A Perfect Discovery OF WITCHES SHEWING The Divine Cause of the Distractions of this Kingdome and also of the Christian WORLD Justitia Thronum firmat PROV 29.14 The King that faithfully judgeth the poor his Throne shall bee established Very profitable to bee read by all sorts of People especially JUDGES of Assizes Sheriffes Justices of the Peace and Grand-Jury-men before they passe sentence on those that are condemned for WITCH-CRAFT By THOMAS ADY M.A. London Printed for R. I. to bee sold by H. Brome at the Gun in Ivy-Lane 1661. The Reason of the Book THe Grand Errour of these latter Ages is ascribing power to Witches and by foolish imagination of mens brains without grounds in the Scriptures wrongfull killing of the innocent under the name of Witches unto which Idolatry and bloud-guiltiness being as bad or worse than the Idolatry of the ancient Heathen men are led as violently by fond imagination as were the Ephesians to the worshipping of Diana and of the Image which as they blindly thought fell down from Jupiter Acts 19.35 It is reported by Travellers that some People in America do worship for a day the first living Creature they see in the morning be it but a Bird or a Worm this Idolatry is like the Idolatry of this part of the World who when they are afflicted in Body or Goods by Gods hand they have an eye to some Mouse or Bugg or Frog or other living Creature saying It is some Witches Impe that is sent to afflict them ascribing the Work of God to a Witch or any mean Creature rather than to God Mr. Scot published a Book called his Discovery of Witchcraft in the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth for the instruction of all Judges and Justices of those times which Book did for a time take great impression in the Magistracy and also in the Clergy but since that time England hath shamefully fallen from the Truth which they began to receive wherefore here is again a necessary and illustrious discourse for the Magistracy and other People of this Age where I intreat all to take notice that many do falsly report of Mr. Scot that he held an Opinion that Witches are not for it was neither his Tenent neither is it mine but that Witches are not such as are commonly executed for Witches A Candle in the Dark The First Book shewing what Witches are in the Scripture-sence throughout the Old and New Testament The Second Book shewing how grosly the Scriptures have been mis-interpreted by Antichrist concerning Witches by which interpretation he hath made the Nations go astray With a confutation of those Errours The Third Book touching some erroneous English Writers who have upheld the same Errours which Antichrist hath broached to the world Also the Works of a Scotch-man called The VVorks of King James With an addition of fifteen Causes also a reference to Scot and also the opinion of Luther concerning Devils Also an instruction to Lawyers Errata PAge 11. line 3. for Magnus read Magus p. 15. l. 21 for 6 Chron. r. 2 Chro. p. 22. l. 1. for Prophets r. Prophetess p. 28. l. 23. for magis r. magi p. 30. l. 11. for inchantation r. incantation p. 38 l. 15. for little r. liche l. 19. for tax r. tap thrice in the same page in p 48. l. 8. for Charms r. Charmer p. 76. l. 33. for equivocately r. equivocally p. 77. l. 8. for Scopula r. Scapula over p. 79. for Oracle giver r. South sayer so over p. 87. Necromancer should not be The Second Book Pag. 92. l. 5. for drew r. grew p. 96. l. 10 for inquisitions r. inquisitors p. 106 l. 8. tor superstitions r. suspicions p. 122. l. 35 for quem r. quum p. 124. l. 15. for an r. and p 129 l. 15. or preternatural r preternatural p. 136. l. 28. for any sort r. every other sort p. 145. l. 30 for discovered r. discoursed p. 146. l. 36. for and by them cast on can cure r. and by them can cast on or inflict and cure diseases p. 147. l. 4. for send r. teach p. 170. l 17 for endicat r. indicat Reader take notice that most of these faults are mended with Pen and Inke already TO THE Prince of the Kings of the Earth IT is the manner of men O heavenly King to dedicate their Books to some great men thereby to have their Works protected and countenanced among men but thou only art able by thy holy Spirit of Truth to defend thy Truth and to make it take impression in the heart and understanding of men Unto thee alone do I dedicate this Work intreating thy most High Majesty to grant That whoever shall open this Book thy holy Spirit may so possess their understanding as that the spirit of errour may depart from them and that they may read and try thy Truth by the touchstone of thy Truth the holy Scriptures and finding that Truth may embrace it and forsake these darksome inventions of Antichrist that have deluded and defiled the Nations now and in former Ages Enlighten the World thou that art the Light of the World and let Darkness be no more in the World now or in any future Age but make all people to walk as Children of the Light for ever and destroy Antichrist that hath deceived the Nations