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woman_n	age_n	husband_n	year_n	1,380	5	5.4286	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81077	The kingdom of darkness: or the history of dæmons, specters, witches, apparitions, possessions, disturbances, and other wonderful and supernatural delusions, mischievous feats, and malicious impostures of the Devil Containing near fourscore memorable relations, forreign and domestick, both antient and modern. Collected from authentick records, real attestations, credible evidences, and asserted by authors of undoubted verity. Together with a preface obviating the common objections and allegations of the sadduces and atheists of the age, who deny the being of spirits, witches, &c. With pictures of several memorable accidents. By R. B. Licensed and entred according to order.	R. B., 1632?-1725?; Drapentier, Jan, fl. 1674-1713.	1688 (1688)	Wing C7342; ESTC R224752	121,198	192

compel him as it were to tell him if the Golletta a place then Besieged by the Turks were taken by them or not The Spirit replyed he did not know for the present but that the day before the Besieged had defended themselves valiantly He then complained of the Conjurer who by his horrible Inchantments did too much force and importune Spirits and having spoke of some other severities used by him desired time to think upon what was asked and then vanished leaving such a stink and terror that these curious Inquirers were almost dead with fear And the German would many times swear that so oft as the remembrance of this horrible Spirit together with his voice which was small hoarse and cut off or choaked as it were at every word came into his memory he was ready to swoon away with the horror of it By this it appears that though wicked Spirits have a marvellous quick motion yet they are not always privy to things done in places remote from where they appear if they are required to give an answer at an instant Though they have sometimes answered readily of matters acted in another part of the World. Ibidem p. 268. XXIX I Have before premised that though it pass for currant among the vulgar that Witches or Wizards can transform themselves into Wolves Cats Mice or other creatures yet it seems very doubtful since there is a special sort of Melancholy which is called Lycanthropia wherein people imagine themselves to be turned into Wolves or other Beasts and Hippocrates relates concerning the daughters of King Praetus that they thought themselves Cows and of a Spaniard who did believe himself a Bear And Sennertus reports that a Noble Person and one worthy of credit gave him an account of a strange passage to this purpose which himself was particularly acquainted with That a certain Woman being in Prison on suspicion of Witchcraft pretending to be able to turn her self into a Wolf the Magistrate before whom she was brought promised her that she should not be put to death in case she would then in his presence thus transform her self which she readily consented to accordingly she anointed her Head Neck and Arm-pits immediately upon which she fell into a most profound sleep for three hours after which she suddenly rose up declaring that she had bee● turned into a Wolf and had been at a place som● miles distant and there killed first a Sheep and the● a Cow The Magistrates presently sent to the plac● and found that first a Sheep and then a Cow had there been killed Essay of Provid 179. XXX SUch kind of people are likewise said to be found in Prussia one of which Men-Wolves was taken not long ago and brought to the Duke of Prussia by the Countrey people upon suspicion that he had devoured some of their Cattel He had in his face several scratches and hurts which they said were given him by the Dogs that took him for a Wolf. The Princes Commissioners examining him he confest that twice every year namely about Christmas and Midsummer he was changed from a man to a Wolf and that he then grew wild finding himself as it were constrained thereto and conversed in Woods among the Wolves That before the Wolfs hair came out and that he changed his Shape he felt an horrible quivering and faintness all over his body Every one credited what he said But when they resolved to find out the truth of it and to that purpose had kept him a long time close Prisoner in a Castle the guard having always an eye upon him to see when the Wolfs hair appeared they could perceive nothing of it but that he always continued a man This was the last act of this Comedy and Wierus and Baptista Porta who have divers stories to the same purpose are of op●●ion that the Devil himself does the mischief and that in the mean time these poor deluded creatures who are cast into so profound a sleep by h●● as that by any noise or blows they cannot be awakened have their Phansies imposed upon by Dreams and delusions according to the pleasure of their Master Satan Cam●rarius p. 276. XXXI A Few years since a Woman dwelt at Seavington in Somersetshire who had been the wife of a Vicar belonging to the Quire of Winchester and was very honestly educated living in good reputation