Page "Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542" Paragraph 2

From the conquest of Gwynedd in 1282 – 83 until the passing of the Laws in Wales Acts, the administrative system of Wales had remained unchanged.

By the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284 the territory of the native Welsh rulers had been broken up into the five counties of Anglesey, Caernarfon, Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Merioneth.

Even though the five counties were subject to English criminal law, the " Principality " was the king of England's own personal fief and Welsh law continued to be used for civil cases.

The rest of Wales, except for the county of Flint, which was part of the Principality, and the Royal lordships of Glamorgan and Pembroke, was made up of numerous small lordships, each with its own courts, laws and other customs.