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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03468	A treatise against vvitchcraft: or A dialogue, wherein the greatest doubts concerning that sinne, are briefly answered a Sathanicall operation in the witchcraft of all times is truly prooued: the moste precious preseruatiues against such euils are shewed: very needful to be knowen of all men, but chiefly of the masters and fathers of families, that they may learn the best meanes to purge their houses of all vnclean spirits, and wisely to auoide the dreadfull impieties and greate daungers which come by such abhominations. Hereunto is also added a short discourse, containing the most certen meanes ordained of God, to discouer, expell, and to confound all the Sathanicall inuentions of witchcraft and sorcerie.; Treatise against witchcraft.	Holland, Henry, 1555 or 6-1603.	1590 (1590)	STC 13590; ESTC S104153	71,772	90

reade and vnderstand them the Law of God is this You shall not regard them that worke with spirits neither soothsayers yea shal not seeke them to be defiled by them I am the Lord the God Againe anon after to make the greatnes of this sinne the better to appeare he repeateth the same wordes in more fearefull manner If any turne after such as worke with spirites and after soothsayers to goe a whoaring after them then will I set my face against that person and will cut him of from his people And againe that God people might be sufficiently warned they haue a third charge against this sinne in Deut. 18. where they are commaunded in all there necessities to seeke vnto God and the ministerie of his worde which place Es. commendeth to the Church of his time on this manner VVhen they shall say vnto you enquire at them that haue a spirite of diuination and at the soothsaiers which whisper and murmur should not a people enquire at their God from the liuing to the dead to the law and to the testimonie if they speake not according to this worde it is because there is no light in them And thus Mysodaemon the Lord hath most louingly warned and most sharply charged his people to auoyde this sinne Mysodaemon But some vnderstand the Law of God Theophilus as the Emperours ciuill Law expoundeth it Eorum est scientia punienda c. qui magicis artibus contra salutem hominum c. nullis verò criminibus implicanda suntremedia humanis quaesita corporibus Hereby it is manifest that hurtfull magitians and witches which kill and hurt mens bodies and goods are onely to be auoyded and so they doe amongst vs but such of these practitioners as can and will cure the sicke finde thinges loste haue a good neere gesse in praedictions are not in any wise to be blamed saieth this Lawe and therefore these are often sought after in necessities vnto this day and they seeme to doe no man harme but much good and they speake the very truth often and men will doe much Theophilus in extremities Theophilus First for that Lawe it is a moste wicked and prophane law and if it be one of Constantines constitutions it was published no doubt before his conuersion to the faith and as for the good that miserable men receiue of the sorcerers assure thy selfe Mysodaemon the more they seeme to benefite mens bodies the more harme they doe both soule and bodie for who would receiue gold at an enemies hande without feare and good assurance for his safetie and is not Sathan the bloodiest enemie that man hath liuing and lastly where as they would be credited for their trueth one counselleth vs in these wordes Si vera quandoque dixerint non ideo credendum eis sed imitare Christum qui reprehendebat damones quamvis vocitarent ipsum filium Dei Albeit witches speake trueth nowe and then wee must not therefore beleeve them but followe thou Christ saith he who reprehended the deuills when they named him often the very Sonne of God And because wee be impatient in extremities he addeth St non illico sentis auxilium divinum quid tum patientia opus est If in thy great necessities thou findest not present helpe from God what then thou muste vse patience Mysodaemon And how doeth God wame vs of this sinne by examples Theophilus Thou maiest finde a multitude of examples which God layeth before vs in the Scripture by them to reclaime vs from this sinne but I will here name but Saule onely hee alone can teach all men vvith vvhat coardes of sinne all these witchmakers are fettered aboute and howe that they are in trueth most prophane in life and Athistes in religion for first hee had reiected the worde of God in heart and all sincere obedience thereunto 1. Sam. 15. 23. Againe hee was a very murderer for howe often sought hee to murder David and rested not till hee had slaine a great number of the moste religious and innocent Priestes of the lande 1. Sam. 22. 18. And hee was also a verie hypocrite in profession 1. Sam. 26. 21. Vnto all these sinnes hee added this fearefull contempt of GOD 1. Chron. 10. 