skilfull Physician to helpe to discerne and to make a cleere difference betweene the one and the other that men may proceed iudiciously and so rightly with comfort of conscience that they be not guilty of bloud Sometimes with a naturall disease Satan may also intermix his supernaturall worke to hidâ— his and the Witches practices vnder such naturall â—iseases when they at one time workâ— together This requireth great vnderstanding to make a true decision and right distinction of one from the other by reason of the illusion as one saith of their dâ—ceiueable likenesses But though to the simple the likenesse beâ—weene both may seeme one and the same yet the truth is the Diuell cannot so mâ—xe his worke with a naturall disease but the same may be detectâ—d in the mâ—niâ—â—st oddes and that in two thingâ— very cleerely as I haue read out of a learned Physician I. By the Symptomes and effects which shew themselues beyond the natuâ—e of the disease The naturall disease with the true causes and proper eâ—fects being first knowne the other effects must needs be froâ— the secret working of some supernaturall power As for examplâ— in a Conuulsion with wâ—ich a Noble young man was extraordinarily for a long time tormented according to the ordinarie causes thereof in nature it bereaueth the Patient of motion for his limbes are starke and stiffe also it depriueth him of sense and vnderstanding Therefore in a Conuulsion to haue as the young man had an incredible swiftnesse of motion and withall vnderstanding and sense perfâ—ct it must needs be supernaturall II. By naturall remedies discreâ—tly and fiâ—ly applyed according to Artâ— for there are twâ— wayes by these to detect the finger of Satan 1. When these naturall meanes do lose their manifestly knownâ— nature and certainly approoueâ— vse and operation alwayes iâ— their due application to the disease whereto they properly belong 2. Withall when the vse oâ— these remedies doe produce effects cleane contrary to theiâ— proper and naturall operâ—â—ion as when one laboureth of a vehement burning â—hirst and shaâ—â— receiue some moâ—st and cooling thiâ—g to allay the heat the same shall not oneâ—y lose his naâ—ure but also cause a greater thirst immediately and withall the hard closing vp the mouth therupon This must needs be supernaturall This second is to bee added to the former because medicines may for want of Gods blessing lose their operation and because that God will perhaps haue sometime the â—â—sease to be incurable CHAP. 3. The supposed to be bewitched and tormented by the Diuell may be a very counterfeit THere may bee neither any naturall disease nor any â—upernaturall worke of the Diâ—ell in the seemingly afflicted â—arty but a meere counterâ—â—iting of actions motions passions distortious perturbations agitations writhings tumblings tossings wallowings â—oamings alteration of speech and voice with gastly staring with â—he eyes trances and relation of visions afterwards For there is nothing almost in things of this nature so really true but some can so liâ—ely resemble the same as the spectators shall iudge the parties to be so indeed as they seeme to bee in outward apparance There was one Marwood a confederate with Weston Dibdale and other Popish Pâ—iests who did so cunningly act his part in trembling foaming and raging when he was touched with Campions girdle forsooth as made the gull'd lookers â—n to weepe in beholding tâ—e cogging and iuggling companion in such a seeming miserable plight The like I saw of a lewd girle at Wells who to be reuenged of a poore Woman which had iustly complained against her to her Mistresse counterfeited to be bewitched by her and so plaide her part as shee made many to wonder and some to weepe as if she had been possessed The Boy of Bilson his counterfeiting discouered is notorious throughout the land which Boy seemed to bee bewitched and cryed out of a woman to haue bewitched him and when she was brought in very secretly he could discerne it He had strange fiâ—s and seemed therein deafe and dumbe hee could writhe his mouth aside roule his eyes as nothing but the white would appeare and his head shake as one distracted Hee vsually would cast vp his meate vomit pinnes ragges strawe wrest and turne his head backward grate with his teeth gape hideously with his mouth cling and draw in his belly and guts groane and mourne pittiously tell of the apparition of a spirit after his fits seeming like a blacke bird He made water like inke sometimes which some tried and wrote with it At the mentioning of the beginning of Saint Iohns Gospell In the beginning was the Word c. he would fall into his fits as if he could not indure to heare these words Hee became with fâ—sting very weake and his limbes by induring extremities were benummed And to conclude so resolued was hee to beare out his counterfeiting as when hee was pinched often with fingers pricked with needles tickled on the sides and once whipped with a rodde being but thirteene yeeres old hee could not bee discerned by either shrinking or shrieking to bewray the least passion or feeling And yet was hee