The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits and Immortality of the Soul, Treatise · Chapter 5

The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits and Immortality of the Soul · Treatise · Chapter 5

p. 93CHAP. V. More Examples.

I. ALexander Benedictus, lib. 7. Pract. cap. 25. recited by Skenkius, Lib. 7. Obs. 33. saith, that he saw two Women, Neighbours and Companions, bewitched, that were both taken with Vomiting the same Day: One vomited a Head-Bodkin, crooked like a Hook, and a deal of Woman's Hair, and Parings of Nails, and died the next Night. The other vomited much Woman's Hair, and pieces of Nitre, and three Lumps of Dog's Hair dried, the quantity of a Dog's Tail.

II. Benivenius, cap. 8. saith, he saw and had in Cure a Woman tormented with a swolen Belly, tossed up and down, who he thought had been hysterical. But at last she vomited long, crooked Nails, and brass Needles, and Wax, and Lumps of Hair, and bigger Lumps of Meat than any one can swallow; and she doted, and prophesied, and did other things above natural Power.

III. Langius, Lib. 1. Epist. 38. nameth Vlricus Neusessor, a Husbandman, who was p. 94tormented in one of his Sides, and at last felt a Nail of Iron under the whole Skin, which the Chirurgeon cut out, but his Pain still increased, so that in Impatience he cut his Throat, and died. He nameth the Persons who were present when he was opened, and they found in his Stomach a long, round piece of Wood, and four Knives of Steel, partly sharp, and partly toothed like Saws, and two sharp pieces of Iron, every one above a Span long, and a Ball of Hair.

IV. Cornelius Gemma, of Lovain, De Natur. Charact. Div. lib. 2. cap. 4. hath a long and marvellous Story of a Girl of Fifteen Years old, called Catherine Gualter, suspected to be bewitched; who fell ill, Ian. 1571. and after divers Months Pain, and Fevers and Convulsions like the Hysterical, and three or four Men could hardly hold her. He and Bernard a Physician were sent for in August: She avoided a living Eel by Stool; it lay as dead in the Excrements at first, but put into Water, revived: When it was dead, and laid up to keep, it vanished away. Then the Maid began to vomit watery Humour, (which he saw,) like Urine: For fourteen Days she vomited the quantity of four and twenty Pound in a Day; which he saw himself, and handled; and yet she had never the less passage of Urine, and she p. 95had no Swelling, and drunk scarce one Cup of Beer or Wine. Afterward she vomited abundance of Hair, some longer, and some short, like Dog's Hair, and this with great difficulty and pain. Strong Jactations, Convulsions, and beating her self continued daily many Hours; sometimes laughing, sometimes weeping, as Hysterical: Then she vomited great flocks of Hair, with filthy Matter, such as is in Ulcers, and sometimes like the Dung of Doves and Geese, and in them pieces of Wood, and those like new Chips lately cut off an old Tree, and abundance of Skins like Parchment-Shavings: And afterwards, two or three Pounds a Day, like Ink and Coals together, with long, white, hard Hair mix'd, for a Week together: Afterwards short black and red Hair, and a virulent Humour like Dirt. In September she vomited Membranes, like pieces of her Stomach, of a fleshy thick Coat, with the marks of Veins, afterwards thin black ones; and after that, various Membranes of two hands breadth, like a Viper's Slough, (in the description of which, he is too large for me to repeat, as in various shapes and figures.) After this, she vomited innumerable Stones, some like Walnuts, like pieces broken out of old Walls, with some of the Lime on them: In his presence she vomited one as big as two Chesnuts, which first stuck in her p. 96Throat, and swell'd a quarter of an Hour, so that she seemed dead, without Breath and Pulse; and after that, a piece of Wood of the length and thickness of his Finger, and Hair; after that she vomited a triangular Bone, whole without, and hollow within; and after that, many Joint-Bones; and last of all, Hair, with pieces of Glass and Brass. Recited by Mar. Don. Hist. Mir. Lib. 2. Cap. 1. and Skenkius, Lib. 7. Obs. 48. That she was cured by the Priests Means, doth not render the Story incredible, though there be many Deceits.

More such you may read in Skenkius, and of two Whelps vomited up, ibid. Obs. 42, 41, 40, 43. And Sidelius by Scholtzius sent him the Narrative of a Girl of Eleven Years old, that vomited Chesnuts, lumps of Hair, and of raw Flesh, and a Hen's Bone of the Leg, after long, terrible Fits; between which, she played, and was well: And by publick and private Prayer was cured.

VI. Wolphius wrote to Skenkius, that near Zurick the Devil vexed a melancholy Woman, and sollicited her to drown her self: She went and sate long on the Flood-gate of a Pond; at last, by his importunity, she yielded, saying, [If it must be so, on God's Name let it be so,] and cast her self into the Water, where she lay three Hours on her p. 97Back, and could not sink; and being found, and brought home, her Body was as light as Straw, and she recovered her Health.

