall hereafter be shewed in this history. Llewelyn, Prince of Wales, married Joane the daughter of King John, begotten on his wife Agatha, daughter of Robert Ferrers, Earle of Darby. The King in' marriage gave with his daughter the lordship of Elesmer in the marches of Wales. Some will affirme that Agatha was not the King's wife, but paramour, but that is most untrue, for he married her long before he was King, and because she bare noe issue male (as some affirme) di- vorsed himselfe from her ; others thinke she died anone after he was King 1 . Prince Llewelyn in his youth, long before this recited ma- nage, had maried Tangwstyl, daughter of Lowarch Goch of Rhos, by whom he begate a most valiant sonne, called Gruffith ap Llewelyn, 2 who, as heire apparent in his father's time, after 1 Joane was, however, most certainly the ille- gitimate daughter of Agatha, as there is in Rymer an instrument thus entitled, " De remissione Lewelino Walliae Principi qui Joannam Regis filiam notham duxerat in uxorem." — It concludes, " Et quod ipsum deinceps pro filio habebimus " (vol. I. par i. p. 48. anno 1208. 10 Joh.) Ac- cordingly, four years afterwards, King John sends a letter ; " Dilecto filio suo Lewilino Principi Wallia?." (Ibid. p. 65.) What seems still more extraordinary, in the next reign, this spurious daughter of K. John's is stiled by Henry the Third, his sister, and Lewelin sometimes his brother, as likewise David, the son of this marriage, his nephew. See vol. I. par. i. p. 81. 98. & 100. in which last reference Lewelin's wife is also stiled Domina Norwalliae. The stone coffin in which, according to tradition, this daughter of K. John's was buried, is still used as a trough for the cattle to drink out of, not far from a farm house called Friars, which is situated in the island of Anglesey about a mile N. of Beaumaris, on the sea-coast. [It is now, 1878, carefully preserved in a building in Baron hill wood.] She is supposed to have been buried in the neighbouring church of Llanvays ; and that this part of the tradition is true, appears by the following extract from an instrument in Rymer : Pro Fratribus Minorum de Llanvaysii in Insula nostra de Anglesye. Considerantes quod in eadem domo corpus tarn filice Regis yohannis progenitoris nostri quam filii Regis Dacia, necnon corpora Domini de Clyffort [For an account of the action in which this Dominus de Clyfford was killed see Dec. Script, c. 2464], &c. sepulta existunt. Rymer, vol. IV. part ii. p. 83. A.D. 1414. & 2 Hen. V. The supposed coffin of Pompey's father is used as a watering trough for mules at Barcelona. Swinburne's account of Spain. In the year 1236 died lady Johan Wife to Lewelin Prince of Wales the which was sister to King Henry by the father's side. She died in March at Haveringe in Essex, and was buried at Tarente Nunnery, in Dorsetshire. Lei. Collect. vol. II. p. 455. N. ed. It must be admitted that these two accounts are very contradictory. — B. 2 In Dr. Powel's History of Wales, p. 298. this Gruffith ap Lewelyn is said to have been a lusty Gentleman, but base born. — P. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 23 many warrs between him and his father, had the cantreds of Englefield, Ros, Rovoniog, and Dyffryn Clwyd given him by his father, being countreys next adjoyning unto England, to the end he might defend his countrey from the English. This Gruffith, in his father's time, maried Sina, or Senena, as the Latine Booke 1 called her, daughter to Cariadog ap Tho' 2 Rodri ap Owen Gweyned : some of our Welsh pedigrees say she was the daughter of the King of Man, but it is an untruth ; there are other most ancient records to the contrary, 3 veryfying as here is laide downe. Also it is evident her brethren Eingan ap Cariadog and Gruffith ap Cariadog lost their lands in the quarel of her sonne, Llewelyn ap Griffith,, last Prince of Wales, when his uncle David held the principalitie against him, as shall hereafter appeare. In Prince Llewelyn ap Jerwerth's time you shall find mencion made of Howell ap Gruffith ap Conan ap Owen Gwynedd, whom the Prince doth banish in anno 121 x, and after, in anno 1215, you shall find him first remembered in the honourable voyage Prince Llewelyn made unto South Wales, when he rased Carmarthen. 1 It is rather difficult to ascertain what history Thos. Maelorius, which may be the History here of Wales the author means to refer to by what alluded to. There is a Latin copy of the Annals of he stiles the Latine booke, Caradoc of Lancar- Wales at Gloddaeth, and probably many more of van's History ended with the year 1156, and the kind at Hengwrt, &c. There is a copy of this therefore long before Gruffith's marriage. It was letter of Mr. Vaughan to Archbishop Usher in Dr. continued indeed by the bards (which belonged Fowlks's papers which came from Halston. Mr. to the two abbeys of Conway and Stratflur) to Vaughan says, he never had seen the book, but the year 1270 ; but Dr. Powel, who mentions observes, that it is quoted by Dr. Eowel, and the above particulars, does not state whether believes the author Thos. Maelorius did not live this continuation was in Welsh or Latin. As much before Henry the 6th's time. I am satisfied it chiefly depended upon the Bards at their clera, he is the same person that is miscalled in a former I should suppose that it was in the Welsh note David Maelor, by Mr. Evan Evans ; Mr. language. As for Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose Evans's letter, is dated the 14th of April, 1651. history is in Latin, all the transactions he gives John Lloyd, — L. an account of are long anterior to what is here a Tho , ap Ro(Jri ; n edit _ alluded to. It should therefore seem that the author refers to Matthew Paris or some of our 3 See in Powel's History articles of agreement Historians, who wrote in Latin, and occasionally between Henry III. and Senena wife of Gruffith, take notice of Welsh occurrences.— B. Mr. P- 3<». Yet some Welsh Pedigrees suppose he Vaughan of Hengwrt, in a letter to Archbishop married Rhanult daughter of Rheinalt King of Usher, mentions a History of Wales compiled by Man.— P. 24 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. (Quere, Where his possessions were ? and who are come of him ?) Howell ap Gruff ap Conan was buried at Conway. I find not, during Prince Llewelyn ap Jerwerth's raigne, any mencion made of any thing done by the posterity of Rodri ap Owen Gwynedd : a man may easily guesse the reason, for this Prince held them under, and suspected lest they should aspire to the princely dignity, which their ancestors sometime had held. In the raigne of David, sonne to the said Prince Llewelyn by Joane King John's daughter, who began to raigne anno 1240, Eignan and Gruff' ap Cariadog tooke parte with their sister's sonne, Llewelyn ap Gruff', the last Prince of Wales of that line, afterwards sjayne at Buellt. We receave it by tradition from father to sonne in Evioneth, that David ap Llewelyn being Prince by the ayde of his uncle, the King came to the towne of Pwllhely in Llun to parle with the bretheren Eingan and Gruff' ; whom the bretheren met with such a force on the day of truce, that the Prince told them they were too strong to be subjects ; whereto they answered, that he was rather too weake to be Prince, and soe parted without any conclusion or agreement. In the end they were forced by long warrs to forgoe that countrey, and to lose their land there, and to joyne themselves to their nephew Llewelyn ap Griffith, who then had his court at Maesmynan in Flintshire. He also held, as is before mentioned, the cantreds of Englefield, Dyffryn Clwyd, Ros, and Rovoniawg, against his uncle David ; haveing warre on the one side with the King, on the other side with his uncle, who gave them greate possessions (as some thinke) as afore is remembered about Denbigh Castle. Llewelyn, the sonne of Gruffith, their nephew, after the death of his uncle David, attayning the government of Wales, restored to his uncles their lands and possessions in the county of Carnar- von. I find noe record of any thing done by them in the time of the same Prince. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 25. Eingan ap Cariadog 1 had a Sonne, of whom mention shall be made hereafter, called Tudur Lord of Penychen 2 , Penyberth, and Baladeulyn, and whether he had any more sonnes is to me uncertain. Gruff' ap Cariadog maried Leuki, daughter of Llowarch Vaughan ap Llowarch Goch ap Llowarch Holbwrch, and had but one sonne to my knowledge, called David ap Gruffith 3 , which David maried Eva the sole heiress of Gruffith Vaughan ap Gruffith ap Mereithig of Penyfed in Evioneth, by whome he had three sonnes ; viz. David, Meredith, and Howell. This appeares by the record of the extent made of Denbigh land, in the time of Edward the first, by Henry Lacy 4 Earle of Lincolne, to whome the King gave that land upon the conquest of Wales : for Henry Lacy minding to make a princely seat of the castle of Denbigh, per force compassed 5 the children of the said David ap Gruff to exchange their possessions about Denbigh Castle (which were great) with him for other lands of lesse value in the said lordship, in the furthest part from him : the words of the record follow thus 6 . How they left the lordship of Friwlwyd, and other their lands in the County of Carnarvon, I can find no record of, but only have it by tradition, that it was taken from them by the King's officers, for to this day it is parte of the principalitie 7 of 1 Eingan ap Caradoc Arglwyd Penychen yr hwn Calendars of Ancient Charters. Query, was the sydd a mur ei Lys etto iw weled ym mhennychen. grantee in this charter this David, or David (A note in a more modern hand in Hengivtt MSS. brother of Prince Llewelyn ? I believe it was the- 324). latter, who is styled " Lord of Denbigh." See also 2 This is a township near the sea, in the Parish Pennant's Wales, vol. 2, p. 37.— W. of Abererch in Carnarvonshire, and situated be- 4 The cantreds of Ros and Revoniawg, and the tween the towns of Crekeith and Pullhely. — B. See Comote of Dynmael, were confirmed to him by note on page 19, charter dated 16 Oct : 10 Edw. I. Judging from » He had also a daughter, Guerfil (or Gwerville) the dates > ;t was probably David ap Griffith, and married to Inon ap Einion, according to Collins's not his children who made this exchange with account of the Wynne family. (Baronetage, vol. I.) Lacy. See the MS. dates Tables 1 and 2. Th& But perhaps this may be a mistake, for Gwerville Earl of Lincoln died in 1311. daughter of Eignan ap Cariadock mentioned here- c « Compelled " in Denbigh MS.—L. a ^ ieT - *• ..... „ .„. . ,. 6 By some mistake however the record is omitted " Rex concessit David, fiho Gnffini, quod ipse . ^ e jjg _b & herades sui habeant et teneant de se & heradibus suis totam terram de Diffrencloyt, & de Rewinnock, 7 Principality here means lands held under the cum pertinentiis in Nor-Wallia." Rotulus Walliae Princes of Wales, eldest sons of the Kings of de anno 6 Regis Edw. I. Sir Joseph Aylofte's England.— B. E ^6 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. Wales; which is not unlike, considering what befell to the other •cozens, the heirs of Penychen, Penyberth, and Baladeulyn, whereof there is a very good record and certaine, remayning in the prince's treasury in Carnarvon. Eingan ap Cariadog had one sonne called Tudur ap Eingan, and one daughter called Gwervile, 1 whereof the record ensueing after maketh mention. You are to understand, that after the conqueste of Wales, the countrey in generall, as well as in par- ticular, found themselves aggrieved for the wronges offered by the English officers, and soe sent certaine men with their generall and private grieffes to the prince lying at Kennington 2 neare London, in the time of the parliament in anno 33d of Edward 3 the First, among the which these are'mentioned. 4 It is necessary, for the understanding of this record, and the sense thereof, that you first understand, that after the death of 1 See MS. additions Table I. There was another daughter. 2 This place in Domesday is stiled Chenintune, Tmt now Kennington. It is situated in the parish of West Lambeth, and was formerly a royal palace. See Maitland's London, vol. II. p. 1387. — B. i.e. Kyningstune or Kingstown. 3 In Brogyntyn MS. , 2g Edw. I., but in the abstracts from the petitions, in the same MS., as underneath, 33. There is a copy of these peti- tions in the Hengwrt Library. 33 Edw. I. is correct. Hengwrt MS. 118. 4 Petitiones de Kennington factae apud Kennington p' homines North- Wallias p'Comitatibusp' sing'lares personas exhibitae D'no principi filio Regis Edwardi ^onquestoris Walliae & concilio suo apud Ken- nington extra London tempore Parliament p'dict' regis habiti apud Westminesterium i™» Dominica ■quadragesimae an'o regni Regis p'dict' Edwardi 33 , & Responsiones ad easdem Petitiones factae & liberatas Justic' North- Wallias sub privato sigillo dicti D'ni Principis ad executionem responsionum p'dict' faciend' & eas firmiter observandum in p'tib' North-Wallia;. Ad petitionem Leolini & Gruffini filioru' Oweni ap Llewelyn de eo q'd Tudur ap Eingan avun- culus erat D'nus de Baladeulyn, Penechyn, & Penyberth in Com' Carnarvon & seisitus post pacem p'clamat' fere p' unum annum, post cujus decessum tenementa p'dict' ad Gwervillam sororem diet' Tudur' descendisse debuerunt, sed domina Regina mater Principis affectavit tenementa ilia & ea a D'no obtinuit, quae quidem tenementa nunc sunt in manu principis & ad eos jure hereditatis spectant ; unde petunt remedium. Responsum est, q'd Justic' informet se sup' content' in p'dicta petitione, & quo tempore dictus Tudur obiit, & si forisfecit necne, & omnibus circumstanciis, & cer- tificet inde dominum ad petitionem eorum dicti Llewelyn & Gruffini q'd dominus velit concedere eis aliquas ballivas in Com' Carnarvon p' debita firma inde reddenda quosq' discussum sit quid de eorum haereditate fuerit faciendum. Responsum est quod p'tinet ad Justic' ordinare de ballivis p'ut utilitati domini melius viderit expedire. There are very fine transcripts of these Peti- tions presented to the King at Kennington, in N°- 4776 of the Harleian MSS. which is a large Folio, containing chiefly a most complete extent or sur- vey of tne counties of Anglesey, Merioneth,* and Carnarvon, made in the 26th year of Edward the Third. The date agrees except in the difference of 32d year of Edward the Third instead of the 33d. — B. * The survey of Merioneth was taken in 7 Hen. V. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 27 Prince Llewelyn in Buellt, the King made a proclamation of peace to all the inhabitants of Wales, receiving them all that would come in and yeald themselves to him into his protection ; graunting the use and fruition of their lands, liberties, and pri- vileges they held before in their countrey under the Princes of Wales. This is the peace specified in the record : after which Tudur ap Eingan had held his lands almost one yeare. To whom or to what family this Gwervill was married I cannot as yet learne. This land soe taken is part of the possessions of the principalitie of Wales to this day. It is to be noted here, that all the selfe same time, in the raigne of Edward the First, the Queene his wife tooke perforce the land of Eingan ap Cariadog's offspring in the county of Carnarvon, and Henry Lacie exchanged perforce, with Gruff' ap Cariadog's offspring in Denbigh land, and that the cozens stood in equall degree of kindred one to ano- ther, viz., cbzen germans removed ; which hard dealing must needs pull downe a kindred. It cannot be otherwise alsoe, but that Friwlwyd was by the same Queene, or by the Justice Wiir Sutton or others, who dealt hardly with the gentrie of these parts in those days, taken from the posterity of Gruff', for it is parte of the principalitie to these daies, although the record proving this happened not to fall into my hands. But to recurre to the offspring of Gruff' ap Cariadog, and their succession, with the estate and condition they lived in from time to time unto this day; it being my purpose to treat thereof. Out of the three brethren, David, Meredith, and Howell, who ex. changed, as above is remembred, with the Earle of Lincolne, the posterity onely of Howell doth remaine in credite and shew in their countrey, the posterity of the other two being by division and subdivision of gavelkind (the destruction of Wales) brought to the estate of meane freeholders, and soe haveing forgotten their descents and pedigree, are becxime as they never had been. If you aske the question why the succession of Howell sped better 28 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. than the posterity of the other two brethren, I can yeald no other reason, but God's mercy and goodness towards the one more than the other, as God sayd in the booke of Moses, " I will have mercy "on whome I will have mercy," for they lived in the same com- monwealth, and under the same storme of oppression, soe as if God had not left us a seed, we had beene like Sodom, or com- pared to Gomorrha. Nevertheless by the goodness of God we are and continue in the reputation of gentlemen from time to time sithence unto this day, as shall appeare by the discourse following. The offspring of David ap Meredith hold the land exchanged by the Earle of Lincolne with their ancestors, viz., the towneship of Yscorebryll in Eglwys vach 1 and halfe Maethebroyd in Llanrwst, 2 and are reputed to be descended from Grufnth ap Conan in the quarter where they dwell, but yet are not able to lay downe the certayntie of their pedigree. David ap Gruff' ap Cariadog (as before mentioned) maried Eva the daughter and heiress of Gruff' Vaughan ap Gruff' ap Mory- thig, and by her had that land which in the extent of North Wales is called Gwely Griffry in Penyved in Evioneth in the county of Carnarvon ; the quit rent of the Prince out of this Gwely 3 is £.3. igs. Which Morithig the grandfather of this woman was, I am uncertaine, for there were two of that name ; one in North Wales, who is descended from Sandde Hard O Vor- tyn, from whome the chiefe men in Yale and Maelor* derive their descent; and another in South Wales, called Morithyg Warwyn, of whome are come all the Vaughans. It did not appear by the Welsh pedegrees, that this Griffry was descended of Morythig, till I found the record in the Exchequer of Carnar- 1 Eglwys vach is a parish in the S.W. part of 2 The town of Llanrwst is also in Denbighshire, Denbighshire. — B. Eglwys vach signifiesthechurch not far distant from the parish of Eglwys vach. — B. in the vale, from the obsolete word Bach, which » This word hath been before explaine d.-B. bears that import. — Evan Evans. Others say that this church is so called, from Bach ab Carwed, a * Extensive Lordships in Denbighshire.-B. chieftain in the seventh century. See Owen's Bio- graphy. W.D. — L. TABLE No. II. TABLE II. a David ap Gruffith ap =j=Ev?, da. of Gruffith Cariadog. See the for- mer pedigree, Table I. (after page 12). Vaughan. b Howell s of Evion* Evan, or Ievan.=j= I David Chwith.= Meredith. Howell ap David.= Eva, or Myfanwy. d Meredith ap=f=Morvydd, da. of Jevan I Howell. / ap David ap Traha- yarn Goch ol the house of Rhys ap Tudor. She died 1416. David ap Howell marr.- (a daughter of Gwenllian, as it should seem in page 3°)- Gwenllian, wife of jevan ap=f= Gruff' ap Madog ap Ririd- flaidd, of Penllyn. e I J I wife of Reignalt ap Bleddyn. (Perhaps the same that married David ap Howell. See page 30). Robert ap Meredith= when he was almost 80 married Angha- rad, da. of David ap L'yn, Sec. (she mar. 2ndly Meredith ap Rhys ap Ievan Llwyd, &c.) Jevan ap Mere-=j= dith, married Lleiki, dau. of Howel Sele. k 31 Robin.=p Marsli, wife of Jenkin Conwey ancestor of the Conweys. Robin Vaughan=j=Angharad, da. of Rhys son of David. ap Gruff' &c. A da. wife of I the! Vaughan. Catherine, only da.=j= Rhys ap Einghan Vaughan. Meredith ap Jevan=j=Margaret, da. of Einion ap Ithel, Howell ap=j= esq. to John of Gaunt. Jevan, &c. | Leify, a da. John ap Meredith 1 guardian of his great uncle's children. : Gwenllian, probably a sister of Gruff' ap Tohn ap Gronw. P Robert ap Meredith ,=j= Abbot of Bardsey. | q ->- Jevan ap Robert^ died in the 32nd year of his age. 1st wife. — ^Catherine, sister of Howell ap Rhys 2d w. Gwenhyfar. I 1st wife Howel ap=j=One of the da. of Rob. Rhys ap Howell Vaughan. ap Meredith. (2d w. a da. of Tudur ap Gruff', &c. Morris,= eldest Jevan.= Robert, slain in Coed mar- chan, vita Patris. Owen.= John ap M Meredith ap Jevan, obt. 1525. Hehsd 5 wives and 26 child- ren. See the next Table III. Robert, John. Jevan. A daughter. Gruffith Vaughan.=j=A daughter. David Lloyd ap Gruffith Vaughan or Vychan. ith= Gruffith.=p o 1 a third da. marr. Howell=j= Dnw ap Jevan ap Gronw vel of Maelor. rvil, s of lr ap -y-dili. Alician van, wife of John ab Madog Puleston : from whom are descen- ded the Pu- lestons of Emeral and/ Havod-y wern Einion ap Gruff '=p Ievan, ances- tor of many families in Carnarvon- shire. g Sir Howel of the Baftle-ax, knig-hted at Poictiers, k snhwyfar, mar- Robert, 4th of Thomas sbury, of r eny, esq. da. veil 'S. [ohn I Gruffith.=f= Another da. wife of Gruffith ap Madog Vaughan. Owen ap Griffith ap Madog. Notes to Table II. a Seepage 25. b Eva, the daughter of Griffith Vaughan, wife of David ap Griffith, bore the arms of Moriddic Warwyn. She was heiress of Kesailgyfarch, and the possess"" called Gwely Griffry, in Evioneth. I ' Griffith T Sir Howel y Fwyall. I Jevan.* 'Gruff' * Hengwrt MS. 113. Autograph of Gutyn Owen, fol. 41. Jevan ap Gr. ap Howel was living 19 Edw. III. See Rymer edit, 1825, pt. 1, p. 68. d Eva, daughter of Jevan ap Howel, wife of Howel ap David, bore the arms of Collwyn. By her the houses called y Llys in Kevn y Van, burned by Owen Glyn Dwr, & Ystymkegid, and other great possessions in Evioneth, came to Howel ap David. e His tombjis in Llanuwchllyn Church. /Living 26 Edw. III. g " Shire " I "' ' *l I „ I Howel Vychan. Madoc, party to Rees. Grono. a deed 8 Hen. V., 1416. * " Madoc ap Jevan ap Einion " is a feoffee to the settle- ment (referred to) dated 10 Oct., 34, Hen. VI., to which Howel ap Grono is feoffor. Perhaps this is the person, as he and Howel were third cousins. h See pages 30 and yg. He was brother not son to Einion. i Living the g Hen. IV. j See pages 34 and 64. k Jevan was living in 2 Hen. IV., (1401) See Ministers 1 Accounts for period ending at May in that year. I " Emeral and " crossed out in MS. note. m The pedigree opposite is wrong, as the following extract [turn over. from the emblazoned Salisbury Manuscript at Wynnstay, proved in a great degree by copies of deeds, &c, in that Vol., will shew : — if Howel ap Grono ap Jevan ap= Grono ap Haifa ap Jorwerth, of Hafod-y-wern, party to a conveyance 24 Dec, 7 Hen. VI., and to another on 10 Oct. 34 Hen VI. : Agnes, dau. of Jevan ap Madoc, of Maelor; wife of Howel on 24 Dec, 7 Hen VI., living upon 10 Oct., 34 Hen. VI. Alswn only chiId=j=Howel ap Jevan living 10 Oct., 34 Hen. VI. ap Griffith of Bersham. Alswn Vychan, settlement=r=John Puleston, upon her and her heirs by John Puleston her husband, made in court of the ville of Wrexhamt 10 Oct., 34 Hen. VI. died 1461. Alicia, dau. of=John Puleston, mar- Thomas Salis- riage settlement bury, sen. made in a Court of the Ville of Wrex- ham 12 July, 15 Edw. IV. * It was Grono ap Hwfa ap Jorwerth who married a daughter of Jevan ap Howel (see above). The wife of Hwfa, and Grono's mother is stated to have been Margaret, daughter to Llewelyn ap Ynyr of Yale, t That is, Licence was granted therein to make the feoffment or settlement. n Living 26 Hen. VI. Living 20 July, 2 Edw. IV. p Read " Gwenever daughter of Gronw ap Jevan ap Einion." q See page 34^ r Living 6 Edw. IV. s This pedigree shows that Rees ap Jevan was cousin german to his wife's grandmother, but the dates, taken from contemporary Records, exhibit the possibility of it. There must have been about 35 years between the ages of my mother and one of her first cousins, my mother being the younger. There was not quite ten years difference in the ages of my mother and the grandson of her first cousin, she being born in July, 1780, and the late Sir Richard Puleston, Bt., in June, 1789. — W. Einion ap Griffith, 10 Rich. II. say 1387. Jevan ap Einion, 1427. A dau. : : Howel Sele, murdered about 1401. I David ap Meunc Vychan. Will H94-5- : Meurice Vychan 1464. See Char- ter of Confraternity of that date, from the Abbot, below. A dau.=j=Jevan ap Mere- dith, 1401, died during Glyn- dwr's wars. I . John ap Meredith 1485. Marriage - settlement of his son Owen 2 Rich. III. Meredith ap Jevan, 20 Hen. VI., say 1442. Howel Vychan Robert, Abbot of Bardsey 1464, probably then a young man. David Rees ap=j=Gwenhwyfar, heiress. 1461-8. Jevan 31 Hen. VI. Jevan ap Rhys HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 2Q v on. If a man list to be curious which of both Morythigs this was, let him find whether of them lived nearest this time, and that sure was he. Howell ap David maried Eva 1 the daughter and heire 2 of Jevan ap Howell 3 ap Meredith of Evioneth (by some cards 4 of pedegree she is called Myfanwy 5 ) and had with her large possessions in Evioneth, which to this day remaine in the posterity of the said Howell, yet mangled with . division and subdivision of gavelkinde. Memorandum, That Evan ap Howell ap Meredith had another daughter and coheiress, maried to one of Penllyn of the stocke of Riiid- flaidd of Penllyn, her name was Gwenllian, and she maried Jevan ap Gruff' ap Madog 6 ap Riridflaidd of Penllyn. 7 The said Jevan ap Howell ap Meredith had a third daughter and coparcener that ma- ried Howell ap Gronw ap Jevan ap Gronw ap Howell cf Maelor, and by him she had two daughters, viz. Gwervile, maried to Tudur ap Hob-y-dili, 8 the other was Alician, who maried Puleston, and brought Hafod y werne to that family. Evan ap Howell ap Meredith, father to this Eva, was brother to Gruff' ap Howell ap Meredith, who was father to Einion ap Gruff', father to Jevan ap Einion 9 and Howell. This Howell was knighted at the field of Poyctiers, and by our countrymen is reported to have taken the French King ; but howsoever it was, he did such service there, that the Prince bestowed a messe of meate to be served up dayly 1 The descendants of David and Eva have Evioneth, living 1683. — History of the Gwydir always borne the arms of Morythig Warwyn. Family, in Hengwrt MS., 350, fol. 15. She was heiress of Cesailgyfarch, and of the 7 pen]1 u a hundred - m Merionethshire ._ B . possessions called Gwely Gnffry, in Evioneth. „, ..... . _. r " Tudur ap Hob-y-dilh and others enter into a J Rather Co-heir.— P. recognizance for £60 to Rich. Boule " parson " 3 Jevan ap Howel ap Meredith appears as Rin- of the church of Mold, 21 July, 1386 — 36th Report gild for the Comote of Evioneth, in a Roll of of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records, p. 347. Ministers' Accounts, Co. Cam: from Michaelmas , ^ ^ B ^ ^ sentence has 23rd Rich. II. to 1 Hen. IV., and so on to the £omma ^ „ E;nion „ This Howe , was certain]y month of May, 2 Hen. IV. brother to Einion ap Gruff, who was appointed 4 This is used for charts. — B. Sheriff of Carnarvonshire, for 3 years, 1 Oct. 25 » See an ode to Myfannwy Fechan amongst Edw - IIL > though it would seem from the sentence Evans's Specimens of Welsh Poetry. Meufaniw i n the text > that he was s ° n - He was in receipt i.e. my woman or my dear.-E. ot an annuit y from the Crown at Michaelmas 2 , , , _ r „ , Rich. II. of £20 a year. — Account of Chamberlain 6 The ancestor of John Owen of Kefn in gf Nofth WaUs {qi ^ ^ ^ Michaelmas> 30 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. during his life before his battle-axe,' which after was bestowed on the poore, whereof he was called Sir Howell y fwyall. 1 He was alsoe Constable of Chester and Criketh Castles, 2 and had the mills to farme, and other many great office, and places of profit. Of Jevan ap Eingan his brother are descended very many gentle- men of principall account in the county of Carnarvon. Howell 3 begate Meredith and David ; Meredith ap Howell 4 dwelled in Evioneth at his houses Keffin y fan, and Keselgiffarch, and David ap Howell in Llanrwst in Denbigh land, at his house called Henblas in Maethebroyd. Meredith ap Howell maried Morvydd the daughte r of Jevan ap David ap Trahayarn goch of Llun, who was descended of the house of Rys ap Teudwr. In the extent of North Wales, made in the 26th of Edward the Third, you shall find that Meredith ap Howell 5 and others are the heires of Gwely. Grift' David ap Howell his brother maried 6 viz. Jevan ap Howell ap Meredith, the daughter of Gwenllian, 1 Fwyall signifies an axe. — B. Howel was also "Raglot" of Aberglaslyn, and died between Michaelmas 2 Rich. II, and the same time 6 Rich. II. — Ministers'' Accounts; and Account of Chamberlain of North Wales. (See Peniarth MS. 45, No. 2, pp, 7 and 28.) - Some small remains of this Castle still continue. It is on the sea-coast of Carnarvonshire. — B. 3 Not Howel of the Battle-axe, but Howell ap David ap Gruffith ap Cariadog, &c. According to Collins, Howell ap David had five sons by Eva daughter of Jevan ap Howell ap Meredith ; viz. Meredith, Robert, Tudor, Gruffith, and David.— P. * It appears in a Roll of Ministers' Accounts from Michaelmas 5 to do. 6 Rich. II, that at that time Meredith ap Howel held in farm from the Crown the Lordship of Gest, 6 Davydd ab Howell, brother to Mredd. ab Howell, married the grand-daughter of Iefan ab Howel ab Mredd., being the daughter of Gwen- llian. Denbigh MS.— L. ' There is some mistake here undoubtedly in the pedigree, probably occasioned by the chasm in the MS. — B. Miss Llwyd fills up this blank as follows : — " his brother married the grand-daughter of Jevan ap Howell, &c," but Mr. Wynne thinks Miss Llwyd has not cleared the matter up. The late Mr. Joseph Morris of Shrewsbury, suggested the following : — Ieuan ap Griffith =p Gwenllian dau. of ap Madoc, of Nantffreur to Ririd Flaidd. Gwenllian dau. of Ieuan. Ieuan ap Howel ap Meredith, of Evionydd. =f David ap Howel, &c. to Owen Gwynedd. Robin Vychan =f= Angharad, dau. of j MadocapRys*to I Ednyved Vychan. Catherine dau. Robin. of ■■ Rys ap Einion Vychan, to Penwyn Gwenhwyfar, f.h. wife Lleiki, f.h. wife of of Robt. Salusbury Griffith ap Madoc of Llanrwst. Vychan, to Jarddwr. (From a letter of the late Mr.'Joseph Morris). This partially clears up the imperfect passage above, but not that part of it relating to Reignall ap_Bleddyn. * Madoc ap Rys ap David ap Rys Van ap Rys HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 31 and Jevan ap Griff' ap Madog ap Jerweth was wife to 1 Reginall ap Bleddyn, and had by her issue Robin Vaughan ap David ap Howell, who maried Angha r ad the daughter of Rys ap Gruff ap Rys ap Ednyfed Vaughan, and had no issue male, 2 but one daugh- ter called Cattrin vch Robin Vaughan' who maried Rys ap Ein- gan Vaughan of Llanrwst, a gentleman of the house of Penwyn in Nanconwy and Denbigh Land ; s who having noe issue male by her, but daughters, the greatest parte of the possessions of that house, which were now worth a thousand markes a yeare, came to the Salisburies. For Robert Salisbury the elder, fourth sonne of Tho. Salisbury of Lleweny, in the county of Denbigh, Esq. maried Gwenhwyfar, the daughter of Rys ap Eingan and €athe- rin the daughter of Robin Vaughan ap David ap Howell. Rys ap Edneved Vychan. (Robert Vaughan of Hen- gwrt, Hengwrt MS. 96, p. 853, quoting Griffith Hiraethog.) =fjevan ap Howel of Llys yn Cefn Y Van (Cys- tymkegid). Myfanwy, = 1 = Howel ap Jevan ap =pGwenllian or Gwer- David, Griffith ap dau. and vil dau. (pages 33, Madoc,— co-heir. and co- 35. 37)- h!s tomb- heir. stone is at Llanuwch- llyn. Other issue a daughter = Howel Pickhill* Hengwrt MS. 436 (quoting Gutyn Owen,) folio 41, and folio 118, and Hengwrt MS. 96, pages 743, 853, and 889. 