Transcriber's Notes: Italic text is denoted by _underscores_
and change of font text by =equal signs=. There is no Bold text
to convert in this project. The caret character (^) is used for
superscript numbers (see l. 2795)
The Greek passages were very to hard to read, and every effort has
been made to reproduce them correctly.
Typographical errors worth a special mention:
Line 828: Original has 'Onocentanrus'. It should read: 'Onocentaurus'.
Corrected.
Line 1058: Original reads'=Paules Aegineta= writeth'. It should read:
'=Paulus Aegineta= writeth'. Corrected.
Line 1705: In the original book the abbreviation "w[superscript 't']
appears to be purely the author's own abbreviation for the word
'with'. For clarity this has been changed to 'with' in this text
version.
Line 2651: [Sidenote: The spirit of Athens.] Original reads: 'The
spirit of Athen.'. Corrected.
Line 4817: The original reads: 'in the 16. of =Ruke='. It should
read: 'in the 16. of =Luke=.'. Corrected.
Line 5848: Original contains an isolated bracket: 'life of
=Cimon=, (as hée is translated'. It has been left as shown in the
original as uncertain as to where the missing bracket should be.
Line 6173: Original reads: '(which many haue noted before mee
(that many'. The bracket is reversed. It should read: '(which
many haue noted before mee) that many'. Corrected.
Line 7762: Original reads: 'fault vpon his wife =Eua=,'. It should
read:'fault vpon his wife =Eue=,'. Corrected.
Line 8216: Original reads: 'passiuely, as they terme it in the
schooles)'. The opening bracket is missing. It should read:
'passiuely, (as they terme it in the schooles)'. Corrected.
OF
Ghostes and Spirites,
Walking by Night,
And of straunge Noyses, Crackes, and sundrie
forewarnings, which commonly happen before
the death of men: Great slaughters,
and alterations of Kingdomes.
One Booke,
Written by _Lewes Lauaterus of Tigurine_.
And translated into English by _R. H._
[Illustration]
Imprinted at London by Thomas Creede.
1596.
[Illustration]
To the Reader.
Being desirous (gentle Reader) to exercise my selfe with some
translation, at vacant times, and seeing, that since the Gospell
hath been preached, this one question, touching the appearing of
spirits and soules departed, hath not bin much handled amongst vs,
and therfore many, otherwise well affected in religion vtterly
ignorant heerein, I thought it not amisse to take in hand some good
and learned Treatise concerning this matter. Wherein as many haue
both learnedly, painfully, and religiously trauelled: so amongst
others, none in my iudgement hath more handsomly & eloquētly, with
more iudgment & better method discoursed the same, thē _Lewes
Lauaterus_, Minister of Tigurine. Others haue hādled it indeed wel,
but yet _Nihil ad nostrā hunc_, being either too short, or too long,
or too darke, or too doubtful, or otherwise so cōfused, that they
leaue the Reader more in suspence in the end, then they found him in
the beginning. As for Maister _Lauaterus_ his discretion heerein,
I will no otherwise commend it, then to desire the Reader to view,
and iudge himself. For thus much at the first sight he shall see: A
cleare methode, with a familiar and easie stile, the matter throughly
handled _Pro_ and _Con_, on both sides, so that nothing seemeth to
be wanting, nor any thing redounding. And if it be true that Horace
saith, _Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit vtile dulci_, that is, He
winneth the prize, that ioyneth pleasure with profit: I thinke this
Authour may also in this respect be pronounced _Victor_, and adiudged
to the best game. For he so intreateth this serious and terrible
matter of Spirits, that he now and thē inserting some strange story
of Monks, Priestes, Friers, and such like counterfeits, doth both
very liuely display their falshood, and also not a litle recreate his
Reader: and yet in the end he so aptly concludeth to the purpose,
that his histories seeme not idle tales, or impertinent vagaries, but
very truthes, naturally falling vnder the compasse of this matter.
And how profitable this his woorke is, those may best iudge, which
are most ignorant in this question, some thinking euery small motion
& noyse to be Spirites, and some so fondly perswaded that there
are no Spirits, who being better enformed herein by this Authour,
I suppose will confesse his work to haue done them some profit: if
knowledge be profitable, and ignorance discommodious. And againe,
those which being hitherto borne in hande that mens soules returne
againe on earth, crauing helpe of the liuing, and haue spent much of
their substaunce on idle Monkes and Friers, to relieue them, will
confesse the like. For when they shall see they haue bene falsely
taught, and that they were not the soules of men which appeared,
but either falshood of Monks, or illusions of diuels, franticke
imaginations, or some other friuolous & vaine perswasions, they will
thinke it profitable to haue knowne the truth, as well to auoid error
hereafter, as to saue their mony from such greedy caterpillers.
