load of Hay with horses and Cart and all he cut off the head and feet of divers men did put them with their blood into a bason he flew through the Ayr hallowing like a hunter and the like pranks he played Chronicon Hirsaugiense and at last he killed Charls Calvus or the balld the King with poison IT is reported in the family of the Earls of the Andegavensium from whence Henry the second King of England sprung there was a Princess a notable Maga and a Witch who was constrained to worship and reverence the Eucharist who suddenly flew out of the windows of the Temple and was never heard of after Polydor 13. book A Certain Woman of Mediolensis near the Comiensem gate strangled a boy and devoured him and when she was wracked for her cruelty she said She was perswaded by the infernal gods that if she had sacrificed a boy three or four times she might do whatsoever she would Therefore she was bitterly tortured being laid upon the wheels crosse or latticewise and so her bones were broken and she dyed acruel and lingring death Artanus history Mediolan 1 Sect. writes that in his time this happened JOhn Fernelius relates in his first Book of Occult causes that he saw a certain man who by the strength of his words could cause divers sights to be in a glasse and those things which he commanded either in writing or in expresse Images were so lively imprinted that they might quickly and easily be discerned by those that sate by yea and there were holy words heard but filthily bespattered with obscene terms and after this sort they call upon the powers of the Elements and strange uncouth names of the Princes of the East West North and South Vierius book 2. chap. 7. of the Devils deceits FAcius Cardanus the Father of Jeremy Cardanus as he said had an aeriall devill to be his familiar for a long time who a long while used Conjuration and it gave him true answers but when he had shaken it off it returned him false answers he was eight and twenty years a Conjurer but he was freed from his familiar about five years but whilst he retained the spirit it was very profitable to him neither did it alwayes come alone although for the most part it did but sometimes it came with its companions Cardane of the variety of things 16. Book chap. 39. JAmes Jodoci de rosa Cortriensis carried a Ring about with him in which he thought the Devill was tyed by exorcisms and he did speak for five dayes together at the least and did consult with it about strange things and diseases and the manner of curing them At the last being bound and condemned to banishment first his ring in a publique place and a great company looking on was bruised and broken in pieces with the beaâ—ing of an Iron hammer by the Chancellor Done at Arnhemiae 14. July in the year 1548. Vierus Book 5. chap. 1. of the delusions of Devils IN the year of our Lord 1546. The daughter of John Vemerus a Citizen of Eslingensis whose name was Margaret was so swelled by the pains of her belly that the bignesse of her belly almost clouded her face and did seem to be ten palms in circumference she said that there were creatures of divers sorts was fed in her belly when in the mean time she feigned to be recreated and refreshed by sweet odours and delicate sauces those that stood about her Bed heard a crowing of Cocks cackling of Hens a gagling of Geese barking of Dogs bleating of Sheep grunting of Hogs lowing of Cattle and neighing of Horses There came out of her side worms and Serpents of a wonderfull bignesse about a hundred and fifty Many Physitians and Surgeons were enquired of and amongst them Leonhartus Fuchsius Tubingensis archiatrus At length came the Physitians of Charls the 5th Emperour and Ferdinand and the Hungarian King accompanied by some of the Nobles neither found they any thing false or counterfeit When the disease had almost endured for the space of four years and her pains did seem to encrease more and more the Magistrate of Eslingensis sent his Physitian together with three Surgeons and a Nurse that they might open the belly of the maid they tyed her with thongs they found her belly finely moulded up as with hands very artificially stuffed with pillows with divers arches by which the roundnesse of her belly was expressed the Virgin being uncovered had a very beautifull body her belly was brought into Court and reserved in the place of Anathematism The Mother of this daughter was a Witch and being examined upon the rack confessed that by Satans counsell and for gain she had done thus and her neck being first broken she was publickly burned and the daughter having holes boared thorow her knees with a hot Iron was condemned to perpetual imprisonment Lycosthenes in his prodigies IN Creet there was one Moses that went about almost a whole year stirring up the Jews being about to draw them through the Sea no otherwise then Moses of old performed Those Jews gathered up all that they could At the appointed day he drew forth the miserable people a great multitude of men and Women going with him the false Prophet brought them unto a steep place and there sheweth them a promontory unto the Sea and perswaded them to leap into the Ocean that they might swim to him being on the other side And afterwards he promised that they should have a safe journey Most of them leapt in being bewitched by his large promises but some were drowned and perished in the waters others were drawn out of the waves by Fishermen coming that way by chance but many of them followed him excepting those that narrowly escaped who returned to the rest of their company and did tell of the danger and destruction that others suffered In the mean while when these things were transacted the false Prophet vanished therefore they were not much out of their way who judged him to be an evill spirit who by Gods permission did delude that pittifull multitude and destroyed many Socrat. 7. Book 38. chap. ARchas the chief of the Indian Wisemen being instructed by Apollonius did tell his name Parents manners and whatsoever happened to him as if he had been present at all Philostratus WHen the Antiochians desired of Apollonius Antiocheno that he would turn away the Earthquake by which they were afflicted sighing he writ thus in his Tables Wo to thee O miserable City because thou shalt be levelled eeven with the ground by many Earthquakes and the River of Orontes shall wash thee to its banks Cedrenus JAmblicus returned from his sacrifices into City talking with his Schollers and by and by fastning his eyes a while upon the ground saith he Let us go another way because not far from hence lies a dead carcase Some of his Schollers followed him But others amongst whom Aedesius going forward in their journey they met the Cats
