inuincible opposing him-selfe with a cheereful and vndaunted courrage to any danger that hee sees ineuitable except that that for death is horrible and fearefull to al Nature which hath breathing of life for that it destroyes this nature We see some that are dull some furious and madde and others that are altered by decrepit age by bodely indisposition by erronious precepts and doctrine by violent and disordered passions more then feare which apprehend nothing but perish in danger and are extinct before they doubt any thing An other yong Gentleman a Spaniard called IAMES OSCRIO borne of a Noble familie growne in loue with a Gentle-woman of the Court hauing made an appointment with her hee climes vp into a thicke tree in the Kings Garden and hid himselfe there expecting his oportunity Therevpon a little Dogge comes who by his baying discouers him whom they cause to come downe to commit to prison that he might answer with the hazard of his head this crime which was helde capitall in those places for diuers reasons Sentence of death being giuen against him he was so terrified as the next day he was growne all white like a man of fower-score yeares old and was no more knowne then the other In like sort the King of Spaine Grand father to CHARLES the fift gaue him his pardon HADR. IVNIVS in his Comentarie of the haire of the head ca. 10. LO VIVES in his preface vpon SCIPIOS dreame Reason doth teach and examples doe confirme that blacke hayre or any other colour growe white through feare If that which nourisheth the hayre fayles wee grow bald if it bee corrupted they growe white for that an vnkind and an vnnaturall humour succeedes that which is growne could wee haue a history in our time vnder FRANCIS GONZAGVE hee hauing suspected one that was allyed vnto him of treason caused him to be imprisoned in a strong Tower resoluing to giue him the racke and to put him to death The next day morning his keeper came to tell him that the prisoner was growne all white This accident did mollefie the Princes heart causing him to pardon and giue the prisoner his life IVLIVS CAESAR SCALIGER in the 312. exercitation against CARDAN A Falconer seeking on the toppe of a high Rocke for an Eyrie of Sparrow-hawkes feeling the Rope which hee went downe by to breake conceiued such a feare as sodainely his hayre grew white CAEL. RHODIGINVS lib. 13. chap. 27. Of his antient lessons I haue knowne some which beeing escaped beyond all hope from ship-wrake haue in a moment growne all graie HADR. IVNIVS in his Comentary of the haire of the head chap. 10. I am no good Naturalist as they terme them neyther doe I know well how Feare doth worke in vs but vndoubtedly it is a strange passion and the Physitions saye that there is not any one doth sooner trans-port the iudgement out off her due place I haue seene many that haue growne madde through feare and it is certaine in them that are most setled whilest the fitte continues it doth cause terrible amazements I leaue to speake of the vulger sort to whome it doth some times represent their great Grand-father comming out of the Graue in a sheete some-times wild-Woolues Hobgoblins and Bug-beares But euen among Warriors them-selues where it should finde least place howe often hath it changed a flocke of Sheepe into a squadron of Corseletts Reedes and Canes for Men at Armes and Lances our Friendes for our Enemies and a White Crosse for a Redde When as the Duke of Bourbon tooke Rome an Antient that was in gard in Saint PETERS Bourg was so amazed at the first Alarum as he went out at a hole in the Wall made with a great shotte with his Colours in his hand out off the Towne going directly towardes the enemye thinking that hee had retyred into the Cittye but seeing Monsieur de Bourbons Troupes prepare them-selues to incounter him supposing it had beene a Salley which they of the Towne had made hee came to him-selfe and turning head re-entered by the same hole hauing gonne three hundred paces before the Company The Antient to Captaine IVILLE was not so fortunate when as S. POL was taken from vs by the Earle of Bure and Monsteur de Reu. For beeing so transported with feare as hee cast him-selfe with his Colours out off the Towne by a Canonier hee was taken and cut in peeces by the Assaylants And at the same seege the Feare of a Gentleman was Admirable and Memorable the which did so nippe and congeale his Heart as hee fell starke dead at the breach without any wound M. MONTAIGNE lib. 1. Of his Essayes chap. 18. Pope PAVLVS the third hauing in the yeare of our LORD GOD 1536. exhorted the Emperor CHARLES the 5. and the great King FRANCIS to parle together at Nice the Emperors Fleete came to anchor in the port of Ville franche where they stayed a daye About Noone as some Imperiallists did walke beholding the Sea and the high Alpes they discouered a thicke cloud which did rise like the smoake of a Pallace standing on the side of a Hill not farre from them And for that this Cloud did increase and growe by little and little some beganne to maintaine and say that it was a mournfull signe and that BARBAROSSA Generall of the Turkes fleet did approch to surprise both the Pope and the Emperour Vpon this feare they giue an Alarum All the whole Fleete is so terified as the Marquis of Guast Collonel of the foote perswaded the Emperour to get to the toppe of the Appenin hills and ANDREVV DORIA who commanded as Admirall caused them to weigh their Anchors and to turne their Galleyes yet the Emperor would not stirre saying it was a false brute as it appeared soone after that a contri-man fanning beanes in the open Ayre to draw them from their chaffe had caused much dust and at sixe and thirty seuerall times had raised this smoake which many did hold to be sixe and thirty Gallies yet some Matriners did affirme that it was the Turkish Fleete But the deceit beeing discouered this feare which had made most of them to looke pale and tremble was now turned into mirth and laughing P. IOVIVS lib. 17. of his Histories I do not here make mention of the feare the Armies were in in the Realme of Naples and at the battle of Montlhery in the one of them they tooke a Heard of Srags and Hindes for a troupe of men at armes and in the other Thistles for a squadron of Pike-men as IOVIANVS PONTANVS lib. 2. of the warre of Naples PHI. COMINES in the History of LEWIS the 9. and PAVL AEMELIVS lib. 10. make mention for that I doe chiefely busie my selfe about Histories that are lately past In the third Ciuill-warre of France vnder CHARLES the ninth in the yeare 1568. the Armies being in Poitou neere vnto Iasenueil it happened that the Prince of Condé hauing faâ—…led of an Enterprise and retyring in the
him and had renewed all that which was the cause of age the which made him to seeme younger then hee was The Admirall was desirous to knowe the truth and found that the was as it old man had sayd The same Author That aboue written is not impossible addes TORQVEMADO seeing that in our time wee knowe a verie admirable thing of a man mentioned by FERNAND LOPES of Castagneda Historiographer to the King of Portugall in the eight booke of his Chronicle where he sayth that NONNIO de CVGNE being Viceroye at the Indies in the yeare 1536. there was a man brought vnto him as a thing worthie of admiration for that it was auerred by great proofes and sufficient testimony that hee was three hundred and fortie yeares old Hee remembred that hee had seene that Cittie wherein he dwelt vnpeopled being then when he spake one of the chiefe of all the East-Indies Hee had growne young againe fouretimes leauing his white haire and hauing newe teeth When the Viceroy did see him hee had his haire and his beard black although hee had not much And as by chance there was a Physition present the Viceroy would haue him feele this olde mans pulce the which he found as good and as strong as a young mans in the prime of his age This man was borne in the Realme of Bengala and did affirme that hee had at times neere seauen hundred wiâ—…es whereof some were dead and some hee had put away The King of Portugall aduertised of this wonder did often inquier and had yeerely newes by the fleete which came Hee liued aboue three hundred and seauentie yeares The same Castagnede addes that in the time of the same Viceroy there was also found in the Cittie of Bengala an other man a Moore or MAHVMETAN called XEQVEPIR borne in a Prouince named XEQVE who was three hundred yeares olde as hee sayd all those which did knowe him did also certefie it for that they had great presumptions and testimonies This Moore was reputed amongst them for a holie man by reason of his austernes and abstinence The Portugals did conuerse famyliarly with him and besides that the Histories of Portugall are faithfully collected and certefied by verie autenticall witnesses there were in my time both in Portugall and in Castille many witnesses which had seene these old men The same ALEX. BENEDICTVS reports in his practise that hee had seene a woman called VICTORIA who had lost all her teeth and beeing growne bald other teeth came againe at the age of eighteene yeares AMB. PARE Booke 24. Chap. 17. I haue heard Mistris DESBECK saie that shee had knowne a woman seauentie yeares olde the which in certaine monethes for some yeares had her monethly courses verie orderly In the ende comming downe into great abondance shee died Shee reported vnto mee an other memorable Historie that shee had seene and knowne an honorable woman being then a hundred and three yeares olde and soone after died who beeing a hundred and one had her monthly courses very orderly where-with shee felt her selfe wonderfully eased and as it were restored the which continued from the hundred and one yeare vntill her death which was at the age of a hundred and three The Marshalls wife of Pleatenbourck a gentlewoman of the noble famelie of Ketlercks in Wesphalia hauing past seauentie yeares returned to haue her monthly purgations very orderly and was as lustie as shee had beene long before These orderly courses continued foure yeares but in the ende they came in greater abundance then before and yet shee was helthfull vntill the age of eightie foure Shee liued yet sixe yeares and died in the ninetie yeare of her age R. SOLENANDER Booke 5. of his Physicall Obseruations Cons. 15. sect 41. 42. 43. Strange Fearefull and horrible Visions IN the liues of DION and BRVTVS in PLVTARKE wee read of horrible apparitions which appeared vnto them a little before their deaths and wee read in the Histories of Scotland in the life of King ALEXANDER the third a strange cause of a fantosme which appeared vnto him the day of his third marriage presaging his death the same yeare But omitting ancient Histories besides those that wee haue represented in the first Booke wee will adde some in this There is a Noble and ancient familie at Parma called TORTELLES hauing a Castell in the which there is a great Hall vnder the Chimney wher-of there doth sometimes appeare an ancient Woman seeming to be a 100. yeares old This signifieth that some one of the familie shall dye soone after I haue heard PAVLA BARBIANO a worthy Lady of that family report supping one night together at Belioyeuse that a young Maide of that house being sick the old Woman appeared which made all to thinke that the Maide should soone dye but the contrarie happened for the sicke Maide escaped but an other of the same family which before was in very good health dyed sodenly They say this old woman whose shadow appeares was some-times a riche Lady who for her money was slaine by her Nephews which cutte her body in peeces and cast it into the Priuies CARDAN liber 16. Chap. 93. of the diuersitie of things ANTHONY 〈◊〉 of whose despaier I haue spoken else-where the lastnight of his life being layed he imagined to see a very tall man whose head was shauen his beard hanging downe to the earth his eyes sparkling and two torches in his hands whome ANTHONY demanded what art thou who alone like a furie doest walke thus out of season when euery one doth rest Tell mee what seekest thou What doest thou pretend In saying so ANTHONY cast himselfe out of his bedde to hide him-selfe from this vision and died miserably the next day BARTLEMEVV of Bolonia in his life IAMES DONAT a rich gentleman of Venice beeing in bedde with his Wife hauing a waxe candle light in the Chamber two nurses sleeping by in a pallet with a little Childe hee did see one open the Chamber doore verie softly and an vnknowne man putting his head in at the dore DONAT riseth takes his sword causeth two great Lamps to be light goes with his Nurses into the hall where hee findes all shut where-vpon hee retiers backe to his Chamber much amazed The next daie this little Childe not full a yeare olde and who then was well died CARDAN in the same Booke and Chapter Two Italian Marchants being vpon the way to passe out of Piedmont into France did incounter a man of a far heigher stature then any other who calling them vnto him vsed this speech returne to my Brother LODOVVIK and giue him these letters which I send him They being much amazed aske what are you I am sayd he GALEAS SFORZA and so vanished sodenly They turned head towards Milan and from thence to Vigeneue where LODOVVIK was at that time They desire to speake with the Duke saying that they had letters to deliuer him from his Brother The Courtiers laugh at them and for that they
and Chapter The following Histories report the dangers many haue beene in that vnwittingly or otherwise haue swallowed things that haue stuck in the throate or els where by the which there haue followed diuers troublesome and pittifull accidents A Country-woman in Holland of the age of fifty yeares and more feeding one day with a good stomack she put into her mouth a great peece of flesh dryed and hardened in the smoake and hauing swallowed it without chawing it stuck in her throate and there continued three dayes without any helpe She could receiue no nourishment whatsoeuer the passage for meate and drinke being quite stopt In the end calling me I found that the morcell was gone farre applying diuers remedies but shee expected nothing but death At the end of the fourth day as she was sipping of Whey this morcell fell violently into the stomacke by meanes whereof shee recouered her health A Mans Daughter of Delft being three and twenty yeares old hauing eaten a Cowes tripe greedily being hard and gluie some morcels stopt her throate so as for three dayes space shee could not possibly swallow any thing I caused a strong suppositarie to bee giuen her and after that I had caused her necke to bee anointed with Oyle of Lillies and sweete Almonds and then bound it about with a Cataplasme fitte for the griefe when as all that were about her attended nothing but death she was cured An other maide eight and twentie yeares old hauing in September in the yeare 1582. swallowed a peece of flesh that was hard and sinewie was in the like danger for the space of 24 houres and in the end eased the peece falling into her stomack A certaine man hauing eaten a Peach would also swallow the stone the which stuck in his throate where hauing stayed a little the party drunke a great draft which thrust it into the stomacke and passing from thence into the guttes it stayed at the great gutte neere the fundement so as for three dayes together hee could not goe to the stoole in the end it past forth with the excrements with such a noyse as if a Pistoll had beene discharged But after that time he was alwayes tormented with the Emeroydes by reason of the excoriation of that part caused by the roughnesse of the stone A young maide hauing eaten much of a sheepes lights and finding her stomack charged had a desire to cast but the morcell stayed in the vpper part of her throate so as they were forced to vse Yrons to get this morcell which was swolne and had stopt the passage of the which shee had like to haue dyed Maister I. HOVLIER The like did happen to an other who had eaten the Lights of an Oxe hee had continually a Hickotte and could not swallowe any thing Shee was â—…ased without the application of Yâ—…ons but by the meanes of Ventoses and other meanes in the end shee cast vp the morcell which from the stomack was mounted into her throate The Scheliographes vpon the 1. Booke of M. I. HOVLER of inward diseases A yong boy of eight yeares of age hauing swallowed one of his fathers Counters which hee vsed to cast his accoumpt withall felt nothing for the present of this excesse onely hee began by little and little to loose his flesh and to growe thinne After a yeare he voided this Counter with the excrements but so consumed by the naturall heate as euery man did wonder at it Aneat Port. cent 2 cur 69. An honest mother of a familie at Dusseldrop being about to dresse a young child in March 1564. hauing two pinnes the one great the other lesser in her mouth it chanced that her child was in danger to fall into the fire This feare made the mother forget her pinnes the which shee did swallow vpon this apprehension hauing no other care but to saue her little one The pinnes remained some houres in her throate with great paine Being called to succour her I commanded they should forbeare to giue her any meate or drinke before I had tryed with an engin to draw out the pinnes Being returned I vnderstood they had made her drinke some broth which did force the pins downeward a little aboue the orifice of the stomack this caused a new pricking paine to remedy it I caused her to drinke a great draft of Beere with Butter and some big peeces of Rie bread mingled with it hoping that the waight of the bread with the drinke would driue downe the pins into the stomacke seeing it was not possible to get them out aboue The which tooke effect some few houres after the next day I made her to bee fed with good brothes and Buttered Beere then to rest on her right side without any waight vpon her belly hauing Cushions vnder her armes and vnder her thighes to giue more scope for the pinnes to descend into the guttes After noone they tooke her vp but I did forbid them that they should not shake her in turning her from one side to the other but without bending her forward or backward she should walke vp and downe easily that the pinnes might passe into the guttes the which they did and then she voided them the greatest was some-what bowed Shee was exceeding sicke vpon this accident but soone after shee was cured A Venetian maide lying with a Needle in her mouth that was foure fingers long fell a sleepe and swallowed it at the end of ten moneths hauing beene grieuously tormented she voided it in her Vrine but in a meruailous forme for a stone of the bignesse of a Hens Egge was growne about this needle Alex. Benoist lib. 2. of his Anatomie Chap. 9. A certaine Gentlewoman of the Duchesse of Iuillers Chamber coâ—…fing her selfe and holding her pinnes in her mouth was struck behinde by a certaine Gentleman where with she did start and with feare swallowed the said pinnes the which she voyded with her Vrine two dayes after without any harme At Nieumeghâ—…n a certaine dissolute man meaning at one of the feasts of Easter to shew some sport to others offered to swallow a Hens Egge whole but the Egge being too big it staied in his throate and so stopt the passage as this dissolute man was presently choakt In the yeare 1588. an other dissolute fellow in the Cittie of Rouan saying that there was no boane in a Cowes foote laâ—…de a wager that hee would swallow one at a morcell They bring him one he takes it and thrusts it into his mouth but hauing it in his throate there it stuck Notwithstanding all the care and applications of Phisitions he continued in this sort nine dayes and in the end dyed without speaking hauing his face monstrously swelled Euery man went to see him seruing as a spectacle of Gods iudgement Histories of our time BERNARD de NOIRS a Mantuan Gentleman of the age of three score and seuen yeares a spare man but lustie hauing in his mouth a peece of flesh that was full of sinewes the which he
Magnanimity CAptaine BAYARD in the time of King FRANCIS the first feeling himselfe verie sore wounded to the death with a shot beeing aduised to retier himselfe out of the fight hee answered that hee would not beginue in his latter daies to turne his backe to the enemie and hauing fought as long as his his force would giue him leaue finding himselfe to faint and readie to fall from his horse he commanded his Steward to lay him at the foote of a tree but in such sort as hee might die with his face to the enemy as he did MONTAIGNE in his Essaies Chapter 3. Many other examples shal be seene in the following volumes Secret and vne qual marriages vnfortunate A Nobleman of Spaine falling in Loue with a maide exceeding faire whose Father had beene a Gold-smith in the Cittie of Valencia hauing sought by many meanes the vse of her was still reiected Beeing vanquished by his affections hee demanded her for his Wife hee marries her in a Chamber in the presence of her Mother and Brethren Hauing entertayned her about a yeare and a halfe vnder this pretext in the ende transported with a newe desire hee marries a Ladie of a great house publickely The maide whome hee had so wretchedly seduced findes meanes by Letters and messages to drawe him againe vnto her and shee perswades him that shee is content hee shall vse her as his Concubine comming twise a weeke vnto her house Shee flatters him in such sort as hee promiseth to come to her the next day where hee is receiued with kinde imbracings and spends the daie in sundrie discourses Night beeing come he lies with her who findes so many excuses as this Nobleman is put of till after his first sleepe Beeing soundly a sleepe this maide transported with greefe and furie and assisted by a bond-woman of hers who had made prouision of two great sharpe kniues and of a strong corde tied to one of the bedde-postes shee straines this corde ouer his bodie beeing a sleepe then sodenly shee takes one of these kniues and strikes him in the throate with all her force He startes but with little life But on the other side the slaue drewe the corde with all her strength where-with his armes and body were so intangled that before hee could free himselfe shee had giuen him many stabbes in the body taking frō him at one instant both his speech and life The candle being light this maide transported with her greeuious fury proceeding from a iust disdaine pulles out the dead mans eyes cutts out his tongue and then his heart the which she teares in peeces mangles him in diuers parts of his body the which with the helpe of her slaue she casts out at a windowe into a streete that was much frequented Day being come euery man runs to beholde this bloudie spectacle They speake diuersly of the fact for that they could not knowe the bodie being so much disfigured hauing nothing on but a bloudie shirt torne with blowes As euery man gaue his Censure the maide comes downe in the streete and deliuers the whole fact with a constant and an assured countenance the which is verefied besides her confession by the deposition of this Noblemans seruant of the Preest that had married them and of the Mother and Brethren that had assisted Assoone as the body was cast into the streete the Maide giues vnto her slaue a good summe of mony aduising her to saue her selfe the which she did in the morning As for the Maide being satisfied with so extraordinary a reuenge she doth freely and often aduow before the Iudges all that shee had done and being condemned to loose her head she went constantlie and cheerfully to execution suffring death willingly to the great amazement of all the Inhabitants of Valencia Historie of Spaine A while after the Battaile of Rauenna giuen in the yeare 1512. a Neopolitaine Gentleman called ANTHONIE BOLOGNE hauing beene Steward to FREDERIC of Arragon King of Naples who being despoyled of his estate retired into France was called by the Duchesse of Malfy a great Lady issued from the house of Arragon sister to a Cardinall one of the greatest in his time widow to a great Noble-man and Mother to one onely Sonne to be her Steward The which he hauing accepted a while after this widowe being young and fayre hauing regarded him with a lasciuious eye she desired him but to couer her fault shee sought the colour of marriage and after many vaine discourses in her thoughts insteed of flying to the councell and good aduise of her Bretheren and honorable Kinsfolkes whereof she had many and to accept a partie fitte for her qualitie the which might easily haue beene found neere or farre off transported with her desire she discouers her thoughts vnto this Gentleman who drunke with his owne conceite and forgetting the respect which hee ought vnto his Ladye and to her house neither yet remembring his owne meane estate would not excuse him-selfe nor giue her such Councell as he ought in this occurrent but being presumptuous and lust-full he yeelded to ioyne vnder the vaile of a secret marriage with her who had long before cast vnchast lookes at him and with whome he had rashly and against all dutie fallen in loue These two vnaduised creatures then lying together in the presence of a Chamber-maide onely vnder the collour of marriage so behaued themselues as after some monthes the Duchesse was with Childe and brought in bedde of a Sonne the which was conuaied secretly into the Country This first delyuerie remayned secret but beeing againe with Child and deliuered of a Daughter the newes were presently spred ouer all and came to the eares of the Cardynall and of an other Brother at Rome Being about to inquier who it might bee that had beene so famyliar with their sister BOLOGNE seeing that it was generally noted tooke his leaue of her she beeing with Child meaning to retier to Naples and then to Ancona there to attend some other euent of their affaires Hauing carried his two Children with him and hyred a conuenient house the Duchesse sent her richest stuffe thether and soone after vnder collour of a Pilgrimage to Lauretto at her returne shee goes to Ancona with all her trame where the next day after her arriuall hauing called all her gentlemen and hous-hold seruants shee gaue them to vnderstand that BOLOGNE was her hus-band and that she was resolued to continue with him suffring them that would go and serue the yong Duke her Sonne to depart and promising good recompences to them that should remaine with her shewing them their two Children Her seruants amazed at this discours left the Duchesse and BOLOGNE and beeing parted from her presence they sent one among them to Rome to aduertise the Cardinall and the Prince of all their Sisters fact The first attempt of these two Brethren against BOLOGNE and his pretended Wife was to haue them chased out of Ancona by the credit which they
