h their
horns turned towards the east, filling the other half. At the same time,
a superb fountain of pure water spouted from the arid soil, under his
feet.

At another time, he beheld a mighty lion, treading on the moon, and
seven other lions around him, in the clouds.

Sometimes he beheld the encounter of hostile armies, splendidly
accoutred; sometimes he wandered through palaces, whose only inhabitants
were devouring monsters; or beheld dragons of enormous size, in various
scenes of action.

He was at length attended by two angels, in his ecstasy; one of his
visions at this time was of the most formidable and impressive kind. "On
the 13th day of September, says he, both the youths returned to me,
saying, be not afraid, but observe the thing which will be shewn to
thee. And I suddenly beheld a circle, like the sun, red, and as it were,
bloody: in which were black and white lines, or spots, so intermingled,
that sometimes there appeared a greater number of blacks, sometimes of
white; and this sight continued for some space of time. And when they
had said to me, Behold! Attend! Fear not! No evil will befal thee! Lo,
there were three successive peals of thunder, at short intervals, so
loud and dreadful, that I shuddered all over. But the circle stood
before me, and the black and white spots were disunited, and the circle
approached so near that I could have touched it with my hand. And it was
so beautiful, that I had never in my life seen any thing more agreeable:
and the white spots were so bright and pleasant, that I could not
contain my admiration. But the black spots were carried away in cloud of
horrible darkness, in which I heard a dismal outcry, though I could see
no one. Yet these words of lamentation were audible: Woe unto us, who
have committed ourselves unto the black cloud, to be withdrawn from the
circle coloured with the blood of divine grace, in which the grace of
God, in his well-beloved Son, had inclosed us."

After several other piteous exclamations, he saw a procession of many
thousand persons, bearing palms, and singing hymns, but of very small
stature, enter the red circle, from the black cloud, chanting
halleluiah.

XLII

THE VISION OF CHARLES XI. OF SWEDEN

From a _Proces-verbal_

The authenticity of the following narrative rests upon a
_proces-verbal_, drawn out in form, and attested by the signatures of
four credible witnesses.

Charles XI. was one of the most despotic and, a