13. Hee asked counsell of a familiar spirite and in the ende in great desperation he murdered him selfe 1. Sam. 31. 4. Mysodaemon But thinke you that al these sinners are as wicked or any thing like that desperate Saule Theophilus I will not say that the measure of their sinnes is growne to that height that his was but that they be most blinde in their mindes and wicked in their liues experience deilie tellethvs For who but Papistes and rebellious Athistes ride and goe dailie to this market And vnto such God doeth iustly sende strong delusions that they should beleeue lyes that they might be damned because they beleeued not the trueth but had such pleasure in vnrighteousnes Mysodaemon Surely the greater part of them which make this trafficke with witches haue in deede but a small deale of any good religion but these were Gentiles and therefore were worthelie plagued for infinite more sinnes let me heare howe God punished this sinne among his owne people Theophilus Farre more fearefully for whereas the Lorde loued them aboue all nations vnder heauen this sinne was one of the principall causes of that long diuorcement which was betweene him and that people for the Prophet saith Surely thou hast for saken thy people the house of Iacob because they are full of the East manners and are sorcerers as the Philistines and abound with strange children And of the destruction of both the kingdoms of Israel and Iudah 1. Of Israel 2. King 17. 17. They made their sonnes and daughters to passe through the fire and vsed witchcraft and inchauntments c. therefore the Lord was wroth with Israel and put them out of his sight 2. Of Iudah 2. King 24. 3. Surely the commaundement of the Lord came vpon Iudah that he might put them out of his sight Propter peccata similia ijs quae fecerat Manasche For sinnes like vnto those which Manasses committed and his sinnes are numbred 2. King 21. 6. He caused his sonnes to passe through the fire he gaue him selfe to witchcraft and vsed them that had familiar spirites and were soothsayers c. Achaziah would not enquire of Gods word but sought after the god of Ekron in his extremities 2. King 13. 16. Maxentius in like manner the Romane Emperour consulted with his witches before his destruction and so did the vnhappie Iulian and they had both an vnhappie end Mysodaemon Surely the Lord I see hath giuen vs in these daies more testimonies of his hatred against this sinne then hee did the old Church for all these examples iudgements are written as the Apostle speaketh for our learning therfore such in these times as commit spirituall whoredom with Sathan are worthie to drinke more deepely of the cup of the

Lords wrath Theoph. That they are for the greater light offered men doe reiect the greater shal be their condemnation Mysodaemon But alas it greeueth me to thinke how these witches children as the Prophet calleth them of our time beleeue not that sorcerers and coniurers are so euill Theophilus They erre greeuouslie because God hath giuen them ouer in his iustice for the contempt of his word for they consider but their figures glasses circles periapts other vayles of witches profession and so did Saule he looked vpon the woman and was caried away with a strong imagination and liking of her artes he vewed Samuels old mantle gray heare and listened vnto his iollie graue speeches c. And yet it is said the Lorde slew him for this sinne The people therefore of our time hauing the same drift and purpose with Saule that is with full sayle seeking after Sathan if he may be found must be subiect to the like if God giue not repentance or the greater condemnation Mysodaemon And may not the Magistrate prouide against this euill Theophilus The Almightie God chargeth him so to doe Deu. 18. 9 10 11. Lev. 20. 6 27. for these sinnes are said to goe a whoaring from God and fall into a most dreadfull apostacie and therefore the Lord will haue them cut off from among his people The Apostle saith That euill doers are not onely worthy of death but as many also as consent vnto them or fauour them Wherupon one writeth thus Iuxta Pauli doctrinam eiusdem impietatis reus peragitur eisdem paenis obnoxius est apud Deum qui artem exercet magicam qui ex ea remedium petit that is According to Saint Paules doctrine he which practiseth witchcraft and he that seeketh helpe therby are both alike guiltie of the same impietie and before God subiect to the same punishment CHAP. IIII. Wherefore the Lorde doeth permit the sinnes of witchcraft in our time who are in most daunger thereby and what are the most soueraigne preservatiues against witchcraft Mysodaemon Theophilus THE people say Theophilus that witches can kill and make aliue whome they please wherefore doeth Almightie God suffer witches to hurt and to destroy man and beast on this manner for surely I thinke they can doe much indeede Theophilus The multitude is in this grosse errour Mysedaem that witches haue