no authority I grant but they command and adiure him in the name and power of the Lord for to depart Dan. That I take ought not to be for mark this comparison the Prince is displeased with a subiect for some disloyaltie An Officer is sent from the Prince to attach and imprison him shall he or any other charge this Officer in the Princes name to let him alone and not to meddle Is not their way only to pacifie the Prince and so the Prince will command the Officer to cease Euen so wher God sendeth Satan his executioner the only way is to intreat the Lord to be pacified for then shall the tormentor no longer remaine M. B. Howe doeth this which you speake agreé with that which we read in the Acts of the Apostles howe S. Paule commaunded the deuill to come out of a Mayde at Philippos Dan. The holy Apostles and others in the Primitiue Church had an extraordinary power giuen them to caste foorth deuils and to heale diseases and they did execute the same power by the direction and instinct of the holy Ghost We may not draw a patterne from that M. B. We seé that deuils are sometimes expelled Dan. They are when the Lord is intreated otherwise they but seéme to be bound by adiuration and expelled But how can it be prooued that the father of lies may be bound and forced through charge and adiuration in the name and power of God to tell the trueth And what warrant haue we to learne any trueth from his mouth As to say we command theé in the name of God that thou tel vs who sent theé Who sent theé who sent theé Mother Ioan Mother Ioan saith he Also we command theé to tell vs who sent theé L. B. coniured me in hither saith he Shal wee thinke he doeth this euen compelled Or shall we ground vpon it for certaintie that he telleth no lie M. B. The deuill in a partie possessed hath said such a man coniured me in hither The coniurer hath bene put to death for it and hath confessed so much The deuill in an other hath said such a woman sent me it hath likewise bene confessed by the woman Dan. All this maketh for that which I affirme The Lord giueth him power to possesse a man He vnder a collour will be sent by a coniurer or by a witch and the one thinketh the deuill entreth at her intreaty the other supposeth he doeth euen bind him thereto whereas he ruleth both their mindes and setteth them a worke Then doeth hee willingly bewray them euen for many subtill purposes but chiefly that he may establish coniurations witchcrafts and charmes that he may be sought vnto that he may set the people a worke in their calamities to be troubled about witches and coniurers as though they could plague and neuer looke to God and that bewraying some witches and coniurers he may winne credite and be beleeued euen when he accuseth falslie that he may bring innocent blood vpon the land Let all men take heéd how vpon their oath they giue a verdict especially touching life vpon his word howsoeuer he seéme to be forced thereunto all is most deépe craft and subtilty in him Sam. I pray you giue me leaue to speake a litle You say the deuill willinglie bewrayeth witches and coniurers and that for many subtill purposes I haue heard of diuers things done of late which seéme quite contrarie and that he taketh it grieuously when they doe confesse and bewray matters Dan. He will seéme to take it in euill part but let vs heare the matters and you shall seé plainely that hee iuggleth and maketh shewe of that which is contrary to his practise Sam. Well I haue heard very credibly that a woman of late suspected another woman to be a witch that she had hurt her some way She procured a gentleman to send for the partie suspected and charging her in his presence she left her to the Gentleman who taking her aside and walking alone with her began to admonish and perswade her to renounce the deuill to forsake such wicked waies While he was thus perswading and she denying stiffely that she was any such woman suddainly there appeared some distance from them a Weasill or Lobsterre looking euen vpon them Looke said the Gentleman yonder same is thy spirit Ah maister said she that is a vermine there be many of them euery where Well as they went towards it it was vanished out of sight by and by it appeared againe and looked vpon them Surely saide the Gentleman it is thy spirit but she still denyed and with that her mouth was drawne awrie Then hee pressed her further and she confessed all She confessed shee had hurt and killed by sending her spirit The Gentleman being no Iustice let her goe home and did minde to open the matter vnto some Iustice When she was come home another witch meeteth her and saith Ah thou beast what hast thou done thou hast bewrayed vs all What remedy nowe saide she What remedy said the other send thy spirite touch him she sent her spirit and of a suddain the Gentleman had as it wer a flash of fire about him He lifted vp his hart to God and felt no hurt The spirite returneth and tolde he could not hurt him because he had faith what then said the other witch hath hee nothing that thou maist touch he hath a child said the other Send thy spirit sayd she and touch the child she sent her spirite the childe was in great paine and died The witches were hanged and confessed Dan. What is the chiefe thing which you alleadge this for Sam. To shew how vnwilling the deuill was that the witch should confesse and