[ 373 1 



But to recurre to the offspring of Gruff' ap Cariadog, and their 

 fucceffion, vvith the eftate and condition they lived in from time 

 to time unto this day ; it being my purpofe to treat thereof. Out 

 of the three brethren, David, Meredith, and Howell, who ex- 

 changed, as above is remembred, with the Earle of Lincolne, the 

 pofterity onely of Howell doth remaine in credite snd mew in 

 their countrey, the pofterity of the other two being by divifion 

 and fubdivifion of gavelkind (the deftruftion of Wales) brought 

 to the eftate of meane freeholders, and foe haveing forgotten their 

 defcents and pedigree, are become as they never had been. If 

 you afke the queftion why the fucceffion of Howell fped better 

 than the pofterity of the other two brethren, I can yeald no other 

 reafon, but God's mercy and goodnefs towards the one more than 

 the other, as God fay d in the booke of Mofes, " I will have mercy 

 " on whome I will have mercy," for they lived in the fame com- 

 monwealth, and under the fame ftorme of oppreflion, foe as if 

 God had not left us a feed, we had beene like Sodom, or com- 

 pared to Gomorrha, Neverthelefs by the goodnefs of God we 

 are and continue in the reputation of gentlemen from time to 

 time fithence unto this day, as mall appeare by the difcourfe 

 following. The offspring of David ap Meredith hold the land 

 exchanged by the Earle of Lincolne with their an ct {tors, viz. the 

 townefhip of Yfcorebryll in Eglwys vach 0 and halfe Maethebroyd 

 in Llanrwft p , and are reputed to be defcended from Gruffith ap 

 Conan in the quarter where they dwell, but yet are not able to 

 lay downe the certayntie of their pedegree, 



David ap Gruff ap Cariadog (as before mentioned) maried Eva 

 the daughter and heirefs of Gruff* Vaughan ap Gruff' ap Mory- 



° Eglwys vach is a parifh in the S W. part of Denbighfh're. 

 p The town of Lanrwft is alfo in Denbighihrre, not far dtftant from 

 the parifh of Egiwys vach. 



