Part 9
In the second warres of _Carthage_, the standerd-bearer of the first battaile of pikemen, could not remoue his ensigne out of his place, neither yet whē many came to helpe, they could any thing preuayle. These and suche other signes of euill lucke, =Caius Flaminius= the Consull, nothing regarded, but soone after his army was discomfited, and he himselfe slaine. Concerning which matter, =Titus Liuius= writeth at large. In the beginning of the warres waged with the people called =Marsi=, there was heard out of secrete places, certaine voyces, and noyse of harnesse, which foreshewed the daunger of the warres to come.
[Sidenote: Plinie.]
=Plinie= writeth in his.2.booke and 59.chapter, that in the warres with the _Danes_, and many times before, there was heard the clashing of armour, and the sound of trumpets out of Heauen.
[Sidenote: Appianus.]
=Appianus= declareth what signes and wonders went before the ciuill warres at _Rome_: what miserable cries of men clashing of armour, and running of horses were heard, no man séeing any thing.
[Sidenote: Valeri. Max.li.1.cap.6.]
=Valerius Maximus= in his firste booke and 6.chapter of straunge wonders, writeth how =Cneius Pompeius= had warning before, not to fight the fielde with =Iulius Cesar= for as he launced off, at =Dirrachium=, his souldiours were taken with a sodayne feare: and in the night likewise before the battaile, their hearts and courages sodainly failed them. And after, the same author addeth that which =Cesar= himselfe rehearseth in his 3.booke =De bello ciuili=: how that the very same day wherin =Cesar= fought his fortunate battaile, the crying of the armie, and the sound of trumpets was heard at _Antioche_ in _Syria_, so sensibly, that the whole citie ranne in armour to defend their walles. The very same thing he saith, happened at =Ptolemais=, and that at =Pergamus= in the most priuie and secret parts of the temple where none may enter, saue only priests, which place the _Grecians_ call ἄδυτα, there were heard the sound of drummes and timbrels.
[Sidenote: Castor and Pollux.]
[Sidenote: Plutarch.]
[Sidenote: Iosephus.]
The historiographers reporte, that =Castor= and =Pollux= haue béen often séene in battailes sitting on white horses, & valiantly fighting against yͤ enemies campe. =Plutarch= writeth in =Coriolanus= life, that they were séene in the battaile against =Tarquinius=, and that immediatly after, they bare tidings to _Rome_ of the victory. The selfe same writeth =Titus Liuius= also in his 8.booke of his first decade. We may reade in the history of the siege of the noble citie of _Magdeburge_ in _Saxonie_, that the enimie which laide siege to the towne, so often as the citizens issued out to skirmish with them, supposed that one vpō a white horse came riding before the citizens battaile, when as the citizens themselues sawe no such man. =Iosephus= in his bookes of the warres in _Iurie_, recordeth what straunge signes hapned before the destructiō of =Ierusalem=: which were, that a brasen gate being fast rampierd with barres, opened in the night time of his owne accord. And that before the Sunne set, there were séene chariots in the aire, and armies of men well furnished, enuironing the citie rounde about. And that at Whitsontide, as the priests entred the temple to celebrate diuine seruice, they heard a great noise, and by & by a voice crying =Migremus hinc=. Let vs depart hence. He reckeneth vp other like things, which we néede not repeate in this place. The same night that =Leo= of =Constantinople= was slayne in the temple, the trauellers by sea heard a voice in the aire which said: that =Leo= had roared out euen to the same place.
[Sidenote: Felix Malleolus.]
=Felix Malleolus= doctor of both yͤ lawes, master of =Solodor=, & canon at =Tigurū=, a mā of great reading, as it may easily apeare by his lerned writings which ar yet extāt. (For he liued about yͤ time whē yͤ Coūcell of =Basil= was holdē) writeth in his booke =de nobilitate=, =c.=30. yͭ it is to be séen in yͤ historie of =Rodulphus= king of the Romanes, that when the said =Rodulphus= had vanquished =Othotarus=, King of _Boemia_, continuing on the place all night, where the battell was fought, about midnight, certain Spirits or Deuils, with horrible noise and tumulte, troubled and disordered his whole armie. And that those were spirits walking by night, it appeared hereby, that they sodeynly vanished away like smoake.
