THE DIVINE DREAMER: OR, A short treatise discovering the true effect and power of dreams; Confirmed by the most learned and best approved Authors.  
Whereunto is annexed The dream of a young Gentleman, immediately before the death of the late Earl of STRAFFORD.  
Printed in the year 1641.   

TO THE virtuous CARINDA.  
MADAM,  
IT was your pleasure not long since to admit me into your ladyship's presence, where I took the boldness to begin a discourse of the Planets, and to declare the power of them: which conference d●d arise from the death of Sir Thomas Wentworth, who departed this world in his climactial year. A friend of mine being at the place of execution, heard a pitiful Lady warble forth a mournful duty; and as soon as her eyes beheld his head parted from his shoulders, she uttered these words with tears in her eyes, (O what wit, treason, harms) which being examined, were the true letters of (Six Thomas Wentworth) without adding or taking away of a letter. Well might she confidently affirm what she said, since none will deny, but that the cutting off the head spoils the wit. I have according to your ladyship's command, sent you this dream of the Lord of Strafford, in regard formerly you have been pleased to lend an ear to my tedious relation; the which is included within a small treatise, styled, the Divine Dreamer, together with the service  
Of your Servant GONZALO.   

The several Heads.  
1 THE definition of a dream.  
2 How dreams presage good or bad fortune.  
3 That sad dreams and joyful proceed from a good and bad diet.  
4 That dreams do predestinate sickness and diseases, and that by several causes.  
5 That some dreams are as well grounded upon the grace of God, as natural causes.  
6 That some Princes have been admonished by dreams, both of their own and people's welfare.  
7 A dream of Sir Thomas Wentworth, Lord Strafford; wherein his nature and fortune is gathered, from his name and title, and made known by a dream.   

The Divine Dreamer.  
IN the first place I shall set down the definition of a dream: A dream is that which appeareth to us while we are sleeping; not by the function of the eyes, but by imagination. Some dreams leave a man joyful and well disposed at a thing: Contrariwise, there are others sad and offensive, that for divers days after such dreams, procure a melancholy languishing both in soul and Body, making a man unable to receive any delight.  
Many have presaged by these dreams both of good luck and bad, which soon after should happen unto them. Some ignorant people have not spared to say, that they are the souls of deceased persons, or Angels, that do advertise men of such things as shall ensue unto them. My purpose is not to discourse if the souls of the deceased have at any time returned into the world, I leave that to be decided by learned Divines; but will discourse of the causes natural, both concerning pleasing dreams, and such as are turbulent and offensive.  
Dioscorides, Pliny, and Galen say, that there are divers kinds of meats which do engender and cause sorrowful dreams, as beans, Pease, Coleworts, garlic, Onions, leeks, chestnuts, and all opening roots, the flesh of a boar, or old Hare, and beef, all water-fowles, as Duck, Goose, and the like. All troubled wines; nor is there any doubt to be made, but that commonly, according to such meats as we use in our feeding, raising humours answerable to their several qualities, that dreams are begotten of the same nature. All these meats before mentioned, with many others, which I have omitted, do engender evil humours, and are choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholy. It is necessary then, that the body that hath been used to such kinds of meats, should likewise be of the temper of the said humours, and that the manners and actions of the soul, should follow the temperature of the body, Galen is of opinion, and hath written a book thereof expressly. Likewise such men as have sustained some great loss, either in their honours, body, goods, parents, kindred or friends, and oftentimes in their dreams they have very strange, fearful and mournful apparitions: For many times it comes to pass, that men dream in the night time, seeming to speak, see, understand, negotiate in the precedent days' affairs, or else on some thing whereto they bear much affection: But by meats that are easily digested, causeth pleasant dreams. Such as eat anniseeds after supper, or when they are going to bed, or have fed with Saffron, or drank with borage or balm, he will not only have a subtle spirit, but also will dream very acceptable things. There is a certain Unguent prepared by Apothecaries, which is called Populeon, in regard of the juice of Poplar leaves, if the temples be rubbed therewith, and chafed with the liver, veins, the branches of the great Arteries, and the soles of the feet, it is not only the provocation of sound sleep, but it causeth also delightful and facetious dreams. Cicedamus saith, that himself made an ointment compounded in this manner: the fat of young infants taken out of their graves, the single of Persley, of Aconitum, of Pantaphilon, wherewith if some women and weak persons had chaste their brains, it is almost incredible to speak what and how many things they did persuade themselves to see; one while matters of delight, as Theaters, Gardens, fishponds, Ornaments, & the like; so they imagined they lay with him or her of whom they were most desirous. Otherwhiles they seemed to see Kings and Magistrates with their guards and attendants; yea, all the glory and pomp of mankind, with many other excellent things, as we see in paintings far greater than ever Nature made them. At other times they did see heavy sights, as Ravens, Scritchoules, Prisons, Dens, and Torments.  
