The mystery of witch-craft Discouering, the truth, nature, occasions, growth and power thereof. Together with the detection and punishment of the same. As also, the seuerall stratagems of Sathan, ensnaring the poore soule by this desperate practize of annoying the bodie: with the seuerall vses therof to the Church of Christ. Very necessary for the redeeming of these atheisticall and secure times. By Thomas Cooper.

CHAP. II.

Of the detection of Witches, and meanes thereto.

OF the detection and punishment of Witches: That they are to bee punished with death, especially the Blesser and good Witch, as they terme her.

SECT. I.

Of vnlawfull meanes of detection.

HAuing discouered the power of W••tches, and so followed them to the vtmost of their glorie and ad∣uancement: Seeing now Pride goeth before destruction, and the glorie of the wicked is their shame: Let vs now consider of their Fall and confusion, and of such meanes as further the same.

Wherein we may behold the ad∣m••rable * 1.1 wisedome and power of God, who as hee leaues them to their owne lusts, to embrace Satan, and sub∣mit

vnto him, for the obtaining of their desires; so hath hee so disposed in his wonderfull Iustice, that the God whom they worship, when he hath them sure his owne, seeing he is greedy of his Prey, and would glad∣ly haue other imployment to doe more mischiefe, therefore he cares not how soone the bargaine be per∣formed, and rather then faile, though all other meanes of detection should cease, himselfe will bee the instrument to bring his Beare to the Stake: And this he doth,

By Being an instrument for the de∣tection * 1.2 of the Witch, and yet in such dangerous policie, as that heerein al∣so he hunts after vnstable soules, while he seekes to giue them content * 1.3 in the discouerie of the Witch which hath done them so much mischiefe.

To this is it, that he hath not one∣ly * 1.4 The Blesser readie to discouer and de∣tect the Bad Witch, that so he might thereby encrease the poore peoples rage against the Witch, whereas indeed they should be angry at their sins.

But whereas in their affliction they should seeke vnto the Lord that smites * 1.5 them, by this discouery of the Bad Witch, he encreaseth the reputation of the Blesser, and so prouoketh the people more eagerly to runne after her.

And now the Good Witch vttereth easily all her deceitfull wares, to the deluding of the parties that are thus inquisitiue, and many times to the con∣demning of innocent bloud.

And to this purpose, because peo∣ple will bee loath to credit her word, concerning the supposed harmer and Bad Witch, therefore she hath vsually either some glasse wherein to shew the partie offending: or else hath certaine deceitfull and Satanicall expe∣riments, to confirme her former de∣tection of the Witch; As namely, by casting her into the water, sticking of needles, or bodkins, vnder the stoole where she sits, burning of the thing be∣witched, &c. By which, either she con∣firmes the superstitious people in a wrong conceit, it being easie for Sa∣tan

to further these signes heereto; or if they conceiue aright, yet by vsing these indirect meanes for discoue∣rie, they shall yet deeplier engage their soules vnto the power and ma∣lice of Satan.

And therefore though the Bad Witch may bee detected by these meanes: yet neither is the wise Chri∣stian to vse these meanes for the dis∣couery of this Monster; neither is the Magistrate to admit of this detection, as a sufficient euidence for the certaine discerning and iudging of the Witch.

It will then be demanded, What detections and presumptions lawful wee may haue to discouer a Witch?

To which wee answere, That as the Lord hath ordained the Punishment of these offenders, so no doubt hee hath also disposed the meanes whereby they may be detected, that so they may be iustly punished.

SECTIO. II.

Of lawfull meanes of detection, And 1 of Presumptions.

THe meanes of these Detections are Principally Two. * 1.6

Examination, and Conuiction.

Touching Examination; This is, when the Magistrate makes enquiry concerning this crime, and that not vpon euery corrupt passion, o•• sleight occasion, but vpon weightie Presumptions, probably con••ecturing of the Witch.

These are:

1 Notorious defamation of this crime, by the most of neighbours which are of the best report.

2 The Accusation of a fellow Witch, either at examination, or at the day of death is not to bee neglected, be∣cause now Authoritie hauing seized on hi••, though she may lie before she be discouered, yet now hauing ••••n∣fessed herselfe, she is an Instrument of the Lords Iustice, to satisfie Authoritie, * 1.7 and cleare the innocent, by speaking

truth, &c. (though otherwise shee would not) to accuse the delinquent.

3 A third presumption is from the effect of cursing: For when a bad ton∣gued woman shall curse a partie, and death shortly follow, this is a shrewd token that shee is a Witch, because Witches are accustomed to execute their mischeuous practises by cursing and banning, & this may be sufficient for examinatiō, thogh not of cōuiction.