power to turne the world vpside down at their pleasure but the trueth is it is nothing so for as I taught thee before they are but Sathans instruments and can not worke these wonders without him and as for Sathans power also it is limited by the Lord. for he can do nothing but where and when the Lord sends him when therefore he is sent for the execution of Gods iustice he perswades his witches that he can drive heauen and earth together at his pleasure and they perswade the wicked worlde that they can likewise worke wonders whereas neither they nor Sathan him selfe by them can take away the least haire from the greatest sinner vpon earth but when God permits them for as the Lord by his speciall loue mercie and prouidence doeth embrace all his Saintes so likewise his generall prouidence and mercie saith the Prophet is ouer all his workes Thus much in effect hath M. Beza written the last yeere in his commentarie vpon Iob in these wordes Caeterum ostendit etiam hic locus impuros illos spiritus non temerè ab Apostolo vocari aeris principes sicuti summum illum lovem horum daemonum principem Graeci Latini multis propterea epithet is cognominarunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulguratorem tonantem vocantes qui tamen vel minimum quiddam in caelo vel in terra movere nisi Deo concedente non possunt sed Dominū quiddem illorum opera quoties ipsi libuit in huiusmodi excitandis tempestatibus vti ipsos verò donec in abissum mittantur in aere in alijs mundi partibus versantes nulla remagis quàm omni rerum confusione hominum praesertim exitio gaudentes Adde etiam omnium naturalium causarum ad excitandas omnes eius generis impressiones requisitarum summè peritos quàm facillimè quàm libentissimè Deo concedenti vel etiam imperanti suam in his rebus operam praestare constat sagarum etiam magorum omnis generis adhibito interventu And then he addeth a confirmation of his assertion concerning witches and a great complaint against negligent Magistrates on this manner Quadere cùm tam apertè tam multis tam certis sacrarū literarum testimonijs omnium seculorum apud omnes gentes historijs cōstet mirū est ac penè incredibile adhuc inter Christianos praesertim magistratus ac Iudices inveniri qui vana futilia haec esse omnia existiment Which thing saith he speaking of witchcraft seeing that it is so apparantly knowen by so many and so certaine testimonies of holy Scripture and by the histories of all times among all nations it is to be wondered and in a manner incredible that as yet there are found among Christians and especially among magistrates and iudges which doe suppose all these things to be but vaine and fabulous But to returne againe to thy demand Mysodaemon wherefore God permitteth witchcraft in these our daies as for the causes of this permission if thou wouldest knowe them they are many in number but I will commend vnto thee foure principally for thine instruction Myso-daemon VVhat then is the first cause of this permission Theophilus The euill artes and workes of Sathan by witchcraft are for a signe of the contempt and fall of men from the Gospell and syncere profession of religion wheresoeuer they be either suffered or maintained we see and knowe by daily experience that men haue but small measure of the pure light of God in that place Mysodaemon This is to be seene most true in poperie where all superstition and magicall artes are bred professed and maintained and what is the second cause Theophilus The seconde cause why God suffereth Sathan thus to triumph by his artes and to rule ouer infidels is that he might fatherly forewarne his Saintes to passe their dwelling here in feare and with all diligence to avoyde the contagion of the wicked with whome they haue any conversation Mysodaemon And what is the third Theophilus The third cause of this permission is that by these delusions of the deuill God might in iustice punish them which would not receiue his trueth for the Apostle saith that they which will not beleeue the truth God will send them strong delusions that they may beleeue lyes Myso-daemon It is most true we see for such as hunt after our doating witches are most sottish idiottes of all the people who when they bee stung by Sathan runne foorthwith to be cured by him what nowe is the fourth cause Theophilus The tryall of Gods Saintes for GOD permitteth all

