AlbTund-75: Ireland is an extraordinarily fertile island rich in milk and honey, fish and grain, game, silver and gold, and the foreign trade, especially in wine, prospers. The land has got no snakes, toads and frogs, because these animals were banished from the island by Saint Patrick: When the saint did his missionary work in Ireland, the Irish king was so eager to learn about the Christian belief that he did not complain when Patrick unwittingly pierced the king’s foot with his stick. Patrick therefore granted him a wish and the king asked for protection of his country against venomous snakes. God granted his wish and as a supplementary gift all plants in Ireland work as antidotes.

Motif References:

Q 22 Reward for faith
Q 149 Miraculous or magic reward – miscellaneous
V 220 Saints
V 229.3 Saint banishes snakes
V 331 Conversion to Christianity
F 708.4 (Li) Country without snakes
F 733 Fruitful island
F 815 Extraordinary plants
D 1515.1 Remedies for poison
D 2176.1 Snakes banned by magic
A 2434.2.3 Why there are no snakes in Ireland

AlbTund-171: A knight named Tnugdelus lives in the Irish town Cefelensis, one of 34 episcopal towns in Ireland. He is a brave knight, but he lives a sinful life of waste, without giving anything to the poor, and without attending mass. (205) One day a friend comes to visit him. A light meal is served and (220) when Tnugdelus wants to eat, God works a miracle: He becomes pale and weak and thinks his life has come to an end. He collapses like a dead man showing all signs of death: His skin, hair and lips lose all color, his nose becomes pointed, his eyes dull. (269) His body however does not grow cold and therefore he is left unburied from Wednesday to Sunday.

Motif References:

E 721.2 Body in trance while soul is absent

AlbTund-284: God works a miracle and Tnugdelus wakes and gets up, he receives the Holy Communion. (299) He repents his sins and tells the story how his body and soul had been separated and he was dead already, but God rescued him. (326) Tnugdelus renounces all worldly things and gives all his possessions to the poor. (339) He tells what he has seen.

Motif References:

V 522 Sinner reformed after visit to heaven and hell
Q 542 Penance: giving all earnings to the poor
E 754.1.5 Condemned soul released by God

AlbTund-344: The knight’s soul had left the body and, unable to return, was full of terror. (357) A band of devils appeared in the streets threatening the soul with the fires of hell and eternal torments by the devils in the dark and icy hell. (380) God sends Tnugdelus’ guardian-angel to rescue the soul from the devils. The devils protest furiously and insist on Tnugdelus’ sins such as belligerence, pride, vanity and adultery. Although Tnugdelus never paid any attention to his angel, God has the angel show him the miraculous places of the other world. Thus Tnugdelus should be reformed and tell his visions to other people later on. The soul follows the angel and the devils leave lamenting their loss.

Motif References:

F 1 Journey to otherworld as dream or vision
F 7 Journey to otherworld with angel
F 11.1 Journey to heaven [or hell] in trance
F 159.4 Demon guide to otherworld journey
V 232.5 Angel as guide
V 238 Guardian angel
G 303.6 Circumstances of the devil’s appearance
E 752.1 Soul in jeopardy after leaving body
E 754.1.5 Condemned soul released by God

AlbTund-544: Tnugdelus and his guardian-angel start their journey through hell and the angel explains the scenery: They come to a dark, foggy and stinking glen covered by a glowing iron fire-grate. The devils keep throwing people onto the fire-grate to be burnt up and drop into the glen like wax. They are reborn in human shape in order to be tormented again. The angel explains this torture as the relentless punishment for murder.

Motif References:

F 11.1 Journey to heaven [or hell] in trance
F 80.1.2 Darkness of lower world
F 81 Descent to lower world of dead [hell]
Q 211 Murder punished
V 232.5 Angel as guide
Q 501 Unremitting torture as punishment
Q 566 Punishments by heat in hell
A 671.2 Horrible sights in hell
E 721.7 Soul leaves body to visit hell (heaven)
E 755.2.7 Devils torment sinners in hell

AlbTund-591: They come to a high mountain in a desert: One side is burning and covered with foul sulphurous smoke and heat so that the soul starts to sweat; the other side is dark, stormy and covered with snow. The devils impale souls on forks in order to expose them alternately to heat and cold. This torment is the punishment for perjurers and treacherous counselors.

