itinerary of archibishop-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　consecrated　by　his　suffragans；　without　any　profession　or　submission　being　made　to　any　other　church。

From　the　time　of　Sampson　to　that　of　king　Henry　I。；　nineteen　bishops　presided　over　this　see：　　Ruelin；　Rodherch；　Elguin；　Lunuerd；　Nergu；　Sulhidir；　Eneuris；　Morgeneu；　who　was　the　first　bishop　of　St。　David's　who　ate　flesh；　and　was　there　killed　by　pirates；　and　he　appeared　to　a　certain　bishop　in　Ireland　on　the　night　of　his　death；　shewing　his　wounds；　and　saying；　〃Because　I　ate　flesh；　I　am　become　flesh。〃　Nathan；　Ievan　（who　was　bishop　only　one　night）；　Argustel；　Morgenueth；　Ervin；　Tramerin；　Joseph；　Bleithud；　Sulghein；　Abraham；　Wilfred。　Since　the　subjugation　of　Wales　to　the　present　time；　three　only　have　held　the　see：　　in　the　reign　of　king　Henry　I。；　Bernard；　in　the　reign　of　king　Stephen；　David　II。；　and　in　the　reign　of　king　Henry　II。；　Peter；　a　monk　of　the　order　of　Cluny；　who　all；　by　the　king's　mandate；　were　consecrated　at　Canterbury；　as　also　Geoffrey；　prior　and　canon　of　Lanthoni；　who　succeeded　them　in　the　reign　of　king　John；　and　was　preferred　to　this　see　by　the　interest　of　Hubert；　archbishop　of　Canterbury；　and　afterwards　consecrated　by　him。　　We　do　not　hear　that　either　before　or　after　that　subjugation；　any　archbishop　of　Canterbury　ever　entered　the　borders　of　Wales；　except　Baldwin；　a　monk　of　the　Cistercian　order；　abbot　of　Ford；　and　afterwards　bishop　of　Worcester；　who　traversed　that　rough；　inaccessible；　and　remote　country　with　a　laudable　devotion　for　the　service　of　the　cross；　and　as　a　token　of　investiture；　celebrated　mass　in　all　the　cathedral　churches。　　So　that　till　lately　the　see　of　St。　David's　owed　no　subjection　to　that　of　Canterbury；　as　may　be　seen　in　the　English　History　of　Bede；　who　says　that　〃Augustine；　bishop　of　the　Angles；　after　the　conversion　of　king　Ethelfred　and　the　English　people；　called　together　the　bishops　of　Wales　on　the　confines　of　the　West　Saxons；　as　legate　of　the　apostolic　see。　　When　the　seven　bishops　｛122｝　appeared；　Augustine；　sitting　in　his　chair；　with　Roman　pride；　did　not　rise　up　at　their　entrance。　　Observing　his　haughtiness　（after　the　example　of　a　holy　anchorite　of　their　nation）；　they　immediately　returned；　and　treated　him　and　his　statutes　with　contempt；　publicly　proclaiming　that　they　would　not　acknowledge　him　for　their　archbishop；　alleging；　that　if　he　now　refused　to　rise　up　to　us；　how　much　more　will　he　hold　us　in　contempt；　if　we　submit　to　be　subject　to　him？〃　　That　there　were　at　that　time　seven　bishops　in　Wales；　and　now　only　four；　may　be　thus　accounted　for；　because　perhaps　there　were　formerly　more　cathedral　churches　in　Wales　than　there　are　at　present；　or　the　extent　of　Wales　might　have　been　greater。　　Amongst　so　many　bishops　thus　deprived　of　their　dignity；　Bernard；　the　first　French　＇i。e。　Norman＇　bishop　of　St。　David's；　alone　defended　the　rights　of　his　church　in　a　public　manner；　and　after　many　expensive　and　vexatious　appeals　to　the　court　of　Rome；　would　not　have　reclaimed　them　in　vain；　if　false　witnesses　had　not　publicly　appeared　at　the　council　of　Rheims；　before　pope　Eugenius；　and　testified　that　he　had　made　profession　and　submission　to　the　see　of　Canterbury。　　Supported　by　three　auxiliaries；　the　favour　and　intimacy　of　king　Henry；　a　time　of　peace；　and　consequent　plenty；　he　boldly　hazarded　the　trial　of　so　great　a　cause；　and　so　confident　was　he　of　his　just　right；　that　he　sometimes　caused　the　cross　to　be　carried　before　him　during　his　journey　through　Wales。