bewray things No doubt it shuld seéme that when the Gentleman was talking with her hee appeared to call her away for fear least she should confesse and when she would not come away he drew her mouth awry and when she had confessed the deuill complayned vnto the other witch and made her chide her Dan. The thing is as clear as may be that he willinglie bewrayed them and will you imagine the contrarie Why did he appeare in a likenesse but euen to enforce her for to confesse both by abashing and giuing the Gentleman euident notice especially when he drew her mouth awrie And why did he set on the other witch to mooue her that had confessed to send her spirit but that he would haue the matter more open and bring them both to light Sam. What should mooue him to bewray the witches what could he gaine by it Dan. Nay what almost doth he not gaine by it Now all the country ringes of the matter As if the witches set on their spirites to lame and to kill and that they doe not meddle but sent by them He did knowe what power he had from God to afflict any he will deale by witches he maketh others affraid of them that so they may accuse them
I heare how he doth vse me In trueth husband my stomacke did so rise against her that I coulde haue found in my heart to haue flowen vpon her and scratched her but that I feared she would be too strong for me It is a lustie olde queane I wished that the good wife R. had bene with me I pray you good husbande let me intreat you to goe to that same good woman you may ride thither in halfe a day Sam. Wife I pray theé be content I haue intreated this mine olde friend to reason with M. B. for he tels mee that we be in a verie foule errour M. B. I suppose so farre as my learning and capacitie doe extend that small reasoning may serue The worde of God doeth shew plainlie that there be witches commaundeth they should be put to death Experience hath taught too too manie what harmes they doe And if anie haue the gift to minister help against them shall we refuse it Shall we not drinke when we are a thirst Shall wee not warme vs when wee are a colde It is pitie that anie man should open his mouth anie way to defend them their impietie is so great Dan. For my part I go not about to defend witches I denie not but that the deuill worketh by them And that they ought to be put to death We ought also to seeke remedie against them but as I told my friend the deuil doth bewitch men by meanes of these witches and lead them from God euen to follow himself to offer sacrifice vnto him to worship him to obey his wil to commit manie grieuous sinnes and to be drowned in manifold errours M. B. If you haue this meaning that witches and sorcerers ar bewitched by the deuil that they forsake God and follow him that they worship and obey him and doe sacrifice vnto him and commit manie hainous sinnes I agreé with you for I tak it they euen vow themselues to the deuill or els he would not be so readie to doe them seruice But if you mean that such as seek remedie against them wold haue them rooted out be so seduced and mis-led by the deuill as you speake I say your speach is rash and foolish for they that be earnest against witches be earnest against the deuil they defie the deuil they seek to resist him and to roote out his instruments Now if you were a man that had any learning you should seé that contraries cannot be in the same subiect at one instant in the same part and in the same respect how then can a man hate the deuill defie the deuill and his workes and yet follow him at one time Dan. I know that witches and coniurers are seduced and become the vassals of Satan they be his seruants and not he theirs as you speake But I mean indeed that multitudes are seduced and led from God to follow the deuil by means of witches coniurers yea I speak it of those not which are caried of a godlie zeale but of a blinde rage and mad furie against them If I speake this rashlie and foolishlie as you say and your self learned as you boast and I vnlearned I shall be the more easilie ouerthrowne But I speake so truly and can so well iustifie all that I haue said by the word of God that your learning and best skill shall not be able to disprooue the same Your logicke at the first doth faile you Not that contraries can be in the same subiect at the same instant in the same part and in the same respect But herein you are vtterly blinde and deceiued that you name contraries and take it that the first of them as namelie to hate the deuill to defie him and his workes are in them when as indeed they are in them but in imagination For if men say and think they defie the deuill and his workes and through blindnes and infidelitie are euen bewitched and seduced to followe the deuill and to do his will doth their speach and blinde imagination make the things indeed to be in them What if a poore begger woman say and thinke that she is a Queéne is she therfore no begger begging still her bread or is she rid of her lice M. B. Nay if you iudge I haue done If men be earnest against the deuill and defie him and all his workes are you to iudge of their conscience and to say they defie him but in imagination and follow him and worship him in deede is not God alone the iudge ouer mens hearts Againe do you compare those that are in their right mind with such as be mad or out of their wits Dan. I