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5«> Of the magicall Ceremonies
more credit to it; and we have the leSs reaSon to doubt the truth cf this,
Since the devil Severely commands his worShip to be observed, and Suffers
not thoSe rites and customs he hath impoSed to be violated, fo long as
God is pleaSed to grant him this liberty. Now becauSe it may happen
Sometimes that a woman may out of neceSIity be constrained to go that way,
by which the drum hath bin carried, the devil is So favorable as to permit
it without any danger, upon condition She first offers a brazen ring to the
drum.
In the next place, becauSe they believe they can effeft very strange
things by the drum, we will (hew what they are , and the manner uSed
to perform them. TheSe.are three, belonging either to their hunting, their
Sacred affairs, or lastly the enquiring into things far distant. I find four
chiefly mentioned by another Writer, the first is, the knowing the state
of affairs in forreign Countries. Thefecond, what fuccefs their defigns in
hand will meet. With the third, how to curedifeafes. The fourth, what
Sacrifices their Gods will be pleafed to accept, and what beast each God
delires or diflikes most. As to the way in making enquiries, it is not the
fame among all theSe arrifts. But the great thing they generally obferve,
is, to stretch the skin very Stiff, which is don by holding it to the fire.
The next is, that they beat not altogether in the fame place, but round
about the Index ; then that they beat SoStly at first, preSently quicker, and
continue this till they have effefted their intent. The drummer first lifts
tip the drum by degrees , then beats foftly about the Index, till it begins
to ftirr, and when it is removed fome diftance from its first place to
either fide, he strikes harder, till the Index points at Something, from whence
he may collect what he fought for. They take care alfo that as well he that
beats the drum,as thofe that are preSent at the ceremony, Should be upon
their knees. As to the occafionsof their beating thus, the later of thofe
is already difcourfed of. Now we proceed to the reft, the first of which is
concerning their enquiries into things a<!ted in remote parts. Thofe who
defire to know the condition of their friends, or atfairs abroad , whether
distant five hundred, or a thoufind miles, go to fome Laplander, or
Fin-lander skilfull in this art, and preSent him with a linen garment, or piece
of Silver,as his reward, forfatisfying them in their demands. An example
of this nature is to be Seen upon record, at Bergen, a famous Market Town
in Norway, where the effeds of the German Merchants are registred ; in
this place there was one John Dellivg, Fador then to a German , to whom
a certain Finlapper of Norway came with James Samaoufucad: of him John
Belling enquired about his Master then in Germany; the Finlapper readily
confenting to tell him, like a drunken man preSently made a great bawling,
then reeling and dancing about Several times in a circle, fell at laSt upon the
ground, lying there Sometime as if he were dead, then Starting up on a
Suddain , related to him all things concerning his Master, which were
afterwards found to agree to what he reported. There are many more instances
of this kind: the most considerable , is one concerning a Laplander, now
living, who gave Tornfut an account of the Journey he first made to
Lapland, tho he had never Seen him beSore that time; which, altho it was true,
Torn*hi diSfembled to him , least he might glory too much in his devililh
pradiScs, and rely upon them , as the only means whereby he might attain
to
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