Algadefie was wholie ruined the houses and buildings beeing layd flat with the ground The fiue and twenty of May 1566. about three a clocke in the afternoone a clap fell vpon the Castle of Misnia burnt a floore of a Chamber melted kettles and Pannes spoiling all the Chambers entring and going out at the windowes then downe into the cellars to the great amazement of all but hurt not any person Three yeares after the nineteeneth of Iulie the thunder hauing rored from eight a clocke in the morning till foure in the afternoone the boult about one a clock light vpon the Colledge Church of the Towne-house Much Cattell and some men were found dead in the ficildes amongest other memorable accidents the lightning ceized vpon a Country fellowe who burnt all his Bodie ouer three daies after and then died The Mother of IEROME FRACASTORIVS an excellent Philosopher admirable Poet and happy Physition of our time hauing him in her armes giuing him suck was strooke with a thunder-clap and kild without any touch or hutt to the little Childe which was a presage of the glory that this excellent personage who liued long after and then died of an Apoplexie should bee crowned with Horrible fury IN the memory of our Ancestors a Carpentar of Wilsmarse a famous towne in Saxony some-times possest with a Phrensie traueling one day with some of his owne condition with out saying a worde tooke his hatchet and went towards his house where being entred he cloue in two two of his Children his Wife being great with childe hearing the noise ran to saue the third which hee left falling vpon his Wife and cut her and the fruite she bare in peeces And so being couered with bloud he returned to his companions being askt how he came so he came to his senses And then remembring what he had done he went againe to his house snatcht a knife and gaue himselfe a blow on the brest and fell downe dead vpon the ground CRANTZIVS in his 10. booke of Vandalia Of Giants IN the yeare 1511. the Emperor Mâ—…XIMILIAN 1. being at Ausâ—…ourg at an Assembly of the States they presented a man vnto him of an vnreasonable height greatnesse who at a fewe month-fulls and without any stay did eate a whole Sheep or a Calfe not caring whether it were rost or raw saying that it did but sharpen his appetite SVRIVS in his Commentary of the memorable things of our time IOACHIM the 2. of that name Elector of Brandebourg had a peasant in his Court called Little MICHEL by ANTIPHRASIS for he was eight foot high which is a great stature of a man in our time but little and small in comparison of great men in old time namely of Goliath and others about Iudea MATHEVV HORST in his collection of the combate betwixt DAVID and GOLIATH I haue seene a young mayden of a Giant-like stature whom they did carry from Towne to Towne to shewe her as a prodigious thing for the sight of whome euery man gaue some thing wherewith her Mother that conducted her and she were entertained She was in a hired Chamber by her selfe and there suffred her selfe to be seene with admiration Going as others did I inquired carefully of euery point and did learne both from herselfe and her Mother who was a woman of a meane stature that the maidens Father was not tall that in all their stocke there was not any one that exceeded the height of other persones that her Daughter vntill shee was twelue yeares olde was very little but falling at the same time into a quarten ague which had held her some monethes comming to leaue her shee beganne then to growe all her members beeing proportionable to that height so as when I did see her shee was about fiue and twenty yeares olde neither could I note from the head vnto the sole of the foote any disproportion in any of her members but a fit measure in euery one of them At this age of 25. yeares shee had not yet had her monethly Termes nature seeming to haue required and restrayned this excrementall bloud for the norrishment and preseruation of so great a body Shee was helth-full ill faced black simple and grosse writted and heauy of all her Body for the vitall vertue infused at the beginning into this body according vnto the measure due to the greatnesse of an ordinary person dispersed afterwards into so great a Masse could not with equall power shew the efficacie of his worke as in a meane bodie and experience doth shewe that vertue restrained shewes it selfe more vigorous then when it is two much dispersed for the regard of naturall causes of this extraordinary greatnesse by the meanes of the quarten ague wee will leaue the decision vnto Physitions and will not dispute with them but in a word if a person that is about the age of twelue or twentie yeares comes to growe through a sicknesse so as in proportion of Bodie shee comes to bee twise as heigh as anie other wee must confesse that this force of nature is extraordinarie and admirable We haue drawne this Historie out of MARCELLVS DONATVS a learned Physition Lib. 3. Chap. 14. Whereas he treats amply of the causes of the Giant-like height as his profession did require After the victorie which King LEVVIS the twelfth obtained at the Battaile of Lode beeing gone to Milan I found a young man in the hospitall so great as hee could not stand right vp hauing not suffycient norrishment of nature for the thicknesse of his Bodie and the proportion of his forces Hee was therefore layd vpon two beddes the one ioyned long waies vnto the other the which hee did fill with his length The Samogitiens which inhabite betwixt Prusia and Liuonia are verie talle and yet some-times they ingender Children which come to age are of a verie small stature and some-times others which growe wonderfull great SCALIGER in the 63. exercitation against CARDAN There was in our time in Bourdelois a man of an vnmeasurable heigth and greatnesse by reason whereof he was called the Giant of Bourdeaux King FRANCIS amazed to see so long a body commanded hee should be one of his Guarde Hee was a peasant of a grose spirit so as not able to applye himselfe to a Courtiers life after some dayes hee gaue ouer his Halbard and returned to his Village An honourable person who had seene him Archer of the Guarde did assure mee that hee was of such a heigth as any other man of an ordinarie stature might goe right vp betwixt his legges when hee did stride I. CHASSAGNON in his Treatise of Giants Chap. 6. In the yeare 1571 there was a Gyant seene at Paris whome euery man did runne to see Hee kept himselfe very close in an Inne and no man could haue the sight of him but in paying to see him Entring into the Chamber where hee was kept they did see with admiration a man of a strange height sitting in a Chaire but their wondring
the Mother had also giuen him the like councell to escape but GOD by his power did so staie him as hee had no power to flie Beeing carried to prison and examined at the first hee couered his parricyde accusing his Father that hee had slaine himselfe But his excuses beeing found friuolous hee was condemned to haue his right hand cut off then to bee pinched with hot pincers and in the ende hanged by the feete vpon a gibet and strangled with a stone of sixe score pound which should bee hanged at his necke A wicked counterfet beeing prisoner with him aduised him to appeale vnto Paris But hauing freely confessed the Parricide hee reuoked his appeale and was executed The History of our times Of the Heart of man Diuers Histories thereof in our time HAuing perced an Impostume grown of a long time vpon the seauenth turning ioynt where through the venom of his corruption it had made a great ouerture and gnawne the innermost membrane of the heart those which were present beheld one part of the heart which I did shewe them A. BENIVENIVS in his booke de abditis causis Chap. 42. Two Bretheren gentlemen falling out at tables the one of them gaue the other a wound with his knife iust on the seege of the heart the hurt gentleman bleeding exceedingly was carried and layed on a bed whereas all signes of death appeered Beeing sent for I applied that to the heart which I thought â—…it to strengthen it The patient hauing beene as it were at deathes doore vntil midnight beganne to come to himselfe and hauing vsed all the meanes possible I could deuise for his preseruation at length I sawe him cured whereby I knewe the heart had not beene perished as at the first I doubted but the filme or Capsula thereof called PERICALDION by the Greekes was lightly tainted The same Author Chap. 65. We haue seene ANTHONY ALâ—…IAT hurt and hauing his Pericordian vntoucht True it is that hee did sigh very much and lowd The internall parts beeing hurt bring death foure waies either through necessity of their function and office as the Lunges or by reason of the excellency of their nature as the Hart or through much losse of bloud as the Liuer the great arteries and veines or through the malignity of Symptomes and accidents as the neruie parts the ventricle and bladder Although some parts be incurable yet are they not mortall of absolute necessity otherwise death would ensue vpon the incurable hurts of boanes gristles and lygaments The Pericordion then is not mortall of it selfe but because it is impossible to attaine it without offending many other noble parts CARDAN in his Commentarie on the Aphorismes of Hipocrates booke 6. apb 18. Anatomizing a Scholler of mine dead in the Vniuersitie of Rome I found that this yong man had no Pericardion by meanes whereof in his life-time hee swounded very often and seemed as one dead through which defect at length hee died COLVMBVS booke 15. of his Anatomy A certaine Theefe being taken downe from the gallowes where he had bene hanged and not quite strangled was carefully looked vnto and recouered But like an vngratious wretch as he was returning to his old trade againe hee was apprehended and throughly hanged Wherevpon we would needes Anatomize him and wee found that his heart was all heary Which is likewise reported among the Grecians of Aristomenes of Hermogenes the Rhetorician of Leonydas of Lysander and others namely of a dog that ALEXANDER the great had This haire denotes not onely promptitude of Courage and peruerse obstinacy but many times valour contemning all danger BENIVENIVS in Chap. 83. de Abditis causis Vpon a certaine time making the Anatomy of a man at Ferrara wee found his heart cleane couered ouer with haire and indeede he had beene all his life time a desperate ruffian and a notable theefe AMATVS the Portingale in Centur. 