Satanical apparitions.

Demoniac examples of divers illusions of Satan.

 

Although there be many times some natural causes of frenzy or madness: yet is it without question, that the Devil entered into certain persons, and in them causes furies and torments, either with natural causes or without them: seeing such as are so diseased be often cured by remedies which are not natural. Many times also such spectacles are so many prodigies and predictions of things to come. Some do•…en years since, a woman in the country of Saxony, which could neither write nor read, being tormented of the Devil, and her fit being past, she talked both in Greek and Latin, of the war of Saxony that happened afterward, and pronounced words in Greek and Latin, the sense whereof was, that there would be great trouble upon earth, and sedition among the people. PH. MELANCHTHON in one of his Epistles.
Four years before that, there was a Maid in the Marquisate of Brandebourg, who pulling away the hairs from the fur of any ones garment that came before her, those hairs were presently turned into pieces of the country money, which this maid gnawed on with an horrible grating of her teeth. There were diverse that having snatched some of those pieces out of her hand, found them to be very money indeed, and do keep them still. This maid was very much tormented at times: but within a while after she was thoroughly cured, and ever since lived in good health. She was often-times prayed for, and never any other ceremony was used. The same.
I have heard, that in Italy there was a woman a very idiot, possessed of the Devil, who being demanded of Lazarus BONAMI a very learned personage, accompanied with his Scholars, which was the best verse in VIRGIL, suddenly answered.
Discite institiam moniti, and non temnere Diuos.
This said she, is the best and worthiest verse that ever VIRGIL made, get the gone, and come no more to tempt me. PH. MELANCHTHON in his epistles. G. PRVCER, in the 1. book of his Commentary of Divinations, Chap. 9. P. BOVISTAV, in 26. Chap. of his Prodigious Histories.
ANTHONY BENIVENIVS in the 8. Chap. of his book of the hidden causes of diseases, written, that he saw a young woman of the age of 1•…. years, whose hands bowed very strangely backwards, as soon as a certain pain took her in the bottom of her belly. At her fearful cries, her belly swelled so big, that one would have thought she had been gone 8. months with child: finally she lost her breath, and not able to continue in a place, she tumbled from one side of the bed to the other, putting her head many times between her legs, as if she would have plaid some tumbling trick. Then being questioned concerning that which had befallen her, she never remembered any such matter. But searching, saith he, the causes of this disease, we were of opinion that it proceeded from a suffocation of the Matrix, and from malignant vapours fuming upward, to the detriment of the heart and brain. Whereupon we endeavoured to ease her with medicines, but that serving to no purpose, she became more outrageous then before, and at last began to vomit long crooked Iron nailes, tagged of points, filled within with wax, and wound all about with hairs, and so great a portion of her breakfast, that it was not possible for any man whatsoever to swallow it whole. Hauing sundry times began such manner of vomiting in my presence, I mistrusted that she was possessed of an evil spirit, which charmed the eyes of the assistants, whilst he cast those things abroad. As presently thereupon it was verified by more apparent signs and proof: for afterward we heard her making predictions and doing other things, which surpassed all vehemency of sickness, yea all human understanding. I WIER in the 4. Booke of diabolical impostures, Chap. 6.
