Accident Or Assassination? the Death of Llywelyn 11Th December 1282

Home , Buellt, Builth Castle, Cilmeri, Elfael, Llanganten, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd

Accident or Assassination? The Death of Llywelyn 11th December 1282

The Story, Original Documents and Poems

Re–published by the Abbey Cwmhir Heritage Trust 2020 with financial help from Cadw. Dr John Davies, Sian Meredudd, Julian Lovell, Roger Coward. 2

Accident or Assassination The Death of Llywelyn, the Last Welsh Prince of Wales

1lth December 1282

CONTENTS

1. Flamebearers of History by Owen Rhoscomyl (1905) Chapters 55 & 56. 10. Contemporary Documents.

18. The Poems in Welsh

24. The Poems in English

29. Cilmeri today.

30. Notes.

31. Map of Cilmeri and Builth area. (Ed:): Editorial comment

THE DEATH OF LLYWELYN by Owen Rhoscomyl

from The Flamebearers of Welsh History (1905) The Plot to Destroy Llywelyn Now the Norman Lords of Cymru - the Lords-Marcher as they were called - hated the Cymric Prince always, but neither did they love the King of England. They looked upon themselves as independent princes, each in his own domain.

So long as there were Princes of Cymru, however, to make war on the King of Eng- land, then the Kings of England would have to encourage the Lords-Marcher in their independence, that they might harass the Princes of Cymru. Once the Princes of Cymru were extinguished, then the next step of the Kings of England would be to crush the Lords-Marcher. Some of the Norman Lords saw that, and they at least had no great wish to see Llywelyn crushed utterly.

Llwvelyn knew this. Already some of the barons were in secret correspondence with him, and when he received word from Edmund Mortimer of Wigmore, one of the great Lords-Marcher saying that he wished to come over to his side, he believed it. For the Mortimers were his cousins, descended from his father's sister, Gladys, daughter of Llywelyn the Great. (Ed: Gladys Ddu or Gladys Ferch Llywelyn d 1251).

Now an English chronicler of that day tells us that Edmund Mortimer did this thing to please King Edward. Llywelyn had always believed that Edward would deal treacherously with him. Edward, therefore, to throw Llywelyn off his guard, chose Edmund Mortimer for his work, for Llywelyn had once spared the life of the father of this Mortimer, because of the kinship between them. He would never suspect treachery, then, from the Mortimers, who were his kinsmen and sons of the man whose life he had spared.

But there was another man in this dark plan who should stand forefront in the blame. That man was John Giffard, a baron whose lands lay close to those of the Mortimers, and had just been appointed Constable of the new castle of Builth.

Whether Edward set him to work with the Mortimers, or whether, as seems more probable, the Mortimers themselves took him into council and set him on the work does not matter here. But, by the rewards which Edward gave him afterwards, it is certain that the actual plot which closed around Llywelyn, was his.

For he was even more the right man to deceive the intended victim than the Morti- mers themselves. Firstly and foremost, he was one of those barons who had joined Simon de Montfort in the struggle for English liberty. He was, indeed, one of the busiest under de Montfort - as long as he thought it would pay. In those old days, when the champions of English liberty looked to Llywelyn for the ready help he always gave, Giffard must have professed himself a great friend of the Prince. 4

Further, Giffard had married Maud Longsord (Ed: de Langspey) who was also a cousin of Llywelyn, for whom she had a warm affection, as she proved afterwards. And that marriage, moreover, made him a Lord-Marcher, in right of his wife's pos- sessions.

Lastly, Llywelyn, knowing him personally, would know him to be quite unscrupu- lous, as his whole record shows him to have been. He had deserted de Montfort in the old days, when he thought the hero's star was waning, and he was always ready to steal lands and revenues, wherever he thought he could do it. In fact, as the documents of his life show, John Giffard was always for himself, no matter who was king or prince. He had fought against Edward and his father, when he thought it would pay. He was capable of fighting against Edward again if he thought that would pay. He was therefore just the man to change sides once more, after the defeat of Luke de Tany had so altered all the prospects of the war. On all counts, then, he would be just the man to be the fittest tool in this affair.

The letters of Edmund Mortimer brought Llywelyn down to the valley of the Wye, with a little band of warriors from Gwynedd. John Giffard, Constable of Builth Cas- tle, made him believe that Builth Castle would be, given up to him. Never repeat that old phrase about 'The Traitors of Builth'.

