Transcribed from the 1912 J. M. Dent edition by David Price, email
ccx074@pglaf.org
THE DESCRIPTION OF WALES
by
Gerald of Wales
FIRST PREFACE
TO STEPHEN LANGTON, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
I, WHO, at the expense of three years’ labour, arranged, a short time
ago, in three parts, the Topography of Ireland, with a description of its
natural curiosities, and who afterwards, by two years’ study, completed
in two parts the Vaticinal History of its Conquest; and who, by
publishing the Itinerary of the Holy Man (Baldwin) through Cambria,
prevented his laborious mission from perishing in obscurity, do now
propose, in the present little work, to give some account of this my
native country, and to describe the genius of its inhabitants, so
entirely distinct from that of other nations. And this production of my
industry I have determined to dedicate to you, illustrious Stephen,
archbishop of Canterbury, as I before ascribed to you my Itinerary;
considering you as a man no less distinguished by your piety, than
conspicuous for your learning; though so humble an offering may possibly
be unworthy the acceptance of a personage who, from his eminence,
deserves to be presented with works of the greatest merit.
Some, indeed, object to this my undertaking, and, apparently from motives
of affection, compare me to a painter, who, rich in colours, and like
another Zeuxis, eminent in his art, is endeavouring with all his skill
and industry to give celebrity to a cottage, or to some other
contemptible object, whilst the world is anxiously expecting from his
hand a temple or a palace. Thus they wonder that I, amidst the many
great and striking subjects which the world presents, should choose to
describe and to adorn, with all the graces of composition, such remote
corners of the earth as Ireland and Wales.
Others again, reproaching me with greater severity, say, that the gifts
which have been bestowed upon me from above, ought not to be wasted upon
these insignificant objects, nor lavished in a vain display of learning
on the commendation of princes, who, from their ignorance and want of
liberality, have neither taste to appreciate, nor hearts to remunerate
literary excellence. And they further add, that every faculty which
emanates from the Deity, ought rather to be applied to the illustration
of celestial objects, and to the exultation of his glory, from whose
abundance all our talents have been received; every faculty (say they)
ought to be employed in praising him from whom, as from a perennial
source, every perfect gift is derived, and from whose bounty everything
which is offered with sincerity obtains an ample reward. But since
excellent histories of other countries have been composed and published
by writers of eminence, I have been induced, by the love I bear to my
country and to posterity, to believe that I should perform neither an
useless nor an unacceptable service, were I to unfold the hidden merits
of my native land; to rescue from obscurity those glorious actions which
have been hitherto imperfectly described, and to bring into repute, by my
method of treating it, a subject till now regarded as contemptible.
What indeed could my feeble and unexercised efforts add to the histories
of the destruction of Troy, Thebes, or Athens, or to the conquest of the
shores of Latium? Besides, to do what has been already done, is, in
fact, to be doing nothing; I have, therefore, thought it more eligible to
apply my industry to the arrangement of the history of my native country,
hitherto almost wholly overlooked by strangers; but interesting to my
relations and countrymen; and from these small beginnings to aspire by
degrees to works of a nobler cast. From these inconsiderable attempts,
some idea may be formed with what success, should Fortune afford an
opportunity, I am likely to treat matters of greater importance. For
although some things should be made our principal objects, whilst others
ought not to be wholly neglected, I may surely be allowed to exercise the
powers of my youth, as yet untaught and unexperienced, in pursuits of
this latter nature, lest by habit I should feel a pleasure in indolence
and in sloth, the parent of vice.
I have therefore employed these studies as a kind of introduction to the
glorious treasures of that most excellent of the sciences, which alone
deserves the name of science; which alone can render us wise to rule and
to instruct mankind; which alone the other sciences follow, as attendants
do their queen. Laying therefore in my youth the foundations of so noble
a structure, it is my intention, if God will assist me and prolong my
life, to reserve my maturer years for composing a treatise upon so
perfect, so sacred a subject: for according to the poet,
“Ardua quippe fides robustos exigit annos;”
“The important concerns of faith require a mind in its full vigour;”
I may be permitted to indulge myself for a short time in other pursuits;
but in this I should wish not only to continue, but to die.
But before I enter on this important subject, I demand a short interval,
to enable me to lay before the public my Treatise on the Instruction of a
Prince, which has been so frequently promised, as well as the Description
of Wales, which is now before me, and the Topography of Britain.
