Here begins the Preface to the Life of the Most Blessed Cadoc, also called Sophia, bishop and martyr, of the city of Beneventum #

¹ Formerly there ruled on the borders of Britain, in a region called Dimetia, a certain regulus named Glywys, from whom the whole country of that district, throughout the days of his life, was called Glywysyg. He is said to have had ten children, the eldest of whom was called Gwynlliw, from whose name the country which he governed, after the death of his father and down to the present day, has been called Gwynlliw. His sons, like brothers of good and noble disposition, by an ancient custom peacefully and carefully divided their father’s kingdom among themselves according to their number, assigning to each a province, except only Pedrog, the fourth, who exchanged a transitory inheritance for one everlasting. Their names and neighbouring provinces were as follows: Gwynlliw, the eldest son, obtained the chief part of his father’s kingdom, namely Gwynllwg; Etelic received Edelygion, Poul Penychen, Seru Serugunid, Gwrhai Gurinid, Mar Margam, Cettil Kidwely, Cornouguil Carnwyllion, and Metel Crucmetil. One of them, however, Pedrog, would not accept a share with the others, for he wholly rejected the vanities and fleeting attractions of this world and, following the example of the holy fathers, despised earthly things in favour of heavenly. He began to cleave steadfastly to God and gave up his country, his kindred, and at last all the possessions of this world. Departing from his home at God’s direction, he came into the land of Cornwall, and at length reached the district called Botmenei, where throughout his life he served God with the utmost devotion and built a very great monastery in his honour. His feast is celebrated with reverence and great solemnity on the second day before the Nones of June.

² Here ends the Preface.

Here begins the Prologue to the Life of the Same Saint. Amen #

¹ After a long interval of time, the same king Gwynlliw, enjoying his kingdom, desired to be joined in marriage to a certain young woman of very high repute, elegant in appearance, beautiful in form, and adorned in silken garments. Her name was Gwladys, and she was the daughter of a certain regulus called Brychan. Accordingly, he sent many messengers to the girl’s father, earnestly requesting that she be given to him in marriage. But when her father heard the message, he became angry and, filled with rage, refused to betroth his daughter, treated the messengers with contempt, and sent them back without honour. Taking this badly, they returned and reported to their lord what had been done to them. When he heard this, he was inflamed with great anger and armed as many as three hundred slaves to carry off the young woman by force. They immediately set out on their journey and came to the court of the same regulus, which is called Talgarth, and found the young woman before the door of her dwelling, sitting with her sisters and passing the time in modest conversation. They seized her at once and swiftly returned with her. When Brychan, her father, heard this, he was stricken with grief of heart and, mourning the loss of his beloved daughter, called to his aid all his friends and neighbours to recover her. When all his allies had gathered, he hastened in pursuit of his enemy and his accomplices. When Gwynlliw saw them, he repeatedly ordered that the young woman be brought forward and made her ride with him; and not fleeing, but proceeding slowly on horseback with her, he went ahead of his army, waited for his soldiers, and courageously urged them on to battle. But Brychan, boldly attacking the hard-hearted king and his followers with his men, slew two hundred of them and pursued the rest as far as the hill which forms the boundary between the two lands and is called in the British tongue Bochriwcarn, meaning “the cheek of a stony road.”

² But when Gwynlliw had reached the boundary of his dominions, being bodily unharmed with the same young woman and sorrowful from the fighting with his enemies, in which great slaughter had occurred, look, three valiant heroes—Arthur with his two knights, namely Kai and Bedwir—were sitting on the summit of the same hill and playing at dice. When they saw the king approaching with the young woman, Arthur was at once seized with desire for her and, filled with wicked thoughts, said to his companions, “Know that I am fiercely inflamed with love for the woman whom the warrior carries off on horseback.” But they forbade him, saying, “Far be it from you to commit such wickedness, for we have been accustomed to aid the poor and the oppressed; therefore let us go forward and quickly give our help, so that this conflict may be brought to an end.” And he replied, “Since you both wish to help him rather than take the woman from him for me, go and meet them and carefully enquire which of them is the rightful owner of this territory.” They immediately set out, and, when the question was put by the king’s command, Gwynlliw replied, “God is my witness, and all the most learned men of the land, that I declare myself to be the owner of this territory.” The messengers returned to their lord and reported what they had heard. Then Arthur, with his armed companions, rushed upon Gwynlliw’s enemies, who turned their backs and fled in great disorder to their own land. Thus Gwynlliw, triumphing through Arthur’s assistance, went with the same lady Gwladys to his palace upon that hill, which afterwards from his name received the British appellation Allt Gwynlliw, that is, the Hill of Gwynlliw; for from Gwynlliw comes Gwynllwg, and from Brychan, Brycheiniog takes its name.

Here begins the Life of the Same Saint, on the ninth day before the Kalends of February #

Chapter 1: Of the angelic revelation and the birth of Saint Cadoc #

¹ When these events had taken place, King Gwynlliw lawfully married the same daughter of Brychan, named Gwladys. She conceived, and—marvellous to relate—four lamps were seen shining every night with great brightness in the four corners of the house where she stayed, until she gave birth to her firstborn son. From this it is clear to all that the child was chosen by God from his mother’s womb, according to the prophecy of Isaiah: “From your mother’s womb I have chosen you” [Isaiah 49:1], and elsewhere, “From my mother’s womb the Lord has called me” [Isaiah 49:1].

² On a certain night some of Gwynlliw’s thieves came for the purpose of committing a robbery in a settlement where there lived a devout Irishman, a hermit who served God faithfully. These thieves were favoured by the same Gwynlliw, who incited them to theft. The hermit possessed no worldly goods except a cow heavy with calf, the finest in the whole district, and by her abundant milk she provided sufficient nourishment for the hermit and his twelve attendants. This cow the thieves stole. On the very night on which this crime was committed, Gwladys, the wife of the often-mentioned king, gave birth to her firstborn son. On that same night a voice from heaven announced to the child’s father in his sleep, saying, “A certain holy priest and anchorite, by God’s direction, will come to you tomorrow early in the morning. When you see him, receive him humbly and devoutly, and, kneeling earnestly, beg him to cleanse your son in the font of regeneration; and his name shall be called Cathmail.”

Chapter 2: How the boy Cadoc was instructed by holy Meuthi #

¹ When the child had been born a second time by the grace of baptism, the same priest returned him, according to the custom for the baptised, to his parents, saying, “Receive with joy that child who, by angelic command, has been cleansed by me in the laver of salvation, and keep him for seven years from all harmful things; and when this has been done, determine that he should be instructed in divine learning.” When this was heard, the child’s father said to the holy presbyter, “To you, before all the teachers of Britain, I entrust my son, so that, when the appointed number of years has passed, you may instruct him in the liberal arts and divine doctrine, since you are a true worshipper of God and a skilled teacher of many disciples.” To these words holy Meuthi replied, “All that you have said concerning this child, God willing, I will faithfully accomplish.” When these matters had been carried out as described, holy Meuthi, having received the same cow, returned to his own dwelling.

Chapter 3: Of the fountain which suddenly sprang up for the baptism of the child and was turned into metheglin #

¹ We think it should by no means be passed over what divine mercy did, to make manifest the grace of the often-mentioned child, concerning the same fountain in which holy Cathmail and Cadoc were baptised. In the first year after the baptism of Saint Cadoc, as is related by the more learned ancient writers of Britain, it was changed into mead in both taste and colour. In the second year it retained throughout the year the colour and sweetness of milk. Thus, for the people who lived in the region where the fountain was— which had flowed from the ground at the prayer of the said hermit and for the love of Saint Cadoc— and who drank from it, it never failed nor lost its sweetness. But a very great dispute and quarrel arose between unjust heirs, so that they fought fiercely with one another over the fountain, and a great slaughter followed: a hundred countrymen were killed, many were wounded, and those who survived at last returned to their homes with their horses and blood-stained garments. Therefore God, the giver of all good things, who by this fountain had deigned to show his kindness, was angered and provoked by their wickedness and injustice, and caused the drink to return to its natural tastelessness, according to what was said to Moses: “I will hide my face from them, says the Lord; I will see what their end shall be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom there is no faith” [Deuteronomy 32:20]. When the period of seven years had passed, and all the allurements of the world were despised, the boy Cadoc, with the consent of his parents and of his own free will, placed himself under the guidance of his baptiser Meuthi to be instructed in sacred learning and the liberal arts. Meuthi willingly received him and, in accordance with the angel’s command, diligently instructed him for twelve years in Donatus, Priscian, and the other arts. Thus, when Cadoc of blessed memory had passed beyond childhood, he became greatly devoted to God and strove with all his strength to obtain through good works the inheritance of eternal life; having overcome the weaknesses of childhood, he gave his mind to no pleasure. For what the evangelist said of the child Jesus may not unfittingly be said of this his servant: “The child grew and was strengthened, and the Spirit of God was with him” [Luke 2:40].

Chapter 4: Of the punishment of the countryman who refused to give fire to the child Cadoc #

¹ On a certain day, when their fire had gone out, the same priest ordered his humble pupil to fetch fire to cook the food. Readily obeying his master’s command, he at once went to a threshing floor, or grain-winnowing place, where there was a servant of his master named Tidus, who at that time was drying oats, and he earnestly asked him to give fire for his master’s use. But the foolish rustic rejected his request and refused to give him any, unless he would carry the burning coals in his cloak. Yet the boy, trusting in the Lord, took the glowing coals into his cloak and brought them to his master without the garment being burned. It should not be concealed, however, that the rustic received the punishment due to his perversity. For as the boy was returning, he saw the rustic and, lifting his eyes to heaven, prayed to the Lord, saying, “I beg you, God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, who grant power on earth to your servants by destroying scorpions, quenching poisons, casting out demons, giving sight to the blind, cleansing lepers, healing the sick, taming the fierce, and subduing sinners and impious persons: hear my prayer, that this rustic, through the kindling of his own firebrands, may be burned together with his threshing floor and grain, and that his threshing floor may be cursed by God, so that no one after his death may use it for an age, and that his offspring may be subject to the heathen. Yet by these petitions which I have addressed to your goodness, I do not wish that the same sinner should be condemned in his wickedness, since the Lord says, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but rather that he should turn and live’ [Ezekiel 18:23]. And Paul says, ‘Not repaying evil for evil, nor abuse for abuse, but on the contrary blessing’ [1 Peter 3:9]. But let this be done so that your divine power and might may be made manifest in this world to the wicked, that they may fear you the more and shrink from resisting those who serve you; as it is read in Daniel, ‘Let all who dwell on the earth fear the God of Daniel, for he is the deliverer and saviour, who works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth’ [Daniel 6:27].”

² When the prayer had ended and he looked back, look, the threshing floor which he had cursed, together with the foolish countryman mentioned above, was set on fire and completely consumed. In that place where the threshing or winnowing floor had stood, after the burning there arose an unsightly spring, as a memorial of divine vengeance, which formed a small marsh and remains to this day in remembrance of the event. The obedient boy Cadoc, as soon as he returned with the burning coals, cast them from his unscorched cloak before the eyes of his master. When this had been done, as described, the elder said to him, “My most beloved disciple, chosen servant of God, it is no longer lawful for me to teach you.” Hearing this, the well-disposed youth, fearing that by some act he had incurred his master’s displeasure, said with a deep sigh, “How have I angered you? For your displeasure burns me like fire. I have never been disobedient to you, either in word or deed, nor have I been an accuser or whisperer among the brethren.” Meuthi answered him, “By no means. Rather, as it is read in the Gospel concerning the centurion, who, when he asked Christ to heal his servant, said to him, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof’ [Matthew 8:8], so I say that you receive no longer instruction from me; for your wisdom surpasses my knowledge, your innocence excels my prudence, and in every respect you are holier than I. Therefore, with divine protection and my blessing, and with the angels accompanying you, you will prosper wherever you choose to go.” After Cadoc had departed, holy Meuthi, reflecting upon the same sacred fire, which he dared by no means to use, went and hid it as a precious treasure, burying it in the cemetery. From that day until the time of King Howel, the place where the sacred fire had been hidden by Saint Meuthi was known everywhere; and divine mercy was accustomed to grant healing there to all who came with cattle afflicted by various diseases. At length, however, a certain malicious man, envying the gift of God bestowed upon humankind through this healing fire, wickedly destroyed both the place and the fire, so that no one might be cured of illness by it. From that time onwards, the fire and the place have remained unknown, and have brought healing to no one.

Chapter 5: Of the departure of Cadoc from his master, and the permission given him to proceed with the young pig #

¹ Therefore Saint Cadoc departed sorrowfully from his often-mentioned teacher and, with frequent sighs, diligently sought a place suitable for the worship of God; nor was he long deprived of his desire. At length he came to a certain valley overgrown with thorns and thistles, where weariness compelled him to rest for a while beneath the shade of an apple tree. The pigs feeding there, on seeing him, were frightened and quickly fled to the swineherd. When the swineherd saw the pigs in terror, he was filled with anger, and, stirred to action, rose up and, taking his spear, searched in every direction for whoever or whatever had frightened them. Thus it happened that he came to the place where Saint Cadoc was praying near the roots of the same tree; and when he saw him, he suspected that he was a thief and, raising his right hand, attempted to stab him with the point of his spear. But God, seeing the wicked intent of the swineherd from on high, immediately caused his outstretched arm to become rigid, so that he could neither draw it back nor extend it further, and at once he lost the sight of both his eyes. Thus, by God’s direction, the venerable Cadoc honourably escaped the dangerous fury of the enraged swineherd.

² The swineherd, uttering lamentable cries and testing with his feet and left hand alone the injury done to his limbs, realised that Cadoc, whom he had wished to kill, was a servant of God, and addressed him sorrowfully as follows: “I beg your holiness with earnest prayers that, for the ineffable mercy of God, you would loosen for me—who suffer under the incorporeal bonds of divine vengeance—my wretched limbs, and restore the sight that has been taken from my eyes.” To these words Cadoc said, “You will receive no healing from God until you go to your master, namely Poul Pennychen.” But he replied, “You see, most faithful servant of God, that I am deprived of the sight of both eyes, and my miserable body is as though bound with iron chains; therefore I am unable to travel.” To him Cadoc answered, “Only believe that all things are possible to God, both in heaven and on earth.” And he replied, “I believe, Lord” [John 9:38]. Again the blessed man said to him, “He who opened the eyes of one born blind, and raised Lazarus from the tomb in which he had lain for four days, will open your eyes; and in the presence of your master and of those who will be sitting with him, the strength of all your limbs will be instantly restored. I command you that, when you tell your master what God has done to you through me and have received the sight of your eyes, you greet him on my behalf and ask him to come to me, so that by sight and conversation I may be deemed worthy to engage his attention; for he is my uncle.”

³ When he had heard these words, the blind and wretched man at once arose, doubting nothing of obtaining his healing through the mercy of God. With his steps guided by God, he went straight to the dwelling of his master, which in the British tongue is called Nant Poul. Striking the doors with his sightless forehead, he called out to the gatekeepers in a loud voice and pitifully begged for entry. When the gatekeepers saw him and had compassion on him because of his affliction, they anxiously asked how he had lost his sight and how he had come to be seized with such infirmity. But he gave no answer and kept the matter secret until he had entered his master’s hall. Then, standing before him, he clearly related all the things that God, through Saint Cadoc, had done for him; and scarcely had he finished speaking when his blindness was removed and his former sight restored. Scales like those of a fish fell from his eyes, and the power of natural strength was restored to his stiffened right hand [Acts 9:18]. When these things were seen and heard, the same Poul was greatly amazed; and receiving the command of the man of God, he rejoiced exceedingly. Thinking that holy Cadoc would prefer temporal honour and an earthly kingdom to the service of God, he put on his finest garments and, with twelve chosen warriors, guided by the same swineherd, went joyfully to the man of God. They found him praying beneath the shade of the said apple tree, and not only he himself but also all the soldiers with him dismounted from their horses, fell at the feet of the blessed Cadoc, and addressed him with words such as these: “We give due thanks to God and greatly rejoice at your happy arrival. If you will lay aside the service of religion and agree to take up the royal sceptre befitting your rank, for the rights of the whole kingdom belong to you, we will all submit to your rule, since you are the chief heir of this kingdom.”

