brethren from an unlawful state of servitude. Upon which the bishop of Ostia, the liberal and openhearted Octavian, thus addressed the council: Now, indeed, it evidently appeareth, that the archdeacon is more strenuous in promoting the advantages of his church, than his own self-interest, and that he is more actuated by a sense of charity than of covetousness.'

"The right, however, of Giraldus to the bishopric was deemed so unquestionable, that he was usually called in Wales the bishop elect: and although he does not appear ever to have assumed that title himself, yet king John issued several mandates and letters against him for presuming to take upon himself that character. Know ye, that Giraldus, archdeacon of Brecknock, acts openly against our crown aud dignity, considering himself as the bishop elect of Saint David's, though we have never assented to his election.'

"This long controversy continued above four years, during which time our author suffered many and very heavy persecutions, one of which I shall now relate.

"The resolute conduct of the canons of Saint David's, in asserting the rights of their church, was strongly supported by the reigning princes of North and South Wales: on the other side, the archbishop of Canterbury not only employed threats but also bribes, in order to soften the temper of the chapter: he sent them threatening letters from the king and justiciary, and, by means of one Osbert, caused gilt rings, costly garments richly ornamented with gold and ivory, and various other presents to be distributed amongst them; which at length had the desired effect. The abbot of Whitland, whom

Giraldus calls albior exteriùs quam interiùs, habitu quàm actu, nomine quàm omine,' was the chief author of these corrupt intrigues, and infected the minds of the chapter of Saint David's. Still, however, the, archdeacon persevered in a steady opposition to them, supported by the nobles of the country, and by all well-wishers to the church. On his return towards England from a journey through the wild districts of Cardiganshire, he met, on the mountains of the Cantref Bychan, a messenger who had been dispatched from his dean at Brecknock, to acquaint him that all the lands, both at Brecknock and Landeu, belonging to the see of Saint David's, and of which he had the management, had, by a precept of the justiciary, been seized by the servants of William de Braose, on behalf of the king. At Luel, he encountered a second messenger, informing him, that all his own lands and revenues would be shortly seized; and his friends advised him on no account to proceed, for the kings officers had threatened to throw into prison both him and his attendants, if they could lay hold of them. But the archdeacon, by no means alarmed at these tidings, proceeded on his journey homewards; when between the villages of Trallan and Aberyscir he met his own dean, by name Richard (who had been appointed his procurator in those parts), pale and trembling; and he confirmed to him by mouth, all the intelligence he had before communicated to him by letters and messengers. Still, however, Giraldus despising the mighty threats of his adversaries, persisted in his journey, saying to his companions, Have we not some good ate at home? Let us go and drink it before it be all

'gone.'

gone.' 'Nonne domi cerevisiam bonam halemus? Eamus ergo et lilamus eam, prius quam omnino fuerimus destituti. On arriving at Landeu, he found all safe and quiet at home; these premature alarms having arisen only from some threats disseminated in that neighbourhood by Reginald Foliot, and his accomplices.

"These disturbances and insults proceeded from the following cause: the justiciary being at Shrewsbury, attended by the barons of that country, heard a heavy complaint preferred against Giraldus, by Robert bishop of Bangor; alleging that he had favoured the cause of his adversary Andrew, who, contrary to the will of the king, considered himself as bishop elect; and declaring in a public audience, that, not only on this, but on every other occasion, he had opposed the inclinations of the king; and he likewise added, that the archdeacon at this present time came into North Wales for the purpose of uniting Llewelyn and the princes of Powys with those of South Wales, and in short the whole country of Wales in a confederacy against the king. Upon the grounds of these false representations, the justiciary deprived Giraldus of all his benefices at Brecknock, and on his journey through Oxford, wrote to the archdeacon of that county, ordering him to do the same. Geoffrey Fitz-piers, earl of Essex, to his dearly beloved friend the archdeacon of Oxford, sendeth greeting: Know therefore that Giraldus archdeacon of Brecknock is the enemy of our lord the king, and therefore we command you to take into your hands all the benefices which he holds in your archdeaconry.' The justiciary also wrote letters to the abbot of Whit

land, ordering him to consider Giraldus as an enemy to the king, and a rebel, to hold no intercourse with him, or to give any assistance in time of need; for during the many vexatious persecutions that Giraldus had experienced, he had often sought and found refuge within the convents of the Cistercian order.

