16th century true crime part 3.

Murders discovered by strange means, and punished.

Master Emery Bigot, the King's Attorney in the Parliament of Rouen, recounted the history following to me, with the names and surnames of the persons, which I have altogether forgotten, only the substance of the matter remains in my head. There was a Lucquois merchant, who having lived in England a long time, and desiring to end his days amongst his friends, requested them by letters to provide him a house, for that he meant to see them within six months at the farthest. About the same time he parts from England, followed by a servant of his a, Frenchman, with all his papers and obligations, and comes to the City of Rouen, where after he had made a little stay, he takes his way for Paris but being on the mountain near to Argentueil, his man, favored by the rain and foul weather that was at that time, murdered him, and threw his body into the vignes [vineyards]. As this was happening, a blind man came by, led by his dog, and hearing one groan, asked who it was? where to the murderer answered, that it was a sick man going to ease himself. The blind man went his way and the servant with his master’s money and papers gets him to Paris where he takes up a good round sum upon his master's bills and obligations: this merchant is expected at Luca a whole year together, and seeing that he came not, a fellow was dispatched away expressly to seek him out; coming to London he understood the time of his departure, and that he was bound for Rouen; there also in one of the ins he was told that about 6 months before a Lucquois merchant had lived there, and was gone to Paris. After that enquiry he made, he was never the nearer, nor by any means could hear any tidings of that he sought. Whereupon he complained to the Court of Parliament at Rouen, which began to embrace this affair, commanding the Lieutenant criminal to make diligent search within the City and Monsieur Bigot without. The first thing the Justice did, was to will one of his officers to enquire up and down the town whether there were any men that were within 7 or 8 months before had set up a new shop. The fellow failed not in his charge, but returning says he met with one, of whom having learned the name, the justice supposed an obligation, where by this new merchant binds himself body and goods to pay the sum of 200 crowns within a certain time, and by virtue thereof, being wild to pay the money, he answered that the bond was forged, for he owed no such debt. The Sergeant, taking this answer for a refusal, arrested him. and as they went along together, the merchant happened to tell him that he would answer this well enough: but is there no other matter said he? The Sergeant goes and reports how all had past to the Justice, who taking hold of those words, whither there were no other matter, commanded the prisoner to be brought before him: being come, he made the room to be voided, and with gentle speech told him, that he had sent away the rest, because he meant to deal kindly with him: that in truth he had caused him to bee arrested upon a supposed obligation, but that there was another matter in the wind. For he knew for certain, that the murder of the Luequois was committed by him, and thereof good proof was to be made, how-be-it he desired not to take any rigorous course: that the dead man was a stranger, altogether without friends, and therefore it was an easy matter to bury all things in oblivion, so that the prisoner would be wise, and do that which was fitting for himself. All this was spoken in such a fashion, as if the Justice had gone about to draw money from him. Herewith the prisoner solicited partly by the remorse of his conscience, partly by the hope he had to clear himself by a bride, answered the Judge, that herein appeared the very hand of God, seeing there was no other witness but himself, and yet the matter was come to light, and that upon the promise which had been made him, he would freely confess the truth. Thereupon the judge thinking he had got his desire, sent one for the Register. In the meantime the prisoner perceiving he had played the fool, when the judge would have had him confess the murder, he began to change his copy, and maintained that all this proceeding was full of slander and falsehood. The Justice, being somewhat frustrated by his hope, sends the merchant to prison, in expectation of more ample proof. But having had conference with other prisoners, who are craft masters in such affairs, he appealed from his imprisonment, and s[...]es both the Sergeant and the Justice. I leave you to think whether the cause was without appearance of reason. Forgery is objected against the obligation, and there needs no proof, for it is confessed. And indeed the Justice went directly to the Parliament, where he discoursed at large how all things had been carried. The Court, being well assured of the honesty of the Justice, suspended the course of this suit for a time. In the meantime Monsieur Bigot had incharge, to make enquiry all the way between Rouen and Paris, to see if he could come by any notice of the matter: which he executed with all diligence. At length passing by Argentueil, the bailiff told him, how not long before, they had found a dead carcass in the vines, half eaten by dogs and crows. Therewith came the blind man begging to the inn where Bigot lay, and understanding the perplexity they were in, told them all that he had heard about the same time on the mountain. Bigot asked him, whether he could know the voice again? The other answered that he thought he should. Whereupon he set him up on a horse behind another, and rode away with him to Rouen, where being alighted, and having given an acceptance of his commision, the Court determined to hear what the blind man could say, and after to confront him with the prisoner. He had then discoursed at full all that past in his hearing on the mountain, and the answer that was returned to him, being demanded, whether he could know the voice again? He replied that he did not think but he could. Therwith they showed him the prisoner from afar, and asked him, when the blind man was gone, whether he could take any exception against him. God knows what a case he was in then. For he said that there had never been such devices practiced to impeach the innocency of an honest man, as there had been against him. First the Justice by virtue of a false obligation to lay him in prison: then to make him believe how he had confessed that which never did: and last of all, to bring in a blind man for a witness against him, why it was past all rules of common sense.

Notwithstanding that, the Court seeing he had nothing else to say against him, caused 20 men to speak one after another, and still as they spoke, the blind man was asked whether he knew their voices, where he replied that it was none of them. At last when the prisoner had spoken, the blind man said that it was he who answered him on the mountain. The same confusion of voices having been two or three times reiterated, the blind man hit always on the right, and never missed. Take all the accidents of this process severally, and you shall find many that make for the prisoner. But when you have thoroughly considered the contrary, there are a number of circumstances which make against him: a new citizen which had set up a new shop a little after the Lucquois disappearing, the honesty of the Lieutenant known to all men, the deposition by him and the Sergeant made: but especially the miraculous encounter of the blind man, who was both at the murder, as afterward in the inn where Bigot lay: and finally that without any fraud he had discerned the murderers voice from many others. All these things duly weighed, were the cause of the wretched man's condemnation: who before he was executed, confessed all, to the discharge of the Judges consciences. E. PASQVIER in 5. booke des Recerches of France. Chap. 20.

Saint Oportunes church.

On Christmas eve 1551 a certain fellow brained a young woman with a hammer, hard by Saint Oportunes Church in Paris, as she was going to midnight mass, and took away her rings. The hammer was stolen the same evening from a poor smith thereby, who therefore suspected of the murder, was very cruelly handled, and put to an extraordinary kind of torture, by reason of the violent presumptions that made against him. In such a sort that he was quite lamed, and deprived of the means to get his living, where-by reduced into extreme poverty, he made a miserable end.

The murderer remained almost 20 years unknown, and the memory of the murder seemed to be buried with the poor woman in her grave. Now mark how it came out at length, though it was long first. John Flameng Sergeant of the subsidies at Paris, that was afterward chief usher in the Court of Aids, being one day in the Summer at Saint Leups, a village by Montmorency, whether he was sent to sit upon a commission, chanced among other talk at supper, to say before certain of the place, how he had left his wife at home sick, and nobody with her but a little boy. There was an old man then present named Moustier, and a son in-law of his: who immediately upon this speech went away that night, with each of them a basket of cherries, and a green goose [young tender goose], and came about ten of the clock the next morning to Flameng’s house: where knocking, the woman looked out at the window, and asked who it was. They answered that her husband had sent her a green goose, and a basket or two of cherries, whereupon the door being opened to them by the boy, they clapped it too again, and cut his throat. The poor child struggling with them, the woman heard the noise, and stepped out into a gallery joining to her chamber, to see what it was, where perceiving a stream of blood in the yard, one of them told her that it was the blood of the goose: In the meantime the other ran up the stairs thinking to surprise her. She distrusting the truth of the matter, got back again into her chamber, bolted the door within

and cried out of the window for help saying there were thieves in her house. The two wretches, seeing they had failed of their purpose, would have got away, but going to unlock the gate, they broke the key in the lock. So having no means to escape, they went to hide themselves. The youngest climbed up into the funnel of a chimney, the old man covered himself into the bottom of a cellar. There-with the neighbors came running to the house, and breaking open the dore, found the boy lying dead in the yard, where-upon they sought up and down every corner for the murderers; he in the chimney was taken first, and the other after long search was found in the well of the cellar with nothing but his nose above water. They were straight away carried to prison, and shortly after arraigned and condemned to death. Being on the scaffold at the place of execution, the old man desired to speak with the smith’s widow, of whom mention was made at the beginning. When she came he asked her forgiveness, and told her it was he that killed the young woman by St Oportunes Church. This confession of his being committed to record, they were executed as they deserved. E. PASQVIER in the same book and Chapter.

Of giants.

In the year 1511, at an assembly of the states in Augsburg, the Emperor Maximilian I was presented with a man of an extraordinary height and size. This man could devour a whole sheep or calf in a few mouthfuls without any hesitation, whether it was roasted or raw. He claimed that it only sharpened his appetite. This incident was recorded by Surius in his Commentary of the memorable things of our time.

Joachim II elector of Brandenburg

Joachim II, Elector of Brandenburg, had a peasant in his court humorously called Little Michel, for he stood eight feet tall, which is considered quite tall in our time but small compared to giants from ancient times, like Goliath and others from Judea. This account was mentioned by Matthaeus Horst in his collection of the combat between David and Goliath.