with her first husband and during her widowhood taught a School of Girls at Winchester which she continued till married again to J.H. with whom she lived in all virtuous manner being then about 57 years of age and had a Son by her former husband about seventeen There dwelt in that village over against her a Woman of ill fame among her Neighbours for divers bad practices This Woman coming to the School-Mistriss desired her to lend her a small peice of changing money which the other refused who said she knew she had such a peice and it had been better she had lent it her going away muttering In the evening the School-Mistriss standing at her door saw a Monstrous great Toad walking upon all four like a Cat coming from the other Womans house directly to hers upon which retiring into the house she desired her husband to get some instrument to kill that terrible Vermin As he was coming toward the door he met with it in the entry and before he had power to strike it rusht suddenly into another room and was never seen after That very night the School-Mistriss though before a very healthy brisk Woman was taken in a most violent tormenting manner with cruel prickings and pains as if her inside had been all stuck with pins needles or thorns insomuch that with the great tortures of her body abundance of bloud issued with her urine which was observed the first night These Fits seized on her very frequently sometimes twice or thrice in one day otherwhile whole days together and it was rema●●t that just before the coming of the Fit there would come into the room a vast large Cat after that another and so till they amounted to seven or nine These would crawl about and stick against the wall making a dreadful yelling hideous noise and continuing about a quarter of an hour suddenly disappeared When they were gone a very great light like a flash of Lightning would strike in at the window and hang about the walls in heaps of light like fire passing from one room to another for an hour or more at a time and sometimes continued all the night long shining through the window into the street and visible to the Neighbours all the while this light continued she was in extremity of misery and would oft cry out and name the suspected Party She continued in this miserable state about seventeen years it happening when she was about forty and had reduced her streight well proportioned body to crookedness and deformity The Physicians were all of Opinion that the inward parts of her body were wounded by

a loud voice spoke saying O he is come he is come the Comforter is come the Comforter is come I am delivered I am delivered Her Father hearing these words wept for joy and with a faultring voice said O these were her Grandfathers words who suffered in Queen Marys days She then kneeled down and gave humble and hearty thanks and praise to God for he deliverance which she continued to do till her voice grew weak and the Minister desired her to forbear and so they ended the day with Thanksgiving After which she was committed to the care of the Minister who writ this Relation lest Satan should again assault her His name was Mr. Lewis Hughs then Minister of St. Helens London from whence this Narrative was taken and who doth not mention what became of the Witch nor that the Maid was any more afflicted in this kind IV. AT Colchester in Essex there lived one Mr. Earl about 1630. A young man in those days to whom the Devil did frequently appear in the Shape of some of his acquaintance and would perswade him to three things 1. That he should abstain from Prayer 2. That he should never frequent the Church nor hear Sermons 3. That he should never marry But he would not hearken to these suggestions The night wherein he was married soon after he and his Wife were in bed the Devil came into the chamber and pulled two of his Teeth out of his head which put him to great pain whereupon he cryed out and when his Friends came in they found his mouth bloudy and used means to ease his pain This Mr. Earl was afterward for the space of ten years ever and anon assaulted by the Devil who under many appearances of his Friends did endeavour to seduce him and therefore he often applied himself to Mr. John Rogers then Minister of Dedham and Mr. Liddal of Colchester for comfort and instruction but chiefly to Mr. Liddal a very eminent Divine It once happened that the Devil came to Mr. Earl in Mr. Liddals Shape and as his custom was Mr. Earl proposed to him several cases of conscience but found that Mr. Liddal did not discourse after his ordinary rate which made him doubt whether he was not imposed upon by a deceitful Daemon Next day going to Mr. Liddals house he inquired whether he was with him the day before Mr. Liddal told him that he was not Then said Mr. Earl it was my Enemy in your Shape what a miserable man am I that know not when I speak with my adversary or my Friend Mr. Liddal replyed If you would know when you speak with a Spirit or with a man remember our Saviours advice who when he appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and they thought he had been a Spirit and