Danes in 1039. In the same year Gruffydd ab Llewelyn [q. v.] became king of North Wales, and after devastating Llanbadarn, drove Howel out of his territory. In 1041 Howel made an effort to win back his dominions, but was defeated by Gruffydd at Pencader. Howel's wife became Gruffydd's captive, and subsequently his concubine.

of Pengwern, and in 1152 that also fell into their hands. In 1157 Henry II made an effort to subjugate Gwynedd, and at the battle of Basingwerk was defeated by Owain, and his sons, among whom was Howel (Ann, Cambr. p. 46, Rolls Ser., which gives the date as 1148; cf. GIR. CAMBR. It. Cambr. vi. 137, Rolls Ser.) In 1158 Howel was engaged with a mixed force of French, Normans, Flemings, English, and Welsh against Lord Rhys ab Gruffydd, who had burnt the castles of Dyved. The expedition, however, did not succeed, and a truce followed.

In 1042 Howel, who had called the Danes from Ireland to his help, renewed the conflict, and won a victory over Gruffydd at Pwll Dyvach. Gruffydd was taken prisoner by the pagan Danes, but he soon escaped and reoccupied Howel's territory. In 1044 Howel collected a great fleet of his viking allies, and entered the mouth of the Towy on another effort to win back his own. The final battle was fought at the mouth of the river (Aber-vernment and kept possession of it for two towy, possibly Carmarthen or somewhere lower down the stream). Gruffydd won a complete victory, and Howel was slain.

[Annales Cambriæ (Rolls Ser.) (the dates have been taken from this exclusively); Brut y Tywysogion (Rolls Ser. or ed. J. Gwenogvryn Evans); a few additional details from Brut y Tywysogion (Cambrian Archæol. Assoc.)] T. F. T. HOWEL AB OWAIN GWYNEDD (d. 1171?), warrior and poet, was the son of Owain ab Gruffydd ab Cynan, prince of North Wales. Pyvog, the daughter of an Irish noble, was his mother. Brut Ieuan Brechfa' (Myv. Arch. ii. 720) wrongly states that Owain married her in 1130. In 1143, taking advantage of a quarrel between his father and his uncle Cadwaladr (d. 1172) [q. v.], Howel seized some part of Ceredigion, and burnt his uncle's castle of Aberystwith. In the following year, in the course of a quarrel with Sir Hugh de Mortimer, Howel and his brother Cynan ravaged Aberteifi or Cardigan. In 1145, in conjunction with Cadell, son of Gruffydd ab Rhys [q. v.], prince of South Wales, he took Carmarthen Castle. In the next year, however, Howel apparently changed sides, and joined his forces to those of the Normans against the sons of Gruffydd, who had marched against the castle of Gwys. Both sides invited his aid; but the promise of 'much property' seems to have turned the scale in favour of the Norman alliance, and Howel's intervention insured the success of his allies (Brut y Tywysogion, Rolls Ser. p. 172, MS.D.;|| cf. also another account on the same page). In the same year he and his brother Cynan were engaged in a quarrel with Cadwaladr. The brothers called out the men of Meirionydu, who had taken refuge in churches,' marched thence and took the castle of Cynvael (ib. p. 174). In 1150 Howel suffered a series of reverses. The sons of Gruffydd ab Rhys took his portion of Ceredigion except the castle

Howel's father died in 1169. According to the version of 'Brut y Tywysogion,' printed in the 'Myvyrian Archeology,' Howel, as Owain's eldest son, thereupon seized the go

years. During his absence in Ireland, looking after certain property which came to him in right of his mother and wife, his brother David rose up against him. Howel returned, but he was defeated, wounded in battle, and taken to Ireland, where he is said to have died in 1170, leaving his Irish possessions to his brother Rhirid. According to the 'Annales Cambria' (p.53), Howel was killed by his brother David and his men in 1171. An anonymous poem places his death at Pentraeth (in Anglesey?) (Myv. Arch. i. 281), while another, quoted by Price, names Bangor as his burial-place (Hanes Cymru, p. 584).

