you take that to be S. Paules meaning Doth Satan bewitch mens mindes and leade them into falsehoode and errour making them beleéue they worshipp God when they worship deuils Dan. S. Paul speaketh there indeéd of the comming of the great Antichrist in the power of the Deuill Nowe those which are seduced and worship Antichrist think they worship God but marke what S. Iohn sayth All the world wondred and followed the beast and worshipped the dragon which gaue power to the beast they worshipped the beast Reuelat. 13. And looke in the 12. chapter of the Reuelation and you shall find that the Dragon which the Popery doth worship in stead of God is the Deuill M. B. Trulie I like your wordes well I am persuaded the deuill doth seduce and bewitch mens mindes But touching these that seek help at the hands of cunning men and women against witches I cannot thinke so hardlie of them I may be awry I seé well I will not be obstinate if the word of God shew me mine errour Let vs euen friendly conferre of the matter Be not offended with me and for my part I will speake all that I knowe or thinke Dan. I must intreate you likewise to beare with my plaine speaches And let vs in the matters proceéde from one point to another standing onlie vpon that wherein we shall be found to differ in iudgment And let Gods word be the Iudge betweene vs. Sam. I like this wel though I can say but litle I wil sit and heare you Dan. What is the first question that we shal handle M. B. I heard you say if I did not mistake your speach that there be witches that worke by the deuill But yet I pray you tell me doe you think there be such I know some are of opinion there be none Dan. It is so euident by the Scriptures and in all experience that there be witches which worke by the deuill or rather I may say the deuill worketh by them that such as go about to prooue the contrarie doe shewe themselues but cauillers M. B. I am glad we agreé in that point I hope we shall in the rest What say you to this that the witches haue their spirits some hath one some hath more as two threé foure or fiue some in one likenesse and some in another as like cattes weasils toads or mise whome they nourish with milke or with a chicken or by letting them sucke now and then a drop of blood whome they call when they be offended with anie and send them to hurt them in their bodies yea to kill them and to kill their cattell Dan. Here is great deceit and great illusion here the deuil leadeth the ignorant people into foule errours by which hee draweth them hedlong into manie grieuous sinnes M. B. Nay then I seé you are awrie if you denie these things and say they be but illusions They haue bene prooued and prooued againe euen by the manifold confessions of the witches themselues I am out of all doubt in these and could in manie particulars lay open what hath fallen out I did dwell in a village within these fiue yeares where there was a man of good wealth and suddainlie within ten daies space he had three kine died his gelding worth ten pounds fell lame he was himself taken with a gret pain in his back a child of seuē years old died He sent to the woman at R. H. and she said he was plagued by a witch adding moreouer that there were three women witches in that towne and one man witch willing him to look whom he most suspected he suspected one old woman and caused her to be caried before a Iustice of Peace and examined with much a doe at the last shee confessed all Which was this in effect that she had threé spirits one like a cat which she called Lightfoot another like a Toad which she called Lunch the third like a Weasill which she called Make-shift This Lightfoot she said one mother Barlie of W. solde her aboue sixteene yeares agoe for an ouen cake and told her the Cat would doe hergood seruice if she woulde she might send her of her errand this Cat was with her but a while but the Weasill and the Toad came and offered their seruice The Cat would kill kine the Weasil would kill horses the Toade would plague men in their bodies She sent them all threé as she confessed against this man She was committed to the prison and there shee died before the Assises I could tell you of manie such I had no minde to dwell in that place any longer Dan. You mistake me I do not meane that the things are not but my meaning is that the deuill by such thinges both beguyle and seduce ignorant men and lead them into errours and grieuous sinnes And let vs examine euerie parcell of that which you set down in your speach and you shall seé no lesse M. B. That is it which I would faine seé You confesse they haue spirits some one some more and in such likenesses what errour be the people led into by that Dan. First cōsider this that ther be multituds armies of deuils as we seé in the gospel y t manie deuils wer entred into one man Christ saying