Transcriber’s Note:

New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.

Imprimatur,

July 29. 1676.

Jonas Moore Soc. Regiæ

Vice-Præses.

THE
DISPLAYING
OF SUPPOSED
WITCHCRAFT.
Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of
Deceivers and Impostors,
AND
Divers persons under a passive Delusion of
MELANCHOLY and FANCY.
But that there is a Corporeal League made betwixt the
DEVIL and the WITCH,
Or that he sucks on the Witches Body, has Carnal Copulation, or that Witches are turned into Cats, Dogs, raise Tempests, or the like, is utterly denied and disproved.
Wherein also is handled,
The Existence of Angels and Spirits, the truth of Apparitions, the Nature of Astral and Sydereal Spirits, the force of Charms, and Philters; with other abstruse matters.

By John Webster, Practitioner in Physick.

Falsæ et enim opiniones Hominum præoccupantes, non solùm surdos, sed & cæcos faciunt, it à ut videre nequeant, quæ aliis perspicua apparent. Galen. lib. 8. de Comp. Med.

LONDON,

Printed by J. M. and are to be sold by the Book-sellers in London. 1677.

To his Worshipful and honoured Friends Thomas Parker of Braisholme, John Asheton of the Lower-Hall, William Drake of Barnolaswick-coat, William Johnson of the Grange, Henry Marsden of Gisburne Esquires, and his Majesties Justices of Peace and Quorum in the West-riding of Yorkshire.

Worshipful Gentlemen and honoured Friends,

I Do not dedicate this piece of my Labours unto you, thereby to beg protection for it, as fearing either its weakness, or the malevolent censures of the ignorant; for I very well know, and have experienced, that it is the usual property of idle and pragmatical persons to please their own malignant humors, with the condemning and scoffing at the painful lucubrations of others. And I have ever judged that nothing ought to be published, that like a Noun Substantive cannot stand by it self, without being supported by any other adjoined help. Neither is this forth of a vain confidence or an over-weening of mine own abilities, though I very well know that some are as much in love with the brood of their own brains, as others are with the fruit of their loines: Because I have for many years been as wary and vigilant, as any could be, to watch over my self, that I might both know, and keep a clear distinction, betwixt flattering Phantasie, and true and sound judgment. But I shall in brief shew you the true reasons of my presenting of this poor piece to your reading and judgments.

1. The first reason is, because you have all been Gentlemen, not only well known unto me for many years, as being my near Neighbours, but also with whom I have been freely admitted to a Noble and Generous converse, and have been trusted, and honoured by you in your Domestick concerns, wherein by my Medical Profession, I might be serviceable to you, or your Families, far beyond my poor Merit and Desert. And having been for many years a due observer of your deportments in your places of trust as Magistrates, for being but as a stander by, and looking on, may (perhaps) have noted as much, as those that are Gamesters, I was moved to present this piece of my labours unto you, by reason of that knowledge and acquaintance, rather than to others, whose abilities and integrity I did not so well understand. And (I hope) I may without suspicion of flattery (of which I am sure both your selves, and others that know me, will acquit me, that if I be any way guilty, it is rather in being too plain and open) say, that you have been, and are true Patriots to your Countrey, and not only Justices of the Peace, but true conservers of it, and Peace-makers amongst all your Neighbours; and really this is one of the chief causes why I have dedicated this Treatise unto you.

2. Another reason is, you have all fully known me, and the most of the particulars of my life, both my follies and frailties, as also my other endowments and abilities, and therefore in reference to these, I thought none more fit than your selves, to whom I might tender this laborious piece. For it is not unknown unto you, that (excepting my Physical Practice, which age and infirmities will not suffer me very much to attend) I have for many years last past lived a solitary, and sedentary life, mihi & Musis, having had more converse with the dead than the living, that is, more with Books than with Men. And therefore I present this unto you, as being better able than most others to whom I am unknown, to judge what I am like or able to perform in such a subject as this is.

3. Also it is not unknown unto you, that I have had a large portion of Trouble and Persecution in this outward world, wherein you did not like many others stand aloof off, as though you had not known me, but like persons of Justice, and true Magnanimity, durst both look upon and assist wronged innocency, though besmeered over with the envious dirt of malicious scandals, and even in that very conjuncture of time, when the whole giddy Troop of barking Dogs, and ravenous Wolves, did labour to devour me. But then, even then did put to your helping hands, and were free to declare, what you knew of mine innocency: which was so Generous, Noble and Christian a kind of just commiseration, that I should for ever account my self a wretched person, if I should not have deeply impressed in my breast and memory, which no time, nor adversity can ever obliterate. But being in a condition that I may truly say with the Apostle S. Peter, Αργύειον κ χρυσίον ὐπάρχ μος, Silver and Gold have I none (which I know you expect not) and therefore the greatest power I have is my weak pen, thereby to testifie my thankfulness for your unparallel’d kindness. And therefore I offer this Treatise as a perpetual and monumental memorial to all Posterities, of my gratitude, and your goodness.

And further, to whom can a subject of this nature be more suitably and fitly presented than to such Magistrates as your selves, who have often occasion to be cumbred and troubled with the ignorant, envious, and sometimes knavish accusations against people suspected of Witchcraft, Sorcery, Charming and Inchantment? Wherein to free the guilty, and condemn the innocent, is equally abominable to the Lord: And therefore much judgment, caution, care and diligent inspection ought to be used in the examining and determining of these matters, wherein I have used as much perspicuity and plainness as was possible to distinguish betwixt those that are Impostors, Cheaters, and active Deceivers, and those that are but under a mere passive delusion through ignorant and superstitious education, a melancholy temper and constitution, or led by the vain credulity of inefficacious Charms, Pictures, Ceremonies and the like, traditionally taught them. The one sort of which deserves to be punished for couzening of the people, and taking upon them, and pretending to bring to pass things that they have neither skill nor power to perform; but the other sort rather merit pity and information, or the Physicians help than any punishment at all. And I make bold to mind you of this one thing especially that in things of this nature great heed ought to be taken of the conditions, qualities, ends and intentions of the Complainants and Informers, who are often more worthy of punishment, than the persons accused. For many forth of a meer deluded fancy, envious mind, ignorance and superstition do attribute natural diseases, distempers, and accidents to Witches and Witchcraft, when in truth there is no such matter at all. And sometimes they counterfeit strange fits and diseases, as vomiting of preternatural and strange things, which if narrowly lookt into and examined are but Juglings, and deceitful confederacies, and yet for malice, revenge or some other base ends, do accuse others to be causers of them.

And though you should find some confidently confessing that they have made a visible and corporeal league with the Devil, and that he hath carnal copulation with them, and that he doth suck upon some parts of their Bodies, and that they are Transubstantiated into Dogs, Cats, and the like, or that they fly in the air, and raise Tempests; yet (I hope) I have sufficiently proved by the word of God, the true grounds of Theologie and sound reason, that there never hath been any such ‘Witch’ existent in rerum natura, and so you may know what credit may be given to such Fables and impossibilities.

So wishing that you may long live in Health and Happiness, to do his Majesty and your Countrey service, which is, and shall be my faithful prayer for you, I take leave subscribing my self

Your Worships

most Faithful Friend,

and Devoted Servant.

John Webster.

THE
PREFACE or INTRODUCTION.

Readers,

Knowing certainly that all writings once published, do equally undergo one fate, as to stand or fall by the common censures, judgments and opinions of Men; therefore have I affixed, no Epithete, as foreseeing this Treatise (like a Man once at Sea that is forced to hold out against all weathers) must abide the censures of all sort of persons, how various soever their minds and principles be. And though mens fancies and opinions be commonly as different as their faces, yet I shall enumerate some few general sorts, that may be sufficiently comprehensive to comprise the most of other subordinate particulars, and that in this order.

1. First, that which a Man hath found true by experience in such like cases, may very reasonably induce him to expect the like again; as after I had printed my book of the History of Metals I met with some that were no more learned than Parrots, who could not write true English, and whose greatest skill was in the several ways of debauchery, and other poor Pedanticks that were hardly masters of Grammar, and yet this crew, and the like were rash and bold enough, to censure my painful endeavours, and to scoff at it as a mere collection. And therefore in publishing of this piece, which is a dark and mysterious subject, I may very probably meet with some troops of such rash ignorants, to whom only I shall return this sharp, but suitable responsion. It is an ordinary thing for many that never could shape a shoo, to reprove and find fault with the Shoomaker: but such wise men (fit only for Gotham) may learn these two Proverbs, There is none so bold as blind Bayard, and A Fools bolt is soon shot, and their heads may be fitter for Feathers, than the Laurel, and when any of them have made such a collection as my former Book, or publisht such a piece as this, then I shall give them a better answer, and not before, Lactucas non esse dandas hisce Afinis comedendas, cum illis sufficiant cardui.

Prov. 26. 12.

2. There are another generation that seem wise in their own eyes, whose brains are like blown Bladders filled with the wind of over-weening and self-conceitedness, and these usually do huff, snuff, and puff at every thing that agrees not with their Capricious Cockscombs, when their abilities for the most part lie in the scraps they have gathered from the Theaters, or from the discourses had in Taverns and Coffee-houses, and if they can but reach some pittiful pieces of Drollery and Raillery, they think themselves fit and able to censure any thing though never read nor seen, except the Title Page. To these I have little to say, as being but such airy and frothy Vaporoso’s, as the least blast of sound reason maketh them vanish into smoak and nothing; but only with them to take into serious consideration, the saying of the Wiseman: Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a Fool than of him. And the counsel of a learned Father is proper for such vain confidents: Expedit benè timere, quam malè fidere; & utilius est, ut infirmum se homo cognoscat, ut fortis existat, quàm fortis videri velit, & infirmus emergat.

3. There are another sort that are so critically envious, that they can allow of nothing that is not their own production, and beareth not the test of their approbation, and cannot but stigmatize the labours of others how good or beneficial soever they be, because they shadow their fame, and tend not to the advancement of their own reputation: even as divers sorts of insects do feed upon the excrements of other animals, so these feed their own humours, and please their own fancies by the calumniating, and blacking the labours of others. These being guilty of peevish morosity cannot look kindly at any thing of anothers, without frowning, distast, and censuring; but we have little to say unto such as these, but shall leave them to the gall of their own breasts, and the spleen of their own minds, having neither intended our labours for any such, nor valuing their censures how sharp and bitter soever they be. For nulla fœlicitas tam magna est, ut malignitatis dentes vitare possit. And therefore it is discretion to bear that patiently for which humane prudence can find no remedy.

1 Cor. 13. 11.

4. Others there are who are grown obstinate in their minds and wills, concerning Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcraft, Sorcery, Inchantment, and the like, and are grown pertinacious and resolute to stick to and hold those opinions that they have imbibed through ignorant education: not considering that perseverance in a good cause, and well grounded opinion is laudable and commendable, but pertinaciousness in a bad and ill grounded tenent, is as bad and hurtful. And it is every wise mans duty to study the cultivation and improvement of the goods of the mind, and never to be ashamed to learn that of which they were ignorant before. For the minds of men are not only darkned in the fall of Adam, but also much misled, by the sucking in of errors in their younger and more unwary years, from whence they ought to endeavour with might and main to extricate and deliver themselves. But he that is wilfully setled upon the lees and dregs of former opinions, though never so erroneous, hath shut forth all further light from shining into his understanding, and so is become wilfully blind. To such as these we shall only propose the example and practice of the Apostle, who saith: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: But when I became a man, I put away childish things. And I advise them not to refuse the counsel of S. Augustine, who saith: Ad discendum quod opus est, nulla ætas sera videri potest: quia etsi senes magis decet, docere quam discere; magis tamen decet discere, quam ignorare. And they need not be ashamed to imitate Socrates, who did wax old every day learning something.

5. As we have not intended this Treatise, and Introduction for such conditioned persons as we have enumerated before, so there are others to whom we freely offer and present it, and shall shew the grounds and causes that moved us to undertake such a mysterious, and dangerous subject. And those are such as have an humble, lowly, and equal mind, that they commonly read Books to be informed, and to learn those truths of which they are ignorant, or to be confirmed in those things they partly knew before. It is to such as these only that we offer our labours, and therefore shall candidly declare unto them the causes and reasons of our undertaking which are these.

1. Though there be a numerous company of Authors that have written of Magick, Witchcraft, Sorcery, Inchantment, Spirits, and Apparitions, in sundry ages, of divers Countrys, and in various languages: yet have they for the most but borrowed one from another, or have transcribed what others had written before them. So that thereby there hath been no right progress made truly to discover the theory or ground of these dark and abstruse matters, nor no precise care taken to instance in matters of fact, that have been warrantably and sufficiently attested: But only rhapsodies, and confused heaps of stories and relations, shuffled together, when not one of an hundred of them bore the face either of verity, or truth-likeliness, whereby the understandings of Readers have remained unenlightened, their memories confounded, and their brains stuffed with Whimsies and Chimera’s. And though there be nothing more common than disputes of Witches, and Witchcraft, both in words and writing, yet not one of great multitudes that hath plainly told us, in what notion, or under what acceptation, they take the words, nor what description is agreed upon, of either of these, that their existence, or not being, their power and operations might be known and determined: But all the disputes as yet concerning them have been loose, wild, and in vagum. And therefore to remedie this, as far as such a subject would allow, and our abilities stretch, we were moved, and have attempted to clear those difficulties. And if we do not (which is epidemical to mankind) flatter and deceive ourselves, we have in some measure reasonably attained, as having plainly laid down the notion and acceptation of the words, Witches and Witchcraft, in which we grant them an existence, and in what sense and respect we grant them none, which is more (as we conceive) than yet hath been performed by any. And though our instances of matters of fact be neither, so punctual nor full as might be wished, for things of this nature are deep and hid; yet are they the best we could select or chuse; and this is one chief reason why I undertook to treat of this subject.

2. Though the gross, absurd, impious and Popish opinions of the too much magnified powers of Demons and Witches, in this Nation, were pretty well quashed and silenced by the writings of Wierus, Tandler, Mr. Scot, Mr. Ady, Mr. Wagstaff and others; and by the grave proceedings of many learned Judges, and other judicious Magistrates: yet finding that of late two persons of great learning and note, who are both (as I am informed) beneficed Ministers in the Church, to wit Dr. Casaubon, and Mr. Glanvil have afresh espoused so bad a cause, and taken the quarrel upon them; And to that purpose have newly furbished up the old Weapons, and raked up the old arguments, forth of the Popish Sink and Dunghills, and put them into a new dress, that they might appear with the greater luster, and so do with Tooth and Nail labour to maintain the old rotten assertions, the one in his Book called, A Treatise proving Spirits and Witches &c. the other in a Treatise called, A blow at modern Sadducism &c. Finding these (I say) as two new Champions giving defiance to all that are of a contrary judgment, I was stirred up to answer their supposed strong arguments, and invincible instances, which I have done (I confess) without fear, or any great regard to their Titles, Places, or Worldly Dignities, but only considering the strength or weakness of their arguments, proofs, and reason. For in this particular that I have to deal, it is not with the men, but their opinions and the grounds they would lay their foundations upon. And if I be censured for dealing too sharply and harshly with them, they must excuse me, for I profess I have no evil will at all against their persons, no more than against a non-Entity, but was justly zealous for the truth, and bitter against such opinions as they have vented, which to me seem dangerous, and in some respect impious, as (I suppose) I have fully proved. And this was another reason of my writing about this subject.

3. Another reason that made me undertake this subject, was the horrid absurdities the tenent of the common Witchmongers brings along with it, as not only tending to advance superstition and Popery, but also to be much derogatory to the Wisdom, Justice, and Providence of the Almighty, and to cry up the power of the Kingdom of darkness, to question the verity of the principal Article of the Christian Faith, concerning the Resurrection of Christ in his true numerical Body, and generally to tend to the obstruction of the practice of Godliness and Piety. These after I had seriously weighed and considered them, did move me to labour as far as the light of God’s word, the grounds of true Theology, and the clear strength of reason would guide, and direct me, to undertake the confutation of them as far as I was able, and if I have failed I humbly desire those that are more able to handle the matter more fully if possible.

If any be moved that I seem to maintain some things that are Paradoxes, I hope I may crave leave, as well to discede from the opinions of others, as others have done from those that went before them. And I desire them not so much to consider, either the novelty or strangeness of the opinions, as the weight and strength of the reasons that are laid down to support and statuminate them; for if the arguments be sound and valid, the Tenents built thereupon cannot be weak and tottering. And however I acknowledge my self to have humane frailties and so may err, yet I have no mind or will pertinaciously to persevere in an error, and these things that we have treated of lying so far from the ken of our senses, and experiments of this nature, either so rare, or uncertain, that we may rationally expect pardon, rather than reprehension.

But I shall say no more, but let the Book speak for it self, only desiring the Readers, first to peruse and seriously to consider, before they censure, that so I may have cause to bid them, Farewel.

Dated February

23. 1673.

THE
CONTENTS.

THE

DISPLAYING

OF SUPPOSED

WITCHCRAFT.

CHAP. I.

Of the false, irrational, and unchristian Censures, that have been, and yet are, cast upon Learned men, for writing of abstruse Subjects: As also for treating of Apparitions and Witchcraft, especially if they crossed the common stream of vulgar Opinion.

