killed her selfe with a Knife A day after a Butcher was slaine in a quarrell and two villages were quite burnt The 15. day of the same moneth the Keeper of S. Katherins forrest was found dead being shotte through with an Harguebuse The 17. a Gold-smiths man falling into dispaire drowned himselfe The night following many were wounded to the death in the streete I had forgot to note that the same eleuenth day of Ianuary when the Heauens did open about Ausbourg there happened such a change in the aire about Mickhuse in Bauicre and so great a light appeared in the night as it did obscure the light of Candles in their shops and houses so as for three houres space those which would worke had no need of any other light then that of Heauen Some moneths after the Heauens began to open in another part of Swau◅e out of the which there proceeded such aboundance of fire as many were striken dombe with feare there were some villages and small Townes burnt and quite ruined They did also see in the ayre certaine resemblances of Camels the which deuoured armed men In diuers dayes and moneths of the same yeare 1556. were obserued other apparitions as in February in the County of Bats there were seene in the ayre armies of foote and horse the which did incounter together furiously In September ouer a little Towne in the Marquisate of Branaebourg called Custerin about nine of the clocke at night they did see infinite flames of fire comming out of the ayre and in the middest two great burning Cheurons In the ende there was a voice heard crying Miserie Miserie vnto the Church Wee haue sayd before that in the yeare 1536. there had beene seene in the ayre in Spaine a Combate of two young men VVLFGANG STRANCH of Nuremberg writes that in the yeare 1556. ouer a Towne in Hungarie the which he calles Babatcha there was seene the 6. of October a little before Sunne rising the resemblance of two naked boyes fighting in the ayre with Cymiters in their hands and Targets vpon their armes Hee which carryed a spred Eagle vpon his shield did charge the other which carryed a Cressant so furiously as it seemed the body being wounded in many places did fall from the Heauen to the Earth At the same time and in the same place was seene a Raine-bow with his accustomed colours and at the end thereof two Sunnes Not farre from Ausbourg there was seene in the ayre a Combate betwixt a Beare and a Lion in December the same yeare And at Wittenberg in Saxony the 6. of the same moneth three Sunnes and a crooked clowd marked with blew and red stretcht forth like vnto a bowe the Sunne shewing pale and sad betwixt the Paralies or seeming Sunnes foure moneths before three Sunnes had beene seene betwixt Euschoin and Basill Touching the significations of all these apparitions I will not meddle with them Since that yeare many are obserued in diuerse climates of the world especially in Europe other wonders in the ayre euen vnto this present age whereof wee may make mention in other Bookes At this time we doe onely represent that which CONRADVS LICOSTHENE hath collected IOB FINCET MARC FRYTSCH and many others in his great volume De Prodigijs et Ostentis As for Comets showers of bloud prodigious hayle and other wonders of Heauen we will speake of them in their proper places Of some that haue lost all appetite of drinking and eating WE haue seene in some diseases the patients haue lost all appetite of eating and drinking in such sort as they tooke in a manner no sustenance Of this number was a Nunne in the couent of Saint Barbe at Delft who being falne sick of the Iaundise in the yeare 1562 continued in her bed six weekes together without eating or drinking All this time shee receiued no nourishment but some Kernells of Lymons the which she held in her mouth and did some-times suck The Father of this Couent led me thether not to minister Phisicke vnto her but to see her as a miracle by reason of her long abstinence but the next day after I had visited her she dyed That which I will adde is more worthy of admiration In the same Towne of Delft being accompanied by a Surgian I did visit a certaine sicke maide of seauen twenty yeares old a halfe it was in May 1556. after the age of sixteene yeares she had neuer come out of her bed hauing eaten euery day since that time but a little morcell of dried Cheese as her keeper had protested neither was it possible to make her swallow any liquor and yet she pist sufficiently she went not to the stoole but once in eight dayes More-ouer she was borne blind she fell to be full of the dropsie at the age of twenty yeares but this water vanished away and then shee had a sound in her belly like the noise of liue Frogges in great abondance accompanied with a strange rising and falling of her bellie so as do I what I could laying my hand vpon her belly it was heaued vp This motion did increase at the full Moone with great paines as also at the flowing of the Sea but at the wane of the Moone and the ebbing of the Sea shee found some ease This motion continued with her seauen yeares and euery tenth weeke shee had her Termes as her keeper did confesse vnto me Strange Appetites THere is no man almost liuing which knoweth not some particular Histories of the extraordinary appetites of certaine women with child for the which the learned Phisitions giue a reason We will report some Examples to incite the reader entring into the cōsideration of them and others that he shall call to minde to honor GOD in so many wonders without naming in particular the diuers sorts of these Appetites which are as variable as the countenances conditions of women that be with child I haue seene one who longing to bite a yong man by the nape of the necke and for that she had forborne a little to satisfie her furious desire she begā to feele gripings and exteame paine in her belly She therfore like a desperate woman leapes vpon this yong man gets hold of the nape of his necke and bites him so sore as he thought to haue died of it L. Viues in his Comment vpon the 7. Chap. de Cituit dei Chap. 25. My Mother bearing mee in her wombe an Appetit tooke her to eate Creueses She sent sodenly to seeke some and being impatient to haue them washt and made cleane she began to eate them rawe and aliue vntil that she had satisfied her desire Trincauelle lib. 7. Chap. 5. Of the meanes to cure diseases in mans body A Woman of Nisues beeing with Child and seeing a young man a Fuller of cloth bare legged shee came so neere him as with her teeth she laies hold of one of his Legges and carries away a peece of it He was content shee should vse