6 Cur. 65. Being at Venice and present at the execution of a very notorious theefe the hangman that quartered his bodie found his heart meruailous hairye M. A. Muret booke 12. of his dyuers readings Chap. 10. I haue seeâ—…e the sepâ—…um that distinguisheth the ventrycles of the heart to be a gristle in some mens Bodies in others the left ventricle wanting or so little as it could hardly bee discerned Columb booke 15. of his Anatomy I found in two mens bodies that I opened a boane in the rootes of the great artery and of the arteryall vaine CORN GEMMA in the 2. booke of his Cyclognomia pag 75. In another I found a little boane betweene the gristly circles of the heart the chiefe artery and arteriall veine like to the boane which is commonly found in the heart of a stagge CORN GEMMA in the 1. booke Chap. 6. of his Cosmocritif Doctor MELANCHTHON in his first booke of the Soule testifies of CASIMIR Marquise of Brandebourg a Prince greatly afflicted in his life time with sundry griefes and consumed with long watchings that beeing opened after his decease the humor enclosed in the fylme of the heart was â—…ound quite dried vp and the heart so scorched that it was like a peare burnt in the fire TH. IORDAN in the 1. booke of signes of the plague Chap. 16. Not long since a Romaine gentleman died after hee had languished along time Being opened no heart appeared neither was there any part of it but the fylme left the vnmeasurable heate of his long sicknesse hauing wholy consumed it BERN. IELASIVS in the 28. Chap. of the 5. booke of the nature of things A young Prince being sickly and very much troubled with a payne at the heart assembled a great many Physitions togither for to consult of his dissease Among others there was a young practitioner who declared how he had read in certaine notes that the vse of garlick euerie morning expells a kinde of worme that feedes vpon the heart But both the remedy and the young man that propounded it were despised Not long after this Prince died and his body was opened by the commandement of his Father for to see the cause of his sicknesse death The dissection made they found a white worme hauing a sharpe bill of horne like a pâ—…llets gnawing the heart The Physitions tooke it aliue and layd it on a table in a circle made of the iuyce of garlick The worme began to writh and wriggle euery way still eschuing the iuyce that compassed it about Finally surmounted by the strength and sauor of the garlick it died within the circle to the astonishment of those that had despised so easie a remedie I. HEBANSTEIF in his treatise of the plague It is not long agoe that in the great Duke of Tuscans Court a certaine Florentine beeing assistant at the merry conceites of a pleasant iester was suddainly seized with vnexpected death whereat the company and his friends being much abashed for their better satisfaction after he was knowne to bee starke dead they had him opened and there was
replied Thinkest thou therefore that wee feare thee He in whom wee trust is of farre more infinite power and strength then thou art Then CLATH incited with a holy zeale in the presence of all his house commanded Sathan in the name of IESVS CHRIST to come forth of him reading the 11. Chapter of the Gospell of St. Luke where mention is made of a dumbe Diuill cast out by the power of our Sauiour as also of BEELZEBVB Prince of Diuils In the end WILLIAM began to take some rest and slept till morning like a man in a traunce then taking a little broth and feeling himselfe through well hee was carried home to his friends hauing first thanked his master and mistresse and desired GOD to recompence them for the paines they had taken with him during his affliction After that he maried and had children and was neuer tormented more of the Diuill I. WIER in the booke c. before mentioned Vpon the 18. day of March 1566. a very memorable matter happened in the towne of Amsterdam in Holland whereof Maister ADRIAN NICHOLAS Chancellor of Gueldres makes a publicke discourse containing this which ensueth Some two moneths agoe or thereabout saith he thirty children in this Towne began to bee tormented after a strange manner as though they had beene lunatick or madde By fitts they threw themselues against the ground and this torment lasted halfe an houre or an houre at the most When they rose againe they neuer remembred any paine they had felt nor any other thing they had done in their fitte but thought they had slept The Phisitions to whom they had recourse did them no good because they were of opinion that their disease proceeded not from naturall causes Wherevpon their Parents imagining they were bewitched resorted vnto Witches but they preuailed as little with all their sorcery Finally they repaired vnto Exorcists by reason they were perswaded their children were possessed because vpon the suddaine they said many things which surpast their capacitie and age These Exorcists emploied all their cunning and lost their labour During their exorcismes the children vomited a great sort of Needles Pinnes Thimbles lumpes of Cloath pieces of broken Pottes Glasse Haire and other such things for all which not-with-standing they were neuer the better but at times fell into the same extremitie againe to the great astonishment of all men for the rarenesse of so strange a spectacle I. WIER in his 4. Booke chap. 8. The like happened at Rome the yeare 1553. for in the Hospitall of the Orphans about seuenty Girles were possessed in one night and continued in that estate aboue two yeares CARDAN in the 4. Booke de variatate Chap. 176. IOHN LANGIVS a very learned Physition writeth in the first Booke of his Epistles that in the yeare 1539. this which followeth happened at Fungestall a Village in the Bishoprick of Eysteten verified by a number of good witnesses VLRIC NEVSESSAR a labouring man dwelling in that Village was miserably tormented with a paine in his hips One day the Chirurgion hauing made an incision in the skinne drew out a great Yron Nayle the paine abated not for all that but contrarily so encreased that the poore man became desperate and with a sharpe knife cut his owne throate As hee was carrying forth to be buried two Chirurgions in the presence of a great many people opened his stomack and there found some round pieces of wood foure Steele Kniues some very keene and some dented like a Sawe also two Yron barres of 9. inches long a peece and a great lumpe of hayre I wonder how that Yron could be contained within the capacity of his stomach but no question it was a deuise of the Diuill who cunningly supposed all those things for to make himselfe be feared I. WIER in his 4. Booke Chap. 9. The torments where with the Diuill afflicted certaine Nunnes at Wertet in the County of Horne are meruailous and horrible Which came first as it is reported by the meanes of a poore woman who in the Lent time borrowed a Quarte of Salte of the Nunnes weyghing three pounds or there-about and payde them twise asmuch againe a little before Easter After that they found little white Pellets in their Dortor like to round Sugar Plummes and Salte in taste whereof not-with-standing none of them did eate nor knew not from whence they came Shortlye there-vpon they heard a thing which seemed to grone like a sicke man they likewise vnderstood a voyce willing certaine of the Nunnes to come to one of their Sisters that was sick but there was no such matter when they came If at any time they chaunced to make water in their Chamber-pot it was suddainely snatched away so that they all berayed their beddes They were often drawne about the house by the heeles and so tickled in the soles of their feete that they swouned with laughing Some had pieces of their flesh plucked away and others had their legges armes and face turned back-ward Diuers of them beeing thus tormented vomited a great quantity of black licor like vnto incke although they had eaten nothing in seauen weekes before but a little iâ—…yce of rapes without bread some were hoisted vp in the aire to the highth of a man and presently throwne downe against the ground As certaine of their friends came to the Couent for to make merry with them who seemed to be almost well on a suddaine some of them fell backward as they sate at table quite depriued of speach and sence the rest lay all along as though they had bin dead with their armes and legges bowed back-ward One amongst them was hoisted vp in the aire and albeit those that were present stroue with all their might to hinder it yet was shee snatched vp spight of their teethes and then so throwne against the ground that shee seemed to be dead but rysing vp againe within a while after as if it had beene out of a sound sleepe she went out of the refectory hauing no hurt Some went vpon their knees as if they had no feete Others climbed vp to the toppes of trees and came downe againe as lightly as if they had beene Catts This torment of the Nunnes continued three yeares openly knowne but afterward it was kept close I. WIER lib. 4. Chap. 10. With this same agrees that which happened to Saint Brigitts Nunnes in their Couent hard by Xante Sometimes they skipped and bleated like sheepe or rored in most horrible manner Sometimes they were thrust out of their pues in the Church or had their vailes pulled of their heads and many times their throtes was so stopped that they were not able to swallowe any meate This strange calamitie endured the space of ten yeares in some of them And it is reported that a young Nunne surprised with the loue of a young man was cause thereof for her parents hauing denyed her him in mariage the Diuell taking the forme of that young man vpon him appeered vnto her in her
