§ 1. a.d. 1063. If there had been a possibility at that conjuncture of subjecting Wales to the government of England, the powerful Harold would not have neglected it, but being a statesman as well as a general, and perceiving that the national feeling of the Welsh was then too strong for such a union, he obtained from the Bretwalda the appointment of Bleddyn and Ehiwallawn ab Cynfyn as joint and tributary sovereigns of Gwynedd and Powys. At the same time, it is said that he caused a law to be enacted, condemning every Welshman to lose his right hand who should be found without licence carrying any missile weapon upon the eastern side of Offa's Dyke.

Harold coveted the lordship of Porthyscwyd, situated near the Aust passage, and forming a part of the district kingdom of Gwent which Caradog ab Gruffydd ab Rhydderch ab Iestyn ab Owen ab Howel Dda inherited from his forefathers. The prince refused to resign the favourite spot, and the earl revenged himself and secured the property by causing Caradog to be proclaimed an outlaw, and Maredudd ab Owen ab Edwyn ab Eineon ab Owen ab Howel Dda to be invested by King Edward with the provincial and tributary sovereignty of Deheubarth.