A Spring Of Water Rises
On The Summit Of This Mountain, Deep, But Of A Square Shape, Like A
Well, And Although No Stream Runs From It, Trout Are Said To Be
Sometimes Found In It.
Being thus sheltered on the south by high mountains, the cooler
breezes protect this district from the heat of the sun, and, by
their natural salubrity, render the climate most temperate.
Towards
the east are the mountains of Talgarth and Ewyas. {57} The natives
of these parts, actuated by continual enmities and implacable
hatred, are perpetually engaged in bloody contests. But we leave to
others to describe the great and enormous excesses, which in our
time have been here committed, with regard to marriages, divorces,
and many other circumstances of cruelty and oppression.
CHAPTER III
Ewyas and Llanthoni
In the deep vale of Ewyas, {58} which is about an arrow-shot broad,
encircled on all sides by lofty mountains, stands the church of
Saint John the Baptist, covered with lead, and built of wrought
stone; and, considering the nature of the place, not unhandsomely
constructed, on the very spot where the humble chapel of David, the
archbishop, had formerly stood decorated only with moss and ivy. A
situation truly calculated for religion, and more adapted to
canonical discipline, than all the monasteries of the British isle.
It was founded by two hermits, in honour of the retired life, far
removed from the bustle of mankind, in a solitary vale watered by
the river Hodeni. From Hodeni it was called Lanhodeni, for Lan
signifies an ecclesiastical place. This derivation may appear far-
fetched, for the name of the place, in Welsh, is Nanthodeni. Nant
signifies a running stream, from whence this place is still called
by the inhabitants Landewi Nanthodeni, {59} or the church of Saint
David upon the river Hodeni. The English therefore corruptly call
it Lanthoni, whereas it should either be called Nanthodeni, that is,
the brook of the Hodeni, or Lanhodeni, the church upon the Hodeni.
Owing to its mountainous situation, the rains are frequent, the
winds boisterous, and the clouds in winter almost continual. The
air, though heavy, is healthy; and diseases are so rare, that the
brotherhood, when worn out by long toil and affliction during their
residence with the daughter, retiring to this asylum, and to their
mother's {60} lap, soon regain their long-wished-for health. For as
my Topographical History of Ireland testifies, in proportion as we
proceed to the eastward, the face of the sky is more pure and
subtile, and the air more piercing and inclement; but as we draw
nearer to the westward, the air becomes more cloudy, but at the same
time is more temperate and healthy. Here the monks, sitting in
their cloisters, enjoying the fresh air, when they happen to look up
towards the horizon, behold the tops of the mountains, as it were,
touching the heavens, and herds of wild deer feeding on their
summits: the body of the sun does not become visible above the
heights of the mountains, even in a clear atmosphere, till about the
hour of prime, or a little before. A place truly fitted for
contemplation, a happy and delightful spot, fully competent, from
its first establishment, to supply all its own wants, had not the
extravagance of English luxury, the pride of a sumptuous table, the
increasing growth of intemperance and ingratitude, added to the
negligence of its patrons and prelates, reduced it from freedom to
servility; and if the step-daughter, no less enviously than
odiously, had not supplanted her mother.
It seems worthy of remark, that all the priors who were hostile to
this establishment, died by divine visitation. William, {61} who
first despoiled the place of its herds and storehouses, being
deposed by the fraternity, forfeited his right of sepulture amongst
the priors. Clement seemed to like this place of study and prayer,
yet, after the example of Heli the priest, as he neither reproved
nor restrained his brethren from plunder and other offences, he died
by a paralytic stroke. And Roger, who was more an enemy to this
place than either of his predecessors, and openly carried away every
thing which they had left behind, wholly robbing the church of its
books, ornaments, and privileges, was also struck with a paralytic
affection long before his death, resigned his honours, and lingered
out the remainder of his days in sickness.
In the reign of king Henry I., when the mother church was as
celebrated for her affluence as for her sanctity (two qualities
which are seldom found thus united), the daughter not yet being in
existence (and I sincerely wish she never had been produced), the
fame of so much religion attracted hither Roger, bishop of
Salisbury, who was at that time prime minister; for it is virtue to
love virtue, even in another man, and a great proof of innate
goodness to show a detestation of those vices which hitherto have
not been avoided. When he had reflected with admiration on the
nature of the place, the solitary life of the fraternity, living in
canonical obedience, and serving God without a murmur or complaint,
he returned to the king, and related to him what he thought most
worthy of remark; and after spending the greater part of the day in
the praises of this place, he finished his panegyric with these
words: "Why should I say more? the whole treasure of the king and
his kingdom would not be sufficient to build such a cloister."
Having held the minds of the king and the court for a long time in
suspense by this assertion, he at length explained the enigma, by
saying that he alluded to the cloister of mountains, by which this
church is on every side surrounded. But William, a knight, who
first discovered this place, and his companion Ervistus, a priest,
having heard, perhaps, as it is written in the Fathers, according to
the opinion of Jerome, "that the church of Christ decreased in
virtues as it increased in riches," were accustomed often devoutly
to solicit the Lord that this place might never attain great
possessions.
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