A Chronological of Celtic Wales
(Some dates may be incorrect or a few years out)
1314
Gilbert de Clare Lord of Glamorgan died at the battle Bannokburn he was the last male heir.
1315
A war started Llywelyn Bren; that was raised between him and the men of Glamorgan which lasted 9 weeks.
1318
Hugh Dispenser, the brother in law of Gilbert de Clare who was the new Lord of Glamorgan had Llywelyn Bren executed.
1321
War of the Barons called in Welsh “Rhyvel y Barwniaid”.
1325
Einion Offeiriad wrote is book “Grammar “as a guide for the poets, a work which was firmly rooted in the medieval tradition of rhetoric and received influences from France.
1326
Roger Mortimer of Chirk, Justice at Caernavon and Carmarthen from around 1308-22. He was not liked by the Welsh and they sent a petition to Edward 11, his desire to placate the Welsh was strengthened by the fear that the victory of Robert Bruce at Bannockburn would encourage the Welsh to defy the English crown. Roger Mortimer was imprisoned and escaped and fled to France where he became a lover of Isabella wife of Edward 11, who was in Paris on a mission for her husband, they then agreed their enmity towards the Dispenser’s and towards the King himself, their invaded England in 1326 and the king retreated before him to Wales, he was seized probably at Penrhys.
1327
War of the queen called in Welsh “Rhyvel y Vrenhines” in which king Edward 11 with the name Carnarvon, was taken and Hugh Dispenser and many other nobles at Llantrisant in Maeskyn (Miskin) were led through divers parts of England and there slain. Rhys ap Gruffudd failed in his attempt to free him and he was murdered at Berkley in September 1327.
1346
The battle of Cressy was fought, where the Welsh acquired great fame for their achievements in support of Edward the black Prince. It was at this time that Captain Cadwgan Voel called to the Welsh, desiring them to put leeks in their helmets, the battle, there, being in a field of leeks: and they looked about, they were all Welshmen in that locality except 130; and it was from this circumstance that the Welsh took to wearing leeks.
1348
The sweating plague seized the Normans and the Saxons in Wales many of whom died, but scarcely a Welshmen died, except such as were English on one side.
1349
Severe diseases seized the cattle throughout the countries of Somerset and Devon, and a great mortality took place among them; which was the origin of taking gold in payment for cattle from Englishmen, who now bought largely to supply the deficiencies where morality prevailed.
1350
The male line of the descendants of the last King of Glamorgan ended around this time. The last was Lleision whose father was Lord of Afan Morgan Fychan which was a centre of Welsh resistance.
1361
A second pestilence which was not so dreadful as the one in 1348, in this year a strong and unheard of wind, which by its blast overthrew to the ground innumerable towers of churches, crosses of stone and others, that were placed in the streets, over tuned houses, uprooted woods and groves in a wonderful manner when this verses.
In the year one thousand, and three hundred,
And sixty and one, and on thy day, O Maurus!
There was a vehement storm of wind.
1370
A third pestilence.
1375
A fourth pestilence.
1378
Owen the son of Elidir came to Wales from France, where he had espoused the cause of the French King against Edward the Black Prince; thus betraying England. This Owen built a very fair house at Llantwit Major, but is wounded conscience pained him so much, for betraying Prince Edward, in France, that in penance, he abstained from all means of sustenance until he died from want and as they bore his body to the grave two hounds passing by seized and tore him to pieces, leaving no two bone together. He wrote in Welsh an account of his deeds, and at his death the lord paramount took possession of his wealth and very rich in gold and silver.
1392
A young man and woman went to the chapter house at Llandaff, during vespers, and conducted themselves very disgracefully, but they died there both at the very same instant and the bishop caused their bodies to be thrown to the dogs and ravens.
1399
A Welshman named Llewellyn ab Cadwgan but was never mentioned his family connections came from the Turkish war to reside in Cardiff; and so considerable was his wealth that he gave out to every poor person of whatever country, that supplicated his succour, or that he perceived to be in want. He built a large mansion near the old white tower for the support of the sick and person infirm years. He gave all that was asked of him, until his wealth had all gone and then he sold his large and fair mansion called the New Place to the family of the Mathews, and gave away the proceeds, until every resource failed; after which, he died of want, for no one gave to him, but rather accused him of prodigally wasting his riches.
1401
The insects of leaves did immense injury throughout the country by destroying the leaves and grass to such an extent, that no provender was left for cattle: but someone scattered lime over the fields, to destroy them so that they were not only there by killed but the ground being thus limed, bore consequently, astonishing crops of con and hay; from which circumstances land-liming became a prevalent practice in Glamorgan.
