the sign to the Argonautes that the time was now come of performance of the thing they out of a prospective glasse saw fire and then supposing the King was dead came swiftly demanding the City and going upon the walls and with glittering drawn swords went straightway to the Palace kill'd all the watches that withstood them c. Diodorus lib. 4. cap. 3. JOhannes Teutonicus very famous in old time his Father was a Priest and by reason of the good opinion of learning that was had of him he was preferred to Halberstatensem Parish to which none but Noblemen and true begotten legitimate were to be admitted but he was much despised of his colleagues for his base birth he invited them to a sumptuous Banquet and taking occasion asked them whether or no they would see their own fathers And when they told him that they earnestly desired that he would do so and by his Magicall art he made appear horrid ghastly spectrums representing the shape of Cooks Stable-grooms fools â—usticks whose faces they confessed themselves that they had sometimes seen at their fathers houses But Teutonicus did Conjure up his father in the comeliest beautifullest shape he could with canonicall Priestly habit in a fat Visage The shadows being passed away he asked his guests whose father now they judged to be the nobler they being affrighted as it were Planet-struck and confounded with shame went every one home to their own houses and after they never troubled Johannes who was ennobled by his vertue if not by his extraction or birth Johannes NIcholas Venetus in his Indian History tells of a Pilot of India when the winds did cease invoking his God which he called Muthian and that at length he went to a certain Arabian and that the Man being impulsed by some invisible spirit ran along the Vessel till he came to a Table that for that purpose was fixed to the Mast and devoured certain coals that lay thereby and calling for a Cocks bloud when they had killed one and brought him the bloud of it he drank it off and when he had done askt them what they desired and when the Pilot answered Wind he re-demanded what wind and when he told him an East-wind he promised them for three dayes they should have it at will and admonished them that they would be carefull to improve the opportunity When the Conjuration was past the Arabian remembred nothing of what he had Prophesied done or suffered but to a minute of the time all things fell out accordingly Cardanus de subtilitate libro de Daemonibus S. Jerome writes in the life of Hilarion the Eremite That in a Mart Town of Gaza a young Man languished for the exceeding love he bare to a young maid a neighbour of his who when he could do no good by frequent courtings touchings jestings noddings whisperings and other allureing dalliances the common exordiums of the decay of chastity he went to Memphis that so having made known his condition he might be instructed by the Magitians how to circumvent this young Lady And after he had been disciplined for a years time by the Priests of Aesculapius he returned and hides under the threshold of the young maidens dore certain Magical words and inchanting figures graven in plates of Cyprian brasse Suddenly the maid grows mad and casting by the decent binding of her head tears her hair gnasheth with her teeth calls upon the name of the young man such was the extasy of her love that made her raging mad Her Parents bring her to a Monastery deliver her to an old man immediately the Devill howling confesseth I have suffered violence having been brought hither against my will how bravely did I delude people by Memphian dreams O the crosses and torments that I suffer Thou wouldst have me go out and I am fast bound under the threshold I will not go out unlesse the young man that holdeth me bound dismisse me Then the old man saith Great is thy fortitude who art bound by the drawings out of threds and plates tell why thou wast so bold as to enter into a young maid the servant of God That I might preserve her a Virgin Thou preserve her thou betrayer of chastity Why diddest thou not rather enter into him that sent thee To what purpose should I enter into him who had my colleague the Devill of love The holy man did not command him to seek out the plates or gravings lest the Devill might have seemed to have quitted the inchantments or he to have given credit to the Devills speech affirming the Devills deceitfull and dexterous in dissimulation Moreover having restored the young maid to her former right wits he much blamed the Virgin for committing such faults whereby the Devill should enter her These things Hierome WHen by the severe laws of Pope Hadrian the sixt the pestilence seemed little restrained by the touching of the sick that so increased that many dead corps were to be seen in the streets and crosse wayes and in few dayes that seemed to depopulate the City but that a certain Greek by name Demetrius Spartanus the common people favouring him undertook the work of removing the Plague no man being so bold as to forbid his superstition For a wild Bull the half of whose horn he had cut off putting a Magick verse into his right ear suddenly he made him so tame that casting a small thred about his whole horn leading him which way he pleased he immolated him at the Amphitheater to appease the divine power nor did he wholly deceive the hope of the credulous multitude for by the prosperous offering of that vain sacrifice the sicknesse began to asswage Jovius lib. 21. As his kinsman concerning that matter of observation and worthy animadversion writeth in the year of Christ 1522. a most grievous pestilence invaded Rome There was then a certain Greek who had a long beard with an ugly aspect who professed himself to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a helper of evil he promised if he should have thirty pieces of Gold to him and his heirs monethly to cause a cessation of the Plague The Romans accept of the condition He commandeth to bring him a black bull and find out a new well in the suburbs of the City in the dead of night he commeth to the bottom of the hill Marius where he found the Bull prepared and the Well he sets upon making a rope and as he was weaving that sometimes with a high and sometimes a low voice I know not what he murmured out in Greek the clamour of his voice was heard by many spectators afterwards he casting a rope about the neck of the Bull they report the Bull being made tame and gentle he led him thrice about the Well then casting the Bull prostrate upon the ground the Bull making three weak or harmlesse kicks presently with little reluctancy suffered him to cut off his horns which done he commanded the Bull to be led by the
