The first of these Orders,at a time when there was a deficiency in grain,with a laudable charity,not only gave away their flocks and herds,but resigned to the poor one of the two dishes with which they were always contented.But in these our days,in order to remove this stain,it is ordained by the Cistercians,"That in future neither farms nor pastures shall be purchased;and that they shall be satisfied with those alone which have been freely and unconditionally bestowed upon them."This Order,therefore,being satisfied more than any other with humble mediocrity,and,if not wholly,yet in a great degree checking their ambition;and though placed in a worldly situation,yet avoiding,as much as possible,its contagion;neither notorious for gluttony or drunkenness,for luxury or lust;is fearful and ashamed of incurring public scandal,as will be more fully explained in the book we mean (by the grace of God)to write concerning the ecclesiastical Orders.
In these temperate regions I have obtained (according to the usual expression)a place of dignity,but no great omen of future pomp or riches;and possessing a small residence {64}near the castle of Brecheinoc,well adapted to literary pursuits,and to the contemplation of eternity,I envy not the riches of Croesus;happy and contented with that mediocrity,which I prize far beyond all the perishable and transitory things of this world.But let us return to our subject.
CHAPTER IV
The journey by Coed Grono and Abergevenni From thence {65}we proceeded through the narrow,woody tract called the bad pass of Coed Grono,leaving the noble monastery of Lanthoni,inclosed by its mountains,on our left.The castle of Abergevenni is so called from its situation at the confluence of the river Gevenni with the Usk.
It happened a short time after the death of king Henry I.that Richard de Clare,a nobleman of high birth,and lord of Cardiganshire,passed this way on his journey from England into Wales,accompanied by Brian de Wallingford,lord of this province,and many men-at-arms.At the passage of Coed Grono,{66}and at the entrance into the wood,he dismissed him and his attendants,though much against their will,and proceeded on his journey unarmed;from too great a presumption of security,preceded only by a minstrel and a singer,one accompanying the other on the fiddle.The Welsh awaiting his arrival,with Iorwerth,brother of Morgan of Caerleon,at their head,and others of his family,rushed upon him unawares from the thickets,and killed him and many of his followers.Thus it appears how incautious and neglectful of itself is too great presumption;for fear teaches foresight and caution in prosperity,but audacity is precipitate,and inconsiderate rashness will not await the advice of the leader.
A sermon having been delivered at Abergevenni,{67}and many persons converted to the cross,a certain nobleman of those parts,named Arthenus,came to the archbishop,who was proceeding towards the castle of Usk,and humbly begged pardon for having neglected to meet him sooner.Being questioned whether he would take the cross,he replied,"That ought not be done without the advice of his friends."The archbishop then asked him,"Are you not going to consult your wife?"To which he modestly answered,with a downcast look,"When the work of a man is to be undertaken,the counsel of a woman ought not to be asked;"and instantly received the cross from the archbishop.
We leave to others the relation of those frequent and cruel excesses which in our times have arisen amongst the inhabitants of these parts,against the governors of castles,and the vindictive retaliations of the governors against the natives.But king Henry II.was the true author,and Ranulf Poer,sheriff of Hereford,the instrument,of the enormous cruelties and slaughter perpetrated here in our days,which I thought better to omit,lest bad men should be induced to follow the example;for although temporary advantage may seem to arise from a base cause,yet,by the balance of a righteous judge,the punishment of wickedness may be deferred,though not totally avoided,according to the words of the poet,-"Non habet eventus sordida praeda bonos."
