better cherish his Family went down into the same cave hoping to find some Money But he going on a little way and finding nothing but Mens bones there in great amazement instantly came back again quite frustrated of his hope Teste Johanne Stumpffio in Chron. Helvetiae VIncentius reports this out of Helinandus lib. 3. cap. 27. that In the Diocesse of Colony there is a famous and great Palace which looks over into the River Rhene 't is called Juvamen where many Princes in former times being met suddenly there came to them a small Bark which being fastned to her neck a Swan hall'd along with a silver chain From thence a young Souldier not known to any of them skip't forth and the Swan brought home the ship Afterwards this Souldier married and had children At last remaining in the same Palace and beholding the Swan comming with the same Bark and chain he presently went into the Ship and was never seen more but his children abide there till this very day From him in the Castle Clivens where you may see also a very high and antient Tower named Cygnea on the top whereof the picture of a Swan is whurried to and fro most bravely wrought do they derive the antient pedigree of the Clivens Dukes Vierius lib. 2. cap. 46. de praestigiis Daemon WHen the Persians Megara being invaded betook themselves to the City Thebes to Mardonius their General by Diana's pleasure 't was dark on a sudden they mistaking their way went on the hilly side of the Country There by the delusions of Spirits were armies shooting darts at the stroaks of them the next rocks did as 't were groan again they thinking they were men that groaned by reason of their wounds and hurts never gave over shooting till they had spent all their arrows And when 't was day those of Megara being well-armed fell upon them that had no weapons very violently and slew a great number of their army And for this successefull event they erected an Image to Diana their Protectresse Pausanias in Atticis IN the Battel of Marathon against the Persians a certain rude and rustick fellow both by shape and habit help't the Athenians who when with his plough he had killed very many of those barbarous people on a sudden he vanished away And when the Athenians made enquiry who he was the Oracle made this answer onely Honour noble Ethelaeus In that very place they set up a trophy made of white stone Pausanias in Atticis In the same fight Theseus his Ghost was seen by many to invade the Medes After that the Athenians adored him as a God Plutarchus in ejus vita WHen the Persians under the command of Xerxes went to Minervaes Chappel which is before Apolloes Temple at the same time lightning fell down from Heaven upon them and two stones at the top of Parnassus making an huge noise fell down and prevented many of them Whereupon they which were in Minervaes Chappel gave a great shout rejoycing much The Barbarians fled those of Baeotia made known their ruine And they which remained fled straightway to Baeotia reporting that they saw two huge armed men following after them The people of Baeotia told them they were two noble Heroes of their own Country Phylacus and Autonous whose Temples are to be seen That which was Phylacus his Temple was the same way beyond Minervaes but the Temple of Autonous was hard by Castalia under the top Hyampeus The stones which fell down from Parnassus were in Herodotus his time whole fixt in Minervaes Temple porch to which the Barbarians brought them Herodotus lib. 2. WHil'st the Greeks were fighting against Xerxes at Salamin 't is rumour'd that a great light shone from the City Eleusis and that there was such a great noise in the fields of Thria as 't were of a great many men that they heard them even to the Sea side from this company which made the noise was seen a cloud arising a little above the Earth and to go from that continent and to fall upon the Ships Others saw as 't were armed men reaching forth their hands from Aegina to help the Graecian ships they did suppose that they belong'd to Aeacides whom before the battel they had humbly implored Plutarchus in Themistocle WHen the Arcadians in a hostile manner came on the coasts of the City Elis and the Inhabitants thereof had set themselves in battle array against them 't is reported that a woman which gave suck to a man-child came to the chief officers of the Eleans and that she said when she told them 't was her child that she was warn'd in a dream that he should be put to the Eleans as a Souldier to fight on their side the Generals took order that the naked Infant should be rank't before the Colours because they were of opinion that the woman was to be credited The Arcadians making the first onset the child in the open view of them all was Metamorphosed into a Snake the Enemies being affrighted with this strange and prodigious sight presently ran away This notable victory being obtained he was named Sosipolis from the City which was preserved this Snake was seen to hide himself The battell being over they raised up a Temple and dedicated it to its proper genius Sosipolis Honours were ordained for Lucina because by her means this child was born into the World Pausanias libr. 6. WHen the people of Locris skirmished with the Crotoni in the Locrensians army were seen two young men on milk-white Horses they were the foremost in the fight who when they had conquer'd and subdued their enemies never appeared more The Victory in the same instant it was obtain'd was publish'd at Athens Lacedemon and Corinth though places far remote from Locris and Croton three hundred thousand of the people of Sybaris were slain by a small number and the city it self utterly destroyed Fulgosus lib. 1. cap. 6. THe Ereâ—rians on a time going from their own City Eubea by ship and invading the Country Tahagrus they say that Mercury led forth some young striplings and himself also who was but a youth armed onely in a wrestlers habit in comparison of the rest forc'd the Eubeans to take their heels and for this very cause thâ—y erected a Temple to Mercurius Promachus Pausanias in Baeoticis IN the fight which the Romans had against Tarquinius going to Rome as the report goes that Castor and Pollâ—x were seen in the battel and immediately after the fight was done the horses being very hot and trickling down with sweat messengers also of the victory were seen in the Market place where in stead of their well they have a house From whence they consecrated a day to Castor and Pollux in the Ides of July In the Romane war Castor and Pollux were seen to wipe off the sweat of their horses at the lake Juturna when their house which was near the fountain was wide open Valerius Maximus lib. 1. cap. 6. When A. Posthumius
Sepulchre and there sacrificed her Soon after the Battle began wherein the Lacedemonians received that memorable overthrow of Leuctria by Boeotarchus and Pelopidas Plutarchus in Pelopida WHen Gennadius the Chief of Constantinople under Leo the Great Emperour was by night standing at the Altar and praying to God for the world a certain evil spirit appeared to him which being by him forc't away by his making a crosse answered him thus in the voyce of a man That as long as he liv'd indeed he would avoid and be at quiet but afterward he would leave no way unattempted to trouble the Church of God Nicephorus lib. 15. cap. 23. Suidas Cedrenus A Little before that Henry the seventh Emperour dyed and the slaughter of the chief Rulers of the Nation as Musatus Patavinus and Franciscus Petrarcha do history it the Inhabitants of Mediolanum in the house-floor of Matthaeus the chief Governour who also merited the name af Matthaeus the Great when Sun was set an armed horseman appear'd to him far bigger then the shape of man when many for an hours space had beheld it it then vanish'd away with great terrour to the beholders Likewise three dayes after at the third hour in the very same place two horsemen in the like shape being seen skirmishing between themselves vanished also Sabellicus libro 1. cap. 4. TWo famous Merchants going into France through the groves near the Alpes in Italy they met a man bigger then the ordinary size of men he calling them suddenly charged them thus Speak to my Brother Ludovicus Sfortia and give him these Letters from me They being amazed and enquiring Who he was he replyed That he was Galeacius Sfortia and straightway he vanished from their sight They returned in all haste to Mediolanum from thence to Viglevanus where Maurus lived They present their lâ—tters to the Prince the Courtiers scoff at them but they standing stiff in their errand were cast into prison and being put upon the wrack they shewed by their constancy that there was no fraud in them In the mean while with great fear and ostonishment they deliberated about opening the Letters All the rest making doubt what to do one Galeacius a Commander in chief feared not The letter was folded up like a Bishops Writ as they term it very long fastened with small instruments of brasse The words whereof were these O O O Ludovicus take heed to thy self For the Venetians and the French have conspired to ruine thee and thy off-spring But if you will give me a thousand nobles I will endeavour to reconcile their high spirits and to turn away your ill fortune and I doubt not to accomplish it if you do not stubbornly refuse me Farewell The subscription was The spirit of Galeacius thy Brother Here some being astonished at the strangenesse of the thing others laughing at the device and most averring he must put money into his hands yet lest he should make himself a laughing-stock the Prince refrain'd this superstitious prodigality and sent home the Merchants again But in a short while after he was unthron'd by Ludovicus the Twelfth King of the French and carried away prisoner Artunus Section 1. historiae Medionens oculatus testis THe Father of Ludovicus Alodisius who was possessour of all the wealth of the City Imola a little after he went from hence appeared in a private place to the man in his journey whom his sonne Ludovicus sent to a City in Italy called