youth asleep and thinking it a sleepy phantasm returned into the Temple and falling asleep again he was again and again awakened with the same Vision wherein he was strictly admonished that he should fetch in the King therefore at length he goeth to Basilius and raising him from his sleep courteously invited and led him into the Temple and helped him to all necessary accommodation whereof he then stood in need This Deacon had a friend and kinsman at that time a servant to Theophiliza who for his affinity was familiar with the Emperour Michael and Barda Caesar his Uncle by his mothers side this Deacon declares to his brother the vision he had seen and desires him that he would help this Basill whom according to the command he had in his vision entertained into the service of some Prince who preferred him to his Lord Theophiliza and presently these two brothers tell the dream to Basil and bind him by oath to requite what kindness he had received from them when â—e should enjoy his Kingdom Cuspinianus ex Zonara Cedreno ELfred King of England heavily afflicted with the losse he received by the victory of the Danes over him Bishop Chulbert appeared to him in his sleep saying England is justly scourged for her former sins but Almighty God looks with mercy and compassion upon the meritorious prayers sufferings and tears of his distressed servants and Saints thy Kingdom is with much cruelty extorted from thee but after a short time of affliction thou shalt be gloriously restored and firmly settled in thy Land and this shall be the sign of the certainty of what I tell thee Thy fishers shall this next day come to thee laden with infinite store of fish And which increaseth the Miracle though the waters be frozen so that humane reason cannot possibly hope for any such thing and the coldness of the weather is such that it seemeth a most ridiculous thing to endeavour to catch fish yet what I say shall come to pass and when thou art in prosperity remember thy deliverance and the messenger thereof his mother had the like Vision both of them awaking tell their dreams and immediately the fishers come to them with abundance of fish Vincentius lib. 24. cap. 40. ex Holinand Et Willielmus lib. 2. cap. 14. de gestis Anglorum WHen Hungus King of the Picts a Christian was to fight with Athelstane King of England in ayd of the Scots in the night the Armies both of Hungus and Athelstane saw in the Firmament a shining cross in the form of St. Andrews cross resembling the Greek letter χ which was cause of fear and terrour to them But Hungus warned by a dream encouraging his Souldiers assured them that the cross was a sign of Victory to them which accordingly came to pass Cardanus lib. 13. de rerum varietate cap. 81. EDgar King of the Scots being about to fight against Donaldus was admonished by a dream that he should bring with him the standard of St. Cutbert therefore having performed some accustomed holy ceremonies and devotions he took the standard out of the Monastery and the Souldiers belonging to Donaldus forsaking him he was taken without sedition or blood shed Cardanus ibidem ULadislaus and Geysa brethren as they were setting their Army in order to fight a battle against Salomon King of the Hungarians an Angel was perceived by Uladislaus to put a crown of gold upon the head of Geysa who as soon as his brother informed him thereof vowed to dedicate a Temple in the place where he should obtain the victory to the blessed Virgin and the Enemies being overcome deliberately advising concerning the same where hard by a Church dedicated to St. Peter behold a Stag which had a most remarkable head with broad interwoven horns upon whom most shining shapes appeared he made towards a Wood and there stood at gaze where the Temple was afterwards built the Souldiers following after the Stag and seeking with their arrows to shoot him he fled into Danubius and was never afterwards seen Ladislaus much taken with this wonderfull sight saith No doubt but this was the Angel of God but what was that appearance of a face in his horns presently saith Geysa They were not horns but wings nor shapes of bright faces but most glorious shining feathers but where he stood at gaze is the place wherein we are directed to build the Temple wherefore hard by the Church of St. Peter they built a Temple to the blessed Mother Bonfinius lib. 3 4. Decad. 2. THe night before Theodosius joyned battle with Eugenius at the Alpes he dreamed as Paul Diaconus and Nicephorus write that two men gloriously apparelled in white sitting upon white horses commanded him to begin his battle by the break of day for it was decreed by Divine providence that he should victoriously overcome his enemies and that they declared their names to be John the Evangelist and Philip the Apostle and that a certain Souldier had the like dream is reported by Theodoretus lib. 5. cap. 24. MAssaclerus sent by the Emperour Honorius against Gildo to regain Africa from his brother who ambitiously affected the Empire in his sleep dreamed that he saw the Mediolensian Bishop Ambrose a dead man long before with his pastorall staff to strike the ground thrice and thrice to say Here even in this very place And the next day Massaclerus with much facility overthrew Gildo Fulgosus THe Roman Prince retreating to Antioch Andrew the Apostle appeared to a Priest named Peter Pontius one indued with simplicity void of fraud and shewed to him the Spear which pierced our Saviour's side which lay buried in a Temple dedicated to St. Peter upon finding whereof the besieged City oppressed with famine were so far encouraged that they made a gallant Sally wherby they overcame Corbana who besieged the City by command and advice of Belfech Turca King of the Persians he being encouraged thereunto by divination gathered from the flying of birds the Bishop of Nicene carrying the Lance which had pierced our Saviours side amongst the Troops of those who sallied out in array against the besiegers Emilius WHen there had been long and doubtfull War 'twixt the Romans and Rossians those who came from Constantinople to John Zimisca auxiliaries to the Emperour did by divine providence assist the Romans for as it is reported a storm did violently beat in the faces of their enemies and furthermore a mighty horseman was seen of many who running amongst the Romans broke the Ranks of the Enemies and it appears it was Theodore for that a Religious Woman of Byzantium dreamed the night before that fight that she saw the Mother of God with a great company who said O Theodore thy dear friend John and mine too is in a great strait being now in battell Wherefore bring him speedy help she told her dream to certain honest friends of hers who observing the time found that it was the very night before the last day of
of the rumour was sought out but none appeared but the news was put off from one to another every one clearing themselves of it and being as it were labrynthed and plunged in a vast Ocean they could not make it appear from what original or Fountain it proceeded the fame of which quickly overspread the City But a Messenger and letters meeting Domitian in his journey leading out the Legions to war intimating victory so that one day was the day of Trophyes and of Fame too in places distant more then two thousand five hundred Miles Plutarchus in Aemilio SOsipatra a woman of Alexandrina at a certain time being amongst her acquaintance and a disputation arising about the Soul she was wrapt by a certain fury suddenly she seemed as though her voice was taken away and was for a while dumb by and by she began to cry out My Cozen Philometor being transported in a Charriot is now ore-turn'd in a thorny place and hath hurt his ellow and his hands are wounded and a certain man complaining the thing was a while after known which confirmed the truth Eunapius in Aedesio THamus an Egyptian Pilot sayling to Rome late at night near the Echinad Islands night being far spent heard the voice of an unknown Author which cal'd him by his own name they that were in the ship were all amazed and when it called the third time he answered then saith the voice When thou comest into the next Island the voice being heard as if it were on the foredeck Thamus being astonished and religiously given obeyed its commands and immediately after it had given its precepts such howling mourning and lamentations was heard in the Ayre that all thereabouts was almost dead with fear The news quickly arrived at Rome and Tiberius Caesar commanded Thamus to be brought before him and examined that he might know the truth of it the Augures and High Priests consulting about it they answered Pana perhaps was born of Mercury and Penelope Plutarch relates this in his book of Oracles which Oracles then were made dumb in which place although we may acknowledge the subtily of Satan and the Devill being busied about bringing the death of Christ into question and to mock it by such a fiction except he would by Pans death infer that mens Souls after death should be destroyed or annihilated MOnobazus the King of the Adiabenians his sirname was Barles being in love with Helens sister married her and of her had Monobazus and other children of other wives At the last lying with his wife big with child and laying his hand upon his wives belly he thought he heard a certain voice bidding him to take off his hand from her belly lest he should oppresse her young which as it was begun with divine providence so it was likely to have a prosperous end He was affrighted with this voice and shewed the thing instantly to his wife and he called the Son Izatch that was born at that birth And by reason of this prediction he made him Heyre to the Kingdome But he together with his mother embracing the Jewish Religion restored Artabanus the King again to the Parthian Kingdome and fortunately fought against the Arabians and Parthians in the 55. year of his age and 24. of his reign he died and left the Kingdome to his Brother Monobazus Ex Joseph Book 20. chap. 2. NIcephorus Phaeus the Emperour did fortify the Palace of the Constantinopolitan Tower in which it was foretold him that he should dye At what time the walls of the Palace was builded in the night season a certain man sailing on the Sea cryed out after this manner O Emperour thou makest up thy walls and although thou raisest them up to Heaven whilst that which is within is evill the City may be easily taken He that spoke those things was a long time and very much sought after but never could be found out the wall was finished he perished that same day that he had the keyes delivered by him that had the businesse committed to him Cedrenus WHen Opicinus Cacia Novaria being very thoughtfull or Melancholly walked alone in his house at noon-tide he heard something call him by his name but saw no Man and afterwards said Wouldst thou be willing that thy Son should dye To whom he answered having no time to consider of it he would but afterwards coming to himself quickly denyed that which he had assented to and was very sorry for the cruelty of the prodigy therefore within three dayes his son John Baptist having no more fell sick and two dayes after dyed Fulgosus Book 1. chap. 4. BEfore Neroes death there was a confused murmure mixed with laughter and a tumult in the Theater with great mourning was heard when no man was there In Albania it rained bloud and both the dores of Mauseolus in which were the Tombs of the Caesars he being the last of that stock and the dores of his bed of their own accord flew open out of which there was heard a voice calling Nero to him Xiphilinus ex Dione M. Antonius Majoragius reported that in the Moneth of Aprill there was heard in Eupilus Lake a sound or voice crying after this sort Oh oh oh oh oh The first part of which had a Musicians song the latter part of the voice had their brief and in those years nor in any other were there ever a more plentifull encrease of Wine Wheat and other things Cardane Book 15. chap. 85. de rerum Varietate THere appeared to Hircanus the Captain of the Jews and being also High Priest a certain sight which enquired about his successour being carefull of Aristobulus and Antigonus his eldest which he loved above all their other brethren But when God had shewed the picture of Alexander the youngest sorrowfull that he should be successefull and prosperous in all his proceedings commanded that he should be brought out of Galilee lest he should be in any capacity of having the Kingdome after him but the event made the Oracle be believed for he was possessed of the Kingdome after Aristobulus who before had slain Antigonus and killed the other brother that withstood him but the other that was contented with a private life he honoured Josephus Book 13. chap. 20. BEfore Camillus's banishment M. Cedicitius a vulgar person declared or gave it out that in the night before he was called out of his way which they call the new way by a loud voice and looking back and seeing no man he heard a voice greater then a mans which spoke thus to him Go to M. Cedicitius and tell the Tribunitian Souldiers betimes in the morning they may expect the French within a few dayes The Tribunes despised and laughed at those relations A little after this came Camillus's distresse and the Invasion of the French Plutarch in Camillo et Sabellicus book 9. Ennead 3. LYcurgus hapned to come to Olympia and was a spectator of the games there it is reported that this befell him viz.
that there was a voice like the voice of a man behind him rebuking him and wondring at him why he did not stir up his Citizens to celebrate that solemnity he turned himself about and finding no man that spoke to him then he was perswaded it was a divine voice and gathered Iphitus and his companions to himself and made a great feast by which the solemnity became much more remarkable Plutarchus in Lycurgo CAssius Chaerea captain of the Guard with some others made a conspiracy against Caligula And when he was going into the Court he heard a voice from among the multitude commanding him to perfect their designes the Gods being their assistants At first he suspected that their plot was betrayed by some of the Conspirators but afterwards he perceived that he was incited thereunto either by some that knew it or by an Oracle from God On the 3d day therefore they slew Caius Circensis Josephus lib. 19. cap. 1. PErtharis King Arithpertus his Son who being banished by Grimoaldus and in his banishment sailing into Britain was warn'd by an unknown voice that Grimoaldus being dead by Phlebotomy he should seek for his fathers Kingdome Whereat being moved though he knew not the Authour yet returning into Italy within three Moneths after the death of Grimoaldus he was made King of the Lombards Platina in Dono. C. Hostilius Mancinus the Consull going into Spain as he was taking Ship at Hercules his Haven whither he went on foot this sounded in his ears Mancinus stay He being affrighted herewith turn'd his journy and went unto Genoa and when he had there shipped himself a huge great Snake appeared to him and presently vanisht out of sight He being conquer'd by the Numantes yielded basely Valerius Max. lib. 1. cap. 6. HEnry the third being Emperour kept the Feast of Pentecost at the City Ments in Almaine Where arose a dissention between the servants of the Archbishop of Mogun and the servants of Abbas Fuld about their hire They went from words to blows and fighting with Swords they polluted the Temple with mans bloud The Bishops running to them brake off this bloudy battle and again purged the Temple The tumult being afterwards pacified when they sang Thou hast made this day glorious The Devill was heard to cry aloud through the Temple I have made this day quarrelsome The Emperour amazed at this strange noise endeavoured to force away the Devill by giving many Alms and he himself with his Nobles distributed to the poor those dainties which were provided for his own Court Nauclerus Volumine 2. Generatione 36. WHen Rome being pillaged and undone by a home bred conspiracy Constans the Emperour had remained six years in Sicily he died at Sarogasa a City thereof in a Bath called Daphne For one Andreas went with him into the Bath and killed the Emperour by throwing down a Vessel on his head as he was wiping him Constans his death was known in the City the same day he died by a voice coming forth out of the Ayre Zonaras Cedrenus BOdin saith of Constantinus who is accounted amongst the skillfullest workmen of the Mettal-Art in France and is the most famous in all the Kingdome I have heard his comrades when blowing a long time no hope or likelihood of any good appeared ask advice from the Devill if they did right and might accomplish what they desired But he replyed in one word Travaillez take the pains the blowers being animated with this blew so strongly that they brought all to nothing and they would still have blowen if Constantine had not told them this was the Devills usual custome to answer doubtfully But that word Take the pains imployed that Alchymy should be laid aside and he should fall to some labour and honest Art or science commodious to get a living he is a mad man that thinks Gold can so quickly be made in making whereof nature spends more then a thousand years A Souldier gave a Horse to his kinsman that when he died he should sell him and give the Money to the poor He sold the Horse and kept the Money to himself Thirty dayes after his Soul returning It was the Devill saith Thirty dayes have I bin tormented in Hell but thou who gavest not to the poor what I had thee shalt go thither to day and I shall be translated from thence into Paradise The very same day the Devils snatcht him away and 12. dayes after his carcase was found in an exceeding high Mountain Vincentius lib. 24. cap. 8. HEctor Boethius in his 8th Book of the Histories of Scot. relates that in a small Village of Scotland scarce 14. Miles distant from Aberdene there was a very beautifull young man made open complaint before the Governour of Aberdene that he was many Months molested and troubled with a she Devill as they call it the handsomest that ever he saw and finally when the dores were shut she came to him by night and by her fair speeches forc't him to embrace her when 't was almost day she went away making no noise and trying many wayes he could by no means be freed from that so great and base vexation A prudent and devout Bishop commands the young man immediately to go to some other place and according to the Christian Religion to conform himself to prayer and fasting more zealouslly then he used to do hereby he thought the Devill would be put to flight from him when he saw him so intent upon all good works Upon this wholesome counsell followed good successe Which when the youth had religiously performed within few dayes after he was clearly delivered from these Hobgoblins So the He-Devill did no longer trouble the Woman of Navete after her confession and holy Communion which accompany prayer and fasting Legitur in vitâ Divi Bernhardi Vierus lib. 4. cap. 27. A Certain Maid in Burgus possest with Melancholly acknowledged that she was haunted with Vergilius his Ghost having for a long while conjured against it which we may the more easily believe because she was a plain girl very sincere and one who never went abroad Conjuration not at all prevailing a Physitian gave her at first some artificiall Medicines then some others to strengthen her and so she was restored Vierus lib. 4. c. 23. de praestigiis Daemonum PHilippus Wesselich Coloniensis A Monk of the Abbey called Knechtenstein an upright and pure person about the year 1550 was miserably and sundry wayes tortured by a Ghost which brought back again the lean Abbot dead many years before Sometimes he was carried under the roof of the house sometimes he was thrust between the rafters over the Bell oftentimes he was on a sudden conveyed through the wall On a time he was found his body being laid over a pond and his head lying upon the land At the last out comes the Ghost relating the cause of his long and manifold trouble to wit that this was that Abbot Mathias Durensis so many years buried who tortured him