The same Author writeth in his xxvi. chapter, That in the yeare of our Lord .1280. as one of the =Plebans= (as they call them) belonging to the churche of _Tigurine_ preached to the people, the graue stone of the tumbe or sepulchre of the two martires =Felix= and =Regula=, patrones of the same place, violently brake asunder, no man mouing or touching it, giuing a horrible sound like vnto thunder, so that the people were no lesse astonished and afraide, than if the vaute of the Churche had fallen downe. And he saith, that the same yeare, the third day of October, the greater part of the citie of =Tigurum= was brent with fire, and moreouer, that sedition was moued amongst the Citizens, for certaine Ecclesiastical disciplines, and for the Imperiall Banne (as they terme it.) In the yeare of our Lord .1440. the twelfe day of December, at yͤ dedication of the foresaid churche, about midnight, there was the like noise hearde, and immediatly after followed ciuill warres, which the _Tigurins_ held with vncertaine successe against the other =Heluetians=, for the space of seuen yeares and more.
The same writer in the .33. Chap. hath, that at the same time in the yeare of our Lorde .1444. before that valiaunt battaile, which a feawe =Heluetians= fought against the innumerable companie of =Lewes= Dolphin of =Fraunce=, fast by the wals of =Basill=, in the time of the generall Councell, there was hearde certaine nightes about those places, the alarme of Souldiours, the clattering of harneys, and the noyse of men encountring togither. &c.
Here I purposely omit many such like examples, for there are many bookes, both of auncient and also of newe writers, touching straunge signes and wonders, wherein these may be redde.
CHAP. XVIII.
It is proued by testimonies of holy scripture, that spirites are sometime seene and heard, and that other straunge matters do often chaunce.
[Sidenote: Luke 14.]
Yet perchaunce it will be obiected vnto vs, that we bring no testimony out of holy scripture, touching this matter: especially to proue, that Spirits do oftentimes appeare vnto men. I answer, that truth it is, There are fewe things hereof in the scriptures, and yet notwithstanding somewhat is to be redde in them. It is read in S. =Matthew= his fourtéenth Chapter, of Christs Disciples, that when in the night season, by reason of a contrary wind, they were in great danger of drowning in the lake of =Genazareth=, and that in the dawning of the day, the Lord walked on the water, they being afraide, cried out, supposing they sawe a Spirit. Hereof we gather, that they knew well inough, that Spirits appeared vnto men vpon sea and land.
Likewise when the Lord being risen from death, appeared vnto his Disciples, meaning to assure them of his resurrection, they thought at the first, that they sawe a Spirit. In the which place, Christ denieth not but there are Spirits and straunge sightes, and that they are sometimes séene, but he rather confirmeth the same by putting a difference betwéene himselfe, and Spirits of vaine apparitions. But as touching these two testimonies, we wil speak more in another place.
[Sidenote: 2.Samuel.]
It is a notable historie which we read in the seconde Booke of =Samuel= concerning =Saule=, who, at what time the Philistians warred vppon him, and that he was in verie great daunger of them, he came to a woman, who was a witch, and desired her to raise =Samuel= from death, that he might know his counsell touching the successe of the wars. She raised him vp one, whom =Saule= tooke to be =Samuel= indéede, who also tolde him what euente shoulde come of the warres. But whether hée were a true =Samuel= or a counterfait, wée will dispute the matter more at large in his conuenient place.
[Sidenote: 2.Samuel.]
[Sidenote: 1.Paral.14.]
As concerning other maruellous things, there is somewhat to be read in the Scriptures: In the seconde of =Samuel= & the fift chap. Also in the first of =Paralipomenon=, and the .xiiii. chap. we reade, that the Philistines went vp the seconde time into Iurie, to make warres on =Dauid=: Hée went vnto the Lord, and shewed him the matter, who commaunded him, that he shoulde embushe himselfe behinde the wood with his armie, and when he heard a rustling or noise in the toppes of the trées, he should immediatly sette vppon them. This sounde they say was a strange and supernaturall sound.
[Sidenote: 2.Reg.6.7.]
It is written in the second booke of the Kings the .vi. and vii. chapters, that God deliuered the citie of _Samaria_ from great famine, when it was fiercely besieged by =Benhadad= king of the _Assirians_, for in the night season their enemies did heare the noise of the chariots, the neighing of horsses, and shréeching of a huge armie, as it were in their owne pauillions and tentes, supposing therefore, that the kyng of Israel had gathered togither his footemen and horssemen, and had nowe sette vppon them, they soughte to saue themselues by flighte, leauing theyr victuall and other prouision behinde them in their tentes.
[Sidenote: 1.Samu.7.]