part of Suevia a Country-man walking over his ground to see his Corn in a dry season with a little girle a daughter of his with him wished that it would rain a good shower The Maid hearing her father say so out of her childish simplicity told him She could easily procure that for him The Father wondring at the childs words askt her how could she do such a feat O sayes she I learnt that of my Mother and added That she could easily cause it not onely to rain but hail and raise a great tempest and that her mother learnt it of a Master she converst with and that whensoever and whatsoever she required of him was presently perform'd but that her Mother had strictly charged her to tell no body The father being terrified at these things askt her if she had ever seen this Master The girle answered again that she had seen many come in and go out who her Mother told her were their Masters and Loving Lords Her father again demanded if she could just then raise a shower or storm She reply'd I if she had but a little water He therefore brought her to the River where calling upon this Master she presently caused it to rain in her father's fields alone and not in his neighbours as he had commanded her The man seeing that bid her also make it hail but so as but in one field which he shew'd her this she presently effected And then being fully resolved his wife was a Wiâ—ch he brought her before a Magistrate there convicted her of the crime and burnt her his daughter being put to holy exercises and by sacred means was delivered from the power and wiles of the devil Ibid. IN the Town Fach a Judge commanded his Serjeants to apprehend a Witch and bring him to execution but they were so annoyed with loathsome stincks and struck with such a terrour in the businesse that they utterly despaired of effecting it The Judge his name was Peter insisting more earnestly upon the performance of his command again exhorts them that they would take courage and lay violent hands upon the Witch for now the appointed time was come wherein the detected crimes of this impious person must be punished by which encouragements being animated to repel the fascinations of the devil the VVitch was taken and brought to execution AT another place when a Witch was bound and brought to the Gallows top she spet in the face of the Hangman and he presently fell down dead in like manner she did by a second But the third going about a little more warily was yet so invenom'd by her breath that all his face swelled till he was stark blind with it and a little after he died of it WHat power the Devils have to afflict Brutes Cattle and all other creatures and how they can raise storms and tempests you may find sufficiently laid open in the 14. 15. chapters of the forecited Author the examples are very horrible nor do I think it necessary to commemorate any more of them The History of Job will evidence the same thing what is not onely the power but how extream the malice of that evill Spirit THere were two brothers to whom their Father left a competent estate when he died the one of them took upon him a Monastick life the other married and set up a common Inne and most earnestly gaping after Riches used all means possible to defraud not onely his guests but their beasts by false weights and Measures and conveighing their provender from before them Whilst he thus strove to be rich his estate went to wrack on every side and the more he took care to heap up the more and greater losses he sustained When his brother the Monk came to him to part the estate with him according to his Fathers Will he desired his brother that he would forbear prosecuting him for the division of the goods at present for he was poor and in a very low condition and notwithstanding that he used all means possible for the gaining of an estate yet all the fraud he could use profited him nothing when the Monk heard this he said O my Brother if you order your Family so unjustly 't is no wonder that things go so ill with you For you keep such a guest that consumes all and more than you can possibly gather and if thou wilt see him follow me into the bottom of the Cellar and I will shew thee who consumes thy estate Whither when they were both come the Monk by his adjurations made the Devill that lay hid there shew himself to his brother And presently a beast of an immense bignesse and so fat that without much ado he could not move himself appeard which when the Monk saw he said O what a gainfull Inne dost thou keep and turning to his brother said Behold that beast thou hast pampered by thy fraud for whatsoever thou fraudulently gottest from any man this ugly beast devoured Therefore hearken to me Be faithfull and upright in thy dealing towards all men use an equall measure and defraud no body and after four years I will come again and then divide my Fathers estate with you His Brother follows the Monks counsell and as much as he went backwards in the world before he now came on and in a short time had such experience of divine goodnesse that he was Master of a great estate At four years end came his brother the Monk to see what condition his brother was yet in who received him with great alacrity and told him he had followed his advice desiring to see the beast now again in which the Monk gratified his brother and commanded the beast that lay hid in the Cellar to appear which when he came was so lean his bones would scarce hang together Then sayes the Monk to his brother now it 's time for this guest to get hence and seek another Host But if thou shalt hereafter order thy affairs with the like Justice thou shalt alwayes learn experience of the great blessing of our great and good God NOt long since sayes Bodinus in Vallis which is a name of the Suburbs of Laodunum a certain Witch by her inchantments freed a woman from her disease who was most grievously afflicted and thus she effected it Falling down upon her knees and looking towards the ground she called upon the Devill very often and with a loud voice that he would cure the Woman and pronouncing certain strange words gave her a morsell of bread to eat and by this means the woman recovered Which kind of cure is plainly such as if the sick woman had prayed to the Devill for health than which it were better to indure the most painful death Daemonomaniae lib. 1. cap. 6. I Remember about 20. years ago at Lutetia in a Noblemans house there I saw a young man by often reciting certain French words in the presence of many honest people which I think not good to mention at
God that he would put some end to so difficult a work And in a very short time after there came one to the Bishop who having contracted for a certain sum of Money for his pains promised he would fire the foundations of the Temple and by that means utterly demoliâ— But whilst he was applying his fire-works a black Devill appeared to him and restrained the naturall force of that Element Which when Marcellus understood he went into the Temple and praying most earnestly to Almighty God repelled the Magick of the Devill and presently the foundation took fire and when the Piles were consumed the whole structure went to wrack and so it was utterly destroyed Niceph. lib 12. cap. 27. THe Pilappii inhabit a part of the Peninsula of Scandinavia Amongst them there is an innumerable company of spectrals which converse feast and discourse with them commonly nor can they by any means be laid or driven away They when they are most terrified and huspil'd by these Ghosts bury their dead friends under their fire-places or hearths and give them in charge to take care they be not molested in that nature by this spell alone do they defend and save themselves from the vexations and terrour of the Devils For if they punctually observe this no Apparition ever after molesteth them but if they neglect it they are continually terrified and incumbred with the Visions of their dead friends At this time they are lesse infested and have lesse incanting amongst them then formerly in regard the King of Suecia hath most strictly prohibited the use of them and as much as in him lies takes care that the Christian Religion be taught them and that their Children be brought up therein Casper Peucerus de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 