Picardus and other Divines spent all their Arts to free her but nothing took effect Hollerius Medicus a Physitian laughing at them said she was troubled with the disease Melancholly but afterwards when he saw the wonder in a great multitude with his own eyes and seeing the maiden standing between two or three women to cry out and by and by to see her hands so bound as they could not be loosened and that the bands had need to be cut he acknowledged that it was the evill spirit This appeared to no man onely the Virgin beheld a white cloud when the spirit drew near to bind her Sylvula of Wonderfull Histories and of Magicall and diabolicall Witchcrafts and of divers of the Devills delusions APollonius being in India with the Brachman-Philosophers reports that he saw very strange wonders he said that these Philosophers at their pleasure could make it fair and foul weather bring tempests or make calms and could prepare feasts with all the Vessels fitting for them yea he saith that they did it in his presence when there was none to be seen who make ready the banquet or waited in setting on and taking off the dishes And moreover he said that when they pleased they could make earthquakes the same he affirms that he saw amongst the Gymnosophists in Aethiopia who made the trees bend themselves to the ground and speak Fulgosus ex Philostrato THere are divers Families in Africa which do by their voice onely bewitch those who they immoderately praise Pliny 7th Book cap. 2. ex Isigono and Nymphrodoro hence came the custome amongst us which Aristotle 20. sect Probl. 34. witnesseth that being about to praise any thing we make this Preface lest our words should be to our detriment as God shall save it Gellius 9th Book 4. chap. Isigonus adds that there are things of the same nature among the Triballians and Illyrians who by their sight bewitch and kill some upon whom they look long especially with angry eyes yea one may perceive mischief in their eyes And 't is more remarkable that they have two Apples in each eye Apollonides reported there were divers women in Scythia of this sort which were called Bythyae And there are kind of people in Pontus called Thibians and many other of the like nature whose marks he saith are these in one eye they have a double Pupilla in the other the picture of a Horse and moreover that they cannot sink nor are burthened with any garments Daemon relates a sort of people called Pharnacians in Aethiopia not much unlike to these whose sweat brings rottennesse to those bodies which they touch and there are women which every where infect with their sight having double eyes or pupilla's in them Cicero also is the Authour of it and Pliny in his 7. Book 2. chap. Neuro tells of a people of Scythia who are the greatest enchanters that they Metamorphose themselves from men into Wolves Herodotus in Book 4. RHodus being first named Ophiusa afterwards Telâ—hinis in that the Telchines inhabited the Island some call them Wizzards and say that they are Inchanters and that they sprinkle the water of Styx's lake upon living Creatures and plants on purpose to destroy them and as Diodorus saith 5th book 12. chap. they can cause clouds showers of rain hail snow and change their proper shapes when they will c. Strabo 14 book IN the Ephesian Letters there is mention made of those who with wonderful facility as by a divine inspiration attained to what they desired for they report at Ephesus there are divers Notes and magical voices by the using of which they are victorious in every businesse as Diogenianus Eustachius reports by those Letters That there were divers words like to riddles having no coherence written in the feet girdle and crown of Diana Suidas addes In the Olympian games there was one Milesius set in the Ephesian wrestling-Ring and was able to do nothing in the conflict because that Ephesius had some Ephesian characters written on his ankle Which being together was marked the letters being taken away and Ephesius that had tyred out thirty now laid down himself vide Erasmus adagies But that there were many of the Ephesians that were conjurers may be gathered out of that many of them were converted by the Apostles Sermons and burnt their magical Books being of great value for the Devils power was great in that place because the Idol of Diana was set up there Act. 19. WHen the Goths were travelled out of Scandinavia they marched to Scythia Philimer their King did retain many of their magicall Women in prison as Jordan Gothus writes in that history which sort of women the King accounted most pernitious and by his proclamation banished them into Wildernesses lest they should kill the Souldiers by poysons or weaken their strength being driven away for a long while they wandred about the Woods incestuously committing themselves unto the Embracements of their Incubus spirits from hence they report that the Unnes a cruel generation of men came which used no humane language but a certain Image of speech Bonsinius second Book Dec. 1. THe Northern Bothnici Zappi and Finnones are excellent Magitians also the Biarmi who live under the Pole they assume what shape they will also they know what is done in the other World by their friends or enemies Olaus book 1. chap. 1. and book 2. chap. 18. IT is reported that Zoroastres the King of the Bactrians found out the Art of Magick and hath written a hundred thousand of verses upon them as Pliny witnesseth Some would have this King to be Mizraim the son of Cham others say he was not so he flourished above eight hundred years before the Trojan War which was in Abraham's time But he as we read in Clements Itinerary being willing to contemplate God and much given to Astronomy and minding the Stars did strike out some sparks out of the Stars that the rude multitude might be astonished at the miracle At the last being angry at that spirit which he often did frequent amongst a great company of his disciples as though he were a friend of the gods was hurried away to Heaven in a chariot of lightning Wherefore his name after his death was Zoroastres as much as to say A living Star he lived in the time of King Ninus with whom he fought and foretold when he was dying that if they should keep his ashes their Kingdom should not be destroyed Suidas THe report went that Perses and Aeta two brethren ruled both at one time this in Pontus the other in Taurica both of them being of a truculent and savage disposition Hecate sprung from Perses nothing inferiour in cruelty and immanity to her father which while she was a Virgin used to shoot darts as the custome was then But her greater study was to make poysons some attribute the invention of Henbane to her and was accustomed to experience the nature and strength of poisons upon strangers within a
short space she attempted to kill her father by her poyson and thereby unravell'd the clew of his life by whose death she got the Kingdom at Taurica she erected a Temple to Diana at whose Altar she offered strangers whithersoever they came from Sea or by Land she did enact that they should be sacrificed and by this means she thought her fame would be spread in all Countries Afterwards she married her Uncle unto whom she brought forth Circes Medea and Aegialeum Circes was instructed in her mothers arts and she did use the herball and poisons She added other things by her own invention The Virgin was married to the King of the Sarmatarians and by her enchantments kill'd the King and was possessed of the Kingdom whom because for a time she did tyrannically abuse and cruelly handle the Nations that were under her they expelled the Kingdom After which she with a small company of Women was reported to keep a deserted Island in the Ocean but the likelier report is that she came into Italy and rested in the Latian Promontory then that Iland from her inhabiting there got the name of Circei Medea disdained not domesticall Arts yet endeavoured to know the medicinall use of herbs and to be skill'd in the dialect and number of magical verses but was of a far milder disposition then either her Mother or Sister were who were infamous for their truculency and cruelty as well with much art as favour which she had much with her father She freed strangers destinated for slaughter At length being suspected by her father she flew to the Temple of the Sun placed on the Sea-shore the Argonautes coming by night from Taurica into Pontus shewed the cause of their coming unto Medea she did tell them of the imminent danger that was likely to befall them from her father and told them of his cruelty to strangers admonished them to beware and take heed Counsel being taken Medea promised to get a helper to bring to perfection the proposed combaâ—e She did engage her self by oath to Jason to be his Wife as long as she lived Then the Argonautes by night leaving their keepers in the Temple went with Medea to get the Golden Fleece and by her Arts make Aeson Jason's father being an old man turn young again and delivered Pelias Jason's Uncle from being slain by his daughters and lived ten years with Jason at Corinth But when she saw â—laucen or Creusa the daughter of Creon the Corinthians King to be preferred before her she covering her anger sent a coat being poysoned to the new married Princesse for a Present as soon as she had put it on she suddenly burned like fire and by the like destruction Creon and his Queen perished She openly slew the sons which she had by Jason Jason dyed for grief she flew to the Thebans there she cured Hercules of his madnesse and from thence being heaved into the Ayr by Dragons she flew to Athens and married Aegeus c. Thus saith Diodorus book 4. chap. 3. Ovid 7. Metamorph. Sabellic PAsetiâ— farthing is a proverb Pases is of a soft nature and by Magick has overcome all mortals so that by inchantments they prepared a sumptuous supper and servitors she had a farthing minted or made by her with which she could buy what she would of them that sold any thing and would give it them and when she pleased it would come to her again Suidas Appian the Grammarian remembers her likewise MAny think that Pythagoras was a Magitian and skilled in those divellish Arts for when he had by his magicall whispering bewitched an Eagle that flew muttering over him he brought it to him that he might make it tame and forthwith it was made gentle Pythagoras saith Ammonius shewed his golden thigh at the Olympick games and used to talk with an Eagle SImon Samaritanus as Ambrosius in Hexameron and Clemens Pontifex high Priest testifie in his Itinerary besides his various and wonderfull Arts by which he contended with the Apostle he often appeared sometimes in one shape sometimes in another and was seen to soar a loft with wings like a bird a great way therefore being born up by his magical Arts and by the Devils help he did so extreamly mock and bewitch the Romans that oft-times he made himself a god and they made a Statue between the two bridges superscribing this title To Simon the holy God he bragg'd that by many unspeakable conjurations he could call up the ghost of an innocent boy to assist him and by that he could make it to do whatsoever he commanded to be done for the truth is he was familiar with the Devil which he called the soul of the boy that he might cautiously cover the pretence of his divinity Vierus book 1. chap. 16. ex Clem. lib. 2. Recog THere was a certain Man in Galeotide that by his words could drive away diseases and could expell unseasonable weather and barrennesse and poverty with his sacrifices and cause mutations and give reasons for getting Riches they report that he was inticed into Creet by the rewards of Minos that he might find out that strange death of Glaucus Suidas APollonius Tyaneus the Philosopher the son of Apollonius his mother being big with child saw the Devil standing by her who said he was him whom she carried in her womb viz. Egyptian Proteus hence he was accounted the son of Proteus he flourished under Claudius Caius and Nero untill Nero's reign in which he dyed he was silent for five years after the Pythagorean manner afterwards he went into Egypt thence to Babylon to the Magitians from thence he went to the Arabians and out of all these places he gathered notable delusions Suidas Philostratus has written his life cunning Satan by the deceits of this Impostor would have brought the Miracles of Christ into question and would oppose him as his Antagonist Of which Magnus Anastasius the Bishop of Theopolis thus writes In some places unto this day the acts of Apollonius stands and has their efficacy some of them good for the driving evil spirits from beasts others to restrain the inordinate excursions of the mind and to expell those things which endamage men neither did the Devil do such and such things when he was alive but also when he was dead and went along with him to his tomb and by his name onely did great wonders to deceive poor ignorant men which easily after this manner are deceived What shall I say of the magick of Manethon who was so expert and artificiall in these divellish arts that he openly derided and laughed at Apollonius as not being right instructed in his mystery for saith he he ought by his meer words to do what he pleases as I do not to use any operations or means to it Cedrenus in his historical Compendium SEdecius a Jewish Physitian made magical places before the Emperour Ludovicus and other Princes he devoured men together with their horses and arms and gulphed up a
have with force what thou requestest now The event did give credit to the Oracle for the Gardi being taken by Cyrus when a certain Souldier rushed upon the King his dumb son cryed out with a loud voice when before he never spoke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O thou man kill not Croesus so that Croesus by his own fault lost his Kingdom who by the words of his son saved his life Herodotus lib. 1. THe Minyae relate or tell the story about Hesiod's bones after this manner The Plague raging upon Man and Beast they sent some to consult with the Oracle who received this answer That to cease the Plague there was onely this one remedy for if they did but carry Hesiod's bones out of the Naupactian field into Orchomenium otherwise their malady could not be cured And again they asked of the Oracle In what part of the Naupactian field that should find them Pythia gave answer That a Crow would shew them the place And when they returned back into their Country and those that were sent enquiring for it not far from the way side saw a Crow sitting on a stone and there they digg'd and found Hesiod's bones in the concave of the Monument with this inscription Pausanias in Boeticis ATheniensis the son of Catatreus the Cretian's King when he asked counsel of the Oracle had this answer given That the fates had decreed that his Father should be slain by him and desiring to shun that fate of his own accord together with many other Volunteers went away into the mouth of Rhodes which is called Camiros Catatreus by the instigation of his onely son took his journey into Rhodes desirous of bringing his son into Creet It was night time ere he came into the Island and there was a fight and a contention rise between his Companions and the Inhabitants of the Iland Althemenes coming with his help unwiâ—tingly he slew his father with a Dart for which cause Althemenes being struck with great sorrow and not being able to bear the Atlantean burden of that grief he did forsake the company of men and wandred alone thorow desarts and uncouth paths and he being spent with grief dyed Diodorus lib. 5. cap. 13. AMphioâ—'s house being wholly consumed with the Plague Laius succeeded in the Thebane Kingdom he taking to Wife Jocasta Creon's daughter and when he wanted children a long while consulting the Oracle Whether or no he were to have any children received this answer It was not good for him to have children because if he had there would proceed from him a son that should kill his father and by such an unlucky fortune should contaminate his house therefore Laius commanded the Infant that was born that he should be thrown away his feet being manacled in iron chains from whence he was sirnamed Oedipus from the swelling of the wound The houshold servants when they did not cast forth the Child which they had given to them they did delivered it to a certain woman servant whose name was Polybia and when he came to man's estate Laius appointed and gave order that they should consult the Oracle about the Infant that was exposed and sent abroad Also Oedipus being certified by whom he was so exposed and going to Pythia to get intelligence who were his Parents so when he met with his Father at Phocidis though they did not know one another Laius did very imperiously command Oedipus to give him the way Oedipus moved with anger slew Laius not knowing he was his Father Diodorus lib. 4. cap. 6. PArysadas the King of the Bosphorean Cymmerians had three sons Eumelus Satyrus and Prytamis who when their father was decâ—ased strove and contended for the Kingdom Eumelus by the help of Ariapharnis the King of the Thracians slew Prytamis Satyrus oppugning the Palace received a wound in one of the muscles of his arm and so perished by it therefore Eumelus being possessed of and invested in the Kingdom for five years space by a strange accident was slain for when he returned home to his house out of Scythia he hastened to a certain sacrifice where there was a Chariot running to the Court and it was carried upon four wheels in which there was a Tent or a Pavilion the horses were affrighted and so carried him away When the Chariot-driver could not hold the reins the King fearing lest he should be cast into ditches endeavoured to leap out of the Chariot and his sword being involved and sticking in one of the wheels he was cut with it falling cross upon it and so was slain instantly It is also reported that Satyâ—us was warned of the Oracle that he should have a care of a Mouse therefore he suffered none of his Subjects to take that name and â—â—d much in fear of houshold-mice and field-mice and gave warning that the boyes should kill the Mice and stop the holes that they might not enter into the Rooms At last he ended his life being wounded in a muscle of his arm Eumelus asking counsel of the Oracle received answer That he should have a care of those things that he had carried to his house therefore he would not rashly enter into his house unless first his young men had viewed the top and bottom of it but when he was slain by reason of the Chariot wheel because of the Tent that was carried in the Chariot they all thought that the Oracle was fulfilled Diodorus Siculus lib. viges CTrus the King of the Persians marching to Istrum against the Massagetes and Essedonas he consulted Orpheus's head in Lesbo and asking the Oracle of the event of the Wars had this answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Similem exitum ut ego habebis Thou shalt dye the same death that I dyed of the event gave credit to the Oracle for Cyrus was slain by Tomyris the Queen who cut off his head as Orpheus's was by the Thracian Menadians Philostratus testis POlycrates the Samian Tyrant after he had taken the Rhene Iland and consecrated it to Apollo there was set up gallant Playes at Delphos and also sent to consult Apollo's Oracle Whether he should call those Playes Delion or Pythian The Oracle answered They shall be both Pythion and Delian Playes to thee intimating That he should soon dye and therefore it was made a Proverb THere was a great slaughter revealed unto Julius Caesar by many evident and wonderful Prodigies for a few moneths before that time when the Husbandman by the Julian were brought into the Capuan Colony to cast down the old Monuments to build new Villages and they did it more accurately in that some Antiquarians that searched found some brazen Tables in a Monument which did give notice to them that Capys the builder of Capua was buried there and there was found there that brazen plate in which was written in Greek this sentence When the bones of Capys shall be discovered then shall it come to passe that one of Julian blood shall be slain by