⁴ To these words Cadoc replied, “I will never forsake the service of divine religion for the allurements of this deceitful world, nor will I prefer earthly things to heavenly, nor despise what is eternal for what is momentary; a plot for a single hut, out of all your territory, will be sufficient for me.” The sub-regulus answered him, “I expected that you would ask for very great gifts; now you ask for the smallest. Therefore choose and possess whatever may please your will.” To him the blessed man said, “It wearies me to examine the many places of this wilderness, and I choose above all others to dwell in this valley, though it lies some distance from settlements; here I judge it fitting to serve God devoutly with my fellow soldiers, the clergy, according to what is written in the Psalms, ‘This is my resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I have chosen it’ [Psalm 132:14].” When these things had been done and a dwelling place granted to the blessed Cadoc, the sub-regulus returned to his own home.

⁵ The venerable man and his clergy spent the following night in prayer to God, asking that he would show them a place on which to build for him and to clear by rooting out the bushes. For in that valley there was no dry ground, it being a watery marsh that produced nothing but reeds, and it was full of many kinds of reptiles and snakes, except for the area around a thicket beneath which a great white boar was accustomed to dwell; and in the midst of that thicket, in its upper part, a swan used to build its nest each year. When the venerable man had finished his prayer, look, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Your prayer has been heard by the Lord. Therefore, when you rise early in the morning, you will find a place prepared for building an oratory, level and made smooth; and as you walk over it you will see a bristly old white boar leap away, startled by the sound of your footsteps. There you may lay the foundation of your church in the name of the Holy Trinity. Afterwards, in the place where the boar will stop again, you may build a dormitory; and where, in its course, it will make a third halt, there you may construct your refectory.”

⁶ Saint Cadoc rose early in the morning and saw that the rough and overgrown ground had, by God’s direction, been made level, just as the angel had foretold. Accordingly, by angelic command, the venerable man went to the same thicket in the middle of the cleared valley and saw a great and remarkable boar rising up at the sound of his footsteps, and likewise a white swan flying away in fear, driven from its nest. The boar halted its course not far from the thicket and looked back towards Saint Cadoc, as though indicating the place; it then went on a little farther and again paused briefly. The blessed man marked the three stopping places of the boar by fixing three twigs, and at the first station he built a notable monastery of timber, at the second a refectory and strong enclosure, and at the third a dormitory.

Chapter 6: How the man of God first built a monastery #

¹ After this miracle became known to all the western Britons, a great multitude of clergy from every part of Britain hastened eagerly to Saint Cadoc, flowing like a river, so that they might learn to imitate his wisdom and his way of life. For he always gladly received all who earnestly desired to obey without delay the commands of God and to devote themselves to the study of the Holy Scriptures. Then the holy man undertook to raise a great mound of earth and to make within it a very fair cemetery, to be dedicated in honour of God, where the bodies of the faithful might be buried near the church. When the mound had been completed and the cemetery laid out within it, he made four broad footpaths across four slopes of the rising ground which surrounded his dwelling, through places that had previously been impassable, literally and spiritually following the evangelical precept which says, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” [Isaiah 40:3].

² Likewise this man of God, not only by bodily labour with his hands turned uneven, crooked, and rough tracks into good roads, but also converted the hearts of many that were corrupted and perverse through various errors to the right way of the Lord. He also chose another place for himself and caused another mound of earth to be raised there, in the form of a circular stronghold, and upon the mound to be built what in the British tongue is called Kastell Cadoc, that is, the Castle of Cadoc. For he judged it fitting to spend his life in manual labour and feared to consume idly the toil of another, hoping through the hardships of present effort to pass on to the glory of eternal rest, according to what is written in the Psalms, “You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands” [Psalm 128:2]. And the Apostle says, “Let each of you labour, working with your hands, so that you may have something to share with those in need” [Ephesians 4:28], and again, “Let no one eat the bread of idleness; for if anyone is unwilling to work, neither should he eat” [2 Thessalonians 3:10].

³ Although he was the owner of much land, he was accustomed to sow his grain only on one fertile acre, which in the language of the inhabitants was called Erw Gwyn, that is, the White Acre. And it is known to all who read or hear the Life of the pious father Cadoc that this acre, by reason of the blessing and holiness of the man of God, obtained its venerable name.

Chapter 7: How Saint Cadoc sailed to Ireland #

¹ It happened, therefore, that one day, after a long time had passed, the blessed Cadoc spoke to his disciples in this manner, saying, “My dearest brethren, I have a great desire to sail to Ireland for the sake of teaching.” They answered him, “We know indeed, kind master, that you form plans that are pleasing to God and according to his will; for whatever you ask of him, you immediately obtain, and you contemplate nothing wicked or perverse. You know that it is better always to meditate on the Holy Scriptures, according to the saying in the Proverbs of the Wise Man, ‘My son, acquire learning in your youth, and you will find wisdom with your grey hairs, and it will be to you as a father and a mother’ [Sirach 6:18–19].” Afterwards he ordered that a strong boat, smeared with pitch, should be prepared for him in a sea harbour, so that he might sail safely in it to Ireland. Some of his disciples, gathering together, said these words, “Lord, wherever you go, we will follow you.” He said to them, “Some of you shall go with me, but others shall remain here to keep my monastery and settlement faithfully until I return.” And so it was done.

² Thus Saint Cadoc sailed across the Irish Sea and, with a favourable and prosperous passage, came to land. Arriving in due course, he set himself diligently to seek out the most eminent teacher of that land, so that he might be more perfectly instructed by him in the seven liberal arts. Thirsting eagerly for learning, he at last came prosperously to the chief city of that country, which is called Lismore Muchutu. There he was kindly received by the most learned master of that city and by all the clergy dwelling there; and on account of his holiness and humility they gave him the surname of the principal saint of that place, Muchutu. With this chief teacher he remained for three years, until he attained perfection in the learning of the West. It is also reported that a monastery in honour of Saint Cadoc was built in that city.

Chapter 8: How Cadoc returned from Ireland #

¹ When three years had passed, he returned from Ireland with great renown, accompanied by a large company of Irish and British clergy, among whom were devout and very learned men, namely Finian Macmoil and Gnavan, said to have been the most distinguished and skilful of all the British disciples. From there he came to the British coast and withdrew with his companions into the district of Brecknock, for he had heard that a renowned rhetorician named Bachan had come from Italy to that region. When the blessed Cadoc heard of his learning, he greatly desired to be taught Latin by him according to the Roman method. At that time there was a severe famine in the district of Brecknock. When the holy man came to the same teacher, Saint Cadoc humbly asked whether he would deign to receive him for instruction. He replied, “My son, I am willing, but I greatly fear that food may be lacking for you and your fellow disciples, and that you may suffer hunger.”

² When these things were heard, the man of God, having firm trust in the Lord and being fervent in prayer, bathed his sorrowful cheeks with tears, that food might be provided for them by the Giver of all things. Thus, during that same day, it happened that a certain mouse came out of its hole carrying in its mouth a grain of corn and, in a playful manner, placed it upon a table before the eyes of the blessed Cadoc. The same mouse came and went seven times and hid as many grains in its store, showing by this sign that divine mercy was present with him. At length he caught the little mouse and tied it by the foot, that he might diligently investigate the mystery of the matter. He then summoned the same teacher, showed him the grain, and carefully related all that had occurred. When both perceived that a miracle had been revealed to them by God, they took counsel together. Cadoc asked and received from a certain widow a long and fine thread, which he tied to the mouse’s foot; then, letting it go with the loosened thread, he followed it until the little creature came to a certain mound, beneath which was a very fair underground chamber, built long ago and filled with clean wheat. There it immediately entered through a dark opening and soon returned, bringing in its mouth one grain of corn as before. Who had built that storehouse, or who had placed there so great a quantity of grain, is to this day unknown; but it is most certainly known that it was a divine gift granted to the servant of the Lord, to drive away want from himself and from his companions.

³ When Saint Cadoc had seen these things, he returned to his master and companions and told them what he had found. His master said to him, “By this I know that you are a true servant of God and that you are strengthened by him in all your journeys; therefore I desire all the more earnestly that you remain with me for study, for as long as it may please you.” Hearing these words, the servant of God rejoiced greatly and said, “If you command, lord father, that we give this divine gift to the poor and hungry, we shall rightly claim the saying of the Wise Man, and it will deservedly be fulfilled in us: ‘He who withholds grain will be cursed by the people, but blessing will be upon the head of those who give it’” [Proverbs 11:26]. Therefore, while he remained with the same teacher, he distributed the grain given to him by God to all the poor, giving to each according to his need. As the fame of this miracle spread throughout the region, the joyful report came to the ears of Brychan, the grandfather of the blessed Cadoc, who, with fitting admiration, granted to the man of God the portion of the field in which the grain had been found, called Llanspyddid; and in that place the man of God built a monastery for himself.

Chapter 9: Of the return of the blessed Cadoc to his principal monastery #

¹ Therefore the blessed Cadoc, when he found himself sufficiently instructed in the learning of the teacher Bachan, commended his oratory to that master and to some of his companions, and returned to his own dwelling in his beloved land at Llancarvan. Another miracle of the same venerable father is also said to have taken place. For when he came back to his town of Llancarvan, from which he had long been absent, he found his principal monastery destroyed, with the roof timbers and rubble scattered across the cemetery. Grieving over the ruin, he earnestly desired, with God’s permission, to rebuild it. He therefore summoned all his clergy and some craftsmen, and they all went to a wood to fetch timber, except for two youths, Finian and Macmoil, who, with the man of God’s permission, remained behind to spend the time in reading. Then the steward, the cook, and the sexton came forward and rebuked them, saying, “How long will you remain disobedient, doing no good with your fellow disciples? Unwilling to work, you eat the bread of idleness. Hurry to the wood and quickly bring the timber here with the others.” They replied, “We are not able to draw carts like oxen.” But the officials mockingly pointed out two stags standing near the wood and said, “Look, two very strong oxen stand by the wood; go quickly and catch them.”

² In their haste the youths went off, leaving a book open where they had been sitting in the open air. In the name of Christ they commanded the stags to stop, and immediately the animals laid aside their wildness, and, being gently subdued, submitted their untamed necks to the yoke. They brought back, like domesticated oxen, a great beam fastened to the yoke, which four strong oxen could scarcely have drawn; and when they were unyoked they were allowed to return to their pastures. When Saint Cadoc saw this and marvelled greatly, he asked them, “Who ordered you to come to help draw the timber, without being released from your reading?” They told him of the reproaches hurled at them by the three officials. Inflamed with anger, he pronounced a curse upon those three, saying, “May God deal thus with them,” and he added, “that they may die by the grievous death of the sword, or perish by hunger.” At that very hour a heavy rain fell over the whole region.

³ The man of God then asked the two disciples where they had left the book. In fear they replied, “In the place where we were reading; in our great haste we forgot it and left it exposed in the open air.” He went to the place and, marvelling greatly, found the book wholly unharmed by the rain. Therefore that book is called, in memory of the blessed man, in the British tongue Cov Cattwg, that is, “The Memorial of Cadoc.” It is also reported that a chapel in honour of Saint Finian was built in the place where, amid rain and storms, his book was found dry and untouched. From the two stags that were yoked like oxen and drew the load, the principal settlement of Saint Cadoc received from the ancient Britons the name Nantcarvan, that is, the Valley of Stags, from where Nantcarban, from a valley and a stag.

Chapter 10: How Saint David, by the command of an angel, assembled a synod #

¹ At the time when these things took place, Saint David, a true confessor of God and a chief bishop, shone with great virtue in Britain. An angel sent by God said to him, “Arise, do not delay, and convene a synod by assembling all the clergy, elders, and aged men.” The blessed David replied, “I am ready, at your command, to do whatever is pleasing to the Lord, if I were worthy; but there is one descended from the nobility of Britain who is more worthy by birth, more distinguished for holiness, more discerning in understanding, and more skilful in speech for the assembling of a synod. His name is Cadoc, and he dwells in Glywysig. Without his leave and consent I would by no means presume to undertake so great a matter.” The angel said to him, “Obey my command without hesitation and do not fear him in any respect, for he will not hinder you at all in this matter, since he has already set out on a distant journey; therefore let both things be done, as has been declared.” Cadoc had indeed undertaken a journey, and after his departure Saint David assembled a great synod in the city of Brevi.

Chapter 11: Of the peregrination of the man of God, and the conception of a barren queen through his prayers #

¹ Therefore Saint Cadoc went on his way without purse or bag, placing complete trust in God, who says, “I tell you, do not be anxious for your life, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ nor for your body, ‘What shall we put on?’” [Matthew 6:25], and again, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” [Matthew 6:33]. The venerable man continued his journey and was kindly received wherever he came. Shortly afterwards he crossed the sea, and, with favourable winds filling the sails, he landed on the islands called Grimbul. From there he went up to a certain city of that land, where a very wealthy king lived, whose wife was barren. The king greatly distressed her by reproaching her, saying, “Depart from me, for you are not worthy of a husband, because your womb is cursed by the Lord, since you bear no fruit upon the earth.”

² When the queen heard that Saint Cadoc had come to the city, she quickly went out to meet him as he walked and tearfully begged for his compassion, saying, “I beg you, most faithful servant of God, that you would deign to intercede with the Lord for me, your wretched servant, for I suffer the shame of barrenness as though from a grievous disease.” The common people, marvelling, followed him as he went, and all of them, as if with one voice, earnestly implored the man of God on her behalf.

³ The blessed Cadoc said to her, “Go in peace; the Lord will grant you what you ask.” But she added, “May your servant find favour in your sight: if I should have either a son or a daughter, I will dedicate the child to the service of the Lord for all his days, and will entrust him to your care.” Therefore the king knew his wife that night, and the Lord remembered her; she conceived and in due course bore a son, whom she called Elli. From there the beloved Cadoc journeyed to Greece, and at last came to Jerusalem, where Christ was born, suffered, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. As is most truthfully reported, knowledge of the languages of the nations through which he passed, both on his outward and return journeys, was given to him by the Lord, and he spoke in many tongues, like the primitive Church of disciples in the time of Christ [Acts 2:4].

⁴ On a certain day, as he was walking about the church of the Lord, he saw in the cemetery three very beautiful stones, suitable for the service of Christ, that is, well fitted for an altar, and he said, “I wish that these three most elegant stones, by God’s direction and flying like birds, might be removed to my beloved monastery.” After a period of three years he returned to the same islands, and there he found the boy Elli, whom the formerly barren queen had brought forth during his absence. The pious Cadoc therefore received him and carried him upon his own shoulders, and, guarding him from all harm, nurtured and instructed him. For he loved him greatly, with a love surpassing that of father and mother, because his mother had dedicated him to God and entrusted him to his protection, since he had indeed been chosen as a servant of God.

