SIR GRUFFYDD VYCHAN

 Even around the 1430’s when he must have been born the Welsh still used descriptions after a name because although Vychan later became the name Vaughan in Welsh it means ‘the Small’. 

 Sir Gruffydd Vychan, Lord of Burgedin, Treflydan, Garth and Gearfawr was the 2nd son of Griffith ap Ieuan ap Madoc ap Wenwys above and 17th in direct descent from Brochwel Ysgythrog, King of Powys. Sir Gruffydd undoubtedly owned lands, etc. in Powysland which were his by inheritance, as witness mention in Sir Edward de Cherleton's charter for the recapture of Lord Cobham when he and his elder brother Ieuan received restoration of their inherited lands' in Guilsfield and Broniarth and in the Lordship of Strata Marcella. He was also known as a Knight 9 years before the Battle of Agincourt, but 5 years after that battle called himself simply 'gentleman', having no doubt lost his lands and title in the aftermath of the Owain Glyndwr rebellion (see below).

 Sir Gruffydd was probably born in the latter years of the 14th century and eventually married twice, first to Margaret daughter of Madoc of Hope or Hob, by whom he had two sons, David Lloyd of Leighton, or Sir Gruffydd was probably born in the latter years of the 14th century and eventually married twice, first to Llai, and Cadwaladr. David was the ancestor of the Lloyds of Talgarth and Marrington, and Cadwaladr of the Lloyds of Maesmawr.

    His second wife was also Margaret, daughter of Griffith ap Jenkin Broughten and their son Reinallt, or Reginald, was the ancestor of the Wynnes and Myttons of Garth and inherited the family home at Garth. There were also four daughters, named Gwenhwyvar, Catherine, Anne and Margaret. It is probable that Margaret Broughton held properties under the Barony of Caus, for which her husband, Sir Gruffydd, would owe 'suit and service' to the Cornwall family, and the same would be true of land belonging to Margaret Hope, which would explain how Sir Gruffydd found himself at the Battle of Agincourt where, it is said, he was made a Knight Banneret for distinguished military service on the field of battle.

    A Knight Banneret has a superior status to a Knight Bachelor, or more properly Knight "Baschevalier". A Knight Banneret possessed lands, etc. and had distinguished himself in war and bore in the field a square 'banner' showing his arms and commanded such Knights, Squires and Soldiers as he had furnished to his Sovereign. In the making of a Knight Banneret it was decreed "He that was advanced to the dignity of a Banneret was brought to the King by the two Senior Knights and the King wished him good success and commanded that the tip of his banner or pennon be cut off, so that it became a square like that of a Baron". This was usually for some distinguished military service in the field.

 Sir Gruffydd Vychan was executed in 1477.

 Sir Gruffydd must not be confused with a Sir Griffith Vaughan, or Vechan, who at the end of the 12th century, held the patrimony of Burgedin and was known as "the wild Knight of Cae Howell" and who was of totally different lineage. The "Wild Knight" was the son of Iorworth Goch (Red Edward) and Maud, daughter of Roger de Manley. His grandfather was Maredudd ap Bledydd who died in 1132, and his grandmother Efa, 2nd wife of Maredudd. He was a Knight of Jerusalem of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, then incorporated with the Knights Hospitallers or Templars of Rhodes, later the Knights of Malta.

EXTRACTS FROM  'A POWISIAN AT AGINCOURT' by the Rev. William V. Lloyd. 

 Sir Gruffydd Vychan

 According to Sir Samuel Meyrick's edition of Lewis Dwnn's "Visitations of Wales" Sir Gruffydd Vychan received the honour of Knighthood in the company of Sir David Gam (of Brecknock) and his brave relatives Sir Roger Vaughan (of Bedwardine in Hereford) and Sir Watkin Lloyd ( of Brecknock, who died on the field of battle - see Shakespeare's Henry V) and it may be presumed that Sir Gruffydd shared with them in the exploit of rescuing their Sovereign from a very perilous situation.

  Henry V, defending his fallen brother the Duke of Gloucester, was attacked by the Duke of Alencon, who struck a point off his crown. He was surrounded by Henry's men and four especially; Sir Davy Gam, Sir Roger Vaughan, Sir Watkin Lloyd and Sir Gruffydd Vechan rescued the King.

 There are existing records which support the allegation of Welsh historians and Genealogists that several Welsh Knights were dubbed on the field of Agincourt and this undoubted testimony is supported by the presumptive evidence derivable from a series of undesigned coincidences and accidental references as follows: -

 1.  Sir Gruffydd's feudal services, probably due for his tenures under the Baronies of Burford and Caus, would associate him with the family of Cornwall, who were Lords of a quarter of the Barony of Caus. At the time of Agincourt Edmund de Cornwall was one of the 'co-parceners' of the Barony and within his portion were 'a moiety of the Manor of Worthyn and the Manors of Overgorther and Bagaltre'. This territory comprised the western part of the parish of Alberbury and extended far up the Severn to the southwest, including Buttington, Hope, Leighton and Woolston Mynd. These four 'vills' would from their comparatively hilly position, come under the designation of Overgorther or 'Upper Country', part of Edmund's portion of the Barony of Caus, and it is a curious coincidence, as corroborative of Sir Gruffydd's connection by tenure with the coparcenary families of the Barony or their representatives, that he held Hope through his first wife, said by Mr. Joseph Morris to be near Buttington or Worthyn. If Sir Gruffydd himself did not hold Leighton, his eldest son David Llwyd, his grandson Humphrey Llwyd and descendants did.

 2. On a ‘Roll of Agincourt’ written in French the name of Griffin Fordet, one of 140 esquires or men at arms, appears in the retinue of the Duke of Gloucester, nephew of Sir John Cornwall.

 3.  By combing incidents of the expedition with particulars of the battle there is strong presumptive evidence that Griffin Fordet shared with others in rescuing his Sovereign from a 'very perilous situation'.

On account of complicity with the Glyndwr rebellion or for some overt act of treason arising therefrom he was degraded from Knighthood, but subsequent to his capture of Lord Cobham, 'the Lollard', he was confirmed in his honours won at Agincourt and received 'a mark of the royal favour for distinguished military services'. This 'mark of royal favour' was presumably the "golden collar" mentioned in the poem on Sir Gruffydd by Daffydd Llwyd of Mathavaen, a contemporary bard.

At Pont Llogel on the River Vyrnwy is Llywdiarth Park, home of the Vaughan family. It is said that Sir Gruffydd had a 'pleasant resort' at Gwernygoo in the Parish of Kerry. Arddyn, grandmother of the Carmarthenshire Bard Lewis Glyn Cothi, was Sir Gruffydd's aunt. Cothi describes the state of perfect consternation in Powys caused by the fate of Sir Gruffydd in his Eligy: -

"Strange it was that publicly before men

 Harry and his advisers should guild or deck with gold

 A head that was our firmament, and having gilded it, cut it off.

 Of grief for Sir Gruffydd Vychan I am ailing every day!".

 Descendents from Sir Gruffydd’s son Reinallt (Reginald) are a Griffith and Owen before we come to John Derwas who inherited by a Will proven at St.Asaph in 1577.