Select cases of conscience touching vvitches and vvitchcrafts. By Iohn Gaule, preacher of the Word at Great Staughton in the county of Huntington.

To the Iudicious Reader.

Reader! I present thee here with a Letter; on occasion of this publishing. It were but lost labour to glosse upon it. Thou mayest easily, reade him, in his Letter, and mee, in my Booke.

M. N.

MY service to your Worship pre∣sented, I have this day received a Letter, &c.—to come to a Towne called Great Staughton to search for evill disposed persons called Witches (though I heare your Minister is farre against us through ignorance) I in∣tend to come (God willing) the sooner to heare his singular Judgment on the behalfe of such parties; I have known a Minister in Suffolke preach as much against their dis∣covery in a Pulpit, and forc'd to recant it (by the Committee) in the fame place. I

much marvaile such evill Members should have any (much more any of the Clergy) who should daily preach Terrour to con∣vince such Offenders, stand up to take their parts against such as are Complai∣nants for the King, and sufferers them∣selves with their Families and Estates. I intend to give your Towne a Visite sud∣denly, I am to come to Kimbolton this weeke, and it shall bee tenne to one but I will come to your Town first, but I would certainely know afore whether your Town affords many Sticklers for such Cattell, or willing to give and afford us good welcome and entertainement, as other where I have beene, else I shall wave your Shire (not as yet beginning in any part of it my selfe) And betake me to such places where I doe and may persist without controle, but with thankes and recompence So I humbly take my leave and rest,

Your Servant to be commanded, Matthew Hopkins.