Satanical Apparitions.

When I studied the law in the university of Wittenberg. I heard my tutors often tell, that on a time, one being attired after a strange manner, came and knocked at the door of a great Diuine [Dean?], which then read in the same university, and died in the yeare 1546. the servant opened the doore, and asked him what he would have? Speak with thy master quoth he. The Diuine willed him to come in: and then this stranger propounded certain questions touching the controversies which were at that instant about matters of Religion: whereinto the Diuine hauing given a ready solution, the stranger put forth harder, thou dost somewhat trouble me, said the Diuine, for I had other things in hand: and therewith rising out off his chair, showed him in a book the exposition of a certain place whereabout they contended. 

In this strife he perceived that the stranger instead of fingers had claws and talons, like a bird of prey. Whereupon he began to say unto him. 

Is it thou then? Hearken to the sentence pronounced against thee,

(Showing him that place of the third of Genesis) 

The Seede of the woman shall breake the Serpents head. He added moreouer. Thou shalt not swallow us all up. 

The evil spirit mightely confoun∣ded and enraged, vanished away with an exceeding great noyse, leaving such a stinke behind him in the stove, that it stunk of it a long time after. 

John George Godelman, Doctor of Law at Rostock, in the treatise, De Magis, Veneficis, Lamijs, &c. booke 1. chap. 3.

In the town of Friburg in Misnia [Meissen], the devil presented himselfe in a humane forme, to a certain sick-man, showing him a book, and extorting him to recon up all his sins he could remember, because he would note them down in that book. At the first the sick-man was somewhat amazed, but recovering his spirits, he answered: Thou saist well, I will set thee downe all my sins in order: but first write these words on the top in great Letters, The Seede of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head. The devil hearing this condemnation of his, fled away, leaving this house full of an extreme stink. 

The same Author.

In the yeare 1534. Maist. Lawrence Toner minister of a certain Town in Saxony, employing some time about Easter to confer with some of his parishioners, according to the customs, touching scrupels of conscience, the devil appeared unto him in the shape of a man, and intreated him to give him leave to confer with him: whereupon he began to pour out horrible blasphemies against the Saviour of the World. Toner resists and confutes him so coragiously by authorities out of the holy Scripture, as this wicked Spirit confounded, (leauing an intollerable stinke in the place) vanished away.

IOB FINCEL in his first booke of miracles.

Early true crime. Accounts of some executed criminals in the year 1700.

A full and true account, of the behaviours, confessions, and last dying speeches of the condemned criminals, that were executed at Tyburn, on Friday the 24th of May, 1700.

John Shirly, alias Davis, 22 Years old. Condemned for Firing the House of Dr. Sloan, being examined said, that he was descended of a good family, that his parents, who tenderly loved him, Educated him at School a considerable time, but growing headstrong, he ran away from them, and listed himself as soldier, for several years he served abroad in that station, and at last, having got acquaintance with the surgeon of a regiment, he pretended to practice that art, which brought him in no small profit; but being viciously inclined, he lived at such a rate, that his incomes could not answer his unnecessary and exorbitant expenses, which caused him to rack his invention, how to support his profuse way of living; this made him listen to bad advice, and to turn a deaf ear to that wholesome counsel, which they who knew his parents frequently gave him. 

The great Enemy of Mankind provided some accomplices for him, who having consumed their substance with riotous living, were willing to undertake any wicked action that might support their craving circumstances.

To this Gang he willingly associated himself, and committed several robberies and burglaries, more than he could remember: At length they resolved to break open this house in Bloomsbury-Square, which they attempted in several places, but could not effect; then they resolved to burn it; and accordingly one of them struck a light, and cut a little door into splinters, then breaking the glass and part of the wood in the window, set a candle to it, which caused the window to blaze: Their Design as he said, was to throw stones at the upper windows, to awaken the family when the fire had got a head, and so under pretense of helping them to carry away their best goods and rob them of all that was valuable. I prest him very often to discover whether he was concerned in that great fire in Red-lion Fields, putting him in mind, that there is no denying or lessening his Sins before God, who was privy to all his Thoughts and Designs, and knows all his actions, tho' never so secretly committed, and no human eye saw him. But he still denied that he was in any way concerned about it, only that he was present when it was burning, and got a silver candlestick, a case of pistols, and some other things. He did not seem at first so well affected with his condition as could be wished; but afterwards he returned to a better mind, and wished that he had a longer space to live, that so he might testify his sincerity, by leading a better life for the future.

