Dissertation on the Natural Knowledge of Angelic Existence

to investigate too laboriously, even if it is not necessary, since those things are sufficiently obvious, and no one would easily call all of them into doubt, it will not be superfluous, however, if at least one trustworthy example is brought forward here. Michael Psellus, the Constantinopolitan philosopher, exhibits it to us ($η$), who, as Lipsius testifies ($\vartheta$), was once a teacher and instructor of the Emperor Michael Ducas, and delivers wonderful and recondite things in the said book, with the authority of a certain Mark, who lived for a long time familiarly with Genii.

(η) On Demons, p. 51.
(ϑ) Stoic Physiology, book 1, d. 20.

My brother, he says, had a wife who was otherwise modest, and plagued by frequent illnesses. This woman, while in labor, was already struggling vehemently and, breaking her garment, spoke barbarously in a language unknown to those present. Therefore, all were in doubt as to what should be done in such a difficult matter. But certain women bring a certain stranger, by name Anaphalangiam, very old, wrinkled, withered, and black, who, standing near the bed with a drawn sword, seized the sick woman with a certain anger, and chided her bitterly in his native language, that is, Armenian; she in turn answered him in Armenian, and at first indeed she burst from the bed bold, about to contend with him immediately. But that barbarian then used adjurations to the greatest extent, and as if raging threatened that he would strike her. Then the woman withdrew, compressed herself, and trembled, and now speaking more humbly, soon fell into sleep. We, however, were astonished, doubting in what manner the woman spoke in Armenian, she who had never even seen Armenians, nor had she left her domestic hearths. When she had recovered, we asked her what she had suffered and whether she had noticed the acts or kept them in her mind. Then she replied that she had seen a dark vision of demons, and a woman like one with dishevelled hair rushing upon her, whence before she entered the bed she had feared. But what followed thereafter, she had not perceived at all.

Thus Psellus. The same author, in the cited place, exhibits as an eyewitness the example of a possessed person who, driven by a demon, poured forth many oracles to many, and predicted things that happened later. Alex. ab Alexandro ($ι$), Wierus ($κ$), and Bodinus ($λ$) report more examples pertaining to this. However, the reason is the same both for those who speak in exotic languages and for those who blurt out hidden or future things. For both exceed the powers of nature, both that one should produce a continuous speech of a language he has not learned, and...

(ι) Dierum Genialium, book 2, ch. 9.
(κ) On the Prestigies of Demons, book 1, p. 61.
(λ) On the Demonomania of Witches, book 3, ch. 6.