Book XV, chapters 42–49: Solomon’s conjurations, St Margaret, popish miracles and visions

CHAP. XLII. Of Solomons Conjurations, and of the Opinion conceived of his cunning and practice therein.

IT is affirmed by sundry Authors, that Solomon was the first inventer of those Conjurations; and thereof Josephus is the first reporter, who in his first Book De Judaeorum antiquitatibus, cap. 22. rehearseth soberly this story following; which Polydore Virgil, and many other repeat verbatim, in this wise, and seem to credit the fable, whereof there is scant a true word.

Solomon was the greatest Philosopher, and did, Philosophize about all things, and had the full and perfect knowledge of all their properties: but he had that gift given from above to him, for the profit and health of mankind; which is effectual against Devils. He made also Inchantments wherewith diseases are driven away; and left divers manners of Conjurations written, whereunto the Devils giving place are so driven away, that they never return. And this kind of healing is very common among my Country-men; for I saw a neighbour of mine, one Eleazer, that in the presence of Vespasian and his Sons, and the rest of the Souldiers, cured many that were possessed with Spirits. The manner and order of his cure was this. He did put unto the nose of the possessed a Ring, under the seal whereof was inclosed a kind of root, whose vertue Solomon declared, and the savour thereof drew the Devil out at his nose; so as down fell the man, and then Eleazer conjured the Devil to depart, and to return no more to him. In the mean time he made mention of Solomon, reciting incantations of Solomons own making. And then Eleazer being willing to shew the standers by his cunning, and the wonderful efficacy of his Art, did set not far from thence, a Pot or Bason full of Water, and commended the Devil that went out of the man, that by the overthrowing thereof, he would give a sign to the beholders, that he had utterly forsaken and left the man. Which thing being done, none there doubted how great Solomons knowledge and wisdom was. Wherein a juggling knack was produced, to confirm a cogging cast of knavery or cosenage.

Another story of Solomons Conjuration I find cited in the sixt lesson, read in the Church of Rome upon S. Margarets day, far more ridiculous than this. Also Peter Lombarb, Master of the Sentences, and Gratian his Brother, the Compiler of the Golden Decrees; and Durandus in his Rationale Divinorum, do all soberly affirm Solomons cunning in this behalf; and specially this tale; to wit, That Solomon inclosed certain thousand Devils in a brazen Bowl, and left it in a deep hole or lake, so as afterwards the Babylonians found it, and supposing there had been gold or silver therein, brake it, and out flew all the Devils, &c. And that this fable is of credit, you shall perceive, in that it is thought worthy to be read in the Romish Church, as parcel of their Divine Service. Look in the Lessons of the day of S. Margaret the Virgin, and you shall find these words Verbatim; which I the rather recite, because it serveth me for divers turns; to wit, for Solomons Conjurations; for the tale of the Brazen Vessel, and for the Popes Conjurations, which extended both to Faith and Doctrin, and to shew of what credit their Religion is, that so shamefully is stained with lyes and fables.

CHAP. XLIII. Lessons read in all Churches, where the Pope hath authority, on S. Margarets day, translated into English, word for word.

HOly Margaret required of God, that she might have a conflict face to face with her secret enemy the Devil; and rising from prayer, she saw a terrible Dragon, that would have devoured her, but she made the sign of the Cross, and the Dragon burst in the midst.

Afterwards, she saw another man sitting like a Niger, having his hands bound fast to his knees, she taking him by the hair of the head, threw him to the ground, and set her foot on his head; and her prayers being made, a light shined from heaven into the prison where she was, and the Cross of Christ was seen in Heaven, with a Dove sitting thereon, who said, Blessed art thou O Margaret, the gates of Paradise attend thy coming. Then she giving thanks to God, said to the Devil, Declare to me thy name. The Devil said, Take away thy foot from my head, that I may be able to speak, and tell thee: which being done, the Devil said, I am Veltis, one of them whom Solomon shut in the Brazen Vessel, and the Babylonians coming, and supposing there had been gold therein, brake the Vessel, and then we flew out, ever since lying in wait to annoy the just. But seeing I have recited a part other story, you shall also have the end thereof; for at the time of her execution this was her prayer following:

Grant therefore O Father, that whosoever writeth, readeth, or heareth my passion, or maketh memorial of me, may deserve pardon for all his sins: whosoever calleth on me, being at the point of death, deliver him out of the hands of his adversaries. And I also require, O Lord, that whosoever shall build a Church in the honour of me, or ministreth unto me any Candles of his just labour, let him obtain whatsoever he asketh for his health. Deliver all Women in travell that call upon me, from the danger thereof.

