that are quoted in confirmation of the Christian Doctrine are equally to be suspected and rejected 7. Lastly Observe we hence how unmovably constant the Papists have been to their main Design who though they produce Miracle against Miracle Revelation against Revelation the Franciscans striving to out-vie the Dominicans and these again to out-do those yet all agree in Calculating their spurious Miracles and Apparitions for the abetting some of their Superstitions and Heresies Worshipping of the Virgin Mary Saints and Angels the Doctrine of Purgatory and the Mass above all which because they cannot be Justified from Heaven must be Justified as they can and rather than left Naked to shift for themselves shall be warranted from Hell But the Reader will find these with many other particulars through this ensuing Narrative wherein the Translator has kept so Superstitiously to the Text of his Author that he fears nothing more than to be Condemned for spoiling the Language whilst he has bound himself up to a rigid and Exact Rehearsal of the Truth The Contents of this History THe Quarrel between the Dominicans and the Franciscans about the Immaculate Conception Page 1. The Dominicans meet at Wimpten where they propound and agree to the Counterfeiting of certain Miracles Apparitions c. for the supporting of their Doctrine ibid. John Jetzer a Taylor comes to Berne is admitted into the Covent of the Dominicans he is judged by the Fathers a fit subject to practise upon p. 2. Jetzer is haunted with a Spirit in the shape of a Prior persecuted and tormented with Devils in the shape of Monks which ceases during the time he is in the Infirmary ibid. The Fathers meet in close Consult to advise how to carry on their Design the Sub-prior promises them a trial of his Skill how well he can Act the part of a Ghost p. 3. He appears to Jetzer followed with mad Dogs Jetzer makes use of Holy Water and Reliques to resist the Devil ibid. He appears a second time with great Terrour throws down his Holy Water yet promises to come again within eight days if he could get leave p. 4. The Fathers teach him how to conjure the Spirit they hang about his Neck a small Cross made of the wood of the true Crose of Christ to fortifie him against the Assaults of the Devil ibid. The Spirit confesses himself to be a Soul tormented in Purgatory that he had been once Prior of the same Covent he tells him by what means he might be deliver'd p. 5. The whole Covent Fast Pray receive the Discipline the Spirit appears again giving further directions for his final release ibid. The Spirit appears the last time in a Glorious shape give the Covent thanks with some hints that the V. Mary would appear also p. 6. St. Barbe appears to him to give Notice of the appoach of the Virgin p. 7. The Virgin her self appears declares her displeasure against the Doctrine of the Franciscans about the Immaculate Conception Shee gives him some drops of the true Blood of Christ shed on the Cross ibid. Shee peirces his right hand through with a dagger telling him it was the first of the five Wounds of Christ and that in due time she would honour him with the rest p. 8 These Miracles are divulged and the Fathers shew great Veneration to this great Saint Jetzer The Lecturer in a Sermon magnifies these Miracles as Vnparallel'd p. 9. The Virgin appears a second time opens and condemns the Doctrine of the Franciscans and justifies that of the Dominicans condemns the Council of Basil and tells how she got the blood of Christ for the Covents of Cologne and Berne ibid. The Prior of Ulm is acquainted with the Intrigue he Advises to Caution the Prior of Berne undertakes to Act the Virgin Appears to Jetzer in the presence of two Citizens p. 10. The Prior of Basil comes to Berne he furnishes the Confederates with properties and rare Engines to carry on the Design ibid. They bring the Sacrament into Jetzer's Cell and lay it with a Treatise of the Cordeliers upon the table The Virgin appears worships the Hoste tears in pieces the Treatise as containing Heretical Doctrine p. 11. The Virgin appears again Jetzer desires her to say the Lords Prayer Ave Maria and the Creed which she does after an odd fashion ibid. For a final proof that this was really the Virgin Mary Jetzer spits in her Face three times which she approves and commends as done to try the Spirits ibid. Dandanlus a Jew but a pretended Convert colours wafers of so exact a dye that they represent Flesh and Blood these are laid on Jetzer's Table p. 12. The Virgin appears again shuffles a red Wafer in the room of a white one Jetzer leaps out of bed catches hold on the Virgins hands and finds her to be the Lecturer he stormes and rages ibid. The Confederates are put to their shifts how to reconcile Jetzer many Artifices are used by his Confessor and the Prior of Basil but all in vain p. 13. To satisfie him in the Truth of the red colour'd Hoste they make an experiment to colour a white wafer with a Chickens blood Dandalus runs away The Prior of Basil of Berne and the Lecturer go to Pforcheim and in the Interim the Sub-prior appears in the shape of the V. Mary p. 14. The Sub-prior prepares Jetzer Ceremoniously to receive the other four wounds of Christ appears like the Virgin peirces his other hand his side both his feet with the same dagger p. 15. The Sub-prior Conjures up a Devil who instructs him to make a potion that should work strangely upon Jetzer and forces him to Act all the parts of the Passion of Christ he renounces God the Mass and gives himself to the Devil Body and Soul by a Deed under his hand written with his own blood ibid. Jetzer receives the Potion is in a stranges Extasie Acts all the parts of Christs passion before witnesses one of them at the horrid sight falls into a swoon p. 16. Jetzer continuing incredulous in the matter of the red coloured Hoste the Fathers resolve to poyson him p. 17. They provide him a mess of broth he suspects refuses throws it secretly out of the window where some young wolves lick it up and are poyson'd but they endeavour to heal and salve all again ibid. The Virgin appears again to dress Jetzer's wounds Jetzer knows the hand falls into a rage and spoils the sport ibid. The Fathers contrive how to make the Virgins Image weep tears of blood he is brought after midnight into the Chappel A young Frier is placed behind the Image to counterfeit the voices of Christ and Mary p. 18. The Virgin complains of the worlds Vnbelief about her Revelations and Apparitions her Son in her Arms comforts her and promises to take the matter into his own hands ibid. Jetzer is convinced of the truth of this last Revelation Company is called in to see the Virgin weep tears of blood p.