"The abbot, unable totally to prevent the reception of Giraldus within the gates of the monasteries subject to him, and particularly that of Stratflur, where he had de posited all his most valuable books, and whither, during the tide of his heaviest persecutions, he had frequently retreated, gave orders that no respect should be paid to the archdeacon whenever he came; but that he should be received only in the public hall, amongst the noisy and vulgar guests. He ordered also, that neither monk nor lay-brother, nor even any servant belonging to the convent, should be allowed to conduct him, as a guide, over the wild and dreary tract of country, in which that monastery is situated; a mark of hospitality and kindness not denied even to the greatest strangers. The archdeacon, however, had shortly the means of fully vindicating his character from these unjust aspersions, and of disappointing the abbot of Whitland in his ambitious hopes of preferment. On being ordered by the justiciary to amend his conduct towards the king, and to hold no synod but in his own archdeaconry, he addressed him in the following spirited letter: I am much astonished that a man of your lordship's wisdom and discretion, the first counsellor of the kingdom and justiciary of the realm, should so readily have attended to the suggestions of ene

mies during the absence of the adverse party, and be thus moved to anger; for it is not usual, as you well know, to pronounce judgment upon the assertions of one party, whilst the other is absent. Believe me, I am not such a Sylvester (such a mere man of the woods), as from the misrepresentations of my enemies, you may be inclined to think me; but that whenever a fit time and opportunity offer, I shall know how to exist within a court. I will there fore shortly come to you in England, prepared, through God's blessing, to refute, by true and solemn affidavits, the calumnies which have been trumpeted forth against me; and furthermore to convince your lordship that even the words of bishops are not always to be received as gospel; but that, on the other hand (when devoid of truth), they ought rather to be considered as profane.'

"Not finding the justiciary on his arrival in London, he followed him into Kent. About the same time a messenger came to the court from Llewelyn prince of Wales, who, upon inquiry, related faithfully to the justiciary every thing that had been done by Giraldus, assuring him, that by his inAuence with the prince and nobles of the country the royal cause had been greatly assisted. The justiciary was completely satisfied with this explanation, and had a long conference with Giraldus, concerning the state of affairs in Wales.

"The persevering contest in which Giraldus was engaged became a frequent subject of conversation both in England and Wales. At a time when Gwenwynwyn, son of *Owen Cyveiliog, and prince of Powys, was assembled in council with the chiefs and nobles of his

land, and the labours of Giraldus were mentioned; the prince said, Wales has indeed been accustomed to wage many and obstinate wars with England, but none so severe as that now carried on by the bishop of Saint David's elect, who, to maintain the dignity and rights of his country, hath not ceased by long and repeated exertions to molest the king, the archbishop, and the whole body of the English clergy and people. Our differences, should they last during the summer, are settled before winter, nor do they often extend beyond the term of a single year; but this contest of Giraldus has continued incessantly for more than five.'

"The election of Giraldus to the vacant see of Saint David's being thus annulled by the court of Rome, he returned to England, and protested publicly against his three rival competitors. He objected to the abbot of Saint Dogmael, as being totally illiterate: to the abbot of Whitland, as being illegitimately born, and of a most ambitious disposition: and to Reginald Foliot, as being but just arrived at the age of manhood, and as a young man of most profligate character.

"On the day appointed for electing a bishop to fill the long vacant episcopal chair of Saint David's, Giraldus appeared at Lambeth ; and from thence paid a visit to the justiciary in Westminster, who accompanied him to the chapel of Saint Catharine, at which place the canons of Saint David's, and the clergy of the archbishop, were assembled; for, according to the customs of the English monarchy, these elections were always made either before the king or his justiciary, and not in the presence of the archbishop.

"The justiciary, calling Giraldus aside, endeavoured to dissuade him from nominating a Welshman to the vacant preferment, as during this tedious controversy they had shown themselves so adverse to his interest; and at the same time begged him to recommend some stranger of good character and reputation. The archdeacon readily assented; and that he might not appear to be actuated by self-interest, proposed two natives of Normandy; but the justiciary disapproving of this choice, desired him to think of two other fit persons residing in England, and who were better known to him. Having obtained leave from the justiciary, five or six of the canons of Saint David's retired with the archdeacon, and endeavoured to persuade him to fix upon some member of their church, naming at first some canons, then some abbots, and lastly some priors, to all of whom Giraldus objected. They then mentioned Geoffrey de Henelawe prior of Lanthoni, as being a member of the church of Saint David's, whom he also rejected; because he had always coveted this piece of preferment, and lived in the greatest intimacy with the archbishop.