❀ A TREATISE AGAINST VVITCHCRAFT OR A Dialogue wherein the greatest doubts concerning that sinne are briefly answered a Sathanicall operation in the Witchcraft of all times is truly prooued the moste precious preseruatiues against such euils are shewed very needful to be knowen of all men but chiefly of the Masters and Fathers of families that they may learn the best meanes to purge their houses of all vnclean spirits and wisely to auoide the dreadfull impieties and greate daungers which come by such abhominations HEREVNTO IS ALSO ADDED a short discourse containing the most certen meanes ordained of God to discouer expell and to confound all the Sathanicall inuentions of Witchcraft and sorcerie He that ouercommeth shall inherite all things and I will be his God and he shall be my sonne but the fearefull and vnbeleeuing and the abhominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all lyars shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 7 8. 22. 14 15. CAMBRIDGE Printed by Iohn Legatt Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1590. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE LORD Robert Devorax Earle of Essex and EWE Vicount of Hereford and Bourchier Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourchier and Lovaine Master of the Queenes Maiesties Horse and Knight of the most Honourable order of the Garter H. H. wisheth with his heart grace from God the Father by Iesus Christ increase of al vertues and constancie in the truth of the Gospell to the ende THE Scriptures of God right Honourable in sundrie places doe most euidently teach vs that there are two spirituall kingdomes in this world which haue continual hatred bloody wars without hope of truce for euer The Lord and king of the one is our Lord Iesus the tyrannical vsurper of the other is Sathan Again this also we are as clearely taught that all men liuing without exception are eyther true subiects of the one or slaues vnto the other For albeit the Neuters of this worlde dreame that they may indifferentlie view the scarres and woundes of other men and neuer approch neere those bloody skirmishes yet the truth is they are fowlie deceiued for the great Lord and King hath said with his owne mouth Hee that is not with mee is against mee Wherefore all that build not vp as much as in them lyeth the kingdome and Citie of God and batter downe the holdes of Sathan must be numbred with the rebels and enemies of our Lord Christ when the warrefare shal be ended The enemies of Christ haue euer beene many some open cruell foes without some subtill close conspirators within the house of God most daungerous vnderminers of the Citie of God if they be not discouered In this secret conspiracie albeit Sathan haue many Champions and many artes mille artes mille nocendi modos there is no arte more effectuall and dreadfull in my iudgement then those his wicked faculties in Witchcrafte I haue indeauoured right Honourable in this small Treatise according to my poore strength to shewe the principall meanes ordained of God for to confound and to discouer them I doe here therefore humbly aske your Honourable protection for the defence of the trueth and the glory of God against all the patrones of all such vile artes and horrible abhominations Thus doeing your Honour shall not onely encourage me but also imbolden others which are better able and wil be willing also to lay open the secret delusions and practises of Sathans inventions Nobilitie without godlines and vertue as your Honour well knoweth is blood indeede as a learned man speaketh but blood without bones and sinewes I knowe therefore that to increase in your Honour true Nobilitie you are well assured that it principally standeth in purchasing vnto Christ and his Church true honour and glorie and in beating downe as much as in your Honour lyeth all the holdes of Sathans kingdome God increase in your heart right Honourable all his good graces to his glory your own saluation and the benefit of his Church Amen The yeere of our saluation 1590. Your good Lordships euer to vse and command in the Lord Henr. Holland TO THE CHRISTIAN READER GRACE MERCIE AND PEACE BE multiplied in Iesus Christ. THE holy Apostle labouring to set foorth the divine maiestie and powerfull might of the ministerie of the Gospel sheweth how that a man must be as it were conquered thereby before he doe yeelde sincere and sound obedience vnto Christ. And certen it is that before men be brought downe to that subiection they fall often into daungerous errours in minde and sundrie fearefull sinnes in life In this question of Witchcraft some haue preferred the wicked folly of mā before the holy wisdom of God would haue vs to credit their owne practise the knowledge also and experience of Cornelius Agrippa Iohn Wyerus Nero Iulian Apostata and such like Their experience to say no more was vnsufficient most wicked and detestable Let vs then humble our selues before the wisdome of God and see what direction wee haue in this controuersie by the holy Scripture First for the being of this abhomination the holy word of god most clearely cōfirmeth it For if there were no such sinne wherefore then are there so many kindes named and distinguished Deut. 18. 10 11. Mecasephim kozemim c. Al which Gal. 5. 