Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best inspirational books txt) 📕

to that, Davydd. But if it did, would want your father to win. You and Elen and Llewelyn are my 'anl ily, and Wales my home."That was what Davydd needed to hear, and he reached up, slid free hand into hers. "Papa would win," he said confidently. "He too*

T475those castles from the Normans. He's a good battle commander, js j, not, Mama?""The best, love. This was the first time, Davydd, that all the Welsh princes banded together, offered a united front to the Normans. And jt vvas your father's doing, as is this conference on the banks of the River Dyfi. All of the Welsh Princes have gathered in answer to Llewelyn's summons, and that, too, is a first. Your father is seeking to make a lasting peace in the south between Maelgwn, Rhys Gryg, and their nephews, and to bring it about, he has proposed an equitable partition of Deheubarth amongst them.""What of all they won from the Normans? Is Papa not going to keep any of that land?""No, Davydd, he made no claims for himself. Do you know why? Because your father is a very clever man. He's gaining something from this peace that is of far greater value than land or castles, something of historic significance.That is why he sent for us, so that we could witness what is to happen."Davydd's eyes had widened. "What, Mama?"Joanna smiled. "You'll find out," she said, "on the morrow!"A MAN standing on the bank of the River Dyfi could look north into Gwynedd, south into Ceredigion, and Llewelyn had selected the river estuary as an appropriate site for his peace conference. It had taken all of his diplomatic and political skills and nearly a week of wrangling among the participants, but in the end Llewelyn had prevailed, and on a mild, sunlit morning inJanuary, a formal partition of Deheubarth was proclaimed.Joanna had chosen an inconspicuous spot near Llewelyn's tent, one that nonetheless afforded an unobstructed view of the ceremonies taking place upon the white sands of Aberdyfi. As the agreed-upon division of the various cantrefs and commotes was read aloud to the assembled lords, Davydd lost interest, began to fidget with his sling. Joanna had been unable to convince him that he did not need it; he'd even managed to fasten his mantle so that the sling was still visible.'If you do not stop squirming," she murmured, "you are going to "to the surprise.""Well, when will it happen, Mama?""NT'Now," Joanna said. An expectant silence had fallen; men were lng to get closer to their Princes. As all watched, Maelgwn crossed fe | Sand, knelt before Llewelyn, and swore an oath of homage and y to the Prince of Gwynedd. Rhys Gryg, who'd been freed from an

476English prison some months earlier; Llewelyn's cousin Hywel; his cousin Madog, Prince of upper Powys; Maelgwn's rebellious nephews Rhys leunac and Owainone by one they followed Maelgwn, acknowledged Llewelyn as their liege lord.Gwenwynwyn was the last to approach Llewelyn. High color had mottled his cheekbones, and his eyes were slits of resentful rage, but he too, knelt and did homage to the man who'd been his lifelong rival Llewelyn half turned, and for a moment his gaze met Joanna's, a moment in which they exchanged a very private message."Do you know what this means, Davydd? The other Welsh Princes have just acknowledged Gwynedd's suzerainty, have just acknowledged Llewelyn as their liege lord . . . their Prince. He's too shrewd to lay formal claim to the title, knowing that would but alarm the English and stir up the jealousies of his allies. But from this day forth, your father is, in effect, Prince ofWales."Davydd did not fully comprehend the significance of what he'd just witnessed, but he responded to the echoes of pride and jubilation in his mother's voice."I'm glad Papa wanted me here, glad he's to be Prince of all the Welsh. Mama .. . will I be Prince of Wales, too, one day?"Joanna did not answer at once, and as he glanced up at her, he saw that she was no longer watching Llewelyn. She was staring at the tall youth standing byLlewelyn's side, staring at his brother Gruffydd."Yes, Davydd," she said softly. "If I have any say about it, you will, indeed, be Prince of Wales."GWENWYNWYN soon recanted, swayed by his jealousy of Llewelyn and the beguilements of the English King. A thirteenth-century Welsh chronicle set forth the denouement of this embittered rivalry:In that year Gwenwynwyn, lord of Powys, made peace with John, King of England, scorning the oath and pledge he had given. . . . And after Llewelyn ab lorwerth had learned that, he felt vexed; and he sent to him bishops and abbots and other men of great authority. . . . And when that had availed him naught, he gathered a host and called the Princes of Wales together to him, and made for Powys to war against Gwenwynwyn, and he drove him to flight into the county of Chester and gained possession of all his territory for himself.

4QCORFE CASTLE, ENGLANDJune 1216BvJjY spring, John's war seemed all but won. In three months he had brutally and effectively suppressed rebellion in the North and East of England. He was receiving formidable support from his brother Will, who'd led a punitive expedition into East Anglia, and the two most powerful lords in the realm, theEarls of Chester and Pembroke, were holding fast for the crown. The rebels still controlled London, but they were losing heart. By April, a number of them were seeking to make peace with John; even Eustace de Vesci was asking for terms.It was not the prospect of fighting for John's kingdom that had discouragedLouis Capet from joining the rebels; it was his father. While Louis was quite willing to risk excommunication for the English crown, Philip was not. It tookLouis until Easter to coax a grudging consent from the French King, but onApril 24, Philip summoned the papal legate Guala to a council at Melun. There the