this Chapter one Dr. Warner Prior of Basil invited to a Collation in his Chamber the most eminent Fathers of their Order in that Assembly There was Peter Palmer Prior of Wimpten Vlrich Koli Prior of Vlm Wigandus Wert Prior of Stutgard with the Prior and Divinity Reader of Berne with many others to whom he sadly complained how by the Policies and Artifices of the Cordeliers their Order was declined in its Reputation their Doctrine scandalized to the apparent prejudice of their Honour and that therefore it was incumbent upon them to repair their own Credits and give some check to the proceedings of their Adversaries In the Issue of this debate they could find no better expedient to answer these ends than a neat Contrivance of some Apparitions and thereupon some Revelations which being well seconded by specious Miracles might advance their Doctrine all over Christendome and thereby abate the imperiousness of the Franciscans which without such timely Rebuke would grow intolerable This Proposal was well relisht by all the grave Fathers but when they came to Advise upon a convenient place where they might put the Project in execution with Secresie and Security it was Resolved upon that the City of Berne was the most Agreeable because the People were very simple and so more capable to receive those Impressions and besides great Bigotts and would therefore if occasion served maintain and justifie them with their Swords in their hands being no less stout and valiant than superstitious And a while after the Rising of this Chapter these Fathers now in Cabal for the more effectual execution of the said Resolution privately met together at Basil where they rigg'd out the Vessel in which they embarqued and ventured and afterwards wreckt their Honours and Lives This very year there offer'd it self to these Confederate Fathers a smiling opportunity for the accomplishing their design by the Arrival of one John Jetzer at Berne A poor young man he was the Son of a mean Peasant of the same Name born at Zurzach who having served a year with Mr. Erhard a Tailour of Lucerne and returning to his native Town in order to his travelling to Constance one of his Kinsmen there press'd him hard to go to Berne wherein he was seconded by Mr. Nicholas Herteâ—stein a Taylor of the same City who invited him to come and work with him upon his Trade which without much difficulty he was perswaded to doe But having had from his youth a violent though groundless inclination to Admit himself in some Religious House he entreated the Fathers of the Dominican Order at Berne to Receive him into their Covent At his first Instance he was Rejected but when he gave them privately to understand that he intended not to come empty handed the Prior sent to him one John a Novice in that Priory and easily admitted him where at his first Reception he wrought upon his Trade sawed and cleft out Wood carryed Stones and did other odd Chairs from the Feast of St. Bartholomew to the Festival of the Three Kings which makes up about twenty weeks And then at the earnest sult of this Jetzer he was honour'd with the Habit of the Order having first made his way by presenting the Prior with fifty Florens of Gold nine Ells of Damask a Sword richly hatch'd with Silver a piece of Crimson Velvet and an embroydered Surplice which things he pickt up honestly or otherwise I know not by working upon his Trade whence he might have learnt that the Silver Key will open the strongest Gates of the strictest Monastery Jetzer is now become a Religious person and at his first entrance is lodged in the Strangers Chamber where both before and after his Reception into the Order he was strangely terrified with hideous noyses and sometimes with dreadfull Apparitions of Ghosts and Hobgoblins so that once he was drawn out of and thrust under his bed But his greatest vexation was from the Appearance of a Spirit in the shape of a Prior who was unmercifully persecuted by other Spirits in the shape of Monks His face was as black as Soot his hands of the same Complexion his voice hoarse and broken and complain'd most miserably of the torture which for his Sins he was forced to endure He drove before him two or three black Dogs which as he said were Devils but that he did not much regard their furious barking because he had fortified himself against them with the omnipotent Sign of the Cross This persecution meeting with a fresh-water Souldier had so harrass'd him that he had soon quitted both the Cloyster and the Order if he had not been over-perswaded by the Reasonings of the afore-mention'd John who was both his Name-sake and fellow-craftsman and a Novice though a crafty Knave in the same Covent Not long after he was seized with a Pestilential Feaver and after his Recovery would gladly have admitted himself amongst the Carthusian Monks of Thorberg but that was not allowed because he had already profest himself of the Order of St. Dominick And the holy Fathers by this time had cut out other work for our poor Taylor who must go through-stitch with it e're he departed One thing is observable that all the time he lodg'd in the Infirmary he had a perfect Truce from all these Persecutions whether it were that these Spirits do not love to come within the sound of the dismal groans of the Sick or dying or that it was not judg'd Adviseable by the chief Engineers to venture these young and raw Apparitions amongst the many prying eyes that might there have looked a little more narrowly into the matter whereas they might presume more confidently upon Jetzer a fellow of an huge thick skull I shall leave it to the Determination of the Reader but so it was All the time of his Sickness he was as fully at rest as if he had sued out his Quietus est or a Supersedeas de non molestando but no sooner had he reassum'd his former Lodging but he was tormented more frequently and more cruelly than before This evil Treatment compell'd him to sue hard for a change of his Appartment fancying that by the shifting of his quarters he should shake off these importunate and unwelcome Visitants And his request was as easily granted not so much because more safe for him but as more commodious for the managing their projects A new Cell thefore is assign'd him in the great Cross Walk of the Cloyster between that of the House-keeper and that of Frier Oswald the Cook He had no sooner taken possession of his new Lodging but his old Tormenters gave him new Trouble and therefore he renews his Complaints to the holy Fathers with bitter tears that they would take him into their special Care and holy Protection Towards the end of February the Fathers had a meeting one night after Supper in their common Chamber where were present Hantz-watter of Marpach the Prior Dr. Stephen Boltzhorst of Oftenbourg Lecturer
