In reviewing thus far the life and character of the Cambrian prince, we have seen that his decision was always followed by prompt and energetic action. Whenever he resolved to do a special thing or to gain a certain point, he at once set about its accomplishment. To this characteristic of the man is traceable the secret of some of his mightiest achievements. In the present case Llewelyn gained important victories before the English monarch could collect his forces and approach his—Llewelyn’s—dominions. During the lull the prince moved his army against the Lord of Powys, whom he easily defeated. The tidings of this victory having been carried to Gruffydd ab Madog, that chief felt that it would be madness on his part to resist the Cambrian prince, and he therefore sought and obtained a treaty of peace. Llewelyn then marched against the Earl of Gloucester, whom he defeated in a general battle. These successes and achievements roused the Welsh to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. Accordingly we find that the Cambrian barons and chiefsentered into a solemn league to defend till death the independence and freedom of their country. This confederacy was formed in the year 1258. On its being ratified the Cambrian prince commenced to march southward, and gained easy victories over the forces that were thrown forward to impede his progress. In a subsequent campaign in South Wales he took the castle of Maelienydd, in Radnorshire. Afterwards he invaded the English borders on the west side of Shropshire and Cheshire, where he gained important advantages over the lords Marchers. From thence he proceeded to the castles of Diserdd and Diganwy, which he besieged and destroyed. On being apprised of these fresh disasters, Prince Edward marched against Llewelyn, who retired to, and took refuge among, the “mountain bulwarks” of Carnarvonshire. As Edward dared not follow the Welsh prince there, he returned to England, “if not disgraced, at least without any particular honour.”
I pass over, as forming no part of my design, the insurrection of De Montford, thatnobleman’s success against Sir Roger Mortimer, and his triumph over Prince Edward, whom he kept a prisoner in Hereford Castle. Further, I shall content myself with a passing reference to the invasion of Glamorganshire by Llewelyn, the important treaty of Montgomery in 1267 between Henry and Llewelyn, and the death of the former five years afterwards.
When Edward ascended the throne, be called upon Llewelyn to do homage at his coronation. The Welsh prince replied that he was prepared to comply with the mandate, provided some English noblemen of distinction were sent to the Principality as hostages for his security. The negotiations respecting the question of homage, and the correspondence relating to the imprisonment of Eleanor de Montford, Llewelyn’s betrothed, were carried on until the summer of 1277, when Edward, at the head of a numerous body of vassals, invaded North Wales. Llewelyn’s army being small, he dared not risk a general battle, so he retired and took refuge among the inaccessible defences of Snowdon—a safe asylum,a secure retreat on all occasions when the commissariat department of the army was attended to. Anglesey being now in the hands of the English, and there existing disaffection among some of the South Wales chieftains, the prince found himself so hemmed in that supplies could not be obtained. “Urged by the sufferings of his famishing soldiers, and without any chance of relief,” and his betrothed still being a prisoner, Llewelyn was compelled to sue for peace; but King Edward refused to entertain any proposal short of an unconditional surrender. Under the treaty which was then agreed to, it was stipulated that Llewelyn was to do homage in London annually, to deliver up all prisoners, to restore all forfeited lands, to resign the feudal supremacy over his barons; and all the Welsh chieftains, excepting the five barons of Snowdon, were to hold their lands direct from Edward. The conditions of this treaty were strictly observed by the Welsh prince for a period of about four years. To his subjects those were years of suffering.The administration was corrupt; gross frauds were practised on the Welsh; while oppression, tyranny, and cruelties characterized the proceedings of the representatives of the Government. The people complained of the wrongs which they sustained, and mildly but firmly asked for a redress of their grievances; but a deaf ear was turned to all the representations which were made. At last the yoke became intolerable; they appealed to Prince David for assistance, and that prince renounced his “unnatural allegiance to Edward,” and became reconciled to his brother Llewelyn; and the two princes and a number of powerful and influential chieftains organized a concerted movement with a view to drive the English from their land and to re-establish the freedom and independence of their country. Their cause was good, and their object just and noble; but, ah me! they lacked the power and resources necessary to accomplish their grand and holy purpose.
