were thought of some to be Incubi because they were so luxurious Hence many tooke occasion to authorise that for truth which is reported of Marlyn that he was begotten of a deuill but thys is better said then affirmed for whether it be so or no God onely knoweth and besides this vvhich I haue said he speaketh of many other particularities secrets that are amongst the deuils which in truth it is best not to know nor vnderstand for the knowledge of them can be no way profitable and may perchance be some way hurtfull BER If the deuill can doe that which this Marcus sayeth perchance Lactantius Firmianus tooke thence occasion to vvrite that folly of his saying that the authority of Genesis vvhich saith As the sonnes of GOD sawe the daughters of men which were beautifull they tooke them for wiues and had children by them is vnderstood by the Angels vvhom God held heere in the world so that he attributeth to thē bodies with which they conuersed with women and begot chyldren AN. Truly you may rightly terme it his folly for there cannot be a greater as both S. Thomas all the other Docters of Theologie affirme vnderstanding by the sons of God men that serued him walked in the way of righteousnes by the sons of men those that followed their owne lusts and pleasures not regarding that which they ought to doe for it were absurd to thinke that the Angels should pollute themselues with such filthines as the deuils doe who also doe it not because they therin receiue delight but because of the sin and and offence which they therin make men to commit ioyntly with them for they cannot in truth howsoeuer they fashion their bodies exercise any vitall operation though there want not some who say that the deuils come to be enamoured of women pursue them in loue with lust and desire but I esteem this to be a meere mockery for it the deuill at any time make a shew of loue the same is dissembled that which he only seeks is the destruction of the soule without hauing any other respect for verification of which I will tell you what I saw in the Iland of Cerdinia in the citie of Caliar where at that instant was handled the inquisition of certaine Witches vvho they said had confederation did cōmunicate with those of Fraunce Nauarre of which many not long before had bin sought out punished at that very time there was a beautifull young mayden of the age of 17. or 18. yeres old apprehended accused to haue acquaintance and fleshly conuersation with the deuill brought to the same by the allurements and entisements of one of these Witches The deuill vsed oftentimes to resort vnto her in the likenes of one of the most beautifull young gentlemen in the world vsing so sweete and comely behauiour that the poore wench became so vehemently enamoured and so deepely inflamed in his loue that of all worldly felicities she accounted his company to be the greatest but he when he saw his time and thought her to be sure enough his tooke such order that the matter was discouered and the mayden taken who persisted so obstinatelie against the perswasions of those that willed her to repent to craue mercy that it was wonderfull thinking surelie that the deuill woulde helpe her as he had promised perseuering in such ardant loue and affection towardes him that with her passionate speeches she amazed and moued to pitty those that heard her speake and for conclusion willingly suffered herselfe to be put aliue into the fire and burnt still in vaine reclaiming the promised assistance of her abhominable Louer loosing thereby both her body and soule which so easily shee might haue saued in dying Christianlike and taking patientlie with repentance her bodily death in this world LU. Trulie her end was most pittifull and lamentable yet farre better did another of which I haue heard beeing lykewise a young mayden rich beautifull of good parentage who with extreame and vehement affection became to be inamoured of a young Gentleman liuing in the same Tovvne where shee remained but for her reputations sake she couered so warily this secrete feruent affection of hers that it was neyther perceaued of the Gentleman himselfe nor of any man else the deuill onely excepted who seeing occasion offered whereby as he thought to procure her damnation tooke vpon him the likenes habite and gesture of the Gentleman offring vnto her his seruice and loue with such artificiall perswasions that after solemne promise of marriage he came to haue the vse of her body to which otherwise her chast desire woulde neuer haue consented after which hee frequented many nights her companie lying in naked bedde with her as if hee had beene indeede the Gentleman vvhose shape he tooke vpon him and with whose loue the mayden was so ardently enflamed In this manner passed ouer manie monthes the deuill alwaies perswading her not to sende him any messages because it was for some respects conuenient to keepe the matter for a while secret withall that she should not conceaue any vnkindnesse if seeing her in publique hee vsed no outward semblance of loue towards her aduising her also to vse in all poynts the like strangenesse towardes him preuenting heereby the inconuenience that might haue hapned if she should haue found herselfe in company with the supposed Gentleman The matter continuing thus it fell out that the Mother of this mayden gaue vnto her a booke of deuout prayers to read which she often perusing the deuill had no more power at all to come in place where she was nor to abuse her any longer because she ware the same continuallie about her necke Whereupon at the end of three Moneths shee wondring much at his absence and withall hearing that he I meane the supposed Gentleman courted another Gentlewoman entring into a most vnpatient iealousie shee sent him one day word that by any meanes he should com speak with her about a matter most important The Gentleman without vnderstanding the cause beeing full of curtesie and good behauiour awayting a time when her mother was out came and founde her alone and after hauing curteously saluted her demaunded what her pleasure was The mayden seeing him speake as one that scarcely knewe her bathing her face with teares in wordes full of griefe complayned of his strangenesse and forgetfulnesse asking him for what demerite of hers he had left her so long vnuisited The Gentleman astonished at this manner of speech aunswered her as a man amazed and vtterlie ignorant of her meaning whereupon kindled with exceeding choller shee began to threaten him that seeing he had despoyled her of that which she held dearest that he should not now thinke to cast her of and that if he would not of his owne accord accomplish the promise of marriage vvhich he had vowed vnto her shee would besides her complaints to God and the world
Garden into which the vision entred and Ayola after him but because there was in the midst thereof a great deepe Well Ayola stayed feating least the vision shold turne vpon him doe him some outrage vvhich the vision perceauing made signes that he shold not be afraid as it were requesting him to goe with him to a certaine place of the garden towards which he pointed whether they were no sooner come but the vision vanished sodainly away Ayola beeing alone began to call and coniure him making great protestations that if there were any thing in vvhich he might stand him in sted he was there ready to performe the same and that there should be in him no fault at all but staying there awhile and seeing not hearing any thing more he aduised to pull vp foure or fiue handfuls of grasse herbes in the selfe same place where himselfe thought that the vision vanished hauing done which hee returned and awaked his companions whom he found both soundly sleeping They looking vp vpon him sawe him so altered and his colour so changed that they verily thought he would there haue ended his life whereupon they rose vp and forced him to eate of a conserue which they had and to drinke a little wine then laying him downe on his bedde they asked him what was the cause of this his deadly alteration of looke wherupon he told them all that had happened beseeching them to keepe it secret because in reuealing it to others they shoulde neuer be beleeued But as these things are hard to be kept secret so one of them told it in a place whence it was knowne throughout the whole Citty and came at last to the hearing of the chiefe Magistrate who endeuouring to sound out the truth therof commaunded Ayola by solemne oath to declare the particularitie of each thing which he had seene who did so making this former relation The Gouernour hearing him tell the same with such assurance went with others of the Towne to the same place of the Garden where according as hee had told them they founde a great heape of withered grasse in which commaunding certaine men to digge with spytters they founde and that not very deepe vnder the grounde a graue and in the same a carkas with all the markes declared by Ayola which was the cause that his whole report was credited to be true but seeking to enquire and learne what body the same so buried should be so encheyned and exceeding in greatnes the ordinary stature of other men they founde no man that could expresly satisfie them therein though there were diuers old tales told of the predicessours of the owner of that house The Gouernour caused incontinently the carkas to be taken vp and buried in a Church from which time forward there were neuer any fearefull visions or noyses seen or heard more in that house Ayola returned afterwardes into Spayne and was prouided through his learning of many offices vnder the Crowne and his sonne after him in our time was a man of great sway and authoritie in this Country LV. It seemeth that Ayolas courage was farre better then Costillas seeing the one dyed through feare and the other remayned liuing but I would faine vnderstande in what sort thys Vision might appeare which seemeth not to be a matter of so great misterie AN. At least the Phylosophers and Physitions cannot