aboue all those that I haue seene by experience and I vsed it in the curâ—… of the aboue named Maide ANDREVV BACCIVS in his Preface to the Booke of Poisons and Counter-poysons describes the Epitaphe of a Romaine which dyed madde for that shee was not presently and speedily helpt beeing bitten in the finger by a Catte which shee puld by the tayle FRANCIS VALLERIOLA in his Commentarie vpon the Booke of HYPPOCRATES of the substance of the Arte of Physicke Chapter 20. makes mention of a Moyle of his that was madde And MATHIOLVS vpon the 36. Chapter of the sixt Booke of Discordes saith That hee had seene a madde Horse the which hauing broken all that held him hee did runne violently a certaine way where finding an old woman he tooke her vp with his teeth by her head-geare and carryed her aboue tenne paces hanging in the ayre without making of any wound In the same Chapter hee recites the Historie of BALDVS the Lawyer aboue mentioned A Portugall Marchant and foure of his houshold were hurt in one day with the Teeth and clawes of a Catte that was madde Whereof there followed terrible and pittifull accidents and in the end death AMATVS a Portugal Centur. 7. â—…ur 65. These yeares past an Italian Gardiner was at vnawares sette vpon by an olde Cocke of his hauing a sharpe Bill and his Fethers reddish the which did strike him so hard vpon the left hand as there came forth certaine droppes of bloud The same day I was called to see him and comming to him I found him writhing of his mouth there was not any helpe by Scarrifications Incisions Corseys or Applications within or without that could serue All the neighbours about him were amazed to see this poore man in his bedde hauing his face redde and his eyes sparkling and inflamed like vnto a Cocke that is hotte in fight so as the third day of his hurte the patient dyed This made mee to thinke that the Basiliscke so famous among the Ancient is our Cocke the which gaue mee occasion and manie others to make diuerse Epigrammes the sence whereof is comprehended in these two verses Another Basiliske is not this angry Cocke That biting kild his Maister with that stroke ANDREVV BACIVS in the Preface of the Booke of Poisons and Counter-poisons A young man an Italian happened to be bitten with a mad Dogge whereof hee made no account but after foure moneths hee began to growe amazed and to bee wonderfully afraide of all meate and drinke though otherwise hee had his wittes perfect so as after some dayes he dyed of hunger and thirst VIDIVS in the 2. part of his Phisicke Sect. 2. Chap. 6. There are many witnesses worthy of credit which do test fie that they haue seene in the Vrine of men that haue beene bitten with madde Dogges representations of Dogges and as it were gobbets of Dogges-flesh THOMAS 〈◊〉 VIEGA in his Commentarie vpon the 84. Chap. of the Arte of Phisicke MATHIOLVS vpon the sixt booke of DIOSCORIDES Chap. 36. writes these words AVICENNE saith that it happens some-times that those which are bitten by mad Dogs voyde with their Vrine gobbits of flesh not without great paine the which are like vnto little Dogges the which I haue also heard of some of late yea of them that said they pist of these little Dogges the which is not likely c. yet hee that will vnderstand the reasons and the witnesses that do affirme it let him read GENTILIS coment vpon AVICENNE and PETER d' APONE in the 179. Difference There shall he vnderstand how that some-times such things doe happen against the course of nature The same Author saith that hee had seene a neighbor of his a Cloth-worker who hauing bin preserued from the biting of a mad Dog for that he had beaten his woll with rods of a Tree called a Ceruice tree he grew madde and died This Tree hath some sympathiâ—… in his wood with madnesse by the report of many Physitions There remaines yet many Histories of men afflicted with this strange scourge and of the wonderfull accidents of their infirmities the which wee will reserue for another volume this pittifull Chapter of the miseries of man beeing but too long and by consequence troublesome to the reader Excellencie of Memorie MAister THEODORE ZVINGER theâ—… â—… booke of the â—… volume of his great Theater of mans life-hath gathered together the names of many both of ancient times and of ours which haue had excellent memories Among others wee must not forget a yong Scholler borne in the Isle of Corsica who repeated readily thirtie sixe thousand words of diuers sorts of diuers languages of diuers affaires strangely intermixt and confounded presently or a while after hee had heard them pronounced and did say them as easily backward or by the middest as by the beginning without stopping or studdying with a cheerefull countenance and as little moued as if hee had read in a Booke Hee sayd that hee had learned it of a Frenchman his Schoole-maister and in fewe dayes hee made FRANCIS de MOVLIN a Venetian Gentleman to learne his skill who before had the weakest memorie that might bee found The Author of the life of CHRISTOPHER LONGVEIL an eloquent man in our time reports that he had so firme and ample a memory that no time could deface that which hee had read or heard When hee was demanded by many of diuerse things whereof he had not read any thing many yeares before yet hee answered directly to euery thing as if at that instant hee had read the words and sentences in a Booke If at any time they spake vnto him of the same thing but handled by diuers Authors he spake plainely but in such sort as hee did propound distinctly and worde by worde all that the Greeke and Latin Authors Philosophers Orators Poets and Historians doe say with-out equiuocating coating the Bookes passages Chapters and Sections of euery one to the great amazement of all them that heard him SABELLICVS lib. 10. of his Examples Chap. 9. makes mention of one ANTHONIE of Rauenna who approched neere vnto the aboue named Corscican CVSPINIAN saith that the Emperour MAXIMILIAN the first had â—…o excellent a memory as if a man had once talkt vnto him seeing him againe after many yeares hee would know him and remember what hee had sayd vnto him IHON FRANCISCO reportes of his Vncle IHON PICVS Prince of Mirandola that if he heard a great number of Verses pronounced with-out any more repetition hee would say them forward and backward as they pleased There are at this day many learned men Diuines Physitions Lawyers Philosophers Mathematicians Professors in Eloquence and in the Liberall and Humaine Sciences whom I could name in great numbers which are not wanting or ignorant of any thing that is in light who discourse so redelie of ancient Authors as you would say they haue an infinite number of bookes lying open before them to whome wee cannot say nor cite any thing that
This extraordinarie pompe of NINACHETVEN caused all men to open their eyes and eares being ignorant what this preparation meant Then began NINACHETVEN to make a pittifull speech and first of all hee remembred the seruices which he had done to the Portugals before the taking of Malaca what he had done since in fauour of their King and how constant and faithfull hee had shewed him-selfe in his dutie with what resolution hee had hazarded his life in many places for proofe of his loyaltie That for recompence of so many good seruices the Portugals would defame his old age in that sort as it was impossible to finde a man that had his honor in any recommendation that could disgest such a disgrace for they dispoyled him of the cha◅ge which they themselues had giuen him they degraded him of his honors making so small an account of him as to haue him end his dayes ignominiously and to be a fable and scorne to all the world That for his part hee had euer valued his life lesse then his honor and had resolued to dye to preserue his reputation and therefore at that instant he did willingly change his life with death rather then to endure the aff◅ont which they meant to doe him Ending his speech he cast himselfe into the fire where he ended his life Eu◅ry one lamented and wept for this man thus dead considering what hee had done for the Portugals his fidelity in all Accidents and the pittifull ende of his age so as manie were much amazed at this spectacle OSORIVS lib. 9. of his History of Portugal Chap. 27. A rich merchant falling in loue with a certaine maide yeelded so much vnto his passion as hee was transported beyond the bounds of reason so as hee became madde and seized with a strange melancho like humor so as hee was tormented with horrible visions both by daie and night some times crying out and storming some-times laughing with open throate He sware that his best beeloued was continually before his eyes hee flattred and made much of her as if she had beene present then sodenly he would blame her and outrage her in euery sort for that she refused to loue him Hee spake not but of her all the day he did nothing but sigth and complaine the night hee had his eyes still open with sorrowing and had often killed himselfe if his kins-folkes and friendes had not kept him Hauing continued seauen monethes in this estate I was called to helpe him and with great difficulties by the grace of GOD I did Physicke him so happely as hee recouered his former wittes againe FR. VALERIOLA in his Pysicall obseruations booke 2. Obserua 7. A Councellor of the Parliament at Grenoble beeing taken with the loue of a Gentlewoman was so wonderfully passioned as hee left his place and all honestie to followe her where-soeuershee went Being contemned by her hee grewe so carelesse of his owne person as hee was full of Lice which got such an habit in him as hee could neuer be freed of them for they grewe vpon him and came out of all partes of his bodie as wee see wormes come out of rotten Carion Fynally some daies before his death seeing himselfe toucht with the hand of GOD he began to despaier of his mercies and to shorten his daies hee resolued to star◅e himselfe besides the Lice had taken such hould vpon his throate as if they would choake him They that saw this pittifull spectacle were much amazed and for pitty concluded to force him to eate and to make him take some coulisses and for that he resisted thē with all his force they bound his armes and kept his mouth open with a staffe whilest they put in the meate Beeing thus vsed hee died like a madde beast through the aboudance of Lice which entred into his throat This happened in the yeare 1559. The second History of France Pope LEO the 10. beeing aduertised of the taking of Milan which he had extreamely desired fell into such an excesse of ioye as a feuer tooke him and he died MONTAIGNE liher 1. of his Essaies Chap. 2. PAVL IOVIVS in the life of LEO the tenth lib. 4. SINAN generall of the Turkes Galleies hauing recouered his onelie Sonne whom hee held to bee lost died sodenly for ioye of IOVIVS in his Histories Some woman haue died for ioye sorrowe and other violent passions But we will speake thereof in an other Booke At the battaile of D' ANGVIEN offred once or twise to kill himselfe despayring of the daie for that it was not succesfull whereas hee did fight thinking by his rashnesse to depriue him-selfe of the Glorie of so goodly a victory The Isle of Gaza beeing forced by the Turkes some yeares since a Sicilian that had two faire Daughters readie to marrie slue them with his owne hand and their Mother who came running to their death This done hee went into the streete with a Cros-bowe and a Harguebuze and with two shot slue two of the first Turkes that approched neere his doore and taking his sword in his hand hee went furiously among them where hee was sodenly cut in peeces and so hee freede him-selfe from bondage after that hee had deliuered his Children MONTAIGNE Booke 2. of his Essaies Chap. 3. It was told me that a prisoner of qualetie being in the Concergerie at Paris his friends beeing aduertised that hee should bee vndoubtedly condemned to auoyde the infamie of such a death they suborned a Preest to tell him that the Souueraigne meanes for his deliuerie was to recommend himselfe to a certaine Saint with such a vowe and that hee should remaine eight daies without taking of anie norrishment notwithstanding anie weakenesse or faynting that hee should feele Hee beleeued him and by this meanes was the cause of his owne death without thinking of it The same Author Some yeares since two Leagues from my house there was a Country man who liued long since hauing his head long troubled with iealousie of his Wife comming one daie from his worke and shee welcomming him home with her accustomed cryes hee entred into such furie as presently with his hooke which hee held in his hand hee cut off those peeces which put him into this great feuer and threwe them sodenly at her face And it is sayd that a young Gentleman of our owne Nation hauing by his importunitie seduced a Gentlewoman growing desperate that beeing readie to enioye her hee could not performe any thing hee presently cut of his owne priuie partes in his Lodging and sent this cruell and bloudie sacrifice for a purgation of his offence MONTAIGNE liber 2. of his Essaies Chap. 29. ANDREVV CONTAREN a Venetian Gentleman being sickly and by reason of his Indisposition some-what weake of braine made sute to haue some charge of importance Beeing refused in open Councell and comming soone after into the companie of diuers young Gentlemen Who thinking to iest with him said that FRANCIS FOSCARIN Duke of Venise had beene the cause
the Mountaine called Barbaro and the Sea by the Lake Auerna seemed to rise vp and suddenly to take the forme of a Mountaine The next morning about two of the clocke this Mountaine of earth cleauing in sunder began to vomit forth flames of fire with a wonderfull noyse Amidest those flames it cast out Pumyce stones and Flints with such a company of stinking Ashes that they couered all the ruines of Pouzol and the fields adioyning the Trees were borne downe and the Vines a quarter of a mile about were reduced to powder The Foules and Beasts of the fields had their share of it As for the inhabitants of Pouzel they saued them-selues in Naples These stinking Ashes blewe aboue eyght miles abroad beeing very drye close to the ouer-ture but sulpharous and moyste a farre off More-ouer a great and mightie Mountaine of those Pumyce-stones and Flint-stones and Ashes grewe vp by the ouer-ture in one night a thousand paces high and more hauing many euents whereof two continued a long time after The flames endured diuers moneths The twentith day of Ianuary 1538. Basil was shaken againe with an Earth-quake and two yeares after in the moneth of December all Germanie had experience of it with the ruines and spoiles of many buildings The yeare 1541. a valley in Suisserland was shaken and neere to the Apenine a torrent of meruailous stinking sulphure was seene running along the fields The yeare 1551. vpon the 28. day of Ianuary Lisbon in Portugall was shaken with a newe earth-quake which ouerthrewe two hundreth houses killed aboue a thousand persons In September the yeare following there was another earthquake at Basil as also in diuers townes of Misnia sundry places thereabout whereof ensued many ruines plagues violent death The next yeare after about the moneth of August the Country all along the riuer of Elba in Saxony had a part of the like visitation GARCA◅VS addeth another strange earth-quake in a quarter of Germanie where certaine townes and villages were swallowed vp with a great number of folkes and he sayth that this earth-quake lasted 15. daies Asmuch happened two moueths before to Cattaro a towne of Sclauonia belonging to the Venetians wherein perished a great multitude of people swallowed vp by an ouerture of the earth The yeare 1570. the Citty of Ferrara was shaken by an earthquake for the space of many daies togither with the ruine of diuers faire places other goodly buildings The wars plagues famines inundations of seas and riuers happening after such signes from heauē are noted in the histories of our time as wee also purpose to present the histories of them in their fit place On Sūday the first day of March 1584. in the Countries of Lyonnois Masconnois Dauphine Sauoy Piemont Valais Suisserland Bourgondy betweene a 11. 12. a clock at noone the skie cleare bright and the Sun shyning happened a suddaine earthquake which lasted not aboue ten or eleuen minutes at that time It was chiefly perceiued by the crackling of windowes clapping of dores shaking of houses beames and trees togither with a great noise and roaring in the aire Many chimneis fell downe diuers walles crackt in sunder and the foundations of certaine houses shooke namely about the lake of Lausanne especially in the Countries of Vaut Fossigny Chablais places adioyning Three or foure chimneis and the wall of an old house fel down at Geneua without any other harme The next day this earth-quake redoubled about the vpper end of the Lake of Lausanne and on Tuesday both in the morning and at night it waxed greater with winde and sleete but on Wedensday betweene 9. and 10. of the clock in the morning this which followeth happened in a certaine place of the Coūtry being some two houres iourney frō this vpper end of the Lake and foure Harguebuze shot or there about from the towne of Aille appertayning to the Canton of Berne A great quantity of earth tumbling from the top of the mountaines like an impetuous floud of waters rushing downe the rocks lanched it selfe forth as some haue affirmed the length of a mile not so much by it owne naturall motion which tended downe-ward as pushed forward by winds and exhalations mingled among This earth ran so violently along that in an instant it couered the places which were next belowe it vpon the which it disgorged it selfe and carried all the ground that it met withall before it which rouled along as furiously as the first it was like to a rough sea where one waue driues on another The plaines were not only carried away but the hills that ouerlooked the bottoms were likewise remooued Now it is to be noted that the place of this first motion of the earth was at the mouth of a straite caused by diuers hillocks which are cōmonly soūd in the nookes of mountaines At the mouth and issue of this straite was Corberi a small village or hamlet of some 8. houses and 10. or 11. granges with certaine mills that were driuen by the water of a little brooke The earth rushed so furiously on this village that suddainly it was al couered ouer except one house where it chanced that the good-man astonished with the noise hee heard told his wife that he was perswaded the end of the world was come therefore willed her ioyne with him in praier vnto GOD that it might please him to haue mercy on them Whervpon falling on their knees in their house they reaped such fruite of their praiers that the earth which rouled along past like a raging waue ouer their house without any hurt saue the good-man himself that was a little hurt in the head As for the other houses granges they were all cast downe and almost quite couered ouer Another notable thing happened in this very place namely a Child of 12. or 13. weekes old was found safe sound in his Cradle hauing his poore mother dead by him who laying her armes ouer the Cradle for to saue her Child had her braines beaten out with the fal of the house The like befell a little girle of a yeare old found safe and well vnder the ruines of another house As for the milles they were broken all to peeces A meruailous matter happened in one of thē For standing in a lowe place the beame of the wheele and the wheele it selfe were found whole and entier on the top of a little hill 500. paces higher then the scituation of the Mill. Moreouer the further this deluge of earth ran downe-ward the more the desolation augmented For shooting it selfe against the village of Yuorne which lay vnderneath Corberi it buried an hundreth persons aliue some say more two hundreth 40. milch-kine and a number of Horse and Oxen. It couered three score nine houses an hundeth six granges and 4. vaults with a great quantity of corne wine moueables pasture For in truth this village was meruaylous well fitted with all things and accounted one of
tall stature and big the other was lesse and carried a Crowne vpon his head The greater ouer-threwe and slue the lesse then hauing taken away the Crowne he threwe it as it were against the earth so as it was dispersed in diuers peeces Three years after LADISLAVS King of Hungary was slaine in battell by the Turkes The same yeare in the month of May there were three Suns intermixt with diuers circles seene at Zurich in Suisserland Two yeares after a little before the defeate of the King of Hungary three other Sunnes were seene in Hungary which some did interpret that FERDINAND after wards King of the Romaines the Vaiuode IOHN and the Turke should be at war for the Kingdome In the yeare 1525. there was seene in Saxony about the death of the Elector FREDERâ—…C surnamed the Wise the Sunne enuironed with a great perfect round Circle like in coulour to a Rain-bow In August the same yeare the Sunne shewed it selfe for certaine dayes like vnto a great Bowle of fire and of many strange coulours Soone after followed the sedition of the peasants in Germanie In the yeare 1526. neere vnto Kauffburen a famous Towne in Swaube there were three Sunnes seene enuironed with many Circles And for that there hath beene often mention made and shall be againe of the apparition of three Sunnes which they call Paralies I will tell you what it is with their generation and signification About the true Sâ—…nne created by GOD and making his limitted course in the midest of Heauen there appeare in the clouds certaine lights the which in brightnesse and forme resemble the Sunne in such sort as one would say they were very Sunnes so as you can hardly discerne the true from these imaginarie ones called Paralies Para Helios as one would say neere or right against the Sunne For such shining Images and fashioned like the Sunne seeme to be right against it although they bee many thousand miles vnder it for the Sunne is in the middest of the Heauens and the Paralies are in the ayre Some-times by this name they vnderstand the likenesse of the Moone And when they appeare PLINIE sayes they are called night-Sunnes It is most certaine that they are made in the clouds and not in the firmament which can receiue no such impressions by reason of their thinnesse and continuall transparent brightnesse which hath no bounds There is no figure but must bee receiued in a body that is limited by some meanes whatsoeuer Those things which are made in the Heauens last and continue but contrariwise the Parelies vanish soone Neither are they in the very ayre which is transparent and not limitted yet they seeme to be in the ayre the which is the receptacle of exhalations and clouds so as the Pareleis are fashioned in the clouds Besides the cloud where they are made must be some-what thick equall and moist to make a body wherein the forme of the Sunne or Moone must be grauen and of a meane thicknesse for if it did abound it could not receiue this impression It must also be vnited like vnto a Looking-glasse else there can be no representation And moyst that the brightnesse and resemblance may pierce into it to make a reflexion Such Images cannot bee receiued but in transparent bodies Moreouer this clowd must bee opposite to the Sunne to receiue and represent the whole face of it the which should appeare but by halues if it were on the one side or not at all if the Sunne should shine directly aboue the clowd The reflexion also of the beames is necessary for if they did pierce through the clowde there would no Image appeare The ayre must also bee calme and without agitation For if the windes did blowe the clowde would bee shaken and so nothing disposed to receiue any such impression As you cannot see your face in the waues of a floud but easily in a cleere and calme Water the which is limitted in a Basin or other vessell If the Sunne shines in such sort as there is any reflection of the beams you shall see the resemblance of the Sunne in this water euen as in a Looking-glasse The like is seene in a cloud compounded of water as hath beene sayd naturally these like or seeming Moones are signes of Raine for that they are not congeâ—…led but in cloudes that are of a reasonable thicknesse Such clouds are matter for raine Supernaturally they are forerunners of the iudgments of GOD punishing the World with Plague Warre and Famine As we haue seene in our Times In the same yeare 1527. There was a great noise heard in the ayre as of Armed men that gaue Battaile Soone after the Sunne shining in a cleare skie it was sodainely enuironed with a great cloudie Circle In the yeare 1528. about mid-May ouer the towne of Zurich there were 4. seeming-Moones seene enuironed with 2. whole Circles and the Sunne compassed in with fower small Circles The same yeare the Towne of Vtrecht being straightly beseeged and in the ende taken by the Bourgâ—…ignons there appeared in the ayre a fore-telling of their misery wherewith the Inhabitants were wonderfully amazed which was a great S. Andrewes Crosse of a pale colour and hideous to behold The ninth of Ianuary 1529. about ten of the clocke at night there was seene in Germanie an opening of the Heauen described by IOVIANVS PONTANVS in his Meteors Two yeares after ouer Lisbone in Portugall were seene fiery and bloudy apparitions in the Heauens and soone after there fell many droppes of bloud out off the Clouds vpon the Earth The eleuenth of Aprill 1542. about seuen of the clocke in the morning there were seene three Sunnes distinctly shining at Venice with two rain-bowes opposite to the Sunne The first did not continuel ong The second being lesse remained vntill nine of the clocke the one was very round like vnto a Crowne the true Sunne was in the midst and the two seeming at the ends the other Raine-bowe aboue this Crowne was very large the two endes beeing equally distant from the Earth Those seeming were so resplendent as Mans eye could not endure to looke on them no more then of the brightnesse of the true Sunne but that of the left hand towards the South did shine more then the other looking towards the North the which continued longer and was more resplendent in the declyning They were of a reddish colour extending their beames verye farre in the Ayre euen vnto the Earth About the ende of the same month of Aprill in the same yeare there was seene in Suisserland a great white circle shining like cristall In many Prouinces of Europe there were Dragons seene flying in the Ayre in great troupes sometimes to the number of foure hundred hauing all royall Crownes vpon their heads and their heads were like vnto those of Swine especially the groine Those of Munster in West phalia did see in the day time the skie being cleare and bright an armed Knight running in the ayre The great commander