knowe that God alone is the searcher of the heart touching the thinges which lie hid in secrete But where things are open and manifest the tree is known by the fruits so far as we may goe As if a man professe the faith of Iesus Christ soundlie in all pointes according to the word of God and doth frame his life thereafter in doing good workes it is verie wicked for anie man to iudge of him that he is an hypocrite and that he doth all of vaine glorie And yet it may be that the Lord who discerneth the secrete intents of the heart seeth indeed that he is but an hypocrite On the contrarie parte where a man professeth in wordes that he doeth defie the deuill and all his workes and yet when it commeth to the triall of Gods word hee is found to be seduced and wrapped in blinde errours of the deuill in infidelitie and euill works in which he fulfilleth the will of Satan and honoureth him in the place of God Shal we say that this is a good man because of his words and imagination that he defieth the deuill and his works Wo be to them that cal good euil and euil good Esa. 5. We may say they are in bad case except they repent and turne from following Satan But yet I say that a faithful man may erre in some of these thinges through weaknesse of faith and through ignorance And therefore here men may not be too rash in iudgment And now wheras you find fault that I make comparison between such as be mad and those that be in their right mind it is your ignorāce which do not consider that ther be two kinds of madnes or being out of their right mind the one for matters of this worlde the other for thinges spirituall and heauenlie There bee which are in their wittes for this worlde which touching spirituall things are as farre awrie in their imaginations as the poore beggar which thinketh she is a goodlie queene Doth not the holie Apostle say that because men receiue not the loue of the truth God wil send them strong delusion to beleeue lies 2. Thess. 2. And what is that but that Satan shall seduce illude and bewitch their minds to make them beleeue that they worshippe and follow God when they worship and follow him M. B Doe
for to doe it The witches thēselues haue confessed thus much and for my part I think no man can disprooue it Dan. They that doe the will of God are the children and seruants of God And they which fulfill the lustes of the deuill and obey him are his children his seruantes Ioh. 8. vers 44. Act. 13. vers 10. Are they not M. B. I graunt all this Dan. The deuilles are the rulers of the darknesse of this world Ephes. 6. ver 12. M. B. The text is plaine Dan. The darknesse of this world is not meant of the darknesse of the night which is but the shadow of the earth but it is the spiritual darknes which consisteth in the ignorance of God in infidelitie and in sinne M. B. I am of your mind in this also Dan. And doe you not thinke then that the deuill hath his throne his dominion and kingdom in the hearts of ignorant blind infidels M. B. I must neéds thinke he hath the word of God doth force me thereunto seéing he is the Prince of darkenesse Dan. And is there anie greater infidelitie and darknesse in anie than in witches coniurers and such as haue familiaritie with deuils M. B. I tak it they be the depest ouerwhelmed in darknesse and infidelitie of all other Dan. Lay all these thinges together which you confesse and see whether it doth not follow vpon the same that the witch is the vassall of the deuill and not he her seruant he is Lord and commaundeth and she is his drudge and obeyeth M. B. Yea although he be Lord yet he is content to serue her turne and the witches confesse they call them forth and send them and that they hire them to hurt such in their bodies and in their cattell as they bee displeased withall Dan. I am sorie you are so farre awrie it is pitie any man should be in such errour especiallie a man that hath learning and should teach others knowledge M. B. Nay I may returne this vpon you for if you will denie this it is but a follie to reason any further I will neuer be driuen from that which I knowe There was one olde mother W. of great T. which had a spirite like a a Weasill she was offended highlie with one H. M. home she went and called forth her spirite which lay in a pot of woll vnder her bed she willed him to goe plague the man he required what she would giue him and he would kill H. M. She said she would giue him a cocke which shee did and he went and the man fell sicke with a great paine in his bellie languished and died the witch was arraigned condemned and hanged and did confesse all this Dan. I told you before that I do not deny these things but you are deceiued about the doing you marke not the cunning sleights of the deuill Tel me is not this the truth which S. Peter speaketh that the deuil goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may deuoure 1. Pet. 5. M. B. What then Dan. What then can you be so simple as to imagine that the deuill lieth in a pot of wooll soft and warme and stirreth not but when he is hired and sent The deuils conspire together in their worke they bestirre them and neuer take rest night nor day they are neuer wearie they be not a colde they care not for lying soft These be fooleries by which hee deceiueth the witches and bewitcheth the mindes of many ignorant people And whereas you say he is