Ferraria sitting on horseback with a hawk as 't was his manner in hawking to hold him and spake to him although in great fear to bid his sonne to come that very next day into the same place for he would tell him of a businesse of great consequence Hearing that Ludovicus both because he was incredulous thereof and was also afraid of some treachery sent another in his stead That same ghost meeting him which appeared before was very sad that his son came not for he said he would tell him many more things But at that time he bad him tell him onely this That twelve years being expired and one moneth the day likewise being particularly set down he should be no longer Governour of that City which he had The time which the Ghost had foretold of was come with great diligence in that very same night which his Fathers evil Angels suspected Philippus his Souldiers Captain of the City Mediolanum with whom he had made a Covenant and therefore fear'd him not the trenches being hard frozen scaled the Walls and with ladders took the City and its Governour Sabeb lib. 1. cap. 4. Exempl WHen Constantinople was besieged by the savage Turks both by Land and Sea There was seen at Come a City near adjoyning to France a great company of doggs whirried up and down in the Ayr and after them flocks of divers kinds of beasts and as it were many footmen first of a slender harnesse then pikemen and other weapon'd men followed after and horsemen followed them divided into Troops with a great Army set in battle array They seemed for the space almost of three hours to be an Army at hand At length a huge and formidable Man of a high stature such as cannot be expressed as General of the Army sitting upon a dreadfull horse advanced and some other vain Apparitions the forerunners of great mischiefs till night drawing on whatsoever they saw vanished away Which Wonders every body thought did foretell ruine destruction and misery to follow after which the fates had necessitated and so it came to passe Alexander lib. 3. cap. 15. AS Sigebertus reports in his Chronicle Antiochus by a Divine hand of Judgment was overturned and cast down in the second year of Mauritius A certain Citizen of the place a man of singular piety and full of charity and liberall in his Alms saw an old man all in white with two more with him standing in the midst of the City with a handkerchief in his hand with which striking the middle part of the City it suddenly was overturned houses men and all And his two companions had much ado to perswade him to spare the rest of the City that stood so when he had used many comfortable speeches to this good man they appeared no more IN the year of our Lord 1536. a certain Factor of Sicilia journying from Catana to Messana upon the 21 day of March took up his lodging at Taurominium thence next morning travelling on his way not far from the Town he met 10 Pargettors as they seemed to be carrying with them their tools he asking whither they were bound They answered To Aetna commonly called the Mountain Gibellus And soon after ten more of them who being asked whither they all went returned the same answer That their Master Workman had sent them to build a certain Edifice at Aetna and being asked who their Master was they said He came a little after them And suddenly he met a man exceedingly taller then any ordinary man with a
often appeared to them like a Goat having Golden horns But some of the Germans and likewise the Greeks call the quiet and gentle spirits Cobalos in that they are imitatours of men for they shew themselves merry they laugh and seem to do many things when they are doing nothing at all Others call them Small men of the mountains because they appear as dwarfs 3. spans long They seem to be drowsy dotards habited like the mettal-men These are inoffensive to them although sometimes perhaps they may provoke the workmen with throwing gravell but they never hurt them unlesse by jeering or railing they provoke them They are chiefly seen to work or haunt those Caves out of which mettals may be digged or at least-wise they hope so Therefore these labourers are not frighted from their work but hereby promising themselves good successe they are more chearfull and work more eagerly wishing for them THeodosius the Emperour having spent and exhausted his treasure by continual Wars imposed a new subsidy upon his Cities onely the city Antioch refused to make paiment of it and not onely so but having made a mutiny the people in a contumelious manner drew up and down the City the Image of Placella the Empresse though already dead fitting and fastning a rope to her feet Which villanous act the Emperour as well he might took so hainously that unlesse being perswaded by the intreaties of D. Flavianus the Bishop and the authority of D. Ambrosius he had bin bound by oath to determine nothing against offenders till the 13th day was over he had made there also a great Massacre among them as he had done at Thessalonica Nicephorus lib. 12. cap. 42. 'T is reported that night before this mutiny a tall woman was seen in the Ayre huge and very great of a most dreadfull and fearfull countenance which running through the streets of the City in the Ayre beat the Ayre with her fan making such a noise as they used to do which in dark places excite beasts to rage Idem lib. 9. cap. 42. AMong the Italians there was a Governour of a City which most proudly and covetously domineer'd over his Citizens and by his high words and fierce deeds was wont to punish his subjects in a slavish manner though they did those things he commanded and performed them well yet for small causes did he torment or fine them By chance a good honest fellow though of small substance poor and despicable did so beat his Lord and Masters greyhound whereof he was wonderfully carefull that he thought for it he should be put to death When the Governour understood it being very angry and with a stern and menacing countenance grievously chiding him commanded him to be cast into a most base prison and there being fast bound was kept in a miserable custody After some dayes came they who were willing to observe his commands as they used to do the prison dore being fast and as well the dores as every passage made close that he could not get forth they could find him no where within the Prison who searching a long time and he appeared not neither was there any step or symptome of his escape to be seen they brought the news to their Governour which seeming to him incredible he was strangely amazed Within three dayes the same dores being strongly barr'd that very same he which of late was deputed to prison every one being ignorant thereof was again forc't and thrust into the same Prison and like to one in an amaze requested that he might with all speed be admitted to his Lord for he had somewhat of consequence to tell him in all haste which was not to be delayed And when he was presently brought to him he told him he was released by some of the infernall crew that since he could not endure the uglinesse of the Prison he was grown desperate and being afraid of his doom not knowing what to do he call'd to an evill spirit that he would be helpfull to him and release him out of that ill-favoured dungeon A little while after the Devill appeared to him in the same Prison of a deformed shape and terrible countenance and that he had agreed with him that he should free him from thence and all Iron bolts and locks and should cast him into the infernall places great depths and the lowest part of the Earth there he might view and behold all things the torments of the wicked and their ungodly places their eternal darknesse and miseries loathsome and horrible corners their Kings and chief Rulers were tortured covered as 't were with thick darknesse and tormented with the burning lights of furies he saw also the Bishops with their mitres and robes richly adorn'd and beautified with gems and many other wretched effigies of all sorts ages and ranks afflicted in severall habits lying along in profound and deep gulphs punish'd in eternall torments and their damned wickednesses everlastingly tormented with grief and wo amongst whom he had noted many which he knew in their life-time and especially an intimate and familiar friend of his who while he was living was his companion and he said to him speaking unto him he knew him very well and calmly required of him what businesse he had there and what he expected there He making answer that his country was by hard duties and rigid government entâ—ralled was charged to tell the Governour and bid him have a care that he did so no more and that he should not oppresse his subjects by burthensome taxes and unjust toll-money for he foretold him that there was a place which he saw not far off lefr for him And that he might not doubt his promise he saith that he should call to mind their private consultation and mutuall agreement which they made when they were Souldiers together whereof no body knew which when he had readily declared and recited not onely what was said and covenanted but every word and their promises whereby they were both obliged to each other the governour hearing these things in order being more serious and attentive was wonderfully amazed and great trembling fell upon him when he considered how those things which were disclos'd to him alone and never to any other that dull pate and blockish fellow as 't were inspired with some deity should know them and repeat them with an undaunted look To this miracle also is added That he asked him with whom he was talking with in Hell who appeared in handsome and neat habit and attire whether they were any wayes punish't that went in rich apparell and vestments of Gold he replyed with everlasting burning and amongst the greatest torments they were with continuall wo oppressed and tormented and that which before glittered with Gold and Purple was now all flame and fire He willing to make triall thereof put his hand nearer to the Purple being warned by him not to touch it and yet it could not be but by the blast of heat the palm of his
