Part 36

4. Another instance to prove the strange effects that may be produced by natural Causes, and yet are so occult, stupendious, and unusual, that they are commonly fathered upon Devils, when they have no more at all to do in or about them, but only the mental perswading of the persons to use them to wicked and destructive ends, as those wonderful compositions that produce the Plague and such like grievous Diseases and Symptoms; For this kind of _veneficium_ (call it Witchcraft if you please) is and hath been often practised by most horrible, malevolent, and wicked persons, who by an art more than Diabolical (especially in respect of the end and use) have so framed, and prepared, and commixed things naturally, that in the form of unguents have produced the Plague and divers other most pernicious and venefical Diseases, which may be confirmed by undeniable examples, of which we shall give some few. _Josephus Quercetanus_, that famous Chymist and Physician to _Henry_ the Fourth of _France_, tells us thus much: “The Contagion of the Plague is not only contracted by the mediation of the air and water, things in a manner universal, or from other things more particular, as vestments, linnen, and other moveable things inquinated by the attraction of pestiferous Atomes: But also by the detestable Crafts, and Diabolical Arts of certain most wicked persons, which we call poysoners, or witches, by means of which they contemperate and mix certain poysons into the form of an unguent, and use to rub some of it upon the handle of doors, so that those that do but lightly touch them, are forthwith infected with the Plague, this subtile poison forthwith creeping by the pores of the skin into the extremities of the veins, is quickly communicated to the heart, to which human industry can hardly administer any remedy.” Unto which the Lord _Verulam_ gives this cautious attestation: _Pestem quoq; excitavit januarum, rimarum, aliorumq; inunctio, non tam ex contactu, quam quod homini in more positum, si quid humidi adhærescat digitis, naso illud admovere. Moneri se patientur, apud quos ea inolevit consuetudo, ut præcaveant._ _Johannes Wierus_ a learned Physician, and a person of credit and veracity, reciteth this History from _Antonius Sabellicus_, _Ennead._ 4. _lib._ 4. This strange venefice or witchcraft, was practis’d at _Casal_ in the City of _Salassia_, a Region of _Italy_, in the year of our Lord God 1536. “About forty persons men and women, amongst whom there was one Hangman, had combined and sworn together, That seeing the Plague had ceased that before did rage, they would compound an unguent, with which the handles of the doors being besmeared, they should be infected that touched those handles. They did also prepare a Powder which being secretly sprinkled in the Garments, should produce the Plague. The Villany lay hid for some certain time, and many were taken away of such as were joined in blood or affinity: Also money was given (as was said) to the Poysoners, instead of inheritance. But when they had murthered the Brother and only Son of one _Necus_, and that scarcely others than the Masters of Families themselves, or their Sons, did perish: And that also they had marked, that into what Houses those Conspirators had insinuated themselves, that those for the most part did perish into whose Houses they entred: but the Conspiracy being found out, they were all put to death with most exquisite torments. They also confessed, that they had determined to kill all the Citizens upon a Festival day, by anointing the Seats, and to that purpose they had prepared twenty Pots full of that pernicious and hellish Ointment. And _Paracelsus_ tells us, that at St. _Vitum_ and _Villacum_, certain of the Poyson-makers in the time of a Plague, did take the Earth and Dust from the Graves of those that had been buried, and did so prepare it with their Magical Art, that they raised up a most cruel and raging Plague, whereby many thousands of men were infected and slain.” But that the manner of that preparation is by no means to be revealed. Those that desire more satisfaction in this particular may have recourse to that learned Treatise, _de Peste_, written by the learned and industrious _Matthias Untzerus_.

[Sidenote: _Stow. Annal._ _p._ 681.]