Of Howel's poetical works the only known remains are eight odes printed in 'Myvyrian Archæology,' i. 197-9.

[Bruty Tywysogion, Rolls Ser. ed.; Ann. Cambr. Rolls Ser. ed.; Gir. Cambr., It. Cambr. vol. vi.; Myv. Arch., Denbigh, 1870 ed.; Price's Hanes Cymru.]

R. W.

HOWEL Y FWYALL (fl. 1356), or 'Howel of the Battle-axe,' was a Welsh knight and hero. According to Yorke his father was Gruffydd ab Howel ab Meredydd ab Einion ab Gwganen (Royal Tribes of Wales, p. 184). Sir John Wynne, however, says that he was the son of Einion ab Gruffydd (Hist. Gwydir Family, pp. 29, 30, 79; cf. Table II., ib.) Both the accounts agree that he was descended from Collwyn ab Tangno, 'lord of Eifionydd, Ardudwy, and part of Llyen.' Howel was one of the Welshmen who fought at Poictiers in 1356, and Welsh tradition very improbably made him out to be the actual captor of the French king, 'cutting off his horse's head at one blow' (ib. p. 80 n.) Howel undoubtedly seems to have fought well, for he was knighted by the Black Prince, and received afterwards the constableship of Criccieth Castle, and also the rent of Dee Mills at Chester, 'besides other great things in North Wales;' and as a memorial of his services a mess of meat

was ordered to be served before his axe in
perpetuity, the food being afterwards given
to the poor for his soul's health.' This cere-
mony is said to have been observed till the
beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time, eight
yeoman attendants at 8d. a day having
charge of the meat (ib. p. 30, and n.) 'Howel
was also "raglot" of Aberglaslyn, and died
between Michaelmas 2 and the same time
6 Rich. II,' leaving two sons, Meredydd, who
lived in Eifionydd; and Davydd, who lived
at Henblas, near Llanrwst (ib. p. 30 and n.;
WILLIAMS, Eminent Welshmen).
[Yorke's Royal Tribes of Wales, el. Williams;
Sir John Wynne's Hist. Gwydir Family; Wil-
liams's Eminent Welshmen.]

R. W.

tol [q. v.], and three daughters composed the family according to the pedigree in Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 4181, p. 258. The pedigree is traced back by modern representatives to Tudwal Gloff (A. 878), son of Rhodri the Great. Howell's father, curate of Llangammarch, Brecknockshire, and afterwards rector of Cynwil and Abernant, Carmarthenshire, died in 1632, when James recounted his virtues in a pathetic letter to Theophilus Field, bishop of St. David's (Fam. Epist. i. § 6, vii.) Wood states that James was born at Abernant, where his father was residing in 1610, but, according to Fuller, Howell's elder brother, Thomas, afterwards bishop of Bristol [q. v.], was born at the Brynn, Llangammarch, and Howell, in his 'Letters,' mentions that place as the residence of his family. The Oxford matriculation register states that he was sixteen in 1610; he was, therefore, born about 1594. In a letter dated 1645 (i. § 6, 60) he vaguely speaks of himself as fortynine years old, but Howell's dates are usually inexact. He was educated at Hereford Free School under a learned though lashing master' (Epist. i. § 1, 2). On 16 June 1610 he matriculated as 'James Howells' of Carmarthenshire from Jesus College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. on 17 Dec. 1613. Dr. Francis Mansell, Sir Eubule Thelwall, and Dr. Thomas Prichard, with whom he corresponded later on friendly terms, took much interest in him as an undergraduate. In 1623 he was elected according to his own statement, fellow of Jesus on Sir Eubule Thelwall's foundation. He usually wrote of Oxford as 'his dearly honoured mother.'