assure him that they for their parts would not be wanting to pray for him as if the case had been their own Telling him that they knew not but God might make use of him to discover to the world matters of great Importance and if God should own him to be the Instrument to bless the Age with some remarkable Revelations it was nothing but what his former Methods did render usual to reveal that to Babes which he concealed from the wise and prudent promising him moreover that they would have a special eye upon and care over him and did expressely recommend the care of his person to the Cook They reinforced his overthrown Lamp recruited his Holy-water gave him new Candles and the better to strengthen his weak faith they placed some Reliques of incredible virtue and infinite value upon a little Table or Altar which he had in his Cell and in short shewed themselves very officious and serviceable in his behalf During those eight dayes wherein the Spirit promised to return the Sub-prior taught Jetzer the best way of Conjuring him on purpose that if he returned as if he had leave no doubt he would he might strictly Catechize him What he was Whence he came What was his business In what state he was In order to which they severely charged him to Discipline himself to Confess to Pray and Fast that he might be able to deal with a Spirit so unruly and procure the desired ease and rest for him Nay the whole Covent was solemnly exhorted to put up their Prayers for a poor Soul grievously tormented in Purgatory as was conceived that it might please him to deliver the Soul from its pains and their Covent from the present trouble and inquietude Upon the Eve of the Eighth day the Fathers and Friers Confessed themselves and having put on their Holy Garments every man fortified himself as well as he could in his Cell with consecrated Candles Holy-water and some precious Reliques that they might stand their ground against the assaults of this furious Spirit Only the Cook being nearest to danger by the special advice of the Fathers provided himself of the Holy Sacrament to keep the Spirit at Arms-end for he doubted much whether he should be able to close with him and come to handy-gripes The Sub-prior for the same Reason hung about Jetzer's neck a little Purse wherein was a small Cross made of the true Cross upon which Christ suffered and taught him how to exorcise the Spirit so as to make him fly with a vengeance and thred the Doors double Things being in this posture presently after Midnight the Spirit returns with a pack of infernal Beagles and breaking into Jetzer's Cell were so hardy as to fall upon his Person notwithstanding all his fortifications of Holy-Water Holy Candles and holy Reliques Jetzer raising up himself in his Bed falls a Conjuring the Spirit as he had been taught I conjure thee thou outragious Spirit in the Name of the blessed Trinity that is by the Father by the Son and by the Holy Ghost by the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Blessed Virgin and all the Saints that thou tell me Whether thou art a good Spirit or no Who thou art and whether thou mayst be relieved or no These terrible words did so amate the Spirit that he recoyl'd to the other side of the Room four times he attempted to assayl Jetzer and as often was repuls'd but the Charm abating in its vigour upon the fifth Attack he came close up to his Bed and with a menacing voice thus accosted him Rascal If thou hast no need of me I have no need of thee and immediately down he kicks his Cruet of Holy-Water adding That he valued not these Baubles for they had none sincere and pure these eleven years the Church-warden always dashing it with common water and following on his discourse Conjure me these Dogs says he that haunt and torment me night and day without pity without ease or intermission though I am at Present out of Purgatory Jetzer presently falls to work with these Hell-hounds and belabour'd them so effectually that the whole pack of them quitted the tormented Soul giving thereby leave to him to open his wofull case in these words Frier John I am now by thy Intercession and that of thy holy Fathers permitted to speak Know therefore that I am a good Spirit I was formerly Prior of this Covent my Name was Henry Halbourg of Soleure Priest and Doctor of the Order but having unfaithfully managed my trust I was forced to fly to Paris after I had obtained my Absolution There I followed my Studies till one night going out with a Companion of mine we both met with a mischance that cost us our lives He because he had purloyned some Books out of the Library was doom'd to Hell and wretched I because I had quitted the Habit of my Order was sentenc'd to Purgatory where for this hundred and sixty years consult the Register and you 'l find it so long since to a Year I have endured a Martyrdome nothing short of Hell save the Eternity And now by the permission of God have got this liberty to seek some Relief in this Covent though still I am in unconceivable anguish and inexpressible Torments Hereupon the Spirit discovered its face all sliced and slasht the flesh and skin hung down in long Collops and Labels his Nose slit his Ears shred and the colour of his face was as if it had been newly Carbanadoed and laid upon a Gridiron Jetzer demands of him in virtue of his former Charm by what means he might be releas'd from this miserable condition The Spirit replyed That if every Priest in the Covent would sing three Masses for his Soul and if they would all in generall Discipline themselves every day of that ensuing week and if he in particular would receive the Discipline thrice till the blood ran down And if every Lay-Frier would say one Psalm five hundred Pater-nosters and as many Ave Maria's with seven Credo's And if he whilest the Priest was singing Mass would lye flat on the ground stretching his Arms in the form of the Cross and at every Pater-noster would kiss the ground in remembrance of the treacherous Kisses of Judas and lastly if the Fathers should precisely record all these passages in their Registers that he hoped he might obtain the Pardon of his sins and especially his grand neglect to Conform himself to the Rules of that holy Order And therefore would return after the Octaves to see what effect his miserable Case had had amongst them He added that the Friers had done very wisely to furnish themselves with the holy Sacrament and particularly that it was advisedly done of him to hang about his neck the Cross made of the wood of Christs Cross without which there 's not a man of them had escaped some dreadful mischief nor had he been able to have open'd his Case being under the custody of
