Until comparatively recently Welsh historical works were uncritical; and although many of them contain much invaluable information, they must be read with caution. Welsh historical scholarship has, however, made great strides recently, and now there are a few excellent books available, more especially for the Middle Ages. For the later period the most valuable material is still scattered about in old numbers of such publications as theCymmrodor, Transactionsof the Cyminrodorion Society, and the Cambrian Archæological Society,Cymru Traethodydd,Y Geninen,Eisteddfod Transactions, etc.; and locked up in theses written for the post-graduate degrees of the Welsh, and other, Universities. A historian with ability to digest, and above all ability to write, is badly needed to deal with this immense volume of material.
The best general introduction is O. M. Edwards'sWales, in the "Story of the Nations" Series. It is delightfully written, and is always interesting and suggestive. Another good book is Rhŷs and Brynmor Jones'sThe Welsh People. Gilbert Stone has written an interesting book,Wales, especially valuable for the pre-Norman period.
For the Middle Ages the standard work is Lloyd'sHistory of Wales, in two volumes. It is scholarly and accurate, but unfortunately only takes us down to the Edwardian Conquest. Haverfield'sRoman Britainis useful. Seebohm'sTribal System in Walesadopts some exploded theories, but is still essential. Little'sMediæval Walesis brilliant and suggestive. Barbier'sAge of Owen Gwyneddis interesting. Morris'sWelsh Wars of Edward Iis valuable for much besides military affairs. Hugh Williams's learned work onChristianity in Early Britainshould be consulted. Other books of interest are Peake'sBronze Age and the Celtic World, and Lewis'sMediæval Boroughs of Snowdonia. Always brilliant, though not always reliable, is Rhoscomyl'sFlame Bearers of Welsh History.
Good biographies of mediæval Welshmen are few. Henry Owen'sGerald the Welshmanis good; also Bradley'sOwen Glyndwr. Tout'sEdward Ishould be consulted, also Wade Evans'sSt. David.
For later times we begin with Llewelyn Williams'sMaking of Modern Wales. It is scholarly, original, and well written; but in parts should be read with great caution. Bowen'sStatutes of Walesis invaluable. Other works of value are Skeel,Council of the Welsh Marches, J. H. Davies'sIntroductionin his edition of the works of Morgan Llwyd; Morrice'sWales in the Seventeenth Century; D. R. Jones'sY Deffroad Addysgawl; The Welsh University(College Histories Series); Elvet Lewis'sNonconformity in Wales. There are some good biographies, notably: Pollard'sHenry VIII; Pierce'sJohn Penry; David Jones'sLife and Times of Griffith Jones of Llanddowror; Ambrose Jones'sGriffith Jones; Hughes'sLife of Howel Harris; Jenkins'sThomas Charles of Bala; Gwynn Jones'sCofiant Thomas GeeOwen Thomas'sCofiant John Jones Talsarn; Williams'sThomas Charles Edwards; McCabe'sRobert Owen; W. E. Davies'sSir Hugh Owen.
Welsh history, like that of most countries, requires a study of contemporary literature, both prose and poetry, for its true understanding. The following works will be found most useful: Gildas;The Mabinogion; Geoffrey of Monmouth'sHistories; Theophilus Evans'sDrych y Prif Oesoedd; Ellis Wynne'sGweledigaethau y Bardd Cwsc; Vicar Pritchard'sCamvyll y Cymry; Morgan Llwyd'sLlyfr y Tri Aderyn. The letters of the brothers Morris, and of Goronwy Owen are illuminating. For social life the novels of Daniel Owen are invaluable. The numerous poets published by O. M. Edwards inCyfres y Fil, together with the Introduction contained in the majority of them, are of the utmost importance. Dr. Edward'sTraethodau Llenyddolcontains many interesting historical essays. Shakespeare's historical plays ought not to be neglected.
For Welsh literature and language the following books should be consulted: Morrice'sManual of Welsh Literature; Robert Owen'sThe Eymry; Griffith'sLlenyddiaeth Cymru; Renan,Poetry of the Celtic Races.
Almost every Welsh castle and monastery has its local historian.
English historians, as a rule, have dealt inadequately, and often ignorantly, with Wales. Bearing this in mind, the student would do well to turn to thePolitical History of England, Green, Clarendon, Gardiner, and Lecky.