Some also which be otherwise well trained vp in Religion, and yet
not knowing what to thinke of these matters, will not iudge their
labour euill imployed, nor the worke vnprofitable, wherby they may
be brought out of doubt, and know certainly what to beleeue. There
be many also euen now a dayes, which are hanted & troubled with
spirites, and know not howe to vse themselues, who when they shall
learne how a Christian man ought to gouern himselfe, being vexed with
euil spirits, wil think it a very profitable point of doctrine, that
shal teach them to direct themselues. Profitable therefore it is,
and shalbe, no doubt, vnto many, and disprofitable vnto none, except
perchance vnto popish Monks and Priests, who are like hereby to lose
a great part of their gaines, which sometimes they gathered togither
in great abundaunce, by their deceitfull doctrine of the appearing
of dead mens soules. But this their wicked and diuellish doctrine,
togither with all the patches and appendices therto belonging, he so
notably teareth and cutteth in peeces, that I am well assured they
shal neuer be able to cobble and clout them vp again. And this doth
he with such a moderation of breuitie and tediousnesse, that I may
rightly say; He hath said well, and not too much, and written truly,
and not too litle.
Now as touching my translation, although I haue not made him speake
with like grace in English, as hee dooth in Latine: yet haue I not
chaunged his meaning, nor altered his matter, endeuouring my selfe
rather to make thee vnderstand what thou readest, then to smoothe
and pollish it with fine & picked words, which I graunt others might
haue done more exquisitely, and perchaunce I my selfe also somewhat
better, if I would haue made thereof a study and labour, and not a
recreation and exercise. But howsoeuer I haue done herein, verily
good reader, I trust thou wilt take in good part, which is all that I
esteeme: if any man shall mislike therof, let him amend it. I trust
it be sufficient to testifie my good will to do thee good, and to let
thee vnderstand the Authours meaning.
_Farewell._
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
To the right excellent and most wise and vertuous Lord _Iohn
Steigerus_ Consull _of the noble Common wealth of_ Berna, _his good
Lord and Patrone_, Lewes Lauaterus _of_ Tigurine, _wisheth health_.
Many and diuers things are reasoned vpon, both of the learned and
vnlearned, as wel of other matter, as also of Spirites, which are
seene and heard, and make men afraid in the night season, and in the
day time, by sea and by lande, in the fields, woods, and houses: And
likewise concerning such straunge things which for the most part
happen before the death of certain men, especially great Princes,
and before notable innouations of Kingdomes and Empires. Many which
neuer sawe or heard any of these things, suppose all that is reported
of them, to be meere trifles and old wiues tales: for so much as
simple men, and such as are fearefull and superstitious, perswade
themselues they haue seen this or that, when indeed the matter is
farre otherwise. Againe, there are some, which assoone as they heare
of any thing, especially if it happen in the night, they by and by
thinke some spirite dooth walke, and are maruellously troubled in
minde, because they cannot discerne naturall things from spirites.
And some (chiefly those whiche hunt after gaines, by the soules of
dead men) affirme that the most part of such things which are heard
or seene, are the soules of dead men, which craue helpe of them
that are liuing, to be deliuered out of the torments of most cruell
paine in Purgatorie. Many not only of the common sort, but also men
of excellent knowledge, do maruell whether there be any spirits or
no, and what maner of things they are. Yea and some of my familiar
friends haue many times requested me, to shew them my opinion
concerning these matters. Wherfore me seemeth it shall be worth my
laboure, if I declare briefly and plainly out of the word of God,
what we ought to iudge concerning these things. For the Ministers
of Gods Church can take nothing more profitable in hande, than to
instruct the people of God purely and plainly, in such necessary
matters as come in question out of the word of God, which is a
lanterne (as the Psalmist saith) vnto our feete, and a light vnto our
pathes: and to deliuer them from all errour and superstition, and
bring them out of all wauering and doubt. And verily their studie &
diligence is to be highly commended, who for these fewe yeares ago,
haue set forth certaine bookes drawne out of the scriptures, written
in the Germaine tongue against sundrie errours: and theirs likewise
who in these our dayes by writing of bookes do teache, instruct,
and confirme the rude and vnlearned people. For amongst many other
excellent benefits, which God our heauenly Father hath bestowed vppon
mankinde, this also is a great and most liberall gift, that in this
latter, and as it were old age of the world, he hath brought to light
by the Art of Imprinting, aswel many other good Authours, as also
the holie scriptures of the old and new Testament, written in diuers
languages: whereby he doth not onlie teach vs amply and fully what
to beleeue, and what to doo, but also mightily subuerteth and quite
ouerthroweth diuers and sundrie errours, which by little and little
haue crept into the Church. Truly all such are verie vngrateful
towards God, which do not willingly acknowledge this so notable a
benefit.