The Men of Builth, fair play to them, were always as ready as the rest to come out for freedom. And the bard who composed the wild and fiery lament for Llywelyn speaks of Saxon, not Cymric, treachery. The only Saxon there was John Giffard. Giffard had only just been appointed to the command of Builth. Before him, Roger Estrange, Lord-Marcher of Ellesmere and Knockyn, two Cymric lordships in what is now Shropshire, had been commanding there. The Cymry from Ellesmere and Knockyn were still at Builth under Giffard when Llywelyn came down. Now a year or two before this, when the castle was being built, Edward had commanded the father (Ed: Roger de Mortimer) of the Mortimers to cut four roads in different directions from Builth. One of these roads was to a place which he called, in the document, by a name which it still bears, Cevn Bedd, or, as we now say, Cevn y Bedd. It was called Cevn Bedd because of the bedd or grave of some mighty chief of old, who lies buried at the foot of a stone on Waun Eli there. The road from the castle was cut accordingly. On the way it had to cross the river Yrvon, by a wooden bridge, of the sort still seen spanning the Upper Wye (Ed: 19 (2) years after the event). From the bridge it continued along the ridge, following an ancient path, to the homestead of Cevn y Bedd, two miles from Builth. There one ancient trackway branched to the right, north-west, to Llanavan Fawr, and beyond; while another one which the road had followed to this point, kept on forward for a little way, till it passed the head of a little dingle, with a clear spring in it, bubbling out in a tiny stream. There it tumed to the left, south-west, to cross the Irfon at another wooden bridge, within bow-shot of a ford which no man would think existed un- less someone pointed it out to him. When Llywelyn came down he posted his little force on the high ground above the end of the road, between the two trackways. In front of him the road ran on to Builth, but the bridge that should carry it across the Irfon had been de-

stroyed, probably by Roger L’Estrange, after the defeat at Llandeilo had put all the Lords Marcher on their defence. The lack of a bridge, however, would trouble Llywelyn little, and it was at this camp on the Cevn y Bedd, at the edge of Waun Eli, that the final phase of the plot against him was set in motion.

When the Eighteen fell

Prince of romance from the first hour of his power, Llywelyn now entered on that scene which beggars all the sober inventions of romances. Tradition-vivid, lasting, living tradition - still tells the tale of it, though in so wild a tangle that it needs much time and patience to straighten it out. But here is the story, partly from tradition and partly from ancient documents. On Thursday, December 10, 1282, Llywelyn received a message from the plotters, luring him away to Aberedw, some miles down the Wye, below Builth, and on the other side of the stream. The snow was lying white on the world, and the rivers (deeper then than now) were running black and full, but the ford across the Wye at Llechryd was still possible. Choosing eighteen of his household men, his body-guard, Llywelyn rode to Llechryd, and crossed. There he left his eighteen to hold the ford till he should come back, and then, attended by one squire, young Gorono Vychan, son of his minister Ednyved Vychan, he pushed on down the valley to Aberedw. At Aberedw he was to meet a young gentlewoman, who was to conduct him to a stealthy meeting with some chiefs of that district. If it be asked why he rode thus, almost alone and almost unarmed, the answer is that he is on a secret errand in which he must not attract attention to himself until he had seen the local chiefs, and ar- ranged the details of a rising on their part. The more secret and sudden that rising was, the more likely it was to succeed. He was taking one of the risks that a fearless captain takes in such a war. It was like him to do it, for he was a steadfast soul. At Aberedw, however, the gentlewoman was not there to meet him. In truth, the whole message was part of the plot of Giffard and the Mortimers, though he did not know it yet. Yet as he waited, he thought of how the snow would betray which way he went, either in going to the secret meeting with the chiefs, or in stealing away for safety from any sudden enemies. Therefore he went to the smith of the place, Red Madoc of the Wide-mouth, and bade him take the thin shoes off the horses, and put them on again backwards. Anyone finding his tracks after that would think that he had been coming not going.Then, as dark fell, he found that the Mortimers, with their horsemen were closing in around the place. Danger was upon him indeed.

Swiftly he stole away with his squire and hid himself in a cave which may still be seen at Aberedw. All that night he lay hidden, and then as soon as the earliest grey of dawn crept over the snowy earth, he stole away with his Llywelyn's Cave, 6 Aberedw 2019. squire again, and rode back to Lechryd. He could only go slowly, so he had to go stealthily, for his horse could not gallop, because of his shoes being backwards.

At Llechryd he found his faithful eighteen, but by this time the river was too high for crossing there. They must find some bridge. Now, the nearest bridge was the one at Builth, under the walls of the great castle.

Llywelyn believed that, by the trick of the horse shoes, he had thrown the Mortimers off his track. Also he remembered that Builth Castle was to be delivered to him according to promise. He took his eighteen men and rode back to the bridge at Builth, no great distance down the valley. He reached the bridge barely in time. The Mortimers at Aberedw had terrified Red Madoc, the smith, into confessing the trick of the horseshoes. Like hounds they were following his trail, and now they caught sight of him, crossing the bridge with his little troup. The bridge was of wood like the rest of the bridg- es of that district. Lly- welyn tumed and broke it down behind him, the black flood of the full Wye mocking the Morti- mers as they drew rein on their panting steeds, before the broken tim- bers. Their hoped-for victim had escaped for the moment. In their fury they turned and dashed down the valley to cross at Y Rhyd (now called Erwood) eight miles below. Llanynys Church

Llywelyn expected the castle of Builth to be given up to him. But the garrison re- fused, doubtless making some excuse of waiting till the county had risen. He could not waste time; the bridge on the road to Cefn y Bedd was gone; he took his eighteen and led the way along the southem bank of the Yrvon to another bridge, just above the little church of Llanynys. There he crossed, and posted the eighteen to hold the bridge, doubtless feeling himself safely returned from great peril.

