An history of apparitions, oracles, prophecies, and predictions with dreams, visions, and revelations and the cunning delusions of the devil, to strengthen the idolatry of the gentiles, and the worshipping of saints departed : with the doctrine of purgatory, a work very seasonable, for discovering the impostures and religious cheats of these times / collected out of sundry authours of great credit, and delivered into English from their several originals by T.B. ; whereunto is annexed, a learned treatise, confuting the opinions of the Sadduces and Epicures, (denying the appearing of angels and devils to men) with the arguments of those that deny that angels and devils can assume bodily shapes ; written in French, and now rendred into English ; with a table to the whole work.

Of Oracles, Prophecies, and Predictions of Devils.

[ 1] TElephus, the King of the Mysons, who did prohibit and in∣terdict the Grecians from descending or going into the lower Countreys, when he obstinately pursued Ulysses amongst the Vines; but being hindred, he fell upon the trunk or stump of a Vine; Achilles was a great way off, who shot a Dart into the King's left thigh; but Peace being made, and the Greeks returning to their own Country, Telephus was a long time afflicted with the pain of the wound; and when he could not be cured by any means, when he was in great extremity, he was ad∣monished by Apollo's Oracle, That he should make use of Achilles and Aesculapius his sons; so he instantaneously sailed to Argos, lest he should be denyed of the remedy that was promised him by the

Oracle; Achilles with Machaon and Podalyrius took care of his wound, and in a short space, that which the Oracle did predict came to passe.

[ 2] CRoesu••, the King of the Lydians, when he had parted with o••e¦son, as Atium, he had another son that was dumb, and for the cure of it, he left nothing undone, no stone was unturned; and then he sent to enquire of the Oracle at Delphos, to whom Pythia an∣swered:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Thy speechless son, great King, Croesus high race, Wish not his words to hear, thy long'd-for Grace; One day thy boon shall thee distresse, when thou Shalt have with force what thou requestest now.

The event did give credit to the Oracle; for the Gardi being ta∣ken by Cyrus, when a certain Souldier rushed upon the King, his dumb son cryed out with a loud voice, when before he never spoke word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, O thou man, kill not Croesus; so that Croesus by his own fault lost his Kingdom, who by the words of his son, saved his life. Herodotus lib. 1.

[ 3] THe Minyae relate or tell the story about Hesiod's bones, after this manner; The Plague raging upon Man and Beast, they sent some to consult with the Oracle, who received this answer, That to cease the Plague, there was onely this one remedy; for if they did but carry Hesiod's bones out of the Naupactian field, into Orchomenium, otherwise their malady could not be cured: And again they asked of the Oracle, In what part of the Naupactian field that should find them? Pythia gave answer, That a Crow would shew them the place. And when they returned back into their Country, and those that were sent enquiring for it not far from the way side, saw a Crow sitting on a stone, and there they digg'd, and found Hesiod's bones in the concave of the Monument, with this inscription, Pausanias in Boeticis.

[ 4] ATheniensis, the son of Catatreus the Cretian's King, when he asked counsel of the Oracle, had this answer given, That the fates had decreed, that his Father should be slain by him; and desiring to shun that fate, of his own accord, together with many other Volunteers, went away into the mouth of Rhodes, which is called Camiros Catatreus, by the instigation of his onely son, took his journey into Rhodes, desirous of bringing his son into Creet; It was night time ere he came into the Island, and there was a fight

and a contention rise between his Companions and the Inhabitants of the Iland, Althemenes coming with his help, unwi••tingly he slew his father with a Dart; for which cause Althemenes being struck with great sorrow, and not being able to bear the Atlantean bur∣den of that grief, he did forsake the company of men, and wandred alone thorow desarts and uncouth paths, and he being spent with grief, dyed. Diodorus, lib. 5. cap. 13.

[ 5] AMphio••'s house being wholly consumed with the Plague, Laius succeeded in the Thebane Kingdom; he taking to Wife Jocasta, Creon's daughter: and when he wanted children a long while, con∣sulting the Oracle, Whether or no he were to have any children? received this answer, It was not good for him to have children, be∣cause if he had, there would proceed from him a son that should kill his father, and by such an unlucky fortune should contami∣nate his house; therefore Laius commanded the Infant that was born, that he should be thrown away, his feet being manacled in iron chains, from whence he was sirnamed Oedipus, from the swell∣ing of the wound: The houshold servants when they did not cast forth the Child which they had given to them, they did delive∣red it to a certain woman servant, whose name was Polybia; and when he came to man's estate, Laius appointed and gave order, that they should consult the Oracle about the Infant that was expo∣sed and sent abroad. Also Oedipus being certified by whom he was so exposed; and going to Pythia, to get intelligence who were his Parents; so when he met with his Father at Phocidis, though they did not know one another, Laius did very imperiously command Oedipus to give him the way. Oedipus moved with an∣ger, slew Laius, not knowing he was his Father. Diodorus, lib. 4. cap. 6.

[ 6] PArysadas, the King of the Bosphorean Cymmerians, had three sons, Eumelus, Satyrus, and Prytamis, who when their father was dec••ased, strove and contended for the Kingdom; Eumelus by the help of Ariapharnis the King of the Thracians, slew Prytamis; Sa∣tyrus oppugning the Palace, received a wound in one of the muscles of his arm, and so perished by it; therefore Eumelus being posses∣sed of, and invested in the Kingdom for five years space, by a strange accident was slain; for when he returned home to his house out of Scythia, he hastened to a certain sacrifice, where there was a Cha∣riot running to the Court, and it was carried upon four wheels, in which there was a Tent or a Pavilion, the horses were affrighted, and so carried him away; When the Chariot-driver could not hold the reins, the King fearing lest he should be cast into ditches, endeavoured to leap out of the Chariot, and his sword being in∣volved and sticking in one of the wheels, he was cut with it, falling cross upon it, and so was slain instantly. It is also reported, that Saty••us was warned of the Oracle, that he should have a care of a Mouse, therefore he suffered none of his Subjects to take that

name, and ••••d much in fear of houshold-mice, and field-mice, and gave warning that the boyes should kill the Mice, and stop the holes that they might not enter into the Rooms: At last he ended his life, being wounded in a muscle of his arm. Eumelus asking counsel of the Oracle, received answer, That he should have a care of those things that he had carried to his house; therefore he would not rashly enter into his house, unless first his young men had viewed the top and bottom of it; but when he was slain by rea∣son of the Chariot wheel, because of the Tent that was carried in the Chariot, they all thought that the Oracle was fulfilled. Diodo∣rus Siculus, lib. viges.

[ 7] CTrus the King of the Persians marching to Istrum against the Massagetes and Essedonas, he consulted Orpheus's head in Lesbo; and asking the Oracle, of the event of the Wars; had this answer, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. Similem exitum, ut ego, habebis, Thou shalt dye the same death that I dyed of; the event gave credit to the Oracle: for Cyrus was slain by Tomyris the Queen, who cut off his head, as Or∣pheus's was by the Thracian Menadians. Philostratus testis.

[ 8] POlycrates the Samian Tyrant, after he had taken the Rhene Iland, and consecrated it to Apollo, there was set up gallant Playes at Delphos; and also sent to consult Apollo's Oracle, Whether he should call those Playes Delion, or Pythian? The Oracle answer∣ed, They shall be both Pythion and Delian Playes to thee; inti∣mating, That he should soon dye; and therefore it was made a Proverb.

[ 9] THere was a great slaughter revealed unto Julius Caesar, by ma∣ny evident and wonderful Prodigies; for a few moneths be∣fore that time, when the Husbandman by the Julian were brought into the Capuan Colony to cast down the old Monuments, to build new Villages; and they did it more accurately, in that some Antiquarians that searched, found some brazen Tables in a Monument, which did give notice to them, that Capys, the builder of Capua, was buried there; and there was found there that bra∣zen plate, in which was written in Greek this sentence; When the bones of Capys shall be discovered, then shall it come to passe, that one of Julian-blood shall be slain by the hands of his Kinsmen. And pre∣sently after Italy was punished with great slaughter. And lest that any should think this thing fabulous and commentitious, the Author of it is Cornelius Balbus, one of Caesar's Favourites. Suetonius.

[ 10] TItus the Emperour had this of the Oracle, He should dye in the same manner that Ulysses perished and dyed, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by the Sea; Ulysses was slain by his son Telegonus, by a Wray-spear, that is, by a weapon of that fishe's bones, instead of an Arrow; And so Titus was kill'd by his brother Domitian with the poyson of a Sea-Hare. Coelius, lib. 26. cap. 30.

[ 11]

JUstinianus, the Roman Emperour, about the year of our Lord, 533, sent one Mundus, a Captain, into Dalmatia, against the Ostrogoths, who inhabited Salonas; And when he went out with his son Mauritius to behold the Camp, he was slain by the Goths; and so fulfilled the Oracle, and freed many from their fear. But there were some who said, That there were some Prophetical Verses pronounced by one of the Sybills, whose opinion was, that Mundus was to perish with his issue, where at length Africk was to be ta∣ken by the Romans; But then Justinian did restore Africk to the tame Vandals: This Prophecie of Sybill did much perplex and af∣fright many men, who did expect, that there would a suddain de∣struction come upon the whole World: But the event, death, and end of this Captain Mundus and his son, did shew, that such like Prophecies were obscure and ambiguous, and how fallacious the Artificers of Magick were. Aventinus, lib. 3. Annal. Bojorum: et Johan Magnus, lib. 10. cap. 14.

[ 12] MAnuel Comnenus hoping that the thred of his life should be extended, did put himself into a Monasticall habit, so that he ended both his life and his reign together; who had reigned eight and thirty years, excepting three moneths; to which continuance of the Empire, that old Oracle seemed to allude,

—Tui prehendet, — te Postrema nominis. viz. The last part or syllable of thy name will put Finis to thy life.

For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the last syllable of the name of Manuel, with the Greeks, doth comprehend or compleat that number. Nicetas, lib. 7.

[ 13] XErxes beginning War with the Grecians, when he was van∣quished and overcome at Salamina, he constituted Mardo∣nius, that he should prosecute the Warr in his name; But when he little availed and prospered at the Plateas, when he fought and flew, his fame began to be mute; Mardonius left a great Trea∣sure in the Tent which he had buried in the ground: Polycrates the Theban, enticed with hope of it, did buy the field▪ But when he had a long time made scrutiny and search for the Treasure, and yet did not find it, he consulted Apollo's Oracle at Delphos, by what means he might find the Treasure? Apollo answered him in these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Turn every stone; And when he did so, it is said, that he found great store of gold. Erasmus in Chiliadibus.

[ 14]

AFter that twelve Kings had created Setho to be King of Aegypt, and making a strict covenant between themselves that they should not entrench one upon another, and so by a sure con∣spiration did rule Aegypt: but in the mean while, it was known by the Oracle, that he that should sacrifice or offer in an Iron vessell should only obtain the Egyptian Empire. Not very long after, it came to passe that when by chance, when all the Kings stood in Vulcans Temple in the manner of sacrificers, the chief Priest of the Temple, numbring each of them, except Psammetichus who stood in the last place, took the Phiall, and offered; and he being compel∣led by necessity, took off his Helmet, and sacrificed therewith, then he bore his Censer as the rest of the Kings did: the thing being min∣ded, and observed, incontinently they that stood by, remembred the Oracle, and consulting together, they judged Psammetichus to be worthy of death. But by chance it happened to be known. The greatest part of the Kingdome being shaken off, the other Kings did relegate and dismisse by their Law, another part of them into the fenny part of Aegypt, and that the rest should abstain from that: Psammetichus did take very ill that ignominy, and underhand took private counsell how he should revenge that contumely: therefore in the interim it was told by the Oracle out of Latone, which was in the Buti City, accounted the truest of all those that the Aegypti∣ans had, that he should use the help and aid of the brazen men that should issue out of the Sea, and that they should vindicate Psammetichus, and inthrone him in great dignity. Not much time was spent ere that the Jonians mixt with the Carian viewing all the Sea-cost thereabouts, that they might rob thereabouts, and being driven by Storms and Tempests, did voluntarily steer their course into Aegypt: therefore one of the inhabitants seeing them land, and come on shore, affrighted at the uncouthnesse and strangenesse of the thing, being full of fear, related it to Psammetichus that the brazen men were come. For the Aegyptians, untill that time, had never seen an harnessed Souldier, then he perceived that the fatall time was come; and quickly he entered in league with the Jonians, and with their companions, and got them on his side, for the ap∣pointed war with many promises; and Psammetichus aided with these helps, quickly destroyed the Kings by whom he was relegated and dismissed, and all the Countrey was yielded to him. Sabellicus lib. 4. Ennead. 2. ex Herodoti, lib. 2.

[ 15] MAnuel Comnenus Emperour, having a Son born, that he might make his birth-day more famous, did entertain his noblest Citizens (as the custome was) with a sumptuous feast, carrying boughs in their hands, and called his Son Alexius, not onely that he might honour him with his Grandfathers name, but for the Ora∣cles sake, who by ambages and doubtfull speeches gave answer that so long the stock of the Comnenian family should endure as the name did comprehend the letters 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, per A. Alexius; per J. Johan∣nes;

per M. and A. Manuel, and his son Alexius, not obscurely did signify. Nicetas lib. 5.

[ 16] THe Countrey of Baeotia being spoiled and devastated by the su∣ry, violence, and war of the Thracians, they who over-lived the slaughter, went into the innermost concavest den where the Oracle was, That there they should take up their seats, where they should see the white Crows. By and by in Thessaly near the Pagaeatican pro∣montory, when they were objected there to their sights, there were discovered to be white Crowes, which being wet in Wine, the boyes sent out de-albifyed and anointed with brine or plaister. Coelius, lib. 57. cap. 11.

[ 17] WHen the Teu••ri-Cretensians sought themselves out new habi∣tations, and asking advice of the Oracle, received this an∣swer, That they should there fix their station, and inhabit where 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hoc est, terrae ••ilii eos adorirentur, where the sons of the Earth should set upon them. They wandring about Mysta and Cili••ia, at last came into Troy, where they fell asleep; then a great company of domesticall mice did eat and gnaw the strings of their Bowes and Shields, so that when they awaked and rose up, they could make no more use of their Bowes, therefore they thought that the Mice were the Enemies that were foretold to them by the Oracle; and sate down and lived in that place, and builded the Town Sminthe, because the Cretans call mice 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Eustachius, Iliad.

[ 18] THe Phrygians being carried by Aeneas their Captain into the Laurell field, were not willing to go any further, but listned to the Oracle, that it might shew them some future events, and contingencies, the Oracle told them, That there they were to have their permanent dwellings, where for hunger they should be driven to eat their Tables: Which not very long after their repulse hap∣ned, and then they remembred, and made themselves bread-tren∣chers, which was for their meat, that for want of it they eat; and then there was a cry from one to another, that now they were de∣stroyed, and dead men because of their errour, for there should they have their Mansions and dwellings, where they should eat such kind of Tables for want of meat, which words were received with favour and consent by all them that stood about. It is not very evi∣dent where they rejected that answer of the Trojan: some think at Dodonaeum, others in the Tent Cottage of Ida in Erythris, which Sybill did inhabit, a Maid-prophetesse and dweller there. It is also said that the Trojans were commanded to sail to the Western Countries untill they were driven into that place where they should be forced to eat their Tables for want of bread. And when that happened they knew that time was come that they should end their wandring, and that they were arrived at the fatall land. Sabellicus, Lib. 7. Aeneid. 1.

[ 19]

THe Lacedemonians were led into the Tarentine Colony by their Captain Phalanthus, a Spartane; the Oracle at Delphos predict∣ed, that when he did observe rain under Aethra, then he should be Master or overcomer of the field and City. But when he himself by the clew of his own reason, could not trace out the meaning of the Oracle, neither knew what it meant, nor consulted any interpreter, he made ready his Navy to go into Italy; and there when he had overcome the barbarous Nations, and neither could compasse field nor City when it came into his mind, that it was utterly unpossi∣ble that that which the Oracle said should be, and began to suspect it, whether it was the voice of God or no, because it could never come to passe that it should rain, when it is a pure Crystalline se∣rene Heaven, which the Greeks call Aethra; His Wife very lo∣vingly did comfort him by all means, who did so despond and de∣spair, and sometimes leaning his head upon her knees, and killing flies, her tears for sorrow of heart, and the hard fortune of her hus∣band, trickled down, that her hope was so frustrated. Wherefore opening the sluces and floud-gates of her eyes, she did bedew and wet her Husbands head; then were the knots of the Oracle unloo∣sed, for the name of his Wife was Aethra. Therefore in that very night which followed that day, he took the City, and a rich Sea-Town of the Tarentines. Pausanias in Phocicis.

[ 20] COdrus, an Athenian King, sprung out of Thrace, when the whole Attick Region was destroyed with the Peloponnesian Warr; he advising with the Oracle, had this answer, That they should be Victors, whose Captain perished by a warlike hand; therefore putting off his Kingly regal habit, he was like to a common Souldier, and offered himself to the force of his enemy; and one of the adverse Souldiers struck him with his weapon, and so he vo∣luntarily run upon his own death; and was willing rather to perish himself, then that the Athenians should perish. Cicero in fine lib. 1. Tusc. quaest. et lib. 5. de finibus.

[ 21] WHen Xerxes made War with the Grecians, the Lacedemonians enquiring of the Oracle about the event of the Warr, they received this answer from Pythia, That the Athenians were to be overcome by the Persians, but that the Spartan King was to be kill'd in the field. Mardonius saith, the Athenians being relinquished and left, three hundred of the Lacedemonians were slain with their King Leonidas. Herodot. lib. 8.

[ 22] THe Romans making Warr against Pyrrhus the Epirotes King, Paulus Aemilius received this answer from the Oracle, That he should be the Victor, if he should build an Altar in that place where he saw a man swallowed up in his running. A few dayes after he saw Valerius Torquatus swallowed up in the ground; and therefore he built an Altar there, and got the Victory, and sent

an hundred and sixty Elephants to Rome, carrying Towers on their backs. Plutarchus in Parallelis.

[ 23] IN the Cimbrick Warr Batabaces came to Pessinunte, being Priest to the Mother of great Idaea, he brought the Goddess out of the Temple, to declare Victory to the Romans, and of the great glory and credit of the Warr which was to come: And when the Se∣nate was agreed on it, and for Victory sake had determined to go to the Temple of the Goddess of Victory; and when he was come∣ing ••or••h to make his Oration to the People, that he might declare these things to them, A. Pompeius, the Tribune of the people, did hinder Batabaces, calling him a deluder, a deceiver, and pluckt him out of his Pulpit with great indignity, when the thing it self spoke for it, and commended his words; and when Pompeius returned home with whispering and muttering speeches, such a Feaver bore him company, (as every one knew) that he dyed within seven dayes after. Plutarchus in Marii vita.

