Penal laws against the Welsh facts for kids

Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	Englishmen shall not be convicted by Welshmen in Wales.
Citation	4 Hen. 4. c. 26
Territorial extent	Wales
Quick facts for kids Other legislation
Repealed by	21 Jas. 1. c. 28
Status: Repealed

Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	There shall be no wasters, vagabonds, &c. in Wales.
Citation	4 Hen. 4. c. 27
Territorial extent	Wales
Other legislation
Repealed by	Laws in Wales Acts
Status: Repealed

Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	There shall be no congregations in Wales.
Citation	4 Hen. 4. c. 28
Territorial extent	Wales
Other legislation
Repealed by	21 Jas. 1. c. 28
Status: Repealed

The Penal Laws against the Welsh were a group of laws passed in England. These laws were created in 1401 and 1402. They treated Welsh people unfairly. This happened because of the Welsh Revolt led by Owain Glyndŵr, which started in 1400.

These laws stopped Welsh people from holding important jobs. They also couldn't carry weapons or buy land in English towns. Public meetings were banned. Even Englishmen who married Welsh women couldn't hold jobs in Wales.

The laws were confirmed again in 1431, 1433, and 1471. However, they were not always followed strictly. They became outdated with the Laws in Wales Acts under King Henry VIII. Finally, they were officially removed in 1624.

History of the Penal Laws

Early Rules Against the Welsh

After King Edward I took over Wales, the country was split up. The 1284 Statute of Rhuddlan set up new rules. It brought in English laws but still allowed some Welsh customs.

In 1294, Madog ap Llywelyn led a rebellion against English rule. This revolt was stopped in 1295. After this, King Edward I made new rules. These rules were the first to clearly treat Welsh people differently. The 1295 rules said Welsh people could not live or carry weapons in English towns in Wales. They also couldn't trade outside these towns.

Over time, more rules were added. These included:

• Welsh people could not buy English land in Wales without special permission.
• They could not live or buy land in English towns in Wales or near the border.
• They were not allowed to hold meetings.
• They were kept out of important government and military jobs in Wales.
• English citizens in Wales could only be judged by other Englishmen.

Strict Laws During the Revolt

The Welsh Revolt of Owain Glyndŵr started in 1400. Because of this, the English Parliament passed many strict laws. These "penal statutes" began in 1401 and grew in 1402. They made the existing unfair rules even stronger.

Six laws were passed in 1401:

• No Welsh person born in Wales could buy land in England or English towns in Wales.
• A Welsh person could not become a citizen or hold town jobs. They also couldn't carry weapons in any town.
• If a Welsh person owed money or caused trouble, English people could arrest them. They could also take their property when they came from Wales.
• If a Welsh person committed a serious crime in England and ran to Wales, English officials in Wales had to punish them.
• Lords in border areas had to keep their castles ready for riots.
• No Englishman could be found guilty in Wales by a Welsh person. Only English judges or Englishmen living there could decide.

Nine more laws were passed in 1402:

• Englishmen could not be found guilty by Welshmen in Wales.
• No "wasters, rhymers, minstrels, or vagabonds" were allowed in Wales. This rule was likely aimed at Welsh poets who supported Owain Glyndŵr.
• Meetings were banned unless they had a clear reason or were approved by officials.
• Welsh people could not carry weapons without special permission.
• No food or weapons could be sent into Wales. An English officer was put in charge to stop this.
• No Welsh person, unless a Bishop or Lord, could own a castle or defend their home.
• No Welsh person could hold a government job in Wales, except for bishops.
• All castles and walled towns had to be controlled by Englishmen.
• An Englishman married to a Welsh woman also could not hold a job in Wales.

How the Laws Were Used

These laws were not always fully put into practice. They were meant as an emergency response to the rebellion. However, they seemed to make things worse. Instead of making the Welsh obey, these laws might have pushed many Welsh nobles to join the fight. Many Welsh workers, students, and nobles left England to support the revolt.

After the rebellion ended, these laws were often ignored. English and Welsh people started to live together more peacefully. But the laws still existed. This meant they could be used against Welsh people in arguments. They could also be used against those who married Welsh spouses. The laws were brought back in 1431, 1433, 1444, and 1447. This happened because English people living in Wales asked for it. This constant threat made many wealthy Welshmen seek to become full English citizens.

Even though the laws were not always enforced, they caused anger for a long time. This anger lasted into the time of the Tudor kings and queens. Henry Tudor was born in Wales and had Welsh family. He used his Welsh background to gain support. He even fought under a red dragon flag at the Battle of Bosworth Field. When he became King Henry VII, he called himself Prince of Wales. He rewarded his Welsh supporters. Over time, many of the penal laws were removed in different areas. But communities sometimes had to pay a lot of money for these changes.

The penal laws were finally replaced by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 under King Henry VIII. These new laws aimed to make laws the same across England and Wales. Under them, Welsh people became full citizens. They gained the same rights and freedoms as English people. This was seen as a good change at the time. However, it wasn't until 1621 that a Welsh Member of Parliament, James Perrot, worked to remove old laws. The penal laws were officially taken off the law books in 1624.

Impact on Welsh People

The penal laws officially separated English and Welsh people. They put Welsh people at a disadvantage in their own land. This had not happened before in such a widespread way. The laws were perhaps more effective at making Welsh people feel bad than in their actual use.

These laws also led to more lawlessness. Areas controlled by powerful lords became known for crime. There was a growing feeling that Welsh people were being denied opportunities. The government in Wales remained disorganized.

Even though anger remained, the Glyndŵr Welsh Revolt was the last major uprising. Hopes for an independent Wales led by a Welsh prince slowly faded. The laws punished the Welsh for their rebellion against the English crown. There would be no more national revolts. Future rebellions would be about social class, not Welsh independence.

The laws caused bad feelings among Welsh people. They also stopped Welsh nobles from getting important jobs in their own towns. Some Welshmen had Parliament declare them English citizens. This allowed them to get higher jobs or own land. However, this was not possible for everyone. In daily life, people often found ways around these rules. They traded and married across ethnic lines. Some English nobles married Welsh women and even adopted Welsh customs. This shows that Wales developed a complex identity during this time.

See also

• English rule in Wales
• Welsh rebellions against English rule
• Penal Laws against Irish Catholics