book I, chapt. 7, that profession consists

of eleven ceremonials :
1 3. Firstly, the Novices have to conclude with the Demon, or some other Wizard or
22
Dasmonialitas
Dcemonis gerente, et testibus prcesentibus, de servitio diabolico suscipiendo : Dcemon verovice versa honores, divitias, et carnales delectationes Hits pollicetur. Guacc. loc. cit, fol. 34.
14. Secundo, abnegant catholicam fidem, subducunt se obedientice Dei, renuntiant Christo, et protectioni Beatissitnce Virginis Marice, ac Ecclesice omnibus sacramentis. Guacc., loc. cit.
1 5. Tertio, projiciunt a se Coronam, seu Rosarium B. V. M., Chordam S. P. Fran- cisci, aut Corrigiam S. Augustini, aut Scapulare Carmelitarum, si quod habent, Crucem, Medaleas, Agnos Dei, et quidquid sacri aut benedicti gestabant, et pedibus ea proculcant. Guacc. loc. cit. fol. 35. Gril- land.
16. Qiiarto, vovent in manibus Diaboli obedientiam, et subjeclionem, eique prce- stant homagium et vassallagium, tangendo quoddam volumen nigerrimum. Spondent, quod nunquam redibunt ad fidem Christi, nec Dei prcecepta servabunt, nec ulla bona opera facient, sed ad sola mandata Dee-
' Demoniality 23
Magician acting in the Demon’s place, an express compact by which, in the presence of witnesses, they enlist in the Demon’s service, he giving them in exchange his pledge for honours, riches and carnal pleasures.
14. Secondly, they abjure the catholic faith, withdraw from the obedience to God, renounce Christ and the protection of the most blessed Virgin Mary, and all the Sa- craments of the Church.
1 5. Thirdly, they cast away the Crown, or Rosary of the most blessed Virgin Mary, the girdle of S. Francis, or the strap of S. Austin , or the scapular of the Car- melites, should they belong to one of those Ordersj the Cross, the Medals, the Agnus Dei, whatever other holy or consecrated object may have been about their personj and trample them all under foot.
16. Fourthly, in the hands of the Devil they vow obedience and subjection; they pay him homage and vassalage, laying their fingers on some very black book. They bind themselves never to return to the faith of Christ, to observe none of the divine precepts, to do no good work, but
H
Daemonialitas
monis attendent, et ad conventus nocturnos diligenter accedent. Guacc. he. cit.fol. 36.
17. Qiiinto, spondenl se enixe curaturos, et Omni studio ac sedulitate procuraturos adducere alios mares et foeminas ad suam sectam, et cultumDcemonis, Guacc. he. eit.
18. Sexto, bapii^aniur a Diaboh saeri- lego quodam baptismo, et abnegatis Pa- trinis et Matrinis baptismi Christi, et Confirmationis, et nomine, quod sibi fuit primo impositum, a Diaboh sibi assignan- tur Patrinus et Matrina novi, qui 'ipsos instruant in arte rnalejieiorum, et imponi- tur nomen novum, quod plerumque seurrile est. Guacc. he. eit.
19. Septimo, abseindunt partem pro- priorum indumentorum, et illam offerunt Diaboh in signum homagii, et Diabolus il- lam asportat, etservat. Guacc. he. eit./ol.38.
20. Oetavo, format Diabolus eireulum super terram, et in eo stantes Novitii Ma- lejiei et Sagee firmant juramento omnia, quee ut dietum est promiserunt. Guacc. he. eit.
Demoniality 2S
to obey the Demon alone and, to attend diligently the nightly conventicles.
17. Fifthly, they promise to strive with all their power, and to give their utmost zeal and care for the enlistment of other males and females in the service of the Demon.
18. Sixthly, the Devil administers to them a kind of sacrilegious baptism, and after abjuring their Godfathers and Godmothers of the Baptism of Christ and Confirmation, they have assigned to them a new Godfather and a new Godmother, who are to instruct them in the arts of witchcraft ; they drop! their former name and exchange it for another, more frequently a scurrilous nickname.
19. Seventhly, they cut off a part of their own garments, and tender it as a token of homage to the Devil, who takes it away and keeps it.
20. Eighthly, the Devil draws on the ground a circle wherein stand the Novi- ces, Witches and Wizards, and there they confirm by oath all their aforesaid pro- mises.
3
26
Daemonialitas
21 . Nono, petunt a Diabolo deleri a libro Christi, et describi in libro suo, et pro- fertur liber nigerrimus, quern tetigerunt prcBStando homagium, ut dictum est supra, et ungue Diaboli in eo exarantur. Guacc. loc. cit.
