yet at length perswaded thereunto by her Mother she was by two fellows carried to his house and there confessed her sins to him but made no mention of her witchcraft her confession finished she saith Knowest thou by whom thou wast bewitched into this weaknesse The Priest answered mildly I know not quoth she Thou hast suspected me and that not without cause I brought upon thee the evill that thou art afflicted with for that thou didst cast me off the bridge into the mire but my departure out of this World is now at hand I will therefore cause that within a few dayes after my death thou shalt recover thy health which happened accordingly for according to the time for which she had contracted with the Devill she died And within thirty dayes after the Priest recovered his former health and strength IN the Lausanensian Diocesse a certain Witch caused the Family of a neighbour to be plagued with a grievous barrennesse not onely all the beasts and cattle and other domestick living creatures were unfruitfull but the wife of the family by the Witchcrafts of this fellow being made unfruitfull also had seven untimely births when at last the Witch was taken and examined he confessed that in a hole digged under the threshold of his dore there lay hid a serpent which as soon as removed the misery of barrennesse would cease which as soon as ever it was effected fruitfullnesse was restored to the whole family ibid. cap. 6. THe Wife of a great man in the Town of Reichshoffen being with child got to her house some weeks before the time she expected deliverance a Mid-wife There was in the said Town a famous Witch of whose company and discourse the Mid-wife advised the Gentlewoman who was great with child to take speciall heed but after some dayes she for recreation sake went to the Castle and met with certain women come together to a feast where this Witch was also who touched or stroaked the belly of the Lady with both her hands as it had been in the way of salutation Whereupon she presently perceived her young one to move in her Womb with great pain and grief whereat wonderfully affrighted she returns home and tells the Mid-wife what had befallen her who with a sad countenance cries out We have lost the child which came to passe accordingly for she had an untimely birth and that in such manner that at one time she was delivered of the head of the child at another of the feet at another of the hands and so of the rest Ibidem IN a certain Town of the Argentinensian Diocesse one whose name for modesty sake I conceal had at his house one of his Tenants cutting wood whom a Cat of a vast magnitude at unawares set upon which when he had driven from him by blows another more fierce joyneth to the former against whom whilst he more sharply contends a third comes so that at first he was put to a strait being forâ—'â— to use the utmost of his strength against three such maine and cruell Cats neither could he drive them away and free himself from them without the receiving of many hurts and wounds which Combat being finished the man falls to his work presently two Serjeants apprehend him and carry him before the Judge who being exceedingly moved with rage and fury commanded them to cast him into an ugly prison his groaning and often sighings nothing availing him for clearing or making manifest his innocency and the Judges anger did daily encrease exclaiming against the wicked fellow as he called him who would not acknowledg his villanous doings after three dayes were passed upon the often importunities of others the Judge sends for him to the Senate to receive his judgment when he was come to the Senate the inraged Judge could not with patience look upon him he poor man falleth down upon his knees and humbly begged that he would hear him speak for himself the Judge sadly laid to his charge that he had grievously wounded the three chief Matrons of the Town and yet was so impudent that he denied the wickednesse which he had so villanously perpetrated within a few dayes past which the poor wretch hearing answered that he had never hurt any Woman in all his dayes the Judge on the other side thundered out that it was notoriously known that he so hurt these Gentlewomen that they lay in their beds with all their members and parts of their bodies so out of joynt that they were not able by their own proper strengths so much as to turn themselves from one side to the other he again denies that he ever hurt these gentlewomen But saith he I well remember that upon that day whereon I was apprehended and for that cause was cast into prison I being set upon by beasts used all the vigour and strength I had to quit my self of them and drive them away which words amazed all that were present They enquire by what beasts he was set upon then he declares all that was done very orderly The truth being thus discovered the Judges seek what they can to hush up the businesse and procure what silence they could for the preservation of the honour of the Matrons IN the Basiliensian Diocess in the Confines of Lotharingia and Alsatia a Gentleman of great fame did inveigh against an old woman with somewhat bitter language who thereby inraged determined to take most speedy revenge of him as she said which threats he little valued yet the very night after there arose a blister in his neck which when he scratched it overspread his whole face and neck and an horrible form of Leprosie made ugly his whole body being in this condition and suspecting the Witch guilty of Inchantments he sendeth for his friends with whom he might best advise and take counsel and declares the whole businesse especially the threats of the old woman What need is there of many words the woman is taken and being exercised with torments and examined confessed the fact and the Judge inquiring diligently into the manner and cause saith she I boyling with revenge for the contumelious words which he spake against me returning home met there with a maligne spirit to whom inquiring of me the cause of my grief I told the whole businesse and sought to him for revenge whereupon the Devill asked me What evil I desired to be inflicted upon him I answered I desire that his face may be so blown up or swelled with a continual tumour which may make him most ugly to behold Saith the Devil going from me I have already struck him with a more loathsome plague then thou desirest which when she had confessed she was deservedly burnr to ashes Serun Part. cap. 11. IN the Constantiensian Diocess betwixt the Towns of Brisacum and Friburgum a leprous woman told to many auditors that she falling out with another woman and many railing words passing betwixt them as soon as she came home a sudden wind blowed
Grussus with whom were six Devills of humane shape horrid to behold c. And after some dancing with them the Devils lay with them and had to do with them and that one that took her to dance with him after he had saluted her twice lay with her for half an hour together and that the seed he spent was very cold Joanna Guillemina assents with her in these things confessing that it was very true that at least half an hour they were in copulation and that the seed she received was very cold WE read also in the 16th book of Johannes Meyerus who most accurately wrote the History of Flanders That in the 1459th year of Christ there was a very great company of both men and Women burnt in the Town Atrebantium who mutually accused one another that they met in the night danced and lay with the Devill Likewise Jacobus Sprangerus and four of his colleagues also tell us that from the mouths of many wise and good men they have been confirmed that many Witches had at the stake in Germany confessed and in particular at Constantia and Ratisbon in the year 1485 that the Devill lay with them after they had by his instigation denied both God and all Religion And that not a few had repented and turned off themselves from that wickednesse and confessed that whilst they were Witches the Devill had often to do with them It is written likewise that very many came and freely acknowledged though no man accused them that they had been guilty formerly of commerce with the Devill being Witches to these things Spangeus adds that Witches did very oft copulate with the Devill in the sight of the Sun or clear day and did strip themselves in fields and Woods and were often seen naked in the fields and were sometimes taken by their husbands in the manner with devils which they conceiv'd to be men and therefore they set upon them with Swords whereby they could do no execution upon them Paulus Gralandus a Lawyer of Italy who knew very many VVitches doth declare in his book de Sortilegiis that he was commended by an Abbot of St. Paul's at Rome in the year 1526. in the Moneth of September to take cognisance of three Witches who amongst other things confessed that every sorceresse had a particular Familiar to commerce withall in the History of St. Bernard we read there was a Witch who usually copulated with the Devil her Husband not perceiving her though he lay in the same bed with her IN the flourishing Garden of Antonius concerning Turquomeda of Spain I found another History concerning a noble Spanish woman who related that she was induced by an old Witch when she was eighteen years of age and from that time she had to do with the Devil which was burned alive and unpenitent being a Cerdenate The same doth declare that another did repent and was put into a Monastery Adamus Martinus the Laodunensian Proctour of Confession told me saith Bodin that he had a Witch of Biebra that is a Village two miles distant from Laodune in question in the Jurisdiction of D. Boan the Captain of the Verumandians in the year 1556. who was first condemned to be hanged and afterwards to be burnt but she was delivered alive to the fire by the fault of the Hang-man or rather the just Judgment of God who did so demonstrate that the punishment should be equall to the offence neither was there any mischievous act that did more deserve fire Therefore she confessed that Satan whom she called her companion was wont to have to do with her and that she did feel his cold seed WHen I was at the great meetings of Pictavius in the year 1567. performing my office amongst the under servants of the general Proctour I took two filthy and beggarly Magitians which did beg alms at a rich mans house who being denied did cast in Witchcrafts and all the houshold being driven into fury died mad Daemonum libro 3. capite 1. THere was a crafty Taylor at Lutetia a Magitian who onely touching with his hand did cure a Quartane Feaver but he was in no wise cured that would not believe that he could cure him And there was a certain Italian old woman at Audes curing diseases in the year 1573. who when she was inhibited by the Judge to cure any more diseases called a Court of Parliament her cause was pleaded Eloquently and likewise Learnedly by D. Johannes Baltruus Lawyer to plead the cases of the Parliament fellow officer with the Lord of Matratius and my Countreyman but it is proved that the means by which she cured did disagree with nature as with the Brains of a Cat which is poysoned the head of a Crow and other such like things which things do plainly convince that it was not done by the strength of the excellent Oyl or of the healthfull Oyntment which many good men and lovers of the poor do make but by means beyond Nature or by charms of healing JOdocus Darmudanus doth write in Praxi crim cap. 37. that there was a Witch at Bruga in Flanders having the greatest repute of Holinesse because she could cure innumerable diseases but first she did take care for this that they should believe that she could cure them afterwards she did make known fasting dayes and commanded that Pater noster should be said divers times and that they should go to Compostella at St. James's or to St. Arnolds but at length she was convinced of many Magicall charms and deservedly punished Johanna Harvilleriae which as we said before was cast alive into the fire confessed that she cast in charms that she might kill a man which had beaten his daughter but he having excelled her witchcrafts suddenly felt pain in his loyns and his whole body But when as she was greatly renowned for the fame of her Art it was told the man that the grief could not come to him from any other person then she promised that She would work means whereby he should recover and took him into her custody to that end She did require it earnestly of the Devill by intreaties and She did labour by many means which it doth not concern us to describe for his healing which Satan answered it could not be done And therefore She saying to him that for that cause he should come no more to her the Devil answered her that he would not come A little after the sick man died and the Witch hid her self but although she was hid she is found and suffered deserved punishment for her wickednesse BOdin writeth that he saw a certain Arvernian Captive at Lutetia in the year 1579 sometimes curing Horses and men with whom was found a very large book full of the hairs of Horses Cattel and other beasts of all colours This man if at any time he cast his Charms on a horse he consulted and having the hair of that so he did cure him that he might deliver his Witchcrafts to
