18 HISTORY OF 



with some archers and armed men, to rescue tlie 

 ship ; but the Welsh, upon the approach of our 

 men, withdrew themselves to their usual retire- 

 ments in the rocks and the w oods, and were pur- 

 sued for about two miles by our men on foot, w ho 

 slew a great number of them. But in their return 

 back, our soldiers being too covetous and greedy 

 of plunder, among other sacrilegious and profane 

 actions, spoiled the abbey of Aberconwy, and 

 burnt all the books and other choice utensils be- 

 longing to it. The Welsh being distracted at 

 these irreligious practices, got together in great 

 number, and in a desperate manner setting upon 

 the English, killed a great number of them, and 

 following the rest to the water-side, forced as many 

 as could not make their escape into the boats, to 

 commit themselves to the mercy of the waves. 

 Those they took prisoners they thought to reserve 

 for exchange ; but hearing how we put some of 

 their captive nobility to death, they altered their 

 minds, and in a revengeful manner scattered tlieir 

 di lacerated carcases along the surface of the w^a- 

 ter. In this conflict, we lost a considerable num- 

 ber of our men, and chiefly those under the com- 

 mand of Richard earl of Cornwal; as Sir Alan 

 Buscell,Sir Adam de Main, Sir Geoftry Estuemy, 