by CORNAX confirmes them by another very admirable of ALBVCASIS a Physition and Chirurgion the which I will discribe here although it bee ancient hoping that this digression shall not be vnpleasing I haue seene sayd hee in the second booke of his Surgerie a woman in whose wombe a Childe being dead conceiued of another the which also dyed there long after there did rise a swelling at her Nauell the which was opened and yeelded corrupt matter I was called and did looke to her long yet could I not strengthen it although I did apply strong attractiues and manie bones came forth one after another the which did amaze me knowing that there are no bones in the bellie Making therefore a search of all I found they were the little bones of a dead Child so as after I had drawne forth many I cured her yet the Vlcer did alwayes sweat forth some-thing ALEXANDER BENOIST a Physition of our time in his practise in the Treatie of the difficultie of Child-bearing reportes the like History to that of ALEVCASIS In the Suburbes of Sully vpon Loire MARGVERITE PREVOST wife to PETER DORET a Milner being apparantly with Childe and come to her time not able to be deliuered not-with-standing any helpe of her women she grew by little and little so extreamely sicke and so great by reason of the Childe and other things that were putrefied that besides the generall swelling of all the bellie about the eight or ninth moneth shee had a particular swelling about her Nauell seeming to be a soft Impostume red and readie to breake the which Maister ITIER GALLEMENT a Surgion did open with an actuall Corosiue on New-yeares daie in the yeare 1550. The next day at her second dressing beeing desirous to knowe the reason of certaine haires which shewed them selues at the Orifice I found that it was the head of a Childe rotting which hee drew out at the opening with the rest of the bodie which was knowne to bee a female Shee was soone cured and after the death of the sayd DORET shee married againe and liued helth-fully 27. yeares after and then died of a flux in the yeare 1577. Shee had no Children neither before nor after FR ROVSSET in his Treatie of the Caesarien section M. I. HOVLIER in the ende of the first Tome of his Booke intitled Of inward diseases sayeth that a woman at Paris had a Child who for fifteene daies before that it was borne had an arme sticking out at her Nauell and yet she remained aliue and so did the Child she did not set downe howe shee was deliuered nor by what part neither whether shee had any Childe afterwards the which would haue deserued a relation as well for the theorike as the practise Without doubt it could not be without some great vlcer in the matrix although the Childe were not afterwards drawne forth belowe On the otherside it is a verie strange thing that a Childe could be so liuely in that estate hauing made such worke in the matrix and in that which wrapt him in the which hee had past through aboue with his arme for otherwise it could not be In the same treatie I haue learned of Mounsieur BVNOT a learned Physition to the most famous Princes ANTOINETTE of Bourbon Douager of Guise that shee had often told him that some time before her marriage beeing twentie yeares of age and yet bred vp vnder her Mother she did see beeing in a Church at la Fere in Picardie that they presented vnto her Mother a young sick creature pale weake swelled and so strangely tormented with paine as they knew not what to say to it nor what to hope of it The Princesse hauing caused her to bee visited by certaine Midwiues descouered what it was that this greeuious sicke creature whome they held to bee a very pure Virgin had a Childe conceiued in her and shee beeing great it had beene long dead and rotten in her bodie whereof not withstanding shee was soone cured and liued very long after in good and perfect helth In the same Treatie BARBARA FHIRER remayning at Zupfring in the Bayle-wike of Bremgarten in Suisserland beeing conceiued of her third Childe and readie to bee deliuered was in labour eight daies together with great greefe and paine and not deliuered In the ende not able to endure anie more shee remayned altogither in her bedde then there appeered vnto her vpon her bellie aboue the Nauell a bladder of the bignesse of a hazell nut the which had put her to exceeding great paine for three daies together and in the ende at her instant request it was peerced and opened by a certaine neighbour of hers vsing an aule to that ende The bladder being opened and growne large by reason of the swelling of the bellie presently that which inclosed the Childe appeered They called IOHN BOVRGOIS a Surgion who hauing consulted with the Midwiues with their common consents made such an incision with his rasor as one of the Childes elboes came forth and shewed it selfe the Surgion takes hold of it with pincers for the nonce and drawes the Childe out whole by this breach but dead and halfe rotten The Mother hauing suffred no greater harme then some light fayntings during the operation The wound beeing cured according to the precepts of Surgerie so that within three-weekes shee was set on foote not without great discommodity for that shee was forced to vse a great rowle continually and not able to stand vp but with meruelious great paine so as after two yeares shee died GASPAR BAVHIN in the addition to the History of the Caesarien deliuery A Country woman being with Childe and come to the 8. moneth beeing vpon the waie to goe to the market at Sancerre was cast by her horse and fell against a stone of this fall she continued 24. houres without speaking or moouing The next day she had a sharpe feuer accōpanied with very violent accidents as ordynary faynting vomyting and idlenesse of the braine They did purge her let her bloud and applyed what they could to temper the heate of this great feauer After a moneth shee had a swelling neeere vnto the Nauell as bigge as ones fist That beeing opened there came forth a great quantitie of corruption and then prittie bigge peeces of rotten flesh and in the ende the bones of the Infant which shee bare Hauing had this wound ten monethes in the end shee was cured but yet shee continued barren Some thinke that if shee had beene helpt by a dissection in the bellie the Child might haue beene saued N. NAVRICE in the comment vpon the 1. booke of Hippocrates of womens diseases Text. 3. A fleming hauing her Childe dead in her bodie could not be deliuered so as it did rotte within her notwithstanding any remedies that were applied to make her voide the peeces In the ende she her selfe borrowed a Surgions instrument called a Cranes Bill with the which shee her selfe pulled out the bones of this Child being rotten
