Histories of Visions Apparitions Prophecies Spirits Divinations, Part 1 · Section 34
34. Of an evill Art, worſt to the Artiſts: or the juſt puniſhment; and dreadfull judgements befalling praeſtigious Magicians, and fatidicall Aſtrologers.
THraſeas the Augur, telling Buſyris, the Aegyptian Tyrant, that (in a time of exceſſive drought) there was no other way to procure raine, but by ſacrificing ſome ſtranger to Iupiter: the King thereupon enquiring what countreyman he was, and finding him to be a ſtranger, ſacrificed him the firſt. And perſiſting in this inhumane way, Hercules (comming into Aegypt) ſlew both the tyrant, his ſonne, and all the Arioliſts, at their owne Altars.
Certaine Hetrurian Soothſayers gave envious, perfidious, and unproſperous divinations, and directions to the Romans, about a ſtatue that was ſtricken with thunder and lightning: for which they were ſlain by the people; and that gave occaſion to the boys, to ſing this proverbe in the ſtreets, Ill counſell is alwaies worſt to the Counſellor.
A certaine Germane warfaring in Italy, choſe to him a ſouldier that was a Conjurer to be his mate, to ſhew him his skill, the circle is made, the imprecation uttered, the ſpirit hideouſly appears, is asked about the ſucceſſe at Gouletta, confeſſes his ignorance, and takes time to reſolve; diſappeares and leaves ſuch a terrour and ſtink behind, that they had like to have been poyſoned with the noyſomeneſſe, and died for feare.
Examples of the Magaſtromancers fatall miſeries, and unfortunate ends, are too many to be inſtanc't in at large. Zoroaſter the firſt father of them, was vanquiſht by Ninus, who burnt his books; ſome ſay that he himſelfe was burnt by the divell, as he was provoking him by his magicall experiments. Simon Magus as he would needs goe fly in the ayre, had his magicall wings ſo clipt, that he fell down and broke his neck. Cynops, as he went about to raiſe the dead out of the ſea, was himſelfe ſwallowed up of the waves, and died. Zarces and Arphaxat, both burnt by lightning. Chalchas died for envy. Tullus Hoſtilius provoking to thunder, was himſelfe ſtricken to death therewith. Nectanebus killed by his own ſonne. Aſcletarion eaten up of dogs, as he went to execution. Onomacritus expelled Athens by Hipparchus. Meſſinius put to the ſword by Valentinian. Sempronius Rufus baniſhed by Severus. Heliogabalus, an thropomantiſt, ſlain and caſt into a Jakes. Nigidius Figulus died in exile. Apoleius accuſed and condemned before Claudius Maximus proconful of Africa. Amphiaraus ſwallowed up of the earth. Romulus rapt up in a black ſtormy thundring cloud. Ariſtaeus ſnatcht away by an evill ſpirit. Zito fetcht away quick by the divel. A Count of Matſcon, as he was making merry with his friends, there came, one to the doore with a horſe, and made him come forth and get up, and ſo carried him up into the ayre inviſibly, and he audibly crying out as he was carried up and down. Another was ſeized on by the divell, while he was preſenting the praeſtigious pageantry of Hector and Achilles. Another, the divel came into his cloſet, and left him there dead ſitting in a chaire with his heart in his hand. Pope Benedict the ninth, ſtrangled by the divel in a wood. Iohn Fauſtus (the divell entring his chamber with a terrible commotion) was found dragd out of his bed, and his face wrung quite behind him. Bladad (who not onelyonly practiſed magicall arts, but taught them to the Britaines) in confirmation hereof, would needs goe fly, but fell headlong, and was daſht in pieces againſt the Temple of Apollo, in Troynovant. Odo Biſhop of Baia periſhed in priſon. Galeaceus cauſed a bold peremptory Aſtrologer to be hanged up. Charles the ſeventh of France hang'd Aegidius the Marſhall, for his magicall exploits. Simon the blind exorciſt ſlain by his own wife poſſeſſed with a divell. Stuphius taken by Radulph of Habſpurge and burnt. Methotin ſlain by the people, and his body ſtak't. Reatius killed by one whom he had deluded. Hollerus ſlaine by his own aemulators. Oddo drowned, for all that he often ſailed without a ſhip. Ericus driven to hang himſelfe. Oluph deſperately drowning himſelfe. Diodorus, after all his preſtigious evaſions, at length caught and burnt. Iunctin an Italian, prognoſticating of himſelfe (as Aſtrologers rarely can be drawn to doe) on the day he feared to be moſt diſmall, was knockt on the head by his books in his own ſtudy. Peter of Pomfret executed for an impoſterous traytor. A Prieſt of Norimberge would needs goe conjure for treaſure, and digging found a hollow cave, and therein ſpyed a cheſt, and a black dogge lying by it; which he was no ſooner entred, but the cave ſhut its mouth upon him, and there he periſhed. At Saltsburg a charmer undertook to enchant all the Serpents within a miles ſpace; which while he was effecting, a great old ſerpent among the reſt leapt upon him, wrapt his taile about him, and ſo drew him into the ditch, and there he was drowned.
Gobrias that aſſiſted Darius in freeing Perſia from the Magicians cruell tyranny and execrable treachery: a baſe maſſie Magician hard and cloſe preſt upon him; ſo that one of his fellows, durſt not ſmite the villaine, for feare of wounding his friend that had buckled with him. But he bad not ſpare to uſe his ſword, though it were to the hazzard of himſelfe; which he rather choſe to ſuffer, then that ſuch a miſcreant ſhould eſcape unavenged.
Alexander a pſeudomantiſt as Lucian was preparing an accuſation againſt him, rotted lothſomely, and ſo died miſerably eaten up of worms.
Manes, that magicall heretick, or hereticall magician, was in ſuch favour with the King of Perſia, that he wrote all his portents for true miacles, and his madneſſe for divine fury. His ſonne falling ſick, he committed him to Manes his art for his cure. Who confidently undertook it, but faignedly performed it: and therefore perceiving him to be worſe and worſe, he fled into Meſopotamia. Whence the King cauſed him to be fetcht back, and flead off his skin alive, and filled it with chaffe, and gave his carcaſe to the dogs.
At the taking of Conſtantinople, the Greeks ſuperſtitiouſly bewitched with a prophecy, that a mighty enemy ſhould be poſſeſſed of the greateſt part of the City; but ſhould be defeated in the market-place, called the Brazen Bull; were both careleſſe and daſtardly in ſuffering the Turkes to make breaches upon the walls, enter the City, and arrive at the very place: where they were cruelly ſlain themſelves.
Bellantius the great Aſtrologer, which is ſaid to have given warning to Savanorola, to beware of burning: was neither able to foretell, nor to prevent his own great perill, in ſo plain a manner by the Stars, but that he was moſt beaſtly murdered.