What is thy name answer is made Legion for we are manie Mark 5. Now although the deuils be manie yet they be all caried with such hatred against God with such desire to haue him dishonored and blasphemed and burne with such bloudy malice and crueltie against men that they bend their studie all together one helping and furthering another what they can in their worke in so much that the Scripture doeth speake of them as if they were but one deuill for S. Peter sayth Your aduersarie the deuill goeth about like a roring lion seeking whom he may deuour 1. Pet. 5. And in the Reuelation chapter 12. all the deuils make that great red dragon And our Sauiour doth shewe how close they ioyne in one when he saith If Satan be deuided against Satan or if Satan cast foorth Satan how shall his kingdom endure Matth. 12. now then whether the witch deale as sheé supposeth with one spirit or with manie it commeth all to one effect thus farre that one dealeth not alone but with the helpe of others So that he or she that hath familiaritie with one deuill it is as much as if it wer with an hundreth Moreouer the deuils be spirits they haue no bodily shape or likenesse but yet can make an apparance of a shape as appeareth by the inchanters before Pharao when their rods were turned into serpents in shew Exod. 7. And then one deuill can seém to be foure or fiue and foure or fiue can seéme to be one It is therefore but the craft of Satan to make shewe of more or lesse M. B. Do you not thinke then that where the more deuils be there is the greater power of Satan Dan. Yes but
A DIALOGVE concerning Witches and Witchcraftes In which is laide open how craftely the Diuell deceiueth not onely the Witches but many other and so leadeth them awrie into many great errours By George Giffard Minister of Gods word in Maldon LONDON Printed by Iohn Windet for Tobie Cooke and Mihil Hart and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at the Tygers head 1593. AA TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL MAISTER RObert Clarke one of her Maiesties Barons of her Highnes Court of Eschequer CErtaine yeares now past right Worshipfull I published a small Treatise concerning Witches to lay open some of Sathans sleightes and subtill practises least the ignoranter sort should be carried awry and seduced more and more by them The errors be farre more grosse and the sinnes much greater into which by meanes of Witches he seduceth multitudes then in common opinion they be esteemed It falleth out in many places euen of a suddaine as it seemeth to me and no doubt by the heauy iudgement of God that the Diuels as it were let loose doe more preuail then euer I haue heard of For when as men haue set so light by the hearing of Gods voice to be instructed by him they are iustly giuen ouer to be taught by the Diuels and to learne their waies Sathan is now hearde speake and beleeued He speaketh by coniurors by sorcerers and by witches and his word is taken He deuiseth a number of thinges to be done and they are put in practise and followed The high prouidence of God Almighty and soueraigne rule ouer all is set forth so vnto vs in the Scriptures as that without him a Sparrow can not fall vpon the ground All the haires of our head are numbred The Deuils would hurt and destroy with bodily harmes both men and beastes and other creatures but all the Diuels in Hell are so chained vp and brideled by this high prouidence that they can not plucke the wing from one poore little Wrenne without speciall leaue giuen them from the ruler of the whole earth And yet the Witches are made beleeue that at their request and to pleasure them by fulfilling their wrath their spirites doe lame and kill both men and beastes And then to spread this opinion among the people these subtill spirites bewray them and will haue them openly confesse that they haue done such great things which all the Diuels at any mans request cold neuer doe For if they could they would not stay to be intreated God giueth him power sometimes to afflict both men and beastes with bodily harmes If he can he will doe it as intreated and sent by Witches but for vs to imagin either that their sending doth giue him power or that he would not doe that which God hath giuen him leaue to doe vnlesse they should request and send him is most absurd There be many diseases in the bodies of men and beastes which he seeth will breake forth vnto lamenes or vnto death he beareth the witches in hand he doth them He worketh by his other sort of Witches whome the people call cunning men and wise women to confirme all his matters and by them teacheth many remedies that so he may be sought vnto and honored as God These things taking root in the hearts of the people and so making them afraide of Witches and raising vp suspitions and rumors of sundry innocent persons