side in the bottome of her belly with apparēt signes of an Impostume so as an opening was made by Corosiue on the one side from whence the Surgion did drawe with his hand a quantitie of congealed bloud rotten and stinking the other side abating nothing neyther could the Surgion bring away any of the skinne that lapt the Child being forced to make a new opening on the other side frō whence he did draw the skin that lapt the child not without extreame paine in this danger and despaire for shee remained as one halfe dead and kept her bedde three yeares two yeares after shee went with Cruches then with a Staffe and in the ende shee recouered her helth in such sort as shee had many Children and among others one named SEBASTIEN who liued long In the same treatie M. N. de VILLENEVFVE an ancient Physition in Prouence writs to the same FR. ROVSSET these words I confesse in this long time that I haue liued he was then sixtie yeares olde and liued aboue fiue and twentie yeares after in great vigour of bodie and minde I did neuer see this practise whereof you write vnto mee of a woman deliuered of her Childe by the side and yet to liue I do well remember that MADAME de PILES NONIES hauing the lower part of her belly much swelled I caused Maister MAVRACE a Surgion of this Towne of Vaureas to make an opening in the bellie by an actuall Corosiue peercing into the hollowes of the matrix from whence there issued as well by the neither partes as by the place so opened aboue seauen pounds of filthie matter the one like vnto the other and to bee the better assured of the place wee did open the nether part with an instrument where wee did see the greatnesse of the matricall vlcer the which wee cured in sixe monethes since which time shee had a Daughter this was in the yeare 1552. VILLENEVFVE seemes to desseine a conception and the fruite wholie putrefied and reduced into this merueilous quantity of corruption although that M. ROVSSET thinkes it was onely an Impostume in the matrixe The same VILLENEVFVE reports in an other letter to the sayd ROVSSET that he had caused the like cauterisation to be made vpon that which is vpon the belly of a woman married to BRISSET an Apothicary at Mont-limar in the yeare 1558. peercing it euen into the inward part of the matrix so as the corruption sprong out to the beddes feete and at the same instant a great quantitie of the like filth came forth by the lower partes Shee was cured in 3. monethes and soone after conceiued and since shee hath had three Sonnes and one Daughter In the same treatie M. MATHIAS CORNAX Phylosopher and Physition to the Emperour at Vienna in Austria reports in a Treatie written in Latin and often printed some admirable and memorable Histories like vnto the former I will ommit many circumstances of places yeares and daies personages and witnesses produced to auoyde tediousnesse the summe is this MARGV◅RITE wife to the host of the red Creuise at Vienna about 25. yeare old who before had had some Children shee was conceiued for the third or forth time in the yeare 1545. hauing felt as of custome the Childe to stirre and the time of her deliuerie come shee could bring forth nothing so as for the space of foure whole yeares shee carried her Childe dead the same beeing past as it appeered from the hollownes of the Matrix being rotten through the bodie vlcered there-with towardes the bowells and there causing a great swelling an opening was made by the aduise of CORNAX in the middest of that which is vpon the bellie to voide the corruption The Physitions and Surgions could not thinke there was anie Childe considering the lapse of time during the which the poore woman had beene afflicted with verie strange paines Yet a Childe was drawne from her which was not so rotten the which was admirable but it might well bee discerned for a male There happened an other wonderfull strange thing that this honest young woman which had liued with death for so manie yeares was in a manner miraculously drawne out of the graue and recouered her perfect helth Let vs adde a third meruaile at a yeares ende shee conceiued and bare an other Sonne his full time The time of her deliuerie beeing come beeing in some great difficultie and almost without any possible meanes to bee deliuered like vnto other women CORNAX was called the second time who aduised the Mother and other women there present that they should suffer her to bee opened as at the former time giuing verie manie reasons for his Counsell wherevnto the young woman yeelded But the Mother and the other women that were there opposed mightely against it saying that they must referre all to the almightie GOD and let nature worke in easing her by some other meanes lesse dangerous CORNAX beeing thus gaine sayed retired with the Surgion who had made the former section But presently after the young woman dyed and could not bee deliuered Soone after they cald them back and being dead there was drawne from her by section a goodly boy likely to haue liued if hee had beene helpt with his Mother as this learned Physition did pretend In the same worke there is a letter written to the same CORNAX by M. ACHILLES GASSAR a learned Physition of Ausbourg conteyning the like history in the same circūstances of a woman to whom a yeare being past that she could not bee deliuered of a Child at the due time the Child like vnto that of the woman of Vienna was gone frō the hollownes of the Matrix being vlcered towards the kidneis as it did appeere plainly for that it had made a shewe of an Impostume in the bellie and principally on the left side the Surgion drewe from her boane after boane who beeing cured had a Childe since Hee reportes in the same booke the Historie sent vnto him by Maister GILLES HERTOGE a famous Physition at Bruxelles of a woman who not able to bee deliuered of her Childe the flesh and softe partes of the Child being voided belowe in rotten corruption they did feele the bones to grate together and did marke them with the hand vnder that which couers the bellie and yet this accident which was so strangely troublesome and insupportable to a fine and delicate woman did not much hinder the actions of this courragious woman who carried this Crosse thirteene whole yeares This could not bee without peercing of the Matrix the which notwithstanding was cured as needes it must for that no filth nor corruption distilled downe by the lower parts ' as else it would haue done More-ouer she had her termes orderly and desired nothing so much as to finde Physitions and Chirurgions that would vnder-take to make a conuenient section to draw forth those cracking bones Maister FRANCIS ROVSSET representing in his Treatie of the Caesariens deliuery the third History aboue mentioned