WE have it reported that a Gentleman in Bavaria of a most noble extract was so grieved for the death of his wife that abandoning all comforts whatsoever he betook himself to a solitary life At length when he mourned without measure or date his wife appeared to him in the night being risen from the dead and told him that indeed she had once finished her naturall course in this life but yet by his importunity she was now restored to life and commanded by God to use his society yet longer but upon this condition that they should again be married by a Priest and furthermore that he should abstain all railing and blasphemous words which he had formerly accustomed to use for indeed this was the principall or onely cause why he had been deprived of her and that she should again presently depart this life as soon as he should but utter any word of that nature These things being thus performed she took care of his houshold affairs as formerly and bare him some children but was all the while but of a sad and wan countenance But many years after her husband coming home in drink and giving his maid some hard words in anger more then becom'd a sober Man she went from the bed to the cup-board where she was to fetch some fruit for her husband and there left her clothes standing at the Chest where the Apples were kept without any body in them and was never seen more This I have heard spoken by many worthy and authentâ—â—â—â—â—rsons who affirmed that a Captain of Bavaria told it to a Capâ—â—â—â— of Saxon for a truth This Sabinus writes in the tenth book of his Metamorphoses IN the 1045. year of Christ Bruno the Bishop of Herbipolis with Henry the third of that name went to Boiaria Orientalis or in the East by water upon the River Danubius but not in the same Ship with him It is a Town of Austria which they call Greinon above which there be craggy Rocks and great heaps of stone that arise and lye out into the waters by reason whereof Danubius as they say is carried with a very great violence and exceeding noise which may be heard far off and froathing by reason of the violence of the water The Teutonick hold this for an ominous and most dangerous and destructive place to Navigators and call it Strudelon Bruno as I said before accompanied the King his kinsman in another Ship and when they dashed upon a very great Rock in the Sea the shape of a black Aethiop appeared a Vision as the event testified sufficiently apparent and ominous and stood upon the Rock Haleing to Bruno Ho ho Bishop sayes he I am thy evill Angell and whithersoever thou goest thou art mine I have nothing to say to thee at present but thou shalt shortly see me again Whilst they all abhorred that prodigy the Bishop having used that immortal sign of the Crosse and holy Charms and Verses the evill spirit left all there deceived And this Rock is yet noted for it on which there was a Tower built of Stone without any beam or roof and from thence being fitly named retains it to this very day From whence having sailed on for about ten thousand paces they turned in at the Town of Bosenburg where the widow Riclita entertained and feasted them very nobly whose Husband Adalbero of Ebersperg had the Dynastry of the Castle of the chief Boiaria which is now a Temple and had died the last _____ before and desired that Bosenburg and the farms which in those parts her husband held upon curtesy might be conferred upon Welpho the third her Nephew by her brother The Caesar came up to supper and whilst before Bishop Bruno and Alemannus President of Ebersperg and Riclita stretching out his right hand he consented to all her desires upon a sudden the raâ—ters of the house fell and slew Bruno Adventinus lib. 5. Annal. Boiorum THey say that in the Mountains of Bohemia oftimes a Monk useth to appear whom they call Rubezl and that many times he is seen in the baths and doth frequently joyn himself to travailers that go that way when they are in the woods and bid them be of good courage telling them that in regard they are ignorant of the way he will lead them strait thorow the woods whom as soon as he hath led into the most path-lesse places of the wood that they know not which way to turn themselves he leaps into a Tree and makes such a laughter as causes the woods to ring again This Monk or Rubezal is the Devill who having taken to him the shape of a Monk playes these pranks ON a certain time there was a Monster taken in the Sea in all things like unto a woman of a stupendious beauty and amiablenesse whom one of the fisher-men or Sailers took for his wife when she had been kept in the ship a while and had one child by her three years after when they came to the same place where the Monster was taken she leapt out of the Ship into the waters and took the child with her The child perished in the Sea and she vanished out of their sight and was never seen more by any of them It is
the Sails Were over-fill'd with storming Southern gales The waters roar with rouling waves now rain Adds to the storm and joyns the Stars to th' main The Marriner with horrour being struck Cries out What causes this unthought ill-luck I saw no presage of a coming shower When Sol departed to his Western bower No Swallow hover'd o're the waves my eyes Did see no Heron when the Moon did rise She was not black nor pale nor Phaebus light Abated of its lustre near the night These words disturbed were by th' storming rain And by the raging waves o th' foamy main The Ship was neer o're-turned by the blast The Waves had almost covered the Mast The Marriner with stretcht-out hands to Heaven Implored thence the divine aid What even Thou wicked wretch dost pray sayes one o th' five cease Sirrah and let God alone And then took up an heavy Row which th' poor Unhappy Man had us'd to wield before With which his shoulders he so basted o're That even unto death he beat him sore At last the Devils wiles appear'd 't was plain There did no part o th' fraud unseen remain Their bodies vanisht into the whirling Wind Nothing was left but stinking smells behind Then soon the Clouds were drawn and day appear'd The Winds allayed and the weather clear'd Frighted herewith e'n senselesse he doth bie With 's Ship toth' shore and there onth ' Grasse doth lye 'Till Sol appear'd when by a neighbour swain Unto his home he is convey'd again When telling all to those his friends were by Clos'd up his eyes and so is said to dye When bright Aurora did next Morn appear And with her Crocean Chariot th' sky did clear A passage like to this the time except And better issue to the thing expect When first bright Sol on th' top o th' Mountain shone A traveller 'gan t'journy all alone Whilst he was on the coasts of Vangion Just where they placed had the first Mile-Stone Behold a Coach all of a sable hiew Filled with Monks which seven horses drew Yoked in order but one of the four Wheels with the axetree from the Coach were tore The Coachman that did rule the reins therein Had a most rufull nose and visage grim The frighted traveller stood whilst it past By him so found they Spectrals were at last The Coach onth ' sudden mounted into th' Wind When fire and smoak did follow it behind And the sad Omens of ensuing war A noise as arms i th' Ayre did clash and jar He made return toth' City told it and tâ—me It was made known by good authority Therefore to you wh ' in other regions dwell I thought my meter bound these things to tell And had they wanted an Interpretation I would have made it Now the German