[Sidenote: The diuision or partes of this booke.]
As touching this my treatise concerning Spirits, and straunge wonders,
I haue deuided it into three partes for the more cleare vnderstanding
therof. In the first parte I shewe, that there are visions and spirits,
and that they appeare vnto men sometimes, and that many & maruellous
things happen besides the ordinarie course of nature. In the second
I discusse what maner of things they are, that, is not the soules of
dead men, as some men haue thought, but either good or euill angels,
or else some secret and hid operations of God. In the third I declare
why God doth somtime suffer Spirits to appear, and diuers forewarnings
to happen: and also how mē ought to behaue themselues when they
happen to meete with such things. In these points or partes, the
chiefest thing wheron men vse to reason touching this matter, are
conteined. Now I mean to handle this matter, being very obscure and
intricate, with many questions, (I trust) so plainly, & clerely out
of the holy scriptures, whereon we may surely stay our selues, out
of the anciēt fathers, allowed historiographers, and other good
writers, that those which are studious and louers of Gods truth, may
well vnderstand what may be denied & thought of those apparitions, &
other straunge & maruellous matters. And I also trust that euen our
aduersaries also, (in case they wil lay their affections aside, but a
litle while) wil say that I haue truly alleaged all their arguments,
and confuted thē without any railing or bitternesse. For my purposed
ende is according to the doctrine of Saint _Paule_, to edifie and not
to destroy.
As touching diuinations, blessings, iuglings, coniurings, and diuers
kinds of sorcerie, and generally of all other diuellish practises,
certaine learned men of our time haue written bookes, as _Gasper
Pencerus_, _Ioannes Viera_, _Ludouicus Mellichius_, and perchaunce
some others also, whose worke I haue not yet seene. It is not long
ago since _Ioannes Riuius_ a man learned and eloquent, published a
booke in the latin toong, entreating of spirites and superstition. In
the which booke albeit very briefly, yet doth hee as he is wont in
all things, very finely & eloquently intreat of this matter, and of
other foolishe superstitions. And albeit that I do write more largely
of this, yet was it not my minde to gather togither al those thinges
which I could haue spoken and alleaged touching the same matter: but
only such as seeme the chiefest and most especiall points, partly
because I would not be tedious to the reader, & partly also least my
books shuld grow vnto an ouer great quantity. I haue great hope that
_Ioachimus Camerarius_, that excellent man, who readeth the auncient
writers both greeks and latins, with exquisite iudgemēt, and hath great
experience in all things, will shortly write learnedly & at large
of this matter, and also of others like vnto it. For so muche hee
seemeth to promise in his preface to _Plutarches_ Booke, _De defectu
oraculorum, & figura, & consecrata Delphis_ (wherin he handleth the
nature and operatiōs of diuels) and also in other of his writings. I
for my parte had once written this my treatise in the vulger tong,
and now bicause I trust it shal be also profitable to other men, I
haue translated it into latin, adding certaine things thereto.
[Sidenote: The dedication.]
This my booke which I haue with great labour and study gathered out
of other mēs writings I present & offer vnto you (most noble consul)
according to the ancient fashion & custome: not for that I suppose
you haue any neede of my teaching, touching these things which are
herein hādled. (For I am not ignoraunt, vnder what teachers you haue
atteined vnto true learning, and how you haue and do continually read
ouer sundry good authors with perfect knowledge in many tongues.) But
partly that I might purchase credit and authoritie vnto this my booke
with those men, vnto whome your goodnes, godlinesse and constancie
(which you haue alwaies hitherto euermore shewed, and yet do shewe,
in setting forth true religiō, & mainteining good lawes) is throughly
knowne: and partly that I might shew my selfe in some respecte
thankfull vnto you. For your honour hath bestowed many benefits on
me, whom you onlie knowe by sight, and vppon other Ministers of the
Church, wherby ye haue so bound me vnto you, that I shall neuer be
able to make any recompence.