VII. Sebastian Brand I.C. wrote to Skenkius, the Narrative of one, that after horrid Torments, vomited in one Year four hundred Earthen Chamber-pots full of Blood, besides what went by Stool, and fifty times let blood that Year; so that she lost a thousand Pounds of Blood, as this Man (a Councillor of State) professed he knew by true Report, and his own Eye-sight. And the Blood burst through the Skin, and with it she vomited a thousand and two hundred Worms, some as long as ones Finger, and some longer.

I have elsewhere cited out of Fernelius, the Narrative of such as had the like symptoms as some of these, and spoke Latin, Greek and Hebrew, which they never learnt.

VIII. Honest Fabritius Hildanus, l. 2. Obs. 43. p. 202. tells us of a young Man that none of the Physicians could cure, or find out his Disease; and his Parents going to a Conjurer, he gave him a Vomit, which brought up Pins, Nails. Points of Knives, and many other pieces of Iron, which Hildanus himself saw with Admiration, and the young Man presently recovered: (In pago quodam prope Urbem Metim.)

p. 98IX. Faelix Platerus, an excellent pious Protestant Doctor at Basil, in his Observations, lib. 1. p. 20. saith, [A certain Exorcist Priest, 1560. got wealth by exorcising, by conjuring the Possessed, in a City of Helvetia; into whose House coming on some Business, I was desired by a Parent, that was his Country-man, to turn him from this ungodly practice: And even then one was brought in, a robust Man, with torn Hose, who they said was possessed of a Devil, and carried on their Shoulders; they cast him down on the Pavement of the Chamber, who prostrate on the Ground, his Feet drawn together, his Hands contorted, and, which is strange, his Neck turned about, so that his Face look'd to his back, he lay dumb and deaf like a Block. They told me that he had remained in this posture and form, without Meat, Drink, o… any Excretion many Days. I being struck with this terribly, went my ways. Bu… this same Exorcist (Priest) that same Yea… was brought to me, to Basil, to be cured having a pain in his Hip, that he could no… walk, and he lodged with us. But wh… many things were used in Vain, at last h… confest to me, that this befell him. by the Devil: Whom when he by his Exorcisms would have cast out of one possest, the Devil then, as he had done oft before threathed him in these words, in the German, p. 99Tongue [Psaff ich will dir noch den thou geben dase du mich alses verit eist.] And at once, thrust him so violently up to the Chimney, that his Hip hurt, hath been in this Case ever since.

It would be tedious to cite Learned Credible Physitians, that have written with full Evidence, Demoniacal effects on their Patients.

X. The Case elsewhere mentioned; which convinced Hollerius, an extraordinary Physitian, who before, derided it as Melancholy, is undeniable: Of a Girl, that while People looked on, would by somwhat invisible, be suddenly bound to a Post or Bed-stead, or her Hands tyed together with Cords, Hemp, or Horse-hair: Which Hollerius seeing, and that the band couldnot be untyed, but must be cut, he confessed it was by an invisible or supernatural Power. One can scarce name a Man unlikelier to be deceived, than Hollerius.

XI. The Histories that Pet. Forestus giveth us, of his own Patients and Knowledge, having mentioned elsewhere, I here forbear to recite, and many others mentioned in the second part of my Saints Rest.

XII. Scribonius, a Learned Pious Marpurg Doctor of Physick, saith in Physiol. p. 100Sagarum, p. 53, &c. One of the Witches burnt at Lemgovia, confessed, that she made Lame one of the Citizens, (whom I will not name, being well known.) And another, with her own Mouth witnessed, that she killed the Consuls first Wife, by putting Poysonous things under the Door, on which she fell Sick the next day, and dyed.

I will add (saith Scribonius) an Example which I saw my self, and observed. For we must believe, that which Experience by Example sheweth us. In this present year 1585. in the Summer, a Witch was apprehended at Waldecia, who is in a Town of the Illustrious Princess Barbara, Countess of Waldecia, &c. to a Servant Maid to one of her Neighbours, for whom she was to prepare a Coat (or Gown) in one of the doubles of it, sowed a certain Root, which caused as soon as she put it on, that in her Loins, which the extremities of the Coat touched, she was presently the same hour greatly troubled, and straightway tormented grievously in all her Body. And a few days after, she Vomited Bones like the great Teeth of a Horse, and small Cockleshells. I saw all the Bones, I saw aCockle-shell, and with my Knife I cut them, and I brake them; so that I shall never be made believe, that this was any Deception of the sight.

