University of Virginia Library

For centuries after the union of Cambria with England, it was common for the Welsh to designate the English by the name of Saxons. In the unfrequented parts of Wales, the custom is not unknown in the present day.

The law of Gavel-kind, enacted an equal division of property, between children. This law prevailed among the Ancient Britons, and which, from being continued by the Welsh, weakened their national strength, and contributed greatly towards their final subjugation.

“David, the Brother of Llewellyn, fled into England and joined his interest with that of Edward. Tho' levity of temper and a turbulent spirit for a long time influenced this Prince, a ray of returning virtue brightened the declining period of his life.”—Warrington.

Sometimes a person received the honor of knighthood, by simply kneeling, and receiving, from his superior, a touch with the point of a sword on his head, but this was chiefly confined to the field of battle, or where circumstances did not admit of a longer process. On other occasions it was made a formal ceremony. When Geoffrey Duke of Normandy was knighted, his arms were brought to him in great state: he was deliberately invested with an incomparable coat of mail, wrought with double chains or links of iron, so closely interwoven that it was impenetrable to the point of a spear or arrow. The chausses, or boots of mail, were made also with double chain-work. These were presented to him, with a pair of gilt spurs which were put on his feet. This done, a shield was hung on his neck, ornamented with lions of gold; an helmet richly decorated with precious stones, and so well tempered that no sword could make any impression upon it, was set upon his head; a lance was then brought to him, made of oak, and surmounted with a head of iron of Poictou; and lastly a sword was presented to him from the royal treasury. Thus equipped he went forth a noble knight.

A large Marsh, near Chester, extending into Flintshire.

“Hugh Lupus built a Hall suitable to his hospitality. He is said to have been, not only liberal, but profuse. He kept no account of receipts and disbursements, and ‘was much fonder of huntsmen and stout eaters than he was of cultivators of the land and holy men.’ By his gluttony he became so fat, as to be wheeled backward and forward to his banquets.” —Pennant.

“Hugh Lupus was kinsman of William the Conqueror, and received from him the Earldom of Chester. His descendants becoming extinct, in the reign of Henry III. it reverted to the crown, and Henry bestowed it on his son Edward, from which time the Earldom of Chester is one of the titles always bestowed on the King's Eldest Son.” —Sir John Dodridges' Account of the Earldom of Chester.

Edward always entertained great affection for his Queen. She accompanied him on his expedition into Scotland, where he went to decide which of the two competitors (Baliol or Bruce) had the superior claim to the throne of Scotland. On their arrival at Derby, the Queen died, when the inconsolable Monarch had her remains carried to Westminster, and at every place at which the body stopped, he ordered a sumptuous cross to be erected. “The crosses erected were, at Charing by Westminster, in Westcheape of London, at Waltham in Essex, at St. Albanes in Hartfordshire, at Dunstable, at Stony-stratford, at Northampton, at Woborne and Grantham.” —Stow.

The circumstances of Edward having been wounded by an assassin, in Palestine, with the magnanimity of his Queen in sucking out the poison, are thus described.

“The Saracens found out a fit person to engage in the assassination of Edward. The man had been brought up under ground, to make him the more daring, and to keep him from adopting any sentiments of humanity by conversing with other mortals. This wretch, either bringing letters from the Admiral to introduce him to the Prince, or else insinuating himself into the family by speaking French, and pretending he had some important secret to cqmmunicate, got admittance to the King when he was alone in his chamber, and shutting the door after him, he thought the opportunity favourable for his execrable design. It was on Friday, in Whitsun-week, June 17th, the weather very hot, and the Prince sitting on the bed in a loose vest, when the Assassin, drawing on a sudden a poisoned dagger from under his girdle, attempted to stab him in the belly, but the Prince, attempting to parry it with his arm received there a deep wound, and striking up the villain's heels with his foot, seized the dagger and plunged it in his heart. The Prince's Servant, hearing a noise, broke into the room, and taking a jointstool, dashed out the Assassin's brains, not without a severe reprimand from Edward for striking a Dead Person.” —Carte's England.

“By reason of the envenomed blade, the wounds were feared to be mortal, wherein the Lady Elenor gave so rare example of conjugall affection, as her immortal memory doth justly impart glory to that whole Sex. For when no medicine could extract the Poison, shee did it with her tongue, licking dayly, while her Husband slept, his rankling wounds, whereby they perfectly closed, and yet her selfe received no harme; so sovereigne a medicine is a Wife's Tongue anointed with the virtue of lovely affection.” —Speed.

There is a remarkable alliteration in some of the rivers of South Wales. To the great confusion of the traveller, the following are found within a small compass.

Tovy Towa Tawy Towy Tivy Tave.

These names bear a resemblance to the Cornish rivers, Taw, Tavy, and Tidy. I am induced to mention the distinction, or the reader might otherwise suppose, that I had enumerated, in the text, some of the Welsh rivers.

“Commissioners were appointed in the reign of Edward I. to examine the Titles by which the Barons and others held their lands. These Commissioners, by a vigorous exertion of their authority, gave great trouble and vexation to many; but a stop was put to their inquiries, by the boldness of Earl Warren, who appearing before these Commissioners and being desired to produce the instruments, by which he held his Estates, drew an old rusty sword out of its scabbard, and said, ‘This is the instrument by which my Ancestors gained their estates, and by which, as long as I live, I will keep them.’ This answer being reported to Edward, he wisely revoked the commission.” —Henry.

Dugdale however observes, that Edward was induced to dissolve the commission, not from the simple opposition of Earl Warren, but because “the rest of the Nobles then present, concurred therein,” which better reconciles Edward's acknowledged firmness, with the casual though politic renunciation of his design. The same writer mentions an anecdote of Earl Warren which exhibits his determined spirit. Warren had quarrelled with Sir Alan la Zouch about the right to certain lands, and, finding it probable that the law would decide it against him, in the midst of his wrath he happened to meet Sir Alan and his Son in Westminster Hall: “whereupon having first passionately vented himself in foul language, he at length assaulted them with such violence that he almost killed the one and much wounded the other.” Warren was fined ten thousand marks for this misdemeanor, but his native bravery always rendered him a favourite with Edward, which was manifested amongst other evidences, by the special precept that the King issued on Warren's death, requiring the Bishop of London throughout his whole Diocese, to pray for and grant indulgences for “the goode of his soul.”