Having spoken concerning the qualities of dreams occasioned, and proceeding from sustentation, and also some things externally applied, I will now speak of such as do predestinate sickness and diseases, and that by natural causes. Hippocrates saith, that if a man do dream that he seeth f●…e, it noteth the Dreamer to be abounding in Choler, or of a choleric humour and disposition, whereby he is very apt to fall into hot and burning diseases. He that dreameth he seeth smoke or mists, or profound darkness, is much disposed to melancholy sicknesses. To dream of rain and moisture betokeneth the abounding with good humours. To dream of storm, hail, or ice, signifieth the redundance of phlegm to be most cold, the constitution of the air hath such power over human bodies that it impresseth both in the body and the soul the present qualities and dispositions thereof. Galen declares that a man dreamed that his left thigh was transformed into a Marble stone, and within a short while after by a dead palsy he lost utterly the use of that member. A wrestler dreamed that he was in a vessel full of blood, and so deep therein that scarcely the top of his head could be seen. Galen gathered by this dream that he had great need of taking some blood from him, by means whereof he was cured of the pleurisy. Others dreamed that they were bathing themselves in a Bath of hot water. The physician prognosticated upon this dream, that the Patient must be freed from this disease by judicatory swimming which thereon followed, and thereby he won great reputation; whosoever dreameth that he is pressed with a great burden, there is no doubt but his animal faculties are oppressed by a great multitude of humours: contrariwise, such as dream they fly in the air, run, leap, and dance, denoteth a light body exempt from the superaboundance of vicious humours. Such as dream that they are in dunghills and such like filthy places, they must needs be possessed of noisome humours, but they to whom it appears that they are conversant in pleasant, sweet, and delightful places, good humours do abound in them, and it is a sign of health.  
Besides these forenamed dreams, I will not here insert that there are none but such as are grounded upon natural causes, but on the grace of God, especially he giveth advice to some men to express such things for the benefit & good of others: as happened to Galen the physician, who had a man under his care that had an artery in his ankle bone half cut in sunder, whereby he lost all his blood before any remedy could be applied to him: he writeth that he was advertised in his sleep that he should cut the artery in sunder and the ends would retire to each side, and so lock together again, when he awaked he executed what his dream had represented to him, & by that means he cured the man. We read likewise of an angel that appeared in the form of the goddess Pallas to Antonius (Physician to Augustus) admonishing him that though Augustus was sick, yet he should not fail to be present in the battle, which was on the morrow to be given by Brutus and Cassius, and that he should there abide in his tent, which he would have done, but that the physicians persuaded him to the contrary, for it came to pass that the enemies soldiers won the tents, where questionless they had slain Augustus if he had been present there; So by this dream he prevented his death, won the day, and remained sole Monarch of the Roman Empire: under his reign was borne the Redeemer of the World. Quintus Curtius declares in the life of Alexander, that when he maintained his siege before the City of Tyre, he being entered for succour of the Carthaginians, who said they were descended of the Tyrians, concluded to raise his siege as despairing ever to surprise it, but in a dream a satire appeared unto him, after whom he followed, as he fled before him into his Chamber. His Interpreters told him that this was a certain forewarning to continue his siege for longer days before the City, and that he should surely take it, which fell out to be true; and this long before had been foretold by a Prophet who said that a Greek should govern in the Country.  
