A Perfect Discovery OF WITCHES SHEWING The Divine Cause of the Distractions of this Kingdome and also of the Christian WORLD Justitia Thronum firmat PROV 29.14 The King that faithfully judgeth the poor his Throne shall bee established Very profitable to bee read by all sorts of People especially JUDGES of Assizes Sheriffes Justices of the Peace and Grand-Jury-men before they passe sentence on those that are condemned for WITCH-CRAFT By THOMAS ADY M.A. London Printed for R. I. to bee sold by H. Brome at the Gun in Ivy-Lane 1661. The Reason of the Book THe Grand Errour of these latter Ages is ascribing power to Witches and by foolish imagination of mens brains without grounds in the Scriptures wrongfull killing of the innocent under the name of Witches unto which Idolatry and bloud-guiltiness being as bad or worse than the Idolatry of the ancient Heathen men are led as violently by fond imagination as were the Ephesians to the worshipping of Diana and of the Image which as they blindly thought fell down from Jupiter Acts 19.35 It is reported by Travellers that some People in America do worship for a day the first living Creature they see in the morning be it but a Bird or a Worm this Idolatry is like the Idolatry of this part of the World who when they are afflicted in Body or Goods by Gods hand they have an eye to some Mouse or Bugg or Frog or other living Creature saying It is some Witches Impe that is sent to afflict them ascribing the Work of God to a Witch or any mean Creature rather than to God Mr. Scot published a Book called his Discovery of Witchcraft in the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth for the instruction of all Judges and Justices of those times which Book did for a time take great impression in the Magistracy and also in the Clergy but since that time England hath shamefully fallen from the Truth which they began to receive wherefore here is again a necessary and illustrious discourse for the Magistracy and other People of this Age where I intreat all to take notice that many do falsly report of Mr. Scot that he held an Opinion that Witches are not for it was neither his Tenent neither is it mine but that Witches are not such as are commonly executed for Witches A Candle in the Dark The First Book shewing what Witches are in the Scripture-sence throughout the Old and New Testament The Second Book shewing how grosly the Scriptures have been mis-interpreted by Antichrist concerning Witches by which interpretation he hath made the Nations go astray With a confutation of those Errours The Third Book touching some erroneous English Writers who have upheld the same Errours which Antichrist hath broached to the world Also the Works of a Scotch-man called The VVorks of King James With an addition of fifteen Causes also a reference to Scot and also the opinion of Luther concerning Devils Also an instruction to Lawyers Errata PAge 11. line 3. for Magnus read Magus p. 15. l. 21 for 6 Chron. r. 2 Chro. p. 22. l. 1. for Prophets r. Prophetess p. 28. l. 23. for magis r. magi p. 30. l. 11. for inchantation r. incantation p. 38 l. 15. for little r. liche l. 19. for tax r. tap thrice in the same page in p 48. l. 8. for Charms r. Charmer p. 76. l. 33. for equivocately r. equivocally p. 77. l. 8. for Scopula r. Scapula over p. 79. for Oracle giver r. South sayer so over p. 87. Necromancer should not be The Second Book Pag. 92. l. 5. for drew r. grew p. 96. l. 10 for inquisitions r. inquisitors p. 106 l. 8. tor superstitions r. suspicions p. 122. l. 35 for quem r. quum p. 124. l. 15. for an r. and p 129 l. 15. or preternatural r preternatural p. 136. l. 28. for any sort r. every other sort p. 145. l. 30 for discovered r. discoursed p. 146. l. 36. for and by them cast on can cure r. and by them can cast on or inflict and cure diseases p. 147. l. 4. for send r. teach p. 170. l 17 for endicat r. indicat Reader take notice that most of these faults are mended with Pen and Inke already TO THE Prince of the Kings of the Earth IT is the manner of men O heavenly King to dedicate their Books to some great men thereby to have their Works protected and countenanced among men but thou only art able by thy holy Spirit of Truth to defend thy Truth and to make it take impression in the heart and understanding of men Unto thee alone do I dedicate this Work intreating thy most High Majesty to grant That whoever shall open this Book thy holy Spirit may so possess their understanding as that the spirit of errour may depart from them and that they may read and try thy Truth by the touchstone of thy Truth the holy Scriptures and finding that Truth may embrace it and forsake these darksome inventions of Antichrist that have deluded and defiled the Nations now and in former Ages Enlighten the World thou that art the Light of the World and let Darkness be no more in the World now or in any future Age but make all people to walk as Children of the Light for ever and destroy Antichrist that hath deceived the Nations and save us the residue by thy self alone and let not Satan any more delude us for the Truth is thine for ever To the Reader SIR IF you be a courteous Reader I intreat you that what weaknesse and imperfections you shall think you espie in this Book from the Author thereof you passe them by for the Truths sake whereupon this Book treateth Secondly if you be so discourteous as to carp and censure then I intreat you to carp only at me and not at the Truth lest you resist the truth Thirdly I intreat you to Read my Book thorow before you cast it by for otherwise Sir it may argue weaknesse in your self to slight the Book before you see the Argument It is one of the vanities of the World to write many Books and when a man hath taken pains to write few men will take the pains to read which Solomon intimateth Eccle. 12.12 but Sir if you find no leasure to read and consider then I pray find no leasure to gainsay or to argue against Fourthly for all places of Scripture alledged in this Book if you shall search our English Translations and not find them to carry the sense which I drive at in my discourse I intreat you either to search the Originall or else to look upon the Latin Translations of Junius and Tremellius which carry the true sense of the Originall as it was written by the Spirit of God Your Friend T. A. Non quis sed quid To the more Judicious and Wise and Discreet part of the Clergie of ENGLAND Joshua 7.11 THese words Israel hath sinned are not so to be understood as if Israel had been free from