I once saw a young maiden of giant-like stature who was taken from town to town as a prodigious sight. People gave her gifts as she was exhibited, and her mother, who accompanied her, received the offerings. She stayed in a rented chamber, allowing people to admire her. Curious, I inquired about her background and learned from both the maiden and her mother (who was of average height) that no one else in their family had extraordinary height. Until the age of twelve, the girl was quite small, but during a bout of quartan ague (a type of malaria) that lasted several months, she began to grow, and all her body parts proportionally increased in size. When I saw her, she was around twenty-five years old, and there was no disproportionate feature from head to foot. At this age, she had not yet experienced her monthly cycle, as nature seemed to regulate her bodily functions to sustain such a large body. She was healthy but not particularly attractive, with dark skin and a simple, sturdy build. Her vital energies, originally meant for an ordinary-sized body, had dispersed throughout her massive frame, making her movements heavy. As for the causes of her extraordinary growth due to the quartan ague, I will leave the medical experts to discuss and not engage in speculation. In summary, when a person between twelve and twenty years old undergoes significant growth due to illness, doubling in height compared to others, we must admit that nature's power is extraordinary and admirable.

This account is drawn from Marcellus Donatus, a learned physician, who discusses the causes of giant-like height as his profession requires.

King Louis XII

After the victory at the Battle of Lode, King Louis XII went to Milan, where I found a young man in the hospital. He was so tall that he couldn't stand upright, lacking sufficient nourishment to support his bulky body and powerful limbs. They had to lay him on two beds joined together to accommodate his length.

The Samogitians, living between Prussia and Livonia, are known for their great height. However, sometimes they produce children who are of small stature, while at other times, they give birth to exceptionally tall individuals.

In 1571, a giant was seen in Paris, and people rushed to catch a glimpse of him. He kept himself hidden in an inn, and one could only see him by paying for the opportunity. When people entered his chamber, they were amazed to find a man of remarkable height sitting in a chair. But their wonder grew when he stood up, and his head touched the chamber's high ceiling. He was believed to be a Polish or a Transylvanian. The giant had a wife who was also incredibly large and very fat, although much shorter than him. They had a young son who was expected to become almost as tall as his father.

At the West-Indies (discovered some hundred years since), many giants have been seen, as recorded by those who have written their histories. Near the Antarctic Pole, there are some found, standing at a height of ten or twelve feet [3-3.5m]. Similarly, on the Island of Sumatra (or Taprobane) in the East-Indies, such giants have been observed. The same author reported these accounts.

The "king" of China in 1555 Jiajing Emperor.

 

In his letters where he discusses the affairs of China, Melchior Nunez reports that in the chief city called Paguin, the porters are fifteen feet tall. In other letters written in the year 1555, he asserts that the King of China employs and feeds five hundred such men as archers in his guard. Simon Maiolus also mentions this in his Canicular days.

In a great temple in Valencia, a man's eye-tooth was seen, larger than a fist, as reported by Ludovicus Vives. Other travelers and historians have also mentioned seeing such large teeth, but since they likely belonged to people who lived many ages before, we won't dwell on this further.

In our time, among the archers of the deceased King of Navarre, there was a man from Béarn of such tall stature that he equaled his master's height when mounted on a great horse, surpassing the tallest men in the country by a head and shoulders. On the other hand, there was a man called "the great Smith" in Paris, who was very tall compared to many of average height.

Antonie Pigafet, a renowned traveller of his time, claimed to have seen a giant near the Antarctic pole whom other tall men did not reach above his navel. There were also accounts of individuals beyond the Strait of Magellan with necks a cubit long and the rest of their bodies proportionate to this extraordinary feature.

16th century top ten part two. Magicians, witches and wizards on places 11 to 21

 

11. Delrio describes a contest between two magicians in this way: one of them had kidnapped a fair and beautiful maiden and placed her behind him on a wooden horse, riding with her high up in the air. Meanwhile, the other magician was attending a noble feast in a castle in Burgundy. He sensed their flight from the castle and used his charms to compel the abductor to descend, presenting him before everyone in the castle courtyard, looking sad and unable to move, with the blushing maiden. However, the abductor was not helpless and secretly enchanted the magician who had bound him. While looking out from a high castle window into the courtyard, he caused a pair of large horns to sprout from the magician's head. The magician was unable to pull his head back between the strong iron bars, nor did he dare to jump from such a height. With the horns, he was forced to make an agreement with the other magician and release his captive, concealed within a hollow cloud. Likewise, the other magician allowed him to remove the horns and return to the feast, much to the amusement of the present company.

12. According to the same author, two magicians met at the Queen of England's court and made an agreement that they would unquestioningly obey each other in any matter. One of them commanded the other to stick his head out of a window, and as soon as he did, a large pair of stag horns appeared on his forehead, much to the amusement of the spectators who mocked and taunted him. Feeling humiliated and seeking revenge, when it was the other magician's turn to be obeyed, he drew the outline of a man on the wall with charcoal and ordered the first magician to stand beneath that image, demanding that the wall should make way and let the magician in. The first magician pleaded to be excused, but the other refused, and he was forced to stand beneath the drawing. Suddenly, the wall appeared to open, and the magician entered it, never to be seen again.

13. The author shares another story from C. Germanus, who claims it to be a well-known and undisputed truth. A notable conjurer performed a demonstration of his art by cutting off the head of an innkeeper's servant where he was staying. However, he found himself unable to reattach the head due to the presence of another conjurer who happened to be nearby. The conjurer pleaded with the second one not to hinder him, but the other paid no attention to the request. The first magician then caused a lily to spring up on the table and, after cutting off its head and flowers, the second magician suddenly fell to the ground without a head. The first magician then reattached the servant's head and quickly left, fearing being accused of his rival's murder.

14. Iamblichus, a notorious enchanter, sacrificed to the devil and was raised ten cubits off the ground, astonishing all those present who saw him seemingly walk in the air. As Evanippus testified, his garments changed strangely, as if they had been dipped in a thousand glorious colors.

 

15. Michael Sidecita, a great magician, was playing with others on the battlements of the great imperial palace in Constantinople, overlooking the water. He noticed a boat loaded with various earthen vessels, some plain and some painted in different colors. For amusement, he whispered a charm to himself and caused the boat's owner to rise from his seat and smash the fragile vessels with his oar until they were almost reduced to powder. The owner, perplexed by his actions, expressed great sorrow and explained that he did it because he saw a huge, ugly serpent approaching him, threatening his life until he destroyed his own merchandise. This magician lost his eyes later, as Emperor Manuel Komnenos punished him for other, more nefarious pranks.

16. Pythagoras, near Tarentum, saw an ox eating beans and instructed the herdsman to drive the beast away from that kind of grain. The herdsman laughed, saying that the ox wouldn't understand such admonition and that Pythagoras's advice would be better suited for his scholars in the school. Angered, Pythagoras muttered some words, and the ox immediately left its meal, ran to the city, and could never again be yoked. It behaved like a domesticated dog, taking food from anyone's hands. Pythagoras was later burned alive in the house of Milo the Crotonian.

17. In the year 1323, Frederick, Duke of Austria, was chosen as the Emperor against Lewis and was defeated in a major battle between Otinga and Molensdorf. Lewis sent him to be kept as a prisoner in a strong castle. Later, a magician arrived in Austria and promised to use his art and the assistance of spirits to free Frederick and bring him safely to Leopold, his brother, within an hour if he received a suitable reward. Frederick agreed, and the magician and Leopold performed conjurations in a circle, calling forth a spirit who was bound to obey the magician. The spirit appeared as a man and was commanded to free Frederick and take him to Leopold in Austria unharmed. However, the spirit insisted that Frederick had to willingly mount his horse with him. Frederick was hesitant and made the sign of the cross, causing the spirit and the horse to disappear. Frederick was eventually freed from prison and confirmed that the same incident had happened to him that day. But Leopold was so frightened by the spirit that he saw that he died shortly after.

 

18. Iovius praises the extraordinary intellect of Henricus Cornelius Agrippa, stating that he had a vast understanding and memory, comprehending all arts and sciences, their deepest secrets, and highest concepts. Despite his considerable knowledge, Agrippa died at a lowly and obscure inn in Lyon, cursed by many for being infamous and suspected of practicing necromancy, as he was always accompanied by a devil in the form of a black dog. In a moment of repentance before his death, Agrippa removed the collar from the dog's neck, which bore magical inscriptions, and exclaimed, "Abi perdita bestia, quae me perdidisti," meaning "Be gone, you wretched beast that has utterly undone me." From that day on, the familiar dog was never seen again, as it leaped into the Araris river and never resurfaced.

19. Clemens Romanus speaks of Simon Magus, stating that he created a man out of thin air, became invisible at will, animated statues, and stood unharmed amidst flames. He could also appear with two faces like Janus, transform himself into various animals, and fly in the air. He commanded a scythe to mow on its own, and it cut down ten times more than any other scythe. When Selene the Harlot was confined in a tower, thousands of people came to see her, surrounding the castle. Simon caused her face to appear at every window in the castle simultaneously. Anastasius Nicenus adds that he would appear as if made of gold or sometimes as a serpent or another creature. During feasts, he showed all kinds of specters, made dishes appear on the table without any visible servant, and caused many shadows to walk before him, which he claimed were the souls of deceased people.

20. Pasetes was known for many magical pranks, such as creating a sumptuous feast that would suddenly disappear at his will. He would also purchase things and pay for them, only to have the money returned to him afterward.