4 If after Enmity, quarreling, or threatning, a present mischief do follow.

5 If the partie suspected be anie kin, or of special acquaintance with a cō∣nicted Witch, because it is the manner of them to conuey their Trades and Spirits one to another, and especially to those that are nearest about, and most familiar with them.

6 It is obserued, that the Witch re∣ceiues som mark from Satan to owne her by, in some priuy place, which is vsually raw, whence the spirit draws bloud, &c. and this, if there be no o∣ther reason in Nature, is a shrewd presumption, to examine at least.

7 And so if in examination wee find the partie contrarie and in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tales: not onely Fearefull, for this may be in a good case; but Doubtfull and Different, this may bee a Pres•…•…ption to argue a guiltie conscience:

Thus of Presumptions.

2 Of Examination.

Now concerning Examination, this may either be made by Question fro•• the Magistrate, by certaine wise and crosse Interrogations to this end:

Or else by Torture, when together with words, some violent meanes are vsed, by paine, to extort confessi∣on, which may haue necessarie place when the partie is obstinate.

3 Of Conuiction.

Hauing vsed the best meanes by Examination, the next is Conuiction, whereby after iust examination, the Witch is discouered; To this must concurre, not bare presumptions, but sufficient Proofes: Not such as heere∣tofore haue beene reckoned, or like to those; As scratching the suspected

party, &c. The confession of a partie dy∣ing, that such a one hath bewitched him. But for manifest conviction, these Proofes are to be esteemed sufficient.

1 The Free confession of the crime * 1.8 by the party suspected, after due exami∣nation, being found in diuers tales.

I but say the Partie will not confesse, Here then the testimonie of two suffici∣ent witnesses is currant, prouing one of these two things: either,

That the party accused hath made a league with Satan; or hath done some knowne practise of Witch-craft, producing likely arguments for the confirmation thereof: As

• 1 That the Witch hath called vpon the deuill for helpe.
• 2 That she entertaines a familiar spirit, and had conference with it in any Forme, or likenesse.
• 3 That she hath shewed ones face in a glasse being absent.
• 4 That they haue fore-told things to come.
• 5 Holpen to things lost, whereof they haue had no ordinary meanes

• of knowledge.
• 6 That they haue healed by Pray∣ers, Spells, Amulets.

And so, howsoeuer the Leag•••• with Satan be secret, and therefore not able to be discouered, yet is both Sa∣tan willing to haue it knowne by ef∣fects, for the increase of his kingdom, * 1.9 & hastning the cōfusion of his slaues, and so by such like effects hee doth discouer them: 1 To haue speedier possession of them, lest afterward by remorce they might bee brought to repentance, 2 as hating so detestably euen all mankinde, that he cannot en∣dure they should inioy the world, or the benefits thereof, no not an houre: 3 but especially, the Policie of Sa∣tan * 1.10 in this discouerie is, 1 to satisfie the rage of the people, who now hauing found the Witch, instead of being a∣uenged of their sinnes, doe intend nothing more then the satisfying of their malice in destruction of the Witch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and so therein to procure cre∣dite and estimation to the good Witch, to make more worke for her, by whose

meanes, this enemy to mankind, this badde Witch hath beene discouered.

And yet we may obserue the ouer∣ruling * 1.11 hand of God herein, that though Satan do hasten the speedie discoue∣rie of the Witch: yet the Lord in his holy wisedome, oft-times disposeth, that such shall liue long, yea die vn∣detected: Eyther because some of them, may belong to the Election, and therefore may repent of this great sinne by holy meanes, and so bee freed both from temporall and eter∣nall punishment.

Or some remaine longer vndis∣closed, to execute greater mischiefe in the world: as they are more cruelly bent thereto.

Or else, there may be some Co••e∣nant with Sathan by the Witch for some terme of yeares, which hee is conten∣ted to binde himselfe to, to haue her more sure, and secure thereby.

And thus of the proofes to disco∣uer the Witch, without which shee may not safely be condemned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gods wise∣dom here∣in.
• * 1.2

  Satan the Authour of disco∣uerie.
• * 1.3

  Note.
• * 1.4

  By vsing the Blesser to disco∣uerie.
• * 1.5

  Os. 6. 1.
• * 1.6

  Of lawfull meanes of detection: and first of presump∣tion.
• * 1.7

  Note.
• * 1.8

  Proofes hereunto.
• * 1.9

  Note.
• * 1.10

  Note Sa∣tans poli∣cie herein
• * 1.11

  Gods o∣uer-ruling hand here in.