Amended March 2009
One event in the life of Walter PEDWARDINE
5 miles west of Llandeilo, on the road to Carmarthen, (in South Wales), on the
north side of the river Towy (or Towi), are the remains of Dryslwyn castle.
It is one of three castles which used to protect the Towy valley. Of the
others the most impressive is Carreg Cennan, sited on the edge of a 300 foot
precipice. From the inner ward a cliff passage leads down to a natural cave
in the mountain, despite narrow openings in the passage wall the cave itself
is dark. The name Dinefwr which can be dated back as far as 876 when it was
one of the three royal palaces of Wales. (In the Welsh language ‘w’ is
pronounced like a ‘u’). Throughout its early history it was the centre of
disputes between Wales and the Normans and later between the English and the
independent Welsh princes.
For two hundred years England had attempted to assimilate the area of Wales
into a United Kingdom. Wales itself was not a single united country. The
English had gradually occupied the counties to the East of Wales and along
the South Wales coast. In these areas called Marches, the King had always
installed strong Lords who could be relied upon to control the borders of
England and build castles at their own expense
In 1255 King Henry iii sent an army to Carmarthen to capture Dinefar. 3,000
English soldiers were killed. Llewellyn ap GRUFFYDD was recognised as Prince
of Wales by Henry and all other local Welsh leaders acknowledged his
leadership except Maredudd ap RHYS, Lord of Towy. Llewellyn eventually
bought his grudging support but not that of his son Rhys ap MAREDUDD. (The
Welsh did not use surnames until much later than the English, but inserted
the word ‘ap’ meaning ‘son of’ after the individual’s Christian name.)
The third of the trio of TOWY castles was of equal importance but today does
not look promising from the road. It stands on an isolated hill like an
island in the surrounding flat valley. A climb will reveal large earthworks
and significant ruins of a chapel and a hall. this was the scene of a
dramatic event in the life of a Sir Walter PEDWARDINE.
When his father died Edward 1 returning from the crusades, landed in England
as King in August 1274 and set about restoring some order to England after
his father’s long but ineffective reign. By May 1278 he had ejected the
Welsh from all the Marches. Rhys ap MAREDUDD distrusted Llewelyn ap GRUFFYDD
and believed he was becoming too strong so joined Edward 1 in opposing him.
When Llewelyn was defeated in 1282 Rhys was distressed to find that he
received no thanks from Edward 1 for his ten years of loyalty and
contribution to the war, indeed he had all his lands taken from him except
the area immediately around Drysylwn castle. On the face of it this is
puzzling behaviour by the King, who seems otherwise to have been fair in his
treatment of his followers. Perhaps we do not have all the facts or Edward
was misled by his advisers. Or he may have been very well aware that the
assistance rendered by Rhys was self interest on his part. In June 1287,
when Edward was away in France, Rhys took the opportunity to revolt. His
attacks took Dinefwr, Carreg Cenan and Llandovery from the King’s forces and
his raids extended north to Llanbadarn Fawr, south to Swansea and east to
Brecon.
Our Walter had probably taken part in previous operations against the Welsh
and now had some seniority. as a result his name appears in the list of
persons summoned by parliamentary writ to meet this new threat. Edward 1 was
absent in France from May 1286 until August 1289, leaving his relative
Edmund, Earl of CORNWALL as regent in his absence.
1287 RC56 Pg 774
“Walterus de PEDEWERDIN, summoned to appear with horses and arms at a
military council at Gloucester before Edmund Earl of CORNWALL in 3 weeks of
St John the Baptist 15 July Edward 25 1 1”
1287 RC44 Pg 675 “An 15 Edward 1
Summons for delivering horses and arms to Edmund, Earl of CORNWALL, in the
parts of Wales.
