A compendious history of the Goths, Svvedes, & Vandals, and other northern nations written by Olaus Magnus.

CHAP. XII. Of Divination.

TO satisfie this Title, I must premise the saying of the Catholick Dr. Chryso∣stome, who saith in his Homily, There shall be Signs in the Sun and Moon, &c. That there is no Creature which so much desires to know future things, as man doth &c. This being considered, we must farther confess, that there never was any Nation so civil and learned, nor yet so ignorant and barbarous, which hath not used to signifie future things, and by some means to understand, and to fore-tell them; but chiefly the Northern people, which I find to have employ∣ed themselves in the study of knowing things to come: for by the flyings of Birds, leaping and noise of Fish, and by their singing; also by exhalations of Moun∣tains, &c. they thought that future Accidents might be declared, as by certain Signs.

No War nor publick business either at home or in Military Affairs, was done without South-sayings; and not onely the Discipline of Wizards was accepted by the chief Governours, but of Fortune-tellers, Divination also by the Ayr, by the Earth, by the Fire, by the Dead, and all Dreams of importance, if any seemed to concern the Common-Wealth.

Othinus fore-told to King Hadringus, who went to wage War against Joche∣rus Curetus the Tyrant, that he should be taken captive, and it fell out, as he said.

Govarus, King of Norway, was so skilful in the Art of Divination, and so well learned, to tell future things, that he being in Norway, could see whatever was attempted against him in Saxony, above a hundred German miles from him.

Gormo surnamed the Wicked, being of a drowsie condition, dreamt that his Wife bare two Birds, but one was greater than the other; and that they flew upwards toward Heaven, and in a small time betwixt, they returned again, and sat upon both his hands, one by one; and so the second time, and third: when they had rested a while, they took Wing, and flew into the Ayr; and at last, that the least of the two came back to him without the other, having the Wings all bloody. This Dream was thus truly interpreted: His two Sons subduing the English, Sclavonians, and the Irish, had very good fortune, until such time as the Elder was slain in battail, but the Younger, when his brother was lost, see∣med to have his Wings smeered with blood.

Magnus, King of Norway and Denmark, that night wherein there followed a War with Sclavonia, when he slept, he saw an Apparition of one in his sleep, that told him before that he should conquer his Enemy, and in killing of an Eagle, he should be assured of the Victory. The King awaked, and told his Dream in order, with great admiration, and proceeding with his Army, he saw an Eagle neer him, that he had seen in his Dream; and riding swiftly to her, he killed her with a Dart, and fled faster than the Bird could with a swift shaft.

Wherefore his Army took the sign of good luck; and laying hold of the first occasion to fight, overcame the Enemy, having the same event in battail, as the Omen fore-shewed.

When King Valdamar his Army went forh to War, such Troops of Crowes flew suddenly between them, that many were knocked down with the Enemies Spears. King Sweno and all his Army were conquered by him, and made Crowes meat, which declared the event of the South-saying.

Biorno, a noted Champion, compassed in a certain Island, with a choise Band of able Souldiers, which was fenced round with a most swift River: he saw in his sleep a great Beast coming forth of the Waters, that cast forth flames of fire at his mouth, and burnt all presently. The next morning King Fridlevus, coming over this violent River, destroyed all these Champions (except Biorno) with the sword, and so fulfilled his Dream.