teeth and grinning at her got into the street and ran away Presently wherevpon this maide thought she felt I know not what running downe on the one side of her back as it were some cold humor and immediatly shee swounded continuing so till the third day after when she began to find a little ease to receiue some sustenance Now being demanded cōcerning the cause of her griefe she answered that she was well assured the Knife which fell into her lappe was entred into her left side in which place she felt a paine And although her friends contradicted her because they attributed this indisposition to a melancholy humor and that she talked idlely by reason of her sicknesse long abstinence and other accidents yet ceased shee not to persist in her continuall plaints and teares so that her head became very light some-times shee remained two dayes togither without taking any thing although they vsed both faire meanes foule to draw her therevnto Her fits were worse at some-times then at other some insomuch that shee tooke but little rest because of the continuall paines that tormented her whereby shee was constrained to go euen double on a staffe And that which more augmented her griefe and diminished her ease was that shee verily beleeued the knife was in her body and yet euery one obstinatly contradicted her in it and propounded the impossibilitie therof imagining that her braine was distempred considering nothing was seene that might induce thē to such an opinion saue her incessant teares and complaints wherin she continued the space of certaine moneths to such time as there appeared on her left side a tumor of the bignes of an Egge like to an halfe Moone which encreased or decreased according as the swelling waxed more or lesse Then the poore wench began to say You would not beleeue the knife was in my body till now but ere long you shall see how it is fixed in my side And indeed on the thirtith day of Iune namely about thirteene moneths after she had first suffered this affliction there issued such an abundance of matter out of the vlcer which was growne on that side that the swelling began to asswage then the point of the knife appered which the maid would haue pulled out had she not bin staid by her friends who sent for Duke HENRIES Chirurgian being at that time resident in the Castle of Wolffbutel The Chirurgian comming thither on the 4. day of Iuly desired the Minister to comfort instruct and incourage the maide as also to obserue her answers because euery one thought she was possessed She consented to be ruled by the Chirurgiā although she was perswaded that present death would ensue The Chirurgian perceiuing the point of the knife which appeared in her left side with his instruments drew it forth and it was found in all respects like to the other that was in her sheath and very much vsed about the middest of the blade Afterwards the vlcer was healed by the Chirurgian In the same booke ch 14. CARDAN writeth that a certaine labourer a friend of his and an honest man declared vnto him how for many yeares together he was sick of an vnknowne disease during the which by meanes of certaine charmes he had often-times vomited glasse nailes haite and although he was afterwards recouered by that meanes yet he felt a great quantity of broken glasse in his belly which made a noyse like a great many pieces of broken glasse tyed vp together in a bag Moreouer he added how that noise very much troubled him and that euery eighteenth night about seauen of the clock for eighteene yeares space after he was well he felt as many blowes on his heart as the Clock strooke houres which hee endured not without great torment In the same booke Chap. 7. But yet farther to shew the sleights and subtilties of Sathan who with efficacie of error turmoiles such as the diuine iustice deliuers vp vnto him I will adde another history touching a child Demoniack written by D. HENRY COLEN of Bosledue to AVGVSTINE HVN◅VS a Doctor of Lovaine the 3. day of March 1574. as followeth A child of our towne foretels that the wicked tyrranicall complot of the rebels of the Low-countries shal now take an end We feare notwithstanding least it be some deuise of the euill spirit albeit no man can discouer any such matter yet This child cries out bids euery one pray heartily and incessantly vnto GOD he himselfe with hands heaued vp prayes 3. times a day Hee hath foretold merueilous things of our time all that he hath foretold is come to passe not failing in any circumstance Also hee saith that the Angell GABRYEL hath reuealed vnto him how all these Tragedies of Flanders shall end before next Summer be halfe past and how the King of Spaine shall come into the low-countries appease all by most happy meanes He hath likewise foretold the very moment of time of the taking of Middelborough and infinite other things come to passe according to his predictions I most vnworthy was also called to examine this child and was wonderfully amazed to see so simple a thing which can neither write nor read answer so readily to all demands and resolue the greatest difficulties could bee propounded And because Sathan transfigures himselfe into an Angell of light I obiected many and sundry questions vnto him but so farre is it from an Angell that abhors the crosse of our Lord or the name of IESVS that contrariwise it hath taught the child a praier in substance containing these words O IESVS of Nazareth which was crucified for vs haue mercy vpon vs helpe vs poore sinners that we may returne againe vnto the faith I. WIER in 1. Booke chap. 10. where he addeth this censure The contrary euent hath manifested that this child was possessed of the diuill who spake and prognosticated by his mouth For the troubles of Flanders ended not the Summer following nor three yeares we may say nor fiue and twentie yeares after neither was nor is there any newes of the K◅ng of Spaines comming into the Lowe-Countries Now the spirit of GOD cannot faile nor erre in the least point that is Therefore one may perceiue who that GABRIEL was that could declare the very moment of time of the taking of Middelborough in Zealand to wit the Diuill who being a spirit transports himselfe in an instant from one place to another by reason of his incomprehensible swiftnesse Hee it was that moued this childe to the prayers before mentioned the better to colour his impostures and lyes For so hee hath accustomed to mingle truth with falsehood As Doctor COLEN may acknowledge if he be still aliue in the beginning of this new age 1600. If hee be departed this world I leaue the decision thereof to his companions The yeare 1594. in the Marquisate of Brandebourg there were seene aboue eight score persons together Demoniacks which vttered meruailous things and both
BELLAY attribute to the diuine vengeance because hee kept not the promise which hee made with such an imprecation to the Millanois His death â—…ell on the 6. of May 1527. To this purpose I will adde another Historie though it be ancient reported by ALBERT CRANT in his 6. Booke of the affaires of Saxony Chap. 45. where hee writes that the Emperor FREDERICK the first being in Saint PETERS Monastery at Erford the floore whereon hee went suddenly sanke vnder him and if he had not caught hold on an Yron barre of a window hee had fallen into the Iakes of the Monasterie wherein certaine Gentlemen fell and were drowned amongst the which was HENRY Earle of Schuartzbourg who carried the presage of his death in an vsuall imprecation If I do this or that I would said he I might be drowned in the Iakes But omitting other ancient Histories it being no part of our purpose to touch them in these collections but reseruing them for some other hand and worke I will present the examples of our time concerning imprecations and despightfull speaches eyther against GOD or our neighbours A Soldiar trauelling through the Marquisate of Brandebourg feeling him-selfe not well staied in an Inne gaue his 〈◊〉 his money to keepe Not long after being recouered he asked it againe of the woman who had agreed before with her husband to detaine it Wherefore she denyed that she had any of him and rayled at him as if he had done her wrong to aske it whereat the traueller was so enraged that he accused her of disloyaltie and theft which the Host hearing he tooke his wiues part and thrust the other out of dores who iustly incensed with such dealing drew his sworde and ranne against the gate The Host began to crie out that hee went about to breake into his house and robbe him For which cause the Souldier was apprehended carryed to prison and arraigned before the Magistrate ready to be condemned to death The day came wherein sentence was to bee giuen and executed the Diuill entred into the prison and tolde the prisoner that hee should bee condemned to dye neuerthelesse he promised him if so bee hee would giue himselfe vnto him to keepe him from all harme The prisoner answered that he would rather dye innocent as he was then be deliuered by such means The Diuil hauing shewed him againe the danger wherein hee stood and receiuing the repulse promised not-withstanding to helpe him for nothing and worke in such sort that he should be reuenged on his enemies Hee councelled him then when he should be brought to his tryall to maintaine that hee was innocent and to desire the Iudge to let him haue him for his aduocate whom he should see standing there in a blew Cap which should plead for him The prisoner accepted the offer and the next day being brought to the Barre hearing his aduersaries accusation and the Iudges opinion required according to the custome of the place that he might haue an Aduocate to plead his cause which was granted him This craftye Lawyer stood forth and very subtilly began to defend his client alledging that hee was falselie accused and by consequence wrongfully condemned for the Hoste kept away his money and had misused him besides Therevpon hee vp and tolde how the whole matter had past and declared the place where the money was locked vp The Host on the other side defended himselfe and the more impudently denyed it giuing himselfe to the Diuill both body and