of Souldiers, and Troops of Horsemen in array encountring and running one against another, with shaking of shields and multitudes of pikes, and drawing of swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden ornaments, and harness of all sorts. And Josephus writes also concerning the like Prodigies that hapned before the destruction of the City by Titus, prefacing first, that they were incredible, were it not that they were recorded by those that were Eye-witnesses of them.
8. The like Apparitions were seen before the Civil wars of Marius and Sylla. And Melanchthon affirms that a world of such Prodigies were seen all over Germany from 1524 to 1548. Snellius amongst other places doth particularize in Amortsfort, where these sightings were seen not much higher then the house tops; as also in Amsterdam, where there was a Sea-fight appearing in the Aire for an hour or two together, many thousands of men looking on. And to say nothing of what hath been seen in England not long agoe, there is lately a punctual narration of such a Sea-fight seen by certain Hollanders, and sent over hither into England; but a Lion appearing alone at the end of that Apparition, though it may be true for ought I know, yet it makes it obnoxious to Suspicion and evasion, and so unprofitable for my purpose. But the Phænomena of this kind; whose reports cannot be suspected to be in subserviency to any Politick design, ought in reason to be held true, when there have been many profest Eye-witnesses of them. And they being resolvable into no natural causes, it is evident that we must acknowledge supernatural ones, such as Spirits, Intelligences or Angels, term them what you please.
Chap. XIII.
1. The main reason why good Spirits so seldome consociate with men. 2. What manner of Magick Bodinus his friend used to procure the more sensible assistance of a good Genius. 3. The manner of this Genius his sensible Converse. 4. The Religiousness of the Party, and the Character of his Temper. 5. His escapes from danger by advertisements of the good Genius. 6. The Genius his averseness from Vocall conversation with him. 7. His usefull Assistance by other Signs. 8. The manner of his appearing to him awake, and once in a Slumber.
1. I had here ended all my Stories, were I not tempted by that remarkable one in * Mag. Dæmon. lib. 1. cap. 2.* Bodinus to out-run my method. I but named it in the foregoing Chapter; I shall tell it now more at large. I am the more willingly drawn to relate it, such examples of the consociation of good Spirits being very scarce in History. The main reason whereof, as I conceive, is, because so very few men are heartily and sincerely good. The Narration is more considerable, in that he that writes it had it from the mans own mouth whom it concerns, and is as follows.
