strength that he kild two of them and then being wounded in divers places he leapt out of the window into the Garden But fell by misfortune upon a pole that prop't up a Vine and there stuck fast by the Breeches which the Conspirators perceiving ran down and made an end of him there The Negromancer according to the Kings promise had his pardon and being asked by the King how many Witches he thought were in his Dominions answered above a hundred thousand which he knew and of whom he was Master Mr. Baudovain de Ronssey in his Epistles gives us this Relation that in Ostbrook neer Utrect a place in Holland dwelt a certain Negromancer whose servant observing that his Master went constantly on certain nights into the Stable and laid hold on the Rack resolved to do the same unknown to his Master and see what would be the event Thus following his Master who was gone half an hour before into the stable and returned no more he laid hold on that part of the Rack and was posted immediately he knew not how through the aire till at last he found himself in a large Cave amongst an Assembly of Witches His Master astonished and angry at his coming fearing also least by this means their nocturnal meetings might be discovered asked the counsel of the rest concerning him 't was agreed upon at last to receive him and make him swear secrecy This the poor fellow out of fear did and promised whatsoever else they desired at last when the time of departure came they resolved he-should be carryed back because he had sworn to be of the Society and to that end his Master took him upon his back but in their way through the air as they came over a Lake his Master fearing to be discovered by him and finding this opportunity let him fall hoping therein to have drowned him and stifled him in the mudd yet Providence permitted not the youth to be drowned or his fall to be deadly for the abundance of Rushes and Sedge saved its violence and there he lay with no great harm done to his body The next day as he cry'd for help he was heard by some Travellers and by his voice found and holpen out the occasion of his coming thither being examined he was conducted to the Burgomaster of Utrect named Iohn of Cullenburg who making farther inquiry into this extraordinary accident with intention to prosecute the Negromancer sent for him to the place of his habitation but whether advised by his Spirit or warned by the Report he was fled and could no where be heard of Iohn Theuteme Canon D' Albestan being oftimes reproached to be a Bastard and that he merited not to be a Canon which belonged only to those of better Extract invited his revilers one day to Dinner and after the Table was taken away asked them if they would see their Fathers to which they answered they all were willing then caused he his Familiar Spirits to appear in their likenesses one like a Cook another like a Groom a third like a Pesant but his own Father came in the form of a Canon cloathed in a long gown at which sight the company was much amazed and never after reproached him of his Extract since their own was no more honourable CHAP. V. Of Incubus and Succubus's FLegon Trallian made free from slavery by the Emperor Adrian writes in his Book of admirable things that Philinion Daughter to a Vintener fell in Love with Machates a young Forrester but crost by her friends took it so to heart that she dyed suddenly after and was buryed publickly Not long after this sad Funeral Machates passing by came and lay at the house to whom Philinion appeared being alone in his chamber asserting she was not dead but had raised that report to deceive her friends insomuch that they both lay that night together and he gave her towards morning at her departure his Ring in token of his love and in recompence she gave him another while these things thus passed a servant that lay in the next Chamber hearing Philinions voice supposed really that her Masters daughter was alive which she constantly affirmed for truth her Master desirous to know the certainty of it found means to get the young man to stay longer at his House and caused persons to watch every night in the next chamber at last hearing her voice they went into the chamber and ran towards the bed where she lay to embrace their daughter but the Spirit said O cruel Father and Mother since you hindred me to enjoy this youth in life you can expect no kindess from me and lo now I leave you At which words the spirit went out of her and her carcass fell down in the bed Her tomb was immediately after opened but nothing found there save the ring the Forrester gave her which the spirit had left Her body was seen as likewise the tomb by thousands of people that came to see the truth of this admirable accident And at last by the councel of the Divine Hillo the dead body was carryed out of Town and buryed But Machates by this accident was so frightned that he fell shortly after into despair and killed himself Another no less admirable History we find of an Incubus who in the shape of Policrates was created Prince of the Aetolians and was marryed to a young Lady of Locres with whom after he had lain three nights he vanished and was no more seen by the people The Lady brought forth for her Child a monstrous Hermophrodite at which her Parents being astonished assembled the people the Priests and Diviners to consult what should be done with the Child or rather Divelish off-spring and at last it was concluded it should be burnt But then Policrates the Father appeared again in a mourning garment and with threats demanded his Son which being denyed he rushed upon him and toar him to pieces and then devoured all his members excepting the head and vanisht The people resolved to send to the Oracle at Delphos to enquire concerning this matter but the head that was left on the ground began to speak and with a loud voice and eloquent Oration informed the multitude of all the evil that 's threatned them which came to pass the Year after in the War they had with the people of Acarnania Boethius the Historian writes lib. hist. Scot. That a young maid very beautiful and one that had refused the marriage of many Noble Persons fell into strange familiarity with a Devil Till at last her big swelling belly declared what she had done and forced her to disclose the matter to her Parents how a handsome young man came constantly by night and lay with her but from whence or whither he went she knew not Her friends though they gave little credence to these words yet resolved to search into the matter more narrowly and about three days after being informed by her maid that the man was with her