Being about to treat of the mysterious and abstruse Subject of Witches and Witchcraft, I cannot but think it necessary (especially to make the things we handle more plain and evidential) to imitate Architectors, who when they intend to raise some fair Fabrick or Edifice, do not only provide themselves of good and lasting Materials, but above all take care to lay a firm and sure foundation, which they cannot well accomplish, unless the earth and rubbish be removed, that a firm ground for a foundation may be found out. So before I lay the foundation of what I intend in this Discourse, I shall labour to remove some censures and calumnies, that are usually cast upon those learned persons that labour to unmanacle imprisoned truth, and to adventure to cross the stream of vulgar Opinion, backt with seeming Authority, Antiquity, or universality of Votes, especially if they have intermeddled in Subjects occult and mysterious.

And these Censures (how unjust soever) have often deterred the most able and best learned from divulging their opinions, or publish their thoughts upon such difficult and intricate matters, which (I conceive) ought not to be done for these reasons.

Reas. 1.

1. Because the best part of a man, as naturally considered, is his Courage, Resolution, and Magnanimity, which should make him resolute and couragious to declare and maintain, what he upon sound and rational grounds apprehends to be truth, and not at all to fear the censure or judgment of others, who may have had no better means to inform themselves, or perhaps have been less diligent, and however are subject to the same errours and mistakes of Mankind, who must all confess the verity of that unerring Oracle, Humanum est errare. And therefore he must needs be a person of a poor, base, and low spirit, that doth conceal his own sentiments of the truth, for fear of the censure or calumnies of others.

Reas. 2.

August. de Agone Christi.

2. He that is afraid to declare his thoughts, for fear of censure or scandal, must of necessity be very weak in his Morals, as having little affection for verity, which is the chief object of the intellect, and consequently ought above all things to sway and lead the affections. And to be frighted from owning or declaring of the truth, for fear of the vain, aery, groundless, and erroneous censures of others, must needs speak a man weak in the grounds of Morality, and to have small affection for vertue, whole guide is verity. The Learned Father said exceeding well to this purpose: Qui veritatem occultat, & qui prodit mendacium, uterq; reus est. Ille quia prodesse non vult, ipse quia nocere desiderat.

Reas. 3.

Prov. 23. 23.

Gregor. Homil.

Chrysost. sup. Math.

3. He that conceals the truth that he knows, for fear of the censures of others, must needs have little of Christianity in him, for we are commanded to buy the truth, and not to sell it; but for a Christian to conceal the truth, and not to dare to declare and defend it, for fear of the vain and perishing censures of men, is to make absolute sale of the truth, and that for the worst of all prises that can be. For what a weightless and worthless prise are the judgments and opinions of vain man, whose breath is in his nostrils, and whose life is but a vapor, that a Christian should, for fear of such vain censures, be afraid to declare or defend the truth? Therefore let the subtil Politicians and Machiavillians of this Age, who have in a manner turned the truth of the Christian Religion, and the most certain Rules of Providence into Atheism, and becom’d vain Idolaters, to sacrifice to the falsely adored and deified fancies of their own craft and cunning, think or say what they please, yet the rule of pious Gregory will ever hold true: Ille veritatis defensor esse debet, qui quum rectè sentit, loqui non metuit, nec erubescit. And that of Chrysostom ought never to be forgotten by a good Christian, and one that fears God, who saith: Non solùm proditor est veritatis, qui mendacium pro veritate loquitur: sed qui non liberè pronuntiat veritatem, quam pronuntiare oportet, aut non liberè defendit veritatem, quam defendere oportet. But as there have been some that have been affrighted with the feigned Bugbears of malevolent mens censures and scandals; so there have been others, to whom Nature hath given greater Magnanimity, who were better principled in their Morals, and better rudimented in the Christian Religion, that have scorned and undervalued those censures as vanities and trifles, and these were those

——Quos Jupiter æquus amavit,

Et meliore luto finxit præcordia Titan.

These were those that for the advancement of Truth and Learning, and the benefit of Mankind durst undertake

Ire per excubias, & se committere Parcis.

And feared not the tempestuous storms of venemous tongues, or malicious minds, of which we shall here enumerate a competent Catalogue.

Præf. in Harvæi Exerc. Anat.

Pag. 3.

1. In the first place we need not travel far, either in regard of time or place, to find Precedents of such as have undergone no small censures and subsannations for vindicating Truth, and labouring the advancement of it, though against common and deep-rooted Opinion. So ill entertainment new Inventors and Inventions have always found amongst the present Masters of several Professions, and those that made the World believe, that they alone had gained the Monopoly of all Learning. Our learned Countryman Doctor Hackwell in his Preface to his Apology, hath sufficiently proved this particular: whose profound Piece of proving no decay in Nature (a truth now sufficiently known, and assented to) found no small opposition, both from the Learned in Theology, and other persons, and underwent many sharp censures, until men had more considerately weighed the strength and cogency of his Arguments, which carry sufficient evidence to confute rational persons. Our learned and most industrious Anatomist Dr. Harvey, who (notwithstanding the late Cavils of some) first found forth and evidenced to the World that rare and profitable discovery of the Circulation of the Blood, did undergo the like Fate: who for eighteen or twenty years together did groan under the heavy censure of all the Galenists and expert Anatomists almost in Europe, and was railed upon, and bitterly written against, not only by such as Alexander Rosse and Dr. Primrose, but by Riolanus and others, and not forborn by that famous Physician of Roterodam, Zacharias Sylvius, who ingenuously confesseth thus much: Primum mihi inventum hoc non placuit, quod & voce & scripto publicè testatus sum; sed dum postea ei resultando & explodendo vehementiùs incumbo, refutor & ipse & explodor: adeò sunt rationes ejus non persuadentes, sed cogentes: diligenter omnes examinavi, & in vivis aliquot canibus eum in finem à me dissectis, verissimum comperi. Which was a most candid and free retractation and confession of his own errours, and may be proposed as an example to all rash and unadvised Censurers. Neither could this most clear and evidential Verity (which falls under ocular Demonstration and manifest Experiments) find countenance in the World, until that Wallæus, Plempius, and divers other judicious and accurate Anatomists, had sound the truth of Harvey’s opinion, by their own tryals and ocular inspection: so difficult it is to overthrow an old radicated opinion. For I have known some years ago, that a person for owning or maintaining the Circulation of the blood, should have been censured and derided, as much by other Physicians, as one should be now for denying the same: so hard it is to root out an opinion (though never so false and groundless) if once setled in the brains of many, and hath had a long current of continued reputation and belief. And it is much more to consider the ignorance, stupidity, and perversness of those, that in this Age of Knowledge dare take upon them to censure (nay to condemn) that Society of persons, and their endeavours, who have a just, pious, merciful, and learned King for their Founder, and the greatest number of Nobility and Gentry, renowned both for divine and humane Knowledge, that can be chosen forth of the three Nations for their Members, and whose undertakings and level are the most high, noble, and excellent that ever yet the World was partaker of. And yet (which may be wondred at) I have not only met with many, that do censure and misjudge their vast and laudable enterprise, but even have been bold to appear in Print to censure and scandalize their proceedings, as is manifest in that Piece styled Plus ultra, written by Mr. Stubbs of Warwick, wherein he hath effected as much as Dogs do by barking at the Moon. But it is plain, that highness of place, or greatness of parts exempts no man from evil tongues, or bad censures. And to this purpose I cannot but add Dr. Casaubon, who as he had a long sickness of body, so doubtless he wanted not some distemper of mind, when in his Treatise of Credulity and Incredulity, he uttered this. “If I may speak my mind (he saith) without offence, this prodigious propensity to innovation in all kinds, but in matters of Learning particularly, which so many upon no ground, that I can see, or appearance of reason, are possessed with; I know not what we should more probably ascribe it unto, than to some sad Constellation or influence.” Alas! poor man, he was so blind, that he could see no ground or appearance of reason for the usefulness of Experimental Philosophy, nor for the Institution of the Royal Society, but must ascribe it to the Stars: it is a wonder why he ascribes it not to natural Melancholy, as he doth almost all strange Effects, in his Book of Enthusiasm or why not unto Demons or Witches, as he doth the most things in the Treatise quoted.

2. That learned and painful person Renatus des Cartes, who brought in, revived, and refined the old Doctrine of Atoms, ascribed to Democritus, and other of the Ancients, found for a long time much opposition; insomuch that when he lived at Utrecht in Holland, the Aristotelian Professors of that University became so inflamed with envy at him, that their Scholars raised the Rabble of the City at the sound of a Bell, to drive him out of Town. And yet this mans Philosophy hath had the luck to triumph in that University, where so much contempt was poured upon him; for Henricus Regius, the publick Professor of Physick there, hath published a Book of Natural Philosophy, agreeable to the Principles and design of Des Cartes: and is in a manner generally received and applauded; and by the honourable Mr. Boyle much made use of, and by him styled the Corpuscularian Philosophy. So was not that most learned and diligent Mathematician Galalæus imprisoned for seeing more than others could by the help of his Optick Glasses, losing (as one saith) his own liberty in Prison, for giving the Earth liberty to fetch a round about the Sun? And yet now to what great height of improvement are Telescopes arrived unto, and what credit is given to the Observations made with them? though in their birth their first Author and User so much opposed and punished; for all Inventions that are new (as well as Opinions) are in their beginnings opposed and censured, not considering, that all acquired Knowledge, and all Arts and Sciences were once new, and had their beginnings.

3. When Josephus Quercetanus and Sir Theodore Mayern did labour to introduce the practice of Chymical Physick into the City of Paris, what cruel censures and scandals did they undergo by all the rest of the Physicians of the Colledge, so that they were accounted illiterate and ignorant Fellows and dangerous Empiricks, not fit to practise in the King of France his Dominions, and so were sentenced by the Colledge, and prohibited to practise? So far did ignorance, self-interest, and blind malice prevail against these two persons, of so much Worth and Learning, insomuch that the former was made Physician to the King of France, and lived to see despised Chymistry to flourish, where it had been most contemned, himself to be honoured, and his Chymical Works to be published, and to be had in great and general esteem with all that were Lovers of Learning. The latter likewise out-lived the malice of all his enemies, and saw himself advanced to be Physician to two potent and renowned Kings of England, and to have the general practice of the most of the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom, and to live to a fair old age, and to dye vastly rich. So that even the bravest men, for their noble endeavors for the good of Mankind, have always found harsh usage.

Mund. subter. lib. 11. sect. 2. pag. 277.

Prov. 26. 12.

Hist. Magic. c. 14. p. 177.

De Arte Lullian. Præf.

Vide Relat. Paris. impres. Gallicè, 1631.

4. It hath fared no better with divers persons that have written of abstruse and mysterious Subjects, such as were Arnoldus de Villa Nova and Raimundus Lullius, who, because they handled that secret and sublime Art of the Transmutation of Metals, were by the ignorance and malice of Francis Pegna and the John Tredeschen of Rome, Athanasius Kircherus, with some others, branded with the name of Magicians, taken in the worst sense. Facile est reprehendere & maledicere, so apt are men through over-weening pride and self-conceitedness, as though they were ignorant of nothing, to take upon them to censure all things, when Artists only are fit to judge of those proper Arts, in which they are verst and bred in, and not others: For it is not sufficient for a man to be verst in many parts of Learning, but also in that very Science or Art, in which the Question is propounded: as for Example; Suppose a man to be well read in School Theology, Metaphysicks, Logick, Grammar, Rhetorick, Ethicks, and Physicks, yet for all this how unable were he to resolve one of the difficultest Propositions in Euclid? no more can any person, though never so generally learned, if he perfectly do not understand the method, terms, ground, matter, and end of the Writers in mystical Chymistry, be any competent Judge of their Art, nor of the nature of Transmutation. And this might justly have bridled Kircher, and many other rash and vain Censurers to hold back their judgment, until they perfectly understand the matter, about which they are to give judgment, and to have considered that Maxime of the wisest of men: Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. But notwithstanding these groundless slanders against Arnoldus, that he was guilty of Diabolical Magick, from which the Pen of learned Nandæus hath totally discharged him, though he otherwise (according to his petulant humor and prejudiced opinion against the Art of Transmutation, of which he was no competent Judge, for the reason foregoing) cast some unworthy reflections both upon him, and Lully, yet he confesseth (which is but the bare truth, as every learned Physician doth sufficiently know, that have heedfully read his Writings of the Art of Medicine) in these words, “That it is certain, he was the learnedest Physician of his time, equally acquainted with the Latine, Greek, and Arabian Tongues, and one whose Writings sufficiently witness his abilities in the Mathematicks, Medicine, and Philosophy, the practice whereof gained him favour and imployment about Pope Clement, and Frederick King of Sicily, who certainly would never have made use of him, if he had thought him a Conjurer or Magician, such as many judged he was.” As for Lully (notwithstanding the malevolent froth of some rash, malicious, and ignorant Writers) he was guilty of no other Magick but what was natural, lawful, and laudable, as his profound and learned Works (if his blind Adversaries had ever taken pains to have perused them, who frequently censure and condemn those things they never saw, read, or understood) do witness beyond all exception, and is all justified by the testimonies of so many learned and judicious persons, that more cannot be said to his praise and vindication. The most of his learned Works being kept in the Library at Oxford, written in an ancient hand: which would never have been done, if they had not been highly esteemed and prised. For as Zetznerus the great Stationer of Stasburgh saith: “Tantæ suo fuisse ævo authoritatis atq; æstimationis legitur, ut justissimi Arragonum Reges eum in privilegiis eidem concessis, magnum in Philosophia magistrum, & mirandarum artium & scientiarum authorem nominârint.” Lastly, one Father Pacificus in his Journey from Persia 1628. came into the Isle of Majorca, where Lully was born, and to his great admiration found the Statue of Lully there in Wood curiously coloured, and he honoured as a Saint (whom he had before judged an Heretick) as also a Society of Professors following the Doctrine of Lully, and called Raymundines or Lullists, and that they affirmed, that by Divine illumination he had the perfect knowledge of Nature, by which he found out the universal Medicine, by a certain Aurum potabile, by which he prolonged his life to the 145. year of his age, in which year he suffered Martyrdom. This I have produced to shew how inconsiderately and ignorantly the best learned of an Age may be, and often are wrongfully and falsely traduced and slandered, which may be a warning to all persons to take heed how they pass their censures, until they understand perfectly all that is necessary to be known about the Subject they are to give judgment of, before they utter or declare their sentence.

Lib. 1. de Script. Anglic.

Cap. 1.

5. Roger Bacon our Countryman, who was a Franciscan Fryar, and Doctor of Divinity, the greatest Chymist, Astrologer, and Mathematician of his time, yet could not escape the injurious and unchristian censure of being a Conjurer, and so hard put to it, that as Pitts saith, he was twice cited to Rome by Clement the Fourth, to purge himself of that accusation, and was forced to send his Optical and Mathematical Instruments to Rome, to satisfie the Pope and the Conclave, which he amply performed, and came off with honor and applause. To vindicate whom I need say little, because it is already performed by the Pens of those learned persons, Pitts, Leland, Selden, and Nandæus, only I shall add one Sentence forth of that most learned Treatise, De mirabili potestate artis & naturæ, & de nullitate magiæ. Where he saith thus: Quicquid autem est præter operationem naturæ vel artis, aut non est humanum, aut est fictum & fraudibus occupatum. Another of our Country-men Dr. John Dee, the greatest and ablest Philosopher, Mathematician, and Chymist that his Age (or it may be ever since) produced, could not evade the censure of the Monster-headed multitude, but even in his life time was accounted a Conjurer, of which he most sadly (and not without cause) complaineth in his most learned Preface to Euclid, Englished by Mr. Billingsley, and there strongly apologizeth for himself, with that zeal and fervency, that may satisfie any rational Christian, that he was no such wicked person, as to have visible and familiar converse (if any such thing can be nowadays) with the Devil, the known Enemy of Mankind, of which take this short passage, where he saith: “O my unkind Country-men, O unnatural Country-men, O unthankful Country-men, O brain-sick, rash, spiteful, and disdainful Country-men, why oppress you me thus violently with your slandering of me contrary to verity, and contrary to your own consciences?” Yet notwithstanding this, and his known abilities in the most parts of abstruse Learning, the great respect that he had from divers Princes, Nobles, and the most Learned in all Europe, could not protect him from this harsh and unjust censure. For Dr. Casaubon near fifty years after Dr. Dees death, hath in the year 1659. published a large Book in Folio of Dees conversing for many years with Spirits (wicked ones he meaneth.) But how Christian-like this was done, to wound the mans reputation so many years after his death, and with that horrid and wicked slander of having familiarity with Devils for many years in his life time, which tends to the loss both of body and soul, and to register him amongst the damned, how Christian-like this is, I leave all Christians to judge? Besides, let all the World judge in this case, that Dr. Casaubon being a sworn Witchmonger, even to the credulity of the filthiest and most impossible of their actions, cannot but allow of the Law that doth punish them for digging up the bones of the dead, to use them to Superstition or Sorcery; what may he then think the World may judge him guilty of, for uncovering the Dormitories of the deceased, not to abuse their bones, but to throw their Souls into the deepest pit of Hell? A wickedness certainly beyond the greatest wickedness, that he can believe is committed by Witches. It is manifest, that he hath not published this meerly as a true relation of the matter of fact, and so to leave it to others to judge of; but that designedly he hath laboured to represent Dee as a most infamous and wicked person, as may be plainly seen in the whole drift of his tedious Preface. But his design to make Dee a Converser with evil Spirits was not all, he had another that concerned himself more nearly. He had before run in a manner (by labouring to make all that which he called Enthusiasm, to be nothing else but imposture or melancholy and depraved phantasie, arising from natural causes) into the censure of being a Sadducee or Atheist. To wash off which he thought nothing was so prevalent, as to leap into the other end of the balance (the mean is hard to be kept) to weigh the other down, by publishing some notorious Piece that might (as he thought) in an high degree manifest the existence of Spirits good and bad, and this he thought would effect it sufficiently, or at least wipe off the former imputation that he had contracted.

