of Malta caused to be published in the yeare 1532. Throughout al Europe a strange apparition which happened in Assiria that yeare which was this About the seuenth of March a Woman named RACHIENNE was brought in bed of a goodly Sonne which had the Eyes sparkling and the Teeth shining At the same instant that he was borne Heauen and Earth were strangely moued the Sunne did shine as bright at midnight as at noone-daye and in the day time it was so darke as from morning vntill night they could not see any thing in all that country Then afterwards he shewed himselfe but of an vnaccustomed forme with diuers newe starres wandring vp and downe Ouer the house where this infant was borne besides other prodigies fier fell from heauen which slue some persones After the eclipse of the Sunne there happened a horrible tempest in the Aire then there fell pearles from heauen The next day they might see a fiery dragon flie throughout all that Clymat Moreouer there appeared a newe Moūtaine higher then any other the which did presētly diuide it selfe into two parts and in the midest of them appeared a colomne or piller where there was a certaine writing in Greeke shewing that the end of the world approched then was there a voice herd in the aire exhorting euery one to prepare himselfe The Child hauing liued two moneths began to speake like one of yeares by diuers delusions growes into such credit as hee was adored worshiped as a GOD discouering it selfe to be an euill spirit the which had a great force of error in al those Countries Neere vnto Iuban a Towne of Lusatia was seene in calme cleere skie the day after Whitsōday in the yeare 1535. about two of the clocke in the afternoone troupes of armed mē aduācing frō the North to the part opposite there were cries heard in the aier like to men that were in battaile Ouer the towne of Vanaire in Saxony were seene three Cheurons of fire in the aire And the day before the taking of Munster there appeered ouer the towne in a cleere skie a Crosse a naked sword About the end of Iuly the same yeare in the Confins of Zurich in Suisserland there fell a furious and neuer herd of torment in the aire being all on fier with most horrible thunders There fell out of the aire great flames of fire the which did quite consume 5. houses nere vnto Adelsinge The same moneth as the Inhabitants of Smelwi◅ were in the Church at their mornings deuotiō there sodenly appeered a wonderful light in the aire then fell lightning which slue two men with the force of his exhalation ouerthrew thirty others to the ground halfe dead hauing burnt all their clothes but their bodies were preserued being more affrayed then hurt The 7. of February 1536 about two of the clocke after mid-night there was seene in the Element ouer one quarter of Spaine two armed men running one at an other with their swords drawne the one carried on his left arme a target on the which was painted an Eagle with this Motto about it Regnabo that is to say I will raigne The other had a great target with a starre a Cressant and this inscriptiō Regnaui I haue raigned He that Carried the Eagle ouerthrew the other The like Combate was seene in Hongary 20. yeares after the which we will note in order In the yeare 1537. the first of February there was seene in Italy an Eagle flying in the aire carrying in the right foote a bottle in the left a serpent wrethed vp being followed by an infinit number of others At the same time also there was a Bourguignon crosse of diuers collours seene in the aire 15. daies before there was seene in Franconia betwixt Bamberg the forest of Turinge a star of huge greatnesse the which declyning by degrees turned into a great white circle out of the which soone after proceeded great gusts of winde flasshes of fire which falling to the ground did melt the heads of pikes and the bitts of horses without hurting of man or house In the yeare 1538. there were seene in the aire ouer diuers parts of Germany armed men fighting and as it were killing one an other Towardes the East there did shine a Starre of an vnaccustomed bignesse hauing beames as red as bloud and neere vnto it a bloudie crosse and a flying Standard Two yeares after was seene an other starre in the clouds very bright as at the breake of day it appeared the 25. of December The next day there came out of the Moone two twinckling Starres shyning very bright There was seene in the yeare 1541. three Sunnes cōpassed in with a Rainbowe The yeare following there were seene in Saxony Rodds and Torches of fire In the yeare 1544. the 7. of April at eight of the clocke at night the skie being very cleere there were seene ouer a little Towne in Suissarland called Wilen Turgau in the face of the Moone a white crosse shyning very bright the foure ends whereof especially the nethermost did farre passe beyond the face of the moone Two daies after there was seene ouer Golaries in Suissarland an houre before Noone the skie beeing very cleere a great white circle shyning wherof the Center from the right part vnto the left was enuironed with a Rainbowe as it doth vsually appeere This circle turned at foure of the clocke right before the midest of the rondell of the Sunne The 29. of March 1545. about eight of the clock in the morning there fell about Cracouia a flash of lightning after a horrible thunder so as al Poland was troubled thereat Presently after there appeared three red crosses in the Element betwixt the which there was a man armed at all parts who with a burning sword did fight with an army the which he defeated and therevpon came a horrible draggō which swallowed vp this victorious man presētly the heauens did open as they had beene all on fire so continued for an houres space Then there appeered three Rain-bowes in their accustomed collours vpon the highest of which there was the forme of an Angell as they do represent them in the shape of a yong man that hath wings at his shoulders holding a Sunne in one of his hands and a Moone in the other This second spectacle hauing continued halfe an houre in the viewe of all those that would behold it certaine cloudes did rise which did couer these apparitions In base Hongary there was seene in the yeare 1546. for the space of a whole houre the heauens open from the which did fall great aboundance of fire vpon this fier there appeered a blacke Oxe the which seemed to pisse fire Aboue Belgeen a Towne in Misnia and the Country about was seene an other opening of Heauen the which continued two houres in the night the 10. of February and cast forth beames euen vnto the earth At the same time were seene three burning Cheurons and