hired it is but deceit for let me aske you two or threé questions or more if neéd be M. B. What be your questions Dan. You say the witch commeth home angrie who hath kindled this wrath in her heart but the deuill Who inflameth her mind with malice to be reuenged and to doe mischiefe but the deuill doth not he rule in her heart Tell me what you thinke of this M. B. I muste neédes confesse hee stirreth her vp to wrath and malice Dan. Then he lieth not at home in his pot of wool nor he is not hyred to this hitherto she is his drudge and obeyeth him and not he her being led by his suggestion Then tell me is not the deuill like a red or fierie dragon Reuel 12. burning in malice against God and with all bloodie and cruell hatred that may be against men And is he not farre readier vnto all mischiefe than anie man or woman M. B. The deuill is more fierce than any man or woman none can deny this Dan. If none can deny this and he be the worker of the wrath and malice in the heart of the witch then what neédeth he to be hyred he stirreth her vp and if he would he could turn her mind from sending him and must he he hyred doth he care for a cock or a chicken Is he hungry or neédeth he somewhat to eat M. B. Nay but it is thought he taketh those thinges to witnesse against the witch that she is his Dan. Let it bee there were somewhat in that which you speake yet he hath a farre deéper reach for the trueth is hee woulde and doeth perswade the blind people that he medleth litle but when he is euen hyred and sent and that then his medling is but in such matters And hereupon all is on a broyle against old women which can any wayes be suspected to be witches as if they were the very plagues of the world and as if all would be well and safe from such harmes if they were rooted out and thus they fall a rooting out without all care for it is thought that the witch which hath her spirits is euen lyke a man which hath curst dogges which he may set vpon other mens cattell which yet in the nature of dogs would neuer styrre but when they are bidden and so the harmes do come from the man which oweth those dogs They think that the country might be ryd of such spirits if there were none to hoister them or to set them a worke They imagine that they and their cattell should then goe safe Alas poore creatures how they be deluded how litle do they vnderstand the high prouidence of almighty God which is ouer all M. B. Doe you thinke then that witches ought not to be rooted out or doe you thinke it were not much safety to the country from harmes if it could be rid of them Dan. For the rooting out of witches the Scripture is plaine Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue but we are not yet come to that poynt But whether they be to be rooted out that men may be safe from harmes as the people in fury and blindnesse imagine that is next M. B. Men feele the smart and the harmes which they doe and it is no maruell though they be earnest to haue them rooted out and a good riddance it were if the whole land could be set freé from them Sam. Trulie M. B. I am of your mind I wold
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
mans cattell or made them lame Here the people are set in a wonderfull maze and astonishment as if witches could plague men in their wrath by sending their spirits because they confesse they did it whē their spirits doe lie and had no power but the tormentes came by naturall causes And to driue the people into a deéper madnes in this to mak them beleéue that strange and suddaine torments and languishing diseases come by witches he hath his other sort of witches the cunning men and women which tell euen vpon his worde which you know is to be trusted that they be bewitched that they bee haunted with fayries and that ther be thus many witches therabout in euerie town some M. B. That is most true no doubt which you speake I doe not for my part knowe how to gainsay any one point thereof Only I wonder at the craftinesse of the deuils in these things that where they haue power graunted vnto them to hurt they will be sent by the witches as if they did it hired by them and that you say where harmes doe follow men vpon naturall causes that they can make shew as though they did them But are you of this mind that there should be as manie or all those harmes done by deuilles if there were no witches as there be now Although I must needs confesse that the witches can giue the deuil no power nor he can take none by their sending yet may it not bee that God giueth them power oftener because of those witches dealing with them than if there were no witches at all Dan. The craftinesse of deuils is such as without the light of Gods worde the wisest men vnder heauen muste neédes be deceiued thereby We seé there be some men so deép in subtilties and can carie matters so close that men can not discerne them how much more the deuilles which are exceédingly subtill craftie aboue the subtillest men the question which you aske is in my iudgment somwhat hard But this is vndoubted that if the Lord God do giue vnto the deuils oftener power to hurt because of the witches I meane because the deuils doe deale by such instruments it is in his heauie iudgment against the wickednes of the people which despise the true and heauenlie light of his word As S. Paule prophecying of the comming