§ 69. Of the Blinding of King Maelgwn.

Latin Text

Maelgwn was a great king of the Britons, who ruled the whole of Britannia, from which there was paid to him annually one hundred cows from each pagus with as many calves, of whatever kind he might choose, namely, either males or females, not °"willingly, but by force. And so the taxgatherers of king Maelgwn ° came to collect tribute to Gwynlliog, and they seized a very handsome girl, Abalcem by name, daughter of Guiragon, a pre fect of saint Cadog, and bore her away with them. At which action the kinsfolk of the girl being indignant, mounted their horses, and blew their horns. All the warlike men of the same community hearing this, arose, and pursuing them, slew three "` hundred men, one excepted who told the king what things had been done. When he heard this, the king, raging with furious anger, arrived at the place which is called Cruc glas with a great army for the purpose of avenging himself. Also saint Cadog with all the inhabitants of Gwynlliog went forth to meet the king, y and descended into the place, where is the well of Brutrov, and he fasted with all who accompanied him. Maelgwn therefore sent his messenger Argantbad to the blessed man, ordering him to render the worth of the men slain at Riucarn, who replied that he would by no means pay the worths, save by the true judgement of God and of men. But the king refused the arbitrament. But that night it was revealed by an angel to the holy man, Moucan, that he should restrain the king from his cruelty, who also declared to the king what had been manifested to him by the angelic oracle. Now he altogether despised his admonitions. For early in the morning the king moved his camp to inflict slaughter, and immediately he was blinded and knew not whither to direct his steps. Therefore he despatched messengers, namely, Maucan and Argantbad to saint Cadog, informing him what had happened to him, and earnestly entreated that he should deign to visit him, that he might restore to him his lost sight. But the man of God refused, until he should come to confession. Therefore came the king to him, conceding to him all that he should demand of him. Therefore blessed Cadog requested of the king, first, that refuge should be granted him in the community of Gwynlliog from himself and from his' posterity like to the refuge of saint David in Vallis Rosina. And so he gave to the blessed Cadog the refuge as he demanded, and granted him the horse and the sword, wherewith he was girt, and also the golden vestments, wherewith he was clad, and received him as his director. For king Maelgwn made an eternal agreement with saint Cadog and his successors, saying, `If anyone of my stock shall break this, he will be cursed. Everyone, who shall have been ft of my progeny, will assist thy kindred of Gwynlliog as his uterine brother.' Then king Maelgwn with his nobles, and blessed Ca dog with his clergy, blessed all, who shall keep this agreement, and, on the contrary, unanimously cursed all who shall not keep it. Therefore the man of God shewed to the king tradition, that is, four hundred and fifty cows the worth of ev ery noble of his progeny. `Whatsoever anyone of my stock of G wynlliog shall have obtained from the king himself in perpetual hesitance, let it be his without any census. But whosoever from my stock shall buy anything in the region of Glywysing or went outside the boundaries of Gwynlliog, let it be his for a `perpetual hereditary right, nevertheless let him pay the price and census.' The king in his turn declared his pledge to the blessed man, `He who shall slay anyone of my kindred, let his land be given to the parents of the slain man without any census, and let his worth be rendered to his children. A stranger who shall have fled to the refuge of Gwynlliog, if anyone shall have killed him, he will pay one hundred cows according to judgement. But if he shall have denied, let him give the oath of sixty men.' Also saint Cadog gave as the duration of his refuge seven years, seven months, and seven days, and one night's lodging in the house of every man throughout the whole pagus, and afterwards let him be dismissed from the refuge of Gwynlliog to whatever other place of security he might wish. Again saint Cadog testified, saying, `If anyone of my progeny shall be arrested without consent of his chief of kindred, let him dismiss him unhurt together with his substance, but if he is seizedwith the consent of his chief of kindred, let him be held in custody, until the chief himself shall release him. Also let there be no tribute given to the king by my race, a contribution of cattle excepted after the passing of seven years, and let the chief of kindred reserve for himself a third part, but let him contribute two parts to the king. And if anyone shall hurt a chief of kindred of Gwynlliog, or shall shed his blood, let not the fault be paid for except by land and gold and animals. And whosoever shall pay to the king the worth of the death of anyone of my race, in like manner if he shall be struck, let it be paid to the king. For the men of my race, if they shall be hurt or killed, let a cow be paid with a sheep as the worth of his soul. If anyone of the progeny of the Britons shall be slain in the refuge of Gwynlliog, let the worth of his soul be paid as in his own land. If anyone shall be an exile of the stock of Gwynlliog, let it be paid in the same manner.' And saint Cadog gave commandment to his kinsmen, `If your chief of kindred shall break this testament of agreement, cast him aside, and choose another from his kindred who shall keep it. If he cannot be found, choose from another kindred.'