NOTE ON BOOKS
Until comparatively recently Welsh historical works were uncritical; and although many of them contain much invaluable information, they must be read with caution. Welsh historical scholarship has, however, made great strides recently, and now there are a few excellent books available, more especially for the Middle Ages. For the later period the most valuable material is still scattered about in old numbers of such publications as the Cymmrodor, Transactions of the Cyminrodorion Society, and the Cambrian Archæological Society, Cymru Traethodydd, Y Geninen, Eisteddfod Transactions, etc.; and locked up in theses written for the post-graduate degrees of the Welsh, and other, Universities. A historian with ability to digest, and above all ability to write, is badly needed to deal with this immense volume of material.
The best general introduction is O. M. Edwards's Wales, in the "Story of the Nations" Series. It is delightfully written, and is always interesting and suggestive. Another good book is Rhŷs and Brynmor Jones's The Welsh People. Gilbert Stone has written an interesting book, Wales, especially valuable for the pre-Norman period.
For the Middle Ages the standard work is Lloyd's History of Wales, in two volumes. It is scholarly and accurate, but unfortunately only takes us down to the Edwardian Conquest. Haverfield's Roman Britain is useful. Seebohm's Tribal System in Wales adopts some exploded theories, but is still essential. Little's Mediæval Wales is brilliant and suggestive. Barbier's Age of Owen Gwynedd is interesting. Morris's Welsh Wars of Edward I is valuable for much besides military affairs. Hugh Williams's learned work on Christianity in Early Britain should be consulted. Other books of interest are Peake's Bronze Age and the Celtic World, and Lewis's Mediæval Boroughs of Snowdonia. Always brilliant, though not always reliable, is Rhoscomyl's Flame Bearers of Welsh History.
Good biographies of mediæval Welshmen are few. Henry Owen's Gerald the Welshman is good; also Bradley's Owen Glyndwr. Tout's Edward I should be consulted, also Wade Evans's St. David.
For later times we begin with Llewelyn Williams's Making of Modern Wales. It is scholarly, original, and well written; but in parts should be read with great caution. Bowen's Statutes of Wales is invaluable. Other works of value are Skeel, Council of the Welsh Marches, J. H. Davies's Introduction in his edition of the works of Morgan Llwyd; Morrice's Wales in the Seventeenth Century; D. R. Jones's Y Deffroad Addysgawl; The Welsh University (College Histories Series); Elvet Lewis's Nonconformity in Wales. There are some good biographies, notably: Pollard's Henry VIII; Pierce's John Penry; David Jones's Life and Times of Griffith Jones of Llanddowror; Ambrose Jones's Griffith Jones; Hughes's Life of Howel Harris; Jenkins's Thomas Charles of Bala; Gwynn Jones's Cofiant Thomas Gee Owen Thomas's Cofiant John Jones Talsarn; Williams's Thomas Charles Edwards; McCabe's Robert Owen; W. E. Davies's Sir Hugh Owen.
Welsh history, like that of most countries, requires a study of contemporary literature, both prose and poetry, for its true understanding. The following works will be found most useful: Gildas; The Mabinogion; Geoffrey of Monmouth's Histories; Theophilus Evans's Drych y Prif Oesoedd; Ellis Wynne's Gweledigaethau y Bardd Cwsc; Vicar Pritchard's Camvyll y Cymry; Morgan Llwyd's Llyfr y Tri Aderyn. The letters of the brothers Morris, and of Goronwy Owen are illuminating. For social life the novels of Daniel Owen are invaluable. The numerous poets published by O. M. Edwards in Cyfres y Fil, together with the Introduction contained in the majority of them, are of the utmost importance. Dr. Edward's Traethodau Llenyddol contains many interesting historical essays. Shakespeare's historical plays ought not to be neglected.
For Welsh literature and language the following books should be consulted: Morrice's Manual of Welsh Literature; Robert Owen's The Eymry; Griffith's Llenyddiaeth Cymru; Renan, Poetry of the Celtic Races.
Almost every Welsh castle and monastery has its local historian.
English historians, as a rule, have dealt inadequately, and often ignorantly, with Wales. Bearing this in mind, the student would do well to turn to the Political History of England, Green, Clarendon, Gardiner, and Lecky.
