Of any private person that ever appeared upon design after his death, there is none did upon a more noble one then that eximious* Platonist Marsilius Ficinus; who having, as Baronius† relates, made a solemn vow with his fellow-Platonist Michael Mercatus (after they had been pretty warmly disputing of the Immortality of the Soul, out of the Principles of their Master Plato) that whether of them two died first should appear to his friend, and give him certain information of that Truth; (it being Ficinus his fate to die first, and indeed not long after this mutual resolution) he was mindful of his promise when he had left the Body. For Michael Mercatus being very intent at his Studies betimes on a morning, heard an horse riding by with all speed, and observed that he stopped at his window; and therewith heard the voice of his friend Ficinus crying out aloud, O Michael, Michael vera, vera sunt illa.‡ Whereupon he suddenly opened the window, and espying Marsilius on a white Steed, called after him; but he vanisht in his sight. He sent therefore presently to Florence to know how Marsilius did; and understood that he died about that hour he called at his window, to assure him of his own and other mens Immortalities.
Henry More, The Immortality of the Soul, So farre forth as it is demonstrable from the Knowledge of Nature and the Light of Reason.
London, Printed by J. Flesher, for William Morden, Bookseller in Cambridge. 1659
* eximious - excellent, distinguished, eminent; notable, singular (Latin eximius)
† Baronius - Caesar Baronius (1538-1607), Italian cardinal, author of Annales Ecclesiastici (12 vols., 1588-1607)
‡ vera sunt illa - those things are true
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