The doctrine of devils proved to be the grand apostacy of these later times. An essay tending to rectifie those undue notions and apprehensions men have about dæmons and evil spirits.

CHAP. XXIV. It is a Butcherly, and Murtherous Opi∣nion.

IT is a Bloody, Barbarous, Cruel and Murtherous Opinion, an Opinion that Butchers up Men and Women without Fear or Wit, Sense or Reason, Care or Conscience, by droves; So many in So∣merset, so many in Lancashire—so many in another County, Ten, Twenty, Thirty at a clap; Inquisitors boast of Hun∣dreds, yea Thousands, that they have butchered up in a small time, upon the account of Witchcraft. In the last trou∣bles we had informations (that went all the Kingdom over) from Diurnals, and other more credible testimonies; That our Northern Zealots of Scotland butchered up many Hundreds (I am ashamed to write the exact number because it is so mon∣strous) in a very short time more than there had been of all other sorts of Cri∣minals in Fifty years before, upon the conceit of this guilt; as many more in Jayl, who doubtless had run the same fate, had not providence prevented it. But of

all these that were imprisoned, there was but one that could be suspected (when impartial and unbiassed persons had the examination) and the ground of the su∣spicion against him too, appeared at last so weak, frivolous, and contemptible, That though (to gratifie the humour of the peevish rabble) he was for a while de∣tained in Prison, yet was at last too dis∣charged as innocent. I could speak of and have hinted the like in another place, though not in so great a number, and that to mine own knowledg; and indeed, if the Oaths of two base Varlets (that will swear any thing to work their revenge) may be taken, where no reality of fact can appear; Who almost that is old, de∣crepit, ill-favoured, and friendless can be secure? How readily will they swear? Imps and Puggs, supernatural and infernal Teats or Biggs, Conjurations, Compacts, Devils in such and such shapes; How oft∣en have they sworn, Witches have turned themselves into Cats, and in that shape sighting with, and worsting the greatest Mastives? Into Hares too, and in that shape, outran the swiftest Grey∣hounds? How often have they sworn, That after their falling out with such Per∣sons, such and such mischiefs have befallen

them, as the meer effects of these Persons malice; when all the mischiefs, were but natural, and sometimes antecedent, to all distastes between the parties. I have my self known some, who swore such and such a mischief, such and such a disease betide them, presently upon the saying of such a Person (well, I may meet with you, I will be quits with you, better you had, or better you had not done this— with a Curse peradventure at the end) which yet were antecedent to any such Curse or threat upon them, being here∣ditary, or of a longer date than the curse or threat. Some possibly were concom∣mitant, and others subsequent; But that among the multitude of hurtful accidents (which all the Men in the World are still subject unto) some one or other should fall out, in such a juncture of time, with∣out any relation, or dependance upon the curse, or threat of the supposed Witch as the cause; he hath but a shallow, weak or narrow intellect that doth not appre∣hend. In the matter of Theft, Murther, Burglary—there must be some real thing proved as actually done by such a Person; the accused had power (it is sup∣posed) to do the fact, and the accuser might have certainty enough, That it was

done by such a Person; but here in this case of Witchcraft, there can be no such thing certain, it all goes upon groundless and inconceivable suppositions, surmises, conjectures, guesses, dreams, fancies; no certain assurance of any real connexion of such an effect with such a cause: And since, this many times serves, it is a won∣der to me, That there be no greater herds, droves, flocks, swarmes—of witchcraftical criminals at every Assize. But that the Reverend Judges, especially of England, now are much wiser; (not only than the Proletarian rabble, but than they too, who profess themselves to be the great Philosophers, and well-studied in the Magick art) and give small or no encouragement to such accusations; and yet with the many, if one such cross ac∣cident happen to be synchronical, or but subsequent to such a Curse or Threat; Oh! 'tis a pregnant proof, a certain evi∣dence, That such a Witch was the cause; and yet a Hundred such Curses have been vented by the same Persons and no mis∣chief followed, but they were not taken notice of, but this only that was attend∣ed by some mischief following: But to end this, a wise Man tells us, That a causeless Curse flies in vain; and if after

or upon the venting such a Curse a mischief happen, must that mischief necessarily be the effect of that Curse? if 'twere cause∣less, 'twould bring no mischief: If a mis∣chief be brought, it was deserv'd, and then 'twere fitter sure to look to the hand of Providence for the cause, than to the Tongue of a spightful Neighbour: Many Trophies and Gratulary Anathema's you may see hanged up in Neptune's Temple by Men preserv'd from Shipwrack through his Providence; why Sacrifice you not to him? said one: I Sacrifice not to him, said the other; because there are Thousands more, that have suffered Shipwrack, who have Sacrificed to Neptune, than scap't. One mischief or other among the Myriad of various Accidents, that we are subject to, may seem somwhat Syncronical to such a Curse; but there have been a Thousand such Curses, when no mischief followed, and how then can the mischief be impu∣ted to the Curse?