The world possessed with devils containing three dialogues. 1. Of the Devil let loose.…The vvorlde possessed with deuils conteinyng three dialogues. 1. Of the Deuill let loose.…

Theo. John Nider maketh mention of a certain Citizen of Vienna in Austria whom he saw whilst he studied there,¹ that could never be persuaded, either to eat or drink, being in this raverie that thou speakest of, but died for hunger. Now, if diseases and evil humours that be in man, be able so to trouble his brain and understanding, it is not to be doubted, but that the Devil can trouble him more, and by many other means, whereof men know not the causes, whether it be that he use the means, of the evil disposition of those that he seeketh, or that he do it without the aide or mean thereof. And therefore it is very likely, that those devils which possessed the men, that we even now spake of, had put some such like toy in their fantasy, and made them imagine that they were dead. For which cause, they fled the company of the living, and withdrew themselves into the graves (which were places appointed for the dead) as unto the lodging metest ⟨image 39⟩for them, according to their fond imagination. And because desert places be not inhabited, they withdrew themselves thither, to flee the company of men. For, there are some melancholic and furious folk, that so hate men, & are grieved with the conversation of others, that they cannot away, either to see or hear any body, but desire to be alone like wild beasts. It seemeth that these two possessed men, were of these sorts, and therefore desired to be in desert places.

Theo. Ihon Nider maketh mention of a certaine Citezen of Vienna in Austriche whom he sawe whilest he studied there,¹ that could neuer bee perswaded, either to eate or drinke, beeyng in this rauerie that thou speakest of, but died for hōger. Now, if diseases and euill humours that bee in man, be able so to trouble his braine and vnderstandyng, it is not to bee doubted, but that the Deuill can trouble hym more, and by many other meanes, whereof men knowe not the causes, whether it be that he vse the meanes, of the euill dispositiō of those that he seketh, or that he doe it without the aide or meane thereof. And therefore it is verie likely, that those deuilles whiche possessed the men, that we euē now spake of, had put some suche like toye in their phātasie, and made them imagine that thei were dedde. For whiche cause, thei fled the company of the liuyng, and withdrewe themselues into the graues (whiche wer places appointed for the dedde) as vnto the lodgyng metest