21. Iohannes Teutonicus, a canon of Halberstadht in Germany, performed numerous incredible feats of magic. He was transported by the devil in the guise of a black horse and was seen and heard celebrating Mass on the same Christmas day in Halberstadht, Mentz, and Collen.

Bodily strenght

There has been in our time, in the kingdom of Galicia one called, the Marshall Peter Pardo of Ribabadineira, who was at deadly enmity with a certain Bishop, the reason could not be known, yet at the mediation of certain friends, who sought to take up the matter, and make them friends, he consented to an interview. As they drew near together, this Marshall feigning that he had forgot all that was past, and that he would be friends with the Bishop hereafter, ran to embrace him. But it was a deadly embrace to the Bishop, for it was so rude locking him so fast in his arms, as he brused his sides, crushed his heart and entrails, so as he left him dead in the place: I have seen a man in the town of Ast, who in the presence of the Marquis of Pescara handed a pillar of marble three foot long, and one foot in diameter, the which he cast high into the air, then received it again in his arms, then lashed it up again, sometime after one fashion, some time after another, as easily as if he had been playing with a ball, or some such little thing. He brought from the shambles certain ox feet newly cut off, set a knife upon one of them, and with a blow of his fist cut it across in two pieces he took another ox-foot, and broke it against his forehead, as if it had been against a piece of marble, without hurting himself at all. In my presence he took another, and with his fist broke it into diverse small pieces. There was at Mantua one named Rodamas, a man of a little stature, but so strong, as he wreathed and broke with his hands a horseshoe, and a cable as big as a mans arme, as easily as if they had been small twine threads mounted upon a great horse, and leading another by the bridle, he would run a full Carire [gallop], and stop in the middle of his course, or when it liked him best.
SIMON MAIOLVS an Italian Bishop, in his Canicular dayes. Col. 4.

In the year 1582 in the months of May and June, at a solemn feast of the circumcision of Mehmet, the son of Murad Emperor of the Turks, was seen amongst many other active men, one among the rest most memorable a lusty man, and wonderfully strong, worthy to be compared with that most famous Milo of Crotonne, who for proof of his prodigious strength, lifted up a piece of wood that twelve men had much a do to raise from the earth, which he took and put upon his shoulders, where he caried it without any help of his hands and afterwards lying down flat, his shoulder and his thigh tied together, he bore upon his breast a great and weighty stone, that ten men had rowled thether, making but a jest of it. And which is a thing yet more wonderful, four men stood leaping with long pieces of wood upon his belly: Besides this he broke with his teeth and hands a horse-shoe, with such force, that one part remained between his teeth, and the rest in two pieces, in either hand one. At the third blow with his fist, he broke a plowshare: he licked the plowshare with his tongue, being taken red hot out of the fire he was covered with a great pile of stones, but he never stirred one iota, but remained firm and inviolable, as if he had been planted there. The same man, with his teeth only, saddled, bridled, and harness a horse, with many other wonders, which got him much money, and praise of all, by reason of his extraordinary force.
GEORGE LEBELSKI a Polander, in his Description of things done at Constantinople, at the Circumsition of the Sonne of AMVRATH, 1582.

Georg Baron von Frundsberg

Amongst the Germanies of our time, there are two recorded for strength: George Baron of Fronsberg, and John Baron of Schuartzbourg they easily broke horseshoes with their hands: Fronsberg never found man so strong, but he would remove him out of his place with the little finger of his right hand, he would stay a horse (how strong so ever) in his swiftest course with one hand. And would remove with his shoulder a cannon whether he list Schuartzbourg would wreath horseshoes, as if he had been some pliable substance.
Potocova, captain of the Casiques [Cossacks] of Poland (beheaded by the commandement of the late King Sterven) would break horseshoes, as easily as a man would tear a piece of paper.
George le Fevre (a learned German) writes, that in his time, in the yeare 1529. Lived at Meissen in Thuringia, one called Nicholas Klunher, provost of the great Church, that was so strong, as without cable or pully, or any other help, he fetched up out of a cellar a pipe of wine, carried it out of doors, and laid it on a cart. A canon of the same church called Ernest [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_von_Mansfeld], of the house of the Earles of Mansfelt, a strong and tall man, would needs one day wrestle with him: Nicolas took him up and lifted him into the air, and afterwards cast him against a door, with such force, that he broke it, notwithstanding that it was fast locked.

King CHARLES the IX taking pleasure in exercises of the body, being at Blois, caused a Breton (a man of little stature, but well set) to be sent for to the court, to wrestle body to body against all comers, many both great and small tried their strength with him, but he foiled them all, casting one over his head, another into the air, with his heels upwards, some a if they had been feathers, others like little stones he cast into the air, and so against the ground, it being impossible for any to cast him to the ground. Sometimes he would lie flat upon the ground, but who so ever came near him, was forced to make one leap or other, to the great contentment of the beholders. To conclude, another brave wrestler, would need buckle with him, but in the end the Breton having his adversary upon his knee, first lift him up into the air, and afterwards locked him so fast in his arms, as he crusht him sore and to end his conquest, he cast him with such violence against the earth, as he was lifted up, and caried half dead to his lodging, whereof he died shortly after. In the Histories of our Times.

(16th century top ten list) The most famous Magicians, Witches, and Wizards, and their mutual Contests; their Diabolical illusions and miserable ends.

Considering the notable pranks that have been played by these Disciples of the Devil, it might seem strange that there is no more hurt done in the World, did we not remember, that the power of their black Master himself is so limited, and restrained by a superior hand of goodness, that he cannot perform what he would.

1. Amongst the Witches and Sorcerers in Scotland, Agnes Sampson (commonly called the wise wife of Keith) was most remarkable: a woman not of the base and ignorant sort of Witches, but Matron-like grave, and settled in her answers. In her examination she declared, That she had a familiar spirit, who upon her call did appear in a visible form, and resolve her of any doubtful matter, especially concerning the life or death of persons lying sick and being asked what words she used when she called the spirit? she said her word was ”Holla Master”, and that he had learned her so to do: that her spirit had undertaken to make away the King; but failing in the performance, and challenged by her, confessed it was not in his power, speaking words she understood not, but as she did take them, the words were, ”Il est Homme de dieu” this was Anno 1591.

2. Wenceslaus, son to the Emperor Charles IV, marrying Sophia, the Duke of Bavaria his daughter; when the marriage was to be solemnised, the Duke knowing that his Son-in-law delighted much in such ridiculous shows and conjuring tricks, sent to Prague for a Waggon load of conjurers. While the most skilful amongst them were studying for some rare and unusual illusion, Wenceslaus his Magician called Zyto (who had sneaked into the crowd, and looked on amongst the rest) suddenly presents himself, having his mouth (as it seemed) cloven on both sides, and all open to his very ears, and so coming amongst them, he takes the Dukes chief conjurer and swallows him up with all that he had about him, saving his shoes because they seemed all dirty, and therefore he spit them a great way from him: which when he had done, and being not able to digest so great a morsel, he goes and empties himself in a great fat that stood full of water, voids the man downwards into it, and brings him in again all wet, and shows him to the company, who laughed to purpose at this pleasant jest, but the other companions would play no more. This story my Author cites from the History of Bohemia, written by Dubravius, the Bishop of Olmutz but this Zyto the Impostor was at last alive body and soul carried away by the Devil; which afterwards begat a care in Wenceslaus, to bethink himself of more serious and religious matters. It is also said of this Bohemian Conjurer, That he appeared now with one face, straight with another, and in different stature; sometimes he showed himself to the King in purple and silks at others in a sordid and base attire; when the King walked on the Land, he sometimes seemed to swim on the water to him; when the King was carried in a litter with horses, he seemed to follow him in another litter born up with cocks instead of horses. He played sundry pranks with such as sat at the table with the King, he changed their hands sometimes into the feet of an ox, at others into the hoofs of a horse, that they could not reach them to the dishes, to take any thing thence if they looked out of the window, he beautified their heads with horns. To show that he could command money at any time for his use, he caused of so many wisps of hay, thirty well fatted swine to appear, and sells them to a rich baker at what price he pleased, with this only condition, He should not suffer them to enter into any water: The baker unmindful of the condition, instead of his hogs found only so many wisps swimming upon the surface of the water: whereupon in a great chase he sought out for Zyto, and finding him sleeping all along upon a form, he pulls him by the one leg to awake him, and both the leg and thigh seemed to remain in his hand; at which astonished, he was glad to be content with his ill bargain.

3. Apollonius Tyanaeus was a Pythagorean Philosopher, and withal a great Magician: being at Rome in the presence of the Emperor Domitian, and by him commanded to be bound hand and foot, he suddenly disappeared and vanished out of their sight that were present, and was at the same time hurried as far as Puteoli, to keep a former appointment with some whom he had promised to meet there. He had the knowledge of things done at great distances, in the very time of their performance: The day and hour that Domitian was killed at Rome by Stephanus and other conspirators, the Philosopher was reading a public Lecture in the City of Ephesus, to a very great number of auditors; suddenly as one amazed, he made a stop in his discourse, and continued some space without speaking a word, and then cries out aloud, Courage Stephanus, strike the villain: thou hast stricken him, thou hast wounded him, thou hast slain him. News after came that the murder was acted the same day, and in that hour exactly.

