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or accidente was deade, and that no cause coulde be suspected
or thought other then the feare of the combat, and that
therfore he onlye died. And seinge the philosopher saith
the feare of battle is worse then the battle itselfe, and
often the suspicion causeth myschannce as Auicen a
singuler phisition writeth, where he entreateth of the ima:
ginacions wch worde great mocions in mans bodie and
occasion manie channces according to their intencions. ffor
theas reasons it is possible, that the imaginacon of death
might happelie slea him, because he imagined his death
at hand, either and thorough his imaginacon, the
channce might happen as th experience hereof is often
seene. we reade of kinge Lanzalao that havinge sent
for two offendors to th empire of purpose to behedde
them, he commannded also one other, a thirde person
whome he mente not in anye wise to exequute, to be
likewise brought vnto him, and beinge all come, the
first two were forthwth behedded, the other standinge
by, and imagininge of so cruell a death and myserable
sighte, thorough his owne imaginacion therof died.
The like channce happened to Gonella a famous
iester, who wthout force of sworde, sicknes or other
violence only by imaginacion died. It is also reported
howe a certeine fearefull preeste, a man of good propor:
tion, stronge lustie and a greate sleeper, that certeine
of his companions comminge into his chamber, awaked
him from sleepe; sayenge he was in great perill of
deathe, and that he coulde in no wise liue any longer, &
therwthall they offred him to communicate, perswading
him devoutlye to prayer, and in this sort solicitinge him
newlye awaked from sounde slepe, amazed him so, that
after the communion wthout cause imagininge of death
and retorninge to sleepe again was cause that the next
morninge he was founde deade in deede. ffor wch death
occasioned by the perswasion of his frendes, thoroughe
theas fantazies, the saide frendes as though they had
in deede slaine him, were grevouslie punished, where
fore to retorne to our purpose, sith that this gentleman
was by promyse bounde on a certeine day to appeare