the Mother had also giuen him the like councell to escape but GOD by his power did so staie him as hee had no power to flie Beeing carried to prison and examined at the first hee couered his parricyde accusing his Father that hee had slaine himselfe But his excuses beeing found friuolous hee was condemned to haue his right hand cut off then to bee pinched with hot pincers and in the ende hanged by the feete vpon a gibet and strangled with a stone of sixe score pound which should bee hanged at his necke A wicked counterfet beeing prisoner with him aduised him to appeale vnto Paris But hauing freely confessed the Parricide hee reuoked his appeale and was executed The History of our times Of the Heart of man Diuers Histories thereof in our time HAuing perced an Impostume grown of a long time vpon the seauenth turning ioynt where through the venom of his corruption it had made a great ouerture and gnawne the innermost membrane of the heart those which were present beheld one part of the heart which I did shewe them A. BENIVENIVS in his booke de abditis causis Chap. 42. Two Bretheren gentlemen falling out at tables the one of them gaue the other a wound with his knife iust on the seege of the heart the hurt gentleman bleeding exceedingly was carried and layed on a bed whereas all signes of death appeered Beeing sent for I applied that to the heart which I thought â—…it to strengthen it The patient hauing beene as it were at deathes doore vntil midnight beganne to come to himselfe and hauing vsed all the meanes possible I could deuise for his preseruation at length I sawe him cured whereby I knewe the heart had not beene perished as at the first I doubted but the filme or Capsula thereof called PERICALDION by the Greekes was lightly tainted The same Author Chap. 65. We haue seene ANTHONY ALâ—…IAT hurt and hauing his Pericordian vntoucht True it is that hee did sigh very much and lowd The internall parts beeing hurt bring death foure waies either through necessity of their function and office as the Lunges or by reason of the excellency of their nature as the Hart or through much losse of bloud as the Liuer the great arteries and veines or through the malignity of Symptomes and accidents as the neruie parts the ventricle and bladder Although some parts be incurable yet are they not mortall of absolute necessity otherwise death would ensue vpon the incurable hurts of boanes gristles and lygaments The Pericordion then is not mortall of it selfe but because it is impossible to attaine it without offending many other noble parts CARDAN in his Commentarie on the Aphorismes of Hipocrates booke 6. apb 18. Anatomizing a Scholler of mine dead in the Vniuersitie of Rome I found that this yong man had no Pericardion by meanes whereof in his life-time hee swounded very often and seemed as one dead through which defect at length hee died COLVMBVS booke 15. of his Anatomy A certaine Theefe being taken downe from the gallowes where he had bene hanged and not quite strangled was carefully looked vnto and recouered But like an vngratious wretch as he was returning to his old trade againe hee was apprehended and throughly hanged Wherevpon we would needes Anatomize him and wee found that his heart was all heary Which is likewise reported among the Grecians of Aristomenes of Hermogenes the Rhetorician of Leonydas of Lysander and others namely of a dog that ALEXANDER the great had This haire denotes not onely promptitude of Courage and peruerse obstinacy but many times valour contemning all danger BENIVENIVS in Chap. 83. de Abditis causis Vpon a certaine time making the Anatomy of a man at Ferrara wee found his heart cleane couered ouer with haire and indeede he had beene all his life time a desperate ruffian and a notable theefe AMATVS the Portingale in Centur. 6 Cur. 65. Being at Venice and present at the execution of a very notorious theefe the hangman that quartered his bodie found his heart meruailous hairye M. A. Muret booke 12. of his dyuers readings Chap. 10. I haue seeâ—…e the sepâ—…um that distinguisheth the ventrycles of the heart to be a gristle in some mens Bodies in others the left ventricle wanting or so little as it could hardly bee discerned Columb booke 15. of his Anatomy I found in two mens bodies that I opened a boane in the rootes of the great artery and of the arteryall vaine CORN GEMMA in the 2. booke of his Cyclognomia pag 75. In another I found a little boane betweene the gristly circles of the heart the chiefe artery and arteriall veine like to the boane which is commonly found in the heart of a stagge CORN GEMMA in the 1. booke Chap. 6. of his Cosmocritif Doctor MELANCHTHON in his first booke of the Soule testifies of CASIMIR Marquise of Brandebourg a Prince greatly afflicted in his life time with sundry griefes and consumed with long watchings that beeing opened after his decease the humor enclosed in the fylme of the heart was â—…ound quite dried vp and the heart so scorched that it was like a peare burnt in the fire TH. IORDAN in the 1. booke of signes of the plague Chap. 16. Not long since a Romaine gentleman died after hee had languished along time Being opened no heart appeared neither was there any part of it but the fylme left the vnmeasurable heate of his long sicknesse hauing wholy consumed it BERN. IELASIVS in the 28. Chap. of the 5. booke of the nature of things A young Prince being sickly and very much troubled with a payne at the heart assembled a great many Physitions togither for to consult of his dissease Among others there was a young practitioner who declared how he had read in certaine notes that the vse of garlick euerie morning expells a kinde of worme that feedes vpon the heart But both the remedy and the young man that propounded it were despised Not long after this Prince died and his body was opened by the commandement of his Father for to see the cause of his sicknesse death The dissection made they found a white worme hauing a sharpe bill of horne like a pâ—…llets gnawing the heart The Physitions tooke it aliue and layd it on a table in a circle made of the iuyce of garlick The worme began to writh and wriggle euery way still eschuing the iuyce that compassed it about Finally surmounted by the strength and sauor of the garlick it died within the circle to the astonishment of those that had despised so easie a remedie I. HEBANSTEIF in his treatise of the plague It is not long agoe that in the great Duke of Tuscans Court a certaine Florentine beeing assistant at the merry conceites of a pleasant iester was suddainly seized with vnexpected death whereat the company and his friends being much abashed for their better satisfaction after he was knowne to bee starke dead they had him opened and there was