[ 24] WHen the Vejentes in a sharp and long Warr were driven within the City Walls by the Romans, and yet the City could not be taken; and the delay did seem no lesse burdensome and intolerable to the besiegers, then to the besieged, the immor∣tal gods by a wonderful miracle did make way for them, that they might accomplish their desired Victory; on a suddain the Albane Lake or Gulph not being at all encreased by any showers from Heaven, neither had it any addition from any inundation from earth, did overflow its banks; and for inquisition sake to know the reason of it, Ambassadours were sent to Apollo's Oracle at Delphos, to know the reason of it; They received this answer, That the water of that Lake should be diffused thorough the fields; for so even should the Vejos be over-run, and brought into subjection by the Romans: And before the Legates might proclaim or declare, a Southsayer of the Vejentians was taken by a Roman Souldier, (for they wanted Interpreters of their own) and he was brought into the Tents, and did prophesie and predict: Therefore the Senate being warned by a double admonition and prediction, almost at the same time did obey the Oracle, and was possessed of the City. Valerius Maximus, lib. 1. cap. 6.

[ 25] WHen the Dorienses did often attempt to take Elea against Augea's posterity, whose King was then Eleus, they were commanded by the Oracle, that when they sailed back again, they should make Trioculus Captain; And by chance Oxylus met him sprung out of, and begotten of Aemon of Thoas his son, being a ba∣nished man in Aetholia, playing in the Sun, unwittingly he kill'd a man; And when he had blinded a Mule of one of his eyes, Ore∣spontes ingeniously conjectured, that the Oracle belonged to Oxylus, therefore the Captain being elected, they passed to Peloponnesus in a ship; for he conceived, that by a Foot-Army they could not at∣tempt

to break thorough the straits; so the Dorienses obeyed, and they presently got Elea. Pausanias, lib. 5.

[ 26] THe Lacedemonians were alwayes overcome in Warr by the Te∣geans: they asked advice of the Oracle, How, and by what means they might so please their gods, that they might overcome the Tegeans? Pythia answered, That Orestes the son of Ag••me••non, his bones were to be brought to Lacedemon; and they doubting and being uncertain of the place in which they were hid; The Oracle answered,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

To this purpose:

There's an Arcadian liveth in a Cot, Where wind is by two hulls together got, Where type on th' antitype, one dint is set Upon another, where lye bury'd yet The spoyles of Agamemnon: if that ground And Cot thou purchase, there they may be found.

When no man could understand the Oracle, Liches, one of the be∣nefactors of the Spartanes, came to Tegea, and sitting down in a Bra∣zier's Shop, wondred at his works. To whom the Smith said, Why dost thou wonder, O thou stranger, (saith he) at these? thou wouldst much more wonder, if thou shouldst see a Sepulchre which I have found, by digging a Well under ground, in which I saw bones seven cubits long, which I again buried in the earth. Then Liches instantly call'd to mind the Oracle within himself, and con∣ceived, that those two winds which the Oracle had spoken of, were the bellows of the Smith; and that the anvil was an antitype: for he was to suffer in rowing back; and that the hammer was a sign or emblem which struck the Anvil, of evil, first pas∣sive, because it suffers from the hammer; afterwards also active, because it was invented for mens destruction. And Liches rumi∣nating with himself, did communicate this thing to the Lacedemo∣nians, and feigning an escape, returned to the Tegeans; and he bought the skeleton, of the Smith, and privily carried the bones to Lacedemon: And then it came to passe, that the Lacedemonians over∣came the Spartanes in Warr, almost at that very same time in which Cyrus took the Kingdom from Croesus. Herodotus, lib. 1.

[ 27]

IN the reign of Tiberius the Emperour, there was an Oracle given out at Rome, in these words;

Bis ter trecentis circumvolventibus annis, Seditio perdet Romanos.

Ere thrice three hundred Snakes incircled bee, Rome by Sedition ruin'd you shall see.

Which they did think came to passe in Nero's time, which fell out near that time; the people repeated these words, when part of the City was wickedly burnt by Nero; Nero to pacifie the people, said, That there was never such words spoken: Which done, the people sung this Sybills verse,

Ultimus Aeneadum matrem necat Induperator.

The last of the Aenea's Family shall kill his Mother, he being Em∣perour. Which happened; and whether it was an Oracle from God, or from a prophetick spirit that was amongst the people, or by a guesse that they had from the state that things was then in, I know not; for Nero was the last of the Julian-Family, which sprung from Aeneas which ruled. Xiphilinus, in Nerone.

[ 28] A Little before the coming of the Spaniards into America; the King of the Island which, after the name of the Finders, they called Hispaniolam; he consulted the Idol of Zemus, and religiously underwent a Fast for five dayes together, also much whipping, that he might know what would become of his Kingdom. The Devill answered, That there were bearded, which should be armed men, that should take away the Kingdom by force, and that by one fatal blow, they by their swords should anatomize many bodies, and that they should oppresse the Inhabitants by cruel servitude. The King hearing the words of the Oracle; and that he might appease the wrath of the gods, he epitomized and comprehended in a verse which they call Arentum, which he would have to be sung at their Festivals, with solemn ceremonies; therefore many of the Inhabi∣tants when they saw the Spaniards-first come into the Island, they consulted how they might escape, remembring the Oracle. Petrus Cieza, tom. 2. rerum Indicarum. cap. 33.

[ 29] SArdanapalus, an Assyrian King, was besieged by Arbaces a Mede: ••n the City of Ninus, there was an Oracle given to his Ance∣stors, That Ninus could never be taken, unless the Enemy should make a River to the City, which he verily believed could never be taken; and therefore he thought he could bear out the siege, and also expected aid to come to him. When he had held out the siege for the space of two years, by lethargiz'd and idle besiedged persons the River by continual showers did flow to a very great heighth; and when it had deluged a good part of the City, and had cast and

thrown down the Walls for the length of twenty furlongs; The King thinking the time of the Oracle was come to passe, despaired of remedy; and lest that he should be taken of the enemies, he burnt the Palace: Arbaces creeping thorough the ruines of the walls, was made King. Diodorus, lib. 2. cap. 7.

[ 30] THere was an Oracle given to the Poet Hesiod, that he should have a care of the Temple of Naemean Jupiter; when there∣fore he took his flight from Nemean at Peloponnesus, by chance he came into Oeneon of Locris, where there was a Temple of Jupiter Naemean; and being in that place, unawares he was slain by Am∣phiphane and Ganetor, the sons of Physigeus, because they believed their Sister was deflowred by him, and that Stesichorus was sprung from him by that illegitimate means. Thucyd. apud Gyrald. Dial. 2. hist. P••ët.

[ 31] EPaminondas the Thebane received this from Apollo's Oracle at Delphos, That he was to have a care of Pelagus, which he thought was to be understood of the Sea; wherefore it was his grea∣test care, lest he should be carried or transported any where by Galleys, or by any other vessel: But the Devil had forewarned him, not that he should avoid the Sea, but a Grove that he was to eschew at Mantinea, whose name was Pelagus, where he dyed. Pa••∣sanias in Arcadicis & Suidas.

[ 32] THere was an Oracle also given to Cambyses, a Persian King, out of the City of Latona of Butus, that he was to yield himself to the fates in the way to Ecbatanis; he understood it of Ecbatana of Meda; but when he was in Syria, after the death of Apis the Egyp∣tian god, he got upon his horse, his sword was naked, wounded the King in the thigh, tormented with fear and grief; and he asked What was the name of the next Town? and when he knew that it was Ecbatana, he did acknowledge his errour, and dyed despairing. Herodotus lib. 3.

[ 33] PYthia did prophesie and predict the death of Philip King of Ma∣cedonia, in this manner:

—Taurus adest, & finis adest, feriet{que} minister▪ Et Graecis pariter, O utinam fierem Jovis ales in aethere juxta Thermodoontis aquas, procul ut bella horrida ab alto▪ Despicerem; victus flet at hic qui vicit obivit.

A Bull being present, thy end's not absent far, The servant o're the Greeks shall domineer; O that I were Jove's Bird eagling on high, Towring alwayes near to the azure sky,

O're Thermodonian waters for to see Such crimson and such scarlet Tragedie, Where conquer'd shall bewail with weeping eye, The Conquerour conquer'd, by the fates shall dye.

This doubtfull speech King Phillip interpreted on his side, and thought that it was predicted by the Oracle as though Perses were to be sacrificed in the manner of a sacrifice. But the meaning was far otherwise which signifyed quite contrary, to wit, Phillip being amongst a great company of men amongst the sacrifices where there ought to be a crowned Bull sacrificed, and therefore he was very glad, and sacrificed joyfully, supposing afterwards to have his tutelar Gods to help him to bring Asia under the dominion of Macedonia, and when he offered great oblations in honour of the Gods, and his daughter Cleopatra, which came of his Wife Olym∣pias, was espoused to Alexander the King of the Epirots his Brother, he commanded that the Marriage should be celebrated in Aegis the City of Macedonia, and many out of all the parts of Greece flock∣ed to that jolly wedding, and magnificent consorts of Musick, and contention in it, and also a great feast made to receive the friends and guests, he in the midst of the ceremonies invested in a white garment, was slain by Pausaunias one of the guard, at the Thermodo∣nian River near Chaeronea, where a little while before he had got a famous victory of the Grecians: for Pausaunias took hainously that he was complained of for ravishing of Attalas the Neece of Olympias and was of••en derided of the King for it. Diodorus lib. 16. & Pausau∣nias in Arcad.

[ 34] THe same King when he had consulted the Delphick Oracle what he might do that he might come and attain to a full and perfect age; Pythia commanded him that he should avoid Quadrigas, which he understood, was meant a Cart drawn with four horses; which hearing, he gave order that all Carts through∣out his whole Kingdome should be removed, and would not go in∣to Boetia, which was called Quadrigas. At the last he was slain by Pausaunias, who carried a Cart and four Horses engraven in the hilt of his Sword. Valerius Maximus, libro primo. Cicero de fato. Plutarch, in Alexandro. Others say, that when he encircled and rid about the Thebane Marsh, which was called Currus, he was slain.

[ 35] AESchylus the tragick Athenian Poet, was told by the Oracle that he should dye by a blow; therefore being a banished man in Sicilia, he did eschew roofs lest he should be oppress'd by their ruine, or knock't on the head by their fall: but it hapned that sitting on a stone in the Country, with his head uncovered, and an Eagle flying on high called Morphos, (whose sole property it is to break the Sea shell-fish) and being hallucinated and deceaved by the whitenesse of his bald pate, thinking it to be a chalky stone, let the

shell-fish fall upon it, to have the shell-fish broken, and so Aeschylus perished by that fall and stroak. Idem. lib. 9. cap. 12.

[ 36] DAphidas the Sophister, when he Ironically had consulted the Delphick Oracle, whether he might have an Horse upon which he might be carried; The Oracle answered that there might be found one, but that he should be so troubled and vexed by it, that he should dye. A while after he went to Attalus the King, whom he had formerly offended, and was apprehended, and so pre∣cipitated, and cast down from a stone, was called Equus. Cicero de fato. Et Valer. Max. lib. 1. de Miraculis.

[ 37] WHen Dionysius the Seniour, Tyrant of Syracusa, acted a Tragedy to the A••henians in their Bachanalian feasts, and when he by all their suffrages and voices was declared Victor, one of the Queristers or chanters of the Musicall company, thinking that he should have some great reward if he were the first Messen∣ger that should relate the Victory, sailed in all haste to Corinth. And there found a Ship that was to go to Sicily, and boarding on it with prosperous winds and gales sailing to his desired Haven, and arriving at Syracusa, and then incontinently related the Victory to the Tyrant, and was gratified with great rewards. Dionysius was exceeding glad of the news, and offered gratulatory sacrifices to his Gods, and celebrated great feasts, banquettings, and Bacchana∣lians; and when he had invited his friends and familiars indulging and overcharging himself with too much wine, fell into a grievous sicknesse by reason of his too much gulphing of Wine. But when he was told by his Gods that he was to dye, when he had overcome his betters. He taking the Oracle in this sense, to wit, as having reference to the Carthagenians, that they were better, stronger, and more warlike men then he. Wherefore having many conflicts, bickerings, & skirmishes with them, if the victory seemed to hang in equilibrio, i.e. eeven ballance, or rather his side was likely to have the Praestat, he was wont to make the two Wings of his army to fly away and to be ore-come of their own accord, least he should seem to overcome his betters, but yet for all this Matchevilian Policy, he could not escape the sentence which the fates had determined against him. But being an indifferent good Poet, was adjudged by the A••henian suffrages to overcome better Poets; therefore the truth of the Oracle being in some measure accomplished, and ful∣filled, the term and date of his life ended. Diodorus, lib. 15.

[ 38] ALexander the Epirot's King, being called into Italy by the Tarentines, and by the lots of the Dodonean Oracle, he was warned to have a care of Atherusia, and the City of Pandosia; for there he was to yield himself to the fates, for this cause he sent betime into Italy, that he might keep a distance from Pandosia a City of Epirus, and Acheron its River, which the Thesprotian bosome

received, it flowing out of Molossis, standing hellish black jet-like pools and bayes. But no humane providence or foresight could eschew fatal necessity, which for the most part rushes soonest into that which is aimed most to avoid. Oftentimes Alexander had overcome the Brutians and Lucans in battell, and had taken many of their Cities. In the mean time, he had fortified and strength∣ened three Monuments not far from the Pandosian City, which did grieve and molest the borders of the Lucans and Brutians, and did grievously oppresse the Countrey thereabouts. But continuall showers did so deluge and overflow the fields that lay between, and so the army being parted into three, could not get help from any other. Alexander, not being able to get supplies, made two Bulworks or Castles of defence, therefore they environed with their siege, the Captain parting with, and losing a great part of his ri∣ches and provision: There were of the Lucans exuls and banished men about Alexander 200; by this means, they with their party promised that they would bring the King into their power, either alive or dead. Therefore the King daring to adventure, broke through the midst of his enemies with his out-spread waving hands and arms, and killed the Captain of the Lucans, fighting with him hand to hand, and gathering together his army into one, he with a full body came to the River, the strength of whose Tide a little be∣fore had broke down the bridge, and when he consulted of an escape over it, being not fathomed by him, and his Army being tyred out, and by chance one blab'd forth the name of the River, which was much hated by the King, and so exclaimed and cryed out, Art thou called Acheron, which being known, he made a great haesitati∣on whether or no he should passe over the River: and when he so delayed, one Sotinus a servant, gave warning that the Lucans did seek places to lye in wait for them, and when the King thought that they were ready to rush upon him, with his naked Sword, he leapt into the River. A Horse on the overthwart bank stood to re∣ceive him; which when one of the Lucans had wounded him with casting a Dart, and the streaming Tides carryed him down (his Spear sticking fast) towards the enemies Camp dead, and they tea∣ring it to pieces, and cutting it in the midst, one part they sent away, the o••her was kept for to be mocked, which they a long while battered with stones and darts, and at the last they delivered it to a Woman, that she might keep it to be a ransome to redeem her Husband and children which were captives on the adverse party, and they sent away the bones of the burned body to their enemies at Metapontus, from whence they were further sent to Cle∣opaetra, and to her sister Olympias, the Mother of Great Alexander. Strabo▪ lib. 6. Valerius Maximus, lib. 1.

[ 39]

THere was an old Oracle came from the Altar of Jupiter Am∣mon, concerning the death of Annibal the famous Carthagenian Captain. Lybyssa corpus teget tuum. Lybyssa shall be thy grave. Anniball did suspect Africa, and that his buriall should be in Car∣thage, and thought he should end his life there, for there is a fabu∣lous place of Bythinia: beside the Sea not far off, there is a little Village called Lybyssa, and by chance Annibal was banished there; and because he alwayes suspected the mollities, and tendernesse of the King of Prussia, and abhorred the Romans, there∣fore he opened seaven subterraneal holes or passages before his house, or out of his Tent, and divers foramina or oilet holes made, in which there was many secret conspirators, privately combine∣ing together. And when he received that commandement of T. Quintius Flaminius the Roman Ambassadour which he had desired and obtained of the King, he attempted a flight through the private holes; but when he fell into the Kingdomes snares, he determined to kill himself. Some report him to wrap his neck in his Cloak, and commanded his servant that he should infix his knee in his posteri∣ours, and twine and twist him hard, untill he should dye. Livi∣us lib. 8. Decad. 4. and had poison given him, which he had power to mix and mingle himself, and taking the cup himself, said, We free at last the Roman people by this dayes work, when he believed that it was expected there should be a long and a tedious death of that hated old man, and by this means they say Anniball perished. Plutarchus in Flaminio. Pausaunias vero in Arcadicis; that when he got upon a horse, he of his own accord, wounded his hand, and had not rid far when a Feaver got hold of him by reason of the inflam∣mation of his wound, and that he dyed within three dayes. And so the fatall name of the man whom the Nicomedienses called Lybys∣sam, fulfilled the Oracle.

[ 40] APpius Claudius in a Civil war, in which Cn. Pompeius falling out with Caesar, breaking the league, bringing both detriment to himself and to the Common-wealth, desirous to find out the spring and root of that great sedition (for he excelled in strength the Achai∣an Empire) he compelled the chief Governour of the Delphick Tri∣pos, to descend into the inmost concave that they might know cer∣tain things; consulting with the Oracles, they were almost choaked such a damp and stinking vapour of that divine, or rather diabo∣lical spirit was drawn in by them. Therefore an inspired Virgin by the instinct of the Deity, and with a horrid voice, sung with such quavering sounds of words, uttered the destiny, or Oracle. For it is nothing (saith she) to thee; in this Romane war, thou shalt get the Valley of Euboea: but he thinking to be admonished by Apol∣lo's Oracles, lest there should arise any contention or difference about it, departed into that Region and Countrey which is between Rhamminta, that noble and renouned part of Micka and Caristum, bordering upon the Chalcidick Sea, lying between, got the name of

Euboea, where he was spent and consumed of a disease, before the Pharsalian combat and fight, and he possessed that burying place which was foretold him by the Devill. Valerius Max. lib. 1. cap. 8.

[ 41] THe Antianaean Oracles gave an Item unto C. Caligula that he should have a care of Cassius, therefore he gave order that Cassius Longinus the Pro-consull of Asia being a Lawyer, to be put to death; but before he had satisfied his tyrannicall desires, he was slain by Cassius Chaerea, not being able to eschew his fate. Rutilius, in vita Cassii.

[ 42] MIchael Comnenus Palaeologus Emperour, grieved with a pain at his heart, and being much troubled and perplexed with the fear of death, he asked those that stood about him, what was the name of that place. When he had heard the name of Pachonii and Allages, with a great sigh, he said, that there was he to finish his life, and that his death was decreed by the fates, and therefore bitterly accused himself, that before that time he had not blinded and pluck't out the eyes of that honest man Pachonius, for that an Oracle was publickly reported to be given out concerning the Em∣perour, that being deceased Pachonius should succeed him in the Kingdome, and being deceived and blinded with the love of ruling he had not hastned to make Pachonius unserviceable for the Empire. Gregoras lib. 5.

