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
power of the Devil or any of his Agents to restrain mens senses or bind others from eating or drinking by intercepting their power or stomach or deprive a man of the use of any member save only that secret one and sign of our virility which in Germany they often deprive men of by making them run up into their bellies Sosprengerus tells of a man of Spira who when he thought he had lost his premises sent for Physitians and Chirurgeons to search for them who found no scar or wound at all therefore he repair'd to the VVitch he had offended and appeas'd her and so was cur'd Also a Citizen of Ratisbone furnishes us with another example of one who violently laid hold upon a VVitch and threatening to strangle her compell'd her to loose him from that nodus All these Bodinus relates in chap. 1. of his second book INsulanus Abbot and Lord of the Novallians who now is sent Ambassadour to Constantinople by the King and Polonus who is also called Pruniskus Ambassadour for France told me that one of the greatest Kings of the VVorld being very desirous of the knowledg of the number of his years and the time of his death sent for Jacobius a Sorcerer who when he had ended Masse and consecrated the Host commanded a first-born son or man-child of ten years old who was provided for the purpose to be beheaded presently and putting the head upon the Host pronounced certain words and inscribed some characters not necessary to be known by us Then he ask'd the head what he would have which answered only two words I suffer violence At this the King was inraged and cryed Take away the head and presently in that fury dyed This story is very common in the Country wherein it was acted and very certainly reported although there were onely five persons present at the thing These things thus writes Bodinus JOhannes Charterius that wrote the History of Charls the VII tells us how one Guilhelm Edelinus a Doctor of Sorbon was condemned for Sorcery upon Christmas Eve in the year 1453 who confest he had often in the night-time been carried abroad to a great meeting of Magitians where he alwayes renounced God and ador'd the Devil in the shape of a Goat kissing his posteriors A Certain poor man when his Wife often went forth in the night and forth would remain the man knew not where making for her excuse to him either that she went to stool or bath with her neighbours wherein when he had often disprov'd her he began to suspect her chastity and threatned to kill her unlesse she directly told him where her haunt was She being terrified with the sense of present danger told the matter plainly as it was in every particular and furthermore that he might experience the truth of what she said promised him he should see and go himself whither she used to go And to that purpose giving him an oyntment wherewith they being both anointed and she having pronounced some words the Devil immediately carried them from the Countrey of the Lochii to the Burdegalensian Sands which are distant no lesse than fifteen dayes journey or more when the man saw himself in company with Magitians Witches and Devils in a humane but horrid shape a thing very unusual to him and in a strange Countrey he began to blesse himself and say Good God where are we now At which words the whole company vanished Then he understood that he was naked and was forced so to wander up and down the fields till morning when he light upon some Countrey-man that set him in his way And so making the best shift he could he returned to Lochium where he accused his Wife positively of all these things before the Magistrate who commanded her to be apprehended But she miâ—igating the businesse as much as she could confessed the most part of the businesse and acknowledging her fault returned from her wickednesse ALso some few years since a woman of great quality at Lugdunum rose in the night and taking a gally-pot out of her closet anointed her self with it muttering some words withall a stallion that lay with her that night observing her when he could not see her rose to look for her and when he found nothing but the gally-pot taken with novelties and curiosity he also as he had seen her before anointed himself with the oyl that was in it when he immediately found himself to be amongst a great company of Witches and Sorcerers in the fields about Lotharingia whereat he was much amazed But in the first place calling upon God to assist him the whole company disappear'd and he finding himself all naked returned to Lugdunum accused the Witch who confessing all the businesse was burnt for it A Thing of the same nature befell a Nobleman of Maldunum who by some words of a Milner together with the instigation of his own curiosity was induced to go amongst a company of Witches to see fashions forsooth but when he was among the thickest of them an extream horrour seized of him insomuch that although he did not invoke Divine aid the devil said with a very loud voyce Who is this that is so fearful And when he sought to depart their company the Witches all vanished And when he returned he intended to discover the Sorcerers but they fled for their safety Bodinus Daemonom lib. 2. cap. 4. WE read in Paulus Grillandus a Lawyer of Italy a man very well experienc'd in the facts of Witches and Sorcerers That there was certain Country-man not far from Rome in the year of the world 1526. who when he saw his Wife rise naked in the night to anoint her self and that thereupon presently she was gone out of his sight and could not be found in the house the next day provided himself of a good cudgel wherewith to be labour her sides untill she should tell him whither and to what end she so conveyed her self last night which she presently doing he pardoned her upon condition that she would convey him amongst her fraternity She the next day anointed both her husband and her self and then they were presently mounted each of them upon a Goat and so presently brought amongst the murster of Witches Now his Wife had forewarned the man he should by no means name God or Christ unlesse in scorn and opproby to him when they were thus in the croud the wife appointed her husband to stand a little aloof till she had saluted the Prince of them who was most magnificently cloathed and guarded about with a great ring of men and women all honouring and waiting upon this their Lord and that by so doing he should see the whole of the businesse When they had done thus they began a ring-dance which is now taken up among the Countrey-people that dancing backwards they might not see one the others faces It may be to the intent they might not know nor accuse one another if perhaps they might be arraigned
delivered a crust of bread to the sick person which in the same moment began to recover This being done the Governour returning home did appoint that she should be apprehended and be burned as soon as might be but she was not seen in those parts from that time Idem ibid. WE shall bring a fresh example from an honourable man President of Vitriacus Francus who was assigned to all the greatest meetings of Brusis in the year 1577. When we wanted his help I did earnestly sollicite him that we might assist each â—ther in the publick burden lest he should go out of his place before the States were dismissed he answered That he had a certain friend who lay sick to death he was sent for by him and was made his heir he thenceforth was sick five or six years his members failing him and therefore his father being advertised that there was a man in Flanders who could cure his son went hither presently The Sorcerer unfolded the disease of the son which he had never seen to the Father and sent him away into Lusitania to another Magitian whose name he told him living in the King's Court. The Father bearing this patiently went into Lusitania where the Magitian said to the Father before he did onely proffer to speak Friend thy son shall be cured in a short time go into France thou shalt find a certain man named M. Benedictus towards Noviodunum about 20 miles from thy house but there are many of the same name this man shall cure thy son And therefore the Father wondring that he should undertake so great travail that he might seek that afar off which was near took courage and went to M. Benedictus But he said to the Father Thou hast spent very much labour going into Flanders and Lusitania that thy son might be restored Go command him to come to me I am he that will heal him The Father answered to these things Now he hath not gone out of his bed for above these 5 years and hath not truly the least faculty of moving in him But at length with no little trouble the sick person was brought thither and he was eased in part but yet he was not long well Idem ibid. JAcobus Sprangerus the Commissioner to enquire after the crimes of Magitians by the same argument doth write that he saw a Bishop in Germany who being very sick he knew by an old witch that he was sick by witchcraft neither was there any other way to recover his health then that the same witch should perish by enchantment who had cast the charme upon him The Bishop wondring sent with all speed to Rome to the Pope Nicolaus V. that he might get leave to be cured