[Sidenote: _Histor. 4._]

5. But there is no where a more strange accident written, than what is recorded in our own Annals in the year 1579. the nineteenth year of the Reign of Queen _Elizabeth_, in these words: “The 4, 5, and 6. days of _July_, were the Assises holden at _Oxford_, where was arraigned and condemned one _Rouland Jenkes_ for his Seditious Tongue, at which time there arose such a damp, that almost all were smothered, very few escaped that were not taken at that instant: The Jurors died presently: Shortly after died Sir _Robert Bell_, Lord Chief Baron, Sir _Robert de Olie_, Sir _William Babington_, M^r _Weneman_, M^r _De Olie_, High Sheriff M^r _Davers_, M^r _Farcurt_, M^r _Kirle_, M^r _Pheteplace_, M^r _Greenwood_, M^r _Foster_, Serjeant _Baram_, M^r _Stevens_, &c. There died in _Oxford_ 300. persons, and sickned there but died in other places 200. and odd, from the sixth of _July_ to the twelfth of _August_, after which day died not one of that sickness, for one of them infected not another, nor any one Woman or Child died thereof.” This is the punctual relation according to our English Annals, which relate nothing of what should be the cause of the arising of such a damp, just at the Conjuncture of time when _Jenkes_ was Condemned, there being none before, and so it could not be a Prison Infection, for that would have manifested it self by smell or by operating sooner. But to take away all scruple, and to assign the true Cause, it was thus: It fortuned that a Manuscript fell into my hands, collected by an antient Gentleman of _York_, who was a great observer and gatherer of strange things and facts, who lived about the time of this accident happening at _Oxford_, wherein it is related thus: “That _Rouland Jenkes_ being imprisoned for treasonable words spoken against the Queen, and being a Popish Recusant, had notwithstanding during the time of his restraint, liberty sometimes to walk abroad with a Keeper, and that one day he came to an Apothecary, and shewed him a receipt which he desired him to make up; but the Apothecary upon the view of it told him, that it was a strong and dangerous receipt, and required some time to prepare it, but also asked him to what use he would apply it? he answered to kill the Rats that since his Imprisonment spoiled his Books; so being satisfied he promised to make it ready. After a certain time he cometh to know if it were ready, but the Apothecary said the ingredients were so hard to procure that he had not done it, and so gave him the receipt again, of which he had taken a Copy, which mine Author had there precisely written down, but did seem so horribly poysonous, that I cut it forth lest it might fall into the hands of wicked persons. But after it seems he had got it prepared, and against the day of his tryal had made a week or wick of it (for so is the word, that is, so fitted, that like a Candle it might be fired) which as soon as ever he was Condemned he lighted, having provided himself a Tinder-box and Steel to strike fire. And whosoever should know the ingredients of that Wick or Candle, and the manner of the Composition, will easily be perswaded of the virulency and venenous effects of it, and this in him in regard of the use and end was meerly Diabolical, though the agency and effects were meer natural.”

[Sidenote: _De morb. venefic._ _l._ 3. _c._ 5.]

[Sidenote: _Histor. 5._]

[Sidenote: _De fascino_ _lib._ 6. _Part_ 9. _c._ 5. _p._ 680.]

[Sidenote: _Syl. Syl._ _Cent._ 9.]

[Sidenote: _Exper._ 888.]

[Sidenote: _Ibid._ _Cent._ 10. 959.]

[Sidenote: _Obs. Medic._ _Cent._ 2. _p._ 96.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 6._]