of it answered that she knew not where she was that a very fair young man did oftentimes meet her by night and sometimes by day Her parents though giving small credence to their daughter yet earnestly desiring to know the truth who it was that had perswaded and enticed their daughter to this lewdnesse within three dayes after the damosel having given them notice thereof that he which ravish'd her was with her having therefore unlock'd the doors and set up a great light coming into the Chamber they saw an ugly foul Monster of such a fearfull hue as no man can believe in their daughters arms Very many that were sent for came in all haste to this unseemly object Among whom a Priest of an approved life and well disciplin'd all the rest being scared away and amaz'd when repeating the beginning of St. John's Gospel he came to that place The Word was made Flesh the evil Genius with an horrible outery goes away carrying the roof of the house away with him and set all the furniture on fire The woman being preserved from peril was 3. dayes after brought to bed of a most deformed Monster such as no man as they say ever saw which the Midwives to prevent the infamy and disgrace of that family heaping up a great pile of wood did instantly burn to ashes Hector Boethus libr. 8. hist Scotorum THe same Boethus relates another story in the same place In the year of our Lord God 1536. as they were sailing from an arm of the Sea called Phortea to traffique into Flanders there arose such a violent wind that the sayls mast tacklings and all were broken and the ship also was toss'd up and down the swelling waves that every body concluded they must certainly perish The master of the ship admiring at that season so huge and unaccustomed churlishnesse of the Heavens for it was about the Summer-Solstice when with loud cryes they did not attribute it to the Stars but to the wiles of some evil Devils they heard a voyce from the lower part of the ship of a woman miserably complaining of her self that some hee-Devil in the form of a man with whom she had many years accompanied with was at that time with her and forc'd her she would therefore yield her to the mercy of the Sea that if she perished who was the cause of so great and imminent danger all the rest by the goodnesse of God might escape safe A Priest coming to the woman bewailing her self to counsel her for her own salvation and them that were with her did piously exhort her now openly confessing and acknowledging her fault earnestly detesting that abominable wickednesse and repenting the fact from the bottom of her heart with sighs expressing the same that nothing should be wanting on her part and he knew God would be propitious to her c. In the midst of the Priests exhortation when the perplexed woman with many sighs and groans was deploring that hainous crime she had committed all that were by saw a black Cloud come forth out from the pump of the Ship and with a great noise fire smoak and ill savour descended into the Sea Then was it fair weather and the Sea calm and the Merchants went to their desired haven with their Ship and nothing lost FRanciscus Mirandula makes mention in his writings that he knew one Berna call'd Benedictus a Priest 75. years old who had lain above 40. years with a familiar spirit for his Bed-fellow in the shape of a woman it came into the market with him he conversed with it insomuch that all the standers by seeing nothing took him for a Fool. He called her Hermelina as if she were a woman I knew also saith he another whose name was Pinnetus who was above 80 years old he did use the sports of Venus more then 40 years with another spirit which appear'd like a woman and call'd her name Florina Utramque historiam Cardanus recitat lib. 15. cap. 80. de varietate rerum JAcobus Ruffus writes in the fifth Book the sixt Chapter of the conception of men that in our time Magdalena a Citizens Maid-servant was ravished by a foul spirit and then took her leave on her repenting by the order of the Ministers of the Church after which she felt such cruel torments and pangs in her belly that she thought every hour almost that she should be delivered of a child then came forth out of her womb iron nails wood pieces of glasse hair wooll stones bones iron and many such like A Certain Merchants Wife about 6 or 7. miles from Wittemberg in the way to Silesia when her husband was away by reason of his merchandizing abroad was wont to entertain one Concubine or another It so fell out that her husband going forth one of her Paramouts came in the night time and when he had made himself spruce and satisfied his lust as it seemed in the morning like a Magpie sitting on the buttery he bade his Concubine farewell in these words This was your Lover and before he had done speaking he vanished out of sight and never came more BEnedictus the 8th by his Country a Thuscane by the Magick of Theophylact his Nephew who had been the Scholer of Sylvester the second long since Pope came to be Pope He was head of the Church 11. years After his death he appear'd to a Bishop which he in his life-time commonly made use of sitting upon a black horse much lamenting and complaining of the torments of the damned and charging me to warn his Brother John the 11th to bestow that gold on the poor which he had formerly buried under ground whereby he was in hopes to be freed THeophylact Nephew by his Brother Aldericus of the two Popes Benedict and John came to that dignity by his Magick wherein he was alway accounted famous He call'd himself Benedict the 9th He continued so by times ten years He was at last strangled in a Wood by one of those spirits with whose familiar he was wont to converse Benno Historians report among whom are Martinus Polonus and Petrus Damianus that Benedict was by a Hermite seen near the Mill of a terrible shape for in his body he was like a Bear in his head and tayl like an Asse And when he was asked How he came to be so metamorphosed 't is reported he made this answer I wander up and down in this shape now because when I was Pope I lived as void of reason and conscience without law and without God and have defiled the chair of Rome with all manner of vilenesse ST Martin Bishop of Yours in France when hard by his Monastery an unknown Martyr's bones were by the vulgar superstitiously worshipped that he might not by his authority corroborate their superstition took one day with him some of his brethren and to the place he goes where calling upon God he supplicates him to manifest and clear the truth thereof unto him On his left hand
he hurries them into destructions gulph sometimes a consort of musicall instruments are heard but more oftner the noise of Drums Munsters Cosmograph Book 5. THere was a certain Citizen of Erphord that for some years together kept a Crow in his house and when he saw any silent or sorrowfull he used these words after a jesting manner O my Crow what makes thee so sad what thinkest thou of To which beyond all expectation the Crow or the Devill in it clearly and with a lively voice recited a Verse out of the 77. Psalm I have thought of old and I have had eternity in my mind and thus the Devill spoke out of the Crow Caspar Goldw. in his Book of Miracles HIeronimus Cardanus told his Father that there appeared seven spirits which did dispute with him about divers wonderfull things and did enucleate and unmask hidden mysteries that were before unknown out of the Manuscript writings of Averroes of Physitians principles IN the raign of Trajan a Crow but rather the Devill out of the Crow began to speak with humane voice and cryed out of the Capitol in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnia bellè se habebunt i. e. All things shall be well from whence came that distick of an unknown Authour Tarpeio quondam consedit culmine cornix Est bene non potuit dicere dixit Erit Englished thus A Chough did from Tarpeia's top foretell Though things now are not yet they shall be well A Most certain argument to prove that those men are possessed is they speak those tongues which they never learnt Bodin saith there was one whose name was Samuel being but twelve years of age in the Village of Wantelet ad Laod he was the Son of a Noble man Lord of the Land who was possessed of the Devill a Month after his Mothers death and grievously vexed and buffeâ—ted also the Devill had power over his body and if any one would withdraw the boâ—â— he did retract him again by violence his father would not have him exorcised for Religion's sake which he professed And whether or no he was freed from it the twelfth or thirteenth year he was past in which the woman of Vervinens was possessed by an evill spirit but she had an exorcism I know not which History I passe over because it was related in diverse books which are now printed Italy and Spain abounds with such demoniacal persons which had need be bound up in chains those can speak Greek and Latine and other tongues which they never learnt or which is more likely the Devill speaks in them for if at any time that Woman of Vervinensis had put out her tongue a great length the spirit then spoke most Eloquently Melancthon reports that he saw a woman in Saxony that was possessed who could neither read nor write yet did speak Greek and Latine and Prophesie of that cruell war in Saxony saying Great misery shall come upon this Country and Famine upon this people Fernelius in his book of the secret causes of things tells that he saw a possessed Boy speaking Greek for all that he knew no letters Hippocrates in his Book De Sacro morbo thought it to be the falling sicknesse but some afterwards in Greek did accurately note the difference For those who were possessed spoke divers languages and prophesied which could not be observed in those who had the falling sicknesse IN the reign of Argyropolis Emperour of Rome in the Thracian Province at the bottome of the Fountain of Curena there was a miserable dolefull noise heard mixed with howlings and lamentations not onely for once or twice but continually dayes and nights