22. Decimo, promittunt Diabolo stalls temporibus sacrificia, et oblationes ; sin- gulis quindecim diebus, vel singulo mense saltern, necemalicujus in/antis, aut mortale venejicium, et singulis hebdomadis alia mala in damnum humani generis, ut gran- dines, tempestates, incendia, mortem ani- malium, etc. Guacc. loc. cit./ol. 40.
23. Undecimo, sigillantur a Dcemone dliquo charactere, maxime ii, de quorum constantia dubitat. Character vero non est semper ejusdem formce, aut figures : ali- quando enim est simile lepori, aliquando pedi bufonis, aliquando araneee, vel catello^ vel gliri; imprimitUr autem in locis cor- poreis magis occultis : viris quidem ali- quando sub palpebris, aliquando sub axillis, aut labiis, aut humeris, aut sede ima, aut alibi; mulieribus autem plerumque in mammis, aut locis muliebribus. Porro si~ gillum, qU6 talia signa imprimuntur, est Unguii Diaboli. Quibus peractis ad instru-
Demonialitjr 27
21. Ninthly, they request the Devil to strike them out of the book of Christ, and to inscribe them in his own. Then comes forth that very black book on which, as has been said before, they laid hands when doing homage , and they are inscribed therein with the Devil’s claw.
22. Tenthly, they promise the Devil sa- crifices and offerings at stated times : once a fortnight or at least each month, the mur- der of some child, or an homicidal act of sorcery, and other weekly misdeeds to the prejudice of mankind, such as hailstorms, tempests, fires, cattle plagues, etc.
23. Eleventhly, the Demon imprints on them some mark, especially on those whose constancy he suspects. That mark, moreo- ver, is not always of the same shape or figure : sometimes it is the image of a hare, some- times a toad’s leg, sometimes a spider, a puppy, a dormouse. It is imprinted on the most hidden parts of the body: with men, under the eye-lids, or the armpits, or the lips, on the shoulder, the fundament, or somewhere else ; with women, it is usually on the breasts or the privy parts. Now, the stamp which imprints those marks is none other but the Devil’s claw. This ha-
28
Daemonialitas
ctionem Magistrorum qui Novitios initia- runt, hi promittunt denuo, se nunquam Encharistiam adoratiiros ; injuriosos Sanc- tis omnibus, et maxime B. V. M. futuros ; conculcaturos ac conspurcaturos Sacras Imagines, Crucem, ac Sanctorum Reli- quias; nunquam usuros Sacramentis, aut sacr ament alibus, nisi ad maleficia ; inte- gram confessionem sacramentalem sacer- doti nunquam facturos, et suum cum Dcemone commercium semper celaturos. Et Diabolus vicissim pollicetur, se illis semper prcssto futurum ; se in hoc mundo votis eorum satisfacturum, et post mortem illos esse beaturum. Sic peracta profes- sione solemni, assignatur singulis eorum Diabolus, qui appellatiir Magistellus, cum 'quo in partes secedunt, et carnaliter com- miscentur : ille quidem in specie foemince, si initiatus est vir,- in forma autem viri, et aliquando satyr i, aliquando hirci.si fcemina est saga professa. Guacc. loc. cit.fol. 42 et 43.
24. Quod si queer atur ab Auctoribus, quomodo possit Deemon, qui corpus non habet, corporalem commixtionem habe- re cum homine : respondent communiter ,
Demoniality 29
ving been all performed in accordance with the instructions of the Teachers who have initiated the Novices, these promise lastly never to worship the Eucharist; to insult all Saints and especially the most blessed Virgin Mary; to trample under foot and vilify the holy images, the Cross and the relics of Saints ; never to use the sacraments or sacramental ceremonials; never to make a full confession to the priest, but to keep always hidden from him their intercourse with the Demon. The Demon, in exchange, engages to give them always prompt assistance; to fulfil their desires in this world and to make them happy after their death. The solemn profession being thus performed, each has assigned to him- self a Devil, called Magistellus or Assistant Master, with whom he retires in private for carnal satisfaction; the said Devil being, of course, in the shape of a woman if the initiated person is a man, in the shape of a man, sometimes of a satyr, so- metimes of a buck-goat, if it is a woman who has been received a witch.
24. If the authors be asked how it comes to pass that the Demon, who has no body, yet has carnal intercourse with man or woman, they unanimously answer that
3.
3o
Dasmonialitas
quod Dcemon aut assumit alterius marts aut fcemincE, juxta exigentiam, cadaver, aut ex mixtione aliarum materiarum ef- fingit sibi corpus, quod movet, et mediante quo homini unitur. Et subdunt , quod quando foemince gaudent imprcegnari a Dcemone [quod non fit, nisi in gratiam fceminarum hoc optantium), Dcemon se transformat in succubam, et juncta homini semen ab eo recipit ; aut per illusionem nocturnam in somnis procurat ab homine pollutionem, et semen prolectum in suo na- tive calore et cum vitali spiritu conservat, et incubando foemince infert in ipsius ma- tricem, ex quo sequitur conceptio, Ita multis citatis docet Guaccius, I. i. c. 12., per totum, qui prcedicta multis exemplis desumptis a variis Doctoribus confirmat.
