The Acts of Welsh Rulers, 1120-1283

Huw Pryce

• Publisher: University of Wales Press
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780708323830
• eBook ISBN: 9781783164295
• Edition: 2
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

Now republished with minor corrections, this volume provides the first comprehensive collection of charters, letters and other documents issued by native rulers of Wales from the early twelfth century to the Edwardian conquest of 1282–3 that extinguished independent rule. It thereby makes more accessible than ever before a key body of source material for the study of medieval Wales during 'the age of the princes' – an era of struggles for power by native rulers both among themselves and with Marcher lords and the English crown.

The edition contains 618 documents, of which 444 survive as texts, while the remaining 174 are known only from mentions in other sources. The texts, almost all in Latin, are edited to modern scholarly standards and provided with full English summaries as well as notes on individual points of detail such as persons and places mentioned. Coverage is intentionally broad. The term 'ruler' has been applied to members not only of the dominant dynasties of Deheubarth, Powys and, above all, Gwynedd but also of minor dynasties such as those of Arwystli or Senghennydd; and, in a world where political power was often contested and fragmented, to individuals within each dynasty who exercised some measure of authority, however limited geographically or temporally. Likewise, the edition includes all known documents issued as expressions of a ruler's will, including petitions and records of judgements as well as charters, letters patent and correspondence with other rulers, notably kings of England but also kings of France, popes and other churchmen. In addition, agreements with the English crown and other third parties are published irrespective of whether they survive in ratifications issued by the Welsh ruler concerned.

GWYNEDD

GRUFFUDD AP CYNAN

(d. 1137)

191 Ralph, archbishop of Canterbury

Letter, from Gruffudd and all the clergy and people of Wales, requesting the consecration of their bishop-elect as soon as possible, since they have lacked a pastor for many years, during which they have been without chrism or any spiritual jurisdiction. It is the archbishop’s duty to aid their church, as it is a daughter of his church. However, if they fail to obtain a bishop from Ralph, they will seek one from Ireland or some other barbarous region.

[Shortly before 4 April 1120]

B = Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 452, p. 309. s. xii¹.

Pd. from B, Eadmer, Historia Novorum, ed. Rule, 259–60.

Radulfo Cantuariensis ecclesie archiepiscopo, reverendo patri, Deo hominibusque dilecto Criphin(us) et universus clerus totius Gvalis et populus, orationes, devotiones, servitium et salutem. Supplices et humi pedibus vestris prostrati paternitatem vestram deprecamur, ut electum nostrum consecretis citissime in episcopum, pro Dei amore et salute anime vestre; quia cum magna calamitate per multos annos caremus pastore, in quibus nec crisma habuimus nec aliquid cristianitatis vere. Vestrum est igitur succurrere nostre ecclesie, quia filia est vestre matris ecclesie. Et si nunc, quod absit, episcopum non habebimus ex vestra parte, queremus aliquem de Hib(er)nia insula vel de alia aliqua barbara regione. In Deo crescat dignitas vestra.

The bishop-elect was David, identified by William of Malmesbury with David the Scot, the Irish master of the cathedral school of Würzburg who accompanied Henry V of Germany on his expedition to Rome in 1111 (William of Malmesbury, Gesta Regum, ed. Mynors et al., i. 764–5; ii. 385). A terminus ad quem for the letter is provided by David’s consecration as bishop of Bangor on 4 April 1120 (Eadmer, Historia Novorum, ed. Rule, 260; his profession of obedience to Ralph is printed in Canterbury Professions, ed. Richter, no. 67). The see had been vacant following the flight from Gwynedd, probably in the late 1090s, of the previous bishop, Hervé, a Norman appointee consecrated in 1092 who was translated to the newly created see of Ely in 1109 (Lewis, ‘Gruffudd ap Cynan’, 74). There seems no reason to doubt the letter’s authenticity, and Conway Davies was probably correct to regard it as ‘a home-made document, and not one dictated at Canterbury’ (Episc. Acts, ii. 552); no Canterbury writer is likely to have drafted the penultimate sentence threatening consecration in Ireland. That such petitions for consecration were preserved in Canterbury is also shown by Eadmer’s citation of several from Ireland and Scotland (Historia Novorum, ed. Rule, 76–7, 279–80, 297–8); none of these bear close verbal resemblances to the present letter. The significance of David’s appointment as bishop is assessed in Lewis, ‘Gruffudd ap Cynan’, 75–6.