from March to July And when some came to see the place from whence the voice was heard there was another howling thwarted them I suppose this miracle did foretell the slaughter of the Romans in Coclosyria Cedrenus CAlligraphus a reverend man of Alexandria going out of his house in the night time at midnight he saw brazen statues speaking with a loud voice that Mauritius the Emperour of Constantinople was slain together with his children at Byzantium going forth in the morning he related it to Augustulus who warned him not to tell it to any and prescribing a day in the ninth day there came a Messenger declaring the death of Mauritius Then Augustulus did publish to the people the Devills Prophecy Paul Diacon Book 17. of Romane History and Nicephorus Book 18. Chap. 41. HIrcanus 3d Captain of the Jews and High Priest when he had deputed his two sons Aristobulus and Antigonus to the siege of Samaria and the Samaritans having implored help of Antiochus Cyzicenus it was reported that in the very same day in which his sons had entred battell with Cyzicenus the High Priest being alone in the Temple heard a voice that mentioned the new gotten victory of Antioch by his sons which he â—and by going forth published to the people and a while after his Oracle came certainly to passe Josephus Book 13. chap. 18. WHen the Romans in a great battell with the Tarquinians sent away L. Junius Brutus Consull but in the following night such an affrightment seized upon the Enemies The Tarquinians and the Vejentes in silent troops returned home as conquer'd men The report is that in the next night after the battell out of the next wood which Livy calls Arsâ—a and Dyonisius said it was a Holy wood a loud voice was heard whether it was the voice of a Faune or Silvaine it could not be resolved which happened more then once in the Hetrusian war which prodigy did so affright the enemies that they yielded themselves as conquer'd Sabellicus Book 7. Ennead 2. Valerius Book 1. chap. 8. IN that day which Caesar fought with Pompey at Pharsalia C. Cornelius of Patavia being Augur when he had taken augury at the first sight suddenly turning to those that were by him said now the businesse is done now the men begin their work and trying his augury the second time he with a loud voice cryed out O Caesar Thou overcomest they that stood about him admiring at the thing he took the Crown from off his head and swore he would not put it on again untill the businesse made his art believed or credited Livius and Plutarch in Caesar and Pliny saith there such a noise came when two armies were fighting one against the other to the augurs sitting on the Patavian Mountains being bold to affirm by that either the world would be dissolved quickly or Caesar was fighting with Pompey Sabellicus Book 7. Ennead 6. out of the 15th Book of Gellius chap. 18. WHen Antonius fell from Domitius and a great war was expected in Germany the City being affrighted and the people of themselves without any other author dispersed the same of the victory and a report going throughout Rome that Antonius was killed and that no part of his army was left alive it was so really believed that a great part of the Magistrates sacrificed But when the Authour
that was infected with a grievous Plague by shewing them an old beggar which he commanded should be stoned by the people who afterwards taking away the heap of stones was found in the shape of a dog whom himself affirmed to be a Devil SOme Examples of them who by magicall enchantments continued to the end in torments recitat Vierus lib. 4. cap. 10. de Daemonum praestigiis DUssus King of the Scots was sick of an unknown disease in the night he sweat very much and in the day-time being more at ease he took his rest His body like to one in a Consumption was pined away with a lingring disease His pulse was as before when he was in health likewise his senses and appetite to meat His Physitians were in despair of his recovery In the interim about that time arose a rumour not known by what Author That the King was poysoned by women and that they in a Town of Moravia did practise the black art to destroy the King Messengers were sent to make peace between Duffus the King and the Inhabitants of Moravia and being by night admitted into the Castle are warned of the whole businesse by a Souldier who searcht out the whole matter from his strumpet whose Mother was one of the Witches that poyson'd him Breaking therefore into their houses they found one of the hagges having an Image of wax representing King Duffus which was made by their hellish art fastned on a woodden spit before an hot scorching fire another was found muttering a charm as he poured forth liquor on the statue by little and little They being cast into prison and questioned about the impiety they made answer Whilest the image at the fire was scorching King Duffus was in a sweat but reciting the charm he should be alwayes awake and at the melting of the wax he should waste away but it being utterly consumed the King should instantly die They were hired to do this wicked act by the chief Governours of Moravia When the women were burnt Duffus gave over sweating and was restored to his health Hector Boethus lib. 11. Historiae Scotorum VItolfus cihef Ruler of the Helsingians did so deprive those of their eye-sight whom he pleased that they neither could see houses that were nigh unto them nor certainly to go unto them he knew so well how to dimm their eyes with a cloudy mist Olaus lib. 3. cap. 17. Septentrional THe Lappones and Finni in the Northern parts use to make short artificial javelins of lead the length of ones finger these they shoot at a distance towards them which they wish to be revenged of who having a canker arising on their leg or arm are with extremity of pain dead within 3. dayes after Idem ibidem WHen Isabell King Alphonsus the 11th his daughter was given in marriage to Johannes Galeacius Governour of the City Millain Ludovicus Sfortia seeing her his affection was so ardent towards her that he desired her father to bestow her upon him to be his Wife and on this manner he by his magick art brought it about that Johannes Galeacius for many moneths was uncapable to perform the conjugall mysteries Guicciardinus lib. 1. PYthagoras on a time was seen at Criton and Metapontus on the same day and hour Apollonius in Mirabil historiis APollonius Tyaneus being kept in publique custody at the Palace and accused by Domitianus vanished clear away out of his sight and was the same day found at Puteoli whither he had sent his Comrade before and charged him to wait for his coming thither When this same man had a book in his hand at Tigilla wherein his accusation was included he did miraculously and strangely cause that this book being open could in no place be found written Philostratus JAmblicus a Philosopher of Syria as he was praying was lifted aloft from the ground more then ten cubits his body and vesture was changed into the colour of gold Prayer being ended he came again to his former effigies and fell down to the ground viz. these were the illusions of Magick-contemplations Eunapius in ejus vita IT is reported by Olaus in his History of the Northern folks That Oddo Danicus a grand Pyrate rov'd up and down the deep Sea without the help of a Ship and did often having enchanted a storm overthrow his enemies Shippings and was at last being environ'd by an enemy of greater skill drowned in a gulph who by his sleight and cunning charms did in former times use to dance on the top of the waters OThnius the Magitian brought Hadingus King of Denmark to his own again when he was most sadly deluded by the tricks of the Devil and Magitians and far separated from his company on horseback over a great part of the Sea and Hadingus thorow some slits of his rocket under which he lay trembling palpably saw his horse feet tread the waves to his great admiration Olaus lib. 3. cap. 19. THespetion the General of the Gymnosophistae in Aethiopia by his incantations injoyn'd an Elm Tree that it should salute Apollonius which the Tree did with a very distinct voyce indeed but something like a womans Philostratus in vita Apollonii Volatteranus lib. 13. c. 8. Anthropol THeotecnus the Magitian under Maximinus by the power of magick made the Image of Jupiter to utter Oracles by which the Citizens were incited to persecute the Christians and the Emperour was much â—fferated and exasperated against them At last Licinius having found out his tricks punished him severely Eusebius lib. 9. cap. 3. 11. THe Grammarian Appion with the herb Cynocephalaea which in Egypt is called Osirites and prevails against all manner of Witchcrafts but whosoever gathers it dies presently raised the ghost of Homer that he might know of what Country and Parents he was descended But never durst tell what answer he received Plin. lib. 30. cap. 2. APollonius Tyaneus coming to the Tomb of Achilles aver'd that the Ghost of Achilles in his old and known likenesse and posture presented it self before him and that thereupon the Sepulchre did a little tremble or move and presently a young man appeared at first about five cubits high but in a short time he became twelve in stature and seemed handsomer than can be imagined The youth ask't him some frivolous questions and when he began to be somewhat too wanton and obscene Apollonius perceived he was imployed by the Devill He therefore forc't the Devill to depart and when he was gone a certain statue hard by in the likenesse of the said youth fell to the ground Philostratus JAmblicus the Philosopher tegether with his Schollars went to Gadara to certain Baths the best in all Syria or the Roman Empire except onely those of Baja to which no Baths could be compared whilest they were washing there there grew a dispute concerning these Baths amongst the young Gentlemen Jamblicus smiling commanded his pupills to inquire of some of the men that attended the baths of the names of the hot