25. Alio modo jungitur Dcemon turn Incubus, turn Succubus, hominibus, foemi- nis aut maribus, a quibus nec honorem, nec sacrificia, oblationes, maleficia, qua’ a Sa- gis et Maleficis, ut supra dictum est, prce tendii, recipit; sed oslendens deperdite amorem, nil aliud appetit, quam carnaliter commisceri cum iis quos amat. Multa
' Demoniality 3 1
the Demon assumes the corpse of another human being, male or female as the case may be, or that, from the mixture of other materials, he shapes for himself a body endowed with motion , and by means of which he is united with the human being ; and they add that when women are desi- rous of becoming pregnant by the Demon (which only occurs by the consent and express wish of the said women), the De- mon is transformed into a Succuba , et juncta homini semen ab eo recipit; or else he procures pollution from a man during his sleep, et semen prolectum in suo nativo calore, et cum vitali spiritu conservat, et incubando foemince infert in ipsius matri- cem, whence follows impregnation. Such is the teaching of Guaccius, book i, chapt. 12, who supports it on a number of quotations and instances taken from va- rious Doctors.
25. At other times also the Demon, whether Incubus or Succubus, copulates with men or women from whom he recei- ves none of the sacrifices, homage or offe- rings which he is wont to exact from Wizards or Witches , as aforesaid. He is then but a passionate lover, having only one desire : the carnal possession of the
32
DcEmonialitas
sunt de hoc exempla, quce ah Auctoribus re/eruntur, ut Menippi Lycii, qui fiiit sol- licitatus a quadam foemina ad sibi nuben- dum, postquam cum ea multoties coivit ; et detecta foemina qucenam esset a quodam Philosopho, qui convivio nuptiali intererat, et Menippo dixit illam esse Compusam, puta Dcemonem succubam, statim ejulans evanuit, ut narrat Coelius Rhodiginus, Antiq., lib. 29. c. 5. Pariter adolescens quidatn Scotus a Da’mone succuba omnium gratissima, quas vidisset, forma, quce oc- clusis cubiculi foribus ad se ventitabat, blanditiis. osculis, amplexibus per multos menses fuit sollicitatus, ut secum coiret, ut scribit Hector Boethius, Hist. Sector. lib. 8., quod tamen a casto juvene obtinere non potuit.
. 26. Similiter, multas foeminas legimus ab Incubo Deemone expetitas ad coitum, ipsisque repugnantibus facinus admittere, precibus, fletibus, blanditiis, non seais ac perditissimus amasius, procurasse animum ipsarum demulcere, et ad congressum in- clinare; et quamvis aliquoties hoc eveniat
Demoniality 33
loved ones. Of this there are numerous instances to be found in the authors , amongst which the case of Menippus Lycius, who, after frequent coition with a woman, was by her entreated to marry her; but a certain philosopher, who par- took of the wedding entertainment, having guessed what that woman w'as, told Me- nippus that he had to deal with a Compusa, that is a Succuba Demon ; whereupon the bride vanished bewailing : such is the narrative given by Coelius Rhodiginus, Antiq., book 29, chapt. 5. Hector Boe- thius [Hist. Scot.) also relates the case of a young Scot, who, during many months, with closed doors and windows, was visi- ted in his bed-room by a Succuba Demon of the most bewitching beauty; caresses, kisses, embraces, entreaties, she resorted to every blandishment i/t coiret: but
she could not prevail on the chaste young man.
26. We read likewise of numerous women incited to coition by the Incubus Demon, and w'ho, though reluctant at first of yielding to him, are soon moved by his entreaties, tears and endearments; he is a desperate lover and must not be denied. And although this comes sometimes of the craft of some
Dsemonialitas
34
ob vialeficium, ut nempe Dcvmon missus a maleficis hoc procuret : tamen non raro Dcemon ex se hoc agit, ut scribit Guaccius, Comp. Mai. lib. 3. c. 8., et non solum hoc evenit cum mulieribus, sed etiam cum equabus, cum quibus commiscetur ; quce si libenter coitum admittunt, ab eo curantur optime, ac ipsarum jubce varie artijiciosis et inextricqbilibus nodis texuntur; si au- tem ilium adversentur , eas male tractat, percutit, macras reddit, et tandem necat, ut quotidiana constat experientia.