by this meanes The Pope which did love him singularly did grant his request with this small sentence that of two evils he should flye the worst The Letters Patents being brought the Witch said Seeing that it pleaseth the Pope and the Bishop she would perform it So in the middle of the night the Bishop was restored but the Sorceress which had bewitched him fell into the same disease from which he was freed But in the mean time that Sorceress which dyed would never consider but uncessantly committed her self to Satan to recover her health IN the field of Poictiers in France in the year 1571. Charls the eleventh King after dinner commanded that Triscalanus whom he had pardoned that he might disclose the partakers of his fault should be brought to him He confessed before the King and a great assembly of his Nobles the manner by which Sorcerers are conveyed their dancings sacrifices offered to Satan detestable copulations with Devils having shapes of men and women Moreover he added That dust was taken by many with which they killed men cattel and fruit Every one admiring at these his sayings Caspar Collignius Admiral of France for he by chance was present said That a youth was apprehended in the field of Poictiers some moneths before being accused concerning the death of two Noblemen he confessed that he was their servant and he saw them with dust cast into the houses and the corn saying these words A curse on that fruit on that house on that Region And therefore he having gotten this dust took it and cast it into the bed where those two Nobles did lye so both were found dead in the bed but swelling and very black The Judges did discharge the boy Then Triscalanus hearing that discovered also many things of that kind But it may be believed if the King whose body otherwise had the strongest joynts and complexion had commanded this Prince of Magitians and his other followers to be burned together that God would grant a longer and more blessed life to him for these Judgments For the Word of God is alwayes manifest unto him that he who quitteth a man worthy of death doth return his deserved punishment on himself as the Prophet said to King Achab That he because he had shewed favour to a man that did deserve death should dye Ibid. IT is manifest unto all men that the man of Rochell who was wounded to death of whose health all Chirurgions did despair was so ordered by the help of a certain Magitian that he could walk and speak some dayes indeed Satan and not any other did bear him that he might shew his power to the Magitians Ibid. JOachimus Camerarius doth declare in his book de natura Daemonum When by chance a certain Butcher went by a Wood in the night he heard a noise and dancings and therefore having sought the thing diligently coming he saw silver cups which things as soon as the Sorcerers and Devils were separated presently the Butcher took and the day after brought them to the Magistrate so they whose marks were in the Cups did accuse others being summoned to the Court and were all deservedly punished THere is another more excellent example of that execution which was made at Pictavium in the year 1564. the history of which execution I learned as well from many in the same place as also from Salvertus President of the people of Poictiers who was then sent for to hear the Judgment with Daventonius the President of Poictiers with other Judges and all in that region know it Three men with one woman being Sorcerers were condemned to be burned alive together when they were proved guilty of the death of very many men and cattel dust being brought to them as they did confesse by the help of the Devil furnishing them which they hid under the ground of Sheep-cotts and the threshold of houses But they declared That they were wont to go thrice to the greatest meeting whither innumerable Magitians came together to a certain cross-way where Feasts are solemnized which did afford them the use of an Image there was before them a great black hee-Goat speaking to those that were present with humane reason that they should leap all into the circuit of his embracements and then
bring the Tegeates into captivity and so make use of their fetters But having fought them they themselves were vanquished and those that came alive into the enemies hand were fettered with those very ropes they had brought and put to mow and till the Tagean Land being restrained within the length of their fetters Those very fetters remained in the Temple of Minerva Alea at Tegea within the memory of man being hung up as a Trophie for that victory Herodotus lib. 1. CLeomenes King of the Spartans consulting the Oracle at Delphos had this answer Eum Argos esse capturum which runs either thus That he should take Argos or That Argos should take him or he the Argians Which Oracle understanding in the more favourable sense he was very confident of taking the City Argos but when he had surrounded some Troopâ— of the Argi in a Grove and there burnt them asking who was the Deity of that place and being told it was Aâ—gus he complained the Oracle had deluded him and then quitted all hope of conquering Argos Herodotus lib. 6. PHilomelus the Phocensian having taken the Delphick Oracle began to compell Pythia to tell him something of the future event of the affairs of his Country At whose imperious carriage the woman being much moved said unto him Sir you may do what you please At which words Philomelus very much rejoyced taking them as a most apt answer to his demands and the prediction of his future successe and presently hereupon gave out in writing That the Gods had licensed him to do what he pleased and after the custome calling together the people in a speech he made to them expounded the Oracle exhorting them to be of good courage for the future and after this wholly bent his resolution and endeavours for military designs There happened also a Prodigy in the Temple of Apollo in this manner An Eagle hovering over the roof cast her self down to the very ground and followed some Doves that were carried into the Temple preying upon them at the very Altar which those that pretended skill in matters of that nature expounded an undoubted token of the good successe of Philomelus and the Phocensians in the Delphic Warr which lasted nine years dubious but at last terminated with the destruction of the Phocenses Diodor. lib. 16. CRoesus demanding of the Oracle at Delphos Whether he should reign long or no received this answer from Pythia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whenso'ere a mungril Mule shall have the Crown Wanton well fed shall frisk it up and down With 's tender hoofs then fly and make no stay To ask what is the news away away Craesus concluding with himself that there would never any Mule reign over the Medes instead of a Man thence infer'd that his rule should be perpetuall not understanding that by a Mule was understood Cyrus because he was descended of two severall Nations his Mother Mandane being of a better extract then his father Cambyses For she was a Mede and Astyages the King his daughter and he but a Persian when they were subject to the Medes Herodotus lib. 1. ARcesilaus being driven from his Kingdome with his Mother Pheretima being at Samos sollicited all persons he could meet with in hope to regain his Country and having got together a very considerable army he sent to Delphos to consult the Oracle there about his return into his own Kingdome to whom Pythia returned this answer During the time of four Battus's and as many Arcesilaus's to wit eight Generations of men Apollo hath granted thee to reign and further dehorts thee to endeavour And likewise perswades thee when thou art in thy own seat to remain in peace But if thou findest a furnace full of Pitchers or pots be sure thou boil them not but fling them out and if thou dost fire the Furnace take heed of entring a place that is compassed with water for if thou dost thou shalt perish and the Bull do what he can Arcesilaus taking those forces he had gathered in Samos returned to Cyrene and having recovered his Kingdome and somewhat setled his affairs not minding the Oracle he called his adversaries to Judgment and those that he could lay hold on he sent to Cyprus to be executed whom the Cnidians when they were brought into their Countrey rescued and sent them to Thera Some that had privately conveyed themselves into a strong Tower-building combustible matter round he burnt the Tower and all When he had done he began to remember this was that the Oracle had forbidden him and went out of the City Cyrene fearing the death predicted for he conceived Cyrene to be that circumfluous place he was warned to avoid and betook himself to the King of Barcaeans called Alazeris whose Neece he had married where some as well Barcaeans as Cyrenean Exuls espying him walking in the forum set upon him and divided both his and his Cosen Alazeris heads from their bodies Herodotus lib. 4. NEro Caesar being warned by some Mathematicians that the ruine of his Empire was portended by the Stars but some of them differ'd in opinion in one thing and some in another at last being sick he sent to Delphos to be resolved what should be the fate of his state and received in answer this That he