The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Advertisement.
• Biographical Notice of M. Augustin Thierry.
• Introduction.
• History of the Conquest of England By the Normans.
• Book I.: From the Establishment of the Britons to the Ninth Century. Bc 55—ad 787
• Book II.: From the First Landing of the Danes In England to the End of Their Domination. 787—1048.
• Book III.: From the Insurrection of the English People Against the Norman Favourites of King Edward, to the Battle of Hastings. 1048—1066.
• Book IV.: From the Battle of Hastings to the Taking of Chester, the Last City Conquered By the Normans. 1066—1070.
• Book V.: From the Formation of the Camp of Refuge In the Isle of Ely, to the Execution of the Last Saxon Chief. 1070—1076.
• Book VI.: From the Quarrel Between King William and His Eldest Son Robert, to the Last Visit of William to the Continent. 1077—1087.
• Book VII.: From the Death of William the Conqueror, to the Last General Conspiracy of the English Against the Normans. 1087—1137.
• Appendix.
• No. I. (page 10.): Arymes Prydyn Vawr.
• No. II. (page 18.): Decree of the Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian, Relative to the Subjection of the Bishops of Gaul to the Pope of Rome. ( Ad 445.)
• No. III. (page 22.): Conference of the Catholic and Arian Bishops For the Conversion of the King of the Burgundians.
• No. IV. (page 44.): Speech of a Northumbrain Chief.
• No. V. (page 75.): National Song of the Anglo-saxons, On the Victory of Brunanburgh.
• No. VI. (page 164.): ‘song Composed In Brittany On the Departure of a Young’ Breton Follower of the Normans, and On His Shipwreck. 1
• No. VII. (page 175.): Poetical Narrative of the Battle of Hastings.
• No. VIII. (page 179.): Letter From M. Augustin Thierry to M. De La Fontenelle De Vaudore, Corresponding Member of the Institute.
• No. IX. (page 182.): The Valiant Courage and Policy of the Kentishmen Which Overcame William the Conqueror, Who Sought to Take From Them Their Ancient Laws and Customs, Which They Retain to This Day. 1
• No. X. (p. 185.): Details of the Surrender of London, Extracted From a Contemporary Poem, Attributed to Guy, Bishop of Amiens. 1
• No. XI. (page 190.): Names of the Provinces and Principal Towns of England As Given In the Saxon Chronicles.
• No. XII. (page 197.): Ancient List of the Conquerors of England.
• Note From the Abbe De La Rue’s Work, Recherches Sur La Tapisserie De Bayeux. Caen, 1824.
• No. XIII. (page 205.): Enumeration of the Lands of Brihtrik, Possessed By Queen Matilda. 1
• No. XIV. (page 206.): Narrative of the Imprisonment of the Saxon Brihtrik. 1
• No. XV. (page 227.): Extract From Domesday-book Relative to the State of the Towns Immediately After the Conquest. 1
• No. XVI. (page 263.): Narrative of the Exploits and Death of Hereward. 1

No. I. (page 10.)

ARYMES PRYDYN VAWR.

THE GREAT ARMED CONFEDERACY OF BRITAIN.

