[Sidenote: A Fable out Hierome, of a Centaure, A Monster hauing the forepart like a man, the hinder like a horse.] Saint =Hierome= writeth in the life of =Paule= the Hermit, that an =Hippocentaure=, appeared vnto =S. Anthonie=, in the same shape which is described of the Poets. In a stonie valley (saith he) he espied a Dwarffe of a small stature, hauing a crooked nose, and his forehead rough with hornes: the hinder part of his bodie, and his féete like vnto a Goate. =Anthony= nothing amazed with this sighte, taketh vnto him the shield of faith, and the brestplate of hope, lyke a good warriour. Notwithstanding the foresayde creature presented him with Dates, to refresh him in his iourney, as witnesses of peace and friendship. Which when =Anthonius= vnderstood, he staide, and enquiring of him what he was, receiued this answere. I am (quoth he) a mortall creature, and one of the inhabitants of this desart, whome the Gentiles, being deceiued with many errors, dooth worship, calling vs =Faunes=, =Satyrs=, and night Mares. And I am sent as Embassador from our company, who earnestly beséech thée, that thou wilt pray vnto the God of all creatures for vs, whom we acknowledge to be come into the world, to saue the same, &c. [Sidenote: Plutarch.] And here we may in no wise ouerpasse in silence, that notable historie which =Plutarch= in his booke _De fectu oraculorum_, (translated by that learned man =Adrianus Turnebus=) reciteth in these words. Touching the death of diuels, I haue heard a certaine historie of one who was neither foolish, nor accustomed to lye. For it was =Epitherces=, my countreyman, a professour of Grammer, father vnto =Æmilianus= the Rhethoritian, of whome some of you also haue heard the same: He told me, that when he once tooke ship, meaning to go into _Italie_, because he carried with him not only great store of marchandise, but also very many passengers, in the euening when they were about the Islands =Echinadæ=, the wind quite ceased, and that the shippe driuing in the Sea, being brought at the last vnto _Paxe_, many then waking, and many also quaffing after they had supped, sodeinly there was heard a voyce of one which called =Thamus=, in such sort that euery man maruelled. This =Thamus= was a Pilotte borne in _Egipt_, vnknowne vnto many which were in the ship. Wherefore being twice called, he held his peace, and the third time answered: then the other with a louder voyce commaunded him, that when he came vnto =Palodes=, hée should tell them that the great God =Pan= was departed. When this was heard, euery man was amazed with feare, as =Epitherces= affirmed vnto vs: And being in consultation whether they should do as was commaunded or not, =Thamus= thus iudged of the matter: that if the winde did blowe, they must passe by with silence, but if it were calme without winde, he must vtter that which we had heard. When therefore they were come to _Palodes_, and no wind stirred, nor waue moued, =Thamus= looking out of the sterne