an easy matter saith Luther for Satan to assume the shape of a Man or Woman ex colloquiis Lutheri ONe descended of a most illustrious progeny invited Martin Luther and some other learned men to his Countrey-house at Wittenberg and when for his pleasure he rode forth to hunt the hare a Hare of an incredible bignesse and Forces running very swiftly over the fields objected themselves to his view The noble man being excellently well-mounted followed them with a great shour and presently his horse fell down dead under him and the Hare vanished into the Ayre This was a truly Satanicall Phantasm IN the 1546. year after Christ Martin Luther related at a Supper at Islebia That at Thuringia about the mountain which they call Horselberg certain noble youths very intent in the night time in catching of Hares took in their Nets about eight which when they returned home and hung up they found to be in the morning onely so many horse-heads such as are to be found stinking in some loathsome ditch Ex colloquiis Lutheri AT Rotenberg a certain man most gloriously attired and one that bragged of great Nobility and Riches did frequent the house of a very honest Man and had two companions no lesse gorgeous in their apparel then himself He brought a Fidler and a Piper made Banquets called Dances and all under pretence of marrying the daughter of this good Man a very vertuous Maid He affirmed he was born to Noble Parents had immense Riches Castles Farms Towns and many of them in Forrain Countries Nor did he want any thing this world could afford but a Wife to his likening qualified and educated This â—â—â—ortunity of his guest and his companions pleased not the Master of the house which caused him to call in the Minister of the place against they came that so whilst they were at Supper he might intermeddle some holy discourse out of holy Writ These Colloquies very much offended his guest and his friends Wherefore they desired some other subject and argued that many witty conceits and neat jests were more suitable to feasting and did more exhilarate the hearts of men then the exposition of holy writ therefore they would intreat them to be no more troublesome to them with discourse of that nature By which the Master of the house found what diabolicall spirits they had and being now well armed against the snares of the Devill he said to his guests Avaunt or depart O ye wicked Caitifs you shall have nothing to do with me nor mine we are Baptized and Redeemed by the pretious Bloud of Christ and he will defend us against your Diabolicall machinations At these words this devillish Impostor together with his hellish companions vanished leaving behind them a most noisome stink and the dead bodies of three men who had been hanged Manlius in collectaneis A Certain Man who abounded with wealth living about thirty Miles from Gorlitz inviting some friends to a Supper most exquisitely cooked and they refusing to come he grew so extream angry that in a rage he said If they will not come I wish all the Devils in Hell would This wish was not frustrate for immediately a great company of them which he had called for in his wrath came to him which he not knowing at the first sight went to entertain them courteously But when instead of hands they stretched forth their claws to him being exceedingly affrighted he well thought what kind of guests he had in his house Thus trembling with his Wife he fled out of his Castle and left an Infant in the Cradle and a Fool sitting on a Stove by it to see to it But the Fool brought the Child safe from amongst those fiends Jobus Fincelius de Miraculis SOme florid and learned Men in the Basil Council for recreation sake went forth into a small Wood friendly to confer about the disputes of those times As they were going along they heard a pretty little Bird singing most sweetly like a Nightingale they are ravished at her pleasant Musick not knowing what Birds note it should be Entring the Wood they espy a small Bird sitting on a Tree and singing most pleasantly without giving over they were all very attentive At last one having more courage and better spirited then the rest speaks thus to the Bird I adjure thee in the Name of Christ to tell us who thou art The Bird made answer That she was one of the damned Souls and was designed to that place till the last day and then she must undergo everlasting torment When she had said this she flew away from the Tree crying O how immense and of long continuance is Eternity Philippus Melancthon saith I am of opinion that this was the Devil inhabiting there All that were present at this adjuration fell very sick and within a little after dyed In collectaneis Manlii A Certain powerful Man and very ancient had devoted himself to conjure the Devil maintaining his study herein by that saying The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head as if man had power given him over the Devil that he might call him forth and cast him out when he pleased I am not saith Luther of that belief to dare to use the commerce of Devils And added moreover what happened to Nicolaus Ambsdorffius Bishop of Ciz who as himself related it and truly acknowledged on a time in the City Maidenburg when he was Priest there sleeping by night in an Inne he was awakened by two Noblemen long since dead before whom went two young men carrying Torches in their hands and not being afraid when there was no danger being commanded to arise he did so There these Noble-men dictated Letters to him which he wrote and charged him to present them to a certain Prince When they had done these things they vanished He delivered the Letters to whom he was commanded IN the year 1545. an evil spirit straggled up and down the City Rotwil having the shape sometime of an Hare sometimes of a Goose and sometimes of a Weazel threatning with a loud voice that he would burn the City Which did not a little terrifie the Inhabitants thereof Pincâ—lius lib. 1. IN the year 1534. On Christmas Eve in a City of Saxoniâ— Satan taking upon him the form of a Man came confidently to Laurentius Donerus Priest of that place when he should hear them that were the next day to come to the holy Supper of the Lord to make confession of their sins earnestly desiring him to hear his confession Being admitted he belched out most horrible blasphemies against Christ the Son of God But being convicted by the Minister with the power of Gods Word he departed leaving an unsufferable scent behind him Idem AT Friâ—urga a famous City in Misnia was there a Man renowned for his Religion and Age who being very dangerously sick and almost at the point of death The Devil clad in a prelaticall garb came unto him left by chance all alone