shepheards thorough the seven gates of the City and the seven high-wayes and afterwards to be let loose that he might return to the fields and pastures wherein he was wont to feed They that were there then said that he lifting up his eyes towards Heaven and making I know not what kind of humming they saw Stars falling and innumerable likenesses of dogs and Wolves and such kinds of living Creatures to fly all about c. Things being finished in this manner the Magitian being returnned to the City took such course with the Roman Magistrates that they commanded by publick edict that no one should of three dayes kill any four-footed beasts the rulers of the City who were then absent when they returned commanded the Greek impostor to be apprehended and cast into Prison scarse escaping the threats of the people he was punished with eternall banishment The Magick book which he used was publickly burnt Gilbert Cognatus lib. 8. of Narrations ANtonius Benevemus lib. 8. concerning the hidden causes of sicknesses thus writeth A Maid of the age of sixteen was pulled with griping grief in the bottom of her belly by infernal spirits and falling into horrid clamours her whole belly did on a suddain so swell that one would have thought she had gone eight moneths with child She had an exhausted voyce and sometimes casting her self upon her bed and joyning her feet to her neck she leaped up and falls upon her feet again casting her self down she immediately again started up this she oft did by turns but by little and little coming to her self and somewhat refreshed she was asked how she did she was wholly ignorant what had passed but we inquiring the causes of this sicknesse thought this evill to proceed from the suffocation of the matrix and evil vapours drawn upwards and then striking the heart and brain But when she could not be helped by Physick she was wonderfull fierce looking about her with a stern countenance fell at length to vomit whereby she cast up long and crooked nayls brasse pins with wax and hairs conglomerated and lastly a gobbet of such magnitude that the gorge of no creature whatsoever could wholly devour and when she had done this often I my self being a spectator conceived her to be possessed with an evil spirit who whilest she did these things amazed the beholders Wherefore being afterwards detected by more manifest signs and arguments she was committed to the Ecclesiastical Physitians for we have heard her prophesie and seen her do those things besides which go beyond the power of sicknesse and exceed humane understanding CAâ—danus relates in his fifteenth book concerning the variety of things of a certain honest Countreyman and friend who might more easily have been deceived then deceive who told to him that he had many years laboured of an unknown disease at what time by his inchantments he vomited glass nailes and hair and though at length he were restored to the very day he relates these things he did affirm that he thought he had a huge heap of broken glasse in his belly and a sound or noise as one should shake a bag full of broken glasse by which he was much vexed and also that he the seventh hour of every eighteenth day although he numbred them not had so many blowes on his heart which was a huge trouble to him for eighteen years since his recovery who sees not the actions legerdemanes and vexations first and last that the Devil puts upon those whom he finds fit by their simplicity for his delusions IN Pago Bevenstestet under the Duke of Brunswick a Maid named Margaret daughter of Henry Achils twenty years old in the year 1562 on the holy day of the Visitation of the blessed Virgin about to wipe or make clean her shooes drawes out her knife and goes to a place fit for that purpose the Maid having lost her strength by a long Feaver was yet weak contrary to her expectation in comes to the house a woman somewhat old and asketh her Whether she were yet troubled with her Feaver and whether she were free from her disease It was answered her by the Maid As yet I have not been able to go out of the house The shooes being made clean she puts the knife in her bosome which when afterwards it was diligently sought by her she saw a black dogg of an horrible shape lying upon his belly under the table which with grinning shewing his teeth went away presently it seemed to the Maid that from her head to her feet did flow something as it were of a cold humour to whom happened also a defect of the Mind or Soul and she becomes as dead without sense to the third day wherein at last she begins to breathe again and affirms that she certainly knew that that knife which she had taken out of the sheath of her Sister did stick fixed in the left side of her own body for that she did perfectly feel pain in that very place by which she was so exercised that being bowed double she was forced to lean upon a staff after three moneths there begun to appear and stand out on her left side above the Spleen betwixt her two lowest spurious ribs an Imposthume of the bignesse of a Cocks egg and like the Moon by whose increment or departure she either swelled or grew quiet The thirtieth of June there issued out of the Ulcer such store of matter that the swelling was somewhat remitted and then as it were the point of a knife appeared the Surgeon of Duke Henry sent for from the Castle of Wolâ—senbuttel took out with instruments the point of the knife standing out under her ribs and cured the Ulcer 10 Vierus lib. 3. cap. 12. concerning the impostures of Devils FRom the Nativity of Christ 1539. in a certain Town of the Bishoprick Erstetting Fugestat Uricus Newsesser a Husbandman when he was tormented about one of the sides of his ribbs with the cruel torments of griefs upon a sudden he feels with his hand an Iron nail under his unhurt skin which a Surgeon a servant there digged out with his knife notwithstanding his griefs ceased not but daily waxed worse and worse wherefore when the wretch saw there was no remedy of his grief but by dearh he taking a knife cut his own throat Therefore being dead he was brought to be buried the third day there were present then Rosenbader of Wissenburg a Town of the Noricks in Germany and John Estentet a servant attending about such businesse who a greater company beholding fell suddenly upon opening the ventricle of the dead Husbandman wherein they found very long and smooth wood four Steel culters partly sharp partly like a Saw with teeth and two rough tools of Iron every one whereof did exceed the length of a span and there was like the cover of a Globe but that thou wilt most admire is how so many and so great tools could be contained in the cavity of his
she was compelled by the Devil to use several means to seduce a chaste young Virgin the daughter of a certain honest and very rich man to lye with the Devil to which end the devil thought it his best course to invite the Virgin to his Chamber upon an Holy-day where he might talk to her in the shape of a young Gallant which having often assay'd the Maid alwayes signing her self with the sign of the Cross his design was frustrate ANother Virgin of the Diocesse of Argentinum staying alone at her fathers house upon a Sunday there came to her a certain old woman of the same Town who after many scurrilous words which she used she invites her to go along with her to a place where she should see all the handsomest gallants of the Town the young maid overcome by the obscene enticing words of the old woman went along with her to her house they were no sooner come to the house but the old woman saith we will go up to the chamber where the young gallants whereof I spoke of are but take heed you sign not your self with the sign of the Crosse The young maid hearing what the old woman said to her as she followed her up the stairs was struck with sudden fear and therefore she signing her self with the sign of the Crosse by prayers commendeth her self to Almighty God Whereupon the Devils vanished which the old woman perceiving with a grim and devillish countenance raging and cursing the young maid thrust her out of dores Ibid. IT was likewise confessed by this woman that waited at the Bath who was formerly spoken of that she was likewise deceived by an old woman who brought her to the Devill in a way to whom she prostituted her self and that he in every respect performed the office of a lustfull man and was alwayes prepared for that and that for eighteen years denying the faith she served the Devill in diabolicall letchery IN the Brixiensian Diocesse a young man being inamoured with a certain young maid much desired to have her to wife but I know not upon what occasion altering his affection married another at the solemnization of the marriage not having altogether forgot his old love amongst others invited his former paramour who refused not the invitation and when the honest Matrons and Virgins offered their gifts this impudent beast comes forth and casting her hands towards the bride saith to her From this day forward thou shalt not enjoy one day of health Which words when they understood the levity of the impudent curtesan they took no great notice of but the Nuptials being ended by the force of Inchantments she lost the strength of all her members and for ten years most miserably afflicted she kept her bed and then ended a most pittifull life A Certain Earl of an illustrious extraction of the Westraviensian territories bordering upon the confines of the Diocesse of Argentinum having married a Lady of an illustrious family being by inchantments deprived of naturall strength for begetting issue could by no means understand the reason thereof It happened that after he had been three years married he going to the City of Menses to expedite some businesse which he had that he fell into the company of a certain woman who for some years before his marriage had been his Concubine whom he distasted not for what had formerly passed betwixt them nor did he suspect her concerning the Witchcrafts with which he had been afflicted but kindly talks to her of their old love which he was pleased to acknowledg and inquires of her her condition and whether she were in good health She perceiving the pitty and goodnesse of the Earl inquires of him whether he were in good health he answered That he was well and that all things succeeded happily and prosperously with him She amazed for a little while was silent which when the Earl perceived he by gentle speeches invited her to discourse whereupon she inquires his Wives condition he answered that she was well She again asketh whether he had any Children by her The Earl answered I have had three Sons by her she bare me one every year Then as one stupefied she was silent Saith the Earl then pray thee my dear why dost thou so accurately inquire of the condition of me and mine I do not doubt but thou rejoycest at my felicity then said she I am heartily glad but cursed be that old woman who firmly swore that by her witchcrafts she would make you unable to perform the rites of Marriage with your espoused Lady the knowledge whereof the Well that stands in the middle of your Court will give you in which an earthen pot is cast being fill'd with inchantments of which the old woman did affirm that so long as it should lye there your power of rendring Nuptial rites should utterly be wanting but I understand now and rejoyce at it that what she spoke was vain and frivolous The Earl hearing these things wisely dissembling the businesse makes haste home and causeth the Well to be drawn or emptied of all the water that was in it findeth the Earthen pot which being burnt he recovered his former strength and vigour ibid. Concerning the manner how Witches use to take away the Members of men read in the Book called Malleus Venificarum cap. 7. p. 2. It is to be thought impossible that such members should be so occultly pulled or taken from the bodies but by the legerdemains of the Devill IN the Bâ—esiacus in the Basiliensian Diocess a young Wench afterwards by means of her art made one of the Society of Witches she was brought by her Aunt who was afterwards burnt at Argentina to an upper Chamber of the house where there were together five gallant young men clothed in green then the old woman saith to the Maid Chuse which of these young men thou pleasest to be thy husband which when the young maid refused she did most grievously beat and hurt her IN the Basiliensian Diocess a Priest of the Town of Oberweiler was of opinion That there were no Witches in the VVorld and passing hastily over a bridge he met a certain old woman in as great haste as himself to whom he would not give the way but threw her off the bridge into the mire whereat the old woman much inraged gave him bitter and contumelious language saying Thou shalt not escape revenge for this which words he regarding not nor well understanding went home but in the night he was become so weak and feeble below his girdling place or middle that he could not possibly rise out of his bed so that he was fain to be carried by two as oft as he went to the Church or to visit the sick after this affliction had continued for the space of three years this old woman whom he had not without cause suspected falls sick therefore she was advised to go to the Priest to confesse her sins and although at first she refused