and thereby to gain if possible and unquestionable demonstration of the reality of her appearance The next time therefore she appeared He very confidently spits three times in her face and that it might be more effectual he added In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Thinking wisely that the Devil being a passionate Spirit he would never endure such a high affront But the Virgin answer'd him with singular mildness Dear brother It becomes us to try the Spirits whether they be of God and therefore thou hast not sinned by this thy act Now though Jetzer was abundantly satisfied in this matter fully believing that this was indeed the V. Mary yet they had cunningly put it into his head to know the true difference between good and evil Spirits The four Engineers therefore with the Prior of Basil to put all things for ever out of question and that Jetzer might arrive at a plerophory in the case had provided them of a Wafer so artificially died of a flesh colour by one Lazarus Dandalus a crafty young knave of their own Order that might have imposed upon a more discerning person than such a Blockhead as Jetzer This Dandalus you must understand was originally a Jew but at last was baptized and enter'd into the Order of the Dominicans under which Mask he practised his Villanies more securely till the Civil Magistrate in the end at Lipsick burnt him for his Rogueries At present he was a proper tool for these holy Fathers The Prior of Basil for his share in the Plott had sent to his Covent for some Wafers made twice as thick as the ordinary ones which this Dandalus coloured so artificially that the Fathers promised themselves rare success in their designed enterprize And now they address themselves once again to Jetzer telling him that for a final determination of the reality of these matters they would bring the holy Sacrament and place it in his Cell upon the Table counselling him that if ever the Blessed Virgin should appear again which they resolved she should he should more effectually conjure her by the power of the blessed Trinity by the Passion by the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ to tell him in plain terms whether she were really the very Mother of God whether her Revelations were of indubitable Truth And if she answered affirmatively that then he should reply If thou art the Mother of God shew me which is thy Son and carry him hence to his place The project thus contrived upon Wednesday the 14 of April they brought the Sacrament into his Cell and placed it decently and reverently upon the Table and on each side thereof placed a Wax-candle in the very Candlesticks which were consecrated for and used at the Mass but that night all was quiet no Mary appear'd But the night after being the 15 of April the Prior and the Father Confessor entertain'd Jetzer with many flattering discourses mixing Instructions and Directions for his Behaviour in all future occurrences whilest the Sub-prior and the Receiver were fitting their Tools Properties and Engines for the Show All things being ready their Pulleys Wheels Screws Wires and Devices for the management of their Puppets orderly placed in the Receiver's Chamber to give life and motion to the Opera that was to be acted in Jetzers these Fathers conduct Jetzer to his Chamber and having worshipt the Hoste sprinkled him with Holy-Water drawn his Curtains close about him they civilly bad him Good Night and departed Not much after Ten a Clock the Lecturer in the Habit of the Virgin comes in and having put out the Candles on each side of the Sacrament and the Lamp which stood in a corner of the Chamber which was usually the Prologue to the Play and the first feat of activity shew'd by the Virgin she marches up and down the room with great state and majesty and without speaking one word good or bad she draws the Curtains and giving him a dash or two of her Holy-water she withdraws but not long after returns with a little bag in her hand and putting out a Candle which remain'd yet lighted in the room there appeared in the place five other Candles miraculously lighted at a clap that is one on each side the Sacrament the Lamp and two others in the hands of two Angels which under the Rose were the Prior and Sub-prior Jetzer now lying with his eyes wide open to make observations saw to his astonishment the Virgin hanging in the Aire between the two Angels directly over the Hoste and presently he falls a conjuring her as he had been instructed Art thou the Virgin Mary then let me see thy Son and carry him hence and set him in his proper place Hereupon she with much Devotion kisses the Hoste and opening the Pixe takes out the two consecrated Wafers the one white and the other red Jetzer knew nothing all this while of the red Wafer The red one she kept secretly in her hand and holding up the white one Behold said she brother John my dear Son my own flesh and blood born of my body and that thou mayst now be assured that both I and all men descended from Adam by ordinary generation are born in Original Sin excepting only my beloved Son whose sole Priviledge it is and that thou mayst know that thy holy Fathers ought to preach and maintain this grand Article yea and advertise the Pope himself of it Behold I say this Hoste yea this my Son shall in the twinkling of an eye be transubstanstiated into the reall and true-body of Christ and become visible Flesh And with that she dropt the red Hoste which she had kept close in her hand upon the Table Jetzer at this was so surprized that forgetting the Commands of the Fathers not to stir out of his place whatever he saw or heard by a strange Providence hastily puts on his Morning-gown and starting out of his Bed runs directly to our Lady They that managed the Engines standing in the Receivers Chamber that is Megerlin and the Cook seeing this action through the hole in the wall whisper'd one to the other See! see by the blood of God this young Rascal is got out of bed The Angels in the mean time aware of the danger had put out their Candles and Mary endeavouring to do as much by those two that stood upon the Table Jetzer being very nimble seized one of them and with his other hand at the same time laid fast hold upon her hand so that she was forced to drop the other white Host upon the Pixe Jetzer at this having discovered something of the knavery fell a weeping storming and raging most furiously crying out O ye Rogues and panderly Rascals and all the ugly Names he could think on are ye not ashamed thus to prophane the holy Sacrament and blaspheme the Name of God! to Abuse our Lady only to gull a sorry wretched young man And immediately opening the door