they unlockt the door and entered the Chamber with a great company of lights and saw by their Daughter a most horrid Monster more terrible in shape then what can be described believed The beholders of this strange Spectacle all run away save an holy Priest that staid began to read St. Johns Gospel and when he came to this passage The Word was made Flesh the evil Spirit with a horrid noise flew away with the window of the chamber And the woman at the fright was delivered of a horrid Monster which the Midwives least it might be a reproach to the Family burnt upon a pile of wood immediately In the year 1480. as the same Author affirms a Merchants Ship was going to Flanders to Traffique when on a sudden there arose so vehement a Storm that the Mast was broke and great damage done to the rest of the Tackling insomuch that nothing could be expected but present destruction The Master wondring at this unclemency of the Air for it was then about the Summer Solstice when he could attribute it to no natural cause concluded it was rather by some evil spirit Which as he related to the Passengers comforting them forasmuch as he trusted God would not suffer them to perish by those means of the Devil a pittiful voyce was heard from the bottom of the Ship of one of the passengers a woman accusing her self that for many years she had had familiarity with a Devil in mans shape and that he was then with her and that she deserved to be thrown into the Sea to save the rest from the imminent danger The Minister therefore was sent down to this distressed creature who pray'd by her and after her confession earnestly entreated her to repent and ask of God forgiveness for what she had done This the poor distressed woman no soâ—…ner began to do but a black and thick mist seemed to rise up out of the pump of the Ship and with a great noise flame smoak and stink threw it self into the Sea after which the Tempest ceased and the Ship got safe to harbour Vincentius writes that a certain strong young man well skilled in Swimming was bathing himself by Moon-shine in the Sea and that a woman swimming after him took him by the hair as if it were one of his companions that would have ducked him to whom he spoke but no answer was made nevertheless she followed him to shoar and the youth taken by the great excellence of her beauty covered her with some of his garments and brought her to his home and not long after marryed her But being jeered often by his companions that he had marryed a Phantasm forasmuch as she would never speak he drew his Sword one day and threatned he would kill the Child she bore if she would not speak and tell her Original Alas poor man said she that loosest a good wife by forcing me to speak I had remained long with thee and done thee much good had I not broken the silence enjoyned me and therefore henceforth thou shalt see me no more and then she vanished But the child grew and began to use himself much to swim till at last as he swimmed one day in the Sea many people admiring him he was taken way out of their sight by his Mother Hieronymus reports the like of a Monk invited to uncleaness by a Succubus in the shape of a very fair and beautiful woman but when went to embrace her she sent forth a great cry as she was nothing in reality but a meer shade and Phantasm vanished out of his arms deceiving and deriding the foolish Monk that had by his Lust rendred himself like the horse and bruit beasts without understanding CHAP. VI. Of Familiar Spirits Goblings and Pharies GIlbert writes in the eight Book of his Narrations that a young Gentleman of Loâ—…rain of a good Family but corrupted by ill company frequenting often Ordinaries and such like houses of Debauchery was one day walking in the fields melancholy by himself for want of money To whom a Spirit appearing in mans shape asked the reason of his solitariness profering to do him service in whatever troubled him providing he would stedfastly believe all that was in a little Book he would give him and swear never to open or shew it to any body This when the young man had promised the other produced a little Book in his left hand and shaked 60. Crowns out of it into his right bidding the young man do the like who produced the same effect But at last when he wanted for nothing being overcome with curiosity he resolved to see what was contained in it and opening it he saw in the midst a round Circle divided with certain lines in form of a Cross on which was painted a horrible face of a Devil At this sight the young man was so frighted that his Eyes became black and his Brains turned that he thought to have some heavy load on his shoulders He was forced therefore to confess the matter to his friends who perswaded him to through the Book into the fire which although there was nothing in it but Paper yet remained an hour in the fire before it consumed A certain Souldier travelling through Marchia a country of Almaigne and finding himself weary in his journey abode in an Inn till he might recover his strength and committed to his Hostesses custody certain money which he had about him Not long after when he was to depart he required his money but the woman having consulted with her Husband denyed the Receit and return thereof accusing him also of wrong in demanding that which she never received the Souldier on the other side fretting amain accused her of cousenage which stir when the man of the house heard though privy to all before yet dissemblingly took his Wives part and thrust the souldier out of doors who being throughly chafed with that indignity drew his Sword and ran at the door with the point of it whereat the Host cried Theeves Theeves saying that he would have entered his House by force so that the poor Souldier was taken and put in Prison and by process of Law to be condemned to death but the very day wherein this hard Sentence was to be pronouncâ—…d and executed the Devil entred into the prison and told the Souldier he was condemned to dye nevertheless if he would give himself body and soul to him he would promise to deliver him out of their hands the prisoner answering said that he had rather dye being innocent then be delivered on such conditions Again the Devil propounded to him the great danger his life was in and also used all cunning means possible to perswade him But the other resolutely withstood his temptation that at last he promised to revenge him of his enemies for nothing advising him moreover to plead not guilty to declare his innocency and their wrong and to entreat the Judge to grant him one that stood by in a