Star that shewed the birth of Christ Mat. 2.2 was Miraculous and not any Natural Star how then could the Wise men or Astrologians see the signification of that Star by their Science of Astrologie whereas if it reacheth not to the knowledge of future contingensies then much less to the knowledge of things supernatural or miraculous and yet they saw that the Stars appearance did signifie the birth of that great King although I deny not that the motion of the star in the ninth verse might bee miraculous And to come farther Judg. 5.20 the Stars in their Rampires fought against Sisera it is not spoken of any thing beyond nature but the Prophets did observe that the stars in their natural places fought against Sisera also Gen. 1.14 God made the Lights of Heaven to be signs for seasons and for days and for years it seemeth then that judicial Astrology is not condemned in the Scripture if it be not abused what then was a Planetarian in the sence of the text and why were they forbidden by God and set in the Catalogue of Witches To this it is answered That under the colour of Astrologie these Planetarians that are here forbidden did harbour themselves that because there was somewhat in that Science for the knowledge of some future things therefore in the pretence of their knowledge in that Science they did take upon them to compare themselves with the Prophets and to draw the people after their uncertain Predictions as if they had been equal with the Prophets and many of them having no knowledge at all in that Science yet did under the colour thereof harbour their deceitful Oracles or Divinations ascribing a Deity to the Planets calling them gods as Mars the god of Warre Venus the goddess of Beauty c. and did also ascribe so much to their influence as they beleeved no power above them and so drew the people a whoring after them to make them forget God the Author of all things and to Deifie the Creature and these Planetarians being meer Naturalists and beleeving no power above the Planets would bear a breast against the Prophets and undertake to do those things that were only proper to the Prophets to do and could be done by no other power but by the Spirit of God Dan. 2.2 3 4. they would undertake the interpretation of Dreams if the dreams were related to them nevertheless the expounding of dreams is of God only vers 27 28. and Gen. 41.16 and 40.8 And whereas God did put into the heart of Nebuchadnezzar to put them to difficult task they said no man upon earth was able to do it Dan. 2.10 inferring that the Prophets themselves could do no more than they yea so did they deifie the Planets that they ascribed to them to be the gods of the seven Days of the Week and caused the people to worship them and bring their daily oblations to them and to keep Holy days to them from the names of which Planets the days do take their nominations as Sunday from the Sun Monday from the Moon c. and in other Tongues is more manifest for every day which if it be true that the Planets have their several influences upon the several days of the Week yet their wickedness was in denying God that made the Heavens and their Host and in deifying the Creature and for this they are described among Witches or seducers of the people to Idolatry and this Idolatry God warneth his people to avoyd Deut. 4.19 Take heed when thou liftest up thine eyes to Heaven and seest the Sun and the Moon and Stars with all the Host of Heaven shouldest be driven to worship them and serve them which the Lord thy God hath distributed to all people under heaven Although God had given and distributed their influence to all people under Heaven yet men may not worship them but worship God that made them So likewise Deut. 17.3 also this Idolatry part of the Israelites were defiled with Jer. 44 17. they burnt Incense and poured Drink-offerings to the Queen of Heaven or as it is in the Original to the works of Heaven that is to the Planets of this Idolatry Job cleareth himself Job 31.26 If I did behold the Sun when it shined or the Moon walking in her brightness that is if I did behold them with adoration this had been iniquity for I had denied the God above as followeth vers 28. also 2 Chron. 33.5 This was part of Manasses Witchcraft he built Altars to all the Host of Heaven and made the people go astray vers 9. And so for this Third description of a Witch in the text a Planetarian that is that under the colour of Astrologie seduced the people to lying vanities or Divinations and causeth them to deifie and Idolize the Planets or that boasteth himself in his Predictions against the Prophets crying peace when the Prophets Prophesie destruction Isa 47.13 Let thy Astrologians stand up that do view the Stars and do make known their monthly Predictions and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee I might quote also some prophane Writers of this sort who are seducing Witches because under pretence of Astrologie they teach things beyond the intent and scope of that or any lawful Science As Julius Maternus hath devillishly written That he that is born when Saturn is in Leone shall live long and go to Heaven when he dyeth and so Albumazar saith Who so prayeth to God when the Moon is in Capite draconis shall obtain his prayer These Planetarians for these and the like impious devices in pretence of a lawful Science are described in the text among Witches Astrologians have also annexed to their Science of Astrologie Palmistrie and Physiognomie the Caelestial Bodies as they say having fixed their Characters upon the inferiour Bodies of men as he that readeth their Books may see with the reason thereof and therefore these Arts together with Astrologie do serve them to make their Prognosticks concerning the strength health disposition and several events of any mans life which Prognosticks do often happen true because Natures course may be probably conjectured by the course and character of the Planets although these Arts are much abused by wandring Gypsies who under colour of such knowledge do commonly cheat silly people and also rob their pockets when they are viewing their hands and face to tell them their Fortunes now herein was one difference between Planetarians or Astrologians lawful or unlawful in the Scripture sence the lawful Astrologian foretelling probable events fore-seen by Natural causes upon any person or Nation as Deborah observed the Stars concerning Sicera and his Army although she knew what should come to pass more certainly by the Spirit of Prophesie than by the Stars The unlawful Astrologian or Planetarian foretelling things not only probably but certain and necessarily to come to pass as if there were such strong inclination influence and co-action in those Coelestial Bodies as that