MEINOR CLATH, a Gentleman dwelling at Boutenbrouck, a Castle in the Duchy of Iuilliers, had a servant named WILLIAM, who 14. years together was tormented of the Devil. One day swelling mightily about the throat, and looking very pale, so that they were afraid he would have falne down: IVDITH his mistress a very honest Gentlewoman, gathering her folks together, began to call upon GOD: where-upon there suddenly issued out of this WILLIAMS mouth, amongst other trash, all the fore-part of a shepherd's breeches, Flint-stones, some whole and some broken, little bottoms of thread, a false head of hair, needles, a piece of a boys silk doublet, and a Peacocks feather. Being demanded concerning the cause of his sickness, he answered that he met with a woman hard by Camphuse, which blowed in his face from whence he thought it proceeded. But afterward when he was well, he confessed that this accusation was not true, and that he was induced by the Devil to say so. Furthermore, he added, that all those prodigious things came not out of his body, but were thrown against his mouth by the Devil whilst they saw him vomit. One day being more carefully looked unto, by reason they were afraid he would have done himself some mischief, his eyes remained so fast closed together, that it was impossible to open them. At length Gertrude, CLATHS eldest daughter, of some 12. years of age, coming unto him, exhorted him to pray to GOD, that it would please him to restore his sight again: whereupon WILLIAM desired her to pray, which she did, and her eyes were immediately opened, to the great amazement of all that were present. The Devil often persuaded him not to give ear either to his mistress or any other that troubled his head, with talking to him of GOD, who could not help him, seeing he was once dead, as he had heard it publicly preached. Another time striving to put his hand under the kitchenmaid's clothes, and she rating him for it by his name, he answered in a big voice; My name is not WILLIAM but Beelzebub: whereunto his mistress replied; Thinkest thou therefore that wee fear the? He in whom wee trust, is of far more infinite power and strength then thou art. Then CLATH incited with a holy zeal in the presence of all his house, commanded Satan, in the name of IESVS CHRIST, to come forth of him, reading the 11. Chapter of the Gospell of St. Luke, where mention is made of a dumb Devil cast out by the power of our Savior, as also of Beelzebub Prince of Devils. In the end WILLIAM began to take some rest, and slept till morning, like a man in a trance: then taking a little broth, and feeling himself through well, he was carried home to his friends, having first thanked his master and mistress, and desired GOD to recompense them for the pains they had taken with him during his affliction. After that he married, and had children, and was never tormented more of the Devil. I. WIER, in the book andc. before mentioned.
Upon the 18. day of March 1566. a very memorable matter happened in the town of Amsterdam in Holland, whereof Maister ADRIAN NICHOLAS Chancellor of Guilders, makes a public discourse, containing this which ensued. Some two months ago, or thereabout (saith he) thirty children in this Towne began to bee tormented after a strange manner, as though they had been lunatic or mad. By fits they threw themselves against the ground, and this torment lasted half an hour or an hour at the most. When they rose again, they never remembered any pain they had felt, nor any other thing they had done in their fit, but thought they had slept. The physicians to whom they had recourse, did them no good, because they were of opinion that their disease proceeded not from natural causes. Whereupon their Parents imagining they were bewitched, resorted unto Witches: but they prevailed as little with all their sorcery. Finally they repaired unto Exorcists, by reason they were persuaded their children were possessed, because upon the sudden they said many things which surpass their capacity and age. These Exorcists employed all their cunning, and lost their labour. During their exorcisms, the children vomited a great sort of Needles, pins, Thimbles, lumps of cloth, pieces of broken pots, glass, hair, and other such things: for all which not-with-standing, they were never the better, but at times fell into the same extremity again, to the great astonishment of all men for the rareness of so strange a spectacle. I. WIER in his 4. Booke, chap. 8.
The like happened at Rome, the year 1553. for in the Hospital of the Orphans, about seventy girls were possessed in one night, and continued in that estate about two years. CARDAN, in the 4. Booke de variatate, Chap. 176.
IOHN LANGIVS a very learned Physician written in the first Booke of his Epistles, that in the year 1539 this which follows happened at Fungestall, a Village in the Bishopric of Eichstätt verified by a number of good witnesses. VLRIC Nevsessar a labouring man dwelling in that Village, was miserably tormented with a pain in his hips. One day the surgeon having made an incision in the skin, drew out a great Iron nail: the pain abated not for all that, but contrarily so increased, that the poor man became desperate, and with a sharpe knife cut his own throat. As he was carrying forth to be buried, two surgeon in the presence of a great many people, opened his stomach, and there found some round pieces of wood, four steel knives, some very keene, and some dented like a saw, also two Iron barres of 9. inches long a piece: and a great lump of hair. I wonder how that Iron could be contained within the capacity of his stomach: but no question, it was a devise of the Devil, who cunningly supposed all those things for to make himself be feared. I. WIER in his 4. Booke, Chap. 9.