'Jevan ap Howel Pickhill held lands in Holt, 30 Sept. 1397. (See 36th Report ol Deputy Keeper of Public Records, page 242.) The following is the text of the passage as it stands in the Brogyntyn MS. of The Gwydir Family :-r-" In the Extent of North wales made in the 26 of Edward the 3d you shall find that Meredith ap Howell and others are the heires of Gwely Griffri [David ap Howell his brother maried verch Jenn (Jevan) ap Howell ap Meredith] the daughter of Gwenllian, and Jevan ap Gruffith ap Madoc ap Jerwerth, was wife to Reignall ap Bleddyn (sic) and had by her issue Robin Vaughan ap David ap Howell who married Angharad the daughter of Rys ap Gruffith ap Rys ap Ednyfed vaughan, and had noe issue male but one daugh- ter called Cattrin vz Robin vaughan who married Rys ap Eingan vaughan of llanrwst, a gentleman of the house of Penwyn of Nanconwy and Den- bighland who haveing no issue male by her but daughters." It is stated in the Brogyntyn MS. that the words bracketed were a note in the mar- gin of the original MS. 1 If the words " was wife to Reignall ap Bled- dyn " were left out, the page would be sense, and. would agree with the pedigree. — W. 2 Should not the word " and " in this line be struck out ? — W. 3 In all the printed copies of the History 0/ the Gwydir Family, and in all the manuscripts of it which I have examined, the passage from the words "David ap Howell" down to "Denbigh Land" inclusive is very obscure. There can be no doubt that here the original manuscript has been carelessly written, or the transcripts inac- curately made. In the Brogyntyn manuscript a line is drawn round the words from " David ap Howel"-' down to and including " Howel ap Meredith," and in the margin occurs this note—" This is a note in the margin." The late Mr. Joseph Morris, of Shrews- bury, in a pedigree which we insert at page 30, attempts to clear up this difficulty, but not success- fully, nor does Miss Llwyd, in a note at page 39 32 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. ap Eingan had one other daughter by her, called Lleify, 1 to whom he gave faire possessions ; but nothing comparable to the other, that was married to Gruff, ap Madog Vaughan in Aberge- ley. 2 All the inheritance of this Robin Vaughan ap David ap Howell, held after the Welsh tenure, within the lordship of Den- bigh, was, by the custome of the countrey, 3 to descend to his heire male, and so descended to Jevan, the sonne of Rob't ap Meredith his cosen, as hereafter shall be laid downe in the life of the said Jevan. I have in my house the probate of the testament of Morvydd, the wife of Meredith ap Howell, as faire to behold as at the first day, bearing date anno 1416. The probate of the will is dated at Krikieth, before one Rob't Swaython, official of the Archdeacon of Merioneth. Meredith ap Howell had by her two sonnes, Rob't and Jevan, and a daugher, called Marsli, 4 mar- ried to Jenkin Conwey of Ruddlan, mother to Hen Sion acer* y Conwey, of whome all the Conweys, of Ruddlan and Bodriddan, and Lords of Prestatyn, are descended. She was the first Welsh- woman that was maried into that house, as John Conwey, Esq. my cosen, (now Lord thereof) told me. John Tudur, 6 one of our Welsh heraulds, sayth, that there was a third brother, called Robin, whose daughter and heire Ithel Vaughan maried, and there, fore those descended from him doe quarter Owen Gwynedd's egletts. 7 of her edition ; but if the word " and," in line 7 of a p pears no y eMn Conwey, but Jenkin and John that page, and the words from " was wife " down are the same name> and there appear t0 have been to and including " Bleddyn" were struck out, the several in BUCCeS sive generations bearing the name passage would be sense, and agree with all the of j 0hn . so that it is vely difficult t0 ; dent ;f y each pedigrees. W. as tjjey occur in the pedigrees. It is certain, how- 1 Leuci who married Owen ab Gryffydd. — L. ever, that Sion Hen aer y Conwey died on the Lleiki in Brogyntyn MS. next Saturday after the feast of St. Mary the Vir- 2 Abergeley is a town in the western part of Den" S ln i I 4°7- bighshire near the sea. — B. 5 There is no word in Dr. Davies's Dictionary s Whether by this custom is meant y* of gavel. nearer t0 this than achor < which he supposes to kinde. (Kole to the Brogyntyn MS.) signify little.— B. Aer, i.e. the heir of Conwy.— L. „ _ , . The word is aer in the Brogyntyn MS. 1 According to the Great Book of Pedigrees, by the antiquary of,;Hengwrt, Robert Vaughan (Hen- 7 J ohn Tudur of Wigfair, in Rhos, Denbighshire, gwrt MSS. 96), this Marsli was the grandmother was J ohn Conwy's domestic Bard. He was a of John Hen aerfr Conwey. In the 36th and 37th skilful Herald : and satirized the vices of the age Reports of the Deputy Keeper of the Public verv freely.— L. He died in 1602. Records, where there are such voluminous refer- 6 These are mentioned in the Preface, to have ences to the landowners of Flintshire, there been the arms of Owen Gwynedd. — B. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 35 I find an obligacion, bearing date 20 July, 2 Edward IV. wherein John ap Meredith standeth bound to Jevan ap Robert Meredith to stand to the award of Gruff ap Robin ap Gruff', and Lewis ap Howell ap Llewelyn, arbitrators elect for the said John ap Meredith, and Meredyth ap Rys, and Jevan ap Howell ap Rys ap Eingan, arbitrators elect for the said Jevan ap Robert, to parte certaine tenements betweene them in Evioneth : and in case they could not agree, then was Howell ap Eingan ap Howell Coetmore 1 named umpire. Memorandum, That during Robert ap Mered' his time, the inheritance descended to him and his brother was not parted after the custome of the countrey, as being gavelkind ; but Jevan being maried enjoyed both their houses, viz. Keven y vann 2 and Keselgyfarch : and for that Jevan, then Constable of Criketh, clave fast to the King, Owen Glyndwr burned them both to cold ashes? Neither was the inheritance betwene their posterity divided, untill such time as Jevan the sonne of this Robert was maried and had many children, as may appeare by the indentures of partition betweene Jevan the sonne of this Robert, and John ap Meredith ap Jevan, grandchild to the other brother Jevan* the one parte of which indentures I have. Those that made par- tition betweene them were these, Thomas ap Robin * of Kych- willan, that maried Gwenhwyfar, and Jevan ap Meredith. This Thomas ap Robin was after beheaded neare the castle of Conwey by the Lord Herbert, for that he was a follower of the house of Lancaster: 5 and his wife is reported to have carried away his head in her apron. Some alrme Jevan ap Meredith to be the elder brother, and soe doth all the race that are of him contend : my- 1 Howell -Coytmor, in consequence of his heroic family, and from them through the Owens of Pork- behaviour in the French wars, got new armorial ington to the late Mrs. Ormsby Gore. bearings, azure a chevron between three spears' s a similar expression of cold coals is used after- heads argt. embrued gules.— L. war ds in this History.— B. 2 Now called Ystymcegid. This place passed by 4 Thomas ab Robin assisted in conveying the the marriage of Catherine daughter of Robert Owen, Earl of Richmond to France. — L. Esq., with Robert Wynne of Glynn, into that 5 In 1466. F 34 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. self, and those that are come of Robert, have this reason to think him to be the elder. Robert had issue Jevan, Jevan his brother had issue Meredith, Meredith had issue John, John being of man's estate had the tuition of his uncle Jevan ap Robert, 1 my ancestor, and yet Robin Vaughan ap David ap Howell's land in Denbigh land, being cozen to them both, descended to Jevan ap Robert, my ancestor, and not to John ap Meredith ; which I hold for an invincible argument that Jevan is descended from the elder. Alsoe I have the King's Writte, directed to Robert Meredith, Meredith ap Jevan ap Meredith, and to the principall gentlemen of Evioneth, for the apprehension of Jevan ap Robin Herwr, a notable rebell outlaw, and others of, his qualitie ; which writt doth place Robert ap Meredith first before his nephew, which alsoe may fortifie the opinion of them who : hold him to be the elder 2 brother to Jevan ap Meredith. The wordes of the writ doe follow, in hsec verba. 3 1 Observe y' though Robin Va n his lands de- scended as is alledged to Evan ap Robert, yet this descent was not according to y 8 comen law of England but according to the Welsh custom &laws then in effect, if soe then y 8 Author's argument is but weak to conclude y* Robert was y e elder brother of Evan ap Mredith, for if y 8 Welsh law was y* y e land should descend to y 8 next heyre male oi e blood, then though Evan and Robert ap Mredith by y 8 Gavel ap Robert was next of kinne to Robin Vaug .... by one descent as is apparent by the Pedigrees in this booke and otherwise and soe as next of kinne, he also might be next heyre male to Robin Va n . (A note in the Brogyntyn MS.) 2 This is of noe weight for it is everie dayes ob- servac'on & experience yt not only in y 8 Commis- sions of y 8 peace &c. but alsoe in Acts of Parliam't younger brothers are named before their elder brothers & meane p'sons before Bronetts K ta - and gents of ye best ranke and quality being of farre better estates and of better descents. (A note in the Brogyntyn MS.) 3 HENRICUS Dei gratia RexAnglise & Francise & D'nus Hibernian, dilectis sibi Roberto ap Mere- dith, Meredith ap Jevan ap Meredith, Rys ap Tudur, Howell ap Madog ap Jevan, John ap Gronw, & Howell ap Jevan Vaughn, Salutem.* Quia p' certo sumus informati, q'd Jevan ap Robin & alii diversi notorii utlegati & incogniti de die in diem vi & armis cum diversis felon' in comitiva sua, ut dicitur, faciunt ambulationes sup' diversos fidelium nostrorum infra comitatum n'rum de Carnarvon & diversos de eisd' fidelib' spoliaver- unt, & male tractaverunt in destructionem & de- paup'ationem ligeorum nostrorum manifestam, ac contra formam statutorum progenitorum nostrorum in hac p'te p'visorum. Assignavimus vos & unum- quemq' vestrum conjunctim & divisim ad arres- tandum & capiendum p'dict' Jevan ap Robinf & alios in comitiva sua existent' p' corpora ubicumq' inventi fuerint infra co'motum de Evioneth & eos salvos & securos usq' castrum n'rum de Car- narvon indilate duci faciatis constabulario n'ro ibid' liberandos & in eodem castro moraturos quousq' de eorum deliberatione aliter duxerim' ordinandum; & ideo vobis mandamus q'd circa p'missa diligenter intendatis & ea faciatis cum effectu sicut inde coram nobis respondere valueritis. Damus autem univ'sis & singulis fidelibus n'ris tenore p'sentium firmiter in mandatis quod vobis & cuilibet vestrum in omnib' qua? ad arrestationem & captionem p'dicti Jevani ap Robin & aliorum p'tinent' intendentes sint, auxiliantes, fortificantes, HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 35 But howsoever it be, the gavelkind and custume of the country not yealding to the elder any prerogative or superiority more than to the younger, it is not a matter to be stood upon. Indeed Jevan ap Meredith maried in his youth Llenau 1 the daughter of Howell Sele ap Mereicke, of the house of Nannau Li Merioneth shire, 2 and begat by her Meredith ap Jevan ; whome in his youth he matched with Margaret the daughter of Einion sp Ithel of Rhiwedog 3 in Penllyn in the county of Merioneth Esq. of the tribe of Ririd flaidd, and Howell ap Jevan ap Meredith. Quere. If any males descended of this Howell be living now ? Owen Holland of Berw, and Rytherch ap Richard of Myfyrion in Anglesey are descended by females from him, as Richard Gruf- fith ap Hugh affirmith ? Alsoe it should be knowne how this land is gone from his pbsteritie. This Einion ap Ithel was Esquire to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, to whome for his service, as well in the time of warre & p' omnia respondentes. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. T. meipso apud Carnarvon 28 die Augusti anno regni n'ri vicesimo. — B. [1442] * [See p. 34, note 3] I suspect that " Howell ap Jevan Vaughan" above is the same person as occurs at page 35, the brother of Meredithap Jevan apMere- dith. He is called in nearly all our Pedigrees " Howel Vychan ap Jevan " and was owner of Fronoleu, be- tween Tremadoc and Pont Aberglaslyn, now (1878) the property of Lord H arlech. — W. -j- Quere, whether this Iefan ap Robin was not Iefan ap Robin bach of Trerudd, in the parish of Towyn, whose pardon was procured and obtained by means of Siencin Vychan of Caethle, Squier of the body to H. 7. — L. This note occurs in the Brogyntyn MS. 1 Lleiki, in edit, of 1770. 2 Nannau is a very ancient family-seat about three miles N. of Dolgelley in Merionethshire. It stands perhaps oh higher ground from the valley beneath, than any Gentleman's house in Great Britain. In Saxton's maps it is spelt Nanna, as it continues to be commonly pronounced. There are some traditional anecdotes about Howell Sele, or Selif, which is the same with Solomon, in the neighbourhood of Nanney. Howel Sele of Nanney stood out for Hen. IV. against Owen Glendower. — MS. Life, penes the Rev. Mr. Price, Librarian of the Bodleian Library. — Howel was attacked by David Gam of Brecknock. Ibid. — B. Copper ba'lers, a spit, and two silver spoons were found at Nannau by the late William Vaughan, Esq. — L. Sir Walter Scott refers to the tradition of the death of Sele in Marmion, and gives as a note the Rev. G. Warrington's graphic ballad on the subject. 3 Rhiwedog is also a very ancient family-seat in Merionethshire, about a mile S. E. from Bala. In Saxton's maps it is spelt Ruedok. The name is said to signify the bloody-bank, and by tradition a great battle was fought near this spot — B. Llywarch Hen addresses his son Cynddelw in the words following in a poem still extant, Cynddelw, cadw dithau y rhiw Ar a ddel yma heddiw Cudeb am un mab nid gwiw. " Cynddelw, defend thou the steep pass of the hill against all that assault us to day, it is in vain to be fond of the only son which is remaining." Llywarch Hen in the field at Rhiwedog, after he had lost all his children but Cynddelw. — E. As we feel sure Mr. Evans never spelt some of the words in this quotation from the " Lament," as given by Mr. Barrington, we have ventured to cor- rect it. 36 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. as peace, he gave a pension of twenty markes per annum, issuing out of his manor of Halton : l The charter I have seene being in French, with the Duke's seale and armes, and it remaineth in the custody of John Owen of Ystymcegid, 2 Esq. the heire of Owen ap John ap Meredith. Meredith ap Jevan 3 ap Meredith begat by the daughter of Ei- 1 There are many Haltons in England. See Spelman's Index Villaris. 2 Ystymcegid was formerly one of the seats of the Owens of Cleneney, and is in the parish of Dolbenmaen in Carnarvonshire. The mansion-house of this family is now at Porkinton in Shropshire ; and it may be perhaps said that there is stronger proof of the same spot having been the capital mansion of the Owens for a longer time, than pro- bably can be produced by any other family in Europe. The following order of Henry III., trans- cribed from Rymer, proves that Porkinton belonged to the Owens nearly 650 years ago. " Rex Lew- elino Principi Sal. Sciatis quod — & Bledh filius Oeni de Porkinton venerunt ad fidem & servitium nostrum." See Rymer, vol. I. par. i. p. 79. A,D. 1218. and 2 Hen. III.— B. 3 Kowydd Mredydd ap Ifan amrhedydd o ystymkegid. Pa wrol ion pur i wledd prav blaenio pobl wynedd Mredydd o fionydd faenawr < mab Ifan ail gogfran gawr sy lowydd teg, sylwedd twr syth gwynn ymlaen saith gannwr a ffennaeth hoff i anian fry a gae lwk efrog Ian ag er yn fab gwiwran fodd hap ras orfod prysurfodd i bob gwaith i bob gwthiaw i bob aer drom bybyr draw diwarth rym, i doe wrth raid derwen y penaduriaid ag nid oes walch glanfalch gledd nenn fynys yn un fonedd wyr fredydd irfrau ydiw ap howel gwych hepil gwiw gwaed dafydd ap gruffudd gryf gwych gynnes ag iach gennyf Ymwel ai lys ami i wledd Mark hynod ymrig gwynedd ystum wenn bias da yma i waith Kegid nid hendy koegwaith Neuadd fawr newydd furwen uwch ael ffordd uchel i ffen lie kair gida am Hew kowrain lliosog hir bob lies kain arian a gwin urien ged ag aur ai law'n egored o ddwys bur dda syberwyd a rhoi'n ddi ball, rhinwedd byd Ifor yw fo fawr i fudd a fraisg fynn frisg ifionydd Hew ag awch ffwg lliwgoch ffonn llawen gorf, llyn ag arfonn da reolwr dewr eilwaith holl benllyn hyd ferwyn faith ag yno rhwydd i gwna rhawg evro a dail riwedawg efo i wraig wenn fry a gaid o bur iawn ryw barwniaid Marged lawhyged yw hon Mawr i chynyrch merch einion wyr ithel Ian, araith lwys yw bwrdd gwin, beirdd a gynwys ir liosog roi lusen eurgain hil wrgenau hen da loer yw honn, deuliw 'r haf dirion siriol, dwrn saraf a da wyneb di anoeth i fionydd, fu'r ddydd i doeth at fredydd arf derydd dan dur bafais dewr ab ifan gwr y sydd mewn gras heddyw glew union farn, glana'n fyw eb yr un pur, barwn parch ail kyfflyba kaiff loewbarch draw hyd yn hynn, drud ion hael dawn ofeg duw'n i afael kafas air byd, bryd, breuder a chlod gann weiniaid a chler ag efo, pan ddel gofyn aur naf teg, gwr, nowfed dyn i gadw rhwysg y gwaed yrhawg o brint ais bronn y tywyssawg Mai Owain wych ymlaen nod gwynedd hen gynnydd hynod HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 37 nion 1 ap Ithel, John ap Meredith, 2 (who maried and was at man's estate afore his grandfather's brother, Eobert ap Meredith, my ancestor, ever maried ;) and Robert ap Meredith, Abbot ol Bard- sey. This may be accounted for, as we have it by certaine tra- dition, that Robert was almost eighty years old before he ever married, and then in his dotage fancied and married Angarad the daughter of David ap Ll'yn ap David of Kefn-melgoed in the county of Cardigan, whose wife was the daughter of Rytherch ap Jevan Llwyd of that countrey ; by her he had issue Jevan ap Robert and several daughters. From this Robert the Abbot 3 are descended my three Pencenedle, 4 because they are descended of church nobilitie, viz. Gruffith ap Richard of Madryn issa, Robert ap Richard 5 of Llocheiddor, and Owen ap John 6 ap Jevan ap Ro- bert of Bron y foel, and Kefn Kyfanedd in Evioneth. diwid fryd doed i fredudd dalaith aur hen, dilyth rbudd a gardys amlwg eurdeg Rolant ail ar i lin teg yrllynedd mowredd mirain o bru'n y cwrt barwn kain Harri goel ierll, hir i gledd burned ag ni bu omedd Aroes iraidd res arian ar i warr glew, eryr glan rhoed eto er llwyddo lies aur fynwer ar i fonwes a graddied hwnn gwreiddiad hedd baun y gwin yn benn gwynedd. I. llowdden ai kant. Brogyntyn MS. No. 13. Cowydd n. Ievan Llawdden was an eminent poet of the vale of Llychwr in Caermarthenshire, who flourished from about A.D. 1430 to 1470. He spent a great 1 part of his life as minister of the church of Machyn- lleth, but in his old age he retired to the place of his nativity, where he died. — Cambrian Biography, page 203. . 1 This Einion, after the death of Walter Lord Mauney (who was by patent sheriff of Merioneth- shire for life) succeeded him in that office, being in great favour with Henry the Fourth, in the begin-, ning of whose reign he died. — E., citing a MS. of Mr. Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt. — B. 2 John ap Meredith, party to a deed on the 12th Jan., 2 Rich. 3, (1485). 3 Robert, * Abbot of Bardsey, party to a deed 6 Jan. 1464. I I I Jevan ap Robert David Ellin=pRobert ap Howe] 1 ■d ap 1 1 John Richa Richard | David of | 1 Madryn issa. | wen ap John Robert ap of Bronyfoel Richard of and Cefn Cy- Llecheiddor. fanedd in Griffith ap 1 Evionedd. Rich ard. 1 I Agnes : born Maurice ap Robert Wynne I 557- I of Glyn. * " Yr hwn a briodod ar ol troi i ffyd." From a M S. in the handwriting of Simwnt Vychan, formerly in the possession of Mr. Vaughan of Shrewsbury. Pedigree above from Hengwrt MS. 360, adding the name of " Griffith ap Richard " from Sir John Wynn. *Pencenedle signifies head of a family. — B. 5 Robert ap Richard was living in 1590. " He is party to a deed at Brogyntyn of ig Nov. 27 Eliz. (1584). In the Brogyntyn MS. the pass- age runs thus :— " Of Kefn Kyfanedd, in Evioneth," "Bronyfoel" being erased and "Kefn Kyfanedd" substituted for it, in a much more modern hand. 38 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. The case why this Robert ap Meredith was soe long unmaried may appeare partly by record, and partly by tradition; it is cer- taine„ that as in the time of Henry the Fourth, Jevan ap Mere- dith had matched his sonne (as is aforesaid) to Einion 1 ap Ithele's daughter, who belonged to the house of Lancaster: soe he clave fast to that house in the time that Owen Glyndwr rebelled in Wales.. Soe that in the time of that warre he and Meredith ap Hwlkyn Llwyd of Glynllifon, 2 had the charge of the town of Carnarvon, and an English captain was over the castle; in revenge whereof, Owen burned his two houses, Keven y van and Keselgyfarch in Evioneth. In the processe of continuance of this warre Jevan died at Carnarvon, and was brought by sea (for the passages by land were shut up by Owen's forces) to Penmorfa, 3 his parish, church, to be buried. Robert his brother, taking^ a clean con- trary course, was out with Owen Glyndwr, as may be gathered by a pardon granted, him in the ninth yeare of Henry the Fifth, i then Prince of Wales, which I have to shew, whereof the true copie ensueth. 5 1 Einion ab Ithel of Rhiwaedog covenanted with South Wallias & North Walliae o'ibus & singulis John Duke of Lancaster, to attend him for one year p'sentes literas n'ras inspecturis, Salutem. Sciatis in his expedition to Cuienne, with one man at arms quod nos authoritate & potestate nobis p' ipsum and one archer: this indenture is still extant at metuendissimumd'numn'rumregem&patremcom'- Rhiwaedog. " Cest endenture faite entre le tres issis, ac etiam pro quadam fine nobis p' Rob'tum haut & puissant jo : Due de Cuyen & Lancestre ap Meredith ap Howell nuper rebellem dicti d'ni d'un parte et Eignon ab Ithel dautre parte, &c, n'ri regis & patris in partib' Wallise, ad opus &c." — L. ejusd' d'ni n'ri regis & patris soluta; recepimus 2 This place lies about Six miles S. of Carnarvon. & admisimus dictum Robertum ad gratiam p'dicti g_ d'ni n'ri regis & patris, & ei pardonamus no'ie ejusd' ... , , , . , ,, d'ni regis & patris sectam pacis suae quae ad ipsum "Penmorva signifies at the end or head of the ,. „„ „,„,„ „„__ s, „„*,„„ „>*:_«»„> „~_j~„j:„ _,...£ . . , , r Q num n rum regem oc patrem p tinet p' omnimodis marsh. This village is situated at the entrance of , ,.,.. ., , , ,,. ... Jr., r , •• ,. "•"""• , " """B*- ° p'ditionib , rebelhonibus, incendiis, felonns, adhsesio- tbe Traethmawr sands, which divide Merioneth .,, . ... • . . . ... „ , . .. j ^"" ^ "" , "" , * "* ' nib', transgressionibus, mispnsionib' & malefactis and Carnarvonshire.-B. quibuscumq' p' p'dictum Robertum in p'tibus & 4 gth of Henry IV. Amongst the Records of the marchiis Walliae ante hsec tempora factis sive p'pe- late Welsh Audit Office is a licence for him to tratis, unde indictatus, vetatus*, rectatus, vel appel- build a mill upon his lands in the ville of Dynlley, ] a tus existit, ac etiam utlegariis, si qua in ipsum his dated 20 May 22 of King Henry— doubtless Henry occasionib' fuerint p'mulgata, & firmam pacem the VI. — W. p'dicti d'ni regis & patris inde concedimus, ac ea 5 HENRICUS illustris Regis Angliaa & Francis bona & catalla sua qusecumq' dicto d'ino n'ro regi primogenitus, Princeps Anglian, Dux Aquitaniss, & patri occasionibus premissis forisfacta no'ie & Lancastrian & Cornubise, & Comes Cestria;, locum authoritate p'dictis concedimus p"psentes : itatamen tenens metuendissimi d'ni n'ri regis & patris in p'tib' q'd stet rectus in curia p'dicti d'ni regis & patris & HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 39 Rys Goch 1 of Eryri, a bard of that time, made him a song, shewing what notable qualities he had, and yet durst not name him therein, for that as it seemeth he was an outlaw at that time when the song was made, but sheweth in the song his de- scent from Gruff' ap Conan 2 , and that he was the hope of that stocke. The Song that Rys Goch made to Robert ap Meredith be- ginneth thus : — HIR y bu Ruffudd ruddbar Waywdan fab Cynan ein car Ar goesgeirch hir gwayw ysgwyd Yn gorwedd Llew Flamgledd Llwyd A'i dalaith Llwybr goddaith Llaw Fynnodd gynt yn kelffeiniaw Tann oerfab bid tan arfoll Na chryn ddyn ni chrynodd oil n'ra, si quis versus eum loqui voluerit de p'missis vel aliquo p'missorum ; in cujus rei testimonium has litteras n'ras fieri fecimus patentes. Dat' London xx die Septembris anno dicti metuendissimi n'ri regis & patris Henrici quarti post conquestum ix°. Irro- tulatur ad sessionem tentam apud Carnarvon die Lunae proximo post festum assumptionis beatae Maria? Virginis an'o principatus dn'i H. principis Walliae, undecimo. — B. * * [See p. 38, note 5] This word properly signifies to injoin or forbid; it is corruptly used for vetitus. See du Cange, in articulo. Rectatus from rectum signifies prosecuted. -B. 1 Rys Goch flourished about the year 1400. See Lluyd's Arch. He liv'd at Havod Garregog near Beddcelhert. The late heiress [Jane, daughter of Morys Wyn, married Zacheus Hughes, A. B. of Trefan. She died in 1764. — L.] of this place (who married Mr. Hughes of Trevan) was descended from him in a direct line. — E. " This Rys Goch o Erryrri descended paternally from Collwyn, one of the 15 tribes, he being the son of Davydd ab Ior- werth ab Iefan Llwyd ab Eirid ab Carwed ab Gwyn ab Ednowen, &c, and lived upon his own lands at Havod-garegog in Nanmor, in the Parish of Bedd Gelert, and Mawris Williams Nanmor is his heyre, and enioieth that house and lands at this day, being the sonne of William ab Hugh ab Lewys ab Morys Gethin, the sonne of Margaret the dau : and heyre of Rhys goch o Ryri. The sayde Mauris Williams of Nanmor is alsoepaternallye descended from Tydyr Hob y dili, (mentioned in a former page), and Gwerfil his wife the dau : of Howell ab Gronw by his wife the daughter of Iefan ab Howell ab Mere- dydd, as being the sonne of William ab Huw ab Lewys ab Morys Gethin ab Iefan ab Rhys ab Tydyr ab Hob y dili, whose right name was Robert ab Tudor ab Einghan ab Cynric ab Llowarch ab Heylin ab Tyfid ab Tangno ab Ysbrwyth ab Marchwystl ab Marchweithian. Also the wife of Morys Gethin was Gweryl verch Gryffydd ab Davydd ab Iefan ab Mredydd ab Gronw ab Iefan ab Llowarch ab Davydd goch ab Davydd ab Gryffydd, who was the sonne of Llewelyn the great, and father of the last Prince Llewelyn ab Gryflydd. This GryfF. ab Ll'nn is mentioned in page 16 of this Book because these ancestors of mine are mentioned in this Book, and I copieng the same, I thought good to lay downe my descent from them in a different charac- ter, that it may appeare I am descended from many others mentioned in this Booke." The above note was transcribed out of an old MS. copy apparently of the time of Syr John Wynn, and now in the possession of Mrs. Dd. Jones, of Ruthyn L. 2 i.e. Grufnth ap Conan Prince of Wales.— P. 40 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. Mae arno gaink llathrfaink Llv Etifedd propr yn tyfv Yn dwyn ystod fragod frig Garw ben hydd gwr boneheddig O bryd a Llafn hyfryd hedd Ag ysgythr brwydr ag osgedd O gampau anwydav naid Frytanawl hen frytaniaid Om Gofyn emyn ymwal Dyn anosbarthys ei dal Pwy i henw nim difenwir Bedydd ar dv gwerydd dir Y gwr a elwir yn gainc Dylwyth-fawr ar dalaith-fainc Alexander niferoedd A mvr a phen mawr hoff oedd Trystan ddoethran addeithryw Dvlath avr ei dalaith yw Bonedd ond odid benoeth Y cwysg yn hen farwn coeth Rhwng Hafren hoywddwr gloywglan Liu gwrth a Hi a garthan Ni ad gwawd pechawd heb pwyll gandaith genfigendwyll Son am y cymro os iach Pwyllog doeth a fo pellach Pe megid evrid araith Cenav o neb Cynan iaith Hir ddewr Ian hardd eryr lid Henw mygr o hwn y megid Ymgroesed gwawd dafawd hen Ymgais ni wn i amgen. Rys Goch or Eryri ai kant. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 41 " Long did our friend [or kinsman] Gryfudd ap Conan, with his bloody spear, fiery lance, shield, and flaming sword, lye dormant like a greyheaded lion, whilst his country was all in a blaze by the hands of the enemy, who heaped together dry wood to kindle [welcome] the fire. Tremble not at the relation, he did not tremble. From him there grows a beautiful branch eminent in battle and master of the British Games. 1 If my disordered head 2 is asked the Christian name of him who is called a descendant of the great family on the throne, of the province, it is Alexander, the beloved chief of the multitude with the golden crown of Trystan the Wise. 3 I prophecy, he will deserve the high title of a wise baron, and withstand an army between the famous water of the Severn and the clear stream of Garthen. Dark envy and detraction will not suffer his praise to be celebrated. If it is his desert, timid caution avaunt. If any strait, beautiful, and brave offspring of Cynan's lineage 4 was ever bred, this must be he. Beware the scoff of those who have before detracted; if I speak of him it must be to his honour." Composed by Rees Goch (or Rhys the Red) of Eryri 5 . 1 These were the four and twenty games ( Y Pedair Camp ar Hugain) which every British youth aspired to excel at. See Jones's Musical and Poetical Relics, 1794. 2 This is a common expression in the Welsh language : when anything dangerous was spoken, they feigned madness. — This explanatory note was added by the learned gentleman who made the version of this poem. — B. 3 Trystan was the son of a King of Cornwall, who was educated under Merlin, and became a most famous Knight errant of Arthur's Round Table.— See the adventures of this Knight, printed at Venice, 1552, 2 vol. 4to. From his having been instructed under such a tutor, and many of his atchievements having been performed in Cornwall, Wales, and Ire- land, it is not extraordinary that he should be cele- brated by the Welsh Bards. As for the epithet of wise,he merited this title probably from the instruc- tions of Merlin, and the ancient Knight Errant was supposed commonly to have every other virtue, as well as that of valour. Hence Us neuf Preux most probably signifies the nine Worthies, though they are at the same time Champions. Thus a MS. in the French King's library is entitled, " Les nobles faits du tres preux & bon Chevalier Messire Tristan." — See the Bibliotheque des Romans, p. 252. Dean Percy hath a very fair MS. in old French, of the adventures of the same Knight amongst his curious and valuable collection : it is supposed to be of the 13th or 14th century, and is thus entitled, " La Grande Istoire de Monseigneur Tristan." Vidi Paris, Tristano & piu di mille Ombre Mostrommi, & nominoll' a dito Ch'amor di nostra vite dipartille. Dante, Inferno, c. 5. — B. 4 The expression iaith in the- original signifies properly tongue : thus lingua Walensium in some old records signifies the Welsh nation. For more ample satisfaction, however, on this head, the reader isreferredto Hurd's learned and ingenious Dialogues, vol. ii. p, 17. where he instances the use of the word laga, which signifies both a law and a country. — B. 6 This Bard is placed by Llwyd in his Archaologia G 42 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. This is the most ancient song I can find extant which is ad- dressed to any of my ancestors since the raigne of Edward the First, who caused our bards all to be hanged by martial law 1 as stirrers of the people to sedition, whose example being followed by the governours of Wales, until Henry the Fourth his time, was the utter destruction of that sort of men. 2 Sithence, this kind of people were at some further libertie to sing and to keep pedegrees, as in ancient time they were wont ; since which we have some light of antiquitie by their songes and writinges. 3 From the reigne of Edward the First to Henry the Fourth, there is there- fore noe certainty, or very little, of things done, other than what is to be found in the Princes records, which now, 4 by tos- singe the same from the Exchequer at Carnarvon to the Tower, in the 15th century, about 1420. He stiles him Rys Goch o Eryri, or of the Snowdon mountains. It should seem that the inhabitants of this country have long been much addicted to poetry, as a rock is shewn by the shepherds, pretty near the summit, under which, if two persons sleep on a midsummer's eve, the one will wake out of his senses, and the other a poet. — B. A similar tradition is told of Cader Idris, which Mrs. Hemans has recorded in a short poem. 1 Edward the First hath also been accused of hav- ing destroyed all the ancient records and writings in Scotland, after his conquest of that kingdom. See this however very ably refuted, by Sir David Dalrymple, in his Examination into the supposed antiquity of the Regiam Majestatem. Edinburgh, 1769, 4to. — B. And by William Owen in the preface to the 1st vol. of Archceology of Wales. 