the Scriptures such a word as Striges lamiae Incubus and Succubus or any word of such signification or importance what were Pharaoh his Magicians but deluders of Pharaoh and the People could they by the help of Satan do any thing truly were they real Miracles did not their madness come to light 2 Tim. 3.9 what spirit had the Maid that followed Paul Act. 16.16 which is said to have the spirit of Python was it more than a cousening spirit of Divination for gain yet still you will say the word Python hath been interpreted by many one that had a familiar spirit imagine they had a familiar spirit although it is but a weak Argument to ground an opinion upon the bare signification of a word except you will have it a seducing lying spirit such a one as was in Ahabs Prophets yet I say answer me these Four Questions First Tell we where a Witch did or could kill a man in Scripture What did Saul go to the Pythonist of Endor for was it that she might help him kill the Philistians or meerly for Augury or Divination what did Pharaoh call his Witches the Magicians before him for was it to kill any Man or Beast by their cunning or meerly to work lying Wonders and dissemble the Miracles that God wrought by Moses so that they might withstand Moses and the truth and blinde Pharaohs eyes because God would harden his heart tell me where you finde in all the Scriptures that a Witch did or could kill a man by Witchcraft shew me in all the Law of Moses concerning the condemning of men or women for Murther that a Murtherer was called a Witch or a Witch a Murtherer Deut. 19. and other places of Scripture are there not several Rules set down for the trying of Murther shew me one that intimateth the Witching of Men or Cattel to death Secondly Shew me in all the Scriptures where Witches are spoken of that a Witch was a secret person or unknown to the World that should need to be tried by blinde circumstances and presumptions and superstitions or by privie Marks or by Teats or Biggs by sinking or swimming or by confessions were not Pharaohs Witches called Prastigiatores magi openly known did not Pharaoh call them together without privie search or inquiry did not Saul banish all the Witches as people openly known and professing the Art of Augury and their several cousening practices when Saul inquired for a Witch did not his servants presently tell him there was one at Endor was she not known without privie search or prime marks Did not the Maid in the Acts that was said to have the spirit of Python or to be a Pythonist follow Paul crying openly did not Simon Magus act his Delusions openly to seduce the people as likewise Eliâ—as the Sorcerer were not the Witchcrafts of Jezabel known to be her delusions that she wrought by the Priests of Baal to seduce the people were not the Witchcrafts of Manasses open actions that made Juda and Jerusalem to go astray where then do we read of a Witch by suspicion or to be tried by presumptions or suspicions or privie marks or other signs that are mans invention whence came this darkness and blinde errour but from the Pope that grand Witch that hath bewitched all Nations we search for Witchcrafts and abominations in a poor womans wooden dish and Christ telleth us they are all in a cup of Gold in the hand of the great Whore Revel 17.4 Thirdly Shew me in all the Scriptures where Witchcraft went without Idolatry Isa 19.3 and had not a necessary dependance on Idolatry Nahum 3.4 Look again Deut. 18.10 11. where all sorts of Witches are spoken of why were they to be cut off and destroyed the reason is immediatly given vers 14. because they defiled the Nations in seducing them unto Spiritual VVhoredom and the Nations were destroyed for seeking and making inquiry after their Divinations or South-sayings or Oracles whereas inquiries ought to be to Gods Prophets vers 15. Was not this Sauls Idolatry when he sought to the Witch of Endor 1 Chro. 10.13 14. was not this the sin of Manasses where he is blamed for using Witchcrafts when he made Juda and Jerusalem go astray to Idols 2 Chron. 33.9 were not the Witchcrafts and VVhoredoms of Jesabel set down as two inseparable companions her Witchcraft being the upholding of the Idol Priests of Baal that by Witchcraft seduced the people to Idolatry were not Pharaohs Magicians seducers of Pharaoh and the people from God was not Simon Magus the like but alas how and where have those poor souls that are commonly hanged for Witches seduced the people to Idolatry who hath been led after them for Divinations and Southsayings many indeed have been led after Southsayers but they are termed good Witches and whereas they as Witches ought to dye many have been put to death by their devillish false accusations and if the Witch of Endor were now living amongst us we should call her a good VVitch so blinde are the times Fourthly Shew me in all the Law of God against Adulterous uncleaneness where Moses writeth of several kindes of uncleaneness as man with man man with beast woman with beast and many more the least intimation of uncleanness by Incubus or Succubus what did Moses forget this Yet because this opinion hath been so upheld by reports and imaginations and by the extorted confession or people that have been condemned in that kinde and sometime by the voluntary confession of despairing melancholly people that have been troubled in minde and wish rather to dye than to live although Volenti mori non est adhibenda fides Yet I intreat you to run over these several places of Scripture with me a little and see how this opinion of VVitches power agreeth with the Scriptures yea how flat contrary it is to Gods Word and the grounds of our Christian faith Yet first because some men will not understand the Scriptures in any other sense than as their own Expositors have done be it right or wrong therefore I refer them that will seek farther than the Scriptures to the words of a general Counsel which Mr. Scot in his Discovery hath alleged as followeth Concil Acqui in decret 26. the words of the Council It may not be omitted that certain wicked VVomen following Satans provocations being seduced by the illusion of the Devil beleeve and profess that in the night time they ride abroad with Diana the Goddess of the Pagans or else with Herodias with an innumerable multitude upon certain Beasts and pass over many Countries and Nations in the silence of the night and do whatsoever these Ladies or Fairies command c. let all Ministers therefore in their several Cures preach to Gods people so as they may know all those things to be false and whosoever beleeveth that any Creature can be made by them or changed into better or worse or be any way transformed into any other kinde or