attribute it to the abundance of melancholie because it appeared by the carkas which they found buried that the same vision was truly and substancially seene by Ayola and not represented in his fancie And if there were here any Diuines I dare vndertake there would not want diuersity of opinions for some would say that it was the worke of the deuill to no other end then to mocke the people in forming to himselfe a body of ayre or earth of the same figure like the carkas that lay buried Others woulde rather maintaine the same to be a good Angell dooing so to the intent that the same body whose soule was perchaunce in heauen might enioy sacred buriall neither woulde they want reasons for maintenaunce of their opinions euery man may therfore beleeue herein as pleaseth him without offending but howsoeuer it vvere by a good or euill Angell it was by the wil and sufferaunce of God and for my part I take it to be the surest to iudge alwayes the best BE. Your reason is good trulie this matter is not without some great mistery which vvee vnderstand not and therefore let vs spend no more time in altercation about it AN. Many thinges haue hapned and happen daily in the world to search the depth and bottom of whose secrets were great presumption at which though som times by signes and tokens we may giue a gesse yet we must alwayes thinke that there is some thing hidden from vs and of this sort is that which hapned to a Gentleman in thys our Spayne whose name for the foulenes of his endeuour and many respects beside I wil conceale and the name also of the towne where it hapned This Gentleman being very rich noble delt in matters of dishonest loue with a Nun the which to th' end shee might enioy his abhominable embracements willed him to make a key like vnto that of the Church doore and shee would finde time and meanes through her turne which shee had about the seruice of the Sachristie and other such occasions to meete him there where they both might satiate theyr filthy lusts and incestuous desires The Gentleman exceedingly reioycing at this match caused two keyes to be made the one for the doore of the Church Portall and an other of the Church doore it selfe which beeing doone because it was somewhat farre from his house hee tooke one night his horse and for the more secrecie of the matter rode thither alone being come thither about midnight leaping of his horse and tying him by the reynes of the bridle to a conuenient place he went towards the Monastery of which opening the first doore of the Portall hee founde that of the Church open of it selfe and in the Church a great light and brightnes of Torches and Wax candels and withall he heard voyces as it were of men singing and doing the funerall seruice of some one that was deceased at which being amazed he drew neerer better to behold the manner therof where he might see the Church to be full of Fryers and Priests singing these obsequies hauing in the midst of them a coffin couered with blacke about which were many light tapers burning each of the Friers Priestes and many other men besides that seemed to assist at these funerals hauing also a waxcandle burning in their hands but his greatest astonishment of all vvas that he knew not one of thē after hee had remained a while beholding thē he approched neere one of the Friers asked him for whom those honorable solemnities were done vvho answered him that such a gentleman naming his
novve speake vvith povver and vertue to heale a griefe so pestilent and raging as that of the byting of a madde Dogge of which kind of cure to the end you may better vnderstand the manner I will tell you what happened to my Father when he was a young man As he trauailed one day by the way he was set vpon by a fierce Mastiue by whom make what defence he could he was bitten through the boot into the legge of which making small account because it went not deepe into the flesh he caried the hurt about him three or foure daies without complaining of the same the fourth day passing by a Chappell and hearing the bell ring to Seruice hee lighted off his horse and stayed to heare the same which being done as he was comming forth of the Chappell he was encountred by a Husbandman who saluting him demaunded if hee had not beene lately bitten by a mad dogge My Father told him he had beene indeede bitten of a dogge demaunding of him the cause why he was so inquisitiue thereof in good faith sir quoth the Husbandman laughing you may thanke God that it hath pleased him to guide and conduct you into this place for this dogge by whom you are bitten was mad and if you should remaine nine dayes without helpe there were no other way with you but death and for the more assurance that I tell you the truth the dogge had such and such markes all which my Father acknowledging to be most true entring into some amazement the other bad him be of good comfort telling him that hee had the gift of healing that disease and if it pleased him to stay a day or two in the Village hee would helpe him My Father accepting courteously his offer went home with him to his house where hee presently blessed him and all that euer he did eate with certaine words and signes and so likewise once againe after meate towards the euening he tolde him that if he would be cured he must patiently endure three pricks in the nose to which my Father being in extreame feare willingly consented bidding him vse his pleasure where-vpon in presence of many the principallest men of the Village he tooke a sharpe pointed knife and prickt him three times on the nose wringing gently out of each pricke a drop of blood which he receaued in a little sawcer each drop by it selfe and then washt his nose with a little white vvine which was also charmed after which entertayning themselues in talke about halfe an howre they lookt on the bloode which was in the sawcer still remaining in theyr sight without beeing remoued and they found in euery drop a liue worme bubling therein which the Charmer shewing vnto my Father sayd be of good cheere sir for here is all the hurt that the dogge hath done you but assure your selfe you should haue runne mad and dyed if your good hap or rather God had not guided you this way giue God therfore thanks and depart when you please My Father requiting him in the thankfullest manner he coulde tooke the next morning his leaue and went on his way As for this man that helped him though it might be that God had giuen him some perticuler gift vertue yet for my part I rather mistrust that he went not the right way because hee could so readily tell the colour and tokens of the dogge LVD Whatsoeuer he was your Father had good hap in meeting with him But now seeing it waxeth late and wee haue so long discoursed of the manners and waies whereby the deuill seeketh to deceaue vs and to leade vs to perdition I pray you resolue mee in one doubt which remaineth the which is in what sort they tempt men in theyr sleepe AN. If you will reade Anthonio de Florencia you shall there finde so many diuers meanes and wayes by the which he compasseth vs about with temptations that to recite them all we had need of farre longer time then at this present vve haue but amongst the rest this one is most vehement and of great force which he suggesteth to vs in our sleepe representing in our fantasie those thinges in which we take delight such as are pleasing to our humors and appetites especiallie making vs dreame lasciuious Dreames and tempting vs so farre with filthy and carnall lust that he prouoketh vs oftentimes to pollutions To others he representeth in their sleepe great treasures and riches to the end that waking they might be stirred with desire of them and haue their thoughts and imaginations busied about thē leauing matter of better meditation But his malice is not alwaies herewith contented for sometimes it tendeth farder prouoking vs in our sleep to cōmit follies wherby we may lose both body and soule at once which to the end that you may the better vnderstand I will tell you what chaunced to a very principall gentleman of this countrey whose surname was Tapia whom beeing a boy I knew passing well This gentleman had so strange a condition in his sleep that he arose diuers nights sleeping out of his bed and went vp and downe the house from place to place without waking for which cause least hee might thereby come to receaue some mischiefe his seruaunts accustomed to set euery night a great shallowe tub of water by his beds side for it is a thing approoued that whosoeuer is troubled vvith this passion awaketh presently in touching the colde vvater It hapned one night among the rest that his seruants hauing forgotten to sette this vessell as they vsually accustomed that beeing in the hotest season of the Sommer thys Gentleman arose sleeping out of his bedde with the greatest agonie that might be to goe swimme in the Riuer whereupon casting about him a cloake ouer his shirt he went out of his chamber and vnbolted the doore of the house making as fast towards the Riuers side as he could comming to the townes end he met with another companion to whom demaunding of him whether he went at that time of night he made answer that he felt such an extreame heate in his body that he was determined to goe refresh coole himselfe in the Riuer I could neuer haue mette with a fitter companion sayde the other for I am also going thither for the same occasion of vvhose company Tapia beeing glad they went on together till they came to the Riuers side where as Tapia hauing put of his cloake and his shirt and was ready to enter into the vvater the other fell a scoffing and iesting at him as at one that knew not hovve to swimme vvhich he taking in ill part because he was therein very expert and cunning aunswered in choller that he would fwymme with him for as much for what wager soeuer he dared aduenture against him to the contrarie that shall be soone seene quoth the other whither your cunning be such that you dare boldly performe as much as you say and