But that I may not be too tedious, I shall sum up briefly some others, by which it may be made clear, that those dauntless Spirits that have adventured to cross the current of common opinion, and those that have handled abstruse Subjects, have never wanted opposition and scandal, how true or profitable soever the things were that they treated or writ of. Trithemius that Honour and Ornament of Germany for all sorts of Literature, wanted not a Bouillus to calumniate and condemn him of unlawful Magick, from which all the Learned in Europe know he is absolved, by the able and elegant Pen of him that styles himself Gustavus Silenus, and others. Cornelius Agrippa run the same Fate, by the scribling of that ignorant and envious Monk Paulus Jovius, from whose malicious slander he is totally acquitted by the irrefragable evidence of Wierus, Melchior Adams, Nandæus, and others. Who almost have not read or heard of the horrid and abominable false scandals laid upon that totius Germaniæ decus, Paracelsus, by the malevolent Pen of Erastus, and after swallowed up with greediness by Libanius, Conringius, Sennertus, and many others? for not only labouring to bring in a new Theory and Practice into the Art of Medicine, but also for striving to purge and purifie the ancient, natural, laudable, and lawful Magick from the filth and dregs of Imposture, Deceit, Ceremonies, and Superstitions: yet hath not wanted most strong and invincible Champions to defend him, as Dorne, Petrus Severinus, Smetius, Crollius, Bitiscius, and many others. Our Countryman Dr. Fudd, a man acquainted with all kinds of Learning, and one of the most Christian Philosophers that ever writ, yet wanted not those snarling Animals, such as Marsennus, Lanovius, Foster, and Gassendus, as also our Casaubon (as mad as any) to accuse him vainly and falsely of Diabolical Magick, from which the strength of his own Pen and Arguments did discharge him without possibility of replies. We shall now come to those that have treated of Witchcraft, and strongly opposed and confuted the many wonderful and incredible actions and power ascribed unto Witches: and these crossing the vogue of the common opinion, have not wanted their loads of unworthy and unchristian scandals cast upon them, of which we shall only name these two, Wierus a learned person, a German, and in his time Physician to the Duke of Cleve; the other our Countryman Mr. Reginald Scot, a person of competent Learning, pious, and of a good Family: what is said against them in particular, I shall recite, and give a brief responsion unto it.

1. There is a little Treatise in Latine titled Dæmonologia, fathered upon King James (how truly we shall not dispute, for some ascribe it to others) where in the Preface these two persons are intimated to be Witches, and that they writ against the common opinion, concerning the Power of Witches, the better to shelter and conceal their Diabolical skill. But indeed this groundless accusation needs no confutation, but rather scorn and derision, as having no rational ground of probability at all, that they should be such cursed Hypocrites, or dissembling Politicians, the one being a very learned and able Physician, as both his Writings do witness, and that upright and unpartial Author Melchior Adams in his life hath most amply declared: the other known (as not living so very many years ago) to be a godly, learned, and an upright man, as his Book which he calleth, The Discovery of Witchcraft, doth most largely make it appear, if his Adversaries had ever taken the pains to peruse it. So that all rational persons may plainly see, that it is but a lying invention, a malicious device, and a meer forged accusation.

2. These persons are accused to have absolutely denied the existence of Witches, which we shall demonstrate to be notoriously false, by these following reasons.

Considerat. about Witchcraft, p. 76.

1. Could ever any rational man have thought or believed, that Mr. Glanvil, a person who pretends to such high parts, would have expressed so much weakness and impudence, as to have charged Mr. Scot with the flat denial of the existence of Witches; as he doth in these words speaking of him? and pretends this to be a Confutation of the being of Witches and Apparitions; and this he intimates in divers other places, but without any quotation, to shew where or in what words Scot doth simply deny the Being of Witches, which he doth no where maintain: so confident are many to charge others with that which they neither hold nor write.

2. Mr. Scot and Wierus do not state the Question, An sint, Whether there be Witches or not, but Quomodo sint, in what manner they act. So that their Question is only, What kind of power supposed Witches have, or do act by, and what the things are that they do or can perform: so that the state of the question is not simply of the Being of Witches, or de existentia, but only de modo existendi: wherein it is plain, that every Dispute de modo existendi, doth necessarily grant and suppose the certainty of the Existence, otherwise the Dispute of the manner of their Being, Properties, Power, or Acts would have no ground or foundation at all. As if I and another should dispute about the extent, buildings, and situation of the great City Peking in China, or about the length, breadth, and height of the great Wall dividing China from Tartary; we both do take for granted, that there is such a City, and such a Wall, otherwise our Dispute would be wild, vain, and groundless: like the two Wise-men of Gotham, who strove and argued about the driving of sheep over a bridge; the one affirming he would drive his sheep over the bridge, and the other protesting against it, and so begun, one as it were to drive, and the other to stay and stop them, when there were no sheep betwixt them. And this might be a sufficient document to Mr. Glanvil, to have been more sober, than to have charged Scot so falsely. And do not the ancient Fathers differ in their opinions circa Angelorum modum existendi, some of them holding them to be corporeal, and some incorporeal? yet both these parties did firmly hold their existence: so that this is a false and improper charge, and hath no basis to stand upon at all.

3. What man of reason and judgment could have believed, that Mr. Glanvil or Dr. Casaubon, being persons that pretend to a great share of Learning, and to be exact in their ways of arguing, would have committed so pitiful and gross a fault, as is fallacia consequentis? For if I deny that a Witch cannot flye in the air, nor be transformed or transsubstantiated into a Cat, a Dog, or an Hare, or that the Witch maketh any visible Covenant with the Devil, or that he sucketh on their bodies, or that the Devil hath carnal Copulation with them; I do not thereby deny either the Being of Witches, nor other properties that they may have, for which they may be so called: no more than if I deny that a Dog hath rugibility (which is only proper to a Lion) doth it follow that I deny the being of a Dog, or that he hath latrability? this is meer inconsequential, and hath no connexion. So if I deny that a man cannot flye by his natural abilities in the air like a Bird, nor live continually in the Sea as a fish, nor in the earth as a Worm or Mole, this doth not at all infer that I deny the existence of man, nor his other properties of risibility, rationality, or the like. But this is the learned Logick, and the clear ways of arguing that these men use.

Pag. 76.

Of Credul. and Incredul. p. 40.

3. A third scandal Mr. Glanvil throws upon him is this, where he saith thus: “For the Author doth little but tell odd tales and silly Legends, which he confutes and laughs at, and pretends this to be a confutation of the Being of Witches and Apparitions. In all which, his reasonings are trifling and childish; and when he ventures at Philosophy, he is little better than absurd. Dr. Casaubon, though he confesseth he had never read Scots Book, but as he had found it by chance in friends houses, or Book-sellers Shops, yet doth rank him amongst the number of his illiterate Wretches, and tells us how Dr. Reynolds did censure him and some others.” To these, though they be not much material, we shall give positive and convincing answers.

1. There is no greater sign of the weakness of a mans cause, nor his inability to defend it, than when he slips over the substance of the question in hand, and begins to fall foul upon the adverse party, to throw dirt and filth upon him, and to abuse and slander him: this is a thing very usual, but exceeding base, and plainly demonstrates the badness of their cause.

2. If Mr. Scot hath done little but told odd tales and silly Legends, Mr. Glanvil might very well have born with him; for I am sure his story of the Drummer, and his other of Witchcraft are as odd and silly, as any can be told or read, and are as futilous, incredible, ludicrous, and ridiculous as any can be. And if the tales that Scot tells be odd and silly, they are the most of them taken from those pitiful lying Witchmongers, such as Delrio, Bodinus, Springerus, Remigius, and the like, the Authors that are most esteemed with Dr. Casaubon, and other Witchmongers, of whom we shall say more hereafter.

3. For Mr. Glanvil to give general accusations without particular proofs, as to say Scots reasonings are trifling and childish, and when he ventures at Philosophy, he is little better than absurd, do plainly manifest the mans malice, and discover his weakness: For dolus versatur in universalibus, and no man ought to be condemned without particular and punctual proof, as to the time, place, and all other circumstances, which Mr. Glanvil could not do, and therefore he only gives general calumniations without ground; and if Scot were little better than absurd, then he the better agrees with Mr. Glanvil, whose Platonical Whimseys are as absurd as any, as we shall sufficiently prove hereafter.

4. Dr. Casaubon must needs have been highly elevated with the desire of censuring, when he would condemn a man without reading his Book, or serious weighing the force of his arguments, this concludes him of vast weakness, and of great perversness of mind, as all rational men may judge; for in effect it is this, Scot is an illiterate Wretch, and his Book full of errors, but I never read it, but as I have looked upon it at a friends house, or a Book-sellers Shop: is not this a wretched ground whereupon to build so wretched a foundation, as thereby to judge him an illiterate Wretch? And to censure him by the report of others, is as unjust, weak, and childish as the former; and though Dr. Reynolds were a learned man, it doth not appear for what particular point or errour he censured Scot, and therefore is but a general and groundless charge, sheltred under the colour of Dr. Reynolds reputation, an evidence, in Reason and Law, of no weight or validity.

5. For Dr. Casaubon to rank him amongst illiterate Wretches, is against the very Rule of the Law of Nature, that teaches all men, that they should not do that to another, which they would not have another to do unto them. And sure Dr. Casaubon would not have another to judge and condemn him for an illiterate Wretch, and therefore, he ought not to have condemned Mr. Scot to be so. And as it is against the Law of Nature, so it is contrary to the rules of modesty and morality to give a man such stigmatizing titles: nay it is even against the rules of good manners and civil education, but that some men think that it is lawful for them to say any thing, and that nothing what they say doth misbeseem them. And lastly, how far it is against the Rules of Christianity and Piety, let all good Christians judge.

6. The falsity of this foul scandal is manifest in both the particulars therein couched. 1. For Mr. Scot was a learned and diligent person, as the whole Treatise will bear witness; he understood the Latine Tongue, and something of the Greek, and for the Hebrew, if he knew nothing of it, yet he had procured very good helps, as appeareth in his expounding the several words that are used in the Scriptures for supposed Witches and Witchcraft; as also his quoting of divers of the Fathers, the reformed Ministers, and many other Authors besides, which sufficiently prove that he was not illiterate. 2. And that he was no wretched person, is apparent, being a man of a good Family, a considerable Estate, a man of a very commendable government, and a very godly and zealous Protestant, as I have been informed by persons of worth and credit, and is sufficiently proved by his Writing.

I have not been thus tedious to accumulate these instances of men that have been censured, for opposing vulgar opinions, or writing of abstruse Subjects, as circumstantial only, or for a flourish, but meerly as they are introductive, necessary, and pertinent to the purpose I intend in this Treatise, as I shall make manifest in these Rules or Observations following, and shall add sufficient reasons to confirm the same.

Rule 1.

1. That the generality of an opinion, or the numerousness of the persons that hold and maintain it, are not a safe and warrantable ground to receive it, or to adhere unto it: nor that it is safe or rational to reject an opinion, because they are but few that do hold it, or the number but small that maintain it. And this I shall labour to make good by these sure and firm arguments following.

Exod. 13. 2.

Mat. 24. 5.

Luke 6. 26.

Lib. de vit. beat. Lactant. Duimar. Instit. l. 2. c. 3.

1. Because the Scriptures tell us thus much: Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil. And that there are many deceivers: For many shall come in my Name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you: for so did their fathers to the false Prophets. From whence it is plain, that first we are to consider and be assured, that the matter be not evil; for if it be, we are not at all to be swayed with the multitudes that follow it, or that uphold it: so if the opinion be evil, erroneous, or false, we ought not to receive it, or adhere unto it, though never so many do hold or maintain it. So that in truth and substance, we are not at all to consider, whether there be few or many that hold it, but simply, whether it be true or not. For as Plato tells us: Neq; id considerandum quid dixerit, sed utrum verè dicatur nec ne. For the multitude have been by all good Authors and Learned men always esteemed the most erroneous, as Seneca saith: Quærendum non quod vulgo placet, pessimo veritatis interpreti. And Lactantius teaches us this: Vulgus indoctum pompis inanibus gaudet, animisq; puerilibus spectat omnia, oblectatur frivolis, nec ponderare secum unamquamq; rem potest. And our Saviour gives us a proof and instance of the errour of the multitude, and that in matter of fact. Did not almost all the Jews under divers Kings Raigns applaud and approve of the doctrine and opinions of the false Prophets, though utterly erroneous? insomuch that Elijah said, that he only was left of the true Prophets, though the false ones were many and numerous. So that the Rule is proved to be true, both by the precept and example of the Scriptures.

2. If we consider the generality of Mankind, either in respect of their inclinations and dispositions, or their breeding and education, we shall not find one of an hundred, either by nature inclined, or by education fitted and qualified to search forth and understand the truth. And then if there be an hundred to one drowned in ignorance and errors, and so few fitted to understand the truth of things either divine or natural, then it must needs follow, that it is not safe to embrace or adhere to an opinion, because of the great number of those that hold or maintain it, but rather to stick to the smaller number; though neither simply ought to be regarded, but truth it self.

3. Again, if we consider those numbers, that either by nature are inclined, or by education trained up in Learning, to enable them to judge rightly betwixt truth and truth-likeliness, how few of these that prove any thing excellent in those parts of Learning wherein they are bred, we may easily see the verity of this Rule sufficiently proved, that it is not safe to embrace or adhere to an opinion, because the numbers are great that hold or maintain it.

4. If the multitude that hold the opinions, whether of spiritual or natural things were to be followed, meerly because of the great numbers that hold them: then if we look and consider the Writings of the best Geographers, Travellers, and Navigators, we should either be of the opinions of the Pagans, who are the most numerous part of Mankind, or the Mahumetans, which are many in respect of the paucity of Christians. And then what horrid, blasphemous, idolatrous, impious, and diabolical opinions must we receive and hold, both concerning God, Angels, the Creation, and the most of the operations that are produced by Nature? So that the arguments of Dr. Casaubon and Mr. Glanvil, drawn from the universality of the opinion, and the great multitudes of those that hold it, are vain and groundless.

5. If the comparison I use be thought too large, and the rule be put only as to the greater part of the Learned that are in Europe, yet it will hold good, that the greatest part of the Learned are not to be adhered to, because of their numerousness; nor that the rest are to be rejected, because of their paucity. For it is known sufficiently, that a Bishop of Mentz was censured and excommunicated for holding that there were Antipodes, by some hundreds of those that were accounted learned and wise: so that it is plain, that the greater number may be in the errour, and those that are few be in the right. And did not the greatest number of the Physicians in Europe altogether adhere to the Doctrine of Galen, though now in Germany, France, England, and many other Nations the most have exploded it? And was not the Aristotelian Philosophy embraced by the greatest part of all the Learned in Europe? And have not the Cartesians and others sufficiently now manifested the errours and imperfections of it, and especially the endeavors of the honourable and learned Members of the Royal Society here in England, and the like Societies beyond Seas by their continual labour and vigilancy about Experiments, made the errours and defects of it obvious to all inquisitive persons? So that multitude, as multitude, ought not to lead or sway us, but truth it self.

6. If to all this we add, that truth in it self is but one; for unum and verum are convertibles, and that errour or falsity is various and manifold, and that there may be a thousand errours about one particular thing, and yet but one truth; it will necessarily follow, the greatest number holding an opinion, cannot be safe to be followed because of their multitude, and the reason is errour, is manifold, truth but one.

Rule 2.

2. It is not safe nor rational to receive or adhere to an opinion because of its Antiquity; nor to reject one because of its Novelty. And this we shall make good from and by these following reasons.

1. Because there is no opinion (especially about created things) but it hath once been new; and if an opinion should be rejected meerly because of novelty, then it will follow, that either all opinions might have been rejected for that very reason, or that novelty is no safe ground only, why an opinion should be opposed or rejected.

2. Antiquity and Novelty are but relations quoad nostrum intellectum, non quoad naturam; for the truth, as it is fundamentally in things extra intellectum, cannot be accounted either old or new. And an opinion, when first found out and divulged, is as much a truth then, as when the current of hundreds or thousands of years have passed since its discovery. For it was no less a truth, when in the infancy of Philosophy it was holden, that there was generation and corruption in Nature, in respect of Individuals, than it is now: so little doth Time, Antiquity, or Novelty alter, change, confirm, or overthrow truth; for veritas est temporis filia, in regard of its discovery to us or by us, who must draw it forth è puteo Democriti. And the existence of the West-Indies was as well before the discovery made by Columbus as since, and our ignorance of it did not impeach the truth of its being, neither did the novelty of its discovery make it less verity, nor the years since make it more: so that we ought simply to examine, whether an opinion be possible or impossible, probable or improbable, true or false; and if it be false, we ought to reject it, though it seem never so venerable by the white hairs of Antiquity; nor ought we to refuse it, though it seem never so young, or near its birth. For as St. Cyprian said: Error vetustatis est vetustas erroris.