and save us the residue by thy self alone and let not Satan any more delude us for the Truth is thine for ever To the Reader SIR IF you be a courteous Reader I intreat you that what weaknesse and imperfections you shall think you espie in this Book from the Author thereof you passe them by for the Truths sake whereupon this Book treateth Secondly if you be so discourteous as to carp and censure then I intreat you to carp only at me and not at the Truth lest you resist the truth Thirdly I intreat you to Read my Book thorow before you cast it by for otherwise Sir it may argue weaknesse in your self to slight the Book before you see the Argument It is one of the vanities of the World to write many Books and when a man hath taken pains to write few men will take the pains to read which Solomon intimateth Eccle. 12.12 but Sir if you find no leasure to read and consider then I pray find no leasure to gainsay or to argue against Fourthly for all places of Scripture alledged in this Book if you shall search our English Translations and not find them to carry the sense which I drive at in my discourse I intreat you either to search the Originall or else to look upon the Latin Translations of Junius and Tremellius which carry the true sense of the Originall as it was written by the Spirit of God Your Friend T. A. Non quis sed quid To the more Judicious and Wise and Discreet part of the Clergie of ENGLAND Joshua 7.11 THese words Israel hath sinned are not so to be understood as if Israel had been free from
of the Hebrew Consulens mortuos one that seeketh counsel of the dead as Tremellius noteth in the margent This is the last term set down by Moses in the text describing a Witch and this term implyeth the pretence in the impostures used by the foresaid Oraclers and South-sayers as in the Seventh and Eighth description is amply set down and that the world might fully understand the delusion of Witches Moses here setteth down this last and more full expression or term of description of a Witch Necromantis which is all one with the former and in regard of Predictions was called in the Second description Vtens Divinatione a Diviner in regard of the imposture of giving Oracles from a hollow Cave in the earth with a Bottle was called Ol in the Hebrew translated Python by Tremellius that is an Oracle or an Oracler according to the sense of Plutarch de defect orac and in regard of the imposture of counterfeiting a voyce of another by harring in then throats was called Ariolus or Hariolus in regard of the asking counsel of the dead was called Necromantis or consulens mortuos one that asketh counsel of the dead and in regard of the Charms and Conjurations that they used in calling up the souls and spirits of the dead they were Charmers or Conjurers The Seventh and Eighth terms of description do imply the impostures which these deluding Witches used in their Oracling Divinations this Ninth term of description implieth their pretence which they had in those cousening impostures that is they pretended that they consulted with the souls of them that were departed this life and thereby could tell things to come or things hidden and this was one pretence of all that were Oraclers or South-sayers according to which pretence they were called Necromancers according to that place in Isa 8.19 very fitly rehearsed again in this description in Tremellius translation For when they shall say unto you Ask counsel of Oraclers and South-sayers that whisper and that mutter should not a people ask counsel of their God shall they ask counsel of the dead for them that are living And this pretence of these Witches is manifest not only in the Scriptures but in common Writers where we may read the Tenents and the Opinions of the Heathen concerning this matter Plutarch de defec orac sheweth their opinions and vain conceits That the souls of men that were departed this life were of more excellent perfection than the souls of men in the prison of the body and these were by those vain Heathen called Genii which Genii or departed souls say they being of such perfection and having likewise familiarity with the gods would when they were sought unto by men living here come and inspire them to give Divinations which they could easily do by reason of their perfect estate after this life These were by some of the Heathen called and esteemed gods and were among the Romans called Manes that is Infernal gods or souls of men to whom they offered Sacrifices called Inferiae The Pythonist or Witch of Endor did act her part so subtilly that she did not only pretend inspiration from the Soul of Samuel but to satisfie Sauls insatiable blindness in his demand that she could call him up and make him appear to her both Body and Soul united again to prophesie again to Saul which thing indeed was acted by her according to the silliness of Sauls demand as appeareth more fully in the Seventh description who after the Spirit of God had forsaken him was given over to beleeve such