6. It is very strange to consider what learned and grave Authors have left recorded of the Ligation or binding of Husbands that they might not be viripotent, or be able to have to do with their Wives for a longer or a shorter time; nay some even have proceded so far as to write it, and seem also to believe it; that by venifice or Witchcraft, the virile members may be quite taken away; as is related by _Codronchius_, of a certain young man that had his members quite taken away by a Woman Witch, which notwithstanding she restored again, by beating and putting her in the fear of death. And of this incredible story, _Sennertus_ a professed maintainer of the impossible power of Witches, doth notwithstanding give this censure. “The Devil doth often delude men by prestigious and jugling deceits, and perswadeth them that he hath brought such Diseases as indeed are none at all, as this taking away the virile member, related by _Baptista Codronchius_. For although some be of that opinion, that the genital members may really be taken away and restored by the Devil: notwithstanding (he saith) I had rather hold with those that believe such things are meer juglings and delusions; seeing it is not in the power of the Devil to restore unto man a member lost or taken away. The most learned Lord _Bacon_ doth affirm, that this kind of Ligation or binding, to make men impotent for Coition, is frequent in _Santonne_ and _Gascoigne_, and is used to be done upon the Marriage day, and that it is often performed by the Mothers to prevent that incantation by others, and that they may loose it when they please. And doth think it no light matter because punishable by their laws. And saith after, If it exceed not nature it hath its force from the Imagination of the binder of the virile member,” and adds: _Putem ego illud ab incantatione alienum esse, quia non à certis personis tantum (quales incantatores) sed à quolibet fieri potest_. But that which puts it forth of all doubt that it is nothing but melancholy, and the abuse of the fancy, is manifest from the observation of perspicacious _Salmuth_, which is this: “I have known two (he saith) who did imagine themselves impotent to the act of Venery, and thought themselves maleficiated or bewitched, when as before they had afforded themselves sufficiently strenuous in that warfar also with their Wives. But both being (he saith), handled and cured by me, as persons melancholick and Hypochondriacal, have afterwards sufficiently laughed at themselves. But I did conjecture them to be melancholick by this, because they did complain, that about that act they were overwhelmed with an heap of Cogitations. From whence it is manifest from what cause that effect did proceed. And therefore it is deservedly doubted of _Wierus_, whether or no there be any true impotency at all, but what is from natural Causes.”

[Sidenote: _Curat. Emp._ _Cent._ 91. _p._ 222.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 7._]

7. That the most of those vomitings of strange things is only caused from natural Causes, as poysonous Potions, Philters and the like, is manifest by another example given us by that famous Chymist and learned Physician of _Frisuiga_ in _Bavaria_, _Martinus Rulandus_, which is this: “_David Held_ Student in the Arts about the twentieth year of his Age did receive from a wicked Woman Cakes, which he did eat, and departing from her forthwith in the way he began to doat, and being brought home he began to rage more, and fell into madness. And to help this madness the Students came unto me and declare the insanity, the Philter that he had taken, and his being infected or brought into that madness by it, and desire some help against it. To oppose which (he saith) I gave six Ounces of my _Aqua Benedicta_, which I commanded straightway to be given him in the name of _Jesus_. And this being taken soon after by vomiting he cast up the Philter, or invenomed Cakes that he had swallowed, which being cast upon the Earth, they did with the admiration of the by-standers begin to wax hot and to boil, as meat with the fire doth grow hot and boil. So that this poison being cast up as a thing unhoped for, soon after the insanity is driven away, and within two days his understanding was perfectly restored, and by the power of the Almighty did totally recover.” So that it is manifest that these kind of people that are commonly called Witches, are indeed (as both the Greek and Latin names do signifie) Poysoners, and in respect of their Hellish intentions are Diabolical, but the effects they procure flow from natural Causes. If any require more ample satisfaction in this point, they may find divers Histories recorded in _Schenkins_ his Observations, _lib._ 7. _de venenis_, to verifie this particular.

[Sidenote: _Injaculat. mod. intrand._ _p._ 603, 604.]

8. There is no one Argument that doth more confirm, that what effects soever Devils, or those called Witches do bring to pass in humane bodies, are wrought by natural means, and proceed from natural causes: Because what diseases soever are cured by natural causes and agents, must of necessity be brought into humane bodies by natural means. But many diseases attributed to the Devil, or Witches as instruments, have been cured by natural means and applications, as we shall prove both by authorities and matters of fact. And therefore those diseases must of necessity grow and arise from natural causes. And for authority we find _Helmont_ affirming thus much: “And also partly the curing of these diseases is to be had by certain Simples, to which the omnipotent goodness hath given a gift from the beginning of the Creation, of resisting, preventing and correcting of _Veneficia_, Witchcrafts, or poysonings, and of bringing forth things injected. For (he saith) certain Simples do drive away evil spirits (a miserable company of Men, who give worship to Gods, that are not able to resist the natural efficacy of Simples) and reckons some that take away the penetration of the formal light tied to the excrements. Some do hinder the touch, entrance or application. And that there are many such like, that do correct the poysons, and kill them. And chiefly he commendeth the _Electrum minerale immaturum_ of _Paracelsus_, the _Phu_ of _Dioscorides_, being a kind of Valerian with purple flowers, and likewise there commemorateth diverse others.