this acte This was on Easter-day 1556. The Incision began on the right side of the belly a finger lower then the Nauill and aboue foure fingers distant from it and so descending directly vnto the priuy parts without touching the Muscles on the right side from the which it was distant aboue about three fingers and beneath some-what lesse The incision beeing made with-out much bleeding the wombe appeared plainely the which hee also cut some-what largely that the wound might be sufficient to drawe forth the child beeing yet aliue with his skin that wrapt him in the wombe more easilye Then hee stitcth it vp after the vsuall manner of wounds not the Matrix but the Muscles and the skinne ouer the bowels with fiue stitches as I did well obserue going thether to visit her presently after my recouery The which I haue oftentimes noted in her since to cure a rupture which she hath had euer since eyther for that it was not well stitcth vp or for that she did rise so soone And you must note that this Barber was ignorant both of the Muscles and skinne that couereth the bowels Proceeding in this action as if hee had launced an Impostume or cut out some peece of flesh with a sharpe knife as Maist. MAVRICE CORDE doth obserue in his Commentary vpon Hipocrates treating of womens diseases lib. 1. text 11. About a yeare and a halfe after her husband beeing dead and she married againe to PETER CHANCLOV she conceiued and was deliuered of a daughter naturally liuing nowe at Nangeuille where there are yet many witnesses of this strange Spectacle The same Author At Vri in Biere neere vnto Fontainbleau two leagues from Nemours COLLETTE BERANGER wife to SIâ—…ON 〈◊〉 GARDE passing the 10. month after her conception and carrying her fruite long in her bodye dead the lower parts neuer opening to deliuer it forth in the ende she sent for VINCENT VALLEAVA Surgion of Nemours who hauing no other apparent meanes to helpe her in the end of Ianuary hee cut her in the yeare 1542. not on the right side but on the left a litle higher then the womaÌ„ of Nangeuille first cutting the Abdomen or outward part of the belly and then the Matrix from whence he drew the dead child swelled and stincking with the skinne that wrapt him already rotten Then without sowing the Matrix by chance or catelesly he gaue fiue stitches in the skinne and some small part of the Muscles as it appeared plainely long after hauing nothing but a very skin cicatrized vpon her bely Her lying in was but a month and a halfe Two yeares after the which time she had a daughter naturally and two yeares after that a son called PETER DE LA GARDE afterwards a Smith by his profession Shee became afterwards a Mid-wife at Vri seruing other women aud receiuing their children The same AGNES BOYER wife to IOHN COMPAN a Laborer at Villereau nere vnto Neufuille in Beause after shee had beene for the space of foure dayes broken with the importunity of Mid-wiues and nothing eased she was opened on the right side by PHILIP MIGNEAV a Barber of Neufuille in the yeare 1544 and then the Muscles and the skinne were grosly sticht vp as hee could Of which incision shee was soone cured but the contusions which the Mid-wiues made in the priuy parts troubled the Surgion aboue seuen months to cure them shee had also a fayre Daughter which liued healthfully aboue seuen moneths but on the eyght shee fell sicke beeing at nurse in the same Village whereof shee died A while after shee grewe great and bigge againe carrying the child hanging alwayes towards the rupture which remained as in others but without any paine But shee could not be deliuered no more then before for one of the aboue named causes as it is to be presumed And therefore she did voluntarily desire to haue an incision made as before the which shee could not obtaine by any intreaty of two yong Surgions sent thither expresly from Neuffuille wheras they kept after PHILIP who died of the plague which was the cause that both she and her fruite dyed pitifully together through theyr faintnesse if the weakenesse of the Woman or some other pittifull accident did not stay them from doing it The same In the yeare 1576 the 22 of Iuly at Ambedoye nere to S. Brisson in the territorie of Gien ANTO INETTE ANDRE Wife to LEVVIS GARNIER a Handi-crafts man was also opened by Maister ADAM AVBRY borne at Pithuiers a Surgion remaining at Aubigny who made the report vnto mee Afterwardes hauing conceiued againe shee was naturally deliuered of an other liue child The same And of latter dayes in the yeare 1578. the first of February IONE MICHEL borne at Argent Wife to GEORGE RENAVLD liuing in the sub-vrbes of Aubigny hauing beene big with child aboue ten moneths she carryed her fruite along time dead not leauing notwithstanding to follow her businesse till in the ende she was forced to betake her selfe to her bed where after shee had beene long tormented in vaine by Mid-wiues in the end she sent for the aboue named ADAM AVBRY and for WILLIAM COLLAS a learned Surgion who hauing cut of the childs arme beeing al blacke and dead which came forth long before by the Mothers nature but not able to take hold of the rest of the body they made an incision on the right side something bending and with a small Orifice to spare the mother which caused her to feele great paynes in the extraction of the child for that the Matrix could not deliuer the child for the straitnesse of the ouerture which paynes notwithstanding ceassed presently when as the child and that which followes were deliuered So after the ordinary discharges of a woman in child-bed which came as well as if she had bin naturally brought in bed within a while after shee did rise and had her termes accustomed at the ende of fiue weekes and presently after shee conceiued againe in the ende of May beeing somewhat troubled with the fresh remembrance of that was past taking care what might happen of her beeing nowe with child at which time she was deliuered naturally And although the child did at the first present but one of the legges which was a bad beginning yet the same beeing put backe by the Mid-wife all succeeded happely Since which time beeing with child againe shee had a happy deliuery and was afterwards very healthfull The same About the yeare 1582. IOHN IAOOT a Surgion dwelling in a Village neere to Auxerre called Tirouaille meeting with Maister IOHN ALIBOVX a Phisition of Sens going to practise desired him to turne a little out of his way to a nere village called Marry to ease a poore woman from whom some fewe houres before hee had drawne a child by section of the Bellye ALIBOVX amazed at the boldnes of this Surgion called the Seigneor of Vaux Bailiffe of Auxerre and his wife to visite this woman lying in Child-bed their Castle beeing
