itinerary of archibishop-第8节
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e was compelled to retire as an exile from the district of Brecheinoc into England； or to some other parts of his diocese。 Meanwhile； Mahel； being hospitably entertained by Walter de Clifford； ｛47｝ in the castle of Brendlais； ｛48｝ the house was by accident burned down； and he received a mortal blow by a stone falling from the principal tower on his head： upon which he instantly dispatched messengers to recal the bishop； and exclaimed with a lamentable voice； 〃O； my father and high priest； your saint has taken most cruel vengeance of me； not waiting the conversion of a sinner； but hastening his death and overthrow。〃 Having often repeated similar expressions； and bitterly lamented his situation； he thus ended his tyranny and life together； the first year of his government not having elapsed。
A powerful and noble personage； by name Brachanus； was in ancient times the ruler of the province of Brecheinoc； and from him it derived this name。 The British histories testify that he had four… and…twenty daughters； all of whom； dedicated from their youth to religious observances； happily ended their lives in sanctity。 There are many churches in Wales distinguished by their names； one of which； situated on the summit of a hill； near Brecheinoc； and not far from the castle of Aberhodni； is called the church of St。 Almedda； ｛49｝ after the name of the holy virgin； who； refusing there the hand of an earthly spouse； married the Eternal King； and triumphed in a happy martyrdom； to whose honour a solemn feast is annually held in the beginning of August； and attended by a large concourse of people from a considerable distance； when those persons who labour under various diseases； through the merits of the Blessed Virgin； received their wished…for health。 The circumstances which occur at every anniversary appear to me remarkable。 You may see men or girls； now in the church； now in the churchyard； now in the dance； which is led round the churchyard with a song； on a sudden falling on the ground as in a trance； then jumping up as in a frenzy； and representing with their hands and feet； before the people； whatever work they have unlawfully done on feast days； you may see one man put his hand to the plough； and another； as it were； goad on the oxen； mitigating their sense of labour； by the usual rude song： ｛50｝ one man imitating the profession of a shoemaker； another； that of a tanner。 Now you may see a girl with a distaff； drawing out the thread； and winding it again on the spindle； another walking； and arranging the threads for the web； another； as it were； throwing the shuttle； and seeming to weave。 On being brought into the church； and led up to the altar with their oblations； you will be astonished to see them suddenly awakened； and coming to themselves。 Thus； by the divine mercy； which rejoices in the conversion； not in the death； of sinners； many persons from the conviction of their senses； are on these feast days corrected and mended。
This country sufficiently abounds with grain； and if there is any deficiency； it is amply supplied from the neighbouring parts of England； it is well stored with pastures； woods； and wild and domestic animals。 River…fish are plentiful； supplied by the Usk on one side； and by the Wye on the other； each of them produces salmon and trout； but the Wye abounds most with the former； the Usk with the latter。 The salmon of the Wye are in season during the winter； those of the Usk in summer； but the Wye alone produces the fish called umber； ｛51｝ the praise of which is celebrated in the works of Ambrosius； as being found in great numbers in the rivers near Milan； 〃What；〃 says he； 〃is more beautiful to behold； more agreeable to smell； or more pleasant to taste？〃 The famous lake of Brecheinoc supplies the country with pike； perch； excellent trout； tench； and eels。 A circumstance concerning this lake； which happened a short time before our days； must not be passed over in silence。 〃In the reign of king Henry I。； Gruffydd； ｛52｝ son of Rhys ap Tewdwr； held under the king one comot； namely； the fourth part of the cantred of Caoc； ｛53｝ in the cantref Mawr； which； in title and dignity； was esteemed by the Welsh equal to the southern part of Wales； called Deheubarth； that is； the right…hand side of Wales。 