no cause discerned of such a death but only a liue worme which the A◅atomists found in the capsula or filme of the heart P. SPHARER Physition in his Obseruations A certaine woman hauing voyded for the space of many da◅es together a thick and purulent vrine at length died and beeing opened was found interressed in the heart with certaine impostumes and two stones I. HOVLIER Comment 1. on the 6. booke sect 2. aphoris 4. of HIPPOCRAT and the Comment on the 75. aph of the 4. booke The Emperour MAXIMILIAN the second had three little stones found in his heart of the bignes of a pease but not of equall quantity and weight In his life time hee was very much afflicted with a panting of the heart I. WIER in the 4. booke Chap. 16. of the impostures of euill spirits In the heart of IEROME SCHEIBER that died at Paris in the yeare 1547. was opened in the presence of SYLVIVS HOVLIER FERNEL professors in Physick there was foūd an hard blackish roūd stone as big as a nutmeg and weyghing Certaine drammes to the great wonder of all men AER MVRGEL Physition In diuers mens hearts there are found Cornes or hard things like vnto stoanes of the bignes of a nut in others fat in the ventricles or verie thicke Carnosities sometimes of two pounde weight or other substance like the marrowe of sodden beefe Also tumors impostumes of the bignes of an hens egge which in some haue caused co◅ruption of the membrane of the heart in others wasting of the heart it selfe in others mattory and long congealed vlcers The History of them are described by the Doctors of Physick BENIVENIVS IACOT VESALIVS ERASTVS COLVMBVS FERNELIVS HOVLIER IOVBERT and others in their obseruations Commentaries and disputations Which it shall suffise to haue touched in a worde Touching the hurts of the heart FERNELIVS in the fi◅t booke of his Panthologia Chap. 12. holds that if they bee not deepe and penetrated farre into the ventricles of the heart the person hurt dies not presently To which effect IOHN SCHENCK of Grafenberg Doctor of Phisick at Fribourg recounts in the 2. booke of his Physickall Obseruations Obserue 209. that hee had heard a learned Physition tell how a certaine scholler studying at Ingolstad beaing stabbed with a poygnard into the heart the two ventricles wherof were found pearced through and through ranne a good way bleeding and liued a full houre after speaking and cōmending himselfe to GOD. I protest I haue seene a gentleman at Thurin which fought with another that gaue him a thrust vnder the left pappe penetrating euen into the substance of the heart and yet for all that he struck diuers blowes at his enemy that ranne away from him pursuing him the length of two hundred pace and then fell downe dead to the ground After which I opened him and found a wound in the very substance of the heart so bigge that one might haue laid his finger in it and a great quantity of bloud falne vpon the Diaphragma AMER PARE in the 9. Booke Chap. 32. Of Comets IN this Section I will briefly represent the Comets seene in Europe for these hundred yeares or thereabouts adding that which GARCEVS in his Meteorologie LICHOSTENES and others haue obserued vpon this point In the yeare 1500. in the moneth of Aprill a Comet appeared in the North vnder the signe of Capricorne The same yeare Prince CHARLES was borne afterwards Emperor the 5. of that name and SOLYMAN Sultan of the Turkes Soone after folowed the spoile which the Tartares made in Polonia the famine in Swabe a plague throughout all Germanie the taking of Naples by the French A rising of the peasants in the Bishop rike of Spire against the Bishop and the Canons the taking of Modon and some other places in Morea by the Turkes ISMAEL Sophie expelled out of the kingdome of Persia by the Turkes whereof they ceazed The second yeare after the plague made a horrible spoile almost throughout all the whole world the which had for fore-runners figures of crosses falling out of the ayre vpon mens clothes A warre followed in Bauaria two yeares after this plague after the which many great men both spirituall temporal died The Emperor MAXIMILIAN the 1. vanquished the Guelders and then the Hongariens whom he reduced vnder his obedience In the yeare 1506. a Comet appeared in August towards the North couering the signes of Leo and Virgo hauing neere vnto the Chariot a thick and shining taile stretched out betwixt the wheeles of this Chariot for which cause some Astronomers called it the Peacocks taile In September after died PHILIP the 1. king of Spaine father to CHARLES and FERDINAND Emperors The same yeare the Turkes were defeated in battaile by the Persians and on the other side they tooke Modon in Morea from the Christians and defeated their fleete Then followed a ciuill warre betwixt BAIAZET and his sonne SELIM and FRANCIS SPORCE Duke of Milan was taken in Italy by the French As for that which happened in the following yeares the History of our time doth shew it as well in respect of warres Inundations death of famous men and merueilous alterations in Europe the causes whereof we will attribute to the iust iudgements of GOD punishing the sinnes of the world we say only that Comets seeme oftentimes to be fore-runners and Trumpets of the wonderfull iudgements of the Lord as a French Poet speaking of a Comet seene in the yeare 1577. said in the 2. day of his weeke O frantick France why doost not thou make vse Of the strange signes whereby the Heauens induce Thee to repentance canst thou teare-lesse gaze Euen night by night on that prodigious blaze That hairy Comet that long streaming Starre Which threatens Earth with Famine Plague and Warre The Almighties Trident and three forked fire Wherewith he strikes vs in his greatest ire But let vs consider the other Comets according to the order of the yeares In Nouember 1523. there was seene a Comet and soone after the heauens seemed all on fire casting forth infinite flames of lightning vpon the earth the which did tremble afterwards there hapned strange Inundations of water in the realme of Naples Soone after followed the taking captiuity of Francis 1. King of France Germanie was troubled with horrible seditions LEVVIS King of Hungary was slaine in battaile against the Turkes There were wonderfull stirres throughout all Europe and Rome was taken and spoiled by the imperiall Armie In the same yeare of the taking and sack of Rome which was 1527. there was seene another more fearefull Comet then the precedent there followed after it the great spoiles which the Turkes made in Hungary a famine in Swabe Lombardie and at Venice warre in Zuitzerland the siege of Vienna in Austria the Sweat in England the ouer-flowing of the Sea in Holland and Zeland where it drowned a great Country and an Earthquake in Portugall which continued eight dayes In the yeare 1531. from
