A collection out of the best approved authors containing histories of visions, apparitions, prophesies, spirits, divinations and other wonderful illusions of the devil wrought by magic or otherwise : also of divers astrological predictions shewing as the wickedness of the former, so the vanity of the latter, and the folly of trusting to them.

25. Of the Heavens calculating their own purport, with∣out the helpe of an Artist: and the suspition of Mag∣astromancers predicting rather by diabolicall instinct, or the suggestion of their own Familiars, then from any vertue of the starres.

THe day before Iulian died, one (and he an heathen) watching over night, saw a conjunction or compact of the Stars, expressing thus much in legible characters, To day is Julian slain in Persia. Also Didymus Alexandrinus had a vision of white horses running in the ayre, and they that rode

upon them said, tell Didymus, in this very houre Iulian is slain, and bid him tell it to Athanasius the Bishop.

Constantine in his holy meditations, calling up his eyes East∣ward towards Heaven, saw the similitude of a Crosse, wherein were stars (as letters) so placed, that visibly might be read this sentence in Greek, In this thou shalt overcome.

At what time Caesar was in the battell of Pharsalia, one Caius Cornelius a notable prognosticator in Padua, beholding the flying of Birds, cryed out, Now they give the onset on both sides; and a little after (as a man possessed with some spirit) cryed out again, O Caesar, the victory is thine. Such was that of Apollonius concerning Domitian, of which before.

Numa Pompilius, a Magician or Sortiary not inferior to any, had frequent and familiar company, confabulation, and con∣gression with Aegeria a Nymphish devill. Simon Magus had a dogge, they say, could speak, and doe many prodigious pranks. Quintus Sertorius had an Hart which he consulted withall. Pope Sylvester the second had a dogge, which he held more deare then the Kingdom of Naples. Laurentius also had such an one at Roan. Iodocus de Rosa had the divell in a Ring. Petrus Apponensis, a magicall Physician, had seven spirits, which he kept in glasses. Andreas an Italian had a great red dogge that would doe many prodigious feats. Faecius Cared••us is said to have an acry spirit very familiar. Stephen Gardiner had his dar∣ling cat. Iohn Faustus had a dogge called prestigiar. And Cor∣nelius Agrippa had another called Monsieur. A French Baron had a cat that vanisht into the ayre because he chid her▪ And it is reported of an English one, that had such another, which did in like manner.

The same day that the Torensians overcame the Crotonians in Italy, the victory was told at Corinth, Athens, and Lacedaemon.

Mercury minding to try the skill of Tyresias in vaticinating, stole his Oxen, and came to him in the shape of a man, and told him they were lost. Out they went together to make conje∣cture of the thiefe by Augury, and the blind presager bad Mer∣cury to tell him what bird he saw? he answered an Eagle flying on the left hand; that (he said) signified nothing to him. A∣gain, he askt him, what bird? he answered, a Crow, sometimes looking upwards, sometimes downward. Then understan∣ding

all by instinct, that Crow (said he) sweares by heaven and earth, that thou canst restore me my Oxen again if thou wilt.

When Caius Marius had overcome the Sicambrians, at the River Mosa, the news of the victory was presently carried to Rome by Castor and Pollux the Starry gods; or as others say, by the Impish divels themselves. Plutarch reports many examples of demonicall familiars, carrying newes of victory to the Ro∣mans in a moment, from the remotest regions.

Gleombrotus sequestring himselfe from the society of men, and frequenting solitary woods and caves, to become more in∣ward with Satyres, was informed that there were Daemons wan∣dring up and down to inspire dreams and Oracles, and furnish men with prophecies and predictions.

Lactantius is of the mind that the cutting of the Whet∣stone by Accius Naevius, and the drawing of the Ship by the Girdle of Claudia the Ʋestall, and the like were obtained by their Familiars. To which I may adde Thucia's drawing water in a sive.

Iodocus de Rosa was wont to say, that he would put none other Messenger in trust with a cause of weight, then him that lodged one night at Constantinople, and the next under his Signet.

The spirit Orthon brought intelligence out of all corners of the world to Gaston Earle of Foix.

The Spirit or Familiar which daily called upon Alaricus (as he related to a certain godly Monk) to begin his voyage towards Rome, came from the divels court undoubtedly.