ing's sheriff. His excuse was that
his baronial rights had been encroached upon; but as he had once
risked forfeiture by preferring a forcible entry to the execution of
the king's writ which had been granted him, we may probably assume
that he claimed powers inconsistent with English sovereignty. After
foiling the Earl of Cornwall in a costly campaign, Rees, finding
himself outlawed, fled, by the Earl of Gloucester's complicity, into
Ireland. Some years later he returned to resume his war with Robert de
Tiptoft, but this time was taken prisoner and executed at York by
Edward's orders, 1292.

More dangerous by far was the insurrection of two years later, 1294,
when the Welsh, irritated by a tax, and believing that Edward had
sailed for France, rose up throughout the crown lands and slew one of
the collectors, Roger de Pulesdon. Madoc, a kinsman of Llewelyn, was
put forward as king, and his troops burned Carnarvon castle and
inflicted a severe defeat on the English forces sent to relieve
Denbigh, November 10th. Edward now took the field in person, and
resumed his old policy of cutting down the forests as he forced his
way into the interior. The Welsh fought well, and between disease and
fighting the English lost many hundred men. Once the King was
surrounded at Conway, his provisions intercepted, and his road barred
by a flood; but his men could not prevail on him to drink out of the
one cask of wine that had been saved. "We will all share alike," he
said, "and I, who have brought you into this strait, will have no
advantage of you in food." The flood soon abated, and, reinforcements
coming up, the Welsh were dispersed. Faithful to his policy of mercy,
the King spared the people everywhere, but hanged three of their
captains who were taken prisoners. Madoc lost heart, made submission,
and was admitted to terms. Meanwhile, Morgan, another Welshman of
princely blood, had headed a war in the marches against the Earl of
Gloucester, who was personally unpopular with his vassals. Two years
before the earldom had been confiscated into the King's hands, and it
is some evidence that Edward's rule was not oppressive, by comparison
with that of his lords, that the marchmen now desired to be made
vassals of the crown. Morgan is said to have been hunted down by his
old confederate, Madoc, but it seems more probable that he was the
first to sue for peace. He was pardoned without reserve.

As there was then war with Scotland, hostages