prodigious fol. 504 I IElousie horrible fol. 292 Impiety punnished fol. 296 Imagination fol. 296 Impostures notable fol. 304 Imprecations prophane and blasphemous speeches fol. 319 Iudgement rashly deliuered fol. 333 Iudgement famous and remarkable fol. 339 Iudges no Iudges but most vniust and detestable fol. 345 Iustice. fol. 355 L LIght hurts prooued mortall fol. 89 Liberality fol. 358 M MAns body hardned and become a stone fol. 127 Man before Age. fol. 292 Magnanimity fol. 361 Mariages secret and vnequall vnfortunate fol. 362 Mariage lamentable and doulfull fol. 460 Melancolick madde frantike furious and enraged persons fol. 370 Memory and the excellency thereof fol. 406. Lost and recouered fol. 408 Mothers fertile in lignage issued from them fol. 411 Mothers vigorous and stronge fol. 412 Mother and Children preserued from death fol. 413 Murtherers discouered by strang means and punished fol. 415 Modesty singular in yeelding to a seuere censure fol. 444 Mocker mockt fol. 445 N NAture changed fol. 450 Nature wonderfull fol. 451 Nature recompensed diuers waies fol. 520 O Old Men. fol. 615 P PAine and the contempt thereof fol. 414 Persons that liued a long time without eating or drinking fol. 429. Passions of sorrow ioy iealousie feare and heauines fo 465 Periury punished fol. 503 Predictions fol. 509 Prisoners freed fol. 511 Processe ended by extraordinary means fol. 513 Progrostications dangerous ibid. R RAsh attempts punished fol. 77 Ransome wonderfull fol. 514 Rape miserable fol. 515 Rauishers punished by a valiant hand fol. 519 Resolutions generous and memorable fol. 526 Resemblance or likenesse of persons fol. 527 Ruines strang pittifull and wonderfull fol. 531. 532 Rashnesse miserable fol. 556 S SWallowers wherein is contained meruailous Histories of some that haue swallowed diuers strange things into the stomack and what hath insued fol. 78 Swallowers that haue beene in danger by things sticking in their throates and what pittifull accidents haue followed fo 82 Strang horrible and very pittifull Accidents fol. 113 Sleepers merueilous and wonderfull fol. 199 Sathan and his strange efficacy and power fol. 205 Spirits prodigious fol. 271 Sparkles of fire fol. 273 Sorceries Impostures strang illusions of sathan discouered fol. 542 Sweate bloudy fol. 555 T THeeues and murtherers fol. 101 Tooth of gold in the mouth of a Child of Silesia fol. 183 Thunder and lightning fol. 280 Theeues cunning and notable fol. 356 Turkish pillgrime strang and wonderfull fol. 501 Treasors found spoyled lost sought for againe vainely dangerously fol. 557 Traitors punished fol. 564 V VAlour fol. 574 Vanity fol. 587 Vanity of the world represented in state ibid. Vanity furions fol. 590 Visions strang fearefull and horrible fol. 620 Visions in the aire strang and wonderfull fol. 640 W WOman in child bed that abounded with milke fol. 19 Wounds cured fol. 90 Women that haue become Men. fol. 275 Wormes in mans body fol. 593 FINIS ADMIRABLE AND MEMORABLE Histories of our Time A strange accident of a yong Maide CORNELIVS GEMMA a Physick reader at Louvain in the ende of the fourth Chapter of his second booke of a worke intitled de diuinis Naâ—…urae Caracterismis settes downe an admirable History at large the which I will relate as briefly as I may A yong Maiden remaining saith he neere vnto mee whose Father was a Cooper beeing fifteene yeares old of a good constitution of Body fayre and of a good spirit of a melancholy complexion mixt with sanguin her Name was KATHERINE GAVLTHIER fell sicke and weake through diuers accidents About the month of Ianuary in the yeare 1571. her monethly termes aduanced twise or thrise but being staid presently through the vyolence of her infirmity they caused a great wearinesse ouer all her body It was suspected she had beene poysoned by a certaine Woman of an ill fame who had giuen her a peece of a Cake Eating it shee felt it painfull to swallow After the which she began to feele strange paines at her stomacke shee grew leane vomited sometimes her stomacke fayled her and she felt a dysinesse in her Head with other accidents which torment Women with Child especially in the 4. and 7. month For about mid Iune she was subiect to Feauers some kind of Convulsions Her paines did in like sort increase so as like a mad Woman shee tormented her selfe growing bigge pale short-winded and in the end she was so opprest with paine as she grewe blacke in the Face like one that had beene strangled She was so tormented as foure men could scarse hold her for casting her selfe from her bed to the ground there was no kind of Convulsion but did afflict her These panges hauing continued by fits vnto the 9. month her Parents began to flie vnto the Phisitians I was first called because I dwelt neerest But being from home they repayred to Maister BEAVSARD who considering of this disease thought she had beene troubled with VVormes It happened after many grieuous pangues that Nature working by her force made her to voyde a quicke Eele at her seege the which was presently brought vnto mee It was a very Eele great as a mans thombe and a foote and a halfe long with a good proportion and all parts perfect Three dayes before it came forth both the Mayde and those that were about her heard a great noyse and as it were a hissing in her belly And beeing come forth the Maide sayd That she had felt the Eele put forth her head before and drawe it backe againe and then to thrust forth sodainly and with violence This Eele remayning among the excrements seemed for a great space dead but beeing put into a pot of water it did stirre very strongly After the voyding thereof the extreme pangues which had so much tormented her began to ceasse But the Eele which they had ript and clensed being hanged vp whereas neither Cat not any other beast could reach it vanished in an instant Soone after the Maide began to cast vp great abundance of water the which I came to see beeing like vnto vrine and of a strange taste as the Patient sayde This vomiting continued 15. dayes in euery one of the which she voyded about 24. pounds waight of water at the mouth I report not these things by heare-say but for that I did see and toucht them with my hands I was no lesse amazed to see that besides this great abundance of water which she voyded at her mouth she made water in great abundance twise or thrise a daie without any swelling of her bellie or any other part of her bodie neither did shee drinke aboue one cup of VVine Beere or other liquor in a daie I asked her if she felt no payne in one of the Miseraicall veines She answered me that her left side had alwayes troubled her much since the voyding of the Eele and that before she had felt some heauinesse in that place but since she was troubled with great gnawing and pricking which made her to crie out when I did but
Chap. 9. of his Treatise of the cure of Diseases WILLIAM of BRABANT writes in his Historie that a man of a setled iudgement was some-times so tormented with an euill spirit that at a certaine season of the yeare hee imagined himselfe to bee a rauening Wolfe running vp and downe the Woods Caues and Deserts especially after young Children More-ouer hee saith that this man was often found running in the Desarts like a man out of his wittes and that in the end by the grace of GOD hee came to himselfe againe and was cured There was also as IOB FINCEL reports in his 2. Booke of Miracles a Countri-man neere vnto Pauia in the yeare 1541. who thought himselfe to bee a Wolfe setting vpon diuers men in the fields and slew some In the end being with great difficultie taken hee did constantlye affirme that hee was a Wolfe and that there was no other difference but that Wolues were commonlie hayrie without and hee was betwixt the skinne and the flesh Some too barbarous and cruell Wolues in effect desiring to trie the truth thereof gaue him manie wounds vpon the armes and legges but knowing their owne error and the innocencie of the poore melancholie man they committed him to the Surgions to cure in whose hands hee dyed within fewe dayes after Such as are afflicted with that disease are pale their eyes are hollow and they see ill their tongue is drye they are much altered and are without much spittle in the mouth PLINIE and others write that the braine of a Beare prouokes brutish imaginations And he saith that in our time some made a Spanish Gentleman eate thereof whose phantasie was so troubled as he imagined that he was transformed