Edward began forthwith his work of consolidation. David, as a traitor to his feudal lord, a conspirator against his benefactor, a blasphemer of God, and a murderer, was tried by the king’s judges at Shrewsbury and sentenced to a terrible death, the details of which were apportioned according to the articles of the accusation. Justice satisfied, Edward devoted himself to the securing of his conquest; in 1284 he published at Rhuddlan a statute, called the Statute of Wales, which was intended to introduce the laws and customs of England, and to reform the administration of that country altogether on the English system. The process was a slow one; the Welsh retained their ancient common law and their national spirit; the administrative powers were weak and not far-reaching; the sway of the lords Marchers was suffered to continue; and, although assimilated, Wales was not incorporated with England. It was not until the reign of Henry VIII. that the principality was represented in the English Parliament, and the sovereignty, which from 1300 upwards was generally, although not invariably bestowed on the king’s eldest son, conferred under the most favorable circumstances, little more than a high-sounding title and some slight and ideal claim to the affection of a portion of the Welsh people. The task, however, which the energies of his predecessors had failed to accomplish was achieved by Edward. All Britain south of the Tweed recognized his direct and supreme authority, and the power of the Welsh nationality was so far broken that it could never more thwart the determined and united action of England. [Sidenote: Edward as a lawgiver. ]