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hrough a glass darkly。〃 He knew John； the cleverest and basest of his house。 He knew and loved Stephen Langton； the precursor of a long line of statesmen who have made English liberty broad … based upon the people's will。 He was a friend of St。 Hugh of Lincoln； the sweetest and purest spirit in the Anglican Church of the Middle Ages； the one man who could disarm the wrath of the fierce king with a smile； and he was the friend and patron of Robert Grosstete； afterwards the great Bishop of Lincoln。 He lived much in company with Ranulph de Glanville； the first English jurist； and he has 〃Boswellised〃 some of his conversations with him。 He was intimate with Archbishop Baldwin； the saintly prelate who laid down his life in the Third Crusade on the burning plains of Palestine； heart…broken at the unbridled wickedness of the soldiers of the Cross。 He was the near kinsman and confidant of the Cambro…Normans； who； landing in Leinster in 1165； effected what may be described as the first conquest of Ireland。 There was scarcely a man of note in his day whom he had not seen and conversed with； or of whom he does not relate some piquant story。 He had travelled much； and had observed closely。 Probably the most valuable of all his works； from the strictly historical point of view； are the 〃Itinerary〃 and 〃Description of Wales；〃 which are reprinted in the present volume。 ｛10｝ Here he is impartial in his evidence； and judicial in his decisions。 If he errs at all； it is not through racial prejudice。 〃I am sprung；〃 he once told the Pope in a letter； 〃from the princes of Wales and from the barons of the Marches； and when I see injustice in either race； I hate it。〃
The text is that of Sir Richard Colt Hoare； who published an English translation； chiefly from the texts of Camden and Wharton； in 1806。 The valuable historical notes have been curtailed； as being too elaborate for such a volume as this； and a few notes have been added by the present editor。 These will be found within brackets。 Hoare's translation； and also translations （edited by Mr。 Foster） of the Irish books have been published in Bohn's Antiquarian Library。
The first of the seven volumes of the Latin text of Gerald； published in the Rolls Series； appeared in 1861。 The first four volumes were edited by Professor Brewer； the next two by Mr。 Dimmock； and the seventh by Professor Freeman。
W。 LLEWELYN WILLIAMS。 January 1908。
The following is a list of the more important of the works of Gerald：…
Topographia Hibernica； Expugnatio Hibernica； Itinerarium Kambriae； Descriptio Kambriae； Gemma Ecclesiastica； Libellus Invectionum； De Rebus a se Gestis； Dialogus de jure et statu Menevensis Ecclesiae； De Instructione Principum； De Legendis Sanctorum； Symbolum Electorum。
FIRST PREFACE … TO STEPHEN LANGTON； ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
As the times are affected by the changes of circumstances； so are the minds of men influenced by different manners and customs。 The satirist ＇Persius＇ exclaims；
〃Mille hominum species et mentis discolor usus； Velle suum cuique est； nec voto vivitur uno。〃
〃Nature is ever various in her name； Each has a different will； and few the same。〃
The comic poet also says； 〃Quot capita tot sententiae； suus cuique mos est。〃 〃As many men； so many minds； each has his way。〃 Young soldiers exult in war； and pleaders delight in the gown； others aspire after riches； and think them the supreme good。 Some approve Galen； some Justinian。 Those who are desirous of honours follow the court； and from their ambitious pursuits meet with more mortification than satisfaction。 Some； indeed； but very few； take pleasure in the liberal arts； amongst whom we cannot but admire logicians； who； when they have made only a trifling progress； are as much enchanted with the images of Dialectics； as if they were listening to the songs of the Syrens。
But among so many species of men； where are to be found divine poets？ Where the noble assertors of morals？ Where the masters of the Latin tongue？ Who in the present times displays lettered eloquence； either in history or poetry？ Who； I say； in our own age； either builds a system of ethics； or consigns illustrious actions to immortality？ Literary fame； which used to be placed in the highest rank； is now； because of the depravity of the times； tending to ruin and degraded to the lowest； so that persons attached to study are at present not only not imitated nor venerated； but even detested。 〃Happy indeed would be the arts；〃 observes Fabius； 〃if artists alone judged of the arts；〃 but； as Sydonius says； 〃it is a fixed principle in the human mind； that they who are ignorant of the arts despise the artist。〃
But to revert to our subject。 Which； I ask； have rendered more service to the world； the arms of Marius or the verses of Virgil？ The sword of Marius has rusted； while the fame of him who wrote the AEneid is immortal； and although in his time letters were honoured by lettered persons； yet from his own pen we find；
〃 … tantum Carmina nostra valent tela inter Martia； quantum Chaonias dicunt； aquila veniente； columbas。〃
Who would hesitate in deciding which are more profitable； the works of St。 Jerom； or the riches of Croesus？ but where now shine the gold and silver of Croesus？ whilst the world is instructed by the example and enlightened by the learning of the poor coenobite。 Yet even he； through envy； suffered stripes and contumely at Rome； although his character was so illustrious； and at length being driven beyond the seas； found a refuge for his studies in the solitude of Bethlehem。 Thus it appears； that gold and arms may support us in this life； but avail nothing after death； and that letters through envy profit nothing in this world； but； like a testament； acquire an immortal value from the seal of death。
According to the poet；
〃Pascitur in vivis livor； post fata quiescit； Cum suus ex merito quemque tuetur honor。〃
And also
〃Denique si quis adhuc praetendit nubila； livor Occidet； et meriti post me referentur honores。〃
Those who by artifice endeavour to acquire or preserve the reputation of abilities or ingenuity； while they abound in the words of others； have little cause to boast of their own inventions。 For the composers of that polished language； in which such various cases as occur in the great body of law are treated with such an appropriate elegance of style； must ever stand forward in the first ranks of praise。 I should indeed have said； that the authors of refined language； not the hearers only； the inventors； not the reciters； are most worthy of commendation。 You will find； however； that the practices of the court and of the schools are extremely similar； as well in the subtleties they employ to lead you forward； as in the steadiness with which they generally maintain their own positions。 Yet it is certain that the knowledge of logic （the acumen； if I may so express it； of all other sciences as well as arts） is very useful； when restricted within proper bounds； whilst the court （i。e。 courtly language）； excepting to sycophants or ambitious men； is by no means necessary。 For if you are successful at court； ambition never wholly quits its hold till satiated；