"Nec Mihi De Facili Fieri Persuasio Posset,
Quod Frustra Tantum Dederit Natura Nito Rem
Saxis, Quodque Suo Fuerit Flos Hic Sine Fructu."
Nor can I be easily persuaded that nature hath given such splendour
to the rocks in vain, and that this
Flower should be without fruit,
if any one would take the pains to penetrate deeply into the bowels
of the earth; if any one, I say, would extract honey from the rock,
and oil from the stone. Indeed many riches of nature lie concealed
through inattention, which the diligence of posterity will bring to
light; for, as necessity first taught the ancients to discover the
conveniences of life, so industry, and a greater acuteness of
intellect, have laid open many things to the moderns; as the poet
says, assigning two causes for these discoveries,
" - labor omnia vincit
Improbus, et duris urgens in rebus egestas."
It is worthy of observation, that there lived in the neighbourhood
of this City of Legions, in our time, a Welshman named Melerius,
who, under the following circumstances, acquired the knowledge of
future and occult events. Having, on a certain night, namely that
of Palm Sunday, met a damsel whom he had long loved, in a pleasant
and convenient place, while he was indulging in her embraces,
suddenly, instead of a beautiful girl, he found in his arms a hairy,
rough, and hideous creature, the sight of which deprived him of his
senses, and he became mad. After remaining many years in this
condition, he was restored to health in the church of St. David's,
through the merits of its saints. But having always an
extraordinary familiarity with unclean spirits, by seeing them,
knowing them, talking with them, and calling each by his proper
name, he was enabled, through their assistance, to foretel future
events. He was, indeed, often deceived (as they are) with respect
to circumstances at a great distance of time or place, but was less
mistaken in affairs which were likely to happen nearer, or within
the space of a year. The spirits appeared to him, usually on foot,
equipped as hunters, with horns suspended from their necks, and
truly as hunters, not of animals, but of souls. He particularly met
them near monasteries and monastic cells; for where rebellion
exists, there is the greatest need of armies and strength. He knew
when any one spoke falsely in his presence, for he saw the devil, as
it were, leaping and exulting upon the tongue of the liar. If he
looked on a book faultily or falsely written, or containing a false
passage, although wholly illiterate, he would point out the place
with his finger. Being questioned how he could gain such knowledge,
he said that he was directed by the demon's finger to the place. In
the same manner, entering into the dormitory of a monastery, he
indicated the bed of any monk not sincerely devoted to religion. He
said, that the spirit of gluttony and surfeit was in every respect
sordid; but that the spirit of luxury and lust was more beautiful
than others in appearance, though in fact most foul.
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