The triall of vvitch-craft shewing the true and right methode of the discouery: with a confutation of erroneous wayes. By Iohn Cotta, Doctor in Physicke.

The Printer to the Reader.

THE Author perceiuing his former Tra∣ctate or first edition thereof, either not diligently read, or not truly by many men vnderstood, he hath now by a se∣cond edition thereof offered more ease and light vnto such as are willing to search after truth, both by the addition of many things before omitted, as also by this plaine direction vnto all the most speciall points in the whole Treatise, as fol∣loweth,

The contents of the first Chapter.

• 1. How Knowledge doth come vnto man.
• 2. How mans Knowledge is confined and limited.

CHAP. II.

• 1. That many things are hidden from the Knowledge of all men indifferently by the decree of God and Nature.
• 2. That many things are reuealed vnto the industrious learned, which are hidden from the slothfull and vnlearned.

CHAP. III.

That witchcraft cannot bee discouered or knowne, but by the common waies and meanes of all other Knowledge and discouery.

CHAP. IIII.

• 1. The Knowledge and power of Spirits, how exceeding the Knowledge and power of man.
• 2. Good Spirits and euill Spirits how discerned.

CHAP. V.

That the diuell doth and can worke alone without the association of a Witch.

CHAP. VI.

• 1 The Diuell associating with a Witch.
• 2. A Witch apparently discouered by the Conduct of the out∣ward sense, and testimony thereof.
• 3. That the Diuell playeth the Iugler in many things, seeming to raise the dead, to transforme into Cats or Dogs or o∣ther Creatures, to present the same body in two distant places at the same time.
• 4. The difference betweene things meerely imagined or fancied, and things really offered vnto the outward sensetruly dis∣cerned.
• 5. That which is supernaturall or spirituall, may be discouered by the outward sense.
• 6. How the counterfeit miracles of the diuell may be discerned from the true miracles of God.

CHAP. VII.

• 1. An assured Witch by euidence of reason conuinced.
• 2. All Spirits that are enquired at, are Diuels.
• 3. Witches may be detected by professedly vndertaking, and vp∣on promise or couenant performing reuelations and disco∣ueries aboue the power and knowledge of man.
• 4. All men in whom the Diuell doth exercise supernaturall workes or miracles, or by whom he doth vtter supernatu∣rall reuelations, are not simply therefore by necessary con∣sequent of reason to be esteemed. Witches but with some few considerations which therewith conioyned and dewly weighed may infallibly prooue their guilt thus: He that vndertaketh reuelations or workes which are truly found supernaturall, and cannot either prooue them to be of God, nor to be imposture, nor to be imposed vpon him by the Di∣uell without his will, allowance, and liking thereof, that man by certaine Demonstration is a Witch or Sorcerer. What Witchcraft is, manifestly described.

CHAP. VIII.

• 1. The diuers kinds and manners wherein Witches receiue knowledge from spirits, as Astrologers, as Wizards, as Phisitions.
• ...

• That the Diuell can both inflict diseases, and cure where God permitteth.

CHAP. IX.

That since Imposters doe counterfeit Witches, and vnder colour of imposture, Witches may hide their discouery, it is fit that dili∣gently the Magistrate inquire into Imposters.

CHAP. X.

• 1. Whether the diseased are bewitched, when and how it is cer∣tainely to be knowne, when not, and when men ought to rest sa∣tisfied in desiring satisfaction therein.
• 2. The markes of Witches vulgarly reported, and by oath deposed to be found in their bodies, how to be tried and knowne from all naturall diseases, among which many are ve•• like vnto them.
• 3. The necessitie of consulting with the Physition not only therein, but in all diseases supposed to be inflicted by the Diuell.
• 4. How farre the vulgarly esteemed confession of a supposed Witch is of validitie to prooue her a Witch.

CHAP. XI.

That Witches may be produced vnto the barre of Iustice two waies, first for manifest workes of Sorcery witnessed by the sense: secondly, for reuelations aboue the possibility and power of man.

CHAP. XII.

• 1. Presumption and probabilities against suspected Witches.
• 2. That Witchcraft is a sinne or crime which ought to be detected by testimony and by manifestation thereof to sense or reason.

CHAP. XIII.

That men ought not to seeke the discouery of Witches by vnwarran∣ted meanes voide of reason, or superstitious.

CHAP. XIV.

Casting Witches into the water, scratching, beating, whether any al∣lowed triall of a Witch.

CHAP. XV.

• 1. That reuelations by the bewitched in their fits or traunces are no sufficient proofe against a Witch.
• 2. That the declaration by the bewitched of secret markes in the bodies of suspected Witches are not iustifiable to be admitted as any true or allowable conuictions.
• 3. That the healing of the bewitched by the compelled touch or

• action of the supposed Witch is no reasonable accusation against any man, as therefore a Witch.
• 4. That there is no more necessitie of a miraculous detection of Witchcraft, then of any other as hideous and abominable sinne.
• 5. That the miracles and detections of crying and hideous sinnes by visions and apparitions cannot certainly or assuredly be ma∣nifested to be of God, and therefore simply in themselues, though reuealing truth they are not to be trusted or credited alone, but so farre forth as they doe point vnto, or occasion iust and reaso∣nable inquisition.

The conclusion of the whole Treatise inferring the two sorts of ma∣nifest Witches generally thorow the whole worke intended and by Demonstration made euident, to be the same, against whom the Law of God was directed, as also that there is no other triall of those Witches, but the meanes and waies in this Trea∣tise before mentioned.