In thankfulness for his escape too he caused a white friar to hold a service for him, perhaps at the end of the bridge, perhaps in the little church of Llanynys, beside the dark Yrvon, It does not matter much where the service was held, the whole of the ground was to be made sacred that day. This done, Llywelyn went up to the grange of Llanvair, a farmstead belonging to the parish church of Builth, doubtless to get food and an hour's sleep, after the cold watching of that winter's night in the cave. After a frosty night of scout-work, one's

eyes get very heavy when one gets a warm day, and a great drowsiness stills the blood, even of the stubbornest man. Meanwhile the Mortimers had crossed the Wye at Erwood, and with Giffard were riding fast for the Bridge of Orewyn, where the eighteen held their post. In headlong haste their leading squadron charged the bridge - but the eighteen had not been cho- sen in vain. They kept the bridge.

While the clamour was at its hight, Gorono Vychan roused Llywelyn and told him of it. Are not my men at the bridge?' demanded the prince. 'They are' answered Gorono. 'Then I care not if all England were on the other side,' returned Llywelyn proudly. He knew what manner of men he had left to hold the bridge. But down in front of the bridge, where the enemy were shouting in their baffled rage, as they tried in vain to hew a way accross, one of Giffard's captains spoke out. It was Helias ap Philip Wal- wyn, from lower down the Wye. 'We shall do no good here he shouted. 'But I know a ford, a little distance off, that they do not know of. Let some of the bravest and strongest come with me, and we can cross and take the bridge in rear.' At once the bravest crowded after Helias to the ford, where the water seems as dark in winter as the rest of the long black pool on either hand. They crossed. The eighteen were charged in rear as well as in front. But they kept faith. Where Llywelyn had posted them, there they died. As men should end, proudly fighting, so they ended 'Till the eighteen fell,' says the bard, 'it was well with Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.' Then over their bodies poured all the mass of Mortimer's men, with Giffard's, to seek Llywelyn's little force on the high ground beyond. Fast the horsemen spurred, and as they hastened they came suddenly upon an unarrmoured man with one companion, hurrying on foot towards where the bridge was roaring under the trampling host. One of the horsemen, Stephen or Adam of Frankton, in Llywelyn's old lordship of Elles- mere, dashed forward with his men, and one ran his lance through the younger of the two. The other one was running up through a little dingle, to get back to the army above in time to lead it in the coming battle. On the bank above the little spring at the head of the dingle, grew a great spread of broom (banadl). In that bush of broom Frankton overtook the man and ran his spear out through him in a mortal wound. That man was Llywelyn. The accident had happened. Go to the spot, and the people will tell you that no broom has ever grown again in Llanganten parish from that dark day to this.

So died Llywelyn ap Gruffudd; a gallanter soul never passed to God.

Llywelyn’s Cave in 2005

Gathering of patriots at the memorial in Cilmeri. David Petersen holding the flag.

The Documents

A letter from Roger le Strange to Edward I -immediately after 11.12.1282.

Informs the king that the troops under Roger's command fought with Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in the land of Buellt on Friday next after the feast of St.Nicholas [Friday, Dec.11,1282], that Llywelyn ap Gruffudd is dead, his army defeated, and all the flower of his army dead, as the bearer of the letter will tell. (Ed: in the French lan- guage).

Letter from John Peckham to an unknown person from Sugwas, Herefordshire 15.12.1282

Llywelyn the aforesaid Prince of Wales, moreover having rejected all offers and plans for peace previously described, invaded the land of the Lord King of England as an enemy, laying waste, burning it and pillaging; he also drew the men of that land over to his side depriving them of the benefíts of the King's peace. Neverthe- less it was the Prince who was killed, the fírst of his own army, in an ignominious death through the family of Lord Edmund de Mortimer, son of Lord Roger de Mor- timer; and his whole army was either killed or put to flight in parts of Montgomery on Friday after the feast of St Lucy, in other words the eleventh of December 1282 AD…...

Letter from John Peckham To Maud Langespey from Pembridge, Herefordshire -17 December 1282

Brother John, by the grace of God, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all Eng- land, to milady of high rank, Maud Langespey, greetings and the blessing of Jesus Christ. Milady, your entreaty agrees well with both piety and good sense. But you know that Llywelyn, who was Prince of Wales, cannot be absolved if he had not shown sign of repentance in his death such as to atone and wash away his foolishness. Then if it is a certainty that he showed repentance in his death, and appeared as such to those who were there, such as to make the Holy Church absolve him, and if proof is brought before us we will do what is right about it, for otherwise without doing wrong he could not be absolved. Thus we suggest that you and his other friends should work on that, so that any of those who were present at the death should come and put their case before us so as to show the above mentioned signs, for otherwise we can do nothing.

Letter from Peckham to Edward 1 from Pembridge, Hereford- shire -17 December 1282

To his very dear Lord Edward, by the grace of God King of England, Lord of Ire- land, Duke of Aquitaine, Friar John, by the grace of God, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, greeting in great reverence.