Lucifer takes his place in his Throne as King do make their accustomed homage Adoring and Proclaiming him their Lord and rendring him all Honour This Solemnity being finished they fit to Table where no delicate meats are wanting to gratifie their Appetites all dainties being thither brought in the twinckling of an Eye by those spirits that attend the Assembly This done at the sound of many pleasant Instruments for we must expect no Grace in the company of Devils the table is taken away and the pleasant consort invites them to a Ball but the dance is strange and wonderful as well as diabolical for turning themselves back to back they take one another by the arms and raise each other from the ground then shake their heads to and fro like Anticks turn themselves as if they were mad Then at last after this Banquet Musick and Ball the lights are put out and their sleeping Venus awaks The Incubus's in the shaps of proper men satisfy the desires of the Witches and the Succubus's serve for whores to the Wizards At last before Aurora brings back the day each one mounts on his spirit and so returns to his respective dwelling place with that lightness and quickness that in little space they find themselves to be carryed many hundred miles but are charged by their spirit in the way not to call in any wise on the name of God or to bless themselves with the sign of the Cross upon pain of falling with peril of their lives and being greivously punisht by their Demon. Sometimes at their solemn assemblies the Devil commands that each tell what wickedness he hath committed and according to the hainousness and detestableness of it he is honoured and respected with a general applause Those on the contrary that have done no evil are beaten and punished at last when the assembly is ready to break up and the Devil to dispatch them he publisheth this law with a loud voice Revenge your selves or else you shall dye then each one kissing the Posteriors of the Devil a sweet bit no doubt returns upon their aiery Vehicles to their habitations These meetings are made commonly towards midnight when the earth is covered with darkness yet Cardan writes that a friend of his a Bookseller returning from Alemagne where he had newly been saw several assemblies met near a mountain both Wizards and Witches dancing some on Horseback some on Goats others on Dragons some on other Phantasms but drawing nâ—…er within a stones throw they all vanished and were no longer seen The places of these Meetings are in some desart either in a fair plain or under some large tree of which Pomp. Mela writes that on the side of the Mountain Atlas in Mauritania are seen by night certain lights and noises are heard of Cimbals and almost all sorts of Musical Instruments which in the day time cease and the Phantasms vanish and disappear Solin and Olaus affirm the same that the Shepherds living neer this place are often frighted by the Troops of Spirits that go dancing and brawling toward this Mountain esteem'd by the common people to be Aegyptians Valderama speaks farther concerning these meeting places which ought in no wise to be omitted that by tâ—…e new Castle belonging to the Earle of Francesquin he saw under a high Chesnut-Tree hard by a little wood a circle of the breadth of twenty foot being made so round that it seemed to be made by a Geometrical compass where he imagined these Witches and Spirits to have been and what most astonished him was that upon this round circle grew no flower nor grass although in the middle and round about abundantly Suspecting therefore that the earth was consumed by the quality of some ill humour which hindred the Herbs to grow he caused it to be dug up and diligently lookt upon but found the earth of the very same quality and goodness with the rest ad joyning Paul Grillaud a most famous Doctor of the Law reports that a certain Pesant had a wife accustomed to go to such meetings with her other companions which her Husband suspecting often taxed her with it which still she denyed as obstinately till at last resolving to know the truth he feigned himself one night drunk and in a sound sleep which hapned to be the time she was advised by her Spirit to go to the Assembly So that looking round about her that all things were sure her doors fast and her husband to appearance dead drunk she retired into a private corner of the room strip't her self naked and anoâ—…ted her body then in an instant as if she had wings she flew up the Chimney This her husband perceiving rose and hid the box of Oyntment till the next morning when examining her where she had been that night he could neither by fair nor foul means bring her to confess that she had been out of the house till â—…hewing her the box of Oyntment see here said he the witness that will so convince thee that thou shalt be no longer able to deny thy wickedness and unless thou resolve to tell me immediately whither and by what means thou wenâ—…'st expect not to go out of my hands alive Then did he Wâ—… â—…mbling at her husbands threats anâ—… convicted of what she had done confess the truth and all the things committed in their impure Society above all she seâ—… forth the pleasures of it with such cunning flaâ—…tery that the lusty young Pesant had a mind presently to be partaker of those delights and promised her pardon for what she â—…ad done if she would conduct and bring â—…im also to the place This she promised willingly and the time being come after she had asked leave of her spirit to bring her husband with her she caused him to strip himself naked as she was and both being anointed they mounted the spirit attending on them in the form of a Sheep which flying softly through the Air carryed them to the designed meeting place The poor man seeing so many men and women so richly cloathed as to him they appeared such preparations for a Feast such strange Musick and so many lighted Torches around him stood long time amazed But at last after they were all set at the table by the commandment of the Devil the Country man not loosing time but finding the meat unsavoury and without â—…ast for according to the Proverb the Devils were the Cooks he began to ask for Salt and at last a spirit waiting there in form of a youth brought him some which receiveing he said God be praised for this good Salt At which words in a moment the Table Meat Servants Guests Men and Women Musick Lights Spirits and all vanisht away from â—…im who found himself next morning naked in the Countrey of Beneâ—…ent under a great Walnut-Tree almost a hundred miles from his own home whither with must distress at last became accused his wife and many oâ—… of the company who after confession on the
