a time the Devill made a great moan and complaint as though he was afflicted by some terrible pain saying he was the Soul of this and the other man that he might delude men there are very many Histories of this kind and we have reckoned some before Peter Mamorius saith there was a thing happened about the River at Vienna in France in some houses of Capland in the year 1458. that the Devil did give out he was the Soul of one deceased filling all places with his sighs clamours and lamentations wishing he had some prayers made for him and that pilgrimages might be undergone and declaring very many other things But said one to him If thou wouldest have us to believe thee say Have mercy on me O God according to thy great mercy in Christ He made answer he could not do so then they that stood by mocked him and he being fretted went away D. Bartholomew Fayus writes when Nicolas Alberia Vervinensis had prayers made at his Grand-fathers grave there came out of the ground a man wrapped with a sheet who spoke to a woman and told her he was her Grandfather and that he might be delivered from Purgatory it was needfull that they should sing Masse and have a Progression into the house of the Virgin Mary then uncovering himself she saw he was her Grandfather then she procured a great company of Masses to be said but when she ceased from their celebration she was grievously tormented and at last he confessed that he was Beelzebub But this story being blazed about all France I shall say no more of it But now see another new story which is well-known to the Citizens of Paris also printed which happened at Lutetia at the sign of the Red Horse in the Street of St. Honoratus A certain man called Metaxarius when he saw a Neece of his who was an Orphan he took her home Whilst she prayed at her father Gervase's grave the Devill met her in the shape of a tall man of black colour and taking her by the hand said Friend do not fear thy father and thy Mother are in a good place But yet there should some Masses be said and she should go a pilgrimage to our Queen and Lady of vertues and so straightway they should go to Paradise to the Virgin She asking who he was he gave this answer That he was Satan and admonished her least she should be afraid the maid did what he commanded which done Satan bad her take a pilgrimage to St. James To whom she said I cannot take such a long journey from that time Satan gave not over importunately to urge her and familiarly calling her said How cruell thou art saying she will not put her shears into her bosome for me which when she had done so to satisfy him that she might free her self from his importunity he furthermore asked that she would give him something at the last proceeding so far that he asked one of her hairs she gave him one sometimes he assayed to perswade her to drown her self and at another time to strangle her self and he putting a rope about her neck had been choaked if she had not cryed out and sometimes her Uncle desirous to defend her was so beaten he knew not by whom that he lay sick above 15. dayes and once the Evill spirit offered to lye with her and to offer violence to her chastity but she strongly resisting was so beaten with his stripes that the bloud gushed out of her body in divers places Amongst those that saw her there was a certain Secretary of the Bishop of Valentiâ—e named Choinius who told the maid that the best way to drive the Divell away was not to give answer to his words although he bad her pray to God which he never did but after a blasphemous manner or mocking that devotion using it to created beings the Devill seeing that the maid would not answer him and that he could do no good of her in that case took her and threw her upon the ground and from that time she never saw him after Bodin relates these things in his Treatise of Magicall Demon. Book 3. chap. 6. MIchael Curopalates Rancabes Imp. had a certain maid that was his bond-servant which at an Eclipse or conjunction of the Moon with the Sun was struck with Madnesse and cryed to the Emperour Descend descend and give place to others this being often done made the Emperour afraid therefore taking counsell of his servant Theodatus Michael F. asked the wench that was mad to what house of the Palatinate that might belong or concern and by what signes and tokens he might know When the maid was in her frantick fit and asked she did intimate and signify the Armenian Lion namely and described its marks and its fashion But when she commanded Theodatus to come down from his Tower she did Prophecy of two men which should meet him whereof one of them sitting on a Mule should be he that should possesse and enjoy the Kingdome Theodatus went to that appointed place to search about the thing and there knew the man by his token which the girl had before taught them and so they perceived that she did not prophecy false by reason that she was inspired by the Devill by whom she was possessed Cedrenus and Zonaras tome 3. ERasmus Roterdamus in an Oration which he writ in the praise of Physick saith that he saw a Man one Phliarius Poletanus by name who being an Italian and not at all skilled in the Dutch yet perfectly did speak that language as though he had been possessed by the Devill Wherefore he was taken in hand by a famous Panacean Physitian and giving him Physick brought out of him a great sort of Worms and so freed the man of his disease and also deprived him of his Germain language Cardan de Rer. var. Book 8. chap. 43. NOrbertus at Nigella using exorcisms to dispossesse a certain maid that was possessed with the Devill was derided by him who did repeat the Canticles from one end to the other in the mouth of the girl and after did Interpret it in the Latine and Germain tongue but at last a Bishop sharply withstanding him he was expelled out of her in the year 1122. As the continuator of Sigebert hath it IN Italy there was a certain Virgin possessed by the Devill and utterly ignorant of the Latine Tongue and being asked by Lazarus Bonamicus a Bononian Professour which was the best Verse in Virgill she answered or rather the Devill out of her Discite justitiam moniti non temnere divos Be warn'd to learn right and obey the gods Manlius first Book by the relation of Phil. Melancth IN a Wildernesse of the Countrey of Tingut the voices of Devils and spirits are heard who call those by their own names who are walking alone or else wandring aside from their company and feigns the voices of their companions and so misleading them out of their way
found with a numerous company of young which she had brought forth in the night to have confirmed the truth of the Oracle The Tomb therefore was fenced with work done in haste in which afterward Ascanius who succeeded his Father Aeneas built the City Alba that is white so called from the colour of a Sow Sabellicus Book 7. Of the first Ennead TArquinius Superbus or the proud King of the Romans began to found the Temple of Jupiter Juno and Minerva vowed by his grandfather in the Sabine Warr in the high and rocky part of the Tarpeian hill the roughnesse of the place being first corrected But when he had determined to consecrate the floor according to the custome and the compass of this space had embraced certain Chappels of most ancient work which because they were to be unhallowed that the workmen all fear of Religion being taken away might demolish they say that then there were mockings of evil Daemons or devils that other power had yielded up their divination to Jupiter and the Goddesses onely Terminus some add also Juventa could not be moved from their seat And that thing being taken for a token of a stable and remaining Empire A chappel to have afterwards remained unmoved in the middle part of the Temple There is also a certain greater wonder offered to the workmen A man's head was found with a fresh gore by those who wrought in the lowest part Tarquine for none thought not that to be wonderful asketh counsel of houshold-prophets These referring all the praise of that kind of learning unto the Hetruscians brought tydings to the King that he should send into Hetruria to enquire The Hetruscian Prophet answered It would be that the Tower of the Empire and the head of affairs should be there where that wonder had appeared and now from thence the place began from Tarpeium to be called the Capitol Sabellicus book 5. Ennead 2. ALexander the Great moving his Camps from Troas came to the Temple of Minerva There is a Priest Alexander by name when he had seen before the house of Ariobarzan who was President of Phrygia an Image struck down on the ground and other strange sights of no small moment he came to the King and in a great horse-exercise confirmed That he should be a Conquerour especially if he did joyn his companies in battel about Phrygia He added thereto also That he should kill the Captain of his enemies with his own hands But all those things were shewn to him by the gods themselves and chiefly from Minerva which was to be an help to him for the performing things prosperously Alexander received the foretelling of this Priest with a joyfull mind and presently honoured Minerva with most large sacrifice and dedicated his bucklet unto her and by and by brought out another that was most firm for him With which he being armed entred the first fight where he carried away a famous victory Diodore book 17. WHen the Grecians had gathered Ships together in Aulis a Haven of Eubaea to go to Troy and an Altar being built they sacrificed under a Plain Tree a Serpent of a wonderful bignesse creeping under the Altar went up into the top of the Plain-Tree and inclosing a Sparrow's nest hanging on an outmost bough he devoured eight young ones and the mother her self taken by the wing and presently himself stiffned into a stone Calchas a Prophet interpreted the divination The Greeks should besiege Troy nine years in vain at length in the tenth year to take and overthrow it the glory of such a deed to remain for ever Ulysses in Homer Iliad 2. repeats the History ALexander the Great assaulting Gaza a Crow flying over a certain turf or lump of earth being let down from on high smote the shoulder of Alexander and then sitting on a Towr besmeared with slime she being infolded by the tough matter was taken by the wings Plutarch saith she sate in an Engine and there being ensnared in a knot of ropes to have stuck fast Aristander the deviner beholding that thing said it would be that the City would be in a short time taken but it is a danger lest some wound the King would receive that day And both indeed happened Sabellicus book 4. Ennead 4. COelius Pontius when a Pye had sate on his head declaring the law and the Soothsayers had answered the Bird being let go there would be a victory of the enemies but she being killed of the Commonwealth yet he who had oppressed it should dye he presently killed that bird From which it fell out that Coelius himself with fourty others was slain Volatteran book 14. chap. 2. Anthro pol. ALexander the Great an Expedition into Asia being undertaken after he moved to the Warr both other wonders of the gods were shewn and also a sign of Orpheus at the hill Libethrum there was a Cyprus Tree which issued forth about that season with a plentiful sweat All being affrighted with that wondrous sign Aristander bade him be of good courage he should carry on thing never to be blotted out and famous which should afford much sweat and pains to Poets and Musitians singing them forth Plutarch in Alexander The same Alexander besieged Tyre now the seventh moneth and while he refresheth almost the whole Army from their former labours but brings a few to the walls that his enemies might not have respite Aristander the diviner sacrifices being slain when he lookt into the intrails he confidently affirmed by the Crow That that City was without doubt to be vanquished Which receiving his saying with a mock and laughter because it was the last day the King seeing him troubled and favouring alwayes his Prophesies forbade hereafter that to be numbred the thirtieth day but the twenty eighth of the moneth and a sign of the Trumpet being given he set upon the wall more sharply than from the beginning he had begun to do When the City was not sloathfully assaulted neither those that were in the Camps were at rest but ran together to bring help the Tyrians were broken and Alexander took the City that day Plutarch in Alexander THe Syracusans being besieged by Nicias went up to the Temple of Hercules because they had not a long time performed solemn rites to Hercules and they offered sacrifice The Priests being Soothsayers declared unto the Syracusans joyfull intrails and victory if they did not begin the conflict but beat back their force For Hercules in defending himself being first forced overcame all And so going forward they made a very great and sharp Sea-battel in the very Harbour and overcame the Athenians Plutarch in Nicias L. Sylla when he was sent with an Army to the Sociall War at Laverna a tempest lighted into a great bosome of earth and out of it a great fire brake and lifted up a light flame to Heaven But the fortune-tellers told That an excellent man and excelling in beauty and famous was to let loose the City unto present storms when he
of the rumour was sought out but none appeared but the news was put off from one to another every one clearing themselves of it and being as it were labrynthed and plunged in a vast Ocean they could not make it appear from what original or Fountain it proceeded the fame of which quickly overspread the City But a Messenger and letters meeting Domitian in his journey leading out the Legions to war intimating victory so that one day was the day of Trophyes and of Fame too in places distant more then two thousand five hundred Miles Plutarchus in Aemilio SOsipatra a woman of Alexandrina at a certain time being amongst her acquaintance and a disputation arising about the Soul she was wrapt by a certain fury suddenly she seemed as though her voice was taken away and was for a while dumb by and by she began to cry out My Cozen Philometor being transported in a Charriot is now ore-turn'd in a thorny place and hath hurt his ellow and his hands are wounded and a certain man complaining the thing was a while after known which confirmed the truth Eunapius in Aedesio THamus an Egyptian Pilot sayling to Rome late at night near the Echinad Islands night being far spent heard the voice of an unknown Author which cal'd him by his own name they that were in the ship were all amazed and when it called the third time he answered then saith the voice When thou comest into the next Island the voice being heard as if it were on the foredeck Thamus being astonished and religiously given obeyed its commands and immediately after it had given its precepts such howling mourning and lamentations was heard in the Ayre that all thereabouts was almost dead with fear The news quickly arrived at Rome and Tiberius Caesar commanded Thamus to be brought before him and examined that he might know the truth of it the Augures and High Priests consulting about it they answered Pana perhaps was born of Mercury and Penelope Plutarch relates this in his book of Oracles which Oracles then were made dumb in which place although we may acknowledge the subtily of Satan and the Devill being busied about bringing the death of Christ into question and to mock it by such a fiction except he would by Pans death infer that mens Souls after death should be destroyed or annihilated MOnobazus the King of the Adiabenians his sirname was Barles being in love with Helens sister married her and of her had Monobazus and other children of other wives At the last lying with his wife big with child and laying his hand upon his wives belly he thought he heard a certain voice bidding him to take off his hand from her belly lest he should oppresse her young which as it was begun with divine providence so it was likely to have a prosperous end He was affrighted with this voice and shewed the thing instantly to his wife and he called the Son Izatch that was born at that birth And by reason of this prediction he made him Heyre to the Kingdome But he together with his mother embracing the Jewish Religion restored Artabanus the King again to the Parthian Kingdome and fortunately fought against the Arabians and Parthians in the 55. year of his age and 24. of his reign he died and left the Kingdome to his Brother Monobazus Ex Joseph Book 20. chap. 2. NIcephorus Phaeus the Emperour did fortify the Palace of the Constantinopolitan Tower in which it was foretold him that he should dye At what time the walls of the Palace was builded in the night season a certain man sailing on the Sea cryed out after this manner O Emperour thou makest up thy walls and although thou raisest them up to Heaven whilst that which is within is evill the City may be easily taken He that spoke those things was a long time and very much sought after but never could be found out the wall was finished he perished that same day that he had the keyes delivered by him that had the businesse committed to him Cedrenus WHen Opicinus Cacia Novaria being very thoughtfull or Melancholly walked alone in his house at noon-tide he heard something call him by his name but saw no Man and afterwards said Wouldst thou be willing that thy Son should dye To whom he answered having no time to consider of it he would but afterwards coming to himself quickly denyed that which he had assented to and was very sorry for the cruelty of the prodigy therefore within three dayes his son John Baptist having no more fell sick and two dayes after dyed Fulgosus Book 1. chap. 4. BEfore Neroes death there was a confused murmure mixed with laughter and a tumult in the Theater with great mourning was heard when no man was there In Albania it rained bloud and both the dores of Mauseolus in which were the Tombs of the Caesars he being the last of that stock and the dores of his bed of their own accord flew open out of which there was heard a voice calling Nero to him Xiphilinus ex Dione M. Antonius Majoragius reported that in the Moneth of Aprill there was heard in Eupilus Lake a sound or voice crying after this sort Oh oh oh oh oh The first part of which had a Musicians song the latter part of the voice had their brief and in those years nor in any other were there ever a more plentifull encrease of Wine Wheat and other things Cardane Book 15. chap. 85. de rerum Varietate THere appeared to Hircanus the Captain of the Jews and being also High Priest a certain sight which enquired about his successour being carefull of Aristobulus and Antigonus his eldest which he loved above all their other brethren But when God had shewed the picture of Alexander the youngest sorrowfull that he should be successefull and prosperous in all his proceedings commanded that he should be brought out of Galilee lest he should be in any capacity of having the Kingdome after him but the event made the Oracle be believed for he was possessed of the Kingdome after Aristobulus who before had slain Antigonus and killed the other brother that withstood him but the other that was contented with a private life he honoured Josephus Book 13. chap. 20. BEfore Camillus's banishment M. Cedicitius a vulgar person declared or gave it out that in the night before he was called out of his way which they call the new way by a loud voice and looking back and seeing no man he heard a voice greater then a mans which spoke thus to him Go to M. Cedicitius and tell the Tribunitian Souldiers betimes in the morning they may expect the French within a few dayes The Tribunes despised and laughed at those relations A little after this came Camillus's distresse and the Invasion of the French Plutarch in Camillo et Sabellicus book 9. Ennead 3. LYcurgus hapned to come to Olympia and was a spectator of the games there it is reported that this befell him viz.