short space she attempted to kill her father by her poyson and thereby unravell'd the clew of his life by whose death she got the Kingdom at Taurica she erected a Temple to Diana at whose Altar she offered strangers whithersoever they came from Sea or by Land she did enact that they should be sacrificed and by this means she thought her fame would be spread in all Countries Afterwards she married her Uncle unto whom she brought forth Circes Medea and Aegialeum Circes was instructed in her mothers arts and she did use the herball and poisons She added other things by her own invention The Virgin was married to the King of the Sarmatarians and by her enchantments kill'd the King and was possessed of the Kingdom whom because for a time she did tyrannically abuse and cruelly handle the Nations that were under her they expelled the Kingdom After which she with a small company of Women was reported to keep a deserted Island in the Ocean but the likelier report is that she came into Italy and rested in the Latian Promontory then that Iland from her inhabiting there got the name of Circei Medea disdained not domesticall Arts yet endeavoured to know the medicinall use of herbs and to be skill'd in the dialect and number of magical verses but was of a far milder disposition then either her Mother or Sister were who were infamous for their truculency and cruelty as well with much art as favour which she had much with her father She freed strangers destinated for slaughter At length being suspected by her father she flew to the Temple of the Sun placed on the Sea-shore the Argonautes coming by night from Taurica into Pontus shewed the cause of their coming unto Medea she did tell them of the imminent danger that was likely to befall them from her father and told them of his cruelty to strangers admonished them to beware and take heed Counsel being taken Medea promised to get a helper to bring to perfection the proposed combaâ—e She did engage her self by oath to Jason to be his Wife as long as she lived Then the Argonautes by night leaving their keepers in the Temple went with Medea to get the Golden Fleece and by her Arts make Aeson Jason's father being an old man turn young again and delivered Pelias Jason's Uncle from being slain by his daughters and lived ten years with Jason at Corinth But when she saw â—laucen or Creusa the daughter of Creon the Corinthians King to be preferred before her she covering her anger sent a coat being poysoned to the new married Princesse for a Present as soon as she had put it on she suddenly burned like fire and by the like destruction Creon and his Queen perished She openly slew the sons which she had by Jason Jason dyed for grief she flew to the Thebans there she cured Hercules of his madnesse and from thence being heaved into the Ayr by Dragons she flew to Athens and married Aegeus c. Thus saith Diodorus book 4. chap. 3. Ovid 7. Metamorph. Sabellic PAsetiâ— farthing is a proverb Pases is of a soft nature and by Magick has overcome all mortals so that by inchantments they prepared a sumptuous supper and servitors she had a farthing minted or made by her with which she could buy what she would of them that sold any thing and would give it them and when she pleased it would come to her again Suidas Appian the Grammarian remembers her likewise MAny think that Pythagoras was a Magitian and skilled in those divellish Arts for when he had by his magicall whispering bewitched an Eagle that flew muttering over him he brought it to him that he might make it tame and forthwith it was made gentle Pythagoras saith Ammonius shewed his golden thigh at the Olympick games and used to talk with an Eagle SImon Samaritanus as Ambrosius in Hexameron and Clemens Pontifex high Priest testifie in his Itinerary besides his various and wonderfull Arts by which he contended with the Apostle he often appeared sometimes in one shape sometimes in another and was seen to soar a loft with wings like a bird a great way therefore being born up by his magical Arts and by the Devils help he did so extreamly mock and bewitch the Romans that oft-times he made himself a god and they made a Statue between the two bridges superscribing this title To Simon the holy God he bragg'd that by many unspeakable conjurations he could call up the ghost of an innocent boy to assist him and by that he could make it to do whatsoever he commanded to be done for the truth is he was familiar with the Devil which he called the soul of the boy that he might cautiously cover the pretence of his divinity Vierus book 1. chap. 16. ex Clem. lib. 2. Recog THere was a certain Man in Galeotide that by his words could drive away diseases and could expell unseasonable weather and barrennesse and poverty with his sacrifices and cause mutations and give reasons for getting Riches they report that he was inticed into Creet by the rewards of Minos that he might find out that strange death of Glaucus Suidas APollonius Tyaneus the Philosopher the son of Apollonius his mother being big with child saw the Devil standing by her who said he was him whom she carried in her womb viz. Egyptian Proteus hence he was accounted the son of Proteus he flourished under Claudius Caius and Nero untill Nero's reign in which he dyed he was silent for five years after the Pythagorean manner afterwards he went into Egypt thence to Babylon to the Magitians from thence he went to the Arabians and out of all these places he gathered notable delusions Suidas Philostratus has written his life cunning Satan by the deceits of this Impostor would have brought the Miracles of Christ into question and would oppose him as his Antagonist Of which Magnus Anastasius the Bishop of Theopolis thus writes In some places unto this day the acts of Apollonius stands and has their efficacy some of them good for the driving evil spirits from beasts others to restrain the inordinate excursions of the mind and to expell those things which endamage men neither did the Devil do such and such things when he was alive but also when he was dead and went along with him to his tomb and by his name onely did great wonders to deceive poor ignorant men which easily after this manner are deceived What shall I say of the magick of Manethon who was so expert and artificiall in these divellish arts that he openly derided and laughed at Apollonius as not being right instructed in his mystery for saith he he ought by his meer words to do what he pleases as I do not to use any operations or means to it Cedrenus in his historical Compendium SEdecius a Jewish Physitian made magical places before the Emperour Ludovicus and other Princes he devoured men together with their horses and arms and gulphed up a
