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in the year 1188。 Frederick I。； surnamed Barbarossa； succeeded Conrad III。 in the empire of Germany； in March； 1152； and was drowned in a river of Cilicia whilst bathing； in 1190。 Isaac Angelus succeeded Andronicus I。 as emperor of Constantinople； in 1185； and was dethroned in 1195。 Philip II。； surnamed Augustus； from his having been born in the month of August； was crowned at Rheims； in 1179； and died at Mantes； in 1223。 William II。； king of Sicily； surnamed the Good； succeeded in 1166 to his father； William the Bad； and died in 1189。 Bela III。； king of Hungary； succeeded to the throne in 1174； and died in 1196。 Guy de Lusignan was crowned king of Jerusalem in 1186； and in the following year his city was taken by the victorious Saladin。
｛12｝ New Radnor。
｛13｝ Rhys ap Gruffydd was grandson to Rhys ap Tewdwr； prince of South Wales； who； in 1090； was slain in an engagement with the Normans。 He was a prince of great talent； but great versatility of character； and made a conspicuous figure in Welsh history。 He died in 1196； and was buried in the cathedral of St。 David's； where his effigy； as well as that of his son Rhys Gryg； still remain in a good state of preservation。
｛14｝ Peter de Leia； prior of the Benedictine monastery of Wenlock； in Shropshire； was the successful rival of Giraldus for the bishopric of Saint David's； vacant by the death of David Fitzgerald； the uncle of our author； but he did not obtain his promotion without considerable opposition from the canons； who submitted to the absolute sequestration of their property before they consented to his election； being desirous that the nephew should have succeeded his uncle。 He was consecrated in 1176； and died in 1199。
｛15｝ In the Latin of Giraldus； the name of Eineon is represented by AEneas； and Eineon Clyd by AEneas Claudius。
｛16｝ Cruker Castle。 The corresponding distance between Old and New Radnor evidently places this castle at Old Radnor； which was anciently called Pen…y…craig； Pencraig； or Pen…crug； from its situation on a rocky eminence。 Cruker is a corruption； probably；
from Crug…caerau； the mount； or height； of the fortifications。
｛17｝ Buelth or Builth； a large market town on the north…west edge of the county of Brecon； on the southern banks of the Wye； over which there is a long and handsome bridge of stone。 It had formerly a strong castle； the site and earthworks of which still remain； but the building is destroyed。
｛18｝ Llan…Avan； a small church at the foot of barren mountains about five or six miles north…west of Buelth。 The saint from whom it takes its name； was one of the sons of Cedig ab Cunedda； whose ancestor； Cunedda； king of the Britons； was the head of one of the three holy families of Britain。 He is said to have lived in the beginning of the sixth century。
｛19｝ Melenia； Warthrenion； Elevein； Elvenia； Melenyth； and Elvein； places mentioned in this first chapter； and varying in their orthography； were three different districts in Radnorshire： Melenyth is a hundred in the northern part of the county； extending into Montgomeryshire； in which is the church of Keri： Elvein retains in modern days the name of Elvel； and is a hundred in the southern part of the county； separated from Brecknockshire by the Wye； and Warthrenion； in which was the castle built by prince Rhys at Rhaiadyr…gwy； seems to have been situated between the other two。 Warthrenion may more properly be called Gwyrthrynion； it was anciently one of the three comots of Arwystli； a cantref of Merioneth。 In the year 1174； Melyenith was in the possession of Cadwallon ap Madawc； cousin german to prince Rhys； Elvel was held by Eineon Clyd and Gwyrthrynion by Eineon ap Rhys； both sons…in…law to that illustrious prince。
｛20｝ The church of Saint Germanus is now known by the name of Saint Harmans； and is situated three or four miles from Rhaiadyr； in Radnorshire； on the right…hand of the road from thence to Llanidloes； it is a small and simple structure； placed on a little eminence； in a dreary plain surrounded by mountains。
｛21｝ Several churches in Wales have been dedicated to Saint Curig； who came into Wales in the seventh century。
｛22｝ Glascum is a small village in a mountainous and retired situation between Builth and Kington； in Herefordshire。
｛23｝ Bangu。 … This was a hand bell kept in all the Welsh churches； which the clerk or sexton took to the house of the deceased on the day of the funeral： when the procession began； a psalm was sung； the bellman then sounded his bell in a solemn manner for some time； till another psalm was concluded； and he again sounded it at intervals； till the funeral arrived at the church。
｛24｝ Rhaiadyr； called also Rhaiader…gwy； is a small village and market…town in Radnorshire。 The site only of the castle； built by prince Rhys； A。D。 1178； now remains at a short distance from the village； it was strongly situated on a natural rock above the river Wye； which； below the bridge； forms a cataract。
｛25｝ Llywel； a small village about a mile from Trecastle； on the great road leading from thence to Llandovery； it was anciently a township； and by charter of Philip and Mary was attached to the borough of Brecknock； by the name of Trecastle ward。
｛26｝ Leland； in his description of this part of Wales； mentions a lake in Low Elvel； or Elvenia； which may perhaps be the same as that alluded to in this passage of Giraldus。 〃There is a llinne in Low Elvel within a mile of Payne's castel by the church called Lanpeder。 The llinne is caullid Bougklline； and is of no great quantite； but is plentiful of pike； and perche； and eles。〃 … Leland； Itin。 tom。 v。 p。 72。
｛27｝ Hay。 … A pleasant market…town on the southern banks of the river Wye； over which there is a bridge。 It still retains some marks of baronial antiquity in the old castle； within the present town； the gateway of which is tolerably perfect。 A high raised tumulus adjoining the church marks the site of the more ancient fortress。 The more modern and spacious castle owes its foundation probably to one of those Norman lords； who； about the year 1090； conquered this part of Wales。 Little notice is taken of this castle in the Welsh chronicles； but we are informed that it was destroyed in 1231； by Henry II。； and that it was refortified by Henry III。
｛28｝ Llanddew； a small village； about two miles from Brecknock； on the left of the road leading from thence to Hay； its manor belongs to the bishops of Saint David's； who had formerly a castellated mansion there； of which some ruins still remain。 The tithes of this parish are appropriated to the archdeaconry of Brecknock； and here was the residence of our author Giraldus； which he mentions in several of his writings； and alludes to with heartfelt satisfaction at the end of the third chapter of this Itinerary。
｛29｝ Aberhodni； the ancient name of the town and castle of Brecknock； derived from its situation at the confluence of the river Hodni with the Usk。 The castle and two religious buildings； of which the remains are still extant； owed their foundation to Bernard de Newmarch； a Norman knight； who； in the year 1090； obtained by conquest the lordship of Brecknock。 ＇The modern Welsh name is Aberhonddu。＇