many giltles are vppon mens othes condemned to death and much innocent bloud is shed How subtilly he continueth these matters I haue to my smal skill laide open in this slender Treatise I haue done it in waye of a Dialogue to make the fitter for the capacity of the simpler sort I am bolde to offer it vnto your Worship not vnto one as needeth to betaught in these thinges being zealously affected to the Gospell so grounded in the faith of the high prouidence that I haue been delighted to heare and see the wise and godly course vsed vppon the seat of Iustice by your Worship when such haue beene arraigned I offer it therefore as a testimony of a thankeful mind for fauours and kindnesse shewed towardes me and so intreat your Worshippe to accept of it If it may doe good vnto any of the weaker sort in knowledge I shall be glad If I erre in any thing being shewed it I will be ready to correct it Your Worships in all dueties to commaund George Giffard THE SPEAKERS Samuell Daniell The wife of Samuell M. B. Schoolemaister The good wife R. Sam. YOu are well mette olde acquaintance I am glad to seé you looke so well howe doe all our good friendes in your Countrey Dan. I trust they be all in good health they were when I came from home I am sorry to seé you looke so pale what haue you beéne sicke lately Sam. Truely no I thanke God I haue had my health pretily well but yet me thinke my meate doth me no good of late Dan. What is the matter man doe you take thought and care for the world take heéde of that for the Scripture saith worldly sorrow worketh death 2. Cor. 7.10 It is a great sinne rising from vnbeleéfe and distrust in Gods prouidence when men be ouer pensiue for the world Sam. In deéde my minde is troubled but not for that which you say for I hope in God I shall not want so long as I liue Dan. Is it any trouble of conscience for sinne If it be that may turne to good Sam. O no no. I know no cause why Dan. Why what is it then if I may be so bold I pray you tell me I thinke you take me for your friend Sam. In deede I haue alwaies found you my very good friend and I am sure you will giue me the best counsell you can truely we dwell here in a bad countrey I think euen one of the worst in England Dan. Is it so I thinke you dwell in a fine countrey in a sweéte wholesome aire and fruitfull grounds Sam. Aire man I finde no fault with the aire there be naughty people Dan. Naughty people where shall a man dwell and not finde them swearers liars raylers slaunderers drunckards adulterers riotous vnthriftes dicers and proude high minded persons are euery where to be founde in great plenty Sam. Nay I doe not meane them I care not for them These witches these euill fauoured old witches doe trouble me Dan. What doe you take your selfe to be bewitched Sam. No no I trust no euill spirite can hurt me but I heare of much harme done by them they lame men and kill their cattle yea they destroy both men and children They say there is scarce any towne or village in all this shire but there is one or two witches at the least in it In good sooth I may tell it to you as to my friend when I goe but into my closes I am afraide for I see nowe and then a Hare which my conscience giueth me is a witch or some witches spirite sheé stareth so vppon
they wer all hanged vp one against another we should not I hope stand in such fear of their spirits But I interrupt you too The wife They that would not haue them hanged or burnt I would they might euen witch them vnto hell If I had but one fagot in the world I would carry it a myle vpon my shoulders to burne a witch Dan. Well good woman spare your fagot a while and ease your shoulders and let vs reason the matter a little further I pray you let me aske you this question doth the witch or the deuill the harme vnto men and cattell M. B. Why the deuill doth it at their sending though I confesse it must neéds be as you said that the deuil worketh al in the mind of the witch mooueth her to send him Dan. The deuill hath a kingdome but it is in darkenesse and corruption of sinne He hath no right nor power ouer Gods creatures no not so much as to kill one flye or to take one eare of corne out of anie mans barne vnlesse power be giuen him You know when Christ cast the deuils out of the man possessed they aske leaue for to goe into the heard of swine Then tell me who giueth the deuill this power then when the witch sendeth him to kill or to lame man or beast doth the witch giue it him Do you think he had power to doe harme but no mind till she mooued him Or doe you take it that her sending giueth him power which he had not M. B. It is a question indeed worth the asking For doubtlesse the deuill hath not power vntill it be giuen him to touch any creature to hurt or to destroy the body but onely to tempt and to lead into sin I am also sure that the witch