should beware of the 73. year Which when he heard being an inconsiderate man and scarce above thirty he so wholly gave himself up to security that he feared nothing concluding that the Oracle had promised him a peaceable reign during his whole life and that he could not dye before the appointed year set down by the Oracle insomuch that he arived to that height of insolence vaine conceit that having lost some precious jewells in a tempest he was confident the fishes would export them to land for him as they were in duty bound in his conceit With these fond extravagancies was he elevated even till on a sudden he was left destitute by all his friends and subjects and forced to a most ignominous end so well did Apollo's Counsell steed him But least this father of lies should seem to deliver any untruth the night before his death he made Nero hear a voice cursing the name of Nero and extolling that of Galba that so he might understand it was by the will and institution of the Oracle that he fell for Galba succeeded him for the space of seventy three years Petrarcha ex Suetonio Xerxes the Son of Darius having dig'd up an old Monument of Belus found an Urne of Glasse in which a dead Corps lay in Oyl but the Urne was not full but empty a hands breadth from the hips of the body near which there stood a little Pillar or column on which was contained written that it should go ill with him that opened the Sepulchre and did not fill the Urne which when Xerxes had read he was taken with much dread and horrour and commands presently Oyl to be
with an evill spirit 366 A spirit in shape of a horse kills twelve men 367 The treasure Arcolius near Lutetia discovered by Magick 368 A Lawyer and his companions seeking by Conjurations for treasure are affrighted by spirits from their enterprise 369 Satan deludes many by binding fast their eyes 370 A Witch who enfeebled an Horse by witchcraft 371 A way to free Cattle from sorcery by using a sieve 372 Witchcraft 373 A Mason tormented by Witchcraft 374 White witches or those who cure and deliver from harm 375 A Witch cures a sick woman whom she had bewitched 376 A Sorcerer of Flanders 377 A Bishop bewitched 378 Triscalanus a witch whom the King of France pardoneth confesseth the way by which sorceries are conveyed 379 Satan enters a man mortally wounded 380 A Butcher discovers many witches in a Wood in the night 381 The confession of three witches who were condemned to dye for witchcrafts which they had committed 382 The Sorcerers of Potezana their confession 383 The confession of a Witch at Biturgum 384 The confession of a Witch who could not rest unlesse she did some evil every day 385 The Devills declare what is done in divers Nations at a convention 386 There is no meeting of Witches and Devills without dancing 387 A witch anointing her self lyes void of sense for three hours after which returning to her body relates things from divers Countreys 388 A witch departs from her body for a whole night to the convention of Devills and witches and her spirit returns to her body in the morning 389 The Devill in form of a great Hee-goat adored by Witches 390 The admirable judgment of seven Magitians 391 Baro of Razii who was condemned for using Magick his confession 392 A most diabolicall bloudy Mid-wife 393 Cazereis a cursed Witch of Tholossa 394 A Magician who upon a sudden oftentimes flew 395 Articles against Aegidius Garnerius whereof he was accused and Convicted 396 Peter Burgottus and Michael Verdunus their confessing their sacrificing to the Devill 397 A Witch taking the form of a Wolf wounded with an arrow 398 Witches in the forms of Wolves and Cats 399 The Lappi sell calms and storms 400 A Jew who at any time when he pleased could transform himself 401 Nothing more clear by History then that many have been transformed into beasts 402 An English Souldier at Cyprus turned into an Asse by a Witch 403 A dialogue betwixt a stage-player and an Asse in Aegypt 404 Two witches turn men into beasts transform a Player into an Asse 405 Atheisticall men turned into Asses 406 Witches raise lightnings storms and tempests 407 How a witch caused a storm 408 How some wicked Priests caused showers 409 How witches kill Cattle 410 Children killed in the wombs of their Mothers by witches 411 A cursed witch Christneth two Toads 412 Witches with a powder kill Hearbs 413 A witch who by his voice could kill men 414 The Devil teacheth a Conjurer to shoot darts at a crucifix 415 An Hermophrodite a Witch attached discovers the conjuration conventicles and diabolical acts of Witches 416 A Witch at Laodunum who debilitated and screwed men awry and destroyed beasts and fruit 417 A Conjurer in the sight of the people flying up towards Heaven snatch'd his Wife with him laying hold on him and a Maid also who stood by them to the great wonder of the amazed people who beheld them wavering in the Ayr 418 The Table to the Second Book being of Oracles Prophecies c. The severall heads are to be found by the figures in the Margin THe counsel which Telephus receives from the Oracle at Delphos for cure of his wound 1 Croesus King of the Lydians consults the Oracle at Delphos for the cure of his son being dumb 2 The Minyae the Plague raging upon man and beast consult the Oracle 3 Atheniensis son of Craterus King of the Persians consulting the Oracle was told That he should kill his own father 4 Oedipus kills his father according to the prediction of the Oracle 5 The strange death of Eumelus King of the Bosphorean Cymerians 6 Cyrus King of the Persians consults Orpheus his head at Lesbos 7 Polycrates the Samian Tyrant consults the Oracle at Delphos 8 Great slaugter to happen revealed to Julius Caesar by evident and wonderful Prodigies 9 Titus the Emperour his death foretold by the Oracle 10 Mauritianus the son of Justinianus the Emperour being slain by the Goths the Oracle was fulfilled 11 Manuel Comnenus after he had reigned 38 years excepting 3 moneths hoping to prolong his life put himself into Monastical habit 12 Polycrates the Theban consults the Oracle at Delphos for the finding of treasure 13 Psameticus encouraged by the Oracle gains the King of Egypt 14 Manuel Comnenus Emperour nameth his son Alexius in observance of the Oracles doubtful speech 15 Boetia being spoyled those of that Countrey who escaped run to the Oracle 16 The Teucri Cretensians seek themselves new habitations by the advice of the Oracle 17 The Phrygians carried by Aeneas their Captain into the Lawrel field were not willing to go any further but hearkned to the Oracle 18 The prediction of the Oracle at Delphos to the Lacedemonians 19 Codrus King of the Athenians in observance of the Oracle voluntarily sacrificed himself for the safety of his people 20 The Oracle predicteth the overthrow of the Athenians by the Persians 21 Valerius Torquatus swallowed up by the ground in which place an Altar is built according to the advice of the Oracle 22 In the Cimbrick Warr the goddess mother of great Idaea declared victory to the Romans 23 The Oracle at Delphos declares victory to the Romans against the Vientians 24 The Dorienses obeying the command of the Oracle got Elea 25 The Oracle's advice to the Lacedemonians how to overcome the Tegeans 26 An Oracle given out in the time of Tiberius Emperour of Rome 27 The Devil speaketh in the Idol of Zemus 28 An Oracle given to the Ancestors of Sardanapalus 29 An Oracle given to the Poet Hesiod 30 Epaminondas his charge from the Oracle at Delphos 31 The Oracle given to Cambyses the Persian King 32 Pythia predicteth the death of Philip King of Macedon 33 The doubtful Oracle given him at Delphos 34 Aescylus the Athenian tragick Poet his death foretold by the Oracle 35 Daphidas the Sophister Ironically consults the Oracle at Delphos 36 Dionysius senior Tyrant of Syracusa acted a Tragedy to the Athenians in their Bachanalian feasts 37 Fatal necessity unavoidable 38 Hannibal the famous Carthaginian Captain his death predicted by the Oracle 39 Appius Claudius consults the Oracle 40 The Antianaean Oracles their advice to C. Caligula 41 Parhonius foretold by the Oracle to succeed in the Empire 42 A Shepherd laid down by Orpheus his Tomb falling asleep chants forth Orpheus his verses in a sweet tone 43 The Scythian Islanders send the tenth of their treasures they get out of the silver and gold Mines yearly to Apollo at Delphos 44