Lucans and Brutians and did grievously oppresse the Countrey thereabouts But continuall showers did so deluge and overflow the fields that lay between and so the army being parted into three could not get help from any other Alexander not being able to get supplies made two Bulworks or Castles of defence therefore they environed with their siege the Captain parting with and losing a great part of his riches and provision There were of the Lucans exuls and banished men about Alexander 200 by this means they with their party promised that they would bring the King into their power either alive or dead Therefore the King daring to adventure broke through the midst of his enemies with his out-spread waving hands and arms and killed the Captain of the Lucans fighting with him hand to hand and gathering together his army into one he with a full body came to the River the strength of whose Tide a little before had broke down the bridge and when he consulted of an escape over it being not fathomed by him and his Army being tyred out and by chance one blab'd forth the name of the River which was much hated by the King and so exclaimed and cryed out Art thou called Acheron which being known he made a great haesitation whether or no he should passe over the River and when he so delayed one Sotinus a servant gave warning that the Lucans did seek places to lye in wait for them and when the King thought that they were ready to rush upon him with his naked Sword he leapt into the River A Horse on the overthwart bank stood to receive him which when one of the Lucans had wounded him with casting a Dart and the streaming Tides carryed him down his Spear sticking fast towards the enemies Camp dead and they tearing it to pieces and cutting it in the midst one part they sent away the oâ—her was kept for to be mocked which they a long while battered with stones and darts and at the last they delivered it to a Woman that she might keep it to be a ransome to redeem her Husband and children which were captives on the adverse party and they sent away the bones of the burned body to their enemies at Metapontus from whence they were further sent to Cleopaetra and to her sister Olympias the Mother of Great Alexander Strabo lib. 6. Valerius Maximus lib. 1. THere was an old Oracle came from the Altar of Jupiter Ammon concerning the death of Annibal the famous Carthagenian Captain Lybyssa corpus teget tuum Lybyssa shall be thy grave Anniball did suspect Africa and that his buriall should be in Carthage and thought he should end his life there for there is a fabulous place of Bythinia beside the Sea not far off there is a little Village called Lybyssa and by chance Annibal was banished there and because he alwayes suspected the mollities and tendernesse of the King of Prussia and abhorred the Romans therefore he opened seaven subterraneal holes or passages before his house or out of his Tent and divers foramina or oilet holes made in which there was many secret conspirators privately combineing together And when he received that commandement of T. Quintius Flaminius the Roman Ambassadour which he had desired and obtained of the King he attempted a flight through the private holes but when he fell into the Kingdomes snares he determined to kill himself Some report him to wrap his neck in his Cloak and commanded his servant that he should infix his knee in his posteriours and twine and twist him hard untill he should dye Livius lib. 8. Decad. 4. and had poison given him which he had power to mix and mingle himself and taking the cup himself said We free at last the Roman people by this dayes work when he believed that it was expected there should be a long and a tedious death of that hated old man and by this means they say Anniball perished Plutarchus in Flaminio Pausaunias vero in Arcadicis that when he got upon a horse he of his own accord wounded his hand and had not rid far when a Feaver got hold of him by reason of the inflammation of his wound and that he dyed within three dayes And so the fatall name of the man whom the Nicomedienses called Lybyssam fulfilled the Oracle APpius Claudius in a Civil war in which Cn. Pompeius falling out with Caesar breaking the league bringing both detriment to himself and to the Common-wealth desirous to find out the spring and root of that great sedition for he excelled in strength the Achaian Empire he compelled the chief Governour of the Delphick Tripos to descend into the inmost concave that they might know certain things consulting with the Oracles they were almost choaked such a damp and stinking vapour of that divine or rather diabolical spirit was drawn in by them Therefore an inspired Virgin by the instinct of the Deity and with a horrid voice sung with such quavering sounds of words uttered the destiny or Oracle For it is nothing saith she to thee in this Romane war thou shalt get the Valley of Euboea but he thinking to be admonished by Apollo's Oracles lest there should arise any contention or difference about it departed into that Region and Countrey which is between Rhamminta that noble and renouned part of Micka and Caristum bordering upon the Chalcidick Sea lying between got the name of Euboea where he was spent and consumed of a disease before the Pharsalian combat and fight and he possessed that burying place which was foretold him by the Devill Valerius Max. lib. 1. cap. 8. THe Antianaean Oracles gave an Item unto C. Caligula that he should have a care of Cassius therefore he gave order that Cassius Longinus the Pro-consull of Asia being a Lawyer to be put to death but before he had satisfied his tyrannicall desires he was slain by Cassius Chaerea not being able to eschew his fate Rutilius in vita Cassii MIchael Comnenus Palaeologus Emperour grieved with a pain at his heart and being much troubled and perplexed with the fear of death he asked those that stood about him what was the name of that place When he had heard the name of Pachonii and Allages with a great sigh he said that there was he to finish his life and that his death was decreed by the fates and therefore bitterly accused himself that before that time he had not blinded and pluck't out the eyes of that honest man Pachonius for that an Oracle was publickly reported to be given out concerning the Emperour that being deceased Pachonius should succeed him in the Kingdome and being deceived and blinded with the love of ruling he had not hastned to make Pachonius unserviceable for the Empire Gregoras lib. 5. THere was a famous City in Olympos whose name was Libethra which Mountain stretched it self forth into Macedonia not far from which City there is Orpheus's Tomb and Monument and there was formerly an Oracle had from
bring the Tegeates into captivity and so make use of their fetters But having fought them they themselves were vanquished and those that came alive into the enemies hand were fettered with those very ropes they had brought and put to mow and till the Tagean Land being restrained within the length of their fetters Those very fetters remained in the Temple of Minerva Alea at Tegea within the memory of man being hung up as a Trophie for that victory Herodotus lib. 1. CLeomenes King of the Spartans consulting the Oracle at Delphos had this answer Eum Argos esse capturum which runs either thus That he should take Argos or That Argos should take him or he the Argians Which Oracle understanding in the more favourable sense he was very confident of taking the City Argos but when he had surrounded some Troopâ— of the Argi in a Grove and there burnt them asking who was the Deity of that place and being told it was Aâ—gus he complained the Oracle had deluded him and then quitted all hope of conquering Argos Herodotus lib. 6. PHilomelus the Phocensian having taken the Delphick Oracle began to compell Pythia to tell him something of the future event of the affairs of his Country At whose imperious carriage the woman being much moved said unto him Sir you may do what you please At which words Philomelus very much rejoyced taking them as a most apt answer to his demands and the prediction of his future successe and presently hereupon gave out in writing That the Gods had licensed him to do what he pleased and after the custome calling together the people in a speech he made to them expounded the Oracle exhorting them to be of good courage for the future and after this wholly bent his resolution and endeavours for military designs There happened also a Prodigy in the Temple of Apollo in this manner An Eagle hovering over the roof cast her self down to the very ground and followed some Doves that were carried into the Temple preying upon them at the very Altar which those that pretended skill in matters of that nature expounded an undoubted token of the good successe of Philomelus and the Phocensians in the Delphic Warr which lasted nine years dubious but at last terminated with the destruction of the Phocenses Diodor. lib. 16. CRoesus demanding of the Oracle at Delphos Whether he should reign long or no received this answer from Pythia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whenso'ere a mungril Mule shall have the Crown Wanton well fed shall frisk it up and down With 's tender hoofs then fly and make no stay To ask what is the news away away Craesus concluding with himself that there would never any Mule reign over the Medes instead of a Man thence infer'd that his rule should be perpetuall not understanding that by a Mule was understood Cyrus because he was descended of two severall Nations his Mother Mandane being of a better extract then his father Cambyses For she was a Mede and Astyages the King his daughter and he but a Persian when they were subject to the Medes Herodotus lib. 1. ARcesilaus being driven from his Kingdome with his Mother Pheretima being at Samos sollicited all persons he could meet with in hope to regain his Country and having got together a very considerable army he sent to Delphos to consult the Oracle there about his return into his own Kingdome to whom Pythia returned this answer During the time of four Battus's and as many Arcesilaus's to wit eight Generations of men Apollo hath granted thee to reign and further dehorts thee to endeavour And likewise perswades thee when thou art in thy own seat to remain in peace But if thou findest a furnace full of Pitchers or pots be sure thou boil them not but fling them out and if thou dost fire the Furnace take heed of entring a place that is compassed with water for if thou dost thou shalt perish and the Bull do what he can Arcesilaus taking those forces he had gathered in Samos returned to Cyrene and having recovered his Kingdome and somewhat setled his affairs not minding the Oracle he called his adversaries to Judgment and those that he could lay hold on he sent to Cyprus to be executed whom the Cnidians when they were brought into their Countrey rescued and sent them to Thera Some that had privately conveyed themselves into a strong Tower-building combustible matter round he burnt the Tower and all When he had done he began to remember this was that the Oracle had forbidden him and went out of the City Cyrene fearing the death predicted for he conceived Cyrene to be that circumfluous place he was warned to avoid and betook himself to the King of Barcaeans called Alazeris whose Neece he had married where some as well Barcaeans as Cyrenean Exuls espying him walking in the forum set upon him and divided both his and his Cosen Alazeris heads from their bodies Herodotus lib. 4. NEro Caesar being warned by some Mathematicians that the ruine of his Empire was portended by the Stars but some of them differ'd in opinion in one thing and some in another at last being sick he sent to Delphos to be resolved what should be the fate of his state and received in answer this That he should beware of the 73. year Which when he heard being an inconsiderate man and scarce above thirty he so wholly gave himself up to security that he feared nothing concluding that the Oracle had promised him a peaceable reign during his whole life and that he could not dye before the appointed year set down by the Oracle insomuch that he arived to that height of insolence vaine conceit that having lost some precious jewells in a tempest he was confident the fishes would export them to land for him as they were in duty bound in his conceit With these fond extravagancies was he elevated even till on a sudden he was left destitute by all his friends and subjects and forced to a most ignominous end so well did Apollo's Counsell steed him But least this father of lies should seem to deliver any untruth the night before his death he made Nero hear a voice cursing the name of Nero and extolling that of Galba that so he might understand it was by the will and institution of the Oracle that he fell for Galba succeeded him for the space of seventy three years Petrarcha ex Suetonio Xerxes the Son of Darius having dig'd up an old Monument of Belus found an Urne of Glasse in which a dead Corps lay in Oyl but the Urne was not full but empty a hands breadth from the hips of the body near which there stood a little Pillar or column on which was contained written that it should go ill with him that opened the Sepulchre and did not fill the Urne which when Xerxes had read he was taken with much dread and horrour and commands presently Oyl to be
signifies a Boar. Which thing being brought to light the Souldiers chose Dioclesian the revenger and with one accord salute him Emperour He therefore after an assembly had whereby he might fulfill the saying of Druys thrusts Aper thorow with his own hand adding that of Maro Aeneae manu dextrâ cadis Thou fall'st thou dost not stand By great Aeneas his right hand Cuspinian ZEno Emperour of Constantinople asked some secrets of Marian a most wise Earl Who should succeed him in the Empire He answered One of the Silentiaries shall take thy Empire and Wife but me thou shalt unjustly kill Both of these the end proved in its time AGilulph Duke of the City Taurina when as he brought unto Authar King of the Longobards his Bride Theodelinda the daughter of the King of Boiaria had a Sooth sayer with him who by the stroak of a Thunder bolt foretold unto him that a little after he should enjoy the Bride her self and the Kingdom and that thing the issue proved to be true For Authar being killed in War Agilulph succeeded him in his Kingdom and wedlock Paul Deacon of the deeds of the Longobards chap. 14. ANtonine the son of Sosipater and Eustathius the Cappadocian had a school at Canobicum the door of Nilus He foretold to his Schollars that after his death the Temples of Serapis a god of the Egyptians should be overthrown The event confirmed the prophesie under Theodosius the Emperour Eunapius in Aedesio REmex a certain Rhodian being estranged or angry in his mind began to witness with a loud voyce that before the thirtieth day there should be very great slaughters and robberies at Dyrrhachium in Greece and fire and flight but the Navy it self to return home When Cn. Pompey who being Pretor was chief over the Navy had heard that and had told it unto three men Cicero Varro and Cato all being moved also some of them are said to be exceedingly affrighted But the space of a few dayes coming between Labienus fleeing out of the battel in Thessaly brought news of the overthrow of the Legions and that the Army of Pompey was scattered in a great battel by and by the publique corn was snatched out of the barns and scattered abroad through the whole City they that were there having departed with a headlong flight were both forsaken by the Rhodians and being unwilling to follow the ships were burnt PRocopius in his third book of the Vandall-war sheweth that there was wont to be an old Proverb tossed up and down in Carthage by the children that Gamma should sometimes persecute Beta and again Beta Gamma I think the childrens sport to have looked hitherto that between neighbours there might oftentimes rise discord But this childish saying was wrested unto the event of things because Genserick King of the Vandalls had expelled Boniface Afterwards Belisarius Gilimer The Proverb arose not from what happened but was a Riddle of the Carthagenian Children as an Oracle of that which happened afterwards Erasmus in his adagies THere stood Tombs in the Leuctrian field of the daughters of Scedasus which they call Leuctrides from the place For by chance when they were by force ravished by the Spartan-guests they had been buried in that place That so cruell and wicked act being committed their father having wished for curses on the Spartans when he could nor by request obtain revenge from Lacedemon stabbed himself upon their Sepulchres From thence the Prophesies and Oracles daily foretold the Spartans they should avoid and turn away the Leuctrian revenge by the gods But that thing many did not so understand but doubted of the place because also a little Town placed on the shore of Laconia is named Leuctron Besides there is a neighbouring place of that name in Megalopola of Arcadia At length the Lacedemonians being in the Leuctrian field of Baeotia over come with a most cruell slaughter by the Thebanes lost their rule Plutarch in the life of Pelopidas THere was with M. Anthony the triumvir or one of the three chief men of Rome a certain Magitian of Aegypt who had often moved Anthony that he might withdraw himself from Octavius Thy fortune saith he O Anthony is of it self famous and large but when it cleaves to Octavius it is continually blunted Thy daemon or spirit feareth his Genius or Angell and when as it is of it self high and chearfull yet at the approach of this it is made low and fearfull He the more easily gave him credit because whether by lots or pairs of Cocks and Hens or Quails committed to hand Anthony was alwaies inferiour to Octavius He therefore being stirred with these things going with Octavia from whom he had already begotten a little daughter out of Italy sailed unto Athens Sabellicus in his ninth book Ennead 6. MOst antient Prophets had sung It was wickednesse for Romane weapons to go beyond Ctesiphon a Town and the Captains that dared to do it were to receive punishment They think M. Crassus purposing that thing to have perished with his Army M. Ulpius having attempted to go beyond Trajanum recovered not Italy and to have lost five Provinces on the other side Tygris presently and he had been better not to have undertaken the journey he wasted and almost consumed his legions of Souldiers with long pains And although the Conquerour drew out his bounds farther yet he profited not much desiring to go beyond Ctesiphon Tygris being overcome Valerian was taken by Sapor King of the Persians But Odenatus Palmyrene a conquerour of Romane Majesty came beyond Tygrim even to Ctesiphon Carus Emperour led the Army of Probus a large conquerour from the Sarmaâ—ian Warr into Persia he wasted the Enemies Kingdom he vanquished Seleucia compassed about with Euphrates the which Aelius the true Antonine had in times past taken And then he requiring or assaulting Ctesiphon and willing to proceed farther either a disease or the stroak of a thunder-bolt in a troublesome and lightning heaven took him away Cuspinian SYbill prophesied of the destruction of Antichrist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Again he then an evill time shall see When his own Net will his destruction bee Some understand by the snare or net the place wherein Antichrist is to be choaked Theodore Bibliander a most learned man of the Art of Printing whose matter is flax steeped and glewed together to wit paper with this flax Antichrist shall be dispatched because it is that in which the holy Gospel of Christ and all the Prophets being written together are contained by whose authority as it were by the breath of Christ's mouth the three-headed Beast shall be brought to destruction PSammeticus took away Tementes King of Aegypt The god Ammon had answered Tementes asking counsel of the Oracle concerning the Kingdom That he should beware of the Cocks Psammeticus using familiarly Pigritatus a Carian when he had known from him that the first or chief Carians put Cocks on the top of their heads he understood the mind of the Oracle and hired