Advanc. of Learn. l. 1. c. 5.

3. In regard of Natural Philosophy, and the knowledge of the properties of created things, and the knowledge of them, we preposterously reckon former Ages, and the men that lived in them, the Ancients; which in regard of production and generation of the Individuals of their own Species are so; but in respect of knowledge and experience, this Age is to be accounted the most ancient. For as the learned Lord Bacon saith: “Indeed to speak truly, Antiquitas seculi, juventus mundi,” Antiquity of time is the youth of the World. Certainly our times are the ancient times, when the World is now ancient, and not those which we count ancient, ordine retrogrado, by a computation backward from our own times; and yet so much credit hath been given to old Authors, as to invest them with the power of Dictators, that their words should stand, rather than admit them as Consuls to give advice.

Rule 3.

3. It is not safe nor rational to resolve to stick to our old imbibed opinions, nor wilfully to reject those that seem new, except we be fully satisfied, from indubitable grounds, that what we account old is certainly true, and what we reckon to be new is undoubtedly false. And this will appear to be a truth, partly from the weakness of their arguments, that seem utterly to condemn all recession from ancient opinions, as vain, foolish, and unnecessary; as also from other positive reasons.

1. Some give the reason why they will not recede from an opinion that their Predecessors held; for that their Forefathers were as wise, if not wiser than they. But this, if strictly considered, is very lame and defective; for their Predecessors were but men, and so were liable both to active and passive deception, and were not exempted from the common frailty of Mankind, who are all subject to errours. And therefore, unless they were assured that their Ancestors in former Ages, held the certain and undoubted grounds of truth, it is nothing of reason in them, but meer perversness of will, rather obstinately errare cum patribus, than to learn to follow the truth with those that are coetaneous with them, which is foolish and irrational. Further, there are more helps now, and means to attain the knowledge of Verity, than were in the days when their Ancestors lived, and it must be a kind of the greatest madness to shut their eyes, that the light of truth may not appear unto them.

2. This kind of reasoning hath no more of reason in it, than if one should say, that because his Grandfather and great Grandfather were blind or lame, therefore they will be so too: or that their Ancestors never learned the Greek or Latine Tongues, nor to write or read, neither will they learn any more than they did: or that their Predecessors were ill husbands and unthrifts, and that therefore they will continue the same courses: or that because their Forefathers followed drunkenness and luxury, therefore they will continue the same cariere of vices, as many of our debauched persons do now adays, having no better reasons to alledge for their exorbitant and vicious courses, but what the Prophet condemned, The fathers have eaten sowr grapes, and the childrens teeth are set on edge.

3. How far would they run back to state the beginning of their Ancestors? If as far as their first Originals, then they must all be Savages, Barbarians, and Heathens. And if they state it distant from their first Originals, then their Predecessors had the same reason to have continued, as those did that preceded them. But if their Ancestors varied from, and left the steps and opinions of those that went before them, then if they will do as their Ancestors did, they must leave their courses and opinions, as they had done of those that preceded them.

August. lib. de Liber. Arbitrio.

4. Some say they cannot recede from the opinions of their Predecessors, because it would be a shame and disgrace unto them. But that which we call shame and disgrace consists in the opinion of others, and we ought not to receive errour, or reject truth, by reason of the censures or opinions of others: Si de veritate scandalum sumitur, utilius permittitur nasci scandalum, quàm veritas relinquatur. And to leave an errour to entertain truth, is so far from being a shame and a disgrace, that there cannot be a greater honour or glory: for errare humanum est, sed in errore perseverare belluinum ac diabolicum est.

Rule 4.

4. Those effects that seem strange and wonderful, either in respect of Art or Nature, require much diligence truly to discover and find out their causes; and we ought not rashly to attribute those effects to the Devil, whose causes are latent or unknown unto us: and that for these grounds.

De Inject. mater. pag. 597.

Ibid. pag. 598.

1. It hath been common almost in all Ages, not only for the vulgar, but also for the whole rabble of Demonographers and Witchmongers to ascribe those strange and wonderful effects, whether arising from Art or Nature, unto the worst of Gods Creatures, if they did not themselves understand their causes, and to censure the Authors that writ of them, as Conjurers and Magicians, as I have made manifest in my former Instances, and might be further made good and illustrated by the effects of healing by the Weapon-salve, the Sympathetick Powder, the Curing of divers Diseases by Appensions, Amulets, or by Transplantation, and many other most admirable effects both of Art and Nature, which by these self-conceited Ignorants are all thrown upon the Devils back, and he made the Author and effector of them, as though he had a kind of omnipotent power: of which the learned Philosopher and Physician Van Helmont gives us this account: “Credo equidem cum pietate pugnare, si Diabolo tribuatur potestas naturam superans. Verum naturæ ignari præsumunt se naturæ secretarios per librorum lectionem: quicquid autem ipsos latet, vel adynaton, vel falsum, vel præstigiosum, atq; diabolicum esto.” And a little after he adds this: “Pigritiæ saltem enim immensæ inventum fuit, omnia in Diabolum retulisse quæ non capimus, nec velim Diabolum invocatum, ut nostris satisfaciat quæstionibus per temerariam potestatum attributionem.”

2. Whosoever shall read Pancirollus de rebus memoralibus noviter repertis, may easily be satisfied, what strange and stupendious things Art and the Inventions of men have produced in these latter Ages. And no man can rationally doubt, but that many more as strange or far more wonderful, may in Ages to come be found out and discovered; for there is a kind of bottomless depth in Arts, whether Liberal or Mechanical, that yet hath not been founded, but lye hid and unknown unto men. And if these for their wonderfulness should (as former Ages have ignorantly done) be ascribed unto the power of Satan, and their Authors accused of Conjuring and Diabolical Magick, no greater wrong could be done unto Art and Artists, and it would be a kind of blasphemy to attribute these stupendious effects (as the Vulgar and Witchmongers use to do) unto the Devil, the worst of Gods Creatures, and the Enemy of Mankind.

Pag. 103.

Rom. 1. 20.

De Civit. Dei lib. 10.

3. The third argument I shall take from Mr. Glanvil (which is the greatest piece of truth in all his Treatise) and convert and retort it against him: and is this (he saith) We are ignorant of the extent and bounds of Natures Sphere and Possibilities. Now if we be ignorant of the extent and bounds of Natures Sphere and Possibilities, then it must needs be folly, madness, and derogative against Gods power in Nature, to attribute those effects to wicked, fallen, and degenerated Demons, that we do not know but are produced by the course of Nature. And to ascribe the products of Nature to such wicked Instruments is blasphemous, in depriving Nature of the honour due unto her, and robbing God of the honour and glory belonging unto him, for the wonderful power wherewith he hath endowed his Creatures, who were all made to shew forth his power and Godhead, and the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work: and as one said very well, Natura creatrix est quædam vis & potentia divinitùs insita, alia ex aliis in suo genere producens. So that the honour that is due unto the Creator, Conserver, and Orderer of Nature ought not to be ascribed unto the Devils; for in doing this, the Witchmongers become guilty of Idolatry, and are themselves such Witches as are mentioned in the Old Testament, who by their lying Divinations led the people after them to follow Idols; therefore the effects that belong unto Nature, are to be attributed to Nature, and the effects that Devils produce, are to be ascribed unto them, and not one confounded with another. And much to this purpose the learned Father hath a very considerable passage: “Quicquid igitur mirabile fit in hoc mundo, profectò minus est quàm totus hic mundus, i. e. cœlum & terra, & omnia quæ in eis sunt, quæ certè Deus fecit: nam & omni miraculo quod fit per hominem, majus miraculum est homo. Quamvis igitur miracula visibilium naturarum videndi assiduitate vilescunt, tamen ea quum sapienter intuemur, inusitatissimis rarísq; majora sunt.”

Job 1. 11. & 2. 5.

2 Pet. 2. 4.

August. super Psal.

4. Though these men should believe the power of the Devil to be great by his Creation, and not lessened by his Fall (which is doubtful or false) yet can he not exert, or put this power into execution, but when, where, as oft, and in what manner, as God doth send, order, direct, and command him: and could not enter into the herd of Swine, until that Christ had ordered and commanded him; nor to touch Job or afflict him either in his goods or body, until that God had given him licence and order with express limitation how far he should proceed, and no further. In all which there appeareth nothing at all of his power, but his malice and evil will; and what was effected, was the hand of the Lord, and he but the bare Instrument to execute and perform the command. Therefore to ascribe to the Devil the efficiency of those operations we do not clearly understand, is to allow him a kind of Omnipotency, and both to rob God and Nature of that which belongeth unto them; for the Almighty doth work whatsoever he pleases both in Heaven and Earth, and it is he that worketh all in all. And the Devil is but as Gods Executioner to fulfil his will in tempting men, and punishing the wicked, and can act nothing but as God commands him, except the acts of his wicked and depraved will; for he is with all his Angels delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved unto Judgment. To this purpose there is a very true and Christian saying of St. Augustine in these words: “Diabolus plerumq; vult nocere, & non potest, quia potestas ista est sub potestate: nam si tantum posset nocere Diabolus quantum vult, aliquis justorum non remaneret.”

Rule 5.

5. The last Rule I shall observe is, That men, if they mean to profit by reading Controversies of this nature, they must prudently and deliberately consider the design that Authors have had in writing. For though it be the general pretence of all, that they write to confute errours, and to maintain truth, yet very few in Disputes of this nature have sincerely performed this pretended end. For some have written (as we shall hereafter make manifest in due place) upon designed purpose, thereby to establish some points in their corrupted and superstitious Religion. Some because of their own lucre and profit arising by the upholding of these opinions of the great power and performances of Witches, as did all the Inquisitors and their Adherents, having a share in the condemned Witches goods. Others have written in these Subjects meerly for ostentation and vain-glory, to get a name that they were learned and able persons: of all which the judicious Readers ought to beware of, and to consider. There is another main scandal that Witchmongers usually (especially of late) cast upon those that oppose their gross, impious, and blasphemous opinions; but I cannot seasonably give answer unto it, untill I have laid down the state of the question, upon which the substance of this Treatise is grounded, and therefore shall proceed to its Explication.

CHAP. II.

Of the Notion, Conception, and Description of Witches and Witchcraft, according to divers Authors, and in what sense they may be granted, and in what sense and respect they are denied.

Those that are Masters in Ethicks teach us, that every Vertue hath on either side one Vice in the extreme, and that Vertue only consists in the mean, which how hard that mean is to be kept in any thing, the Writings and Actions of the most Men do sufficiently inform us. This is manifest, that not many years ago the truth of Philosophy lay inchained in the Prisons of the Schools, who thought there was no proficiency to be made therein, but only in their Logical and Systematical ways: so that (in a manner) all liberty was taken away both in writing and speaking, and nothing was to be allowed of that had not the Seal of Academick Sanction. And now when Philosophy hath gotten its freedom, to expatiate through the whole Sphere of Nature, by all sorts of inquiries and tryals, to compleat a perfect History of Nature, some are on the other hand grown so rigid and peremptory, that they will condemn all things that have not past the test of Experiment, or conduce not directly to that very point, and so would totally demolish that part of Academick and Formal Learning that teacheth men Method and the way of Logical procedure in writing of Controversies, and handling of Disputes. Whereas what is more necessary and commendable for those that treat of any controverted point in Writing or in other Disputations, than a clear and perspicuous Method, a right and exact stating of the Question in doubt, defining or describing the terms that are or may be equivocal, and dividing the whole into its due and genuine parts, distinguishing of things one from another, limiting things that are too general, and explaining of every thing that is doubtful? Those that would totally take away this so profitable and excellent a part of Learning, are not of my judgment, nor can be excused for having run into that extreme that is extremely condemnable. Let Experimental Philosophy have its place and due honour; and let also the Logical, Methodical, and Formal ways of the Academies have its due praise and commendation, as being both exceedingly profitable, though in different respects; otherwise, in writing and arguing, nothing but disorder and confusion will bear sway.

I have premised thus much, because the most of the Authors that have treated about this knotty and thorny Subject of Witches and Witchcraft, have been as confused and immethodical as any. For whereas the learned Orator Cicero tells us, that omnis discursus à definitione debet proficisci; and that it is also true, that what is not aptly and fitly defined or described, as far as the Subject will admit of, is never perfectly understood: yet have the most of these Authors (which are numerous) laid down no perfect description of a Witch or Witchcraft, nor explained fully what they meant by that name, notion, or conception. And therefore, lest I become guilty of the same fault, I shall lay down what the most considerable Authors that have treated of this Subject, do mean or intend by this word Witch, and Witchcraft, and shall fully explain in what notion or sense I either allow or deny them, and their actions, and that in this order, and in these Particulars following.

Lib. 14. method. c. 9.

Ibid. c. 1.

1. Though an argument taken à denotatione nominis be of little weight or validity, and that the industrious and sharp-witted person Galen doth seem to make little account of words, that is, in this respect, when we would only understand the nature of things, yet in another respect he concludeth thus: “Verùm qui alterum docere volet quæ ipse tenet, huic prorsus nominibus propter res uti est opus.” Now the handling of Controversies is chiefly and principally to inform others, and teach them the truth, and to discover errours; therefore in this respect the explication and denotation of words is exceeding profitable and necessary: and so Plato in Cratylo tells us: “Nomen itaq; rerum, substantiam docendi discernendiq; instrumentum est.” And it being a manifest truth, that words are but the making forth of those notions that we have of things, and ought to be subjected to things, and not things to words: if our notions do not agree with the things themselves, then we have received false Idola or images of them; but if we have conceived them aright, and do not express them fitly and congruously, then we shall hardly make others understand us aright, nor can clearly open unto them the doctrine that we would teach them.

2. But to come to the signification and acceptation of the words that those Authors, who have magnified and defended the power of Witches, have used to express their notions by, we shall find them to be so far fetcht, so metaphorical, and improperly applied, that no rational or understanding man can tell us what to make of them. And if we take the notion, as they do, of a killing and murthering Witch, with the rest of the adjuncts, which they couple with it, we shall not be able to find a proper and significative word, either in the Hebrew, Greek, Latine, French, Spanish, Italian, or High-Dutch, but a multitude or a Ferrago of words, whereof not one doth properly signifie any such thing, as they would make us believe, by the notion that they maintain of a Witch: of which we shall principally note these.

Lament. 4. 3.

1. For the Hebrew words used in the Old Testament we shall not mention them here, but afterward, where we speak of the mistranslation of them, and therefore shall pursue them in the Latine, and other Languages. And first they sometimes use the word Lamia in the Latine, Λάμια in Greek, which Gesner and others tell us doth signifie a terrestrial Creature, or a voracious fish, as also a Spectrum or Phantasm. And this was supposed to be a Creature with a face like a Woman, and feet like a Horse or an Ass, such as (indeed) neither is, nor ever was in rerum natura, but was only a figment devised to affright children withal. But if we will believe Poetical Fables, the Romances of Philostratus concerning Apollonius, or the lying Diary of his Man Damis, we must take it to be a Spirit or Apparition, such as the Greeks called Empusæ, that went upon one leg, and had eyes that they could take forth, and set in, when they pleased. And such a monstrous Fable and Lye was a sufficient ground for doting Witchmongers to build their incredible stories of the power and actions of Witches upon, having no proper word for such a Witch as they falsely believe and suppose. Though there be a Text in the Lamentations of Jeremiah, that hath given occasion or colour to this vain opinion, especially as the vulgar Latine renders it, which is thus: Sed & Lamiæ nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos. Filia populi mei crudelis, quasi struthio in deserto. The French render it, The Dragons have made bare their breasts: and so have also the Italians in their Translation retained the words Dragon and Ostrich; and also the Septuagint render the words δράχοντες and στρουθίον. And Luther in his Translation hath kept the same words, though the Germans call Lamia Ein Rachtsgeist. But our own Translation hath come more near the truth: Even the Sea-monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the Daughter of my people are become cruel like the Ostriches in the wilderness. And Arias Montanus gives it thus: Etiam draco——תנין Tannin (which signifieth a Dragon, Serpent, Whale, or other Sea-creatures) solverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos: Filia populi mei in crudelem, veluti ululæ in deserto. But none hath come up close to the mark but Junius and Tremellius, who render the place thus: Etiam Phocæ præbent mammam, lactant catulos suos, quomodo filia populi mei, propter crudelem inimicum, est similis ululis in deserto. And the Notes upon the place do make it plain: “Vox quidem Hebræa latè patet, significans serpentes & reptilia magna, sive terrestria sive aquatilia; sed cùm non omnium reptilium sint mammæ, neq; aquaticorum sint ii quos Propheta vocat catulos; necesse fuit hunc locum ad Phocas, id est marinos vitulos accommodari, qui à natura sint quasi Amphibii. Nam Draconibus accommodari non potest, cùm volucrium solus vespertilio mammas habeat: serpentium terrestrium nulla species mammata est, ac proinde hæc ad marinum istud genus referri debent.”

Isa. 34. 14.

Gesn. de Avib. l. 3. p. 241.

Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. p. 18.