20. the Apostle comprehendeth as Ierome saith in that one word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Witchcraft Secondly wherfore haue we so many examples of the practitioners of this profession pointed at so often vnto vs as the inchaunters of Egypt the Witch of Endor the witches of Persia Simon Magus of Samaria Elymas the sorcerer at Paphus the Pythonist at Philippi c. Thirdly what meaneth the Lord to geue such lawes against this sinne as may be seene Exod. 22. 18. Lev. 20. 27. Deut. 18 10 11. For this is Maxime in Law as Danaeus saith and the lawyers graunt it De ijs rebus quae non sunt leges non promulgantur There are no lawes made of things which haue no being If this be true of the lawes of men how much more of the blessed Lawes of God wherein we must not imagine a want or superfluitie and therefore Hemingius saith Sapientissimus Deus non potest leges ferre de rebus quae vel non sunt vel esse non possunt The moste wise God can not geue lawes of things which haue no beeing or can haue no beeing VVherefore I conclude that witchcraft is a sinne a filthie worke of the flesh as Paul speaketh and therefore an abominable worke of the devill as Iohn saith and consequently not so lightly as it is made of some to be regarded The adversaries here are glad to betake the selues to th● first refuge Witchcraft is but coozening or poisening arte practised by humane industrie whereunto Sathan communicates no reall conference or communication What may

hoc modo Deus incogitantiae argueretur ac silegem tulisset de rebus quae nullae sunt Surely it were gracelesse boldnes to denie that the artes of magicke haue euer beene practised for so God might be argued to want iudgement as if he had giuen a Law of things which haue no beeing Nowe to be short concerning this treatise which here I offer thee good Reader albeit I cannot teach thee as I would to discouer and to auoide the Sathanicall delusions of witchcraft so variable so straunge and so secret are Sathans practises yet that good which I purposed I haue I trust in some part performed Whatsoeuer I haue written in all humble submission I offer it to the Censure and iudgement of all the godly learned in the Church of God I was the more bolde to publish this discourse for that but few haue written to any purpose any thing which may giue light in this argument in the english tongue master George Gifford onely excepted vnto whom we are much bound in the Lorde An other cause which mooued me is the continuall trafficke and market which the rude people haue with witches For like as the old heathen as Tulli saieth de reb maiorib semper aut delphis oraculum aut ab Hammone aut à Dodona petebant that is in their greatest affaires sought alwaies after the master witches and in common affaires hid their common auguries so likewise our blockish Christians they haue their common base witches and their master coniurers vnto whom they ride and goe in all their neede some twentie some thirtie some fortie miles and what is moste lamentable such is their brutish ignorance they thinke it not vnlawfull for them so to doe Wherefore I doe here also humbly request all those whome God hath blessed with knowledge and giftes to discerne in any measure these hid and horrible abhominations that they would with all their might helpe to vncouer them The ministers of Christ must both in doctrine and conuersation oppose themselues vnto the ministers of Antichrist Th● doctrine of the Gospell which we professe is flat contrarie we knovv vnto all the principles of poperie so let our conuersation also be vnto the practise of all the Romish prelates The monkes the friers and all of the shauen ministerie were not in any account for learning which made not an open profession of these sciences and of the Popes themselues sundry of them attained their popedome by these holy meanes as Sylvester the 2. Benedictus the 8. Geegorie the seuenth Iohn 20. 21. Alexander the 6. if we may credit their ovvne Platina and others Our enimies then worshipping the beast and his image and bearing these brandes of sorcery vvitchcraft idolatrie and all impietie in their handes and foreheads let vs with all might avoide them for without repentance the scripture hath forewarned they shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured into the cuppe of his wrath and shall bee tormented in fire and brim stone which is the second death Accept what I haue written good reader or of thy curtesie giue it free passage vnto others FAREWEL Thine in Christ Iesus HENRY HOLLAND CHAP. I. Of the witches mentioned in Scripture where is shewed by euident demonstrations how they had a reall conference confederacy with Satā himselfe by whom they practised wrought their abominatiōs Theophilus Mysodaemon WHat sayest thou Mysodaemon is it not strange that men at this day make so small account to discouer and auoid the moste horrible and dreadfull sinnes of witchcraft Mysodaemon I would gladly heare somwhat of you concerning this argument for the common sort of men indeed doe lightlie regard this sinne and the rather because some men as they say of learning and reputation affirme that this