stands an ugly ghost he makes his name known and confesses the truth of the crime saying That he was a common thief and was put to death for his villanies and by the common peoples ignorance was honour'd for a Martyr Then Martin makes an Edict That the Altar should out of hand be taken away and by this means delivered the people from their superstition Severus Sulpitius in ejus vita WHen Simonides Cous supp'd at Scopas his house in Thessaly and had sung that song which he had made on him wherein many things for ornament sake as the Poets use to do were written on Castor and Pollux Scopas told him he would give him half according to their agreement for that song but the other half he must demand of Castor and Pollux whom he had equally commended with him A little while after comes in a Messenger to Simonides and tells him there were two Men at the gate calling for him very earnestly Up he arose and went forth but saw no body In this very interim of time down falls that very room where Scopas was feasting and crusht to death him and all his company Cicero in lib. de Oratore IN the year of our Lord 654. In the eleventh year of the reign of Constans it rained ashes so that Constantinople was in great fear fire fell from Heaven and a most grievous plague mightily increas'd for the 3 hot moneths A good and bad Angel were seen by every body to go in the night time about the City and as often as by the good Angels command the bad Angel did smite any ones door with a javelin which he had in his hand so many dyed out of that house the next day Sigebertus in Chronicis et Paulus Diaconus lib. 19. rerum Romanarum IN the sixth year of Constantinus Copronymus in the month of January about 4 of the clock there was an earthquake round about Palaestine and all Syria which destroyed many Churches and Monasteries And a Plague beginning in Sicily and Calabria goes quite through Monobasia and Hellades and through the neighbouring Isles and at last it comes to Constantinople Many perplext in mind thought they saw some strange men of a stern look following them and speaking unto them and to enter their houses and either to wound them there or cast them forth out of dores and so it was indeed in the event For that infection made houses which were full empty and there was such a multitude that died that all the Sepulchres in the City and Suburbs being fill'd Vaults Lakes Vineyards and Gardens were made places to bury in Anno Dom. 748. juxta Sigebertum IT was a strange and almost prodigious kind of death that Theodoricus King of the Ostrogoths died For in a while after that he had slain Symmachus and Boethius when a great fish's head was set before him on the table at supper he imagined he saw Symmachus his head in it biting his nether lip in as if he threatned him as he himself afterwards told his Physitian Elpidius With which representation he was so affrighted that at that time going to bed he was alway saying as long as he lived That image amazed him THe Castrobians report that Aristeus Proconnesius the Poet going into a Fullers shop in the Isle called Marmora died there and the Fuller shutting up his shop went away to acquaint his neighbours that such an one was dead this rumour being spread quite through the City that Aristeus was dead suddenly there came one whose name was Cyzycenus a Philosopher of Athens from the City Artace who said that he was in Company with Aristeus at a place called Cyzicus and spake with him Whilst he endeavoured to confirm it all the neighbours were in a readinesse having all things convenient to carry men forth The house being open'd Aristeus appeared neither living nor yet quite dead and 7. years after he was seen in Proconnesus when he composed those Verses which at this time are called by the Greeks Arimaspei which when they were made he again vanished The inhabitants of Metapontis in Italy say that Aristeus was seen in those quarters 300 and 40. years after and charged that Apolloes Altar should be erected and called by the name of Aristeus Proconnesius c. Herodotus lib. 4. ONe Leonard at Basill about the year of Christ 1520. one of no ingenuity and who stammer'd in his speech he was commonly called Lienimannus He I know not by what skill entring that vault which opens to the City Basill and going further then ever any yet could tells of strange and wonderfull sights One going down into the Cave with a lighted Taper in his hand said that he must first passe by an Iron gate then out of one Vault into another and then into fair and flourishing Gardens In the middle was a Hall to be seen most richly beautified and a very handsome Virgin to the middle with a Golden Diadem round about her head downwards she was like an ugly Serpent she would lead me by the hand to the Iron chest Upon that lay two black Mastiffe Dogs who with their horrible barking scar'd away all that came near them But the maid restrained them Then untying the bundle of keyes about her she opend the chest and took out all kind of moneys Gold Silver and Brasse whereof by the Virgins bounty he said he brought much out of the Vault with him He said moreover that the Virgin used to say that she was by direfull imprecations long since devoted hither and transformed into such a Monster but she was sprung from a royall stem and thought there was no other way to recover her safety then if she received 3. kisses from a pure and undefiled young man For then her own form would return to her and she would give her whole treasure otherwise called her Dower which was hid in that place to him that freed her He averred also that he kissed twice and twice took notice of her deportment so terrible for over-much joy of her hoped for liberty that he was afraid that she would tear him in pieces alive In this intervall of time it so fell out that his Nephews bringing him to a baudy-house he accompanied with an Harlor With which foul crime being contaminated he could never after find the way to the vault nor enter it Whereof poor Soul he often with weeping tears made complaint Who sees not that this was a Diabolicall phantasm but yet verily that antient Romane coin which he brought out of the Cave and made sale of to many of our City do plainly shew that some treasure was hid in that hollow place which some covetous Devill hath in custody just as the evill spirits to their own great perill do in Golden mines Lest any should think these things fabulous there are some witnesses yet alive that heard Lienimannus make relation of all things After him a Citizen of Basill in a very great dearth and scarcity that he might the
an easy matter saith Luther for Satan to assume the shape of a Man or Woman ex colloquiis Lutheri ONe descended of a most illustrious progeny invited Martin Luther and some other learned men to his Countrey-house at Wittenberg and when for his pleasure he rode forth to hunt the hare a Hare of an incredible bignesse and Forces running very swiftly over the fields objected themselves to his view The noble man being excellently well-mounted followed them with a great shour and presently his horse fell down dead under him and the Hare vanished into the Ayre This was a truly Satanicall Phantasm IN the 1546. year after Christ Martin Luther related at a Supper at Islebia That at Thuringia about the mountain which they call Horselberg certain noble youths very intent in the night time in catching of Hares took in their Nets about eight which when they returned home and hung up they found to be in the morning onely so many horse-heads such as are to be found stinking in some loathsome ditch Ex colloquiis Lutheri AT Rotenberg a certain man most gloriously attired and one that bragged of great Nobility and Riches did frequent the house of a very honest Man and had two companions no lesse gorgeous in their apparel then himself He brought a Fidler and a Piper made Banquets called Dances and all under pretence of marrying the daughter of this good Man a very vertuous Maid He affirmed he was born to Noble Parents had immense Riches Castles Farms Towns and many of them in Forrain Countries Nor did he want any thing this world could afford but a Wife to his likening qualified and educated This â—â—â—ortunity of his guest and his companions pleased not the Master of the house which caused him to call in the Minister of the place against they came that so whilst they were at Supper he might intermeddle some holy discourse out of holy Writ These Colloquies very much offended his guest and his friends Wherefore they desired some other subject and argued that many witty conceits and neat jests were more suitable to feasting and did more exhilarate the hearts of men then the exposition of holy writ therefore they would intreat them to be no more troublesome to them with discourse of that nature By which the Master of the house found what diabolicall spirits they had and being now well armed against the snares of the Devill he said to his guests Avaunt or depart O ye wicked Caitifs you shall have nothing to do with me nor mine we are Baptized and Redeemed by the pretious Bloud of Christ and he will defend us against your Diabolicall machinations At these words this devillish Impostor together with his hellish companions vanished leaving behind them a most noisome stink and the dead bodies of three men who had been hanged Manlius in collectaneis A Certain Man who abounded with wealth living about thirty Miles from Gorlitz inviting some friends to a Supper most exquisitely cooked and they refusing to come he grew so extream angry that in a rage he said If they will not come I wish all the Devils in Hell would This wish was not frustrate for immediately a great company of them which he had called for in his wrath came to him which he not knowing at the first sight went to entertain them courteously But when instead of hands they stretched forth their claws to him being exceedingly affrighted he well thought what kind of guests he had in his house Thus trembling with his Wife he fled out of his Castle and left an Infant in the Cradle and a Fool sitting on a Stove by it to see to it But the Fool brought the Child safe from amongst those