• • 1 Dysgogan awen: dygobryssyn!
  • Marannedd a meuedd, a hêdd genhyn,
  • A phennaeth ehelaeth, a fraeth unbyn;
  • A, gwedy dyhedd, anhedd ymhob mehyn.
  • Gwyr gwychyr yn trydar casnar dengyn:
  • Escaud yn gnovud ryhyd dyvin:
  • Gwaethyl gwyr hyt Gaer Wair gwascarawdd allmyn.
  • Gwnahawnt gorvoledd gwedy gwehyn,
  • A chymod Cymry, a gwyr Dulyn,
  • Gwyddyl Iwerddon, Mon, a Phrydyn,
  • Cernyw a Cludwys, eu cynnwys genhyn.
  • Atporion vydd Brython pan dyorphyn.
  • Pell dysgoganer amser dybyddyn
  • Teyrnedd, a bonedd eu go rescyn:
  • Gwyr gogledd, ynghyntedd yn eu cylchyn,
  • Ymhervedd eu rhagwedd y ddisgynnyn.
  • Dysgogan Merddin. Cyvervydd hyn.
• • Yn Anber Peryddon, meirion mechdeyrn
  • (A chyn ni bai unrhaith) llaith a Gwynyn.
  • O un ewyllys bryd, ydd ymvrthvynnyn.
  • Meirion eu trethau, dychynnullyn
  • Yngnedoedd Cymry nadd oedd a delyn:
  • Y sydd wr dyledawg a levair hyn—
  • “Ni ddyfai a dalai yngheithiwed.”
• • Mab Mair, mawr ei air! Pryd na thardded
  • Rhag pennaeth Saeson, ac eu hofed!
  • Pell bwynt cychmyn i Wrtheyrn Gwynedd!
  • Ev gyrhaut Allmyn i alltudedd.
  • Nis arhaeddwy neb, nis dioes daear;
  • Ni wyddynt py dreiglynt ymhob aber.
• • Pan brynasant Danet, drwy fled calledd
  • Gan Hors a Hengys oedd yn eu rhyssedd,
  • Eu cynnydd bu y wrthym yn anvonhedd:
  • Gwedi rhin dilein, ceith ym ynver.
  • Dychymmydd medddawd mawr wirawd o vedd!
• • Dychymmyn angau angen Hawer!
  • Dychymmydd anaelau, dagrau gwragedd,
  • Dychyfroy edgyllaeth peunaeth lledfer!
  • Dychymmydd tristyd byd a ryher,
  • Pan vydd cechmyn Danet an teyrnedd!
• • Gwrthotted trindawd dyrnawd a bwyller—
  • Y ddilein gwlad Vrython, a Saeson yn anned!
  • Poet cynt eu rheges yn alltudedd,
  • Na myned Cymry yn ddivröedd!
• • Mab mair mawr ei air! pryd nas terddyn
  • Cymry, rhag goeir breyr ag unbyn!
  • Cyneircheid, cyneilweid, unrhaith cwynyn!
  • Un gôr, un gyngor, un eisor ynt.
  • Nid oedd er mawred nas lleverynt;
  • Namyn er hepcor goeir nas cymmodynt.
  • I Dduw a Dewi ydd ymorchmynnynt:
  • Taled gwrthotted fled i Allmyn!
  • Gwnawnt hwy aneireu eisiau trevddyn
  • Cymry a Saeson cyvervyddyn,
  • I amlan ymdreulaw ag ymwrthryn.
  • O ddirvawr vyddinawr pan ymbrovyn,
  • Ag amallt lavnawr a gawr a gryn,
  • Ag am Gwy gair cyvergeir, y am Peurllyn,
  • A lluman a ddaw a garw ddisgyn;
  • A, mal balaon, Saeson syrthyn.
• • Cymry cynyrcheid cyfun Ddullyn.
  • Blaen wrth vôn, granwynion, cyvyng oeddyn
  • Meirion, yngwerth eu gau, yn eu creinhyn.
  • Eu byddyn yngwaedlin, yn eu cylchyn,
  • Eraill, ar eu traed, trwy goed Cilhyn,
  • Trwy Vwrch y Ddinas foras föyn.