room and viewing the books he perceived a Manuscript of Agrippa's amongst the rest as it were a compendium of them this he reads and in short space raises an ill favour'd Devil who entring the study asked what he would have that he call'd him so the young man unexperienced frightned and ignorant what to say was choaked by the Spirit and left dead on the ground Agrippa not long after returns home and finds the Devil dancing and shewing tricks upon the house top at which astonished he goes into his Study and finds the dead body which he commands his spirit to enter and carry to the place where the Students used to meet this being done and the spirit quitting the body it fell down and was buryed for dead having some marks only of strangulation about the Throat But not long after the matter was discovered and Agrippa for safty fled to Lorrain There was in the Emperor Maximilians Court a famous Negromancer as Authors affirm who at his command and promise of pardon and reward took upon him to shew the shapes of the three great Warriers Hector Achilles and King David upon condition of silence when they appeared and the Emperor he places in the midst of his Magick Circle seats him in his Throne and afterwards reading and murmuring certain Charms out of his Pocket-Book he desires silence Hector then knocks at the door so vehemently that the whole house shook and the door being opened he came in with a bright Speer in his hand his Eye fiery and his Stature exceeding other mens Not long after in the same Majestical postture came in Achilles looking fiercely towards Hector and often shaking his Speer as though he would have invaded him Thus having thrice passed by the Emperor and made Obeysance they vanished Afterwards came in King David in his Crown and Princely Robes with his Harp in his hand His countenance was more gracious then that of the other two and he passed likewise thrice by the Emperor but wiâ—…hout Reverence to him and went away The Magician being asked by the Emperor why King David denyed him the respect the other two gave answered that all things were subject to his Kingdom for asmuch as Christ sprang from him Saint Augustine writes of Pythagoras that whether by natural Magick or some secret agreement with the Devil it is doubted by Authors he kept a Bear of prodigious greatness with him many years and at last making him swear never to hurt any Beast gave him liberty and sent him into the Woods The same Magician being near Tarent and seeing an Ox eating in a field of Beans called to the herdsman to drive the beast from eating the Beans But the surly clown made answer he might chastise him himself if he would as he used to whip his Boys Whereupon Pythagor as making certain magick Characters on the ground and muttering some Charms to himself caused the beast to come out of the Beans as if it had been endued with reason and ever after it refused the Yoke and retired to Tarent living among the inhabitants and taking her food from the hands of Men Women and Children A certain Magician at Madeburg was us'd to shew a little Horse to the people in the Market place for money commanding it to do many rare things which always it performed But complaining one day to the people in the end of his shew that he had got very little that the times were very hard and the like he wisht that he were in heaven then throwing up the bridle into the air the horse followed it and he as if he would have stayed it by the tail was carryed up also his wife catched hold of him his maid of her and all fly up into the air like so many links of a chain Now while the people were looking and wondring at it a certain Citizen came to the multitude and understanding the matter affirmed that he met but a little before the Magician going to his Inn. To this purpose Niderius also reports that in the year 1045 a certain Magician in England was seen to mount on a black horse on a Sabbath day and to be carryed away through the air Henry the third King of France had a brother called the Duke of Allenzon who came to England formerly to be a suiter to Queen Elizabeth in whose retinue was the Valiant Busidamboyes who took the Dukes part between whom and the King was a perpetual sued The King therefore by nature timerous and suspicious was always afraid of this valiant person and after his return into France devised several means to take him out of the way Amongst the rest coming by night out of the Louure he was set upon by seventeen armed and appointed men yeâ—… behaved himself so stoutly that he killed five of them and made his escape The King seeing he had mist of him and that ever after he stood upon his Guard put in tryal another way For there being a constant report at Court that Bussidamboyes was in favour with the Earl of Monsurrous wife he sent for an Italian Negromancer famous at that time and called â—…riscalino Of him he enquires if he could shew or declare to him what Bussidamboyes was then doing which the Magician after certain conjurations shewed him in a Glass where was Bussidamboyes in bed with a Lady Hereupon the King sent for his Courtiers amongst whom was the Earl of Monsorrou at that time and aâ—…ked if they knew that Lady The Earl much abased replyed it was his wife Then said the King I will have no Culckolds to be my Courtiers To which the Earl made answer that to hinder what was done was not in his power but that it was in the Kings to give him leave to avenge himself which he earnestly requested The King glad to be any ways rid of Bussidamboyes gave his assent and the Earl posted away immediately to his own house and coming betimes in the morning to his wife as she lay in bed offered her the choice of three things either a draught of Poyson a Dagger to kill her self or to write such a Letter as he would dictate to her The miserable woman terrified with the thoughts of death consented to the Latter and according to her husbands dictating sent for Bussidamboyes who suspected nothing to come unto her In the mean time the Earl concealed himself in the house armed with six more and behind the Curtains in her chamber Bussidamboyes came not long after and offering to go up stairs in his accustomed manner was desired by a Page set for that purpose to leave his Spurs and his Sword below because his Lady was ill and the least noise disturbed her This he did not mistrusting what would follow but as soon he entred the Chamber the Lady gave a sign and all rusht in upon him Nevertheless being of an undaunted courage he took the first chair he found and so behaved himself with that weapon by reason of his great
