AND KINGDOMES LYING THAT WAY.
(forasmuch as the Komanes obserued the same custome),
euen so are they herein partly to be commended, in that
they vse the ceremonies of so noble a people. The mysterie
of the flinte is no lesse to be praysed, both forasmuch as this
is domesticall philosophie, and hath also a neare affinite and
signification to these solemnities. For as the flynt hath in it
fyre lying hyd, whiche appeareth not but by mouyng &
force: so is there a secrete lyfe in both kynds of man and
woman, which by mutuall coniunction commeth foorth to a
lyuyng byrth.
They are furthermore experte inchaunters. They tye Experts itt.
three knottes on a stryng hangyng as a whyp. When
they lose one of these, they rayse tollerable wynds. When
they lose an other, the wynde is more vehement: but by
losyng the thyrd, they rayse playne tempestes, as in olde
tyme they were accustomed to rayse thunder and lyghtnyng.
This arte doe they vse agaynst such as sayle by theyr
coastesj and staye or moue the ryuers and seas more or
lesse, as they lyst to shew fauour or displeasure. They
make also of leade certayne shorte magicall dartes of the f£felm
quantitie and length of a fynger. These they throwe agaynst
such, of whom they desyre to be reuenged, to places neuer
so farre distant.
They are sometymes so vexed with the canker on theyr The canker.
armes or legges, that in the space of three dayes they dye
through the vehemencie of the payne.
The Sunne falleth very lowe in these regions: and pro-
longeth one continuall nyght for the space of three monethes one nyght
in wynter, durynge whiche tyme they haue none other lyght moneths.
but lyke vnto the twilight of eueninges & morninges.    This
is very cleare, but continueth but fewe houres, and is lyke
the bryght shynyng of the Moone.    Therefore, that day that
the Sunne returneth to the hemispheric, they keep holy day
and make great myrth with solemne festiuitie.
And these are the maners of this nation, not so brutyshe or