Motif References:

Q 261 Treachery punished
Q 263 Lying (perjury) punished
E 481.7 Icy inferno
Q 501 Unremitting torture as punishment
Q 562 Pain of souls tormented in hell alternately ebbs and flows
Q 566 Punishments by heat in hell
Q 567 Punishment by cold in hell
A 671.3.3 Alternate heat and cold in hell
E 755.2.7 Devils torment sinners in hell
E 755.2.5 Icy hell

AlbTund-630: They come to a river of sulphur in a dark foggy glen between high mountains. They hear the lamentations of the souls who fail in crossing the river on a narrow bridge. Only one man in a pilgrim’s mantle with a palm twig in his hands crosses it. This is the punishment for pride and arrogance: High rank in lifetime means downfall in the other world.

Motif References:

Q 28 Reward for religious pilgrimage
F 80.1.2 Darkness of lower world
Q 331 Pride punished
Q 563 Punishments in hell fitted to crime
A 671.2.2.3 Rivers of fire [sulphur] in hell
F 842 Extraordinary bridge

AlbTund-667: They come upon a monstrous animal with fiery eyes and a horrible stinking mouth, which is guarded by two giants. From within the creature they hear the lamenting of the souls tormented by the devils. This is the punishment for the lecherous. (707) The angel leaves the soul who is caught by the devils and shown the tortures of the souls. The angel then comes back and rescues Tnugdelus.

Motif References:

V 232 Angel as helper
Q 243 Incontinence punished – miscellaneous
G 332 Sucking monster
Q 569.2 Sinners in hell swallowed by dragons [monster]
A 671.2.5 Dragons [monsters] in hell

AlbTund-737: A band of dragons lies in wait for souls in a large hot lake: The souls have to cross a bridge with iron thorns. One soul carries a sheaf on his back, he is more afraid of the dragons than of the iron thorns. Robbers and thieves are punished in this way. The angel forces Tnugdelus to cross the bridge with the cow he once stole from his relative. He admits the theft but claims to have it given back. The angel says that only his confession rescued him from damnation. The soul then crosses the bridge with the cow. He meets another heavily burdened soul and they cannot avoid each other. The soul returns to the angel who cures his wounds.

Motif References:

Q 36.1 Reward for confession of sins
F 152.1.6.1 Bridge to [in] otherworld covered with knives
Q 212 Theft punished
V 232 Angel as helper
Q 560 Punishments in hell
A 671.2.5 Dragons [monsters] in hell
A 671.2.4.1 Sea of fire in hell
F 842 Extraordinary bridge

AlbTund-853: Tnugdelus’ soul is forced to enter a burning house, which is surrounded by all sorts of snakes, there is heat and snow. This is the punishment for lechery and gluttony. The souls of laymen and clergy, of noblemen and peasants are lamenting. The devils catch the soul and name all his sins. The angel rescues Tnugdelus, who cannot believe in God’s mercy of which the priests speak. The angel says that only repentance brings about salvation. Virtuous persons are shown scenes of the punishment of sinners, so that they will praise God on returning. The sinners however are shown the pleasures of heaven.

Motif References:

Q 243 Incontinence punished – miscellaneous
Q 266 Punishment for breaking promise
Q 323 Unthriftiness punished
Q 566 Punishments by heat in hell
A 671.2.4 The fires of hell
A 671.2.1 Serpents in hell
F 771.1.11 Castle of fire

AlbTund-995: A black bird with a long neck, an iron beak, iron feet and an unquenchable fiery mouth is sitting on an icy lake. He keeps eating souls in order to bear them anew onto the ice. From their bodies spring monsters with fiery heads, sharp beaks, barbed and horned tails, and their genitals are snakes. Lecherous priests and nuns are punished in this manner.