those evil Spirits had it not been for the power of those sacred Reliques the virtue whereof drove away the Fiends And now that he might civilly take his leave he desired Jetzer to shake him by the hand that he might by that Essay feel how scorching the Fire of Purgatory was Jetzer unadvisedly gave him his hand and at the first touch received such a scalding Impression of fire that the nail of his middle finger was parcht up and he felt an inexpressible pain in his whole hand This done the Spirit withdrew but not without such formidable noyse as awakened all Jetzers former apprehensions and left him a fit Object for the Consolatory Addresses of the Neighbouring Friers who immediately came in unto him Early in the morning came the Fathers and were very inquisitive to know the particulars of the last nights proceedings Jetzer did not fail to give them a punctual account of all that pass'd which they entertain'd with great amazement shaking their heads beating their breasts and lifting up their eyes and hands to heaven and throughout the Narrative demean'd themselves with Countenances which testified great astonishment mixed with some hope and comfort They then gravely ask him whether he would submit to the Discipline which was enjoyned them in order to the release of this distressed Soul out of Purgatory He answered he would chearfully undergo it provided always that the rest of the Covent would bear their parts This Answer was right pleasing to the Fathers who concluded Jetzer to be fully satisfied in the Apparition and Revelation in that he so chearfully submitted to the imposed Satisfaction since the burden was sure to fall the heaviest on his shoulders All the Religious of the Covent are forthwith summon'd the Case open'd and the Question propounded whether they would contribute to the Release of the Soul of a venerable Prior sometimes of that Covent which at present was fearfully tormented in Purgatory The matter was well received the Service performed and the Soul in due order released For upon the expiration of the eight dayes the Prior returns in a more calm and temperate humour and tells Jetzer that if they would yet further sing four Vigils for his Soul that then he should be compleatly deliver'd and translated into Paradise and that after other eight dayes he would return to pay his acknowledgments to the holy Fathers and give those testimonies of his gratitude which were due in particular to himself This affair hitherto being blessed with wonderful success the prudent Fathers met in close counsel to advise how to manage and improve it for their main end for indeed the greatest thing they had done was the least part of what they intended All hitherto was but a prolusion in order to some Nobler Acquist They had well heated Jetzers brain raised his Imagination prepared his expectation but the point they were to make was to overthrow the Franciscan Tenet of the Immaculate Conception To make way for which they appoint in the first place the Lecturer to be Jetzer's Father Confessor That he being a subtle insinuating Knave might let in some light to Jetzer's ignorant Noddle about that Controversie His Confessor then instructs him how he might Catechise the Spirit when he should next appear about some momentous points of Divinity and as if he only stumbled on 't by accident he read him a learned Lecture upon this doubty controversie The eighth night after the Prior himself appears to Jetzer representing the Soul delivered from the pains of Purgatory His Countenance was young and beautifull his Complexion fresh clear and ruddy he was accoutred in Sacerdotal Vestments and stood as mild and meek as a Lamb before Jetzers bed whom he accosted to this effect My dearly beloved brother John Observe my words Thou and thy brethren had no sooner undergone the enjoyned Penance in my Name and on my behalf but I was admitted to sing Masse in the Quire of the blessed Angels who attended on me but being desirous to Consecrate Mass as well as Sing it this being not the Priviledge of seperate Spirits I was carried by them up to the seventh Quire of Heaven with such a transport of joy with such ravishing surprisings of Soul as was infinitely above my desires and is now beyond my expressions for being translated from incredible torments to a satisfaction as incredible so that I dare not wish that my former pains had been one moment shorter or one grain lighter Exhort thy holy Fathers to continue stedfast in their holy Order let them not decline a hairs breadth to the right hand or to the left as that which is best pleasing to God and the blessed Virgin Let them not regard the slanders that are cast upon them the Persecutions raised against them for their vindicating the Doctrine of the Conception of the blessed Virgin by the Artifices and subtle practises of the Cordeliers for their Errors wherein some of them are now eternally damn'd in Hell and others are tormented in Purgatory Jetzer being a little illuminated in this point by his Confessor and having such a happy opportunity which he might never recover should he let it slip made bold to Ask this glorified Spirit a humble Question Who they were that had incurred eternal damnation for their Erroneous opinion about the Conception of the V. Mary And how and by what means the true Doctrine might be manifested and spread over all the World The Spirit to this tender point made a ready Answer 〈◊〉 dear Brother John There is a great number of all sorts of Orders who for transgressing the 〈◊〉 prescribed them by their Founders are now under unspeakable Torments And amongst others divers of the two Orders of St. Dominick and St. Francis are some in Hell some in Purgatory for their unchristian quarrels touching the Conception of the blessed Virgin Mary As for Scotus he is eternally damned who so sliffly maintained that she was born without Original Sin There are others too who though they were Orthodox and sound in that point yet are in Purgatory nay some few of ours are in Hell for their bitter malice envy and insupportable pride But that the Truth of the Conception of our Lady may be manifested beyond all exception and cleared up against all contradiction prepare thy self Dear Brother by sincere Confession and fervent Prayer to entertain St. Barbe and in due time the blessed Virgin her self who will appear to thee upon the Eve of the Annunciation to instruct thee in many points of grand importance and to enlighten thy mind in those coelestial mysteries wherein thou desirest satisfaction As for me I had only a bare permission to leave the glory of Heaven for a season to return thee those thanks which I owe for so great Merits I am now going to St. John 's Chappel to sing Mass for thee and thy holy Brethren whether the Angels will descend to serve me that in their Company I may return to the Heavens Give my
