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Greekes they were call [Greek characters here] which signifieth men-woolfes. But to tell
you simplie my opinion in this, if anie such thing hath bene, I take it to have proceeded
but of a naturall super- abundance of Melancholie, which as we reade, that it hath made
some think themselves Pitchers, and some horses, and some one kinde of beast or other:
So suppose I that it hath so viciat the imagination and memorie of some, as per lucida
interualla, it hath so highlie occupyed them, that they have thought themselves verrie
Woolfes indeede at these times: and so have counterfeited their actiones in goeing on
their hands andfeete, preassing to devoure women and barnes, fighting and snatching
with all the towne
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dogges, and in using such like other bruitish actiones, and so to become eastes by a strong
apprehension, as Nebucad netzar was seven yeares [Dan. 4.]: but as to their having and
hyding of their hard & schellie sloughes, I take that to be but eiked, by uncertaine report,
the author of all lyes.
CHAP. II. ARGUMENT.
[T]he description of the next two kindes of Spirites, whereof the one followes outwardlie,
the other possesses inwardlie the persones that they trouble. That since all Prophecies
and visiones are nowe ceased, all spirites that appeares in these formes are evill.
Philomathes. Come forward now to the reste of the these kindes of spirites.
Epistemon. As to the next two kindes,that is, either these that outwardlie troubles and
followes some persones, or else inwardlie possesses them: I will conjoyne them in one,
because aswell the causes ar alike in the persons that they are permitted to trouble: as also
the waies whereby they may be remedied and cured.
Philomathes. What kinde of persones are they that uses to be troubled?
Epistemon. Two kindes in speciall: Either such as being guiltie of greevous offences,
God punishes
.
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by that horrible kinde of scourdge, or else being persones of the beste nature
peradventure, that yee shall finde in all the Countrie about them, G O D permittes them to
be troubled in that sort, for the tryall of their patience, and wakening up of their zeale, for
admonishing of the beholders, not to truste over much in themselves, since they are made
of no better stuffe, and peradventure blotted with no smaller sinnes (as C H R I S T saide,
speaking of them upon whome the Towre in Siloam fell:) And for giving likewise to the
spectatators, matter to prayse G O D, that they meriting no better are yet spared from
being corrected in that fearefull forme.
Philomathes. These are good seasones for the parte of G O D, which apparantlie mooves
him so to permit the Devill to trouble such persones. But since the Devill hath ever a
contrarie respecte in all the actiones that G O D employes him in: which is I pray you the
end and mark he shoots at in this turne?
Epistemon. It is to obtaine one of two thinges thereby, if he may: The one is the tinsell of
their life, by inducing them to such perrilous places at such time as he either followes or
possesses them, which may procure the same: And such like, so farre as G O D will
permit him, by tormenting them to weaken their bodie, and caste them in incurable
diseases. The other thinge that hee preasses to obteine by troubling of them, is the tinsell
of their soule, by intising them to mistruste
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and blaspheme God: Either for the intollerablenesse of their tormentes, as he assayed to
have done with J O B [Job 1]; or else for his promising unto them to leave the troubling
of them, incase they would so do, as is knowen by experience at this same time by the
confession of a young one that was so troubled.
Philomathes. Since ye have spoken now of both these kindes of spirites comprehending
them in one: I must nowe goe backe againe in speering some questiones of everie one of
these kindes in speciall. And first for these that followes certaine persones, yee know that
there are two sortes of them: One sorte that troubles and tormentes the persones that they
haunt with: An other sort that are serviceable unto them in all kinde of their necessaries,
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