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
from the Stone Taraxippe Or else it is for that the Cock and the Lion partaking both of them of the nature of the Sun but the Cock more then the Lion it happeneth that the Lion perceiving it doth presently fly from him as the valiant Hector is said to fly before Achilles who was more brave and more warlike then he Or else it is because the Cock being a celestiall fowl and the Lion a terrestriall Creature and of a gâ—osser matter having the spirits more sensitive and brutal then the other doth therefore by nature yield and give place to that which is more excellent And this reason seemeth unto me in some sort allowable the rather for that those Devils which are of a more materiall and terrestrial nature and be called Devils of the Sun do fly the voice of the Cock as well as the Lion as Psellus teacheth us And thus in my opinion you see sufficiently how all the Arguments and foolish dreams and fancies of the Epicures may be soon answered and easily dissolved The Arguments of those which deny that the Angells and Devils can take unto them a body Confuted THey which do deny that the Angels and Devills can take unto them a body do not aim at the mark to deny their essence as do the Sadduces but they do it onely to disprove and impugne their Apparition For it is a good consequent if the Angels and Devils take not upon them any body then can they not appear And if one should reply unto them and say That in our spirit and understanding the Angels and Devills may give some shew and token of their presence To this they have their exception ready That things spirituall and intelligible and all sorts of Intelligences do represent themselves by things that are sensible We will see therefore by what reasons they endeavour to prove that an Angell or a Devill cannot take a body unto them No Body say they can be united to an incorporal substance but onely that it may have an essence and a motion by the means of that substance But the Angells and Devils cannot have a body united in regard of any essence for in so doing we must conclude that their bodies should be naturally united unto them which is altogether untrue and therefore it remaineth that they cannot be united unto a body but onely in regard of the motion which is a reason of no sufficiency for the approving of their opinion For thereof would follow an absurdity in regard of the Angels to wit That they might take all those bodies that are moved by them which is a very great and grosse errour For the Angell did move the tongue of Balaams Asse and yet he entred not in his tongue And therefore it cannot be said that an Angell or a Devil can take a body unto them To this Argument I answer That true it is that an Angel and a Devill cannot to speak properly take unto them every body that is moved For to take a body signifieth to adhere unto the body Now the Angels and the Devils do take unto them a body not to unite it to their nature and to incorporate it together with their essence as he that taketh any kind of meat for sustenance much lesse to unite the same to their person as the Son of God took upon him the humane nature But they do it onely that they may visibly represent themselves unto the fight of men And in this sort the Angels and Devils are said to take a body such as is apt and fit for their Apparition as appeareth by the Authority of Denis Ariopagyte who writeth that by the corporal forms the properties of Angels are known and discerned Again they say that if the Angels and Devils do take a body it is not for any necessity that they have but onely to instruct and exhort us to live well as do the Angels or to deceive and destroy us as do the Devils Now both to the one and the other the imaginary Vision or the tentation is sufficient and therefore it seemeth that it is not needfull they should take unto them any body I answer that not onely the imaginary Vision of Angels is necessary for our instruction but that also which is corporall and bodily as we shall shew anone when we intreat of the Apparition of Angels And as concerning the Devils God doth permit them both visibly and invisibly to tempt men some to their salvation and some to their damnation Moreover they thus agree That God appeared unto the Patriarchs as is to be seen in the Old Testament and the good Angells likewise as Saint Augustine proveth in his book of the Trinity Now we may not say that God took upon him any body except onely in the mystery of his Incarnation And therefore it is needlesse to affirm that the Angels which appear unto men may take upon them a body I answer as doth Saint Augustine who saith That all the Apparitions which were in the old Testament were made by the Ministery of Angells who formed and shaped unto themselves certain shapes and figures imaginary and corporal by which they might reduce and draw unto God the Soul and Spirit of him that saw them as it is possible that by figures which are sensible men may be drawn and lifted up in spirit and contemplation unto God And therefore we may well say that the Angells did take unto them a body when they appeared in such Apparitions But now God is said to have appeared because God was the Buâ—t and mark whereunto by Vision of those bodies the Angels did endeavour and seek to lift up unto God the Souls of men And this is the cause that the Scripture saith That in these Apparitions sometimes God appeared and sometimes the Angels Furthermore they make this Objection Like as it is agreeing naturally to the Soul to be united to the body so not to be united unto a body is proper and natural unto the Angels and Devils Now the Soul cannot be separated from the body when it will Therefore the Angels and Devils also cannot take unto them a body when they will For answer whereof I confesse that every thing is born and ingendred hath not any power over his being for all the power of any thing floweth from the essence thereof or presupposeth an essence And because the Soul by reason of her being is united unto the body as the form thereof it is not in her puissance to deliver her self from the union of the body And so in like manner it is not in the power of any Angell or Devill to unite themselvs to any body as the form thereof but they may well take a body whereof they may be the moving cause and if a man may so speak as the figure of the figure The affirm moreover that between the body assumed if I may use this word and the party assuming there ought to be some proportion and similitude But between the
whole body it behoveth them then also to possess every part of that body which they have taken to them and so by that means they should be in many places which is proper and appertaining to God onely And therefore the Angells and Devills cannot take any body unto them To this Argument answer may be made in this manner That the Angell or Devill so taking any body upon him is wholly in the whole body which it assumeth or else in a part thereof as the Soul is in the body For albeit he be not the form of the body which it assumeth as is the Soul yet so it is that he is the mover thereof Now it behoveth that the mover and the thing moved should be together and it is nothing to the purpose to say that an Angell or Devill filling a body whole and entire of substance can be in divers places for the whole body assumed by an Angell or Devil is not but in one place onely albeit the same be admitted to have many members and many parts Thus far have I done my best both to set down and to refute all the reasons and Arguments objected by those who deny that Angels and Devils can assume and take unto them a body to the intent that from hence forth their mouths might be stopped and that they may not esteem as fables the History of Specters and of the Apparitions of Spirits But before I come to conclude this discourse I may not forget to tell you how that many of the Rabbins and Jews which have taken upon them to interpret the holy Scriptures have held opinion and been of the belief that those Angels which appeared to the Patriarks and Prophets did not appear in any body nor did assume unto them any body to make themselves visible And of this opinion amongst others was Rabbi Moses one of the most learned Rabbins of the Jews who said That all that which is read and recorded in the Old Testament of the Apparition of Angels did come by an imaginary Vision that is to say sometimes in sleeping and sometimes in waking But this position as Saint Thomas of Aquine calleth it cannot prevail against the truth of the Scriptures for by the phrase and manner of speeches which are usuall in the books of the Old Testament it is easy to know and discern a difference that which is signified and declared to have Appeared purely and simply to our eyes from that which is said to be done by the means of a Propheticall Vision For when it ought to be understood that any Apparition was made by way of Vision there are some words put down and inserted which do properly appertain to the Vision such as the Scriptures do intend as in Ezechiel the Spirit of the Lord saith he lifted me up between the Heaven and the Earth and led me into Jerusalem by the Visions of the Lord. I