neere the Village they found the child in the cradle crying and calling for meate but the poore Mother beeing opprest with payne a Feauer and with watching neither thought of her selfe nor of her little one The Phisition layes open the woman sees the section grosly sowed vp with ten or twelue stitches and prouided so well for the mother and child as both liued long after Extract out of Maist. d' AL◅EOVX letter written the 20. of December 1585 About the yeare 1550. ELIZABETH ALESPACHIN wife to IAMES NVFER a Surgion remaining in a Village called Sigers in Suisserland beeing great of her first child at the time of her deliuery beeing prest with extreame paines she called many Mid-wiues and Surgions to helpe her but all was in vaine The husband seeing his wife in that extremity tells her his minde in her care She alloweth it he goes to the Baylife of Frauvenfele acquaints him with the estate of his family and his resolution to ease his wife and craues leaue to execute what hee had determined In the ende the Bayliffe knowing his Industry and the loue hee bare vnto his Wife grants his request Hee returnes speedily to his house speakes to the Mid-wiues exhortes the most couragious to assist him and intreats the most fearefull to depart least they should faint and trouble the company for that hee did vndertake a thing which indeede was dangerous but hee hoped for a happy issue with the fauorable assistance of Almighty GOD. These women amazed at his resolution went out all except two which remayned with the Surgions to assist the Patient Her Husband hauing first called vpon GOD with an earnest prayer and shutte the Stoue carefully hee takes his Wife and layes her vpon a Table and with a sharpe Rasor makes an Incission in her belly so happily as presently the Child was taken forth without hurt to the Mother or to the little one The Mid-wiues which did hearken at the doore hearing the Child crye did knocke to enter but they forced them to stay vntill the little one was clensed and drest and the wound stitcht vp the which was closed in few dayes without any feauer or any troublesome accident to the mother who afterwardes had two Sonnes at a burthen one of the which was called IOHN NVFVR hee liued in the yeare 1583. threescore yeares olde Prouost of Sigers-Hausem Shee was brought in bedde afterwards of foure other Children As for the Sonne which was cut out of her belly he liued vnto the yeare 1577. They do yet at this day in those Quarters see the children of this Woman vnto the third and fourth generation GASPAR BAV◅IN a learned Phisition at Basill in his histories of the Caesarian deliuery I did thinke to finde in other histories which I haue among my papers that which I promised you of a Caesarian deliuery but it is among my other remembrances at my house in France I will cause it to bee brought to Montbelliard where I nowe am to send it vnto you I remember the Name of the place and of the Surgion and the yeare and month when it happened but I haue forgotten the names both of the Father and Mother The Village is in the Duchye of Bourgundy called Marsillie neere vnto Mont S. Iohn The Surgion ANTONIE ROBIN borne at Beaune and liuing at Renele Duke a man verye expert in his profession It was in Aprill in the yeare of our Lord GOD 1582. The Woman being yong and strong had beene in sore trauell two whole dayes together and yet did couragiously endure an incision the which succeeded happily The Child liued not long The mother recouered and continued long after The same Seditious Commotions caused by Exactions IN the yeare 1548. the Commons of Guyenne Santonge and Angoulemois fell into a rebellion by reason of the extorsions of the Customers and Farmers of Salt In a fewe weekes they grew to the number of fortye thousand men armed with clubbes and staues ioyning with the Ilanders By a generall consent they ran vpon the Customers and Farmers of salt although the King of Nauarre sought to appease them executing their deseigne with extreame furye against all that they could take The Commons of Gascoigne rise in diuers places the killing of certaine Officers of the Kings that had abused their places being the cause The Maior Iurates and others that bare office in Bourdeaux and the Lord of Monneins in place of the Kings Lieutenant there insteed of remedying these tumults at the beginning temporised to much especially the L. of Monneins for that he gaue way to the insolence of one of the cheefe of these Rebells called La VERGNE who grewe so bold that shortly after hee raised all the common people by the Tocsaine or larum bell Beeing shut vp in the Castle of Ha now then he sent forth certaine Harguebuziers to make the people affraide But this deuise tooke not effect for such issuings did so heate the Cittizens that hauing found la VERGNE ESTONNAC MAQVANAN and others men according to their desire they presently to armes the Customers or Exactors beeing they they sought for vnder which collour pretending they sought for the Exactors many honorable houses were spoiled vpon this the Commons being receiued into the Towne they rung the Alarum Bell no man daring to bee seene but armed and in company of some of these rebelles for otherwise they kild all they met The Counsellers of the Court of Parliament were constrained to leaue their Gownes and betake them to their Dublet and hose and Capt after the fashion of Marriners to carry a pike and march amongest the rude multitude They constrained the Lords of Saulx brethren the one Captaine of the Towne the other of the Castle called Trompette to bee chiefe and assist at the spoile of certaine of their fellowe Cittizens friends houses massacring thē before their faces The Towne-house furnished with an innumerable quantity of armes was spoiled MONEINS Lieutenant for the King verie vnaduisedly left his forte to come and make an oration to this inraged multitude where hee was by them slaine and the Carmelites in danger to haue their house spoiled for that they had buried him in their Church shortly after these spoilers beeing charged beganne to retier and the Parliament began to take courage executing some of the principall of this commotion and amongest the rest La VERGNE who was drawne in peeces by foure horses The King aduertised of this disorder writ to the Commons assuring them with speede hee would prouide for their greeuance Commanding them to cease their armes by meanes whereof euery one retired L' ESTONNAC was happely chaced out of the Castle called Trompette During this FRANCIS of Lorraine Earle of Aumale followed by foure thousand Suisses and the force of the French horse entred into Saintonges pacifying it without resistance or punnishment ANNE of Mommoran◅ie heigh Constable of France with all the forces of both armies ioyned togither in one entred by an vnaccustommed way