Another Testimony I will add, which by a Credible Man, was sent me, Anno 1573. p. 101Nov. 14. from the Town of Hallensted in the Dutchy of Brunswick, Stephen Ralen accused of Witchcraft, by two of his Kindred, freely, and without Bonds confessed, that from his first Wife that was burnt with other Witches in the City of Ratelburg, he learned the Art of killing Men by Poyson; And that after being Angry with his second Wife, for the Suspition of Adultery in her Child-Bed, he had given her those Poysons. And that by the help of his first Wife, he had given one Rhetobbs Poyson, which killed him in eight days, having fallen out with him in his Drinking Frolicks. And another he killed with a Poyson drawn from three named Animals: And he freely confessed, that to another, he laid the said Poyson under the Door, and as he went out over them, he presently had a pain in his right Arm, and after in the rest of his Body, with which, he was grievously Tortured. And he after told them, that once his Hat falling, and lost in the Water, being angry with God Almighty, and Renouncing him (like our Dammee Tories) he gave himself to the Devil, and called him to him, to come to him; and said, I'll be thine, and commit my self to thee: Come to me Satan, who presently came. He was burnt, November the 20th.

p. 102XIII. The Concubitus of the Devils with Witches (Males and Females) hath so full Testimonies, as is not to be denied. St. Austin saith, De Civit. Dei, lib. 15. cap. 23. & Sup. Gen. lib. 1. q. 3. It is a most common Report, and many whose Credit is not to be doubted of, say and confirm, that by their own, or other such, they have heard it, that Sylvani and Fauni have been naught with Women. And that many Devils which the French call Ducii, do daily attempt this Uncleanness, and effect it, is reported by so many, that 'tis Impudence to deny it. Yea, some Women, counted honest, defend the practice. Near Witeberg, a Merchant's Wife, that pass'd for an honest Woman, was used to admit one peculiar Concubine: And once, her Husband being from home, her Lover came to her in the Night; and having pleased his Lust, in the Morning he arose, and fate on the top of the Door, in the shape of a Magpye, and said to her this Farewell; Hitherto this hath been thy Sweetheart, and vanished with the Words.] Scribon. pag 79.

I rather think that this was a Man-Witch, than a Devil.

The Story of Magdalena Crucia (cited elsewhere by me, and by Dr. H. More) was, saith Bodin, famous through the World, cited by many; who being suspected, to save p. 103her Life, went to the Pope himself (Paul III.) asa Penitent, and confessed her Sin, that at Twelve Years old the Devil sollicited her, and lay with her, and that he had layen with her thirty Years; yet she was made the Abbess of a Monastery, and counted a Saint. And she confessed that the Devil, among all the People, brought Christ's Body (the Wafer) to her Mouth, none seeing what carried it; whereby she was taken for a Saint, as done by some good Spirit.

And saith Scribonius, St. Bernard's History testifieth, that there was a Witch, with whom the Devil oft was naught, and her Husband never perceived it.

And, saith he, many Witches in these Countries have of late Years confessed the same.

And, ibid. Bodin saith of Men, [One Benet, a Witch at Berne, a Priest of Eighty Years old, said, that for Forty Years he had been unclean with the Devil in the shape of a Woman, and that unseen she was his Companion, and named her Hermione; and so he was burnt.

And another Priest of Seventy Years old confessed, that he had used Venery with the Devil in the shape of a Woman Fifty Years, and so he was burnt.

And, Anno 1573. Novemb. 14. in our Neighbourhood, the Dutchy of Brunswick, Stephen Ralen (before-mentioned) confessed, p. 104that he had for Seven Years been unclean with the Devil, whom he took for his Miss, named Rolstruchse.

XIV. Abundance of credible Histories tell us of Men and Women struck and hurt by the Devil, saith Scribonius, pag. 82, 83. I will add one Example: At Marpurg, (where he dwelt,) Anno 1678. a young Rustick that had a Devil, was by the Council of Divines brought into the Temple at the time of publick Prayers, that they might try whether they could cast out the Devil. And when Prayers were ended, and he was brought again into the Hospital, (their Bedlam,) a certain Citizen, well known to me, standing alone by his own Chimney-fire, and seeing the Demoniack Man pass by in the Street, by the noise of the Company, he earnestly prayed to God for him: In the very Moment of his praying, by some invisible Genius, he had suddenly such a Stroke on his Neck, as cast him down on his Face, on the Ground; I think, because that malignant Spirit would not that Men should pray for him that he had possess'd. He profess'd that he did sensibly perceive something like the Hand of a strong Man strike him, his Face being toward the Fire. The Man revealed it to me the same Day, but secretly, left it should cast his Wife or Children into a Fright.] Scribonius, ibid. pag. 83.

p. 105XV. The raising of Storms by Witches is attested by so many, that I think it needless to recite them. Paracelsus saith, That Devils can do it by meer Natural Causes; and saith, that if much Aluminous Matter and Salt Peter (not throughly prepared) be mixt, they will send up a Cloud of Smoak, even to the middle Region of the Air, which will come down as Rain in Drops.

XVI. Erasmus and others tell us of a Witch at a Town near them, (or rather, as Devil, that appeared and threatned to burn their Houses, and on the top of a Chimney, holding a Pot of Ashes, scattered them abroad, and presently the Town was burnt.

XVII. The felling of Winds in the Northern Seas towards Lapland and Iseland, is so commonly asserted by Mariners and Historians, that I shall omit particular Instances; Olaus Magnus, and others, will tell the Reader of that, and more, in those cold parts.