Lord, know that those who were at the death of Llywelyn found in the most secret part of his body some small things which we have seen. Among the other things there was a treasonable letter disguised by false names. And that you may be warned, we send a copy of the letter to the Bishop of Bath, and the letter itself Edmund Mor- timer has, with Llywelyn's privy seal, and those things you may have at your pleasure. And this we send to warn you, and not that any one should be troubled for it. And we pray you that no one may suffer death or mutilation in consequence of our information, and that what we send you may be secret. Besides this, lord, know that Lady Maude Longespey prayed us by letter to absolve Llywelyn, that he might be buried in consecrated ground, and we sent word to her that we would do nothing if it could not be proved that he showed signs of true repentance before his death. And Edmund de Mortimer said to me that he had heard from his servants who were at the death that he asked for a priest before his death, but without sure certainty we would do nothing. Besides this, Lord, know that the very day that he was killed, a White Monk sang mass to him, and my Lord Roger Mortimer has the vestments. Besides this, Lord, we request you to take pity on the Clerks, (Ed: Priests) that you will suffer no one to kill them nor do them bodily injury. And know, Lord, God pro- tect you from evil, if you do not prevent it according to your power, you fall into the sentence, for to suffer what one can prevent is the same as to consent. And, therefore, Lord, we pray you that it may please you that the Clerks who are in Snowdon may go thence and seek better things with their property in France or elsewhere. For because we believe that Snowdon will be yours, if it happen that in conquering or afterwards, harm is done to Clerks, God will accuse you of it, and your good renown will be blemished, and we shall be considered cowardly. And these things, Lord, if it please you, send us your pleasure, for we will give there to what counsel we can, either by going thither or by some other way. And know, Lord, if you do not fulfil our prayer, you will put us in sadness which we shall never leave in this mortal life. Lord, God keep you, and all that belongs to you. This letter was written at Pem- bridge, Thursday after St. Lucy's day.

Letters from John Peckham to Robert bishop of Bath and Wells from Pembridge, Herefordshire - 17 December 1282

Brother John, by the grace of God, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all Eng- land, to his venerable brother in Christ, Lord Robert by grace of God Bishop of Bath and Wells, greeting and continuing increase of brotherly affection in the Lord. Concerning things which are known to lead to the harm and danger of our Lord the King, a loyal person should uncover them and keep nothing to himself in conceal 11

ment; and we, amongst others, earnestly concerned that his honour and magnificence be safe from plots of his enemies, are sending you a certain schedule, enclosed with these letters, which is obscure in words and composed with false names, a transcript of which was found in the pocket of Llywelyn, sometime Prince of Wales together with his own small seal, which are held by Edmund Mortimer and which we have caused to be held safeguard in the case the King wishes them to be sent to him.

From which schedule you can judge well enough that certain magnates neighbouring the Welsh, either Marchers or others, are not sufficiently united in their support of the Lord King, so you should make the Lord King careful about it, as is appropriate. However, because you are as involved in this case as we are, let no physical danger come to you as a result and take special care. In addition we have understood that several Clerks near Rhuddlan are undergoing capital punishment every day, amongst robbers and other criminals, in a persecution contemptuous of both Clerics and the Church. You should apply your most earnest concern that the same does not happen to others. And certainly we are very worried about these Clerics who remain abandoned in Snowdon, whom we would willingly have taken back with us while we were in those parts, if the King had been pleased to show mercy. Nor will the Lord King be able to excuse himself from doing that favour if, may God forbid, things turn out badly for them. Therefore, if you find out anything about them or can obtain information which could be used by our minister to secure their liberation and safety, write to us and we will be ready to rescue them from impending dangers into a situation as worthy of God as we can manage, even if it means physical work.

Furthermore there are some who are enemies of both God and the Church, whom we found while recently visiting the diocese of Hereford, opposed in many ways to our jurisdiction and proceedings condemning with damnation the mandates of us and our Church; for this they have eamed from us the sentence of greater excommunication imposed at the time of our visitation as justice demands. Therefore in case they strive to be glorified for their wicked exploits in contempt of church discipline, or influ- ence others with their destructive examples, please write back concerning the arrest of the same excommunicants, as we request through our letter patent.

As regards your kindness which you continually bear towards us by happily promot- ing our business, we repay your brotherliness with deeds of gratitude to the limit of our ability, always ready to agree favourably with your plans, should the laws of God allow, as far as we are able.

May your brotherliness flourish always in Christ and the glorious Virgin, writing back to us with confidence if there is anything you want to tell us. If the Lord King wants to have the transcript which was found in Llywelyn's pocket he can have it from Lord Edmund Mortimer who is safeguarding it with Llywelyn’s private seal And certain other things found in the same place. Nor is there any danger threatening the lord king from this because we have given him so much warning. Nevertheless let him take whatever further action seems expedient to him.

Llywelyn's Castle Motte, Aberedw. From John Peckham's letter to the Archdeacon of Brecon 28 December 1282 ...enquire and clarify if the body of Llywelyn has been buried in the church of Cwmhyr (Ed:Cwmhir), and he was bound to clarify the latter before the feast of Epiphany, because he had another mandate on this matter, and ought to have certi- fied the lord Archbishop before Christmas, and has not done so.... B Brut y Tywysogion - written c. 1340 1282 On Palm Sunday took place the breach between Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Edward I, King of England. And the autumn after that, the King and his host came to Rhuddlan. And he sent a fleet of ships to Anglesey, with Hywel ap Gruffudd ab Ednyfed as leader at their head; and they gained possession of Anglesey. And they desired to gain possession of Arfon. And then was made the bridge over the Menai; but the bridge broke under an excessive load, and countless numbers of the English were drowned, and others slain. And then was effected the betrayal of Llywelyn in the belfry at Bangor by his own men. And then Llywelyn ap Gruffudd left Dafydd, his brother, guarding Gwynedd; and he himself and his host went to gain possession of Powys and Builth. And he gained possession as far as Llanganten. And thereupon he sent his men and his steward to receive the-homage of the men of Brycheiniog, and the prince was left with but a few men with him. And then Roger Mortimer and Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn, and with them the King's host, came upon them without waming; and then Llywelyn and his foremost men were slain on the day of Damasus the Pope, a fortnight to a day from Christmas day; and that day was a Friday.

