country is to be delivered. Let us hope that what Arthur represents—courage and wisdom, love of country and love of right—lives in the hearts of his people.
VI
THE LAWS OF HOWEL
The two ideas which ruled Wales were—the love of order and the love of independence. The danger of the first is oppression; the dangers of the other are anarchy and weakness. Wales was sometimes united,under a Maelgwn or a Rhodri, and the princes obeyed them; oftener,perhaps, the princes of the various parts ruled in their own way.
The internal life of Wales is best seen in the laws of Howel theGood. Howel was the grandson of Rhodri; and, about 950, he called four men from each district to Hendy Gwyn (Whitland) to state the laws of the country. Twelve of the wisest put the law together; and the most learned scribe in Wales wrote it.
