itinerary of archibishop-第14章

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tenance；　replied：　　〃You　deliver；　indeed；　an　oracle　supported　by　too　much　truth；　which　I　have　so　much　more　reason　to　lament；　as　the　ignominy　you　have　published　redounds　to　my　own　injury。〃　　The　woman；　thus　detected；　and　unable　to　dissemble　her　confusion；　betrayed　the　inward　feelings　of　her　mind　by　external　signs；　shame　and　sorrow　urging　her　by　turns；　and　manifesting　themselves；　now　by　blushes；　now　by　paleness；　and　lastly　（according　to　the　custom　of　women）；　by　tears。　　The　shoulder　of　a　goat　was　also　once　brought　to　a　certain　person；　instead　of　a　ram's　…　both　being　alike；　when　cleaned；　who；　observing　for　a　short　time　the　lines　and　marks；　exclaimed；　〃Unhappy　cattle；　that　never　was　multiplied！　unhappy；　likewise；　the　owner　of　the　cattle；　who　never　had　more　than　three　or　four　in　one　flock！〃　Many　persons；　a　year　and　a　half　before　the　event；　foresaw；　by　the　means　of　shoulder…bones；　the　destruction　of　their　country；　after　the　decease　of　king　Henry　I。；　and；　selling　all　their　possessions；　left　their　homes；　and　escaped　the　impending　ruin。

It　happened　also　in　Flanders；　from　whence　this　people　came；　that　a　certain　man　sent　a　similar　bone　to　a　neighbour　for　his　inspection；　and　the　person　who　carried　it；　on　passing　over　a　ditch；　broke　wind；　and　wished　it　in　the　nostrils　of　the　man　on　whose　account　he　was　thus　troubled。　　The　person　to　whom　the　bone　was　taken；　on　examination；　said；　〃May　you　have　in　your　own　nose；　that　which　you　wished　to　be　in　mine。〃　　In　our　time；　a　soothsayer；　on　the　inspection　of　a　bone；　discovered　not　only　a　theft；　and　the　manner　of　it；　but　the　thief　himself；　and　all　the　attendant　circumstances；　he　heard　also　the　striking　of　a　bell；　and　the　sound　of　a　trumpet；　as　if　those　things　which　were　past　were　still　performing。　　It　is　wonderful；　therefore；　that　these　bones；　like　all　unlawful　conjurations；　should　represent；　by　a　counterfeit　similitude　to　the　eyes　and　ears；　things　which　are　passed；　as　well　as　those　which　are　now　going　on。



CHAPTER　XII



Of　Penbroch


The　province　of　Penbroch　adjoins　the　southern　part　of　the　territory　of　Ros；　and　is　separated　from　it　by　an　arm　of　the　sea。　　Its　principal　city；　and　the　metropolis　of　Demetia；　is　situated　on　an　oblong　rocky　eminence；　extending　with　two　branches　from　Milford　Haven；　from　whence　it　derived　the　name　of　Penbroch；　which　signifies　the　head　of　the　aestuary。　　Arnulph　de　Montgomery；　｛110｝　in　the　reign　of　king　Henry　I。；　erected　here　a　slender　fortress　with　stakes　and　turf；　which；　on　returning　to　England；　he　consigned　to　the　care　of　Giraldus　de　Windesor；　｛111｝　his　constable　and　lieutenant…general；　a　worthy　and　discreet　man。　　Immediately　on　the　death　of　Rhys　son　of　Tewdwr；　who　a　short　time　before　had　been　slain　by　the　treachery　of　his　own　troops　at　Brecheinoc；　leaving　his　son；　Gruffydd；　a　child；　the　inhabitants　of　South　Wales　besieged　the　castle。　　One　night；　when　fifteen　soldiers　had　deserted；　and　endeavoured　to　escape　from　the　castle　in　a　small　boat；　on　the　following　morning　Giraldus　invested　their　armour　bearers　with　the　arms　and　estates　of　their　masters；　and　decorated　them　with　the　military　order。　　The　garrison　being；　from　the　length　of　the　siege；　reduced　to　the　utmost　want　of　provisions；　the　constable；　with　great　prudence　and　flattering　hopes　of　success；　caused　four　hogs；　which　yet　remained；　to　be　cut　into　small　pieces　and　thrown　down　to　the　enemy　from　the　fortifications。　　The　next　day；　having　again　recourse　to　a　more　refined　stratagem；　he　contrived　that　a　letter；　sealed　with　his　own　signet；　should　be　found　before　the　house　of　Wilfred；　｛112｝　bishop　of　St。　David's；　who　was　then　by　chance　in　that　neighbourhood；　as　if　accidentally　dropped；　stating　that　there　would　be　no　necessity　of　soliciting　the　assistance　of　earl　Arnulph　for　the　next　four　months　to　come。　　The　contents　of　these　letters　being　made　known　to　the　army；　the　troops　abandoned　the　siege　of　the　castle；　and　retired　to　their　own　homes。　　Giraldus；　in　order　to　make　himself　and　his　dependants　more　secure；　married　Nest；　the　sister　of　Gruffydd；　prince　of　South　Wales；　by　whom　he　had　an　illustrious　progeny　of　both　sexes；　and　by　whose　means　both　the　maritime　parts　of　South　Wales　were　retained　by　the　English；　and　the　walls　of　Ireland　afterwards　stormed；　as　our　Vaticinal　History　declares。

