Histories of Visions Apparitions Prophecies Spirits Divinations, Part 1 · Section 18
18. Of humane reaſon, and prudence (much more Chriſtian wiſdome) making more probable, and pertinent conjectures, preſages, interpretations; then can all the art and artifice of Magick and Aſtrologie.
IMmediately upon the deſtruction of Hieruſalem, there was ſeen a comet hanging over the Temple in the ſimilitude of a fiery ſword; which did denounce fire and ſword to the City. Many nights together there ſhone a light about the Temple and Altar, as if it had been day. The vulgar did interpret it, as betokening the good and liberty of their Nation; but the more prudent thought the contrary. An Heifer alſo ready to be ſacrificed, brought forth a Lambe, in the middle of the Temple. Alſo the Brazen gate divers nights together, unlockt, or opened it ſelfe, and could very hardly be ſhut againe: and this the moſt thought to be a token of ſome future good; but the more diſcerning conceived otherwiſe of it. In the clouds were ſuddenly ſeen a little before Sun-ſet whole troops of armed men. In the Feaſt of Pentecoſt, the Prieſts entring into the Temple at night to celebrate the accuſtomed Sacrifice, the firſt felt a mottion, then heard a ſound, and after that underſtood a voyce crying out, Depart we from hence. Four yeeres before, one Ieſus the ſonne of Ananias a plaine Countreyman cried out in a propheticall ſpirit, while the City was yet in peace and abundance, A voyce from the Eaſt, a voyce from the Weſt, a voyce from the foure windes, a voyce upon Hieruſalem, and upon the Temple, a voyce upon the bridegroomes, and the brides, a voyce upon all the people. At which the Elders were moved, and cauſed him to be ſharply puniſhed; but he changed not his voyce, neither for feare, nor ſtripes, nor threats, nor perſwafions; but at every ſtripe cried out, woe to Hieruſalem. At length they weary with inflicting, gave him over for one mad, and that knew not what he ſaid. But he ſtill continued in the ſame ſad tune, till the very beginning of the ſiege, and then he ceaſed; as one that needed denounce no more, ſeeing the thing denounced was now come to paſſe. OnelyOnly after the fire was already begun in the City, and the Temple, going about the wall, he began to cry again, Wo to the City, the people, and the Temple; and woe alſo to me: and ſo being ſmitten with ſomething that was ſling'd at him, he died.
Many of the Aſtrologers conjecturing many things upon the geniture of Nero; the ſaying of his father Domitius was held for the apteſt preſage: that nothing could come from him and Agrippina, but muſt be deteſtable, and born for the publique evill.
Hannibal well nothing the unskilfulneſſe, and temerity of Terentius varro, and Caius Flaminius, divined of the Romans defeat, and the Affricans victory, againſt all the Soothſayers, or diviners.
Hippecrates writing of two brothers, ſickning alike, and recovering alike; ſuppoſed them therefore to be twins, and ſo fetcht the cauſe from their like temper and conſtitution, in their generation and conception: but Poſſidonius a ſtoicke (and much addicted to Aſtrology) would needs have it to be from the conſtitution of the Stars, at their conception and birth. St. Auguſtine gives judgement forthe phyſitian, againſt the Mathematitian, grounded upon the diſpoſition of the parents, the ſoyle, the nutrition, &c. and not upon the influence of the Stars.
Three brothers, ſonnes to the Cimmerian King, contending about their fathers kingdome, were content to referre themſelves to Ariopharnes King of Thrace, whom he judged worthieſt of it. Who gave judgement after this manner, better then all the Ariolaters. He cauſed their fathers body to be taken out of the Sepulchre, and to be tied to a tree, to ſee which of them could ſhoot neereſt their fathers heart. The eldeſt ſhot his father in the throat, the ſecond hit him in the breſt, the youngeſt would rather loſe his hopes then ſhoot at all. And to him for his pieties ſake, he deſigned the Kingdom.
Charles the great (or as ſome ſay, his ſonne) beholding a ſtupendous Comet, one Egmund (alias Egmard) an Aſtrologer, willing to have him thereby apprehend ſome fearfull mutations either to his perſon, or to his dominions: yet becauſe he would ſeem not to terrifie him too much, made uſe of thoſe words of Scripture (both againſt his own art, and mind) Be not diſmayed at the ſignes of Heaven. To whom the Emperour anſwered very devoutly, We feare not Comets, or prodigious ſignes, but the maker of them, and us; and magnifie his mercy that would thus admoniſh us provoking and ſlothfull ſinners, by theſe, or any other his tokens.