XVIII. What shall we say to the many certain Histories of the fresh bleeding of Murdered Bodies, when the Murderer is brought to it, or at least, when he toucheth it; whether it be by the Soul of the Dead, p. 106or by a good Spirit that hateth Murther, or by the Devil appointed for Revenge; it seems plainly to be by an invisible Spirit's Operation. I have heard persons so Credible give Instances of it, seen by themselves, that (though it be not a constant Event) it is surely Credible.

The aforesaid Scribonius ubi supra, p. 123. &c. faith, [This is done so manifestly, and in so many places, that to deny it is but open Lies.] And he answers them that refer it to other Causes only; and saith, [I'll testifie what I have seen, when Iames ab Aquaria, Patricius of Arles was dead; Vateriola, a Physician of great Experience, citing some Verses of Lucretius, of mad Love saith, In this Verse Lucretius thinks that the Blood of a Man affected and wounded by a Beam from the Eyes, doth pass into wounded, as the Blood of one slain by a a Man's Sword, falleth into him that falleth. But saith Scribonius, I had rather Valeriola had said, It is done by the Secret Judgment of God.

XIX. Scribonius, p 126. For the strangeness of the thing (saith he) I will bring but one Example: In the County of Lippia at Vftenia, a Woman that had killed her Child, cast it into the next River Secretly; the Child after 3 weeks was found there by 2 Maids, and by the Command of the Magistrates it was p. 107put into the Lap or Bosom of the Mother, being in Prison, to try whether the Carkass would sweat Blood: Hereupon the dead Infant presently opened the left Eye, and weeping much, look'd on the Mother; and that Eye being shut, Blood flowed out of it: This Example is certainly a stupendous sign of God's Judgment: It was seen of very many most Grave Men, and is not doubted of by the Inhabitants of that place.

XX. A Godly Minister, Mr. Farnworth, that came hither from New England (being a Nonconformist, and extream poor, dyed, as all about him said, of meer Poverty, for want of warm Cloaths, Fire, and Food, when the Act of Uniformity had begger'd many into extream necessity) he testify'd, that in America, hearing of a Sacrifice to the Devil that the Savages used to keep, by offering a Man to him, he went to see them perform it; and he found a great number about a dry Pit, and they brought an old Man bound, and by many ugly Ceremonies devoted him: And he saw the Man carried up into the Air, and quickly thrown down again dead among them.

XXI. Ludov. Vives de Verit. fidei, lib. 1. saith, That in America, it is a common thing to see Spirits appear to Men in various Shapes day and night.

p. 108So Olaus Magnus saith of the Iselanders.

XXII. I know none that hath written better de Angelis & de Potentia Daemonum, than Zanchy, who, Tom. 3. c. 4 de Pot. Dem. saith, [He wonders that any should deny, that there are such Spirits as are called Hags or Fairies, as exercise Familiarity with Men, and without hurting them, come to them, and trouble them, as playing with them. I could (saith he) bring many Examples of persons yet living, that have had Experience of them on themselves: But hence it appeareth, that there are such Spirits in the Air, and that when God permits them, they use their Power on us, for sport or hurt.] Read him there further.

XXIII. I have elsewhere cited the most Credible Melanchthon, saying he had seen some, and that many persons of his Acquaintance, had seen and talk'd with them; and that the Devil appeared to his own Aunt in the likeness of her dead Husband, with a Franciscan Fryar, and told her, she must hire some Masses to be said for him; and took her by the Hand, saying, he would not hurt her; but it so burnt her Hand, that it remained black ever after.

See Fernelius de abditis rerum Causis, lib. 2. c. 16. of many things that he saw himself, that are convincing.

