11, because they never saw them themselves; but as he
reports at large all over his book, especially c. 19. part 1, they are
often seen and heard, and familiarly converse with men, as Lod. Vives
assureth us, innumerable records, histories, and testimonies evince in
all ages, times, places, and [1136]all travellers besides; in the West
Indies and our northern climes, Nihil familiarius quam in agris et
urbibus spiritus videre, audire qui vetent, jubeant, &c. Hieronymus
vita Pauli, Basil ser. 40, Nicephorus, Eusebius, Socrates, Sozomenus,
[1137]Jacobus Boissardus in his tract de spirituum apparitionibus,
Petrus Loyerus l. de spectris, Wierus l. 1. have infinite variety of
such examples of apparitions of spirits, for him to read that farther
doubts, to his ample satisfaction. One alone I will briefly insert. A
nobleman in Germany was sent ambassador to the King of Sweden (for his
name, the time, and such circumstances, I refer you to Boissardus, mine
[1138]Author). After he had done his business, he sailed to Livonia, on
set purpose to see those familiar spirits, which are there said to be
conversant with men, and do their drudgery works. Amongst other
matters, one of them told him where his wife was, in what room, in what
clothes, what doing, and brought him a ring from her, which at his
return, non sine omnium admiratione, he found to be true; and so
believed that ever after, which before he doubted of. Cardan, l. 19. de
subtil, relates of his father, Facius Cardan, that after the accustomed
solemnities, _An._ 1491, 13 August, he conjured up seven devils, in
Greek apparel, about forty years of age, some ruddy of complexion, and
some pale, as he thought; he asked them many questions, and they made
ready answer, that they were aerial devils, that they lived and died as
men did, save that they were far longer lived (700 or 800 [1139]years);
they did as much excel men in dignity as we do juments, and were as far
excelled again of those that were above them; our [1140]governors and
keepers they are moreover, which [1141]Plato in Critias delivered of
old, and subordinate to one another, Ut enim homo homini sic daemon
daemoni dominatur, they rule themselves as well as us, and the spirits
of the meaner sort had commonly such offices, as we make horse-keepers,
neat-herds, and the basest of us, overseers of our cattle; and that we
can no more apprehend their natures and functions, than a horse a
man's. They knew all things, but might not reveal them to men; and
ruled and domineered over us, as we do over our horses; the best kings
amongst us, and the most generous spirits, were not comparable to the
basest of them. Sometimes they did instruct men, and communicate their
skill, reward and cherish, and sometimes, again, terrify and punish, to
keep them in awe, as they thought fit, Nihil magis cupientes (saith
Lysius, Phis. Stoicorum) quam adorationem hominum. [1142]The same
Author, Cardan, in his Hyperchen, out of the doctrine of Stoics, will
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