27. Et quod minim est, et pene incapa- bile, tales Incubi, qtii Italice vocantur Folletti, Hispanice Duendes, Gallice Fol- lets, nec Exorcistis obediunt, nec exor- cismos pavent, nec res sacras reverentur ad earum approximationem timorem os- tendendo, sicuti faciunt Dcemones, -qui obsessos vexant ; quantumvis enim maligni Spiritus sint obstinati, nec parere velint Exorcistce prcecipienti, ut exeant a corpo- ribus quce obsident, tamen ad prolationem Sanctissimi Nominis Jesu, aut Marice, aut aliquorum versuum Sacras Scriptures, im- positionem Reliquiarum , maxime Ligni Sanctee Crucis, approximationem Sacra- rum Imaginum, ad os obsessi rugiunt, strident, frendent, concutiuntur, et timo-
Demoniality 35
Wizard who avails himself of the agency of the Demon, yet the Demon not infre- quently acts on his own account; and it happens not merely with women, but also with mares; if they readily comply with his desire, he pets them, and plaits their mane in elaborate and inextricable tresses; but if they resist, he ill-treats and strikes them, smites them with the glanders, and finally puts them to death, as is shown by daily experience.
27. A most marvellous and well nigh in- comprehensible fact : the Incubi whom the Italians call Folletti, the Spaniards Duendes, the French Follets, do not obey the Exorcists, have no dread of exorcisms, no reverence for holy things, at the ap- proach of which they are not in the least overawed; very different in that respect from the Demons who vex those whom they possess; for, however obstinate those evil Spirits may be, however restive to the injunctions of the Exorcist who bids them leave the body they possess, yet, at the mere utterance of the most holy name of Jesus or Mary, or of some verses of Holy Writ, at the mere imposition of relics, especially of a piece of the wood of tlie Holy Cross, or
36
Daemonialitas
rem ac horrorem ostendunt. Folletti vero nihil horum, ut dictum est, ostendunt, nec a divexatione, nisi post longum tempus, cessant. Hujus rei testis sum oculatus, et historiam recito quce reipsa humanam fidem superat : sed testis mihi sit Deus quod puram veritatem multorum testhnonio comprobatam describo.
28. Viginti quinque abhinc annis, plus minusve, diim essem Lector Sacrce Theo- logies in Conveatu Sanctee Crucis Papice, reperiebatur in ilia civitate honesta quee- dam foemina maritata optima; conscientics, et bonum habens ab omnibus cam agnos- centibus, maxime Religiosis, testimonium, quce vocabatur Hieronyma ; et habitabat in parochia Sancti Michaelis. Hcec qua- dam die domi sua; panem pinserat, et per furnarium miserat ad ilium decoquendum. Reportat panes coctos furnarius, et cum illis grandem quamdam placentam curiose elaboratam, conditam biityro, et pastulis Venetis, ut in ea civitate solent fieri pla- centce hujusmodi. Renuit ilia placentam recipere, dicens se talem nullam fecisse. Replicat furnarius, se ilia die alium pa-
Demoniality Zj
the sight of the holy images, they roar at the mouth of the possessed person, they gnash, shake, quiver, and display fright and awe. But the Folletti show none of those signs, and leave off their vexations but after a long space of time. Of this I was an eye-witness, and shall relate a story which verily passes human belief : but I take God to witness that I tell the precise truth, corroborated by the testimony of numerous persons.
28. About twenty five years ago, when I was a lecturer on Sacred Theology in the convent of the Holy Cross, in Pavia, there was living in that city a married woman of unimpeachable morality, and ^fho was most highly spoken of by all such as knew her, especially by the Friars; her name was Hieronyma, and she lived in the parish of S. Michael. One day, this woman had kneaded bread at home and given it out to bake. The oven-man brought her back her loaves when baked, and with them a large cake of a peculiar shape, and made of butter and Venetian paste, as is usual in that city. She declined to take it in, saying she had not made any thing of the kind. — « But » , said the oven-man, cr I had no other bread » but yours to bake to-day, therefore this
4
/
38
Dasmonialitas
nem coqtiendum non habuisse, nisi ilium quern ab ea habucrat ; oportere proinde , etia7n placentam a se fuisse factayn , licet minime de ilia recordaretur. Acquievit foeyyiina^ et placentam cum viro suo, filia quam habebat triennem, et famula comedit. Sequenti nocte duyyi ciibaret ynulier cinn viro suo, et ambo dormirent, expergefacta est a quadam tenuissima voce, velut acu- tissimi sibili ad ipsius aures susurrante , verbis tayyien distinctis : interrogavit autem foeminayyt, num placenta illi placuisset? Pavens foeynina ccepit se ynunire signo Crucis, et iyivocare sa’pius noynina Jesu et Marice. Replicabat vox, ne paveret, se nolle illi nocere, immo qucecumque illi placerent paratuyyi exsequi, essejilo caption pulchritudinis sux, et nil aynplius deside- rare, quam ejus amplexu frui. Turn foeyni- na seyisit aliquem suaviantem ipsius genas, sed tactus ita levis, ac ynollis, ac si esset gossipiuyyi subtilissime cariniyiatuyn id a quo tacta fuit. Respuit ilia invitantem, nec ullum responsum illi dedit ; sed jugiter nomen Jesu et Maria; repetebat, et se Crucis signo yyiuniebat ; et sic per spatium quasi horx dimidia; tentala fuit, et postea abscessit tentator.
