The see of Landaf and monastery of Margan, and the remarkable things
in those parts


On the following morning, the business of the cross being publicly
proclaimed at Landaf, the English standing on one side, and the
Welsh on the other, many persons of each nation took the cross, and
we remained there that night with William bishop of that place, {85}
a discreet and good man. The word Landaf {86} signifies the church
situated upon the river Taf, and is now called the church of St.
Teileau, formerly bishop of that see. The archbishop having
celebrated mass early in the morning, before the high altar of the
cathedral, we immediately pursued our journey by the little cell of
Ewenith {87} to the noble Cistercian monastery of Margan. {88} This
monastery, under the direction of Conan, a learned and prudent
abbot, was at this time more celebrated for its charitable deeds
than any other of that order in Wales. On this account, it is an
undoubted fact, that, as a reward for that abundant charity which
the monastery had always, in times of need, exercised towards
strangers and poor persons, in a season of approaching famine, their
corn and provisions were perceptibly, by divine assistance,
increased, like the widow's cruise of oil by the means of the
prophet Elijah. About the time of its foundation, a young man of
those parts, by birth a Welshman, having claimed and endeavoured to
apply to his own use certain lands which had been given to the
monastery, by the instigation of the devil set on fire the best barn
belonging to the monks, which was filled with corn; but, immediately
becoming mad, he ran about the country in a distracted state, nor
ceased raving until he was seized by his parents and bound. Having