The torments where with the Devil afflicted certain Nuns at Wertet in the County of Horne, are marvellous and horrible. Which came first (as it is reported) by the means of a poor woman, who in the Lent time borrowed a quart of salt of the nuns, weighing three pounds or there-about, and paid them twice as much again, a little before Easter. After that they found little white pellets in their Dortor, like to round sugar plums, and salt in taste, whereof not-with-standing none of them did eat, nor knew not from whence they came. Shortly there-upon they heard a thing, which seemed to groan like a sick man: they likewise understood a voice, willing certain of the nuns to come to one of their Sisters that was sick: but there was no such matter when they came. If at any time they chanced to make water in their Chamber-pot, it was suddenly snatched away, so that they all betrayed their beds. They were often drawn about the house by the hels, and so tickled in the soles of their feet, that they swooned with laughing. Some had pieces of their flesh plucked away, and others had their legs, arms and face turned back-ward. Many of them being thus tormented, vomited a great quantity of black liquor, like unto ink, although they had eaten nothing in seven weeks before, but a little i•…yce of rapes, without bread, some were hoisted up in the air to the hight of a man, and presently thrown down against the ground. As certain of their friends came to the convent for to make merry with them who seemed to be almost well, on a suddenly some of them fell backward as they sate at table, quite deprived of speech and since: the rest lay all along as though they had bin dead, with their arms and legs bowed back-ward. One amongst them was hoisted up in the air, and albeit those that were present stove with all their might to hinder it, yet was she snatched up speight of their teethes, and then so thrown against the ground, that she seemed to be dead: but rising up again within a while after as if it had been out of a sound sleep, she went out of the refectory having no hurt. Some went upon their knees, as if they had no feet. Others climbed up to the top of trees, and came down again as lightly, as if they had been cats. This torment of the nuns continued three years openly known: but afterward it was kept close. I. WIER. lib. 4. Chap. 10.
With this same agrees that which happened to Saint Brigitts Nuns, in their Covent hard by Xante. Sometimes they skipped and bleated like shep, or roared in most horrible manner. Sometimes they were thrust out of their pews in the Church, or had their veils pulled of their heads: and many times their throats was so stopped, that they were not able to swallow any meat. This strange calamity endured the space of ten years in some of them. And it is reported that a young nun surprised with the love of a young man was cause thereof: for her parents having denied her him in marriage, the Devil taking the form of that young man upon him appeared unto her in her greatest flames, and counseled her to become a nun, as incontinently she did. Being shut up in the convent she grew as it were furious, and shewed every one strange and horrible sights. This inconvenient like a plague infected divers other nuns. The first being sequestered, abandoned herself to him that kept her, and had two Children by him. Thus Satan within and without the convent wrought his detestable effects. In the same booke and Chapter.
I have heard that the Devil for certain years together tormented the nuns of Hessymont at Nieumeghen. One day he entered with a whirlwind into their Dortor, where he began to play so melodiously on the lute and harp, that the nuns feet tickled to dance. Then he took the form of a dog, and leaped into one of their beds, it was suspected of incontinence. Other strange things happened there, as also in another convent hard by Colen about the year 1560. Where the Devil walked in the likeness of a dog, and hiding himself under the nun's clothes, played most filthy and shameful tricks. The like he did at Heinsberg in the Duchy of Cleves, under the figure of cats. In the same book and Chap.
ANTHONY SVCQVET, Knight of the order of the golden fleece, a personage of great reputation over all Flanders, and Counsellor in the privy council of Brabant beside three legitimate Children had a bastard, that took a wife at Bruges: Who a little after her marriage began to be pitifully tormented of the evil spirit, insomuch that whatsoever she was, even in the mid of Ladies and gentlewomen, she was suddenly carried away and drawn up and down the room, and many times, cast now into one corner, now into another, albeit those that were with her labored to hold her and keep her from it. But in these agitations she took but little harm in her body. Every one thought that this inconvenient was procured unto her by a wench whom her husband, (that was a proper gallant young man) had sometimes kept. Amidst these accidents she became with child, but ceased not for all that to bee tormented of the spirit. The time of her delivery come, there chanced to be but one woman in her company, who was presently sent to the mid-wife and other women for to come to her labor. In the meantime it seemed unto her that the wench (of whom I spake) came into the chamber, and served her in stead of a mid-wife: where with the poor gentle woman was so exceedingly frighted, that she fell into a swoon. Being come to herself again she felt that she was discharged of her burden: and yet no child appeared, whereat everybody was greatly amazed. The next day when she awaked she found a child made up and laid by her in the bed to the which she gave suck at two several times. Falling asleep again within a little while after, the child was taken from her side, and never seen more. The report went that certain scrolls and magical characters were found about the lock of the chamber door. This history was recounted unto me, by my brother-in-law a learned and virtuous gentleman who had received it from the gentlewoman's husband and brother, and from divers others that had visited her in her childbed.
