For vaine imaginations also appeare vnto our sights: armed men as it were are seene on earth, or in the aire: and other such like shapes, voyces, noyses, crackes, and such like. But as touching the very words, _Portentum_ is that which foresheweth some thing to come, as when straunge bodies appeare in the aire, or blazing starres, or thunder in faire weather, or whirlewindes do chaunce. =Festus= saith, that albeit _Portentum_ be a naturall thing, yet it happeneth sildome, and doth betoken some thing to come to passe after a certaine season. [Sidenote: Ostentum.] _Ostentum_, is some straunge thing, which sheweth some thing to come to effect speedily. They giue the like examples of them both. [Sidenote: Prodigium.] _Prodigium_, is a thing which albeit it often chaunce by course of nature, yet notwithstanding it doth alwaies betoken some euill thing, being called _Prodigium_, as it were of _porro agendum_, to be done afterward. [Sidenote: Monstrum.] _Monstrum_, is that which hapneth against nature, as when any thing is brought foorth hauing members belonging to an other kinde: the which is also called _Promonstrum_, as who should say, _Porro aliquid monstrans, siue monens_, that is, shewing or warning some thing to happen afterward. Notwithstanding these termes are many times confounded togither, and taken in one signification, and that because they respect one ende, that is, to tell before or giue warning of things to come. The vaine visions wheron we here intreat, appertaine nothing to naturall philosophers, neither yet these things which we haue ioyned with them. For if a sodaine cracke, or sound, or groning, or rumbling, as though the house would fall, or if any other thing chance which standeth by naturall reason, it doth not properly belong vnto this matter which we haue in hand. But letting these things passe, we will by Gods helpe and aide come nearer to the matter it selfe. CHAP. II. Melancholike persons, and mad men, imagine many things which in verie deed are not. [Sidenote: Some men deny there are Spirits.] [Sidenote: _Act.23._]