fiends Jobus Fincelius de Miraculis SOme florid and learned Men in the Basil Council for recreation sake went forth into a small Wood friendly to confer about the disputes of those times As they were going along they heard a pretty little Bird singing most sweetly like a Nightingale they are ravished at her pleasant Musick not knowing what Birds note it should be Entring the Wood they espy a small Bird sitting on a Tree and singing most pleasantly without giving over they were all very attentive At last one having more courage and better spirited then the rest speaks thus to the Bird I adjure thee in the Name of Christ to tell us who thou art The Bird made answer That she was one of the damned Souls and was designed to that place till the last day and then she must undergo everlasting torment When she had said this she flew away from the Tree crying O how immense and of long continuance is Eternity Philippus Melancthon saith I am of opinion that this was the Devil inhabiting there All that were present at this adjuration fell very sick and within a little after dyed In collectaneis Manlii A Certain powerful Man and very ancient had devoted himself to conjure the Devil maintaining his study herein by that saying The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head as if man had power given him over the Devil that he might call him forth and cast him out when he pleased I am not saith Luther of that belief to dare to use the commerce of Devils And added moreover what happened to Nicolaus Ambsdorffius Bishop of Ciz who as himself related it and truly acknowledged on a time in the City Maidenburg when he was Priest there sleeping by night in an Inne he was awakened by two Noblemen long since dead before whom went two young men carrying Torches in their hands and not being afraid when there was no danger being commanded to arise he did so There these Noble-men dictated Letters to him which he wrote and charged him to present them to a certain Prince When they had done these things they vanished He delivered the Letters to whom he was commanded IN the year 1545. an evil spirit straggled up and down the City Rotwil having the shape sometime of an Hare sometimes of a Goose and sometimes of a Weazel threatning with a loud voice that he would burn the City Which did not a little terrifie the Inhabitants thereof Pincâ—lius lib. 1. IN the year 1534. On Christmas Eve in a City of Saxoniâ— Satan taking upon him the form of a Man came confidently to Laurentius Donerus Priest of that place when he should hear them that were the next day to come to the holy Supper of the Lord to make confession of their sins earnestly desiring him to hear his confession Being admitted he belched out most horrible blasphemies against Christ the Son of God But being convicted by the Minister with the power of Gods Word he departed leaving an unsufferable scent behind him Idem AT Friâ—urga a famous City in Misnia was there a Man renowned for his Religion and Age who being very dangerously sick and almost at the point of death The Devil clad in a prelaticall garb came unto him left by chance all alone
deliverance Hence was it called the shirt of necessity because it was put on in the greatest necessities Thus it was made On Christmas day at night maids of most known chastity did in the Devils name spin yarn out of the mud weaved the same and sewed it together In the breast of it there were two heads sewed of which that on the right side had a long beard covered as it were with a helmet but that on the left side was grim crowned and like the Devil on either side was a crosse made in length it wrought from the neck down to the middle part of a Man being compleat with sleeves c. Vierus writes in his fourth book and 15. c. of the sleights of the Devils That he saw one of them in the Possession of a very Noble person left him by his Grandfather a Souldier and a most stout man and that they were very commonly used in times past by Kings and Emperours THe Polonians in a battle they had with them at Legnicia in the year of our Lord 1240. bore very hard upon the Tartars and when they gave ground prosecuted the pursuit There was in the very rear of the Tartarians an Ensign whose Motto was onely the letter X and upon the spear of it there was the image of an ugly black long-bearded man When as the Ensign-bearer did very much shake and waver this colour it raised a very thick and black smoak This cloud did not onely obscure the Tartars from the sight of the Polonians but killed many of the Polonians with the stink of it The Tartarians did this by some incantations they used which as well as many other ariolations and divinations they very much practise as well in war as upon other occasions and do often make conjectures of future events by the entrals of men The Barbarians when they saw the Enemy in a fear rallying and encouraging one another they made a great impression upon them and having disordered their ranks made no small slaughter in which Pompo the leader of the Christians with many of his valiant associates died There was so great a massacre of the Christians that day that the Barbarians having cut off all their ear-rings filled nine great sacks therewith Cromerus libro 8. A Cruel Warr happening between the Kings of the Danes and Suesia in the year 1563. It is written out of the Danes Castles That the Suecian King when he was in his pomp and prosperity carried four old Witches about with him which by their enchanted verses did procure all the Victories to the Danes that he could not do any hurt to his Enemy And those which were besieged by the Suesian King were debilitated and made weak and unfit for War so that they were glad to yield themselves captives And although at first there was no credit given to the report yet afterward one of these Witches was taken captive by a Souldier of Mounsieur Comitis a Schwarzenburg Guntheri of the Duke's Army and those things which she confessed to him are written down Afterwards there was found about the Wells Springs and Fenny grounds a long thred extended out a great length upon which were many woodden crosses and pictures with strange characters described on them Vierus saith That they grievously offend against the manifest Commands of God that they require such unlawfull means or helps from the Suesians and the Danes they are afraid of those magical delusions and divellish deceits and mockeries Lib. 2. cap. 33. de Praestigiis Daemon EMpedocles Agrigentinus the Magitian writes these things of himself Medicamenta quae et mala et senectutem propulsant Audies tibi enim soli ego ista omnia conficiam Et sedabis indefessorum ventorum vires qui in terram Ruentes flatibus rura corrumpunt Et vicissim si voles reduces ventos adduces Et efficies ex imbre nigro tempestivam siccitatem Hominibus et efficies ex aestiva siccitate Flumina foecunda quaeque in aestate spirant Et reduces ex Orco defuncti animam viri Ope now the labyrinth of thy mare-like ear And then strange Cures and Medicines thou shalt hear That will all evils and old age repell To thee alone I will this mystery tell And thou shalt hush the rumors of the wind Destruction's beesom when thou dost it find To sweep the Country with its poysonous breath And Dragon-like doth storm many to death And if thou wilt that Aeolus should bluster 'T is in thy power all the winds to muster If black big-belly'd Clouds appear again As though they would nothing afford but rain Then thou shalt cause in them a barrennesse And a great drought and bring a great distresse Upon poor mortals and when th' Earth is dry It shall be sleckt by tears of weeping eyes But when it 's parcht with Summers sultry weather The foaming floods shall then all flow together And quench its thirst yea from black Pluto's den With Orpheus thus thou'lt fetch thy friend agen When for a certain while the winds did so vehemently blow and bluster at Etesia that they hurt the grain he gave order that Asses should be excoriated or their skins should be pluckt off and make bottles and to be so far extended in the Promontory that they might receive the wind And he being asleep was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if one should say The stayer of the Winds Suidas THere are a certain people amongst the Lydians who are called Persici their Cities being Hierocaesaria and Hippaepae and in each City there are Temples very large and Vaults in them with Altars upon these are ashes of a far different colour then our ashes are A Magitian entring in here covers his head with a gallant attire where the wood is laid upon the Altar and calls upon the name of his god whosoever he be but reciting a heathenish verse out of a book where he hath prayed there shines forth a pure flame out of the wood the fire being not stirr'd Pausanias lib. 5. saith he saw this himself HErodotus testifies lib. 7. of Xerxes's Governours that in a tempest of three dayes they lost four hundred Ships untill the fourth day that their Magitians Thety and the Nereidians did allay the tempestuous winds by their sacrifices CAstabilis is the Phane of the Persians Diana where they say religious women go upon hot coals barefoot and are not burnt Strabo lib. 12. Under the Mountain of Soracte there is a City called Feronia it is called by that name from a goddesse they had which the bordering people thereabout worship very much In the same place there stands a Temple having a wonderfull kind of sacrifice For they that are inspired with the Deity do walk upon burning coals with their naked feet And therefore there comes a great multitude every year as well by reason of the solemnity and celebration as to see the sight Idem lib. 5. TUllius Hostilius the Roman King in the imitation of Numa Pompilius whilest he