discouered to be a counterfeit and openly confessed the same and bow he came to learne these trickes and by whom and wherefore At the Assises hee cryed God mercy craued pardon of the poore Woman and lastly prayed the whole Countrey to admit of his hearty confession and satisfaction To this may bee added another example deliuered by Master Scot in his discouerie of Witchcraft booke 7. chap. 1. and 2. The story is of one Mildred a Bastard of one Alice Norrington seruant to one William Spooner of Westwell in Kent Anno 1574. Shee feigned the voice of a Diuell within her distinct from her owne voice This counterfeit Diuell made answer to a great number of questions propounded by Ministers Hee named one old woman for a Witch one old Alice who kept him twenty yeeres in two bottles on the backe side of her house and elsewhere and that he came in the likenesâ—e of two birds and was called Partener and that at her instigation hee had killed three and named who they were with many other things Of all which there were many witnesses the names set down by Master Scot and yet all this was counterfeited and found out by one Master Wotton and one Master Darrel Iustices she confessed and for the same receiued due punishment In this strange counterfeiting it may yet verily bee thought that Satan might therein help him and her to play so cunningly this part as they did for Satan is euer ready to further wickednesse especially tending to the shedding of bloud and to further Popish Idolatry which the Boy of Bilson was entiâ—ed to doe and the Popâ—sh Priests sought for to establish in exorcising the Boy and professing to dispossesse him of three Diuels if his parents would turne forsooth Catholâ—ques Did not our late King Iames by his wisedome learning and expâ—rience discouer diuers
A GVIDE TO GRAND-IVRY MEN DIVIDED INTO TWO BOOKES In the First is the Authors best aduice to them what to doe before they bring in a Billa vera in cases of Witchcraft with a Christian Direction to such as are too much giuen vpon euery crosse to thinke themselues bewitched In the Second is a Treatise touching Witches good and bad how they may be knowne euicted condemned with many particulars tending thereunto By RICH. BERNARD Prou. 17.15 He that iustifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the iust euen they both are an abomination to the Lord. Thou shalt therefore inquire and make search and aske diligently whether it bee truth and the thing certaine Deut. 13.14 LONDON Printed by Felix Kingston for Ed. Blackmore and are to be sold at his shop at the great South dore of Pauls 1627. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE IVDGES Sr. Iohn Walter Knight Lord chiefe Baron of his Maiâ—ties Court of Exchequer and Sr. Iohn Denbam Knight worthy Baron of the same Honourable Court. The Reuerend and Râ—ligious Iudges in this Westerne Circuit That wisâ—dome from aboue with power and courage be in and vpon them from the Lord in all causes before them to their due praises and endlesse comfort Right worthy Iudges SInce your Lordships sate at Tanton the last Summer Assises I haue as time and leasure from other studies and the execution of Diuine duties in my function would permit giuen my selfe to the reading of many approued rebations touching the arraginement and condemnation of Witches as also treatises of learned men concerning the deuilish Art of Witchcraft adding withall not a few things which otherwise I haue learned and obserued The occasion offered and the reasons drawing mee to this studie were the strange fitts then and yet continuing vpon some iudged to be bewitched by those which wâ—re then also condemned and executed for the same My vpright meaning in my paines-taking with Bull mistaken a rumour spred as if I fauoured Witches or were of Master Scots erroneous opinion that Witches were silly deceiued Melancholikes This my labour in all these will cleare mee which I am bold to present to your Lordships as a plaine Countrey Ministers testimony of his hearty reioycing that God hath sent vs such wished-for vpright and religious Iudges I hope it shall not bee imputed as euill vnto me that I haue chosen such worthily-honoured Patrons so learned in our Lawes of so great authority in the execution thereof so iudicious in discerning of causes so iust in punishing sin and so religiously disposed to aduance Vertue and Religion I doe the more herein presume for that I haue obserued your Lordships holy attention to the Word deliuered beforâ— you and your worthy respect vnto Gods Ministers and therefore I doubt not of a fauourable acceptance of my best seruice honestly intended for publike good Yet humbly neuerthelesse crauing pardon if in any thing herein I haue taken too much vpon mee and â—o praying hartily for your happy dayes and your redoubled honour in your seruice of God for our King and Countrey I humbly take leaue Batcombe Feb. 24. Your Lordships in the tender of his seruice to be commanded RIC. BERNARD TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Gerard Wood Doctor of Diuinity and Archdeacon of Wells and Arthur Duck D. of the Ciuill