Aberconway,80,83
Aberdovey,75
Aberystwyth,67,229,231
Act of Uniformity,199
—— of Union,133
—— the Reform,233
—— for Propagation,194
Age, Old Stone,10
—— New Stone,11-13
—— Bronze,14
Angharad,38
Arles,41
Arthur, King,47
—— Prince,127,129
Bangor,56,71,74,230-231
Bardd Cwsc,240
Barlow, Bishop,148
Beaufort, Margaret,125
Belesme, Robert of,65
Benedictines,41,104,152
Bible, Welsh,154-155,223
Bifort, Llewelyn,120
Black Death,102-103
Bleddyn,39
Blegwryd,48
Bosworth,126
Bow, Long,102
Braose, Reginald,76
Britain,8,9,11,14,23,34-35,40
Brythons,20,32,36
Cantrefs, the Four,83,87-88,90,92
Caratacus,25,26,29
Cardiff,67,230,231
Cardigan,37,69,72
Carmarthen,37,132
Carnarvon,29,96,97
Catholics, Welsh,151-153
Ceiriog,240
Celts,12,15-20
Charles, Thomas,212,222
Charter, Great,75
—— Town,96
Chartists,234
Chester,26,36,67,70,181,186
Christianity,33,40-44
Church, Welsh,42,44,80,119,244
Cistercians,80,105
College
—— Aberystwyth,229,231
—— Bangor,230-231
—— Cardiff,230-231
—— St. Gregory's,152
—— Jesus,219
—— Normal,226
—— Rome,151
—— Swansea,231
—— Theological,228
Corwen,70,122
Council of Princes,75,76,79
Count of Saxon Shore,35
Court, County,96,141
—— of Great Sessions,137,139-141
Cradock, Walter,168,193
Criccieth,81,96
Cromwell, Oliver,187,195,220
—— Thomas,148-149
Cunedda,35,76
Cymmrodorion,230
Danes,8,37-38
David, Saint,47,149
Davies, John (Mallwyd),155
Davydd Gam,117
—— ap Gwilym,240
—— ap Llewelyn,79,81-83
—— ap Sinion,125
Deganwy,36,82
Deheubarth,37,63,68
Deorham,36
Dolgelley,117,118
Druids,27
Dyfed,37,97
Edward I,37,83-100
—— II,64,67,101
—— IV,124,130
Edwards, O. M.,60,95,226,240
—— Lewis,228,240
Eisteddfod,72,218
Elizabeth, Queen,153
—— of York,76,126
Ellis, Tom,243
Evans, Theophilus,207
Feudalism,49
Fitz Osbern,67
Flemings,67
France,7,13,16,103,116,119
French,98,119
Friars,80,105-106
Gaul,16,17,20,23
Gee, Thomas,239
George, D. Lloyd,199,243
Giraldus Cambrensis,56-60
Gladys,76
Glyndwr, Owen,109-123
Goidels,15
Griffith ap Conan,68
—— ap Llewelyn,38,39
—— ap Llewelyn Fawr,79,81,82
—— ap Rees,68,69
Grosmont,78
Gwent,37
Gwenwynwyn,73,76
Gwledig,35
Gwynedd,37,39,49,63,68
Harlech,96,125,186
Harold,38,39
Harris, Howel,199,201-211
Harrison,194-195
Henry I,65
—— II,69,70,71
—— III,77,81,82,87,89,90
—— IV,107,114-115
—— V,118,121
—— VII,126-131
—— VIII,76-144,199
Hereford,67
Howel Dda,38,45,48
Huw Llwyd,191-193
Iberians,13,15
Islwyn,240
Joan,74
John, King,74
Jones, Griffith,201,206,221-222
—— John (Colonel),172,189
—— John (Leander),152
Journalism,237-239
Lake Dwellings,12
Lancastrians,124
Laud, Archbishop,152,167
Laws,44,45-55
Lee, Roland,132
Llewelyn the Great,72-80
—— ap Griffith,83-94
—— ap Seisyll,38
Llwyd, Morgan,172,190,191,194,195-197
Lollards,107
Ludlow,129,137
Macsen Wledig,35
Maelgwn Gwynedd,36
March, Earl of,116,121
Marches,67,75,134,135
—— Council of,130,136,137-139
Methodists,207,211-213
Minerals,14,32,235-236
Mona (Anglesey),27,70,188
Monasteries,41,104,105,147
Montfort, Simon de,89
Montgomery, Roger of,67
—— Treaty of,90,91
Morgan, Bishop,154
Morris, Dr. (Clynnog),151
Mortimer, Edmund,116
—— Ralph,76,83
Nonconformists,165-168,199,213-217
Normans,8,62,63,65,68,69
Offa,37
Owen, Goronwy,233,240
—— Gwynedd,69-70
—— Goch,83
—— Hugh,226,229
—— John (Clenenau),188
—— of Wales,103
Oxford,114
Parliament,101,118,136,237
Peckham, Archbishop,93
Penry, John,159-162
Pope,50,80,119
Powel Vavasour,168,195
Powys,37,63
Prayer Book,154
Preaching,160,213-215
Pritchard, Vicar,162-164
Prys, Edmund,153,155-159,192
Puritanism,165,173,194,201
Rebecca Riots,237
Rees, Lord,57,71-72
Reformation,85,145
Revolution, French,232
—— Industrial,209,234-237
Rhodri Fawr,37
Rhuddlan, Treaty of,92
Rhys ap Thomas,128
Richard, Henry,243
Rowlands, Daniel,206
Saints (Welsh),44
Salesbury, William,154
Schools, Circulating,221-222
—— County,226-227
Schools, Grammar,219-220
—— Sunday,217-218,222-224
Shires,37,96,101,134
Shrewsbury,66,67,89,94,117
Statute of Labourers,102
—— of Staple,102
—— of Wales,96
Strathclyde,36
Towns,96
Tudor, Edmund,125
—— Jasper,125
—— Owen,125
Tudors,125
Turberville, Thomas,98
War, Hundred Years,102
—— Civil,169-198
—— of Roses,124-127,143
Welsh Language,22,135-136,220,241
—— University,119,120,220,229-231
Whitby,44
William I,62,64,66
Williams, Lord Keeper,174-177,184
Williams, of Pantycelyn,207