The Magical-Astrological-Diviner Posed and Puzzled, Treatise · Chapter 27 · Section 25
25. Of the Heavens calculating their own purport, without the helpe of an Artiſt: and the ſuſpition of Magaſtromancers predicting rather by diabolicall inſtinct, or the ſuggeſtion of their own Familiars, then from any vertue of the ſtarres.
THe day before Iulian died, one (and he an heathen) watching over night, ſaw a conjunction or compact of the Stars, expreſſing thus much in legible characters, To day is Julian ſlain in Perſia. Alſo Didymus Alexandrinus had a viſion of white horſes running in the ayre, and they that rode upon them ſaid, tell Didymus, in this very houre Iulian is ſlain, and bid him tell it to Athanaſius the Biſhop.
Conſtantine in his holy meditations, caſting up his eyes Eaſtward towards Heaven, ſaw the ſimilitude of a Croſſe, wherein were ſtars (as letters) ſo placed, that viſibly might be read this ſentence in Greek. In this th…u ſhalt overcome.
At what time Caeſar was in the battell of Pharſalia, one Caius Cornelius a notable prognoſticator in Padua, beholding the flying of Birds, cryed out, Now they give the onſet on both ſides; and a little after (as a man poſſeſſed with ſome ſpirit) cryed out again, O Caeſar, the victory is thine. Such was that of Apollonius concerning Domitian, of which before.
Numa Pompilius, a Magician or Sortiary not inferior to any, had frequent and familiar company, confabulation, and congreſſion with Aegeria a Nymphiſh devill. Simon Magus had a dogge, they ſay, could ſpeak, and doe many prodigious pranks. Quintus Sertorius had an Hart which he conſulted withall. Pope Sylveſter the ſecond had a dogge, which he held more deare then the Kingdom of Naples. Laurentius alſo had ſuch an one at Roan. Iodocus de Roſa had the divell in a Ring. Petrus Apponenſis, a magicall Phyſician, had ſeven ſpirits, which he kept in glaſſes. Andreas an Italian had a great red dogge that would doe many prodigious feats. Faecius Caredeus is ſaid to have an aery ſpirit very familiar. Stephen Gardiner had his darling cat. Iohn Fauſtus had a dogge called preſtigiar. And Cornelius Agrippa had another called Monſieur. A French Baron had a cat that vaniſht into the ayre becauſe he chid her. And it is reported of an Engliſh one, that had ſuch another, which did in like manner.
The ſame day that the Torenſians overcame the Crotonians in Italy, the victory was told at Corinth, Athens, and Lacedaemon.
Mercury minding to try the skill of Tyreſias in vaticinating, ſtole his Oxen, and came to him in the ſhape of a man, and told him they were loſt. Out they went together to make conjecture of the thiefe by Augury, and the blind preſager bad Mercury to tell him what bird he ſaw? he anſwered an Eagle flying on the left hand; that (he ſaid) ſignified nothing to him. Again, he askt him, what bird? he anſwered, a Crow, ſometimes looking upwards, ſometimes downward. Then underſtanding all by inſtinct, that Crow (ſaid he) ſweares by heaven and earth, that thou canſt reſtore me my Oxen again if thou wilt.
When Caius Marius had overcome the Sicambrians, at the River Moſa, the news of the victory was preſently carried to Rome by Caſtor and Pollux the Starry gods; or as others ſay, by the Impiſh divels themſelves. Plutarch reports many examples of demonicall familiars, carrying newes of victory to the Romans in a moment, from the remoteſt regions.
Cleombrotus ſequeſtring himſelfe from the ſociety of men, and frequenting ſolitary woods and caves, to become more inward with Satyres, was informed that there were Daemons wandring up and down to inſpire dreams and Oracles, and furniſh men with prophecies and predictions.
Lactantius is of the mind that the cutting of the Whetſtone by Accius Naevius, and the drawing of the Ship by the Girdle of Claudia the Ʋeſtall, and the like were obtained by their Familiars. To which I may adde Thucia's drawing water in a ſive.
Iodocus de Roſa was wont to ſay, that he would put none other Meſſenger in truſt with a cauſe of weight, then him that lodged one night at Conſtantinople, and the next under his Signet.
The ſpirit Orthon brought intelligence out of all corners of the world to Gaſton Earle of Foix.
The Spirit or Familiar which daily called upon Alaricus (as he related to a certain godly Monk) to begin his voyage towards Rome, came from the divels court undoubtedly.