110 THE KING'S MIRROR 



island might very well be inhabited, as far as size is 

 concerned, if men dared occupy it. But it is reported 

 about this island that the powers of evil have as great 

 authority over one-half of it as they have in hell itself. 

 Venturesome men who have tried to settle there have 

 said that they suffered as great trouble and torment as 

 souls are believed to suffer in hell. But on the other 

 half of the island there is a church with a churchyard 

 about it. Both halves are now deserted, however, though 

 we are told that over the half where the church is the 

 demons have no power.* 



It once happened in that country (and this seems in- 

 deed strange) that a living creature was caught in the 

 forest as to which no one could say definitely whether it 

 was a man or some other animal; for no one could get 

 a word from it or be sure that it understood human 

 speech. It had the human shape, however, in every de- 

 tail, both as to hands and face and feet; but the entire 

 body was covered with hair as the beasts are, and down 

 the back it had a long coarse mane like that of a horse, 

 which fell to both sides and trailed along the ground 

 when the creature stooped in walking. I believe I have 

 now recounted most of the marvels that have their ori- 

 gin in the nature of the land itself, so far as we seem to 

 have sure knowledge concerning them. 



* Giraldus calls this island the Purgatory of Saint Patrick; but this famous 

 place was " on an island in Lough Derg, in county Donegal." Opera, V, 82-83 

 and note. It seems likely, however, that two different legends have been con- 

 fused in the Welshman's account. 