foolish fancies of faithless and ignorant people as silly Women and Children and fools are inclined to beleeve unto this day that people after their death can walk and frequent the Houses and Gardens and Orchards where they have used to be in their life time which thing is a meer fancy of faithless and ignorant people and cannot be brought to pass by either Witch or Devil either really or in appearance for it was a Miracle once done by the power of Christ at his suffering upon the Cross that many of the bodies of the Saints that were departed rose and appeared unto many in the holy City Mat. 27.52 53. from whence the Centurion acknowledged Christ to be the Son of God knowing that such things could not be done but by the mighty power of God and he that readeth over the foresaid Book of Plutarch shall easily finde that one of the chief grounds of Oracles and Divinations was this vain conceit of the Heathen that wanted the light of the Scriptures that the souls of dead men did give answers to them that had knowledge in the Art of seeking of Oracles which Art indeed was only a craft of working impostures to delude the people as is set down more at large in the Seventh and Eighth descriptions and from this old conceit of the Heathen and practice of these deluding Witches of ancient times hath that grand Witch that Whore of Rome the Pope and his train derived her notable Witchcraft whereby she hath deluded the world teaching people to invocate the souls of Saints departed as likewise to conjure them Let but the Reader look back to the Sixth term of description a Charmer and there he may read of a notable peece of Necromancy acted by two Popish Doctors at Orleance in France with their devillish Conjurations These Roman Witches are the Necromancers of these latter Ages according to this Ninth description these are the Inchanters of these latter Ages as is fully demonstrated in the Sixth description these are the Jugling Witches of these latter Ages in the Christian world as is fully demonstrated in the Fifth description and therefore it is said of this Purple Whore Revel 18.23 with thy Witchcrafts all Nations were deceived And he that will be zealous for God in obeying the command given in Exod. 22.18 Suffer not a Witch to live must leave his fond ignorant course of teaching people to hang up poor and widows and aged and lame helpless people and must bend his devotion against that Whore of Rome as all the world ought to do as also against the Mahometan Witches among the Turks Therefore it were a good Law in England if duly kept That no Jesuite or Popish Priest should be suffered to live in any part of these Dominions because these Witches are they that bewitch the people where they be tollerated by their several deluding impostures leading the people to Idolatry and also to the undermining of Governments So much for the Ninth term of description of a Witch in the text a Necromantist one that asketh counsel of the dead The false Prophets of ancient times having their several impostures and pretences whereby they seduced the people to vain Idolatry which was abominable to Gods eyes are hereby the Spirit of God demonstrated to the world by the Nine several terms of description in the text that the world might fully know the mystery of iniquity and avoyd
and also for the hiding of their unparalleled cruelty from the ears of the world of which sort are James Sprenger Henry Institor in malleo maleficarum also Nider and Cumanus Daneus Hyperius Hemingius but most of all Bodinus and Bartholomaeus Spineus I do not say that all these dyed Papists and lest their authority should fail in deceiving the world in this Doctrin of Devils some great Scholars of the Popish rout have approved and affirmed the matter to be true in some causes writing of fascination and of that sort are Thomas Aquinas and Suares In which Authors although they were learned men whosoever readeth their discourse of this subject shall finde nothing at all proved either by Scripture or Philosophical argument but they take it for granted and undoubted truth confirmed by tradition that Fascination or Witchcraft is an Art of killing and afflicting Men and Cattel and upon this Hypothesis they take in hand to dispute upon it not whether it be true or not but how it may be done as they conceive for say they Et si agens non potest diffundere actionem suam usque ad rem distantem fit tamen ut aer proximus inficiatur usque ad certam distantiam perveniat sic noceat alteri if this subject the force of fascination had been first proved by them then this their reason had had some seeming force in it but because it can no way be proved by firm Argument they quote History for it and so pass on to their hypothetical disputes about the reason of it and that they may make the matter seem true one quotes anothers authority for it and Suarez quoteth Thomas Aquinas and Pliny and Pliny citeth Hogonus and Niphodorus and Apollonides for his Authors that among the Triballians and