touch it with my finger After shee had vomited so much water she began to cast forth lumps of haire at her mouth some as long as a mans finger some more some lesse such as wee see fall from olde Dogges in great quantitie for certaine daies enough to haue stust whole dozens of Tennice Balles She cast them vp with great heauing at the heart and much paine falling one night into wonderful transies Hauing found her in a manner like vnto one that was readie to giue vp the Ghost and carefully obseruing all things beeing layd vpon her belly I did see her cast her selfe so so dainlayd from one side vnto the other as if she had not beene presently stai'd she had beat her head against the wall oragainst the bed post She held her hands so strongly together as it was impossible to open them Sometimes she beat her breast so violently as she was like to kill her selfe This fit continued from seuen of the clock at night vntill nine and then shee knew not any one Oftentimes as in the suffocation of the Matrix she grewe wonderfully red and seemed very weary and toyled with some beginning of a Feauer Once or twise she fomed about the mouth And an other time beeing in the extremity of her fit shee fell sodainly into a great laughter and then presently wept bitterly Being come vnto her selfe and falling presently into a long extasie she began in an instant to speake as if she had addressed her selfe vnto GOD holding her hands vp to Heaueh shee spake these words in effect O great GOD seeing thy beauty is so great and incredible how long shal we remaine here when wilt thou take mee out of this World that I may inioye thee hauing said thus as it were awaking and looking on them that were about her she said Which of you hath done mee this wrong to call mee backe into this valley of misery and into the prison of darkenesse when as I did rest so sweetly and did sport my selfe in the goodliest Gardens that could be immagined I do not thinke that a simple and ignorant Maide as this was could vtter such words but in extasie In the meane time she cast vp great lumpes of hayre mixt with much white matter and very thicke and somtimes like vnto the dung of Pigions or Geese In this abundance of filth appeared little peeces of wood and shreds of Parchment A little after she had an other vomiting of a matter as black as coles you would haue said properly it had beene Inke or rather coles beaten to pouder and mixt with water the which continued a good while two or three pounds euery day sometimes with such store of white haire long hard as it would haue made a good Ball. After two dayes she did vomit about two pounds of pure bloud as if a veyne had bene opened This monstrous casting continued a whole weeke comming still at a certaine houre and then the fits of the Epilepsie wherewith she was dayly tormented ceased the which notwithstanding continued sometime once in three dayes and in the end euery seuenth day In the meane time she did still cast haire but not so aboundantlie as before but blacker and shorter as if they had beene cut small and with it a slimie humour like vnto thick matter About the middest of September she did vomit great peeces of parchment halfe a spanne long like vnto the thicke and fleshie skinne of a mans body Afterwards she cast vp others that were thinner but all black In the end shee did vomit some that were very thinne but strong amongst the which there were three a foote long made in fashion of lozenges with strange markes and figures After these skinnes followed an infinite number of stones which shee did cast vp at a certaine houre euery night with great noise and sounding such as is heard in walles that are pulled downe some were thick others pointed vnequall in forme and of a darke coullour they were all small and yet such as they did still feare the maide would haue beene strangled some were couered with Chalke and cymented together in such sort as they might be sayd to haue beene pulled out of a wall Once in my presence she did vomit a pointed stone as big as two Chest-nuts This stone remained aboue a quarrer of an houre in her throate during the which she had no pulce nor respiration so as laying a light feather vpon her mouth it did not moue her hands and feete grew colde and her body stiffe as if it had beene an Image Thinking that she had finished her course and that paine had ended all her miseries I went out of the chamber saying that she was dead when as the Mother called me sodenly back againe saying that her daughter did stirre and opened her eyes As soone as I was returned she did cast vp this stone with great violence I did see it come forth and heard the noise thereof falling into a bason the which did amaze both my selfe and all that were in the Chamber At the same instant she did spit out a peece of wood as bigge as ones thombe but with lesse difficultie then the stone and withall some black haires but few There followed after an other accident almost incredible where-with the maide had almost beene choakt for shee did vomit vp a bone of a Triangle forme sollide without and hollow and spungious within The next day shee cast vp little boanes of diuers formes and proportions Amongst all these were seene stones and haire and then peeces of Glasse and Copper CORNELIVS GEMMA sets downe the remedies which he did apply and maintaines that part of her infirmitie grew by naturall causes and part by the Impostures and illusions of the Diuill who was a chiefe Agent in these accidents which wee haue reported This Historie is written by MARCELLVS DONATVS in his second Booke of his Admirable Histories of Phisicke the first Chapter A false accusation seuerely punished MAister IVLIAN TABOVE the Kings Atturney generall in the Parliament of Chambery being incensed for some admonitions that were made vnto him by the Court goes into the Countrie and ingageth his honor by an accusation which he framed against Maister RAYMOND PELISON President IOHN BOISONNE Priest LEWIS GAVSLERANT called ROZET GRAFFINS and other councellors of the said Court charging them with many corruptions and false-hoods vnder his hand both before the great Councell and the Parliament of Grenoble vpon thirteene Acts proceeding from the foresaid President PELISSON and the aboue named Councellors The first was a sentence giuen in the sayd Parliament of Chambery for the Count de la Chambre the 11. of May 1539. The second a decree for Maister ANDREVV PILLET the 13. of Iune the same yeare Other two decrees for the Bishop of Morienne the 19. of March and 20. of December in the yeare 1540. The 5. the admonitions dated the 11. 13. and 18. of Ianuary 1541. made and deliuered to the said TABOVE