Motif References:

Q 243 Incontinence punished – miscellaneous
V 465 Clerical vices.
Q 566 Punishments by heat in hell
Q 567 Punishment by cold in hell
Q 569.2 Sinners in hell swallowed by dragons [monster]
A 671.2.11 Birds made of iron in hell

AlbTund-1067: They enter the dark valley of Vulcânus with many forges. The burning souls are forged upon anvils. Those who committed sin after sin are punished this way. Tnugdelus is punished too because he has been a sinner as well as the companion of sinners. The devils forge 100 souls at a time into one, handling it with glowing pliers. The souls are separated once again to be forged anew. The angel rescues the soul and asks if any worldly pleasure was worth this pain.

Motif References:

V 231 Appearance of angel
Q 501 Unremitting torture as punishment
Q 560 Punishments in hell
A 677.1 Smith of hell

AlbTund-1157: Tnugdelus’ soul is terrorized by cold, darkness and stench. The valley trembles. The angel leaves the soul in deep terror. Cries and thunder are to be heard. The soul comes to a fiery pit, where souls go up and down with the smoke exhaled. The angel rescues the soul from the devils just in time. The devils are black, have fiery eyes, white teeth to torment the souls, and iron claws. The angel shows to Tnugdelus Satan fettered to an iron fire-grate who is a big, black man with many long arms and a tail with iron barbs. The devils blow the fire into flames by bellows and torture him with molten lead as punishment for his disobedience towards God: Due to this fault he lost all his resplendent beauty. When he turns in pain he crushes all souls around him. His breath blows the souls away and then inhales them. The soul asks for the meaning of this scene and the angel says that this is the punishment of Lucifer, damned by God because of pride, and of relentless sinners like adulterers, thieves, robbers, murderers of Christians, perjurers, of persons who stole from the poor, were merciless against orphans and widows, of unjust judges, and of persons who extorted overly high taxes from their vassals.

Motif References:

V 236 Fallen angels
G 303.8.3 Devil in hell
G 303.17.3.5 Satan punished in hellfire
Q 331 Pride punished
Q 501 Unremitting torture as punishment
Q 501.4 Punishment of Prometheus
Q 560 Punishments in hell
Q 569.3 Sinners in hell fall into mouth of devil

AlbTund-1480: They leave hell and meet children sitting on top of a wall. They are exposed to rain, wind, thirst and hunger. In their lifetime they did not commit bad sins and therefore they will obtain salvation after some time in purgatory.

Motif References:

V 511.3 Visions of purgatory
A 693 Intermediate future world. Residence for those whose good and evil deeds exactly counterbalance.

AlbTund-1510: They come to paradise and are allowed to enter some sort of half-paradise: There are flowers, grass, sweet smell, bright sunshine and a fountain; but the pleasures of this place are not the utmost possible: persons who had not been quite perfect are dwelling here. Drinking the water from the fountain only once will guarantee eternal life and protection against all pains. (1570) Two kings, Conkober and Danâtus, who had been enemies in life are now living in peace. Repentance and penance in lifetime is important. They will not stay here forever. One of the kings has been reformed because of a long illness.

Motif References:

F 63.2 Mortal taken to heaven by angel
Q 172.0.2 Rewards in heaven
F 173.2 Otherworld land of peace
A 693 Intermediate future world. Residence for those whose good and evil deeds exactly counterbalance.
A 694 Christian paradise
D 1346.2 Fountain of immortality

AlbTund-1599: The angel and Tnugdelus come to a large round building of silver, gold and jewels, without door and windows but illuminated by marvel. People enter and leave. There are no pillars, the floor is made of gold and jewels. A richly clothed king is sitting on a precious throne. Clergymen sing and offer him drinking cups with mead and wine and ivory cups as gifts. This is the reward for king Cormachum’s munificence. Tnugdelus was his knight. The poor he gave gifts now are honoring him. His only sin was adultery and a count lost his life in this affair. The king did not do penance for this sin and therefore has to endure three hours of torture a day. Suddenly it becomes dark and the king is burning up to his breast. His retinue keeps praying for his redemption. Tundalus having come back to life tells of the king’s fate: prayers and alms are given for him and he obtains salvation.