Llewelyn and his brother, having matured their plan of action, at once commenced thecampaign. They jointly invested the castle of Flint, on the estuary of the Dee; and from thence they marched to and successfully attacked the castle of Rhuddlan. The Cambrian army then moved along the coast, and were hotly pursued by Edward, who overtook the retreating forces near Conway. Here a general battle was fought between the contending forces, in which the Welsh were victorious. On his defeat the English king retired to Hope Dale, from which he soon recommenced operations, and re-occupied Rhuddlan without experiencing any opposition. From Rhuddlan he “despatched a part of his army by sea to take possession of the Isle of Anglesey,” and from thence, by means of a bridge of boats, this section of the army crossed over the Menai and landed at Moel-y-Don, near Bangor. When the reflux of the tide had broken the communication between the artificial bridge and the mainland, the Welsh army rushed from their hiding-place, and nearly the whole number of the enemy were either killed by the sword or perished in the waves. ToEdward this was an unexpected disaster. For a moment it paralysed his operations. He felt that he had underrated the strength and undervalued the generalship of Llewelyn, and to make up for the losses he had sustained he raised fresh levies throughout his dominions.
During the preparations which were being made by Edward for another campaign the Cambrian princes were not idle. They arranged that the younger brother, Prince David, should be entrusted with the defence of North Wales, while Llewelyn would march against the English forces in South Wales. In the county of Cardigan Llewelyn gained important victories against the enemy; with a small body of troops he proceeded to the vicinity of Builth, with a view to consult some chieftains of that locality; and here, unattended and alone, this great, brave, manly, heroic, and magnanimous prince fell by the hand of an assassin. Thus perished, in the year 1282, after a reign of twenty-eight years, Llewelyn, the last native prince of the Cymry!
Having reviewed the military career of Llewelyn, I shall proceed to make two or three observations respecting his character as a ruler and citizen. We have abundant evidence to prove that he was a profound lover of his country. He loved her hills and dales, her mountains and valleys, her alpine heights and cwms, or dells, with all the strong passion of a warm and generous heart. Deeper than the love of home, of wife, of kindred, of lands and possessions, was his affection for wild Wales and its people. Of all countries in the wide world, Wales was to him the brightest and fairest, and its people the bravest and best. For her welfare, he sacrificed all he had, all he possessed; and at last his life was immolated on his dear country’s shrine. As a citizen, he was generous and kind. His heart was full of human sympathy, while his spirit was one of the gentlest that ever dwelt in a tabernacle of clay. Although he raised his country to a position of military fame which she had not occupied in previous history, yet war, in his view, had no glory. He lovedpeace. He desired to live on terms of amity and friendship with the English people and their rulers. But alas! alas! those rulers were bent on the destruction of the independence and freedom of his country. To prevent this, he led his army against the foe, and for a time war smiled upon him; but at last he fell, not in battle, but unarmed and alone, stricken to the earth by an assassin.
Brief, comparatively brief, was the public life of Prince Llewelyn; but grand, noble, and heroic were his deeds. He lived for others, not for himself. For the welfare of his country he laboured, not for personal aggrandizement. The mainspring of his actions was the deep and intense love of Fatherland. The great object for which he worked and fought and suffered, for which he became a public man, the leader and chief and ruler of a brave, a virtuous, an heroic people, was, to secure the independence of his country, the freedom and liberty of its people, and the blessing of permanent peace. To the interests of the land of his birth, the home of hisfather’s sepulchre, he was ever true, ever faithful, ever unswerving in fidelity and loyalty. If others proved faithless, not so this patriotic prince. If others of his countrymen forsook the true standard of national independence, if they joined the ranks of the enemy with a view to aid in crushing the liberties of an ancient people—a race who could trace their history, without a single break in the narrative, hundreds of years before the appearance of the Divine Teacher on earth—Llewelyn felt it all the more necessary for him to be more fearless in the fray, to put on a bolder and a manlier front, to toil and to work more incessantly in the cause which he felt was founded