diff options
Diffstat (limited to '25929-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 25929-0.txt | 3273 |
1 files changed, 3273 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/25929-0.txt b/25929-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..787957b --- /dev/null +++ b/25929-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3273 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Daemonologie. by King James I + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: Daemonologie. + +Author: King James I + +Release Date: June 29, 2008 [Ebook #25929] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAEMONOLOGIE.*** + + + + + + Daemonologie + + In Forme of a Dialogie + + Diuided into three Bookes. + + By James RX + + Printed by Robert Walde-graue, + + Printer to the Kings Majestie. An. 1597. + + Cum Privilegio Regio. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +The Preface. To The Reader. +First Booke. + Chap. I. + Chap. II. + Chap. III. + Chap. IIII. + Chap. V. + Chap. VI. + Chap. VII. +Seconde Booke. + Chap. I. + Chap. II. + Chap. III. + Chap. IIII. + Chap. V. + Chap. VI. + Chap. VII. +Thirde Booke. + Chap. I. + Chap. II. + Chap. III. + Chap. IIII. + Chap. V. + Chap. VI. +Newes from Scotland. + To the Reader. + Discourse. + + + + + + +THE PREFACE. TO THE READER. + + +The fearefull aboundinge at this time in this countrie, of these +detestable slaues of the Deuill, the Witches or enchaunters, hath moved me +(beloued reader) to dispatch in post, this following treatise of mine, not +in any wise (as I protest) to serue for a shew of my learning & ingine, +but onely (mooued of conscience) to preasse thereby, so farre as I can, to +resolue the doubting harts of many; both that such assaultes of Sathan are +most certainly practized, & that the instrumentes thereof, merits most +severly to be punished: against the damnable opinions of two principally +in our age, wherof the one called SCOT an Englishman, is not ashamed in +publike print to deny, that ther can be such a thing as Witch-craft: and +so mainteines the old error of the Sadducees, in denying of spirits. The +other called VVIERVS, a German Phisition, sets out a publick apologie for +al these craftes-folkes, whereby, procuring for their impunitie, he +plainely bewrayes himselfe to haue bene one of that profession. And for to +make this treatise the more pleasaunt and facill, I haue put it in forme +of a Dialogue, which I haue diuided into three bookes: The first speaking +of Magie in general, and Necromancie in special. The second of Sorcerie +and Witch-craft: and the thirde, conteines a discourse of all these kindes +of spirits, & Spectres that appeares & trobles persones: together with a +conclusion of the whol work. My intention in this labour, is only to proue +two things, as I haue alreadie said: the one, that such diuelish artes +haue bene and are. The other, what exact trial and seuere punishment they +merite: & therefore reason I, what kinde of things are possible to be +performed in these arts, & by what naturall causes they may be, not that I +touch every particular thing of the Deuils power, for that were infinite: +but onelie, to speak scholasticklie, (since this can not bee spoken in our +language) I reason vpon _genus_ leauing species, _and differentia_ to be +comprehended therein. As for example, speaking of the power of Magiciens, +in the first book & sixt Chapter: I say, that they can suddenly cause be +brought vnto them, all kindes of daintie disshes, by their familiar +spirit: Since as a thiefe he delightes to steale, and as a spirite, he can +subtillie & suddenlie inough transport the same. Now vnder this _genus_ +may be comprehended al particulars, depending thereupon; Such as the +bringing Wine out of a Wall, (as we haue heard oft to haue bene practised] +and such others; which particulars, are sufficientlie proved by the +reasons of the general. And such like in the second booke of Witch-craft +in speciall, and fift Chap. I say and proue by diuerse arguments, that +Witches can, by the power of their Master, cure or cast on disseases: Now +by these same reasones, that proues their power by the Deuil of disseases +in generally is aswell proued their power in speciall: as of weakening the +nature of some men, to make them vnable for women: and making it to abound +in others, more then the ordinary course of nature would permit. And such +like in all other particular sicknesses; But one thing I will pray thee to +obserue in all these places, where I reason upon the deuils power, which +is the different ends & scopes, that God as the first cause, and the +Devill as his instrument and second cause shootes at in all these actiones +of the Deuil, (as Gods hang-man:) For where the deuilles intention in them +is euer to perish, either the soule or the body, or both of them, that he +is so permitted to deale with: God by the contrarie, drawes euer out of +that euill glorie to himselfe, either by the wracke of the wicked in his +justice, or by the tryall of the patient, and amendment of the faithfull, +being wakened vp with that rod of correction. Hauing thus declared vnto +thee then, my full intention in this Treatise, thou wilt easelie excuse, I +doubt not, aswel my pretermitting, to declare the whole particular rites +and secretes of these vnlawfull artes: as also their infinite and +wounderfull practises, as being neither of them pertinent to my purpose: +the reason whereof, is giuen in the hinder ende of the first Chapter of +the thirde booke: and who likes to be curious in these thinges, he may +reade, if he will here of their practises, BODINVS Dæmonomanie, collected +with greater diligence, then written with judgement, together with their +confessions, that haue bene at this time apprehened. If he would know what +hath bene the opinion of the Auncientes, concerning their power: he shall +see it wel described by HYPERIVS, & HEMMINGIVS, two late Germaine writers: +Besides innumerable other neoterick Theologues, that writes largelie vpon +that subject: And if he woulde knowe what are the particuler rites, & +curiosities of these black arts (which is both vnnecessarie and perilous,) +he will finde it in the fourth book of CORNELIVS Agrippa, and in VVIERVS, +whomof I spak. And so wishing my pains in this Treatise (beloued Reader} +to be effectual, in arming al them that reades the same, against these +aboue mentioned erroures, and recommending my good will to thy friendly +acceptation, I bid thee hartely fare-well. + +IAMES Rx. + + + + + +FIRST BOOKE. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The exord of the whole. The description of Magie in speciall._ + + + + +Chap. I. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_Proven by the Scripture, that these vnlawfull artes in_ genere, _haue +bene and may be put in practise._ + +PHILOMATHES and EPISTEMON reason the matter. + +PHILOMATHES. + +I am surely verie glad to haue mette with you this daye, for I am of +opinion, that ye can better resolue me of some thing, wherof I stand in +great doubt, nor anie other whom-with I could haue mette. + +EPI. In what I can, that ye like to speir at me, I will willinglie and +freelie tell my opinion, and if I proue it not sufficiently, I am heartely +content that a better reason carie it away then. + +PHI. What thinke yee of these strange newes, which now onelie furnishes +purpose to al men at their meeting: I meane of these Witches? + +EPI. Surelie they are wonderfull: And I think so cleare and plaine +confessions in that purpose, haue neuer fallen out in anie age or cuntrey. + +PHI. No question if they be true, but thereof the Doctours doubtes. + +EPI. What part of it doubt ye of? + +PHI. Even of all, for ought I can yet perceaue: and namelie, that there is +such a thing as Witch-craft or Witches, and I would pray you to resolue me +thereof if ye may: for I haue reasoned with sundrie in that matter, and +yet could never be satisfied therein. + +EPI. I shall with good will doe the best I can: But I thinke it the +difficiller, since ye denie the thing it selfe in generall: for as it is +said in the logick schools, _Contra negantem principia non est +disputandum_. Alwaies for that part, that witchcraft, and Witches haue +bene, and are, the former part is clearelie proved by the Scriptures, and +the last by dailie experience and confessions. + +PHI. I know yee will alleadge me _Saules Pythonisse_: but that as appeares +will not make much for you. + +EPI. Not onlie that place, but divers others: But I marvel why that should +not make much for me? + +PHI. The reasones are these, first yee may consider, that _Saul_ being +troubled in spirit, (M1) and having fasted long before, as the text +testifieth, and being come to a woman that was bruted to have such +knowledge, and that to inquire so important news, he having so guiltie a +conscience for his hainous offences, and specially, for that same vnlawful +curiositie, and horrible defection: and then the woman crying out vpon the +suddaine in great admiration, for the vncouth sicht that she alledged to +haue sene, discovering him to be the King, thogh disguysed, & denied by +him before: it was no wounder I say, that his senses being thus +distracted, he could not perceaue hir faining of hir voice, hee being +himselfe in an other chalmer, and seeing nothing. Next what could be, or +was raised? The spirit of _Samuel_? Prophane and against all Theologie: +the Diuell in his likenes? as vnappeirant, that either God would permit +him to come in the shape of his Saintes (for then could neuer the Prophets +in those daies haue bene sure, what Spirit spake to them in their +visiones) or then that he could fore-tell what was to come there after; +for Prophecie proceedeth onelie of GOD: and the Devill hath no knowledge +of things to come. + +EPI. Yet if yee will marke the wordes of the text, ye will finde clearely, +that _Saul_ saw that apparition: for giving you that _Saul_ was in an +other Chalmer, at the making of the circles & conjurationes, needeful for +that purpose (as none of that craft will permit any vthers to behold at +that time) yet it is evident by the text, that how sone that once that +vnclean spirit was fully risen, shee called in vpon _Saul_. For it is +saide in the text, that _Saule knew him to be Samuel_, which coulde not +haue bene, by the hearing tell onely of an olde man with an mantil, since +there was many mo old men dead in _Israel_ nor _Samuel_: And the common +weid of that whole Cuntrey was mantils. As to the next, that it was not +the spirit of _Samuel_, I grant: In the proving whereof ye neede not to +insist, since all Christians of whatso-ever Religion agrees vpon that: and +none but either mere ignorants, or Necromanciers or Witches doubtes +thereof. And that the Diuel is permitted at som-times to put himself in +the liknes of the Saintes, it is plaine in the Scriptures, where it is +said, that _Sathan can trans-forme himselfe into an Angell of light_. (M2) +Neither could that bring any inconvenient with the visiones of the +Prophets, since it is most certaine, that God will not permit him so to +deceiue his own: but only such, as first wilfully deceiues them-selves, by +running vnto him, whome God then suffers to fall in their owne snares, and +justlie permittes them to be illuded with great efficacy of deceit, +because they would not beleeue the trueth (as _Paul_ sayth). And as to the +diuelles foretelling of things to come, it is true that he knowes not all +things future, but yet that he knowes parte, the Tragicall event of this +historie declares it, (which the wit of woman could never haue +fore-spoken) not that he hath any prescience, which is only proper to God: +or yet knows anie thing by loking vpon God, as in a mirrour (as the good +Angels doe) he being for euer debarred from the fauorable presence & +countenance of his creator, but only by one of these two meanes, either as +being worldlie wise, and taught by an continuall experience, ever since +the creation, judges by likelie-hood of thinges to come, according to the +like that hath passed before, and the naturall causes, in respect of the +vicissitude of all thinges worldly: Or else by Gods employing of him in a +turne, and so foreseene thereof: as appeares to haue bin in this, whereof +we finde the verie like in _Micheas_ propheticque discourse to King +_Achab_. (M3) But to prooue this my first proposition, that there can be +such a thing as witch-craft, & witches, there are manie mo places in the +Scriptures then this (as I said before). As first in the law of God, it is +plainely prohibited: (M4) But certaine it is, that the Law of God speakes +nothing in vaine, nether doth it lay curses, or injoyne punishmentes vpon +shaddowes, condemning that to be il, which is not in essence or being as +we call it. Secondlie it is plaine, where wicked _Pharaohs_ wise-men +imitated ane number of _Moses_ miracles, (M5) to harden the tyrants heart +there by. Thirdly, said not _Samuell_ to _Saull_, (M6) that _disobedience +is as the sinne of Witch-craft_? To compare to a thing that were not, it +were too too absurd. Fourthlie, was not _Simon Magus_, a man of that +craft? (M7) And fiftlie, what was she that had the spirit of _Python_? +(M8) beside innumerable other places that were irkesom to recite. + + + + +Chap. II. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_What kynde of sin the practizers of these vnlawfull artes committes. The +division of these artes. And what are the meanes that allures any to +practize them._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Bvt I thinke it very strange, that God should permit anie man-kynde (since +they beare his owne Image) to fall in so grosse and filthie a defection. + +EPI. Although man in his Creation was (M9) made to the Image of the +Creator, yet through his fall having once lost it, it is but restored +againe in a part by grace onelie to the elect: So all the rest falling +away from God, are given over in the handes of the Devill that enemie, to +beare his Image: and being once so given over, the greatest and the +grossest impietie, is the pleasantest, and most delytefull vnto them. + +PHI. But may it not suffice him to haue indirectly the rule, and procure +the perdition of so manie soules by alluring them to vices, and to the +following of their own appetites, suppose he abuse not so many simple +soules, in making them directlie acknowledge him for their maister. + +EPI. No surelie, for hee vses everie man, whom of he hath the rule, +according to their complexion and knowledge: And so whome he findes most +simple, he plaineliest discovers himselfe vnto them. For hee beeing the +enemie of mans Salvation, vses al the meanes he can to entrappe them so +farre in his snares, as it may be vnable to them thereafter (suppose they +would) to rid themselues out of the same. + +PHI. Then this sinne is a sinne against the holie Ghost. + +EPI. It is in some, but not in all. + +PHI. How that? Are not all these that runnes directlie to the Devill in +one Categorie. + +EPI. God forbid, for the sin against the holie Ghost hath two branches: +The one a falling backe from the whole service of GOD, and a refusall of +all his preceptes. The other is the doing of the first with knowledge, +knowing that they doe wrong against their own conscience, and the +testimonie of (M10) the holie Spirit, having once had a tast of the +sweetnes of Gods mercies. Now in the first of these two, all sortes of +Necromancers, Enchanters or Witches, ar comprehended: but in the last, +none but such as erres with this knowledge that I haue spoken of. + +PHI. Then it appeares that there are more sortes nor one, that are +directlie professors of his service: and if so be, I pray you tell me how +manie, and what are they? + +EPI. There are principallie two sortes, wherevnto all the partes of that +vnhappie arte are redacted; whereof the one is called _Magie_ or +_Necromancie_, the other _Sorcerie_ or _Witch-craft_. + +PHI. What I pray you? and how manie are the meanes, whereby the Devill +allures persones in anie of these snares? + +EPI. Even by these three passiones that are within our selues: Curiositie +in great ingines: thrist of revenge, for some tortes deeply apprehended: +or greedie appetite of geare, caused through great pouerty. As to the +first of these, Curiosity, it is onelie the inticement of _Magiciens_, or +_Necromanciers_: and the other two are the allureres of the _Sorcerers_, +or _Witches_, for that olde and craftie Serpent, being a spirite, hee +easilie spyes our affections, and so conformes himselfe thereto, to +deceaue vs to our wracke. + + + + +Chap. III. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The significations and Etymologies of the words of_ Magie _and_ +Necromancie. _The difference betuixt_ Necromancie _and_ Witch-craft: _What +are the entressis, and beginninges, that brings anie to the knowledge +thereof._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +I Would gladlie first heare, what thing is it that ye call _Magie_ or +_Necromancie_. + +EPI. This worde _Magie_ in the _Persian_ toung, importes as muche as to be +ane contemplator or Interpretour of Divine and heavenlie sciences: which +being first vsed amongs the _Chaldees_, through their ignorance of the +true divinitie, was esteemed and reputed amongst them, as a principall +vertue: And therefore, was named vnjustlie with an honorable stile, which +name the _Greekes_ imitated, generally importing all these kindes of +vnlawfull artes. + +And this word _Necromancie_ is a Greek word, compounded of Νεκρων & +μαντεια, which is to say, the Prophecie by the dead. This last name is +given, to this black & vnlawfull science by the figure _Synedoche_, +because it is a principal part of that art, to serue them selues with dead +carcages in their diuinations. + +_Phi._ What difference is there betwixt this arte, and Witch-craft. + +EPI. Surelie, the difference vulgare put betwixt them, is verrie merrie, +and in a maner true; for they say, that the Witches ar servantes onelie, +and slaues to the Devil; but the Necromanciers are his maisters and +commanders. + +PHI. How can that be true, yt any men being specially adicted to his +service, can be his commanders? + +EPI. Yea, they may be: but it is onelie _secundum quid_: For it is not by +anie power that they can haue over him, but _ex pacto_ allanerlie: whereby +he oblices himself in some trifles to them, that he may on the other part +obteine the fruition of their body & soule, which is the onlie thing he +huntes for. + +PHI. An verie in-æquitable contract forsooth: But I pray you discourse +vnto mee, what is the effect and secreets of that arte? + +EPI. That is over large an fielde ye giue mee: yet I shall doe good-will, +the most summarlie that I can, to runne through the principal points +thereof. As there are two sorts of folkes, that may be entysed to this +arte, to wit, learned or vnlearned: so is there two meanes, which are the +first steerers vp & feeders of their curiositie, thereby to make them to +giue themselves over to the same: Which two meanes, I call the Divels +schoole, and his rudimentes. The learned haue their curiositie wakened +vppe; and fedde by that which I call his schoole: this is the _Astrologie_ +judiciar. For divers men having attained to a great perfection in +learning, & yet remaining overbare (alas) of the spirit of regeneration +and frutes thereof: finding all naturall thinges common, aswell to the +stupide pedants as vnto them, they assaie to vendicate vnto them a greater +name, by not onlie knowing the course of things heavenlie, but likewise to +cling to the knowledge of things to come thereby. Which, at the first face +appearing lawfull vnto them, in respect the ground therof seemeth to +proceed of naturall causes onelie: they are so allured thereby, that +finding their practize to prooue true in sundry things, they studie to +know the cause thereof: and so mounting from degree to degree, vpon the +slipperie and vncertaine scale of curiositie; they are at last entised, +that where lawfull artes or sciences failes, to satisfie their restles +mindes, even to seeke to that black and vnlawfull science of _Magie_. +Where, finding at the first, that such diuers formes of circles & +conjurations rightlie joyned thereunto, will raise such divers formes of +spirites, to resolue them of their doubts: and attributing the doing +thereof, to the power inseparablie tyed, or inherent in the circles: and +manie words of God, confusedlie wrapped in; they blindlie glorie of +themselves, as if they had by their quicknes of ingine, made a conquest of +_Plutoes_ dominion, and were become Emperours over the _Stygian_ +habitacles. Where, in the meane time (miserable wretches) they are become +in verie deede, bond-slaues to their mortall enemie: and their knowledge, +for all that they presume thereof, is nothing increased, except in knowing +evill, and the horrors of Hell for punishment thereof, as _Adams_ was by +the eating of the forbidden tree. (M11) + + + + +Chap. IIII. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The Description of the Rudiments and Schoole, which are the entresses to +the arte of_ Magie: _And in speciall the differences betwixt_ Astronomie +_and_ Astrologie: _Diuision of_ Astrologie _in diuers partes._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Bvt I pray you likewise forget not to tell what are the Deuilles +rudimentes. + +EPI. His rudimentes, I call first in generall, all that which is called +vulgarly the vertue of worde, herbe, & stone: which is vsed by vnlawful +charmes, without naturall causes. As likewise all kinde of practicques, +freites, or other like extraordinarie actiones, which cannot abide the +true toutche of naturall reason. + +PHI. I would haue you to make that playner, by some particular examples; +for your proposition is verie generall. + +EPI. I meane either by such kinde of Charmes as commonlie dafte wiues +vses, for healing of forspoken goodes, for preseruing them from euill +eyes, by knitting roun-trees, or sundriest kinde of herbes, to the haire +or tailes of the goodes: By curing the Worme, by stemming of blood, by +healing of Horse-crookes, by turning of the riddle, or doing of such like +innumerable things by wordes, without applying anie thing, meete to the +part offended, as Mediciners doe; Or else by staying maried folkes, to +haue naturallie adoe with other, (by knitting so manie knottes vpon a +poynt at the time of their mariage). And such-like things, which men vses +to practise in their merrinesse: For fra vnlearned men (being naturallie +curious, and lacking the true knowledge of God) findes these practises to +prooue true, as sundrie of them will doe, by the power of the Devill for +deceauing men, and not by anie inherent vertue in these vaine wordes and +freites; & being desirous to winne a reputation to themselues in such-like +turnes, they either (if they be of the shamefaster sorte) seeke to bee +learned by some that are experimented in that Arte, (not knowing it to be +euill at the first) or else being of the grosser sorte, runnes directlie +to the Deuill for ambition or desire of gaine, and plainelie contractes +with him thereupon. + +PHI. But me thinkes these meanes which yee call the Schoole and rudimentes +of the Deuill, are thinges lawfull, and haue bene approoued for such in +all times and ages: As in special, this science of _Astrologie_, which is +one of the speciall members of the _Mathematicques_. + +EPI. There are two thinges which the learned haue obserued from the +beginning, in the science of the Heauenlie Creatures, the Planets, +Starres, and such like: The one is their course and ordinary motiones, +which for that cause is called _Astronomia_: Which word is a compound of +νομος & αστερων that is to say, the law of the Starres: And this arte +indeed is one of the members of the _Mathematicques_, & not onelie lawful, +but most necessarie and commendable. The other is called _Astrologia_, +being compounded of αστερων & λογος which is to say, the word, and +preaching of the starres: Which is deuided in two partes: The first by +knowing thereby the powers of simples, and sickenesses, the course of the +seasons and the weather, being ruled by their influence; which part +depending vpon the former, although it be not of it selfe a parte of +_Mathematicques_: yet it is not vnlawful, being moderatlie vsed, suppose +not so necessarie and commendable as the former. The second part is to +truste so much to their influences, as thereby to fore-tell what +common-weales shall florish or decay: what persones shall be fortunate or +vnfortunate: what side shall winne in anie battell: What man shall obteine +victorie at singular combate: What way, and of what age shall men die: +What horse shall winne at matche-running; and diuerse such like incredible +things, wherein _Cardanus_, _Cornelius Agrippa_, and diuerse others haue +more curiouslie then profitably written at large. Of this roote last +spoken of, springs innumerable branches; such as the knowledge by the +natiuities; the _Cheiromancie_, _Geomantie_, _Hydromantie_, _Arithmantie_, +_Physiognomie_: & a thousand others: which were much practised, & holden +in great reuerence by the _Gentles_ of olde. And this last part of +_Astrologie_ whereof I haue spoken, which is the root of their branches, +was called by them _pars fortunæ_. This parte now is vtterlie vnlawful to +be trusted in, or practized amongst christians, as leaning to no ground of +natural reason: & it is this part which I called before the deuils schole. + +PHI. But yet manie of the learned are of the contrarie opinion. + +EPI. I grant, yet I could giue my reasons to fortifie & maintaine my +opinion, if to enter into this disputation it wold not draw me quite off +the ground of our discours; besides the mis-spending of the whole daie +thereupon: One word onely I will answet to them, & that in the Scriptures +(which must be an infallible ground to all true Christians) That in the +Prophet _Ieremie_ (M12) it is plainelie forbidden, to beleeue or hearken +vnto them that Prophecies & fore-speakes by the course of the Planets & +Starres. + + + + +Chap. V. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_How farre the vsing of Charmes is lawfull or vnlawfull: The description +of the formes of Circkles and Coniurationes. And what causeth the_ +Magicianes _themselues to wearie thereof_. + +PHILOMATHES. + +Wel, Ye haue said far inough in that argument. But how prooue ye now that +these charmes or vnnaturall practicques are vnlawfull: For so, many honest +& merrie men & women haue publicklie practized some of them, that I thinke +if ye would accuse them al of Witch-craft, ye would affirme more nor ye +will be beleeued in. + +EPI. I see if you had taken good tent (to the nature of that word, whereby +I named it,) ye would not haue bene in this doubt, nor mistaken me, so +farre as ye haue done: For although, as none can be schollers in a schole, +& not be subject to the master thereof: so none can studie and put in +practize (for studie the alone, and knowledge, is more perilous nor +offensiue; and it is the practise only that makes the greatnes of the +offence.) the cirkles and art of _Magie_, without committing an horrible +defection from God: And yet as they that reades and learnes their +rudiments, are not the more subject to anie schoole-master, if it please +not their parentes to put them to the schoole thereafter; So they who +ignorantly proues these practicques, which I cal the deuilles rudiments, +vnknowing them to be baites, casten out by him, for trapping such as God +will permit to fall in his hands: This kinde of folkes I saie, no doubt, +ar to be judged the best of, in respect they vse no invocation nor help of +him (by their knowledge at least) in these turnes, and so haue neuer +entred themselues in Sathans seruice; Yet to speake truely for my owne +part (I speake but for my selfe) I desire not to make so neere riding: For +in my opinion our enemie is ouer craftie, and we ouer weake (except the +greater grace of God) to assay such hazards, wherein he preases to trap +vs. + +PHI. Ye haue reason forsooth; for as the common Prouerbe saith: They that +suppe keile with the Deuill, haue neede of long spoones. But now I praie +you goe forwarde in the describing of this arte of _Magie_. + +EPI. Fra they bee come once vnto this perfection in euill, in hauing any +knowledge (whether learned or vnlearned) of this black art: they then +beginne to be wearie of the raising of their Maister, by conjured +circkles; being both so difficile and perilous, and so commeth plainelie +to a contract with him, wherein is speciallie conteined formes and +effectes. + +PHI. But I praye you or euer you goe further, discourse me some-what of +their circkles and conjurationes; And what should be the cause of their +wearying thereof: For it should seeme that that forme should be lesse +fearefull yet, than the direct haunting and societie, with that foule and +vncleane Spirite. + +EPI. I thinke ye take me to be a Witch my selfe, or at the least would +faine sweare your selfe prentise to that craft: Alwaies as I may, I shall +shortlie satisfie you, in that kinde of conjurations, which are conteined +in such bookes, which I call the Deuilles Schoole: There are foure +principall partes; the persons of the conjurers; the action of the +conjuration; the wordes and rites vsed to that effect; and the Spirites +that are conjured. Ye must first remember to laye the ground, that I tould +you before: which is, that it is no power inherent in the circles, or in +the holines of the names of God blasphemouslie vsed: nor in whatsoeuer +rites or ceremonies at that time vsed, that either can raise any infernall +spirit, or yet limitat him perforce within or without these circles. For +it is he onelie, the father of all lyes, who hauing first of all +prescribed that forme of doing, feining himselfe to be commanded & +restreined thereby, wil be loath to passe the boundes of these +injunctiones; aswell thereby to make them glory in the impiring ouer him +(as I saide before:) As likewise to make himselfe so to be trusted in +these little thinges, that he may haue the better commoditie thereafter, +to deceiue them in the end with a tricke once for all; I meane the +euerlasting perdition of their soul & body. Then laying this ground, as I +haue said, these conjurationes must haue few or mo in number of the +persones conjurers (alwaies passing the singuler number) according to the +qualitie of the circle, and forme of apparition. Two principall thinges +cannot well in that errand be wanted: holie-water (whereby the Deuill +mockes the _Papistes_) and some present of a liuing thing vnto him. There +ar likewise certaine seasons, dayes and houres, that they obserue in this +purpose: These things being all readie, and prepared, circles are made +triangular, quadrangular, round, double or single, according to the forme +of apparition that they craue. But to speake of the diuerse formes of the +circles, of the innumerable characters and crosses that are within and +without, and out-through the same, of the diuers formes of apparitiones, +that that craftie spirit illudes them with, and or all such particulars in +that action, I remit it to ouer-manie that haue busied their heades in +describing of the same; as being but curious, and altogether vnprofitable. +And this farre onelie I touch, that when the conjured Spirit appeares, +which will not be while after manie circumstances, long praiers, and much +muttring and murmuring of the conjurers; like a _Papist_ priest, +dispatching a hunting _Masse_: how sone I say, he appeares, if they haue +missed one iote of all their rites; or if any of their feete once slyd +ouer the circle through terror of his feareful apparition, he payes +himselfe at that time in his owne hande, of that due debt which they ought +him; and other-wise would haue delayed longer to haue payed him: I meane +hee carries them with him bodie and soule. If this be not now a just cause +to make them wearie of these formes of conjuration, I leaue it to you to +judge vpon; considering the long-somenesse of the labour, the precise +keeping of dayes and houres (as I haue said), the terriblenesse of +apparition, and the present perrell that they stande in, in missing the +least circumstance or freite, that they ought to obserue: And on the other +parte, the Deuil is glad to mooue them to a plaine and square dealing with +him as I said before. + + + + +Chap. VI. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The Deuilles contract with the Magicians: The diuision thereof in two +partes: What is the difference betwixt Gods miracles and the Deuils._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Indeede there is cause inough, but rather to leaue him at all, then to +runne more plainlie to him, if they were wise he delt with. But goe +forwards now I pray you to these turnes, fra they become once deacons in +this craft. + +EPI. From time that they once plainelie begin to contract with him: The +effect of their contract consistes in two thinges; in formes and effectes, +as I began to tell alreadie, were it not yee interrupted me (for although +the contract be mutuall; I speake first of that part, wherein the Deuill +oblishes himselfe to them) by formes, I meane in what shape or fashion he +shall come vnto them, when they call vpon him. And by effectes, I +vnderstand, in what special sorts of seruices he bindes himselfe to be +subject vnto them. The qualitie of these formes and effectes, is lesse or +greater, according to the skil and art of the _Magician_. For as to the +formes, to some of the baser sorte of them he oblishes him selfe to +appeare at their calling vpon him, by such a proper name which he shewes +vnto them, either in likenes of a dog, a Catte, an Ape, or such-like other +beast; or else to answere by a voyce onlie. The effects are to answere to +such demands, as concernes curing of disseases, their own particular +menagery: or such other base things as they require of him. + +But to the most curious sorte, in the formes he will oblish himselfe, to +enter in a dead bodie, and there out of to giue such answers, of the euent +of battels, of maters concerning the estate of commonwelths, and such like +other great questions: yea, to some he will be a continuall attender, in +forme of a Page: He will permit himselfe to be conjured, for the space of +so many yeres, ether in a tablet or a ring, or such like thing, which they +may easely carrie about with them: He giues them power to sel such wares +to others, whereof some will bee dearer, and some better cheape; according +to the lying or true speaking of the Spirit that is conjured therein. Not +but that in verie deede, all Devils must be lyars; but so they abuse the +simplicitie of these wretches, that becomes their schollers, that they +make them beleeue, that at the fall of _Lucifer_, some Spirites fell in +the aire, some in the fire, some in the water, some in the lande: In which +Elementes they still remaine. Whereupon they build, that such as fell in +the fire, or in the aire, are truer then they, who fell in the water or in +the land, which is al but meare trattles, & forged by the author of al +deceit. For they fel not be weight, as a solide substance, to stick in any +one parte: But the principall part of their fal, consisting in qualitie, +by the falling from the grace of God wherein they were created, they +continued still thereafter, and shal do while the latter daie, in wandring +through the worlde, as Gods hang-men, to execute such turnes as he +employes them in. And when anie of them are not occupyed in that, returne +they must to their prison in hel (as it is plaine in the miracle that +CHRIST wrought at _Gennezareth_) (M13) therein at the latter daie to be +all enclosed for euer: and as they deceiue their schollers in this, so do +they, in imprinting in them the opinion that there are so manie Princes, +Dukes, and Kinges amongst them, euerie one commanding fewer or mo Legions, +and impyring in diuers artes, and quarters of the earth. For though that I +will not denie that there be a forme of ordour amongst the Angels in +Heauen, and consequentlie, was amongst them before their fall; yet, either +that they bruike the same sensine; or that God will permit vs to know by +damned Deuils, such heauenlie mysteries of his, which he would not reueale +to vs neither by Scripture nor Prophets, I thinke no Christiane will once +thinke it. But by the contrarie of all such mysteries, as he hath closed +vp with his seale of secrecie; it becommeth vs to be contented with an +humble ignorance, they being thinges not necessarie for our saluation. But +to returne to the purpose, as these formes, wherein Sathan oblishes +himselfe to the greatest of the _Magicians_, are wounderfull curious; so +are the effectes correspondent vnto the same: For he will oblish himselfe +to teach them artes and sciences, which he may easelie doe, being so +learned a knaue as he is: To carrie them newes from anie parte of the +worlde, which the agilitie of a Spirite may easelie performe: to reueale +to them the secretes of anie persons, so being they bee once spoken, for +the thought none knowes but GOD; except so far as yee may ghesse by their +countenance, as one who is doubtleslie learned, inough in the +_Physiognomie_: Yea, he will make his schollers to creepe in credite with +Princes, by fore-telling them manie greate thinges; parte true, parte +false: For if all were false, he would tyne credite at all handes; but +alwaies doubtsome, as his Oracles were. And he will also make them to +please Princes, by faire banquets and daintie dishes, carryed in short +space fra the farthest part of the worlde. For no man doubts but he is a +thiefe, and his agilitie (as I spake before) makes him to come suche +speede. Such-like, he will guard his schollers with faire armies of +horse-men and foote-men in appearance, castles and fortes: Which all are +but impressiones in the aire, easelie gathered by a spirite, drawing so +neare to that substance himselfe: As in like maner he will learne them +manie juglarie trickes at Gardes, dice, & such like, to deceiue mennes +senses thereby: and such innumerable false practicques; which are prouen +by ouer-manie in this age: As they who ar acquainted with that _Italian_ +called SCOTO yet liuing, can reporte. And yet are all these thinges but +deluding of the senses, and no waies true in substance, as were the false +miracles wrought by King _Pharaoes_ Magicians, for counterfeiting +_Moyses_: For that is the difference betuixt Gods myracles and the Deuils, +God is a creator, what he makes appeare in miracle, it is so in effect. As +_Moyses_ rod being casten downe, was no doubt turned in a natural Serpent: +where as the Deuill (as Gods Ape) counterfetting that by his _Magicians_, +maid their wandes to appeare so, onelie to mennes outward senses: as +kythed in effect by their being deuoured by the other. For it is no +wonder, that the Deuill may delude our senses, since we see by common +proofe, that simple juglars will make an hundreth thinges seeme both to +our eies and eares otherwaies then they are. Now as to the _Magicians_ +parte of the contract, it is in a word that thing, which I said before, +the Deuill hunts for in all men. + +PHI. Surelie ye haue said much to me in this arte, if all that ye haue +said be as true as wounderfull. + +EPI. For the trueth in these actiones, it will be easelie confirmed, to +anie that pleases to take paine vpon the reading of diuerse authenticque +histories, and the inquiring of daily experiences. And as for the trueth +of their possibilitie, that they may be, and in what maner, I trust I haue +alleaged nothing whereunto I haue not joyned such probable reasons, as I +leaue to your discretion, to waie and consider: One word onlie I omitted; +concerning the forme of making of this contract, which is either written +with the _Magicians_ owne bloud: or else being agreed vpon (in termes his +schole-master) touches him in some parte, though peraduenture no marke +remaine: as it doth with all Witches. + + + + +Chap. VII. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The reason why the art of_ Magie _is unlawfull. What punishment they +merite: And who may be accounted guiltie of that crime._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Svrelie Ye haue made this arte to appeare verie monstruous & detestable. +But what I pray you shall be said to such as mainteines this art to be +lawfull, for as euill as you haue made it? + +EPI. I say, they sauour of the panne them selues, or at least little +better, And yet I would be glad to heare their reasons. + +PHI. There are two principallie, that euer I heard vsed; beside that which +is founded vpon the common Prouerb (that the _Necromancers_ commands the +Deuill, which ye haue already refuted). The one is grounded vpon a +receiued custome: The other vpon an authoritie, which some thinkes +infallible. Vpon custome, we see that diuerse Christian Princes and +Magistrates seuere punishers of Witches, will not onelie ouer-see +_Magicians_ to liue within their dominions; but euen some-times delight to +see them prooue some of their practicques. The other reason is, that +_Moyses_ being brought vp (as it is expreslie said in the Scriptures) _in +all the sciences of the Ægyptians_; whereof no doubt, this was one of the +principalles. And he notwithstanding of this arte, pleasing God, as he +did, consequentlie that art professed by so godlie a man, coulde not be +vnlawfull. + +EPI. As to the first of your reasones, grounded vpon custome: I saie, an +euill custome can neuer be accepted for a good law, for the ouer great +ignorance of the worde in some Princes and Magistrates, and the contempt +thereof in others, moues them to sinne heavelie against their office in +that poynt. As to the other reasone, which seemes to be of greater weight, +if it were formed in a Syllogisme; it behooued to be in manie termes, and +full of fallacies (to speake in termes of _Logicque_) for first, that that +generall proposition; affirming _Moyses_ to be taught _in all the sciences +of the Ægyptians_, should conclude that he was taught in _Magie_, I see no +necessity. For we must vnderstand that the spirit of God there, speaking +of sciences, vnderstandes them that are lawfull; for except they be +lawfull, they are but _abusiuè_ called sciences, & are but ignorances +indeede: _Nam homo pictus, non est homo_. Secondlie, giuing that he had +bene taught in it, there is great difference, betwixt knowledge and +practising of a thing (as I said before). For God knoweth all thinges, +being alwaies good, and of our sinne & our infirmitie proceedeth our +ignorance. Thirdlie, giuing that he had both studied and practised the +same (which is more nor monstruous to be beleeued by any Christian) yet we +know well inough, that before that euer the spirite of God began to call +_Moyses_, he was fled out of _Ægypt_, being fourtie yeares of age, for the +slaughter of an _Ægyptian_, and in his good-father _Iethroes_ lande, first +called at the firie bushe, hauing remained there other fourtie yeares in +exile: so that suppose he had beene the wickeddest man in the worlde +before, he then became a changed and regenerat man, and very litle of olde +_Moyses_ remained in him. _Abraham_ was an Idolater in _Vr_ of +_Chaldææa_, before he was called: And _Paule_ being called _Saule_, was a +most sharp persecutor of the Saintes of God, while that name was changed. + +PHI. What punishment then thinke ye merites these _Magicians_ and +_Necromancers_? + +EPI. The like no doubt, that _Sorcerers_ and _Witches_ merites; and rather +so much greater, as their error proceedes of the greater knowledge, and so +drawes nerer to the sin against the holy Ghost. And as I saye of them, so +saye I the like of all such as consults, enquires, entertaines, & ouersees +them, which is seene by the miserable endes of many that askes councell of +them: For the Deuill hath neuer better tydings to tell to any, then he +tolde to _Saule_: neither is it lawfull to vse so vnlawfull instrumentes, +were it neuer for so good a purpose: for that axiome in Theologie is most +certaine and infallible: (M14) _Nunquam faciendum est malum vt bonum inde +eueniat._ + + + + + +SECONDE BOOKE. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The description of Sorcerie and Witchcraft in speciall._ + + + + +Chap. I. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_Proued by the Scripture, that such a thing can be: And the reasones +refuted of all such as would call it but an imagination and Melancholicque +humor._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Now since yee haue satisfied me nowe so fullie, concerning _Magie_ or +_Necromancie_ I will pray you to do the like in _Sorcerie_ or +_Witchcraft_. + +EPI. That fielde is likewise verie large: and althought in the mouthes and +pennes of manie, yet fewe knowes the trueth thereof, so wel as they +beleeue themselues, as I shall so shortely as I can, make you (God +willing) as easelie to perceiue. + +PHI. But I pray you before ye goe further, let mee interrupt you here with +a shorte digression: which is, that manie can scarcely beleeue that there +is such a thing as Witch-craft. Whose reasons I wil shortely alleage vnto +you, that ye may satisfie me as well in that, as ye haue done in the rest. +For first, whereas the Scripture seemes to prooue Witchcraft to be, by +diuerse examples, and speciallie by sundrie of the same, which ye haue +alleaged, it is thought by some, that these places speakes of _Magicians_ +and _Necromancers_ onlie, & not of Witches. As in special, these wise men +of _Pharaohs_, that counterfeited _Moyses_ miracles, were _Magicians_ say +they, & not Witches: As likewise that _Pythonisse_ that _Saul_ consulted +with: And so was _Simon Magus_ in the new Testament, as that very stile +importes. Secondlie, where ye would oppone the dailie practicque, & +confession of so manie, that is thought likewise to be but verie +melancholicque imaginations of simple rauing creatures. Thirdly, if +Witches had such power of Witching of folkes to death, (as they say they +haue) there had bene none left aliue long sence in the world, but they: at +the least, no good or godlie person of whatsoeuer estate, coulde haue +escaped their deuilrie. + +EPI. Your three reasons as I take, ar grounded the first of them +_negativè_ vpon the Scripture: The second _affirmativè_ vpon Physicke: And +the thirde vpon the certaine proofe of experience. As to your first, it is +most true indeede, that all these wise men of _Pharaoh_ were _Magicians_ +of art: As likewise it appeares wel that the _Pythonisse_, with whom +_Saul_ consulted, was of that same profession: & so was _Simon Magus_. But +yee omitted to speake of the Lawe of God, wherein are all _Magicians_, +Diuines, Enchanters, Sorcerers, Witches, & whatsouer of that kinde that +consultes with the Deuill, plainelie prohibited, and alike threatned +against. And besides that, she who had the Spirite of _Python_, in the +Actes, (M15) whose Spirite was put to silence by the Apostle, coulde be no +other thing but a verie Sorcerer or Witch, if ye admit the vulgare +distinction, to be in a maner true, whereof I spake in the beginning of +our conference. For that spirit whereby she conquested such gaine to her +Master, was not at her raising or commanding, as she pleased to appoynt, +but spake by her toung, aswel publicklie, as priuatelie: Whereby she +seemed to draw nearer to the sort of _Demoniakes_ or possessed, if that +conjunction betwixt them, had not bene of her owne consent: as it appeared +by her, not being tormented therewith: And by her conquesting of such +gaine to her masters (as I haue alreadie said.) As to your second reason +grounded vpon Physick, in attributing their confessiones or +apprehensiones, to a naturall melancholicque humour: Anie that pleases +Physicallie to consider vpon the naturall humour of melancholie, according +to all the Physicians, that euer writ thereupon, they shall finde that +that will be ouer short a cloak to couer their knauery with: For as the +humor of Melancholie in the selfe is blacke, heauie and terrene, so are +the symptomes thereof, in any persones that are subject therevnto, +leannes, palenes, desire of solitude: and if they come to the highest +degree therof, mere folie and _Manie_: where as by the contrarie, a great +nomber of them that euer haue bene convict or confessors of Witchcraft, as +may be presently seene by manie that haue at this time confessed: they are +by the contrarie, I say, some of them rich and worldly-wise, some of them +fatte or corpulent in their bodies, and most part of them altogether giuen +ouer to the pleasures of the flesh, continual haunting of companie, and +all kind of merrines, both lawfull and vnlawfull, which are thinges +directly contrary to the symptomes of Melancholie, whereof I spake, and +further experience daylie proues how loath they are to confesse without +torture, which witnesseth their guiltines, where by the contrary, the +Melancholicques neuer spares to bewray themselues, by their continuall +discourses, feeding therby their humor in that which they thinke no crime. +As to your third reason, it scarselie merites an answere. For if the +deuill their master were not bridled, as the scriptures teacheth vs, +suppose there were no men nor women to be his instrumentes, he could finde +waies inough without anie helpe of others to wrack al mankinde: wherevnto +he employes his whole study, and _goeth about like a roaring Lyon_ (as +PETER saith) (M16) to that effect, but the limites of his power were set +down before the foundations of the world were laid, which he hath not +power in the least jote to transgresse. But beside all this, there is ouer +greate a certainty to proue that they are, by the daily experience of the +harmes that they do, both to men, and whatsoeuer thing men possesses, +whome God will permit them to be the instrumentes, so to trouble or +visite, as in my discourse of that arte, yee shall heare clearelie proued. + + + + +Chap. II. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The Etymologie and signification of that word of_ Sorcerie. _The first +entresse and prentishippe of them that giues themselues to that craft._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Come on then I pray you, and returne where ye left. + +EPI. This word of _Sorcerie_ is a _Latine_ worde, which is taken from +casting of the lot, & therefore he that vseth it, is called _Sortiarius à +sorte_. As to the word of _Witchcraft_, it is nothing but a proper name +giuen in our language. The cause wherefore they were called _sortiarij_, +proceeded of their practicques seeming to come of lot or chance: Such as +the turning of the riddle: the knowing of the forme of prayers, or such +like tokens: If a person diseased woulde liue or dye. And in generall, +that name was giuen them for vsing of such charmes, and freites, as that +Crafte teacheth them. Manie poynts of their craft and practicques are +common betuixt the _Magicians_ and them: for they serue both one Master, +althought in diuerse fashions. And as I deuided the _Necromancers_, into +two sorts, learned and vnlearned; so must I denie them in other two, riche +and of better accompt, poore and of basser degree. These two degrees now +of persones, that practises this craft, answers to the passions in them, +which (I told you before) the Deuil vsed as meanes to intyse them to his +seruice, for such of them as are in great miserie and pouertie, he allures +to follow him, by promising vnto them greate riches, and worldlie +commoditie. Such as though riche, yet burnes in a desperat desire of +reuenge, hee allures them by promises, to get their turne satisfied to +their hartes contentment. It is to be noted nowe, that that olde and +craftie enemie of ours, assailes none, though touched with any of these +two extremities, except he first finde an entresse reddy for him, either +by the great ignorance of the person he deales with, ioyned with an euill +life, or else by their carelesnes and contempt of God: And finding them in +an vtter despair, for one of these two former causes that I haue spoken +of; he prepares the way by feeding them craftely in their humour, and +filling them further and further with despaire, while he finde the time +proper to discouer himself vnto them. At which time, either vpon their +walking solitarie in the fieldes, or else lying pansing in their bed; but +alwaies without the company of any other, he either by a voyce, or in +likenesse of a man inquires of them, what troubles them: and promiseth +them, a suddaine and certaine waie of remedie, vpon condition on the other +parte, that they follow his advise; and do such thinges as he wil require +of them: Their mindes being prepared before hand, as I haue alreadie +spoken, they easelie agreed vnto that demande of his: And syne settes an +other tryist, where they may meete againe. At which time, before he +proceede any further with them, he first perswades them to addict +themselues to his seruice: which being easely obteined, he then discouers +what he is vnto them: makes them to renunce their God and _Baptisme_ +directlie, and giues them his marke vpon some secreit place of their +bodie, which remaines soare vnhealed, while his next meeting with them, +and thereafter euer insensible, how soeuer it be nipped or pricked by any, +as is dailie proued, to giue them a proofe thereby, that as in that doing, +hee could hurte and heale them; so all their ill and well doing +thereafter, must depende vpon him. And besides that, the intollerable +dolour that they feele in that place, where he hath marked them, serues to +waken them, and not to let them rest, while their next meeting againe: +fearing least otherwaies they might either forget him, being as new +Prentises, and not well inough founded yet, in that fiendlie follie: or +else remembring of that horrible promise they made him, at their last +meeting, they might skunner at the same, and preasse to call it back. At +their thirde meeting, he makes a shew to be carefull to performe his +promises, either by teaching them waies howe to get themselues reuenged, +if they be of that sort: Or els by teaching them lessons, how by moste +vilde and vnlawfull meanes, they may obtaine gaine, and worldlie +commoditie, if they be of the other sorte. + + + + +Chap. III. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The_ Witches _actiones diuided in two partes. The actiones proper to +their owne persones. Their actiones toward others. The forme of their +conuentiones, and adoring of their Master._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Ye haue said now inough of their initiating in that ordour. It restes then +that ye discourse vpon their practises, fra they be passed Prentises: for +I would faine heare what is possible to them to performe in verie deede. +Although they serue a common Master with the _Necromancers_, (as I haue +before saide) yet serue they him in an other forme. For as the meanes are +diuerse, which allures them to these vnlawfull artes of seruing of the +Deuill; so by diuerse waies vse they their practises, answering to these +meanes, which first the Deuill, vsed as instrumentes in them; though al +tending to one end: To wit, the enlargeing of Sathans tyrannie, and +crossing of the propagation of the Kingdome of CHRIST, so farre as lyeth +in the possibilitie, either of the one or other sorte, or of the Deuill +their Master. For where the _Magicians_, as allured by curiositie, in the +most parte of their practises, seekes principallie the satisfying of the +same, and to winne to themselues a popular honoure and estimation: These +Witches on the other parte, being intised ether for the desire of reuenge, +or of worldly riches, their whole practises are either to hurte men and +their gudes, or what they possesse, for satisfying of their cruell mindes +in the former, or else by the wracke in whatsoeuer sorte, of anie whome +God will permitte them to haue power off, to satisfie their greedie desire +in the last poynt. + +EPI. In two partes their actiones may be diuided; the actiones of their +owne persones, and the actiones proceeding from them towardes anie other. +And this diuision being wel vnderstood, will easilie resolue you, what is +possible to them to doe. For although all that they confesse is no lie +vpon their parte, yet doubtlesly in my opinion, a part of it is not +indeede, according as they take it to be: And in this I meane by the +actiones of their owne persones. For as I said before, speaking of _Magie_ +that the Deuill illudes the senses of these schollers of his, in manie +thinges, so saye I the like of these Witches. + +PHI. Then I pray you, first to speake of that part of their owne persons, +and syne ye may come next to their actiones towardes others. + +EPI. To the effect that they may performe such seruices of their false +Master, as he employes them in, the deuill as Gods Ape, counterfeites in +his seruantes this seruice & forme of adoration, that God prescribed and +made his seruantes to practise. For as the seruants of GOD, publicklie +vses to conveene for seruing of him, so makes he them in great numbers to +conveene (though publickly they dare not) for his seruice. As none +conueenes to the adoration and worshipping of God, except they be marked +with his scale, the Sacrament of _Baptisme_: So none serues Sathan, and +conueenes to the adoring of him, that are not marked with that marke, +wherof I alredy spake. As the Minister sent by God, teacheth plainely at +the time of their publick conuentions, how to serue him in spirit & truth: +so that vncleane spirite, in his owne person teacheth his Disciples, at +the time of their conueening, how to worke all kinde of mischiefe: And +craues compt of all their horrible and detestable proceedinges passed, for +aduancement of his seruice. Yea, that he may the more viuelie counterfeit +and scorne God, he oft times makes his slaues to conveene in these verrie +places, which are destinat and ordeined for the conveening of the +servantes of God (I meane by Churches). But this farre, which I haue yet +said, I not onelie take it to be true in their opiniones, but euen so to +be indeede. For the forme that he vsed in counterfeiting God amongst the +_Gentiles_, makes me so to thinke: As God spake by his Oracles, spake he +not so by his? As GOD had aswell bloudie Sacrifices, as others without +bloud, had not he the like? As God had Churches sanctified to his seruice, +with Altars, Priests, Sacrifices, Ceremonies and Prayers; had he not the +like polluted to his seruice? As God gaue responses by _Vrim_ and +_Thummim_, gaue he not his responses by the intralls of beastes, by the +singing of Fowles, and by their actiones in the aire? As God by visiones, +dreames, and extases reueiled what was to come, and what was his will vnto +his seruantes; vsed he not the like meanes to forwarne his slaues of +things to come? Yea, euen as God loued cleannes, hated vice, and +impuritie, & appoynted punishmentes therefore: vsed he not the like +(though falselie I grant, and but in eschewing the lesse inconuenient, to +draw them upon a greater) yet dissimuled he not I say, so farre as to +appoynt his Priestes to keepe their bodies cleane and vndefiled, before +their asking responses of him? And feyned he not God to be a protectour of +euerie vertue, and a iust reuenger of the contrarie? This reason then +moues me, that as he is that same Deuill; and as craftie nowe as he was +then; so wil hee not spare a pertelie in these actiones that I haue spoken +of, concerning the witches persones: But further, Witches oft times +confesses not only his conueening in the Church with them, but his +occupying of the Pulpit: Yea, their forme of adoration, to be the kissing +of his hinder partes. Which though it seeme ridiculous, yet may it +likewise be true, seeing we reade that in _Calicute_, he appearing in +forme of a _Goate_-bucke, hath publicklie that vn-honest homage done vnto +him, by euerie one of the people: So ambitious is he, and greedie of +honour (which procured his fall) that he will euen imitate God in that +parte, (M17) where it is said, that _Moyses_ could see but the _hinder +partes of God, for the brightnesse of his glorie_: And yet that speache is +spoken but ανθρωπωπαθειαν. + + + + +Chap. IIII. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_What are the waies possible, wherby the witches may transport themselues +to places far distant, And what ar impossible & mere illusiones of Sathan. +And the reasons therof._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Bvt by what way say they or think ye it possible that they can com to +these vnlawful cõuentiõs? + +EPI. There is the thing which I esteeme their senses to be deluded in, and +though they lye not in confessing of it, because they thinke it to be +true, yet not to be so in substance or effect: for they saie, that by +diuerse meanes they may conueene, either to the adoring of their Master, +or to the putting in practise any seruice of his, committed vnto their +charge: one way is natural, which is natural riding, going or sayling, at +what houre their Master comes and aduertises them. And this way may be +easelie beleued: an other way is some-what more strange: and yet is it +possible to be true: which is by being carryed by the force of the Spirite +which is their conducter, either aboue the earth or aboue the Sea +swiftlie, to the place where they are to meet: which I am perswaded to be +likewaies possible, in respect that as _Habakkuk_ was carryed by the +Angell in that forme, to the denne where _Daniell_ laie; (M18) so thinke +I, the Deuill will be reddie to imitate God, as well in that as in other +thinges: which is much more possible to him to doe, being a Spirite, then +to a mighty winde, being but a naturall meteore, to transporte from one +place to an other a solide bodie, as is commonlie and dailie seene in +practise: But in this violent forme they cannot be carryed, but a shorte +boundes, agreeing with the space that they may reteine their breath: for +if it were longer, their breath could not remaine vnextinguished, their +bodie being carryed in such a violent & forceable maner, as be example: If +one fall off an small height, his life is but in perrell, according to the +harde or soft lighting: But if one fall from an high and stay rocke, his +breath wilbe forceablie banished from the bodie, before he can win to the +earth, as is oft seen by experience. And in this transporting they say +themselues, that they are inuisible to anie other, except amongst +themselues; which may also be possible in my opinion. For if the deuil may +forme what kinde of impressiones he pleases in the aire, as I haue said +before, speaking of _Magie_, why may he not far easilier thicken & obscure +so the air, that is next about them by contracting it strait together, +that the beames of any other mans eyes, cannot pearce thorow the same, to +see them? But the third way of their comming to their conuentions, is, +that where in I think them deluded: for some of them sayeth, that being +transformed in the likenesse of a little beast or foule, they will come +and pearce through whatsoeuer house or Church, though all ordinarie +passages be closed, by whatsoeuer open, the aire may enter in at. And some +sayeth, that their bodies lying stil as in an extasy, their spirits wil be +rauished out of their bodies, & caried to such places. And for verefying +therof, wil giue euident tokens, aswel by witnesses that haue seene their +body lying senseles in the meane time, as by naming persones, whom-with +they mette, and giuing tokens what purpose was amongst them, whome +otherwaies they could not haue knowen: for this forme of journeing, they +affirme to vse most, when they are transported from one Countrie to +another. + +PHI. Surelie I long to heare your owne opinion of this: For they are like +old wiues trattles about the fire. The reasons that moues me to thinke +that these are meere illusiones, ar these. First for them that are +transformed in likenes of beastes or foules, can enter through so narrow +passages, although I may easelie beleeue that the Deuill coulde by his +woorkemanshippe vpon the aire, make them appeare to be in such formes, +either to themselues or to others: Yet how he can contract a solide bodie +within so little roome, I thinke it is directlie contrarie to it selfe, +for to be made so little, and yet not diminished: To be so straitlie +drawen together, and yet feele no paine; I thinke it is so contrarie to +the qualitie of a naturall bodie, and so like to the little +transubstantiat god in the _Papistes Masse_, that I can neuer beleeue it. +So to haue a quantitie, is so proper to a solide bodie, that as all +Philosophers conclude, it cannot be any more without one, then a spirite +can haue one. For when PETER _came out of the prison, _(_M19_)_ and the +doores all locked_: It was not by any contracting of his bodie in so +little roome: but by the giuing place of the dore, though vn-espyed by the +Gaylors. And yet is there no comparison, when this is done, betuixt the +power of God, and of the Deuill. As to their forme of extasie and +spirituall transporting, it is certaine the soules going out of the bodie, +is the onely difinition of naturall death: and who are once dead, God +forbid wee should thinke that it should lie in the power of all the Deuils +in Hell, to restore them to their life againe: Although he can put his +owne spirite in a dead bodie, which the _Necromancers_ commonlie practise, +as yee haue harde. For that is the office properly belonging to God; and +besides that, the soule once parting from the bodie, cannot wander anie +longer in the worlde, but to the owne resting place must it goe +immediatlie, abiding the conjunction of the bodie againe, at the latter +daie. And what CHRIST or the Prophets did miraculouslie in this case, it +cannot in no Christian mans opinion be maid common with the Deuill. As for +anie tokens that they giue for proouing of this, it is verie possible to +the Deuils craft, to perswade them to these meanes. For he being a +spirite, may hee not so rauishe their thoughtes, and dull their sences, +that their bodie lying as dead, hee may object to their spirites as it +were in a dreame, & (as the Poets write of _Morpheus_) represente such +formes of persones, of places, and other circumstances, as he pleases to +illude them with? Yea, that he maie deceiue them with the greater +efficacie, may hee not at that same instant, by fellow angelles of his, +illude such other persones so in that same fashion, whome with he makes +them to beleeue that they mette; that all their reportes and tokens, +though seuerallie examined, may euerie one agree with an other. And that +whatsoeuer actiones, either in hurting men or beasts: or whatsoeuer other +thing that they falselie imagine, at that time to haue done, may by +himselfe or his marrowes, at that same time be done indeede; so as if they +would giue for a token of their being rauished at the death of such a +person within so shorte space thereafter, whom they beleeue to haue +poysoned, or witched at that instante, might hee not at that same houre, +haue smitten that same person by the permission of GOD, to the farther +deceiuing of them, and to mooue others to beleeue them? And this is +surelie the likeliest way, and most according to reason, which my +judgement can finde out in this, and whatsoeuer vther vnnaturall poyntes +of their confession. And by these meanes shall we saill surelie, betuixt +_Charybdis_ and _Scylla_, in eschewing the not beleeuing of them +altogether on the one part, least that drawe vs to the errour that there +is no Witches: and on the other parte in beleeuing of it, make vs to +eschew the falling into innumerable absurdities, both monstruouslie +against all Theologie diuine, and Philosophie humaine. + + + + +Chap. V. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_Witches actiones towardes others. Why there are more women of that craft +nor men? What thinges are possible to them to effectuate by the power of +their master. The reasons thereof. What is the surest remedie of the +harmes done by them._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Forsooth your opinion in this, seemes to carrie most reason with it, and +sence yee haue ended, then the actions belonging properly to their owne +persones: say forwarde now to their actiones vsed towardes others. + +EPI. In their actiones vsed towardes others, three thinges ought to be +considered: First the maner of their consulting thereupon: Next their part +as instrumentes: And last their masters parte, who puts the same in +execution. As to their consultationes thereupon, they vse them oftest in +the Churches, where they conveene for adoring: at what time their master +enquiring at them what they would be at: euerie one of them propones vnto +him, what wicked turne they would haue done, either for obteining of +riches, or for reuenging them vpon anie whome they haue malice at: who +granting their demande, as no doubt willinglie he wil, since it is to doe +euill, he teacheth them the means, wherby they may do the same. As for +little trifling turnes that women haue ado with, he causeth them to ioynt +dead corpses, & to make powders thereof, mixing such other thinges there +amongst, as he giues vnto them. + +PHI. But before yee goe further, permit mee I pray you to interrupt you +one worde, which yee haue put mee in memorie of, by speaking of Women. +What can be the cause that there are twentie women giuen to that craft, +where ther is one man? + +EPI. The reason is easie, for as that sexe is frailer then man is, so is +it easier to be intrapped in these grosse snares of the Deuill, as was +ouer well proued to be true, by the Serpents deceiuing of _Eua_ at the +beginning, which makes him the homelier with that sexe sensine. + +PHI. Returne now where ye left. + +EPI. To some others at these times hee teacheth how to make Pictures of +waxe or clay: That by the rosting thereof, the persones that they beare +the name of, may be continuallie melted or dryed awaie by continuall +sicknesse. To some hee giues such stones or poulders, as will helpe to +cure or cast on diseases: And to some he teacheth kindes of vncouthe +poysons, which Mediciners vnderstandes not (for he is farre cunningner +then man in the knowledge of all the occult proprieties of nature) not +that anie of these meanes which hee teacheth them (except the poysons +which are composed of thinges naturall) can of them selues helpe any thing +to these turnes, that they are employed in, but onelie being Gods Ape, as +well in that, as in all other thinges. Even as God by his Sacramentes +which are earthlie of themselues workes a heavenlie effect, though no +waies by any cooperation in them: And (M20) as CHRIST by clay & spettle +wrought together, _opened the eies of the blynd man_, suppose there was no +vertue in that which he outwardlie applyed, so the Deuill will haue his +out-warde meanes to be shewes as it were of his doing, which hath no part +of cooperation in his turnes with him, how farre that euer the ignorantes +be abused in the contrarie. And as to the effectes of these two former +partes, to wit, the consultationes and the outward meanes, they are so +wounderfull as I dare not allege anie of them, without ioyning a +sufficient reason of the possibilitie thereof. For leauing all the small +trifles among wiues, and to speake of the principall poyntes of their +craft. For the common trifles thereof, they can do without conuerting well +inough by themselues: These principall poyntes I say are these: They can +make men or women to loue or hate other, which may be verie possible to +the Deuil to effectual, seing he being a subtile spirite, knowes well +inough how to perswade the corrupted affection of them whom God will +permit him so to deale with: They can lay the siknesse of one vpon an +other, which likewise is verie possible vnto him: For since by Gods +permission, he layed siknesse vpon IOB, why may he not farre easilier lay +it vpon any other: For as an old practisian, he knowes well inough what +humor domines most in anie of vs, and as a spirite hee can subtillie +walken vp the same, making it peccant, or to abounde, as he thinkes meete +for troubling of vs, when God will so permit him. And for the taking off +of it, no doubt he will be glad to reliue such of present paine, as he may +thinke by these meanes to perswade to bee catched in his euerlasting +snares and fetters. They can be-witch and take the life of men or women, +by rosting of the Pictures, as I spake of before, which likewise is verie +possible to their Master to performe, for although, (as I saide before) +that instrumente of waxe haue no vertue in that turne doing, yet may hee +not verie well euen by that same measure that his conjured slaues meltes +that waxe at the fire, may he not I say at these same times, subtilie as a +spirite so weaken and scatter the spirites of life of the patient, as may +make him on th’one part, for faintnesse to sweate out the humour of his +bodie: And on the other parte, for the not concurrence of these spirites, +which causes his digestion, so debilitat his stomak, that his humour +radicall continually, sweating out on the one parte, and no new good suck +being put in the place thereof, for lack of digestion on the other, hee at +last shall vanish awaie, euen as his picture will doe at the fire. And +that knauish and cunning woorkeman, by troubling him onely at some times, +makes a proportion so neare betuixt the woorking of the one and the other, +that both shall ende as it were at one time. They can rayse stormes and +tempestes in the aire, either vpon Sea or land, though not vniuersally, +but in such a particular place and prescribed boundes, as God will +permitte them so to trouble: Which likewise is verie easie to be discerned +from anie other naturall tempestes that are meteores, in respect of the +suddaine and violent raising thereof, together with the short induring of +the same. And this is likewise verie possible to their master to do, he +hauing such affinitie with the aire as being a spirite, and hauing such +power of the forming and moouing thereof, as ye haue heard me alreadie +declare: For in the Scripture, that stile of _the Prince of the aire_ +(M21) is giuen vnto him. They can make folkes to becom phrenticque or +Maniacque, which likewise is very possible to their master to do, sence +they are but naturall sicknesses: and so he may lay on these kindes, +aswell as anie others. They can make spirites either to follow and trouble +persones, or haunt certaine houses, and affraie oftentimes the +inhabitantes: as hath bene knowen to be done by our Witches at this time. +And likewise they can make some to be possessed with spirites, & so to +becom verie Dæmoniacques: and this last sorte is verie possible likewise +to the Deuill their Master to do, since he may easilie send his owne +angells to trouble in what forme he pleases, any whom God wil permit him +so to vse. + +PHI. But will God permit these wicked instrumentes by the power of the +Deuill their master, to trouble by anie of these meanes, anie that +beleeues in him? + +EPI. No doubt, for there are three kinde of folkes whom God will permit so +to be tempted or troubled; the wicked for their horrible sinnes, to punish +them in the like measure; The godlie that are sleeping in anie great +sinnes or infirmities and weakenesse in faith, to waken them vp the faster +by such an vncouth forme: and euen some of the best, that their patience +may bee tryed before the world, as IOBS was. For why may not God vse anie +kinde of extraordinarie punishment, when it pleases him; as well as the +ordinarie roddes of sicknesse or other aduersities. + +PHI. Who then may be free from these Deuilish practises? + +EPI. No man ought to presume so far as to promise anie impunitie to +himselfe: for God hath before all beginninges preordinated aswell the +particular sortes of Plagues as of benefites for euerie man, which in the +owne time he ordaines them to be visited with, & yet ought we not to be +the more affrayde for that, of any thing that the Deuill and his wicked +instrumentes can do against vs: For we dailie fight against the Deuill in +a hundreth other waies: And therefore as a valiant Captaine, affraies no +more being at the combat, nor stayes from his purpose for the rummishing +shot of a Cannon, nor the small clack of a Pistolet: suppose he be not +certaine what may light vpon him; Euen so ought we boldlie to goe forwarde +in fighting against the Deuill without anie greater terrour, for these his +rarest weapons, nor for the ordinarie whereof wee haue daily the proofe. + +PHI. Is it not lawfull then by the helpe of some other Witche to cure the +disease that is casten on by that craft? + +EPI. No waies lawfull: For I gaue you the reason thereof in that axiome of +Theologie, which was the last wordes I spake of _Magie_. + +PHI. How then may these diseases be lawfullie cured? + +EPI. Onelie by earnest prayer to GOD, by amendement of their liues, and by +sharp persewing euerie one, according to his calling of these instrumentes +of Sathan, whose punishment to the death will be a salutarie sacrifice for +the patient. And this is not onely the lawfull way, but likewise the most +sure: For by the Deuils meanes, _can neuer the Deuill be casten out_, +(M22) as Christ sayeth. And when such a cure is vsed, it may wel serue for +a shorte time, but at the last, it will doubtleslie tend to the vtter +perdition of the patient, both in bodie and soule. + + + + +Chap. VI. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_What sorte of folkes are least or most subiect to receiue harme by +Witchcraft. What power they haue to harme the Magistrate, and vpon what +respectes they haue any power in prison: And to what end may or will the +Deuill appeare to them therein. Vpon what respectes the Deuill appeires in +sundry shapes to sundry of them at any time._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Bvt who dare take vpon him to punish them, if no man can be sure to be +free from their vnnaturall inuasiones? + +EPI. We ought not the more of that restraine from vertue, that the way +wherby we climbe thereunto be straight and perrilous. But besides that, as +there is no kinde of persones so subject to receiue harme of them, as +these that are of infirme and weake faith (which is the best buckler +against such inuasiones:) so haue they so smal power ouer none, as ouer +such as zealouslie and earnestlie persewes them, without sparing for anie +worldlie respect. + +PHI. Then they are like the Pest, which smites these sickarest, that flies +it farthest, and apprehends deepliest the perrell thereof. + +EPI. It is euen so with them: For neither is it able to them to vse anie +false cure vpon a patient, except the patient first beleeue in their +power, and so hazard the tinsell of his owne soule, nor yet can they haue +lesse power to hurte anie, nor such as contemnes most their doinges, so +being it comes of faith, and not of anie vaine arrogancie in themselues. + +PHI. But what is their power against the Magistrate? + +EPI. Lesse or greater, according as he deales with them. For if he be +slouthfull towardes them, God is verie able to make them instrumentes to +waken & punish his slouth. But if he be the contrarie, he according to the +iust law of God, and allowable law of all Nationes, will be diligent in +examining and punishing of them: GOD will not permit their master to +trouble or hinder so good a woorke. + +PHI. But fra they be once in handes and firmance, haue they anie further +power in their craft? + +EPI. That is according to the forme of their detention. If they be but +apprehended and deteined by anie priuate person, vpon other priuate +respectes, their power no doubt either in escaping, or in doing hurte, is +no lesse nor euer it was before. But if on the other parte, their +apprehending and detention be by the lawfull Magistrate, vpon the iust +respectes of their guiltinesse in that craft, their power is then no +greater then before that euer they medled with their master. For where God +beginnes iustlie to strike by his lawfull Lieutennentes, it is not in the +Deuilles power to defraude or bereaue him of the office, or effect of his +powerfull and reuenging Scepter. + +PHI. But will neuer their master come to visite them, fra they be once +apprehended and put in firmance? + +EPI. That is according to the estaite that these miserable wretches are +in: For if they be obstinate in still denying, he will not spare, when he +findes time to speake with them, either if he finde them in anie comfort, +to fill them more and more with the vaine hope of some maner of reliefe: +or else if hee finde them in a deepe dispaire, by all meanes to augment +the same, and to perswade them by some extraordinarie meanes to put +themselues downe, which verie commonlie they doe. But if they be penitent +and confesse, God will not permit him to trouble them anie more with his +presence and allurementes. + +PHI. It is not good vsing his counsell I see then. But I woulde earnestlie +know when he appeares to them in Prison, what formes vses he then to take? + +EPI. Diuers formes, euen as he vses to do at other times vnto them. For as +I told you, speking of _Magie_, he appeares to that kinde of craftes-men +ordinarily in an forme, according as they agree vpon it amongst +themselues: Or if they be but prentises, according to the qualitie of +their circles or conjurationes: Yet to these capped creatures, he appeares +as he pleases, and as he findes meetest for their humors. For euen at +their publick conuentiones, he appeares to diuers of them in diuers +formes, as we haue found by the difference of their confessiones in that +point: For he deluding them with vaine impressiones in the aire, makes +himselfe to seeme more terrible to the grosser sorte, that they maie +thereby be moued to feare and reuerence him the more: And les monstrous +and vncouthlike againe to the craftier sorte, least otherwaies they might +sturre and skunner at his vglinesse. + +PHI. How can he then be felt, as they confesse they haue done him, if his +bodie be but of aire? + +EPI. I heare little of that amongst their confessiones, yet may he make +himselfe palpable, either by assuming any dead bodie, and vsing the +ministrie thereof, or else by deluding as wel their sence of feeling as +seeing; which is not impossible to him to doe, since all our senses, as we +are so weake, and euen by ordinarie sicknesses will be often times +deluded. + +PHI. But I would speere one worde further yet, concerning his appearing to +them in prison, which is this. May any other that chances to be present at +that time in the prison, see him as well as they. + +EPI. Some-times they will, and some-times not, as it pleases God. + + + + +Chap. VII. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_Two formes of the deuils visible conuersing in the earth, with the +reasones wherefore the one of them was communest in the time of Papistrie: +And the other sensine. Those that denies the power of the Deuill, denies +the power of God, and are guiltie of the errour of the Sadduces._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Hath the Deuill then power to appeare to any other, except to such as are +his sworne disciples: especially since al Oracles, & such like kinds of +illusiones were taken awaie and abolished by the cumming of CHRIST? + +EPI. Although it be true indeede, that the brightnesse of the Gospell at +his cumming, scaled the cloudes of all these grosse errors in the +Gentilisme: yet that these abusing spirites, ceases not sensine at +sometimes to appeare, dailie experience teaches vs. Indeede this +difference is to be marked betwixt the formes of Sathans conuersing +visiblie in the world. For of two different formes thereof, the one of +them by the spreading of the Euangell, and conquest of the white horse, in +the sixt Chapter of the Reuelation, is much hindred and become rarer there +through. This his appearing to any Christians, troubling of them +outwardly, or possessing of them constraynedly. The other of them is +become communer and more vsed sensine, I meane by their vnlawfull artes, +whereupon our whole purpose hath bene. This we finde by experience in this +Ile to be true. For as we know, moe Ghostes and spirites were seene, nor +tongue can tell, in the time of blinde _Papistrie_ in these Countries, +where now by the contrarie, a man shall scarcely all his time here once of +such things. And yet were these vnlawfull artes farre rarer at that time: +and neuer were so much harde of, nor so rife as they are now. + +PHI. What should be the cause of that? + +EPI. The diuerse nature of our sinnes procures at the Iustice of God, +diuerse sortes of punishments answering thereunto. And therefore as in the +time of _Papistrie_, our fathers erring grosselie, & through ignorance, +that mist of errours ouershaddowed the Deuill to walke the more +familiarlie amongst them: And as it were by barnelie and affraying +terroures, to mocke and accuse their barnelie erroures. By the contrarie, +we now being sounde of Religion, and in our life rebelling to our +profession, God iustlie by that sinne of rebellion, as _Samuel_ calleth +it, accuseth our life so wilfullie fighting against our profession. + +PHI. Since yee are entred now to speake of the appearing of spirites: I +would be glad to heare your opinion in that matter. For manie denies that +anie such spirites can appeare in these daies as I haue said. + +EPI. Doubtleslie who denyeth the power of the Deuill, woulde likewise +denie the power of God, if they could for shame. For since the Deuill is +the verie contrarie opposite to God, there can be no better way to know +God, then by the contrarie; as by the ones power (though a creature) to +admire the power of the great Creator: by the falshood of the one to +considder the trueth of the other, by the injustice of the one, to +considder the Iustice of the other: And by the cruelty of the one, to +considder the mercifulnesse of the other: And so foorth in all the rest of +the essence of God, and qualities of the Deuill. But I feare indeede, +there be ouer many _Sadduces_ in this worlde, that denies all kindes of +spirites: For convicting of whose errour, there is cause inough if there +were no more, that God should permit at sometimes spirits visiblie to +kyith. + + + + + +THIRDE BOOKE. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The description of all these kindes of Spirites that troubles men or +women. The conclusion of the whole Dialogue._ + + + + +Chap. I. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The diuision of spirites in foure principall kindes. The description of +the first kinde of them, called __Spectra & vmbræ mortuorum__. What is the +best way to be free of their trouble._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +I pray you now then go forward in telling what ye thinke fabulous, or may +be trowed in that case. + +EPI. That kinde of the Deuils conuersing in the earth, may be diuided in +foure different kindes, whereby he affrayeth and troubleth the bodies of +men: For of the abusing of the soule, I haue spoken alreadie. The first +is, where spirites troubles some houses or solitarie places: The second, +where spirites followes vpon certaine persones, and at diuers houres +troubles them: The thirde, when they enter within them and possesse them: +The fourth is these kinde of spirites that are called vulgarlie the +Fayrie. Of the three former kindes, ye harde alreadie, how they may +artificiallie be made by Witch-craft to trouble folke: Now it restes to +speake of their naturall comming as it were, and not raysed by +Witch-craft. But generally I must for-warne you of one thing before I +enter in this purpose: that is, that although in my discourseing of them, +I deuyde them in diuers kindes, yee must notwithstanding there of note my +Phrase of speaking in that: For doubtleslie they are in effect, but all +one kinde of spirites, who for abusing the more of mankinde, takes on +these sundrie shapes, and vses diuerse formes of out-ward actiones, as if +some were of nature better then other. Nowe I returne to my purpose: As to +the first kinde of these spirites, that were called by the auncients by +diuers names, according as their actions were. For if they were spirites +that haunted some houses, by appearing in diuers and horrible formes, and +making greate dinne: they were called _Lemures_ or _Spectra_. If they +appeared in likenesse of anie defunct to some friends of his, they wer +called _vmbræ mortuorum_: And so innumerable stiles they got, according to +their actiones, as I haue said alreadie. As we see by experience, how +manie stiles they haue given them in our language in the like maner: Of +the appearing of these spirites, wee are certified by the Scriptures, +where the Prophet ESAY 13. (M23) and 34. cap. threatning the destruction +of _Babell_ and _Edom_: declares, that it shal not onlie be wracked, but +shall become so greate a solitude, as it shall be the habitackle of +Howlettes, and of ZIIM and IIM, which are the proper Hebrewe names for +these Spirites. The cause whie they haunte solitarie places, it is by +reason, that they may affraie and brangle the more the faith of suche as +them alone hauntes such places. For our nature is such, as in companies +wee are not so soone mooued to anie such kinde of feare, as being +solitare, which the Deuill knowing well inough, hee will not therefore +assaile vs but when we are weake: And besides that, GOD will not permit +him so to dishonour the societies and companies of Christians, as in +publicke times and places to walke visiblie amongst them. On the other +parte, when he troubles certaine houses that are dwelt in, it is a sure +token either of grosse ignorance, or of some grosse and slanderous sinnes +amongst the inhabitantes thereof: which God by that extraordinarie rod +punishes. + +PHI. But by what way or passage can these Spirites enter in these houses, +seeing they alledge that they will enter, Doore and Window being steiked? + +EPI. They will choose the passage for their entresse, according to the +forme that they are in at that time. For if they haue assumed a deade +bodie, whereinto they lodge themselues, they can easely inough open +without dinne anie Doore or Window, and enter in thereat. And if they +enter as a spirite onelie, anie place where the aire may come in at, is +large inough an entrie for them: For as I said before, a spirite can +occupie no quantitie. + +PHI. And will God then permit these wicked spirites to trouble the reste +of a dead bodie, before the resurrection thereof? Or if he will so, I +thinke it should be of the reprobate onely. + +EPI. What more is the reste troubled of a dead bodie, when the Deuill +carryes it out of the Graue to serue his turne for a space, nor when the +Witches takes it vp and joyntes it, or when as Swine wortes vppe the +graues? The rest of them that the Scripture speakes of, is not meaned by a +locall remaining continuallie in one place, but by their resting from +their trauelles and miseries of this worlde, while their latter +conjunction againe with the soule at that time to receaue full glorie in +both. And that the Deuill may vse aswell the ministrie of the bodies of +the faithfull in these cases, as of the vn-faithfull, there is no +inconvenient; for his haunting with their bodies after they are deade, can +no-waies defyle them: In respect of the soules absence. And for anie +dishonour it can be vnto them, by what reason can it be greater, then the +hanging, heading, or many such shameful deaths, that good men will suffer? +for there is nothing in the bodies of the faithfull, more worthie of +honour, or freer from corruption by nature, nor in these of the +vnfaithful, while time they be purged and glorified in the latter daie, as +is dailie seene by the vilde diseases and corruptions, that the bodies of +the faythfull are subject vnto, as yee will see clearelie proued, when I +speake of the possessed and Dæmoniacques. + +PHI. Yet there are sundrie that affirmes to haue haunted such places, +where these spirites are alleaged to be: And coulde neuer heare nor see +anie thing. + +EPI. I thinke well: For that is onelie reserued to the secreete knowledge +of God, whom he wil permit to see such thinges, and whome not. + +PHI. But where these spirites hauntes and troubles anie houses, what is +the best waie to banishe them? + +EPI. By two meanes may onelie the remeid of such things be procured: The +one is ardent prayer to God, both of these persones that are troubled with +them, and of that Church whereof they are. The other is the purging of +themselues by amendement of life from such sinnes, as haue procured that +extraordinarie plague. + +PHI. And what meanes then these kindes of spirites, when they appeare in +the shaddow of a person newlie dead, or to die, to his friendes? + +EPI. When they appeare vpon that occasion, they are called Wraithes in our +language. Amongst the _Gentiles_ the Deuill vsed that much, to make them +beleeue that it was some good spirite that appeared to them then, ether to +forewarne them of the death of their friend; or else to discouer vnto +them, the will of the defunct, or what was the way of his slauchter, as is +written in the booke of the histories Prodigious. And this way hee easelie +deceiued the _Gentiles_, because they knew not God: And to that same +effect is it, that he now appeares in that maner to some ignorant +Christians. For he dare not so illude anie that knoweth that, neither can +the spirite of the defunct returne to his friend, or yet an Angell vse +such formes. + +PHI. And are not our war-woolfes one sorte of these spirits also, that +hauntes and troubles some houses or dwelling places? + +EPI. There hath indeede bene an old opinion of such like thinges; For by +the _Greekes_ they were called λυκανθρωποι which signifieth men-woolfes. +But to tell you simplie my opinion in this, if anie such thing hath bene, +I take it to haue proceeded but of a naturall super-abundance of +Melancholie, which as wee reade, that it hath made some thinke themselues +Pitchers, and some horses, and some one kinde of beast or other: So +suppose I that it hath so viciat the imagination and memorie of some, as +_per lucida interualla_, it hath so highlie occupyed them, that they haue +thought themselues verrie Woolfes indeede at these times: and so haue +counterfeited their actiones in goeing on their handes and feete, +preassing to deuoure women and barnes, fighting and snatching with all the +towne dogges, and in vsing such like other bruitish actiones, and so to +become beastes by a strong apprehension, (M24) as _Nebucad-netzar_ was +seuen yeares: but as to their hauing and hyding of their hard & schellie +sloughes, I take that to be but eiked, by vncertaine report, the author of +all lyes. + + + + +Chap. II. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The description of the next two kindes of Spirites, whereof the one +followes outwardlie, the other possesses inwardlie the persones that they +trouble. That since all Prophecies and visiones are nowe ceased, all +spirites that appeares in these formes are euill._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Come forward now to the reste of these kindes of spirites. + +EPI. As to the next two kindes, that is, either these that outwardlie +troubles and followes some persones, or else inwardlie possesses them: I +will conjoyne them in one, because aswel the causes ar alike in the +persons that they are permitted to trouble: as also the waies whereby they +may be remedied and cured. + +PHI. What kinde of persones are they that vses to be so troubled? + +EPI. Two kindes in speciall: Either such as being guiltie of greeuous +offences, God punishes by that horrible kinde of scourdge, or else being +persones of the beste nature peraduenture, that yee shall finde in all the +Countrie about them, GOD permittes them to be troubled in that sort, for +the tryall of their patience, and wakening vp of their zeale, for +admonishing of the beholders, not to truste ouer much in themselues, since +they are made of no better stuffe, and peraduenture blotted with no +smaller sinnes (as CHRIST saide, (M25) speaking of them vppon whome the +Towre in _Siloam_ fell:) And for giuing likewise to the spectators, matter +to prayse GOD, that they meriting no better, are yet spared from being +corrected in that fearefull forme. + +PHI. These are good reasones for the parte of GOD, which apparantlie +mooues him so to permit the Deuill to trouble such persones. But since the +Deuil hath euer a contrarie respecte in all the actiones that GOD employes +him in: which is I pray you the end and mark he shoots at in this turne? + +EPI. It is to obtaine one of two thinges thereby, if he may: The one is +the tinsell of their life, by inducing them to such perrilous places at +such time as he either followes or possesses them, which may procure the +same: And such like, so farre as GOD will permit him, by tormenting them +to weaken their bodie, and caste them in incurable diseases. The other +thinge that hee preases to obteine by troubling of them, is the tinsell of +their soule, by intising them to mistruste and blaspheme God: Either for +the intollerablenesse of their tormentes, as he assayed to haue done with +IOB; (M26) or else for his promising vnto them to leaue the troubling of +them, incase they would so do, as is knowen by experience at this same +time by the confession of a young one that was so troubled. + +PHI. Since ye haue spoken now of both these kindes of spirites +comprehending them in one: I must nowe goe backe againe in speering some +questions of euerie one of these kindes in speciall. And first for these +that followes certaine persones, yee know that there are two sortes of +them: One sorte that troubles and tormentes the persones that they haunt +with: An other sort that are seruiceable vnto them in all kinde of their +necessaries, and omittes neuer to forwarne them of anie suddaine perrell +that they are to be in. And so in this case, I would vnderstande whither +both these sortes be but wicked and damned spirites: Or if the last sorte +be rather Angells, (as should appeare by their actiones) sent by God to +assist such as he speciallie fauoures. For it is written in the +Scriptures, (M27) that _God sendes Legions of Angels to guarde and watch +ouer his elect_. + +EPI. I know well inough where fra that errour which ye alleage hath +proceeded: For it was the ignorant _Gentiles_ that were the fountaine +thereof. Who for that they knew not God, they forged in their owne +imaginationes, euery man to be still accompanied with two spirites, +whereof they called the one _genius bonus_, the other _genius malus_: the +Greekes called them ευδαιμονα & κακοδαιμονα: wherof the former they saide, +perswaded him to all the good he did: the other entised him to all the +euill. But praised be God we that are christians, & walks not amongst the +_Cymmerian_ conjectures of man, knowes well inough, that it is the good +spirite of God onely, who is the fountain of all goodnes, that perswads vs +to the thinking or doing of any good: and that it is our corrupted fleshe +and Sathan, that intiseth vs to the contrarie. And yet the Deuill for +confirming in the heades of ignoraunt Christians, that errour first +mainteined among the Gentiles, he whiles among the first kinde of spirits +that I speak of, appeared in time of _Papistrie_ and blindnesse, and +haunted diuers houses, without doing any euill, but doing as it were +necessarie turnes vp and down the house: and this spirit they called +_Brownie_ in our language, who appeared like a rough-man: yea, some were +so blinded, as to beleeue that their house was all the sonsier, as they +called it, that such spirites resorted there. + +PHI. But since the Deuils intention in all his actions, is euer to do +euill, what euill was there in that forme of doing, since their actions +outwardly were good. + +EPI. Was it not euill inough to deceiue simple ignorantes, in making them +to take him for an Angell of light, and so to account of Gods enemie, as +of their particular friend: where by the contrarie, all we that are +Christians, ought assuredly to know that since the comming of Christ in +the flesh, and establishing of his Church by the Apostles, all miracles, +visions, prophecies, & appearances of Angels or good spirites are ceased. +Which serued onely for the first sowing of faith, & planting of the +Church. Where now the Church being established, and the white Horse +whereof I spake before, hauing made his conqueste, the Lawe and Prophets +are thought sufficient to serue vs, or make vs inexcusable, (M28) as +Christ saith in his parable of _Lazarus_ and the riche man. + + + + +Chap. III. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The description of a particular sort of that kind of following spirites, +called __Incubi__ and __Succubi__: And what is the reason wherefore these +kindes of spirites hauntes most the Northeme and barbarous partes of the +world._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +The next question that I would speere, is likewise concerning this first +of these two kindes of spirites that ye haue conjoyned: and it is this; ye +knowe how it is commonly written and reported, that amongst the rest of +the sortes of spirites that followes certaine persons, there is one more +monstrous nor al the rest: in respect as it is alleaged, they converse +naturally with them whom they trouble and hauntes with: and therefore I +would knowe in two thinges your opinion herein: First if suche a thing can +be: and next if it be: whether there be a difference of sexes amongst +these spirites or not. + +EPI. That abhominable kinde of the Deuils abusing of men or women, was +called of old, _Incubi_ and _Succubi_, according to the difference of the +sexes that they conuersed with. By two meanes this great kinde of abuse +might possibly be performed: The one, when the Deuill onelie as a spirite, +and stealing out the sperme of a dead bodie, abuses them that way, they +not graithlie seeing anie shape or feeling anie thing, but that which he +so conuayes in that part: As we reade of a Monasterie of Nunnes which were +burnt for their being that way abused. The other meane is when he borrowes +a dead bodie and so visiblie, and as it seemes vnto them naturallie as a +man converses with them. But it is to be noted, that in whatsoeuer way he +vseth it, that sperme seemes intollerably cold to the person abused. For +if he steale out the nature of a quick person, it cannot be so quicklie +carryed, but it will both tine the strength and heate by the way, which it +could neuer haue had for lacke of agitation, which in the time of +procreation is the procurer & wakener vp of these two natural qualities. +And if he occupying the dead bodie as his lodging expell the same out +thereof in the dewe time, it must likewise be colde by the participation +with the qualities of the dead bodie whereout of it comes. And whereas yee +inquire if these spirites be diuided in sexes or not, I thinke the rules +of Philosophie may easelie resolue a man of the contrarie: For it is a +sure principle of that arte, that nothing can be diuided in sexes, except +such liuing bodies as must haue a naturall seede to genere by. But we know +spirites hath no seede proper to themselues, nor yet can they gender one +with an other. + +PHI. How is it then that they say sundrie monsters haue bene gotten by +that way. + +EPI. These tales are nothing but _Aniles fabulæ_. For that they haue no +nature of their owne, I haue shewed you alreadie. And that the cold nature +of a dead bodie, can woorke nothing in generation, it is more nor plaine, +as being already dead of it selfe as well as the rest of the bodie is, +wanting the naturall heate, and such other naturall operation, as is +necessarie for woorking that effect, and incase such a thing were possible +(which were all utterly against all the rules of nature) it would breed no +monster, but onely such a naturall of-spring, as would haue cummed betuixt +that man or woman and that other abused person, in-case they both being +aliue had had a doe with other. For the Deuilles parte therein, is but the +naked carrying or expelling of that substance: And so it coulde not +participate with no qualitie of the same. Indeede, it is possible to the +craft of the Deuill to make a womans bellie to swel after he hath that way +abused her, which he may do, either by steiring vp her own humor, or by +herbes, as we see beggars daily doe. And when the time of her deliuery +should come to make her thoil great doloures, like vnto that naturall +course, and then subtillie to slippe in the Mid-wiues handes, stockes, +stones, or some monstruous barne brought from some other place, but this +is more reported and gessed at by others, nor beleeued by me. + +PHI. But what is the cause that this kinde of abuse is thought to be most +common in such wild partes of the worlde, as _Lap-land_, and _Fin-land_, +or in our North Iles of _Orknay_ and _Schet-land_. + +EPI. Because where the Deuill findes greatest ignorance and barbaritie, +there assayles he grosseliest, as I gaue you the reason wherefore there +was moe Witches of women kinde nor men. + +PHI. Can anie be so vnhappie as to giue their willing consent to the +Deuilles vilde abusing them in this forme. + +EPI. Yea, some of the Witches haue confessed, that he hath perswaded them +to giue their willing consent thereunto, that he may thereby haue them +feltred the sikarer in his snares; But as the other compelled sorte is to +be pittied and prayed for, so is this most highlie to be punished and +detested. + +PHI. It is not the thing which we cal the _Mare_, which takes folkes +sleeping in their bedds, a kinde of these spirites, whereof ye are +speaking? + +EPI. No, that is but a naturall sicknes, which the Mediciners hath giuen +that name of _Incubus_ vnto _ab incubando_, because it being a thicke +fleume, falling into our breast vpon the harte, while we are sleeping, +intercludes so our vitall spirites, and takes all power from vs, as maks +vs think that there were some vnnaturall burden or spirite, lying vpon vs +and holding vs downe. + + + + +Chap. IIII. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The description of the Dæmoniackes & possessed. By what reason the +__Papistes__ may haue power to cure them._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Wel, I haue told you now all my doubts, and ye haue satisfied me therein, +concerning the first of these two kindes of spirites that ye haue +conjoyned. Now I am to inquire onely two thinges at you concerning the +last kinde, I meane the Dæmoniackes. The first is, whereby shal these +possessed folks be discerned fra them that ar trubled with a natural +Phrensie or Manie. The next is, how can it be that they can be remedied by +the Papistes Church, whome wee counting as Hereticques, (M29) it should +appeare that one Deuil should not cast out an other, for then would _his +kingdome be diuided in it selfe_, as CHRIST said. + +EPI. As to your first question; there are diuers symptomes, whereby that +heauie trouble may be discerned from a naturall sickenesse, and speciallie +three, omitting the diuers vaine signes that the _Papistes_ attributes +vnto it: Such as the raging at holie water, their fleeing a back from the +Croce, their not abiding the hearing of God named, and innumerable such +like vaine thinges that were alike fashious and feckles to recite. But to +come to these three symptomes then, whereof I spake, I account the one of +them to be the incredible strength of the possessed creature, which will +farre exceede the strength of six of the wightest and wodest of any other +men that are not so troubled. The next is the boldning vp so far of the +patients breast and bellie, with such an vnnaturall sturring and vehement +agitation within them: And such an ironie hardnes of his sinnowes so +stiffelie bended out, that it were not possible to prick out as it were +the skinne of anie other person so far: so mightely works the Deuil in all +the members and senses of his body, he being locallie within the same, +suppose of his soule and affectiones thereof, hee haue no more power then +of any other mans. The last is, the speaking of sundrie languages, which +the patient is knowen by them that were acquainte with him neuer to haue +learned, and that with an vncouth and hollowe voice, and al the time of +his speaking, a greater motion being in his breast then in his mouth. But +fra this last symptome is excepted such, as are altogether in the time of +their possessing bereft of al their senses being possessed with a dumme +and blynde spirite, whereof Christ releiued one, in the 12. of _Mathew_. +And as to your next demande, it is first to be doubted if the _Papistes_ +or anie not professing the the onelie true Religion, can relieue anie of +that trouble. And next, in-case they can, vpon what respectes it is +possible vnto them. As to the former vpon two reasons, it is grounded: +first that it is knowen so manie of them to bee counterfite, which wyle +the Clergie inuentes for confirming of their rotten Religion. The next is, +that by experience we finde that few, who are possessed indeede, are +fullie cured by them: but rather the Deuill is content to release the +bodelie hurting of them, for a shorte space, thereby to obteine the +perpetual hurt of the soules of so many that by these false miracles may +be induced or confirmed in the profession of that erroneous Religion: euen +as I told you before that he doth in the false cures, or casting off of +diseases by Witches. As to the other part of the argument in-case they +can, which rather (with reuerence of the learned thinking otherwaies) I am +induced to beleeue, by reason of the faithfull report that men sound of +religion, haue made according to their sight thereof, I think if so be, I +say these may be the respectes, whereupon the _Papistes_ may haue that +power. CHRIST gaue a commission and power to his Apostles to cast out +Deuilles, which they according thereunto put in execution: The rules he +bad them obserue in that action, was fasting and praier: & the action it +selfe to be done in his name. This power of theirs proceeded not then of +anie vertue in them, but onely in him who directed them. As was clearly +proued by _Iudas_ his hauing as greate power in that commission, as anie +of the reste. It is easie then to be vnderstand that the casting out of +Deuilles, is by the vertue of fasting and prayer, and in-calling of the +name of God, suppose manie imperfectiones be in the person that is the +instrumente,(M30) as CHRIST him selfe teacheth vs of the power that false +Prophets sall haue to caste out Devils. It is no wounder then, these +respects of this action being considered, that it may be possible to the +_Papistes_, though erring in sundrie points of Religion to accomplish +this, if they vse the right forme prescribed by CHRIST herein. For what +the worse is that action that they erre in other thinges, more then their +Baptisme is the worse that they erre in the other Sacrament, and haue +eiked many vaine freittes to the Baptisme it selfe. + +PHI. Surelie it is no little wonder that God should permit the bodies of +anie of the faithfull to be so dishonoured, as to be a dwelling place to +that vncleane spirite. + +EPI. There is it which I told right now, would prooue and strengthen my +argument of the deuils entring in the dead bodies of the faithfull. For if +he is permitted to enter in their liuing bodies, euen when they are ioyned +with the soule: how much more will God permit him to enter in their dead +carions, which is no more man, but the filthie and corruptible caise of +man. For as CHRIST sayth, (M31) _It is not any thing that enters within +man that defiles him, but onely that which proccedes and commeth out of +him_. + + + + +Chap. V. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_The description of the fourth kinde of Spirites called the_ Phairie: +_What is possible therein, and what is but illusiones. How far this +Dialogue entreates of all these thinges, and to what end._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Now I pray you come on to that fourth kinde of spirites. + +EPI. That fourth kinde of spirites, which by the Gentiles was called +_Diana_, and her wandring court, and amongst vs was called the _Phairie_ +(as I tould you) or our good neighboures, was one of the sortes of +illusiones that was rifest in the time of _Papistrie_: for although it was +holden odious to Prophesie by the deuill, yet whome these kinde of +Spirites carryed awaie, and informed, they were thought to be sonsiest and +of best life. To speake of the many vaine trattles founded vpon that +illusion: How there was a King and Queene of _Phairie_, of such a iolly +court & train as they had, how they had a teynd, & dutie, as it were, of +all goods: how they naturallie rode and went, eate and drank, and did all +other actiones like naturall men and women: I thinke it liker VIRGILS +_Campi Elysij_, nor anie thing that ought to be beleeued by Christians, +except in generall, that as I spake sundrie times before, the deuil +illuded the senses of sundry simple creatures, in making them beleeue that +they saw and harde such thinges as were nothing so indeed. + +PHI. But how can it be then, that sundrie Witches haue gone to death with +that confession, that they haue ben transported with the _Phairie_ to such +a hill, which opening, they went in, and there saw a faire Queene, who +being now lighter, gaue them a stone that had sundrie vertues, which at +sundrie times hath bene produced in judgement? + +EPI. I say that, euen as I said before of that imaginar rauishing of the +spirite foorth of the bodie. For may not the deuil object to their +fantasie, their senses being dulled, and as it were a sleepe, such hilles +& houses within them, such glistering courts and traines, and whatsoeuer +such like wherewith he pleaseth to delude them. And in the meane time +their bodies being senselesse, to conuay in their hande any stone or such +like thing, which he makes them to imagine to haue receiued in such a +place. + +PHI. But what say ye to their fore-telling the death of sundrie persones, +whome they alleage to haue scene in these places? That is, a sooth-dreame +(as they say) since they see it walking. + +EPI. I thinke that either they haue not bene sharply inough examined, that +gaue so blunt a reason for their Prophesie, or otherwaies, I thinke it +likewise as possible that the Deuill may prophesie to them when he +deceiues their imaginationes in that sorte, as well as when he plainely +speakes vnto them at other times for their prophesying, is but by a kinde +of vision, as it were, wherein he commonly counterfeits God among the +Ethnicks, as I told you before. + +PHI. I would know now whether these kindes of spirites may only appeare to +Witches, or if they may also appeare to anie other. + +EPI. They may do to both, to the innocent sort, either to affraie them, or +to seeme to be a better sorte of folkes nor vncleane spirites are, and to +the Witches, to be a cullour of safetie for them, that ignorant +Magistrates may not punish them for it, as I told euen now. But as the one +sorte, for being perforce troubled with them ought to be pittied, so ought +the other sorte (who may bee discerned by their taking vppon them to +Prophesie by them,) That sorte I say, ought as seuerely to be punished as +any other Witches, and rather the more, that that they goe dissemblingly +to woorke. + +PHI. And what makes the spirites haue so different names from others. + +EPI. Euen the knauerie of that same deuil; who as hee illudes the +_Necromancers_ with innumerable feyned names for him and his angels, as in +special, making _Sathan_, _Beelzebub_, & _Lucifer_, to be three sundry +spirites, where we finde the two former, but diuers names giuen to the +Prince of all the rebelling angels by the Scripture. As by CHRIST, the +Prince of all the Deuilles is called, _Beelzebub_ in that place, which I +alleaged against the power of any hereticques to cast out Deuils. By IOHN +in the Reuelation, the old tempter is called, _Sathan the Prince of all +the euill angels_. And the last, to wit, _Lucifer_, is but by allegoric +taken from _the day Starre_ (so named in diuers places of the Scriptures) +because of his excellencie (I meane the Prince of them) in his creation +before his fall. Euen so I say he deceaues the Witches, by attributing to +himselfe diuers names: as if euery diuers shape that he trans formes +himselfe in, were a diuers kinde of spirit. + +PHI. But I haue hard many moe strange tales of this _Phairie_, nor ye haue +yet told me. + +EPI. As well I do in that, as I did in all the rest of my discourse. For +because the ground of this conference of ours, proceeded of your speering +at me at our meeting, if there was such a thing as Witches or spirites: +And if they had any power: I therefore haue framed my whole discours, only +to proue that such things are and may be, by such number of examples as I +show to be possible by reason: & keepes me from dipping any further in +playing the part of a Dictionarie, to tell what euer I haue read or harde +in that purpose, which both would exceede fayth, and rather would seeme to +teach such vnlawfull artes, nor to disallow and condemne them, as it is +the duetie of all Christians to do. + + + + +Chap. VI. + + +ARGVMENT. + +_Of the tryall and punishment of Witches. What sorte of accusation ought +to be admitted against them. What is the cause of the increasing so far of +their number in this age._ + +PHILOMATHES. + +Then to make an ende of our conference, since I see it drawes late, what +forme of punishment thinke ye merites these _Magicians_ and Witches? For I +see that ye account them to be all alike guiltie? + +EPI. They ought to be put to death according to the Law of God, the ciuill +and imperial law, and municipall law of all Christian nations. + +PHI. But what kinde of death I pray you? + +EPI. It is commonly vsed by fire, but that is an indifferent thing to be +vsed in euery cuntrie, according to the Law or custome thereof. + +PHI. But ought no sexe, age nor ranck to be exempted? + +EPI. None at al (being so vsed by the lawful Magistrate) for it is the +highest poynt of Idolatrie, wherein no exception is admitted by the law of +God. + +PHI. Then bairnes may not be spared? + +EPI. Yea, not a haire the lesse of my conclusion. For they are not that +capable of reason as to practise such thinges. And for any being in +company and not reueiling thereof, their lesse and ignorant age will no +doubt excuse them. + +PHI. I see ye condemne them all that are of the counsell of such craftes. + +EPI. No doubt, for as I said, speaking of _Magie_, the consulters, +trusters in, ouer-seers, interteiners or sturrers vp of these +craftes-folkes, are equallie guiltie with themselues that are the +practisers. + +PHI. Whether may the Prince then, or supreame Magistrate, spare or +ouer-see any that are guiltie of that craft? vpon som great respects +knowen to him? + +EPI. The Prince or Magistrate for further tryals cause, may continue the +punishing of them such a certaine space as he thinkes conuenient: But in +the end to spare the life, and not to strike when God bids strike, and so +seuerelie punish in so odious a fault & treason against God, it is not +only vnlawful, but doubtlesse no lesse sinne in that Magistrate, nor it +was in SAVLES sparing of AGAG. And so comparable (M32) to the sin of +Witch-craft it selfe, as SAMVELL alleaged at that time. + +PHI. Surely then, I think since this crime ought to be so seuerely +punished. Judges ought to beware to condemne any, but such as they are +sure are guiltie, neither should the clattering reporte of a carling serue +in so weightie a case. + +EPI. Iudges ought indeede to beware whome they condemne: For it is as +great a crime (M33) (as SALOMON sayeth,) _To condemne the innocent, as to +let the guiltie escape free_; neither ought the report of any one infamous +person, be admitted for a sufficient proofe, which can stand of no law. + +PHI. And what may a number then of guilty persons confessions, woork +against one that is accused? + +EPI. The assise must serue for interpretour of our law in that respect. +But in my opinion, since in a mater of treason against the Prince, barnes +or wiues, or neuer so diffamed persons, may of our law serue for +sufficient witnesses and proofes. I thinke surely that by a far greater +reason, such witnesses may be sufficient in matters of high treason +against God: For who but Witches can be prooues, and so witnesses of the +doings of Witches. + +PHI. Indeed, I trow they wil be loath to put any honest man vpon their +counsell. But what if they accuse folke to haue bene present at their +Imaginar conuentiones in the spirite, when their bodies lyes sencelesse, +as ye haue said. + +EPI. I think they are not a haire the lesse guiltie: For the Deuill durst +neuer haue borrowed their shaddow or similitude to that turne, if their +consent had not bene at it: And the consent in these turnes is death of +the law. + +PHI. Then SAMVEL was a Witch: For the Deuill resembled his shape, and +played his person in giuing response to SAVLE. + +EPI. SAMVEL was dead aswell before that; and so none coulde slander him +with medling in that vnlawfull arte. For the cause why, as I take it, that +God will not permit Sathan to vse the shapes or similitudes of any +innocent persones at such vnlawful times, is that God wil not permit that +any innocent persons shalbe slandered with that vile defection: for then +the deuil would find waies anew, to calumniate the best. And this we haue +in proofe by them that are carryed with the _Phairie_, who neuer see the +shaddowes of any in that courte, but of them that thereafter are tryed to +haue bene brethren and sisters of that craft. And this was likewise proued +by the confession of a young Lasse, troubled with spirites, laide on her +by Witchcraft. That although shee saw the shapes of diuerse men & women +troubling her, and naming the persons whom these shaddowes represents: yet +neuer one of them are found to be innocent, but al clearely tried to be +most guilty, & the most part of them confessing the same. And besides +that, I think it hath ben seldome harde tell of, that any whome persones +guiltie of that crime accused, as hauing knowen them to be their marrowes +by eye-sight, and not by hear-say, but such as were so accused of +Witch-craft, could not be clearely tryed vpon them, were at the least +publickly knowen to be of a very euil life & reputation: so iealous is God +I say, of the fame of them that are innocent in such causes. And besides +that; there are two other good helpes that may be vsed for their trial: +the one is the finding of their marke, and the trying the insensiblenes +thereof. The other is their fleeting on the water: for as in a secret +murther, if the deade carcase be at any time thereafter handled by the +murtherer, it wil gush out of bloud, as if the blud wer crying to the +heauen for reuenge of the murtherer, God hauing appoynted that secret +super-naturall signe, for tryall of that secrete vnnaturall crime, so it +appeares that God hath appoynted (for a super-naturall signe of the +monstruous impietie of the Witches) that the water shal refuse to receiue +them in her bosom, that haue shaken off them the sacred Water of Baptisme, +and wilfullie refused the benefite thereof: No not so much as their eyes +are able to shed teares (thretten and torture them as ye please) while +first they repent (God not permitting them to dissemble their obstinacie +in so horrible a crime) albeit the women kinde especially, be able +other-waies to shed teares at euery light occasion when they will, yea, +although it were dissemblingly like the _Crocodiles_. + +PHI. Well, wee haue made this conference to last as long as leasure would +permit: And to conclude then, since I am to take my leaue of you, I pray +God to purge this Cuntrie of these diuellishe practises: for they were +neuer so rife in these partes, as they are now. + +EPI. I pray God that so be to. But the causes ar ouer manifest, that makes +them to be so rife. For the greate wickednesse of the people on the one +parte, procures this horrible defection, whereby God justlie punisheth +sinne, by a greater iniquitie. And on the other part, the consummation of +the worlde, and our deliuerance drawing neare, (M34) makes Sathan to rage +the more in his instruments, knowing his kingdome to be so neare an ende. +And so fare-well for this time. + +FINIS. + + + + + +NEWES FROM SCOTLAND. + + +Declaring the Damnable _life and death of Doctor Fian, a_ notable +Sorcerer, who was burned at Edenbrough in Ianuary last. 1591. + +_Which Doctor was regester to the Diuell_ that sundry times preached at +North Barrick Kirke, to a number of notorious Witches. + +With the true examinations of the saide Doctor and Witches, as they +vttered them in the presence _of the Scottish King_. + +Discouering how they pretended _to bewitch and drowne his Maiestie in the +Sea_ comming from Denmark with such _other wonderfull matters as the like +hath not been heard of at any time_. + +Published according to the Scottish Coppie. + +AT LONDON +Printed for William _Wright_. + + [Illustration: Country Scene] + + + + +To the Reader. + + +The Manifolde vntruthes which is spread abroade, concerning the detestable +actions and apprehension of those Witches wherof this Historye following +truely entreateth, hath caused me to publish the same in print: and the +rather for that sundrie