[ 43] THere was a famous City in Olympos, whose name was Libethra, which Mountain stretched it self forth into Macedonia, not far from which City there is Orpheus's Tomb and Monument, and there was formerly an Oracle had from liberi patres, to the Libethrians out of Thrace, that their City should be raced out, and destroyed by a swine, when the Sun first should see Orpheus's bones. And therefore they being so well versed and accustomed to the Oracle, that they never mistrusted any thing, neither did they be∣lieve that there was any wild beast endued with such strength that could deface such a City, which relyed no lesse upon their own con∣fidence then it's great strength. But when it pleased the Gods that these things should come to passe, a certain shepheard at noon-tide being weary, laid down beside Orpheus his Tomb. And by chance falling asleep, in his dream began to chant and to sing Orpheus Ver∣ses in a sweet and delectable tone, and by that sweet chanting, those shepheards that were hard by, and those Plowmen that were plowing not far off being much taken with it, left their work, and ran to hear the sweet song of the sleeping shepheard, and there when they joggled and justled one another nearer and nearer to the shepheard, they threw down the Pillar, and that being cast down the Urne was broken up, which done, the Sun saw Orpheus's bones: Therefore in the following night, a great deal of rain came, and the River sides (being one of Olympus streams) cast down the walls

of the Libethrians, and o'returned the holy Temples and buildings, and destroyed all the men and beasts which were within the wals. Pausaunias in Baeoticis.

[ 44] THe Siph••ian Ilanders, by reason of their silver and gold-Mines, are very rich, heaping up great Treasures, and yearly did send their tenths to Apollo at Delphos; they inquired of the Oracle, Whether they were to possess their present enjoyments long, or no? Pythia answered;

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When you a Market-House, and Council-Hall Erect all white, beware, a cunning blade With woodden Troops, and with red Ensigns shall Thy Coasts and Thee with cruelty invade.

The Event confirmed the Oracle; for the Siphnians at that time had a Market-place and a Councel-house built of white Parian Marble; when the Samians instantly came themselves to Siphnum, and sending a Ship with their Ambassadours to the City, which was (as all ancient ships used to be) painted red; the Messengers did require ten talents; the Siphnians refused: The Samians pos∣sessed themselves of their fields, and slew many of their City, and took many prisoners, which the Siphnians redeemed for a hun∣dred Talents; Then at last (although it was very late) they un∣derstood the Oracle, of a woodden Army, and a red Ship of Le∣gates and Ambassadors, Herodotus, lib. 3.

[ 45] THere was an ancient Oracle given to the Messanensians in Sicily, Carthaginenses urbis suae lixas futuros; Which they un∣derstood in this sense, that the Carthagenians were to be slaves of the City Messana, and to be serviceable to them, and by this hope were puffed up with pride; therefore they attempted to oppose themselves against Hamilcar the Carthaginian Captain; but their City being taken, at the last they understood the equivocall sense of the Oracle; for Hamilcar did command the Carthaginian Soul∣diers, like servants, that they should demolish and pull down all their houses, and that they should leave nothing unruinated and not pull'd down, and to burn all, and to spatter the ruines all about; neither was there any delay for his commands, they did ruinate the walls, and o'return the buildings with such violence, that the multitude hasting, and being urgent, in a short time they had finished the work, all the Monuments were presently abolished; and the manner of the place was utterly blotted out, and the ground, where the City formerly stood, did appear so overthrown,

and trampled, that scarce any tokens of habitation could be any where discerned, &c. Diodorus, lib. 14.

[ 46] THe Phocenses being miserably vexed with War by the Thessa∣lians, sent to consult the Oracle at Delphos, concerning their affairs: and their Ambassadours, received this answer;

Mortalem at{que}. Deum jubeo decernere ferro: Victor uter{que}, aliud sed enim mortalis habeto.

The god and man I do command to try It out by sword, who shall have victory: They both are conquerors, I do confesse, But yet the mor••al shall the god possesse.

The Phocenses being pusled with this dubious Oracle, and not at all understanding the meaning of it, sent out three hundred Scouts, who were all slain even to the last man, with their Captain Gelo. This slaughter struck the Camp with a very great terrour. And at last they were come to that height of desperation, that they brought together their Wives, Children, all their goods, and whatsoever they could wrap or wring, as gold, silver, and rich clothes, and amongst the rest, the Ensigns of their gods, and build∣ing about them, a very great Pile, they left onely thirty men to look to them, with strict charge, that when they were in fight with their enemies, if they saw any thing go cross or against them, they should first slay their wives and children, and then cast all the goods upon the Pile, and then put fire to it; and lastly, that they should either kill one another, or run desperately upon their ene∣mies weapons; from which amongst the Greeks all cruel and im∣mane Councels and Designs were called Phocica, or Phocensian. Things being thus ordered by the advice and counsel of Tellias, an Elian Prophet, they draw out against the enemy, and being reso∣lute, rush most desperately in amongst them, and being acted with utter desperation, plyed their hands so furiously, that they ob∣tained the most absolute and signal victory that ever any Age could boast of. Then was the Oracle plain and obvious to every ordi∣nary understanding. For according to their custome in War, the Generals on both sides gave to their Souldiers tesserae, or marks to be known by from the enemy, as we do our Watch-word. And these happened then to fall pat with the answer of Apollo: The Thessalians giving Etonia Minerva; and the Phocenses the Founder of their Country, Phocus.

[ 47] THe Lacedemonians having received the most healthfull and good Laws of Lycurgus, after his death being (as we say) prick'd with provender, and not content longer to enjoy their ease and quiet, puft with the conceit of being more noble then the

Arcadians, they consult Pythia, whether they might not attain the possession of that whole Kingdom to themselves entirely? To whom she returned this answer;

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Wouldst thou Arcadia have? a pretious boon, Yet I will grant many fruit-eaters soon Arcadia enter shall, these it impair; And this I grant thee, Thou shalt there a fair And plenteous harvest reap their Land about All rich, with fetters thou shalt measure out.

When the Lacedemonians had received this answer, they declined their assault of the rest of Arcadia, and onely set upon the Tegeates, taking fetters along with them, to wit, that having an Oracle to that purpose, they might bring the Tegeates into captivity; and so make use of their fetters. But having fought them, they them∣selves were vanquished, and those that came alive into the enemies hand, were fettered with those very ropes they had brought, and put to mow and till the Tagean Land, being restrained within the length of their fetters. Those very fetters remained in the Tem∣ple of Minerva Alea at Tegea, within the memory of man, being hung up as a Trophie for that victory. Herodotus, lib. 1.

[ 48] CLeomenes, King of the Spartans, consulting the Oracle at Del∣phos, had this answer, Eum Argos esse capturum; which runs either thus, That he should take Argos; or, That Argos should take him; or he the Argians: Which Oracle understanding in the more favourable sense, he was very confident of taking the City Argos: but when he had surrounded some Troop•• of the Argi in a Grove, and there burnt them, asking who was the Deity of that place? and being told it was A••gus, he complained, the Oracle had deluded him; and then quitted all hope of conquering Argos. Herodotus, lib. 6.

[ 49] PHilomelus the Phocensian, having taken the Delphick Oracle, began to compell Pythia to tell him something of the future event of the affairs of his Country; At whose imperious carriage the woman being much moved, said unto him, Sir, you may do what you please. At which words Philomelus very much rejoyced, ta∣king them as a most apt answer to his demands, and the prediction of his future successe; and presently hereupon gave out in writing, That the Gods had licensed him to do what he pleased; and after

the custome calling together the people, in a speech he made to them, expounded the Oracle, exhorting them to be of good cou∣rage for the future; and after this wholly bent his resolution and endeavours for military designs. There happened also a Prodigy in the Temple of Apollo, in this manner; An Eagle hovering over the roof, cast her self down to the very ground, and followed some Doves that were carried into the Temple, preying upon them at the very Altar; which those that pretended skill in matters of that nature, expounded, an undoubted token of the good successe of Phi∣lomelus and the Phocensians in the Delphic Warr; which lasted nine years dubious, but at last terminated with the destruction of the Phocenses. Diodor. lib. 16.

[ 50] CRoesus demanding of the Oracle at Delphos, Whether he should reign long, or no? received this answer from Pythia;

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Whenso'ere a mungril Mule shall have the Crown, Wanton well fed, shall frisk it up and down With's tender hoofs; then fly and make no stay To ask what is the news; away, away.

Craesus concluding with himself that there would never any Mule reign over the Medes instead of a Man, thence infer'd that his rule should be perpetuall: not understanding that by a Mule, was un∣derstood Cyrus; because he was descended of two severall Nations: his Mother Mandane being of a better extract then his father Cam∣byses. For she was a Mede, and Astyages the King his daughter; and he but a Persian when they were subject to the Medes. Herodotus lib. 1.

[ 51] ARcesilaus being driven from his Kingdome with his Mother Pheretima, being at Samos; sollicited all persons he could meet with in hope to regain his Country; and having got together a very considerable army; he sent to Delphos to consult the Oracle there about his return into his own Kingdome: to whom Pythia re∣turned this answer. During the time of four Battus's, and as many Arcesilaus's, to wit, eight Generations of men Apollo, hath granted thee to reign; and further dehorts thee to endeavour. And like∣wise perswades thee when thou art in thy own seat, to remain in peace; But if thou findest a furnace full of Pitchers or pots, be sure thou boil them not, but fling them out; and if thou dost fire the Furnace, take heed of entring a place that is compassed with water, for if thou dost, thou shalt perish, and the Bull do what he can. Arcesilaus taking those forces he had gathered in Samos, re∣turned to Cyrene, and having recovered his Kingdome, and some∣what

setled his affairs, not minding the Oracle, he called his ad∣versaries to Judgment, and those that he could lay hold on, he sent to Cyprus to be executed; whom the Cnidians when they were brought into their Countrey rescued, and sent them to Thera. Some that had privately conveyed themselves into a strong Tower-buil∣ding combustible matter round, he burnt the Tower and all. When he had done, he began to remember this was that the Ora∣cle had forbidden him, and went out of the City Cyrene fearing the death predicted, for he conceived Cyrene to be that circumflu∣ous place he was warned to avoid; and betook himself to the King of Barcaeans called Alazeris whose Neece he had married, where some as well Barcaeans as Cyrenean Exuls espying him walking in the forum set upon him, and divided both his and his Cosen Ala∣zeris heads from their bodies. Herodotus lib. 4.

[ 52] NEro Caesar being warned by some Mathematicians that the ru∣ine of his Empire was portended by the Stars, but some of them differ'd in opinion in one thing, and some in another, at last being sick, he sent to Delphos to be resolved what should be the fate of his state; and received in answer this, That he should beware of the 73. year. Which when he heard, being an inconsiderate man, and scarce above thirty; he so wholly gave himself up to se∣curity, that he feared nothing, concluding that the Oracle had promised him a peaceable reign during his whole life, and that he could not dye before the appointed year set down by the Oracle, in∣somuch that he arived to that height of insolence, vaine conceit, that having lost some precious jewells in a tempest; he was confident the fishes would export them to land for him, as they were in duty bound, in his conceit: With these fond extravagancies was he ele∣vated, even till on a sudden he was left destitute by all his friends and subjects, and forced to a most ignominous end, so well did Apollo's Counsell steed him. But least this father of lies should seem to deliver any untruth, the night before his death he made Nero hear a voice, cursing the name of Nero, and extolling that of Galba, that so he might understand it was by the will and instituti∣on of the Oracle that he fell; for Galba succeeded him for the space of seventy three years. Petrarcha ex Suetonio.

[ 53] Xerxes the Son of Darius, having dig'd up an old Monument of Belus, found an Urne of Glasse, in which a dead Corps lay in Oyl, but the Urne was not full, but empty a hands breadth from the hips of the body, near which there stood a little Pillar or column, on which was contained written, that it should go ill with him that opened the Sepulchre, and did not fill the Urne: which when Xerxes had read, he was taken with much dread and horrour, and commands presently Oyl to be powred into it, with which it was not full, he therefore commands again more Oyl to be bestowed upon it, and found that the Urne was nothing fuller, than before; yet he continues seeking to fill it, till he found that all

his labour was in vain, and then the Monument being shut, he de∣parts in great grief and sorrow, he had fifty myriads of men in an army designed against the Greeks, but returning▪ he miserably en∣ded his life, being kill'd by night in the streets by the hands of his own son. Aelianus ex Herodoti, lib. 3.

[ 54] SYlvester the second, formerly called Gilbertus, a French-man (as ••hey say) by evill arts obtained the Popedome. When he was a young man, he was a Monk in a Monastery of Florence scituated in the Aurelian Diocesse, but leaving the Monastery, the Devill followed him, to whom he wholly surrendred himself; he came to Hispalis a City of Spain to study, being very desirous of learning; in which he was so great a proficient, that in a short time, of a Scholler he became chief Master. Martinius testifies that Robert, King of France, and Lotharius, a man famous by Nobility and learn∣ing who was afterwards created Arch-Bishop of Senosenses were his Schollers; Gilbertus therefore, provoked by ambition and diaboli∣call desire of governing, first by largenesse and gifts, he obtained the Arch-Bishoprick of Rhemes, then of Ravenna, and lastly the Popedome it self, the Devill helping his endeavours herein, but upon this condition; That after his death he should be wholly his, by whose assistance he had got so great dignity; he moved the De∣vill to tell him how long he should continue Pope; the Enemy of mankind answering (as he is wont) ambiguously, If thou shalt not come near Jerusalem, thou shalt live long. When therefore in the fourth year and first Moneth of his Popedome the tenth day, he had sacrificed in the great Church of the Holy Crosse at Rome, he knew that by his fate he was to dye forthwith: he therefore repented and acknowledged his wickednesse before the people, and renouncing all ambition and diabolicall fraud, he exhorted all to a good and pious life.

[ 55] WHen the Boetians wasted the Sea-coasts of Attica, and the Athenians were about their expedition against Aegrina, there comes an Oracle from Delphos that the Aeginetians could not be hurt for thirty years; in the thirtieth year when the Aeginetians had dedicated a Temple to Aeacus that things might succeed with them, they began their war with them; but as they made violent war against them, so they received many losses and brought great detriment to themselves, and at the last were in great extremity when the Athenians heard of this Oracle, they likewise dedicated a Temple to Aeacus, which is now to be seen in their Market-place, but they thought they were not to forbear war for thirty years, which time they heard to be fatall, but that if they forbore war they should receive many wrongs from the Aeginetians. Herodotus lib. 5.

[ 56]

THe Wisedome of the Persian Magies and their skill in divina∣tion is kept in memory by many Monuments, who as they fore old many things, so they predicted by many secret signes the cruelty that Art••xerxes Ochus afterwards exercised against those he sub••ued, and the miserable slaughter that ensued, for when Ochus subdued the Government of the Persians, one of them advised a cer∣tain Magitian, one of the Eunuchs to observe (the Table being co∣vered) u••on what mea•• (amongst all that the Table was furnished with) the King should first lay his hands, who intentively mark∣ing Ochus with both his hands stretched out, with his right hand he hastily took to him a knife, and with the other the biggest loaf upon the Table, which with flesh upon the board he carved, and ate heartily and chearfully, these two Prophets hereupon conclu∣ded, that there would ensue during his reign, fruits of the Earth in great plenty, and a seasonable time to gather them, but frequent slaughters. Elianus lib. 2. et Diodor. lib. 17. Bibliothecae.

[ 57] AMongst the Pedasensians which live above Halicarnassus, it is reported that as often as any adverse fortune is ready to seize upon the Amphiensians (who live near that City) a huge beard sud∣denly groweth upon the chin of their chief Priest of Minerva the Goddesse, which happened twice amongst them. Herodo∣tus, lib. 8.

[ 58] BEleses a Chaldean, exhorted Arbares General of the Medes, to invade the Kingdome of the Babilonians, promising to him cer∣tain victory, which after two years, and much losse by slaughter given and received on both sides, undermining the City of Ninus King of Sardinapalus, he desperately burned the Kings Pallace, and obtained it. Diodorus, lib. 2. cap. 7.

[ 59] THales the Milesian, perceiving that the next year would be a very plentiful season for oyl, (by the rising of the seven Stars,) bargained afore-hand with his customers for all that years oyls at a greater rate, than otherwise, by reason of the great plenty, he could have sold them for. And likewise foreseeing the next year there would be a great scarcity, he aforehand bought up ma∣ny mens oyls at a cheap rate; and the year following sold them very dear, and thereby became rich. Fulgos. lib. 8. cap. 11. and others. Pliny ascribes this piece of Policy to Democritus, and sayes, That Sextius a Roman used the very same cunning at Athens. This man commanded his body, when he was dead, should be buried in a very obscure place of the Milesian fields, foreseeing that there should be a forum or common Mart erected there by the Romans. Plutarchus in Solone.

[ 60]

AT Mnesarchis the common Cryer Boetus was told by the Chaldaeans, that his son should be victor in Contentions. Wherefore he would have had his son become a Fencer. But afterwards he set to write Tragedies, and therein was indeed the victor of all others. Gellius, lib. 15. cap. 20. who relates it out of Theopompus.

[ 61] THe Birth-day of the Emperour Augustus fortuned to fall on that very time that Cataline's Cause of his Conjuration was a pleading in Court. And his Father Octavius staying a little lon∣ger than ordinary, excused himself, for that his Wife was newly brought to bed. P. Nigidius, then present, looking his birth-hour, is said to affirm, That then was born the Lord of the whole World. He being at Apollonia, went with Agrippa to Theogenes his Chamber; But when Theogenes had predicted most high things, as he thought, of Agrippa's birth-day, betwixt fear and shame, lest his destiny should prove inferiour, could hardly be perswaded to tell his Na∣tivity. And when he declared it, Theogenes is said to have danced about with joy, and to have worshipped him; which somewhat animated Augustus; so that he afterwards published his destiny, and stamped a Coyn, with the sign of Capricorn, in which he was born. Sabellicus, lib. 8. Ennead. 6. ex Suetonio.

[ 62] WHen Livia bore Tiberius, Scribonius the Mathematitian promised great matters; yea, and that he should reign one time or other; but without a regal diadem: For then you must understand, the power of Caesars was altogether unknown and unheard of amongst them. Suetonius.

[ 63] TIberius Caesar, that he might learn the Art of the Chaldeans had a teacher, one Thrasyllus. As often as he consulted about these kind of matters, he went into a private and out-house, suffering no one to be privy to his business, but one free-man onely. He was altogether unlearned, but of a robustious strong body, and had gone before him through roughs and craggs (for the house stood upon a rock); and this Thrasyllus his Art, Tiberius was resolved to try. For as he returned, if he suspected him of any fraud, he had resolved to precipitate him down a rock in his return, that there might no one remain privy to this his levity. After he had most exquisitely told Tiberius how he should be Emperour, and many other future events, he askt him, If he could calculate his own birth-day? He answered, Yes; and looking into his destiny, the more he look'd, the more he quak'd and trembled, and at last cryed out, That some eminent and imminent danger attended him. When Caesar saw this, he ran to him, embraced him, and told him what his danger was; promisi••g him, for that he knew it, he should be safe of it. On a time Tiberius as he was walking on the Sea shore with

him in much perplexity of mind, Thrasyllus advised him to be of good comfort, and hope better things; but when he grew so de∣jected, that he was almost ready to cast himself into the Sea, being in great fear of his father in law Augustus, Thrasyllus espying a Ship come sailing towards them, affirmed to him very confidently, That that very Ship brought him good tydings. The ship being put into the Haven, he received Letters from Augustus and Livia, whereby he was recalled to Rome, according to his hearts desire. Dion in Augusto.