say therefore that when it appeareth that things are said to be done simply we ought to understand them as done simply and truly Now we read in the Old Testament that many Apparitions have been made in body And therefore we ought to grant that the Angells do sometimes assume and take unto them a body in forming such a body as is sensible and subject to the external and corporal Vision as well as some kind of shapes do form themselves in our imagination which do produce an imaginative Vision when we are sleeping But this shall suffice touching this matter FINIS A Table of the first Part of this Book being the Apparitions of Devills and Evill Spirits The severall heads are to be found by the figures in the Margin MArcus Brutus his Vision 1 Marcus Antonius his Vision 2 Dion of Syracusa his Vision 3 Alexander King of Scots his Vision 4 The Apparition of an old Woman at Tortils in Parma 5 Antonius Urceus Codrus his Vision 6 Jacobus Patricius of Venice his Vision 7 Cursius Ruffus his Vision 8 Edwinus his Vision 9 The Vision of Machabaeus and Banquho Stuart 10 Hotharus King of Swedes his discourse with Nymphs 11 An Apparition to Julius Caesar 12 Pelopidas Generall of the Theban Army 13 An evil spirit forc't away by the sign of the Crosse 14 An Apparition to Matthaeus the Great 15 An Apparition of the spirit of Galeacius to two Merchants 16 The Apparition of Ludovicus Alodisius 17 Apparitions at a City called Come near France 18 An Apparition before the destruction of Antiochus 19 An Apparition to a Factour of Sicily before the bursting out of horrid flames from the top of Mount Aetna 20 A vision to one of the retinue of Damascus going into Persia 21 The Vision of King Edward the third 22 An Apparition to Aurelianus the Emperour 23 The appearing of the Devil to St. Martin 24 St. Germans detecting of evill spirits which appeared in the habits of Men and Women 25 Menippus invited by the Devill in shape of a maid to a rich house 26 The Apparition of the Ghost of a Fencer to Jamblicus 27 Julianus drove away Devills by the sign of the Crosse 28 A Mediolanensian Boor afflicted by a Ghost 29 An Apparition to Comandrus before his being drowned in the Hellespont 30 The appearing of a Succubus to Apelles a Monk of Aegypt 31 Datius Bishop of Mediolana delivers a house from the haunting of Evill spirits 32 A wonderfull Spectrall related by Phlegon in his Book de mirabilibus et longaevis 33 A Monk deluded by the embraces of the Devill in form of a beautifull Woman 34 Vincentius his story of one who married a phantasm 35 Of a young Lady of the Countrey Marra who kept company with an evill spirit 36 A Woman who had accompanied the Devill in form of a man being at Sea causeth a great storm 37 Of a Priest who had for forty years lain with an evil spirit 38 Jacobus Ruffus in his fifth Book his relation of a Woman ravished by the Devill 39 The Devill had commerce with a Merchants Wife seven Miles from Wittenburg 40 The Apparition of Benedictus the 8th Pope 41 The Apparition of Theophylact who called himself Benedict the ninth 42 The appearing of an ugly Ghost to Saint Martin Bishop of Tours where an unknown Martyr was worshipped 43 Scopas and his companie 's sudden death by the falling of a room upon them as they were feasting 44 The raining of ashes 45 An Earthquake round about Palestine and Syria 46 The representation wherewith Theodoricus King of the Ostrogoths affrighted dies 47 A strange report by the Castrobians concerning Aristaeus the Poet. 48 The relation of one Leonard's going into a Cave at the City Basil 49 Of a Swan which by a Silver chain fastned to her neck hal'd a Bark along the River Rhene 50 By Dianaes will a great darknesse perplexed the Persians 51 The Athenians assisted against the Persians by one in the habit of a rustick fellow 52 Lightning fell down from Heaven upon the Persians at Minervaes Temple 53
of it answered that she knew not where she was that a very fair young man did oftentimes meet her by night and sometimes by day Her parents though giving small credence to their daughter yet earnestly desiring to know the truth who it was that had perswaded and enticed their daughter to this lewdnesse within three dayes after the damosel having given them notice thereof that he which ravish'd her was with her having therefore unlock'd the doors and set up a great light coming into the Chamber they saw an ugly foul Monster of such a fearfull hue as no man can believe in their daughters arms Very many that were sent for came in all haste to this unseemly object Among whom a Priest of an approved life and well disciplin'd all the rest being scared away and amaz'd when repeating the beginning of St. John's Gospel he came to that place The Word was made Flesh the evil Genius with an horrible outery goes away carrying the roof of the house away with him and set all the furniture on fire The woman being preserved from peril was 3. dayes after brought to bed of a most deformed Monster such as no man as they say ever saw which the Midwives to prevent the infamy and disgrace of that family heaping up a great pile of wood did instantly burn to ashes Hector Boethus libr. 8. hist Scotorum THe same Boethus relates another story in the same place In the year of our Lord God 1536. as they were sailing from an arm of the Sea called Phortea to traffique into Flanders there arose such a violent wind that the sayls mast tacklings and all were broken and the ship also was toss'd up and down the swelling waves that every body concluded they must certainly perish The master of the ship admiring at that season so huge and unaccustomed churlishnesse of the Heavens for it was about the Summer-Solstice when with loud cryes they did not attribute it to the Stars but to the wiles of some evil Devils they heard a voyce from the lower part of the ship of a woman miserably complaining of her self that some hee-Devil in the form of a man with whom she had many years accompanied with was at that time with her and forc'd her she would therefore yield her to the mercy of the Sea that if she perished who was the cause of so great and imminent danger all the rest by the goodnesse of God might escape safe A Priest coming to the woman bewailing her self to counsel her for her own salvation and them that were with her did piously exhort her now openly confessing and acknowledging her fault earnestly detesting that abominable wickednesse and repenting the fact from the bottom of her heart with sighs expressing the same that nothing should be wanting on her part and he knew God would be propitious to her c. In the midst of the Priests exhortation when the perplexed woman with many sighs and groans was deploring that hainous crime she had committed all that were by saw a black Cloud come forth out from the pump of the Ship and with a great noise fire smoak and ill savour descended into the Sea Then was it fair weather and the Sea calm and the Merchants went to their desired haven with their Ship and nothing lost FRanciscus Mirandula makes mention in his writings that he knew one Berna call'd Benedictus a Priest 75. years old who had lain above 40. years with a familiar spirit for his Bed-fellow in the shape of a woman it came into the market with him he conversed with it insomuch that all the standers by seeing nothing took him for a Fool. He called her Hermelina as if she were a woman I knew also saith he another whose name was Pinnetus who was above 80 years old he did use the sports of Venus more then 40 years with another spirit which appear'd like a woman and call'd her name Florina Utramque historiam Cardanus recitat lib. 15. cap. 80. de varietate rerum JAcobus Ruffus writes in the fifth Book the sixt Chapter of the conception of men that in our time Magdalena a Citizens Maid-servant was ravished by a foul spirit and then took her leave on her repenting by the order of the Ministers of the Church after which she felt such cruel torments and pangs in her belly that she thought every hour almost that she should be delivered of a child then came forth out of her womb iron nails wood pieces of glasse hair wooll stones bones iron and many such like A Certain Merchants Wife about 6 or 7. miles from Wittemberg in the way to Silesia when her husband was away by reason of his merchandizing abroad was wont to entertain one Concubine or another It so fell out that her husband going forth one of her Paramouts came in the night time and when he had made himself spruce and satisfied his lust as it seemed in the morning like a Magpie sitting on the buttery he bade his Concubine farewell in these words This was your Lover and before he had done speaking he vanished out of sight and never came more BEnedictus the 8th by his Country a Thuscane by the Magick of Theophylact his Nephew who had been the Scholer of Sylvester the second long since Pope came to be Pope He was head of the Church 11. years After his death he appear'd to a Bishop which he in his life-time commonly made use of sitting upon a black horse much lamenting and complaining of the torments of the damned and charging me to warn his Brother John the 11th to bestow that gold on the poor which he had formerly buried under ground whereby he was in hopes to be freed THeophylact Nephew by his Brother Aldericus of the two Popes Benedict and John came to that dignity by his Magick wherein he was alway accounted famous He call'd himself Benedict the 9th He continued so by times ten years He was at last strangled in a Wood by one of those spirits with whose familiar he was wont to converse Benno Historians report among whom are Martinus Polonus and Petrus Damianus that Benedict was by a Hermite seen near the Mill of a terrible shape for in his body he was like a Bear in his head and tayl like an Asse And when he was asked How he came to be so metamorphosed 't is reported he made this answer I wander up and down in this shape now because when I was Pope I lived as void of reason and conscience without law and without God and have defiled the chair of Rome with all manner of vilenesse ST Martin Bishop of Yours in France when hard by his Monastery an unknown Martyr's bones were by the vulgar superstitiously worshipped that he might not by his authority corroborate their superstition took one day with him some of his brethren and to the place he goes where calling upon God he supplicates him to manifest and clear the truth thereof unto him On his left hand