INDEX
Aberdovey, 75
Act of Uniformity, 199
—— of Union, 133
—— the Reform, 233
—— for Propagation, 194
Age, Old Stone, 10
—— New Stone, 11-13
—— Bronze, 14
Angharad, 38
Arles, 41
Arthur, King, 47
Bardd Cwsc, 240
Barlow, Bishop, 148
Beaufort, Margaret, 125
Belesme, Robert of, 65
Bifort, Llewelyn, 120
Black Death, 102-103
Bleddyn, 39
Blegwryd, 48
Bosworth, 126
Bow, Long, 102
Braose, Reginald, 76
Britain, 8, 9, 11, 14, 23, 34-35, 40
Cantrefs, the Four, 83, 87-88, 90, 92
Catholics, Welsh, 151-153
Ceiriog, 240
Charter, Great, 75
—— Town, 96
Chartists, 234
Chester, 26, 36, 67, 70, 181, 186
Church, Welsh, 42, 44, 80, 119, 244
College
—— Bangor, 230-231
—— Cardiff, 230-231
—— St. Gregory's, 152
—— Jesus, 219
—— Normal, 226
—— Rome, 151
—— Swansea, 231
—— Theological, 228
Council of Princes, 75, 76, 79
Count of Saxon Shore, 35
—— of Great Sessions, 137, 139-141
Cromwell, Oliver, 187, 195, 220
—— Thomas, 148-149
Cymmrodorion, 230
Davies, John (Mallwyd), 155
Davydd Gam, 117
—— ap Gwilym, 240
—— ap Sinion, 125
Deorham, 36
Druids, 27
Edwards, O. M., 60, 95, 226, 240
Elizabeth, Queen, 153
Ellis, Tom, 243
Evans, Theophilus, 207
Feudalism, 49
Fitz Osbern, 67
Flemings, 67
France, 7, 13, 16, 103, 116, 119
Gee, Thomas, 239
Giraldus Cambrensis, 56-60
Gladys, 76
Glyndwr, Owen, 109-123
Goidels, 15
Griffith ap Conan, 68
—— ap Llewelyn Fawr, 79, 81, 82
Grosmont, 78
Gwent, 37
Gwledig, 35
Harrison, 194-195
Henry I, 65
—— III, 77, 81, 82, 87, 89, 90
—— VII, 126-131
Hereford, 67
Huw Llwyd, 191-193
Islwyn, 240
Joan, 74
John, King, 74
Jones, Griffith, 201, 206, 221-222
—— John (Leander), 152
Journalism, 237-239
Lake Dwellings, 12
Lancastrians, 124
Lee, Roland, 132
Llewelyn the Great, 72-80
—— ap Griffith, 83-94
—— ap Seisyll, 38
Llwyd, Morgan, 172, 190, 191, 194, 195-197
Lollards, 107
Macsen Wledig, 35
Maelgwn Gwynedd, 36
—— Council of, 130, 136, 137-139
Monasteries, 41, 104, 105, 147
Montfort, Simon de, 89
Montgomery, Roger of, 67
Morgan, Bishop, 154
Morris, Dr. (Clynnog), 151
Mortimer, Edmund, 116
Nonconformists, 165-168, 199, 213-217
Normans, 8, 62, 63, 65, 68, 69
Offa, 37
—— Gwynedd, 69-70
—— Goch, 83
—— John (Clenenau), 188
—— of Wales, 103
Oxford, 114
Parliament, 101, 118, 136, 237
Peckham, Archbishop, 93
Penry, John, 159-162
Prayer Book, 154
Pritchard, Vicar, 162-164
Prys, Edmund, 153, 155-159, 192
Puritanism, 165, 173, 194, 201
Rebecca Riots, 237
Revolution, French, 232
Rhodri Fawr, 37
Rhuddlan, Treaty of, 92
Rhys ap Thomas, 128
Richard, Henry, 243
Rowlands, Daniel, 206
Saints (Welsh), 44
Salesbury, William, 154
Schools, Circulating, 221-222
—— County, 226-227
Schools, Grammar, 219-220
Shrewsbury, 66, 67, 89, 94, 117
Statute of Labourers, 102
—— of Staple, 102
—— of Wales, 96
Strathclyde, 36
Towns, 96
Tudor, Edmund, 125
—— Jasper, 125
—— Owen, 125
Tudors, 125
Turberville, Thomas, 98
War, Hundred Years, 102
—— Civil, 169-198
Welsh Language, 22, 135-136, 220, 241
—— University, 119, 120, 220, 229-231
Whitby, 44
Williams, Lord Keeper, 174-177, 184
Williams, of Pantycelyn, 207