The Welsh revolt begins in 1401 to…

The Welsh revolt begins in 1401 to spread.

The whole of northern and central Wales goes over to Owain.

Multiple attacks are recorded on English towns, castles, and manors throughout the North.

Even in the south in Brecon and Gwent reports begin to come in of banditry and lawlessness by groups calling themselves the Plant Owain—the Children of Owain.

King Henry IV appoints Henry Percy—the famous ‘Hotspur’—to bring the country to order.

Hotspur issues an amnesty in March that applies to all rebels with the exception of Owain and his cousins, Rhys and Gwilym, sons of Tudur ap Gronw of Penmynydd, (forefather of King Henry VII of England).

Most of the country is mightily relieved and agreed to pay all the usual taxes, but the Tudors know that they needs a bargaining chip if they are to lift the dire threat hanging over them.

They coolly decide to capture Edward I’s great castle at Conwy.

The Conwy Castle garrison amounts to just fifteen men-at-arms and sixty archers, but it is well stocked and easily reinforced from the sea; and the Tudors in any case only have forty men.

They need a cunning plan.

All but five of the garrison are in the little church in the town on Good Friday, which also happens to be 1 April—All Fool’s Day—when a carpenter appears at the castle gate, who according to Adam of Usk’s Chronicon, ‘feigned to come for his accustomed work’.

Once inside, the Welsh chippy attacks the two guards and throws open the gate to allow the gang to rush in.

Hotspur arrives from Denbigh with one hundred and twenty men-at-arms and three hundred archers, but he knows it will take a great deal more to get inside so formidable a fortress and, forced to negotiate, he finally gives the Tudors their Pardon.