hed 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 which hung over the spring of a neighbouring well； called the fountain of St。 Bernacus； ｛131｝ he would find there a golden torques。 Obeying the admonition on the third day； he received； from a viper； a deadly wound in his finger； but as it appears that many treasures have been discovered through dreams； it seems to me probable that； with respect to rumours； in the same manner as to dreams； some ought； and some ought not； to be believed。
I shall not pass over in silence the circumstance which occurred in the principal castle of Cemmeis at Lanhever； ｛132｝ in our days。 Rhys； son of Gruffydd； by the instigation of his son Gruffydd； a cunning and artful man； took away by force； from William； son of Martin （de Tours）； his son…in…law； the castle of Lanhever； notwithstanding he had solemnly sworn； by the most precious relics； that his indemnity and security should be faithfully maintained； and； contrary to his word and oath； gave it to his son Gruffydd； but since 〃A sordid prey has not a good ending；〃 the Lord； who by the mouth of his prophet； exclaims 〃Vengeance is mine； and I will repay！〃 ordained that the castle should be taken away from the contriver of this wicked plot； Gruffydd； and bestowed upon the man in the world he most hated； his brother Malgon。 Rhys； also； about two years afterwards； intending to disinherit his own daughter； and two granddaughters and grandsons； by a singular instance of divine vengeance； was taken prisoner by his sons in battle； and confined in this same castle； thus justly suffering the greatest disgrace and confusion in the very place where he had perpetrated an act of the most consummate baseness。 I think it also worthy to be remembered； that at the time this misfortune befell him； he had concealed in his possession； at Dinevor； the collar of St。 Canauc of Brecknock； for which； by divine vengeance； he merited to be taken prisoner and confined。
We slept that night in the monastery of St。 Dogmael； where； as well as on the next day at Aberteivi； we were handsomely entertained by prince Rhys。 On the Cemmeis side of the river； not far from the bridge； the people of the neighbourhood being assembled together； and Rhys and his two sons； Malgon and Gruffydd； being present； the word of the Lord was persuasively preached both by the archbishop and the archdeacon； and many were induced to take the cross； one of whom was an only son； and the sole comfort of his mother； far advanced in years； who； steadfastly gazing on him； as if inspired by the Deity； uttered these words：… 〃O； most beloved Lord Jesus Christ； I return thee hearty thanks for having conferred on me the blessing of bringing forth a son； whom thou mayest think worthy of thy service。〃 Another woman at Aberteivi； of a very different way of thinking； held her husband fast by his cloak and girdle； and publicly and audaciously prevented him from going to the archbishop to take the cross； but； three nights afterwards； she heard a terrible voice； saying； 〃Thou hast taken away my servant from me； therefore what thou most lovest shall be taken away from thee。〃 On her relating this vision to her husband； they were struck with mutual terror and amazement； and on falling asleep again； she unhappily overlaid her little boy； whom； with more affection than prudence； she had taken to bed with her。 The husband； relating to the bishop of the diocese both the vision and its fatal prediction； took the cross； which his wife spontaneously sewed on her husband's arm。
Near the head of the bridge where the sermons were delivered； the people immediately marked out the site for a chapel； ｛133｝ on a verdant plain； as a memorial of so great an event； intending that the altar should be placed on the spot where the archbishop stood while addressing the multitude； and it is well known that many miracles （the enumeration of which would be too tedious to relate） were performed on the crowds of sick people who resorted hither from different parts of the country。
CHAPTER III
Of the river Teivi； Cardigan； and Emelyn
The noble river Teivi flows her