upon justice, upon right, and equity. For a period of thirty-six years he carried on a successful though an unequal struggle with the English monarchs Henry and Edward. But few, very few, was the number of his soldiers compared with the hosts who made up the armies that fought under the banner of his country’s foes. His were brave men, and they were engaged in a struggle whichwas dearer and more sacred to them than life itself. They were true soldiers. To fear they were strangers. Deeper than the love of life, than the love of kindred, than the love of estates and possessions, was their love and affection for Fatherland. We hardly know which to admire the more, the people or their leaders, the soldiers or their brave chiefs, the Cambrian army or their lawful prince. They were exposed to temptation, but they yielded not to its alluring charms. Bribes were freely offered to many a Cambrian chieftain, but these offers were made in vain. When at last treason achieved the work which a far more powerful nation than the Welsh failed to accomplish on the battle-field, let it be proclaimed to the world, and let the fact be known to all ages to come, that the traitor was a border man, and not a man in whose veins flowed Cambrian blood. But he accomplished his work, and Llewelyn was no more. His death was the direst calamity that had ever befallen the Cambrian people. Strange as it might appear, nevertheless it is an historicalfact, that when Llewelyn’s compatriots found that their brave prince had fallen by the hands of an assassin, the spirit of heroism and bravery appears to have forsaken them. Hence to the best, and to the bravest of the brave, the struggle now appeared hopeless, notwithstanding that Prince David still lived and was free. Though that prince was as brave as his deceased brother he did not command the same amount of confidence which was reposed in the slain Llewelyn. Thus we find, that though the struggle was continued, it lacked the boldness, energy, and high military tactics which had characterized the generalship of the martyred chief. Hence it soon became evident to the enemy that the death-knell of Cambrian freedom and independence had sounded, and that in a few days, or at any rate in a few months at most, this ancient Principality would cease to occupy a separate and distinct place in the annals of the world. That the people in those times should have regarded the downfall of their country, the loss of their freedom and independence, as a terrible calamity, was butnatural. In King Edward’s promises and generosity the Welsh people had no confidence. To him and to his immediate predecessor they traced, and correctly traced, most of their troubles with the English nation. They had desired to live in peace; war they did not invite. They took up arms, not for conquest, not to extend their dominion, not to annex new counties to the Principality, but simply in defence of the rights and liberties of their country, which they desired to transmit and hand down to their children and their children’s children. But Providence had, for some grand purpose and design, willed that the weaker nation should be united to the stronger and more powerful people. In this age we behold and recognise the wisdom of His purpose. Though a distinct race, in language, feeling, and mental and physical idiosyncrasy, yet we unitedly admit that the benefits which come to us by reason of our union with the Saxon, are neither few nor unimportant. Happily, too, the ancient feuds between the two races are forgotten. We now live asbrethren. The rivalry between us is no longer on the battle-field; we contend not with sword and bayonet. No! the contest is shifted to a more noble, a more beautiful, and a grander scene, with a sublimer aim and object than ever has characterized broad fields of battle; namely, the advancement of material civilization; the triumphs of art and the conquests of science; and the social, intellectual, moral, and religious welfare of the people. May the standard of our contention ever be towards this high ideal! then a glorious future awaits the union of the Cambrian and Saxon peoples.
If now and then we of the former race drop a tear when the shadows of our country’s martyred princes pass by, it is with no feeling of bitterness towards those into whose hands the sceptre of our land has passed. On the contrary, while we remember with pride and gratitude the heroic struggle of the “last of our native princes,” we admit that it is infinitely better for Wales that she should be united to England underthe beneficent sway of Victoria, and we have still a Prince of Wales to whom the Cambrian people are as loyal as their fathers were to Prince Llewelyn.
Note.—The historic facts embodied in the preceding sketch are taken from “Carnhuanawc’s Hanes Cymru,” “Warrington’s History of Wales,” the “Cambrian Plutarch,” and “Welsh Sketches.”