Law Chan. to the Right Reu. Fa. the L. Bishop of Bath and Wells Right worshipfull FOR two books haue I made a double choice of Patrones for pâ—otecâ—ion because a Treatise of this nature needeâ—h shelter vnder both anâ— that which is fortified â—am Ecclesiatico quà m sâ—cularibrachio will be more auaileable and passe more acceptably among all sorts The sin of witchcraft and the diabolicall practice thereof is omnium scelerum atrocissimum and in such as haue the knowledge of God the greatest apostacie from the faith they renouncing God and giuing themselues by a couenant to the Diuell Bad Witches many prosecute with all eagernesse but Magicians Necromancers of whom his late Maiestie giueth a deadly censure in his Daemonologie and the Curing Witch commonly called The good Witch all sorts can let alone and yet bee these in many respects worse then the other Would God my endeauours might so preuaile with men bound by solemne oath that they would make conscience to present vnto you the Ecclesiasticall Iudges both the Witches themselues as also all such as resort vnto them Impunitas peccandi licentiam peperit Yet the euils growing hereupon both to bodies and soules cannot sufficiently bee expressed I neede not I hope with many words intreate your good care to suppresse such foule and damnable courses For I know that citò dicta percipiunt sapieÌ„tes viris reruÌ„ suarum satagentibus non placet vrgeri and what need is there calcar currentibus addere I haue heretofore purposed somtime or other to expresse my due respect vnto you both as being my worshipful good frieÌ„ds To the one as iustly clayming a thankefull remembrance for his so long continued loue and for not a few fauours the true fruits of a good affection who is to mee quia filio meo bengnissimus incorrupte patronus to whom wee remaine euer obliged To the other for so kind and euer louing tenance with a readinesse vpon any iust occasion to doe me any lawfull fauour Let it please you now eo vuliu sereno quo meipsum soletis tractare hoc qualecunque munusculum accipere and â— shall reckon so fauorable â—n acceptance as a sufficiâ—nt recompence for my laâ—our and paines And so with due and dutifull respect I take leaue Batcombe Feb. 26. Your Worships at command RIC. BERNARD The summe of these two bookes In the first Booke THat Gods hand is in all crosses who ruleth ouer Deuils ouer all their instruments II. That strange diseases may happen from onely naturall causes and neither be wrought by Deuils nor Witches and how to bee discerned III. That one supposed to be possessed or bâ—witched may be a very countâ—rfeit and how he may be discouered IIII. That Deuils may doe much mischiefe to man and â—â—ast of themselues through Gods permission without any association with a Witch and how to know this with diuers Questions concerning Satans knowledge his power to doe mischiefe of his possessing of bodies and of his casting out V. That Christian minds may not as commonly many doe forthwith ascribe their crosses to Witchcraft with the reasons of the manifold euils which come therby In the second Booke THat there are Witches II. What sorts of people are most apt to be seduced and to bee made Witches III. How these doe prepare themselues for Satan when hee enticeth to Witchcraft IIII. That Satan sheweth â—imselfe commonly in some visible â—ape to Witches V. Of â—n â—xpresse league â—ade betweene the Spirit and â— Witch and how it is ratifiâ—â— VI. The proofes for this â—â—ague also why hee inticeth to â—uch a contract and the reasons â—â—ewing how it commeth to passe â—hat such are ouertaken to enter
yea in his brethrens vnnaturall dâ—alings saw the Lord therein Gen. 45.5 7. and said it was not they but the Lord that sent him into Egypt Yea the Church in hâ—r great calamities though shee saw the instruments and felt there wrath yet shee saith that God had done these things Lam. 1.15 2. 1 7. And this acknowâ—edgement is sometimes in the mouthes of very Witches confessing that the euill befalling them and others is the very finger of God Exo. 8.19 And so said Sauls seruants of the euill spirit That he was sent of the Lord vpon Saul to vexe him 1. Sam. 16.15 2. Therefore to bee patient towards the instruments as was Dauid towards Shimei who threw stones at him railed on him and cursed him 2. Sam. 16.10 He yet held his peace because he knewe the Lords will was therein and that he had done it Psa. â—9 9 We may not be like to Iehoram the sonne of a Iezabel who though he knewe that the Lords hand was vpon him and his people and also did acknowledge so much yet was he so impatient to indure the miserie and so hellishly enraged as he swore to be reuenged vpon Elisha the Prophet and to take away his life 2. King 6.31 33. as if he had beene the cause of their calamity True it is that euill instruments are to bee punished and our patience should not hinder nor hold backe the course of Iustice but this is not to bee looked vnto in the first place nor the instruments to bee pursued with wrath and with a reuengefull spirit as if they were onely to bee blamed and not men themselues for their sinnes