HKB
hold their kingdoms of others jure feudali, as the duke of Lombardy, Cicill, Naples, and Bohemia of the empire, Granado, Leons of Aragon, Navarre, Portugal of Castile; and so others."
After this the Welch seem to have been fond of the English laws, and desirous of being incorporated into the realm, to be represented in parliament, and enjoy all the rights of Englishmen, as well as to be bound by the English laws. But kings were so fond of governing this principality by their discretion alone, that they never could obtain these blessings until the reign of Henry 8th. and then they only could obtain a statute, which enabled the king to alter their laws at his pleasure. They did indeed obtain in the 15 Ed. 2. a writ to call twenty-four members to the parliament at York from South Wales, and twenty-four from North Wales; and again in the 20 Ed. 2. the like number of forty-eight members for Wales, at the parliament of Westminster. But lord Coke tells us "that this wise and warlike nation was long after the statutum Walliae not satisfied nor contented, and especially, for that they truly and constantly took part with their rightful sovereign and liege lord, king Richard 2d.; in revenge whereof they had many severe and invective laws made against them in the reigns of Henry 4th. Henry 5th. &c. all which as unjust are repealed and abrogated. And to say the truth, this nation was never in quiet, until king Henry 7th. their own countryman, obtained the crown. And yet not so really reduced in his time, as in the reign of his son, Henry 8th. in whose time certain just laws, made at the humble suit of the subjects of Wales, the principality and dominion of Wales was incorporated and united to the realm of England; and enacted that every one born in Wales should enjoy the liberties, rights and laws of this realm, as any subjects naturally born within this realm should have and inherit, and that they should have knights of shires, and burgesses of parliament." Yet we see they could not obtain any security for their liberties, for lord Coke tells us, "in the act of 34 Henry 8th. it was enacted, that the king's most royal majesty should, from time to time change, &c. all manner of things in that act rehearsed, as to his most excellent wisdom and discretion should be thought convenient, and also to make laws and ordinances for the commonwealth of his said dominion of Wales at his majesty's pleasure. But for that, the subjects of the dominion of Wales, &c. had lived in all dutiful subjection to the crown of England, &c. the said branch of the said statute of 34 Henry 8th. is repealed, and made void by 21 Jac. c. 10."