I. WIER in his 3. booke Chap. 34.
Here we might report the monstrous and innumerable convulsions which happened to the nuns of Kentorp in the Country of March not far from Hammone. A little before their fit and during the same, they cast forth a stinking breath out of their mouths, which at times continued certain hours. In the mid of their pain some of them were of good memory, and both heard and knew those that were about them, although by reason of the convulsion of their tongues and parts, serving to respiration, they could not speak in their sit. Now some were tormented more then others, and some less. But this was common to them all, that as soon as one was tormented, at the only noise of that one the rest, separated in divers chambers, were also tormented. One of the oldest of the convent, and of the first that was afflicted, named Anne Lengon, discoursed the whole history unto me. When first of all she felt a pain in her left side, and that it was thought she was taken with the falling sickness, she was sent to the Monastery of Monherric: whereunto she consented through a certain devotion, and after she had drunk there in Saint Cornelius head, the report went, that she was much better then she had been which was found clean otherwise. For both she and the rest, being in worse state then before, sent to a cunning man, who certified them that they were all poisoned by their cooke, named Else Camense. The Devil taking hold on this occasion, began to torment them more then before, and which was worse, induced them to bite and beat one another, and to throw one another to the ground, which they did without any harm, and as easily as if they had been feathers, insomuch that they very well perceived their will was not in their own power. When they were kept from fighting and doing any other violence, then they tormented themselves in most grievous manner, and as soon as they were let alone, they fell to biting of one another, and yet never felt any hurt. If Anne spoke in her fit, it seemed to be done by means of some other that drew her breath in and out. She understood herself speaks but the speech ended, she remembered not a word of that she had spoken, unless it were repeated unto her again for then she remembered that she had pronounced it. At any time when she set herself to pray, incontinently she was molested by the evil spirit for that she could not, as willingly she would, either attentively prosecute her purpose, or move her tongue. But if she chanced, without thinking on it, to mutter a Pater noster, or an Aue Maria on her Beads, she was so fare from being hindered, that then she felt ease. Otherwise, she was altogether dull, and destitute of sense, discretion and judgement: so that she could never think assuredly on any thing whatsoever. If any good devote man that feared God, fortuned to confer with her, then it seemed the Devil would punish her for it. But contrary wise, if other women talked with her about trifling and ordinary matters, therein she took pleasure, and was eased by it. Now all these nuns thus tormented felt a pain, that got upward by little and little from the soles of their feet, which seemed to them to be scalded with hot seething water. And though they were all thus strangely afflicted, yet lost they not their appetite, but still received sustenance. The Devil spoke very often and much by the mouthes of the youngest which had their spirits troubled; unto whom he presented himself in the form of a black cat, and in the likeness of Else Kamense, or of her mother, or brother so as everyone thought, (but falsely) that those persons were the cause of such torments. Anne being resolved to return no more to the convent, from whence her parents had taken her, but to serve God devoutly, so as (with as more settled judgement), this calamity left her notwithstanding if she received but letters from the abbess, she felt a sewering through-out all her body, as if she should presently have fallen again into her former inconvenience. Not long after she married, and was never troubled with that calamity more. She told me also that Else Kamense was afflicted in the same manner as the rest were, namely with the falling sickness, and that many times she talked idly too whereupon the nuns were persuaded that she had bewitched herself, to the end she might not be suspected of that she had done, insomuch that they all set upon this maid, whom the cunning man had told them was a witch. The poor wench being carried before the Justice, at the first confessed that she was cause of that heavy spectacle, wrought by means of the mixture of certain poisons being at the place of execution, and ready to die, she protested that she had never used any poison, but only at times pronounced certain curses.
