The Life of Saint Cadog

EXCERPTS WHICH INCLUDE REFERENCES TO ARTHUR

From: http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/cadog.html

After a long interval of time the aforesaid king Gwynllyw, depending now on his kingdom, desired with ardent affection on account of the excessive sweetness of her fame that a certain girl should be joined to him in lawful wedlock, born of most noble lineage, of elegant appearance, very beautiful moreover in form, and clad in silk raiment, whose name was Gwladus, the daughter of a certain regulus, who was called Brychan. Accordingly he sent very many messengers to the virgin’s father to the end that they might more resolutely demand that she might be given to him as wife. But the father of the girl, having received the message, was indignant, and, full of anger, refused to bestow his daughter on him, and slighted the messengers, and dismissed them without honour. They, taking this very badly, returned, and told their lord what had been done to them. When he had heard, the king, raving with excessive fury, armed with all possible speed three hundred of his young men to take the aforesaid girl by force. Then starting at once on their journey, when they reached the court of the aforementioned regulus, which is called Talgarth, they found the said virgin sitting with her sisters before the door of her chamber and at leisure in modest conversation, whom they immediately took by force, and beat a hasty retreat. When this was known, her father, Brychan, moved by grief of heart, sorrowing inwardly at the loss of his beloved daughter, called to his aid all his friends and his subjects to recover his daughter. When all his helpers had assembled together, with rapid steps he follows up the enemy and his confederates. Gwynllyw, when he had seen them, ordered that the oft-mentioned girl should be brought up to him, and he made her ride with him. He, carrying the girl cautiously with him on horseback, preceded the army not indeed for flight, but to await his soldiers and to exhort them manfully to war. But Brychan with his men, boldly attacking the savage king and his satellites, slew two hundred of them and followed them up as far as the hill, which is on the confines of either country, which in the Britannic tongue takes the name Boch Rhiw Cam, which means the cheek of the stony way. But when Gwynllyw had arrived at the borders of his land, safe in body with the aforesaid virgin, although sorrowful at the very great slaughter in the fight with his adversaries, lo, three vigorous champions, Arthur with his two knights, to wit, Cai and Bedwyr, were sitting on the top of the aforesaid hill playing with dice. And these seeing the king with a girl approaching them, Arthur immediately very inflamed with lust in desire for the maiden, and filled with evil thoughts, said to his companions, ‘Know that I am vehemently inflamed with concupiscence for this girl, whom that soldier is carrying away on horseback.’ But they forbidding him said, ‘Far be it that so great a crime should be perpetrated by thee, for we are wont to aid the needy and distressed. Wherefore let us run together with all speed and assist this struggling contest that it may cease.’ But he, ‘Since you both prefer to succour him rather than snatch the girl violently from him for me, go to meet them, and diligently inquire which of them is the owner of this land.’ They immediately departed and in accordance with the king’s command inquired. Gwynllyw replies, ‘God being witness, also all who best know of the Britons, I avow that I am the owner of this land.’ And when the messengers had returned to their lord, they reported what they had heard from him. Then Arthur and his companions being armed they rushed against the enemies of Gwynllyw and made them turn their backs and flee in great confusion to their native soil. Then Gwynllyw in triumph through Arthur’s protection together with the afore­said virgin Gwladus, reached his own residence, which was situated on that hill, which thenceforward took from his name the British appellation Alit Wynllyw, that is, Gwynllyw’s Hill. For from Gwynllyw is named Gwynlliog, and Brycheiniog from Brychan.

§22. Of the dispute between saint Cadog and king Arthur respecting the reinstatement of a certain person.