or rather by some Scotish man blinded by some Scotish Mist who desired to set forth his own Tenents for the upholding of Popish errours and Popish Writers sufficiently confuted before by Scot in his Discovery of Witchcraft he not being able any whit to answer Scot in his Discourse laboureth to uphold false Tenents and Doctrins by the authority of a King because he could not finde any thing in the Scriptures to uphold them or to answer Scot as wee may read in the Preface that his whole aime is at Scot whom he falsly chargeth with the Tenent and Affirmation That there is no such thing as Witchcraft whereas Scot in all his whole Book saith no such thing but only that Witchcraft is a craft of deceiving and seducing the people and not of killing and making barren and raising Winds and such like Inventions he that readeth that Preface and seeth how Scot is first and chiefly aimed at in the whole Work might presently expect that in the Work he should finde Scot notably confuted or at the least in some way answered but reading over the VVork he shall finde not one thing or other answered at all but only a bare affirmation of such Tenents without any ground or warrant of the Scripture which Tenents were confuted by Scot by the Scriptures so that for any man to answer that Work of the Author at large were only to do that which Scot hath already done in confuting Bodinus and others and whereas this Author pretendeth a refutation of Scot he hath done nothing else but written again the same Tenents that Bodinus and others had before written and were by Scot confuted like an obstinate Disputant that rather than he will not hold his Argument though never so foolish he will deny the Conclusion One Disputant wisely and plainly proveth that a thing is and the other foolishly saith still it is not or one proveth that a thing is not and the other foolishly still saith it is by which way of arguing a childe may hold an Argument against a learned Doctor though never so false Yet for the answering of the Tenents of this Author in that Work First he saith in his first Book as also in the Preface That Witches can by the help of the Devil cause to be brought unto them all kindes of dainty Dishes for their delicious maintenance and yet say I how many poor lean starved people have been executed in several places for Witches and for the truth of this Doctrin he bringeth no place of Scripture to prove it but only affirmeth it to bee true for these reasons First The Devil is a Thief and delighteth to steal Secondly He is a Spirit and therefore can subtilly and suddenly transport the same from whence and whither hee will by which way of argument rejecting the Scriptures a man may affirm for truth any vain imagination be it as absurd as this former as that the Devil is a Thief and therefore hath a Mountain of Gold which he hath taken out of every mans Purse and heaped up in Hell which he being a Spirit hath easily transported from the earth and therefore are so many men hastening to Hell because there is abundance of Gold But if such foolish Arguments as these were of any force what need then any Scripture to teach us the truth But if we examine the truth of this Doctrin by the Scriptures it will prove for want of ground in Scripture very phantastical and in opposition to the truth of the Scriptures very blasphemous for hereby we should yeeld still that what was done by the Angel of God in miraculous manner bringing food to Elijah 1 King 19.6 may be done by the Devil bringing variety of food to them that serve him and whereas God by a Miraculous hand brought his people through a barren Wilderness and fed them in that Wilderness the same thing might as well have been done by the Devil who saith he can bring his servants all manner of dainty dishes This that is already written were enough to disable and make voyd all the three Books of Daemonologie written by this Author but yet for the satisfaction of such as will expect a Methodical answer I will begin with his Works in order as they stand and in brief shew the vanity of them as for example he saith in his Epistle to the Reader Sorcery and VVitchcraft are different from Magick and Necromancy and yet in the first Chapter of the Second Book he saith the Maid spoken of in the sixteenth of the Acts was a VVitch because she had the spirit of Python and yet we finde in the Scripture that they that had the spirit of Python were also Necromancers how then can this distinction hold that VVitchcraft differeth from Necromancy for by that distinction a Pythonist were a VVitch and a Necromancer not a VVitch yet what was the Pythonist of Endor but a Necromancer pretending to consult with the dead and Necromancy was the pretence of all that were said to have the spirit of Python that was that they consulted with the Souls of the dead as in Plutarch and also in holy VVrit as in Isa 8.19 it is manifest in any Tongue but our English which in Tremellius translation is to this sense for when they shall say unto you Ask counsel of those that have the spirit of Python or the imposture of Oracling and of South-sayers should not a people ask counsel of their God Shall they ask counsel of the dead for them that are living so then it is plain this distinction is wholly dissonant from Scripture and that this Author wrote not according to Scripture but by phantasy and imagination And now for his First Book and the whole discourse of it he layeth this foundation he produceth these places of Scripture to prove that there is such a thing as Witchcraft and Witches Exod. 22.18 1 Sam. 15.23 Acts 8. Acts 16. and here he never searcheth the sense and meaning of these Scriptures but proveth that Witches are which thing no man denyeth and yet mark but his proofs Exod. 22.18 which is taken for a Jugler or one that worketh false Miracles to deceive and seduce in the same sense is to be understood Acts 8.9 10. concerning Simon Magus who was a Jugler and Magician Jugling being one main part of Magick in the Scripture discourse such were Pharaohs Magicians which Magicians this Author distinguisheth from Witches and yet would prove by these places that there is such a thing as Witchcraft and Witches so likewise 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of Divination from hence hee would prove Witchcraft also and yet his distinction denieth that Necromancers whose main drift was to give Divinations by consulting with the dead are Witches and this is the sum of his first Chapter where any wise man may see how he hath lost himself in proving and not able to prove that which is easily proved and that which no man denieth That there is