Of all the British writers, Gildas alone appears to me (as often as the
course of my subject leads me to consult him) worthy of imitation; for by
committing to paper the things which he himself saw and knew, and by
declaring rather than describing the desolation of his country, he has
compiled a history more remarkable for its truth than for its elegance.
Giraldus therefore follows Gildas, whom he wishes he could copy in his
life and manners; becoming an imitator of his wisdom rather than of his
eloquence—of his mind rather than of his writings—of his zeal rather than
of his style—of his life rather than of his language.
SECOND PREFACE
TO THE SAME
WHEN, amidst various literary pursuits, I first applied my mind to the
compilation of history, I determined, lest I should appear ungrateful to
my native land, to describe, to the best of my abilities, my own country
and its adjoining regions; and afterwards, under God’s guidance, to
proceed to a description of more distant territories. But since some
leading men (whom we have both seen and known) show so great a contempt
for literature, that they immediately shut up within their book-cases the
excellent works with which they are presented, and thus doom them, as it
were, to a perpetual imprisonment; I entreat you, illustrious Prelate, to
prevent the present little work, which will shortly be delivered to you,
from perishing in obscurity. And because this, as well as my former
productions, though of no transcendent merit, may hereafter prove to many
a source of entertainment and instruction, I entreat you generously to
order it to be made public, by which it will acquire reputation. And I
shall consider myself sufficiently rewarded for my trouble, if,
withdrawing for a while from your religious and secular occupations, you
would kindly condescend to peruse this book, or, at least, give it an
attentive hearing; for in times like these, when no one remunerates
literary productions, I neither desire nor expect any other recompense.
Not that it would appear in any way inconsistent, however there exists
among men of rank a kind of conspiracy against authors, if a prelate so
eminently conspicuous for his virtues, for his abilities, both natural
and acquired, for irreproachable morals, and for munificence, should
distinguish himself likewise by becoming the generous and sole patron of
literature. To comprise your merits in a few words, the lines of Martial
addressed to Trajan, whilst serving under Dioclesian, may be deservedly
applied to you:
“Laudari debes quoniam sub principe duro,
Temporibusque malis, ausus es esse bonus.”
And those also of Virgil to Mecænas, which extol the humanity of that
great man:
“Omnia cum possis tanto tam clarus amico,
Te sensit nemo posse nocere tamen.”
Many indeed remonstrate against my proceedings, and those particularly
who call themselves my friends insist that, in consequence of my violent
attachment to study, I pay no attention to the concerns of the world, or
to the interests of my family; and that, on this account, I shall
experience a delay in my promotion to worldly dignities; that the
influence of authors, both poets and historians, has long since ceased;
that the respect paid to literature vanished with literary princes; and
that in these degenerate days very different paths lead to honours and
opulence. I allow all this, I readily allow it, and acquiesce in the
truth. For the unprincipled and covetous attach themselves to the court,
the churchmen to their books, and the ambitious to the public offices,
but as every man is under the influence of some darling passion, so the
love of letters and the study of eloquence have from my infancy had for
me peculiar charms of attraction. Impelled by this thirst for knowledge,
I have carried my researches into the mysterious works of nature farther
than the generality of my contemporaries, and for the benefit of
posterity have rescued from oblivion the remarkable events of my own
times. But this object was not to be secured without an indefatigable,
though at the same time an agreeable, exertion; for an accurate
investigation of every particular is attended with much difficulty. It
is difficult to produce an orderly account of the investigation and
discovery of truth; it is difficult to preserve from the beginning to the
end a connected relation unbroken by irrelevant matter; and it is
difficult to render the narration no less elegant in the diction, than
instructive in its matter, for in prosecuting the series of events, the
choice of happy expressions is equally perplexing, as the search after
them painful. Whatever is written requires the most intense thought, and
every expression should be carefully polished before it be submitted to
the public eye; for, by exposing itself to the examination of the present
and of future ages, it must necessarily undergo the criticism not only of
the acute, but also of the dissatisfied, reader. Words merely uttered
are soon forgotten, and the admiration or disgust which they occasioned
is no more; but writings once published are never lost, and remain as
lasting memorials either of the glory or of the disgrace of the author.
Hence the observation of Seneca, that the malicious attention of the
envious reader dwells with no less satisfaction on a faulty than on an
elegant expression, and is as anxious to discover what it may ridicule,
as what it may commend; as the poet also observes:
“Discit enim citius meminitque libentius illud
Quod quis deridet, quam quod probat et veneratur.”