part of Suevia a Country-man walking over his ground to see his Corn in a dry season with a little girle a daughter of his with him wished that it would rain a good shower The Maid hearing her father say so out of her childish simplicity told him She could easily procure that for him The Father wondring at the childs words askt her how could she do such a feat O sayes she I learnt that of my Mother and added That she could easily cause it not onely to rain but hail and raise a great tempest and that her mother learnt it of a Master she converst with and that whensoever and whatsoever she required of him was presently perform'd but that her Mother had strictly charged her to tell no body The father being terrified at these things askt her if she had ever seen this Master The girle answered again that she had seen many come in and go out who her Mother told her were their Masters and Loving Lords Her father again demanded if she could just then raise a shower or storm She reply'd I if she had but a little water He therefore brought her to the River where calling upon this Master she presently caused it to rain in her father's fields alone and not in his neighbours as he had commanded her The man seeing that bid her also make it hail but so as but in one field which he shew'd her this she presently effected And then being fully resolved his wife was a Wiâ—ch he brought her before a Magistrate there convicted her of the crime and burnt her his daughter being put to holy exercises and by sacred means was delivered from the power and wiles of the devil Ibid. IN the Town Fach a Judge commanded his Serjeants to apprehend a Witch and bring him to execution but they were so annoyed with loathsome stincks and struck with such a terrour in the businesse that they utterly despaired of effecting it The Judge his name was Peter insisting more earnestly upon the performance of his command again exhorts them that they would take courage and lay violent hands upon the Witch for now the appointed time was come wherein the detected crimes of this impious person must be punished by which encouragements being animated to repel the fascinations of the devil the VVitch was taken and brought to execution AT another place when a Witch was bound and brought to the Gallows top she spet in the face of the Hangman and he presently fell down dead in like manner she did by a second But the third going about a little more warily was yet so invenom'd by her breath that all his face swelled till he was stark blind with it and a little after he died of it WHat power the Devils have to afflict Brutes Cattle and all other creatures and how they can raise storms and tempests you may find sufficiently laid open in the 14. 15. chapters of the forecited Author the examples are very horrible nor do I think it necessary to commemorate any more of them The History of Job will evidence the same thing what is not onely the power but how extream the malice of that evill Spirit THere were two brothers to whom their Father left a competent estate when he died the one of them took upon him a Monastick life the other married and set up a common Inne and most earnestly gaping after Riches used all means possible to defraud not onely his guests but their beasts by false weights and Measures and conveighing their provender from before them Whilst he thus strove to be rich his estate went to wrack on every side and the more he took care to heap up the more and greater losses he sustained When his brother the Monk came to him to part the estate with him according to his Fathers Will he desired his brother that he would forbear prosecuting him for the division of the goods at present for he was poor and in a very low condition and notwithstanding that he used all means possible for the gaining of an estate yet all the fraud he could use profited him nothing when the Monk heard this he said O my Brother if you order your Family so unjustly 't is no wonder that things go so ill with you For you keep such a guest that consumes all and more than you can possibly gather and if thou wilt see him follow me into the bottom of the Cellar and I will shew thee who consumes thy estate Whither when they were both come the Monk by his adjurations made the Devill that lay hid there shew himself to his brother And presently a beast of an immense bignesse and so fat that without much ado he could not move himself appeard which when the Monk saw he said O what a gainfull Inne dost thou keep and turning to his brother said Behold that beast thou hast pampered by thy fraud for whatsoever thou fraudulently gottest from any man this ugly beast devoured Therefore hearken to me Be faithfull and upright in thy dealing towards all men use an equall measure and defraud no body and after four years I will come again and then divide my Fathers estate with you His Brother follows the Monks counsell and as much as he went backwards in the world before he now came on and in a short time had such experience of divine goodnesse that he was Master of a great estate At four years end came his brother the Monk to see what condition his brother was yet in who received him with great alacrity and told him he had followed his advice desiring to see the beast now again in which the Monk gratified his brother and commanded the beast that lay hid in the Cellar to appear which when he came was so lean his bones would scarce hang together Then sayes the Monk to his brother now it 's time for this guest to get hence and seek another Host But if thou shalt hereafter order thy affairs with the like Justice thou shalt alwayes learn experience of the great blessing of our great and good God NOt long since sayes Bodinus in Vallis which is a name of the Suburbs of Laodunum a certain Witch by her inchantments freed a woman from her disease who was most grievously afflicted and thus she effected it Falling down upon her knees and looking towards the ground she called upon the Devill very often and with a loud voice that he would cure the Woman and pronouncing certain strange words gave her a morsell of bread to eat and by this means the woman recovered Which kind of cure is plainly such as if the sick woman had prayed to the Devill for health than which it were better to indure the most painful death Daemonomaniae lib. 1. cap. 6. I Remember about 20. years ago at Lutetia in a Noblemans house there I saw a young man by often reciting certain French words in the presence of many honest people which I think not good to mention at