OWAIN GWYNEDD

(d. 23(?) November 1170)

(?)† 192 Bernard, bishop of St Davids

Letter, from Owain, king of Wales, and Cadwaladr, announcing their obedience from now on, although hitherto he had not enjoyed their friendship. A certain Bishop Maurice had entered the church of St Daniel like a thief, without any invitation from them, concerning whose unjust status they have decided to submit to the bishop’s counsel. With the aid of God and the bishop they do not wish to have such a pastor at all, but desire to supplant him totally as is just. Although up to now they have, through pride, denied the old right of the church of St David, namely the archbishopric, they recognize it now and are ready to do penance; therefore they will not delay making satisfaction to him concerning all these matters. They beseech him to come with Anarawd ap Gruffudd to meet them on the feast of All Saints [1 November] at Aberdyfi, so that they may discuss the above-mentioned matters and strive to restore the ancient right of his church.

[February × October 1140]

B = Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, MS Reg. lat. 470, fo. 16v. s. xiii.

C = ibid., fos 17v–18r.

Pd. from B, Davies, ‘Materials’, 300–1; from B, ‘Giraldus Cambrensis: De Invectionibus’, ed. Davies, 142–3; from C, ibid., 146–7.

Cd., Gir. Camb. Op., iii. 59 (De Invectionibus, II. 9); Haddan and Stubbs, i. 345; Episc. Acts, i. 259–60 (D. 122); H, no. 325.

B.^a Dei gratia Meneven(si) episcopo Oene(us) rex Wallie^b et Kadwaladerus^c salutem et omne bonum. Notum sit vestre potestati, licet ante non profuerit nostra vobis amicitia, nos amodo nostram vobis propalare obedientiam. Non lateat etiam vestram clementiam quendam hominem Mauritiu(m)^d episcopum nomine Sancti Daniel’^e ecclesiam non per hostium sed aliunde, ut fur vel latro, nobis omnibus invitis intrasse, de cuius statu iniusto decretum est nobis vestrum inconcussum subire consilium. Talem enim pastorem nostre ecclesie animeque nostre tutorem esse Deo et vobis auxiliantibus nullatenus volumus, sed cum iustum sit, eum omnino supplantare desideramus. Hactenus autem ecclesie Sancti D(avi)d vetus ius, scilicet archiepiscopatum, superbie radice subtraximus, quod demum recognoscimus atque penitere non denegamus; ideoque satisfactionem vobis facere de omnibus hiis non protelamus. Quamobrem vestram `obtestamur dignitatem quatinus pro Dei amore nostraque petitione cum Anaraud filio G(ri)ffini in festo omnium sanctorum ad hostium Deui erga nos omni excusatione remota veniatis, ut deliberationem de supradictis agamus et vestre ecclesie antiquum ius restituere nitamur.

As the present letter is preserved only in Gerald of Wales’s De Invectionibus (completed 1216), it is possible that Gerald forged it in order to demonstrate that the metropolitan claims of St Davids (renewed by him between 1198 and 1203) had been supported by Gwynedd rulers in the past. However, the balance of probability is against its being an outright fabrication. It is implausible that Gerald would have gone to the lengths of presenting such support in the context of a campaign by the secular power to remove a canonically consecrated bishop of Bangor. Moreover, while supportive of Bishop Bernard’s campaign to secure metropolitan status for St Davids, the letter primarily reflects the objectives of Owain and Cadwaladr in Gwynedd and is therefore unlikely to have been composed at St Davids in the time of Bernard. Yet, though probably not concocted ex nihilo, the letter may have been doctored by Gerald to emphasize the senders’ submission to St Davids, and the extent to which it represents an authentic document sent by Owain and Cadwaladr is therefore uncertain.

