ILLUSTRATIONS
| PAGE | |
| GLYNDWR’S MOUNT, GLYNDYFRDWY | [Frontispiece] |
| Copyright, Miss Walker. | |
| CAREW CASTLE | [40] |
| [From old print.] | |
| CORWEN AND PEN-Y-PIGIN, FROM THE DEE | [44] |
| Copyright, W. Davis. | |
| VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY | [54] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| CONWAY CASTLE | [78] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| DOLGELLY AND CADER IDRIS | [82] |
| Copyright, C. H. Young. | |
| HOLT CASTLE | [86] |
| [From old print.] | |
| POWYS CASTLE | [92] |
| [From an old engraving from painting by W. Daniells.] | |
| LLANGOLLEN AND DINAS BRÂN | [96] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| SYCHERTH, FROM THE SOUTH | [100] |
| Copyright, W. D. Haydon. | |
| RUTHIN CASTLE | [110] |
| [From old print.] | |
| AN OLD STREET, SHREWSBURY | [120] |
| Copyright, J. Bartlett. | |
| CARCHARDY OWAIN, GLYNDWR’S PRISON HOUSE AT LLANSANTFFRAID | [130] |
| Copyright, Miss Walker. | |
| INTERIOR CONWAY CASTLE | [140] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| OLD BRIDGE AT LLANSANTFFRAID, GLYNDYFRDWY | [154] |
| Copyright, Miss Walker. | |
| LOOKING UP THE MAWDDACH FROM NANNAU | [166] |
| Copyright, C. H. Young. | |
| OLD LODGE AT NANNAU, NEAR THE SITE OF THE “OAK OF DEMONS” | [168] |
| Copyright, C. H. Young. | |
| PILLETH HILL, RADNORSHIRE | [176] |
| Copyright, R. St. John Boddington. | |
| SYCHERTH, FROM THE NORTH | [186] |
| Copyright, H. H. Hughes. | |
| HAY | [190] |
| Copyright, Marion & Co. | |
| BATTLE-FIELD CHURCH, NEAR SHREWSBURY | [200] |
| Copyright, J. Bartlett. | |
| CARNARVON CASTLE | [218] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| MACHYNLLETH | [220] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| OWEN’S COUNCIL HOUSE, DOLGELLY | [224] |
| Copyright, C. H. Young. | |
| HARLECH | [232] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| CAERPHILLY CASTLE | [244] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| MANORBIER CASTLE | [262] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| ABERYSTWITH CASTLE | [290] |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| MONNINGTON COURT AND CHURCH | [300] |
| Copyright, W. H. Bustin. | |
| PORCH OF MONNINGTON CHURCH AND GLYNDWR’S REPUTED GRAVE | [308] |
| Copyright, Mrs. Leather. | |
| PEMBROKE CASTLE | [312] |
| [From a photograph.] | |
| Copyright, F. Frith & Co. | |
| KENTCHURCH COURT, WITH GLYNDWR’S TOWER | [314] |
| Copyright, W. H. Bustin. |
OWEN GLYNDWR
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF WELSH HISTORY FROM THE SAXON CONQUEST OF ENGLAND TO THE RISING OF GLYNDWR
400-1400
THE main subject of this book is the man whose memory, above that of all other men, the Welsh as a people delight to honour, and that period of Welsh history which he made so stormy and so memorable. But having what there is some reason to regard as a well founded opinion that (to the vast majority of English readers) the story of Wales is practically a blank, it seems to me desirable to prepare the way in some sort for the advent of my hero upon this, the closing scene of Cambrian glory. I shall therefore begin with a rapid sketch of those nine centuries which, ending with Glyndwr’s rising, constitute roughly in a political and military sense the era of Welsh nationality. It is an audacious venture, I am very well aware, and more especially so when brought within the compass of a single chapter.
Among the many difficulties that present themselves in contemplating an outline sketch of Welsh history, a doubt as to the best period for beginning it can hardly be included. Unless one is prepared to take excursions into the realms of pure conjecture and speculation, which in these pages would be altogether out of place, the only possible epoch at which to open such a chapter is the Saxon conquest of England. And I lay some stress on the word England, because the fact of Wales resisting both Saxon conquest and even Saxon influence to any appreciable extent, at this early period, is the keynote to its history.
What the British tribes were like, who, prior to this fifth century, lived under Roman rule in the country we now call Wales, no man may know. We do know, however, that the Romans were as firmly seated there as in most parts of Britain. From their strong garrisons at Chester, Uriconium, Caerleon, and elsewhere they kept the country to the westward quiet by means of numerous smaller posts. That their legions moved freely about the country we have evidence enough in the metalled causeways that can still be traced in almost every locality beneath the mountain sod. The traces, too, of their mining industry are still obvious enough in the bowels of the mountains and even beneath the sea, to say nothing of surface evidence yet more elaborate. That their soldiers fell here freely in the cause of order or of conquest is written plainly enough in the names and epitaphs on mortuary stones that in districts even now remote have been exposed by the spade or plough. But how much of Christianity, how much of Roman civilisation, these primitive Britons of the West had absorbed in the four centuries of Roman occupation is a matter quite outside the scope of these elementary remarks. Of civilisation beyond the influence of the garrisons there was probably little or none. As regards Christianity, its echoes from the more civilised parts of the island had probably found their way there, and affected the indigenous paganism of the mountains to an extent that is even yet a fruitful source of disagreement among experts. Lastly, as it seems probable that the population of what is now called Wales was then much more sparse in proportion to the rest of the island than in subsequent periods, its condition becomes a matter of less interest, which is fortunate, seeing we know so little about it.