A.D. 1277. COHCEBNIKG THE ACQUISmOH" OF WALES. 471 eiring him to come in person to his assistance with the service which he owed him, to fight against the king of Spain. Bat Edward was mightily perplexed at this, because it was by the king of Spain that he had been invested with the belt of a knight, and also because he had married his sister Eleanor, and because he did not dare to offend the king of France, who was his kinsman, and his superior lord ; so he commended himself to the prayers of the church, and finally he made answer to the king of France that he might not refuse him the service which was his due ; but that he was desirous to use all his exertions to appease the quarrel which was now begun between him and the king of Spain. Therefore, the king of France marched towards the Spanish territories with an innumerable army ; but he soon returned, without having met with the least success. About this time, the king sent three hundred cavalry, armed with breast-plates, into the districts of Bristol, Montgomery, and Chester, to check the irruptions of the Welch. Concerning the acquisition of Wales. A.i) . 1277. In the fortnight after Easter, the king withdrew from Westminster, and hastened towards Wales with all the military force of the kingdom of England, taking with him his barons of the exchequer, and his justices of the king's bench, as far as Shrewsbury, who remained there some time, hearing suits according to the customs of the kingdom of England. Therefore, the Welch fearing the arrival of the king and bis army, fled to their accustomed refuge of Snowdon, and the king, relying on the assistance of the Cinque Ports, occupied their territories as far as the mountain of Snowdon in every direction. Therefore, Llewellyn, prince of Wales, understanding that his manors and castles were being given to the flames and destroyed, took to himself the most powerful chiefs of his country, and about the feast of the Nativity of the Lord in the preceding year, went to the king, entreating him to show mercy, and not justice. Accordingly, king Edward received homage and fealty from the most powerful chiefs of the Welch, and took their prince Llewellyn with him to Westminster, from whom he received fifty thousand marks in hand ; and with whom he made a covenant to receive a thousand marks every year, to be paid into the exchequer at Westminster for the Isle of Anglesey and the district of Snowdon ; and then