speak the truth and therefore this man was called Aenobarba Plutarchus in Aemilio THe Devill having transformed himself into an Angell appeared to Rathbodus commander of Frisia with a Golden Diadem on his head and many jewels thereon and his vesture wrought with Gold saying Most valiant Sir who hath seduced and mislead you that you would go from the service of God Do not do thus but be constant in those things you have learnt and you shall be advanced to Golden Palaces which I shall shortly give you for ever To morrow therefore receive Vulfrannus who is the chief teacher of Christians and enquire of him what famous everlasting Mansion that is which he promiseth you which if he cannot shew you send messengers of both sides and I will be their leader and will shew them that Golden house and most beautifull Mansion which I promise Rathbod being very carefull related all to his Vulfrannus who told him that these were meer delusions of the Devill The Commander answered that he would become a Christian if he would shew him that famous Mansion They presently send one of Frisia on the behalf of the Governour and a Priest on the behalf of St. Vulfran who going a little from the Town they met one of their comrades who said to them Make haste quickly and I will let you see the glorious Mansion which is provided for Rathbod the General They going on in a spatious way and places they knew not saw a way adorn'd with divers kinds of Marble bravely polisht and a house afar off as of Gold and they came to a street before the house bestrewed with Gold and many Gems They going into the house of admirable beauty and splendour saw in it a Throne of a wonderfull magnitude Then spake their guide to them This is the Mansion prepared for Rathbod the Commander To which the Priest being in an amaze said to them If these things be made by God let them remain for ever but if by the Devill let them perish instantly And signing himself with the sign of the holy Crosse their leader was transformed into a Devill and the Golden house into mire and dirt But the messengers were staying in a fenny and thorny place and in three dayes space finishing their journey they returned back to the Town and found their Commander dead and related what they had seen to S. Vulfran Anno 718. Vincentius lib. 23. cap. 146. ex Ovone Presbytero Sigebertus et Erphordiensis cap. 66. VAlentinus one of the Bishops of the Church of Millain defender of the Arrians a man very unconstant and of small reputation being buried in the Church of the blessed Martyr Syrus there was heard by night fearfull clamours whereat the two keepers being raised they ran to see what the matter was and they espied two evill spirits or Ghosts drawing forth Valentinus out of the Temple being fast bound by the feet and crying out In the morning they saw his corps laid in another place without the Temple Gregorius Turonensis lib. 4. Dialog cap. 53. vixit sub Justino Imperatore ABout the year of our Lord 1096. near a place called Wormatia there appeared a great troop of armed men for many dayes and nights running to and fro and sometimes back again into a mountain from whence they were wont to come On a certain night a Monk taking some associates with him and fortyfying himself with the sign of the Crosse to the Mountain he goes and adjures all that came forth by vertue of the holy and undivided Trinity to tell him their names To whom one of the company said We are Phantasmes and no living Souldiers but onely the spirits of Men sometimes warring and fighting for the Prince of this World and in a short time after killed in this very place The Weapons Harnesses and Horses which when we were alive were the instruments of our sin are now being dead the tokens of our torment whatsoever ye now see upon us is all on fire though ye cannot see the fire The Monk furthermore askt them If they could receive no help by men Then the spirits made answer to him We may by fastings Prayers and especially by the offering of the body and bloud of Christ and this we beseech you to do When they had thus said the whole company as 't were with one voice cryed out Orate pro nobis orate pro nobis orate pro nobis And presently they all vanished into fire and the mountain it self flam'd mightily Chronicon Hirsaugiense IT is reported that a Ghost presenting it self to Cicero his nurse did foretell that she cherished great good to all the Romans These things appearing but dreams and vain phantasms he in a short time manifested that it was a true Oracle For consulting with Apollo his Oracle how she might obtain greatest renown answer was made by the Oracles that she should follow her own ingenuity the ringleader of her life and not the vulgars estimation Plutarchus in Cicerone A Stubborn obstinate fellow a little before he died as report goes said that looking into a Pond he saw a shadow in the water which with a drawn Sword threatned death to him Sa. bellic lib. 1. cap. 4. And when Annius Tacitus was Emperour these were the Prognosticks of his death His fathers sepulchre opening of its own accord Likewise his Mothers Ghost which was long since dead appeared to him And his brothers spectrall with great horrour in various shapes and places Fulgosus Lib. 1. cap. 4. COnstantius the Emperour being converted from the Persian war to quiet Julian in France and in a great quandary not having so good successe as formerly was much affrighted with nightly visions And raising an Army on a night between sleeping and waking he thought he saw as 't were his father proffering a fair handsome child to him he took it up and laid it in his bosome throwing away the ball which he had in his right hand Which evidently demonstrated alteration of the times though the Interpreters according to their apprehension made a more favourable construction thereof Afterwards he acknowledged to his familiar friends and acquaintances that his Genius who was his Protectour and defence had now left him he that heretofore had contrived and devised many things with him most familiarly at that time seemed ugly and dreadfull as if he would forsake him These things appeared to him going from Antioch towards Tarsus Cuspinianus THere was a Temple of Jupiter at Apamea both very spatious and also very famous for divers and most specious Ornaments which when the Praefect of the East with the two Tribunes entring the City would have demolished upon the serious survey of it they found it to be so firmly workt and of such huge and solid stone that they thought it impossible to ruine so vast and firm a piece of workmanship When Marcellus the Bishop seeing him afraid of the work desired him to make for other Cities and he went to his prayers to
Ventricle by what art they are carried in certainly by no other then the cunning and deceit of the Devill Joan Langius in his Book 1. Epistle med 28. Vierus Book 3. Chapter 8. Concerning the legerdemain of Devils A Certain religious man an inhabitant of the Town Hesden in a field called Leodren for Religion's sake went to Jerusalem stayed after his companions at Jerusalem that he might celebrate the holy time of Easter there which his other companions omitted and being afraid afterwards lest by that delay he had lost the opportunity of conveying himself to Europe he made haste towards the Sea at Joppa and therefore was weary in his journey and meeting with a Knight who shewed himself so compassionate that he took him up behind him and that very day to the great admiration of all his was carried into his own Town Hesden where it being declared how it happened the Inhabitants thought him mad he went to the Temple of St. James in Spain and returned again before his companions were come back from Jerusalem when that was affirmed by them that he stayed behind them at Jerusalem then what he had told them concerning the celerity of his return was believed Fulgosus Book 1. chap. 6. BOccatius of a Noble Lombard who had entred himself a Souldier for Jerusalem to gain the Holy-land and departing left to his wife part of his ring which had his coat of Arms ingraven upon it with this condition that if he returned not within three years with this earnest and symbol she might marry another Husband he being taken Prisoner in Judaea and carried into Aegypt to the Sultan whom his Father had entertained a good while travelling into Europe though unknown for the Hospitalities sake of his Father his own Wisedome and dignity he presently so pleased the Sultan who by dayly familiarity approveing his behaviour he valued him more then all he had The three years being finished he fell into great sorrow the cause whereof the Sultan having diligently searched out calls a Magitian who took that care that he caused him being fast a sleep in a pretious bed and loaded with a great burthen of Gold and pretious stones to be carried in the last night of the three years into the chief Temple in Joapia a City in Lombardy The Tutor affrighted with the sight flies and with other things of the Vision relates in Aegypt which he saw meeting him making hast to the house of his Wife who was to take home another Husband the next evening JOhan Baptist Port. Neopotalitan in his Book 2. of Natural Magick thus writeth There falleth into my hands a certain woman somewhat old who of her own accord undertook to inform me within a certain time what those things are which suck the bloud of Infants in their Cradles in the form of a night Owl which men call a Scritch Owl she commands all that were come along with me witnesses to go out of dores and casting off her cloathes rubbed her self very much with a certain Oyntment we perceive through the chinks of the dore that by vertue of the soperiferous Oyl she fell into a deep sleep we out of dores discover great beatings and pinings but so great was the force of her deadly sleep that that took her sense from her when the strength of her Physick began to decrease and grow weak we return from without to the place and she being called from her sleep began to tell many raving dotages that she had passed