More than a thousand years ago, a Welsh king gathered the wisest men of his realm and asked them to write down the laws by which they lived. The result — the Law of Hywel Dda — became the foundation of Welsh justice for six centuries: a code that valued every life, weighed every injury, and set a price for everything from a stolen beehive to a blow struck in anger. Here, in clear and inviting modern English, is that ancient lawbook in full: the king's household and the queen's rights, the three columns of law, the protections of women, the worth of animals, the sanctuary of churches, and the legendary council at Whitland. Far more than a legal text, it is a window into the soul of early medieval Wales — a world of honour, kindred, and measured mercy. This faithful modern edition preserves the spirit and detail of the original while making it a pleasure to read today. Part of The World Scriptures Library.