a good and savoury rellish But at last passing by Viburgus it makes the Lake to be black At this River strange sights are now and then to be seen and when the governours of the Castle or any Souldiers are near death there appears one in the night-time playing upon an Harp in the midst of the waters you may also hear him Olaus lib. 20. cap. 19 20. IN Ilandia an Island under the Artick Pole there is a Promontory which like the hill Aetna is continually burning and there is thought to be the place either to punish and torture or discharge all wretched Souls For there the Visions of all which suffer a violent death do appear so manifest and apparent to any they meet of their own acquaintance as if they were alive they take them by their right hand not knowing they are dead neither do they apprehend themselves to be in an errour till their spirits vanish away The inhabitants of the place do much prognosticate the destiny of their Rulers and Governours and whatsoever is done in the farthest part of the World by the revelations of these appearances Idem lib. 2. cap. 2. ULadislaus the first King of the Polonians besieged Naclus the strong Castle of the Pomerans There in a Moon-shiny night the watches often saw troops as 't were of armed men riding up out of their open camps and rushing upon the camps of the Polonians When they often did thus the Polonians were angry and seem'd to be disquieted but dare not all come forth into open battell On a night when news were brought them that the enemies were come again they came forth on a heap out of their camp all in a rage and running to and fro assaulted them a great way to no purpose They which were besieged fearing of the Polonian riot and having prepared a way for their excursion suddenly brake out upon them and threw wild fire among their works and Cottages which were covered with straw and reed which quickly dispersing it self in many places and few remaining in the Castle to defend it easily burnt their works with a great part of the Castle They affirm that the night-Ghosts representing an Army in a hostile manner were they which by Gods permission vext and perplext the Polonians Being thus worsted the Polonians because Winter was very sharp in those Regions and now at hand and their houses were lost and gone without which they were not able to endure the violence and injury of the winter weather by these affrights likewise and sudden alterations they were made religious but the Nacli went from thence not being able to compasse their design Cromerus lib. 3. Histor Polon IN the Countrey named Cracoviensis at a very spacious Lake by reason of the disturbance of some evill spirits neither fit for fishing nor any other use of Man being very hard frozen in the Winter they say that in the year 1278. the neighbours and Priests came together bringing with them their Colours Crucifixes and some other holy and consecrated things wherewith to force and expell them thence that they might more freely and securely recreate themselves in fishing but throwing in their Net at the first draught the fishermen being at strife one with another they drew forth but three small fishes onely the one of them an ill-shap'd terrible Monster with a Goats head and eyes flaming like fire At which all being in an amaze and running away That spectrall plunged himself under the Ice and running to and fro in the Lake made a terrible noise and outcry and breathing on some of the company they were miserably ulcerated Cromerus lib. 9. JAson Pratensis in his 29th Chapter tells us a story of a distemper'd brain of a Priest which was troubled with the disease called by some Incubus or the Mare and imagined he saw a Woman of his acquaintance coming to him which laying upon him whether he would or no did most grievously afflict and torment him ALexander in his second book of his Merry dayes writes of Alexander that he had an intimate friend of an undoubted credit that took upon him the care of his friends funerall and as he was going from thence to Rome from whence he came night drawing on he turn'd into the next Inne in the road and there being very weary he went to bed And being all alone and not as yet setled to sleep he said he saw on a sudden the similitude or likenesse of his friend which lately died comming â—owards him very pale and lean just like him in the mouth as he last parted from him when he lay sick whom looking wishly upon for very fear that he was in he was not himself he asked him who he was But he answering nothing pull'd off his clothes and wâ—nt as it seems into the same bed where he lay and came close to him as if he would hug him The other almost half dead for fear went to the bed side and would not let him come nigh him he seeing that he was rejected looks upon him with a stern and unusuall aspect and taking up his clothes presently rose out of bed and putting them on and his shooes went away and was never seen again This good man being thus affrighted was deadly sick and even at death's dore To that which hath been already spoken he said likewise that when he was strugling with him in bed he felt his bare foot so cold as no Ice could be colder GOrdian my friend saith the same Alexander a man of an approved trust related to me when with his comrade he went to the City Arezzo in his journey as it fell our they wandred far out of the way by reason of many turnings and by-places so that they saw no plough'd or Arable ground but onely Woods Groves and inaccessible places were in their sight and solitude it self was enough to terrifie them the Sun therefore approaching the Western circuit being weary by their hard travell they sate down together and within a while they thought they heard a mans tongue which going after on the next hill they espy'd three men of a huge wild and terrible form not of the fashion of men in black long Cloaks in a sad and mourning habit their beard and hair hanging down to the ground who calling and making signes to them had almost perswaded and enticed them to them but in that interim greater then these appeared of an immense bulk and stature of body far exceeding mans and another also appeared of the same shape stark naked leaping and skipping up and down most strangely with other unseemly deportments at which sight they being clearly discouraged fled away and passing that rugged and perilous way could scarce find again that homely Inne where they lodg'd THe same Alexander mentions stories of the same nature in his 4th book and 9th chapter in these words A very good friend of mine lately of a good disposition and excellent repute told me what a strange thing and
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
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
