Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. Literary History And State Of People.--1135 To 117o. Effect of Stephen's reign on Welsh history--The building of castles by the Welsh-- Revival in National Life--The bards--Addresses to the native rulers -Lost works-- Gwalchmai--Social standing of the bards--Howel ab Owain Gwynedd and Owain Cyfeiliog--Cynddelw and Seisyll Bryffwrch--Minor poets--Preservation of genealogies--Dramatic compositions--Prose works--The Mabinogion--Geoffrey of Monmouth--Walter of Oxford--Caradog of Llancarfan--The Book of Llandaff--The Hanes Gruffudd ap Cynan--Music--Copying of Manuscripts--The Laws-- Religious Life--The Crusades--The Cistercian movement--The Abbeys--Grants of land by the Welsh--Burial of the chiefs--The Welsh Characteristics and Customs--Growth of National feeling. 'qtephen died at last on the 25th of October, 1154. His son Eustace, his gallant wife Matilda had gone before, and the poor king, bereft of all that which might have consoled, passed away a broken hearted man. His reign, which in England was but one long record of misery and lawlessness, afforded to Wales the opportunity she required to thrust off the Norman rule, and add a century and a half of independent life to her long history. 2 The Welsh learnt how to build a castle to hold a neighbourhood in subjection, and when a new king attempted to recover the authority of his forebears in the land, he found it protected now not alone by the wild valour of the inhabitants, 1. Anglo-Saxon Chron.; Robert de Monte ad 1153 = 4; William of Newburgh, Lib. i. Chap, xxxii., Gerv. Cant i, 159; Brut, ad 1153 = 4; Ann. Camb. (c.) ad 1155 = 4, &c. 2. In the first fury of the war of independence, the invariable rule with the Welsh was the destruction of the Norman castles that fell into...