Seas and Mountains giving us many false informations We shew her black and blew sores caused by the beatings which we heard but she most stifly denies THey report Apollonius Tyaneus to have received of Jarcka the Prince of the Indian Philosophers a gift as it were of Divine power that he was partaker of very great secrets every other day Alex. from Alex. book 2. chap. 19. AUgustine concerning the City of God book 18. chap. 18. saith When we were in Italy we heard of certain women keeping Victualling-houses and using evil arts who by cheese given to whom they pleased turn'd them presently into beasts to carry necessary burdens which having performed and returning to their former state could perfectly remember all which in the mean time happened to them Apuleius also himself in his book which he inscribed by the title of The golden Asse reports That it happened to himself having taken poyson his humane soul remaining that he was transformed into an Asse c. but it is manifest that these are legerdemaines and delusions of the Devil deceiving the Soul and senses of men by vain conceit VIncentius reports in his Speculations he tells us in his book 3. chap. 109. and William of Malmsbury Monk in his History in the time of Peter Damianus That there were two old women Inne-holders that is such as gave entertainment to travellers for their money for an Inne is properly called a publick place of entertainment for money which old women living together in the same house and exercising the same art of Witchcraft when a stranger came alone they transformed him into an horse a swine or an Asse and sold him for a certain price to Merchants A certain day a young man appearing by his gesture a Stage-player being entertained of them and eating meat with them was by them transformed into an Asse they gained much by him who shewed many wonderfull tricks to passengers for at the command of the old women or any sign they made he turned or moved which way they pleased for his understanding perished not though his speech ceased whereby the old women got much money which being perceived by a neighbour he for great summe of money bought the Asse but the women conditioned he should so keep him that he should not go into the water His keeper for a long time kept him from the water but at last was so incautelous that he brought him to a pool in the neighbourhood where he a long time wallowing and tumbling he was restored to his own proper shape and when his keeper raised him up to see whether it were his Asse or no he told him who he was the servant told this to his Master his Master telleth the same to Pope Leo the old women being converted confesse it The Pope doubted hereof but a most learned man Petrus Damianus manifested to him that it might be true by the example of Simon Magus who had imprinted upon Faustinius his own image or likenesse MIchael Verdunus and Peter Burgottus Shepherds having contracted with the Devil could when they pleased by the use of a certain oyntment transform themselves into Wolves and killing men and other creatures they ran away amongst other Wolves as people imagined They were burnt alive in the Diocess of Bisnutina in the year of Christ 1521. Vierus book 5. ch 10. concerning the legerdemains of Devils IN the year 1348 on the eighth Calends of February In Norway a most great Earthquake did happen as it
at last came into Troy where they fell asleep then a great company of domesticall mice did eat and gnaw the strings of their Bowes and Shields so that when they awaked and rose up they could make no more use of their Bowes therefore they thought that the Mice were the Enemies that were foretold to them by the Oracle and sate down and lived in that place and builded the Town Sminthe because the Cretans call mice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eustachius Iliad THe Phrygians being carried by Aeneas their Captain into the Laurell field were not willing to go any further but listned to the Oracle that it might shew them some future events and contingencies the Oracle told them That there they were to have their permanent dwellings where for hunger they should be driven to eat their Tables Which not very long after their repulse hapned and then they remembred and made themselves bread-trenchers which was for their meat that for want of it they eat and then there was a cry from one to another that now they were destroyed and dead men because of their errour for there should they have their Mansions and dwellings where they should eat such kind of Tables for want of meat which words were received with favour and consent by all them that stood about It is not very evident where they rejected that answer of the Trojan some think at Dodonaeum others in the Tent Cottage of Ida in Erythris which Sybill did inhabit a Maid-prophetesse and dweller there It is also said that the Trojans were commanded to sail to the Western Countries untill they were driven into that place where they should be forced to eat their Tables for want of bread And when that happened they knew that time was come that they should end their wandring and that they were arrived at the fatall land Sabellicus Lib. 7. Aeneid 1. THe Lacedemonians were led into the Tarentine Colony by their Captain Phalanthus a Spartane the Oracle at Delphos predicted that when he did observe rain under Aethra then he should be Master or overcomer of the field and City But when he himself by the clew of his own reason could not trace out the meaning of the Oracle neither knew what it meant nor consulted any interpreter he made ready his Navy to go into Italy and there when he had overcome the barbarous Nations and neither could compasse field nor City when it came into his mind that it was utterly unpossible that that which the Oracle said should be and began to suspect it whether it was the voice of God or no because it could never come to passe that it should rain when it is a pure Crystalline serene Heaven which the Greeks call Aethra His Wife very lovingly did comfort him by all means who did so despond and despair and sometimes leaning his head upon her knees and killing flies her tears for sorrow of heart and the hard fortune of her husband trickled down that her hope was so frustrated Wherefore opening the sluces and floud-gates of her eyes she did bedew and wet her Husbands head then were the knots of the Oracle unloosed for the name of his Wife was Aethra Therefore in that very night which followed that day he took the City and a rich Sea-Town of the Tarentines Pausanias in Phocicis COdrus an Athenian King sprung out of Thrace when the whole Attick Region was destroyed with the Peloponnesian Warr he advising with the Oracle had this answer That they should be Victors whose Captain perished by a warlike hand therefore putting off his Kingly regal habit he was like to a common Souldier and offered himself to the force of his enemy and one of the adverse Souldiers struck him with his weapon and so he voluntarily run upon his own death and was willing rather to perish himself then that the Athenians should perish Cicero in fine lib. 1. Tusc quaest et lib. 5. de finibus WHen Xerxes made War with the Grecians the Lacedemonians enquiring of the Oracle about the event of the Warr they received this answer from Pythia That the Athenians were to be overcome by the Persians but that the Spartan King was to be kill'd in the field Mardonius saith the Athenians being relinquished and left three hundred of the Lacedemonians were slain with their King Leonidas Herodot lib. 8. THe Romans making Warr against Pyrrhus the Epirotes King Paulus Aemilius received this answer from the Oracle That he should be the Victor if he should build an Altar in that place where he saw a man swallowed up in his running A few dayes after he saw Valerius Torquatus swallowed up in the ground and therefore he built an Altar there and got the Victory and sent an hundred and sixty Elephants to Rome carrying Towers on their backs Plutarchus in Parallelis IN the Cimbrick Warr Batabaces came to Pessinunte being Priest to the Mother of great Idaea he brought the Goddess out of the Temple to declare Victory to the Romans and of the great glory and credit of the Warr which was to come And when the Senate was agreed on it and for Victory sake had determined to go to the Temple of the Goddess of Victory and when he was comeing â—orâ—h to make his Oration to the People that he might declare these things to them A. Pompeius the Tribune of the people did hinder Batabaces calling him a deluder a deceiver and pluckt him out of his Pulpit with great indignity when the thing it self spoke for it and commended his words and when Pompeius returned home with whispering and muttering speeches such a Feaver bore him company as every one knew that he dyed within seven dayes after Plutarchus in Marii vita WHen the Vejentes in a sharp and long Warr were driven within the City Walls by the Romans and yet the City could not be taken and the delay did seem no lesse burdensome and intolerable to the besiegers then to the besieged the immortal gods by a wonderful miracle did make way for them that they might accomplish their desired Victory on a suddain the Albane Lake or Gulph not being at all encreased by any showers from Heaven neither had it any addition from any inundation from earth did overflow its banks and for inquisition sake to know the reason of it Ambassadours were sent to Apollo's Oracle at Delphos to know the reason of it They received this answer That the water of that Lake should be diffused thorough the fields for so even should the Vejos be over-run and brought into subjection by the Romans And before the Legates might proclaim or declare a Southsayer of the Vejentians was taken by a Roman Souldier for they wanted Interpreters of their own and he was brought into the Tents and did prophesie and predict Therefore the Senate being warned by a double admonition and prediction almost at the same time did obey the Oracle and was possessed of the City Valerius Maximus lib. 1. cap. 6. WHen the Dorienses