Nation By their King's discords heard of nought but jars And now their Monks inflamed had the Wars This was the Tempest this the disjoynted Wheel This was the smoak and flame This joyntly wee 'l Commend unto our God desire him lay These Tempests hee 'l be good to them that pray MAgdalena Crucia Hispana in the chief City of all Corduba Baetica in her tender years was whether by reason of Poverty or Devotion it is uncertain by her poor Parents placed in the Nunnery of St. Clara which she afterwards re-built all anew and endowed with a fair revenue This Magdalena I say being insnared by a Devill that appeared to her in the form of an Aethiop using many sugred and pleasureable enticements with which tender years are most taken began to converse very familiarly with him but with most severe interminations that no mortall should be made privy to their familiarity She conversing with the Devill almost every day grew more in knowledg then could be expected from her youth and was admired of all that knew her for her stupendious knowledg and ingenuity and singular piety which the smoothnesse of her behaviour and the austerity of her life did seem to manifest she had scarce attained the age of twelve years when this evill spirit taking the opportunity of bringing her into his full and absolute possession with glorious and gilded words moved a marriage betwixt them and easily for the experience she had had of her improvement by his means was this ambitious girl perswaded to it They joyn hands are married and at last lye together Magdalena in lieu of a Dower promises him the use of her body to discourse with her converse with her and lye with her The Aethiop on the other side promised to make her a large Dower and that she should by reason of her illustrious sanctity and wisedome bear great sway throughout all Spain for thirty years and upwards insomuch that she should excell or at least equall the most famous that ever went before her Nor would this lying spirit in this particular seem false that so by this his bride he might deceive all Spain And whensoever they enjoyed their stolen delights his servant for this Aethiop for the honour of the businesse kept his man taking her coule to the life imitated like some supposititious Sofia in the Cloister abroad or in the Temple her countenance behaviour in walking singing praying eating and all other the like And if perchance when he had wearied his Lady with pleasures he went in pretence of looking that things went right in his Mannour about the World at his return he told her all that hapned in his travell worth the telling So she being taken prisoner of Franciscus King of the Gauls so comming to the Knowledg of Romes being sack't and telling she was told it by divine Revelation she grew in great esteem with the chief and noble Men of the Kingdome and obtained the dignity of Abbesse all the other Nuns willingly yielding to such eminent sanctity and entertaining the businesse with exceeding joy in that they conceived great part of the glory redounded to them who were her instructours She was famous for many miracles but those onely lusory and vain fancies In a solemn pomp upon a feast day she was taken up into the Ayre three or four cubits high and often holding the Image of the blessed child Jesus in her arms making her eyes the Sluces from whence Rivers of tears issued she did suddenly extend the excrescency of her hair unto her heels and by degrees did vanish away And as often as the Monks at set times and seasons did take the Sacrament in the Eucharist-basket there alwaies wanted one of the round pieces of the mysticall bread being first of all diligently reckoned which Magdalene did openly shew that she had it in her mouth and that she received it by the administration of Angels Hence so much was the fame of her sanctity spread abroad that High-Priests Emperours Kings by their letters commended themselves to her prayers and therefore did Charls the fifth's Queen take great care that her Son Phillip should be wrapped in those swathing clothes which Magdalene had sanctifyed by her
he hurries them into destructions gulph sometimes a consort of musicall instruments are heard but more oftner the noise of Drums Munsters Cosmograph Book 5. THere was a certain Citizen of Erphord that for some years together kept a Crow in his house and when he saw any silent or sorrowfull he used these words after a jesting manner O my Crow what makes thee so sad what thinkest thou of To which beyond all expectation the Crow or the Devill in it clearly and with a lively voice recited a Verse out of the 77. Psalm I have thought of old and I have had eternity in my mind and thus the Devill spoke out of the Crow Caspar Goldw. in his Book of Miracles HIeronimus Cardanus told his Father that there appeared seven spirits which did dispute with him about divers wonderfull things and did enucleate and unmask hidden mysteries that were before unknown out of the Manuscript writings of Averroes of Physitians principles IN the raign of Trajan a Crow but rather the Devill out of the Crow began to speak with humane voice and cryed out of the Capitol in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnia bellè se habebunt i. e. All things shall be well from whence came that distick of an unknown Authour Tarpeio quondam consedit culmine cornix Est bene non potuit dicere dixit Erit Englished thus A Chough did from Tarpeia's top foretell Though things now are not yet they shall be well A Most certain argument to prove that those men are possessed is they speak those tongues which they never learnt Bodin saith there was one whose name was Samuel being but twelve years of age in the Village of Wantelet ad Laod he was the Son of a Noble man Lord of the Land who was possessed of the Devill a Month after his Mothers death and grievously vexed and buffeâ—ted also the Devill had power over his body and if any one would withdraw the boâ—â— he did retract him again by violence his father would not have him exorcised for Religion's sake which he professed And whether or no he was freed from it the twelfth or thirteenth year he was past in which the woman of Vervinens was possessed by an evill spirit but she had an exorcism I know not which History I passe over because it was related in diverse books which are now printed Italy and Spain abounds with such demoniacal persons which had need be bound up in chains those can speak Greek and Latine and other tongues which they never learnt or which is more likely the Devill speaks in them for if at any time that Woman of Vervinensis had put out her tongue a great length the spirit then spoke most Eloquently Melancthon reports that he saw a woman in Saxony that was possessed who could neither read nor write yet did speak Greek and Latine and Prophesie of that cruell war in Saxony saying Great misery shall come upon this Country and Famine upon this people Fernelius in his book of the secret causes of things tells that he saw a possessed Boy speaking Greek for all that he knew no letters Hippocrates in his Book De Sacro morbo thought it to be the falling sicknesse but some afterwards in Greek did accurately note the difference For those who were possessed spoke divers languages and prophesied which could not be observed in those who had the falling sicknesse IN the reign of Argyropolis Emperour of Rome in the Thracian Province at the bottome of the Fountain of Curena there was a miserable dolefull noise heard mixed with