Philip Wake, Convicted for the same, confessed his crime, and gave an account of it much after the same manner, only with this addition, that Davis was the projector of it, and encouraged them to do it, when they resolved to desist. He added that he was an old offender, had made several Resolutions, to forsake his evil courses, but as often broke them: His indisposition did not permit him to speak much, but he seemed very attentive to good advice.

James Walters, Condemned for several felonies. Was an apprentice to a merchant, but leading a dissolute debaucher’s life, his Master turned him away, then he went to his old companions, who prevailed with him to go abroad with them, where he committed a great many base, notorious actions. He complained of the tedious confinement he underwent, and how troublesome it was to him, who was always a busy stirring person. But he was put in mind that he should by no means once fancy, that he must lie in that doleful place, shut out from all Business, and condemned as it were to a state of idleness; but that he should set himself with all his might, to mind the one thing necessary, the great Work of Repentance, and making his peace with Almighty God; for this would cut out work enough for him, and of more comfort and profit to his Soul, than any other employment which he had formerly been used to. He was also told, that he stood now upon the very brink of Eternity, and must shortly appear before the Tribunal of God, which is infinitely more terrible than that of any earthly Judge can be; therefore it became him, with all the seriousness that is possible, to prepare himself for so dreadful an Appearance; to which he replied, that he had a good Education, and understood these matters very well.

John Titt, 24 Years old, Convicted for burglary. He served his Master (who was a waterman) very faithfully, but being made free, he unfortunately met with some acquaintance which enticed him to drink to excess, and so neglecting his lawful calling, being reduced to want, was the more easily prevailed with to commit this fact, the only one of that nature, (as he said) he ever was Guilty of. His Life of late was very irregular, addicted to swearing, lewdness, and debauchery, for which he said he was exceeding sorrowful, and that his Vices were now as detestable in his sight, as before they seemed pleasant.

John Hatchman, aged 15 Years, convicted for the same, confessed his crime, and said that Titt meeting him in Southwark, made him Drunk, and then brought him along with them to break open the House. He denied he ever was concerned with such persons any more, and promises if he is transported, to lead a better Life for the future.

John Cooper, condemned for the same. He was seized with the jail-distemper, which is a violent fever, attended with a delirious light-headed∣ness, and so was not in a capacity to give any account of himself.

Joseph Fisher, 48 Years old, Born in Cornwall, condemned for burglary, was a seaman, and served aboard in the Royal-Navy, and as he said, did once

The Certain Predictions of the Great Alcos, Astrologer and Mathematician in Ordinary to the Duke of Parma, upon the Two Comets which have Appeared in our Hemisphere 1681.

After having diligently considered the course of the planets, made observations upon the malignant Influences of the stars, and passed a whole night in contemplation of the Comet which appeared in the heavens in the close of the evening, and of that which appeared in the morning before break of day.
And having considered by the Rules of Astrology, That the Evening Comet entering into Capricorn, and going out by the Scorpions tail, which extends it self 800 Leagues, threatens a General Plague, Terrible Earthquakes, and Prodigious Thunders, by which several towns in Christendom will be swallowed up and laid in ashes.
The Comet which appears in the morning, having Cancer reversed underneath it, visibly declares that the Angel Abiron, Punisher of the Sins of the World hath a Sword drawn for the destruction of a Maritime Prince, who hath drawn on himself the just Anger of God, but that the Presence of the Sun which hides this Angry and Fiery Comet from our Sight, assures us, that the Religious valor of the Knights of Malta, encouraged by the extraordinary zeal of our Holy Father the Pope, will appease the God of mercy and bounty, and that their armies will be so victorious over the Turks, that their success shall amaze all the world.

The approaching Summer shall be dry and long, that the greatest rivers shall be dried up, and the ground so hot, that the beasts, serpents and other animals, shall be forced to come out of their dens and holes;
And Men shall be afflicted with burning feavers, Swellings and bloody fluxes.
The Ram ascending towards Libra shows us, That the last year in the Month of August, the Mart is entered into the Barr before Gri Riere after shows, that in April of this present year the Sovereign abbess of Franconia shall be delivered of a Son, which shall neither be of Cap nor Ville, but of Mart and of Rig, who shall be an Astrologer in our Duchy of Parma, and shall one day be acknowledged Prince of Franconia.

