If The Evil
Spirits Oppressed Him Too Much, The Gospel Of St. John Was Placed On
His Bosom, When, Like
Birds, they immediately vanished; but when
that book was removed, and the History of the Britons, by Geoffrey
Arthur, {75}
Was substituted in its place, they instantly reappeared
in greater numbers, and remained a longer time than usual on his
body and on the book.
It is worthy of remark, that Barnabas placed the Gospel of St.
Matthew upon sick persons, and they were healed; from which, as well
as from the foregoing circumstance, it appears how great a dignity
and reverence is due to the sacred books of the gospel, and with
what danger and risk of damnation every one who swears falsely by
them, deviates from the paths of truth. The fall of Enoch, abbot of
Strata Marcella, {76} too well known in Wales, was revealed to many
the day after it happened, by Melerius, who, being asked how he knew
this circumstance, said, that a demon came to him disguised as a
hunter, and, exulting in the prospect of such a victory, foretold
the ruin of the abbot, and explained in what manner he would make
him run away with a nun from the monastery. The end in view was
probably the humiliation and correction of the abbot, as was proved
from his shortly returning home so humbled and amended, that he
scarcely could be said to have erred. Seneca says, "He falls not
badly, who rises stronger from his fall." Peter was more strenuous
after his denial of Christ, and Paul after being stoned; since,
where sin abounds, there will grace also superabound. Mary Magdalen
was strengthened after her frailty. He secretly revealed to Canon,
the good and religious abbot of Alba-domus, his opinion of a certain
woman whom he had seen; upon which the holy man confessed, with
tears in his eyes, his predilection for her, and received from three
priests the discipline of incontinence. For as that long and
experienced subtle enemy, by arguing from certain conjectural signs,
may foretell future by past events, so by insidious treachery and
contrivance, added to exterior appearances, he may sometimes be able
to discover the interior workings of the mind.
At the same time there was in Lower Gwent a demon incubus, who, from
his love for a certain young woman, and frequenting the place where
she lived, often conversed with men, and frequently discovered
hidden things and future events. Melerius being interrogated
concerning him, said he knew him well, and mentioned his name. He
affirmed that unclean spirits conversed with mankind before war, or
any great internal disturbance, which was shortly afterwards proved,
by the destruction of the province by Howel, son of Iorwerth of
Caerleon. At the same time, when king Henry II., having taken the
king of Scotland prisoner, had restored peace to his kingdom, Howel,
fearful of the royal revenge for the war he had waged, was relieved
from his difficulties by these comfortable words of Melerius:
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