The Scriptures are full of Dreams whereby divers Princes have been admonished both for their own and people's welfare, as Abimelech King of Gerar, who was possessed of Abraham's wife, supposing she had been his sister, only he was forewarned sleeping, that he should attempt nothing against her modesty, lest he incurred the judgement of God, and he obeyed. Another Egyptian King by dreams which Joseph interpreted to him whilst he was in prison, found nevertheless the assistance of God to shun his own ruin, and the death of his people, by a barrenness in his kingdom, which should continue for seven years; after as many years of rest: by reason whereof he made such provision of grain, that he had sufficient to serve the people during those foretold seven years; whereas else he had wanted provision for his people. Katherine de Medicis, Queen of France, and wife to Henry the second, dreamed the very same day before the said King was wounded to death, that she saw him very sickly, holding down his head as he walked down the streets of Paris, being followed by an infinite company of his people that lamented for him: hereupon she most earnestly entreated him (and as is said) with wringing hands upon her knees, not to adventure into the rank of Tilters on that day; but he giving no heed to her words, the last day of the feasting for the marriage of Madam Margaret, sister to Emanuel Phillibert, Duke of Savoy, for her honour; and turning to break a Lance against a bold and valiant Knight (to wit) the Count of Montgomery, happened to be wounded: for in the Lances breaking on both sides, a shiver or Splinter entered by the sight of his Helmet, and struck very far into his head. The King died soon after of this wound, aged about 40 years, leaving his kingdom lamenting his loss: we may observe the dream of this great Princess, and how it happened, whereof doubtless God gave premonitions by his good angel, both for her good, and the whole realm of France; but the King more desirous to follow the vanities of the world, than the good advertisements of his wife, by his decease the people of France suffered many calamities. His son Henry 3. three days before he was murdered at S. Cloa, beheld in a dream all his royal ornaments, to wit, his linen vesture, Sandals Dalmatium robe, mantle of azure satin, Crown and sceptre, bloody and made foul with the feet of religious men, and other people, and that he himself was angry with the Sexton of the abbey of S. Dennis; & albeit all good advice was given him, according to the danger of his dream, stands securely upon his guard; yet so it fell out as a thing permitted by heaven, that he could not avoid that fatal chance, but was slain, whatsoever strong guard was there about him.  
Calphienia wife to the adopted father of Caesar, having dreamed that she beheld Caesar slain and massacred, gave him notice thereof, but he instead of converting of it to his benefit, despised the dream, and went to the Senate house, the day following where the dream sorted to woeful effect.  
I cannot omit the dream and revelation of Joane d'Arke, the Virgin that dreamed, that she herself should be the only means to put Charles the seventh in possession of his kingdom. After he had acquainted her father and mother with her dream, she is brought to the Lord Baud●icate, and habited like a man, is presented to the King. The matter seemed ridiculous to the King, he takes upon himself the habit of a countryman, this Maid being brought into the Chamber goeth to the King, and salutes him with a modest countenance, and delivered to him the charge which she had received of the God of heaven, and told him that she should be the means to place the crown upon his head, and relieve Orleans that was besieged by the English. The King was persuaded to give her a troop of one hundred, and a good horse. She puts herself into a man's habit, and like a valorous captain goeth toward Orleans, and relieveth the town with victuals without resistance. After she was in Orleans, she sends a Letter to the King of ENGLAND, and his troops, and wisheth them to depart without shedding any more innocent blood.  
Joane d'Arke a second time relieveth Orleans, and brings in fresh provision, she makes choice of 1500 men, and enters the Fort of Saint Loope, the virgin in the foremost of the ranks, crying Saint Denis, the next day they took two other Forts, on the third day, the English made the French recoil, but the virgin encouraging her men, and marching courageously was shot in the arm; (tush saith she) this is a favour, nothing amazed, she takes the arrow in one hand and her sword in the other, and enters the Fort, in these three days the English lost eight thousand men, and the French not one hundred, and as a remembrance of their victories, the Statues of Charles the seventh and Joan d'Arke, are placed upon the Bridge of Orleans, kneeling before a Crucifix.  
