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 end was that from that time they poluted themselues with a horrible and infamous Adultery Being plonged into this Gulfe Satan and their filthy lusts did th◅ust them head-long into others that were more horrible and fearefull fo◅ hauing made many practises together the first attempt of their cruell wickednesse was against the Signior of Chabrie who was massacred walking alone in his warren by two murtherers subordned by the Aduocate After this paracide the Adulterers returne to their accustomed filthye course without all shame or remorce giuing scope to theyr execrable lusts the which the eldest son◅e could not disgest and seeing his mother could not liue any where without the Aduocate hee gaue her a graue admonition adding many reasons to excuse his boldnesse This cursed mother dissembling her rage against her Sonne complaynes of his conceit iustifies her selfe impudently and these drops of water of good and necessary aduice did more inflame the fire of their vnbridled lust After shee had bitterly reprehended the indiscretion of her Sonne and highly extolled the Adulterous and Murtherous Aduocate she forced her sonne to make a submissiue speech vnto him full of excuses But not content herewith she resolued to kill him There was a Gallery in the Castle whereas the yong Gentleman did vsually walke to behold the Gardin and pleasant countrie about It was high aduanced and hung ouer a steepe Rocke at the foote whereof lay this Garden The Aduocate by the aduice of this cursed Mother did cunningly loosen certaine boards in the Gallery so as the young Gentleman comming soone after in the morning according to his custome to take the aire of this prospect setting his foote vpon these disioynted boards hee fell down head-long where his brains were beaten out This was the second murther A yonger sonne was yet remayning in the house who doubting nothing that his Mother had beene the cause of these two Parricides was yet greeued to see the Aduocates carriage In the ende hee descouered so much villany in their familiarity as he held them to bee the cruell murtherers of that noble Familye making some shew of his discontent to see their brutish conuersation Hee speakes roughly to the Aduocate and lookes but sowerly of his Mother These wicked wretches resolued to preuent him fearing that he would attempt something against them The Aduocate corrupts one in the house with money to murther him who obserued this young Gentleman so diligently as one day being a hunting whilest his Hunts-men rewarded his Hounds hee staying vpon the side of a Rocke which ouer-looked a lowe champian the descent whereof was very dangerous towards the valey by reason of the steepnesse This murtherer who had all the day watcht for an aduantage did runne behinde him and thrust him downe so forceably as this poore Gentleman was sooner at the bottome slaine then hee felt the murtherer who had so outragiously murthered him These murtherers after all this finding that the seruants of the house did marke and obserue them did practise to mar◅ie together but there was one betwixt them the Aduocates wife They conspire her death and the Aduocate hauing many imaginations lying one night by her he strangled her with a Napkin and shee being ready to giue vp the ghost he began to crie out aloud and to call for his seruants and neighbours to helpe him They come from all parts and he cryes and laments saying that a violent Catarre had suffocated his wife The simple and vulgar sort beleeued this report But the father of this honest Gentlewoman looking neerely into it and seeing her face extraordinarily swelled and her throate black and pale with other signes of a violent death seemed to allow of their opinions and hauing perswaded his Sonne in lawe to prouide for his Wiues funerall hee went speedily to the criminall Iudge and brought him with his officers and some friends to visit this poore carcase and to demand Iustice. The Sonne in Lawe being accused and charged by the Magistrate to answer directly is mute and by his silence confesseth the crime the Phisitions and Surgions hauing giuen their opinion that the Gentlewoman had been strangled The Iudge sends this execrable Parricide to prison who without any torture confesseth the fact The Parliament of Aix aduertised of this fact sends for him to see him As for his detestable associate hauing some notice thereof she packs vp the greatest wealth she had and flyes speedily into Sauoy from thence to Genoa where she changed her name The Aduocate being brought to Aix besides