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CHAP. IX.
How melancholy abuseth old women, and of the effects thereof by sundry ex∣amples.
IF any man advisedly mark their words, actions, cogitations, and gestures, he shall perceive that melancholy abounding in their head, and occupy∣ing their brain, hath deprived, or rather depraved their judgements and all their senses: I mean not of cousening Witches, but of poor melancholick wo∣men; which are themselves deceived. For you shall understand, that the force which melancholy hath; and the effects that it worketh in the body of a man, or rather of a woman, are almost incredible. For as some of these melancholick per∣sons imagine, they are Witches, and by Witchcraft can work wonders, and do what they list: so do others troubled with this disease, imagine many strange, in∣credible, and impossible things: Some, that they are Monarchs and Princes, and that all other men are their subject: some, that they are brute beasts: some, that they be urinals or earthen pots, greatly fearing to be broken: some, that very one that meeteth them, will convey them to the gallowes; and yet in the end hang themselves. One thought that Atlas whom the Poets feign to hold up heaven with his shoulders, would be weary, and let the skie fall upon him: another would spend a whole day upon a stage, imagining that he both heard and saw interludes, and therewith made himself great sport. One Theo∣philus a Physician, otherwise sound enough of mind (as it is said) imagined that he heard and saw musicians continually playing on instruments, in a certain place of his house. One Bessus, that had killed his father, was notably detected, by imagining that a Swallow upbraided him therewith: so as he himself thereby re∣vealed the murther.
But the notablest example hereof is, of one that was in great perplexity;* 1.1 imagining that his nose was as big as a house; insomuch as no friend nor Physici∣an could deliver him from this conceipt, nor yet either ease his grief, or satisfie his fancy in that behalf: till at the last, a Physician more expert in this humour than the rest, used this devise following. First, when he was to come in at the chamber door being wide open, he suddenly stayed and withdrew himself; so as he would not in any wise approach nearer then the door. The melancholick person musing her eat, asked him the cause why he so demeaned himself? Who answered him in this manner: Sir, your nose is so great, that I can hardly en∣ter into your chamber but I shall touch it, and consequently hurt it. Lo (quoth he) this is the man that must do me good; the residue of my friends flatter me, and would hide my infirmity from me. Well (said the Physician) I will cure you, but you must be content to indure a little pain in the dressing: which he promised patiently to sustain, and conceived certain hope of recovery. Then entred the Physician into the chamber, creeping close by the walls, seeming to fear the touching and hurting of his nose. Then did he blind-fold him, which being done, he caught him by the nose with a pair of pincers, and threw down into a tub, which he had placed before his patient, a great quantity of bloud, with many pieces of bullocks livers, which he had conveyed into the chamber, whilest the others eyes were bound up, and then gave him liberty to see and be∣hold the same. He having done thus again two or three times, the melancholick humour was so qualified, that the mans mind being satisfied, his grief was eased, and his disease cured.
Thrasibulus, otherwise called Thrasillus, being sore oppressed with this me∣lancholick humour, imagined, that all the ships which arrived at port Pyraeus, were his: insomuch as he would number them, and command the mariners to lanch, &c. triumphing at their safe returns, and mourning for their misfortunes. The Italian whom we called here in England, the Monarch,* 1.2 was possessed with the like spirit or conceit. Danaeus himself reporteth, that he saw one that