falsely that those persones were the cause of such torments ANNE being resolued to returne no more to the Couent from whence her parents had taken her but to serue GOD deuoutly so as with as more setled iudgement this calamity left her notwithstanding if she receiued but letters from the Ablesse shee felt a shwering through-out all her Body as if shee should presently haue fallen againe into her former inconuenience Not long after she maried and was neuer troubled with that calamity more She told me also that ELSE KAMENSE was afflicted in the same manner as the rest were namely with the falling sicknesse that many times she talked idely too wherevpon the Nunnes were perswaded that shee had bewitched her selfe to the end she might not be suspected of that she had done insomuch that they all set vpon this maide whom the cunning man had told them was a witch The poore wench beeing carryed before the Iustice at the first confessed that shee was cause of that heauy spectacle wrought by meanes of the mixture of certaine poysons being at the place of execution and ready to die she protested that shee had neuer vsed any poyson but onely at times pronounced certaine curses After that Else and her mother were burned some of the inhabitants of Hammone a towne there by began to bee tormented of the euill spirit The minister of the place got foure or fiue of them into his house for to instruct and fortifie them against the impostures of the enemy But when hee had recited some articles of a Christans beliefe they beganne to mocke the Minister and to name certaine women of the Towne to whome they sayd they would go mounted vpon Bucks which should carry them thither Incontinently one of them got him a stride vpon a forme crying out that hee was ryding away Another stepping vp behinde him fell back-ward quite ouer and ouer and lighted against the Chamber dore which flying open hee tumbled from the toppe of the stayres downe to the bottome and had no hurt About the same time in a village named Houel hard by the same Towne diuers men were cruelly tormented of the euil spirit I. WIER in booke 4. Chap. 11. The Nunnes of the Couent of Nazareth at Cologne were tormented almost like those of Kantorp Hauing beene a long time diuersly vexed by the Diuell much more in the yeare 1564. For they were layd along vpon the ground as if it had beene to haue had the company of man during which indignity their eies remained closed which afterwards they opened very shame fastly as if they had endured some grieuous paine A young wench named GERTRVDE of 14. yeares of age gaue way to all this mischiefe She had beene often abused with those wantō apparitions in her bed wherof her laughter made proofe although she had tried diuers meanes to remedy it but all in vaine For as a fellowe of hers lay on a pallet by her only for to keepe her from such apparitions the poore wench grewe affraied hearing the noise that was made in Gertrudes bedde of whome at length the Diuell tooke possession and beganne to afflict her with sundry sorts of Convulsions In her fit she was like a blind body vttering strange and inconstant speeches tending to dispaire The like did diuers others and so this plague preuailed by little little augmented much more when these poore afflicted soules began to haue recourse vnto vnlawfull remedies Now whilest the Diuell tormented them thus some of them were taken with the plague and as long as they had it the euil spirit neuer troubles them through a singular goodnesse of GOD who lymiteth vnto Satan certaine boūds which he cannot passe witnesse IOB in afflicting those whō GOD hath deliuered vp vnto him for a time in this world The beginning of all this calamity proceeded from certaine lewd youthes who hauing gotten acquaintance by playing at stoole-ball thereby with one two of those Nunnes climbed ouer the walles enioyed their loues But afterwards leauing of that course by reason they were depriued of the meanes to continewe it the Diuell corrupted the phantasie of those miserable creatures and entreated them as hath beene declared I. WIER booke 1. Chap. 12. To these may be added another Nunne of the Couent of Bosledue hard by Saint Iohns Church named IVDITH whom I haue seene tormented of the Diuill with strange convulsions for hee so stopt her throate that shee could not swallowe any meate and many times held her toung in such sorte that hee kept her from speaking likewise I haue heard her vtter ridiculous and horrible speaches With her I will ioyne another maide seruant to a Nunne of a great and noble house A Country fellowe had promised her marriage but hee fell in loue with another whereat she was so grieued that being gone some halfe a mile from the Couent she met the Diuell in the likenes of a proper yong man who began to talke very familiarly with her discouering vnto her all the Country fellowes secrets with the speech hee had vsed to his newe loue and that to the end he might haue made the wench fall into dispaire and so drawne her to haue made her self away Being come to a little brooke he tooke the bottle of oile which she carried that she might the better passe ouer the bridge and enticed her to go with him to a place that hee named which shee refused saying what would you haue me do going along those marshes Wherevpon he vanished away which so affrighted the poore maide that she fell into a swound her Mistres being aduertised of it sent a litter to fetch her to the Couent Where she lay a long time sick and as it were depriued of sense being troubled in spirit after a strange manner and diuers times complayned that she was miserably tormented of the Diuell who would haue her carry her away through the windowe Afterward she was married to that Country-fellowe and recouered her former health The same At Leuensteet a village belonging to the Duke of Brunswick there was a maide named MARGARET ACHILS about twenty yeares old dwelling with her Sisters Vpon the second day of Iune going to make cleane a paire of showes she tooke one of her kniues that was some halfe a foote long and as shee was beginning to scrape them being set in a corner of the Chamber and very weake with an ague that had held her a long time suddenly an old woman came in who asked her whether she had her ague still and how she felt her-selfe in her sicknesse and so without any farther talke departed After the shooes were made cleane this maide let the Knife fall into her lap which she could not finde againe although she had sought very diligently for it whereat she was some-what afraide but farre more when she perceiued a black Dog lying vnder the Table whom she droue away hoping to finde her Knife The Dog being 〈◊〉 began to shew his
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