2 " This paragraph is full of mistakes. The poem of Rhys Goch is stated to be the most ancient after the time of Llewelyn ; and yet I shall presently in- troduce the reader to several " " this order of men could not therefore have been destroyed. The statement that Edward caused all the bards to be hanged does not appear to be sup- ported by a single contemporary historian ; and it is probable that the worthy Baronet was led to form this conclusion from knowing that Edward had issued an edict against the bards. Aware of this fact and not having met with many poems belong- ing to that period, he ranged the two facts as cause and effect The facts that all the poets were not hanged, that the poems are not so scarce as he fancied, and that the law issued by Edward ordains no such punishment, go very far to in- validate this conclusion." "The various laws passed by Edward I., Henry IV., Henry VIII., and Elizabeth were passed not to injure the orderly bards but to protect them from the excesses of the wandering vagabonds who plundered the people by their demands for ' Cymmortha.' .... Mr. Price has an acute discussion of this matter (Hanes Cymru, pp. 753-4) in his history, and con- cludes that if any were hanged, they must have been the Clerwyr. I am not convinced that any were executed ; on the contrary, as the'Sole authority bases his conclusion on a premiss known to be false, we may safely conclude that there were none." "There are other mis-statements in this paragraph. The government of Edward was not as oppressive as is assumed, and instead of being ' followed in cruelty by the governors of Wales,' those very governors were objects of regard." "I cannot therefore trust either the logic or the history of the patriotic Baronet as regards this statement which Carte has repeated, upon which Warrington has moralised, and which has inspired one of Gray's finest odes." — Stephens's Literature of the Kymry, pp. 343-5 Ed. 1849. 3 See a commission, in the time of Q. Elizabeth, to settle who were real bards or otherwise, prefixed to Evans's Specimens of Welsh Poetry. — B. 4 It should seem, from this, that these records HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 43 and to the offices in the Exchequer at London, as alsoe by ill keeping and ordering of late dayes, are become a chaos and confusion from a total neglect of method and order, as would be needful for him who would be ascertained of the truth of things done from time to time. I have, to my chardge done what I could, but for my travel! have reaped little or nothing, as you see. 1 You shall finde in the ministers accompt, in Henry the Fourth ttis time, Robert ap Meredith, 2 farmour of Dolbenman, 3 the King's weare of Aberglaslyn, 4 the mill of Dwyfor, and of other the King's thinges about his dwelling. Jevan the sonne of Robert ap Meredith being a child of tender age, on the death of his father, was in the tuition of his cosen german's sonne, John ap Meredith ap Jevan, his next kins- man, who crosse maried him and his sister with Howell ap Rhys 5 ap Howell ] Vaughan of the house of Bron y foel in Evioneth. This family, in those dayes was of greate possessions and abilitie, and was then accounted the chief house descended from Collwyn, whereof there be many of great account in that countrie. The . widdow of Robert ap Meredith married Meredd' ap Rhys ap Jevan Llwyd of Vchaf without the consent of her allie John ap Meredith, and soe was faigne to flie the day she was married were removed from Carnarvon near the time when been before described. — B. the author wrote. — B. . ™, - , , . . . , , 4 There is a famous salmon-leap at Aberglaslyn i Mr. Stephens quotes the above paragraph in in Carnarvonshire, about a mile from the mouth of support of his argument against the " supposition the river of that name - which divides Merioneth- that many Welsh MSS. were sent to the Tower of smre from that county.— B. The fishery of Aber- London for the use of the Cambrian Princes there g laslv n. and some cottages near the bridge, were imprisoned, and there destroyed by one Scolan."— sold about the ? eaT l8o °' bv Wra - Wynne of Pen- Lit. of the K., p. 351, Ed. 1849. iarth - Es, J- m y father > t0 T - p - J° nes Pa "y. Es q'. of Madryn. I know not how they got into the 2 Ievan the son of Robert ap Meredith held in possession of my family. — W. Lease the ville of Navyskyn in Evioneth, at Michs. «„,.„•«.. 12 Edw IV. (Ministers' Accounts.) *° We " ap ™?* ,S WltneSS ' andhlS father ' ^ ap Howell Vaughan, party to a deed dated on the 3 Dolbenman is a village in Carnarvonshire, not next Thursday after the festival of All Saints far from Penmorva, the situation of which hath 20 Hen. VI, (2nd Nov., 1441). 44 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. to her husband's house before she dined, foure and twentie miles off, and that of rough way. At this time, or near about it, fell a dislike and variance be- tweene Will' Gruffith, Esq. Chamberlaine of North Wales, and John ap Meredith, who at that time bare chief rule and credit in the quarters where he dwelled: the one by reason of his au- thoritie (which in those dayes was greate to them who rield that roome 1 ) expecting that all should reverence and obey him, the other in regard of his descent kindred and abilitie in his coun- trey, acknowledgeing none but his Prince his superior. Here- hence grew the debate, — nee Ccesar ferre majorem, 2 Pompeiusve parent, which continued long. To John ap Meredith his kindred and friends clave like burres, soe that then it began to be a pro- verbe, or a phrase, to call the septe 3 and family of Owen Gwy- nedd, Tylwyth Sion ap Meredith; which Englished is "the kin- dred of John ap Meredith." * This beginning of division how- 1 Roome is here used in the same sense with place or office. Thus we find in Rymer, vol. vi. p. iv. p. 6g. a grant of Q. Elizabeth, anno 1559, of the office or Roome of reading the Civile Lectures in the university of Oxford. As also ibid, p. 154, anno 1559, of the Roome or office of Chief Master of our games, pastimes, and sports, ibid p. 155. See like- wise afterwards a grant to Roger Askam of the Room or office of Yeoman of our bears. Ibid. — B. 2 This is printed as it stands in the MS., though it may shew the author was not very accurate in his Latin prosody. — B. 8 This word is frequently applied by Spenser, and Sir John Davis, to the Irish families and clans. — B» 4 Kowydd moliant i Sion amrhedydd o fionydd O dair i rifo dewrion Pumil o swm pwy mal sion Syth gorff a fwriai seith gawr Sion sy ar fodd sain sior fawr Mae erioed fab Mredydd y gair i hwn a gwayw rhydd Aeth dra dig wrth dorri dydd yw o fynwes y fionydd ef a lifodd fal ifan lafn dur fel afon ne dan ftrolo wrth gvffroi>lon flrwyth tywysowglwyth yw sion O uchel waed o iach Ian Owain gwynedd neu gynan fo ar gamp o fwrw gwyr eb law dyn oblaid ynyr onnen hir wyr einion hael a saethodd megis ithael gwnai dann fron bren gwydn yn frau gwr a gwyneb gwrgenau wyr farchudd arfau erchyll Iddifakaithfaloddfkyll Mawr yw ar draed mor wyr dro mwyar wasgwyn ym rosgo deth fu saith o'r doethion enwaf o saith un yw sion Tai fal ysbytai Ifan teg ywr Uys to gwydr y llan gwledd hu gadarn ef barnwn mwy yw kost y makwy hwn gweled gan deg i goler gild Sion fal goleuad ser HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 45 ever bred in the posteritie of the two houses a conceit of dislike which continued long after in the kindred, the one towards the other, but with matches and continuance of time it is worne out. This John ap Meredith was cosen to Owen Tudur, and went with a hundred gentlemen of North Wales his kinsmen to visit the said Owen, being in trouble at Rwsg castle, called Brynbyga. * In his returne being beset with enemies, favourers of the house of Yorke, he made an oration to comfort his people, willing them to remember at that time the support of the honour and credit of their ancestors, and concluding, that it should never in time to come be reported, that there was the place where a hun- dred North Wales gentlemen fled, but that the place should carry the name and memory, that there a hundred North Wales gen- tlemen were slayne. Because also some of his kinsmen had brought with them all their sonnes, and some others had but one sonne to succeed in their name and inheritance, (as Howell ap Ifor oedd ym i fardd wyf yn wedig i nai ydwyf mae arnaf chwant y mor nest a gwyr Ieirll a gwayw orest nid Kystal rhag Kofalon i phwys o aur a ffais Sion bron angel medd ai gweles brigawn dur mal wybr gan des ym ni chaid i ymwan chwyrn gloch hwy o gylche heurn tonau dur towyniad ia toniau fal pen ty anna trwst a wnan trowstau unud teils dur oil fal tan y serud Erchi yrwy fi oryw fan wisg aur ffyrf ysgraff arian ysgyrion neu hinon haf y sydd fal o sau addaf o wyr ond teg oryn twr aroes hudol ar sawdiwr mwy yw no gwn a maen gau ag a mil o gymalau llafnau krymanau Uyfnion llwyth o ia ar frig llethr y fron pits dur palis a drig pysg ir pais gei o warwig a thailiwr a wnaeth hoelion aur ym hwys i rwymo hon Kyfliw maes ydiw'r kofl mau Kan kwyllion y kyn kwyllau Kwyr oridens krair ydynt Kawod o gnav coed ganwynt Kad gamlan friwdan frwyd Kenllysg ywch y park kwnllwyd Kassel gadfan am danaf i chau a gwagav a gaf torchau galawnt a erchais twr Sion i anturiaw sais aed yngofal om kalon os a fy mendith i Sion. Rhobin Ddu ai kant. Brogyntyn MS. 13. Cowydd ig. 1 In Sir John Price's description of Wales pre- fixed to Wynne's History, p. 20, Usk in South Wales is said to be called likewise Brynbyga Rwsg Castle therefore should perhaps be written Yr Usg or Wsg, when it would signify the Castle upon the Usk. As this place lies at such a distance from Gwedir, and the inhabitants of the two divisions of the Principality have so little connexion with each other even to this day, such a mistake is by no means improbable. — B. 46 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. Llewelyn ap Howell, and others,) he placed all these in the rearward, out of the fury of the fight, whilst all his sonnes were in the vanward, which himself led, where he was sore wounded in his face, whereof he was called Squier y graith 1 to his dying day: but God gave his enemies the overthrow, he opening the passage with his sword. Queen Catherine, being a French woman borne, knew noe difference between the English and Welsh nation, untill her marriage being published, Owen Tudur's kindred and countrey were objected to disgrace him, as most vile and barbarous ; which made her desirous to see some of his kinsmen. Whereupon he brought to her presence John ap Meredith and Howell ap Lle- welyn ap Howell his neare cosens, men of goodly stature and personage, but wholey destitute of bringing up and nurture, for when the Queene had spoken to them in diverse languages, and they were not able to answer her, she said, they were the goodliest dumbe creatures that ever she saw. This being not impertinent to the matter I treat of, and pre- served by tradition, I thought fit to insert here. John ap Meredith had by his wife five sonnes, viz. Morris, 2 Jevan, Robert, Owen, and Gruff', whereof Robert in his fa- ther's time was slayne without issue neare Ruthyn in the follow- ing manner. [The rest survived their father, and have many de- scended from them] : The Thelwals of Ruthyn 3 being ancient gentlemen of that countrey, who came into it with the Lord Grey, on whome King Edward the First bestowed the countrey of Duffryn Clwyd, 4 were at contention with a septe or kindred of that countrey called the family of Gruff' Goch. These being more in number than the Thelwals (although the Thelwals carried the whole offices of 1 Squier y graith signifies Esquire with a scar. — B, was of this family, and dates his work from his poor * Morris was Arbitrator in a dispute between kousi near Ruthyn. It is about a mile from that Gruffith Lloyd ap Ellis and Gruffith ap Einion, and town > on the road t0 MM in Flintshire.— B. Hoel ap David ap Meredith, 16th July, 15 Hen. VII. * r the vale of Clwyd, Dyffryn bearing that 3 Thelwal, who published the Digest of Writs, signification in Welsh. — B. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 47 the countrey, under the Lord thereof, the Lord of Kent, l then treasurer of England) drave the Thelwals to take to the castle of Ruthyn for their defence, where they besieged them, untili the siedge was raysed by John ap Meredith, his sonnes, and kin- dred, to whome the Thelwals sent for ayde. In that exploite Robert the sonne of John ap Meredith 2 was slayne with an arrow in a wood, within the view of the castle of Ruthyn called Coed marchan 3 ; in revenge whereof many of the other side were slayne, both at that time and afterwards. Some affirme John ap Mere- dith to have beene at a field in Penyal 4 for Tho' Gruff, which field was fought betweene Tho' Gruff' ap Nicolas and Henry ap Gwillim, and the Earle of Pembroke's captaines, where Tho' Gruff' got the field, but received there his death's wound. Henry VII. minding on his entry into England to clayme the crown against the tyrant Richard the Third, wrote this letter, which is still extant, to John ap Meredith in haec verba : 5 1 The Earl of Kent was Treasurer of England in 1464 and 1465. 2 Sciant p'sentes & futuri q'd Ego John ap M'ed ap Ieuan ap M'ed Armig' libten' dn'i Regis ville de Pennant Comot' de Evion' in Com' Caern' dedi concessi & hac p'senti Carta mea confirmaui Oweyn ap John ap M'ed' filio meo om'ia mesuagia terr' tenement' molend' toft' prat' pasc' pastur' mor' maresc' turbar' silu' bosc' subbosc' reddit' & s'uicia cu' suis p'tin' una cu' Nativis villanis & eor' sequel' que h'eo in villis d,e Perma't Berkyn' Trefdrevan Trefverthir & Treflys in p'dict' Comot' de Evion' in Com' Caern'. H'end & tenend omni'a p'dict' Mes' err' tenement' Molend' toft' prat' pasc' mor* maresc' turbar' silu' bosc' subbosc' .reddit' & s'uicia cu' suis p'tin' vna cu' Nativis Villan' & eor' sequel' p'fato Oweyn ap John ap M'ed' filio meo & hered' suis de corpore suo int' ipm' Oweyn & Elenam filiam hugonis lewys legittime p'creat' De Capit'lib' dn'is feod' ill' p' s'vicia inde debit' & de iure consuet' imp'petuu'. Et ego v'o p'dict' Joh'n ap M'ed' & hered' mei omi'a p'dict' mesuagia terr' tenement' molend' toft' prat' pasc' pastur' mor' maresc' turbar' silu' bosc' subbosc' reddit' & s'uicia cu' suis p'tin' vna cu' Nat' villan' & eor' sequel' p'fat' Oweyn ap John ap M'ed' filio meo & hered' suis int' ipm' Oweyn & p'fat' Elenam filiam p'd'ci hugonis lewys legittime p'creat' com' ome's gentes Warrantizabim' & im- p'petuu' defendemus. In cuius rei testimoniu' huic p'senti Carte mee sigillum meu' apposui. hiis testib', William ap Graft' ap Robyn, henrico Balfront, Res ap U'e' ap hulkyn, Ken' ap d'd' ap Ithel, & Ric'o ffoxwist, & multis aliis. dat' apud Penna't duodecimo die Januarii Anno regni Regis Ric'i t'cii post con- questum Anglie Secundo. (L.S.) [From the original at Brogyntyn.] 3 Coed in Welsh signifies a wood. — B. 4 Pennal, the place where Tho' Gruff ap Nicholas was wounded, is knowne by tradition ; and lieth in Wttra Bennal, in the parish of Towin, over against Llidiart y parke crache, and in the midst of the way ; being a little round pavement, and almost covered with grass. — This note was added by some person who had perused the MS. with attention. — B. Between the words " Pennal " and " the place " (in note) the word " for " is inserted in the Brogyntyn MS. 6 Henry the Seventh, when he claimed the crown of England against Richard the Third, landed at Milford Haven, and marched from thence through South and North Wales into Leicestershire, where the battle of Bosworth was fought. He had probably been informed at Milford that John ap Meredith had considerable influence in N. Wales. [He might also know it from his family, as they were nearly related.] — P. 48 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. By the King. Right trusty and well beloved, wee greete you well: and whereas it is soe, that, through the helpe of Almighty God, the assistance of our loveing and true subjects, and the greate confi- dence that wee have to the nobles and commons of this our prin- cipalitie of Wales, we be entred into the same, purposing by the helpe above rehearsed, in all haste possible, to descend into our realme of England, not only for the adoption of the crowne, unto us of right appertaining, but alsoe for the oppression of the odious tyrant Richard late Duke of Glocester, usurper of our said right; and moreover to reduce as well our said realme of England into its ancient estate, honour, and property, and pros- peritie, as this our said principalitie of Wales, and the people of the same to their deares/ 1 liberties, delivering them of such mise- rable servitude as they have piteously long stood in. We desire and pray you, and upon your allegiance strictly charge and com- mand you, that immediately upon the sight hereof with all such power, as ye may make, defencibly arrayed for the warre, ye addresse you towards us, without any tarrying upon the way, untill such time as ye be with us, wheresoever we shall be, to our aide, for the effect above rehearsed, wherein ye shall cause us in time to come to be your singular good Lord, and that ye faile not hereof as ye will avoyd our grievous displeasure, and answere it unto your perill. Given under our signet at our, 2 &c. To our trustie and well-beloved John ap Meredith ap Jevan ap Meredith. 3 Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, 4 my ancestor, haveing, as afore is remembred, crosse maried with the house of Bron y foel in 1 erst, liberties, in all the copies which I have MS. of the "History of the Gwydir Family," at examined.— E. Wynnstay.) „ _, j . , , , . . . * By the Ministers' Accounts for the year ending 2 The date and place from which this order issued ... ' _, ... . .. . , __ ... , . .. »„,, „ Michs. 12, Edw. IV., in the Augmentation Office, are omitted in the Mb, — B. - , .' . . ., . . .£ . .. T London, it is shewn that at that time Jevan ap 3 " I have seen ye original of this letter and Robert ap Meredith held in lease for a term of four perused it at Gwedir 1690. H. Bangor." (From a years, the ville of " Navyskyn " in Evioneth, the note in the autograph of Bishop Humphreys, in a present year being the first of the term. -,ji/"j '. ' i -iJ- TABLE No. III. .'..•.u)U'«i, ■: Isrfdvi..-' •i!>i TABLE III, A daughter of Tudur ap=^Howel ap Rhys ap^=Sister of Jevan ap Robert Gruff', &c. 2d wife. Howel Vauchan, ist wife. Catherine, sister Howel ap Rhys. T ist wife An inheritrix of the=j=Rys ap Howel ap=f=Margaret, da. of Hugh Trevors. Rhys, &c. Conwey. Thomas ap Rhys=p ap Howel Cadwalader=p ap Thomas Ellis ap=j=A da. of Cadwa lader, 9 OwenW. of Caer- milwr. Owen Ellis.=j= t | Ellis Ellis=j= Owen Ellis=p I A son & da. p. 81. 2| Robert. 3 Joh ist wife. 2d wife. i | Alice, 6th da. of William Gruff '=j=Gwenhyfar, da. of Gruffith=f= Meredith ap Je ap Robin, of Cochwillan. ap Howel, &c. ob. 1525, d William Wynne 13 Rees Wynne. 14 Rytherch. Margaret. 1 I n 12 I Elizabeth, wife of John Elen. ap Robert ap Llewelyn of Penllech. Elen= Lloyd / John Wynne ap Meredith of Gwydir, d. 1553- 61 Jonet, marr. 2dly Sir John Puleston, of Emeral, knt. h 7. Catherine= 8. Catherine^ wen '9 Lowry 10 I Marsli-nr I J 3 14 1 15 I Humph=j= Cadwala- Ele Meredith der.=f=Sio: ofWenallt. j Morys Wynn= ' of Gwydir, ma. Jane, d. of Sir Rd. Bulkely, kt. of Beaumaris. I I 3d wife Catrin y Berain, Th< heiress of Berth ddu Berain. \* Gruff' =pGwen, fch. Rt. Salsbri of Plasisa, Llanrwst. Wynn of 14 Owen= Wynn of Caermilwr. Elin, fch. Rt. Salsbri of Llanrwst 3 Rhobt. Wynn of=Do da. Sir Gri of Conwy, viv. 1591. Sir John Wynn of Gwydir, Bt. so created in 1611. See his marriage and des- cendants in Table IV. (p. 104.) Edd. Wynn,=Blanch, da, of Astrad, I of Jo. Van only son, m. Blaen-y- in I58g. Cwm.' of I Hugh ab= Gryff ' Sheriff in 1609. Robt. Wyn= ^Barbara, f h. Rd. Williams of Llwyn. Rt. Wynn,= Sherift for Denbighsh in 1618. =Margret, fh. Rd.Mostyn of Bodscallon. : Catrin, da. of John Gr. of Caernar- von. John W.=j=Marget, sold all his estate ex- cept ICaer- milwr, to his cousin Sir John Wynn of Gwydir. da.to Piers Llwyd of Rhiwaedog John Wyni s Thomas Wynn.= =Ellen, d Wm.Th ab Rhys of Coed- I Edd. Wynn, of Llwyn,=p eldest son, O. S. P. Clerk of the Green Cloth to Ch. 2d, Owen Wynn of Llwyn, m. in i68g, ob. 1717, agd. 67. =j=Ann, fh. Mawris Lewis of Pengwern Festiniog. Col. Hugh= Wynn Elin, da. Ann or Ellen= of Rich. Van. of Cors-y-gedol. =Rd. Wil- Rt. liams of Llysdulas, M.l for Mona. 18. Mawris Wynn of Llwyn,=j=Elizabeth, fh. Francis born in 1690. Edwards of Penhescin, married in 1722. Robert Wynn,=j=EUen, fh. Rt. Wynn of Plas Owen Wynn of Llwyn, ; born 1724- ob. 1780. John Willis of Llysdulas mawr, Conwy, learned Anti T Ellenor, da. of Thomas Seele of Liverpool, y Ancestors in the maternal line to Sir Thomas Mostyn, bt. of Mostyn. Gryffydd Wil and O. S. P. 1 Watcyn Edwards Wynn, Esq.= of Llwyn, O. S. P. 1796. =Anna Maria, Relict z of John Mostyn, Esq. of Segrwyt. 2 Mawrys Wynn, LL.D. Rector of Bangoi aa bert.=Y=Gwenhwyfat Vaughan=j= Jevan=j= b A daughter. ife da. ohn i. 4th wife of=j=Jonet, da. Jenkyn Gruffith Vaughan. 5th wife. of=pA da. of Jevan ap John ap Heilin. 24 I Catha- rine. 23 I John Coetmor I 25 Hugh 26 I Jevan. 7 I 18 I ignes, Alice=j= vife of Robert Salisbury 19 1 Gwen=f= 20 I I 21 Mar-=p Eiliw,= garet. ; Lowri, da. of John Wynn, of Ben- narth. William. =?= Cadwalader=f Jane, da. John Williams,=p ab Thomas of Thomas a goldsmith in of Madryn, of London. See Wenallt. Madryn. page 87. I • I I an=j=Winifred Sir John Wil- Sir Edmund Sir Morris d. of Da- liams, Bt. of Williams, bt. Williams, vydd Lid the Isle of of Marnehall Physician of Trail- Thanet. Dorsetshire, to the Qu. wyn. created bart. page 87. in 1642. la. of Pry- if Cadwalader Van, A. M.= Rector of Osgarthorpe Leicestershire. "I Ellen, fh=T=Robert Wynn ab Col. A son who sold Wynn of Berth ddu. Glasfryn to William Lloyd of Trallwyn states Ellenor=j=P. LI. Fletcher, Esq. of Gwern Haelyd. Notes to Table III. a Party to a deed 30 June 22 Hen. 8. b "Vaughan=f= Jevan=j= A daughter." David Lloyd Griffith Vy- chan (see pp. 63 and 77). c Before " 1st wife " put " reputed " and strike out " 6th "" after Alice. d " 1525," aged about 65. e " 4th wife " and " 5th wife " should be struck out, and the down lines below the = connecting Margaret with Jonet, and Jonet with Jevan (as well as the connecting mark itself) should be a "wavy" line to show that the descent is not 1 egitimate. * f " Elen Lloyd," referee in an award in Nov. 1563, died 1572. A " Marwnad" on her death in Hengwrt MS. No. 3og- . g "1553" should be 1559. h " Puleston of Emeral, Knt." strike out " of Emeral." He died in 1550. i Living 4th June 1578. / Living 5th Nov. 1563. Dead before 4th June 1578. k Of the age of 60 years in Dec. 34 Eliz : as appears by some depositions in a law suit upon the 29 of that month and year. I And ob : 10 Aug. 1580. m Party to a deed on 1 Jan. g Eliz : died 1590. n Died in 1578. o He was living Nov. 30, 1598. There was another son, Jevan " a doctor " dead in 1574. p He appears to have had a brother named John, who in the above-mentioned depositions is stated to have been of the age of 30 upon 29 Dec, 30 Eliz. q Ob: 1597. r And another son, Ellis.— Brogyntyn MS. s Died 14 Nov. 1637. He was brother-in-law to John Owen, Bishop of St. Asaph. — Piers Roberts's Journal, in the pos- session of Mr. Breese. t Ob: 1622. k Died in Feb. 1 640-1. v He was of Glasfryn ; died 5 Nov. 1664, and was buried at Llanarmon, co. Carnarvon. w Ode on his birth in Hengwrt MS. 362a p. 68. i Probably graduated A.M. at Oxford 5 July 1671. [turn over. i st wife Ellenor daughter of=j=Owen Wynne= Thomas Seele, Esq., | of Llwyn born of Liverpool, Mer- I 1724 died 1780. chant. ! Susannah 2nd dr. of Broughton Whitehall Esq. of Broughton. 2nd wife — Relict of John Lloyd,' Esq. of Hafodunos. Watkin Edwards = Anna Maria d r - of Wynne, Esq., of Meyric Meredith, Llwyn and Pen- gwern, born 13 April 1754, died s. p. 1796, at Dover, bur. at Llanrhaiadr in Cein- merch, Co. Denbigh. Owen Molyneux Wynne, born n Aug. 1757, mar a - his cousin, Miss Seel and died s.p. Ellenor marr*- to P. Lloyd Fletcher, Esq. of Gwern- hayledCo:. Flint, and left issue. Maurice Wynne Ll.D. born 18 Dec. 1759, Esq. of Pengwern Aug. 1757, mar a - his Rector of Bangor, Co: Cam: relict cousin, Miss Seel Co. Flint, and Vicar of John Mostyn of and died s.p. of Wenlock, Co: Segrwyt, Esq. Salop : possessor of Pengwern, Co. Mer- ioneth & Llwyn, Co. Denbigh. Sup- posed to be the last descendant in the male line of the Wynn's of Gwydir* (oh: s.p.) Dr. Wynne died in 1835. * Since the above was written, I have seen reason to believe that I am wrong here. Dr. Rice Wynne now (1840) of Shrewsbury is descended from the Wynne's of Maesmochnant, ?nd through them lineally from the house of Gwydir. — W. Relict 2 Owen Molyneux Wynne marrd. to his cousin Miss Seele and died s. p. aa Maurice not " Mawrys." Living 1834, died s - P- I "2 Mawrys" Md. the ixth day of July a» rr« Ed. sexti qui't' that I John Wyn ap Md. of Gwedyr in the com of Caern. Esquyer have received of Elys ap Mores Esquyer the sum of xx u sterlyng due vnto me the said John by the sc'pte obligacorne of the said Elissa of the wiche sum of xx 11 1 the said John do Knowledge my self to be paid and the said Elissa his execut' & assign' thereof discharged & acquieted by this p'sent bill written w' my one hande & subsc'bed w' my name the day & yere above written. P' me Joh'em Wyn ap M'ed. (From the original at Brogyntyn.) The children of Maurice Wynn, of Gwydir, are not all given in Tables III and IV. They are here all inserted. Jane Bulkeley,=j=Maurice Wynn.= 1st wife. =Ann Greville,= relict of Edw. Mytton 2d. wife. I ! I Sir John=^Sydney Wynn. Gerard R«- Gwyn, A.M., man* Sydney dau. of Sir W m Jones, Knt. Ellis Wynn, marr 4 - . . . dau. of Alderman Gage. Catherine dau. & heiress of Tudor ap Robert of Berain ; relict of Sir Richard Clough Knt. The famous Catherine of Berain, 3d. wife. Edw. Wynn, of= Ystrad. =Blanch, dau. of John Vaughan, Esq. I Jane, wife o^ Simon Thel. wall of Plas_ y-ward, Esq" I I I I Robert of Maesmochnant marr 3 ' Catherine, dau. & heiress of David Lloyd ap William & left issue. Ellen, wife of Thomas Vaughan, of Pant Glas, Dorothy, wife of Tho. Powell, of Horsley. Margaret, wife of Th. Salusbury, son of Sir John Salusbury, Knt. From Hengwrt MS. 96, in the autograph of Robert Vaughan, the antiquary of Hengwrt, page 862. " Sep. 29, 1623. Mr. Ellis Winne (was buried) on the south side ofthe long aisle (in Westminster Abbey); third son of Maurice Wynn of Gwydir, Esq., by his first wife, Jane, dau : of Sir Rich. Bulkeley, of Beau- maris, Knight. He was one of the clerks of the Petty Bag in the High Court of Chancery. His will dated 25 Sept., proved 16 Oct., 1623. H ' s wife . dau : of Alderman Gage, survived him, but he evidently left no issue." ( Westminster Abbey Records, 8vo., London, 1876, p. 121). HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 49 Evioneth, had by his wife, called Catherine, three sonnes, Mere- dith, Robert, x and John. After her death he maried Gwenhwy- far, daughter of Madog Vaughan, of the house of Llwyn Dyrus, descended of Sir Gruff' Lloyd, by whome he had two sonnes, Gruff' Vaughan and Jevan, and a daughter. Jevan died 2 being but one and thirtie yeares of age, of the plague, at Keselgyfarch his house. In the warrs betweene the houses of Yorke and Lancaster, he (as all his) were Lancastrians, and he was one of the captaines who laid waste the Duke of Yorke's estate in Denbigh land ; in revenge whereof, the King sent Will' Herbert, Earle of Penbroke, in Edward the Fourth's time, who came with a greate army to recover the Castle of Harddlech, 3 ~ held by David ap Jevan ap Einion for Jasper Earle of Penbroke, then beyond the seas. He also wasted with fire and sword all Nanconway, and the whole countrey lying betweene Conway and Dovi. He graunted at the same time a protection or safe conduct to Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, and to his followers to come to parle with him, which I have to shew, under his seale of armes in haec verba. * 1 Robert had issue Jevan who dyed without issue and Catherine married to Griffith ap Evan of Gwyddgwion descended of Gwaithvoed P. of Cardigan. (From a note to the Brogyntyn MS. — which note, I am certain,' is in the handwriting of Win, Vaughan, of Caethley, Esq., who was buried at Towyn, 7th Sept., 1677. W.) John ap Ievan ap Robert ap Meredith of Treflys, Co : Cam ; demisee of Garth Morthin in Gest, in the same Co. ; by deed dated 30 June 22 Hen. viii. (1538) I I I Ievan ap Owen John ap Ievan Griffith ap John ap Robert devisee John, sole in the will of Ievan executor to ap John, & his the above heir — living 7. Nov. John 1607. 2 i. e. Jevan ap Robert, the father. See before. — P. 3 When this town is thus spelt, it is said to signify the beautiful or high rock [see Llwyd's Archaolog. page 276. article fair] ; when in the common way [Harlech], it may be rendered the town upon the rock. As, unfortunately, the lately published Memoirs of Lord Cherbury are become excessively scarce, it may not perhaps be improper to insert from thence an anecdote relative to this siege of Harlech. The governor being summoned to surrender, sent an answer to the following effect: "That he had held out a castle in France "till all the old women in Wales talked of him; "and that he would defend his Welsh castle till all "the old women in France should hear of it." — B. 4 OMNIB', &c. fidelibus ad quos p'sens scriptum p'venerit, Guilielm' Comes Penbrochise Justic' d'ni regis in p'tibus suis North Wallise, salutem. Sciatis nos dedisse & p' p'sentes concessisse Jevan ap Rob't deCom'oto Evioneth in Comitatu Carnarvon salvum & securum conductum intrandi, veniendi, ambu- H 50 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. He was a most goodly man of personage, of greate stature, 1 (as may appeare by the Welsh songes made unto him), and most valiant withall. Besides the turmoyles abroad, he sustayned deadly feud (as the northerne man termeth) at home in his doore, 2 a warre more dangerous than the other. His sister, having been married to Howell ap Rys, 3 died within few years after the marriage, leaveing noe issue male : and Howell ap Rys maried Tudur ap Gruff' 4 ap Einion's daughter of Ardydwy, a courageous stirring woman, who never gave over to make de- bate betweene her husband and his next neighbour and brother- in-law, my ancestor. Many bickerings passed betweene them, either makeing as many friends as he could, and many men were slayne, but commonly the losse fell on Howell ap Rys his side. David ap Jenkin being a neare kinsman to Howell ap Rhys, and then an outlaw, a man of greate valour, came to aide his cosen against my ancestor, but prevailed not, though they came upon the suddaine on my ancestor's house, and whilst he was from home. Thereupon (as we have it by credible tradition) David ap Jenkin wished his cosen to keepe friendship with his brother- in-law, for, said he, I will not come with thee to invade this man's house when he is at home, since I finde such hot resistance in his absence. This woman 5 caused the parson of Llanwrothen 6 to be mur- thered, because he had fostered 7 to my ancestor ; but God so landi, expectandi, com'orandi ac salvo eund' & 3 Howel ap Rys, and Rys ap Howel Vychan, his redeundi p' & infra Comitatum de Carnarvon & father, are, the former witness, and the latter party, Merioneth p' se' bonis, & catallis, sine arestatione, to an original deed at Brogyntyn, dated at Pen- molestatione, impechimento, damrio, violentia, nyved the next Thursday after the Festival of all manucaptione, p'turbatione, seu gravamine aliquo Saints 20 Hen. VI (2 Nov. 1441). tarn ad sectam d'ni regis, quam ad sectam partis « E „ is brother of thig Tudur Qriff En . Qn a terms, p'sonae cujuscumq a d.e confect.oms died in I4 g Q . (See a note in ff^*,,* MS. No. 5,) p sentium quosq p nos habuent p momtionem sex . J ' dierum. Datum sub sigillo nostra quarto die mensis ° T . he secon d wife of Howell ap Rhys, before Novembris anno regni regis Edwardi 4ti post Con- mentioned. P. questum octavo, — B. fl Llanvrothen is a parish in Merionethshire, which borders upon Traethmawr sands. — B. 1 i. e. Jevan ap Robert. See before. — P, 2 A mode of expression which seems t itself. B. dropped in Wales ; it continues however in full force 7 The strong connexion and affection between 2 A mode of expression which seems to explain the Foster-father and son seems to be now much HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 51 wrought that the murtherers, being three brethren, were all slayne afterwards by my ancestor, in revenge of the parson's un- worthy death. I have a number of obligations wherein Howell ap Rys stand- deth bounden for the observation of the peace, and awards touching that controversie ; but the plague taking away my ancestor, ended the strife betweene them, which was likely (if he had lived) to have ended with the death of one of them or both. Soe bloody and irefull were quarells in those dayes, and the revenge of the sword at such libertie, as almost nothing was punished by law, whatsoever happened. The cause of this mortal hatred betweene them grew (as it is credibly reported) in this sorte : John ap Meredith and Howell ap Rys were ever highly at variance ; my ancestor having had bring- ing up with his cosen John ap Meredith, affected him best, though allied nearly to the other, which was taken so heinously by Howell ap Rhys, that he converted the summe of his rancor upon his brother-in-law and next neighbour. This quarell, my ances- tor being dead, never ended till, in assaulting the house of the said Howell, by the sonnes of John ap Meredith with their cosen Gruffith ap John ap Gronw (a gentleman of great account, who had been captaine, as is reported, of a company of launsiers in Aquitaine) : the said Gruffith ap John ap Gronw was slayne, being shot into the beaver with an arrow out of the house, whereupon the said Howell was faigne to leave the country to avoyd the furie of the revengment of blood. In the partition of the inheritance of Jevan ap Robert ap Me- redith betweene his five sonnes, according to the custome of Wales; Henblas in Maethbrood and all the land in Llanrwst in Denbigh land descending unto him, 1 (as afore is mentioned as cosen and next heire to Robin Vaughan ap David 2 ap Howell ap in the uncivilized parts of Ireland. In a letter from brother who worked in the garden at Gwedir. — B. Mr. Wynne [penes P. Panton, Esq.] to his father, 1 „ Descended unt0 him » in B rogyntyn MS. and dated in 1623, he desires that the widow of an Evan Thomas may be bestowed on his foster- 2 See pages 31,34. 