Picardus and other Divines spent all their Arts to free her but nothing took effect Hollerius Medicus a Physitian laughing at them said she was troubled with the disease Melancholly but afterwards when he saw the wonder in a great multitude with his own eyes and seeing the maiden standing between two or three women to cry out and by and by to see her hands so bound as they could not be loosened and that the bands had need to be cut he acknowledged that it was the evill spirit This appeared to no man onely the Virgin beheld a white cloud when the spirit drew near to bind her Sylvula of Wonderfull Histories and of Magicall and diabolicall Witchcrafts and of divers of the Devills delusions APollonius being in India with the Brachman-Philosophers reports that he saw very strange wonders he said that these Philosophers at their pleasure could make it fair and foul weather bring tempests or make calms and could prepare feasts with all the Vessels fitting for them yea he saith that they did it in his presence when there was none to be seen who make ready the banquet or waited in setting on and taking off the dishes And moreover he said that when they pleased they could make earthquakes the same he affirms that he saw amongst the Gymnosophists in Aethiopia who made the trees bend themselves to the ground and speak Fulgosus ex Philostrato THere are divers Families in Africa which do by their voice onely bewitch those who they immoderately praise Pliny 7th Book cap. 2. ex Isigono and Nymphrodoro hence came the custome amongst us which Aristotle 20. sect Probl. 34. witnesseth that being about to praise any thing we make this Preface lest our words should be to our detriment as God shall save it Gellius 9th Book 4. chap. Isigonus adds that there are things of the same nature among the Triballians and Illyrians who by their sight bewitch and kill some upon whom they look long especially with angry eyes yea one may perceive mischief in their eyes And 't is more remarkable that they have two Apples in each eye Apollonides reported there were divers women in Scythia of this sort which were called Bythyae And there are kind of people in Pontus called Thibians and many other of the like nature whose marks he saith are these in one eye they have a double Pupilla in the other the picture of a Horse and moreover that they cannot sink nor are burthened with any garments Daemon relates a sort of people called Pharnacians in Aethiopia not much unlike to these whose sweat brings rottennesse to those bodies which they touch and there are women which every where infect with their sight having double eyes or pupilla's in them Cicero also is the Authour of it and Pliny in his 7. Book 2. chap. Neuro tells of a people of Scythia who are the greatest enchanters that they Metamorphose themselves from men into Wolves Herodotus in Book 4. RHodus being first named Ophiusa afterwards Telâ—hinis in that the Telchines inhabited the Island some call them Wizzards and say that they are Inchanters and that they sprinkle the water of Styx's lake upon living Creatures and plants on purpose to destroy them and as Diodorus saith 5th book 12. chap. they can cause clouds showers of rain hail snow and change their proper shapes when they will c. Strabo 14 book IN the Ephesian Letters there is mention made of those who with wonderful facility as by a divine inspiration attained to what they desired for they report at Ephesus there are divers Notes and magical voices by the using of which they are victorious in every businesse as Diogenianus Eustachius reports by those Letters That there were divers words like to riddles having no coherence written in the feet girdle and crown of Diana Suidas addes In the Olympian games there was one Milesius set in the Ephesian wrestling-Ring and was able to do nothing in the conflict because that Ephesius had some Ephesian characters written on his ankle Which being together was marked the letters being taken away and Ephesius that had tyred out thirty now laid down himself vide Erasmus adagies But that there were many of the Ephesians that were conjurers may be gathered out of that many of them were converted by the Apostles Sermons and burnt their magical Books being of great value for the Devils power was great in that place because the Idol of Diana was set up there Act. 19. WHen the Goths were travelled out of Scandinavia they marched to Scythia Philimer their King did retain many of their magicall Women in prison as Jordan Gothus writes in that history which sort of women the King accounted most pernitious and by his proclamation banished them into Wildernesses lest they should kill the Souldiers by poysons or weaken their strength being driven away for a long while they wandred about the Woods incestuously committing themselves unto the Embracements of their Incubus spirits from hence they report that the Unnes a cruel generation of men came which used no humane language but a certain Image of speech Bonsinius second Book Dec. 1. THe Northern Bothnici Zappi and Finnones are excellent Magitians also the Biarmi who live under the Pole they assume what shape they will also they know what is done in the other World by their friends or enemies Olaus book 1. chap. 1. and book 2. chap. 18. IT is reported that Zoroastres the King of the Bactrians found out the Art of Magick and hath written a hundred thousand of verses upon them as Pliny witnesseth Some would have this King to be Mizraim the son of Cham others say he was not so he flourished above eight hundred years before the Trojan War which was in Abraham's time But he as we read in Clements Itinerary being willing to contemplate God and much given to Astronomy and minding the Stars did strike out some sparks out of the Stars that the rude multitude might be astonished at the miracle At the last being angry at that spirit which he often did frequent amongst a great company of his disciples as though he were a friend of the gods was hurried away to Heaven in a chariot of lightning Wherefore his name after his death was Zoroastres as much as to say A living Star he lived in the time of King Ninus with whom he fought and foretold when he was dying that if they should keep his ashes their Kingdom should not be destroyed Suidas THe report went that Perses and Aeta two brethren ruled both at one time this in Pontus the other in Taurica both of them being of a truculent and savage disposition Hecate sprung from Perses nothing inferiour in cruelty and immanity to her father which while she was a Virgin used to shoot darts as the custome was then But her greater study was to make poysons some attribute the invention of Henbane to her and was accustomed to experience the nature and strength of poisons upon strangers within a
should take the shape of a Pronotarie Satan therefore according to his wish appeared to him in the form of a Pronotarie at the day appointed and promised to tell him whatever he demanded He desires to know whether he should obtain the Pontificial dignity which when Satan affirmed he moreover demanded how long he should continue in that dignity To which question the Devil so answered That Alexander understood him to promise the Popedome to him eighteen years but he reigned onely eleven years and eight dayes the eleven years being expired he falling into sicknesse commandeth one of his servants to go into the upper Conclave and bids him bring him the book that lay upon the Table in which Magical Arts and incantations were taught the servant ascending and opening the doors he finds Satan sitting in the Câ—air of the Pope clad with the Papal ornaments affrighted with which Vision he returns to the Pope and tells him what he had seen The Pope hearing this compells him to go again to see whether the Devil did continue there the servant coming thither again found the Devil sitting in the same habit who demanded what he would have of him The servant answered That he came thither for the Pope's book To which the Devil replyed What doest thou call the Pope I am the Pope When the Pope being sick by his Minister heard these things he was greatly afraid and easily understanding how the case stood with him by his own command he was carried into the inner Conclave whither as soon as he was come the Devil taking the habit of a Post-messenger cometh and knocketh hastily at the door and being let in cometh to the Pope lying in his bed and tells him that the time was now expired and therefore he must speedily depart this life Whereupon there arose contention whereby those who were present understood the strife betwixt them to be concerning the number of the years but Satan evidently demonstrating to him the reason that the number of the years were expired went away and in a very short time after the Pope gave up the ghost GRegorius Martinus told Martin Luther 1538 a story much to be bewail'd of a certain Virgin that instead of tears wept drops of blood being brought to that miserable condition by the malice of an Inchantress and that the Witch was present though she took no notice of it when she poured out such tears He said that it was not convenient that there should have been any delay or putting off the punishment hereof nor that Lawyers or Judges needed to hear any further testimony evidence or demonstration Furthermore he added as followeth Within these few dayes saith he there was brought to me a Case concerning Wives a Wife did endeavour to kill her Husband by poyson and when the Woman was examined by tortures concerning this matter no confession of the truth could possibly be extorted from her for Witches remain mute notwithstanding torments which they nothing value the Devil doth so dexterously stop their mouthes therefore when what they have done by witchcraft convinceth the Witches according to this example there ought such course to be taken with them that the example may be a terrour to others IT was reported that some years past a Magitian was suspended but vanishing away when he was upon the Gallowes there hanged in his stead a bundle of straw The same man having sold to one an excellent horse did warn him that when he rid him he should not hastily go to the water with him Wherefore the buyer taken with a desire of finding out the cause why the seller wished him to forbear bringing the Horse to water forthwith desirous to cause his horse to swim rides into a deep River when he came to the middle thereof he perceived that he had nothing under him but a bundle of grass and Hey Wherefore being in a most violent rage he runs breathing as it had been for life to the house of the Witch who perceiving the coming of his defrauded chapman laying himself down upon a bench counterfeiting himself to be asleep the buyer rushing himself into his stove seeked by hawling and pulling of him to raise him from sleep the Witch thought he would kill him at last and therefore exceedingly affrighted he gets up upon his knees and runs away speedily The same Witch did often sell to men swine which after they were bought turned into bundles of straw at last Divine Justice brought him to a deserved punishment at Norburg with two women that were his complices he and they by diabolical tricks which they used when they were not observed stole mens goods of which being at last detected they were apprehended and cast into prison together and a rich Woman who was till that time reputed a Matron of good conversation was confessed by the women to be guilty of the same wickednesse of stealing and fornication which by their legerdemaines they exercised and therefore she was likewise cast into prison but the chief Magitian himself though put to great torments would confesse nothing and when it was conjectured his art and spirit or familiar was in the hair of his head they cut away his hair Whereupon he confessed all his notorious wickednesses and after a few dayes first the two women and immediately after the Magitian were deservedly hanged THe horrid and much to be admired example of the power of Satan which he sheweth by his cursed instruments Witches are fully demonstrated to us in the book called Malleus Veneficarum And although the power of Sathan be great and that God suffereth him sometimes to exâ—rcise his mischievous cruelty against some men for their sins and unbelief yet sometimes also it pleaseth Almighty God by the envy of the Devil to try and prove his own dear Children Nevertheless we are assured that their very hairs are numbred and that not so much as one of them can fall to the ground contrary to his will therefore we may easily arm our selves against the power and snares of the Devil if we diligently beware and take heed of sin and persevere firm and constant in faith and prayer But because the Devil hath to this day shewed his greatest power amongst Papists therefore I will declare some examples out of the forenamed book by which it most manifestly appears how great the power of Satan is and what inveterate envy and malice he hath towards mankind He who desires to see variety of discourse to this purpose let him peruse the said Author OF the filthy commixtion which Witches use with the Devil it is a shame to tell whosoever desireth to know how these filthy Plagues and beasts do commerce with the Devil whereby they have oft deformed births and exercise nothing but Satanical deeds let him besides the foresaid Author peruse Austin in his third book and second chapter de Civitate Dei AT Ratisbone one of two Witches which were burnt to ashes being one that waited upon a Bath coâ—fessed that
another Verse which was written in these words Ye Romane enemies if ye will drive away the impostume which commeth from far Nations I Judge playes are to be vowed to Apollo the which let them be faithfully done every year to Apollo when the people shall give a part in publique let private persons prepare to use them for them and theirs Over these sports the Praetor or Major shall be chief he who shall administer the greatest right to the people and the multitude And let the ten chief men or Decemviri after the custome of the Greeks perform holy things by sacrifice These things if ye shall rightly do ye shall alwayes rejoyce and your affairs shall wax better for that God shall put out the stubborn enemy which feedeth pleasantly on your fields This verse being openly interpreted sports were vowed to Apollo and solemnized in a Circle Sabellic book 4. Ennead 5. PRocopius the Tyrant being slain by Valens the Emperour the Walls of Chalcedon because the Citizens of that City had favoured Procopius his party were made equal with the ground The which while it was done they found a table of stone in their foundations on which these words were written When Nymphs shall nigh the holy City dance And wayes adorn'd with garlands and by chance After the wretched walls for placing baths Shall be converted burning in maddish wrathes A thousand shapes of men for greedy prey From divers Nations thou shalt see I say With forces strong alas to go beyond The Istrian and Cimmerian Sea-ey bond Then Scythick people then the Maesian Land Shall be destroy'd with slaughter's bitter hand When at the length unto the Men of Thrace The covetous lust of gain leading a Trace The cruel barbarism shall make a breach It shall be quenched by lot's partial reach This Prophecy was not then understood but was afterward fulfilled when Valens had built a conveyance for water and had brought abundance of waters to the City For the walls being overthrown he made use of the stones for the conveyance of the water which he called Valense by his own name that he might gratifie the Townesmen and the baths might be holpen by this bringing of water although some called them Constantius his baths At length Clearch Governour of the City in a place whose name is Taurus afterward called The street of Theodosius built Nymphaeam or a washing-place that he might shew the grace and pleasantnesse of the water brought in By these buildings the stony tablâ—s signified the coming even now of the Barbarians who in Thrace it self after destructions or robbings of the people made were all slain Cuspinian in Valens IN the sixth year of Justine the Great the City Edessa was miserably defiled with uncleannesse and of the River Scirtus and in the bank of the River a Table of stone found written on in Hieroglyphical or mystical Aegyptian letters to this purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is The River Scirtus shall dance or leap for the mischief of the Citizens Cedrenus UNto Alexander the Great going out of India to Babylon Nearchus Admiral of the Navy who had returned from the Ocean being carried into Euphrates sheweth him that certain Chaldeans had gathered themselves together who warned him that he should abstain from Babylon He being nothing moved went forward notwithstanding where he perished Plutarch in Alexander WHen L. Vitellius for the favour of Herod the Tetrarch would lead an Army against the Arabians they report Aretas King of the Arabians news being received of the dispatch of Vitellius to have gathered by sooth-sayings that it was impossible for that Army to have come to the rock For one of the Captains was first to dye either he which may prepare the War or he by whose command it may be provided or him against whom it is to be moved Neither was the divination vain For when Vitellius was as yet at Jerusalem a message being brought concerning Tiberius Caesar his death he made the Expedition void Josephus book 18. chap. 7. APollonius an Aegyptian foretold the death of Caius Caligula Emperour of the Romans who for that cause being sent to Rome was brought to Cuius that day in which he was to dye the death Xiphiline the abbreviatour of Dio in Caligula APollonius the Tyanean the son of Jupiter foretold That Cilix a certain man beyond measure lascivious should be killed on the third day and that so fell out Philostratus in his life LArginus Proclus foretold openly in Germany That Domitian Emperour of the Romans was to dye the death on which day he departed out of life And when for this cause by him who was chief over the Province he was sent to Rome he then also affirmed it should be so Therefore he was condemned for a capital matter But Domitian nevertheless could not escape the danger of life because on the same day he was killed Xiphiline JUlian Emperour moving against Constance pierced Illyricum daily espying the intrails of beasts and birds that he might contemplate of the issue At which time a certain Souldier lifting up the intrails with his hand being fallen flat on the ground he cryed out many hearing him The Trojane was fallen Constance should dye with the Mopsocrenians in Cilicia The which he saith should be by and by verified from Ambassadours Cuspinian ALexander Severus Emperour when as he spake unto his Army in France desiring to begin his speech from a lucky word fortune brought a contrary one the which was received as an evil token for he began Heliogabalus the Emperour being slain begining his speech from the Emperours death But when from thence he went unto the Persian War an outragious woman spake these words in the French tongue Go thy way neither promise victory to thy self neither rely thy self on the faithfulnesse of thy Souldiers That which was rightly told the event taught he himself not long after being killed by his Souldiers Fulgosus in book 1. chap. 3. A Certain woman meeting the two Maximines in the Julian Market-place when they came against the Senate with an Army with her hair spread abroad and a black garment calling on the Maximines with a great voyce fell down dead before their feet After a few dayes the Army slew the Maxinines in the same place WHen Dioclesian as yet warring in lesser places stayed at Tungrim in France in a certain Tavern and had familiar company with Druys a certain woman and she blamed the niggardlinesse of the man he is reported to have answered in jest not in earnest Then he would be liberal when he should be Emperour To these words she saith Do not jest O Dioclesian plainly thou shalt be Emperour and also thou shalt kill a Boar. Which word indeed of the woman he taking in the room of a-fore token began diligently to follow wild Boars in hunting not understanding to wit the riddle of the Prophecies which the issue afterward declared For Numerian Emperour had been slain by the faction of Arrius Aper which
a great multitude of Carians and led them toward Memphis and pitched his Camps beside the Temple of Isis in the Pallace which was distant from the City five furlongs and a fight being begun he got the victory From these Carians a certain part of Memphis was called Caro-memphites Polynaeus book 7. Herodotus SYbill foretold That the warlike glory of the Macedonians gotten Philip the son of Amyntas reigning in the times of another Philip should go backward The glory of Macedon's people of Arcadia's Kings What Philip reigning sometimes profits sometimes losses brings For one the greater of the two his Captains shall impose On people strange and Cities but forsooth by Western foes The lesse shall tamed be in years to come and by and by Illustrious honours he shall lose by Eastern destiny For the Romans who are to the West by the ayd of Attalus and the Mysians who lye toward the rising of the Sun deprived Perseus the son of Philip both of his Kingdom and life Pausanias in Achaick affairs UNder Boleslaus the chaste Prince of the Polanders in the Territory of Cracovia a certain Man-child having teeth on the same day in which he was born spake distinctly and point by point untill being a young beginner in Christian Religion he lost both his teeth and the use of speech But another six moneths old in the City of Cracovia spake That the Tartarians should come and he foretold they should cut off the heads of the Polonians and being asked he answered he knew that thing from God and that evil hung over his own head also which after the twelfth year came to passe HAlâ— Abenragell makes mention That in the King's Pallace he saw an Infant borâ— which scarce as yet twenty four hours were finished began to speak and make signs with the hand At which thing the King being exceedingly astonished a greater miracle happened For he saith The King standing by and my self also with many others the Infant cryed out saying I am unhappily born to disclose the losse of the Kingdom and the destruction and desolation of the Nation Which words being pronounced he fell down dead Coelius book 29. chap. 14. PHerecides the son of Bades a Syrian a heater of Pittacus walking on the Samian shore when he had seen a certain Ship running with full sayls he foretold That a little after it should be sunk and it happened he beholding it Laertius and Apollonius in their History of wonderful things Also Apollonius the Tyanean having gotten a Vessel fit enough to sail in when he had reached Leucas about to go to Achaia Let us go down saith he out of this Ship But she although then quiet a little after was overwhelmed Philostratus Mithridates besieging Cyzicum Aristagoras said he had received from Minerva that he being a pleasant singer would bring the Trumpeter into the Lybick Sea therefore he bade the Citizens to be of good courage And straightway the South-wind blowing more strongly Mithridates his Navy was troubled and their warlike Engines for the most part cast asunder Coelius book 20. chap. 24. THey tell that Pherecydes sometimes thirsting in the Island Scyrus desired water from one of his Schollars the which when he had drank he pronounced That after three dayes there was to be an Earthquake in that Island which saying as the end proved it true he brought back great glory Apollonius History of Wonders GLaucus the son of Epicydides a Spartan when as he had received a great sum of money from Milesius a guest under the name of a depositum or pledge and after his death his sons had required the money Glaucus after four moneths avouched that he would give an answer In the mean time he enquired of the Oracle at Delphos Whether by denying through a suborned oath the money laid up with him he should make a gain Pythia answered It may indeed for bold-fac'd Glaucus turn to present gain Thus by an oath to conquer and by robbery to detain The moneys Afterward 't is death to swear but he the man That consciously regards an oath sustaineth with his hand But of the oath the Lad is alway mindful neither hee With hands nor feet as swift doth make approach but if of thee He taketh hold will all thy house and progeny destroy But th'after stock of swearer just shall better things enjoy Glaucus being affrighted with that answer prayed for pardon or leave But Pythia affirmed the same is to tempt God and to do it Glaucus indeed being returned home restored the money to the young men of Milesim but not long after his whole house and off-spring was wholly put out Herodotus book 6. ALphonsus King of Arragon and Sicily besieged Neapolis a certain man came to him of a reverend countenance and foretold that he should conquer the City about the Calends of June but not much after a doubtfull battle was to be in which the Captain should be taken perswading him that he would not commit himself to so great danger The former part of the Prophecie was true For on the 4th of Nones of June he reduced the City into his power A little after being about to fight in battle against Anthony at Caudola in the Campanian field his friends disswading him and objecting unto him the Prophesie he answered Death indeed will not affrighten a valiant man much lesse doubtfull Oracles A battel being made he was overcome and taken at Caudola Aen. Sylv. book 2. Com. on Panormitan's Alphonsus AGathius in his second book of the Gothish War saith that the Germanes to have used sometime women for Prophetesses likewise with a most true event Plutarch in Caesar calls them holy women and they guessed at things to come by the whirlpools and noyse of Rivers Coelius book 18. chap. 20. ABaris the son of Seuthias a divine of the Hyperboreans or those above the North-wind wrote Oracles in the Countries which he wandred thorow which are at this day extant He also foretold earth-quakes Plagues and the like and heavenly things They say when he had come to Sparta that he warned the Laconians of turning away evills by holy things which things being finished no Plague afterward was at Lacedemon Apollonius in Hist of Wonders AeDesius the son of Chrysanthius a Philosopher of Sardis had a body so nimble that it exceeded the belief of all and was plainly carried up on high There was such a nearnesse to him with a god that there was no need of a Crown of bayes to be placed on his head but true Oracles and framed to the proper likenesse of a spirit blown up by a power He onely beholding the Sun would powre forth speech although he neither knew the Law or order of Verses nor yet well knew the Rules of Grammar Eunapius THere is at Sparta before the Altar of Augustus in the Market place a brazen portrayture of Agias They say this Agias to have divined unto Lysander that he should conquer the navy of the Athenians at the