by his successors and imprinted at Nuremberg in the yeare 1594. For in the 18. Chapter of the first Booke he saith that these apparitions are made in a Mosquee of the Turkes hard by Cairo There is a fault in the coppy and it should say Hillock or little Mountaine not on the banke of Nilus as BAVMGARTEN writes but halfe a mile of as we haue declared Satanicall Apparitions WHen I studied the lawe in the Vniuersitie of Wittenberge I heard my Tutors often tell that on a time one being attyred after a strange manner came and knocked at the dore of a great Diuine which then read in the same Vniuersitie and dyed in the yeare 1546. the seruant opened the doore and asked him what he would haue Speake with thy Maister quoth hee The Diuine willed him to come in and then this stranger propounded certaine questions touching the controuersies which were at that instant about matters of Religion wherevnto the Diuine hauing giuen a ready solution the stranger put forth harder thou dost somewhat trouble me said the Diuine for I had other things in hand and there-with rising out off his chaire shewed him in a booke the exposition of a certaine place where-about they contended In this strife he perceiued that the stranger in steede of fingers had clawes and tallents like a bird of prey Wherevpon hee began to say vnto him Is it thou then Hearken to the sentence pronounced against thee shewing him that place of the third of Genesis The Seede of the woman shall breake the Serpents head He added moreouer Thou shalt not swallow vs all vp The euill spirit mightely confounded enraged vanished away with an exceeding great noyse leauing such a stinke behind him in the Stoue that it stunke of it a long time after IOHN GEORGE GODELMAN Doctor of Lawe at Rostoch in the treatise De Magis Veneficis Lamijs c. booke 1. chap. 3. In the towne of Friburg in Misnia the Diuel presented himselfe in a humane forme to a certain sick-man shewing him a booke exhorting him to recon vp all his sins he could remember because he would note them down in that booke At the first the sick-man was some-what amazed but recouering his spirits he answered Thou saist well I will set thee downe all my sins in order but first write these words on the top in great Letters The Seede of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head The Diuell hearing this condemnation of his fled away leauing ths house full of an extreame stinke The same Author In the yeare 1534. Maist. LAVRENCE TONER Minister of a certaine Towne in Saxony imploying some time about Easter to conferre with some of his parishioners according to the custome touching scrupels of cōscience the Diuell appeared vnto him in the shape of a Man and intreated him to giue him leaue to confer with him whervpon he began to poure out horrible blasphemies against the Sauiour of the World TONER resists and confutes him so coragiously by authorities out of the holy Scripture as this wicked Spirit confounded leauing an intollerable stinke in the place vanished away IOB FINCEL in his first booke of miracles Diuers Apparitions in the Ayre IN the yeare a thousand fiue hundred there was seene in Alsatia neare to Sauerne a Bulls head and betwixt the hornes shined a very great star In the same yeare on the 21 of May there was seene ouer the Towne of Lucerne in Suisserland a fierie Dragon horrible to behold as big as a Calfe and twelue foote long the which did fly towards the bridge of the riuer of Russe which passeth there In the yeare 1503. in the Duchy of Bauiere ouer a little towne called Visoc was seene a Dragon crowned casting f◅rth flames of fire at his mouth Ouer the Citty of M◅lan in the day time the Heauens beeing cleare were seene many stars shining very brightly In the beginning of Ianuary in the yeare 1514. about eight of the clocke in the morning in the Duchy of Witemberg were seene 3. Suns in the firmament that in the middest was much bigger then the rest All three caried the forme of a long sword of a shining colour markt with bloud the points whereof d◅d stretch out far This happened the 12 day of the month The next day ouer the towne of Rotuil there was seene a Sunne shewing a terrible face enuironed with circles of diuers coulours Two dayes before and the 17. of March following were seene three Sunnes and three Moones also the 11. of Ianuary and the 17. of March IAMES STOSEL a Phisition of Memming made an ample discourse prognosticating vppon these apparitions which were followed by great troubles namely in Swaube In the yeare 1517. on Christmas day about the Abbey of Vinaire in Saxony at midnight the Heauens beeing cleere and bright there was seene a Crosse of a reddish coulour In September in the yeare 1520. at Vienna in Austria there were seene many prodigious signes in the heauen The first day from three of the clock afternoone vntill fiue the Sunne was seene enuironed with two great circles Three dayes after about noone there was seene a burning Forke The fift day in the morning there appeared three Sunnes with many Rayn-bowes of diuers fashions The sixt daye about nine of the clocke at night the Moone appeared full trauersed with a Crosse compassed in with a Circle and aboue it a halfe Circle On the seauenth at the breake of day were seene three Sunnes againe and from sixe of the clock vntill seauen a Rain-bowe with three Moones PAMPHILVS GENGENBACH caused these prodigious Meteors to bee cu◅te and published a discourse the which hee sent to the Emperour CHARLES the fift The same yeare the inhabitants of Wissenbourge a Towne seated vpon the Riuer of Rhine heard at noone day such a strange and horrible rushing of armes in the ayre and such a noyse of men fighting and crying as in a set battell that it strooke snch a terror and amazement in them as all runne to Armes thinking the Towne had beene beseeged and that the enemies were at theyr Gates When as the Emperor CHARLES the 5. was crowned in the Citty of Aix la Chapelle the Sunne was seene enuironed with a great Circle and a Raine bowe in the Heauens In the Town of Erfor'd there were three Suns seene Moreouer a burning Cheuron the which was terrible by reason of the greatnesse and length This Cheuron declining to the earth made a great spoile then mounting into the ayre it was conuerted into a cercular forme IOB FINCET in his Collection of the maruells of our Time notes that in the yeare 1523. a Peasant of Hungary going a iourney with his Wagon was be-nighted and forced to lie in the fields attending the breake of day Hauing slept a while he awaked and goes out off his Wagon to walke looking vp into the ayre he did see the resemblance of two Princes fighting with their swords drawn one against an other One was of a
