The whole force of the realm was summoned to meet at Worcester in June, 1277, and so well was the command obeyed that Edward found himself able to dispose of three armies.  With the first he himself operated along the north, opening a safe road through the Cheshire forests, and fortifying Flint and Rhuddlan, while the ships of the Cinque Ports hovered along the coast and ravaged Anglesey.  The corps d’armee, under the Earl of Lincoln and Roger Mortimer, besieged and reduced Dolvorwyn castle in Montgomeryshire.  The third was led into Cardigan by Payne de Chaworth, who ravaged the country with such vigor that the South Welsh—­being probably disaffected to a prince not of their own lineage—­surrendered the castle of Stradewi and made a general submission.

Edward had avoided the fatal errors of previous commanders, who had risked their forces in a barren and difficult country.  His blockade was so well sustained that Llewelyn was starved, rather than beaten, into unconditional submission.

With singular moderation, Edward had declined receiving the homage of the southern chiefs.  He now granted Llewelyn honorable terms, November 5, 1277.  A fine of fifty thousand pounds was imposed to mark the greatness of the victory, but remitted next day out of the King’s grace.  Four border cantreds,[72] old possessions of the English crown, which Llewelyn had wrested from it in the wars of the late reign, were to be surrendered to the English King, who already occupied them.  Prisoners in the English interests were to be set free, and Llewelyn was to come under “an honorable” safe-conduct to London and perform homage.  Edward had promised David [73] half the principality, but with a reservation at the time that he might, if he chose, give him compensation elsewhere.  He now elected to do this, moved, it would seem, simply by the wish not to dismember Llewelyn’s dominions, and David was made governor of Denbigh castle, married to the Earl of Derby’s daughter, and endowed with extensive estates.  In every other respect Llewelyn was tenderly dealt with.  The hostages exacted were sent back.  The rent of one thousand marks stipulated for Anglesey was remitted.  When the Prince of Wales came to London to perform homage he received the last favor of all, and was married sumptuously, at the King’s cost, to Lady Eleanor de Montfort.

There is no reason for supposing that Edward cherished any covert plans of absorbing Wales into England.  Having wiped out the dishonor of his early years, and replaced England in its old position of ascendency, he had no motive for reviving bitter memories or dispossessing a great noble of his fief.  The King’s conduct in giving his cousin to one who was only her equal through a usurped royalty; the inquests held in the marches to determine border law; the instructions to the royal judges, to judge according to local customs;