as are there described Deut. 18.10 11. 11 Where do we read of a he devill or a she devill called incubus or succubus that useth generation or copulation with Witches or VVitches with them 12 It is written Woe unto such as devour widdows houses and in a pretence make long prayers Matth. 23.14 13 It is written the Lord hateth the hand that sheddeth innocent blood and the fals witness that speaketh lies and the feet that are swift to do mischeif and a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations Pro. 6. 17 18 19. 14 It is written shall there be evill in a City and the Lord hath not done it Amos. 3.6 15 It is written there is no God with me I kill and I make alive I wound and heal Deut. 32.39 and again the Lord killeth and maketh alive hee bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up the Lord maketh poore and maketh rich 1 Sam. 2.6 7. 16 It is written If ye were blind yee had had no sinne but now ye say ye see therefore your sinne remaineth Iohn 9.41 17 It is written Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve lies that they might be damned that beleeved not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. 18 It is written Thou shalt not raise a false report put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witnesse Exodus 23.1 19 It is written If ye any way afflict the widdow or the fatherlesse and they cry at all unto me I will surely hear their cry and my wrath shal wax hot and I will kill you with the sword and your wives shall be widdows and your children fatherlesse Exodus 22.23 24. 20 It is written God saw that the imaginations of the thoughts of mens hearts were only evill continually it repented the Lord that he had made man therefore he destroyed the old world Gen. 6.5 6 7 Therefore you that are of the sacred order of the ministry that do use to cry to the people give ear with fear and reverence to the word of God as it is written in the text how dare ye teach for doctrin the traditions of Antichrist that are not written in the Book of God Whether do not some preferre the mad imaginations of Cornelius Agrippa and others before the Scriptures for the defending their opinions So much for my Dilemma now for the Text. A Candle in the Dark SHEVVING The Divine Cause of the distractions of the whole Nation of ENGLAND and of the Christian World Deuteronomy 18.10 11. LEt the Reader take notice that in all the Scriptures there is not any kind of Witch spoken of but such as are mentioned in these two verses which that every one may understand I will expound punctually not according to our English obscure translations but according to the true meaning and signification of the originall text as it was written by Moses in the Hebrew tongue and as it is truely translated for the better and easier satisfaction of many that have not knowledge in the Hebrew tongue by Junius and Tremellius in their Latin Bible whether also I referre the Reader for all places of Scripture alledged in this Book and here I do in Gods name and in Zeal for his truth desire and intreat him that thinketh himself the learnedst Clerk to shew mee in all the Scriptures such a word as Striges or lamiae or any word of that signification importing such doctrins as have a long time defiled the Nations Deut. 18.10 11. Let there not be found among you any that maketh his sonne or his daughter to passe thorow the fire a user of divinations a planetarian or a Conjecturer or a Jugler Also a user of charmes or one that seeketh an Oracle or a South-sayer or one that asketh counsell of the dead The Latin translation is this Ne invenitor in te qui traducat filium suum aut filiam suam per ignem utens divinationibus planetarius aut conjector aut praestigiator Item utens incantatione aut requirens pythonem aut ariolus aut necromantis The Hebrew Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And here is the Hebrew Text written in the Roman character with the construction of every word Lo jimatzae ne invenitor beca in te magnabir qui traducat beno filium suum uubitto aut filiam suam baese per ignem kosem kesamim divinans divinationes megnonen planetarius uumenachese aut conjector umechascscph aut praestigiator vechobhir chabber incantans incantatione vessoel ob requirens pythonem vejiddegnoni aut ariolus vedhorese el hamethim aut consulens mortuos so much for the Text. Exodus 22.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mechascscepha lo thechajek praestigiatricem non sines vivere There is also another word Hartumim in Exodus 4.17 Gen. 41 8. and in other places which is taken in the generall sense for Magnus a Magician that hath one or all these crafts or impostures yet by many it is restrained to the particular and often translated Ariolus being the most allowed signification for Arioli were called Magi being counted wise men and therefore the word is used for all sorts of Magicians these and all other words in the Scriptures concerning Witches are consonant to the words in the Text. The Text opened THe Text is verbatim according to the Originall as it was written by Moses in the Hebrew tongue which I will expound orderly and here is to be noted that in these two verses are nine sorts of Witches nominated by God unto Moses and the people to this end and purpose that whereas God hath chosen the people of Israel to be a peculiar church and people to himself he would be their only Counsellor to keep them in the way of wisdome and holinesse and therefore commandeth them in no wise to aske counsell of any but the true prophets and messengers of God as appeareth in the 14. and 15. verses of this chapter and because there were so many sorts of people in the world that did commonly abuse and usurp the office of Gods Prophets God describeth them in the 10. and 11. verses of this chapter by nine severall nominations or descriptions commanding them to shun and avoyd them as false Prophets and deceivers of the people for it was the manner of the heathen to seek unto such for counsell the Lord having cast out those heathen people for such abominable ways giveth his own people warning of all such ways to avoid them not to hearken to them namely to those nine sorts of witches or deceivers or false prophets or seducers of the people from God and his prophets to lying Idolatrous waies giveth them warning in the three last verses of the same chapter of all false Prophets whatsoever that should presumptuously take upon them to speak any thing in Gods name which God had not commanded or to speak in the name