did often attempt to take Elea against Augea's posterity whose King was then Eleus they were commanded by the Oracle that when they sailed back again they should make Trioculus Captain And by chance Oxylus met him sprung out of and begotten of Aemon of Thoas his son being a banished man in Aetholia playing in the Sun unwittingly he kill'd a man And when he had blinded a Mule of one of his eyes Orespontes ingeniously conjectured that the Oracle belonged to Oxylus therefore the Captain being elected they passed to Peloponnesus in a ship for he conceived that by a Foot-Army they could not attempt to break thorough the straits so the Dorienses obeyed and they presently got Elea. Pausanias lib. 5. THe Lacedemonians were alwayes overcome in Warr by the Tegeans they asked advice of the Oracle How and by what means they might so please their gods that they might overcome the Tegeans Pythia answered That Orestes the son of Agâ—meâ—non his bones were to be brought to Lacedemon and they doubting and being uncertain of the place in which they were hid The Oracle answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To this purpose There 's an Arcadian liveth in a Cot Where wind is by two hulls together got Where type on th' antitype one dint is set Upon another where lye bury'd yet The spoyles of Agamemnon if that ground And Cot thou purchase there they may be found When no man could understand the Oracle Liches one of the benefactors of the Spartanes came to Tegea and sitting down in a Brazier's Shop wondred at his works To whom the Smith said Why dost thou wonder O thou stranger saith he at these thou wouldst much more wonder if thou shouldst see a Sepulchre which I have found by digging a Well under ground in which I saw bones seven cubits long which I again buried in the earth Then Liches instantly call'd to mind the Oracle within himself and conceived that those two winds which the Oracle had spoken of were the bellows of the Smith and that the anvil was an antitype for he was to suffer in rowing back and that the hammer was a sign or emblem which struck the Anvil of evil first passive because it suffers from the hammer afterwards also active because it was invented for mens destruction And Liches ruminating with himself did communicate this thing to the Lacedemonians and feigning an escape returned to the Tegeans and he bought the skeleton of the Smith and privily carried the bones to Lacedemon And then it came to passe that the Lacedemonians overcame the Spartanes in Warr almost at that very same time in which Cyrus took the Kingdom from Croesus Herodotus lib. 1. IN the reign of Tiberius the Emperour there was an Oracle given out at Rome in these words Bis ter trecentis circumvolventibus annis Seditio perdet Romanos Ere thrice three hundred Snakes incircled bee Rome by Sedition ruin'd you shall see Which they did think came to passe in Nero's time which fell out near that time the people repeated these words when part of the City was wickedly burnt by Nero Nero to pacifie the people said That there was never such words spoken Which done the people sung this Sybills verse Ultimus Aeneadum matrem necat Induperator The last of the Aenea's Family shall kill his Mother he being Emperour Which happened and whether it was an Oracle from God or from a prophetick spirit that was amongst the people or by a guesse that they had from the state that things was then in I know not for Nero was the last of the Julian-Family which sprung from Aeneas which ruled Xiphilinus in Nerone A Little before the coming of the Spaniards into America the King of the Island which after the name of the Finders they called Hispaniolam he consulted the Idol of Zemus and religiously underwent a Fast for five dayes together also much whipping that he might know what would become of his Kingdom The Devill answered That there were bearded which should be armed men that should take away the Kingdom by force and that by one fatal blow they by their swords should anatomize many bodies and that they should oppresse the Inhabitants by cruel servitude The King hearing the words of the Oracle and that he might appease the wrath of the gods he epitomized and comprehended in a verse which they call Arentum which he would have to be sung at their Festivals with solemn ceremonies therefore many of the Inhabitants when they saw the Spaniards-first come into the Island they consulted how they might escape remembring the Oracle Petrus Cieza tom 2. rerum Indicarum cap. 33. SArdanapalus an Assyrian King was besieged by Arbaces a Mede â—n the City of Ninus there was an Oracle given to his Ancestors That Ninus could never be taken unless the Enemy should make a River to the City which he verily believed could never be taken and therefore he thought he could bear out the siege and also expected aid to come to him When he had held out the siege for the space of two years by lethargiz'd and idle besiedged persons the River by continual showers did flow to a very great heighth and when it had deluged a good part of the City and had cast and thrown down the Walls for the length of twenty furlongs The King thinking the time of the Oracle was come to passe despaired of remedy and lest that he should be taken of the enemies he burnt the Palace Arbaces creeping thorough the ruines of the walls was made King Diodorus lib. 2. cap. 7. THere was an Oracle given to the Poet Hesiod that he should have a care of the Temple of Naemean Jupiter when therefore he took his flight from Nemean at Peloponnesus by chance he came into Oeneon of Locris where there was a Temple of Jupiter Naemean and being in that place unawares he was slain by Amphiphane and Ganetor the sons of Physigeus because they believed their Sister was deflowred by him and that Stesichorus was sprung from him by that illegitimate means Thucyd. apud Gyrald Dial. 2. hist Pâ—ët EPaminondas the Thebane received this from Apollo's Oracle at Delphos That he was to have a care of Pelagus which he thought was to be understood of the Sea wherefore it was his greatest care lest he should be carried or transported any where by Galleys or by any other vessel But the Devil had forewarned him not that he should avoid the Sea but a Grove that he was to eschew at Mantinea whose name was Pelagus where he dyed Paâ—sanias in Arcadicis Suidas THere was an Oracle also given to Cambyses a Persian King out of the City of Latona of Butus that he was to yield himself to the fates in the way to Ecbatanis he understood it of Ecbatana of Meda but when he was in Syria after the death of Apis the Egyptian god he got upon
of some Genius or Paynim which said these words unto him in a chiding manner Ere while O Julian I attend at the porch of thy house hiddenly much delighting to increase thy dignity but as often as being repulsed I have departed and the opinion of many agreeing neither now indeed am I received I will go cast down and sorrowfull yet that I will keep in remembrance in my heart that I will dwell no longer with thee Cuspinian NEptune seemed unto Stipo the Philosopher in his sleep to be angry because he had not offered Hecatombe that is the sacrifice of an hundred beasts as the custome was But the Philosopher being nothing disturbed at this sight answered What sayest thou Neptune Dost thou so come hither as a boy with thy complaint because money being mutually taken I have not filled the City with a savour But according to the bignesse of a familiar thing I have sacrificed unto thee some very small fishes At these words Neptune smiling he seemed his right hand being plucked to him to have said unto him For thy great favour I will bestow on the City of the Megarians plenty of Apues or very small fishes The which also they deliver to have happened UNto Hippias the son of Pisistratus while being a banished man he ambitiously seeks after Kingly Authority at Maratho a night-shape of his mother with whom he seemed to copulate at the time of rest was brought before him For which thing the interpreters answered him that Authority Royall was largely signified unto him and he being put in mind thereof by his dream and full of hope not long after enjoyed the dominion of Athens Herodotus book 6. THe Mother of Dionysius of Syracusa when she had conceived him in her womb she seemed to bring forth a Satyr and an Interpreter of wonders being consulted with she knew with a certain issue that he was to be the most famous and most mighty of the Grecian bloud Valerius book 1. chap. 7. Astyages Cyrus his grandfather by the Mother side the birth of Cyrus having respect unto the Empire of all upper Asia two dreams of his being fore-messengers of it endeavoured in vain to shake off Mandanes his daughter because he had seen in his sleep her urine to have overflowed all the Nations of Asia not to a most excelling man of the Medes lest the glory of the Kingdom should be passed over into that family but by assigning her unto Cambyses a man of a mean fortune of the Persians and by commanding her son Cyrus to be put out because he times being quiet likewise had thought through the off-spring of Mandanes the vine sprung forth would have increased so far untill it would over-shadow all parts of his dominion but truly he was disappointed by endeavouring through man's counsels to hinder the happinesse of his Nephew appointed unto him by the judgment of the heaven-lies Valerius book 1. chap. 7. Herodotus book 1. THey report That Cyrus King of the Assyrians dreamed the eldest of Prince or Duke Hystaspes his sons with two wings to overshadow with the one Asia with the other Europe Therefore after his son Cambyses Darius the eldest son of Hystaspes having obtained the Kingdoms subdued Europe and Asia Herodotus book 1. Justin MIthridates the sonne of Ariobarzanes was a companion to Demetrius son of Antiogonus and his equal and had Antigonus in reverence a man evill neither in deed nor in the opinion of others An unlucky suspition happened to Antigonus concerning him by reason of a vain dream For at his rest it had seemed to him