appeared very bright at the rising and enuironed with a great circle as white as milke the which were crost with foure Rain-bowes the goodliest that euer was seene Ten dayes before betwixt seauen and eight of the clock in the morning were seene ouer the same Towne three Sunnes the right had his ordinary brightnesse the other two had a bloudy colour Hauing continued almost the whole day at night there appeared 3. Moones whereat all the Inhabitants of the place were much amazed they were of diuers colours and after they had continued some houres the two apparant Moones or Paralies became red as bloud then dispersing themselues into long streames in the end they vanished the right Moone which was in the middest retained her accustomed brightnes The same yere died Duke GEORGE Prince of Anhalt an excellent Diuine The day of his death there appeared in the night ouer the Towne of Wittenberg a blew Crosse. A few dayes before the battaile giuen betwixt MAVRICE Duke of Saxonie and ALBERT Marquis of Brandebourg there appeared the image of a great man in a place of Saxonie from the body of this man which appeared naked first there began bloud to fall from him drop after drop then they did see sparkes of fire come from him and in the end he vanished by little and little In Ianuary 1554. there appeared three Sunnes twise in Saxony The 1. of February following about Chalons in Champagne was seene a great flame of fire which went from the East to West like to a burning Torche bending as a Cressent the fire did crack and â—…ast out sparkes of all sides like vnto a barre of Yron comming out of the Furnaise which the Smiths did worke with their Hammers Some adde that this Torche appeared about the Moone and shewed the point of a Lance at one end The 19. of February were seene at Nebre two Crosses of a blew coulour And the same day at Greisen in Turinge they did see in the Sunne which shined brightly a blew Crosse so great as it couered all the face of the Sunne on either side it had a great Cheuron of fire with diuers Circles The 9. day of Aprill aboue Sultzfield halfe a dayes iourney neere vnto Schuinfort an Imperiall Towne there appeared two Moones in the night In Marche before were seene Sunnes of diuers greatnesse with some Circles in Bauaria and the Countrie about First the 6. of Marche betwixt eyght and nine of the clock in the morning were seene two Sunnes with a Rainebowe The 23. of the same moneth about an houre after-noone those of Nuremberg did see as much and moreouer a Raine-bowe towards the West and the Sunnes enuironed with white Circles continued three houres together with a long burning Cheuron The eight day following there were three Sunnes seene at Reinsbourg Their beginning was about an houre after noone betwixt two and three they did shine brightly and ended at foure of the clocke They did cast out beames of the one side like vnto a Commet that in the middest towards the North and the other two towards the East and West In Marche the same yeare were seene ouer diuers Townes in Germanie betwixt foure and fiue of the clock at night diuers Bourguignon Crosses but most white and in a manner touching one another The 23. day of the same moneth a little before Sunne sett were seene two Parelies enuironed with the Sunne by a great Circle ouer the Village of Blech Not farre from Noremberg the eleuenth of Iune there appeared a Rodde of a bloudie colour through the Sunne with Starres or Boules of Azure Presently after there were seene two Squadrons of armed men the which had blew Cornets who for the space of two houres incountred together furiously to the great amazement of many which did see the beginning the continuance and end of this apparition The 13. of Iune about fiue of the clocke in the after-noone ouer the Towne of Iene the Sunne was seene of a bloudie colour to whom there approched presently from the South and West great and many boules of fire the which did darken the light of it And then appeared two Cheurons of a very red colour crossing through the Sunne The 24. day of Iuly about ten of the clock at night there appeared in the ayre in that quarter of the Country which is called the high Palatinat of Rhine Towards the forrest of Bohemia two men armed with all peeces the one being of a farre taller stature then the other hauing on his brest a bright shining starre and a flaming sword in his hand as also the lesser had They began a furious combate buâ—…in in the end the lesser was beaten downe and could not stirre whervpon a chaire was brought vnto the Victor in the which being set and remained some time still menacing with his sword in his hand him that lay at his feete as if he would strike him In the end they both vanished away The 5. of August following at 9. of the clock at night neere vnto Stolpen in the South part of Heauen there appeared troupes of warlike men who with great cryes and noise of armes charged one another furiously when the first charge was ended there came aboundance of fire out of the clouds which hindred the sight of these troupes This fire vanishing they returned to the second charge then the fire kindling againe you would haue said it had beene a kind of retreat to rally themselues againe together on either part which ended they returne againe to a third charge the which being done they all vanished The same yere at Fribourg in Misnia was seene in the open day the representation of our Lord IESVS CHRIST as many Painters are accustomed to represent him sitting in a Rain-bow the colours whereof were exceeding liuely And about another towne called Zopodee the Sun rising appeared as red as bloud hauing about it a stately Pallace the which was all on fire On either side of the Sunne was seene a high columne very artificiall fashioned and of the coulour that the Raine-bowe It seemed that their foundations did touch the ground and were very large The next day the Sunne did rise with a pale coulour and this Pallace was aboue it shining very brightly The columnes or pillers also appeared but not so faire and long as the day before The 10. of February 1555. there were three Sunnes seene at Vinaire in Saxonie And the 13. of March there appeared in the ayre about Turinge a flâ—…ming sword The eleuenth of Ianuary 1556. towards the Mountaines which compasse in the Citty of Ausbourg of the one side the element did open and seemed to riue whereat all were wonderfully amazed especially by reason of the pittifull accidents which followed for the same day the messenger of Ausbourg slue a Captaine at the Citty gates with a Pistoll The next day the wife of one that made sword blades thinking to get a great booty slue a Marchant in her house and presently after her seruant
killed her selfe with a Knife A day after a Butcher was slaine in a quarrell and two villages were quite burnt The 15. day of the same moneth the Keeper of S. Katherins forrest was found dead being shotte through with an Harguebuse The 17. a Gold-smiths man falling into dispaire drowned himselfe The night following many were wounded to the death in the streete I had forgot to note that the same eleuenth day of Ianuary when the Heauens did open about Ausbourg there happened such a change in the aire about Mickhuse in Bauicre and so great a light appeared in the night as it did obscure the light of Candles in their shops and houses so as for three houres space those which would worke had no need of any other light then that of Heauen Some moneths after the Heauens began to open in another part of Swau◅e out of the which there proceeded such aboundance of fire as many were striken dombe with feare there were some villages and small Townes burnt and quite ruined They did also see in the ayre certaine resemblances of Camels the which deuoured armed men In diuers dayes and moneths of the same yeare 1556. were obserued other apparitions as in February in the County of Bats there were seene in the ayre armies of foote and horse the which did incounter together furiously In September ouer a little Towne in the Marquisate of Branaebourg called Custerin about nine of the clocke at night they did see infinite flames of fire comming out of the ayre and in the middest two great burning Cheurons In the ende there was a voice heard crying Miserie Miserie vnto the Church Wee haue sayd before that in the yeare 1536. there had beene seene in the ayre in Spaine a Combate of two young men VVLFGANG STRANCH of Nuremberg writes that in the yeare 1556. ouer a Towne in Hungarie the which he calles Babatcha there was seene the 6. of October a little before Sunne rising the resemblance of two naked boyes fighting in the ayre with Cymiters in their hands and Targets vpon their armes Hee which carryed a spred Eagle vpon his shield did charge the other which carryed a Cressant so furiously as it seemed the body being wounded in many places did fall from the Heauen to the Earth At the same time and in the same place was seene a Raine-bow with his accustomed colours and at the end thereof two Sunnes Not farre from Ausbourg there was seene in the ayre a Combate betwixt a Beare and a Lion in December the same yeare And at Wittenberg in Saxony the 6. of the same moneth three Sunnes and a crooked clowd marked with blew and red stretcht forth like vnto a bowe the Sunne shewing pale and sad betwixt the Paralies or seeming Sunnes foure moneths before three Sunnes had beene seene betwixt Euschoin and Basill Touching the significations of all these apparitions I will not meddle with them Since that yeare many are obserued in diuerse climates of the world especially in Europe other wonders in the ayre euen vnto this present age whereof wee may make mention in other Bookes At this time we doe onely represent that which CONRADVS LICOSTHENE hath collected IOB FINCET MARC FRYTSCH and many others in his great volume De Prodigijs et Ostentis As for Comets showers of bloud prodigious hayle and other wonders of Heauen we will speake of them in their proper places Of some that haue lost all appetite of drinking and eating WE haue seene in some diseases the patients haue lost all appetite of eating and drinking in such sort as they tooke in a manner no sustenance Of this number was a Nunne in the couent of Saint Barbe at Delft who being falne sick of the Iaundise in the yeare 1562 continued in her bed six weekes together without eating or drinking All this time shee receiued no nourishment but some Kernells of Lymons the which she held in her mouth and did some-times suck The Father of this Couent led me thether not to minister Phisicke vnto her but to see her as a miracle by reason of her long abstinence but the next day after I had visited her she dyed That which I will adde is more worthy of admiration In the same Towne of Delft being accompanied by a Surgian I did visit a certaine sicke maide of seauen twenty yeares old a halfe it was in May 1556. after the age of sixteene yeares she had neuer come out of her bed hauing eaten euery day since that time but a little morcell of dried Cheese as her keeper had protested neither was it possible to make her swallow any liquor and yet she pist sufficiently she went not to the stoole but once in eight dayes More-ouer she was borne blind she fell to be full of the dropsie at the age of twenty yeares but this water vanished away and then shee had a sound in her belly like the noise of liue Frogges in great abondance accompanied with a strange rising and falling of her bellie so as do I what I could laying my hand vpon her belly it was heaued vp This motion did increase at the full Moone with great paines as also at the flowing of the Sea but at the wane of the Moone and the ebbing of the Sea shee found some ease This motion continued with her seauen yeares and euery tenth weeke shee had her Termes as her keeper did confesse vnto me Strange Appetites THere is no man almost liuing which knoweth not some particular Histories of the extraordinary appetites of certaine women with child for the which the learned Phisitions giue a reason We will report some Examples to incite the reader entring into the cōsideration of them and others that he shall call to minde to honor GOD in so many wonders without naming in particular the diuers sorts of these Appetites which are as variable as the countenances conditions of women that be with child I haue seene one who longing to bite a yong man by the nape of the necke and for that she had forborne a little to satisfie her furious desire she begā to feele gripings and exteame paine in her belly She therfore like a desperate woman leapes vpon this yong man gets hold of the nape of his necke and bites him so sore as he thought to haue died of it L. Viues in his Comment vpon the 7. Chap. de Cituit dei Chap. 25. My Mother bearing mee in her wombe an Appetit tooke her to eate Creueses She sent sodenly to seeke some and being impatient to haue them washt and made cleane she began to eate them rawe and aliue vntil that she had satisfied her desire Trincauelle lib. 7. Chap. 5. Of the meanes to cure diseases in mans body A Woman of Nisues beeing with Child and seeing a young man a Fuller of cloth bare legged shee came so neere him as with her teeth she laies hold of one of his Legges and carries away a peece of it He was content shee should vse
with the which he fell downe halfe dead vpon the place yet he was cured and afterwards slaine at Blois in the yeare 1588. History of HENRY the 3. The Seigneur of Saint Iean One of the stable to King HENRY 2. at a Turney before the house of Guise receiued a blow with the splinter of a Lance within his viser of the length and bignes of ones finger vnder the eye which ranne three fingers into his head I had him in cure being assisted by many Learned Physitions and Surgions and although the wound through the violence of the blow were very dangerous yet he was cured with the helpe of GOD. M. AMB. PARE lib. 9. Chap. 9. A seruant of the Seigneur of Champagnes a gentleman of Aniou was wounded in the throate with a sword so as one of the ingular vaines was cut with the Artier of the winde-pipe by meanes whereof hee had a great flux of bloud neither could hee speake at all vntill his wound were sowed vp and drest Whilest that the medicaments were liquid he drewe them through the stitches and put them out at his mouth So as considering the greatnesse of the wounde and the nature of the parties that were wounded especially of the Artier of the winde-pipe and of the ingular vaine the which are spermatike cold and drie and there hard to ioyne togither againe besides also that the Artier is subiect vnto motion which is made in the swalloing by reason of the inward filme the which holds to that of the asophage which is the passage for eating and drinking the one obeying the other by a reciprocall motion con◅idering also the vse of the sayd parties which is that the Artier serues for respiration the which is necessary for the symmetry and vital heat of the hart that the ingular veine is very necessary for the norrishment of the superior part Moreouer hauing regard vnto the great quantity of bloud which hee had lost by his wounde the bloud being the Treasure of nature the preseruer of naturall heate and of the vitall spirits and other accidents I did conclude that hee was but a dead man yet I can assure you that he escaped the which I beleeue happened rather through the grace of GOD then by any helpe of man or medicaments M. Amb. Pare lib. 9. c. 31. Being at Thurin in seruice with the deceased Lord of Montiean I was called to dresse a souldier called L'EVESQVE borne at Paris who being then vnder the command of Captaine Renouart had three great wounds giuen him with a sword whereof the one was on his right side vnder his pappe running into the emptinesse of his brest from whence there had falne great aboundance of bloud vpon the Mydriffe which stopt his respiration neither could he speake but with great difficultie hauing a very violent feauer and with a cough he cast bloud at the mouth saying that he felt an extreame paine on that side that was hurt The Surgion who had drest him first stitcht vp his wound in such sort as nothing could come forth the next day I was called to visit the patient where being come seeing the Accidents and death approching I was of opinion to vnsowe the wound in the Orifice whereof I found congealed bloud so as I caused the patient to be lift vp often by the legs his head downward leauing a part of his body vpon the bed leaning with one hand vpon a stoole that was lower then the bed Being planted thus I caused him to shutt his mouth and his nose that his lights might swell and the Mydriffe rise and the muscles betwixt the ribbes of the vpper part of the belly together should retyre themselues that the bloud fallen into the stomack might be cast out by the wound and the better to effect it I thrust my finger deepe into the wound to dissolue this congeled bloud so as there came forth nere seauen or eight ounces alreadie stinking and corrupted Then I caused him to be set in his bed making iniections into the wounde with barley water in the which I had caused Melrosarum sugarcandie to be boyled then I caused him to be turned from one side vnto an other and againe I made him to be lifted vp by the Legs as before Then they might see come forth with the said Iniection little gobbets of bloud This done the accidents decreased and by little little did cease The next day I made him an other Iniection to the which I added Centory worme-wood and Aloes to clense it the better but the patient hauing tould mee soone after that hee felt a great bitternes in his mouth had desire to cast I found that these bitter Iniections profiting one way did hurt an other so as I did not continue them but intreating the wound more mildly the patient was cured beyond my hope The same Author lib. 9. Chap. 32. M. PETER SOLERY a famous Physition of Aurillac being pursued during the first troubles by certaine horsmen which sought his life and ouer-taken a quarter of a league from Argentat in Limosin as hee thought to saue him selfe with others hee receiued many dangerous wounds and yet was myraculously cured as it was verefied by such as did visit dresse his wounds first he had a shot with a Harguebuse hitting him aboue the thigh boane and passing to the other side then he had an other shot vnder the left arme foure fingers from the shoulder which carried away a peece he had a pistoll shot vpon the same shoulder sloping downe-ward and an other in the face taking him vnder the eye and passing vnder his chappe He had foure wounds with a sword vpon the left arme from the elboe downe-ward he was stabd with a dagger vnder the left pappe the which meeting with a rib past no farther hee had an other shot with a pistoll almost in the same place running betwixt the skinne and the ribbes comming forth behind and a great wound with a sword aboue the eye and an other vpon the head Being thus wounded and left as it were for dead these murtherers hauing taken away his purse and three gold rings hauing cōtinued about two houres vpō the place in the end he did rise and as he labored to creepe he espied a soldiar cōming towards him with a naked sword of whom hauing demanded helpe in GODS name it mooued the soldiar to do him no harme but seeing him in this estate hee fled as if an enemy had beene behinde him Herevpon creeping forward a little as well as hee could hee meetes with a young Sonne of his owne beeing but eight yeares old who flying also had strayed in the fields who supporting him of the one side as well as hee could hee conducted him vnto a village where all the releefe that hee could get was that they did not make an ende to kill him although that hee were in this pittifull Estate and that this poore Infant with teares and lamentations did offer
the same incounter a Prouencall Souldier was shott into the arme with a Musket the which brake the bones and did so teare all the rest as the Arme did not hold by the thicknesse of ones finger from falling All the Surgions were of opinion to cutt it off except one called Maister DIDIER TESTE a man very expert in his Arte who in one moneth cured this Souldier who had in a manner all the motions of this Arme thus tattered whole and sound An other Souldiar stroken with an Harguebuse shotte in the face the Bullet entring at the mouth and comming forth at the left side towards the left Temple hauing broken the vpper Iawe-bone yet he was well cured A certaine Porter in the Towne of Arles falling to be a Souldiar in an incounter he receiued a thrust three fingers vnder the Nauell on the left side giuen with such force as it pierced vnto the backe betwixt the third and forth ribbe neere vnto the bone yet hee was cured by the aboue named Surgion Wee haue saith VALLERIOLA held these aboue-named cures worthy the report that none should despaire of difficult things nor be too confident of those which seeme light For that sometimes wee see him dye whome the Physitions assured to see soone recouered and him to escape of whome they had lost all hope And that both Physitions and all others that shall read these Accidents may remember that wonders do fall out in such wounds and cures as in other workes of Nature to the praise of Almighty GOD. In the warre of Sauoy 1589. and following a young Souldier had a Harguebuse shotte in the fore-head and the Bullet remained in his head Hee was had in cure by an expert Surgion so as within few moneths hee returded againe to Armes And in a certaine Scallado being falne from a high wall into a ditch hee did so bruze his head as hee dyed The Bullet which remained of the precedent wound was found in the hinder part of his head without hurting of any part about it Memories of our time An other in the same warre hauing a Bullet passing betwixt the great gutte the bladder and the stones was not hurt in any part of them but after hee had beene carefully drest and lookt vnto hee was euer after well and so continues at this daye In the same Author I haue drest many which haue beene thrust through the bodies with Rapiers and shott through with Pistols and haue beene cured For example I had the Clarke of the Kitchin to the Ambassador of Portugall in cure at Melun who had beene thrust through the body whereby the bowels were so hurt as in dressing him there came out at his wound a great quantitie of filthy matter and yet he was cured I was an other time called by a Gentleman of Paris whose name was GILES le MAISTRE Seigneur of Belle Iambe remaining in the streete of Saint Andrew des Ars in the presence of Mounsier BOTAL ordinary Phisition to the King and Queene and RICHARD HVBERT his ordinary Surgion and IAMES GVILLEMEAV the Kings sworne Surgion at Paris men well practised in Surgery who had bin thrust through the body with a Rapier so as for many dayes he voided bloud by the mouth and by the siege in great aboundance which shewed that his bowels and inward parts were perished yet in fifteene or twentie dayes hee was cured Maister AMBROSE PARE lib. 10. chap. 4. A Shoomaker of Auignon hauing beene sore wounded in the night vpon the head with a sword which had cutte him euen to the first Membrana or Filme there followed many fearefull accidents so as after his first dressing and letting bloud hee fell into a sounding or swonding and was seuen dayes without speaking yet in the end hee was cured The same Author in the 9. obseruation of his 5. Booke ANTHONIE my fathers seruant a Fleming by nation being ouer-laden with Wine at Shrouetide and being mounted vp into one of the highest chambers of the house he leaned at a window that was open when being opprest with the fume of Wine his head carried away his body so as hee fell vpon the stones in the streete whereas his head was in a manner all beaten to peeces and he held for dead for he moued no member had no feeling nor speech but like a stock and as it were giuing vp the ghost hee continued seuen dayes together in his bed in that estate notwithstanding three of the Phisitians at that time in Montpellier that is GRIFON the elder TRAMPLET and FAVCON accompanied by PETER ALZINE ANTONIE BARELIER and NICHOLAS le BLOIS Surgions did warrant his life with the helpe of GOD. True it is that he continued almost blinde and quite deafe of this fall all the rest of his life The same in the 4. obseruation of the 6. Booke Of Theeues and Murtherers A Learned Diuine of our time reports a Historie almost like to that of IBICVS for he saith that a Germaine being in a voyage fell into the hands of certaine theeues who being ready to cutte his throate the poore man discouering a a flight of Crowes sayd O Crowes I call you to witnesses and reuengers of my death Hee was presently murthered by these theeues who three dayes after being drinking in an Inne behold a flight of Crowes come and fall vpon the top of the house Then the theeues began to laugh and to say one vnto another Hoe behold those which will bee reuenged for his death whome wee dispatcht the other day The seruant vnderstanding this speech discouers it vnto his Maister who makes report vnto the Magistrate and hee apprehends the theeues vpon their varications and diuerse answers hee doth so presse them as they confesse the trueth for the which they were executed In the collection of Memorable speeches made by this Diuine CONRAD de la ROSE Secretarie to MAXIMILIAN the first Emperour of that name a valiant and wise Gentleman hauing crost through a long Forrest and forced by reason of the approching night to lodge as hee could hee entred into an Inne where as the hoste was a Theefe Being in his Chamber and reasonably well entertained hee perceiued the seruant to weepe and did secretly vnderstand from her in what danger hee was She told him among other things that the Hoasts custome was to ring a little Bell at which sound many theeues entred into the lodging and presentlie one among them entred into the Chamber whereas the passengers were lodged who making a shew to snuffe the Candle should put it out then the theeues entred and falling vpon the passengers slew them CONRAD bethinking himselfe caused a Lanthorne to bee brought him by the seruant and a Candle light in it the which he hid vnder a bench held his wepons ready and attended his enemies He was scarse set at the Table but a peasant enters who counterfetting the varlet puts out the Candle But CONRAD causing the Lantherne with the light to bee presently drawne forth and