2. Another far fetcht and improperly applied name to Witches, is Strix, and so some Authors call them Striges; when as the word Strix doth properly signifie a nocturnal bird, à stridendo sic dicta, that do use to suck the dugs of Goats, and also of young children, which we shall shew hereafter to be a Truth, and no Fable, as Ovid saith,

Nocte volant, puerósq; petunt nutricis egentes,

Et vitiant cunis corpora rapta suis.

Carpere dicuntur lactentia viscera rostris,

Et plenum poto sanguine guttur habent.

Est illis strigilis nomen; sed nominis hujus

Causa, quòd horrendâ stridere nocte solent.

This is that sort of bird that Gesner calleth Caprimulgus, and the Greeks Ἀιγαθήλας, the Germans Rachtvogel or Rachtraven, the Hebrews לילית Lillith, as is said in Isaiah: Quin & ibi subitò quievit strix (seu lamia) & invenit sibi requiem. It is taken to be a kind of Owl, little bigger than an Ousel, and less than a Cuckow, they are blind upon the day, and flye abroad upon the nights, making an horrible noise, and were to be found about Rome, Helvetia, and Crete or Candy, and do certainly suck the dugs of Goats, that thereby they waste away and become blind. And that they are also sometimes found in Denmark, that learned Physician and laborious Anatomist Bartholinus doth make manifest, and that they do suck the breasts or navils of young children. Now what affinity hath this to a Witch or Witchcraft? but that Witchmongers would bring in any allusion or Metaphor, though never so impertinent or incongruous? For if it were transferred to the actions of Witches, yet as Calepine tells us: Ab hujus avis nocumento striges appellamus mulieres puellulos fascinantes suo contactu, & lactis mammarúmq; oblatione. So that if the assimulation were proper in any proportion or particular, those Women they do account Witches, do but hurt the little children with the virulent steams of their breath, and the effluviums that issue from their filthy and polluted bodies, and so wrought by contact and contrectation, by which the contagious poyson is conveyed, but not by Witchcraft.

Act. 1. 26.

Prov. 16. 33.

3. There is another word that they apply to Witches, as insignificant and improper as the other, and that is Sortilegus, χρησμολόγος, a Teller of Fortunes by Lots or Cuts: and Lambertus Danæus, who in other things was a judicious and learned person, yet doted extremely about this opinion, calling a Witch Sortiarius, deriving it from Sortilegus, which the French call Sorcier. Now what affinity or congruity hath casting or using of Lots with that which these men call Witchcraft? surely none at all. For though Lots may, like the best things, be abused and wrested to a vain or evil end, yet are they not altogether evil, but that a civil and lawful use may be made of them, as is manifest this day at the famous City of Venice, where their chief Officers are chosen by them. And also there hath been a godly and divine use made of them even by the Apostles themselves, in the deciding of the Election of Barsabas and Matthias, upon the latter of which the Lot fell, and so he was numbred with the eleven Apostles. And Solomon tells us, The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. And sure these men were at a loss to find a suitable word to fix upon these Creatures, to whom they ascribe such impossible and incredible actions, when they were fain to bring this appellation of Sortilegus, that hath no kinship at all with such Witches, as they mean and intend.

4. Sometimes they call them by the name Saga, which signifieth no more than a Wife and subtil Woman, being derived à sagiendo to perceive quickly, or to smell a thing quickly forth, which the Germans call Vnhold, which is no more than malevolus, or evil-willed.

5. They use the word Veneficus, venefica, and veneficium, and this in its proper signification and derivation from the Latine, doth import no more than a Poysoner, or to make poyson, venenum facere, and so might perhaps be given unto them, because by Tradition they had learned several ways to poyson secretly and strangely, as doubtless there may be divers hidden and not ordinarily known ways (as we shall shew hereafter) by which either by smelling, tasting, touching (and it may be by sight) they could kill and destroy, though the means they used, and the effects produced, were meerly natural; yet because the manner was very occult and unperceivable, it was through ignorance and want of due inspection into the matters accounted Diabolical; when there was no more of a Devil in the business, than is in a Thief or Murtherer, but only in the Use and Application, which is to steal, kill, or destroy. And this, though now improperly and abusively called Witchcraft, doth but signifie poysoning, and so the French call it Empoisonnement, and the Italians Veneficio or Avenenatione, and the Germans Vergifftung, which all amount to one purpose. And this Veneficium or poysoning the Greeks call Φαρμάκευσις and Φαρμακία from Φάρμακον Medicamentum v.l. Venenum; for sometimes it was taken in the better sense for a curing and healing Medicine; and sometimes in the worse for poyson that did kill or destroy. Neither can it be found in any Greek Author to signifie any more, than such men or women that used Charms and Incantations, and were believed by the Vulgar to effect strange things by them, when in truth and indeed they effected nothing at all but by natural means and secret poysons, and from thence had these names. And the Poets spoke of them to adorn and imbellish their Poems withal, according to common opinion; not that either they themselves believed the things to be so done, as the Vulgar believed, nor to give credit to such false Fables and impossibilities; but to make their Poems more delectable and welcome to the common people, who are usually taken with such fond Romantick stories and lyes. But after the year 1300. when the Spanish Inquisitors, the Popish Doctors and Writers had found the sweetness and benefit of the confiscated Goods of those that they had caused to be accused and condemned for Witches, in their sense then these words either in the Greek or Latine were wrested to signifie a Witch that made a visible and corporeal League with the Devil, when in the true sense of them they did but signifie a secret Poysoner. So that all things were hurried, though never so improper and dissonant, to be made serviceable to their filthy lucre and avaritious self-endedness. Templum venale Deúsq;.

6. Lastly, For Witchcraft they used the Latine Fascinum and Fascinatio, and so they called a Witch Fascinator and Fascinatrix, and this the Greeks called Βασκανίον, Βασκανία, Fascinum, Fascinatio, also invidia, odium, seu invidentia, ἀπὸ τοῦ Βασκανεῖν, à fascinando, seu oculis occidendo: the Germans call it Zaubery, and Verzauberung, and sometimes Hexenwerk; the French Ensorcellement and Sorcelerie; the Italians Lestrigare & amaliare, amaliamento; the Belgicks Betoovenge: the Saxons called them and it Ƿɩcce and Ƿɩcce-cꞃeeꝼꞇ, from whence we have the name Witch and Witchcraft, that signified Saga, Venefica, Lamia, and Fascinum, Magia, Incantatio, Fascinatio, Præstigium: of which (because we shall have occasion to speak more of it hereafter) we shall here only note these few things.

Vid. Alexand. Aphrod. lib. 2. Probl. 53.

1. It is taken sometimes for Envy and Malice, because those that were supposed to use Fascination, did direct it to one Creature more than another through their envious minds, as may be perceived by some few Authors: And so was accounted a kind of eye-biting whereby (as the Vulgar believed) children did wax lean, and pined away, the original whereof they referred to the crooked and wry looks of malicious persons, never examining the truth of the matter of fact, whether those children that pined away, had any natural disease or not, that caused that macilency or pining away; nor considered, whether or no there was any efficiency in the envy or wry looks of those malicious persons, but vainly ascribed effects to those things that had in them no causality at all to produce such effects.

Eclog. 3.

2. Sometimes this kind of Fascination was ascribed to the sore or infected eyes of those that were accounted causers of hurt thereby in others, and in this sense Virgil saith: Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos. And by this no more could be understood, but that those that had infected and sore eyes might infect others, and this was nothing but contagion, or corrupt steams issuing from one body to another, which may happen in many diseases, as is manifest by the Writings of divers learned Physicians, as in bodies infected with the Plague, French Pox, Leprosie, Ophthalmies, and such like.

Sup. Epist. D. Paul. ad Galat. c. 3.

3. Sometimes Fascination is taken for some kind of Incantation, that by virtue of Words or Charms doth perform some strange things; but concerning this there is such incertainty of the opinions of the Learned, some flatly denying that Words or Charms have in them any natural efficacy at all; others as strongly affirming it, that of this point it is very difficult to make a clear determination: and therefore we shall say but this of it here, that the Angelical Doctor did conclude well in this particular, in these words: “Ad sciendum autem quid sit fascinatio, sciendum est quòd secundùm glossam fascinatio propriè dicitur ludificatio sensus, quæ per artes magicas fieri consuevit, puta, cum hominem facit aspectibus aliorum apparere leonem, vel cornutum, & hujusmodi.”

Having been thus large in considering the names and denomination given to those persons that are esteemed Witches, and finding them to be so improper, impertinent, various, and uncertain, let us now proceed to the notion and acceptation of Witchcraft and Witches, to try if in that we can find any more certainty or consonancy, and herein we shall produce some of the chief descriptions that are given of them by several Authors; for to quote all would be tedious and superfluous. Those that are or may be accounted Witches we rank in these two orders.

1. Those that were and are active deceivers, and are both by practice and purpose notorious Impostors, though they shadow their delusive and cheating knaveries under divers and various pretences; some pretending to do their Feats by Astrology (which is a general Cheat as it is commonly used) some by a pretended gift from God, when they are notoriously drunken, debauched, and blasphemous persons, such as of very late years was the Cobler that lived upon Ellill Moor, named Richmond, and divers others that I could name, but that in modesty I would spare their reputations: some by pretending skill in Natural Magick, when indeed they can hardly read English truly; some by pretending a familiar Spirit, as one Thomas Bolton near Knaresborough in Yorkshire, when indeed and in truth they have no other Familiar but their own Spirit of lying and deceiving: some by pretending to reveal things in Crystal-glasses or Beryls, as was well known to be pretended by Doctor Lamb, and divers others that I have known. And some by pretending to conjure and call up Devils, or the Spirits of men departed; and some by many other ways and means that are not necessary to be named here; for errour and deceit have a numerous train of Followers and Disciples. And the existence of such kind of Witches as these (if you will needs call them by that name, and not by their proper titles, which are, that they truly are Deceivers, Cheaters, Couseners, and Impostors) I willingly acknowledge, as having been, and are to be found in all ages, and these sorts are also acknowledged by Wierus, Mr. Scot, Johannes Lazarus Gutierius, Tobias Tandlerus, Hieronymus Nymannus, Martinius Biermannus, and all the rest, that notwithstanding did with might and main oppose the gross Tenent of the common Witchmongers.

A Candle in the dark, p. 12, 13.

Object. p. 78.

And of this sort were all those several differences of Diviners, Witches, or Deceivers named in the Scriptures, as Mr. Ady hath sufficiently declared in this passage, which we shall transcribe. “A Witch is a man or woman that practiseth Devillish crafts of seducing the people for gain, from the knowledge and worship of God, and from the truth, to vain credulity (or believing of lyes) or to the worshipping of Idols”. And again he saith: “Witchcraft is a Devillish craft of seducing the people for gain, from the knowledge and worship of God, and from his truth, to vain credulity (or believing of lyes) or to the worshipping of Idols. That it is a Craft truly so called, and likewise that it is for gain, is proved Act. 16. 16, 19. The Maid that followed Paul crying, brought in her Master much gain; and that it is a Craft of perverting the people, or seducing them from God and his Truth, is proved Act. 6. 7, 8. Elimas the Sorcerer laboured to pervert Deputy from the Faith. So likewise Act. 8. 9, 10, 11. it doth more plainly prove all these words: And there was a man before in the City called Simon, which used Witchcraft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying, That he himself was some great man, to whom they gave heed from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God, and gave heed unto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with Sorceries. How bewitched them with Sorceries? That is, seduced them with Devillish Crafts: (as the Greek and also Tremelius Latine Translation do more plainly illustrate.) In this sense speaketh Paul to the Galatians 3. 1. O foolish Galathians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth? And that a Witch or Witchcraft is taken in no other sense in all the Scripture, it appeareth by the whole current of the Scriptures, as you may see in this Book.” But against this Mr. Glanvil and the rest of his opinion will object and say, that it is hard and severe that Cheaters and Impostors should be ranked with Inchanters, and such as converse with Devils and with Idolaters, and that of this it is hard to give a reason. To this we shall give this full responsion.

Levit. 20. 10.

Deut. 22. 22, 23, 24.

1. We are to consider in what precise respect actions are in Sacred Writ called sinful and wicked, and wherefore they have such severe punishments annexed unto them, and we shall find that this is not ratione medii vel actùs, sed finis. As for instance and illustration: we shall find that the Law was peremptory in point of adultery, which saith: If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them dye. Now the act of copulation, as it is an act, is all one with a lawful wife, and with the wife of another man (that is, one generically considered) and yet the one is lawful, as agreeing with Gods Law and Ordinance, and the other is unlawful, sinful, wicked, and therefore to be punished with death, because it is an aberration from the Divine Ordinance, and contrary to the Command of God, who saith, Thou shalt not commit adultery. So though the things committed by these persons, were or might be performed by natural or artificial means, that simply in themselves were not sinful, or so severely punishable, yet were they evil in regard of the end, which was to deceive and seduce the people to Idolatry.

2 Chron. 33. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Psal. 115. 4, 5, 6, 7. ibid. Psal. 135. 17.

2. Therefore the true and punctual reason why these persons (termed Witches or Diviners) are by the Law of God so severely to be punished, is, because they drew the people to Idolatry, the thing that God most hateth, and against which he hath pronounced the most severe and terriblest judgments of all. Nay these people were the very false Prophets, especially of one sort, and the very Priests to the Idols, as is manifest in the wicked and filthy Idolatry of all sorts set up and practised by Manasses, even all the sorts (or the most of them) mentioned in the Scriptures. And God declareth himself to be a jealous God, and that he will not give his glory to another, but is the only Lord God, and him only we ought to serve; and therefore will most severely punish those that attribute that unto Idols, that is only proper unto himself: and for this cause, and upon this ground are all those terrible Comminations used in the Scriptures, and especially against this sort of people, who were the chief Instruments of promoting Idol-worship, ascribing the power of a Deity unto them, when the Prophet tells us, Their idols are silver and gold, the work of mens hands; they have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not; they have hands but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not, neither speak they through their throat; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

2 King. 1. 4.

1 King. 18.

3. That many great and abstruse things may be lawfully done by Natural Magick, is well known to the best Naturalists, and how great Feats may be performed by the Mathematicks and Mechanical Arts, are well known to the Learned; and that there is and may be a lawful use of Astrology, and many things may be foretold by it, few that are judicious are ignorant; that the Prognosticks in the Art of Medicine are necessary, and of much use and certainty, all learned Physicians know very well; that observing of times, and many other such like things may for divers respects be lawfully practised. But if all or any of these be used to draw people to Idolatry, and their strange effects ascribed unto dumb and dead Idols, then what horrible sin and abomination were this, and no punishment could be too heavy for it. And so it is in the case of these sort of people called Witches or Diviners, they perswaded the multitude, that their false Gods (or rather Devils) in their Idols, could foretel life or death, and so led the people a whoring after them, as Ahaziah sent to inquire of the god of Ekron, whether he should recover or not, and therefore he had that sharp judgment, That he should not come down from that bed whither he was gone up, but should surely dye. And did not the Priests of Baal (which were the same rabble named Deut. 18. 10, 11, 12, 13, &c.) obstinately labour to make Ahab and all the people believe, that the Gods (or Devils) that they worshipped in their Idols, could and would answer by fire, and pertinaciously persisted in their obstinacy, cutting themselves with knives and lancets from morning until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, and yet nothing was effected? so that they were justly guilty of that punishment which they received, which was death, for ascribing that to a dead Idol, that none could perform, but the only true God of Israel, and yet in the meantime could neither by their own skill, nor the skill of their Idols foresee that sudden death that fell upon them: which punishment fell deservedly upon them, for labouring to deceive the people, and confirm them in Idolatry, in ascribing that unto a dead stock, which was only in the power of the Almighty to perform. So if all those fine Knacks and neat Tricks that Athanasius Kircher performed at Rome by the help and means of the Loadstone, and mentioned in his Book de Arte Magnetica, had been by him ascribed unto some Saint, thereby to have drawn the people to the adoration of that Saint, and so to Idolatry, it had been active imposture, deceit, and knavery in him, and he might justly have been inrolled in the Catalogue of these Witches or Diviners, and had really been an active Impostor, as they were, and so had deserved the same punishment: when on the contrary for ascribing effects unto their true and proper causes, and clearly shewing the manner and means of producing those effects, he hath justly deserved the title of a learned and honest man. And though a common Hocus Pocus man, or one that playeth Tricks of Leger-de-main or slight of hand, to get a livelihood by, do labour to make the ignorant multitude believe that he doth his Feats by virtue of his barbarous terms or non-significant words, or by the help of some familiar Spirit; must therefore a prudent or learned person believe the same, and not labour to understand that those pretences are but used the better to deceive the senses of the beholders, and so that pretence but a cheat and imposture?

Isa. 44. 15, 16.

Isa. 41. 22, 23.

Dan. 22. 11.

Gen. 41. 8.

1 Sam. 28. 11.

Act. 8. 9.

