ABSTRACT
He was first set to studie the lawes of the realme, and became an utter barrester, or an apprentise of the law (as they terme him) and served king Richard at Flint castell, when he was taken by Henrie duke of Lancaster, though other have written that he served this king Henrie the fourth, before he came to atteine the crowne, in roome of an esquier,2 and after by reason of variance that rose betwixt him and the lord Reginald Greie of Ruthin, about the lands which he claimed to be his by right of inheritance: when he saw that he might not prevaile, finding no such favor in his sute as he looked for, he first made warre against the said lord Greie, wasting his lands and possessions with fire and sword, cruellie killing his servants and tenants.3 The king advertised of such rebellious exploits, enterprised by the said Owen, and his unrulie complices, determined to chastise them, as disturbers of his peace, and so with an armie entered into Wales4 ; but the Welshmen with their capteine withdrew into the mounteines of Snowdon, so to escape the revenge, which the king meant towards them. The king therefore did much hurt in the countries with fire and sword, sleing diverse that with weapon in
[519/2/21] About the same time [1401], Owen Glendouer and his Welshmen did much hurt to the kings subjects. 1 One night as the king was going to bed, he was in danger to have beene destroied 2; for some naughtie traitorous persons had conveied into his bed a certeine iron made with smiths craft, like a caltrop, with three long prickes, sharpe and small, standing upright, in such sort, that when he had laid him downe, & that the weight of his bodie should come upon the bed, he should have beene thrust in with those pricks, and peradventure slaine: but as God would, the king not thinking of any such thing, chanced yet to feele and perceive the instrument before he laid him downe, and so escaped the danger. Howbeit he was not so soone delivered from feare; for he might well have his life in suspicion, & provide for the preservation of the same; sith perils of death crept into his secret chamber, and laie lurking in the bed of downe where his bodie was to be reposed and to take rest. Oh what a suspected state therefore is that of a king holding his regiment with the hatred of his people, the hartgrudgings of his courtiers, and the peremptorie practises of both togither? Could he confidentlie compose or setle himselfe to sleepe for feare of strangling? Durst he boldly eat and drinke without dread of poisoning? Might he adventure to shew himselfe in great meetings or solemne assemblies without mistrust of mischeefe against his person intended? What pleasure or what felicitie could he take in his princelie pompe, which he knew by manifest and fearefull experience, to be envied and maligned to the verie death?3 The state of such a king is noted by the poet in Dionysius, as in a mirror, concerning whome it is said,
Districtus ensis cui super impia Ceruice pendet, non Siculae dapes Dulcem elaborabunt saporem, Non auium cytharaeque cantus.4