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
drawne out of her wombe and kept for a great merueyle as many haue seene it well fashioned as if some excellent worke-man had cutte it in this Caue hauing the members whole and proportionable like vnto a childe of nine moneths old being opened they found the heart the liuer the braine and other parts very hard but not like vnto the exterior parts It is a female the body is not subiect to rottennesse nor to rust no more then one of the hardest stones which the best Statuaries can worke in Maister IHON d' ALIBOVX and SIMON of Prouuancheres learned Physitions of our time which haue seene this Childe of Stone and haue had this wonder in their hands haue written the History at large and published an ample discourse thereon I will adde here vnto an other memorable Historie written by Maister IHON SCHENCK of Grasenberg a Physition at Fribourg in Brisgart from whom I haue drawne a great part of the reports of the wonderfull accidents of mans body mentioned in his Collection of the Histories of our times CLAVDE of Saint MAVRICE a famous Physition and professor at Dole did write vnto Monsieur QVENZ Senator and the chiefe Physition at Fribourg that the 25. day of Ianuary 1595. causing a woman that was dead to bee opened of the age of 37. yeares they found her wombe to be of stone waying seuen pounds the Liuer with one onely griesly lumpe the substance of which was round the bladder of stone the skinne that couers the bowels so hard as the Surgions Razor could hardly enter it These things said he did amaze vs much how the spirits were carryed throughout all the body and how it was possible for this woman to liue so long without some apparent disease I caused this wombe of Stone to bee opened hoping to finde some fruite of the same sort like to that of the women of Sens in Bourgongne but I found that it was onely stone within as without Of the Caesarien deliuery or Section THE Caesarien deliuery is an extraction artificially made of the childe by the mothers side who could not otherwise bee deliuered but by a sufficient incision as well of that which is on the belly or exterior part of the belly as of the matricall body without preiudicing not-with standing the life of the one or the other so as there happens no other accident or hindering the Mother from bearing of more Children The which is to bee vnderstood of the Childe that is aliue yet in the Mothers wombe Vnder this also is comprehended an other like extraction of a Childe dead in the Mothers wombe when as by some other helpe of the Mid-wife Physition or Chiruâ—…gion that is more easie more safe and more common there is no meanes to haue it and that else they finde the Mother must dye with it as it doth daylye happen in women of all sorts after that they haue beene miserably broken It is not long that I sufficiently discouered by the report of certaine ancient graue men of Milly in Gastenois that it is true whereof they make no doubt in that place that the wife of one named GODART remaining then at Mesnill a Parish of Milly had some certaine yeares before had sixe Children after this manner that is to saye The Childe hauing beene drawne by an incision made in the Mothers side and neuer other-wise the Children still liuing The workeman was NICHOLAS GVILLET a Barber at Milly after whose death for want of her accustomed helpe this woman dyed not being by any meanes able to bee deliuered as shee was in times past A probable Argument that it was a deepe Physome or a naturall straightnesse capable to receiue the Instruments of generation or procreation but not to deliuer forth the Childe FRANCIS ROVSSET in his Treatie of the Caesarian deliuery I haue vnderstood for certaine by Maister AMEROS le NOIR a very expert Surgion of Pithuiers and by GILLES le BRVN that they together had at diuers times drawne by the side three liuing Children from a poore woman neere to Merenuille in Beausse and meaning to lead me to her to see the place of the Incision I vnderstood that shee was dead a little before of the plague which was then very violent in that Countrie I haue a learned Epistle of Mounsier ALIBOVS Physition of Sens setting downe orderly and at large how that IHON de MARAIS a Chirurgion at La Chastre in Berry sonne to LEVVIS de MARAIS ordinary Chirurgion to the Arch bishop of Sens drew from his owne wiues side a Sonne called SIMON de MARAIS afterwards Chirurgion and Grome of the Chamber to the Queene Mother After the which shee was brought in bedde againe well and orderly of a Daughter called RENEE Of that SIMON whome they surnamed without a Mother and of ROSE GALLARDEL came CLAVDE married to Maister FRANCIS ARTVS of Yssondun FRANCIS married to OLIVER GARINER both sufficient witnesses of their fathers birthe as well by the common report as by their fathers often telling The same Author Monsieur PELION a famous Phisition at Anger 's hauing heretofore reported to Maister LAVRENCE COLLOT a Chirurgion of Paris a like worke in Aniou hath since confirmed it by a Letter which he gaue me testifying that it was done by MATHVRIN DEBONAIRE Chirurgion Maister DENIS ARMENANT a Physition at Gien and my selfe haue seene a little before the troubles in the Hospitall of Chastillon vpon Loire a woman beeing sicke of a continuall feuer hauing a great swelling on the left side of her belly and therein a long Cicatrise with apparant signes of needlesse points remaining of the opening of the said parts that were sowed vp by the which both her selfe and her husband did witnesse that a while before there had beene a Sonne drawne the which was some seuen yeares before we speake vnto them and could not be borne otherwise This was done in Bourgundy by an old Barber of the same Village verie expert as they said in such operations The woman did not conceiue nor beare any child after that time although they were both yong The same Author BERNARDE ARNOVT the Wife of STEPHEN MASICAVLE of Nangeuille betwixt Estampes Puiseaux and Pithuires after an extreame and fruitlesse labour of foure dayes sending her husband vnto mee despayring in a manner of all helpe she had the heart against the will of her said husband to haue her bodye by my aduice opened yea shee did so hasten it after that shee had heard my resolution as she would not staie for Maister AMBROS LE NOIR aboue mentioned whome I promised to send her as a Man experienced in such operations for that I could not be there present beeing then very sicke but she imployed the first she could find which was IOHN LVCAS a yong Barber remaining then at Bunou a little Village thereby who performed this worke which was new to him very artificially in the presence of many some of them with himselfe are yet liuing to witnesse
