SUBSECT. 2. Symptomes or Signes in the Minde.

Arculanus in 9. Rhasis ad Almansor. cap. 16. will have these Symptomes to be infinite, as indeed they are, varying according to the parties, for scarce is there one of a thousand that dotes alike, Laurentius c. 16.

Some few of greater note I will point at; and amongst the rest, Fear and Sorrow, which as they are frequent causes, so if they persever long, according to Hippocrates and Galen’s Aphorismes, they are most assured signes, inseparable companions, and characters of melancholy; Of present melancholy, and habituated, saith Montaltus cap. 11. and common to them all, as the said Hippocrates, Galen, Avicenna, and all Neotericks hold.

But as hounds many times run away with a false cry, never perceiving themselves to be at a fault, so do they. For Diocles of old, (whom Galen confutes) & amongst the Juniors, Hercules de Saxoniâ, with Lod. Mercatus cap. 17. l. 1. de melan. take just exceptions at this Aphorisme of Hippocrates, ’tis not alwayes true, or so generally to be understood, Fear and Sorrow are no common Symptomes to all melancholy;

upon more serious consideration, I finde some (saith he) that are not so at all. Some indeed are sad, and not fearfull; some fearfull and not sad; some neither fearfull, nor sad; some both. Four kindes he excepts, fanaticall persons, such as were Cassandra, Manto, Nicostrata, Mopsus, Proteus, the Sybills, whom Aristotle confesseth to have been deeply melancholy.

Baptista Porta seconds him, Physiog. lib. 1. cap. 8. they were atrâ bile perciti: dæmoniacall persons, & such as speak strange languages, are of this ranke: some Poets, such as laugh alwayes, and think themselves Kings, Cardinalls, &c. sanguine they are, pleasantly disposed most part, and so continue.

Baptista Porta confines Fear and Sorrow to them that are cold; but Lovers, Sybills, Enthusiasts, he wholly excludes. So that I think I may truly conclude, they are not alwayes sad and fearfull, but usually so: and that without a cause, timent de non timendis, (Gordonius:) quæque, momenti non sunt, although not all alike (saith Altomarus) yet all likely fear, some with an extraordinary and a mighty fear, Areteus.

Many fear death, and yet in a contrary humour, make away themselves, Galen. lib. 3. de loc. affect. cap. 7. Some are afraid the heaven will fall on their heads: some they are damned, or shall be. They are troubled with scruples of conscience, distrusting Gods mercies, think they shall goe certainly to Hell, the Devill will have them, & make great lamentation, Jason Pratensis.

Fear of Devils, death, that they shalbe so sick, of some such or such disease, ready to tremble at every object, they shall die themselves forthwith, or that some of their dear friends or near allies are certainly dead: imminent danger, losse, disgrace still torment others, &c.

that they are all glasse, and therefore will suffer no man to come near them; that they are all cork, as light as feathers; others as heavy as lead, some are afraid their heads will fall off their shoulders, that they have frogs in their bellies, &c. Montanus consil. 23. speaks of one that durst not walk alone from home, for fear he should swoon, or die. A second fears every man he meets will rob him, quarrell with him, or kill him.

A third dares not venture to walk alone, for fear he should meet the Devil, a thief, be sick; fears all old women as witches, and every black dog or cat he sees he suspecteth to be a Devil, every person comes near him is malificiated, every creature, all intend to hurt him, seek his ruine:

another dares not go over a bridge, come near a poole, rock, steep hill, lye in a chamber where crosse beams are, for fear he be tempted to hang, drown or præcipitate himself. If he be in a silent auditory, as at a sermon, he is afraid he shall speak aloud at unawares, some thing undecent, unfit to be said.

If he be locked in a close room, he is afraid of being stifled for want of air, and still carries Bisket, Aquavitæ, or some strong waters about him, for fear of deliquiums, or being sick; or if he be in a throng, middle of a Church, multitude, where he may not well get out, though he be at ease, he is so misaffected. He will freely promise, undertake any businesse beforehand, but when it comes to be performed, he dare not adventure, but fears an infinite number of dangers, disasters, &c.

Some are afraid to be burned, or that the ground will sink under them, or swallow them quick, or that the King will call them in question for some fact they never did (Rhasis cont.) and that they shall surely be executed. The terror of such a death troubles them, and they fear as much, and are equally tormented in minde, as they that have committed a murder, and are pensive without a cause, as if they were now presently to be put to death. Plater. cap. 3. de mentis alienat.

They are afraid of some losse, danger, that they shall surely lose their lives, goods, and all they have, but why they know not. Trincavelius consil. 13. lib. 1. had a patient that would needs make away himself, for fear of being hanged, and could not be perswaded for three years together, but that he had killed a man. Plater. observat. lib. 1. hath two other examples of such as feared to be executed without a cause.

If they come in a place where a robbery, theft, or any such offence hath bin done, they presently fear they are suspected, and many times betray themselves without a cause. Lewis the 11th the French King, suspected every man a traitour that came about him, durst trust no officer.

Alii formidolosi omnium, alii quorundam (Fracastorius lib. 2. de Intellect.) some fear all alike, some certain men, and cannot endure their companies, are sick in them, or if they be from home. Some suspect treason still, others are afraid of their dearest and nearest friends. (Melanelius è Galeno, Ruffo, Aëtio,)

and dare not be alone in the dark, for fear of hobgoblins and devils: he suspects every thing he hears or sees to be a Devil, or enchanted; and imagineth a thousand Chimera’s and visions, which to his thinking he certainly sees, bugbears, talks with black men, ghosts, goblins, &c.