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William H. Bell, Esq., Glyncollen, Swansea
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Herbert D. Cook, Esq., Glydach
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Alfred Curtis, Esq., Nantwern, Neath
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Nathaniel Pryse Cameron, Esq., J.P., Swansea
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Thomas D. Daniel, Esq., J.P., Aberavon
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Evan David, Esq., J.P., Fairwater House, Cardiff
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David Davies, Esq., 4, South Terrace, Neath
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Samuel Davies, Esq., Green Lodge, Reynoldstone
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Henry Davies, Esq., Morriston
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Joseph Davies, Esq., Hofod Villa, Swansea
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Mr. Daniel Edwards, Duffryn Tin Plate Works, Morriston
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John Ivor Evans, Esq., West Cross, Swansea
3
Thomas Evans, Esq., 22, Brunswick Street, Swansea
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1
Richard Aubrey Essery, Esq., J.P., Cefn Bryn, Swansea
1
William Edmund, Esq., J.P., Windsor Lodge, Swansea
1
J. Deffett Francis, Esq., Artist, Swansea
1
J. Coke Fowler, Esq., J.P., The Gnoll, Neath
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William Gilbertson, Esq., J.P., Pontardawe
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Rev. Walter Griffiths, B.D., J.P., Dulais Fach, Neath
1
Rev. David Griffiths, Resolven, Neath
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Sankey Gardner, Esq., Eagle’s Bush, Neath
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Griffith Griffiths, Esq., Bryncelyn, Pontardawe
1
Thomas George Gordon, Esq., Llwynybwch, Llanrhiddian
1
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1
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2
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1
John Jones Jenkins, Esq., J.P., The Grange, Swansea
1
Mr. James Jones, Goat St., Swansea
1
Mr. Watkin James, Sketty
1
Mr. Thomas Jones, Agent, Union Street, Swansea
10
Mr. Morgan Jones, Tymaen, Maesteg
1
Rev. David Jones, Bishopstone, Swansea
1
John Jones, Esq., Walters Road, Swansea
2
Benjn. Jones, Esq., J.P., Llanelly
1
John Trevellian Jenkin, Esq., J.P., Swansea
1
Mr. T. John Lean, 7, Windsor Road, Cardiff
1
Griffith Lewis, Esq., Alltycham, Pontardawe
1
John Lewis, Esq., Fairfield House, Swansea
1
Thomas Leyson, Esq., Pennyscynnor, Neath
1
Wm. Leyson, Esq., Queen Street, Neath
1
Robert Lidgey, Esq., St. Helen’s Road, Swansea
1
Henry S. Ludlow, Esq., Guildhall Chambers, Neath
1
Wm. Llewellin, Esq., J.P., Court Colman, Bridgend
1
Rev. R. Pendrill Llewellyn, Llangonoyd, Maesteg
1
Fred. M. Lewis, Esq., Neath Road, Swansea
1
Mr. Wm. Martin, Ynistawe, Swansea
1
Mr. Thos. R. Mitchell, Ivy Cottage, St. Thomas
1
Mr. Thomas Morgan, Church St., Briton Ferry
1
H. Ll. Morris, Esq., Penclawdd, Gower
1
Mr. Richard Mugford, Hafod, Swansea
1
Edward S. Morris, Esq., Penclawdd
1
W. C. Morris, Esq., 43, Queen Street, Neath
1
George Byng Morris, Esq., J.P., Danygraig, Bridgend
1
George Mowatt, Esq., M.R.C.P., Walters Road, Swansea
1
James Sanders Merry, Esq., Richmond Villas, Swansea
1
David Meager, Esq., St. James Terrace, Swansea
1
Mr. David Morgan, 35, Brunswick Street, Swansea
1
David Owen, Esq., Brookfield House, Morriston
1
Rev. James Owen, Walters Road, Swansea
1
James T. Nettell, Esq., Rosebank, Mumbles
1
Henry Parish, Esq., The Limes, Ystalyfera
1
John Powell, Esq., Millbrook Iron Works, Swansea
1
Thos. Powell, Esq., The Elms, Swansea
1
Charles S. Price, Esq., Brynderwen, Neath
1
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1
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2
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1