  • Rhyvel heb ddychwel i dir Prydyn,
  • Attor, trwy law gyngor, mal morlithryn.
  • Meirion Caer Geri ddivri cwynant
  • Rhai i ddyfryn a bryn nis dirdwadant;
  • I Aber Peryddon ni mad ddoethant:
  • Anaelau drethau dychynullant:
  • Naw ugain canhwr a ddisgynnant;
  • Mawr watwar, namyn pedwar, nid atcorant.
  • Dyhedd i eu gwragedd a ddywedant;
  • Eu crysseu yn llawn creu aroclhant.
• • Cymry cyneirchaie, enaid dichwant—
  • Gwyr Dehau eu trethau a amygant.
  • Llym lliveid llavnawr, llwyr y lladdant:
  • Ni bydd i veddyg mwyn o’r a wnaant.
  • Byddinoedd Cadwaladyr cadyr i deuant.
  • Ryddyrchavwynt Cymry. Cad a wnaant—
  • Llaith, anolaith ryddysgyrchasant.
  • Yn gorphen eu trethau angau a wawdant.
  • Eraill ar osgail ryphlanhasant:
  • Oes oeseu, eu tretheu nid esgorant.
• • Ynghoed, ym maes, ym mryn,
  • Canhwyll, yn nhywyll, a gerdd genhyn—
  • Cynan yn rhagwan ymhob disgyn.
  • Saeson rhag Brython gwae a gênyn.
  • Cadwaladir yn baladir gan ei unbyn,
  • Trwy synwyr, yn llwyr yn eu dychlyn,
  • Pan syrthwynt en clas dros eu herchwyn
  • Ynghustudd, a chreu rhudd ar rudd allmyn.
  • Yn ghorphen pob angrheith, anrheith dengyn.
  • Seis ar hynt, hyd Gaer Wynt, cynt pwy cynt techyn.
• • Gwyn eu byd hwy Cymry, pan adroddynt
  • Rymgwarawd y Drindawd o’r travallawd gynt
  • Na chryned Dyved na Glywyssyg
  • Nis gwnaho molawd meirion mechdeyrn;
  • Na chynhorion Saeson cefyn ebryn,
  • “Nis gwnaw, meddut, meddawt genhyn,
  • Heb daled o dynged.” Maint a gefyn
  • O ymddiveid veibion, ac eraill ryn.
  • Trwy eiriawl Dewi a seint Prydyn,
  • Hyd frwd Argelo fohawr allan.
• • Dysgogan awen. Dyddaw y dydd
  • Pan ddyfo i wys, i un gyssul,
  • Un gôr, un gynghor; a Lloeyr llosgyd,
  • Yr gobaith Arreiraw ar yn phrydaw lluydd;
  • A cherdd arallvro, a fo beunydd.
  • Mi wyr cwdd ym dda cwdda cwdd vydd.
  • Dy chyrchwynt gywarth mal arth o vynydd,
  • I dalu gwynieith, gwaed eu hennydd,
  • Atoi peleidral dyval dillydd,
  • Nid arbetwy car corph eu gilydd:
  • Atoi pen gaflaw heb emennydd:
  • Atoi gwragedd gweddw, a meirch gweilydd;
  • Atoi’ r brein uthr rhag uthur cedwyr,
  • A lliaws llaw amhar, cyn gwascar lluydd.
• • Cennadau angau dychyvervydd,
  • Pan favwynt galanedd wrth eu henydd.
  • Ev dialawr ar werth ei dreth beunydd,
  • A’r mynych genhadau a’r gau luydd.
• • Dygorvu Cymry trwy gyvergyr,
  • Yn gywair, gydair, gydson, gydfydd:
  • Dygorvi Cymry i beri cad,
  • A llwyth lliaws gwlad a gynhullant,
  • A lluman glan Dewi a ddyrchavant,
  • J dywysaw Gwyddyl drwy Lieingant:
  • A gynheu Dulyn genhyn a savant,
  • Pan ddyfont l’r gâd nid ymwadant.