p. 109XXIV. Dr. Henricus ab Heer, Observ. viii. A little Girl in the ninth year of her Age, for Beauty, Education, or Birth inferior to none where she lived, having innocently put into her Mouth a Sorrel Leaf, which was given her by a Witch that begged at the Door, to whom she had first given a piece of Bread, and then some Beer, it was scarce swallowed by her, when she began to be Tortured in her Bowels, to Tremble all over, and then to be convulst, and in fine, to swoon away, and fall as one dead. The Doctor and Doctress being called (for at Vtrecht, where this thing happen'd in May, 1625. it is Customary for both Sexes to practise Physick) though they for many days Experimented the Remedies usual in this case, the Child found no Relief, but was still Afflicted with very frequent and most terrible paroxysms. Whereupon, as the Custom of the Country is, they Consult the Exorcists. The Priest appointed for that work, a Capuchin had scarce laid his hand on the Ritual, when the Child was Transformed by the Demon into such Shapes, as a Man that hath not beheld it with his Eyes, will hardly be brought to imagine. It began first to rowl it self about, and next to Vomit Horse-dung, Needles, Pins, Hairs, Feathers, Bottoms of Thread, Pieces of glass Windows, Nails p. 110drawn out of Cart or Coach Wheels, an Iron Knife above a Span long, Egg and Fish Shells. In the mean while, her Parents and those of the Neighbourhood, observe that whenever the Witch came near the House, or so much as turned her Eye towards it, even at the Distance of two hundred paces the poor Child was in much greater Torment than before, insomuch, that she could by no means be eased of her Fit, or shew one sign of Life, until she was at a very great Distance from her. This Witch was soon after apprehended, and confest both this, and infinite other the like Feats, for which she was Strangled and Burnt. Being desired by a Father Jesuit, who Assisted her in her last Agony, and at that Moment, on which depends Eternity, when the Executioner had now sitted the Rope to her Neck, that she would dissolve the the Spell, and ease the Child, she said, it was not in her Power; Because the Ember Weeks were past, since she had Bewithtced her; adding, that should she undo the Villanies she had perpetrated, the Child would not so quickly recover: For the two other Witches, whom she named, had also given her their Mortal Infections, from the Effects whereof, she could not without Difficulty, and much time, be delivered. The Mother then, as in a Desperate case, brought her Daughter to me about p. 111the middle of September, and I had her with me for some weeks. What I then saw, heard and handled, because I know many Physitians, those especially that are Averse to the Roman Perswasion, will hardly believe it upon my Narrative, so may God help me, as I shall most truly Relate what I saw. The day after this Unfortunate Child came into my House, I took care to send for Modestus a Capuchin, who still lives at Liege: While he was yet fifty paces from my Chamber, the Girl fell down, as one deprived of Life; I took her for Dead: For she had not so much as the least Breath. Her Fingers and Toes, which if I had not seen it my self, I could not have believ'd it, were so Writhen and Convulst, that the Exterior or third joint stuck so hard unto the second, a thing which is scarce possible Naturally, that they might seem to have been fastened together with the stiffest Glue. I endeavoured to thrust a Golden Bodkin betwixt them, and after an Iron Nail, a wooden Spindle, &c. but all in Vain. The Mother seeing the Childs fall, for she would never go one step from her, said the Capuchines were coming. She had no sooner said this; but they knocked at the Door: When they were come in, and had lighted the Consecrated Taper, and the Exorcist had put on his Habit, as soon as ever he had read the p. 112first words of the Exorcism taken out of the Gospels, the Girl which hitherto had lain more immoveable than any dead Corps, fell a shaking all over, her Fingers and Toes continuing as they were, with that Violence, that she could not be held still by six of us, by no means we could use. My self, who with all my Strength, essayed to hold her Head, observed it both by my sight and feeling, to be Writhen, as by an Opisthotonick Convulsion, together with her Neck towards her Shoulders. In the mean time, her Belly was raised up to a prodigious bigness, and was nearer her Throat, than her Thighs, and that with so great a Noise, and grumbling of her Bowels, that all present could hear it at above ten paces distance. The sound was the nearest to that which is caused by Tempestuous waves under the prow of a Ship. All this while, the Child Vomited several of the above mentioned things. I begged the Exorcist, out of Compassion to her, to forbear his Reading: He had scarce pronounced the last Syllable, when in an instant, she lay as quiet as possible. And after he had quitted the House, and was at a considerable Distance off, she undid her Fingers and Toes, and opened her Eyes, and straightway stood up. And when she had wept a little, and chid her Mother for sending for the Capuchines, though p. 113she never saw them, nor as she said, heard them, she presently began to eat, drink, and play with her equals, just as if nothing ail'd her, until, upon the Capuchines returning to do his Office, she was as formerly. I saw her this while cast up Feathers, Bundles of Straw, above the bigness of my Thumb, with Pins stuck across the Straws, Points wove of Thread of several Colours, and a Row of Pins stuck in a blew Paper, as fresh and new, as any are sold on the Pedlars Stall: In fine, every thing as the Innocent Child Affirmed, which she had seen in the Witches basket, when she beged, which savours plainly of Devilism, and which all the Philosophers in the World, are not able to solve. For by what Operation, could every thing she had seen in the basket, be Conveyed in the same kind and tale, into the Bowels of the Child, except the Devil himself was assisting? But when I saw all she had cast up, was perfectly dry, and without the least wet, I told the Capuchines, and several Philosophers present (for I had called many out of a desire of being the better informed) that surely our Eyes were inchanted: For that these things could not possibly come out of her Body. For how could it be, that the pricking of so many Pins, should bring up no Blood? How could a sharp knife come up the narrow p. 114Throat of a young Child, without cutting the passage? I added, that it was my Opinion, that those things must be conveyed privately some how, from some other place, and then by the Malicious Demon, that took pleasure to deceive us, dropt from the Childs, Lips, into our Hands, and that I was brought to mind of a Verse in Ovid, which I never understood, but now less than ever: It is this.

Devovet absentes simulacra que cerea fingit,

Et miserum tenues in jecur urget acus.

Curses the absent, then forms waxen shapes

Runs into th' Liver needles.—

The words are spoken of Medea a Witch. But the Child her self being immixt with us in our Debates, and of a Capacity above her years, soon resolved this Difficulty for me. Doubt not, said she, but that these things come out of me, and with that she, caught my Hand, and put it to her Throat.