were therefore troubled he said to them Handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have Luke 24.39 This counsel Mr. Earl followed for not long after the Devil coming to him in Mr. Liddals Shape he went to take hold on his arms but could feel no substance only a vanishing Shaddow it seems this Mr. Earl was once an Athiest who did not believe there was either God or Devil and would often walk in solitary and dismal places wishing for the sight of a Spirit and he was first assaulted by the Devil in a Church-yard and though God mercifully gave him repentance yet he was miserably haunted with an evil Spirit all his days Clarks Examples 1 vol. p. 510. V. A Remarkable Passage somewhat like this happened to a Turkish Chiaus or Gentleman who was baptized a Christian at London January 30. 1658. He being in his Chamber about three afternoon a Person in the likeness of Mr. Dury the Minister with whom he did most ordinarily converse came and sat by him This seeming Mr. Dury told him That he had waited with a great deal of patience as to the matter of his Baptism and that himself had endeavoured by all means possible to procure it to be performed with publick countenance And to that effect had dealt with Richard and several of his Council but that now he perceived it was in vain to strive or wait longer and therefore advised him not to be much troubled at it but setting his mind at rest to leave these thoughts and take up his resolution another way When the Chiaus heard this discourse being much perplexed in his Spirit he lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven uttering words to this effect O my Lord Jesus Christ what a miserable thing is this that a true Christian cannot be owned by other Christians and that one who believeth on thee cannot be baptized in thy name When he had thus spoken looking down he saw no body the appearance of Mr. Dury being vanished which was at first an amazement to him but recollecting himself he began to rejoice as hoping that Satan would be disappointed of his Plot. About eight in the evening the true Mr. Dury met with him who acquainted him with what had happened and thereby fully confirmed him how he had been imposed upon by Satan And he was soon after baptized according to his desire These Instances demonstrate that the Devil may possibly appear in the Shape of good men not only when dead but while alive Remark Provid p. 217. VI. ABout fifteen years since a woman at Edenburgh in Scotland was married to one John Ritchy in that City and lived five years with him bearing him five Children and then dyed In a few days after her burial her husband went to court another young woman in marriage He had a Comrade whom he acquainted with his intention and appointed him to meet at such a house near the Court of Guard that he might see his new Mistress They met accordingly and the two Lovers sat together on the bed-side and the Comerade sat opposite to them there being a Table between them and a Window at the front of the room which gave them light And while they two were dallying together the other smilling and looking about the room perceived plainly the body face of the dead wife in her burying cloths looking toward them in at the window Whereat he rose up affrighted saying to the other John What 's that Whereupon all three stood up looking and saw perfectly the buried woman lifting up her hands as they imagined to pull off the dead dress from her head but could not reach it The man threw his new Mistress out of his arms resolving presently to be gone but the other vowed he would not stir till he had got something to comfort his heart whereupon they procured a little brandy and then went away not without fear and astonishment After this the man fell sick and his Companion coming to him perswaded him to delay or wholly desist from his purpose of marrying But affection would not permit him to forbear and though not fully recovered from his frenzy he resolved to make

that were unintelligible and then the discourse passed into a Dutch tone a Dutch family then living in the Town and therein an account was given of some afflictions that had befallen divers among others of a woman that lived next door to the Dutch family whose arms had been strangely pincht in the night declaring by whom and for what cause that course had been taken with her Mr. Stone the reverend Minister of Hartford being there when this discourse happened declared that he thought it impossible for one not familiarly acquainted with the Dutch which Ann Cole had not in the least been should so exactly imitate the Dutch tone in pronouncing English Several worthy persons as Mr. Whiting Mr. Hooker and Mr. Hains wrote the intelligible sayings expressed by Ann Cole whilst she was thus amazingly handled The event was that one of the Persons whose name was Greensmith a leud and ignorant woman then in Prison on suspition of Witchcraft being mentioned in the discourse as active in the mischiefs done and designed was sent for by the Magistrate Mr. Whiting and Mr. Hains reading to her what had been written the woman was much astonisht