52 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. Gruff), fell to be the parte and portion of Gruff' Vaughan, his sonne, who maried the daughter 1 of Gruff ap Madog Vaughan, who was grandchild to Rees ap Einion Vaughan, viz., his daugh- ter's daughter. You are to understand that though Robin Vaughan, did not defeat his cosen and next heire Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith of the land held in the Welsh tenure, yet minding the preferment of his daughter, as much as law would suffer him, he charged the land with a mortgage of £. 12. to Rys ap Einion Vaughan his sonne-in-lawe, which the said Rys ap Einion Vaughan 'did release to Gruff ap Jevan ap Robert in parte of his mariage goods with his cosen, the daughter of Owen ap Gruff ap Madog : the very release I have in my custody. 2 God hath shewed such mercy to our kind, that ever since the time of Rodericke the sonne of Owen Gwynedd, Lord of Angle- sey, our common ancestors, there lived in the commonwealth in eminent sorte one or other of our name, and many together at times. I have in my minde, in the perusal of the whole course of the history of our name and kindred, compared or likened God's worke, in that to a man striking fire into a tinder-box, by the beating of the flint upon the Steele there are a number of sparkles of fire raysed, whereof but one or two takes fire, the rest vanishing away. As for example, in Einion ap Cariadog, Gruff ap Cariadog, and Sir Will' Cariadog alias Willcocke 3 Cari" 1 She is called soon after this the daughter of cum p'tinent' vt p'dicitur iacentes et existentes Owen ap Gruff ap Madog. It is here given more in Comoto predicto, nee de vel in aliqua inde parcella contracted. P. de ccetero exigere clamare vel vindicare sive deman- 'Thecopythereofensueth-OmnibusChristi fide- da * e Pfrimus, neq' potent infuturum quovismodo, libus ad quos p'sens scriptum p'venerit Rhys ap ? ed ab omn. actione, lure, statu, titulo, clameo, „. . ; ^ . ,, , _ ... c-..-„ ™1 mteresse, et demand' mde in posterum exinde Einion salutem in dm no sempiternam. Sciatis me ' . . ■ • . ^ ., ^ t, . . . _j.„-_ ,:i ,tj„„:j„„„™ sumus penitus exclusi in ppetuum per presentes; p* fatum Rys remisisse duodecim libras.de pndo quae . r . . , , r . r f. r . f . , „ „ . . , 7 .. j,j „_ ti„.„i In cuius rei testimomu huic presenti senpto meo habeo sup' terram Robin Vaughan ap d'd ap Howel . . .\ .. / , . cum p' tin' iacent' et existent' in Comoto de vwch- ^ lUum >" eum a PP° sul coram his test.busMrydd' ap dulas in dominio de denbigh Griffino ap Jevan ap d d V E'ngan d'd ap Mrydd' ap d'd Uwyd Robert heredibus et assignatis suis, in p'petnum. f R°b^t Cowsyth cler'C Tho: Cowseth et . ,1-z.t, t. i Ievan ap d'd ap ll'yn cum multis alns. dat 20 die Ita viz. quod nee ego p'dictus Rys nee haeredes mei, . V, . . J . „ . . „eq' executes mei neq' aliquis alius per nos pro me " sl f 0ct ° b " s an "° ^ regis Henna septimo nobis, seu nomine n'ro aliquid ius, statum, titulum, vndec>mo.-(From the Brogyntyn MS.) clameum, interesse, sive demand' de vel in p'dictis 3 Will G6ch, or red Will.— L. duodecem libris neque in p'dicta terra et tenement' HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 53 adog, brethren ; Einion ap Cariadog as should seeme the elder brother, was Lord of Penychen, Penyberth, and Baladevlyn. His sonne, Tudur ap Einion, died without issue of his body, and his lands were begged by the Queene, King Edward the First his wife, as appeareth in this history. Gruffith, the second brother, was Lord of Friwlwyd, Ystrad, and Eskibion ; he had issue David, which David had three sonnes; David Chwith ap David, Mere- dith, and Howell ; which are mentioned before to have exchanged their estate at Denbigh with Henry Lacie, earle of Lincolne. Will' alias Wilcocke Craidog, the third brother, maried an inhe- retrix in Penbrokeshire, where his posteritie have remained ever since, haveing, from the house called Newton, named them- selves Newton Craidog, l both in Pembrokeshire and Somerset- shire. Some of the Newtons claim their lineal descent from Howell ap Gronw, Lord of Ystradtowin, an'o D'ni uoo, de- scended from Rytherch ap Jestin, Prince of Wales. Note, among these three brethren, the posteritie of the one remaines ; of the other two, the one is vanished, and the other gone out of the countrey. Of Gruffith 2 his grand-children, only the poste- ritie of Howell are extant, who was before stated to be the youngest of the three sons of Gruffith Lord of Friwlwyd. Lastly, in Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith his children, which were five, 3 only the posteritie 4 of Meredith are extant, and of account. Whereupon comparing things past with things to come, I pre- sage God's mercy to the kindred hereafter, as heretofore. Now after this large digression, to returne to the course of this former historie, Rys ap Einion Vaughan haveing had warn- ing, as aforesaid, that Henblas 5 should be redeemed, hasted to 1 Some of the Newtons claime ther lineal descent 4 This is not true, vide ye page 56 and ye note to from Howel ap Grono Lord of Ystrad a.d. 1100. ye Brogyntyn MS. — [In the hand of Wm. Vaughan, desc: from Ryderch ap Jestin Prince of W . . . of Caethley, Esq.] (A note to the Brogyntyn MS. in a more modern * Henblas, as well as Brynsullty, is afterwards hand than the other notes.) described, as being in the Lordship of Denbigh. It 2 i.e., Gruffith ap Cariadog's grand-children. — P. is supposed that Henblas is the same with Plashin, • "Meredith his children, which were five."- or Th e , Id mansion.-B. It is curious that this word Brogyntyn MS. has it " being five." Hen 1S ^rally Prefixed and the word Newydd 54 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. build Brynsullty, before that Michaelmas appointed. I have seene an old man in my time called Jevan ap John ap David Vaughan, at least of ninety years old ; this man's mother served Rys ap Eingan Vaughan at that time, and she was wont to reporte, that corne 1 fayling them to build* the house, they reaped the come that grew in the raine 3 to serve that turne, as the corne in the ridge was not readie. The warrs of Lancaster and Yorke beginning this summer, made Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith forgetfull of his promise to redeeme the lands ; for in the time of that civill warre land was not ought worth, neither was it redeemed during his life. In those warrs Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, even in the sixth of Edward the Fourth, with David ap Jenkin and other captaines of the Lancastrian faction, wasted with fire and sword the suburbs of the town of Denbigh. In revenge of this, Edward the Fourth sent William Earl of Penbroke with a great army to wast6 the mountaine countreys of Carnarvon and Merioneth shires, and take the castle of Hardlech (held then by David ap Jevan 4 ap Einion, for the two Earles Henry Earle of Richmond, 5 and Jaspe r Earle of Pembroke) which Earle did execute his chardges to the full, as witnesseth this Welsh rime. Hardlech a Dinbech pob dor Yn Cunnev, Nanconway yn farwor Mil a phedwarcant mae Jor A thrugain ag wyth rhagor. 6 added, thus : Hengwrt.Cwrt newydd, Henbont, Pont or channel. See lett. Run, p. 2. 1636, cited in the newydd, Hen gastell, Castell newydd, Henblas. New Translation of Mallet's Denmark, vol. I. Plas newydd, HSndre, Trev newydd, &c. It is P- 3 6 3 — B. certainly not the same place as Talhenbont or Plas * i e f a n ab Einion of Cryniarth, in Llandrillo, bin in Evionedd, which is near Criccieth. Edernion, and Maesyneuadd near Harddlech. — L. 1 i. e. to be used as straw.— P. <> Edmund dyed a.d. 1456. (Bragyntyn MS.) So 2 i. e. to thatch it. B. in the original MS.; but "Edmund" is underlined „ _ . , . . , and " Henry" written above, in the more modern => Rmne, in some parts of England is used for hand referred tQ - n a nQte Qn furrow, or the lower part of the ridge. Wormius derives the word Rane (from whence the Runic 6 "At Harddlech and Denbigh every house was character) from either ryn, a furrow ; or ryn, a gutter in names, and Nantconway in cinders ; Hoofrom our HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 55 In that expedition Jevan ap Robert lay one night at the house of Rhys ap Einion at Henblas, who was maried to his cosen Catherine daughter of Robin Vaughan ; and setting forth very early before day unwittingly carried upon his finger the wrest 1 of his cosen' s harpe, whereon (as it seemeth) he had played over night, as the manner was in those days, to bring himselfe asleepe. 2 This he returned by a messenger unto his cosen, with this message with all, that he came not into Denbigh land to take from his cosen as much as the wrest of her harpe : whereby it appeareth, that by his means neither her house, nor any of her goods were burnt, wasted, hurt or spoyled. Thus both her houses, Henblas and Brinsyllty, escaped the Earle Herberte's de- solation, though the same consumed the whole burrough of Llanrwst, and all the vale of Conway besides, to cold coals, 3 whereof the print is yet extant, the very stones of the ruines of manie habitations, in and along my demaynes, carrying yet the colour of the fire. John ap Meredith being cosen german's sonne to Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, notwithstanding he was soe much elder than he, (as the one was in man's estate, and the other but a youth) , had the government of his uncle, 4 and of his livings 5 : during which time of his nonage, Robin Vaughan ap David ap Howell dying, as aforesaid, John ap Meredith came over with his uncle to Llanrwst and the Lordship of Denbigh, to Lord, and sixty and eight more." This translation by the harpsicord tuners for an instrument which was made by a learned Divine, well known in the they use for the same purpose. — B. literary world for several publications. He was 2The ^^ ^^ tuneg ^ plaintive ._ B . also so obliging as to add the following metrical „ g^ ^^ ^^ ^-^ m rf man version in the stile of ^ternhbld and Hopkins : wepe ab , e tQ , from ^ character used for ^ «• In Harddlech and Dinbech ev'ry house M WeUh musica , noteg . ^ ^^ ^ many such Was basely set on fire, MS. notes in the Hengwrt Library." E.Evans.-L. But poor Nantconway sufferd more, For there the flames burnt higher : 3 ■• e. To cinders : the author hath before used 'Twas in the year of our Lord cold ashes in the same sense. — B. . Fourteen hundred sixty-eight, ■• j, e . His Welch Uncle, for Jevan was cousin- That these unhappy towns of Wales, german to John's father.— P. Met with such wretched fate."— B le wrest of a harp is the hollow which the strings are tuned ; this term is still used 5 Livings hath before been used by the author in 1 The wrest of a harp is the hollow iron with the same sense with estate.— B. 56 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. take {possession of the inheritance lately befallen him, called the Henblas in Maethbrood, where Rys ap Einion Vaughan and Catherine daughter of Robin Vaughan then dwelled. Haveing surveyed the land, they gave Rys ap Einion Vaughan then warn- ing that he should avoyd the land at Michaelmas, for then he should have the twelve pounds mortgage-money payed him. On this he requested to be tenant, and was answered by Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, that he should lie there at times himselfe, and therefore would not sett it. Whereupon Rys ap Einion Vaughan built Brynsullty house, upon parte of that land which Henry Lacie, Earle of Lincolne, Lord of Denbigh, exchanged with our ancestors, and which he had bought of some of our kinsmen that had the same by gavel-kind. Their name, how- ever, is forgotten, as is the pedegree of two other freeholders in Maethebrood besides, which held land in my time in that towne, lineallie from that grant and exchange. The one was called Rys ap Llewelyn ap David, whose posteritie doth yet inherite parte of this land : the other the wife of one Lancelott a weaver whose inheritance my uncle, Gruff' Wynne, 1 bought, being but a matter of three pounds a-yeare. Into soe little partes did the gavelkind by many descents chop our inheritance, being at first large. Conferring oft with the freeholders of the parish of Llanrwst, my neighbours, how they held their lands, and from what common ancestor they were descended ; most of them are said to be descended lineallie from Ednyfed Vaughan, in the township of Tybrith and Garthgarmon. Inquireing also of them whence the freeholders of Maethebrood (Rys Llevelyn ap David, and Lancellott's wife) were descended, they said they were fo- reigners, and came from the castle of Denbigh, as though the castle of Denbigh did procreate men : which sheweth that the tradition is not yet forgotten, from whence they came. The most parte of that towne of Maethebrood is in our blood, blessed be God! 1 Of Berth.ddu, See the pedigree at the end of the MS. — P. Berth-ddu is in Llanrwst parish. — B. Dra-wn on Stone by M.I3S M Wynne Minsha.ll HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 57 Robin Jachwr, the greatest antiquarie of our countrey, being at Gwedir with my grandfather, and going one day to a chwarevfa gampav, l where the countrey was assembled at a place called Gardd y felin in the parish of Llanrwst, asked whether he would command him any service thither. Nothing, said my grand- father, having a nosegay in his^ hand by chance, but deliver this nosegay to the best gentleman thou seest in the company, upon the credit of thy skill ; who delivered the same with protestation of his charge in the presence of all the company to Llyn ap David, Rys Llyn ap David's father. I cannot however get his pedigree, nor Lancellot's wife's pedigree in any certaintie, to joyne them to ours : the reason is, . that poverty soone forgets whence it be descended, for it is an ancient received saying, that there is noe poverty but is descended of nobilitie, nor noe no- bilitie but is descended of beggerie. When Adam delv'd and Eve span, Who was then a gentleman ? Then came the churle and gathered good, And thence arose the gentle blood. 2 Yet a great temporall blessing it is, and a greate heart's ease to a man to find that he is well descended, and a great griefe it is for upstarts and gentlemen of the first head 3 to looke backe into their descents being base, in such sort, as I have known many such hate gentlemen in their hearts, for noe other cause, but that they were gentlemen. The conditional promise by God to David was, " that if his children would keepe his laws, he should not want a man of his loynes to sit on his seat for evermore." Whereby he had two things promised him, propagation of his seed, and eminence of continuance in the world. The Recabites, for their 1 Chwarevfa gampau. Country games or exer- (From a MS. of the 15th century in the Brit. Mus. cises. — B. Songs and Carols.) 2 " Now bething the, gentilman, 3 A metaphor from deer, a young buck of the How Adam dalf and Eve span."— second year is called a buck of the first head.— P. I 58 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. obedience to their father's commandment, not to drinke wine, have the like promise of God. 1 During the time the Earle of Pembroke's armie lay in Snow* don, Jevan ap Robert was faigne to leave his owne house, and lodge at night in the rocke called Ogo filen, standing at Meillio- nen, in the parish of Beddcelert, and continued all the next day with the Lancastrians. His friends and followers skirted the armie, and skirmished with them in the strait and rough passage of Nantwhynen, 2 untill at last he was sent for by the Earle under his protection and received into grace, as may appeare by the Earle' s deed under his hand and seale ; the like he did not graunt to any in North Wales, as farre as I can heare. The begining of the quarell and unkindness between Jevan ap Robert and Howell ap Rys ap Howell Vaughan grew in this sort. Jevan ap Robert, after his sister's death, upon some mislike, left the company of Howel ap Rys, and accompanied John ap Mere- dith his nephew, and his children, who were at continuall bate with Howell ap Rys. The fashion was, in those days, that the gentlemen and their retainers met commonly every day to shoote matches and masteries : there was noe gentleman of worth in the countrey, but had a wine cellar of his owne, which wine was sold to his profit ; thither came his friends to meete him, and there spent the day in shooting, wrestling, throwing the sledge, and other actes of activitie, and drinkeing very moderately withall, not according to the healthing, 3 and gluttonous manner of our dayes. Howell ap Rys ap Howell did draw a draught i upon Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, and send a brother of his to lodge over night at Keselgyfarch, to understand which way Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith meant to goe the next day, who was determined to 1 See Jeremiah, ch. xxxv.— B. resque valley.— B. 2 Nantwhynen lies within a small distance of s >• e. Drinking of healths.— B. Bedd-celert. The rough and strait passage, mep- * This is a phrase frequently used by the author, tioned by the author, soon opens into a most pictu- and imports drawing a plan or settling a scheme.— b\ HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 59 shoote a match with John ap Meredith's children at Llanvihangel y Pennant, 1 not farre from John ap Meredith's house. This being understood, the spie, Howell ap Rees, his brother, slips away the night to his brother, and lets him know where he should lay for him. Now had Howell ap Rys provided a butcher for the purpose, that should have murthered him ; for he had direction by Howell to keepe himselfe free, and not to undertake any of the company untill he saw them in a medley, and every man fighting. Then was his charge to come behinde the tallest man in the company (for otherwise he knew him not, being a stranger), and to knocke him down ; for Howell ap Rys sayd; "Thou shalt soone discerne him from the rest by his stature, and he will make way before him. There is a foster-brother of his, one Robin ap Inko, a little fellow, that useth to match him behind : take heed of him ; for, be the encountre never soe hot, his eye is ever on his foster-brother." Jevan ap Ro- bert, according as he was appointed, went that morning with his ordinary company towards Llanvihangel to meete John ap Meredith. You are to understand, that in those dayes, and in that wild worlde, every man stood upon his guard, and went not abroad but in sort and soe armed, as if he went to the field to encountre with his enemies. Howell ap Rys ap Howell Vaughan's sister being Jevan ap Robert's wife, went a mile, or thereabout," with her husband and the company, talking with them, and soe parted with them ; and in her way homewards she met her brother a horseback, with a great company of people armed, ride- ing after her husband, as fast as they could. On this she cried out upon her brother, and desired him, for the love of God, not to harme her husband, that meant him noe harme ; and withal steps to his horse, meaning to have caught him by the bridle, 1 This parish is very near to Beddcelert. All this part of the country is very mountainous, and therefore very proper for ambuscades. — B. 6o HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. which he seeing, turned his horse about. She then caught the horse by the tail, hanging upon him soe long, and crying upon her brother, that, in the end, he drew out his short-sword, and struck at her arme. Which she perceiving, was faine to lett slippe her hold, and running before him to a narrow passage, whereby he must pass through a brooke, where there was a foot- bridge near the ford ; she then steps to the foot-bridge, and takes away the canllaw, 1 or handstay of the bridge, and with the same letts flie at her brother, and, if he had not avoyded the blowe, she had strucke him down from his horse. — Furor avma ministrat. "Howell ap Rys and his company, within a while, overtooke Jevan ap Robert and his followers, who turned head upon him though greatlie overmatched. The bickering grew very hott, and many were knocked downe of either side. In the end, when that should be performed which they came for, the murthering butcher haveing not strucke one stroake all day, but watching oppor- tunity, and finding the company more scattered than at first from Jevan ap Robert, thrust himselfe among Jevan ap Robert's people behind, and, makeing a blow at him, was prevented by Robin ap Inko his foster-brother, and knocked downe ; God bringing upon his head the destruction that he meant for another : which Howell ap Rys perceiving, cryed to his people, " Let us away and be gone, for I had given chardge that Robin ap Inko should have been better looked unto : " and soe that bicker- ing brake with the hurt of many, and the death of that one man. It fortuned anon after, that the parson of Llanvrothen 2 tooke a child of Jevan ap Robert's to foster, which sore grieved Howell 1 Richards in his Dictionary, renders this word « with," and llaw the " hand." accordingly a long rail used as a side fence to a , Llanvrothen is a small village in Merionethshire bridge It also signifies a counsellor or attorney. ^ ^ Traethmawr sand °._ B . — B. From the literal meaning of the words can HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 6l Vaughan's wife, her husband haveing then more land in that parish than Jevan ap Robert had; in revenge whereof she plptted the death of the said parson in this manner. She sent a woman to aske lodgejng of the parson, who used not to deny any. The woman being in bed, after midnight began to strike and to rave ; whereupon the parson, thinking that she had been distracted, awakeing out of his sleepe, and wondering at soe suddaine a crie in the night, made towards her and his household also ; then she said that he would have ravished her, and soe got out of doores, threatening revenge to the parson. This woman had her bre- theren three notable rogues oi the damn'd crew fit for any mis- chiefe, being followers of Howell ap Rys. In a morning these bretheren watched the parson, as he went to looke to his cattle, in a place in that parish called Gogo yr Llechwin, 1 being now a tenement of mine, and there murthered him ; and two of them fled to Chirkeland in Denbighshire, to some of the Trevor's who were friends, 2 or of a kinne to Howell ap Rys, or his wife. It was the manner in those dayes, that the murtherer onely, and he that gave the death's wound should flye, which was called in Welsh a llawrudd, which is a red hand, because he had blouded his hand: the accessaries and abetters to the murtherers were never harkened after. In those dayes, in Chirkeland and Oswaldstreland, 2 two sects or kindred contended for the soveraignty of the countrie, and were at continuall strife one with another : the Kyffins and Tre- vors. They had their alliance, partisans, and friends in all the countreys round thereabouts, to whome, as the manner of the time was, they sent such of their followers as committed mur- ther or manslaughter, which were safely kept as very precious Jewells ; and they received the like from their friends. These 1 Gogo y Llechwin, " the cave of the white rock", Howell," in edition of 1770. a cave of crystal spar on a farm called Hirynys, 3 Now called Oswestry : it adjoins to Chirkeland close to Llanvrothen, belongs to Castell Deu- where the Treyors contjnue sm tQ be a ; draeth estate.— (Ex inf. Edward Breese, Esq.) derable family.— B. 9 " Some of the Trevor's friends, or of a kinne to 62 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. kind of people were stowed in the day time in chambers in theire houses, and in the night they went to the next wine-house that belonged to the gentleman, or to his tenants houses not farre off, to make merrie and to wench. Meredith ap Howell ap Moris, in those days chief and leader of the sect of the Kyffins, was a kinne to Jevan ap Robert and in league with him, to whome he sent to desire him, to draw him a draught to catch those murtherers ; who sent him word, that he should come pri- vately into Chirkeland only accompanied but with six, and he made noe doubt to deliver the murtherers into his hands. As jevan ap Robert was in his way going thither, passing by Ty yn Rhos, 1 being a winehouse, standing in Penrhyn Deydraeth, Howell ap Rys ap Howell Vychan's wife, being in the house, said to the people that were with her, Yonder goeth Jevan ap Robert, Hwyr y dial ef ei dadmaeth, which is as much as to say, " that he would not in haste be revenged of the wronge done to his foster." Being come to Chirkeland, he abode there many dayes in secret and unseene, sleeping in the day, and watching aft night. In the end, with the helpe of his friends, he caught the two murtherers, whom he had no sooner in hand, but the crie did rise, The Trevors to their friends, and the Kyffins to their leaders. To the latter of these cries Meredith ap Howell ap Moris resorted, who told Jevan ap Robert that it was impossible for him to carry them out of the country to any place to have judi- cial! proceeding against them, by reason that the faction of the Trevors would lay the way and narrow passages of the countrie ; and if they were brought to Chirke castle gate to receive the triall of the countrie lawes, it was lawfull for the offender's friends, whosoever they were, to bring £. 5. for every man for a fine to the Lord, and to acquit them, soe it were not in cases of treason. 1 Ty yn Rhos, signifies the house in the rough close to Plasnewydd. Before the embankment was common. — B. " Tynyrhos is a very old cottage at made, the ford across the Glaslyn was near it." Minffordd, which was a public house up to 40 years It is upon the Castell Deudraeth estate. — (From a ago. It is just under the Castell Deudraeth drive and letter of Edw. Breese, Esq., dated 14 March, 1875. ) HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 63 A damnable custome used in those dayes in the lordships marches, which was used alsoe in Mowddwy, l untill the new Ordinance of Wales, made in the seven and twentieth yeare of Henry VIII. Hereupon Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith commanded one of his men to strike off their heads, which the fellow doeing faintely the offender told .him, that if he had his necke under his sword, he would make his sword take better edge than he did : soe reso- lute were they in those days, and in contempt of death ; where- upon Jevan ap Robert in a rage stepping to them, strucke off then- heads. David Llwyd ap Gruffith Vychan, grandchild to Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, in his youth waited upon Hugh, sonne to Mr. Robert ap Rys at Cambridge, elected Abbot of Conway by his father's procurement in his minoritie. He being at Plas Jolyn, 2 at the house of Mr. Robert ap Rys, an old woman that dwelt there in Rys ap Meredith's time, told him that she had seene his grandfather Jevan ap Robert at that house, both in goeing and comeing from his voyage into Chirkeland, and that he was the tallest and goodliest man that ever she had seene ; for, sitting at the fire, upon the spur, 3 the hinder parte of his head was to 1 Mowddwy is by that statute of Henry the Eighth is an adage, which seems to imply that the now annexed to Merionethshire, whereas it was s P ur was a k!nd of a shelf used as a Safe to place a before part of Montgomeryshire.— B. dish of s P are meat u P on - until further secured. The Spur jutted out of the palis or wooden wall behind 2 Plas Jolyn is in Denbighshire, not far from Gelar the taWe in aho rdievo Few men standing couM and Voelas: it now belongs to Mr. Myddelton of be as high as a Spur _ w Davies.-L. At Glan- Cnirk Castle, a. havon fawr in the big kitchen may be seen a unique 3 Spur (or, as it should seem to have been pro- fixture, part of an ancient piece of furniture, which nounced by the author, Spere) means that seat near is called the "y-sbur." The word is pronounced a kitchen or hall fire, which generally goes by the nearly like "sbeere;" and is a pure Welsh word, name of a Settle. It is not very obvious however denoting a short post or pillar to set things upon, whence such a seat should have obtained the name It consists of a massive Gothic carved oak pillar, of SpUr or Spere. I find the following passage in surmounted by three ornaments, and having at- the Saxon Chronicle, which shews the word Spur tached thereto a piece of oak pannelling within a to be originally a term in that language " nomen broad and deep-moulded frame. The lowest orna- Saxon : " which Bishop Gibson renders scabellum. raent on the pillar represents a wooden butter-bcx See the Chron. A.D. 1070. It appears from with its lid, similar to what is used by country the context to have been the stool on which people when going on a journey ; the next figures, an image of Christ was represented to place similar to each other, differing only in size, are his foot on. — B. " Rhowch y spar ar ben y spur" wedge-shaped pieces cut from a sphere, representing 64 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. be seene over the spur, which she never saw to any other man. She alsoe said that in his returne from Chirkeland she saw Lowry> daughter of Howell, Rys ap Meredith's wife, his kinswoman wash his eyes with white wine, being bloudshot by long watching. 