Frederick the third, when a Countreyman came before him, complaining that one of his horſes was ſtoln out of his Inne, askt where the thiefe was? that (ſaid the Countreyman) he could not tell. How chance (ſaid the Emperor) he ſtole not both thy horſes as well as one? The man anſwered, the other was a Mare; and not fit for a ſouldiers uſe: whereupon (inſtead of going to a wiſe man, to finde out ſtolne goods) the Emperour adviſed him to lead his mare up and down the ſeverall ſtreets and lanes, and ſo by their mutuall neighing, the thiefe came to be diſcovered.
In the time of Edward, ſirnamed the Martyr, there appeared a terrible blazing Starre, which the Wizzards and the vulgar, would have to portend this, and that: but the more wiſe and religious ſaid, it was a ſigne of Gods anger, for their wickedneſſe againſt the married Clergy.
The mother of George Caſtriot, called Scanderbeg, dreamed ſhe was brought to bed of a Serpent, which covered all Albania, and devoured many Turks. His father Iohn, Prince of Albania, hearing of this dream, would ſeek for no expoſition either of Oracles or Soothſayers, but cheared his wife, telling her, he foreſaw ſhe ſhould be delivered of a ſonne, an excellent warrior, a great ſcourge of the Turks, and a defender of the Chriſtian faith.
Luctatius Catulus, a notable Romane in the firſt Punick war, was adviſed by the Senate not to conſult the fortune of the praeneſtine lots. Becauſe the Commonwealth ought to be adminiſtred by patriall auſpications; that is, by prudent counſels: and not by forraine divinations. And by this means he proſpered, and put an end to that war.
Apollo foreſeeing the ruine of the Athenians, counſelled them for their ſafety, to betake themſelves to wooden walls, ſc. their ſhips: which very thing Themiſtocles, out of his prudent obſervation, had adviſed before.
Solon gave warning of the tyranny that ſhould infeſt the ſtate of Athens. For which (ſaith Cicero) I may call him a prudent man, but not a Diviner. Becauſe prudence was able to foreſpeak ſuch a thing, without Divination.
Divitiacus Heduus, led more by Phyſiology, then Aſtrology; and by reaſon, more then both, as concerning the events of things future: would never be drawn on alone by the augury of a divining Prieſt; but would ſtill adde thereunto his own prudent and rationall conjecture. And by that alwaies ruled his affaires, rather then by the other.
Otanes a noble Perſian, and moſt ſagacious in conjecture, ſuſpecting the Magicians uſurpation in ſuborning a falſe King, a Pſeudo Smerdis (for the true Smerdis being ſlain by Prazaſpes a Magician; and Patizites a Magician ſetting up his brother Smerdis a Magician, who was in all parts very like the other) Otanes adviſed his daughter (a concubine) to feele about the Pſeudo Smerdis his head (for Cambyſes had cut off both the Magicians eares, for diſtinction ſake) and thus cunningly finding out the truth, they conſpired againſt the uſurping Magicians and ſlew them.
Agathocles made an oration to his ſouldiers, whereby they were much encouraged. But an ecclipſe of the Sunne hapned, at which th…y were not a little terrified. Wherefore the King (as carefull to give a reaſon of that, as of the warre) told them that if it had hapned before they ſet forth, the prodigie might have portended ſomething againſt them that made the expedition: but ſeeing it fell out after their ſetting forth, all the portent muſt needs be againſt them againſt whom the expedition was made. And thus he encouraged them again, and prooved victorious.
William the Conquerour comming out of his ſhip to enter upon the Engliſh ſhore, his foot chanced to ſlip ſo that he fell to the ground: ſome doubted of the omen, but one of the ſouldiers ſaid wiſely, this did but ſignifie his taking poſſeſſion of England.
Chriſtophorus Golumbus, after that he ſaw the Indians turne treacherous, and grow implacable towards him, told them (having ſome skill in Aſtronomy to foreſee an Ecclipſ) that within few daies they ſhould ſee the Moon his friend, and portending terrible things to them, becauſe of their breach of hoſpitality. Now when the Ecclipſe hapned accordingly, they (ignorant of the cauſe) took his prediction to be ratified, and fearing the ſequel, uſed him with all curteſie, and ladened him with gifts.