confessing those things to be true and that she and other Persons mentioned in this preternatural discourse had familiarity with the Devil Being asked whether she had made an express Covenant with him she replied She had not only that she promised to go with him when he called which accordingly she had several times done and that the Devil told her that at Christmas they would have a merry meeting and then the Covenant between them should be subscribed Next day she was more particularly examined concerning her guilt 〈◊〉 the crime she was accused of She then acknowledged that though when Mr. Hains began to rea●● what he had written her rage was such that sh● could have torn him in peices and was fully resolve● to have denied her guilt yet when he had read a● while she said she was as if her flesh had been pulled from her bones and so could not deny any l●●ger She likewise declared that the Devil first appeared to her in the form of a Deer or Fawn skippinga● bout her wherewith she was not much affrighted and by degrees he became very familiar and at length talked with her Moreover she said that the Devil had frequently carnal knowledge of her and that th● Witches had meetings at a place not far off her house and that some appeared in one shape and others i● another and one came flying among them in the shape of a Crow Upon this confession and other concurrent evidence the woman was executed so likewise was her husband though he did not acknowledge himself guilty Other persons accused in the discourse made their escape After the suspected Witches were either executed or fled Ann Cole was restored to health and continued well many years approving her self a very serious Christian There were some had a mind to try whether the stories of Witches not being able to sink were true and accordingly a man and woman mentioned in Ann Coles Dutch toned discourse had their hands and feet tyed and so were cast into the Water and they both apparently swam like a Buoy or a peice of wood part under and part above the Water A spectator imagining that any Person bound in that posture would be so born up offered himself for trial but being in the like manner gently laid on the Water he immediately sunk right down This was no legal evidence against the suspected Persons nor were they proceeded against on any such account However doubting that an halter would choke them though the water would not they very fairly took their flight not having been seen in that part of the World since Whether this Experiment were lawful or rather superstitious and Magical may be much doubted Ibidem p. 135. XII A Considerable Person in England about fifty years ago having an ambitious desire to be thought a wise man whilst he was tormented with this foolish humor the Devil came to him with promise that he should quickly be in great reputation for his wisdom in case he would make a Covenant with him the conditions of which were That when any came to him for Counsel he should endeavour to perswade them that there was neither God nor Devil nor Heaven nor Hell and that such a term of years being expired he should have his Soul. The Articles were consented to and the man continued after this to be of a very civil conversation doing hurt to none but good to many and by degrees began to have a name to be a Person of extraordinary prudence and understanding and he was sought to far and near for counsel his words being esteemed Oracles by the Vulgar And he did upon all occasions secretly insinuate Principles of Atheism not being suspected for a Wizard But a few weeks before the time agreed on with the Devil was expired inexpressible horror of conscience surprized him so that he revealed the secret Transactions which had passed between him and the Devil He would sometimes with hideous roarings tell those that came to visit him That now he knew there was a God and a Devil an Heaven and an Hell and so continued till his death a miserable spectacle of the righteous and fearful judgment of God. Ibidem p. 184. XIII MArtin Wienrichius a Physician of Silesia in Germany in his Preface to Picus Mirandula's Treatise of the delusions of Devils relates two memorable and more credible Historys because the things happened in his own time some few years before he wrote them and in his own Countrey and he doth avouch them with all imaginable confidence to be most certainly true The former is this A certain shoemaker in one of the Chief Towns of Silesia in the year 1591. Sept. 20. on a Fryday betimes in the morning in the further parts of his house where there was adjoining a little Garden cut his own throat with his shoemakers knife The Family to cover the foulness of the fact and that no disgrace might come upon his widdow gave out that he died of an Apoplexy and declined all visits of Friends and Neighbours In the mean time they got him washed and laid linnens so handsomely about him that even they that saw him afterward as the Parson and some others had not the least suspition that he died such a death and so he had a decent burial with a Funeral Sermon and other circumstances becoming one of his rank and reputation Six weeks had not past but so strong a rumor broke forth that he died not of any disease but laid violent hands upon himself that the Magistracy of the place could not but bring all who had seen the Corps to a strict examination They endeavoured at first to shuffle off the matter with many fair Apologies in behalf of the deceased to remove all suspition of so heinous an act but it being pressed very home to their consciences