upon her which came from the house wherein the woman dwelled opposite to her with whom she had contention with which she conceived she was so struck that she was thereby infected with a Leprosie whereof she could never be cured IN the same Diocess and Territories of the black wood a hangman lifting up a Witch from the ground by a pole of wood she turning her self towards him saith I will give thee thy wages and together with these words blowing on the face of the hangman she infected it with an ugly Leprosie whereof he dyed within a few dayes after AN honest woman of Oenipontus returning home from a Garden she had adjoyning close to a woman-neighbour and having perceived that this neighbour of hers came oft into it but suspecting her a Witch durst not so much as reprehend her for it yet she of her own accord without any provocation of the honest woman meeting with her with brazen-fac'd impudence flying into the very face of her saith Thou suspectest that I often passe thorow thy Garden To whom the other woman fearing to brawl or chide with the Witch answereth pleasantly onely in these words Your paths in the grass declare what trespasse you have done me Then the VVitch much troubled that she could procure no occasion to brawl with her went away murmuring within a few dayes after the other woman was afflicted with most immane griefs of her belly and most acute gripings in both her sides insomuch that she was not onely afflicted with continual pains but did also disquiet all her neighbours with continuall pitifull cryings out and lamentation and when multitudes who came to visit her that if possible they might relieve and comfort her amongst the rest a Potter comes to whom the witchcrafts of this woman were well known and perceiving the cause of her sickness to be no other then Inchantments he commanded the Husband of the afflicted woman to search whether he could find under the threshold of his door any inchantments where amongst many other witchcrafts was also found a waxen Image about the length of an hand which being bored through had two pins fastned on both sides the one right over against the other which witchcrafts being removed and cast into the fire she was freed from those most grievous gripings cap. 12. AT Zabermus in the Argentinensian Diocess a Witch being a midwife came to a certain honest and godly woman offering her service near the time of her delivery who knowing her infamous by her witchcrafts dismisseth her with pleasing words feigning that her pains when time should require would be very acceptable to her but when the time came neglecting her and making use of another Midwife which she sent for she conceiving in her breast the feminine flames of anger eight dayes after the birth in the night with two women cometh into the Chamber of the woman that lay in and maketh haste to her bed whereupon the woman in childbed endeavouring aloud to call upon her Husband finds her tongue and all her members stupify'd Then the VVitch standing in the midst between two women said Behold this scurvy creature scorn'd I should be her Midwife but I 'le be reveng'd of her The two women that stood on each side of her interceded for the woman saying They never knew or heard any hurt by her But she again thus broke out passionately Because she hath vexed my Jublits I 'le vex hers but for your sakes her pain shall be suspended for half a year and then putting her hand upon the womans belly her guts appear'd to come out as it were and the Witch roll'd something into them afterwards the women being gone the child-bed woman being come a little to her self call'd her husband and tells him the whole businesse He comforts his wife and bids her be of good chear for these were but vain terrours and such as women in child-bed were usually infested with But she answered O she threatned I should endure this misery after half a year but if now they are gone I find no more hurt by it I will rest confident upon thy opinion She had also an Arch-deacon to her son to whom she reveal'd the business When the six moneths were over she began indeed to be most grievously tortured with pain in her belly so that night nor day she could take any rest but continually groaned and shrieked out most miserably Nor in all these torments did she forget God whom she still implored for his assistance and who heard and delivered her For on a day when she went to stool all that filth came from her Then she called her Husband and Son and said Now I hope you are convinc'd it was no vain imagination that I told you of who ever saw me eat thorns sticks and bones For there she shewed them Rose-briars a hand length then sticks and bones and other rubbish whereby she was so tormented Ibid. cap. 3. THe Devil had so efferated and wholly acted certain Witches that they devoted even their own Children or any other Infants they could come by to him the Prince of Devils with horrid execrations which cruelty of theirs was thus detected When a certain Witch denyed all help at the time of her travail but onely of one daughter of her own her Husband wondring at the thing hid himself in the house that so he might find out the mystery and by that means saw the horrid rites of both the sacriledg and oblation He saw the Infant held up by no humane means by the impulsion of the Devil ascend up the chimney by the Pot-hooks looking with an ugly Satanicall look the Mother in the mean time calling upon the Devil with her usuall diabolicall rites and acclamations Which when the man saw to his amazement he was very earnest to have the Child christened without delay and taking with him some neighbours and his daughter who carried the child for the next Village he is bound in all haste where the Parish-Church stood and having as he went along told two of his neighbours of the businesse from first to last when they came to a bridge they were to passe over he drew his sword and putting it to his daughters breast vow'd she should there immediately dye if she did not convey the child over the River without humane power for I will not have him go sayes he over the bridge but of himself let him be conveyed immediately to the other side And when the good woman wondred at this rigour in the man and sought to perswade him he yet insisted upon his demands the more resolutely untill he forced his daughter to call up the Devil and make him convey the Infant over the River without any visible means The Child being baptized he having sufficient testimony against his daughter when the time of purification was over accused wife and daughter who being brought before a Magistrate and convicted of that most impious crime were both deservedly burnt Ibidem IN a
this time make a seive dance and move at his pleasure And that he had a Familiar to help him is manifest for that when he was gone and another repeated the very same words he could effect nothing of that nature by it Idem Lib. 2. cap. 1. NO Country-man sayes the same Bodinus is ignorant that if two Verses out of the Psalms be recited while the Milk is a câ—urning there will no butter be produced by any Art I was at Chillis of the Valesians when a boy standing at the maids heels hindred the butter to come or gather but she threatning curses from God upon him if he did not cease and remove his Verses made him speak somewhat preposterously and backwards as 't were and then the Butter came after she had spent almost a whole day about it If you put but a little Sugar into the milk it will make no butter for this proceeds from an antipathy in nature and by the same reason if but a little Cyprian-brasse be cast into a Furnace of Iron it will never melt but turn to ashes and therefore the Forge-men when they kindle the fire see that there is none in the Furnace nor any one near the Chimney THere is a diabolicall art called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ring Magick which is performed by putting a Ring upon a bowl of water This a famous VVitch an Italian born used at Lutetia in the MDLXII year of Christ muttering out with all some kind of words and by this conceit gave answers aright to some that consulted her but most were deceived by it Joachimus Camerensis tells us that Hieronymus the Stage-player whose son became Chancellour of Mediolanum had a ring that spoke or rather a Devill speaking in a Ring which rightly rewarded the Master of it at last for it caused him to be excommunicated and cursed Bodinus Daemonom lib. 2. cap. 1. I Once saw a Physitian of Tolosa exercise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rod-Magick and with a low voice murmure out some I know not what words till the two ends of the rod met and touch't each other But when it profited nothing to the cure of the affected he blamed their incredulity and cutting it into pieces he caused it to be put about the necks of those that had the quartane Ague for their remedy Ibidem OF all wicked devices of this nature none arrive to that community and perniciousnesse as that of restraining new-married people doth This the common people call the binding of the Ligula which boyes practise with impunity and with high impudence some bragging of it Nor is this a new thing for we read in Herodotus that Amasis King of Aegypt was so bound in this nature that he could not have to do with his VVife Laodice till with exorcismes and solemn prayers he was freed Paulus Aemilius also testifies in the life of Clotarus the second that his Concubines used this trick against Hermamberga Some Epicurean Philosophers laugh at this miracle because these Artists in knotting the Ligula that are abroad make people wonder when they see that they can by no means cure the same And therefore the Canon sayes thus If at any time by Witchcraft and sorâ—ery through the hidden but alwayes just Judgment of God permitting and the Devill preparing them thy copulation is hindred repair to God by humble confession Out of which place we may note four or five Axioms or undeniable positions First That copulation may be hindered by Witchcraft which all Divines unanimously confirm and Thomas himself upon the fourth book of Sentences in the 24th distinction where he saith That a man may be restrained in that particular as to one woman but not otherwise and in his last chapter of Frigid things The second is That it is done occultly but by the permission of God in just Judgment The third That it is performed absolutely by the Devill The fourth That in this case God is to be repaired to in Fasting which last head is chiefly to be observed least those that are troubled with these things as many do and as the Devill desires and intends they should run to Diabolical means for remedy ESpecially it is strange that little boyes by pronouncing some words should be able most exquisitely to perform this inchantment I remember Rioleus general Embassadour to the Blesenses told me that a little boy was seen tying this knot under his hat whilest Matrimony betwixt two was celebrated in the Church and that the boy being seized on escaped with the knot Whilest at Pictavium I acted as Vice-Procurator in the year 1567 there was brought a case before me of this nature which when I told to my Landlady a very vertuous woman she as if most skill'd in that Art in the presence of Jacobus Bauvasius an Attorney in the cause declared there were above fifty wayes of tying this knot whether to tye a married man or a woman onely that the one despising the other's infirmity might run after adultery but that the man for the most part was bound but seldom and hardly the woman and that they might be bound for a day a year or ever or for as long as the knot should last unlesse it were dissolved That there was a knot whereby one might be brought to love another and not to have reciprocal returns but extream hatred and that there was another way to make two love one the other most affectionately but if they came to lye together that they should scratch with their nails and beat one the other most inhumanely As I heard at Tholosa there were two thus illigated for three years space and then reconciled and had a very fine child And which I most admire the woman whilest she was ligated declared she had little tumours like warts rose upon her as signs of children she should have had but for this ligature She said there were knots to be made to hinder procreation and not hinder copulation that there were men could not be ligated and some that might before marriage and some after but those few and the Urines of men might be stopt by this trick whereof they were not few that dyed I found a poor boy almost dead with this thing and the man that did the feat loos'd again the knot and so gave his urine vent And not many moneths after this very Sorcerer dyed of a like ligature THis mischief proceeding to a community in the Countrey of the Picts the chief Quaestor of Niortum when a new-married wife accused a Neighbour of hers for restraining her husband in the year of the VVorld 1560 he caused her to be cast into a very loathsome prison threatening her she should never come thence till the man were loosed and after two dayes the imprisoned woman gave leave to the married people to enjoy each others bed and when the Judge heard the man was freed he freed the woman from prison THis is worthy our observation That it passes the skill and