The 22 July Mars following at the Heels of Sagittarius  with his Dart, we may expect so general a Hail, that it will be very prejudicial to all grain that is not gotten in; And Bacchus will be so afflicted, that he exhorts his good Children not idly to empty all the Vessels this year.
In fine, Heaven is so angry, and the whole World so laden with sins, disorders and abominations, that Nature her self shall be ready to Expire, and the Earth hold as it were but by a thread.
Vices, as Ambition, Jealousy, Envy, Impiety, and Irreligion of all Nations in general, and every Man in particular have drawn down the just Anger of God upon us.
Europe will fall quickly; I know no Estate whose ruin we may not fear. This Age perhaps shall be the last of all Empires, and (may be) we shall hear. That the Universe is at its End.
All Mountains shall be brought low, the Alps shall be thunder stricken, the Pyrenees beaten down and leveled. The Sins of Men are grown so great, and their disorders so monstrous and prodigious, that we may well expect to see this last Moment, if we Repent not, and mortify our selves; which only can avert the severity of these terrible Judgments of God.

God through his Love to us doth show,
By the Stars what he intends to do;
That thereby knowing his Intent,
We may of our ill Works Repent.

Agility and force.

Here follows some stories from various 16th century books about people famous for their skills. Some wording hasn’t aged well in the text that follows. 

It is put in the number of wonders of nature, the flying and balancing of those which run and guide themselves upon a rope. Some few years since there was one known throughout all Italy called the little Venetian as well for that he was born in Venice. As for his small stature, but so nimble and an expert to run upon a rope without any difficulty. As sometimes he tied himself up in a snack having nothing but his hands free to manage his counterpiece [balance]. Sometimes he put a round basin under either foot or balls under his heels and did so run with an incredible swiftness upon a long rope tied to the top of a house. Moreover he was so strong as with his knee he would break the thigh bone of an ox. With his hands he would wrench out three great nails as big as a man’s little finger as if they had been soft and pliable. He would take upon his shoulders a beam of about twenty foot long and a foot thick, supporting it long without any help of his hands and then would he remove it from one shoulder to another. Theodore a doctor of law who had seen these feats of agility and force with many other witnesses have reported it unto me. A physician of our time makes mention of the same or of the like whom he said he saw at Augsburg and another in Silesia who with his teeth would take up a great pipe like unto the barrels in Germany full of beer without any help and cast if over his head.  

Ferdinand  D’Avalos Marquis of Pescara, lieutenant of Emperor Charles V in the duchy of Milan had a Spaniard in his troops called Lupon who was so strong and so light of foot as he would with a sheep upon his shoulders outrun any man. He was valiant and hardy to attempt and execute anything for the confidence he had in his nimble force. The marquis desiring to be truly informed of the estate of the French army lying near. Gave orders to Lupon to run into their camp to discover anything of value. 

Lupon thinking himself takes a Harquebusier on foot with him in whom he trusted and approached near the camp little before day, he viewed the situation there and then coming near a french soldier that stood sentinel who was not well awake he suddenly leaps upon him and although the soldier were strong and of a big stature Lupon takes him up on his shoulders notwithstanding any resistance he could make or his crying out for help and carries him around his neck like a calf and so returns with speed being supported by his Harquebusier who shot at them who would approach near them. Arriving at the Spanish camp he laid his prisoner at the Marquis feet who having laughed his fill at this strange sight and learned from the prisoner’s own mouth the state of the french camp  he presently charge the french giving them so big an alarm […] he prevented the execution of that which they had prevented against him and his. 

Paolo Giovio in the life of the marquis of Pescara.

A Spaniard called Peter came to Naples came to Naples in the year 1555 where he made trial of his force as follows. A man that was strong and heavy sat striking on his right shoulder and another on his left, on his left arm he carried a man and on his left another. He had two men upon his feet and walked up and down with all this burden as if he had not carried anything. Then binding down his hands he caused a man to stand upon either of them when done he stood up and raised his hands as high as his head. After this they bound his hands with a strong cord then ten men laid hold off and standing as firmly as they could they sought to shake him but he on Theo ther side drawing his hands towards him laid them cross on his chest with such violence as many of the ten fell down. With his forehead (as if it had been a hammer of iron) he did beat a nail half into a wall true it is that he did hurt himself a little with that blow. Stretching forth his arm he did shut his hand so fast as those ten men together could not force him to open it nor to bend his arm. Two thieves finding him alone would have delayed him but he took them both by the necks and beat their heads so violently together as their brains flew out and they were found dead. He had a pleasing aspect a quick eye and a gracious severe countenance not too tall but well proportioned and his flesh was so firm and sinewy that when he did stretch forth his arm and shut his hand it was impossible to pinch him. His voice was strong and clear and he did sing very well. He was no great feeder.

