But nowe as concerning other matters, as in case any straunge crackes and noyses be heard, or any rare and maruellous things happen before the alteration of kingdomes (which we speake of before) what shall we then doo? Surely we must not attribute too much vnto such things, for they sometimes, yea and most commonly chaunce by the deceit of the diuell, who hath a great pleasure to haue men muse night and day on such matters, and to imagine before their eyes and mindes many horrible things, that thereby they may fall into some gréeuous sicknesse, and neuer be at rest. When such things happen indéed, they ought to put vs in minde, that we casting from vs all these things which displease God, should wholly consecrate our selues vnto God, and so frame our selues, that at what houre soeuer he come, and please to call vs out of this life, we should be readie for him euen as he himselfe teacheth vs, and also endure patiently all vnfortunate chances, how many soeuer happen vnto vs, knowing that they come not by chance, but by the prouidence of God. [Sidenote: Plutarches Christian opinion.] =Plutarch=, albeit he be an Heathen writer, is of a sounde iudgement (as me séemeth) concerning Monsters and wonders. For writing of =Alexander= the great, in his booke _De vitis_, he saith; that there happened certaine prognostications before his death, which sometimes =Alexander= cared not for, but contemned them, and contrariwise, sometimes he tooke smal and trifling things, as signes of euil lucke. [Sidenote: Valerius Maximus.]