The King to his dearly beloved and faithful Robert PECHE, greetings. Whereas
we have commanded our dearly beloved and faithful kinsman Edmund, Earl of
CORNWELL, our regent in England, to persevere in certain difficult matter,
especially touching ourselves, which we will set out more fully before you
certain others of the faithful men of (our) council, to whom we shall write
diligently this, We command you by the fealty which you owe to us, asking
that, neglecting all other things, you will have secured proper horses and
arms for the aforesaid Earl of GLOUCESTER in three week’s time, (that is) on
St John the Baptist’s Day (=24 June).
Speak with the Earl about matters, and then do what the same will command you
on our behalf . And we entrust you to do this, omitting nothing.
Witnessed by the aforesaid Earl of WESTMINSTER 14 June
This was commanded before all those (whose names are) written below, namely:-
“
(There follows a list of 116 persons, including Henry de PERCY, Walter de
PEDEWERDIN and Norman D’ARCY. We will meet other members of these families
later.)
In the Patent Rolls we find letters of protection issued to individuals making
it clear that the holder is on the King’s business and is to be given every
assistance:-
Pat 1287 jun24 (Westminster) Pg 272
“Protection for the following going to Wales on king’s business. (A long list
including Walter de PEDWARDIN going with Edmund, Earl of CORNWALL until
Michaelmas September 29”
In the Chancery Rolls we find our Walter is one of these given the
responsibility of paying the troops and keeping accounts:-
Y1287 July 6 (Westminster) Pg 309
“To Richard GUYDICIONIS and his fellow merchants of Lucca (Italy). Order to
pay all money of the King’s now in their hands or from loans to be made to
the King, or from money to be obtained from other sources (aliunde) from
time to time (per vices) to Walter de PEDWARDIN amongst 7 others for
acquitting the wages of horsemen and footmen in the King’s war of Drosselon
(Dryslwyn) and of the parts adjoining and for making imprests and other the
King’s matters in the said war. The King will cause allowances to be made to
them in their account for the money thus to be paid by them in testimony
whereof he sends them letters patent. Witness Edmund, Earl of Cornwall. By
the Earl and the treasurer”
Again in the Chancery Rolls it is made clear that any defectors from the army
of Rhys will not be ill treated if they surrender without delay.
Y 1287 july16 (Gloucester) Pg 307
“To the Abbot of Cumhir and Walter de PEDEWARDYN. Notification that the King
has granted to them power to admit to his peace and will, the men of
Straudeuwy (place not identified) adherents of Reso ap MEREDUC (Rhys son of
MEREDITH) the King’s rebel, in his attempt (imprisa) who may wish to come to
the King’s peace. these letters patent shall last from Friday before St
Margaret (July 20) for the six following days. Witness Edmund, Earl of
CORNWALL.” (Cwmhir was a Cistercian monastery, where incidentally Llywelyn
ap GRUFFYDD had been buried.)
As in previous wars against the Welsh the King found experienced troops in the
Marches and supplemented these with archers from the Sherwood Forest area of
Nottingham and Derbyshire. (The GRESLY family are notable for the fact that
they were land holders in one manor in Derbyshire from 1086 down to the
present century, which is an unusual achievement).
So we find in the Close Rolls:-Cl July 24 (Hereford) Pg 456
“To Geoffrey de GRESELEY. Order to commit to Walter de Pedworin (=PEDWARDINE)
340 footmen that Geoffrey lately received from the Sheriff of Notts and
Derby by the King’s order so that Walter shall have to set out with him in
the king’s army into Wales as the King has enjoined him. Witness Edmund of
CORNWALL”
And another parliamentary writ:-
1287 RC56 Pg 774 “Walterus de PEDWARRIN seventeen score of foot soldiers
received by Galfridus (=Geoffrey) de GRESELEY from the Sheriff of Nottingham
and Derby marched into Wales under his command. Writ tested at Hereford 24
july 15 Edward 253-6”
Knights wore chain mail head to foot consisting of Hauberk, Breeches and
Helm. Their shields were kite shaped and they used long swords or lances.
chain mail was also used to form protective apron around their horses, they
were then called barded horses.