4. There was within the memory of our fathers (saith Camerarius) John Faustus of Cundligen, a German, he had learned the Black Art at Krakow in Poland; he meeting one day at the table with some who had heard much of his magical tricks, was earnestly entreated by the company to show them some sport: he (overcome in the end by the importunity of his pot-companions, who were also well armed in the head) promised to show them whatsoever they would have: they with a general consent require him to bring into the place a wine laden with ripe grapes ready to be gathered; for they thought because it was in the month of December, Faustus could not show them that which was not: he condescended to them, saying, That forthwith before they stirred from the table, they should see the wine they desired, but upon this condition, That they should not speak a word, nor offer to rise from their places, but should all tarry till he bad them cut the grapes, and that whosoever should do otherwise, was in danger to lose his life: They having all promised to obey him, Faustus so charmed the eyes of these drunken revellers, that they saw (as it seemed to them) a marvellous goodly wine, and upon the same so many bunches of ripe grapes (extraordinary great and long) as there were men sitting at the table. Enflamed with the daintiness of so rare a thing, and being very dry with much drinking, every man takes his knife in his hand, looking when Faustus would give the word, and bid them cut the Clusters. But he having held them a while in suspense, about this vain piece of witchcraft, behold all the wine and the bunches of grapes were in the turn of a hand quite vanished away. And every one of these drunken companions thinking he had a cluster of grapes in his hand ready to cut off, was seen to hold his own nose with one hand, and the sharp Knife with the other to lop that off: so that if any of them had forgot the conjurers lesson, and had been never so little too forward, instead of cutting a bunch of grapes, he had whipped off his own nose. This Faustus, saith I. Wierus, was found dead by a bedside in a certain village within the Duchy of Württemberg, having his neck broken, and the house whererein he was, beaten down at midnight.

5. Fazelus writes, that a certain Sicilian called Lyodor, a most famous magician, got himself a great name in the City of Catania by his wonderful illusions; he seemed by the extraordinary working of his charms and spells to transform men into bruit beasts, and to bestow upon all things else such form and likeness as himself pleased and by general report he drew to him, as soon, and as easily, persons that were distant from thence many days journey, as those that were in the same place. He did also many injuries and shameful outrages to the citizens of Catania, so that they bewitched with a fearful and false opinion fell to worshipping of him; and when for his wicked deeds he was condemned to die, by virtue of his charms he escaped out of the hangman’s hands, causing himself to be carried in the air by Devils from Catania to Constantinople, and after that brought back again from thence into Siciliy. This made him admired of all the people, who thinking the Divine power was laid up in him, they ran into an execrable error, offering him Divine honours. But at last Leo Bishop of Catania inspired suddenly with the Spirit of God, in an open place and before all the people, laid hands upon this devilish magician, and caused him to be cast alive into a hot burning furnace, where he was consumed to ashes.

6. Bodinus reports that of late one of the Earles of Aspremont used to entertain with great magnificence all comers, who received great contentment by the delicate dainties, the curious services and great abundance of all things; but the men and horses were no sooner out of the House, but they were ready to starve with hunger and thirst.

7. There was a young man in Friburg, that by the help of a magician, hoped to enjoy a maid whom he earnestly loved; the Devil appeared to them in the likeness of the same maid, and the young man putting forth his hand without the enchanted circle to embrace her, was presently grasped of the wicked spirit, who crushed him against a wall, and made the pieces of him fly this way and that way, and afterwards cast the remnant of the dead body so torn in pieces at the conjurer, who therewith fell down in the place sore bruised, and not able to stir from thence, till some hearing a cry and noise ran to him, took him up, and carried him away half dead.

8. A German in our time (saith Camerarius) went to the wars in Italy, and put himself into the company of a soldier that was a conjurer, and by whom he suffered himself to be governed. One time this conjurer made him stand within a circle, fortified with I know not what characters. Here after many invocations and horrible menaces, there appeared at last, as it were much against his will, a spirit like a man sore frighted, wearing a hat all torn, with a great Toss-pot feather in it, having about him a torn and tattered sheet, looking like a dead corpse, that had been dried in the sun, and afterwards gnaw with worms; with a ghastly look, and his feet having other shape than a mans feet. As he thus stood the conjurer would know of him, if that Gouletta were taken by the Turks or not; the Spirit answered that he could not tell for the present, but that the day before the besieged had defended themselves valiantly. He also complained of the conjurer that by his horrible enchantments he did importune spirits too much, and having spoken of some other of his hard courses, craved a time to think upon that he was asked, and then vanished, leaving behind him such a terror and stink, that these curious inquisitors had like to have died in the place with fear. This German would afterwards often swear, that as often as the remembrance of this dreadful apparition together with his voice (which was small, hoarse, cut off, and choked as it were between every word) did but touch his mind never so little, he was ready to swooned with fear.

9. Bodinus mentions one Triscalinus, who in the presence of Charles the IX King of France, and divers others, caused the several links of a Gold-chain of a certain Noble man that stood a good distance off, to fly as it were one by one into his hand, and yet by and by the Chain was found whole and entire. He also caused a Priest that was going with his Breviarie under his arm, to believe that he carried a pack of cards, so that the Priest blushing threw away his Book; afterwards being convicted of many such things, as could not be done by any humane power, he at last confessed he had performed them by the Cooperation of the Devil.

10. In the year 876. the Emperor Louis then reigning, there was one Zedechias, by Religion a Jew, by profession a Physician, but indeed a Magician; he seemed in the presence of great persons to devour men whole, to eat up at once a man armed at all points, to swallow a wagon laden with hay, together with the horses and him that drove them; to cut off heads, hand and feet, and throw them dropping with blood into a great Bason, and yet to restore every man his own limb, the men remaining perfect, entire and without hurt. He represented huntings, races and military sports, such as jousts and tournaments in the air. In the midst of winter in the Emperor’s palace, he suddenly caused a most pleasant and delightful garden to appear, with all sorts of trees, plants, herbs and flowers, together with the singing of all sorts of Birds to be seen and heard.

A tragic love affair.

A miserable Rape. (note that rape in the 16th century could mean was commonly used to describe an act of seizing or carrying off a person, often by force. It was used in a broader sense to refer to abduction, kidnapping, or the act of taking someone against their will.)

At such time as the French made war in Italy, under the reign of Louis XII, a rich merchant of Milan, (having one only son called Galeas, about ten years olde) died, leaving his heir a very great estate, whom the Mother (a honourable and virtuous Gentlewoman) caused to be carefully brought up, and instructed in all honest and decent exercises. Being come to the age of eighteen years, he began on the one part; to understand the estate of his affairs, for that his mother would not marry any more and on the other, he was persuaded by sundry exhortations to contain himself in the way of virtue. Thereupon it happened, that there was a question for the recovery of a great sum of money due by a Gentleman of Venice, who trafficked much into the Levantine Seas. Galeas who had not gone far from his own house, intreated his Mother to give him leave to make his voyage to Venice, to take some order for this business, having a ready with fits for any thing. The Mother consented, and after many goodly admonitions, having given him a servant to accompany him, she suffered him to depart. Being come to Venice, the Gentleman that was his debtor, entertained him courteously, and after some days, conducted him to Padua, where his family was, that he might provide for the payment of his debt.
The Venetian had a daughter called Lucretia, about sixteen years old, of whom at the first sight Galeas fell in love. The night following, he had a fearful dream. It seemed unto him that a man unknown opened his breast and Lucretia’s, and then fed upon their hearts. Awaking suddenly all amazed, and crying out, he tells his servant his passion, whereon he had afterwards this dream. The servant who was a cunning bawd, made him an exposition of this dream, such as he knew to be fit for his Master’s humour, and wrought so cunningly, that soon after the young man and the young maid talked secretly together, Galeas promising Lucretia to take her away, and carry her to Milan, where when as they should come to riper age, they would marry. Their disordered desires did so blind and transport them, as contemning all honest and lawful means, which were easier, they ran headlong into the miseries which followed. Galeas using diverse treacherous practises, feigned to send his servant back to Milan, with divers letters of affaires, and he himself returned to Venice with the Gentleman, where he received money, and took order for all that for the which he had been sent by his mother. After three days, news were brought to this poor Gentleman of Venice, that they knew not what was become of his daughter Lucretia. But Galeas servant lurking at Milan, had stolen her away, and carried her to Milan, where he had hired a house, and left her in the guard of an olde woman, who was sometimes Galeas nurse, who seemed to weep with the Venetian who understanding that his wise remaining at Padua, grew desperate for the loss of her daughter, went thither to comfort her: leaving Galeas, who presently takes another way, saying, that he went to his mother, who had called him home.
Being come to Milan, after that he had given an account of their common affaires, he goes to Lucretia whom he entertains in his house so cunningly, as for three years together nothing was discovered. In the end Galeas had two crosse encounters. The one by Lucretia, who desired the performance of his promise, and the other by his Mother, who did solicit him to marry. He was wholly inclined to keep his word, and to marry Lucretia, but yet they were much troubled to discover it to his Mother, who seeing a great alteration in him since his return from Venice, did long muse upon her son’s excuses: who being grown strong, rich, and in the flower of his age, was desired of the best families of Milan, who would not have disdained his alliance. In the end she wrought so, as she blew up this mine, and discovered that her son entertained a very faire young maid, in that lodging, where his nurse had been placed: but whereas she should have proceeded freely, she took a wrong course, which brought forth terrible effects, Gods Justice using such means for the execution of his fearful decrees. Watching a fit opportunity, she sent certain men disguised into the house whereas Lucretia was: they put a gag in her mouth, and threaten her with death, if she cried out, and then they carry her secretly into a Monastery of women, where she is committed to safe keeping. Galeas returning late to this lodging, and not finding her: understood from his nurse what had chanced: wherewith he entered into a strange fury, and continued all the next day without eating any thing. His mother advertised thereof, went to him; and seeing him in the way to despair, she began to assure him that Lucretia was whereas she would give a good account of her, wishing him to take courage and be of good cheer. There upon he came somewhat to himself, having a promise that they would restore Lucretia again to him that night. In the meantime he imagines, that these disguised men had abused her with other strange furies wherewith choler had possessed him so as toward night Lucretia being restored to him, he gave her but a cold reception, then coming nearer to her, he said, there is no reason they should separate us any more, but that we should concur together in one death at which words he drew out his poignard, and stabbed her in such sort, as she fell down dead at his feet with the same poignard smoking with Lucretia’s blood, he strikes himself in the heart, and after some words he dyed. The same night they were both interred, upon a brute that they were dead of the plague, whom the contagion had presently choked. History of Italy.