it to a Beare flying into the Mountaines and desarts I. WIER lib. 4. Chap. 13. Of Diuelish deuises As for those Licanthropes which haue the imagination so impayred and hurt that besides by some particular power of Sathan they seeme Wolues and not Men to them that see them runne doing great spoile BODIN disputes very amply in his Demonomania lib. 2. Chap. 3. where he maintaines that the Diuell may change the figure of one body into another considering the great power which GOD hath giuen him in this elementarie world Hee maintaines that there be Licanthropes transformed really from Men into Wolues alledging diuers examples and Histories to that purpose In the end after many arguments hee maintaines the one and the other sort of Licanthropia And as for this represented in the end of this Chapter the conclusion of his discourse was that men are some-times changed into Beasts the humaine reason remaining whether it bee done by the power of GOD immediatly or that this power is giuen to Sathan the executioner of his will or rather of his fearefull iudgements And if we confesse saith he the truth of the holy writte in DANIEL touching the transformation of NABVCHODONOSER and of the Historie of LOTS wife changed into an immouable Piller it is certaine that the change of a Man into an Oxe or into a Stone is possible and by consequence possible into all other creatures But for that BODIN cites PEVCER touching the transformation of the Pilappiens and doth not relate plainly that which he doth obserue worthy of consideration vpon that subiect I will transcribe it as it is conteined in his learned worke intituled A Commentarie of the principall sorts of diuinations lib. 4. Cap. 9. according to the French edition In the ranke and number of Ecstatiques are put those which they call Licaons and Licanthropes which imagine themselues to bee changed into Wolues and in their forme runne vp and downe the fields falling vpon troopes of great and small Cattell teare in peeces what they incounter and goe roring vp and downe Church-yardes and Sepulchers In the forth booke of HERODOTVS there is a passage touching the Neuriens a people of Scythia who transformed them-selues into Wolues the which hee saith hee could not beleeue not with-standing any report that was made vnto him For my part I haue held it fabulous and rediculous that which hath beene often reported of this transformation of men into Wolues But I haue learned by certaine and tryed signes and by witnesses worthy of credit that they be not things altogether inuented and incredible which are spoken of such transformations which happen euery yeare twelue dayes after Christmas in Liuonia and the Countries thereabout as they haue learned by their confessions which haue beene imprisoned and tormented for such crimes Behold how they report it to be done Presently after that Christmas day is past a lame Boye goes through the Countrie and calles the Diuels slaues together being in great numbers and inioynes them to follow him If they staye any thing then presently comes a great man holding a whippe made of little chaines of Yron where-with he makes them to aduance and some-times he handles these wretches so roughly as the markes of his whippe sticke long by them and puts them that haue beene beaten to great paine Being vpon the way behold they are all as it seemes to them changed and transformed into Wolues They are thousands of them together hauing for their conductor and guide this Whippe-carrier after whom they marche imagining that they are become Wolues Beeing in the open champian Countryes they fall vppon such troupes of Cattell as they finde teare them in peeces and carrye away what they can committing many other spoiles but they are not suffered to touche nor to hurt any reasonable creature When they approche neere vnto any Riuer their guide say they deuides the water with his whippe so as they seeme to open and to leaue a drye path betwixt both to passe through At the end of twelue dayes all the troupe is dispersed and euery one returnes vnto his house hauing layde away his Wolues forme and taken that of Man againe This transformation say they is done after this manner Those which are transformed fall sodenly to the ground like vnto them that haue the Falling-sicknesse and remaine like dead men voyde of all feeling They stirre not from thence neither goe into any other place neither are they transformed into Wolues but are like vnto dead carcasses for although you shake them and rowle them vp and downe yet they make no shewe of life From thence is sprung an opinion that the soules taken out the bodyes enter into these fantosmes or visions running with the shapes of Wolues then when the worke enterprized by the Diuell is finished they returne into their bodyes which then recouer life The Licanthropes them-selues confirme this opinion confessing that the bodyes doe not leaue their humaine forme neyther yet receiue that of a Wolfe but onelie that the soules are thrust out of their prisons and flye into Wolues bodyes by whom they are carryed for a time Others haue maintained that lying in Yrons in a Dungeon they haue taken the forme of a Wolfe and haue gone to finde out their companions many dayes iourney
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
LEONARD LIRNIMAN Sonne to a Tailer of Basill being entred they knew not how into a Grotte or Caue which is not far from the towne where hee had past farther then anie other he tolde wonders at his returne Hauing carried with him a great waxe-candle that was blest and light when as he entred Going farre into the Caue hee first past an iron dore then hee went on from Chamber to Chamber vntill he found greene and stately gardins In the midest of it was a hall richely furnished and in it a verie faire Maide carrying on her head a Crowne of gold with her haire hanging downe but from the Nauel downe-ward it was an horrible Serpent Shee tooke LEONARD by the hand led him to a Cofet of iron about the which did lye two great black dogges which beganne to barke horribly against him But the Maide beganne to threaten them and causing them to bee still shee takes a great bundell of keyes which hunge about her necke opens the Cofer and drawes forth all sortes of Medaills of gold siluer and copper most of the which shee presented to this young man who shewed them after-wards to manie in Basill Hee added that this Maide sayd vnto him that shee was issued from a Royall stocke and that shee had beene monstrously transformed in that sort long since by horrible Imprecations neither did shee hope for any deliuery vntill that a chast young man who had beene neuer poluted in anie sort had kist her thrice Then shee should recouer her first forme and for a recompence shee would giue vnto the young man that should free her the Treasure conteyned in that Cofer Hee did affirme that there-vpon hee came verie neere vnto her and had kist her twise but at either of them shee made such greeuious and horrible faces as hee thought shee would deuower him or teare him in a thousand peeces Being carried by some disordred people into a Tauerne hee could neuer afterwards finde the entry nor the descent into the Caue for the which the poore wretch did often lament and weepe bitterly Euery one may see that this Maide was a Satanicall illusion And on the other side the ancient Romaine Medayles which hee brought out of this Caue and sold to diuers Bourgeses of Basill shewe that there might bee some hidden Treasure in that Caue kept by some couetous Companion of Satan as in the mines of gold the worke-men doe some-times incounter with euill spirits which torment them strangely After this young man an other borne at Basill prest with extreame necessitie in a deere yeare went into the Caue hoping to finde this Treasure for the releefe of his famelie But hauing gonne but a little way and found nothing but dead mens boanes hee was so terrefied as without looking behinde him hee speedely recouered the entrie of the Caue and returned all amazed to his house being emptie handed STVMPFIVS in the History of Suisserland In the yeare 1530. the Diuill did shewe vnto a Preest through a Cristall glasse certaine Treasures neere vnto the Citty of Nuremberg But as the Preest sought for them in a hollow place without the Citty hauing taken a friend with him to be a spectator and beginning to see a Cofer in the bottome of the Caue by the which there laie a black dogge hee entred into it where presently