procuring such euils to themselues 3. Seeing Gods hand vpon vs who doth not willingly grieue vs if â—ee prouoke him not Lam. 3.33 Ier. 25.6 this must draw vs to a searching of our waies Lam. 3.40 to the acknowledgement of our sinnes and to confesse God to be iust and so humble our selues in fasting and prayer leauing our ill courses and labouring to be refoâ—med and so remoue Gods hand And afterwards if there bee euident proofe and iust cause then to proceede Yet with charity against wicked instruments seeking to haue them punished for their amendment This is Religion this is Christian-like thus ought the afflâ—cted to behaue themselues and not sweare stare curse and rage against such as they suspect to harme them seeking to be reuenged of them plotting their deaths and râ—ioycing that they haue their wills and so thinke all to bee well though their waiâ—s be wicked going on still without reformation euen to the pit And as the afflâ—cted should be humâ—led vnder Gods hand so the bâ—holders looking on theâ— afflâ—ctâ—ons should not sit down to câ—nsure them because they suffer such things as Iobs friends did him but should learne Christs lesson thereby to see their owne danger and know that except they repent they may likewise bee so tormented and perish Luk. 13. 3 5. CHAP. 2. Strange diseases may happen either to man or beast and the same originally from some naturall cause and neither effected by Deuils nor yet proceede from Witches IT is the generall madnesse of people to ascribe vnto Witchcraft whatsoeuer falleth out vnknowne or strange to vuâ—gar sâ—nce I will here therâ—fore wâ—iâ—e downe the particular instances of stâ—ange and wonderfull diseases set downe by a learned Phisicion in all which is a deceiuing apparance comming neere to the similitude of bewitching in ordinary and common apprehensions which cannot discerne oâ— diseases nor the true causeâ— thereof I will here write them out as I find them in his discourse yet a little more distinctly for common capacities In one kind of disease hee calleth it Catalepsis or Catoche the whole body is as it were in a minute suddainely taken in â—he midst of some ordinary gesture or action whether sitting standing writing or looking vp to the heauens as another Physicion speaketh and therein is continued some space â—ogether as if frozen generally starke and stiffe in all parts without sence or motion yeâ— with the eyes open and breathing freely as if the party were a liuing image What common conceit beholding this as it be fell to a child of one Master Bakers of Couentry who was thus afflâ—cted but would thinke there were Witchcraft here practized In another disease as in the Apoplexia or in morbo attonito as hee speaketh the sicke are also suddenly taken and surprized with a senselesse trance and generall astonishment or sideration and benumming of all the limbes voide of all sense and mouing many houres together onely the breath striueth against the danger of suffocation and still the pulse beateth In another the sicke are swiftly surprised with so profound and deadly a sleepe as no call nor cry nor noyse no stimulation can in many houres awake and raise them So was one Master Rosin of Northampton taken for the space of two dayes and two nights Iulius the 2. Pope of that name was thus afflicted and Ioannâ—s Scotus as another writeth lying by this sicknesse as dead was buryed before he was dead In another by Galen saith hee called Coma vigilans the sicke are doubtfully held in some part waking in another part sleeping in some respects manners and parts expressing wakefull motions sense speech right apprehension memorie and imagination but in other respects parts and manners as asleepe voide of the liberty and vse of sense motion or any other facultie Now contrary to these former he maketh mention of diuers others as of the falling sicknesse and of diuers kinds of conuulsions In these diseases 1. Some will bite their tongues and flesh 2. Some make fearefull and frightfull outcries and shreekings 3 Some are violently tossed and tumbled from one place to another 4. Some froth gnash with their teeth with their faces deformed and drawne awry 5. Some haue all parts pestered and writhen into ougly shapes as their heads forward their faces backward eyes rolling inordinately twinkling the mouth distoâ—ted into diuers formes grinninig mowing gâ—ping wide or close shut 6. Some haue their limbes and diuers members suddainely with violence snatched vp and carâ—yed aloft and by their owne weight suffered to fall againe 7. Some haue an inordinate leaping and hopping of the flesh through euery member of the body as if some liuing thing were there And as the bodie is metamorphosed into such strange shapes so in some diseases saith hee is the mind strangely transported into visions and apparitions so as sometimes they will complaine of Witches and Deuils broadly describing the shapes and gestures of such as are comming towards them One example amongst many other he bringeth of a Gentlemans daughter in Warwickshire his patient afflicted in an vnknowne manner strange to her parents neighbours and to some Physicions also 1. Shee had a vehement shaking and violent casting forward of her head euery day at a set time in a much marueiled fashion