that in euery such part of her body as by any possibility they might which when they savve themselues vnable to succour vvith griefe hoising vp their sailes they departed from thence naming the place the Iland of Satyrs Gaudencius Merula rehearseth the selfe same saying that Eufemius which told this to Pausanias was a Cardinall LU. Ptolome in his second booke of the tenth table of Asia vvriteth that there are three Ilands of Satyres bearing the selfe same forme I verily beleeue that those are they whom we commonly call wilde Sauages paynted with great and knotty staues in theyr handes for till nowe I neuer heard that there were any such particulerly in any part of the world BER Plinie vvriteth alleadging the authority of Megasthenes that there are towards the East certaine people which haue long bushie tayles like Foxes so that they are in a manner like vnto those which you haue said I partly beleeue this the rather because of that which as I haue heard hapned to a lynage of men that brake vp a vessell pertayning to S. Toribius Bishop of Astorga in which hee helde sacred reliques with whose delectable sauour hee sustained himselfe putting in place there of things stinking vnsauory for punishment and perpetuall marke of which wicked offence both they theyr posteritie came to haue tayles which race as it is sayde continueth till this day AN. You commit no deadly sinne though you beleeue it not But I will tell you one no lesse monstrous then all these aboue mentioned the which I did see as they say with mine owne eyes in the yeare 1514. of a stranger that went to S. Iames in pilgrimage who ware a long garment downe to his feet open before which in giuing him some litle almes he opened wide discouered a child whose head to our seeming was set in the mouth of his stomack or a very little higher his whole necke beeing out from whence downeward his body was fully perfected and well fashioned in all his members which he stirred as other children doe so that there was in one man two bodies but whether this child was gouerned by the man vvhich bare it or by it selfe in his naturall operations I cannot say for I vvas then so young that I neyther had the discretion to discerne it nor the wit to aske it I should not haue dared to haue tolde this but that there are in Spayne so many vvhich haue seene it remember it besides my selfe and the thing so publique and notorious Besides I haue beene tolde by certaine persons of great credite that about 2. or 3. yeares since in Rome they went about gathering money vvith shewing a man that had tvvo heads the one of the vvhich came out of th' entry of his stomacke the selfe same place out of vvhich the others bodie came but this head though it were most perfectly shaped yet was it like vnto a dead member vvhich of it selfe had no feeling but that the man felt vvhen it was touched as vvell as any other of his members BER Though these things be passing strange wonderfull and neede many witnesses to giue them credite yet why should not this happen sometimes to men as it doth often to other creatures I haue seen my selfe a Lamb brought forth vvith two heads which died incontinently LU. Petrus Crinitus in his 21. Booke of honest discipline saith that in Emaus which I take to be that of which the holie Scripture maketh mention a woman bare two boyes from the nauill downeward ioyned in one hauing vpwards two seuerall bodyes two heads two breasts and all other members proportionable and that they were two persons and two distinct soules it was easie to perceaue for the one wept when the other laughed the one slept when the other waked and each of them did in one moment different operations in which sort they liued two yeares at terme of which the one dying the other liued only foure dayes after him He rehearseth this historie by the authoritie of Singibertus whom he commendeth for an Authour of great grauity and truth who lyued in the time of Theodosius the Emperour Besides Saint Augustine in his Citty of God writeth of this monster though not so particulerly I haue read of other two that were borne ioyned together by the shoulders backe to backe lyuing so a certaine time till the one comming to die the stench of his dead body so infected and anoyed the other that hee lyued not long after him AN. When there is no Authour of credite I will neuer beleeue that which is amongst the common sort reported beeing for the most part altogether fabulous BER Leauing thys I pray you tell me Signior Anthonio what you thinke of that which Plinie writeth of the Pigmees many other Authors of the Amazons AN. As for the Amazons many Writers affirme that they haue been and there are so many histories recorded of them theyr valorous deedes of Armes the battailes and warres in which they were that it should seeme great temerity to say the contrary Though Plutarch writing the life of great Alexander bringeth xij Greeke Authors that wrote also of his life some in his very time and some little after his death of which some fewe make mention of one Thalestris Queene of the Amazones that came so far to see him and speake with him but the rest and the greater part say nothing at all thereof wherby he seemeth to doubt whether it were true or no for if it were hee thinks that such and so esteemed Authors would neuer haue past so notable a matter in silence Besides Strabo was of opinion that this matter of Amazons was altogether faigned whose wordes are these Who can beleeue that there was euer at any time Army Cittie or Commonwealth onelie of women and not onely that there were but that they made war inuaded conqueringly vpon other Countries subdued their neighbours in battailes ranged and dared set their Armies in Ionia and on the farther side of Pontus euen to Attica This were as much to say as that in those dayes the women were men and the men women LUD All thys is not sufficient to prooue that in times past there were no such for all those that write of the Troyan warres make no doubt of theyr comming thither and that vvhich is written of theyr originall beginning is most notorious and knowen but of theyr last fall and finall ende I haue not seene anie Historie that maketh mention BER There haue beene in the Worlde many notable thinges vnknowne for want of Wryters of the which this may be one but I haue cheefelie noted one thing vvhich is that the Authors agree not about those Countryes vvherein they write that they lyued the rehearsall of vvhose seuerall opinions concerning theyr Prouince and Kingdome I will not encomber my selfe with repeating ANT. Diodorus Siculus vvryteth that the Amazones raigned in two partes the
may be gathered that put the case that Paradise stood towards any part of the East yet could not the same be far off frō the Citties of Ierusalem Tyre because he nameth iointly together Charam Heden being a thing most manifest that Charam is a Prouince in Chaldae or Mesopotamia which appeareth by the words of Genesis saying God took thē out of Vra Prouince of the Chaldaeans that they might go to Canaan they cam euen to Charam these are euident reasons to proue that Paradise stood in that Coūtry that if as yet it be it standeth there it maketh the better with this opinion because the two Riuers Tygris Euphrates bath and water that Prouince Besides we may suppose that the Arke of Noe during the 40. dayes of the flood while it floted vpō the water being so great huge built so monstrous as appeareth by the holy scripture to no other end then that it should not sink made no very long voyage which staying setling it selfe on the mountaines of Armenia is a token that Noes biding was not farre from thence of the other side it is certaine that his habitation was not far off from that part where Paradice was which by consequence could not be farre off from Armenia vpon which these prouinces before rehearsed doe border and that the Country where Paradice stood was enhabited appeareth by these words of S. Chrisostome Before the flood saith he men knew the place where Paradice stood the way to goe vnto the same But after the deluge they found thēselues out of the knowledge thereof neyther could Noe or any of his Successors remēber or find out the place where it had beene And seeing that Chrisostom saith that it was neuer afterwards knowne neither can we know if it still remained or if it were dissolued for standing in part where notice might haue been had thereof LV. Indeed if Paradice should be in a place so neere vnto vs how were it possible that no man should haue knowledge thereof or at the least of the place where it might stand AN. To this answereth Eugubinus that granting his former opiniō to be true or that Paradice was planted in a flat ground or at least not so high as other Doctors affirme then certainly it was destroyed by the waters of the flood God through our offences not permitting a thing so notable of so great perfection to remaine amongst vs in the world LV. It seemeth not vnto me that Eugubinus hath reason to gainsay the opinion of so many Doctors agreeing all in one Strabo being both a Historiographer and a Diuine writeth that the sword with which God placed the Seraphin at the gate of Paradice was called Versatilis which is as much to say as turning because it could turn back as it did when it gaue place of entry to Elias Enoch though the same be otherwise vnderstood of Nicolaus de Lyra who saith that Torrida Zona is the firy sword which the Seraphin held whose exceeding furious heate defended that passage frō all men liuing But this is out of date seeing the industry of this our age hath found the same to be passable BE. I dare not determinatly affirme whether Elias cam out of terestrial Paradice or any other place when he was speaking with Christ at his transfiguration for it is generally held as a thing most certain indubitable that Elias where so euer he be is in body and soule AN. Truly there are for the maintenance of each of these opinions so many reasons that it is best not to trouble our wits withall but to leaue the censure of thē