soule if so be he had it Where-vpon this Lawyer in the blew Cappe leauing his cause layde hold on the Host carried him out of the hall and hoysted him vp so high in the ayre that it was neuer knowne what became of him afterward I. WIER in his 4. booke of Diuelish deuises Chap. 20. PAVL EITZEN in the 6. Booke of his Morales Chap. 18. saith that this happened in the yeare 1541. and that this Souldier came out of Hungarie In the Towne of Rutlingen a certaine traueller comming into an Inne gaue his Hoste a budget to keepe wherein there was a great summe of money At his departure asking it againe the Hoste denyed hee had any and rayled at him for charging him with it The traueller sued him in the lawe and because there was no witnesse of the matter hee was going to put the Host to his oath who was ready and most desirous to take it and gaue himselfe to the diuill if euer he receiued or kept away the Budget that was in question The plaintiffe required some respite to take aduise whether hee should put the defender to his oth or no and going out of the Court he met two men that asked him the occaston of his comming thither He vp and told them the matter Well sayde they wilt thou bee contented that we shall helpe thee in the cause He answred them I not knowing what they were Ther-vpon they returned all three into the Court where the two that came last began to maintaine against the Hoste that the Budget was deliuered vnto him and that he receiued it and locked it vp in such a place which they named The periured wretch could not tell what to reply and as the Iudge was about to send him to prison the two witnesses began to say it shall not need for wee are sent to punish his wickednesse Saying so they caught him vp into the ayre where he vanished away with theÌ„ and was neuer seene more IOHN le GAST of Brisae in the 2. volume of his Table-talke pag. 131. GILBERT COVSIN of Nosereth in his Narrations PETER ALVARADO a Spanish Captaine making warre on the Indians of Peru receiued a grieuous hurt in a skirmish whereof he dyed two dayes after Lying in his death-bed being asked where he felt his paine In my soule said he it torments me when the newes of his death came to his wife BEATRICE a very proud woman then resident at Guattimall she began to rage to make imprecations and to fall out with GOD euen to say That hee could not deale worse with her then to take away her husband There-vpon shee hung all her house with black and began to mourne in such sort that shee could not be drawne to receiue any sustenance or comfort She did nothing but weepe lye along on the ground teare her hayre and demeane her-selfe like a madde woman Amidst her husbands pompous obsequies of whom GOMARA writes that he maried two sisters and was a long time polluted with foule incest and all this despightfull mourning shee forgot not to assemble the chiefest of the towne together and there to make them declare her for Gouernesse of the Country and to sweare fealtie and obedience vnto her But now let vs heere what came to passe vpon these imprecations and despightfull speeches The 8. of September 1541. it rained so mightely for 24. houres together that the next day about nine or ten of the clock at night two Indians came and
off Beeing examined how they could gette out off a strong and close prison Why they haue returned and how they could passe ouer Riuers that were large and deepe They answered that no Yrons walles nor doores could hinder their getting out that they returned by constraint and that they did flye ouer Riuers and runne by land Hetherto I haue set downe the wordes of Doctor PEVCER the which shew that this transformation of Licanthropes nor that of Sorcerers mentioned by BODIN haue no affinitie with the transmutation of the King of Babilon nor with that of LOTS wife and that in this Licanthropia there are manifest illusions of Sathan the which ought not to bee confounded with apparent testimonies of GODS visitation vpon some persons as the Diuines which haue expounded these Histories doe shewe more at large Moreouer IOHN WIER is of a contrary opinion vnto BODIN touching the Licanthropes whereof wee speake and disputes at large thereof in the sixt Booke of Diuelish Deuises Chapter thirteenth and foureteenth where hee manifestlie denyes BODINS reall transformation and doth maintayne that it is onely in the fantasie troubled by the indisposition of the person and by the illâ—…sion of Sathan But wee will leaue their controuersie to such as will looke into it and will propound some examples touching mad-men There are two kindes Some growe so by the poyson of the melancholike humour as well throughout all the bodie as principally in the braine the which beeing not redrest in time simple melancholie becomes frenzie that fuâ—…y and in the end rage which is fearefull and not to bee cured whereof M. PHTER SALIVS and MARCELLVS DONATVS learned Physitions do intreate and propound some histories Let vs speake after them and serue them as an Interpreter to our French-men It is a question if the venimous humor called Rage the which breeds in so many sortes of creatures which impart it vnto man as we knowe may beginne by man himselfe and haue inward beginnings without any accidentall contagion without Reason makes vs to yeeld to this opinion seeing that by the consent of all men mortall poisons may be engendred within man that rage should not bee excluded out of this ranke man differing from a Serpent which spitts poyson no more then from other beastes which are subiect vnto madnesse But for that the Ancients for the most part haue held that no man could growe madde if hee had not beene toucht without by some other person or Beast that was madde it seemes wee should not lightly stray from their opinions notwithstanding seeing that experience may resolue this difficulty I will relate what mine eyes haue seene A woman sixe and thirty yeares old troubled with a continuall feuer called me to helpe her I found her seized of a pestilent ague I gaue her Physick so as eleauen daies after shee was cured Eleauen daies after that she was troubled with a greeuious flixe and an ague I was called and began to incounter this disease the which I surmounted within seauen daies after There remained yet some relikes of a feuer the which seeking to take away this woman fell so to abhorre all Liquors as not onelie shee lothed all Physicall potions and all drinkes for her refection but shee could not endure that anie one should drinke in her presence I knewe by this accident alone that shee was toucht with rage the which did so increase as shee could not endure they should bring any light into her Chamber in regard of her feeding detesting all drinkes and all liquid Physicke And for that her feuer and the tediousnesse of her disease would not suffer her to maintayne her selfe well with solide meates shee became exceeding feeble but shee languished seauen dayes after that shee had begunne to reiect all drinke and Liquide notrishment I found in her no other cause of defect but onelie this disdaine of drinking and taking that which was Liquid Neither did shee complaine of any thing but when they presented it vnto her then should you see her mooue her selfe after a strange manner Except this it was a verie quiet infirmitie and asking her if shee had euer beene toucht with the teeth of any madde Dogge her answere was that no Dogge had euer toucht her hauing had none in her house nor beene in companie where anie was Hauing enquired of her Mother if neuer Dogge had toucht her Daughter at anie time in all her life shee assured mee no. This made mee to doubt whether one by internall principles and of their owne corruption might not become madde For hauing in this infirmity no coniecture of Contagion without and this feare of drinke and liquide things beeing not conioyned with the accidents which are accustomed to accompanie them that are bitten with madde Beastes I did coniecture that this disease grewe from some internall cause which was not so violent comming not by the outwards partes through the byting of some enraged Beaste if wee will not say that the force therof was quenched by the counterpoysons that were giuen her in the cure of her pestilent feuer and by reason of her apparent and great euacuation of badde humours in the Dissenterie or fluxe Besides this experience I was confirmed by the authoritie of CAELIVS AVRELIANVS writing that some-times one growes madde with out anie apparent cause and by the Historie which SORANVS reports saying that hee had seene an Infant which did abhorre the Nurces brests without any precedent Contagion PETRVS SALIVS in his Booke of particuler diseases It happened in the yeare 1573. In September that GABRIEL NOVARE a man of fiftie yeares of age and a widower lyuing in the Duke of Mantouas Countrie beeing at dinner hee felt some-thing hee knewe not what to grate his winde-pipe Hee beganne to take the glasse to â—…ase him of this paine but hee coulde by no meanes possible swallowe that which troubled him within Beeing angrie with him-selfe hee runnes to a paile of Water to drinke with his hande but approching to it with his mouth hee fell back-ward hee riseth speedely goes his way and doth not suppe that night The next daie both at dinner and at supper hee feeles the like accident The third daie hee came to mee on horse backe and by the waie as hee rode hee did eate some store of grapes at his pleasure Hauing vnderstood all from him to knowe his greefe exactly I offer to his mouth at two or three seuerall times a glasse full of Water I call my friendes to see and beholde this spectacle at euery time his heart pantes and swells hee trembles hee faintes and seemes like one that were strangled When I drawe backe the glasse hee recouers his spirrites vnderstands and discourseth shewes himselfe vigorous hath no feuer is without paine all his functions are whole and perfect onelie hee cannot drinke I prescribed him counterpoysons but within three daies hee dies I serche I sound I consider all yet finde no apparent cause of this Accident MARCELLVS DONATVS lib. 6. Chap.