hee was smothred with the earth that fell on him and filled vp all the Caue I. WIER Booke 2. of Impostures Chap. 5. About eight Leagues and a halfe from the Citty of Leon in newe Spaine there is a mountaine in the toppe whereof there is a wonderfull great breach or mouth from the which it doth some-times cast such great flames of fire as in the night it may be plainly seene 25. leagues off Many haue imagined that it was some vaine of gold that was molten and entertained this fire For this cause a IACOBIN would make tryall of it causing a Chaine of Yron to bee forged with an Yron Bucket at the end of it and went to the place with foure other Spaniards Beeing there they let downe the Chaine with the Bucket the which was molten with some part of the Chaine The Iacobin returned very angrie to Leon complaines to the Smith that hee had made the Chaine much slenderer then hee had commanded The Smith makes an other much greater then the first The same being done with a Bucket proportionable vnto it the Iacobin goes the second time to the Mountaine with his companions and le ts downe the Chaine and Bucket as at the first But it succeeded as before and almost worse for sodenly there came out of this hollow place a Ball of fire so great as the Iacobin and his companions thought to haue dyed there at the least they were so amazed as they had no more list to meddle with that fire but returned much terrified vnto the Towne without euer speaking more of the Mountaine or of the Treasure I haue knowne a Priest in the same Towne who hauing acquaintance with a Spanish Treasurer had oportunitie by his meanes to send a Letter to the King of Spaine in the which hee beseeched his Maiestie to furnish him with 200. slaues to worke in this Mountaine promising to drawe forth wonderfull great Treasures The King sent him word that he should worke at his owne charge if he would as for him hee had no slaues to send him So the Mountaine remained still in that place with-out stirring or any more visiting of the Priest or of any other after him IEROSME BENZO a Milanois lib. 2. of the Historie of the New found world Chap. 16. ENCISO a Spaniard hauing with his company defeated certaine Indians which kept him from forraging of their country he entred into their chiefe Village there found store of bread fruits rootes other things to eat where-with he refresht him-selfe and his men Then they went to search along the bankes of the riuer which was neere where they found great store of stuffe Couerlets and vessell of earth and wood which they had hidden in the Reeds with about 120000. crowns in gold wrought the which COMACCO Lord of the Village had hiddē there thinking to saue it from the Spaniards hands And if certaine Indians had not discouered this treasure vnto them they had neuer found it yet they were faine to torture them to make them confesse where it was BENZO lib. 2. Chap. 2. But this treasure and all others discouered here or there in our time are but a handfull of siluer in respect of those of the Kings of Peru as well in their stately Garden where all was of gold as in their Cabinet where euery thing created or artificiall was to be seene of pure gold The ransome of ATABALIPPA amounting to aboue sixty two Millions of gold and would haue beene aboue a hundred Millions If PIZARRE had had the patience in the end the Treasures of the Temple of the Sunne the which were greater and were spoyled by
girle of foure yeares of age voide wormes aliue that were twenty ells long G. HAMBERGER professor in Physicke at Tubinge in certaine questions that were disputed of in the yeare 1574. A young Countrie-Maide foureteene yeares olde being in good helth voided a worme 14. foote long WECKERVS in his Oberseruations An other Country-woman of the age of 35. yeares being greatly troubled with wormes voided one eighteene foote long The same Author A certaine poore Coūtry-maide voided a worme at twice long and large the which was neere fiue ells long GASPAR WOLF in his Obseruations I haue some-times seene sicke persons voide of these large wormes that were forty foote long with such violence as one would haue thought they would cast vp their gutts These wormes haue no hollownes but are compounded of a kinde of white skinne thicke and slymie markt with blacke spotts and without motion They are like vnto points or bands and are ingendred in the Bowells of a rotten Iuice FELIX PLATER in his Obseruations A Padouan Barber remayning at Mantoua about Automne in the yeare 1556 after some fitts of an Ague did cast off these wormes a finger broad and seuen cubits long such as Doctor PLATER hath described MAR. DONATVS Booke 4. of his Admirable Histories Chap. 26. Doctor SCHENCK and QVENTS in their obseruations note two Histories of the like wormes of six seauen and eight Cubits long FERNELIVS Booke 6. Chap 10. of his Pathologia speakes of an other kinde of wormes called ASCARIDES which he sa◅es come out of the fundement then fasten themselues to the buttocks and thighes And Docter IOHN de IESSEN in his obseruations affirmes the same reporting that a little child of one of the chiese Councellors to the Emperor RODOIPHVS the 2. being troubled with the falling sicknesse many Phisitions being assembled togither to consult of the causes of this violent ordinary Infirmity they were much troubled to resolue IRSSEN caused it to be vnswadled visited the fundemēt where he found Ascarides Then with one common consent they applied a Corsey the cause of the disease being taken away by little and little the Child grewe to perfect helth But we must yet propound other Histories of monstrous wormes quite different from the common forme that the reader may see more and more vnto what miseries wee are all subiect through sinne and by these relations learne to humble our selues before our GOD and soueraigne Iudge A Chanoin tormented with the chollicke tooke of the confection called HIERA PIGRA and cast forth a worme like vnto a Lizard but greater hairy hauing foure feete the which was kept aliue in a violl of glasse MONTVVS Booke 4. Chap 19. In the memory of our Fathers a woman with-child at Craco◅ia in Poland was deliuered of one still borne the which had vpon the backe of it a great worme of the forme of a serpent the which did g◅awe this little creature LICOSTHENES in his Histories of Prodigies A young maiden of Louvain in Brabant 15. years old after that shee had endured much shee did voide both from aboue and beneath strange things amongst others by the seege with the excrements a worme a foote and a halfe long greater then a mans Thombe very like vnto an eele the difference was that the taile was verie hairy C. GEMMA Booke 2. Chap. 2. A. BENIVENIVS 2 Physition of Florence writes that a Carpenter called IOHN 40. yeares of age was continually troubled with a paine at his heart without any ease BENIVENIVS hauing giuen him some potion with a great quantity of matter which hee voided he cast vp a good long worme hauing a redde head round and of the bignesse of a great pease hauing the bodie all couered with soft haire a forked taile like a halfe Moone and foure feete as a Lizard AMB. PARE Booke 19. Chap. 3. A Spanish Gentlewoman returning from Peru did assure that she had beene sick many years there and could finde no helpe In the end an Indian held for a great herbalist came to see her made her drink the iuice of Veruein well purified by means wherof soone after she cast vp a worme which shee called a snake all hairy a foote long besides the taile which done shee recouered her helth MONARDVS Booke 3. of the simples of the newe found world in the Chap. of Verueine ANTHONY CAPTAINE a Phisition of Mantoua hath often told mee that a gentleman of that place called LAVRENCE ZAFFARD hauing bin trobled with a melancholike ague a loathing of meate with a paine at his heart which made him to shrike out he did vomit vp a worme the which liued seauen houres it was a foote-long hauing hornes on the head and a 100. feete on either side with the which he crept strangly it was of a reddish collour and flat MACEL DONATVS Booke 4. Chap. 26. of his Histories BONIFACE COCK of Padoua had a little Sonne which remained in a trance as one dead for the space of sixe houres FALLOPIVS a learned Physition prescribed som-thing vnto him with the helpe whereof hee recouered his spirrits and one houre after voided aboute fortie wormes amongst the which there was one blacke hairy with two heads a Cubit long which liued three daies