| Pennal Letter | |
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By 1404 the Welsh guerilla fighter was establishing himself as a national statesman, supported by his own princely court. One aspect of Owian Glyndwr's attempt to establish himself as the leader of Wales was the formation of alliances with other sovereign nations, in particular France. He communicated with the king of France in 1404 and then in 1406 attempting to form a strong alliance by declaring his allegiance to the pope of Avignon, Benedict XIII. At this period in history the papacy was divided, with one pope in Rome and another in Avignon. The King of France, Charles VI, was anxious to win the allegiance of all his allies to the pope of Avignon: the King of England owed allegiance to the Roman Pope. |
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The Pennal Royal Seal of Glyndwr |
| The 'Pennal Letter' is in two parts: one brief letter which declares Owian's intention to give obedience to the pope of Avignon, and a formal document sealed with his great seal. That sets out the terms of his allegiance, including establishing an independent church and two universities in Wales. | |
The original text is written in Latin. The English translation is taken from T. Matthews, Welsh records in Paris (Camarthen, 1910). Most serene prince, you have deemed it worthy on the humble recommendation sent, to learn how my nation, for many years now elapsed, has been oppressed by the fury of the barbarous Saxons; whence because they had the government over us, and indeed, on account of the fact itself, it seemed reasonable with them to trample upon us. But now, most serene prince, you have in many ways, from your innate goodness, informed me and my subjects very clearly and graciously concerning the recognition of the true Vicar of Christ. I, in truth, rejoice with a full heart on account of that information of your excellency, and because, inasmuch from this information, I understood that the Lord Benedict, the supreme pontifex intends to work for the promotion of an union in the Church of God with all his possible strength. Confident indeed in his right, and intending to agree with you as indeed as far as it is possible for me, I recognize him as the true Vicar of Christ, on my own behalf, and on behalf of my subjects by these letters patent, foreseeing them by the bearer of their communications in your majesty's presence. And because, most excellent prince, the metropolitan church of St. David was, as it appears, violently compelled by the barbarous fury of those reigning in this country, to obey the church of Canterbury, ad de facto still remains in the subject of this subjection. Many other disabilities are known to have been suffered by the Church of Wales through these barbarians, which for the greater part are set forth full in the letter patent accompanying. I pray and sincerely beseech your majesty to have these letters sent to my lord, the supreme pontifex, that as you deemed worthy to raise us out of darkness into light, similarly you will wish to extirpate and remove violence and oppression from the church and from my subjects, as you are well able to. And may the Son of the Glorious Virgin long preserve your majesty in the promised prosperity. Dated at Pennal the last day of March (1406) Yours avowedly Endorsement: To the most serene and most illustrious prince, lord Charles, by the grace of God, King of France. |
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