asleep that awaking he found himself absolutely weak and his strength quite gone yet could not imagine the reason Put while he lay considering of the matter this Spectre returns again to him and holding him so fast all over that he could not stir a finger rouled him in the bed divers times together The same happened to his wife another time whom Contius coming through the Casement in the shape of a little Dwarf and running to her bed-side so wrung and pulled as if he would have torn her throat out had not her two daughters come in to help her He pressed the lips together of one of the Ministers Sons so that they could scarce get them asunder His House was so generally disturbed with this unruly Ghost that the servants were fain to keep together a-nights in one room lying upon straw and watching the approaches of this troublesom Fiend But a Ma● of the house being more couragious than the rest would needs one night go to bed forsake the company whereupon Contius finding her alone presently assaults her pulls away the bedding and would have carried her away with him but she hardly escaping fled to the rest of the Family were she espied him standing by the candle and presenty after vanishing Another time he came into her Masters Chamber making a noise like a Hog that eats grains smacking and grunting very loud They could not chase him away by speaking to him but ever as they lighted a Candle he vanished Another time about evening while this Divine was sitting with his Wife and Children about him exercising himself in Musick according to his usual manner a most grievous stink arose suddenly which by degrees spread about the room Hereupon he commends himself and his Family to God by prayer The smell nevertheless increased and became above all measure pestilently noisom so that he was forced to go up into his Chamber He and his Wife had not been in bed above a quarter of an hour but they find the same stink in the bed-chamber of which while they were complaining to each other out steps Contius his Ghost from the Wall and creeping to his bed-side breaths upon him an exceeding cold breath of so intolerable stinking and malignant a scent as is beyond all imagination and expression Hereupon the good Minister grew very ill and kept his bed his face belly and guts swelling as if poisoned Whence he was likewise troubled with a difficulty of breathing and with a putrid inflamation of his eyes so that he could not well use them long after Many other Feats were performed by this Spectre which if related would exceed what are already set down As the trembling and sweating of Contius his Gelding from which he was neither free night nor day The burning blue of the Candles at the approaches of Contius his Ghost His drinking up the milk in the milk bowls flinging dung into them and turning the milk into bloud His pulling up posts deep set in the ground and so heavy that two lusty Porters could not deal with them His discoursing with several men he met concerning the affairs of the Waggoners His strangling of old men His holding fast the Cradles of Children or taking them out of them His frequent endeavouring to force Women His defiling the Water in the Font and fouling the cloth of the Altar on that side which hung toward his Grave with dirty bloudy spots His catching up Dogs in the Streets and knocking out their Brains against the ground His sucking dry the Cows and tying their tails like the tail of an Horse His devouring of Poultry and his flinging of Goats bound into the Racks His tying an Horse to an empty Out Tub in the Stable to clatter up and down with it and tying the hinder foot of another to his own headstall His looking out at the Window of a low Tower and then suddenly changing himself into the form of a long staff His chiding of a Woman for suffering her servant to wash dishes on a Thursday at what time he laid his hand upon her and she said it felt colder than Ice His throwing clods at one of the Women that washt his Corps with such violence that the prints of the clods were seen on the wall His attempting to ravish another who excusing her self said My Contius thou seest how old wrinkled and deformed I am and how unfit for those kind of Sports at which he set up a loud laughter and vanished His body being brought to the fire proved as unwilling to be burnt as before to be drawn so that the Hangman was forc't with hooks to pull him out and cut him into pieces to make him burn which while it was doing the bloud was found so pure and spirituous that it spurted into his face as he cut him but at last with the expence of two hundred and sixteen great Billets all was turned into ashes which being