Illyrians and Scythians there be certain Women that can kill with their eye-sight whom they look wishfully upon mark but how first things are reported by Travellers who may lye by authority then Pliny gathereth their several reports into the Volume of his Natural History whom all men may see was abused by being too credulous of other mens reports and yet Suarez is forced to use Plinies Pen to prove that which cannot be proved or defended by reason and having no better Argument he saith further Sunt qui negant illam vim fascinationis sed non est cur experientiam à Philosophis medicis comprobatam ferè communi sensu receptam negemus by which Argument a man may as well prove that Idols were gods because they were approved in their time by men of all Arts and Sciences Et ferè communi sensu recepta and further according to Plinies report he saith that these women do kill but by some poysonous quality of their Natural complexion and inward humours of their bodies communicated to the vital spirits and by the action of the minde brought to the eye-sight and from thence infecting the party whom they look upon and this he saith expresly cometh naturally to pass and of inbred natural causes in the Witches bodies but mark how this fellow although notable for learning hath wildered himself in searching out the reason of a meer vain supposition and erroneous tradition that Witches can kill by looks for whereas he giveth this reason that Witches have inward natural poyson whereby they naturally kill others what an absurdity is this to say that any Creature can by its natural quality be contrary or destructive to its own species for a Viper cannot poyson a Viper nor a Toad cannot poyson a Toad for their nature is one and not contrary to its own species Secondly whereas he reasoneth that this poyson is communicated from the humours to the vital spirits and by the action of the minde brought to the eye-sight It is most absurd in Philosophy for what Physician or Philosopher doth not acknowledge that the vital spirits once poysoned do suffocate the Heart the fountain of Life as is often seen in the Pestilence whereby the Witch her self must needs perish and is also often seen in those who having but the Natural humours of their own bodies corrupt the vital spirits are debilitated and cannot operate but the party decayeth and soon perisheth because the heart cannot abide any corrupt poyson or contrary temperature to its own nature Thirdly whereas he saith this poyson is sent from the Witch by the force of seeing this also is an absurdity in Philosophy for all sound Philosophers do acknowledge that Oculus non vidit emittendo vim suam videndi ad objectum visibile sed recipiendo species visibiles ab objecto how then can the sight if it were poyson hurt any way the party upon whom it only looketh Fourthly whereas he saith that Witches do kill by their natural complexion and inward humour being naturally poyson what an absurdity ariseth from hence in Divinity To conceive that God should make men and women naturally poyson and destructive to others and yet should make a Law that such should be put to death yea cruel death for being such as God made them in their nature and complexion Surely if man had stood in the manner in which he was made God had not punished him with death Now after he hath thus intrapped himself in his Discourse by seeking out a reason of that which is not but only conceived to be by credulous people he falleth off from his own weak reasons to the reason that Thomas Aquinas giveth and that is That sometimes this Fascination is wrought by a secret compact with the Devil but how can these Reasons accord one with the other for if it be natural to the Witch to bewitch others what needeth she then to seek help of the Devil to do that which she can do by nature For Deus est author Naturae and sure the Devil cannot make more perfect or forceable that which God hath made but such is the nature of all these Popish Writers that when they cannot strongly enough maintain a Lye they father their Lyes upon their Master the Father of Lyes and are forced after all their vain argumentation to use his name to uphold a Lye and although they were great Scholars have rather intangled themselves with folly in reasoning and with so manifest errour whereby they have exposed themselves to the lash of common Censure than to forsake their Popish darkness which they are ingaged to defend What shall not be done to bring the Popes ends to pass what Lyes what foolish Fictions what impossibilities can the Heart of man devise that these together have not affirmed for truth unto the World to infect the Nations with Heresie or Atheism whereby to destroy the Christian Church And for further confirmation of the matter they have devised among other Tortures to make people confess that they can do such impossibilities one of the most devillish cruelties that hath been devised among men and that is to keep the poor accused party from sleep many nights