written Copies are lately dispersed therof, +containing, that the said witches were first discouered, by meanes of a +poore Pedler trauailing to the towne of _Trenent_, and that by a +wonderfull manner he was in a moment conuayed at midnight, from _Scotland_ +to _Burdeux_ in _Fraunce_ (beeing places of no small distance between) +into a Marchants Seller there, & after, being sent from _Burdeux_ into +_Scotland_ by certaine Scottish Marchants to the Kinges Maiestie, that he +discouered those Witches and was the cause of their apprehension: with a +number of matters miraculous and incredible: All which in truthe are moste +false. Neuertheles to satisfie a number of honest mindes, who are desirous +to be enformed of the veritie and trueth of their confessions, which for +certaintie is more stranger then the common reporte runneth, and yet with +more trueth I haue undertaken to publish this short Treatise, which +declareth the true discourse of all that hath hapned, & aswell what was +pretended by those wicked and detestable Witches against the Kinges +Maiestie, as also by what meanes they wrought the same. + +All which examinations (gentle Reader) I haue heere truelye published, as +they were taken and uttered in the presence of the Kings Maiestie, praying +thee to accept it for veritie, the same beeing so true as cannot be +reproued. + + + + +Discourse. + + +A true discourse, of the apprehension of sundrye Witches lately taken in +Scotland, some are executed, and some are yet imprisoned. + +With a particuler recitall of their examinations, taken in the presence of +the Kinges Maiestie. + +God by his omnipotent power, hath at al times and daily doth take such +care, and is so vigillant, for the weale and preseruation of his owne, +that thereby he disapointeth the wicked practises and euil intents of all +such as by any meanes whatsoeuer, seeke indirectly to conspire any thing +contrary to his holy will: yea and by the same power, he hath lately +ouerthrown and hindered the intentions and wicked dealinges of a great +number of vngodly creatures, no better then Diuels: who suffering +themselues to be allured and inticed by the Diuell whom they serued, and +to whome they were priuatelye sworne: entered into the detestable Art of +witchcraft, which they studied and practised so long time, that in the end +they had seduced by their sorcery a number of other to be as bad as +themselues: dwelling in the boundes of _Lowthian_, which is a principall +shire or parte of _Scotland_, where the Kings Maiestie vseth to make his +cheefest residence or abode: and to the end that their detestable +wickednes which they priuilye had pretended against the Kings Maiestie, +the Common-weale of that Country, with the Nobilitie and subjects of the +same, should come to light: God of his vnspeakeable goodnes did reueale +and lay it open in very strange sorte, therby to make knowne vnto the +worlde, that there actions were contrarye to the lawe of God, and the +naturall affection which we ought generallye to beare one to another: the +manner of the reuealing wherof was as followeth. + +Within the towne of _Trenent_ in the Kingdome of _Scotland_, there +dwelleth one _Dauid Seaton_, who being deputie Bailiffe in the saide +Towne, had a maide seruant called _Geillis Duncane_, who vsed secretly to +be absent and to lye foorth of her Maisters house euery other night: this +_Geillis Duncane_ took in hand to help all such as were troubled or +greeued with any kinde of sicknes or infirmitie: and in short space did +perfourme manye matters most miraculous, which thinges forasmuch as she +began to doe them vpon a sodaine, hauing neuer doon the like before, made +her Maister and others to be in great admiracion, and wondred thereat: by +meanes wherof the saide _Dauid Seaton_ had his maide in some great +suspition, that she did not those things by naturall and lawfull wayes, +but rather supposed it to be doone by some extraordinary and vnlawfull +meanes. + +Whervpon, her Maister began to growe very inquisitiue, and examined her +which way and by what meanes she were able to perfourme matters of so +great importance: whereat she gaue him no answere, neuerthelesse, her +Maister to the intent that he might the better trye and finde out the +trueth of the same, did with the helpe of others, torment her with the +torture of the Pilliwinckes vpon her fingers, which is a greeuous torture, +and binding or wrinching her head with a corde or roape, which is a most +cruell torment also, yet would she not confesse any thing, whereupon they +suspecting that she had beene marked by the Diuell (as commonly witches +are) made dilligent search about her, and found the enemies marke to be in +her fore crag or foreparte of her throate: which being found, she +confessed that all her dooings was doone by the wicked allurements and +inticements of the Diuell, and that she did them by witchcraft. + + [Illustration: Examination of several witches] + +After this her confession, she was committed to prison, where she +continued for a season, where immediatly she accused these persons +following to be notorious witches, and caused them foorthwith to be +apprehended one after an other, vidz. _Agnis Sampson_ the eldest Witch of +them al, dwelling in Haddington, _Agnes Tompson_ of Edenbrough, Doctor +_Fian_, _alias Iohn Cunningham_, maister of the Schoole at Saltpans in +Lowthian, of whose life and strange actes, you shall heare more largely in +the ende of this discourse: these were by the saide _Geillis Duncane_ +accused, as also _George Motts_ wife dwelling in Saltpans, _Robert +Griersonn_ skipper, and _Iennit Bandilandis_, with the Porters wife of +Seaton, the Smith at the brigge Hallis with innumerable others in that +partes, and dwelling in those bounds aforesaide: of whom some are alreadye +executed, the rest remaine in prison, to receiue the doome of Iudgement at +the Kings maiesties will and pleasure. + +The said _Geillis Duncane_ also caused _Ewphame Meealrean_ to be +apprehended, who conspired and perfourmed the death of her Godfather, and +who vsed her art vpon a gentleman being one of the Lords and Iustices of +the Session, for bearing good will to her Daughter: she also caused to be +apprehended one _Barbara Naper_, for bewitching to death _Archibalde_, +last Earle of Angus, who languished to death by witchcraft and yet the +same was not suspected, but that he died of so strange a disease, as the +Phisition knew not how to cure or remedy the same: but of all other the +saide witches, these two last before recited, were reputed for as ciuill +honest women as any that dwelled within the Citie of Edenbrough, before +they were apprehended. Many other besides were taken dwelling in Lieth, +who are detayned in prison, vntill his Maiesties further will and pleasure +be known: of whose wicked dooings you shall particularly heare, which was +as followeth. + +This aforeaside _Agnis Sampson_ which was the elder Witch, was taken and +brought to Haliciud house before the Kings Maiestie and sundry other of +the nobility of Scotland, where she was straitly examined, but all the +perswasions which the Kings maiestie vsed to her with the rest of his +counsell, might not prouoke or induce her to confesse any thing, but stood +stiffely in the deniall of all that was laide to her charge: whervpon they +caused her to be conueied awaye to prison, there to receiue such torture +as hath been lately prouided for witches in that country: and forasmuch as +by due examination of witchcraft and witches in Scotland, it hath latelye +beene found that the Deuill dooth generallye marke them with a priuie +marke, by reason the Witches haue confessed themselues, that the Diuell +dooth lick them with his tung in some priuy part of their bodie, before +hee dooth receiue them to be his seruants, which marke commonly is giuen +them vnder the haire in some part of their bodye, wherby it may not easily +be found out or scene, although they be searched: and generally so long as +the marke is not seene to those which search them, so long the parties +that hath the marke will neuer confesse any thing. Therfore by special +commaundement this _Agnis Sampson_ had all her haire shauen of, in each +parte of her bodie, and her head thrawen with a rope according to the +custome of that Countrye, beeing a paine most greeuous, which she +continued almost an hower, during which time she would not confesse any +thing vntill the Diuels marke was found vpon her priuities, then she +immediatlye confessed whatsoeuer was demaunded of her, and iustifying +those persons aforesaid to be notorious witches. + +Item, the saide _Agnis Tompson_ was after brought againe before the Kings +Maiestie and his Counsell, and being examined of the meetings and +detestable dealings of those witches, she confessed that vpon the night of +_Allhollon_ Euen last, she was accompanied aswell with the persons +aforesaide, as also with a great many other witches, to the number of two +hundreth: and that all they together went by Sea each one in a Riddle or +Ciue, and went in the same very substantially with Flaggons of wine making +merrie and drinking by the waye in the same Riddles or Ciues, to the Kerke +of North Barrick in Lowthian, and that after they had landed, tooke handes +on the land and daunced this reill or short daunce, singing all with one +voice. + +_Commer goe ye before, commer goe ye,_ +_If ye will not goe before, commer let me._ + +At which time she confessed, that this _Geilles Duncane_ did goe before +them playing this reill or daunce vpon a small Trump, called a Iewes +Trump, vntill they entred into the Kerk of north Barrick. + +These confessions made the King in a woderful admiration, and sent for the +said _Geillis Duncane_, who vpon the like Trump did playe the said daunce +before the Kings Maiestie, who in respect of the strangenes of these +matters, tooke great delight to bee present at their examinations. + +Item, the said _Agnis Tompson_ confessed that the Diuell being then at +North Barrick Kerke attending their comming in the habit or likenes of a +man, and seeing that they tarried ouer long, he at their comming enioyned +them all to a pennance, which was, that they should kisse his Buttockes, +in signe of duetye to him: which being put ouer the Pulpit barre, euerye +one did as he had enioyned them: and hauing made his vngodly exhortations, +wherein he did greatlye enveighe against the King of Scotland, he receiued +their oathes for their good and true seruice towards him, and departed: +which doone, they returned to Sea, and so home againe. + +At which time the witches demaunded of the Diuel why he did beare such +hatred to the King, who answered, by reason the King is the greatest enemy +he hath in the worlde: all which their confessions and depositions are +still extant vpon record. + +Item, the saide _Agnis Sampson_ confessed before the Kings Maiestie +sundrye thinges which were so miraculous and strange, as that his Maiestie +saide they were all extreame lyars, wherat she answered, she would not +wishe his Maiestie to suppose her woords to be false, but rather to +beleeue them, in that she would discouer such matter vnto him as his +maiestie should not any way doubt off. + +And therupon taking his Maiestie a little aside, she declared vnto him the +verye woordes which passed betweene the Kings Maiestie and his Queene at +Vpslo in Norway the first night of their mariage, with their answere eache +to other: whereat the Kinges Maiestie wondered greatlye, and swore by the +liuing God, that he beleeued that all the Diuels in hell could not haue +discouered the same: acknowledging her woords to be most true, and +therefore gaue the more credit to the rest which is before declared. + +Touching this _Agnis Tompson_, she is the onlye woman, who by the Diuels +perswasion should haue entended and put in execution the Kings Maiesties +death in this manner. + +She confessed that she tooke a blacke Toade, and did hang the same vp by +the heeles, three daies, and collected and gathered the venome as it +dropped and fell from it in an Oister shell, and kept the same venome +close couered, vntill she should obtaine any parte or peece of foule +linnen cloth, that had appertained to the Kings Maiestie, as shirt, +handkercher, napkin or any other thing which she practised to obtaine by +meanes of one _Iohn Kers_, who being attendant in his Maiesties Chamber, +desired him for olde acquaintance betweene them, to helpe her to one or a +peece of such a cloth as is aforesaide, which thing the said _Iohn Kers_ +denyed to helpe her too, saying he could not help her too it. + +And the said _Agnis Tompson_ by her depositions since her apprehension +saith, that if she had obtained any one peece of linnen cloth which the +King had worne and fouled, she had bewitched him to death, and put him to +such extraordinary paines, as if he had beene lying vpon sharp thornes and +endes of Needles. + +Moreouer she confessed that at the time when his Maiestie was in Denmarke, +she being accompanied with the parties before specially named, tooke a Cat +and christened it, and afterward bound to each parte of that Cat, the +cheefest partes of a dead man, and seuerall ioynts of his bodie, and that +in the night following the saide Cat was conueied into the midst of the +sea by all these witches sayling in their riddles or Ciues as is +aforesaide, and so left the saide Cat right before the Towne of Lieth in +Scotland: this doone, there did arise such a tempest in the Sea, as a +greater hath not beene seene: which tempest was the cause of the +perrishing of a Boate or vessell comming ouer from the towne of Brunt +Iland to the towne of Lieth, wherein was sundrye Iewelles and riche +giftes, which should haue been presented to the now Queen of Scotland, at +her Maiesties comming to Lieth. + +Againe it is confessed, that the said christened Cat was the cause that +the Kinges Maiesties Ship at his comming foorth of Denmarke, had a +contrary winde to the rest of his Ships, then being in his companye, which +thing was most strange and true, as the Kings Maiestie acknowledgeth, for +when the rest of the Shippes had a faire and good winde, then was the +winde contrarye and altogither against his Maiestie: and further the saide +witche declared, that his Maiestie had neuer come safelye from the Sea, if +his faith had not preuailed aboue their ententions. + +Moreouer the said Witches being demaunded how the Diuell would vse them +when he was in their company, they confessed that when the Diuell did +receiue them for his seruants, and that they had vowed themselues vnto +him, then he would Carnallye vse them, albeit to their little pleasure, in +respect of his colde nature: and would doo the like at sundry other times. + +As touching the aforesaide Doctor _Fian, alias Iohn Cunningham_, the +examination of his actes since his apprehension, declareth the great +subtiltye of the diuell, and therfore maketh thinges to appeere the more +miraculous: for being apprehended by the accusation of the saide _Geillis +Duncane_ aforesaide, who confessed he was their Regester, and that there +was not one man suffered to come to the Diuels readinges but onlye he: the +saide Doctor was taken and imprisoned, and vsed with the accustomed paine, +prouided for those offences, inflicted vpon the rest as is aforesaide. + +First by thrawing of his head with a roape, wherat he would confesse +nothing. + +Secondly, he was perswaded by faire means to confesse his follies, but +that would preuaile as little. + +Lastly he was put to the most seuere and cruell paine in the world, called +the bootes, who after he had receiued three strokes, being enquired if he +would confesse his damnable acts and wicked life, his tung would not serue +him to speak, in respect wherof the rest of the witches willed to search +his tung, vnder which was found two pinnes thrust vp into the head, +whereupon the witches did laye, _Now is the Charme stinted_, and shewed +that those charmed Pinnes were the cause he could not confesse any thing: +then was he immediatly released of the bootes, brought before the King, +his confession was taken, and his owne hand willingly set ther-vnto, which +contained as followeth. + +First, that at the generall meetinges of those witches, hee was alwayes +preasent: that he was Clarke to all those that were in subiection to the +Diuels seruice, bearing the name of witches, that alwaye he did take their +othes for their true seruice to the Diuell, and that he wrot for them such +matters as the Diuell still pleased to commaund him. + +Item, he confessed that by his witchcrafte he did bewitch a Gentleman +dwelling neere to the Saltpans, where the said Doctor kept Schoole, onely +for being enamoured of a Gentlewoman whome he loued himselfe: by meanes of +which his Sorcerye, witchcraft and diuelish practises, he caused the said +Gentleman that once in xxiiij. howres he fell into a lunacie and madnes, +and so continued one whole hower together, and for the veritie of the +same, he caused the Gentleman to be brought before the Kinges Maiestie, +which was vpon the xxiiij. day of December last, and being in his +Maiesties Chamber, suddenly he gaue a great scritch and fell into a +madnes, sometime bending himselfe, and sometime capring so directly vp, +that his head did touch the seeling of the Chamber, to the great +admiration of his Maiestie and others then present: so that all the +Gentlemen in the Chamber were not able to holde him, vntill they called in +more helpe, who together bound him hand and foot: and suffering the said +gentleman to lye still vntill his furye were past, he within an hower came +againe to himselfe, when being demaunded of the Kings Maiestie what he saw +or did all that while, answered that he had been in a sound sleepe. + +Item the said Doctor did also confesse that he had vsed means sundry times +to obtain his purpose and wicked intent of the same Gentlewoman, and +seeing himselfe disapointed of his intention, he determined by all waies +he might to obtaine the same, trusting by coniuring, witchcraft and +Sorcery to obtaine it in this manner. + +It happened this gentlewoman being vnmaried, had a brother who went to +schoole with the said Doctor, and calling his Scholler to him, demaunded +if he did lye with his sister, who answered he did, by meanes wherof he +thought to obtaine his purpose, and therefore secretlye promised to teach +him without stripes, so he would obtain for him three haires of his +sisters priuities, at such time as he should spye best occasion for it: +which the youth promised faithfullye to perfourme, and vowed speedily to +put it in practise, taking a peece of coniured paper of his maister to +lappe them in when he had gotten them: and therevpon the boye practised +nightlye to obtaine his maisters purpose, especially when his sister was a +sleepe. + +But God who knoweth the secrets of all harts, and reuealeth all wicked and +vngodlye practises, would not suffer the intents of this diuilish Doctor +to come to that purpose which he supposed it would, and therefore to +declare that he was heauilye offended with his wicked entent, did so +woorke by the Gentlewomans owne meanes, that in the ende the same was +discouered and brought to light: for she being one night a sleepe, and her +brother in bed with her, suddenlye cryed out to her mother, declaring that +her Brother would not suffer her to sleepe, wherevpon her mother hauing a +quick capacitie, did vehemently suspect Doctor _Fians_ entention, by +reason she was a witche of her selfe, and therefore presently arose, and +was very inquisitiue of the boy to vnderstand his intent, and the better +to know the same, did beat him with sundry stripes, wherby he discouered +the trueth vnto her. + +The Mother therefore being well practised in witchcrafte, did thinke it +most conuenient to meete with the Doctor in his owne Arte, and therevpon +tooke the paper from the boy, wherein hee should haue put the same haires, +and went to a young Heyfer which neuer had borne Calfe nor gone to the +Bull, and with a paire of sheeres, clipped off three haires from the vdder +of the Cow, and wrapt them in the same paper, which she againe deliuered +to the boy, then willing him to giue the same to his saide Maister, which +he immediatly did. + +The Schoolemaister so soone as he had receiued them, thinking them indeede +to bee the Maides haires, went straight and wrought his arte vpon them: +But the Doctor had no sooner doone his intent to them, but presentlye the +Hayfer or Cow whose haires they were indeed, came vnto the doore of the +Church wherein the Schoolemaister was, into the which the Hayfer went, and +made towards the Schoolemaister, leaping and dauncing vpon him, and +following him foorth of the church and to what place so euer he went, to +the great admiration of all the townes men of Saltpans, and many other who +did beholde the same. + +The reporte whereof made all men imagine that hee did woorke it by the +Diuell, without whom it could