An Aberdonian succubus...and a vanishing chamberpot

I am sure by now Innerpeffray Library needs no introduction! here are my latest excerpts from the Treatise of Specters, again from the section snappily entitled An History of Strange Apparitions, and cunning delusions of Devils.

Let us start with the improving tale of a young hunk from Aberdeen, who banished a succubus by fasting and prayer:

167. Hector Boethius in his 8^th Book of the Histories of Scot. relates, that in a small Village of Scotland scarce 14 Miles distant from Aberdene, there was a very beautifull young man made open complaint before the Governour of Aberdene, that he was many Months molested and troubled with a she Devill, (as they call it) the handsomest that ever he saw, and finally when the dores were shut she came to him by night, and by her fair speeches forc’t him to embrace her: when t’was almost day, she went away making no noise, and trying many wayes, he could by no means be freed from that so great and base vexation. A prudent and devout Bishop commands the young man immediately to go to some other place, and according to the Christian Religion to conform himself to prayer, and fasting, more zealously then he used to do, hereby he thought the Devill would be put to flight from him, when he saw him so intent upon all good works. Upon this wholesome counsel followed good successe: Which when the youth had religiously performed, within few dayes after he was clearly delivered from these Hobgoblins. So the He-Devill did no longer trouble the Woman of Navete, after her confession, and holy Communion which accompany prayer and fasting. Legitur in vita Divi Bernhardi.Vierus,lib.4.cap.27.

Boethius is Hector Boece (1465-1536), a Scottish academic and philosopher. The next excerpt is a rather bizarre tale of a nunnery disturbed by the activities of a poltergeist. Aside from the nuns' spiritual tribulations, I feel rather sorry for them if they had nothing to eat except turnip porridge for more than seven weeks! 

173. The Nuns of Ventetus shut up close in the County of Horn. were cruelly handled by an evill spirit. A poor woman in Lent time borrowed three Measures of Salt of the Virgins, and restored almost twice as much about Easter. Here in the bed-chamber were found small white balls, as ‘twere seeds pargetted over with Sugar, but being tasted, they were salt. In the same place they took notice of a Ghost walking there, and groaning, they heard also that many Virgins were called to arise, and to go with her to the fire advertising them, that she was not well. If at any time they took the Chamberpot to make water, it was by force taken from them, and they watered their bed. Sometimes they were haled by the feet out of their beds, and were tickled at the Soles of their Feet, that with overmuch laughter they were ready to dye. Some had pieces of flesh pul’d off, many had their legs, arms, and Faces writhed the contrary way. Some were so tormented, though for fifty and odde dayes they eat nothing but Turnep Porrage without bread, yet they spued up such abundance of black stuffe, like Ink it felt so sharp, that it took off the skin from their Mouth. Some were lifted up above a Mans height, and instantly thrown down again. When about 13.friends came to visit and comfort them that were sick, they fell down from the Table, not speaking a word nor sensible thereof; others lay as if dead with their legs and arms Crosse; one was lift up aloft, and although some standing by, struggled to save her with their hands, yet was she snatcht away above their heads, and thrown down headlong again. Some went upon their toes, as if they had no feet, or at least no use of them. They climb’d Trees also like Cats, and came down again from them without any alteration of their body. It happened likewise, that the Governesse of the Monastery (which they call the Mother) in her perambulation, as she was discoursing with Margaret, Countess of Burens. was hurt on her thigh; The wound was black and blue, but was healed again. This cruelty continued evidently full three years, which afterwards they concealed. Vide Vierum.lib.3.cap.9.

"in filthy Bawdery, it passeth all the tales that ever I heard"

I have spent a lot of time recently posting excerpts from the seventeenth century Treatise of Specters, in hopes of making available at least some parts of that work, which does not seem to be available online.
Whilst I was poking about at Innerpeffray Library yesterday I also browsed through an equally fascinating volume entitled The Discovery of Witchcraft by Reginald Scott, printed in 1665. I had more than enough other material for the Hallowe'en guest blog post I am writing, so I transcribed some excerpts from it for my own blog, as they amused me very much!  