howlings and lamentations not onely for once or twice but continually dayes and nights from March to July And when some came to see the place from whence the voice was heard there was another howling thwarted them I suppose this miracle did foretell the slaughter of the Romans in Coclosyria Cedrenus CAlligraphus a reverend man of Alexandria going out of his house in the night time at midnight he saw brazen statues speaking with a loud voice that Mauritius the Emperour of Constantinople was slain together with his children at Byzantium going forth in the morning he related it to Augustulus who warned him not to tell it to any and prescribing a day in the ninth day there came a Messenger declaring the death of Mauritius Then Augustulus did publish to the people the Devills Prophecy Paul Diacon Book 17. of Romane History and Nicephorus Book 18. Chap. 41. HIrcanus 3d Captain of the Jews and High Priest when he had deputed his two sons Aristobulus and Antigonus to the siege of Samaria and the Samaritans having implored help of Antiochus Cyzicenus it was reported that in the very same day in which his sons had entred battell with Cyzicenus the High Priest being alone in the Temple heard a voice that mentioned the new gotten victory of Antioch by his sons which he â—and by going forth published to the people and a while after his Oracle came certainly to passe Josephus Book 13. chap. 18. WHen the Romans in a great battell with the Tarquinians sent away L. Junius Brutus Consull but in the following night such an affrightment seized upon the Enemies The Tarquinians and the Vejentes in silent troops returned home as conquer'd men The report is that in the next night after the battell out of the next wood which Livy calls Arsâ—a and Dyonisius said it was a Holy wood a loud voice was heard whether it was the voice of a Faune or Silvaine it could not be resolved which happened more then once in the Hetrusian war which prodigy did so affright the enemies that they yielded themselves as conquer'd Sabellicus Book 7. Ennead 2. Valerius Book 1. chap. 8. IN that day which Caesar fought with Pompey at Pharsalia C. Cornelius of Patavia being Augur when he had taken augury at the first sight suddenly turning to those that were by him said now the businesse is done now the men begin their work and trying his augury the second time he with a loud voice cryed out O Caesar Thou overcomest they that stood about him admiring at the thing he took the Crown from off his head and swore he would not put it on again untill the businesse made his art believed or credited Livius and Plutarch in Caesar and Pliny saith there such a noise came when two armies were fighting one against the other to the augurs sitting on the Patavian Mountains being bold to affirm by that either the world would be dissolved quickly or Caesar was fighting with Pompey Sabellicus Book 7. Ennead 6. out of the 15th Book of Gellius chap. 18. WHen Antonius fell from Domitius and a great war was expected in Germany the City being affrighted and the people of themselves without any other author dispersed the same of the victory and a report going throughout Rome that Antonius was killed and that no part of his army was left alive it was so really believed that a great part of the Magistrates sacrificed But when the Authour
ones but which were much more pleasant than the rest and had been named particularly for a long time They answer they understand not the meaning of the names but that one of them was called Amor and the other Anterotes The revenger of the Injuries of Lovers He presently touching the water with his hand for he sate perhaps upon the border of the Well where the water overflowed and ran out and mumbling over a few words raised one out of the bottome of the water very fair and of a comely stature with his hair as yellow as gold with a pure white skin upon his back who was in every thing like one that washed or had been bathed The young man being astonished at the novity of the thing he went to the other Fountain and did the like there calling out the other Amor in every thing like the former only that this had darker hair and longer hanging down along his neck Both these familiars or rather Tutelars came to Jamblicus embracing and hugging him as if he had been their own natural father whom he restored to their former stations and so having washt returned from the Bath Eunapius in his life WHen Basilius the Emperour dyed his eldest son Constantinus dyed with him he so passionately loved his father that he would not live after him but desired alwayes to see him alive There was a certain Monk called Theodorus and sirnamed Santabarinus preferred to the Government in the Metropolis of the Enchaitee who being a most just man was in great favour with the King and with whom the King conversed very familiarly which as one he observed to be very devout and a great lover of the truth He promised the King to shew him his son alive sitting upon a horse under a green leavy shade The foolish old man thought the Vision that the minister of the Devil had deceived his eys with had been his son and that he had embraced his son when he had nothing but a Phantasm and so wholly relyed on the credit of this Monk that he in the conceit that his other son was alive brought the King into suspition of his son Leo whom he had crowned and created King insomurh that he imprisoned him and there tormented the poor innocent Prince a long while Cuspinianus out of Zonara A Boy called Lotharingus come of an honest stock being corrupted by the evill example of his equals and companions began to frequent Taverns and tipling-houses all this while Gilbertus a kinsman of Nozerenus to whose care he was committed knowing nothing of it Mean while a young man which proved proved afterwards the Devil in a man he being drinking with his pot-companions drew him aside and promised him he would teach him how by saying a certain verse and some words which he could easily learn he might have money at his pleasure If in his name he would to his host reckon up a Symbol and from his heart believe those things which were in the holy book by him written nor would ever unfold the holy Bible The youth promising him all he desired he told him the sum of his art therein then taking the book in his left hand holding it down with his fore and middle finger of his right hand and muttering out the verse in the French tongue brasse and copper swims about and gold leaps and he shaked off his fingers 60 Crowns the sum he desired The Youth does the like as this his Instructor did before him and with the like successe but in great joy going home with the book and being much taken with the novelty opens it that he might make another by it In the middle there was a sphaerical circle like an Orb divided with two straight diametrical lines crossewayes upon which there was a picture drawn of a most dreadfull shape horned and every way like a Devil on his right hand were two crosses that joyned together on his left were the immodest parts both of a man and a woman most obscenely placed opposite to each other Presently as he beheld these ugly spectacles his eyes began to darken and his head to grow light and whithersoever he went he would look back ever and anon verily believing some body followed him close at the heels His Chamber-fellow a young man who had observed this Prodigy was examined about it and confest all the businesse to his Tutor at whose perswasion the papers were