art being rightly discouered containeth nothing but cousenage and secret practises of wicked men and foolish women which are full of restles melancholick imaginations Theoph. True it is they say so indeed but how prooue they all such strong affirmations they speake much and fill volumes of many bookes but prooue litle soundly of that which they haue vainely and wickedly conceiued for when their proofe is out of the Scripture they neuer faile to wrest and bend that blessed word most prophanely to their owne purpose And as for other learned men which haue written painefulle of this argument they are all without difference scorned reiected and railed vpon in moste vile manner Their best proofe is from their owne braine and most wicked experience and yet some wise men as they say beleeue them Mysodaemon Surely Theophilus I can not myselfe be anie way perswaded that the common sorte of our witches worke by the deuill or haue any conference with him for so I remember Bodin others define a witch to be one that wittingly willingly vseth deuilish artes to atteine that hee purposeth therefore 〈…〉 women are no witches for they haue no such artes alack● poore fooles they are no seducers but rather poore seduced soules Theoph. I see Mysodaemon you haue read ouer some of their great volumes can you so pretely bemone our old witches true it is manie of the common sort I beleeue well are not right witches indeed notwithstanding they are guiltie of other most vile sinnes and most worthie of death Mysodaemon As for other sinnes as coosnage poisoning and such like I will not couer them our witches are full of such practises but that these seely women haue anie artes to coniure the deuill or to conuey him into a boxe as they say to raise tempests to kill and make aliue I thinke all these are but vaine surmises of credulous and foolish people Theoph. Satan is full of delusions and filleth the mindes eies and eares of such as the Lorde hath iustlie giuen ouer vnto his handes for the contempt of the truth to beleeue lies he is a flying serpent and not so narrowly inclosed albeit hee perswadeth his vassals by such vaine delusions least wanting his presence they should bee discouraged in his seruice But let vs come vnto the purpose that there haue bene are and may be such Sathanicall witches which worke indeed many wonders by the help and ministrie of Satan Mysodaemon I knowe not where to turne mee in this controuersie for they say the scripture hath not answered this question wee haue no scripture against our vvitches or which can discouer them Theoph. If the scripture will not suffice and serue vs for this purpose let vs impute that to our weakenes and not to the want of that most perfect booke of God which is said to be so sufficient that it is able to make the man of God absolute And hath not the Scripture prophesied of the chaunge of Empyres of the variable state of the Church before and after Christes incarnation of Antichrist his comming his miracles c. And doe we not finde all those diuine and propheticall predictions

superstitious magicke in all sorceries whatsoeuer And following this distinction of diabolicall confederacies we may not vnfitly distinguish also their artes for the better manifestation of the trueth on this manner Some be meere diabolical some mixt diabolicall meere diabolicall as of Pythonists and all such as are of the open league mixt as all other which vse any other meanes appointed by Sathan for their practise and are of the second and third kinde of confederacie Mysodaemon I pray you then vnto which league belong the common sort of our witches which seeme indeede to worke by the deuill so wicked are their liues so deuelish are their inuentions and such dreadfull euents follow them and yet haue no manifest operation by Sathan to their owne knowledge as most of them say in the very houre of death Theophilus They doe belong therefore no doubt to the second or third kinde of confederacie and they worke secretly by the deuill Quanquam haec ipsinon advertant norint Albeit they neither perceiue nor know this thing Mysodaemon But you haue not one syllable in all the Scriptures of God to prooue any such league or couenant betweene Sathan and witches Theophilus We haue not indeede any such wordes or phrases and yet may we truely conclude that there are such things by Scripture for the Scripture shewing vs the great readines and acquaintance of Sathan with the enchaunters of Egypt the Pythonist of Endor and Philippi doe therein significantly giue vs to vnderstande that there was some precontract and confederacie betweene them for Sathan will neuer worke in such manner but with whome hee hath some league and acquaintance Mysodaemon And what can you say of our witches oyntments for I remember Ioh. Bap. Neap. did prooue by his owne experience that this was but meere coosenage and a fable in witchcraft as we may read in his little booke of naturall