CHAP. VI.
Lawes provided for the punishment of such witches as work miracles, whereof some are mentioned, and of certain popish lawes published against them.
THere are other lawes of other nations made to this incredible effects Lex Salicarum provideth punishment for them that flie in the aire from place to place,* 1.1 and meet at their nightly assemblies, and brave bankets carrying wi••h them plate, and such stuffe▪ &c. even as we should make a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to hang him that should take a church in his hand at Dover, & throw it to Callice. And because in this case als•• popish lawes shall be seen be to as foolish and lewd as any other whatsoever, & specially as tyrannous as that which is most cruel: you shall heare what trim new lawes the church of Rome hath lately devised. These are therefore the words of pope Inno∣cent the eight to the inquisitors of Almanie,* 1.2 and of pope Julius the second sent to the inquisitors of Bergomen. It is come to our eares, that many lewd persons, of both kinds, as well male as female, using the company of the devils Incubus and Succubus, wi••h incantations, charmes, conjuta∣tions, &c. do destroy, &c. the births of women with child, the young of all cattel, the corne of the field, the grapes of the vines, the fruit of the trees: Item, men, women, and all kind of cattel and beasts of the field: and with their said inchantments, &c. do utterly extinguish, suf∣focate, and spoile all vineyards, orchards, meadowes, pastures, grasse, greene corne, and ripe corne, and all other podware: yea men and wo∣men themselves are by their imprecations so afflicted with externall and inward paines and diseases, that men cannot beget, nor women bring forth any children, nor yet accomplish the duty of wedlock, denying the faith which they in baptisme prosessed, to the destruction of their own soules, &c. Our pleasu•••• therefore is, that all impediments that may hin∣der the inquisitors office be utterly removed from among the people, lest this blot of heresie proceed to poison, and defile them that be yet Inno∣cent, And therefore we do ordaine, by vertue of the apostolical autho∣rity, that our inquisitors of high Almanie, may execute the office of in∣quisition by all tortures and afflictions, in all places, and upon all per∣sons, what and wheresoever, as well in every place and diocesse, as upon any person; and that as freely, as though they were named, expressed, or cited in this our commission.