brothers had taken up arms and burned Grey's property, for three days the Welsh band ravaged the countryside of Flintshire and Denbighshire. On 24 September, Glyndwr's forces were encircled at Welshpool and defeated. De Grey now invited Glyndŵr to a reconciliation meeting, but arrived with a large force, attempting to surround Glyndŵr and making his intentions clear. Glyndŵr escaped with his life and went into hiding, confirming himself a traitor in English eyes. King Henry confiscated the estates of Glyndŵr's supporters, and granted them to John Beaufort, his half-brother. The rebellion spread after initial successes for the Welsh and by 1402 it was gathering momentum. Lord Grey was captured by Glyndŵr's forces in an ambush near Ruthin in January. A ransom of 10,000 marks was asked for him and Lord Grey was asked to swear an oath never to bear arms against Glyndŵr again. King Henry IV sent eleven knights to treat with Glyndŵr and then complied with the ransom, ordering the selling of a manor in Kent to raise the monies in mid-1402. On 22 June, Glyndwr captured another important hostage, Edmund Mortimer. Lord Grey then would have been expected to repay the amount over time as best he could and any outstanding debt would be borne by his family. In August, Glyndwr went south into the Marches. The King, however, held Grey in better view than Mortimer, whom he considered a troublemaker. While Grey and Earl of Northumberland were loyal; it was clear that Hotspur intended to join Glyndwr's rebellion. Hotspur had refused to surrender the Scots prisoner, earl of Douglas to the King, and had demanded that Edmund Mortimer be purchased his freedom. Henry was furious that his power should be challenged in this way. The King wrote to Grey and other leading nobles on 23 November 1409, demanding that all officers who were entreating with Glyndwr should cease forthwith. The rebellion had failed after the re-capture of Harlech, and the release of Mortimer's family. The Grey family did in fact sell the Ruthyn Lordship to King Henry VII in 1508 when their fortunes and favour had declined. Hundred Years War Grey was a member of the Council which governed England during the absence of Henry V in France in 1415; he later fought against the French in the Hundred Years War in 1420 and 1421. He had been previously a Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Notes References