of some Genius or Paynim which said these words unto him in a chiding manner Ere while O Julian I attend at the porch of thy house hiddenly much delighting to increase thy dignity but as often as being repulsed I have departed and the opinion of many agreeing neither now indeed am I received I will go cast down and sorrowfull yet that I will keep in remembrance in my heart that I will dwell no longer with thee Cuspinian NEptune seemed unto Stipo the Philosopher in his sleep to be angry because he had not offered Hecatombe that is the sacrifice of an hundred beasts as the custome was But the Philosopher being nothing disturbed at this sight answered What sayest thou Neptune Dost thou so come hither as a boy with thy complaint because money being mutually taken I have not filled the City with a savour But according to the bignesse of a familiar thing I have sacrificed unto thee some very small fishes At these words Neptune smiling he seemed his right hand being plucked to him to have said unto him For thy great favour I will bestow on the City of the Megarians plenty of Apues or very small fishes The which also they deliver to have happened UNto Hippias the son of Pisistratus while being a banished man he ambitiously seeks after Kingly Authority at Maratho a night-shape of his mother with whom he seemed to copulate at the time of rest was brought before him For which thing the interpreters answered him that Authority Royall was largely signified unto him and he being put in mind thereof by his dream and full of hope not long after enjoyed the dominion of Athens Herodotus book 6. THe Mother of Dionysius of Syracusa when she had conceived him in her womb she seemed to bring forth a Satyr and an Interpreter of wonders being consulted with she knew with a certain issue that he was to be the most famous and most mighty of the Grecian bloud Valerius book 1. chap. 7. Astyages Cyrus his grandfather by the Mother side the birth of Cyrus having respect unto the Empire of all upper Asia two dreams of his being fore-messengers of it endeavoured in vain to shake off Mandanes his daughter because he had seen in his sleep her urine to have overflowed all the Nations of Asia not to a most excelling man of the Medes lest the glory of the Kingdom should be passed over into that family but by assigning her unto Cambyses a man of a mean fortune of the Persians and by commanding her son Cyrus to be put out because he times being quiet likewise had thought through the off-spring of Mandanes the vine sprung forth would have increased so far untill it would over-shadow all parts of his dominion but truly he was disappointed by endeavouring through man's counsels to hinder the happinesse of his Nephew appointed unto him by the judgment of the heaven-lies Valerius book 1. chap. 7. Herodotus book 1. THey report That Cyrus King of the Assyrians dreamed the eldest of Prince or Duke Hystaspes his sons with two wings to overshadow with the one Asia with the other Europe Therefore after his son Cambyses Darius the eldest son of Hystaspes having obtained the Kingdoms subdued Europe and Asia Herodotus book 1. Justin MIthridates the sonne of Ariobarzanes was a companion to Demetrius son of Antiogonus and his equal and had Antigonus in reverence a man evill neither in deed nor in the opinion of others An unlucky suspition happened to Antigonus concerning him by reason of a vain dream For at his rest it had seemed to him to have set a wide field with branches of gold from thence first grew golden corn A little after he when he had returned thither found nothing but stubble and when he was very greatly grieved he heard the voyce of a certain one who said Mithridates the golden corn being mowed down went away into the Euxine Sea He being much troubled opened that sight to his son being first brought to an oath of silence and that thing also that he determined by any means to kill Mithridates Demetrius this thing being known was grievous sorrowfull and when as he being a youth according to his manner being at leisure had come to him not daring for the tye of the oath to warn him by words drew him apart by degrees from friends and when they were alone his Spear being turned upside down he wrote he beholding him Flee Mithridates and he the matter being understood fled away by night into Cappadocia But destiny proved the foolish Dream of Antigonus to be true by and by for Mithridates possessed a large and good Country and was the author of the Kingdom of Pontus which the Romans under about the eighth King overthrew Plutarch in Demetrius ACtia the Mother of Augustus Caesar sleeping in the Temple of Apollo she seemed to be co-mingled with a Dragon and the moneths for bringing forth being fulfilled she brought forth Moreover before she brought forth she dreamed that her bowels were carried on high into Heaven and were powred forth into the whole World The same night Octavius saw in his sleep that he sprang out of his mother's womb When the Infant was now born Nigidius Figulus a Senatour presently foretold unto the Father the highest royall authority unto his son Xiphilin Sueton in Augustus OCtavius when he led an Army thorow Thracia and had asked counsel of the Oracle of Bacchus concerning his son Augustus the night following he presently seemed to see his son more sumptuous than in a mortal shape with a thunder-bolt and Scepter and the spoyls of Jupiter the most excellent great and a chariot covered over with a shining crown of Bay twelve horses of an exceeding whiteness drawing it Q Catulus after the dedication of the Capitol for two nights together dreamed in the first The most excellent great Jupiter many boyes in robes of purple playing together about the Alâ—ar separated one and to have laid into his bosom the singe of the Common-wealth which he carried in his hand and in the night following to have observed that he the same child being in the lap or bosome of Jupiter Capitolinus when he had commanded to be withdrawn was forbidden by the warning of the god as though he should be brought up for the safeguard of the Common-wealth And the next day beholding Augustus meeting him not without admiration he said he was most like to the Lad of whom he had dreamed Some unfold the first dream of Catulus otherwise as though Jupiter many boyes together cloathed in purple robes requiring a defender from him had shewn one among them unto whom they should bring back all their desires and had brought his kiss untouched with his fingers unto his mouth Marcus Cicero having followed C. Julius Caesar into the Capitol he by chance told the dream of the foregoing night unto his familiar friends a boy of a free countenance let down from heaven by a golden chain to have stood
their fighting Ut Zonoras Tomo 3. indicat ARiulphus Duke of Spoleto fighting against the Romans at Camertes and obtaining Victory inquires of his Souldiers who it was that behaved himself so stoutly and gallantly in the battle they answered 't was a Prince Whereupon he replies he was more powerfull then any mortall man for when ever I was assaulted fiercely by the enemy he with a Buckler defended me from their fury then going with all possible speed to Spoleto seeing the Temple wherein the body of Saint Sabinus is intombed he asked what Church it was when they answered It was the Temple of Sabinus he hastily leaps from his horse calling his Souldiers who as they say alwayes waited diligently upon him walks into the Church and seeing his Image he presently with an Oath affirmed 't was he that protected him from the violent assaults of his numerous enemies whereupon 't was presently believed that Sabinus was the most pious Patron of Souldiers Ariulphus would not for any thing have wanted the experience of this Protection of Saints which is so frequent amongst Christians Bonfinius lib. 8. Decad. 1. THe great Sfortia for the honour he bore St. Leonard Christned his Son which he had by Catella Alopa sister to Pandulphus Alopus after his name for that he dreamed he saw Leonard in the same shape he is usually pictur'd in Churches coming to him being a Prisoner with relief breaking the Iron bars of the window of the Prison and with his power loosing his shackles The event proved this Vision to be very true for the day following this blessed dream Jacobus Gallus King by sedition was driven out of the Neopolitan Kingdome and lost both Rule and Liberty and Sfortia was delivered out of Prison and to the great content of all was restored to be Master of the Horse Jovius in vita ejus IN the time of Ferdinand first King of Aragon the City Neopolitane in a most flourishing condition and the Kingdome free from all calamity it is manifest that Cataldus about a thousand years before that time an holy man had been Bishop at Tarentinum and that the Citizens thereof did worship him as their Patron in the middest of the night he again and again appeared to a Minister of holy things who had lately taken the order of Priest-hood having been educated amongst those who vow chastity that he should without delay take out of the ground a little book which he in his life time had writ and hid in a private place wherein some divine writings were and bring it to the King giving little credit to this dream although he saw him in his sleep very oft and alwayes of the same shape and fashion being all alone early in the morning in the Temple he plainly appeared to the Priest with a Mitre in such Bishops weeds as he used in his life time to be aparrelled in advised him as he desired to avoid great punishment that the next day without further delay he should dig for the Book which he had written and which was hidden as he had formerly shewed him by Visions and bring it to the King the Priest and people went the next day to the place wherein for many ages this little book had been hid and found it bound with a leaden cover and locked wherein it appeared that the destruction of the Kingdome miserable calamities and sad times were at hand whereof the King was warned we have learned by experience that this Prophecy was fully executed and shewed it self to be so divine that not long after Ferdinand himself either by the justly incensed wrath of Almighty God or other inscrutable causes of his divine will could avoid what he was so fully admonished of but in the very first appearance of War departed this life and Charls the eight King of France with a strong hand having an huge Army of Neopolitans invaded the Kingdom and Alfonsus the eldest son of Ferdinand after his fathers death having but newly undertaken the government of the Kingdome was thereof deprived basely running away and dying in flight as a banished man shortly the second son of Ferdinand the hopefullnesse of whose youth had endeared him to all men to whom upon the death of his brother the Kingdome fell was intangled with a miserable and fatall War died of an immature death in the very flower of his age afterwards the French and Spaniards obtaining the Kingdome divided it chasing away Frederick another Son of Ferdinand the elder with a larger Army wherewith they invaded the Kingdome took to themselves all whether holy or prophane plundered Towns and Cities laying all waste committing most vile and filthy immanities Alexander ab Alexand. cap. 15. JAmes the son of Zebedee appeared to Charls the Great three seveâ—all nights and did exhort him to drive out of the Countrey of Spain in which his body rested the Saracens and assured him for his labour and travail therein he should obtain an everlasting crown Henricus Erphordiensis ex Turpino Romensi Episcopo refert cap. 68. THe Monks of the Abbey of Florence assured of the expedition of the Normans into France carry the body of Saint Benedict to Aurelia conceiving it a more safe receptacle from the Enemy at the comming of the Normans they burnt the Abbey of Florence and laid it wast the night following Saint Benedict appeared to Count Sigillosus to whom the care and defence of that Monastery was cammitted and in a Vision heavily chideth him because he had not resisted the Normans when they fell upon the Monastery The Earl awakening presently fell to his arms and with a handfull of men pursues the enemies loaden with plunder following them with a swift course fiercely falls upon them and by the help of Saint Benedict kills them every man and redeems all the Prisoners and booty Robertus Ganquinus lib. 5. CHildebert being King of France the Arch-Angell Michael again and again admonished Anbertus the Abrencatensian Bishop that wholly in the Sea which by reason of his eminency is called his Tomb he should build a Church in memory of him requiring such veneration to be given him in the Sea as was exhibited to him in Gorganum in the mean time a Bull which was taken by a Lyon was found bound in that place Whereupon the Bishop was commanded the third time that he should lay the foundation of the Temple where he should find the Bull and as he should observe the ground beaten with the feet of the Bull he should draw the compasse of the Temple which he built in honour of Saint Michael and from that time as in the Mountain Gorganum formerly in that place also now in danger of the Sea the worship of the Angell was begun Sigebert Anno Dom. 799. AGnes Wife to Leopold Marquesse of Austria desired her Husband to design some place wherein to build a Monastery that the prayses of Christ and his Mother might therein be said From a Castle seated in the Mountain Cecium
without some reluctancy ask't him What Man or God art thou or what is thy businesse here The Vision answered O Brutus I am thy evil Angel and thou shalt see me again at Philippi At which Brutus nothing daunted said again I shall then But when it was vanished he called together his Servants who averred to him they neither saw nor heard either Vision or voyce after which Brutus took his rest again When it was light he went to Cassius and told him of this Phantasm When after Cassius was slain at Philippi whilest he prepared for a second fight wherein he was conquered after he had been Victor in the first In the night as the story sayes the same Vision appeared again to Brutus in the same shape not speaking a syllable but so vanisht Plutarchus in Bruto WHen Marcus Antonius became bankrupt at Actium Cassius of Parma his Partner fled to Athens where in the dead of the night as he lay in his bed ingulph't with cares and perplexities he phancied a man of a monstrous magnitude a black and ugly hue his beard incompt and squalid and his hair disorderly hanging down came to him And being askt who he was answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. thy evil Angel or Genius Being at last affrighted with so horrid a presence and so evill a name he called in his servants and questioned them whether they saw one of such a dresse and visage either come in or go out of his Chamber and when they had assured him they saw none such he again composed himself to his rest but presently the same Phantasm haunted him Wherefore he cast off all thought of rest and commanded a Candle up to his chamber and enjoyned his servants not to depart from him Between this night and his execution inflicted by Caesar was but a very short interval as you may read in Valerius Max. l. 1. c. 7. and Sueton. in Aug. and Plutarch in vita Antonii DIon of Syracusa after the Syracusans were made free and a little before he was slain by Calippus as he sate by chance in his Porch in the evening full of carefull thoughts heard a sudden noise and looking about him it being yet day-light he saw a huge woman in face and habit nothing differing from a Tragick fury sweeping the house with a Broom He very much terrified called his friends and acquainted them with the sight and intreated them to stay and lodge with him that night for he should sink under his terrour if they should leave him and the Ghost haunt him again The Ghost indeed troubled him no more but his Son being almost arrived to Manhood by reason of some slight and puerile crosse became so sorrowfull and enraged that he precipitated himself from the house top and so perished Plutarchus in Dione ALexander the third King of Scots took to Wife Joan Sister to Henry the third King of England which Joan dyed without issue after which he married Margaret daughter of the same King Henry who bare to him Alexander David and Margaret All these dyed yet the King not altogether dispairing of an Heir and Successor of his body married the third time one Iola daughter of a Knight of Draconum whilest by night they were celebrating the Wedding Feast he saw the likenesse of a dead Man follow the Dance The same year the King was knockt off his horse and slain Hence arose all that sedition and destruction which blasted that formerly flourishing Kingdome This fell out in the year of our Redemption MCCL. Cardanus de rerum varietate l. 16. c. 93. THere is a noble Family and among the chiefest of Parma called by the name of the Tortells which have a Castle wherein there is a Hall In it about the chimney an old woman for this hundred years uses to appear when any of the Family dyeth or is like to dye On a time a gallant Matron by name Paula of Barbia which was one of the same family when we were at Supper together at Belzois told me that one of the Maids of the house was very ill and that the old woman appeared all were of opinion that she would dye But it fell out otherwise for she recovered but another of the family which was well dyed suddenly They report that this old woman whose Ghost is now seen was formerly very rich and was by her own Nephews murthered for her moneys sake and hackt in pieces and thrown into the Privy Cardanus ibidem ANtonius Urceus Codrus a Grammarian of Brixia the very same night he dyed thought he saw one of a huge magnitude a bald pate his beard hanging down to the ground fiery eyes carrying Torches in both hands and terrible all over and he spake to him thus Who art thou which walkest up and down alone thus like a Fury in that time of the night when men are fastest asleep Speak out what dost thou look for or whither goest thou When he had thus said he skipt out of his bed to avoid him rushing in violently upon him Bartholomaeus Bononiensis in ejus vitâ JAcobus Donatus Patricius of Venice and also rich when on a night sleeping with his Wife he had a taper light and two Nurses also were asleep in a truckle-bed with a young child not a year old he saw the chamber door open by little and little and a man I know not who put in his head the Nurses also saw him but no body knew him The young man being affrighted as well he might be snatcht his Sword and Buckler each of the Nurses great Tapers into the Hall they come which was near adjoyning to the Chamber where all things were close The young man comes back with great admiration the small Infant which was well in health dyed the next day Cardanus de Rerum varietate lib. 16. cap. 93. VVHen Cursius Ruffus in his family notable for nothing of worth did act as Quaestor at Adrumetum a City of Africa walking up and down at noon in the porch he saw the shape of a woman of a more comely hue far beyond any mortal creature which spake unto him Thou art Ruffus which shalt shortly come Vice-Consull into this Province He being hopefully advanc'd with this prodigie not long after enjoyed the Proconsulship of Africa by Tiberius Caesar whereby the event of the Vision was fulfilled Fulgosus lib. 1. cap. 6. EDwinus being banished by Ethelfred King of the Northumbrians fled to Redovaldus King of the East-Angles Not long after when Ethelfred by some in authority sought to kill him he began to take great care to secure himself In the night when all was still one of an unknown face and habit having met with him ask't him what he would give him if he told him that which would free his mind from all manner of sadnesse Edwinus made him this answer whatsoever was his that he might lawfully request and was in his power that he will freely give him Then he prognosticated to him that so
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
belabour that Vessel being then full of liquor that it lasted and was serviceable not long after Another there was that set a long spear upon his head three fathoms long and from the top downwards the rope net-wise was folded or stairs made by it and a Boy did ascend to the top sometimes shifting hands and feet untill he came to the spears top and then he descended again and he that carryed the spear on his head walked all the while Another would throw up on high a Globe or a round ball of Glasse and then when it was falling again would catch it with the extreamest parts of his nails and sometimes by his elbows now one now another but some that were not very expert fell and perished And whereas there were above forty came out from their country almost twenty of them came to Byzantium and they travelled all over gathering a great deal of Money of the spectators and some came for profit some to shew their art for ostentation sake Gregor lib. 8. MIchael Sicidites Magus Manuel Comnenus being Emperour who would not suffer nor allow of such sights which did effacinate the peoples eyes but sent all these Divel 's companions to them which he would have banished when he saw a little ship in in a large place of the Palace in which potts and dishes were transported he by his magical verses caused the Marriner to be squeesed and crushed and made him no sooner leave to strike and dash the potts together then they were all resolved to dust a little while after stroaking his beard he began to lament and the mist being past he deplored himself that he was so handled by some irefull diety and being asked why he broke his ware in peices he with much greif declared that being very busie rowing with his Oares there was a horrible great Serpent that extended it self over the earthen Vessells and that he saw it with staring eyes as though it was ready to devoure him and no sooner began to leave off rowing about than that all the pots and platters were broken and crushed to pieces This Magitian played another prank something like this for washing in a Bath he began to quarrell and wrangle with them by and by he went out of the Bath a little after some others through fear and haste running out together and treading upon one another did leap out of a Channell in which there was hot-water and when they skipt ouâ— of it they were as black as Pitch and they were thrown out of the Bath and were soundly kickt Nicetas 4. book GRegory the 7th as Cardinall Benno saith that when he pleased he could so shake and strike his sleeves from whence fire like sparks would come out of them and so deluding the eyes of the simple by those petty miracles as a signe of his holinesse WIth the Ostrogothians is a great lake or Gulph called Veter having a pleasant but a very long Island which is as it were its Center and contains two parish Churches in it under one of which there is found to be a den or cavern with a convex hollow entrance and of an unmeasureable unfathomed depth into which some men out of a tympany-like ostentation descend with lighted torches and long threds to fathome it and find how deep it is as did one Gilbert by name and others they met a famous Magitian who was overcome and bound formerly there by his own Master Catillus over whom he presumed to domineer and insult for his hands were tyed with a little rope and certain Gothish and Ruthenien characters were enscribed on 't and so was cast down into this den by his master Gilbert remained there being immoveable divers did go into the cavern not without great danger to see these strange enchantments Afterwards the law forbad any to go down themselves or perswade others to go down under that perill that they were likely to undergo viz. death and so the mouth of the den was stopt up with stones Olaus Magnus lib. 3. cap. 20. ANtonius Heliogabalus with his Magicall arts and enchantments did Conjure up the departed Souls of Severius his father especially and Commodus and many others from out of Hell who tell him of future things he esteemed highly of Apollonius Cyaneus Cappadocian who flourished in the reign of Domitian and honoured and praised him much and took care that a monument should be made for him because he was the greatest Conjurer Dion ex Xiphil THe potent Emperour Arrian when he understood by Magicall fopperies who should reign after him whose name should begin with Theta he gave command that all those should be slain whose names began with that letter as the Theodorans Theodotans Theodulans and a certain valiant Man Theodosius coming out of Spain his father who afterwards ruled Theodosii Wherefore many being affrighted anagramatized and changed their names It was given out that this divination was made by a Libanian Sophister Jamblicus by name the Scholler of Proclus when there was many killed he commanded the executioners to enquire out the Authors of this divination Jamblicus fearing much the Princes cruelty took a cup of poyson and dyed Socrates lib. 4. cap. 19. Sozomenus lib. 6. cap. 35. ANdronicus Comnenus Tyrannus did consult with one Seth a Magitian having his eyes put out by Manuel the Emperour about his Successour and his private enemy that watched for him About the beginning of September the Devil shewed him in muddy waters the letter Sigma and afterwards Iota therefore Andronicus thought that these letters decyphered Isaurus to wit Isaacius Comneus the Nephew of Manuel the Emperour who coming out of Isauria had appressed Cyprus by his tyranny Much search about the businesse was there at that time when the spirit with a great noise flickered in the water within the exaltation of the crosse answered Therefore vain saith Andronicus is this Oracle for how can Isaacius in so short a time come from Cyprus and take my Kingdom from me And for this cause he sleighted such divinations and prophesies But when one said Surely Isaacius Angelus was dead or else that Oracle would have been verified concerning him and he said further That they imagine things that are afar off and in the mean time neglect those things which are under their feet and so he was incensed against the diviners art and puffing sleighted Isaacius Angelus as a tender soft pusillanimous fellow by whom a while after he was deprived of his Kingdom and life too Nicetas lib. 2. EUphrosyna the Wife of Alexius Angelus the Emperour of the Byzantines when she desired to know future contingencies did give up her mind to all kind of wicked divinations and acted many unlawfull things she cut off the bill of a Porcupine hogg which she saw ready with its piked bristles and cruel teeth to fall upon a Lion in Hypico and she chastised with many stripes famous Hercules Image the gallant workmanship of Lysimachus lying upon a Lyonesse skin and