thanks to all the Religious in this Covent for what they have contributed to my Deliverance assuring thy self and them that I shall be always ready prest to do them any service at the Throne of Divine grace Thus far matters succeeded well to and beyond expectation but Success is a great flatterer and teaches men to transgress all bounds of Modesty For the Fathers not content either with what they had atchieved or this poor wretch endured were resolv'd to push hard for a more Authentick proof of their Opinion and to make Jetzer a second St. Francis which they hoped to accomplish by the Appearances of St. Barbe and the V. Mary for which they had sufficiently prepared him by the former Revelation Having therefore taken a particular account from his own Mouth of what passed between him and the former Ghost they gave him ample Instructions how he should demean himself in the following Visions They enjoyned him to be Earnest in humble Prayer and all acts of Piety they exhort him to be of a good Courage and told him withall that for their better inspection over him and whatever accident might happen to him they had made a Hole in the Wall that divided his Chamber from the Receiver's which was very true but upon another design namely that the Novices in the Neighbouring Cells who understood not the Intrigue might not chance to smell some knavery nor discover this mystery of Iniquity That very evening before this designed apparition his Father Confessor brought to his dear Son Jetzer a Ticket which he laid upon his Table with this Instruction that when the Virgin should appear he should humbly tender it to her hands saying If thou beest really and indeed the Virgin Mary take this Ticket and carry it before the Hoste which is upon the great Altar of the Church Now this Ticket you must know contained divers sophistical Questions as whether St. Bernard Anselme Alexander of Hales Bonaventure and St. Thomas had taught the truth in this point or no Whether St. Katherine of Sienne St. Lucie of Ferrara both of the Order of the Dominicans had really and indeed received the Five wounds of our Lord and whether they had publisht the true Doctrine of her Conception And lastly what we ought to judge concerning the Council of Basil All things being now ready between Ten and Eleven at Night enters the Lecturer in the shape of a very fair young Lady cloathed as white as Innocence it self her flaxen hair dishevelled and playing upon her shoulders in this Equipage she finds Jetzer and thus with courteous words salutes him Frier John the Friend of God! I am St. Barbe for whom thou hast always had a singular Devotion since the day I drew thee out of the Rhine when thou thoughtest thou shouldest have been drowned I am a Martyr of Jesus Christ and servant of the V. Mary who will condescend to visit thee to illuminate thee in many secrets whereof that blessed Spirit which late appeared to thee and who now enjoys eternal happiness gave thee some hints See here is a Ticket I know well what thou art enjoyn'd to do with it I will goe and carry it to the blessed Virgin and they shall find it in that very place which thy Father Confessor desir'd And with that word she withdrew and entring the Quire of the Church laid it before the Hoste upon the great Altar having first put to it a Seal of five drops of Blood which was his own and the Sub-prior's contrivance Hereupon the Candles and Lamps in the Walk of the Covent and those in the Church were all lighted and the Bells in Jetzers and the Receivers Cell rung in a miraculous manner of their own accord which was the common trick in all the former Apparitions since the deliverance of the poor Prior's Soul out of Purgatory This feat being so neatly carried the Lecturer retreats to his Cell where he strips himself of his borrowed properties The Sub-prior runs in all haste to Jetzer whom he found wholly transported between fear and joy and Asks him what discourse he had with St. Barbe who gave him no other Answere but desir'd him he might speak with his Father Confessor To whom he rehearsed all the particular occurrences of their enterview A needless labour to acquaint him with what he knew as well as himself His Confessor gave him no other Return but some serious exhortations but presently he taking the Sub-prior Frier Osweld the Cook and Jetzer along with him went into the Church to find out the foremention'd Ticket which they found in the assigned place with the precious Seal of five drops upon it whereupon they return magnifying and exalting all that had happen'd to Jetzer as a thing wholly miraculous charging him at their departure to wait for the Apparition of the blessed Virgin with Devotion About one a Clock at night the Lecturer personating the Virgin Mary with one St. Barbe to wait on her made another Visit to Jetzer and for the greater credit of the Cause she was introduced by two Angels who supported her by both her feet aloft in the Aire all in Mourning habit as to the form but yet pure white to keep Decorum for so we must suppose the Saints above do mourn Her Vail trail'd decently on the ground and the upper part did so Muffle the best part of her face and half her Arms that they hoped the whole of the Knavery would be hidden also And thus accoutred she addresses her self to poor Jetzer Frier John be not afraid I am Mary sent to thee by my Son Jesus to assure thee of the Truth of whatsoever that good Spirit told thee concerning this my Appearance Know therefore that my Son can no longer endure that the Honour to be Conceived without Original Sin which is his sole Prerogative should upon my account be sacrilegiously ravisht from him Nor can I own this gross error of the Cordeliers as an honour to my self which tends so visibly to the reproach of my Son Nay I am thereby highly provoked and that thy holy Fathers may be assured that they are in the right in this weighty point and that they may have undoubted proofs that I was conceived in Original Sin by my Mother St. Ann in common with the rest of Mankind Behold here I have placed with the Ticket which St. Barbe delivered lately to me two Seals made of the shreds of Cotton which I scrap'd from that pure fine linnen with which my Son was wrapt when he lay in the Manger upon each of which is form'd a little Cross of that very blood which he shed when he hung upon the Tree which Blood I gather'd up my self and have carefully kept it to this hour in memory of his Passion Vpon the greater of these two Seals thou seest here are three drops of this precious blood upon the lesser there are five drops of the same blood although mingled as thou wilt easily believe with my own