had murthered his wife and children he also murthered himselfe falling downe headlong from the top of a high Tower hauing first written in a paper which he pinned about him the fact he had committed and the reasons which had induced him therevnto and that knowing he should die for the said fact hee chose rather to execute himselfe then to suffer a shamfull death In the same treatise A Millanois about the yeare 1560 vnderstanding in France that his wife plaid false with him and as it is to be supposed being thereof thorowly informed tooke post horse and rode home to Milan where alighting he went not in but sent for his wife to the dore who comming to him and seeming to be very ioyfull of his returne he shot her thorow with his Pistoll which done he suddenly mounted againe on his horse and saued himselfe In the same treatise About the same time or a little after a woman of Switzerland hauing receiued another into her bed in steed of her husband perceiuing afterward that she had beene deceiued and that it was not her husband that had line with her was so ouercome with anger and griefe that she went and drowned her selfe In the same IOVIAN PONTANVS recounts that an Italian Lord hauing killed one whom he suspected with his wife was so straightly besieged by his brother that out of all hope to escape he killed her first his children after and then threw himselfe downe headlong from the highest towre of his Castle Wherevpon the brother of him that was killed most cruelly murthered all such as he could meet withall and knew to be any way of kinne to that Italian Lord. In the same Treatise A yong Spanish Maide hauing abandoned her selfe to a Gentleman vpon promise of marriage which he had made her though she were but meanly descended vnderstanding that he was married to another conceiued such hatred against him that she conspired his death by all the meanes possible she could deuise And at last vsed this same shee perswaded him by her flattering letters to come againe and see her The time appointed she attended him hauing made all things ready with the ayde of an old woman confederat with her for to intreate him as her wicked minde prouoked with an extreame desire of reuenge counselled her vnto Wherfore the better to accomplish her designe although at first she had receiued him with teares complaints yet seeming at length to be satisfied with reasons that he alledged and to bee som-what appeased she permitted him to vse the same priuitie with her as before Wherevpon the Gentleman got him to bed and she with him staying but till he was a sleepe for to execute her furious enterprise which she performed not contented with many mortall wounds that she had giuen him for awaking at the first he found himselfe so pestered with a corde which the old woman drew ouer him that he was not able to stirre either hand or foote she vsed diuerse cruelties against the dead bodie before the furie of her rage could be extinguished And for this strange murther she was beheaded hauing voluntarily accused her selfe In the same Treatise The Wife of GEORGE WEDERING of Halberstad of the age of 24. yeares modest and vertuous beeing brought in bed the 15. of Nouember 1557. of a Daughter baptised the next day was not found in her bed The seruant hearing the Childe crie came to the bed thinking to finde her Misters and to awake her Being amazed at her absence shee runnes to her Master who being wonderfully perplexed takes the Childe in his armes and seekes the Mother in euery corner of the house The streetes were couered with snowe so as there was no shewe that she had past out of the house In the end the husband and the seruant with others went into the seller but they here some trampling in the wel which was neere vnto it The husband much perplexed calls to his neighbours and tells them his misery wherevpon they heard one in a gardine which knocked at the doore and hauing opened it they see the poore woman almost dead with colde complayning that she had beene long in the well as her apparell did witnesse Being demanded howe shee came into this well beeing closse and which had but a verie little entrance shee could giue no reason neither was there any one that could conceiue howe it came Beeing afterwards very sicke for some daies shee beganne to recouer her helth so as the 24. of December shee did rise swadled her Child and set her downe to dinner The maide going into the Celler to drawe beere she goes to bed and falls a sleepe The seruant being returned findes her mistresse a sleepe and the Cradle emptie Being amazed shee runnes to the well comming vnto her minde and sees the Infant vpon the water the which was taken out by two of the Senators of the Towne in the presence of CONRADE de la PERCH Minister of the Church The Mother slept soundly After they had praied at her beds feete shee opened her eyes and began to say vnto the assistants why haue you awaked me I did enioye an vnspeakable content I haue seene my the Sauiour and I haue heard the Angells falling a sleepe againe after foure houres she did awake remembers her child and calls for it and finding it not she afflicts and torments her selfe after a pittifull manner A certaine man named IOHN GVY Sonne to EME GVY a Capper in the towe of Chastillon vpon Lion had bin very disordred all his life caused for the most part by the indulgence of his parents It happened one Sater day in September 1565. that the Sonne was debauched according to this custome and returned home very late wherat the Father was much displeased saying that seeing he continued this wicked course he should be in the end constrayned to chase him out of his companie To whome the Sonne beeing full of pride answered presomptuously that he was ready to depart euen presētly so as they would giue him his clothes vpon this dispute the Father went to bed beeing forced to threaten his Sonne if he would not be silent In the ende seeing that hee preuailed not and not able any longer to beare the proude replies of his Sonne hee rise out of his bedde in chollor to punnish his vndutifullnesse who seeing his Father approche in choller to beate him hee sodenly layed his hand vpon his sword and rebelling against his Father thrust him through the Bodie wherevpon hee fell sodenly to the ground crying out with a loude voice that hee was dead The neighbours amazed at this crie came in presently and soone after the Iustice who found the olde man layed all along readie to giue vp the Ghost dying presently after The bloudie sword was also found by his Sonne who warmed himselfe to whome the Father mooued with compassion and forgetting the crueltie hee had vsed against him had often saied Sonne saue thy selfe I pardon thee my death
Prisoners were constrained to feede on them which done all that remayned with LVCATIVS were put to most horrible and Languishing deathes An example of greater crueltie can hardly be-founde since the world was a world And no meruaile if GOD hath punished the King and the Realme of Hungary for such strange and extraordinarie Cruelties suffring the cruelest people of the North namely the Turkes to make that spoile which they haue and continually yet doe there Cruell chastisments are prepared for them that bee cruell and inhumaine The following Bookes shall represent a great number of other Histories of strange accidents and cruelties IOACH CVREVS in his Annales of Silesia pag. 233. During the Peasants warre in Germanie in the yeare 1525. both before and since a Gentleman their enemy not content to haue massacred a great number euen of those which had humbly craued pardon of him confessing that they had beene ill aduised hee gloryed in all companies of his braue exploites adding therevnto a commendation of his thefts hauing cut many good purses and slaine great store of Cattell Some moneths after this furie he fell sicke and languished many dayes of an extreame paine in the Reines of his backe the which thrust him into such despaire as hee did not cease to curse and denie his Creator who is patient iust and fearefull in reuenge vntill that both speech and life failed him The seueritie of GODS Iustice doth yet pursue his house for soone after his eldest Sonne seeking to exalt the prowesse and valour of his Father who in the Peasants warre had done wonders aboue mentioned and excelled all his companions and vanting much of these valiant exploites in an open assembly at a Banquet a Country-man mooued at this brauerie drawes out his Dagger and strikes him dead vpon the place Some fewe dayes after the plague falles into this cruell mans house and kills all that remained In the yeare 1577. in the beginning of September the fire of the second troubles being kindled in France the President of Birague afterwards Chancellor and Cardinall being at that time Gouernor of Lion there were then in Lion two Bretheren called BOVRGATS Gold-smiths by their professions but very much disordered As the liberty of those times did giue meanes to many to glutte their passions vpon them whome they did mallice the BOVRGATS laide hands vpon a companion of theirs a Dyer vpon pretext that hee was of a contrarye religion but it was to reuenge them-selues for a quarrell which they had formerly against him and not ended to their liking They take him and lead him to their dwelling house towardes the Abbey of Esnay beeing out of the way farre from resort of people They binde him fast hand and foote and then tye him by the neck vnto the Chimney so as hee did hang vpright not being able to sitte nor leane any way They leaue him in this sort a whole day threatning him with present death At night they bring in men of their owne sorte and liuing to Supper to bee spectators of this Tragedie they are merry and make good cheere and after Supper they spend the time some in playing at Cardes others in pinching pricking and burning the nose of this poore prisoner being bond hand and foote and tyed in the corner of the Chimney This continued vntill eleuen of the clocke at night when their companions went away and retyred As for the BOVRGATS with-out proceeding any further they cast themselues clothed with their Swordes by their sides vpon a Bedde where they both fell presently a sleepe Their Laquay who was in the corner of the Chimney doth as the Maisters The prisoner perceiuing them all a sleepe and remembring how they had threatned him begins to thinke how hee might escape and hauing recommended himselfe to GOD from whome onely hee attended helpe hee did stâ—…iue in such sort as hee vntyed one hand and then the other afterwardes his necke and lastly his feete Being thus loose hee was mightily perplexed what hee should doe For if these people did awake hee was but a dead man hauing no meanes to defend himselfe they being armed and hee disaâ—…med and hee alone against three for the Laqueye was growne great If he had had a Table cloath a Sheete or a Couering hee might haue slipt downe by the windowe but in opening it the noyse might awake them so as they might followe him and ouer take him the wayes beeing strongly and very straightly garded In this greeuous perplexitie hee discouers that the Laquay who slept in the other corner of the Chimney had a Dagger at his Girdle Hee therefore resolues to kill those two brothers his enemies with this Dagger But there was some difficultie and hazard in the taking of it for that the Laquaye awaking would giue the Alarum yet by the light of the fire hee comes softely vnto him and drawes out his Dagger so quickly and in such sorte as the Laquay stirred not Hauing it hee sodenly went vp into the Chamber and leaped vpon the BOVRGATS and stabbes eyther of them in the brest with this Dagger As hee would haue doubled his stroake one of them leapes vp and layes hold of an Halbard which stood hard by he runs after the Dyer who flyes downe the staires apace to saue himselfe at the foote whereof this BOVRGAT fell and presently dyed The Dyer mounts againe and findes the other dead in the Chamber Hee begins to threaten the Laquaye to kill him presently if he made any noise hee tooke a Candle lead the Laquey into the Seller and forceth him to eate and to drinke a Glasse of Wine then hee bindes him surely dooing him no other harme barres the Sellar doore comes vp and takes that which was easiest to bee transported out of his enemies Chamber And at the breake of daye the Gardes beeing raysed hee leaues the house lockt and so gettes out at Saint SEBASTIANS gate without any hinderance or staye the which was to bee admired seeing they suffered none to goe out but with a Pasporte The friends and companions of BOVRGATS seeing them neyther in the morning nor after Dinner grewe into some doubt and after notice giuen to the Captaine of the Quarter vnder whome these BOVRGATS had charge and command with his consent they brake open the doore and then drewe forth the Laquay who cryed for helpe in the Sellar and found the rest as wee haue sayde The Dyer liued some time after and reported this Historie to many and dyed else-where Memoires of Lion Notable deliuerances and by extraordinarie meanes SYMON GRINEVS a learned personage among many of our time being gone from Heidelberg to Spire in the yeare 1529. where there was an Imperiall Dyet held was desirous to heare a certaine Preacher much esteemen for his eloquence But hearing many propositions come from him against the Maiestie and trueth of the Sonne of GOD. At the end of the Sermon he followed the Preacher saluted him courteously and intreated him to heare him with patience
hee had counted his monie hee sayed merilie that hee had beene with a verie good Hostes seeing that in seauen daies hee had not spent anie thing Memoires de Lion There be many that escaping out of dangers are compelled by the consideration of strange euents to confesse that GOD hath deliuered them without the aide of any second cause Of many examples I will choose and recite one which is worthy of note The Dukes of Saxony FREDERICK the Elector and IOHN his brother went one day by bote along the riuer of Elba from Torque to Wittenberg The water was all couered ◅uer with great pieces of Ice newly broken Those pieces so ran against the boate and bruised it in such sort that assoone as the Princes were landed it split in two and sanke The Princes with great astonishment considering such a spectacle from the shoare and in what danger they had bin by reason of the greatnesse depth and fury of the riuer acknowledged that GOD had preserued the bote vntill such time as they were landed And hauing bin a long time in this consideration without speaking a word the Elector say to his Brother Let vs confesse that GOD hath preserued vs and therfore let vs giue him thanks for his assistance in this many other dangers But whereas you sawe the boate fall in peeces assoone as we were out of it verily I am affraied that our house of Saxony will go to ruine after the death of vs two PEVCER in his Commentary of the principall sortes of Diuinations book 1. Chap. 13. The yeare 1558. a meruailous thing happened at Mech◅rode in Almaigne confirmed by the testemony of diuers credible persons About 9. of the clocke at night a personage attyred in white and followed by a white dogge came and knocked at an honest poore womans dore and called her by her name She thinking it had bin her husband who had beene a long time in a farre Country ran presently to the dore This personage taking her by the hand asked her in whom she put all the hope of her saluation In Iesus CHRIST answered she Then he commanded her to followe him which she refusing to do he exhorted her to be of good courage to feare nothing that done he led her all night through a forrest The next day about noone hee set her vpon an exceeding high mountaine and shewed her things which she was neuer able to expresse Hee enioyned her to returne home and to exhort euery one to turne from their wicked waies adding that an horrible destruction was at hand and hee commanded her also to rest her selfe eight daies in her house at the end whereof he would come to her againe The day following in the morning the womā was found at the townes end and carried home to her house where she continued eight whole daies without eating or drinking When her neighbors and friends perswaded her to take some sustenance her answere was that being extreame weary nothing was so agreable to her as rest how within eight daies the man that had carried her forth would come againe and then she would eate As indeede it came to passe but afterward this woman stirred but little out of her bed sighing from the bottome of her heart and crying out very often O how great are the ioyes of that life and how miserable is this life Beeing demmanded whether shee thought the personage attired in white which appeared so vnto her to bee a good Angell or rather some euill spirit that had transformed himselfe into an Angell of light She answered It is not an euill spirit it is an holy Angell who hath commanded mee to pray incessantlie to GOD and to exhort both great and small vnto amendment of life If any one questioned with her concerning her beliefe I confesse sayd shee that I am a poore sinner but I beleeue that Iesus CHRIST hath obtayned me remission for all my sinnes through the benefit of his death and passion The Minister of the place testified the singular piety and humble deuotion of this woman adding that she was wel instructed and could yeeld very good reason for her religion IOB FINCEL in his 8. booke of Myracles c. In the yeare 1546. a great personage of Germanie hauing beene stayed three daies at Hale in Swabe by the furie and roughnesse of the Waters finally vrged by necessitie to passe ouer hee embarked himselfe in a small bote for to crosse the Riuer accompanyed with three of his Sonnes and a learned Diuyne his friend And seeing his bote readie to bee ouerwhelmed and himselfe and the rest drowned without any apparance of rescue full of faith and hope in GOD he sayd to his friend What triumph would Satan make thinke you and how glad would he be if we two and my three sonnes should bee drowned in this floud But hauing escaped the danger they came safe to land and that personage hauing taken order for certaine great affaires dyed within a while after very peaceably in the inuocation of the name of GOD. Maister ANDDEVV HONSDORFF in his Theater of Examples pag. 296. The yeare 1535. in a village of Silesia named Olst hapened the strangest and most furious tempest in the ayre that euer was seene for it made euen the strongest houses that were built of hewed stone to shake and ouerthrewe diuers One of the inhabitants of the Village named LAVVRENCE THOPHAROSKE hauing his house ioyning to the market place and being verily perswaded that the end of the world was come by reason the Element was all of a flame and that great flakes of of fire flew about shutte himselfe vp in his house and falling on his knees with his wife and children began to pray very earnestly vnto GOD and to sing Hymnes and Psalmes of repentance During these holy exercises a great clap of Tempest with a wonderfull violence tore away the vpper part of the house that was all of hewed Stone together with the roofe and flung it all to the ground without hurting either the Father the Mother or the Children But in another place this tempest did great harme for hauing ouer-throwne a Pinnacle of the Towne-house made all of great foure squared stone cimented and fastned together with Clampornes and barres of Yron fiue persons were slaine with the fall of the houses wherevpon this ruine lighted Whereas contrariwise three others and a Child lying in a little bed were preserued in another house vnder the same ruine and it being demanded of the Child that began to prattle who had holpen him in that danger hee lifted vp his little hand and pointed to Heauen M. AMBROSA MOI◅AN in his exposition of the 19. Psalm No-lesse horrible and dreadfull was another tempest that ranne ouer all the Country of Misnia vpon the 13. day of August 1559. Which thundring very strangely in the aire and ouerthrowing all that it encountred a certaine woman got her selfe with all speede into her Stoue with foure Sonnes shee had and
teeth and grinning at her got into the street and ran away Presently wherevpon this maide thought she felt I know not what running downe on the one side of her back as it were some cold humor and immediatly shee swounded continuing so till the third day after when she began to find a little ease to receiue some sustenance Now being demanded cōcerning the cause of her griefe she answered that she was well assured the Knife which fell into her lappe was entred into her left side in which place she felt a paine And although her friends contradicted her because they attributed this indisposition to a melancholy humor and that she talked idlely by reason of her sicknesse long abstinence and other accidents yet ceased shee not to persist in her continuall plaints and teares so that her head became very light some-times shee remained two dayes togither without taking any thing although they vsed both faire meanes foule to draw her therevnto Her fits were worse at some-times then at other some insomuch that shee tooke but little rest because of the continuall paines that tormented her whereby shee was constrained to go euen double on a staffe And that which more augmented her griefe and diminished her ease was that shee verily beleeued the knife was in her body and yet euery one obstinatly contradicted her in it and propounded the impossibilitie therof imagining that her braine was distempred considering nothing was seene that might induce thē to such an opinion saue her incessant teares and complaints wherin she continued the space of certaine moneths to such time as there appeared on her left side a tumor of the bignes of an Egge like to an halfe Moone which encreased or decreased according as the swelling waxed more or lesse Then the poore wench began to say You would not beleeue the knife was in my body till now but ere long you shall see how it is fixed in my side And indeed on the thirtith day of Iune namely about thirteene moneths after she had first suffered this affliction there issued such an abundance of matter out of the vlcer which was growne on that side that the swelling began to asswage then the point of the knife appered which the maid would haue pulled out had she not bin staid by her friends who sent for Duke HENRIES Chirurgian being at that time resident in the Castle of Wolffbutel The Chirurgian comming thither on the 4. day of Iuly desired the Minister to comfort instruct and incourage the maide as also to obserue her answers because euery one thought she was possessed She consented to be ruled by the Chirurgiā although she was perswaded that present death would ensue The Chirurgian perceiuing the point of the knife which appeared in her left side with his instruments drew it forth and it was found in all respects like to the other that was in her sheath and very much vsed about the middest of the blade Afterwards the vlcer was healed by the Chirurgian In the same booke ch 14. CARDAN writeth that a certaine labourer a friend of his and an honest man declared vnto him how for many yeares together he was sick of an vnknowne disease during the which by meanes of certaine charmes he had often-times vomited glasse nailes haite and although he was afterwards recouered by that meanes yet he felt a great quantity of broken glasse in his belly which made a noyse like a great many pieces of broken glasse tyed vp together in a bag Moreouer he added how that noise very much troubled him and that euery eighteenth night about seauen of the clock for eighteene yeares space after he was well he felt as many blowes on his heart as the Clock strooke houres which hee endured not without great torment In the same booke Chap. 7. But yet farther to shew the sleights and subtilties of Sathan who with efficacie of error turmoiles such as the diuine iustice deliuers vp vnto him I will adde another history touching a child Demoniack written by D. HENRY COLEN of Bosledue to AVGVSTINE HVN◅VS a Doctor of Lovaine the 3. day of March 1574. as followeth A child of our towne foretels that the wicked tyrranicall complot of the rebels of the Low-countries shal now take an end We feare notwithstanding least it be some deuise of the euill spirit albeit no man can discouer any such matter yet This child cries out bids euery one pray heartily and incessantly vnto GOD he himselfe with hands heaued vp prayes 3. times a day Hee hath foretold merueilous things of our time all that he hath foretold is come to passe not failing in any circumstance Also hee saith that the Angell GABRYEL hath reuealed vnto him how all these Tragedies of Flanders shall end before next Summer be halfe past and how the King of Spaine shall come into the low-countries appease all by most happy meanes He hath likewise foretold the very moment of time of the taking of Middelborough and infinite other things come to passe according to his predictions I most vnworthy was also called to examine this child and was wonderfully amazed to see so simple a thing which can neither write nor read answer so readily to all demands and resolue the greatest difficulties could bee propounded And because Sathan transfigures himselfe into an Angell of light I obiected many and sundry questions vnto him but so farre is it from an Angell that abhors the crosse of our Lord or the name of IESVS that contrariwise it hath taught the child a praier in substance containing these words O IESVS of Nazareth which was crucified for vs haue mercy vpon vs helpe vs poore sinners that we may returne againe vnto the faith I. WIER in 1. Booke chap. 10. where he addeth this censure The contrary euent hath manifested that this child was possessed of the diuill who spake and prognosticated by his mouth For the troubles of Flanders ended not the Summer following nor three yeares we may say nor fiue and twentie yeares after neither was nor is there any newes of the K◅ng of Spaines comming into the Lowe-Countries Now the spirit of GOD cannot faile nor erre in the least point that is Therefore one may perceiue who that GABRIEL was that could declare the very moment of time of the taking of Middelborough in Zealand to wit the Diuill who being a spirit transports himselfe in an instant from one place to another by reason of his incomprehensible swiftnesse Hee it was that moued this childe to the prayers before mentioned the better to colour his impostures and lyes For so hee hath accustomed to mingle truth with falsehood As Doctor COLEN may acknowledge if he be still aliue in the beginning of this new age 1600. If hee be departed this world I leaue the decision thereof to his companions The yeare 1594. in the Marquisate of Brandebourg there were seene aboue eight score persons together Demoniacks which vttered meruailous things and both
