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able; it is grateful to live in the memory of future ages; and to be immortalized by fame; for to toil after that which produces envy in life; but glory after death; is a sure indication of an elevated mind。  Poets and authors indeed aspire after immortality; but do not reject any present advantages that may offer。

I formerly completed with vain and fruitless labour the Topography of Ireland for its companion; the king Henry the Second; and Vaticinal History; for Richard of Poitiou; his son; and; I wish I were not compelled to add; his successor in vice; princes little skilled in letters; and much engaged in business。  To you; illustrious Stephen; archbishop of Canterbury; equally commendable for your learning and religion; I now dedicate the account of our meritorious journey through the rugged provinces of Cambria; written in a scholastic style; and divided into two parts。  For as virtue loves itself; and detests what is contrary to it; so I hope you will consider whatever I may have written in commendation of your late venerable and eminent predecessor; with no less affection than if it related to yourself。  To you also; when completed; I destine my treatise on the Instruction of a Prince; if; amidst your religious and worldly occupations; you can find leisure for the perusal of it。 For I purpose to submit these and other fruits of my diligence to be tasted by you at your discretion; each in its proper order; hoping that; if my larger undertakings do not excite your interest; my smaller works may at least merit your approbation; conciliate your favour; and call forth my gratitude towards you; who; unmindful of worldly affections; do not partially distribute your bounties to your family and friends; but to letters and merit; you; who; in the midst of such great and unceasing contests between the crown and the priesthood; stand forth almost singly the firm and faithful friend of the British church; you; who; almost the only one duly elected; fulfil the scriptural designation of the episcopal character。  It is not; however; by bearing a cap; by placing a cushion; by shielding off the rain; or by wiping the dust; even if there should be none; in the midst of a herd of flatterers; that I attempt to conciliate your favour; but by my writings。  To you; therefore; rare; noble; and illustrious man; on whom nature and art have showered down whatever becomes your supereminent situation; I dedicate my works; but if I fail in this mode of conciliating your favour; and if your prayers and avocations should not allow you sufficient time to read them; I shall consider the honour of letters as vanished; and in hope of its revival I shall inscribe my writings to posterity。



SECOND PREFACE … TO THE SAME PRELATE



Since those things; which are known to have been done through a laudable devotion; are not unworthily extolled with due praises; and since the mind; when relaxed; loses its energy; and the torpor of sloth enervates the understanding; as iron acquires rust for want of use; and stagnant waters become foul; lest my pen should be injured by the rust of idleness; I have thought good to commit to writing the devout visitation which Baldwin; archbishop of Canterbury; made throughout Wales; and to hand down; as it were in a mirror; through you; O illustrious Stephen; to posterity; the difficult places through which we passed; the names of springs and torrents; the witty sayings; the toils and incidents of the journey; the memorable events of ancient and modern times; and the natural history and description of the country; lest my study should perish through idleness; or the praise of these things be lost by silence。




THE ITINERARY THROUGH WALES … BOOK I




CHAPTER I



Journey through Hereford and Radnor


In the year 1188 from the incarnation of our Lord; Urban the Third {11} being the head of the apostolic see; Frederick; emperor of Germany and king of the Romans; Isaac; emperor of Constantinople; Philip; the son of Louis; reigning in France; Henry the Second in England; William in Sicily; Bela in Hungary; and Guy in Palestine: in that very year; when Saladin; prince of the Egyptians and Damascenes; by a signal victory gained possession of the kingdom of Jerusalem; Baldwin; archbishop of Canterbury; a venerable man; distinguished for his learning and sanctity; journeying from England for the service of the holy cross; entered Wales near the borders of Herefordshire。

The archbishop proceeded to Radnor; {12} on Ash Wednesday (Caput Jejunii); accompanied by Ranulph de Glanville; privy counsellor and justiciary of the whole kingdom; and there met Rhys; {13} son of Gruffydd; prince of South Wales; and many other noble personages of those parts; where a sermon being preached by the archbishop; upon the subject of the Crusades; and explained to the Welsh by an interpreter; the author of this Itinerary; impelled by the urgent importunity and promises of the king; and the persuasions of the archbishop and the justiciary; arose the first; and falling down at the feet of the holy man; devoutly took the sign of the cross。  His example was instantly followed by Peter; bishop of St。 David's; {14} a monk of the abbey of Cluny; and then by Eineon; son of Eineon Clyd; {15} prince of Elvenia; and many other persons。  Eineon rising up; said to Rhys; whose daughter he had married; 〃My father and lord! with your permission I hasten to revenge the injury offered to the great father of all。〃  Rhys himself was so fully determined upon the holy peregrination; as soon as the archbishop should enter his territories on his return; that for nearly fifteen days he was employed with great solicitude in making the necessary preparations for so distant a journey; till his wife; and; according to the common vicious licence of the country; his relation in the fourth degree; Guendolena; (Gwenllian); daughter of Madoc; prince of Powys; by female artifices diverted him wholly from his noble purpose; since; as Solomon says; 〃A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps。〃  As Rhys before his departure was conversing with his friends concerning the things he had heard; a distinguished young man of his family; by name Gruffydd; and who afterwards took the cross; is said thus to have answered:  〃What man of spirit can refuse to undertake this journey; since; amongst all imaginable inconveniences; nothing worse can happen to any one than to return。〃

On the arrival of Rhys in his own territory; certain canons of Saint David's; through a zeal for their church; having previously secured the interest of some of the prince's courtiers; waited on Rhys; and endeavoured by every possible suggestion to induce him not to permit the archbishop to proceed into the interior parts of Wales; and particularly to the metropolitan see of Saint David's (a thing hitherto unheard of); at the same time asserting that if he should continue his intended journey; the church would in future experience great prejudice; and with difficulty would recover its ancient dignity and honour。  Although these pleas were most strenuously urged; the natural kindness and civility of the prince would not suffer them to prevail; lest by prohibiting the archbishop's progress; he might appear to wound his feelings。

Early on the following morning; after the celebration of mass; and the return of Ranulph de Glanville to England; we came to Cruker Castle; {16} two miles distant from Radnor; where a strong and valiant youth named Hector; conversing with the archbishop about taking the cross; said; 〃If I had the means of getting provisions for one day; and of keeping fast on the next; I would comply with your advice;〃 on the following day; however; he took the cross。  The same evening; Malgo; son of Cadwallon; prince of Melenia; after a short but efficacious exhortation from the archbishop; and not without the tears and lamentations of his friends; was marked with the sign of the cross。

But here it is proper to mention what happened during the reign of king Henry the First to the lord of the castle of Radnor; in the adjoining territory of Builth; {17} who had entered the church of Saint Avan (which is called in the British language Llan Avan); {18} and; without sufficient caution or reverence; had passed the night there with his hounds。  Arising early in the morning; according to the custom of hunters; he found his hounds mad; and himself struck blind。  After a long; dark; and tedious existence; he was conveyed to Jerusalem; happily taking care that his inward sight should not in a similar manner be extinguished; and there being accoutred; and led to the field of battle on horseback; he made a spirited attack upon the enemies of the faith; and; being mortally wounded; closed his life with honour。

Another circumstance which happened in these our days; in the province of Warthrenion; {19} distant from hence only a few furlongs; is not unworthy of notice。  Eineon; lord of that district; and son…in…law to prince Rhys; who was much addicted to the chase; having on a certain day forced the wild beasts from their coverts; one of his attendants killed a hind with an arrow; as she was springing forth from the wood; which; contrary to the nature of her sex; was found to bear horns of

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