itinerary of archibishop-第24章
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。 A small and rustic chapel； dedicated to St。 David； at first occupied the site of this abbey； in the year 1103； William de Laci； a Norman knight； having renounced the pleasures of the world； retired to this sequestered spot； where he was joined in his austere profession by Ernicius； chaplain to queen Maude。 In the year 1108； these hermits erected a mean church in the place of their hermitage； which was consecrated by Urban； bishop of Llandaff； and Rameline； bishop of Hereford； and dedicated to St。 John the Baptist： having afterward received very considerable benefactions from Hugh de Laci； and gained the consent of Anselm； archbishop of Canterbury； these same hermits founded a magnificent monastery for Black canons； of the order of St。 Augustine； which they immediately filled with forty monks collected from the monasteries of the Holy Trinity in London； Merton in Surrey； and Colchester in Essex。 They afterwards removed to Gloucester； where they built a church and spacious monastery； which； after the name of their former residence； they called Llanthoni； it was consecrated A。D。 1136； by Simon； bishop of Worcester； and Robert Betun bishop of Hereford； and dedicated to the Virgin Mary。
｛60｝ The titles of mother and daughter are here applied to the mother church in Wales； and the daughter near Gloucester。
｛61｝ William of Wycumb； the fourth prior of Llanthoni； succeeded to Robert de Braci； who was obliged to quit the monastery； on account of the hostile molestation it received from the Welsh。 To him succeeded Clement； the sub…prior； and to Clement； Roger de Norwich。
｛62｝ Walter de Laci came into England with William the Conqueror； and left three sons； Roger； Hugh； and Walter。 Hugh de Laci was the lord of Ewyas； and became afterwards the founder of the convent of Llanthoni； his elder brother； Robert； held also four caracutes of land within the limits of the castle of Ewyas； which king William had bestowed on Walter； his father； but joining in rebellion against William Rufus； he was banished the kingdom； and all his lands were given to his brother Hugh； who died without issue。
｛63｝ This anecdote is thus related by the historian Hollinshed： 〃Hereof it came on a time； whiles the king sojourned in France about his warres； which he held against king Philip； there came unto him a French priest； whose name was Fulco； who required the king in anywise to put from him three abominable daughters which he had； and to bestow them in marriage； least God punished him for them。 'Thou liest； hypocrite （said the king）； to thy verie face； for all the world knoweth I have not one daughter。' 'I lie not （said the priest）； for thou hast three daughters： one of them is called Pride； the second Covetousness； and the third Lecherie。' With that the king called to him his lords and barons； and said to them； 'This hypocrite heere hath required me to marry awaie my three daughters； which （as he saith） I cherish； nourish； foster； and mainteine； that is to say； Pride； Covetousness； and Lecherie： and now that I have found out necessarie and fit husbands for them； I will do it with effect； and seeks no more delaies。 I therefore bequeath my pride to the high…minded Templars and Hospitallers； which are as proud as Lucifer himselfe； my covetousness I give unto the White Monks； otherwise called of the Cisteaux order； for they covet the divell and all； my lecherie I commit to the prelats of the church； who have most pleasure and felicitie therein。'〃
｛64｝ This small residence of the archdeacon was at Landeu； a place which has been described before： the author takes this opportunity of hinting at his love of literature； religion； and mediocrity。
｛65｝ The last chapter having been wholly digressive； we must now recur back to Brecknock； or rather； perhaps； to our author's residence at Landeu； where we left him； and from thence accompany him to Abergavenny。 It appears that from Landeu he took the road to Talgarth； a small village a little to the south east of the road leading from Brecknock to Hay； from whence； climbing up a steep ascent； now called Rhiw Cwnstabl； or the Constable's ascent； he crossed the black mountains of Llaneliew to the source of the Gronwy…fawr river； which rises in that eminence； and pursues its rapid course into the Vale of Usk。 From thence a rugged and uneven track descends suddenly into a narrow glen； formed by the torrent of the Gronwy； between steep； impending mountains； bleak and barren for the first four or five miles； but afterwards wooded to the very margin of the stream。 A high ledge of grassy hills on the left hand； of which the principal is called the Bal； or Y Fal； divides this formidable pass （the 〃Malus passus〃 of Giraldus） from the vale of Ewyas； in which stands the noble monastery of Llanthoni； 〃montibus suis inclusum；〃 encircled by its mountains。 The road at length emerging from this deep recess of Coed Grono； or Cwm Gronwy； the vale of the river Gronwy； crosses the river at a place called Pont Escob； or the Bishop's bridge； probably so called from this very circumstance of its having been now passed by the archbishop and his suite； and is continued through the forest of Moel； till it joins the Hereford road； about two miles from Abergavenny。 This formidable defile is at least nine miles in length。