After that Else and her mother were burned, some of the inhabitants of Hammone, a town there by, began to be tormented of the evil spirit. The minister of the place got four or five of them into his house, for to instruct and fortify them against the impostures of the enemy. But when he had recited some articles of a Christian's belief, they began to mock the Minister, and to name certain women of the town, to whom they said they would go, mounted upon bucks, which should carry them thither. Incontinently one of them got him a stride upon a form, crying out that he was riding away. Another stepping up behind him, fell backward quite over and over, and lighted against the chamber door, which flying open, he tumbled from the top of the stairs down to the bottom, and had no hurt. About the same time, in a village named Houel, hard by the same town divers men were cruelly tormented of the evil spirit. I. WIER in booke 4. Chap. 11.

The nuns of the Covent of Nazareth at Cologne were tormented almost like those of Kantorp. Hauing been a long time diversely vexed by the Devil, much more in the year 1564. For they were laid along upon the ground as if it had been to have had the company of man: during which indignity their eyes remained closed, which afterwards they opened very shame fastly, and as if they had endured some grievous pain. A young wench named Gertrude, of 14. years of age, gave way to all this mischief. She had been often abused with those wanton apparitions in her bed, whereof her laughter made proof, although she had tried diverse means to remedy it, but all in vain. For as a fellows of hers lay on a pallet by her, only for to keep her from such apparitions, the poor wench grew afraid hearing the noise that was made in Gertrudes bed, of whom at length the Devil took possession, and began to afflict her with sundry sorts of convulsions. In her fit, she was like a blind body, uttering strange and inconstant speeches tending to despair. The like did divers others: and so this plague prevailed by little and little, and augmented much more, when these poor afflicted souls began to have recourse unto unlawful remedies. Now whilst the Devil tormented them thus, some of them were taken with the plague, and as long as they had it, the evil spirit never troubles them, through a singular goodness of God, who lymiteth unto Satan certain bounds, which he cannot pass (witness Job) in afflicting those who God hath delivered up unto him for a time in this world. The beginning of all this calamity proceeded from certain lewd youths, who having gotten acquaintance, by playing at stool-ball thereby with one two of those nuns, climbed over the walls, and enjoyed their loues. But afterwards leaving of that course, by reason they were deprived of the means to continue it, the Devil corrupted the fantasy of those miserable creatures, and entreated them as hath been declared.
I. WIER booke 1. Chap. 12.

To these may be added another nun of the Covent of Bosledue, hard by Saint Johns Church, named Judith, whom I have seen tormented of the Devil with strange convulsions for he so stopped her throat that she could not swallow any meat, and many times held her tongue in such sort, that he kept her from speaking: likewise I have heard her utter ridiculous and horrible speeches.
With her I will join another maid servant to a Nun of a great and noble house. A country fellow had promised her marriage but he fell in love with another: whereat she was so grieved, that being gone some half a mile from the Covent, she met the Devil in the likeness of a proper young man, who began to talk very familiarly with her, discovering unto her all the country fellow's secrets, with the speech he had used to his new love: and that to the end he might have made the wench fall into despair, and so drawn her to have made her self away. Being come to a little brook, he took the bottle of oil, which she carried, that she might the better pass over the bridge: and enticed her to go with him to a place that he named, which she refused, saying what would you have me do going along those marshes? Whereupon he vanished away, which so affrighted the poor maid that she fell into a swoon her mistress being advertised of it, sent a litter to fetch her to the covent. Where she lay a long time sick, and as it were deprived of sense being troubled in spirit after a strange manner, and divers times complained that she was miserably tormented of the Devil, who would have her and carry her away through the window. Afterward she was married to that country fellow, and recovered her former health: The same.