blew Cap to be his Advocate the Souldier accepted this offer and being called to the Bar and indicted there of Fellony presently desired to have his Attorney who was there present to plead for him then began the fine and crafty Doctor to plead and defend his Client very cunningly affirming him to be falsly accused and unjustly condemned and that his Host did withhold his money and offered him violence and to prove the Assertion he reckoned up every circumstance in the Action yea the very place where they had hid the money The Host on the other side stood in denial very impudently wishing the Devil might take him if he had it at these words for the subtil Lawyer waited for this advantage the Devil laid hold on the Host and carrying him out of the Sessions house hoisted him into the air so high that he was never after seen or heard of A Gentleman neer the City of Torga who got his living by roâ—…bing and ranging the fields met one day with a Spirit in form of a horseman who saluted him and profered him his service the other accepting of it made him his Groom and ever when he went out gave him special charge of a certain horse which he esteemed very much of the Devil finding he could never please his Master concerning this matter and that notwithstanding all his double diligence his Master never thought him well enough look't after took the horse one day when â—…is master was abroad and carryed him to the top of a high Tower put his head out of the window The horse seeing his Master come home began to neigh and stomp as though joyful of his return but the servant never came again to fetch him down and left all the neighbourhood in great admiration Froissard reports that a certain Priest going to Law with a Parishioner was cast by him and that resolving not to stop there for he had skill in Magick he raised a Spirit whom he sent to torment him upon promise of such a reward The spirit posts immediately to the Gentlemans house and there by his noise and the pranks he play'd soon manifested what he was The gentleman upon this strange vexation got his neighbours good Religious men to watch with him and when at midnight the spirit came it was resolved he should speak to it The Devil according to his agreement with the Priest never mist his hour but came as he used to do that night throwing the chairs and stooles up and down the house making a noise and great disturbance Whereupon the gentleman boldly asked in Gods Name what he was Ah quoth the Devil and laught do you not yet know that I am a spirit yes said the Gentleman again but who sent thee hither the Priest said the Spirit because thou overthrewst him at Law and hath promised me also ten Crowns for my pains Away said the Gentleman for shame art thou so bare as to serve such a pittyful Rascal for so little money I will give thee forty Crowns to serve me and all thy business shall be only to bring me News from all parts of the World I 'le do 't said the Devil but if ever you desire to see me you shall certainly lose me Thus did this Gentleman know before any Post could come of all the Transactions in the World and had news from the remotest parts of it insomuch that he began to be sought after by every one for News since nothing in the whole world was done of which he had not intelligence But at last perceiving this familiarity would bring him into the trouble and strict inquiry of the Law and fearing least the Spirit might shew him some slippery trick for his forty Crowns he resolved to put him away And thereupon the next time he came Artan said he for so the spirit called himself since thou hast been so punctual hitherto in thy service I would now â—…ain see thee in some shape or other You shall replyed he and the first thing you see upon the floor of your Chamber to morrow morning shall be me The morning being come the Gentleman lookt on his floor but could see no body Wherefore when he heard the spirit next did you not promise said he to appeaâ—… to me in some shape this morning in my chamber well and did you not see reply'd the Devil two Straws tumbling over each other that was I. But I minded them not said the Gentleman and have not as yet seen thee as I desire Mind better then answered he and the first creature you see to morrow out of your window shall be me So the next morning when the Gentleman rose to the window he could see nothing in his yard but a great leaner and uglier Sow then can be described insomuch that calling to his servants he commanded them to hunt that ugly creature out of the yard which as they were doing it vanished in a tempest and the house was troubled no more Olaus relates that a Gentleman passing by a Forrest with his servants was belated in the way and forced to stay in the Woods all night having nothing to eat at which he said merrily to his Retinue would Sir Hubert of whom so many stories pass would provide us some food in this solitary Wood. Which words he had no sooner spoken but a great Wolfe rushed by them and returned immediately with Sheep on his back which he let fall in their sight and vanisht leaving them to dress the meat the Devil had sent them Alexander ab Alexandro writes that a Monk of the Monastery of Ardens going early in the morning through the Forrest to a Town thereby overtook a man of a stern countenance loose kind of vesture and very tale stature with whom he travelled till at last they came â—…o a great wash where the man profered the Monk being a Religious person and of lesser stature to carry him over on his back The Monk glâ—…d of this profer got up but casting his Eyes down toward the water that was very clear and seeing his Porters feet of a strange and deformed shape he blessed himself with the sign of the Cross at which the Devil hasted so fast away in a whirlwind that it toar up a great Oak by the roots which gave the poor Monk cause to think that if he had not in time perceived the Devil to be his Porter he should have been stifled in the waters by him Fincelius reports that in the year 1532. a certain Gentleman to torment a poor Tenant that owed him rent commanded him with threats to bring to his house that night for fuel it being the Christmas tide a certain great Oak out of such a wood which if he failed to do he would turn him out of his House The poor man although the thing was impossible nevertheless to shew his willingness went with his Ax towards the Wood much afflicted at the hard commands of his Lord. Thus as he is going he is