began to boyl as though a huge wind had agitated and stirr'd it the quaverings machines and engines of the King's wall and the famous yea supererogating works of the Thessalian Nicomedes with their great noise and crack did prophesie and foretell what would come to pass afterwards a very stormy South-wind did rise which in a semi-moments space did so palsie and shoulder-shake a woodden Tower of the heighth of a hundred cubits and other machinaments and fortifications that it levelled their sky-towring tops with the ground But some relate it thus That Minerva was seen in Visions to very many to whom she appeared in their dreams sweat trickling down her and shewed part of her embroidered garment or veil which was rent and that she said She was even now come from ayding the Cyzenians But Mithridates being almost famished although not in Hungaria gave over the siege and returned into Bythinia Lucullus following him Plutarchus THe Boetians being enslaved and captivated by the Thracians when they plumed their feet and flew into the Trophonian den it was told them in a Dream That Bacchus was to be their helper they fell upon the Thracians being drunk having Bacchus with them also they redeemed one another and built a Temple to Bacchus their redeemer as Heracâ—dus Ponticus writes IT is reported That Cleomenus King of the Spartans after the Argians were vanquished sacrificing in Juno's Temple a flame of fire streamed out of the breasts of the Image which was an evident sign that Argos was not to be conquered by assault for if the flame had issued out of the head of the image it would have intimated That he should win and take the City from the Tower but when the lightning sprung out of her breasts then all was done that the gods would have done Herodotus lib. 6. IN a black sorrowful conflict and battel at Pharsalia in which Pompey was overcome by Caesar which was foreshewed and written by great and wonderful signs and wonders in Elide there was an image of Victory which stood in Minerva's Temple which had its back to the gate and in that same day that the battel was fought of its own accord it turned towards the door At Antiochus in Syria and in a Town by the red-Sea called Ptolemais twice in that very same day there was such a noise heard about that City as though there were a great mutiny and murmuring of Souldiers about the walls and there was the noise of a Drum heard in Pergamus's Temple Valerius lib. 1. cap. 6. WHen Attila the King of the Hunni made an attempt about the intrenching upon the borders of the Roman Empire the images of their gods was not onely seen in the night but also in the day time to command every one to pray for himself and that crimson and bloody drops came from Heaven and two headed monstrous Infants were born and many of their consecrated houses and Temples were struck with lightning and a voice was oft heard Cave tibi Italia O Italy take heed to thy self Bonfinius lib. 3. Decad 1. A Little before the destruction and demolishment of Troy the fire in Minerva's Temple did spare to burn the sacrifices that were laid upon the Altars the common people being much troubled at this thing flocked together to Apollo's Temple to the Altar there and laying the parts of the intrails upon it and fire being put to that on a suddain all things began to be disturbed fell to the ground by which Spectacle all the people being enter'd in much afraid and dismayed incontinently there came an Eagle with a huge noise and snatched away apart of the intrails and carried them to the Grecian ships Dict. lib. 5. CAesar Augustus in one part of the Capitol erected a Temple to thundring Jove which he had vowed in the Cambrick War and did frequent this dedicated place daily and he thought he saw in his Dream Jupiter complain that he had taken away his worshippers and that he answered that there was the Thunderer set for his Porter And by and by he decked and encompassed the top of the dedicated place with little bells which then in a manner did hang and were pendant upon the gates and doors ZOnaras Annalium tom 3. relates That under Anastasius the Manichaean Emperour a Magitian a most wicked man that had set up a brazen Image to the Goddess Fortune in the shape of a Countrey woman whose feet being brass stood in a ship which was of the same mettal in the City of Constantinople which aforesaid ship was either eaten away by hungry time or broken by some other secret means so that some fragments were taken away from it And for this cause ladened ships could not arrive any more at Byzantium but whensoever they approached near to it they were driven back again by the violence of the winds and unless they had brought their bagg and baggage in long Vessels or Ships rowed with Oars perhaps the people might have been famished which thing continuing for a good while at last the Magistrates took care of the business and the cause of this dysaster they enquired of a Magitian a notable diviner and so that the broken pieces and fragments of that brazen Ship being diligently sought up and gimmer'd and set in their proper places then the Sea or Harbour was filled with voyage navigation and little ships but as soon as they knew certainly the obstacle at the last the fragments were dislocated and whatsoever ships were to arrive there by the strength of the winds were cast and driven back and the thing being discovered the Ship was renewed and made up again with great care and pains THere were in a Tower in Athens Olive-trees dedicated to Pallas which were called Moriae Halirhotius the son of Neptune did attempt to cut them down with an Axe because by reason of their making and production he was overcome by Minerva and as he was a hewing of them struck himself by the axe and by that wound he perished Coelius lib. 12. cap. 20. SOme say that Aesculapius was not born of the Nymph Coronis but of an Egg of a little Crow because the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth both a little Crow and also a Nymph so called as Lucâ—an in his Dialogue de falso vate affirms It is reported of the Antient Priests who included and put a very little Serpent into a wind-Egg of a Crow and studiously anointed it with wax and hid it in a certain myery and by and by an Altar was erected in that place and he called the people together to a Sermon or Oration and when he had declared openly before them all that he was about to shew himself to be a god After the Oration was ended using some unknown uncouth words he invocated and called upon Apollo and Aesculapius that they would be propitious and fortunate and draw near to that City Afterwards dipping a water-pot into a deep place to fetch up some water
out of the Sabine Courts how prevalent was his prayer and how daring and bold which was ready to allure Jupiter out of heaven A thing of which there is sufficient witnesse not onely believed but attempted of others likewise Tullus Hostilius who after him was possessed of the Kingdome who did not undergo nor perform the sacred rites wisely when his whole house was set on fire and burned by lightning Sabel lib. 2. cap. 5. TUllus Hostilius when he had Marshalled and ordered his army to march tovvards the River of Tibris and Anienis and in the Fidenates and Vejentians and knowing the imbecillity and want of strength of the Albanes against their enemies he vowed to sacrifice twelve Samians to Mars and so quickly became the Victor or overcomer of the Army who now was so accounted by right of Victory and also was grown by hope and strength unequally match't to his enemies Ibidem A Greater counterfeiting and Apeing of piety but yet who should reckon the worshipping of Heathen gods and spirits piety may be seen in Tucia and appeared most eminently in a Vestall there Whether the confidence of the woman in this Case or the obedience of the evill spirits is greater is a great doubt being commanded to plead her own cause and to vindicate and clear her self from her aspersion which was put upon her by her accuser and the Vestall was desired that if she had all her time carried and demeaned her self chastly and piously in her Ceremonies that she should hold and fix her self with her anchora spei upon the Rock of confidence so she made her requests to her gods and going to a bank of a River having many accompanying her that they might know the event and exit of the businesse she brought a sieve full of the Water of the River to the High Priest before whom her cause was formerly pleaded There is also added to this miracle that her accuser being very narrowly sought after never appeared more Ibidem THere was a like miracle manifested about Claudius that was the worshipper or Idolizer of the same Ceremony and when her too too loose life had contracted some calumny who did endeavour to wash off the blot and to dispell that cloud that encurtained her glory and to blow away that fume of opinion that was in the minds of most men did attempt to remedy this malady by some such apparent testimony which would require more admiration of the succeeding Ages to wonder at it then faith to believe it this Vestall Virgin shall I call her first humbly praying and tying her belt quickly removed a Ship which carried Juno sticking in the Tiberine sands and drew it against the stream which a great deal of the Roman strength and force though vi et armis after very many encounters could not stir nor remove Sabellicus Lib. 2. cap. 5. ADrian the Emperour Lucius Commodus being adopted and hoping for the Empire commanded Severianus and Fuscus his Nephew which seemed to take the surrender of the Empire grievously to be slain much suspecting and envying them one of them being four score and ten years old the other but eighteen But Severianus before he was to be strangled called for some fire and burning incense he said Vos ô Dei testor me nihil mali commississe i. e. Be ye my witnesses O ye gods that I have done no evill to Adrian I wish onely this mischief that when he shall desire to dye he shall not be able And thus one of them yielded to the fates Afterwards Adrian in a great sicknesse often desired death in vain and often strived to be his own executioner by reason of his wicked heyre his Epistle which intimates this is extant for he writes thus How miserable a thing is it to desire death and not to dye Dion Caessius in vita Adriani WHen the Athenians were infected with the Plague they had an Oracle from Pythia that the City was to be purged by sacrifice they sent Niceas the Son of Niceratus to a ship who called Epimenedes out of Creet He proceeding after this sort Olymp. 