by this burning poyson Secondly the ventricles of the heart were drie and without bloud Thirdly they did obserue that a peece of the mouth of the stomack was almost burnt and reduced to poulder IEROSME CAPIVACCIVS lib. 7. of his practise Chap. 12. I haue seene a young Child which neuer felt the hurt nor complayned till eight monethes after the biting but as soone as it descouered it selfe the Child died FRACASTOR lib. 2. of contagious diseases Chap. 10. Sometimes the biting is so sharpe and violent togither with the apprehension of the parties offended as death followes soone after as I haue seene in many namely in a Mint-man called MARTIN BVTIN and a scholemaster named ROBERT On a winter day about ten yeares since going early in the morning from their houses the one to worke at the Minte the other to teach certaine schollers they were one after an other bitten by a madde Dogge and had much adoe to free them-selues from him The same day they went to their bedds and died within a while after in good sence hauing had many trouble-some and pittifull fitts The one was my Neighbour and I did often visit him hee tooke delight to heare talke of his Saluation and died most Christian-like and so did the other But my Neighbour at my comming in vnto him cryed out that I should not come neere him if I would not haue him bite mee Once not thinking of it for the compassion I had of his torment for some-times hee did houle like vnto a Dogge approching neerer vnto him then I was accustomed he sodenly reacht out to get holde of mine arme with his teeth whereof he fayled for that his motion was not so quicke as mine Hepresently acknowledged his error and asked me forgiuenesse imputing it to the vehemencie of his paine As often as I thinke of that which I did see in the sicknesse of these two good men so often doth my Soule tremble crying out Lord thou hast beene our refuge from one generation to another c. And that which followes in the 91. Psalme not meaning notwithstanding to condemne those whome the wisdome of GOD who is iust and mercifull will visite thus in this world for with what rods soeuer he meanes to chastise those that belong vnto his Sonne his eternall grace fayles them not but they enter by all gates howe hideous soeuer they seeme to humaine sence into the Pallace of happie life and assured glory Extracted out of my Memorials I was called early in a morning in the yeare 1543. to goe see a Gentleman called ALEXANDER BRASQVE with some other Phisitions Hee would by no meanes drinke and as wee did enquire of the cause of his sicknesse those which did tend him did confesse that hee had kist a certaine Dogge of his which hee loued verye well before hee sent him to be drowned for that hee was madde Hee dyed the next day as I had fore-told CARDAN in the first Treatise lib. 2. contradict 9. A Peasant become madde and hearing that hee had not long to liue in the world made great instance to them that kept him and held him straightly bound for hee had some quiet seasons during the which hee spake sencibly that hee might bee suffered once to kisse his children for his last farewell This beeing granted him he kissed his children and so dyed but the seuenth day following his children became madde and after sundry torments they dyed as their Father had done Maister PAVMIER in his Treatise of contagious diseases pag. 266. I haue seene yet more Horses Oxen Sheepe and other Cattle haue become madde and dyed so hauing eaten a little Strawe whereon madde Swine had line In the same Treatise 267. ADAM SCHVEIDTLIN a Surgion did assure mee for certaine that about thirtie yeare since at Hassuelsel in Bauaria a Knight going to Horse-backe was bitten by the foote by a madde Dogge whereof hee made no accoumpt but a yeare and a halfe after hee began to growe madde so as hee bitte the flesh of his owne armes and was not apparantly sicke but two dayes â—…OHN BAVHIN Doctor of Phisicke at Basill in his learned Historie of madde Wolues running about Montbeliard in the yeare 1590. In the yeare 1535. a certaine Hoste in the Duchie of Wirtemberg serued his guests at the Table with Swines flesh the which a mad Dogge had bitten after they had eaten of this flesh they all fell mad Historie of Germanie Certaine Hunts-men hauing slaine a Wolfe made sundrie dishes of meate of the flesh but all that did eate of it became mad and dyed miserably FERNEL lib. 2. Of the hidden causes of things Chap. 14. I haue obserued that the biting of mad Wolues causeth Beasts to die presentlie that are toucht with their teeth Maister PAVMIER in his Treatise of Contagious Diseases Many haue noted that Wolues although they bee not madde yet by reason of their furie and ordynarie vyolence which appeares by their sparkling eyes and their insatiable deuouring they make the flesh of Beasts which they bite or kill to be very dangerous if it bee kept any time A famous Prince did sweare vnto mee that one of his Pages hauing found at a certaine Gentlemans house a Rapier hidden vnder a bed where-with some yeares before they had slaine a madde Dogge hee intreated him to giue it him which done going about to make it cleane and to scowre it beeing rustie in diuers places by mischance hee hurte himselfe a little in one of his fingers where-of hee fell madde and dyed before they could fore-see and preuent the danger ESAYE MEICHNER Physition in his Obseruations There was seene in Portugall a Man bitten with a mad Dogge the which lay hidden three yeares at the end whereof it appeared and hee dyed thereof AMATVS A Portugall Physition in his seuenth Centurie Cure 41. BALDVS a famous Lawyer playing with a little Dogge of his that was madde not knowing it was sleightly bitten on the lippe the which hee regarded not But after foure moneths hee dyed furious and madde and there was no meanes to helpe him for that he dyed not seeking to preuent it in time Maister AMBROSE PARE lib. 20. Chap. 21. In the same place hee propounds diuerse remedies against the biting of a mad Dogge the which he thinks auaileable if any one of them be vsed presently and hee saith that hee hath cured many that haue beene so bitten Among others he specifieth this example following One of the Daughters of Mistresse GRONBORNE at Paris was bitten with a madde Dogge in the middest of her right legge where the Dogge set his teeth very deepe into the flesh the which was cured Among all remedies Treacle saith he is singular causing it to be dissolued in Aqua-vite or in Wine and then rubbing the place therewith hard vntill it bleed then you must leaue within it Linte dipte in the sayd mixture and vpon the wound apply Garlike or Onions stampt or beaten with ordinarie Honie and Turpentine This remedie is excellent
of his hope sends the Merchant to prison in expectation of more ample proofe But hauing had conference with other prisoners who are craft masters in such affaires he appeales from his imprisonment s◅es both the Sargiant the Iustice. I leaue you to thinke whether the cause were without apparance of reason Forgery is obiected against the obligatiō there needs no proofe for it is confessed And indeed the Iustice went directly to the Parliament where he discoursed at large how all things had beene carried The Court being well assured of the honesty of the Iustice suspended the course of this sute for a time In the meane space Monsieur BIGOT had incharge to make enquirie all the way betweene Rouan and Paris to see if he could come by any notice of the matter which hee executed with all diligence At length passing by Argentueil the Bayliffe tolde him how not long before they had found a dead carcasse in the Vines halfe eaten with Dogs and Crowes Ther-withall came the blind man a begging to the Inne where BIGOT lay and vnderstanding the perplexitie they were in told them all that hee had heard about the same time on the Mountaine BIGOT asked him whither he could know the voyce againe The other answered him that hee thought he should Whervpon he set him vp on an horse behind another rode away with him to Rouan where being alighted and hauing giuen an accompt of his cōmission the Court determined to heare what the blinde man could say and after to confront him with the prisoner Hee hauing then discoursed at full all that past in his hearing on the Mountaine the answer that was returned him being demanded whether hee could know the voyce againe he replied that he did not thinke but hee could Therwith they shewed him a far of to the prisoner asked him when the blind man was gone whither he could take any exception against him GOD knows what a case he was in then For he said that there had neuer bin such deuises practised to impeach the innocency of an honest man as there had bin against him First the Iustice by vertue of a false obligation to lay him in prison then to make him beleeue how hee had confessed that which neuer did and last of all to bring in a blind man for a witnes against him why it was pastal rules of cōmon sence Notwithstanding that the Court seeing he had nothing els to say against him caused 20. men aboue to speake one after another still as they spake the blind man was asked whither he knew their voices whervnto he replied that it was none of them At last when the prisoner had spoken the blind man said that that was he which answered him on the Mountaine The same confusion of voyces hauing been two or three times reiterated the blind man hit alwaies on the right and neuer missed Take all the accidents of this processe seuerally and you shall find many that make for the prisoner But when you haue thoroughly considered the contrary there are a number of circumstances which make against him a new Cittizē which had set vp a new shop a little after the Lucquois disapearing the honesty of the Lieutenant knowne to all men the deposition by him and the Sergeant made but especially the miraculous encounter of the blind man who was both at the murther as afterward in the Inne where BIGOT lay finally that without any fraud he had discerned the murtherers voyce from many others All