1 Jevan ap Robert in his returne from Chirkeland, riding home to his house by Gallt y Morfa-hir by moonshine (the tide in Traeth mawr 2 giveing him noe sooner passage) talking with his men carelesly, and out of danger, as he imagined, suddenly lighted an arrow shot amongst them from the hill side, which was then full of wood. On this they made a stand, and shot wholly all seven towards the place from whence the other arrow came, with one of which arrowes of theires shot soe at randome they killed him that shot at them, being the third brother of the murtherers ; God revenged that wicked murther by the death of every one of the three bretheren. Howell ap Rys ap Howell Vaughan, and especially his wife, boyling in revenge, drew another draught against Jevan ap Robert, in this manner. Jevan ap Robert's mother was of the house of Kefhmelgoed, in the countie of Car- digan, whose mother was sister to Rytherch 3 ap Jevan Llwyd, then and yet the greatest family in that countie. It hath before been mentioned to have been customary in Chirkelande and other perhaps the quarterings of a round (Dutch-like) 8 In the 25th Report of the Keeper of the Public cheese, attached to each other. Its present position Records, Appendix No. 1, page 4, I find asfollows: — is near the fire-place; originally it was near the " Cardigan S. Wales. 34 Hen. g (8) Jenkyn ap levari door in the kitchen of the old house. Tradition ap Lewes, of Abbermayt, in the Comote of Meveneth states that its uses were to support a sideboard, (lease to him of) one tenement with the appts. called whereon was placed provisions of bread-and-cheese, Keven Melwyd in the parish of Llanvuncharon, in &c, for any poor and wayfaring man who might the Comote of Mevenith Cardigan. Late of the choose to call, — Montgomeryshire Collections of the possessions of Rethor ap Ievan Lloid, gent., Powysland Club, Vol. 6, p. 324. (1873.) lately outlawed for murder." Mt appears before that that Jevan had been There must be somethingwronghere, for Rytherch obliged to watch for some time in Chirkland, sleep. a P ) e ™ n L1 °y d could not then have been **& out " ing in the day, and watching in the night, for the lawed for murd f ' for ,n an ° rl S lnal ro11 of Ministers' murtherers &c— P. Accounts for the County of Cardigan in the Public Record Office, for the year ending at Michs. 22, 2 Traeth mawr, signifies the greater tract of sand, Rich n j find as foUows . tRoll of debts] ,. de to distinguish it from the less, which is the road from ann0 xxi Rich< n Roth ap Jeun lloit nup , bede „, de Penmorva in Carnarvonshire to Harlech in Merio- Mabwynn de plur . debit . suis att .; at Jankyn ap Roth , nethshire. These sands are not commonly passable & quatuor fratribus suis coher . suis eiusdem Roth , , till the tide hath ebbed nearly three hours.-B. wa ,, m Asshe cam 'ar Southwa'll" &c, &c. ; so HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 65 parts of Wales, for the Llawrudds 1 to resort to the most power- full of the gentry, where they were kept very choisely. Howell ap Rys understanding that Jevan ap Robert and his people had occasion to goe to Carnarvon to the assises, thought it fit time by force to » enter on his house ; and to apprehend all those, and to bring them to Carnarvon to be hanged ; for there was none of them but was outlawed of murther. To this end, to strengthen himselfe in this purpose, he sent for his trustiest friends about him, and among the rest procured David ap Jenkin his cosen german, then a famous outlaw in the rocke of Carreg y Walch, 2 with his crew and followers to assist him, and suddenly came in a morning to the hall of Jevan ap Robert's house, where they were in outhouses about, and stowed in upper chambers in the lower end of the hall, and none to be seene. These people of Jevan ap Robert's that were in the hall raysed a crie, and betooke themselves to their weapons ; whereupon the outlawes awaked, and betooke themselves to their weapons, and bestirred themselves handsomely. It happened the same time that Jevan ap Robert's wife stood at the fire side, lookeing on her mayd boyling of worte to make metheglyn, which seething worte was bestowed liberally among the assailants, and did helpe the defen- dants to thrust backe them that were entered, and afterwards to defend the house. The house was assalted with all force, and pierced in diverse places, and was well defended by those that were within ; for having made diverse breaches, they durst not enter, a few resolute men being able to make a breach good against many. Upon this the crie of the countrie did rise, and Jevan It would appear that Rytherch ap Jevan Lloyd was Cave, from its having been a receptacle to some then dead. He appears to have owed ^179 2s. iod. robbers of that name. — B. It is said to have been then a very large sum. — W. the fortress of "Cynast Wyllt," or " Humphrey 1 The signification of the word llawrudd hath Cynaston the wild," ancestor to Sir Edward before been explained by the author, and to import Kynaston, Bart, of Hardwick, Salop. Tales of a red or bloody hand, or the murderer who had this Cynaston are as numerous as those of Robin given the blow.— B. Hood or Rob R °y : his [g rand ] mother was Antigony, [natural] dau : of Humftrey the great [or good] Duke 2 There is a rock on the road from Shrewsbury to of Gloucester.— L. Oswestry, which is to this day called Kynaston' s K 66 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. ap Robert's tenants and friends assembled in greate numbers, (whereof Robin ap Inko was captaine), who fought with the besiegers, and in the end with their arrows did drive the besiegers from the one side of the house, who continually assaulted the other side. After they had continued all that day and all that night in that manner, the next morning, seeing they could prevaile Uttle to enter the house, they came to a parley with Robin ap Inko, who advised them to be gone in time : " For," said he, " as soon as the water of Traeth mawr will give leave, Jevan Krach, my master's kinsman, will be here with Ardydwy men, and then you shall be all slaine." (This Jevan Krach was a man of greate account in those dayes, in Ardydwy, 1 and dwelt at Kelli lydan, in the parish of Maentwrog.) Whereupon they gave over their enterprise, and returned to Bron y foel, to Howell ap Rys ap Howell Vaughan his house, where David ap Jenkin ad- vised his cosen Howell ap Rys to take Jevan ap Robert for his brother-in-law, neighbour, and friend : " For," said he, "I will not be one with you to assault his house when he is at home, seeing I find such hot resistance in his absence." Dayly bickerings, too long to be written, passed betweene soe neare and hateful neighbours. In the end the plague, which commonly followeth warre and desolation, after the Earle of Pembroke's expedition, tooke away Jevan ap Robert, at his house in Keselgyfarch in the flowere 2 of his age, being thirty-one years of age ; whose death ended the strife of those houses ; for his three eldest sonnes were sister's sonnes to Howell ap Rys ap Howell Vaughan. 3 Enmitie did continue betweene Howell ap Rys ap Howell Vaughan, and the sonnes of John ap Meredith. After the death 1 Ardudwy is a district in the north-western part 2 " Flowers" in Miss Llwyd's edition. This of Merionethshire. Maentwrog is also a parish of would be a literal translation of the Welsh expres- the same county, not far distant from Ardudwy ; it sion "yn mlodeu ei oes." adjoins to Llanvrothen, the parson of which the 3 He held in lease the ville of Bodewyn and fish- author hath before had occasion to mention.— B. j n g of Stymllyn at Michs. 12 Edw.IV. (Minister? Maentwrog is in the commot of Ardydwy. Accounts in Public Record Office.) HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 67 of Jevan ap Robert, Gruffith ap John ap Gronw, (cozen german to John ap Meredith's sonnes of Gwynfryn,) who had long served in France, and had charge there, comeing home to live in the countrey, it happened that a servant of his comeing to fish in Stymllyn, 1 his fish was taken away, and the fellow beaten by Howell ap Rys his servants, and by his commandment. Gruffith ap John ap Gronw tooke the matter in such dudgeon, that he challenged Howell ap Rys to the field ; which he refusing, and assembling his cosens John ap Meredith's sonnes and his friends together, assaulted Howell in his owne house, after the manner he had seene in the French warres, and consumed with fire his barnes and his out-houses. Whilst he was afterwards assaulting the hall, which Howell ap Rys and many other people kept, being a very strong house, he was shot out of a crevise of the house, through the sight of his beaver, into the head, and slayne out-right, being otherwise armed at all points. Notwithstand- ing his death, the assault of the house was continued with great vehemence, the doores fired with great burthens of straw ; be- sides this, the smoake of the out-houses and barnes not farre distant, annoyed greatly the defendants, soe that most of them lay under boordes and benches upon the floore in the hall, the better to avoyd the smoake. During this scene of confusion, onely the old man Howell ap Rys never stooped, but stood valiantly in the middest of the floore, armed with a gleve 2 in his hand, and called unto them, and bid them " arise like men, for shame, for he had knowne there as greate a smoake in that hall upon a Christ- mas even." In the end seeing the house could noe longer de- fend them, being overlayed with a multitude, upon parley be- tweene them, Howell ap Rys was content to yeald himselfe prisoner to Morris ap John ap Meredith, John ap Meredith's eldest sonne, soe as he would sweare unto him to bring him safe 1 Stymllyn is on the Carnarvonshire coast, not far 2 Gleve signifies a sword, from the French Glaive from Crekeith. There is a pretty large pool of — B. And probably the Welsh Cleddyv. water near the sea, where there are some good trouts, and in which this fishing probably hap. pened. — B. 68 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. to Carnarvon castle, to abide the triall of the law, for the death of Gruff' ap John ap Gronw, who was cosen german removed, to the said Howell ap Rys and of the very same house he was of. Which Morris ap John ap Meredith undertakeing, did put a guard about the said Howell of his trustiest friends and servants, who kept and defended him from the rage of the kindred, and espe- cially of 1 Owen ap John ap Meredith his brother, who was very eager against him. They passed by leisure thence, like a camp 2 to Carnarvon ; the whole countrie being assembled, Howell's friends posted a horse-backe from one place or other by the way, who brought word that he was come thither safe, for they were in great fear lest he should be murthered, and that Morris ap John ap Meredith could not be able to defend him, neither durst any of Howell's friends be there for feare of the kindred. In the end, being delivered by Morris ap John ap Meredith to the con- stable of Carnarvon-castle, and there kept safely in ward untill the assises ; it fell out by law, that the burning of Howell's houses and assaulting him in his owne house, was a more haynous offence in Morris ap John ap Meredith and the rest, than the death of Gruff' ap John ap Gronw in Howell ap Rys, who did it in his owne defence ; whereupon Morris ap John ap Meredith, with thirty-five more, were indicted of felonie, as appeareth by the copie of the indictment, which I had from the records. Howell, delivered out of prison, never durst come to his owne house in Evioneth, but came to Penmachno, 3 to his mother's kindred, Rys Gethin's 4 sonnes, and there died. It is a note worthy observation that the house by little and little decayed ever since, neither hath any of his posterity beene buried in his owne sepul- chre, being four descents besides himselfe. Rys ap Howell ap Rys his sonne, cosen german to my greate 1 " Frotr." Ruthyn MS.— L. 3 Penmachno is a small village in Carnarvonshire, 2 i. e. Like an army, which makes regular en- on the road between Llanrwst and Festiniog.— B. campments during their march.— B. 4 Rhys Gethin, a great warrior, sided with Owain Glyndwr. — L. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 69 grandfather' Meredith ap Jevan ap Robert, maried to his first wife,. an inheretrix of the Trevors, by whome he had greate possessions in Hopesland. 1 He afterwards, by the procurement of my great- grandfather, maried Margaret, daughter to Hugh Conwey, the elder, Reinalt ap Meiricke's widdow, his next neighbour in Gwedir, and was overseer of his workes when he built Gwedir- house, as William David ap Ellis Eytyn 2 his cosen, who lived with him in those dayes, told me. He was buried on the right side in the chancel in Llanrwst ; and was taken up at the bury- ing of Cadwalader ap Robert Wynne of Havod y maidd, 3 as my uncle Owen Wynne guessed by the greatness of the same. Thomas ap Rys ap Howell sold all his mother's lands and live- ing in Hopesland, and a great part of his owne, and was buried in Hopesdale. Cadwalader ap Thomas, his son and heire, lying at Chester, died there. Ellis ap Cadwalader, 4 (who had maried my cosen german, 5 my uncle Owen Wynne's daughter), my kind cosen and friend, a man endued with many good parts, being sicke of an impostume, went to one Dr. Davies, 6 neare Brecknock, and there died. 7 This man's name I am bound to make an honourable mention of, for diverse kindnesses he shewed unto me, and especially for the wise advice and counsell he was wont to give me. Among many, one especially is by me and my posterity to be remembered, which I doe thinke worthy to be recorded in writeing. Unkindness and variance befalling betweene myselfe and my uncle Owen Wynne being neighbours, for wayes crosse my ground for the carrying of 1 Hopesland is a part of Flintshire, situated in the Wm. Maurice of Clenenney (afterwards Sir William hundred of Rhew. — B. Maurice), and this Ellis ap Cadwalader, on igth 2 Dd. ab Elis Eytyn of Watstay, now called Wynn- J" 1 ?' r 5 86 - stay. — L. 5 She died in 1638. 3 Havod y maidd is afarm in Denbighshire, not far 6 Evan Evans told me that the Dr. Davies here from Caerydrydion, it signifies the whey farm. — B. mentioned was no other than the famous Sion 4 Amongst the records at Bfogyntyn is a lette r Dafydd Rhys. J. LI. See page vi.— L. from, the great Lord Burleigh, addressed to Mr. 7 In 1597. His will at Doctors' Commons. 70 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. his hay from the King's meadow in Trefriw to his house at Caer- melwr, I grew to a great heat, and said that he should not passe that way without the losse of men's lives. Whereupon, he being present, and wishing well unto us both, reproved me sharpely, wishing me to follow the course of my ancestors, who with wis- dom e, unanimity, and temperance, from time to time, had raised their fortunes, assureing me his ancestors might be an example unto me of the contrary, who with headiness and rashness did diminish and impaire theire estates from time to time. Which counsel of his tooke deepe roote in me ever after, and, to my great good, I bridled my choller, whereunto I was much sub- ject. Owen Ellis, the sonne of Ellis Cadwalader, died by a fall from his horse goeing home from Crikeith in the night, haveing beene there all the day drinking. 1 Ellis Ellis, his sonne, fell mad, and continued soe a long time, and at length in that case 2 died. 3 Owen Ellis, his sonne, being a young man, newly maried, going home in the night betweene Nanhoren and Vaerdre, in Llun, 4 where his wife lived, haveing by her one daughter, and leaveing her greate with child, (which after proved to be a sonne), by a fall from his horse, upon the way, died. These three were buried in their own sepulchres in the church of St. Katherine's in Crikeith, after this booke was by the author written. 5 It may be a question here, and a doubt to the reader, wherefore 1 In 1622. mains as a farm-house, but externally is much 2 This is a singular method of expressing himself modernized. The hall, however, with the exception which the author frequently uses.— B. of the wlndows > remains much as it was. It has a 3In 6 very good roof, with very solid chamfered beam, _ ' and chamfered rafters. Upon the chimney-piece 4 Llun is the S. Western peninsula of Carnarvon- are, carved in oak, the arms of Collwyn ap Tangno, shire,— B. and Prince Owen Gwynedd. On the west wall 5 In the Brogyntyn MS. a line is drawn round the hangs an heraldic painting; quarterly, the bearing four paragraphs commencing "Owen Ellis," and ofColIw y n a p Tangno, and Montague. There are ending, "by the author written." These Ellises sorae old P ortr aits upon the walls.— W. (1872.) were of Ystymllyn. The old house there, still re- HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. Jl the land of Robert Vaughan ap David ap Howell should descend to Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, his cosen and next heire, he haveing a daughter and heire of his owne body lawfully begot- ten ? To answere this question you are to understand that Henry Lacie, Earle of Lincolne, upon the conquest of Wales, haveing received of Edward the First his gift the countries of Ros and Rovoniog, now Denbigh land, and planted the same with di- verse Englishmen, who held their lands, as well as their poste- ritie, by the English tenure ; the rest of the Welshmen, loaded with many bad customes, held their lands in the Welsh tenure. One condition thereof was, that the inheritance should not de- scend to daughters, but should goe to the heire male of the house, if there were any 1 such within their 2 degrees to the dead man, and if not, that it should escheate to the Lord of the soyle ; yet in re- spect of the possibilitie of issue male, which the owner of the land might have while he was alive, the custome of the countrie did permit him to mortgage the land to serve his need, without the Lord's leave. You see hereby that Robin Vaughan did what he could, according to the custome of the countrie, towards the preferment of his daughter, 3 and the reason why Jevan ap Meredith his next kinsman and heire, had the lands. Which proveth alsoe that Robert ap Meredith was eldest brother to Jevan ap Meredith, John ap Meredith's grand father, which his posteritie greatly gainsaid ; 4 for if Jevan ap Meredith had been 1 It is uncertain in the Brogyntyn MS. whether that John ap Mredith had an allowance of other this is ane (one) or any, the MS. being mended lands in Evioneth where he had a far greater estate here. then Evan ap Robt. had ; as is conceived sed inde a Three, perhaps.-B. •' Three " in Bala MS.— J.. 1— < From the words " or that " t0 " * " a PP ears Also in Brogyntyn and Hengwrt MSS. in a different hand trom the rest of the note > but l a "i 3 But q. why should not these lands descend to b y no means sure that ll was not written h V the them both according to y° custom of gavelkinde : same person.— W.) and whether this is not a weake argument, &c.:* v'e * So far of this note to the Brogyntyn MS. seems Cooke Litt : 140. Sect. 210. Soe it is more pro- to be in the autograph of William Vaughan, Esq. bable y* Jo n ap Mredith gave this share or P' of if not the whole of it, down to the words ' ' or these ds to ye that."— W. other Robert in regard of the 4 T his is a repetition of what hath been mentioned before being this happened before before. B. ye new ordinance (as is evident by this booke) or 72 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. elder brother, then John ap Meredith should have inherited this land, and not Jevan ap Robert his father's cosen. Meredith, sonne to Jevan ap Robert 1 his eldest sonne, in the time of his father, was taken to nurse by an honest freeholder in the hundred of Yscorum Isgurvai, 2 who was owner of 3 the Creigiaw 4 in Llanvaire, and the best man in the parish, and have- ing noe children of his owne, gave his inheritance 5 to his foster- child. 6 Creige 7 standeth some sixteen miles from Keselgyfarch, whereby it may appeare how desirous men were in those daye's to have a patron that could defend them from wrong, though they sought him never soe far off. Creige standeth betweene Carnar- von and Bangor, two miles off from Carnarvon. In those days Carnarvon flourished as well by trade of merchandise as alsoe for that the King's exchequer, chauncery, and common law courts for all North Wales were there continually residing, whilst the way to London and the marches was little frequented. By this, civility and learning flourished in that towne, soe as they were called, the lawyers of Carnarvon, the merchands of Beawmares, and the gentlemen of Conway. I heard diverse of judgement, and learned in the lawes, to report that the records of the King's Courtes, kept in Carnarvon in those dayes, were as orderly and formally kept as those in Westminster. Thither did his ioster father send my greate grandfather to school, where he learned the English tongue, to read, to write, and to understand Latine, a matter of great moment in those dayes. For his other brethren loseing their father young, and nursed in Evioneth, neare their father's house, wanted all this ; soe as to the honest man, his 1,1 Jevan ap Robert, his eldest sonne." In the 5 Q. how he could by the lawes of Wales either Brogyntyn MS. there is a comma after Robert. give or sell his lands (a note in the Brogyntyn MS.) 2 In Carnarvonshire. — B. In the Brogyntyn MS, s This should seeme to be after the new ordi- " Isgurvai " is above the line in the more modern nance, otherwise it could not be soe granted, q. hand previously referred to. contrary to the said first recited custome. . . This 3 Evan had more lands in Evioneth : vid : post- g° i{t was before V e new ordinance as may appere. (A script-note to the Brogyntyn MS. by the said Wm. note in the Brogyntyn MS., all of it in the auto- Vaugban. § ra P h of the said Wm - Vaughan.) 4 Creige in edition of 1770, and in Brogyntyn MS. 7 Crft S> in Llanfair parish.— L. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 73 foster and second father, (for he gave him with breeding alsoe his inheritance) may be attributed his good fortune (God's provi- dence always excepted) which sometimes worketh by secondary meanes, whereof this man was the instrument. Haveing lived there till the age of twenty yeares, or thereabouts, his foster-father being dead, he fell in liking with a young woman in that towne, who was daughter-in-law to one Spicer, ' the reputed daughter of William Gruffith ap Robin, sheriffe of the county of Carnarvon. This Spicer was a landed man of £50 per annum, which de- scended to him from his ancestors, yet had an office in the Ex. chequer, 1 and dealt with trade of merchandise alsoe, that he became a great and wealthy man. His sonne, John Spicer, 2 was a justice of the peace in the first commissions after the new ordi- nance of Wales, and was brother by the mother to Alice 3 William, the wife of Meredith ap Jevan ap Robert. Their mother is said to be of the Bangors, whome I have knowne often to have claymed kindred of me by that woman. At Creig he began the worlde with his wife, and begate there by her two daughters, Jonett, the first, maried to Edmund Griffith, and afterwards to Sir John Puleston; and another called Catherine, maried to Rowland Gruffith of Plas Newydd. 4 After this, finding he was likely to have more children, and that the place would prove narrow and straight for him, he was minded to have returned to his in- heritance in Evioneth, where there was nothing but killing and fighting, whereupon he did purchase a lease of the castle and frithes 5 of Dolwyddelan, of the executors of Sir Ralph Berkinnet. 1 The author means the Exchequer for the Princi- tleman's house ; the name is therefore very common pality, then kept at Carnarvon. — B. in Wales, and it is difficult to determine what Plas ""John Spicer, John Wyn " (doubtless John Newydd the author alludes to It should seem that Wynn ap Meredith) and another, attest, as justices our modern ^P^ 8 , 10 " ° f a Gentl ™ an * Pla " ls of the peace, a Deed dated 24th Aug. 33rd Hen. VIII. taken from this Welsh term. — B. See Mona The deed relates to property belonging to Howell Anti 1 ua where this Rowland Gruffydd is mcluded ap Gruffith, whose son Robert married a daughter in the list of Members of Parliament. W.D.-L. of Lewis ap Jevan ap David. Il was Plas New y dd on the Menai - now the P ro " perty of the Marquis of Anglesea. — W. 3 Alice vch William. — L. . 5 Frith is a very common term in Wales, and sig- « Plas Newydd signifies the new Mansion or Gen- n;fies generalIy a smaU field taken out of a comm0 n. L 74 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. I find in the records of the Exchequer of Carnarvon, the transcript of an act of resumption enrowled, made in the third yeare of king Henry the Seventh, by which act all king Richard's gifts are resumed, excepting one lease of the frith of Dolwyddelan, granted to Sir Ralph Berkinnet of the countie of Chester, knight, Chamberlaine of North Wales. Haveing purchased this lease, he removed his dwelling to the castle of Dolwyddelan, which at that time was in part thereof habitable, where one Howell ap Jevan ap Rys Gethin, 1 in the beginning of Edward the Fourth his raigne, captaine of the countrey and an outlaw, had dwelt. Against this man David ap Jenkin rose, and contended with him for the sov- reignety of the countrey; and being superiour to him, in the end he drew a draught for him, and took him in his bed at Penanmen with his concubine, performing by craft, what he could not by force, and brought him to Conway Castle. Thus, after many bickerings betweene Howell and David ap Jenkin, he being too weake, was faigne to flie the countrey, and to goe to Ireland, where he was a yeare or thereabouts. In the end he returned in the summer time, haveing himselfe, and all his fol- lowers clad in greene, 2 who, being come into the countrey, he dispersed here and there among his friends, lurking by day, and walkeing in the night for feare of his adversaries ; and such of the countrey as happened to have a sight of him and his followers, said they were the fairies, 3 and soe ran away. All the whole countrey then was but a forest, rough and spacious, as it is still, but then waste of inhabitants, and all overgrowne with woods; There is a market town in Derbyshire called Chapel the same livery. As they generally lived in in the Frith which is situated in a valley amongst forests, perhaps it might be conceived that they such inclosures. The term of frith is originally were less distinguishable when dressed in this Saxon, hence deorfrid signifies a forest with its colour.— B. Holingshed, in his description of bounds. Chron. Sax. a.d. 1086.— B. Ireland, p. 12, gives an account of Robin Hood ■1 The Brogyntyn MS. states, after " Gethin " and and Li " le J ohn ; he sa y s the y lived about the before " in the," this— "abase son of Jenn' ap Rys y ear Il8 9-— L - Gethin." 3 See p. 202 of Peter Roberts's Popular Anti- 2 The tradition is well known, that Robin Hood qnities.—L. and the outlawes his followers, were clad in HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 75 for Owen Glyndwr's warres beginning in 1400, continued fifteen yeares, which brought such a desolation that greene grasse grew on the market place in Llanrwst, called Bryn y botten, and the deere fled 1 into the church-yard, as it is reported. This desolation arose from Owen Glyndwr's policie to bring all things to waste, that the English should find no strength, nor resting place. The countrey being brought to such a desolation, could not be re- planted in haste ; and the warres of York and Lancaster happen- ing some fifteen yeares after, this countrey being the chiefest fastness of North Wales, was kept by David ap Jenkin, a captaine of the Lancastrian faction, fifteen yeares in Edward the Fourth his time, who sent diverse captaines to besiege him, who wasted the countrey while he kept his rocke of Carreg y Walch ; and, lastly, by the Earle Herbert, who brought it to utter desolation. Now you are to understand, that in those dayes, the countrey of Nantconway was not onely wooded, but alsoe all Carnarvon, Merioneth, and Denbigh shires seemed to be but one forrest haveing few inhabitants, though of all others Nantconway had the fewest, being the worst then, and the seat of the warres, to whome the countrey about paid contribution From the towne of Conway to Bala, and from Nantconway to Denbigh, 2 (when warres did happen to cease in Hirwethog, 3 the countrey adjoining to Nantconway), there was continually fostered a wasp's nest, which troubled the whole countrey, I mean a lordship belonging to St. Johns of Jerusalem, called Spytty Jevan, a large thing, which had privilege of sanctuary. This peculiar jurisdiction, not governed by the king's lawes, became a receptacle of thieves and murtherers, who safely being warranted there by law, made the place thoroughly peopled. Noe spot within twenty miles was safe from their incursions and roberies, and what they got within their limits was their owne. They had to their backstay friends 1 " Fed in the church-yard of Llanrwst." — Bala covered with wood, according to the account, MS. — L. though there is at present little or none to be seen. 2 All this tract of country is mountainous, though "■ not very rocky ; it may therefore have been formerly 3 Hiraethog. — L. 76 HISTORY OF 1 THE GWYDIR FAMILY. and receptors in all the county of Merioneth and Powisland. 1 These helping the former desolations of Nantconway, and prey- ing upon that countrey, as their next neighbours, kept most part of that countrey all waste and without inhabitants. In this estate stood the hundred of Nantconway when Meredith removed his dwelling thither, being (as I guesse) about the four and twentieth yeare of his age, and in the beginning of King Henry the Seventh his time. Being questioned by his friends, why he meant to leave his ancient house and habitation, and to dwell in Nantcon- way, 2 swarming with thieves and bondmen, whereof there are many in the kinge's lordship and townes in that hundred ; he answered, " that he should find elbowe roome in that vast coun- trey among the bondmen, and that he had rather fight with outlawes and thieves, than with his owne blood and kindred ; for if I live in mine house in Evioneth, 3 I must either kill mine owne kinsmen or be killed by them." Wherein he said very truly, as the people were such in those dayes there; for John Owen ap John ap Meredith, in his father's time, killed Howell ap Madoc Vaughan 4 of Berkin, for noe other quarrell, but for the masteiy of the countrey, and for the first good-morrow ; in which tragedie Meredith had likely beene an actor, if he had lived there, for the reasons aforesaid. He and his cosen the heire of Bron y foel were both out of the countrey, Morys ap John ap Meredith and Owen ap John ap Meredith were alsoe growne old men, soe as there was none in the countrey that durst strive with John Owen ap John ap Meredith, but Howell ap Madoc Vaughan of Berkin, 5 which cost him his life. 1 Powisland formerly included a large district of this name from its being watered by a great number country, chiefly Montgomeryshire. The Reguli of of small rivers. The same etymology is given by this part of North Wales are said to have been Leland to the province of Aquitane in France.— B. buried at Myfod in that county, which is situated 4 Howe , ap Madog Vaughan was re-feoffed of on the river Vurnwy.— B. landg) &c _ m Evionethi by deed dated on the next 2 Nantconway signifies the valley situated on the Monday after the Festival of St. Katherine the Vir- Conway. — B. gin, 4 Hen. VIII. The Original deed is at Pen- 3 Evioneth is a hundred in the S. Western part lartn - of Carnarvonshire : it is supposed to have obtained . 5 Berkin (or Aberkin) is situated in the parish of HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. T] Howell ap Madog Vaughan his grand mother, was Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith his sister, soe he was cosen german's Sonne to Meredith. John Owen that killed him was cosen german to my grandmother, being the daughter of Morris ap John ap Meredith. In respect of the feude of my grandfather he could not abide any descended of Owen ap John ap Meredith, neither could she abide any of his kindred of Berkin. I write it but to show the manifold divisions in those days 1 among soe private friends. Howell ap Madog Vaughan haveing most valiantly fought out with his people, received his deadly wound in the head. Being * downe, his mother being present, clapped her hand on his head, meaning to ward the stroke, and had halfe her hand and three of her fingers cut off at the blowe. David Llwyd 2 Gruffith Vychan, 3 my uncle, told me, that his lather dwelling at Cumstrallyn in Evioneth, hearing of the affray, but not of his cosen's death, (for Howell ap Madog Vychan out- lived the fray certaine dayes), sent him, being a child, to see how his cosen did ; and he coming to Berkin found him layd in his bed, and his wounded men in great number lying in a cocherief above the degree near the high table, all in breadth of his hall, all gored and wallowing in theire owne blood. He likewise saw the gentleman's milch kine brought to the hall doore, and their Llanistindwy. — B. Berkin, or Aberkin, was sold amongst the humbler classes in Wales, " uncle," as about the year 1822, by William Wynne of Peniarth, would the first cousin of a father or mother. — W. Esq., to whom it had descended from Howel ap 3 David Llwyd abGruffith Vychan.