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"Lake Savaddan
Three men, Welsh lords, were returning from Brecon from the court of Henry 11. It was winter and the journey had been hard but it was a fine day and, when they came to lake Savaddan, surrounded by the green heights of the Brecon Beacons, they dismounted from their horses to rest a while. It was a still, windless day, not a ripple on the lake and not a sound of any sort anywhere.
The three men were, Milo, Earl of Hereford and Lord of Brecon; Payn Fitz John, Lord of Ewas; and Griffith ap Rhys, who was not lord of anywhere. Now Milo and Payn possessed rich districts but young Griffith possessed nothing very much although he came from a long and noble line.
There was a flock of wild fowl on the lake which caught Milo's attention.
"Seeing those birds over there," he said to his companions, "I am reminded of a Welsh tradition."
"What tradition is that?" asked Payn.
"Well, it is said that the birds of Savaddan will only sing at the command of a natural prince of our country........"
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