Sequenti ynane fuit ynulier ad coyifessa- rium virum prudenteyyi ac doctuyn, a quo
Demoniality 3 9
» cake also must have come from your » house;yourmemory is atfault ».The good lady allowed herself to be persuaded, and partook of the cake with her husband, her little girl three years old, and the house servant. The next night, whilst in bed with her husband, and both asleep, she sud- denly woke up at the sound of a very slender voice, something like a shrill his- sing, whispering in her ears, yet with great distinctness, and inquiring whether « the » cake had been to her taste? » The good lady, frightened, set about guarding her- self with a sign of the cross and repeatedly calling the names of Jesus and Mary. « Be » not afraid, » said the voice, « I mean you no » harm; quite the reverse : I am prepared » to do any thing to please you ; I am capti- B vatedbyyour beauty, and desire nothing » more than to enjoy your embraces ». And she felt somebody kissing her cheeks, so lightly, so softly, that she might have fan- cied being grazed by the finest down. She resisted without giving any answer, merely repeating over and over again the names of Jesus and Mary, and crossing herself; the tempter kept on thus for nearly half an hour, when he withdrew.
The next morning the dame called on her Confessor, a discreet and learned man.
40
Dasmonialitas
fuit in fide confirmata et exhortata, ut viriliter, siciit fecerat, resisteret, et sacris Reliquiis se mnnirei. Sequentibus noctibus par priori fuit tentatio, et verbis, et oscu- lis, et par etiam in muliere constantia. Hcec pertcesa talem ac tantam molestiam, ad Con/essarii consultationem, et aliorum gravium viroriim, per Exorcistas peritos fecit se exorci:^are ad sciendum num esset obsessa; et cum invenissent a nullo malo spiritu possideri, benedixerunt domui, cu- biculo, lecto, et prceceptum Incubo fece- runl, ne auderet molestiam amplius mu- lieri inferre. Sed omnia incassum -.siquidem tentationem inceptam prosequebatur, ac si prx amore langueret, ploratus et ejulatus emittebat ad mulierem dcmulcendam, quce tamen gratia Die adjuta semper viriliter restitit. Renovavit Incubus tentationem, ipsi apparens interdiu in forma pusionis, seu parvi homunculi pulcherrimi, ccesa- riem habens rutilam et crispam, barbamque fulvam ac splendentem velut aurum, glau- cosque oculos, ut flos Uni, incedebatque indutus habitu Hispanico. Apparebat au- tem illi quamvis cum ea alii morarentur ; et questus, prout faciunt amantes, exer- cens, et jactando basia, solitasque preces repetendo tentabat mulierem, ut ad illius amplexus admitteretur. Videbatque, et au-
Demoniality 41
who confirmed her in her faith, exhorted he:* to maintain her energetic resistance and to provide herself with some holy- relics. On the ensuing nights, like tempta- tion with the same language and kisses, ike constancy also on the part of the wo- man. Weary however of such painful and persistent molestation, taking the advice of her Confessor and other grave men, she had herself exorcised by experienced Exor- cists, in order to ascertain whether per- chance she was not possessed. Having found in her no trace of the evil Spirit, they blessed the house, the bed-room, the bed, and enjoined on the Incubus to discon- tinue his molestations. All to no purpose : he kept on worse than ever, pretending to be love-sick, weeping and moaning in order to melt the heart of the lady, who however, by the grace of God, remained unconquered. The Incubus then went another way to work : he appeared in the shape of a lad or little man of great beauty, with golden locks, a flaxen beard that shone like gold, sea-green eyes calling to mind the flax-flower, and arrayed in a fancy Spanish dress. Besides he appeared to her even when in company, whimpe- ring, after the fashion of lovers, kissing his hand to her, and endeavouring by
4-
42
Daemonialitas
diebat ilia sola prcssentem ac loquentem, minime autem cceteri adstantes.