deplored her fortune leaning with her head upon her hand neither was she satisfied or contented with this but did mangle and break in pieces divers other Statues and Images and knocked them on the head with hammers some certain Pedlars diligently taught birds to imitate humane words so that in the streets and porches they would sing with their ordinary voice Justitia Politica 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicetas IN the time of Galerius Maximinius a persecutor of the Christians there was one Theotecnus at Athens who was an enchanter and a cruel enemy to the Christians and did as much as in him lay to cause the Christians to be accused and brought before the Emperour and by this deceit he did it by his conjurations and Sorceries he caused Jupiter's image to utter these words Speak to Jupiter that these Christians may be expelled out of the City and fields and banished as being enemies to him The subtilty of this wicked Magitian easily took effect under such a wicked Prince Eusebius lib. 8. JAson the son of Aeson Nephew to Pelias the Thessalonian King wishing to do something worthy of memory and to imitate some heroick deeds of Persius and others Pelias did consent to his desire not that he might encrease the glory of his youth nor adde splendour to it but hoping that he would quickly be slain in some warlike Expedition or other for he feared his brother Aeson lest by the help of his son he should get the Kingdom from him In the mean while he promised him ayd for his Warr if he would prepare for a Voyage to Cholcos to get the Golden Fleece Then was Pontus inhabited by the Barbarians and wild Nations and they were so cruel to strangers that they slew all them that sailed thereabouts Wherefore Jason makes a Ship near the Pelian Mountain of a greater bigness and bulk and which had greater furniture then in those dayes they usually had for there was onely then used some little Ships or Frigots The rumour of this thing was spread all through Greece so that he invited many gallant young men of their own accord to come to his Warr Jason chose the chief of them that desired to go with him which number was four and fifty Of these who were famous was Castor and Pollux Hercules Telamon Orpheus Atalanta Schenei besides Thespius's sons and the author of the Voyage Jason The Ship we will not say when dipped in the water was called Argo from Argos its builder who also took care of repairing her when she was sailing on her Voyage or else named Argos for her admirable swiftnesse because the Ancients called any thing that was swift Argon they preferred Hercules to be their Captain the chiefest for Vertue and Fortitude The wings of fame flying all abroad the Countrey did bring news that all those that sailed with Jason to Pontus perished by a mortality In the first place Pelias made Jason's father to drink Bull 's blood he slew his brother Pomachus being but as yet a boy Alchimede his Mother was designed for death for all she was a Woman yet she did one very memorable thing with a manly courage when she fled into the inmost recesses of the Palace and there begging of the gods that they would reward and revenge such impiety she ran her self thorough with a sword Jason returned back into Thessaly and the Argonautes promised him to do what they could to revenge such an hainous wickednesse if he would fight against the City Medea promised that by her craft she would kill Pelias and would deliver the Kingdom unto them without any danger and that she would do her task too for she was to instruct them in every thing and she from the Palace was to give signs of the whole Affair smoke by day fire by night to the Keepers of the Watch-Tower on the Sea-coast therefore preparing Diana's Image which was convex and hollow in which she hid divers kinds of venomous things Afterwards by her medicines making her hairs gray and her face to be so rugged and wrinckled that she seemed to all that lookt on her to be an old woman then taking Diana's image went forth into the City and stirred all up to superstition as though she came from the Northern Countries for the King and Citie 's good and welfare divers worshipped her religiously as a Goddess all the whole people was so besotted and they brought Medea into the King's Palace These things much increased Pelia's superstition yea and his daughters were so bewitched by Medea's Inchantments that they were perswaded that she was a goddess that was come for the prosperity and felicity of the Kingdom for she did affirm that Diana was carried through the Ayr by Dragons and that she had gone about the greatest part of the World and that she might be perpetually worshipped they ought to choose the most Religious King they could get and moreover that the Goddesse had commanded her that with some Medicines she should take away the old age from Pelias and turn him young again At which words the King admiring commanded Medea to try the experiment upon her self that they might believe what she said She required that some pure water might be brought her by one of his daughters and when she had shut her self up in her bed she anointed her body and by the strength of herbs she was reduced to her former age It is reported that she by her enchantments caused a Goddesse in the likenesse of Dragons to fly through the air and supported by the Hyberboreans which seemed to turn towards Pelias Pelias esteemed very much of Medea and diligently commanded his daughters to do what she commanded and be observant of her and whatsoever she gave in charge to be done about her body that they should do it In the following night it 's reported that Medea should say that it was necessary that the body of Pelias should be boyled in Copper which when the Virgins were about to do it they required one experiment that they might give trust to her words then there was a Ram that was kept in the house for many years to whom she promised to the Virgins if she should first boyl that she would afterwards restore it into its former condition again When the Virgins did consent they relate she did boyl the body of the Ram which was divided into little pieces and by her medicines brought forth the figure of a Lamb out of the kettle which being done and believing Medea all the virgin-daughters except Alcestis who for her eminent Piety abstained from doing violence to her father they slew their father by beating of him Then it 's said That Medea lest that they should boyl the body of Pelias made as though she would first perform her Vow to the Moon and commanded the Virgins with their lamps to ascend to the top of the Palace and there in the Cholchians tongue made a long speech to drive away the time and gave
not invited thereto in the day time she was transported by the Devill to a hill near unto the Village the Shepherds seeing her and because she had not water which she should throw into the ditch that she might stir up the tempest for she confessed that she observed this ceremony she made water and stirring that about in the ditch she spoke some certain words by and by the Heavens which now were as I may say all Crystalline clear were muffled with Pitchy Jet-like clouds foul and black masks and a great shore of hail came quickly upon the dancers in the Village and the VVitch returned into the Village again they seeing her did all verily believe that she had raised the tempest and laid hold on her and the Shepherds did give in their testimony that they saw her carried through the Ayr which she being accused of and convicted acknowledged it and was burned WE read a memorable History in Pontanus 5. libro The French of Suetia besieged in the Neapolitan Kingdome by the Spaniards when all things were parched with drought and heat and the French in their battell having a great scarcity of fresh water some Priests being Magitians did draw-about the Crucifix in the Streets in the night time and with innumerable railings and blasphemies they went their procession and threw it into the Sea afterwards they gave the consecrated host to an Asse and brought him to the Church-porch and there buried him alive then after some Verses and horrible blasphemies which is not fit to be mentioned there came great dashing showers and made almost a deluge and so by this means raised the siege and were freed from the Spaniards there was one in the year 1557. who threw all his Images and pictures into a Salt-peeter pit and afterwards there was abundance of rain ANd oftentimes Witches kill Cattle by sprinkling a certain kind of powder upon the thresholds they go over not that the powder can work such an effect which might rather as one would think kill the Witches that carries it about them then those creatures which go over it especially when the Witches hide it one foot under the ground but onely the Devill is the helper of it I have heard of three hundred beasts by this means which were destroyed in one instant in a Sheepfold of Biturgia Neither onely doth the Devill exercise his power not onely in raising of Tempests Hail Lightning and about Corn and beasts but also upon Men but chiefly upon wicked men and those VVitches which were burnt at Patavius in the year of our Lord 1564. which we have mentioned confessed that in those conventicles in which they were congregated together they worshipped the Devill in the shape of a Kid and when they were about to depart the place they heard a great voice pronounced by the Kid Either ye shall be revenged or else ye shall dye and so there were many men and beasts slain by him leaving no other means of preserving life NIderius writeth that sentence was pronounced by him against one Stadlinus of the Lausanensian Diocesse who confessed that seven young Children were killed in the VVombs of the Mothers and so also brought barrennesse upon all the Cattle that belonged to his family and being questioned about the matter gave answer that there was a certain beast whose name we keep secret that was laid there by him at the threshold which being taken away Bâ—rrennesse ceased in his house WE read in the Monstreletian History of a short Witch that was taken by a Priest who had two Toads that she had Baptized which she used to Magicall uses which I should esteem as ridiculous were there not daily examples that confirmed it VVhen Sir John Martin put in stead of the Governour of Laodunensis condemned a VVitch of S. Proba to be burned who shook off two great Toads which they found in her Coffers The Froisardian History witnesseth that there was one Curio with the Suesionians who asked Counsell of a VVitch that he might be revenged of an enemy who counselled him that he should Baptize a Toad and give it some brave name and give it the Sacrament which he did and many other things which is not to be expressed here he confessed Five Inquisitors after VVitches declare these things amongst others that examined a VVitch which confessed that she put the consecrated bread in a Napkin which she ought to have swallowed down and hid in the Cup where shâ— nourished the Toad and put to it the powders which she had given her by the Devill and so she muttered some few words which is not fit to be mentioned here and so sprinked the Sheepfold thresholds over which the Cattle were to passe over the aforesaid powder therefore she was apprehended and burned IN the examination of the Valerian Witches in Subaudia which was Printed stood to be sould we read that casting a certain kind of powder upon Plants they will quickly wither and dye I have saith Bodinus in my power some Judgments that are sent unto me by that worshipfull Gentleman the Lord of Pipemontens de barbu Dorcaea which by a Statute of Parliament 11. of January 1577. one was sentenced to death by the Governour of S. Christopher to Sanlisium which decree was confirmed and established and condemned to be burned and afterward the Witch confessed that she had killed three men by casting a little powder wrapped in a sheet of Paper into that place by which they were to journey and murmuring these words In the name of God and all Devills and other Conjuring diabolicall words Which is not fit to be inserted in this place NIderus writes who examined abundance of Witches that he saw one who onely by his voice could kill men and another that did turn up and down her neighbours Ghost being a horrible spectacle Anglus also writes of whose History we have formerly spoken being the Physitian of the Palatinate Princes that in the year 1539. there was an Husbandman of Ulrichus that was afflicted with such kind of enchantments Neusessurus by name thorow whose skin there was an Iron nail strucken and was so gnawed and tormented in his bowells and despairing of remedy strangled himself and was anatomized and cut up in the sight of all the Citizens and there was found in his body a Staff four Steel knives two plates of Iron and a bottome of hair And therefore no wonder is it if the Thessalonian Witch at Pamphila caused a Womans belly to swell and be tympanized as if she had been about to bring forth three births and for the space of eight Moneths she carried about her this burthen In like sort did that Martinian Witch which killed the German not by poison as Tacitus saith or by a Cocks Egg but by the help of the Devill And also that Witch in the Constantiensian Diocesse that did so puff up a mans body as though he had the leprosy and a little after troubled his mind Sprangerus and other
the hands of his Kinsmen And presently after Italy was punished with great slaughter And lest that any should think this thing fabulous and commentitious the Author of it is Cornelius Balbus one of Caesar's Favourites Suetonius TItus the Emperour had this of the Oracle He should dye in the same manner that Ulysses perished and dyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Sea Ulysses was slain by his son Telegonus by a Wray-spear that is by a weapon of that fishe's bones instead of an Arrow And so Titus was kill'd by his brother Domitian with the poyson of a Sea-Hare Coelius lib. 26. cap. 30. JUstinianus the Roman Emperour about the year of our Lord 533 sent one Mundus a Captain into Dalmatia against the Ostrogoths who inhabited Salonas And when he went out with his son Mauritius to behold the Camp he was slain by the Goths and so fulfilled the Oracle and freed many from their fear But there were some who said That there were some Prophetical Verses pronounced by one of the Sybills whose opinion was that Mundus was to perish with his issue where at length Africk was to be taken by the Romans But then Justinian did restore Africk to the tame Vandals This Prophecie of Sybill did much perplex and affright many men who did expect that there would a suddain destruction come upon the whole World But the event death and end of this Captain Mundus and his son did shew that such like Prophecies were obscure and ambiguous and how fallacious the Artificers of Magick were Aventinus lib. 3. Annal. Bojorum et Johan Magnus lib. 10. cap. 14. MAnuel Comnenus hoping that the thred of his life should be extended did put himself into a Monasticall habit so that he ended both his life and his reign together who had reigned eight and thirty years excepting three moneths to which continuance of the Empire that old Oracle seemed to allude Tui prehendet te Postrema nominis viz. The last part or syllable of thy name will put Finis to thy life For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the last syllable of the name of Manuel with the Greeks doth comprehend or compleat that number Nicetas lib. 7. XErxes beginning War with the Grecians when he was vanquished and overcome at Salamina he constituted Mardonius that he should prosecute the Warr in his name But when he little availed and prospered at the Plateas when he fought and flew his fame began to be mute Mardonius left a great Treasure in the Tent which he had buried in the ground Polycrates the Theban enticed with hope of it did buy the field But when he had a long time made scrutiny and search for the Treasure and yet did not find it he consulted Apollo's Oracle at Delphos by what means he might find the Treasure Apollo answered him in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Turn every stone And when he did so it is said that he found great store of gold Erasmus in Chiliadibus AFter that twelve Kings had created Setho to be King of Aegypt and making a strict covenant between themselves that they should not entrench one upon another and so by a sure conspiration did rule Aegypt but in the mean while it was known by the Oracle that he that should sacrifice or offer in an Iron vessell should only obtain the Egyptian Empire Not very long after it came to passe that when by chance when all the Kings stood in Vulcans Temple in the manner of sacrificers the chief Priest of the Temple numbring each of them except Psammetichus who stood in the last place took the Phiall and offered and he being compelled by necessity took off his Helmet and sacrificed therewith then he bore his Censer as the rest of the Kings did the thing being minded and observed incontinently they that stood by remembred the Oracle and consulting together they judged Psammetichus to be worthy of death But by chance it happened to be known The greatest part of the Kingdome being shaken off the other Kings did relegate and dismisse by their Law another part of them into the fenny part of Aegypt and that the rest should abstain from that Psammetichus did take very ill that ignominy and underhand took private counsell how he should revenge that contumely therefore in the interim it was told by the Oracle out of Latone which was in the Buti City accounted the truest of all those that the Aegyptians had that he should use the help and aid of the brazen men that should issue out of the Sea and that they should vindicate Psammetichus and inthrone him in great dignity Not much time was spent ere that the Jonians mixt with the Carian viewing all the Sea-cost thereabouts that they might rob thereabouts and being driven by Storms and Tempests did voluntarily steer their course into Aegypt therefore one of the inhabitants seeing them land and come on shore affrighted at the uncouthnesse and strangenesse of the thing being full of fear related it to Psammetichus that the brazen men were come For the Aegyptians untill that time had never seen an harnessed Souldier then he perceived that the fatall time was come and quickly he entered in league with the Jonians and with their companions and got them on his side for the appointed war with many promises and Psammetichus aided with these helps quickly destroyed the Kings by whom he was relegated and dismissed and all the Countrey was yielded to him Sabellicus lib. 4. Ennead 2. ex Herodoti lib. 2. MAnuel Comnenus Emperour having a Son born that he might make his birth-day more famous did entertain his noblest Citizens as the custome was with a sumptuous feast carrying boughs in their hands and called his Son Alexius not onely that he might honour him with his Grandfathers name but for the Oracles sake who by ambages and doubtfull speeches gave answer that so long the stock of the Comnenian family should endure as the name did comprehend the letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per A. Alexius per J. Johannes per M. and A. Manuel and his son Alexius not obscurely did signify Nicetas lib. 5. THe Countrey of Baeotia being spoiled and devastated by the sury violence and war of the Thracians they who over-lived the slaughter went into the innermost concavest den where the Oracle was That there they should take up their seats where they should see the white Crows By and by in Thessaly near the Pagaeatican promontory when they were objected there to their sights there were discovered to be white Crowes which being wet in Wine the boyes sent out de-albifyed and anointed with brine or plaister Coelius lib. 57. cap. 11. WHen the Teuâ—ri-Cretensians sought themselves out new habitations and asking advice of the Oracle received this answer That they should there fix their station and inhabit where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc est terrae â—ilii eos adorirentur where the sons of the Earth should set upon them They wandring about Mysta and Ciliâ—ia
