ΟΊΟ ROGER OF WESDOVER. [Λ . η. 1228. weapons, and commenced cutting down the trees, hedges, and shrubs, to render the road wider for travellers. This circumstance having reached the ears of the Welsh, they came in great force and attacked them, forcing them to retreat into the castle, though not without some slaughter on both sides ; they then laid siege to the castle, but the garrison immediately sent word to Hubert, the justiciary, to whom the king bad lately given that honour together with the castle, on which the king marched in person with all haste to the place, and compelled the Welsh to raise the siege. The king, who had arrived with only a small force, expecting reinforcements, was soon after joined by them, on which he inarched with a large body of soldiers to the above-mentioned wood, which as was said was very large, extending for about five leagues ; but although it was large and very difficult to destroy on account of the thick growth of the trees, it was after much difficulty cut down and burnt. The king then led his army further into the country, and arrived at a place inhabited by some monks of the White order, called Cridia, which, as the king had been told, was a receptacle for the plunder taken by the Welsh. On the orders of the king these buildings were set tire to and reduced to ashes ; and Hubert seeing the impregnable nature of the place, by the king's consent, ordered a castle to be built there. Before this was completed, however, numbers were slain on both sides, and the noble William dc Brao.se, when on a foraging expedition, was seized by the Welsh and taken away a prisoner. A knight too, who had been lately belted by the king, had gone out with others to forage, and was with his companions cut off bv the enemy, on which he boldly dashed into the midst of them; but, alter slaying numbers who opposed him, he at length fell slain together with some other of the king's army. Amongst the chiefs of the king's army were many who were in confederacy with Llewellyn, although they pretended to adhere to the king ; on this account, and as all kinds of provisions failed the army, he was obliged to make a disgraceful peace, by which he agreed that the castle, which was almost completed, and had cost great labour and expense, should be pulled down at the king's own cost, and that Llewellyn should give to the king, for his trouble and expenses, three thousand marks, and, this treaty having been ratified, each of them returned home. And thus the king' of England