First of all, here is a tale of witchcraft that supposedly took place in France (quite a few of the stories in the book are set there; evidently it was viewed as a hotbed of sin in those days):

Book III, chap. V

Of the private league, a notable tale of Bodins concerning a French Lady, with a confutation.

The manner of their private league is said to be so, when the Devil invisible, and sometimes visile, in the midst of the people talketh with them privately; promising, that if they will follow his counsel, he will supply all their necessities, and make all their endeavours prosperous; and so beginneth with small matters: whereunto they consent privily, and come not into the fairies assembly.

And in this case (me thinks) the Devil sometimes, in such external or corporal shape, should meet with some that would not consent to his motions, (except you will say he knoweth their cogitations) and so should be bewrayed. They also (except they were idiots) would spie him; and so forsake him for breach of covenants. But these bargains, and these assemblies do all the writers hereupon  maintain; and Bodin confirms them with a hundred and odd lies; among the number whereof I will (for divers causes) recite one.

There was (saith he) a noble Gentlewoman at Lions, that being in bed with a lover of hers, suddenly in the night arose up, and lighted a candle: and when she had done, she took a box of ointment, wherewith she annointed her body; and after a few words spoken, she was carried away. Her bed-fellow seeing the order hereof, leapt out of his bed, took the candle in his hand, and sought for the Lady round about the chamber, and in every corner thereof; But though he could not find her, yet did he find her box of ointment; and being desirous to know the vertue thereof, besmeered himself therewith, even as he perceived her to have done before: And although he was not so superstitious, as to use any words to help him forward in his business, yet by the vertue of that ointment (saith Bodin) he was immediately conveyed to Lorrein, into the assembly of Witches. Which when he saw, he was abashed, and said; In the name of God, what make I here? And upon those words the whole assembly vanished away, and left him alone there stark naked; and so was he fain to return to Lions: But he had so good a conscience, for you may perceive by the first half of the history, he was a very honest man, that he accused his true lover for a Witch, and caused her to be burned: And as for his adultery, neither, M.Mal. nor Bodin do once so much as speak in the dispraise thereof.

There are a great many very similar stories in the book, but I particularly like the tone of outraged morality in the last sentence! Dear me, Scott seems to be saying, trust the French to condone adultery. And speaking of outraged morality, elsewhere in the book you may find the following exhortation: 

"A request to such readers as are loath to hear or read filthy and bawdy matters, which of necessity are here to be inserted, to pass over eight Chapters."

I should say that this request pretty much guaranteed that the following eight chapters would be the most well-thumbed in the entire volume!!!

Scott continues, "But insomuch as I am driven (for the more manifest bewraying and displaying of this most filthy and horrible error) to stain my paper with writing thereon certain of their beastly and baudy assertions and examples, whereby they confirm their doctrine (being my self both ashamed, and loath once to think upon such filthiness, although it be to the condemnation thereof) I must intreat, you that are the readers thereof, whose chast ears cannot well endure to hear of such abominable Lecheries, as are gathered out of the books of those Witch-mongers, (although Doctors of Divinity, and otherwise of great authority and estimation) to turn over a few leaves, wherein (I say) I have, like a Groom, thrust their bawdy stuffe (even that which I my self loath) as into a stinking corner: howbeit, none otherwise, I hope, but that the other parts of my writing shall remain sweet, and this also covered as close as may be."

Having secured his readers' attention one hundred per cent, Scott now plunges into this pit of beastly and bawdy assertions. Sadly for the readers of this blog (or perhaps happily, for their consciences, depending on how you look at it), I did not have time to transcribe all eight chapters of filth and lechery. Here are some excerpts!

Let us start with the chapter headings of BOOK IV, which are all fairly promising:

"Ch I: Of Witchmongers opinions concerning evil Spirits, how they frame themselves in more excellent sort than God made us.

Ch II: Of bawdy Incubus and Succubus, and whether the action of Venery may be performed between Witches and Devils, and when Witches first yielded to Incubus.

Ch III: Of the Devils visible and invisible dealing with Witches in the way of Lechery.

Ch IV: That the power of Generation is both outwardly and inwardly impeached by Witches, and of divers that had their genitals taken from them by Witches, and by the same means again restored."