that was infected with a grievous Plague by shewing them an old beggar which he commanded should be stoned by the people who afterwards taking away the heap of stones was found in the shape of a dog whom himself affirmed to be a Devil SOme Examples of them who by magicall enchantments continued to the end in torments recitat Vierus lib. 4. cap. 10. de Daemonum praestigiis DUssus King of the Scots was sick of an unknown disease in the night he sweat very much and in the day-time being more at ease he took his rest His body like to one in a Consumption was pined away with a lingring disease His pulse was as before when he was in health likewise his senses and appetite to meat His Physitians were in despair of his recovery In the interim about that time arose a rumour not known by what Author That the King was poysoned by women and that they in a Town of Moravia did practise the black art to destroy the King Messengers were sent to make peace between Duffus the King and the Inhabitants of Moravia and being by night admitted into the Castle are warned of the whole businesse by a Souldier who searcht out the whole matter from his strumpet whose Mother was one of the Witches that poyson'd him Breaking therefore into their houses they found one of the hagges having an Image of wax representing King Duffus which was made by their hellish art fastned on a woodden spit before an hot scorching fire another was found muttering a charm as he poured forth liquor on the statue by little and little They being cast into prison and questioned about the impiety they made answer Whilest the image at the fire was scorching King Duffus was in a sweat but reciting the charm he should be alwayes awake and at the melting of the wax he should waste away but it being utterly consumed the King should instantly die They were hired to do this wicked act by the chief Governours of Moravia When the women were burnt Duffus gave over sweating and was restored to his health Hector Boethus lib. 11. Historiae Scotorum VItolfus cihef Ruler of the Helsingians did so deprive those of their eye-sight whom he pleased that they neither could see houses that were nigh unto them nor certainly to go unto them he knew so well how to dimm their eyes with a cloudy mist Olaus lib. 3. cap. 17. Septentrional THe Lappones and Finni in the Northern parts use to make short artificial javelins of lead the length of ones finger these they shoot at a distance towards them which they wish to be revenged of who having a canker arising on their leg or arm are with extremity of pain dead within 3. dayes after Idem ibidem WHen Isabell King Alphonsus the 11th his daughter was given in marriage to Johannes Galeacius Governour of the City Millain Ludovicus Sfortia seeing her his affection was so ardent towards her that he desired her father to bestow her upon him to be his Wife and on this manner he by his magick art brought it about that Johannes Galeacius for many moneths was uncapable to perform the conjugall mysteries Guicciardinus lib. 1. PYthagoras on a time was seen at Criton and Metapontus on the same day and hour Apollonius in Mirabil historiis APollonius Tyaneus being kept in publique custody at the Palace and accused by Domitianus vanished clear away out of his sight and was the same day found at Puteoli whither he had sent his Comrade before and charged him to wait for his coming thither When this same man had a book in his hand at Tigilla wherein his accusation was included he did miraculously and strangely cause that this book being open could in no place be found written Philostratus JAmblicus a Philosopher of Syria as he was praying was lifted aloft from the ground more then ten cubits his body and vesture was changed into the colour of gold Prayer being ended he came again to his former effigies and fell down to the ground viz. these were the illusions of Magick-contemplations Eunapius in ejus vita IT is reported by Olaus in his History of the Northern folks That Oddo Danicus a grand Pyrate rov'd up and down the deep Sea without the help of a Ship and did often having enchanted a storm overthrow his enemies Shippings and was at last being environ'd by an enemy of greater skill drowned in a gulph who by his sleight and cunning charms did in former times use to dance on the top of the waters OThnius the Magitian brought Hadingus King of Denmark to his own again when he was most sadly deluded by the tricks of the Devil and Magitians and far separated from his company on horseback over a great part of the Sea and Hadingus thorow some slits of his rocket under which he lay trembling palpably saw his horse feet tread the waves to his great admiration Olaus lib. 3. cap. 19. THespetion the General of the Gymnosophistae in Aethiopia by his incantations injoyn'd an Elm Tree that it should salute Apollonius which the Tree did with a very distinct voyce indeed but something like a womans Philostratus in vita Apollonii Volatteranus lib. 13. c. 8. Anthropol THeotecnus the Magitian under Maximinus by the power of magick made the Image of Jupiter to utter Oracles by which the Citizens were incited to persecute the Christians and the Emperour was much â—fferated and exasperated against them At last Licinius having found out his tricks punished him severely Eusebius lib. 9. cap. 3. 11. THe Grammarian Appion with the herb Cynocephalaea which in Egypt is called Osirites and prevails against all manner of Witchcrafts but whosoever gathers it dies presently raised the ghost of Homer that he might know of what Country and Parents he was descended But never durst tell what answer he received Plin. lib. 30. cap. 2. APollonius Tyaneus coming to the Tomb of Achilles aver'd that the Ghost of Achilles in his old and known likenesse and posture presented it self before him and that thereupon the Sepulchre did a little tremble or move and presently a young man appeared at first about five cubits high but in a short time he became twelve in stature and seemed handsomer than can be imagined The youth ask't him some frivolous questions and when he began to be somewhat too wanton and obscene Apollonius perceived he was imployed by the Devill He therefore forc't the Devill to depart and when he was gone a certain statue hard by in the likenesse of the said youth fell to the ground Philostratus JAmblicus the Philosopher tegether with his Schollars went to Gadara to certain Baths the best in all Syria or the Roman Empire except onely those of Baja to which no Baths could be compared whilest they were washing there there grew a dispute concerning these Baths amongst the young Gentlemen Jamblicus smiling commanded his pupills to inquire of some of the men that attended the baths of the names of the hot
ones but which were much more pleasant than the rest and had been named particularly for a long time They answer they understand not the meaning of the names but that one of them was called Amor and the other Anterotes The revenger of the Injuries of Lovers He presently touching the water with his hand for he sate perhaps upon the border of the Well where the water overflowed and ran out and mumbling over a few words raised one out of the bottome of the water very fair and of a comely stature with his hair as yellow as gold with a pure white skin upon his back who was in every thing like one that washed or had been bathed The young man being astonished at the novity of the thing he went to the other Fountain and did the like there calling out the other Amor in every thing like the former only that this had darker hair and longer hanging down along his neck Both these familiars or rather Tutelars came to Jamblicus embracing and hugging him as if he had been their own natural father whom he restored to their former stations and so having washt returned from the Bath Eunapius in his life WHen Basilius the Emperour dyed his eldest son Constantinus dyed with him he so passionately loved his father that he would not live after him but desired alwayes to see him alive There was a certain Monk called Theodorus and sirnamed Santabarinus preferred to the Government in the Metropolis of the Enchaitee who being a most just man was in great favour with the King and with whom the King conversed very familiarly which as one he observed to be very devout and a great lover of the truth He promised the King to shew him his son alive sitting upon a horse under a green leavy shade The foolish old man thought the Vision that the minister of the Devil had deceived his eys with had been his son and that he had embraced his son when he had nothing but a Phantasm and so wholly relyed on the credit of this Monk that he in the conceit that his other son was alive brought the King into suspition of his son Leo whom he had crowned and created King insomurh that he imprisoned him and there tormented the poor innocent Prince a long while Cuspinianus out of Zonara A Boy called Lotharingus come of an honest stock being corrupted by the evill example of his equals and companions began to frequent Taverns and tipling-houses all this while Gilbertus a kinsman of Nozerenus to whose care he was committed knowing nothing of it Mean while a young man which proved proved afterwards the Devil in a man he being drinking with his pot-companions drew him aside and promised him he would teach him how by saying a certain verse and some words which he could easily learn he might have money at his pleasure If in his name he would to his host reckon up a Symbol and from his heart believe those things which were in the holy book by him written nor would ever unfold the holy Bible The youth promising him all he desired he told him the sum of his art therein then taking the book in his left hand holding it down with his fore and middle finger of his right hand and muttering out the verse in the French tongue brasse and copper swims about and gold leaps and he shaked off his fingers 60 Crowns the sum he desired The Youth does the like as this his Instructor did before him and with the like successe but in great joy going home with the book and being much taken with the novelty opens it that he might make another by it In the middle there was a sphaerical circle like an Orb divided with two straight diametrical lines crossewayes upon which there was a picture drawn of a most dreadfull shape horned and every way like a Devil on his right hand were two crosses that joyned together on his left were the immodest parts both of