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CHAP. III.
Of a Man turned into an Asse, and returned again into a man, by one of Bodin's Witches: S. Augustines opinion thereof.
IT happened in the City of Salamin, in the Kingdom of Cyprus (wherein is a good haven) that a ship loaden with Merchandize stayed there for a short space: In the mean time, many of the Soldiers and Marriners went to shoar, to provide fresh victuals; among which number, a certain English man, being a sturdy young fellow, went to a womans house, a little way out of the City, and not far from the Sea side, to see whether she had any egs to sell: who perceiving him to be a lusty young fellow, a stranger, and far from his Countrey (so as upon the losse of him there would be the less miss or inquiry) she consi∣dered with her self how to destroy him, and willed him to stay there a while, she went to fetch a few egs for him: but she tarryed long, so as the young man called unto her, desiring her to make haste, for he told her that the tide would be spent, and by that means the ship would be gone, and leave him behind: Howbeit, after some detracting of time, she brought him a few egs, willing him to return to her, if the ship were gone when he came. The young fellow returned towards the ship: but before he went abroad, he would needs eat an egge or twain to satisfie his hunger, and within short space he became dumb and out of his wits, as he afterwards said. When he would have entered into the ship, the Marriners beat him back with a cudgel, saying, What a murren lacks the Asse? Whither the Devil will this Asse? The Asse or young man, I cannot tell by which name I should tearm him, being many times repelled, and under-standing their words that called him Asse, considering that he could speak never a word, and yet could understand every body; he thought that he was bewitched by the woman, at whose house he was. And therefore, when by no means he could get into the boat, but was driven to tarry and see her departure; being also beaten from place to place, as an Asse, he remembred the Witches words, and the words of his own fellows that called him Asse, and returned to the Wiches house, in whose service he remained by the space of three years, doing nothing with his hands all that while, but carryed such burthens as she laid on his back; having only this comfort, that although he were reputed an Asse among strangers and beasts, yet that both this Witch, and all other witches knew him to be a man.
After three years were passed over, in a morning betimes he went to Town before his Dame; who upon some occasion, of like to make water, stayed a little behind: in the mean time, being near to a Church, he heard a little Sac∣caring bell ring, to the elevation to a morrow Mass, and not daring to go into the Church, least he should have been beaten and driven out with cudgels, in great devotion he fell down in the Church-yard, upon the knees of his hinder legs, and did lift his forefeet over his head, as the Priest doth hold the Sacra∣ment at the elevation. Which prodigious sight, when certain Merchants of Genua espyed, and with wonder beheld; anon cometh the Witch with a cudgel in her hand, beating forth the Asse. And because, as it hath been said, such kinds of Witchcrafts are very usual in those parts, the Merchants aforesaid made such means as both the Asse and Witch were attached by the Judge: And she being examined and set upon the rack, confessed the whole matter, and promised that if she might have liberty to go home, she would restore him to his old shape; and being dismissed, she did accordingly: so as, notwithstanding, they apprehended her again, and burned her, and the young man returned into his Countrey with a joyful and merry heart.