neuer haue beene so sufficientlye effected: +and thervpon, the name of the said Doctor _Fian_ (who was but a very yong +man) began to grow so common among the people of Scotland, that he was +secretlye nominated for a notable Cuniurer. + + [Illustration: Country scene with cattle and church] + +All which although in the beginning he denied, and would not confesse, yet +hauing felt the pain of the bootes (and the charme stinted, as aforesayd) +he confessed all the aforesaid to be most true, without producing anie +witnesses to iustifie the same, & thervpon before the kings maiesty he +subscribed the sayd confessions with his owne hande, which for truth +remaineth vpon record in _Scotland_. + +After that the depositions and examinations of the sayd doctor _Fian Alias +Cuningham_ was taken, as alreadie is declared, with his owne hand +willingly set therevnto, hee was by the master of the prison committed to +ward, and appointed to a chamber by himselfe, where forsaking his wicked +wayes, acknowledging his most vngodly lyfe, shewing that he had too much +folowed the allurements and entisements of Sathan, and fondly practised +his conclusions by coniuring, witchcraft, inchantment, sorcerie, and such +like, hee renounced the deuill and all his wicked workes, vowed to leade +the life of a Christian, and seemed newly connected towards God. + +The morrow after vpon conference had with him, he granted that the deuill +had appeared vnto him in the night before, appareled all in blacke, with a +white wand in his hande, and that the deuill demaunded of him if hee would +continue his faithfull seruice, according to his first oath and promise +made to that effect. Whome (as hee then sayd) he vtterly renounced to his +face, and sayde vnto him in this manner, _Auoide Satan, auoide_, for I +haue listned too much vnto thee, and by the same thou hast vndone mee, in +respect whereof I vtterly forsake thee. To whome the deuill answered, +_That once ere thou die thou shall bee mine_. And with that (as he sayde) +the deuill brake the white wande, and immediatly vanished foorth of his +sight. + +Thus all the daie this Doctor Fian continued verie solitarie, and seemed +to haue care of his owne soule, and would call vppon God, shewing himselfe +penitent for his wicked life, neuerthelesse the same night hee founde such +meanes, that hee stole the key of the prison doore and chamber in the +which he was, which in the night hee opened and fled awaie to the Salt +pans, where hee was alwayes resident, and first apprehended. Of whose +sodaine departure when the Kings maiestie had intelligence, hee presently +commanded diligent inquirie to bee made for his apprehension, and for the +better effecting thereof, hee sent publike proclamations into all partes +of his lande to the same effect. By meanes of whose hot and harde +pursuite, he was agayn taken and brought to prison, and then being called +before the kings highnes, hee was reexamined as well touching his +departure, as also touching all that had before happened. + +But this Doctor, notwithstanding that his owne confession appeareth +remaining in recorde vnder his owne hande writing, and the same therevnto +fixed in the presence of the Kings maiestie and sundrie of his Councell, +yet did hee vtterly denie the same. + +Wherevpon the kinges maiestie perceiuing his stubbourne wilfulnesse, +concerned and imagined that in the time of his absence hee had entered +into newe conference and league with the deuill his master, and that hee +had beene agayne newly marked, for the which hee was narrowly searched, +but it coulde not in anie wise bee founde, yet for more tryall of him to +make him confesse, hee was commaunded to haue a most straunge torment +which was done in this manner following. + +His nailes vpon all his fingers were riuen and pulled off with an +instrument called in Scottish a _Turkas_, which in England wee call a +payre of pincers, and vnder euerie nayle there was thrust in two needels +ouer euen up to the heads. At all which tormentes notwithstanding the +Doctor neuer shronke anie whit, neither woulde he then confesse it the +sooner for all the tortures inflicted vpon him. + +Then was hee with all conuenient speed, by commandement, conuaied againe +to the torment of the bootes, wherein hee continued a long time, and did +abide so many blowes in them, that his legges were crushte and beaten +togeather as small as might bee, and the bones and flesh so brused, that +the bloud and marrowe spouted forth in great abundance, whereby they were +made unseruiceable for euer. And notwithstanding al these grieuous paines +and cruell torments hee would not confesse anie thing, so deepely had the +deuill entered into his heart, that hee vtterly denied all that which he +had before auouched, and woulde saie nothing therevnto but this, that what +hee had done and sayde before, was onely done and sayde for feare of +paynes which he had endured. + +Upon great consideration therefore taken by the Kings maiestie and his +Councell, as well for the due execution of iustice vppon such detestable +malefactors, as also for example sake, to remayne a terrour to all others +heereafter, that shall attempt to deale in the lyke wicked and vngodlye +actions, as witchcraft, sorcery, cuniuration, & such lyke, the sayde +Doctor _Fian_ was soone after araigned, condemned, and adiudged by the law +to die, and then to bee burned according to the lawe of that lande, +prouided in that behalfe. Wherevpon hee was put into a carte, and beeing +first strangled, hee was immediatly put into a great fire, being readie +prouided for that purpose, and there burned in the Castle hill of +_Edenbrough_ on a saterdaie in the ende of Ianuarie last past. 1591. The +rest of the witches which are not yet executed, remayne in prison till +farther triall, and knowledge of his maiesties pleasure. + +_This strange discourse before recited, may perhaps giue some occasion of +doubt to such as shall happen to reade the same, and thereby coniecture +that the Kings maiestie would not hazarde himselfe in the presence of such +notorious witches, least therby might haue insued great danger to his +person and the generall state of the land, which thing in truth might wel +haue bene feared. But to answer generally to such, let this suffice: that +first it is well knowen that the King is the child & seruant of God, and +they but seruants to the deuil, hee is the Lords annointed, and they but +vesselles of Gods wrath: he is a true Christian, and trusteth in God, they +worse than Infidels, for they onely trust in the deuill, who daily serue +them, till he haue brought them to vtter destruction. But heereby it +seemeth that his Highnesse carted a magnanimious and undanted mind, not +feared with their inchantmentes, but resolute in this, that so long as God +is with him, hee feareth not who is against him. And trulie the whole +scope of this treatise dooth so plainely laie open the wonderfull +prouidence of the Almightie, that if he had not bene defended by his +omnipotencie and power, his Highnes had neuer returned aliue in his voiage +frõ Denmarke, so that there is no doult but God woulde as well defend him +on the land as on the sea, where they pretended their damnable practise._ + + [Illustration: Street scene: Two men and a woman] + +_FINIS._ + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAEMONOLOGIE.*** + + + +CREDITS + + +June 29, 2008 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + Produced by Julie Barkley, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + Page-images available at + <http://www.pgdp.net/projects/projectID4360111b7343f/> + + + +A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 25929-0.txt or 25929-0.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/9/2/25929/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the Project +Gutenberg™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered +trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you +receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of +this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook +for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, +performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away +— you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks. +Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE + + +_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ + +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or +any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), +you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ +License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. + + +General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works + + +1.A. + + +By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, +you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the +terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) +agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this +agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of +Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee +for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work +and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may +obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set +forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + + +1.B. + + +“Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or +associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be +bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can +do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying +with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are +a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you +follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to +Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + + +1.C. + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or +PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual +work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in +the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, +distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on +the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of +course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of +promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project +Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for +keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can +easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you +share it without charge with others. + + +1.D. + + +The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you +can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant +state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of +your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before +downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating +derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. +The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of +any work in any country outside the United States. + + +1.E. + + +Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + + +1.E.1. + + +The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access +to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever +any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase +“Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” +is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or +distributed: + + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with + almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away + or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License + included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org + + +1.E.2. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from the +public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with +permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and +distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or +charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you +must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 +or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + +1.E.3. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the +permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply +with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed +by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project +Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the +copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + + +1.E.4. + + +Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License +terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any +other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. + + +1.E.5. + + +Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic +work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying +the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate +access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License. + + +1.E.6. + + +You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, +marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word +processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted +on the official Project Gutenberg™ web site (http://www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. +Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as +specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + + +1.E.7. + + +Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, +copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply +with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + +1.E.8. + + +You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or +distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that + + - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to + the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to + donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 + days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally + required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments + should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, + “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary + Archive Foundation.” + + You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. + You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the + works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and + all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works. + + You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + + You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + + +1.E.9. + + +If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic +work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this +agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the +Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in +Section 3 below. + + +1.F. + + +1.F.1. + + +Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to +identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain +works in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these +efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they +may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, +incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright +or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk +or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot +be read by your equipment. + + +1.F.2. + + +LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES — Except for the “Right of +Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for +damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE +NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH +OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE +FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT +WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, +PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY +OF SUCH DAMAGE. + + +1.F.3. + + +LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND — If you discover a defect in this +electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund +of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to +the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a +physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. +The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect +to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the +work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose +to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in +lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a +refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. + + +1.F.4. + + +Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in +paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ’AS-IS,’ WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + + +1.F.5. + + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the +exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or +limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state +applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make +the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state +law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement +shall not void the remaining provisions. + + +1.F.6. + + +INDEMNITY — You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark +owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of +Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and +any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs +and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from +any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of +this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect +you cause. + + +Section 2. + + + Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ + + +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic +works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including +obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the +efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks +of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance +they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring +that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for +generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for +Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations +can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at +http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. + + + Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of +Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. +The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. +Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. Contributions to the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full +extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. +S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North +1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information +can be found at the Foundation’s web site and official page at +http://www.pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. + + + Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive + Foundation + + +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the +number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment +including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are +particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. +Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable +effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these +requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not +received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or +determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have +not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against +accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us +with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any +statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the +United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods +and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including +checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please +visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. + + + General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. + + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with +anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ +eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, +all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright +notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance +with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook’s eBook +number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed +(zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the +old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org + + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how +to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, +how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email +newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + + + + +***FINIS*** +
\ No newline at end of file |