The archdeacon of that
place (Giraldus) presented to the archbishop his work on the
Topography of Ireland, which he graciously received, and either read
or heard a part of it read attentively every day during his journey;
and on his return to England completed the perusal of it.
I have determined not to omit mentioning those occurrences worthy of
note which happened in these parts in our days. It came to pass
before that great war, in which nearly all this province was
destroyed by the sons of Jestin, {30} that the large lake, and the
river Leveni, {31} which flows from it into the Wye, opposite
Glasbyry, {32} were tinged with a deep green colour. The old people
of the country were consulted, and answered, that a short time
before the great desolation {33} caused by Howel, son of Meredyth,
the water had been coloured in a similar manner. About the same
time, a chaplain, whose name was Hugo, being engaged to officiate at
the chapel of Saint Nicholas, in the castle of Aberhodni, saw in a
dream a venerable man standing near him, and saying, "Tell thy lord
William de Braose, {34} who has the audacity to retain the property
granted to the chapel of Saint Nicholas for charitable uses, these
words: 'The public treasury takes away that which Christ does not
receive; and thou wilt then give to an impious soldier, what thou
wilt not give to a priest.'" This vision having been repeated three
times, he went to the archdeacon of the place, at Landeu, and
related to him what had happened. The archdeacon immediately knew
them to be the words of Augustine; and shewing him that part of his
writings where they were found, explained to him the case to which
they applied. He reproaches persons who held back tithes and other
ecclesiastical dues; and what he there threatens, certainly in a
short time befell this withholder of them: for in our time we have
duly and undoubtedly seen, that princes who have usurped
ecclesiastical benefices (and particularly king Henry the Second,
who laboured under this vice more than others), have profusely
squandered the treasures of the church, and given away to hired
soldiers what in justice should have been given only to priests.
Yet something is to be said in favour of the aforesaid William de
Braose, although he greatly offended in this particular (since
nothing human is perfect, and to have knowledge of all things, and
in no point to err, is an attribute of God, not of man); for he
always placed the name of the Lord before his sentences, saying,
"Let this be done in the name of the Lord; let that be done by God's
will; if it shall please God, or if God grant leave; it shall be so
by the grace of God." We learn from Saint Paul, that everything
ought thus to be committed and referred to the will of God.
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