Chapter 12: Of a certain guardsman who vanished like smoke before the face of Cadoc #

¹ A certain malicious guardsman lived in the town of Gwynllwg, a kinsman of the pious Cadoc, who during the saint’s peregrination, out of envy, slew his cousin Cynvelyn. When he learned that the renowned man had returned, he was seized with great fear and swiftly fled from his presence; and afterwards, as the holy man pursued him, he vanished before his eyes by God’s command, like dust or smoke driven by the wind. You were present, O Christ, exercising the power of your majesty, you who everywhere exalt the humble who believe in you, as it is written, “The friends of God are held in great honour” [Psalm 139:17].

² Moreover, after the man of God had returned to his monastery, he saw that the three stones which he had once so earnestly desired at Jerusalem to be brought to his church, and for which he had prayed devoutly, had become three altars within his monastery. One of these he gave to Elli, another to Macmoil, and the third he kept for himself.

Chapter 13: Of the robbers swallowed up by the earth #

¹ To this miracle the divine power added another, not unlike it, to proclaim the merits of the blessed man. There was a certain general named Sawyl, who lived not far from the monastery. Filled with wicked intent, he came with his accomplices to the saint’s dwelling and violently carried off food and drink, and both he and his followers ate and drank there in turn. The clergy, groaning under so great an outrage, entered the church—which at that time lacked the presence of the man of God—and devoutly begged the Lord to chastise the invaders. While they were weeping with bitter lamentation, the holy man arrived unexpectedly and asked them the cause of their great sorrow. When they had explained the matter, he said with a calm and confident expression, “Have patience, for patience is the mother of all virtues. Allow them to burden their hearts with gluttony and drunkenness; when they are drunk they will fall asleep, and while they sleep, shave off with very sharp razors half of their beards and hair, to their great disgrace, and in the same way cut off the lips and ears of their horses.” And they did as he commanded.

² Then the wicked robbers, having in their sleep somewhat digested the excess of their feasting, at last awoke and, dulled by their heavy drinking, mounted their horses and set out on their journey as quickly as they were able. Then the man of God said to his clergy, “Let each of you put on his clothing and shoes and go out to meet your enemy; for otherwise you will be slain, since he will return and kill us all, from the greatest to the least, with the sword, when he discovers that he has been mocked by us.” Accordingly, each one put on his garments, and Saint Cadoc likewise was clothed, and nearly fifty clerics followed him to meet the destructive tyrant, with songs, hymns, and psalms. When they climbed a certain mound, Sawyl Penuchel and his followers came down to meet them. Then, before the eyes of the servant of God, the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the tyrant and his companions alive, on account of their wickedness, lest they should cruelly slay the man of God and his clergy. The pit in which they were swallowed up is known to this day by all who pass that way; remaining always open as a testimony to this event, it is not permitted to be filled in by anyone. Thus Cadoc of blessed memory and his clergy returned to their dwelling with great triumph, glorifying God and singing the Ambrosian hymn, Te Deum laudamus, and what follows to the end.

³ When these things had been done, the blessed Cadoc, with his brethren present, blessed them in the following manner, saying, “Blessed are you in the Lord; and this blessed pronouncement and your counsel shall grant you this privilege and prerogative in the Lord—you twelve barbers, representing the symbolic number of the twelve apostles—and all the rest who in succession shall hold office in this town for generations to come. If judgment and sound counsel should be lacking in all the courts, let it be found here among you; if twelve appointed wise men should be lacking, let the counsel of twelve unordained clerics be sought; if twelve clerics should not be present, then let judgment and advice be entrusted to twelve young boys, virgins, and undefiled women.”

Chapter 14: Of the indulgence granted to Saint David for assembling the synod #

¹ Some of the disciples of the blessed man, when they were gathered together, said among themselves, “Which of us will undertake to tell our master what was done in Britain by Saint David while he was travelling abroad?” They all fell silent, and none dared to speak of the matter to him. So they cast lots about it, and the lot fell upon Finnian. Saint Finnian therefore rose in the midst of the brethren with great trembling, and, placing himself at the feet of the man of God, devoutly begged that he would not be angry with him. He then related how a general synod had been assembled by Saint David while Cadoc was away. This greatly displeased him, and he was deeply angered with Saint David for inflicting such an affront, and he spent a day and a night in fasting. That same night an angel of the Lord came to him and spoke thus: “I beg you not to be angry with your brother; for it is written in the epistle of John, ‘Whoever hates his brother is a murderer’ [1 John 3:15]. For the irregularity of this matter was permitted to the blessed David by angelic intervention.” Therefore the angel added, “Because you have obeyed my voice and, at my entreaty, have forgiven what was done against you, the Lord my God will deliver your stronghold, filled with the souls of men, from eternal punishment on the day of judgement. And as many shaggy hairs as there are in your cloak—a garment which the Irish wear outdoors, thickly woven with projecting tufts—so many people will be delivered by you from eternal punishment. Moreover, on every Sabbath, from this neart for ever, one soul will be released from eternal torments for love of you; and all your close friends who die in this place will be free from infernal punishment. And, beyond this, whatever you ask of God will be granted.” Then the blessed Cadoc, rejoicing, rose up in the community and declared the angelic promises to his disciples, saying, “You children, praise the Lord; praise the name of the Lord, for his mercy is established for us, and the truth of the Lord endures for ever” [Psalm 117:1–2].

Chapter 15: Of the residence of Saint Cadoc in the time of Lent #

¹ During Lent, Saint Cadoc was accustomed to reside on two islands, Barreu and Echni. On Palm Sunday he came to Nantcarvan, where he remained to perform the Paschal services, feeding daily one hundred clergy, one hundred soldiers, one hundred labourers, and one hundred poor people, together with the same number of widows. This was the number of his household, apart from servants in attendance, esquires, and well-dressed guests, whose number was uncertain, as many of them frequently came to him. Nor is this surprising, for, being wealthy, he was able to feed so many, since he was both an abbot and a prince over the territory of his forebears: from Fynnon Hen, that is, the Old Fountain, as far as the mouth of the river Rhymny; and he possessed all the land from the river Gulich to the river Nadauan, from Pentyrch straight to the valley of Nantcarvan, and from that valley to the Gurimi, that is, the Lesser Rhymny, towards the sea.

Chapter 16: How the earth swallowed up the robbers alive, and of the conversion of Saint Iltutus #

¹ On a certain day, when Saint Cadoc was seated in his chair teaching the people, fifty soldiers belonging to a certain regulus, namely Poul, surnamed Penychen, who caught birds with hawks, came to take food from him whether he wished it or not. To them, it is said, he ordered twenty wheaten loaves to be given, and a tierce, that is, a vessel filled with ale, and a fat, well-fed sow. Having taken all these and carried them off to the field of Meditullium, which is called Medgard, not far from the town, they deposited them there and sat down around the tierce of ale, arranged in order in the form of a circle; and having cut the pig into small pieces, they carefully prepared them for dinner. There was a certain military officer in that company named Illtyd, who was absent when they committed this offence, and they would by no means presume to dine before his return. While they were waiting for him, and for that reason refrained from the prepared food, look, Illtyd suddenly arrived; but before he had dismounted from his horse, the ground unexpectedly gave way beneath them, and in the twinkling of an eye they were engulfed in a deep abyss, according to what David has said, “The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the congregation of Abiram” [Psalm 106:17]. The food, however, and the tierce of ale which I have mentioned, were, by a divine miracle, carried to a certain mound, and it was ordained that they should remain untouched and undefiled. Illtyd, seeing these things with his own eyes, hastened in his chariot and, falling at the feet of the blessed Cadoc, related how divine vengeance had destroyed his companions, that is, the guards of the same regulus, for the injury they had done to him. The same officer then earnestly begged the man of God, in the name of the divine majesty, that he would grant him the monastic habit and signify it by giving him the marks of service, namely the shaving of his hair and beard. Cadoc, complying with his request, received him; and the officer, leaving his earthly warfare and wholly renouncing secular arms, and submitting himself in obedience to divine ordinances, devoted himself with all his strength to observe the teachings of his master. Hence it is said, “The earth has covered them, never to return to the world.” Illtyd believed because of the deeds he had seen; he who had been a victorious soldier in many cities exchanged his warfare for the winning of the highest crown, and, being made a monk, advanced in many virtues. Then the man of God sent some young men, who brought the same food and drink and with them fed as many poor people as there had been robbers, who had previously been so grievously disappointed.

Chapter 17: Of an architect being raised from the dead by Saint Cadoc #

¹ At another time, when the blessed Cadoc again departed from that place, wishing to offer elsewhere a service devoted to God, he came by divine guidance to a certain town situated near a great river called the Neath. On seeing the place, he immediately ordered that a house of prayer should be built there for him. Twelve workmen went into the woodland to fell timber for the building of the oratory, and news of what was being done spread throughout the surrounding district. It then happened that a certain Irishman named Linguri, a stranger but a skilled architect, compelled by poverty, came to him with his children so that by practising his craft he might obtain food for himself and his family. He was gladly received by the man of God and, setting to work with the twelve labourers, very soon surpassed them all in skill and ability. The other twelve, however, envying him, wickedly killed him; they cut off his head, fastened a large stone to his body, and cast it into a deep pool. When, according to custom, they returned home, the sons of the skilled man, not seeing their father as usual, wept and lamented bitterly. When the man of God heard their crying, he immediately enquired into the cause of such sorrowful lamentation. The workmen were quickly summoned and excused themselves as best they could, evasively insisting that they did not know what had become of the architect.

² Therefore the man of God, in order to learn the truth of their wickedness, spent the night with all his clergy in vigil and prayer, that the reality of the matter might be revealed to them. In the morning, when the prayers had ended, look, the beheaded architect appeared before the venerable man and his disciples, carrying his head in his arms and a great stone upon his back, wet and bloodstained, with a sorrowful and dreadful countenance. Marvellous to relate, yet easy for God to accomplish, the severed head spoke thus: “Servant of God, set me upon my neck as before, and I will tell you everything concerning this matter which until now has been unknown to you.” He did as he was asked, and the murdered architect, Linguri, recounted the dreadful crime of the twelve workmen, and how, stirred by envy, they had wickedly slain him. Cadoc then said to him, “Choose which of these two things you desire: whether to live again this mortal state and at some future time die once more, or to pass to eternal life to reign for ever with God.” He replied, “Sir, let my soul return to eternal life.” And as he spoke these words, he died. The holy man therefore ordered his disciples to set upright in the earth, near the wood, the stone which the murdered architect had carried on his back, as a memorial of the miracle, and to bury him nearby; and he directed that the whole settlement should be called after his name, Lanlynguri. By this stone, moreover, the Lord heals those who cannot control their urine and those afflicted with various kinds of illnesses, for the love of Saint Cadoc and Linguri, even to this day.

Chapter 18: Of the dispute between Saint Cadoc and King Arthur concerning the reconciliation of a certain man #

¹ At that time there was a brave British war-leader named Ligessawe, son of Eliman, who bore the surname Lawhir, that is, Long Hand. He killed three soldiers of Arthur, the most renowned king of Britain, and Arthur pursued him everywhere. Finding no place of safety, and with no one daring to protect him for fear of the king, he was at last worn out by constant flight and came as a fugitive to the man of God. Cadoc, taking pity on his hardship, kindly received him, trusting in the Lord and fearing not Arthur, in accordance with the command of our Lord: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” [Matthew 10:28]. Thus he remained safely with him in the land of Gwynllwg, without Arthur’s knowledge, for seven years. When this time had passed, he was betrayed to the king, who then came at last with a great host of soldiers to the river Usk, intending to seek judgment in a legal trial, for he did not dare to use violence against the man of God. Cadoc therefore sent messengers to the king and asked whether he would submit the dispute to the decision of learned judges, and Arthur agreed.

² Saint Cadoc then summoned three leading men from various parts of the country, namely Saint David, Saint Teilo, and Dochu, as well as Keneder and Maidoc, together with many other clerics and the senior judges of all Britain. When they had assembled on the banks of the great river Usk, Cadoc went before them. There, in the manner of enemies, the two sides disputed the matter with bitter words across the river, and for a long time argued fiercely against one another. After a pause in the quarrel, the more learned among the judges decreed that Arthur should receive, for the redemption of each of his men who had been slain, three excellent oxen. Others, however, ruled that one hundred cows should be paid as the price for each person killed; for from ancient times such had been the judgment among the Britons, and the compensation was fixed by the officials of kings and generals.

³ This having been agreed, King Arthur, acting arrogantly, refused cattle of a single colour, but demanded those of two colours, namely with red forequarters and white hindquarters, and with much wrangling insisted upon cattle so marked. As they were entirely ignorant of where such beasts might be found, they were at a loss what to do. Therefore the man of God, invoking the name of the Trinity, ordered some young men of the company, nine in number, or more as some relate, to bring him one hundred heifers of whatever colour they could find. When these animals were brought before his eyes and those of the other servants of God, they were immediately changed into the colours demanded, on account of Arthur’s perverse desire. The whole company of clergy, together with many other faithful worshippers of God who had been gathered by the blessed man, seeing this miracle, rejoiced greatly and glorified God.

⁴ The man of God then took counsel as to what should justly be done with the cattle, and an answer was given by one side of the company of judges: “It is right that you should drive them together in a herd to the middle of the ford.” He therefore drove them on until Arthur, and Sir Kay and Bedwyr, with others, who were sitting on the banks of the river, encountered them; and Kay and Bedwyr, greatly desiring to seize them, pulled them by the horns with their hands towards the riverbank. Immediately, however, while they were in their grasp, they were by divine power changed into bundles of fern. When Arthur saw this miracle, he humbly begged the blessed man to forgive the wrong he had done him, and forgiveness was granted, according to the evangelical command, “Forgive, and you shall be forgiven” [Luke 6:37]. Therefore the same king, having taken counsel with his army, granted him the right of refuge for seven years, and for the same number of months, and for the same number of days. If, therefore, any stranger at an appointed time should leave the town of Cadoc, earnestly wishing to depart and sail to some distant part of the world, and should by chance, through storms or contrary winds in a tempest, be driven back to his barren harbour and return again to his former refuge or dwelling place, then, according to the tradition of the elders, he is to be received with hospitality and readily sheltered until the end of his life. Arthur, together with all his generals and the elders of Britain, confirming this, declared: “We also, in the hearing of you all, bear witness to the words of this decree: whoever shall transgress them, may God add to him all the plagues written in the old and new Law, and may his name be blotted out of the book of life; but whoever shall keep them, may he be filled with all the blessings of the Old and New Testament, and may they descend and remain upon him, and may his soul also be established in eternal glory” [cf. Deuteronomy 28; Revelation 3:5]. When the council had ended, all the cows that had been changed into bundles of fern were found safe in the stalls of their owners; and from that day the place has been called in the British tongue Trefredinauc, that is, the Town of Fern. All the parties returned peacefully from the hearing, and Saint Cadoc gave three villages to the same holy men: one to Saint David, another to Saint Teilo, and the third to Docguinnus. The names of these villages and their holders are as follows: to the blessed David he gave Llandewi Penybei; to Teilo, Merthyr Tecmed; and to Docguinnus, Landubrguir.