Thuring looking one day ouer the bridge of Elbe which is a large and a deepe riuer how the boates did passe no man touching him nor his braine any way altered but by a secret Iudgement of GOD he fell of the bridge into the water and was presently drowned He was accustomed whensoeuer they did present any women Children vnto him to be baptized after that hee had administred Baptisme vnto them in contempt of the feminine sexe without any regard to the dignity of Christian soules to say that they should not carry them backe vnto the house but cast them into the riuer GEORGE le FEVRE Lib. 3. of his Annales of Misnia A Printer of Transiluania hauing beene so miserable as to presume to print Bookes execrable pictures made by certaine Heretikes enemies of the holie Trynitie died desperate and made IOSIAS SIMLER in the preface of his Bookes touching the eternall Sonne of GOD. The newe Arriens Samosateniens and Tritheites of our Time as MICHEL SERVET VALENTIN GENTIL and their disciples in Poland Transiluania and there aboutes haue al perished miserablie first in regard of their soules and most of them in regard of their bodies SERVET was burnt aliue and would neuer acknowledge IESVS CHRIST to bee the Son of the eternall GOD VALENTIN was beheaded the rest died mad and desperate either slaine by their owne hands or executed by Iustice without abiuration or detestation of their detestable Impieties the which wee must burie with the names of their Authors About the yeare 1550. a certaine Companion who had long made profession to mocke at all relligion and at deuout persons entred into a Church where there was a Sermon then made by the Minister of the place This wretch doing contrarie to all those that were there present beganne to gromble and to shewe by diuers countenances that he was a profane man to whom the Pastor beeing attentiue to his preaching spake not a word but onely sigthed praying vnto GOD that this mocker might be suppressed who seeing that the Preacher did not contest against him but contemned his vnworthie behauiour hee goes out of the Church but presently a tile fell from the house vpon his head and slue him vpon the place This happened in Denmarke as I do assure N. HEMMING a learned Diuine in his exposition vpon the 1. Chap. of Saint IOHNS Gospell CHRISTOPHER TVRC a Councellor of State to a great Nobleman in Germany going one daie to horse and mocking at an excellent Prince who was then prisoner in his enemies hands began to say what is became of those gallants which song so much one with an other When any one doth wrong vs GOD is our succor and desence But hee had scarce ended his words when as a sodaine gree◅e tooke him so as hee was forced to alight from his horse and to bee caried to bedde where in steede of singing hee died in despaire drawing forth his tongue as blacke as a coale and hanging out of his mouth the ninth of Iune 1547. At the same time certaine other skorners preparing themselues for a great feast when as they should haue trembled vnder the mightie hand of GOD who did strike all Germanie beeing assembled in troupe they were scattered and dispersed with strange thunder and lightning so as they were forced to bee quiet MARTIN LIDIVS a learned Diuine in his booke intitled Celebratio Dextrae Excelsae c. Imagination FERNELIVS a very learned Physition of our time derides their opinion that say there are three distinct ventricles in the braine one for the Imagination an other for the vnderstanding and the third for the memorie and he thinkes that these common functions of the spirit namely the Imaginatiue the Indicatiue and the memoratiue are cōfused in it each of them working their operations by turnes accordingly as each of vs doth bend the powers of his spirit either to the imagination iudgement or memory In fewe words hee meant to say that our spirit laboreth no where els but there whereas our heart is fixed I will speake of it as a blinde man doth of colours but if you permit me to comment this great personage beleeue that if his opinion be not good yet is it assisted with three great pretexts for if there bee three seperated ventricles in the braine there ought to bee as many distinct Celles in the imaginatiue as there be diuers effects Wee haue seene one TVLENVS full of learning and knowledge who fayled in no part of his imagination but onely in two points that is to say in the loue of a great Princesse which was deceased long before and in the opinion that hee was Bishop of Cambray In all other things full of Doctrine and sound iudgment But as soone as he fell into one of these two points you should haue seene him range quite beside himselfe In such sorte that he was perswaded the first Gentlewoman hee met withall was shee for whom hee had endured so much And before him vnder the raigne of the great K. FRANCIS we had one VILLEMANOCHE who neuer erred in any function of his vnderstanding but when hee entred into the hopes of his marriage thinking there was no Princesse how great soeuer but was in loue with him E. PASQVIER in the 6. booke des Recherches de la France Chap. 8. A Iew returning home by night out of the Coūtry fell a sleepe on the Asse that carried him The beast that knew the way went ouer a broad deepe ditch vpon a very narrow bridge The next day this Iewe throughly imagining the danger he had past and by the force of his imagination representing it to his eyes was strucken with such horror that he died of it L. VIVES in the 3. book of the soule speaking of the feare proceeding frō too excessiue an imagination An Apothecary seruant to my late Father told mee how hee had knowne a merchant of Tholouse a long time that was sickely and subiect to the stone who had oftentimes neede of glisters and had them diuerslie ordayned by all the Physitions according to the occurrence of his paine When they were brought there was nothing ommitted of the accusomed forme and many times he felt whether they were not too hot then was hee layd along on his belly and all other things performed sauing there was no iniection made The Apothecary beeing gone after this ceremony and the patient accommodated as if hee had taken the glister hee felt the like effect of it as those that take it indeede And if the Physition found not the operation sufficient hee gaue him two or three more after the same manner My wittnesse swore that to saue Charges for he payd for them aswell as if he had taken them this merchants wife hauing diuers times caused them to bee made of nothing but of warme water the effect discouered the deceite and because they found those vnprofitable they were faine to haue recourse againe to the former The Lord of Montaigne in