When Gruffydd； on his return from the king's court； passed near this lake； which at that cold season of the year was covered with water…fowl of various sorts； being accompanied by Milo； earl of Hereford； and lord of Brecheinoc； and Payn Fitz…John； lord of Ewyas； who were at that time secretaries and privy counsellors to the king； earl Milo； wishing to draw forth from Gruffydd some discourse concerning his innate nobility； rather jocularly than seriously thus addressed him： 〃It is an ancient saying in Wales； that if the natural prince of the country； coming to this lake； shall order the birds to sing； they will immediately obey him。〃 To which Gruffydd； richer in mind than in gold； （for though his inheritance was diminished； his ambition and dignity still remained）； answered； 〃Do you therefore； who now hold the dominion of this land； first give the command；〃 but he and Payn having in vain commanded； and Gruffydd； perceiving that it was necessary for him to do so in his turn； dismounted from his horse； and falling on his knees towards the east； as if he had been about to engage in battle； prostrate on the ground； with his eyes and hands uplifted to heaven； poured forth devout prayers to the Lord： at length； rising up； and signing his face and forehead with the figure of the cross； he thus openly spake： 〃Almighty God； and Lord Jesus Christ； who knowest all things； declare here this day thy power。 If thou hast caused me to descend lineally from the natural princes of Wales； I command these birds in thy name to declare it；〃 and immediately the birds； beating the water with their wings； began to cry aloud； and proclaim him。 The spectators were astonished and confounded； and earl Milo hastily returning with Payn Fitz…John to court； related this singular occurrence to the king； who is said to have replied； 〃By the death of Christ （an oath he was accustomed to use）； it is not a matter of so much wonder； for although by our great authority we commit acts of violence and wrong against these people； yet they are known to be the rightful inheritors of this land。〃
The lake also ｛54｝ （according to the testimony of the inhabitants） is celebrated for its miracles； for； as we have before observed； it sometimes assumed a greenish hue； so in our days it has appeared to be tinged with red； not universally； but as if blood flowed partially through certain veins and small channels。 Moreover it is sometimes seen by the inhabitants covered and adorned with buildings； pastures； gardens； and orchards。 In the winter； when it is frozen over； and the surface of the water is converted into a shell of ice； it emits a horrible sound resembling the moans of many animals collected together； but this； perhaps； may be occasioned by the sudden bursting of the shell； and the gradual ebullition of the air through imperceptible channels。 This country is well sheltered on every side （except the northern） by high mountains； on the western by those of cantref Bychan； ｛55｝ on the southern； by that range； of which the principal is Cadair Arthur； ｛56｝ or the chair of Arthur； so called from two peaks rising up in the form of a chair； and which； from its lofty situation； is vulgarly ascribed to Arthur； the most distinguished king of the Britons。 A spring of water rises on the summit of this mountain； deep； but of a square shape； like a well； and although no stream runs from it； trout are said to be sometimes found in it。
Being thus sheltered on the south by high mountains； the cooler breezes protect this district from the heat of the sun； and； by their natural salubrity； render the climate most temperate。 Towards the east are the mountains of Talgarth and Ewyas。 ｛57｝ The natives of these parts； actuated by continual enmities and implacable hatred； are perpetually engaged in bloody contests。 But we leave to others to describe the great and enormous excesses； which in our time have been here committed； with regard to marriages； divorces； and many other circumstances of cruelty and oppression。
CHAPTER III
Ewyas and Llanthoni
In the deep vale of Ewyas； ｛58｝ which is about an arrow…shot broad； encircled on all sides by lofty mountains； stands the church of Saint John the Baptist； covered with lead； and built of wrought stone； and； considering the nature of the place； not unhandsomely constructed； on the very spot where the humble chapel of David； the archbishop； had formerly stood decorated only with moss and ivy。 A situation truly calculated for religion； and more adapted to canonical discipline； than all the monasteries of the British isle。 It was founded by two hermits； in honour of the retired life； far removed from the bustle of mankind； in a solitary vale watered by the river Hodeni。 From Hodeni it was called Lanhodeni； for Lan signifies an ecclesiastical place。 This derivation may appear far… fetched； for the name of the place； in Welsh； is Nanthodeni。 Nant signifies a running stream； from whence this place is still called by t