At Leuensteet, a village belonging to the Duke of Brunswick, there was a maid named Margaret Achils about twenty years old, dwelling with her sisters. Upon the second day of June, going to make clean a pair of shoes, she took one of her knives, that was some half a foot long: and as she was beginning to scrape them being set in a corner of the chamber, and very weak with an ague [acute fever], that had held her a long time, suddenly an old woman came in, who asked her whether she had her ague still, and how she felt herself in her sickness; and so without any farther talk departed. After the shoes were made clean, this maid let the knife fall into her lap, which she could not find again, although she had sought very diligently for it: whereat she was somewhat afraid, but fare more, when she perceived a black dog lying under the Table, whom she drove away, hoping to find her knife. The Dog being […] began to show his teeth, and grinning at her, got into the street and ran away. Presently whereupon this maid thought she felt I know not what, running down on the one side of her back, as it were some cold humor, and immediately she swooned, continuing so till the third day after, when she began to find a little ease, and to receive some sustenance. Now being demanded concerning the cause of her grief, she answered, that she was well assured the knife which fell into her lap was entered into her left side, in which place she felt a pain. And although her friends contradicted her, because they attributed this indisposition to a melancholy humor, and that she talked idly by reason of her sickness, long abstinence, and other accidents: yet ceased she not to persist in her continual plaints and tears, so that her head became very light, and sometimes she remained two days together without taking any thing, although they used both faire means and foul to draw her thereunto. Her fits were worse at sometimes then at other some, insomuch that she took but little rest, because of the continual pains that tormented her whereby she was constrained to go even double on a staff. And that which more augmented her grief and diminished her ease, was that she verily believed the knife was in her body, and yet everyone obstinately contradicted her in it, and propounded the impossibility thereof, imagining that her brain was distempered, considering nothing was seen that might induce them to such an opinion, save her incessant tears and complaints, wherein she continued the space of certain months, and to such time as there appeared on her left side a tumour of the size of an egg, like to an half moon, which increased or decreased according as the swelling waxed more or less. Then the poor wench began to say: You would not believe the knife was in my body till now: but ere long you shall see how it is fixed in my side. And indeed on the thirtieth day of June, namely about thirteen months after, she had first suffered this affliction, there issued such an abundance of matter out of the ulcer which was grown on that side, that the swelling began to assuage, and then the point of the knife appeared, which the maid would have pulled out, had she not bin staid by her friends, who sent for Duke Henry’s surgeon, being at that time resident in the Castle of Wolffbutel. The surgeon coming thither on the 4. day of July, desired the minister, to comfort, instruct, and encourage the maid, as also to observe her answers, because every one thought she was possessed. She consented to be ruled by the surgeon, although she was persuaded that present death would ensue. The surgeon perceiving the point of the knife which appeared in her left side, with his instruments drew it forth and it was found in all respects like to the other that was in her sheath, and very much used about the mid of the blade. Afterwards the ulcer was healed by the surgeon.
In the same booke, ch. 14. CARDAN writes that a certain laborer a friend of his and an honest man, declared unto him, how for many years together he was sick of an unknown disease: during the which, by means of certain charms, he had oftentimes vomited glass, nails, and haite [hot]: and although he was afterwards recovered by that means, yet he felt a great quantity of broken glass in his belly, which made a noise like a great many pieces of broken glass tied up together in a bag. Moreover he added how that noise very much troubled him, and that every eighteenth night, about seven of the clock, for eighteen years space, after he was well, he felt as many blows on his heart, as the clock stroke hours: which he endured not without great torment. In the same booke, Chap. 7.

But yet farther to shew the sleights and subtitles of Satan, who with efficacies of error turmoils such as the divine justice delivers up unto him, I will adde another history touching a child demoniac, written by D. HENRY COLEN of Bosledue, to AVGVSTINE HVN•…VS a Doctor of Lovaine the 3. day of March 1574. as followeth.

A child of our town foretells, that the wicked and tyrannical conspiracy of the rebels of the Low-countries shall now take an end. We fear notwithstanding least it be some devise of the evil spirit: albeit no man can discover any such matter yet. This child cries out and bids every one pray heartily and incessantly unto God he himself with hands heaved up, prays 3 times a day. He hath foretold marvellous things of our time, and all that he hath foretold is come to pass, not failing in any circumstance. Also he saith, that the Angel Gabriel hath revealed unto him, how all these Tragedies of Flanders shall end, before next Summer be half past: and how the King of Spaine shall come into the low-countries, and appease all by most happy means. He hath likewise foretold the very moment of time of the taking of Middelborough, and infinite other things come to pass according to his predictions. I (most unworthy) was also called to examine this child, and was wonderfully amazed to see so simple a thing, which can neither write nor read, answer so readily to all demands, and resolve the greatest difficulties could be propounded. And because Satan transfigures himself into an angel of light, I objected many and sundry questions unto him: but so far is it from an angel that abhors the crosse of our Lord, or the name of Jesus that contrariwise it hath taught the child a prayer, in substance containing these words:
O IESVS of Nazareth, which was crucified for vs, haue mercy upon vs: helpe vs poore sinners that we may returne againe unto the faith.