life of the Emperours In the yeare 1536. the 2. of May a gust of winde hauing scattered sparkles here and there fire tooke in many houses at Delft a great fayre and famous Towne in Holland so as in fewe houres the greatest part thereof was ruined and had like to haue beene all consumed by this fire But it hath beene so repayred since as at this day it is one of the pleasingest and most delightfull Townes that can be seene In this fire there happened a memorable accident Men of credit did see that time a Stroke whereof there are great numbers in Holland which comming from her prey discouered that the fire had taken the nest where her young ones were She began to fall vpon it to see if shee could preserue them from the fire but for that they were yet vnfethered and that there was no meanes to drawe them forth shee fell vpon them with her wings spred abroad and couering her young ones was so consumed to Ashes with them What a reproch is this charitable Bird vnto some fathers and Mothers which haue no feeling of nature nor of humanitie but onely the face ANDR. IVNIVS in his description of Holland In the yeare 1539. betwixt Iune and Iuly vpon a Thursday at night fire tooke at Constantinople neere vnto the prison appointed for criminall persons in the shops of such as sold Tallow Rosin Oyle and such like stuffe so as it tooke hold of the prison which was barred very close and there smothered seauen hundred men From thence it dispersed it selfe on euery side through the Citty comming to another prison they were constrained to let them forth else they had all perished for in a moment this prison was consumed to Ashes Then the fire aduanced towards the wodden gate where as the Smithes forges be such as deale in Yron works from thence it tooke hold of the Captaine of the Ianisaries house consumes all it meetes in that quarter Then it gets into the Tauerners street that being consumed it doth seize vpon a great place called Tachral Cala then it turned towards the Copper-smiths and the Glasse-houses enuironing all that quarter that is about the painted Stoues Then going on it came to the place where the Iewes dwelt where it made a wonderfull spoile for that the houses stand very close The slames flew to the gate of the Fish-market and consumed all that it incountred betwixt that and the Iewes Streete whose houses were burnt to Ashes Neither was it possible by any meanes to quench this fire so as it continued all night and the next day euen vnto the euening haueing wasted and consumed the best part of the Cittie and Suburbes thereof vnto the Sea-shoare The Annales of Turkie In the yeare 1546. on Saterday the seuenth of August fire fell from Heauen vpon Macklin in Brabant and fiered a Tower where was a hundred Barrels of poulder This Towre was quite ouer-throwne with a peece of the Towne wall of two hundred paces neere vnto the sayd Towre Then the fire of this poulder tooke hold of the neere places and did so fire all the Towne as if a great shower of raine had not falne this great Cittie had beene consumed to Ashes The next day they found so many dead carcases and so stinking as they were forced with all speed to make great holes and to burie them by dozens at a time All the Sunday was spent in such burials The number of the hurt exceeded a hundred and fiftie They found a Woman with Childe smoothered vnder certaine ruines who beeing speedilye opened her Childe was found breathing and was Baptised A Gentle-woman leaping out of her bedde to open a windowe in her Chamber her head was cutt off with a Thunder-boult so as it hung with-out life by a peece of the skinne In a corner of a streete neere vnto BERNARDS Pallace a Tauerner called CROES being gone into the Seller to drawe Beere for his guests whereof some played at Cardes the house in a moment was ouer-throwne the players among others were crusht in peeces hauing the Cardes yet in their hands when they drew them from vnder the ruines No one in the house escaped but onely the hoast preserued by meanes of the valted Caue into the which hee was gone Three dayes after this pittifull Accident there were many found in Caues dead for hunger others smothered or fainted away with the terror and insupportable stinke of the lightning They found a man and a woman that were carryed away and as it were tyed fast betwixt the branches of a Tree The suburbes of Neckecspsis were in a maner all ruined This Cittie so pleasant and fayre before was all disfigured and as it were torne in peeces her stately buildings spoiled and ouerthrowne among others the Emperors Pallace the Lady MARGVERITS and that of Berque were strooke with lightning and ouer-throwne The house of the Italian Bankers was quite ruined the Poste lodging spoyled and the Stable carryed away with the Horses A part of the Augustines Couent and of other Temples in the Cittie were broken The Count of Hocstrats house endured and brake the shocke of this storme the which ceased when it had ouer-throwne it With out it nothing had beene left standing neyther within the Towne nor about it There were found huge quarters of free Stone cast by the Tempest aboue sixe hundred paces from the Wall to the great hurt of those places where they fell It was a fearefull Tempest a presage of the warre of Germanie whether the Emperour CHARLES the fift then marched CHILDREN Memorable Accidents both before and soone after the birth of some THE yeare 1551. in the moneth of August a certaine Germaine woman of Misnia was brought in bed of a Daughter which dyed within six moneths after of the small Poxe fiue dayes before she came into the world shee was heard very intelligibly to cry in the Mothers belly I did present it to bee Baptised with the Wife of Maister IOHN KENTMAN a Doctor of Physicke G. le FEVRE Lib. 3. of the Annales of Misnia In the beginning of Ianuary 1558. an other woman of the same Towne beeing at a Sermon the Childe which shee carryed in her belly did cry thrice so lowde that such as were about the Mother did vnderstand it plainely A moneth after shee was happily deliuered The same Author Many Children borne at one Birth I Will represent heere some Histories of former ages by reason of the rarenesse hoping the discourse will be pleasing protesting in the meane time to conteine my selfe in other things with-in my intention which is not to exceed the wonders of late dayes whereof I will produce some examples In the Country of Agenois is the famous house of BEAV VILLE some-times very riche and of great possessions from the which the Marshall of Monlucs wife was descended It is held for a true History that the Grand-mother of the sayd Lady had nine Daughters at one birthe that were all
