‘I shall shew you by a few Examples, how cunning some Women were formerly amongst the _Northern_ people in _Magical Art_. _Hugbert_, Daughter to _Vagnostus_ the Giant, was wont to change her stature at pleasure; sometimes she was very great; sometimes less; sometimes exceeding small; sometimes wither’d faced; sometimes beautiful: sometimes she was as tall as the sky; sometimes so short as a Pygmy; and she was supposed to be able to pull down the Heavens, to lift up the Earth; to harden Fountains, to melt Mountains; to lift ships into the Ayr; to pull down the Gods; to extinguish the Stars, and to make Hell a light place. ‘When _Hadingus_ the King was at Supper, another Woman of the same Art, who carried pipes, was seen to lift up her head above the ground before the fire; and stretching out her bosome, she seemed to ask in what part of the World so new green Reeds grew; the King, that desired to know the matter, was carryed by her under ground, wrapt in his own Cloak: and, having shewn unto him the Monsters of the Infernal Regions, she restored him back to the Earth again. ‘_Cvaca_, a Woman of _Norway_, that desired to know the future fortune of her Son _Rollerus_, provided Water-grewel, and into this, she dropt the venemous moysture of three Land-Snakes, that were hung up above by a small Twig. But _Ericus_, son in law to _Cvaca_ took to himself the Dish that was provided for her son _Rollerus_, and he, being refreshed with this happy meat, by the internal operation of it, arrived to the highest pitch of man’s wisdome. For the force of this meat bred in him the Knowledge of all Sciences beyond belief; so that he could understand the meaning of the cryes of Birds and Wild Beasts. Besides, he was so eloquent and curious in his speech, that whatsoever he pleased to discourse of, he would constantly illustrate it with pleasant Proverbs. By his counsel King _Frotho_ overcame the Army of the mighty _Huns_, that was assisted by 170 Kings. And, at length, _Gestilblindus_, King of the _Goths_, made this _Ericus_ heir to himself, and to the Kingdome of _Sweden_; and that about the time of Christ’s Nativity. ‘But King _Frotho_, being lunged at by a Witch that turned into an Oxe, was slain by her upon a certain Sea-coast. _Guthruna_ suddenly blinded the forces of King _Larmericus_, and made them fight one against another. An earthen pot useth to be the common Instrument of Witches, wherein they boyl their Myces, Herbs, Worms, and Entrals, and by that Witchery meat, they allure idle persons to them, and make ships, horses, and horsemen, to be as swift as a boyling pot.’ ‘OF THE CONJURERS AND WITCHES IN FINLAND. [Illustration]