of the great Antichrist sheweth that because men did not receiue the loue of the trueth God gaue the deuill power by Antichrist and his ministers to seduce by lying signes and wonders Indeéd I will not say that for the witch the deuill hath power giuen him but for the wickednesse of the people which deserue that by witches the deuill shoulde haue power to seduce them further Here yet we muste take heéde of the common errour which a multitude are caried so hedlong withall that they can by no means seé that God is prouoked by their sinnes to giue the deuill such instruments to work withall but rage against the witch euen as if she could do all M. B. Surelie I should bee a wretch to deny that God giueth the Deuilles power to plague and to seduce because of mens wickednes but yet I would knowe whether a godly faythfull man or woman may not bee bewitched Weé seé the deuill had power giuen him ouer Iob Dan. This example of Iob is not fit to prooue that a godly man may be bewitched seéing the deuill is not sayde to deale by witches against him but it doeth prooue that not only the godlie but euen the most godly as holy Iob who had none like him vpon earth may for their triall be giuen into the handes of Satan to be afflicted and tempted And as I said where Satan hath power granted him of God to strike with bodily plagues any of the godly for the triall of their fayth and patience he will couet if he can bring it about to bee sent by some witch and to haue it knowne that he was sent But the faithfull are to turne theyr eies from the witch and to deale with God for from him the matter commeth When they be tried the Lord in his good time will deliuer them depending vpon him to their great praise and glory euen as valiant souldiers It is therefore of no great force whether Satan come from the witch against the godlie or whether he haue no witch to deale by ouercome thou the deuill and thou ouercommest all Indeéd among the more ignorant sort he preuayleth much when he toucheth those which imbrace the liuely word as sent from a witch For many nowe doe euen quake and tremble and their faith doth stagger Hath heé power thinke they ouer such as be cunning in the scriptures then what are they the better for their profession the witch is on their bones as well as vpon others By this it might seéme and so they take it that other helpes and remedies are to be sought than by the scriptures And so they run and seéke help where they ought not M. B. Then I pray you though I be already perswaded it is naught to seéke to these cunning men for help against witches yet let vs conferre a little of that There be diuers things which haue persuaded me to thinke marueilous well of them and euen as of such as God hath giuen wisedome and skill vnto euen for to doe much good For we seé many receiue help by them and are deliuered from the plagues which come by deuils And first I wold know how they can bee so earnest against witches if they deale with the deuill and so be indeéd witches themselues how can they haue any mind in charity to doe good to take pitie vpon such as be in misery Or how will Satan driue forth Satan For they no doubt driue out deuilles out of some Dan. I would come to aunswere your questions touching the seéking help at the hands of cunning men or women but tell me firste are you resolued touching the sending of the spirits and touching the harms that are done Me think you slip too suddainly from these points M. B. I cannot tell whether I vnderstand your meaning in euery thing but sure I haue bene in error greatly I must neéds confesse And if you please we may stande somewhat longer in these questions Sam. Indeéd it is my desire that you woulde speake a litle playner of these poyntes for I haue marked well all your talke and cannot well conceiue of the last things you dealt in With your leaue M. B. I would aske two or threé questions of my friend Here was but seuen miles hence at W. H. one M. the man was of good wealth and well accounted of among his neighbours He pined away with sicknes halfe a yeare and at last died After hee was dead his wife suspected ill dealing she went to a cunning man I know not where and desired to know whereof her husband died He told her that her husband died of witcherie he asked her
He findeth meanes to haue all disclosed Hee mooueth the witches to send him against the gentleman hee knoweth what he can doe he returneth and saith there is faith As though God did not giue him power sometimes to afflict the faithfull Or as if he could touch al that haue no faith If he could the greatest part of the world shuld be destroied by him For they be very few in the world in comparison which haue the true faith Then must he be sent to the child that hath no faith doeth not the faith of the parents holde Gods protection ouer their infants as ouer themselues Here is Satans craft either he did know by thinges breéding in the bodie of the child that it would at such time fall sicke and die and he would be taken to bee the killer of the childe to beare in hand that he hath such power wil doe when he is requested Or els he had power giuen him of God and wold bring it about this way If he did strike the childe do you imagine he doeth it at her pleasure Or doe you thinke he would neuer haue thought of any such thing but moued by her Doe not all the armies