4. We affirm that all these mentioned in the Scriptures (nay, and that the Priests attending all the so famoused Oracles) were but meer Cheaters and Impostors, and that for these reasons. 1. They could not be, nor were ignorant that all their numerous Idols were but the works of mens hands, and that they could not of themselves move, see, hear, smell, or breathe, much less eat and drink; and therefore were notorious Cheaters and Impostors in labouring to make the people believe the contrary. 2. They could not be ignorant but what answers were given, and what acts were done, were performed by themselves, and not by the Idols, and yet they laboured to make the people believe the contrary, as the Bramines and Priests do to this day all over the Eastern parts of Asia, and in many other places, and so must needs be notorious Knaves and Cheaters; because, as Isaiah saith, With part of the wood whereof he hath made himself an Idol, he maketh a fire and warmeth himself. 3. They could not be ignorant that their Idols could not, nor did declare any thing truly that was to come, but what Answers were given, or Divinations were uttered, were of their own devising and invention, and no other Devil in the case, but Diabolical inspirations in their minds. And this is manifest by their pitiful shuffling equivocations (especially of all the Oracles) their responsions being always ambiguous, and bearing a double sense, which caused Cardan to say: “Oracula, si non essent ambigua, non essent oracula.” And commonly (if not always) they were given in the favour of those that gave the largest gifts, which made Demosthenes say, that the Oracle at Delphos did φιλιππίζειν, because it always spoke in favour of Philip and his proceedings. And it was with the Oracles, as with the Temple of Neptune, All the Offerings of those that escaped shipwrack were preserved, and to be seen; but of those that had suffered shipwrack, there was no memorial nor knowledge of their number: so, many have noted some few Hits of the Oracles, but few have noted their Misses, which doubtless were far the greater number. For so it is here in this North Country with our Figure-flingers and pretended Conjurers, Piss-Prophets, and Water-Witches, that if they hit once, it is cryed up and told every where; but if they erre an hundred times, it is soon buried in silence and oblivion, and one fool will not take warning at anothers being cheated and deceived. And that their Idols did not, nor could declare truly what was to come, is manifest by the Prophet who saith: Let them bring them forth (that is, their Idols) and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea do good or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Yet these miserable, cheating, dissembling Wretches that would have had the multitude to have believed, that their Idols could have foretold truly almost any thing; yet neither their Idols, nor the Gods (or Devils) they pretended to be in them, nor themselves could foretel or foresee their own destruction, as is manifest in the Prophets of Baal in the time of Elijah, who went up to Mount Carmel to advance the worship and power of their Idols, but did not foresee it should be all their destructions and deaths. Doubtless those that in the Book of Daniel are called Wise-men, Magicians, Astrologers, Sorcerers, and Chaldeans were endowed with much rare knowledge, both in respect of Nature and Art: for if their knowledge had been Diabolical, without question Daniel would hardly have interceded for them, yet could they not reveal what the Kings dream was that was gone from him, nor foresee that they run the hazard of their lives; but did conclude that none other could shew it, except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh. 4. In matters of fact it appeareth, that they were active deceivers and deluders, as is manifest when Pharaoh had dreamed two dreams, that he called and sent for all the Magicians and Wise-men of Egypt; but they could not interpret them unto him. Junius and Tremelius render it: Omnes Magos Ægypti, & omnes Sapientes ejus. The vulgar Latine (or that which is improperly called St. Hieromes Translation) gives it: Misit ad omnes Conjectores Ægypti, cunctósq; Sapientes. And these doubtless Pharaoh would not have sent for, but that either upon his own knowledge he knew that they professed the ability of the interpretation of dreams, and (perhaps) as the sequel shewed, greater matters; or else upon common repute, or relation of others, and that must needs arise from their own profession of the knowledge of such abstruse matters: and so of necessity must have pretended greater matters, than when they came to tryal they were able to perform, and so must needs be Impostors. And the Woman at Endor (falsely called a Witch, or a Woman that had a familiar Spirit, when in the Hebrew she is only called the Mistress of the Bottle, as we shall manifest hereafter) must needs be a Deceiver and Impostor, because she pretended to bring up whomsoever Saul desired, which was a thing absolutely not in her power, as I shall undeniably prove afterwards. And notwithstanding the stories of Eusebius, and the strong endeavours of Doctor Hamond to make it good, that Simon Magus was a person that had peculiar and corporeal converse with the Devil, and by that league and converse could perform strange and wonderful things; yet was he but a notorious Impostor, as appeareth by two reasons. 1. The Text saith, that he gave out that himself was some great one, that is, that he had great skill, and was able to perform wonderful things. This sheweth his presumption and pretence, the certain badge of a Deceiver and Cheater. 2. But could do little, except some petty jugling Tricks of Leger-de-main, confederacy, and the like; because he wondred, or was amazed, beholding the Miracles and signs which were done, and those were, that unclean Spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: And many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. Now if he had been any great Magician, or could have performed any great things, he could not have so much wondred at those things that Philip wrought: or if he could have flown in the air, as Eusebius (or those that have foisted such incredible lyes into his Writings) pretendeth, then he need not have been so amazed at the miracles and signs that the Apostles wrought, nor to have offered to have bought the gift of bestowing the Holy Ghost, but only because he was a notorious Dissembler and Impostor. And if he had been in league with the Devil, surely he might have cast forth Devils by the power of Beelzebub the Prince of Devils: all which do plainly conclude him to be an absolute Cheater and Impostor. And the story of Bel and the Dragon (though but an Apocryphal piece, yet very ancient, and of sufficient credit as to matter of fact) doth evidently demonstrate, that these sort of people were abominable Cheaters and Impostors, and were not endowed with any supernatural power, nor had assistance of any visible Demon, but only the Devil of deceit and cousenage in their own breasts, and so were, as Cardan saith, Carnales Dæmones ipsis Dæmonibus callidiores.

Instit. p. 3. p. 45.

5. And though by the Laws of our own Nation these kind of people were to be severely punished, as appeareth by the Statute 1 Jac. cap. 12. yet had they respect in that Act, not only to the punishment in respect of what these persons could or did do, but also in regard of their being Impostors and Deceivers of the people; for so the Lord Chief Justice Sir Edward Cook, the best Expositor of Law that hath written in our Language, doth expound it in these words. The mischiefs before this part of this Act were: “That divers Impostors, men and women, would take upon them to tell or do these fine things here specified, in great deceit of the people, and cheating and cousening them of their money or other goods: therefore was this part of the Act made, wherein these words [take upon him or them] are very remarkable. For if they take upon them, &c. though in truth they do it not, yet are they in danger of this first branch.”

6. And whereas in the objection Mr. Glanvil mentioneth converse with Devils, if he mean mental, internal, and spiritual converse, such as Murtherers, Adulterers, Thieves, Robbers, and all wicked persons have with Satan, we grant it; for so had the Jews and the High Priests in conspiring and acting to put our blessed Saviour to death: it was their hour, and the power of darkness. But if he mean a visible and corporeal converse, then we plainly affirm that there is not, nor can be any such, whereby any such strange things (as Witchmongers fondly and falsely believe) can be performed or effected. Therefore by way of conclusion in this particular, we grant that there are many sorts of such kind of Witches, as for gain and vain-glory do take upon them to declare hidden and occult things, to divine of things that are to come, and to do many wonderful matters, but that they are but Cheaters, Deceivers, and Couseners.

2. And as there are a numerous crew of active Witches, whose existence we freely acknowledge; so there are another sort, that are under a passive delusion, and know not, or at least do not observe or understand, that they are deluded or imposed upon. These are those that confidently believe that they see, do, and suffer many strange, odd, and wonderful things, which have indeed no existence at all in them, but only in their depraved fancies, and are meerly melancholiæ figmenta. And yet the confessions of these, though absurd, idle, foolish, false, and impossible, are without all ground and reason by the common Witchmongers taken to be truths, and falsely ascribed unto Demons, and that they are sufficient grounds to proceed upon to condemn the Confessors to death, when all is but passive delusion, intrinsecally wrought in the depraved imaginative faculty by these three ways or means.

1. One of the Causes that produceth this depraved and passive delusion, is evil education; they being bred up in ignorance, either of God, the Scriptures, or the true grounds of Christian Religion, nay not being taught the common Rules of Morality, or of other humane Literature; but only imbibing and sucking in, with their mothers and nurses milk, the common gross and erroneous opinions that the blockish vulgar people do hold, who are all generally inchanted and bewitched with the belief of the strange things related of Devils, Apparitions, Fayries, Hobgoblins, Ghosts, Spirits, and the like: so that thereby a most deep impression of the verity of the most gross and impossible things is instamped in their fancies, hardly ever after in their whole life time to be obliterated or washt out: so prevalent a thing is Custom and Institution from young years, though the things thus received, and pertinaciously believed, and adhered unto, are most abominable falsities and impossibilities, having no other existence but in the brains and phantasies of old, ignorant, and doting persons, and are meerly muliercularum & nutricum terriculamenta & figmenta, and therefore did Seneca say: Gravissimum est consuetudinis imperium. And that this is one main cause of this delusion, is manifest from all the best Historians, that where the light of the Gospel hath least appeared, and where there is the greatest brutish ignorance and heathenish Barbarism, there the greatest store of these deluded Witches or Melancholists are to be found, as in the North of Scotland, Norway, Lapland, and the like, as may be seen at large in Saxo Grammaticus, Olaus Magnus, Hector Boetius, and the like.

Schenck. observ. medic. lib. 1. pag. 129.

2. But when an atrabilarious Temperament, or a melancholick Complexion and Constitution doth happen to those people bred in such ignorance, and that have suckt in all the fond opinions that Custom and Tradition could teach them, then what thing can be imagined that is strange, wonderful, or incredible, but these people do pertinaciously believe it, and as confidently relate it to others? nay even things that are absolutely impossible, as that they are really changed into Wolves, Hares, Dogs, Cats, Squirrels, and the like; and that they flye in the Air, are present at great Feasts and Meetings, and do strange and incredible things, when all these are but the meer effects of the imaginative function depraved by the fumes of the melancholick humor, as we might shew from the Writings of the most grave and learned Physicians; but we shall content our selves with some few select ones. 1. That distemper which Physicians call Lycanthropia, is according to the judgment of Aetius and Paulus, but a certain species of Melancholy, and yet they really think and believe themselves to be Wolves, and imitate their actions: of which Johannes Fincelius in his second Book de Mirac. giveth us a relation to this purpose. “That at Padua in the year 1541. a certain Husband-man did seem to himself a Wolf, and did leap upon many in the fields, and did kill them. And that at last he was taken not without much difficulty, and did confidently affirm that he was a true Wolf, only that the difference was in the skin turned in with the hairs. And therefore that certain, having put off all humanity, and being truly truculent and voracious, did smite and cut off his legs and arms, thereby to try the truth of the matter; but the innocency of the man being known, they commit him to the Chirurgions to be cured, but that he dyed not many days after.” Which instance is sufficient to overthrow the vain opinion of those men that believe that a man or woman may be really transformed or transubstantiated into a Wolf, Dog, Cat, Squirrel, or the like, without the operation of an omnipotent power, as in Lots Wife becoming a Pillar of Salt; though St. Augustine was so weak as to seem to believe the reality of these transformations: of which we shall have occasion to speak more largely hereafter.

Observat. medic. lib. 1. cap. 18. pag. 38.

2. Another story we shall give from the Authority of that learned Physician Nicolaus Tulpius of Amsterdam to this effect. A certain famous Painter was for a long time infected with black Choler, and did falsely imagine that all the bones of his body were as soft and flexible, that they might be drawn and bended like soft wax. Which opinion being deeply imprinted in his mind, he kept himself in bed the whole Winter, fearing that if he should rise, they would not bear his weight, but would shrink together by reason of their softness. That Tulpius did not contradict him in that fancy, but said that it was a distemper that Physicians were not ignorant of, but had been long before noted by Fernelius, that the bones like wax might be softned and indurated, and that it might be easily cured, if he would be obedient: and that within three days he would make the bones firm and stable, and that within six days he would restore him to the power of walking. By which promises it was hard to declare, how much hope of recovering health it had raised up in him, and how obedient it made him. So that with Medicines proper to purge the atrabilarious humour within the time appointed, he was at the three days end suffered to stand upon his feet, and upon the sixth day had leave given to walk abroad: and so found himself perfectly sound afterwards; but did not perceive the deceit in his phantasie, that had made him lye a whole Winter in bed, though he was no stupid, but an ingenious person in his Art, and scarce second to any.

Cent. 1. Hist. 79. pag. 117.

Vt supr. Histor. 85. pag. 125.

3. Thomas Bartholinus the famous Anatomist, and Physician to Frederick the Third King of Denmark, tells us these things: “That it is the property of melancholy persons to fear things not to be feared, and to feign things quæ nec picta usquam sunt, nec scripta. A Plebeian (he saith) with them abounding with melancholy blood did imagine that his Nose was grown to that greatness, that he durst not go abroad, for fear it should be hurt or justled upon by those he met. And that a famous Poet at Amsterdam did believe that his Buttocks were of glass, and feared their breaking, if he should sit down. Another Old man of prime Dignity did suspect that he had swallowed a nail, which being lost, he could no where find, and thought himself much tortured by its being fixed in him. But was restored to his health, by having a Vomit given, and the Physician conveying a nail into the matter that he cast up. And that a certain man in England would not make water, for fear that all the blood in his body should have passed forth by that passage, and therefore straitly tyed the yard with a thred for some days, which swelling he was not far from death, but that his Brother by force untyed it.” The Books of Physicians are very full with such relations, and we in our Practice have met with divers as strange as these, and cured them. Also he tells us this: “A certain Student of a melancholick Constitution, distracted with grief for the death of a Sister, and wearied with lucubrations, did complain to (Bartholinus) of the Devil haunting of him: and did affirm that he felt the evil Spirit enter by his fundament with wind, and so did creep up his body until it possessed the head, lest he might attend his Prayers and Meditations with his accustomed devotion, and that it did descend and go forth the same way, when he bent himself to Prayers, and reading of Sacred Books. Before these things he used to be filled with unheard of joy from his assiduous Prayers and watching, that also he had heard a celestial kind of Musick, and therefore despising all mortal things, he had distributed all things to the poor; but that now piety waxing cold by too much appetite after meat, and his brain troubled with that wind, that he had heard a voice of one in his brain upbraiding him with Blasphemy, and that he felt hands beating, and a stink passing before his nose. By all which Bartholinus guessed, that it was Hypochondriacal Melancholy, and by good Counsel, proper Physick, merry Company, and rightly ordering of him, he was perfectly cured.”

Histor. medic. mirab. l. 2. c. 1. p. 33.

4. To these we will only add this that is related by Marcellus Donatus, Physician to the Duke of Mantua and Montferrat, to this purpose. “That he knew a Noble Countess of their City, that did most earnestly affirm, that she was made sick by the Witchery and Incantation of a certain ill-minded Woman; which was apprehended by a learned Physician to be, notwithstanding her fancy, nothing else but Hypochondriacal Melancholy, which he cured by giving her proper Medicaments to purge that humour, and ordering her Waiting-maid to put into the matter she voided Nails, Feathers, and Needles; which when with a glad countenance she had shewed to her Mistress, she presently cryed out that she had not been deceived, when she had referred the cause of her disease to Witchcraft, and afterwards did daily recover more and more.”

Relat. of Lancash. Witches.

3. And as ignorance and irreligion meeting with a melancholick Constitution, doth frame many persons to strange fancies both of fear and credulity: so when to these is added the teachings of those that are themselves under a most strong passive delusion, then of all others these become most strongly confident that they can perform admirable things. As when a person hath by education suckt in all the grossest fables and lyes of the power of Witches and familiar Devils, and therein becometh extremely confident, heightned with the fumes of black Choler, and so thinks, meditates, and dreameth of Devils, Spirits, and all the strange stories that have been related of them, and becometh maliciously stirred up against some Neighbour or other: And so in that malicious and revengeful mind seeketh unto, and inquireth for some famed and notorious Witch, of whom they believe they may learn such craft and cunning, that thereby they may be able to kill or destroy the persons or goods of those that they suppose have done them injuries. Then meeting with some that are strongly deluded, and confidently perswaded, that they have the company and assistance of a familiar Spirit, by whose help they believe they can do (almost) any thing, especially in destroying men or cattel, they are presently instructed what vain and abominable Ceremonies, Observances, Unguents, Charms, making of Pictures, and a thousand such fond, odd fopperies they are to use, by which they believe they can do strange Feats. And from this do proceed their bold and confident confessions of lyes and impossibilities, that notwithstanding have abused so many to take them for certain truths: so that according to the Proverb, Popery and Witchcraft go by Tradition: and we shall find none of these deluded Witches (if they must be so called) but they have been taught by others, that thought themselves to be such also. And this is a truth, if we may trust the confession of Alizon Denice at the Bar at Lancaster, who saith thus: “That about two years agone her Grandmother called Elizabeth Sotheres, alias Dembdike, did (sundry times in going or walking together, as they went begging) perswade and advise this Examinate to let a Devil or a Familiar appear to her, and that she this Examinate would let him suck at some part of her, and she might have and do what she would.”

But besides these two sorts of Witches, whose Existence we deny not, there is an acceptation of the word Witch in another sense, the Existence of which I absolutely deny, and that is this according to Mr. Perkins. “A Witch is a Magician, who either by open or secret League wittingly and willingly consenteth to use the aid and assistance of the Devil in the working of Wonders.”

