Anno quinto reginæ Elizabethe. At the parliament holden at Wesmynster the .xii. of Ianuary, in the fyfth yere of the raigne of our soueraigne lady, Elizabeth by the grace of god, of England, Fraunce, and Irelande, quene, defendour of the the fayth. [et]c. To the hygh pleasure of almyghtye God, and the weale publique of this realme, were enacted as foloweth

¶An Acte against Coniurations, Enchaunt∣mentes, and Witchcraftes. The .xvi. Chapter. (Book 16)

WHere at this present, there is no ordinarye ne con∣digne punishment prouided against the practisers of the wicked offences of coniurations & inuocations of euill Spirites, & of Sorceries, Enchauntementes, charmes and witchcraftes, the whiche offences, by force of a Statute made in the .xxxiii. yere of the reigne of the late Kyng Henry the .viii. were made to be felony, & so continued vntill the saide Statute was repealed by the acte and statute of

repeale made in the first yere of the reigne of the late Kynge Edwarde the sixte: Sithens the repeale whereof, many fantasticall and diue∣lishe persons haue deuised and practised Inuocations and Coniura∣tions of euill and wicked Spirites, and haue vsed & practised witch∣craftes, enchauntmentes, charmes, and Sorceries, to the destruction of the persons and goods of their niegbours, and other subiectes of this Realme, & for other lewde intents and purposes contrarie to the lawes of almightie God, to the perill of their owne soules, and to the greate infamie and disquietnes of this Realme.

For reformation whereof, be it enacted by the Quenes Maiestie, with the assent of the Lordes spirituall and temporall, and the Com∣mons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the aucthoritie of the same, that if any person or persons, after the first day of Iune nexte comming, vse, practise, exercise any Inuocations or Coniura∣tions of euill and wicked Spirites, to or for any intent or purpose, or els if any person or persons, after the saide first day of Iune, shall vse, practise, or exercise any witchcrafte, enchauntement, charme, or Sorcerie, whereby any person shall happen to be kylled or destroyed: that then aswell euery suche offendour or offendours in Inuoca∣tions or coniurations, as is aforesaid, their aydours and counsellours, as also euerie such offendour or offendours, in witchcrafte, enchaun∣mente, charme, or Sorcerie, whereby the death of any person dothe ensue, their aidours and counsailours beinge of eyther of the said of∣fenses lawfully conuicted and attainted, shall suffer paynes of death, as a felon or felons, and shall lose the priuilege and benefite of Clergie and sanctuarie. Sauinge to the wyfe of suche person, her tytle of dower, and also to the heyre and successour of suche person, his, or their tytles of inheritaunce, succession, and other rightes, as though no suche attaindour of the auncestour or predecessour, had ben had or made.

And further, be it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesiade, that if any person or persons, after the saide first daye of Iune nexte commyng, shall vse, practise, or exercise any witchcrafte, enchauntement, charme, or sorcerie, whereby any person shal happen to be wasted, consumed, or lamed in his or her bodie, or membre, or whereby any goodes or Ca∣tels of any person shalbe destroyed, wasted, or empayred: then euerye suche offendour or offendours, their counsailours and aydours, being thereof lawfullye conuicted, shall for his or their firste offence or of∣fences suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole yere, withoute bayle or mainprise, and once in euery quarter of the said yere, shall in some market towne, vppon the market daye, or at suche tyme as any Fayre shalbe kepte, there stande openly vpon the Pyllorie, by the space of .vi. houres, and there shall openly confesse his or her errour and

offence, and for the seconde offence; beinge as is aforesaide, lawe∣fullye conuicted or attained, shall suffer death, as a felon, and shall lose the priuilege of Clergie and Sanctuary. Sauinge to the wyfe of suche person, her tytle of dower, and also to the heyre and succes∣sour of suche person, his or their tytles of inheritaunce, succession, and other rightes, as thoughe no suche attaindour of the auncestour or predecessour had ben had or made.

Prouided alwayes, that yf the offendour in any of the cases afore∣saide, for whiche the paynes or death shall ensue, shall happen to be a peere of the Realme, then his tryall therin to be had by his peeres, as it is vsed in cases of fellonye or treason, and not otherwise.

And further, to the intent that all maner of practise, vse, or exercise of Whitchcrafte, Enchauntemente, Charme, or Sorcerie, shoulde be from henceforth vtterlye auoyded, abolished, and taken awaye: Be it enacted by the aucthoritie of his present Parlyament, that yf any person or persons shall from and after the sayde first daye of Iune nexte commynge, take vpon hym or them, by wytchcrafte, En∣chauntement, charme or Sorcerye, to tell or declare in what place any treasure of golde or siluer shoulde or might be founde, or had in the earth, or other secret places, or where goodes or thinges loste, or stollen, shoulde be founde or become, or shall vse or practise any Sorcerie, Enchauntemente, Charme or Witchcrafte, to the intent to prouoke any person to vnlawful loue, or to hurt or destroye any person in his or her bodye, member, or goodes: That then euery suche person or persons so offendynge and beinge thereof lawfullye conuicted, shall for the sayde offence suffer imprisonment by the space of one whole yere without bayle or mainprise, and once in euery quarter of the sayde yere, shall in some market towne, vppon the market daye, or at suche tyme as any Fayre shalbe kepte there, stande open∣lye vpon the Pyllorie, by the space of sixe houres, and there shall openly confesse his or her errour and offence. And if any person or persons, beinge once conuicted of the same offences, as is aforesaid, do eftsones parpetrate and committe the lyke offence: That then euery suche offendour, being thereof the seconde tyme conuicted, as is aforesaide, shall forfaite vnto the Quenes Maiestie, her heyres and successours, all his goodes and cattelles, and suffer imprisonment durynge lyfe.