It is quite conceivable that the brothers sought an alliance with Bishop Bernard of St Davids in a bid to reassert control over the church of Bangor. Meurig (Maurice) gave fealty to King Stephen as bishop-elect of Bangor at Worcester on or around 3 December 1139, despite having been ordered not to do so by the archdeacon – probably Simeon of Clynnog – of his predecessor Bishop David, and was consecrated by Archbishop Theobald on or shortly after 31 January 1140 (Chronicle of John of Worcester, iii, ed. McGurk, 278–9, 284–5; Richter, Giraldus, 31). The letter appears to have been written in response to these events, and thus, inasmuch as it is authentic, after Meurig’s consecration early in 1140 but before the date of the proposed meeting at Aberdyfi on 1 November, presumably in the same year. There is no evidence to show whether the meeting took place or whether Owain and Cadwaladr made any other contact with Bernard. However, despite the brothers’ objections, Meurig established himself as bishop at Bangor (though when precisely is uncertain), for he later fled from his diocese to Canterbury, probably c.1154 × 1157, after falling out with Owain and many of his clergy on account of his attempts to promote ecclesiastical reform; it is unknown whether he returned to Bangor before his death on 12 August 1161. See HW, ii. 483–4; Richter, Giraldus, 31–2; Letters of John of Salisbury, i, no. 87; Pryce, ‘Esgobaeth Bangor’, 44–5. Bernard, bishop of St Davids 1115–48, probably began his unsuccessful campaign to secure recognition of St Davids as a metropolitan see with authority over the other Welsh bishoprics in the late 1130s (Richter, Giraldus, 38–52; St Davids Episcopal Acta, 4). Anarawd ap Gruffudd was the eldest son and successor of Gruffudd ap Rhys (d. 1137), ruler of Deheubarth. He found favour with the clergy of St Davids for killing the Flemish leader Letard Litelking, described in the Annals of St Davids as ‘an enemy of God and St David’, in 1137 and negotiated a truce with Owain and Cadwaladr in 1138. By 1143 he was betrothed to a daughter of Owain, and this alliance may explain why he was murdered by Cadwaladr’s warband in that year (AC, 40–2; BT, Pen20Tr, 53; BT, RBH, 118–19).

193 Louis VII, king of France

Letter, informing the king that, since he has heard of his virtue, dignity and nobility from rumour and the truthful report of many, Owain has long desired to come to the king’s notice and have his friendship. Though he has hitherto been hindered by the rarity of travellers and the distance of places between them, from now on he shall endeavour to obtain this friendship by both writing and messenger. Placing himself and his possessions at the king’s command, Owain prays that, though largely unknown to him up to now, the king may deign to consider him amongst his faithful and devoted friends, and asks him to reply to this petition without delay through the bearer of the present letter.

[c.October 1163 × July 1165]

B = Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, MS Reg. lat. 179, fo. 234v. s. xii ex.

Printed from B, HFS, iv. 733 (no. 472); from B, Pryce, ‘Owain Gwynedd’, 26 (and trans., ibid., 4); from HFS, RHF, xvi. 116 (no. 357).

Cd., Teske, Briefsammlungen, 398 (no. 474); H, no. 327.

