Demonologia; or, natural knowledge revealed; being an exposé of ancient and modern superstitions. Credulity, fanaticism, enthusiasm, & imposture, as connected with the doctrine, caballa, and jargon, of amulets, apparitions, astrology, charms, demonology ... witchcraft, &c / By J.S. F[orsyth].

  • Forsyth, J. S.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Demonologia; or, natural knowledge revealed; being an exposé of ancient and modern superstitions. Credulity, fanaticism, enthusiasm, & imposture, as connected with the doctrine, caballa, and jargon, of amulets, apparitions, astrology, charms, demonology ... witchcraft, &c / By J.S. F[orsyth]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    lously reproduced them, for the comfort of the faithful! A curious specimen of the intolerance of good sense. Prince Radzivil was so much affected by the Reformation being spread in Lithuania, that he went in person to pay the Pope all personal ho- nours. On this occasion his holiness presented him with a precious box of relics. On his return home, some monks entreated the prince’s permis- sion to try the effects of them on a demoniac, who hitherto had resisted every exorcism. ‘They were brought into the church with solemn pomp, ac- companied by an innumerable crowd, and depo- sited on the altar. After the usual conjurations, which were unsuccessful, the relics were applied. The demoniac instantly recovered. The people called out a miracle ! and the Prince raising his hands and eyes to heaven, felt his faith confirmed. During this transport of pious joy, he observed that a young gentleman, who was keeper of his treasure of relics, smiled, and by his motions ridi- culed the miracle. ‘The Prince, indignantly, took the young keeper of the relics to task; who, on promise of pardon, gave the following secret intelligence concerning them. In travelling from Rome he had lost the box of relics; and not dar- ing to mention it, he had procured a similar one, which he had filled with the small bones of, dogs and cats, and other trifles similar to those that were lost. He hoped he might be forgiven for smiling, when he found that such a collection of rubbish was eulogized with such pomp, and had even the virtue of expelling demons. It was by