companion laid hold on him to strangle him but that the other awaking began to pray to God for help at whose Name Satan made such hast to be gone that he broke through the top of the house by which fear the youth afterwards changed his evil intentions to an honest and Religious life A rich Gentleman that lived thirteen Miles from Goiâ—…is had made a great Feast and invited his friends but they came not Whereat being extreamly incensed come said he all the Devils that will since my friends are so unworthy And immediately after came in many Goblings as it were in the several habits of Merchants and Gentlemen Forreiners who were kindly welcomed and sate down to Table But stretching forth their fingers like Cats Claws they were perceived indeed to be Demons and the Gentleman making some Invocation to God as people in fear naturally use to do they all vanished but so perfum'd the room that few guests ever came into it afterwards Sabellicus writes for a true and admirable relation that a Secretary of Lewis Alodiser Lord of Iâ—…ole travelling to Ferrara met in a Valley between two great Hills a Phantasme in shape of Lewis's Father who dyed and had been magnificently buried not long before appearing on Horsback and with a Hawk on his fist as it was his custome when he went a Hunting in his life time This Specter charged him to return presently to his Son and tell him that he should come the next day and meet him in that place for he had matters of great importance to discover to him The Secretary through fear and obeysance went back to Imole where he related what had hapned but Lewis whether he feared some ambush in that place or credited not the relation would not go in person but sent another in his name to see what the Spirit would declare the Ambassador being arrived with the Secretary at the place the same shadow appeared to them complaining greatly of the Prince that he would not come himself and hear what he dared not to reveal to any other Nevertheless he commanded them to return and tell their Master that before two and twenty years specifying the Month and the Day he should lose the Government of that place The time being come Lewis stood upon his guard remembring the threats pronounced by his Fathers Ghost Yet notwithstanding all his preparations that Year that Month and Day the Souldiers of Philip Duke of Milan passed the Trenches scaled the Walls and obtained the Town and took him prisoner Cardan relates that a friend of his going in a dark night from Milan to Galerat saw a strange apparition of fiery Spirits who inform of Pesants ran behind him in the way upon a fiery Cart crying with a loud voice Take heed take heed and although he spurred his horse and made all the hast possible yet they were still at his back till at last when he came to St. Lorences Church which is without the Castle-Gate he recommended himself to God and presently he thought he saw those Pesants with their burning Cart and Oxen swallowed up in the Earth After this it was observed that the Inhabitants of Galerat were tormented that year with a cruel Plague and other great afflictions P. Matthieu Historiographer to Henry the fourth King of France writes that in the year 1598. as that King was hunting in the Forrest of Fountainebleau a great cry of Hounds and Huntsmen was heard at half a miles distance which sometimes again as they drew neer a wood seemed to be within twenty paces of them Whereupon the King commanded the Earl of Soissons to set Spurs to his horse and see what it was believing that there was none so bold as to meddle with his Game or hinder his pastime The Earl of Soissons went and still heard the noise not perceiving whence it came till a tall man in black presented himself in a thick mist crying Do you hear me do you hear me and suddenly vanished At which words the stoutest of them resolved to leave off hunting for that day wherein nothing but danger and fear was expected Now although fear commonly ties the tongue and freezeth the words nevertheless they related this Matter and have caused it to be inserted in the History of that King which many would think to be a fable of Merlin or Urgand the unknown if the truth affirmed by so many persons of Credit and seen by so many judicious eyes had not put away all doubt There is a History no less admirable of a Merchant of Sicely that travelling in the year 1536. upon the one and twentieth day of March not far from the Castle of Tauriming met in the way with ten Demons in form of Blacksmiths a little farther with ten more and again with another that seemed a true Vulcan and having questioned him whither he went he answered he was going to forge at Mount Aetna to which the Merchant reply'd that he wondered they should go to forge on a Mountain that was always covered with Snow Alas said the other thou knowst not my strength but ere long shalt perceive it and then he vanisht The next day toward night a great Earth-Quake opened the Mount in several places and much mischiefe was caused by the fire to the Inhabitants CHAP. VIII Of Places Haunted THere was in Athens a great and spacious House but very infamous for a report that it had for long time been haunted by an evil Spirit That in the dead time of the night a strange noise was heard at first as it were from the yard which came neerer and neerer till there stood before them an old man lean pale and with a long beard having his hands and feet chained which he often shaked By these terrors the Inhabitants fell sick and many dyed for the rememberance of the image impressed on their fancy caused a deadly fear Insomuch that at last it was left desolate Nevertheless Bills were set up in several places of the City if peradventure any one would venture to hire and inhabit it At that time the Phylosopher Athenodorus came to Athens and reading one of these bills and the small rent it was to be let at by reason of its infamy bought it notwithstanding what the people reported of it And gave order the first night that his bed should be made in the first room of it some books and his pen and paper to be brought that his mind being imployed and busied might cause no vain fears In a studying posture therefore he watched and when at midnight he heard the noise of Chains and Irons as had been reported to him he neither lifted up his eyes nor left writing till it seemed to be in the Room Then looking towards the door there appeared the image of an ancient man loaded with chains beckoning as it were for him to follow the Phylosopher on the other side made signes with his hand that he should stay a little till he had made an
