RAPHAEL HOLINSHED 1515 (?)-1573. WITCHCRAFT In the mean time the king fell into a languishing disease, not so grievous as strange, for that none of his physicians could perceive what to make of it. For there was seen in him no token, that either choler, melancholy, phlegm, or any other vicious humour did anything abound, whereby his body should be brought into such a decay and consumption (so as there remained unneth anything upon him save skin and bone :) and since it appeared manifestly by all outward signs and tokens, that natural moisture did nothing fail in the vital spirits his colour also was fresh and fair to behold, with such liveliness of looks, that more was not to be wished for: he had also a temperate desire and appetite to his meat and drink, but yet could he not sleep in the night time by any provocations that could be devised, but still fell into exceeding sweats, which by no means might be restrained. The physicians perceiving all their medicines to want the effect, yet to put him in some comfort of help, declared unto him that they would send for some cunning physicians into foreign parts, who haply being inured with such kind of diseases, should easily cure him, namely so soon as the spring of the year was once come, which of itself should help much thereunto. . . . But about that present time there was a murmuring amongst the people, how the king was vexed with no natural sickness, but by sorcery and magical art, practised by a sort of witches dwelling in a town of Murrayland, called Fores. Whereupon, albeit the author of this secret talk was not known, yet being brought to the 1 Scarcely, hardly. king's ear, it caused him to send forthwith certain witty persons thither to enquire of the truth. They that were thus sent, dissembling the cause of their journey, were received in the dark of the night into the castle of Fores by the lieutenant of the same, called Donwald, who continuing faithful to the king, had kept that castle against the rebels to the king's use. Unto him therefore these messengers declared the cause of their coming, requiring his aid for the accomplishment of the king's pleasure. The soldiers which Îay there in garrison had an inkling that there was some such matter in hand as was talked of amongst the people, by reason that one of them kept as concubine a young woman, which was daughter to one of the witches, as his paramour, who told him the whole manner used by her mother and other her companions, with the intent also, which was to make away the king. The soldier having learnt this of his leman, told the same to his fellows, who made report thereof to Donwald and shewed it to the king's messengers and therewith sent for the young damsel which the soldier kept, as then being within the castle, and caused her upon straight examination to confess the whole matter as she had seen and knew: whereupon learning by her confession in what house in the town it was where they wrought their mischievous mystery, he sent forth soldiers, about the midst of the night, who breaking into the house, found one of the witches roasting upon a wooden broach an image of wax at the fire, resembling in each feature the king's person, made and devised as is to be thought, by craft and art of the Devil: another of them sat reciting certain words of enchantment, and still basted the image with a certain liquor very busily. The soldiers finding them occupied in this wise, took them together with the image and led them into the castle, where being straightly examined for what purpose they went about such manner of enchantment, they answered, to the end to make away the king: for as the image did waste afore the fire, so did the body of the king_break forth in sweat. And as for the words of enchantment, they served to keep him still waking from sleep, so that as, the wax ever melted, so did the king's flesh : by which means it should have come to pass, that when the wax were once clean consumed, the death of the king should immediately follow. So were they taught by evil spirits and hired to work the feat by the nobles of Murrayland. The standers by that heard such an abominable tale told by these witches, straight ways break the image and caused the witches (according as they had well deserved) to be burnt to death. It was said that the king, at the very same time that these things were done within the castle of Fores, was delivered of his languor, and slept that night without any sweat breaking forth upon him at all, and the next day being restored to his strength, was able to do any manner of thing that lay in man to do, as though he had not been sick before any thing at all.-History of Scotland. SIR THOMAS NORTH BANISHMENT OF CORIOLANUS WHEN they came to tell the voices of the Tribes, there were three voices odd which condemned him to be banished for ever. After declaration of the sentence, the people made such joy, as they never rejoiced more for any battle they had won upon their enemies, they were so brave and lively, and went home so jocundly from the Assembly, for triumph of this sentence. Senate again, in contrary manner, were as sad and heavy, repenting themselves beyond measure that they had not rather determined to have done and suffered anything whatsoever, before the common People should so The arrogantly and outrageously have abused their authority. There needed no difference of garments, I warrant you, nor outward shows to know a Plebeian from a Patrician, for they were easily discerned by their looks. For he that was on the People's side looked cheerfully on the matter; but he that was sad, and hung down his head, he was sure of the Noblemen's side. Saving Martius alone, who neither in his countenance nor in his gait did ever show himself abashed, or once let fall his great courage: but he only of all other Gentlemen that were angry at his fortune, did outwardly show no manner of passion, nor care at all of himself. Not that he did patiently bear and temper his evil hap, in respect of any reason he had, or by his quiet condition ; but because he was so carried away with the vehemency of anger and desire of revenge, that he had no sense nor feeling of the hard state he was in, which the common People judge not to be sorrow, although indeed it be the very same. For when sorrow (as you would say) is set on fire, then it is converted into spite and malice, and driveth away for that time all faintness of heart, and natural fear. And this is the cause why the choleric man is so altered and mad in his actions, as a man set on fire with a burning ague; for when a man's heart is troubled within, his pulse will beat marvellous strongly. Now that Martius was even in that taking, it appeared true soon after by his doings. For when he was come home to his house again, and had taken his leave of his mother and wife, finding them weeping and shrieking out for sorrow, and had also comforted and persuaded them to be content with his chance: he went immediately to the gate of the city, accompanied with a great number of the Patricians, that brought him thither, from whence he went on his way with three or four of his friends only, taking nothing with him, nor requesting anything of any man. So he remained a few days in the country at his houses, turmoiled with sundry sorts and kinds of thoughts, such as the fire of his choler did stir up. In the end, seeing he could resolve no way to take a profitable or honourable course, but only was pricked forward still to be revenged of the Romans: he thought to raise up some great wars against them by their nearest neighbours. Whereupon he thought it his best way first to stir up the Volsces against them, knowing they were yet able enough in strength and riches to encounter them, notwithstanding their former losses they had received not long before, and that their power was not so much impaired as their malice and desire was increased to be revenged of the Romans. Now in the City of Antium there was one called Tullus Aufidius, who for his riches, as also for his nobility and valiantness, was honoured among the Volsces as a King. Martius knew very well that Tullus did more malice and envy him than he did all the Romans besides : because that many times in battles where they met, they were ever at the encounter one against another, like lusty courageous youths, striving in all emulation of honour, and had encountered many times together. Insomuch as besides the common quarrel between them, there was bred a marvellous private hate one against another. Yet notwithstanding, considering that Tullus Aufidius was a man of a great mind, and that he above all other of the Volsces most desired revenge of the Romans, for the injuries they had done unto them, he did an act that confirmed the words of an ancient Poet to be true, who said : 'It is a thing full hard, man's anger to withstand, If it be stiffly bent to take an enterprise in hand, For then most men will have the thing that they desire, Although it cost their lives therefor, such force hath wicked ire.' And so did he. For he disguised himself in such array and attire as he thought no man could ever have known him for the person he was, seeing him in that apparel he had upon his back: and as Homer said of Ulysses'So did he enter into the enemies' town.' It was even twilight when he entered the city of Antium, and many people met him in the streets, but no man knew him. So he went directly to Tullus |