and John Cockars, invented and devised for the augmentation and maintenance of their living, for the edifying of the poor, and for the propagating and inlarg∣ing of Gods glory, as in the beginning of their Book of Conjurations they pro∣test; which in this place, for the further manifestation of their impiety, and of the Witchmongers folly and credulity, I thought good to insert, whereby the residue of their proceeding may be judged or rather detected. For if we seriously behold the matter of Conjuration, and the drift of Conjurors, we shall find them, in mine opinion, more faulty then such as take upon them to be Witches, as ma∣nifest offenders against the Majesty of God, and his holy Law, as apparent viola∣tors of the laws and quietness of this Realm: although indeed they bring no such thing to pass, as is surmised and urged by credulous persons, coseners, lyars, and Witchmongers. For these are alwayes learned, and rather abusers of others, than they themselves by others abused.
But let us see what appearance of truth or possibility is wrapped within these mysteries, and let us unfold the deceit. They have made choice of certain words, whereby they say they can work miracles, &c. And first of all, that they call Divels and souls out of Hell, (though we find in the Scripture manifest proofs, that all passages are stopped concerning the egress out of Hell) so as they may go thither, but they shall never get out, for Ab inferno nulla est redemptio, out of hell there is no redemption. Well, when they have gotten them up, they shut them in a circle made with Chalk, which is so strongly beset and invironed with crosses and names, that they cannot for their lives get out; which is a very pro∣bable matter. Then can they bind them and loose them at their pleasures, and make them that have been lyers from the beginning, to tell the truth, yea they can compel them to do any thing. And the Devils are forced to be obedient un∣to them, and yet cannot be brought to due obedience unto God their Creator. This done, (I say) they can work all manner of miracles (saving blew miracles) and this is to believed of many to be ttue;
Tam credula mens hominis, & arrectae fabulis aures.
Englished by
Abraham Fleming:
So light of belief is the mind of man,
And attentive to tales his ears now and than.
But if Christ (only for a time) left the power of working miracles among his Apostles and Disciples for the confirmation of his Gospel, and the faith of his elect: yet I deny altogether that he left that power with these Knaves, which hide their cosening purposes under those lewd and foolish words, according to that which Peter saith; With faigned words they make merchandize of you. And therefore the counsel is good that Paul giveth us, when he biddeth us, Take heed that no man deceive us with vain words; For it is the Lord only that worketh great wonders, and bringeth mighty things to pass. It is also written, that Gods Word, and not the words of Conjurors, or the Charms of Witches, healeth all things, maketh tempests, and stilleth them.
But put case the Devil could be fetched up and fettered, and loosed again at their pleasure, &c. I marvel yet, that any can be so bewitched as to be made to believe, that by vertue of their words, any earthly creature can be made invi∣sible. We think it a lye to say that white is black; and black white; but it is a more shameless assertion to affirm, that white is not, or black is not at all; and yet more impudency to hold that a Man is a Horse; but most apparent impudency to say, that a Man is no Man, or to be extenuated into such a quantity, as thereby he may be invisible, and yet remain in life and health, and that in the clear light of the day, even in the presence of them that are not blind. But surely he that cannot make one hair white or black, whereof (on the other side) not one falleth from the head without Gods