these things duely weighed were cause of the wretched mans condemnation who before he was executed confessed all to the discharge of the Iudges consciences E. PASQVIER in 5. booke des Recerches of France Chap. 20. On Christmas eue 1551. a certaine fellow brained a yong woman with an Hammer hard by Saint Oportunes Church in Paris as she was going to mid-night Masse tooke away her rings The Hammer was stolne the same euening from a poore Smith there-by who therefore suspected of the murther was very cruelly handled and put to an extraordinary kinde of torture by reason of the violent presumptions that made against him In such sort that he was quite lamed depriued of the meanes to get his liuing where-by reduced into extreame pouerty hee made a miserable end The murtherer remained almost 20. yeares vnknowne and the memory of the murther seemed to be buried with the poore woman in her graue Now marke how it came out at length though it were long first IOHN FLAMENG Sergeant of the subsidies at Paris that was afterward chiefe Vsher in the Court of Aydes being one day in the Summer at Saint Leups a village by Montmorency whether he was sent to sit vpon a Cōmission chanced among other talke at supper to say before certaine of the place how hee had left his wife at home sick and no body with her but a little boye There was an old mā then present named MOVSTIER a sonne in-law of his who immediately vpon this speach went away that night with each of them a basket of Cherries and a greene Goose and came about ten of the clock the next morning to FLAMENGS house where knocking the woman looked out at the window and asked who it was They answered that her husband had sent her a greene Goose and a basket or two of Cherries wherevpon the dore being opened to them by the boye they clapped it too againe and cut his throat The poore childe strugling with them the woman heard the noyse and stept out into a gallery ioyning to her Chamber to see what it was where perceiuing a streame of bloud in the yarde one of them told her that it was the bloud of the Goose In the meane time the other ranne vp the stayres thinking to surprise her She mistrusting the truth of the matter got back againe into her Chamber bolted the doore within and cryed out of the windoe for helpe saying there were theeues in her house The two wretches seeing they had fayled of there purpose would haue got away but going to vnclocke the gate they brake the key in the locke So that hauing no meanes to scape they went to hide them selues The youngest climbed vp into the funnell of a chimney the old man cōueied himselfe into the bottom of a celler There-with the neighbors came running to the house breaking open the dore found the boy lying dead in the yard where-vpon they sought vp and downe euery corner for the murtherers he in the chimney was taken first and the other after long search was found in the well of the cellar with nothing but his nose aboue water They were straight way caried to prison and shortly after arraigned and condemned to death Being on the scaffold at the place of execution the old man desired to speake with the Smiths widdowe of whom mention was made at the beginning When she came he asked her forgiuenes and told her it was he that
dayly happens wee see that many sick folkes haue no appetite by reason their ventricle is stuft with euill humors and they receiue lesse meate in a weeke then they did in a day when they were well But when a man of a sound bodie can but passe one or two daies without meate and not bee an hungred that exceedes the rules of nature and is a Diuine miracle Howe much more admirable is it that such a man should fast fortie daies togither in such manner that hee feeles no hunger hath no neede to resist the desire of eating nor hath any more appetite to meate or drinke then an Angell Wee beleeue that IESVS CHRIST had a bodie exceeding temperate and pure though hee were subiect to our infirmities according to the condition of his humaine natu◅e sinne excepted Wee acknowledge like-wise that MOYSES and ELIAS when they abstayned fortie da◅e togither from meate and drinke were in perfect health at that time and by a certaine prerogatiue exempted from the common life of men Wherevpon it ensueth that they are iustly esteemed for excellent miracles whereby the authority of those Prophets and of IESVS CHRIST were established Nowe it is no nouelty that the like effects should happen by the order of things which our most good and mighty GOD hath prescribed to nature and by an euident miracle against the lawes of the same nature For feauers and diuers other disseases which the Saints haue healed the Physitions doe also cure But the meanes which they vse make great difference in the case For the Saints by their worde or touch alone through the grace of GOD tooke away the causes of such effects with the necessity imposed vpon nature The Physitions do nothing but oppose vnto naturall things other like wise naturall whereby if the vertue of the remedies giuen by the Creator bee of greatest strength and that it be his will it should not bee in vaine at that time the cause which doth offend is defaced IESVS CHRIST throughly healed the inueterate course of menstruall bloud with the onely touch of the hem◅e of his garment and sayd hee felt that vertue was gone out of him for that effect but the womā touched that in faith which presented it selfe to her hand embracing the power of our Sauiour in her thought Wee by the art of Physick whereof he himselfe a mercyfull Father hauing pittie on mans condition is the true author institutor helpe our s◅lues in the like disseasses with certaine medicines So no question may an abundant phlegmatique humor naturally induce fasting as appeared in those before named which felt themselues well through the good pleasure of GOD. But besides these there are infi◅ite miracles that exceede our vnderstanding which neither humane Art nor Nature it selfe can any waie immitate Such is the curing of naturall blindnesse expelling of vncleane spirits out of humaine bodies raysing of the dead halfe rotten and such like which confirme the authority of the Almightie GOD. By this I thinke it appeares that things which are sayd to happen by a certaine Lawe of nature although but seldome reproue not true miracles nor dimynish their credit and that hee no way contradicteth the Chistian fai◅h which diligently examineth the causes of such euentes But rather is not the verity of vnfained miracles thereby confirmed the better in taking away the occasion of impostures therewithall to the ende they should not easily abuse the vnexperienced people For if any of those which liue without eating by reason of their cold intemperature and abundance of flegme should counterfeit the Prophet inspired of the euer lyuing GOD howe many thousands might hee drawe head-long into error and distruction Verily hee is impio◅s and ignorant of true nay dyuine Phylosophy which thinking of these things and considering them shall affirme it to bee wicked and irreligious to go aboute to distinguish with vnpainted reasons betweene the workes and as wee vse to say the miracles of nature and the miracles of GOD Which all good and Godly persons will freely confesse do belong to an honest religious charitable man These are Doctor IOVBERTS owne wordes whose booke was Printed at Paris the yeare 1579. It hath beene told me of a certaintie that there was a Chanon at Salamanca which went to Toledo and backe againe hauing remained there fifteene or twenty dayes without drinking any drop of Wine or Water from the time of his setting forth till his returne But that which puts me into a greater meruaile is that written by PONTANVS in his Booke of Meteors Of a man that in all his life neuer drunke a drop of any thing which LADISLAVS King of Naples vnderstanding made him drinke a little Water that greatly pained him at his stomack I haue also heard of diuers credible persons that in the Towne of Mansill not farre from the Cittie of Leon was a man liuing that vsed to be two or three moneths without drinking and neuer felt any harme or displeasure by it A. de TORQVEMADO in the first day of his Hexameron Imprinted the yeare 1582. Singular Modestie yeelding to a seuere Censure THere are few men to be found especially among them that are called learned which doe not highly esteeme their owne workes and endure reprehensions impatiently If there be any such found they deserue to be admired and imitated MARCILLIVS FICINVS a most learned Philosopher and renowmed Desciple of PLATO in our time hauing vndertaken PLATOES workes to Translate them out of Greeke into Latin cartyed his Translation vnto a very learned Man called MARCVS MVSVRVS CANDIOT to haue hi◅ aduise MVSVRVS seeing that this translation was done hastely and that it would not satesfie the expectation of many which did greatly affect it Beeing loth to haue his friend derided and to discharge himselfe of his promise hee takes a sponge and puts it into an Inck pot and so blots out all the first page of FICINVS translatiō then turning towards him hee sayd thou seest howe I haue corrected the first page if thou wilt I will do as much to the rest FICINVS without any choller answered him It is no reason that PLATO should be disgraced through my fault then he retired himselfe and hauing his second conceptions better refined he made a newe translation worthie both of the maister and the disciple ZVINGER in the 1. tome of his Theater A Mocker mockt A Certaine man remayning at Onzain neere to Amboisse being perswaded by an hostesse who committed the infamous crime of Adulterie with him to make shewe for the freeing of her husband of all future Iealousie that hee would be gelt by one called M. PETER des SERPENS Surgion at Villantrois in Berry he sent for his kins-folks and after that hee had tould them that hee neuer durst discouer his griefe vnto them hee was in the ende brought to that extremity as he was forced to take that course wherevpon he made his will And to make the better shewe of it after that he had