a man and a woman most obscenely placed opposite to each other Presently as he beheld these ugly spectacles his eyes began to darken and his head to grow light and whithersoever he went he would look back ever and anon verily believing some body followed him close at the heels His Chamber-fellow a young man who had observed this Prodigy was examined about it and confest all the businesse to his Tutor at whose perswasion the papers were cast into the fire where they remained a full half hour without being toucht by the fire although the matter of them was to all appearance most combustible to the very great terrour of the young man and the amazement of all the standers by Cognatus l. 8. Narrat IN the time of Anastasius the Emperour the Bulgari a people before that time unknown inroded upon Illyrium and Thracia Against whom certain Roman Captains made a voyage with an Army whom these Bulgari using Magicall devices and straragems did bafflle and destroy wholly except a very few that escaped Cuspinianus SIgebert King of France was conquer'd his army destroyed and himself taken prisoner by a people called the Hunni by reason of their inchantments they used against him Gregor Turon lib. 4. cap. 28. HAquinus Prince of Norway being to fight against the Danes by his inchantments so vexed his enemies which were of a stupendious magnitude that their heads were so sore beaten by the storms that their eyes were even sore with wearinesse and lost their sight insomuch that they received more detriment by the Elements than the Enemy The Biarmenses a people very near the Artick Pole fighting in the North with that most powerful King Regnerus by their incantations rose a most violent storm against the Danes and suddenly afterwards a most hot gleam insomuch that between these two extreams the Enemy were both destroyed and conquered Olaus lib. 3. cap. 19. ARngrimus the Swedish Champion persecuting the wood Finni or Tories and in a conflict having put them to flight casting three stones behind their backs they made them appear to the Enemy like so many Mountains so that Arngrimus seeing he was gul'd recalled his forces from the pursuit thinking that by those great mountains their passage had been stopt The very next day combatting with these same again when they were not able to stand it out throwing Snow upon the ground they made the appearance of a River And so frighting the General of their Enemy with this vain shew of waters they again escaped But the third day when they saw their party begin to fail they yielded themselves up into the Conquerours power Olaus lib. 5. cap. 15. THe Magick vesture called Indusium Necessitatis amongst the Germans Nothemâ—t was much esteemed of old with which they used to arm themselves and then they were shot-free and weapon-free and thereby defended from all manner of bodily harms and enabled to undergo any hardship whatsoever untoucht This also was used by women in childbed to procure easie and safe
shepheards thorough the seven gates of the City and the seven high-wayes and afterwards to be let loose that he might return to the fields and pastures wherein he was wont to feed They that were there then said that he lifting up his eyes towards Heaven and making I know not what kind of humming they saw Stars falling and innumerable likenesses of dogs and Wolves and such kinds of living Creatures to fly all about c. Things being finished in this manner the Magitian being returnned to the City took such course with the Roman Magistrates that they commanded by publick edict that no one should of three dayes kill any four-footed beasts the rulers of the City who were then absent when they returned commanded the Greek impostor to be apprehended and cast into Prison scarse escaping the threats of the people he was punished with eternall banishment The Magick book which he used was publickly burnt Gilbert Cognatus lib. 8. of Narrations ANtonius Benevemus lib. 8. concerning the hidden causes of sicknesses thus writeth A Maid of the age of sixteen was pulled with griping grief in the bottom of her belly by infernal spirits and falling into horrid clamours her whole belly did on a suddain so swell that one would have thought she had gone eight moneths with child She had an exhausted voyce and sometimes casting her self upon her bed and joyning her feet to her neck she leaped up and falls upon her feet again casting her self down she immediately again started up this she oft did by turns but by little and little coming to her self and somewhat refreshed she was asked how she did she was wholly ignorant what had passed but we inquiring the causes of this sicknesse thought this evill to proceed from the suffocation of the matrix and evil vapours drawn upwards and then striking the heart and brain But when she could not be helped by Physick she was wonderfull fierce looking about her with a stern countenance fell at length to vomit whereby she cast up long and crooked nayls brasse pins with wax and hairs conglomerated and lastly a gobbet of such magnitude that the gorge of no creature whatsoever could wholly devour and when she had done this often I my self being a spectator conceived her to be possessed with an evil spirit who whilest she did these things amazed the beholders Wherefore being afterwards detected by more manifest signs and arguments she was committed to the Ecclesiastical Physitians for we have heard her prophesie and seen her do those things besides which go beyond the power of sicknesse and exceed humane understanding CAâ—danus relates in his fifteenth book concerning the variety of things of a certain honest Countreyman and friend who might more easily have been deceived then deceive who told to him that he had many years laboured of an unknown disease at what time by his inchantments he vomited glass nailes and hair and though at length he were restored to the very day he relates these things he did affirm that he thought he had a huge heap of broken glasse in his belly and a sound or noise as one should shake a bag full of broken glasse by which he was much vexed and also that he the seventh hour of every eighteenth day although he numbred them not had so many blowes on his heart which was a huge trouble to him for eighteen years since his recovery who sees not the actions legerdemanes and vexations first and last that the Devil puts upon those whom he finds fit by their simplicity for his delusions IN Pago Bevenstestet under the Duke of Brunswick a Maid named Margaret daughter of Henry Achils twenty years old in the year 1562 on the holy day of the Visitation of the blessed Virgin about to wipe or make clean her shooes drawes out her knife and goes to a place fit for that purpose the Maid having lost her strength by a long Feaver was yet weak contrary to her expectation in comes to the house a woman somewhat old and asketh her Whether she were yet troubled with her Feaver and whether she were free from her disease It was answered her by the Maid As yet I have not been able to go out of the house The shooes being made clean she puts the knife in her bosome which when afterwards it was diligently sought by her she saw a black dogg of an horrible shape lying upon his belly under the table which with grinning shewing his teeth went away presently it seemed to the Maid that from her head to her feet did flow something as it were of a cold humour to whom happened also a defect of the Mind or Soul and she becomes as dead without sense to the third day wherein at last she begins to breathe again and affirms that she certainly knew that that knife which she had taken out of the sheath of her Sister did stick fixed in the left side of her own body for that she did perfectly feel pain in that very place by which she was so exercised that being bowed double she was forced to lean upon a staff after three moneths there begun to appear and stand out on her left side above the Spleen betwixt her two lowest spurious ribs an Imposthume of the bignesse of a Cocks egg and like the Moon by whose increment or departure she either swelled or grew quiet The thirtieth of June there issued out of the Ulcer such store of matter that the swelling was somewhat remitted and then as it were the point of a knife appeared the Surgeon of Duke Henry sent for from the Castle of Wolâ—senbuttel took out with instruments the point of the knife standing out under her ribs and cured the Ulcer 10 Vierus lib. 3. cap. 12. concerning the impostures of Devils FRom the Nativity of Christ 1539. in a certain Town of the Bishoprick Erstetting Fugestat Uricus Newsesser a Husbandman when he was tormented about one of the sides of his ribbs with the cruel torments of griefs upon a sudden he feels with his hand an Iron nail under his unhurt skin which a Surgeon a servant there digged out with his knife notwithstanding his griefs ceased not but daily waxed worse and worse wherefore when the wretch saw there was no remedy of his grief but by dearh he taking a knife cut his own throat Therefore being dead he was brought to be buried the third day there were present then Rosenbader of Wissenburg a Town of the Noricks in Germany and John Estentet a servant attending about such businesse who a greater company beholding fell suddenly upon opening the ventricle of the dead Husbandman wherein they found very long and smooth wood four Steel culters partly sharp partly like a Saw with teeth and two rough tools of Iron every one whereof did exceed the length of a span and there was like the cover of a Globe but that thou wilt most admire is how so many and so great tools could be contained in the cavity of his