HOWELL, FRANCIS (1625-1679), puritan divine, son of Thomas Howell of Gwinear, Cornwall, matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford, on 14 or 24 July 1642, at the age of seventeen. In 1648 he graduated M.A., and was elected fellow of his college and Greek reader on 10 Aug. in that year. About 1650 he was one of the independent ministers appointed to preach at St. Mary's, Oxford. On 28 April 1652 he became the senior proctor, and in the following June was among those whopetitioned parliament for a new visitation of the university. Howell was nominated one of the visitors, and in 1654, under a fresh ordinance, was again placed on the list. In the same year (25 March 1654) the professorship of moral philosophy was bestowed upon him. Under a promise of Cromwell, and to the detriment of John Howe, he was created principal of Jesus College, Oxford, on 24 Oct. 1657, and consequently vacated in 1658 his Soon after taking his degree Howell, a fellowship at his old college. At the Re-pure cadet,' who was not born to land, storation Howell was ejected from this pre- lease, home, or office' (i. § 6, lx.), was apferment, and retired to London, where he pointed by Sir Robert Mansell, the uncle of preached with great acceptance' as assistant his tutor, Francis Mansell, steward of a glassto the Rev. John Collins (q.v.] at Lime Street ware manufactory in Broad Street, London. Chapel, Paved Alley. He died at Bethnal In 1616 he was sent by his employers to the Green on 10 March 1679, and was buried at continent to obtain materials and workmen. Bunhill Fields. A warrant from the council enabled him to travel for three years, provided that he did not visit Rome or St. Omer. He passed through Holland, France, Spain, and Italy, became an accomplished linguist, and engaged competent workmen at Venice and Middleburg. On returning to London about 1622 he gave up his connection with the glasshouse, and, seeking to turn his linguistic capacity to account, made a vain application to join the embassy of Sir John Ayres to Constantinople. Sir James Croft, a friend of his father, recommended him as tutor to the sons of Lord Savage; but owing to his youth, and to the fact that his pupils were Roman catholics, he filled the post for a very short

[Wood's Univ. of Oxford (Gutch), vol. ii. pt. pp. 644, 651–2, 662, 874; Wood's Colleges (Gutch), p. 578, App. p. 138; Boase's Reg. of Exeter College, pp. 69-70; Neal's Puritans, 1822 ed. iv. 111; Calamy's Nonconf. Mem. 1802 ed. i. 234; Calamy's Howe, 1724, p. 19; Wilson's Dissenting Churches, i. 229, iii. 23; Burrows's Visit. of Oxford Univ. (Camden Soc.), PP. 500, 504.]

W. P. C.

HOWELL, JAMES (1594 ?-1666), author, was fourth child and second son of Thomas Howell by a daughter of James David Powell of Bualt. Howell states that his brothers and sisters numbered fourteen, but three sons, including Thomas, bishop of Bris

of the council, and was sent by Strafford on a political mission to Edinburgh and London.

