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whole party to be forcibly taken to the Castle, where they were detained. Her 

 relatives sought her in vain, though suspicion turned to the Norman lord, and 

 the Castle was watched. After a short time the lady contrived to place at night 

 a locket, or token of her house, over a lighted candle in an upper window of the 

 Castle. This was at last observed by her friends, and the suspicion of her incar- 

 ceration confirmed. Petition was at once made to Prince Rhys, then beseiging 

 Radnor (as just mentioned), to come and rescue his fair relative and dependent. 

 He promised compliance as soon as he had demolished Radnor, and, this done, 

 he at once marched on Painscastle. The de Braos feigned ignorance of his mb- 

 sion, but at night, the signal being repeated, Prince Rhys annouced his determin- 

 ation to atttack the Castle if the lady was not at once restored. His request was 

 unnoticed, and a strong contingent coming to the assistance of the garrison from 

 a dependency of the Castle, Court Evan Gwynne, de Braos marched out and gave 

 battle to his assailants in the plain below. A sanguinary engagement ensued, 

 and the waters of Bachowey were turned red with blood. The crimson stream 

 floated far down the Wye, keeping its separate course and colour unmingled with 

 the waters of that river, and conveying the tidings of the battle to the awestricken 

 inhabitants around. Victory, however, rewarded the gallantry of Prince Rhy.s. 

 The fair prisoner was discovered and released, and the Castle much despoiled. 

 Having attained his object he withdrew. He died in the following year. He 

 has been described as an Achilles in strength, a Nestor in kindness, a Hector in 

 prudence, a Hercules in gallantry, a Paris in beauty, an Ulysses in speech, a Solo- 

 mon in wisdom, an Ajax in mind,and the foundation of all excellencies. 



Two years later (1198) Traherne Vychan, Lord of Llangorse, was invited 

 by de Braos to a friendly conference near Brecon. Vychan accepted the invita- 

 tion and was met by de Braos outside the town, seized by his bloodhounds, tied 

 to his horse's tail, dragged through the streets, and ultimately beheaded. Gwen- 

 wynyn. Prince of Powys, connected by marriage with Vychan, determined to 

 avenge this outrage. With a strong force he entered Elfael and laid siege to 

 Painscastle, vowing he would reduce to ashes the whole country from thence to 

 the Severn. He delayed operations so long, however, that the besieged found 

 time to solicit aid from England. This was granted, and assisted by the Lords 

 Marchers and by Griffith, son of Prince Rhys (who was released from prison for 

 the purpose, and was an enemy of Gwenwynyn's,) a large gathering, under 

 Geoflfry Fitzpeter, Eari of Essex and Chief Justiciary of England, marched to 

 the assistance of the garrison. A bloody engagement ensued and the Prince of 

 Powys was defeated. It is said that 3,700 Welshmen fell in the battle. 



William de Braos was afterwards banished the country by King John, and 

 his wife Maud and her son were afterwards starved to death in a dungeon at 

 Windsor. The honours and lordships he possessed were escheated to the Crown. 

 They were restored to his brother Giles, Bishop of Hereford, and the daughter of 

 a subsequent de Braos, Maud, marrying Roger de Mortimer, the Cantref of El- 

 fael, with the Castle of Payne, passed to the House of Wigmore, where it remain- 

 ed until it devolved by marriage upon the House of York, and afterwards to the 



