But, i’ faith, she had been wiser than me,
For she took a bottle to church.’”
Farther down stream is Llangattoc Park, with its roomy cave, known as Eglwys Faen, “the stone church”; and beyond is Llangwryney, where Richard, Earl of Clare, passing through the wood, preceded by pipers, was set upon by the Welsh and murdered. Here the Gwryney joins the Usk, which, flowing through scenery that has been called the “Garden of Wales,” and passing from Brecknock into Monmouth, reaches the ancient town of Abergavenny, lying in the shadow of the Sugar-Loaf Mountain at the junction of the Usk and the Gavenny—“the brook that christneth Abergeney.” As is the case with so many Welsh towns, Abergavenny is wholly surrounded by high hills, but here the valley is spacious and fruitful. Of this place Churchyard, whose poetry is met with at every turn, says:—
“Aborganie, behind I kept in store,
Whose seat and soyle with best may well compare.
The towne somewhat on steepe and mounting hill,
With pastor grounds and meddowes great at will:
On every side huge mountaines hard and hye,
And some thicke woods, to please the gazer’s eye.”