SCHENCH Booke 3. Obseruation 21. A young girle about some nine yeares olde hauing taken the powlder of wormes did cast vp little Caterpillers a liue DODONEVS in his annotation vpon the 58. Chapter of BENIVENIVS Hauing an old woman that was sick of a Pluresie in cure shee cast forth a black Snaile hauing blacke feete long and soft hornes markt being full of filthie matter and two fingers long GESNER lib. 3. of his Epistles pag. 94. I haue seene a Worme which was no longer then the bredth of foure fingers but hauing the backe couered with a reddish haire This Worme had tormented a certaine young man so as there was no hope of life in him but in the end by meanes of a fit drinke hee did vomit vp the Worme and so escaped GABVCIN in his Comentarie of the Lungs Chap. 13. A Tayler in Languedoc not farre from Montpellier being cured of a strange Feuer in the end hee did cast vp a Worme three quarters long the which was round thick and aliue and with it much melancholike and black matter GASP. WOLFIN in his obseruations A Suisse of the Canton of zug a strong man feeling commonly some thing that did pricke him at the orifice of the stomacke being eased by some potions he did cast vp a great number of Wormes of two and three foote long The same A Maide of Briele in Holland did vomit vp a great number of Wormes and which is more a yeare after she voyded Snailes which her Mother did shew mee assuring me that shee had kept one which had liued two dayes P. FOREST lib. 18. Obseruat 19. In the yeare 1578. THIENETE CARTIER dwelling at Saint Maur a widow-woman fortie yeares olde did cast in the beginning of her fitt great abundance of
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
into Bourdeaux and beeing possest of all without blowe stroken tooke from the Citizens by vertue of his commission all there tittles recordes and documents of their rightes and priuiledges depriued them of all their honours burnt all their priueleges caused the Court Parliament to cease disarmed all the Inhabitantes tooke downe their Belles depriued them of all their Immunities and Freedomes constrayning the principalls of the Towne to the number of a hundred and fortie to goe seeke the Bodie of the Lord of Monneins at the Carmelites and to remooue it with mourning to Saint Andrewes where it is Interred hauing first with a wax Candle lighted in their handes asked mercie of almightie GOD the King and Iustice before the lodging of the Constable L'ESTONNAC the two Brothers of SAVLX and others had their heads cut off The Marshalles Prouost with a stronge troupe ranne through the Country of Burdelois BAZADOIS and AGENOIS executing them that had caused the larum Bell to bee rung In the ende the two Colonells of the commons called TAILEMAIGNE and GALAFFRE were taken who were broken vpon the wheele beeing first crowned with a Crowne of burning Iron as a punnishment of the souerainty they had vsurpt Certaine monethes after Burdeaux was established in her former estate and after the leauying some summes of money the exactiōs that were cause of these troubles were abolished History and Annales of France vnder HENRY the second Diuers remarkable commotions happened with in this hundred yeares in diuers parts of the world you shall read GOD willing in the following volumes for this time wee present you with the precedent History as an essay of the rest Prodigious spirits IT is not long since there died one CONSTANTIA who counterfeited most sorts of voices some-times hee would singe like an Nightingale who cold not chant diuision better then hee some-time brey like an Asse some-times grumble and barke like three or foure Dogges fighting togither counterfecting him that beeing bitten by the other went crying away with a Combe in his mouth hee would counterfeit the winding of a Cornet all these things hee did so excellent well as neither the Asse nor the Dogges nor the Man that winded the Cornet had any aduantage of him I haue seene and spoken with such a one oftentimes at my owne house but aboue all that which is most admirable is that hee would speake somtimes with a voice as it were inclosed in his stomacke without opening his lippes or very little at all in such manner as if hee were neere you and called you would haue thought the voice had come from a farre and so as diuers of my friends haue beene often deceiued by him Maister PASQVIER in the fift booke of his Recherches of France There is also there recited two other examples of prodigeous Spirits which I will adde to the other The first is of one MOVLINET an ancient French Poet who reports that hee hath seene a man that sunge both the note and ditty of a songe very readily at one time The other is of a young man that came to Paris in the yeare 1445. Not aboue twentie yeares olde who knewe these are the wordes of a Notary of that time all the seauen liberall Artes by the Testimonie of all the learned Clerkes of the Vniuersitie of Paris and could play on all kinde of Instrumentes singe and sett better then any other exceeding all in Paris and there abouts in painting and limming a very expert Souldiar playing with a two hand sworde so wonderfully as none might compare with him for when hee perceiued his enemie comming hee would leape twentie or foure and twentie footes vpon him Hee was also a Maister in Artes a Doctor in Phisick a Doctor of the Ciuill and Cannon Lawe a Doctor in Diuinity And for certaine hee hath disputed with vs of the Colledge of Nauar beeing fiftie in number of the best Schollers in Paris and with more then three thousand other Schollers to all which questions asked him hee hath answered so boldly as it is a wonder for them that haue not seene him to beleeue it Hee spake Latin Greeke Hebrewe Caldey Arabique and many other tongues Hee was a Knight at armes and verily if it were possible for a man to liue an hundreth yeares without eating drinking or sleeping and continually studying yet should he not attaine to that knowledge that he had done certainlie it was a great astonishment to vs for hee knew more then in humaine reason might be comprehended Hee vnderstood the foure Doctors of the Church and to conclude not to bee parareld in the world for wisedome Behold then this prodigious spirit with some others that we haue seene in our Time amongst whom was IOHN PICVS and IOHN FRANCIS PICVS his Nephew Princes of Mirandola IVLIVS CAESAR SCALIGER and others for the most part dead some other yet liuing whom I will forbeare to name Sparkles of Fire IT hath happened in my time to a Carmelite Friar that alwayes and as oft as hee put back his hood one might see certaine sparkles of fire come from the haire of his head which continued in him for the space of thirteene yeares together Madam of Caumont if she combed her haire in the darke seemed to cast forth certaine sparkles of fire from her head SCALIGER in his excersitations against CARDAN It happened vpon a time to a certaine Preacher in Spaine that from the crowne of his head downe to his shoulders one might see a flame of fire issue which was held for a great miracle HERMOLAVS BAREARVS in the fourth Booke of his Phisickes Chap. 5. Fantastiques THere are some Nations that when they are eating they couer themselues I know a Lady yea one of the greatest who is of opinion that to chew is an vnseemly thing which much impaireth their grace and beautie and therefore by her will she neuer comes abroad with an appetite And a man that cannot endure one should see him eate and shunneth all company more when he filleth then when he emptieth In the Turkish Empire there are many who to excell the rest will not be seene when they are a feeding and who make but one meale in a weeke who mangle their faces and cutt their limmes and who neuer speake to any body who thinke to honour their nature by disnaturing themselues O fanaticall people that prize them selues by their contempt mend by their empayring what monstrous beast is this that makes himselfe a horror to himselfe whom his delights displease who tyes himselfe vnto misfortune MONTAIGNE in his third booke of Essayes Chap. 5. I cannot keepe any Register of my actions Fortune hath set them so lowe I keepe them in my fantasie I haue seene a Gentleman that did not communicate his life but by the operation of his belly One might see by him at his rising a roe of close stooles to serue for seuen or eight dayes The same MONTAIGNE Women that haue become Men. IN a place called Esquirie nine leagues