But the full Description and Notion that the common Witchmongers give a Witch is this. “That a Witch is such a person to whom the Devil doth appear in some visible shape, with whom the Witch maketh a League or Covenant, sometimes by Bond signed with the Witches blood, and that thereby he doth after suck upon some part of their bodies, and that they have carnal Copulation together, and that by virtue of that League the Witch can be changed into an Hare, Dog, Cat, Wolf, or such like Creatures; that they can flye in the air, raise storms and tempests, kill men or cattel, and such like wonders.” This notion of a Witch may be gathered from the Writings of these persons, Delrio the Jesuit, Bodinus, Jacobus Springerus, Johannes Niderus, Bartholomeus Spineus, Paulus Grillandus, Lambertus Danæus, Hemmingius, Erastus, Sennertus, and many others. As also from the Writings of our own Country-men, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Bernard of Balcombe, the Author of the Book called Demonology, Mr. Gaule, Mr. Giffard, and divers others, who have from one to another lickt up the Vomit of the first Broacher of this vain and false opinion, and without due consideration have laboured to obtrude it upon others. Yet was it in a manner rejected by the most of the Learned, who had duly weighed the matter, and read the strong and convincing arguments of Wierus, Tandlerus, Nymannus, Biermannus, Gutierrius, Mr. Scot, and the like, until of late years Dr. Casaubon and Mr. Glanvil have taken up Weapons to defend these false, absurd, impossible, impious, and bloody opinions withal, against whose arguments we now principally direct our Pen, and after the answering of their groundless and unjust scandals, we shall labour to overthrow their chief Bulwarks and Fortifications.

CHAP. III.

The denying of such a Witch as is last described in the foregoing Chapter, doth not infer the denying of Angels or Spirits. Apparitions no warrantable ground for a Christian to believe the Existence of Angels or Devils by, but the Word of God.

Of Credulity and Incredulity, pag. 7.

Preface.

Having declared in what sense and acceptation we allow of Witches, and in what notion we deny them, lest we be misunderstood we shall add thus much: That we do not (as the Schools speak) deny the existence of Witches absolutè & simpliciter, sed secundùm quid, and that they do not exist tali modo, that is, they do not make a visible Contract with the Devil, he doth not suck upon their bodies, they have not carnal Copulation with him, and the like recited before, and in these respects, and not otherwise, did Wierus, Gutierrius and Mr. Scot deny Witches, that is, that neither they nor their supposed Familiars could perform such things as are ascribed unto them. And that Dr. Casaubon and Mr. Glanvil should charge those that hold this opinion with Atheism or Sadducism, is to me very strange, having no ground, connexion, or rational consequence so to do: yet doth Dr. Casaubon affirm it in these words: “Now one prime foundation (saith he) of Atheism, as by many ancient and late is observed, being the not believing the existence of spiritual Essences, whether good or bad, separate, or united, subordinate to God, as to the supreme and original Cause of all; and by consequent the denying of supernatural operations: I have, I confess, applied my self, by my examples, which in this case do more than any reasoning, and (the Authority of the holy Scriptures laid aside) are almost the only convincing proof.” And Mr. Glanvil is so confident (I might justly say impudent) that he styled his Book, A Blow at modern Sadducism, which, I confess, is so weak a blow, and so blindly levell’d, and so improperly directed, that I am sure it will kill or hurt no body: and tells us this boldly and roundly. “And those that dare not bluntly say, There is no God, content themselves, (for a fair step and introduction) to deny there are Spirits or Witches. Which sort of Infidels, though they are not ordinary among the meer Vulgar, yet are they numerous in a little higher rank of understandings. And those that know any thing of the World, know that most of the looser Gentry, and the small Pretenders to Philosophy and Wit, are generally deriders of the belief of Witches and Apparitions.” And the whole design of his Book is to prove those men to be guilty of Sadducism, that deny the existence of Witches understood in his sense, and this we oppose, and the state of the question we lye down thus.

That the denying the existence of Angels or Spirits; or the Resurrection, doth not infer the denying of the Being of God; nor the denying of the existence of Witches (in the sense before laid down) infer the denying of Angels or Spirits; and that they do unjustly charge the Authors of this opinion with Sadducism, we shall prove with irrefragable Arguments.

Argum. 1.

1. There can be no right deduction made, nor no right consequence drawn, where there is no dependency in causality, nor no connexion of dependency. For as in the Relative and Correlative, the denying of the one necessarily destroys the other, yet fundamentum Relationis non destruitur; so a father without a child, as a father, doth neither exist nor is known, and yet the foundation of those two terms, of Paternity and Childship, which is Man, doth remain. So he that denieth Creation, doth destroy the Relative, which is Creator; yet the foundation, which is God, doth remain: and the denying of the Creation, doth not infer the necessary conclusion of denying the Being of a God, because there might be a God, though there were no Creation, because God is supposed to be, both in respect of causality and duration, before Creation. So what relation can Mr. Glanvil feign betwixt the Being of God and the Being of Angels or Spirits? For they both belong to the Predicament of Substance, and not that of Relation; and there is less relation betwixt the Being of a Witch and the Being of Spirits: so that the denying of the one doth not infer the denying of the other. And though there were relation (which Mr. Glanvil cannot shew) the foundation of that Relation (which is so necessary, that Relatives cannot subsist without it) might remain, though the Relatives were taken away: and therefore the denying of the existence of Angels or Spirits, doth not infer the denying of the Being of God; and therefore the Authors of this opinion are wrongfully and falsely charged with Atheism: and the denying of the existence of a Witch (in the sense specified) doth not infer the denying of the Being of Spirits; and therefore Scot, Osburne, and the like, are falsely and wrongfully charged with Sadducism.

Argum. 2.

Mat. 22. 23. Act. 23. 8.

2. Though it be a true Maxime, that de posse ad esse non valet argumentum; yet on the contrary, the possibility of that can never be rationally denied, that hath once been in esse. But it is apparent, that the Sadducees denied the Resurrection, and that there were either Angels or Spirits, that is, they denied that Angels or Spirits, whether good or bad, did separately exist, and that they were nothing but the good or bad motions in mens minds: yet these men were no Atheists; for though they denied the Resurrection, and held that there were no Angels or Spirits, yet they held and believed there was a God, and did allow of, and believed the five Books of Moses, else would not our Saviour have used an argument, whose only strength was drawn from a sentence in the third Chapter of Exodus, the sixth verse. So that even the denying of the Existence of Angels and Spirits, doth not infer the denying of a God; much less doth the denying the Existence of a Witch, infer the denial of the Being of Angels and Spirits; and therefore the charge of Atheism and Sadducism is false, injurious, and scandalous.

Argum. 3.

3. Those things that in their Beings have no dependence one upon another, the denying of the one doth not takeaway or deny the being of the other; but where the being doth meerly exist in dependency upon another superior Cause, there take away or deny the being of the first Cause, and thereby you take away and deny the being of all the rest that depends upon it. So he that denies the Being of a God, doth necessarily deny the Being of Angels or Spirits; but not on the contrary. For he that denieth the Existence of Angels and Spirits, doth not therefore necessarily take away or deny the Being of a God, because the Being of a God is independent of either Angel or Spirit, and doth exist solely by it self. And therefore if Wierus or Scot had denied the Existence of Angels and Spirits (which they did not) yet it would not have inferred that they were Atheists; and therefore are falsely accused by Dr. Casaubon and Mr. Glanvil. And though they should have denied the Existence of Witches (which they did not simpliciter, sed tali modo) yet it would not have inferred, that they were guilty of Sadducism, because Spirits or Demons have their Existence without any dependence of the being of Witches; and therefore it is but a poor fallacia consequentiæ to say, he that denies a Witch, denies a Demon or Spirit.

Argum. 4.

4. The denying of the Existence of Spirits, doth not infer the denying of the Being of a God, because in the priority of duration God was when Spirits were not, for they are not immortal à parte anté. So likewise the denying of the Existence of Witches, doth not infer the denial of the Being of Spirits, for in the priority of duration Spirits were existent before Witches; for Adam and Eve could not be ignorant that there were Spirits, both good and bad, and yet then there were no Witches. So that a Spirit having, in respect of duration, a Being before that a Witch can have any; the denying the Existence of the latter, doth not infer the denying of the Being of the former, but is meerly inconsequent, agreeable to no Rules of Logick, except that of Logger-head Colledge.

Argum. 5.

5. Many properties or proper adjuncts may be ascribed unto a substance, the denying of which adjuncts, doth not infer the denying of the being of the substance. So that to deny that a Horse hath fins like a fish, or wings like a bird, doth not infer the denying of the being of a Horse. Therefore it is injurious and scandalous in Dr. Casaubon and Mr. Glanvil, to charge Dr. Wierus and Mr. Scot with Atheism and Sadducism, when indeed (as we shall prove hereafter) their own Tenents tend to blasphemy, impiety, vanity, and uncharitableness.

Another thing that we oppose is, that Apparitions are no warrantable ground for a Christian to believe the Existence of Angels and Spirits by, but the Word of God, which these cogent reasons do sufficiently prove.

Argum. 1.

1. For to say that the Apparitions of Spirits, good or bad, do prove their Existence, is but petitio principii, a begging of the question, that first is in doubt, and ought to be proved. For how come we to be assured, that the Apparitions that are made, and really by unquestionable Witnesses attested for truth (not to speak of melancholy Fancies, and Fables, Knacks of Knavery and Imposture, and other ignorant and gross mistakes, which are often believed to be Apparitions, when they are no such matter) that they are made by good or bad Spirits? for that is the thing in doubt, and so is but a circular way of arguing by way of begging the question, or proving ignotum per ignotius; for Apparitions do not prove the Being of Spirits, except it be first proved, that those Apparitions be made or caused by Spirits.

Argum. 2.

2. There are many Apparitions that are produced by natural and artificial Causes, and need not be referred to supernatural ones, as are all those Idola, Images, or Species that we see in Glasses, which cannot be denied to be Apparitions, and yet arise from natural Causes. So the Apparition of Comets, new Stars, and many other sort of strange Meteors, as sometimes three Suns, the Rain-bow, Halones, and the like, that have natural Causes to produce them, and are no proof of the Being of Spirits. Nay as the best and most credible Historians have left upon Record, and hath been known to be a certain verity in divers parts of these three Kingdoms, within the space of these forty years, strange and various Sights have been seen in the Air, both of Men, and Horses, and Armies fighting one with another; and yet were these no proof of the Existence of Spirits, because they may (and doubtlesly do) proceed from other causes, and not from the operation or efficiency of Angels or Spirits, either good or bad.

Argum. 3.

Jo. Drusii Præterit. l. 7. p. 289.

De Subtil. l. 19. p. 1202, 1203.

De Nymph. lib. pag. 389.

The invisible World, sect. 6. pag. 303.

3. It is not certainly known what diversity of Creatures there may be that are mediæ naturæ betwixt Angels and Men, that may sometimes appear, and then vanish: so that if it be granted, that there be Apparitions really and truly, yet it will not necessarily follow, that these are caused by good or bad Angels, because they may be effected by Creatures of another and middle Nature; and so Apparitions no certain ground for the believing of the Existence of Angels or Spirits. For the most learned Drusius gives us this account from one of the Commentators upon the Book Aboth. “Debet homo intelligere ac scire à terra usq; ad firmamentum, quod Rakia, id est, Expansum appellant, omnia plena esse turmis & præfectis, & infrà plurimas esse creaturas lædentes & accusantes, omnésq; stare ac volare in aëre, neq; à terra usq; ad firmamentum locum esse vacuum: sed omnia plena esse præpositis, quorum alii ad pacem, alii ad bellum, alii ad bonum, alii ad malum; ad vitam & ad mortem incitant. Ob id compositum fuit canticum occursuum, quod incipit, Sedet in occulto Supremus.” And if this be a truth, here are orders and numbers enough of several sorts to make Apparitions, and yet be neither the good or bad Angels. And if there may any credit be given to the relation that Cardan gives of his Father Facius Cardanus, which he had from his own mouth, and also had left it in writing; then “there are mortal Demons, that are born and do die as men do, that can appear and disappear, and are of such most tenuious bodies, that they can afford us neither help nor, hurt, excepting terrors, and spectres, and knowledge”. And if there may be credit given to Plutarch (so highly magnified by Dr. Casaubon) the God Pan of the Heathens must have been one of these mortal Demons, because he tells us upon the credit of Epotherses (a Tale of hear-say) “That Thamus was by a voice thrice calling upon him, commanded that when he came to Palodes, he should tell them, that the great God Pan was dead”. And that there are such mortal Demons, is strongly asserted by Paracelsus, and by him called Nymphæ, Sylphi, Pygmæi, and Salamandræ, and that they are not of Adams Generation, and that they have wonderful power and skill. And to this opinion do the Schools both of the ancient and later Academicks wholly incline, and seems to be favoured both by Dr. Moor and Mr. Glanvil himself; and if there be any such matters, doubtless from thence did arise all the strange stories and gests that former Generations have told and believed concerning the Apparition of these kind of Creatures, which the common people call Fayries: of which the Reverend and Learned person Bishop Hall giveth us this touch: “The times are not past the ken of our memory, since the frequent (and in some part true) reports of those familiar Devils, Fayries, and Goblins, wherewith many places were commonly haunted; the rarity whereof in these latter times, is sufficient to descry the difference betwixt the state of ignorant Superstition, and the clear light of the Gospel.” And whosoever shall seriously read and consider that little Piece that was printed some few years since, though written long ago, and by some (that pretend to no small share of Learning) cryed up exceedingly for a most convincing Relation, to prove the Existence of Spirits, called, The Devil of Mascon, may easily gather, that if the thing were truly related, as to the matter of fact, that it must needs be some Creature of a middle Nature, and no evil Spirit, both because it was such a sportful and mannerly Creature, that it would leave them, and not disturb them at their devotions; as also (as far as I remember, for I have not the Book by me) because it denied that it was a Devil, and professed that it hoped to be saved by Christ.

Argum. 4.

Joh. 15. 15.

Act. 20. 27.

2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17.

Eph. 6. 11, 12, 13.

2 Cor. 2. 11.

2 Pet. 1. 19.

Luk. 16. 29, 30, 31.

Sup. Gen. ad lit. l. 2.

Isa. 8. 19, 20.

4. That the Scriptures contain in them all things necessary to Salvation, is so clear a truth, that none but those that are wilfully blind can deny it; for Christ taught his Disciples all things that he had learned of the Father, and the Father sending him to be the Saviour of the World, and to preach the Gospel of eternal Salvation, was not defective in declaring all things that were necessary to accomplish the work and end, for which he was sent forth of the Father. And the glorious Apostle St. Paul tells the Disciples and Brethren, That he had not shunned to declare unto them all the counsel of God, which must of necessity be abundantly sufficient for their Salvations. And he telleth Timothy, That he had known the Scriptures from a child, which were able to make him wise unto salvation. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Nay the Woman of Samaria had so much knowledge and faith, that she believed that when the Messias was come, he would tell them all things. Now to the obtaining of Salvation, there is nothing more necessary than to know what enemies men have to fight against in their Christian Warfare, which the Apostle tells in these words: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against Spiritual wickedness in high places: Wherefore they are to take unto them the whole armor of God, πανοπλίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, that they may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil, μεθοδείας τοῦ διαβόλου: and that made the Apostle say in another place, We are not ignorant of his devices or crafts, νοήματα. Now the Scriptures being able to make us wise to Salvation, it hath sufficiently declared the natures, powers, knowledge, and offices of both the good and bad Angels, and is a sure word of Prophecy, unto which it is good to take heed, and not unto old wives fables of Apparitions and Goblins, such as Mr. Glanvil would perswade us that they are tydings of another World, when we are taught by unerring testimony of Truth, That those that have Moses and the Prophets, and do not hear them, neither will they be perswaded, though one rose from the dead. And therefore we must be bold to tell Mr. Glanvil, that the Sacred Scriptures do with infallible certitude teach us, that both good and bad Spirits have most certainly an Existence, and therefore we need none of his feigned nor forged stories of Apparitions; which if they were certainly known to be true and real, by undeceivable matters of fact, yet he that doth not believe what is written of the Being of Spirits by Moses and the Prophets, will not believe Apparitions, no not of a man, if he came from the dead. And therefore I will conclude with that precious and pithy Sentence of St. Austin, who saith: Major est hujus Scripturæ authoritas, quàm omnis humani ingenii perspicacitas. And believe not them that say, If you would know the power of Devils and Witches, go to the Writings of Dr. Casaubon, Mr. Glanvil, and to the rest of the Demonographers and Witchmongers, that amass and heap together all the lying, vain improbable, and impossible stories that can be scraped forth of any Author, ancient, middle, or modern, when we are commanded to go to the Law and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no truth in them. And so I shall shut up this Chapter, wherein (I suppose) I have sufficiently proved, that the denying of such a Witch as I have described, doth not infer the denial of the Being of Angels or Spirits, and that Apparitions are no sufficient grounds for Christians to believe the Existence of Angels and Spirits by, but the Word of God; which was the thing undertaken to be proved.

CHAP. IV.

That the Scriptures and sound Reason are the true and proper Mediums to prove the Actions attributed unto Witches by, and not other improper ways that many Authors have used. And of the Requisites necessary truly to prove a matter of Fact by.

