should shape his course by Cardigan, and Rice ap Thomas by Carmarthen, that so going several ways, the Welsh and the French might be kept asunder, to prevent such jars and quarrels as commonly arise between strangers; appointing Shrewsbury for their place of meeting. [54] Sir Gilbert Talbot's ten thousand dogs In one hour's warning for to be, And Sir John Savage's fifteen hundred white hoods, Which would fight and never flee. * * * * * Sir Rees ap Thomas, a knight of Wales certain, Eight thousand spears brought he. Sir John Savage he hath no peer, He will be wing to thee, Sir Rees ap Thomas shall break the array, For he will fight and never flee. _The Song of the Lady Bessy._ HENRY SUMMONS THE WELSH CHIEFTAINS (1485). =Source.=--Wynne's _History of the Gwydir Family_, pp. 55, 56. (London: 1770.) [+Note.+--On his landing in Wales, the Earl of Richmond, relying on the promises of support he had received, wrote letters to his Welsh friends and kinsmen. The following summons was sent to his relative, John ap Meredith, a powerful chieftain of South Carnarvonshire.] By the King Right trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas it is so that, through the help of Almighty God, the assistance of our loving and true subjects, and the great confidence that we have to the nobles and commons of this our principality of Wales, we be entered into the same, purposing by the help above rehearsed, in all haste possible, to descend into our realm of England, not only for the adoption of the crown, unto us of right appertaining, but also for the oppression of the odious tyrant, Richard late Duke of Gloucester, usurper of our said right; and moreover to reduce as well our said realm of England into its ancient estate, honour and property, and prosperity, as this our said principality of Wales, and the people of the same to their erst liberties, delivering them of such miserable servitude as they have piteously long stood in: We desire and pray you, and upon your allegiance strictly charge and command you, that immediately upon sight hereof, with all such power as ye may make, defensibly arrayed for the war, ye address you towards us, without any tarrying upon the way, until such time as ye be with us, wheresoever we shall be, to our aid, for the effect above rehearsed, wherein ye shall cause us in time to come to be your singular good lord; and that ye fail not hereof as ye will avoid our grievous displeasure, and answer it unto your peril. Given under our signet at our [_place and date omitted in the MS._]. To our trusty and well-beloved John ap Meredith ap Jevan ap Meredith. THE JOURNEY TO BOSWORTH (+August, 1485+). =Source.=--_Life of Rice ap Thomas._ (Cambrian Register, 1795).