by the inhabitants Landewi Nanthodeni, {59} or the church of Saint
David upon the river Hodeni. The English therefore corruptly call
it Lanthoni, whereas it should either be called Nanthodeni, that is,
the brook of the Hodeni, or Lanhodeni, the church upon the Hodeni.
Owing to its mountainous situation, the rains are frequent, the
winds boisterous, and the clouds in winter almost continual. The
air, though heavy, is healthy; and diseases are so rare, that the
brotherhood, when worn out by long toil and affliction during their
residence with the daughter, retiring to this asylum, and to their
mother's {60} lap, soon regain their long-wished-for health. For as
my Topographical History of Ireland testifies, in proportion as we
proceed to the eastward, the face of the sky is more pure and
subtile, and the air more piercing and inclement; but as we draw
nearer to the westward, the air becomes more cloudy, but at the same
time is more temperate and healthy. Here the monks, sitting in
their cloisters, enjoying the fresh air, when they happen to look up
towards the horizon, behold the tops of the mountains, as it were,
touching the heavens, and herds of wild deer feeding on their
summits: the body of the sun does not become visible above the
heights of the mountains, even in a clear atmosphere, till about the
hour of prime, or a little before. A place truly fitted for
contemplation, a happy and delightful spot, fully competent, from
its first establishment, to supply all its own wants, had not the
extravagance of English luxury, the pride of a sumptuous table, the
increasing growth of intemperance and ingratitude, added to the
negligence of its patrons and prelates, reduced it from freedom to
servility; and if the step-daughter, no less enviously than
odiously, had not supplanted her mother.

It seems worthy of remark, that all the priors who were hostile to