did often attempt to take Elea against Augea's posterity whose King was then Eleus they were commanded by the Oracle that when they sailed back again they should make Trioculus Captain And by chance Oxylus met him sprung out of and begotten of Aemon of Thoas his son being a banished man in Aetholia playing in the Sun unwittingly he kill'd a man And when he had blinded a Mule of one of his eyes Orespontes ingeniously conjectured that the Oracle belonged to Oxylus therefore the Captain being elected they passed to Peloponnesus in a ship for he conceived that by a Foot-Army they could not attempt to break thorough the straits so the Dorienses obeyed and they presently got Elea. Pausanias lib. 5. THe Lacedemonians were alwayes overcome in Warr by the Tegeans they asked advice of the Oracle How and by what means they might so please their gods that they might overcome the Tegeans Pythia answered That Orestes the son of Agâ—meâ—non his bones were to be brought to Lacedemon and they doubting and being uncertain of the place in which they were hid The Oracle answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To this purpose There 's an Arcadian liveth in a Cot Where wind is by two hulls together got Where type on th' antitype one dint is set Upon another where lye bury'd yet The spoyles of Agamemnon if that ground And Cot thou purchase there they may be found When no man could understand the Oracle Liches one of the benefactors of the Spartanes came to Tegea and sitting down in a Brazier's Shop wondred at his works To whom the Smith said Why dost thou wonder O thou stranger saith he at these thou wouldst much more wonder if thou shouldst see a Sepulchre which I have found by digging a Well under ground in which I saw bones seven cubits long which I again buried in the earth Then Liches instantly call'd to mind the Oracle within himself and conceived that those two winds which the Oracle had spoken of were the bellows of the Smith and that the anvil was an antitype for he was to suffer in rowing back and that the hammer was a sign or emblem which struck the Anvil of evil first passive because it suffers from the hammer afterwards also active because it was invented for mens destruction And Liches ruminating with himself did communicate this thing to the Lacedemonians and feigning an escape returned to the Tegeans and he bought the skeleton of the Smith and privily carried the bones to Lacedemon And then it came to passe that the Lacedemonians overcame the Spartanes in Warr almost at that very same time in which Cyrus took the Kingdom from Croesus Herodotus lib. 1. IN the reign of Tiberius the Emperour there was an Oracle given out at Rome in these words Bis ter trecentis circumvolventibus annis Seditio perdet Romanos Ere thrice three hundred Snakes incircled bee Rome by Sedition ruin'd you shall see Which they did think came to passe in Nero's time which fell out near that time the people repeated these words when part of the City was wickedly burnt by Nero Nero to pacifie the people said That there was never such words spoken Which done the people sung this Sybills verse Ultimus Aeneadum matrem necat Induperator The last of the Aenea's Family shall kill his Mother he being Emperour Which happened and whether it was an Oracle from God or from a prophetick spirit that was amongst the people or by a guesse that they had from the state that things was then in I know not for Nero was the last of the Julian-Family which sprung from Aeneas which ruled Xiphilinus in Nerone A Little before the coming of the Spaniards into America the King of the Island which after the name of the Finders they called Hispaniolam he consulted the Idol of Zemus and religiously underwent a Fast for five dayes together also much whipping that he might know what would become of his Kingdom The Devill answered That there were bearded which should be armed men that should take away the Kingdom by force and that by one fatal blow they by their swords should anatomize many bodies and that they should oppresse the Inhabitants by cruel servitude The King hearing the words of the Oracle and that he might appease the wrath of the gods he epitomized and comprehended in a verse which they call Arentum which he would have to be sung at their Festivals with solemn ceremonies therefore many of the Inhabitants when they saw the Spaniards-first come into the Island they consulted how they might escape remembring the Oracle Petrus Cieza tom 2. rerum Indicarum cap. 33. SArdanapalus an Assyrian King was besieged by Arbaces a Mede â—n the City of Ninus there was an Oracle given to his Ancestors That Ninus could never be taken unless the Enemy should make a River to the City which he verily believed could never be taken and therefore he thought he could bear out the siege and also expected aid to come to him When he had held out the siege for the space of two years by lethargiz'd and idle besiedged persons the River by continual showers did flow to a very great heighth and when it had deluged a good part of the City and had cast and thrown down the Walls for the length of twenty furlongs The King thinking the time of the Oracle was come to passe despaired of remedy and lest that he should be taken of the enemies he burnt the Palace Arbaces creeping thorough the ruines of the walls was made King Diodorus lib. 2. cap. 7. THere was an Oracle given to the Poet Hesiod that he should have a care of the Temple of Naemean Jupiter when therefore he took his flight from Nemean at Peloponnesus by chance he came into Oeneon of Locris where there was a Temple of Jupiter Naemean and being in that place unawares he was slain by Amphiphane and Ganetor the sons of Physigeus because they believed their Sister was deflowred by him and that Stesichorus was sprung from him by that illegitimate means Thucyd. apud Gyrald Dial. 2. hist Pâ—ët EPaminondas the Thebane received this from Apollo's Oracle at Delphos That he was to have a care of Pelagus which he thought was to be understood of the Sea wherefore it was his greatest care lest he should be carried or transported any where by Galleys or by any other vessel But the Devil had forewarned him not that he should avoid the Sea but a Grove that he was to eschew at Mantinea whose name was Pelagus where he dyed Paâ—sanias in Arcadicis Suidas THere was an Oracle also given to Cambyses a Persian King out of the City of Latona of Butus that he was to yield himself to the fates in the way to Ecbatanis he understood it of Ecbatana of Meda but when he was in Syria after the death of Apis the Egyptian god he got upon
in unlocking his door which Coponus had before prevented by putting a little wire into the lock that he might have the better opportunity for his design beat out his brains with an Ax and being questioned for it alledged no other thing for the fact but that he was incited thereto by Cocles his own self telling him that he must be a murtherer and nothing else Jovius in Elogiis A Certain Astrologer in the Court of Frederick the second Emperour much reverenced Rodolphus the Haspurgensian Earl with exceeding observance though he had but a mean estate and valued not at all men far more potent and being demanded a reason thereof by the Emperour he answered I know that Rodolphus shall be Emperour and when thy Issue shall decline his renown shall be spread abroad far and near though he be esteemed by few at this time Neither did his presage want a true event for in the year of our Lord 1273. in the Calends of October he was chosen King of the Romans by the Princes of Germany at Franckford when he besieged the Pallace Cuspianus in Caesaribus WHen the Mathematicians looked into the Geniture of the Great Sfortia and observed the excellent positure of the Stars and their admirable sites and aspects they predicted to him High Empire immortal glory and a happy off-spring but at length they added That he should not attain old age but should perish by an untimely death Jovius in ejus vita BRaccius the excellent Montenensian Duke seeing the body of his Enemy Sfortia the Great drowned in the River of Piscaria fell a praising the dead man with most exquisite Encomiums which of right belonged to him but he not being freed from so great danger of a present battle shewed to his Souldiers a more cheerful countenance because he being conscious of a fatal secret had learned from Astrologers that Sfortias indeed was to go before as taken with a violent death but a little after himself also as it were with the like lot should undergo the same fortune of departure He scarce lived over the fifth moneth when as for thirteen moneths space making assault at Aquila and it being in vain besieged at length in a memorable battel being overcome and slain by the sword of the Sfortian Souldier he fullfilled both the truth of the Stars and many prophets Jovius in the life of Sfortias UNto Uladislaus Jagellon King of the Polanders Sophia his wife brought forth sons Uladislaus and Andrew Casimir There was at Cracovia Henry a Bohemian a famous Astrologer and studious of Magick this man foretold That an Infant new born should be long-lived but unfortunate and that he reigning Poland should be afflicted with great evils and calamities but his brother Uladislaus was to be most famous and most victorious and unlesse Nature's destinies should envy a longer life to him he should command many Nations Both which things the issue afterwards proved For Uladislaus who was chosen King of Poland and King of Hungary being slain at Varna by the Turks in the 20th year of his age gave not satisfaction to this famous hope But Casimir who succeeded his brother in the Kingdom of Poland reigned 45 years lived 64 was bent rather on the Lituanian huntings than on the Common-wealth Cromér book 19. 29. BAsil a Mathematician but most certain soothsayer a certain Greek foretold the murder of Alexander of Medicis Duke of the Florentines to be committed by Laurence Medices his near kinsman he not onely shewed him the murder but also the certain smiter who should be intimate with him of a slender form of a boxy-coloured countenance and of a doubtfull silence almost not keeping company at all with others in the Court Also unto Cosmus of Medices they promised for certain forasmuch as in the very marking the hour of his birth he had a happy Star of Capricorn as once Augustus enlightned with a wonderfull aspect of Stars agreeing together it should come to passe that he should increase in a wealthy inheritance Alexander indeed hearing it and Cosmus smiling when as a great number of his kindred was to be consumed by death before any even a small inheritance could come unto him Jovius JOhn Liechtenberg in the yearly predictions of his Ephemeris as I may so say admonished the Prince of Bavaria in a serious manner both by writing and painting that a Lyon should seek hiding places for fear of an Eagle He despised it but not long after he was assaulted with a grievous Warr by Maximilian the Emperour Agricola in Germane Proverbs PAul Farnese the 3d chief Bishop seeing he was most skillfull in Astrology and Magick writeth to his son Peter Aloyse who had by force entred on the tyrannical Government of Placentia and Parma that he should beware of the tenth day of September of the year 1547 as unlucky to him The father indeed could warn but the son could not avoid the danger but by Conspirators Augustine Landus and James Scott Earls of Placentia in his own Castle under pretence of talk he was slain and being a long time hung up by the privy parts he was exposed to be cruelly torn in pieces by the people Sleidan 19 book of Commentaries THere was a Town of the Xanthians that had a bridge laid over the small River Lycus in which were said to have been brazen Tables wherein letters were ingraven The Empire of the Persians was sometime to be overthrown by the Graecians The tables with the bridge being shaken down a little before that it was fought at Granicum by Alexander the Great they had fallen into the channel of the River Alexander being much moved at the report of the tables when as for some time he had stood doubtful into which part he might chiefly bend the course of victory turning to the right hand he subdued with wonderfull speed all the Sea-coast from Lydia even into Phaenicia Sabellicus book 4. Ennead 4. out of Plutarchs Alexander IN the second Carthagenian war besides many things seen and heard which were accounted instead of wonders a verse or song of Martius being curious and sounded at the same time brought the greatest care to the City That being by a most true event proved gave no doubtfull credit of the things that were to be He had written who ever that Martius was O thou Trojan born flee thou Cannae the River of Romana neither let strangers constrain thee to joyn in battell in the field of Diomedes but neither shalt thou believe me untill thou shalt fill up the field with bloud and the River shall bring down many thousands of thine slain out of a fruitfull land into the great Sea for fishes and birds and wild beasts which inhabit the Earth unto these let thy flesh be for meat Because these things were in great part represented before the eyes of men for the common sort were acquainted both with the fields of Diomedes and when they had fought at Canna there was the greater care of procureing
a great multitude of Carians and led them toward Memphis and pitched his Camps beside the Temple of Isis in the Pallace which was distant from the City five furlongs and a fight being begun he got the victory From these Carians a certain part of Memphis was called Caro-memphites Polynaeus book 7. Herodotus SYbill foretold That the warlike glory of the Macedonians gotten Philip the son of Amyntas reigning in the times of another Philip should go backward The glory of Macedon's people of Arcadia's Kings What Philip reigning sometimes profits sometimes losses brings For one the greater of the two his Captains shall impose On people strange and Cities but forsooth by Western foes The lesse shall tamed be in years to come and by and by Illustrious honours he shall lose by Eastern destiny For the Romans who are to the West by the ayd of Attalus and the Mysians who lye toward the rising of the Sun deprived Perseus the son of Philip both of his Kingdom and life Pausanias in Achaick affairs UNder Boleslaus the chaste Prince of the Polanders in the Territory of Cracovia a certain Man-child having teeth on the same day in which he was born spake distinctly and point by point untill being a young beginner in Christian Religion he lost both his teeth and the use of speech But another six moneths old in the City of Cracovia spake That the Tartarians should come and he foretold they should cut off the heads of the Polonians and being asked he answered he knew that thing from God and that evil hung over his own head also which after the twelfth year came to passe HAlâ— Abenragell makes mention That in the King's Pallace he saw an Infant borâ— which scarce as yet twenty four hours were finished began to speak and make signs with the hand At which thing the King being exceedingly astonished a greater miracle happened For he saith The King standing by and my self also with many others the Infant cryed out saying I am unhappily born to disclose the losse of the Kingdom and the destruction and desolation of the Nation Which words being pronounced he fell down dead Coelius book 29. chap. 14. PHerecides the son of Bades a Syrian a heater of Pittacus walking on the Samian shore when he had seen a certain Ship running with full sayls he foretold That a little after it should be sunk and it happened he beholding it Laertius and Apollonius in their History of wonderful things Also Apollonius the Tyanean having gotten a Vessel fit enough to sail in when he had reached Leucas about to go to Achaia Let us go down saith he out of this Ship But she although then quiet a little after was overwhelmed Philostratus Mithridates besieging Cyzicum Aristagoras said he had received from Minerva that he being a pleasant singer would bring the Trumpeter into the Lybick Sea therefore he bade the Citizens to be of good courage And straightway the South-wind blowing more strongly Mithridates his Navy was troubled and their warlike Engines for the most part cast asunder Coelius book 20. chap. 24. THey tell that Pherecydes sometimes thirsting in the Island Scyrus desired water from one of his Schollars the which when he had drank he pronounced That after three dayes there was to be an Earthquake in that Island which saying as the end proved it true he brought back great glory Apollonius History of Wonders GLaucus the son of Epicydides a Spartan when as he had received a great sum of money from Milesius a guest under the name of a depositum or pledge and after his death his sons had required the money Glaucus after four moneths avouched that he would give an answer In the mean time he enquired of the Oracle at Delphos Whether by denying through a suborned oath the money laid up with him he should make a gain Pythia answered It may indeed for bold-fac'd Glaucus turn to present gain Thus by an oath to conquer and by robbery to detain The moneys Afterward 't is death to swear but he the man That consciously regards an oath sustaineth with his hand But of the oath the Lad is alway mindful neither hee With hands nor feet as swift doth make approach but if of thee He taketh hold will all thy house and progeny destroy But th'after stock of swearer just shall better things enjoy Glaucus being affrighted with that answer prayed for pardon or leave But Pythia affirmed the same is to tempt God and to do it Glaucus indeed being returned home restored the money to the young men of Milesim but not long after his whole house and off-spring was wholly put out Herodotus book 6. ALphonsus King of Arragon and Sicily besieged Neapolis a certain man came to him of a reverend countenance and foretold that he should conquer the City about the Calends of June but not much after a doubtfull battle was to be in which the Captain should be taken perswading him that he would not commit himself to so great danger The former part of the Prophecie was true For on the 4th of Nones of June he reduced the City into his power A little after being about to fight in battle against Anthony at Caudola in the Campanian field his friends disswading him and objecting unto him the Prophesie he answered Death indeed will not affrighten a valiant man much lesse doubtfull Oracles A battel being made he was overcome and taken at Caudola Aen. Sylv. book 2. Com. on Panormitan's Alphonsus AGathius in his second book of the Gothish War saith that the Germanes to have used sometime women for Prophetesses likewise with a most true event Plutarch in Caesar calls them holy women and they guessed at things to come by the whirlpools and noyse of Rivers Coelius book 18. chap. 20. ABaris the son of Seuthias a divine of the Hyperboreans or those above the North-wind wrote Oracles in the Countries which he wandred thorow which are at this day extant He also foretold earth-quakes Plagues and the like and heavenly things They say when he had come to Sparta that he warned the Laconians of turning away evills by holy things which things being finished no Plague afterward was at Lacedemon Apollonius in Hist of Wonders AeDesius the son of Chrysanthius a Philosopher of Sardis had a body so nimble that it exceeded the belief of all and was plainly carried up on high There was such a nearnesse to him with a god that there was no need of a Crown of bayes to be placed on his head but true Oracles and framed to the proper likenesse of a spirit blown up by a power He onely beholding the Sun would powre forth speech although he neither knew the Law or order of Verses nor yet well knew the Rules of Grammar Eunapius THere is at Sparta before the Altar of Augustus in the Market place a brazen portrayture of Agias They say this Agias to have divined unto Lysander that he should conquer the navy of the Athenians at the