Walter of Guisborough—written c. 1301 in the house of Austin Canons, Guisborough, north Yorkshire.

About the time of the feast of Saint Nicholas following, Llywelyn himself came down from the mountains with one man at arms to determine by stealth whether the valley folk remained loyal to him as before. He left his entire army on the brow of the hill above the river called Wye, and his men took possession of Irfon Bridge. And a large number of Welshmen there remained faithful to him. On the other hand many had turned to the King. On that day the king himself was at Rhuddlan. When our King's men, under the command of Lord John Giffard and lord Roger Mortimer the younger, saw the Welsh at the bridge and the large army on the brow of the hill, they discussed amongst themselves what was to be done. One whose name was Heli- as Walwyn replied, "If we stay here, we can neither advance nor cross. But there is a ford not far away, unknown to the Welsh, vvhere we can cross, albeit with difficulty. So let the strong men follow me and we shall strike from behind the Welsh who are now at the bridge; and so there will be a way over the bridge for the remainder of our army, and we can then advance open against the rest of the enemy." He did so and crossed by the ford that was unknown to the others: from that (13) it takes the name of Helyswath which it bears to the present day. (Ed: 19 years later!) By striking the Welsh, who were on the bridge, was laid a way open for the rest of our army.

When the noise reached the ears of Llywelyn himself as he lay in hiding in the grange of Llanfair nearby, he said, "Are not the Welsh, my men, at Irfon Bridge?" He was told, "Certainly they are." And he said, "Even if all of England were against us I would not fear them." Presently the tumult grew louder and the hubbub of his army reached the heights as they saw the English army approaching. Llywelyn and his servant hastened to climb up in secret: for he feared for himself when he appreci- ated the situation. When one of our men, namely Stehen de Francton, saw him, he followed him with a few men, although he did not know who he was, and as he was fleeing, only lightly armed, he struck him with a spear and left without delay to re- turn to our army.

So the Welsh stood in their ranks on the brow of the hill awaiting their Prince and Lord. But in vain. Our men climbed up and fired many arrows and weapons. And when our archers who were mingled with the cavalry had formed in line, many of the Welsh rushed forward as they stood eagerly awaiting their Lord. Then, however, our cavalry climbed the hill behind them and having killed some put the rest to flight. When our men returned after gaining the victory, the said Stephen advanced to see who were the two whom he had struck down. When they saw and recognized the face of Llywelyn, they cut off his head and bore it in triumph to the king. The king commanded it to be sent to London; and when it had been crowned with a silver wreath for a sign of a prince it was borne on a spear by a horseman through the heart of Westcheap in London, ceremonially and amid a large crowd of citizens. Then it was placed with a spear on a high turret of the King's Tower, so that it could long be seen by all those who passed by.

Yn ol y chwedl yn y ffynnon hon y

golchwyd pen Llywelyh ap Gruffudd

Legend has it that this is the well wherein the head of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was washed.

Inscription above the well near the monument at Cilmeri. Ysgrifen uwch y ffynnon ger y Maen Coffa yng Nghylmeri

Chronicle of Peterborough The Friday before the Feast of St Lucy, in the tenth year of the reign of King Edward Llywelyn the Prince of Wales came to the land of Roger Mortimer, in the territory' called Gwrtheyrnion (Ed:Aberedwy is in Elfael Is Fynydd not Gwrtheymion, and Cefn y Bedd is in Buellt), situated between an abbey of the Cistercian order called Cwm Hir and a town called 'Ynlanmake' (Ed: Llanfair ym Muellt or Llangam- march?), with 160 horsemen and 7000 foot, to gain possession of the men of the said Roger Mortimer. And there came a garrison from Montgomery and Oswestry, namely Lord Roger le Strange, the captain appointed by the King. Lord John Giffard, the three sons of the Lord Roger Mortimer, the two sons of Lord Gruffudd Gwenwyn- wyn, Lord John le Strange, Lord Peter Corbet, Lord Reginald fitz Peter, Lord Ralph Basset of Drayton, Lord Simon Basset of Sapcote, and Lord Andrew le Esteleye, with all the might of the March of Wales. In the aforenamed place they met Lly- welyn and his comrades and all his army, so that he was killed in that same place; and his head was cut off and taken to the king at Rhuddlan, and from there was sent to London and placed on a tower. Not one of the Princes horsemen escaped death, and three thousand foot soldiers were killed; and three magnates from his temitories died with him, namely, Almafan, who was lord ot Llanbadam Fawr, Rhys ap Gruffudd, who was steward of all the Pnnce's lands, and the third, it is thought, was Llywelyn Fychan, who was lord of Bromfield; whereas it is said, that none of the English was killed or wounded there.