[ 64] CLaudius the Emperour, a little before his death creating Con∣suls, predicted to them the moneth wherein he should dye; and having assured them of the very utmost limit of his time, in his last counsel he did obtest, that his sons should live brotherly and lovingly, commending them to the Senate, and professed it again and again to them that were present, (and who were very sorry, de∣siring the contrary) that he should dye as he had told them. Sue∣tonius.

[ 65] NEro being born early in the morning before Sun-rising, a cer∣tain Astrologer looking into the course of the Stars, said, That he should reign at Rome, but should kill his own Mother, which when Agrippina his Mother heard, she said, Let him kill me, so he may be Emperour. The event declares, that the Astrologer predicted truth. Xiphilinus in Nerone.

[ 66] AScletarion, a Mathematician, being brought to Domitian the Emperour, because he was so bold as to predict somewhat concerning his end; when he did not deny but he had reported those things which by his Art he foresaw: Domitius growing very angry, commanded him to tell him what his own end should be; and he told him, To be torn to pieces by dogs, and that very short∣ly. Whereupon he presently commanded him to execution, and that body his should be burnt to ashes, and that the ashes should be buried, to try the truth, or rather to disprove the falshood of his as∣sertions. But Fate would not be altered; for when the pile and all was prepared, an exceeding showr of rain came so violently, that all the executioners and company left the dead body by the pile; and, that while, the dogs came and tore it. Whilest he was at Supper, Latinus his Jester telling him this amongst the rest, of that dayes fables and conceits; he was so enra∣ged, as if from this time he had been past hope of life, and lay obnoxious to all the strokes of malevolent fortune. Sabellicus ex Suetonio.

[ 67]

DOmitian the Emperour, superstitiously given to Mathemati∣cal Predictions, and thereby being informed of the time of his death the day before he was killed, having fruit brought him as a Present, he commanded them to be set by, and kept till the next day; and saith, If I may, I will make use of them. And then then turning to them who were next to him, he saith; The Moon to¦morrow being in Aquarius will look red and bloody, which de∣monstrates some horrid wickedness, as all men throughout the World expect. He being advised by Mathematicians, to take heed of the fifth hour of that day, was solicitous to take their Judgment, What great mischance would come by reason thereof, who said, That it portended great mutation in the World. He therefore when that day came, sitting idly, and scratching a little Wart on his forehead, he broke it, so that some blood ran down his face; which seeing, he said, God grant I have no greater hurt then this. And enquiring what a clock it was? it was answered purposely, That it was the sixth hour; though it was the fifth hour, which he so much feared; whereupon thinking all danger past, he joyfully ri∣seth, intending to refresh his body: but instantly his Chamberlain Parthenius came to him, telling, he was to speak with one in his bed-Chamber upon an important business; whither coming, he received from him and his confederates seven wounds, whereof he dyed, in the fourty sixth year of his age, and fifteenth year of his reign. Sabellicus, lib. 4. Ennead. 7.

[ 68] HAdrian the Emperour was not onely excellent in other Arts, but also in Astronomy, which Marius Max. doth so far de∣clare, that he knew all things concerning himself; insomuch, that he foreshewed his Acts which he should perform every day, even to the last hour of his life. It is manifest, that he told Verus, whom he adopted, That the Fates shew to terrene creatures what shall be done, beyond which nothing can proceed here: He wrote to that very year, yea and the moneth of that year in which he departed, and shewed, that he could not out-live that moneth. Fulgosus, lib. 8. cap. 11.

[ 69] SEptimus Severus Pertinax is said to have been a most skilfull Ma∣thematician: When his wife Martia, the Mother of Bassia∣nus was dead, he calculated the Nativities of all about him, and finding that Julia, though not nobly descended, yet by the Planet under which she was born, it was signified, that she should be Em∣presse, he took her to wife, who was the Mother of Greta Valetera∣nus. The same man travailing towards Brittanie, told, That he should not thence return, and that in the roof of the Palace, in which he used to sit in Judgment; he left his predictions in wri∣ting, so that all men might see them wholly, except that part of them which treated of the hour of his birth. Xiphilinus Dionis Niraei abbreviator, in Severo.

[ 70]

A Certain Aegyptian from the Mendosian coast, comming to Con∣stantinople, went into an Inne, the hostesse whereof was a skil∣full Midwife, who assoon as she had drawn some Wine for her guest, tells him with an extended loud voice, that a friend of hers now in labour of her third child was in great danger unlesse she had speedy help, whereupon she suddenly left the Aegyptian, went and helped the woman from the misery of her travell or labour, and returns to her guest, who being angry for her absence, she relateth the cause of her stay. He exactly observed the time and hour of the day; Go, said the Midwife, and tell the Woman in childbed that she hath brought forth one that shall be able to do more then the Emperour; which said, she carouseth a whole bowl of Wine, and told what the Infant's name should be, and accordingly after∣wards he was named Ablabius: who had such excesse of fortune, that in the time of Constantine the Great, he was made Praetor, by which office he could do more then the Emperour. Eunapius, in vi∣ta Aedosii.

[ 71] TWo Jews, Astrologers and Magitians, promised Zira Prince of the Arabians, Empire and long life, if he would demolish the Christian Temples and Images of Saints, which he put in execution: but before a whole year came about, he died, and his Son intended to punish the Impostors, but they fly into Isauria (where Leo, who after Theodosius the third Emperour was cast down, was called Isaurus) they find a boy of mean birth, but endewed with a most excellent and towardly wit and genius; they tell him that he should be Emperour, and that so confidently, that they swore by many Oaths, that the event should answer their predicti∣ons, if he would but do what they desired; and he promised to do what ever they prescribed. Afterwards Leo obtains the Empire; in the ninth year after, they require the performance of his promise and seek nothing but that he will abolish the pictures of Christ and his Mother. The Emperour in observance of his promise puts down all Images, and heavily punished all that worshipped or kept them. Cuspinianus Zonara.

[ 72] SImon Prince of the Bulgarians, led his Army against the Crabats, and fighting them in narrow places betwixt Mountains, lost all his Army, a certain man named John, a Magitian and Astrono∣mer comes to Lucapenus the Roman Emperour, and adviseth him that he should send some body who might cut off the head or top of a Pillar which was placed over the Arch made in the remembrance of the Victory of Xerolophus, and over against the Sun-setting, pro∣mising that thereupon Simeon, (to whom it was fatall) should pre∣sently perish, and in the same hour the head of the statue was cut off (as it was afterwards found by diligent inquisition made) that Simeon died by the grief or sicknesse of his heart. Cedrenus.

[ 73]

Guido Maltraversus, Earl of Patavia, and Knight of Lucius, had a Son called Nicholas by Constantia the daughter of Obicius Marciones an Estensian, whom Jambonus Andreas, as well a Magiti∣an as an Astrologian, did predict a pernicious Citizen to his coun∣trey, and moved his Father if possibly he could to dis-inherit him. Guido dyes, whereby Nicholas becomes powerfull in Riches and credit, conspires with Canes Scaligerus, the destruction of his Coun∣trey: whereupon is raised a most bloudy war, in which as it is re∣ported, an hundred thousand men and upwards were slain. So the event proved the prophecy of Jambonus true. Bernhardus Scardoneus Blandus, lib. 8. Decad. 2.

[ 74] THe French men having to their Generall Guido Appius, and fighting against Martinus, besieged the Town of Livius, at that time when the Sicilians celebrated the French Vespers. Guido Bonatus, Prince of the Forolivensian Astronomers, and without doubt a Magitian also, foretold the Earl of Mount-ferrat, that the day before the Calends of May, he should make a sally contrary to the expectation of all men, whereby he should obtain most assuredly victory over his enemies, but that he should receive a wound in his hip; and being a skillfull Physitian and Surgion, he took with him Ovalls, Glisters, and necessary things with him to bind up his wound, when he sallied out against the Enemy; nor was the event contrary to this presage, for the French were overthrown. Platina in Martino. 4. Blandus lib. 8. Decad. 2.

[ 75] ANtiochus Tibertus excellent in Chiromancy, P••romancy, and Physiognomy at Cresena, foretold to Guidon a servant, whose sirname was Guerra, that upon suspition of infidelity, he should be killed by his intimate friend; To Pandulph the Tyrant he also told that he should be banished to Malatesta in Armenia, should in ex∣tream poverty dye a banished man; and not long after Pandulphus killed Guidon, for that he was jealous of his fidelity; and commits Antiochus himself to Prison, that he might try the event of his pre∣sages. Antiochus so far prevailed with the daughter of the Jaylour that he obtained of her a rope, by which he was let down out of the Prison into a Ditch, but being by the noise of his shackles disco∣vered, he was taken as he was flying away, and brought back hea∣vily beaten for his escape, and he and the maid both secured. At length Pandulphus, a banished man, poor and forsaken of all men, died in a poor Inne. So many things were portended to befall Ti∣berius himself, which notwithstanding his warning, he could by no means avoid. Jovius, in Elogiis.

[ 76] PEtrus Leonius of Spoleto, a famous Physician who first opened a dore to the learned Art of Physick publishing Galen's most studious labours therein, he was a most dexterous Astronomer and Magitian, and therefore knowing that his sudden death was por∣tended

to him by the danger of water to avoid frequent Navigati∣ons, he departed from Petavius and the Venetians to Umbra and Spoleto; Shortly after being invited to the company of Lawrence a Physitian, he by the fallacious Art of Astronomy predicted to him recovery of his health and present deliverance from a sicknesse, under which he grievously laboured, which made him neglect all means to obtain his former health by rejecting Lazarus Placentinus an illustrious Physitian, who sent to him by Lewis Sfortia, brought Physick to him, when it was too late by reason of his neglect. Wherefore Antiochus blamed and hated of all men after the death of Lawrence, whether by his own desperate action, or by the vio∣lence of Peter the Son of this Lawrence it is uncertain, he was pre∣cipitately drowned in a stinking ditch belonging to a Town near adjacent. Jov. in Elogiis.

[ 77] BArtholomaeus Cocles, a Bononian. Scholler to Antiochus, and a most exquisite Palmist and Physiognomist, warn'd Goricus the Astrologer, that he should beware, lest he suffered most violent tortures when he was at Leucas. But he not minding his advice in his Ephemerides that a little after he made, predicted, that Joannes Bentovolus should be thrust both out of his Country and Go∣vernment, for which the Tyrant caus'd him to be five times tossed in a cord; And so he received the reward of his Art. This same Cocles told one Coponus, that he would very shortly commit a most horrid murder; and also told Hermes the King's son, That he should be banished and kill'd in fight. Hermes therefore commands Coponus to kill Cocles his evil Prophet. Cocles foresaw his danger of death by his art, and therefore wore a private helmet to defend himself, and alwayes carried a great two-handed sword. But Co∣ponus in the habit of a Porter (whilest he was earnest in unlocking his door, which Coponus had before prevented, by putting a little wire into the lock, that he might have the better opportunity for his design) beat out his brains with an Ax: and being questioned for it, alledged no other thing for the fact, but that he was incited thereto by Cocles his own self, telling him that he must be a mur∣therer, and nothing else. Jovius in Elogiis.

[ 78] A Certain Astrologer in the Court of Frederick the second, Em∣perour, much reverenced Rodolphus the Haspurgensian Earl with exceeding observance, though he had but a mean estate, and valued not at all men far more potent; and being demanded a reason thereof by the Emperour; he answered, I know that Ro∣dolphus shall be Emperour, and when thy Issue shall decline, his renown shall be spread abroad far and near, though he be esteemed by few at this time: Neither did his presage want a true event, for in the year of our Lord, 1273. in the Calends of October, he was chosen King of the Romans by the Princes of Germany at Franckford, when he besieged the Pallace. Cuspianus, in Caesaribus.

[ 79]

WHen the Mathematicians looked into the Geniture of the Great Sfortia, and observed the excellent positure of the Stars, and their admirable sites and aspects they predicted to him, High Empire, immortal glory, and a happy off-spring: but at length they added, That he should not attain old age, but should perish by an untimely death. Jovius, in ejus vita.

[ 80] BRaccius, the excellent Montenensian Duke, seeing the body of his Enemy, Sfortia the Great, drowned in the River of Piscaria, fell a praising the dead man with most exquisite Encomiums, which of right belonged to him: but he not being freed from so great danger of a present battle, shewed to his Souldiers a more cheerful countenance; because he, being conscious of a fatal se∣cret, had learned from Astrologers, that Sfortias indeed was to go before, as taken with a violent death, but a little after himself al∣so, as it were with the like lot, should undergo the same fortune of departure: He scarce lived over the fifth moneth, when as for thirteen moneths space, making assault at Aquila; and it being in vain besieged, at length in a memorable battel, being overcome and slain by the sword of the Sfortian Souldier, he fullfilled both the truth of the Stars, and many prophets. Jovius, in the life of Sfortias.

[ 81] UNto Uladislaus Jagellon, King of the Polanders, Sophia his wife brought forth sons, Uladislaus and Andrew Casimir; There was at Cracovia, Henry a Bohemian, a famous Astrologer, and studious of Magick; this man foretold, That an Infant new born, should be long-lived, but unfortunate; and that he reigning, Poland should be afflicted with great evils and calamities: but his brother Ula∣dislaus was to be most famous, and most victorious: and unlesse Nature's destinies should envy a longer life to him, he should com∣mand many Nations. Both which things the issue afterwards pro∣ved; For Uladislaus, who was chosen King of Poland, and King of Hungary, being slain at Varna by the Turks, in the 20th year of his age, gave not satisfaction to this famous hope. But Casimir, who succeeded his brother in the Kingdom of Poland, reigned 45 years, lived 64, was bent rather on the Lituanian huntings, than on the Common-wealth. Cromér. book 19. & 29.

[ 82] BAsil, a Mathematician, but most certain soothsayer, a certain Greek, foretold the murder of Alexander of Medicis, Duke of the Florentines, to be committed by Laurence Medices, his near kinsman; he not onely shewed him the murder, but also the cer∣tain smiter, who should be intimate with him, of a slender form, of a boxy-coloured countenance, and of a doubtfull silence, almost not keeping company at all with others in the Court. Also unto Cosmus of Medices they promised for certain, forasmuch as in the very marking the hour of his birth, he had a happy Star of Capri∣corn,

as once Augustus, enlightned with a wonderfull aspect of Stars agreeing together, it should come to passe, that he should increase in a wealthy inheritance. Alexander indeed hearing it, and Cosmus smiling, when as a great number of his kindred was to be consumed by death, before any, even a small inheritance, could come unto him. Jovius.

[ 83] JOhn Liechtenberg, in the yearly predictions of his Ephemeris, as I may so say, admonished the Prince of Bavaria, in a serious man∣ner, both by writing and painting, that a Lyon should seek hiding places for fear of an Eagle. He despised it; but not long after he was assaulted with a grievous Warr by Maximilian the Emperour. Agricola in Germane Proverbs.

[ 84] PAul Farnese the 3d, chief Bishop, seeing he was most skillfull in Astrology and Magick, writeth to his son, Peter Aloyse, who had by force entred on the tyrannical Government of Placentia and Parma, that he should beware of the tenth day of September, of the year 1547, as unlucky to him. The father indeed could warn, but the son could not avoid the danger; but by Conspirators, Augustine Landus, and James Scott, Earls of Placentia, in his own Castle, under pretence of talk, he was slain; and being a long time hung up by the privy parts, he was exposed to be cruelly torn in pieces by the people. Sleidan. 19 book of Commentaries.

[ 85] THere was a Town of the Xanthians, that had a bridge laid over the small River Lycus, in which were said to have been brazen Tables, wherein letters were ingraven. The Empire of the Per∣sians was sometime to be overthrown by the Graecians. The tables with the bridge being shaken down, a little before that it was fought at Granicum by Alexander the Great, they had fallen into the channel of the River: Alexander being much moved at the report of the tables, when as for some time he had stood doubtful, into which part he might chiefly bend the course of victory, tur∣ning to the right hand, he subdued with wonderfull speed all the Sea-coast from Lydia even into Phaenicia. Sabellicus book 4. Ennead. 4. out of Plutarchs Alexander.

[ 86] IN the second Carthagenian war, besides many things seen and heard, which were accounted instead of wonders; a verse or song of Martius being curious, and sounded at the same time, brought the greatest care to the City. That being by a most true event proved, gave no doubtfull credit of the things that were to be. He had written, who ever that Martius was; O thou Trojan born, flee thou Cannae the River of Romana, neither let strangers constrain thee to joyn in battell in the field of Diomedes: but neither shalt thou believe me, untill thou shalt fill up the field with bloud and the River shall bring down many thousands of thine slain out of a fruitfull land, into the great Sea for fishes and birds and wild

beasts which inhabit the Earth, unto these let thy flesh be for meat. Because these things were in great part represented before the eyes of men (for the common sort were acquainted both with the fields of Diomedes, and when they had fought at Canna) there was the greater care of procureing another Verse; which was written in these words: Ye Romane enemies, if ye will drive away the impo∣stume, which commeth from far Nations, I Judge, playes are to be vowed to Apollo, the which let them be faithfully done every year to Apollo, when the people shall give a part in publique, let private persons prepare to use them for them and theirs. Over these sports the Praetor or Major shall be chief, he who shall admi∣nister the greatest right to the people and the multitude. And let the ten chief men, or Decemviri after the custome of the Greeks perform holy things by sacrifice. These things if ye shall rightly do, ye shall alwayes rejoyce, and your affairs shall wax better, for that God shall put out the stubborn enemy, which feedeth pleasant∣ly on your fields. This verse being openly interpreted, sports were vowed to Apollo, and solemnized in a Circle. Sabellic. book 4. En∣nead. 5.

[ 87] PRocopius the Tyrant being slain by Valens the Emperour, the Walls of Chalcedon (because the Citizens of that City had fa∣voured Procopius his party) were made equal with the ground. The which while it was done, they found a table of stone in their foun∣dations, on which these words were written:

When Nymphs shall nigh the holy City dance, And wayes adorn'd with garlands; and by chance, After the wretched walls for placing baths Shall be converted, burning in maddish wrathes, A thousand shapes of men for greedy prey From divers Nations thou shalt see (I say) With forces strong, alas, to go beyond The Istrian and Cimmerian Sea-ey bond, Then Scythick people, then the Maesian Land Shall be destroy'd with slaughter's bitter hand. When at the length unto the Men of Thrace The covetous lust of gain leading a Trace; The cruel barbarism shall make a breach, It shall be quenched by lot's partial reach.

This Prophecy was not then understood, but was afterward fulfill∣ed, when Valens had built a conveyance for water, and had brought abundance of waters to the City. For, the walls being overthrown, he made use of the stones for the conveyance of the water, which he called Valense by his own name, that he might gratifie the Townesmen, and the baths might be holpen by this bringing of water, although some called them Constantius his baths. At length, Clearch, Governour of the City, in a place whose name

is Taurus, afterward called, The street of Theodosius, built Nym∣phaeam, or a washing-place, that he might shew the grace and pleasantnesse of the water brought in. By these buildings, the stony tabl••s signified the coming even now, of the Barbarians, who in Thrace it self, after destructions or robbings of the people made, were all slain. Cuspinian, in Valens.