and unaccustomed way which when he had related to Interpreters they advised the King to take heed lest he whom he accounted rude a beast and monster being armed with wisdom should drive him out of his Kingdom and that what was shewed him by the Sun portended a change to the people which happened accordingly for Brutus whose brother the King had oppressed and whose wit he but sported and mocked at drove away the King and Kingly Title and the Roman State was so altered that instead of one perpetual King it begun to have yearly two Magistrates Petrarcha de Somniis ex Ciceronis lib. 1. de Natura Deorum Accii Bruto HIppocrates the most valiant Duke of Athens being alone chanced to see at Olympia a sight portending strange things for when he had immolated the host the pots as they were ordered were full of flesh and water and without any fire put to them grew so hot that the water boyled over which portent Chilon the Lacedemonian who by chance came thither beholding first perswaded him that he should not bring his Wife thither being fruitfull Secondly if he had a Wife that he should put her away and if she had born him ever a son he should resign him but Hippocrates not observing the counsel of Chilon but promoting his son Pisistratus he invaded the Tyrant at Athens Herodot l. 1. Sabel l. 6. Ennead 2. AT Thebes in Boetia in the Temple of the Law-giving Ceres the time when by the conduct of Epiminundas the people of Leuctrica overcame the Spartanes the Spiders had woven white webs about the Valleys the Macedonians now by the conduct of Alexander the Great invading the Coasts there presently appeared sights portending ruine and destruction to the City all things were filled with black workmanship Pausanias in Boeoticis This sign was three moneths before Alexander came to Thebes about that time the Statues which stood in the Common Hall were seen to send out of the huge gravings abundance of sweat besides these things it was testified to the Magistrates That the Pond or standing Lake which was at Onchestus sent forth a noyse like to the Lowing of Cattle and that there was in Dirces a certain horrid bloody shape which swimmed upon the water and there were not wanting some of Delphos who said That the top of the house which the Thebans built appeared to the Phocensian people to be full of blood the Prophets said That the Web did portend the gods migration from the City the shape of the Heavenly bow perturbation and various sorts of molestations the sweat sent from the Statues extream losses and moreover the blood which was seen to appear in many places shewed that bloody slaughter would ensue at Thebes Diodor. lib. 17. AT Saguntum before it had suffered the misery which Hannibal afterwards inflicted upon it amongst many and daily monstrous sights which were seen A child which was almost born out of his Mothers belly returned back to the Mothers womb again Which Prodigie the prophets said did foreshew a destructive Warr imminent and fatal destruction so that it was utterly overthrown by slaughter Alex. lib. 2. cap. 31. ARchilaus Tetrarch of Judea and Idumea was sent for being accused of Tyranny by Caesar to Rome who after hearing the accusations of his enemies and his own defence banished him to Vienna in France and taking all his substance from him before he exiled him in the tenth year of his Government before he was sent for to Rome he told to his friends this Dream He saw ten ripe ears of corn full of wheat taken away by Oxen and considering that his dream was worthy to be taken notice of he consulted with interpreters of dreams concerning it who disagreeing concerning the meaning thereof Simon one of the Essaei to wit one that abstained from flesh wine and women as all the Jews of that Order did making an apologie said That this vision did portend change to Archilaus and that to the worse for that Oxen did signifie misery because this kind of creature is under continual labours and furthermore it foreshewed mutation of things because the ground being turn'd by the labour retains neither the same place nor form but those ten ears of corn shew the number of ten years for that they go about by annual turnings and that immediately there would ensue an end of the domination or rule of Archilaus so did this Jew interpret the dream Five dayes after this vision Caesar sends a procurator to Judaea to summon Archilaus before him Joseph l. 17. c. ult AT the Palatine house of Mediolanum seven dayes before the Lievtenant Governour Barnabas was taken by his Cosen Galeacius there was such vehement lightning that the hangings of his Inner Chamber were burnt with a Thunder-bolt and his Ensign being a marble Viper was shattered in pieces A Prophet then a domestick whose sirname was Medicina in the nones of May observed the unhappy conjunction of three Stars he had formerly predicted much and then he endeavoured to retain him whom he saw running precipitately towards his destruction which was thereby threatned but such was the hidden power of his fate that he went on his way being wretchedly infatuated Jovius in Barnaba ZEnon the Emperour hearing of the discomfiture of his Army lees into a little Castle sited upon an hill which the people called Constantinople which considering immediately after his coming thither he with sighing said to his company Poor man Is it the sport of the gods who have thus deluded me for the Prophets did confidently affirm That it behoved me to be at Constantinople in the moneth of July whereupon I thought I should have been in the City but poor wretch as I am I am onely in this little Hill which beareth the like appellation A Certain man called Harold who bragged that he had a familiar spirit told Frederick the second that he should die in the Florentine field Therefore in that his last journey from Thuscia to Apulia he used all possible care to avoid it but falling into a grievous Feaver he was forc't to lye at the Castle of Apulia six miles distant from Luceria which they call Florentinum assoon as he remembred the prediction of Hariolus and the name of Florentinum he perceived that the end of his life was at hand Collenutius l. 4. Historiae regni Neopolitani CErtain Writers affirm Ezelinus a Roman and Albericus brethren bloudy and fierce men to have been the sons of Adebheida a Lady of the Noble bloud of the Tuscans of so high a wit and discretion that beyond belief as well by observing the Heavens and Stars as Magicall Art she foresaw things to come Many Predictions which accordingly fell out were demonstrated to her Husband and Children and especially this one That on the day of her death she pronounced three Verses in manner of an Oracle in which she chaâ—ted forth the might and progresse and the very place of the death of her sonnes and it
him because he deferred to bring War on Greece The thing being talked of with Artabanus he constrained Artabanus cloathed with the King's garments to take a sleep in the King's Throne The same resemblance was also presented before the eyes of Artabanus Therefore he incensed Xerxes unto the Warr of Greece with no less diligence than before he had withstood indeed the evil fate of Xerxes so urging it that the most proud King might pay the punishments of his rashness and pride The same Xerxes seemed to himself to be crowned with an Olive-grass with the boughs of which Olive the whole Earth was overwhelmed and presently the Crown tyed fast about his head vanished This dream was more famous and sure than the former Xerxes had affrighted the world with Warlike preparation and now seemed to triumph over Greece Athens being taken when as he was by the diligence of Themistocles broken he was forced by a shamefull flight to shift for his life Herodotus book 7. THe Spartans Callicratidas being Captain were to fight at Arginusa in a Sea-battell with the Athenians the diviners on both sides disswading them For the head of a sacrificed beast lying on the shore dispersed the Lacedemonians being drawn through the rage of a wave the Soothsayers shewed all these things betokened that the Pretor of the Navy was to perish in that combat Which thing being heard they say Callicratidas answered he should withdraw nothing from the Spartane worthinesse if by fighting he should fall But unto Thrasibulus the Athenian who being then Pretor led the Navy and to whom that day the top of Royall Authority had come by lot by night this dream appeared It seemed to him together with six other Praetors to act the Tragedy of Euripides whose title is inscribed Phoenissas in the common Theatre But it seemed his adversaries acting the Tragedy whose name is Supplices the Cadmean Victory to have happened to them and all to have perished by imitating the Captains who had pitched their Tents for the assaulting of Thebes These things being heard a Prophet being called to interpret they so expounded it that seven Captains were to fall in that battell But the holy things otherwise openly promising Victory he bade the Captains that it may be shewed unto their companions alone concerning every ones death but that they divulge a Victory betokened by those very holy things throughout the whole Army A battell being joyned Callicratidas some Ships of the Enemies being first overcharged dyed the conquest remained in the power of the Athenians 25. Ships being lost 77. of the Enemies sunk They fought on both sides with little lesse then four hundred Ships and that battel is mentioned to be the greatest of all which indeed Greeks with Greeks ever fought Diodore in Book 13. UNto Pyrrhus King of the Epirots besieging Sparta such a dream was offered All Lacedemon being stricken with a Thunderbolt seemed to him thereby to be set on fire and he thereupon to leap for joy He being stirred up with gladnesse commands his Captains that they set the Souldiers in order and expoundeth the dream to his friends as if he was to vanquish the City Unto which thing when as others wonderfully agreed the sight pleased not Lysimachus He saith he feared least as the places that were blasted with Thunderbolt remain inaccessible so the god signified to Pyrrhus that he was not to enter the City When as Pyrrhus answered this man Those were meer delusions and full of uncertainty but that every man holding weapons in his hands ought to bring into his remembrance Optimum id augurium pro Pyrrho exponere vitam Of Divination that 's the chief For Pyrrhus to adventure life In the first of the morning he sets upon the City But the Lacedemonians not sluggishly and beyond their strength defending themselves he was constrained to loose the siege Plutarch in Pyrrhus CN Pompey having followed King Mithridates unto Euphrates fell by night At which time it is blazed by report that Mithridates saw a resemblance in his sleep which foreshewed him things to come It seemed to him to sail in the Pontick Sea with a prosperous wind and now to foresee Bosphorus and courteously to speak to those that were carried together with him as who rejoyceth in his sure and undoubted safety but suddenly he was found forsaken by all and tossed in a small broken piece of a Ship His friends standing by stirred him up being busied with those troubles and Images shewing that Pompey was at hand A fight therefore instead of a bulwark being begun he was overcome Far more then ten thousand were slain and the Camps were taken Mithridates himself with a draught of eight hundred Horsemen with him brake through the Romans By and by the rest sliding away he is left alone with three among whom was the Harlot Hipsicratia who had alway been of a manly boldnesse Wherefore the King called her Hispicratia But then she being cloathed with a man's Persian garment and carried on a Horse neither seemed she to be weary in body from the tediousnesse of the flight neither the Kings body and horse being taken care of was he tired untill they came unto the Towre or Castle Inor where the Kings Money and Treasures were heaped up Thence Mithridates took his pretious stones which he distributed unto those that assembled unto him out of the flight Moreover he gave a deadly poyson to a certain friend of his to be carried with him lest any one should come into the enemies hands From thence he strives to go into Armenia to Tigranes Which thing when he forbade him and had pronounced a hundred talents on his head the Springs of Euphrates being passed by he bends his flight through Colchis Plutarch in Pompey BEfore the Pharsalian fight it seemed to Cn. Pompey by night in his sleep he entering into the Theatre the people to applaud him and that he adorned the Temple of Venus the Conqueresse with many spoils This sight partly raised him up partly made him carefull fearing somewhat least Grace and famousnesse should come from him unto Caesars family chanting on Venus and some Panick fears awakened him out of sleep In the fourth watch over Caesars Camps where all things were quiet a great light shined out A flaming Torch kindled thereby was brought into Pompey's Camps Caesar himself said he saw this while he went about the Watches The same Author in the same place HEcuba being great with young she seemed to bring forth a burning Torch which burned Asia and Europe She not long after brought forth Paris by whose unchast loves the country of Troy being destroyed their forces being wasted Greece was consumed by a long war and undone Sabellicus book 1. ch 1. Volatteran book 18. Anthropol CAmbyses King of Persians saw Smerdes in his sleep sitting in the Kings Throne to touch the Heaven with his Crown He for that thing fearing lest his Brother Smerdes should possesse the kingdome sent Prexaspes to kill
immortal God Changius obeyed and all his people being led out he compelled them to continue all night in prayers The morning being come he saw the Sea to have went back from the Mountain nine feet and on that side he led his whole Army on dry ground thorow the waste wildernesses into Asia Haithon the Armenian in his book of the Tartars HAnnibal Captain of the Carthaginians had decreed to carry away a golden pillar being found in the Temple of Juno Lucina But being not sure whether it was of sound gold or whether it was gilded with gold nigh the superficies by solemnizing an assembly he tryed it and being made sure that it was all of gold he was confirmed in his purpose of snatching it away unto whom the shape of Juno seemed to be present while he dreamed she admonished him that he should abstain from covetous and sacrilegious enterprizes threatening if he proceeded that she would deprive him of one eye wherewith he should see the ground or the Sun with which sleep the Captain otherwise cruell and who feared no god there was no Religion as was written of him yet it is delivered being moved he daring to move nothing out of the place of that very gold which had fallen out of a hole while he tryed it he took care to have a warlike Engine made and to be placed on the top of the pillar Petrarcha VAlens Emperour in his sleep saw a certain man saying these words unto him Be gone with haste unto great Mimas thee the grievous force Of destiny dreading thy self shall from thy life divorce He being awakened out of sleep asked the standers by What place was called Mimas And when at length a certain one of the Grammarians or Oratours who follow the Kings Court had said Mimas was a Mountain of Asia of which Homer had made mention in his Ulysses And to aiery Mimas The Emperour laughing answered What necessity enforceth me of seeing this place and seeking a lot But when fighting against the Alanians the Emperour was burnt in a little cottage about Adranopolis of Thracia the Barbarians departing from thence some Souldiers of Valens diligently searched out his dead carcass In that cottage where he perished was found an old grave of a certain ancient man with this Inscription Mimas a Governour of the Macedonians was here laid Therefore that dream of Valens was fulfilled Cuspinian THat which was once set before Julius Caesar in his sleep before that he had moved into neather France and brought offensive weapons on the City when at his rest it seemed to him he ravished his mother By which dream the expounders stirred him up unto a most large hope having interpreted That the rule of the world should be given him The same dream they mention was offered to Hippias son of Pisistratus with no unlike issue who being his succeeder in tyranny used his Countrey more cruelly For a night resemblance of his Mother with whom he seemed to copulate is said to be set before him at the time of sleep for which thing the Interpreters answered That rule was largely betokened unto him And he being put in mind by his dream and full of hope not long after he enjoyed the dominion of Athens For this is that Hippias who having attempted a tyrannical power not without cruel wickednesse was more outragious and unbridled than his father when as being a banished man he had changed his soyl he moved wicked arms against his Countrey At last conspiring with Darius being slain in the Marathonian fight he yielded punishments to his Countrey and housholdâ—gods But another son of the same Pisistratus Hipparch who exceeded the cruelty of many Tyrants when as he oppressed his Country and Citizens with a cruel Lordlinesse a conspiracy being made against the life of the Tyrant he was by Armodius and Aristogiton most valiant young men not without the safety of all slain whose names being devoted to freedom lest at any time it should be lawfull to institute servants the Athenians established with an open abhorrency Alexander book 3. chap. 26. SAbacus King of Aethiopians possessed the Kingdom of Aegypt fifty years which being finished the god which is worshipped at Thebes was seen to say unto him His reign over the Egyptians should not be happy nor of long continuance unless the Priests of Egypt being all slain he should passe thorow the midst of their dead carcasses with his This dream being often set before him he called together all the Priests on every side and what things he had received through the dream being told them He would not he saith build a remaining destruction for any one in Egypt but had rather abstain from the Kingdom of Egypt being pure and free of all wickedness Diodore the Sicilian Herodotus book 3. SEthon King of Aegypt Priest of Vulcan when as he despised the Egyptians he made use of a forreign Souldier and stripped the Egyptians of their fields For this wrong it came to pass that after Sennacherib King of Arabians and Assyrians had invaded Egypt with a great Army the Egyptians would not help him Then the chief Priest void of counsel betook himself into the Garret or Chamber of his House and there bewailed before the Image how much he was in danger Therefore while he was lamenting sleep crept on him and while he slept the god seemed to stand by exhorting him that he was to suffer no hurtfull thing if he went to meet the Army of the Arabians for he would send him helpers The Priest trusting to these dreams those that were willing of the Aegyptians being taken Merchants or Factors and handycrafts-men or labourers he pitched his Tents in Pelusium for in this is the Aegyptian invaded When he had come thither in the night a great multitude of field-Mice suddenly arising gnawed asunder both the quivers bowes and also the rains of the bucklers in the Camps of their enemies so that the next day the enemies being naked of weapons made flight many being lost And now in that Temple of Vulcan the King stands in stone holding a mouse in his hand and by letters saying these words Who so looketh on me let him be godly Herodotus book 2. Of Miracles of Devils or of divers deceits and mocks of evil Daemons to strengthen the Idolatry of the Gentiles THe power of Vesta warranted the fire being gone out a woman Schollar of the Virgin Aemilia to be safe from all blame who worshipping when she had laid a Cyprus garment the which she had a very good one on the hearth the fire suddenly shone out Valerius book 1. chap. 1. THey say Aeneas to have placed houshold-gods brought from Troy at Lavinium thence being brought over to Alba by his son Ascanius the which he had built to have returned again to the ancient Chappel and because that might be thought to be done by man's hand being brought back again to Alba to have signified his will by another passage Valer. Max. book 1.