side in the bottome of her belly with apparēt signes of an Impostume so as an opening was made by Corosiue on the one side from whence the Surgion did drawe with his hand a quantitie of congealed bloud rotten and stinking the other side abating nothing neyther could the Surgion bring away any of the skinne that lapt the Child being forced to make a new opening on the other side frō whence he did draw the skin that lapt the child not without extreame paine in this danger and despaire for shee remained as one halfe dead and kept her bedde three yeares two yeares after shee went with Cruches then with a Staffe and in the ende shee recouered her helth in such sort as shee had many Children and among others one named SEBASTIEN who liued long In the same treatie M. N. de VILLENEVFVE an ancient Physition in Prouence writs to the same FR. ROVSSET these words I confesse in this long time that I haue liued he was then sixtie yeares olde and liued aboue fiue and twentie yeares after in great vigour of bodie and minde I did neuer see this practise whereof you write vnto mee of a woman deliuered of her Childe by the side and yet to liue I do well remember that MADAME de PILES NONIES hauing the lower part of her belly much swelled I caused Maister MAVRACE a Surgion of this Towne of Vaureas to make an opening in the bellie by an actuall Corosiue peercing into the hollowes of the matrix from whence there issued as well by the neither partes as by the place so opened aboue seauen pounds of filthie matter the one like vnto the other and to bee the better assured of the place wee did open the nether part with an instrument where wee did see the greatnesse of the matricall vlcer the which wee cured in sixe monethes since which time shee had a Daughter this was in the yeare 1552. VILLENEVFVE seemes to desseine a conception and the fruite wholie putrefied and reduced into this merueilous quantity of corruption although that M. ROVSSET thinkes it was onely an Impostume in the matrixe The same VILLENEVFVE reports in an other letter to the sayd ROVSSET that he had caused the like cauterisation to be made vpon that which is vpon the belly of a woman married to BRISSET an Apothicary at Mont-limar in the yeare 1558. peercing it euen into the inward part of the matrix so as the corruption sprong out to the beddes feete and at the same instant a great quantitie of the like filth came forth by the lower partes Shee was cured in 3. monethes and soone after conceiued and since shee hath had three Sonnes and one Daughter In the same treatie M. MATHIAS CORNAX Phylosopher and Physition to the Emperour at Vienna in Austria reports in a Treatie written in Latin and often printed some admirable and memorable Histories like vnto the former I will ommit many circumstances of places yeares and daies personages and witnesses produced to auoyde tediousnesse the summe is this MARGV◅RITE wife to the host of the red Creuise at Vienna about 25. yeare old who before had had some Children shee was conceiued for the third or forth time in the yeare 1545. hauing felt as of custome the Childe to stirre and the time of her deliuerie come shee could bring forth nothing so as for the space of foure whole yeares shee carried her Childe dead the same beeing past as it appeered from the hollownes of the Matrix being rotten through the bodie vlcered there-with towardes the bowells and there causing a great swelling an opening was made by the aduise of CORNAX in the middest of that which is vpon the bellie to voide the corruption The Physitions and Surgions could not thinke there was anie Childe considering the lapse of time during the which the poore woman had beene afflicted with verie strange paines Yet a Childe was drawne from her which was not so rotten the which was admirable but it might well bee discerned for a male There happened an other wonderfull strange thing that this honest young woman which had liued with death for so manie yeares was in a manner miraculously drawne out of the graue and recouered her perfect helth Let vs adde a third meruaile at a yeares ende shee conceiued and bare an other Sonne his full time The time of her deliuerie beeing come beeing in some great difficultie and almost without any possible meanes to bee deliuered like vnto other women CORNAX was called the second time who aduised the Mother and other women there present that they should suffer her to bee opened as at the former time giuing verie manie reasons for his Counsell wherevnto the young woman yeelded But the Mother and the other women that were there opposed mightely against it saying that they must referre all to the almightie GOD and let nature worke in easing her by some other meanes lesse dangerous CORNAX beeing thus gaine sayed retired with the Surgion who had made the former section But presently after the young woman dyed and could not bee deliuered Soone after they cald them back and being dead there was drawne from her by section a goodly boy likely to haue liued if hee had beene helpt with his Mother as this learned Physition did pretend In the same worke there is a letter written to the same CORNAX by M. ACHILLES GASSAR a learned Physition of Ausbourg conteyning the like history in the same circūstances of a woman to whom a yeare being past that she could not bee deliuered of a Child at the due time the Child like vnto that of the woman of Vienna was gone frō the hollownes of the Matrix being vlcered towards the kidneis as it did appeere plainly for that it had made a shewe of an Impostume in the bellie and principally on the left side the Surgion drewe from her boane after boane who beeing cured had a Childe since Hee reportes in the same booke the Historie sent vnto him by Maister GILLES HERTOGE a famous Physition at Bruxelles of a woman who not able to bee deliuered of her Childe the flesh and softe partes of the Child being voided belowe in rotten corruption they did feele the bones to grate together and did marke them with the hand vnder that which couers the bellie and yet this accident which was so strangely troublesome and insupportable to a fine and delicate woman did not much hinder the actions of this courragious woman who carried this Crosse thirteene whole yeares This could not bee without peercing of the Matrix the which notwithstanding was cured as needes it must for that no filth nor corruption distilled downe by the lower parts ' as else it would haue done More-ouer she had her termes orderly and desired nothing so much as to finde Physitions and Chirurgions that would vnder-take to make a conuenient section to draw forth those cracking bones Maister FRANCIS ROVSSET representing in his Treatie of the Caesariens deliuery the third History aboue mentioned
by CORNAX confirmes them by another very admirable of ALBVCASIS a Physition and Chirurgion the which I will discribe here although it bee ancient hoping that this digression shall not be vnpleasing I haue seene sayd hee in the second booke of his Surgerie a woman in whose wombe a Childe being dead conceiued of another the which also dyed there long after there did rise a swelling at her Nauell the which was opened and yeelded corrupt matter I was called and did looke to her long yet could I not strengthen it although I did apply strong attractiues and manie bones came forth one after another the which did amaze me knowing that there are no bones in the bellie Making therefore a search of all I found they were the little bones of a dead Child so as after I had drawne forth many I cured her yet the Vlcer did alwayes sweat forth some-thing ALEXANDER BENOIST a Physition of our time in his practise in the Treatie of the difficultie of Child-bearing reportes the like History to that of ALEVCASIS In the Suburbes of Sully vpon Loire MARGVERITE PREVOST wife to PETER DORET a Milner being apparantly with Childe and come to her time not able to be deliuered not-with-standing any helpe of her women she grew by little and little so extreamely sicke and so great by reason of the Childe and other things that were putrefied that besides the generall swelling of all the bellie about the eight or ninth moneth shee had a particular swelling about her Nauell seeming to be a soft Impostume red and readie to breake the which Maister ITIER GALLEMENT a Surgion did open with an actuall Corosiue on New-yeares daie in the yeare 1550. The next day at her second dressing beeing desirous to knowe the reason of certaine haires which shewed them selues at the Orifice I found that it was the head of a Childe rotting which hee drew out at the opening with the rest of the bodie which was knowne to bee a female Shee was soone cured and after the death of the sayd DORET shee married againe and liued helth-fully 27. yeares after and then died of a flux in the yeare 1577. Shee had no Children neither before nor after FR ROVSSET in his Treatie of the Caesarien section M. I. HOVLIER in the ende of the first Tome of his Booke intitled Of inward diseases sayeth that a woman at Paris had a Child who for fifteene daies before that it was borne had an arme sticking out at her Nauell and yet she remained aliue and so did the Child she did not set downe howe shee was deliuered nor by what part neither whether shee had any Childe afterwards the which would haue deserued a relation as well for the theorike as the practise Without doubt it could not be without some great vlcer in the matrix although the Childe were not afterwards drawne forth belowe On the otherside it is a verie strange thing that a Childe could be so liuely in that estate hauing made such worke in the matrix and in that which wrapt him in the which hee had past through aboue with his arme for otherwise it could not be In the same treatie I haue learned of Mounsieur BVNOT a learned Physition to the most famous Princes ANTOINETTE of Bourbon Douager of Guise that shee had often told him that some time before her marriage beeing twentie yeares of age and yet bred vp vnder her Mother she did see beeing in a Church at la Fere in Picardie that they presented vnto her Mother a young sick creature pale weake swelled and so strangely tormented with paine as they knew not what to say to it nor what to hope of it The Princesse hauing caused her to bee visited by certaine Midwiues descouered what it was that this greeuious sicke creature whome they held to bee a very pure Virgin had a Childe conceiued in her and shee beeing great it had beene long dead and rotten in her bodie whereof not withstanding shee was soone cured and liued very long after in good and perfect helth In the same Treatie BARBARA FHIRER remayning at Zupfring in the Bayle-wike of Bremgarten in Suisserland beeing conceiued of her third Childe and readie to bee deliuered was in labour eight daies together with great greefe and paine and not deliuered In the ende not able to endure anie more shee remayned altogither in her bedde then there appeered vnto her vpon her bellie aboue the Nauell a bladder of the bignesse of a hazell nut the which had put her to exceeding great paine for three daies together and in the ende at her instant request it was peerced and opened by a certaine neighbour of hers vsing an aule to that ende The bladder being opened and growne large by reason of the swelling of the bellie presently that which inclosed the Childe appeered They called IOHN BOVRGOIS a Surgion who hauing consulted with the Midwiues with their common consents made such an incision with his rasor as one of the Childes elboes came forth and shewed it selfe the Surgion takes hold of it with pincers for the nonce and drawes the Childe out whole by this breach but dead and halfe rotten The Mother hauing suffred no greater harme then some light fayntings during the operation The wound beeing cured according to the precepts of Surgerie so that within three-weekes shee was set on foote not without great discommodity for that shee was forced to vse a great rowle continually and not able to stand vp but with meruelious great paine so as after two yeares shee died GASPAR BAVHIN in the addition to the History of the Caesarien deliuery A Country woman being with Childe and come to the 8. moneth beeing vpon the waie to goe to the market at Sancerre was cast by her horse and fell against a stone of this fall she continued 24. houres without speaking or moouing The next day she had a sharpe feuer accōpanied with very violent accidents as ordynary faynting vomyting and idlenesse of the braine They did purge her let her bloud and applyed what they could to temper the heate of this great feauer After a moneth shee had a swelling neeere vnto the Nauell as bigge as ones fist That beeing opened there came forth a great quantitie of corruption and then prittie bigge peeces of rotten flesh and in the ende the bones of the Infant which shee bare Hauing had this wound ten monethes in the end shee was cured but yet shee continued barren Some thinke that if shee had beene helpt by a dissection in the bellie the Child might haue beene saued N. NAVRICE in the comment vpon the 1. booke of Hippocrates of womens diseases Text. 3. A fleming hauing her Childe dead in her bodie could not be deliuered so as it did rotte within her notwithstanding any remedies that were applied to make her voide the peeces In the ende she her selfe borrowed a Surgions instrument called a Cranes Bill with the which shee her selfe pulled out the bones of this Child being rotten
horsshooes with their hands Fronsperg neuer found man so strong but he would remooue him out of his place with the little finger of his right hand he would stay a Horse how strong so euer in his swiftest course with one hand And would remooue with his shoulder a Cannon whether hee list Schuartzbourg would wreath Horse-shooes as if hee had beene some plyable substance POTOCOVA Captaine of the Casiques of Poland beheaded by the commandement of the late King STERVEN would breake Horse-shooes as easily as a man would teare a peece of Paper GEORGE le FEVRE a learned Germaine writes that in his time in the yeare 1529. liued at Misnia in Thuringe one called NICHOLAS KLVNHER Prouost of the great Church that was so strong as without Cable or Pully or any other helpe hee fetcht vp out of a Cellar a Pipe of Wine caried it out of doores and laid it vpon a Cart. A Chanoin of the same Church called ERNEST of the house of the Earles of Mansfelt a strong and tall man would needs one day wrestle with him NICOLAS tooke him vp and lifted him into the ayre and afterwards cast him against a doore with such force that he broke it not-with-standing that it was fast lockt King CHARLES the ninth taking pleasure in exercises of the body being at Blois caused a Breton a man of little stature but well set to be sent for to the Court to wrestle body to body against all comers many both great and small tryed their strength with him but hee foyld them all casting one ouer his head another into the ayre with his heeles vpwards some a if they had bin Fethers others like little stones he cast into the ayre and so against the ground it being vnpossible for any to cast him to the ground Some-times he would lye flatt vpon the ground but who so-euer came neere him was forced to make one leape or other to the great contentment of the beholders To conclude another braue wrestler would needes buckle with him but in the end the Breton hauing his aduersary vpon his knee first lift him vp into the ayre and afterwards lockt him so fast in his armes as hee crusht him sore and to end his conquest he cast him with such violence against the earth as he was lifted vp and caried halfe dead to his lodging whereof he dyed shortly after In the Histories of our Times Thunder and Lightning IN the yeare 1562 beeing in Champatgne and passing by a little Village called Villeneufe not farre off from Sens the Arch-bishopricke certaine Gentlemen and honourable personages tolde mee a strange chance that happened to two young Priests by Thunder who in Haruest time comming from singing of masse for a ritch man dead after dinner retiring themselues were incountred with a torment of the aire accompanied with thunder and strange lightning These two young men recouering a little wood sat them downe togither vnder the Trees But they were kild by thunder where the next day after dilligent search for them their kins-folkes found them They thought at first they had but slept but it proued a perpetuall sleepe stripping and searching them they could finde neither hurt nor marke on their bodies but either of their hatts a little singed and in the middest their was a spot of the bignesse of a Carolus which is about the breadth of a groate Their poore bodies stunck so wonderfully that none could indure about them M. D. BEAVLIEV in his treatise of thunder and lightning About the yeare 1536. vpon a Sunday in summer was kept an excessiue and dissolute marriage in a village halfe a daies iorney from Poitiers the which hath but one streight and long streete In this day and place about noone happened a strange and fearefull thunder a Globe of fire of the greatnesse of a bowle fell in one of the corners of the Towne and ranne along the streete without hurting any bodie to Saint Georges Church where it beeing entred it made a strange spoile taking away the Tombes of the dead ranne to the grear Altar and spoiled a faire Image of our Ladie holding her little Childe in her armes besides it tore away the pauement in diuers places of this Church and brake a chaine of iron that held vp the Crucifix cast it downe brake one arme of it and afterwards grazing along the walles on the left hand without hurting them that were tolling the bells more then for feare to runne away it mounted vp into the Steeple a very faire building the which it burnt in sutch sorte that all the Belles both great and smal were melted the mettall falling vpon the pauement of the Church The same Traualing through Italie not farre from Eugubio I sawe thunder light vpon two peasants riding vpon Asses killing both men and beastes vpon the place they had a third man in their companie who had the bones of one of his armes so broken as one could not see whether their were any bone at all this blowe caused such pittifull greefes in this poore man and did so torment him as he desired not to liue I haue seene two men the Father and the Sonne haue their bodies so amazed and deaded with thunder that I thought verily they had beene falne into an Apoplexy They remained seauen daies togither without eating drinking speaking or moouing In the ende I caused them to bee let bloud giuing them sharpe glisters rubbing and norishing their bodies so as in short time they recouered their former healths Certaine months before the death of HIPOLITO of Este Cardinall of Ferrara thunder fell vpon his Pallace and entred into my Chamber light vpon one of my seruants swordes hanging at the bedde-side melted the point of it making a little bullet of it and neither broke nor hurt the sheath MVRETVS in his Annotations vpon the 31. Chap. of the 2. booke of Senecas naturall questions About the yeare 1560. Neere to Beneuida a Towne of Spaine as two men walked togither in the open fildes a strange tempest arose to the great astonishment of them both they seeking by flight to get some couert and perceiuing the tempest to encrease cast themselues flat to the ground where they felt the tempest readie to lift them from the ground In the ende one of them perceiuyng the noise to cease lifted himselfe vp the whirl-winde hauing much amazed him those which perceiued him comming the other lying still went towards him but him they found dead hauing his bones so broken as one might haue writhed his armes legs like a gloue all his Bodie seeming nothing but flesh likewise his tongue was taken away and could not bee found notwithstanding that they made dilligent search for it Their were diuers Iudgements vpon this accident one sayd hee was an ordinary swearer and blasphemer of the holie name of GOD and therefore was perticularlie chasticed in that parte that had most dishonored his creator By such a fore named whirl-winde a Towne of Spaine called
