Tap the page, move to the top or bottom edge, swipe down, or press Tab to reveal reading controls. Use the arrow keys or swipe sideways to turn pages.
protect themselves and their followers from all Princes persecutions, by removing from place to place in an instant, reveal secrets, future events, tell what is done in far Countries, make them appear that dyed long since, &c. and do many such miracles, to the worlds terror, admiration and opinion of Deity to themselves, yet the Devil forsakes them at last, they come to wicked ends, and rarò aut nunquam such Impostors are to be found.
The vulgar sort of them can work no such feats. But to my purpose, they can, last of all, cure and cause most diseases to such as they love or hate, & this of Melancholy amongst the rest. Paracelsus Tom. 4. de morbis amentium, Tract. 1. in express words affirmes; Multi fascinantur in melancholiam, many are bewitched into melancholy, out of his experience.
The same, saith Danæus lib. 3. de sortiariis, Vidi, inquit, qui Melancholicos morbos gravissimos induxerunt: I have seen those that have caused Melancholy in the most grievous manner, dryed up womens Paps, cured Gout, Palsie; this and Apoplexy, Falling-sickness, which no Physick could help, solo tactu, by touch alone.
Ruland in his 3. Cent. Cura 91. gives an instance of one David Helde a young man, who by eating Cakes which a Witch gave him, mox delirare cœpit, began to dote on a sudden, and was instantly mad: F. H. D. in Hildesheim, consulted about a Melancholy man, thought his disease was partly Magicall, and partly naturall, because he vomited pieces of iron and lead, and spake such Languages, as he had never been taught; but such examples are common in Scribanius, Hercules de Saxonia, and others.
The means by which they work, are usually Charmes, Images, as that in Hector Boethius of King Duffe; characters stamped of sundry metals, and at such and such constellations, knots, amulets, words, Philters, &c. which generally make the parties affected, melancholy; as Monavius discourseth at large in an Epistle of his to Acolsius, giving instance in a Bohemian Baron that was so troubled by a Philter taken.
Not that there is any power at all in those spels, charmes, characters, and barbarous words; but that the Devil doth use such meanes to delude them. Ut fideles inde magos (saith Libanius) in officio retineat, tum in consortium malefactorum vocet.