to have set a wide field with branches of gold from thence first grew golden corn A little after he when he had returned thither found nothing but stubble and when he was very greatly grieved he heard the voyce of a certain one who said Mithridates the golden corn being mowed down went away into the Euxine Sea He being much troubled opened that sight to his son being first brought to an oath of silence and that thing also that he determined by any means to kill Mithridates Demetrius this thing being known was grievous sorrowfull and when as he being a youth according to his manner being at leisure had come to him not daring for the tye of the oath to warn him by words drew him apart by degrees from friends and when they were alone his Spear being turned upside down he wrote he beholding him Flee Mithridates and he the matter being understood fled away by night into Cappadocia But destiny proved the foolish Dream of Antigonus to be true by and by for Mithridates possessed a large and good Country and was the author of the Kingdom of Pontus which the Romans under about the eighth King overthrew Plutarch in Demetrius ACtia the Mother of Augustus Caesar sleeping in the Temple of Apollo she seemed to be co-mingled with a Dragon and the moneths for bringing forth being fulfilled she brought forth Moreover before she brought forth she dreamed that her bowels were carried on high into Heaven and were powred forth into the whole World The same night Octavius saw in his sleep that he sprang out of his mother's womb When the Infant was now born Nigidius Figulus a Senatour presently foretold unto the Father the highest royall authority unto his son Xiphilin Sueton in Augustus OCtavius when he led an Army thorow Thracia and had asked counsel of the Oracle of Bacchus concerning his son Augustus the night following he presently seemed to see his son more sumptuous than in a mortal shape with a thunder-bolt and Scepter and the spoyls of Jupiter the most excellent great and a chariot covered over with a shining crown of Bay twelve horses of an exceeding whiteness drawing it Q Catulus after the dedication of the Capitol for two nights together dreamed in the first The most excellent great Jupiter many boyes in robes of purple playing together about the Alâ—ar separated one and to have laid into his bosom the singe of the Common-wealth which he carried in his hand and in the night following to have observed that he the same child being in the lap or bosome of Jupiter Capitolinus when he had commanded to be withdrawn was forbidden by the warning of the god as though he should be brought up for the safeguard of the Common-wealth And the next day beholding Augustus meeting him not without admiration he said he was most like to the Lad of whom he had dreamed Some unfold the first dream of Catulus otherwise as though Jupiter many boyes together cloathed in purple robes requiring a defender from him had shewn one among them unto whom they should bring back all their desires and had brought his kiss untouched with his fingers unto his mouth Marcus Cicero having followed C. Julius Caesar into the Capitol he by chance told the dream of the foregoing night unto his familiar friends a boy of a free countenance let down from heaven by a golden chain to have stood
chap. 8. NOt onely the Aegyptians but almost all the World anciently worshipped Isis for her Miracles for this goddess healed the diseases of those that were not well in health in their sleep and they who did obey her counsel were cured beyond thought Also those that were weak in their sight or in other part of the body humbly intreating the vertue of the goddess were restored unto their former health Diodore Siculus book 1. chap. 2. of Ancient Things IN the Temple of Aesculapius among the Epidaurians they who came to pray to the god they sleep and in their sleep do learn the reason of recovering health And then they put squares in the Temple containing the names of those that were cured and the manner of curing Pausanias in his Corinthian affairs There was the same custome among the Romans even to the Times of the Antonines that which we may understand from a Marble Table of Rome found in the Temple of Aesculapius in the Island Tiberia and by the Mapheans kept even to this day in which these words are read rendred out of Greek in the Latine speech as witnesseth Jer. Mercurial a most Learned Physitian in his first book of exercise In these dayes the Oracle told Caius a certain blind man that he should come to the holy Altar and should bend his knees he should come from the right part to the left and should place his five fingers upon the Altar and should lift up his hand and put it upon his own eyes and he saw well the people being present and giving thanks because great miracles were done under our Emperour Antonine The god answered by the Oracle unto Julian vomitting up bloud being despaired of by all men that he should come and should take from the Altar Pine-kernells and should eat them together with honey for three dayes and he was well and being alive openly gave thanks in the presence of the people the god gave an Oracle unto Valerius Aper a blind Souldier that he should come and take the bloud of a white Cock mingling honey with it and should make a washing water and should use it three dayes upon his eyes and he saw and came and openly gave thanks to God Lucius being troubled with a pain of the side and despaired of by all men the god gave an Oracle He should come and take ashes from the Altar and should mingle it together with a pretious Pearl and should lay it upon his side and he was in health and openly gave thanks to God and the people gave thanks together with him ARistides a Rhetorician of Smyrna when as an Earthquake was at hand was commanded by Aesculapius to go a little before unto the antient house and on the top of the little hill Atys to perform holy things and to build Altars the which when he had scarce finished the Earthquake arising so shook indeed all the Countrey lying between that it left no house to resort unto but it came not to Atys not touched any thing beyond it Stobaeus in 3. speech THe Veians being vanquished and plundered by Camillus it seemed meet to carry away the Ensign that was in Junoes Tower unto Rome as he had vowed Artificers being called together unto that thing Camillus performed holy things and having prayed the goddesse that she would embrace the endeavour of the Romans and being willing that she go with her favours unto the gods inhabiting Rome they say the Ensign spake with a low voice she was willing and to agree by nodding Livy delivereth that while he prayed Camillus to have handled the goddesse and invited her thereupon some of the standers by to have answered she was willing and to agree and follow willingly Plutarch in Camillus ALexander the Great making a Bulwark in the Sea to vanquish Tyre suddenly a Whale of incredible bignesse swam to it and one part of his body being bended on the bulwark he stood there a long time with the great affrightment of all beholders He again swam out at last into the Sea Hence a very great Religion or superstition possessed both thinking that to betoken Neptune would be a helper to the Macedonians his mind being inclined even unto that which they desired One told that such a kind of sight appeared to him in the City as though Apollo had said The City of Tyre should be forsaken by them That thing when the common people thought it was feigned by that man in favour of Alexander and now some young ones would stone him he being withdrawn by the Magistrates out of the midst of them fled into the Temple of Hercules and so by the safeguard of the god whom he had implored he was freed from punishment at hand But the Tyrians in nothing more They worshipped him with much superstition who linked Apollo's Statue and Image with golden chains and so by that means they supposed him to be so fettered that he could no more depart from their City but for all that their City was taken and Alexander took off the golden chains and fetters from Apollo with which the Tyrians had linked him and commanded that he should be called Philalexander and so he finished that magnificent sacrifice unto Hercules Diodorus lib. 17. PHillippides the Athenian being sent Embassadour and Legate to Lacedemonia about the invasion and breaking in of the Persians into Greece returning home again much reprehended the delayes and stay of the Lacedemonians who would not bring out their Army before the full Moon and meeting Pan or the god Pan in the Parthian Grove who promised that he would ayd the Athenians in the fight at Marathon which was to be a while after And so from this sprung the honours that the Athenians vouchsafed to the god or gods messenger Pausanias lib. 1. IN the Mithridatick Warr when Mithridates besieged and hovered over Cyzicum with the wings of his Army the gods seemed to favour the Cyzenians and to approve of their fortitude and to excite it by some perspicuous and transparent signs and tokens at sundry times as well as at Proserpina's feast then instant When they wanted a black Ox to sacrifice they brought one made of bread-corn artificially made in paste to the Altar but the holy or consecrated Cow which was at feeding afterwards to be sacrificed to that Goddess was at pasture over Sea with the rest of the flock of the Cyzenians in that same day leaving the rest of the flock and herd swam over alone to the Town and willingly offered it self to be sacrificed moreover their goddess appeared in a dream unto Aristagoras the publick School-master Truly saith she here I am and I drive and force the African Fidler or Musitian into the Trumpeter of Pontus do thou therefore command thy Citizens to be of good chear The Cyzenians marvelled much at this speech and as soon as it was break of day and that the bright Luciferian Star Phoebus's harbinger did periwigg the horizon with his silver'd locks the Sea
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