Chapter 19: Of the revenge on the King of North Wales for the injury done to the man of God #

¹ Another miracle, well known to all the Britons dwelling in those regions, is attributed to the same holy patron. In those days a certain king named Maelgwn Gwynedd ruled over Britain. He sent some of his young men into the region of Gwynllwg to collect tribute, and when they came to the house of Cadoc’s steward they seized his exceedingly beautiful daughter and carried her off with them. The men of Gwynllwg then gathered together, pursued them, killed some, wounded many others, and the remainder escaped back to their lord. When this was reported, the king was inflamed with great anger and gathered his forces, pitching a camp in the district of Gwynllwg near a spring called in their language Ffynon Brittrou, intending on the following day to plunder the whole country. When this was heard, the people of Gwynllwg were greatly alarmed and reported the matter to the man of God, saying: “Maelgwn, king of North Wales, has come to our borders with his army, and tonight he remains near the spring of Brittrou; tomorrow he will devastate all your land will savagely slaughter all the men. Therefore help us, who are weak, wretched, and unarmed, by making peace with the cruel king, for otherwise we shall perish.” On hearing these words, the man of God said to the messenger, “Go quickly, and we will follow you.” And he, together with three clerics, followed the messenger by night until they reached Gwynllwg. The inhabitants of that district, struck with fearful dread, met him and with loud lamentation begged him, saying: “Lord, help us, and in your great mercy deliver us, because whatever you ask of the Lord you obtain.” He answered them, “Take comfort in the Lord, be steadfast and do not be afraid; let us act rightly towards God, and he will bring our enemies to nothing.”

² Then Saint Cadoc, placing great trust in God, departed from there and, near the camp of his enemies, prayed alone, while his disciples remained at a short distance. When morning came he rose from prayer, and look, a pillar of cloud went before him; it also covered all the tents and troops of the same king, so that they were concealed, and the day became to them like a dark night, so that no one could see another. Then, in the midst of the darkness, the holy man appeared before the king’s tent and, greeting him, said, “May God save you, O king. I beg you, if I have found favour in your eyes, that you will graciously hear my words.” The king replied, “I am ready; speak.” He said, “Why have you come into my land with an armed force to plunder and destroy, especially when we have in no way deserved this?” The king answered, “I confess that I have sinned against you, but I earnestly beg your holiness to show mercy for what has been done and to forgive me, and that by your intercession the darkness may be removed, so that we may return unharmed to our own dwellings and your whole land may remain in lasting peace.” The man of God replied, “Your very great offences are forgiven you.” As he spoke, the light of summer spread everywhere and at once shone brightly over the camp. When the king saw this miracle, he rose from his royal seat, fell on his face, and said, “I affirm and ratify the right of refuge which Arthur, the bravest of heroes, granted to you; and whoever among my descendants shall diminish it, may he be cursed, and whoever shall observe it, may he be blessed; and today I choose you above all others to be my confessor among the men of South Wales.” And so it was done, and everyone returned peacefully to his own country.

Chapter 20: Of the blinding of King Rhun for the injury done to Saint Cadoc #

¹ Some years later, Rhun, son of the same king Maelgwn Gwynedd, came from the north with a great army of men from North Wales on an expedition to rob the southern Britons of their goods and wealth and to lay the country utterly waste. When the army was assembled in Maelgwn’s presence, he strictly commanded his son Rhun and all the troops of the expedition not to do any harm to Saint Cadoc, because he was his confessor, nor to take from his territory so much as a single horned beast without his consent. “And this,” he said, “will be a sign to you: when you come into his land, you will find his cattle freely grazing in the pastures, and the people, relying on our friendship, confident and unafraid. Therefore let them be entirely free from any suffering caused by war, since he and I are bound together by a close and spiritual covenant.” They promised on oath to observe the king’s command.

² When they reached the land of Gorwenydd, they pitched their camp at Caer Trigued. When the men of Gorwenydd saw this, they were terrified and fled, hiding themselves in woods and thickets, in hollows and caves of the earth. The inhabitants of Penychen, which lay beyond the river Nadawan, and indeed all the people of the region, submitted. As they drove much plunder to the camp, twelve esquires rode horses from the king’s herds to water them. After watering their horses, being themselves thirsty and unable to drink the warm spring water, they said to one another, “Let us ride to Cadoc’s barn, which is said to be at this time on the farm of the cowherd, so that we may have enough milk to drink, for there is always plenty there.” The twelve went there at once and roughly demanded milk from the steward; but he, angered, refused, saying, “Are you so foolish as to think that our master is not a man of great honour and dignity? He maintains a household of three hundred persons: one hundred clergy, one hundred soldiers, and one hundred workmen, besides women and children.”

³ Then, angered, they rose up in great fury and, taking firebrands in their hands, mounted their horses and attempted to set the barn on fire; but by the power of God it did not burn, only smoked. At that very time Rhun himself was in his tent, playing dice with his eunuchs, and the smoke, like a wooden pillar, went straight from the barn of Saint Cadoc to his tent and deprived of sight all who were there. The king, ashamed to speak of what had happened, urged the eunuchs to continue the game. “Play,” he said; but they replied, “Though our eyes are open, we can see nothing.” At last the king confessed that the same had happened to him. He summoned all the generals, nobles, and knights and asked whether any of their companions had committed an offence against the blessed man. They all denied it. Then the king said, “Make careful enquiry in the camp to see whether any of your companions have been absent today.” When this was done, it was discovered that twelve esquires had been absent. They were brought before him, and the king said, “Where have you been today, and what wrong have you done? Tell everything, for it is clear to us that today you have committed a great offence.” The esquires then told him the truth. Without delay he sent for Saint Cadoc and said to him, “Blessed are you by the Lord; your coming is peaceful, but I have sinned against God and against you.” Cadoc said, “Tell me what you have done.” The king related the matter, saying, “Some of my attendants attacked your granary, or barn, and tried to set it on fire without my knowledge. For this reason I know that this calamity of blindness has come upon us. Therefore I humbly beg your kindness to have mercy on me in my wretched state, so that our blindness may be removed and our sight restored through your intercession.” When Saint Cadoc prayed, they recovered their former sight. After this, the king enlarged the right of refuge as it had been established by pious King Arthur and by the father of the same Rhun, confirming it and proclaiming the penalty for breaking it: “If anyone,” he said, “violates this refuge, let him be excommunicated; but whoever keeps it, may he be loved by God and by men.” Having said this, the king gave him his own messenger with full horse equipment, together with three principal pieces of armour, namely a shield, a sword, and a spear, and all the goods he had brought with him, except those he kept for his own maintenance. When these things had been done, each returned to his own home. The blessed Cadoc gave the sword that had been presented to him by King Rhun to Gwrgan Varius, who then ruled in Glamorgan, together with half the fish of the river Usk, so that he might have seven fish for food during Lent at Llancarfan. He also gave the horse with all its trappings to the king in exchange for half the fish of the river Neath, so that at Llanmaes he might have both boiled and roasted food and other provisions throughout every Lent. He also possessed two wooden horses, so swift that no man could match them in speed of travel; by these his servant brought him necessities from all regions. A journey to and fro from Llancarfan to Neath and Brycheiniog was accomplished by these wooden horses within a single day.

Chapter 21: Of the deliverance of King Rhun from the hands of the men of Gwynllwg #

¹ The third miracle which God worked through Saint Cadoc, as a testimony to the written right of refuge of his son-in-law at Gwynllwg, was as follows. Rhun, son of Brychan, uncle of the same, went forth from his own lands and plundered and devastated the province of Gwynllwg as far as the sea. The men of Gwynllwg therefore rose up against his army, put him to flight, and defeated his forces at the place called Pwll Rhun, and at Pwll Rudd, Lithion, and Pwll Gweddillion, which places took their names from these events. The same Rhun was then besieged by the men of Gwynllwg, for they did not dare to kill the uncle of their lord without his command. The blessed Cadoc came and rescued the said Rhun from the siege, received from him a confession of his offences, and obtained from him a confirmation of the right of refuge which pious Maelgwn Gwynedd and King Arthur had granted and ratified. Rhun then said, “Henceforth, since you have delivered me, may every person born of my people who disobeys the men of Gwynllwg and breaks the covenant which I have made with Saint Cadoc be cursed.” Saint Cadoc therefore prayed to the Lord that he might be given a king who would rule the kingdom on his behalf, and Meurig ap Enhinti was granted to him; and he gave him his beloved, named Debunn, together with all the land. Saint Cadoc then went out to meet him, and receiving Gwynllwg, he blessed the people and commanded them to keep his right of refuge according to the agreement previously made with Maelgwn and Arthur. Meurig undertook to observe this agreement in the presence of the witnesses, namely the clergy Saint David, Kenedir, Eliud, Saint Teilo, Saint Illtud, Maidoc, Cannou, and many others. The blessed Cadoc then commended Meurig, saying, “Protect my land inheritance of Gwynllwg, and let it be free from all fiscal tribute, except that the men shall go with you to battle for three days and three nights, and if they remain with you longer, you shall provide them with food.” Meurig replied, “So may it be for ever.” The man of God added, “Blessed is he who keeps the substance of this agreement; and whoever does not observe it, may he be cursed by God and all his saints.” And all the clergy said, “Amen.”

Chapter 22: Of the journey of Saint Cadoc into Scotland, and the miracles performed there #

¹ Another miracle, worthy to be recorded, divine authority deigned to perform for the praise of God’s name and the glory of his faithful servant Cadoc. On a certain day he spoke to his assembled disciples as follows: “Since, by divine guidance, for the love of God I have gone three times to Jerusalem and seven times to Rome, it now remains for me to go to the church of Saint Andrew the Apostle, which is known to have been built in Albania, commonly called Scotland. Therefore I appoint in my place as rector and prelate Elli, my pupil, whom we know to have been from his childhood steadfast in obedience to divine ordinances and well instructed in evangelical teaching; attend diligently, to the best of your ability, to his guidance in these matters.” They replied, “Whatever pleases you, we willingly agree to.” Then the man of God set out with three of his disciples and travelled to Scotland, and came to the same church of Saint Andrew. As he was returning and had reached a certain town near the mountain called Bannawe, said to be situated in the middle of Scotland, during the night, while he rested there, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “The Lord your God commands you through me not to depart from here, but to remain this place for seven years, in order to convert the people here to faith in the Lord.” The man of God therefore remained for the appointed time, instructing the pagan people and healing all who were afflicted with disease.

² On a certain day, when Saint Cadoc was digging the ground around the monastery he had built, he found the collarbone of some ancient hero, of astonishing size, through which, marvellous to say, a mounted warrior could ride without difficulty. When he found it, Saint Cadoc marvelled and said, “I will neither eat nor drink, but I will pray for food and shed tears for drink, until this wonder, whatever it may be, is made clear to us.” That same night the voice of an angel from heaven spoke to him, saying, “Look, the plea of your prayer is pleasing in the ears of the Lord, for what you have humbly asked of God he will grant you; but encourage your clergy and the rest of the people with words, lest they be afraid if anything should happen to them. For tomorrow, at the first hour of the day, an aged giant will arise, who may help the men with the digging.” Having heard this, when he rose in the morning he told the people what the angel had said.

³ While he was still speaking to the people, there appeared before them a revived and immense giant, dreadful to see and altogether surpassing the human form in size. When the inhabitants of the town saw him, they were terrified and said, “Look, a phantom transformed into the likeness of a man has come to deceive us.” But the monstrous figure immediately cast himself at the feet of Saint Cadoc and said, “Holy Cadoc, eminent servant of God, blessed are you by God and by men; I earnestly beg your kindness that you will by no means allow my wretched soul, which has until then suffered dreadful punishment in hell, to return there again.” Cadoc said to him, “What saint are you, or from what family do you descend? Relate also in detail the manner of your departure from this life.” The giant replied, “I once reigned for many years beyond Mount Bannawc. It happened that, at the instigation of the devil, I and all my band of robbers came to these coasts to plunder and lay them waste. The king who then ruled this land pursued us with his troops, battle was joined, and I and my army were slain. From the very day of my death we have been tormented in the devouring flames of hell; but my punishment has been more grievous than that of the others, because in all these things I sinned against the great God, as the Scripture says, ‘The mighty shall be mightily tormented’ [Wisdom 6:6].” The man of God asked him by what name he was known. He answered, “I am long called Caw Prydyn, or Cawr.” The man of God then said to him, “Rejoice and be of good courage, for it has been granted to me by God that you shall live longer in this world; and if, during the course of your present life, you show faithful and devoted obedience to God, humbly follow my teaching, and make fitting satisfaction for your sins, your soul shall at last be released from the sorrowful prison of the body and pass to eternal glory, where it shall reign happily with God.” The giant replied, “All that you command seems light to me, and I will willingly and faithfully fulfil it.” From that day until the death of the man of God, the giant laboured as a digger, carrying out whatever was commanded of him. That the miracle might become widely known throughout Scotland, the Scottish rulers granted him twenty-four villages.

Chapter 22: Of the bell which Saint Gildas refused to part with to the man of God #

¹ When the divinely appointed period of seven years had at last been completed, the blessed Saint Cadoc returned from there to his own country, namely Llancarfan, and lived there. It should not be passed over that a certain distinguished Briton, a scholar and an excellent writer named Gildas, son of Caw, a skilled craftsman, came there from the borders of Ireland with a very beautiful, spotted bell. He was given hospitality for one night at Llancarfan, and Cadoc, noticing the bell closely, struck it. Since its beauty, sound, and colour greatly pleased him, he begged Gildas to be so kind as to sell the bell to him. Gildas refused, saying, “I will not sell it, for I intend to offer it upon the altar of Saint Peter at Rome.” The blessed Cadoc pressed him earnestly and said, “I will fill it with silver coins for you.” Gildas again refused the offered sum. Cadoc then added, “I will give you as much pure gold as it can contain.” He still refused, for he would in no way part with it, declaring that he had solemnly vowed it to God and to Saint Peter, and that, with God’s help, he would fulfil what he had vowed, since Solomon says, “A foolish and unfaithful vow is displeasing to God” [Ecclesiastes 5:4–5]. Gildas then went to Rome with the bell and showed it to Pope Alexander I, saying, “I offer this bell, made by me and brought here from as far away as Ireland, to God and to Saint Peter upon his altar.” The same supreme pontiff of the apostolic see carefully examined it and, striking it, tried to discern its sound; but it produced no sound at all.

² Then the Pope, greatly astonished, said to the cleric, “How is it that your bell has an iron tongue or clapper and yet does not sound, so that it behaves like lead although it is iron? Show,” he said, “how it might immediately give a sound.” He replied, “My lord, a certain holy man named Saint Cadoc, who lives in Britain, received me hospitably on this pilgrimage, and he was the last to strike the bell, when it gave forth a sweet sound.” The Pope answered, “The man of whom you speak has long been known to me, for he has been here seven times and three times to Jerusalem, travelling abroad to obtain forgiveness for the souls of his parents and companions.” The Pope then took the bell again, blessed it, and said, “Take this bell, blessed and consecrated by me, to the blessed Cadoc, so that upon it important oaths may be sworn and the right of refuge throughout Britain may remain firmly established. For these two reasons the Britons shall venerate this bell: because it has been blessed by me and because it will be in the possession of Saint Cadoc. I have heard of the unbelief of that people and of their rebellious stubbornness; therefore I send this, so that by it they may sincerely agree and make peace. Moreover, if anyone shall swear falsely upon it, unless he performs fitting penance, he shall be accursed both in this world and in the next.” When these words had been spoken by the apostolic pontiff, Saint Gildas took the same bell and, travelling homewards, brought it to the blessed Cadoc, who was living at Llancarfan, and related to him all that the apostolic pontiff had enjoined concerning the bell. Cadoc therefore esteemed the bell even more highly than before, and immediately struck it with his hands to produce sound; at once, of its own accord, it rang out with a melody, which it had previously refused to give before the Pope. Learned men of old among the Britons also maintain that the Lord, for love of Saint Cadoc, by means of this bell raised two persons from the dead, and they still bear witness to the occasions on which this happened. They also relate that it spoke twice with a human voice, and spoke a third time as well.