cannot giue him power but onlie God aboue Dan. Lay these two together then that the deuill only hurteth and that none can giue him power neither man nor woman but only God and tell me whether the people be not wonderfully carried awry in a rage For when as they should consider that the deuill is the Lordes executioner And then finding that he hath any power giuen him to molest to hurt and vexe them in theyr bodies or goods to know certainly it commeth from the Lord and then gather from thence as the trueth is that the Lord is displeased with them for their offences And so seeke vnto him humbly crauing pardon and deliuerance from this enemy seéking to be armed with the mighty power of faith to cast him foorth and to resist him as the Lord willeth 1. Pet. 5 Here is no such matter no looking so high among the people but running deéper into errour and into sinne as if the witches did it and that it commeth from their anger and not from their owne sinnes and infidelity here is no repentance no humbling themselues by fasting and prayer but running for helpe vnto deuilles vsing meanes which those deuils by the cunning men women appoint scratching and clawing thirsting often after guiltles blood as raging against those whomethey imagine to be witches which many times are not because they imagine that if there were no witches ther should be no such plagues As if they had no foule sinnes nor vnbeleéfe or that there remayned not a iust reuenging God to punish or as if he had not the deuils still the executioners of his wrath M. B. Truly your wordes doe make me affrayd for I am euen guiltie of thâ—se thinges my selfe if they be so grieuous as you set them out and by Gods grace I wil consider better of the matter for I haue counselled manie to seék vnto those cunning folkes and to vse such helpes as they prescribe and you say it is to seéke help at deuils To seé that point we shal come anon now I wold be resolued about somewhat in your last speach as namely doe you cleare the witches because God and not they giueth the deuil power and doe you thinke that the deuils should kill men and their cattell if they were not sent by witches Should the harmes still follow if there were no witches Dan. That I say God alone and not the witches giueth power vnto the deuils to plague and torment it is so euident as that I suppose a man shall hardlie meete with anie man so grosse but will confesse it But this doeth not cleare the witches at all for their sinne is in dealing with deuils and that they imagine that their Spirits do those harmes requested and hyred by them when as indeéde the deuill where he hath power giuen him to hurt or where he knoweth death or grieuous diseases will follow either in man or beast setteth the witch in a rage and moueth her to send him Concerning your other question I say we shall finde by the Scriptures that if there were no witches at all yet men should be plagued by the deuils in their bodies and goods For touching the godly the Lord doth vse Satan to afflict them in their bodies and in their goodes for to trie their faith and patience as the example of holie Iob doeth testifie in ample maner It were vile follie and brutish to affirme that witches did set on the deuils to kill his children and to plague his bodie And I hold it no smal follie for anie man to think that the Lord doeth not nowe scourge his children at the least some of them for their good by the deuill There is no doubt but the deuil hauing power giuen him to afflict vseth all the craft hee can and will seék to be sent by the witch and so hee will make it knowne because it may seéme to bee not from God but from the anger of a poore woman And now touching the wicked which prouoke God by their wicked sinnes and vnbeleefe may we not read in the scriptures that an euill spirite was sent of God vnto king Saul which did haunt and vexe him Was this spirit sent by a witch Or the deuils in the Gospell which entred into the hearde of swine and drowned them Did the Lord giue them power and send them and shall we be so sottish as to thinke that hee sendeth not the deuill now against vngodly men to plague and to destroy them As I said before here is the deepe craft of Satan that he will couet to bee sent by witches whereas indeed God hath sent him seéing none can sende him but God Againe wee must consider that there bee naturall causes in the bodies of men and beastes of grieuous tormentes and diseases yea euen causes of death Nowe they cannot be so secrete but the deuill knoweth them and euen when they are like to take effect Then doth he plie it with the witch setteth her in a furie she sendeth him euen vpon this sending the man or the beast suddainlie and strangely are tormented fall lame or die Then the witch is suspected examined and confesseth that she killed such a man or such a