blood and shut up the earth which was shaved away with the blood in Crystall Catalogus Treverensis COnstantine the Emperour did alwayes adore the nayles of Christ being crucified which were given him by Helena his Mother he fastned one to the Crest of his helmet he made a bridle for his horse with the other which may be seen at Mediolanum to this day having confidence that in the help of these he should eschew all dangers of his life But what is more wicked then that thou shouldst ascribe those things to the iron which belong to the most high God Fulgosus lib. 1. cap. 2. de cultu divino ex Ambrosio POpe Gregory II. sent three holy Sponges to Eudon the great Duke of Aquitan which were wont to be used at his table He distributed them being cut in pieces to his army which he did conduct against the Saracens and it happened that none of them which did partake of it were wounded or slain Eudoni epistola ad Gregorium in lib. Pont. A Monk of the Roman Convent which being a boy was delivered by his Parents to an Abbot where he did offer sacrifice and leaving his Religion he married a Wife But being sick of the Quinsie he was brought back into the Monastery receiving the habit and repentance and he was beaten cruelly with whips by St. Andrew and Gregory for his faults committed Hence leaping out of his bed he put on a garment made of Goats-hair and another that was to cast over his shoulders and having entred the Temple of St. Andrew he said to the standers by Behold I being so purified by the stripes of the Saints I depart out of my body as formerly I issued out clean by baptism And dyed while they were muttering a Soul-mass for the dead Vincentius lib. 25. cap. 57. A Certain man of Colonis an I le in the Argolick Gulph born of a Jew his father but being converted when he perceived the body of our Lord in the Paschall Feast he carryed it whole I know not for what use in his mouth home with him But he being affrighted with the Divinity did bury it in the Church-yard The Priest came suddenly upon him by chance and discrying what was done having opened the pit he found the form of a Child which when he hasted to carry it to the Church it vanished into the thin Ayr. Trithemius in Hirsaugiensi Chronico A Certain infamous woman at the yearly solemnization of the Passeover at Castrum which is called The golden Mountain when she perceived the body of our Lord in her mouth she shut it up whole in her chest at home A little after when one of her Lovers by chance opened it he found the sacrifice as they call it of our Lord's body changed into the shape of flesh and blood in the year of our Lord 1181. Sigeberti continuator By these delusions Satan doth strive to confirm the Popish fiction of Transubstantiation IN the year of Christ 1345 when certain men consecrated a sacrifice they did steal the memories of all the Saints with their own dish which was dedicated out of the Temple and because they found the dish not gold as they believed but brass gilded they cast it into a filthy Pond at the Village Bubalum near the City of Cracovia Presently the place shined with frequent fires and little fire-brands some dayes and nights continually When that miracle was presented to the Bishop not as yet discovering the cause thereof after he had proclaimed a three dayes fast when he went thither with an annual Pomp and having found the Eucharist there he brought it thither from whence it was carried But in the very same place where it was found Cazimirus II. King did build a magnificent Temple with exceeding rich walls entituled The body of Christ and in process of time environing a very large space of ground with a wall he built a new City and called it Cazimiria after his own name Cromerus lib. 12. JOnathas Judaeus of Bruxells a famous City of Brabant in the year of Christ M.CCC.LXIX redeemed certain sacrifices as they call them dedicated to Holy Katherin and being slain in a Garden by the assault of his enemies he left them to his Wife to keep and she to her son Abraham who on Friday in the Holy Congregation of the Jews having chosen out his sacrifice he pierced it and did tear it in pieces But abundance of blood proceeding the Mother of Abraham being converted divulged the miracle Wencislaus the Duke of Brabant having made diligent search he took care that Abraham and his associates should be burned alive before the Temple of holy Katherine and religiously placed the sacrifice in the Cathedral Temple of Saint Gudula Ludovicus Guicciardinus in descriptione Germaniae inferioris HEretofore the Rule of the Mass for the soul of the dead was sang openly and with a loud voice But Pope Vigilius instituted That it should not be performed but in a holy place in holy garments and a low voice It happened once as Shepherds having put bread ridiculously upon a stone in the field rehearsed the words of the Canon by which it was transubstantiated and so suddenly seeing bloody humane flesh before them and stricken by the appointment of God they presently dyed Hermannus Gygas WHen the bodies were thought to rest in their graves the earth would be carried out of the vault of the Temple of Paulinus at Treveris where the Theban Legions were killed by Ricticnarius Maximianus heretofore Lievtenant to the Emperour a certain head being cast forth by the Priest unwarily did bleed excessively and remains bloody even to this day Schaffnaburgensis Anno 1072. REgino doth declare that Clodoveus King of France because that irreligiously he plucked the body of Dionysius out of his grave and broke his arm and snatched him with violence presently being astonished fell mad and after two years lost his life and Kingdom Idem Adon Vienensis aetate 6. Nauclerus generatione 23. Sigebertus circa annum Domini 660. HEctor Boëthius doth relate That if any woman kicked the Tomb of a blessed woman at Guanora in Scotland she ever after remained barren Cardanus de Rerum varietate lib. 8. cap. 44. A Certain woman which had carried the shoes of holy Genovepha to Lutetia suddenly lost her eyes and having begged pardon received her sight Bonfinius lib. 5. Decad. 1. WHen a Robber came to the Tomb of Wencislaus IV. the honourable King of the Bohemians upbraiding the dead man's life a stony Statue put upon the Sepulchre gave him a buffet and presently being smitten blind he suffered for his wickedness Afterwards the Statue was laid in the privy Chappel and another Brazen one was put in the place thereof Aeneas Sylvius capite 28. Histor Bohem. A Certain Constantine the overthrower of Artabasdus seeing the Image of the God-bearing-Virgin standing having caught up a stone he threw it at the Image and brake it and when it fell kick'd it And he saw her in
in a pool there which they decyphered to him he obeys this Vision and bestowing himself in fasting seven dayes he with his son Crispus were washed with baptism by holy Sylvester having been anointed with oyl at which time an extraordinary miraculous light illustrated the place and a melodious sound was heard and Constantine himself being touched by a Divine hand cometh out of the Laver safe and sound from his infirmity Nicephorus lib. 7. cap. 33. et Cedrenus LOtharingus being a prisoner at Constantinople was so robustious and strong that the Turks were afraid lest he should break his chain and fetters and therefore they made an Iron Collar or chain and put it about his neck with chains of Iron fastned to it five fingers broad and three fingers thick reaching to his fetters in which condition the prisoner remembring St. Nicolas who had lived in his Countrey invocates him to intercede to Almighty God for him whereupon sleeping that night after the next morning when the Sexton opens early in the morning the door of the Temple of St. Nicolas at Varanguilles he finds there this Captive sleeping who awakened acknowledged himself miraculously brought thither in his sleep it being two thousand miles distant from Nanceum where the day before he had invocated this Saint's intercession The miracle being divulged the people run to see it and after Mass having sung some praises to Almighty God four Smiths are sent for to free him from his chains which when it appeared that they could by no humane power be dissolved of their own accord as it were but by the command of Almighty God leapt in sunder Vierus lib. 2. cap. 29. de praestigiis Daemonum ex libello de Galliae Sanctuariis GRegorius Turonensis lib. 5. cap. 6. writeth That Bituricus Archdeacon of Lions by the cutting of Cataracts or skins which grew upon his eyes lost his sight and being helpless by Physitians made his address himself by the devotion of fasting and prayers for two or three moneths to the Church of Martin that he might receive his sight and ardently making his prayers upon the Feast-day of St. Martin obtained his desire POpe Leo in the time of Charls the Great when he had led the Procession through the City of Rome to the Church of Sylvester by his chief Officer for the celebrating the Paschal and Pambulis a Priest whose filthy life he had often corrected was stript of his Pontificial Robes and deprived of sight and speech and coming to the Monastery of Erasmus and carried to the Image of Albinus in the Church of St. Peter as it is reported he there received again his eyes and tongue Sigebertus Anno 799. et Bonfinius lib. 9. Decad 1. GRegorius Turonensis libro de gloria confessorum cap. 96 tells a miraculous story of one visited with the Palsie who being drawn in a Coach to celebrate the Feast of Alban the Andigavensian Bishop in his sleep at night he saw a man coming to him and saying Rise the third hour and go into the Temple for it will come to passe that at that time Martin and Alban will be there and if thou likewise be there at that instant thou shalt recover thy health Which Miracle according to the prediction had in his dream was wrought in the sight of many spectators Turonensis affirmat A Certain Priest sick of the Palsie brought to the Tomb of St. Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury was presently restored to health At the same Sepulchre a certain man possessed with a Devil vomits him up with much blood Vincentius lib. 24. cap. 95. At Grandavus in the year 1010 before the body of St. Bavones which then by chance was brought thither Mansuindis a Maid of Antwerp was cured of the Palsie Jacobus Meyer in Chronico Flandrensi COsroes King of Persia hearing that Sergius the Martyr granted all things that were desired of him sought of him ayd for the defence of his Kingdom and foecundity to his Wife being barren which obtaining of him he sent to Gregorie a golden Cross dish cup censer and other giâ—s in honour of Sergius the blessed Martyr Evagrius l. 6. cap. 21. COnstantine Bishop of Cyprus tells in the fourth Nicene Act of a certain man who by driving a nayl into a wall struck it into the forehead of St. Peter's picture and found that he was presently troubled with an Head-ache whereupon commanded to pull out the nayl he obeying was presently made whole FRenchmen being sent by Pippin to Floriacum to carry the bones of Benedict to the Cassianensian Monastery as they were going into the Temple by the vertue of Benedict were struck blind whereupon they returned back conceiving that he rebuked them because he would not have France deprived of such holy reliques Scribit Sigebertus Anno Dom. 753. Vincentius lib. 13. cap. 155. A Certain man named Garganus a Citizen of Pontinum who fed a great herd of Cattle in the Mountain Prium lying in Apuleia which is now called Garganus or the Mount of St. Michael in the time when the Goths infested Italy by war seeking a Bull which was strayed from the herd at last finds him in a cave which was in a hard rock naturally without man's labour and angry at his straying beast he shoots at him the arrow lighting upon the back of the Bull rebounded back upon Garganus which he construed to have some divine signification wherefore he declared what happened to Lawrence a Priest who prolaiming a Fast for three dayes in the night when he was asleep he had a Vision or Dream wherein Michael the Arch-Angel appeared to him affirming to him that it was his doing that the arrow retorted from the Bull that he would have that place known to be the oratory wherein he would have a Church for his service and when the Neapolitans had besieged the City of Sipontinum Lawrence declaring the Oracle of the Arch-Angel the hour they had appointed to break in the Vision was believed and the cave of the Arch-Angel which seemed as if it had been made by handy-work began religiously to be worshipped and the dedication of Gelasius the chief Bishop which he prepared was disapproved by the Arch-Angel for that a place divinely consecrated wanted no dedication Therefore the cave being consecrated with a most royall Temple most men were wont to come thither once every year there were tables wherein were written the form of religion and prayers hanged upon the walls all about shewing their titles And where the Altar that belonged to the Statue of the Arch-Angel was in a place inaccessible by men there the Statue was placed which beholding the mind of man struck with a silent fear by the contemplation of so great and holy meditations powreth forth its prayers Other Altars also made by neither cost nor artifice of man which seem natural increase devotion Pont. l. 2. belli Neapol AN old Fisherman told to the Duke Bartholomaeus Grandonicus when the waters rose above their ordinary custome and thereby
An aequivocal Oracle given to the Messanensians 45 The answer of the Oracle at Delphos to the Phocenses 46 The Lacedemonians consult Pythia 47 Cleomenes King of the Spartans consults the Oracle at Delphos 48 Philomelus having taken the Delphick Oracle compells Pythia to tell him somewhat of future events 49 The Oracle's answer to Croesus at Delphos 50 Arcesilaus being driven from his Kingdome sent to Delphos to consult the Oracle 51 Nero the Emperour warned by Mathematicians that the ruine of the Empire was portended by the Stars 52 Xerxes the son of Darius finds an Urn 53 Silvester the Pope reported to have obtained the Popedome by evils works 54 Whas encouragement the Aeginetians received by the Oracle at Delphos to Warr 55 The wisdom of the Persian Magies 56 An huge beard groweth upon the chin of the Priest of Minerva at Pedesensia upon a sudden immediately before a diverse fortune seizeth upon the people 57 Beleses a Chaldean encourageth Arabes General of the Medes to invade the Babylonians 58 Thales the Milesian discovers the plenty one year and scarcity another by the rising of the seven Stars 59 Boeotius the son of a common cryer his fortune told by a Chaldean 60 The birth-day of the Emperour Augustus observed 61 Scribonius the Mathematitian 62 Tiberius Caesar makes use of Thrasillus a cunning Chaldean 63 Claudius the Emperour predicteth the time of his own death 64 An Astronomer foretold Nero his being Emperour and his killing his Mother at the time of his birth 65 Ascletario a Mathematician foretelleth his own death 66 Domitian the Emperour superstitiously given to Mathematical predictions 67 Hadrian the Emperour an excellent Astronomer 68 Septimius Severus Pertinax a skilfull Mathematician 69 A Midwife of Constantinople at the birth of Ablabius foretells his being Praetor 70 Two Jews Astrologers promise Zira Prince of the Arabians Empire and long life if he would demolish the Christian Temples and Images of Saints 71 The advice of John an Astronomer and Magitian to Lucapenus the Roman Emperour 72 Nicolas son to Guido Earl of Patavia predicted pernition to his Countrey by Jambonus Andreas an Astrologian 73 Guido Bonatus foretold the Earl of Mountferrat that he should receive a wound in his Hip by a salley which he should make the day before the Calends of May 74 Antiochus Tibertus foretells Guidon that he should be killed by his intimate friend upon suspition of Infidelity 75 Petrus Leonius a dextrous Astronomer discovered by his Art that sudden death was portended to him by water 76 Predictions by Bartholomeus Coclecles an excellent Physiognomist 77 An Astrologer foretells Rodulphus the Haspurgensian Earl his being Emperour 78 The Mathematitians predicted Sfortia his high Empire 79 Braccius the Montenensian Duke seeing the body of his Enemy Sfortia drowned praised him with exquisite Encomiums 80 Henry a Bohemian an Astronomer his predictions 81 Basil a Southsayer foretells the death of Alexander Medices Duke of Florence 82 John Liechtenberg his prediction 83 The tenth day of September fatall to Peter Alois 84 Brazen tables wherein was engraven a prediction That the Grecians were to overcome the Persians 85 A wonderful thing in the second Carthaginian War 86 Verses found in a table of stone when the walls of Chalcedon were made equal with the ground 87 A table of stone found in the bank of the River Scirtus with Hierogliphical Egyptian letters written on it 88 Chaldeans foretell Alexander's danger if he went to Babylon 89 What Aretas King of the Persians gathered by Southsayings 90 Apollonius an Egyptian foretold the death of Caius Caligula the Emperour 91 Apollonius foretold Cilix his slaughter 92 Larginus Proclus foretells the death of Domitian the Emperour 93 The death of Constance discovered by a Souldier observing the intrals of beasts and birds 94 Alexander Severus Emperour desiring to begin his speech to his Souldiers with a lucky word Fortune brought him one clean contrary 95 A woman meeting the two Maximines in the Market-place falls dead 96 Dioclesian his being Emperour is foretold by a Woman 97 Marian a most wise Earl his predictions 98 A Soothsayers prediction to Agilulph Duke of the City Taurina 99 Antonine his prediction to his Schollers 100 Remex a Rhodian his prediction 101 An old Proverb in Carthage 102 Spartan guests ravish the daughters of Scedasus 103 The Speech of a Magitian of Egypt to Anthonie 104 The Roman Captains forbid to go with weapons beyond Ctesiphon by reason of an ancient Prophesie 105 Sybill her Prophecie of the destruction of Antichrist 106 The god Ammon answereth the Tementes 107 Sybill foretells the warlike glory of the Macedons 108 A Child having teeth speaketh the same day in which he is born 109 A Child within twenty four hours of its birth spoke and made signs with its hands 110 A Syrian seeing a Ship running with full sayles foretold it should be sunk 111 Phericides foretold an earthquake within three dayes 112 The answer which the Oracle at Delphos gave to Glaucus enquiring counsell concerning unjustly deteyned money 113 Alphonsus King of Arragon besieging Neopolis had the taking thereof foretold him by a man of a reverend aspect 114 Women who guessed at things to come by whirl-pools and noyse of Waters 115 Abaris of Seuthias a divine of the Hyberboreans 116 Aedesius the son of Chrysanthus had a body so nimble that it exceeded humane belief 117 Agias divined unto Lysander that he should conquer the name of the Athenians 118 Philumena a Soothsaying maid 119 Saint Augustine reports of Algibertus that he knew all secrets 120 Basilacius a man of an unaccustomed life a fortune-teller 121 Merlin begotten by a spirit called Incubus and a Brittish Noblewoman foretold many things to come 122 An unclean spirit having possessed Jacoba speaks in her 123 A notable Impostor of Peter Brabantius who as oft as he pleased spoke from the bottome of his belly without moving his lips 124 Amphiarus a soothsayer by the gaping of the earth swallowed up with his Chariot and Horses 125 Actius Navius a shepheard boy a soothsayer 126 Posthumus the Sooth-sayer 127 Spurina foretells to Julius Caesar his danger of being killed 128 A German Prophesyeth to Agrippa thou prisoner his deliverance and future prosperity 129 The Adelittans and Almogonens divine from the flying of Birds and meeting of Wild beasts 130 Alexander the Emperour given to riot and Magick 131 Simeon Duke of the Bulgarians 132 An Idoll built by Mahomet whereunto a legion of Devills are ingaged by Magick to which Christians cannot come without danger 133 The manner how the Biarmians Bothynians Finlanders divine 134 How Jannes the master of Theophilus the Emperour foretold things to come 135 Apollonius the Emperour slain at Rome by Stephen according as Apollonius spoke in an extasy at the instant of his death at Ephesus 136 Stephen the Hagio-Christophorite knew from the Devill by Sethus a Magitian that destruction hanged over the head of Andronicus Comnenus 137 William King of the Romans dying unfortunately and