drawne out of her wombe and kept for a great merueyle as many haue seene it well fashioned as if some excellent worke-man had cutte it in this Caue hauing the members whole and proportionable like vnto a childe of nine moneths old being opened they found the heart the liuer the braine and other parts very hard but not like vnto the exterior parts It is a female the body is not subiect to rottennesse nor to rust no more then one of the hardest stones which the best Statuaries can worke in Maister IHON d' ALIBOVX and SIMON of Prouuancheres learned Physitions of our time which haue seene this Childe of Stone and haue had this wonder in their hands haue written the History at large and published an ample discourse thereon I will adde here vnto an other memorable Historie written by Maister IHON SCHENCK of Grasenberg a Physition at Fribourg in Brisgart from whom I haue drawne a great part of the reports of the wonderfull accidents of mans body mentioned in his Collection of the Histories of our times CLAVDE of Saint MAVRICE a famous Physition and professor at Dole did write vnto Monsieur QVENZ Senator and the chiefe Physition at Fribourg that the 25. day of Ianuary 1595. causing a woman that was dead to bee opened of the age of 37. yeares they found her wombe to be of stone waying seuen pounds the Liuer with one onely griesly lumpe the substance of which was round the bladder of stone the skinne that couers the bowels so hard as the Surgions Razor could hardly enter it These things said he did amaze vs much how the spirits were carryed throughout all the body and how it was possible for this woman to liue so long without some apparent disease I caused this wombe of Stone to bee opened hoping to finde some fruite of the same sort like to that of the women of Sens in Bourgongne but I found that it was onely stone within as without Of the Caesarien deliuery or Section THE Caesarien deliuery is an extraction artificially made of the childe by the mothers side who could not otherwise bee deliuered but by a sufficient incision as well of that which is on the belly or exterior part of the belly as of the matricall body without preiudicing not-with standing the life of the one or the other so as there happens no other accident or hindering the Mother from bearing of more Children The which is to bee vnderstood of the Childe that is aliue yet in the Mothers wombe Vnder this also is comprehended an other like extraction of a Childe dead in the Mothers wombe when as by some other helpe of the Mid-wife Physition or Chiruâ—…gion that is more easie more safe and more common there is no meanes to haue it and that else they finde the Mother must dye with it as it doth daylye happen in women of all sorts after that they haue beene miserably broken It is not long that I sufficiently discouered by the report of certaine ancient graue men of Milly in Gastenois that it is true whereof they make no doubt in that place that the wife of one named GODART remaining then at Mesnill a Parish of Milly had some certaine yeares before had sixe Children after this manner that is to saye The Childe hauing beene drawne by an incision made in the Mothers side and neuer other-wise the Children still liuing The workeman was NICHOLAS GVILLET a Barber at Milly after whose death for want of her accustomed helpe this woman dyed not being by any meanes able to bee deliuered as shee was in times past A probable Argument that it was a deepe Physome or a naturall straightnesse capable to receiue the Instruments of generation or procreation but not to deliuer forth the Childe FRANCIS ROVSSET in his Treatie of the Caesarian deliuery I haue vnderstood for certaine by Maister AMEROS le NOIR a very expert Surgion of Pithuiers and by GILLES le BRVN that they together had at diuers times drawne by the side three liuing Children from a poore woman neere to Merenuille in Beausse and meaning to lead me to her to see the place of the Incision I vnderstood that shee was dead a little before of the plague which was then very violent in that Countrie I haue a learned Epistle of Mounsier ALIBOVS Physition of Sens setting downe orderly and at large how that IHON de MARAIS a Chirurgion at La Chastre in Berry sonne to LEVVIS de MARAIS ordinary Chirurgion to the Arch bishop of Sens drew from his owne wiues side a Sonne called SIMON de MARAIS afterwards Chirurgion and Grome of the Chamber to the Queene Mother After the which shee was brought in bedde againe well and orderly of a Daughter called RENEE Of that SIMON whome they surnamed without a Mother and of ROSE GALLARDEL came CLAVDE married to Maister FRANCIS ARTVS of Yssondun FRANCIS married to OLIVER GARINER both sufficient witnesses of their fathers birthe as well by the common report as by their fathers often telling The same Author Monsieur PELION a famous Phisition at Anger 's hauing heretofore reported to Maister LAVRENCE COLLOT a Chirurgion of Paris a like worke in Aniou hath since confirmed it by a Letter which he gaue me testifying that it was done by MATHVRIN DEBONAIRE Chirurgion Maister DENIS ARMENANT a Physition at Gien and my selfe haue seene a little before the troubles in the Hospitall of Chastillon vpon Loire a woman beeing sicke of a continuall feuer hauing a great swelling on the left side of her belly and therein a long Cicatrise with apparant signes of needlesse points remaining of the opening of the said parts that were sowed vp by the which both her selfe and her husband did witnesse that a while before there had beene a Sonne drawne the which was some seuen yeares before we speake vnto them and could not be borne otherwise This was done in Bourgundy by an old Barber of the same Village verie expert as they said in such operations The woman did not conceiue nor beare any child after that time although they were both yong The same Author BERNARDE ARNOVT the Wife of STEPHEN MASICAVLE of Nangeuille betwixt Estampes Puiseaux and Pithuires after an extreame and fruitlesse labour of foure dayes sending her husband vnto mee despayring in a manner of all helpe she had the heart against the will of her said husband to haue her bodye by my aduice opened yea shee did so hasten it after that shee had heard my resolution as she would not staie for Maister AMBROS LE NOIR aboue mentioned whome I promised to send her as a Man experienced in such operations for that I could not be there present beeing then very sicke but she imployed the first she could find which was IOHN LVCAS a yong Barber remaining then at Bunou a little Village thereby who performed this worke which was new to him very artificially in the presence of many some of them with himselfe are yet liuing to witnesse
