The arraignment of slander periury blasphemy, and other malicious sinnes shewing sundry examples of Gods iudgements against the ofenders. As well by the testimony of the Scriptures, and of the fathers of the primatiue church as likewise out of the reportes of Sir Edward Dier, Sir Edward Cooke, and other famous lawiers of this kingdome. Published by Sir William Vaughan knight.

LINEAMENT. X

An example translated out of Monsieur du Ches••e his pourtrait de la sante, declaring how one Monsieur Poena, a Phisition of Paris, co••∣iured two spirits out of a possessed mans body.

MOnsieur Uignier a Phisitian of Cham∣paine, and the Kings Chonicler, had a cou∣sin * 1.1 of his that was a person well descen∣ded, and also learned, afflicted of such a spirituall sickenesse, that he imagined and firmely beleeued, that a certaine fellow of his acquaintance newly come from Italy, had giuen him, and put within his body two spirits, which spake vnto him and taught him many things, which also threat∣ned him eyther to cause his death, or else to vexe him with some great mischiefe. After that he had discouered his malady to the said Vignier, he presently knew that it was a sickenesse of the spirit, and for that he loued very well this kinseman of his, he deuised and aduised with himselfe how to helpe him. For this purpose both of them resolued to goe together to Paris: and there they addressed themselues vnto Monsieur Poena, who imme∣diatly vnderstood what sickenesse it was, to wit, that the patients imaginatiue faculty was hurt and depraued, and also counselled them that they should looke for spirituall

remedy for that spirituall sickenesse; which likewise the said Poena promised that he would endeuour to get for his recouery. Hereof the diseased partie was very glad, and pressed on him very hard, that he should hasten him, telling him withall, that his said spirits continually mena∣ced to kill him, or to torment him with some grieuous sickenesse. Here the Phisitian was faine to vse strata∣gems and subtilties to take away these wicked impressi∣ons out of the sicke-mans phantasie, in regard that the party being learned, and very speculatiue (as all melan∣cholike men are) would comprehend by reason the man∣ner of his cure, which after many circumstances in briefe was thus: The Phisitian tooke vpon him to fashion in a little booke certaine characters and names of spirits, and to make as though he must coniure vp a stronger spirit then those which were in his body; by whose forcible means the lesser spirits should be chased therehence. The remedie was plausible to the sicke man. In the meane that all things were accommodating and making readie for the said exploit, the Phisitian ministred vnto him pur∣gations to tame and moderate the humour of melan∣cholie.

Atlength the time approached that this feat should be put in practise. There was a great Hall chosen out for the nonce, wherein this saigned coniuration should be made: for the effecting whereof, an honest Chirurgion was appointed to act the person of the pretended spirit. All things thus prepared together with the Circle and o∣ther ceremonies, which Negromancers vse in such a case, they came to the place, where the possessed party was seated in the midst of the Circle: and to blindfolde him the more, he was encouraged not to be astonished at what accident soeuer that should befall. After some counterfeit whispering, crossing, and inuocations, the Spirit of the South was called vp, who appeared not. Then the Spirit of the East was called, who likewise

came not. In the end at the third call the Chirurgeon that lay hid in a certaine place there for the nonce began to appeare in this hall, that was somewhat darke. And then the Patient was againe comforted and counselled more then before, not to be affraid, who answered, that he was resolued not to feare at all. So earnestly did he attend and repose confidence and hope in this illusion. At last the matter passed so finely and luckily, that the poore Patient beleeued that this spirit, which he tooke to be no fained one, had power to ouercome and chase out of his body the other two spirits, which he imagined to be there inclosed. So that this plot serued to strengthen his imagination, and to weaken his former false perswasi∣on. This was the principall remedy of his malady. Ne∣uerthelesse the said Monsieur Poena desisted not for all that during the space of a moneth after, to minister vnto him certaine medicinable things to purge and asswage melancholy; insomuch that at the moneths end being throughly purged and cured of his sickenesse, the party acknowledged himselfe abused, and was very much asha∣med of this false imagination, which for a long time had possessed and troubled his spirit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sect. 1. du Pourtr de la sante. cap∣vlt.