Plutarch in Marcellus ANiharis King of the Longobards brother of Garibald King of the Bavarians â—ooâ— Theodelinda his bride in the Veronian field Not far from thence a tree being struck from Heaven Agigulph Duke of the Taurinians a soothsayer being asked Counâ—ell of received an answer Theodelinda the Virgin to marry Antharis but a little after to be a Widow for Agilulph The issue confirmed the promise of the Sooth-saying For Antharis when he had fairly reigned six years was taken away by poyson at Tiotnam The Longobards gave power to Theodelinda his Wife for her mildnesse and too much courtesy that it should be lawfull for her to take that Husband whom she desired and they promised they would have him for their King But she chose Agilulph The Marriage was solemnized at Mediolum where by the agreement of all he is declared King of the Longobards or Lombards Bonfine Book 8. Of the first Decade BAtabaces in the Cimbrian War a Priest of the great Mother â—dea came to Pessinunt This man brought word that the goddesse had shewn him in his passage that a victory and great glory of war was to come to the people of Rome When there was an approvement of the Senate and it had decreed a Temple to the goddesse for Victories-sake A. Pompey Tribune of the common people forbade him going into the assembly that he might utter these things to the people calling him jugler and with disgrace drave the man out of the place of their Common-pleas Which thing most of all commended his sayings For assoon as the assembly being dismissed Pompey returned to his house so great a force of a Feaver possessed him that it was manifest to all and much spread abroad that he died within the seventh day Plutarch in the life of Marius L. Sylla being returned out of Asia against Cinna and Marius he tells that in Silvina of Pontium Servus a mad man to have spoken to him who said he shewed to him from Bellona that he should have the Palme or conquering Crown and Victory of the War The which unlesse he should perfect the Capitoll was to be burnt and that happened on the same day which he had foretold which was the day before the Nones of the fifth Moneth which now we call July Plutarch in Sylla CReophilus in the bounds of the Ephesians saith those that built Ephesus when they were greatly in doubt of the place at length they sent unto the Oracle those which should ask where the City was to be placed But the Devil answered Where a fish had evidently shewn and a wild Boar had taught But there is a report that where the Fountain now called Hypelaeus is and the holy Haven certain fishermen provided a dinner Then a certain one of the Fishes leaped out together with the dead coals and fell down into a bundle of Chaff a green turf is presently inflamed in which a wild boar by chance lay hid who being much affrightned with fire ran through a good part of a Mountain even thither where Trachea is now called and fell down being wounded with a dart where now the Temple of Pallas is erected Then the Ephesians possessing the Island when they had inhabited it twenty and one years in the twenty and second they built Trachea and afterward Corissum and there raised up the Temple of Diana in the market-place and of Pythius Apollo in the haven Athenaeus Book 8. chap. 11. THere was among the Locrians a wooden Dog having such a History For a lot was rendred unto a certain Locrian there he should build a City where a wooden Dog had fastned a biting on him For which cause when he had sailed unto the other shore of the Sea he trod upon a kunosbaton that is a Dog bush or bramble a kind of thorn from thence when he thought the Oracle to have an end he built the Cities which the Locrians call or esteem Ozolae Coelius Book 17. chap. 28. out of Athenaeus Book 2. chap. 33. LEonides in his fourth book of the people of Attica saith when Thymaetes the younger brother who was a bastard had beheaded Aphidantes King of the Athenians he himself reigned at Athens Whereby it was brought about that Melanthus the Messenian a banished man from his Country received an Oracle where he was to dwell to whom it was answered where it should be received for gifts from guests setting feet and heads before him in a supper the which afterwards happened in Eleusina For when as they had a certain solemn feast according to their countrey manner and had spent all the flesh and the feet onely and heads had remained these very things they brought to Melanthus Athenaeus Book 3. chap. 9. BYzantium before called Lygos was built by the Lacedemonians Pausanias being Captain in the most narrow Sea of Europe and Asia unto whom it was said by the Oracle of Apollo Pythius that they should place it against blind seats that is the Megarians who built Chalcedon in a barren soyl of the Countrey a wealthy bank being let passe Strabo book 7. This City Constantine the Great who passed over the seat of the Empire from the City of Rome into the East to restrain the inroads of the Parthians compassed with new walls being warned from God and adorned it with most high Towers and stately buildings that it might be thought rather the habitation of gods than of Emperours This City when the Emperour would name Nea the common people from the builder called Constantinople Cuspinian THere is a report that a Wonderfull meeting of a Sow that had piggs made a divination to the Trojanes of building a City who Aeneas being Captain had come into Italy They say she was great with young and to have come to the Altars being strucken with the hands of the sacrificers thence to have sit down on a little Tomb four and twenty furlongs from the Sea in a place surely hideous and very difficult Aeneas mindfull of the Oracle followed the Sow aloof off with a few that were by chance present lest being nigh the trace she should turn from the destinous way But then contemplating the nature of the place when as he perceived nothing in it which might invite him to the tillage of it being doubtfull in his counsell he was vexed neither could he bring it into his mind that such unfit seats were shewn him by destiny And he was now late busied in advising of that one thing whether he ought to be there or should go as yet farther When as from the next place a voice without an Authour was given which commanded the Trojans to remain there Onely they should go forward to build other things they should leave to the destinies Others are Authours that the shape of houshold gods was here in a dream set before the eyes of Aeneas by which he was commanded to fortify the place But whatever kind of Oracle that was it is a certain report that the Sow being the day after
much glory By which dream the most valiant man most thirsty after glory yet not so much affrighted as encouraged unto the desire of his promised end began to decline no kind of danger and being admonished by friends that he should fight the more warily he opened unto them his dream and purpose Then notwithstanding being beyond thought unhurt he brought the army out safe from the jaws of their enemies But after three years passed between the late truth was brought to sleep For in the Latine War himself being Consull sacrificed himself for the Common-wealth and being brought into the middle of the enemies Armies he dyed with such glory that he stirred up his son unto the like desire of an hereditary death These almost after this manner are both written in the Annals of Rome and related by Tully C. Gracchus saw the shape of his brother Tiberius who was killed in the sedition of the field Law in his sleep saying He might delay as much as he would yet he must perish with the same death by which he had died Which also happened For when after most destructive Lawes published he had possessed the Mount of Aventine with an armed multitude by Lucius Opimius he was slain Cicero in Book 1. Of Divination Plutarch in the life of the Gracchians CAlpurnia the Wife of Julius Caesar saw in her rest that night which was the last he lived on the Earth that he was slain with many wounds laying in her bosome and being exceedingly affrightned through the cruelty of the dream ceased not to intreat him that the next day he would abstain from the Court But he not moved with a Womans dream thought to do that he earnestly desired to go to the Senate in which the hands of Parricides were brought on him where by Brutus and Cassius he was slain Valerius Book 1. chap. 3. L. Cornelius Sylla not onely foresaw his death but also wrote somewhat of it For in the twenty second Commentary of deeds done by him two dayes before he deceased he set to the last hand and saith the Chaldeans foretold him That where he had famously lived he was to depart in the flowr of happiness He telleth also That his son who had dyed a little before Metella was seen in a dream to stand by him in an unusual garment and to have prayed his father that he would lay aside cares and would go forward with him to his Mother Metella there with her to live in rest Plutarch in Sylla A Beholder of Playes who standing in the place of beholding had mused in his sleep that he was slain by a sword-player who seemed to be present by and by he told the sitters by that he had seen the Dream so being killed by him with an Eel-spear he taught by experience the vain dream to be true by a miserable issue Alexander book 3. chap. 26. GReat Sfortias the day before he departed from Orthona against Braccius who besieged the City Aquila in the year 1425 dreamed about the morning That being overwhelmed with a deep heap of waters was conversant in the greatest danger of his life and to have beheld a man in a Gyant-like shape very like to D. Christopher of whom even with a great and often repeated voyce he besought help in vain But he being nothing warned by his dream departing by Orthona in the crosse passage of the small River Aternus which at this day hath its name from the Town Piscaria while he brought help unto a Lad his Armour-bearer being in jeopardy his right hand being stretched forth pitching in the muddy Foord his horse although famous failed in his hinder legs and so his armour weighing him down he was drowned Jovius in his Life MAlpaga an Archer was not an unacceptable servant unto Galeatius Sfortias Duke of Mediolum among his household-servants This man the day before that Galeatius was killed he saw in the night at the time of rest as if himself had been present at the thing him being thrust thorow with wounds made to be put together with his father in the same Coffin That which afterwards he waking beheld to be done Galeatius being dead while a proper coffin was made for him Which sight the same Malpaga before the Duke was killed being through fear astonished had told unto his Earls Fulgosus B. 1. ch 5. Of Examples MArk-Anthony Taurell Earl of Guastella when he warred in the Kingdom of Neapolis in that War which Ferdinand the Elder King of Arragon waged with Renatus King of Andegavia in the standing Camps which he had in the Country of the Brutians arising in the morning from his bed he told those his Souldiers who had stood about him that he saw in his sleep that he was drowned in the water and therefore decreed to abstain from swimming to which he had accustomed himself But when at noon-day after sleep being cloathed with a Souldiers warlike garment naked from above he had come to walk to the neighbouring Lake and saw some of his Souldiers swimming being unmindfull of his night-dream and perchance the destinies so drawing him letting himself down with some others into the Lake to swim according to the dream that he had seen he was drowned when as none of his Souldiers could bring him help Fulgosus book 1. chap. 5. HOrace Perusine servant of the Feasts or Junkers unto Alexander of Medices Duke of the Florentines a little before that he was killed by Lawrence of Medices was vexed with a Feaver from a vapour as is meet to be believed of black choler he had a sight thrice in the night in the which he beheld the Prince to be stabbed by Lawrence Which images of things drave the sick-man that he told it to Paschall the Prince's Physitian to be related to the Prince But Paschall carefully doing duty found the Prince in that mind that he said it was a fable of a dreaming sick man admiring why the whole house had conspired together for hatred of Lawrence The Supply of Sabellicus book 22. out of Jovius BAptista of Cardanum studying at Papia on a certain night as soon as he arose tryed to kindle a sparkle of fire In the mean time he heareth this voyce Go my son go to Rome And he saw a great brightnesse like a bundel of burning chaff He being affrighted his fire-light being laid aside lay hid under the bed untill his chamber-fellows returned out of the University When they returned thinking him to be sick they knock at the door he openeth it Straightway to them enquiring the cause he answereth He thought his Mother to be dead and told what he had seen and heard and also wept They turned the thing into a jest partly laughing at him partly comforting him The day following when as yet he had not received a message concerning his Mothers sicknesse he was certified of her death that she breathed out her soul in that very hour wherein he had perceived these things The Town of Cardanum is
absent from Papia fourty two miles Cardane Of the variety of things book 15. chap. 84. tells this of his Kinsman ULysses after his return into his Countrey being affrighted with often contrary dreams called together most skillfull Interpreters telling that a certain Image was seen by him of a very laudable beauty between the countenance of a man and a god suddenly to be sent forth out of the same place The which to him desiring to embrace with the greatest desire and stretching forth his hand it was answered unto him in a man's voyce That such a conjoyning was wicked because it was of the same bloud and birth for thereby the one would destroy the others work And then to him more eagerly asking it and desiring to learn perfectly the causes of that thing a certain sign arising from a male came between his sight and that second power or jurisdiction of his cast upon him to have disjoyned both Which thing all who were present pronounced to be destructive with one mouth warning him to take heed of the layings in wait of his son So Telemachus by his fathers will is banished into the fields which were in Cephalenia He himself going apart into hidden and separated places endeavoured to avoid the force of the Dreams At the same time Telegonus whom being sprung from Ulysses Circe had brought up at the Island Acaea when he was of ripe years going to search out his father came to Ithaca bearing in his hands a certin spear whose top was armed with the bone of a Sea tortle to wit a token of honour of that Island in which he had been brought up Being instructed where his father Ulysses lived by the keepers of the ground being at his first passage more mistrusted is forbidden when as he more eagerly resisteth he is on the contrary repulsed he begins to cry out It was an unworthy act that he should be forbidden from the embracement of his father So Telegonus being thought to come to bring force on the King he is more sharply resisted for it was not certainly known to any that Ulysses had also another son But the young man when he saw himself the more exceedingly and by force to be repulsed being raised up through grief killeth or being greatly wounded weakeneth many of the keepers Which things after they were known to Ulysses he thinking the young man to have been sent by Telemachus going forth of doors casts the Lance which he had wont to carry for his own defence against Telegonus After that the young man escaped this stroak he sends a notable dart against his present father When Ulysses fell down with the stroak he gave thanks for his fortune and confessed it was very well done by him because being slain by the force of a strange man he had freed Telemachus a most dear son to him from the wickednesse of parricide And holding back the residue he asketh the young man who he was and from what place risen who durst kill Ulysses the son of Laertes famous for counsel and war Telegonus then knowing it was his father tearing his head with both his hands uttered a most lamentable weeping being exceedingly tormented for the death brought by him on his father Dictys in book 6. PIndare a Lyrick Poet his age being now finished seemed to see Persephone to stand by him in his sleep and to complain That she onely of all the gods was not adorned with his verses But when he had come unto her he should also make an hymn on her Indeed a little after and even before the tenth day from that dream he finished the duties of life There was at Thebes a certain old woman joyned to Pindare by kin and very much exercised in singing forth many of his songs Pindare shewing himself to her at the time of rest sung a song on Persephone She being presently awakened wrote down all things which she had heard Pindare singing through a vision in her sleep Truly in that song amongst other sirnames of the hell-goddess is Chrysenius to wit from the golden rains which thing it is sufficiently manifest to have served for the snatching away of Proserpina Pausanias in his Boeoticks UNto Phayll King of the Phocians after the Temple of Delphos spoyled he scarce as yet having come to his command such a shew by a dream was set before him Among the things offered to Apollo there was a very old image of brass of a man whose flesh being consumed his bones alone were left They of Delphos said it was dedicated by Hippocrates the Physitian Phayll seemed to see himself made like to this And a few dayes after pining away with leanness he fulfilled the issue of the dream Pausanias in his Photicks A Little before the destruction of Messena in the twenty first year of the War Aristodemus King of the Messenians seemed at the time of rest to see when as now arms being taken up he was to go forth to battle the intrails of sacrifices being placed on a table his daughter whom six years before being sacrificed for the safety of his Country he had slain with his own hands standing by him in a black or mourning garment and her breast being naked shewing her wounds and then the intrails being removed from the table the weapons being withdrawn her self to be endowed with that golden crown and white garments He therefore thought this dream to betoken death unto him because the Messenians lift up the Nobles being crowned and covered with a white garment And without delay when by the devoting of his daughter he saw he could nothing profit his Country at his daughter's Tomb he brought death on himself Plutarch in Cleomenes ALexander King of Macedonia first knew by a dream that the right hand of Cassander would prove mortal to him before that in the end he felt it For he thought himself to be killed by him when as he had never seen him At then sometime coming between after that he had come into view the image of his night-fear being disclosed as soon as he knew it to be the son of Antipater a Greek verse being added which raiseth up the truth of the dreams he beat back the suspition of poysoning now prepared against his head whereby it is reported he was slain with the hand of Cassander Valerius Maximus book 1. chap. 7. Sabellicus book 6. Ennead 4. ALcibiades taking a sleep thought himself in his sleep to be covered with the cloak of his Concubine The truth whereof straightway followed For Critias when he saw Alcibiades very much to prevail in favour and authority endeavoured to take him out of the midst of them Therefore he sent Tisimen or as others name him Susametres and Bagous that they might kill him He when he was with his Leamond being killed in her bosome and was cast away unburied was covered with the garment of his Concubine Justine book 5. Plutarch Probus in his Life THat was an effectual Image of rest which
brake the courage of King Croesus first with the greatest fear and then also with grief For of his two sons he thought that Atys the more excelling both in great nimbleness and endowments of body and ordained for the succession of the Empire was taken away from him by the sword Therefore whatsoever did belong to avoid the bitternesse of a denounced slaughter the father's care in no part ceased to turn away The young man was wont to be sent to wage Wars he was kept at home He had an Armory filled with plenty of all kinds of weapons that also he commanded to be removed His Earls used to be girded with the sword they were forbidden to come near Yet necessity made way for mourning For when a wild Boar of huge bigness wasted the tilled places of the Mountain Olympus with often destruction of the Country-people and help was humbly besought of the King against the unaccustomed evill the son wrested by force from his father that he might be sent to slay him indeed so much the easier because the cruelty not of the tooth but of the sword was laid up in fear But while all were diligently bent on a sharp endeavour of killing the swine a stubborn chance of a hovering force turned the launce sent from Adrastus that he might smite the wild beast out of the right way into him and indeed would have that right-hand especially aspersed with the fault of a wicked murder unto whom the defence of the son was committed by the father Valer. Maximus book 1. chap. 7. Herodotus book 1. POlycratis daughter of a Tyrant of the Samians she seemed to see at the time of rest her father to be on high in the ayr who should indeed be washed by Jupiter but anointed by the Sun She being affrighted with this vision warned her father that he should not go to Oraetes the Governour of Cambyses at Sardis But he obeying not the saying was fastned to a crosse by Oraetes Herodotus book 1. UNto Hipparchus the son of Pisistratus was presented in his sleep the image of a tall man pronouncing these verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bear Lyon things unsufferable suffer with bearing mind There is no wicked man to whom hee 'l not repay in kind In the morning he would refer these words to the Interpreters of dreams But straightway the Vision being despised he neglected it and went away into the solemn fight where by Aristogiton and Harmodius Gephyraeans he was killed Herodotus book 5. SImon of Athens when as he moved an expedition against the Persians his Navy being now ready he had such a dream An angry Bitch seemed to bark at him and to utter thereupon a voyce mixed of a man's voyce and a dog's barking in these words Be gone thou art to be a friend To me and to my whelpish kind Astyphilus Posidoniates therefore a divining man and familiar friend of Simon affirmed death to be foretold him using this argument The dog is an enemy to him whom he barks at but to an enemy none is dear or a friend but when he dyeth Moreover the mixed voyce sheweth the Mede an enemy whose Armies are mixt of Greeks and Barbarians The end proved the dream to have been true for not much time after Simon dyed of a disease in the siege of Citium Plutarch in his Life WHen as a certain one had seemed to repeat a verse of Homer's unto Socrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt indeed on the third day To Phthia come full fraught with clods of clay He said to Aeschines I shall dye on the third day Phthia was the Country of Achilles And his friends endeavoured to perswade Socrates that he should flee into Thessaly because there he had good friends But he drew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to kill or corrupt And the third day after Hemlock being drunk in prison he perished Laertius in his Life ATterius Ruâ—â—us a Roman Knight when a Sword-play was set forth by the Syracusans he saw himself in the time of sleep to be thrust thorow by the hand of Retiarius And the next day he told it in the place of beholding unto the sitters by Afterwards it fell out that in the next place from the Knight Retiarius was brought in by the Sword-player Whose face when he had seen the same man said he thought he should be slain by that Retiarius and forthwith he would depart thence They his fear being shaken off by their speech brought the cause of destruction to the miserable man For the Sword-player being compelled into that place and cast down while he endeavours to strike him lying along kills Atterius being thrust thorow with his Sword Valerius Maximus in the first Book chap. 7. JUlius Caesar not much before he died in his sleep sometimes he seemed to himself to fly above the Clouds sometimes to joyn his right hand to Jupiter Moreover in the same night when he lay in his bed all the dores of his Chamber and likewise the Windowes being set open he was affrighted both with a noise and light and the Moon shining bright he marketh Calphurnia being fast asleep to utter dark words and undistinct sighings She imagined that she lamented him whom she held thrust thorow in her bosome Others deny that sight to have been set before her But when as a Pinnacle had been by the decree of the Senate adjoyned unto Caesars house as Livy is Author as it were for an Ornament and enlarging it Calphurnia having imagined at the time of rest that to have slidden down she seemed to her self therefore to mourn and weep But when light had approached she asked Caesar if by any means it might be brought to passe that he might not go forth but might adjourn the Senate unto another time But if he did esteem her dreams but as a lock of Wool yet he should ask Counsell of the Soothsayers and Sacrifices concerning things hanging over his head Whence there was some suspition and fear set before him also as it seemeth For he took notice of no superstition before the woman was grieved or vexed for that thing which she then saw But assoon as the Soothsayers told him satisfaction could not be made many sacrifices being now slain he determined Anthony being sent to dismisse the Senate In the mean time Decius Brutus surnamed Albine whom Caesar for the trust which he had to him had written amongst his second heirs seeing he was a companion of the conspiracy of the other Brutus and Cassius fearing lest if Caesar should passe away that day the matter would have been told abroad he mocked the Soothsayers and reproved Caesar and being taken by the hand led him forth And so that day in the Court being thrust thorow with many wounds he was wretchedly slain Plutarch CAesar being slain the people diligently sought after the conspirators being hidden Helius Cinna the Poet one of Caesars friends had the