In that same time a certain very brave leader of the British (or Britons), called Ligessauc, the son of Eliman, also surnamed Llaw hir, that is, Long Hand, slew three soldiers of Arthur, most illustrious king of Britannia. But, Arthur pursuing him everywhere, he nowhere found a safe place, and none dared to protect him for fear of the aforesaid king, until at length, wearied by very frequent flights, he came a fugitive to the man of God. He, bewailing his hardships, the more kindly received him, trusting in the Lord, fearing Arthur not at all, according to that word of the Lord, ‘Fear not those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to cast soul and body into hell.’ Therefore he remained with him in the region of Gwynlliog, Arthur not knowing it, for seven years in security. These being past, he being again betrayed to the aforesaid king, the same arrived at last with a very great force of soldiers at the river Usk, for the sake of making suit (or bringing an action), because he dared not by any means contend forcibly with the man of God. Therefore messengers being directed to the king, the man of God asks of him, if he would refer the dispute (or action) to the verdict of skilful judges. And he assented, for saint Cadog had summoned to him the principal nobles, from three divers parts of the same country, to wit, David and Teilo, Illtud and Dochau, Cynidr and Maeddog, with several other clerics and elders of the whole of Britannia, judges at the same time being added to them, as far as the bank of a very large river, the Usk, [where] they assembled together, he himself preceding them. And there disputing the matter with bitter words, after the manner of enemies from both sides of the river, they contended for a long time on either hand. But after this intermission in the altercation, the more skilful of the judges decreed that Arthur ought to receive for the redemption of each one of his slain men three ‘best oxen’. But others ordained that one hundred cows should be given to him as the worth of the aforesaid men, because from ancient times among the Britons judgement of this sort, and that price, had been determined upon by the ministers of kings and chiefs. This being accepted, Arthur tauntingly refused cows of one colour, but would take parti-coloured ones, that is, with a great deal of shuffling, he desired cows distinguished in their fore part with a red colour and in their hind part with white. And they, being altogether ignorant as to where cattle of this sort of colour were to be found, doubted what plan they should adopt concerning these things. Wherefore the man of God in the name of the Three Persons ordered young men of the council to drive to him nine, or, as some maintain, one hundred heifers, of whatever colour they might be. When the aforesaid animals were brought up before the eyes of him and of the other servants of God, they were immediately changed by the divine power, in accordance with Arthur’s perverse desire, into the aforesaid colours at the benevolent prayer and desire of the righteous. The company of all the clergy and many others of God’s faithful gathered together by that blessed man beholding this miracle, rejoiced with great joy, glorifying God much. Moreover the man of God consulted what rightly he ought to do with the aforesaid cattle. And the group of judges from both sides replied, ‘The law is that thou drive them in a herd to the middle of the ford.’ Therefore he drove them as far as that point and Arthur, Cai, and Bedwyr met them, the rest sitting on the bank. And Cai and Bedwyr eagerly drew them by their horns to the other bank with their hands, but immediately they were in their hands they were in the presence of all transfigured by the divine will into bundles of fern. Arthur, seeing this wonder, humbly asked the blessed man, that the wrong which he had inflicted on him should be forgiven him. He bestowed pardon on him for the fault according to that gospel precept, ‘Forgive, and it shall be forgiven you.’ Therefore the aforesaid king, having entered into counsel with his army, prolonged the period of his refuge for seven years and as many months and the same number of days. If any stranger in the prescribed time desiring to go home from the district of Cadog should depart or set sail to any part of the world, if by chance, the severe violence of storms and unfavorable windy weather assailing him, he should be driven into his harbour, to wit, Barry, and should return anew to the original place of his refuge, he is according to the tradition of elders to be allotted to his service to the last limit of his life and eagerly received. This Arthur and all his captains with the elders of all IBritannia corroborating, they said, ‘We also in the hearing of all bear witness to the words of this ordinance, and whosoever shall transgress them, may God add to him all the plagues written in the Old and New Testament, and may his name be blotted from the book of life. But he who shall keep these, may he be replenished with all the blessings of the Old and New Testament, and may they descend and remain on him, and also may his soul abide in eternal rest.’ The council being finished, all the cows which had been converted into clumps (or bundles) of fern were found safe in their stalls by their owners. For from that day that place in British speech is called Tref redinauc, Tredunnock, that is, fern homestead. Also that ford, about which the pleading (or action at law) took place, is called Rith, Rhyd (that is, ford) Guurtebou, Gwrthebau. Whilst all were withdrawing peaceably from that pleading, saint Cadog gave three homesteads to the three said nobles, one to David, another to Teilo, and a third to Docguinnus, because they were wearied with their long journey. Of which homesteads and possessors their names are written below: to the blessed David, Llanddewi Penn bei; to Teilo, Merthyr Tegfedd; and to Doguuinus he gave Llanddyfrwyr.

§23. Of vengeance on the king of the men of Gwynedd for injury done to the man of God.

