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5«> Of the magicall Ceremonies
looks, words, or Some other wicked artifice, So enSnare and bewirch men,
as to deprive them of the ufe of limbs and reaSon, and very often bring
thtm into extreme danger of their lives. But tho in thefe latter times they
do not So frequently praftiSe this, and dare not profeSs it So publicly as
before , being Severely prohibited by the King of Srvedtn ■• yet there are still
many that give themfelves wholly unto this study. But if we enquire into
the motives and reaSons hereof, this, formerly mention’d, Seems the
principal, that every one thinks it the Surest way to defend himfelf from
the injuries and malicious dedans of others : for they commonly profeSs
that their knowledge in theSe things is absolutely neceffary for their own
Security. Upon which account they have Teachers and ProfefTors in this
Science : and parents in their last will bequeath to their children, as the
greatest part of their estate, thoSe Spirits and devils that have bin any waies
Serviceable to them in their life time. SturUfonim writes of Gun/Ida, a maid,
that was Sent by her father Odzor Huide, who dwelt in Halogaland, to
Motle King of FinlapUnd in b’ortp’j, to be instructed in this art. Where
he gives an account alSo of two other Twlandtrs , and the great knowledg
they attained to in this profefiion. But it i9 very Seldom that the parents
themSelves are not So learned, as to perform the duty, and Save the expences
of a tutor. Thus they become famous in thefe studies, especially when they
happen to be apt Schollars. For as the Laplanders do not all agree in the
Same difpofition, So neither do they arrive to the fame perfection in this
art. For Some are So stupid and dull, that however they may Seem
qualified for other emploiments , they prove altogether unfit for this.
As to the bequeathing their familiars to their Children , they fuppofe it
the only means to raife their family ; fo that they excell one another in
this art, according to the largenefs of the legacies they receive. From
hence it is manifest, that each hotifthath peculiar Spirits, and of different
and quite contrary natures from thofe of others. And not only each diftinfl
family, but fingle perSons in them alSo have their particular Spirits ,
Sometimes one, two, or more, according as they intend to Stand on the defenfive
part, or are malicioufly inclined and delign to be upon the ofFenfive : So that
there are a Set number of obfequious Spirits, beyond which none hath. But
however Some of thefe will not engage themfelves without great Solicitation,
and earnest entreaties, when others more readily profer themfelves to litle
children , when they find them fit for their turn, fo that diverfe of the
Inhabitants are almost naturally Magicians. For when the devil takes a liking
to any perfon in his infancy, as a fit instrument for his defigns, he
presently SeaSes on him by a diSeaSe, in which he haunts them with feveral
apparitions, from whence according to the capacity of his years and
understanding he learns what belongs to the art. Thofe which are taken thus
a fecond time fee more vifions, and gain greater knowledg. If they are
SeaSed a third time, which is Seldom without great torment, or utmost
danger of their life, the devil appears to them in all his Shapes, by vhich
they arrive to the very perfeflion of this art; and become So knowing, that
without the Drum they can See things at greatest distances,
andareSopol-feffed by the devil, that they fee them even against their will. For example,
not long fince a certain Lap , who is yet alive , upon my complaint against
him for his Drum , brought it to me; aod confest with tears , that tho he
Should
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