The Latter Account
Is Corroborated By The Following Passage In Wharton's Anglia Sacra:
"Anno 1143 Ducti Sunt Monachi Ordinis Cisterciensis Qui Modo Sunt
Apud Albam Landam, In West Walliam, Per Bernardum Episcopum."
Leland, In His Collectanea, Says, "Whitland, Abbat.
Cistert.,
Rhesus filius Theodori princeps Suth Walliae primus fundator;" and
in his Itinerary, mentions it as a convent of Bernardynes, "which
yet stondeth."
{103} Saint Clears is a long, straggling village, at the junction
of the river Cathgenny with the Taf. Immediately on the banks of
the former, and not far from its junction with the latter, stood the
castle, of which not one stone is left; but the artificial tumulus
on which the citadel was placed, and other broken ground, mark its
ancient site.
{104} Lanwadein, now called Lawhaden, is a small village about four
miles from Narberth, on the banks of the river Cleddeu.
{105} Daugleddeu, so called from Dau, two, and Cled, or Cleddau, a
sword. The rivers Cledheu have their source in the Prescelly
mountain, unite their streams below Haverfordwest, and run into
Milford Haven, which in Welsh is called Aberdaugleddau, or the
confluence of the two rivers Cledheu.
{106} Haverford, now called Haverfordwest, is a considerable town
on the river Cledheu, with an ancient castle, three churches, and
some monastic remains. The old castle (now used as the county
gaol), from its size and commanding situation, adds greatly to the
picturesque appearance of this town. [The old castle is no longer
used as a gaol.]
{107} The province of Rhos, in which the town of Haverfordwest is
situated, was peopled by a colony of Flemings during the reign of
king Henry I.
{108} St. Caradoc was born of a good family in Brecknockshire, and
after a liberal education at home, attached himself to the court of
Rhys Prince of South Wales, whom he served a long time with
diligence and fidelity. He was much esteemed and beloved by him,
till having unfortunately lost two favourite greyhounds, which had
been committed to his care, that prince, in a fury, threatened his
life; upon which Caradoc determined to change masters, and made a
vow on the spot to consecrate the remainder of his days to God, by a
single and religious life. He went to Llandaff, received from its
bishop the clerical tonsure and habit, and retired to the deserted
church of St. Kined, and afterwards to a still more solitary abode
in the Isle of Ary, from whence he was taken prisoner by some
Norwegian pirates, but soon released. His last place of residence
was at St. Ismael, in the province of Rhos, where he died in 1124,
and was buried with great honour in the cathedral of St. David's.
We must not confound this retreat of Caradoc with the village of St.
Ismael on the borders of Milford Haven. His hermitage was situated
in the parish of Haroldstone, near the town of Haverfordwest, whose
church has St. Ismael for its patron, and probably near a place
called Poorfield, the common on which Haverfordwest races are held,
as there is a well there called Caradoc's Well, round which, till
within these few years, there was a sort of vanity fair, where cakes
were sold, and country games celebrated.
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