part of Suevia a Country-man walking over his ground to see his Corn in a dry season with a little girle a daughter of his with him wished that it would rain a good shower The Maid hearing her father say so out of her childish simplicity told him She could easily procure that for him The Father wondring at the childs words askt her how could she do such a feat O sayes she I learnt that of my Mother and added That she could easily cause it not onely to rain but hail and raise a great tempest and that her mother learnt it of a Master she converst with and that whensoever and whatsoever she required of him was presently perform'd but that her Mother had strictly charged her to tell no body The father being terrified at these things askt her if she had ever seen this Master The girle answered again that she had seen many come in and go out who her Mother told her were their Masters and Loving Lords Her father again demanded if she could just then raise a shower or storm She reply'd I if she had but a little water He therefore brought her to the River where calling upon this Master she presently caused it to rain in her father's fields alone and not in his neighbours as he had commanded her The man seeing that bid her also make it hail but so as but in one field which he shew'd her this she presently effected And then being fully resolved his wife was a Wiâ—ch he brought her before a Magistrate there convicted her of the crime and burnt her his daughter being put to holy exercises and by sacred means was delivered from the power and wiles of the devil Ibid. IN the Town Fach a Judge commanded his Serjeants to apprehend a Witch and bring him to execution but they were so annoyed with loathsome stincks and struck with such a terrour in the businesse that they utterly despaired of effecting it The Judge his name was Peter insisting more earnestly upon the performance of his command again exhorts them that they would take courage and lay violent hands upon the Witch for now the appointed time was come wherein the detected crimes of this impious person must be punished by which encouragements being animated to repel the fascinations of the devil the VVitch was taken and brought to execution AT another place when a Witch was bound and brought to the Gallows top she spet in the face of the Hangman and he presently fell down dead in like manner she did by a second But the third going about a little more warily was yet so invenom'd by her breath that all his face swelled till he was stark blind with it and a little after he died of it WHat power the Devils have to afflict Brutes Cattle and all other creatures and how they can raise storms and tempests you may find sufficiently laid open in the 14. 15. chapters of the forecited Author the examples are very horrible nor do I think it necessary to commemorate any more of them The History of Job will evidence the same thing what is not onely the power but how extream the malice of that evill Spirit THere were two brothers to whom their Father left a competent estate when he died the one of them took upon him a Monastick life the other married and set up a common Inne and most earnestly gaping after Riches used all means possible to defraud not onely his guests but their beasts by false weights and Measures and conveighing their provender from before them Whilst he thus strove to be rich his estate went to wrack on every side and the more he took care to heap up the more and greater losses he sustained When his brother the Monk came to him to part the estate with him according to his Fathers Will he desired his brother that he would forbear prosecuting him for the division of the goods at present for he was poor and in a very low condition and notwithstanding that he used all means possible for the gaining of an estate yet all the fraud he could use profited him nothing when the Monk heard this he said O my Brother if you order your Family so unjustly 't is no wonder that things go so ill with you For you keep such a guest that consumes all and more than you can possibly gather and if thou wilt see him follow me into the bottom of the Cellar and I will shew thee who consumes thy estate Whither when they were both come the Monk by his adjurations made the Devill that lay hid there shew himself to his brother And presently a beast of an immense bignesse and so fat that without much ado he could not move himself appeard which when the Monk saw he said O what a gainfull Inne dost thou keep and turning to his brother said Behold that beast thou hast pampered by thy fraud for whatsoever thou fraudulently gottest from any man this ugly beast devoured Therefore hearken to me Be faithfull and upright in thy dealing towards all men use an equall measure and defraud no body and after four years I will come again and then divide my Fathers estate with you His Brother follows the Monks counsell and as much as he went backwards in the world before he now came on and in a short time had such experience of divine goodnesse that he was Master of a great estate At four years end came his brother the Monk to see what condition his brother was yet in who received him with great alacrity and told him he had followed his advice desiring to see the beast now again in which the Monk gratified his brother and commanded the beast that lay hid in the Cellar to appear which when he came was so lean his bones would scarce hang together Then sayes the Monk to his brother now it 's time for this guest to get hence and seek another Host But if thou shalt hereafter order thy affairs with the like Justice thou shalt alwayes learn experience of the great blessing of our great and good God NOt long since sayes Bodinus in Vallis which is a name of the Suburbs of Laodunum a certain Witch by her inchantments freed a woman from her disease who was most grievously afflicted and thus she effected it Falling down upon her knees and looking towards the ground she called upon the Devill very often and with a loud voice that he would cure the Woman and pronouncing certain strange words gave her a morsell of bread to eat and by this means the woman recovered Which kind of cure is plainly such as if the sick woman had prayed to the Devill for health than which it were better to indure the most painful death Daemonomaniae lib. 1. cap. 6. I Remember about 20. years ago at Lutetia in a Noblemans house there I saw a young man by often reciting certain French words in the presence of many honest people which I think not good to mention at
in unlocking his door which Coponus had before prevented by putting a little wire into the lock that he might have the better opportunity for his design beat out his brains with an Ax and being questioned for it alledged no other thing for the fact but that he was incited thereto by Cocles his own self telling him that he must be a murtherer and nothing else Jovius in Elogiis A Certain Astrologer in the Court of Frederick the second Emperour much reverenced Rodolphus the Haspurgensian Earl with exceeding observance though he had but a mean estate and valued not at all men far more potent and being demanded a reason thereof by the Emperour he answered I know that Rodolphus shall be Emperour and when thy Issue shall decline his renown shall be spread abroad far and near though he be esteemed by few at this time Neither did his presage want a true event for in the year of our Lord 1273. in the Calends of October he was chosen King of the Romans by the Princes of Germany at Franckford when he besieged the Pallace Cuspianus in Caesaribus WHen the Mathematicians looked into the Geniture of the Great Sfortia and observed the excellent positure of the Stars and their admirable sites and aspects they predicted to him High Empire immortal glory and a happy off-spring but at length they added That he should not attain old age but should perish by an untimely death Jovius in ejus vita BRaccius the excellent Montenensian Duke seeing the body of his Enemy Sfortia the Great drowned in the River of Piscaria fell a praising the dead man with most exquisite Encomiums which of right belonged to him but he not being freed from so great danger of a present battle shewed to his Souldiers a more cheerful countenance because he being conscious of a fatal secret had learned from Astrologers that Sfortias indeed was to go before as taken with a violent death but a little after himself also as it were with the like lot should undergo the same fortune of departure He scarce lived over the fifth moneth when as for thirteen moneths space making assault at Aquila and it being in vain besieged at length in a memorable battel being overcome and slain by the sword of the Sfortian Souldier he fullfilled both the truth of the Stars and many prophets Jovius in the life of Sfortias UNto Uladislaus Jagellon King of the Polanders Sophia his wife brought forth sons Uladislaus and Andrew Casimir There was at Cracovia Henry a Bohemian a famous Astrologer and studious of Magick this man foretold That an Infant new born should be long-lived but unfortunate and that he reigning Poland should be afflicted with great evils and calamities but his brother Uladislaus was to be most famous and most victorious and unlesse Nature's destinies should envy a longer life to him he should command many Nations Both which things the issue afterwards proved For Uladislaus who was chosen King of Poland and King of Hungary being slain at Varna by the Turks in the 20th year of his age gave not satisfaction to this famous hope But Casimir who succeeded his brother in the Kingdom of Poland reigned 45 years lived 64 was bent rather on the Lituanian huntings than on the Common-wealth Cromér book 19. 