Chronicle of Hagnaby After Epiphany (6 January) Roger Mortimer bade Prince Llywelyn come down to receive homage from himself and his men, and named the place; for lord Roger and other nobles of England had agreed that they should take Llywelyn by guile and kill him And so when Llywelyn came with his men on the appointed day, apparently almost unarmed, his enemies rose up and attacked him. As the battle raged and drew on very many fell on both sides. At length the Welsh were thrown into confusion and almost all killed, so that none was left save Lord Llywelyn and his servant.

Chronicle of Robert Mannyng of Bourne - written in the 2nd quar- ter 14c at Bourne in Lincolnshire, where Llywelyn's daughter Gwenlli- an was a nun.

Llywelyn kept to the thickets of the wood, was craftily encamped at the edge of a quagmire. Sir Roger stationed himself close at hand, concealed from view with his bold retainers, and watched for the exact moment when (Llywelyn) should ride out. Llywelyn had no idea that he was about to be tricked and rode out with a few of his men to relax for a time. Sir Roger was aware of Llywelyn's movements, their ban- ners swept to and fro until lord Llywelyn was captured. "Traitor," said Roger, "what good can fighting do you? Now that I have found you here, my labour seems worth- while. Thrice you have perjured yourself and twice broken your faith; twice you have been overcome, and then sued for peace. This is the third time you have offend- ed greatly. Accursed be anyone who speaks up for you, for you have been asking to be killed. Never in your life will you do any further harm to the English. Confess yourself quickly, for you must forfeit your head." Sir Robert Body, a knight whose sword cut best of all, promptly dismounted and cut off Llywelyn's head. Now Lly- welyn's perjury is clear; his head smitten off; you may know that his heirs have for- feited their heritage.

The beheading of Llywelyn ap Gruffyd Dec 11th 1282.

Poems in Welsh A translation in English starts on page 22 Gruffudd ab yr Ynad Coch (1280-83)

Marwnad Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Excerpt)

Oer calon dan fron of fraw - allwynin Am frenin, ddervwin ddôr, Aberffraw Aur dilyfn a delid o'i law, Aur dalaith oedd deilvvng iddaw. Eurgym eurdeym, ni'm daw - llewenydd, Llywelyn, nid rhydd im rhwydd wisgaw. Gwae fi am arglwydd, - gwalch diwaradwydd, Gwae fi o'r aflwydd - ei dramgwyddaw, Gwae fí o'r golled, - gwae fi o'r dynged, Gwae fí o'r clywed - fod clwyf amaw. Gwersyll Cadwaladr, - gwaesaf llif daradr, Gwas rhudd ei baladr, - balawg eurllaw. Gwasgarawdd alaf, - gwisgawdd bob gaeaf Gwisgoedd amdanaf - i amdanaw. Bucheslawn arglwydd - ni'n llwydd ein llaw! Buchedd dragywydd - a drig iddaw.

Ys mau llid wrth Sais am fy nhreisiaw, Ys mau rhag angau angen gwynaw, Ys mau gan ddeunydd ddieniwaw A'm edewis hebddaw. Ys mau ei ganmawl heb dawl, heb daw, Ys mau fyth bellach ei faith bwyllaw, Ys mau i'm dynoedl amdanavv Can ys mau alar, ys mau wylaw.

Arglwydd a gollais, gallaf hirfraw, Arglwydd teymblas a las o law; .Arglwydd cywir gwir, gwarandaw Uched y cwynaf: och o'r cwynaw! Arglwydd llwydd cyn lladd y deunaw, Arglwydd llary, neud llawr ysy daw, Arglwydd glew fal llew yn llywiaw Arglwydd aflonydd ei afluniaw. Arglwydd cnhadlwydd cyn adaw Ni lyfasai Sais ei ogleisiaw.

Bleddyn Fardd (fl 1278-83)

Marwnad Llywelyn ap Gruffudd

Crist fawr, arglwydd rhwydd, rhaid a archaf, Crist fab Duw didwyll, hanbwyll honaf, Crist ddeddfawl, cedawl, cadamaf arddelw, A borthes ei ddelw ddolw ddolur ddycnaf.

A berthyn am ddyn a ddywedaf, A bortho gofid, bid bwyllocaf, A fo gnaws achaws uchaf ei feddiant, Ei feddwl bid leiaf.

Crist a ddoeth i'r byd rhag bod Addaf A'i bobl yn uffern, gethern gaethaf, I amlenwi nef, amgylch Nafuchel, A golles angel anghelfyddaf.

Colles Cymru fawr gwawr gwreiddiaf, Gwreiddlafn esgud, gloywddrud glewaf, Gwreiddlyw nid byw (ba wnaf o'i golled?) Gwr ni garai ffo i'r ffordd nesaf.

Gwr a las drosom, gwr oedd drosaf, Gwr oedd dros Gymru, hy y'i henwaf, Gwrawl Lywelyn, gwraf o Gymro, Gwr ni garai ffo i'r ffordd nesaf.

Gwr gwrdd gwrdd yn cyrchu llu lledaithaf, Gwr gwrddlyw bebyll gwersyll gorsaf, Gwreiddfab Gruffudd, ddigraffaf am reg Yn neddfau mawrdeg Nudd a Mordaf.