to wiser men greater Doctors then we are only one thing remaineth the which truly if it were in my power I would not permit that so many fables shold be set forth divulged as there are as that which is written in the life of S. Amasus that hee stoode so many yeeres at the gates thereof and also in a treatise of S. Patricks Purgatory where it is written that a Gentleman entring in passed through the same into earthly Paradice for in such matters no man ought to be so hardy as to affirme any thing but that which is knowne to be true and approoued LV. In good sooth you haue great reason but now seeing you haue sayde as much as may be about the situation of Paradice goe forward with that of the Riuers which come from thence a matter vnlesse I be deceaued of no lesse difficulty then the before rehearsed AN. I assure you it is such that I should haue been glad if you had ouerslipped it doubting least I shall be vnable to satisfie your expectation for as Eugubinus sayeth there is so great and so intricate a difficulty heerein that he is hardly able to vnwinde him selfe there out whom of force in this matter I must follow for as for the other Authors which write heereof it seemeth that they stay at the halfe carere without reaching to the end of the course To begin therefore it is sayd in Genesis that there issued a Riuer out of Paradice deuiding it selfe into foure parts the which were Gion Fison Tygris and Euphrates But seeing the difficulty of the seate and place of paradice cannot clearely be determined much lesse can this be of the foure Riuers which issue thence especially knowing at this present that their Springs and risings are in diuers different parts of the world yet for all this sifting and bolting out the truth we will approach as neere it as we may This Riuer which deuided it selfe into foure first issued out of the place of delights which was according to Eugubinus the Prouince of Heden and from thence entered to inundate Paradice whence comming forth it made this deuision It is manifest that the first part therof called Gion is the same which we now call Ganges for this is it which watreth the land of Heuylath The second Riuer Fyson is without all doubt that which wee now call Nilus seeing there is no other which watereth and compasseth about the Land of Aethiopia as the text it selfe sayeth As for Tygris Euphrates they retaine yet their selfe same first names and runne along the Country of the Assirians and of these two last it may be sayde that they rise or at the least that the first Land which they water is the same which according to that before alleaged may be called the prouince of Heden BER These two Riuers are by all Cosmographers described to haue their risings in the Mountaine Taurus in Armenia and it is true that they vvater the prouince of the Assirians but theyr rysing and beginning is farre from thence as saith Strabo by these words Euphrates and Tygris rise in the Mountaine Taurus and compassing about Mesapotamia ioyne themselues together by Babylon and from thence goe to enter into the Persian Sea the spring of Euphrates is on the North side of
other such like tales of which the common people speaketh AN. There are some certainly yea and very many which I take to be meere fictions and fables inuented by men for their pastime or some other cause that moued them others there are which are vndoubtedly of most assured truth as it appeareth by sundry examples successes which cannot be denied LU. Truly Signior Anthonio I shold be very glad throughly to vnderstand this matter of Spirits whether they be illusions deceits of the deuill who representeth thē in imagination fancy only or whether they are truly seene discerned with our bodily eyes for according to the diuersity of tales which I haue heard and of such diuers sorts I knowe not what I should iudge thereof AN. You haue entred into a matter very deepe me thinks you go about to make me a Diuine perforce as yesterday you did in that of terestriall Paradise wherin because I found you then easie to be contented I am the readier now to satisfie you so far as my knowledge extendeth Let vs therfore repose our selues on this greene banke where with the shadow of those trees of one side the freshnes of this Fountain on the other we shal sit to our ease contentment BER We are ready to fulfill obey your cōmaundement in all things especially in this tending to so good an end surely I haue oftentimes beaten my braines about this matter of which you will nowe entreate but still in the end finding the conceite thereof intricate aboue my capacity I gaue it quite ouer AN. Well therfore I wil begin to say what I know as there ariseth any doubt aske and I wil doe my best to resolue satisfie you as wel as I can with the greatest breuity possible for otherwise the matter is so great so much thereof written that we should neuer bring it to an end and because these illusions apparitions of Spirits chiefely proceed of the deuils let vs first see what the ancient Philosophers thought of them not touching our Christian Religion The Peripatetikes chiefely Aristotle were of opinion that there were no deuils at all and so saith Aueroes that hee knew no spirituall substances but those which moue the heauens which he calleth also Angels seperated substances intelligences mouing vertues so that the deuils being spirituall substances he seemeth to deny that there be any Of the same opinion was Democrites therin so obstinate that certaine yong men clothing themselues one night in deformed vgly attire seeming to be very deuils in deed thinking to make him afraide when they came into the place where he was vsing horrible feareful gestures he shewed himselfe secure without any alteration at all bidding thē cease to play the fools because he knew wel there were no such bugs as they represented And when these Philosophers were asked what griefe that was which those endured who were possessed of Spirits they answered it was a passion proceeding of a melancholly humor affirming melancholly to be able to worke those effects and as yet the most part of Phisitions maintaine the same affirming that when the deuill speaketh in diuers tongues yea though often very highly and mistically yet that all this may well proceed through the operation of a vehement melancholly But this is a manifest error for amongst the Ethnike Philosophers them selues there were diuers of a contrary opinion as Pythagoras Plato Socrates Trismegistus Proculus Pophirius Iamblicus many others though S. Austine in his ninth booke De ciuitate Dei sayeth that Plato and his followers called the superiour Angels Gods and that they were the selfe same whom Aristotle called Angels and in this sort is to be vnderstoode the spirit of Socrates so famous in Platos works and of which Apuleius writeth a whole booke and whosoeuer attentiuely readeth the Tymeus of Plato and his Cratilus in the tenth Dialogue De legibus shal find that he meant the same Aristotle him selfe sayeth that Lemures and Lamiae dwell in a sad Region LV. I vnderstand not these names if you declare thē not plainlier vnto me AN. The deuils are called by sundry different names which though for certaine respects keepe their particuler significations Lamiae properly signifie a kind of deuils yet vnder the same name are also contayned Hags and Witches as persons who haue confederation and agreement with the deuill and Lemures or Lares are such as wee call Hobgoblins or domesticall Spirits and as these are Spirits it seemeth to make against that which in other places he maintained But leauing these men who went so blindly and obscurely to worke Let vs come to the trueth it selfe which is Christ and to our Christian Religion which manifestly teacheth vs to vnderstand what we should beleeue as touching these maligne Spirits whose being is proued by so many examples and testimonies of the holy Scripture and by the misteries and miracles wrought by the same God our Sauiour in casting them foorth of humaine bodies The which afterwards the Apostles and holy men did in like sort The Philosophers which confessed that there were deuils though they vnderstood that theyr office was to torment the soules of euill liuers as saith Plato and Xenocrates in his booke which he made of death yet they drawe diuers waies for they make good spirits and euil spirits and they call the departed soules of great wise men Spirits halfe Gods feyning thē through the excellencie of their merrits to be assumpted into heauen where though they neuer entered into the Consistory with the other Gods but when they were called and appointed yet were they Mediators for men that liued on the earth carrying and offering vp theyr messages requests demaunds supplications to the Gods in heauen Neyther made they heere an end but they called also the Gods Daemons as it appeareth by the words of Trismegistus which are thus When the separation saith he shall be of the soule from the bodie the examination thereof shall be tryed by the power iudgment of the chiefe Daemon who finding it righteous godlie will assigne it a conuenient happy place but if he find it spotted with wickednes and defiled with sinnes and offences hee will throw it into the deepe Abysmes where there is alwayes horror and confusion terrible tempests violent waters and vnquenchable fires And so by degrees downewardes towards the earth they place other Gods still declyning till they come to the ill Spirits which they say are those who dwell vnder the earth in the deepe Abysmes thereof Feyning besides a hundred thousand other such like toyes vanities which if you desire to see you may reade the Phylosophers before named and besides them Caelius Rodiginus Protinus Pselius and many others who haue perticulerlie written of this matter But one thing I will assure you that he had neede of a very diuine iudgement whom they