BELLAY attribute to the diuine vengeance because hee kept not the promise which hee made with such an imprecation to the Millanois His death â—…ell on the 6. of May 1527. To this purpose I will adde another Historie though it be ancient reported by ALBERT CRANT in his 6. Booke of the affaires of Saxony Chap. 45. where hee writes that the Emperor FREDERICK the first being in Saint PETERS Monastery at Erford the floore whereon hee went suddenly sanke vnder him and if he had not caught hold on an Yron barre of a window hee had fallen into the Iakes of the Monasterie wherein certaine Gentlemen fell and were drowned amongst the which was HENRY Earle of Schuartzbourg who carried the presage of his death in an vsuall imprecation If I do this or that I would said he I might be drowned in the Iakes But omitting other ancient Histories it being no part of our purpose to touch them in these collections but reseruing them for some other hand and worke I will present the examples of our time concerning imprecations and despightfull speaches eyther against GOD or our neighbours A Soldiar trauelling through the Marquisate of Brandebourg feeling him-selfe not well staied in an Inne gaue his 〈◊〉 his money to keepe Not long after being recouered he asked it againe of the woman who had agreed before with her husband to detaine it Wherefore she denyed that she had any of him and rayled at him as if he had done her wrong to aske it whereat the traueller was so enraged that he accused her of disloyaltie and theft which the Host hearing he tooke his wiues part and thrust the other out of dores who iustly incensed with such dealing drew his sworde and ranne against the gate The Host began to crie out that hee went about to breake into his house and robbe him For which cause the Souldier was apprehended carryed to prison and arraigned before the Magistrate ready to be condemned to death The day came wherein sentence was to bee giuen and executed the Diuill entred into the prison and tolde the prisoner that hee should bee condemned to dye neuerthelesse he promised him if so bee hee would giue himselfe vnto him to keepe him from all harme The prisoner answered that he would rather dye innocent as he was then be deliuered by such means The Diuil hauing shewed him againe the danger wherein hee stood and receiuing the repulse promised not-withstanding to helpe him for nothing and worke in such sort that he should be reuenged on his enemies Hee councelled him then when he should be brought to his tryall to maintaine that hee was innocent and to desire the Iudge to let him haue him for his aduocate whom he should see standing there in a blew Cap which should plead for him The prisoner accepted the offer and the next day being brought to the Barre hearing his aduersaries accusation and the Iudges opinion required according to the custome of the place that he might haue an Aduocate to plead his cause which was granted him This craftye Lawyer stood forth and very subtilly began to defend his client alledging that hee was falselie accused and by consequence wrongfully condemned for the Hoste kept away his money and had misused him besides Therevpon hee vp and tolde how the whole matter had past and declared the place where the money was locked vp The Host on the other side defended himselfe and the more impudently denyed it giuing himselfe to the Diuill both body and soule if so be he had it Where-vpon this Lawyer in the blew Cappe leauing his cause layde hold on the Host carried him out of the hall and hoysted him vp so high in the ayre that it was neuer knowne what became of him afterward I. WIER in his 4. booke of Diuelish deuises Chap. 20. PAVL EITZEN in the 6. Booke of his Morales Chap. 18. saith that this happened in the yeare 1541. and that this Souldier came out of Hungarie In the Towne of Rutlingen a certaine traueller comming into an Inne gaue his Hoste a budget to keepe wherein there was a great summe of money At his departure asking it againe the Hoste denyed hee had any and rayled at him for charging him with it The traueller sued him in the lawe and because there was no witnesse of the matter hee was going to put the Host to his oath who was ready and most desirous to take it and gaue himselfe to the diuill if euer he receiued or kept away the Budget that was in question The plaintiffe required some respite to take aduise whether hee should put the defender to his oth or no and going out of the Court he met two men that asked him the occaston of his comming thither He vp and told them the matter Well sayde they wilt thou bee contented that we shall helpe thee in the cause He answred them I not knowing what they were Ther-vpon they returned all three into the Court where the two that came last began to maintaine against the Hoste that the Budget was deliuered vnto him and that he receiued it and locked it vp in such a place which they named The periured wretch could not tell what to reply and as the Iudge was about to send him to prison the two witnesses began to say it shall not need for wee are sent to punish his wickednesse Saying so they caught him vp into the ayre where he vanished away with theÌ„ and was neuer seene more IOHN le GAST of Brisae in the 2. volume of his Table-talke pag. 131. GILBERT COVSIN of Nosereth in his Narrations PETER ALVARADO a Spanish Captaine making warre on the Indians of Peru receiued a grieuous hurt in a skirmish whereof he dyed two dayes after Lying in his death-bed being asked where he felt his paine In my soule said he it torments me when the newes of his death came to his wife BEATRICE a very proud woman then resident at Guattimall she began to rage to make imprecations and to fall out with GOD euen to say That hee could not deale worse with her then to take away her husband There-vpon shee hung all her house with black and began to mourne in such sort that shee could not be drawne to receiue any sustenance or comfort She did nothing but weepe lye along on the ground teare her hayre and demeane her-selfe like a madde woman Amidst her husbands pompous obsequies of whom GOMARA writes that he maried two sisters and was a long time polluted with foule incest and all this despightfull mourning shee forgot not to assemble the chiefest of the towne together and there to make them declare her for Gouernesse of the Country and to sweare fealtie and obedience vnto her But now let vs heere what came to passe vpon these imprecations and despightfull speeches The 8. of September 1541. it rained so mightely for 24. houres together that the next day about nine or ten of the clock at night two Indians came and
the manner of the Country is to honour strangers which happen to bee at such feast was desired to lead the Bride a dance He tooke her by the hand and walked her a turne or two then in the presence of all her kinsfolkes and friends he caught her vp crying out for helpe and went out at the gate where hee hoysed her vp in the ayre and vanished away with his companion and their Horses Her sorrowfull friends hauing sought her all that day and continuing so the next morning hoping to finde her where she was fallen some where or other to the end they might haue buryed her body met the two Cheualliers which restored them the maidens wedding apparell and al her Iewells saying that GOD had giuen them poure ouer her but not ouer her apparell and so vanished away The same Rash Iudgements THE yeare 1550. it happened that a certaine merchant in the Duchie of Saxony ryding forth of Towne left his Wife with one Daughter and a maide at home Hard by him dwelt the hang-man of the place who hauing espied this opportunitie found meanes to get into the house and hid himselfe in the Cellar where when the maide came at night to drawe wine hee cut her throate The Daughter being sent to call the mayde was also killed Finally the Mother going to see why they both stayed so long receiued the like entertainement which done he threwe their bodies into a Chest ryfled the house and went his way Not long after the merchant returning home and the author of such an execrable fact vnknowne the hang-man accused the poore merchant to the Iudges and deposed that the day before his departure hee had beene at great debate with his wife The merchant was apprehended and tortured in such sorte that he confessed although hee were innocent that hee had committed those three murthers and therefore was condemned and put to death But shortly after the murtherer discouered himselfe by a siluer bole which he offered to a gold-smith to sell who knowing the merchants marke gaue him money for it and after hee was gone carried it to the Magistrate vnto whom hee declared whose marke it had and of whom he had bought it Presently the hang-man was apprehended and being examined denied it at the first but at length confessed the whole matter Thus was the merchants innocency approued though too late before men and the damnable murtherer executed with such punnishments as his horrible wickednesse deserued PAVL EITZEN in the 3. booke of his Morales Chap. 15. M. ANDREVVE HONSDORFF in his theater of examples In another towne of Saxony it fortuned that at a certaine wedding a theefe stole a siluer goblet being narrowly pursewed by some of the watch he went and hid it in a fellowes bosome that had ouer-drunke himselfe and was layd a sleepe in the way as hee ran along The watch hauing wakened this sleeper found the goblet about him carryed him to prison where by tortures he confessed the theft whervpon ensued sentence of death and execution Within a while after the theefe apprehended for another robbery confessed this former and was hanged PAVL EITZEN in the same booke and Chapter Two theeues in the towne of Erford went and hidde themselues in a widdowes house with entent to cut her throate and carry away that shee had For to drawe her out of her Chamber where shee lay they got into the stable and beganne to pinch a kidde which they found there to the ende they might make the maide come downe as indeede she did For going to see what the kidde ailed they caught her by the throate and killed her The widdowe which had no other maide but that one hearing the kidde cry and the wench not returning went downe out of her Chamber and had her throate cut by these murtherers who rifled the house and went their waies before day The next morning the neighbours hearing a little Dogge barke in the house and seeing neither mistres nor made styrring abroade at the length brake open the dores and found those two persons murthered Immediatly they began to charge and accuse a certaine man that had the keeping of a Church thereby because hee had vsed much to the sayd widdowes house The Magistrates buylding on reports and coniectures commanded the man to be apprehended so extreamely tortured that hee confessed he had cōmitted that which neuer came in his thought Wher-vpon followed his condemnation and execution The theeues not long after being taken imprisoned for other offences confessed this murther of the mistres and maide and were executed according to their merits M. ANDREVVE HONSDORFF in his theater of examples A certaine man in the towne of Basil fell out vpon some occasion with his Wife who vnable any longer to endure his hard vsage left her house and went to some of her friendes in the Countrie and desired them to bee a meane of reconciliation betweene her husband and her It chanced that about the time of her departure another woman hauing drowned her selfe in the Rhine was cast vp on the shoare All the towne ranne to see her and because she was apparelled like the absent Wife that her face was so disfigured as no man could not discerne her in continently the people there gathered togither began to cry out and say that this cruell husband had killed his Wife and then cast her so into the water The Magistrates giuing more credit to this report then they should cōmitted the husband to prison where hee was put to such torture as he confessed that which was not namely that he had killed his Wife and then throwne her body into the Rhine vpon which confession hee was condemned and put to death like a parracide Three da◅es after his fugitiue Wife returned for to reconcile herselfe to her husband but hearing the piteous newes of his death melting into teares and running like a madde woman to the Towne-house she presented her selfe before the Lords proued her husbands innocency and accused them of iniustice They hanging downe their heads and condemning their rash iudgement tooke as good order as possibly they could for the poore Widdowe The same A woman dwelling in a certaine Castle of the Archbishoprick of Breme with her Sonne that was married suffered herselfe to be abused by one of her men Which discouered by the Sonne and not able to beare it hee besought his Mother to abstaine from such wickednesse One day hauing beene abroad and comming home the fellowe that was with the Mother in her Chamber espying him a farre off ranne away The Sonne followed after him and with a wand that hee had in his hand strooke of his hat This seruant got away and went into the seruice of a new maister some two dayes iourney from thence His friends sought for him and demanded him of the Sonne who told them how matters had past adding that he had his hat but knewe not what was become of him they taking this
had with SIGISMOND of Gonzague the Popes Legat in that place They retired speedely then to Sienna but they must needes depart from thence being expelled by ALPHONSO CASTRACIO Cardinal of Sienna and by the Iustice of Sienna After diuers consultations they resolued to retier to Venise and to that ende to take the way of Romagnia but beeing vpon the territory of Furlie they descouer a farre off a troupe of horses galloping towards them The Duchesse was presently of an opynion that BOLOGNE should saue himselfe with his Sonne who was nowe growne bigge the which they did beeing both well mounted and retired to Milan These Horse-men hauing fayled of part of their preye spake gratiously vnto the Duchesse and conducted her with her other two Children into the Realme of Naples into one of the Castells of the young Duke her Sonne where shee was presently imprisoned with the two Children shee had by BOLOGNE and her Chamber-maide Some fewe daies after three of them which had taken her in the plaine of Furli came into her Chamber and denounce her death vnto her suffring her to recommende her selfe vnto GOD then they tied a corde about her necke and strangled her which done they lay hold on the Chamber maide who cryed out with open throate and strangle her also and in the ende they seize vpon the two young Children and send them after the Mother and the maide The two Brethren contynuing their course caused BOLOGNES goods at Naples to bee confisked and hauing descouered that hee was at Milan they suborne certaine men to feede him with hope that in time they will make his peace making him beleeue that his Wife and Children were yet aliue who although he were aduertised by a gentleman of Milan of the Duchesse death of an ambush that was layed for him yet wold he not beleue any thing nor retier himself out of Milan where there were murtherers suborned to kill him of which number there was a certaine Lombard a Captaine of a companie of foote so as soone after BOLOGNE going out of the Friars where hee had beene to heare Masse hee was compassed aboute by a troupe of Soldiars and their Captaine who slue him presently beeing about two yeares after the Duchesse death As for his Sonne who was not then with him hee was forced to slie out of Milan to change his name and to retier himselfe farre off where he died vnknowne Historie of Italie At what time Pope IVLIO the second made warre in Italie all the Townes in a manner beeing troubled with the factions a young Romaine Gentleman called FABIO fell in Loue with a Gentlwoman named AEMILIA Daughter to one of his Fathers mortall enemies Shee beeing inflamed with the like affection by the meanes of her Gouernesse they did write Letters one vnto an other and then spake togither and in the ende they made a mutuall promise of marriage vpon a vaine hope that it should be a meanes to vnite their houses that were enemies The worst was they did consumate this marriage After some daies FABIOS Father feeling himselfe old commanded his Sonne to take a partie and to tell him what maiden he desired to haue to Wife FABIO hauing delayed to giue him any answere in the ende hee names AEMILIA whereof hee was with great chollour refused by his Father to whose will in the end hee yeelded abandoning AEMILIA after that hee had excused himselfe as well as hee could vnto her This sorrowfull Virgin growne madde to see her-self so abused seemed to disgest this pill quietly intreating her Gouernesse to obtaine so much of FABIO that he would bee pleased to come some-times in the weeke to see and comfort her and so by little and little to burie their passed friendship FABIO yeelding to that passion came to see her She gaue him kinde well-come deuising very familiarly all the euening togither and then to lie with her as hee had done beefore But hauing intreated him in any case not to touch her but to staie vntill the morning pretending her fore-passed greefe as soone as this miserable wretch was fallen a sleepe shee takes his dagger and killes him then hauing called her gouernesse shee stabbes her selfe in her presence with the same poynard and died presently The next day this pittifull accident did much amaze and afflict the two Fathers and their families for that remedie was past History of Italie Detestable Cursings THere was a certaine learned and reuerent man in Spaine had two Sonnes the one beeing thirteene yeares olde or there aboutes did some malitious acte wher-with the Mother was so incensed with choller as she began to curse him and to giue him to the Diuell wishing that he might carry him away This was about ten of the clock at night and when as the Mother continued her cursing the childe being amazed went downe into the Court where he vanished away so as it was impossible to finde him not-with-standing any search they could make All were troubled at this accident seeing there was no doore nor windowe open whereby hee might get out After two houres the Father and the Mother being much discomforted they heard a great noyse in a chamber ouer theirs and the child which groned pittifully They goe vp and opening the chamber dore with the key they finde this child in so poore estate as it was a pitty to behold him for besides that his garments were all torne he had his face hands and almost all his body so brused and scratched as it were with thornes and so disfigured as all the night hee could scarse come to him-selfe The Father and the Mother did all they could deuise to ease him and then the next daye seeing that he was come something to himselfe they inquired of him the reason of his aduenture the night past Hee answered that beeing in the Court certaine men wonderfully great vggly and fearefull approching neere vnto him without speaking any word had lifted him vp into the ayre with an incredible swiftnesse then setting him downe in certaine Mountaines full of thorns had drawne him through them and left him in the same estate they had now found him in That finally they had slaine him if he had not recōmended himselfe vnto GOD these executioners then brought him backe againe and made him to enter by a little window of the Chamber and so vanished away The boy remained deafe and in verye bad case by this Visitation beeing ashamed and greeued if any one did question with him or put him in minde of it A. TORQVEMADOE in the thirdiourney of his Hexameron Melancholike Madd Franticke Furious and enraged persons I Meddle not with the controuersies of learned Physitions touching the differences of these diseases according to the humour most predominant either in the braine or in the Hypocondres or throughout all the body neither will I enter into consideration of the remedies which they bring And without subiecting my selfe to any exact order for this beginning I will endeauour to
by this burning poyson Secondly the ventricles of the heart were drie and without bloud Thirdly they did obserue that a peece of the mouth of the stomack was almost burnt and reduced to poulder IEROSME CAPIVACCIVS lib. 7. of his practise Chap. 12. I haue seene a young Child which neuer felt the hurt nor complayned till eight monethes after the biting but as soone as it descouered it selfe the Child died FRACASTOR lib. 2. of contagious diseases Chap. 10. Sometimes the biting is so sharpe and violent togither with the apprehension of the parties offended as death followes soone after as I haue seene in many namely in a Mint-man called MARTIN BVTIN and a scholemaster named ROBERT On a winter day about ten yeares since going early in the morning from their houses the one to worke at the Minte the other to teach certaine schollers they were one after an other bitten by a madde Dogge and had much adoe to free them-selues from him The same day they went to their bedds and died within a while after in good sence hauing had many trouble-some and pittifull fitts The one was my Neighbour and I did often visit him hee tooke delight to heare talke of his Saluation and died most Christian-like and so did the other But my Neighbour at my comming in vnto him cryed out that I should not come neere him if I would not haue him bite mee Once not thinking of it for the compassion I had of his torment for some-times hee did houle like vnto a Dogge approching neerer vnto him then I was accustomed he sodenly reacht out to get holde of mine arme with his teeth whereof he fayled for that his motion was not so quicke as mine Hepresently acknowledged his error and asked me forgiuenesse imputing it to the vehemencie of his paine As often as I thinke of that which I did see in the sicknesse of these two good men so often doth my Soule tremble crying out Lord thou hast beene our refuge from one generation to another c. And that which followes in the 91. Psalme not meaning notwithstanding to condemne those whome the wisdome of GOD who is iust and mercifull will visite thus in this world for with what rods soeuer he meanes to chastise those that belong vnto his Sonne his eternall grace fayles them not but they enter by all gates howe hideous soeuer they seeme to humaine sence into the Pallace of happie life and assured glory Extracted out of my Memorials I was called early in a morning in the yeare 1543. to goe see a Gentleman called ALEXANDER BRASQVE with some other Phisitions Hee would by no meanes drinke and as wee did enquire of the cause of his sicknesse those which did tend him did confesse that hee had kist a certaine Dogge of his which hee loued verye well before hee sent him to be drowned for that hee was madde Hee dyed the next day as I had fore-told CARDAN in the first Treatise lib. 2. contradict 9. A Peasant become madde and hearing that hee had not long to liue in the world made great instance to them that kept him and held him straightly bound for hee had some quiet seasons during the which hee spake sencibly that hee might bee suffered once to kisse his children for his last farewell This beeing granted him he kissed his children and so dyed but the seuenth day following his children became madde and after sundry torments they dyed as their Father had done Maister PAVMIER in his Treatise of contagious diseases pag. 266. I haue seene yet more Horses Oxen Sheepe and other Cattle haue become madde and dyed so hauing eaten a little Strawe whereon madde Swine had line In the same Treatise 267. ADAM SCHVEIDTLIN a Surgion did assure mee for certaine that about thirtie yeare since at Hassuelsel in Bauaria a Knight going to Horse-backe was bitten by the foote by a madde Dogge whereof hee made no accoumpt but a yeare and a halfe after hee began to growe madde so as hee bitte the flesh of his owne armes and was not apparantly sicke but two dayes â—…OHN BAVHIN Doctor of Phisicke at Basill in his learned Historie of madde Wolues running about Montbeliard in the yeare 1590. In the yeare 1535. a certaine Hoste in the Duchie of Wirtemberg serued his guests at the Table with Swines flesh the which a mad Dogge had bitten after they had eaten of this flesh they all fell mad Historie of Germanie Certaine Hunts-men hauing slaine a Wolfe made sundrie dishes of meate of the flesh but all that did eate of it became mad and dyed miserably FERNEL lib. 2. Of the hidden causes of things Chap. 14. I haue obserued that the biting of mad Wolues causeth Beasts to die presentlie that are toucht with their teeth Maister PAVMIER in his Treatise of Contagious Diseases Many haue noted that Wolues although they bee not madde yet by reason of their furie and ordynarie vyolence which appeares by their sparkling eyes and their insatiable deuouring they make the flesh of Beasts which they bite or kill to be very dangerous if it bee kept any time A famous Prince did sweare vnto mee that one of his Pages hauing found at a certaine Gentlemans house a Rapier hidden vnder a bed where-with some yeares before they had slaine a madde Dogge hee intreated him to giue it him which done going about to make it cleane and to scowre it beeing rustie in diuers places by mischance hee hurte himselfe a little in one of his fingers where-of hee fell madde and dyed before they could fore-see and preuent the danger ESAYE MEICHNER Physition in his Obseruations There was seene in Portugall a Man bitten with a mad Dogge the which lay hidden three yeares at the end whereof it appeared and hee dyed thereof AMATVS A Portugall Physition in his seuenth Centurie Cure 41. BALDVS a famous Lawyer playing with a little Dogge of his that was madde not knowing it was sleightly bitten on the lippe the which hee regarded not But after foure moneths hee dyed furious and madde and there was no meanes to helpe him for that he dyed not seeking to preuent it in time Maister AMBROSE PARE lib. 20. Chap. 21. In the same place hee propounds diuerse remedies against the biting of a mad Dogge the which he thinks auaileable if any one of them be vsed presently and hee saith that hee hath cured many that haue beene so bitten Among others he specifieth this example following One of the Daughters of Mistresse GRONBORNE at Paris was bitten with a madde Dogge in the middest of her right legge where the Dogge set his teeth very deepe into the flesh the which was cured Among all remedies Treacle saith he is singular causing it to be dissolued in Aqua-vite or in Wine and then rubbing the place therewith hard vntill it bleed then you must leaue within it Linte dipte in the sayd mixture and vpon the wound apply Garlike or Onions stampt or beaten with ordinarie Honie and Turpentine This remedie is excellent