to hire them nor to send them to hurte eyther man or beaste but I seé mine owne follie and that onlie God giueth the power vnto the deuils to afflict and trie the godly and to vexe torment and plague the wicked and that they shall do this though all the witches in the world were hanged I know they neéde none to cherish them or to set them a worke Dan. But did you not feare if all suspected should be hanged then some guiltles persons might be put to death As you seé manie that haue bene executed as witches haue taken it vpon their death that they were innocent M. B. I will tel you my thought touching that point which was this The witches raise tempestes and hurte corne and fruites vpon the treés the witches bring the pestilence among men and murraine among cattell the witches send their spirits and make men lame kill their children and their cattell their spirits cannot bee taken heede of nor kept out with doores and wals as theéues and murtherers but come in when they bee sent and doe so many harmes for this cause I thought it a marueilous good worke to put all suspected to death though some of them were innocent that so sure worke might be made to haue not one left Dan. Did you not thinke it a fearfull thinge to shead innocent blood M. B. Yea but I thought it much better that some should be put to death wrongfully than to leaue any one witch which might kill and destroy many Dan. Then I perceiue that this was the reason which did perswade you that it was very good to put all to death that were suspected although it might fall out that some of them were innocent to auoyde greater inconuenience and that is if some few witches should escape which might plague and kill many Better a few should be put wrongfully to death then many should bee tormented and killed or lamed by the deuilles But are you still of that mind M. B. No verily For you haue put me in minde that the wicked spirits receiue their power to plague both mē and beasts only from God They seéke about they watch when and where hee will giue them leaue to touch where God will trie the faith and patience of the iust by him as he did in Iob he sendeth him if he will be sent by a witch it is but vnder a collour shee giueth him not the power hee would touch though she were not Where God will strike and plague the wicked by him he giueth him leaue it is not the anger of the witch that bringeth it but their owne wickednes whereby they haue prouoked God to displeasure and so giue this enemy power ouer them Dan. Then so long as these two thinges stand that God by Satan will afflict in some sort and trie his children as you alleage he did Iob and that he will vse him as his executioner to plague and torment the wicked as he sent an euill spirite to vexe king Saule so long the harmes done by wicked spirites shall not cease although all the witches and coniurers in the worlde were hanged vp Looke then to the causes if wee will remooue the effects As if thou feare God and Satan afflict thee stand fast in faith and patience and waite vpon God for thy deliuerance If thou endure temptation thou art blessed and shalt be crowned Iam. 1. ver 12. If thy sinnes haue prouoked God and the enemie doth touch thy body or thy goods fall downe and humble thy selfe with fasting and prayer intreat the Lord to turne away his displeasure looke not vpon the witch lay not the cause where it is not seéke not help at the hands of deuils be not a disciple of witches to commit thinges abhominable by polluting the name of God and honouring Satan nor thirst not after the blood which is innocent as it falleth out in many M. B. I doe assent vnto al this and surely it is a great fault to shead innocent blood Dan. We may learne in the holie scriptures that the sheading of innocent blood is a verie horrible thing in the eies of almightie God and a very grieuous thing it is to haue a land polluted with innocent blood and that is one special cause why Satan dealeth by witches for he laboureth to wrappe in many guiltlesse persons vpon suspitions he suggesteth by his helping witches that ther be many hurting witches in all townes and villages that so hee may set the multitude in a rage 〈…〉 to suspect vpon euery likelihood that he can deuise or make shewe of And thus whole Iuries must become guiltie of innocent hlood by condemning as guiltie and that vpon their solemne oath such as be suspected vpon vaine surmises and imaginations and illusions rising from blindnes and infidelitie and feare of Satan which is in the ignorant sort M. B. If you take it that this is one craft of Satan to bring manie to be guiltie of innocent blood and euen vpon their oathes which is horrible what wold you haue the iudges and Iuries to doe when any are arraigned of suspition to be witches Dan. What would I haue them doe I would wish them to bee most warie