she was sick she made no account neither of children kinsfolkes friends nor of any other thing in the world And when her husband many times brought their children vnto her she sayd nothing but God blesse you God be your Father and Mother and to the yongest of them Hah little Souldiar She neuer commended them but once vnto her husband And after that shee beheld them with a regardlesse eye A quarter of an houre before her departure she called for her Petti-coate to rise and as she was about to go out of her bed she desired to be made vnready and being laid downe againe she sent for her husband and vsed these words vnto him Behold the end of my desire and the beginning of my felicitie IESVS CHRIST is my hope Good husband I desire but one thing of you Pray vnto GOD for me Her husband and children being prostrated on their knees after an earnest praier vnto GOD she closed her eyes as if she had been going to sleepe died with a sweeter countenance then euer she had had in al her life before Extracted out of my Memorials Demoniacks Examples of diuers illusions of Sathan ALthough there be many times some naturall causes of phrensie or madnesse yet is it without question that the Diuill entreth into certaine persons and in them causeth furies torments either with naturall causes or without them seeing such as are so diseased be often cured by remedies which are not naturall Many times also such spectacles are so many prodigies and predictions of things to come Some do◅en yeares since a woman in the country of Saxony which could neither write nor read being tormented of the Diuill and her fit being past she talked both in Greeke and Latin of the warre of Saxony that happened afterward and pronounced words in Greeke and Latin the sence whereof was that there would be great trouble vpon earth and sedition among the people PH. MELANCHTHON in one of his Epistles Foure yeares before that there was a Maide in the Marquisate of Brandebourg who pulling away the haires from the Furre of any ones garment that came before her those hayres were presently turned into peeces of the country money which this maid gnawed on with an horrible grating of her teeth There were diuerse that hauing snatched some of those peeces out of her hand found them to be very money indeed and do keepe them still This maide was very much tormented at times but within a while after she was thoroughly cured and euer since liued in good health She was often-times prayed for and neuer any other ceremonie was vsed The same I haue heard that in Italy there was a woman a very idiot possessed of the Diuell who being demanded of LAZARVS BONAMI a very learned personage accompanied with his Schollers which was the best verse in VIRGIL suddenly answered Discite institiam moniti non temnere Diuos This sayd shee is the best and worthiest verse that euer VIRGIL made get thee gone and come no more to tempt me PH. MELANCHTHON in his epistles G. PRVCER in the 1. booke of his Comentary of Diuinations Chap. 9. P. BOVISTAV in 26. Chap. of his Prodigious Histories ANTHONY BENIVENIVS in the 8. Chap. of his booke of the hidden causes of diseases writeth that hee sawe a young woman of the age of 1◅ yeares whose hands bowed very strangely backwards assoone as a certaine paine tooke her in the bottom of her belly At her fearefull cryes her belly swelled so big that one would haue thought shee had beene gone 8. moneths with child finally she lost her breath and not able to continue in a place shetumbled from one side of the bed to the other putting her head many times betweene her legges as if she would haue plaid some tumbling trick Then being questioned concerning that which had be falne her she neuer remembred any such matter But searching saith he the causes of this disease we were of opinion that it proceeded from a suffocation of the Matrix and from malignant vapours fuming vpward to the detriment of the heart and braine Whervpon we endeuoured to ease her with medicines but that seruing to no purpose she became more outragious then before and at last began to vomit long crooked Yron nailes tagges of points filled within with waxe and wound all about with hayres and so great a portion of her breakfast that it was not possible for any man whatsoeuer to swallowe it whole Hauing sundry times began such manner of vomitings in my presence I mistrusted that shee was possessed of an euill spirit which charmed the eyes of the assistants whilst he cast those things abroad As presently therevpon it was verified by more apparent signes proofes for afterward we heard her making predictions doing other things which surpassed all vehemencie of sicknesse yea all humaine vnderstanding I WIER in the 4. Booke of diabolical impostures Chap. 6. MEINOR CLATH a Gentleman dwelling at Boutenbrouck a Castle in the Duchie of Iuilliers had a seruant named WILLIAM who 14. yeares together was tormented of the Diuill One day swelling mightily about the throate and looking very pale so that they were affraid he would haue falne downe IVDITH his Mistresse a very honest Gentlewoman gathering her folkes together began to call vpon GOD where-vpon there suddainly issued out of this WILLIAMS mouth amongst other trash all the fore-part of a Shepheards breeches Flint-stones some whole some broken little bottoms of thred a false head of haire needles a peece of a boyes silke doublet and a Peacocks feather Being demanded concerning the cause of his sicknesse hee answered that he met with a woman hard by Camphuse which blowed in his face from whence he thought it proceeded But afterward when he was well he confessed that this accusation was not true and that he was induced by the diuill to say so Furthermore he added that all those prodigious things came not out of his body but were throwne against his mouth by the Diuell whilst they saw him vomit One day being more carefully looked vnto by reasō they were afraid he would haue done himselfe some mischiefe his eyes remained so fast closed together that it was impossible to open thē At length GERTRVDE CLATHS eldest daughter of some 12. yeares of age comming vnto him exhorted him to pray to GOD that it would please him to restore his sight againe wherevpon WILLIAM desired her to pray which she did and her eies were immediatly opened to the great amazement of all that were present The Diuil often perswaded him not to giue eare eyther to his Mistresse or any other that troubled his head with talking to him of GOD who could not helpe him seeing hee was once dead as hee had heard it publickly preached Another time striuing to put his hand vnder the Kitchin-maides clothes and shee rating him for it by his name hee answered in a big voice My name is not WILLIAM but BEELZEEVB wherevnto his Mistresse
