(Vol. iv., p. 83.)
MR. J. P. COLLIER will find all the information that Cambrian
antiquaries can give him respecting Sidanen in Powell's _Cambria_,
Matthew Paris, Wynne's _Caradoc_, and Warrington's _History of Wales_,
under the year 1241. The history is given at most length in Warrington;
where the share which Sidanen had in an interesting episode in Cambrian
history is fully developed. There were two Welsh princes named Llywelyn,
who stood to each other in the following relation:
LLYWELYN AB JORWERTH
(died in 1240).
|
+------+-------+-----------+
| | |
GRIFFITH, DAVID. GLADYS, a
married to daughter.
_Senena_,
daughter of a
Cambrian lord
named Caradoc
ab Thomas.
|
+--------------------------+--------+
| | |
LLYWELYN AB GRIFFITH, OWEN. DAVID.
last Prince of Wales.
The Prince of Wales mentioned by Munday is the first, Llywelyn ab
Jorwerth, whose descent, as his father was not allowed to reign on
account of personal deformity, we had better indicate:
OWEN, king of North Wales.
|
(Eldest son) JORWERTH, the _Broken-nosed_.
|
LLYWELYN AB JORWERTH.
Llywelyn, as has been shown, had two sons, Griffith and David, the first
and eldest of whom, being a turbulent prince, was set aside by his
father at a solemn assembly of Cambrian lords, in 1238, and David was
elected to succeed his father. In 1240, David became king of North
Wales, and one of his first acts was to apprehend his brother and his
son Owen, and put them in prison. This was done with the connivance of a
Bishop of Bangor: but that worthy, fearing that the scandal would spread
abroad, intrigued with _Senena_, the _daughter-in-law_, and not the
daughter of Prince Llywelyn, and wife of his son Griffith, for his
release. Overtures were made to Henry III.; and certain lords having
joined the confederacy, stipulations were entered into, and Henry
marched against King David. David, who had married the king's daughter,
now began to counterplot, in which he was quite successful; for Henry,
who had come to release Griffith, by _special contract_ with his
brother, took him, with his wife Senena, and his son Owen, with him to
London, and imprisoned them in the Tower, in attempting to escape from
whence, two years afterwards, Griffith lost his life. Such is a brief
outline of all that is known of Senena, who is undoubtedly the Sidanen
of Munday, and whose name is variously written _Sina_, _Sanan_,
_Sanant_, and in the Latin chronicle _Senena_. The negotiations here
alluded to, with the names of all the parties engaged in them, will be
found in the authorities herein named; all of which being in English,
MR. COLLIER can easily consult.
John a Cumber is probably John y Kymro, or John the Cambrian; but I know
nothing of him.
Respecting John of Kent there is but little else known than may be found
in Coxe's _Monmouthshire_, and Owen's _Cambrian Biography_, sub "Sion
Cent." There is, however, a tradition in this neighbourhood that he was
born at Eglwys Ilan, in the county of Glamorgan; and the road is shown
by which he went to Kentchurch, in Herefordshire. It was at Eglwys Ilan
that he is reported to have pounded the crows by closing the park gates.
As this story has not appeared in English print, I will endeavour to
furnish you again with a more circumstantial statement. Sion Kent, who
lived about 1450, appears to have derived his name from Kent Chester, or
Kent Church. He was a monk, holding Lollard opinions; and a bard of
considerable talent and celebrity. As a matter of course, he was on good
terms with his Satanic majesty; for he was a mighty reputation as a
conjuror. MR. COLLIER may find a portion of one of his poems, translated
in the Iolo MSS., page 687. Should this, or any other authority herein
named, not be accessible to MR. COLLIER, it would afford me great
pleasure to send him transcripts.
There is a very gross anachronism in making Sion, _lege_ Shôn Kent, to
be the contemporary of Senena.