common sort but of a higher and superiour condition For amongst them selues sayeth Father Franciscus de victoria in a Repetition vvhich hee made of Magique they doe obserue theyr orders and degrees of superioritie and this is for the better vse of theyr wickednesse and so sayeth Saint Thomas some deuils sayeth hee are preferred as principals to commaund the rest and the inferiour deuils are subiect vnto those which are of mightier force to execute theyr wickednesse and therefore the Iewes sayde vnto Christ that hee wrought his miracles in the name of Belzebub Prince of deuils so that the Negromancers and Magitians that are confederated with the Princes and Captaines of the Infernall Armie haue alwaies the lesser inferiour deuils in a readines at commaundement to doe their will and pleasure being therevnto constrained by those of the higher dignitie and condition And whereas you say that the deuils are kept by some bound and enclosed in Ringes Boxes or Viols it is a common error and deceite which the deuils make them beleeue with whom they deale for they are where in what place and when they list themselues and how farre soeuer they be of yet at such time as they are called or theyr presence required they come in the very same instant to make aunswere to those which holding them for Familiars and thinking surelie that they carry them alwaies present with them demaund or aske any thing of them who are greatly abused deceaued in presuming that they are able to hold them forcibly at theyr commaundement because it proceedeth not through the words of the Negromancer but through the might and authority of the higher Spirits and deuils which as Captaines gouerne and commaund them Yea and some-times constrayning them to remaine bound indeed when they haue any notable exployt in hande but els for the most-part they leaue them alwayes at libertie This is not onely the opinion of S. Thomas but also of S. Augustine and almost all the rest of the Doctors that handle this matter who write therof many particularities leauing which let vs passe now to other matters no lesse worthy to be vnderstood BER Let then the first I pray you be one which of long time so often as I thinke thereof hath and doth exceedingly trouble my vnderstanding and the same is if the soules of the deceased returne at any time to visite or to speake with those that liue in the world as I haue often heard say that they doe LUD There want not sufficient reasons to confirme that which you say but leauing the determination thereof to better Diuines then we are let vs handle our former discourse of fancies and visions of which vndoubtedly many that are reported to be true are faigned and somtimes take their beginning of occasions that happen whereby they are thought to be true when in deede they are not BER This is an ordinary matter happeneth daily for confirmation of which I vvill tell you of one that chaunced not long since in this Towne wherein we now are and the party yet liuing which was a woman who rising one night very early before day to doe certaine busines shee had hauing ouer night willed her May de to leaue the fire well couered to the ende shee might light her candle in the morning and finding the same quite out when shee rose fell into a great chafe the may de seeing her Mistris so angry stept out of dores with a candell in her hand and going from house to house without finding fire perceauing at last a Lamp burning within the Church went and knocked at the dore thereof desiring the Sexton to light her candell Her Mistres being out of patience and not enduring to stay so long tooke another candle going to the house of one of her acquaintance lighted the same returning at that very instant by one side of the Church as her may de dyd by the other and being in the Sommer time both vnclothed sauing onely that they had a thin white peticoate ouer theyr smockes they chaunced to be seene by a neyghbour thereby who was risen a little before whose eyes belike not being well opened he tooke them to be Sprights and published the next day that he had seene certain women go about the Church in Procession with candles in their hands Some that heard him added that they were eyght others tvvelue others twentie thirtie and amongst the rest they affirmed that some yet liuing were seene who hearing thereof fell into the greatest feare of the worlde that they shoulde not liue long but I procured to search out the truth thereof found it to be in such sort as you haue hearde AN. Let but once such a matter as this come amongst the common people and it will growe so from one mouth to another that at last of a flie they will make an Elephant neuer willing to acknovvledge themselues to be deceaued as it hapned in a very pleasant tale which I will tell you the truth whereof came after to be discouered There dyed in a towne of this Countrey a Gentleman very rich and of great reputation who had ordained his body to be buried in a Cloyster of Fryers vvhich was performed and his funerals doone sumptuously vvith great pompe and magnificence The night comming a certaine mad woman that ranne vp and downe the towne halfe naked was by chaunce left in the Church of the Monasterie when the Sexton lockt the doore who hauing seene the dead mans Herse which stood in the midst of the Church couered ouer of each side with a black cloth trayling on the groūd with great compasse and widenes as the manneris and beginning to be pinched with cold for it was in the middest of the Winter went to shroud herselfe vnder the same in which sort the fell a sleepe till at last the Fryers came into the Quire to say theyr matins with the noyse of whose voyces awaking she thought good to sport with them a little to make them afrayde beginning to giue great bounces and rumblings against the Coffin and withall to skritche and howle in the lothsomest manner she could The Pryor and his Brethren somewhat troubled at the suddainenesse thereof came downe into the body of the Church bringing with them Holy-vvater and holding in theyr handes halowed Candles burning and vsing such prayers and deuotions as for such a case they thought conuenient Notwithstanding the foolish woman resolute to goe forward with that which shee had begunne the neerer she heard them approach the greater bounsing shee made and withall rearing vp the coffin in height with her head let both herselfe and the same fall as hard as she could which though she did manie times yet the largenes of the mourning cloth kept her from beeing discouered The Pryor seeing that this coniurations exorcismes profited nothing at all thought it should be a great rashnesse to lift vp the cloath and to discouer
vnderneath least thereby through feare and amazement might ensue some harme or danger to some of the Fryers and so commaunded them to returne to theyr Matines The foole seeing the danger ouerpast layd her downe to sleepe awhile and vvaking about the breake of day conueyed herselfe secretly from vnder the Herse hyding herselfe in a place of the Church vntill such time as the Sexton came to open the doore and people began to presse in at which time she stole priuily out of the Church The Fryers comming to visit this Herse lifting vp the cloth found nothing but the ground trampled and troden so that they knewe not what to iudge thereof This matter could not remaine so secrete but that it was in fewe dayes published not onely through the vvhole Cittie but also in many other places and euery man adding what pleased him it was told in diuers sorts and the opinions and iudgements thereof likewise were diuers no man knowing the truth thereof till on a certaine day two months after the foresayd buriall it chaunced that this foolish or franticke vvoman standing in the Market-place and beeing enuironed with a number of boyes and idle fellowes that were iesting and sporting with her spyed by chaunce two Religious men of the same Cloyster passing by at which breaking out into a great laughter i-fayth quoth shee Fryers Fryers as lustie as you are I made you once tremble and shake for feare At which turning backe better to vnderstande that which shee sayde shee tolde them laughing that it was shee that lay the same night vnder the Herse and which made thē so afray de vvhen they came into the Church to say theyr Matines The standers by made her by sweete speeches and fayre promises confesse all that had passed laughing not a little at the craftinesse of the foole and at the generall error in which they had still remained if shee had not herselfe disclosed vnto them all the particularities thereof LVD Manie such thinges as these without doubt doe happen in the world of which some neuer come to be discouered but seeing we haue sufficiently discoursed of the same I pray you let me somwhat vnderstand your opinion as concerning Robingoodfelowes Hobgoblins which are sayde to be so common that there is scarcely any man but will tell you one tale or other of them of which for mine owne part I beleeue none but doe make reckoning that euery man forgeth heerein what pleaseth him AN. Many of them without doubt are forged and manie also true for these kindes of Spirits are more familiar and domesticall then the others and for some causes to vs vnknowne abide in one place more then in another so that some neuer almost depart from some perticuler houses as though they were their propper mansions making in them sundry noyses rumors mockeries gaudes and iestes without doing any harme at all and though I am not my selfe witnes thereof yet I haue heard many persons of credit affirme that they haue heard them play as it were on Gyternes and Iewes Harpes and ring Belles and that they aunswer to those that call them and speake with certaine signes laughters merry gestures so that those of the house come at last to be so familiar and well acquainted with them that they feare them not at all But in truth as I said before if they had free power to put in execution their malicious desire we shoulde finde these pranks of theirs not to be iestes but earnest indeed tending to the destruction both of our bodie and soule but as I tolde you before this power of theirs is so restrained and