[Sidenote: Useful of Exper. Philos. p. 214.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 8._]

[Sidenote: _Ut supra_ _p._ 217.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 9._]

To confirm this assertion of _Helmonts_, we shall transcribe what the Honourable person Mr. _Boyle_ hath set down to this purpose. “Since the beginning of this Essay (he saith) I saw a lusty, and very sprightful Boy, child to a famous Chymical Writer, (I judge it to be _Joachimus Poleman_) who as his Father assured me and others, being by some enemies of this Physicians, when he was yet an infant, so bewitcht that he constantly lay in miserable torment, and still refusing the breast, was reduced by pain and want of food, to a desperate condition, the experienced relator of the story remembring that _Helmont_ attributes to the _Electrum minerale immaturum Paracelsi_, the virtue of relieving those, whose distempers come from Witchcraft, did according to _Helmonts_ prescription hang a piece of this noble mineral about the infants neck, so that it might touch the pit of the Stomach; whereupon presently the child, that could not rest in I know not how many dayes and nights before, fell for a while asleep, and waking well cried for the Teat, which he greedily suckt, from thenceforth hastily recovering, to the great wonder both of the Parents, and several others that were astonisht at so great and quick a change. And though I am not forward (he saith) to impute all those diseases to Witchcraft, which even learned Men father upon it; yet it’s considerable in our present case, that whatsoever were the cause of the disease, the distemper was very great, and almost hopeless, and the cure suddenly performed by an outward application, and that of a Mineral, in which compacted sort of bodies the finer parts are thought to be lockt up.” Another example he giveth us in these words: “The same _Henricus ab Heer_ among his freshly commended observations, hath another of a little Lady, whom he concludes to have been cast into the strange and terrible distemper, which he there particularly records, by Witchcraft. Upon so severe an examination of the Symptomes made by himself in his own house, that if, notwithstanding his solemn professions of veracity, he mis-relate them not, I cannot wonder he should confidently impute so prodigious a disease to some supernatural cause. But though the observation, with its various circumstances, be very well worth your perusing; yet that, for which I here take notice of it is, what he adds about the end of it, concerning his having cured her, after he had in despair of her recovery sent her back to her Parents, by an outward medicine, namely, an Oyntment which he found extolled against pains produced by Witchcraft, in a Dutch book of _Carrichter_’s (where also I remember I met with it set down a little differently from what he delivers.)”

[Sidenote: _Observ. Medic._ 34. _p._ 127.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 10._]

But to conclude this tedious particular, I shall only add one observation more from learned _Salmuth_, which is this: “The servant Maid (he saith) of _Cæsars à Breitenbach_ was taken with a most intense pain of her left arm, which when it did not at all remit or abate, but that the dolour was augmented more and more, and that no tumour, nor any other preternatural thing did outwardly appear, the beholders did fear some sort of venefice or Witchcraft. Therefore they apply a well tryed medicine, which in such a case is said to be much approved, to wit red Corals well beaten with the leaves of Oak, and with Rose-water brought into the form of a Cataplasm, and leave it on for the space of 24 hours. In which space of time the place is brought to suppuration, and within as many more hours, the same remedy being applyed again, the abscess is broken, and in it needles, hairs and burnt coals are found. All these together with the Amulet they put into an hole made with an Augur or Gimlet in the root of an Oak, towards the East, in the morning before the Sun rise, and they stopped up the same hole with a wedge or pin, made of the wood of the same Tree. The pain thereupon plainly ceaseth, and the place is with other medicaments brought to Cicatrization. But some deriding such things, and thinking them to be prestigious delusions, do pull them forth of the hole again. Hereupon forthwith that miserable servant was again afflicted with cruel pains, more raging than the former. Therefore they repeat the former medicaments, and more copious matter doth issue forth, which being taken together with the Amulet, and put in the former place in the Oak, all the pains did forthwith vanish, and she afterwards lived altogether sound.” And so I conceive that by these reasons, authorities and instances of matters of fact, it is sufficiently proved, that what Devils or Witches work in humane bodies or in corporeal matter, is by applying fit actives to suitable passives, and so the effects are only produced by natural causes and means, which was the thing I undertook to make good.