Among the pursuits, therefore, most worthy of commendation, this holds by
no means the lowest rank; for history, as the moral philosopher declares,
“is the record of antiquity, the testimony of ages, the light of truth,
the soul of memory, the mistress of conduct, and the herald of ancient
times.”
This study is the more delightful, as it is more honourable to produce
works worthy of being quoted than to quote the works of others; as it is
more desirable to be the author of compositions which deserve to be
admired than to be esteemed a good judge of the writings of other men; as
it is more meritorious to be the just object of other men’s commendations
than to be considered an adept in pointing out the merits of others. On
these pleasing reflections I feed and regale myself; for I would rather
resemble Jerome than Croesus, and I prefer to riches themselves the man
who is capable of despising them. With these gratifying ideas I rest
contented and delighted, valuing moderation more than intemperance, and
an honourable sufficiency more than superfluity; for intemperance and
superfluity produce their own destruction, but their opposite virtues
never perish; the former vanish, but the latter, like eternity, remain
for ever; in short, I prefer praise to lucre, and reputation to riches.
CONTENTS
BOOK I
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Length and Breadth of Wales, the Nature of its 155
Soil, and the Three Remaining Tribes of
Britons
II. Of the Ancient Division of Wales into Three 156
Parts
III. Genealogy of the Princes of Wales 157
IV. Cantreds—Royal Palaces—Cathedrals 158
V. Mountains and Rivers of Wales 159
VI. Concerning the Pleasantness and Fertility of 163
Wales
VII. Origin of the Names Cambria and Wales 164
VIII. Concerning the Nature, Manners, and Dress, the 166
Boldness, Agility, and Courage, of this Nation
IX. Their Sober Supper and Frugality 168
X. Their Hospitality and Liberality 170
XI. Concerning their cutting of their Hair, their 171
Care of their Teeth, and Shaving of their
Beard
XII. Their Quickness and Sharpness of Understanding 174
XIII. Their Symphonies and Songs 175
XIV. Their Wit and Pleasantry 177
XV. Their Boldness and Confidence in Speaking 183
XVI. Concerning the Soothsayers of this Nation, and 179
Persons as it were possessed
XVII. Their Love of High Birth and Ancient Genealogy 183
XVIII. Their Ancient Faith, Love of Christianity and 185
Devotion
BOOK II
I. Concerning the Inconstancy and Instability of 189
this Nation, and their Want of Reverence for
Good Faith and Oaths
II. Their living by Plunder, and Disregard of the 190
Bonds of Peace and Friendship
III. Their Deficiency in Battle, and Base and 192
Dishonourable Flight
IV. Their Ambitious Seizure of Lands, and 193
Dissensions among Brothers
V. Their great Exaction, and Want of Moderation 194
VI. Concerning the Crime of Incest, and the Abuse 195
of Churches by Succession and Participation
VII. Their Sins, and the consequent Loss of Britain 196
and of Troy
VIII. In what Manner this Nation is to be overcome 198
IX. In what Manner Wales, when conquered, should 202
be governed
X. In what Manner this Nation may resist and 204
revolt
BOOK I
CHAPTER I
OF THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF WALES, THE NATURE OF ITS SOIL, AND THE THREE
REMAINING TRIBES OF BRITONS
CAMBRIA, which, by a corrupt and common term, though less proper, is in
modern times called Wales, is about two hundred miles long and one
hundred broad. The length from Port Gordber {155a} in Anglesey to Port
Eskewin {155b} in Monmouthshire is eight days’ journey in extent; the
breadth from Porth Mawr, {155c} or the great Port of St. David’s, to
Ryd-helic, {155d} which in Latin means _Vadum salicis_, or the Ford of
the Willow, and in English is called Willow-forde, is four days’ journey.
It is a country very strongly defended by high mountains, deep valleys,
extensive woods, rivers, and marshes; insomuch that from the time the
Saxons took possession of the island the remnants of the Britons,
retiring into these regions, could never be entirely subdued either by
the English or by the Normans. Those who inhabited the southern angle of
the island, which took its name from the chieftain Corinæus, {156} made
less resistance, as their country was more defenceless. The third
division of the Britons, who obtained a part of Britany in Gaul, were
transported thither, not after the defeat of their nation, but long
before, by king Maximus, and, in consequence of the hard and continued
warfare which they underwent with him, were rewarded by the royal
munificence with those districts in France.