his last Parricide confesseth the detestable crimes before mentioned with all the circumstances He was condemned by a sentence of the Court of Parliament to bee sent backe to Grasse there to bee quartered aliue in the Market-place where he was executed to the great content of his father in Law and of the whole country As for that cruell Ladie of Chabrie shee was condemned by contempt and executed in picture In her voyage to Genoa she was accompanied by a base fellow called IAMES PALLIER who being some-what iealous of the cause of her flight a moneth after her cōming to Genoa in a morning when she was gone into the Towne he tooke away all she had but the apparrell shee wore and was neuer more heard of At her returne finding her selfe bare and naked after many discourses opprest with care and despaire in the end shee went to serue a Widow woman whose Daughters she did teach liuing yet some yeares confounded in her conscience with shame and dying in the hands of GODS Iustice hauing escaped that of worldly Iudges The Historie of our times About fiftie yeares since a Milanois hauing notice giuen him in France that his wife carried her selfe but loosely who beeing wel informed thereof as it seemed tooke post to come the sooner to Milan where being arriued without going vp into his house he caused his wife to bee called for who comming downe speedely to imbrace him counterfetting great ioye at her husbands arriuall she receiued a stabbe with a dagger in exchange of her imbracing calling her villanous wicked disloyall and treacherous After which blowe leauing his wife in that estate as hee should no more neede to feare any such lewde dealing hee tooke his horse and saued himselfe The histony of Italie Many yeares before a rich Gentleman of Sienna called NELLO beeing well aduanced in yeares married a yong Gentlewoman who suffred her selfe to bee corrupted by a young Gentleman vsing a Chamber-maide for the close conuaying of their filthy trade NELLO hauing discouered by the meanes of a seruant of his the wrong that was done him and not able to surprise the yong gentleman that had so vilanous◅y poluted his house hee reuenged himselfe vpon his Wife and her Chamber-maide the which he caused to be strangled in a Countrie house of his whether he had retired himselfe for the better effecting of his purpose where he past the rest of his dayes like a man confined The
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
well in regard of his sinnes as of Gods mercies in the apprehension whereof hee did quietly yeeld vp his soule in a Towne where hee had long continued and remayned Drawn out off my Memorialls IOHN CRAVEQVIN an Aduocate in the Presidiall Court at Bourges a man of a good spirit and a great practitioner but very ignorant of the written Lawe and of all good learning hauing in the yeare 1533. beene imployed in the pursute of some causes to please the appetite of a most wicked man which abused him hee fell sicke of a Melancholike humour and a wonderfull strange Frenzie imagining all that was brought vnto him to bee crawling Serpents so as after they had tryed all remedies in vaine and brought Witches and Sorcerers vnto him in the ende hee became starke madde and dyed in that estate Histories of our Time vnder FRANCIS the 1. An other learned man making profession of the Ciuill Lawe hauing done some acte vnworthy of his learning and iudgement was so possest with a Melancholike humour and with a frenzie that beeing falne sicke with-out any great affliction in his bodye for his nourishment hee did eate his owne excrements and hauing languished in this misery some time hee died without any repentance Histories of our Times A Gentleman very aged and temperate fell into a continuall feuer in the month of Iuly 1574. thē into a frēzy casting himselfe ou◅ of a window of the second Story of his house and fel vpon the necke of Mons. VATERRE ordinary phisition to the Duke of Alen◅on then to the ground where he hurt his ◅ibs made a great con◅usion vpon the bone Ischion Being carried backe vnto his bed he recouered his right wits by a transport of the matter which caused the frenzie Euen so of late a Gascon beesicke of a burning Feauer fell into a frenzie beeing lodged in the street called Pauee at Paris in the night hee cast himselfe out at a windoe into the street and was hurt in many places of his body to whome I was called to dresse him soddenly being laid in his bed he began to talke sensibly and to loose his mad fits so as within a while after he was quite cured Mons. d'Ortoman a Doctor and the Kings professor in the