Bernard；　however　commendable　in　some　particulars；　was　remarkable　for　his　insufferable　pride　and　ambition。　　For　as　soon　as　he　became　courtier　and　a　creature　of　the　king's；　panting　after　English　riches　by　means　of　translation；　（a　malady　under　which　all　the　English　sent　hither　seem　to　labour）；　he　alienated　many　of　the　lands　of　his　church　without　either　advantage　or　profit；　and　disposed　of　others　so　indiscreetly　and　improvidently；　that　when　ten　carucates　｛123｝　of　land　were　required　for　military　purposes；　he　would；　with　a　liberal　hand；　give　twenty　or　thirty；　and　of　the　canonical　rites　and　ordinances　which　he　had　miserably　and　unhappily　instituted　at　St。　David's；　he　would　hardly　make　use　of　one；　at　most　only　of　two　or　three。　　With　respect　to　the　two　sees　of　Canterbury　and　St。　David's；　I　will　briefly　explain　my　opinion　of　their　present　state。　　On　one　side；　you　will　see　royal　favour；　affluence　of　riches；　numerous　and　opulent　suffragan　bishops；　great　abundance　of　learned　men　and　well　skilled　in　the　laws；　on　the　other　side；　a　deficiency　of　all　these　things；　and　a　total　want　of　justice；　on　which　account　the　recovery　of　its　ancient　rights　will　not　easily　be　effected；　but　by　means　of　those　great　changes　and　vicissitudes　which　kingdoms　experience　from　various　and　unexpected　events。

The　spot　where　the　church　of　St。　David's　stands；　and　was　founded　in　honour　of　the　apostle　St。　Andrew；　is　called　the　Vale　of　Roses；　which　ought　rather　to　be　named　the　vale　of　marble；　since　it　abounds　with　one；　and　by　no　means　with　the　other。　　The　river　Alun；　a　muddy　and　unproductive　rivulet；　｛124｝　bounding　the　churchyard　on　the　northern　side；　flows　under　a　marble　stone；　called　Lechlavar；　which　has　been　polished　by　continual　treading　of　passengers；　and　concerning　the　name；　size；　and　quality　of　which　we　have　treated　in　our　Vaticinal　History。　｛125｝　　Henry　II。；　on　his　return　from　Ireland；　is　said　to　have　passed　over　this　stone；　before　he　devoutly　entered　the　church　of　St。　Andrew　and　St。　David。　　Having　left　the　following　garrisons　in　Ireland；　namely；　Hugh　de　Lacy　（to　whom　he　had　given　Meath　in　fee）　in　Dublin；　with　twenty　knights；　Fitz…Stephen　and　Maurice　Fitzgerald；　with　other　twenty；　Humphrey　de　Bohun；　Robert　Fitz…Bernard；　and　Hugh　de　Grainville　at　Waterford；　with　forty；　and　William　Fitz…Adelm　and　Philip　de　Braose　at　Wexford；　with　twenty；　on　the　second　day　of　Easter；　the　king　embarked　at　sunrise　on　board　a　vessel　in　the　outward　port　of　Wexford；　and；　with　a　south　wind；　landed　about　noon　in　the　harbour　of　Menevia。　　Proceeding　towards　the　shrine　of　St。　David；　habited　like　a　pilgrim；　and　leaning　on　a　staff；　he　met　at　the　white　gate　a　procession　of　the　canons　of　the　church　coming　forth　to　receive　him　with　due　honour　and　reverence。　　As　the　procession　solemnly　moved　along；　a　Welsh　woman　threw　herself　at　the　king's　feet；　and　made　a　complaint　against　the　bishop　of　the　place；　which　was　explained　to　the　king　by　an　interpreter。　　The　woman；　immediate　attention　not　being　paid　to　her　petition；　with　violent　gesticulation；　and　a　loud　and　impertinent　voice；　exclaimed　repeatedly；　〃Revenge　us　this　day；　Lechlavar！　revenge　us　and　the　nation　in　this　man！〃　　On　being　chidden　and　driven　away　by　those　who　understood　the　British　language；　she　more　vehemently　and　forcibly　vociferated　in　the　like　manner；　alluding　to　the　vulgar　fiction　and　proverb　of　Merlin；　〃That　a　king　of　England；　and　conqueror　of　Ireland；　should　be　wounded　in　that　country　by　a　man　with　a　red　hand；　and　die　upon　Lechlavar；　on　his　return　through　Menevia。〃　　This　was　the　name　of　that　stone　which　serves　as　a　bridge　over　the　river　Alun；　which　divides　the　cemetery　from　the　northern　side　of　the　church。　　It　was　a　beautiful　piece　of　marble；　polished　by　the　feet　of　passengers；　ten　feet　in　length；　six　in　breadth；　and　one　in　thickness。　　Lechlavar　signifies　in　the　British　language　a　talking　stone。　｛126｝　　There　was　an　ancient　tradition　respecting　this　stone；　that　at　a　time　when　a　corpse　was　carried　over　it　for　interment；　it　broke　forth　into　speech；　and　by　the　effort　cracked　in　the　middle；　which　fissure　is　still　visible；　and　on　account　of　this　barbarous　and　ancient　superstition；　the　corpses　are　no　longer　brought　over　it。　　The　king；　who　had　heard　the　prophecy；　approaching　the　stone；　stopped　for　a　short　time　at　the　foot　of　it；　and；　looking　earnestly　at　it；　boldly　passed　over；　then；　turning　round；　and　looking　towards　the　stone；　thus　indignantly　inveighed　against　the　prophet：　　〃Who　will　hereafter　give　credit　to　the　lying　Merlin？〃　　A　person　standing　by；　and　observing　what　had　passed；　in　order　to　vindicate　the　injury　done　to　the　prophet；　replied；　with　a　loud　voice；　〃Thou　art　not　that　king　by　whom　Ireland　is　to　be　conquered；　or　of　whom　Merlin　prophesied！〃　　The　king　then　entering　the　church　founded　in　honour　of　St。　Andrew　and　St。　David；　devoutly　offered　up　his　prayers；　and　heard　mass　performed　by　a　chaplain；　whom　alone；　out　of　so　large　a　body　of　priests；　Providence　seems　to　have　kept　fasting　till　that　hour；　for　this　very　purpose。　　Having　supped　at　St。　David's；　the　king　departed　for　the　castle　of　Haverford；　distant　about　twelve　miles。　　It　appears　very　remarkable　to　me；　that　in　our　days；　when　David　II。　presided　over　the　see；　the　river　should　have　flowed　with　wine；　and　that　the　spring；　called　Pistyll　Dewi；　or　the　PIPE　of　David；　from　its　flowing　through　a　pipe　into　the　eastern　side　of　the　churchyard；　should　have　run　with　milk。　　The　birds　also　of　that　place；　called　jackdaws；　from　being　so　long　unmolested　by　the　clergy　of　the　church；　were　grown　so　tame　and　domesticated；　as　not　to　be　afraid　of　persons　dressed　in　black。　　In　clear　weather　the　mountains　of　Ireland　are　visible　from　hence；　and　the　passage　over　the　Irish　sea　may　be　performed　in　one　short　day；　on　which　account　William；　the　son　of　William　the　Bastard；　and　the　second　of　the　Norman　kings　in　England；　who　was　called　Rufus；　and　who　had　penetrated　far　into　Wales；　on　seeing　Ireland　from　these　rocks；　is　reported　to　have　said；　〃I　will　summon　hither　all　the　ships　of　my　realm；　and　with　them　make　a　bridge　to　attack　that　country。〃　　Which　speech　being　related　to　Murchard；　prince　of　Leinster；　he　paused　awhile；　and　answered；　〃Did　the　king　add　to　this　mighty　threat；　If　God　please？〃　and　being　informed　that　he　had　made　no　mention　of　God　in　his　speech；　rejoicing　in　such　a　prognostic；　he　replied；　〃Since　that　man　trusts　in　human；　not　divine　power；　I　fear　not　his　coming。〃



