Christine de Pisan, in _Trial_, vol.v, p.12.La Borderie, _Les veritables propheties de Merlin, examen des poemes bretons attribues a ce barde_, in the _Revue de Bretagne_, 1883, vol.liii.] Begotten of a woman by the Devil, it was from him that Merlin derived his profound wisdom.

To the science of numbers, which is the key to the future, he added a knowledge of physics, by means of which he worked his enchantments.

Thus it was easy for him to transform rocks into giants.

And yet he was conquered by a woman; the fairy Vivien enchanted the enchanter and kept him in a hawthorn bush under a spell.
This is only one of many examples of the power of women.
Famous doctors and illustrious masters held that Merlin had laid bare many future events and prophesied many things which had not yet happened.

To such as were amazed that the son of the Devil should have received the gift of prophecy they replied that the Holy Ghost is able to reveal his secrets to whomsoever he pleases, for had he not caused the Sibyls to speak, and opened the mouth of Balaam's ass?
Merlin had seen in a vision Sire Bertrand du Guesclin in the guise of a warrior bearing an eagle on his shield.