In the first of =Samuel= and the seuenth chapter, God caused a wonderfull greate noyse to sounde ouer the Philistians, and so destroyed them. I meane they were so affrighted with a kinde of straunge feare, that it was an easie matter to vanquish them.
[Sidenote: _Daniel_ 5.]
In the fifth Chapter of =Daniel= ye may reade, that king =Balthasar= in his roysting banquet, espied right against the candle, a hand writing vpon the wall what his end should be.
[Sidenote: 2. _Macha._ 3.]
It is redde in the third Chapter of the seconde of the =Machabees=, that there appeared a horsse vnto =Heliodorus=, seruant vnto =Seleucus= king of _Asia_, as he was about to destroy the temple of _Hierusalem_: and vpon the horsse séemed to sit a terrible man, which made towards him to ouerrun him. On eache side of him were two yoong men of excellent beautie, which with whippes scourged =Heliodorus=.
[Sidenote: 2. _Mach._ 10.]
[Sidenote: 2. _Mach._ 11.]
The second of the =Machabees= and tenth chapter, =Iudas Machabeus= encountred with his enemies, and when the battaile was hotte, there appeared vnto the enemy out of heauen, fiue men sitting on horses, rayned with notable bridles of gold, who ledde the Iewes hoste, and two of them defended =Machabeus= from all his enemies. And vnto =Machabeus= appeared a horsman in a shining garment, his armour all of gold, and shaking his speare. Whereby it was signified, that he should obtaine a notable and famous victorie. 2. =Macha.= 11.
I alleadge not these examples, for that I adiudge the bookes of =Machabees=, of as good authoritie as the Canonicall bookes of the new and old Testament: but only for that they are ioyned togither with them, and may be read of euery one: and they were alwaies read of the auncient people. For albeit they neuer went about to approue any doctrine by them, yet were they of great authoritie amōgst them.
CHAP. XIX.
To whome, when, where, and after what sort, Spirites do appeare, and what they do worke.
By all these examples we may plainly perceiue, that many strange things are obiected to mens senses, and that sometimes Spirits are séene and heard, not only (as some haue thought, as =Plutark= witnesseth in the life of =Dion=) of children, women, sicke folkes, dottards, and otherwise very plain and simple creatures, but also to men of good courage, and such as haue bin perfectly in their wits. Yet it may not be denied but that there appeare many more vnto some, than vnto other some, as vnto trauellers, watch-men, hunters, carters, and marriners, who leade all their life not only in the day time, but also in night, in iourneying, in the water, woods, hills and vallies. You shall méete with some one who neuer sawe nor heard any of this geare in all his life time, and contrariwise, there be other some which haue séene and heard very many such like things.
So there are some which very sildom chance vpon Serpents, and againe, many there are which oftentimes méete with them in their iourney. The common people say, that those whose natiuities chance vpon the Angaries (for so they terme the foure seasons of the yeare) do sée more store of spirits, than those which are borne at other times, but these are méere trifles. Those which are stedfast in true faith, sée or heare such things more sildome than superstitious people, as in all other things. He that is superstitious, vseth some blessing (as they call it) to heale his Horsses disease, and it taketh good effect: he enchaunteth a Serpent, and it cannot once mooue out of the place. He applieth a blessing to staunche bléedyng, and it stoppeth presently: He taketh a hollie rod, or twisted wand inchanted, & it will moue where a mettle mine is: but he that is of a sounde fayth and doth despise these things, (for he knoweth well they are contrary to the word of God, and also to the Popes decrées) albeit perchaunce he practise such things, yet notwithstanding he can bring nothing to passe. And so also it chaunceth that he seeth spirites and vaine visions, a great deale more seldome than superstitious men do, for hée knoweth well what hée ought to déeme and iudge of them. There are some kinde of men, who thinke it a gay thing, if many such straunge sights appeare vnto them.
There were farre many more of these kindes of apparitions and myracles séene amongest vs, at such times as we were giuen vnto blindnesse and superstition, than since that the Gospell was purely preached amongest vs: the cause whereof I will shewe hereafter.
And moreouer it commeth oftentimes to passe, that some one man doth heare or sée some thing most plainly, when an other which standeth by him, or walketh with him, neyther seeth, nor heareth any such matter.
[Sidenote: Some men see things which other men see not.]
[Sidenote: _Actes_.9.]
[Sidenote: _Actes_.22.]