As we have in the former Chapter proved, that Apparitions (though true) are no sufficient warrant to ground our belief upon, for the Existence of Angels or Spirits, but the Word of God: so here we shall endeavour clearly to manifest, that the Sacred Scriptures are the only Medium, joyned with sound Reason, of deciding this point of the power and operation of Demons and Witches, and not other improper Mediums brought in by divers Authors, and first we shall answer the Objection of Mr. Glanvil, that runs thus.

Object. 1.

Pag. 96, 97.

“That though the New Testament had mentioned nothing of this matter, yet its silence in such cases is not argumentative. He said nothing of those large unknown Tracts of America, nor gave he any intimations of as much as the existence of that numerous people; much less did he leave instructions about their Conversion. He gives no account of the affairs and state of the other World, but only that general one of the happiness of some, and the misery of others. He made no discovery of the Magnalia of Art or Nature, no not of those whereby the propagation of the Gospel might have been much advanced, viz. the Mystery of Printing and the Magnet, and yet no one useth his silence in these instances as an argument against the being of things, which are evident objects of sense.” To which we answer.

Respons.

1. He falleth into a common mistake in making the Proposition universal, and dolus versatur in universalibus, when it ought but to be particular: so for him to say, that no silence of Scripture is argumentative, is too universal; for its silence in point of Geography, as in describing America, and the people thereof, nor in discovering the Magnalia Naturæ & Artis is not argumentative; and we do not say, that all silence of Scripture is argumentative, but yet we affirm that some silence of Scripture is argumentative. So we cannot universally say, that nothing hath a being but what is mentioned in Scripture; but we may very well affirm, that some things have no being, or truth of existence, because not declared in Scripture.

Lib. 1. c. 1.

2. The Scriptures were not written to teach Natural Philosophy, Arts or Sciences, humane Policy, or the like; but were given, that the man of God might be perfect, furnished for every good work: and it is by them that we have the doctrine of eternal Salvation revealed unto us, and we positively affirm the sufficiency of the Scriptures unto Salvation, which thing no Orthodox Divine (we suppose) will deny, and Bellarmine himself did confess in these words: Prophetici & Apostolici libri sunt verum verbum Dei, ac stabilis regula fidei. And if it be a certain Rule of Faith, and the true Word of God, then whatsoever it is silent of, we ought not to believe, and so its silence is argumentative in that point. The Scriptures are utterly silent concerning Purgatory, and therefore it is a good argument to affirm there is no such place as Purgatory, because the Word of God is silent as concerning it; but if it had been necessary to have been believed, then there would have been mention made of it.

3. And as the Scriptures are sufficient in matters of Faith, and circa credenda, and what they are silent in, are not to be received as Articles of our Faith, but to be rejected, as having no truth of Existence: So likewise what Worship God requireth of his people, is fully revealed in his Word, and therefore I am to reject the worshipping of Mahomet with the Turks, or Images, and praying to Saints with the Papists, because I have neither precept nor president in the Word, but it is silent in such matters; nay tells us, That he is the Lord our God, and him only we ought to serve.

Pag. 87, 88. 23.

Origin. Sacr. l. 3. c. 6. p. 608.

Invisib. World, p. 112.

Joh. 17. 24.

Serm. c. 7.

Wisd. 3. 1.

Luk. 23. 43.

Concio secunda de Lazaro.

Luk. 16. 22, 23.

2 Sam. 12. 23.

Job 7. 9, 10.

Idem. 10. 20, 21.

Bellarm. Enervat. tom. 2. l. 5. p. 204.

Homil. sect. 16. pag. 484.

4. Though Mr. Glanvil say, that God hath given no account of the state of the other World, but only that general one of the happiness of some, and the misery of others; yet Am I to believe as Mr. Glanvil somewhere in his Book affirmeth, that Samuels Soul was raised up by the Woman at Endor, and that those that he feigneth to make Leagues and Contracts with Witches, are the Souls of such as had been Witches when they lived, and asketh, Who saith that happy Souls were never imployed in any ministeries here below? Or am I to believe that both the Souls of the godly and wicked, do rove up and down here upon earth, and make Apparitions, because the Popish Teachers do hold it to be so? I hope not, and therefore I shall in part give an answer here to some of these, and handle that of the Woman of Endor in another place. 1. The Word of God doth particularly teach us the state and condition of the Souls after death, that they shall be like the Angels in Heaven; and all other things necessary to move and draw us to believe the immortal Existence of Souls, as that most able and learned Divine Dr. Stillingfleet hath asserted in these words: “The Scriptures give the most faithful representation of the state and condition of the Soul of Man. The World (he saith) was almost lost in Disputes concerning the Nature, Condition, and Immortality of the Soul, before divine Revelation was made known to Mankind by the Gospel of Christ; but life and immortality was brought to light by the Gospel, and the future state of the soul of man not discovered in an uncertain Platonical way, but with the greatest light and evidence from that God who hath the supreme disposal of souls, and therefore best knows and understands them.” A Sentence truly pious and orthodoxal. 2. Hath not God in the holy Scriptures amply and plainly taught us the state of the other World, in describing unto us such a numerous company of Seraphims and Cherubims, Angels and Archangels, with their several Orders, Offices, Ministeries, and Imployments? and this is more than a general account, as may be seen at full in that learned and godly Piece of Bishop Halls, called The invisible World. And hath he not given us a particular account of the very Kingdom of Darkness, telling us of the Devil and his Angels, and precisely in this enumeration? For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. And this is more than a general account, and we must needs say, that what he holds is very derogatory to the wisdom and goodness of God, and the sufficiency and truth of the Scriptures. 3. Must I believe him that the souls of the Saints do rove and wander here below? when as Bishop Hall saith, where he is speaking against the opinion of those that hold, that Souls do sleep until the Day of Judgment: “Indeed who can but wonder that any Christian can possibly give entertainment to so absurd a thought, whilst he hears his Saviour say, Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, and that (not in a safe sleep) they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.” Sure if the Souls departed be with Christ where he is, and do behold his glory, then it is a Popish Fable of Mr. Glanvil, to feign their coming upon Messages hither. The saying of St. Bernard is remarkable in this case: Advertistis tres esse sanctarum status animarum, primum videlicet in corpore corruptibili, secundum sine corpore, tertium in corpore jam glorificato. Primum in militia, secundum in requie, tertium in beatitudine consummata. And if the second state of holy Souls be without a body, and be at peace and rest, then it must necessarily be a truth, that they do not wander here, nor run upon Errands; For the souls of the righteous are in the hands of the Lord, and there shall no torment touch them. And our Saviour told the Thief upon the Cross, This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise, that is, as Dr. Hammond giveth the Paraphrase: “Immediately after thy death thou shalt go to a place of bliss, and there abide with me, a Member of that my Kingdom which thou askest for.” Now if the souls of the godly, after their death, be immediately in a place of bliss, and abide with Christ as Members of his Kingdom, then they do not wander up and down here, as Mr. Glanvil and the Papists vainly fancy and believe; for as Chrysostome saith upon that place of Lazarus his being carried by Angels into Abrahams bosome. “What is it then that the Devils say, I am the Soul of such a Monk? Truly I therefore believe it not, because the Devils say it, for they deceive their Auditors.” 4. Or must I believe that the souls of the wicked do wander, and make Apparitions here, because Mr. Glanvil and the Popish Writers tell me so? I hope not; for the Text telleth us plainly, that the rich man presently after his death was in Hell in torments, and could not come hither unto earth again to warn his brethren, otherwise he would not have prayed Abraham to have sent Lazarus. And whether it be taken for a real History of things done, or but a Parable, yet the spiritual meaning of our Saviour must be infallibly true, that immediately after death the souls of the godly are by Angels carried into Abrahams bosome, and the wicked go down into Hell, from whence there is no redemption; and therefore do not wander up and down here, nor make any Apparitions: for I imagine that the authority of holy King David, a Prophet and a man after Gods own heart, is to be preferred before the authority of a thousand Popish Writers, and he tells us, when the child was dead: But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. And Job tells us: As the cloud is consumed, and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave, shall come up no more, he shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. And therefore it was a vain argument of Bellarmine when he said: “Apparitiones animarum ex Purgatorio venientium idem testantur.” To which the Protestants answer: “But who shall bear witness of these Apparitions, that they were not either feigned fables, or Satanical illusions? They were men, and might be deceived, even the best of them, with whom doth rest the faith of these Narrations.” 5. And whereas he audaciously asketh, “Who saith that happy Souls were never imployed in any Ministeries here below?” I shall tell him who they are that say, that happy Souls departed are never imployed here in any Ministeries; and they are all the learned Divines of the Reformed Churches, and all those that were true Sons of the Doctrine of the Church of England, such as were Bishop Jewel, Bishop Hall, Dr. Willet, Dr. Whitaker, Mr. Perkins, and many more such, the authority and reputation of the least of which is far above the simple question of Mr. Glanvil. And therefore saith the latter Confession of Helvetia: “Now that which is recorded of the Spirits or Souls of the dead sometimes appearing to them that are alive, &c. we count those Apparitions among the delusions and deceits of the Devil.”

5. And as the Scriptures are sufficient both in respect of matters of Faith, and concerning divine Worship, that their silence in those two particulars are fully argumentative, to deny whatever is not contained in them, as unfit to be received to either purpose. So in respect of a Christians warfare, all things for the obtaining of a perfect and compleat victory, and for standing and perseverance, are in them fully declared, and what they mention not is to be rejected, as wanting the seal of Divine Authority, whether it be in regard of eschewing what is prohibited, or in following what is commanded. And therefore we affirm, that what the Scriptures have not revealed of the power of the Kingdom of Satan, is to be rejected, and not to be believed, and what weapons we are to use against the wiles of the Devil, we are to be furnished withal, but have need of no others but what the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures hath made known unto us, the rest are to be cast off, as fables and lyes, or humane inventions, because the Scriptures are silent of any such matter, and that for these weighty grounds and considerations.

De Doctrin. Christian.

1. We shall take the Concession of Bellarmine himself, who saith: Nullum est vitium ad quod sanandum non invenitur in Scriptura aliquod remedium. And again: Illa quæ sunt simpliciter omnibus necessaria, Apostoli consueverunt omnibus prædicare: & aliorum quæ sunt omnibus utilia. And to the same purpose is the saying of St. Austin: Titubat fides, si divinarum Scripturarum vacillet authoritas: porrò fide titubante, etiam ipsa charitas languescit. Therefore if there be no fault for which the Scripture doth not yield some remedy, then surely to make a visible League with the Devil, or to have carnal Copulation with him, either must have no verity at all in it, or that the Scripture hath provided no remedy for it, for of such things there is no mention. And if Faith must stumble, where the authority of the Scriptures is wanting, then surely the belief of all rational men must needs be staggering, to believe what these common Witchmongers affirm of the Witches visible League and carnal Copulation with the Devil, when there is no authority of Scripture at all to strengthen or countenance any such matter.

Eph. 6. 11, 12, 13.

1 Pet. 5. 8, 9.

2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.

2. The Scriptures do fully and abundantly inform us of the Devils spiritual and invisible power, and against the same declares unto us the whole Armor of God, with which we ought to be furnished, as the Apostle saith: Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. And the Apostle St. Peter telleth us: Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour; whom resist stedfast in the faith. And in another place: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God. From which Scriptures we may take these remarkable observations.

2 Cor. 2. 11.

1 Tim. 3. 7.

2 Tim. 2. 26.

1. We are to consider the nature of this Warfare, that it is spiritual and against spiritual wickedness in high places, and not against flesh and blood; and the Holy Ghost could not be wanting nor defective, but superabundantly full in describing the nature of this warfare, that it is spiritual, not carnal; and therefore we are to prepare our selves against all spiritual assaults: but as for any visible, carnal, or bodily, there is not, nor can be any such, because the Apostle that declared by his Preaching and Writings the whole counsel of God, hath revealed no such thing as the visible appearing of Satan, much less of his making of a visible League with the Witches, or the sucking of their bodies, or the having carnal Copulation with them, which must of necessity be lyes and figments, because the Holy Ghost hath not warned us of any such, which we ought certainly to believe he would have done, if there had been any such matter. And the holy Apostle, who was not ignorant of the devices νοήματα, notions or intentions of Satan, would not have omitted to have warned the godly, if there had been any such matter as a visible League, sucking of their bodies, or carnal Copulation, the thing being of so great weight and concern. For as one said well: Grave est de vita & bonis periclitari, sed multò gravius insidiantem habere Satanam. And he that so often hath given us warning of the wiles, devices, and snares of the Devil, if there had been any such dangerous snare as this, would without doubt have given us notice of it.

2. We are to consider the end of this Warfare, that it is for no less than a Crown, and that not a terrestrial, but a celestial one, not a fading one, but an everlasting one, a Crown of eternal life, of immortal glory, even for an house given of God, eternal in the Heavens. Therefore this being a thing of the greatest concern that belongs to a Christian, the Apostle would not doubtlesly omit any thing that had been necessary to the obtaining of such an inestimable prize, and such an important Victory; and therefore cannot in reason have concealed or omitted such a weighty matter as a visible League, and the like, if there had been any such thing.

Eph. 6. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

3. We are to consider that this Armor prescribed for the Souldiers of Jesus Christ, is the whole armor of God, πανοπλίαν, the compleat armor of God (as Dr. Hammond renders it) perfect both for defence and offence. And therefore the Apostle describes it fully by a Metaphor, taken from such Arms as the Roman or other Nations in his time use, saying: Stand therefore, having your loyns girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness: And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints. And as it is a compleat and perfect Armor, both in respect of defence and offence; so it is a spiritual, not a carnal, corporeal, or bodily armor, because the warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places, against spiritual enemies, not against corporeal and carnal ones; for as the enemies are and the warfare, so are the armor and weapons. From whence we truly urge, that the Apostle led by the Holy Ghost, and the Wisdom of the Father, and knowing the whole counsel of God (especially in this point) hath omitted nothing that is fitting armor for a Christian either of defence or offence, whereby he may be inabled to get the victory against Satan, and all his spiritual Army. And therefore that either Satan hath not power, or doth not assault Christians after a visible, carnal, and bodily manner, or else that the Holy Ghost hath been defective in prescribing armor against such assaults, and consequently that the armor of a Souldier of Jesus Christ is not compleat, or else there is no such bodily assaults of Satan at all, as to tempt visibly, to make a corporeal League, to suck upon the Witches bodies, nor to have carnal Copulation with them. But we affirm, and that (as we conceive) with sound reason, that the Scriptures in this particular of a Christians armor, and the compleatness of it, is abundantly sufficient against all spiritual assaults whatsoever, and consequently that there is no other kind of assaults but meerly spiritual, and therefore the Word of God, the most proper Medium with sound reason, to judge of the power of Spirits and Devils by.

Gregor. sup. Ezekiel. Homil. 6.

1 Tim. 1. 17.

Heb. 12. 9.

3. That the Scriptures and sound reason are the only true and proper Medium to decide these Controversies by, is most undeniably apparent, because God is a Spirit, and the invisible God, and therefore best knows the nature and power of the spiritual and invisible World, and being the God of truth, can and doth inform us of their power and operations, better than the vain lyes and figments of the Heathen Poets, or the dreams of the Platonick School, either elder or later, nay better than all the notional and groundless speculations of the Schoolmen, of whom it may truly be said that, Rivulo divinæ Scripturæ relicto, in abyssos vanarum opinionum incidêrunt. Nay these can better inform us in this point, than the Writings of all Mortals besides, and therefore whatsoever may be said to the contrary, may receive its answer from the Father: Quod de Scripturis sacris authoritatem non habet, eâdem facilitate contemnitur, quâ probatur. Therefore he being the King eternal, immortal, invisible, and the only wise God, of none can we so truly and certainly learn these things, as of him who hath plentifully taught us in his Word all things necessary to Salvation, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished to every good work. Nay he is the Father of Spirits, and therefore truly knoweth, and can and doth teach us their Natures, Offices, and Operations.

Vid. Orig. sacr. l. 1. c. 1. p. 15.

Levit. 18. 22, 23, 24.

4. The Scriptures (especially the Writings of Moses) considered only as Historical, are of more antiquity, verity, and certainty both as to Doctrine, Precepts, matters of Fact, and Chronology, than all other Histories whatsoever, whether of the Phenicians, Egyptians, Chaldeans, or Grecians, as the learned person Dr. Stillingfleet hath sufficiently proved. Now if there had been such an one as a Witch, that made a visible League with the Devil, and upon whose body he suckt, and with whom he had carnal Copulation, something of that nature would doubtless have been recorded in the Scriptures, of which notwithstanding there is not the least tittle or mention. And Moses who was so perfect a Law-giver, as in a manner to omit no kind or sort of sin or evil that men possibly could commit, but to forbid it, and make a Law against it, could never have left out such an horrid, unnatural, and hellish wickedness as carnal Copulation with the fallen Angels, if there had been any such matter. For he saith, after he had forbidden all sorts of Fornications, Adulteries, and Incests: Thou shalt not lye with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lye with any beast to defile thy self therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lye down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not your selves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled, which I cast out before you. Now it cannot be rationally imagined, that Moses having named and prohibited the less sins of bestial Copulation and Sodomy, would have left out that which is the most horrid and execrable of all others, to wit, carnal Copulation with Devils, if there had been any such thing either in possibility or act. And therefore we may conclude according to the rules of sound reason, that there is no such matter, and that the Scriptures are the most fit Medium to decide these Controversies.

2 Thess. 3. 2.