In many other parts where there were evil spirits, I saw the latter disappear in large bodies amid the falling mountains and buildings.  The earthquakes reminded me of the convulsions of the possessed, when the enemy feels that he must take to flight.  At Gergesa, a part of the mountain from which the devils had cast themselves with the swine into a marsh, fell into this same marsh; and I then saw a band of evil spirits cast themselves into the abyss, like a dark cloud.

It was at Nice, unless I am mistaken, that I saw a singular occurrence, of which I have only an imperfect remembrance.  There was a port there with many vessels in it; and near this port stood a house with a high tower, in which I saw a pagan whose office was to watch these vessels.  He had often to ascend this tower, and see what was going on at sea.  Having heard a great noise over the vessels in the port, he hurriedly ascended the tower to discover what was taking place, and he saw several dark figures hovering over the port, and who exclaimed to him in plaintive accents:  ’If thou desirest to preserve the vessels, cause them to be sailed out of this port, for we must return to the abyss:  the great Pan is dead.’  They told him several other things; laid injunctions upon him to make known what they were then telling him upon his return from a certain voyage which he was soon to make, and to give a good reception to the messengers who would come to announce the doctrine of him who had just died.  The evil spirits were forced in this manner by the power of God to inform this good man of their defeat, and announce it to the world.  He had the vessels put in safety, and then an awful storm arose:  the devils cast themselves howling into the sea, and half the city fell down.  His house remained standing.  Soon afterwards he went on a great journey, and announced the death of the great Pan, if that is the name by which our Saviour had been called.  Later he came to Rome, where much amazement was caused by what he related.  His name was something like Thamus or Thramus.

CHAPTER LVII.

Guards are placed around the Tomb of Jesus.

Late on Friday night, I saw Caiphas and some of the chief men among the Jews holding a consultation concerning the best course to pursue with regard to the prodigies which had taken place, and the effect they had had upon the people.  They continued their deliberations quite into the morning, and then hurried to Pilate’s house, to tell him that, as that seducer said, while he was yet alive, ’After three days I will rise again,’ it would be right to command the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day, as otherwise his disciples might come and steal him away, and say to the people, ‘He is risen from the dead,’ and the last error would be worse that the first.  Pilate was determined to have nothing more to do with the business, and he only answered:  ’You have a guard; go, guard it as you know.’