Strange potency and power of Satan.

Master Theodore son to Cornelius sometimes consul of Gouda in Holland, reported this history to me that follows, avouching it to be very true. In a village called Ostbrouch [likely Oosterbeek] near to Utrecht there dwelt a widow, who had a servant whom she employed about necessary affaires of the house. He having observed, (as servants are often curious) that this widow went late in the night, when all were at rest, into one certain place in the stable, stretching forth her hands upon the rack, whereas they usually put hay for their cattle. He wondering what it meant, resolved to do as much without the privity of his mistress, and to try the effect of this ceremony. Soon after, following his mistress who was gone into the stable, he goes and takes hold of the rack. Suddenly he feels himself to be lifted up into the air, and to be carried into a cave underground in a little town called Vuich [likely Vught], whereas he found a Synagogue of Sorcerers, devising together of their witchcrafts. His mistress amazed at this unexpected presence, asked him how he came into that company to whom he reported what had happened. She began to be in a great rage against him, fearing least those mighty assemblies should be discovered by that means, yet she consulted with her companions what was to be done in that difficulty. In the end they concluded to entertain this new guest friendly, forcing a promise from him to keep silence, and to swear not to discover the secrets which then had been made known unto him, beyond his hope or merit. 

This poor man promised wonders, and flatters everyone and least he should be more toughly handled, he makes a show to be admitted of that synagogue, if it pleased them.
In these consultations the time was spent, and the hour of departure approached. Then they make an other consultation at the instance of the mistress whether for the preservation of many, it were not expedient to cut the servant’s throat, or to carry him back.
By a common consent they inclined to the milder course, to carry him back again, seeing he had taken his oath not to reveal anything. The mistress undertakes this charge, who (after protestations made) takes him upon her back, promising to carry him back to her house. But having made part of the way, they discovered a lake full of reeds. The mistress meeting with this occasion, and fearing still that this young man (repenting himself that he had been admitted to these hellish feasts) would discover what he had seen: shakes him violently from her shoulders, hoping (as it was likely) that he should lose his life, as well through the violence of his high fall, as that he should be buried in the mud of the lake.
But as God is infinitely merciful, desiring not the death of a sinner but that he should convert and live he did limit the furious designs of this sorceress, and would not suffer this young man to be drowned, so as his fall was not mortal, for tumbling down, he met with a thick tuft of reeds, which did abate the violence of his fall: yet he was very sore hurt, having no means to help himself but with […] is tongue, being all the rest of the night in extreme pain in this muddy couch. Day being come, in lamenting and crying out, it was the will of God that some passengers being amazed at this extraordinary clamor, after they had sought diligently, found this poor body half dead, having both his knees out of joint. They inquire whence he was, and how he came in that case: and hearing the whole discourse, after they had drawn him out of that miserable place they caused him to be transported in a cart to Utrecht. The Burgomaster, called John of Colombourg [Johan de Colenbergh] (a virtuous gentleman) ravished with admiration for so strange an accident, made a diligent inquiry of the matter, and caused the sorceress to be apprehended and committed to prison, where she confessed all that had past voluntarily and without torture, beseeching him to take some pity of her. But by a general consent this woman was condemned and publicly burnt. The servant laid long before he was cured of his hurts, especially of his thighs, being punished for his detestable curiosity.
Maister BAVDOVIN de ROVSEY in his medicinall Epistles. Epist. 50.

Erasmus in his Epistles upon the report of Henry of Glaris a learned man in our time, writes that the 10th of April 1533. in an inn at Sciltac a town in Switzerland, distant some eight good leagues from Fribourg, as night approached they heard a certain hissing, which seemed to come out of one of the chambers. The master of the house suspecting there were some thieves did run to that place. Whereas he found not any man, but he still herd the same voice in the garret, and from thence on the top of the chimney. Then presuming it should be some evil spirit, he sent for two priests to conjure it, who having begun their exorcisms, the spirit answered them, that he cared not for them, for the one was a whore hunter, and both were thieves, so as in despite of all they could doe, he would burn the town, as he had undertaken. Some thought it was for jealousy which he had conceived against the hosts son and the maid of the house, of whom he had had carnal knowledge, by the space of fourteen years, as she confessed afterwards at her death. Having therefore raised this creature in an instant, to the top of the chimney, he delivered fire into her hand, commanding her to fire the town, the which she did, so as in less then an hour all was consumed to ashes, neither could water or vinegar quench this fire. This was a real thing, and the fire also which the Devil brought, was real and material, but of an other nature then the com∣mon fire, or any artificial that can be made. And yet it came not from above, as the fire of lightning, the which burnt little, if it fall not by chance among gunpowder, as in the year 1500. it happened at Paris in the tower of Billy: and since at Macklin in Brabant and at Venice.
Blaise Viginere in his treaty of Comets.

Explosion in Mechelen. From Augsburg book of miracles.

In the year 1546, in the month of August, the fire from the sky fell upon or struck a

tower or building in Mechelen in the Netherlands, in which there was more than four hundred tons of gunpowder. And exactly half the city burned down, which is also a special sign from God.

I will add to this history what Philip Camerarius reports, who said that the fire fell here and there upon houses like fiery bullets, and when that anyone did run to help to quench his neighbours house being on fire, they called him back presently to save his own. They had great difficulty to save a castle of free stone, seated a good way from the town. I have heard the particularities of this terrible visitation, from the mouth of the curate of the place, and other inhabitants of good credit, who had been spectators of all.
The Curate told me, that this evil and cruel spirit, did counterfeit the singing and melodious tunes of diverse birds, and many that were in my company did wonder with me, to see the Curate have as it were a crown about his long hair, which he carried after the ancient manner, all of divers colours: saying, that it had been done by this spirit, which had cast the hoop of a hogshead at his head. He added moreover, that the same spirit did ask him one day with some others, if they had never heard a raven croak? That thereupon this enemy, made so horrible a noise, as all that were present were so amazed, as if it had continued any longer, they would have died for fear. Moreover, this old man did affirm, (but not without blushing) that often∣times this enemy of mans salvation, laid open to himself and to others, that did accompany him, the secret sins they had committed, so exactly, as all were forced to leave the place, and retire themselves to their houses ashamed.
In his Historicall meditations, Cha. 75.

This text can contain outdated cultural depictions and possible offensive/racist language. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong now however they are presented here as a historical record.