carefully swept together as in the foregoing relation and thrown into the River this turbulent Ghost never appeared more This narrative contains so many plain and evident Convictions that one can hardly imagine what excuse or objection the Atheist can reasonably produce against it Ibidem p. XV. IN 1644. at Borrowstoness in Scotland a certain Woman in the Town came about eight a Clock in the morning to her neighbours house and fell upon her in a most furious manner scratching her face and plucking the hair off her head saying Thou trayterous Thief thou thoughtest to have destroyed my Son this morning but it was not in thy power The Ship wherein this young man was a Saylor suffered very much in a dreadful Tempest that morning off a place called St. Abbs head in Scotland and with the violence of the waves which came in upon the Deck he was washed off into the Sea on one side of the Ship and to the admiration of all was thrown on the other side upon the Deck again without harm This marvellous accident being reported about eight a Clock at night by the Marriners when they came ashore and being compared with what one Woman said to the other that morning they were both apprehended and after their confessing the whole matte● as to their being Witches they were both burnt in the sight of many hundred Spectators whereof saith my Author I was one Invis World. p. 206. XVI HE relates another notable Passage concerning the Wife of one Goodail a Cooper in the Pari●h of Carrin in Scotland This woman was about thirty three years old as beautiful and comely a Person as any in that Countrey and had been oft accused by many other Witches who were burnt who related that among them all she was the Person whom the Devil at their meetings did most court and imbrace calling her always his Dear ●istress and setting her constantly at his right hand 〈◊〉 the great discontent of the old Hags who appre●●ded themselves slighted She being taken and committed to Prison there was present

some Diabolical practice and advised her to remove her habitation which she did but to no purpose the evil instrument following her thither also and of many young broods of Chickens which she attempted to nurse up for many years she could not raise one but they would suddenly turn round twisting their necks several times about until they dropt down dead She kept two Cats of her own for which she had a great fancy but as soon as ever the other sort of Cats entred the room they would fly like Lightning sometimes into the fire sometimes into the Oven and up the Chimney or any way to avoid the room whilst they were there nor did they ever thrive but soon after starved and pined away After her removal her Son came from Winchester a strong healthy youth about seventeen who had not been there above three months when he was taken with dreadful raving frantick fits so that five or six men could not hold him he would spring out of their hands and leap up with his head against the cieling sometimes he would catch up a Knife or Razor and therewith endeavour to cut his own throat or do himself some other mischief roaring out in a most terrible manner That the Witch aforementioned was by him and commanded him to do it or else she would strangle him or choke him with pins or the like So that they were forc't to lay all dangerous instruments out of his reach and yet though he had none of them near him when his fit came his hands and pockets would be full of Knives Sizzars Razors and the like and after these fits he would cast out of his mouth a great quantity of pins and needles and was forced by extream weakness to keep his bed several days One day as the young man was in the height of his fits his mother saw the suspected Party scrambling against the wall of the room and immediately called out to her husband John John There 's the Witch naming the Party run her through with your Sword. Upon which he darted his Sword at the place she directed him though he saw nothing and his wife cryed out John you have cut the Witch you have cut her hand and it was observed that the woman had a lame hand a considerable time after This afflicted woman would often repair to Church but if the other were there she had not power to enter but stay'd in the porch or at the window The Son continued in those amazing Fits about five years and then ran away in one of them having never been seen nor heard of since The Mother continued in this lamentable state about seventeen years and then died of pain and grief but very sensible having her reason and understanding to the last She was of Opinion that others besides that woman contributed to her misery And though many Physicians and Neighbours were Eye and Ear-witnesses of what is here related yet I do not understand that any Justice was applied to for apprehending of the supposed Witch and bringing her to punishment but that she lived about five years after the afflicted Pandem p. 189. XXXII PAulus Grillandus a Lawyer in Italy well experienced in the Facts of Witches and Sorcerers relates That there was a Countreyman not far from Rome in 1526. who when he saw his wife rise