We reade in the historie of =Heliseus=, that he sawe chariottes of fire, and many horsmen vpon the toppe of the Mountaine: and yet his seruaunt sawe nothing vntill the Prophet prayed vnto the Lord, that he would vouchsafe for his confirmation and consolation, to open his eyes that he might also behold this notable miracle. So likewise we reade in the 9. chapter of the Actes of the Apostles, that Christ ouerthrew =Paule= before _Damascus_, and that he spake vnto him, and his companions also hearde the voice. Afterwardes in the 22. chapter, =Paule= himselfe shewing vnto the people in the presence of =Lycias=, in the Castle at _Hierusalem_, what had happened vnto them, saith that they heard not the voice of him that talked with him: which two places are not repugnant, for the meaning is, that they heard a voyce or sounde indéede, but they vnderstood not what the Lord had sayd vnto him.
[Sidenote: Socrates familiar.]
=Plato= writeth in his dialogue called _Theages_, that =Socrates= had a familiar spirit, who was woonte to put him in mynd to cease from labouring, when that which he attempted should haue no happie successe. This spirit he himselfe sawe not, and other men hearde not. They say that sometimes Children doe sée certaine things, which other men see not, and by a certaine peculiar operation of nature, some men behold that which others in no wise can perceiue.
[Sidenote: At what time spirits appeare.]
[Sidenote: Apocalips.]
As touching the time when spirits appeare, we reade in histories that it shall be after a thousand yeares which God hath appoynted, in the which time Sainte Iohn prophesied in the Apocalips, that Sathan shoulde be lette loose, that is to saye, errours and superstition, and al kinde of mischéefe shuld abound, and many spirits appear euery where: for men gaue them more credite, than the Scriptures. If a spirit appeared, or was heard to say in case these or those things be decreed, to wit, vowed Pilgrimage, and erecting Chappelles, and that this shall be an acceptable kinde of worship vnto God, the Bishoppes and paryshe Priestes weighed not whether those things were agréeable to the word of God or no, &c. Spirits appeared in old time, and do appeare still in these dayes both day and night, but especially in the night, and before midnighte in our first sléepe. Moreouer, on the frydayes, satterdayes, and fasting dayes, to confirme superstition. Neither may we maruell, that they are heard more in the night, than in the day time. For he who is the author of these things, is called in the holye Scriptures the Prince of darkenesse, and therefore he shunneth the light of Gods word.
[Sidenote: In what place spirits are seen.]
And albeit these are heard or séene in al places, yet are they most especially conuersant in the fieldes where battels haue bene fought, or in places where slaughters haue bene made: in places of execution; in woods into the which they have coniured deuils being cast out of men: in Churches, Monasteries, and about Sepulchers, in the bounds of countries, and buts of lands: in prisons, houses and towers, and sometime also in the ruines and rubbish of Castles.
[Sidenote: _Esay_ 13.]
[Sidenote: Monsters of the desart.]
[Sidenote: _Esay_.34.]
God threatneth the Babilonians in the 13. chap. of =Esay=, that Spirits and Satyres shal daunce where their magnificent houses and Pallaces were, where they were wont to lead their daunces. And in his 34. chapter, where he threatneth destruction vnto all nations and enemies of God, he saith: In the ruinous and tottering Pallaces, Castles, and houses, horrible spirites shall appeare with terrible cries, and the Satyro shall call vnto her mate, yea and the night hags shall take their rest there. For by the sufferaunce of God, wicked diuels worke straunge things in those places where men haue exercised pride and crueltie.
[Sidenote: After what sort spirites appeare.]
The maner of appearing of spirits, is diuers and manifold, as it appeareth by those things which I haue alleaged before. For they shewe themselues in sundry sorts: sometimes in the shape of a man whom we know, who is yet aliue, or lately departed: and otherwhile in the likenesse of one whom we know not.
I heard of a graue and wise man, which was a Magistrate in the Territorie of _Tigurie_, who affirmed, that as he and his seruant went through the pastures, in the sommer very early, he espied one whome he knew very well, wickedly defiling himselfe with a Mare, wherewith being amazed, he returned back againe, and knocked at his house, whome he supposed he had séen, and ther vnderstood for a certaintie, that he went not on foote out of his chamber yͭ morning. And in case he had not diligently searched out yͤ matter, the good & honest man had surely bin cast in prison, and put on the rack. I reherse this history for this end, that Iudges should be very circumspect in these cases, for yͤ diuell by these means doth oftentimes circumuent yͤ innocent. =Chunegunda= wife vnto =Henry= the 2. Emperour of yͭ name, was greatly suspected of adultery, and thereuppon many false rumors scattered, that she was too familiar with a certaine yoong man in the Court, for the Diuell in the likenesse of the same yoong man, was oftentimes séene come out of the Empresse Chamber. But she afterwards declared her innocencie by treading vppon hotte glowing ploughshares, (as the custome was then) without any hurting her féete, as witnesseth =Albertus Cranzius=, in his fourth booke, and first Chapter of his _Metropolis_.