Notable impostors part 1. The story of Martin Guerre.

 

Jean de Coras account the English translation is taken from

In the town of Artigules [Artigat], part of the diocese of Rieux, and under the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Toulouse, it happened that one Martin Guerre, having been married the space of ten or eleven years to Bertrande de Rois, afterward upon what discontent I know not between him and his father, forsook his house, and went and served under the Emperor Charles V, and King PHILIP his son, where he continued some dozen years, until at the taking of the town of Saint Quintins he lost a leg.
Now his wife having heard no tidings of him in eight years before, one named Arnold Tyllier [Arnaud du Tilh] some call him Arnold of Till) borne in the Country of Foix, who as many think was brought up in magic, took upon him to play the person of Martin Guerre, furthered therein, as well with his long absence, as also that in the lineaments of his face he somewhat resembled him. Presenting himself unto the woman, at the first she would not acknowledge him for her husband: but besides the conformity of body, he discovered so many secrets unto her that had past between them two, especially in the night after their marriage, yea even to the very apparel he had left behind him in a chest, at the time of his departure. Things which could not be known but by the right husband: that at length not only she, but the most part of his kins-folks and friends acknowledged him for Martin Guerre and in this opinion 4 years past without any contradiction. At the end whereof a soldier travelling that way told that Martin Guerre had lost a leg. Not long before this woman was entered into some suspicion of her supposed husband: by means whereof she took witness under hand before two notaries of the soldiers report. Which to say truly, was but only upon hearsay nevertheless it was the first foundation of this wretched Tyllier’s misfortune. For as it is hard for a liar not to vary, so the woman gathered divers speeches from him, that made her to doubt him and indeed solely cited by Peter Guerre, Martin’s uncle, she not only abandoned him, but sued him extraordinarily before the Seneschal of Rieux, where he was condemned to death by sentence, from the which he appealed to the Parliament of Toulouse, which was infinitely troubled about the strangeness of the case. For on the one side, Tyllier discovered all the particularities from point to point that had past between him and Bertrand before his going away, and the talk they had had the first night they lay together. As also how after they had been married some 7 or 8. years going into the country to one of their kinsfolk’s wedding, because they lacked room, and that therefore his wife was to lie with another woman, it was devised between them, that when the rest were asleep, he should come and lie with his wife. likewise how they had had a child, naming the Priest that baptised it, and the godfathers that were to it at the font all with such a resolution and boldness that the woman could not tell what to say adding the motives of his departure, and the travels he had sustained both in Spain and France.  

Which particularities were found afterwards to be true, by the report of Martin Guerre himself. That which makes this history more marvellous, was that this supposed husband had never conversed with the other. The presumptions that yet made for him were a double tooth, a nail growing into the flesh on the right hand, certain moles, and a red spot in one eye, even as Martin Guerre had and further in that he somewhat resembled his sisters, who were so besotted, that they vouched for him for their brother. On the other side that which made against him was that a soldier having called him Arnold by his name, he prayed him in his ear not to call him so but Martin Guerre. Besides the which she brought proof of an uncle of his, who seeing him in the way of perdition, came lamenting unto him, desiring him not to cast himself utterly away. But these proofs were not sufficient to annul the former, for to all objections that were made against him, he answered confidently, laying all the cause and plotting of his trouble on Peter Guerre his uncle, who he had threatened a little be∣fore, to make him yield an account of the guardianship that he had sometimes had of him. And for to give some colour to his saying, he desired that his wife might be sworn, to see whither she would acknowledge him for her right husband or no declaring that he would put his life or death upon her oath. Which so amazed her that she would not accept it. These circumstances so moved the judges that they committed the uncle and the niece to several prisons, to the end one should not prompt the other. Thinking the woman was drawn to make this accusation by the uncle, who was in danger of his person.

As the judges were in this suspense, it fortuned that the right Martin Guerre came home where at the first sight al his neighbours knew him, and therewithal being advertised of the prank the other had played him he went directly to Toulouse, where he made petition to be admitted as a party in the cause. Then were the judges more amazed than before: because that Arnold with an impudent boldness maintained that this was a conicatching [deception trickery] knave suborned by his adversaries. In this difference, the judges, for to be assured of the truth, sent for the uncle out of prison, and set Martin Guerre among a great many others apparelled in the same apparel as the counterfeit was, to see whither he would know him or no but presently he went and picked him out from the rest and with great tokens of joy and gladness welcomed him home. The like did Bertrande, craving pardon for the wrong she had unwittingly done him. Nevertheless her husband not taking her words in good payment, with a frowning countenance began to accuse her. How is it possible (said he) that thou shouldn’t lend consent to this abuse? for in mine uncle, and sisters, there may be some excuse. But none in the purity that is between the man and his wife. And in this anger he persevered a long time, notwithstanding any persuasion could be used to the contrary. Which drew the judges to think that it was a very pregnant presumption to approve him for the right husband. But yet that which held then in some doubt, was that they of the court examining Martin Guerre, whither ever he had received the sacrament of confirmation, he answered that he had, in the town of Pamiers, and named the time, the Bishop, his godfathers and godmothers. Whereunto Arnold separately made the like answers. Notwithstanding the which at last, by sentence in the month of September 1560. he was declared, attainted and convicted of the matter whereof he was accused, and therefore condemned to do penance in his shirt with a torch in his hand, first in open court, and afterward before the door of the chiefest Church in Artigat, and lastly to be hanged, and then his body to be burned until it were consumed to ashes. This judgement was given at Toulouse in the mid of September, and afterward executed: this wretched man having before he died acknowledged the truth of this history, which was written since and published by
Jean de Coras, a great lawyer, with certain Commentaries for to adore and beautify it with points of Lawe. E. PASQVIER in the 5. book, des Recherches de la France, Chap. 19

A notable thief

About the year 1503. there lived at Geneva a notable thief called Mortac, and in French Mortel. He did enchant men in such sort, as no man could prevent his thieving, nor punish him after the deed. Everyone knew he was a thief, and were as wary of him as they could. It was a common watchword in all the houses of the town, when as night came, for Masters and Mistresses to warn their servants to shut the doors for fear of Mortac, which grew to be an ordinary proverb, when as they doubted any one that had filching fingers. But there was neither door, lock, nor bar, that could keep him out, where he had a will to enter: yet he went not to all places, but only to those that look sorley on him, and seemed to distrust him, for he took a delight to steal, to be admired for his ability and cunning: neither did he care to gather much together, but con∣tented himself with a little, taking no more then would serve him for some 40 or 50 meals, with some companions which he carried up and down, feasting them at his charge. And there was no means to prevent his will for he did so enchant them of the house, as they lost their speech, all all means to resist him, making them like immovable stocks, when he entered into their houses. Before he would seize upon that which he pretended, he would first feed himself at his […]ase. The first thing he ever did was to light a candle, then to take the keys of the house yea from under the master and mistresses pillow, although they were awake not that he wanted keys for his fingers served him for his lock picks but in thus proceeding he would show his thievish authority. Then would he open the larder and the cellar, from whence he fetched meat and wine, covered the table, and eat and drunk at his leisure and pleasure, and yet not any one of the house did stir, either to hinder him, or to accompany him, neither to cry out, nor yet to speak to him, either good or bad. This done, he went and opened the goodman’s coffers, and took what money he thought good, to make good cheer with his minions, for 3 weeks or a month’s space in some tavern. The next day he and his band would camp where was best wine and the tavern keepers entertained this rabble very graciously. For this Mortac did no harm in those places where he usually frequented, and where the masters did make much of him. After they had made many good meals, when they came to reckon, he never brought any money but said to the host. Go and fetch thy due in the corner of such a chamber of thy house, the which perchance had not been frequented a month before. The which the host doing, he found the just sum, and not a farthing more or less. It was very strange, that the judges did not punish him. He was often put in prison, but the judges dared not exceed the law, the which did forbid them to condemn any one accused, before he had confessed the fact.