[ 88] IN the sixth year of Justine the Great: the City Edessa was mi∣serably defiled with uncleannesse; and of the River Scirtus, and in the bank of the River a Table of stone found, written on, in Hie∣roglyphical or mystical Aegyptian letters to this purpose:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

That is,

The River Scirtus shall dance or leap for the mischief of the Citizens. Cedrenus.

[ 89] UNto Alexander the Great going out of India to Babylon, Near∣chus Admiral of the Navy, who had returned from the Ocean, being carried into Euphrates, sheweth him, that certain Chaldeans had gathered themselves together, who warned him, that he should abstain from Babylon. He being nothing moved, went for∣ward notwithstanding, where he perished. Plutarch, in Alexan∣der.

[ 90] WHen L. Vitellius for the favour of Herod the Tetrarch, would lead an Army against the Arabians, they report, Aretas, King of the Arabians, (news being received of the dispatch of Vitellius,) to have gathered by sooth-sayings, that it was im∣possible for that Army to have come to the rock. For one of the Captains was first to dye, either he which may prepare the War, or he by whose command it may be provided, or him against whom it is to be moved. Neither was the divination vain. For when Vitellius was as yet at Jerusalem, a message being brought con∣cerning Tiberius Caesar his death, he made the Expedition void. Josephus, book 18. chap. 7.

[ 91] APollonius an Aegyptian, foretold the death of Caius Caligula, Emperour of the Romans, who for that cause being sent to Rome, was brought to Cuius that day, in which he was to dye the death. Xiphiline, the abbreviatour of Dio, in Caligula.

[ 92] APollonius the Tyanean, the son of Jupiter, foretold, That Cilix, a certain man beyond measure lascivious, should be killed on the third day; and that so fell out. Philostratus, in his life.

[ 93]

LArginus Proclus foretold openly in Germany, That Domitian, Em∣perour of the Romans, was to dye the death; on which day he departed out of life. And when for this cause, by him who was chief over the Province, he was sent to Rome, he then also affirmed it should be so. Therefore he was condemned for a capital matter. But Domitian nevertheless could not escape the danger of life, be∣cause on the same day he was killed. Xiphiline.

[ 94] JUlian, Emperour, moving against Constance, pierced Illyricum, daily espying the intrails of beasts and birds, that he might con∣template of the issue. At which time a certain Souldier lifting up the intrails with his hand, being fallen flat on the ground, he cryed out, many hearing him, The Trojane was fallen, Constance should dye with the Mopsocrenians in Cilicia. The which, he saith, should be by and by verified from Ambassadours. Cuspinian.

[ 95] ALexander Severus, Emperour, when as he spake unto his Army in France, desiring to begin his speech from a lucky word, for∣tune brought a contrary one, the which was received as an evil to∣ken; for he began, Heliogabalus the Emperour being slain, begin∣ing his speech from the Emperours death. But when from thence he went unto the Persian War, an outragious woman spake these words in the French tongue; Go thy way, neither promise victory to thy self, neither rely thy self on the faithfulnesse of thy Souldiers. That which was rightly told, the event taught, he himself not long after being killed by his Souldiers. Fulgosus, in book 1. chap. 3.

[ 96] A Certain woman meeting the two Maximines in the Julian Mar∣ket-place, (when they came against the Senate with an Army) with her hair spread abroad, and a black garment, calling on the Maximines with a great voyce, fell down dead before their feet. After a few dayes, the Army slew the Maxinines in the same place.

[ 97] WHen Dioclesian, as yet warring in lesser places, stayed at Tungrim in France, in a certain Tavern, and had familiar company with Druys a certain woman, and she blamed the niggardlinesse of the man, he is reported to have answered in jest, not in earnest, Then he would be liberal, when he should be Empe∣rour. To these words she saith, Do not jest, O Dioclesian, plainly thou shalt be Emperour, and also thou shalt kill a Boar. Which word indeed of the woman, he taking in the room of a-fore token, began diligently to follow wild Boars in hunting; not understanding, to wit, the riddle of the Prophecies, which the issue afterward de∣clared. For Numerian, Emperour, had been slain by the faction of Arrius [Aper] which signifies a Boar. Which thing being brought to light, the Souldiers chose Dioclesian the revenger, and with

one accord salute him Emperour. He therefore after an assembly had; whereby he might fulfill the saying of Druys, thrusts Aper thorow with his own hand; adding that of Maro —

Aeneae manu dextrâ cadis —

Thou fall'st (thou dost not stand) By great Aeneas his right hand. Cuspinian.

[ 98] ZEno Emperour of Constantinople, asked some secrets of Marian, a most wise Earl, Who should succeed him in the Empire? He answered, One of the Silentiaries shall take thy Empire and Wife; but me thou shalt unjustly kill. Both of these the end pro∣ved in its time.

[ 99] AGilulph, Duke of the City Taurina, when as he brought unto Authar King of the Longobards, his Bride Theodelinda, the daughter of the King of Boiaria, had a Sooth sayer with him, who by the stroak of a Thunder bolt foretold unto him, that a lit∣tle after, he should enjoy the Bride her self, and the Kingdom: and that thing the issue proved to be true. For Authar being killed in War, Agilulph succeeded him in his Kingdom and wedlock. Paul Deacon, of the deeds of the Longobards, chap. 14.

[ 100] ANtonine the son of Sosipater and Eustathius the Cappadocian, had a school at Canobicum the door of Nilus. He foretold to his Schollars, that after his death the Temples of Serapis (a god of the Egyptians) should be overthrown. The event confirmed the prophesie, under Theodosius the Emperour. Eunapius, in Aedesio.

[ 101] REmex a certain Rhodian, being estranged or angry in his mind, began to witness with a loud voyce, that before the thirtieth day there should be very great slaughters and robberies at Dyrrha∣chium in Greece, and fire and flight, but the Navy it self to return home. When Cn. Pompey, who being Pretor, was chief over the Navy, had heard that, and had told it unto three men, Cicero, Varro, and Cato, all being moved; also some of them are said to be ex∣ceedingly affrighted. But the space of a few dayes coming be∣tween, Labienus fleeing out of the battel in Thessaly brought news of the overthrow of the Legions, and that the Army of Pompey was scattered in a great battel; by and by the publique corn was snat∣ched out of the barns, and scattered abroad through the whole City; they that were there, having departed with a headlong flight, were both forsaken by the Rhodians, and being unwilling to follow, the ships were burnt.

[ 102]

PRocopius in his third book of the Vandall-war sheweth, that there was wont to be an old Proverb tossed up and down in Carthage by the children, that Gamma should sometimes persecute Beta, and again, Beta, Gamma. I think the childrens sport to have looked hi∣therto, that between neighbours there might oftentimes rise dis∣cord. But this childish saying was wrested unto the event of things, because Genserick King of the Vandalls had expelled Boniface. Afterwards Belisarius, Gilimer. The Proverb arose, not from what happened, but was a Riddle of the Carthagenian Children, as an Oracle of that which happened afterwards. Erasmus, in his adagies.

[ 103] THere stood Tombs in the Leuctrian field, of the daughters of Scedasus, which they call Leuctrides from the place. For by chance, when they were by force ravished by the Spartan-guests, they had been buried in that place. That so cruell and wicked act being committed, their father having wished for curses on the Spartans, when he could nor by request obtain revenge from Lacede∣mon, stabbed himself upon their Sepulchres. From thence the Prophesies and Oracles daily foretold the Spartans they should avoid and turn away the Leuctrian revenge by the gods. But that thing many did not so understand, but doubted of the place, because also a little Town placed on the shore of Laconia is named Leuctron. Besides there is a neighbouring place of that name in Megalopola of Arcadia. At length the Lacedemonians being in the Leuctrian field of Baeotia over come with a most cruell slaughter by the Thebanes, lost their rule. Plutarch in the life of Pelopidas.

[ 104] THere was with M. Anthony [the triumvir or] one of the three chief men of Rome, a certain Magitian of Aegypt, who had of∣ten moved Anthony that he might withdraw himself from Octavius Thy fortune (saith he) O Anthony, is of it self famous and large, but when it cleaves to Octavius, it is continually blunted. Thy daemon or spirit feareth his Genius or Angell: and when as it is of it self high and chearfull, yet at the approach of this, it is made low and fearfull. He the more easily gave him credit, because whether by lots, or pairs of Cocks and Hens, or Quails committed to hand; Anthony was alwaies inferiour to Octavius. He therefore being stirred with these things, going with Octavia, from whom he had already begotten a little daughter out of Italy, sailed unto Athens. Sabellicus in his ninth book, Ennead. 6.

[ 105] MOst antient Prophets had sung, It was wickednesse for Ro∣mane weapons to go beyond Ctesiphon a Town, and the Cap∣tains that dared to do it, were to receive punishment. They think M. Crassus purposing that thing, to have perished with his Army. M. Ulpius having attempted to go beyond Trajanum, recovered not Italy, and to have lost five Provinces on the other side Tygris present∣ly, and he had been better not to have undertaken the journey, he

wasted, and almost consumed his legions of Souldiers with long pains. And although the Conquerour drew out his bounds far∣ther, yet he profited not much; desiring to go beyond Ctesiphon, Tygris being overcome, Valerian was taken by Sapor King of the Persians. But Odenatus Palmyrene, a conquerour of Romane Maje∣sty, came beyond Tygrim, even to Ctesiphon. Carus, Emperour, led the Army of Probus, a large conquerour, from the Sarma••ian Warr into Persia, he wasted the Enemies Kingdom, he vanquished Se∣leucia compassed about with Euphrates, the which Aelius, the true Antonine, had in times past taken. And then he requiring or as∣saulting Ctesiphon, and willing to proceed farther, either a disease, or the stroak of a thunder-bolt in a troublesome and lightning hea∣ven took him away. Cuspinian.

[ 106] SYbill prophesied of the destruction of Antichrist:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Again, he then an evill time shall see, When his own Net will his destruction bee.

Some understand by the snare or net, the place, wherein Antichrist is to be choaked. Theodore Bibliander, a most learned man, of the Art of Printing, whose matter is flax steeped and glewed together, to wit, paper, with this flax Antichrist shall be dispatched, be∣cause it is that in which the holy Gospel of Christ, and all the Prophets (being written together) are contained: by whose autho∣rity, as it were, by the breath of Christ's mouth, the three-headed Beast shall be brought to destruction.

[ 107] PSammeticus took away Tementes, King of Aegypt. The god Am∣mon had answered Tementes, asking counsel of the Oracle con∣cerning the Kingdom; That he should beware of the Cocks. Psam∣meticus using familiarly Pigritatus, a Carian, when he had known from him, that the first or chief Carians put Cocks on the top of their heads, he understood the mind of the Oracle, and hired a great multitude of Carians, and led them toward Memphis, and pitched his Camps beside the Temple of Isis, in the Pallace, which was distant from the City five furlongs: and a fight being begun, he got the victory. From these Carians, a certain part of Memphis was called Caro-memphites. Polynaeus, book 7. & Herodotus.

[ 108] SYbill foretold, That the warlike glory of the Macedonians got∣ten, Philip the son of Amyntas reigning, in the times of another Philip should go backward:

The glory of Macedon's people, of Arcadia's Kings, What Philip reigning, sometimes profits, sometimes losses brings.

For one, the greater of the two, his Captains shall impose On people strange and Cities, but (forsooth) by Western foes: The lesse shall tamed be in years to come, and by and by Illustrious honours he shall lose by Eastern destiny.

For the Romans, who are to the West, by the ayd of Attalus, and the Mysians, who lye toward the rising of the Sun, deprived Per∣seus the son of Philip, both of his Kingdom and life. Pausanias, in Achaick affairs.

[ 109] UNder Boleslaus the chaste Prince of the Polanders, in the Ter∣ritory of Cracovia, a certain Man-child having teeth, on the same day in which he was born, spake distinctly, and point by point, untill being a young beginner in Christian Religion, he lost both his teeth, and the use of speech. But another six moneths old in the City of Cracovia, spake, That the Tartarians should come; and he foretold, they should cut off the heads of the Polonians: and being asked, he answered, he knew that thing from God, and that evil hung over his own head also; which after the twelfth year came to passe.

[ 110] HAl•• Abenragell, makes mention, That in the King's Pallace he saw an Infant bor••, which, scarce as yet twenty four hours were finished, began to speak, and make signs with the hand. At which thing the King being exceedingly astonished, a greater mi∣racle happened: For he saith, The King standing by, and my self also with many others, the Infant cryed out, saying, I am unhap∣pily born to disclose the losse of the Kingdom, and the destruction and desolation of the Nation. Which words being pronounced, he fell down dead. Coelius, book 29. chap. 14.

[ 111] PHerecides the son of Bades, a Syrian, a heater of Pittacus, walking on the Samian shore, when he had seen a certain Ship running with full sayls, he foretold, That a little after, it should be sunk; and it happened, he beholding it. Laertius and Apollonius in their History of wonderful things. Also Apollonius the Tyanean, having gotten a Vessel fit enough to sail in, when he had reached Leucas, about to go to Achaia, Let us go down, saith he, out of this Ship. But she, although then quiet, a little after was overwhelmed. Phi∣lostratus. Mithridates besieging Cyzicum, Aristagoras said, he had received from Minerva, that he being a pleasant singer, would bring the Trumpeter into the Lybick Sea, therefore he bade the Citizens to be of good courage. And straightway the South-wind blowing more strongly, Mithridates his Navy was troubled, and their warlike Engines for the most part cast asunder. Coelius, book 20. chap. 24.

[ 112]

THey tell, that Pherecydes sometimes thirsting in the Island Scy∣rus, desired water from one of his Schollars; the which when he had drank, he pronounced, That after three dayes there was to be an Earthquake in that Island; which saying, as the end pro∣ved it true, he brought back great glory. Apollonius, History of Won∣ders.

[ 113] GLaucus the son of Epicydides, a Spartan, when as he had recei∣ved a great sum of money from Milesius, a guest, under the name of a depositum or pledge, and after his death, his sons had re∣quired the money. Glaucus after four moneths avouched, that he would give an answer. In the mean time he enquired of the Oracle at Delphos, Whether by denying (through a suborned oath) the money laid up with him, he should make a gain? Pythia an∣swered;

It may indeed, for bold-fac'd Glaucus, turn to present gain, Thus by an oath to conquer, and by robbery to detain The moneys. Afterward 'tis death to swear, but he the man That consciously regards an oath, sustaineth with his hand. But of the oath the Lad is alway mindful, neither hee With hands nor feet as swift doth make approach, but if of thee He taketh hold, will all thy house and progeny destroy, But th'after stock of swearer just, shall better things enjoy.

Glaucus being affrighted with that answer, prayed for pardon or leave. But Pythia affirmed, the same is to tempt God, and to do it. Glaucus indeed being returned home, restored the money to the young men of Milesim, but not long after, his whole house and off∣spring was wholly put out. Herodotus, book 6.

[ 114] ALphonsus, King of Arragon and Sicily, besieged Neapolis; a certain man came to him of a reverend countenance, and foretold, that he should conquer the City about the Calends of June; but not much after, a doubtfull battle was to be, in which the Captain should be taken, perswading him, that he would not commit himself to so great danger. The former part of the Pro∣phecie was true; For on the 4th of Nones of June, he reduced the City into his power. A little after being about to fight in battle against Anthony at Caudola, in the Campanian field, his friends dis∣swading him, and objecting unto him the Prophesie; he answer∣ed; Death indeed will not affrighten a valiant man, much lesse doubtfull Oracles. A battel being made, he was overcome and taken at Caudola, Aen. Sylv. book 2. Com. on Panormitan's Alphon∣sus.

[ 115]

AGathius in his second book of the Gothish War, saith, that, the Germanes to have used sometime women for Prophetesses; like∣wise with a most true event: Plutarch in Caesar calls them holy wo∣men; and they guessed at things to come, by the whirlpools, and noyse of Rivers. Coelius, book 18. chap. 20.

[ 116] ABaris the son of Seuthias a divine of the Hyperboreans, or those above the North-wind, wrote Oracles in the Countries which he wandred thorow, which are at this day extant. He also foretold earth-quakes, Plagues, and the like, and heavenly things. They say when he had come to Sparta, that he warned the Laconi∣ans of turning away evills by holy things, which things being fini∣shed, no Plague afterward was at Lacedemon. Apollonius in Hist. of Wonders.

[ 117] AeDesius the son of Chrysanthius a Philosopher of Sardis had a body so nimble, that it exceeded the belief of all and was plainly carried up on high. There was such a nearnesse to him with a god. that there was no need of a Crown of bayes to be placed on his head, but true Oracles, and framed to the proper likenesse of a spi∣rit blown up by a power. He onely beholding the Sun, would powre forth speech, although he neither knew the Law or or∣der of Verses, nor yet well knew the Rules of Grammar. Euna∣pius.

[ 158] THere is at Sparta, before the Altar of Augustus, in the Market place a brazen portrayture of Agias. They say this Agias to have divined unto Lysander that he should conquer the na∣vy of the Athenians at the River Aegos, besides 10. Gallies with Oares, which by flight betook themselves into Cyprus. Pausan. in La••on.

[ 119] PHilumena a soothsaying maid, whose familiarity Apelles the he∣retick, or as some will, Severus used. To this maid the Devill by an Apparition, in the habit of a boy answered; sometimes say∣ing, he was Christ, sometimes Paul. He also wrought miracles, amongst which that is a chief, that he cast a great loaf of bread in∣to a glasse-viall of a most narrow mouth: and lifted him up with the tops of his fingers unhurt, and with that bread alone, as with meat given her from God, he said she should be contented. Augu∣stine is witnesse.

[ 120] THe same blessed Augustine in his first book against the Aca∣demicks, delivereth that there was a man at Carthage; by name Albigerius, of a reproachfull life▪ who had known all se∣crets, so that when he was asked a question by a Scholler of Ro∣mantian, unto whom Augustine writeth for trialls sake, what thing he though of? He answered, a Verse of Virgil. when he was again

asked by the same Scholler what Verse? he repeated that. Cardane of diversenesse of things, Book 8. ch. 43.

[ 121] ISaac Angell, Emperour of the Greeks, going to Radaestum, a Sea-City, came to Basilacius, a man of an unaccustomed life, and who had obtained that opinion amongst all, as that he could foresee and foretell things to come. He uttered words confused, disagree∣ing among themselves, and doubtfull. The paps of women com∣ming to him being searched, and their Ankles handled, he drew out dark Oracles or speeches, and to many questions he answered nothing, and finished his divinations with runnings to and fro, and mad gestures. There stood little old women by him, his kins-wo∣men, who explained to those that asked Counsell, what those be∣haviours of Basilacius might foreshew of things to come, and inter∣preted his silence as a wise speech. He answered nothing to the Emperours saluting him, neither gave he thanks by a silent nod of his head, but leaping hither and thither like a mad man, cursed those that came to him. Constantine of Mesopotamia, especially who was then most familiar with Isaac. At length with a walking staffe which he carried in his hands, the eyes of the Emperours Image, which was painted in the wall of his privy Chamber of speaking, being scraped out, he also endeavoured to take the cap off from his head. The Emperour despising him as a doting or ra∣ving person returned. But not long after, he was by his brother Alexius deprived of both eyes and Empire, and the opinion of Basi∣lacius was confirmed, the which had been at the first uncer∣tain and doubtfull in many things. Nicet. book 3.