Charles the seventh is crowned at Rheins all Champagne yields unto him, and the King that was in great danger of losing his kingdom, is now an absolute King.  
I shall in the last place relate a dream of a young Gentleman, which of late happened, the truth of which is fresh in my memory, this Gentleman being disquieted with the thundering of pieces, which his Imagination told him was in the air, and not upon earth, looking towards the heavens, he did conceive that he saw a great Army ready to encounter with another, and observing the Leaders, he perceived one to be a tall black man, the other low of stature, the tall black man ran with his Rapier against the same, and transported thus with fury, he stumbled and fell, and as he fell divers arrows were shot, some out of the North, some out of the South, some out of the West, some out of East, as if all the four quarters had blown no other blasts, after this appeared divers like ghosts, walking with Crosier staffs who seemed to harden and encourage the soldiers, yet their arguments could not win them to give battle, these in the twinkling of an eye lost their pure whiteness, and showed themselves in black with mitres falling from their heads, next to these followed a troop of Shavelings, some carrying Crosses, others praying with Beads, but on the sudden a pillar of fire appeared, and they vanished, and all the heavens seemed to be disturbed looking downward he saw a grave old man sitting in a chair of State upon the top of a mountain, having a sceptre in his hand, with a triple crown on his head, having with him diverse habited in long robes and red hats, that seemed to hold the chair, whilst his eye was busied in the view of them, a thunderbolt fell and cleft the mountain which swallowed them up, than he seemed to pass through pleasant fields, and the first he met with was a young Cavalero, the next he met withal was a poor soldier, now thought the young gallant that he should learn what was the variance between these troops, but before the gentleman could speak to him, the soldier made towards him, and like a bold ruffian demanded his purse who was a little unwilling, yet having no remedy to prevent the taking thereof did deliver it, and in requital, the soldier said, Come you to hear news? in brief it is thus, our general being dead our armies were disbanded; and having uttered the words, vanished, and in his room entered a poor country man who was very desirous to learn whether he met with any soldiers that had driven away his cattle, for he pitied this poor man, but could give him no comfort in regard his money was taken away from him: the gentleman passing on, came to a great house that was fortified with bulwarks, trenches and well manned, and on the side of it was an arm of the Sea, but in regard he could not give the word he was not admitted: as he passed by he perceived one that was looking under a tree to take the true height of a star: falling into conference with him he told him what a vision he had seen, and would needs know what this black man was that fell from heaven; the Astronomer told him if he would have a little patience till he had laid his mathematical Instruments aside he would show him his full proportion: whereupon drawing forth a small glass out of a box that expressed such curiosity, as if many Artists had assembled together to compose it; no sooner was the box opened, but the beauty of that which was contained therein, made the young Gentleman stand and admire whether that which his eye beheld, was the work of Art or nature, or both.  
Having taken a small ribbon which was of a skin colour, from the sides of the box, he drew forth a glass in an oval frame, set round with Diamonds and rubies, the middle thereof was made of Topaz, and so exactly cut, as it sufficiently expressed the skill of the Lapidary. On one side of the glass he could perceive this tall man habited like a Prince, on the otherside like a mourner, and by him an executioner, with this inscription over his head in great letters (worser ruled not traitor's head must off) now Sir said the Astronomer cast up each Letter of this inscription, and you shall find out his name and title, the which he presently and readily undertook, by transplacing the Letters, and found it to be Sir Thomas Wentworth Lord Strafford: It was no small wonder to him, to see that his lordship's name and title should so truly divine his nature and fortune, no sooner had this astronomer showed this glass, but he vanished, and making a horrible noise at his departure, the Gentleman awaked, and sell again into a sweet slumber, and soon after gave this Relation to divers.  
I am of opinion with Volaterans', that many times a person going to his rest, not cloyed with bad affections, nor superfluity of food; but being virtuously minded, and healthfully disposed, his soul in sleeping may foresee things to come▪ for the soul, which of itself is divine and celestial, being not offended with any evil cogitations, or over-bad meats, is at free liberty, and best performeth her actions when the body sleepeth, not being busied with any other matters.  
FINIS.