Chapter 23: Of the death of Gwynlliw, the father of Saint Cadoc #

¹ It came to pass that Gwynlliw, the father of Saint Cadoc, was afflicted with a mortal illness, and he sent one of his servants, named Istan, to summon his son Cadoc, that he might come to him with all speed. Cadoc set out at once, but when he reached the river Tâf, he found it at that time so deep and wide that no one, whether on horseback or on foot, could cross it unless conveyed by a boat. For the river then extended in breadth from the ford of Pennugual as far as the hill of King Morgan, which in the language of the land was called Rhiw Morgan. As the messenger could find no boat with which to cross, he called out loudly to a certain unmarried hermit named Tylyuguay, who lived on the far side of the river, earnestly entreating him to go with all haste to the blessed Cadoc and inform him of the cause of his father’s illness. By these entreaties the hermit was persuaded, and the blessed Cadoc came with twenty disciples to the dwelling of Tylyuguay, where he and all his companions were hospitably received for the night. As was his custom, Tylyuguay went to the river to fish, for the pious man was accustomed to fish every night and to catch a single fish; but on that night twenty-four fish came into the net for the supper of the blessed Cadoc and his companions. When the blessed man became thirsty and asked that drink be given to him, Tylyuguay replied, “Sir, we have nothing fit to drink, and besides, the spring is a long way off.” The man of the Lord then handed him his staff, saying, “Take my staff with you, and wherever it pleases you, strike the earth with its end, and immediately the Lord will cause a spring of clear water to flow for our need.” And so it came to pass. That night the man anxiously pondered how he might cross the river in the morning, and an angel appeared to him, saying, “Be steadfast in mind, and do not be troubled or anxious about this difficulty, for God is a mighty helper to you. Tomorrow, when you come to the bank of this great river, take your staff in your hand strike the river three times in the name of the Holy Trinity, just as Moses, the leader of the people of Israel, did, and the Lord God will divide the river for you and cause you to pass over on dry ground” [Exodus 14:21].

² When full daylight came in the morning, Cadoc rose with all his companions and, trusting in God, went with them to the bank of the same river, where he did as he had been commanded. He struck the river Tâf, and it immediately divided, the upper part flowing back towards the mountain and the lower part running downwards, like the Jordan at the baptism of Christ, of which it is said, “What ailed you, O sea, that you fled, and you, O Jordan, that you were driven back?” [Psalm 114:5]. The blessed Cadoc and his company passed through the bed of the river on dry ground. Then the same Tylyuguay called after them, saying, “Beloved servants of the Lord, before you depart from here, restore this river from its present state to its former course, so that fish may again be taken from it; but, if it may be done, cause it to be diminished in depth and width, so that it may be crossed on foot.” The man of God, together with his disciples, prayed that the river might remain for ever smaller, according to Tylyuguay’s request. And as they prayed, look, the great river, like a mighty torrent, burst forth from the broken rocks and rushed like a foaming sea towards the ocean, until it returned to its accustomed channel; yet its breadth and depth have remained reduced to this day. It also carried with it a very large stone, as though torn from a whirlpool of the deep, and cast it upon the land of the same hermit, where it still lay.

³ When the hermit saw this, he showed it to the blessed man, who ordered that the heap of stones should be called after the holy inhabitant, Carn, that is, the Rock of Tylyuguay. The venerable man then departed and came to his sick father, who, greatly rejoicing at his arrival, said to him, “I have sent for you to come to me, so that at the end of my life you may hear my confession.” Then Saint Cadoc administered to him the sacrament of the Eucharist and received his confession. Drawing breath, Gwynlliw blessed his son and said, “May you be blessed, for the Lord has had mercy on me on your account, and through you I have obtained his compassion. Therefore, before all who are present and hear my will, I give to you all this my land, for which you have long endured many injuries and some losses. That is, I grant to you the privilege from the fountain which in the British tongue is called Ffynon Hen, that is, the Old Fountain, as far as the entrance of the river Nadawan, so that all kings, earls, and nobles, as well as military officers and household retainers, may be buried in the cemetery of your monastery at Llancarfan; that is, let everyone be buried there, except exiles and women who die in childbirth. Whoever shall observe the command of this privilege, the Lord will preserve him now and in the time to come; but whoever shall not observe it, may God destroy him both in this age and in the age to come.” And all the people answered, “Amen.” When Gwynlliw, the father of the blessed Cadoc, had died, he was buried in his own monastery, which from his name is called in the British language Eglwys Gwynlliw. After Cadoc had honourably carried out the funeral rites for his father, he returned home with his clergy.

Chapter 24: Of the drowning of Saint Barruc and Saint Gwalches, and of the manual book found in the belly of a salmon #

¹ It happened at another time that the blessed Saint Cadoc, on a certain day, sailed with two of his disciples, namely Barruc and Gwalches, from the island of Echni, now called Holme, to another island named Barry. When he had landed safely in the harbour, he asked his disciples for his Enchiridion, that is, his manual book, and they confessed that through forgetfulness they had left it behind on the former island. On hearing this, he immediately ordered them to board a boat and sail back to recover the book, and, burning with anger, said, “Go, and do not return.” Obeying their master’s command, they at once went aboard and sailed to the said island, where they recovered the book; but as they were returning and had reached the middle of the sea, they were seen from afar by the man of God, who was sitting on the summit of a hill on Barry, when suddenly the boat overturned and they were drowned. The body of Barruc was cast up by the tide on the shore of Barry, where it was found and buried, and from him the island bears his name to this day; but the body of the other, Gwalches, was carried by the sea to the island of Echni and was buried there. About the ninth hour, Cadoc, the servant of God, wishing to refresh his body weakened by fasting, ordered his attendants to procure some fish for his meal. They went down to the sea to fish and found a very large salmon lying on the sand, which they joyfully brought to their master. When it was cut open, the same book was found in its belly, entirely unharmed by the water and still white; and the man of the Lord, giving thanks to God, gladly received it and declared that it was evident to all that nothing is impossible for God.

Chapter 25: Of wolves changed into stones #

¹ Another miracle, no less marvellous, divine mercy deigned to perform through the merits of his faithful servant Saint Cadoc. When his sheep were grazing on the same island of Echni, look, two wolves from England swam across to that place. Having torn many of the sheep and killed some with their ravenous jaws, they attempted to swim back towards the British sea; but when they had reached the middle of the waters, they were, by divine judgement, changed into stones, because they had attacked and slain his sheep. In the British language these stones are called Cunbleid, that is, the Wolf Stones.

Chapter 26: How Saint Cadoc by his prayers brought forth from the earth in Cornwall a healing fountain #

¹ Nor is it unfitting to recount the goodness of God in his greater miracles, but rather it is fitting to make his eminent servant yet more renowned, in that he provided a most excellent remedy and consolation for human infirmity. For once, when that most illustrious man was returning from the Mount of Saint Michael, which is known to be in Cornwall and in the local tongue is called Dinsol, where the same archangel, Michael the Archangel, was venerated by all who came there, he was hot, weary from his journey, and very thirsty. The place where this happened was exceedingly dry; therefore the blessed Cadoc struck the ground with his staff, and immediately a plentiful spring burst forth from the earth. Those who accompanied him drank there, just as the Israelites, parched with thirst in the wilderness, drank when Moses struck the rock with his staff and water flowed forth abundantly [Exodus 17:6]. When all had been satisfied with the water, they said to one another, “Let us earnestly beg the divine goodness that all who shall come to this holy fountain may, by God’s favour, receive from it the healing of various diseases; and as it quenched our burning thirst, so may it heal the painful ailments of bodies.” For if any sick person, having firm faith in God, drinks from that fountain, he will receive healing of the stomach and bowels, and all venomous worms will be driven from his body. When the people of Cornwall saw that frequent cures of ailments in both men and women were continually worked at that fountain by divine mercy, they built a small church near it in honour of Saint Cadoc.

Chapter 27: Of the thief who stole an ox #

¹ It happened on a certain day that the steward of Saint Cadoc—who at that time was called the sexton of Llancarfan—being compelled by the command of the abbot and the needs of the clergy, went to the court of a certain regulus named Rhytherch, carrying with him the Gospel book of Saint Gildas. On that same day, a case was being heard in the court against a certain peasant who was accused of stealing an ox; he denied the charge with all his strength. Then the steward approached him and, in jest, drew a large knife from its sheath and, brandishing it with a trembling hand, said, “O foolish man, this is the knife of Saint Cadoc; if therefore you have sworn falsely, you shall die at once, for it will pierce your bowels.” Terrified by these words, the peasant threw himself at the feet of the cleric, confessed his guilt, and said, “Forgive me, for the love of God and of Saint Cadoc, for I have committed the crime of stealing the ox and have also perjured myself.” When this became known, the king and those standing by made an offering to the Gospel of Gildas, enriched it with a clerical gift, and thereafter appointed the thief permanently to serve in the monastery of Saint Cadoc.

Chapter 28: Of the Gospel of Saint Gildas #

¹ When the blessed Gildas lived on the island of Echni and carried out his ministerial duties, he wrote a missal and presented it to Saint Cadoc when Cadoc became his confessor; for this reason the book was called the Gospel of Gildas. Such is the tradition concerning this volume: if any person of the lineage of Cynaythwy should swear falsely upon that Gospel, his life will be shortened. Moreover, if any cleric of the valley of Carban, that is, from Llancarfan, compelled by necessity and carrying the Gospel of Gildas, should come to one of the descendants of Cynaythwy and happen to find him in the act of putting on a garment, that man shall not be permitted to put it on fully without the leave of the cleric, but must remain half-clothed, performing his duties, and proceed barefoot to the valley of Carban. This is also the tradition concerning the varicoloured bell: if any of the descendants of Lywthyly should swear a false oath upon the varicoloured bell, his life will be shortened, and he will not prosper by inheritance but will soon die. Likewise, if any cleric of the valley of Carban, compelled by some business, should go carrying the bell to one of the descendants of Lywthyly and should happen to find him dressing himself, he shall not finish putting on his garment without clerical permission, but must hasten half-dressed to the valley of Carban.

Chapter 29: Of the mixing of the water of the Jordan with that of the Cornish fountain, which after a time was used with greater effect #

¹ The blessed Saint Cadoc, desiring to travel abroad, visited the threshold of Saint Peter, then Jerusalem, and afterwards the river Jordan, from which he filled a vessel and brought the water back with him to Britain. He poured the sacred water he had brought into the same fountain which, by his prayer, he had caused to spring from the ground in the district of Cornwall, and by this placing and mingling it became yet more holy; for whereas before it restored only some to health, afterwards it healed more than a hundredfold.

Chapter 30: Of the conversation of Saint Cadoc at the river River Neath #

¹ After some time, Saint Cadoc, hearing that there were many lonely places suitable for hermits, visited them to see for himself. In these places he stayed for a short while, but left them after the departure of two of his clergy. On a certain day, as he was walking along the banks of the river Neath, he saw a white boar lying beneath a tree, which his companions killed; next he saw bees coming and entering a hollow tree; and thirdly, he noticed the nest of a hawk at the top of the tree. He then sent these gifts to King Arthmael, who granted to the blessed Cadoc the liberty to dwell in and possess that land. From that time, Cadoc said: “Here is a boar and a honeycomb, and here is a fierce hawk; this is a fertile place, which therefore Cadoc loves. These signs will make him rejoice as he seeks blessed things among such tokens; they gladden me, and in praise I will commend the giver. Why should I not rejoice? He has given and will bestow honour. Here I will dwell, because I see signs full of meaning. He does not wish us to go any further; they point the way, indeed they compel us: here let us remain. The flesh of the boar will provide what is fitting through the hunt; honeyed sweetness will furnish feasts for the clergy; a table supplied with birds by a noble adversary; and thus, our health being sound, we shall be free from sickness.”

Chapter 32: Of a religious edifice which the man of God built in Brittany #

¹ At that time, when Saint Cadoc of venerable memory went to Rome and passed through many places of the saints in Italy and France, in order to venerate their relics, it happened that he came to a province formerly called Armorica, later Lettau, and now known as Brittany. There he heard of an uninhabited island lying in the sea, about a third of a league from the shore. He boarded a boat with his disciples and landed safely at its harbour; and when he saw that the place was fair and fertile, he said to his companions, “My brothers, by God’s favour I choose this place, and here, if it pleases you, I desire to remain.” They replied, “Sir, whatever seems good to you, we will gladly do.” He then built there a fine stone church, and afterwards had masons construct a stone bridge, skilfully made with arches and cemented with mortar. When these works had been completed, one night, while he slept, he heard a voice speaking as if from an angel, saying, “Cadoc, most faithful servant of God, it is not lawful for you to remain here any longer; you must soon return to your own country, for your clergy grieve greatly because of your long absence.” Therefore, after the customary morning praises had been offered to God, he summoned all the monks and told them of the vision, saying, “My dearest companions and brothers, go on in the Lord, for I cannot remain here any longer; but I firmly command you to persevere steadfastly in the service of God.”

² When these words were heard, they began to weep bitterly. He then appointed in his place a prior from among his disciples, named Cadwaladr. Having blessed his disciples and received their leave to depart, he set out on his journey home and, travelling safely across vast regions, at last arrived at his own church of Llancarfan. Before much time had passed, the monks of the same island, wearied by the absence of their master, went out to look upon the bridge and, following with the longing of their hearts and the gaze of their eyes the path by which he had departed, watched as it suddenly collapsed so completely that it was reduced to nothing, as though it had never been built. When they saw this, they returned to the church in great sorrow and, casting themselves to the ground, fasted for three days and three nights, praying to the Lord for consolation in so great a calamity. On the third night, a voice from heaven spoke to the prior of the place in a dream, saying, “God has heard your prayer for the love of Saint Cadoc, for tomorrow you shall see the bridge whole and unharmed.” When morning praises had been sung, the prior told the monks of the revelation made known to him by God; and they, filled with great joy, ran as quickly as they could to see what had been promised, and found the bridge intact and seven times stronger than before. After carefully examining it in every part, they returned joyfully to their oratory, praising and blessing the Lord. When this miracle became known throughout the land, all the inhabitants of the province gave honour and praise to God and to Saint Cadoc. For among that people the blessed Cadoc is called Cathodw, from which name the island has received its own, namely Ynys Cathodw, where there are many kinds of fruits which are said to bring healing from various diseases.

Chapter 33: Of the countryman who unlawfully looked upon the sepulchral monuments of the disciples of Saint Cadoc #

¹ The same patron of venerable memory long ago built a fine stone monastery in Scotland, near Mount Bannawc, and gathered brethren there, appointing that devout service should continually be offered to God. In a certain porch of this monastery lay the bodies of three of his disciples, covered with marble tombs, into which no one dared to look, whether married or unmarried, but only those in holy orders. In the outer wall of the porch there was a small opening, through which the kings and nobles of that land, if by chance a serious dispute arose between them, were accustomed to place their hands and swear an oath; and if anyone broke that oath, he was to die before the end of the year. According to custom, a great multitude of common people assembled on the feast day of Saint Cadoc to hear Mass; and when the celebration was ended, a foolish countryman, making a great disturbance, said aloud to the priests in the midst of the people, “Will you allow me to go to the opening, so that I may look through it?” They replied to him, “Go, and Saint Cadoc will cause a sign of vengeance to appear upon you.” The rash man ran to the opening, covered one of his eyes with his hand, and looked through with the other; immediately the uncovered eye burst, and, hanging by the optic nerve, fell upon his face. The countryman uttered a loud and sorrowful cry and quickly went among the crowds of the people. When this was seen, all the common folk with a loud voice gave praise to God and to Saint Cadoc, saying, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised” [Psalm 113:3]. The countryman then went about from place to place throughout the province of Lintheamus, not covering his torn-out eye, and much money was given to him for showing the eyeball that had been pulled out. Thus his fellow countrymen learned more and more to fear God and to glorify him reverently together with his saint.