end of what he was writing But the spirit began again to shake his chains at which the other left off writing and taking the Candle in his hand followed the Ghost who proceeded slowly as if he were very aged and much loaded with his chains till he came into the yard where he vanisht The Phylosopher being left alone left a mark upon the place and the next morning caused it to be dug up where were found the bones of a man chained for the flesh was putrified and eaten away these being gathered and buried publickly the house was never haunted afterwards Sabellic lib. 10 Exempl cap. 3. Erasmus in his Epistles writes that on the tenth of April 1533. in an Inn of Sciltac a town in Switzerland there was a certain hissing heard about night time which seemed to come out of one of the chambers of the house wherefore the Host fearing their might have been Thieves ran thither immediately but could find no body yet still heard the same noise in the Garret and not long after upon the top of the Chimney then supposing that it was an evil spirit he sent for the Priest to exorcise him who no sooner began his conjuration but the spirit answered he cared not for them since one was a twhoremaster and both were theeves and herefore he would in spight of them burn the town as he had undertaken all this was thought afterwards to proceed by the means of a Familiar Spirit which the maid of that house confessed on her death-bed to have had familiarity with for the space of fourteen years the Spirit therefore took this maid to the top of the chimney and commanded her to spread such fire as he gave her which she did and in less than an hours time all the town was consumed notwithstanding the great abundance of water the inhabitants brought to quench it Here we may observe the reality of it as also that the fire was real that the Devil brought but of another nature than the common or any Artificial fire is and that it did not fall from above as lightning which burneth only very little unless it happens on matters easily combustible as it hapned in the year 1500. at Paris when the lightning fell upon the Tower of Billy where the powder was and since that at Venice Furthermore Philippus Camerarius saith of it that the fire fell here and there upon the Houses in form of burning Bullets and if any one went to help his Neighbour he was presently call'd back to help his own Moreover I have heard saith Camerarius the relation of this woful visitation from the Vicar of that place and many others worthy to be beleived forasmuch as they were Spectators of all things according to the former relation The Vicar also had as it were a Crown about his hair which he wore long after the Graecian manner of all sorts of colours which he said hapned by the same Spirit who threw a Hoop at his head Moreover the same Daemon asked him once if ever he heard a Raven crâ—…ak and thereupon croaked so horribly that they were almost dead for fear The Curate also did affirm though not without blushing that he often told him and many others of their private sins so exactly that they were forced with shame to quit the place CHAP. IX Of Devillish Impostures ABout the year 1545 hapned at Corduba a famous City in Spain a most wonderful Imposture of Satan A young girle of a poor Family named Magdalene de la Croix being but five years old was put by her Parents into a Monastery of Nuns whether through Devotion or Poverty 't is unknown since her years were so few Nevertheless as the Judgements of God are unsearchable and his ways past finding out the Devil appeared to her in shape of a Blakamore and although she was at first sight much afraid yet the Fiend did promise her so many Toyes wherein children delight that he brought her to discourse with him ever injoyning herstreightly that she should never disclose ought of their private Conversation About that time the Girle began to show a very quick and apprehensive wit and a nature different from others which gained her no small esteem from the rest of the Nuns both old and young Being come to the age of Twelve she was sollicited by the Devil to marry him and for her Dowry he promised her that for the space of thirty years she should live in such a reputation of Holiness through all Spain that the like was never before Thus while Magdalene under this contract passed the time in her Chamber with this wicked Spirit that entertained her with his Illusions another Demon took her shape and resemblance and constantly resorted to the Church to the Pulpit and to the Cloysters and all the Assemblies made by the Nuns with a great deal of seigned Devotion he told Magdalene also after he had gone to Church in her place all that was done in the world of which she giving notice to those who had her already in great Reputation began not only to be accounted an Holy Virgin but to bear the name of a Prophetess wherefore although she was not yet come to full age yet she was elected Mother Abbess by the consent both of the Monks and Nuns Now when the Nuns went to Communion on Easter day and other great Festivals among them the Priest alwayes complained that some body had stolen one of the Hosts from him which was carryed by this Angel of darkness unto Magdalene who being in the mid'st of her Sisters shewed it unto them and put it in her mouth as a great Miracle Moreover it is said that when she was not present at Mass though there were a wall between her and the Priest yet at the Elevation of the Corpus Christi the wall did cleave that she might see it It is also very well known that if at any Festival day the Nuns carryed her in Procession with them to make the action more venerable by some extraordinary action she carryed a little Image of Christ newly born which she covered with her hair that grew down to her feet Many more such illusions she used chiefly on solemn dayes that they might be the more recommendable By this time the Pope the Emperor and the Grandees of Spain did write to her and by their Letters intreated her to remember them in her Prayers and asked her advice and councels in all matters of great concernment as by several Letters found in her Closet was manifested Many Ladies also and Gentlewomen would not wrap their new-born children in Swadling clothes till they had been blessed by the Abbess Magdalene But God permitted not this Diabolical cheat to lye longer concealed for Magdalene after she had spent about thirty years in this acquaintance with the Devil and had been Abbess twelve years repented of her former life and detesting these abominable Acts and the horrid society of Satan she freely discovered when every