is newe or strange vnto them I knowe one whom I doe not name for great considerations who besides the admirable knowledge hee hath of diuers Languages and sciences remembers the meanest things that hee hath seene in diuers Countries euen the names of Men Citties Townes Villages and Hamlets marking the circumstances of infinit things so as if anie one did put him into discourse of any Towne where hee had not beene these fiue and twentie or thirtie yeares hee will speake of all the particularities thereof more exactlie then hee that had continued there for the space of fiftie yeares togither and neuer come forth I will not speake of many great and excellent memories in France Italie and else where contenting my selfe with this for the present whereof some other time will shew other admirable obseruations Memorie lost and recouered againe A Siennois named ANTHONY being recouered of a great sicknesse found his memorie to faile him in such sort as he could not remēber any thing Being at Florence hee thought himselfe to be at Sienna neither could he discerne his friendes from his enemies Beeing abandoned of the Physitions as a madde-man after three weekes he had a great fl◅x whereby hee purged himselfe of strange humors the infectious vapors whereof had toucht the faculties of the spirit By meanes of which euacuation he recouered his vnderstanding and memorie so as hee remembred not what had chanced vnto him nor what hee had done during those three weekes A. BENIVENIVS Chapter 47. I haue seene a Friar who cured of a violent ague which had tormented him lost his memorie so as hee who before was a great Diuine did not now knowe A nor B. Hauing continued foure monthes in this estate he went to the Childrens Schole learning to knowe his letters This began to applie diuers remedies vnto him by the helpe whereof hee sodenly recouered his memorie so as hee shewed himselfe as learned as before his sicknesse CHRISTOPHER de VEGA Booke 3. of the arte of Physick Chap. 10. FRANCISQVO BARBARO a learned Venetian did in his old age forget the Greeke tongue in the which hee was very learned yet notwithstanding his Iudgement was good and his spirit perfect to write or dictate BASSIAN LANDVS lib. 1. of the History of man The same man beeing to make an oration before the Duke of Milan was at a non-plus hauing for-gotten what he intended to say RAPHAEL VOLATERRANVS Book 21. of his Anthropologia GEORGE TRAPEZONCE a very learned Greeke beeing growne olde hee forgot all that hee had knowne before The same Author Monsieur RONDELET a learned Physition in our time did report that a young man studying at Montpellier going throught the streetes in the night met with disordred fellowes which liued by spoile who thrust with a rapier at his bodie and hurt him very sore in the eye By the care of the Physitions and Surgions he was cured but hee fell into so great a forgetfullnesse of artes and sciences and especially of the facultie of Physicke in the which hee was well aduanced as hee remembred not any thing whatsoeuer so as they were faine to vse him like a Child of seauen yeares old setting him againe to his A B C. THOMAS IOVRDAN Chap. 2. of the 2. treatise of Signes of the plague I haue knowne an ancient man in France which spake good French and Latin plaied excellently well of the Lute and that was verie actiue at all exercises of the bodie and handled his weapon well through a sicknesse he was so depriued of all these things as hee did not remember the names of them neither yet had any habilitie in him no more then a yong Child and so were they faine to vse him and to set him to Schole againe as one that knewe nothing T. DAMIAN Chap. 13. of his Theorie of Physick GONSALVE GILLES of Bourgos a learned Diuine a Spaniard had in his time one of the happiest memories in the world the which notwithstanding hee lost wholie by a greeuious sicknesse into the which hee fell at his returne from Paris into Spaine ALVAR GOMECIO Booke 4. of the Historie of Cardinall XIMINES A certaine man beeing sore hurt in the head and with some difficultie cured at the ende of three monethes lost the remembrance of all that had happened vnto him FERNELIVS Booke 2. of his Panthologia Chap. 5. Father fertill in his ofspring IN the memory of our Fathers there was seene a village in Spaine of about a hundred houses whereof all the Inhabitants were issued from one certaine olde man which then did liue when as that village was so peopled so as the name of consanguinitie ascending and descending as well in the direct as the collaterall line fayled to shewe and distinguish howe the little Children should call him L. VIVES in his comentarie vpon the 8. Chap. of the 15. Booke of the Citty of GOD. Mothers fertill in Lignage issued from them IN Saint Innocents Church-yard in the Cittie of Paris is to bee seene the Epitaph of YOLAND BALLY widdowe to M. DENIS CAPEL a Proctor at the Chastelet which doth shewe that shee had liued foure score and eight yeares and might haue seene 288. of her Children and Childrens Children shee dyed the 17. of Aprill 1514. Imagine howe much she had beene troubled to call them by a proper denomynation that were distant from her in the fourth and fift degree E. PASQVIER Booke 6. of his Recerches of France Chap. 46. In our time there was a Lady of the noble family of the DALBOVRGS who saw of her race euen to the 6. degree The Germains haue made a Latin Distichon of it thus 1. Mater ait 2. Natae Dic. 3. Nata filia 4. Natam Vt moneat 5. Natae plangere 6. ◅iliolam That is to say The Mother said to her Daughter Daughter bid thy Daughter tell her Daughter that her Daughters Daughter cryes This is recited and written by Maister THEODORE ZVINGGER a Physition at Basil in the 3. volume of his Theater of Mans life lib. 11. Vigorous Mothers A Woman hauing had a continuall vomiting of bloud for the space of seauen whole moneths conceiued not-with-standing and was deliuered of a goodly Boye and a lustie A certaine other woman beeing with Childe had her Termes orderly and in greater aboundance then before her conception they continued vntill her lying in and yet they were no hinderance to her happye deliuerie More-ouer I haue seene one neere vnto GREVENBROVCH who beeing neere to her deliuerie had her Termes extraordinarilye voyding congealed bloud in great cloddes yet shee escaped well with her fruite R. SOLENANDER lib. 5. of his Councells Chap. 15. art 36. 38. 39. Mother and Children preserued from death IN the yeare 1564. about tenne or twelue daies after Easter diuers persons of the Towne of Ast did crosse the Riuer which passeth along the Towne in a boate the Water beeing very deepe and broade the boate being in the middest of the Riuer it beganne to leane on the
company of Crowes came and lighted on the top of the house Where-vpon the theeues began to laugh and saye one to an other looke yonder are they that must reuenge his death whom wee dispatched the other daye The Tapster ouer-hearing them told his Maister who reported it to the Magistrate He presently commanded them to bee apprehended and vpon their disagreeing in speeches and contrary answers vrged them so farre that the confessed the truth wherevpon ensued their execution In the collection of the memorable speeches of this diuine A Gentleman of Chalence in Fossigry bâ—…ing in hâ—… Duke of Sauoyes armâ—…e in September the 〈◊〉 158â—… and gâ—…eeuing to behold the cruelties which wâ—…re 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the poore inhabitants of the Bayliwicke of Geâ—… resolued to depart from the said army Now because there was no safer nor nearer way for him then to crosse the lake to Bonne which might very well bee performed in three houres at the most whereas he should haue beene a day and a halfe going by the bridge of Chancy and that with danger hee went to one of his acquaintance named IOHN VILLAIN of the Village of Thaney in the Bayliwicke of Nyon hard by the towne of Coppet and desired him to helpe him to some that would carry him ouer the lake VILLAIN went along with him to Coppet where one of the best of the Towne had the Gentleman to a Tauerne and there it was agreed that two water-men of the place which were present should carry him ouer Wher-vpon he went back to Thaney for his horse apparell and other things Being returned in the boat crossing the lake the said water-men whereof the cheefest was called MARTIN BOVRRY fell vpon him and cut his throat VILLAIN vnderstanding it coÌ„plaining of so cruell a treachery was answered that it was an enemy whoÌ„ they had dispatched The murtherer fearing to bee called in question about it to preuent the matter made a present of the GentlemaÌ„s horse which was of great value to a certaine Maister and kept the rest to himselfe insomuch that the murther was neuer spoken afterward neither durst VILLAIN vse many words about it for feare of him-self But God would not leaue it so vnpunished For about the 15. of Iuly 1591. this BOVRRY going with diuers others of Coppet to shoot for a wager as he was charging the harguebuze which he had robbed the Gentleman of when he murthered him it sodainly discharged of it selfe shot the murtherer through the heart so that hee fell downe starke dead and neuer stirred nor spake a word This relation I receiued from VILLAINS owne mouth In the first troubles a Gentleman of the troups which beseeged Moulins in Burbonnois was taken sicke in such sort that he could not follow his coÌ„pany when they dislodged and lying at a Bakers house called IOHN MON which professed much friendship and kindnes vnto him he put such confidence in him that he stayed behind the rest hauing shewed his host the money that he had who promised to defend him from all men together with a little brother of his some 13. or 14. yeares old But so far was this wretch from keeping his promise that contrarily as soone as it was night he trayned them forth of dores and most wickedly murthered them Now marke howe God reuenged it it happened not long after that the murtherer being in sentinell one of his fellowes not thinking of it shott him through the arme with an Harguebuze wherof he languished the space of 3. months theÌ„ died stark mad Historie of France vnder CHARLES the 9. The towne of Bourges beeing yeelded by Mons. d'Tuoy during the first troubles those that held it before were inhibited froÌ„ talking together either within or without the towne or from beeing aboue two together at a time Amongst them that tooke pleasure vnder colour of this ordinance to murther such as they met talking together there was one named GARGET captaine of the Bourbonne quarter which made a coÌ„mon practise of it who shortly after taken with a burning feauer ranne vp downe the streets blaspheming the name of God calling vpon the Diuel crying out if any one would go along with him to hell he would pay his charges so dyed in desperate and frantike manner In the same History PETER MARTIN one of the Queries of the Kings stable and Post-maister at a place called Liege in the way towards Poictou vpon a slight accusation without either forme or maÌ„ner of processe was condemned by a Lord to be drowned This Lord commanded one of his Faulconers to go and execute this sentence vpon payne to bee drowned himselfe Where-vpon hee performed it but GOD deferred not the reuenge there-of long for within three dayes after this Falconer a Lackey falling out about the good mans apparel went into the field slew one another Which being reported to the Lord a most vnrighteous iudge it compelled him to haue some remorse and to say openly that he would it had cost him fiue hundred crownes the poore Querie had not beene drowned But it was too little for to value the life of an innocent man at In the same historie book 7. Certaine troupes of Peasants of Coulours Ceresiers and other places in Champagne hauing committed many murthers and spoyles in sundrye places were heere and there defeated and came very neere al of them to violent ends during the first troubles I will note two notable particularities here touching two of those troupes One going to set fire on an house fel down starke dead beeing killed with the shot of an Harguebuze vnaduisedly discharged by one of his fellowes Another dragging a poore Man and his Wife to a post for to haue them shot to death receiued also a shot from an Harguebuze which tooke away his life and so his prisoners escaped In the same booke It hath beene obserued in the history of France since the yeare of our Lord GOD 1560. Till the last peace that of a thousand murtherers which remayned vnpunished in regard of men not tenne of them escaped the hands of GOD but made most wretched ends as shal be seene in the bookes following Persons that liued a long time without eating or drinking MAister GERARD de BVCOLD Physition to FERDINAND afterwards Emperor testifieth in a booke imprinted both in Latin and Dutch that the yeare 1539. in a village by Spyre there was one namaed MARGARET the Daughter of SOFREY VVEIS BARBARA his wife which at 18. years of age beeing taken about the ende of September with a little paine in her head and belly began to lose all appetite to meate wherein she continued till the end of the yeare when hauing recouered some stomack she made a meale or two but euer after ceased altogither from eating and drunke very little After Easter the yeare following she refused to drinke insomuch that in the greatest heate of summer shee neuer dranke wherevpon it ensued that shee neither voided vrine nor other excrement
shee affecting Don IVLIO the Cardinalls Bastard-Brother with no lesse good wil confessed freely vnto the Cardinall that aboue all things that which made her so amyable was the beautie of Don IVLIOS eyes the Cardinall full of furie watching a time when as IVLIO went out of Ferrara a Hunting compassed him about in the field and taking him from his Horse hee caused certaine Ruffians of his to pull out his eyes for that they were companions of his loue Hauing the heart to behold this wicked acte the which was afterwards the cause of great scandalls among the Bretheren FRRNCIS GVICCHARDINE in the end of the sixt Booke of the warre of Italie FERDINAND Brother to ALPHONSO Duke of Ferrara and of IVLIO aboue named whose eyes Cardinall HIPPOLITO of Este had caused to bee pulled out yet by the speedy helpe of the Physitions they were put in againe without losse of his sight conspired the Dukes death with the sayd IVLIO FERDINAND who was second brother vnto the Duke was moued there-vnto through couetousnesse to seize vpon the Duchie and IVLIO for that it seemed vnto him that ALPHONSO did not apprehend the wrong that had bin done him being out of hope to be reuenged of the Cardinall by any other meanes Count ALBERTVS BOSCHET a Gentleman of Modena was acquainted with their councels and practise and hauing wone corrupted some men of base condition which were continually neere to ALPHONSO to giue him delight they had often-times great meanes to kill him but restrained by a fatall feare they alwayes let slip the occasion so as the matter being discouered as it happens almost alwaies when the execution of a conspiracy is deferred FERDINAND and his confederats were imprisoned IVLIO who the conspiracie being discouered was fled to Mantoua to his sister was by the Marquis decree sent prisoner to ALPHONSO after a promise made that he would not put him to death Count ALBERTIN with his consederates were quartered and the two Bretheren condemned to perpetuall prison in the new Castell of Ferrara GVICCHARDINE lib. 7. sect 3. The Cardinall of Pauia the Popes Legate being fled out of Bolonia besieged by the French in the yeare 1511. and was the cause of the losse of it and of many other great disorders which ensued being accused by some of Infidelitie and by others of cowardise and indiscretion Being retired to Rauenna to purge himselfe of that which had happened hee gaue notice of his comming to the Pope and demanded audience whereof the Pope who loued him exceedingly was very ioyfull and inuited him to dine with him But as hee went being accompanied with GVY of Vaine his Brother in lawe and of his guard of Horse-men The Duke of Vrbin Generall of the Popes Armie an ancient enemie to the Cardinall beeing yet madde with disdaine and despight for that hee had sayd that the rebellion and losse of Bolonia had come through his fault and by that meanes the Armie put to route whereof hee was Generall hee went towards him and being entred among the Horse-men of his guard who to doe him honor made him place hee slue this Cardinall with his Poynard it may bee vnworthy for the degree which he held the which ought not to haue any violence nor out-rage offered vnto it but otherwise most worthy of any cruell punishment for his infinite and odious vices GVICCHARDINE lib. 9. sect 18. The Lord YVES of Alegre Captaine of a companie of men at Armes at the Battaile of Rauenna in the yeare 1512. seeing a Bataylion of Italian foote to make head against the Gascoyne hee gaue them so furious a charge as hee forced them to retire but with more valour then good hap in regarde of the successe for the Seigneor of Viuaraiz his owne Sonne hauing beene slaine before his eyes hee being loth to suruiue so great an affliction rides into the thickest of his enemies where hee was slaine after the death of many of his enemies fighting as it did become a valiant Captaine GVICCHARDINE lib. 12. Sect. 14. PHILIP Father to PETER STROSSH cheefe of the banisht men of Florence against Duke COSMO of Medicis hauing beene taken prisoner in fight fearing to be put to death by the hands of Iustice hee resolued to kill himselfe Wherevpon a Spaniard that kept him came vnto him going out of the Chamber where-as PHILIP was he vnaduisedly left his sword there Being a little gone PHILIP barres the doore vnto him and sodenly takes the sworde setting the point against his throate he falles on it with all his force and so kils himselfe vpon the Table They found vpon the table a little note written with his owne hand shewing that seeing he could not liue as his estate required he had shortned his daies for that he would no longer remaine in the world P. IOVIVS in his Histories Supplement of Sabellic ANTHONY VRIE surnamed CODRVS a learned man in our time as his written workes doe witnesse had his Chamber and his Studie behinde the Pallace of FORLI but so darke from day light vntill nine of the clocke as of necessitie he was inforced to haue a Candle He vsed a Lampe of earth very faire and artificially made on the top whereof was grauen a deuise in Latin conteining That those studies which smelt of the Lampe smelt well Hauing left it light in his Chamber going one morning into the Towne about his businesse In his absence no man knowes how fire tooke hold of his Papers and in a short time of all the corners of his studie where as all was consumed both Papers Bookes and moueables Among other writings of his hand there was a Booke burnt intituled Pastor with all the rest of his estate in regarde of worldly goods They say that at the first brute of this fire hee entred into such a rage against him-selfe as crying out like a mad-man and running vp and downe the streetes towards the Pallace beeing neere vnto his Chamber where-at hee durst not enter for feare of the fire hee began to say addressing his speech to the Sonne of GOD What haue I done to thee O CHRIST or how haue I offended thine that thou shouldest strike mee and displaye vpon mee a testimonie of thine inexpiable hatred Then turning to an Image of the Virgin MARY Hearken Virgin what I saye vnto thee with a setled Iudgement and as I beleeue If happely at the houre of my death I recommend my selfe vnto thee heare mee not neyther accept mee in the number of thine for I make accoumpt to bee damned His friends there present did what they could to temper this furie but the boyling choller causing a fire in this miserable mans heart more flaming and violent then any worldly fire would not suffer him to heare any thing that might comfort him Hee was so opprest with his passion as hauing threatned all his friends if they continued to follow him he went out of the Towne and not able to bee stayed hee gotte into a thicke Forrest neere
happen to bee with child shee should presently be found guilty of Adultery Lib. 1. Of the conference of Antient wonders with moderne I haue seene with mine eyes a Gentle-man sitting by a Gentle-woman an honest Widdow whom hee sought to marrye as afterwards hee did Discoursing with her one day at Dinner a Veyne of the Temple neere vnto his Eare opened of it selfe from the which there issued and came very much blood the which he thought to stoppe with his Hand-kercher I was sitting at the table with them in a Castle whether I was called to cure a Gentleman that was sicke MAT. CORNAX lib. 1. Of his consultations of Physicke chap. 3. A yong mayden being kept from marriage grewe so sad as shee wept continually and would admit no comfort whereof followed an extreame paine in her head which bread a falling sicknes whereof soone after she died The same Author A certain Knight an Albanois hauing after great su◅e obtayned an honest Italian Widowe to his wife beeing one of the fairest women of her time after some months he grew iealous of her without any cause with a wonderfull strang passion For he had no opinion of her that shee eyther had or would wrong her honor but only he was trobled what should become of her after his death fearing least any other should enioye so rare a beauty Vpon this passion which did torment him continually he takes a furious resolution One night which was the last hauing shewed all the loue he could deuise vnto his wife who loued him sincerely in the ende he drew a naked Dagger from vnder his beds head and imbracing his wife with the one hand hee stabbed her with the other Which done he strikes himselfe to the heart and dies presently The wife not quite dead reports the whole history to such as came running ◅n at the crie of her chamber-maide and that the Knight had discouered his strange and cruell Iealousie a little before hee strooke her and then she died quietly Hist. of Italy A young Gentleman in the Emperor CHARLES the fift his Court beeing in loue with a Gentle-woman wrought so as partly by loue partly by force he had her maiden-head the which beeing knowne and hauing cōmitted this act in the Emperors Court he was committed to prison and condemned to loose his head and hauing notice giuen him ouer night that the next day should ende his life that night was so terrible vnto him and wrought such an impression as the next day comming out off prison to go before the seate of Iustice heare the sentence of death no man did know him no not the Emperor him-selfe For feare had so chaunged him that whereas the day before hee had a Vermillion hewe of a flaxen hayre and of a pleasing aspect hee was now like vnto a bodye taken out off the Graue hauing the hayre of his head and beard like to one of seuentye yeares olde and hee had the resemblance more of one that had beene hanged then of a lyuing man The Emperor thinking there had bin some fraud vsed and that some other offender had beene foysted into this Gentlemans place who was not yet 28. yeares old hee caused a search to bee made whence this wonderfull and sodaine change should come and then beholding wistly this poore offender thus terrefied the desire of iust vengeance was conuerted and turned into mercye and as it were reuiued out of a deepe amazement hee said vnto him I pardon thy offence commanding that they should let him goe adding withall that hee had beene punished sufficiently for his fault without the losse of his head LEVINVS LEMNIVS lib. 2. chap. 2. Of the complexion of mans body Where-vnto hee dooth adde certaine reasons of this strange alteration The which I heere set downe adding some words for the better explaning thereof Beeing demanded of a great personage the cause of this prodigious change I answered that wee must impute it to the deepe apprehension and attentiue thought of approching death peercing through the heart for the affection and passion of the minde beeing amazed was so violent and so bitter to the young Gentleman as the vitall spirits were almost quencht and suffocated in him all the parts of the bodye loosing their liuely and pleasing colour did wither and fade sodainely so as the rootes of the hayre nourished and watred by the fuming vapour that is betwivt the skinne and the flesh as the herbes in the ground that are toucht with a cold and drie quality they did wither and presently loose their naturall beautye for euen as the leaues of Trees and Vines in the heate of Sommer growe some times y◅alow and pale by any excesse of heate hayle rayne or a cold Northerly wind euen so the vigour of the bodye the colour the outwarde shewe the hayre which is no part but simply a dependance of the bodye takes the colour of gray or white because that which did maintayne them is quencht The which wee doe see happen to most men that haue beene in dangers in the Warres or in hazard at Sea or that haue beene toucht with dangerous diseases for then they thinke but of one thing which is that Death hath taken them by the throat if not perchance through long custome solide instruction and good resolution by the precepts of true Philosophie and by the assistance of more then a humane spirit they bee not accustomed nor vsed to feare so much The which wee see is ordinary and common in manye olde Souldiars and Martiners in regard of their long and continuall practise When as the horrour of Death surpriseth anye one or that the imagination thereof more bitter then death it selfe is framed in the thought they die sometimes before they are dying as it hath happened vnto many or else the Senses are dulled and mortefied so as the offenders feele not the stroakes as we haue seene in many that haue beene be-headed and broken vppon the Wheele resembling men that haue Apoplexies Lethargies falling-Sicknes Sowndings or like to others which open their eyes yet neither see nor knowe any man The dangers incident to Sea and Land whereas the Image of Death appeares before their eyes and doth fixe it selfe more strongely in the thought make them that are in them to tremble and looke pale the blood retires it selfe and flies from all parts towards the fortresse of the heart all the parts of the body in an instant want their norishment not any one doth discharge his due function but the feete stagger the sight growes dymme the force fayles the vnderstanding becomes blunt the spirit dull the cheekes leane and withered the tongue fumbling and the teeth shaking in the head To conclude there is no man how strong and confident so euer that is not amazed when any mortall danger surpriseth him sodainely True it is that a Christian fixing his hope in the grace of GOD recouers his spirits by little and little shakes of feare assures himselfe and becomes