and circumspect that they bee not guilty of innocent blood And that is to condemne none but vpon sure ground and infallible proofe because presumptions shall not warrant or excuse them before God if guiltlesse blood be shead M. B. It falleth out sometimes when a theefe is arraigned or a murtherer that direct euidence faileth and yet such circumstances are brought as doe euen enforce the Iurie in their conscience to find them guiltie It seemeth that this holdeth chiefly about witches because their dealing is close and secrete and it is also thought that the deuill hath so great power ouer them that he will not suffer them to confesse Dan. You bring two reasons to prooue that in conuicting witches likelihoods and presumptions ought to be of force more than about theéues or murtherers The first because their dealing is secrete the other because the deuil will not let them confesse Indeéde men imagining that witches do worke strange mischiefes burne in desire to haue them hanged as hoping the◠to be freé and then vpon such perswasions as you mention they suppose it is a very good worke to put to death all which are suspected But touching theeues and murtherers let men take heéde how they deale vpon presumptions vnles they be very strong for we seé that Iuries sometimes doe condemne such as be guiltlesse which is an hard thing especiallie being vpon their oath And in witches aboue all other the proofes had neéd to be strong because there is greater sleight of Satan to pursue the guiltles vnto death than in the other Here is speciall care and wisdome to be vsed And so likewise for their confessing Satan doth gaine more by their confession than by their deniall and therefore rather bewrayeth them himselfe and forceth them to confession oftener
And therefore it is for his aduantage if he doe hurte to haue it not kept secrete but openly to be made knowne M. B. what say you then vnto this a witch is apprehended vpon vehement suspition and caried before a Iustice he handleth the matter in such sort that she confesseth as I heard of one not long since her confession was to this effect She had two spirits one like a Weasill the other like a Mouse These she said did manie thinges for her Now she accused a woman about ten or twelue miles off whom it may be she did not knowe and yet could name and not only that but said the woman had as it were a litle bigge in her mouth where the spirite did sucke blood Dan. It is a most easie thing for the deuill to tell witches that such a man or such a woman is a witch and hath this or that secret marke vpon them And within these few yeares he hath by witches and cunning men accused such as were very religious and godly Men must beware that they proceed not vpō his testimony he is not to be medled withall nor any medling which he vseth is to be taken in good part seéing he doth all in deép subtilties M. B. I do take it that the testimony of the deuill ought not of it selfe to haue any force with a Iurie vnlesse it can be prooued by some other firme proofes But what say you vnto this a witch is condemned and telleth at the gallows not onlie what she hath done but also of whom she first had her spirit She doth this in repentance and euen readie to depart out of the worlde It is to bee presumed that she will not in this case lie nor accuse falsly Let it be some woman in another towne whome she saith brought her the spirite This woman is also suspected by some of her neighbours apprehended and brought to iudgement and stiflie denieth that she is any witch or that she euer deliuered any spirite vnto the other which accused her Nowe here is the question Is not the testimonie of the woman vpon her death a sufficient warrant for a Iurie to find this woman guiltie here they haue now the testimonie not of the Deuill to proceéd by but of a woman and though not vpon her oath yet vpon her death which is no lesse Dan. This testimonie may seeme to be sufficient euen to warrant a Iurie to finde guilty though it touch life but if we look well into it we shall see it is not M. B. It may be you take it to be infirme because it is the testimony but of one Dan. Nay not only in respect that it is the testimony but of one but that it is the testimony of such a one M. B. I put the case of such an one as doeth shew repentance who though she hath bene bad yet now may bee beleeued Dan. I do not meane in that respect as to say she was a witch and therefore not to be credited but if shee repent neuer so much yet her testimony in this is weake because she may be vtterly deceiued and think she telleth the truth when it was nothing so but she vtterly deluded M. B. Doe you meane that 〈◊〉 may make the other woman thinke that such a woman deliuered her the spirit and neuer no such matter Dan. Yea that is my meaning M. B. It is farre beyond my reach to seé how