well in regard of his sinnes as of Gods mercies in the apprehension whereof hee did quietly yeeld vp his soule in a Towne where hee had long continued and remayned Drawn out off my Memorialls IOHN CRAVEQVIN an Aduocate in the Presidiall Court at Bourges a man of a good spirit and a great practitioner but very ignorant of the written Lawe and of all good learning hauing in the yeare 1533. beene imployed in the pursute of some causes to please the appetite of a most wicked man which abused him hee fell sicke of a Melancholike humour and a wonderfull strange Frenzie imagining all that was brought vnto him to bee crawling Serpents so as after they had tryed all remedies in vaine and brought Witches and Sorcerers vnto him in the ende hee became starke madde and dyed in that estate Histories of our Time vnder FRANCIS the 1. An other learned man making profession of the Ciuill Lawe hauing done some acte vnworthy of his learning and iudgement was so possest with a Melancholike humour and with a frenzie that beeing falne sicke with-out any great affliction in his bodye for his nourishment hee did eate his owne excrements and hauing languished in this misery some time hee died without any repentance Histories of our Times A Gentleman very aged and temperate fell into a continuall feuer in the month of Iuly 1574. thē into a frēzy casting himselfe ou◅ of a window of the second Story of his house and fel vpon the necke of Mons. VATERRE ordinary phisition to the Duke of Alen◅on then to the ground where he hurt his ◅ibs made a great con◅usion vpon the bone Ischion Being carried backe vnto his bed he recouered his right wits by a transport of the matter which caused the frenzie Euen so of late a Gascon beesicke of a burning Feauer fell into a frenzie beeing lodged in the street called Pauee at Paris in the night hee cast himselfe out at a windoe into the street and was hurt in many places of his body to whome I was called to dresse him soddenly being laid in his bed he began to talke sensibly and to loose his mad fits so as within a while after he was quite cured Mons. d'Ortoman a Doctor and the Kings professor in the vniuersitie of Mont pellier did assuer me that a Miller remaining of Broquiers in Albigeois grown franticke threw himselfe out at a windo into the water from whence being drawne he presently lost his frenzie Maister AMB. PARE the last Chapter of his introduction to Surgerie ANNE Nurse to PETER Son to Maister FRANCIS BIORD Lieutenaxnt to the Prouost of Air a young woeman of a whot and drie constitution being toucht in the sharpest time of winter with a frenzie on the left side and a sharpe feuer her breath being short hauing stiches in her side and spitting nothing almost but bloud fell into a madnesse the seuenth day where-vpon she riseth out of her bed opens her cofer where by mischance there was summe Mercury and swaloes downe a bout halfe a dramme and then she giues her selfe many wounds with a knife in the belly and the thighes The same day about mid-night she runs all naked vnto a windoe and cast her selfe downe into a Court paued with very hard stone and there remaines with out any feeling with out speech and with out Pulce stiffe with cold for it was in the winter time vntill that the seruants of the house desirous to knowe what she did came vnto her bed where finding her not they cryed out In the end they found her in that miserable estate the carrie her into her chamber and call for me for that I then dwelt neere I ranne thether with her mistresse a vertuous gentlewoman who intreats me to doe what possibly I could Although I had little hope yet more to make a tryall then otherwise I vsed all diligence and applyed diuers remedies so as she came againe to her selfe and by little and little I got heate in her I prouided both outwardly and inwardly for the Sublymate the which had vlcered both her mouth and her throat and to staie a fluxe which this poisone had caused finally at the end of 6. weekes she was wholy cured of al her griefe by the speciall fauour of GOD and was after wardes more helthfull then euer shee had bene before FR. VALLERIOLA in the eight obseruation of the first booke A Romaine woman growne melancolike for that she had bene married against her will to one whom shee loued not and smothering her furie with a sad silence M. ANTHONIE BRASAVOLE a Ferrarois an excellent Phisition of our time tryed to diuert this humor by many remedies which preuailed nothing And therefore he aduised himselfe of a phisicall pollicie whereof he gaue notice vnto the husband who yeelded vnto it her parents and kinsfolks comming to visit her on a festiuall daie BRVSAVOLE enters into the Chamber salutes her louingly as if shee had beene his wife and approcheth to kisse her she being young and strong thrusts him backe hee contynues it with vehemencie and shee pulls of his Cappe and all that BRASAVOLE carried on his head fitting for his age and the fashion of that time and casts it to the ground All the company breaks out into a great Laughter at this spectacle The yong woman thinking that this Phisition being an old man had bene dronke began also to laugh with open throate After which time her melancholy began to leaue her THOMAS ZVINGER in the seuenth volume of his theater li. 2. A man of some worth about forty yeares old haunted with a spirit felt it comming the blood be ginning to boyle in his breast his sight grew dimme and presently a dizines tooke him then would he begine to crie out and to beat and torment himselfe so as they had great trouble to hold him Although they had let him bloud on the right arme and drawne much blood from him yet this frenzie decreased not He repeated many verses by harte song cryed out amaine danced and sought to cast him-selfe downe head long so as they were constrained to tye him fast and to keepe a good gard ouer him Hauing giuen him fit and conuenient phisicke in the ende he recouered his health But after some weekes he fell into the same disease finally for that the thicke fumes of blood did not ascend any more in quantitie to the head the frenzie ceased but he fell to spitt blood with a vehement ◅oughe and then to spit out his lungs so as his first disease ended with a consumption whereof he died M. RREM◅ERT DO◅ONEVS in his Phisicall obseruations obser 10. I was called to visit a young man a Iewe called RAPHAEL about the euening He was couered with swellings or kinds of Anthracs in diuers parts of his bodie amonge others he had a great one in his necke the which grew presently little againe and then RAPHAEL begane to laugh and would open a veyne to them of the Company with
