visions, prophecies, & appearances of Angels or good spirites are ceased.
Which serued onely for the first sowing of faith, & planting of the
Church. Where now the Church being established, and the white Horse
whereof I spake before, hauing made his conqueste, the Lawe and Prophets
are thought sufficient to serue vs, or make vs inexcusable, (M28) as
Christ saith in his parable of _Lazarus_ and the riche man.

Chap. III.

ARGVMENT.

_The description of a particular sort of that kind of following spirites,
called __Incubi__ and __Succubi__: And what is the reason wherefore these
kindes of spirites hauntes most the Northeme and barbarous partes of the
world._

PHILOMATHES.

The next question that I would speere, is likewise concerning this first
of these two kindes of spirites that ye haue conjoyned: and it is this; ye
knowe how it is commonly written and reported, that amongst the rest of
the sortes of spirites that followes certaine persons, there is one more
monstrous nor al the rest: in respect as it is alleaged, they converse
naturally with them whom they trouble and hauntes with: and therefore I
would knowe in two thinges your opinion herein: First if suche a thing can
be: and next if it be: whether there be a difference of sexes amongst
these spirites or not.

EPI. That abhominable kinde of the Deuils abusing of men or women, was
called of old, _Incubi_ and _Succubi_, according to the difference of the
sexes that they conuersed with. By two meanes this great kinde of abuse
might possibly be performed: The one, when the Deuill onelie as a spirite,
and stealing out the sperme of a dead bodie, abuses them that way, they
not graithlie seeing anie shape or feeling anie thing, but that which he
so conuayes in that part: As we reade of a Monasterie of Nunnes which were
burnt for their being that way abused. The other meane is when he borrowes
a dead bodie and so visiblie, and as it seemes vnto them naturallie as a
man converses with them. But it is to be noted, that in whatsoeuer way he
vseth it, that sperme seemes intollerably cold to the person abused. For
if he steale out the nature of a quick person, it cannot be so quicklie
carryed, but it will both tine the strength and heate by the way, which it
could neuer haue had for lacke of agitation, which in the time of
procreation is the procurer & wakener vp of these two natural qualities.
And if he occupying the dead bodie as his lodging expell the same out