I. WIER, in 1. Booke, chap. 10. where he added this censure. The contrary event hath manifested, that this child was possessed of the Devil, who spake and prognosticated by his mouth. For the troubles of Flanders ended not the summer following, nor three years (we may say, nor five and twenty years) after, neither was, nor is there any news of the King of Spain’s coming into the Low-Countries. Now the spirit of God cannot fail nor err in the least point that is. Therefore one may perceive who that Gabriel was, that could declare the very moment of time, of the taking of Middelborough in Zealand: to wit, the Devil, who being a spirit, transports himself in an instant from one place to another, by reason of his incomprehensible swiftness. He it was that moved this child to the prayers before mentioned, the better to colour his impostures and lyes. For so he hath accustomed to mingle truth with falsehood. As Doctor Colen may acknowledge, if he be still alive, in the beginning of this new age 1600. If he be departed this world, I leave the decision thereof to his companions.
The years 1594. in the Marquisate of Brandenburg, there were seen above eight score persons together demoniacs, which uttered marvellous things, and both knew and named such as they had never seen amongst those persons they noted some which were dead long before, that walked crying out unto everyone to repent, to leave off all dissoluteness in apparel, and. and denounced God’s judgments, affirming that they were commanded by the Lord to preach amendment of life, whereby sinners might be brought again to the right way. These demoniacs raged exceedingly wherever they came, and belched forth infinite out-rages against the Ministers of the Church, talking of nothing but of apparitions of good and evil angels. The Devil shewed himself in divers shapes, and in the sermon time flew over the church with a terrible noise and cry: strewing points and pieces of gold and silver all along as he went. IAQVES HORST Doctor of Physick, in his History of the Silesian Childes golden tooth.
Let us add that which a certain Frisian presents, in his collection of Histories, entitled Mercurius Gallobelgicus, the year 1594. in this manner. I will shut up this discourse with the words of IAQVES COLER a Doctor and Preacher in the Marquisate of Brandenburg, who hath published a Booke of it in Dutch. After he had exhorted the Germans to give over all dissoluteness, excess and disorder, principally in apparel: then all oaths, execrations and imprecations: finally he condemned the wicked customs of his country, where when any one will maintain this or that to be true, presently he saith. If it be not so, such, and such a Devil take me. Or when one will wish another ill, he prays that an hundredth tun of Devils may enter into his belly, and there remain so well closed, that not one of them may get out  again. From thence proceeds it (saith he) that now at Spandau, Friberg, and other towns in the Marquisate of Brandenburg we heard the Devil’s cry: You have called for us a long time, wherefore we were forced to come, and lo here we are.: you have made no account of your superiors, but we will obey you, whether you will or no. We preach amendment of life unto you, although it be against our wills. As the evil spirit was about to make a maid of Spandau whom he possessed, to drown herself, and certain good folks labored to hinder it, alleging the History of the Gadarens, into whose Swine the Devils could not enter, but by the permission of Jesus Christ the Devil stretching forth the […]and began to say: You are those swine, and because there is nothing but gluttony and drunkennesses amongst you, you are all in my power. Others being demanded, why they tormented God’s creatures, answered: The Lord commands us to do it, you will neither hear, believe, nor pray therefore we are your tormentors. Doctor Horst shows diverse reasons, how that resurrection of the dead above mentioned, was diabolical, and such another as the apparition of a false SAMVBL raised by the witch, mentioned in holy writing, and in all the rest doth prove, that in all these accidents they discover the imposture and fury of Satan, the fearful executioner of God’s just judgement.