[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
it be true, and not a fable) which is read concerning the detestable heresy of old Church-
men, and like to these are manifest in Witches and mischeivous [mischievous] women,
which wickednesses the foolish dotage of women is subject to fall into. By these, and
such as these evill spirits are raised. As a wicked spirit spake once to Iohn [John] of one
Cynops a Sorcerer; all the power, saith he, of Satan dwells there, and he is entred into a
confederacy with all the principalities together, and likewise we, with him, and Cynops
obeys us, and we again obey him. Again, on the contrary side, no man is ignorant that
supercelestiall Angels or spirits may be gained by us through good works, a pure mind,
secret prayers, devout humiliation, and the like. Let no man therefore doubt that in like
manner by some certain matters of the world, the Gods of the world may be raised by us,
or at least the ministring spirits, or servants of these Gods, and as Mercurius [Hermes
Trismegistus] saith, the airy spirits, not supercelestiall, much less higher. So we read that
the antient [ancient] Priests made statues, and images, foretelling things to come, and
infused into them the spirits of the stars, which were not kept there by constraint in some
certain matters, but rejoycing [rejoiced] in them, viz. as acknowledging such kinds of
matter to be sutable [suitable] to them, they do alwaies and willingly abide in them, and
speak, and do wonderfull things by them: no otherwise then evill spirits are wont to do,
when they possess mens bodies.
Chap. xl. Of bindings, what sort they are of, and in what wayes they are
wont to be done.
WEE have spoken concerning the vertues, and wonderfull efficacy of naturall things.
It remains now that we understand a thing of great wonderment: and it is a binding of
men into love, or hatred, sickness or health, and such like. Also the binding of thieves,
and robbers, that they cannot steale in any place; the binding of Merchants, that they
cannot buy, or sell in any place; the binding of an army, that they cannot pass over any
bound; the binding of ships, that no winds, though never so strong, shall be able to carry
them out of the Haven. Also the binding of a mill, that it can by no force whatsoever be
turned round: the binding of a Cisterne, or fountain, that the water cannot be drawn up
out of them: The binding of the ground, that it cannot bring forth fruit: the binding of any
place, that nothing can be built upon it: The binding of fire, that though it be never so
strong, can burn no combustible thing that is put to it. Also the bindings of lightnings,
and tempests, that they shall do no hurt. The binding of dogs, that they cannot bark. Also
the binding of birds, and wild beasts, that they shall not be able to fly, or run away. And
such like as these, which are scarce credible, yet often known by experience. Now there
are such kind of bindings as these made by Sorceries, Collyries, Unguents, love potions,
by binding to, and hanging up of things, by rings, by charmes, by strong imaginations,
and passions, by images, and characters, by inchantments [enchantments], and
imprecations, by lights, by sound, by numbers, by words, and names, invocations,
sacrifices, by swearing, conjuring, consecrations, devotions, and by divers superstitions,
and observations, and such like.
Chap. xli. Of Sorceries, and their power.
The force of Sorceries is reported to be so great, that they are believed to be able to
subvert, consume, and change all inferiour things, according Virgils Muse.
Moeris for me these hearbs [herbs] in Pontus chose,
And curious drugs, for there great plenty grows;
I many times, with these, have Moeris spide [spied]
Chang'd to a wolfe, and in the woods to hide:
From Sepulchres would souls departed charm,
And Corn bear standing from anothers Farm.
Also in an other place, concerning the companions of Ulysses, whom
The cruell Goddess Circe there invests
With fierce aspects, and chang'd to savage beasts.
And a litle after,
When love from Picus Circe could not gaine
Him with her charming wand, and hellish bane
Chang'd to a bird, and spots his speckled wings
With sundry colours ----------
Now, there are some kinds of these sorceries mentioned by Lucan concerning that
Sorceress Thessala, calling up ghosts, where he saith,
Here all natures products unfortunate;
Fomr [foam] of mad Dogs, which waters fear and hate;
Guts of the Lynx; Hyena's knot imbred;
The marrow of a Hart with Serpents fed
Were not wanting; no nor the sea Lamprey
Which stops the ships; nor yet the Dragons eye.
And such as Apuleius tells of concerning Pamphila, that Sorceress, endeavouring to
procure love; to whom Fotis a certain maid brought the haires of a goat (cut off from a
bag or botle [bottle] made with the skin thereof) instead of Bæotius a young mans haires:
Now she (saith he) being out of her wits for the young man, goeth up to the tyled rough
[tiled roof], and in the upper part thereof makes a great hole open to all the orientall, and
other aspects, and most fit for these her arts, and there privately worships, having before
furnished her mournfull house with sutable furniture, with all kinds of spices, with plates
of Iron with strange words engraven upon them, with sterns of ships that were cast away,
and much lamented, and with divers members of buryed carkasses [buried carcasses] cast
abroad: here noses, and fingers, there the fleshy nailes of those that were hanged, and in
another place the blood of them that were murdered, and their skulls mangled with the
teeth of wild beasts; then she offers sacrifices (their inchanted entralls [enchanted
entrails] lying panting), and sprinkles them with divers kinds of liquors; sometimes with
fountain water, sometimes with cowes milk, sometimes with mountain honey, and mead:
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]