Gwr gwaywrudd, gwr prudd fegis Priaf, Gwr gwiw yn frenin fyddin falchaf, Gwr hylwydd ei glod, gwr haelaf am draul Hyd yr gerdda haul yn hwyl bellaf.

Gwr dig ei ddistryw, llyw llyseiddiaf, Gwr dygn ei alar, cár cywiraf, Gwr cywirgoeth, doeth, detholaf o Fôn Hyd yng Nghaerllion, y lle tecaf.

Gwr fu Llywelyn ger terfyn Taf, Gwawr cyhoedd wisgoedd wasgarocaf, Gwr oedd arbennig bennaf o fílwyr Hyd ym Mhorth Wygyr, eryr araf.

Y Gwr a gymyrth engyrth ingaf Angau dros bymoes, drymloes dromaf, A gymero fy rhwyf rywiocaf fonedd Tn rhan drugaredd fawredd fwyaf.

Richard Livsey MP lays a wreath at the modern memorial stone in the ruins of the Abbey Church at Cwmhir .

Gerallt Lloyd Owen (1944-2014)

Cilmeri (oddi Fy Ngwlad ) Fin nos, fan hyn Lladdwyd Llywelyn. Fyth nid anghofiafhyn.

Y nant a welaf fan hyn A welodd Llywelyn. Camodd ar y cerrig hyn.

Fin nos, fan hyn O'r golwy nesäir gelyn. Fe wnaed y cyfan fan hyn.

Rwyf fi'n awr fan hyn Lle by'i vvallt ar welltyn A dafnau o'i waed fan hyn.

Fan hyn yw ein cof ni, Fan hyn sy'n anadl inni, Fan hyn gennau fu'n geni.

Patriots start the march from The Prince Llywelyn Inn to the Memori- al stone at Cilmeri. 20

Gerallt Lloyd Owen (1944-2014)

Llywelyn y Beirdd (oddi Fy Ngwlad)

Wylit, wylit, Llywelyn Wylit waed pe gwelit hyn. Ein calon gan estron wr, Ein coron gan goncwerwr, A gwerin o ffafrganvyr Llariaidd eu gwén lle'r oedd gwyr.

Pe rown wén i'r Frenhiniaeth, Nid gwerin nad gwerin gaeth. Byddwn daeog ddiogel A dedwydd iawn, doed a ddél, Heb wraidd na chadwynau bro, Heb ofal ond bihafío.

Ni'n twyllir yn hir gan au Hanesion rhyw hen oesau. Y ni o gymedrol nwyd Yw'r dynion a Bryeiniwyd, Ni yw'r claear wladgarwyr, Eithafol ryngwladol wyr.

Fy ngwlad, fy ngwlad, cei fy nghledd Yn wridog dros d'anrhydedd. 0, gallwn, gallwn golli Y gwaed hwn o'th blegid di.

Cofio Llywelyn, the cave, Aberedw.

The Poems in English

(Originals in Welsh from page 17)

Gruffudd son of the Red Lawyer (fl 1277-82)

Elegy to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd

The heart of oak is cold behind the gates of Aberffraw. The hand that gave gold is still now – I cannot wear it, The apparel he put about me. This grief for my lord is a cloud on my soul This grief for the fate that his wounds brought us confounds the red spear of Cadwalader’s keeping.

For us now the darkness, the hatred of Saxons A time of lamenting in the life left to us A time now to praise him to think of his glory to reproach even God who has left us without him; For him life eternal.

What now for us left with a full load of weeping? The dark hand that felled him haunts his kingdom; his hall now the grave. A long vista of fear stretches before us. Lord Christ deliver him for the sake of our sorrow, Heavy the sword blows that struck him to earth Heir of brave princes, his flame burned brightly: strong Lion of Gwynedd Great was the need of the strength of his throne All Britain was struck down with Nantcoel’s defender.

The Irfon Ford,

Cilmeri

Bleddyn Fardd (fl 1278-83)

Elegy to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the Last Prince

Christ, great generous lord, I ask a grace, Christ, pure son of God, consider me, Christ righteous and bountiful, strongest of sureties, Whose image bore the hardest hurt:

It concems a man, that I speak of. Whoever bears grief, let him be most calm. Whoever by nature is highest in authority, Let his thought be most lowly.

Into the world came Christ, so that Adam And his folk should not stay gaoled in hell, But round the high Lord fill that space in heaven That the most blundering angel had lost.

Great Wales has lost her most manly of princes, Manly his blade, quick, bright and most brave: A manly leader is dead - what can 1 do now? - Manly and brave, generous, free with his gifts. Original memorial erected Man who was killed for us, who ruled over all, by Squire Blythe in 1902. Man who ruled Wales, boldly I’ll name him, Manly Llywelyn, bravest of Welshmen, Man not enamoured of too easy a way.

Man strong in attacking armies on his border, Man of green tents, maintainer of the camp, Manly son of Gruffudd, most fertile for bounty In the high, lovely fashion of Mordaf and Nudd.

Man of the red spear, man grave as Priam, Man fitly a king of the proudest host, Famous his praise, rnan lavish in outlay, Far as the sun journeys furthest away.