certain words to make it seem to silly spectators that the waters brought forth those Frogs The first Miracle indeed seemeth more difficult to dissemble and yet not so difficult if you saw it acted for what is easier than for a cunning Jugler to hold up a staffe as if he would throw it down and then to speak a lofty inchantation to busie the intention of the Spectators and then with slight of hand to throw down an artificial Serpent instead of his staffe and convey away his staffe that so they might think his staffe was turned into a Serpent for these Histories are set down according to the apprehension of the deceived beholders and not that the Magicians did them really for then we must beleeve that they wrought real Miracles as the Prophets did which were an ignorant and absurd tenent whereas the Scriptures do manifest that they were only mad fooleries and were discovered and came to light 2 Tim. 3.9 yet many are so stupid that rather then they will not have them really done they say they were really done by the power of the Devil and so ascribe power to the Devil for working Miracles whereas we never read in the Scriptures that the Devil may have any supernatural power ascribed to him but is only the Father of Lyes The same kinde of Jugling Tricks were the Impostures of Simon Magus in Acts 8.9 which although the people did for a time behold with admiration yet when they saw real Miracles wrought by Philip vers 6.12 they beleeved him and not the Impostor any longer for they did easily see a difference between real Miracles and cheating Impostures Some again will have it that these Acts of Pharaohs Juglers and others in the Scriptures might be real as they seemed to be and yet brought to pass by the profoundness of the Art of Magick which Art is of greater force say they than Jugling or else why were they called in the same verse Exod. 7.11 Juglers Wise men and Magicians all at once but let not any be so weak in understanding as to think That any Art in the World could do that really that required a miraculous hand of power to do for this is the essential or formal reason of a Miracle to be done by a power Supream and beyond the power of Man or Devil or the vertue of any Art and for this word Magicians in its own proper sence it is taken for Wise and Learned men in Astrologie and other Arts wherein Schollers are instituted and so there is no difference between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek neither was it taken in any other sence among the ancient and such were they that came to Christ and offered gifts Matth. 2.1.11 called Magi in this sence also it is said That Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Aegyptians Acts 7.22 and here in Exod. 7.11 these Juglers are called Magi Wise men and Learned because they pretend so and were so thought by the people whereas they were indeed but cheating Impostors but because they and many other cousening Mates mentioned in the Scriptures have by usurpation obtained that appellation from the people Magicians or Wise men therefore it is used and taken by some Writers for such as use all cousening Diabolical Impostures yet Moses here in this place of Exod. 7.11 gave them not that manner of name or appellation only Magicians but withall describeth them by their peculier appellation that is Juglers and so in all the Old Testament where Magician is taken in the worst sence it is not set alone but conjoyned with some other terms of an Impostor for a more full description so that a Magician in the worst sence in the Scripture phrase is only an Impostor or Deceiver in the best sence a learned Wise man therefore no real Miracle but only delusions can bee wrought by Magick I said a little before That this craft of Jugling consisteth of three things the First is Slight of Hand or cleanly conveyance the Second is Confederacy that is when many or few agents do agree together in bringing to pass cheating impostures contrary to the truth An example of this wee have in the History of Bell the Idol in the Book of Daniel which though it be called Apocripha and doubtful whether it be a true History yet this example whether it bee true or not it doth plainly demonstrate the Witchcraft of Idol Priests by confederacy which is one main arm of the craft of Jugling Wisd 14.14.20 it appeareth plain how they confederated together in extolling the Idol to uphold it for their own delicious maintenance and to seduce the King and people to Idolatry by making them beleeve that Bell did eate up all the daily provision that was set before him whereas they themselves with their Wives and Children came in at secret doors in the night and did eate up and carry away all that was provided at the Kings charge until Daniel discovered that their jugling imposture and although there be not so plain a demonstration of the Jugling Impostures of every Idol spoken of in the Scriptures yet no Idol but had the like delusions for they built their Idol Houses on purpose with several slights and secret conveyances to bring their Jugling Tricks to pass and had daily new inventions of new Impostures whereby they deceived the World and seduced them to Idolatry therefore Elijah 1 King 18.19 would not trust the Priests of Baal to remain in their own Idol House when he would discover them to the people but caused them all to come forth to Mount Carmel and then he said as in vers 24. The God that answereth by fire let him be God Why did he cause the King to command them all to Mount Carmel The reason was because if they might have acted their part in their Idol House being built with secret conveyances for all deceit they might have secretly fired the Oblation and so might have deluded the people still making them beleeve their Idol had answered them by fire but being in Mount Carmel remote from their Idol House they could only act the part of Mad-men cutting themselves that the people might have somewhat to gaze at but could bring nothing to pass to save their credit or their lives the deluding impostures of the Priests of Baal are called Praestigiae Isabelae 2 King 9.22 the Juglings or Witchcraft of Jezabel because she being an Idolatrous Woman maintained those Priests of Baal in their Witchcraft or delusions to seduce the people to Idolatry The third Branch whereupon this craft of Jugling consisteth is the abuse of Natural Magick that is the abuse of their knowledge in Natural causes as for instance in some few take Woolfs dung and carry it in your pocket that it may take the heat of your body and it will make any mad Bull or other Cattel of that kinde to fly from you and to run very farre away from their