into Bourdeaux and beeing possest of all without blowe stroken tooke from the Citizens by vertue of his commission all there tittles recordes and documents of their rightes and priuiledges depriued them of all their honours burnt all their priueleges caused the Court Parliament to cease disarmed all the Inhabitantes tooke downe their Belles depriued them of all their Immunities and Freedomes constrayning the principalls of the Towne to the number of a hundred and fortie to goe seeke the Bodie of the Lord of Monneins at the Carmelites and to remooue it with mourning to Saint Andrewes where it is Interred hauing first with a wax Candle lighted in their handes asked mercie of almightie GOD the King and Iustice before the lodging of the Constable L'ESTONNAC the two Brothers of SAVLX and others had their heads cut off The Marshalles Prouost with a stronge troupe ranne through the Country of Burdelois BAZADOIS and AGENOIS executing them that had caused the larum Bell to bee rung In the ende the two Colonells of the commons called TAILEMAIGNE and GALAFFRE were taken who were broken vpon the wheele beeing first crowned with a Crowne of burning Iron as a punnishment of the souerainty they had vsurpt Certaine monethes after Burdeaux was established in her former estate and after the leauying some summes of money the exactiōs that were cause of these troubles were abolished History and Annales of France vnder HENRY the second Diuers remarkable commotions happened with in this hundred yeares in diuers parts of the world you shall read GOD willing in the following volumes for this time wee present you with the precedent History as an essay of the rest Prodigious spirits IT is not long since there died one CONSTANTIA who counterfeited most sorts of voices some-times hee would singe like an Nightingale who cold not chant diuision better then hee some-time brey like an Asse some-times grumble and barke like three or foure Dogges fighting togither counterfecting him that beeing bitten by the other went crying away with a Combe in his mouth hee would counterfeit the winding of a Cornet all these things hee did so excellent well as neither the Asse nor the Dogges nor the Man that winded the Cornet had any aduantage of him I haue seene and spoken with such a one oftentimes at my owne house but aboue all that which is most admirable is that hee would speake somtimes with a voice as it were inclosed in his stomacke without opening his lippes or very little at all in such manner as if hee were neere you and called you would haue thought the voice had come from a farre and so as diuers of my friends haue beene often deceiued by him Maister PASQVIER in the fift booke of his Recherches of France There is also there recited two other examples of prodigeous Spirits which I will adde to the other The first is of one MOVLINET an ancient French Poet who reports that hee hath seene a man that sunge both the note and ditty of a songe very readily at one time The other is of a young man that came to Paris in the yeare 1445. Not aboue twentie yeares olde who knewe these are the wordes of a Notary of that time all the seauen liberall Artes by the Testimonie of all the learned Clerkes of the Vniuersitie of Paris and could play on all kinde of Instrumentes singe and sett better then any other exceeding all in Paris and there abouts in painting and limming a very expert Souldiar playing with a two hand sworde so wonderfully as none might compare with him for when hee perceiued his enemie comming hee would leape twentie or foure and twentie footes vpon him Hee was also a Maister in Artes a Doctor in Phisick a Doctor of the Ciuill and Cannon Lawe a Doctor in Diuinity And for certaine hee hath disputed with vs of the Colledge of Nauar beeing fiftie in number of the best Schollers in Paris and with more then three thousand other Schollers to all which questions asked him hee hath answered so boldly as it is a wonder for them that haue not seene him to beleeue it Hee spake Latin Greeke Hebrewe Caldey Arabique and many other tongues Hee was a Knight at armes and verily if it were possible for a man to liue an hundreth yeares without eating drinking or sleeping and continually studying yet should he not attaine to that knowledge that he had done certainlie it was a great astonishment to vs for hee knew more then in humaine reason might be comprehended Hee vnderstood the foure Doctors of the Church and to conclude not to bee parareld in the world for wisedome Behold then this prodigious spirit with some others that we haue seene in our Time amongst whom was IOHN PICVS and IOHN FRANCIS PICVS his Nephew Princes of Mirandola IVLIVS CAESAR SCALIGER and others for the most part dead some other yet liuing whom I will forbeare to name Sparkles of Fire IT hath happened in my time to a Carmelite Friar that alwayes and as oft as hee put back his hood one might see certaine sparkles of fire come from the haire of his head which continued in him for the space of thirteene yeares together Madam of Caumont if she combed her haire in the darke seemed to cast forth certaine sparkles of fire from her head SCALIGER in his excersitations against CARDAN It happened vpon a time to a certaine Preacher in Spaine that from the crowne of his head downe to his shoulders one might see a flame of fire issue which was held for a great miracle HERMOLAVS BAREARVS in the fourth Booke of his Phisickes Chap. 5. Fantastiques THere are some Nations that when they are eating they couer themselues I know a Lady yea one of the greatest who is of opinion that to chew is an vnseemly thing which much impaireth their grace and beautie and therefore by her will she neuer comes abroad with an appetite And a man that cannot endure one should see him eate and shunneth all company more when he filleth then when he emptieth In the Turkish Empire there are many who to excell the rest will not be seene when they are a feeding and who make but one meale in a weeke who mangle their faces and cutt their limmes and who neuer speake to any body who thinke to honour their nature by disnaturing themselues O fanaticall people that prize them selues by their contempt mend by their empayring what monstrous beast is this that makes himselfe a horror to himselfe whom his delights displease who tyes himselfe vnto misfortune MONTAIGNE in his third booke of Essayes Chap. 5. I cannot keepe any Register of my actions Fortune hath set them so lowe I keepe them in my fantasie I haue seene a Gentleman that did not communicate his life but by the operation of his belly One might see by him at his rising a roe of close stooles to serue for seuen or eight dayes The same MONTAIGNE Women that haue become Men. IN a place called Esquirie nine leagues