Another miracle known to all the Britons living in those parts is asserted of the same holy patron. In his days a certain king, Maelgwn by name, was reigning over all Britannia, who sent his young soldiers to the region of Gwynlliog that they might there receive tribute. These, coming to the house of blessed Cadog’s officer, seizing forcibly a most beautiful daughter of the same, took her away with them. Gwynllyw’s men gathering together pursued them, and destroyed some of those whom they followed, and wounded very many, whilst the rest fled to their lord. Which being done, the aforesaid king, inflamed with much (or, great) furious indignation, and his armies being assembled, they marked out a camp in the region of Gwynlliog by a spring, which in their language is called Finnun (that is, a spring) Brittrou (a proper name), that on the following day they might plunder the whole of that country. Which things being heard, Gwynllyw’s men were not a little terrified, and related the state of affairs to the man of God in these words, ‘Maelgwn, king of the men of Gwynedd (that is, Snowdonians) has descended on our borders with his troops, and this night he is encamped with the whole of his army by the spring Brittrou. For tomorrow he will devastate the whole of thy land, and will slay all the males with furious slaughter. Therefore succour us, feeble, wretched, and unarmed, by arranging a peace with the fierce king, otherwise we die.’ These things being heard, the man of God said to the messenger, ‘Proceed quickly, for we will follow thee.’ He followed the messenger at night with three of the clergy, until they reached Gwynlliog. There met them natives of that same region, terrified with fear of the enemy. With great lamentation they besought him, saying, ‘Sir, aid us, and rescue us for thy great clemency, because, whatever thou shalt ask of God, thou shalt obtain.’ He answered them, ‘Be comforted in the Lord, and stand firm, and do not fear. In God we shall do a wonder, and he will reduce our enemies to nothing.’ Saint Cadog, having great confidence in God, withdrew thence. By the camp of the enemy he prayed apart, his clergy being removed a little from him. When it was morning, he rose from prayer, and behold, a column of mist went before him, which, covering all the tents and the troops of the aforesaid king, beclouded them, and the day became to them as black night, so that none was able to observe another. Then in the midst of the darkness the holy man appeared before the tent of the king, and saluting him says, ‘Good health, 0 king. I beseech thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, kindly hear my words.’ To whom the king, ‘I am ready, speak’, said he. And the other, ‘Wherefore hast thou come to my country with an armed force to plunder and devastate, especially as we do not deserve it in any way?’ To these things the king, ‘I confess that I have sinned against thee. But still I earnestly beg thy holiness that thou be merciful (or exorable) for this fault, and forgive it me, and that by thy intervention this darkness depart, whereby we may be able to return unhurt to our abodes, and that all thy country remain in constant peace.’ The man of God replied, ‘Thy very great crimes shall be forgiven thee.’ While he was still speaking, lo, the light of summer immediately being poured from above shone with great serenity on the camp. When the king perceived this miracle, rising from his royal chair, he fell on his face, saying, ‘I will confirm and ratify the refuge, which Arthur, the bravest of heroes, bestowed on thee, so that whoever of my progeny shall abbreviate it, let him be accursed, and whoever shall keep it, let him be blessed, and to-day I choose thee to be my confessor, if it shall be wellpleasing to thee, above all others among the men of the South.’ And so it happened. And they returned peaceably each one to his own region.

§24. Of the blinding of King Rhun for the injury inflicted on saint Cadog.