Her prayer ended, there were many great thunder-claps, and a Dove came down from heaven, saying, Blessed art thou O Margaret the Spouse of Christ: Such things as thou hast asked, are granted unto thee; therefore come thou into everlasting rest, &c. Then the hangman (though she did bid him) refused to cut off her head: to whom she said, Except thou do it, thou canst have no part with me; and then lo he did it, &c. But sithence I have been, and must be tedious, I thought good to refresh my Reader with a lamentable story, depending upon the matter precedent, reported by many grave Authors, word for word, in manner and form following.

CHAP. XLIV. A delicate story of a Lombard, who by S. Margarets example would needs fight with a real Devil.

THere was (after a Sermon made, wherein this Story of S. Margaret was recited, for in such stuffe consisted not only their Service, but also their Sermons in the blind time of Popery;) there was, I say, a certain young man being a Lombard, whose simplicity was such, as he had no respect unto the commodity of worldly things, but did altogether affect the salvation of his soul, who hearing how great S. Margarets triumph was, began to consider with himself, how full of sleights the Devil was. And among other things thus he said, O that God would suffer, that the Devil might fight with me hand to hand in visible form! I would then surely in like manner overthrow him, and would fight with him till I had the victory. And therefore about the twelf hour he went out of the Town, and finding a convenient place where to pray, secretly kneeling on his knees, he prayed among other things, That God would suffer the Devil to appear unto him in visible form, that according to the example of S. Margaret, he might overcome him in battell. And as he was in the midst of his prayers, there came into that place a Woman with a hook in her hand, to gather certain herbs which grew there, who was dumb born. And when she came into the place, and saw the young man among the herbs, on his knees, she was afraid and waxed pale, and going back she roared in such sort, as her voyce could not be understood, and with her head and fists made threatning signes unto him. The young man seeing such an ill-favoured foul quean, that was for age decrepit and full of wrinkles, with a long body, lean of face, pale of colour, with ragged cloathes, crying very loud, and having a voyce not understandable, threatning him with the hook which she carryed in her hand; he thought surely it had been no Woman, but a Devil appearing unto him in the shape of a Woman, and thought God had heard his prayers. For the which causes he fell upon her lustily, and at length threw her down to the ground, saying, Art thou come thou cursed Devil, art thou come? No, no, thou shalt not overthrow me in visible fight, whom thou hast often overcome in visible temptations.

And as he spake these words, he caught her by the hair, and drew her about, beating her sometimes with his hands, sometimes with his heels, and sometimes with the hook so long, and wounded her so sore, that he left her a dying. At the noise whereof, many people came running unto them, and seeing what was done, they apprehended the young man, and thrust him into a vile prison. S. Vincent, by virtue of his holiness, understanding all this matter, caused the body that seemed dead to be brought unto him, and thereupon (according to his manner) he laid his hand upon her, who immediately revived, and he called one of his Chaplains to hear her confession. But they that were present, said to the man of God, That it were altogether in vain so to do, for that she had been from her nativity dumb, and could neither hear nor understand the Priest, neither could in words confess her sins. Notwithstanding, S. Vincent bad the Priest hear her Confession, affirming, that she should very distinctly speak all things unto him. And therefore, whatsoever the man of God commanded, the Priest did confidently accomplish and obey; and as soon as the Priest approached unto her, to hear her Confession, she, whom all Cathalonia knew to be dumb born, spake and confessed her self, pronouncing every word as distinctly, as though she had never been dumb. After her Confession, she required the Eucharist, and extream Unction to be ministred unto her, and at length she commended her self to God; and in the presence of all that came to see that miracle, she spak as long as she had any breath in her body. The young man that killed her being saved from the gallows by S. Vincents means, and at his intercession, departed home into Italy. This story last rehearsed is found in Speculo exemplorum, and repeated also by Robert Carocul Bishop of Aquinas, and many others, and preached publickly in the Church of Rome.

CHAP. XLV. The Story of Saint Margaret proved to be both ridiculous and impious in every point.