tyed that they can passe no farder then to iestes and gawdes and if they doe any harme or hurt at all it is certainlie verie little as by experience we dailie see and therefore leauing vnrehearsed an infinite number of fables and strange tales tolde of them by the common people I will tell you truly what I savve my selfe beeing a boy of tenne yeeres old a Scholler in Salamanca There was in that Citty a widdow very principall and rich somewhat aged in yeeres which kept in her house foure or fiue mayde Seruants of the which two were young and very beautifull There was a common report bruted abroade in the Towne that there should be in this vviddowes house a Hobgoblin or spright that plaid daily sundry strange pranks of which the most vsuall was that hee threw stones from the roofe of the house not onely vpon the persons therein but also vpon others that came to visite the vviddow in such quantity and with such noise as though whole showers of them had beene rained out of the Element yet alwayes harmlesly without hurting any man This matter grew so publique that the brute thereof came at last to the eares of the Magistrate who desiring to know the truth thereof went presently to the widdowes house with at least twenty in his company entring into which hee commaunded a Sergeant accompanied with foure other men to seeke round about the house with a burning Torch willing him not to leaue any corner aboue or beneath vnsearched wherein by any possibility a man might be hidden which he and his fellowes executed so neerely that vnlesse they would haue vntiled the house they could doe no more so that returning they made relation that there was no seeking any farther for all was safe vvhere-vpon the Magistrate told the Gentlewoman of the house that she was abused and deceaued and as it was most likely by her yong maydens who might bring into her house their Louers by whom these stones might be so throwne vp and downe and therefore willed her for auoyding of all inconueniences to looke more narrowly vnto them least emboldened through this simplicity of hers they might in time attempt some greater matter The good Gentlewoman was the most ashamed of the world not knowing what to reply yet still persisted to affirme that of the throwing of the stones to be most true The Magistrate and the rest iesting at her simplicity tooke their leaue to be gone but they were scarcely off the staires but there came such a whirling of stones about their eares with such a noise as though they had beene throwne with three or foure slings together as thicke as might be which falling on their leggs armes and feet did them no hurt at all The Magistrate caused the selfe same man which had searched before to search againe with great diligence and hast but it was all in vaine for there was no body to be found at which as they stood wondring there fell of a sodaine in the portall of the house such a shower of stones amongst them that it farre exceeded the former at which their amazement encreasing one of the Sergeants tooke vp amongst the rest that lay on the flower a markt stone and throwing it ouer the top of the house that stoode on the other side of the streete in front
If thou be a right deuill quoth he returne me this stone again at which very moment the selfe same stone fel from the roofe of the house and hitte him on the brimme of his Hatte ouer his eyes and the stone was euidently knowne of them all to be the very same which hee had throwne ouer the other house so that the Magistrate with the rest of those that were there present with him departed out of the house with the greatest astonishment that might be and not long after there came thither a Priest of the little Tower of Salamanca who through certaine coniuration which hee wrought deliuered the house both of this throwing of stones and all other such like molestations LU. In good sooth I neuer heard of a merrier deuill but afore you passe any farther I will tell you of two thinges which both happened in this same Towne where we nowe are the one was of a young man that being a Studient in Salamanca came thence hither to see his mother beeing a widdow and was certified by the folkes of the house that there haunted in the same a Hobgobline vvhich at sundry times played twenty knauish pranks with those of the house which the Studient would by no meanes beleeue but laughed at the reports thereof and at last grew into choller with them because they persisted in the earnest affirmation thereof At night calling for a candell hee went to a chamber that vvas made ready for him and shutting to the doore layd himselfe downe to rest but waking within a little while he might see vnder his bed a light like vnto a little flame of fire at which lifting vp the cloathes and starting out of the bed he began to looke whence this fire might come but the same presently vanishing hee turned to his rest againe thinking surely that his eyes had dazeled but he had not line long when he perceaued a greater flame then the first to his seeming vnder the bed at which lifting the couerings of the bed fearefully vp and bowing downe his head very lowe to looke vnderneath the bed he was sodainly taken by the legges and pitcht topsie turuie ouer and throwne into the midst of the chamber where-with striken into a great amazement he cryed out as loude as he could for a candell which beeing brought and searching vnder the bed there was nothing at all to be found from which time forward the Studient acknowledged his error and was lesse obstinate in beleeuing that were Hobgoblins The other was of two Gentlemen which are nowe the chiefest in the Towne and our especiall friends who hearing of a Hobgobline that haunted a poore womans house holding the same for a iest would needes goe thither one night with a certaine Priest to search out the secret cause whence this report might arise comming thither and giuing no credite to the poore womans wordes of a sodaine one of them was striken a great blow vpon one of his iawes with a clod of stinking filthy clay of which he receaued no greater hurt but that it astonished him a little There fell also of this earth vppon others of their company and one of them was hitte a great blowe on the shoulder with a tile so that the Gentlemen and the Priest made as great hast as they could to gette thence not without great wonder and meruaile Not long after a Priest exorcising a vvoman that was possessed the deuill that was within her amongst other thinges confessed that it was hee that which had handled them the other night and that the same clay which hee threwe at them was out of a Graue and of a putrified body not throughly yet conuerted into earth But if wee will enter into speech of this kinde of spyrites wee shall neuer make an ende for there is nothing tolde of them so vnpossible but I beleeue the same seeing it is a thing so manifestly approoued that they canne take vppon them what shape or forme they list Leauing therefore this and passing to other poyntes of greater importaunce I pray you make mee vnderstande vvhether this opinion which many doe holde be true that when so euer any manne is possessed the soule of some one that is dead should enter into him and speake within him AN. In trueth you haue reason to seeke to be resolued of so ignorant an absurdity as this of theirs is vvho so euer mainetayne or thinke the same for though sometimes GOD permitte the soules departed for some especiall causes to returne vnto the vvordle yet dooth hee not permitte them to enter into a body vvhere is an other soule for two reasonable soules canne by no meanes abide in one body so that there cannot be a greater falsenes and errour then this for without doubt they are deuils and not soules as we may see by their casting forth which is done by the vertue of holy and sacred words at which time they vse their vttermost endeuour not to be constrained to goe into places where they cannot exercise their malice of which we haue in the Scriptures an example of him who being as Saint Luke saith in his eight Chapter possessed of a legion of deuils was deliuered of them by our Sauiour by whose permission they entred into a Heard of Swine which threw them selues immediatly downe the Rocks tumbling into the Sea LV. I would also gladly know what should be the cause that the deuils are so desirous to enter into mens bodies and can with such difficulty be cast out of them making there-vnto all resistance that they possibly may AN. To this question Psellius maketh aunswere and Gaundencius Merula also saying that though the deuils are enemies vnto men yet they enter into their bodies not so much with will to doe them hurt as with desire of a vitall heate and warmenes for these are such as doe enhabite the deepest and coldest places where the cold is so pure that it wanteth moistnes so that they couet places hote and moist searching all oportunities and occasions to enter into them so often as for some reasons which we vnderstand not God suffereth permitteth them so to doe And when they cannot enter into the bodies of mē they enter into those of other creatures where willingly they detaine themselues so long as they may and through the violent strength which the body by their entry receaueth happen these tremblings shakings and forcible motions which we see they vse that are possessed This kinde of deuils vse the spirit of the patient as their proper instrument and with his tongue speake and vtter what they list but if they be of those that flie the light and dwell in the profundities of the earth as the last and vtmost sort of those of the earth they make the patient deafe and dumbe like a blocke without vnderstanding as though hee were depriued of all his sences forces which he had before and this is the worst sort of all and with