naked in the night to anoint her self and that thereupon she was gone presently out of sight and could not be found in or about the house the next day he provided himself of a good cudgel wherewith to compel her to tell him whither and upon what account she conveyed her self away the last night which she presently confessing he pardoned her upon condition that she would carry him to the same place that he might see her Associats Next night she and her husband both anointed themselves and then they were each of them instantly mounted upon a Goat and so brought immediately among an Assembly of Witches Now his wife had forewarned him that he should by no means name God or Christ except in scorn and derision When they were arrived among the croud his wife bid him stand at a distance till she had saluted their Prince who was most magnificently clothed and guarded with a great company of men and women all honouring and waiting on him as their Lord. After which they danced in a ring backward it may be to prevent their knowing and accusing one another if they should happen to be detected Which this Triscillianus afterward did to Charles the Ninth King of France relating That there were many who adored and worshipped a Goat in their meetings and kissed his Posteriors and then they danced and the Devils had carnal commerce with the women and with each other in the Shapes of men and women After their dancing the Tables were covered and furnished with meat The woman then bid her Husband sit down with the rest of the company and salute the Prince which being done the man not relishing his cheer without Salt called for it which being brought he cryed out aloud God be thanked we have Salt now which was no sooner uttered but Men Women Meat and Tables presently vanished and the man was left alone in a cold desolate place utterly unknown to him When it was day he met with some Shepherds who informed him that he was in the Earldom of Beneventum a great many miles from Rome to which he was forced to travel back and beg food and cloths in his return When he came home he accused his wife who impeached others and they all confessing their guilt were hanged for their enormous wickedness Hist Specters p. 130. XXXIII THE same Author writes that being invited by a Nobleman to the Castle of St. Paul in the Dukedom of Spoleto When he arrived the Nobleman gave him an account of three Sage Matrons who were found to be Witches One of whom trusting in his promise that she might freely speak without danger declared that fifteen years since she was carried by an Old Woman to an assembly of Witches where the Devil being present obliged them by an Oath to renounce God their Creator their Faith and their Religion and to be faithful to him and that with their hands laid upon a book of very strange Characters they were sworn to perform some Solemn Services to him in the night and that they must go wheresoever he commanded them The Devil on the other side promised them mirth pleasure and felicity forever She confessed further that at that time she killed four men and many Cattel and procured much damage to the fruits of the earth and if it happened that at any time she came not to their meetings except she could shew very good cause to the contrary she was so tormented that she could neither sleep nor eat When she came thither she heard the voice of a man who called the Devil little Lord and sometimes Mr. Martinetus As soon as she had anointed her self

and confidence of this stranger and his two Comerades began at length to be troublesom and suspected by the Master of the House Whereupon he invited the Minister of the Town to meet them when they came next And accordingly that night when they were at Supper the Minister came and sitting down with them began to discourse of some Divine matters out of the Holy Scriptures The Gentlemen seemed very uneasy at this kind of conversation and desired him to divert to some other subject arguing That witty Jests and merry Conceits were more proper to Feasting and did more elevate mens Spirits than such kind of talk as that and therefore intreated him not to be any more troublesome to them with discourse of that nature By this the Master of the House was confirmed that they were Daemons and Diabolical Spirits and therefore arming himself with courage against all the attempts of the Devil he said to his Guests Be gone and depart instantly Oye cursed Feinds you shall have nothing to do with me nor mine we are baptized and redeemed by the precious Bloud of Christ and will defend our selves against all your damnable delusions At these words this Devilish Impostor with his two hellish Companions vanished out of sight leaving a most horrid noisom stink and the dead bodies of three ●●defactors who had been lately hanged behind them Manlius Collect. XLI SOme brisk learned men in the Council of Basil walked for recreation into a small Wood to debate in a friendly manner about the disputes of those times As they were going along they heard a pretty little Bird singing most sweetly like a Nightingale so that they were even ravished with the