TRANSLATION.

• • The muse foretels the speedy coming to the people of the enjoyment of wealth and peace.
  • An ample domimon, and eloquent princes:
  • But, after tranquillity, there will be commotion in every tribe,
  • The mighty men contending with barbarous wrath:
  • The Scots resolving to make an assault;
  • The Germans scattered the disturbers as far as Caer Wair.
  • After the expulsion they make a triumph,
  • And reconciled the Cymry, the men of Dublin,
  • The Gwyddyl of Ireland, Anglesey, and Scotland.
  • Cornwall, and the men of Alclwyd, to their reception amongst us.
  • In the end the Britons will recover their sovereignty.
  • Long since has it been predicted that they shall become
  • Princes, and the felicity of their enterprise,
  • Is when the men of the north, who dwell upon their borders,
  • Shall make a descent into the bowels of their land.
  • ’Tis Merddin that foretels. This will come to pass.
• • In Aber Peryddon, the deputies of a Saxon king,
  • (Even before there was a public stipulation) stirred up slaughter.
  • By an unanimous arbitrary act, the deputies, with violence,
  • Demanded, and proceeded to collect, a tribute.
  • The Cymry resolved, they were under no obligation to pay:
  • But it was a man of authority that made this declaration—
  • “He that pays shall not go into captivity!”
• • O, Son of Mary, whose word is sacred! woe’s the time that we sprung not forth
  • To resist the dominion of the Saxons—that we cherished them!
  • Far be the cowards of Vortigern of Gwynedd!
  • The Germans might have been banished by them from hence.
  • No one would have seized, no one would have stripped the land;
  • But they knew not those that lingered in every harbour.
• • When the Germans purchased Thanet by imposing craftiness,
  • In which Horse and Hengist chiefly excelled,
  • Their aggrandizement was to us a degradation:
  • After concerting the plot of death, the slaves return.
  • Reflect on the intoxication at the great banquet of mead!
  • Reflect on the violent deaths of many guests!
  • Reflect on the incurable wounds—the tears of nations,
  • When woeful mourning was roused by the cruel pagan!
  • Reflect on the calamitous lot that will befal us,
  • When the lurkers of Thanet become our princes!
• • May the Trinity avert the stroke I have mentioned—
  • That the Saxons should dwell in the land of the annihilated Britons!
  • May utter banishment be their portion, rather
  • Than the Cymry should be deprived of their country!
• • O, Son of Mary, whose word is sacred! woe’s the time
  • When the Cymry withstood not the base decrees of nobles and princes!
  • Let them be summoned—let them be called together—let them rise unanimous!
  • They have one heart, one opinion, one common cause.
  • They remained silent (not abashed by the presence of the great)
  • But to withhold their consent from a base decree which they disapproved,
  • Let them now commit their cause to God and to Dewi,
  • Who shall render or refuse to the Germans the reward of treachery,
  • Let our foes be discordant for want of a regulating chief,
  • But let the Cymry and the Saxons meet in the field,
  • For the decision of the confused conflict, and the strife of valour
  • When the foe tries the fortune of the mighty leader;
  • When the grove trembles with the warrior’s shout:
  • When the battle is joined for the Wye and the land of lakes,
  • The standard shall advance, and the terrible assault;
  • And the Saxons shall drop like the buds of the forest.
• • The Cymry were strengthened by the social forces of Dublin.
  • The van of the deputies was confused with the rear; with pallid cheek, in utter perplexity,
  • They wallowed on the field, as the reward of perfidy;
  • While their army lay around them in a lake of gore:
  • And the remnant, on foot, through the wood of Killin,
  • And through Bwrch y Ddinas fled, in disorder.
  • This war which will return no more to the land of Prydyn,
  • Rolls away, at the signal, like a billow on the deep.
  • The deputies of Caer Geri dolefully complain
  • Of those that will not resign their claim to their vallies and hills.
  • To Aber Peryddon they came in an evil hour,
  • And fatal were the tributes they collected:
  • The descent was made by eighteen thousand men;
  • With great disgrace four hundred only returned.
  • They told a tale of peace to their wives,
  • Who smelled their garments full of gore.
• • Let the Cymry be collected, regardless of life—
  • The men of the south will defend themselves from paying tribute.
  • Keen let the swords be ground: they will utterly destroy;
  • The surgeon shall reap no advantage from what they do.
  • The mighty hosts of Cadwallader shall advance.
  • Let the Cymry exalt themselves. They shall make a slaughter,—
  • The destruction, the demolition of the foe, which they have freely de-
  • manded.
  • In putting an end to their vassalage, they will mock at death.
  • Strangers have they repeatedly planted with their shafts;
  • But never, no never will they deliver a tribute.
• • In the forest, in the field, in the mountain—
  • A lamp in darkness shall attend them—
  • Conan, their leader in every inroad.
  • The Saxons, before the Britons, shall sing the song of woe,
  • Cadwallader, a pillar amongst his princes,
  • By his wise conduct shall utterly dismember the Germans,
  • When they drop over the limits of their sanctuary
  • In misery, and the ruddy gore stains their brow.
  • Thus will be put an end to their violence and plunder inhuman,
  • And the Saxons in their way to Caerwint shall fly in the utmost disorder.
• • Thrice happy the Cymry when they shall relate
  • How the Trinity delivered them from past calamity,
  • Let not Dyved nor Gliwyssig be alarmed,
  • The deputies of the king shall acquire no glory;
  • Nor the leaders of the Saxons obtain forage.
  • “We shall acquire,” say they, “no possession among them
  • Without paying the debt of fate.” Multitudes may they have
  • Of fatherless sons—of others, a small number.
  • Through the intercession of Dewi and the Saints of Prydyn.
  • They shall fly out of the land as far as the stream of Argelo.
• • The prophetic song declares the day shall arrive
  • When men shall assemble, unanimous in council,
  • With one heart, one design; and Lloegyr shall be wasted with fire.
  • Arreiraw shall rely upon our torrent-hosts.
  • The alien shall remove—the pagan shall be put to flight.
  • And well I know success awaits us, whatever chance befals.
  • Let the Cymry rush to conflict, like a bear from the mountain,
  • To revenge the treacherous murder of their ancestors:
  • And in condensing the quick piercing spears
  • Let not friends protect the bodies of each other,
  • Let them multiply the brainless skulls of German worthies,
  • Let them multiply their widow’d matrons, and steeds without riders,
  • Let them multiply the greedy ravens before the valiant warriors,
  • And let there be many a maimed hand before our host separates.
• • The messenger of death shall meet the Saxon chief,
  • When the carcases of his men are heaped about him;
  • We shall be revenged on the pagan for his oppressive tribute,
  • His frequent messages, and his treacherous sway.
• • The Cymry have been victorious in the conflict,
  • True to their cause, of one voice, one language, one faith
  • The Cymry will again be victorious, demanding the fight:
  • Their tribes, the multitude of their land will they collect,
  • And the sacred banner of Dewi will they display
  • To conduct the Gwyddil through Lieingant:
  • And the leaders of Dublin will stand firm in our behalf,
  • When they come into the battle they will not desert the cause.

[1 ] Patriotic song of the Cambrian bard Golyddan, seventh century. Cambrian Register for the year 1796, ii. 554, et seq. Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales, i. 156.