Demonology -- Early works to 1800; Magic -- Early works to 1800; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800
But as touching the divels visible or invisible execution of lecherie,
it is written, that to such witches, as before have made a visible
legue with the preest, (the divell I should saie) there is no
necessitie that _Incubus_ should appeere invisible: marrie to the
standers by hee is for the most part invisible. For proofe hereof
_James Sprenger_ and _Institor_ affirme, that Manie times witches are
seene in the fields, and woods, prostituting themselves uncovered and
naked up to the navill, wagging and mooving their members in everie
part, according to the disposition of one being about that act of
concupiscence, and yet nothing seene of the beholders upon hir; saving
that after such a convenient time as is required about such a peece
of worke, a blacke vapor of the length and bignesse of a man, hath
beene seene as it were to depart from hir, and to ascend from that
place. Neverthelesse, manie times the husband seeth _Incubus_ making
him cuckhold, in the likenesse of a man, and sometimes striketh off
his head with his sword: but bicause the bodie is nothing but aire, it
closeth togither againe: so as, although the goodwife be some times
hurt thereby; yet she maketh him beleeve he is mad or possessed, & that
he dooth he knoweth not what. For she hath more pleasure and delight
(they say) with _Incubus_ that waie, than with anie mortall man:
whereby you may perceive that spirits are palpable.
♦This was doone at Ravenspurge.♦
♦_Mal. Malef._♦
The fourth Chapter.
_That the power of generation is both outwardlie and inwardlie
impeached by witches, and of divers that had their genitals
taken from them by witches, and by the same meanes againe
restored._
They also affirme, that the vertue of generation is impeached by
witches, both inwardlie, and outwardlie: for intrinsecallie they
represse the courage, and they stop the passage of the mans seed, so
as it may not descend to the vessels of generation: also they hurt
extrinsecallie, with images, hearbs, &c. And to proove this true, you
shall heare certeine stories out of _M. Mal._ worthie to be noted.
A yoong priest at _Mespurge_ in the diocesse of _Constance_ was
bewitched, so as he had no power to occupie any other or mo women than
one; and to be delivered out of that thraldom, sought to flie into
another countrie, where he might use that preestlie occupation more
freelie. But all in vaine; for evermore he was brought as far backward
by night, as he went forward in the daie before; sometimes by land,
sometimes in the aire, as though he flew. And if this be not true, I am
sure that _James Sprenger_ dooth lie.
♦_Mal. Malef. cap. 6. quæ. 1 pa. 2._♦
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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