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{138} In 1135。
{139} Lampeter; or Llanbedr; a small town near the river Teivi; still retains the name of Pont…Stephen。
{140} Leland thus speaks of Ystrad Fflur or Strata Florida: 〃Strateflere is set round about with montanes not far distant; except on the west parte; where Diffrin Tyve is。 Many hilles therabout hath bene well woddid; as evidently by old rotes apperith; but now in them is almost no woode … the causes be these。 First; the wood cut down was never copisid; and this hath beene a cause of destruction of wood thorough Wales。 Secondly; after cutting down of woodys; the gottys hath so bytten the young spring that it never grew but lyke shrubbes。 Thirddely; men for the monys destroied the great woddis that thei should not harborow theves。〃 This monastery is situated in the wildest part of Cardiganshire; surrounded on three sides by a lofty range of those mountains; called by our author Ellennith; a spot admirably suited to the severe and recluse order of the Cistercians。
{141} 'Melenydd or Maelienydd。'
{142} Leaving Stratflur; the archbishop and his train returned to Llanddewi Brefi; and from thence proceeded to Llanbadarn Vawr。
{143} Llanbadarn Fawr; the church of St。 Paternus the Great; is situated in a valley; at a short distance from the sea…port town of Aberystwyth in Cardiganshire。
{144} The name of this bishop is said to have been Idnerth; and the same personage whose death is commemorated in an inscription at Llanddewi Brefi。
{145} This river is now called Dovey。
{146} From Llanbadarn our travellers directed their course towards the sea…coast; and ferrying over the river Dovey; which separates North from South Wales; proceeded to Towyn; in Merionethshire; where they passed the night。 'Venedotia is the Latin name for Gwynedd。'
{147} The province of Merionyth was at this period occupied by David; the son of Owen Gwynedd; who had seized it forcibly from its rightful inheritor。 This Gruffydd … who must not be confused with his great…grandfather; the famous Gruffydd ap Conan; prince of Gwynedd … was son to Conan ap Owen Gwynedd; he died A。D。 1200; and was buried in a monk's cowl; in the abbey of Conway。
{148} The epithet 〃bifurcus;〃 ascribed by Giraldus to the river Maw; alludes to its two branches; which unite their streams a little way below Llaneltid bridge; and form an aestuary; which flows down to the sea at Barmouth or Aber Maw。 The ford at this place; discovered by Malgo; no longer exists。
{149} Llanfair is a small village; about a mile and a half from Harlech; with a very simple church; placed in a retired spot; backed by precipitous mountains。 Here the archbishop and Giraldus slept; on their journey from Towyn to Nevyn。
{150} Ardudwy was a comot of the cantref Dunodic; in Merionethshire; and according to Leland; 〃Streccith from half Trait Mawr to Abermaw on the shore XII myles。〃 The bridge here alluded to; was probably over the river Artro; which forms a small aestuary near the village of Llanbedr。
{151} The Traeth Mawr; or the large sands; are occasioned by a variety of springs and rivers which flow from the Snowdon mountains; and; uniting their streams; form an aestuary below Pont Aberglaslyn。
{152} The Traeth Bychan; or the small sands; are chiefly formed by the river which runs down the beautiful vale of Festiniog to Maentwrog and Tan y bwlch; near which place it becomes navigable。 Over each of these sands the road leads from Merionyth into Caernarvonshire。
{153} Lleyn; the Canganorum promontorium of Ptolemy; was an extensive hundred containing three comots; and comprehending that long neck of land between Caernarvon and Cardigan bays。 Leland says; 〃Al Lene is as it were a pointe into the se。〃
{154} In mentioning the rivers which the missionaries had lately crossed; our author has been guilty of a great topographical error in placing the river Dissennith between the Maw and Traeth Mawr; as also in placing the Arthro between the Traeth Mawr and Traeth Bychan; as a glance at a map will shew。
{155} To two personages of this name the gift of prophecy was anciently attributed: one was called Ambrosius; the other Sylvestris; the latter here mentioned (and whose works Giraldus; after a long research; found at Nefyn) was; according to the story; the son of Morvryn; and generally called Merddin Wyllt; or Merddin the Wild。 He is pretended to have flourished about the middle of the sixth century; and ranked with Merddin Emrys and Taliesin; under the appellation of the three principal bards of the Isle of Britain。
{156} This island once afforded; according to the old accounts; an asylum to twenty thousand saints; and after death; graves to as many of their bodies; whence it has been called Insula Sanctorum; the Isle of Saints。 This island derived its British name of Enlli from the fierce current which rages between it and the main land。 The Saxons named it Bardsey; probably from the Bards; who retired hither; preferring solitude to the company of invading foreigners。
{157} This ancient city has been recorded by a variety of names。 During the time of the Romans it was called Segontium; the site of which is now called Caer Seiont; the fortress on the river Seiont; where the Setantiorum portus; and the Seteia AEstuarium of Ptolemy have also been placed。 It is called; by Nennius; Caer Custent; or the city of Constantius; and Matthew of Westminster says; that about the year 1283 the body of Constantius; father of the emperor Constantine; was found there; and honourably desposited in the church by order of Edward I。
{158} I have searched in vain for a valley which would answer the description here given by Geraldus; and the scene of so much pleasantry to the travellers; for neither do the old or new road; from Caernarvon to Bangor; in any way correspond。 But I have since been informed; that there is a valley called Nant y Garth (near the residence of Ashton Smith; Esq。 at Vaenol); which terminates at about half a mile's distance from the Menai; and therefore not observable from the road; it is a serpentine ravine of more than a mile; in a direction towards the mountains; and probably that which the crusaders crossed on their journey to Bangor。
{159} Bangor。 … This cathedral church must not be confounded with the celebrated college of the same name; in Flintshire; founded by Dunod Vawr; son of Pabo; a chieftain who lived about the beginning of the sixth century; and from him called Bangor Dunod。 The Bangor; i。e。 the college; in Caernarvonshire; is properly called Bangor Deiniol; Bangor Vawr yn Arllechwedd; and Bangor Vawr uwch Conwy。 It owes its origin to Deiniol; son of Dunod ap Pabo; a saint who lived in the early part of the sixth century; and in the year 525 founded this college at Bangor; in Caernarvonshire; over which he presided as abbot。 Guy Rufus; called by our author Guianus; was at this time bishop of this see; and died in 1190。
{160} Guianus; or Guy Rufus; dean of Waltham; in Essex; and consecrated to this see; at Ambresbury; Wilts; in May 1177。
{161} Mona; or Anglesey。
{162} The spot selected by Baldwin for addressing the multitude; has in some degree been elucidated by the anonymous author of the