² But since it would be too burdensome to set down in writing all the miracles and wonders of this holy patron, these few, chosen from many, must suffice for devout readers; for no one is able to recount all his marvellous deeds unless Cadoc himself should rise from the dead. Yet since he was taken up in a white cloud from Britain to the city of Beneventum, we have thought it right, with God’s favour, to record these things in writing.

Here ends the Life of Saint Cadoc, also called Sophias; and here begins his Passion, on the ninth day before the Calends of February, in the city of Beneventum. #

Chapter 34: How Saint Cadoc Was Taken in a White Cloud from the Valley of Carban to Beneventum #

¹ On the eve of Palm Sunday, the angel of the Lord appeared to the blessed Cadoc in a dream and said to him, “God has decreed that you shall now depart from the land of Britain.” The blessed man replied, “I will willingly carry out everything that the Lord commands me, as far as I am able; but how I am to depart from here I do not know at all.” The angel answered, “Tomorrow, after you have preached to your people, you shall return to the place near your stronghold where you are accustomed to rest after preaching. When you have stopped there, you shall remain for a little while, and a bright cloud will cover you; upon it you will be carried bodily to the city of Beneventum, as Elijah was carried in a chariot of fire to Paradise [2 Kings 2:11]. This will be a sign for you: when you descend from the cloud, the abbot of that city will at that very hour be honourably buried in your presence, and when he has been laid in the ground according to the custom for abbots, the monks of that place will appoint you in his stead. Therefore you shall surrender your principal settlement, Llancarvan, with all its clergy and people, to your unmarried disciple Elli, in the sight of all, and you shall make him their teacher and rector. And on that same night the messenger of God will reveal these things in a vision to the prior of the city of Beneventum while he sleeps, saying, ‘Tomorrow a certain learned cleric, a western Briton and chosen servant of God, will come to you; earnestly urge him to be appointed abbot over you, because your abbot has died this neart. God has chosen him to take his place, and among you he will be called Sophias, because he is filled with the wisdom of God.’”

² The blessed Cadoc therefore rose in the morning and related what the angel had foretold to him to his dearly beloved unmarried disciple Elli. About the first hour, Elli, discreetly and in accordance with what has been mentioned, assembled as was customary on Palm Sunday a procession with the relics of the saints. He set out from the church, with clergy and people following him, to the stream of Saint Cadoc, which in the British language is called Pistill Cattwg, and there, as it is said, he preached to the people from a mound near the stream until the third hour. At about the third hour, that is, after the holy communion and the sermon, he returned with all the company to his stronghold and remained there, continuing his preaching. When he had at last finished his sermon, in accordance with the angel’s command, he addressed them in these words: “Hear me, brethren, and take my words into your ears, for today I appoint my disciple Elli to be rector and teacher over you. Receive him gladly and be humbly obedient to him, for I myself do not know the end of my life.” For Elli alone was aware of the matter, and he carried these words heavily in his heart.

³ Then the man of God commanded them all and said, “I command you all in the name of the Lord that no powerful earthly king, nor bishop, nor nobleman shall ever judge any dispute or injury concerning you. But if anyone should inflict an injury upon you, or if one of you should wrong another, or if anyone should in any other matter presume to judge over you in any way, let judges be appointed from among yourselves. As for the place of judgement, let it be beneath the shade of the hazel tree which I myself planted near the monastery; it shall give a pledge of upright judgement into the hand of the abbot on the day of trial.” The abbot placed it upon the altar and said, “May they judge rightly according to the intention of the synod and the order of judgement set down in the book which I have written. If anyone despises this commandment and breaks it, may he be cursed in the judgement of the supreme Judge, may he not live long, nor ever enjoy abundance of good things; but whoever keeps it, may he be blessed, may God lengthen his life, and may an angel of the Lord attend him in all places.” While he was still speaking, look, the brightness of God suddenly surrounded them, and they all alike fell face down upon the ground, unable to endure the greatness of the light.

⁴ All having therefore fallen to the ground, the blessed Cadoc was taken from their sight in a white cloud and disappeared; and immediately, in the twinkling of an eye, he descended from the cloud into the city of Beneventum and was seen among those who were burying the abbot. Wonderful to relate, by the gift of the Holy Spirit he understood their language fully and perfectly, and they likewise understood his; and they soon recognised that it was he of whom the angel had previously spoken to the prior. In that same hour a gathering of all the clergy, many monks, and the bishop of the city assembled, and with common consent they willingly ordained him abbot over them and named him Sophias, for they perceived that he was full of divine wisdom, and because it had earlier been ordained by the angel that he should be called by that name. Shortly afterwards he strengthened a large part of the city with a wall, which had previously been built of earth and mud, and whose material, gradually becoming more and more ruinous, had fallen into decay. When the workmen lacked spring water and for that reason left the work unfinished, they addressed the holy Sophias, saying, “We cannot carry on the work in any way, because we cannot find water close at hand.” Accordingly Saint Sophias prayed that very night to the Lord that he would deign to show what he willed to do in this matter. After prayer he rested his limbs, wearied by vigils, in sleep, and an angel descending from above graciously comforted him, telling him not to be sorrowful on that account, but that on rising in the morning he should go to the city wall, and foretelling that he would there find a plentiful flowing spring for the use of the masons. The holy man therefore, according to the angel’s command, stretching himself and shaking off sloth early in the morning, hastened to see the city wall that had been begun, and found near it a deep and abundant fountain.

Chapter 35: How Saint Elli Was Accustomed to Visit the Blessed Cadoc Annually #

¹ Elli was accustomed to travel very frequently with his disciples to the city of Beneventum in order to visit the blessed Cadoc, also called Sophias. During some of these visits certain people died and were honourably buried in the monastery of Saint Sophias; their tombs are arranged together in a single ordered row before the altar, extending from one wall to the other. Eight very fine marble monuments may be found there.

Chapter 36: How Saint Cadoc Was Raised to Be Bishop of Beneventum #

¹ After the bishop of that city had died, on the following night an angel of the Lord appeared in a vision to Saint Sophias, commanding him on the Lord’s behalf to accept episcopal ordination. On that same night a heavenly messenger also revealed to the archdeacon, while he slept, that on the following day he was to promote Saint Sophias without delay, by divine command, to the rank of bishop. When the archdeacon had assembled the company of the clergy and the people, he told them all what the divine oracle had made known to him by angelic revelation concerning the advancement of Saint Sophias. The archdeacon’s report pleased all who heard it, and with one accord they appointed Saint Sophias to the episcopal see. After a short time, while he lived in the dignity of the episcopate and governed his diocese in a gentle and holy manner, he heard an angel of the Lord speaking to him in a vision by night: “Look, a choice is granted to you by the Lord; now choose by what death you will leave this mortal life and pass to the eternal kingdom.” He replied, “Since I am given the choice, I choose martyrdom, for before the Lord it is the most excellent of deaths.” The angel said to him, “Be steadfast in heart and mind, for God is with you. Tomorrow a certain cruel king will plunder this city, and while you are celebrating the divine mysteries of the Mass, one of his accomplices, a soldier entering the monastery and brandishing his spear, will cruelly kill you with its point upon the altar.” Therefore the blessed Sophias gave thanks to God and said to the angel, “I am ready for martyrdom, for by such a death our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles, and some others also, triumphed in the world and obtained the glory of the heavenly kingdom.”

² When the blessed Sophias awoke, he rose as usual for morning praises, and as the day went on, about the first hour, he clothed himself in his mass vestments, being about to celebrate the divine sacrifice. As he was singing Mass, look, the same tyrant, having gathered his army, plundered the suburbs adjoining the city, and some of his men entered the city itself for the purpose of plunder. From this arose cries and wailings that echoed on all sides throughout the city, but Saint Sophias stood firm and did not in the least interrupt the celebration of the Mass, although he was fully aware of the danger.

³ Then at once one of the horsemen entered the church in which he was partaking of the holy sacrament, and with hurried step and raging fury pierced Saint Sophias with a lance as he stood at the altar and was receiving the saving consecration of the body and blood of our Lord. Covered in his own blood, and lifting his eyes towards heaven, he commended his soul to the Lord, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” [Acts 7:59]. He also humbly prayed for his murderer, just as the first martyr Stephen had done, saying, “Lord, Lord, lay not this sin to his charge, for he does not know what he has done” [Acts 7:60]. Turning his prayer further to the Lord, he continued, “Almighty Lord, invisible King, Jesus Christ the Saviour, grant my request: assist the Christians who dwell in my territories; show favour to my body, so that all who possess any part of my bones, or of those of my disciples, may work miracles and expel demons, and that every sickness may be far removed from them. Let there be no barrenness among their fruits nor failure in their corn, but let the wealth of all good people be increased, and forgive them their sins, so that they may honour me on earth and always glorify you in heaven.” And look, a voice came forth from the white cloud, saying, “Cadoc, my servant, ascend to the kingdom of my Father. What you ask I will grant you; I will not make you sorrowful, for you are blessed, since you have remembered me in your final sufferings. And I say to you: if anyone is in great distress and, mindful of your name, calls upon me for your sake, he shall be delivered from that affliction.” After the Lord had spoken, he signed himself with the saving sign of the cross and gave up his spirit into the hands of the Almighty.

⁴ And look, suddenly a great brightness shone upon the people who were devoutly engaged in carrying out his funeral rites and gathered for his burial, so that none of them was able to endure it. They brought his body, wrapped in white linen cloths, placed it in a silver coffin, and carried it to the place of burial with hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs, with many lamps, and buried him with honour. After his death far more miracles were performed at his tomb than had been during his lifetime: sight was restored to the blind, the lame were enabled to walk, lepers were cleansed, and demons were driven out of those whom they possessed. A large church was built in his honour over his venerable grave, into which no Briton is permitted to enter. This, as the learned men of the city of Beneventum say, was done lest some Briton should one day come there from his principal monastery, that is, from Llancarvan, and secretly take away the sacred earth containing the relics of his body, and so, by the removal of that most precious deposit, all the miracles and the whole grace of the saint should be transferred together with that earth to his own land of Llancarvan, that is, Britain, where he was born. But what is even more grievous and dreadful to hear is this: it is certain that after the removal of his sacred body, the clear flowing spring near the city, which God at his entreaty had caused to spring from the earth for the use of the workmen, rose like a sea over the city, and the inhabitants feared that it would be overwhelmed.

⁵ Saint Cadoc, while he flourished in this life, avoided human praise and did many things known to God alone and unknown to mortals. He never relaxed, with any interval or interruption, his perseverance in frugality and moderation, fasting, vigils, and prayers. He not only performed miracles during his lifetime, but accomplished them without number after his departure from the prison of this deceitful world, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Chapter 37: Of the Bellowing of the Coffin of Saint Cadoc When It Was Struck, and the Death of the Striker #

¹ After the departure of the most gracious Cadoc from temporal to eternal things, a certain very powerful English viscount named Eilaf came into the land of Glamorgan with a large retinue, intent on plunder and destruction. When the clergy of the renowned Cadoc heard of his impiety, they fled from Llancarvan with the coffin of the holy man and other relics, carrying with them the means of their protection, until they reached a place called Mammeliat, and there they hid themselves. After they had remained there for a short time, a great band of Danish and English raiders came upon them. Seeing the coffin, they sought to carry it off; from four up to a hundred men tried with all their strength to lift it, yet they were unable to move it from the spot. Then they grew angry, and one, more frenzied than the rest, ran forward and struck it with a stout stick. When it was struck, it gave forth a loud bellowing sound like that of a bull, greatly terrifying the whole host, and immediately a great earthquake shook those regions.

² At last they left the coffin, but one man, more wretched than the others and driven by greed, cut off its golden pinnacle with a hatchet. It fell into his lap and at once burned his breast like fire; stunned and tormented by the heat, he resolved to fix the pinnacle back in its place, and when he did so it adhered firmly, as though it had been joined by gold solder. This done, the unhappy violator of the coffin melted before the eyes of the whole army like wax before the fire. When they had witnessed this miracle and were struck with fear because of these events, they withdrew as fugitives. Afterwards they no longer desired to plunder the same places belonging to the patron saint, and they ceased to ravage his territories.

Chapter 38: Of the Ox Cut into Pieces and Boiled, and Afterwards Restored to Life #

¹ On one occasion Meredydd, king of Reinuc, came with a powerful hostile force to his estate in Glamorgan, intending to establish his rule there. When he arrived, he ordered them to plunder and to drive oxen into the camp for food. They accordingly brought a hundred oxen, among which was a very fat one that had been stolen from the townsmen of the blessed Saint Cadoc. When it had been slaughtered, it was cut into pieces so that, when cooked, it might satisfy the hunger of the king and his companions; but it could by no means be roasted over coals or boiled in water. When this was reported to the king, he ordered all the oxen that had been taken to be restored to their owners. When they were all brought together, the ox that had been killed, as mentioned above, appeared alive and well among the others. Then each person took back his own ox, praising and glorifying God in his excellent servant Cadoc.

Chapter 39: Of the Breaking of Iron Rings #

¹ After a very long interval of time, three foreigners bound with iron rings came from the East to the monastery of the same Saint Cadoc on the day of his feast. While Mass was being celebrated, those iron bonds, in the sight of all the people, were broken. So that this miracle might be known to everyone, they hung the rings upon the altar.

Chapter 40: Of a Steward Slain and Afterwards Restored to Life #

¹ The same Saint Cadoc possessed part of a certain field in Ireland, on the banks of the river Limphi, where he had a very faithful steward. This man zealously guarded his master’s corn so that the neighbours’ flocks might not consume it, and he confined their cattle. The governor of that province, inflamed with anger, gathered a hundred armed men, who together attacked the steward of the blessed man. All of them struck him in turn, each inflicting a single blow with his weapon, and thus they killed him; not one alone, but all alike were guilty of the murder. After his death they departed, but looking back they saw the man who had been killed standing there alive and in good health. When they saw this, they hurried back to him and observed how swiftly the wounds on his head had been healed; once the scars had closed, they were no larger than the marks left by rushes. Then, reflecting on what they had done, they acknowledged that they were guilty of his death, and went together to the king, recounting all that they had witnessed concerning this miracle. When the king heard it, he enlarged the bounds of the saint’s ancestral property and honoured him throughout his life. The learned men among the Irish who lived in the monastery of his disciple, the blessed Finnian, bear witness that if any cleric of Saint Cadoc came to them, they received him honourably and treated him as one of their own heirs. As a sign of their justice it is said that if an old man touches the lock of the monastery with his hand, it will open without a key.

Chapter 41: Of the Inclination of a Tree beneath the Feet of the Preacher #

¹ Formerly a king of Reinuc named Cynan, surnamed Garwyn, having gathered a great force of troops, resolved to invade the whole land of Glamorgan and, after slaughtering the men and plundering the cattle and household goods, to claim it for himself. Moving their camp, they pitched it on the banks of the great river Neath. When this became known, the king of Glamorgan was seized with fear and earnestly begged the clergy of the often-mentioned Saint Cadoc that they would go out to meet the king of Reinuc with the relics and the chest of the saint, and humbly entreat him not to inflict undeserved injury upon them. When they came with the relics to the bank of the river Neath, one of them climbed a tall tree carrying a spotted bell, so that from there he might address the king; for because of the great flood of water they were unable to cross the river.