Anthoinie of Nebrisse [Antonij Nebrisse] affirms that he had seen a man at Siuille born in one of the Canary Islands who without moving his left foot out of a circle where he did set it did offer himself as a mark to anyone that would cast a stone at him eight paces of and was never hit for that he did shift and turn himself in such a sundry sort and fashion as it was impossible to touch him and for a farthing he would show any man this sport. Nebris in the 2 decad of the hist. Of Spaine lib 2. C.1

We have seen a man in italy marching and dancing on a rope which was strained in the air holding tow long swords and having his thighs armed so as he would be forced to open his legs. He did go firmly and boldly thereon. Then he would tie basins to his feet and with them run upon the rope showing such nimble tricks as they seemed impossible to them that had not seen them. Simon Mayolus an Italian bishop in his canicular days colloq 4.

In the year 1582 at the solemnity of the circumcision of Mahomet the third son to Amurath (Murad III) emperor of the Turks among many other sports there appeared 50 men on horseback well armed with scimitars by their sides their targets about their necks, bows in their left hands and in the right staffs like half pikes after the Arabian manner. In the park appointed for the jousts at Constantinople they had raised up eight hills of sand of equal height and distance, four one one side and four on the other. In the midst there was a narrow passage but well covered with fine sand that if any of them should chance to fall in running it be less dangerous upon these hills of sand there were posts set, the four of Theo nes side having round blanks at the end and the other four and ovals all made of leather and paper very artificially. These were the marks where at these fifty horsemen did aim who began to march easily by this way, first in troupe and then in ranks as it were in battle. Suddenly they disband and begin to run with a full carrier one after another so near and so justly as one was at another’s heels. In running they took their arrows out of their quivers and shot with such dexterity as they did hit the marks so swiftly as the beholders eyes could not discern the shot nor the blows.  At the second course whereas they had shot but at the round blanks they now delivered their arrows against both with wonderful dexterity sometimes using the left hand and sometime the right hand with one motion, for the third charge in shooting off they’re arrows they sometimes discovered the the right shoulder sometimes the left with their targets and that with an incredible swiftness. Moreover in running a full carrier they drew out their scimitars which they drew out again they beat them down and suddenly they bend their bows again and shoot into the air. They did wonders with their half pikes in diverse kinds of combat and in the end they made even these hills with their scimitars pulling away those stakes that were set upon the hills of sand, they cast them into the air and in running they received them again and held them in their hands. Then staining upon their feet in the saddle they began to run and handle their scimitars, bows and staffs as before without any further repetition of these particularities. I will note one notable act the which perchance will be held as fiction but I did see it. Of these fifty there were two goodly young men which withdrew themselves from the rest. The one stood upright in his saddle and bore his companion standing upon his arms. Being in this posture they run the horse a full carrier and yet stood fast, the uppermost shot certain arrows at a peel of wood which he that carried him held in his right hand. Moreover these two having died tow horses together by the bridle one of them set one foot upon one saddle and the other upon the other standing firmly upon both as if they had been glued together and carrying his companion upright in his arms and holding in his hand that peel of wood against the which the other standing aloft shot without missing while that the tow horses did run most swiftly. 

There were others which having six naked scimitars tied the points upward unto their saddles set their heads into the saddle and their heels upward in this sort of run their horses so swiftly as you would say that they had flowed. Besides them there were two that did sit in one saddle and as the horse did run in his full speed they would leap down and up again presently. Others did turn in their saddles their horses running swiftly sometimes behind sometimes before doing admirable tricks. This done […] did all run in troupe and standing upright in their saddles they shot many arrows. To the end the sport standing thus upright they did run one at the other with their half pikes doing many exercises which lancers are accustomed to Tod in their courses on horseback. To conclude whatsoever is done in skirmishes. Courses, combats duels battles retreats and other military acts was there practices by these fifty cavaliers. Georg Lebelski a Polonia in the description done at Constantinople at the circumcision of Amvraths sonne in the yeare 1582.