delivered a crust of bread to the sick person which in the same moment began to recover This being done the Governour returning home did appoint that she should be apprehended and be burned as soon as might be but she was not seen in those parts from that time Idem ibid. WE shall bring a fresh example from an honourable man President of Vitriacus Francus who was assigned to all the greatest meetings of Brusis in the year 1577. When we wanted his help I did earnestly sollicite him that we might assist each â—ther in the publick burden lest he should go out of his place before the States were dismissed he answered That he had a certain friend who lay sick to death he was sent for by him and was made his heir he thenceforth was sick five or six years his members failing him and therefore his father being advertised that there was a man in Flanders who could cure his son went hither presently The Sorcerer unfolded the disease of the son which he had never seen to the Father and sent him away into Lusitania to another Magitian whose name he told him living in the King's Court. The Father bearing this patiently went into Lusitania where the Magitian said to the Father before he did onely proffer to speak Friend thy son shall be cured in a short time go into France thou shalt find a certain man named M. Benedictus towards Noviodunum about 20 miles from thy house but there are many of the same name this man shall cure thy son And therefore the Father wondring that he should undertake so great travail that he might seek that afar off which was near took courage and went to M. Benedictus But he said to the Father Thou hast spent very much labour going into Flanders and Lusitania that thy son might be restored Go command him to come to me I am he that will heal him The Father answered to these things Now he hath not gone out of his bed for above these 5 years and hath not truly the least faculty of moving in him But at length with no little trouble the sick person was brought thither and he was eased in part but yet he was not long well Idem ibid. JAcobus Sprangerus the Commissioner to enquire after the crimes of Magitians by the same argument doth write that he saw a Bishop in Germany who being very sick he knew by an old witch that he was sick by witchcraft neither was there any other way to recover his health then that the same witch should perish by enchantment who had cast the charme upon him The Bishop wondring sent with all speed to Rome to the Pope Nicolaus V. that he might get leave to be cured by this meanes The Pope which did love him singularly did grant his request with this small sentence that of two evils he should flye the worst The Letters Patents being brought the Witch said Seeing that it pleaseth the Pope and the Bishop she would perform it So in the middle of the night the Bishop was restored but the Sorceress which had bewitched him fell into the same disease from which he was freed But in the mean time that Sorceress which dyed would never consider but uncessantly committed her self to Satan to recover her health IN the field of Poictiers in France in the year 1571. Charls the eleventh King after dinner commanded that Triscalanus whom he had pardoned that he might disclose the partakers of his fault should be brought to him He confessed before the King and a great assembly of his Nobles the manner by which Sorcerers are conveyed their dancings sacrifices offered to Satan detestable copulations with Devils having shapes of men and women Moreover he added That dust was taken by many with which they killed men cattel and fruit Every one admiring at these his sayings Caspar Collignius Admiral of France for he by chance was present said That a youth was apprehended in the field of Poictiers some moneths before being accused concerning the death of two Noblemen he confessed that he was their servant and he saw them with dust cast into the houses and the corn saying these words A curse on that fruit on that house on that Region And therefore he having gotten this dust took it and cast it into the bed where those two Nobles did lye so both were found dead in the bed but swelling and very black The Judges did discharge the boy Then Triscalanus hearing that discovered also many things of that kind But it may be believed if the King whose body otherwise had the strongest joynts and complexion had commanded this Prince of Magitians and his other followers to be burned together that God would grant a longer and more blessed life to him for these Judgments For the Word of God is alwayes manifest unto him that he who quitteth a man worthy of death doth return his deserved punishment on himself as the Prophet said to King Achab That he because he had shewed favour to a man that did deserve death should dye Ibid. IT is manifest unto all men that the man of Rochell who was wounded to death of whose health all Chirurgions did despair was so ordered by the help of a certain Magitian that he could walk and speak some dayes indeed Satan and not any other did bear him that he might shew his power to the Magitians Ibid. JOachimus Camerarius doth declare in his book de natura Daemonum When by chance a certain Butcher went by a Wood in the night he heard a noise and dancings and therefore having sought the thing diligently coming he saw silver cups which things as soon as the Sorcerers and Devils were separated presently the Butcher took and the day after brought them to the Magistrate so they whose marks were in the Cups did accuse others being summoned to the Court and were all deservedly punished THere is another more excellent example of that execution which was made at Pictavium in the year 1564. the history of which execution I learned as well from many in the same place as also from Salvertus President of the people of Poictiers who was then sent for to hear the Judgment with Daventonius the President of Poictiers with other Judges and all in that region know it Three men with one woman being Sorcerers were condemned to be burned alive together when they were proved guilty of the death of very many men and cattel dust being brought to them as they did confesse by the help of the Devil furnishing them which they hid under the ground of Sheep-cotts and the threshold of houses But they declared That they were wont to go thrice to the greatest meeting whither innumerable Magitians came together to a certain cross-way where Feasts are solemnized which did afford them the use of an Image there was before them a great black hee-Goat speaking to those that were present with humane reason that they should leap all into the circuit of his embracements and then