CHAPTER　II



Of　the　journey　by　Cemmeis　…　the　monastery　of　St。　Dogmael


The　archbishop　having　celebrated　mass　early　in　the　morning　before　the　high　altar　of　the　church　of　St。　David；　and　enjoined　to　the　archdeacon　（Giraldus）　the　office　of　preaching　to　the　people；　hastened　through　Cemmeis　｛127｝　to　meet　prince　Rhys　at　Aberteive。　｛128｝　　Two　circumstances　occurred　in　the　province　of　Cemmeis；　the　one　in　our　own　time；　the　other　a　little　before；　which　I　think　right　not　to　pass　over　in　silence。　　In　our　time；　a　young　man；　native　of　this　country；　during　a　severe　illness；　suffered　as　violent　a　persecution　from　toads；　｛129｝　as　if　the　reptiles　of　the　whole　province　had　come　to　him　by　agreement；　and　though　destroyed　by　his　nurses　and　friends；　they　increased　again　on　all　sides　in　infinite　numbers；　like　hydras'　heads。　　His　attendants；　both　friends　and　strangers；　being　wearied　out；　he　was　drawn　up　in　a　kind　of　bag；　into　a　high　tree；　stripped　of　its　leaves；　and　shred；　nor　was　he　there　secure　from　his　venomous　enemies；　for　they　crept　up　the　tree　in　great　numbers；　and　consumed　him　even　to　the　very　bones。　　The　young　man's　name　was　Sisillus　Esceir…hir；　that　is；　Sisillus　Long　Leg。　　It　is　also　recorded　that　by　the　hidden　but　never　unjust　will　of　God；　another　man　suffered　a　similar　persecution　from　rats。　　In　the　same　province；　during　the　reign　of　king　Henry　I。；　a　rich　man；　who　had　a　residence　on　the　northern　side　of　the　Preseleu　mountains；　｛130｝　was　warned　for　three　successive　nights；　by　dreams；　that　if　he　put　his　hand　under　a　stone