THE HERON OF CASTLE CREEK 



II 

 YOUNG HERONS IN TRAINING 



ONE midsummer day Renoult, the young 

 Norman, walked over the Castle hill to 

 the abbey, and thence accompanied his friend, 

 the friar, to watch the monks fishing for their 

 Friday's dinner in the ponds below the terraced 

 kitchen garden. The monks were all keen anglers 

 and enjoyed their sport with almost childish 

 glee. Invariably, on Thursdays, they entered 

 into competition for the biggest catch ; and 

 excitement ran high when, home at evening in 

 the refectory, they weighed their fish, and the 

 abbot rewarded the most successful fisher with 

 an extra bowl of sparkling Rhenish wine. 

 Rumour had it, said the friar, that brother 

 lorwerth, a monk from the mountains of Cere- 

 digion, had on several occasions gained the 

 prize when his catch seemed smaller than that 

 of brother Gruffydd, a monk from Morgannwg, 

 and the most eloquent preacher, as well as the 

 most skilful angler, of the abbey. At last, sus- 

 picious, Grufiydd meekly asked the man from 



111 