That last one is rather worrying! "Had their genitals taken from them by Witches"? That sounds very unpleasant, and not at all easy to remedy, witchcraft or not! A little further on we come across a chapter about what to do if you have not actually had your genitals taken from you, but merely had them bewitched:

"….Ch VIII: Certain Popish and Magical cures, for them that are bewitched in their Privities.

For direct cure to such as are Bewitched in the Privy members, the first and special, is Confession; then follow in a row, holy-water, and those ceremonial trumperies, Aves Maries, and all manner of crossings; which are all said to be wholesome, except the Witchcraft be perpetual, and in that case the wife may have a divorce of course."

That last throwaway comment surprised me a bit! "The wife may have a divorce of course." So much for, "Never mind, it happens to everyone sometimes..." Those first remedies are the orthodox ones no doubt: confess, cross yourself, etc etc. If none of those work, the following are also suggested:

"Item, The eating of a Haggister or pie helpeth one Bewitched in that member.

Item, The smoak of a tooth of a dead man.

Item, To anoint a mans body over with the gall of a Crow.

Item, To fill a quill with Quick-silver, and lay the same under the cushion, where such a one sitteth, or else put it under the threshold of the door of the house or chamber where he dwelleth.

Item, To spit into your own bosome, if you be so Bewitched, is very good."

I absolutely love the first one of those. That is the first time I have ever heard of the consumption of pies being a cure for impotence!
Scott is not finished yet. He offers some more remedies, although the details are now apparently so filthy that he cannot bring himself to explain them in English!!

"Item, To piss through a Wedding-ring. If you would know who is hurt in his privities by Witchcraft, and who otherwise is therein diseased: Hostiensis answereth, but so as I am ashamed to English it, and therefore have here set down his experiment in Latine, Quando virga nullatenus movetur, et numquam potuit cognoscere; hoc est signum frigiditatis: sed quando movetur et erigitur, perficere autem non potest, est signum maleficii.

But Sir Tho. Moore hath such a cure in this matter, as I am ashamed to write, either in Latin or English; for, in filthy Bawdery, it passeth all the tales that ever I heard: But that is rather a medicine to procure Generation, then the cure of Witchcraft, though it serves both turnes."

By this time, if the reader's mind isn't boggling they must be made of stone...! The Latin means (rendered politely) that if the member in question never moves at all, its owner is simply incapable, but if it moves but is unable to complete the act in question, that is a sign of its owner having been bewitched. I do not know what Sir Thomas Moore suggested; my mind is boggling too!

The chapter concludes:

"Item, When ones instrument of Venery is Bewitched, certain characters must be written in Virgin-parchment, celebrated and holyed by a Popish Priest; and thereon also must the 141 Psalm be written, and bound Ad viri fascinati coxam.

Item, One Katherine Loe (having a husband not so readily disposed that way as she wished him to be) made a waxen image of the likeness of her husbands Bewitched member, and offered it up at St. Anthonies altar: so as, through the holiness of the Mass, it might be sanctified, to be more courageous; and of better disposition and ability, &c."

A riveting final anecdote! I wonder what her husband thought about that, and I especially wonder what the parish priest thought about it if he found the item in question on the altar!

Seeing ghosts: never a good sign

Left: entrance to Innerpeffray Library. 

When I was at Innerpeffray yesterday, transcribing from the Treatise of Specters, I came across a number of stories about ghosts. A small selection is given below. It seems pretty clear that no good can come from encountering these phantoms! It seems to mean death for someone pretty nearly every time. 

I particularly like the ugly giant with the unkempt beard who appeared to Mark Anthony! 

Cardanus, to whom two of these excerpts are attributed, was Hieronymus Cardanus (1501-1576),  an Italian scientist.

2. When Marcus Antonius became bankrupt at Actium, Casius of Parma his Partner fled to Athens; where, in the dead of the night as he lay in his bed ingulph’t with cares and perplexities, he phancied, a man of monstrous magnitude, a black and ugly hue, his beard incompt and squalid, and his hair disorderly hanging down, came to him; And being askt who he was? Answered, κακοδαίμονα, i.e., thy evil Angel, or Genius. Being at last affrighted with so horrid a presence, and so evill a name, he called in his servants, and questioned them, whether they saw one of such a dresse and visage either come in, or go out of his Chamber? and when they had assured him they saw none such, he again composed himself to his rest: but presently the same Phantasm haunted him: Wherefore he cast off all thought of rest, and commanded a Candle up to his chamber, and enjoyned his servants not to depart from him. Between this night and his execution inflicted by Caesar, was but a very short interval, as you may read in Valerius Max.l.I.c.7.and Sueton.in Aug. and Plutarch.in vita Antonii.