time. During 1622 he made a tour in France death in 1630, and lived for the time in comfort. with a young friend, Richard Altham, son of In December 1628 Wentworth bestowed on Baron Altham,' one of the hopefullest young him the reversion of the next attorney's place men of this kingdom for parts and person.' which should fall vacant at York; but when At Poissy Howell endangered his health by a vacancy occurred in 1629 Howell sold his close study, and on returning to London was interest and sent Wentworth (5 May 1629) attended by Dr. Harvey, the great physician. an effusive letter of thanks (Strafford LetTowards the end of 1622 Howell was sent ters, i. 50). In 1632 he accompanied, as to Spain on a special mission to obtain satis- secretary, the embassy of Robert Sidney, faction for the seizure by the viceroy of Sar- earl of Leicester, which was sent to the court dinia of a richly laden ship called the Vine- of Denmark to condole with the king on the vard, belonging to the Turkey company. Sir death of his mother, the queen-dowager. His Charles Cornwallis and Lord Digby had official Latin speeches made, he tells us, an already tried in vain to obtain redress, but excellent impression, and he obtained some Howell's importunate appeals to the Spanish new privileges for the Eastland company. ministers led to the appointment of a com- A short diarium' of the mission by Howell mittee of investigation and to a declaration is in Bodl. Libr. MS. Rawl. c. 354. In 1635 in favour of the English owners of the cap- he forwarded many news-letters to Strafford tured ship and merchandise. Howell visited from Westminster, and spent a few weeks in Sardinia and induced the viceroy to offer the same year at Orleans on the business of compensation, but the viceroy proved insol- Secretary Windebank. Still destitute of reguvent, and Howell on his return to Madrid found lar employment, he crossed to Dublin in 1639, the situation altered by the presence there was well received by Strafford, the lord-deof Prince Charles and Buckingham. Cotting-puty, was granted a reversion of a clerkship ton, the prince's secretary, directed him to abstain from further action, and after the departure of the prince and his suite Olivarez made it plain that the Spanish government had no intention of aiding him. While the royal party was at Madrid Howell made the acquaintance of many of Prince Charles's retainers, including Sir Kenelm Digby and Endymion Porter, and wrote home spirited accounts of the prince's courtship of the infanta. Digby relates that Ilowell was accidentally wounded in the hand while in his society at Madrid, and that his 'sympathetic powder' worked its first cure in Howell's case A Late Discourse, 1658). Howell returned to England at the close of 1624 in company with Peter Wych, who was in charge of the prince's jewels. He made suit for employment to the all-powerful Duke of Buckingham, but his intimate relations (according to his own story) with Digby, earl of Bristol, Buckingham's enemy, ruined his prospects. A suggestion, which Howell ascribes to Lord Conway in 1626, that he should act as 'moving agent to the king' in Italy, came to nothing, because his demand for 1001. a quarter was deemed exorbitant. But he was in the same year appointed secretary to Emanuel, lord Scrope (afterwards Earl of Sunderland), who was then lordpresident of the north. The office required his residence at York, and in March 1027 the influence of his chief led to his election as M.P. for Richmond, Yorkshire. Late in 1628 Wentworth succeeded Scrope as lordpresident. Howell seems to have remained private secretary to the latter until Scrope's

In London the chief literary men were among his acquaintances. Ben Jonson was especially friendly with him, and in a letter dated from Westminster, 5 April 1636,Howell describes a solemn supper' given by Jonson, at which he and Carew were present. On Jonson's death in 1637 he sent an elegy to Duppa, who included it in his 'Jonsonus Virbius.' Lord Herbert of Cherbury and Sir Kenelm Digby were among his regular correspondents. In 1640 he began his own literary career with the publication of his 'maiden fancy,' a political allegory in prose dealing with events between 1603 and 1640, entitled

Sevdpoλoyta: Dodona's Grove, or the Vocall Forest.' A 'key' was added, and with the second and third editions of 1644 and 1645 were issued two political tracts, Parables reflecting upon the Times,' and 'England's Teares.' A Latin version was published in 1646; a second part appeared in 1650. When, in the year of its first publication, Howell went on some diplomatic business to France, he carried with him a French translation which he had made of the book, and this, after revision by friends in Paris, was published there before he left in the same year. On 1 Jan. 1641-2 he presented to the king a printed poem entitled 'The Vote, or a Poem presented to His Majesty for a New Year's Gift,' London, 4to, 1642, and shortly afterwards issued his entertaining Instructions for Forreine Travel,' with a dedication in verse to Prince Charles. Accounts of France, Spain, and Italy are supplied, to which in a new

edition of 1650 was added an appendix on 'travelling into Turkey and the Levant parts.' The work was reprinted by Prof. Arber in

1868.