in unlocking his door which Coponus had before prevented by putting a little wire into the lock that he might have the better opportunity for his design beat out his brains with an Ax and being questioned for it alledged no other thing for the fact but that he was incited thereto by Cocles his own self telling him that he must be a murtherer and nothing else Jovius in Elogiis A Certain Astrologer in the Court of Frederick the second Emperour much reverenced Rodolphus the Haspurgensian Earl with exceeding observance though he had but a mean estate and valued not at all men far more potent and being demanded a reason thereof by the Emperour he answered I know that Rodolphus shall be Emperour and when thy Issue shall decline his renown shall be spread abroad far and near though he be esteemed by few at this time Neither did his presage want a true event for in the year of our Lord 1273. in the Calends of October he was chosen King of the Romans by the Princes of Germany at Franckford when he besieged the Pallace Cuspianus in Caesaribus WHen the Mathematicians looked into the Geniture of the Great Sfortia and observed the excellent positure of the Stars and their admirable sites and aspects they predicted to him High Empire immortal glory and a happy off-spring but at length they added That he should not attain old age but should perish by an untimely death Jovius in ejus vita BRaccius the excellent Montenensian Duke seeing the body of his Enemy Sfortia the Great drowned in the River of Piscaria fell a praising the dead man with most exquisite Encomiums which of right belonged to him but he not being freed from so great danger of a present battle shewed to his Souldiers a more cheerful countenance because he being conscious of a fatal secret had learned from Astrologers that Sfortias indeed was to go before as taken with a violent death but a little after himself also as it were with the like lot should undergo the same fortune of departure He scarce lived over the fifth moneth when as for thirteen moneths space making assault at Aquila and it being in vain besieged at length in a memorable battel being overcome and slain by the sword of the Sfortian Souldier he fullfilled both the truth of the Stars and many prophets Jovius in the life of Sfortias UNto Uladislaus Jagellon King of the Polanders Sophia his wife brought forth sons Uladislaus and Andrew Casimir There was at Cracovia Henry a Bohemian a famous Astrologer and studious of Magick this man foretold That an Infant new born should be long-lived but unfortunate and that he reigning Poland should be afflicted with great evils and calamities but his brother Uladislaus was to be most famous and most victorious and unlesse Nature's destinies should envy a longer life to him he should command many Nations Both which things the issue afterwards proved For Uladislaus who was chosen King of Poland and King of Hungary being slain at Varna by the Turks in the 20th year of his age gave not satisfaction to this famous hope But Casimir who succeeded his brother in the Kingdom of Poland reigned 45 years lived 64 was bent rather on the Lituanian huntings than on the Common-wealth Cromér book 19. 29. BAsil a Mathematician but most certain soothsayer a certain Greek foretold the murder of Alexander of Medicis Duke of the Florentines to be committed by Laurence Medices his near kinsman he not onely shewed him the murder but also the certain smiter who should be intimate with him of a slender form of a boxy-coloured countenance and of a doubtfull silence almost not keeping company at all with others in the Court Also unto Cosmus of Medices they promised for certain forasmuch as in the very marking the hour of his birth he had a happy Star of Capricorn as once Augustus enlightned with a wonderfull aspect of Stars agreeing together it should come to passe that he should increase in a wealthy inheritance Alexander indeed hearing it and Cosmus smiling when as a great number of his kindred was to be consumed by death before any even a small inheritance could come unto him Jovius JOhn Liechtenberg in the yearly predictions of his Ephemeris as I may so say admonished the Prince of Bavaria in a serious manner both by writing and painting that a Lyon should seek hiding places for fear of an Eagle He despised it but not long after he was assaulted with a grievous Warr by Maximilian the Emperour Agricola in Germane Proverbs PAul Farnese the 3d chief Bishop seeing he was most skillfull in Astrology and Magick writeth to his son Peter Aloyse who had by force entred on the tyrannical Government of Placentia and Parma that he should beware of the tenth day of September of the year 1547 as unlucky to him The father indeed could warn but the son could not avoid the danger but by Conspirators Augustine Landus and James Scott Earls of Placentia in his own Castle under pretence of talk he was slain and being a long time hung up by the privy parts he was exposed to be cruelly torn in pieces by the people Sleidan 19 book of Commentaries THere was a Town of the Xanthians that had a bridge laid over the small River Lycus in which were said to have been brazen Tables wherein letters were ingraven The Empire of the Persians was sometime to be overthrown by the Graecians The tables with the bridge being shaken down a little before that it was fought at Granicum by Alexander the Great they had fallen into the channel of the River Alexander being much moved at the report of the tables when as for some time he had stood doubtful into which part he might chiefly bend the course of victory turning to the right hand he subdued with wonderfull speed all the Sea-coast from Lydia even into Phaenicia Sabellicus book 4. Ennead 4. out of Plutarchs Alexander IN the second Carthagenian war besides many things seen and heard which were accounted instead of wonders a verse or song of Martius being curious and sounded at the same time brought the greatest care to the City That being by a most true event proved gave no doubtfull credit of the things that were to be He had written who ever that Martius was O thou Trojan born flee thou Cannae the River of Romana neither let strangers constrain thee to joyn in battell in the field of Diomedes but neither shalt thou believe me untill thou shalt fill up the field with bloud and the River shall bring down many thousands of thine slain out of a fruitfull land into the great Sea for fishes and birds and wild beasts which inhabit the Earth unto these let thy flesh be for meat Because these things were in great part represented before the eyes of men for the common sort were acquainted both with the fields of Diomedes and when they had fought at Canna there was the greater care of procureing
