198 Ensay on Caerphilly Castle. 



The condition of Wales, during the reigns of the Plantagenets, demanded 

 a great and increasing share of the attention of both monarch and nobles ; 

 but the internal dissensions of England rendered her foreign policy infirm 

 and vacillating, so that, although the Welsh were occasionally attacked with 

 fierceness, no settled plan of conquest was put in practice against them ; 

 nor was it for the interest of all parties that such a measure should be 

 adopted. The kings, indeed, found in their undisciplined valour and the 

 inexpugnable strength of their mountain fastnesses, a perpetual source of 

 distrust and disquietude ; but the lords-marchers, often in rebellion 

 against the crown, found the ready alliance of the Welsh extremely useful, 

 and were thus not only encouraged to rebel, but their punishment was ren- 

 dered proportionably difficult. 



But that which the force of arms had failed to execute, the internal feuds 

 of the Welsh brought to ])ass much sooner than it would probably other- 

 wise have happened. Llewelyn, prince of Wales, being old and broken, 

 and incapable of defending himself against his unruly children, sought vo- 

 luntarily protection of Henry the third, did homage for his principality, and 

 bound himself to pay an annual tribute ; and as even in those lawless and 

 rapacious times, the colour of a legal claim was as eagerly sought after, as 

 in its absence it was disregarded, this gave to Henry and his son a claim 

 upon the sovereignty of Wales, of which they were not backward to avail 

 themselves. 



Edward, upon his accession to the throne, vigorously pushed forward 

 the plans which had already been commenced against the Welsh. The 

 destruction of the native princes Llewelyn and David, one of whom was 

 slain in battle, and the other put to an ignominious death, removed all re- 

 gular opposition to his claim. Tiie southern and south-eastern provinces 

 had already been reduced to subjection, and forced by the presence of 

 numerous garrisons, to exchange their unbridled liberty for the constraints 

 of a partial civilisation. Edward reduced tiie whole of the country to the 

 same state of submission to his will ; and by his great military road insured 

 a free communication between the numerous castles which he caused to be 

 erected, for the preservation of his hard-earned but valuable conquest. 



The investiture of his surviving son, Edward of Caernarvon, with the 

 principality, marked the permanence of his sway, as well as the high im- 

 portance which he attached to it; and thus after having without ships, al- 

 liances, or commerce, maintained their liberty upwards of a thousand years; 

 and, after having defended their native ifloiintains with a perseverance 

 which might have deserved a richer country, but could not require a better 

 cause, were the Welsh incorporated with the English. The politician is 

 indeed aware that the confjuest of Wales was and is a benefit to both coun- 

 tries ; but the enthusiastic native may be permitted to lament the lost 

 independence of his country, and the gradual extinction of his ancient and 

 hereditary tongue. 



