A Circumstance Concerning This Lake, Which Happened A Short
Time Before Our Days, Must Not Be Passed Over In Silence.
"In the
reign of king Henry I., Gruffydd, {52} son of Rhys ap Tewdwr, held
under the king one
Comot, namely, the fourth part of the cantred of
Caoc, {53} in the cantref Mawr, which, in title and dignity, was
esteemed by the Welsh equal to the southern part of Wales, called
Deheubarth, that is, the right-hand side of Wales. When Gruffydd,
on his return from the king's court, passed near this lake, which at
that cold season of the year was covered with water-fowl of various
sorts, being accompanied by Milo, earl of Hereford, and lord of
Brecheinoc, and Payn Fitz-John, lord of Ewyas, who were at that time
secretaries and privy counsellors to the king; earl Milo, wishing to
draw forth from Gruffydd some discourse concerning his innate
nobility, rather jocularly than seriously thus addressed him: "It
is an ancient saying in Wales, that if the natural prince of the
country, coming to this lake, shall order the birds to sing, they
will immediately obey him." To which Gruffydd, richer in mind than
in gold, (for though his inheritance was diminished, his ambition
and dignity still remained), answered, "Do you therefore, who now
hold the dominion of this land, first give the command;" but he and
Payn having in vain commanded, and Gruffydd, perceiving that it was
necessary for him to do so in his turn, dismounted from his horse,
and falling on his knees towards the east, as if he had been about
to engage in battle, prostrate on the ground, with his eyes and
hands uplifted to heaven, poured forth devout prayers to the Lord:
at length, rising up, and signing his face and forehead with the
figure of the cross, he thus openly spake: "Almighty God, and Lord
Jesus Christ, who knowest all things, declare here this day thy
power. If thou hast caused me to descend lineally from the natural
princes of Wales, I command these birds in thy name to declare it;"
and immediately the birds, beating the water with their wings, began
to cry aloud, and proclaim him. The spectators were astonished and
confounded; and earl Milo hastily returning with Payn Fitz-John to
court, related this singular occurrence to the king, who is said to
have replied, "By the death of Christ (an oath he was accustomed to
use), it is not a matter of so much wonder; for although by our
great authority we commit acts of violence and wrong against these
people, yet they are known to be the rightful inheritors of this
land."
The lake also {54} (according to the testimony of the inhabitants)
is celebrated for its miracles; for, as we have before observed, it
sometimes assumed a greenish hue, so in our days it has appeared to
be tinged with red, not universally, but as if blood flowed
partially through certain veins and small channels.
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