the Common-wealth of Genâ—…way pag. 787. 788. Nature changed IT chanced in our time at Breslaw in Silesia that a certaine young Maide hauing beene present with many others at the execution of a Theefe which was beheaded shee was so troubled there-with as shee fell to haue the falling sicknesse They applyed many remedies which did her no good A certaine Gossip according to the vsuall custome gaue her aduise saying If they gaue this Maide Cattes bloud to drinke the paine would cease Those which gouerned her following this foolish councell made her to swallow some But soone after the poore Mayde changed her naturall disposition and some-times tooke vpon her the nature of a Catte wauling leaping and running as those Beasts doe and watching softlie for Rattes and Mise in euery corner of the house trying by all meanes to catch them Shee continued in these Cattish exercises vntill the vehemencie of her fitte was past Maister MARTIN VEINRICH in his Commentarie of the beginning of Monsters Wonderfull Natures THere was a certaine Gentle man that could not endure an olde woman should looke vpon him and as it happened once that at a banquet there were certaine that had beene inuited vnknowne to him the which could not but looke vpon him his apprehension was so great as hee dyed sodenly In the same Commentarie of Monsters Cattes offend many with looking on them so as some hearing or seeing a Catte tremble and are much afraide the which I beleeue doth not proceed alone from the venome of Cattes but also from their disposition that doe see or heare them for they haue by Nature this influence from Heauen the which is neuer moued to doe her proper action vnlesse the contrarie obiect present it selfe I haue seene many of this minde and disposition in Germanie and some remaining in Goritzia If this proceeds onely of a naturall quallitie which is in fewe they that are subiect vnto it shewe it plainlie For beeing in Germanie and supping in the Winter time in a Stoue with very good company one of the troupe was much subiect vnto that humour The Hostesse knowing the disposition of the Man shutte a little Kitlin which shee had bred vp into a Cofer with-in the Stoue least this man seeing it should be offended But although hee did neither see it nor heare it yet a while after hauing smelt the ayre of a Catte his disposition enemie vnto Cats beeing stirred hee began to sweate growe pale and trembling to crye out not without amazement to all the companie that there was a Catte hidden in some corner of the Stoue MATHIOLVS vpon the 6. Booke of DIOSCORIDES Chap. 25. I haue knowne a Princesse adorned with all vertues of the minde and body that could not endure the sight of a Catte beeing other-wise of an actiue spirit and armed against all the difficulties of the world Shee imputed the cause of this feare to that which happened to her Mother beeing with Childe with her for on a time a Catte did so terrifie her as shee sounded and was long sicke of this accident Cattes did not feare her before that time when as shee did see them but this falling sodenly as it were in her lappe shee was much amazed THOMAS ERASTVS in his Disputations HIPPOLITVS LANZON a Mantouan Gentleman did so abhorre to see a Hedge-hog as if hee were not sodenly drawne away hee would sweate and faint MARCELLVS Dâ—…NATVS in his Admirall Physicall Histories lib. 6. Chap. 4. I haue knowne a Peasant in Normandie that had neuer eate Bread Flesh Fishe nor Cheese Egges were his onely foode and cheefest nourishment BRVGEMIN in his first Booke of Meate Chapt. 24. Wee haue also seene IHON de la CHESMAYE a Parrisien Secretarie to King FRANCIS the first who did so detest and abhorre the smell of fruit or Apples as hee was forced to rise from the Table when any one was brought And if they came but neere vnto his nose hee presently bled If hee did see any by chance and could not retire himselfe he sodenly stopt his nostrils with peeces of bread Wee haue heard that many issued out of the noble familie of CANDALES in Guienne haue bin of that disposition not to endure the smell of Apples The same Author IAMES of FARLI an excellent Phisition in his time doth testifie of him-selfe that it troubled him as much the eating of Garlike as if he had drunke poyson and he added that the same fittes which appeared in them that had drunke poyson came vnto him hauing eating Garlike Some learned men hold that this hatred proceeds of an opinion which wee haue conceiued that those things which we detest are bad eyther to all in generall or to vs in particular The same There was at Chauny in Picardie a Maide of an honest house about sixteene yeares olde the which vnto that age had neuer fed of any thing but of Milke She could not endure the sent of bread and if they had cast neuer so little of the crumme into her Milke shee smelt it a farre off the which I haue seene with mine eyes and carefully obserued The same BRVGERIN lib. 2. chap. 6. I haue knowne a man hating Cheese so much as if they did put neuer so little in his meate hee presently smelt it and did cast vp his gorge after a strange manner MARCELLVS DONATVS liâ—…er 4. of his Physicall obseruations There was an Italian Earle had a foote-man who if hee had eaten an Egge his lippes began presently to swell his face lookt of a purple hew markt with blacke spottes in diuers places foming at the mouth as if he had taken poyson The same Author An Italian Lady faire and vertuous named FRANCISQVINE wife to Count MATHEVV FRANGEPAN a Noble-man of great power and worth was foureteene yeares old before she could euer be drawne to eate any flesh A certaine Cardinall did abhorre the smell of Roses Late Physitions say that there was a whole familie at Milan to whom the vse of Cassia was so contrary as if any one of them tooke it hee dyed The number of those that cannot taste nor drinke any kinde of Wine with-out offence is infinite I haue a Sonne which doth abhorre Colewortes I my selfe if I see Pourslaine I lothe it Euery man hath some particular affection SCALIGER in the 153. Exercitation against Cardan Sect. 10. I haue knowne an olde woman that did flye the vse of Melons in a whote Countrie hosding that meate very agreeable to others of the same place but for them of her age the worst in the world My Father could neuer swallow any parte of a Hare nor of any Fowle Not long since a Noble-man of accoumpt dyed who could neuer eate nor swallow any meate if it were not some-what Salted MARANTA lib. 3. of the Methode to know Simples The youngest Daughter to FREDERIKE King of Naples a worthy Princesse whome I had some-times in cure for that cause that shee could not eate any flesh no not taste it If shee did but put
of his repulse and that during his life CONTAREN must neuer hope to be aduanced Being possest with a violent passion of choller and despight hee watcht a time when as the Duke came downe into the golden Chappell to heare Masse Hee staies vpon the staires makes shewe to haue some businesse of importance to impart vnto him Those did accompanie the Duke went aside that CONTAREN might haue the more libertie to speake vnto him Then hee drewe forth a poinard from vnder his cloake with the which hee had slaine the Duke if the Ambassador of Sienna had not staied CONTARENOS arme so as insteede of striking him into the bodie hee did hit him in the cheeke neere the nose Presently manie Senators runne thether they saue the Duke and seize vpon CONTAREN who sought by all meanes for to saue himselfe Afterwardes hee had his hand cut off vpon the same staiers and then was hanged in the accustomed place Such was the rewarde of his violent passion SABELLICVS Booke 1. of his 3. Decade The violence of despaire was strange in LAVRENCE LEVRENTINIAN a learned Physition at Florence Hauing bought a house and paied a third part of the price with a condition that if hee payd not the rest with in sixe months it should be lost The time beeing come hauing no money to satisfie he was so troubled as without any further aduice he cast himselfe head-long into a deepe Well at what time PETER SODERIN great Gonfalonier of Florence gouerned the Common-weale before the Rule of the Medicis P. IOVIVS in the Life of famous men I haue seene a man which grewe fearefull and amazed of him-selfe crying out some-times like a Child though otherwise he had as much Force and courage as any man could haue It is reported also of a Noble-man of Spaine that hee was so full of feare that if they did but shutte any doore of the house where-in hee was at a certaine howre in the night hee conceyued such a feare and was so troubled as often-times hee would cast himselfe out at the Windowes ANT. TORQVEMADO in the third iourney of his discourses I haue seene a woman my neere K◅ns-woman trobled with a certaine Melancholike humour which some terme Mirrachie the which doth some-times cause frenzie and madnesse in them that are toucht with it so to helpe her selfe with discretion and reason as it could neuer vanquish her It was strange to see the combate betwixt Reason and Melancholie in this Woman which cast her-selfe groueling vppon the ground in the extremity of her fitte tare her clothes cast stones at them that lookt on her fought with them that met her and committed many such other follies but through reason shee continued so constant as in the end this humour left her remayning as sound and perfect of iudgement as before In the same Author In the yeare 1558. the Curate of Curpre in Scotland seeing that his Parishoners to the contempt of the authoritie which hee thought to haue ouer them were in despight of him entred into his Parish Church and beaten downe all the Images hee fell into such a choller melanchollie and despayre by reason of this acte as hee slew him-selfe with his owne hands BVCHANAN liber 6. of his Historie of Scotland A certaine man did so abhorre all Phisicke as the verye smell of a potion did so mooue him as hee was forced to goe seuen times to the stoole instantly whereas hee that had taken the same po◅ion should goe but thrice Maister