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
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
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
River Aegos besides 10. Gallies with Oares which by flight betook themselves into Cyprus Pausan in Laâ—on PHilumena a soothsaying maid whose familiarity Apelles the heretick or as some will Severus used To this maid the Devill by an Apparition in the habit of a boy answered sometimes saying he was Christ sometimes Paul He also wrought miracles amongst which that is a chief that he cast a great loaf of bread into a glasse-viall of a most narrow mouth and lifted him up with the tops of his fingers unhurt and with that bread alone as with meat given her from God he said she should be contented Augustine is witnesse THe same blessed Augustine in his first book against the Academicks delivereth that there was a man at Carthage by name Albigerius of a reproachfull life who had known all secrets so that when he was asked a question by a Scholler of Romantian unto whom Augustine writeth for trialls sake what thing he though of He answered a Verse of Virgil. when he was again asked by the same Scholler what Verse he repeated that Cardane of diversenesse of things Book 8. ch 43. ISaac Angell Emperour of the Greeks going to Radaestum a Sea-City came to Basilacius a man of an unaccustomed life and who had obtained that opinion amongst all as that he could foresee and foretell things to come He uttered words confused disagreeing among themselves and doubtfull The paps of women comming to him being searched and their Ankles handled he drew out dark Oracles or speeches and to many questions he answered nothing and finished his divinations with runnings to and fro and mad gestures There stood little old women by him his kins-women who explained to those that asked Counsell what those behaviours of Basilacius might foreshew of things to come and interpreted his silence as a wise speech He answered nothing to the Emperours saluting him neither gave he thanks by a silent nod of his head but leaping hither and thither like a mad man cursed those that came to him Constantine of Mesopotamia especially who was then most familiar with Isaac At length with a walking staffe which he carried in his hands the eyes of the Emperours Image which was painted in the wall of his privy Chamber of speaking being scraped out he also endeavoured to take the cap off from his head The Emperour despising him as a doting or raving person returned But not long after he was by his brother Alexius deprived of both eyes and Empire and the opinion of Basilacius was confirmed the which had been at the first uncertain and doubtfull in many things Nicet book 3. HEctor Boethius in the Scottish affairs saith it was a common report that Merline was begotten by the copulation of a spirit called Incubus and a British woman of a Noble bloud of whom Vincent in 21. book History 30. thus telleth King Vortiger counsell being taken what he ought to do for defence of himself commanded cunning workmen to be called unto him who should build a most strong Tower But when as the Earth swallowed up their works they perswaded the King that he should search out a man without a father with whose bloud the stones and morter might be sprinkled as if by that means the morter would be made firm Therefore the young man Merline by name was found who with his Mother is brought before the King who confesseth he was conceived by a spirit in Mans shape This Merline revealed many dark things and foretold things to come For he opened that under the foundation there was a lake under the Lake two Dragons lay hid whereof one being red did signify the people of the Brittains but the other being white of the Saxons and he also prophesied that Aurelius Ambrose Hengist being overcome and Vortiger burnt should reign Vier b. â— ch 46. of the Delusions of Devills Coelius writeth there was in his Countrey a poor desolate woman in a low or obscure place named Jacoba out of whose belly he himself and indeed an innumerable company of others not onely at Rodigium but also almost all Italy heard the voice of an unclean spirit very small in deed but yet when he would distinct and altogether to be understood when as the mind of the great ones that was greedy of that which was to come desired oftentimes this belly-speaking woman to be sent for and stripped of all her cloathing lest any thing of secret deceit should lye hid The name of the Devill was Cincinnatulus He much delighting in this name a little after answered to one calling for him If thou shalt demand of things past and present what things might be most hidden he gave oftentimes wonderfull answers If of things to come alwaies most false But also his ignorance he sometimes more truly discovered by an uncertain muttering or humming Coelius Book 8. ch 10. of old readings ADrian Turneb the Kings professour of the Greek tongue testified that he saw Peter Brabantius a crafty man very like to Euriclus Aristophanes who as often as he would so often he spoke from the nethermost part of his body with unmoved lips and by this imposture or cousenage of the Devill he blinded the eyes of many in many places For when he would be love-sick for a certain beautifull maid of Paris nor could perswade her mother that he might espouse her to himself at length when they willingly and on both sides talk together of this matter he uttereth a voice out of his body in which the dead husband of the poor woman seemed to complain of the greatnesse of the punishments which he should endure in Purgatory for the mistrustfullnesse of his Wife because she denyed her daughter so often desired by Brabantius a most excellent man with which complaints she being affrighted and pittying her Husband assented to the request of the Knave who notwithstanding it sufficiently appeared sought not so much after the daughter as a dowry appointed her by her Father in his will For six Moneths after when as he had wasted the maids goods the wife and Mother in Law being left he fled away to Lugdunum There he had understood that a certain Merchant and very rich banker dyed Who seeing he was accounted a most unjust man for that he had scraped together all things by right and wrong in his life time he commeth to his Son Cornutus his onely heir walking in a Porch behind the Church-yard and intimates that he was sent thither that he might teach him what was needfull for him to do But while he saith he was to think rather of his father's Soul and good name than of his death while they speak a voice resembling his father is unexpectedly heard the which when Brabantius gave out of his belly he feigned himself neverthelesse to be in a wonderfull manner astonied But his son was moved with this voice into what condition his father had fallen by his injustice and with what torments of Purgatory both for his own and his
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
Of these some are Dukes and as it were Masters others Earls and Schollars There is also another cunning of these to search out the passage not onely of horses and beasts but also of men by a cloathed or covered by a naked by a hard ground by small stones by great stones as that the number of those who passed by doth not at any time almost deceive them who by a fit word may be called Searchers These shewed forth a notable example of their Art in the Warr which Ferdinand waged against the Moors For when as a hundred Saracen's horsemen had avowed to their King never to return unless they had shewn forth some famous act against the Christians and had privily come through wayes unpassible and to fall upon the Christians garrison The Searchers somewhat perceiving their way and number made the Watch acquainted of their lying in wait and they having followed the horsemen they constrained them being shut in on both sides to yield themselves in the channel of a brook being tyed together in a long rank with one rope Laurent Valla book 1. of Histories ALexander Emperour in the year of the Lord 904 as Sigebert writeth was idle being given to riot and Magick He having demanded of his Juglers Whether he was to live long he received an answer If he had taken away from the brazen Boar in the Theatre his teeth and privy members By which saying they did signifie that he was given to gluttony and lusts from the which if he did not abstain he would hasten his death that which fell out For after bathing yielding himself to banquets and sports a vein being broken he dyed with an issue of bloud Zonaras Cedrenus SImeon Duke of Bulgarians had brought War on the Crobatians it is told to Lacapenus a Roman Emperour there was an Image placed in the top of Xerolophus his vault toward the West that was turned into the shape of Simeon the