Algadefie was wholie ruined the houses and buildings beeing layd flat with the ground The fiue and twenty of May 1566. about three a clocke in the afternoone a clap fell vpon the Castle of Misnia burnt a floore of a Chamber melted kettles and Pannes spoiling all the Chambers entring and going out at the windowes then downe into the cellars to the great amazement of all but hurt not any person Three yeares after the nineteeneth of Iulie the thunder hauing rored from eight a clocke in the morning till foure in the afternoone the boult about one a clock light vpon the Colledge Church of the Towne-house Much Cattell and some men were found dead in the ficildes amongest other memorable accidents the lightning ceized vpon a Country fellowe who burnt all his Bodie ouer three daies after and then died The Mother of IEROME FRACASTORIVS an excellent Philosopher admirable Poet and happy Physition of our time hauing him in her armes giuing him suck was strooke with a thunder-clap and kild without any touch or hutt to the little Childe which was a presage of the glory that this excellent personage who liued long after and then died of an Apoplexie should bee crowned with Horrible fury IN the memory of our Ancestors a Carpentar of Wilsmarse a famous towne in Saxony some-times possest with a Phrensie traueling one day with some of his owne condition with out saying a worde tooke his hatchet and went towards his house where being entred he cloue in two two of his Children his Wife being great with childe hearing the noise ran to saue the third which hee left falling vpon his Wife and cut her and the fruite she bare in peeces And so being couered with bloud he returned to his companions being askt how he came so he came to his senses And then remembring what he had done he went againe to his house snatcht a knife and gaue himselfe a blow on the brest and fell downe dead vpon the ground CRANTZIVS in his 10. booke of Vandalia Of Giants IN the yeare 1511. the Emperor Mâ—…XIMILIAN 1. being at Ausâ—…ourg at an Assembly of the States they presented a man vnto him of an vnreasonable height greatnesse who at a fewe month-fulls and without any stay did eate a whole Sheep or a Calfe not caring whether it were rost or raw saying that it did but sharpen his appetite SVRIVS in his Commentary of the memorable things of our time IOACHIM the 2. of that name Elector of Brandebourg had a peasant in his Court called Little MICHEL by ANTIPHRASIS for he was eight foot high which is a great stature of a man in our time but little and small in comparison of great men in old time namely of Goliath and others about Iudea MATHEVV HORST in his collection of the combate betwixt DAVID and GOLIATH I haue seene a young mayden of a Giant-like stature whom they did carry from Towne to Towne to shewe her as a prodigious thing for the sight of whome euery man gaue some thing wherewith her Mother that conducted her and she were entertained She was in a hired Chamber by her selfe and there suffred her selfe to be seene with admiration Going as others did I inquired carefully of euery point and did learne both from herselfe and her Mother who was a woman of a meane stature that the maidens Father was not tall that in all their stocke there was not any one that exceeded the height of other persones that her Daughter vntill shee was twelue yeares olde was very little but falling at the same time into a quarten ague which had held her some monethes comming to leaue her shee beganne then to growe all her members beeing proportionable to that height so as when I did see her shee was about fiue and twenty yeares olde neither could I note from the head vnto the sole of the foote any disproportion in any of her members but a fit measure in euery one of them At this age of 25. yeares shee had not yet had her monethly Termes nature seeming to haue required and restrayned this excrementall bloud for the norrishment and preseruation of so great a body Shee was helth-full ill faced black simple and grosse writted and heauy of all her Body for the vitall vertue infused at the beginning into this body according vnto the measure due to the greatnesse of an ordinary person dispersed afterwards into so great a Masse could not with equall power shew the efficacie of his worke as in a meane bodie and experience doth shewe that vertue restrained shewes it selfe more vigorous then when it is two much dispersed for the regard of naturall causes of this extraordinary greatnesse by the meanes of the quarten ague wee will leaue the decision vnto Physitions and will not dispute with them but in a word if a person that is about the age of twelue or twentie yeares comes to growe through a sicknesse so as in proportion of Bodie shee comes to bee twise as heigh as anie other wee must confesse that this force of nature is extraordinarie and admirable We haue drawne this Historie out of MARCELLVS DONATVS a learned Physition Lib. 3. Chap. 14. Whereas he treats amply of the causes of the Giant-like height as his profession did require After the victorie which King LEVVIS the twelfth obtained at the Battaile of Lode beeing gone to Milan I found a young man in the hospitall so great as hee could not stand right vp hauing not suffycient norrishment of nature for the thicknesse of his Bodie and the proportion of his forces Hee was therefore layd vpon two beddes the one ioyned long waies vnto the other the which hee did fill with his length The Samogitiens which inhabite betwixt Prusia and Liuonia are verie talle and yet some-times they ingender Children which come to age are of a verie small stature and some-times others which growe wonderfull great SCALIGER in the 63. exercitation against CARDAN There was in our time in Bourdelois a man of an vnmeasurable heigth and greatnesse by reason whereof he was called the Giant of Bourdeaux King FRANCIS amazed to see so long a body commanded hee should be one of his Guarde Hee was a peasant of a grose spirit so as not able to applye himselfe to a Courtiers life after some dayes hee gaue ouer his Halbard and returned to his Village An honourable person who had seene him Archer of the Guarde did assure mee that hee was of such a heigth as any other man of an ordinarie stature might goe right vp betwixt his legges when hee did stride I. CHASSAGNON in his Treatise of Giants Chap. 6. In the yeare 1571 there was a Gyant seene at Paris whome euery man did runne to see Hee kept himselfe very close in an Inne and no man could haue the sight of him but in paying to see him Entring into the Chamber where hee was kept they did see with admiration a man of a strange height sitting in a Chaire but their wondring
the Common-wealth of Genâ—…way pag. 787. 788. Nature changed IT chanced in our time at Breslaw in Silesia that a certaine young Maide hauing beene present with many others at the execution of a Theefe which was beheaded shee was so troubled there-with as shee fell to haue the falling sicknesse They applyed many remedies which did her no good A certaine Gossip according to the vsuall custome gaue her aduise saying If they gaue this Maide Cattes bloud to drinke the paine would cease Those which gouerned her following this foolish councell made her to swallow some But soone after the poore Mayde changed her naturall disposition and some-times tooke vpon her the nature of a Catte wauling leaping and running as those Beasts doe and watching softlie for Rattes and Mise in euery corner of the house trying by all meanes to catch them Shee continued in these Cattish exercises vntill the vehemencie of her fitte was past Maister MARTIN VEINRICH in his Commentarie of the beginning of Monsters Wonderfull Natures THere was a certaine Gentle man that could not endure an olde woman should looke vpon him and as it happened once that at a banquet there were certaine that had beene inuited vnknowne to him the which could not but looke vpon him his apprehension was so great as hee dyed sodenly In the same Commentarie of Monsters Cattes offend many with looking on them so as some hearing or seeing a Catte tremble and are much afraide the which I beleeue doth not proceed alone from the venome of Cattes but also from their disposition that doe see or heare them for they haue by Nature this influence from Heauen the which is neuer moued to doe her proper action vnlesse the contrarie obiect present it selfe I haue seene many of this minde and disposition in Germanie and some remaining in Goritzia If this proceeds onely of a naturall