— L. Madoc Vaughan, to Thomas John, second Lord Newborough. Some of the Berkin plate is still at 4 This term seems t0 be denved from an old French Peniarth.— W. (1872.) word c <>ucheHe ; it may therefore signify a long _ ., , boarded bed, placed with a proper inclination from 1 « This Griffith " (he was of Talhenbont, and the sidfi of ^ room> which was the common dor . grand-uncle to Howel ap Madog Vaughan), "was mi of the servants< A shelf of boards thus dis . slaine by Morris ap John Meredith, his cousm german, d m; ht answer the e rf what in E land as thus. He called him forthe & bid him looke up was former]y ca „ ed a ^ _ and slanting shelyes rf & with a knife stabbed h.m in the belly." Harl, Ms SQrt are sometimes used in barracks for the MS. 1969. I cannot, however, make out that they ^^ tQ sleep upon> As for what , § mentioned were cousins german.-W. of {u being ahom tU dggree neaf the Ugk tabu> 2 See also p. 63. This person was not uncle to Sir it is well known that the principal table in an John Wynn, but first cousin to his grandfather ; ancient hall is always raised a step or two, as it a relation that even now (1872) would be styledi ocntinues to be in most colleges.— B. 78 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. milk carried hot from the kine, to the wounded men, by them to be druncke for the restoring of their blood. Howell Vaugban, upon his death-bed, did say, "that this quarrel should never be ended while his mother lived ; and looked upon her hand." Which was true indeed ; for she per- secuted eagerly all her time, and John Owen was kept in prison seven years in Carnarvon Castle, for soe long she survived her sonne, and his life was saved with much ado. After her death the feude was compounded for. 1 John Owen and his followers were exceedingly sore hurt in that bickering ; soe that returning to his father's house from the fray, and his aged father sitting or walking before the doore of his house, and seeing his son and his company all hacked, wounded, and besmeared with their owne blood, he said unto them, Drwg yw'r drefn yma, a wnaethoch chwi tick gwerth ; 2 which is as much as to say, " You are in an ill-favoured pickle. Have you done nothing worthy yourselves ? " " I, 3 " said the sonne, " I feare me we have done too much." " If that be soe," said Owen ap John ap Meredith, "I was this morning the best man in my countrey," meaning Evioneth, "but now I know not who is." You are to understand, that in Evioneth of old there were two sects or kindred, the one lineally descended of Owen Gwynedd, Prince of Wales, consisting then and now of four houses, viz, Keselgyfarch, y Llys ynghefn y fann, now called Ystimkegid. Clenenny, and Brynkir, Glasfrin or Cwmstrallyn ; the other sect descended of Collwyn, whereof are five houses or more ; viz. Whelog, Bron y foel, Berkin, Gwnfryn, Talhenbont, and the house of Hugh Gwyn ap John Wynne ap Williams 4 called Pen- nardd, 5 all descended of their common ancestor, Jevan ap Einion 5 1 Such compositions were common in Wales be- 6 Also Plas du, Bodvel, Boderda, Madrin, Peny- fore the statutes of Henry the Eighth, — B. berth, Rhosgyll, Bodean, Coytcay, (in HengwrtMS* 2 Gwerth in Brogyntyn MS. folio 4 8 of this History.) ... , . , , , . '"He" (Enguerrard de Coucy, son-in-law of n is probably used here for ay, as it is through. Edw m _ , a his expedition inst the Duke of out the folio editions of Shakspeare.-P. Austria) under pretence of demanding the dower 4 " Ap Williams " should be John Wynne ap due to him — Enguerrard — in right of his mother) William. — W. " was likewise accompanied by Jevan-ap-Eynion-ap HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 79 ap Gruffith. 1 His brother was 2 Howell ap Einion ap Gruffith that worthy gentleman called Sir Howell y fwyall, 3 who be- haved himselfe so worthyly at the field of Poitiers/ (where John the French King was taken by the Blacke Prince), 5 that he re" ceived of the Prince in guift the constableship of Cricketh castle, and other great things in North Wales, alsoe the rent of Dee milles in Chester ; and, what was more, a messe of meat to be served before his battle axe or partisan forever, in perpetual me- mory of his good service. 6 This messe of meat was afterwards carried downe to be given to the poore, 7 and had eight yeomen attendants found at the King's charge, which were afterwards called yeomen of the crowne; who had 8d. a day, and lasted till the beginning of Queene Elizabeth's time. Sergeant Roberts of Havod y bwch, neare Wrexam, was, at his beginning, yeo- man of the crowne. He maried Sir William Gerrard's halfe-sister by the mother, as did Robert Turbridge of Caervallen, neare Ru- thyn, Esq., another: to whom he told, "that being yeoman of the crowne, he had heard it by tradition in the King's house, that the beginning of their order was upon the occasion as is afore remembred." This did Robert Turbridge relate unto me, Griffith, a Welsh hero, not less renowned than him- by the author. See p. zg. — B. selt, who had defended Henry* of Transtamare, 6 It S£ems bab , e ho ^ gir HoW£ , and the throne of Castile, against the Black Prince. p „ wflf a rf ^ French K He An ancient Swiss song, in which most of these first surrendered himself t0 Denis de Morbec details are preserved, also mentions a duke Ysso de „ but there ■ yfn a , e for ^ ession of the Calks (Wales), with his gold cap who commanded iye K; onf , ; . j tQok M , an(J anQther the English Cavalry." S.monds' Swttzerland, Vol. making a , ;ke assertion/ , AfterwardSi the King 2, p. 152. was taken f rom Morbecque by "some English Annis 39 and 40, E. 3. See Sandford p. !8 5 . KnightS) » and thcy were quarre i ing as to whose 1 [Howell ap Griffith in Mr. Robert Vaughan's prisoner he was. . . The earls of Warwick and Collections.] In parenthesis in Hengwrt MS. 350, Suffolk ordered these knights to release their pri- folio 48 of this History. He certainly was Howel soner, took him under their protection, and carried ap Griffith, and was uncle to Jevan ap Einion ap him and his son Philip to the Prince of Wales- Gruffith. — W. Longman's Edw. III. Vol. 1 pp. 392, 395. 2 In Brogyntyn MS. for "his brother " is " whose e our author here repeats what hath before been brother." stated, of which there are some other instances when 3 i. e. The axe.— B. 'he matter was particularly interesting, — B. * This circumstance hath been before mentioned 7 " For his soul's health." Bala MS.— L. 8o HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. upon the creditte of the other man. The countrey people, grounding upon the songes, which say, " that he bridled the French King," will have it, that he took the French King prisoner : a matter unlikely, as the one served on foot, and the King on horseback. 1 But the foot captaine is a brasen wall of the army, and may be said truly to winne the field. After Meredith 2 had lived certaine yeares at Dolwyddelan castle, 1 Notwithstanding the author's doubts with regard to this tradition, it seems scarcely to admit of a cavil, as such an extraordinary and expensive esta- blishment could not have been granted by the crown, but for most meritorious services. As for the impossibility relied upon, that a soldier on foot could not take the French King on horseback, this circumstance is most fully accounted for by a MS. given to the Lord Treasurer Oxford by Mr. Hugh Thomas, and now deposited in the British Museum. " Sir. Howell ap Fwyall, ap Griffith, ap Howell, ap Meredith, ap Einion, ap Gwgan ap Meredith Goch, ap Colhwyn, ap Tangno, called Sir Howell y Fwyall, or Sir Howell Pole Axe from his constant fighting with that warlike instru- ment. — It is said he dismounted the French King, cutting off his horse's head at one blow with his battle axe, and took the French King prisoner; as a trophy of which victory it is said that he bore the arms of France, with a battle axe in bend sinister, argent." Harl MSS. N° 2298. p. 348. — the reference in the printed catalogue to p. 21. of this number being inaccurate. The conqueror anciently had a right to quarter the arms of his prisoner. This appears by a treatise on heraldry, printed by Wynken de Worde, without date, in which there is the following passage : " We have armys by our meryts, as very playnly it ap- peareth by the addycyon of the arms of Fraunce to those of Englonde after the taking of K. John of Fraunce in the battayle of Poyctiers, the which certayn addition was lawfull and ryght, and wyselye done. And on the same manner of wyce a poor archer might have taken a prynce or noble lord, and so the arms of that prisoner he may put to him and his heyrs." Book of St. Albans,hy dame Julian Berners. The author seems also to have forgotten some Welsh verses which are inserted in the margin of the MS. commemorating the grant of the mess of meat to be served at Sir Howell's table, whilst the battle axe followed. Segir fy seiger wyall doeth honn garr bron y brenin, Gwedyr maes gwaed ar y min ; i dwysaig ai dewiswr Ai diod oedd waed a dwr. [Kowydd* i Jevan ap Meredith O Ceselgyfarch Howell ap Reignalt ai cant, f ] " Place on the table my sewer, (bearing the axe which came from the presence of the king, with blood on its edge) the two dishes which I have chosen. The drink must be blood and water." " The poem in praise of Jevan ap Meredith of Ceselgyfarch, by Howell ap Reinalt the Bard."— B. * Cowydd (or distich) was inserted in the margin by a different hand from that of the copier : it is said to be very incorrect, and consequently not per- fectly intelligible. The above translation is supposed to be nearly the sense of it. — B. A fragment cannot be easily made out without the whole poem The Bard lived about 100 years after the battle of Poitiers, which was fought September ig. 1356. W. D.— L. t Flourished from 1460 to 1490. — L. 2 1 find that the aforesaid Meredydd Wynn ab Iefan ab Rhobert went twice to Rome ; and that at his death, by his will, dated the fourth of March, 1525, he left his Estate to certain trustees, to be divided amongst his four sons, viz., John Wynn, Rhys Wynn, Humnrey Wynn, andCadwalader Wynn. To John Wynn he gave Gwydyr, and his lands in Nantconway, Dolwyddelan, and Llanfrothen. (Rhys Wynn dyed before the partition.) To Humphrey he left Cessailgyfarch, &c, and to Cadwalader Wynn he gave Wenallt, who was several^times Member of Parliament. Meredydd ab Iefan ab Rhobert, after he had done great service to the King, abroad in his wars, in France, where he was a considerable com- mander, at the siege of Tourney, and at home in extirpating of outlaws and banditti which infested Wales, and were called Herwyr and Gwylliaid, and thereby had contributed very much to the civilizing and quieting this country, — purchased the seat of Gwydyr from Dafydd ab Howell Coytmor, (a descen- HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 8r he builded the house in Penanmen, being the principal best ground in Dolwyddelan, and also within certaine yeares after, he re- moved the church of Dolwyddelan from a place called Brin y dant from Iarddur of Llechwedd) and began to behind him a very numerous issue, that is to say, build the lower house : he finished that part which By his first wife, Alis vch William Gryffydd ab is called NeuaddFredydd, (orthe Hall of Meredydd), Robin o Gochwillian, he had Sion Wynn 2 ab and the adjacent lodgeing ; and then, leaving his Mered. of Gwydyr, who married Elin the daughter paternal seat of Cessailgyfarch, and also his other of Mawris Sion ab Meredydd o Rhiwaedog: Rhys house of Penanmen, he removed and settled at Wynn 3 ab Mered. was never married. He had Gwydyr, where, in peace and honour, he departed also by Alis two other sons, William 1 ab Mered. this life, on the eighteenth day of March, 1325, aged and Rhydderch 4 ab Mered. but both died before about sixty-five, and was interred at the church their father, sans issue. His daughters by her which he himself had built at Dolwyddelan, leaving were these : — Sionet 1 vch Mered=Edmund Gryffyth of Caernarfon : 2dly, Syr John Puleston, Knight. Marget 2 vch Mered. three times, = Rhys ab Dafydd ab Gwillym o Lwydiarth, = Evan ab Sion ab Meredydd oBryncir.* = Rhobet Vaughn o Brpnhaulog, 0. S. P. Catrin Llwyd 3 vch Mered=Rowland Gryffyth o Plasnewydd yn Mon. Catrin Gwynion 4 vch Mered. =Lewis ab Ief. ab Dd. o Pengwern yn Festiniog. Lowri 6 vch Mered. = Rhydderch ab Dd. ab Mered. o Bala, ancestor o Lewis Gwynn of Bala, and alsoe Brigadier James Wynn. Marsli 6 vch Mered. =Tomos Gruff. Siencin o Coed y Rhygyn yn Trawsfynydd, and also of Clynnog fawr yn Arfon.t By his second wife Gwenhwyfar vch Gruff, ab Howell y Farf o Treiorwerth yn Mon, and relict ot bs Gryffyth of Plasnewydd, Meredydd had issue as followeth : — Elin 7 vch Mered. died unmarried. Elsbeth 8 vch Mered=Sion ab Rhob. ab Lin. ap Morgan o'r Penllech. By his third wife Marget vch Moras Sion ab Ffestiniog. Cadwalader ab Mered. to whom he Meredydd o Rhiwaedog, Meredydd had issue, — gave Wenallt in Nanhwynen, and the rest of his Humffrey ab Mered. on whom he settled Cessail- lands in Evionydd: he=Sionet vch Tomos ab gyfarch, and most of his lands in Evionydd, and Moras ab Gryffydd ab Iefan o'r Plas du. who married Catrin, da. and heir of Iefan Gryffydd The daughters of Meredydd by his third wife ab Meredydd ab Gwylim Powis o Cwmbowys yn were these : — Elin 9 vch Mered.— Edd. Stanley, constable of Harddlech castell. Sian 10 vch Mer.=Cadwalader Prys o Rhiwlas. Agnes 11 vch Mer.=Rhobert ab Rhys Wynn Salsburi. Alis i2=Tomas ab Rhys Benned o Bodlewyddan. Gwen 14 vch Mer.=Owen ab Reynallt o Glynn Lligwy. Marget 13 vch=Sion Gryff. o Cichley 3 ab Syr Will. Gryff. o'r Penrhyn. Eurlliw 16 vch Mer.=Sion Hooks o Conwy. Besides these 20 children by his wives, Meredydd Morris Kyffin, consecrated Bish. of St. Asaph, 1603. had the following by diverse women : — by Sionet And, lastly, by Gwenllian vch Gwylym ab Evan vch Siencin Gryffydd Vychan he had Sir Robert, a Llwyd, he had Catrin vch Mer. who=William ab Priest ; 2d. Sion Coytmor, from whom descend Syr Tomas Gronwy, by whom she had Syr Tomas ab Edmund Williams, Bart. Syr John Williams of the William the famous physic, to Qu. Eliz. that made Isle of Thanet, and Syr Morris Williams, Knight ; the Welsh Dictionary, and in whose MS. of Achau and third, Catrin vch Mer.=Sion Dd. o Tregaron, I found this hanes of Meredydd's children by his father of Tomos Jones, commonly called Twm Sion three wives, which agreeth with a catalogue of them Catte, (a great antiquary). And by Catrin vch Sion in Lewis Dwnn's visitation MS. signed and attested by ab Heilyn o Benmachno, Meredydd had Evan and Owen Wynn of Caermelwr 4 ab Sion Wynn ab Huw, (who had issue Rhobert ab Huw, and Reinallt Mered. and grandson to Meredydd ; dated the 14 ot ab Huw of Flintshire). MerSdydd had also by a June, 1588. H. Bangor, October 18, 1699, 1700. — L. clau. of Howell ab Rhys ab , Lewis, and * p arty to a deed on 5th Aug., 1523. Marget vch Mer.=Dafydd Owen A.M. father of + Part y to a deed on 1st Oct., 15 Hen. VII. M 82 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. bedd, to the place where now it is, being parte of the possessions of the priory of Bethkelert. He also there new-built the same as it is now, one crosse chapell excepted, which my uncle Robert Wynne built. It should seeme, by the glasse window there, that it was built in anno 1512 ; but whether it was in that yeare glazed, (which might be done long after the building of the church), I am uncertaine. The church, which is very strongly built, the castle, and his house of Penanmen stand three square, like a trivett, either a mile distant from each other. Questioning with my uncle, what should move him to demolish the old church, which stood in a thickett, and build it in a plaine, stronger and greater than it was before : his answer was, he had reason for the same, because the countrey was wild, and he might be op- pressed by his enemies on the suddaine, in that woodie countrey; it therefore stood him in a policie to have diverse places of retreat. Certaine it was, that he durst not goe to church on a Sunday from his house of Penanmen, but he must leave the same guarded with men, and have the doores sure barred and boulted, and a watch- man to stand at the Garreg big, during divine service; being a rock whence he might see both the church and the house, and raise the crie, if the house was assaulted. He durst not, although he were guarded with twenty tall 1 archers, make knowne when he went to church or elsewhere, or goe or come the same way through the woodes and narrowe places, lest he should be layed for : this was in the beginning of his time. To strengthen him- selfe in the countrey, he provided out of all parts adjacent, the tallest and most able men he could heare of. Of these he placed colonies in the countrey, filling every empty tenement with a tenant or two, whereof most was on the Kinge's lands. Many of the posteritie of these tenants remaine until this day. One William ap Robert of Iscorum, being one of his followers, he placed in a tenement of the towneshippe of Gwedir, called Pen- 1 Tall at this time often signifies stout, and is used by Shakspeare in that sense. — P. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 83 craig Inko, now worth £. 30- per annum, who paid for the same onely a reliefe to the King or lord, which was 10s. \d. Such were the lawes in those days, and are still, that if the King's tenant holding in freehold, or freeholder holding under any other Lord, did cease for two years to do his service to the King or Lord, the said may re-enter. The writte is called Cessavit per biennium; the exactions were, in those dayes, soe manifold, that not onely the bondmen ranne away and forsooke the Kinge's land, but alsoe freeholders their owne land. Here to lay downe in particular the Welsh customes would make the volume too great. Owen ap Hugh ap Jevan ap William, great grandchild to the said William, enjoyeth the land to this day; though in my grandfather's time it was in sute, by the contrivance of John ap Madog ap Hoshell, but it is now recovered by the meanes of my grandfather. Einion ap Gruffith ap Jockes, a freeholder of Fes- tiniog and Llanvrothen, he placed in the King's frith at Bryntirch, of whom are descended many in Nantconway, Festiniog, and Llanvrothen. Howell ap Jevan ap Pellyn, a Denbighshire man, and a tall archer, of whom are descended the race of the Pellyns, he placed in the tenement of Garth. He alsoe placed Gruffith ap Tudor, a Denbighshire man, in Rhiw Goch ; as likewise Jevan David ap Ednyfed, an Abergeley man (who felled, in one day, eighteen oakes, towards the building of a parte of Penanmen- house), in Bwlch y kymid. Lastly, he placed Robert ap Meredith in Berthios, whose sonne John ap Robert was dayry-man there, untill the beginning of my time. 1 In Ddanhadog he found Rys ap Robert, a tall stout man, who being originally (as they say) a Vaynoll Bangor 2 man borne, and a freeholder, killed a man there, forsook his land, and fled thither. Rytharch and Richard ap Rys ap Robert were my father's fosters ; 1 " And manie others, too long to be repeated." 2 So called from being near Bangor, to distinguish. Bala MS. — L. it from other places bearing that name. — B. #4 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. and from the said Richard ap Rys ap Robert is lineally descended Humphrey Jones 1 of Cravelyn, Gentleman. Diverse other tall and able men dwelt in the countrey, which drew to him, as to their defender and captaine of the countrey, soe as within the space of certaine yeares, he was able to make seven score tall bowmen of his followers, arrayed, as I have credibly heard, in this man^ ner. Every one of them had a jacket or armolett coate, a good Steele cappe, a short sword and a dagger, together with his bow and arrowes; most of them alsoe had horses, and chasing slaves 2 which were to answere the crie upon all events. Whereby he grew soe strong that he began to put back and to curbe the sanctuary of thieves and robbers 3 , which at times were wont to be above a hundred, well horsed and well appointed. It is to be noted likewise, that certaine gentlemen and free- holders dwelt in the countrey, but not many, who were to an- swere the crie, and to come also upon the like distresse. The Issue of Meredith 4 ap Jevan ap Robert, 5 of Keselgyfarch Gwedir 6 com. Cam. By his first wife Alice 7 , sixth daughter 8 of William Griffith ap Robin of Cochwillan, he had, I. William Wynne, who died without issue. 1 Receiver General of North Wales, and ances- s Meredith Wynn ap Evan ap Robert after he tor to Mawris Jones of Ddol. The heiress of Dd61 had done great service to his King abroad in his in Edernion married Mr. Parry of Llanrhaidr, wars in France, where he was a considerable from whom the present Richard Parry, Esq., of com'ander in the siege of Tournay, and at home in Llwyn-ynn and Plas newydd, is lineally descended, extirpating the outlaws & banditi which infested L, Wales, & were called Herwyr & Gwilied, and „_ _, , .. , „ thereby had contributed very much to ye civilizing s Q. Staves i.e. hunting siears.— P. „ /. ' f ■» ^ " * & quieting this country, purchased the Seat of 3 This was before described to be Yspytty Evan Gwyder of One of the descendants of Howell which belonged to the Knights Hospitalers, and is Coytmore & began to build the lower House he not far from Dolwyddelan, where this chieftain fi n ; sh ed that part which is called Neuadd Fredydd resided. These knights had St. John for their or the Han of Meredith & the adjacent Lodgings, patron, and hence it is possibly called Yspytty And then i eav i ng his paternall Seat of Kesailgy- Evan [or rather Iwan which signifies John]; it is larch as also his other house of p enanmen , Be now a small village situated on the Conway. Dr. re m ved & setled at Gwyder where in peace & Davies renders Yspytty hospitium.—B. Hon - r he departed this life on the Eighteenth day * In the Brogyntyn MS. the whole of this, down of March 1525, aged about 65, & was interred to and including "A.D. 1525," (p. 87), is in the in the church which he himself had built at Dol- more modern hand referred to previously. wyddelan leaving behind him a very numerous HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 85 II. John Wynne ap Meredith of Gwedir. 9 III. Rees Wynne. IV. Rytherch. V. Margaret, wife first of Rees ap David ap Guillim of Angle- sey, 10 then of Jevan ap John 11 ap Meredith of Brynkir, and after him of Robert ap Meredith of Bronheulog. VI. Jonet, wife first of Edmund Gruffith, son of Sir William Gruffith the elder Knight, after him of Sir John Puleston, Knight. VII. Catherine Lloyd, wife of Rowland Gruffith of Plas- newydd. 12 VIII. Catherine Gwinniow, wife of Lewis ap Jevan 13 ap David of Festiniog. IX. Lowry, wife of Rytherch ap David ap Meredith of Bala. 14 - issue. (From a Gwydir Pedigree at Wynnstay, which appears to have been compiled by H. Hum- phreys, Bishop of Bangor, in the year 1700, from Sir John Wynn's History of the Gwydir Family,) I find that this Meredith Wyn ap Evan ap Robert made two journeys to Rome, & that att his death by his will dated 4. May 1525 he left his estate to certain Trustees to be divided among his 4 sons. John Wyn Rees Wyn Humphrey Wyn & Kadwalader. To John Wynne Gwyder & his lands in Nanconway Dolwyddelan & Llanfrothan (Rees dy'd before ye partition) to Humphrey Kesail- gyfarch &c : &c : Cadwalader (who was several times member of parliam't) Wenallt &c. (From a note in the handwriting of Humphrey Humphreys, Bishop of Bangor, afterwards of Hereford, in a MS. of Sir John Wynn's History of the Gwydir Family at Wynnstay.) Meredith ap Jevan ap Robert died 18 Mar. 1523, aged about 65. (i. e. 1525-6.) In the South part of the East window of Pen- roorva church are the pictures of Meredith ap Evan ap Robert and his last wife— Marg««: verch Maurice, with the inscription following under them : — Orate pro Merydyt ap Evan ap Robert et Margerta verch Maurice uxorem ejus — qui hanc fenestram fecerunt.* (From another MS. Vol. of notes rela- ting to the Wynn family at Wynnstay, and which appears to have belonged to Bishop Humphreys.) * A portion of this inscription remains in the West window of Penmorva church, formerly a doorway, to which some fragmentsof the old glass have been transferred. — W. (July, 1870.) 6 In first edition this reads " and Gwedir." 7 Alice could not have been his first wife ; for, by his monument at Dolwyddelan, it appears that they both died on the same day, 18 Mar. 1525. 8 She was an illegitimate daughter. s Died in 1559 ; will proved at Doctors' Commons. 10 Whose will is dated 10 Dec. 1519. — Penrhos MS. 11 Jevan ap John ap Meredith party to a deed 5th Aug. 7th of Hen. 7. (1492). 12 He is party to a deed in which he is styled " Roland Gruffith son and heir of Robert Gruffith of Porthamal," dated 6 Feb. 27th of Hen. 8. His father [Robert Gruffith of Porthaml] was probably then living, as he is not said in the deed to be deceased. 13 He is witness to a deed dated 24th March, 33rd Hen. 8, and died in 1551. 14 Who was a Justice of the Peace 'for the Co : oi Merioneth on the 17th Aug. 2nd and 3rd of Philip and Mary. 86 HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. X. Margaret, wile of Thomas Griffith Jenkin. By his second wife Gvenhover, daughter of Gruffith ap Howell y Farf, relict of Robert Griffith of Porthaml. XI. Elizabeth, wife of John ap Robert ap L'ln 1 of Penllech. XII. Elen. • By his third wife Margaret, daughter of Morris ap John ap Mere- dith, he had, XIII. Humphrey Meredith, of Keselgyfarch. 2 XIV. Cadwalader 3 of Wenallt, father of Thomas, father of Cadwalader, father of John Vaughan, father of Cadwalader, M.A. 4 XV. Elen, wife of Edward Stanley, Constable of Harddlech. 5 XVI. Jane, wife of Cadwalader ap Robert ap Rees of Rulas. 1 This contraction is for Llewelin. — B. a .He was living 4th June, 1578. d. of . . . = Humphrey ;Mere- =f= Catherin d.&h dith* of Kesel gyfarch of Evan ap Gr. ap Meredith ap Gwilym Powys of Cwmbowy, in Festiniog. John Wynn ap = Humphrey. Catherine, dau. of =p Evan Lloyd, of Wm. Wynne ap Win, of Coch- willan. John Lloyd. Havod Uwddoc. Thomas, married Marred, d. of Ellis ap Wm, Lloyd, of Rhiw- goch. Gwen, wife of Evan ap Robert ap Evan ap Iorwerth, of Tanybwlch. Margaret, wife of Wm, Jones, of Castell March in Lleyn, Esq. Jevan Lloyd. . (From a pedigree lent to me by Edw. Breese, Esq MS. 419, fol. 94.— W.) 8 "Wmfc ap me'd p'ter' voc' pen yfed et Kesaylgy. farch, xiij" . . Kadwaladr ap me'd p'ter' suis et aliis — xix s -v L ." (From the assessment referred to after the " Jones pedigree " in appendix to this vol.) Cadwalader was living upon Nov. 5, 1563. His daughter, Marselie, was married about the year 1578, to Maurice ap Robert Wynne, of Glynn, in the county of Merioneth, Cadwalader was dead before the 4th June, 1578. His widow is stated to have been of the age of 60 years 29th Dec. 34 Eliz. (1591). His son John Cadwalader was of the age of 30 at that time. ,, written about the year 1703 ; and Hengwrt 4 Degrees were at this time considered as the highest dignities, and it may not be improper to ob- serve, that a clergyman who hath not been educated at the universities, is still distinguished in some parts of North Wales, by the appellation of Sir John, Sir William, &c. Hence the Sir Hugh Evans of Shakespeare is not probably a Welsh Knight, who hath taken orders ; but only a Welsh clergy- man, without any regular degree from either of the universities. — B. 5 Sheriff of Merioneth 1545 and 1360. HISTORY OF THE GWYDIR FAMILY. 87 XVII. Agnes, wife of Robert Salisbury. XVIII. Alice, wife of Thomas ap Rees ap Benet of Bodel- widdan. XIX. Gwen, wife of Owen ap Reinalt, of Glynllygwy. XX. Margaret, wife of John Griffith, of Kichleu. XXI. Elliw, wife of John Hookes of Conway. By Jonet, daughter of Jenkin Gruffith Vaughan, he had, XXII. Mr. Robert, a Priest. XXIII. John Coetmor, father of William, father of John Williams, 1 goldsmith in London; who had issue Sir John Wil- liams of the isle of Thanet, 2 Bart. Sir Edmund Williams, 3 Bart. &c. From him alsoe came Sir Morris Williams, Physician to the Queene. XXIV. Catherine. * By a daughter of Jevan ap John ap Heilin of Penmachno he had XXV. Hugh. XXVI. Jevan. 5 He died A.D. 1525. 1 This John Williams, goldsmith, was an anti- quary of considerable eminence, and furnished Dray- ton with many of the particulars relative to Wales, which he hath taken notice of in the Polyolbion. Bishop Nicholson therefore need not have been sur- prised, " that it should contain a much truer ac- count of this kingdom, and the dominion of Wales > than could be well expected from the pen of a poet." Hist. Libr. p. 5. Mr. Bagford also in his letter to Hearne prefixed to the First Volume of Leland's Collectanea says, that John Williams the goldsmith furnished Drayton with Leland's papers. — B. John Williams was founder of a chapel in Nanhwynen, and endowed it with £ 5 per ann. the chapel is now in ruins. — E. It should seem from this, that Nanhwynen was probably the place of his birth. — B. 2 Of Minster, in the Isle of Thanet, created a baronet 22 Apr. 1642. 3 Of Marnehull, in Dorsetshire, created a Baronet 19 Apr., 1642. 4 Catherine =j= John David Tom Sion Catty, the Antiquary. (From the Gwydir Pedigree at Wynnstay). 5 " And Lastly by Gwenllian Daughter ot Gwilim ap Evan Lloyd (his concubine) he [Meredith ap Jevan ap Robert of Gwydir] had Catherine who maried to Wiliam ap Thomas Gronwy by whome shee had S r Thomas ap Wiliam the famous Physi- tian that made the Welsh Dictionary, and in whose Booke of Pedigrees I found this catalogue of Mere- dith's children by his Three wives, which agreeth also with the catalogue of them which is in Lewis Dwn's Visitac'on Book signed and Attested by Owen Wynn of Caer Melwr, (4th son of John Wynn ap Meredyth, & grandchild to Meredyth) Dated the 14th June 1588. H : Bangor, 1700." (From a MS. at Wynnstay, containing a pedigree with the armorial bearings, and inscriptions in a room at Gwydir in i6go, and upon the monuments of the Wynns of Gwydir.) The Ancient Mansion of [Upper] Gwydir, As it was in 1684, when the Duke of Beaufort, in his Progress through Wales lodged there. MEMOIRS, &c. PREFACE. The History of the Gwydir Family, by Sir John Wynn, has long been out of print; and an object of curiosity and interest to persons connected with the Principality of Wales, and, indeed, to most antiquaries. The Lives which accompany it in the present volume are the work of the same accurate Historian ; and, in the Editor's opinion, no less deserving of publicity than the private feuds of a single family. She laments that jt is not in her power to add to them those of the other Divines, natives of the Principality, whose virtues and learning are still affectionately borne in mind, by all who are able to appreciate the beauty and accuracy of our verna- cular translation of the Holy Scriptures and Liturgy. Extended fame was not to be expected by men whose labours were confined to a narrow district, and to a Language long treated with unde- served neglect by the great body of European Scholars. But the benefit which they conferred on their own little country, and the renewal by their means of genuine religion in those regions where it had lingered latest, may secure, it is hoped, no unfavourable reception for this humble tribute to the Fathers of the Reformation in Cymru. — L. in edition of 1827. N MEMOIRS, &c. This Country, in Queen Elizabeth's time, produced six that were Bishops in sundry places ; and the last in order and the first to be remembered (as the course of this History leadeth), was Henry Rowland, Bishop of Bangor, born at MeuJlteyJH, 1 in LJun"; son .to one Roland ab Rhobet, an ancient Esquyre,wwhb'sat , in that; See eighteen years. He was sufficiently learned^ for heopreached twice, with approbation, before king James; and was a..rgood pro- vident governour of his Church and Diocese, the' greatest '*that hath been in our time, and yet dyed rich. An-d' 1 though* h"e ly Were in the commission of the peace continually, an4f M Other tcmninls- sions that came into the country, yet he would 4 put' Ahom Off as much as in him lay, having no will to deal but in 'his bwn«.eleiwent. He left an Alms-house for six poor men in the Dom. 1616. . ,$ ; >i , -<. - , ; j, Vet ■ .;- Ojrirnur, Vicjssim morimur, m v ■■' r h •:'.