The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through
Wales
by Geraldus Cambrensis
Book I
Chapter V
Of the progress by the castle of Usk and the town
of Caerleon
At the castle of Usk, a multitude of
persons influenced by the archbishop's sermon, and by the
exhortations of the good and worthy William bishop of
Landaf,71
who faithfully accompanied us through his diocese, were
signed with the cross; Alexander archdeacon of
Bangor72
acting as interpreter to the Welsh. It is remarkable that
many of the most notorious murderers, thieves, and robbers
of the neighbourhood were here converted, to the
astonishment of the spectators. Passing from thence through
Caerleon and leaving far on our left hand the castle of
Monmouth, and the noble forest of Dean, situated on the
other side of the Wye and on this side the Severn, and which
amply supplies Gloucester with iron and venison, we spent
the night at Newport, having crossed the river Usk three
times.73
Caerleon means the city of Legions, Caer, in the British
language, signifying a city or camp, for there the Roman
legions, sent into this island, were accustomed to winter,
and from this circumstance it was styled the city of
legions. This city was of undoubted antiquity, and
handsomely built of masonry, with courses of bricks, by the
Romans. Many vestiges of its former splendour may yet be
seen; immense palaces, formerly ornamented with gilded
roofs, in imitation of Roman magnificence, inasmuch as they
were first raised by the Roman princes, and embellished with
splendid buildings; a tower of prodigious size, remarkable
hot baths, relics of temples, and theatres, all inclosed
within fine walls, parts of which remain standing. You will
find on all sides, both within and without the circuit of
the walls, subterraneous buildings, aqueducts, underground
passages; and what I think worthy of notice, stoves
contrived with wonderful art, to transmit the heat
insensibly through narrow tubes passing up the side
walls.
Julius and Aaron, after suffering martyrdom, were buried
in this city, and had each a church dedicated to him. After
Albanus and Amphibalus, they were esteemed the chief
protomartyrs of Britannia Major. In ancient times there were
three fine churches in this city: one dedicated to Julius
the martyr, graced with a choir of nuns; another to Aaron,
his associate, and ennobled with an order of canons; and the
third distinguished as the metropolitan of Wales.
Amphibalus, the instructor of Albanus in the true faith, was
born in this place. This city is well situated on the river
Usk, navigable to the sea, and adorned with woods and
meadows. The Roman ambassadors here received their audience
at the court of the great king Arthur; and here also, the
archbishop Dubricius ceded his honours to David of Menevia,
the metropolitan see being translated from this place to
Menevia, according to the prophecy of Merlin Ambrosius.
"Menevia pallio urbis Legionum induetur." "Menevia shall be
invested with the pall of the city of Legions."
Not far hence is a rocky eminence,
impending over the Severn, called by the English
Gouldcliffe74
or golden rock, because from the reflections of the sun's
rays it assumes a bright golden colour:
"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. 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: "Fear not," says he,
"Howel, the wrath of the king, since he must go into other
parts. An important city which he possesses beyond sea is
now besieged by the king of France, on which account he will
postpone every other business, and hasten thither with all
possible expedition." Three days afterwards, Howel received
advice that this event had really come to pass, owing to the
siege of the city of Rouen. He forewarned also Howel of the
betraying of his castle at Usk, a long time before it
happened, and informed him that he should be wounded, but
not mortally; and that he should escape alive from the town.
In this alone he was deceived, for he soon after died of the
same wound. Thus does that archenemy favour his friends for
a time, and thus does he at last reward them.
In all these singular events it appears to me most
wonderful that he saw those spirits so plainly with his
carnal eyes, because spirits cannot be discerned by the eyes
of mortals, unless they assume a corporeal substance; but if
in order to be seen they had assumed such a substance, how
could they remain unperceived by other persons who were
present? Perhaps they were seen by such a miraculous vision
as when king Balthazar saw the hand of one writing on the
wall, "Mane, Techel, Phares," that is, weighed, numbered,
divided; who in the same night lost both his kingdom and his
life. But Cambria well knows how in these districts, from a
blind desire of dominion, a total dissolution of the
endearing ties of consanguinity, and a bad and depraved
example diffused throughout the country, good faith has been
so shamefully perverted and abused.
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through
Wales
by Geraldus Cambrensis
Chapter IV
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