That man's ruin was baleful, most courteous leader, Man bitterly mourned, truest of kinsmen, Man honest and wise and unsullied, choicest from Môn Far as Caerleon, fairest of places. A man was Llywclyn, near the linits of the Taff, King of his people, he dealt out apparel, Man over all men, foremost of soldiers Far as Porth Wygyr, unruffled eagle. May the Man who endured dire death and most anguished For the world’s five ages' sake, heaviest hurt, May hc take my prince, noblest in lineage. To share in the Mercy, great beyond greatness!

Builth Castle at the time. (Artist’s Impression) Lament for Llywelyn ap Gruffudd after the poem by Belddyn Fardd Ffraw’s lion, dead! Horror harries us, nation’s shield. Since Christ’s death, no blow more bitter. Like Bendigeidfran, like Arthur: woe with his loss, and fear, his sword bloody.

The world’s wretched; stolen’s our lord. Unstinting host, Deheubarth’s defender, generous, now gone.

In battle, there’d be spoils before stopping. No counting his crew, so many marching.

A wall against sea, Arthur’s equal, mighty chieftain, strife-red, fire-bright blazing.

Great grief over Wales, calamity and terror. Who doubts it?

Those already downcast. Man’s misfortune: Llywelyn not living. Longing in my heart. Heal it, Lord! Else no hope.

This anguish makes us weep: our leader, taken, disaster to our land, proud door broken.

Guard him well, God! Let him go to you in saint-light, to Heaven’s hall, the lion of Aberffraw.

(https://mimichootings.wordpress.com 09.02.2020)

Gerallt Lloyd Owen (1944-2014) Cilmeri from Fy Ngwlad (My Country)

At dusk, in this place Llywelyn was killed. I will never forget this.

The stream I see here Llywelyn saw. He stepped over these stones.

At dusk, in this place The enemy approached hidden. It was all done in this place.

I am now in this place Where his hair was on the grass And drops of blood in this place.

In this place is our memory, In this place which is breath to us In this place we have have just now been born.

tr Daffydd Garth

A Service in Memory of Llywelyn ap Gruffud at Abbey Cwmhir.

The Carreg Coffa or Memorial Stone in the remains of the Abbey of Cwmhir after a memorial service close to December 11th.. Peter Barnes designed the Memorial Stone with the help of staff from the National Museum of Wales - the stone mason was Ben Lloyd of Rhayader. On Oct 7th 1978 the Archdruid of Wales placed the memorial

stone & wrote a poem with the lines, This hard stone to remember Your military justice Your undying death Bleeding over captive Wales

Gweddillion glwys yr Abaty, AbatyCwmhir. Remains of the Abbey Church Abbey Cwmhir. 27

Gerallt Lloyd Owen (1944-2014)

Llywelyn of the Poets from Fy Ngwlad (My Country)

Llywelyn, tears of blood you'd weep, If you should see this from your sleep: Our heart in a foreigner's hand, Our ancient throne in a conqueror's land; A nation where the meek abound, Where once were men who stood their ground.

We smile beneath the Royalty, Peasants are peasants, never free. We'll carry on our slavish way Content and happy come what may; Lost of roots, nothing to save, Without a care but to behave.

We shall not be deceived for long By fables and historic song, For we, who now just count to ten, Are Wales' Rule-Britannia men. We are the patriots who lack fire, The headstrong international choir.

In honour of your name, my land, I'll ride with reddened sword in hand, And nothing more than this is true: How I could spill this blood for you.

tr. Meirion McIntyre Huws

ClLMERI TODAY Near this spot was killed our Prince Llywelyn 1282 Ger y fan hon y lladdvvyd Llywelyn ein llyw olaf 1282

These inscription are placed near the gate to the Memorial. They were part of the first Memorial raised here by Squire Bligh in 1902 (cf Page 26) The present stone was erected in 1956 by Powys County Council. Today a Memorial Service is held on the Saturday closest to the 11th December, at Llanynis Church and on the Sunday at Abbey Cwmhir. 29

NOTES

The Welsh poetry of the time showed sorrow and anguish at the loss of Llywelyn, the loved and revered leader. The desecration of his body seemed to emphasise the vanquishment of the Welsh and Wales. But they give no details of the place of the horrible deed or where the body was buried.

Squire Blythe raised a monument where it was thought at the time his death could have occurred and documents show that his burial could have taken place in the Abbey church or its precinct at Cwmhir.

Pe godwyd goffeb gan y Victoriaid lle meddylwn nhw oedd yn debyg i'r tragsiedi wedi digwydd. Ymddangoswyd ymchwiliad lle gafodd ei gorff ei angladd yn eglwys yr Abaty yng Nghwmhir.

The name of the village Cefn y Bedd (Ridge of the Grave), was changed to Cilmeri (Sheltered Hollow of Brambles) because of a patch of brambles after which Squire Stanley Pryce Morgan Bligh named his estate in which it lay: Cilmeri Park. Fe gafodd enw'r pentref, Cefn y Bedd ei newid i Gilmeri ar ôl Parc Cilmeri, stad lleoedd hi tu mewn y feddwyd gan Sgweir Stanley Pryce Mor- gan Bligh i roi iddo fe mawredd.

Published by the Abbey Cwmhir Heritage Trust with financial assistance from Cadw.