notion of its having swallowed up an ancient city is not yet quite exploded by the natives； and some will even attribute the name of Loventium to it； which is with much greater certainty fixed at Llanio…isau； between Lampeter and Tregaron； in Cardiganshire； on the northern banks of the river Teivi； where there are very considerable and undoubted remains of a large Roman city。 The legend of the town at the bottom of the lake is at the same time very old。
｛55｝ That chain of mountains which divides Brecknockshire from Caermarthenshire； over which the turnpike road formerly passed from Trecastle to Llandovery； and from which the river Usk derives its source。
｛56｝ This mountain is now called； by way of eminence； the Van； or the height； but more commonly； by country people； Bannau Brycheinog； or the Brecknock heights； alluding to its two peaks。 Our author； Giraldus； seems to have taken his account of the spring； on the summit of this mountain； from report； rather than from ocular testimony。 I （Sir R。 Colt Hoare） examined the summits of each peak very attentively； and could discern no spring whatever。 The soil is peaty and very boggy。 On the declivity of the southern side of the mountain； and at no considerable distance from the summit； is a spring of very fine water； which my guide assured me never failed。 On the north…west side of the mountain is a round pool； in which possibly trout may have been sometimes found； but； from the muddy nature of its waters； I do not think it very probable； from this pool issues a small brook； which falls precipitously down the sides of the mountain； and pursuing its course through a narrow and well… wooded valley； forms a pretty cascade near a rustic bridge which traverses it。 I am rather inclined think； that Giraldus confounded in his account the spring and the pool together。
｛57｝ The first of these are now styled the Black Mountains； of which the Gadair Fawr is the principal； and is only secondary to the Van in height。 The Black Mountains are an extensive range of hills rising to the east of Talgarth； in the several parishes of Talgarth； Llaneliew； and Llanigorn； in the county of Brecknock； and connected with the heights of Ewyas。 The most elevated point is called Y Gadair； and； excepting the Brecknock Van （the Cadair Arthur of Giraldus）； is esteemed the highest mountain in South Wales。 The mountains of Ewyas are those now called the Hatterel Hills； rising above the monastery of Llanthoni； and joining the Black Mountains of Talgarth at Capel y Ffin； or the chapel upon the boundary； near which the counties of Hereford； Brecknock； and Monmouth form a point of union。 But English writers have generally confounded all distinction； calling them indiscriminately the Black Mountains； or the Hatterel Hills。
｛58｝ If we consider the circumstances of this chapter； it will appear very evidently； that the vale of Ewyas made no part of the actual Itinerary。
｛59｝ Landewi Nant Hodeni； or the church of St。 David on the Hodni； is now better known by the name of Llanthoni abbey。 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。