pleasant Musick wherewith she entertained them but could not imagine by her Note what Bird it should be Entring the Wood further they espy the same Bird fitting on a Tree and singing most pleasantly without intermission to which they were all very attentive At last one having more courage and resolution than the rest speaks thus to the Bird I adjure thee in the name of Christ to tell us who thou art The Bird made answer That she was one of the damned Souls and was condemned to that place till the last day and then she must undergo everlasting torment When she had said thus she flew away from the Tree crying O how immense and of what long continuance is Eternity Philip Melarcthon a famous Divine saith I am of opinion that this was the Devil frequenting there All that were present at this adjuration fell very sick and within a little time after died Ibidem XLII MArtin Luther in his Colloquia Mensalia relates this notable Passage A Studious young man of Saffordia in Germany was so extreamly in love with a young Virgin that he became almost distracted with the violence of his passion And being intimately acquainted with one who was skilful in Art of Magick he assured him that he would use such means by his Skill that the Maid with whom he was so much in love should come to him provided he would solemnly ingage not to imbrace nor touch her the young man promiseth he will be civil when instantly the young Lady being extream handsom enters his bed-chamber And by words and gestures discovered much love toward him which he observing was so exceedingly surprized that unable to command his affections he approaches and imbraces her with much tenderness Whereupon the Virgin presently falls down dead which did dreadfully affright both him and the Magician who by his inchantments so prevailed at length that the Devil entred her hody and by his acting in her the Maid returned home where she was very busy in her former imployment but always pale and silent which much troubled her Parents who after three days got some Divines to come and discourse with her who when for some time they had seriously conversed with her the Devil went out of her and she falling down appeared only a filthy stinking Carcass Bloud is the cause of a good colour saith Luther and the Devil cannot create that none but God our Creator only Lutheri Colloqu XLIII AMong other pernicious devices whereby the Devil discovers his malice to mankind several Authors relate that Witches by his assistance with their wicked charms and inchantments can hinder Generation by procuring frigidity and other inconveniences of which they give several instances and among others that which follows A certain Earl of a Noble Family at Argentinum in Germany having married a Lady of illustrious birth found himself deprived of his natural strength of which he could by no means discover the reason It happened that after he had been married three years without having any Children going to the City of Mentz to dispatch some business he fell into the company of a certain woman who some years before his marriage had been his Mistriss whom he entertained very civilly and began co discourse her of their old love and familiarity not in the least suspecting her guilty of his misfortune or that she was concerned in Witchcraft He inquires of her health and what condition she lived in who perceiving the innocence and good nature of the Earl asks him how he did and whether he were perfectly in health who replied He was very well and that all things succeeded happily with him At which she for a while stood amazed and silent which when the Earl perceived he begun to have some doubts within him and by his courteous treatment invited her to discourse further whereupon she inquires what condition his wife was in He replied She was in good health And pray my Lord says she how many Children have you had by her The Earl replied Not above three every year one At this she seemed more disturbed than before and continued silent a great while But pray my Dear says the Earl why dost thou inquire so strictly of the condition of me and mine I do not doubt but thou rejoicest at my felicity Yes saies she I am heartily glad of your good fortune but cursed be that old Witch who swore desperately that by her Charms she would render both you and your Lady uncapable of having Children the certainty whereof a Well that stands in the middle of your Court will discover in which an earthen pot filled with inchantments is thrown of which the old woman did affirm that as long as it lay there you should both be disabled as to generation but I now find and am very glad of it that all she said were lyes and falshood The Earl hearing this business wisely concealed it without taking any notice but making hast home causes the Well to be emptied of water when at the bottom he finds the earthen pot which being burnt he and his Lady recovered their former vigor and afterward had many Children Hist Spect. p. 117. XLIV IN 1532. A Nobleman in Saxony out of a malicious and Tyrannical humor commanded one of his Countreymen over whom he had authority that he