[ 122] HEctor Boethius in the Scottish affairs saith, it was a common re∣port, that Merline was begotten by the copulation of a spirit called Incubus, and a British woman of a Noble bloud, of whom Vincent. in 21. book History 30. thus telleth. King Vortiger, coun∣sell being taken what he ought to do for defence of himself, com∣manded cunning workmen to be called unto him, who should build a most strong Tower. But when as the Earth swallowed up their works, they perswaded the King, that he should search out a man without a father, with whose bloud the stones and morter might be sprinkled, as if by that means the morter would be made firm. Therefore the young man Merline by name, was found, who with his Mother is brought before the King, who confesseth he was conceived by a spirit in Mans shape. This Merline reveal∣ed many dark things, and foretold things to come. For he opened that under the foundation there was a lake, under the Lake two Dragons lay hid, whereof one being red, did signify the people of the Brittains, but the other being white, of the Saxons: and he also prophesied, that Aurelius Ambrose, Hengist being overcome, and Vortiger burnt, should reign. Vier. b. ••. ch. 46. of the Delu∣sions of Devills.

[ 123]

Coelius writeth, there was in his Countrey a poor desolate wo∣man in a low or obscure place named Jacoba, out of whose belly he himself (and indeed an innumerable company of others, not onely at Rodigium, but also almost all Italy) heard the voice of an unclean spirit, very small in deed, but yet, when he would, di∣stinct, and altogether to be understood; when as the mind of the great ones that was greedy of that which was to come, desired of∣tentimes this belly-speaking woman to be sent for, and stripped of all her cloathing, lest any thing of secret deceit should lye hid. The name of the Devill was Cincinnatulus. He much delighting in this name, a little after answered to one calling for him. If thou shalt demand of things past and present, what things might be most hidden, he gave oftentimes wonderfull answers. If of things to come, alwaies most false. But also his ignorance he sometimes more truly discovered by an uncertain muttering or humming. Coelius Book 8. ch. 10. of old readings.

[ 124] ADrian Turneb, the Kings professour of the Greek tongue, testi∣fied that he saw Peter Brabantius a crafty man, very like to Eu∣riclus Aristophanes: who as often as he would, so often he spoke from the nethermost part of his body with unmoved lips: and by this imposture or cousenage of the Devill, he blinded the eyes of many in many places. For when he would be love-sick, for a certain beautifull maid of Paris, nor could perswade her mother, that he might espouse her to himself; at length when they willingly and on both sides talk together of this matter, he uttereth a voice out of his body, in which the dead husband of the poor woman seemed to complain of the greatnesse of the punishments, which he should endure in Purgatory for the mistrustfullnesse of his Wife, because she denyed her daughter so often desired by Brabantius a most ex∣cellent man, with which complaints she being affrighted, and pit∣tying her Husband, assented to the request of the Knave: who not∣withstanding, it sufficiently appeared, sought not so much after the daughter, as a dowry appointed her by her Father in his will. For six Moneths after, when as he had wasted the maids goods, the wife and Mother in Law being left, he fled away to Lugdunum. There he had understood, that a certain Merchant and very rich banker dyed. Who seeing he was accounted a most unjust man, for that he had scraped together all things by right and wrong in his life time, he commeth to his Son Cornutus, his onely heir, walk∣ing in a Porch behind the Church-yard, and intimates that he was sent thither that he might teach him what was needfull for him to do. But while he saith he was to think rather of his father's Soul and good name than of his death, while they speak, a voice resem∣bling his father, is unexpectedly heard: the which when Brabanti∣us gave out of his belly, he feigned himself neverthelesse to be in a wonderfull manner astonied. But his son was moved with this voice, into what condition his father had fallen by his injustice,

and with what torments of Purgatory, both for his own, and his sake he should be troubled, for that he had left him an heir of un∣just goods, and which could by no means be pardoned, unlesse by a just satisfaction made by his son, and due alms conferred on them who at that time chiefly wanted, and those were the Christians ta∣ken by the Turks. Therefore the man, who when he spake, he should believe, that this was sent by Godly men to Constantinople to redeem them, and that he was sent therefore to him from God for that thing's sake. Cornutus, no ill man, although these words heard of gifts, he regarded not, yet because that of money seemed a hard word, he answered he would take deliberation, and bad Brabantius return to the same place the next day. In the mean time being sorrowfull, he a little doubted of the place in which he had heard the voice, that it was shady and dark, and fit for mens lying in wait, and an Eccho. Wherefore the day after, when he brought him into another open plain place, and letted with no brambles or shades; where neverthelesse the same song was re∣peated while they spake, this also being added, that six thousand French Crowns being presently numbred to Brabantius, he should repay three Masses every day for his fathers salvation, otherwise there would be no redemption out of Hell. From whence his son being tyed in Conscience and Religion, although with grief, yet he committed so many to the faithfull dealing of Brabantius, all lawfull witnesse of the thing received and pay∣ed, being neglected. His father being freed from the fires and Vulcans stroaks, for the future was quiet, nor any more called upon his son. But wretched Cornutus, (Brabantius being let go) when as he was more merry then usuall, and his other Ta∣blers could not sufficiently admire it; straightway as soon as he declareth the cause to those enquiring it, he was pre∣sently so laughed at by all, that for grief, after some dayes he dyed, and followed his father to enquire the truth of the thing from him. Vierus, Book 2. chap. 12. Of the Delusions of Devills.

[ 125] AMphiaraus son of Oicleus, a Soothsayer and Prophet, whom when Adrastus, King of the Greeks called Argivi, would lead unto War against the Thebanes, he refused, and that he might not be compelled, hid himself, because he foresaw that he should there perish; yet by the deceit of his wife Eriphile, (whom he had corrupted with a Jewell) he was betrayed, and being against his will drawn to War in Baeotia, in that place, which afterwards was called Harma: he was by the gaping of the earth, with his Chariot and Horses, swallowed up. Statius in Thebaides.

[ 126]

ACtius Navius, a Lad, and that thou mayest laugh the more, a Shepherd, Priscus Tarquinius reigning, taking on himself, the use of a Sooth-sayer's crooked staffe, becoming indeed suddenly an Augur, from the Swine-herd, through the report of the thing di∣vulged, he was called forth to the King. Whom the King behold∣ing, and perchance scorning both his age and habit, tryed in this manner: Whether (saith he) that which is now in my minde, may be done, or may not, I ask? Navius when he had finished his divination, answered, It might be done. But the King thinking to mock him; But (saith he) I did meditate, that I might cut this whetstone with a razor. He with wonderful constancy replyed; Thou mayst therefore; And the razour being snatched up, in the sight of the King standing amazed, and the people, he cut the whet∣stone. From thence divination was sacred to the Romans.

[ 127] WHen L. Sylla was at Nola, that he might encounter with Marius the Elder, his mind being very much troubled, because he thought it a very hard thing; Posthumius the Sooth∣sayer, who did do a divine thing, he being present, both his hands being stretched out to Sylla, said, That he should command him to be bound, and after that to be slain; else the victory of that battle would remain in his power, and he should get a happy successe, be∣cause he had been bidden then by an Augural knowledge to fore∣see it. For the day after, Sylla entring into the City of Rome, drave out Marius from thence, and fulfilled his mind, as he had wished. Fulgosus, in book 8. chap. 11. out of Plutarch in Sylla.

[ 128] SPurina had foretold to C. Julius Caesar, That he should beware of the 30 next dayes, as fatal, whose last was the Ides of March. And when by chance both had come in the morning into the house of Calvus Domitius to the office, Caesar saith to Spurina, What knowest thou that the Ides of March are now come? And he, What knowest thou, that those are not yet past? The one had cast off fear, as though the time mistrusted was finished; the other thought, that indeed the utmost part of it was not void of danger: Would God the divination had rather deceived the Soothsayer, than security the Father of his Country. V••lerius, book 8. & Suetonius.

[ 129] AGrippa, the Nephew of Great Herod, of the son of Aristobulus, being cast into bonds by Tiberius, Emperour, because he seemed to favour Caius, stood before the Pallace, among certain others a like bound, leaning for grief on a certain Tree; on which when as an Owl had sate, one of those that were bound, by Nation a German, beholding the Bird, enquired of the Souldier, Who that Man in purple was? And having known that it was Agrippa, a most noble man of the Jews, he asked the Souldier, that he might have leave to come nearer unto him; for he desired to know some things con∣cerning his Country. Which being obtained by request, and an

interpreter taken, he saith, O young man, so sudden and unex∣pected change of fortune indeed makes thee sad, neither wilt thou easily believe thy escape to be nigh at hand, divine providence so ordering thy affairs; But I call thy Country-gods to record, that I go not about to flatter thee, nor to feed thee with vain com∣fort. It cannot be, but that the course of things being changed, thou shalt escape forthwith out of these bonds, and come both un∣to the largest dignity and power, even to the envy of those unto whom thou hast seemed miserable. Thou art to have also a happy departure of life, children being left in the succeeding of wealth. But remember, when thou shalt again see this Bird, that the fifth day from it shall be destinous unto thee. These are the things which the heavenly ones shew to thee, by sending this Bird; Therefore I intreat thee, that as soon as thou shalt perceive that happinesse to be shown thee, do thy endeavour, that we also may be taken out of these adversities. He was a true Prophet. For six moneths after, Tiberius dyed. Caius succeeded in the Empire, who made Agrippa King. Josephus, book 18. chap. 8.

[ 130] THe Spaniards call a people Adelittans, and Almagonens, who from the flying of Birds, from the voyce, from the meeting of wild beasts, and of very many other things do divine, what good or evil thing is to happen; lastly, they have books most dili∣gently written with all prognosticall divinations. Of these some are Dukes, and as it were Masters, others Earls and Schollars. There is also another cunning of these, to search out the passage, not onely of horses, and beasts, but also of men, by a cloathed or covered, by a naked, by a hard ground, by small stones, by great stones, as that the number of those who passed by, doth not at any time almost deceive them; who by a fit word may be called Sear∣chers. These shewed forth a notable example of their Art in the Warr which Ferdinand waged against the Moors. For when as a hundred Saracen's horsemen had avowed to their King, never to re∣turn, unless they had shewn forth some famous act against the Christians; and had privily come through wayes unpassible, and to fall upon the Christians garrison: The Searchers somewhat per∣ceiving their way and number, made the Watch acquainted of their lying in wait; and they having followed the horsemen, they constrained them, being shut in on both sides to yield themselves in the channel of a brook, being tyed together in a long rank with one rope. Laurent. Valla, book 1. of Histories.

[ 131] ALexander, Emperour, in the year of the Lord, 904, as Sige∣bert writeth, was idle, being given to riot and Magick; He having demanded of his Juglers, Whether he was to live long? he received an answer, If he had taken away from the brazen Boar in the Theatre, his teeth and privy members. By which say∣ing they did signifie, that he was given to gluttony and lusts, from the which, if he did not abstain, he would hasten his death: that

which fell out. For after bathing, yielding himself to banquets and sports, a vein being broken, he dyed with an issue of bloud. Zonaras & Cedrenus.

[ 132] SImeon, Duke of Bulgarians, had brought War on the Crobatians: it is told to Lacapenus, a Roman Emperour; there was an Image placed in the top of Xerolophus his vault, toward the West, that was turned into the shape of Simeon; the head of which Image, if it be cut off, the death of Simeon should not be far off. That being done, the same hour it was told the Emperour, he to have dyed of a pain of the stomach. Zonaras.

[ 133] IN the Gades there is an old stone in the brink of the Sea, most excellently graven upon the passage with Saracens work, down∣ward broad and squared; upward narrowed, and of so great an heighth, as a Crow is wont to fly on high; upon which is the Image of a man lifted up of Copper, raised up on his feet, having his face toward the South, and a great Club holding in his right hand. Which club, as the Saracens deliver, shall fall out of his hand, in the year in which a King to be in France, shall be bo••n, who in the last times shall subject all Spain unto Christian Lawes. And straightway as soon as the Saracens shall see the Club fallen, they shall all flee from their treasures laid in the earth. The Sa∣racens deliver, That Mahomet, while he was yet alive, built that Idol, and engaged a certain Legion of devils thither by the Art of Magick, the which holds it so strongly, that it could never be bro∣ken by any, neither doth it suffer Christians to come to it without danger, but onely Mahometans, and that Birds sitting on it, it sud∣denly killeth them. Turpine of Rhemes, with Eufordiensis, chap. 68.

[ 134] AMong the Biarmians, Laplanders, Bothnians, Finlanders, Nor∣thern people, there is this often kind of magicall divining: The Magitian goeth into a closet, content with one companion and his wife; he smiteth a brazen Frog or Serpent with an hammer, upon an anvil, with certain stroaks, and turns up and down hither and thither, with a muttering of verses; and straightway falling, is snatched into a trance, and layeth along for a short time as dead. In the mean time he is most diligently kept by his foresaid com∣panion, lest a fly, gnat, or any other living creature should touch him. Being returned to himself, he sheweth a ring or little knife, in token of his dispatched embassage, and declareth unto his hires by certain signs what is done. Olaus, book 5. chap. 17.

[ 135] JAnnes, the Master of Theophilus the Emperour, was wont to fore∣tell things to come, by the prophesie and juglings of a bason. When as sometime the Barbarians making use of three Leaders, did annoy the Roman power, the Emperour bade him hope well. Between brazen Images, which were in Euripus of the Circle, a cer∣tain Image with three heads was reported to stand; Therefore Jan∣nes

commanded three brazen hammers to be framed, and them to be delivered to men of strong hands, who at an appointed hour of the night, came with him unto that Image, and when he had com∣manded them, they should valiantly smite the heads, while they, as it were, with one stroke and force should cast down on the earth those heads. A great part of the night being now finished, Jannes came with those men unto the Image, and repeating a magick verse, taketh away the strength that was in the Image, he bade the men with all their force to smite the heads of the Image. By two of their most strong stroaks, two heads of the Image shook off; the third striking something more slackly, he bended indeed, yet pluck∣ed not away the head wholly from the body. After the same man∣ner was it done with the Captains of that Nation: For an inbred sedition arising, two of the Captains were slain, the third received a wound, but not deadly. The Barbarians therefore being deprived of their strength, returned home. Cedrene.

[ 136] APollonius Tyaneus, when he disputed in Ephesus, being almost se∣parated from his soul, and with inbent eyes, as if he had been in the present thing, said often, Smite the sinner Stephen, smite him: And at last added, The Tyrant is dead; who was heard with the great admiration of all that were present: afterward they re∣ceived that on the same day, and the very moment of hour, Domi∣tian the Emperour was slain at Rome, by a man whose name was Stephen, as Apollonius had then declared. Fulgosus, book 1. chap. 9. & Xiphiline in Domitian.

[ 137] STephen the Hagio-Christophorite, (it is the name of an office) but for his wickednesse otherwise called Antichristophorite, after that he knew from the Devil, by Sethus a Magitian, destruction to hang over the head of Andronicus Comnenus, by him whose name had its beginning, [J. S.] he appointed Isaac Angell, whom Andro∣nicus despised as a low-spirited man, to be laid hold of, and first to commit him to custody, and then by the Judgment of Andronicus the Tyrant, to kill him. Therefore entring into the Chamber of Isaac in the evening, he commanded Isaac to come down, and to follow him. But he delaying, he brought force. Isaac defending himself, kills Stephen, and going into the Temple with his sword drawn, he goeth up into that Seat where Manslayers, explaining their wicked deed, desire pardon from those that go in and out. But a multitude of the City in great number, presently flow together unto the Temple. The Uncle of Isaac helpeth him in the same, Ducas, John, and his son Isaac. Moreover, others intreat the min∣gled multitude which had ran together into the Temple, and after∣wards did run to it, that it would stay with them, and help accord∣ing to its power, those that were placed in the greatest danger. Thus therefore Isaac finished the whole night, that he might not think of the Kingdom, but might pray against destruction. But by earnest supplication he obtained this, that a certain man of that

company shut the doors of the Temple, and lights being brought in, he instantly perswaded them by his example, that they would not depart home. When it was day, all the Inhabitants of the City of Constantinople were present, they all prayed God, that, An∣dronicus being driven away, Isaac might enjoy the Empire. An∣dronicus, who was then absent from the City, the murder of Stephen being known, did nothing else, but admonish the Citizens in a short writing, that they should cease to attempt new matters. Whereof this was the beginning, He that hath punishment, is taken away. But in the morning, many running together, Isaac is saluted Emperour of the Romans, when as one of the Church-war∣dens had put the Crown of Constantine the Great, which hanged over the Communion Table drawn down from the stairs, on his head, he was consecrated. Now when as the Emperours horses adorned with Golden trappings, were brought by the Crossing of the Cionians, one being by a Horse••rider pulled away by force, is taken, and is brought unto Isaac. He, that horse being Mounted on, departing from the great Temple, Andronicus giving counsell to himself for flight, entreth the Pallace, and the saluted Empe∣rour is confirmed. Nicetas.

[ 138] WIlliam Earl of Holland, King of the Romans, Frisia being sub∣dued, when as nigh to a certain City he had found a Sepul∣cher adorned with wonderfull work, and did ask, Whose it was? The Citizens answer: None hitherto was buried there; but by some hidden destiny it is reserved for a certain King of the Romans. When therefore the Conquerour did ride with a few men, seeking a place to turn aside in, that he might bring back his army the more safely, he fell in the Ice. The Frisians who lay hid, break out and before the King could be holpen, being partly cut, partly choa∣ked in his helmet, he perished. The Frisians thei•• neighbours be∣ing called together, drive out the Hollanders, and slay them in the year of the Lord 1255. Thus by those of the same Town, accor∣ding to the Prophecy, the King is laid in that Tomb, in the ninth year of his reign. But his son Florentius, the fifth of that name, after twenty seven years brought his Fathers bones out of Frisia into Zeland, Medioburg; and laid them in a Monastery of Nunnes of the Praemonstratian Order, founded by his daughter Richard••, and increased by subsidies, in the year of Christ, 1282. Cuspi∣nian.

[ 139] IN Northern Gothia two Tombs are seen, being huge Stones in the place of way-marks or Crosses, having the bodyes of two brethren laid in them, unto whom it had been foretold by a soothsayer, in their first youth it should come to passe that they should dye by mutuall wounds given. To decline the destiny, they undertook a travell unto the farthest, and most contrary parts of the World. In their utmost old age, at length returning into their countrey, when as any one hoped his brother to have long

since died, not far from the Town Jonacum, they met one another unknown, and Salutation being on both sides given and received, they rested under the next pine-tree. By and by their Dogs wrang∣ling, they also brake forth, first to quarrellings, then to mutuall wounds, and drawing out their Soul, and acknowledging them∣selves to be brethren, they dyed in mutuall embraces. Olaus, in his first book of Northern Customes. ch. 37.

