Adalbert (ca. 740 C.E.)
A French pseudo-mystic of the eighth century. He boasted
that an angel brought him relics of extraordinary sanctity from
all parts of the earth and he claimed to be able to foretell the
horse trembled with fear, as did the servant, but the Abbé himself
made the sign of the Cross, and the tree disappeared.
The Abbé concluded that he had seen the Devil and called
upon the Virgin to protect him. Nevertheless, the fiend shortly
reappeared in the shape of a furious black knight. Begone,
said the Abbé. Why do you attack me far from my brothers?
The Devil once more left him, but returned in the shape of a
tall man with a long, thin neck. To get rid of him, Adam struck
him a blow with his fist. The evil spirit shrank and took the stature
and countenance of a little cloaked monk, with a glittering
weapon under his garb. His little eyes could be seen darting
and glancing under his cowl. He tried hard to strike the Abbé
with the sword he held, but Adam repulsed the strokes with the
sign of the Cross.
The demon became in turn a pig and a long-eared ass. The
Abbé, impatient to be on his way, made a circle on the ground
with a cross in the center. The fiend was then obliged to withdraw
a little distance. He changed his long ears into horns,
which did not hinder the Abbé from boldly addressing him. Offended
by his plain-speaking, the Devil changed himself into
a barrel and rolled into an adjoining field. In a short time he
returned in the form of a cart wheel, and, without giving the
brother time to put himself on the defensive, rolled heavily
over his body, without, however, doing him any injury. After
that he left him to pursue his journey in peace. This story is related
in Regne de Philippe le Bel by Robert Gaguin and in Histoire
de la Magie en France by Jules Garinet (1818).