greatest flames and counselled her to become a Nunne as incontinently shee did Beeing shut vp in the Couent shee grewe as it were furious and shewed euery one strange and horrible sights This inconuenient like a plague infected diuers other Nunnes The first beeing sequestred abandoned herselfe to him that kept her and had two Children by him Thus Satan within and without the Couent wrought his detestable effects In the same booke and Chapter I haue heard that the Diuell for certaine yeares togither tormented the Nunnes of Hessymont at Nieumeghen One day he entred with a whirle winde into their Dortor where he began to play so melodiously on the Lute and Harpe that the Nunnes feete tickled to dance Then he tooke the forme of a dog and leaped into one of their bedds it was suspected of incontinency Other strange things happened there as also in another Couent hard by Colen about the yeare 1560. Where the Diuill walked in the likenesse of a dog and hyding himselfe vnder the Nunnes Cloathes played most filthy and shamefull trickes The like he did at Hensberg in the Duchy of Cleues vnder the figure of Catts In the same booke and Chap. ANTHONY SVCQVET Kinght of the order of the golden fleece a personage of great reputation ouer all Flanders and Counsellor in the priuy Counsell of Brabant beside three legitimate Children had a bastard that tooke a wife at Bruges Who a little after her marriage began to be pittifully tormented of the euill spirit insomuch that where-souer shee was euen in the middest of Ladies and gentlewomen she was suddainly carried away drawne vp and downe the roome many times cast now into one corner now into another albeit those that were with her labored to hold her and keepe her from it But in these agitations she tooke but little harme in her body Euery one thought that this inconuenient was procured vnto her by a wench whom her husband that was a proper gallant yong man had somtimes kept Amidst these accidents she became with Child but ceased not for all that to bee tormented of the spirit The time of her deliuery come there chanced to be but one woman in her company who was presently sent to the mid-wife and other women for to come to her labor In the meane time it seemed vnto her that the wench of whom I spake came into the Chamber and serued her in stead of a mid-wife where with the poore gentle woman was so exceedingly frighted that she fell into a swound Being come to herselfe againe she felt that she was discharged of her b◅rthen yet no Child appeared wherat euery body was greatly amazed The next day when she awaked shee found a Child made vp and layd by her in the bed to the which shee gaue suck at two seuerall times Falling a sleepe againe within a little while after the Child was taken from her side neuer seene more The report went that certaine scrolles and magical Characters were found about the lock of the Chamber dore This history was recounted vnto mee by my brother in Lawe a learned and vertuous gentleman who had receiued it from the gentlewomans husband and brother from diuers others that had visited her in her Child bed I. WIER in his 3. booke Chap. 34. Here we might report the monstrous and innumerable convulsions which happened to the Nunnes of Kentorp in the Country of March not farre from Hammone A little before their fit and during the same they cast forth a stynking breath out of their mouthes which at times continued certaine houres In the middest of their paine some of thē were of good memory both heard and knew those that were about them although by reasō of the convulsion of their toungs partes seruing to respiration they could not speake in their sit Now some were tormented more then others and some lesse But this was common to them all that assoone as one was tormented at the onely noise of that one the rest seperated in diuers Chambers were also tormented One of the ancientest of the Couēt of the first that was afflicted named ANNE LENGON discoursed the whole history vnto me When first of all she felt a paine in her left side that it was thought she was taken with the falling sicknesse she was sent to the Monastery of Monherric wherevnto she consented through a certaine deuotion and after she had drunke there in Saint Cornelius head the report went that she was much better then she had beene which was found cleane otherwise For both she the rest being in worse estate then before sent to a cunning-man who certified them that they were all poysoned by their Cooke named ELSE CAMENSE The Diuill taking hold on this occasion began to torment them more then before and which was worse induced them to bite and beate one another and to throw one another to the ground which they did without any harme and as easilie as if they had beene feathers insomuch that they very well perceiued their will was not in their owne power When they were kept from fighting and doing any other violence then they tormented themselues in most grieuous maner and assoone as they were let alone they fell to biting of one another and yet neuer felt any hurt If ANNE spake in her fit it seemed to be done by meanes of some other that drew her breath in and out Shee vnderstood her selfe speake but the speech ended she remembred not a word of that shee had spoken vnlesse it were repeated vnto her againe for then she remembred that she had pronounced it At any time when she set her selfe to pray incontinently shee was molested by the euill spirit fo that she could not as willingly she would either attentiuely prosecute her purpose or moue her tongue But if shee chanced without thinking on it to mutter a Pater noster or an Aue Maria on her Beads shee was so farre from being hindered that then she felt ease Otherwaies shee was altogether dull and destitute of sence discretion and iudgement so that she could neuer thinke a suisedly on any thing what-so euer If any good deuo◅te man that feared GOD fortuned to conferre with her then it seemed the Diuill would punish her for it But contrary wise if other women talked with her about trifling and ordinary matters therein shee tooke pleasure and was eased by it Nowe all these Nunnes thus tormented felt a paine that got vp ward by little and little from the soles of their feete which seemed to them to bee skalded with hot seething water And though they were all thus strangely afflicted yet lost they not their appetite but still receiued sustenance The Diuell spake very often and much by the mouthes of the yongest which had their spirits troubled vnto whom he presented himselfe in the forme of a black Catte and in the likenesse of Else Kamense or of her Mother or Brother so as euery one thought but