quallitie which is in fewe they that are subiect vnto it shewe it plainlie For beeing in Germanie and supping in the Winter time in a Stoue with very good company one of the troupe was much subiect vnto that humour The Hostesse knowing the disposition of the Man shutte a little Kitlin which shee had bred vp into a Cofer with-in the Stoue least this man seeing it should be offended But although hee did neither see it nor heare it yet a while after hauing smelt the ayre of a Catte his disposition enemie vnto Cats beeing stirred hee began to sweate growe pale and trembling to crye out not without amazement to all the companie that there was a Catte hidden in some corner of the Stoue MATHIOLVS vpon the 6. Booke of DIOSCORIDES Chap. 25. I haue knowne a Princesse adorned with all vertues of the minde and body that could not endure the sight of a Catte beeing other-wise of an actiue spirit and armed against all the difficulties of the world Shee imputed the cause of this feare to that which happened to her Mother beeing with Childe with her for on a time a Catte did so terrifie her as shee sounded and was long sicke of this accident Cattes did not feare her before that time when as shee did see them but this falling sodenly as it were in her lappe shee was much amazed THOMAS ERASTVS in his Disputations HIPPOLITVS LANZON a Mantouan Gentleman did so abhorre to see a Hedge-hog as if hee were not sodenly drawne away hee would sweate and faint MARCELLVS Dâ—…NATVS in his Admirall Physicall Histories lib. 6. Chap. 4. I haue knowne a Peasant in Normandie that had neuer eate Bread Flesh Fishe nor Cheese Egges were his onely foode and cheefest nourishment BRVGEMIN in his first Booke of Meate Chapt. 24. Wee haue also seene IHON de la CHESMAYE a Parrisien Secretarie to King FRANCIS the first who did so detest and abhorre the smell of fruit or Apples as hee was forced to rise from the Table when any one was brought And if they came but neere vnto his nose hee presently bled If hee did see any by chance and could not retire himselfe he sodenly stopt his nostrils with peeces of bread Wee haue heard that many issued out of the noble familie of CANDALES in Guienne haue bin of that disposition not to endure the smell of Apples The same Author IAMES of FARLI an excellent Phisition in his time doth testifie of him-selfe that it troubled him as much the eating of Garlike as if he had drunke poyson and he added that the same fittes which appeared in them that had drunke poyson came vnto him hauing eating Garlike Some learned men hold that this hatred proceeds of an opinion which wee haue conceiued that those things which we detest are bad eyther to all in generall or to vs in particular The same There was at Chauny in Picardie a Maide of an honest house about sixteene yeares olde the which vnto that age had neuer fed of any thing but of Milke She could not endure the sent of bread and if they had cast neuer so little of the crumme into her Milke shee smelt it a farre off the which I haue seene with mine eyes and carefully obserued The same BRVGERIN lib. 2. chap. 6. I haue knowne a man hating Cheese so much as if they did put neuer so little in his meate hee presently smelt it and did cast vp his gorge after a strange manner MARCELLVS DONATVS liâ—…er 4. of his Physicall obseruations There was an Italian Earle had a foote-man who if hee had eaten an Egge his lippes began presently to swell his face lookt of a purple hew markt with blacke spottes in diuers places foming at the mouth as if he had taken poyson The same Author An Italian Lady faire and vertuous named FRANCISQVINE wife to Count MATHEVV FRANGEPAN a Noble-man of great power and worth was foureteene yeares old before she could euer be drawne to eate any flesh A certaine Cardinall did abhorre the smell of Roses Late Physitions say that there was a whole familie at Milan to whom the vse of Cassia was so contrary as if any one of them tooke it hee dyed The number of those that cannot taste nor drinke any kinde of Wine with-out offence is infinite I haue a Sonne which doth abhorre Colewortes I my selfe if I see Pourslaine I lothe it Euery man hath some particular affection SCALIGER in the 153. Exercitation against Cardan Sect. 10. I haue knowne an olde woman that did flye the vse of Melons in a whote Countrie hosding that meate very agreeable to others of the same place but for them of her age the worst in the world My Father could neuer swallow any parte of a Hare nor of any Fowle Not long since a Noble-man of accoumpt dyed who could neuer eate nor swallow any meate if it were not some-what Salted MARANTA lib. 3. of the Methode to know Simples The youngest Daughter to FREDERIKE King of Naples a worthy Princesse whome I had some-times in cure for that cause that shee could not eate any flesh no not taste it If shee did but put
the young Gentleman was carried to the earth with great pompe and lamented of all men for his vertues as much as the others were are yet detested of posterity Historie of Italie A Fleming borne at Gand of so base a parentage as it was not knowne hauing runne through France and other Countries learned to bee hardie both in his wordes and actions beeing growne cunning speaking diuers languages and well appointed hee came to Bruges where hee get to bee admitted into the house of a 〈◊〉 honest and rich merchant the Father of a verie honest maide of sixteene yeares of age This gallant makes them beleeue that hee is of a very good house in Germanie for that he would not bee forced to marry a maide that was not pleasing vnto him hee absented him-selfe for a time from his Fathers house Herevpon hee carries himselfe so cunningly as vnder a promise of marriage hee corrupts his hostes Daughter and gets her with Child The Mother after some weekes hauing descouered this foule trade takes her Daughter a part who in the presence of the Father confesseth her fault The Father a man of courrage not able to endure this affront laies hold of that Cosener and pursues him cryminally Being straightly examined by the Iudges hee confesseth that hee knewe not who was his Father and his Mother had died of pouerty hauing neither kinred nor any person that did avowe him at Gand where hee thought hee was borne nor in any other place The Iudges seeing the Impudencie of this roage who had so vnworthly polu ted an honorable house condemned him to be publikely executed Histories of our time NICHOLAS Prince of Opolia in Silesia was in his time strangely giuen to corrupt Wiues and Maidens so as the chaâ—…est were not assured neere him hauing continued this wretched course for some time the Iudgement of GOD laied hold of him in the yeare 1498. as followeth Hee and Prince IOHN his Brother beeing at Nisse at an Assemblie of the States of Silesia beeing called by CASIMIR Prince and gouernor of the Countrie It happened that in open assembly one brought a packet vnto CASSIMIR the which being opened he gaue the letters to the Bishop of Nisse being then present to read them NICHOLAS a turbulent and violent man imagining it was some party made against him to seize vpon his person layes hold on his Dagger and suddenly runns against CASSIMIR and the Bishop whom he hurt but lightly for that many Noble-men and Gentlemen thrust them selues presently betwixt them NICHOLAS hauing failed of his attempts saues himselfe in the Sanctuarie of the Temple from whence he was drawne by the Bishops commandement who alledged that in such cases they should not respect the Ecclesiasticall lawes and that hee would easily consecrate the place againe NICHOLAS being brought backe vnto the assembly and greatly blamed was committed to prison and the next day the 27. of Iune by a sentence giuen by the Magistrate he was publikely beheaded The custome of those times was that they weare no breeches when they came to that place when as the body of NICHOLAS fell it was seene in that estate that Nature so much corrupted by him seemed to reproche him with his former filthinesse before all the world IOACH CVREVS in his Annales of Silesia pag. 218. Vehement Passions of Sorrow Ioy Iealousie Feare and Heauinesse IN the time that CAESAR Bâ—…RGIA Duke of Valentinois and sonne to Pope ALEXANDER the sixt did rule in Româ—…gnia as FRANCIS GVICâ—…HARDINE doth shew in his History of the warres of Italy there was in the Towne of CESENA a young man called LIVIO who being in loue with his neighbors Daughter named CAMILLA and repulst at the first fell so sick as