cast into the fire where they remained a full half hour without being toucht by the fire although the matter of them was to all appearance most combustible to the very great terrour of the young man and the amazement of all the standers by Cognatus l. 8. Narrat IN the time of Anastasius the Emperour the Bulgari a people before that time unknown inroded upon Illyrium and Thracia Against whom certain Roman Captains made a voyage with an Army whom these Bulgari using Magicall devices and straragems did bafflle and destroy wholly except a very few that escaped Cuspinianus SIgebert King of France was conquer'd his army destroyed and himself taken prisoner by a people called the Hunni by reason of their inchantments they used against him Gregor Turon lib. 4. cap. 28. HAquinus Prince of Norway being to fight against the Danes by his inchantments so vexed his enemies which were of a stupendious magnitude that their heads were so sore beaten by the storms that their eyes were even sore with wearinesse and lost their sight insomuch that they received more detriment by the Elements than the Enemy The Biarmenses a people very near the Artick Pole fighting in the North with that most powerful King Regnerus by their incantations rose a most violent storm against the Danes and suddenly afterwards a most hot gleam insomuch that between these two extreams the Enemy were both destroyed and conquered Olaus lib. 3. cap. 19. ARngrimus the Swedish Champion persecuting the wood Finni or Tories and in a conflict having put them to flight casting three stones behind their backs they made them appear to the Enemy like so many Mountains so that Arngrimus seeing he was gul'd recalled his forces from the pursuit thinking that by those great mountains their passage had been stopt The very next day combatting with these same again when they were not able to stand it out throwing Snow upon the ground they made the appearance of a River And so frighting the General of their Enemy with this vain shew of waters they again escaped But the third day when they saw their party begin to fail they yielded themselves up into the Conquerours power Olaus lib. 5. cap. 15. THe Magick vesture called Indusium Necessitatis amongst the Germans Nothemâ—t was much esteemed of old with which they used to arm themselves and then they were shot-free and weapon-free and thereby defended from all manner of bodily harms and enabled to undergo any hardship whatsoever untoucht This also was used by women in childbed to procure easie and safe
this time make a seive dance and move at his pleasure And that he had a Familiar to help him is manifest for that when he was gone and another repeated the very same words he could effect nothing of that nature by it Idem Lib. 2. cap. 1. NO Country-man sayes the same Bodinus is ignorant that if two Verses out of the Psalms be recited while the Milk is a câ—urning there will no butter be produced by any Art I was at Chillis of the Valesians when a boy standing at the maids heels hindred the butter to come or gather but she threatning curses from God upon him if he did not cease and remove his Verses made him speak somewhat preposterously and backwards as 't were and then the Butter came after she had spent almost a whole day about it If you put but a little Sugar into the milk it will make no butter for this proceeds from an antipathy in nature and by the same reason if but a little Cyprian-brasse be cast into a Furnace of Iron it will never melt but turn to ashes and therefore the Forge-men when they kindle the fire see that there is none in the Furnace nor any one near the Chimney THere is a diabolicall art called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ring Magick which is performed by putting a Ring upon a bowl of water This a famous VVitch an Italian born used at Lutetia in the MDLXII year of Christ muttering out with all some kind of words and by this conceit gave answers aright to some that consulted her but most were deceived by it Joachimus Camerensis tells us that Hieronymus the Stage-player whose son became Chancellour of Mediolanum had a ring that spoke or rather a Devill speaking in a Ring which rightly rewarded the Master of it at last for it caused him to be excommunicated and cursed Bodinus Daemonom lib. 2. cap. 1. I Once saw a Physitian of Tolosa exercise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rod-Magick and with a low voice murmure out some I know not what words till the two ends of the rod met and touch't each other But when it profited nothing to the cure of the affected he blamed their incredulity and cutting it into pieces he caused it to be put about the necks of those that had the quartane Ague for their remedy Ibidem OF all wicked devices of this nature none arrive to that community and perniciousnesse as that of restraining new-married people doth This the common people call the binding of the Ligula which boyes practise with impunity and with high impudence some bragging of it Nor is this a new thing for we read in Herodotus that Amasis King of Aegypt was so bound in this nature that he could not have to do with his VVife Laodice till with exorcismes and solemn prayers he was freed Paulus Aemilius also testifies in the life of Clotarus the second that his Concubines used this trick against Hermamberga Some Epicurean Philosophers laugh at this miracle because these Artists in knotting the Ligula that are abroad make people wonder when they see that they can by no means cure the same And therefore the Canon sayes thus If at any time by Witchcraft and sorâ—ery through the hidden but alwayes just Judgment of God permitting and the Devill preparing them thy copulation is hindred repair to God by humble confession Out of which place we may note four or five Axioms or undeniable positions First That copulation may be hindered by Witchcraft which all Divines unanimously confirm and Thomas himself upon the fourth book of Sentences in the 24th distinction where he saith That a man may be restrained in that particular as to one woman but not otherwise and in his last chapter of Frigid things The second is That it is done occultly but by the permission of God in just Judgment The third That it is performed absolutely by the Devill The fourth That in this case God is to be repaired to in Fasting which last head is chiefly to be observed least those that are troubled with these things as many do and as the Devill desires and intends they should run to Diabolical means for remedy ESpecially it is strange that little boyes by pronouncing some words should be able most exquisitely to perform this inchantment I remember Rioleus general Embassadour to the Blesenses told me that a little boy was seen tying this knot under his hat whilest Matrimony betwixt two was celebrated in the Church and that the boy being seized on escaped with the knot Whilest at Pictavium I acted as Vice-Procurator in the year 1567 there was brought a case before me of this nature which when I told to my Landlady a very vertuous woman she as if most skill'd in that Art in the presence of Jacobus Bauvasius an Attorney in the cause declared there were above fifty wayes of tying this knot whether to tye a married man or a woman onely that the one despising the other's infirmity might run after adultery but that the man for the most part was bound but seldom and hardly the woman and that they might be bound for a day a year or ever or for as long as the knot should last