Feel, Sir, said she, a Pin without a Head a coming up, and which will come out presently. I felt, and immediately when I thought verily I held it fast betwixt the fingers of my left Hand within her Throat, I perceived it to be forc't Violently from me, and presently seeing the Child a bowing to spit, I received it in my right Hand; and I have shewed it since to several incredulous p. 115Persons, and still keep it by me, to shew to the Curious, with Points, Feathers, Thread, Straw, and other like Materials. In like manner, I have frequently at other times, felt the ends of Points, while they were yet in the very Orifice of her Stomach, and while they were coming up, and ready to come out of her Mouth, all who were Curious to make Experiments, imagined they could hold the end of the point in the middle of her Throat; but the crafty Demon, Defeated all their Attempts. After she had been exorcised at Liege for some weeks to no purpose, her Mother had a great desire to carry her to Hus, to a Chappel newly Built and Consecrated to the Honour of the Blessed Virgin, and believed by the vulgar, to be very Famous for Miracles. While her Mother and Friends which Accompanied her, employed their time at the usual Solemnities there, daily confessing, and receiving the Blessed Sacrament; but with no effect, they bring the Child back to my House, not one …ot the better, but the worse by a Hydrophobia, or as I would rather call it, a Stygrophobia, or fearfulness of moist things, so called, very sad and Disconsolate, and Despairing of her Life, yea, praying for her Death. She came back to me, about the midst of Autumn, refusing not only Wine, Beer, Mead, and all Water; but also boil'd Meat, and Bread steepe p. 116in Broth or Wine, and at last, all White and Wheaten Bread: I believe, because the one was made with Milk, and the other with Water, as is usual with us. For which Reason, for forty days time, she lived on nothing but Apples, Raisins, Nuts, Almonds, and other Fruits proper to the Season, yet for all this, the rosie blush in her Cheeks was not Diminished, nor the Milky snow of her Forehead. At last for fifteen Days and Nights together, she took neither Meat nor Drink. How she could pass so many Days without either Meat or Drink: I confess my self ignorant; but that so it was, I do avow, and all my Family are ready with me, most Solemnly to Depose upon Oath. On the sixteenth day, when she had of her own accord, askt for some Drink, and taken it, she no longer refused Food. I thought it then seasonable to have Recourse to Natural Means, not Omitting Divine Exorcisms, and I prepared the Decoction. Ex fuga Damonum of Southern Wood, Mugwort, Vervene, &c. and after I had used her a while to that Drink, I sent her Home. In the interim, tumbling over all the Books, I could find at last I light on Bartholomew Carrichters, Secrets, who in the twelfth Chapter of his second Book, Describes a certain Medicine, proper to this Malady. Finding this mightily Recommended in Horstius his Medicinal p. 117Epistles, Epist. 1. Sect. vij. in Hector Schlands Letter to Gregory Horstius, dated in the year 1612. I Write both to him, and to the Francford Apothecary, in whose Shops he saith it is sold, promising any Rate for the unguent and prescription. But receiving no Advice from them, and being Day and Night Sollicitous for the Childs Recovery, I took Carrichter again into my Hand, and having much ado to understand him, by reason of a mistake of the Printers, who had Printed in one word, Holtz bletter beer, which should have been in three, I at last, almost a Twelve-Month after, for want of necessary Materials, caused the following Unguent to be made: Take of Dogs Grease well Dissolved and Cleansed, four Ounces; of Bears Grease, eight Ounces; of Capons Grease, four and twenty Ounces; three Trunks of Misletoe of the Hasle while Green, cut it into pieces, and pound it small; till they become moist; bruise together the Wood, Leaves and Berries, mix all in a Vial, after you have exposed it to the Sun, for nine Weeks, you shall extract a green Balsam, wherewith, if you anoint the Bodies of the Bewitcht, especially the parts most affected, and the Joints, they will certainly be Cured, as hath been proved by this Child, who hath been now three years perfectly well, only on the days of the Ember-weeks, do what she p. 118can, she is seized with a certain Transient Melancholy. And this is the Reason why I have ingenuosly Communicated to the World in the Latin Tongue, the abovementioned prescription, concealed by others, and published in Dutch, by Carrichter faultily.

XXV. Mer. Casaubon in Credulity and Incredulity in things Natural.

It cannot be deny'd, because I see Learned Physicians are of that Opinion, and visible Effects do evince it, but that the Devil doth immiscere se in several Diseases; whereof Sir Theod. Mayern (whom I think, for strange and even miraculous Cures, I may call the AEsculapius of his time; and to do no body wrong, he gave me a notable Instance concerning a Maid in his House, that had been bitten by a Mad Dog, which also dy'd of it; to whom, when he came in a Morning with a Looking-Glass (to make a Tryal of what he had read, but not yet experienced himself) under his Gown, before he was in the Room, she began to cry out, and told him what it was he had about him.