[ 140] SIgthune King of Swethland, while he offered sacrifices to his gods at Upsala the Mother-City, an answer being received by the sa∣crificers, he learned that by a fatall necessity, the highest destructi∣on and death did hang over his head from the mettall of Gold, and therefore he was chiefly to take heed of it: by iron, or Steel, and other mettals he could never be forced or killed. Wherefore see∣ing he thought himself invincible, he attempted dangers of Wars. He had a most beautifull daughter, Gro; This, Schi••ld King of the Danes required to be a Wife to his Son Gram. But her father had already betrothed her unto a most Noble Champion, the brother of Sumblus King of the Finlanders. Therefore Gram thinking him∣self to be despised by Sigthune, being cloathed about with skins of wild beasts, with great hazzard he came to the Pallace of Sigthune, observing a time untill the maid going forth, he might allure her unto a mutuall love, and being allured, and of her own accord wil∣ling, he might bring her away. Yet first, Bessus his companion, through the greatest force of wit, brought on the mind of the Vir∣gin unto the love of his King. Therefore the maid nothing relent∣ing, being brought into his Denmark, he loved with a great love, and begat of her Guthorme, afterwards King of Denmark, and a daughter, wife of Sibdager King of Norway. Sigthune the Father of the maid, suddenly taken away, follows the Danes with war, to revenge the wrong by weapons. Gram, carrying a club in a Gi∣ant-like manner, the which Gold being powred on it, he had made the weightier, slew Sigthune his father in law, too venterously ap∣proaching with his head, leaving by that deed, not an unprofi∣table instruction to the Kings of the Swedes, that they believe Gold is more to be feared then Iron. John Magnus, Book 2. Chap∣ter 6.

[ 141] IN the bed of Sempronius Gratchus, two Snakes were found, they afforded a sad token. For it was shewn by the Soothsayer, if he had sent away the male, his Wife must dye in a short time; but if the Female, himself. The which when Sempronius had heard; loving Cornelia his Wife very much, he sent forth the Female. He kept his Wife; and himself a little after departed out of life. Polydore Virgil, Book 3. Of Won∣ders.

[ 142]

M. Marcellus being inflamed with the glory of the Syracusans being taken, and Hanniball; they being forced, first to flee from him before the walls of Nol••, endeavoured with the greatest diligence, that he might either strike down the Army of the Car∣thagenians in Italy, or might drive them out of Italy, and by solemn sacrifice he searched out the pleasures of the gods. Which first sacrifice fell down before the little hearth, his liver was found without a head, the next had a double head of the liver. Which things being looked into, the soothsayer answered, the entrails plea∣sed him not, because the first appeared maimed or mangled, the second too joyfull. So M. Marcellus, that he might not attempt any thing rashly, the night following, daring to go forth with a few, for seeing or viewing sake, being inclosed with a multitude of his enemies in Brutia, he equally brought a great grief, and dammage to his Country by death. Valerius, ••ock 1. chap. 6. & Plutarch. in Marcellus.

[ 143] ANiharis King of the Longobards, brother of Garibald, King of the Bavarians, ••oo•• Theodelinda his bride in the Veronian field. Not far from thence, a tree being struck from Heaven, Agigulph Duke of the Taurinians, a soothsayer being asked Coun••ell of, re∣ceived an answer. Theodelinda the Virgin to marry Antharis; but a little after, to be a Widow, for Agilulph. The issue confirmed the promise of the Sooth-saying. For Antharis, when he had fairly reigned six years, was taken away by poyson at Tiotnam. The Longo∣bards gave power to Theodelinda his Wife, for her mildnesse, and too much courtesy, that it should be lawfull for her to take that Husband whom she desired, and they promised they would have him for their King. But she chose Agilulph. The Marriage was so∣lemnized at Mediolum, where by the agreement of all, he is de∣clared King of the Longobards or Lombards. Bonfine, Book 8. Of the first Decade.

[ 144] BAtabaces in the Cimbrian War, a Priest of the great Mother ••dea, came to Pessinunt. This man brought word that the god∣desse had shewn him in his passage, that a victory and great glory of war was to come to the people of Rome; When there was an approvement of the Senate, and it had decreed a Temple to the god∣desse for Victories-sake: A. Pompey Tribune of the common people forbade him going into the assembly, that he might utter these things to the people, calling him jugler, and with disgrace drave the man out of the place of their Common-pleas. Which thing most of all commended his sayings. For assoon as the assembly be∣ing dismissed, Pompey returned to his house, so great a force of a Feaver possessed him, that it was manifest to all, and much spread abroad, that he died within the seventh day. Plutarch. in the life of Marius.

[ 145]

L. Sylla being returned out of Asia against Cinna and Marius, he tells that in Silvina of Pontium, Servus a mad man to have spo∣ken to him, who said he shewed to him from Bellona, that he should have the Palme or conquering Crown, and Victory of the War. The which unlesse he should perfect, the Capitoll was to be burnt: and that happened on the same day, which he had fore∣told, which was the day before the Nones of the fifth Moneth, which now we call July. Plutarch in Sylla.

[ 146] CReophilus in the bounds of the Ephesians, saith, those that built Ephesus, when they were greatly in doubt of the place at length they sent unto the Oracle, those which should ask, where the City was to be placed. But the Devil answered, Where a fish had evidently shewn, and a wild Boar had taught. But there is a report, that where the Fountain now called Hypelaeus, is, and the holy Haven, certain fishermen provided a dinner. Then a certain one of the Fishes leaped out together with the dead coals, and fell down into a bundle of Chaff; a green turf is presently inflamed, in which a wild boar by chance lay hid, who being much affright∣ned with fire, ran through a good part of a Mountain, even thither where Trachea is now called, and fell down, being woun∣ded with a dart, where now the Temple of Pallas is erected. Then the Ephesians possessing the Island, when they had inhabited it twen∣ty and one years, in the twenty and second they built Trachea, and afterward Corissum, and there raised up the Temple of Diana in the market-place, and of Pythius Apollo, in the haven. Athenaeus, Book 8. chap. 11.

[ 147] THere was among the Locrians a wooden Dog, having such a History. For a lot was rendred unto a certain Locrian, there he should build a City, where a wooden Dog had fastned a biting on him. For which cause when he had sailed unto the other shore of the Sea, he trod upon a (kunosbaton) that is, a Dog, bush or bramble, a kind of thorn, from thence when he thought the Oracle to have an end, he built the Cities, which the Locrians call or esteem Ozolae. Coelius, Book 17. chap. 28. out of Athenaeus Book 2. chap. 33.

[ 148] LEonides in his fourth book of the people of Attica, saith, when Thymaetes the younger brother, who was a bastard, had be∣headed Aphidantes, King of the Athenians, he himself reigned at Athens. Whereby it was brought about, that Melanthus the Messenian a banished man from his Country, received an Oracle, where he was to dwell, to whom it was answered, where it should be received for gifts from guests, setting feet and heads before him in a supper, the which afterwards happened in Eleusina. For when as they had a certain solemn feast according to their countrey man∣ner, and had spent all the flesh, and the feet onely, and heads had

remained, these very things they brought to Melanthus. Athenaeus, Book 3. chap. 9.

[ 149] BYzantium, before called Lygos, was built by the Lacedemonians. Pausanias being Captain in the most narrow Sea of Europe and Asia, unto whom it was said by the Oracle of Apollo Pythius, that they should place it against blind seats, that is the Megarians; who built Chalcedon in a barren soyl of the Countrey, a wealthy bank being let passe. Strabo, book 7. This City, Constantine the Great, who passed over the seat of the Empire, from the City of Rome into the East, to restrain the inroads of the Parthians, com∣passed with new walls, being warned from God, and adorned it with most high Towers, and stately buildings, that it might be thought rather the habitation of gods than of Emperours. This City, when the Emperour would name Nea, the common people from the builder called Constantinople. Cuspinian.

[ 150] THere is a report, that a Wonderfull meeting of a Sow that had piggs, made a divination to the Trojanes of building a City, who, Aeneas being Captain, had come into Italy. They say she was great with young, and to have come to the Altars, being strucken with the hands of the sacrificers; thence, to have sit down on a little Tomb, four and twenty furlongs from the Sea, in a place surely hideous, and very difficult. Aeneas mindfull of the Oracle, followed the Sow aloof off, with a few that were by chance present, lest being nigh the trace, she should turn from the destinous way. But then contemplating the nature of the place, when as he perceived nothing in it which might invite him to the tillage of it, being doubtfull in his counsell, he was vexed, neither could he bring it into his mind, that such unfit seats were shewn him by destiny. And he was now late busied in advising of that one thing, whether he ought to be there, or should go as yet farther. When as from the next place a voice without an Authour, was given, which commanded the Trojans to remain there. Onely they should go forward to build, other things they should leave to the destinies. Others are Authours, that the shape of houshold gods was here in a dream set before the eyes of Aeneas, by which he was commanded to fortify the place. But whatever kind of Oracle that was, it is a certain report, that the Sow being the day after found with a numerous company of young, which she had brought forth in the night, to have confirmed the truth of the Oracle. The Tomb therefore was fenced with work done in haste, in which afterward Ascanius, who succeeded his Father Aeneas, built the City Alba, that is, white, so called from the colour of a Sow. Sabellicus, Book 7. Of the first Ennead.

[ 151]

TArquinius Superbus, or the proud King of the Romans, began to found the Temple of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, vowed by his grandfather in the Sabine Warr, in the high and rocky part of the Tarpeian hill, the roughnesse of the place being first corrected. But when he had determined to consecrate the floor, according to the custome, and the compass of this space had embraced certain Chappels of most ancient work; which because they were to be unhallowed, that the workmen, all fear of Religion being taken away, might demolish, they say, that then there were mockings of evil Daemons, or devils, that other power had yielded up their divination to Jupiter, and the Goddesses, onely Terminus (some add also Juventa) could not be moved from their seat: And that thing being taken for a token of a stable, and remaining Empire; A chap∣pel to have afterwards remained unmoved in the middle part of the Temple. There is also a certain greater wonder offered to the workmen. A man's head was found with a fresh gore, by those who wrought in the lowest part. Tarquine (for none thought not that to be wonderful) asketh counsel of houshold-prophets. These referring all the praise of that kind of learning unto the Hetruscians, brought tydings to the King, that he should send into Hetruria to enquire. The Hetruscian Prophet answered, It would be, that the Tower of the Empire, and the head of affairs should be there, where that wonder had appeared; and now from thence, the place began, from Tarpeium, to be called the Capitol. Sabellicus, book 5. Ennead. 2.

[ 152] ALexander the Great, moving his Camps from Troas, came to the Temple of Minerva. There is a Priest, Alexander by name, when he had seen before the house of Ariobarzan, who was Presi∣dent of Phrygia, an Image struck down on the ground, and other strange sights of no small moment, he came to the King, and in a great horse-exercise, confirmed, That he should be a Conquerour; especially if he did joyn his companies in battel about Phrygia. He added thereto also, That he should kill the Captain of his enemies with his own hands: But all those things were shewn to him by the gods themselves, and chiefly from Minerva, which was to be an help to him for the performing things prosperously. Alexander received the foretelling of this Priest with a joyfull mind; and presently honoured Minerva with most large sacrifice, and dedi∣cated his bucklet unto her, and by and by brought out another that was most firm for him: With which he being armed, entred the first fight, where he carried away a famous victory. Diodore, book 17.

[ 153]

WHen the Grecians had gathered Ships together in Aulis, a Haven of Eubaea, to go to Troy, and an Altar being built, they sacrificed under a Plain Tree; a Serpent of a wonderful big∣nesse creeping under the Altar, went up into the top of the Plain-Tree, and inclosing a Sparrow's nest hanging on an outmost bough, he devoured eight young ones, and the mother her self taken by the wing, and presently himself stiffned into a stone. Calchas, a Pro∣phet, interpreted the divination. The Greeks should besiege Troy nine years in vain, at length in the tenth year to take and overthrow it, the glory of such a deed to remain for ever. Ulysses in Homer. Iliad. 2. repeats the History.

[ 154] ALexander the Great, assaulting Gaza; a Crow flying over, a certain turf or lump of earth being let down from on high, smote the shoulder of Alexander, and then sitting on a Towr besmeared with slime, she being infolded by the tough matter, was taken by the wings. Plutarch saith, she sate in an Engine, and there, being ensnared in a knot of ropes, to have stuck fast. Aristander the deviner beholding that thing, said it would be, that the City would be in a short time taken, but it is a danger, lest some wound the King would receive that day. And both indeed happened. Sa∣bellicus, book 4. Ennead. 4.

[ 155] COelius Pontius, when a Pye had sate on his head, declaring the law, and the Soothsayers had answered, the Bird being let go, there would be a victory of the enemies; but she being killed, of the Commonwealth; yet he who had oppressed it, should dye: he presently killed that bird. From which it fell out, that Coelius himself, with fourty others, was slain. Volatteran. book 14. chap. 2. Anthro pol.

[ 156] ALexander the Great, an Expedition into Asia being underta∣ken, after he moved to the Warr, both other wonders of the gods were shewn, and also a sign of Orpheus at the hill Libe∣thrum, there was a Cyprus Tree, which issued forth about that season with a plentiful sweat. All being affrighted with that won∣drous sign, Aristander bade him be of good courage, he should car∣ry on thing never to be blotted out, and famous, which should afford much sweat and pains to Poets and Musitians, singing them forth. Plutarch, in Alexander. The same Alexander besieged Tyre now the seventh moneth, and while he refresheth almost the whole Army from their former labours, but brings a few to the walls, that his enemies might not have respite, Aristander the divi∣ner, sacrifices being slain, when he lookt into the intrails, he con∣fidently affirmed by the Crow, That that City was without doubt to be vanquished. Which receiving his saying with a mock and laughter, because it was the last day; the King seeing him trou∣bled,

and favouring alwayes his Prophesies, forbade hereafter, that to be numbred the thirtieth day, but the twenty eighth of the moneth; and a sign of the Trumpet being given, he set upon the wall more sharply, than from the beginning he had begun to do. When the City was not sloathfully assaulted, neither those that were in the Camps were at rest, but ran together to bring help, the Tyrians were broken, and Alexander took the City that day. Plu∣tarch, in Alexander.

[ 157] THe Syracusans being besieged by Nicias, went up to the Tem∣ple of Hercules, because they had not a long time performed solemn rites to Hercules, and they offered sacrifice. The Priests being Soothsayers, declared unto the Syracusans joyfull intrails and victory, if they did not begin the conflict, but beat back their force. For Hercules in defending himself being first forced, over∣came all. And so going forward, they made a very great and sharp Sea-battel in the very Harbour, and overcame the Athenians. Plu∣tarch in Nicias.

[ 158] L. Sylla, when he was sent with an Army to the Sociall War, at Laverna, a tempest lighted into a great bosome of earth, and out of it a great fire brake, and lifted up a light flame to Heaven. But the fortune-tellers told, That an excellent man, and excelling in beauty, and famous, was to let loose the City unto present storms, when he had taken the highest command. Sylla saith, this man to be himself: For a shining hair of a golden colour is peculiar to his face. But he would not blush if he take virtue or valour to him∣self, so great and famous deeds being done. Plutarch in Sylla. In the same Warr, when he sacrificed before the Pretor's house, he sud∣denly beheld a Snake sliding down from one part of the Altar, which being seen, he forthwith by the encouragement of Posthumius a Soothsayer, drew forth his Army for the Voyage, and took the most strong Camps of the Samnites. Which Victory laid the steps and foundation of his future and most large power. Valer. Max. book 1. chap. 6.

[ 159] P. Scipio Africanus, when he had found that Army which laid Carthage equall with the ground corrupted, he amended it. But they report, the hilt of his sword springing with much blood, to have foreshewn the end of the War: the which, when it was oftentimes wiped off, a little after it was more bloudy: For that monstrous thing, said the Soothsay••rs, doth signifie a great slaugh∣ter of the enemies. Suidas.

[ 160] THey report, That sometime the head of a ramm with one one∣ly horn was brought unto Pericles out of the field; and Lampo the Prophet, as soon as he saw the strong horn, and firm, sprung out of the middle of his forehead, to have said, The power of two

factions that were in the City, of Thucydides and Pericles, were to be brought unto one, with whom this wonder had happened. But Anaxagoras, when he had dissected the bone of the head, to have shewn, that the brain filled not up its seat, but in manner of an egg, the sharp part to have rolled out of the whole shell, in that place, from whence the root of the horn drew its beginning. And indeed they who were present, had, at the present, Anaxagoras in admiration: a short time after, Lampo, when as the wealth or ayds of Thucydides being broken, the whole Common-wealth had fallen back into the hand of Pericles. But both of them might con∣conjecture rightly, as well the Naturalist, as the Prophet. The one, who well followed after the cause; the other, the issue; for it belonged unto his office to consider whence it had proceeded, and how it had sprung forth; to this man, to foreshew, what there was at the time of its nativity, and what it should betoken. Plutarch in Pericles.

[ 161] BEfore the time that Alexander the Great set upon the Persians, they say Darius (when he first began to reign) commanded the Persian sheath or scabberds for their darts to be made after that fashion which the Greeks at that time used, and then many of the Chaldean Prophets foretelling, That the Empire of the Persians should be translated to them, of whom he was King, he imitated the fa∣shion of their sheaths for darts. It happened accordingly; for Darius being overcome and taken by Alexander, the Empire of the Persians was translated to the Greeks. Sabellicus, lib. 4. Ennead. 4.

[ 162] THe Buckler of Maximinus the Father being set on fire by the Sun, and his Spear being struck by a Thunder-bolt, was clo∣ven through the Iron and all, from the very top to the bottom there∣of; from which the Soothsayers gathered, That there would arise out of that Nation, Emperours of the same name, who would con∣tinue but for a short time: Which came to pass; for the Father and Son, called by the name of Maximinus, in a short space after ruled the Empire together. Sabellicus, lib. 1. cap. 4.

[ 163] DIon prepared a Navy of Ships in Zazinth against Dionysius; Miltas, a Thessalian Prophet, observing a Martinel or Mar∣tin, which flying amongst the ships, lighted upon the very top of the stern of the ship wherein Dion was: thereby was caused to fear, (as he privately told his friends) that the magnificent things which he was about to perform when they had flourished a small time, would decay and come to nothing. Plutarch. in Dion.

[ 164] DIonysius Syracusanus was put away by the Tyrant Dion, at which time an Eagle snatched from one of his guard a Lance, where∣with sublimely mounting, at length she let it down into the deep; whereupon the Prophet said, That the Eagle was the minister of

Jove, and that the Lance was the Ensign of principality; and there∣fore he concluded, That the Prince of the gods would work the subversion of the Tyrant. Plutarch, in Dion & Theopomp.