1403
Contentious in sports and pastimes took place between 127 men of Glamorgan and the same number of the men in Gwent, in which the men of Glamorgan proved triumphant; whereupon the Gwentians became enraged; and; drawing their daggers insisted that the men of Glamorgan had taken from them their property in money and clothes, and they killed more than one hundred persons, including men, women and children. This cruelty impelled the men of Glamorgan to master them in all feats and sports. The said circumstance gave rise to the adage “Glamorgan thieves”, in Gwent “The blood-hounds of Gwent” in Glamorgan.
1405
In this year a bloody battle, attended with great slaughter that in severity, was scarcely ever exceeded in Wales took place on Pwll Melyn Mountain near Usk, where Griffith ab Owen and his men were taken and many imprisoned; but many were also put to death when captured. Whereupon all Glamorgan became Saxons, except a small number who followed their lord North Wales, where they resided and had issue.
1406
The inhabitants of Ystrad Tywy, Pebydiog and Ceredigion turned Saxons; Geraint the son of Owen, was obliged to conceal himself. Many also went to Armorica and Ireland; for the wages of treason and reaction had rendered unavailing all the struggles of the Welsh for their rights and crown and Wales had now so impoverished that even the means of barely sustaining life could not be obtained, but through the rewards given by the king.
1407
An immense fish was cast ashore between St Donat’s and Llantwit, where it died, and became so putrid that the stench caused severe diseases. At last the inhabitants collected large quantities of straw and set fire to it which spread the putrid air so much more, that maladies, causing great mortality among men and beats ensued; but cattle suffered mostly. Sir Edward Stradling gave a great number of cows which he had brought from his own estate in Somersetshire, to the poor of the district. The fish was twenty two yards long and between three and four yards high.
1408
The men of Glamorgan were excited to commotion through the extreme oppression inflicted on them by the king’s men; but many of the chieftains who had obtained royal favour burnt their corn-stacks and barns, that the partisans of Owen might not obtain needful food. Those chieftains fled to the extremities of England and North Wales, where they were defended in the castles and dales of the king’s forces and supported by the rewards of treason and stratagem; and Owen could not recover his lands and authority because of the treachery prevalent in Anglesea and Arvon, which the men of Glamorgan designated the treason of Penmynydd in Mona.
1410
Nine monopolisers of the wages of treason and stratagem were caught in Glamorgan, Gwent, Ystrad Tywy and Ceredigion and hanged by the natives contrary to the wishes of Owen, who preferred keeping them in prison as hostages rather than putting them to death.
1411
A large ship came ashore under the Tresilian Wood; but no one was found in the country who understood the language of its crew. The lord of the manor took to the ship; and it was one of its sailors who first taught the Welsh to knit stockings.
1413
The king and his army vanquished Owen and his adherents; thenceforth the cause of the latter became more than hopeless.
1415
Owen disappeared so that neither sight nor tidings of him could be obtained in the country. It was rumoured that he escaped in the guise of a reaper bearing a sickle according to the testimony of the last that saw and knew him, nor of the place or manner of his concealment. The prevalent opinion was, that he died in a wood in Glamorgan; but occult chroniclers assert, that he and his men still live, and are asleep on their arms, in a cave called Gogov y ddinas “The cavern of the Fortress” in the Vale of Gwent where they will continue until England become self-debased; but that then they will sally forth, and re-conquer their country, privileges and crown for the Welsh, who shall be dispossessed of them no more until the day of judgement, when the world shall be consumed with fire, an so reconstructed, that neither oppression nor devastation shall take place any more; and blessed will he be who shall see the time.
1417
The privileges of trades and schools (appendix) were denied to the Welsh further than to give them English instruction for which purpose English teachers were introduced to Wales: so that their language became the common medium of conversation among the natives; for no national rights were allowed to any, but those only who spoke English and did not know Welsh; consequently many of the Welsh from that time forth denied their language and resolved to turn Saxons.
1419
Three days of such intense heat occurred, that numbers of men and beasts perished and birds died in the wing. At this time also the green vermin were killed throughout the Island of Britain, and never reappeared there again: from which circumstances, the good affected to the country exceeded the injury caused by the heat. A brake of wood in Margam Park withered and likewise many trees and hedges about Nash and westward where the evening sun was most ardent about three o’clock.
1461
William Herbert of Raglan went to parliament as Baron Herbert the first Welshman of full blood to the ranks of English titled aristocracy. His grandfather was Dafydd Gam who fought at the battle of Agincourt where he died in 1415.