peal for peace, followed immediately, and was translated into Latin as 'Angliæ Suspiria et Lacrymæ,' London, 1646, and into Dutch in 1649 (cf. reprint in Harl. Misc. and Somers On 30 Aug. 1642 Howell was sworn in at Tracts). It was reported to Howell in 1644 Nottingham as clerk of the council, but the that the king was dissatisfied with some of his existing vacancy caused by the promotion of recent utterances on account of their 'indifSir Edward Nicholas to a secretaryship of ferency and lukewarmness,' and he thereupon state was filled by Sir John Jacob, and Howell sent by letter to the king mild assurances of was promised the next clerkship that fell va-his loyalty, 3 Sept. 1644 (Epist. ii. lxiii.) On cant (Letters, ed. Jacobs, Suppl. p. 667). The the same day he completed A sober and seacivil wars rendered the arrangement nugatory, sonable memorandum sent to Philip, Earl of and while Howell was paying what he in- Pembroke,' with whom he claimed a distantretended to be a short visit to London early in lationship [see HERBERT, PHILIP]; on 3 May 1643 he was arrested in his chambers by order 1645 'The Sway of the Sword,' a justification of the Long parliament, his papers were seized, of Charles's claim to control the militia; and and he was committed to the Fleet. Accord- on 25 Feb. 1647-8 a defence of the Treaty ing to his own account, his only offence was of the Isle of Wight. In 1649 he issued, in his loyalty. Wood states that he was im- English, French, and Latin, Charles I's latest prisoned as an insolvent debtor, and in his declaration 'touching his constancy in the letters from the Fleet he twice refers to the Protestant religion,' and also published an pressure of his debts (ib. i. § 6, lv., lx.) It is amusing, if ill-natured, Perfect Description possible that his imprisonment was prolonged of the People and Country of Scotland,' which at the instigation of his creditors. In spite was reprinted in No. 13 of Wilkes's 'North of his frequent petitions for release, he re- Briton' (August 1762), at the time of the mained in the Fleet for eight years, i.e. till agitation against Lord Bute. In 1651 he dedi1651. Deprived of all other means of liveli- cated to the Long parliament his 'S.P.Q.V. hood, he applied himself with remarkable in- A Survey of the Seignorie of Venice' (Londustry to literature. At first he confined don, 1651, fol.) He was admitted to bail, and himself mainly to political pamphleteering. released from the Fleet in the same year. He claimed that his 'Casual Discourses and Interlocutions between Patricius and Peregrine touching the Distractions of the Times' was the first pamphlet issued in defence of the royalists; a second part, entitled 'A Discourse or Parly continued betwixt Patricius and Peregrine upon their landing in France, touching the civil wars of England and Ireland, appeared on 21 July 1643 (both are reprinted in the Twelve Treatises,' 1661), In 1643 he wrote his 'Mercurius Hibernicus' (Bristol, 1644, 4to), an account of the recent horrid insurrection and massacre in Ireland,' dated from the Fleet, 3 April 1643. Prynne, in his 'Popish Royal Favourite' (1644), referring to Howell's account of Prince Charles's visit to Spain in 'Dodona's Grove,' described him as 'no friend to parliament and a malignant. Howell repudiated the charge in his Vindication of some passages reflecting upon him' (1644), to which he added 'A Clearing of some Occurrences in Spain at His Majesty's being there.' Howell returned to the topic in Preheminence and Pedigree of Parliaments' (1644; reissued 1677), in which he described the Long parliament as 'that high Synedrion wherein the Wisdom of the whole Senate is epitomized. Prynne adhered to his original statement in A moderate Apology against & pretended Calumny,' London, 1644, 4to. "England's Tears for the present Wars,'an ap

As soon as Cromwell was installed in supreme power, Howell sought his favour by dedicating to him a pamphlet entitled 'Some sober Inspections made into the carriage and consults of the late Long Parliament, London, 1653, 12mo, in the form of a dialogue between Phil-Anglus and Polyander (reissued in 1660). Howell commends Cromwell for having destroyed the parliament; compares the Protector to Charles Martel; argues in favour of rule by 'a single person,' and condemns 'the common people' as a wavering windy thing' and an humersome and cross-grained animal.' Dugdale, writing on 9 Oct. 1655, declared that Howell had spoken in the tract more boldly of the parliament than any man that hath wrote since they sate' (Hist. MSS. Comm. 5th Rep. p. 17). On 2 Oct. 1654 Howell addressed an admonition to my lord Protector and his council of their present danger,' in which, while urging the need of an hereditary monarchy, he advised Cromwell to conciliate the army by admitting the officers to political influence, and to negotiate with Charles Stuart a

treaty by which Charles should succeed him under well-defined limitations. In 1657 he offered to write for the council of state a new treatise on the sovereignty of the seas (Hist. MSS. Comm. 5th Rep. p. 314). Throughout the Commonwealth Howell's pen