During the flow of some courses of years after these things, Rhun, the son of the aforenamed king Maelgwn, coming from the north with a numerous company of the nation of Gwynedd on an expedition, that he might rob the possessions and treasures of the southern Britons, and utterly lay waste the land, and the whole army being assembled in the presence of Maelgwn, the same strictly bade the aforementioned Rhun, his son, and all the divisions of the whole expedition, that they should not inflict any injury on saint Cadog, because he was his confessor, and that they should not take from any of his land even one beast of smallest value without his permission. ‘And this’, said he, ‘will be a sign to you. When you have come to his country, you will find animals freely feeding in pastures and people trustful and un­terrified, confiding in our friendship, and so from every enterprise of war they are to be entirely exempt, since I and their lord are connected by a familiar and spiritual covenant.’ Then they all promised with an oath that they would observe this command of the king. So when they had come to the borders of Gwynedd, they formed a camp in Cair (that is, city) Trigguid. Whom when the men of Gwynedd had seen, they fled from them frightened, hiding themselves in woods and thickets and holes and caves of the earth. The inhabitants of Penychen, who were beyond the river Naddawan and all of that same region being unterrified remained as they were. Whilst they were driving considerable plunder to the camp, twelve esquires from the king’s troops went off to the river Naddawan to water horses. When they had given their horses to drink, they themselves being thirsty and not able to drink of the tepid water (river), said to one another, ‘Let us ride speedily to Cadog’s barn,’ which is said to have been at that time on the farm Buceles, ‘that there we may drink milk enough, for milk abounds there always.’ Those twelve making their way thither with speed approach the steward of the place roughly with words that he might give them a drink of milk. He, being angry, refused to give to them, saying, ‘Are ye not without understanding, reckoning that at least our master is a man of great honour and dignity, since of a truth he owns a great household, three hundred men in number, to wit, a hundred clergy, and as many soldiers, and workmen of like number, besides children and women?’ Therefore they rose, fuming with great wrath, and all of them individually taking firebrands in their hands, and mounting their steeds, tried to burn that barn. But by the power of God it burned not, only smoked. In the moment of that very hour, whilst the aforesaid Rhun was sitting in his tent playing at dice with his eunuchs (or servants), the smoke like unto a wooden post, proceeding from the barn of saint Cadog, stretched itself right across throughout the morning to his tent, and darkened the light of the eyes of all who were present in that place. But the king, ashamed to mention what had happened to him, incites the eunuchs (or attendants) to play. ‘Play,’ said he. And they reply, ‘Though our eyes be open, we see nothing.’ Then at last the king confessed that it had likewise happened to himself. Then having called to him his captains and all the nobles and knights, he inquires of them, whether by chance any of their companions had inflicted any disgrace on the blessed man. But they entirely disowned the crime. Said the king, ‘Seek diligently in the camp whether any of your fellows have been away today.’ And when they had sought, it was found that twelve esquires had been absent. These being brought forward, the king says, ‘Where have you been to-day, and what evil have you done? Speak out at once, for it is clear to us, that you have this day participated in a great evil.’ Then the esquires confess their guilt. Without delay he caused saint Cadog to come to him, to whom also he said, ‘Be thou blest of the Lord, and may thy entrance be peaceable. For I have sinned against God and before thee.’ And he, ‘What hast thou done, say.’ And he broke forth into words of this sort, ‘Certain of my servants have attacked thy store-house or barn, without my knowledge, to set it on fire, on which account I know that this misfortune of blindness has happened to us. Wherefore I humbly implore thy benignity that thou wilt pardon me, wretched, and that, the blindness of our eyes being expelled, our former clearness of vision may be given back to us by your intercession.’ On saint Cadog praying, they received their former keenness of vision. These things being done, the king added his refuge as Arthur previously and the father of the aforesaid Rhun had settled it, ratifying it, using a sentence of different kind. ‘If anyone’, says he, ‘shall infringe thy refuge, let him be excommunicate. But whoever shall observe it abides beloved of God and men.’ The king, saying these things, gave to him his own best stallion with all horse accoutrements, and three chief weapons, to wit, shield, sword, and spear, and also everything which he had brought with him, except those things which he reserved for himself as necessary for food. These things fulfilled, they returned each one to his own. The sword conferred on him by king Rhun the blessed Cadog gave to Gwrgan Fryeh, who at that time reigned in Glamorgan, in exchange for a half share of the fish of the river Usk, that he might always have at Llancarfan therefrom food for Lent. The horse too he bestowed on the same king with all equestrian trappings in exchange for a half share of the fish of the river Neath that he might have thence every Lent at Llanmaes whether boiled or roast for food and viands. And he possessed as well two wooden horses so inestimably swift that no animal could be compared with them in speed, on which his servants brought every necessary from all parts. It was a day’s journey for the wooden horses from Llancarfan to Neath and Brycheiniog in going and returning.

§25. Of the deliverance of king Rhain from the hands of the men of Gwynllyw’s land.

A third miracle God did by saint Cadog according to the evidence of the graphium of the refuge of his stock of Gwynlliog. Rhain, son of Brychan, uncle of the same, having marched forth from his borders plundered and wasted the province of Gwynlliog as far as the sea. The men of Gwynllyw’s land also rose up to meet his army, and put him to flight, and smote his men in the place which is called Pwll Rhain, and in Pwll Rhudd, and in Pwll lithion and Pwll Gweddillion, which places received their names from them. Also the aforesaid Rhain was besieged by the men of Gwynllyw’s land) because they dared not by any means kill the uncle of their master without his bidding. Therefore the blessed Cadog came, and rescued the aforesaid Rhain from blockade, who, when Cadog had received from him a confession of his faults, confirmed the refuge, which previously Maelgwn and Arthur had granted to him by a ratified treaty. Moreover, Rhain uttered words of this sort, ‘Since thou hast freed me to­day’, said he, ‘may every one who shall spring from my race, be cursed, unless he have protected the race of Gwynllyw, and if he violate the pact which I have concluded with saint Cadog.’ Then saint Cadog prayed to the Lord to give him a king, who should rule his race for him, and there was given him Meurig son of Enhinti. And saint Cadog went out to meet him, and gave to him his aunt, Dibunn by name, with the whole region, except Gwynlliog, and he blessed them, and commanded that they should keep his refuge in accordance with the pact which he had previously concluded with Maelgwn and Arthur and Rhain. Which agreement Meurig allowed in the presence of these witnesses: of the clergy, David, Cynidr, Eiludd (that is, Teilo), Illtud, Maeddog, Cannau, and several others. And the blessed Cadog commanded Meurig, saying, ‘Protect my country and inheritance of Gwynlliog, and let it be free from all fiscal tribute, except that they go with thee in the host to battle three days and nights, and, if they go with thee longer, thou shalt feed them.’ And Meurig replied, ‘May it be so for ever.’ And the man of God added, ‘Blessed be he, who shall keep the tenor of this pact. Who shall not observe it, may he be cursed by God and all his saints.’ And all the clergy answered, ‘Amen.’