and indeede with a lowd and shrill inarticulate sound of two sillables Ipha Ipha 2. Shee had diuers tortures of her mouth and face with staring and rowling her eyes sprawling and tumbling vpon the ground grating and gnashing of her teeth 3. Sometimes shee fell into a deadly trance therein continuing the space of a day representing the shape and image of death without all sense and motion sauing breathing and her pulse neither was she moued with pinching or the like 4. When shee came out of the same she would as if fearefully affrighted cast her eyes looking backward then on either side and ouer her head as seeing something and then her eyes would be staring open and her mouth gaping wide with her hands armes strongly stretched out aboue her head with a generall starknesse and stâ—ffenesse 5. When shee was out of her fits and seemed to sleepe and slumber then her imagination ledde her hands to diuers actions and mâ—tions arguing folly and defect of reason with her hands onely feeling without the help of any other sense she would dresse and aâ—tire the heads of such women as were by her so strong was her imagination to leade her feeling These and other particulars are mentioned yet the causes naturall and naâ—urall meanes were vsed by him and at lengâ—h by the benefit of the Baths she was cured Another story he records of a poore boy of â—ichley in Northamptonshire who was suddâ—nly surprised with a vehement conuuâ—sion drawing his head and heeles violently backward carrying his whole body into a roundnesse tumbling vp and downe with much paine and inward groaning The pâ—rents held him bewitched and therefore sent for a wise woman who played her witchery trickâ—s but could doe nothing The Doctor shewed the naturall cause to be Worms which in some time after the Boy did void and was perfectly well In another book of his called thâ— tâ—yall of Witchcraft chap. 2. pag. 15 16 17. he makâ—th mention of diuers sorts of persons tormented with diseases witâ— their terrible accidents and afflictions to the body of men women and children the reason whereof could not bee discerned till after death but their bodies being opened the reasons in nature were very euident in sight Amongst the rest one story he relates to shew the pestilent euil of seeking to a white Witch and Wizard of a Gentlewoman strangely afflâ—cted with varietie of strange tormenting diseases together and being almost cured it was by a Wizard whispered and thereupon beleeued that shee was meerely bewitched which supposed Witches were thereupon attached accused arraigned found guilty and executed and yet saith he in true reason and iudicious discerning it is as cleere as the brightest day that no accident befalling her was other then naturall An accursed crediting then of a Wizard vniustly occasioned the taking away of the liues of these so suspected But thogh the diseases ceased for some sixe yeeres yet some of her fits returned againe in the seuenth yeere following and continued longer vpon her then the other and now if they will beleeue a Wizard againe they must goe conceit other Witches and hang them too But now to leaue diseases it is good to obserue the force of Fancie and Feare whereby may bee found Witches But where only in a foolish sconce as he speaketh And to shew this hee instanceth the force thereof in two women going to a Physicion one after another To the one hee said shee was like to bee vexed with the Sciatica whereof he saw the apparant signes which shee affirmed neuer to haue had the motion of in all her life now the same night returning home shee was painefully and grieuously afflicted with it To the other comming some two or three dayes after besides the paine she made knowne hee by signes told her of the Crampe which she before sensibly neuer had felt yet that night also it came to her Now the first party knowing how it hapned to her selfe and hearing the like of her neighbour presently concluded that shee surely was bewitched by the Physician But after her husband an vnderstanding man to satisfie his wiues minde being impatient during her paines had gone and returned from the Physician shee was altered in her opinion and then prayed her husband to go once more to aske him forgiuenesse and if hee so would then should shee be well and indeed so her imagination wrought that at her husbands returne shee met him at the doore and told him that she was well How did a lusty young man at the Assiâ—es presently faint in reading a conference of two spiâ—â—ts whilest the suspected Witch was at the Barre meerely vpon feare to be in danger to be bewitched as was euidâ—nt by hiâ— words saying O thou Rogue wilt thou bewitch me too Feare and imagâ—nation make many Witches among countrey people being superstitiously addicted and led with foolish obseruations and imaginarie signes of good and bad lucke Therefore seeing there may be such naturall causes truely alledged for those things which seemed to be inflâ—cted by