head of which Image if it be cut off the death of Simeon should not be far off That being done the same hour it was told the Emperour he to have dyed of a pain of the stomach Zonaras IN the Gades there is an old stone in the brink of the Sea most excellently graven upon the passage with Saracens work downward broad and squared upward narrowed and of so great an heighth as a Crow is wont to fly on high upon which is the Image of a man lifted up of Copper raised up on his feet having his face toward the South and a great Club holding in his right hand Which club as the Saracens deliver shall fall out of his hand in the year in which a King to be in France shall be boâ—n who in the last times shall subject all Spain unto Christian Lawes And straightway as soon as the Saracens shall see the Club fallen they shall all flee from their treasures laid in the earth The Saracens deliver That Mahomet while he was yet alive built that Idol and engaged a certain Legion of devils thither by the Art of Magick the which holds it so strongly that it could never be broken by any neither doth it suffer Christians to come to it without danger but onely Mahometans and that Birds sitting on it it suddenly killeth them Turpine of Rhemes with Eufordiensis chap. 68. AMong the Biarmians Laplanders Bothnians Finlanders Northern people there is this often kind of magicall divining The Magitian goeth into a closet content with one companion and his wife he smiteth a brazen Frog or Serpent with an hammer upon an anvil with certain stroaks and turns up and down hither and thither with a muttering of verses and straightway falling is snatched into a trance and layeth along for a short time as dead In the mean time he is most diligently kept by his foresaid companion lest a fly gnat or any other living creature should touch him Being returned to himself he sheweth a ring or little knife in token of his dispatched embassage and declareth unto his hires by certain signs what is done Olaus book 5. chap. 17. JAnnes the Master of Theophilus the Emperour was wont to foretell things to come by the prophesie and juglings of a bason When as sometime the Barbarians making use of three Leaders did annoy the Roman power the Emperour bade him hope well Between brazen Images which were in Euripus of the Circle a certain Image with three heads was reported to stand Therefore Jannes commanded three brazen hammers to be framed and them to be delivered to men of strong hands who at an appointed hour of the night came with him unto that Image and when he had commanded them they should valiantly smite the heads while they as it were with one stroke and force should cast down on the earth those heads A great part of the night being now finished Jannes came with those men unto the Image and repeating a magick verse taketh away the strength that was in the Image he bade the men with all their force to smite the heads of the Image By two of their most strong stroaks two heads of the Image shook off the third striking something more slackly he bended indeed yet plucked not away the head wholly from the body After the same manner was it done with the Captains of that Nation For an inbred sedition arising two of the Captains were slain the third received a wound but not deadly The Barbarians therefore being deprived of their strength returned home Cedrene APollonius Tyaneus when he disputed in Ephesus being almost separated from his soul and with inbent eyes as if he had been in the present thing said often Smite the sinner Stephen smite him And at last added The Tyrant is dead who was heard with the great admiration of all that were present afterward they received that on the same day and the very moment of hour Domitian the Emperour was slain at Rome by a man whose name was Stephen as Apollonius had then declared Fulgosus book 1. chap. 9. Xiphiline in Domitian STephen the Hagio-Christophorite it is the name of an office but for his wickednesse otherwise called Antichristophorite after that he knew from the Devil by Sethus a Magitian destruction to hang over the head of Andronicus Comnenus by him whose name had its beginning J. S. he appointed Isaac Angell whom Andronicus despised as a low-spirited man to be laid hold of and first to commit him to custody and then by the Judgment of Andronicus the Tyrant to kill him Therefore entring into the Chamber of Isaac in the evening he commanded Isaac to come down and to follow him But he delaying he brought force Isaac defending himself kills Stephen and going into the Temple with his sword drawn he goeth up into that Seat where Manslayers explaining their wicked deed desire pardon from those that go in and out But a multitude of the City in great number presently flow together unto the Temple The Uncle of Isaac helpeth him
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
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
Lord 1330 invaded Italy falling sick of the Gowt underwent great perill in his affairs circumvented by the unfaithfull dealing of his couzen german General Leodrisius who leading the Rhaetian and Helvetian cohorts and with a strong hand gathering together all banished men came to Abdua Actius though troubled with the Gowt raised Souldiers in every place and left his Garrisons well fortified to the care of Governours till such time as his expected recruits should come to him And committing the Van-guard of his Army to his Lievtenant Nervianus the Leodrisianians had prevailed against them had not St. Ambrose the Mediolanensian guardian Saint been seen by many of the City in form of an Horseman succouting them apparently in their distress for there came at that time to their relief Hector Panicus with a wing of Cataphractans Albrogians sent by Ludovicus Subaudius father-in-law to Actius which overcame the Rhaetians unseasonably exulting and resting themselves disorderly putting them to the sword and took Leodrisius himself prisoner there being slain at that time above four hundred thousand men And in the field where this Victory was obtained a Temple was built to St. Ambrose in memory thereof where yearly upon the twenty fourth of February the Mediolanensian people coming together in great pomp with the Praetor and Counsellors celebrated his Feast with sacred solemnities Jovius in Actio But Fulgosus lib. 1. cap. 6. writeth That the Auxiliaries which came to relieve Actius as soon as they began battel clearly saw Ambrose with a whip to fall upon the Barbarians which Martinus Scaliger led being hired thereunto by Leodrisius and in memory of this Victory Ambrose was pictured with a whip in his hand ever after this IN the battle wherein Ramirus King of Spain fought against the Saracens before Calugurium James the Apostle was seen by all who were there leading the Christian Army and putting the Saracens to flight NIcephorus lib. 8. cap. 23. reporteth That Chrysanthus and Musonius being Bishops who sate in the Nicene Council and dying before they had subscribed those Articles of Faith which were there agreed upon the Fathers of the Council therefore went to their Monuments and holding a writing in their hands which contained in it the Articles they spoke to them as if they had been living men hearing them Holy Fathers you have fought a good fight with us you have finished your course and kept the faith if therefore what we have done ought to be allowed and confirmed it is meet and needfull that you who are illustrated by the splendour of the Trinity whose beatificall Vision frees you from all obscurity and hindrance which lets us from the clear and perfect discerning of things with us subscribe this little book who when they had spoke these words laid it down before the Tomb sealed and going to their rest that night and returning in the morning they found the book sealed with the seals inviolated and their subscriptions inserted with the rest which they perceived to be newly written in these words We Chrysanthus and Musonius with all the Fathers in the first holy Oecumenical and Nicene Council do agree and although translated from our bodies yet with our own proper hands we have subscribed the Articles in this book PLergilis a Priest prayed That he might see what species laid hid under the form of bread and wine and whilest he continued his supplications for the same an Angel from Heaven appearing to him speaketh saying Arise quickly if thou desire to see Christ he is present cloathed with that body which the holy Mother of God bore he therefore casting his eyes upon the Altar seeth the child the onely begotten Son of the Father whom with trembling arms he takes and kisses and presently restores again to the top of the Altar and falling prostrate upon his knees again he implored Almighty God again that he would turn him again into his pristine species and as soon as he had finished his prayer he found the body of Christ returned to his wonted form as by prayer he had desired Rabbanus de Sacramento Eucharistiae cap. 30. Paschasius in libro de corpore et sanguine Domini cap. 41. A Certain Souldier in the City of Rome extinct by the Plague when he revived said That he saw a narrow bridge under which ran a River ugly and caliginous which sent forth an