27. did purge the City thus they took sheep that had black and white fleeces and brought them into Areopagus and from thence permitted them to go whither they listed and appointed severall to accompany them and that wheresoever they should lye down they should sacrifice severall of them to peculiar gods And so the pestilence was quench't hence was it that Altars were oft found in the Athenian Villages without any name Which by chance was to the unknown God upon which occasion Saint Paul began to Preach Christ to the Athenians Laertius THe Persians being or'ecome and beat back to Platea a City in Boetia Apollo answered the Grecians consulting about a sacrifice that they should rear up an Altar to Jupiter the Liberatour and freer but before they had solemnized the ceremonies they appointed that all fire should be extinguished through the whole Region which was polluted by the Barbarians and that they should kindle all their fires out of that pure fire on the common hearth at Delphos Therefore by and by the Magistrates of the Grecians going all about commanded all them that used any fire to extinguish it Euchidas of the Plataeensians promised that as swiftly as that could be done that he would bring fire from the goddesse and so he went to Delphos and so purging his body by sacrifice and washing it with water being Crowned with Laurell took fire from the Altar and running backwards went towards Plataeas and before the setting of the Sun returned and in that very same day measured and travelled a thousand paâ—es so the Citizens were saved unto whom he delivered the fire but he quickly fainted and a while after died the Plataeensians did bury him in the Temple dedicated to Diana at Euclia and did superscribe this Tetrameter Verse Euchidas Delphos cucurrit et die reversus uno est Euchidas unto Delphos one day run Return'd again ereth ' setting of the Sun Plutarchus in Aristide IT is reported that Hercules the son of Alcmena offering sacrifice to Jupiter in Olympia when he could not drive away the flies it is said that the Elii called the driver away of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and did do sacrifice to him and when the sacrifice was offered on a sudden all the flies flew beyond the River Alpheus Therefore was it reserved and kept by the Eleans to drive away flies from Olympia and the same ceremony was used Pausanias lib. 5. AUrelian the Emperour when he came against the Marcomannians unto Mediolanum a Town in Italy he writ to the Senate that they should look into the Sybillaean books what rites were necessary to crave the help of their gods Which when the Senate had done so and had it revealed by a divine revelation more then by any humane strength or counsels the Barbarians durst not go beyond their prefixed limits affrighted by such terrible sights and Wonders and so a
Fables of the Poets who of a dead body made the abstraction of a shadow which they called the Image and Idoll thereof as is affirmed both by Sergius and Lucian and the Commentator upon Homer or else from those fabulous and idle dreams of the Rabbins and Talmudists which had their Nephes as saith the Author of Zoar. But the truth is that those Creatures which do use to cast their spoils from them do leave no other then a thin slender skin which being superfluous is no more remaining or abiding with the body Howbeit that it commeth from the body as appeareth both by the after-burthens of all creatures wherein the young ones being wrapped and enfolded in the bellies of their dams yet in comming from thence do easily and naturally cast them off as also by the spoils of the Serpent or Snake and by the skins of the Silk-worms and the Caterpillars the which superfluities are drawn and cast off particularly from these beasts or Creatures as a mark to the one to wit the Silk-worms and Caterpillars that they do change from their former state and to the other namely the Serpents to shew the poisons and ill hearbs and seeds which they have eaten all the Winter according as Virgil writeth of them These Arguments being thus finished Let us now come to that which the Epicures affirm to be the cause why any should be touched and attained with fear when they see such Images and figures which they affirm naturally to flit and fly up and down We say they are affected and altered according to the things which we see and which are next unto us As for example we perceive I know not what salt humour being near the Sea and in touching of Wormwood and of Rue we find a kind of bitternesse and when we are near a Smith we feel our teeth to gnash and to be set on edge at the noise of his File or Saw wherewith he worketh So likewise when these Images and figures do present themselves unto us we cannot possibly abide nor suffer them but we find our selves altered and changed in our understanding howbeit some more then other some For like as there be certain seeds within the eyes of Cocks which shining and shooting into the eyes of the Lions do so strike and pierce their eye-lids and do inflict upon them such pain and grief that they are constrained to fly from them being not able to abide or endure the sight of the Cock So are there some men who have their senses so apprehensive and subtill that they cannot hold from being afraid when they see such vain Images and figures before them But hereunto we must give them this answer that the fear which men have by the sight of Specters or Spirits commeth in regard that the things are unaccustomed and admirable to the bodily senses and not from any secret seeds which are contrary to our nature and much lesse from any natural passion such as that is wherewith men are touched that abide near the Sea or those that see Rue or Wormwood or do hear the noise of a Smiths file or saw For if it were of any natural passion that this fear proceeded then would not the party terrified be so confounded and astonished even in the very powers of the Soul as it is commonly seen that men are at the sight of Specters or Spirits but rather he should be onely moved by a certain Antipathy or abomination as Pomponatius calleth it and would onely abhor and fly from that which he so feareth Besides things that are supernatural do much more touch the senses of man then those things do which are natural Neither are they to be compared with such things as having a natural cause howbeit secret do happen to be seen daily and ordinarily Now I say that the cause of these things though naturall is secret For Alexander Aphrodiseâ—s speaking of the noise of the File and how it setteth the teeth on edge with other things of like nature saith that Nature hath reserved the reason thereof unto her own secret knowledg not being willing to impart the cause thereof unto men The like may be affirmed of the greatest part of those Antipathies which being concealed from men yet cannot come of any secret seeds that are contrary or enemies to nature as the Epicures dote but are hidden in the secret Magazin or Storehouse of Nature which hath not revealed or laid the same open unto any person Who can tell the reason why the Conciliatour otherwise called Peter de Albano did abhor milk Why Horace and Jaques de Furly could not abide Garlike nor Cardan could away with Egs. And why that Gentleman of Gascoigne of whom Julius Caesar Scaliger speaketh could not abide the sound of a Violl And of this latter in Cardan you may read the History The Physitian Scaliger writeth how he himself knew a Gentleman his neighbour which had in him such an Antipathy at the sound of a Violl that as soon as ever he heard it were he in any company even of the best sort and that either at Table or elsewhere he was constrained to forsake the place and to go away to make water Now it happened that certain Gentlemen having of a long time perceived and known this strange nature and disposition in him did one day invite this Gentleman to dine with them and having provided and suborned a certain Minstrel of purpose they caused him to be kept close till the appointed dinner time when being set at Table they had so placed the Gent. in the midst of them as it was not possible for him to get forth Now as they were in the midst of their dinner in came the Fidler and began to strike up his Violl near unto the Gent. he that never heard the sound of that instrument but was presently taken with an extream desire to pisse grew into an exceeding great pain for being not able to get from the Table nor daring to lay open his imperfection to the whole company the poor man shewed by the often change of his countenance in what pitiful case and pain he was But in the end he was constrained to yield to the present mischief and to reveal his imperfection He that should undertake to search and find out the cause of this so admirable an Antipathy I assure my self he should be as long a time about it as was Aristotle in seeking out the cause of the Flowing and Ebbing of the Seas whereof have written Gregory Nazianzen Justine Martyr Eusebius and others and yet he could never learn the certain cause thereof But as touching the reason why the Lion doth fly from the Cock It commeth not from any seeds that lye hidden within the eyes of the Cock and which from thence should strike into the eyes and hurt the sight of the Lion but it is by a kind of Antipathy whereof we have formerly spoken By which also the Elephant doth fly from the Hogge and the Horse
them Suetonius TIberius Caesar that he might learn the Art of the Chaldeans had a teacher one Thrasyllus As often as he consulted about these kind of matters he went into a private and out-house suffering no one to be privy to his business but one free-man onely He was altogether unlearned but of a robustious strong body and had gone before him through roughs and craggs for the house stood upon a rock and this Thrasyllus his Art Tiberius was resolved to try For as he returned if he suspected him of any fraud he had resolved to precipitate him down a rock in his return that there might no one remain privy to this his levity After he had most exquisitely told Tiberius how he should be Emperour and many other future events he askt him If he could calculate his own birth-day He answered Yes and looking into his destiny the more he look'd the more he quak'd and trembled and at last cryed out That some eminent and imminent danger attended him When Caesar saw this he ran to him embraced him and told him what his danger was promisiâ—g him for that he knew it he should be safe of it On a time Tiberius as he was walking on the Sea shore with him in much perplexity of mind Thrasyllus advised him to be of good comfort and hope better things but when he grew so dejected that he was almost ready to cast himself into the Sea being in great fear of his father in law Augustus Thrasyllus espying a Ship come sailing towards them affirmed to him very confidently That that very Ship brought him good tydings The ship being put into the Haven he received Letters from Augustus and Livia whereby he was recalled to Rome according to his hearts desire Dion in Augusto CLaudius the Emperour a little before his death creating Consuls predicted to them the moneth wherein he should dye and