of some Genius or Paynim which said these words unto him in a chiding manner Ere while O Julian I attend at the porch of thy house hiddenly much delighting to increase thy dignity but as often as being repulsed I have departed and the opinion of many agreeing neither now indeed am I received I will go cast down and sorrowfull yet that I will keep in remembrance in my heart that I will dwell no longer with thee Cuspinian NEptune seemed unto Stipo the Philosopher in his sleep to be angry because he had not offered Hecatombe that is the sacrifice of an hundred beasts as the custome was But the Philosopher being nothing disturbed at this sight answered What sayest thou Neptune Dost thou so come hither as a boy with thy complaint because money being mutually taken I have not filled the City with a savour But according to the bignesse of a familiar thing I have sacrificed unto thee some very small fishes At these words Neptune smiling he seemed his right hand being plucked to him to have said unto him For thy great favour I will bestow on the City of the Megarians plenty of Apues or very small fishes The which also they deliver to have happened UNto Hippias the son of Pisistratus while being a banished man he ambitiously seeks after Kingly Authority at Maratho a night-shape of his mother with whom he seemed to copulate at the time of rest was brought before him For which thing the interpreters answered him that Authority Royall was largely signified unto him and he being put in mind thereof by his dream and full of hope not long after enjoyed the dominion of Athens Herodotus book 6. THe Mother of Dionysius of Syracusa when she had conceived him in her womb she seemed to bring forth a Satyr and an Interpreter of wonders being consulted with she knew with a certain issue that he was to be the most famous and most mighty of the Grecian bloud Valerius book 1. chap. 7. Astyages Cyrus his grandfather by the Mother side the birth of Cyrus having respect unto the Empire of all upper Asia two dreams of his being fore-messengers of it endeavoured in vain to shake off Mandanes his daughter because he had seen in his sleep her urine to have overflowed all the Nations of Asia not to a most excelling man of the Medes lest the glory of the Kingdom should be passed over into that family but by assigning her unto Cambyses a man of a mean fortune of the Persians and by commanding her son Cyrus to be put out because he times being quiet likewise had thought through the off-spring of Mandanes the vine sprung forth would have increased so far untill it would over-shadow all parts of his dominion but truly he was disappointed by endeavouring through man's counsels to hinder the happinesse of his Nephew appointed unto him by the judgment of the heaven-lies Valerius book 1. chap. 7. Herodotus book 1. THey report That Cyrus King of the Assyrians dreamed the eldest of Prince or Duke Hystaspes his sons with two wings to overshadow with the one Asia with the other Europe Therefore after his son Cambyses Darius the eldest son of Hystaspes having obtained the Kingdoms subdued Europe and Asia Herodotus book 1. Justin MIthridates the sonne of Ariobarzanes was a companion to Demetrius son of Antiogonus and his equal and had Antigonus in reverence a man evill neither in deed nor in the opinion of others An unlucky suspition happened to Antigonus concerning him by reason of a vain dream For at his rest it had seemed to him to have set a wide field with branches of gold from thence first grew golden corn A little after he when he had returned thither found nothing but stubble and when he was very greatly grieved he heard the voyce of a certain one who said Mithridates the golden corn being mowed down went away into the Euxine Sea He being much troubled opened that sight to his son being first brought to an oath of silence and that thing also that he determined by any means to kill Mithridates Demetrius this thing being known was grievous sorrowfull and when as he being a youth according to his manner being at leisure had come to him not daring for the tye of the oath to warn him by words drew him apart by degrees from friends and when they were alone his Spear being turned upside down he wrote he beholding him Flee Mithridates and he the matter being understood fled away by night into Cappadocia But destiny proved the foolish Dream of Antigonus to be true by and by for Mithridates possessed a large and good Country and was the author of the Kingdom of Pontus which the Romans under about the eighth King overthrew Plutarch in Demetrius ACtia the Mother of Augustus Caesar sleeping in the Temple of Apollo she seemed to be co-mingled with a Dragon and the moneths for bringing forth being fulfilled she brought forth Moreover before she brought forth she dreamed that her bowels were carried on high into Heaven and were powred forth into the whole World The same night Octavius saw in his sleep that he sprang out of his mother's womb When the Infant was now born Nigidius Figulus a Senatour presently foretold unto the Father the highest royall authority unto his son Xiphilin Sueton in Augustus OCtavius when he led an Army thorow Thracia and had asked counsel of the Oracle of Bacchus concerning his son Augustus the night following he presently seemed to see his son more sumptuous than in a mortal shape with a thunder-bolt and Scepter and the spoyls of Jupiter the most excellent great and a chariot covered over with a shining crown of Bay twelve horses of an exceeding whiteness drawing it Q Catulus after the dedication of the Capitol for two nights together dreamed in the first The most excellent great Jupiter many boyes in robes of purple playing together about the Alâ—ar separated one and to have laid into his bosom the singe of the Common-wealth which he carried in his hand and in the night following to have observed that he the same child being in the lap or bosome of Jupiter Capitolinus when he had commanded to be withdrawn was forbidden by the warning of the god as though he should be brought up for the safeguard of the Common-wealth And the next day beholding Augustus meeting him not without admiration he said he was most like to the Lad of whom he had dreamed Some unfold the first dream of Catulus otherwise as though Jupiter many boyes together cloathed in purple robes requiring a defender from him had shewn one among them unto whom they should bring back all their desires and had brought his kiss untouched with his fingers unto his mouth Marcus Cicero having followed C. Julius Caesar into the Capitol he by chance told the dream of the foregoing night unto his familiar friends a boy of a free countenance let down from heaven by a golden chain to have stood
immortal God Changius obeyed and all his people being led out he compelled them to continue all night in prayers The morning being come he saw the Sea to have went back from the Mountain nine feet and on that side he led his whole Army on dry ground thorow the waste wildernesses into Asia Haithon the Armenian in his book of the Tartars HAnnibal Captain of the Carthaginians had decreed to carry away a golden pillar being found in the Temple of Juno Lucina But being not sure whether it was of sound gold or whether it was gilded with gold nigh the superficies by solemnizing an assembly he tryed it and being made sure that it was all of gold he was confirmed in his purpose of snatching it away unto whom the shape of Juno seemed to be present while he dreamed she admonished him that he should abstain from covetous and sacrilegious enterprizes threatening if he proceeded that she would deprive him of one eye wherewith he should see the ground or the Sun with which sleep the Captain otherwise cruell and who feared no god there was no Religion as was written of him yet it is delivered being moved he daring to move nothing out of the place of that very gold which had fallen out of a hole while he tryed it he took care to have a warlike Engine made and to be placed on the top of the pillar Petrarcha VAlens Emperour in his sleep saw a certain man saying these words unto him Be gone with haste unto great Mimas thee the grievous force Of destiny dreading thy self shall from thy life divorce He being awakened out of sleep asked the standers by What place was called Mimas And when at length a certain one of the Grammarians or Oratours who follow the Kings Court had said Mimas was a Mountain of Asia of which Homer had made mention in his Ulysses And to aiery Mimas The Emperour laughing answered What necessity enforceth me of seeing this place and seeking a lot But when fighting against the Alanians the Emperour was burnt in a little cottage about Adranopolis of Thracia the Barbarians departing from thence some Souldiers of Valens diligently searched out his dead carcass In that cottage where he perished was found an old grave of a certain ancient man with this Inscription Mimas a Governour of the Macedonians was here laid Therefore that dream of Valens was fulfilled Cuspinian THat which was once set before Julius Caesar in his sleep before that he had moved into neather France and brought offensive weapons on the City when at his rest it seemed to him he ravished his mother By which dream the expounders stirred him up unto a most large hope having interpreted That the rule of the world should be given him The same dream they mention was offered to Hippias son of Pisistratus with no unlike issue who being his succeeder in tyranny used his Countrey more cruelly For a night resemblance of his Mother with whom he seemed to copulate is said to be set before him at the time of sleep for which thing the Interpreters answered That rule was largely betokened unto him And he being put in mind by his dream and full of hope not long after he enjoyed the dominion of Athens For this is that Hippias who having attempted a tyrannical power not without cruel wickednesse was more outragious and unbridled than his father when as being a banished man he had changed his soyl he moved wicked arms against his Countrey At last conspiring with Darius being slain in the Marathonian fight he yielded punishments to his Countrey and housholdâ—gods But another son of the same Pisistratus Hipparch who exceeded the cruelty of many Tyrants when as he oppressed his Country and Citizens with a cruel Lordlinesse a conspiracy being made against the life of the Tyrant he was by Armodius and Aristogiton most valiant young men not without the safety of all slain whose names being devoted to freedom lest at any time it should be lawfull to institute servants the Athenians established with an open abhorrency Alexander book 3. chap. 26. SAbacus King of Aethiopians possessed the Kingdom of Aegypt fifty years which being finished the god which is worshipped at Thebes was seen to say unto him His reign over the Egyptians should not be happy nor of long continuance unless the Priests of Egypt being all slain he should passe thorow the midst of their dead carcasses with his This dream being often set before him he called together all the Priests on every side and what things he had received through the dream being told them He would not he saith build a remaining destruction for any one in Egypt but had rather abstain from the Kingdom of Egypt being pure and free of all wickedness Diodore the Sicilian Herodotus book 3. SEthon King of Aegypt Priest of Vulcan when as he despised the Egyptians he made use of a forreign Souldier and stripped the Egyptians of their fields For this wrong it came to pass that after Sennacherib King of Arabians and Assyrians had invaded Egypt with a great Army the Egyptians would not help him Then the chief Priest void of counsel betook himself into the Garret or Chamber of his House and there bewailed before the Image how much he was in danger Therefore while he was lamenting sleep crept on him and while he slept the god seemed to stand by exhorting him that he was to suffer no hurtfull thing if he went to meet the Army of the Arabians for he would send him helpers The Priest trusting to these dreams those that were willing of the Aegyptians being taken Merchants or Factors and handycrafts-men or labourers he pitched his Tents in Pelusium for in this is the Aegyptian invaded When he had come thither in the night a great multitude of field-Mice suddenly arising gnawed asunder both the quivers bowes and also the rains of the bucklers in the Camps of their enemies so that the next day the enemies being naked of weapons made flight many being lost And now in that Temple of Vulcan the King stands in stone holding a mouse in his hand and by letters saying these words Who so looketh on me let him be godly Herodotus book 2. Of Miracles of Devils or of divers deceits and mocks of evil Daemons to strengthen the Idolatry of the Gentiles THe power of Vesta warranted the fire being gone out a woman Schollar of the Virgin Aemilia to be safe from all blame who worshipping when she had laid a Cyprus garment the which she had a very good one on the hearth the fire suddenly shone out Valerius book 1. chap. 1. THey say Aeneas to have placed houshold-gods brought from Troy at Lavinium thence being brought over to Alba by his son Ascanius the which he had built to have returned again to the ancient Chappel and because that might be thought to be done by man's hand being brought back again to Alba to have signified his will by another passage Valer. Max. book 1.
prayers Thirty years at the least being spent in this diabolicall marriage at length in the year of our Lord 1546. by Gods blessing and favour and not by reason of her Merit Magdalene returned to her self and began to detest the Devill but the Aethiop taking grievously her apostacy and after diverse manners tormenting her she beyond all expectation freely discovered her wickednesse to them whom they call the visitors of that Order and to them she confessed her sin implored help and was by them imprisoned Neither did the Devill notwithstanding all this leave the place but at morning prayers to the great wonder and amazement of the Monks was present in the shape and vesture of Magdalene and oft did perform other her offices The Monk now abhorring their Abattesse whom for twelve years they had entertained at the last they were very importunate that the whole manner being found out Magdalene might be expelled the Cloister that so those enchantments might cease Neither was there any great punishment inflicted on her because of her serious repentance and ingenuous confession and that As by her feigned and daemoniacal sanctity she had encreased the superstition of many So by her true and Christian penitency she shewed by this memorable example that the fountains and floud-gates of Gods mercy are not dam'd up or shut to any repentant sinner IN the year 1532. a Noble man out of his tyrannicall malice commanded one of the country men which he had power over that he should carry home a great Oak out of the wood at once by his horse-Cart and threatned him sore if he did not execute his command the clown easily understanding that it was utterly unpossible for him to obey his Masters precept entred the Wood with great sighs and sad complaints there came to him a Devill haveing taken upon him a humane shape and enquired of him the cause of his grief to whom the rustick revealed the thing in order The Devill bad him be of good cheer and return to his house he would bring the Oak to his Masters house without delay the Clown was scarce got home ere the Devill threw the huge Oak loadned with thick boughs a thwart before the house of the Noble man and shut up the passage by reason of the thicknesse of the Tree boughs and when the Oak had contracted an adamant-like hardnesse neither could it by any strength or Art be cut the Noble man was glad to break a wall on the other side of the house and to make a new gate in his other houses not without great trouble and cost Fincelius book 2. THere appeared to a certain honest Matron a widow a kinswoman to Phillip Melancthon sitting alone in her Parlour her Husband being dead a day or two before having for his companion a Monk of tall stature The husband spoke to his wife with all the sugred and loving expressions he could saying Be of good comfort my Wife for I am thy Husband and weighty businesses have compelled me to come to thee when he had almost talked with her a whole hour he exhorted her that she would take care that Masse should be celebrated for him being dead and going away he importun'd her that she should reach forth her right hand to him which being reached out he coloured it as black as a coal and her hand was marked and blotted with that colour all her life after Fincelius Book 2. IN the year 1555. there was a spectrum appeard after this manner At Brunsviga in the Village of Gehern two miles distant from Blomenaw there was a certain country man being imployed with his horses and Cart going into the wood saw before the entrance of the wood some troops of horsemen harnessed all with black armour whereat being terrified he ran back to his house and reported that a great troop of Souldiers appeared abroad the Elders therefore and the Minister of the Word there accompanying them hastily went forth and almost a hundred persons some men and some women went with them and did see these horsemen and they reckoned them to be about fourteen troops which immediately divided themselves into two companies and they being Marshalled into order one company stood opposite to the other At the last there issued out a tall man of a black hue very formidable out of each company and both of them lighting from their horses did view accurately each company Which being done they mounted their horses again the Army being set in rank and file and the troops set against one another the horsemen went forward and filled the whole camp the country men were spectatours of their march untill night came on But when they heard no further at that time of any war or marching of the foot or horsemen they all agreed that it was a prodigy from the Devill or a sign of Gods anger Fincelius first Book of Miracles IN the year 1567. in Trawtenaw a City of Bohemia there was one Stephen Hubener that gathered such great Riches built such stately houses and was so successefull that all admired And at last falling sick dyed and was very honourably inter'd But a short while after his death and buriall his body or that which is more likely the Devill by his Diabolicall power carried about his body did pinch many men with such strait embracements that many of them died yet diverse recovered again who all with one consent confessed that they were thus clasped or beclipped by this rich man in that very habit in which they had seen him alive therefore the Magistrate of that place that he might void or lay this Satanical sight commanded the body of that man to be digged out of the grave after he had lain in the Earth twenty weeks yet was not corrupted or rotten but fat as young and well fed bodies use to be the body was delivered to the Hangman to be carried away to the place of execution where he cut off his head with his Axe and anatomizing him took out his heart and did cleave it there issued out of his body bloud as if he had been alive witch-like to sustain punishment therefore the Hangman threw the body into the fire a great company standing by his head being bound to his feet and so he tyed neck and heels ABout two hundred years since in Hammel a Town in Germany the Devill in the likenesse of a man walked about the streets of the City playing many youthfull pranks inticed many boyes and girls to him and drawing them without the City gates unto a bordering mountain he together with them vanished away which when it was told to the Citizens by a wench which was afar off and secure they with great care sought their children in the Rivers woods and all about the Country but none ever knew why or how they were thus deprived of them Which History is recorded in the Annals of that forementioned City and is read by many Famous and illustrious men Fincelius first book ON
he hurries them into destructions gulph sometimes a consort of musicall instruments are heard but more oftner the noise of Drums Munsters Cosmograph Book 5. THere was a certain Citizen of Erphord that for some years together kept a Crow in his house and when he saw any silent or sorrowfull he used these words after a jesting manner O my Crow what makes thee so sad what thinkest thou of To which beyond all expectation the Crow or the Devill in it clearly and with a lively voice recited a Verse out of the 77. Psalm I have thought of old and I have had eternity in my mind and thus the Devill spoke out of the Crow Caspar Goldw. in his Book of Miracles HIeronimus Cardanus told his Father that there appeared seven spirits which did dispute with him about divers wonderfull things and did enucleate and unmask hidden mysteries that were before unknown out of the Manuscript writings of Averroes of Physitians principles IN the raign of Trajan a Crow but rather the Devill out of the Crow began to speak with humane voice and cryed out of the Capitol in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnia bellè se habebunt i. e. All things shall be well from whence came that distick of an unknown Authour Tarpeio quondam consedit culmine cornix Est bene non potuit dicere dixit Erit Englished thus A Chough did from Tarpeia's top foretell Though things now are not yet they shall be well A Most certain argument to prove that those men are possessed is they speak those tongues which they never learnt Bodin saith there was one whose name was Samuel being but twelve years of age in the Village of Wantelet ad Laod he was the Son of a Noble man Lord of the Land who was possessed of the Devill a Month after his Mothers death and grievously vexed and buffeâ—ted also the Devill had power over his body and if any one would withdraw the boâ—â— he did retract him again by violence his father would not have him exorcised for Religion's sake which he professed And whether or no he was freed from it the twelfth or thirteenth year he was past in which the woman of Vervinens was possessed by an evill spirit but she had an exorcism I know not which History I passe over because it was related in diverse books which are now printed Italy and Spain abounds with such demoniacal persons which had need be bound up in chains those can speak Greek and Latine and other tongues which they never learnt or which is more likely the Devill speaks in them for if at any time that Woman of Vervinensis had put out her tongue a great length the spirit then spoke most Eloquently Melancthon reports that he saw a woman in Saxony that was possessed who could neither read nor write yet did speak Greek and Latine and Prophesie of that cruell war in Saxony saying Great misery shall come upon this Country and Famine upon this people Fernelius in his book of the secret causes of things tells that he saw a possessed Boy speaking Greek for all that he knew no letters Hippocrates in his Book De Sacro morbo thought it to be the falling sicknesse but some afterwards in Greek did accurately note the difference For those who were possessed spoke divers languages and prophesied which could not be observed in those who had the falling sicknesse IN the reign of Argyropolis Emperour of Rome in the Thracian Province at the bottome of the Fountain of Curena there was a miserable dolefull noise heard mixed with howlings and lamentations not onely for once or twice but continually dayes and nights from March to July And when some came to see the place from whence the voice was heard there was another howling thwarted them I suppose this miracle did foretell the slaughter of the Romans in Coclosyria Cedrenus CAlligraphus a reverend man of Alexandria going out of his house in the night time at midnight he saw brazen statues speaking with a loud voice that Mauritius the Emperour of Constantinople was slain together with his children at Byzantium going forth in the morning he related it to Augustulus who warned him not to tell it to any and prescribing a day in the ninth day there came a Messenger declaring the death of Mauritius Then Augustulus did publish to the people the Devills Prophecy Paul Diacon Book 17. of Romane History and Nicephorus Book 18. Chap. 41. HIrcanus 3d Captain of the Jews and High Priest when he had deputed his two sons Aristobulus and Antigonus to the siege of Samaria and the Samaritans having implored help of Antiochus Cyzicenus it was reported that in the very same day in which his sons had entred battell with Cyzicenus the High Priest being alone in the Temple heard a voice that mentioned the new gotten victory of Antioch by his sons which he â—and by going forth published to the people and a while after his Oracle came certainly to passe Josephus Book 13. chap. 18. WHen the Romans in a great battell with the Tarquinians sent away L. Junius Brutus Consull but in the following night such an affrightment seized upon the Enemies The Tarquinians and the Vejentes in silent troops returned home as conquer'd men The report is that in the next night after the battell out of the next wood which Livy calls Arsâ—a and Dyonisius said it was a Holy wood a loud voice was heard whether it was the voice of a Faune or Silvaine it could not be resolved which happened more then once in the Hetrusian war which prodigy did so affright the enemies that they yielded themselves as conquer'd Sabellicus Book 7. Ennead 2. Valerius Book 1. chap. 8. IN that day which Caesar fought with Pompey at Pharsalia C. Cornelius of Patavia being Augur when he had taken augury at the first sight suddenly turning to those that were by him said now the businesse is done now the men begin their work and trying his augury the second time he with a loud voice cryed out O Caesar Thou overcomest they that stood about him admiring at the thing he took the Crown from off his head and swore he would not put it on again untill the businesse made his art believed or credited Livius and Plutarch in Caesar and Pliny saith there such a noise came when two armies were fighting one against the other to the augurs sitting on the Patavian Mountains being bold to affirm by that either the world would be dissolved quickly or Caesar was fighting with Pompey Sabellicus Book 7. Ennead 6. out of the 15th Book of Gellius chap. 18. WHen Antonius fell from Domitius and a great war was expected in Germany the City being affrighted and the people of themselves without any other author dispersed the same of the victory and a report going throughout Rome that Antonius was killed and that no part of his army was left alive it was so really believed that a great part of the Magistrates sacrificed But when the Authour