Magdalene toucht Christ the marks of it appear'd in his forehead ever after with abundance of such impertinent stuffe wherewith the doating Friers used to fill up their Sermons Upon Easter-Eve the Lecturer being returned from his Journey two of their Friends amongst the Burgesses of the City namely Mr. Martyn a Goldsmith and Mr. Luke a Glasier had a strange itching humour to see and hear the V. Mary which communicating to the Fathers and they ashamed to deny and yet afraid to grant yet importunity at last prevail'd and they were desir'd to wait the Virgins leisure At last when they had almost quite worn out their patience to the stumps as they sate with two of the Fathers big or rather bursting with expectation out comes the Novice Megerlin who for that time acted the Virgin in all his Accoutrements his first feat of activity was to put out the Lamps and then applying himself to Jetzer Commanded that the Fathers should drive on the point of the Conception with more vigour and zeal and when he or she had besprinkled them with Holy Water and after a strange fashion lighted the Lamps again that were in the cross walk of the Covent using the benefit of their surprize disappear'd without the least suspicion given to their superstitious noddles Now these credulous fools were fob'd off with a very short interlude lest too long a Vision might have produced some accident that might possibly have rub'd up some jealousie in their dull brains of Imposture and Forgery Eight dayes after Easter the four Fathers which were the main Wheels in the Engine being in close Consult the Prior of Basil made them a Visit to see the sport and that he might contribute his Mite to this blessed design he brought with him not only a fine robe of a whitish grey for a property but curious Vizards and Masks and some cunningly contrived Engines to accommodate the Puppet-play and some small Wafers which the Sub-prior could varnish and paint over with admirable artifice They waited for an opportunity wherein they might give the Spectators a trial of their skill during the time that the Prior of Basil sojourn'd with them Now for a preparation to their designed Comedy they brought the Sacrament in its Pixe and placed it on the Table together with a Treatise made by Bernardin de Bustis the Cordelier as also another Tract written by the said Prior of Basil in confutation of the said Treatise of Bernardin and advised Jetzer if ever the V. Mary should appear again he should speak thus to her If thou beest verily the mother of Jesus Christ worship thy Son here before thee carry him unto his place and tear in pieces that Treatise which is erroneous about thy Conception That night the Lecturer appeared in the shape of the Virgin and kneeling devoutly before the Sacrament worshipt it saying withall Yes yes this is my Son and then takes the Treatise of Bernardin de Bustis tears it all in pieces with indignation and then turning to Jetzer Doubt not of the Truth of my Revelations which I have now so Authentically sealed and attested And presently she carries the Sacrament away with her and conveighs it to its own place in the Chappel In the Morning the Fathers gave him a Visit to whom he gave a particular account what had passed seeming to question the truth of these apparitions for his Confessor had put this Crotchet in his head that from thence he might take an occasion to set on foot a new game To whom the Prior of Basil answer'd Brother John An evil Spirit could never worship and carry away the holy Sacrament Why replyed the Lecturer cunningly did not the Devil carry our Saviour to the top of an high Mountain The issue of this dispute was they all agreed that Jetzer should conjure the Spirit upon its next appearance by the Power of God the Father God the Son and God the H. Ghost to tell him directly whether it were a Good or an Evil Spirit And if it should answer that it was a Good Spirit that then he should command it by virtue of the aforesaid Charm to say One Pater Noster one Ave Mary and the Creed which without question would be impossible for any evil Spirit to doe Matters being thus laid the next night comes the V. Mary with great state and pomp usher'd in with Wax-candles which she brought lighted with her from Heaven and placed them very devoutly upon his Table then drawing near to Jetzer he began to Conjure her in the manner and form aforesaid To this she readily Answers Yes yes I am a good Spirit I am Mary and Jesus is my Son whom I worshipt visibly before thee the last night and then carried him away to the Altar If thou beest a good Spirit replyed Jetzer let me hear thee say distinctly thy Pater Noster Ave Maria and the Creed Hereupon she falls down devoutly upon her knees and repeats the Lords Prayers till she came to those words And forgive us our trespasses then turning to Jetzer Mark brother John says she had I not been conceived in Original Sin I had small cause to say forgive us our Trespasses but rather forgive them their trespasses This said she went on with the rest Then she begins her Ave but after an odd fashion Hail Mary I am full of Grace and Jesus Christ my own Son is with me Blessed am I amongst women and blessed is the fruit of my Womb Then she falls to her Creed And when she had repeated those words The third day be rose again from the dead she added And appeared unto me first and not to Luke and Cleophas and so finisht the remainder And when she had in short said Dear brother John do not fancy that any evil spirit thus durst appear to thee 't is I the Blessed Virgin she comforted him with Holy-Water and taking up her Candles she went and placed them before the Image of our Lady which stood in the Walk of the Cloyster The Fathers presently found them and told the Friers that the Virgin Mary had brought those Wax-candles with her from Heaven which were of such a strange nature that no power on earth could light them the Virgin her self must come down from Heaven to do it or it must never be done Several of the Burgesses of the Town were show'd these holy Reliques and their celebrated Properties and when one or two had made a trial in vain the third man it seems unhappily lighted them which put the Prior into a great chafe yet he had an Excuse ready saying That when we begin to undervalue the great favours of God it 's just with him to take away their virtue and so seem'd to come off pretty handsomly But Jetzer at the instruction of his Confessor who to make him more settled in his Faith taught him how to raise scruples not being fully satisfied in the point was resolved upon an Experiment to try the Virgins Patience