good and heauenly inspiration seeing hee spake so holylye and deuoutly of the excellencie of Christian religion Although the sicke man knew well that these admonitions proceeded from a sincere and true heart yet for that hee had diuerse times reiected them hee began to frowne saying vnto the Bishop You beleeue as I thinke that I doe willingly nourish this obstinacie in my minde and that I take delight in this vehement passion of despaire If you bee of that opinion you are deceiued I will tell you to the ende you may knowe my resolution that if I could bee perswaded that the iudgement of GOD might by any meanes bee changed or mitigated for mee it should not greeue me to bee tormented ten thousand yeares with the sharpest paines of Hell so as I might haue any hope of rest after this long sufferance But euen in that whereby you doe exhorte me to gather some hope I see all meanes of health and pardon taken from mee For if the testimonies of holye Scripture haue any authoritie as they haue doe you thinke that IESVS CHRIST hath sayd in vaine That he which hath renounced him before men hee will renounce him before his heauenly Father doe you not see that it concernes mee and that it is as it were particularly verified in my person what shall become of him whom the Sonne hath disauowed before his Father when as you say that wee must hope for no saluation but in IESVS CHRIST Therevpon hee did expound certaine passages of the Epistle to the Hebrews and of the second Catholike Epistle of Saint Peter out of the which hee drewe terrible conclusions against himselfe Wee cannot beleeue with what grauitie and vehemencie his wordes were deliuered neyther was there euer man heard pleading better for himselfe then SPIERA did then against himselfe Hee did alledge notable things of GODS Iustice detesting his fore-passed life admonishing all that were about him very earnestlie not to thinke that a Christians life was a light thing and easily discharged That it doth not consist onely in hauing the head Baptized in reading certaine verses and Texts of the Gospell and to bee termed an honest man but it was needfull he should liue as the doctrine of trueth doth command him Therevpon hee repeated a Text out of Saint Peter exhorting vs to shewe through holynesse of life certaine signes of the loue of GOD towards vs and of the confidence wee should haue in him Hee sayde moreouer that hee had knowne many who after they had tasted the sweetnesse of true felicitie they suffered them-selues to bee so carryed away as they had no longer care to performe that which belonged to a Childe of GOD. Hee protested that hee had some-times imagined that his sinnes had beene hidden and that hee could not bee punished for that CHRIST had made satisfaction for them but then hee knew too late that those things belonged onely to the elect and chosen of GOD betwixt whose sinnes and the heauenly and celestiall Throne IESVS CHRIST setts his precious bloud and the dignitie of his obedience as a vale and shadowe to couer them and doth plant them against the diuine vengeance as a high and strong Rampar that sinners repenting them might not bee opprest nor drowned with the deluge and ouer-flowings of their offences and sinnes As for himselfe seeing that hee had renounced our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST hee had as one should say ouerthrowne this strong Rampar with his owne hands so as after this ruine and ouer-flowing the deluge of waters of this vengeance had couered and swallowed vp his soule One of his most familiars said vnto him that he did hold the cause of this his great torment to proceed from aboundance of melancholie humours which did so trouble his braine SPIERA remembring that hee had many times refuted that opinion and seeing they were to begin againe sayd vnto the other you may thinke what you please but GOD in trueth hath troubled my spirit and depriued mee of iudgement seeing it is impossible for mee to haue any hope of my saluation Hauing continued in such and the like speeches during his aboad at Padoua they carryed him backe to his house at Ciuitelle where hee dyed in this despaire This which is worthy of consideration among the Histories of our time is drawne out of a discourse published by Maister HENRIE SCRINGER a learned Lawyer who was then at Padoua did see and many times talke with this poore SPIERA About twenty yeares before a very famous Doctor throughout all Germanie called KRAVS remaining at Halle in Swabe hauing often-times turned his conscience sometimes towards GOD sometimes towards the worlde hauing inclined in the end to the worser part sayd and confest publikely that hee was vndone and fell so deepe into despaire as hee could neyther receiue nor take any comfort nor consolation so as in this miserable and wretched estate of his soule hee slew him-selfe most miserably In the Historie of Germanie Cardinall CRESCENCE being at Verona to passe on farther about some matters of importance was much troubled the 25. of March with writing and hauing laboured very late at night rising a little out of his chaire to take breath he imagined that he did see a black Dog of an exceeding greatnesse hauing fiery eyes and his eares hanging to the ground which came directly towards him and then hid himselfe vnder the Table Hee was presently like one in a sowne but beeing come againe to himselfe hee cryed out alowd calling his seruants that were in the former Chamber and commanded them to seeke this Dogge with a light But not finding him there nor in the anti-chamber a Feauer seized on him and encreased in such sort as hee dyed Towards the ende of his life hee cryed often to his seruants Driue away this Dogge which comes vp to my bed It was not possible to resolue nor to comfort him But hee died in great despaire at Verona Historie of our time SLEIDAN lib. 23. of his Comentaries Vnder the raigne of King FRANCIS the second the Kings Aduocate in the Parliament of Daulphiné called PONSENAS after that he had sold his patrimonie his wiues and borrowed much money of his friends to buie this office hee consumed what remained in keeping of open house hoping to be soone recompenced to the double But beeing falne sicke of a disease vnknowne to the Physitions hee fell into despaire of GODS helpe and mercy and representing daylye vnto himselfe the death of some innocent persons executed at Romans and at Valence whome hee had pursued Hee denyed GOD called vpon the Diuill and made all the horrible curses and Imprecations that might bee imagined His Clarke seeing him in this despaire spake to him of the mercies of GOD alledging certaine passages of the Scripture to that purpose But insteed of turning vnto GOD and asking pardon for his offences he sayd vnto him O STEPHEN how black thou art the young man who was redish hayrd excused himselfe the Aduocate replyed againe
