Complete Works (Opera Omnia)

* In the year 1534.

...returned them to favor. At that * time he came to Orléans original: "Aureliam." Weyer traveled to France to study medicine., arriving when a tragedy occurred involving the deceased wife of the Provost of Orléans and certain mendicant monks, an event which Sleidanus describes Johannes Sleidanus was a contemporary historian. The "tragedy" refers to a famous case where monks faked a haunting to extort money, which was exposed as a fraud.. Therefore, having embraced medicine—the art that preserves the human race (once one departs from the direct care of GOD)—and being excellently instructed in those things pertaining to medicine The Latin "medicinae" here implies the full scope of the healing arts as taught in the Renaissance., he made great strides in that study. He quickly reached his goal, obtaining his doctoral honors not by mere request, but by merit.

He sets out for Africa. * Book 2, chapter 15. And to Crete.

Having then undertaken a journey, he crossed over into Africa, where he himself recounts what kinds of charlatans and "Theraphim" An ancient Hebrew term for household idols; Weyer uses it here to describe superstitious objects or idols he encountered among local populations. he saw in his * commentaries On the Deceptions of Demons. He also reached the island of Crete, where he relates that he saw something that almost surpasses belief. A peasant was wounded in a certain riot by an arrow struck into his back; when the arrow was pulled out, the iron head remained in his chest. A surgeon healed the wound, having searched for the point in vain. After two years, the metal piece fell out near his belly, half-corroded by the body's humors. These are Weyer's own words.

He becomes the chief physician to the Prince of Cleves. * In the year 1550.

Upon his return home to his people—since virtue does not know how to remain hidden—the most illustrious prince William, Duke of Cleves, * invited him to his side to take care of his body and health. When he had faithfully performed this duty for nearly twenty or thirty years, he was not only accepted and favored by his own prince, but also served as a physician to many other counts and nobles, being truly a common good original Greek: "κοινὸν ἀγαθὸν" (koinon agathon). A classical term for a person whose life and work benefit the whole community..

A girl believed to live without food or drink. But falsely.

It happened while he was then serving in the court of Cleves, an event which by no means should be wrapped in silence. In Unna, in the County of Mark, there was a certain twelve-year-old girl named Barbara, who, after a deadly bout of illness, was believed to have taken no food or drink. When WEYER saw her, her whole body was well-nourished and agile, though her belly was collapsed; he frankly testified that it was a pure imposture. Finally, he obtained a decree from the prince that she be committed to his examination in the house he kept at Cleves. Here, the girl was observed in secret, and her cunning and deceit were immediately detected; for wherever she could, she secretly snatched food and drink. Although indeed [she feared] punishment and [her] paren-