who had buried the dead carcase Eunapius GOvarus the King of Norvegia had so much skill in the art of divination that he could foresee whatsoever was attempted againgst him in Saxony which was above a hundred German miles off Olaus Magnus Book 3. chap. 13. IT is related that the Magicians by no law vindicate adulteries but by a fiction as a young graft being thrust through a Frogs guts and fastned by the Husband in his Wives flowers then it will cause his Wife to loath adultery and be affected by its irksomenesse which they take for granted Not much unlike that which Aristotle writes in the Phasian River at Colchos there is a Mushroom whose branch being lopped off by a maid cast into his wives bed will cause her not to love any other man Alexander book 4. chap. 1. PHhilometor began to fall in love with Sosipater Eustathius's Widow a most beautifull and prudent Woman he was her Cozen who that he might enjoy her used Magicall Verses A great Sophister busied about his Religious Rites made her that she should not be married to him Eunapius in Aedesio CRata Regneri the wife of a Dane a Champion being a Witch who made a feast of three Wood-Snakes not hurtfull to the body nor destructive to the mind she offered the white part of the mâ—sse made of the white Serpent to Ericus her step-child but the black part distinguish'd by red marks made of the two other she tendred to her Son Rollerus Ericus tasting of the messe to his preservation being a courteous Man turned the platter from one side to the other saying Thus as it wonteth to be in a story to be cast from the hinder deck to the fore-deck but afterwards he did cat and obtained the knowledge of all things in an admirable manner so that he could understand the language of birds and beasts Crata knowing her errour when she saw the inevitable providence of fate she began onely to commend her Son Rollerus that he might suffer the fruit of that happy birth by that kind of meat to flow to his brother This is that Ericus that deserved the name of Eloquent and at the last he obtained the Kingdome John Saxo Grammaticuâ— Book 5. of the History of the Danes SClerus Sethus under Manuel Comnzenus the Emperour did entise a Virgin by a Persian Apple sent to her by a Bawd and drew her into his love Nicetas 4th book of Histories CAjanus the son of Simeon who ruled over the Bulgarians was so expert in Magick that as oft as he pleased he could turn himself into a Woolf or any wild beast Sigebert in his Chronicle SOme Italian women taking some kind of meats will so lethargize mens minds that they may seem those things to them as they are not St. Austin hath recorded that he heard this of Praestantius and said that Praestantius reported that his father was made mad by such kind of inchanted meats as these women made and quickly fell into a great sleep and for many dayes together could not be made awake by any medicine And he told That in that time he had the picture of a horse and alwayes bore corn and he further added the time that he carried it the place and the manner how The truth of which things being afterwards enquired after he saith That it was found out that a horse of that colour which his father Praestantius did speak of and in that place carrying corn to which he said That it was a wonderfull thing that women by their magical art by giving meats could make men think to do that to one being awake to another being asleep which without doubt there was no such thing from whence in my judgment that which is said at one time of the Strigilian Women is nothing else but a magical dream although to others it may seem otherwise Peradventure those metamorphosings which were caused by Circes were like to these although they give another account of an allegorical sense for them The same was shewed in an Egyptian Maid when she was transformed into a Mare they brought her to St. Hillarion who presently turned her into her former shape To which the like may be said of a young man who by magical women seemed to be turned into an Asse of whom when Peter Damianus did accurately dispute before Leo the high Priest he affirmed it was the effect of Magick and no fiction Fulgosus book 8. chap. 11. IN Prussia Livonia and Lituania there is a great number of Witches who at Christmas before night laying the picture of a man in a certain place they assume the Wolfs face and go to the Countrey-mens houses in the Woods and there fight and drink off hogs-heads of Ale kill cattel and afterwards they count that place of the inhabitants divine And if at any time there happen any mischief as a Wagon overthrown and cast into the Snow they believe that he that it belongs to shall dye that year as they have found many times by sad experience Within Lituania Samogetia and Curio there is a certain stone-wall standing being the ruines of a certain Castle At this at an appointed time there meets 1000 of Wolves and tryes their nimblenesse in leaping and they that cannot leap over this wall as those that are fat often cannot they are beaten by their chief Governours And in the last place it is constantly affirmed that in this multitude there are the great Peers and many of their Nobility Olaus illustrates it by many Examples lib. 8. cap. 45. c. He affirms That the Duke of Prusia did give no credit to such Witchcrafts but caused a certain man not much skilled in Negromancy to be imprisoned till he should metamorphose himself into a Wolf but when he saw he could not he caused him to be burnt URatislaus Prince of Luca who first founded Uratislavia warred against Grezomislaus Prince of Bohemia his Nephew They say there was a woman there that foretold her son in law that wish'd for the fight that Uratislaus should be killed in the battle and the major part of the people should dye with him but he being but a youth might peradventure escape if he would be advised by her She charg'd the young man that said he would do whatever she commanded to kill the first he met withall and to keep close both his ears in his pocket presently making a crosse with his sword on the ground between his horses forefeet and kissing it he got upon his horse and hastened away Uratislaus being slain in the Camp called Thuscus the young man that hearkened to his Mother in law fled home safe but found his Wife which he intirely loved killed without ears and holes made in her breast Thus those ears which he had cut off from his enemy in great amaze he knew to be his Wifes Aeneas Silv. in Histor Bohemia APollonius Thyaneus cured the blind the lame and those that were tormented with unclean spirits he delivered the City Ephesus
Ventricle by what art they are carried in certainly by no other then the cunning and deceit of the Devill Joan Langius in his Book 1. Epistle med 28. Vierus Book 3. Chapter 8. Concerning the legerdemain of Devils A Certain religious man an inhabitant of the Town Hesden in a field called Leodren for Religion's sake went to Jerusalem stayed after his companions at Jerusalem that he might celebrate the holy time of Easter there which his other companions omitted and being afraid afterwards lest by that delay he had lost the opportunity of conveying himself to Europe he made haste towards the Sea at Joppa and therefore was weary in his journey and meeting with a Knight who shewed himself so compassionate that he took him up behind him and that very day to the great admiration of all his was carried into his own Town Hesden where it being declared how it happened the Inhabitants thought him mad he went to the Temple of St. James in Spain and returned again before his companions were come back from Jerusalem when that was affirmed by them that he stayed behind them at Jerusalem then what he had told them concerning the celerity of his return was believed Fulgosus Book 1. chap. 6. BOccatius of a Noble Lombard who had entred himself a Souldier for Jerusalem to gain the Holy-land and departing left to his wife part of his ring which had his coat of Arms ingraven upon it with this condition that if he returned not within three years with this earnest and symbol she might marry another Husband he being taken Prisoner in Judaea and carried into Aegypt to the Sultan whom his Father had entertained a good while travelling into Europe though unknown for the Hospitalities sake of his Father his own Wisedome and dignity he presently so pleased the Sultan who by dayly familiarity approveing his behaviour he valued him more then all he had The three years being finished he fell into great sorrow the cause whereof the Sultan having diligently searched out calls a Magitian who took that care that he caused him being fast a sleep in a pretious bed and loaded with a great burthen of Gold and pretious stones to be carried in the last night of the three years into the chief Temple in Joapia a City in Lombardy The Tutor affrighted with the sight flies and with other things of the Vision relates in Aegypt which he saw meeting him making hast to the house of his Wife who was to take home another Husband the next evening JOhan Baptist Port. Neopotalitan in his Book 2. of Natural Magick thus writeth There falleth into my hands a certain woman somewhat old who of her own accord undertook to inform me within a certain time what those things are which suck the bloud of Infants in their Cradles in the form of a night Owl which men call a Scritch Owl she commands all that were come along with me witnesses to go out of dores and casting off her cloathes rubbed her self very much with a certain Oyntment we perceive through the chinks of the dore that by vertue of the soperiferous Oyl she fell into a deep sleep we out of dores discover great beatings and pinings but so great was the force of her deadly sleep that that took her sense from her when the strength of her Physick began to decrease and grow weak we return from without to the place and she being called from her sleep began to tell many raving dotages that she had passed Seas and Mountains giving us many false informations We shew her black and blew sores caused by the beatings which we heard but she most stifly denies THey report Apollonius Tyaneus to have received of Jarcka the Prince of the Indian Philosophers a gift as it were of Divine power that he was partaker of very great secrets every other day Alex. from Alex. book 2. chap. 19. AUgustine concerning the City of God book 18. chap. 18. saith When we were in Italy we heard of certain women keeping Victualling-houses and using evil arts who by cheese given to whom they pleased turn'd them presently into beasts to carry necessary burdens which having performed and returning to their former state could perfectly remember all which in the mean time happened to them Apuleius also himself in his book which he inscribed by the title of The golden Asse reports That it happened to himself having taken poyson his humane soul remaining that he was transformed into an Asse c. but it is manifest that these are legerdemaines and delusions of the Devil deceiving the Soul and senses of men by vain conceit VIncentius reports in his Speculations he tells us in his book 3. chap. 109. and William of Malmsbury Monk in his History in the time of Peter Damianus That there were two old women Inne-holders that is such as gave entertainment to travellers for their money for an Inne is properly called a publick place of entertainment for money which old women living together in the same house and exercising the same art of Witchcraft when a stranger came alone they transformed him into an horse a swine or an Asse and sold him for a certain price to Merchants A certain day a young man appearing by his gesture a Stage-player being entertained of them and eating meat with them was by them transformed into an Asse they gained much by him who shewed many wonderfull tricks to passengers for at the command of the old women or any sign they made he turned or moved which way they pleased for his understanding perished not though his speech ceased whereby the old women got much money which being perceived by a neighbour he for great summe of money bought the Asse but the women conditioned he should so keep him that he should not go into the water His keeper for a long time kept him from the water but at last was so incautelous that he brought him to a pool in the neighbourhood where he a long time wallowing and tumbling he was restored to his own proper shape and when his keeper raised him up to see whether it were his Asse or no he told him who he was the servant told this to his Master his Master telleth the same to Pope Leo the old women being converted confesse it The Pope doubted hereof but a most learned man Petrus Damianus manifested to him that it might be true by the example of Simon Magus who had imprinted upon Faustinius his own image or likenesse MIchael Verdunus and Peter Burgottus Shepherds having contracted with the Devil could when they pleased by the use of a certain oyntment transform themselves into Wolves and killing men and other creatures they ran away amongst other Wolves as people imagined They were burnt alive in the Diocess of Bisnutina in the year of Christ 1521. Vierus book 5. ch 10. concerning the legerdemains of Devils IN the year 1348 on the eighth Calends of February In Norway a most great Earthquake did happen as it
power of the Devil or any of his Agents to restrain mens senses or bind others from eating or drinking by intercepting their power or stomach or deprive a man of the use of any member save only that secret one and sign of our virility which in Germany they often deprive men of by making them run up into their bellies Sosprengerus tells of a man of Spira who when he thought he had lost his premises sent for Physitians and Chirurgeons to search for them who found no scar or wound at all therefore he repair'd to the VVitch he had offended and appeas'd her and so was cur'd Also a Citizen of Ratisbone furnishes us with another example of one who violently laid hold upon a VVitch and threatening to strangle her compell'd her to loose him from that nodus All these Bodinus relates in chap. 1. of his second book INsulanus Abbot and Lord of the Novallians who now is sent Ambassadour to Constantinople by the King and Polonus who is also called Pruniskus Ambassadour for France told me that one of the greatest Kings of the VVorld being very desirous of the knowledg of the number of his years and the time of his death sent for Jacobius a Sorcerer who when he had ended Masse and consecrated the Host commanded a first-born son or man-child of ten years old who was provided for the purpose to be beheaded presently and putting the head upon the Host pronounced certain words and inscribed some characters not necessary to be known by us Then he ask'd the head what he would have which answered only two words I suffer violence At this the King was inraged and cryed Take away the head and presently in that fury dyed This story is very common in the Country wherein it was acted and very certainly reported although there were onely five persons present at the thing These things thus writes Bodinus JOhannes Charterius that wrote the History of Charls the VII tells us how one Guilhelm Edelinus a Doctor of Sorbon was condemned for Sorcery upon Christmas Eve in the year 1453 who confest he had often in the night-time been carried abroad to a great meeting of Magitians where he alwayes renounced God and ador'd the Devil in the shape of a Goat kissing his posteriors A Certain poor man when his Wife often went forth in the night and forth would remain the man knew not where making for her excuse to him either that she went to stool or bath with her neighbours wherein when he had often disprov'd her he began to suspect her chastity and threatned to kill her unlesse she directly told him where her haunt was She being terrified with the sense of present danger told the matter plainly as it was in every particular and furthermore that he might experience the truth of what she said promised him he should see and go himself whither she used to go And to that purpose giving him an oyntment wherewith they being both anointed and she having pronounced some words the Devil immediately carried them from the Countrey of the Lochii to the Burdegalensian Sands which are distant no lesse than fifteen dayes journey or more when the man saw himself in company with Magitians Witches and Devils in a humane but horrid shape a thing very unusual to him and in a strange Countrey he began to blesse himself and say Good God where are we now At which words the whole company vanished Then he understood that he was naked and was forced so to wander up and down the fields till morning when he light upon some Countrey-man that set him in his way And so making the best shift he could he returned to Lochium where he accused his Wife positively of all these things before the Magistrate who commanded her to be apprehended But she miâ—igating the businesse as much as she could confessed the most part of the businesse and acknowledging her fault returned from her wickednesse ALso some few years since a woman of great quality at Lugdunum rose in the night and taking a gally-pot out of her closet anointed her self with it muttering some words withall a stallion that lay with her that night observing her when he could not see her rose to look for her and when he found nothing but the gally-pot taken with novelties and curiosity he also as he had seen her before anointed himself with the oyl that was in it when he immediately found himself to be amongst a great company of Witches and Sorcerers in the fields about Lotharingia whereat he was much amazed But in the first place calling upon God to assist him the whole company disappear'd and he finding himself all naked returned to Lugdunum accused the Witch who confessing all the businesse was burnt for it A Thing of the same nature befell a Nobleman of Maldunum who by some words of a Milner together with the instigation of his own curiosity was induced to go amongst a company of Witches to see fashions forsooth but when he was among the thickest of them an extream horrour seized of him insomuch that although he did not invoke Divine aid the devil said with a very loud voyce Who is this that is so fearful And when he sought to depart their company the Witches all vanished And when he returned he intended to discover the Sorcerers but they fled for their safety Bodinus Daemonom lib. 2. cap. 4. WE read in Paulus Grillandus a Lawyer of Italy a man very well experienc'd in the facts of Witches and Sorcerers That there was certain Country-man not far from Rome in the year of the world 1526. who when he saw his Wife rise naked in the night to anoint her self and that thereupon presently she was gone out of his sight and could not be found in the house the next day provided himself of a good cudgel wherewith to be labour her sides untill she should tell him whither and to what end she so conveyed her self last night which she presently doing he pardoned her upon condition that she would convey him amongst her fraternity She the next day anointed both her husband and her self and then they were presently mounted each of them upon a Goat and so presently brought amongst the murster of Witches Now his Wife had forewarned the man he should by no means name God or Christ unlesse in scorn and opproby to him when they were thus in the croud the wife appointed her husband to stand a little aloof till she had saluted the Prince of them who was most magnificently cloathed and guarded about with a great ring of men and women all honouring and waiting upon this their Lord and that by so doing he should see the whole of the businesse When they had done thus they began a ring-dance which is now taken up among the Countrey-people that dancing backwards they might not see one the others faces It may be to the intent they might not know nor accuse one another if perhaps they might be arraigned
in the presence of one another after which Triscalanus did to whom Charls the Ninth gave leave and liberty that he might discover his fellows He told him being in a great assembly of young men That there were many there that adored and worshipped a Goat in their meetings and kissed his very posteriours or arse-hole in plain English if you will have it so Then by reason his back was towards them he not seeing them they danced together and the devils copulated together in men and womens shapes After their dancing the tables were covered and furnished with meat the woman then moved the man to salute the Prince and sitting down with the rest of the company to the table seeing the table furnished with meat he called for salt and when salt was brought to the table before he tasted any thing he said grace which being ended presently men meats and table vanished away and he was left desolate alone being very cold and not knowing where he was As soon as it was day he came to some shepherds of whom being asked Whether he knew where he were He answered That he knew himself to be in the Beneventanian Earldom in the royal command of the Pope These things were done a thousand miles from Rome from whence travelling he was forc'd to beg his meat and rayment and at length coming home upon the eighth day after poor and lean he apprehended his Wife by whom many more being accused and confessing the truth they were all hanged THere is in the same Author in the year 1535 that a young Maid in the Dukedome of Spoleto of the age of thirteen said that she was brought by an old woman into the company of Witches and seeing the convention of them to be so wonderfully numerous she cryed out Blessed God what meaneth this which as soon as she had pronounced all vanished away and the poor girle being found early in the morning by a Shepherd told the whole businesse to him who bringing her home the Witch was accused by the Maid and being found guilty put to death by fire THe same Paulus Grillandus in his Book de Sortilegiis writeth that being invited by a certain Nobleman to the Castle of Saint Paul in the Dukedome of Spoleto coming thither he told him of three sage matrons one whereof trusting in his promise that she might freely speak without danger confessed that fifteen years since she was brought by a sage old Woman into the company of Witches where the Devill being present obliged them by an oath to renounce God their Creator Faith and Religion and to be faithfull to him and that with their hands laid upon a book of most obscure writing he also bound them to some solemn services to him in the night and that they should whenever he commanded them upon Holidayes or set dayes come whithersoever he should conduct them the Devil on the other side promised to them mirth and felicity eternall she confessed further that at that time she killed four men many Cattle and brought much hurt to the fruits of the Earth and if it happened at any time that she came not to their meeting without she were able to give good reason for it she was so vexed that she could neither sleep nor take any rest when She came to their meetings She heard the voice of a Man which called the Devill little Lord and sometimes Mr. Martinetus and as soon as ever She had anointed her self with a certain unction She mounted a Goat that stood ready at the door and held by the hair and tail by which Goat She was suddenly conveighed unto the great coverture of Beneventum where She found a very great company of Witches and Inchanters There when She had vow'd allegiance to the Devill She danc't sate at Table and last of all every Devill concopulated with her or him they had to their peculiar protection and when they had thus done every one getting upon their own Devills returned particularly with the same incredible swiftnesse that they came thither and that also they did privately at home adore the Devill when this was all confest and compared to the confessions of two more there were many others accused who acknowledged the crime and together with their oyntments and powders they were all burnt alive ALso in the third book of Tarquamadas of Spain amongst others you have this more modern story That a Magitian being very importunate at last perswaded a companion of his that he would be a most happy man if he would but be of his Faith and come to their meetings And when he had given him his consent he on a night took him by the hand and speaking some words they were both carried through the Ayre to a great company of Witches in which an incredible company of both men and women compassed a Throne whereon sate the greatest of the Devills in the shape of a Goat to whom all of them went to kisse en la parte masuzia quatenta which to those that understand Spanish is those parts which are not fit to be named in English When this new-comer saw this he said to his companion that he could no longer patiently behold these things and presently calling upon God with a loud voice they all disappeared with a great tempest and Whirlwind and left him alone there who was three whole years before he could reach his own countrey again BOdinus also writeth That Joanna Halveria born at Verberium in the Countrey of the Compedoensians did confesse that by the decree of the Council by the confirmation of the Judge Sansifianus his Mother was condemned to the fire and that he being twelve years of age was offered by his Mother to the Devil in form of a black man with sable apparrel boots and spurs and a sword at his side having a black horse at the door and using words to this purpose Behold my daughter which I have espoused to thee and to her Behold thy Love in whom thou shalt be happy And that from that time she renounced God and her Religion and that he lay with her as men use to do with women and she found no difference 'twixt him and other men but that his seed was cold and that the Devil once asked her Whether she would be gravidated by him which she refused lib. 2. cap. 7. WEE find in writing that at a great Sessions for examination of the Potezanian Witches held by Andreas Fertius the Kings Deputy over the Laodunensians where divers were burnt out of whose confessions some things follow Margaret of Bremontinus Wife of Noeles Lavertus walking with Mary his Mother the Munday next after into the convent at Franquisanum near Lognium which standeth in a Meadow her Mother putting a Broom betwixt her legs and speaking some words here omitted suddenly both She and her Mother were carried to a place where they found Joanna Roberta Joanna Guillimina and Maria the Wife of Simon Agnus Guilelina the Wife of one