>- ". „ t Qui'nOn prepesserunt sequuntur, ^ ' ' r . T . .- ,Ne?ft) to him-, jn that x See- 1 precede/i 'Richard ..Vaughan^ 1 J),D. °* Si? the same name', but' not of the Talhenbont by Henry the Seventh. 1 "When RicharB saw that trrt>e,,was Rhys Vaughn (the faithful follower of Stanley was become a turncoat, and that the Welsh- RichanT the Tfiftd)', -VK0 ought 1 to -fee" mentioned then had all< revolted from him, he-called far., a with jgsrSiA while fidelity' is J rewarded-«s a'-virtue. (JS&ure^b'owl of wine, sitting on --horseback in Jus l&chardwas-a t^mtj'andjfte^Tiles&if men; butr-He complete armous; and r when , the- wine, wals braughjt v!Stg c Rhf's Vychatt's;*Beite^actor li aridtRrlys Vychan him, he called unto Rhys' Vychan, -andidtank untp was_2rate!fiif> The following^ell attested fact I Jiim in these worlds,, '..Here, Vychan, I wM drink to trarfiated oufof anVtlcf MS. at Caerwys i' "Rhys -thee Jjbe*. truest Welshman tka.t , ever I found in VycTiari^s^owner of great. larrfS '-injf possessfo'hs -Wales,' and, having^dppk, thre^,the "bowl oyer his in Mon," Caernarvonsifrfe, and FSfrrtsfiire ; * h% was head, and, rpado towages iris enejmjes, where he, was Squire.af Q»body.«nt»S •RichardM^e;Third J .^id' did limmediately-.slain.y hereupon jRh.ys Vychan last attenSJiimdn Ms Eri«jr Gh&h^rtiand'b^.p^ent w^s jail- his land's. (whicKwas b"egge4,by,jiew'0OTrtiers) free Denizen-fwifhin rEi%lan^, w jie -ha4jp«jseblas.^d before he :,., could, obtain , his pardon. He,, married from thek-mgtlfreegOiBilyirfeWTOne^W^itjhitirclj, jMargare^t Conway'and r le,ft two sons,— L. _..,„ and ha'd purchased; Aberj- C^mmisj and Wig, -and „-, Qu : If r$yjs. Vychan, be. the " nameless Pa.ge'* diverse other things, which were all takenfromyhim alluded to .by*,, Horace^ . Walpole M jn. his ;Hj§f,oxic -92 MEMOIRS. born also in Llyn, descended of the Vaughns of Talhen-bont, an ancient house of Esquyres. He sat there two years, but never was at the Bishopric in all that time, for that the means and demesnes 1 (demains) of the Bishopric was not able to find him being. A worthy housekeeper, and a liberal minded man, as the proof did manifest while he lived at Chester, whereto he was trans- lated. He was an excellent and a rare scholar, a discreet and temperate man, and very industrious in his vocation, which shor- tened his days. He was translated from Chester to London by King James, in whose good grace and favour he lived as any other Bishop (whatever) whatsoever. He dyed a poor man, for he res- pected a good name more than wealth. Next before him was Nicholas Robynson, D.D. 2 born in the town of Conway, in Caernarvonshire, was of honest parents and wealthy, whose father I knew bailiff of the town, being chief of- ficer, having by their charter authority to keep courts, with ser- geants and under officers. He was an excellent scholar, and would have preach'd exceeding well, especially when he did it without premeditation, for then he exceeded himself; but upon meditation (in my conceit) not so well, for I have heard him at both ; at St. jPaul's in London, in time of Parliament, once, and in the country often ; whereof I can attribute no occasion, but that he was ex- treme choleric, and fearful withal, which, in my judgement, put him out of his natural bias ; withal he was a very wise man. He dyed doubts, as having made Richard the Third acquain- siderable value) have not been since recovered. The ted with Sir James Tyrrel's character, when Syr Commissioners confess, that not having time to Robert Brackenbury refused to murder the young take the actual survey, they applied to William Princes in the Tower ? — L. Lloyd of Plas-h§n, who referred them to his steward » Sir John Wynn evidently alludes to Arthur Huw L1 °y d ' *>? whom thev were informed, that the Bulkeley, Bishop of Bangor, who granted a lease of manor of Edern was leased by William, late Bishop, all his lands in the hundred of Llyn, by indenture and WiUlam L1 °y d of Plas-hen, for three lives, for dated 1547, ann. prim. 6, to Gryffydd ab Madoc the sum of nine P ounds - vid - Surve y of 1647.-L. Vychan for a term of 99 years, at a reserved rent of 2 Made Dean of Bangor March 3, 1556, and con- nine pounds per ann. It is worthy of remark that secrated Bishop thereof on October 23, 1566. He this lease expired the very year [1646] that the Par- died February, 1584-5, and was ^buried in the Ca- liamentary Commissioners were engaged in making thedral Church, near the altar, leaving five sons and a survey of the Bishop's lands, which is perhaps the one daughter, by his wife Jane, daughter of Randal reason that these lands (which must be of very con- Brereton. — L. MEMOIRS. 93 rich, and left many hopeful children, for whom he had well provided. This county, 1 anon after the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, produced three that were Bishops at once, born within or near the town of Conway. The one, Richard Davies, first of St. Asaph, after translated to St. David's, where he govern'd like him- self, and for the honour of our nation (loving entirely the North- wales men), whom he placed in great numbers there, having ever this saying in his mouth (myn y firi Faglog), his familiar oath, " I will plant you, North-wales men, grow if you list." He kept an exceeding great post, having in his service younger brothers of most of the best houses in that country, to whom, with his own sons, Thomas, Peregrine, and Jerson, which I knew at Oxenford, both born at Geneva, he gave them good maintenance and educa- tion. He did stoutly confront Sir John Parrot, Knight, in those days an inward favourite of the Earl of Leicester, who afterwards was Lord Deputy of Ireland, and one of the Lords of the Privy Council, a man of great possessions in that country, (who would have wrong'd him). He called to him William Salusbury of Plasisa, near Llanrwst, in the county of Denbigh, and divers others, Welshmen, profound scholars, and skilful linguists, and translated the New Testament, the Psalms, and Book of Common Prayer into the Welsh tongue ; and was very far onward with the Old Testament, 2 and had gone through with it if variance had not hap- pen'd between him and William Salusbury (who had liven with him almost two years in that business), for the general sense and etymology of one word, which the Bishop would have to be one way, and William Salusbury 3 another, to the great loss of the old 1 Caernarvon. — L. weny). He composed a Welsh treatise on rhetoric, 3 Dr. Richard Davies translated the Old Testa- which was afterwards revised and published, by tnent from Joshuah to the end of Samuel into Eng- Henry Perry, B.D. He translated, and first pub- lish, besides several of the Epistles. His father was lished in print, the Epistles and Gospels for the David ab Gronw, who married Jonet, daughter of whole y ear . in En g Edward the Sixth's time. He David ab Richard, descended from Ednowen Ben- published also the whole New Testament in Welsh, dew. They had other children besides Richard.— L. at th e command, or by the direction, of the Bishops > William Salusbury was born at Plasisa, near of W * le *' to ^ ich ^r. Richard Davies prefixed an Llanrwst (descended from the Salusbury's of Lie- ^j^jj"*** 7 EplStle ** d ° eS h ' m &'" 94 MEMOIRS. British and mother tongue; for, being together, they drew Homi- lies, Books, and divers other Tracts in the British tongue, and had done far more if that unlucky division had not happen'd, for the Bishop lived five or six years after, and William Salusbury about twenty-four, but gave over writing (more was the pity), for he was a rare scholar, and especially an hebrician, whereof there was not many in those days. This worthy Prelate, Richard Davies, 1 was a poor Curate's son, who serv'd at Cyffin, within half a mile of the town of Conway, born at a place called Plas y Person. In Queen Marie's time he was fain to flee with his wife to Geneva ; where being an exceeding poor man, and living upon the contribution and alms of the fugitives there, he was so industrious ,.that in three years time, or scftrfewhat more,,, he- attained, the country language spoken in Geneva, which - T tbink to be -French,o He served a Cure there, and preached;' and»iri the .latter endy.lived well, thereby. Ghl'how my •heart 'doth-.' warm by recofding-cthe memory of so worthy 1 a man-! -He dyed having^never had regard, to riches, T-hOmas Davies,' L.L.Bj 2 and Chancellor, of, the diocese of Bangor, •bdrn« within three, miles of \ the* < town of Conway, some say that he was bo«*^ within, the' town, ,son' 1 to DavieS- 3 of, ..Caerhyn, Gent.j was; after "Richard DaviesV .translation, .leJected Bishop of St» Asaph, 1 ' where r ^he sat many years. , He had at -one time one brother tailed Gouffith Davis,i^hi^h Sheriff- of , the county, of; '.Caer- narvon", and another* brother of his Coroner, and another brother fecheatoT In" the said county.. >?•; ;i-V\. .. «,• <.' ... _ .> _ ,, : ,. •""In Qu'een"~Marie's<>time 'satt William Glynn* in Bangor;. *a. great : ' r. *;- "-* >...■ -J <■ " .. -,,'.' - , q:'--'- , r .,i.'- ' , . ,.'., 1,1 Was Vicar of Burnham, and Rector of Maids- at Llarrbedr, Co. Caernarvon. He dyed' rich, and morton, Co. Bucks, of which preferments he had settled a scholarship on Queen's Coll., Cambridge. bSeS'^epnved id -Qufeen; Gary's teign, as it seems — L. ■ -•''--•*' for •Wfaanterj ^ became %o|mnated to the^ee ^bavies Me enae* 'in an heiresVWho mar- 61 ft. Asaph by QAlSi , El. Z a^th^ 3 59. On May«, rfed th ^ tf W T^nhyrddyrr.-toa'; &? a X 1^ ' ] 5 » Vlt' T?r\ 6 *-- V iu-. , , ,, ->■ " >"- -* v, J -> '* , c . A - ,.»V - ,'• 4 Consecrated Bishop of Bangor, JS5S ; died aged 2 Co^ rated Bishop of St, Asaph, May 21,^1 ^ MayTii', ^558, and wa^'buri! at his oWnOathe- He died about Michaelmas, 1573, and washed dftl> near the Communion Table: r tte was a descen- MEMOIRS. §5 scholar, and a great hebrician, as by quotation of, his -books do shew, being rare in that time. He was a good and religious man, after the manner of that time. He was bonj. hvHen-eglwys- 1 parish,, , in this county of Caernarvon: he was a Priest's. son, as ,.). Jiavq heard-, Qu. of what kindred and house. • ^ „.. ^- u .,i- , ,-,,,,/ Another William Glynn, L.L.D. 2 of the., house ,of .Glynnllifon, being an ancient house of Esquyres, proceeded before, ^hirm as^u/- fragan to Bishop Skevington, 3 being Abb ( pt u of Bermondsey, who never came into the country, but yet bestowed grea^t 4 costs on the Cathedral Church of Bangor, for he built, the body thereof, and the bell tower, and furnished the same with bells, which - were sold by the Bishop, Dean, and Prebends in King t .Edward v t;he Sixth's, time, when, as it was expected, that all the bells in England should, have rung in the Courtiers purses; which likely had been.iso if, the Duke of Somerset had stood longer. This, man, i.e. Glynn, was @£ a stirring spirit, and a great housekeeper ^ spent all, and had a hand in all the great temporal affairs of the country as well ..as the spiritual. Qu. whether there was any before him, -of -this county;, .that were Bishops of Bangor ? , . „ William Morgan, D.D. 4 born at Dolwyddelan, in the comot of it^ant Conway, and county of Caernarvon ; descended of the race $f £ire bondmen of that town, servants (both he and his ancestors) to the house of Gwydyr, where he was brought up in learning. His first, preferment was with myself, and by my means ; he was first made. )Bishop of Landaff, and afterwards translated to St. Asaph, dant from Einion ab Gwalchmai of Treveilir, a of Beaulieu church, Co. Northampton, of which celebrated Welsh Bard, who flourished about the place he was Abbot. See Browne Willis.— L. year 1240. Treveilir continued in the possession of 4<> That incomparable man for piety, industry, his lineal descendants till the last owner sold it, zea i f or re ligion and his country, was the son in 1775, to William Evans, Esq.— L. f j h n Morgan by his wife Lowry, daughter of 1 Hen-eglwys is in Anglesey. Gwylym ab John, descended from Marchudd. He » He was Archdeacon of Merioneth, and after- was "J 1 "** at St , J °^,' S u C ° Ue , ge ' Cambrid ge> and wards of Anglesey, and died 1537. WaS f <*f > V '" r v ° f Wdsh ??}> ™ and then «= & J preferred to the Vicarage of Llanrhaidr ym moch- 3 Thomas Pace, alias Skevington, born at Ske- nantj Co _ of Denbigh, and diocese of St. Asaph, vington, in Leicestershire, succeeded as Bishop of ls88 .»_ p. B . Williams. Consecrated Bishop of Bangor, by papal provision, dat. 7 Cal. Mar. 1508. Landaff in 1595. He published his Welsh Bible in He died in June, 1533, and was buried in the Choir 1588.— L. 9^ MEMOIRS. where he dyed 1 after he had sat there some two or three years. He translated the Old Testament into the Welsh tongue before he was Bishop, and while he was Vicar of Llanrhaidr yn moch- nant, in the county of Denbigh, whence he had the benefit and help of Bishop Davis and William Salusbury's works, who had done a great part thereof; yet he carried the name of all. He repaired and slated the Chancel of the Cathedral Church of St. Asaph, which was a great ruin. He died a poor man. He was a good scholar, both a grecian and hebrician. 2 In Queen Elizabeth's time lived John Wynn, Doctor of the Arches, 8 born at Gwydyr, in the said county of Caernarvon, youngest son to John Wynn (of Gwydyr) ab Meredydd. In his youth, being Fellow of St. John's College, and Doctor of the Uni- versity, he arrested John, Duke of Northumberland, who yielded unto him. He died without issue, and gathered a great estate, which he left to Gruffydd Wynn, second brother of that house. He was a learned man, and a bountiful housekeeper ; and never married. He founded two Fellowships, and three Scholarships at St. John's College in Cambridge, whereof he had been Fellow. This small foundation hath God so blest, of fifty years standing at the most, that it hath produced in our own time the Eight Honor, able John Williams, D. D. Bishop of Lincoln, and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England. Owen Wynn, D.D. son to Gruffydd Wynn, and brother to the said founder, now master of that College. God grant that his mercy may follow the same society for ever. James Ellis, 4 Doctor of the Civil Law, and Chancellor of Peter- borough, in Queen Elisabeth's time; son to Ellis Mauris, born in Cleneneu, Co. Caernarvon. 1 Was translated from the See of Landaff to St. pique against Bishop Morgan. Vide Yorke's R. Asaph on September 17, 1601, where, dying on Tribes. — L. September 10 1604 he was buried the next day in 3 V i z . Advocate in the Arches Court of Canter, the Choir of the Cathedral Church. — L. jjurv t " The above account shews Sir John Wynn's * Living in Jan. 1595. MEMOIRS. 97 William Gruffith, Doctor of the Arches, one of the younger sons of William Gruffith of Caernarvon, born in Caernarvon, Judge of the Admiralty in North Wales, in Queen Elisabeth's time. Mauris Glynn, 1 Doctor of the Civil Law, son to Robert ab Me- redydd, born at Glynnllifon, Co. Caernarvon. A younger brother of that house, was Dean of the Arches, died without issue, and what he had he left to religious houses. He lived in King Henry the Eighth's time, before the ruin of Monasteries. Gruffith Williams, D. D. 2 born at Treveilian, in the said county, of ancient freeholders, his mother well descended, being of the house of Penmynydd 3 in Mona; a great scholar, and an indus- trious preacher of God's word, as appears by divers of his sermons in London, preach'd at St. Paul's Cross, and are extant in print. Also, he was Lecturer in St. Paul's for some eight years together; now Chaplain in Household to the Right Honourable the Earl Montgomery. Owen -Meredydd, 4 sometime fellow of Alls Souls, in Oxenford, B. D. ; an honest man, and a good scholar ; son to Meredydd ab Tomas Gruffith, of Clynnog, Co. Caernarvon. Edmund Griffith, B. D. 5 and now Dean of Bangor, born at Llyn, in the same county, and a younger son to Gruffydd 6 ab Sion Gruffydd of Cevenamlwch, of an ancient house, and a worthy gentleman in Divinity. William Bryncir 7 Bachelor in Divinity, born at Bryncir, in the comot of Evionydd, in the said county, a younger son to Robert Bryncir. The county of Caernarvon also produced Sir William Jones, 8 1 He died in 1525. May 26, 1637, an< * was buried in his own Cathedral. 2 A folio volume of his works was printed in his '-'• life-time : its principal object seems to be the re- 6 Gryflydd 2 ab Sion married Catrin, daughter of futation of Popery. — L. Sir Richard Bukeley, of Baron Hill. Edmond was » Owen Tudor was of that house.-L. their fourth son.-L. « Buried at Llanwnda 23rd Nov. 1612. ? Entered at 0xford in x 599- Living in 16x6. s Became Dean of Bangor in 1623. Sir John 8 Sir WiUiam J ones married Mar S et > daughter of Wynn dying in 1626, did not live to see him conse- Gryffydd ab Sion. They had four sons.-L. crated Bishop of Bangor, February, 1632. He died g8 MEMOIRS. now living, who was Chief Justice of the King's Bench in the Realm of Ireland : and now is one of the Judges of the Common Pleas at Westmynster. He was born in Llyn, at his own house called Castellmarch, which is a very ancient house of gentlemen. In King Henry the Sixth's time, there was also a Judge of Com- mon Pleas, Jeffrey Coytmor, 1 born in the hundred of Nant Conway ^ in this county of Caernarvon, of the Coytmors there, which were very gentlemen. His grandfather Howell Coytmor, 2 lieth buried under a fair monument in Llanrwst church, in the county of Den- bigh. He was captain of a hundred Denbighshire men, with the Black Prince, at the field of Poytiers, where John, King of France, was taken. He lived at Henle upon Thames. William Thomas, 3 son and heir to Rhys Thomas, born in Caer- narvon; captain of two hundred men out of North Wales; went with Robert, Earl of Leycester, to the Low Countries, where, find- ing Sir Thomas Morgan, and Sir Roger Williams 4 and Sir Martyn Shink, the most forward of that army, associated himself with them and especially with Sir Martyn Shink, and with him put himself and his company into Berke upon Rhyn ; whereas, the Prince of Parma, with all his army, did invest him, and besieged them for a great time, omitting nothing that .was to be perform'd for the win- ning of the same ; but, in the end, he was fain to give it over ; after which time, both Sir Martyn Shink and he came to the Earl of Leycester, to the camp before Suttroin, where, in that great skirmish, Sir Phillip Sidney was hurt to the death, and slain ; a brave, courageous, wise gentleman as any in this country produced in his time, or for many ages before. He had been Page to the Duchess of Somerset, and was brought up under the same Tutors as her son the Lord Edward Somerset was, who was not much older than he. He could speak Latin, Italian, and French, It was 1 1 find " John Cotesmore " a puisne judge of paternal property, Gwydyr, to Jevan ab Meredydd, the Common Pleas 15 Oct., 1430, and Chief Jus- ancestor to Sir John Wynn, the historian. — L. tice of the same Court upon 20 Jan., 1439. Jeffrey j slain in F i anders ls86 {p m iarth MS. 47, p. 100) and John were then the same name. — W. * Of Penrhos, Monmouthshire. — L. 2 Dafydd, son of this Hajvel Coytmor, sold his MEMOIRS. 99 thought that his Language was the occasion of his death ; for it is reported, that he yielded himself in the Italian tongue. [He who took him] envious that he should possess such a prisoner, kill'd him in cold blood. These are reported, and whether true or no I cannot say ; but there he died. Gruffydd Wynn, born at Gwydyr, second son of John Wynn ab Meredydd, serv'd in his youth Sir Edmund Knivett, Knight, Lord of the castle of Buckname, in Norfolk; who, having had a quarrel in those days with the Lord Fitzwalter, son and heir to the Earl of Sussex, for his mother in law, the Earl's wife, with whom it was thought he was too familiar, retained a great many of our country gentlemen, on whom it was thought he did most rely for his safety. There served him at one time four of the house of Gwydyr, viz. next Gruffydd Wynn, Cadwalader Wynn ab Meredydd, John ab Rhys Wynn, and David Lloyd ab Rhys Wynn, brethren. Thomas Williams, father to Sir William Williams, Baronet, and one of the younger sons of William Williams the elder, of Cochwillan, and Edward Williams his brother, which also was a man at arms at Bullen, and servant to Lord Paget. Qu. whether he was his man or no. Sir Edward Knivet, being a very gallant forward gentleman, was the first that, of the King's side, did set upon the rebels of Northfolk, who lay in the neighbouring village 500 strong, with thirty horse of his own servants, where he kill'd five or six of the rebels ; but there he receiv'd a blow, which afterwards, was the occasion of his untimely death. From thence he rode to the Court to advise the state of the rebellion, and to get the King's pardon for those that he had kill'd. From the Court he return'd in great credit and authority with the Marquis of Northampton, the Lord Sheffield, and diverse other noblemen. Gruffydd Wynn was with Sir Edmund, and was of his Chamber, and with him in all places, and at the battle that was fought within the city of Norwich be- tween the Marquis of Northampton, General for the King's forces, IOO MEMOIRS. and Kett, wherein the King's men were put to the worst, and the Lord Sheffield and many other gentlemen kill'd. I have heard himself often reported, that his master and he were as forward as the Lord Sheffield ; they were armed with white armour, capapee, l &c. &c. and that he receiv'd such a blow at that time on the head that he staggar'd, and one of his horse ears were cut off with a gleeve 2 and thrust through the wythers ; and if it had not been for the goodness of his horse he had never come off, who brought him to a park near the' city, and there fell under him dead. And he did verily believe that the cause of the Lord Sheffield's death was the reason that he was in guilded armour, and therefore they sought after him more than others. 3 Sir Edmund Knyvet's Lady was fain to flee by night from her house to Fremingham castle, where the King's daughter, the Lady Mary, then lay. The rebels came to Buckingham castle , and burnt it, and made havoc of all that they found therein, for the people were all fled. The Marquis, and Sir Edmund, and the rest that survived, returning to the Court, the Earl of Warwick, and diverse other noblemen, as appeareth by the Chronicle of that time, and Sir Edmund, were sent down against the rebels, with a great army, where they fought with and overthrew them ; and Kett was slain, whose nag and saddle being of russet velvet, Gruffydd Wynn brought home with him to Gwydyr, and the nag was call'd " Glas Kett, 4 " by his former master's name, while he lived. After Sir Edmund's death, Gruffydd Wynn became servant to William, Earl of Pembroke, with whom he serv'd as a man at arms at Wyatt's field, in ranks that day with old William Mostyn, Esq. who serv'd the Earl also. His younger brother, Doctor Gwynn> made him his heir, and thereby advanc'd his estate much. He was 1 Polished steel was so called.— L. s Many i nsta nces occur of persons having been 3 A glaive, an ordinary cutting and thrust weapon P ut to death for the sake of their armour — L. of the Infantry being a large blade on the end of a 4 ;. e . Kett , s Grev ._ L . pole, bee Dr. Meynck's very valuable work upon ancient armour. — L. MEMOIRS. IOI the most bountiful housekeeper, both to rich and poor; a religious, stout, and wise man; and was high Sheriff of the two counties of Denbigh and Meirionydd. I bought him a commission to be Jus- tice of the Peace in the counties of Caernarvon and Meirionydd, but he refused them. At his death, his living was worth a thousand pounds p. ann. and was wealthy withal. Robert Wynn, born at Gwydyr, in the said county, third son to John Wynn ab Meredydd, serving Sir Phillip Hobbie, Knight, in his Chamber, (being one of the council of King Henry the eighth, and a great commander of his army), was with the King and his master at the siege of Bullen, where he receiv'd a shot in his leg, whereof he was long lame : notwithstanding all the surgery the King's men could afford, it was strange that the surgeons could not find it at first and have it out, but it remain'd in that place for the time beforementioned ; it was wont, sometimes in four years, sometimes in six years, to grieve him, drawing an inflammation to his leg, which by repercusives being driven back, he should be well again. First, he married Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Gruffydd, of Penrhyn, Knight, Chamberlain of North Wales, and widow to William Williams the younger, of Cochwillan, who was a woman in years, and with whom he lived till he was past three score and six years old. Afterward, he married a young gentle- woman, daughter of James Dymoc, of Willington, in the county of Flint, who, in his old age, brought him many children. Some six years after his last marriage, his wonted inflammation took him in the leg with an extraordinary vehemence, so that he supposed it would endanger his life ; in the end it grew to a heat, and he that was of his Chamber found with his probe a hard thing in the orifice, which he supposed a great scale of his shin bone : fearing least the same should rot, he being at my house at Gwydyr, I brought him to his chamber, desiring that I might see his man dress his leg afore he. went to bed; being unbound, and the sore open, I found with my nail a hard thing in the orifice, and of a great length ; so I call'd for the probe, and with the same search'd the 102 MEMOIRS. wound deeper than his man durst, for fear of hurting him, and found that it was no bone, but the lead that had lain so long in his flesh; and so sent for a surgeon to cut the dead flesh and skin and pull it out, which he did, and he was well recover'd, and felt no pain at all while he lived. He was at the rummage and burning of Edenborough and Leith, in Scotland, and the memorable journeys mention'd in the Chro- nicles in King Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth's time, excepting Marlborough field, 1 in Scotland, whereat I did hear him say he was not. In the latter part of King Edward the Sixth's reign, his master was sent Ambassador to the Emperor Charles the Fifth, who was then in Hungary, with the greatest army that the Christians ever had, to confront Solyman the Turk, that came with 300 thousand men to conquer Christendom ; at which service both his master and he was. His master being revoked by Queen Mary, and another placed in his stead, by reason of his re- ligion being a protestant, found the Queen's countenance averted from him ; whereupon after he had kept his house for a while very privately, he desired of the Queen license to travel, which she granted with this addition, that she would give him leave, and all of his opinion, to travel out of the land and never return. He travelled not, but within a while after died in his own house, of melancholy and grief of mind. Robert Wynn, his servant, re- turn'd home, and anon after married as aforesaid, and built a goodly house 2 in the town of Conway, in this county of Caernarvon, where he kept a worthy plentiful house all his time ; and lieth buried in the church there, having two monuments, the one for himself, and another for his first wife. Hugh Griffith, 3 son to Griffith ab John of Cefnamlwch, a very proper man, of a comely tall personage, was by his father put an 1 Qu. If Musselborough ?— L. „ IT , . , .-._.. 8 He was third son of Griffith ab John, by Catrin 2 This house still exists, opposite the Inn, and Bulcley [Bulkeley], and brother to Edmund Gryffydd retains many proofs of the fanciful decorations of t h e Bishop of Bangor. Page 97.— L. the period. — L. MEMOIRS. 103 apprentice to a merchant adventure in London, whom he serv'd very honestly and well untill his years were out, and became fac- tor, both for his master and others, in the parts beyond the seas : and passing from London towards his place of trade, with twelve hundred pounds, which he had taken up upon his own credit, was taken by the Dunkyrks and there imprisoned, and thence de- liver'd by the means of Hugh Owen, who was the private council to the Prince of Parma. This Hugh Owen was born in this coun- ty, a younger brother of an ancient gentleman's house call'd Plas du; he serv'd in great credit with the Earl of Arundel, and was a chief actor in the Duke of Norfolk's action, and was thought to be the wisest man amongst them ; and when he saw that his counsel was not follow'd, travers'd his ground in time into Brussels, where he continued privy councellor to that state forty years, and until the end of his days. This Hugh Griffith being by his means re- leased, and having paid his ransom, and having lost his credit ir- revocable, gets a letter of mark, and furnish'd himself to sea, and proves there the worthiest, the most valiant captain of any nation that was at sea. In the end, within the straights lighting upon the ship of war of the King of Spain, that carried the King of Spain's treasure out of Italy into Spain, resolved either there to die or to win it, which, in the end, he did, after a most admirable fight for four or five days continuance, having slain the most valiant captain, being a Dutchman, and a great number of the sol- diers, but having received a great loss by the other, himself being sore hurt, and his company so weakened that he was fain to be taken himself to Argier 1 for refuge ; where, either he died of his hurts, or was poisoned, and his goods seized upon to the Turk's use. Robert Powell, one of his followers, returned home full of double pistolets, who was searched, tortured, and beaten, to make him confess, as he told me himself. He also told me, that in the fight, which was long, fierce, and admirable, both parties would rest at times, and the captains parly, and drink one to another. 1 Qu. Algiers, — L. 104 MEMOIRS. For martial men, our age hath produced out of this county Sir Mauris Griffith, Knight, born in the town of Caernarvon, and one of the younger sons of William Griffith. He served in the realm of Ireland all his youth, and was captain there ; and for his good service received his degree : and liveth at this time in conachtat castell, which himself built, and is called Bala me Rusk : and he is one of the council of the province. Captain Pritchard, born at Madryn isa, in Llyn,' in the said county of Caernarvon, younger brother to Griffith ab Richard, heir of that house ; commanded with great credit ioo men, under the states of the Low Countries, in Queen Elizabeth's time. Sir Richard Wynn, of Caernarvon, Knight, of the house of Bryncir, captain of a hundred men in Ireland, provost martial of Flushing, under Sir Phillip Sydney, sometime page to captain Ronelall, who was slain in the North of Ireland, whose armour he brought to Sir Henry Sydney, then Lord Deputy of Ireland, whose follower he was all his life time after : and after his death, and for his sundry good services, being knighted ; and after hav- ing got the widow of captain Thomas aforementioned in the coun- try, lived at Caernarvon all the rest of his time. He was one of the council of the marches ; keeping a very worthy house, being a religious, honest, and true-hearted man to his friend, having al- ways in his mouth this saying, " Duw a diwedd da," which in English is, " God and a good end," which no question God did hear, for he made a christian and a good end, as Gryffydd Wil- liams, 1 Doctor in Divinity, now living, being his ghostly father at his end; and respecting which, also, the Rev. Father, , Lewis, now Bishop of Bangor, preaching the funeral sermon of William Glynn, of Glynnllifon, Knight, did remember persuading all to the imita- tion of him The memorable services of John Wynn ab Hugh, 2 born at Bod- 1 See P a S e 97-— L. John Puleston ; by her he had Hugh Gwynn 2 John Wynn ab Hugh was Sheriff of Caernar- Bodvel, Sheriff of Caernarvon in 1597, grandfather von in 1551; and married Elizabeth, daughter to Sir to sir J ohn Bodvel, Knight, likewise Sheriff of TABLE No. IV. TABLE IV, Sir John Wynn, of Gwydir,=pSidney, da. of Sir William Gerrard, Bart, so created in 1611. I Lord Chancellor of Ireland. 