he was euer at deaths dore CAMILLA hearing thereof changed her opinion and going to see LIVIOS Sister who was also grieuously sick in a chamber neere vnto him her voyce being knowne by LIVIO he was surprised with so vehement a passion as after some noyse his speech and strength failed him His Sister and CAMILLA running vnto him for there was none but a thinne partition of wood CAMILLA not able to dissemble any longer began to ioyne her face to his so as hee came againe vnto him selfe and heard her say that if her Father would like of the marriage she would not contradict it LIVIO being recouered demands CAMILLA according to the accustomed course among Men of honor The Father referres all to the returne of his eldest Sonne from Rome CAMILLA expecting this returne grew so familiar with LIVIO as without any longer stay they contract marriage by a present promise This Brother named CLAVDIO diuerted the Father from this marriage so as LIVIO was dismist and CAMILLA grew so sorrowfull that after many faintings shee be-tooke her to her bedde LIVIO on the other side did presse her by Letters and secret messages to the accomplishment of their marriage They finde meanes to talke together and appoint an houre 〈◊〉 night for their secret marriage The which hauing performed and lieâ—… together the young man transporâ—… with ioye and the violence of his desire dyed lying 〈◊〉 CAMILLA who feeling him starke colde and withâ—… 〈◊〉 gaue also vp the ghost The seruant who had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Instrument to carry messages began to crye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brother came running and seeing this desaster 〈◊〉 her a mortall wound Shee declares all and dyes two dayes after CLAVDIO had his head cut off for this murther Historie of Italie In the warre which King FERDINAND made against the widow of IHON King of Hungarie about Buda a Man at Armes was especially noted for that he carryed him-selfe very valiantly in a certaine charge and being vnknowne was wonderfully commended and lamented being slaine there but of none so much as of RAISCIAT a Germaine Noble-man who admired his rare vertue The body being brought backe and hee approching to see it after a common curiositie his Armes being taken off hee descouered that it was his Sonne This did moue more compassion in the assistants but hee alone with-out speaking any worde or shutting his eyes but standing right vp and stedfastly beholding the body of his Sonne vntill that the violence of his griefe had so vanquished his vitall spirites as hee fell downe dead to the ground PAVL IOVIVS in his Histories MONTAIGNE lib. 1. of his Essaies Chap. 2. In the yeare 1501. when as the French did conquer the realme of Naples the second time vnder the command of the Lord of Aubigny Lieutenant to King LEVVIS the twelfth One of the Sonnes of GILBERT Duke of Montpenzier going to Pouzzol to see his Fathers Tombe being dead in the former warres of Italie and there interred was so opprest with griese as after the shedding of many teares hee fell doowne dead vpon the Sepulchre FRA. GVICâ—…HARDINE Lib. 5. of the warres of Italie Sect. 5. About the end of the yeare 1505. the Cardinall HIPPOLTTO of Este louing a young Maide his kinswoman verye vehementlye and
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
had with SIGISMOND of Gonzague the Popes Legat in that place They retired speedely then to Sienna but they must needes depart from thence being expelled by ALPHONSO CASTRACIO Cardinal of Sienna and by the Iustice of Sienna After diuers consultations they resolued to retier to Venise and to that ende to take the way of Romagnia but beeing vpon the territory of Furlie they descouer a farre off a troupe of horses galloping towards them The Duchesse was presently of an opynion that BOLOGNE should saue himselfe with his Sonne who was nowe growne bigge the which they did beeing both well mounted and retired to Milan These Horse-men hauing fayled of part of their preye spake gratiously vnto the Duchesse and conducted her with her other two Children into the Realme of Naples into one of the Castells of the young Duke her Sonne where shee was presently imprisoned with the two Children shee had by BOLOGNE and her Chamber-maide Some fewe daies after three of them which had taken her in the plaine of Furli came into her Chamber and denounce her death vnto her suffring her to recommende her selfe vnto GOD then they tied a corde about her necke and strangled her which done they lay hold on the Chamber maide who cryed out with open throate and strangle her also and in the ende they seize vpon the two young Children and send them after the Mother and the maide The two Brethren contynuing their course caused BOLOGNES goods at Naples to bee confisked and hauing descouered that hee was at Milan they suborne certaine men to feede him with hope that in time they will make his peace making him beleeue that his Wife and Children were yet aliue who although he were aduertised by a gentleman of Milan of the Duchesse death of an ambush that was layed for him yet wold he not beleue any thing nor retier himself out of Milan where there were murtherers suborned to kill him of which number there was a certaine Lombard a Captaine of a companie of foote so as soone after BOLOGNE going out of the Friars where hee had beene to heare Masse hee was compassed aboute by a troupe of Soldiars and their Captaine who slue him presently beeing about two yeares after the Duchesse death As for his Sonne who was not then with him hee was forced to slie out of Milan to change his name and to retier himselfe farre off where he died vnknowne Historie of Italie At what time Pope IVLIO the second made warre in Italie all the Townes in a manner beeing troubled with the factions a young Romaine Gentleman called FABIO fell in Loue with a Gentlwoman named AEMILIA Daughter to one of his Fathers mortall enemies Shee beeing inflamed with the like affection by the meanes of her Gouernesse they did write Letters one vnto an other and then spake togither and in the ende they made a mutuall promise of marriage vpon a vaine hope that it should be a meanes to vnite their houses that were enemies The worst was they did consumate this marriage After some daies FABIOS Father feeling himselfe old commanded his Sonne to take a partie and to tell him what maiden he desired to haue to Wife FABIO hauing delayed to giue him any answere in the ende hee names AEMILIA whereof hee was with great chollour refused by his Father to whose will in the end hee yeelded abandoning AEMILIA after that hee had excused himselfe as well as hee could vnto her This sorrowfull Virgin growne madde to see her-self so abused seemed to disgest this pill quietly intreating her Gouernesse to obtaine so much of FABIO that he would bee pleased to come some-times in the weeke to see and comfort her and so by little and little to burie their passed friendship FABIO yeelding to that passion came to see her She gaue him kinde well-come deuising very familiarly all the euening togither and then to lie with her as hee had done beefore But hauing intreated him in any case not to touch her but to staie vntill the morning pretending her fore-passed greefe as soone as this miserable wretch was fallen a sleepe shee takes his dagger and killes him then hauing called her gouernesse shee stabbes her selfe in her presence with the same poynard and died presently The next day this pittifull accident did much amaze and afflict the two Fathers and their families for that remedie was past History of Italie Detestable Cursings THere was a certaine learned and reuerent man in Spaine had two Sonnes the one beeing thirteene yeares olde or there aboutes did some malitious acte wher-with the Mother was so incensed with choller as she began to curse him and to giue him to the Diuell wishing that he might carry him away This was about ten of the clock at night and when as the Mother continued her cursing the childe being amazed went downe into the Court where he vanished away so as it was impossible to finde him not-with-standing any search they could make All were troubled at this accident seeing there was no doore nor windowe open whereby hee might get out After two houres the Father and the Mother being much discomforted they heard a great noyse in a chamber ouer theirs and the child which groned pittifully They goe vp and opening the chamber dore with the key they finde this child