another Verse which was written in these words Ye Romane enemies if ye will drive away the impostume which commeth from far Nations I Judge playes are to be vowed to Apollo the which let them be faithfully done every year to Apollo when the people shall give a part in publique let private persons prepare to use them for them and theirs Over these sports the Praetor or Major shall be chief he who shall administer the greatest right to the people and the multitude And let the ten chief men or Decemviri after the custome of the Greeks perform holy things by sacrifice These things if ye shall rightly do ye shall alwayes rejoyce and your affairs shall wax better for that God shall put out the stubborn enemy which feedeth pleasantly on your fields This verse being openly interpreted sports were vowed to Apollo and solemnized in a Circle Sabellic book 4. Ennead 5. PRocopius the Tyrant being slain by Valens the Emperour the Walls of Chalcedon because the Citizens of that City had favoured Procopius his party were made equal with the ground The which while it was done they found a table of stone in their foundations on which these words were written When Nymphs shall nigh the holy City dance And wayes adorn'd with garlands and by chance After the wretched walls for placing baths Shall be converted burning in maddish wrathes A thousand shapes of men for greedy prey From divers Nations thou shalt see I say With forces strong alas to go beyond The Istrian and Cimmerian Sea-ey bond Then Scythick people then the Maesian Land Shall be destroy'd with slaughter's bitter hand When at the length unto the Men of Thrace The covetous lust of gain leading a Trace The cruel barbarism shall make a breach It shall be quenched by lot's partial reach This Prophecy was not then understood but was afterward fulfilled when Valens had built a conveyance for water and had brought abundance of waters to the City For the walls being overthrown he made use of the stones for the conveyance of the water which he called Valense by his own name that he might gratifie the Townesmen and the baths might be holpen by this bringing of water although some called them Constantius his baths At length Clearch Governour of the City in a place whose name is Taurus afterward called The street of Theodosius built Nymphaeam or a washing-place that he might shew the grace and pleasantnesse of the water brought in By these buildings the stony tablâ—s signified the coming even now of the Barbarians who in Thrace it self after destructions or robbings of the people made were all slain Cuspinian in Valens IN the sixth year of Justine the Great the City Edessa was miserably defiled with uncleannesse and of the River Scirtus and in the bank of the River a Table of stone found written on in Hieroglyphical or mystical Aegyptian letters to this purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is The River Scirtus shall dance or leap for the mischief of the Citizens Cedrenus UNto Alexander the Great going out of India to Babylon Nearchus Admiral of the Navy who had returned from the Ocean being carried into Euphrates sheweth him that certain Chaldeans had gathered themselves together who warned him that he should abstain from Babylon He being nothing moved went forward notwithstanding where he perished Plutarch in Alexander WHen L. Vitellius for the favour of Herod the Tetrarch would lead an Army against the Arabians they report Aretas King of the Arabians news being received of the dispatch of Vitellius to have gathered by sooth-sayings that it was impossible for that Army to have come to the rock For one of the Captains was first to dye either he which may prepare the War or he by whose command it may be provided or him against whom it is to be moved Neither was the divination vain For when Vitellius was as yet at Jerusalem a message being brought concerning Tiberius Caesar his death he made the Expedition void Josephus book 18. chap. 7. APollonius an Aegyptian foretold the death of Caius Caligula Emperour of the Romans who for that cause being sent to Rome was brought to Cuius that day in which he was to dye the death Xiphiline the abbreviatour of Dio in Caligula APollonius the Tyanean the son of Jupiter foretold That Cilix a certain man beyond measure lascivious should be killed on the third day and that so fell out Philostratus in his life LArginus Proclus foretold openly in Germany That Domitian Emperour of the Romans was to dye the death on which day he departed out of life And when for this cause by him who was chief over the Province he was sent to Rome he then also affirmed it should be so Therefore he was condemned for a capital matter But Domitian nevertheless could not escape the danger of life because on the same day he was killed Xiphiline JUlian Emperour moving against Constance pierced Illyricum daily espying the intrails of beasts and birds that he might contemplate of the issue At which time a certain Souldier lifting up the intrails with his hand being fallen flat on the ground he cryed out many hearing him The Trojane was fallen Constance should dye with the Mopsocrenians in Cilicia The which he saith should be by and by verified from Ambassadours Cuspinian ALexander Severus Emperour when as he spake unto his Army in France desiring to begin his speech from a lucky word fortune brought a contrary one the which was received as an evil token for he began Heliogabalus the Emperour being slain begining his speech from the Emperours death But when from thence he went unto the Persian War an outragious woman spake these words in the French tongue Go thy way neither promise victory to thy self neither rely thy self on the faithfulnesse of thy Souldiers That which was rightly told the event taught he himself not long after being killed by his Souldiers Fulgosus in book 1. chap. 3. A Certain woman meeting the two Maximines in the Julian Market-place when they came against the Senate with an Army with her hair spread abroad and a black garment calling on the Maximines with a great voyce fell down dead before their feet After a few dayes the Army slew the Maxinines in the same place WHen Dioclesian as yet warring in lesser places stayed at Tungrim in France in a certain Tavern and had familiar company with Druys a certain woman and she blamed the niggardlinesse of the man he is reported to have answered in jest not in earnest Then he would be liberal when he should be Emperour To these words she saith Do not jest O Dioclesian plainly thou shalt be Emperour and also thou shalt kill a Boar. Which word indeed of the woman he taking in the room of a-fore token began diligently to follow wild Boars in hunting not understanding to wit the riddle of the Prophecies which the issue afterward declared For Numerian Emperour had been slain by the faction of Arrius Aper which
