Gruffudd ab Yr Ynad Coch

Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was killed in a skirmish near Irfon Bridge, near Builth Wells. He was making his way to Builth to join up with allies there. Accompanied by only a small band of men - traditionally just eighteen - he encountered a group of English troops. It is said that a soldier called Stephen Frankton killed Llywelyn. It was only after the skirmish was over that Frankton realised he had killed the Welsh prince. Llywelyn's death affected all the Welsh people.

Excerpts from Lament for Llywelyn ap Gruffudd by Gruffudd ab Yr Ynad Coch

Perfect the lad killed by hostile men's hands,
Perfect his forebear's honours in him.
Candle of kings, strong lion of Gwynedd,
Throne of honour, there was need of him.
With my prop cut down, gold-handed prince,
With Llywelyn's death, gone is my mind.

See you not the rush of the wind and rain?
See you not the oaks lash each other?
See you not the ocean scourging the shore?
See you not the truth is portending?
See you not the sun hurtling across the sky?
See you not that the stars have fallen?
Have you no belief in God, foolish men?
See you not that the world is ending?
Ah God, that the sea would cover the land!
What is left us that we should linger?
No place to flee from terror's prison,
No place to live, wretched is living!
All retainers were true to his trust,
All warriors were his defenders,
All stern men would swear by his hand.
All leaders, all lands were his own.
All counties, all towns are now troubled,
All households, all clans are collapsing.
All the weak, all the strong he kept safe:
All children now cry in their cradles.
Little good it did me to dupe me,
Leaving me a head, with him headless.
Head that slain made fear unhateful,
Head that slain made surrender best,
Head of a soldier, head of praise,
Head of a duke, a dragon's head,
Head of fair Llywelyn, sharp the world's fear,
An iron spike through it,
Head of my lord, harsh pain is mine,
Head of my spirit left speechless,
Head that had honour in nine hundred lands,
Nine hundred feasts for him,
Head of a king, his hand hurled iron,
Head a proud hawk, he forced a breach,
Head of a kingly wolf thrust foremost,
Head of kings, heaven be his haven!
Blest king, great deeds were his, blest company,
Who longed to reach Llydaw (Brittany),
King right royal of Aberffraw,
May heaven's fair land be his home.

Excerpts from Lament for Llywelyn ap Gruffudd by Gruffudd ab Yr Ynad Coch in the poet's own tongue.

Cwbl o was a las o law - ysgeraint,
Cwbl fraint ei hynaint oedd ohonaw.
Cannwyll tëyrnedd, cadarn llew Gwynedd,
Cadair anrhydedd, rhaid oedd wrthaw.
O leas gwanas, gwanar eurllaw,
O laith Llywelyn cof dyn ni'm daw.
Poni welwch chwi hynt y gwynt a'r glaw?
Poni welwch chwi'r deri'n ymdaraw?
Poni welwch chwi'r gwir yn ymweiriaw?
Poni welwch chwi'r haul yn hwylaw - 'r awyr?
Poni welwch chwi'r syr wedi r'syrthiaw?
Poni chredwch chwi i Dduw, ddyniadon ynfyd?
Poni welwch chwi'r byd wedi r'bydiaw.
Och hyd atat ti, Dduw, na ddaw - môr dros dir!
Pa beth y'n gedir i ohiriaw?
Nid oes le y cyrcher rhag carchar braw;
Nid oes le y trigger; och o'r trigaw!
Pob teul, teilwng oedd iddaw;
Pob cedwyr, cedwyntadanaw;
Pob dengyn a dyngynt o'i law;
Pob gwledig, pob gwlad oedd eiddaw.
Pob cantref, pob tref yny yn treiddiaw;
Pob tylwyth, pob llwyth y sy'n udaw.
Bychan lles oedd im, am fy nhwyllaw,
Gadael pen arnaf heb ben arnaw.
Pen pan las, ni bu gas gymraw;
Pen pan las, oedd lesach peidiaw.
Pan milwr, pen moliant rhag llaw,
Pen dragon,pen draig oedd arnaw.
Pan Llywelyn deg, dygn o fraw - i'r byd
Bod pawl haean trwyddaw.
Pen f'arglwydd, poen dygngwydd a'm daw;
Pen f'enaid heb fanag arnaw.
Pen a fu berchen ar barch naw - canwlad,
A naw canwledd iddaw.
Pen tëyrn, hëyrn heaid o'i law,
Pen tëyrnwalch balch, bwlch ei ddeifnaw.
Pen tëyrnaidd flaidd flaengar ganthaw.
Pen tëyrnedd nef, Ei nawdd arnaw.
Gwyndëyrn orthyrn wrthaw - gwendorf gorf,
Gorfynt hynt hyd Lydaw.
Gwir freiniawl frenin Aberffraw,
Gwenwlad nef boded addef iddaw.

Excerpts taken from The Oxford Book of Welsh Verse (Bloddeugerdd Rhydychen o Farddoniaeth Gymraeg), editor Thomas Parry.

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Wales in the Age of Princes
The Welsh Prince
The Princes and the Marcher Lords
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