but the Sub-prior whose Devotion had not quencht his Charity runs with all speed to seek some linnen rags to bind up his wound which yet they had ready prepared and brings with him those shreds left by our Lady on purpose for this Service He used also an excellent Salve which he had of Mr. Henry Haller which was proper to prevent the swelling and inflammation of those wounds and thus having skilfully dressed them they left him to his repose This miserable Jetzer being now made a second St. Francis and a Martyr of Christ that he might the better act the Enterlude of the Passion which they design'd him for the Sub-Prior consulted his Books Amongst others there was one which he had from one Martyn an Organist of Botzen a famous Conjurer by the help of this Book he raised a Devil in Humane shape but of a swarthy colour and complexion who ask'd our Father what he wanted The Sub-prior answer'd It was to be instructed how he might make a Potion for Jetzer the receipt whereof might dispose him to act the Passion of Christ The Devil told him he would willingly reveal to him the grand secret provided always he would solemnly renounce God and ever after to consecrate Mass and give up himself Body and Soul entirely to his disposal and all this to be by a Deed written and signed with his own blood This Miscreant accepted the Conditions and was thereupon thus Instructed That he should take so much Chrisine Holy-water Palmes Wax from the Candles consecrated at Easter of consecrated Salt of the Hair and Blood of an unbaptized Child of Quick-silver and such other Ingredients which being mixed according to Art and blessed upon Candlemas-day and perfumed with Incense of Myrrhe he should make a Potion in the Name and under the Auspices of the Devil which Liquor should be impregnated with the energy of as many Devils as there were of the Infants hairs put into it which should perform whatsoever he should enjoyn them This Prescription the Sub-prior faithfully made up and put it into Phials for use The Friday after his Instructions he resolv'd to make an Essay of this potion upon Jetzer and for the dose he gave him only a Spoonfull in a glass of red Wine which immediately discovered its operation in cold sweats heaving and swelling of his Breast itchings all over his Body as if he had had a Pismires nest in him attended with terrible cracking of his bones and so exceeding sick he was at heart that for an hour he could neither speak not hear whilest this wretched Patients Physick was thus working the Sub-Prior tyes his Head hard with a Scarf draws his Cowle over his Head and Face opens all his Wounds and Dresses them which without seeming sense he endures and when he had privately conveyed him into their Chappel calls in Spectators to Entertain themselves with this Tragedy And first he casts him down on his knees on a low Stool which stood before a little Altar whereon the Images of St. Dominick and St. Francis stood where was also a table representing the Passion of Christ there he Prayed silently tossing his Arms about and at times stretching out his Hands smiting his Heart and Breast and this Act of the Tragedy these Impostors call'd the Mount of Olives By and by he rises up tottering and trembling all over his Body and this forsooth they call'd his Seizure and Imprisonment Then he falls down as if he had been in an Epilepsie and knockt his Head against the stool for pain and madness and this must be the third Act and called His crowning with thorns Then he began to stretch out one of his Arms and then the other his Hands and Feet being strangely distorted and twisted as if he had been in a Convulsion fit which were so fixed in that posture as if they had been tyed with strong cords the strongest Persons in the company attempting it could not in the least move them out of that posture then did he seem to be just a dying his body quaking his teeth grating and this you must call the Passion of the cross A sight it was so horrible and not to be exprest by words that a certain Canon whom curiosity drew thither to behold the Play fell down in a swoon and was carried out of the Chappel In a while he drew in his Arms to himself placing them in the figure of a Cross upon his Belly his Feet he stretch'd out at length where they lay in their Natural scite and thus he continued without any perceptible motion and this they called His death and burial At last he came to himself began to stir and got upon his Feet and this was the last Act and called the Resurrection And when he had gone through this Purgatory the charitable Fathers gave him a Cordial to revive his Spirits and so conducted their silly Martyr to his Cell But believe it the poor Patient had enough of their Prescriptions and the effects of it stuck to him so troublesomely that he was hardly brought to run another course these Fathers therefore address'd him with subtle insinuations that he should not rob himself of the Honour of being a fellow-sufferer with Christ and that the Potion given him was the most Innocent thing in Nature being nothing but Holy-water Chrism and a little Consecrated Wine to give it a flavour which of themselves could not produce such Symptoms but his Passion was to be ascribed to a Supernatural cause that he had great Reason to praise the Grace of Christ which had Dignified him in a way almost Peculiar and whereof very few of the Blessed Saints were ever partakers With these words they so wheadled the simple Sot that for several days together he was drawn in to make them the same Pastime with his own inexpressible torments About this time the two Fathers sent to Pforcheim return'd and with them or soon after there Arrived at Berne the Deputies of that National chapter in Order to their Attendance at the General chapter at Lyons namely the Provincial himself with Lawrence Obkick to whom this Comedy was not at all agreeable the Priors also of Cologne and Basil Doctor Mangwitter Paul Hug of Vlme with some others who having taken particular cognizance of the whole progress of this Affair pleased themselves mightily with the conceit what an huge Advantage their Order should get by it over their Enemies one thing onely disturb'd their satisfaction that Jetzer had so unhappily discover'd the Roguery which though they had pretty will healed by their second Artifices yet it was judg'd convenient by the most wary of these Fathers to desire the Provincial to give Jetzer a Visit to sift him throughly whether he had any fixt apprehension that upon the whole matter he had been abused And indeed by his looks and answers he discovered evidently that there were some remaining flaws of unhealed suspicions in his Breast which he could not clearly remove though