In　our　time；　a　person　residing　at　the　castle　of　Penbroch；　found　a　brood　of　young　weasels　concealed　within　a　fleece　in　his　dwelling　house；　which　he　carefully　removed　and　hid。　　The　mother；　irritated　at　the　loss　of　her　young；　which　she　had　searched　for　in　vain；　went　to　a　vessel　of　milk　that　had　been　set　aside　for　the　use　of　the　master's　son；　and　raising　herself　up；　polluted　it　with　her　deadly　poison；　thus　revenging；　as　it　were；　the　loss　of　her　young；　by　the　destruction　of　the　child。　　The　man；　observing　what　passed；　carried　the　fleece　back　to　its　former　place；　when　the　weasel；　agitated　by　maternal　solicitude；　between　hope　and　fear；　on　finding　again　her　young；　began　to　testify　her　joy　by　her　cries　and　actions；　and　returning　quickly　to　the　vessel；　overthrew　it；　thus；　in　gratitude　for　the　recovery　of　her　own　offspring；　saving　that　of　her　host　from　danger。

In　another　place；　an　animal　of　the　same　species　had　brought　out　her　young　into　a　plain　for　the　enjoyment　of　the　sun　and　air；　when　an　insidious　kite　carried　off　one　of　them。　　Concealing　herself　with　the　remainder　behind　some　shrubs；　grief　suggested　to　her　a　stratagem　of　exquisite　revenge；　she　extended　herself　on　a　heap　of　earth；　as　if　dead；　within　sight　of　the　plunderer；　and　（as　success　always　increases　avidity）　the　bird　immediately　seized　her　and　flew　away；　but　soon　fell　down　dead　by　the　bite　of　the　poisonous　animal。

The　castle　called　Maenor　Pyrr；　｛113｝　that　is；　the　mansion　of　Pyrrus；　who　also　possessed　the　island　of　Chaldey；　which　the　Welsh　call　Inys　Pyrr；　or　the　island　of　Pyrrus；　is　distant　about　three　miles　from　Penbroch。　　It　is　excellently　well　defended　by　turrets　and　bulwarks；　and　is　situated　on　the　summit　of　a　hill　extending　on　the　western　side　towards　the　sea…port；　having　on　the　northern　and　southern　sides　a　fine　fish…pond　under　its　walls；　as　conspicuous　for　its　grand　appearance；　as　for　the　depth　of　its　waters；　and　a　beautiful　orchard　on　the　same　side；　inclosed　on　one　part　by　a　vineyard；　and　on　the　other　by　a　wood；　remarkable　for　the　projection　of　its　rocks；　and　the　height　of　its　hazel　trees。　　On　the　right　hand　of　the　promontory；　between　the　castle　and　the　church；　near　the　site　of　a　very　large　lake　and　mill；　a　rivulet　of　never…failing　water　flows　through　a　valley；　rendered　sandy　by　the　violence　of　the　winds。　　Towards　the　west；　the　Severn　sea；　bending　its　course　to　Ireland；　enters　a　hollow　bay　at　some　distance　from　the　castle；　and　the　southern　rocks；　if　extended　a　little　further　towards　the　north；　would　render　it　a　most　excellent　harbour　for　shipping。　　From　this　point　of　sight；　you　will　see　almost　all　the　ships　from　Great　Britain；　which　the　east　wind　drives　upon　the　Irish　coast；　daringly　brave　the　inconstant　waves　and　raging　sea。　　This　country　is　well　supplied　with　corn；　sea…fish；　and　imported　wines；　and　what　is　preferable　to　every　other　advantage；　from　its　vicinity　to　Ireland；　it　is　tempered　by　a　salubrious　air。　Demetia；　therefore；　with　its　seven　cantreds；　is　the　most　beautiful；　as　well　as　the　most　powerful　district　of　Wales；　Penbroch；　the　finest　part　of　the　province　of　Demetia；　and　the　place　I　have　just　described；　the　most　delightful　part　of　Penbroch。　　It　is　evident；　therefore；　that　Maenor　Pirr　is　the　pleasantest　spot　in　Wales；　and　the　author　may　be　pardoned　for　having　thus　extolled　his　native　soil；　his　genial　territory；　with　a　profusion　of　praise　and　admiration。