W. Price, Esq., Glantwrch, Swansea
1
Thos. Penrice, Esq., J.P., Kilvrough, Swansea
1
Allan Paton, Esq., Sketty, Swansea
1
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1
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1
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1
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1
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1
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1
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1
James Rogers, Esq., J.P., Pagefield House, Swansea
1
John Roberts, Esq., Henrietta Street, Swansea
1
John Rosser, Esq., 9, Cambrian Place, Swansea
1
W. J. Rees, Esq., De La Beache Street, Swansea
1
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1
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1
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1
W. Robinson Smith, Esq., Glanrafon, Swansea
1
James Spencer, Esq., Inland Revenue, Swansea
1
George B. Strick, Esq., West Cross, Swansea
1
William Price Struve, Esq., J.P., Neath
1
Rowland Thomas, Esq., J.P., Neath
1
Thos. H. Thomas, Esq., Bridge House, Neath
1
William Thomas, Esq., Lan, Morriston
1
B. P. Thomas, Esq., The Croft, Mumbles
1
Ilted Thomas, Esq., J.P., Glanmor, Swansea
1
Mr. Howel Watkins, Rutland Street, Swansea
1
Octavius Williams, Esq., Northampton Place, Swansea
1
Robert Williams, Esq., West Cross, Swansea
1
Thos. Williams, Esq., Sunny Bank, Aberdulais
1
Thos. Williams, Esq., 10, Windsor Terrace, Neath
1
Mr. Watkin Williams, Pencoed, Bridgend
1
William Williams, Esq., Wern House, Landore
1
Owen Gething Williams, Esq., Sketty
1
Sir Gardner Wilkinson, Reynoldstone
1
David Williams, Esq., Training College, Swansea
1
Chas. Thos. Wilson, Esq., Brynnewydd, Sketty
1
Owen Williams, Esq., Cwmavon
1
Thomas Williams, Esq., Mount Pleasant, Swansea
1
John Williams, Esq., Tyar-y-Graig, Swansea
1
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1
George Alex. Evans, Esq., Carmarthen
1
Rev. Rees Evans, Llandebie
1
Rev. John Griffiths, D.D., Llandilo
1
John Jennings, Esq., Greenfields, Llanelly
1
John Prothero Lewis, Esq., Bryneithin, Llandilo
1
Rev. Prof. Morgan, Carmarthen
1
Wm. Morris, Esq., Pontamman Cross Inn
1
Rev. John Rhys Morgan, West End, Llanelly
1
Henry Norton, Esq., Greenhill, Carmarthen
2
Douglas A. Onslow, Esq., J.P., Pembrey
1
Mr. David Rees, Stepney Place, Llanelly
1
Wm. Rosser, Esq., C.E., Greenfield House, Llanelly
1
Mr. David Rees, Shipbroker, Llanelly
1
John Prytherch, Esq., Banker, Llandilo
1
Thos. Barton Snead, Esq., Solicitor, Llanelly
1
John Thomas, Esq., Glamorganshire Bank, Llandilo
1
J. Little Thomas, Esq., Gynin House, St. Clears
1
Wm. Thomas, Esq., Wellfield, Llanelly
1
Mr. Henry Thomas, Mina Street, Llanelly
1
Rev. David Williams, Vicarage, Llanelly
1
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George Henry Adams, Esq., King St., Mold
1
Andrew Jones Brereton, Esq. (Andreas o Von), Mold
2
Andrew Brereton, Esq., 11, Edmund Street, Oldham St., Liverpool
1
John Griffiths, Esq., 28, Chapel Street, Liverpool
1
William Jones, Esq., Tyddyn House, Mold
1
W. O. Jones, Esq., Mona Brewery, Llanfachrith, Anglesea
1
W. Brereton Jones, Esq., Victoria Brewery, Llangyfin, Anglesea
1
Rev. T. R. Lloyd (yr Estyn), Llanfynydd, Wrexham
1
Love Jones Parry, Esq., Madryn, Pwllheli, North Wales
1
Wm. Parry, Esq., Marlow Terrace, Wrexham Street, Mold
1
Mr. Benjamin Powell, High Street, Mold
1
Thomas Williams, Esq., Tyddyn Waun, Llanfechel, Anglesea
1
John Davies, Esq., Albert Road, Fenton Stoke, Stafford
1
Henry Hurst, Esq., 4, Norton Terrace, Llandrindod Wells
1
William Morgan, Esq., Middle House, Penybont
1
N. Bennett, Esq., Trefeglwys, Llanidloes
1
Thos. Morley, Esq., Bryntimon, Gold Tops, Newport
1
Rev. Hugh Williams, M.A., J.P., Chancellor of Llandaff, Bassaleg Vicarage, Newport
1
Thos. Reece Thomas, Esq., J.P., D.L., Lampeter House, Narberth
1
[178]This is a literal fact.
[260]Mr. Eli, I fancy, obtained some of his facts from Pennant.