magicke lib. 2. cap. 26. Theophilus First as for the strength of any oyntmentes to worke any magicall inuentions I answer Mysodaemon it is none at all For oyntments can mooue Sathan no more then figures crosses circles periaptes the superstitious mutterings of holy wordes and such like abhominations Secondly that they haue notwithstanding such stuffe in their practise I am induced to beleeue for that Sathan wants not in his seruice as is before saide all the apish imitations of Gods religion that can be deuised by new found and forged sacraments Againe Mysodaemon if this making of oyntementes of the fatte of young children seeme so straunge vnto thee vnderstande this that albeit the deuill little regardeth such oyntementes yet is hee right glad to behould and see the murder and bloodshedding of young infantes for wherefore else did the Heathen kill and sacrifice their children vnto Moloche and that thou maiest vnderstande also what that abhominable practise was David sheweth that complaining because this horrible idolatrie crept into the Church for he saith They offered their sonnes and daughters vnto deuills And that the deuill stirreth Sathanicall magitians to offer these bloody sacrifices vnto him the ecclesiasticall stories of Maxentius and Iulian and others can testifie vnto vs. For of the one it is said Contulit se magicis studijs ad incantationem iam mulieres praegnantes discidit iam infantium recens natorum viscera inquisiuit arcano quodammodo daemones advocauit He gaue himselfe to the studie of magick for inchantment and then he ript women with child and sought diuinations in the entrals of young infants and called or coniured deuils secretly And of the other it is written Antiochiae verò aiunt multas arcas in regia refertas humanis capitibus inventas esse multisque in puteis cadavera humana There were found at Antioche as they say many chestes full of deade mens sculles and many dead corses were found in wells and a little before his death in the Persian warre it is said in the same place that he ript an other woman with child to practise vpon her his diuinations and then he hung her by the heare purposing to learne more by her dead bodie at his returne but therein he fayled albeit his deuils told him the contrarie Againe Plinie writing of Nero and his magicke saith thus of him Homines etiam immolare gratissimum ei fuit He was most delighted to sacrifice men vnto deuills Apollo taught his witches to sacrifice a noble Virgin to stay the plague among the Lacedemonians Polyxena Priamus daughter and Iphigenia Agamemnons were both sacrificed to Sathan in like manner The witches of Scithia offered men in sacrifice vnto Diana The witches of Fraunce vnto Mercurie The witches of Africa vnto Saturne And what was Diana Mercurie Saturne but Sathan and his fellowes which coloured and shrowded them selues vnder such names and titles as Mirandula saith rightwell among the blinde and prophane Gentiles The Romane witches taught the old Romanes to sacrifice two men yeerely to appease the Gods and to cast them into Tyber In Cyprus also they sacrificed a man vnto Apollo To conclude Baals witches shew plainly how greatly Sathan delighteth himself to see mens blood shed in his seruice for it is written of them They cryed loud and cut them selues as the manner was with kniues and launces till the blood gushed out vpon them And this hath is and euer will be the ende of all spirituall whoredome with Sathan in witchcraft The like effects could I shew by examples of corporall whoredome also for these two kinds of pollutions as they haue great affinitie in nature and in filthie practises accompanie one the other so for this ende in murder and bloodshedding they haue not much varied but euer in all ages offered Sathan these bloodie sacrifices vnder sundrie and diuerse pretenses as it is by the continuall obseruation of wise men truly testified vnto vs. Mysodaemon No doubt Theophilus if Sathan haue that bloodie purpose in witches oyntments he will vse all the meanes he can to worke his wonders by such oyntments indeede for the scripture telleth vs that he is a roaring lyon seeking without rest whom he may deuoure and destroy both in bodie and soule But least I wearie you Theophilus in these things wherein I know you be not greatly delighted I pray you let me heare in a word what can be saide of lycanthropeia transformation of men and women into wolfes and cattes c. for these things are cleane contrarie against nature and must be meere poeticall fables if the trueth be tryed Theophilus Truely my greatest delight in this conference Mysodaemon is to helpe thee what I can to come vnto the knowledge of the trueth to make thee more able to auoyde if God so please all the daungers of these Sathanicall delusions for I may speake truely as another doeth for mine owne part Equidem de diabolis eorumque ministris sortiarijs lubenter disputare non soleo c. eatenus