The next thing that in this Chapter we have to consider and examine is the opinion of _Johannes Baptista van Helmont_, that great Physician, Philosopher and Chymist, which we shall open in these particulars.

1. He reciteth a large Catalogue of things, that are in a most strange manner brought or injected into the bodies of Men and Women, as darts, thorn-pricks, or pins, chaff, hairs, dust of wood that hath been sawed, little stones, egg-shels and pieces of pots, hulls and husks or swads, insects, things of linen, needles and the instruments of artificers, which have been injected insensibly, and entred altogether in an invisible manner, but were detained and ejected with direful pains and tortures. And that sometimes they are greater than the holes or passages by which they are intromitted.

[Sidenote: _Hist. 1._]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 2._]

2. And to confirm this assertion he bringeth instances of matters of fact, as these following. “For (he saith) of late there was a part of an Oxe hide injected by the pores of the skin, it being intire, which the Chirurgeon did draw forth with a pair of Forceps, it being of the magnitude of the ball of a Mans hand, the Apostume first being ripened. And a Witch burned at _Bruges_, did confess, that she had injected that hide into the good man. So (he saith) we have in times past seen at _Lira_ the children of _Orphans_ to have cast up by vomit an artificial Horse and Cart, drawn forth by the hands of the by-standers; to wit a four footed board accompanied with its ropes, and wheel. And what way soever it were placed, it was easily greater than the double throat. Further he saith, I have seen at _Antwerp_ in the year 1622. a young Maid, who had vomited, perhaps two thousand pins conglomerated together, and with them hairs and filth. Another Maid (he saith) at _Mechlin_ in the year 1631, who we being present, did vomit up shavings of wood or chips, cut off in plaining with the Hatchet, with much slimy stuff, to the magnitude of two fists. It is (he saith) a frequent thing every where admitted by learned Men.” Upon which we will only give these Animadversions.

[Sidenote: _Anim. 1._]

[Sidenote: _Pract._ _l._ 7. _c._ 25.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 3._]

[Sidenote: _Hist. Rar. Anat._ _Cen._ 1. _Hist._ 52. _p._ 73.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 4._]

1. That things as strange as these, that _Helmont_ seems to avouch of his own sight and knowledge, are also attested by other persons of great learning and credit, as, besides what we have immediately before shewed from _Salmuth_, of the needles, hairs and burnt coals that came forth of the Maids arm, these examples may ratifie. We will pass by _Sprenger_, _Bodin_, _Remigius_ and _Del Rio_ as Pontificial Authors, and therefore partial and interested, only in the first place we shall give this from _Alexander Benedictus_, who telleth this: “That he saw two Women his neighbours upon one day, being infected by potions of evil medicaments, who afterwards were wonderfully tormented with strange vomitings: That the one cast up with great strainings an head bodkin very great bended like an hook, with a great lump of Womens hair, wrapped with the pairing of nails, who died the day following. The other vomited up a Womans Quoif, pieces of glass, with three dried pieces of a Dogs tail that was hairy, so that she had voided by vomiting as much, (if set together,) as would have equalized the quantity of the whole tail. But the most strange story that possibly can be read is recorded by _Thomas Bartholinus_ who was Physician to _Frederick_ the third King of _Denmark_, of _Anna Erici_, who vomited up at several times a piece of sharp wood, great store of black blood, an hem or fring of silk or linen cloath of a blew colour, sowed with a green thred, in which were hid three pieces of lead, two pieces of glass, three Almonds, three pieces of a Tobacco-pipe, and white stones or flints: And afterwards many other horrid, strange and incredible things that may be read in the place quoted in the Margent.

[Sidenote: _Anim. 2._]

2. It would seem a point of strange Scepticism or infidelity to distrust and reject these relations as lies and fictions, seeing the Authors that recite them do for the most part attest them upon their own view or knowledge, or at least from unquestionable eye-witnesses, and that they were Men of great Reputation and Credit, that lived in several Countrys, and in different times, and therefore could not conspire in a lie.

[Sidenote: _Anim. 3._]