any into her mouthe she fell into most strange fits howling and making horrible cryes falling to the ground and beating her selfe most pittifully The which fittes continued halfe an houre and then she came to her selfe BRASAVOL in his Comment 34. vpon the 2. Booke of Hippocrates how to liue in sharpe diseases Wee haue knowne many that could not by any meanes eate any flesh Others that had rather haue tasted of poyson then to haue put any Cheese in their mouth I remember a Spaniard that had neuer eaten in all his life before any Fish what-so-euer Being one daye inuited to Supper by a friend of his they presented a Dishe of Egges in the which there was a little Fishe cunningly minced But hee felt it presentlye and had such a paine at his heart as hee presentlie fell to cast and to haue a Fluxe so vehementlie as all thought hee would haue dyed AMATVS a Portugall in his first Centurie Cure 36. I haue seene a Man in my time that could not abide neyther to eate see nor smell Ecles and if hee by chance came into any place where as any were hidden aliue hee could not possibly abide to bee there but was presently in exceeding great paine and greefe Maister WEINRICH in his Commentarie of Monsters Chapter 8. Maister AMBROSE PARE makes mention of a Noble-man in France which dâ—…d sound as hee was sitting at the Table seeing an Ecle brought in A Learned man a very friend of mine did assare mee that hee had seene in the Cittie of Andwerp a certaine man which did fall into extreame fittes if at any place where hee was inuited eyther to Dinner or Supper they had brought in a Pigge stufte if hee discouered it a farre off hee presently changed countenance and his heart beganne to faint IAMES HOSTVIS in his annotations vpon LEVINVS LEMNIVS A great Ladie beeing at dinner with an Earle hauing eaten a peece of a Cowes-vdder a meate which is verie delicate to many her lippes beganne presently to swell and to growe wonderfully great Shee confessed that she loued that meate but presently after shee had tasted it her lippes did swell in that manner whereof shee knewe no reason The same Author I haue obserued the Earle of Arnstad who did so much abhorre sallet oyle as they were forced to carry all meate out of the Chamber that was in any sort drest with it else he fell sodenly into very dangerous fits The same Author Many of our time haue not eaten any bread beeing loth-some vnto them I knowe a famâ—…lie wherof the Sonnes can eate no cheese and the Daughters will eate it with a good appetite Their Father did not eate any but hated it and their Mother did eate it P. FOREST in the annotations vpon 5. obseruation of the 4. bookes where hee treates of feauers A Peasant of a certaine village neere vnto Alâ—…mar in Holland neuer receiued any meate not drinke what-soeuer but onelie Cowes milke and yet was as lustie and helthfull as any man in those parts The same Author CONRAD HVOER a Country man in Suisserland of the village of Tornac in Turgou a good plaier of the fife as most in his time from his infancy vnto the age of three-score yeares that he died neuer tooke any other norrishment but porrige made with flower milke and Water And if to trie him they did mingle the least crumme of bread with it vnknowne to him or any other thing whatsoeuer hee did presently vomit vp all againe neither could hee swallowe any rawe milke As for other meates hee could not endure the smell of them yet hee could not possibly tast of them And for wine hee did some-times tast of it yet seldome and very little ZVINGER in the 6. booke of the 2. volume of his Theater There haue beene many that could not endure the smell of Roses Beeing at Rome I did see the Cardinall CARAFFA a famous man in his time who euery yeare in the time of Roses was forced to retier himselfe and to liue priuatly in a Pallace of his out of the way whereas he caused the gates to be shut and gards to keepe them to giue warning that his friends seruants and others that came to visit him and to receiue his commandements should not vnaduisedly carrie any Roses in their hands Among the Romaine Gentlemen there was one called PETER MELIN both learned and wise who was much impayred of his helth by the smell of Roses PIERIVS VALERIANVS liber 8. of Hierogliphiques treating of the Snayle I haue knowne a lacobine monke of a Noble house in the Citty of Venise who smelling a Rose or seeing one a farre of felt presently a fainting at his heart and would fall downe in a sowne where he remained as one dead And therefore the Physitions aduised him not to go out of his house in time of Roses for the preseruation of his helth AMATVS a Portugall Centurie 2. cure 36. Don HENRY de CARDONA Cardinall fell into a feuer when as any one presented Roses vnto him PHILIP INGRASSE a Pysition vpon the question of the diâ—…t And in our time there was a Princesse which could not by any meanes endure the smell of a Rose but did sound alwaie if any were brought into her Chamber MARTIN CROMER liber 8. of the History of Poland doth witnesse that a Bishop of Bresâ—…awe named LAVRENCE was smothered with the smell of Roses Doctor IOHN ECHT a Physition at the least smell of any sweete parfume felt a great alteration at the heart and as soone as euer he did smell a read Rose he did neeze wonderfully CRONENBOVRG lib. 10. of the method of Physick A certaine man hauing felt an alteration at his heart seeing the iuice drawne out of a sticke of Cassia beeing sicke he intreated his Phisition not to mingle the iuice in any Physick for him The Physition hauing forgotten this aduertisement prescribed him a potion in the which there was some of this Cassia The sicke man hauing taken it began to cry out I am a dead man the Cassia hath killed me ALEXANDER BENEDICT in the preface of his booke of pestilent feuers There is a whole famelie in the Towne where I dwel of the which neither Man nor Woman great nor small can endure any Diaphinicon in their Physick but all doe cast it vp againe as I haue seene by experience oftentimes MARCELLIVS DONATVS in his booke of Mechoacan BERNARD BONY of the Noble famelie of Ragouses a young gentleman of twenty yeares of age and of a collericke constitution comming vnto me to haue mee see his vrine and to be helpt by my a duice if I found any Indisposition in his bodie I found him to haue a paine in the reines of his backe a beginning of the french-poxe I therefore beganne to write and to prescribe him some Sirops to send for to the Apothecarie But hee willed me that I should make no hast for that hee did abhorre all sweete things as I did finde afterwardes as
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