FIrst, that the story of S. Margaret is a fable, may be proved by the incredible, impossible, foolish, impious, and blasphemous matters contained therein, and by the ridiculous circumstance thereof. Though it were cruelly done of her to beat the Devil, when his hands was bound; yet it was courteously done of her, to pull away her foot at his desire. He could not speak so long as she trod on his head, and yet he said, Tread off, that I may tell you what I am. She saw the Heavens open, and yet she was in a close Prison. But her sight was very clear, that could see a little Dove sitting upon a Cross so far off. For Heaven is higher than the Sun, and the Sun when it is nearest to us, is 3966000. miles from us. And she had a good pair of ears that could hear a Dove speak so far off. And she had good luck, that S. Peter, who (they say) is Porter, or else the Pope, who hath more doings than Peter, had such before as to stay at the gates so long for her. Solomon provided no good place, neither took good order with his brazen bowl. I marvel how they escaped that let out the Devils. It is marvel also that they melted it not with their breath long before; for the Devils carry Hell and Hell fire about with them alwayes: in so much as (they say) they leave ashes evermore where they stand. Surely she made in her Prayer an unreasonable request, but the date of her Patent is out; for I believe that whosoever at this day shall burn a pound of good Candles before her, shall be never the better, but three pence the worse. But now we may find in St. Margarets life, who it is that is Christs wife; whereby we are so much wiser than we were before. But look in the life of S. Katherine, in the golden Legend, and you shall find that he was also marryed to S. Katherine, and that our Lady made the marriage, &c. An execellent authority for Bigamie. Here I will also cite another of their notable stories, or miracles of authority, and so leave shaming of them, or rather troubling you the Readers thereof. Neither would I have written these fables, but that they are authentick among the Papists, and that we that are Protestants may be satisfied, as well of Conjurors and Witches miracles, as of others; for the one is as gross as the other.

CHAP. XLVI. A pleasant Miracle wrought by a Popish Priest.

WHat time the Waldenses Heresies began to spring, certain wicked men, being upheld and maintained by Diabolical vertue, shewed certain signs and wonders, whereby they strengthened and confirmed their Heresies, and perverted in Faith many faithful men; for they walked on the water and were not drowned. But a certain Catholick Priest seeing the same, and knowing that true signs could not be joyned with false doctrine, brought the body of our Lord, with the Pix, to the Water, where they shewed their power and vertue to the people, and said, in the hearing of all that were present, I conjure thee O Devil, by him, whom I carry in my hands, that thou exercise not these great Visions and Phantasies by these men, to the drowning of this people. Notwithstanding these words, when they walked still on the water, as they did before, the Priest in a rage threw the body of our Lord, with the Pix, into the River, and by and by; so soon as the Sacrament touched the Element, the Phantasie gave place to the Verity; and they being proved and made false, did sink like lead to the bottom, and were drowned; the Pix with the Sacrament immediately was taken away by an Angel. The Priest seeing all these things, was very glad of the Miracle, but for the loss of the Sacrament he was very pensive, passing away the whole night in tears and mourning: in the morning he found the Pix with the Sacrament upon the Altar.

CHAP. XLVII. The former Miracle confuted, with a strange story of St. Lucy.

HOw glad Sir John was now, it were folly for me to say. How would he have plagued the Devil that threw his God in the River to be drowned? But if other had had no more power to destroy the Waldenses with Sword and Fire, than this Priest had to drown them with his conjuring Box and cosening Sacraments, there should have been many a life saved. But I may not omit one fable, which is of authority, wherein though there be no Conjuration expressed, yet I warrant you there was cosenage both in the doing and telling thereof. You shall read in the lesson on Saint Lucies dayes, that she being condemned, could not be removed from the place with a teem of Oxen, neither could any fire burn her, insomuch as one was fain to cut off her head with a Sword, and yet she could speak afterward as long as she list. And this passeth all other miracles, except it be that which Bodin and M. Mal. recite out of Nider, of a Witch that could not be burned, till a scroll was taken away from where she hid it, betwixt her skin and flesh.

CHAP. XLVIII. Of Visions, Noises, Apparitions, and imagined Sounds, and of other Illusions of wandering Souls, with a confutation thereof.

MAny through Melancholy do imagine, that they see or hear Visions, Spirits, Ghosts, strange Noises, &c. as I have already proved before, at large. Many again through fear proceeding from a cowardly nature and complexion, or from an effeminate and fond bringing up, are timerous and afraid of Spirits, and bugs, &c. Some through imperfection of sight also are afraid of their own shadows, and (as Aristotle saith) see themselves sometime as it were in a Glass. And some through weakness of body have such imperfect imaginations. Drunken men also sometimes suppose they see trees walk, &c. according to that which Solomon saith to the drunkards, Thine eyes shall see strange visions, and marvellous appearances.

