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.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 56 of 195
Words from 15274 to 15583
of 54608