Troopers were similarly equipped but boiled leather would replace chain mail
and they would ride the smaller horses called rounceys.
Arm pieces bearing the Cross of St George were the nearest Edward 1 came to
equipping an army with uniform.
In the Records of the wardrobe and household are included rolls of Receipts
and issues of the paymasters of the infantry in Wales. these mention Walter
de PEDWARDINE and Thomas CANTOK as keeping accounts. The accounts also
reveal that Edmundo de PEDWARDINE was a constable leading men from the
forest of ‘Bockered(?)’ and Lodelewe (Ludlow) and Petro de PEDWARDINE
another constable led other men from Shropshire. Thomas of NEWBOROUGH led
men from “Lughymes Castro Richardi et Pedwardine”
Deliveries to paymaster of army by Francisco BENDIN, an agent of the Merchants
of Lucca in Italy were the means of financing the King’s army.
The first consigment of cash was delivered at Hereford, then Llanbadarn Fawr
and Dryslwyn. The final outlay was at CARMARTHEN. Recruits were first paid
on assembly at Chester. the constables with barded horses received 12d a
day. The commanders of twenty (Vintenarii) 4d. the foot soldiers 2d. the
constables usually commanded 100 infantry.
The campaign and siege lasted six weeks. 11,000 men were enlisted partly from England and partly from North Wales but mostly from the Marches. Earl of CORNWALL wrote from Westminster summoning barons June 14 to Gloucester by July 21. he ordered John GIFFARD to protect the Wye and Radnor. Reginald de GREY commanded the troops marching from Chester. Roger l’ ESTRANGE led the troops from Shropshire and Hereford. TIBOTOT moved to protect Cardiganshire and South Carmarthenshire. Nine crossbows and 21’000 bolts were shipped from Bristol to Carmarthen followed by 20 Crossbows and 6,000 bolts to be used by a small corps of professional soldiers.
Woodcutters were employed to cut a road through the forests, as they had done
in earlier wars in North Wales. This established a communications link
between Dryslwyn and England. Mechanics and sappers from the northern
castles in Wales brought up a siege engine. £14 was spent to buy hides,
timber, ropes and lead. 20 Quarrymen made stone bullets and 4 carters
brought them up to the castle. The mining and battering continued from
August 20-30. At this date the Earl of CORNWALL with English soldiers of
Hereford, South Shropshire and Derby suffered a reduction in their numbers
due to an accident. According to one account, they were making a breach into
the castle through the chapel wall when an undermined wall fell killing many
knights and about seven hundred men ( a third of the army). According to
another account one of the towers was undermined and collapsed killing Lord
Stafford and all the men who were working with him in the tunnel. 150 more
were lost in the assaults which followed. the castle was taken on 8
September but Rhys had fled. All the troops were paid off and dismissed at
Carmarthen by September 12.
Alan PLUKENET was installed in Dryslwyn castle with several centenar
volunteers from the siege army.
Rhys returned to the attack in November taking Emlyn castle from Roger
MORTIMER. The engine was brought to Emlyn from Dryslwyn by January 10 and
stones collected from the beach below Cardigan. The castle fell within 10
days without loss of any men, but Rghs escaped again to the mountains. He
was eventually captured in Wales and executed at York in April 1291 where
the King had set up his parliament whilst he was at war with Scotland.
Sir Walter PEDWARDINE had to nominate attorneys for the last few years of his life. We do not know whether he received an injury in this war or whether perhaps his eyesight failed as a result of the paperwork which was an inevitable part of his duties as a landed knight.
Sources The Welsh wars of Edward 1 by John Edward MORRIS MA Oxford 1901
Records of the Wardrobe and Household 1285-1289
Cl= Close Rolls
Pat= Patent Rolls
Y= Chancery Rolls
RC= Record Commission publications
RC44= Feodera 1 part 2 Edward 1
RC56= Parliamentary Writs