L. gloriosissimo Francor(um) regi Owin(us) rex Walie salutem et devotissimum obsequium. Ex quo vestre virtutis magnificentiam et amplissimam vestre dignitatis ac nobilitatis excellentiam fama nuntiante et veridica multorum relatione accepi, in vestre celsitudinis notitiam venire, et dulcissimam vestram amicitiam habere, summo desiderio a multis temporibus desideravi. Sed quod hactenus, commeantium raritate impediente et locorum distantia, obtinere non potui, decetero ut obtineam tam scripto quam nuntio diligenter laborabo. Me igitur et mea, si qua vobis placent, vestre voluntati ad nutum exponens, summa precum instantia deposco quatinus me, hucusque multimode^a discretioni vestre incognitum, inter vestros fideles et devotos amicos amodo habere dignemini. Quid autem carissime vestre dilectioni super petitione proposita placuerit, per presentium latorem michi significare non differatis. Valeant qui vos feliciter et diu regnare desiderant. Valete.

The dating and significance of this and the other two letters from Owain to the Capetian court are discussed in Pryce, ‘Owain Gwynedd’. The present letter appears to be Owain’s first approach to Louis VII (1137–80) and thus pre-dates no. 196, written no earlier than September 1165. Although, in contrast to the latter, the present letter makes no mention of hostility from the king of England, the decision to seek Louis’s support was probably part of a broader strategy by Owain to defy Henry II. If so, the letter is unlikely to have been written earlier than the autumn of 1163: Owain did homage to Henry II on 1 July of that year, but had apparently greatly angered the king by October through his assumption of the title ‘prince’. However, Owain’s defiance of the king only turned into open rebellion in the late autumn of 1164, and the initial approach may therefore have taken place between that date and Henry II’s ill-fated Welsh campaign of July–August 1165 (Pryce, ‘Owain Gwynedd’, 4–5).

194 Hugh de Champfleury, bishop of Soissons and chancellor of the king of France

Letter, thanking God and the bishop for what the latter had written to Owain through his messenger Moses, namely that if Owain should send his messenger to the king of France again, he should make him come through the bishop, so that with his help the messenger’s purpose might be accomplished more effectively. Owain is therefore sending this Moses as his messenger to consult with the bishop concerning his business, and entreats him to support Moses with respect to the king and to assist Owain’s side.

[c. November 1163 × July 1165]

B = Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, MS Reg. lat. 179, fos 230v–231r. s. xii ex.

Pd. from B, HFS, iv. 729 (no. 460); from B, Pryce, ‘Owain Gwynedd’, 26–7 (and trans., ibid., 6); from HFS, RHF, xvi. 205 (no. 29).

Cd., Teske, Briefsammlungen, 397 (no. 462); H, no. 328.

Ow’ rex Walie, suus amicus devotissimus H. Suessionensi episcopo et regis Francie cancellario, suo patri in Cristo et amico dilectissimo, debitam ac voluntariam cum salute amicitiam.^a Deo patri, mi venerande, et vestre discretioni gratias refero, de hoc quod mihi per nuntium meum Moysen litteris vestris mandastis, ut scilicet si meum nuntium iterum mitterem domino regi Francie, per vos divertere facerem, ut vestro suffragio efficacius suum propositum effectui mancipare valeret. Unde et nunc istum M’. nuntium meum vobis mittimus consulendum de suo negotio, vos obnixe deprecando quatinus eum versus regem foveatis, et partem nostram pro Dei amore et nostro iuvetis. Valete.

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Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Maps
• List of Genealogical Tables
• List of Tables
• List of Plates
• Acknowledgements
• General Abbreviations and Conventions
• Manuscript Sources Cited
• Bibliography (including Bibliographical Abbreviations)
• INTRODUCTION
• EDITORIAL METHOD
• ARWYSTLI
• CEDEWAIN
• DEHEUBARTH
• ELFAEL AND MAELIENYDD
• GLAMORGAN
• GWYNEDD
• GWYNLLŴG
• POWYS
• SENGHENNYDD
• Concordance between K. L. Maund, Handlist of the Acts of Native Welsh Rulers, 1132–1283 (H), and the present edition (AWR)
• Index of Persons and Places
• Index of Subjects