7. Jacobus Donatus, Patricius of Venice, and also rich, when on a night sleeping with his Wife he had a taper light, and two Nurses also were asleep in a truckle-bed with a young child, not a year old, he saw the chamber door open by little and little, and a man, I know not who, put in his head; the Nurses also saw him, but no body knew him; The young man being affrighted, as well he might be, snatcht his Sword and Buckler, each of the Nurses great Tapers, into the Hall they come, which was near adjoyning to the Chamber, where all things were close. The young man comes back with great admiration, the small Infant, which was well in health, dyed the next day. Cardanus de Rerum varietate, lib.16.cap.93.

29. A certain Mediolanensian Boor,as he returned homewards from his labour, about three hours within night, saw a Goblin or Spirit follow him, and when he endeavoured to out-run it, make he what use he could of his heels, the Spectral fetch’t him up, and at last threw him to the ground, when he endeavoured to cry out, but roll’d in mud and dirt, he was found by some who passed by that way, and carried him home half dead, and at the end of eight dayes gave up the Ghost. Cardanus de Subtilitate. 

What big teeth you have! - Wolves and Magic.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I visited Innerpeffray Library again yesterday, and spent several hours typing furiously to get as much transcribed as possible! I'm particularly interested in the Treatise of Specters, also called the History of Specters (it seems to vary between the cover and the frontispiece!) because it does not seem to be available on the net anywhere. Unless the text is stashed away in some digital archive I haven't stumbled across yet, it's not up there...so copying excerpts out whenever I'm at Innerpeffray has rather the appeal of stuffing your pockets with as many gems as possible before leaving Aladdin's Cave! The following passages go together quite well - they are all from the section entitled An History of Strange Apparitions, and cunning delusions of Devils and are all about witches and magicians. With the exception of the first one, which I included because I liked the witch's unusual name, they are all about shape-shifting. As ever, I have transcribed them leaving the archaic grammar, spelling and punctuation just as I found them. 

394. Cazereis was a Witch at Tholossa, who having brought the blessed bread to the Altar, went away to drown her self, and when she was brought home again; she confessed that she infected the blessed bread with poyson; the bread was cast before Dogs, they dye. She being in bonds, was in a trance more than six hours, void of all feeling; afterwards rising up, cryed out she was wonderfull weary, and sent back the Messengers from many places with certain synes and marks. When she was near her sentence of condemnation, and Judgement was ready to be past upon her, she called upon the Devill, saying, That he promised that there should come such vehement storms and showers that she might not be burned. But for all that she was not defended from the violence of the fire. Bodinus Daemonoman.lib.3.cap.3

395. Nothing (saith the same Bodinus in lib.2.cap.5) is so wonderfull and admirable as the Metamorphosing of men into beasts, and to be turned out of the shape of a man into that of a beast. Yet the truth is, that this is practised among Magitians; and both divine and prophane Histories do prove it certainly. In the book of Inquisitions against Magitians, which I have often mentioned; we read of one Statius a certain Magitian that he suddenly and oftentimes flew, and escaped out of the Bernates field, out of the midst of his enemies (for he had very many) and he could never be slain; but when he was asleep, he left two of his Disciples Hippo and Stadlinus which were the chief Magitians in all Germany, who raised tempests, caused lightning and great storms.