Satan and the prouocation of Witches I. Let such as suspect themselues to bee bewitched consider whether the cause of their vâ—xation be not naturall and enquirâ— not of a diuellish Wâ—zard but of learned and iudicious Physicians to know their disease lest they suspect their neighbours vniustly and for a iuâ—t punishâ—ent God giue them ouer into the hands of those that they doe feare So likewise should they in the losse of their cattel looke to the naâ—urall causes of their death â—or a beast and horse may die suddenly and not be bewitched as an horse of one Master Dorington in Huntingtonshire suddenly falling downe dead was opened there was found in his heart a strange worme round together like a Toade but being spred had 50. branches and was seuenteene inches long II. The Gentlemen of the Grand-Iury in case of Witchcraft when coÌ„plaints are made should 1. Be â—â—quisitiue of the grounds leading the Complainant why he thinketh himselfe or any of his to be bewitched whether it bee not rather from his owne feare then from any other cause or whether the affliction bee not from some naturall cause 2. To inquire whether hee hath taken aduice of some learned Physicians and hath also vsed their best helpes for remedie before they enter into consideration of the practices of Witcherie because vnlesse the Witchcraft be very cleere they may bee much mistaken and better it were till the truth appeare to write an Ignoramus then vpon oath to set down Billa vera and so thrust an intricate case vpon a Iury of simple men who proceed too often vpon relations of â—eere presumptions and these sometimes very weake ones too to take away mens liues It is vndoubtedly true that there is a very great likenesse and also a deceiueable likenesse betweene some diseases naturall and those that be really and truely supernaturall comming by the Dâ—uell and Witchery and therefore neede the iudgement of some
out of all these his or her fraud may be discoâ—ered as vndoubtedly it may in conuenient time though not on a suddaine not in the concourse of an ignorant wondring talking and amazed multitude necessarily to bee remoued in trying a cunning Counterfeiâ—e II. Hauing thus considered the first thing for the discouerie the next is to know what he goeth about to counterfeite not professedly as Stage-Players doe the actions manners conditions places and states of men but one of these two either the naturall but violent diseases or supernaturall workes of the Deuill If he or she counterfeite naturall diseases as the Apoplexie the Epilepsie the Convulsion the Frensie Histerica passio the Suffocation of the Matrix or the Mother the motion of Trembling and Panâ—ing the Crampe and Stifnesse or the diseases mingled of these the learned iudicious and experienced Physicians must discouer him or her so counterfeiting But in absence of these for the present if any be otherwise learned and haue bookes let him or them I. Consider the nature of any disease and the accidents thereof which is to haue their times of beginning of increasing of full force and so of declination Now this being so the nature of naturall diseases and â—ccidents thereof as Physiciâ—ns doe teach enquiry must be made whether they began by little and and little increasing in time to full force or that at the first when they seemed to take beginning they at once then mounted to the vtmost extrâ—mitie and doe likewise cease all in a moment then the disease and accidents thereof are either counterfeit or supernaturall â—s were the Boyles on the Egyptians and blaynes suddenly breaking out as did the sore boyles on Iobs body and were not naturall II. Consider the fits and to what speciall disease those fits may be resembled and if any haue such bookes as doe describe the nature of such disâ—eases let them looke thereinto and compare them together to see the â—ddes and differences betweene them III. Consider how that naturall diseases and motions thereof especially violent which these vndertake to counterfeite leaue the bodies weaâ—â—â—â—â— the vsage paâ—e the breath panting the pulse changed the spirits infeebled with such other effects as violent diseases from naturall causes doe produce and leaue as true testimonies of the truth thereof If therefore after the violent fits the parties be strong can walke about talke with merry company tosse the pot whiffe the Tobacco pipe and such like the disease if it be not supernaturall it is counterfeite for it is not naturall But before I leaue this one thing more may be noted that euen a Counterfeite may haue some naturall disease vpon him or her and make aduantage thereof adding their owne iuggling tricks therto As Mahomet the Turkish false prophet made benefit of the falling sicknesse with which disease hee was afflicted So some with mealancholy affected may become pale and meager and being subtile in their inuention will thereof make vse to play their prankes Many before named had the Hysterica passio and added thereto counterfeit trances Care therefore must be had to difference the counterfeiting from that which is naturall wich requireth iudgement And