Bad-pass." {191}

From Wenloch, we passed by the little cell of Brumfeld, {192} the
noble castle of Ludlow, through Leominster to Hereford leaving on
our right hand the districts of Melenyth and Elvel; thus (describing
as it were a circle) we came to the same point from which we had
commenced this laborious journey through Wales.

During this long and laudable legation, about three thousand men
were signed with the cross; well skilled in the use of arrows and
lances, and versed in military matters; impatient to attack the
enemies of the faith; profitably and happily engaged for the service
of Christ, if the expedition of the Holy Cross had been forwarded
with an alacrity equal to the diligence and devotion with which the
forces were collected. But by the secret, though never unjust,
judgment of God, the journey of the Roman emperor was delayed, and
dissensions arose amongst our kings. The premature and fatal hand
of death arrested the king of Sicily, who had been the foremost
sovereign in supplying the holy land with corn and provisions during
the period of their distress. In consequence of his death, violent
contentions arose amongst our princes respecting their several
rights to the kingdom; and the faithful beyond sea suffered severely
by want and famine, surrounded on all sides by enemies, and most
anxiously waiting for supplies. But as affliction may strengthen
the understanding, as gold is tried by fire, and virtue may be
confirmed in weakness, these things are suffered to happen; since
adversity (as Gregory testifies) opposed to good prayers is the
probation of virtue, not the judgment of reproof. For who does not
know how fortunate a circumstance it was that Paul went to Italy,
and suffered so dreadful a shipwreck? But the ship of his heart