Perseverabat in ilia constantia mulier, donee contra earn iratus Incubus, post ali- quos menses blanditiarum novum persecu- tionis genus adortus est. Primo abstulit ab ea crucem argenteam plenam Reliquiis Sanctorum , et ceram benedictam , sive Agniim papalem B. Pontijicis Pii V, qua’ secum semper portabat; mox etiam annu- los et alia jocalia aurea et argentea ipsius, intactis seris sub quibus custodiebantur , in area suffuratus est. Exinde ccepit illam acriter percutere, et apparebant post ver~ bera contusiones, et livores in facie, bra- chiis, aliisque corporis partibus, quee per diem unum vel alterum perdurabant, mox in momento disparebant contra ordinem contusionis naturalis, quee sensim paula- timque decrescit. Aliquoties ipsius in/an- tulam lactentem cunis eripiebat, et illam, nunc super tecta in limine prcecipitii loca- bat, nunc occultabat, nihil tamen mali in ilia apparuit. Aliquoties totam domus supellectilem evertebat ; aliquoties alias, paropsides, et alia vasa testea minutatim frangebat, subinde fracta restituebat in- tegra. Semel dum ipsa cum viro cuba ret, apparens Incubus in forma solita enixe
Demoniality 43
every means to obtain her embraces. She alone saw and heard him : for every body else, he was not to be seen.
The good lady kept persevering in her admirable constancy till, at last, after some months of courting, the Incubus, incensed at her disdain, had recourse to a new kind of persecution. First, he took away from her a silver cross filled with holy relics, and a holy wax or papal lamb of the blessed Pontiff Pius V, which she always carried on her person ; then, leaving the locks untouched, he purloined her rings and other gold and silver jewelry from the casket wherein they were put away. Next, he began to strike her cruelly, and after each beating bruises and marks were to be seen on her face, her arms or other parts of her body, which lasted a day or two, then suddenly disappeared, the reverse of natural bruises which decrease slowly and by degrees. Sometimes, while she was nursing her little girl, he would snatch the child away from on her breast and lay it upon the roof, on the edge of the gutter, or hide it, but without ever harming it. Sometimes hfe would upset all the furniture, or smash to pieces saucepans, plates and other earthenware which, in the twinkling of an eye, he resn
44
Dsemonialitas
deprecabatur ab ea concubiium, et dum ipsa de more constans resisteret, in furorem actus Incubus abscessit, et infra breve tem- poris spatium reversus est, secum ferens magnam copiam laminarum saxearum., quibus Genuenses in civitate sua et universa Liguria domos tegunt, et ex ipsis fabri- cavit murum circa lectum tantce altitudinis, ut ejus conopeum adcequaret, unde necesse fuit scalis iiti, si debuerunt de cubili sur- gere. Murus autem fuit absque calce, et ipso destructo, saxa in angulo seposita, qucs ibi per duos dies remanserunt visa a multis, qui ad spectaculum convenerant ; et post biduum disparuerunt.
Invitaverat maritus ejus in die S. Ste- phani quosdam amicos viros militares ad prandium, et pro hospitum dignitate dapes paraverat; dum de more lavantur manus ante accubitum, disparet in moihento mensa parata in triclinio; disparent obsoniacuncta, olla, caldaria, patince, ac omnia vasa in coquina; disparent amphorce, canthari, ca- lices parati ad potum. Attoniti ad hoc stu- pent commensales, qui erant octo, inter quos Dux peditum Hispanus ad alios con- versus ait : * Ne paveatis, ista est illusio.
Demoniality
45
tored tho their former state. One night that she whas lying with her husband, the Incu- bus, appearing in his customary shape, vehemently urged his demand which she resisted as usual. The Incubus withdrew in a rage, and shortly came back with a large load of those flag stones which the Genoese, and the inhabitants of Liguria in general, use for roofing their houses. With those stones he built around the bed a wall so high that it reached the tester, and that the couple could not leave their bed with- out using a ladder. This wall however was built up without lime; when pulled down, the flags were laid by in a corner where, during two days, they were seen by many who came to look at them ; they then disap- peared.