thereupon forthwith went vp to the toppe of a high Bridge that crost ouer the same Riuer whence after he had stript himselfe naked he threwe himselfe downe headlong into the vvater the Riuer running in that place verie swift and dangerous where swimming vp and downe in the maine streame he called vpon Tapia by dding him according to his promise doe as much as he had doone who disdayning to seeme eyther of lesse cunning or courage then the other went likewise vp to the top of the Bridge and threvve himselfe downe in the very same place in which the other had so doone before him till which time still remaining fast a sleepe his feete were no sooner in the vvater but hee avvaked presentlie where finding himselfe plunging in midst of the rough streame though he were in a wonderfull feare and amazement yet as well as hee could and with all the possible speede he might he skambled foorth earnestly calling vpon the companion that came thether with him thinking assuredlie that there was a man swimming with him indeed but hauing passed with great difficultie the danger of the stream after long calling and looking about him when hee coulde neyther see nor heare any man make aunswere hee beganne to mistrust that thys matter proceeded by the craftie illusion and deceit of the deuil who as he truly thought endeuoured by that subtile practise and enticement to destroy in his sleep both his body and soule VVherupon recommending him selfe by hartie prayer vnto almightie GOD and going vp againe to that place of the Bridge where hee and his compapanion as he imagined had left their clothes when he found no more then his owne throughly confirming himselfe in the mistrust before conceaued he returned homewardes to his owne house with very great astonishment meeting by the way diuers of his seruaunts who missing him in his chamber and finding the doore of the house vnbolted went seeking him vp and downe to vvhō hee recited from poynt to point all that happened vnto him from which time forward hee vvas lesse troubled with such passions contayning himselfe alwayes in such heedfull sort that the deuill could neuer haue power to deceaue him againe BER Truly this man was in great danger of eternall destruction but GOD is so kind and mercifull that he alwaies succoureth and assisteth all those that in time of necessity and danger recommend themselues with a deuout hart vnto him And therefore truly we had need looke well and carefullie to our selues seeing wee haue so cautelous and craftie and aduersarie continually dressing so manie grinnes trappes to entangle vs and alwaies busie in laying baites and allurements ready to deceaue vs. But seeing it is now very late and the pleasantnes of our discoursing hath made vs passe ouer the time without scarcely thinking of the same I am of opinion that we should doe well to referre this our conuersation and meeting till another time for the satisfaction of some doubts which as yet remaine if it shall please Signior Anthonio to agree thereunto AN. No man better contented there-with then my selfe appoynt therefore what time you thinke good and I will not faile to be ready LU. Let vs then I pray you deferre the same no longer then till to morrowe morning BER I giue you my hand vpon the same AN. And I also giue mine The end of the third Discourse The fourth Discourse in which is contayned what Chaunce Fortune Destenie is and the difference betweene them withall what lucke felicity and happines doth signifie with their contraries and what the influences of the heauenly bodies import and whether they are the causes of diuers mischaunces that happen in the world touching besides manie other learned and curious poynts * Interlocutores ANTHONIO LVDOVICO BERNARDO LV. I Could neuer haue wished to haue come in a better time then now seeing I finde the company together which I so much desired especially in this place and Garden of Signior Bernardos which containeth so great a variety of pleasant Plants Flowers Hearbs and other things worthy of admiration that though we goe not this day out into the fields we may find heere sufficient to recreate and delight our selues AN. I was saying the same euen as you entred and in truth the contemplation of so rare a diuersity of many beautifull things placed in so due and excellent order within so small a plot and compasse of ground may leade vs to the contemplation of him which is the giuer of all beauty and stirre in vs a zeale and desire to be thankfull for his gifts BER The greatest excellencie of my Garden is this commendation which it hath pleased you to giue it otherwise hauing in it no particuler matter woorthy of such praise for I am altogether vncurious hauing onely endeuoured to place in it hearbs necessary and wholsome and flowers that haue some pleasing freshnes gaynesse of colour wherwith to recreate the sight amongst which somtimes when I am solitary I vse to solace my selfe in entertaining time which to the ende that at this present we may the more commodiously passe ouer Let vs sitte downe in this seate vnder this Arke of Iassemin whose shadow will keepe vs from being encombred with the Sunne for though the weather be temperate yet it is good to auoide inconueniences AN. It pleaseth me well to follow your aduise for though the heate generally be comfortable vnto the body of man yet the excesse thereof causeth great infirmities and diseases as daily experience teacheth vs. LU. Seeing wee are nowe so at leasure I pray you let vs knowe what the matter was betweene you and the Lycentiat Sorya this morning in comming out of the Church I would gladly haue drawne neere to haue heard your difference but I was deteined in talke by a Gentleman of my acquaintance about a matter of som importance If it be true which I haue heard say the Licentiat presumeth much and vnderstandeth little AN. He should loose nothing thereby if he did vnderstand somewhat more then he doth yet in his owne conceite he imagineth that he knoweth more then all the world besides though truly he made little shew thereof in the matter of which wee reasoned to day concerning Fortune and Chaunce I beleeue he had newly read the Chapter that Pedro Mexias maketh thereof in his Forrest of Collections for he could say it all by roate hee was so obstinate in affirming that there was no Fortune but onely God that hee would neyther heare reason nor speake reason nor vnderstand any thing that was sayd vnto him BER This is a matter that I haue long desired to vnderstand for in all discourses almost at euery word wee heare Fortune Chaunce good Lucke ill Lucke Hap Mishap and Desteny named and when I sette my selfe to thinke what the effect of these wordes meaneth I conceaue it not but the farther I wade therein the farther I finde my selfe in confusion AN. The vnderstanding of these wordes is
bee a bondslaue and such a one mee thinkes may with reason say that his Destenie placed him in that seruitude and bondage because hee came not there-vnto by his owne will neyther could hee by any meanes auoy de the same but would by any meanes seeke and procure his freedome if there were anie possibility thereof AN. This obiection may many wayes be aunswered the one is that it was no Accident or Chaunce that happened to this man to serue as a bondslaue because hee was begotten and borne in seruitude and besides there is no impossibility of recouering his liberty for euery day wee see happen sondry newe occasions whereby a slaue may be manumitted and sette free if then it be possible it followeth that there is no forcible Desteny if you will say that it was an accident in his Auncestors to fall into bondage to the end that this man should be borne a slaue I aunswere that it was in their choise and free-will because they might haue gone some whether else and haue refrained that place in which they stood in danger hazard to be made Captiues so that he cannot lay the fault vpon his Destenie but vpon those that might haue remedied the same and did not LU. You leaue me not well satisfied heerein for if I loose perforce my liberty neyther euer was it neyther now is it in my hand to remedy the same neyther am I hee that was any way the occasion thereof I may well say it vvas my Destenie and consequently vvith reason complayne of the same considering that it vvas not in my povver to auoy de it ANT. All that vvhich is not vnpossible may bee sayde auoy dable and if at anie tyme while one remaineth in bondage occasions may happen to recouer his freedome he can by no meanes say that his Destenie forcibly with-holdeth his liberty for though he want it against his will yet hee wanteth it not with impossibility of euer hauing it if he vse such meanes and industry as is requisite for the obtaining thereof For example we see daily manie slaues runne from their Maisters and set themselues at liberty not onely heere with vs but also such as are in captiuitie vnder the Mores and Turkes and if the enterprize which any such one vndertaketh for his liberty succeede not according to his intent it is because hee procured it not in such as was requisite or because it pleased not God to permit his deliuerie for his sinnes and demerrites or some other cause to vs hidden and vnknowne BER Thinke not that you haue here made an end for the principall poynt as yet remaineth If you remember you said that many of the Auncients held opinion that the causes of Desteny working with such necessity proceeded from the second superior caelestiall causes as the influence of the Planets and starres I pray you therefore make vs to vnderstand what is the force of the constellations and in what sort theyr influence worketh as well in vs as in other things for the cōmon opinion is that all things on the earth are gouerned maintained by the Caelestiall bodies whence it commeth that the Astronomers by calculating Natiuities casting figures and other obseruations come to foreknowe and vnderstand many thinges not onely concerning men but also tempests earth-quakes plagues inundations and other such like future calamities AN. It is a thing notorious that the starres haue their influences but not in such sort as the common opinion maintaineth first therfore you must vnderstand that their influence hath no power or force to