A war broke out between Griffith and Harold; and,
during it, in 1063, the great Welsh king--"the head and the shield of
the Britons"--was slain by traitors.
So far I have told you about a few, only the greatest, kings of the
House of Cunedda. I know that you are wondering where Arthur comes
in. I am not quite sure that Arthur ever really lived, except in the
mind of many ages. He is the spirit of Roman rule, the true Dux
Britanniae, and he has all the greatness and ability of all the race
of Cunedda. I have been shown mountains under which he sleeps, with
his knights around him, waiting for the time when his country is to
be delivered. Let us hope that what Arthur represents--courage and
wisdom, love of country and love of right--lives in the hearts of his
people.
CHAPTER VI--THE LAWS OF HOWEL
The two ideas which ruled Wales were--the love of order and the love
of independence. The danger of the first is oppression; the dangers
of the other are anarchy and weakness. Wales was sometimes united,
under a Maelgwn or a Rhodri, and the princes obeyed them; oftener,
perhaps, the princes of the various parts ruled in their own way.
The internal life of Wales is best seen in the laws of Howel the
Good.
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