CHAP. XV. Of the Conjurers and Witches in Finland.
ALso, I shall shew very briefly what force Conjurers and Witches have in constraining the Elements, enchanted by them or others, that they may exceed or fall short of their Natural Order: premising this that the extream Land of the North Finland and Lapland, was so taught Witchcraft formerly in Heathenish times, as if they had learned this cursed Art from Zoroastres the Per∣sian; though other Inhabitants by the Sea-coasts are reported to be bewitched with the same madness; for they exercise thi•• Divellish Art, of all the Arts of the World, to admiration; and in this, and other such like mischief, they common∣ly agree. The Finlanders were wont formerly amongst their other Errors of Gen∣tilisme, to sell Wines to Merchants, that were stopt on their Coasts by contrary weather; and when they had their price, they knit three Magical knots, not like to the Laws of Cassius, bound up with a Thong, and they gave them unto the Merchants; observing that rule, that when they unloosed the first, they should have a good Gale of Wind: when the second, a stronger wind: but when they untied the third, they should have such cruel Tempests, that they should not be able to look out of the Forecastle to avoid the Rocks, nor move a foot to pull down the Sails, nor stand at the Helm to govern the ship; and they made an un∣happy trial of the truth of it, who denied that there was any such power in those knots. But this Northern Countrey since the time of Christianity received, ne∣ver durst be seen to use this Art openly, being kept down by the penalty of laws. Moreover, Sivaldus the Swede, who was corrival with King Holdanus, had 7. sons, who were such cunning Witches, that they would suddenly in a force of fury rore horridly, bite Bucklers, eat down burning Coles, go through any fires that were made: nor could this motion of madness be allayed, but either by Bonds, or by shedding of mans blood.