The strappado

 

And this Mortac was so constant in denying the truth, as it was impossible to draw any thing from his own mouth, whether it were that he felt no torments, or that he did contemn them. for he apprehended no more to be strained with a cord, then to dance, If they gave him a share strappado, he seemed to endure much, and would cry out: Let me down, and I will tell the truth. Being let down and untied, he would say to the governors, what will you have me say? Thereupon they asked him, who hath done this, or that and he mocking them, would repeat this question, saying: Doest thou know who hath done this or that? and then he would adde in scoffing manner, give me once more the strappado, for the love of the ladies, so as they were forced to let him alone. He committed infinite thefts, after the manner before mentioned: but he dyed not so shamefully as he deserved, yet most cruelly, for the plague having so seized upon his throat, as he could not speak, his mother (who tended him) fearing he would scape and be hanged afterwards, buried him alive. And so lived and died Mortac
Extracted out of the Annals of Geneva.

Edmund Robinson's witchcraft deposition.

Pendle hill

 

The Pendle Forest witches caused a stir throughout the kingdom, as they were summoned to London, where they were exhibited for large sums of money at the Fleet prison, and public plays were even performed about them. Now that the original examinations have come into the author's possession, it is requested that the reader, after the words on page 277, line 4, "[and had encouragement by the adjoining Magistrates]", will peruse the following depositions, namely:

The Examination of Edmund Robinson Son of Edmund Robinson of Pendle-Forest eleven years of age, taken at Padham [Padiham] before Richard Shutleworth and John Starkey Esquires, two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace within the County of Lancaster, the 10th day of February, 1633.

Who upon oath informed, being examined concerning the great meeting of the witches of Pendle, said that upon All Saints-day last past, he this Informer being with one Henry Parker a near door neighbour to him in Wheatley lane, desired the said Parker to give him leave to gather some bulloes [boughs, branches from a tree] which he did; In gathering whereof he saw two Greyhounds, viz. a black and a brown one came running over the next field towards him, he verily thinking the one of them to be Mr. Nutter’s, and the other to be Mr. Robinson’s, the said Gentlemen then having such like. And said, the said Greyhounds came to him and fawned on him, they having about their necks either of them a collar, unto each of which was tied a string: which collars (as this Informer affirmed) did shine like gold. And he thinking that some either of Mr. Nutters or Mr. Robinsons Family should have followed them; yet seeing nobody to follow them, he took the same greyhounds thinking to course with them. And presently a hare did rise very near before him. At the sight whereof he cried, loo, loo, loo: but the dogs would not run. Whereupon he being very angry took them, and with the strings that were about their collars, tied them to a little bush at the next hedge, and with a switch that he had in his hand he beat them. And instead of the black greyhound one Dickinson’s wife stood up, a Neighbour whom this Informer knew. And instead of the brown one a little boy, whom this informer knew not. At which sight this Informer being afraid, endeavoured to run away but being stayed by the Woman by Dickinson’s wife, she put her hand into her pocket, and pulled forth a piece of silver much like to a fair shilling, and offered to give him it to hold his tongue and not to tell which he refused, saying, nay thou art a witch. Whereupon she put her hand into her pocket again, and pulled out a thing like unto a bridle that jingled, which she put on the little boy’s head: which said boy stood up in the likeness of a white horse, and in the brown greyhound’s stead. Then immediately Dickinson’s Wife took this informer before her upon the said horse and carried him to a new house called Hoarstones being about a quarter of a mile off. Whither when they were come, there were divers persons about the door, and he saw divers others riding on horses of several colours towards the said house, who tied their horses to a hedge near to the said house. Which persons went into the said house, to the number of threescore or thereabouts, as this Informer thought, where they had a fire, and meat roasting in the said house, whereof a young woman (whom this informer knew not) gave him flesh and bread upon a trencher and drink in a glass, which after the first taste he refused and would have no more, but said, it was naught.

Hoarstones between Padiham and Wheatley lane

 

And presently after, seeing divers of the said company going into a barn near adjoining, he followed after them, and there he saw six of them kneeling, and pulling all six of them six several ropes, which were fastened or tied to the top of the barn. Presently after which pulling, there came into this informers sight flesh smoking, butter in lumps, and milk as it were flying from the said ropes. All which fell into basins which were placed under the said ropes. And after that these six had done, there came other six which did so likewise. And during all the time of their several pulling they made such ugly faces as scared this informer, so that he was glad to run out and steal homewards: who immediately finding they wanted one that was in their company, some of them ran after him near to a place in a highway called Boggard-hole, where he this informer met two horsemen. At the sight whereof the said persons left following of him. But the foremost of those persons that followed him, he knew to be one Loind's wife: which said wife together with one Dickinson’s wife, and one Jennet Davies he hath seen since at several times in a croft or close adjoining to his father’s house, which put him in great fear. And further this informer said, upon Thursday after New-years day last past, he saw the said Loind's Wife sitting upon a cross piece of wood being within the chimney of his father’s dwelling house: and he calling to her, said come down thou Loynd's Wife. And immediately the said Loynd's wife went up out of his sight. And further this informer said, that after he was come from the company aforesaid to his father’s house, being towards evening, his father asked him go and fetch home two cows to seal. And in the way in a field called the Ellers, he chanced to happen upon a boy, who began to quarrel with him, and they fought together, till the Informer had his ears and face made up very bloody by fighting, and looking down he saw the boy had a cloven foot. At which sight he being greatly frightened, came away from him to seek the cows. And in the way he saw a light like to a lantern towards which he made haste, supposing it to be carried by some of Mr. Robinsons people; but when he came to the place, he only found a woman standing

on a bridge, whom when he saw he knew her to be Loind's wife, and knowing her he turned back again: and immediately he met with the aforesaid boy, from whom he offered to run, which boy gave him a blow on the back that made him to cry, and further this informer saith, that when he was in the barn, he saw three women take six pictures from off the beam, in which pictures were many thorns or such like things sticked in them, and that Loynd's wife took one of the pictures down but the other two women that took down the rest he knew not. And being further asked what persons were at the aforesaid meeting, he nominated these persons following, viz. Dickensons wife, Henry Priestley’s wife, and his lad, Alice Hargreene widow, Jane Davies, William Davies, and the Wife of Henry Fackes, and her sons John and Miles, the Wife of Denneries, James Hargreene of Marsdead, Loynd's wife, one James his wife, Saunders his wife, and Saunders himself sicut credit, one Laurence his wife, one Saunder Pyn's wife of Barraford; one Holgate and his wife of Leonards of the west close.

Edmund Robinson of Pendle Father of the aforesaid Edmund Robinson Mason informed,

That upon All-Saints day last he sent his son the aforesaid informer to fetch home two cows to seal, and said that his son staying longer than he thought he should have done, he went to seek him, and in seeking of him heard him cry pitifully, and found him so affrighted and distracted, that he neither knew his father, nor did know where he was, and so continued very near a quarter of an hour before he came to himself. And he told this informer his father all the particular passages that are before declared in the said Robinson his Sons information.
Richard Shutleworth;
John Starkey.
FINIS.

Children brought up among wolves.

God repented that he had made man, said Moses, (Gen. 6.) And Philosophers books are full of complaints touching the malice of mans heart.
Plato in the 7th Book of his laws, says, that a child is the wildest beast, the unruliest and hardest to be tamed of all other and that it cannot be too closely looked after.
Aristotle also in the first book of his Politics confirms the same. Lions, bears, and other savage beasts are untractable but not so much as children left to themselves, and destitute of good direction.

It is reported, that a child of a village in the Landgraviate of Hesse, was lost through the recklessness of his father and mother, who sought him a long time after, but could not find him.
This village was full of trees and gardens, near by a forest wherein were a great number of wolves. Several years after, there was perceived among the wolves which came into the gardens to seek their prey, a creature not altogether like a wolf, nor nothing so nimble as they: which seen many and sundry times with great marvelling, by the country-folks, and thinking it was a beast of some other kind, they went and reported it to the governor of the place, who therewith acquainted the Landgrave. He having commanded that it should be hunted, and by some way or other taken alive the country-men used such means that they caught it, and lead it to the Landgraves court, going on four feet like a beast, and of a grim and terrible look. Being in the Prince's hall, it went and hid under a bench, where it began to howl and cry like a wolf. But some lineaments (though disfigured) of a humane face being discovered in it, the Prince commanded it to be brought up among men: until such time as it might be more exactly known what it was. Those which had it in charge so diligently employed themselves that the creature began to grow tame, to stand upright, and to go like other men, finally to speak distinctly and then (as far forth as ever his memory would permit him) he declared that he had lived in a cave among wolves, which used him very gently, and always gave him the better part of their prey.
M. DRESSERVS, in his booke of newe and ancient discipline.

Diverse French gentlemen can testify that they have seen a man, which was taken in the forrest of Compiegne, and brought to the late King, CHARLES the IX. Who went upon four feet like a beast, and ran swifter then any horse. He could not stand upright, had a very hard skin, was hairy almost all over, and in stead of speech used a fearful cry accompanied with so hideous a look and countenance, that there is no beast so ill-favoured to see to as that poor creature was, which had lived amongst the ravenous wolves, and learned of them to howl. Moreover with his teeth he strangled dogs, and dealt no better with men whensoever he met them. I could never know what become of him afterward.
EXTRACTED out of the Memorialls of our time.