of deuils goe about continuallie seéking whom they may deuour Do they not waite where God wil giue them power to strike Shall we still be so simple as to thinke that women neede to hire or to intreat them to doe harme Looke vnto God for those wicked spirits play all parts in the play and delude both the witches and others Sam. I will tell you another thing which was done of late A woman being suspected to be a witch and to haue done some hurt among cattell was examined and confessed indeéd that she had a spirite which did abide in a hollow treé where there was an hole out of which hee spake vnto her And euer when she was offended with anie shee went to that treé and sent him to kill their cattell She was perswaded to confesse her fault openly and to promise that she wold vtterly forsak such vngodly waies after she had made this open confession the spirite came vnto her being alone Ah said he thou hast confessed and bewrayed all I coulde teéme it to rend theé in peéces with that she was affrayde and wound away and got her into company Within some few weeks after she fel out greatly into anger against one man Towards the treé she goeth and before she came at it Ah said the spirite wherefore commest thou who hath angred theé Such a man said the witch And what wouldest thou haue me doe saide the spirite He hath saith she two horses going yonder touch them or one of them Well I thinke euen that night one of the horses died and the other was litle better Indeéde they recouered that one againe which was not dead but in verie euill case Here mee thinketh it is plaine he was angry that she had bewrayed all And yet when she came to the treé he let goe all displeasure and went readily Dan. Doe you thinke all is plaine here Indeéde here is that plaine dealing which deuils doe vse First doe you thinke Satan lodgeth in an hollow treé Is hee become so lazy and idle hath he left off to be as a roaring lion seéking whome he may deuour hath he put off the bloody and cruell nature of the fiery Dragon so that he mindeth no harm but when an angrie woman shall intreat him to goe kill a Cow or a horse Is he become so doting with age that men shall espie his craft yea be found craftier than he is Alas may there not be deép subtiltie in these things Sam. Doe you thinke there is nothing but subtiltie in these things Dan. Doe I think there is nothing but subtiltie Tel me what you thinke What other end can there be but subtiltie Sam. He may haue this purpose as I think the deuils studie nothing els to do harme Dan. I doe not denie that for all his craft tendeth vnto harme But what harme meane you Sam. You seé here he killed mens cattel Dan. It may be he did but how know you that Sam. You seé he went at her request killed one horse and almost killed the other Dan. I wold be loath to adventure my hand vpon that For who told you that he killed the one and almost killed the other Sam. The witch her selfe hath confessed the whole matter Dan. UUho told the witch so Sam. Her spirit told her that he did it at her request Dan. He is a credible person and kind hee was vnto her as it seémeth Sam. Nay but we see all things fell out according as she confessed Dan. How doe you meane Sam. UUhy she confessed her fault the spirite was angrie with her afterward she fell out with that man and vpon thâ—â— his horse died she confessed she sent the spirit how could all things fall out so fit Dan. The spirite when she came towardes the treé asked her wherfore commest thou who hath angred theé Sam. He did so Dan. And doe you imagine that the deuill did lie there and knew nothing vntill she came and told him Sam. UUhy neéded he aske to her if he did know Dan. Because hee is subtill for hee wrought in her heart and kindled her wrath and procured the falling out betweene her and that man he did knowe eyther that the horses at that time had somwhat in them which would bring death or els that the Lord had giuen him power for to strike them he moued and wrought in her heart to haue her come againe to the treé he seémed to be angrie that she had coÌ„fessed before but was not but sought to haue things knowne If he had not knowne that the horse should die either by some naturall cause which woulde then breake foorth or by some power giuen to him he wold not at this time haue mooued her heart to goe to the treé And if her wrath had without his suggestion caried her so farre he could quickly haue turned her for great is the efficacie of Satans working in the hearts of such Sam. But I marked one thing which you said before 〈◊〉 that it might be that God giueth sometimes power to the Deuill euen at the sending of the witch Dan. I say that God in iustice giueth power vnto Satan to delude because men refuse to loue his trueth but that maketh not that the deuill obtaineth any power to hurt because the witch sendeth but the fault is in men the sinnes of the people giue power to the deuill for God is offended and sendeth as S. Paule saith strong delusion But haue you any mo examples to prooue that the Deuill is not willing to haue witches bewrayed Sam. I haue heard of many such like but you say all is but craft and that he would haue men thinke hee doeth all harmes that are done Dan. The Deuill would haue men beleeue that hee doth all if he could bring it about
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