incredible stinking savour but on the other side of the bridge upon the bank-side of the River he saw pleasant places which with the variety of flowers which grew therein sent forth such fragrant odours as much delighted the smelling faculty and habitations all about which were of a certain divine form and splendour but amongst the rest one was greater and excelled in glory for that it was wholly built with golden bricks but for whom it was built he could not understand but he considered that he observed that the just most securely passed that bridge and that the unjust and reprobate fell into the River then he saw as he said a stranger a Priest who inoffensively passed through those streights having quietly and contentedly suffered the going thorow the turnings therein for that he had lived piously in this world but amongst those which he saw fall whom the whirlpool of the froathy snatching stream tossed about he saw Peter chief Bishop of the Ecclesiasticall Family who four years since coming that way infolded with Iron chains and in vain striving to swim through the horrible hollow passage he therefore had a warrant as a punishment to him to punish those that hereafter should be guilty rather severely then indulgently Marulus lib. 6. cap. 14. IN the Castle of the seven holy brethren Albericus a certain Noble child when he attained the tenth year of his age afflicted with sicknesse was brought even to deaths-door at which time he lay immoveable without sense as if he had been quite dead seven dayes and nights In which interval brought by the blessed Apostle Peter and two Angels he cometh to the infernal gulph at length he was brought to see the pleasant things of Paradise and lifted up into the aerie Heaven he was sufficiently instructed by Peter of things contained in the Old Testament of the punishments due to sinners and the glory of Saints he saw certain secret things which he was forbid to speak and so for seventy dayes he being led about the Provinces by him he was restored to life Chronicon Cassionense lib. 4. cap. 68. VIncentius hath a long Narration extant in his book 27. chap. 99. of Tundalus whose soul was led by an Angel as well to the infernal place of punishments as purgatory where he saw many whom he knew at his first entrance amongst the blessed he met with a multitude of men and women enduring the misery of rains and winds pining away with hunger and thirst but injoying light molested with no stink who as the Angel told me had not lived very honestly nor had been charitable to the poor were
argument against them though as himself confessed they were the chiefest and most excellent in all kind of knowledg and learning And he was not ashamed to stand onely upon his own bare conceit and opinion impudently maintaining without any reason at all against them that were as wise if not more wise then himself and more in number that forsooth nothing at all whatsoever was said or alledged touching Specters ought to be admitted or believed But what reasons I pray you doth he bring to confirm his saying Truly none at all but that onely of his own absolute and uncontrouled authority he will draw to his incredulity all others whom he seeth to be assured and setled in their opinion Notwithstanding that they are certainly resolved of the truth by the exteriour senses with which they have perceived and known that to be true which so constantly they do maintain and defend But how can it possibly be that a man should think without any shew of reason by incredulity and mockery onely to confute and overthrow that which hath been ever of all men and in all ages received and admitted Certainly this is the fashion and guise of mockers and scorners that that which they cannot deny nor yet have a will to confesse they will find the means to put it off with a jest and laughter and so think secretly to insinuate themselves into the minds and conceits of their hearers especially such as look not nor have a regard to the truth and substance of a thing but onely to the outward shadow and grace of words and glorious speeches Such a scorner needeth not any great knowledge because it is sufficient for him to be superficially skilfull in any thing so that he can with a kind of grave and smiling grace shift off the reasons and arguments of those whose knowledge and learning is so exceeding far beyond his as during his whole life he will never attain unto the like Thus did Machiavel carry himself who amongst the learned and men of skill and judgment knew well how to make his profit of his scoffes and pleasant grace in jesting whereby he would many times strike them out of countenance in the sight of them that heard him whereas if he had come to dispute with them by lively reasons and solid Arguments he would at the very first blow have been overthrown and confounded But in the end he discovered himself sufficiently and was reputed of all men no other then a Scoffer and an Atheist as Paulus Jovius testifieth of him But we will cease to speak any further of him of Lucian and of those of their humour and will return to our matter touching Specters the which that we may the better explain now that we have briefly declared the diversity of opinions of those that insist upon the contrary we will answer unto each of them in order as they have been propounded And first as touching the Sadduces the Epicures the Peripateticks we will severally answer their Arguments which they object against us Next we will remove those difficulties which are objected and shew how the Angels and Devils may take upon them a body Afterwards we will shew and discover unto the Scepticks that the humane senses are not so faulty and uncertain as they would make men believe And last of all to the intent we may leave nothing behind we will not forget to shew by what maladies and infirmities the senses may be hurt and troubled and the Imaginative power of man wounded and changed so as all that which is supposed to be seen is meerly false and untrue To come first of all to the Sadduces It is most certain that of all men they were the most grosse and carnall and did not believe that any thing was spirituall but they did Imagine all to be corporall because they said that the Humane Understanding doth alwaies work with the Phantasme and with the thing Imagined And it appeareth that in dreaming of any thing whatsoever we do alwaies imagine it to be corporall whereupon they conclude that all things are corporall and therefore that even God also is a corporal Substance which is the greatest absurdity and Blasphemy that can be imagined in the world For it we should restrain God into a body we must also make him subject to a body so saith Saint John Damascen which in a word is to restrain and shorten the power and omnipotency of God the which being infinitely above all substances both corporall and incorporall is not subject to their Category The reason that moved them to believe that God was corporall was a place of Moses for they did not receive nor admit of any Scriptures but the five Books of Moses as saith Origen wherein it is written That God made Moses to stay in the Cave of a Rock or Mountain and putting his hand upon him did shew him his hinder parts not suffering him to see his face And therefore in regard that Moses attributeth unto God a face a hand and other parts they conclude that God hath a body Of the same opinion also was Tertullian as witnesseth Saint Augustine writing to Optatus and the Bogomiâ—es being certain Heretiques of Bulgary who thought that God was as we are so writeth Enthymus and that from his two eyes out of his brain did issue two beams the one called the Sunne and the other the Holy Spirit which is a most blasphemous and intolerable errour Now the occasion why the Sadduces did so eagerly defend and maintain that God had a body was because they would deny all incorporall substances to which effect they thus argued If God say they have created any substances he created them to his own Image and likenesse and therefore when he made man he said That he made him according to his own Image shewing thereby that he was of a corporall substance because that Man whom he formed to the pattern of his own face is corporall And if God have made nothing but what is corporall It followeth that the Angells and Devills which are said to be Spirits are nothing but meer fables and that there be not any Souls or spirits separated from a corporall substance and by consequence that the Soul of man is mortall as the body and hath no need to be reunited thereunto by the generall resurrection But it is easy to answer them by denying plainly that God is corporall or hath any body For albeit the holy Scripture doth attribute unto God hands feet face eyes and other parts of a body yet this must be understood spiritually and by those corporall and bodily members we must imagine the spirituall vertues of God according as saith S. Gregory as by his eyes we must understand his foresight and his knowledg to the which all things are open and from which nothing is hidden and concealed By his hand is meant his Almighty power and puissance By his face the plenitude and fullnesse of his glory By his hinder parts his