I have often seen with amazement in the court of the prince of Bamber a German peasant nourished and bred up among the beasts in the near mountains who was active and nimble in his body as all that did see him in his motions and tumbling were amazed and thought that he used some sort of enchantment the which he never dreamt of. That which was most to be admired in him he showed his nimbleness not standing upon his feet but going up on feet and hands like a dog or a cat. In the same court there was a dwarf which […] rode upon the peasant as if head been a horse making him to turn and bound in diverse manners as a rider would a genet of Spain but when the peasant slit he would overthrow the dwarf do what he could. Sometimes he would fight with the mastiffs and great English dogs which his prince had and by retain counterfeit barking and a furious dogfish snarling he would make them run away. This done he would bound upon his hands and his feet with wonderful agility climbing up at the corner and of the wainscot of the hall more nimbly than an ape although otherwise he was rude big and of heavy mould. I did twice see (being at the prince’s table) after that he had cast down the dwarf chased away the dog she leaped upon one guest’s shoulder and from there to the table without overthrowing any dish or goblet, then he leaped so saddles down as you would have judged him to have been a squirrel or a wild cat. He would usually rune as fast upon the tops of houses built pointed and slopes as our house cats would do. He did so many other apish tricks as in divers places they talked of him as of an extraordinary thing and not heard of I would not have set any thing down in this book if I had not seen his tricks with my own eyes and that there were not many credible persons yet lying that had seen them. When I collected my historical discourses he was lying and married. PH Camerarvs as a learned Germanie Lavvier in his historical meditations, chap 75.

When as a certain Turk danced upon a rope in the city of Paris his feet being in a basin many seeing him in danger to break his neck trembled in fear and dared not look at him. Ambr Pare in his 13 booke chap 11. 

The lord of Montaigne said that he had seen his father being about three score years old laugh at their activities he would leap into the saddle with furred night down around him he would turn about the table upon his thumb and did seldom go to his chamber but he would leap three or four steps at once. Montaigne in his essaies lib. 2. Chap. 2.

 

The strange illness of Katherine Gaulthier 1571.

This account comes from the Marcellus Donatus book Admirable histories of Phisicke and from Cornelius Gemma’s account in his own book De naturae divinis characterismis.

A young maiden whose father was a cooper being fifteen years old, of good spirit of a melancholic complexion mixed with sanguin. Her name was Katherine Gaulthier. Fell sick and weak through diverse accidents. About the month of January in the year 1571, her monthly terms advanced twice or thrice but stayed present during the whole of her illness. It caused a great weariness over all her body. It was suspected that she had been poisoned by a certain woman of ill fame who what given her a piece of cake.

Eating it, she felt it painful to swallow after which she began to feel strange pains in her stomach. She grew lean, vomited sometimes, her stomach failed her she she felt a dizziness in her head. With other accidents which torment women with child, especially in the 4th and 7th month. 

For about mid June she was subject to fevers and some kind of convulsions. Her pains did increase so as like a mad woman she tormented herself. Growing big, pale and short winded and in the end she was so oppressed with pain that she grew black in the face like she had been strangled.

She was so tormented so as four men could scarcely hold her from casting herself from the bed to the ground. There was no kind of convulsion but it did afflict her. These pangs having continues into fits in the 9th month, her parents began to contact the physicians. I was called because I lived the nearest, but being from home they repaid magister Beausard. Who considered this disease to be caused by worms. It happened after many grievous pangs that nature working by her force made her void a quick eel which was brought to me. It was a big eel thick as a man’s thumb, a foot and a half long (ca 48 cm) with good proportions and all parts intact. Three days before it appeared both the maid and those that were around her heard a great noise as there was a hissing from her belly. The maid had said that she had felt the eel put forth its head before and draw it back again only to then thrust forth so suddenly and with violence. This eel remained among the excrements seemed for a long time to be dead, but when put into a pot of water it did stir for a long time. After the voiding of it the pangs which had tormented her so much began to cease. But there’s which they had ripped and cleansed and then hanged up where neither cat nor any other beast could  reach it vanished in an instant. 