Grussus with whom were six Devills of humane shape horrid to behold c. And after some dancing with them the Devils lay with them and had to do with them and that one that took her to dance with him after he had saluted her twice lay with her for half an hour together and that the seed he spent was very cold Joanna Guillemina assents with her in these things confessing that it was very true that at least half an hour they were in copulation and that the seed she received was very cold WE read also in the 16th book of Johannes Meyerus who most accurately wrote the History of Flanders That in the 1459th year of Christ there was a very great company of both men and Women burnt in the Town Atrebantium who mutually accused one another that they met in the night danced and lay with the Devill Likewise Jacobus Sprangerus and four of his colleagues also tell us that from the mouths of many wise and good men they have been confirmed that many Witches had at the stake in Germany confessed and in particular at Constantia and Ratisbon in the year 1485 that the Devill lay with them after they had by his instigation denied both God and all Religion And that not a few had repented and turned off themselves from that wickednesse and confessed that whilst they were Witches the Devill had often to do with them It is written likewise that very many came and freely acknowledged though no man accused them that they had been guilty formerly of commerce with the Devill being Witches to these things Spangeus adds that Witches did very oft copulate with the Devill in the sight of the Sun or clear day and did strip themselves in fields and Woods and were often seen naked in the fields and were sometimes taken by their husbands in the manner with devils which they conceiv'd to be men and therefore they set upon them with Swords whereby they could do no execution upon them Paulus Gralandus a Lawyer of Italy who knew very many VVitches doth declare in his book de Sortilegiis that he was commended by an Abbot of St. Paul's at Rome in the year 1526. in the Moneth of September to take cognisance of three Witches who amongst other things confessed that every sorceresse had a particular Familiar to commerce withall in the History of St. Bernard we read there was a Witch who usually copulated with the Devil her Husband not perceiving her though he lay in the same bed with her IN the flourishing Garden of Antonius concerning Turquomeda of Spain I found another History concerning a noble Spanish woman who related that she was induced by an old Witch when she was eighteen years of age and from that time she had to do with the Devil which was burned alive and unpenitent being a Cerdenate The same doth declare that another did repent and was put into a Monastery Adamus Martinus the Laodunensian Proctour of Confession told me saith Bodin that he had a Witch of Biebra that is a Village two miles distant from Laodune in question in the Jurisdiction of D. Boan the Captain of the Verumandians in the year 1556. who was first condemned to be hanged and afterwards to be burnt but she was delivered alive to the fire by the fault of the Hang-man or rather the just Judgment of God who did so demonstrate that the punishment should be equall to the offence neither was there any mischievous act that did more deserve fire Therefore she confessed that Satan whom she called her companion was wont to have to do with her and that she did feel his cold seed WHen I was at the great meetings of Pictavius in the year 1567. performing my office amongst the under servants of the general Proctour I took two filthy and beggarly Magitians which did beg alms at a rich mans house who being denied did cast in Witchcrafts and all the houshold being driven into fury died mad Daemonum libro 3. capite 1. THere was a crafty Taylor at Lutetia a Magitian who onely touching with his hand did cure a Quartane Feaver but he was in no wise cured that would not believe that he could cure him And there was a certain Italian old woman at Audes curing diseases in the year 1573. who when she was inhibited by the Judge to cure any more diseases called a Court of Parliament her cause was pleaded Eloquently and likewise Learnedly by D. Johannes Baltruus Lawyer to plead the cases of the Parliament fellow officer with the Lord of Matratius and my Countreyman but it is proved that the means by which she cured did disagree with nature as with the Brains of a Cat which is poysoned the head of a Crow and other such like things which things do plainly convince that it was not done by the strength of the excellent Oyl or of the healthfull Oyntment which many good men and lovers of the poor do make but by means beyond Nature or by charms of healing JOdocus Darmudanus doth write in Praxi crim cap. 37. that there was a Witch at Bruga in Flanders having the greatest repute of Holinesse because she could cure innumerable diseases but first she did take care for this that they should believe that she could cure them afterwards she did make known fasting dayes and commanded that Pater noster should be said divers times and that they should go to Compostella at St. James's or to St. Arnolds but at length she was convinced of many Magicall charms and deservedly punished Johanna Harvilleriae which as we said before was cast alive into the fire confessed that she cast in charms that she might kill a man which had beaten his daughter but he having excelled her witchcrafts suddenly felt pain in his loyns and his whole body But when as she was greatly renowned for the fame of her Art it was told the man that the grief could not come to him from any other person then she promised that She would work means whereby he should recover and took him into her custody to that end She did require it earnestly of the Devill by intreaties and She did labour by many means which it doth not concern us to describe for his healing which Satan answered it could not be done And therefore She saying to him that for that cause he should come no more to her the Devil answered her that he would not come A little after the sick man died and the Witch hid her self but although she was hid she is found and suffered deserved punishment for her wickednesse BOdin writeth that he saw a certain Arvernian Captive at Lutetia in the year 1579 sometimes curing Horses and men with whom was found a very large book full of the hairs of Horses Cattel and other beasts of all colours This man if at any time he cast his Charms on a horse he consulted and having the hair of that so he did cure him that he might deliver his Witchcrafts to
December in the year 1558. the Heaven being fair and clear as it is wont to be in Halcyon dayes And we at the same time saw thorough the battlements of the next house that were cast down and the porch broken to the Shop Bodin Daemonomaniae Lib. 3. cap. 3. MElancthon doth bring a History very like to this Ten men were overwhelmed by the ruine of the Tower Magdeburg when they did dig to find treasure which Satan had shewed them Gregorius Agricola in his Book de Spiritibus subterraneis writeth that at Annaeberg in that ruine which is called the Town of Roses there was a spirit in the shape of a Horse that killed twelve men and made them withdraw from the mine full of Silver which Magitians found by the help of Satan I Heard of a certain Lugdunensian in the Temple of the Virgin Mary that there was Campellanus of Lutetia who with his companions revealed the treasure of Arcolius near Lutetia by Magick-Art but when they thought to have the Chest in which it was hidden it was carried away with a Whirl-wind but part of the wall fell upon him by which he was made lame for the whole term of his life And when the Noribergensian Priest had found the treasure by the help of Satan and long ago was about to open the box the house was abolished with a fall I Heard also from a Lugdunensian practitioner in the Law that he with his companions went in the night that they might seek out a treasure by uttering Conjurations and when they began to dig they heard a voice as it were of a man which was put on the wheel most horribly crying to the thieves so they were turned to flight but evill spirits in the very same moment pursuing them slew them even to that house from whence they came and they entered it with so great a noise that the Host thought it had thundered and from that time he swore that he would never seek after treasure Bodin BOdin also proves by an example that sorcerers can bewitch mens eyes and move laughter and make the spectators astonished concerning Triscalanus that Magitian which said of a certain Curat all the Parish Priests being present See ye that Hypocrite who feigning to bring a Register doth bring play-papers Then the Curate willing to shew that he brought a Register he seemed to himself to have play-papers and whosoever were present seemed to themselves to see papers so that the curate cast away his book of account and went away ashamed But others coming a little after gathered up the Register book being freed from that likenesse of Papers by which thing it was manifest that Satan did delude men in many things and also bind fast every ones eyes For those which were not present at the former action when the sorcerer cast his delusions before the eyes of those that were present did see a true book of account when others on the contrary did perceive but an appearance of papers c. THe Germanes being about to search what Witch had made a horse feeble and decaying did draw the bowels of another horse to certain houses and not entring the gates but a Cellar or Cave under ground did burn those bowels Then the Sorceress which had committed that evil feeling the pain of the Collick all within She runneth streightway to the houses where the bowels were burn'd that she might ask for a burning cole and her pain did cease But if the doors were not opened the houses were darkened ringed with horrible thunder and threatned ruine unlesse those that were within would open the door which Sprangerus writeth that he observed and saw in Germany I Heard from D. Antonius Lonanius the King 's general Legate that there was a Sorcerer at Ribemont who having pronounced certain words did discover another by a sieve All the names of those that were suspected were brought and when the name of that man who was in the fault was brought the sieve did move uncessantly and the Magitian accessary to the same fault came which being found the Sorcerer was condemned Bodin lib. 3. cap. 4. I Remember that D. Bodin the King 's general Procurator sometimes related to me When all his cattel remained in a Village at Moldena that it was told his Wife that a certain beast must be slain which here it doth not please me to declare and he ought to hang it with the feet upward under the threshold of the stable with pronouncing certain words which it is not needfull here to insert this being done there did none of his cattel perish Idem ibid. JOhannes Martinus performing his turn of Ruler of Laodunum declared to me that when he was to try a Witch by the Authority of S. Proba for she had tormented a Mason with so great sickness that his head did hang down almost between his legs his body being crooked which evill he did suspect to come to him from the sorceresse the Judg having regarded it well he commanded that word should be brought to the Witch that she by no other means could save her life then by healing the Mason And therefore she commanded a swathing band to be brought home by her daughter she calls upon the Devill casting her countenance on the ground she muttered certain charms before them all and delivering the swathing band to the Mason she gave commandment that he should be washed in a bath and that which was shut in the swathing band should be put into the Bath with these words Get thou gone in the Devills name She said that there was this and no other means of recovery These things being done the Mason was cured But yet before those things were seen in the Bath she being willing to know what was in the swathing band which she had forbidden to be done they found three little corns in it But the Mason while he was in the bath perceived as it were three great fishes in it when he came forth of it although they did seek them very diligently yet neither the fish nor the arm was found The sorceresse was burned alive and remained without repentance Idem lib. 3. cap. 5. WE read in horto Antonii de Tarquamedia lib. 3. of a certain Magitian who said to a rustick man whom he saw bitten by a mad-dogg That he was one that delivered from harm that he might not lose his life And when he prick'd his nose thrice to let forth blood he was cured CAâ—olus Martinus Governour of Laodunum being certified that a poor woman in the valley that was the name of the Laodunensian Suburbs was bewitched by a Sorceress her Neighbour and taking pity of her he threatned death to the Witch unlesse she took away the disease from her Neighbour She fearing promised to heal her and therefore she came to the beds feet looked steadfastly on the Earth joyned her hands called on the greatest Devil with a loud voice afterwards renewed her prayers repeating some unknown words and
Inquisitors took care that she should be burned The same Sprangerus relates he being the cause of it that there was another burnt on the borders of Basil and Alsatia which confessed that she took grievously a contumely that was offered to her by a good honest man a Husbandman when she was asked what mischief she desired to be done unto that Husbandman that did so reproach her to which question she gave answer That she would have his face to swell Not long after the Husbandman was infected with a Leprosy these things she afterwards confessed to the Judge that she was not able to do such a thing but that it was done by the Devill by which argument we prove that all these things are done by the Devill who so insinuates and accommodates himself to the wills of men that use him that whosoever should cure his enemy should be killed by his sociate or companion WE also read in Sprangerus's Story of one Plumberus a certain Conjurer who lived at Lendenburg in Germany whom the Devill taught to shoot at and pierce a Crucifix with Darts before Venus feasts by which means using some kind of wicked words and shooting and darting into the Ayre he could daily kill and slay three men which he saw and knew although they were encloystered and shut up in the narrow circumference of a little Tower and sometimes did deliberate and consult whether he should destroy them or no. But at last the Countreymen did rear him in pieces without any Law-like Judgment after he had committed many bloudy murthers These things were done in the year 1420. Bodinus Daemonom lib. 2. cap. 8. AT the Pedemontanians one Caralius by name who seemed to be an Hermophrodite and when this Epicaene entred into other houses and a while after they did kill men therefore the Hermophrodite was attached and apprehended and did discover the conjurations and the conventicles of all the Witches and many of their diabolical acts for there were almost 40 Witches which did anoint the outward handle of the gates to kill men this was done and happened in the year 1536. And the same fell out afterwards at Geneva in the year 1568 where the Plague raged for the space of seven years of which there dyed many Cardan writes That he saw a certain Witch at Patavia which quickly kill'd a boy while she only gently touched his back with a rod. Glauca being a zealous Witch of Medea and the daughter of Creon King who married Jason whom afterwards she slew who sent her a golden Crown on the Marriage-day and when Glauca did set the Crown upon his head there shined out a flame by which he instantly was burned as Euripedes writes in Medea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he saith Non venenis tuis sed pharmacis not by thy poisons but druggs and Medicines WE have before made mention of a Biebrane Witch which was burnt at Laodunum in the year 1556 This Witch did debilitate and weaken men and strangely screwed them awry and destroyed beasts and fruit but at that very instant when she was burned all these ceased as we have had intelligence of the Judge who examined her besides the same Judge reported to me That when the Witch threatned a certain woman that she should never after give suck it so happened that her milk instantly dryed up and although she bore many children yet her breasts were dryed up but the Witch being burned quickly her breasts abounded with milk I heard this of a certain Nobleman that her Aunt did put an obstacle or did cause her to be barren and bring forth no children but when she dyed she confessed that she might get a place for her children but after her Aunt dyed and as soon as the clew of her life was unravell'd or within a short while after the Lady was with child and bore 2. or 3. children after she had been married eleven years Bodinus VIerus tells a story of a certain Conjurer which he saw in Germany who in the day-time in the sight of the people ascended flew upwards towards Heaven and when his Wife caught him by the feet as he was flying up she was taken up together with him and snatching hold on a Maid snatcht her up too and they hovered a good while in the Air the multitude stood wondring at the miracle A like Example we read in the History of Hugh Floriacensis a Mantisconensian Earl howling with a great voice O friends help me was caught up into the Air and carried away and wasn ever seen after The same Vierus relates That he saw men snatcht into the Air by devils And it was required of a certain Magitian in Germany who promised that he would bring out the Books of Franciscus the first King out of the Madrid Tower he was transported through the Ayr out of Spain into France but for all this nothing was done which was much feared lest that they should rush upon the Captain and break all the necks of the ruinators So there was a Jewish Magitian Sedechias by name who as John the Tritemian Abbot relates did shoot a man thorough the Ayr and tore his body and gathering up his limbs knit them together again as did Simon Magus Nero being present who did gulph up a load of Hay with Cart and Horses and drivers in the sight of all the people The End of the First Book THE VVonderfull History OF SPECTRALS AND The several Devices and Delusions of Devils and Evil Spirits The Second Book Of Oracles Prophecies and Predictions of Devils TElephus the King of the Mysons who did prohibit and interdict the Grecians from descending or going into the lower Countreys when he obstinately pursued Ulysses amongst the Vines but being hindred he fell upon the trunk or stump of a Vine Achilles was a great way off who shot a Dart into the King's left thigh but Peace being made and the Greeks returning to their own Country Telephus was a long time afflicted with the pain of the wound and when he could not be cured by any means when he was in great extremity he was admonished by Apollo's Oracle That he should make use of Achilles and Aesculapius his sons so he instantaneously sailed to Argos lest he should be denyed of the remedy that was promised him by the Oracle Achilles with Machaon and Podalyrius took care of his wound and in a short space that which the Oracle did predict came to passe CRoesuâ— the King of the Lydians when he had parted with oâ—eson as Atium he had another son that was dumb and for the cure of it he left nothing undone no stone was unturned and then he sent to enquire of the Oracle at Delphos to whom Pythia answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thy speechless son great King Croesus high race Wish not his words to hear thy long'd-for Grace One day thy boon shall thee distresse when thou Shalt
in unlocking his door which Coponus had before prevented by putting a little wire into the lock that he might have the better opportunity for his design beat out his brains with an Ax and being questioned for it alledged no other thing for the fact but that he was incited thereto by Cocles his own self telling him that he must be a murtherer and nothing else Jovius in Elogiis A Certain Astrologer in the Court of Frederick the second Emperour much reverenced Rodolphus the Haspurgensian Earl with exceeding observance though he had but a mean estate and valued not at all men far more potent and being demanded a reason thereof by the Emperour he answered I know that Rodolphus shall be Emperour and when thy Issue shall decline his renown shall be spread abroad far and near though he be esteemed by few at this time Neither did his presage want a true event for in the year of our Lord 1273. in the Calends of October he was chosen King of the Romans by the Princes of Germany at Franckford when he besieged the Pallace Cuspianus in Caesaribus WHen the Mathematicians looked into the Geniture of the Great Sfortia and observed the excellent positure of the Stars and their admirable sites and aspects they predicted to him High Empire immortal glory and a happy off-spring but at length they added That he should not attain old age but should perish by an untimely death Jovius in ejus vita BRaccius the excellent Montenensian Duke seeing the body of his Enemy Sfortia the Great drowned in the River of Piscaria fell a praising the dead man with most exquisite Encomiums which of right belonged to him but he not being freed from so great danger of a present battle shewed to his Souldiers a more cheerful countenance because he being conscious of a fatal secret had learned from Astrologers that Sfortias indeed was to go before as taken with a violent death but a little after himself also as it were with the like lot should undergo the same fortune of departure He scarce lived over the fifth moneth when as for thirteen moneths space making assault at Aquila and it being in vain besieged at length in a memorable battel being overcome and slain by the sword of the Sfortian Souldier he fullfilled both the truth of the Stars and many prophets Jovius in the life of Sfortias UNto Uladislaus Jagellon King of the Polanders Sophia his wife brought forth sons Uladislaus and Andrew Casimir There was at Cracovia Henry a Bohemian a famous Astrologer and studious of Magick this man foretold That an Infant new born should be long-lived but unfortunate and that he reigning Poland should be afflicted with great evils and calamities but his brother Uladislaus was to be most famous and most victorious and unlesse Nature's destinies should envy a longer life to him he should command many Nations Both which things the issue afterwards proved For Uladislaus who was chosen King of Poland and King of Hungary being slain at Varna by the Turks in the 20th year of his age gave not satisfaction to this famous hope But Casimir who succeeded his brother in the Kingdom of Poland reigned 45 years lived 64 was bent rather on the Lituanian huntings than on the Common-wealth Cromér book 19. 29. BAsil a Mathematician but most certain soothsayer a certain Greek foretold the murder of Alexander of Medicis Duke of the Florentines to be committed by Laurence Medices his near kinsman he not onely shewed him the murder but also the certain smiter who should be intimate with him of a slender form of a boxy-coloured countenance and of a doubtfull silence almost not keeping company at all with others in the Court Also unto Cosmus of Medices they promised for certain forasmuch as in the very marking the hour of his birth he had a happy Star of Capricorn as once Augustus enlightned with a wonderfull aspect of Stars agreeing together it should come to passe that he should increase in a wealthy inheritance Alexander indeed hearing it and Cosmus smiling when as a great number of his kindred was to be consumed by death before any even a small inheritance could come unto him Jovius JOhn Liechtenberg in the yearly predictions of his Ephemeris as I may so say admonished the Prince of Bavaria in a serious manner both by writing and painting that a Lyon should seek hiding places for fear of an Eagle He despised it but not long after he was assaulted with a grievous Warr by Maximilian the Emperour Agricola in Germane Proverbs PAul Farnese the 3d chief Bishop seeing he was most skillfull in Astrology and Magick writeth to his son Peter Aloyse who had by force entred on the tyrannical Government of Placentia and Parma that he should beware of the tenth day of September of the year 1547 as unlucky to him The father indeed could warn but the son could not avoid the danger but by Conspirators Augustine Landus and James Scott Earls of Placentia in his own Castle under pretence of talk he was slain and being a long time hung up by the privy parts he was exposed to be cruelly torn in pieces by the people Sleidan 19 book of Commentaries THere was a Town of the Xanthians that had a bridge laid over the small River Lycus in which were said to have been brazen Tables wherein letters were ingraven The Empire of the Persians was sometime to be overthrown by the Graecians The tables with the bridge being shaken down a little before that it was fought at Granicum by Alexander the Great they had fallen into the channel of the River Alexander being much moved at the report of the tables when as for some time he had stood doubtful into which part he might chiefly bend the course of victory turning to the right hand he subdued with wonderfull speed all the Sea-coast from Lydia even into Phaenicia Sabellicus book 4. Ennead 4. out of Plutarchs Alexander IN the second Carthagenian war besides many things seen and heard which were accounted instead of wonders a verse or song of Martius being curious and sounded at the same time brought the greatest care to the City That being by a most true event proved gave no doubtfull credit of the things that were to be He had written who ever that Martius was O thou Trojan born flee thou Cannae the River of Romana neither let strangers constrain thee to joyn in battell in the field of Diomedes but neither shalt thou believe me untill thou shalt fill up the field with bloud and the River shall bring down many thousands of thine slain out of a fruitfull land into the great Sea for fishes and birds and wild beasts which inhabit the Earth unto these let thy flesh be for meat Because these things were in great part represented before the eyes of men for the common sort were acquainted both with the fields of Diomedes and when they had fought at Canna there was the greater care of procureing