AMBROSE PARE in his Introduction to Surgerie Chap. 22. A Groome of the Lord of Lansacs Chamber reported that a French Gentleman beeing in Poland had a quarten Ague and walking along the Riuer of Vistula in the beginning of his fitte hee was thrust by a friend of his in iest into the Riuer where-with hee was so terrified that although hee could swimme very well and the other also that thrust him yet hee neuer after had any feuer The same Author Chap. 23. At the Campe at Amiens King HENRIE the second commanded mee to goe to Dourlan to dresse many Captaines and Souldiars which had beene hurt by the Spaniards at a sallie Captaine Saint AVEIN lying neere to Amiens as valiant a Gentleman as any was in his time in France although hee had when the Alarum was giuen a fitte of a quarten Ague risse out of his bed and went to Horse to command a parte of his company where hee was shot through the necke with a Harguebuze the which made him to apprehend death so much as hee presently lost his Ague and was afterwardes cured of his wound and liued long after The same Author FRANCIS VALLERIOLA a most famous Physition at Arles writes in the 4. obseruation of the 2. booke of his obseruations of an Inhabitant of the said Towne of Arles called IOHN BERLE who had lyne manye yeares bed-ridde by reason of a palsey It happened that the chamber whereas hee did lye was on fire burning the bordes and some stuffe neere vnto his Bedde Hee seeing him selfe in danger to bee burnt with much payne got vnto a Window out at the which hee cast him-selfe and beganne presently to walke and was cured of his palsey The same VALERIOLA writes in the same Obseruation a strange History of a Kins-man of his called IO◅N SOBIRAT who laye at Auignon lame of both his Legges hauing had his Hammes shronke vp with a Convulsion about sixe yeares One day he grewe into so great a choller against his seruant as reaching at him to strike him the Sinewes stretcht forth presently and grewe supple so as his Legges recouered their strength and he went right vp so cōtinued euer after The same Author The Arch-Bishop of Bourges a verye olde Man who had not gone of fowre yeares before hearing that a certaine troupe of horse which the Earle of Montgommery had brought from Orleans had surprized Bourges and knowing howe much hee had wronged and offended them that were then at that instant the strongest carried away with this apprehension he found his legges so well as he went on foote from his Chamber into the street and so to the great Towre causing all his money and plate to bee carryed with him The History of the first troubles of France vnder CHARLES the 9. lib. 7. At the same time neere to Issoudun in Berry the Seigneor of Condray whose Castle was beseeged by the Lord of Yuoys troupes hauing a little before taken certaine poore men and deliuered them to the Seigneor of Sarzay then commanding in Yssoudun who had commanded them to bee hanged hee fearing to bee taken saued himselfe in a farme house of his called Roueziers where he dyed of Feare In the same Historie and in the same booke In a Towne in Italy called Eugubio there was a Man much tormented with Iealousie who seeing that hee could not descouer if his Wife abandoned her selfe to any other hauing threatned to doe her a shrewd turne hee gelded himselfe that if afterwards shee should
happen to bee with child shee should presently be found guilty of Adultery Lib. 1. Of the conference of Antient wonders with moderne I haue seene with mine eyes a Gentle-man sitting by a Gentle-woman an honest Widdow whom hee sought to marrye as afterwards hee did Discoursing with her one day at Dinner a Veyne of the Temple neere vnto his Eare opened of it selfe from the which there issued and came very much blood the which he thought to stoppe with his Hand-kercher I was sitting at the table with them in a Castle whether I was called to cure a Gentleman that was sicke MAT. CORNAX lib. 1. Of his consultations of Physicke chap. 3. A yong mayden being kept from marriage grewe so sad as shee wept continually and would admit no comfort whereof followed an extreame paine in her head which bread a falling sicknes whereof soone after she died The same Author A certain Knight an Albanois hauing after great su◅e obtayned an honest Italian Widowe to his wife beeing one of the fairest women of her time after some months he grew iealous of her without any cause with a wonderfull strang passion For he had no opinion of her that shee eyther had or would wrong her honor but only he was trobled what should become of her after his death fearing least any other should enioye so rare a beauty Vpon this passion which did torment him continually he takes a furious resolution One night which was the last hauing shewed all the loue he could deuise vnto his wife who loued him sincerely in the ende he drew a naked Dagger from vnder his beds head and imbracing his wife with the one hand hee stabbed her with the other Which done he strikes himselfe to the heart and dies presently The wife not quite dead reports the whole history to such as came running ◅n at the crie of her chamber-maide and that the Knight had discouered his strange and cruell Iealousie a little before hee strooke her and then she died quietly Hist. of Italy A young Gentleman in the Emperor CHARLES the fift his Court beeing in loue with a Gentle-woman wrought so as partly by loue partly by force he had her maiden-head the which beeing knowne and hauing cōmitted this act in the Emperors Court he was committed to prison and condemned to loose his head and hauing notice giuen him ouer night that the next day should ende his life that night was so terrible vnto him and wrought such an impression as the next day comming out off prison to go before the seate of Iustice heare the sentence of death no man did know him no not the Emperor him-selfe For feare had so chaunged him that whereas the day before hee had a Vermillion hewe of a flaxen hayre and of a pleasing aspect hee was now like vnto a bodye taken out off the Graue hauing the hayre of his head and beard like to one of seuentye yeares olde and hee had the resemblance more of one that had beene hanged then of a lyuing man The Emperor thinking there had bin some fraud vsed and that some other offender had beene foysted into this Gentlemans place who was not yet 28. yeares old hee caused a search to bee made whence this wonderfull and sodaine change should come and then beholding wistly this poore offender thus terrefied the desire of iust vengeance was conuerted and turned into mercye and as it were reuiued out of a deepe amazement hee said vnto him I pardon thy offence commanding that they should let him goe adding withall that hee had beene punished sufficiently for his fault without the losse of his head LEVINVS LEMNIVS lib. 2. chap. 2. Of the complexion of mans body Where-vnto hee dooth adde certaine reasons of this strange alteration The which I heere set downe adding some words for the better explaning thereof Beeing demanded of a great personage the cause of this prodigious change I answered that wee must impute it to the deepe apprehension and attentiue thought of approching death peercing through the heart for the affection and passion of the minde beeing amazed was so violent and so bitter to the young Gentleman as the vitall spirits were almost quencht and suffocated in him all the parts of the bodye loosing their liuely and pleasing colour did wither and fade sodainely so as the rootes of the hayre nourished and watred by the fuming vapour that is betwivt the skinne and the flesh as the herbes in the ground that are toucht with a cold and drie quality they did wither and presently loose their naturall beautye for euen as the leaues of Trees and Vines in the heate of Sommer growe some times y◅alow and pale by any excesse of heate hayle rayne or a cold Northerly wind euen so the vigour of the bodye the colour the outwarde shewe the hayre which is no part but simply a dependance of the bodye takes the colour of gray or white because that which did maintayne them is quencht The which wee doe see happen to most men that haue beene in dangers in the Warres or in hazard at Sea or that haue beene toucht with dangerous diseases for then they thinke but of one thing which is that Death hath taken them by the throat if not perchance through long custome solide instruction and good resolution by the precepts of true Philosophie and by the assistance of more then a humane spirit they bee not accustomed nor vsed to feare so much The which wee see is ordinary and common in manye olde Souldiars and Martiners in regard of their long and continuall practise When as the horrour of Death surpriseth anye one or that the imagination thereof more bitter then death it selfe is framed in the thought they die sometimes before they are dying as it hath happened vnto many or else the Senses are dulled and mortefied so as the offenders feele not the stroakes as we haue seene in many that haue beene be-headed and broken vppon the Wheele resembling men that haue Apoplexies Lethargies falling-Sicknes Sowndings or like to others which open their eyes yet neither see nor knowe any man The dangers incident to Sea and Land whereas the Image of Death appeares before their eyes and doth fixe it selfe more strongely in the thought make them that are in them to tremble and looke pale the blood retires it selfe and flies from all parts towards the fortresse of the heart all the parts of the body in an instant want their norishment not any one doth discharge his due function but the feete stagger the sight growes dymme the force fayles the vnderstanding becomes blunt the spirit dull the cheekes leane and withered the tongue fumbling and the teeth shaking in the head To conclude there is no man how strong and confident so euer that is not amazed when any mortall danger surpriseth him sodainely True it is that a Christian fixing his hope in the grace of GOD recouers his spirits by little and little shakes of feare assures himselfe and becomes