worke any operation in the soules of men but onely in their bodies the reason whereof is that the soules are farre more noble and of more excellent perfection then the planets and starres so that the constellations being vnto them inferiour in beeing and substance are vnable to worke in them any effect at all That the soules are more noble then the caelestiall bodies S. Thomas proueth in this sort in his Booke against the Gentiles So much more noble saith hee is euery effect as it is neerer in likenes to the cause whence it proceedeth so our soules being liker vnto God then the caelestiall bodies are in beeing Spirits as is the first cause which is God must needs be more excellent then they so that they can haue no influence vnto them nor domination ouer thē the soules remaining alwaies free For though Dionisius sayd that God hath so disposed the whole order of the Vniuerse that all inferior thinges beneath should be gouerned by those that are superior and aboue yet he presently addeth and those that are lesse noble by those that are more noble and though by this reason the soules remaine free yet the bodies doe not so because they are lesse noble then the Sunne the Moone the other heauenly lights and so are subiect to their influences working in them diuers and contrary inclinations some good and some euill which they that seeke to excuse theyr vices and vvicked life call Destenies as though it were not in their power to flie and auoyde them through the libertie of free-will For if we say that Mars doth praedominate in men that are strong and valiant we see that many borne vnder his Planet are timorous and of small courage All those which are borne vnder Venus are not luxurious nor all vnder Iupiter Kings great Princes nor all vnder Mercurie cautelous and craftie neither are all those which are borne vnder the signe of Piscis fishermen and so forth of all the other Signes and Planets in manner that theyr effects are not of force and necessitie but only causing an inclination to those things the which by many wayes and meanes may be disturned altered auoyded chiefely by the disposition and will of the first cause which is God who addeth altereth taketh away at his pleasure the force vigor and influence of those Planets and starres restraining theyr vertue and force or els mouing directing and lightning our minds not to follow those naturall inclinations if they tend to euill and sinister effects The Angels deuils also may doe the same as beeing creatures more noble then the soule the one moouing to good and the other to euill for oftentimes our good Angell is the cause that we refraine those vices to which by the constellation of those heauenly bodies we are inclined and that we follow for our soules profit such waies as are vertuous and good and that wee auoyde those dangers which these influences doe threaten vnto vs. These also may a man of himselfe beware and eschew by discretion and reason for as saith Ptolomie The wise prudent man shall gouerne the starres LVD I confesse all this which you haue said to be true but yet besides the inclinations appetites of men the starres and Planets worke also in another manner as in aduauncing some men and abating others making some prosperous and rich yea
the rest they may sometimes fall out according as by the vertue and property of the signes and planets may be coniectured and iudged yea and sometimes also otherwise because it may please the first cause which imparted vnto them that vertue to change or alter their property or that there may be diuers other causes in the way which may hinder the effect of their influence AN. You haue in few wordes briefly knit vp the very pith and substance of the whole BER Well then let vs leaue this and come to Palmestrers which are they that tell Fortunes by seeing the lines of the inside of the hand whose diuinations they say prooue oftentimes true I would faine therefore know what credite we may giue them AN. I haue great suspition of those who confidently affirme their diuinations by Palmestry that they deale also in Negromancy that the deuill being farre craftier and subtiler then man and through his long experience and by certaine coniectures being able to knowe certaine thinges that are to come doth reueale vnto them the most part of those things for otherwise by the lines of the hand onely it were not possible to diuine so right though somtimes also the things simply thereby coniectured may proue true neyther can the Phisiognomers affirme that the same must needs be true which by their Science appeareth likely to happen For Aristotle which wrote a booke of Phisiognomy entreating of all the signes marks by which the conditions of men may be knowne sayeth that they are but casuall and by Chaunce As for those that seeing the Phisiognomy of a man doe iudge that he must come to be rich or that his end must be the Gallowes or that hee must be drowned and such like such must thinke that they be deceaued and ought therefore to reserue the successes of all thinges to the will of God whereby they may couer their error and remaine excused if the sequell fall otherwise out then they coniectured it should LU. This matter seemeth sufficiently debated of onely out of the former discourse resulteth one doubt which mee thinks were against reason that it should remaine so smothered vp and that is of the speech of Signior Anthonios where he sayd that of the influence of the signes planets and starres are engendered pestilences and new diseases inundations destroying vvhole Countries long drinesse vvhich causeth dearths infirmities scarsity of corne fruit with diuers other the like AN. This is a question in which the Astronomers and Philosophers doe disagree eyther holding of them their seuerall opinions For the Astronomers in community doe hold and affirme that all this which you haue said proceedeth from the constellations and that through their causes these domages do happen vnto men all the other euils also with the which we are afflicted alleadging for the proofe thereof the authority of Ptolome in his Centiloquium The man sayth he that is skilfull in the Science of Astronomy may fore see and auoide many euils to happen according to that which the starres doe shew portend and also they alleadge Gallen in his third book of Iudiciall daies whose words are these Let vs saith hee imagine that a man is borne the good Planets being in Aries and the euill in Taurus there is no doubt to be made but all thinges shall goe prosperously with this man while the Moone shall be in Aries Cancer Libra or Capricornus but when she shall possesse any signe in Quadrat aspect or in Diameter to the signe of Taurus he shall be molested with many troubles and vexations and hee goeth farther and sayth that this man shall begin to be perplexed with many infirmities when so euer the Moone shall be in the signes of Taurus Leo Scorpio or Aquarius and contrarily shall enioy perfect good health while the Moone shall be in the signes of Aries Libra Cancer or Capricornus They recite besides another authority of Auicenna in his fourth booke where he saith the configuration of the caelestiall bodies to be sometimes the cause of pestilentiall infirmities as when Saturne and Mars are in coniunction And so doth Gentil exemplifie it alleaging the selfe same place but what should I trouble my selfe in reciting their authorities when finally there is no Astronomer or Phisition which holdeth not the same but the Philosophers as I haue said maintaine a contrary opinion affirming that no domage or euil can proceede from the Planets signes or starres into the inferiour bodies and so diuine Plato in his Epynomide I surely thinke saith he the starres and all the caelestiall bodies to be a kinde of diuine creatures of a very beautifull body and constituted with a soule most perfect and blessed and to these creatures as farre as I vnderstand must be attributed one of these two things eyther that they and their motions are eternall and without any domageable preiudice or if not yet at the least that their life is so long that it is not necessary for them to haue any longer These are the words of Plato by the which is vnderstood that if the Caelestiall bodies haue no euill in them as beeing diuine pure cleane and sempiternall without any preiudiciall domage and free from all corruption and euill they can then by no means be causers of those domages euils which happen in the world to the inferior bodies Going on farther in the same booke This is sayth he the nature of the stars in sight most beautiful goodly in their moouings obseruing a most magnificent order imparting to inferiour creatures such things as are profitable for them By these authorities they inferre that seeing the starres are of such excellencie and that from them are imparted to creatures things profitable and wholesome they can by no meanes be the occasion of harme or mischiefe theyr nature office which they continuallie vse being contrarie thereunto But farther the same Author goeth on declaring the same more plainly Finally saith hee of all these thinges we may inferre this as a true and conclusiue opinion that it were vnpossible for the heauen the Planets the starres and the caelestiall bodies which appeare therein vnlesse they had a soule or vnlesse they dyd it through God by some exquisite reason to be able to reuolue the yeeres monthes dayes beeing the cause of all our good and so being of our good they cannot be of our euill And this explaneth Calcidiê° vpon the same Plato in his Tymaeus by these words Either sayth he all the starres are diuine and good without doing any euill or some of theÌ„ onely are euill and domageable But howe can this agree or howe can it be said that in a place so holy and so full of all bounty and goodnes there can be any euill And the starres beeing replenished with caelestiall wisedome euilnes and malice proceeding of the contrary which is folly howe can wee then terme the starres to be malicious or causers of any euill