brake the courage of King Croesus first with the greatest fear and then also with grief For of his two sons he thought that Atys the more excelling both in great nimbleness and endowments of body and ordained for the succession of the Empire was taken away from him by the sword Therefore whatsoever did belong to avoid the bitternesse of a denounced slaughter the father's care in no part ceased to turn away The young man was wont to be sent to wage Wars he was kept at home He had an Armory filled with plenty of all kinds of weapons that also he commanded to be removed His Earls used to be girded with the sword they were forbidden to come near Yet necessity made way for mourning For when a wild Boar of huge bigness wasted the tilled places of the Mountain Olympus with often destruction of the Country-people and help was humbly besought of the King against the unaccustomed evill the son wrested by force from his father that he might be sent to slay him indeed so much the easier because the cruelty not of the tooth but of the sword was laid up in fear But while all were diligently bent on a sharp endeavour of killing the swine a stubborn chance of a hovering force turned the launce sent from Adrastus that he might smite the wild beast out of the right way into him and indeed would have that right-hand especially aspersed with the fault of a wicked murder unto whom the defence of the son was committed by the father Valer. Maximus book 1. chap. 7. Herodotus book 1. POlycratis daughter of a Tyrant of the Samians she seemed to see at the time of rest her father to be on high in the ayr who should indeed be washed by Jupiter but anointed by the Sun She being affrighted with this vision warned her father that he should not go to Oraetes the Governour of Cambyses at Sardis But he obeying not the saying was fastned to a crosse by Oraetes Herodotus book 1. UNto Hipparchus the son of Pisistratus was presented in his sleep the image of a tall man pronouncing these verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bear Lyon things unsufferable suffer with bearing mind There is no wicked man to whom hee 'l not repay in kind In the morning he would refer these words to the Interpreters of dreams But straightway the Vision being despised he neglected it and went away into the solemn fight where by Aristogiton and Harmodius Gephyraeans he was killed Herodotus book 5. SImon of Athens when as he moved an expedition against the Persians his Navy being now ready he had such a dream An angry Bitch seemed to bark at him and to utter thereupon a voyce mixed of a man's voyce and a dog's barking in these words Be gone thou art to be a friend To me and to my whelpish kind Astyphilus Posidoniates therefore a divining man and familiar friend of Simon affirmed death to be foretold him using this argument The dog is an enemy to him whom he barks at but to an enemy none is dear or a friend but when he dyeth Moreover the mixed voyce sheweth the Mede an enemy whose Armies are mixt of Greeks and Barbarians The end proved the dream to have been true for not much time after Simon dyed of a disease in the siege of Citium Plutarch in his Life WHen as a certain one had seemed to repeat a verse of Homer's unto Socrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shalt indeed on the third day To Phthia come full fraught with clods of clay He said to Aeschines I shall dye on the third day Phthia was the Country of Achilles And his friends endeavoured to perswade Socrates that he should flee into Thessaly because there he had good friends But he drew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to kill or corrupt And the third day after Hemlock being drunk in prison he perished Laertius in his Life ATterius Ruâ—â—us a Roman Knight when a Sword-play was set forth by the Syracusans he saw himself in the time of sleep to be thrust thorow by the hand of Retiarius And the next day he told it in the place of beholding unto the sitters by Afterwards it fell out that in the next place from the Knight Retiarius was brought in by the Sword-player Whose face when he had seen the same man said he thought he should be slain by that Retiarius and forthwith he would depart thence They his fear being shaken off by their speech brought the cause of destruction to the miserable man For the Sword-player being compelled into that place and cast down while he endeavours to strike him lying along kills Atterius being thrust thorow with his Sword Valerius Maximus in the first Book chap. 7. JUlius Caesar not much before he died in his sleep sometimes he seemed to himself to fly above the Clouds sometimes to joyn his right hand to Jupiter Moreover in the same night when he lay in his bed all the dores of his Chamber and likewise the Windowes being set open he was affrighted both with a noise and light and the Moon shining bright he marketh Calphurnia being fast asleep to utter dark words and undistinct sighings She imagined that she lamented him whom she held thrust thorow in her bosome Others deny that sight to have been set before her But when as a Pinnacle had been by the decree of the Senate adjoyned unto Caesars house as Livy is Author as it were for an Ornament and enlarging it Calphurnia having imagined at the time of rest that to have slidden down she seemed to her self therefore to mourn and weep But when light had approached she asked Caesar if by any means it might be brought to passe that he might not go forth but might adjourn the Senate unto another time But if he did esteem her dreams but as a lock of Wool yet he should ask Counsell of the Soothsayers and Sacrifices concerning things hanging over his head Whence there was some suspition and fear set before him also as it seemeth For he took notice of no superstition before the woman was grieved or vexed for that thing which she then saw But assoon as the Soothsayers told him satisfaction could not be made many sacrifices being now slain he determined Anthony being sent to dismisse the Senate In the mean time Decius Brutus surnamed Albine whom Caesar for the trust which he had to him had written amongst his second heirs seeing he was a companion of the conspiracy of the other Brutus and Cassius fearing lest if Caesar should passe away that day the matter would have been told abroad he mocked the Soothsayers and reproved Caesar and being taken by the hand led him forth And so that day in the Court being thrust thorow with many wounds he was wretchedly slain Plutarch CAesar being slain the people diligently sought after the conspirators being hidden Helius Cinna the Poet one of Caesars friends had the