vniuersitie of Mont pellier did assuer me that a Miller remaining of Broquiers in Albigeois grown franticke threw himselfe out at a windo into the water from whence being drawne he presently lost his frenzie Maister AMB. PARE the last Chapter of his introduction to Surgerie ANNE Nurse to PETER Son to Maister FRANCIS BIORD Lieutenaxnt to the Prouost of Air a young woeman of a whot and drie constitution being toucht in the sharpest time of winter with a frenzie on the left side and a sharpe feuer her breath being short hauing stiches in her side and spitting nothing almost but bloud fell into a madnesse the seuenth day where-vpon she riseth out of her bed opens her cofer where by mischance there was summe Mercury and swaloes downe a bout halfe a dramme and then she giues her selfe many wounds with a knife in the belly and the thighes The same day about mid-night she runs all naked vnto a windoe and cast her selfe downe into a Court paued with very hard stone and there remaines with out any feeling with out speech and with out Pulce stiffe with cold for it was in the winter time vntill that the seruants of the house desirous to knowe what she did came vnto her bed where finding her not they cryed out In the end they found her in that miserable estate the carrie her into her chamber and call for me for that I then dwelt neere I ranne thether with her mistresse a vertuous gentlewoman who intreats me to doe what possibly I could Although I had little hope yet more to make a tryall then otherwise I vsed all diligence and applyed diuers remedies so as she came againe to her selfe and by little and little I got heate in her I prouided both outwardly and inwardly for the Sublymate the which had vlcered both her mouth and her throat and to staie a fluxe which this poisone had caused finally at the end of 6. weekes she was wholy cured of al her griefe by the speciall fauour of GOD and was after wardes more helthfull then euer shee had bene before FR. VALLERIOLA in the eight obseruation of the first booke A Romaine woman growne melancolike for that she had bene married against her will to one whom shee loued not and smothering her furie with a sad silence M. ANTHONIE BRASAVOLE a Ferrarois an excellent Phisition of our time tryed to diuert this humor by many remedies which preuailed nothing And therefore he aduised himselfe of a phisicall pollicie whereof he gaue notice vnto the husband who yeelded vnto it her parents and kinsfolks comming to visit her on a festiuall daie BRVSAVOLE enters into the Chamber salutes her louingly as if shee had beene his wife and approcheth to kisse her she being young and strong thrusts him backe hee contynues it with vehemencie and shee pulls of his Cappe and all that BRASAVOLE carried on his head fitting for his age and the fashion of that time and casts it to the ground All the company breaks out into a great Laughter at this spectacle The yong woman thinking that this Phisition being an old man had bene dronke began also to laugh with open throate After which time her melancholy began to leaue her THOMAS ZVINGER in the seuenth volume of his theater li. 2. A man of some worth about forty yeares old haunted with a spirit felt it comming the blood be ginning to boyle in his breast his sight grew dimme and presently a dizines tooke him then would he begine to crie out and to beat and torment himselfe so as they had great trouble to hold him Although they had let him bloud on the right arme and drawne much blood from him yet this frenzie decreased not He repeated many verses by harte song cryed out amaine danced and sought to cast him-selfe downe head long so as they were constrained to tye him fast and to keepe a good gard ouer him Hauing giuen him fit and conuenient phisicke in the ende he recouered his health But after some weekes he fell into the same disease finally for that the thicke fumes of blood did not ascend any more in quantitie to the head the frenzie ceased but he fell to spitt blood with a vehement ◅oughe and then to spit out his lungs so as his first disease ended with a consumption whereof he died M. RREM◅ERT DO◅ONEVS in his Phisicall obseruations obser 10. I was called to visit a young man a Iewe called RAPHAEL about the euening He was couered with swellings or kinds of Anthracs in diuers parts of his bodie amonge others he had a great one in his necke the which grew presently little againe and then RAPHAEL begane to laugh and would open a veyne to them of the Company with
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
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