that can bee Dan. You must cōsider that the deuil doth many waies delude witches and make them beleeue things which are nothing so In Germany and other countries the deuilles haue so deluded the witches as to make them beleéue that they raise tempests of lightenings and thunders For the deuils do know when these things be comming tempests of winds and thunders and faine would he make the blind world beleéue that those great works of God be not Gods but his And that is the cause why he coueteth to appeare in them These deuils make the witches beleéue that at their request they kil both men and beasts and many waies afflict when as many of the things fal out naturally which they would seéme to doe and the rest in which they haue power giuen to worke they stirre vp the witch but vnder a collour for to send them These deuils make the witches in some places beleéue that they are turned into the likenesse of wolues that they rend and teare sheepe that they meét together banquet that sometimes they flie or ride in the ayre which thinges indeéd are nothing so but they strongly delude the fantasies of the witches Euen so the deuill can delude a poore woman with the likenesse of another woman deliuering a mouse or a catte vnto her by appearing in such a likenes Or he can set a strong fantasie in the mind that is oppressed with melancholie that such or such a matter was which indeéd was neuer so Men must be wise in these causes or els may they soon be circumuented by the craftes of Satan and drawen into great sinne M. B. If it be thus then how should a Iurie condemne by their verdict any witch For she hath not killed nor the deuill at her request but maketh her beleéue he did it at her request Dan. A witch by the word of God ought to die the death not because she killeth men for that she cannot vnlesse it be those witches which kill by poyson which eyther they receiue from the deuill or he teacheth them to make but because she dealeth with deuils And so if a Iurie doe finde proofe that she hath dealt with deuils they may and ought to find them guiltie of witchcraft M. B. If they find them guilty to haue dealt with deuils and cannot say they haue murdered men the law doth not put them to death Dan. It wer to be wished that the law were more perfect in that respect euen to cut off all such abhominations These cunning men and women which deale with spirites and charmes seéming to doe good and draw the people into manifold impieties with all other which haue familiarity with deuils or vse coniurations ought to bee rooted out that others might seé and feare M. B. You will not haue the testimony of Deuils to be of any credit with a Iury what say you then vnto men there be some which die and take it vpon their death that they are bewitched and will say precisely such or such haue done it For that is in the other point touching likelihoods Dan. They are bewitched indeéd for the deuill doeth delude their minds for you shall finde them able to render no reason but onlie this in their conscience the partie is naught and they are out of doubt it is so M. B. That may bee as you say in some but I haue knowne a woman my selfe which many haue counted to be a witch and many things haue fallen out where she hath taken displeasure Do you not thinke that is a firm
proofe She denieth but the things which fall out doe manifest her to be naught Dan. You must shew the things and thereby it will appeare M. B. She fell out or els at the least seémed to be displeased with one and he had an hogge died suddainlie An other thought she was displeased with him and his horse fell sicke A third could not sit vpon his stoole at worke And within nine or ten yeares space diuers others One saw the deuill bigger than a cat with great eies An other was haunted with a spirite An other brewing the drinke would not worke in the fatte An other sawe a thing in her house as big as a lambe playing in the window Another in her grieuous torment saw the woman stand by her all the night whom she suspected to bewitch her and diuers such like which were too long to recken vp If she were not a witch how should all these fall out so fit Dan. I haue shewed already that where Satan hath a witch to deale by hee bringeth it about that in all such things as he hath power giuen him of God he will seéme to do nothing but requested and sent by the witch In those things which fall out in sicknesses lamenes death vpon naturall causes he worketh in such sort as that he maketh the witch beleéue she doeth them And this hee coueteth to haue breake forth by her confession Now where he hath no witch to deale by he gaineth exceedingly if hee can worke in the minds of any a strong suspition of any man or woman For if it be once begun hee pursueth it with all his power and cunning If one bee visited with grieuous torment of