Music traditional, lyrics by John Hughes (Ceiriog), arrangement by John Guard.
Harlech and the Wars of the Roses
Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech is traditionally said to describe events during the seven-year siege of Harlech Castle between 1461 and 1468. This is the longest known siege in the history of the British Isles.
There had also been a previous siege in 1408-09 where the forces of Prince Henry of Monmouth (later Henry V), son of Henry IV (Bolingbroke) re-took the castle from the forces of Owain Glyndŵr.
The Wars of the Roses were a series of wars for control of the English throne, mainly between 1455 and 1487, fought between the Houses of Lancaster and York, rival branches of the House of Plantagenet. The original triggers were political and social fallout from the Hundred Years’ War, weak rule by Henry VI (Lancastrian), and existing conflicts within the nobility.
Harlech castle was held by Lancastrians, and the Yorkists finally sent a huge army against it and captured it in 1468. At this time the throne was in Yorkist hands with Edward IV, whose father Richard of York had ruled as Protector during Henry VI’s period of insanity. Harlech was the last of the Lancastrian strongholds to fall, because of its impregnable position and supply lines by sea.
In the end the House of Lancaster won when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Henry Tudor became Henry VII and married Elizabeth of York, uniting the two houses. The new House of Tudor ruled England until Elizabeth I died in 1603.
It’s ironic that Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech sings of fighting for the independence of Wales when the war and even the siege were nothing of the sort. This may have been down to using nationalism for recruitment or down to the song having been written some time after the wars.
Coventry has some association with these events. In 1459 Henry VI held a Parliament in Coventry – the only time that Parliament has been held outside London. And earlier, in 1398, Henry Bolingbroke had been due to fight a duel with Thomas de Mowbray (Duke of Norfolk) on Gosford Green. But before the duel could take place, both were banished by Richard II. There is a plaque in Gosford Green describing this. Gosford Green is now a small park, popular with local families and students in the summer. Bolingbroke came back and seized the throne from Richard II in 1399.
Source: Wikipedia
Words
Wele goelcerth wen yn fflamio,
A thafodau tân yn bloeddio,
Ar i’r dewrion ddod i daro,
Unwaith eto’n un:
Gan fanllefau’r tywysogion,
Llais gelynion, trwst arfogion,
A charlamiad y marchogion,
Craig ar graig a grŷn!
Cwympa llawer llywydd
Arfon byth ni orfydd,
Cyrff y gelyn wrth y cant
Orffwysant yn y ffosydd;
Yng ngoleuni’r goelcerth acw,
Tros wefusau Cymro’n marw,
Annibyniaeth sydd yn galw,
Am ei dewraf dyn.
Ni chaiff gelyn ladd ac ymlid
Harlech! Harlech! cwyd i’w herlid;
Y mae Rhoddwr mawr ein Rhyddid,
Yn rhoi nerth i ni.
Wele Gymru a’i byddinoedd,
Yn ymdywallt o’r mynyddoedd,
Rhuthrant fel rhaiadrau dyfroedd,
Llamant fel y lli;
Llwyddiant i’n llywyddion,
Rwystro bâr yr estron,
Gwybod yn ei galon gaiff,
Fel bratha cleddyf Brython;
Clêdd yn erbyn clêdd a chwery,
Dûr yn erbyn dûr a dery,
Wele fâner Gwalia’i fyny,
Rhyddid aiff a hi!
Translation
See the bright beacon flaming,
And tongues of fire shouting,
For the brave to come to combat,
Once again as one:
With the acclamation of the princes,
The voice of enemies, the clamour of the armed,
And the gallop of the knights,
Rock on rock clashing!
Many leaders shall fall,
Arfon shall never be overcome,
Bodies of the enemy by the hundred
Lying in the ditches;
In the light of yonder beacon,
Across the lips of the dead Welshman,
Independence is calling,
For its bravest man.
No enemy shall get to kill and pursue
Harlech! Harlech! Rise to chase them;
The great Giver is our Freedom,
Giving strength to us.
See Wales and its armies,
Pouring from the mountains!
They rush like cataracts of water,
They leap like a flood!
Success to our forces!
Frustration to the stranger!
He will get to know in his heart,
How a Briton’s sword bites;
Sword against sword will chafe,
Stroke against stroke will strike,
See the flag of Gwalia on high,
“Freedom she shall have!”
Translation source: http://www.angelfire.com/in/gillionhome/Lyrics/Caneuon/GwyrHarlech.html