Regarding the first history mentioned in Dresservs, it may be the same one presented by D. Philip Camerarius in his excellent Historical Meditations, Chapter 75.

The repetition being but short will not be offensive, I hope. It is a remarkable thing (as stated by Camerarius) if true, which is read in the additions to the History of Lambert of Schafnabourg as follows. The year 1544. a child was taken in the country of Hesse, who (as he himself hath since declared and was so verified) being but three years old was carried away and brought up by wolves. When they got any prey, they always brought the better part of it to the child which fed upon it. In winter when it was cold, they scraped a hole, which they trimmed with grass and leaves of trees, whereon they laid the child, and compassing him about, defended him from the injury of the time afterwards they made him go upon his hands and feet, and run along with them wherever they went, so that at length and through use he could leap and run as well as they. Being taken, he was taught by little and little to go only upon his feet. He oftentimes said, that if it had been in his choice, he would rather have lived among wolves, than men. He was brought to the Court of Henry Landgrave of Hesse for to be seen. In the same year befell the like case in the farm of Echtzel for a childe of twelve years olde, running amongst the wolves in the forest adjoining, was taken in the winter time by certain Gentlemen that hunted the wolves.

16th century punishments.

Exceeding strange cruelty punished.

 

The year year 1514. happened the horrible sedition and butchery of the Crusaders in Hungary. There was a general discontent amongst the people against the King and the chiefest of the realm, because they went not about to conquer those places again from the Turk (then very much entangled elsewhere) which he held in Hungary. But King Vladislaus loving his ease, little regarded it, and his nobles ruled him in such sort that he commanded them in nothing. Thereupon the pope’s legate published pardons for all those that would cross themselves to go war against the Turk. Suddenly there gathered together a wonderful company of thieves and robbers, from very corner of Hungary. And therewith all great multitudes of the commons (not able any longer to bear the insolence of the nobility, much less of the bishops) flocked from all parts to the camp. The King's negligence had given liberty to the intolerable dissoluteness and cruelty of the Lords over their subjects. This army of Commons having created them a general, in an instant dispersed themselves and committed a most horrible spoil almost all over Hungary: murdering al the Gentlemen and Bishops they could meet with all. The richest and those that were noble descended were impaled alive. This cruel rage continuing, the King began to stir, and by his command certain towns joining their forces to a number of the Nobility under the conduct of a Lord named Bornemisse, had some conflicts with those crusaders, wherein a great sort of them were slain, and many taken which were executed in the capital city of the realm. Finally John the son of Voivode Steven (that afterwards possessed himself of the kingdom) defeated them in a set battle, and having cut the most part of them in pieces, he took their leaders, whom he put to death with such strange torments as I have horror to remember it, for he caused the general of these peasants called George [György Dózsa], to be stripped naked, upon whose head the executioner set a crown of hot burning iron then he opened some of his veins, and made Lucatius [brother's name was actually Gregory, Lucatius could refer to Laurence Mészáros a Franciscan friar that took part in the rebellion] his brother drink the blood which issued from them. After that the chiefest of the peasants (who had been kept three days with∣out meat were brought forth, and forced to fall upon the body of George (yet breathing) with their teeth, and every one to tear away and eat a piece of it. In the midst of these horrible torments, George never cried; but only beseeched them to take pity of his brother Lucativs, whom he had forcibly drawn into that war. George being torn in pieces, his bowels were pulled out and cut into morsels, and some being boiled and the rest roasted, the prisoners were constrained to feed on them: which done all that remained with Lucatius were put to most horrible and languishing deaths. An example of greater cruelty can hardly be found since the world was a world. And no marvel if God hath punished the King and the Realm of Hungary for such strange and extraordinary cruelties, suffering the cruelest people of the North, namely the Turks, to make that spoil which they have and continually yet do there. Cruel chastisements are prepared for them that be cruel and inhumane. The following books shall represent a great number of other Histories of strange accidents and cruelties. IOACH: CVREVS in his Annales of Silesia, pag. 233.

During the Peasants war in Germany, in the year 1525. both before and since, a Gentleman their enemy, not content to have massacred a great number, even of those which had humbly craved pardon of him, confessing that they had been ill advised, he gloried in all companies of his brave exploits, adding thereunto a commendation of his thefts, having cut many good purses, and slain great store of cattle. Some months after this fury, he fell sick, and languished many days of an extreme pain in the reins of his back, the which thrust him into such despair, as he did not cease to curse and deny his Creator, (who is patient, just, and fearful in revenge,) until that both speech and life failed him. The severity of God’s Justice doth yet pursue his house: for soon after, his eldest son seeking to exalt the prowess and valour of his Father, who in the Peasants war had done wonders above mentioned, and excelled all his companions and wanting much of these valiant exploits in an open assembly at a banquet, a countryman, moved at this bravery, draws out his dagger, and strikes him dead upon the place. Some few days after, the plague falls into this cruel man’s house, and kills all that remained.

 

In the year 1577. in the beginning of September, the fire of the second troubles being kindled in France the President of Birague, (afterwards Chancellor and Cardinal) being at that time Governor of Lyon, there were then in Lyon, two brethren called Bougrats, goldsmiths by their professions, but very much disordered. As the liberty of those times did give means to many to glute their passions upon them whom they did malice the Bougrats laid hands upon a companion of theirs a dyer, upon pretext that he was of a contrary religion but it was to revenge themselves for a quarrel which they had formerly against him, and not ended to their liking. They take him and lead him to their dwelling house, towards the Abbey of Esnay, being out of the way, far from resort of people. They bind him fast hand and foot and then tie him by the neck unto the chimney, so as he did hang upright, not being able to sit nor lean any way. They leave him in this sort a whole day, threatening him with present death. At night they bring in men of their own sort and living to supper, to be spectators of this tragedy they are merry and make good cheer, and after supper they spend the time, some in playing at cards, others in pinch∣ing, pricking, and burning the nose of this poor prisoner, being bond hand and foot, and tied in the corner of the chimney. This continued until eleven of the clock at night, when their companions went away and retired. As for the Bougrats, without proceeding any further, they cast themselves clothed, with their swords by their sides, upon a bed, where they both fell presently asleep. Their lackey (who was in the corner of the chimney,) doth as the masters. The prisoner perceiving them all asleep, and remembering how they had threatened him, begins to think how he might escape, and having recommended himself to God, from whom only he attended help, he did st[…]iue in such sort, as he untied one hand, and then the other, afterwards his neck, and lastly his feet. Being thus loose, he was mightily perplexed what he should do. For if these people did awake, he was but a dead man, having no means to defend himself, they being armed, and he disarmed, and he alone against three for the lackey was grown great. If he had had a table cloth, a sheet or a covering, he might have slipped down by the window but in opening it, the noise might awake them, so as they might follow him and overtake him, the ways being strongly and very straightly guarded: In this grievous perplexity, he discovers, that the lackey (who slept in the other corner of the chimney) had a dagger at his girdle. He therefore resolves to kill those two brothers his enemies with this dagger.

But there was some difficulty and hazard in the taking of it, for that the lackey awaking would give the alarm, yet by the light of the fire, he comes softly unto him, and draws out his dagger, so quickly, and in such sort as the lackey stirred not. Hauing it, he suddenly went up into the chamber, and leaped upon the Bougrats, and stabbed either of them in the breast with this dagger. As he would have doubled his stroke, one of them leaped up and lays hold of an halberd which stood hard by, he runs after the dyer, who flies down the stairs apace to save himself, at the foot whereof this Bougrat fell, and presently died. The dyer mounts again, and finds the other dead in the chamber. He begins to threaten the lackey to kill him presently, if he made any noise: he took a candle, lead the lackey into the cellar, and forced him to eat, and to drink a glass of wine, then he binds him surely, doing him no other harm, barres the cellar door, comes up and takes that which was easiest to be transported, out of his enemies chamber. And at the break of day, the guards being raised, he leaves the house locked, and so gets out at Saint Sebastian’s gate, without any hinderance or stay, the which was to be admired, seeing they suffered none to go out but with a passport. The friends and companions of Bougrats, seeing them neither in the morning nor after dinner, grew into some doubt, and after notice given to the captain of the quarter, under whom these Bougrats had charge and command, with his consent, they broke open the door, and then drew forth the lackey, who cried for help in the cellar, and found the rest as we have said. The dyer lived some time after, and reported this history to many, and died elsewhere. Memoires of Lion

Storms and fires.

Thunder and lightning.

In the year 1562, being in Champagne and passing by a little village called Villeneufe [Villeneuve-Renneville-Chevigny] not far from Sens the arch-bishopric. A certain gentlemen and honourable personages told me a strange chance that happened to two young priests by thunder, who in harvest time coming from singing of mass for a rich man dead, after dinner retiring themselves. Were encountered with torment of the air accompanied by thunder and strange lightning. These two young men, recovering a little wood sat them down together under the trees. But they were killed by thunder where the next day after a diligent search for them, their kinsfolks found them.
They thought at first that they had but slept but it proved a perpetual sleep, stripping and searching them they could find neither hurt nor mark on their bodies but either of their hats were a little singed and in the middle of their was a spot of the size of a Carolus which is about the breadth of a groat.
Their poor bodies stunk wonderfully that none could endure them.
M. D. BEAVLIEV in his treatise of thunder and lightning.

