From the Triads of the Isles of Britain
Three tribal thrones of the Isle of Britain: Arthur as Chief
Ruler in Mynyw, and David as Chief Bishop, and
Maelgwn Gwynedd as Chief Elder; Arthur as Chief Ruler
in Celli Wig in Cornwall, and Bishop Bidwini as Chief
Bishop, and Caradog Strong-Arm as Chief Elder; Arthur
as Chief Ruler in PenRionydd in the North, and
Gerthmwl Wledig as Chief Elder, and Cyndeyrn
Garthwys as Chief Bishop.Three men of substance in the Isle of Britain: Gwalchmai son of
Gwyar, and Llachau son of Arthur, Rhiwallawn
Broom-hair.Three Chieftains of Arthur’s court: Gobrwy son of Echel
Mighty-thigh, Cadriaith son of Porthawr Gadw, and
Ffleudur Fflam.Three Frivolous Bards of the Isle of Britain: Arthur, and
Cadwallawn son of Cadfan, and Rahawd son of Morgant.Three favorites of Arthur’s Court, and Three Battle-horsemen:
and they never sought a captain over them. And Arthur
composed an englyn:
These are my three Battle-horsemen
Menedd, and Lludd of the Breastplate,
and the Pillar of the Welsh, Caradog.Three Red-reapers of the Isle of Britain: Rhun son of Beli, and
Lleu Skillful-hand, and Morgant the Wealthy. But one
was more of a Red-reaper than the other three; Arthur was his
mane. For a year neither grass nor plants would come up
where one of the three walked, but for seven years none
would come up where Arthur walked.Three Diademed of the Isle of Britain: Drystan son of
Tallwch, and Hueil son of Caw, and Cei son of Cenyr the
Fine-bearded. But one was diademed above the three of
them; that was Bedwyr son of Bedrawg.Three Unbridled Ravagings in the Isle of Britain: The first of
them, when Medrawd came to Arthur’s court in Celli Wig
in Cornwall; he left neither food nor drink in the court he
did not consume. And he also pulled Gwenhwyfar out of
her chair of state, and then he struck a blow upon her.
And the second Unbridled Ravaging, when Arthur came
to Medrawd’s court; he left neither food nor drink in
wither the court or the cantref. And the third
Unbridled Ravaging, when Aeddan the Treacherous came
as far as Dumbarton to the court of Rhydderch the
Generous, and he left neither food nor drink not animal
alive.The Great Queens of Arthur: Gwenhwyfar daughter of
Cywryd Gwent, and Gwenhwyfar daughter of Gwythyr
son of Greidiawl, and Gwenhwyfar daughter of Gogfran
the Giant.And these were his three Mistresses: Indeg daughter of Garwy
the Tall, and Garwen daughter of Henin the Old, and
Gwyl daughter of Gendawd.Three Unfortunate Counsels of the Isle of Britain: Giving to
Julius Caesar and the men of Rome a place for the forefeet
of their horses on the land, in payment for the horse
Meinlas. And the second allowing Horsa and Hengist and
Ronnwen into this isle. And the third, Arthur dividing his
men thrice with Medrawd at Camlan.Three Men of the Isle of Britain most courteous to guests and
strangers: Gwalchmai son of Gwyar, and Cadwy son of
Geraint, and Cadriaith son of Saidi.Three Faithless Wives of the Isle of Britain: three daughters of
Culfanwyd of Britain: Essyllt Fair-hair, mistress of
Trystan, and Penarwan, wife of Owain son of Urien, and
Bun, wife of Fflamddwyn; and one was more faithless than
those three: Gwenhwyfar, wife of Arthur, since she
shamed a better man than any of them.Three Futile Battles on the Isle of Britain: One of them was the
Battle of Goddau; it was brought about because of a bitch
together with a roebuck and a lapwing. The second was
the Battle of Arfderydd, which was brought about because
of a lark’s nest. And the third was the worst; that was
Camlan. And that was brought about by the quarrel
between Gwenhwyfar and Gwenhwyfach. This was the
reason those were called futile: because they were
brought about by such a fruitless cause as that.