｛66｝ In the vale of the Gronwy； about a mile above Pont Escob； there is a wood called Coed Dial； or the Wood of Revenge。 Here again； by the modern name of the place； we are enabled to fix the very spot on which Richard de Clare was murdered。 The Welsh Chronicle informs us； that 〃in 1135； Morgan ap Owen； a man of considerable quality and estate in Wales； remembering the wrong and injury he had received at the hands of Richard Fitz…Gilbert； slew him； together with his son Gilbert。〃 The first of this great family； Richard de Clare； was the eldest son of Gislebert； surnamed Crispin； earl of Brion； in Normandy。 This Richard Fitz…Gilbert came into England with William the Conqueror； and received from him great advancement in honour and possessions。 On the death of the Conqueror； favouring the cause of Robert Curthose； he rebelled against William Rufus； but when that king appeared in arms before his castle at Tunbridge； he submitted； after which； adhering to Rufus against Robert； in 1091； he was taken prisoner； and shortly after the death of king Henry I。； was assassinated； on his journey through Wales； in the manner already related。
｛67｝ Hamelin； son of Dru de Baladun； who came into England with William the Conqueror； was the first lord of Over…Went； and built a castle at Abergavenny； on the same spot where； according to ancient tradition； a giant called Agros had erected a fortress。 He died in the reign of William Rufus； and was buried in the priory which he had founded at Abergavenny； having no issue； he gave the aforesaid castle and lands to Brian de Insula； or Brian de Wallingford； his nephew； by his sister Lucia。 The enormous excesses mentioned by Giraldus； as having been perpetrated in this part of Wales during his time； seem to allude to a transaction that took place in the castle of Abergavenny； in the year 1176； which is thus related by two historians； Matthew Paris and Hollinshed。 〃A。D。 1176； The same yeare； William de Breause having got a great number of Welshmen into the castle of Abergavennie； under a colourable pretext of communication； proposed this ordinance to be received of them with a corporall oth； 'That no traveller by the waie amongst them should beare any bow； or other unlawful weapon；' which oth； when they refused to take； because they would not stand to that ordinance； he condemned them all to death。 This deceit he used towards them； in revenge of the death of his uncle Henrie of Hereford； whom upon Easter…even before they had through treason murthered； and were now acquited was the like againe。〃 … Hollinshed； tom。 ii。 p。 95。
｛68｝ Landinegat； or the church of St。 Dingad； is now better known by the name of Dingatstow； or Dynastow； a village near Monmouth。
｛69｝ ＇For the end of William de Braose； see footnote 34。＇
｛70｝ Leland divides this district into Low； Middle； and High Venteland； extending from Chepstow to Newport on one side； and to Abergavenny on the other； the latter of which； he says； 〃maketh the cumpace of Hye Venteland。〃 He adds； 〃The soyle of al Venteland is of a darke reddische yerth ful of slaty stones； and other greater of the same color。 The countrey is also sumwhat montayneus； and welle replenishid with woodes； also very fertyle of corne； but men there study more to pastures； the which be well inclosed。〃 … Leland； Itin。 tom。 v。 p。 6。 Ancient Gwentland is now comprised within the county of Monmouth。
｛71｝ William de Salso Marisco； who succeeded to the bishopric of Llandaff； A。D。 1185； and presided over that see during the time of Baldwin's visitation； in 1188。
｛72｝ Alexander was the fourth archdeacon of the see of Bangor。
｛73｝ Once at Usk； then at Caerleon； and afterwards on entering the town of Newport。
｛74｝ Gouldcliffe； or Goldcliff； is situated a few miles S。E。 of Newport； on the banks of the Severn。 In the year 1113； Robert de Candos founded and endowed the church of Goldclive； and； by the advice of king Henry I。； gave it to the abbey of Bec； in Normandy； its religious establishment consisted of a prior and twelve monks of the order of St。 Benedict。
｛75｝ ＇Geoffrey of Monmouth。＇
｛76｝ The Cistercian abbey here alluded to was known by the several names of Ystrat Marchel； Strata Marcella； Alba domus de Stratmargel； Vallis Crucis； or Pola； and was situated between Guilsfield and Welshpool； in Montgomeryshire。 Authors differ in opinion about its original founder。 Leland attributes it to Owen Cyveilioc； prince of Powys； and Dugdale to Madoc； the son of Gruffydh； giving for his authority the original grants and endowments of this abbey。 According to Tanner； about the beginning of the reign of king Edward III。； the Welsh monks were removed from hence into English abbeys； and English monks were placed here； and the abbey was made subject to the visitation of the abbot and convent of Buildwas； in Shropshire。
｛77｝ Cardiff； i。e。； the fortress on the river Taf。
｛78｝ Gwentluc … so called from Gwent； the name of the province； and llug； open； to distinguish it from the upper parts of Wentland； is an extensive tract of flat； marshy ground； reaching from Newport to the shores of the river Severn。
｛79｝ Nant Pencarn； or the brook of Pencarn。 … After a very attentive examination of the country round Newport； by natives of that place； and from the information I have received on the subject； I am inclined to think that the river here alluded to was the Ebwy； which flows about a mile and a half south of Newport。 Before the new turnpike road and bridge were made across Tredegar Park； the old road led to a ford lower down the river； and may still be travelled as far as Cardiff； and was probably the ford mentioned in the text； as three old farm…houses in its neighbourhood still retain the names of Great Pencarn； Little Pencarn； and Middle Pencarn。
｛80｝ Robert Fitz…Hamon； earl of Astremeville； in Normandy； came into England with William the Conqueror； and； by the gift of William Rufus； obtained the honour of Gloucester。 He was wounded wit