sicknes and be so ignorant and voide of the faith in Gods prouidence that he imagine the deuill doeth it at the sending by a witch the deuill will delude him and make him beleéue that the witch standeth by him The man or woman suspected cannot come there Who then worketh that illusion but Satan Another is affrayde of the deuill to be sent vnto him by that partie whome he suspecteth to be a witch and thus through want of faith in God giueth the deuill the more power ouer him either to hurt or to appeare vnto him For Satan haunteth all men continuallie seéking all occasions and neédeth not to be sent by man or woman They be exceéding blind which will reason thus an euill spirit came and appeared vnto me after I had angred such a woman therfore she sent him Satan if he haue power to doe harme or knowe where somewhat will follow is hee not cunning to make the party which shall receiue the harme to fall out with some that hee may suspect and so the harme may seém to come from that partie Againe in feare in the darke men take some litle cat or dog to be an vglie deuill As not long since a rugged water Spaniell hauing a chaine came to a mans doore that had a saut Bytch and some espied him in the darke and said it was a thing as big as a colt and had eyes as great as saucers Hereupon some came to charge him and did charge him in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to tell what he was The dogge at the last told them for he spake in his language said bowgh and thereby they did know what he was If he do knowe where harmes do follow vpon naturall causes in men or beasts he laboureth either to make them offended and to fall out with the partie that is suspected or at the least to perswade thē of such displeasure conceiued that the harms may seéme to come from the same If he do torment indeéd hauing power to possesse the bodie he will not sticke to lie and to say such a woman sent him M. B. And doeth it not fall out sometimes that as he saith such a woman sent him so the woman vpon examination confesseth so much Dan. Yea but I speak where he hath no witch to deale by but pursueth the innocent with suspition vpon suspition that men may be guilty of innocent blood Hee telleth the trueth sometimes to the end hee may be credited when he doth lie For let no man be so simple as to thinke that he will euer tell trueth but for some wicked purpose M. B. Yet this of all the rest seémeth most strange vnto me how so many things should fall out as it seémeth after the displeasure of a suspected person and some of them such as apparantly are done by Satan as in drinke not working or in creame when butter will not come and yet the party suspected is not a witch Dan. Oh sir the sleights of Satan in compassing such matters be marueilous I knowe it is taken as they say to be dead sure that the party is a witch if sundry such shewes of matters do concurre But how easie a thing is it for crafty deuils to compasse such matters M. B. Then you doe not thinke that common fame is sufficient to warrant the conscience of the Iuror to condemne any Dan. Experience doeth teach howe heady much people are in iudging men or women to be witches vpon euerie surmise And the power imagined to bee in witches which breédeth a feare in many causeth them to bee credulous Many go so farre that if they can intice children to accuse their parents they thinke it a good worke M. B. You say the testimony of the deuill is not to beé taken although it be manifest that he doth many times tell the trueth because when he speaketh the trueth hee doeth it of a bad purpose And you hold it the testimony of the deuil not only which he speaketh when anie charge him but also which the cunning men women giue in as much as they can say nothing but vpon his word Moreouer vnles I mistake you the testimony of a witch in many things at her death is not as you say any other than the testimonie of the deuil because the deuill hath deceiued her and made her beleéue things which were nothing so Besides al this you wil haue likelihoods and suspitions to be of no waight nor common fame and opinion to mooue the conscience of a Iurie because Satan is exceéding subtill in all these Then how shall a Iurie finde a witch What proofes will you haue Dan. Men are vpon their oath to deale it doth touch life if they doe finde any guiltie of witchcraft This is a most waightie matter whereupon it followeth that there must be eyther due proofe by sufficient witnesses or els the confession of the witch For if the testimony be such as may be false as al that commeth from deuils is to be suspected or if it be but vpon rumors and likelihoods in which there may be exceéding sleights of Satan as for the most parte there be how can that Iury answere before God which vpon their oath are not sure but that so proceéding they may condemne