Wherefore I most earnestly beseech you, not to refuse this signe and
token of my good wil, be it neuer so simple: but rather to vouchsafe,
whē ye haue leisure from the laboure and toile of the common wealth,
to reade ouer this my booke: for I haue good hope it will not seeme
vnpleasaunt vnto you & others in the reading, as wel for the plaine
order I vse therin, as also for the sundrie and manifold histories in
it recited.
Almightie God, who hath so blessed you with his heauenly gifts, that
for them, (albeit very yong) you haue aspired vnto the highest degree
in your noble citie and dominiō of _Berna_, vouchsafe to preserue you
in health, and increase and multiply his good gifts in you. My Lords
& brethren the ministers of _Tigurin_, and also your old companion
master _George Grebelius_, that excellent man in lerning, vertu, and
nobilitie, hartily salute your Lordship. From _Tigurin_ in the month
of Ianuary, the year of Christs Natiuitie. 1570.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Contents.
A Table of the Chapters of the three principall parts, touching Spirits
walking by Night.
_Of the first part._
Concerning certaine words which are often vsed in this
Treatise of Spirites, and diuers other diuinations of
things to come. Chapter.1. Folio.1.
Melancholike persons and madde men, imagining things
which in very deed are not. Chapter.2. Fol.9.
Fearefull men, imagine that they see and heare straunge
things. Chap.3. Fol.14.
Men which are dull of seeing and hearing, imagine many
things which in very deed are not so. Chap.4. Fol.16.
Many are so feared by other men, that they suppose they
haue heard or seene spirits. Chap.5. Fol.21.
Priests and Monkes fained themselues to be spirits: also
how _Mundus_ vnder this colour defiled _Paulina_,
and _Tyrannus_ abused many noble and honest matrons.
Chap.6. Fol.23.
_Timotheus Aelurus_, counterfeiting himselfe to be
an Angell, obteined a Bishoppricke: foure Monkes of the
order of Preachers, made many vaine apparitions at
_Berna_. Chapter.7. Fol.28.
Of a counterfaite and deceiuing spirite at _Orleaunce_ in
_France_. Chap.8. Fol.37.
Of a certaine parish priest at _Clauenna_, which
fained him selfe to be our Lady, and of an other that
counterfeited himselfe to be a Soule, as also of a certaine
disguised Iesuit Frier. Chapter.9. Fol.41.
That it is no maruell if vaine sightes haue bene in olde
time, neither yet that it is to be maruelled at, if there
be any at this day. Chap.10. Fol.45.
That many naturall things are taken to be ghostes.
Chapter.11. Fol.49.
A proofe out of the Gentiles histories, that ghostes do
oftentimes appeare. Chap.12. Fol.53.
A proofe out of the histories of the auncient Church, and
of the writings of holy Fathers, that there are walking
spirits. Chap.13. Fol.62.
That in the bookes, set foorth by Monkes, are many
ridiculous and vaine apparitions. Chap.14. Fol.65.
A proofe by other sufficient writers, that spirits do
sometime appeare. Chap.15. Fol.68.
Daily experience teacheth vs, that spirites do appeare to
men. Chap.16. Fol.71.
That there happen straunge wonders and prognostications,
and that sodain noyses and cracks and such like, are heard
before the death of men, before battail, and before some
notable alterations and chaunges. Chap.17. Fol.77.
It is proued by testimonies of holy scripture, that spirites
are sometime seen and heard, and that other strange matters
do often chaunce. Chap.18. Fol.85.
To whom, when, where, and after what sort, spirits do
appeare, and what they do worke. Chap.19. Fol.88.
_The Chapters of the second part._
The opinion or beleef of the Gentils, Iewes, and Turks,
concerning the estate of soules seperated from their bodies.
Chapter.1. Fol.98.
The Papists doctrine touching the soules of dead men,
and the appearing of them. Chap.2. Fol.102.
What hath followed this doctrine of the Papists,
concerning the appearing of mens soules. Chap.3. Fol.110.
Testimonies out of the word of God, that neither the
soules of the faithful, nor of infidels, do walke vpon
the earth after they are once parted from their bodies.