ancient acquisitions of the Crown, but was quite inapplicable to the Lordships Marchers, which still remained in the possession of their Lords, and were not, and could not be, affected in this respect by a royal charter. If any further argument that this document is not a parliamentary act were wanting, it might be found in this unqualified claim to the possession of Wales, which the numerous Lords Marchers in Parliament would scarcely have admitted. This claim, however comprehensively worded, was effectual only to the extent of the territory in the King's own hands, as is further evident from the enacting part of the charter, which clearly affects that territory only.
The King's domain in Wales thus became annexed to his English Crown as a separate realm or sovereignty. The King, on creating his son, Edward of Caernarvon, Prince of Wales, granted to him by charter (7th Feb. 29 Ed. I. 1301) this royal domain,[1] which thenceforth became the principality of Wales. Additional territories, acquired in the interim, were included in the next charter, that to Edward the Black Prince (12th May, 17 Ed. III. 1343).[2] During two centuries the principality was usually granted to the heir apparent of the Crown for the time being, with, the singular limitation "to him and his heirs, Kings of England;" thus continually and finally revesting in the Crown, but never thereby merging or losing its separate existence. Arthur, son of Henry VII. was the last Prince invested with the principality itself by charter, and exercising jurisdiction in his own name. After his death (2nd April, 1502) his brother Henry was raised to the title, but received no similar charter. Probably the King and his advisers were already considering the irregular and inconvenient relation of Wales to England, and contemplating such legislative changes as were effected in the succeeding reign.
So long as Wales remained separate from the Realm of England, this Anglo-Welch principality within it had a political unity, as distinguished from the Lordships which occupied the remainder of the country and the Marches,[3]—a distinction to be borne in mind in reference to many ancient documents and reports of legal decisions, which are otherwise unintelligible.
The division of Wales into shires can scarcely be said to have begun before the Statute of Rhyddlan. Pembroke and Glamorgan may have been called counties at an earlier date; but the words are not strictly synonymous. The primary meaning of shire is, a division of a realm; of county, the district held or governed by a count or earl. Every shire implies a realm, and was usually committed or