About the year 1536 on a Sunday summer was kept an excessive and dissolute marriage in a village half a day’s journey from Poitiers the which had but one straight and long street. On this day and place about noon happened a strange and fearful thunder, a globe of fire and the greatness of a bowl fell in one of the corners of the town and ran along the street without hurting anybody to Saint George’s church, where it being entered made a strange spoil taking away the tombs of the dead ran to the great altar and spoiled a fair image of our lady holding her little child in her arms. Besides it tore away the pavement in diverse places of this church and broke a chain of iron that held up a crucifix cast it down and broke one arm of it afterwards grazing along the walls on the left hand without hurting them that were tolling the bells (more than for fear to run away) it mounted into the steeple (a very fair building) the which it burnt in such a sort that all the bells both great and small were melted. The metal falling upon the pavement of the church.
[I may have reason to return to this short account of ball lightning]

Traveling through Italy not far from Eugubio [Gubbio?] I saw thunder light upon two peasants riding upon asses killing both men and beasts upon the place they had a third man in their company who had the bones of one of his arms so broken, as one could not see whether there were any bone at all. This blow caused such pitiful griefs in this poor man and did so torment him as he desired not live.

I have seen two men (father and son) have their bodies so amazed and dead with thunder that I thought verily they had fallen into apoplexy. They remained seven days together without eating drinking, speaking or moving . In the end I caused them to be bloodlet giving them sharp glisters, rubbing and nourishing their bodies. So as in short time they recovered their former healths. Certain months before the death of Hipolito of Este, cardinal of Ferrara thunder fell upon his palace and entered into my chamber, light upon one of my servants swords hanging at the bedside melted the point of it making a little bullet of it and neither bore nor hurt the sheath.
MVRETVS in his Annotations vpon the 31. Chap. of the 2. booke, of Senecas naturall questions.

About the year 1560. Near to Beneuida [Beneixida?] a town in Spain two men walked together in the open fields, a strange tempest arose to the great astonishment of them both, the seeking by flight to get some cover and perceiving the tempest to increase cast themselves flat to the ground where they felt the tempest ready to lift them from the ground. In the end one of them perceiving the noise to cease lifted himself up the whirlwind having much amazed him those which perceived him coming and the other lying still went towards him but they found dead having his bones so broken as one might have writhed his arms and legs like a glove. All his body seeming nothing but flesh likewise his tongue was taken away and could not be found, notwithstanding that they made diligent search for it. They were diverse judgments upon this accident one said he was an ordinary swearer and blasphemer of the holy name of God and therefore was particularly chastised in the part that had most dishonoured his creator.
By such aforementioned whirlwind the town in Spain called Algadefie was wholly ruined the houses and buildings being laid flat to the ground.

The five and twenty of May 1566 about three o’clock in the afternoon a clap fell upon the castle of Meissen burnt the floor of a chamber, melted kettles and pans spoiling all the chambers entering and going out the windows, then down into the cellars to the great amazement of all, but hurt not any person. Three years after the nineteenth of July 1569 the thunder having roared from eight o’clock in the morning til four in the afternoon the bolt about one o’clock light upon the college church of the townhouse. Much cattle and some men were found dead in the ficildes [beans] amongst the other memorable accidents the lighting seized upon a country fellow who burnt all his body over three days after then died.

The mother of Jerome Fracastorius [Girolamo Fracastoro] an excellent philosopher, admirable poet and happy physician of our time. Having him in her arms giving him suck was struck with a thunderclap and killed without any touch or hurt to the little child, which was a presage of the glory that this excellent personage (who lived long after and then died of an apoplexy) should be crowned with.

Great fires

I do not enter at this present into the consideration of fires growing through the fury of war, having reserved the description thereof among the incredible miseries, caused by the wars in our [time]. In this Section we will only treat of fires proceeding from other means. The last of June about a hundred years since, towards night Krakow the capital city of Poland was set on fire, the which was in a manner all burnt. It was a wonderful ruin, by reason of many thousands of houses that were consumed to Ashes.
Maister Cromer, lib. 30. of the Historie of Poland.

In the year 1514 the 11th of January at night, fire took the Rialto [market area] at Venice, and first consumed the rich shops, which were very many. A Northerly wind blowing very vehemently, carried this fire to the next houses in an instant all was on fire: so as infinite buildings were ruined. Saint John’s Temple, the meat market, and all the buildings about it.
The shops of goldsmiths and changers were consumed. This fire continued all night, and could not be quenched, but in making place by the ruin of houses, and whole streets. Most part of the city was defaced by this accident. Since it hath been so redefined, beautified, and enlarged, as this loss, hath not been seen these many years.
P. IOVIVS, lib. 12. of his Histories.
The year 1518. in June, after a horrible eclipse of the sun, there followed at the same hour a terrible fire at Vienna in Austria, the which burnt a quarter of the city. The Emperor Maximillian the first be∣ing with his Court at Innsbruck, fell sick hearing of this news, and died of a continual fever.
CVSPINIAN in the life of the Emperours.

Fire in Delft, the Netherlands, in 1536.

In the year 1536. the 2nd of May, a gust of wind having scattered sparkles here and there, fire took in many houses at Delft, a great, fair, and famous town in Holland, so as in few hours the greatest part thereof was ruined, and had like to have been all consumed by this fire. But it had been so repaired since, as at this day it is one of the pleasantest and most delightful towns that can be seen. In this fire there happened a memorable accident. Men of credit did see that time a stork (whereof there are great numbers in Holland) which coming from her prey, discovered, that the fire had taken the nest, where her young ones were. She began to fall upon it, to see if she could preserve them from the fire: but for that they were yet unfeathered, and that there was no means to draw them forth, she fell upon them with her wings spread abroad, and covering her young ones, was so consumed to ashes with them.
What a reproach is this charitable bird to some fathers and mothers, which have no feeling of nature, nor of humanity, but only the face.
ANDR. IVNIVS in his de∣scription of Holland.

In the year 1539. betwixt June and July, upon a Thursday night, fire took at Constantinople, near to the prison appointed for criminal persons, in the shops of such as sold tallow, rosin, oil, and such like stuffs, so as it took hold of the prison which was barred very close, and there smothered seven hundred men. From thence it dispersed itself on every side through the city, and coming to another prison, they were constrained to let them forth, else they had all perished: for in a moment this prison was consumed to ashes. Then the fire advanced towards the wooden gate, where as the smith’s forges be, and such as deal in iron works: from thence it took hold of the Captain of the Janissaries house, and consumes all it meets in that quarter. Then it gets into the taverns street, and that being consumed, it does seize upon a great place called Tachral Cala, then it turned towards the copper smiths, and the glass houses environing all that quarter that is about the pain∣ted stoves. Then going on, it came to the place where the Jews dwelt, where it made a wonderful spoil, for that the houses stand very close. The flames flew to the gate of the fish market, and consumed all that it encountered betwixt that and the Jews street, whose houses were burnt to ashes. Neither was it possible by any means to quench this fire, so as it continued all night, and the next day, even unto the evening, having wasted and consumed the best part of the city, and suburbs thereof, unto the seashore.
The Annales of Turkie.

The explosion of the Zandpoort in Mechelen in the night of 6 to 7 August 1546,

In the year 1546. on Saturday the seventh of August, fire fell from heaven, upon Macklin [Mechelen] in Brabant, and fired a tower, where was a hundred barrels of powder. This tower was quite overthrown, with a piece of the town wall, of two hundred paces, near to the said tower. Then the fire of this powder took hold of the near places, and did so fire all the town, as if a great shower of rain had not fallen, this great city had been consumed to ashes. The next day they found so many dead carcasses, and so stinking, as they were forced with all speed to make great holes, and to bury them by dozens at a time. All the Sunday was spent in such burials. The number of the hurt exceeded a hundred and fifty. They found a woman with child smothered under certain ruins, who being speedily opened, her child was found breathing, and was baptised. A gentlewoman leaping out of her bed to open an window in her chamber, her head was cut off with a thunderbolt, so as it hung without life by a piece of the skin.

In a corner of a street, near unto Bernard’s Palace, a taverner called Croes, being gone into the cellar to draw beer for his guests, whereof some played at cards: the house in a moment was overthrown, the players among others were crushed in pieces, having the cards yet in their hands, when they drew them from under the ruins. No one in the house escaped but only the host, preserved by means of the vaulted cave into the which he was gone. Three days after this pitiful accident, there were many found in caves dead for hunger, others smothered, or fainted away, with the terror and insupportable stink of the lightning. They found a man and a woman that were carried away, and as it were tied fast betwixt the branches of a tree. The suburbs of Neckecspsis [Nekkerspoel] were in a manner all ruined. This city so pleasant and fair before, was all disfigured, and as it were torn in pieces her stately buildings spoiled and overthrown: among others, the Emperor’s palace, the Lady Marguerits, and that of Berque, were struck with lightning, and overthrown. The house of the Italian bankers was quite ruined: the post lodging spoiled, and the stable carried away with the horses. A part of the Augustines convent, and of other temples in the city were broken. The Count of Hocstrats house endured, and broke the shock of this storm, the which ceased when it had overthrown it. With out it nothing had been left standing, neither within the towne nor about it. There were found huge quarters of free stone cast by the Tempest, about six hundred paces from the Wall, to the great hurt of those places where they fell. It was a fearful tempest, a presage of the warre of Germanie, whether the Empe∣rour CHARLES the fift then marched.