Lastly despairing he killed himself willfully leaving a great fear to the Citizens of violating Religion Diodorus lib. 14. WHen Delos was heretofore the chief Emporium of all Greece and that onely fenced with Religion it defended all the inhabitants from the injuries of all others But Menophantes a certain Commander of the Armies of Mithridates who being driven by the command of the King or his own insolence arose against the Island and invaded it with his Navy having neither the defence of Walls nor Arms. Where all things being beaten down taken away and pillaged at length he laid the very City eeven with the ground In that destruction he cast the Image of Apollo proudly being taken from its seat into the Sea That being brought by the raging of the Sea to the bounds of the Boeotians at Laconia named the place Epidelium But neither Menophantes nor Mithridates himself did escape the wrath of the god For not long after the calamity of Delos when he was carried into the Sea the Merchants which had escaped his hand slew Menophantes But the god compelled Mithridates to lose his courage having lost his Kingdome already and being driven to and fro by the Romans he could rest no where There are some which say that he begged as a great favour from one of the Mercenary Barbarians to be killed Pausanias in Laconicis WHen the Graecians had dragged out by force and killed those who came to pray in the Temple of Neptune in the City of Helires a great and sudden Earthquake did not onely overturn the very walls but also defaced the very foundation of the City that there was not so much as any tokens left whereby it might be known to future ages And they record that another such destruction happened Helires was incompassed with a deluge of the Sea in the winter season and the very Grove of Neptune was so overwhelmed with that inundation that the tops of the highest Trees could hardly be discovered which comming to passe the whole City with its inhabitants was suddenly destroyed as well by the most violent motion of the Earth as the most abundant over-running rage of the Sea In the fourth year of the Olympiad 191. Pausanias in Achaicis WHen the Lacedemonians were inraged against the Inhabitants of Ilota which worshipped at the Temple of Neptune Asphalius that is the safe as Suidas saith which is at Teneros Sparta was shaken as well with vehement as frequent impulsions of the Earth that not one house escaped ruine except four houses amongst all the rest which escaped unruined Pausanias in Achaicis et Aelianus Libro 6. variae Historiae WHen Cytharoedes did dispute in contending for the honour of Juno at Sybarum for that was the cause that provoked the Sybaritans to that contentious disputation and when they had mutually gone to arms Cytharoedes fled with his Stole to the Altar of Juno but they forbore not to lay violent hands upon him in that place but a little after they saw bloud sprinkled about the Temple as if it had issued out of a continually-flowing Fountain But when the Sabaritans had sent to ask counsell at the Oracle of Delphos they received this answer Stand off my Sacred Tables come not near Whose hands are drench't in bloud should Justice fear Which fresh distilling thee forbids to venter Into the threshold of my Temple t' enter Good fates to them can never be foretold Who to stain Junoes Temple dare be bold The Muses harmlesse servant thou hast slain The god's revenge for which thou must sustain Who perpetrates base willfull facts may know He 's sure to suffer heavy Judgments blow Inexorable toth' unjust immortalls prove Descended though by birth from mighty Jove Who on their necks and childrens childrens dear Justly will heaped vengeance send to bear Neither was revenge delayed For when they waged Warre with the inhabitants of Crotonia they were overcome by them and their City was overthrown Aelianus libro 1. de var. Histor IN the Mountain Halesius near Mantinea was the Temple of Warlike Neptune built by Trophonias and Agamedes with Oaken boards forbidding entrance not by the opposition of any bolt but onely with a small Wollen rope drawn before it which had a secret force to drive men away Never any one entered into this Temple besides Aepytus King of Arcadia who having lost his Son as soon as he entered into the Temple he was smitten blind by the sudden force of the Sea-water boyling out of holy fountains and not long after died When the Emperour Adrianus did build it up again he did set overseers amongst the workmen lest any one should look into the antient Altar or suffer any rubbel to be carried from it to any other place Pausanias in Arcadicis IN the Mountain Lycaeus of Arcadia was the Altar of Jupiter Lycaeus whither no man could come If any one entred despising the Religion of the place it was certainly requisite that he must dye within the space of that year It is a wonderfull thing also that as they say as well men as beasts which by chance come into the circuit of this place have no shadow of their bodies And truly a Hunter cannot follow wild beasts that fly thither but standing at the entrance he cannot perceive any shadow that they have It is certain that the men of Syena a City of Aethiopia do shew no shadows from their bodies at that time of the year when Cancer is in Conjunction with the Sun But in this Lycaeus it doth happen in any part of the year Pausanias in Arcadicis THey report that in Cerynaea a City of Achaia was the Temple of the Eumenides dedicated by Orestes They believed that if any one entred in hither to see it polluted either with slaughter or any incest or kind of impiety he being troubled in mind would presently be cruelly terrified Wherefore the entrance of the Temple was forbidden to all that strived otherwise Pausanias in Arcadicis WHen Erisichthon a certain Thessalonian had cut down the Grove of Ceres she sent to him perpetuall hunger and caused that he should never be satisfied with meat He had a daughter named Mestra very well skilled in Witch-craft whom he often sold being turned into divers forms of living Creatures which running away a little after would return to her father having taken her former shape and so she helped her fathers hunger according to her ability Lastly he was driven to so great hunger that he eat his own flesh Natales Comes Mythol libro 5. cap. 14. WHen Cambyses King of the Persians came to the Theban Aegyptians he sent fifty thousand to destroy the Ammonians and commanded that they should burn the Oracle of Jupiter Ammon Therefore when they had gone seven dayes on their journey along the sands and dined between the City Oasis and the Ammonians a strong South-wind overwhelmed the whole Army with heaps of Sand carried along He being gone against the Macrobian Aethiopians with the rest of the Army
their fighting Ut Zonoras Tomo 3. indicat ARiulphus Duke of Spoleto fighting against the Romans at Camertes and obtaining Victory inquires of his Souldiers who it was that behaved himself so stoutly and gallantly in the battle they answered 't was a Prince Whereupon he replies he was more powerfull then any mortall man for when ever I was assaulted fiercely by the enemy he with a Buckler defended me from their fury then going with all possible speed to Spoleto seeing the Temple wherein the body of Saint Sabinus is intombed he asked what Church it was when they answered It was the Temple of Sabinus he hastily leaps from his horse calling his Souldiers who as they say alwayes waited diligently upon him walks into the Church and seeing his Image he presently with an Oath affirmed 't was he that protected him from the violent assaults of his numerous enemies whereupon 't was presently believed that Sabinus was the most pious Patron of Souldiers Ariulphus would not for any thing have wanted the experience of this Protection of Saints which is so frequent amongst Christians Bonfinius lib. 8. Decad. 1. THe great Sfortia for the honour he bore St. Leonard Christned his Son which he had by Catella Alopa sister to Pandulphus Alopus after his name for that he dreamed he saw Leonard in the same shape he is usually pictur'd in Churches coming to him being a Prisoner with relief breaking the Iron bars of the window of the Prison and with his power loosing his shackles The event proved this Vision to be very true for the day following this blessed dream Jacobus Gallus King by sedition was driven out of the Neopolitan Kingdome and lost both Rule and Liberty and Sfortia was delivered out of Prison and to the great content of all was restored to be Master of the Horse Jovius in vita ejus IN the time of Ferdinand first King of Aragon the City Neopolitane in a most flourishing condition and the Kingdome free from all calamity it is manifest that Cataldus about a thousand years before that time an holy man had been Bishop at Tarentinum and that the Citizens thereof did worship him as their Patron in the middest of the night he again and again appeared to a Minister of holy things who had lately taken the order of Priest-hood having been educated amongst those who vow chastity that he should without delay take out of the ground a little book which he in his life time had writ and hid in a private place wherein some divine writings were and bring it to the King giving little credit to this dream although he saw him in his sleep very oft and alwayes of the same shape and fashion being all alone early in the morning in the Temple he plainly appeared to the Priest with a Mitre in such Bishops weeds as he used in his life time to be aparrelled in advised him as he desired to avoid great punishment that the next day without further delay he should dig for the Book which he had written and which was hidden as he had formerly shewed him by Visions and bring it to the King the Priest and people went the next day to the place wherein for many ages this little book had been hid and found it bound with a leaden cover and locked wherein it appeared that the destruction of the Kingdome miserable calamities and sad times were at hand whereof the King was warned we have learned by experience that this Prophecy was fully