DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0160
138
ACCOUNT OF REPUTED WITCHES, &C.
tains much that is fabulous, and was written with a de-
sign to obscure the miracles of Christ.
130. About this time Apuleius, the philosopher, was
accused before Claudius Maximus of attracting: the love
of Pudentilla, a rich widow, by magic. His defence is
still extant; in which he shows that a widow’s affection
might be engaged without having recourse to bad arts.
263. Antonins Caracalla condemned those that carried
writings about their necks, to cure agues.
321. Constantine prohibited the use of charms to do
hurt, but allowed those that were employed for preserv-
ing the fruits of the earth.
361. Julian the apostate is said to have used, but in
vain, many magical and idolatrous rites; ripping up the
bodies of virgins and boys, in the hope of raising the
dead, and learning from them the success of his expedition
against the Persians.
460. The Emperor Leo forbade all kinds of charms,
whether to do good or harm ; and calls all such pretences
cheat and imposture.
About this time Merlin, the celebrated English magician,
was said to be begot by an Incubus. Molitor, and other
Popish writers, say that the devil lay with his mother ;
but that he stole a child somewhere else, and put it into
the midwife’s hands at the time of delivery.
968. Duffus, the 78th King of Scotland, languished
under a sweating sickness. A maid was examined by tor-
ture, and discovered, that her mother and some others
roasted the King’s picture by a slow fire; and on their
punishment, the King recovered. To this circumstance,
Buchanan adds, “ These things I deliver as I received
them from our ancestors. What to think of this sort of
witchcraft, I leave to the judgment of the reader, only
reminding him, that this story is found among our ancient
archives and records.”
999.
ACCOUNT OF REPUTED WITCHES, &C.
tains much that is fabulous, and was written with a de-
sign to obscure the miracles of Christ.
130. About this time Apuleius, the philosopher, was
accused before Claudius Maximus of attracting: the love
of Pudentilla, a rich widow, by magic. His defence is
still extant; in which he shows that a widow’s affection
might be engaged without having recourse to bad arts.
263. Antonins Caracalla condemned those that carried
writings about their necks, to cure agues.
321. Constantine prohibited the use of charms to do
hurt, but allowed those that were employed for preserv-
ing the fruits of the earth.
361. Julian the apostate is said to have used, but in
vain, many magical and idolatrous rites; ripping up the
bodies of virgins and boys, in the hope of raising the
dead, and learning from them the success of his expedition
against the Persians.
460. The Emperor Leo forbade all kinds of charms,
whether to do good or harm ; and calls all such pretences
cheat and imposture.
About this time Merlin, the celebrated English magician,
was said to be begot by an Incubus. Molitor, and other
Popish writers, say that the devil lay with his mother ;
but that he stole a child somewhere else, and put it into
the midwife’s hands at the time of delivery.
968. Duffus, the 78th King of Scotland, languished
under a sweating sickness. A maid was examined by tor-
ture, and discovered, that her mother and some others
roasted the King’s picture by a slow fire; and on their
punishment, the King recovered. To this circumstance,
Buchanan adds, “ These things I deliver as I received
them from our ancestors. What to think of this sort of
witchcraft, I leave to the judgment of the reader, only
reminding him, that this story is found among our ancient
archives and records.”
999.