The second sort of insinuating Emissaries.
THese Visitors were succeeded with a second sort of publick Agents,* 1.1 but working in a more private way, encouraging the members in Monasteries to impeach one another: for seeing there was seldome such general agree∣ment in any great Convent, but that factions were found, and parties did appear therein, these Emissaries made an advantageous use thereof. No Abbey could have been so soon destroyed, but by cunning setting it against it self, and secret fomenting of their own divisions. Whereupon, many being accused, did recrimi∣nate their Accusers, and hopelesse to recover their own innocency, pleased them∣selves by plunging others in the like guiltinesse. Others being conscious to them∣selves, prevented accusing, by confessing their faults, and those very foul ones. Insomuch that some have so much charity as to conceive, that they made them∣selves worse than they were, though it was a needlesse work for a Black-Moore to besoot his own face.
2. Yea,* 1.2 some hold that as Witches long-tortured with watching and fasting, and pinched when but ready to nod, are contented causlessly to accuse themselves to be eased of the present pain; so some of these poor souls frighted with mena∣ces, and fearing what might be the successe, acknowledged all, and more than all against themselves, the truth whereof none on earth can decide.