29. BAsil a Mathematician but most certain soothsayer a certain Greek foretold the murder of Alexander of Medicis Duke of the Florentines to be committed by Laurence Medices his near kinsman he not onely shewed him the murder but also the certain smiter who should be intimate with him of a slender form of a boxy-coloured countenance and of a doubtfull silence almost not keeping company at all with others in the Court Also unto Cosmus of Medices they promised for certain forasmuch as in the very marking the hour of his birth he had a happy Star of Capricorn as once Augustus enlightned with a wonderfull aspect of Stars agreeing together it should come to passe that he should increase in a wealthy inheritance Alexander indeed hearing it and Cosmus smiling when as a great number of his kindred was to be consumed by death before any even a small inheritance could come unto him Jovius JOhn Liechtenberg in the yearly predictions of his Ephemeris as I may so say admonished the Prince of Bavaria in a serious manner both by writing and painting that a Lyon should seek hiding places for fear of an Eagle He despised it but not long after he was assaulted with a grievous Warr by Maximilian the Emperour Agricola in Germane Proverbs PAul Farnese the 3d chief Bishop seeing he was most skillfull in Astrology and Magick writeth to his son Peter Aloyse who had by force entred on the tyrannical Government of Placentia and Parma that he should beware of the tenth day of September of the year 1547 as unlucky to him The father indeed could warn but the son could not avoid the danger but by Conspirators Augustine Landus and James Scott Earls of Placentia in his own Castle under pretence of talk he was slain and being a long time hung up by the privy parts he was exposed to be cruelly torn in pieces by the people Sleidan 19 book of Commentaries THere was a Town of the Xanthians that had a bridge laid over the small River Lycus in which were said to have been brazen Tables wherein letters were ingraven The Empire of the Persians was sometime to be overthrown by the Graecians The tables with the bridge being shaken down a little before that it was fought at Granicum by Alexander the Great they had fallen into the channel of the River Alexander being much moved at the report of the tables when as for some time he had stood doubtful into which part he might chiefly bend the course of victory turning to the right hand he subdued with wonderfull speed all the Sea-coast from Lydia even into Phaenicia Sabellicus book 4. Ennead 4. out of Plutarchs Alexander IN the second Carthagenian war besides many things seen and heard which were accounted instead of wonders a verse or song of Martius being curious and sounded at the same time brought the greatest care to the City That being by a most true event proved gave no doubtfull credit of the things that were to be He had written who ever that Martius was O thou Trojan born flee thou Cannae the River of Romana neither let strangers constrain thee to joyn in battell in the field of Diomedes but neither shalt thou believe me untill thou shalt fill up the field with bloud and the River shall bring down many thousands of thine slain out of a fruitfull land into the great Sea for fishes and birds and wild beasts which inhabit the Earth unto these let thy flesh be for meat Because these things were in great part represented before the eyes of men for the common sort were acquainted both with the fields of Diomedes and when they had fought at Canna there was the greater care of procureing
Aeacides assists the Greeks fighting against Xerxes at Salamin 54 A naked child placed before an army in battle aray 55 Two unknown young men assisted the Locrensians against the people of Sibaris leading their army upon milk-white Horses and subduing their Enemies 56 Mercury when a youth leading some striplings chased the Eubaeans 57 Castor and Pollux appeared champions for the Roman party 58 Mars was propitious to the Romans 59 Bacchus's feasts solemnized at Empusa or Oâ—acle an evill Ghost sent by Hecate to them that are in distresse 60 In Lybia shapes of several living creatures 61 The Orthomei their report of a Goblin 62 Parnassus a Hill in Boeotia 63 Gellus his maid who dying young her Ghost walks at Lesbos 64 Temissaeus his Ghost 65 The Isle of Aega troubled with Phantasms 66 Spirits appeared at the death of Caligula 67 Nero after murthering his Mother troubled with her Ghost 68 Otho the Emperour troubled with Galba his Ghost 69 A Diabolicall spirit appearing in the likenesse of a wild Boar. 70 Hobgoblins driven away from haunting of a place by the Sacrament and prayers 71 The Devill appearing in the shape of an Angell to a Monk 72 A demoniall spirit driven away by devout Prayers and holy-water 73 Prodigious and wonderfull sights of divers kinds 74 At New-Castle in the coasts of Finlandia one in the night appears playing upon an Harp before the death of any Souldier 75 In Ilandia an Island under the Artick Pole a promontory like the Hill Aetna 76 Night-Ghosts representing an Army in a hostile manner 77 In Cracoviensis a spatious lake disturbed by Evill spirits 78 A Priest troubled with the Incubus or Mare 79 Alexander his dead friend came to bed to him 80 Gordian and his comrades saw fearfull sights as they went to the City Arezzo 81 A Devill seized upon one who had been a despiser of God and disobedient to his Parents but was driven from him by calling upon God 82 The Devils appearing to Thomas Monachus in the shape of a Man 83 The Devill appeared to a wicked young fellow who upbraided defamed and taunted his father 84 A spectrall in the form of a beautiful Woman 85 The harmlesse spirits called Lares the cruel Larvae 86 Mettal-mines frequented with both kinds of spirits 87 A tall Woman of a most dreadfull countenance seen in the Ayre before a Massacre at Antioch 88 A Prisoner agreed with the Devill to be delivered out of Prison and view Hell 89 One in form of a child breaking out of the ground spoke as wisely as a Senatour to a Ploughman 90 The Devill in the shape of a tall Woman appeared to Drusus made Consull and warring by the name of Augustus Caesar 91 An Hobgoblin leaping and skipping before Dunstan an English Abbot 92 The overthrow of the Sicilians made known to shepheards by the speaking of Spirits to one another in the night 93 An Hermophrodite born at Aetolia 94 Pompeius Galienus the stoutest man of Caesars army 95 Castor and Pollux appear in the shape of two young gallants 96 The Devill transformed into an Angel of light appeared to Rathbodus commander of Frisia 97 Valentinius the Arrian Bishop his dead Corps dragged out of the Temple by evill spirits 98 A Monk adjures by vertue of the holy and undivided Trinity spirits appearing like troops of armed men to tell what they were 99 A Ghost appeared to Cicero his Nurse 100 The Prognosticks of the death of the Emperour Annius Tacitus 101 Constantius the Emperour his strange visions 102 Marcellus the Bishop by earnest prayer repelled the Magick of the Devill 103 An innumerable company of spectralls amongst the Pilappii 104 A noble Gentleman of Bavaria grieved for the death of his Wife she appeared to him 105 Bruno Bishop of Herbipolis his Vision before his sudden death 106 The Devill in shape of a Monk walks in the Mountains of Bohemia 107 A Fisherman taking a Sea-Monster of the shape of a beautifull woman married her and had a child by her 108 A Satanical phantasm by the Devil in form of an Hare in the sight of Luther 109 Martin Luther his tale at a Supper 110 The bodies of dead men entred by Devils 111 An innocent Fool brought an Infant safe out of the company of a multitude of Devils 112 A Bird melodiously singing adjured in the name of Christ confesseth herself a spirit 113 Two noble men long before dead appeared to Nicolaus Amsdorffius Bishop of Ciz when he was a Priest at Maidenburg 114 In the year 1545. an evill spirit stragled about the City Rotwill 115 The Devill comes in shape of a man desiring a Priest to take his confession 116 The Devill appearing to a good old man upon his death-bed was driven away by a Text of Scripture 117 A Doctour of Divinity of Lower-Germany caught up by the Devill on horsback then into the Ayre whence he was cast down 118 In the lower Germany a Monster of the