manner of life they followed adding that he was not ignorant how their Order was hated by many because of their Dr. St. Thomas whom they followed in that Opinion that the Virgin Mary was conceived in Original Sin Nevertheless many of their Enemies were grievously tormented by the vengeance of God and the Town of Berne would perish if it did not expell the Franciscan Friars who were of opinion that the Virgin was conceived without And that particularly Dr. Alexander Dr. Ales and Iohn Scotus the subtil Doctor both Franciscan Fryers were grievously tormented in Purgatory for inducing the people to hold that opinion At last the said spirit did counterfeit the Virgin Mary herself assuring him she was conceived with sin and certified him also in many other things he desired to know from her She made also in his right hand a mark of her Son Jesus Christ by peircing his hand with a very sharpe Naile then to appease the pain she put Lint into it made of the clouts she wrapped her Child with in Aegypt But not contented alone with this the said Friers gave him to drink a certain Magick Liquor by which he lost his sence and understanding and then with Aquafoŕtis made four more wounds upon him Afterwards when by means of a second Liquor he came to himself he was much astonished at his wounds but they perswaded him they came from God and put him afterwards into a little Cell all hung with the Pictures of the passions of Christ they gave him also a drink that made him froath at the mouth and perswaded him that he was then fighting against death as Christ had done To conclude they play'd so many pranks with this poor Monk that at last he began to perceive the delusion and escaping out of their hands discovered all their devillish practises Whereupon the actors of this wickedness Iohn Vetter Prior Steven Boltzhorst Preacher Francis Ulchi under-Prior and Henry Steniecker receiver of the Rents were condemned to be burnt alive in a field before the company of the Franciscans There is a pleasant relation amongst the Narrations Mundi Fortuitas which I shall not omit in this place how in a Village of France inhabited by rude country Boors a Man fitter for the Cart than a Pulpit yet as being the best Scholler in the Town was made Vicar and according to custome nothing was done nothing thought upon but the Vicar was ever present among the good women Insomuch that by such frequent familiarily he grew to be well acquainted with one Lisetta a Parishioners wife Her Husband was not so blind but he could perceive his horn a growing and from that time permitted not the Vicar to come any more to his house Thus was all the fat in the fire and their hopes cancelled had not love found out another way for according to the Vicars instruction Lisetta counterfeited her self possessed with the Devil turning her eyes arms and legs in strange postures froathing at the mouth and ratling in her throat The simple neighbourhood astonished at these actions cry'd she was possessed and her poor Husband not a little troubled at it forgot what was past and goes for the Vicar to exorcise the Spirit Alas my friend saith the other thy Jealousy and suspition I fear of our holy Order hath been the cause of this misfortune for asmuch as the Chastest Matrons have ran mad and have been possessed upon this account Then taking his Robes Book and what was fitting on this account he goes along with him to his wife and the usual ceremony in such cases being performed he askes the spirit who it was Lisetta as she was before instructed answered in a small voice I am the father of this young woman who am to do Penance for ten years space in one body or other Her Husband thinking it to be her Fathers spirit my Father said he I desire thee for Gods Sake to come out of her Then the spirit reply'd I will indeed come out of her but I shall enter into thee to compleat the rest of my time alloted for my Penance The poor man was so terrified at this that falling at the Parsons feet my friend said he do you not know some way to avert this heavy Judgement either by Prayers Fastings Alms or other Charitable deeds then Lisetta perceiving all things to succeed according to her desire thou art too poor said she to hinder thy fate by Alms or charitable Deeds and instead of these thou must go visit forty Religious places and pray in every one and entreat God to forgive thee thy sins otherwise never look to escape what Heaven hath ordained Moreover the spirit went on concerning his false Jealousy and suspition of Holy Men insomuch that he fell at the Vicars feet asking forgiveness and shortly after began his Pilgrimage In the mean time the Vicar was always with his wife under pretence to lay the spirit but 't is questionable whether he raised not a worse In the year 1534. The Praetors wife Aurelia had taken care before she dyed that she might be buried privately without Pompe and Ceremonies for then it was a custome in Erance that when any Noble person dyed the Heralds should call the people together by Cymbals and such like instruments and then rehearse the Nobility and worth of the person deceased desiring the people to pray for them many mendicant Fryars also attended the Corps with an infinite company of lights So that by a kind of emulation the more the Pompe was and the greater the concourse of people the nobler the Family was esteemed But her Husband obeying her last desire gave no more to the Franciscans that buryed her than six Crowns whereas much more was expected and afterward when he cut down wood and denyed them some they were so incensed that they resolved in revenge to make the people believe his wife was damned in Hell To which purpose they placed a youth upon the roof of the Church who at night in Prayer-time made a great noise there and notwithstanding their exorcisms and conjurations would answer nothing then being commanded to give some sign that he were a dumb spirit for a sign he made a great noise the next day the Franciscans related to the people what hapned but desired them not in any wise to absent themselves for that So the next night when Prayers began the spirit also made a noise in the former manner but being asked what he was made a sign that he was not to speak he was commanded therefore to answer by signs for there was a hole made where the youth could hear what the exorcists said and he had a Tablet in his hand by striking upon which he gave signs that could be heard beneath first therefore being asked if he were any of those that had been buryed there he made a sign he was then many names being recited of all the persons buryed there when they came to the Praetors wife he knoc'd for a sign