1. of the admirable Histories in Physick In the yeare 1574. in the moneth of May the Wife of BLAISâ—… de VOLD named MAGDELEINE felt one day a paine in her necke and then in her right arme The next daie shee kept her bed for that her arme besides the paine did beginne to shake This paine ceased the third daie but shee fell to haue a shaking ouer all the partes of her bodie then she had a desire to vomit without any effect she sweate and seemed as if she had beene smothered When they presented vnto her any Wine Water or any Coullis then shee had Convulsions and fayntings shee would eate egges and bread well Her alteration was great her principall faculties were whole and verie perfect and so were her exterior sences her spirit was calme and her speech milde You would haue sayd she had had no feauer at all The Surgion of the place made many diuulsions yet she dyed the fift day The same Author In February 1575. DOMINIQVE PANCAVLD a young maiden of 16. yeares of age hauing seene some with their swords drawne ready to fight was terrified so as in the night shee fell into a vyolent feauer presently shee had blisters about her lippes Twelue houres after her fiâ—… she grew amazed and twelue houres after that it seemed vnto her that her feauer was gone She did rise being lame of her left arme when any one did touche her shee felt a paine in her side as if one had stabd her to the heart with a Poynard so as she would faint away There was nothing omitted to ease her The fourth day a shaking doth force her to goe to bed her paine encreaseth she hath a desire to cast shee turnes on euery side without staye shee fomes at the mouth shee can endure no light shee weepes cryes out is amazed and driues away all them of the house They offer her drinke she puls her head back she abhorres drinke falls into soundings and yet some-times shee talkes sensibly then afterwards shee begins to make a noyse with her teeth failes of her speech and giues vp the ghost the 5. day The same Author In the yeare 1576. in Iune DOMINIKE BERET a Country-man married and a lustie able man 37 yeares old felt for eight dayes together a paine in his arme not knowing how this griefe came yet he did not forbeate to worke hauing no feauer A day after being the ninth being desirous to haue a messe of Pottage to his supper a shaking seized on him so as hee went to bed without any supper about mid-night a feare seized on him so as hee could not conteine himselfe but amazed and starting vp he cried out and beganne to intreate them that were about him to hold him and he for his part thought himselfe glued vnto them Earely in the morning they go for Councell to a Physition that was neereby who prescribed him to take a decoction of wilde Chichoree the which he vomited vp soone after that hee had taken it with some cloddes of bloud as they sayd comming to see him after dinner I drewe them of the house apart the Curate of the place and others that were there assembled I sayd vnto them you shall presently see strange things which is that this patient will not drinke although you presse him and if hee tries to do it hee shall fall into a swone and die presently They brought him a glasse and offred him drinke the which he refused with horror and offring to force him his heart fainted wherat all were wonderfully amazed and much more when as they did see him foure houres after giuing vp the Ghost after that hee had beene disquieted with an vnequall and inconstant trembling hauing cried without ceasing beene much distempered and sweate all ouer great droppes but on the extremities which were colde moreouer in a strange rauing accompanied with diuilish apparitions as he sayd The same Author The eight of Aprill 1579. IAMES PIVE Laborer a young man married sound and stronge comming out of the field to his house without any apparent cause going before beganne to sweate at night and felt his heart as it were pincht and full of paine In the night hee did shake and tremble by fiâ—…ts casting himselfe out of his bed crying out continually and sweating The Surgion of the place gaue him earely in the morning a counterpoyson Beeing called at night to see him I knewe that it was a sharpe disease and againe I did aduertise them which did assist him that hee would abhorâ—…e all kinde of drinke and that vndoubtedly hee would soone die The which was soone verified for hauing drinke offred him hee beganne to torment him-selfe and to faint away the drinke being carried away hee presently came againe to him-selfe He couldnot endure any one to touch him and if any one approched neere him hee would crie out They durst not howe softly soeuer wipe his face that sweate Night being come hee would make his will but the sweates and Convulsions which encreased hindred him Some houres after hee died in good sence The same Author There is an other kinde of rage proceeding of an externall cause that is to say of the byting of madde Beastes whereof wee must speake some thing and produce Histories according to our intention to descouer our miseries more and more and to induce vs to flie deuoutly to the mercifull protection of almightie GOD. Beholde what learned FERNELIVS saies namely in respect of madde-dogges which bite men a maddedogge in byting doth cast forth some spittle or venimous humor the which peercing by the part that is toucht doth sodenly corrupt the spirits the bloud and the humors then doth it slide by little and little into the principall partes but so slowely as the disease is not descouered till three weekes after some-times after a yeare and that but doubtfully During this respite of time the patient feeles no feuer nor any paine hee feares not death at all the which hee carries in his bowells But when the vennom by succession of time is come vnto the heart all the other Noble partes are as is were tickled the sicke man growes way-ward he can neither stand nor sit hee behaues himselfe like a madde-man scratcheth his face and bytes euery man the foame comes out at his mouth hee lookes wildly is tormented with a great feuer hee is extreamely altered and dry yet hee doth so abhorre Water and all other Liquor as hee had rather die then drinke or bee plonged in anie Riuer These miseries in the ende oppresse him and depâ—…iue him of life Booke the 2 of the hidden causes of things This vennom is extreamely hot in the forth degree as experience doth witnesse for hauing one daie caused the bodie of a certaine man to bee opened beeing dead of such an accident they founde three remarkeble things First there was no moysture at all in the mouth of the stomack to refresh the heart with all but it had beene all consumed
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