On S. Stephen’s day, the husband had asked some military friends to dinner, and, to do honour to his guests, had provided a substantial repast. Whilst they were, as customary, washing their hands before taking their seats, suddenly vanished the table dressed in the dining-room ; all the dishes, saucepans, kettles, plates and croc- kery in the kitchen vanished likewise, as well as the jugs, bottles and glasses. You may imagine the surprise, the stupor of the guests, eight in number; amongst them was a
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» sed pro certo mensa in loco in quo erat, » adhuc est, et modo modo earn tactu perci- » piam.y) Hisque dictis circuibat ccenaculum manibus extentis, tentans mensam depre- hendere, sed cum post multos circuitus incassum laborasset, et nil prceter aerem tangeret, irrisus fuit a cceteris ; cumque jam grandis esset prandii hora, pallium proprium eorum unusquisque sumpsit pro- priam domum petiturus. Jam erant omnes prope januam domus in procinctu eundi, associati a marito vexatce mulieris, urba- nitatis causa, cum grandem quendam stre- pitum in ccenaculo audiunt Subsistunt pa- rumper ad cognoscendum causam strepitus, et accurrens famula nuntiat in coquina vasa nova obsoniis plena apparuisse, mensamque in coenaculo jam paratam esse restitutam. Revertuntur in coenaculum, et stupent men- sam mappis et manutergiis insolitis, salino, et lancibus insolitis argenteis, salsamentis, ac obsoniis, quce domi parata non fuerant, instructam. A latere magna erecta erat cre- dentia, supra quam optimo ordine stabant calices crystallinis, argentini et aurei, cum variis amphoris, lagenis, cantharis plenis vinis exteris, puta Cretensi, Campano, Canariensi, Rhenano, etc. In coquina pa- riter in ollis, et vasis itidem in ea domo nunquam visis, varia obsonia. Dubitarunt
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Spanish Captain of infantry, who, addres- sing the company, said to them : « Do not be » frightened, it is but a trick : the table is » certainly still where it stood, and I shall j soon find it by feeling for it ». Having thus spoken, he paced round the room with outstretched arms , endeavouring to lay hold of the table; but when, after many circuitous perambulations, it was apparent that he laboured in vain and grasped at nought but thin air, he was laughed at by his friends ; and it being already high time for having dinner, each guest took up his cloak and set about to return home. They had already reached the street-door with the husband, who, out of politeness, was atten- ding them, when they heard a great noise in the dining-room : they stood to ascer- tain the cause thereof, and presently the ser- vant came up to announce that the kitchen was stocked with new vessels filled with food, and that the table was standing again in its former place. Having gone back to the dining-room, they were stupe- fied to see the table was laid, with cloths, napkins, salt-cellars, and trays that did not belong to the house, and with food which had not been cooked there. On a large sideboard all were arrayed in perfect order crystal, silver and gold chalices, with all
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prills nonnulli ex Us eas dapes gustare, sed conjirmati ab aliis accubuerunt, et ex- quisitissime omnia condita repererunt ; ac immediate a prandio, dum omnes pro iisu illius tempores^ad ignem sedent, omnia iis- tensilia cum reliquiis ciborum disparuere, et repertce sunt antiquce domus supellecti- les simul cum dapibus, qua’ prius parata’ fuerant ; et quod minim est, convivce omnes saturati sunt, ita ut nullus eorum ccenam sumpserit pro; prandii lautitia. Qiio con- vincitur cibos appositos reales fuisse^ et non ex prcestigio repra’sentatos.
Interea effluxerant multi menses, ex qtios coeperat hujusmodi persecutio : et mulier votum fecit B. Bernardino Feltrensi, cu- jus sacrum corpus veneratur in Ecclesia S. Jacobi prope muriim illius urbis, ince- dendi per annum integrum indutam panno griseo, et chordulato, quo utuntur Fratres Minores, de quorum or dine fuit B. Ber- nardinus, ut per ipsius patrocinium a tanta Incubi yexatione liberaretur . Et de facto
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kind of amphoras, decanters and cups filled with foreign wines, from the Isle of Crete, Campania, the Canaries, the Rhine, etc. In the kitchen there was also an abundant variety of meats in saucepans and dishes that had never been seen there before. At first, some of the guests hesitated whether they should taste of that food; however, encouraged by others , they sat down, and soon partook ofthe meal, which was found exquisite. Immediately afterwards, as they were sitting before a seasonable fire, every thing vanished at once, the dishes and the leavings, and in their stead reappeared the cloth of the house and the victual which had been previously cooked; but, for a won- der, all the guests were satisfied, so thatno one thought of supper after such a magnifi- cent dinner. A clear proof that the substitu- ted viands were real and nowise fictitious.
This kind of persecution had been going on some months, when the lady betook herself to the blessed Bernardine of Feltri, whose body is worshipped in the church of St James, a short distance from the walls of the city. She made a vow to him that she would wear, during a whole twelve-month, a grey frock, tied round her waist with a piece of cord, and such as is worn by the Minor Brethren, the order
5
5o
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die 28 Septembris, qui est pervigilium Dedicationis S. Michaelis Archangeli, et festum B. Bernardini, ipsa veste votiva in- duta est. Mane sequenti, quod est festum S. Michaelis, ibat vexata ad ecclesiam S. Michaelis, quce ut diximus erat parochialis ipsius, circa medium mane, dum frequens populus ad illam confluebat ; et cum perve- nisset ad medium platece ecclesice, omnia ipsius indumenta et ornamenta ceciderunt in terram et rapta vento statim disparuerunt, ipsa relicta nuda. Adfuerunt sorte inter alios duo equites viri longcevi, qui factum videntes, dejectis ab humero propriis palliis mulieris nuditatem, ut potuerunt, velarunt, et rhedtv impositam ad propriam domum • duxerunt. Vestes et jocalia quce rapiierat Incubus, non restituit nisi post sex menses.