XXVI. Fernelius de Abdit. rerum causis, Pag. 65. saith, I saw one that by certain words would make Shapes (Spectres) appear in a Looking-Glass, which, whatever he p. 119commanded them, would presently by Writing or by true Images so clearly express, that all might be quickly and easily understood by those that sat by. They heard a few Sacred words, but filthily contaminated by obscure names, such as the power of the Elements, the horrid and unheard of names of certain Princes of the East, West, &c.

And P. 124, 125. he tells you how many ways, by Characters, Spells, Ceremonies they work (too long to recite) and tells you how the Bewitched are Distorted, Tormented, speak unlearnt Languages, tell the bystanders their Secrets, &c. and saith, [A few Years ago, a young Man, a Knights Son, labour'd of a Concussion and a Convulsion of his Body by Fits, which did so exagitate sometime the Left-Arm, sometime the Right; sometimes one Finger, sometimes one Leg, sometimes the other, sometimes both; sometimes the whole Trunk of his Body that four Servant-men could scarcely hold him, but his Head remained unshaken, his Tongue and Speech free, his Mind sound, and all his Senses entire, even in the fierceness of his Convulsions: He was taken at least ten times a Day, sound in the intervals, but broken with Labour. Had he not had his Understanding and Senses sound, it would have been taken for an Epilepsie. The most skilful Physicians judged it a Convulsion p. 120kin to an Epilepsie, from a malignant venemous Vapor impact in the Marrow of the Back, &c. They used all Remedies— but we were all mistaken in Ignorance of the true Cause; for in the third Month a Demon was found to be the Author of all, shewing himself by Voice and unusual Words and Sentences, Latine and Greek, though he was ignorant of the Greek Tongue. He detected many of the Secrets of the by-sitters, and especially of the Physicians, deriding them, that he had by great Peril cheated them, and that by their vain Medicines they had almost killed the Man. If his Father (a Knight of the Order of St. Michael, that wore that Image in a Gold Chain) was coming to see him, he would far off, bid them, Let him not in, or take off his Chain. If Divine and Sacred words were read, he would toss him and shake him most fiercely.] See the rest.

And Pag. 127. [I saw one that would stop Blood flowing from any part of the Body, by touching the part, and muttering a few words] So far the great Fernelius: He next nameth many Diseases that they use Spells to Cure.

XXVII. The greatest Physician of England to divers Kings (and the chief that I have my self used, and knew him to be an Honest Credible Man.) Sir Theodore p. 121Meyerne, confirmeth the thing in question, but goeth the true middle way between Ignorant Credulity and Incredulity, in his late published Praxis, Pag. 57. in a Letter to Dr. Castle, about one seeming possess'd, saying, [That Melancholy is the Seat, the Bath, and the Kingdom of the Devil, I well know; and that that Prince of Darkness lurking under the thick Cloudiness of that black Humour, immixeth himself in divers Diseases, and that he exciteth cruel Troubles (or Storms) in divers Subjects, I HAVE BY MANIFOLD EXPERIENCE FOUND; but I am not of so facile a Mind, as to be struck at the meeting of every Phantasm, though portentous; nor is my Reason like Wax to receive every Impression. By two signs I can know Demoniacks. **He might have nam'd more.If a person untaught, and without Philosophy, speak in divers and strange Tongues, and nervously and solidly dispute of Sciences and Arts never studied: And if a weighty Body rapt up on high, hang long in the Air, **Which is proved of many Witches.and fall not with their weight. Black Choler in the Spleen, Brain, Womb, may move a thousand Symptoms, which by the Ignorant, pass for Miracles.] There liveth in this City, an Irish-man, who with unmoved Lips maketh a long Oration, p. 122and deceiveth those near him, as if one spoke to them far of.]

I my self discovered a notable Cheat in a Servant in my own House, and many such are detected, by which the Ignorant, Undiscerning and Incredulous, are drawn to disbelieve those that are most fully proved. Read of Cheats, De Loier, a Frenchman.

XXVIII. The Learned and Judicious Gerh. Vossius saith, de Samuele in Beverovicii Epist. Pag 203. [I know there were many fabulous stories, and of Fraud, &c. but by Men both Learned, and Quick-sighted, and Grave, and Honest, in many Ages past, there are reported, and at this Day remembred and told innumerable Instances, in which it is not possible but that with the endeavour of man there concurred, the Illusion or Force of the Devil, a malignant Spirit supplying that which was beyond the power of Man.

XXIX. Lavater de Spectris, is a Book so common and well known, (by him a Learned Godly Protestant Divines) that I will suppose the Learned Reader to have read it, and will not recite what is therein.

XXX. Pious and Peaceable Bishop Ios. Hall saith, Soliloq. 15. P. 53, 54. [Satan's Prevalency p. 123in this Age is most clear in the marvelous number of Witches abounding in all places. Now hundreds are discovered in one Shire; **Suffolk and Essex.and if Fame deceive us not, in a Village of 14 Houses in the North, are found so many of this Damned brood. Heretofore only barbarous deserts had them, but now the Civilest and Religious Parts are frequently pestered with them: Heretofore some silly ignorant old Women, &c. now we have known those of both Sexes, who professed much Knowledge, Holiness and Devotion drawn into this damnable Practice.

