Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	honourable_a	majesty_n	privy_a	10,396	5	9.6495	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19407	The triall of vvitch-craft shewing the true and right methode of the discouery: with a confutation of erroneous wayes. By Iohn Cotta, Doctor in Physicke.	Cotta, John, 1575?-1650?	1616 (1616)	STC 5836; ESTC S108830	92,097	138

THE TRIALL OF Witch-craft SHEWING THE TRVE AND RIGHT METHODE of the Discouery WITH A Confutation of erroneous wayes By IOHN COTTA Doctor in Physicke LONDON Printed by GEORGE PVRSLOWE for SAMVEL RAND and are to be solde at his shop neere Holburne-bridge 1616. TO THE RIGHT HONORAble Sir Edward Coke Knight Lord Chiefe Iustice of England and one of his Maiesties most honourable priuie Councell and to the rest of the honourable and worthie IVDGES RIght honourable Lords where according vnto the direction of good lawes gracious Soueraignes nobly rule and loyall Subiects freely obey there the Common-weale which is the common good of both produceth the most royall happy and stable Monarchy If euer any Kingdome hath been fortunate to giue a true mirror and example of this happinesse this famous Iland hath been therein incomparable wherein so many puissant Monarchs successiuely swaying this Emperiall Diademe according vnto the ancient Lawes and Customes of this Nation haue so many hundreths of yeares gouerned this mighty people in peace and honour at home and victoriously led them in triumphant warre abroad as by the glorious trumpe of forreine and domestike fame and Historie is not obscure The splendor of this truth the iniurious aspersion of insufficiencie in our English laws cannot without shame or blushing guilt behold Notwithstanding since in some few things to be wanting was neuer as yet wanting in the most exquisite lawes policy and state that euer hath been and since the Lawe of God it selfe though perfect in it selfe through humane imperfection in the true perfection was neuer yet seene giue mee leaue through all lawes and Countries in one particular to wonder at their generall defect What Lawe or Nation in the detection of Witches and Witch-craft hath as yet euer appeared competent or from iust exception exempt How vncertaine are among all people differing iudgements Some iudge no Witches at all others more then too many others too few by many in so opposite extremes so extremely opposite I doe not presume to prescribe how a lawe may become more absolute or perfect I onely labour and enquire to learne Among many generall directions by different Authors diuersly published concerning the perfecting of particular lawes as farre as perfection is possible vnto humane frailety Demosthenes in his second Oration against Aristogiton in my thought doth seeme to equall if not exceede the most exquisite Three things sayth he as may bee plainely out of the forenamed place collected doe concurre vnto the vpright constitution of euery complete lawe whereby it may be held sacred and inuiolate The first is that it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is that it bee the ordinance and gift of God Secondly that it bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the sage and iudicious decree and counsell of the most wise and prudent The third is that it bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the vniuersall consent of the whole state City or countrey Certainely the true cause of the forementioned generall lamenesse and confusion of Lawes in the proposed case of With-craft consisteth herein First for that men haue not as yet sufficiently searched the holy Scriptures to finde out that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is what is the ordinance of God therein Secondly for that men haue not seriously consulted with that wisedome and prudence which by the light of nature and reason Almightie God hath left discouerable and allowed to be iustly and truly deemed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the sage counsell determination and decree of the most iudicious prudent and wise men When these two are met and are agreed namely the ordinance of God and the vpright sincere counsell of the most holy prudent and wise men purposely studied and without superstition exercised therein then wil the happy harmony of all mens hearts become easily tunable thereto which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the common consent of Prince People and Countrey Vnto this faire worke and building of God let it not seeme presumption that I offer this my moytie of desire and good will I know that in this subiect many ages of learned Authors haue endlesly varied many famous Writers haue been branded with infamous errors many excellent wits haue runne themselues almost out of their wits and those who haue best deserued their trembling pens haue niggardly dropped and timorously pointed out any fully or firmely auouched certainty It is notwithstanding no breach of rule of modesty but by bounden duty vnto the accomplishment and honour of truth to adde whatsoeuer in my vtmost endeauour may be conducible Neither would my many conflicts with difficulties in this kinde hold me excused if so oft spurred or rather galled by so frequent exercice practice and conuersation with persons in so diuers extraordinary manners afflicted and supposed be witched it should awake no answerable dispatch or display therein Let it then seeme no wonder that a man though lesse then the least among men who hath not onely as studiously as others laboured the same particular and as diligently therein obserued but hath farre more happily been fortuned then others with frequent matter and occurrents worthy obseruation and hath also beene more plentifully gratified with opportunitie to inrich his vnderstanding with variety and worth of obiects instructing his reason and confirming his experience Let it seeme no wonder I say that a meane wit thus beyond others furnished thereto may aduenture amiddest so many doubts and ambiguities wherewith so many worthies haue been formerly intangled and perplexed to auouch and proue certainty and demonstration In this subiect of Witch-craft by better meanes aduantaged if beyond former times or Writers I haue haply proposed a more direct and certaine module and methode of iudging therein I doe not thereby arrogate vnto my selfe but attribute vnto the meanes nor derogate from others whom if the like contingence of the same helpes had as freely and friendly affronted and the like facilitie had opened as ready accesse I acknowledge in the guilty sense of my owne exiguitie whether in the outward beauty of words or inward substance of vnderstanding it had been easie for any man to exceed with so good meanes this so euil meanenesse of my performance Since then Right Honourable Lords the subiect it selfe a pertinent and peculiar vse therein doe point vnto your Honours the propertie of this Dedication vnto whose tribunall the lawes of God and men appeale against that foule abominable sinne let it not bee censured pride or presumption humbly to present vnto your Lordship that consideration and resolution which beyond my merit or desert Occurrents haue freely administred vnto long-distracted meditation If there may appeare therein ought aduancing truth or seruiceable vnto the common-weale vouchsafe for those good respects it may be gracious in your eyes acceptable and worthy your noble fauours and protection against the iniuries of aduerse obdurate custome ignorance enuy and the vulgar indignation of common receiued and deceiued opinion In