We reade that many spirites haue appeared vnto certaine Hermites and Monkes in the shape of a woman, alluring and intising them to filthie lust. They appeare also in the fourme of brute beastes, sometime foure footed, as of a Dogge, a Swine, a Horsse, a Goate, a Catte, or a Hare: and sometimes of foules, and créeping wormes, as of a Crow, a night Owle, a schritch Owle, a Snake, or Dragon, whereof the Gentiles had great plentie in their Temples and houses, and nourished them, as we may reade euery where in the Poets. Spirits haue sometimes appeared in a pleasaunt fourme, and sometimes in a horrible shape. At one time some hath bene séene ryding on horsebacke, or going on foote, or crawling vppon all foure. At an other time hath appeared a man all burning in fire, or beraide with blood: and somewhile, his bowelles haue séemed to traile out, his belly being as it were ripped vp. Sometimes a shadow hath onely appeared: sometimes a hand, sometimes an instrument, as a staffe, a sworde, or some such lyke thing which the spirite helde in his hande. Sometimes he appeared in maner of a bundle of hey, burning on fire: another while onely a hoarse kinde of voyce was heard. Sometimes a spirit hath bene heard walking in the inner parte of the house, turning the leaues of a Booke, or telling money, or playing at dice, or bounsing against the wall. And sometimes there is heard a terrible noyse or clappe, as if a peale of Gunnes were discharged hard at hand. And spirits sometimes, taking a man by the arme or by the haire of the head, haue walked with them.
[Sidenote: Olaus.]
[Sidenote: Daunces of Spirits.]
[Sidenote: Saxo.]
[Sidenote: Pomponius Mela.]
[Sidenote: Solinus.]
=Olaus Magnus= in his third booke and eleuenth Chapter _De Gentibus Septentrionalibus_, writeth, that euen in these our dayes, in many places in the North partes, there are certaine monsters or spirites, which taking on them some shape or figure, vse (chiefly in the night season) to daunce, after the sounde of all maner of instruments of musicke: whom the inhabitants call companies, or dances of Elues, or Fairies. Somewhat also is to bee reade touching this matter in =Saxo Grammaticus=, in his historie of _Denmarke_. Such like things are those which =Pomponius Mela= reporteth in his third booke of the description of _Aethiopia_, that in _Mauritania_ beyonde the Mount _Atlas_, many times in the night season are séene great lightes, and that tinkling of Cymballs, and noyses of Pipes are also heard, and when it is daylight no man appeareth. =Solinus= writeth in his thirtie eight and fortie foure chapters, that in this same Mountaine, =Ægiptians= vse euery where to leade their daunces: of whom also =Plinie= maketh mention in his first booke and first Chapter. Men holde opinion, that they are =Panes=, =Faunes=, and =Satyres=, of whom the olde writers haue mentioned many things.
[Sidenote: Hierome.]
[Sidenote: A Fable out Hierome, of a Centaure, A Monster hauing the forepart like a man, the hinder like a horse.]
Saint =Hierome= writeth in the life of =Paule= the Hermit, that an =Hippocentaure=, appeared vnto =S. Anthonie=, in the same shape which is described of the Poets. In a stonie valley (saith he) he espied a Dwarffe of a small stature, hauing a crooked nose, and his forehead rough with hornes: the hinder part of his bodie, and his féete like vnto a Goate. =Anthony= nothing amazed with this sighte, taketh vnto him the shield of faith, and the brestplate of hope, lyke a good warriour. Notwithstanding the foresayde creature presented him with Dates, to refresh him in his iourney, as witnesses of peace and friendship. Which when =Anthonius= vnderstood, he staide, and enquiring of him what he was, receiued this answere. I am (quoth he) a mortall creature, and one of the inhabitants of this desart, whome the Gentiles, being deceiued with many errors, dooth worship, calling vs =Faunes=, =Satyrs=, and night Mares.
And I am sent as Embassador from our company, who earnestly beséech thée, that thou wilt pray vnto the God of all creatures for vs, whom we acknowledge to be come into the world, to saue the same, &c.
[Sidenote: Plutarch.]