in so poore estate as it was a pitty to behold him for besides that his garments were all torne he had his face hands and almost all his body so brused and scratched as it were with thornes and so disfigured as all the night hee could scarse come to him-selfe The Father and the Mother did all they could deuise to ease him and then the next daye seeing that he was come something to himselfe they inquired of him the reason of his aduenture the night past Hee answered that beeing in the Court certaine men wonderfully great vggly and fearefull approching neere vnto him without speaking any word had lifted him vp into the ayre with an incredible swiftnesse then setting him downe in certaine Mountaines full of thorns had drawne him through them and left him in the same estate they had now found him in That finally they had slaine him if he had not recōmended himselfe vnto GOD these executioners then brought him backe againe and made him to enter by a little window of the Chamber and so vanished away The boy remained deafe and in verye bad case by this Visitation beeing ashamed and greeued if any one did question with him or put him in minde of it A. TORQVEMADOE in the thirdiourney of his Hexameron Melancholike Madd Franticke Furious and enraged persons I Meddle not with the controuersies of learned Physitions touching the differences of these diseases according to the humour most predominant either in the braine or in the Hypocondres or throughout all the body neither will I enter into consideration of the remedies which they bring And without subiecting my selfe to any exact order for this beginning I will endeauour to
quicken the readers spirits by this variety to dispose him to higher considerations and vppon euery history draw him to the reuerence of almighty GOD who is iust and mercifull As for those sicke persons that are strooke with a Melancholike humour whereof I represent many histories in this section we haue seene and heard spoke of diuers kindes All beeing hurt especially in the imaginatiue facultie haue strong and very strange apprehensions Some imagining that they are become pots of Earth or of Glasse through-out all their bodies or part of it flye all company for feare of breaking Others thinking that they are become Woolues or Cockes howling and crowing and beating their armes as if they had wings Some haue feared infinitely least the ground vnder them should open others that haue represented vnto them-selues nothing but hideous fantasies and death Some that haue imagined them-selues dead and would no more eate nor drinke Some haue thought they haue had Stagges-hornes on theyr heads Some haue cast them-selues into Pondes and Riuers where they haue perished or else haue beene found in extreame danger and haue beene drawne out happely for them There was an Italian Monke possest with such a melancholike humour as hee cast himselfe into the Gulfe of Venice and there was lost An other confessed that the Euill-spirits had often awaked him in the night and perswaded him to cast him-selfe head-long into a Well They do all in a manner feare things of nothing and do not apprehend those that are hurtfull They are afraide of a Foxes tayle where-with they would whippe them of strawe where-with they would shakle them and if you tye them by the legges but with a rush vnto a bed post they will moue no more then Images and contrariwise they will some-times break Cordes and Chaines of Iron where-with you shall thinke to holde them Sometimes they sing and talke incessantly other times they weepe and are mute the humour comming to alter more the furye increaseth and they fall into despayre and perpetuall desire of death the seeke for nothing but for Kniues to murder themselues for windowes to cast themselues downe head-long for dores to flye out at and commit some excesse that they might auoide this feare which doth torment them And therefore we doe alwayes see them sad amazed terrified like vnto little children which goe in the darke the fume of this black and melancholike humour marueylously troubling the seat of the vnderstanding whence proceedes this amazement So wise men doe hold that the humours of the body doe alter our complexion whence after doth proceede the change of the actions of the minde so as the faculties of the mind do follow the disposition of the body There hath beene found a melancholike man which hath supposed himselfe to be without a head to cure him whereof they haue charged his head with a hat of lead which was such a continuall burthen vnto him as in the end he was helpt of that imagination Hee that thought himselfe to bee all of Glasse was recouered by the approch of a friend of his who said that hee was yet more brittle and iesting politikely with him freede him from his Imagination with good wordes Some haue beene seene who imagining themselues condemned to die could not bee diuerted from that apprehension but in seeing of a Pardon counterfetted to that ende taking the paynes to reade it himselfe for his better assurance An other saying that hee was dead and in his graue was retyred from that humour by the dexteritie of his Companion who shut himselfe vp with him and eating perswaded him to eate saying that it was vsuall among the dead Some hold their eyes still fixt vppon the ground and are wonderfully offended to heare any one laugh finde nothing that is good fayre nor well done bee it neere or farre of imagining still that they will put them into prison beate or kill them they crye him mercy whom they first met they kneele down for feare to an Infant or to a little Dogge they seeke holes obscure places they make Men beleeue that they are bewitched inchaunted and poysoned To conclude this disease is a Tree whereof we cannot number the branches nor the leaues I had forgotten to say that there are some which feare and hate their most familier and greatest friends others that cannot indure any man and feare nothing so much as to bee seene Some haue feare of all creatures whatsoeuer or of some in particucular those which haue beene bitten by madde-Dogges are wonderfully afraid of Water To conclude howe many particular fantasies and diseases soeuer there be of melancholicke humours so many sorts of frensies there bee But it is a generall thing almost in all persons toucht with any melancholike humour troubling the braine simplie moued with strange fumes which proceed from this venemous humour or augmented by some newe accident as the biting of madde-Dogges by extraordinary illusions or otherwise to grow fearefull especially of things which are in no sort to befeared Nowe it remaines that wee produce some notable Histories of our Times touching these passions My intention in the report of them is to shewe how much wee ought to feare our owne miseries to remember ourvanities and to thinke that GOD needes not to seeke far for any rods to scourge vs seeing that wee carry them in our own bowels that death is in this vessell of our bodies and that our soules are in miserable captiuitie if the light of grace heauenly truth doth not shine incessantly vpon them In our time a Gentleman fell into such an humour of melancholie as it was not possible in the extremity of his sicknesse to change an opinion he had that hee was dead so as if his friends and seruants came to flatter intreate or presse him to take some nourishment or phisicke he reiected all â—…aying that the dead had no neede of such things Sixe dayes past without receiuing of any foode and the seuenth being come which is mortall to hungry bodyes his friends deuised a policie to free him of this fantasie His Chamber beeing artificially made darke they caused certaine men to enter into it beeing masked and clothed in white sheetes tyed vp like vnto them that are buryed The table was couered with meate wher-with these masked Men began to fill them-selues making little noise but with their chappes and drinking hard The sicke man seeing this sport demanded what they were and what they did there They answered him that they were dead-men which made good cheere Howe then saith the sicke Man doe dead men eate I saide they and with a good stomacke If you will bee of the company you shall see that we speake the truth Presently the sicke man shakes his eares leapes out of his bed and begins to feede with these dead-men with a good stomacke Hauing dronke well sleepe takes him with the helpe of a drinke which they had prepared for him and giuen him in this banket of