The Other Lake Is Noted For A
Wonderful And Singular Miracle.
It contains three sorts of fish -
eels, trout, and perch, all of which have only one eye, the left
being wanting; but if the curious reader should demand of me the
explanation of so extraordinary a circumstance, I cannot presume to
satisfy him.
It is remarkable also, that in two places in Scotland,
one near the eastern, the other near the western sea, the fish
called mullets possess the same defect, having no left eye.
According to vulgar tradition, these mountains are frequented by an
eagle who, perching on a fatal stone every fifth holiday, in order
to satiate her hunger with the carcases of the slain, is said to
expect war on that same day, and to have almost perforated the stone
by cleaning and sharpening her beak.
CHAPTER X
Of the passage by Deganwy and Ruthlan, and the see of Lanelwy, and
of Coleshulle
Having crossed the river Conwy, {173} or rather an arm of the sea,
under Deganwy, leaving the Cistercian monastery of Conwy {174} on
the western bank of the river to our right hand, we arrived at
Ruthlan, a noble castle on the river Cloyd, belonging to David, the
eldest son of Owen {175} where, at the earnest invitation of David
himself, we were handsomely entertained that night.
There is a spring not far from Ruthlan, in the province of Tegengel,
{176} which not only regularly ebbs and flows like the sea, twice in
twenty-four hours, but at other times frequently rises and falls
both by night and day. Trogus Pompeius says, "that there is a town
of the Garamantes, where there is a spring which is hot and cold
alternately by day and night." {177}
Many persons in the morning having been persuaded to dedicate
themselves to the service of Christ, we proceeded from Ruthlan to
the small cathedral church of Lanelwy; {178} from whence (the
archbishop having celebrated mass) we continued our journey through
a country rich in minerals of silver, where money is sought in the
bowels of the earth, to the little cell of Basinwerk, {179} where we
passed the night. The following day we traversed a long quicksand,
and not without some degree of apprehension, leaving the woody
district of Coleshulle, {180} or hill of coal, on our right hand,
where Henry II., who in our time, actuated by youthful and
indiscreet ardour, made a hostile irruption into Wales, and
presuming to pass through that narrow and woody defile, experienced
a signal defeat, and a very heavy loss of men. {181} The aforesaid
king invaded Wales three times with an army; first, North Wales at
the above-mentioned place; secondly, South Wales, by the sea-coast
of Glamorgan and Goer, penetrating as far as Caermarddin and
Pencadair, and returning by Ellennith and Melenith; and thirdly, the
country of Powys, near Oswaldestree; but in all these expeditions
the king was unsuccessful, because he placed no confidence in the
prudent and well-informed chieftains of the country, but was
principally advised by people remote from the marches, and ignorant
of the manners and customs of the natives.
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