Motif References:

W 11.2 Munificent monarch
Q 42 Generosity rewarded
F 163.3.1 House of gold and crystal in otherworld
Q 172.0.2 Rewards in heaven
Q 241 Adultery punished
V 520 Salvation
Q 560.3 Sinners endure hell tortures for one year [three hours a day]
Q 566 Punishments by heat in hell
F 771.1.1.2 Palace of gold and silver bricks

AlbTund-1720: The angel and Tnugdelus come to a high wall of silver – men and women in white clothes on the other side, their voices are like music. They did love in the right way. There is no darkness. (1750) The angel says that those souls were pious persons, living in good marriage, committed no faults, had their children educated piously, gave alms and were hospitable. There is an eternal happy life after Doomsday. The soul would like to stay but the angel forces him to return to life: He should tell the story of his visions in order to reform people.

Motif References:

Q 172.0.2 Rewards in heaven
A 694 Christian paradise

AlbTund-1805: The angel and Tnugdelus come to a golden wall which is covered with precious cloth. On the other side they perceive men and women in white silk clothes, hair like silk, their faces shining like the sun, they are crowned. Each of them has reading-desk; they are reading from golden books with golden letters – keep praising God all day, singing Hallelujah. He who once has entered forgets all mischief. The angel explains that these people are the martyrs, the continent holy persons.

Motif References:

Q 20 Piety rewarded
Q 172 Reward: admission to heaven
Q 172.0.2 Rewards in heaven
A 694 Christian paradise

AlbTund-1861: The soul perceives a beautiful meadow with marvelous tents decorated with gold and jewels. The clergy who refused worldly splendor and life is gathering there. (1889) They have resplendent faces. The heaven above their heads is full of golden chains and little bells which give wonderful sounds. (1940) The angel shows a beautiful tree to Tnugdelus which bears all sorts of fruits, many birds of all colors sing on its branches. Beneath the tree grow all sorts of flowers, sweet smell. Men and women are crowned, have golden scepters, clothes of white silk. The tree symbolizes Christendom; those people were the founders and defenders of churches. (1959) The wall is built with golden plaster and jewels. The angel says that these persons are the prophets, the twelve apostles, martyrs, virgins. They live in the splendor of God. Tnugdelus and the angel have sight of everything in one moment, of all suffering and all splendors, everything in heaven and on earth.

Motif References:

Q 20 Piety rewarded
Z 150 Other symbols
Q 172 Reward: admission to heaven
Q 172.0.2 Rewards in heaven
A 661 Heaven– A blissful upper world
A 661.0.2 Music in heaven
A 694 Christian paradise

AlbTund-2032: Saint Brandan welcomes the soul, and Tnugdelus sees Saint Patrick, who made the Scots Christians and many bishops – four Irish bishops are among them. (2059) One seat is left vacant for a bishop. Tnugdelus has to return to life in order to tell the story of his visions although he would prefer to stay. But only the perfect are allowed to stay, Tnugdelus as a sinner has to do penance. (2117 The soul returns to body. Tnugdelus tells the story of his journey. (2150) Author of this book: the priest Alber who wrote it for Brother Kuonrât von Winneberg.

Motif References:

V 522 Sinner reformed after visit to heaven and hell
A 694 Christian paradise

Maere and Novellas

Alber, Tundalus (ca. 1190) Sprenger, R.: Albers Tundalus. Halle 1875

Alber, Tundalus (ca. 1190)
Sprenger, R.: Albers Tundalus. Halle 1875