² Then, calling out loudly from the top of the tree, he preached to him about the miracles of the blessed Saint Cadoc. As he preached, the tree beneath the cleric’s feet gradually began to bend downwards towards the ground and to make itself passable like a bridge, so that he could cross over it to the other side of the river and speak with the king face to face. When this was seen, the same king granted the protection of peace to the whole land, and then the entire army, being pacified, returned to their own homes. O truly just man, in whom no deceit was found: he judged no one unjustly and despised no one. No one ever saw him greatly elated or deeply cast down, except during the hours of prayer, when he offered supplications to God with tears. Adversity never disheartened him, nor did prosperity exalt him; nothing was ever on his lips except Christ and what pertained to correction for his sake; nothing was in his heart except peace and patient piety joined with compassion. By the Holy Spirit he daily sought not his own interests, but those of Jesus Christ, for he was a chosen temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, for all these reasons and many like them, he shines in inaccessible and immeasurable eternal glory, which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man [1 Corinthians 2:9], in heaven with the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three in one true and almighty God, to whom belong honour and glory, might and power, strength and dominion, enduring without end, for ever and ever. Amen. No one can fully recount the miracles performed by Cadoc; this is because he is not here with his own manner of speaking. Christ, the Creator of the world, will grant pardon to him who wrote this Life with faults, named Lifris.

Chapter 42: Of the Genealogy of the Blessed Cadoc #

¹ The genealogy of the blessed Saint Cadoc is traced back to the most noble emperors of Rome from the time of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Augustus Caesar, in whose reign Christ was born, begot Octavian; Octavian begot Tiberius; Tiberius begot Gaius; Gaius begot Claudius; Claudius begot Vespasian; Vespasian begot Titus; Titus begot Domitian; Domitian begot Nero, under whom the apostles Peter and Paul suffered; Nero begot Trajan; Trajan begot Hadrian; Hadrian begot Antoninus; Antoninus begot Commodus; Commodus begot Meobus; Meobus begot Severus; Severus begot Antoninus; Antoninus begot Aucanus; Aucanus begot Aurelian; Aurelian begot Alexander; Alexander begot Maximus; Maximus begot Gordian; Gordian begot Philip; Philip begot Decius; Decius begot Gallus; Gallus begot Valerian; Valerian begot Cleopatra; Cleopatra begot Aurelian; Aurelian begot Titus; Titus begot Probus; Probus begot Carosius; Carosius begot Diocletian, who persecuted Christians throughout the whole world, for in his time the blessed martyrs Alban, that is Julian, Aaron, and many others suffered. Diocletian begot Galerius; Galerius begot Constantine the Great, the son of Helen; Constantine begot Constantius; Constantius begot Maximian, with whom British soldiers went forth from Britain. He slew Gratian, the Roman emperor, and ruled over the whole of Europe; and because of their valour he did not permit the soldiers whom he had brought from Britain to return home, but granted them many provinces and lands, namely from the pool on the summit of Mount Jupiter to the city called Cantguic, and as far as the western mound known as Cruc Ochideint. From these soldiers arose the nation called Lettau. Maximian begot Owain; Owain begot Nor; Nor begot Solor; Solor begot Glywys; Glywys begot Gwynlliw; and Gwynlliw begot the most blessed Cadoc of whom we speak.

² The pedigree of the saint is also repeated on his father’s side, descending from the noblest stock of the kings of Ireland: Biscetbach begot Brusc; Brusc begot Urbf; Urbf begot Awlach; Awlach begot Brychan; Brychan begot Gwladys, the mother of Saint Cadoc. This is the lineage of his mother Gwladys, from the race of the kings of Glamorgan and Mecumen. Anna, whom learned men say was a cousin of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, begot Beli; Beli begot Abattach; Abattach begot Baallad; Baallad begot Oudoleum; Oudoleum begot Endos; Endos begot Ebiud; Ebiud begot Outigirim; Outigirim begot Oudicant; Oudicant begot Ritigurinum; Ritigur begot Remetel; Remetel begot Grat; Grat begot Urban; Urban begot Teilpuill; Teilpuill begot Teuchnant; Teuchnant begot Tecmant; Tecmant begot Guotepauc; Guotepauc begot Coilhen; Coilhen begot Guorgust; Guorgust begot Meirchion; Meirchion begot Cimmarch; Cimmarch begot his daughter Hennini; Hennini begot Meurig; Meurig begot Erbic; Erbic begot Yrb; Yrb begot Idnerth; Idnerth begot Teithfall; Teithfall begot Tewdrig, who was made a martyr in Gwent, namely at Merthyr Tewdrig; Tewdrig begot Marchell, the mother of Gwladys; and Gwladys begot the blessed Cadoc.

Chapter 44: Of the Pedigree of Gwladys, the Mother of King Gwynlliw, the Father of the Venerable Cadoc, Repeated from the Woman Mentioned Above #

¹ Anna begot Beli; Beli begot Afallach; Afallach begot Baalad; Baalad begot Owain; Owain begot Brithwein; Brithwein begot Dwfwnn; Dwfwnn begot Onwedd; Onwedd begot Enwerydd; Enwerydd begot Amgoloit; Amgoloit begot Gorddwfn; Gorddwfn begot Dwfn; Dwfn begot Gwrddoli; Gwrddoli begot Doli; Doli begot Gwrgain; Gwrgain begot Cain; Cain begot Tegid; Tegid begot Padarn Peis Rudawc; Padarn begot Edeyrn; Edeyrn begot Cunedda; Cunedda begot Ceredig; Ceredig begot Gwawl, the mother of Gwynlliw; and Gwynlliw begot the most holy Cadoc.

Chapter 45: Of the Constitution of the Canons of Nantcarvan City #

¹ Saint Cadoc appointed thirty-six canons, who served continually and in due order at the church of Nantcarvan, for he himself, by the choice of God and of men, wholly founded it according to divine purpose. He likewise established the same number of courts, in which the canons were to have their dwellings, and an equal number of portions of land, each amounting to eighty acres, which from ancient times were called the property of the courts. These lands were cultivated by gardeners, whose duty it was to tend gardens and orchards and to maintain hospitality. In addition, he assigned to them an equal number of villages, from which they received the necessities of food and clothing.

Chapter 46: Of the Possessions of the Same Canons #

¹ First, the Court of the Desert, which belongs to the abbot, with the village of Tremgueithen. The Court of the Benignant, which belongs to the doctor, with a portion of land at Castell. A court planted with a hazel tree, where Saint Cadoc had his dwelling. The Court of Aidanbloch, and the portion Nioysgurthin, with the village of the Further Pennon. The White Court, which no fickle person ought to visit, in which Saint Elli, his disciple and successor, dwelt, with the portion Crucygreif, and another nearer with the Greater Pennon. The Court of the Kitchen, with a portion of land to the right on the way towards Talcatlan, and the village of Pencrychgel. Another Court of the Kitchen, with the portion of land called Caricoc and the village of Pellussen. The Court of the Consul, and a portion of land near Talcathlan, with the village of Talpontymit. The Court of Tremycrucon, with the village of Tremycrucon. The Court of Tremlech, with the portion of land beyond the cross, and the village of Tremlech. The Court of Samson, with the portion of land Cymmyoucyti. The Court of Elphin, with the village of Cestilldincat. The Court of Chincencoh. The Court of the Mill, with the village of Nantbucelis. The Court of Talcatlan, which belongs to the abbot. The Court of Curcus the priest, with the portion Cair Arthan and the village of Pencrycgil, together with Pistillcatuc. The Court of Arguistel, with the portion of land Ygrestyl and the village of Hentrem Drymbrych. The Court of Nestree, with the portion beyond the ditch Pulltavus and the village of Brinsychan. The Court of Eida, with the village of Trefhenun. The Court of Cairguicou, with the village of Ecclussilid. The Court of Albrytson of Cynuyt, with the village of Allt Cynuyt. The Court of Cyndrayth, with the portion Nantcyncar, and the villages of Pencrycgel and Cilbleingurth. The Court of Ellybr, with the village of Ellibr. The Court of Crucinan, with the village of Crucpilia. The Court of Medgarth, with the village of Medgarth. The Court of Caerydicycit, with the village of Cairdicit. The Court of Cynblust, without a share in the church, with the village of Cellidremiauc, that is, Nant Carthay.

Chapter 47: Of the Distribution of the Parts #

¹ Six portions were assigned among the principal persons. The first was given to the abbot for governance; the second to the doctor, for the teaching of doctrine; the third to the priest, for carrying out the office of the priesthood. What remained was divided equally among the clergy, according to the number of prebendaries, except for four, namely the surveyor and three messengers who served the clergy in matters concerning the relics, wherever they were directed to be sent. These had nothing in common with the clergy except in the portions of land in their food. Those who came to seek refuge in the church, on leaving that refuge, gave to them, on account of their office, either a ewe with a lamb or four pence.

Chapter 48: OF THE MANNER OF DECIMATION OR TITHING #

¹ Whoever is to make a tithe ought to divide the property into three parts, and give the first to the confessor, the second to the altar, and the third to those who pray for him. The portion belonging to the altar is divided as has been stated above.

Chapter 49: Of the Manner of Wills #

¹ If anyone afflicted with illness is unwilling to give separately, let him give to his confessor according to his means, for the church and for the vigils. The portions belonging to the church and to the vigils are divided as has been set out above.

Chapter 50: Of the Conversion of Gwynlliw #

¹ Be it known that in the days of Gwynlliw there was a priest of renowned name, Cadoc, son of the said Gwynlliw. The blessed Cadoc was steadfast in faith, serving the Holy Spirit daily and devoting himself to the holy Gospels of Christ. His father Gwynlliw, however, was given over to carnal desires, often inciting his guards to robbery and plunder, living wholly contrary to what was just and right, and disgracing his life with crimes. Cadoc, by contrast, built his church upon four foundations: justice, prudence, fortitude, and temperance. The monastery was filled with choirs of singers, readers, and people at prayer, whom Saint Cadoc continually stirred by divine exhortations, the Holy Spirit working with him, towards obedience to God, the practice of mutual charity, and works of mercy for the poor.

² When Cadoc, the man of God, saw the wicked deeds of his father, he sighed deeply and grieved for him, and sent trustworthy messengers from among his disciples—Finnian, Guavan, and Elli—to turn him from the errors of his malice and wickedness and lead him to obedience to God. When they came and met with him, they, together with the elders, urged him to renounce the devil, his pomps, and his evil works, and with repentance and penance to place himself under the counsel of his son Cadoc and to confess the sins he had committed against God and against him. When his wife Gwladys heard this, moved by the Holy Spirit she said, “Let us trust our son, and he will be a father to us in heaven.” Gwynlliw replied, “Whatever you tell me to do, let us do it, and wherever you wish, I will go.”

³ Accordingly Cadoc with the monks, and Gwynlliw with the elders, together with Gwladys the mother of Cadoc, came together, and they readily accepted the counsel of Cadoc. Both of them, that is, Gwynlliw and his wife, confessed their sins with the fulfilment of penance. Afterwards Gwynlliw spoke to them and said, “Whoever is of my lineage, let him serve God in true devotion; and may all who dwell in my land, after their death, be buried in his cemetery.” Cadoc then said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and I will prepare for you a dwelling among the heavenly hosts” [Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17]. At once they sang the psalm, “The Lord will hear you in the day of trouble” [Psalm 20:1]. The witnesses to these things were Gwynlliw with the elders, and Cadoc with the monks and his disciples.

Chapter 51: Of the Journey of Gwynlliw and His Wife #

¹ After some time had passed, Gwynlliw and his wife set out from their home on a vow to go to Thebech. A messenger from God then came to Cadoc, instructing him to go to his parents and to advise them how they might carry out true repentance for their sins. He promptly obeyed the divine command exhorted his parents by holy admonitions to do so. Accordingly his mother Gwladys built a church for herself at Pencarnou, and Gwynlliw soon afterwards erected another monastery and established divine worship there.

² Later both parents invited Cadoc, and when he came they received him devoutly and gave to him the churches they had built for themselves, and also surrendered everything they possessed to his authority. Over these churches there was to be no ruler except one of the family of Cadoc the man of God, or someone appointed with his consent and permission. Gwynlliw declared, “Whoever of my family or of the elders of Gwynllwg shall break this, may he be cursed for ever.” Cadoc and his monks were witnesses. “Let no one receive tribute or pension from these churches except the family of Cadoc, and let there be no governor or ruler in them except by the choice and appointment of the same family of Cadoc.”

Chapter 52: Of the Sword Which Tewdwr the Leader Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ Be it known that Tewdwr son of Meuric gave a sword and a vestment to Cadoc and his household, so that with them they might purchase land for their support. Conige, abbot of the altar of Saint Cadoc, gave that sword and vestment to Spois and Rhodri in exchange for the village called Conguoret in Pencenli, which they granted to be held by Cadoc and his church in perpetual right, with an annual rent of nine tierces of ale, together with bread, meat, and honey, to be paid with the consent of Conige and the same household, by the hand of Spois and his sons for ever. This possession was to be free and exempt from all services and exactions of earthly kings. The same Spois, son of Gwrhiter, gave Guoremet with three cows. The same Rhodri held a charter, or written instrument, under the hand of Conige, abbot of Nantcarvan, in confirmation of this grant. Afterwards Rhodri and Spois and his son came together, and the clergy brought the cross of Saint Cadoc and his earth, and going around the same land of Conguoret, claimed it; and before lawful witnesses they scattered the earth of the said saint upon it as a sign of perpetual possession. Of the laity the witnesses were Rhodri, Guornemet, Guaguorit, Hoilbiu, Howhoer, and Coelbiu; and of the clergy, Samson, abbot of the altar of Saint Illtyd, Conige, abbot of the altar of Saint Cadoc, Plossan, Atern, Jouan, Minuocioi, and Brenii and his household. Whoever keeps this, may God keep him; whoever breaks it, may he be cursed by the Lord. Amen.

Chapter 53: Of the Part of the Field Which Brannoguid Gave to the Monastery of Saint Cadoc #

¹ Be it known that Brannoguid son of Febric gave half of the field of Idraelis to God and to the monastery of Saint Cadoc, for the salvation of his soul, and so that his name might be written in the book of Cadoc at Nantcarvan. The said Brannoguid and his three sons, Guedan, Guobrir, and Meuc, held a written deed under the hand of Conige, chief of the altar of Cadoc, granting this gift in perpetual right to God and Saint Cadoc. The perpetual annual rent of that field is three tierces of ale, together with bread, meat, and one pound of honey; these Brannoguid and his three sons, and their kindred, are bound to pay each year to the household of Cadoc until the Day of Judgement. The witnesses to this agreement are Brannoguid, the owner of the land, and his sons, Guoidan, Marcant, and Junemet, Conige the abbot, Elionoy, Brenic, Mannocior, Beduan, and Plissan. Whoever keeps this donation, may God keep him; and whoever breaks it, may he be cursed by God. Amen.

Chapter 54: Of the Penance of Seius for Killing Two of His Nephews #

¹ After some time had passed, Cuan Bunry¹ killed two men, the sons of his sister, namely Atgan and Aidnerth. Because of this, Cadoc and Illtyd came and cursed Cuan. But Cuan, being compelled, came with his kings into the presence of Cadoc and Illtyd and confessed to them his crimes. They said to him, “Make restitution for the crime of homicide.” Catlen replied, saying, “I will give the field called Lanhoittan to Cadoc, the rent of which shall be two vessels, each holding six tierces of ale, together with bread, meat, and honey, according to the customary measure.” And Merchion gave a village called Conhil to Illtyd, and three vessels, each containing six tierces of ale. These vessels, together with the lands, were granted by the donors to the same saints as a perpetual gift. They accepted Cuan’s satisfaction and imposed upon him a penance of fourteen years. The witnesses to this matter were Cotton, Merchion, Ceuan, Cothy, Catman, Hoitlon, Virga, Cadoc, Finian, Seoctus, and Eutegyrn the reader; the households of Cadoc and Illtyd were also witnesses. Whoever keeps this shall be blessed by God, and whoever breaks it shall be cursed.