396. There did arise a controversy in the Parliament of Dolensi, and the sentence was published the 18th day of January in the year, 1573, about Aegidius Garnerius, Lugdenensis. Which Judgement is not fit to be inserted here at the present, when Aurelius at Eligium Giberium at Paris with Peter Hayanum, commended to the French Presses; only we will set down the chief heads of those Articles that he was accused and convicted of. And first, That this Garnerius at Michaelmas time at the wood, in the Chastenoyanian Vines, which are a quarter of a mile from Dolensis Town, took a young wench of ten or twelve years old, with his hands, which seemed like to Wolves feet, and tore her to pieces with his teeth, and so devoured the flesh of her thighs and arms, and brought part of her to his Wife. And about a Moneth after, he got another girl in the same manner, and killed her; and being about to eat her, unlesse three men (as he himself confessed) had hindered him. And about fifteen dayes after he strangled a boy of ten years old, in the Vines of Gredisaniorum, and did eat the flesh of his legs, thighs and belly. And lastly, He slew a boy thirteen years of age (being then in the shape of a man, and not of a Wolf) in a grove of the Perusan; and being very hungry (as he of his own accord confessed) if he had not been hindered, would have eaten him also: Therefore for these reasons he was condemned to the flames; The Sentence was put in execution.

397. There was another Case agitated at Vesontion, made known to, or discovered by John Boinus the Inquisitor, in the year of our Lord, 1521, in the Moneth of December, the cause was sent into France, Itally, and Germany, which Vierius,lib.6.of Witchcraft, chap.13. relates at large, but I will run over a few heads of it; Peter Burgottus, and Michael Verdunus, was found guilty, and confessed that they had renounced God and their Faith, and had given themselves to the Devill; Therefore Michael brought Burgot in that street of the Carlonian Castle, where each of them had a Candle of green wax burning, with a dull obscure flame; and so they danced and sacrificed to the Devill. Afterwards they confessed, that anointing themselves, they were transformed into Wolves, running with great celerity and swiftnesse; then again being turned into men, and a while after into Wolves, and in that shape had copulation with the she-Wolves, and had the same pleasure with them as they were wont to have with Women; Furthermore it was confessed, that Burgottus with seven Wolves feet and teeth, did tear to pieces and cruelly macerate a boy, and had quite devoured him had not some Countreymen driven him away. And that Verdunus slew a young maid gathering pease in the Garden, and was driven away by the Lords of Cunea. And in the last place, that there were four young lasses devoured by them at a certain place and time, whose age they did relate, and that they could destroy men by casting a certain kind of dust or powder. 

First catch 20 green frogs...

Yesterday I visited Innerpeffray Library again. It may appear that I cannot stay away from the place. There is probably some truth in this - since we live in a town more than 20 miles away from the nearest cinema or non-religious bookshop, we have to take our pleasures where we find them. However, I was on a bit of a mission yesterday because I have agreed to do a Hallowe'en guest blog for someone, and I wanted to find some suitably nasty witchy material to use.

The trouble with Innerpeffray Library is that there are simply so many fascinating ancient books that it is almost impossible to stay single-minded about what you are going to look at. Yesterday was no exception. I had intended to stick to the Treatise of Specters and possibly one or two of the more salacious passages from Scott's The Discovery of Witchcraft, but Librarian Lara Haggerty showed me another book, The General Practise of Physicke from 1617, and of course it was impossible not to take a closer look!
The frontispiece describes it as "CONTEYNING ALL INWARD and outward parts of the body, with all the accidents and infirmities that are incident unto them, even from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foote." A quick peek amongst the yellowing pages revealed some morbidly fascinating descriptions of bladder complaints and other nasties.

As I was really at the library to work on the Hallowe'en material, I didn't have time to transcribe very much from this book. However, I did note down some short and interesting extracts from the section dealing with The Haire of the Head!

"To take away haire. 

Take a pinte of wine, drowne twenty greene frogs therein, or as many as can be drowned therein, then set the pot forty daies in the warme sunne: afterwards straine it hard throw a cloth, annoint the place therewith where you will take away the haire."

If this remedy does not appeal, or if you simply cannot find enough frogs, there are some alternative suggestions:

"Take Ants egs and rub the place therewith, wherein you would have the haire taken away, it will fall off and growe no more againe. Item annoint the hairie place with the juice of sloes, and it will make the hairie place balde and smoothe."

I feel sure that the frogs would be ultimately efficacious. Certainly, if someone offered to make me a nice poultice of frogs in wine, fermented for forty days in the warm sun, I should probably decide to pluck all the unwanted hairs out with tweezers instead, post haste. Job done!