having assured them of the very utmost limit of his time in his last counsel he did obtest that his sons should live brotherly and lovingly commending them to the Senate and professed it again and again to them that were present and who were very sorry desiring the contrary that he should dye as he had told them Suetonius NEro being born early in the morning before Sun-rising a certain Astrologer looking into the course of the Stars said That he should reign at Rome but should kill his own Mother which when Agrippina his Mother heard she said Let him kill me so he may be Emperour The event declares that the Astrologer predicted truth Xiphilinus in Nerone AScletarion a Mathematician being brought to Domitian the Emperour because he was so bold as to predict somewhat concerning his end when he did not deny but he had reported those things which by his Art he foresaw Domitius growing very angry commanded him to tell him what his own end should be and he told him To be torn to pieces by dogs and that very shortly Whereupon he presently commanded him to execution and that body his should be burnt to ashes and that the ashes should be buried to try the truth or rather to disprove the falshood of his assertions But Fate would not be altered for when the pile and all was prepared an exceeding showr of rain came so violently that all the executioners and company left the dead body by the pile and that while the dogs came and tore it Whilest he was at Supper Latinus his Jester telling him this amongst the rest of that dayes fables and conceits he was so enraged as if from this time he had been past hope of life and lay obnoxious to all the strokes of malevolent fortune Sabellicus ex Suetonio DOmitian the Emperour superstitiously given to Mathematical Predictions and thereby being informed of the time of his death the day before he was killed having fruit brought him as a Present he commanded them to be set by and kept till the next day and saith If I may I will make use of them And then then turning to them who were next to him he saith The Moon tomorrow being in Aquarius will look red and bloody which demonstrates some horrid wickedness as all men throughout the World expect He being advised by Mathematicians to take heed of the fifth hour of that day was solicitous to take their Judgment What great mischance would come by reason thereof who said That it portended great mutation in the World He therefore when that day came sitting idly and scratching a little Wart on his forehead he broke it so that some blood ran down his face which seeing he said God grant I have no greater hurt then this And enquiring what a clock it was it was answered purposely That it was the sixth hour though it was the fifth hour which he so much feared whereupon thinking all danger past he joyfully riseth intending to refresh his body but instantly his Chamberlain Parthenius came to him telling he was to speak with one in his bed-Chamber upon an important business whither coming he received from him and his confederates seven wounds whereof he dyed in the fourty sixth year of his age and fifteenth year of his reign Sabellicus lib. 4. Ennead 7. HAdrian the Emperour was not onely excellent in other Arts but also in Astronomy which Marius Max. doth so far declare that he knew all things concerning himself insomuch that he foreshewed his Acts which he should perform every day even to the last hour of his life It is manifest that he told Verus whom he adopted That the Fates shew to terrene creatures what shall be done beyond which nothing can proceed here He wrote to that very year yea and the moneth of that year in which he departed and shewed that he could not out-live that moneth Fulgosus lib. 8. cap. 11. SEptimus Severus Pertinax is said to have been a most skilfull Mathematician When his wife Martia the Mother of Bassianus was dead he calculated the Nativities of all about him and finding that Julia though not nobly descended yet by the Planet under which she was born it was signified that she should be Empresse he took her to wife who was the Mother of Greta Valeteranus The same man travailing towards Brittanie told That he should not thence return and that in the roof of the Palace in which he used to sit in Judgment he left his predictions in writing so that all men might see them wholly except that part of them which treated of the hour of his birth Xiphilinus Dionis Niraei abbreviator in Severo A Certain Aegyptian from the Mendosian coast comming to Constantinople went into an Inne the hostesse whereof was a skilfull Midwife who assoon as she had drawn some Wine for her guest tells him with an extended loud voice that a friend of hers now in labour of her third child was in great danger unlesse she had speedy help whereupon she suddenly left the Aegyptian went and helped the woman from the misery of her travell or
labour and returns to her guest who being angry for her absence she relateth the cause of her stay He exactly observed the time and hour of the day Go said the Midwife and tell the Woman in childbed that she hath brought forth one that shall be able to do more then the Emperour which said she carouseth a whole bowl of Wine and told what the Infant 's name should be and accordingly afterwards he was named Ablabius who had such excesse of fortune that in the time of Constantine the Great he was made Praetor by which office he could do more then the Emperour Eunapius in vita Aedosii TWo Jews Astrologers and Magitians promised Zira Prince of the Arabians Empire and long life if he would demolish the Christian Temples and Images of Saints which he put in execution but before a whole year came about he died and his Son intended to punish the Impostors but they fly into Isauria where Leo who after Theodosius the third Emperour was cast down was called Isaurus they find a boy of mean birth but endewed with a most excellent and towardly wit and genius they tell him that he should be Emperour and that so confidently that they swore by many Oaths that the event should answer their predictions if he would but do what they desired and he promised to do what ever they prescribed Afterwards Leo obtains the Empire in the ninth year after they require the performance of his promise and seek nothing but that he will abolish the pictures of Christ and his Mother The Emperour in observance of his promise puts down all Images and heavily punished all that worshipped or kept them Cuspinianus Zonara SImon Prince of the Bulgarians led his Army against the Crabats and fighting them in narrow places betwixt Mountains lost all his Army a certain man named John a Magitian and Astronomer comes to Lucapenus the Roman Emperour and adviseth him that he should send some body who might cut off the head or top of a Pillar which was placed over the Arch made in the remembrance of the Victory of Xerolophus and over against the Sun-setting promising that thereupon Simeon to whom it was fatall should presently perish and in the same hour the head of the statue was cut off as it was afterwards found by diligent inquisition made that Simeon died by the grief or sicknesse of his heart Cedrenus Guido Maltraversus Earl of Patavia and Knight of Lucius had a Son called Nicholas by Constantia the daughter of Obicius Marciones an Estensian whom Jambonus Andreas as well a Magitian as an Astrologian did predict a pernicious Citizen to his countrey and moved his Father if possibly he could to dis-inherit him Guido dyes whereby Nicholas becomes powerfull in Riches and credit conspires with Canes Scaligerus the destruction of his Countrey whereupon is raised a most bloudy war in which as it is reported an hundred thousand men and upwards were slain So the event proved the prophecy of Jambonus true Bernhardus Scardoneus Blandus lib. 8. Decad. 2. THe French men having to their Generall Guido Appius and fighting against Martinus besieged the Town of Livius at that time when the Sicilians celebrated the French Vespers Guido Bonatus Prince of the Forolivensian Astronomers and without doubt a Magitian also foretold the Earl of Mount-ferrat that the day before the Calends of May he should make a sally contrary to the expectation of all men whereby he should obtain most assuredly victory over his enemies but that he should receive a wound in his hip and being a skillfull Physitian and Surgion he took with him Ovalls Glisters and necessary things with him to bind up his wound when he sallied out against the Enemy nor was the event contrary to this presage for the French were overthrown Platina in Martino 4. Blandus lib. 8. Decad. 2. ANtiochus Tibertus excellent in Chiromancy Pâ—romancy and Physiognomy at Cresena foretold to Guidon a servant whose sirname was Guerra that upon suspition of infidelity he should be killed by his intimate friend To Pandulph the Tyrant he also told that he should be banished to Malatesta in Armenia should in extream poverty dye a banished man and not long after Pandulphus killed Guidon for that he was jealous of his fidelity and commits Antiochus himself to Prison that he might try the event of his presages Antiochus so far prevailed with the daughter of the Jaylour that he obtained of her a rope by which he was let down out of the Prison into a Ditch but being by the noise of his shackles discovered he was taken as he was flying away and brought back heavily beaten for his escape and he and the maid both secured At length Pandulphus a banished man poor and forsaken of all men died in a poor Inne So many things were portended to befall Tiberius himself which notwithstanding his warning he could by no means avoid Jovius in Elogiis PEtrus Leonius of Spoleto a famous Physician who first opened a dore to the learned Art of Physick publishing Galen's most studious labours therein he was a most dexterous Astronomer and Magitian and therefore knowing that his sudden death was portended to him by the danger of water to avoid frequent Navigations he departed from Petavius and the Venetians to Umbra and Spoleto Shortly after being invited to the company of Lawrence a Physitian he by the fallacious Art of Astronomy predicted to him recovery of his health and present deliverance from a sicknesse under which he grievously laboured which made him neglect all means to obtain his former health by rejecting Lazarus Placentinus an illustrious Physitian who sent to him by Lewis Sfortia brought Physick to him when it was too late by reason of his neglect Wherefore Antiochus blamed and hated of all men after the death of Lawrence whether by his own desperate action or by the violence of Peter the Son of this Lawrence it is uncertain he was precipitately drowned in a stinking ditch belonging to a Town near adjacent Jov. in Elogiis BArtholomaeus Cocles a Bononian Scholler to Antiochus and a most exquisite Palmist and Physiognomist warn'd Goricus the Astrologer that he should beware lest he suffered most violent tortures when he was at Leucas But he not minding his advice in his Ephemerides that a little after he made predicted that Joannes Bentovolus should be thrust both out of his Country and Government for which the Tyrant caus'd him to be five times tossed in a cord And so he received the reward of his Art This same Cocles told one Coponus that he would very shortly commit a most horrid murder and also told Hermes the King's son That he should be banished and kill'd in fight Hermes therefore commands Coponus to kill Cocles his evil Prophet Cocles foresaw his danger of death by his art and therefore wore a private helmet to defend himself and alwayes carried a great two-handed sword But Coponus in the habit of a Porter whilest he was earnest