heard in a secret Wainscot over the Arches of the Church a great rumbling noyse the Moncks with the said Doctors presently began to Conjure and to ask if it were not some spirit of some body lately dead and if it wer they conjured the same Spirit to rumble again by way of answer which it did then they charged him by their Conjurations to answer by rumbling and knocking whose spirit it was they named many that had formerly been dead and buried and the Spirit would not answer by rumbling and knocking when they named them but at last to bring their purpose to pass they named the Maiors Wife and then the Spirit rumbled exceedingly and made a fearful noyse this they acted several times that it might be known in the City so that many people came to the hearing and witnessing of tnis strange Wonder but at the last they by their Conjurations had made the Spirit so tame as it made them answer by knocking to any thing they desired it should answer always when it answered not by knocking then they concluded the thing was not so as they asked or demanded but otherways when it knocked then that was an affirmative to the thing asked at last they made the Spirit confess by that manner of answering That it was the departed Soul of the Maiors Wife and that she was damned for holding the Heresie of Luther and that she desired that her Body might be taken up again and buried in some other place for that place was not fit for the body of the Damned being a Consecrated place But the Maior being wise and full of courage so handled the matter that he with the help of some of the City that loved him well caused the place to bee searched where the noyse was the Moncks did take the matter grievously and would have resisted it being at a time of the holy Conjuring but yet the Maior causing a search found there a young Boy placed there by these Popish Doctors on purpose to act the part of a Spirit as formerly related and upon examination he confessed the whole imposture to the shame and confusion of the Actors and Contrivers thereof who were by the Laws which were then and there free notwithstanding the Popish Tyranny censured to be carried to the place of Execution there to confess their deluding Witchcraft Let the Reader take special notice that the Actors and Contrivers of this notable peece of Witchcraft were Witches in a three-fold sense First In their bringing to pass their cheating imposture by confederating with a young Boy to act the part of a Spirit they were Juglers according to the first term of description Secondly In their Charms and Conjurations whereby they charged the Spirit to answer them they were Inchanters and Conjurers according to this Sixth term of description Thirdly In their consulting with the spirit of the dead the Maiors Wife they were Necromancers according to the Ninth term of description This Imposture may be paralleled with that of the Witch of Endor from this cousening Witchcraft of the Popish crue our common Wizards have learned their craft of cousening the people making them beleeve they can Conjure up the Devil to give them Oracles according to the matter that they seek to the Wizard to be resolved of and can conjure him down again at their pleasure As for example I will give you a true story but whether you beleeve it or not it will serve to illustrate the manner of their deceivings A Butcher in Essex having lost Cattel hee resolved hee would go to a Cunning man to know what was become of his Cattel and so went to a notable cousening Knave that was as common people say skilful in the Black Art and this deceiving Witch seeing his opportunity of gaining a Fee for the purpose in hand used his Conjurations in a room contrived for his usual impostures and presently came in a Confederate of his covered over with a Bulls Hide and a pair of horns on his head the poor Butcher sitting and looking in a Glass made for that purpose in which hee was to behold the Object more terrible and not so easily discovered as if he had looked right upon it for he was charged by the Conjurer not to look behind him for if he did the Devil would be outragious this confederate or counterfeit Devil after the Conjurers many exorcising Charms or Conjurations willed the Butcher to look East and West North and South to finde his Cattel the Butcher sought much to finde his Cattel according to the Devils counsel but yet perceiving after much seeking and not finding that it was a meer peece of Knavery returned to the Conjurer again and desired him to call up the Devil once again which he did as formerly but the Butcher had appointed his Boy to stand near hand Without the house with a Mastiff Dogge and at the Butchers whistle the Boy as he was appointed let go the Dogge which came in presently to his Master and seised upon the Knave in the Bulls hide the Conjurer cried out as likewise the Devil For the love of God take off your Dogge Nay said the Butcher fight Dogge fight Devil if you will venture your Devil I will venture my Dogge but yet after much intreaty he called off his Dogge but wittily discovered the cheating craft of Conjuring He that acteth the part as this Conjurer did with the same intent to deceive and to make silly people beleeve and repose confidence in words that is in Charms and Conjurations to command the Devil and to keep him in awe is a seducing Witch as he was but he that acteth the same part and causeth people to wonder at him and to think that hee hath really conjured the Devil to this intent only to shew to the world in a sporting way how easily people are and have been deceived is no Witch but may be an instructer and inlightner of silly people according to the Fifth description of Jugling delusions in Pag. 42. And truly if people were not so much naturally given to vain credulity or beleeving of Lyes that sort of Conjurers so commonly prated of by silly people had not been heard of in the world had not these deluders learned this cousening craft from the Popish rout whereby they delude silly people making them beleeve they do things really by vertue of words as by the naming of the Trinity and the several names of God and of Christ and by naming of Angels Arch-Angels and the Apostles just the same with Popish Conjurations whereas their doings as likewise the Popes are all but cheating impostures for if Conjuring Charms could keep the Devil in awe why did hee not submit to the Conjurers Acts 19.13 Another notable true Relation of what happened in a Town in England wherein is plainly shewed how easily men are deceived by Jugling Confederacy in Conjuration IT happened that a Minister being remote from his dwelling lodged in an Inne and because he wanted