sake he should be troubled for that he had left him an heir of unjust goods and which could by no means be pardoned unlesse by a just satisfaction made by his son and due alms conferred on them who at that time chiefly wanted and those were the Christians taken by the Turks Therefore the man who when he spake he should believe that this was sent by Godly men to Constantinople to redeem them and that he was sent therefore to him from God for that thing 's sake Cornutus no ill man although these words heard of gifts he regarded not yet because that of money seemed a hard word he answered he would take deliberation and bad Brabantius return to the same place the next day In the mean time being sorrowfull he a little doubted of the place in which he had heard the voice that it was shady and dark and fit for mens lying in wait and an Eccho Wherefore the day after when he brought him into another open plain place and letted with no brambles or shades where neverthelesse the same song was repeated while they spake this also being added that six thousand French Crowns being presently numbred to Brabantius he should repay three Masses every day for his fathers salvation otherwise there would be no redemption out of Hell From whence his son being tyed in Conscience and Religion although with grief yet he committed so many to the faithfull dealing of Brabantius all lawfull witnesse of the thing received and payed being neglected His father being freed from the fires and Vulcans stroaks for the future was quiet nor any more called upon his son But wretched Cornutus Brabantius being let go when as he was more merry then usuall and his other Tablers could not sufficiently admire it straightway as soon as he declareth the cause to those enquiring it he was presently so laughed at by all that for grief after some dayes he dyed and followed his father to enquire the truth of the thing from him Vierus Book 2. chap. 12. Of the Delusions of Devills AMphiaraus son of Oicleus a Soothsayer and Prophet whom when Adrastus King of the Greeks called Argivi would lead unto War against the Thebanes he refused and that he might not be compelled hid himself because he foresaw that he should there perish yet by the deceit of his wife Eriphile whom he had corrupted with a Jewell he was betrayed and being against his will drawn to War in Baeotia in that place which afterwards was called Harma he was by the gaping of the earth with his Chariot and Horses swallowed up Statius in Thebaides ACtius Navius a Lad and that thou mayest laugh the more a Shepherd Priscus Tarquinius reigning taking on himself the use of a Sooth-sayer's crooked staffe becoming indeed suddenly an Augur from the Swine-herd through the report of the thing divulged he was called forth to the King Whom the King beholding and perchance scorning both his age and habit tryed in this manner Whether saith he that which is now in my minde may be done or may not I ask Navius when he had finished his divination answered It might be done But the King thinking to mock him But saith he I did meditate that I might cut this whetstone with a razor He with wonderful constancy replyed Thou mayst therefore And the razour being snatched up in the sight of the King standing amazed and the people he cut the whetstone From thence divination was sacred to the Romans WHen L. Sylla was at Nola that he might encounter with Marius the Elder his mind being very much troubled because he thought it a very hard thing Posthumius the Soothsayer who did do a divine thing he being present both his hands being stretched out to Sylla said That he should command him to be bound and after that to be slain else the victory of that battle would remain in his power and he should get a happy successe because he had been bidden then by an Augural knowledge to foresee it For the day after Sylla entring into the City of Rome drave out Marius from thence and fulfilled his mind as he had wished Fulgosus in book 8. chap. 11. out of Plutarch in Sylla SPurina had foretold to C. Julius Caesar That he should beware of the 30 next dayes as fatal whose last was the Ides of March. And when by chance both had come in the morning into the house of Calvus Domitius to the office Caesar saith to Spurina What knowest thou that the Ides of March are now come And he What knowest thou that those are not yet past The one had cast off fear as though the time mistrusted was finished the other thought that indeed the utmost part of it was not void of danger Would God the divination had rather deceived the Soothsayer than security the Father of his Country Vâ—lerius book 8. Suetonius AGrippa the Nephew of Great Herod of the son of Aristobulus being cast into bonds by Tiberius Emperour because he seemed to favour Caius stood before the Pallace among certain others a like bound leaning for grief on a certain Tree on which when as an Owl had sate one of those that were bound by Nation a German beholding the Bird enquired of the Souldier Who that Man in purple was And having known that it was Agrippa a most noble man of the Jews he asked the Souldier that he might have leave to come nearer unto him for he desired to know some things concerning his Country Which being obtained by request and an interpreter taken he saith O young man so sudden and unexpected change of fortune indeed makes thee sad neither wilt thou easily believe thy escape to be nigh at hand divine providence so ordering thy affairs But I call thy Country-gods to record that I go not about to flatter thee nor to feed thee with vain comfort It cannot be but that the course of things being changed thou shalt escape forthwith out of these bonds and come both unto the largest dignity and power even to the envy of those unto whom thou hast seemed miserable Thou art to have also a happy departure of life children being left in the succeeding of wealth But remember when thou shalt again see this Bird that the fifth day from it shall be destinous unto thee These are the things which the heavenly ones shew to thee by sending this Bird Therefore I intreat thee that as soon as thou shalt perceive that happinesse to be shown thee do thy endeavour that we also may be taken out of these adversities He was a true Prophet For six moneths after Tiberius dyed Caius succeeded in the Empire who made Agrippa King Josephus book 18. chap. 8. THe Spaniards call a people Adelittans and Almagonens who from the flying of Birds from the voyce from the meeting of wild beasts and of very many other things do divine what good or evil thing is to happen lastly they have books most diligently written with all prognosticall divinations
in the same Ducas John and his son Isaac Moreover others intreat the mingled multitude which had ran together into the Temple and afterwards did run to it that it would stay with them and help according to its power those that were placed in the greatest danger Thus therefore Isaac finished the whole night that he might not think of the Kingdom but might pray against destruction But by earnest supplication he obtained this that a certain man of that company shut the doors of the Temple and lights being brought in he instantly perswaded them by his example that they would not depart home When it was day all the Inhabitants of the City of Constantinople were present they all prayed God that Andronicus being driven away Isaac might enjoy the Empire Andronicus who was then absent from the City the murder of Stephen being known did nothing else but admonish the Citizens in a short writing that they should cease to attempt new matters Whereof this was the beginning He that hath punishment is taken away But in the morning many running together Isaac is saluted Emperour of the Romans when as one of the Church-wardens had put the Crown of Constantine the Great which hanged over the Communion Table drawn down from the stairs on his head he was consecrated Now when as the Emperours horses adorned with Golden trappings were brought by the Crossing of the Cionians one being by a Horseâ—rider pulled away by force is taken and is brought unto Isaac He that horse being Mounted on departing from the great Temple Andronicus giving counsell to himself for flight entreth the Pallace and the saluted Emperour is confirmed Nicetas WIlliam Earl of Holland King of the Romans Frisia being subdued when as nigh to a certain City he had found a Sepulcher adorned with wonderfull work and did ask Whose it was The Citizens answer None hitherto was buried there but by some hidden destiny it is reserved for a certain King of the Romans When therefore the Conquerour did ride with a few men seeking a place to turn aside in that he might bring back his army the more safely he fell in the Ice The Frisians who lay hid break out and before the King could be holpen being partly cut partly choaked in his helmet he perished The Frisians theiâ— neighbours being called together drive out the Hollanders and slay them in the year of the Lord 1255. Thus by those of the same Town according to the Prophecy the King is laid in that Tomb in the ninth year of his reign But his son Florentius the fifth of that name after twenty seven years brought his Fathers bones out of Frisia into Zeland Medioburg and laid them in a Monastery of Nunnes of the Praemonstratian Order founded by his daughter Richardâ— and increased by subsidies in the year of Christ 1282. Cuspinian IN Northern Gothia two Tombs are seen being huge Stones in the place of way-marks or Crosses having the bodyes of two brethren laid in them unto whom it had been foretold by a soothsayer in their first youth it should come to passe that they should dye by mutuall wounds given To decline the destiny they undertook a travell unto the farthest and most contrary parts of the World In their utmost old age at length returning into their countrey when as any one hoped his brother to have long since died not far from the Town Jonacum they met one another unknown and Salutation being on both sides given and received they rested under the next pine-tree By and by their Dogs wrangling they also brake forth first to quarrellings then to mutuall wounds and drawing out their Soul and acknowledging themselves to be brethren they dyed in mutuall embraces Olaus in his first book of Northern Customes ch 37. SIgthune King of Swethland while he offered sacrifices to his gods at Upsala the Mother-City an answer being received by the sacrificers he learned that by a fatall necessity the highest destruction and death did hang over his head from the mettall of Gold and therefore he was chiefly to take heed of it by iron or Steel and other mettals he could never be forced or killed Wherefore seeing he thought himself invincible he attempted dangers of Wars He had a most beautifull daughter Gro This Schiâ—ld King of the Danes required to be a Wife to his Son Gram. But her father had already betrothed her unto a most Noble Champion the brother of Sumblus King of the Finlanders Therefore Gram thinking himself to be despised by Sigthune being cloathed about with skins of wild beasts with great hazzard he came to the Pallace of Sigthune observing a time untill the maid going forth he might allure her unto a mutuall love and being allured and of her own accord willing he might bring her away Yet first Bessus his companion through the greatest force of wit brought on the mind of the Virgin unto the love of his King Therefore the maid nothing relenting being brought into his Denmark he loved with a great love and begat of her Guthorme afterwards King of Denmark and a daughter wife of Sibdager King of Norway Sigthune the Father of the maid suddenly taken away follows the Danes with war to revenge the wrong by weapons Gram carrying a club in a Giant-like manner the which Gold being powred on it he had made the weightier slew Sigthune his father in law too venterously approaching with his head leaving by that deed not an unprofitable instruction to the Kings of the Swedes that they believe Gold is more to be feared then Iron John Magnus Book 2. Chapter 6. IN the bed of Sempronius Gratchus two Snakes were found they afforded a sad token For it was shewn by the Soothsayer if he had sent away the male his Wife must dye in a short time but if the Female himself The which when Sempronius had heard loving Cornelia his Wife very much he sent forth the Female He kept his Wife and himself a little after departed out of life Polydore Virgil Book 3. Of Wonders M. Marcellus being inflamed with the glory of the Syracusans being taken and Hanniball they being forced first to flee from him before the walls of Nolâ— endeavoured with the greatest diligence that he might either strike down the Army of the Carthagenians in Italy or might drive them out of Italy and by solemn sacrifice he searched out the pleasures of the gods Which first sacrifice fell down before the little hearth his liver was found without a head the next had a double head of the liver Which things being looked into the soothsayer answered the entrails pleased him not because the first appeared maimed or mangled the second too joyfull So M. Marcellus that he might not attempt any thing rashly the night following daring to go forth with a few for seeing or viewing sake being inclosed with a multitude of his enemies in Brutia he equally brought a great grief and dammage to his Country by death Valerius â—ock 1. chap. 6.
night before a fearfull dream It seemed to him that he was invited by Caesar to supper but when he refused he was led by the hand against his will and strugling This man hearing the body of Caesar to be burnt in the Market-place although he had his Vision mistrusted and was also held with a Feaver came for the honours sake of him into the Market-place Assoon as he was seen one of the common people told his name to another which asked him he to another straitway it spread through all that this man was one of Caesars smiters For there was among the Conspiratours another of his surname Cornelius Cinna whom because they thought this was he by and by a violent force being made they in the very market-place tore him in pieces Plutarch in Caesar Brutus NEro Provinces a little after falling off from him was affrightned with evident signes of Dreams and significations of things to come and all things both old and new he never wonting to dream before At length his mother being killed he saw at the time of rest a Ship the stern by violence wrested from him governing it and to be drawn by Octavia his wife into the most narrow dark places And by and by to be filled up with a multitude of winged Ants sometimes to fetch a circuit from the Images of Nations dedicated to the Theatre or view of Pompey and to be driven away in their progresse an ambling Nag in which he very greatly delighted the latter part of his body transfigured into the form of an Ape and onely his head being whole to utter forth shrill neighings Suetonius GAlba the Emperour a little before his death had set apart out of his Treasure a Jewell set forth with Pearls and pretious stones to beautify his Tusculane-Fortuna That on a sudden as more worthy of a famouser place he dedicated unto Venus of or in the Capitoll But the next night he saw Fortune complain in his sleep of the Jewell being taken away and in good earnest to threaten that she would snatch away himself and also those things which he had given The Emperour being affrighted in the dream most early in the morning those being sent before who should make ready the Divine thing ran into Tusculanum and he found nothing besides warm embers on the Altar and an old man clad in black beside it holding Frankincense in a Glasse dish and unmixt Wine in an earthen cup. Suetonius DOmitian dreamed that Minerva departed out of the holy place denying that she could defend him further because she had been disarmed by Jupiter The same man dreamed that a Countrey-man came to him with a Sword and Minerva who was placed in his Chamber to have cast away her weapons and the same to go down out of a Chariot which was drawn with black Horses into a great gaping of the Earth He was presently slain by his layers in wait Xiphiline in his life ANthony Caracalla Emperour a little before that he was thrust thorow by Martial Tribune of the Souldiers and prepared a setting forward out of Antioch his father Severus stood by him with a Sword in his sleep and saith Even as thou hast slain thy brother Getas so will I kill thee Anthony therefore awaking out of sleep never doubted the end of his cruelty and life to be at hand when as before also the Diviners had foretold the like things Dion Nycaeus DIonysius of Syracusa as yet containing himself within a private habit a certain woman Hymeraea of no obscure stock while she took rest in her opinion climbed up to Heaven and there the seats of all the gods being viewed she takes notice of a mighty man of a yellow colour a freckled face bound with Iron chains covered underneath with the Throne and feet of Jupiter And the young man being asked what Captain the favour of beholding heaven had used who he was She heard that he was a cursed destiny unto Sicily and Italy and that being loosed from bonds he was to be a destruction unto many Cities The which dream she the day after by speech divulged And then after that fortune an enemy to the liberty of the Syracusans and hatefull to the lives of guiltlesse ones cast Dionysius being freed from his heavenly custody as it were a certain Thunderbolt into idlenesse and rest assoon as Hymeraea beheld him entring the walls among a dissolute rout for the honouring and beholding of him she called out this is he whom she had seen in her sleep That thing being known made the Tyrant carefull to take the woman out of the way Val. book 1. chap. 7. WHen Cicero followed Julius Caesar into the Capitoll and told him the last night Jupiter was seen by him who with a Golden chain had let down a little boy of a wonderfull towardnesse from Heaven unto the Gate of the Capitoll unto whom he had afterwards given a whip in his hand Octavius being then beheld whom Caesar had brought into the Capitoll for paying a vows sake he knew that to be him whom he had seen in his sleep His triumphs and Son being truly a scourge to the too much proud Nobilâ—ty of Rome made Cicero his dream certain Fulgosus book 1. chap. 5. Xiphil in Augustus Q. Catulus the Capitoll being dedicated at the time of his rest he saw Jupiter to have chosen one out of many children cloatâ—ed in Purple robes to whom he had given the Roman ensigns to be carried in his hand and the night following when sleeping he would drive away that very child out of Jupiters bosome Jupiter said that he should not remove the child because he kept him for the safeguard of the Roman Commonwealth On the morning following he by chance lighting on Octavius by his shape and garment knew that that was he whom he had seen at the time of sleep Fulgosus book 1. chap. 5. Xiphilin SLeep shewed unto Vespasian the father his own Royall office and of his sons For when he was as yet a private man in Achaia with Nero he saw it told him at his rest by an unknown person that his happinesse shall begin when a tooth should be taken away from Nero. Therefore being awakened he on whom he first happened was a Physitian who shewed him a tooth that he had pulled out of Nero. Therefore not much after the death of Nero followed likewise of Galba and after them the discords of Otho and Vitellus yielded the first beginnings and strength to Vespasian for rule Fulgosus book 1. chap. 5. Moreover Nero himself saw at rest Jupiters Chariot to be sent into the house of Vespasian which words when they wanted interpreting Josephus the Jew said they did betoken the Roman Empire to Vespasian Xiphiline in Vespasian JUlian being chosen Emperour by the Souldiers in France against â—is will said to some of his more dear friends On that night which had gone before the day of his being declared Emperour a certain likenesse was seen by him
him because he deferred to bring War on Greece The thing being talked of with Artabanus he constrained Artabanus cloathed with the King's garments to take a sleep in the King's Throne The same resemblance was also presented before the eyes of Artabanus Therefore he incensed Xerxes unto the Warr of Greece with no less diligence than before he had withstood indeed the evil fate of Xerxes so urging it that the most proud King might pay the punishments of his rashness and pride The same Xerxes seemed to himself to be crowned with an Olive-grass with the boughs of which Olive the whole Earth was overwhelmed and presently the Crown tyed fast about his head vanished This dream was more famous and sure than the former Xerxes had affrighted the world with Warlike preparation and now seemed to triumph over Greece Athens being taken when as he was by the diligence of Themistocles broken he was forced by a shamefull flight to shift for his life Herodotus book 7. THe Spartans Callicratidas being Captain were to fight at Arginusa in a Sea-battell with the Athenians the diviners on both sides disswading them For the head of a sacrificed beast lying on the shore dispersed the Lacedemonians being drawn through the rage of a wave the Soothsayers shewed all these things betokened that the Pretor of the Navy was to perish in that combat Which thing being heard they say Callicratidas answered he should withdraw nothing from the Spartane worthinesse if by fighting he should fall But unto Thrasibulus the Athenian who being then Pretor led the Navy and to whom that day the top of Royall Authority had come by lot by night this dream appeared It seemed to him together with six other Praetors to act the Tragedy of Euripides whose title is inscribed Phoenissas in the common Theatre But it seemed his adversaries acting the Tragedy whose name is Supplices the Cadmean Victory to have happened to them and all to have perished by imitating the Captains who had pitched their Tents for the assaulting of Thebes These things being heard a Prophet being called to interpret they so expounded it that seven Captains were to fall in that battell But the holy things otherwise openly promising Victory he bade the Captains that it may be shewed unto their companions alone concerning every ones death but that they divulge a Victory betokened by those very holy things throughout the whole Army A battell being joyned Callicratidas some Ships of the Enemies being first overcharged dyed the conquest remained in the power of the Athenians 25. Ships being lost 77. of the Enemies sunk They fought on both sides with little lesse then four hundred Ships and that battel is mentioned to be the greatest of all which indeed Greeks with Greeks ever fought Diodore in Book 13. UNto Pyrrhus King of the Epirots besieging Sparta such a dream was offered All Lacedemon being stricken with a Thunderbolt seemed to him thereby to be set on fire and he thereupon to leap for joy He being stirred up with gladnesse commands his Captains that they set the Souldiers in order and expoundeth the dream to his friends as if he was to vanquish the City Unto which thing when as others wonderfully agreed the sight pleased not Lysimachus He saith he feared least as the places that were blasted with Thunderbolt remain inaccessible so the god signified to Pyrrhus that he was not to enter the City When as Pyrrhus answered this man Those were meer delusions and full of uncertainty but that every man holding weapons in his hands ought to bring into his remembrance Optimum id augurium pro Pyrrho exponere vitam Of Divination that 's the chief For Pyrrhus to adventure life In the first of the morning he sets upon the City But the Lacedemonians not sluggishly and beyond their strength defending themselves he was constrained to loose the siege Plutarch in Pyrrhus CN Pompey having followed King Mithridates unto Euphrates fell by night At which time it is blazed by report that Mithridates saw a resemblance in his sleep which foreshewed him things to come It seemed to him to sail in the Pontick Sea with a prosperous wind and now to foresee Bosphorus and courteously to speak to those that were carried together with him as who rejoyceth in his sure and undoubted safety but suddenly he was found forsaken by all and tossed in a small broken piece of a Ship His friends standing by stirred him up being busied with those troubles and Images shewing that Pompey was at hand A fight therefore instead of a bulwark being begun he was overcome Far more then ten thousand were slain and the Camps were taken Mithridates himself with a draught of eight hundred Horsemen with him brake through the Romans By and by the rest sliding away he is left alone with three among whom was the Harlot Hipsicratia who had alway been of a manly boldnesse Wherefore the King called her Hispicratia But then she being cloathed with a man's Persian garment and carried on a Horse neither seemed she to be weary in body from the tediousnesse of the flight neither the Kings body and horse being taken care of was he tired untill they came unto the Towre or Castle Inor where the Kings Money and Treasures were heaped up Thence Mithridates took his pretious stones which he distributed unto those that assembled unto him out of the flight Moreover he gave a deadly poyson to a certain friend of his to be carried with him lest any one should come into the enemies hands From thence he strives to go into Armenia to Tigranes Which thing when he forbade him and had pronounced a hundred talents on his head the Springs of Euphrates being passed by he bends his flight through Colchis Plutarch in Pompey BEfore the Pharsalian fight it seemed to Cn. Pompey by night in his sleep he entering into the Theatre the people to applaud him and that he adorned the Temple of Venus the Conqueresse with many spoils This sight partly raised him up partly made him carefull fearing somewhat least Grace and famousnesse should come from him unto Caesars family chanting on Venus and some Panick fears awakened him out of sleep In the fourth watch over Caesars Camps where all things were quiet a great light shined out A flaming Torch kindled thereby was brought into Pompey's Camps Caesar himself said he saw this while he went about the Watches The same Author in the same place HEcuba being great with young she seemed to bring forth a burning Torch which burned Asia and Europe She not long after brought forth Paris by whose unchast loves the country of Troy being destroyed their forces being wasted Greece was consumed by a long war and undone Sabellicus book 1. ch 1. Volatteran book 18. Anthropol CAmbyses King of Persians saw Smerdes in his sleep sitting in the Kings Throne to touch the Heaven with his Crown He for that thing fearing lest his Brother Smerdes should possesse the kingdome sent Prexaspes to kill