Chapter 55: HOW SAINT CADOC ERECTED A CHURCH TO HIS DISCIPLE MACMOILLUS #

¹ Be it known to you that Cadoc built a church for his disciple Macmoillus, enclosed it with a fence, and within it constructed an altar, so that he might lodge there when he went to Gwent and when he returned. He appointed Macmoillus as prior there, and as overseer of all its administration. Cadoc therefore promised the rewards of the kingdom of heaven to all who should increase the possessions of that church, whether in lands, money, or alms. The witnesses to this are Cadoc and his clergy: Pachan, Ditiu, and Hoduam. Whoever keeps this shall be blessed by God, and whoever breaks it shall be cursed.

Chapter 56: Of the Land Pencarnou, Which Gwallouer Gave to St Cadoc #

¹ Be it known that Gwallouer gave to God and Saint Cadoc the land of Pencarnou, for the sake of his soul, for ever, until the Day of Judgement. Gwallouer also gave this village to his son Iddon, so that he and his heirs might supply the household of Cadoc with the produce of the land on its behalf; the rent of this land being nine tierces of ale, with bread, meat, and honey. Accordingly, whenever the clergy of Cadoc were to eat and drink, whether at Bassaleg or at Pencarnou, the same Iddon was to bring them food and drink, as has been mentioned above. The witnesses to this agreement are Paulus, abbot of Nantcarban, Guenlion his brother, Thuiuc, Canopoi, Tanet, Nierbrith, Merhitr, and Concum. Whoever keeps this, God will keep him; and whoever breaks it shall be cursed by the Lord. Amen.

Chapter 57: Of Part of a Field Which Retoni Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ It is to be noted that Retoni gave to God and Saint Cadoc, to be held by perpetual right, one half of a field near the City of the Legion, which had fallen to him by hereditary right. That portion which had devolved upon Herbic he bought from him and likewise gave it to God and Saint Cadoc. Witnesses to this matter are Herbic, Curnuet, and Cogale, clerics; and of the laity, Guornet, Guedguon, Guedgui, Sonus, and Alderreg. Whoever keeps this, may he be blessed; whoever violates it, may he be cursed. Amen.

Chapter 58: Of the Field Which Temic Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ Be it known that Temic gave a field, that is, from the land of Crucin, to the altar of Saint Cadoc in perpetual possession, together with his sons, in the time of Paul, abbot of Nantcarvan. This field duly paid each year six tierces of ale, with bread and meat, to the household of Saint Cadoc. The witnesses are, of the clergy, Guonan, Matganoi, Soy, Brenic, Elionoc, and Pill the reader; and of the laity, Cengrat, Guedhoc, Elinniu, Rimogeat, Brannoc, and Cunhape. Whoever preserves this offering, God will preserve him, and whoever takes from it, God will destroy him.

Chapter 59: Of the Village of Cradoc, Which Gwengarth Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ Be it known that King Morgan, while hunting, came to the banks of the river Nadawan and set a hawk upon a duck, and both the hawk and the duck flew across the river. Suddenly an eagle came from the sea coast to seize the hawk, and when King Morgan saw this he was greatly distressed. But a follower of the agitated king, named Gwengarth,¹ coming forward armed with shield, sword, and lance, threw himself into the river and boldly snatched the hawk from the grasp of the eagle, and with some bravado brought both hawk and duck back to the hand of King Morgan, greatly pleasing him by this deed. Whereupon Morgan said to Gwengarth, “Look, I give to you the village of Cradoc in hereditary right, its length extending from the city of Frotguid as far as the river Nadawan, and its breadth from the spring called Gwengarth to another spring called Gwengarth.” On the same day Morgan and Gwengarth went to a certain territory of Cadoc, and Gwengarth gave to God and Saint Cadoc the rent of the same village of Cradoc for the sake of his soul and for the soul of King Morgan, namely every year twelve tierces of ale, one sextary of honey, together with bread and meat. The same Gwengarth also gave, for the sake of his soul, to Conmogoy Hipiclaur his gilded sword, valued at seventy cows.

² And so Conmogoy consulted Gwengarth as to giving the sword to Morgan, so that he might confirm Gwengarth’s grant concerning the town of Cradoc; and this he did. By this act Morgan confirmed the same donation, and further caused it to be strengthened by a written document under the hand of Sulien, declaring that it should henceforth be free and exempt from all earthly service, and wholly subject in obedience to God and Saint Cadoc. The witnesses to this are Morgan himself, declaring that there should be no ruler of the territory other than Gwengarth and his heirs; of the clergy, Sulien,¹ Conmogoy, Danog,¹ Guorgethen, Legan, and Elgnou; and of the laity, Gwingueri, Jacob, Boduan, Elguan, Curhitr, and Cuncuan. Whoever keeps this shall be blessed, and whoever breaks it shall be cursed by God and Saint Cadoc. Amen.

³ Be it known to all people, and to the successors of the kings of this world, because of the changeableness of times, that Elli, the disciple of the blessed Cadoc, having been carefully brought up by him from childhood and thoroughly instructed in sacred learning, and being the most beloved of all his disciples, declared as follows: “Look, I have built a church and dwellings in the name of the Lord, and I and all my successors will be obedient and subject to the friendly household of Cadoc.” And Elli granted to that household, by perpetual annual payment, provisions for three nights in summer and the same in winter, with thanksgiving and joy, prayers and spiritual hymns; but in ordering the governance of the said church, the abbot of the monastery of Cadoc was always to be president and leader. And if it should come to pass that Cadoc and his successors should arrive asserting their right of patronage, there were to be given to them two oxen, as a token of alliance and subjection. When they were assembled together at the monastery, Elli, in their presence, confirmed this agreement with the kiss of peace near the cross which stands in the middle of the road and is known to many. The witnesses to this matter are Cadoc, Elli, Cleopas, Samson, Jacob, Boduan, Conachan, and Mach. Each of them then departed to his own home, blessing repeatedly. Amen.

Chapter 60: Of the Field Which Terengual Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ Be it known that Terengual gave the field called Lughoidel to God and Cadoc, which paid annually to Saint Cadoc and his household three tierces of ale, with bread and meat; and if it should happen that ale was not available, there were to be paid four bushels of wheat or a white cloak. This alms Terengual gave to God and Saint Cadoc, free and exempt from all royal and earthly service, for the sake of his soul and for the soul of Morgan. The witnesses are Jacob, steward of the altar of Cadoc, and his household: Conmogoi, Connul, Joseph, Brunonoi, and Catgen; and of the household of Illtyd, the witnesses are Morgan, Gwallouir, Gwiddgen, and Gwengarth. The boundary of this field extends from Pwll Tenbiub as far as Dirprise. Whoever keeps this, may he be blessed; and whoever violates it shall be cursed by God.

Chapter 61: Of the Village of Rearth Which Guorcinnim Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ Be it known to all that Guorcinnim bought the village of Rearth from Meurig as his own inheritance, in exchange for a sword whose golden hilt was worth twenty-five cows. He also gave to Cyngen, the son of Paul, a horse worth four cows; likewise vestments weighing three ounces to Commorus; and previously a very fine horse to the son of Cyngen. To Andreas, the son of Morgan, he gave a sword worth four cows; to Idnerth, the son of Meurig, another of the same value; an ox to Cornouneno, who had brought him up; and another cow to Gwengarth, steward to the king. After this purchase, Meurig and Cyngen held a written deed under the hand of Guorcinnim, granting it to him and his descendants as a perpetual inheritance. Thereafter Guorcinnim himself gave this village to the church of Saint Cadoc in perpetual possession until the Day of Judgement, and held a written charter of the grant under the hand of Jacob, abbot of the valley of Carvan, for the commemoration of this alms, before proper witnesses, whose names are set down.

² The witnesses are Oudoc, bishop, and Cethig, steward of the altar of Saint Dogwin; Jacob, steward of the altar of Saint Cadoc, with his household; of the household of Illtyd, Conmoc the presbyter, Comnil the master, Joseph the presbyter, Biuone, and Catgen; and of the laity, Meurig and his sons, Andras, Gwedgen, Bramail, Concit son of Ermit, Guorbis son of Berran, Aeintoc, Assail, Arcon, Gwallonir, Ithel, Matton, Eliudus, and Hilon, all of whom were witnesses to this written deed of donation. The same village of Rearth had belonged by hereditary right to Mesioco, to whom Guorcinnim gave a horse worth three cows, that he might consent to this grant. Whoever violates this shall be cursed by God.

Chapter 62: Of the Field Which Cynfelyn Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ Be it known that Cynfelyn gave the field called Lisdin Borrion, together with his own person, in exchange for the commerce of the heavenly kingdom, to God and Saint Cadoc. This gift was to pay annually six tierces of ale, with bread, meat, and honey. Conige is a witness, who wrote the corresponding deed with his own hand.

Chapter 63: Of the Land Llangadwaladr, Which Gwidnerth Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ It is to be made known that Gwidnerth gave Llangadwaladr to God and Saint Cadoc, so that it might pay each year three tierces of ale, with all things due, on account of his killing his cousin Meirchion. Later he gave it, together with the rents, to Dogwinnus. The witnesses to this are Berthgwyn the bishop, Conmil, Terchan and his community, Sulien abbot of Nantcarvan, Lumbiu the presbyter, Biuonoi, Jonab, and the community of Saint Cadoc, Saturn, chief of the altar of Dogwinnus, Morgan, and Gwidnerth. Whoever keeps this shall be blessed, and whoever violates it shall be cursed by God.

Chapter 64: Of the Land Which Meurig Gave to Saint Cadoc #

¹ It is to be made known, on account of future changes of times and the succession of kings, that King Meurig gave, for the sake of his soul and equally for that of his sister Sule, part of a field called Insule Tuican, and two parts of a field which had belonged to Guorbrith and Cassoc. Concerning these, King Meurig held a written charter under the hand of Jacob, abbot of the choir of Saint Cadoc, by which they were made free and exempt from all rent, every claim, and all services, save only to the household of Saint Cadoc. Whereupon Jacob afterwards gave a horse to King Meurig, and he in turn gave it to Gwyddgen, son of Brochmael. The witnesses to this transaction are Jacob the abbot, Rumceneu, Catthig, and their elders, Commogoe, Conmil, Gwrgeneu, Beuonoc, Catgen, Heargin, Crasgell, Eittigyn, Gwyddon, and Sulien, clerics; and of the laity, Meurig for himself and for his sons from generation to generation, Gwyddgen son of Brochmael, Gwallonir, Guorcinnim, Guorbes, Morgan, and Morheen. These are the witnesses to this agreement, so that it may never be annulled. Then King Meurig confirmed his grant upon the altar of Saint Cadoc before his elders. Whoever keeps this shall be blessed, and whoever dissolves it shall be cursed by God.

Chapter 65: Of King Maelgon Being Deprived of Sight #

¹ Maelgon the Great was king of the Britons and ruled over the whole of Britain, from which he received annually, from each township, one hundred cows with as many calves, of whatever sort he chose. Accordingly, the tax collectors of King Maelgon came to levy tribute as far as Gwynllwg, and they seized a very beautiful girl named Abalcem, the daughter of Guiragon, steward of Saint Cadoc, and carried her off with them. Because of this, the girl’s kinsmen were enraged; they mounted their horses and sounded their horns, and when this was heard by all the fighting men of that district, they rose up and pursued them, killing three hundred men, with the exception of one, who reported what had happened to the king. When this was made known, the king, burning with furious anger, came with a great army to take vengeance, to the place called Crucglas. Saint Cadoc, together with all the people of Gwynllwg, went out to meet the king and descended to the place where the spring called Brutrou is, and there he fasted, with all his companions accompanying him. Maelgon then sent his messenger Argantbad to the blessed man, commanding him to pay at Rhiwcarw the price of the men who had been slain. Cadoc replied that he would by no means pay anything except by the judgement of God and of men. But the king rejected judgement, and that very night it was revealed by an angel to the holy man Moucam that he should restrain the king from his cruelty; and he declared to the king what had been made known to him by the angelic revelation. But the king utterly despised his warning, for early in the morning he moved his camp in order to commit slaughter, and immediately he was struck blind and did not know how to direct his steps. He therefore sent his messengers, namely Maucan and Argantbad, to Saint Cadoc, informing him of what had happened and earnestly entreating him to come to him and restore his lost sight; but the man of God refused until he should come to confession.

² Then the king came to him and granted all that he asked. Accordingly, the blessed Cadoc, with the king’s permission, requested that a place of refuge should be granted to him in the territory of Gwynllwg, like the refuge of Saint David in the valley of Rosina. The king granted to the blessed Cadoc the refuge he sought, and gave him the horse and the sword with which he was girded, and also the golden garments with which he was clothed, and received him as his governor. King Maelgon then made an everlasting covenant with Saint Cadoc and his successors, saying, “If anyone of my lineage shall break this, let him be cursed; and may the last of my descendants assist your household at Gwynllwg as his final brother.” King Maelgon with his nobles, and the blessed Cadoc with his clergy, blessed all who would keep this agreement, and likewise with one voice cursed all who would not keep it. Then the man of God set before the king what he was to render, namely three hundred and fifty cows, the compensation for the several nobles of his lineage, and he said, “Whatever any person of my household in Gwynllwg shall obtain from the king as a perpetual inheritance, let him hold it free of all rent. Whoever buys anything from my household in the land of Glywysing beyond the bounds of Gwynllwg shall have the right of perpetual inheritance, and a price and rent shall be paid to him.” The king in turn declared his pledge to the blessed man, saying, “Whoever kills one of my lineage, let his land be given to the parents of the slain man, and his compensation paid to his children. If anyone strikes a stranger who has fled to the refuge of Gwynllwg, he shall pay one hundred cows according to judgement; but if he denies it, he must swear an oath with sixty men.”

³ Saint Cadoc also appointed that the term of his refuge should be seven years, seven months, and seven days, with a night’s lodging in the house of every man in the town; after which the person was to be dismissed from the refuge of Gwynllwg to whatever other place of safety he might wish. Saint Cadoc further bore witness, saying, “If anyone of my kindred is seized without the consent of the head of his lineage, he shall be released unharmed with his property; but if he is taken with the consent of his leader, he is to be kept in custody until that leader releases him. No tribute shall be paid to the king by my people, except an assessment of cattle after a cycle of seven years, of which the latter shall reserve one third for himself, and contribute the other two thirds to the king. If anyone should injure the head of a lineage of Gwynllwg or shed his blood, the offender shall not be restored except by the giving of land, gold, and livestock. Whoever pays to the king the price for the death of any one of my kindred, if he should be struck, shall likewise have his compensation paid to the king. If any of my people are injured or slain, a cow and a sheep shall be paid as the price of his soul. Moreover, if any man of British descent should be slain within the refuge of Gwynllwg, the price of his soul shall be paid as in his own land; and if he be an exile of the people of Gwynllwg, it shall be paid in the same manner.” Saint Cadoc also commanded his kinsmen: “If a leading man should break this covenant, dismiss him and choose another of his lineage who will keep it; and if such a one cannot be found, choose someone from another lineage.”

Chapter 66: Of the Witnesses of Saint Cadoc #

¹ The witnesses to the agreement of refuge which the blessed Cadoc made with King Rhun, his uncle, son of Brychan his grandfather, and which are written in the Life of the man of God, are as follows. Of the clergy: David, Chenedir, Eliud, Illtyd, Maidoc, and Cannau; of the laity: Gober, Meliat, Cheleni, Chunleith, Chumurth, and Aman; and of the lineage of Cadoc: Cinmur, Etelig, Luipet, Seru, and Poul.