1 Sir J. Wynn,= d. in hisfather's life-time, at Lucca, in 1621. b =Marget, da. ofSirThos. Cave. 2 Sir Rich. Wn. Bart, mar. a dau. of Sir c Francis One da. who dii 3d an infant. D'arcie 0. S. P. d I 3 Sir Owen Wn=j=Grace, da. Sheriff for Den- bighshire in 1656 ob. 1668, aged 68. c of Hugh Williams, of Wig. 4 Rbt. Wn. O.S.P. I 5 Wm.Wn. Esq. Pro- thonotary of Wales. f Sir Richard Wynn, of=T=Sara, da. of Sir Thomas Gwydir, Bart. I I Myddelton Bt. of Chirk I Castle, in I =A da. & heiress of Thomas Lloyd, of Gwern-y- Brechtyn. 6 Morris Wn. 0. S. P. g Edward Thel- wall, Esq. n ^Sidney Wynn, only da. and ■heir, o Mary Wynn.fh, she died in 1689. =Robert Bertie, Duke of Ancaster. r Sir Wm. Williams, Bt. of Llanvor- da, Spr. of the House of Commons, son of Hugh Williams, D.D. ob. 1700. _____ =Marget, fh. Watkyn of Glascoed. Kyffin 7 Ellis, a 8 student of the law at Gray's Inn. o. s. p. buried in Whitfor Church, h Sir John Wynn, Bar mar. Jane, fh. Eyty Evans of Watstai. 0. S. P. p 1st wife Mary, da. of Vise. Bulkele' Peregrine Bertie, 2d Duke of Ancaster.=p He married Jane, da. of Sir John Brown- low, Bt. Peregrine died in 1742. Sir William Williams,=f=Jane, only da. and heir, born Bt, of Llanforda. b. 1684, d. 1740. s Brownlow, 5th duke, 1780. =j= Peregrine Bertie,=p Sir Watkyn Wms.=pFrances, da. 25 Dec. 1665, mar. in 1689. t Rich. Mostyn,=Char of Penbedw. fch. : t* Digb Goat 3d duke of Ancas. ter, ob. 1778, Mary Elizabeth. Rbt. Bertie, 4th Duke, ob. 1779. I Priscilla Bar- bara Elizabeth Baroness Wil- loughby, of Eresby, wife of Peter Burrell, Esq. created Baron Gwydir, of Gwydir, May 28, 1796. See the Peerage. Georgina Charlotte Bertie. Wynn, b. 1691, ob, 1749. His 1st wife was Ann, fch. Ed. Vaughn of Llan- gedwyn. _____ I of George Shackerley, of Gwersyllt 2d wife. w Rbt. Williams, —Miriam, fch. of Erbystoc. Arthur Wil- li liams of Ystym Colwyn. 0. S. P. Rich. Williams- married 1st x Charlotte, fh. Rich. Mostyn, of Penbedw. above named, O. S. P. y =Anna Bella, ih. Edd. Lloyd, of Tre-newydd, ob. 1795. - Sir W. W. W.=j=Charlotte,da. Watkyn Wms.=Elisabeth, married 1st The Lady H. Somerset, da. to the Duke of Beaufort. to the Rt. Hon. of Penbedw, fch. Col. G. Grenville, M.P. for the Stapelton, & sister to boroughs of of Bodrhy- the Marquis of Flintshire, ob. ddan, died Buckingham, 1808. S. P. April, 1825 aa William Wms. esq, O. S. P. 1803. Anna Bella fh. d. 1824. Daughters married. See the Baronetage. Sir "W. =f The Lady W. Wynn I Harriet C.W.Wynn dd J Clive, da. to Pres. of the the Earl of Board of Powis. Controul, M of the Privy Council, &c. Right Hon=j=Mary, da. of Sir F. Cunliffe, Bart. Right Hon.= H. W. Wn. Ambassadorat the Court of Denmark. =Hon. Hester Smyth, da. to Lord Caring- ton. Anna= Bella ff =Rev. Phillit Puleston, D.D. of Pic cill, Vicar r Ruabon & ; of Worther bb =Ed. Lloyd Eliz--- Lloyd,esq. abeth. of Pen-y- hh Ian. gg =Wil- liam Wynn Esq. of Pen- niarth. I I I Hennetta. Watkyn. Herbert jj Watkyn. Charles Watkyn. kk Watkyn Charlotte. Henry. Mary. Harriet. Sidney. Sons & Daughters. William Watkyn W Edward Wynne. Phill * The Heiress of this ancient Family, Ann, daughter of John Puleston, of Emeral, Esq. married Richard Pary Price, Esq. of Bryn-y-P' the name of Puleston. Created a Baronet in 1813. ' Notes to Table IV. y Wn.=j=Catrin, fh. Ellis Lloyd, of Rhiwgoch, Sir Roger Mostyn, Knt.j =pMary I Wynn Sir John=Elizabe'fh' Eodvill, Wynn. .KM.. I-.. Sir Thos. Mostyn, Knt.=f mar. Eliz, da. of Sir Jo. j Whitlock, kt. C. Justice. Sidney, wife of Sir Rich=j= Grosvenor, of Eaton, Bt. | who died in 1664. _ I I s.=j=Sir Roger Mostyn,= created a Bart, in 1660. 2d wife =Pruden6e; da. of Sir Martin Lurhley, Bt. Roger Grosve- nor, ob. 1661. : Bridget, fh. Darcy Savage of Beeston. Sir Thos.= Mostyn, ma. (at 11 years old), in 1662. I Sir Roger Mostyn,= Bart. ob. 1749. Jane, w. of Ro- ger Euleston, Esq. of Enteral, com. Flint. * Sir Thomas- Grosvenor, Bart. ob. 1700, =The Lady Essex Finch, da. of the Earl of Nottingham.. _ .. Sir Robert=j= Grosvenor Bart, died 1765. Jane, ob.= pRobert 1821. Lloyd, cc tor Esq. of Swan HiU. y- Sir Thos= Mostyn, Bt. born 1704, ,ob. 1758. Sara, fch. Robert Western, of London. Rich. crea=j= ted Lord Grosvenor in 1761. See the Peerage. I Anna= Bella, [ fch. =Edward Gatacre, Esq. of Gatacre. I Jane=John 2 fch. Wn. ger M Eyton b. 1734, Esq. died at of Mostyn, Leeswood. in 1796. Sir Ro-=pMargt. fh. Rev. Hugh Wynn, D. D. of Bod- scallen, ob.1792. Daugh- ters married Puleston Ed. Gatacre. other mm ilea. Ann Bella. Sir Thomas Mostyn, Bart, only son. oo in Flintshire, by whom she had one son, Richard, who took a See Table III. after page 48. He died on Thursday, 1 March, 1626-7 and was buried on Friday, 2 March. b In his elegy, by Cadw. Cesail he is stated to have died in 1614. c Sir Rich, mar. Anna dau. of &c. A " D'arcie " of Isleworth " 0. S. P." 1649 at 61. e " 1668 " read 1680. Ob. 13 Aug. / Died 24 Oct., 1664. g Will dated in 1671, proved at London. Marriage, Arti- cles dated 20 Mar., 1648. (A copy of Ben Jonson's Works at Peniarth, fol. 1640 contains Morris Wynne's autograph, also a copy of Laud against Fisher.) h Died 20 Nov., 1619 aged 20. . i Died 27 July, 1671, in his 6gth year. / Born in 1567, died 18 Aug., 1642. * . " Sir John=p" Elizabeth Wynn " Bodville | married 2ndly John Knt." Thelwall of Gray's • I Inn, Esq. Mary wife - ■ - - of Hugh, Viscount Chplmondeley. i-Died before 13 Apr. 1675 (Qy. did he not die the end of Oct. 1674?) m She died 16 June 1671, n Died 12 Dec. 1679. . Married in June 1664. b Sir John Wynn died n Jan. 1718-9 aged 91. The Seal of Sir John Wynn of Watstay 21 July 1684. 1 Owen Gwynedd. 2GrapCynan. 3 the. three heads, neeks encircled by snakes. '4 Collwyn ap Tangno. 5' Llowarch ap Bran. 6 Salisbury. (To a letter at Brogyntynj, q They were married in 1628. r Married at Westminster Abbey 30 July 1678. sin MS. "b. 1684" is struck out, and there is added; Marriage settlement dated in 1686, [tHRN OVER. t In MS. the word " only" (dau.) is struck out, and a note is added to the effect that the dates* do not agree with those below : — Wm. Wynn of Garthgynan ;=pjane Lloyd of Gwern-y-brech- ob: Oct 24,1664. HewasPro- thonotary of North Wales. dyn. Marriage covenants dated March 20, 1628. Rd.Wynn of Garth-=j=Cath«>dau : of Rich. gynan Esq. Living Viscount Bulkeley, 3 June 1639. buried at Llan- drillo, 5 Sep. 1766, aged 69. mi Richard 1 William > ob : inf. Mary [bapt. ) at King's Norton 3 June 1639] Thomas . [bapt. at king's Norton 1 Feb. 1636] Sidney wife of Edw. Thelwall of Plasy- ward Esq. ob : 15 June 1683. Mary wife of Edw. Vaughan of .... born 20 Nov. 1671.* Sidney wife of Cad- , waladr Wynne of Voelas, Esq, born 16 July, 1670.* Mariana born 8 May 1673 Mil I Simon Jane, wife of Sir Edward Wm. Williams, William Bt.. born 25 Dec. John 1664, ma. 1684* mar. settlement at Wynnstay dated 1686, [Salusbury MS. (Mr. Morris' transcript) at Wynnstay] t* 3rd son, ob. 1735, set. 76. u For " Charlotte" read Charlotta Theophila and strike the ' a' out of " Goathurst." v ob : s. p. w For " Miriam, fch." read Meryel dau : of. x For " 1st" read 2ndly, and for "Charlotte" Charlotta. y Strike out " O.S.P." and add — He died 14 Mar. 1740, leaving a son Richard who died ig Feb. 1745-6 in his 16th year. z For " Edw " read Charles : add 3rd wife after date. aa Died 1832. bb Died 1801. cc For " 1821 " read 1820. dd Died 1840. ec Died 1850. ff Married, secondly, Major Gen. T. Molyneux, K.H. who assumed the name of Williams. She died in 1862. gg Assumed the additional surname of Williams. kh Died 1822. ii Died 1834. jj Should be Henrietta, kk " Watkyn Henry" should come first, with died young after his name. "Charles W." second. II I I " Sidney." Emma d. young. mm For " Ed. Gatacre " Ed. Lloyd Gatacre. 00 Add died unmarried. nn For " Atii} " Anna. MEMOIRS. 105 fel, in Llyn, in the said county, whereof he was Lord, he now in this tract is not to be forgotten. He was standard-bearer to John Earl of Warwick, and afterwards Duke of Northumberland, in the great field fought between him and Kett, and the rebels of Northfolk and Suffolk near Norwich, in Edward the Sixth's time, his horse was slain under him, and himself hurt, and yet he upheld the great standard of England. There is mention of this shot made at the standard of England in the Chronicles of that time, for the which service the Duke of Northumberland bestowed upon him two fine things in Llyn, viz. the Isle of Bardsey, and the De- mesne House of the Abbot of Bardsey, near Aberdaron, called the Cowrtwith. The honourable mention made of his good ser. vice in the grant, which I have seen and read, a rare matter to find so good a master. Caernarvon 1623, whose daughter and heir, Sara, 1 Rett's rebellion, referred to on pp. 99, 100, oc- married Robert Roberts, son of Lord Viscount curred in the year 1549. Bodmyn, and their son, Charles, was created Earl of Radnor — L. FINIS. INDEX. Abergele, 32. Aberglaslyn Weir, 43. Agatha, mother of Joane, 22. Agnes, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 87. Alice, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 87. Alice, wife of Meredith ap Jevan, 73, 84. Alician, wife of Puleston, 2g. Angharad, wife of Griff, ap Conan, 12. Angharad, wife of Robert ap Meredith, 37. Angharad, wife of Robin Vaughan, 31. Ardudwy, 15, 21, 66. Bala deulyn, ig, 25, 53. Beaumaris, Merchants of, 72. Beddgelert Priory, 82. Berkinnet, Sir Ralph, 73, 74. Bodelwydden, 87. Bodvil, Sir John, 104. Brass in Dolwyddelan Church, xiv, Bronyfoel, 43, 48, 78. Broughton, Richard, 21. Brynbyga, 45. Bryncir, William, 97. Brynkir, 78. -Brynsullty, 54, 55- Bryn y bedd, 81. Bryn y botten, 75, Buelt, 20, 24, 27. Cadwalader ap Robert Wynne, 6g. Cadwalader ap Robert ap Rees, 86. Cadwalader ap Thomas, 6g. Cadwalader of Wenallt, 86. Cadwalader, son of Griff, ap Conan, 12, 14, 15. Cadwalader Wynn ap Meredith, gg. Cadwallon, Abbot of Bardsey, 13. Cadwallon, son of Griff, ap Conan, 12. Caermarthen, rased, 23. Caermelwr, 70. Carnarvon, 42, 68, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78. Cariadog ap Thomas, ig, 23. Cam Madryn, 21. Carreg y Walch, 65, 75. Catherine, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 87. Catherine, dau. of John Spicer, 73. Catherine Gwinniow, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 85. Catherine Lloyd, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 85. Catherine, wife of Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, 49 Catherine, wife of Rhys ap Einion, 55, 56. Catrin, dau. of Sir W. Bulkeley, 97. Catrin vch Robin Vaughan, 31. Chester, 30, 74.. Chirkeland, 61, 62, 63, 64, Chwarevfa gampav, 57. Clenenny, 78. Coed Marchan, 47. Collwyn, 43, 78. Conan ap Owen Gwynedd, 13, 15, ig, 20. Conway, John, Esq., 32. Conway, 18, 24, 33, 49, 72, 74. Creigiaw in Llanfair, 72. Creig, 73. Criccieth, 30, 33, 70, 79. Criddyn, 17. Cwmstrallyn, 77, 78. David ap Gruffith, 25, 27, 28, 53. David ap Ilowel, 30. David ap Jevan ap Einion, 4g, 54. David ap Jenkin, 50, 54, 65, 74, 75. David ap Llewelyn, 24. David ap Llewelyn ap David, 37. David ap Meredith, 28. David ap Owen, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24. David Chwith ap David, 53. David Lloyd ap Rhys Wynn, gg. David Llwyd, ap Gruff Vaughan, 63, 77. Davies, Dr., near Brecknock, 69. Davies of Caerhwn, g4. Davies, Richard, Bishop of St. David's, g3 r g4, g6. Davies, T., Chancellor of Bangor, 94. Ddanhadog, 83. Denbigh Castle, 24, 25. Denbigh Land, 18, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, 34, 4 g, 51, 53 , 56, 71. 75- Deudraeth, 21. Dolbenman, 43. Dolwyddelan, xiv, 6, 11, 15, 73, 74, 80, 81, 95. Dorothy, dau. of Sir Wm. Gruffydd, 101. Dwyfor Mill, 43. Dymoc, James, of Willington, 101. Dyffryn Clwyd, 17, 23, 24, 46. INDEX. 107 Ednyfed Vaughan, 56. Edward the First, 25, 26, 27, 42, 71. Edward the Fourth, 49, 54, 74, 75. Edward the Third, 30. Edwal, 13. Egletts, the three, 3, 32. Eglwys Vach, 28. Einion ap Cariadog, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 52, 53, Einion ap Gruff., 29. Einion ap Gruff, ap Jockes, 83. Einion ap Sysillt, 19. Einion ap Ithel, 35, 38. Elen, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 86. Elen, wife oi Edward Stanley, 86. Ellesmere, lordship of, 22. Ellis ap Cadwalader, 6g, 70. Ellis Ellis, son of Owen Ellis, 70. Ellis, James son of Ellis Mauris, 96. Elliw, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 87. Elizabeth, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 86. Emma, sister to Hen. the Second, 15, 18. Englefield, 23, 24. Eskibion, ig. Eva, wife of Cariadog, 19. Eva, wife of David ap Gruff. 23, 28. Eva (Myvanwy) wife of Howel ap David, 20. Evan ap Howel, 29. Evionydd, 11, 18, 21, 29, 30, 68, 72, 73, 76, 77, 78. Festiniog, 83. Fitzwalter, Lord, gg. Friwlwyd, 27, 53.. Gallt y Morfa-hir, 64. Gannocke, (Diganwy), 17. Gardd y felin, 57, Garreg Big, 82. Garth, 83. Garthgarmon, 56. Gerrard, Sir William, 7g. Giraldus Cambrensis, 14, 16, ig, 21. Glyn, Maurice, son of Robert ap Meredith, 97. Glynn, W., Bishop of Bangor, 94. Glynn, William, L.L.D., 95. Glynllygwy, 87. Gogo yr Llechwin, 61. Gotheric, King of Man, 18, 23. Grey, Lord, 46. Griffith ap Howel y Farf, 86. Griffith, Edmund, 73, 85, 97. Griffith MaelCr. 13. Griffith, Robert, of Porthaml, 86. Griffith, Sir Maurice, 104. Griffith, Sir William, 85. Gronow ap Owen, 13. Gruff ap Cariadog, 19, 23, 24, 25, 27, 52. Gruff ap Howel, 29. Gruff ap Jevan ap Robert, 52. Gruff ap John ap Gronw, 51, 67, 68. Gruff ap John ap Meredith, 46. Gruff ap Llewelyn, ig, 22, 23. Gruff ap Madog Vaughan, 32, 52. Gruff ap Richard of Madryn issa, 37. Gruff ap Evan of Gwyddgwion, 49. Gruff ap Robin ap Gruff, 33. Gruff ap Tudor, 83. Gruff David ap Howel, 30. Gruff Goch, 46. Gruff Lloyd, 4g. Gruff Vaughan, son of Jevan ap Robert, 4g, 52. Gruff, son of Rodri, I7, 18. Gruff Wynne of Berth-ddu, 56, 96. Gruffith ap Conan, 12, 21, 28, 41. Gruffith ap Richard, 104. Gruffydd, Sir William, 101. Gruffith Vaughan, 25, 28. Gruffith, Will., Chamberlain of N. Wales, 44. Gruffith, Wm., of Carnarvon, 97. Gruffith, Wm., Doctor of Arches, 97. Gwnfryn, 78. Gwely wyrion Cynan, 19. Gwen, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 87, Gwenhova, wife of Meredith ap Jevan, 86. Gwenhwyfar, wife of Jevan ap Robert ap Mere- dith, 49. Gwenhwyfar, wife of K. Salisbury, 31. Gwenhwyfar, wife of Thomas ap Robin, 33. Gwenlian, dau. of Gwillm ap Evan Lloyd, 87. Gwenlian, wife of Ivan ap Gruff, 29. Gwerville, daughter of Gruff ap Cariadog, 25 Gwerville, dau. of Einion ap Cariadog, 26, 27. Gwerville; wife of Tudor ap Hob-y-dili 2g Gwladys, 13. Gwydir, 57, 6g. 82, gg, 101. Gwydir Chapel Monuments, xv. Gwyn ap Griff, 19. Gwynn, Dr., 100. Halton, 36. Harlech, 49, 54, 86. Havod y Maidd, 69. Havod y "Wern, 29. Hen, Sion, heir of Conway, 32. Henblas, 51, 53, 55, 5 6 - Henry ap Gwillim, 47. Henry, Earl of Richmond, 54. Henry the Eighth, 63. Henry the Fifth, 38. Henry the Fourth, 38, 42, 43. Henry Lacy, 25, 27, 28, 53, 56, 71. Henry the Second. 14. Henry the Seventh, 47, 74, 76. Henry the Third, 20. Herbert, Lord, 33, 75. Herbert, Will , Earl of Pembroke, 49. Hirwerthog, 75. Hookes, John, of Conway, 87. Hopesland, 69. Howel ap David, 29, 30. Howel ap Einion ap Howel Coetmore, 33. Howel ap Griffith, 53. Howel ap Gronw, 2g, 53. Howel ap Gruff., 23, 24, 27. Howel ap Jevan ap Meredith, 35. Howel ap Jevan ap Pellyn, 83. Howel ap Jevan ap Rhys Gethin, 74. Howel ap Llewelyn, 45, 46. Howel ap Madog Vaughan of Berkin, 76, 77 78. Howel ap Rhys ap Howel Vaughan, 43, 50, 51, 58 5g, 60, 61, 62, 64, 66, 67, 68. io8 INDEX. Howel Coytmor, xvi., 33, 98. Howel y Fwyall, 29, 30 79. Hugh Griffith, son of Griffith ap John, 102, 103. Hugh Gwyn ap John Wynne ap Williams, 78. Hugh, son of Meredith ap Jevan, 87. Hugh, son of Mr. Robert ap Rhys, 63. Hugh Owen, 103. Humphrey Jones of Cravelyn, 84. Humphrey Meredith, son of Meredith ap Jevan, 86. Illustrations : — Brass at Dolwyddelan, xiv. Dolwyddelan Castle, 73. Gwydir in 1720, 57. Llanrwst Bridge, g. Upper Gwydir, 88. Wynn, Sir John, to face title. Wynn, Sir Richard, 1. Ithel Vaughan, 32. Jane, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 86. Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, 49, 54. Jeffrey Coytmor, 98. Jenkin, Thomas Griffith, 86. Jevan ap David, 30. Jevan ap Einion, 2g, 30, 78. Jevan ap Gruff., 29, 31. Jevan ap Howel ap Meredith, 2g. Jevan ap Howel ap Rhys ap Einion, 33. Jevan son of Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, 4g. Jevan ap John ap David Vaughan, 54. Jevan ap John ap Heilin, 87. Jevan ap John ap Meredith, 46. Jevan ap Meredith, 33, 35, 36, 38, 71. Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, 32, 33, 37, 43, 48, 49. 5i, 52. 53. 55. 56, 58. 59. 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 71, 77. Jevan David ap Ednyfed, 83. Jevan Krach, 66. Jevan Llawdden, 37. Jevan son of Meredith, 87. Jevan, son of Meredith Howell, 32. Joane, wife of Llewelyn, 22. John ap Madog ap Hoshell, 83. John ap Meredith, 33, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 55, 58,59,66, 67,72. John ap Rhys Wynn, gg. John ap Robert, dairyman, 83. John Coetmore, 87. John, Duke of Northumberland, 96. John Hen, aer y Conwey, 3,2. John son of Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, 4g. John Owen ap John ap Meredith, 76, 77, 78. John of Gaunt, 35, 38. John Wynn ap Hugh, 104. Jones, Sir William, 97. Jonet, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 85. Jonet, wife of Meredith ap Jevan, 87. Jonett, dau. of John Spicer, 73. Justice, Will' Sutton, 27. Kefn Kyfanedd,37. Kefn y Fan, 30, 33, 38. Kefnmelgoed, 64. Kelli lydan, 66. Keselgyfarch, 30, 33, 38, 49, 66, 72, 78, 86. Rett's Rebellion, gg, 100. King James the First, 90, King John, 22. King Richard, 74. Knivett, Sir Edmund, gg, 100. Kowydd to John ap Meredith, 44. Kowydd to Meredith ap Ivan, 36. Kyffins, 61, 62. Leicester, Earl of, 93, 98. Leuki, wife of Gruff, ap Cariadog, 25. Lewis ap Howel ap Llewelyn, 33. Lewis ap Jevan ap David of Festiniog, 85. Lincoln, Earl of, 25, 27, 28, 53, 56, 71. Lowarch ap Trahayarn, 13. Lowarch Goch of Rhos, 22. Lowry, dau. of Meredith ap Jevan, 85. Lowry, wife of Rhys ap Meredith, 64. Llanrwst, 28, 30, 51, 55, 56, 57, 69, 75,93. Llanwrothen, 50, 60, 83. Llanvihangel y Pennant, 5g. Llawrudds, 65. Lleify, dau. of Rhys ap Einion, 32. Llenau, dau. of Howel Sele, 35. Llewelyn ap David, 57. Llewelyn ap Gruff, 20, 23, 24. Llewelyn the Great, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27. Llowarch Vaughan, 25. Ll&n, 21, 70. Llyn Bodtwnog, 90. Llys Enion, 19. Madog Vaughan, 4g. Maesmynan, 24. Maethabroyd, 28, 30, 51, 56. Marged, wife of Thomas ap Rodri, ig. Margaret, dau. of Einion ap Ithel, 35. Margaret, dau. of Hugh Conway, 6g. Margaret, dau, of Meredith ap Jevan, 85, 86, 87. Margaret, wife of T. G. Jenkin, 86. •* Margaret, wife of Meredith ap Jevan, 86. Margaret, wife of John Griffith, 87, Marsli, wife of Jenkin Conway, 32. Maryed, dau. cf Madog ap Meredydd, 15. Massacre of the Bards, 1, 42. Mawddwy, 63. Meredith ap Howel, 30, 32. Meredith ap Hwlkyn Llwyd, 38. Meredith ap Howel ap Moris, 62. Meredith ap Jevan ap Meredith, 34, 36. Meredith ap Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, xiv, 4g, 69. 72. 7 6 , 77. 80, 84. Meredith ap Rhys, 33, 43. Meredith son of Conan, 21. Meredith, son of Gruff, ap Cariadog, 27. Meredydd ap Thomas Gruff. , 97. Merioneth, 75, 76. Monument at Dohvyddelan, xiv. Monuments at Llanrwst, xv. Morgan, Sir Thomas, g8. Morgan, Wm., Bishop St. Asaph, ix, 95. Morithig, 28. INDEX. 109 Morris ap John ap Meredith, 46, 67, 68, 76, 77, 86. MorvyrM, wife of Meredith ap Howel, 30, 32. Mostyn, William, 100. Nanhoren, 70. Nantconwy, 15, 31, 49, 75, 76, 83, g8. Nantwhynen, 58. Newton Craidog, 53. Northampton, Marquis of, 99. Ordinance of Wales, 63. Owen ap Gruff, ap Madog, 52. Owen ap Hugh ap Jevan ap William, 83. Owen ap John ap Jevan ap Robert of Bronyfoel, 37. Owen ap John ap Meredith, 36, 46, 68, 76, 77, 78. Owen ap Reinalt, 87. Owen Ellis, 70. Owen Gwynedd, 10, 12, 13, 14, 44, 52, 78. Owen Glyndwr, 33, 38, 75. Owen Holland of Berw, 35. Owen, John of Ystymcegid, 36. Owen Meredydd, 97. Owen, son of David, 15, 17, 18. Owen Tudor, 45, 46. Owen Wynne, 69. Paget, Lord, 99. Parrot, Sir John, 93. Pedigrees : — Table I., 12. Table II., 28. Table III., 48. Table IV. , 104. Jones 112. Pembroke, Earls of, 49, 54, 58, 66, 100. Penychen, 25, 53. Pencraig Inco, 82. Penanmen, 74, 81, 82, 83. Penmachno, 68. Penmorva, 38. Penllyn, 29. Penyberth, 19, 25, 53. Penyal, 47. Penfhyn Deudraeth, 21, 62. Plas Jolyn, 63. Plas y Person, 94. Poitiers, 79, 98. Powisland, 76. Prince of Parma, 98, 103. Pritchard, Capt., 104. Pwllheli, King at, 24. Puleston, Sir John, 73, 85. Queen Catherine, wife of Owen Tudor, 46. Queen Elizabeth, 79. ■Queen Mary, 94. Reinallt ap Meiricke, 6g. Rhiw Goch, 83, Rhobin Ddu, 45. Rhos and Rheviniog, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 71. Rhuddlan Castle, 16. Rhys ap David ap Gwillym, 85. Rhys ap Einion Vaughan, 31, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56. Rhys ap Griffith ap Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr, 16. Rhys ap Gruff, ap Rhys ap Ednyfed Vaughan, 31. Robin ap Inco, 59, 60, 66. Robert ap Rhys, Abbot of Conway, 63. Rhys ap Meredith, 63. Rhys ap Tudor, 30. Rhys Gethin, 68. Rhys Goch, 39. Rhys Llewelyn ap David, 56, 57. Rhys Vychan, gi. Richard ap Rhys ap Robert, 83. Richard Gruff, ap Hugh, 35. Richard the Third, 47, gi. Richmond, Earl of, 33, 54. Robert ap John ap Meredith, 46. Robert ap Meredith, Abbot of Bardsey, 37, 38. Robert ap Meredith, 83. Robin ap Meredith ap Howel, 32. Robert ap Meredith ap Howel, 32, 33, 34, 37, 39, 43, 7'. Robert ap Richard, of Llocheiddor, 37. Robert, son of Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith, 49. Robert (a Priest) son of Meredith ap Jevan, 87. Robin Jachwr, 57. Robin Vaughan ap David, 31, 32, 34, 51, 52, 55, 71. Robynson, N. , Bishop of Bangor, 92. Rodri (Roderick), Lord of Anglesey, 13, 15, 16, 18, ig, 21, 24, 52. Roland ap Rhobert, go. Rowland Griffith of Plas Newydd, 73, 85. Rowland, H., Bishop of Bangor, go. Rys ap Robert, 83. Rytherch ap David, 85. Rytherch ap Jestin, 53. Rytherch ap Jevan Llwyd, 37, 64. Rytherch ap Richard, 35. Rytherch ap Rhys ap Robert, 83. Rytherch son of Meredith ap Jevan, 85. Salisbury, Robert, 31, 87. Salisbury, Thomas, 31. Salusbury, William, of Plasisa, g3, g6. Sandde Hardd, 28. Sergeant Roberts, Havod y Bwch, 7g. Skevington, Bishop, 95. Sheffield, Lord, gg. Shink, Sir Martyn, g8. Sidney, Sir Phillip, g8, 104. Sir Thomas ap William, 87. Somerset, Lord Edward, 98. Spicer, John, 73. Spur, 63. Spytty Jevan, 75. Squier y graith, 46. Stanley, Edward, 86. Stymllyn, 67. Swaython, Robert, 32. Syna, wife of Gruff, ap Llewelyn, 19, 23. Talhenbont, 78. Tangwstyl, wife of Llewellyn, 22. Thelwals of Ruthin, 46, 47. Tho' Gruff, ap Nicolas, 47, Thomas ap Rhys, 6g. Thomas ap Rhys ap Benet, 87. Thomas ap Robin, of Kychwillon, 33. Thomas ap Rodri, ig. Thomas son of Cadwalader, of Wenallt, 86. Thomas, son of Rhys Thomas, 98. no INDEX. Traeth Mawr, 66. Trevors, 61, 62, 6g. Trevriew, 70. Trystan the wise, 41. Tudor ap Gruff., 30. Tudur ap Einion, 26, 27, 53. Tudur, John, Welsh Herald, 32. Tudur, Lord of Penychen, 25. Turbridge, Robert, 79. Twm Sion Catty, 87. Tybrith, 56. Tylwyth Sion ap Meredith, 44. Vaughan, Jenkin Griffith, 87. Vaughan, John, grandson of Cadwalader of Wen* allt, 86. Vaughan, R., Bishop of Bangor, 91. Vaughan, Robert, 3, 31. Vaughans of Talhenbont, 92. Vaynoll, Bangor, 83. Whelog, 78. Will Cariadog, 52, 53. William ap Robert of Iscorum, 82. William David ap Ellis Eytyn, 69. William, Earl of Pembroke, 54. William Gruff, ap Robin, 73, 84. Williams, Archbishop, 4. Williams, John, Bishop of Lincoln, §6. Williams, of Cochwillan, 99. Williams, Sir Edmund, 87. ■Williams, Griffith, D.D., 97 Williams, Sir John, 87. Williams, Sir Roger, 98. Williams, Sir Morris, 87. Williams, Sir Thomas, 18, ig. Williams, Sir William, 99 Wynn, correspondence of Sir John, viii. Wynn, Gruff, son of John Wynn ap Meredydd, 99, 100 Wynn, John, Doctor of Arches, g6. Wynn, Monumental Inscriptions, xv. Wynn, Owen, 69. Wynn, Owen, son of Grufl. Wynn, 96. Wynn, Robert, son of John Wynn ap Meredydd, 101. Wynn, Sir John, see Gwydir Memorials vii to xviii and Introduction, 2 to 8. Wynn, Sir Richard, ditto ditto < Wynn, Sir Richard, of Brynkir, 104. Wynne, John, ap Meredith, 85, g6. Wynne, Rees, 85. Wynne, Robert, of Glynn, 33. Wynne, Robert, S2. Wynne, William, 84. Yerwerth Drwndwn, 13, York and Lancaster, 75 York, Duke of, 4g. Yscorebryll, 28 Yscorum Isgurvai, 72 Ystrad, ig Ystymkegid, 36, 78. 15. 16 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Page xvi. Howel Coetmore. " Hie Jacet Howel Coetmor ap Graff Vychan ap Coruff." Howel Coetmor and his brother Robert were executors of the will of Griffith Vaughan ap Griffith ap David Goch, as were Res Gethin and Gruff. Lya, and were living n Mar. 21 Rich. II., being Monday in the third week of Lent. — Public Records, "Welsh Plea Rolls." Page 2, note 8. There are several copies of the Great Extent of North Wales, as it is called. Two of them are in the British Museum, and two in the Hengwrt Collection. The whole, with the excep- tion of that of Merioneth, were made in 26 Edw. III. The Merioneth "Extent" is of 7 Hen. V, They are printed in the Record of Carnarvon. Page ig, Note 4. Einion ap Seisylt : — "Et etiam (Juratores) dicunt quod quidam Eignion ap Seysyllt fuit seizitus in dominico suo ut de feodo de tota terra que fuit & est inter Aquas de dyvi & dewlas tempore Llewelyn ap Jorwerth nuper principis. Et quod terra ilia tunc fuit pars & par- cella Comoti de Estimaner in Comitatu Merioneth & adhuc de iure esse debet. Et quod idem Eignion ap Seysyllt terram illam tunc tenuit de Llewelyn vawr ap Meredith ap Kynan & Llewelyn vychan fratre eius dominis de Merioneth in capite Et quod idem Eignon propter discentionem & discordiam inter ipsos Llewelyn vawr & Llewelyn vychan et ipsum Eignion tunc habitam fugit ad Owenum Kevelock dominum de Powys & devenit tenens eius de terra predicta& fecit homagium & fidelitatem suam sibi pro terris predictis. Et sic hucusque terra ilia tenta fuit. Et est parcella dominiorum de Powys iniuste, &c." (Extract from the Record of an Inquisition held at Bala, on the next Monday after the Festival of St. Michael the Archangel, ■6 Hen. VI., in Hengwrt MS. ng). Page 32. For note 7 read 6, for note 6 read 7. Page 33, note 2. For " Now called Ystym- ■cegid," read "Part of the tenement now called Ystymcegid." Page 36, note 2. Mr. Barrington's note as to the long possession of Porkington by the Owen family, is incorrect. That estate came into posses- sion of the Owens by the marriage of John Owen, secretary to the famous Sir Francis Walsingham, and a younger son of Owen ap Robert of Bodielin. in Carnarvonshire, with Ellin, eldest grand daughter and heiress of Sir William Maurice, Knt., of Porking- ton ; and of Clenenney in Carnarvonshire. She was born, 7 Oct., 1578, married secondly to the Hon. Sir Francis Eure, Chief Justice of North Wales, a younger son of Wm. Lord Eure, and died in 1626. Her first husband was buried at Whittington 20 March 1611-12, and Sir Francis Eure was buried at Selattyn n April 1621. Bledh. (Bleddyn), referred to in the note at page 36, was one of the sons of Owen Brogyntyn or de Porkinton, Lord Dinmael and Edeirnion, who was an illegitimate son of • Madoc ap Meredith, Prince of Powis. Page 37. Marriage of Robert ap Meredith. This statement differs from that on page 56. The following is from a Pedigree in the autograph oi the eminent Welsh Genealogist, Griffith Hiraethog,- in Hengwrt MS., 428, folio 73 :— Robert ap Meredith=pAngharad, dau. of David ap Llewellyn ap David by Mar- garet dau : Rydderch ap Jevan Lloyd, of the South. Page 38, note 4. Read as follows :— " gth of Hen- IV., Hen. V. being then Prince of Wales. Amongst the Records of the late Welsh Record Office, is a license for Meredith ap Hwlkyn Llwyd to build a mill, &c, &c." Page 45. Rhobin Ddu, Robin (Ddu o Von,) an eminent poet who flourished from 1430 to 1470, • Several of his poems are preserved in Manuscript, and among them is one written in 1450, from which we learn that he was returning from a pil- grimage to Rome, to Pope Nicholas V., in a ship with a cargo of wine, bound to Anglesey, his native country. — Williams's Eminent Welshmen, p. 458. 112 ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Page 46, note 2. For " Gruffith Lloyd ap Ellis tnd Gruffith ap Einion " read " ap Gruffith ap Einion." For "the present year" read Page 48, note 4. " that year." Page4g. Table III. Dr. Rice Wynne, lineal descendant of the house of Gwydir, died in Shrews- bury on 7 Apr., 1847 (?) at tne a S e °f °9, and was buried on Apr. 14, in St. Alkmond's Churchyard. He had been a medical practitioner in that town for half-a-century. Pages 51 and 52. Robin Vaughan. The text and the note signed P. are somewhat obscure. The following pedigree, from a MS. in the Hengwrt Collection, in the autograph of the eminent genealo- gist, Griffith Hiraethog, and another in the hand of the celebrated Merionethshire antiquary, Robert Vaughan, Hengwrt MS. g6, will serve to explain it. Robin Vaughan=f=Angharad, dau. of ap David ap }lovte\apDavid ap Gruff. Madoc ap Rees. Angharad married to Ithel Vychan ap Kynric ap Rotpert. Rees ap=f=Catherine. Einion Vychan. Gwenhwyvar, dau.&heiress, wife of Ro- bert Salis- bury, LIeuky= ^Griffith ap Madoc Vaughan. Margaret, wife of Griffith Vychan ap Jevan ap Robert ap Meredith. Page 63. Robert ap Rys. He was Chaplain to- Cardinal Wolsey. His tomb stone is or was in the Church of Yspytty. Amongst the Muniments at Rug is a receipt dated 3 Nov. 21 Hen. viii. from Margaret verch Elysse to her vnculle (uncle), Master Robert ap Rice, Clerk, for a sum of money in part payment of a legacy, which was bequeathed to her " to my dowry," by her brother Rice ap Elisse. The deed is witnessed by Sir John Gruffith, Sir Richard, parson of Cerrigydruidion, Sir Thomas ap Robert, Priests, ffowke Salysbury, and David ap Res Porthmon. In the same collection is also a receipt of the same date from Gruffith ap Ellis ap Howel ap Res, brother and executor to Res ap Ellysse for $£ in gold, paid the 5th day of August last, by demand of Res ap Elysse, "then being sore secke to by (buy) all thyngs necessary to his buriall." It is witnessed by the same persons. Page 71, note 3. The following is an addition to the note, and taken from the same source : — Though the estate of y 8 father was divided among y e sons by gavelkind, yet y e estate of a per- son dying w th out issue was never divided among all his nearest relations in equal degrees (y' being in some cases impracticable) but descended to one next of Kin & senior to y° rest : this answers y e marginal note p. 82, & renders y 8 argument for y 8 seniority of Robt. Mredydd unanswerable. (A note to the Brogyntyn MS.) Page g 1, Lines. For]" statutes" read " statues" Do. line 4 of Note, for "rewarded," read "recor- ded." Page 92. Line 4 of Note 1. For "prim 6." read " prim. Edw. 6." In lines 16, 17, of same note, for " leased by William, late Bishop, and William Lloyd," read "leased by William, late Bishop, to William Lloyd." Page 104. Table IV. Note /. The second Sir Richard Wynn died Oct. 30, 1674. ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. Causton, H.K.S., Esq., 55 Vassall Road, Brixton, Surrey. David, J. Esq., Dolgelley. Evans, Mr. Robt., Smithfield House, Beddgelert, Phillips, J. Roland, Esq., 133, Finborough Road, South' Kensington, London, S.W. Reveley, H. J., Esq., Brynygwin, Dolgelley. Woodall and Venables, Steam-Printers and lithographers, Bailey Head, and Oswald Road, Oswestry. Nov , 1878. * PEDIGREE OF JONES. * ,» CO z o 2 O > to < • S3 to < o to O & z o o a > to o 2 o ^ ■< to to to o 3 *T3 rt -w C f> »-i > ■.«* o a.S 6m c . 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