552. MAELGWYN the king of North Wales endowed, at this time, A. D. the See of Bangor, with lands and franchises: he likewise erected the town of that name; and also built or repaired Shrewsbury, and the castle of Harlech. It was at Bangor that this prince, struck, as it is said, with remorse for the crimes of his past life, refolved to devote himself to the aufterities of a cloister; but he foon renounced that defign, and returned to the affairs of government, and to his old habits of criminal pleasures.* At this period, when the Saxons had conquered a great part of Britain, and had made their approaches to the borders of Cambria, that country appears to have been divided into fix principalities. And in the present critical fituation of affairs, the people of those districts affembled at the mouth of the river Dyvi, and elected Maelgwyn to the fovereign dignity. The A. D. choice of the Britons, in such a dangerous crifis, reflects fome degree of honour on this prince; and feems to contradict the character given of him by Gildas, who has cenfured him in the true spirit of monastic severity. 569. 560. UPON the death of Maelgwyn, his fon Rhun fucceeded to the A. D. government of North Wales. This prince had a long and bloody war with the Saxons of Northumberland; and on his Rowland, p. 187. Gildas Epistola, p. 12. 5 Humfrey Lhuyd's Langhorni, p. 98. 3 J. Roffi, Ant. Warw. p. 65. L 2 return A. D. 586. return into Wales, he gave great privileges to the inhabitants of Caernarvonshire, as a recompence for having detained them fo long from their families on that northern expedition.' This prince refided at Caer Rhun, fituated upon the banks of the river Conway;' and at his death was succeeded by his fon Beli.' Ar this period, arrived Crida with a numerous body of Saxons; and having forced the Britons beyond the Severn, he founded the kingdom of Mercia; the greatest and the last principality of the Saxon heptarchy. The establishment of these seven kingdoms narrowed the bounds of the British dominions. Preffed on every fide by advancing enemies, and weakened by inceffant wars, the Britons were at length obliged to retire before the Saxon arms. But they retired indignant, and by flow degrees, to make another ftruggle for liberty amidst the mountains of Wales; a country which had been formed by nature as the fuitable retreat, and the last asylum of freedom. MANY Britons likewife retired into Cornwall and Armorica ; and the latter country, about this time, took the name of Bretaigne,' on account of the great number of the refugees who had fettled in it. THE native Britons being in a great measure exterminated, or forced to fly into other countries, and the Saxons having carried Rowland's Mon. Ant. p. 164. 3 Ibid. p. 187. 2 Ibid. p. 148. on on their conquests with the same destructive spirit which distinguished the other northern nations, the government of the conquerors, their laws, manners and language, with the names alfo of many of their cities, villages, rivers and woods,' were of confequence introduced into Britain; and became so perfectly established, that almoft the remembrance of ancient inftitutions was loft. In reflecting on the many caufes which have contributed to the decline of the ancient British empire, one will perhaps occur which may be thought more striking than the reft. This defect in the national character of the Britons, was an almost uniform negligence in establishing a naval power; although experience, and a maritime fituation, pointed out its expediency; as the only effectual means of contending with the Saxons, and of counteracting their designs. This mode of defence was so obvious, that it might have ftruck the minds of any people, more rude than the Britons, who were fituated in an ifland, and exposed to continual invafions. HISTORY OF WALES. BOOK III. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE WARS BETWEEN THE SAXONS AND WELSH, TO THE DEATH OF RODERIC THE GREAT. THE British empire being reduced to the narrow limits of Cambria, except the small territories of Cornwall and StrathClyde, that country about this period took the name of Wales. The inhabitants, likewife, with their ancient fituation loft the title of Britons, and became distinguished by the name of the Welsh. Poffeffed of the warlike spirit which marked the British character, they carried into their mountains that rooted inveteracy against the Saxons, which hereditary wars, heightened by every injury, would naturally excite. The fame severity of fortune which diftinguished the ancient Britons, awaited the defcendants of that brave people in their last afylum; as the conqueft of this barren domain became the object of ambition, and policy, to the Saxon and Norman princes. ABOUT 599. ABOUT this period, the province of Cymru, or Wales, appears A. D. to have been divided into fix principalities, and governed by fo many Reguli ;' acknowledging, however, the fupremacy of the kings of North Wales. This region extended about two hundred miles in length, and one hundred in breadth;" and was feparated from England* by the rivers Severn and Dee, and furrounded on every other fide by the Irish fea.' other fide by the Irifh fea. The inhabitants in the British language were denominated Cymry; and they called the Saxons Saefon, and their language Saefonaeg.* 599. AT this period Jago ap Beli reigned in North Wales, and A. D. founded the Deanry of Bangor. His fon Cadvan foon after fucceeded to that dignity, The early part of this prince's reign A. D. was distinguished by the battle of Chester," and by the memorable maffacre of the monks of Bangor. EDELFRID the king of Northumberland, having obtained an advantage over the northern Britons, turned his arms against the Welsh; who were at that time in poffeffion of Chester. On his arrival near that city, his army being drawn up in front of the enemy, he perceived a body of men without military appear Humfrey Lhuyd's Breviary of Britain, p. 63. 2 Ibid. p. 57. Verftegan, chap. I. p. 1. • Lloegr. 3 Humfrey Lhuyd, p. 50. 4 Ibid. p. 13, 51. 5 Rowland, p. 187. 6 Ibid. p. 188. 7 Called by the Britons Caer-Lleon-ar-Ddyfrdwy, or the city of the legions upon the water of Dee; the Saxons called it Legan-Ceftre, and afterwards by abbreviation Chefter; it appears in Antoninus, that it was called in Latin Deva, from the river Dee. Humfrey Lhuyd's Breviary, p. 27. 603. ance, |