CHAP. XV.
Of vain Apparitions: how people have been brought to fear Bugs; which is partly re∣formed by the Preaching of the Gospel: the true effect of Christs Miracles.
BUt certainly, some one knave in a white sheet hath cosened and abused many thousands that way; specially when Robin Good-fellow kept such a coil in the Countrey. But you shall understand, that these Bugs specially are spyed and feared of sick folk, children, women, and cowards, which through weakness of mind and body, are shaken with vain dreams and continual fear. The Scythians, being a stout and a warlike Nation (as divers writers report) never see any vain sights, or spirits. It is a common saying, A Lyon feareth no Bugs. But in our childhood, our Mothers maids have so terrified us with an ugly De∣vil having horns on his head, fire in his mouth, and a tail in his breech, eyes like a bason, fangs like a Dog, claws like a Bear, askin like a Niger, and a voyce roaring like a Lyon, whereby we start and are afraid when we hear one cry Bough: and they have so frayed us with Bul-beggers, Spirits, Witches, Ur∣chens, Elves, Hags, Fairies, Satyrs, Pans, Faunes, Sylens, Kit with the canstick, Tritons, Centaures, Dwarfes, Gyants, Imps, Calcars, Conjurers, Nymphes, Changelings, Incubus, Robin Goodfellow, the Spoorn, the Mare, the man in the Oak, the Hell-wain, the firedrake, the Puckle, Tom-thombe, Hob-goblin, Tom-tumbler, Boneless, and such other Bugs, that we are afraid of our own shadows: insomuch that some never fear the Devil, but in a dark night; and then a polled Sheep is a perilous beast, and many times is taken for our Fathers soul, specially in a Churchyard, where a right hardy man heretofore scant durst passe by night, but his hair would stand upright. For right grave writers report, that spirits most often and specially take the shape of women appearing to Monks, &c. and of Beasts, Dogs, Swine, Horses, Goats, Cats, Hares; of Fowles, as Crowes, night Owles, and shreek Owles; but they delight most in the likeness of Snakes and Dragons. Well, thanks be to God, this wretched and cowardly infidelity, since the Preaching of the Gospel, is in part forgotten: and doubtless, the rest of those illusions will in short time (by Gods grace) be detected and vanish away.
Divers writers report, that in Germany, since Luthers time, Spirits and De∣vils have not personally appeared, as in times past they were wont to do. This argument is taken in hand or the ancient Fathers, to prove the determination and ceasing of Oracles. For in times past (saith Athanasius) Devils in vain shapes did intricate men with their illusions, hiding themselves in waters, stones, woods, &c. But now, that the word of God hath appeared, those sights, Spirits and mockeries of Images are ceased. Truly, if all such Oracles, as that of Apollo, &c. (before the coming of Christ) had been true, and done according to the report, which hath been brought through divers ages, and from far Countries unto us,