therefore albeit I haue set downe these â—s some helpes where the Physician cannot be had to informe the Gentlemen of the Iewry yet if it be possible let them vse the learned mens helpe and aduice in these things And thus much for the discouering of a counterfeit in naturall diseases But now if he or shee counterfeit Diabolicall practices of persons bewitched and possessed then are the Gentlemen to acquaint themselues with the true signes of such as bee possâ—ssed so to discouer the dissembler and according as I finde in holy Scripture they be these I. An extraordinary strength accompanyed with exceeding fiercenesse to be able to pull chaines in sunder and to breake fetters in pieces to cut themselues with stones to teare off their cloathes to go naked to runne into solitary and hideous places and not to be tamed Here is a Deuil Mar. 5.4.5 Luk. 8.29 II. When one is suddenly taken vp and throwne with violence among and in the 〈◊〉 of a câ—mpâ—ny and not be â—ur Luk. 4.35 III. When one is Lunaticke taken often and cast into the fire or water to be dâ—stroyed Math. 17.15 Mâ—r 9 22. IV. When one walloweth foameth gnasheth with his teeth is rent and throwne to and fro and withall pineth away in body as in Mar. 9.18 20. and that for a very long time to be so tormented V. When sight hearing and speech is taken from one strangely as in Math. 12.22 Mar. 9.25 VI. When one is violently tormented the spirit bruising the partie making him or her with tearings to foame againe and suddenly to crie out Luk. 9.39 VII When one speaketh in his or her fits in an extraordinary manner not after their owne naturall or ordinary course of vnderstanding as did Saul 1. Sam. 18.10 speaking such truths as possible they by no naturall apprehension or by instruction could attaine vnto as did diuers possessed concerning Christ who they said was the holy one of God Mar. 1.24 The Son of God Mar. 3.11 The Sonne of the most high God Mar. 5.7 and as the Pythonysse said of Paul and Sylas These are the seruants of the euer liuing God and teach vnto you the way of Saluation Act. 16. This knowledge they had not by naturall reason for flesh blood reuealed it not Mat. 16 Neither did they learne it of men for the Iewish Teachers opposed these truths Math. 27.43 26.64 It was then the Deuill in them that knew him who made them so speake Mar. 1.34 We may reade in learned relations of such as in their fits would speake strange languages Fernelius an vndoubted testimony mentioneth how he saw an ignorant and franticke boy and heard him in his madnesse to speake Greeke Melanchton saith that hee saw a Damoniacke woman in Saxony who could neither write nor reade and yet spake both Greeke and Latine VIII When one diuineth as the Pythonisse did Act. 16. foretelleth 〈◊〉 such as come to demand questions of things to come or doeth reueale hidden things As Sleiden in his Commentary telleth of Anabaptisticall Maides when some hid their monies they would â—ell where they hid the same IX When holy means is vsed as Christ did by his Word and power theÌ„ the party to cry with a lowd voice to be sore torne 〈◊〉 spirits departing to be 〈◊〉 or dâ—ad in the iudgement of the beholders Mar. 1.26 9.26 Luk. 4 34 15.42 Thus it tell out wâ—â—h tâ—e pâ—ssessed recorded in holy Scriptures Let the practâ—ces of Counterfeits be tryed hereby and also by the signes of those that are bewitched Of which in the next booke and 12. Chapter hereafter CHAP. IV. That the Diuell and euill spirits through Gods permission may doe much euill vnto the godly for their tryall and vnto the wicked for their punishment
vouchsafed no answer by sacred means 1. Sam. 28.16 and therefore he fell to Witches And what was Manasseh but an Idolater and an obseruer of times so fell to Witchery and to such as had familiars And the people which delighted in these were haters of the true Teachers and beleeued false prophets Dreamers and Diuiners Ierem. 27.9 And with vs what are they which regard these sorts but â—ither superstitious Papists or Neuterals or Atheists 4. The euill which in the end will ensue to such as hearken to these what got Saul by going to them They may soothe vp for a time these vaine persons but at length the Diuell wil pay them home Examples abroad and in Histories and within our selues obserued may terrifie all good Christians from seeking vnto and regarding of such For it 's plainly said that the Lord setteth his face against such to cut them off Luk. 20.6 And if God be against them what may they looke for in the end CHAP. XXI That all sorts of Witches ought to dye euen because they be Witches THere ought no such distinction of Witches to be made into good and bad blessing and cursing white and blacke Witches as thereby either sort should escape death They may differ in name but al are abomination to the Lord and ought to dye 1. The Law of God saith without exception Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to liue If a Witch iustly conuicted death is due to such an one 2. They all make a league with the Diuell an act so execrable to renounce God and to bâ— take themselues to the diuel as for this thing onely they deserue death in the highest degree 3. For these abominations the Lord vtterly destroyed the Canaanites Deut. 18.12 and plagued Manasseh 2. Chron. 