him Neither yet could he avoid even this by his brother-killing Murther whereby Smerdes the Magitian who feigned himself to be the true Smerdes Son of Cyrus should the lesse invade the Kingdome Cambyses going up to horse being wounded in the Thigh with a Sword died Herodotus Book 3. DArius had moved out of Susa against Alexander being supported with a multitude of Armies for he had six hundred thousand Souldiers under his Ensigns trusting to a certain dream the which the Magitians flattering him had interpreted more than according to the likenesse of truth The troop of the Macedonians seemed to shine together with a great brightnesse of fire But Alexander to wait on him in the habit wherewith he had been cloathed when he was Ascandes that is a Messenger or Ascantes that is Chamberlain to the King And when he had entred into the Temple of Belus to have been withdrawn from before his eyes By these things in my opinion God foreshewed that the Macedonians were to carry on honourable and famous matters and Alexander to obtain Asia as Darius had enjoyed it being of a Messenger or Chamberlain made King but in a short time to lay down his life with his glory Plutarch in Alexander Curtius hath delivered that the King imagined the Camps to shine with a great brightnesse Sabellicus Book 4. Ennead 4. THey report Domitian to have dreamed that a bunch sprang out from him behind a Golden neck and to have had it for certain that a more blessed and joyfull condition of the Common-wealth was foreshewn to be after him As indeed it so fell out in a short time through the abstinence and moderation of following Princes Sueton. EZeline surnamed Monk a bloudy and most cruel Tyrant at his rest saw the fortune of his sons that night in which he first came together with his wife who was by name Adela a Tuscian of the stock of the ancient Earls of Montaion For he seemed to himself to see a little hill in which a Roman Town was in the Patavine field placed the which he commanded and was thence called Romanus or a Roman so to be carried up and exalted that it touched heaven with its top and the same a little after to be melted as Snow and so to be let down that it could no more stand up The chances of his sons brought this effect For the elder Son and he Ezeline by name possessed the rule of Verona Patavium Vincentia Feltrium and Cividal and Marchia But the younger Alberick entred on the Kingdom of Tarvisium and other places But afterwards fortune changing in the two hundred fifty and sixth year above the thousandth of salvation when as the Pope and the Guelphians together had moved war against Ezeline his son he lost Patavium with the whole land But when he trusted that he should possesse the City of Mediolum by craft and for that thing had passed over the River Abdua being besieged by his enemies overcome in battell a wound being received being taken nigh to Soncinum in that very same place he died and was buried His brother Alberick being strucken with fear by this chance when as he distrusted that he could keep Tarvisium he betook himself into the Castle of Saint Zeno. Where in the year of Salvation 1200. being betrayed by his own Souldiers he came into the power of his enemies There having beheld six sons to be killed before him and his wife Margaret with two young maids to be burnt he himself being cut through all his limbs by piece-meal he saw as his father had in his dreams his Roman stock or nation to be ended Fulgosus book 1. chap. 5. THe Mother of Phalaris saw Mercury whose Image holding a goblet in his hand she worshipped at her own house among the shapes of gods in her dreams to sprinkle bloud on the ground out of that goblet and being dashed on the pavement to bubble back untill by little and little it overflowed all the house up to the top That which was seen in one the bloudy cruelty of her son made true in many houses Ponticus Heraclidus is the Author of this Vision a learned man as saith Tully and Scholler of Plato Petrarcha AMilcar Captain of the Carthaginians besieging Syracusa seemed to hear in his sleep that the next day after he should sup within the walls of the besieged City By that thing being turned to a hope of Conquest he being chearfull set the Army in order in the morning to besiege the City Unto him considering and attempting such enterprises as often comes to passe a great uproar arose in the Camps the Carthagenians and Sicilians disagreeing among themselves The Townes-men laying hold of the occasion come suddenly forth of the Gates and their enemies being scattered the Conquerours take their Captain desiring to succour their ranks being disturbed and therefore neglecting himself And so being brought into the City supping in fetters he understood what a false expounder of the dream he had been Valer. Max. Book 1. chap. 7. and Cicero Book 1. Of Divination Artemidore writeth a shew was presented to a certain one in his sleep as that he should sup with Saturn and it so happened that the day following he was cast into Prison Caelius Book 13. chap. 21. Of Book of Antiq. JUpiter commanded T. Latinus a man of the common people in his sleep that he should tell the Consulls that he was not pleased with the neighbouring Circean playes of the leaders of the dance which thing unlesse being heeded it were satisfied by the renewing of sports no small danger of the City was to follow He fearing least with some disprofit unto his Religion he should extoll the highest command kept silence And straightway his Son being taken with the sudden force of a disease died He also at the time of sleep being asked by the same whether he had sufficiently weighed the great punishment of his royall command neglected continuing in his purpose was recompenced with a weaknesse of his body And then at length by the counsell of his friends being brought in a horse-litter unto the Consuls Judgment-seat and from thence to the Senate the order of his whole chance being explained with the great admiration of all the strength of his members being recovered he returned home on his feet Valerius in book 1. chap. 7. Cicero in book 1. Of Divination And Livy book 2. Decad. 1. THe Tartars inhabit beyond the Mountain Belgia the Sea lying between Changius or their fiâ—st Emperour saw again a white horseman who had foretold unto him the Empire in his sleep that it was the will of the immortal god That in the Mountain Belgia being passed over they should go forward into the West and subdue all Kingdoms But as soon as they had come to the Mountain Belgia in that part which the Sea floweth on the Mountain that they should go down and their faces being turned toward the East they with nine bowings of the knee worship the
their fighting Ut Zonoras Tomo 3. indicat ARiulphus Duke of Spoleto fighting against the Romans at Camertes and obtaining Victory inquires of his Souldiers who it was that behaved himself so stoutly and gallantly in the battle they answered 't was a Prince Whereupon he replies he was more powerfull then any mortall man for when ever I was assaulted fiercely by the enemy he with a Buckler defended me from their fury then going with all possible speed to Spoleto seeing the Temple wherein the body of Saint Sabinus is intombed he asked what Church it was when they answered It was the Temple of Sabinus he hastily leaps from his horse calling his Souldiers who as they say alwayes waited diligently upon him walks into the Church and seeing his Image he presently with an Oath affirmed 't was he that protected him from the violent assaults of his numerous enemies whereupon 't was presently believed that Sabinus was the most pious Patron of Souldiers Ariulphus would not for any thing have wanted the experience of this Protection of Saints which is so frequent amongst Christians Bonfinius lib. 8. Decad. 1. THe great Sfortia for the honour he bore St. Leonard Christned his Son which he had by Catella Alopa sister to Pandulphus Alopus after his name for that he dreamed he saw Leonard in the same shape he is usually pictur'd in Churches coming to him being a Prisoner with relief breaking the Iron bars of the window of the Prison and with his power loosing his shackles The event proved this Vision to be very true for the day following this blessed dream Jacobus Gallus King by sedition was driven out of the Neopolitan Kingdome and lost both Rule and Liberty and Sfortia was delivered out of Prison and to the great content of all was restored to be Master of the Horse Jovius in vita ejus IN the time of Ferdinand first King of Aragon the City Neopolitane in a most flourishing condition and the Kingdome free from all calamity it is manifest that Cataldus about a thousand years before that time an holy man had been Bishop at Tarentinum and that the Citizens thereof did worship him as their Patron in the middest of the night he again and again appeared to a Minister of holy things who had lately taken the order of Priest-hood having been educated amongst those who vow chastity that he should without delay take out of the ground a little book which he in his life time had writ and hid in a private place wherein some divine writings were and bring it to the King giving little credit to this dream although he saw him in his sleep very oft and alwayes of the same shape and fashion being all alone early in the morning in the Temple he plainly appeared to the Priest with a Mitre in such Bishops weeds as he used in his life time to be aparrelled in advised him as he desired to avoid great punishment that the next day without further delay he should dig for the Book which he had written and which was hidden as he had formerly shewed him by Visions and bring it to the King the Priest and people went the next day to the place wherein for many ages this little book had been hid and found it bound with a leaden cover and locked wherein it appeared that the destruction of the Kingdome miserable calamities and sad times were at hand whereof the King was warned we have learned by experience that this Prophecy was fully executed and shewed it self to be so divine that not long after Ferdinand himself either by the justly incensed wrath of Almighty God or other inscrutable causes of his divine will could avoid what he was so fully admonished of but in the very first appearance of War departed this life and Charls the eight King of France with a strong hand having an huge Army of Neopolitans invaded the Kingdom and Alfonsus the eldest son of Ferdinand after his fathers death having but newly undertaken the government of the Kingdome was thereof deprived basely running away and dying in flight as a banished man shortly the second son of Ferdinand the hopefullnesse of whose youth had endeared him to all men to whom upon the death of his brother the Kingdome fell was intangled with a miserable and fatall War died of an immature death in the very flower of his age afterwards the French and Spaniards obtaining the Kingdome divided it chasing away Frederick another Son of Ferdinand the elder with a larger Army wherewith they invaded the Kingdome took to themselves all whether holy or prophane plundered Towns and Cities laying all waste committing most vile and filthy immanities Alexander ab Alexand. cap. 15. JAmes the son of Zebedee appeared to Charls the Great three seveâ—all nights and did exhort him to drive out of the Countrey of Spain in which his body rested the Saracens and assured him for his labour and travail therein he should obtain an everlasting crown Henricus Erphordiensis ex Turpino Romensi Episcopo refert cap. 68. THe Monks of the Abbey of Florence assured of the expedition of the Normans into France carry the body of Saint Benedict to Aurelia conceiving it a more safe receptacle from the Enemy at the comming of the Normans they burnt the Abbey of Florence and laid it wast the night following Saint Benedict appeared to Count Sigillosus to whom the care and defence of that Monastery was cammitted and in a Vision heavily chideth him because he had not resisted the Normans when they fell upon the Monastery The Earl awakening presently fell to his arms and with a handfull of men pursues the enemies loaden with plunder following them with a swift course fiercely falls upon them and by the help of Saint Benedict kills them every man and redeems all the Prisoners and booty Robertus Ganquinus lib. 5. CHildebert being King of France the Arch-Angell Michael again and again admonished Anbertus the Abrencatensian Bishop that wholly in the Sea which by reason of his eminency is called his Tomb he should build a Church in memory of him requiring such veneration to be given him in the Sea as was exhibited to him in Gorganum in the mean time a Bull which was taken by a Lyon was found bound in that place Whereupon the Bishop was commanded the third time that he should lay the foundation of the Temple where he should find the Bull and as he should observe the ground beaten with the feet of the Bull he should draw the compasse of the Temple which he built in honour of Saint Michael and from that time as in the Mountain Gorganum formerly in that place also now in danger of the Sea the worship of the Angell was begun Sigebert Anno Dom. 799. AGnes Wife to Leopold Marquesse of Austria desired her Husband to design some place wherein to build a Monastery that the prayses of Christ and his Mother might therein be said From a Castle seated in the Mountain Cecium
narrant That John Baptist appeared to a certain rapacious and sacrilegious fellow who came to the Monument of Rothares King of the Longobards in a Church built for the repose of his dead body and took away all the ornaments wherewith it was buried and blamed him for his presumption to dare to touch his body who although he had not walked in the strict way of truth yet he had committed himself to his patronage and protection By reason of this impiety this sacrilegious person could never after go into the Temple for as often as he assayed to enter thereinto he was driven back by a ghost which offered to cut his throat if so be he proceeded and so was forced to retreat IN that Warr that Charls the Eighth King of France waged against Anne Dutchess of Britain whom afterwards he married a certain Souldier of Britain going out of the City of Rhemes to plunder in the Temple of a certain Town whereinto the Countrey people had brought the greatest part of their goods he breaks open a Chest thinking that it belonged to some secular person and loading himself with as much as he could well carry of the goods therein returning home with them he looking amongst his plunder saw amongst the rest certain small pieces of linnen cloath like to handkerchiefs and not conceiving that they were such as Priests use for a napkin to carry the host he bestowed them on his Landlady who perceiving them bloody she first looked upon her hands which when she found hurt but could not perceive any blood issue from thence she searched her bosome and found all the skin of her breast lining of her Wastcoar and lower petticoat imbroydered with blood the woman carrying these cloaths to the River to wash could not possibly take the blood out of them though by washing thereof the water seemed bloody Which is not unlike what happened to Pope Leo who to those that sought from him holy reliques he cutting part of a napkin which is called the Corporal gave it them but when he perceived a certain man to despise it Leo in his presence pricked the corporal whereby he made it plainly appear that blood flowed from it Fulgosus lib. 1. cap. 6. GRegorius Turonensis cap. 81. de gloria confessorum writes concerning Marianus the Hermite a Holy-day in remembrance of whom was wont yearly to be kept that the house of a certain man who to perform domestick business and his necessary occupations neglecting the observance thereof and being rebuked for it by a neighbour answered That it was better to perform his necessary work then shew such devotion to such a Saint whose salvation was doubted was set on fire and destroyed with revengefull flames in such manner that his neighbours houses joyning close to his received no hurt at all thereby A Certain Aurelianensian about to labour in his vineyard in the holy Feast of Avitus the Cartonensian Abbot admonished by others to forbear work as soon as he betook himself to labour his face was writhed towards his back to wit by the Devil the murtherer of mankind turned the contrary way It was a terrible sight therefore to a multitude of Spectators but the man going into the Temple of Avitus and desiring forgivenesse of his sin obtained that pardon insomuch that his face was turned to its right place Gregor Turonens lib. de gloria Confess cap. 99. A Certain Citizen of Paris having pawn'd his cloaths to a Jew being not able to redeem them promised to the Jew if he would restore his apparrell to give him for the same the host which he should receive the next Easter which the Jew consenting to he according to his promise bringing to him the Jew takes the host which he received and casts it into a vessel full of boyling oyl and water and with blasphemous words falls to scorn and reproach it whereupon as 't is reported a most beautifull young man leapt out and with wonderfull agility avoided the Jew who sought to drown him with a staff that had an Iron hook at the end thereof his sons standing by and frighted with the strangenesse of the sight run to their Mother and tell her the cruelty of their father against the young man immediately there is a great concourse of people who take the host from the Jew which the Bishop carryed to the Church of St. John in Gravia the Wife and Children of the Jew were by this miracle converted to the Christian faith and he brought to prison where with many words he bragg'd of the virtue of the Talmud and calls for it to be brought to him to deride thereby the superstition of the times which when he had received and began to hope that he was secure from suffering for his impiety he with his book were consumed by flames which issued from a pile of wood made for that purpose as violently and swiftly as an arrow out of a bowe Thomas Patriarcha Barbariensis lib. 3. Fortalicii fidei IN the Arvernensian Church a certain impious fellow swore untruly whereupon his tongue was suddenly tyed for that he could not speak but lowed like a beast And grieving heartily with sighs for the perjury he had perpetrated he humbly casts himself down at the Sepulchre of the Bishop Dretemonius imploring his help not God's as 't is commanded and finds his tongue loosed and himself able to speak as expeditely as formerly publickly confessing his sin for which wittingly and willingly committed this punishment fell upon him Gregorius Turonensis de confessoribus cap. 29. MEscho Prince of the Polonians by stratagem taking Cracovia from Boleslaus Duke of Bohemia the Princes making a Truce met together at Cracovia where Boleslaus is taken at a Feast and both his eyes put out and his Nobles cruelly slain the Prisbuicensians being privy to the treachery and partakers of the wickednesse the same also endeavour treacherously to kill the brother of Boleslaus for Cochares drawing the young man into a Wood upon pretence of hunting commanded him to be bound to the stock of a Tree and shot at with arrows It is reported that at that time St. John Baptist invocated by him received the arrows upon an hairy cover or skin and so defended him and that he warned his Wife by Vision to relieve her Husband in that great danger whereupon Overa a servant to the Prince with great haste and good speed declared the Treason to the people who speedily comming to the relief of the Duke released him and killed the Traytors In that place the Monastery of the order of Saint Benedict was built and a greater Altar placed where the Tree to which Janures was bound stood Aeneas Sylvius in histor Bohem. COmnenus the Emperour being sick and seeming ready to faint was restored by the Image of our Saviour for an holy imbroydered vail placed upon the Chalice which had the picture of our Saviour wrought upon it was spread upon the bed wherein he lay and his body wrapped in it
52 Cyrus King of the Assyrians his dream 53 Antigonus his dream concerning Mithridates 54 Arcea Mother of Augustus Caesar her Vision 55 Octavius his dream concerning his son Octavius 56 Vespasian his confidence of his sons succeeding him 57 Adrian his vision before his being ordained Emperour 58 Alexander's visions whilest he assaulted the City of Tyre 59 Eumenes his wonderful vision 60 The Priests of Proserpina their vision 61 Hannibal Captain of the Carthaginians his vision 62 Amandatus servant of Mardonius his vision 63 Xerxes his dreams 64 The Spartans Collicratidas being Captain about to fight with the Athenians the Soothsayers disswade them 65 Pyrrhus King of the Epirots his dream when he besieged Sparta 66 Mithridates his vision which foreshewed things to come 67 Cneius Pompeius his vision before the Pharsalian fight 68 Hecuba when she was great with child of Paris her vision 69 Cambyses King of the Persians his vision 70 Darius moves out of Susa against Alexander encouraged by a dream 71 Domitian his dream 72 Eziline sirnamed Monk a bloody Tyrant his terrible Vision 73 The Mother of Phalaris her vision 74 Amilcar Captain of the Carthaginians his dream falsly expounded 75 Jupiter appears to T. Latinus a man of the common people 76 Changius first Emperor of the Tartars his vision 77 Juno appears to Hannibal Captain of the Carthaginians 78 Valens the Emperour his vision 79 Hippias son of Pisistratus his vision 80 Sabbacus King of the Aethiopians his vision 81 Sethon King of Egypt Priest of Vulcan his vision 82 The Table of Mocks of the Devil to strengthen the Idolatry of the Gentiles THe power of Vesta 1 Aeneas placeth houshold-gods brought from Troy at Lavinium 2 The Egyptians worship Isis for her Miracles 3 In the Temple of Aesculapius amongst the Epidaurians those who pray to the god sleeping learn the reason of recovering health 4 Aristides a Rhetorician of Smyrna commanded by Aesculapius 5 An Ensign speaketh with a low voyce 6 A whale of an incredible bigness swimmeth to a bulwark in the Sea at Tyre 7 The god Pan promiseth to ayd the Athenians in the fight at Marathon 8 Strange Visions at Cyzicum Minerva was seen in visions to many 9 The Boetians their dream when enslaved by the Thracians 10 The King of the Spartans after the Argians were vanquished sacrificeth in Juno's Temple 11 The Image of victory which stood in Minerva's Temple turns its back towards the door 12 The Images of gods appear not onely in the night but in the day commanding every one to pray 13 Before the demolishment of Troy the fire in Minerva's Temple spares to burn the sacrifices 14 Caesar Augustus his vision 15 Ladened Ships could not arrive at Byzantium 16 Olive-Trees dedicated to Pallas 17 Aesculapius reported not to be born of the Nymph Coronis but of an egg of a little Crow 18 Jupiter's anger for Antonius Maximus his cruelty to his servant 19 The Argonautes tossed with a Tempest call upon Orpheus 20 Thophinius and Agamedes build a Temple to Apollo 21 Câ—oesus King of the Persians overcome by Cyrus invocates Solon 22 The Athenians received by Oracle that they should invoke the North wind to help them 23 A Vulcanian hillock near Agrigentum 24 Romulus vows to build a Temple to Jupiter 25 Numa Pompilius his devotion to Jupiter 26 Tullius Hostilius vows to sacrifice 12 Samians to Mars 27 Counterfeiting of piety 28 A Miracle manifested about Claudius 29 Adrian punished for his unjust shedding of blood 30 The Oracle from Pythia to the Athenians infected with the Plague 31 Apollo answers the Grecians 32 Hercules the son of Alcmena offers sacrifice to Jupiter 33 Aurelian the Emperour consults the Sibyllaean books 34 The Persians spoyl all the Temples of the Greeks 35 Without Cratonis a Temple dedicated to Juno 36 A great barrenness coming to Pelasgus they devote the Spring to their gods 37 A Miracle at the Rock of the Posidoniacorians 38 Diana being angry sends a Calydonian Boar to destroy the grain in Oetolia 39 A Miracle in Arcadia 40 Glaucus the son of Sisiphns 41 Hercules erects a magnificent Temple to Iolaus his Nephew 42 Ciana kills her Father for deflowring her 43 The Temple of Isis 44 The Thebans their severity against those who violated their Religion 45 Pentheus King of the Thebans was torn in pieces by the Priestsesses of Bacchus for abusing his father 46 The Potilians extinct for abusing the consecrated things of Bacchus 47 C. Terentius Varro Overseen of the Temples 48 Hannibal and Himilco two Carthaginian Captains command their Souldiers to cast down Monuments 49 The Image of Pallas falls from Heaven 50 The Athenians neglect their god 51 The Captains of the Japignians take the Images out of the Temple 52 The Aeginetae invading the Epidaurians carry away the Olive-Tree Images of Damiae Auxesiae 53 Artabarus a Persian rushes into Neptune's Temple and falleth upon his Image 54 A Souldier of Scipio Africanus minor attempteth to bereave the Image of Apollo of its golden Vestment 55 Agamemnon smote a Goat with a dart near Diana her grove 56 The Fish Pompilus in esteem with Neptune 57 A certain man steals a piece of money out of the Temple of Apollo at Delphos 58 Sambicus throwes down brazen Statues and sells them 59 Consecrated things taken out of the Temple to pay Souldiers 60 Q. Fulvius Flaccus heavily punished for carrying Marble tiles which were to mend the Temple of Juno to the Temple of warlike Fortune 61 An horrible slaughter of the Persian comming with intent to spoyl the Temple at Delphos 62 The Judgment which followed Theron King of the hither Spain upon his abolishing the Temple of Hercules 63 The judgment which followed the Scythians for their spoyling the Temple of Venus in Urania 64 The revenge which Alexander received for suffering his Souldiers to throng into the Temple of Ceres 65 Pyrrhus his punishment for sacriledg 66 The punishment of Himilco Prince of Carthage for his spoyling of Temples 67 The misery which befell Mithridates for his sacriledg 68 The misery which befell the Graecians for their spoyling the Temple of Neptune 69 Sparta shaken with frequent impulsions of the Earth 70 Cytharoedes flyes with his stole to the Altar of Juno 71 The Temple of warlike Neptune built by Trophimus and Agamedes 72 The Temple of Jupiter Lycaeus in Arcadia 73 The Temple of Eumenides dedicated by Orestes in Cenycaea a City of Achaia 74 The punishment of Erisichthon for cuting down the grove of Ceres 75 The heavy Judgment which befell Cambyses King of Persia and his Army for burning the Oracle of Jupiter Ammon 76 The destruction of the Persians who burned the Temple of Ceres 77 The sad event of revenge 78 A Grove dedicated to Aesculapius at Coos 79 The ceremonies which the Virgins dedicated to Diana used 80 The ceremonies which the Boetians used the feast day of Mercury 81 A Well consecrated to the Vestal Virgins for the ceasing of the Pestilence 82