XXXI. I have elsewhere cited divers Passages to this use out of Holy Cyprian; but that in the Epistle of Finnilianus to Cyprian, Ep. 75. Pag. 238. seemeth strange (like that of Magdalena Crucia and others among the Papists). A Woman pretending to have the Holy Ghost, proved a Witch, and did many Wonders: She had a Gift of Prayer, and did Baptize, and Administer the Lords Supper in the ordinary way, &c.

XXXII. This is so like to the well known Case of Mrs. Hutchinson, and Mrs. Dyer in New England, with Mr. Wheeler, and the rest, in the time of Sir Henry Vane's Government, detected by the Wondrous Monsters, that I intreat the Reader to get the p. 124History of all, in Mr. Tho. Weld's Book (one of their Ministers) called, The rise and fall of Antinomianism and Familism in New England. Though I find no proof of Witchcraft in their Case, there is much of Satanical Delusion, joined with Humane Self-conceit and Pride.

XXXIII. I have before mentioned Zanchy's Judgment, and his excellent Books, de Deo, de Angelis, & de potentia Daemonum; than whom no Man hath given us a more full Testimony in general, of Diabolical Operations: I shall here only repeat his Opinion of the Manner of Satan's Working. He thinketh (Tom. 3. l 4. c. 10. p. 188.) that it is the very Substance of the Devil that entereth into Men, and that they have Bodies more Subtile than the Air.

The doubt is, 1. Whether it be only other Causes that enter by this moving of them by Devils: 2. Or whether they Operate and enter only Virtute, by some force sent from their Substance; 3. Or Operate by Contiguity of their Substance it self in Men.

1. The first way, no doubt they work as by moving Winds, and Fire, and Water, and our Blood and Humours, and our Tempters and Enemies, &c. but not that way alone.

p. 1252. What Energy or Force he can send, that is neither his own Substance nor any other Substance, I cannot conceive.

3. That his very Substance entereth into the Possessed, I see no cause to doubt; for he can penetrate any part of our Bodies, as he is a Spirit: And if we knew that he Operate only in some Body or Vehicle, Air, or Air and Fire mixt; yet what part of our Bodies cannot Air and Fire penetrate: (And this Supposition would countenance Dr. More's Opinion, that all Spirits are the the Souls of some Bodies). And Scripture saith so much of Devils entring into Men, and being in them, and being cast out of them, that I see not how we can deny it to be their Substance.

And how else should they move us (besides by Instruments) Is it any more wonder that Devils (permitted) can enter, than Air: Or how else work they on Mens Souls. I must say it to humble us, that I fear, that in most Temptations that sollicit our Thoughts, and our Wills, and Affections and Passions, if not sometimes our Tongues and Hands, it is the very present Substance of Evil Spirits, that by Contiguity move us, even true Christians when they Sin: And that it is no unseemly thing to pray God to cast Satan out of our Thoughts and Hearts. Oh that we better knew what cause we have to fear letting p. 126him in, and by yielding and custom to give him advantages to tempt and rule us.

But yet his Substantial Presence, and his Operations are to be distinguished. He hurteth not all that he is present with; but those that he hath Power to work upon, and that are prepared to receive his Operations. God himself doth not work Life or Grace on all that he is present with; and that what he doth, he doth it by his Substantial Presence, or his Essence.

XXXIV. I have elsewhere cited Luther's Testimony, and how the Devil appeared to himself at Coburge: And Melancthon's and Peter Martyr's I have cited here and elsewhere. See Pet. Martyr Loc. Com. Clas. I. c. 9. and cap. 8. §. 8. pag. 39, 40.

XXXV. The most Judicious Credible Melanchthon, in his Epistle to Hubert Languetus (the Author of Iunius Brutu's Vind. con. Tyran.) Epistolar. l. 2. p. 550, 551. saith, [Though there be sometimes Natural Causes of Madness, yet it is most certain, that Devils enter into the Bodies of some, and cause Madness and Torments to them, either with Natural Causes or without them; for it is manifest, that such persons are oft delivered without Natural Remedies. And these Diabolical Spectacles are oft Prodigies and Significations of future p. 127things: Twelve Years ago there was a Woman in Saxony, that never learnt Letters, and yet when she was acted by the Devil, after Torment she spake Greek and Latin of the future Saxon War.

Sixteen Years ago there was in the Marke, a Girl, that when she pull'd Hairs from Cloaths, they were turned into Mark-Money, which the Girl devoured with long and loud gnashing of Teeth; and those Figures (or Shapes) of Money sometimes suddenly snatcht out of her Hands, were true Money, which are yet kept by some; and after the Girl felt great Torment: But she was delivered from all that Disease after some Months, and yet liveth in Health: But frequent Prayers of Godly Persons were made for her, and other Ceremonies were purposely omitted.] Thus Melanchthon.