33.6 which wickednesse of his was so abhorred of God as in his displeasure he mentioned it many yeeres after by Ieremy as a cause of remouing the Iewes from their land and of leading them away captiue into a strange land Ier. 15.4 4. Idolaters ought to dye Exod. 22.20 32.28 29. and inticers to Idolatry Deut. 13.9 because they worship Diuels Psal. 106.37.1 Cor. 10.20 Reu. 9.20 But Witches worship diuels they inuocate them craue helpe of them worke by them and doe them homage sacrifice to them and they doe it not to stocks and stones so mediately to the Diuell as other Idolaters doe but immediately to the very diuell himselfe And therefore are the greatest Idolaters that can be and so most worthy of death It will bee granted that bad Witches ought to dye as being guilty some of murther other some of committing filihinesse with Diuels by the confession of innumerable Witches and for much mischiefe and manifold harmes which they doe But still some doubt of so round dealing with the white Witches which cure folk do as they imagine great good tell wonders and delight their hearers sometimes their beholders The imagined good Witches the Coniurer Enchanter Magician Southsayer and the rest ought to dye for besides the former reasons 1. As hath beene proued the course of the Scriptures is generally against these 2. Saul and Iosias put these sorts to death 1. Sa. 28.2 Kin. 23.24 and King Iames in his booke saith of Magicians and Necromancers that they ought to be dealt with as Sorcerers 3. In other Countries such haue beene put to death In Flanders was there a Magician which by curing many diseases became famous and was reputed a holy man couering his Witchery with appointing people to fast to say their Pater noster to goe on Pilgrimage to this or that St but his Magick practices being found out hee had his desert In France there was a woman Witch which did cure some with a pretended medicine and by saying these words In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost of St Anthony and St Michael thou maist be cured of thy disease coÌ„mending withal the party to heare Masse nine dayes but for all this she had iudgement to be burnt for her Witchcraft For these healers are oftentimes hurting Witches withall and all healers do entice people from God in requiring faith of them do cause the people to run a whoring after them as Moses speaketh Leu. 20.6 Being therfore in league with SataÌ„ being abominable Idolaters intising people from their faith in God they are worthy to die 4. Very Heathen Emperours haue put to death such as were Necromancers such as vsed to cure diseases such as would vndertake to foretell successe of warres such haue bin exiled if not put to death as would by Art Magicke discouer them see examples of these in Bodins Daemonomania They offend then that countenance them that preuent their apprehension their iudgement and iust deserued punishment CHAP. XXII That the bad Witches in their tryall persecution conuiction and condemnation should bee dealt with as is befitting in the course of Iustice. IT is miserable to behold how maliciously how ragingly in bitternesse of spirit the rude headlesse multitude and other vaine people cry out against these sorts of wretched Caytifs saying â—ye vpon them Away with them Hang them and some of them sticke not to curse them A brutish and vnchristianlike carriage It is true that their sinne is very grieuous hatefull to God and to bee detested of all true Christians as an execrable falling from God into the deepest seruice of the diuell but yet let men consider 1. A difference between their fearfull sinne and their persons hate the one but not the other 2. That Satan is a powerfull Deceiuer and Seducer who can make an Eue in Paradise being in the state of perfection to beleeue him the Diuell before God 3. That by nature corrupt we are no lesse apt to be mis-led by him then they walking in sinnes and trespasses according to the course of the world and according to the Prince of darknesse in inordinate affection and other lusts being foolish disobedient deceiued seruing diuers lusts pleasures liuing in malice enuy hatefull and hating one another Thus by nature are we the children of wrath and bemyred with the filth of sinne as wel as they 4. That therefore our difference ariseth not from within our selues as from our owne wisedome will and power but we are kept from their Apostasie either by Gods restraining power as he kept the King of Gerar Abimelech from Adulterie as also Pharaoh from Abrahams wife or by his conuerting grace so euery one must say with Saint Paul By the grace of God I am that I am 5. Consider that some so dreadfully catched by Satan may be Gods seruants and bee conuerted as was Manasseh and also Saint Cyprian of whom before And did not such as vsed curious Arts euen Magicke turne to God and beleeue Therefore let vs behold in them a spectacle of mans miserie as being left of God vnto the power of the Diuell