Soon after the maid began to cast up a great abundance of water, the which I came to see being like urine and of strange taste as the patient said. This vomiting continued for 15 days in every one of which she voided about 24 pounds weight of water from the mouth. I don’t report these things by hearsay but for that I did see and touched them with my hands. I was no less amazed to see that beside this great abundance of water which she voided from her mouth she made water in great abundance twice or thrice a day without any swelling of her belly or any other part of her body. Neither did she drink above one cup of wine or beer or any other liquor in a day. I asked her if she felt no pain in one of the “miseriacall veins” she answered me that her left side had always troubled her much since the voiding of the eel and that before she had some heaviness in that place. But since she was troubled with great gnawing and pricking which caused her to cry out when I touched her with just my finger. After she had vomited so much water she began to cast forth lumps of hair from her mouth some as long as a man’s finger some more some less such as we see fall from old dogs in great quantity.for certain days enough to have stuffed a dozen of tennis balls. She cast them up with great heaving and great heartburn falling one night into wonderful trance. Having found her in like someone who was ready to give up the ghost and carefully observing all things being laid upon her belly. I did see her cast her self so violently from one side to the other as if she had not been held she would have beat her head against the wall or the bedpost  

She held her hands so strongly together that it was impossible to open them. Sometimes she beat her breast so violently as she would kill herself. These fits continued from seven at night until nine and then she knew not any one. Oftentimes (as in suffocation of the matrix [womb]) she grew wonderfully red and seemed very weary and toiled with some beginning of a fever. Once or twice she foamed at the mouth. An other time being in the extremity of her fit she fell suddenly into a great laughter and then suddenly wept bitterly. Before becoming herself and falling into a long ecstasy, she began in an instant to speak as if she had addressed herself unto God. Heralding her hands up to heaven she spoke these words in effect:

O great god seeing thy beauty is so great and incredible, how long shall we remain here? When wilt thou take me out of this world, that I may enjoy thee? 

Having said this as she saw awaking and looking on them that were in the room she said:

Which of you hath done me this wrong to call me back here into this valley of misery and into the prison of darkness when as I did rest so sweetly and did sport myself in the goodliest gardens that could be imagined? 

I do not thing that a simple and ignorant maid (as this was) could utter such worlds but in ecstasy. In the meantime she cast up great lumps of hair mixed with much white matter and very thick. Sometimes like the dung of pigeons or geese. In this abundance of filth appeared little pieces of of wood and shreds of parchment. And a little after she had another vomiting of a matter as black as coal, you could have said it had been ink rather than coal beaten to a powder and mixed with water. This continued for a good while, two or three pounds ever day sometimes with such store of white hair long and hard as it would have made a good ball. After two days she did vomit about two points of pure blood as if a vein had been opened. This monstruos casting continued a whole week coming to a still at a certain hour and then the fits of epilepsy where with she was daily tormented ceased, the which notwithstanding continued sometimes. Once in three days and in the end every seventh day. In the meantime she did still cast hair but not so abundant as before but blacker and shorter as if they had been cut small and with a slimy humour like unto thick matter.

At the mid of September she did vomit great pieces of parchment, half a span long like thick and fleshy skin of a man’s body. Afterwards she cast up other that were thinner but all black. In the end she did vomit some that were very thin but strong amongst the which there were three a foot long made in fashion of lozenges with strange marks and figures. After these skins followed an infinite number of stones which she did cast up at a certain hour every night with great noise and sounding such as is heard when walls are torn down. Some were thick, others pointed unequal in form and of a dark colour they were all small and yet such size as it was feared that the maid would have been strangled. Some were covered with chalk and cemented together in such a way that they could have been pulled out of a wall. Once in my presence she did vomit a pointed stone as big as two chestnuts. This stone reminded about a quarter of an hour in ther throat during the which he had no pulse nor respiration. So as if laying a feather upon her mouth it not move, her hands and feet grew cold and her body stiff as it had been an image.

Thinking that she had finished her course and that pain had ended all her miseries. I went out of the chamber saying that she was dead, when the mother called me back suddenly back again, saying that daughter did stir and opened her eyes. As soon as I returned she did cast up this stone with great violence. I did see it come forth and heard the noise thereof falling into a basin, the which did amaze both myself and all that were in the chamber. At the same time she did spit out a piece of wood as big as one’s thumb but with less difficulty then the stone, and with some few black hairs. There followed another accident almost incredible where the maid had almost been choked for she did vomit up a bone in the shape of a triangle solide on the outside and hollow spongelike on the inside. The next day she cast up little bones of diverse forms and proportions. Amongst all these there seen stones and hair and pieces of glass and copper. 

Cornelius Gemma set down the remedies which he applied and maintains that part of her infirmity grew by natural causes and part by the impostures and illusions of the devil who was a chief agent in these accidents which we have reported. 

This history is written by Marcellus Donatus in his second book of admirable histories of phisicke.