that way they let downe a great bucket willing him to put his right foote in it and with his hands to hold fast by the chaine of the Well By which meanes he was drawne vp hauing beene as it were frozen in the Well they carried him to bedde where he lost his speech and opened his eyes very seldome and that with paine Being sent for to visit him I spent all that daie in fighting with the apoplexy At length hee began to stirre a little and to mutter forth some words but vomyting exceedingly The next daie I found him come to himselfe againe and talking hee tould mee howe that night that hee was so in the well hee dreamt that hee was walking and with stumbling had like to haue fallen and that him thought hee had beene ouer head and eares in water Finally after afewe daies hee was thoroughly recouered againe The same A Spanish gentleman surnamed TAPIA rose oftentimes in his sleepe and did many things about the house going from one place to another without awaking but to the end no mischance should come vnto him he had alwaies a basen of water set by his bedde side Nowe one night in the Sommer-time he arose in his shirt put a cloake about him got him forth a dores beeing all this while fast asleepe and met as him thought with another man who demanded of him whither hee went so late It is so hot answered TAPIA that I meane to go wash my selfe And so will I quoth the other come le ts go along togither Withal my heart sayth TAPIA Thervpon they got them to the riuer where TAPIA putting of his cloake and shirte was going into the water but the other ieasting beeganne to say you cannot swimme I am sure marrie but I can replyed the gentleman and it may bee better then you Well quoth the other then followe mee And saying so hee gotte him vp on a bridge that was thereby and leaping downe into one of the deepest places of the Riuer swamme vppe and downe and called to the Gentleman since you bragge so much doe as I haue donne TAPIA followes him and leapes into the Riuer as all this was donne in his sleepe so assoone as his feete touched the water hee awaked and laboring all that possiblie hee could hee beganne to call that other who was not to bee seene Wherevpon fearing it was some euill Spirit that had drawne him into that danger after hee had recommended himselfe vnto GOD hee swamme ouer the Riuer tooke vp his cloake and shirte and returned home recounting that which had happened vnto him and afterwardes vsed meanes not to fall into the like perrill againe A de TORQVEMADOE in the ende of the third date of his Hexameron There haue bin many found who rysing thus sleeping and going vp into windowes that haue beene open haue falne downe to the ground breaking their Armes and legges others haue beene found starke dead and some so grieuously wounded as they haue soone after giuen vp the ghost But it sufficeth vs to propound such as haue escaped the which are set downe in Bookes that wee haue seene vntill that time may discouer the rest by some man more diligent then my selfe who may note all if it please him I haue heard of a young Maiden at Paris which did vsually euery night goe to bathe her selfe in the Riuer being a sleepe The which shee continued long vntill that her Father being aduertised thereof watched her in the Streete and whipt her well to make her leaue this custome whereat the Maide awaked and was much ashamed to see her selfe naked in the streete Maister L. IOVBERT lib. 3. chap. 10. It is also reported that a Scholler hauing had a quarrell the night before with one of his companions rise vp in his sleepe and went and slue his enemie lying in his bed in another Chamber and then hee returned to his owne bed without waking as it was supposed for the next day the Iustice being called by the Host found him a sleepe and his Dagger bloudie confessing that hee had dreampt that he had slâ—…ine him who they sayd was murthered In the same Author There are said he vpon this report many such examples by the which we may conclude that besides the naturall and vitall faculties of the soule the which he affirmes to be very powerfull in sleepers these also that are dedicated and subiect to our willes do labour caused by the meanes of the Muscles as to go to imbrace to speake Strange efficacie and power of Satan MAster THEODORE Sonne to CORNELIVS some-times Consull of Goude in Holland reported this History vnto mee that followeth auouching it to bee verie true In a village called Ostbrouch neere vnto Vtrech there dwelt a widowe who had a seruant whome shee imployed about necessary affaires of the house He hauing obserued as seruants are often curious that this widowe went late in the night when all were at rest into one certaine place in the stable stretching forth her hands vpon the racke whereas they vsually put haie for their Cattell Hee wondring what it ment resolued to do as much without the priuity of his Mistresse and to trie the effect of this ceremonie Soone after following his Mistresse who was gone into the stable hee goes and takes hold of the racke Sodenly hee feeles himselfe to be lifted vp into the aire and to be carried into a Caue vnder grownd in a little Towne called Vuich whereas hee found a Synagoge of Sorcerers deuising togither of their witch-crafts His Mistresse amazed at this vnexpected presence asked him howe hee came into that companie to whome hee reported what had happened She beganne to bee in a great rage against him fearing least those mighty assemblies should be descouered by that meanes yet shee consulted with her companions what was to be done in that difficultie In the ende they concluded to entertaine this new guest friendly forcing a promise from him to keepe silence and to sweare not to descouer the secrets which then had beene made knowne vnto him beyond his hope or merit This poore man promiseth wonders and flatters euery one and least hee should bee more toughly handled he makes a shew to bee admitted of that Sinagogue if it pleased them In these Consultations the time was spent and the houre of departure approched Then they make an other consultation at the instance of the Mistresse whether for the preseruation of many it were not expedient to cut the seruants throte or to carrie him backe By a common consent they inclyned to the milder course to carry him backe againe seeing hee had taken his oath not to reueale any thing The Mistresse vndertakes this charge who after protestations made takes him vpon her backe promising to carrie him backe vnto her house But hauing made part of the way they discouered a Lake full of reedes The Mistresse meeting with this occasion and fearing still that this young man repenting himselfe that hee had beene admitted
