The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through
Wales
by Geraldus Cambrensis
Book II
Chapter V
Of the river Devi, and the land of the sons of
Conan
Approaching to the river Devi,145
which divides North and South Wales, the bishop of St.
David's, and Rhys the son of Gruffydd, who with a liberality
peculiarly praiseworthy in so illustrious a prince, had
accompanied us from the castle of Aberteivi, throughout all
Cardiganshire, to this place, returned home. Having crossed
the river in a boat, and quitted the diocese of St. David's,
we entered the land of the sons of Conan, or Merionyth, the
first province of Venedotia on that side of the country, and
belonging to the bishopric of Bangor.146
We slept that night at Towyn. Early next morning, Gruffydd
son of Conan147
came to meet us, humbly and devoutly asking pardon for
having so long delayed his attention to the archbishop. On
the same day, we ferried over the bifurcate river
Maw,148
where Malgo, son of Rhys, who had attached himself to the
archbishop, as a companion to the king's court, discovered a
ford near the sea. That night we lay at Llanvair,149
that is the church of St. Mary, in the province of
Ardudwy.150
This territory of Conan, and particularly Merionyth, is the
rudest and roughest district of all Wales; the ridges of its
mountains are very high and narrow, terminating in sharp
peaks, and so irregularly jumbled together, that if the
shepherds conversing or disputing with each other from their
summits, should agree to meet, they could scarcely effect
their purpose in the course of the whole day. The lances of
this country are very long; for as South Wales excels in the
use of the bow, so North Wales is distinguished for its
skill in the lance; insomuch that an iron coat of mail will
not resist the stroke of a lance thrown at a small distance.
The next morning, the youngest son of Conan, named Meredyth,
met us at the passage of a bridge, attended by his people,
where many persons were signed with the cross; amongst whom
was a fine young man of his suite, and one of his intimate
friends; and Meredyth, observing that the cloak, on which
the cross was to be sewed, appeared of too thin and of too
common a texture, with a flood of tears, threw him down his
own.
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through
Wales
by Geraldus Cambrensis
Chapter IV
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