[ 164] WHen Croesus, King of the Lydians, fought against Cyrus King of the Persians with equal success, and staying at Sardis; upon a suddain all the Suburbs were filled with Snakes, which the horses while they were going to grass, devoured; they whom Telmisses consulted about what happened, said, That there would come a forreign Army which would overcome the Natives; for, say they, a Snake is a child of the earth, and a Native; but a horse is an enemy, and stranger. In the mean time, Croesus was ta∣ken of Cyrus, and stript of his Kingdom. Herodotus, lib, 1.

[ 165] WHen Dion was about to raise Warr from the Iland Zazinth, against the Tyrant Dionysius, at the solemn vows and sacri∣fices, the Moon was eclipsed; moreover, ecliptick circuits, and the shadow which m••eteth the Moon, was no strange thing to Dio, who thought the Earth the object of the Sun: but because he desi∣red to elevate the minds of his astonished Souldiers, he called for M••ltas the Thessalian Prophet, who when they were all called to∣gether, made a learned Oration, wherein he advised them to be of good courage, and assure themselves of great success; for that god had declared himself defective by the eclipse, by reason of the pre∣sence of their illustrious Leader; and that there was nothing more illustrious then Dionysius the Tyrant, by the glorious splendour of whom, they should overcome the Sicilians as soon as they should there arrive. Theopompo Plutarch. in Dio.

[ 166] THe Sacrifices offered by Dionysius the younger to the gods, por∣tended great prodigies, at that time when he most tyrannical∣ly put away Dion, the Sea was so high by a tide, that it over∣flowed the Castle; yet within four and twenty hours the water was so sweet, that it was potable, and that many who tasted there∣of, declared the same: Which thing Plinius remembers, in his book 2. cap. 100. Swine brought forth piggs that had all their parts, but that they wanted ears; the Prophets expounded that, to portend defection and rebellion, and that the Citizens should be no longer obedient to the Tyrant; and that the sweetness of the wa∣ter signified a vicissitude to the Syracusians, by alteration of their sad and heavy times, into better and more comfortable. Theopompus and Plutar. in Dion.

[ 167] ACtius in Bruto writeth, Tarquinius Superbus had a dream to this purpose, That a Shepherd came to him and brought him two Rams, and that he immolated one of them, and that he saw a survivour, who rushing upon him with crooked horns, he was with a suddain impetuous force cast prostrate upon the ground upon his back, and casting his eyes towards Heaven, he perceived the Sun

to passe through a new orbe and unaccustomed way; which when he had related to Interpreters, they advised the King to take heed, lest he whom he accounted rude, a beast and monster, being armed with wisdom, should drive him out of his Kingdom; and that what was shewed him by the Sun, portended a change to the peo∣ple: which happened accordingly; for Brutus, whose brother the King had oppressed, and whose wit he but sported and mocked at, drove away the King, and Kingly Title; and the Roman State was so altered, that instead of one perpetual King, it begun to have yearly two Magistrates. Petrarcha de Somniis, ex Ciceronis, lib. 1. de Natura Deorum, Accii Bruto.

[ 168] HIppocrates, the most valiant Duke of Athens, being alone, chanced to see at Olympia, a sight portending strange things; for when he had immolated the host, the pots (as they were order∣ed) were full of flesh and water, and without any fire put to them, grew so hot, that the water boyled over: which portent, Chilon the Lacedemonian, who by chance came thither, beholding, first per∣swaded him, that he should not bring his Wife thither, being fruit∣full. Secondly, if he had a Wife, that he should put her away; and if she had born him ever a son, he should resign him: but Hippocrates not observing the counsel of Chilon, but promoting his son Pisistratus, he invaded the Tyrant at Athens. Herodot. l. 1. Sabel. l. 6. Ennead. 2.

[ 169] AT Thebes in Boetia, in the Temple of the Law-giving Ceres the time when by the conduct of Epiminundas, the people of Leuctrica overcame the Spartanes, the Spiders had woven white webs about the Valleys, the Macedonians now by the conduct of Alexander the Great, invading the Coasts, there presently appeared sights portending ruine and destruction to the City, all things were filled with black workmanship. Pausanias in Boeoticis. This sign was three moneths before Alexander came to Thebes, about that time, the Statues which stood in the Common Hall, were seen to send out of the huge gravings abundance of sweat, besides these things, it was testified to the Magistrates, That the Pond or standing Lake which was at Onchestus, sent forth a noyse like to the Lowing of Cattle, and that there was in Dirces a certain horrid bloody shape, which swimmed upon the water, and there were not want∣ing some of Delphos, who said, That the top of the house which the Thebans built, appeared to the Phocensian people to be full of blood; the Prophets said, That the Web did portend the gods migration from the City; the shape of the Heavenly bow, perturbation, and various sorts of molestations; the sweat sent from the Statues, ex∣tream losses; and moreover, the blood which was seen to appear in many places, shewed, that bloody slaughter would ensue at Thebes. Diodor. lib. 17.

[ 170]

AT Saguntum, before it had suffered the misery which Hanni∣bal afterwards inflicted upon it; amongst many and daily monstrous sights which were seen, A child which was almost born out of his Mothers belly, returned back to the Mothers womb again: Which Prodigie, the prophets said, did foreshew a de∣structive Warr, imminent and fatal destruction; so that it was utterly overthrown by slaughter. Alex. lib. 2. cap. 31.

[ 171] ARchilaus, Tetrarch of Judea and Idumea, was sent for, being accused of Tyranny by Caesar, to Rome; who after hearing the accusations of his enemies, and his own defence, banished him to Vienna in France, and taking all his substance from him be∣fore he exiled him, in the tenth year of his Government; before he was sent for to Rome, he told to his friends this Dream; He saw ten ripe ears of corn full of wheat taken away by Oxen; and con∣sidering that his dream was worthy to be taken notice of, he con∣sulted with interpreters of dreams concerning it; who disagreeing concerning the meaning thereof, Simon, one of the Essaei, to wit, one that abstained from flesh, wine, and women, as all the Jews of that Order did, (making an apologie) said, That this vision did portend change to Archilaus, and that to the worse; for that Oxen did signifie misery, because this kind of creature is under con∣tinual labours; and furthermore, it foreshewed mutation of things, because the ground being turn'd by the labour, retains neither the same place nor form; but those ten ears of corn, shew the number of ten years, for that they go about by annual turnings, and that immediately there would ensue an end of the domination or rule of Archilaus: so did this Jew interpret the dream. Five dayes af∣ter this vision, Caesar sends a procurator to Judaea to summon Ar∣chilaus before him, Joseph. l. 17. c. ult.

[ 172] AT the Palatine house of Mediolanum, seven dayes before the Lievtenant Governour Barnabas was taken by his Cosen Galea∣cius, there was such vehement lightning, that the hangings of his Inner Chamber were burnt with a Thunder-bolt, and his Ensign being a marble Viper, was shattered in pieces. A Prophet then, a domestick, whose sirname was Medicina, in the nones of May, ob∣served the unhappy conjunction of three Stars, (he had formerly predicted much) and then he endeavoured to retain him whom he saw running precipitately towards his destruction, which was thereby threatned; but such was the hidden power of his fate, that he went on his way, being wretchedly infatuated. Jovius in Barnaba.

[ 173] ZEnon the Emperour hearing of the discomfiture of his Army, lees into a little Castle sited upon an hill, which the people called Constantinople; which considering immediately after his coming thither, he with sighing said to his company; Poor man,

Is it the sport of the gods, who have thus deluded me? for the Pro∣phets did confidently affirm, That it behoved me to be at Constan∣tinople in the moneth of July; whereupon I thought I should have been in the City, but (poor wretch as I am) I am onely in this lit∣tle Hill, which beareth the like appellation.

[ 174] A Certain man called Harold, who bragged that he had a familiar spirit; told Frederick the second that he should die in the Florentine field; Therefore, in that his last journey from Thuscia to Apulia, he used all possible care to avoid it; but fal∣ling into a grievous Feaver, he was forc't to lye at the Castle of Apulia, six miles distant from Luceria (which they call Florentinum) assoon as he remembred the prediction of Hariolus, and the name of Florentinum, he perceived that the end of his life was at hand. Collenutius, l. 4. Historiae regni Neopolitani.

[ 175] CErtain Writers affirm Ezelinus a Roman, and Albericus bre∣thren, bloudy and fierce men to have been the sons of Adeb∣heida, a Lady of the Noble bloud of the Tuscans, of so high a wit and discretion, that (beyond belief) as well by observing the Hea∣vens and Stars as Magicall Art, she foresaw things to come. Many Predictions which accordingly fell out, were demonstrated to her Husband and Children, and especially this one; That on the day of her death, she pronounced three Verses in manner of an Oracle in which she cha••ted forth the might, and progresse, and the very place of the death of her sonnes, and it appeared by the events no∣thing of the Prophesy but came to passe. Now I shall say nothing of Albericus, whereas Ezelinus was admonished to take heed of Cas∣sanum, being ignorant thereof by reason of the obscurenesse of the place, he ever most studiously avoided the Castle Cassanum, bor∣dering upon the Paduans and Hetruscians, supposing it the fatall place; at length after he attained the age of seventy years, whilst with all his might he warred against Mediolanum, his terrible and insolent spirit making him hated by almost all the Longobards, he was by them circumvented, for having passed the bridge, and fin∣ding himself in extream streights, and inquiring the name of the place, assoon as he heard Cassanum named, and remembring the confusion threatned by it, clapping his spurs to his Horse, he ran headlong into the River before him, murmuring to himself, O ine∣vitable fate, O my Mothers presages, O how was Cassanum hid from me! And before he could well swim over the River, he was fallen upon by an innumerable Army, who had possessed themselves of the brink and banksides of the River. Petrarcha.

[ 176] MAchabaeus King of the Scots, fearing Magduffus, being admoni∣shed by Soothsayers, was told by a woman a Fortune-teller, that he should not fall by the hands of any man that was born of a woman, and that he could not be overcome before the wood Bernen were carried to the Castle Donusinna, which was a great way di∣stant.

Therefore he falsly thought himself invincible, and free from all stratagems and deceits of his enemies, having cut down the wood Birnen, and carried every stick to the Castle, wherewith he compassed the Castle the day before he was overcome: to be short, he was slain by Magduffus, who was not born, but cut out of his Mothers belly. Cardanus de rerum varietate. Lib. 16. cap. 93.

[ 177] ANtonius of Leva animated Charls the fift, Emperour, to war up∣on on France, and undertook to be Generall of the Army, al∣though he had been informed by the Oracles, that he should be afflicted with cruell sicknesse, dye in France, and rest at the Church of St. Dionsiyus, which he interpreted should come to passe by his extending his Victory to Paris it self; but it fell out far other∣wise. For the Caesarian Army which he led, was wasted with a Flux, and he, spent by watchings and griefs, died near the City Narbo in France, and was buried at Saint Dionysius. Sabellici supplementum, 20.

[ 178] AMilcarus, Duke of the Carthagenians, besieging the Syracusians against Agathocles, was told by a Sooth-sayer (who gathered this conjecture by the observation of the entrals of beasts) that the next night after he should sup with the Syracusians, who when he conceived he should have obtained Victory over them, by a sally which they suddenly made out of the City, took him Prisoner, and carried him to sup with the Syracusians, contrary to his will, where by cruell torments he died.

[ 179] THe Velitri consulting an Oracle there, where Caesar was born were answered long before from the top of the wall, which by its height threatned heaven, that one who should be born in that Town, should be a great commander in the World, in confidence: whereof the Citizens did immediately, and long afterwards, make war against the Romans; at last by what afterwards they saw, it appeared that by what was shewed, the might of Augustus Caesar was portended. Suetonius.

[ 180] HAdrianus Cornetanus Cardinal, not drawn thereto by malice but an ambitious desire of reigning, looked after the death of Leo the tenth: For he conceived an assured hope of obtaining the Papacy by the Oracle of a fortune-telling-woman, who telling to him, asking fortune of her, many things past of his publick and pri∣vate fortune, most exactly true: she also constantly affirmed that one Hadrian, an old man, of obscure birth, a great and studious Scholler, who by degrees obtained sacred honours by his own me∣rit, and not by the favour of great men, assoon as Leo departed this life, would succeed him in the Papacy: all these descriptions he conceived did congruously and apparantly belong to him. For he was born at a poor Village called Cornetus, in the coasts of Tus∣cany

descended of a poor family almost sordid, onely by the benefit of his learning, attaining the dignity of sacred orders. The Ora∣cle of the old Woman proved true, but Hadrianus the Cornetanian was deceived, for he did not succeed Leo; but one Hadrian, an old man, a Batavian, son to a poor labourer, being illustrious by his learning, after Leo, obtained the prodigious felicity of the Papacy. Jov. in Leonis vita, lib. 4.

[ 181] WHen Alexander the Great, determined to fight against the chief City of the Oxodracian Indians, a certain man called Demophon, being one of those that used to make ostentation of pre∣dictions, came to the King, and told him, that he had observed by Augury, that there was great danger portended to him by reason of a wound which he should receive in fighting against the Indians, and therefore he admonished Alexander to divert his intention from invading that City: who rebuked him for going about to apall the courage of valiant men, and providing all things necessary for his March, he leading a great Army, arrived at the City, and inten∣ding to storm it, he placed his Artillery against it, and making a breach in the wall, broke into the City, killed many, and pursued those that fled to the very Castle; and whilst the Army of the Macedonians were seeking to scale the Walls, He, without any cunctation, snatching a ladder, and artificially bearing his buck∣ler over his head, he falls a scaling the wall, and used so much celerity therein, that before the drowsy Barbarians could get to the wall to defend it, he got to the top thereof: the enemies durst not approach to grapple with him, but put him hard to it by Darts and Arrows which they threw and shot at him. The Macedonians with two ladders which they had reared to the Wall, did oft en∣deavour to scale the wall, and relieve Alexander, but were still re∣pulsed by the enemy. Wherefore he being destitute of any help, alone, and loaded with defensive and offensive Arms, leaped into the very Castle, and most valiantly defended himself against the Indians, who violently ran about him, but he seeing a tree near the Wall, stepped unto it, and leaning his back to it, made it so much his defence, that they could not come about him; and now laying about him at his enemies by dint of sword, though he shew∣ed great courage by his most valiant deeds, which, like a Royall King, to the astonishment of his enemies, he demonstrated, inso∣much that he seemed to desire nothing but a glorious death, recei∣ving many shots and blows upon his helmet and buckler, yet at length an Arrow which was shot at him, lighted a little under his pap or breast, and there sticking, he was constrained by vio∣lence of his pain to fall upon his knees; which an Indian who was enraged by a wound which he had received from him soon percei∣ving, furiously marched to him, and fell upon him, but was by one blow with his sword suddenly dispatched. The King then catching hold of a bough of the Tree within his reach, helped him∣self off his knees, and begun to provoke his enemies to fight; in

which interim Peusestes, one of the Squires of the Kings body, sca∣ling the Wall, was the first that came to the defence of his Prince, and after him many more, who put the Barbarians to flight, and delivered Alexander from further danger. Diodorus, lib. 17.

[ 182] A Certain servant, a Syrian, born in Apemea, whose name was Eunus, who delighted in Magicall enchantments, and circula∣tory legerdemains, served amongst the Eunensians in Sicilia. This fellow would take upon him that he could by instinct and revelati∣on from the Gods, who appeared to him in his sleep, tell things to come; shortly after, he bragged that he could foretell future events, not onely for that the gods appeared to him asleep, but also waking, and that they plainly told him of things to come: when as by many of his Prophesies, he was found a notorious liar, yet in the mean time some things came to passe according to his predicti∣ons, which was a reason that no man questioned him for his false Prophecies, but what he chanced truly to foretell, was so obser∣ved and applauded, that the people shortly had a high esteem of him; at last he devised to blow a flame of fire out of his mouth with a certain fanatick fury, he Prophesied like as it had been one of the Priests of Apollo, to which purpose he had a nut, or some∣thing of like nature bored through, in which he put fire, and com∣bustible matter to nourish it, and putting it into his mouth, and blowing, sometimes sent forth sparks, and sometimes flames, this fellow was used before any defection, to brag that the Syrian god∣desse did appear to him in his sleep, and tell him that he should obtain regall dignity; and he did not tell this onely to the ordinary sort of people, but likewise he daily related the same to Antigi∣nes the Eunensian his own Master: his relation raysing much laugh∣ter, and Antigines taking great delight in his prodigious lies, had him as a jester to wait upon him at his feasts, and would enquire of him concerning state-affairs, and what would become of all the company, and when he answered them all with great confidence, and promised that it would come to passe, that he should shew great lenity and clemency to his Lords, he raysed great laughter amongst them. The common people raysing a tumult, come to this Eunus, and asked him if the gods favoured their enterprise: he approving the thing, perswaded them to go on therein, and presently four hundred of his fellow servants, taking him for their Captain, brake into the City, and made such a horrible slaughter, that they spared not very sucking Infants, and this was the beginning of the servile Warre which made such hor∣rible destruction in Sicily, that Rutilius at length with much ado, made an end of it. Diodorus Siculus, lib. 34.

[ 183] WHen at the Thermopilae long Mountains passing through Graece to the Egaean Sea, three hundred Lacedemonians were to fight against Xerxes, Megistias Acarnas, a Propher of the

race of Melpodes, told that it was apparent, That death was immi∣nent over all their heads; though Leonides offered openly to dismiss him, that he should not undergo such hazard of his life, yet he would not depart, but also caused his onely son to go along with him, and be a Souldier; all the rest of his fellow-Souldiers which were dis∣charged of their service, went their wayes; the Thesbiensian and Theban Souldiers went on, and continuing with the Lacedemonians, they all perisht together. Herodotus, lib. 7.

[ 184] WHereas it was often given out as an Edict, That whoso∣ever either privately or publickly did predict or foretell the death of any man, should suffer death; at length Domitian the Emperour commanded Ascletario to be burnt, and Larginus Proclus to be hang'd, for that they foretold the day of his death: the one of these Fortune-tellers was sent by the Governour of the Province of Germany, to Rome, where he constantly affirmed what he had predicted concerning Domitian, and named a certain day, not long too, wherein the verity or vanity of his Art might be judged; therefore it pleased the Emperour to defer the execution of his sen••ence till that day; upon which, his prediction came to passe: wherefore by the favour of the noble Roman, he was freed. P. Aerodius Suetonio.

[ 185] GRillandus saith, That Perusinus was the greatest Magitian of all Italy, who singing Mass upon a certain day, and coming to that part of it at which he was to turn to the people and say, Orate pro me, &c. he said, Pray for the Castles of the Church, who are now expiring their lives: and at the same instant, the Souldiers of a Castle, twenty five miles distant from Perusium where he said Mass, were slain. The like story we read in Philip Comineus, of a certain Italian Archbishop of Vienna, who in the presence of King Lewis the 11th, celebrating Mass upon the day of the Epiphanie, at the Church of St. Martin at Turon, when he offered the Pax to the King to kiss, pronounced these words; Peace to thee, O King, thy enemy is dead. And it appeared, that Charls Duke of Burgundie dyed the same hour at Nanceum in Lotharingia. Cominaeus telleth many things of this Archbishop, which seem to be the certain ef∣fects of meer Witchcraft.