executed and shewed it self to be so divine that not long after Ferdinand himself either by the justly incensed wrath of Almighty God or other inscrutable causes of his divine will could avoid what he was so fully admonished of but in the very first appearance of War departed this life and Charls the eight King of France with a strong hand having an huge Army of Neopolitans invaded the Kingdom and Alfonsus the eldest son of Ferdinand after his fathers death having but newly undertaken the government of the Kingdome was thereof deprived basely running away and dying in flight as a banished man shortly the second son of Ferdinand the hopefullnesse of whose youth had endeared him to all men to whom upon the death of his brother the Kingdome fell was intangled with a miserable and fatall War died of an immature death in the very flower of his age afterwards the French and Spaniards obtaining the Kingdome divided it chasing away Frederick another Son of Ferdinand the elder with a larger Army wherewith they invaded the Kingdome took to themselves all whether holy or prophane plundered Towns and Cities laying all waste committing most vile and filthy immanities Alexander ab Alexand. cap. 15. JAmes the son of Zebedee appeared to Charls the Great three seveâ—all nights and did exhort him to drive out of the Countrey of Spain in which his body rested the Saracens and assured him for his labour and travail therein he should obtain an everlasting crown Henricus Erphordiensis ex Turpino Romensi Episcopo refert cap. 68. THe Monks of the Abbey of Florence assured of the expedition of the Normans into France carry the body of Saint Benedict to Aurelia conceiving it a more safe receptacle from the Enemy at the comming of the Normans they burnt the Abbey of Florence and laid it wast the night following Saint Benedict appeared to Count Sigillosus to whom the care and defence of that Monastery was cammitted and in a Vision heavily chideth him because he had not resisted the Normans when they fell upon the Monastery The Earl awakening presently fell to his arms and with a handfull of men pursues the enemies loaden with plunder following them with a swift course fiercely falls upon them and by the help of Saint Benedict kills them every man and redeems all the Prisoners and booty Robertus Ganquinus lib. 5. CHildebert being King of France the Arch-Angell Michael again and again admonished Anbertus the Abrencatensian Bishop that wholly in the Sea which by reason of his eminency is called his Tomb he should build a Church in memory of him requiring such veneration to be given him in the Sea as was exhibited to him in Gorganum in the mean time a Bull which was taken by a Lyon was found bound in that place Whereupon the Bishop was commanded the third time that he should lay the foundation of the Temple where he should find the Bull and as he should observe the ground beaten with the feet of the Bull he should draw the compasse of the Temple which he built in honour of Saint Michael and from that time as in the Mountain Gorganum formerly in that place also now in danger of the Sea the worship of the Angell was begun Sigebert Anno Dom. 799. AGnes Wife to Leopold Marquesse of Austria desired her Husband to design some place wherein to build a Monastery that the prayses of Christ and his Mother might therein be said From a Castle seated in the Mountain Cecium
blood and shut up the earth which was shaved away with the blood in Crystall Catalogus Treverensis COnstantine the Emperour did alwayes adore the nayles of Christ being crucified which were given him by Helena his Mother he fastned one to the Crest of his helmet he made a bridle for his horse with the other which may be seen at Mediolanum to this day having confidence that in the help of these he should eschew all dangers of his life But what is more wicked then that thou shouldst ascribe those things to the iron which belong to the most high God Fulgosus lib. 1. cap. 2. de cultu divino ex Ambrosio POpe Gregory II. sent three holy Sponges to Eudon the great Duke of Aquitan which were wont to be used at his table He distributed them being cut in pieces to his army which he did conduct against the Saracens and it happened that none of them which did partake of it were wounded or slain Eudoni epistola ad Gregorium in lib. Pont. A Monk of the Roman Convent which being a boy was delivered by his Parents to an Abbot where he did offer sacrifice and leaving his Religion he married a Wife But being sick of the Quinsie he was brought back into the Monastery receiving the habit and repentance and he was beaten cruelly with whips by St. Andrew and Gregory for his faults committed Hence leaping out of his bed he put on a garment made of Goats-hair and another that was to cast over his shoulders and having entred the Temple of St. Andrew he said to the standers by Behold I being so purified by the stripes of the Saints I depart out of my body as formerly I issued out clean by baptism And dyed while they were muttering a Soul-mass for the dead Vincentius lib. 25. cap. 57. A Certain man of Colonis an I le in the Argolick Gulph born of a Jew his father but being converted when he perceived the body of our Lord in the Paschall Feast he carryed it whole I know not for what use in his mouth home with him But he being affrighted with the Divinity did bury it in the Church-yard The Priest came suddenly upon him by chance and discrying what was done having opened the pit he found the form of a Child which when he hasted to carry it to the Church it vanished into the thin Ayr. Trithemius in Hirsaugiensi Chronico A Certain infamous woman at the yearly solemnization of the Passeover at Castrum which is called The golden Mountain when she perceived the body of our Lord in her mouth she shut it up whole in her chest at home A little after when one of her Lovers by chance opened it he found the sacrifice as they call it of our Lord's body changed into the shape of flesh and blood in the year of our Lord 1181. Sigeberti continuator By these delusions Satan doth strive to confirm the Popish fiction of Transubstantiation IN the year of Christ 1345 when certain men consecrated a sacrifice they did steal the memories of all the Saints with their own dish which was dedicated out of the Temple and because they found the dish not gold as they believed but brass gilded they cast it into a filthy Pond at the Village Bubalum near the City of Cracovia Presently the place shined with frequent fires and little fire-brands some dayes and nights continually When that miracle was presented to the Bishop not as yet discovering the cause thereof after he had proclaimed a three dayes fast when he went thither with an annual Pomp and having found the Eucharist there he brought it thither from whence it was carried But in the very same place where it was found Cazimirus II. King did build a magnificent Temple with exceeding rich walls entituled The body of Christ and in process of time environing a very large space of ground with a wall he built a new City and called it Cazimiria after his own name Cromerus lib. 12. JOnathas Judaeus of Bruxells a famous City of Brabant in the year of Christ M.CCC.LXIX redeemed certain sacrifices as they call them dedicated to Holy Katherin and being slain in a Garden by the assault of his enemies he left them to his Wife to keep and she to her son Abraham who on Friday in the Holy Congregation of the Jews having chosen out his sacrifice he pierced it and did tear it in pieces But abundance of blood proceeding the Mother of Abraham being converted divulged the miracle Wencislaus the Duke of Brabant having made diligent search he took care that Abraham and his associates should be burned alive before the Temple of holy Katherine and religiously placed the sacrifice in the Cathedral Temple of Saint Gudula Ludovicus Guicciardinus in descriptione Germaniae inferioris HEretofore the Rule of the Mass for the soul of the dead was sang openly and with a loud voice But Pope Vigilius instituted That it should not be performed but in a holy place in holy garments and a low voice It happened once as Shepherds having put bread ridiculously upon a stone in the field rehearsed the words of the Canon by which it was transubstantiated and so suddenly seeing bloody humane flesh before them and stricken by the appointment of God they presently dyed Hermannus Gygas WHen the bodies were thought to rest in their graves the earth would be carried out of the vault of the Temple of Paulinus at Treveris where the Theban Legions were killed by Ricticnarius Maximianus heretofore Lievtenant to the Emperour a certain head being cast forth by the Priest unwarily did bleed excessively and remains bloody even to this day Schaffnaburgensis Anno 1072. REgino doth declare that Clodoveus King of France because that irreligiously he plucked the body of Dionysius out of his grave and broke his arm and snatched him with violence presently being astonished fell mad and after two years lost his life and Kingdom Idem Adon Vienensis aetate 6. Nauclerus generatione 23. Sigebertus circa annum Domini 660. HEctor Boëthius doth relate That if any woman kicked the Tomb of a blessed woman at Guanora in Scotland she ever after remained barren Cardanus de Rerum varietate lib. 8. cap. 44. A Certain woman which had carried the shoes of holy Genovepha to Lutetia suddenly lost her eyes and having begged pardon received her sight Bonfinius lib. 5. Decad. 1. WHen a Robber came to the Tomb of Wencislaus IV. the honourable King of the Bohemians upbraiding the dead man's life a stony Statue put upon the Sepulchre gave him a buffet and presently being smitten blind he suffered for his wickedness Afterwards the Statue was laid in the privy Chappel and another Brazen one was put in the place thereof Aeneas Sylvius capite 28. Histor Bohem. A Certain Constantine the overthrower of Artabasdus seeing the Image of the God-bearing-Virgin standing having caught up a stone he threw it at the Image and brake it and when it fell kick'd it And he saw her in