Page:Wonderful progidies (sic) of judgment and mercy.pdf/51

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divers Magicians and Witches.
51

behind him, and the houſe wherein he lay was beaten to the ground.—Wanly hiſt. Man.


XIII. Fazelus writes, that a certain Sicilian called Lyodor, a moſt notorious magician, got himſelf great repute in the city of Catania, by his wonderful illuſions, for he ſeemed by the extraordinary working of his charms and ſpells, to transform men into brute beaſts, and to beſtow upon all things elſe ſuch forms and likeneſs as himſelf pleaſed; and by general report, he drew to him, as ſoon, and as eaſily, perſons that were diſtant from thence many days journey, as thoſe that were in the ſame place; he did alſo many injuries and ſhameful outrages to the citizens of Catania, ſo that the common people, bewitched with a fearful and falſe opinion, fell to worſhipping of him; and when for his wicked deeds he was condemned to die, he, by virtue of his charms, eſcaped out of the hangman's hands, cauſing himſelf to be carried in the air by devils from Catania to Conſtantinople, and after that brought back again from thence into Sicily: this made him admired of all the people, who imagining the divine power was laid up in him, they ran into an horrible error, offering him divine honour: but at laſt Leo, Bishop of Catania, inſpired with a ſudden zeal, laid hands on this deviliſh magician, in an open place, before all the people, and cauſed him to be caſt alive into an hot burning furnace, where he was conſumed to aſhes.—Schotus Phil. Curioſ.


XIV. In the year 1558, in a village near to Ibena in Germany, a certain magician being inſtructed by the devil, in the compoſition of divers herbs, reſtored many to their healths: he had daily commerce with evil ſpirits, and uſed their counſels in

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