for a long time hee had supprest the euill spirit the which did mooue the Greekes to ruine the Persian Monarchie IOACHIM CVâ—…ABVS a learned Phylosopher and Physition of our time in his Annales of Silesia Some yeares before the Emperor MAXIMILIAN the first had made Warre against the Suisses and hauing beene defeated in diuers Incounters certaine Astrologiens and Dâ—…uines aduised him to assayle that nation by some other waie and with newe troupes alleadging that a certaine starre which fauored the Suisses was nowe set and that other starres fauorable to Princes and Monarkes did appeere It succeeded ill with him for that hee beleeued these Diuiners for at the verie first Incounter not farre from Basil the Suisses were victors and wonne all his baggage H. MVTIVS Booke 30. of his Chronicle of Germanie In the following Bookes wee will propounde manie other Histories of Predictions A Prisoner freede A Gentleman of Lombardie named Pâ—…CCHIO valiant and wise but full of the gout beeing in disgrace with a great Noble-man going one daie vnaduisedly vpon his moyle some fewe Leagues from his house hee was pursued and set vpon by this Noble-man who was followed by some Soldiars and then carried prisoner to a stronge Castell out of the waie and shut vp in an heigh Tower and committed to one of his confident seruantes to keepe Hee was fed with bread and water like a crimynall person condemned to perpetuall prison and no man knewe who hee was In the meane time they sought vp and downe for PECCHIO but hearing no newes of him the Iustice of that place where he dwelt thought that hee had beene slayne for they had found his moile and some droppes of bloud vpon him They make dilligent information and two men are charged with whome in times past hee had had a quarrell vppon this presumption they are miserablie imprisoned and greeuiously tortured in such sort as they were forst to confesse that they had slaine PECCHIO so as the one was hanged and the other beheaded But PECCHIO was in prison where hee continued nyneteene whole yeares neuer changing nor putting of the clothes hee had When they tooke him yet full of hope that GOD would one day deliuer him His Sonnes according to the custome made his funerall and the deuided his goods Hee was taken in the yeare 1540. and was deliuered in the yeare 1559. in this manner The Lord who vsed him in that sort beeing dead they intreated PECCHIO after his accustomed manner neither did anie one euer see him or speake to him in all this time It chanced that this Lords heire had an humor to builde neere vnto this Tower and as they pulled downe the Walles which did compasse in PECCHIO who had no light but by a narrowe clifte by the which hee receiued his meate and drinke they spied this man with his clothes tottered his beard long to his knees and his haire hanging vpon his shoulders Euery man runnes to this newe sight Some persons well aduised did wish that hee should not bee brought too sodenly into the light least it should dazell him and that to much aire should make him fainte By little and little hee recouered his sight and strength Then hee lettes them vnderstand what hee was and of all his aduenture in the end hee was knowne reenters into his goods that were sold by his Sonnes and beeing cleerely cured of his gout hee liued the remainder of his daies helthfully The which I haue heard from his owne mouth in Milan where I intreated him to set mee downe this discours the which hee did at large in the yeare 1566. SYMON MAYOL an Italian Bishoppe in his Canicular daies Disc. 4. A Processe ended by an extraordinary meanes DVring the time that GREGORIE the 13. was Pope there was a quarrell and sute for matter of religion against IHON CASIER great Maister of Malta The Iudges appointed the Registers Proctors and witnesses had done all at Malta that might concerne this fact ROMEGAS a Knight of Malta was his principall accuser and as it were a partie All were adiorned to appeare before Pope GREGORIE at Rome in the yeare 1591. where I was and did see ROMEGAS and the great Maister arriue in Nouember In December following ROMEGAS died and presently after the great Maister and they were both interred in the Trinitie Church As for the Iudges Registers Proctors and witnesses being all imbarked in one ship with the Informations and proceedings of the Processe they perished all vpon the Sea in the same moneth and there remained not any leafe of the whole proceeding whereby they might ground any sentence SIMON MAYOL an Italian Bishop in his Canicular dayes Colloq 4. Dangerous Prognostications FRANCIS Marquis of Salusses Lieutenant to King FRANCIS in his armie beyond the Alpes wonderfully fauoured in our Court and bound to the King euen for his Marquisate which had beene forfeited by his Brother hauing no occasion offered him and his affection contradicting it suffred himselfe to be so surprized with feare as it hath beene iustified by the goodly Prognostications which were then spred abroad to the benefit of the Emperor CHARLES the 5. and to our disaduantage euen in Italie whereas these foolish predictions had so great credit as at Rome great summes of money were deliuered out by exchange vpon our ruine that after he had often lamented with his priuate friends the miseries which hee did see ineuitably prepared for the Crowne of France and for his priuate friends he reuolted and changed his partie to his great preiudice not-with-standing all predictions But he carryed himselfe like a man encountred with diuers passions for hauing both Townes and forces in his power the enemies Armie vnder ANTHONIE de LEVA hard by him and wee without any iealousie of him it was in him to haue done worse then hee did for by his treason we lost neyther man nor Towne but onely Fossan and that after it had held out long MONTAIGNE lib. 1. of his Essaies Cha. 11. A wonderfull Ransom THE Spanish Histories write at large of the ransome which ATABALIPA King of Peru payed to bee deliuered out of the bands of PIZARRE valued at manie Millions of golde yet not-with-standing the Spaniards put him to death and spoiled infinite treasures part where of was brought into Europe where it was wretchedly wasted part with those robbers and their ships was lost in the botom of the Sea But in the warre made in our time by the Vaiuod of Valachia against the Turkes in the yeare 1574. certaine Polonian Horsemen hauing defeated a great supply and taken their Commander prisoner who was a man of a tall and goodly stature and so riche as he offered almost an incredible ransom although many did affirme that he had meanes to giue more He offered vnto the Polonians if they would saue his life and not carry him vnto the Vaiuod to pay them twise as much gold thrise as much siluer and once as much in Pearle as he should way This sum
cholerick humor with the which shee voyded three Wormes the which were wolley and like in forme colour length and greatnesse to Catter-pillers but that they were blacke the which afterwards laye eight dayes and more with-out any norrishment They were brought by the Barber of Saint Maur to Mounsier MILOT Doctor and reader in the Physick schooles who then had the sayd CHARTIER in cure and shewed them to me to many others AMB. PARE Booke 24. Chap. 16. Let vs adde some Histories of wormes comming forth in diuers partes of mans bodie to shewevs more plainly our miserable vanity Hauing a soldiar in cure in Piedmont who had beene foote-man to Mounsier de Goulaines deceased and had beene hurt with a sword vpon the parietall boane after some weekes dressing him I did see a number of wormes come from vnder this rotten boane by certaine hoales in the rottenes which made me vse the more speede to drawe out and raise the sayd boane the which did shake long before and vpon the Duramater I found where nature had ingendred 3. hollowe places in the flesh to put in ones Thombe full of moouing and crawling wormes euery one of the which was about the bignesse of a points tagge hauing blacke heads â—…MB PARE Booke 9. Chap. 22. Manie learned Physitions of our time and amongest the rest I. HOVLIER in the first booke of inward diseases Chap. 1. L. IOVBERT Cap. 9 in his treatise of wounds in the head MONTVVS and VEGA hold that many times wormes are seene in the braine of diuers men as also in other partes of the bodie BALTHAZAR CONRADIN Chap. 10. Of his booke of the Pestylent feuer in Hungary writes that hee had seene wormes comming out of diuers partes of bodies toucht with the sayd feuer and some of a good length which tooke their issue by the eares the which of necessity bred in the Ventricles of the braine And therefore the Hungarians in diuers places did tearme this feuer the worme of the braine COR. GEMMA in the Apendix of his Cosmocritia makes mention of a woman in the Lowe Countries who being dead of a pestilent Ague they opened her head where there was found a great quantity of stinking matter about the substance of the braine with an incredible number of little wormes and punaises I. HOVLIER writes in his practise that hee had giuen Physicke to an Italian that was tormented with an extreame paine in his head whereof hee died And hauing caused him to be opened there was found in the substance of the braine a beast like vnto a Scorpion the which as HOVLIER thinkes was ingendred for that this Italian had continually carried and smelt of the herbe called Baselisk A young girle about eight yeares of age beeing fallen into a very great trance remained seauen daies without speaking feeling or with any moouing breathing stronglie and taking no norrishment but some broth or decoction of pourpie The Mother seeing her Daughter so violently toucht in the head gaue her a suppositarie which drewe from her by the seege two and fortie wormes wrethed togither like to a bowle whereby the Childe was cured ALEX BENEDICT Booke 1. Chap. 26. of the cure of diseases A little Sonne of mine three yeares olde called IOHN CONRARD beeing fallen into a verie troublesome trance and presently helpt with Treacle and Vinager applyed to his mouth and nostrills being a sleepe and afterwards awake wee found in the sheete wherein hee was wrapt a worme which had a sharpe mussell markt with redde hairie and crawling in the clothes I. SCHENCK in his Obseruation Booke 1. section 242. It happened to a young Childe of three yeares olde which was very well this wonderfull and memorable alteration which followes As she was playing by certaine women there beganne sodenly to appeere in the great corner of the eye within it the head of a worme whose bodie almost couered the eye The woman being amazed drewe neere and one of them did gently drawe out this worme which was aliue and long as an ordynarie point and some-what bigge without any hurt to the string or that the comming of it forth had any way offended the eye AMATVS a Portugall Centur. 5. Cure 63. I haue seene come forth at a young mans eares that was tormented with a violent feuer three wormes like to the kirnells of Pyne-aples and some-what bigger VELASQVE Booke 4. Chap. 30. FERNELIVS Booke 5. Chap. 7. of his Pathologia writes of a soldiar who was so flat nozed as hee could not blowe it so as of the excrement which was retained and putrefied there ingendred two wormes which were wolley and had hornes of the bignesse of halfe a finger the which were the cause of his death after that hee had beene madde for the space of twentie daies AMB. PARE Booke 19. Chap. 3. In the yeare 1561. the fifth of Maie a young woman giuing suck to her boye but sixe monthes olde stooping to tie her shoe shee voided belowe a little beast as bigge as a Caterpiller and hideous to behold It liued three daies beeing fedde with milke Beeing dead it was found full of cholericke matter greene and venimous especially about the head The young woman felt no discommodity after this voyding The Sonne of one named IOHN MICHELLACH dwelling at Metz did voide at his fundement very haire I did see one of thirtie and three yeares of age Sonne to N. ROCKELFINGER who in pissing voyded little wormes which did crawle like vnto those that breede in rotten cheese but they had blacke heads I haue seene others that had wormes comming out at their eares A certaine Gentleman named CAPELLE hauing beene so wretched and wicked as to beate his Father fell sicke and had wormes come out at his eyes A woman of Dusseldorp hauing beene very sicke for a long time in the ende a certaine Impostume growing vpon her bellie aboue her flanke it brake by wormes which were ingendred therein out of the which there came a great number black and reddish R. SOLENANDER in the 5. section of his Physicall Councells in the 15. Councell art 2. 3. 4. 24. In burning feuers especially in those that be contagious and pestilent we see that diseases cast forth wormes by the taile and other beasts of horrible and strange shapes Of late a poore woman a widowe of Reinspourg hauing beene long tormented with a cough a shortnesse of breath and a paine at her heart and head in the ende after diuers remedies shee tooke the quintessence of Turbithe which I gaue her by meanes whereof after that she had beene discharged of certaine vicious excrements she voided by the seege a liue Lizard and then shee was cured I doe not speake of a number of frogges which PAVL FISCHER studying in the Colledge of the Abbaye of Saint Esmeran did voide hauing beene long tormented with strange paine at his stomake But after this discharge hee was very well MARTIN RVLAND a Physition in his opinion touching the golden tooth of the Childin
the knowledge of any was found shutte vp fast in the former Dungeon hauing the face and countenance of a man distracted who required them that they should lead him presently vnto their Lord to whome hee had some-things of great and waighty importance to impart Beeing brought before him hee tolde him that hee was come from Hell The occasion was that beeing no longer able to endure the rigour of the prison vanquished with despaire fearing death and voyde of good counsell hee had called the Diuell to his ayde that hee would drawe him out of that captiuitie That soone after the euill spirit had appeared vnto him in the Dungeon in a hideous and terrible forme where they had made an agreement according to the which hee had beene drawne and carryed from thence not without greeuous torments then cast head-long into places vnder-ground that were wonderfull hollow as in the bottome of the earth where hee had seene the prisons of the wicked their punishments darkenesse and horrible miseries seates that were stincking and fearefull Kings Princes and great men plunged in darkenesse where they burnt in flaming fire with vnspeakeable torments that he had seene Popes Cardinals and other Prelates attired in state and other sorts of men in diuers equipages afflicted with distinct punishments in very deepe gulphes where they were tormented incessantly Adding that hee had knowne there many of his acquaintance namely one of his greatest friends who knew him and inquired of his estate the prisoner hauing tolde him that their Country was in the hands of a cruell Lord hee then inioyned him that beeing returned he should command this rough Maister to leaue his tyranous vsage and to tell him that if hee continued his place was markt in a certaine seate thereby which he shewed vnto the prisoner And to the end sayd this spirit vnto the prisoner that the Lord of whome wee speake may giue credit vnto thy report bid him remember the secret counsell and the speech wee had together when as we carryed armes together in a certaine warre and vnder Commanders that hee named vnto him Then he told him in particular this secret their accord the wordes and mutuall promises the which the prisoner deliuered distinctly one after another in order vnto this Lord who was wonderfully amazed at this message wondering how it could bee that things committed by him alone the which hee had neuer discouered to any should bee decifred vnto him so boldly by a poore subiect of his who did represent them as if hee had read them in a Booke They adde that the prisoner hauing inquired of the other with whom hee deuised in Hell if it were possible and true that so many Men whom hee did see stately apparrelled should feele any torments the other answered that they were burnt with continuall fire and tortured with greeuous and vnspeakeable punishments and that all those ornaments of Golde and Scarlate were nothing else but burning fire so couloured That being desirous to feele if it were so hee went neere to touch this Scarlate which the other perswaded him to forbeare but the heate of the fire had scorcht all the palme of his hand the which hee shewed as it were roasted in the embers of a great fire The poore prisoner beeing set at libertie seemed to those that came vnto him at his returne to his house as a man distracted and growne dull which doth neither heare nor see alwayes pensiue speaking little and scarce answering the questions that were demanded him His face was become so hideous and his countenance so foule and wilde after this voyage as his Wife and Children did scarce know him and when they knew him there was nothing but crying and weeping seeing him so changed Hee liued but fewe dayes after his returne and could hardly settle his poore etate hee was so transported and changed AEEXANDER of Alexandria liber 6. Chap. 21. Neere vnto Torge in Saxonie a certaine Gentleman walking in the fieâ—…d mette wiâ—…h a Man which saluted him and offered him his seruice Hee made him his Horse-keeper The Maister was not very good but the seruant was wickednesse it selfe One daye the Maister beeing to goe forthe recommended his Horses vnto his seruant especially one aboue the rest which was of some price this seruant was so expert as hee drewe this horse vp into a very high Tower When the Maister returned his Horse which had his head at the window knew him and began to neigh. The Maister being amazed demanded who had placed his Horse in so high a Stable This good seruant answered that it was with an intent to keepe him safe that hee might not bee lost and that hee had carefully executed his Maisters commandement They had much a doe to shackle this poore beast and to let him downe with Ropes from the top of the Tower Soone after some whome this Gentleman had robd resoluing to pursue him in Iustice his Horse-keeper sayde vnto him Maister saue your selfe shewing him a Sack out of the which hee drew many horse-shoes puld by him from horse-feete to staye their course in the voyage which they vnder-tooke against his Maister who in the end being taken and put in prison inrreated his Horse-keeper to helpe him You are too fast bound there answered the seruant I cannot free you But the Maister making great instance in the end his seruant sayde I will drawe you out of captiuitie so as you make no signe with your hands thinking to saue your selfe Which agreed vppon hee takes him with his shackles and Bolttes and carryes him through the ayre This miserable Maister beeing amazed to see himselfe in such a strange field began to crye out Oh eternall GOD whether doe they carrye mee Sodenlye his seruant that is to say the Diuell let him fall in a Marish then comming home to the house lett es the Gentle-woman his Wife to vnderstand in what estate and where her Husband was that they might goe and deliuer him A riche man of Halberstad a famous Towne in Germanie did vsually keepe a good Table giuing vnto himselfe all the pleasures in this world hee could deuise so little carefull of his soules health as one day hee presumed to powre forth this blasphemie among his riotous companions that if hee might alwayes spend his dayes in delights hee would desire no other life But after some dayes and beyond his expectation hee must needs dye After his death there were dayly seene at night in his house which was stately built visions which appeared so as the seruants were forced to seeke an other aboade This riche man appeared with a troupe of other Banketmakers in a Hall which in his life-time serued onely to make seasts in Hee was compassed in by seruants which held Torches in their hands and serued at a Table that was couered with Cuppes and Goblets guilt carrying many Dishes and then taking them away More-ouer they heard the noyse of Flutes Luthes Virginals and other Instruments of Musicke
killed the young woman by S. Oportunes Church This confession of his being committed to record they were executed as they deserued E. PASQVIER in the same booke and Chapter Eleven or twelue Danysh gentlemen being in talke togither one euening in a stoue fel to some hot words among themselues which at length grew to such termes that the candles sudenly were put out one of thē was stabbed with a poygnard killed Amongst those gentlemen was a Pursiuant of the Kings Now the murtherer was vnknowne by reason of the nomber although the gentlemen accused the pursiuant for it but the King would not beleeue them saying they had conspyred against his seruant In this perplexitie the King caused them to come altogether into the stoue and standing round about the dead corps he commanded that they shold one after another lay there right hand on the slaine gentlemans naked brest swearing they had not killed him The Gentlemen did soe and no signe apeared to witnes against them The Pursiuant onely remayned who condemned before in his owne conscience went first of all and kissed the dead Mans feete but assone as he layd his hand on his brest the blood gushed forth in great abundance both out of his wound and nosthrills so that vrged by this euident accusation he confessed the murther and by the Kings owne sentence was incontinently beheadded HENRY RANSOVIVS Liuetenant for the King of Denmarke in the duchy of Holsace makes this relation in a letter of his that is now in print farther addeth that the King his maister reported this history to him and to VLRIC his sonne in lawe Duke of MECKELEOVRG with these words Some of the gentlemen accused of this murther are still liuing this first day of Iuly 1591. And how that euer since the execution of the Pursiuant King CHRISTIERNVS 2. Permitted that ouer al his Kingdome vnknowne murthers shold be sought out after that manner I will ad another example saith he in the same letter written to DAVID CHYTREVS which happened at ITZEHOVV in Demnarke in my Fathers time A Traueller was murthered by the high way side and be-cause the Murtherer could not bee found out the magistrates of Itzehow made the body to be taken vp and an hand to be cut of which was caryed into the prison of the towne and hung vp by a string in one of the chambers About ten yeares after the murtherer comming vpon some occasion into the prison the hand which had bene a long time dry began to droppe blood on the table that stood vnderneath it The laylor beholding so extradinary a thing stayed the fellowe and aduerty sed the magistrates of it who examining him in the presence of my Father the murtherer giuing glory to God confessed the murther which hee had commited so many yeares before and submitted himselfe to the rigor of the lawe which was inflicted on him as he well deserued HIEROME MAGIVS a learned Philosopher disputing of such accidents in 3. of his Complaints Chap. 6. after hee hath quoted the ancyent and moderne authors which haue handled this subiect and propounded all that hee thought was requisite for this disputation finally concludes that such discoueryes of murthers are miraculous The Authors he alledgeth are HOMER in the 17. booke of his ILIAD◅S speaking of the dead body of EVPHORBAS in the presence of MENELARS which had killed him The Poet LVCRECIVS in the booke 4. in these verses Nanque homines ploerunque cadunt in vulnus c. THADDVS the Florentine in his explications on IOANNITIVS ISAGOGE HENRY de GAND in his Quodlibets Giles of Rome in the qaest 25 of 5. quodlibet IOHN MVIIOR vpon the. 4. booke of Sentences dist 25. quaest 14. The author of the booke intitu◅ed Peregrinarum quaestionum in the quae 6 of the. 3. decade MARSILIVS FICIN in the. 16. booke of the immortalatie of soules Chap. 5. GALE OF MARTIVS in the. 22. chap. of his booke De doctrina promiscua IOHN LANGIVS Phisition in his 40. Epistle and LEVIN LEMNIVS in the 2. booke of the miracles of Nature chap. 7. GAVDENCE ME◅VLA in the 4. books of Memorable things chap. 18. PARIS DE PVTEO in the treatise of Iudges vpon the word Tortura HIPPOLITO MARSILLO in his practise in the paragraffe Diligenter num 81. MARK ANTHONIE BLANC in the Commentarie on the Law FYNAL num 408. F. de questionibus LVDOVIC CARERA in the beginning of his practise num 140. FRANCIS IASON in the treatise of Iudgements and tortures In the town o◅ Tubingue a certain traueller cōming into an Inne talking at table of the iourney hee had to go asked the Host of the house if he knewe of any that went his way because hee was affrayd hee should not hit it where-vpon another ghest that sate at table with him said how he was going to the place he spake of knew all the wayes of the forrest through which they were to passe Trauailing together in the wood the latter thinking to make some great purchase fell vpon the other killed him But finding little about him hee returned heauy and sighing to the same Inne from whence they parted Presently after the bruit went of a man that was found murthered in the Forrest And because the Murtherer discouered himselfe sufficiently by his sighes hee was apprehended and beeing examined confessed the fact for the which he was put to death PH. LONICER in his ◅heater of Examples A Murtherer that had killed diuers men and certaine women with child going on Easter-Eue to the Towne of Winshein in Almaigne bought three calues heads of a Butcher in the shambles which hee put into a net made like a bagge and laying them on his shoulder went his way home-ward Where-vpon it seemed to all that met him in the streete that they were mens heads which hee carried in the net so that diuers ranne and aduertised the Magistrates of it who straight way sent some of their Sergeants and commanded them to apprehend him and bring him before them Be◅ing come and examined where he had those mens heads hee answered that hee had bought them of a Butcher in the open Shambles The Butcher was sent for who affirmed that those which he sold him were Calues heads no other The Magistrates amazed with this prodegie sent the buyer to prison where going to bee tortured hee confessed his murthers which was no sooner done but presently the three heads taken out of the net returned to their former shape and the murtherer was executed according to his demerits The same A learned Diuine of our time recytes such another History as that of IBICVS For he saith that an Almaign trauelling a iourney fell among Theeues who going to cut his throat the poore man espied a flight of Crowes and said O Crowes I take you for witnesses and reuengers of my death Hee had no sooner said so but he was murthered by the theeues who drinking two or three daies after in an Inne a