Multa alia, et quidem stupdnda opefatuS est contra earn Incubus, quce tcedet exscri- bere, et per multos annos in ea tentatione
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to which had belonged the blessed Ber- nardine; this she vowed, in the hope of being, through his intercession, at last rid of the persecution of the Incubus. And ac- cordingly, on the 28“^ of September, the vigil of the Dedication of the Archangel S. Michael, and the festival of the blessed Bernardine, she assumed the votive robe. The next morning, which was S. Michael’s festival, the afflicted woman proceeded to the church of St Michael, her own pa- rish, already mentioned ; it was about ten o’clock, a time when a crowd of people were going to mass. She had no sooner set foot on the treshold of the church, than her clothes and ornaments fell off to the ground, and disappeared in a gust of wind, leaving her stark naked. There happened fortuna- tely to be among the crowd two cavaliers of mature age, who, seeing what had taken place , hastened to divest themselves of their cloaks with which they concealed, as well as they could, the woman’s nudity, and having put her into a vehicle, accom- panied her home. The clothes and trinkets taken by the Incubus were not restored by him before six months had elapsed.
I might relate many other most surprising tricks which that Incubus played on her> were it not wearisome. Suffice it to say that,
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permansit ; tandemque Incubus videns ope- ram in ea perdere, destitit a tarn impor- tuna et insolita vexatione.
29. In hoc casu, et similibus qui passim audiuntur et leguntur, Incubus ad nullum actum contra Religionem tentat, sed solum contra castitatem. Hinc fit quod ipsi con- sentiens non peccat irreligiositate, sed in- continentia.
30. In confesso autem est apud Theolo- gos et Philosophos, quod ex commixtione hominis cum Dannone aliquoties nascuntur homines, et tali modo nasciturum esse An- tichristum opinantur nonnulli Doctores : Bellarm. lib. i, de Rom. Pont., cap. 12; Suare!(, tom. 2, disp. 54, sec. 1.; Maluend., de Antichr., /. 2., c. 8. Immo observant, quod, qui gignuniur ab hujusmodi Incubis, naturali causa etiam evenit , ut nascantur grandes , robustissimi , ferocissimi , super- bissimi,ac nequissimi, ut scripsit Maluenda, loc. cit., Ad illud ; et hujus rationem re- citat ex Vallesio Archia. Reggio. Sac. Philosoph., c. 8., dicente quod Incubi sum- mittant in uteros non qualecumque, neque quantumcumque semen, sed plurimum, crassissimum, calidissimum, spiritibus af-
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for a number of years he persevered in his temptation of her, but that finding at last that he was losing his pains, he desisted from his vexatious importunities.
29. In the above case, as well as in others that may be heard or read of occasionally, the Incubus attempts no act against Reli- gion; he merely assails chastity. In conse- quence, consent is not a sin through un- godliness, but through incontinence.
30. Now, it is undoubted by Theologians and philosophers that carnal intercourse between mankind and the Demon someti- mes gives birth to human beings ; that is how is to be born the Antichrist, according to some Doctors, such as Bellarmin, Sua- rez, Maluenda, etc. They further observe that, from a natural cause, the children thus begotten by Incubi are tall, very hardy and bold, very proud and wicked. Thus writes Maluenda; as for the cause, he gives it from Vallesius, Archphysician in Reggio ; « What Incubi introduce in iite- ros, is not qualecumque neque quantum- ciimque semen, but abundant, very thick, very warm, rich in spirits and free from serosity. This moreover is an easy thing for them, since they have but to choose
5.
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fluens et seri expers. Id vero est eis facile conquirere, deligendo homines calidos, ro- bustos, et abondantes multo semine, quibus succumbant, deinde et mulieres tales, qui- bus incumbant, atque utrisque voluptatem solito majorem afferendo,tanto enim abun- dantius emittitur semen, quanto cum ma- jori voluptate excernitur. Hcec Vallesius. Confirmat vero Maluenda supradicta, pro- banda, ex variis et classicis Auctoribus, ex hujusmodi concubitu natos : Romulum ac Remum, Liv. decad. 1 ; Plutarch., in Vit. Romul. et Parallel. ; Servium Tullium, sextum regem Romanorum, Dionys. Hali- car., lib. 4, Plin., lib. 36., c. 27; Platonem Philosophum, Laer. /., 9. de Vit. Philos.;