company fit for him he sent for a young Cambridge Schollar to keep him company who being of his acquaintance and dwelling in the Town came to him and after some discourse they fell into a dispute about Witches and their Power the Minister affirming That Witches do truly conjure up the Devil in several shapes as they list for said he I know some that stood privately behind a Hedge when a Conjurer raised up the Devil in the shape of a Cock and then again in the shape of a Horse and heard the Cock crow and the Horse neigh but being very dark they could not see him but the Scholar holding the contrary opinion said I will undertake to demonstrate the same thing to you in this Chamber so as you shall verily think that I Conjure up the Devil in such shapes Come on said the Minister if you can do that then also will I acknowledge these things to be but delusions Now mark how strangely it happened There was a Tapsters Boy in the Inne at that time who had by wanton custom gotten a faculty of imitating the crowing of a Cock the neighing of a Horse the barking of a Dogge the quacking of Ducks and the noyse of many several Beasts in a very wonderful manner the Scholar therefore for the lively acting of the foresaid Delusion went down and instructed this Boy to bring up a Jugge of Beer and to set it down by the fire and then to convey himself under the Bed and withall to act the part of all several Creatures as the Scholar should call for them by Conjuration now when this Boy had so conveyed himself under the Bed the Scholar did put out the Candle and left no light in the Chamber but the obscure light of a dim fire the reliques of an Ostree Faggot and said to the Minister Now will I make you beleeve that I Conjure up the Devil Come Pluto I have a Letter to be sent with all speed to the Pope therefore I conjure and command thee to come speedily to me from the lowest pit in the shape of a swift running Horse that may carry this Letter with speed and bring me an answer then began the Boy to snort and neigh and stamp very much resembling a wilde marwood Horse in so lively a resemblance as it made the Minister begin to look sad and amazed then said the Scholar Now I have well considered the matter thou art not a Creature swift enough for this business therefore I conjure thee down again and I command Pluto to come to me in the shape of a Grey-hound Praesto vade jubeo celeriter then the Boy under the Bed barked and howled so like a Dogge as the Minister did more and more creep close to the corner of the Chimney sighing very sadly Then said the Scholar I consider that thou art not swift enough for my purpose therefore I command thee to return to thy place and send me up a Cock then the Boy crowed so like a Cock as no ear should distinguish it from a natural Cock then said the Scholar Thou art not a Creature swift enough for my purpose therefore I command Pluto to send me up a Duck at that command the Boy did so lively act the quacking of Ducks as a man would have thought that many Ducks had been in the room Then began the Minister seriously to exhort and admonish the Scholar saying Verily thou art farre gone certainly thou art farre gone in this craft and many more words at which so sad discourse the Boy under the Bed burst out in laughter and came forth and acted his part again openly and made the Minister ashamed Yet here it may be noted that the Ministers phantasie was so farre deluded that he would not be perswaded but that he saw real Ducks squirming about the room as he expressed I say then how little credit ought Ministers or other men to give to flying Reports when they themselves may so easily be deluded The setting of Spels is referred to this description and is done only by confederacy with him that is spelled who feigneth himself so Charmed or spelled that others who would be in like action of Theevery might fear to come into that place to steal because of the Spel. So much for the Sixth term of description in the text Vtens incantatione that is an Inchanter or Charmer THe Seventh term of description of a Witch in the text is Requirens Pythonem that is Pythonicus Sacerdos according to the sense of Plutarch De defâ—ct Orac. one that seeketh out an Oracle as did the Priests of the Idol Apollo which was called the Oracle of Apollo the same practice was common to the Priests of all Idols that were in request before the Idol Apollo although indeed Apollo being the most famous of the latest Idols hath more Histories and reports still extant concerning their practice than all former Idols have as Plutarch witnesseth that in Boeotia there had been many Oracles some whereof grew silent when their Priests dyed and some grew out of request for want of subtilty in giving answers and because the impostures grew so common that people knew them and would not be deluded by them any more We read there of the Lebadian Oracle and the Amphiaran Oracle and also of an Oracle of Mopsi and at Amphilochi and many more these had their several terms of appellation according to the Language of the people adjacent as the Lebadian Oracle was given in the Aeolic Tongue and had its peculiar appellation in that Language and so the Oracle at Delphos was called by such appellations as came from the Greek and also from the Roman Language as Pytho and Python and Oraculum and Oracles used by the ancient Heathen were by the Hebrews in their Language called Ob which Oracles were only giving Divinations to the peoples inquiries as when Ahasin sent to inquire of the god of Eckron 2 King 1.2 save only this word Ob in the text which is translated Python implieth the imposture whereupon these deceivers upheld their Divinations as followeth by and by This is not to be understood that they that did seek to such Witches as gave Oracles that they also were Witches for these were only bewitched Idolaters but they only were Witches in this term of description that being sought unto by these deluded Idolaters used such deluding impostures whereby they made the people beleeve they sought out an Oracle that is an answer to the inquiry of those Idolaters either directly from their Idols or else that they sought out an Oracle from the spirits of the dead as did the Pythonist of Endor in which sense also they were called Necromantists that is such as asked counsel of the dead being the Ninth term of description 1 Chron. 10.13 Saulus consulere Pythonem quae susser Saul had sought to ask counsel of the Oracle there Saul was an Idolater and not a Witch but she that sought out that Oracle for him from the