Was the true author, and Ranulf Poer, sheriff of Hereford, the
instrument, of the enormous cruelties and slaughter perpetrated here
in our days, which I thought better to omit, lest bad men should be
induced to follow the example; for although temporary advantage may
seem to arise from a base cause, yet, by the balance of a righteous
judge, the punishment of wickedness may be deferred, though not
totally avoided, according to the words of the poet, -
"Non habet eventus sordida praeda bonos."
For after seven years of peace and tranquillity, the sons and
grandsons of the deceased, having attained the age of manhood, took
advantage of the absence of the lord of the castle (Abergevenni),
and, burning with revenge, concealed themselves, with no
inconsiderable force during the night, within the woody foss of the
castle. One of them, name Sisillus (Sitsylt) son of Eudaf, on the
preceding day said rather jocularly to the constable, "Here will we
enter this night," pointing out to him a certain angle in the wall
where it seemed the lowest; but since
" - Ridendo dicere verum
Quis vetat?"
and
" - fas est et ab hoste doceri,"
the constable and his household watched all night under arms, till
at length, worn out by fatigue, they all retired to rest on the
appearance of daylight, upon which the enemy attacked the walls with
scaling-ladders, at the very place that had been pointed out.
