an； named Caradoc； led a pious and recluse life at St。 Ismael； in the province of Ros； ｛107｝ to whom the boy was often sent by his parents with provisions； and he so ingratiated himself in the eyes of the good man； that he very often promised him； together with his blessing； the portion of all his brothers； and the paternal inheritance。 It happened that Richard； being overtaken by a violent storm of rain； turned aside to the hermit's cell； and being unable to get his hounds near him； either by calling； coaxing； or by offering them food； the holy man smiled； and making a gentle motion with his hand； brought them all to him immediately。 In process of time； when Caradoc ｛108｝ had happily completed the course of his existence； Tankard； father of Richard； violently detained his body； which by his last will he had bequeathed to the church of St。 David； but being suddenly seized with a severe illness； he revoked his command。 When this had happened to him a second and a third time； and the corpse at last was suffered to be conveyed away； and was proceeding over the sands of Niwegal towards St。 David's； a prodigious fall of rain inundated the whole country； but the conductors of the sacred burthen； on coming forth from their shelter； found the silken pall； with which the bier was covered； dry and uninjured by the storm； and thus the miraculous body of Caradoc was brought into the church of St。 Andrew and St。 David； and with due solemnity deposited in the left aisle； near the altar of the holy proto…martyr Stephen。
It is worthy of remark； that these people （the Flemings）； from the inspection of the right shoulders of rams； which have been stripped of their flesh； and not roasted； but boiled； can discover future events； or those which have passed and remained long unknown。 ｛109｝ They know； also； what is transpiring at a distant place； by a wonderful art； and a prophetic kind of spirit。 They declare； also； by means of signs； the undoubted symptoms of approaching peace and war； murders and fires； domestic adulteries； the state of the king； his life and death。 It happened in our time； that a man of those parts； whose name was William Mangunel； a person of high rank； and excelling all others in the aforesaid art； had a wife big with child by her own husband's grandson。 Well aware of the fact； he ordered a ram from his own flock to be sent to his wife； as a present from her neighbour； which was carried to the cook； and dressed。 At dinner； the husband purposely gave the shoulder…bone of the ram； properly cleaned； to his wife； who was also well skilled in this art； for her examination； when； having for a short time examined the secret marks； she smiled； and threw the oracle down on the table。 Her husband； dissembling； earnestly demanded the cause of her smiling； and the explanation of the matter。 Overcome by his entreaties； she answered： 〃The man to whose fold this ram belongs； has an adulterous wife； at this time pregnant by the commission of incest with his own grandson。〃 The husband； with a sorrowful and dejected countenance； 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 we