But neither trick nor conquest could shake the firm faith of the Celt in the ultimate victory of his race.

"Think you," said Henry to a Welsh chieftain who joined his host, "that your people of rebels can withstand my army ?" "My people," replied the chieftain, "may be weakened by your might, and even in great part destroyed, but unless the wrath of God be on the side of its foe it will not perish utterly.

Nor deem I that other race or other tongue will answer for this corner of the world before the Judge of all at the last day save this people and tongue of Wales." So ran the popular rime, "Their Lord they will praise, their speech they shall keep, their land they shall lose--except wild Wales." [Sidenote: The Provisions of Oxford] Faith and prophecy seemed justified by the growing strength of the British people.

The weakness and dissensions which characterized the reign of Henry the Third enabled Llewelyn ap Jorwerth to preserve a practical independence till the close of his life, when a fresh acknowledgement of the English supremacy was wrested from him by Archbishop Edmund.

But the triumphs of his arms were renewed by Llewelyn the son of Gruffydd, who followed him in 1246.