to these hellish feastes would descouer what hee had seene shakes him violently from her shoulders hoping as it was likely that hee should loose his life as well through the violence of his high fall as that hee should bee buried in the mudde of the Lake But as GOD is infynitly mercifull desiring not the death of a sinner but that hee should conuert and liue hee did limmit the furious desseins of this Sorceresse and would not suffer this young man to bee drowned so as his fall was not mortall for tumbling downe hee met with a thicke tufte of reedes which did abate the violence of his fall yet he was verie sore hurt hauing no meanes to helpe himselfe but with â—…is tongue beeing all the rest of the night in extreame paine in this muddie couch Daie being come in lamenting and crying out it was the will of GOD that some passengers beeing amazed at this extraordinary Clamor after they had sought dilligently found this poore Bodie halfe dead hauing both his knees out of ioynt They inquire whence hee was and how hee came in that case and hearing the whole discourse after they had drawne him out of that miserable place they caused him to bee transported in a Cart to Vtrecht The Bourgemaster called IOHN of Colombourg a vertuous Gentleman rauished with admiration for so strange an accident made a dilligent inquirie of the matter and caused the Sorceresse to bee apprehended and committed to prison where shee confessed all that had past voluntarilie and without torture beseeching him to take some pittie of her But by a generall consent this woman was condemned and publickly burnt The seruant laie long beefore hee was cured of his hurtes especially of his thighes beeing punnished for his detestable curiositie Maister BAVDOVIN de ROVSEY in his medicinall Epistles Epist. 50. ERASMVS in his Epistles vpon the report of HENRY of GLARIS a learned man in our time writes that the 10. of Aprill 1533. in an Inne at Sciltac a Towne in Suisserland distant some eight good Leagues from Fribourg as night approched they heard a certaine hissing which seemed to come out of one of the Chambers The master of the house suspecting there were some theeues did runne to that place Whereas hee found not any man but hee still herd the same voice in the garret and from thence on the toppe of the Chimney Then presuming it should bee some euill spirit hee sent for two Preestes to coniure it who hauing begunne their exorcismes the spirit answered them that hee cared not for theÌ„ for the one was a whore-hunter and both were theeues so as in despight of all they could doe hee would burne the Towne as he had vndertaken Some thought it was for Ielousie which hee had conceiued against the hostes Sonne and the maide of the house of whome hee had had carnall knowledge by the space of foureteene years as she confessed afterwards at her death Hauing therfore raised this creature in an instant to the toppe of the Chimney he deliuered fire into her hand commanding her to fire the Towne the which shee did so as in lesse then an houre all was consumed to ashes neither could water or vineger quench this fire This was a reall thing and the fire also which the Diuell brought was reall and materiall but of an other nature then the common fire or any artificiall that can bee made And yet it came not from aboue as the fire of lightning the which burneth little if it fall not by chance among gonpowlder as in the yeare 1500. it happened at Paris in the Tower of Billy and sence at Macklin in Brabant and at Venise Blaise Viginere in his treaty of Comets I will adde vnto this history what PHILIP CAMERARIVS reports who sayth that the fire fell here and there vpon houses like vnto fiery boullets and when that anie one did runne to helpe to quench his neighbours house being on fire they called him backe presently to saue his owne They had great difficultie to saue a Castell of free stone seated a good waie from the Towne I haue heard the particularities of this terrible visitation from the mouth of the Curate of the place and other Inhabitants of good credit who had beene spectators of all The Curate told mee that this euill and cruell spirit did counterfeit the singing and melodious tunes of diuerse birds and many that were in my company did wonder with mee to see the Curate haue as it were a Crowne about his long haire which hee carried after the ancient manner all of diuers colours saying that it had beene done by this spirit which had cast the hoope of a Hogshead at his head Hee added moreouer that the same spirit did aske him one day with some others if they had neuer heard a Rauen croake That therevpon this enemie made so horrible a noyse as all that were present were so amazed as if it had continued any longer they would haue dyed for feare Moreouer this olde man did affirme but not without blushing that oftentimes this enemie of mans saluation laide open to himselfe and to others that did accompany him the secret sinnes they had committed so exactly as all were foreced to leaue the place and retire themselues to their houses ashamed In his Historicall meditations Cha. 75. Great Fiers I Doe not enter at this present into the consideration of fiers growing through the furie of the Warre hauing reserued the description thereof among the incredible miseries caused by the warres in our 〈◊〉 In this Section we will onely treate of fires proceeding from other meanes The last of Iune about a hundred yeares since towardes night Cracouia the capitall Cittie of Poland was sett on fire the which was in a manner all burnt It was a wonderfull ruine by reason of many thousands of houses that were consumed to Ashes Maister Cromer lib. 30. of the Historie of Poland In the yeare 1514. the 11. of Ianuary at night fire tooke the Realte at Venice and first consumed the riche shoppes which were very many A Northerly winde blowing very vehemently carryed this fire to the next houses in an instant all was on fire so as infinite buildings were ruined Saint IOHNS Temple the Meale Market and al the buildings about it The shoppes of Gold-smiths and changers were consumed This fire continued all night and could not bee quenched but in making place by the ruine of houses and whole streetes Most part of the Cittie was defaced by this accident Since it hath beene so reedefied beautified and inlarged as this losse hath not beene seene these many yeares P. IOVIVS lib. 12. of his Histories The yeare 1518. in Iune after a horrible Ecclipse of the Sunne there followed at the same houre a terrible fire at Vienna in Austria the which burnt a quarter of the Cittie The Emperour MAXIMILIAN the first being with his Court at Inspruch fell sicke hearing of this newes and dyed of a continuall feauer CVSPINIAN in the