bignesse of a man formed like a Dog 119 The Devill in form of a servant waits upon a nobleman who lived by plundering 120 Luther's relation of certain Monks their imploying the Devill in the Kitchin of their Monastery 121 Crescentius the Popes Nuncio in the Councill of Trent his Vision 122 Spectralls after the death of a rich Epicure at Haberstade 123 In the year 1559. in Marhia appeared spirits in form of men without heads reaping corn 124 A notable Vision near Spira in the year 1530 on the 18th 19th and 20th of July 125 Magdalena Crucia Hispania of the chief City of all Corduba Boetica married her self to the Devill whereby she performed wonders 127 The Devill appeared to a Clown to help him perform his Lords unreasonable command 128 The dead Husband of a Kins-woman to Phillip Melancthon appeared to her 129 In the year 1555. a Spectrum appeared at Brunsviga in the Village of Gehern 130 Stephen Hubener a rich Citizen of Trawtenaw in Bohemia his body after death entred into by the Devill 131 The Devill in likenesse of a man enticing many children stole them away from Hammel 132 The Devill appearing pretending himself the spirit of a deceased man 133 The Devill appearing in form of a dead man and his appearing to a maid seeking commerce with her 134 A maid possessed by the devill Prophesyeth 135 A man troubled with the Worms spoke Dutch a language utterly unknown to him whereof being cured by a Physitian he was not able to speak a word of that language 136 Exorcisms for the dispossessing of the devill 137 The devill speaks in a Maid possest 138 In the Wildernesse of Tingut the voyces of devils are heard 139 The devill speaks out of a Crow 140 The devil disputed with Hieronymus Cardanus 141 The devill out of a Crow predicted things to come 142 A most certain argument to detect one possessed 143 In the time of Agyropolis Emperour of Rome a miserable dolefull noise was heard at the bottome of the Fountain Curena 144 Calligraphus
Sponges to Eudon Duke of Aquitane 90 A Monk leaving his Religion marrieth a Wife 91 One carrieth the Body of our Lord at a Paschal Feast whole with him in his mouth 92 The Sacrament put into a chest by a woman turns into the shape of flesh and blood 93 The reason of the building the Temple entituled The Body of Christ 94 Abundance of blood flowes from the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist being torn in pieces by Jews 95 Pope Vigilius institutes That Mass for the dead should be performed in an holy place with holy garments and a low voyce 96 An head cast forth of the grave bleedeth 97 Clodoveus King of France falls mad for his irreligious handling the body of St. Dionysius 98 A woman loseth her sight for carrying away the shoes of holy Genovepha 99 A woman struck barren for kicking the Tomb of a Saint 100 A â—oâ—â—er comes to the Tomb of Wenceslaus the fourth Honourable King of Bohemia 101 The Judgment of God upon one for throwing a stone at the Image of the blessed Virgin Mary 102 The Judgment of God upon one who pulled out the eye of an Image 103 A Jew smites the Image of the blessed Virgin with a punniard out of which blood flowes 104 Blood flowing from the Image of the blessed Virgin proves a remedy to many sick people 105 A Souldier seeking to lay hold on an Image it turns towards him and he falls mad 106 Two gamesters one whereof plaid in the Name of God the other in the name of the Devil 107 Divine vengeance seizeth on Schelkrop for slashing and thrusting through the Image of Christ and his Saints 108 The Miracles acknowledged but thought by some to be done by the power of the devill 109 The Image of Christ abused by the Jews bleedeth 110 The Judgment of God upon a Jew for abusing the Image of Christ 111 The Image of Christ shot with an Arrow bleedeth 112 A golden key of St. Peters 113 A sacrilegious person struck with a Palsie in the acting of his sacriledg 114 An Hermite his vision at the death of Pandulph Prince of Capua 115 The Judgment of God upon a sacrilegious person 116 Church-cloathes plundered when they came to be used by prophane hands appear bloody 117 A man's house by divine vengeance set on fire for profaning an holy-day 118 A man's head turned backwards in a fearful manner for working upon an holy-day 119 A Jew's cruelty to the Host and the miraculous issue thereof 120 The tongue of a prejudiced man â—yed 121 St. John Baptist relieves the brother of Boleslaus invoking him 122 Comnenus the Emperour being sick is restored by the Image of our Saviour 123 Ptolemey seeks for the Cross 124 St. Bernard cures a man mortally wounded by giving him consecrated bread 125 Miracles wrought by the bones of Saint Remachus 126 One dispossessed of a devil by part of the straw whereon St. Martin lay 127 A Noble-woman ignorantly translates the bones of St. Stephen from Jerusalem to Constantinople 128 A Noble-man belonging to Otho the Emperour dispossest of a devil by a chain which had bound St. Peter 129 Several cured of Feavers by the herbs strewed about the Tomb of Nicetius 130 The Pestilence at Rome ceaseth upon the building up of the Altar of St. Sebastian in the Church of St. Peter 131 Constantine the Great his vision after his refusing to be cured by the blood of Children 132 St. Nicolas delivers Lotharingus at Constantinople invocating him 133 Bituricus Arch-deacon of Leons recocovers his sight by fasting and prayers at the Church of Martin upon his Feast-day 134 Pambulis a Priest restored to sight at the Image of Albinus in the Church of St. Peter 135 One sick of the Palsie restored to health by St. Martin and St. Alban 136 One sick of the Palsie restored to health at the Tomb of St. Dunstan 137 Cosroe's invocating Sergius obtains the defence of his Countrey and foecundity of his barren Wife 138 A man falleth sick of the head-ach by driving a nail into St. Peter's picture 139 Frenchmen about to translate the body of S. Benedict are struck blind 140 St. Michael the Arch-Angel appears to St. Lawrence 141 Three Saints appear to a Fisherman 142 Stephen King of Hungary Canonized 143 Udislaus King of Hungary Canonized 144 Cosroes seeking to take the silver Urn wherein Sergius the Martyr was laid was driven away by an heavenly Host 145 Saints defend the Isaurians from the Sarazens 146 A Martyr leadeth the Roman Army 147 The Cratonensians use a linnen garment of the Virgin Mary for a flag 148 Amiarus a Saint assists Godfrey of Bolleign in the Syriac Expedition 149 St. George S. Lawrence and S. Adrian assist Henry the second Emperor 150 The Romans carrying before them the Holy Lance instead of an Ensign obtain a great victory 151 S. Ambrose the Mediolanensian Guardian Saint 152 James the Apostle assists the Christian Army 153 The Fathers of the Nicene Council consult Musonius and Crisanthus 154 Christ appeared in the Sacrament to Plergilis a Priest in that body which the Virgin Mary bore 155 The vision which a Souldier of Rome who extinct by the Plague reviving at large he declareth 156 A noble child dead for seven dayes reviveth 157 Vincentius his relation of Tundalus 158 Vincentius his relation of one who being led by the Angel Gabriel after death was restored to life 159 Genovepha a virgin of Paris in an extasie 160 Erasmus Bishop and Martyr 161 Ursinus sees S. Peter and S. Paul at his death 162 Ezekiel and Daniel appâ—â—â— to a Religious man 163 The vision of Merulus a religious Monk at Rome 164 St. Peter the Apostle appears to a Virgin of Christ called Galla at Rome 165 The Mother of God with a company of Virgins appears to a Maid 166 Juvenal and Eleutherius the Martyrs appear to Probus Reatinus the Bishop 167 The body of St. Jerome when he had given up his soul was surrounded with a suddain glorious light 168 A Monk wrapt in spirit sees St. Augustine 169 St. Francis Assiatus his soul departs in form of a Star out of his body 170 Devils contend with an Angel for the soul of a Monk 171 Mass celebrated before a dead Monk 172 A soul dragged towards Hell by the devil is freed by S. Benedict 173 Saints speak out of their Tombs 174 Paschasius a Deacon of the Apostolical Seat 175 The spirit of a dead man waits at the bathes 176 Benedict the tenth chief Bishop appearing after his death to John the Portuensian Bishop confesseth That he was kept from eternal death by Odilones his prayer 177 John the Anchorite his vision 178 Maurice the Rothamagensian Bishop brought into the Temple after his death having received his soul speaks to them about him 179 Marcius of Alexandria obtesting the skull of a dead man in the name of Jesus causeth it to speak 180 Cyrillus Hierosolymitanus his vision as he was praying 181 A young man restored to life by the prayers and tears of Severus 182 A man dead revives relates his vision and 〈◊〉 183 Stephen a Roman going to Rome falls sick and dyes and revives again and relateth his vision during the time his soul was separated from his body 184 William a boy of fifteen years of age his vision 185 In the Sabine Province a Nun strictly observed chastity but by procacity defiles her tongue as appears by a vision after her death is condignly punished 186 The Sadduces and Epicures confuted from page 343 to page 358. The Arguments of those who deny that Angels and Devils can take to them a body confuted from page 359 to the end FINIS 4