A very mery and pleasaunt Historie done not long since, in this realm of England. Written in Latine by Erasmus of R [...]terodame, Dialoguewise, vnder the title of a Coniuration or Spirite.
Newly translated into English, by Thomas Iohnson.
Imprinted at London, by Henrie Bynneman, for William Pickring. ANNO DOMINI. 1567.
[...]from the bridge the waye leadeth into the playne fielde.
I remembre it well.
Of late a rumoure was spread among the husbandmē of those quarters, that bysides this bridge ther walked a certaine Spirite, Sprite. whose miserable howlings were sundry tymes hearde: Soule. which they thought to be the soule of some man in those places tormented with most cruel punishments.
Who was the authour of this rumour?
Who but Pole? and this was the preface of his Enterlude.
What came in his mynde to fayne this.
I wot nere, but that such is the mās nature, desirous to deceiue the foolish people, by such sort of delusions. I will shew you what like prāk he hath playd [...] of late. We rode a good companie of vs togither to Richmond, wherof there were some, whome you would haue sworne, Richmond. had ben both tall and stutdy fellows. The i. Acte The wether was [Page]very fayre, neither appered there any little clowde in the Skie. There Pole casting his eyes vp towardes heauen: blessed all his face and shoulders with the signe of the Crosse, and fayning in his countenāce, as though he had ben afrayde, these words he spake to hym selfe: O immortall God, what doe I sée? and beyng demaunded of those that rode next vnto him what it was: Agayne, makyng a greater crosse: O merciful God, I beséech thée (quod he) take away from myne eyes this terrible sight. Whē they desirous to know what it was, moste instantly required him to declare the vision, Vision. he castyng his eyes intentiuely vp agayn towardes heauen, and there with his fynger pointyng to one place: Sée you not yonder (quod he) an vgly Dragon, A Dragon. armed with light burning hornes, and a winding taile? Which when they denied that they sawe it: againe he had they shoulde beholde more earnestly, ofte poyntyng with his finger also to the place, vntill at length an other of [Page 5]the company, lest he should séeme that he could sée but a little, sayd also that be sawe it. Lykewise did one or. ij. other, for they were ashamed not to sée that which was so euident. But what néede many words? within. iij. dayes the rumour had persuaded all Englād that there appered such a Monster. England. A wonder it was howe the report of the people had augmented the fable, Monster. neyther lacked there such as wold in earnest expound what this horrible sight portended. Whose follie he much reioyced at, who was the Inuenter of the argument.
I know wel the mās wit, but returne againe to the Spirite.
In the meanewhile commodiously, there resorted vnto Pole, a certaine Priest named Fanne, Fanne. of y e order which we cā not wel call in Latin Regulares, Regulares, Regulars, vnlesse y e greke name agrée also, a parishe Priest seruing the cure in one of the nexte Parishes. This same séemed vnto himselfe not meanlie learned, and especially in [Page]diuinitie.
I perceyue it well, he was founde chiefe doer in the matter.
About supper they fell in communication of this matter, or report of the spirite. When Pole perceiued that Fanne had not onely hearde of the rumour, but also beleued it to bée true, he beganne to intreate him, that bicause hée was a man both learned and godly, he woulde helpe that sielly soule so cruelly tourmented. And if you doubte any thing (quod he) trie the matter: Walke aboute ten of the clocke at nyght to the bridge, and you shall heare terrible howlyngs. Take vnto you what companie you lyste, so shall you heare more safely and surely.
What then?
After supper Pole as he was wont or accustomed, a haukyng or hunting, Fanne walkyng vp and down euē then when y e darknesse had takē away all sure iudgement of thinges, at lengthe heareth pitifull schritchinge [...] [Page 8]fire out of their nostrils, who assayde also to enter into the Circle, but that by waightie wordes he draue them away with sorrowe: At which Fanne taking heart of grace, the day following being wel appointed, commeth to the Circle, and prouoketh the Diuell to appere by many charms & prayers. Charmes. And Pole with his cōpaniōs shewing thēselues a far off, sitting vpon black horses, with terrible noyses (as who should say) they would faine haue entred into the Circle.
Had they no fire?
None at all, for that had chaunced vnto them not very well before: but here beginneth another tale. They brought with them a long rope which they dragged softly on y e groūd, eche of them holding an ende in their handes, dispersed themselues abroade as thoughe they had bene so enforced by the vehemencie of Fanne his inuocation: and therwithall they tombled ouer and ouer both the Priestes & also the Vessell of holie Water which they [Page]had.
Had the parish Priest such a rewarde for his good wil in furthering the matter?
Yea truely, yet had he rather suffer all this and more too, than to forsake the pretēded pastime. The. 3. Acte. This done, when they came to talk togither Fan declareth vnto Pole in what daū ger he was, and how stoutely he draue away both the Spirites with his wordes, and that he had nowe taken such an opinion, that there was not one diuell in Hell, were he neuer so hurtfull or bolde, which durste or coulde come within the Circle.
That Fanne should séeme truelie to be almost a foole.
Yet haue ye heard in effect nothing. The matter thus far procéeding, in good time came Poles sonne in lawe, The cōmē dation of Fanne his Sonne in lawe. who had taken to wife his eldest daughter, a yong man (as you know) of a maruellous witte and pleasaunte disposition.
I know it wel, neither doth [...]