unlesse it were dissolved That there was a knot whereby one might be brought to love another and not to have reciprocal returns but extream hatred and that there was another way to make two love one the other most affectionately but if they came to lye together that they should scratch with their nails and beat one the other most inhumanely As I heard at Tholosa there were two thus illigated for three years space and then reconciled and had a very fine child And which I most admire the woman whilest she was ligated declared she had little tumours like warts rose upon her as signs of children she should have had but for this ligature She said there were knots to be made to hinder procreation and not hinder copulation that there were men could not be ligated and some that might before marriage and some after but those few and the Urines of men might be stopt by this trick whereof they were not few that dyed I found a poor boy almost dead with this thing and the man that did the feat loos'd again the knot and so gave his urine vent And not many moneths after this very Sorcerer dyed of a like ligature THis mischief proceeding to a community in the Countrey of the Picts the chief Quaestor of Niortum when a new-married wife accused a Neighbour of hers for restraining her husband in the year of the VVorld 1560 he caused her to be cast into a very loathsome prison threatening her she should never come thence till the man were loosed and after two dayes the imprisoned woman gave leave to the married people to enjoy each others bed and when the Judge heard the man was freed he freed the woman from prison THis is worthy our observation That it passes the skill and
power of the Devil or any of his Agents to restrain mens senses or bind others from eating or drinking by intercepting their power or stomach or deprive a man of the use of any member save only that secret one and sign of our virility which in Germany they often deprive men of by making them run up into their bellies Sosprengerus tells of a man of Spira who when he thought he had lost his premises sent for Physitians and Chirurgeons to search for them who found no scar or wound at all therefore he repair'd to the VVitch he had offended and appeas'd her and so was cur'd Also a Citizen of Ratisbone furnishes us with another example of one who violently laid hold upon a VVitch and threatening to strangle her compell'd her to loose him from that nodus All these Bodinus relates in chap. 1. of his second book INsulanus Abbot and Lord of the Novallians who now is sent Ambassadour to Constantinople by the King and Polonus who is also called Pruniskus Ambassadour for France told me that one of the greatest Kings of the VVorld being very desirous of the knowledg of the number of his years and the time of his death sent for Jacobius a Sorcerer who when he had ended Masse and consecrated the Host commanded a first-born son or man-child of ten years old who was provided for the purpose to be beheaded presently and putting the head upon the Host pronounced certain words and inscribed some characters not necessary to be known by us Then he ask'd the head what he would have which answered only two words I suffer violence At this the King was inraged and cryed Take away the head and presently in that fury dyed This story is very common in the Country wherein it was acted and very certainly reported although there were onely five persons present at the thing These things thus writes Bodinus JOhannes Charterius that wrote the History of Charls the VII tells us how one Guilhelm Edelinus a Doctor of Sorbon was condemned for Sorcery upon Christmas Eve in the year 1453 who confest he had often in the night-time been carried abroad to a great meeting of Magitians where he alwayes renounced God and ador'd the Devil in the shape of a Goat kissing his posteriors A Certain poor man when his Wife often went forth in the night and forth would remain the man knew not where making for her excuse to him either that she went to stool or bath with her neighbours wherein when he had often disprov'd her he began to suspect her chastity and threatned to kill her unlesse she directly told him where her haunt was She being terrified with the sense of present danger told the matter plainly as it was in every particular and furthermore that he might experience the truth of what she said promised him he should see and go himself whither she used to go And to that purpose giving him an oyntment wherewith they being both anointed and she having pronounced some words the Devil immediately carried them from the Countrey of the Lochii to the Burdegalensian Sands which are distant no lesse than fifteen dayes journey or more when the man saw himself in company with Magitians Witches and Devils in a humane but horrid shape a thing very unusual to him and in a strange Countrey he began to blesse himself and say Good God where are we now At which words the whole company vanished Then he understood that he was naked and was forced so to wander up and down the fields till morning when he light upon some Countrey-man that set him in his way And so making the best shift he could he returned to Lochium where he accused his Wife positively of all these things before the Magistrate who commanded her to be apprehended But she miâ—igating the businesse as much as she could confessed the most part of the businesse and acknowledging her fault returned from her wickednesse ALso some few years since a woman of great quality at Lugdunum rose in the night and taking a gally-pot out of her closet anointed her self with it muttering some words withall a stallion that lay with her that night observing her when he could not see her rose to look for her and when he found nothing but the gally-pot taken with novelties and curiosity he also as he had seen her before anointed himself with the oyl that was in it when he immediately found himself to be amongst a great company of Witches and Sorcerers in the fields about Lotharingia whereat he was much amazed But in the first place calling upon God to assist him the whole company disappear'd and he finding himself all naked returned to Lugdunum accused the Witch who confessing all the businesse was burnt for it A Thing of the same nature befell a Nobleman of Maldunum who by some words of a Milner together with the instigation of his own curiosity was induced to go amongst a company of Witches to see fashions forsooth but when he was among the thickest of them an extream horrour seized of him insomuch that although he did not invoke Divine aid the devil said with a very loud voyce Who is this that is so fearful And when he sought to depart their company the Witches all vanished And when he returned he intended to discover the Sorcerers but they fled for their safety Bodinus Daemonom lib. 2. cap. 4. WE read in Paulus Grillandus a Lawyer of Italy a man very well experienc'd in the facts of Witches and Sorcerers That there was certain Country-man not far from Rome in the year of the world 1526. who when he saw his Wife rise naked in the night to anoint her self and that thereupon presently she was gone out of his sight and could not be found in the house the next day provided himself of a good cudgel wherewith to be labour her sides untill she should tell him whither and to what end she so conveyed her self last night which she presently doing he pardoned her upon condition that she would convey him amongst her fraternity She the next day anointed both her husband and her self and then they were presently mounted each of them upon a Goat and so presently brought amongst the murster of Witches Now his Wife had forewarned the man he should by no means name God or Christ unlesse in scorn and opproby to him when they were thus in the croud the wife appointed her husband to stand a little aloof till she had saluted the Prince of them who was most magnificently cloathed and guarded about with a great ring of men and women all honouring and waiting upon this their Lord and that by so doing he should see the whole of the businesse When they had done thus they began a ring-dance which is now taken up among the Countrey-people that dancing backwards they might not see one the others faces It may be to the intent they might not know nor accuse one another if perhaps they might be arraigned