"Being urged the next day by the justiciary, to nominate some other fit persons who resided in England, not in Wales; he proposed Roger, dean of Lincoln, and Walter Mapes, archdeacon of Oxford; at the same time desiring the justiciary to name some other candidates, who, though not Welshmen, were nevertheless acquainted with the customs of that country. The justiciary hav. ing proposed Hugh de Mapenor, dean of Hereford, and Walter Foliot, precentor of the same church (of whom Giraldus approved),

asked him why he objected to Geoffrey de Henelawe; upon which he stated the same objections he had before given to the canons of Saint David's. The archbishop, as well as the justiciary, were interested in the promotion of this man, as the one wished to advance his physician, and the other his son-in-law, Henry de Bohun, to the pricrate of Lanthoni, which would become vacant by the preferment of Geoffrey to the see of Saint David's.

"The archdeacon could not at first be prevailed upon to listen to this nomination, but, during their procession to the chapter-house, revolving in his mind the abandoned state of corruption into which his church had fallen, and how useless and unprofitable a task it would be for him to encounter fresh troubles and dangers for its sake; considering also, that the person proposed had never openly professed himself to be his enemy, and moreover, was a member of their church; he suddenly changed his mind, and when the chapter was assembled, he thus publicly addressed its members:

I have hitherto sufficiently contended; I have very sufficiently, and not unprofitably, toiled in endeavouring to bring to life the long dormant and almost expired rights of our church; nor have I been deterred, by any obstacles, from prosecuting its welfare with the ut most diligence and activity: that I may not, therefore, appear to you in the light of a perpetual and obstinate opposer to your wills, I freely give my consent to the person now proposed, provided he meets with the approbation of our brethren, Maurice archdeacon of Cardigan, and the other canons.'

"Giraldus seeing with regret how little good faith and honesty

existed

existed in the breasts of his brethren and canons, who, besides their numerous excesses, had so often proved themselves perjured to the church, thought it no longer honourable for him to remain a member of their society; upon which he went to the archbishop, with whom a perfect reconciliation had taken place, and revealing his intentions to him in the most confidential manner, requested him to use his interest with the bishop of David's, on behalf of his nephew, a young man, to whom he wished to resign his archdeaconry and prebendary. The archbishop at first hesitated, but afterwards consented, and procured the appointment of Philip de Barri to the preferment which his uncle Giraldus was desirous of resigning in his favour. Philip appears to have been the youngest son of his brother Philip de Barri, for whom Giraldus had the greatest affection. His father had bestowed upon him a literary education, and had on his deathbed beseeched his brother to advance him in the church, and to procure him the reversion of his own preferment. Thus Giraldus, both affectionately and essentially, complied with the wishes of his departed brother, by bestowing on his son a most ample revenue: he often most appropriately repeated to his nephew those lines of Virgil, in which the poet makes Æneas address his son,

• Disce puer virtutem ex me, verumque laborem, Fortunam ex aliis.'

"He passed the last seventeen years of his life in Wales; employed in revising his former literary works, and in composing others, of which he has himself given a copious index. In the midst of these avocations, he received once more an offer of the bishopric of Saint David's, and was likely to meet with no opposition from the court; but from the dishonourable terms on which it was proffered, he refused the acceptance of that ecclesiastical dignity, which, during the greater part of his life, had been the object of his most earnest wishes.

"He died at Saint David's, in the seventy-fourth yeat of his age, and was buried in the cathedral church.

"Noble in his birth, and comely in his person; mild in his manners, and affable in his conversation; zealous, active, and undaunted in maintaining the rights and dignities of his church; moral in his character, and orthodox in his principles; charitable and disinterested, though ambitious; learned though superstitious;

sc SUCH WAS GIRALDUS.

"And in whatever point of view we examine the character of this extraordinary man, whether as a scholar, a patriot, or a divine, we may justly consider him as one of the brightest iuminaries that adorned the annals of the twelfth ceRtury."

MANNERS