In all ages Monks and Priests have abused and bewitched the world with counterfeit Visions; which proceeded through idleness, and restraint of marriage, whereby they grew hot and lecherous, and therefore devised such means to compass and obtain their loves. And the simple people being then so superstitious, would never seem to mistrust, that such holy men would make them Cuckholds, but forsook their beds in that case, and gave room to the Clergy. Item, little children have been so scared with their mothers maids, that they could never after endure to be in the dark alone, for fear of bugs. Many are deceived by Glasses through Art Perspective. Many hearkening unto false reports, conceive and believe that which is nothing so. Many give credit to that which they read in Authors. But how many Stories and Books are written of walking Spirits and Souls of men, contrary to the Word of God, a reasonable volum cannot contain. How common an opinion was it among the Papists, that all souls walked on the earth, after they departed from their bodies? In so much as it was in the time of Popery a usual matter, to desire sick people on their deathbeds, to appear to them after their death, and to reveal their estate. The Fathers and ancient Doctors of the Church were too credulous herein, &c. Therefore no marvel though the common simple sort of men, and least of all, that women be deceived herein. God in times past did send down visible Angels and Appearances to men; but now he doth not so. Through ignorance of late in Religion, it was thought that every Church-yard swarmed with souls and Spirits: but now the Word of God being more free, open, and known, those conceits and illusions are made more manifest and apparent; &c.

The Doctors, Councels, and Popes, which (they say) cannot err, have confirmed the walking, appearing, and raising of Souls. But where find they in Scriptures any such doctrine; And who certified them, that those appearances were true? Truly all they cannot bring to pass, that the lyes which have been spread abroad herein, should now begin to be true, though the Pope himself subscribe, seal, and swear thereunto never so much. Where are the souls that swarmed in times past? Where are the Spirits? Who heareth their noises? Who seeth their Visions? Where are the Souls that made such moan for Trentals, whereby to be eased of the pains in Purgatory? Are they all gone into Italy, because Masses are grown dear here in England? Mark well this illusion, and see how contrary it is unto the Word of God. Consider how all Papists believe this illusion to be true, and how all Protestants are driven to say it is and was Popish illusion. Where be the Spirits that wandered to have burial for their bodies? For many of those walking Souls went about their business. Do you not think, that the Papists shew not themselves godly Divines, to preach and teach the people such doctrine; and to insert into their Divine Service such fables as are read in the Romish Church, all Scripture giving place thereto for the time? You shall see in the lessons read there upon S. Stevens day, that Gamaliel Nicodemus his kinsman, and Abdias his son, with his friend S. Steven, appeared to a certain Priest, called Sir Lucian, requesting him to remove their bodies, and to bury them, in some better place (for they had lien from the time of their death, until then, being in the reign of Honorius the Emperor; to wit, four hundred years buryed in the field of Gamaliel) who in that respect said to Sir Lucian; Non mei solummodo causa solicitus sum, sed potius pro illis qui mecum sunt; that is, I am not only careful for my self, but chiefly for those my friends that are with me. Whereby the whole course may be perceived to be a false practice, and a counterfeit vision, or rather a lewd invention. For in Heaven mens souls remain not in sorrow and care; neither study they there how to compass and get a worshipful burial here in earth. If they did, they would not have foreslowed it so long; Now therefore let us not suffer our selves to be abused any longer, either with Conjuring Priests, or Melancholical Witches; but be thankful to God that he hath delivered us from such blindness and error.

CHAP. XLIX. Cardanus Opinion of strange Noises, how counterfeit Visions grow to be credited; of Popish Appearances; of Pope Boniface.

CArdanus speaking of Noises, among other things, saith thus; a noise is heard in your house; it may be a Mouse, a Cat, or a Dog among dishes; it may be a counterfeit, or a theif indeed, or the fault may be in your ears. I could recite a great number of Tales, how men have even forsaken their houses, because of such apparitions and noises: and all hath been by meer and rank knavery. And wheresoever you shall hear, that there is in the night season such rumbling and fearful noises, be you well assured that it is flat knavery, performed by some that seemeth most to complain, and is least mistrusted. And hereof there is a very Art, which for some respects I will not discover. The Devil seeketh dayly as well as nightly whom he may devour, and can do his feats as well by day as night, or else he is a young Devil, and a very bungler. But of all other coseners, these Conjurers are in the highest degree, and are most worthy of death for their blasphemous impiety. But that these Popish Visions and Conjurations used as well by Papists, as by the Popes themselves, were mere cosenages; and that the tales of the Popes recited by Bruno and Platina, of their magical devices, were but plain cosenages and knaveries, may appear by the History of Bonifacius the eight, who used this kind of inchantment, to get away the Popedom from his predecessor Coelestinus. He counterfeited a voyce through a Cane-reed, as though it had come from Heaven, perswading him to yield up his Authority of Popeship, and to institute therein and Bonifacius, a worthy man: otherwise he threatned him with damnation, and therefore the fool yielded it up accordingly to the said Bonifacius, An. 1264. of whom it was said; He came in like a Fox, lived like a Woolf, and dyed like a Dog.

There be innumerable examples of such Visions, which when they are not detected, go for true stories: and therefore when it is answered that some are true tales, and some are false, until they be able to shew forth before your eyes one matter of truth, you may reply upon them with this distinction; to wit, visions tryed are false visions, undecided and untryed are true.