in the presence of one another after which Triscalanus did to whom Charls the Ninth gave leave and liberty that he might discover his fellows He told him being in a great assembly of young men That there were many there that adored and worshipped a Goat in their meetings and kissed his very posteriours or arse-hole in plain English if you will have it so Then by reason his back was towards them he not seeing them they danced together and the devils copulated together in men and womens shapes After their dancing the tables were covered and furnished with meat the woman then moved the man to salute the Prince and sitting down with the rest of the company to the table seeing the table furnished with meat he called for salt and when salt was brought to the table before he tasted any thing he said grace which being ended presently men meats and table vanished away and he was left desolate alone being very cold and not knowing where he was As soon as it was day he came to some shepherds of whom being asked Whether he knew where he were He answered That he knew himself to be in the Beneventanian Earldom in the royal command of the Pope These things were done a thousand miles from Rome from whence travelling he was forc'd to beg his meat and rayment and at length coming home upon the eighth day after poor and lean he apprehended his Wife by whom many more being accused and confessing the truth they were all hanged THere is in the same Author in the year 1535 that a young Maid in the Dukedome of Spoleto of the age of thirteen said that she was brought by an old woman into the company of Witches and seeing the convention of them to be so wonderfully numerous she cryed out Blessed God what meaneth this which as soon as she had pronounced all vanished away and the poor girle being found early in the morning by a Shepherd told the whole businesse to him who bringing her home the Witch was accused by the Maid and being found guilty put to death by fire THe same Paulus Grillandus in his Book de Sortilegiis writeth that being invited by a certain Nobleman to the Castle of Saint Paul in the Dukedome of Spoleto coming thither he told him of three sage matrons one whereof trusting in his promise that she might freely speak without danger confessed that fifteen years since she was brought by a sage old Woman into the company of Witches where the Devill being present obliged them by an oath to renounce God their Creator Faith and Religion and to be faithfull to him and that with their hands laid upon a book of most obscure writing he also bound them to some solemn services to him in the night and that they should whenever he commanded them upon Holidayes or set dayes come whithersoever he should conduct them the Devil on the other side promised to them mirth and felicity eternall she confessed further that at that time she killed four men many Cattle and brought much hurt to the fruits of the Earth and if it happened at any time that she came not to their meeting without she were able to give good reason for it she was so vexed that she could neither sleep nor take any rest when She came to their meetings She heard the voice of a Man which called the Devill little Lord and sometimes Mr. Martinetus and as soon as ever She had anointed her self with a certain unction She mounted a Goat that stood ready at the door and held by the hair and tail by which Goat She was suddenly conveighed unto the great coverture of Beneventum where She found a very great company of Witches and Inchanters There when She had vow'd allegiance to the Devill She danc't sate at Table and last of all every Devill concopulated with her or him they had to their peculiar protection and when they had thus done every one getting upon their own Devills returned particularly with the same incredible swiftnesse that they came thither and that also they did privately at home adore the Devill when this was all confest and compared to the confessions of two more there were many others accused who acknowledged the crime and together with their oyntments and powders they were all burnt alive ALso in the third book of Tarquamadas of Spain amongst others you have this more modern story That a Magitian being very importunate at last perswaded a companion of his that he would be a most happy man if he would but be of his Faith and come to their meetings And when he had given him his consent he on a night took him by the hand and speaking some words they were both carried through the Ayre to a great company of Witches in which an incredible company of both men and women compassed a Throne whereon sate the greatest of the Devills in the shape of a Goat to whom all of them went to kisse en la parte masuzia quatenta which to those that understand Spanish is those parts which are not fit to be named in English When this new-comer saw this he said to his companion that he could no longer patiently behold these things and presently calling upon God with a loud voice they all disappeared with a great tempest and Whirlwind and left him alone there who was three whole years before he could reach his own countrey again BOdinus also writeth That Joanna Halveria born at Verberium in the Countrey of the Compedoensians did confesse that by the decree of the Council by the confirmation of the Judge Sansifianus his Mother was condemned to the fire and that he being twelve years of age was offered by his Mother to the Devil in form of a black man with sable apparrel boots and spurs and a sword at his side having a black horse at the door and using words to this purpose Behold my daughter which I have espoused to thee and to her Behold thy Love in whom thou shalt be happy And that from that time she renounced God and her Religion and that he lay with her as men use to do with women and she found no difference 'twixt him and other men but that his seed was cold and that the Devil once asked her Whether she would be gravidated by him which she refused lib. 2. cap. 7. WEE find in writing that at a great Sessions for examination of the Potezanian Witches held by Andreas Fertius the Kings Deputy over the Laodunensians where divers were burnt out of whose confessions some things follow Margaret of Bremontinus Wife of Noeles Lavertus walking with Mary his Mother the Munday next after into the convent at Franquisanum near Lognium which standeth in a Meadow her Mother putting a Broom betwixt her legs and speaking some words here omitted suddenly both She and her Mother were carried to a place where they found Joanna Roberta Joanna Guillimina and Maria the Wife of Simon Agnus Guilelina the Wife of one