In　this　part　of　Penbroch；　unclean　spirits　have　conversed；　nor　visibly；　but　sensibly；　with　mankind；　first　in　the　house　of　Stephen　Wiriet；　｛114｝　and　afterwards　in　the　house　of　William　Not；　｛115｝　manifesting　their　presence　by　throwing　dirt　at　them；　and　more　with　a　view　of　mockery　than　of　injury。　　In　the　house　of　William；　they　cut　holes　in　the　linen　and　woollen　garments；　much　to　the　loss　of　the　owner　of　the　house　and　his　guests；　nor　could　any　precaution；　or　even　bolts；　secure　them　from　these　inconveniences。　　In　the　house　of　Stephen；　the　spirit　in　a　more　extraordinary　manner　conversed　with　men；　and；　in　reply　to　their　taunts；　upbraided　them　openly　with　everything　they　had　done　from　their　birth；　and　which　they　were　not　willing　should　be　known　or　heard　by　others。　　I　do　not　presume　to　assign　the　cause　of　this　event；　except　that　it　is　said　to　be　the　presage　of　a　sudden　change　from　poverty　to　riches；　or　rather　from　affluence　to　poverty　and　distress；　as　it　was　found　to　be　the　case　in　both　these　instances。　　And　it　appears　to　me　very　extraordinary　that　these　places　could　not　be　purified　from　such　illusions；　either　by　the　sprinkling　of　holy　water；　or　the　assistance　of　any　other　religious　ceremony；　for　the　priests　themselves；　though　protected　by　the　crucifix；　or　the　holy　water；　on　devoutly　entering　the　house；　were　equally　subject　to　the　same　insults。　　From　whence　it　appears　that　things　pertaining　to　the　sacraments；　as　well　as　the　sacraments　themselves；　defend　us　from　hurtful；　but　not　from　harmless　things；　from　annoyances；　but　not　from　illusions。　　It　is　worthy　of　note；　that　in　our　time；　a　woman　in　Poitou　was　possessed　by　a　demon；　who；　through　her　mouth；　artfully　and　acutely　disputed　with　the　learned。　He　sometimes　upbraided　people　with　their　secret　actions；　and　those　things　which　they　wished　not　to　hear；　but　when　either　the　books　of　the　gospel；　or　the　relics　of　saints；　were　placed　upon　the　mouth　of　the　possessed；　he　fled　to　the　lower　part　of　her　throat；　and　when　they　were　removed　thither；　he　descended　into　her　belly。　　His　appearance　was　indicated　by　certain　inflations　and　convulsions　of　the　parts　which　he　possessed；　and　when　the　relics　were　again　placed　in　the　lower　parts；　he　directly　returned　to　the　upper。　　At　length；　when　they　brought　the　body　of　Christ；　and　gave　it　to　the　patient；　the　demon　answered；　〃Ye　fools；　you　are　doing　nothing；　for　what　you　give　her　is　not　the　food　of　the　body；　but　of　the　soul；　and　my　power　is　confined　to　the　body；　not　to　the　soul。〃　　But　when　those　persons　whom　he　had　upbraided　with　their　more　serious　actions；　had　confessed；　and　returned　from　penance；　he　reproached　them　no　more。　〃I　have　known；　indeed；〃　says　he；　〃I　have　known　but　now　I　know　not；　（he　spake　this　as　it　were　a　reproach　to　others）；　and　I　hold　my　tongue；　for　what　I　know；　I　know　not。〃　　From　which　it　appears；　that　after　confession　and　penance；　the　demons　either　do　not　know　the　sins　of　men；　or　do　not　know　them　to　their　injury　and　disgrace；　because；　as　Augustine　says；　〃If　man　conceals；　God　discovers；　if　man　discovers；　God　conceals。〃

Some　people　are　surprised　that　lightning　often　strikes　our　places　of　worship；　and　damages　the　crosses　and　images　of　him　who　was　crucified；　before　the　eyes　of　one　who　seeth　all　things；　and　permits　these　circumstances　to　happen；　to　whom　I　shall　only　answer　with　Ovid；


〃Summa　petit　livor；　perflant　altissima　venti；　Summa　petunt　dextra　fulmina　missa　Jovis。〃


On　the　same　subject；　Peter　Abelard；　in　the　presence　of　Philip　king　of　France；　is　said　to　have　answered　a　Jew；　who　urged　these　and　similar　things　against　the　faith。　　〃It　is　true　that　the　lightning　descending　from　on　high；　directs　itself　most　commonly　to　the　highest　object　on　earth；　and