Rash as he was, Llewelyn recognised that he was not strong enough to stand up single-handed against England.  Former experience, however, suggested that it was an easy matter to make a party with the barons against the crown.  But times had changed since the Great Charter and the Barons’ War; and a policy, which could obtain concessions from John or Henry III., was powerless against a king who commanded the allegiance of all his subjects.  Yet there was enough friction between the new king and his feudatories to make the attempt seem feasible, and Llewelyn revived the Montfort tradition, by claiming the hand of Eleanor, Earl Simon’s daughter, which had been promised to him since 1265.  The alarm created by this shows that Edward perceived the danger that it might involve.  But his policy of conciliation had now restored to their estates the last of the “disinherited,” and, since the murder of Henry of Almaine, the name of Montfort was no longer one to conjure with.  The exiled sons of Earl Simon welcomed Llewelyn’s advances, and, in 1275, Eleanor was despatched from France to Wales under the escort of her clerical brother Amaury.  On their way, Eleanor and Amaury were captured by English sailors.  Edward detained the lady at the queen’s court, and gave some scandal to the stricter clergy by shutting up Amaury in Corfe castle.  He had foiled the Welsh prince’s game, but he had given him a new grievance.

During these transactions negotiations had been proceeding between the English court and Llewelyn.  In November, 1274, Edward went to Shrewsbury in the hope of receiving the prince, but he was delayed by illness, and Llewelyn made this an excuse for non-appearance.  Next year the king journeyed to Chester with the same object, but his mission was equally fruitless.  Summons after summons was despatched to the recalcitrant vassal.  Llewelyn heeded them no more than requests to pay up the arrears which he owed the English crown.  After two years of hesitation Edward lost all patience.  Irritated to the quick by Llewelyn’s offer to perform homage in a border town on conditions altogether impossible of acceptance, the king summoned a council of magnates for November 12, 1276, and laid the whole case before them.  It was agreed that the king should go against Llewelyn as a rebel and disturber of the peace; and the feudal levies were summoned to meet at Worcester on June 24, 1277.  As a preliminary to the great effort, Warwick was sent to Chester, Roger Mortimer to Montgomery, and Payne of Chaworth to Carmarthen.  All the available marcher forces and every trooper of the royal household were despatched to enable them to operate during the winter and spring.  Their movements were brilliantly successful.  On the reappearance of its ancient lord, the middle march threw off the yoke of Llewelyn and went back to its obedience to Mortimer.  Griffith ap Gwenwynwyn was restored to upper Powys; the sons of Griffith of Bromfield cast off their allegiance to Llewelyn