The first Proposition.
IT is a Quære, though needlesse, whether there be any Witches: for they[a] haue some Proctors who plead a nullitie in this case, perswade themselues, and would induce others to be of the same minde, that there be no Witches at all: but a sort of melancholique, aged, and ignorant Women, deluded in their imagination; and acknowledge such things to be effected by them, which are vnpossible, vnlikely, and they neuer did; and therefore Magistrates who inflict any punishment vpon them, be vnmercifull and cruell Butchers. Yet by the way, and their good leaue, who take vpon them this Apology, all who are conuented vpon these vnlawfull action, are not strucken in yeares; but some euen in the flower of their youth be nuzled vp in the same, and convicted to be practisers thereof; neither be they ouerflowed with a blacke melancholique humor, dazeling the phantasie, but haue their vnderstandings cleere, and wits as quicke as other: Neither yet be they all women, though for the most part that sexe be inclinable thereunto: (as shall afterward be shewed, and the causes thereof) but men also on whose behalfe no exception can be laid, why any should demurre either of their offence or punishment for the same. Wherefore for this point, and confirmation of the affirmatiue, wee haue sundry pregnant and euident proofes.
First testimonies Diuine and Humane: Diuine of God himselfe in his word,[b] left for our instruction in all dogmaticall truth, reproofe and confutation of falshood in opinions, correction for the reforming of misdemeaners in conuersation, doctrine for the guidance of euery estate Politicall, Ecclesiasticall, Oeconomicall. 2. Timoth. 3. 16. Therefore expressely, Thou shalt not suffer a Witch, to liue, Exod. 22. 18.[c] but to bee executed in the same day wherein she is conuicted, and this was a custome obserued by the ancient Fathers. And Deuteronomy 18. 10.11. there is a blacke Bill set downe[d], and registred of sundry kinds of these slaues of Sathan, all condemned, and God addeth in the same place the reasons of this his seuere and sharpe iudgement against them. First, because they are an abhomination vnto him. Secondly, he determineth vtterly to destroy all such, and giueth his people the Israelites an example thereof in the Canaanites, whom their Land spewed out. Thirdly, for that he requireth all who belong vnto him, to be pure, vndefiled and holy, not stained with impieties, for they are bound vnto him by couenant in obedience. Fourthly such were the Heathen, strangers from God, blinded in their dark vnderstanding, without sauing knowledge, with whom the Israelites, a chosen and peculiar nation, enioying his lawes and statutes, must haue no familiarity. Further, the woman of Endor acknowledgeth herselfe to be one of the rank. 1. Sam. 28. 9. And Iesabel, mother of Iehoram, is in plaine tearmes stiled a Witch. 2. King. 9. 22. who is [e]supposed to haue brought this Art, and the Professors thereof into Samaria, which there continued for the space of sixe hundred yeares. Insomuch that it was rife in common speech, when any would reproach another, to doe the same in this forme; Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a Diuell (a familiar spirit) which the malicious Iewes, not abiding his heauenly and gracious doctrine, obiected to Christ Iesus our blessed Sauiour, Ioh. 8. 48. The holy Apostle reprouing the Galathians for their sudden Apostasie and back-sliding from the Gospell so powerfully preached vnto them and with so great euidence of the spirit, as though Christ had bin crucified before their eyes, doth it in no other termes than these, Who hath bewitched you? Gal. 3. 1. And afterward, Cap. 5. 20. marshalleth Witch-craft among the workes of the flesh: In both which places the names are taken from the seducements and illusions of Inchanters, who astonish the mindes, and deceiue the senses of men, and all that by vertue of a contract passed betwene them and the Diuell. Other like proofes may be added to these alledged, Leuit. 20. 6. Micah 5. 12. Nahum 3. 4. Now then when God affirmeth there be such, whose words are truth, shall man dare once to open his mouth, and contradict the most righteous?
Concerning humane witnesses, they be almost infinite; and therefore it shall be sufficient to produce some few, choyce, and selected: [f]The second Councell of Constantinople held and gathered together in the Imperiall palace, of two hundred seuen and twenty learned and reuerent Bishops, nameth sundry sorts of such Sorcerers, and censureth their actions to be the damned practises of the Pagans, and decreeth all the Agents therein excommunicated from the Church and society of Christian people, adding the motiue reason of this their determined sentence, from the Apostle, 2. Cor. 6. 14. For righteousnesse hath no fellowship with vnrighteousnesse, neither is there communion of light with darknesse, nor concord with Christ and Belial, nor the beleeuer can haue part with an Infidell. And [g]Chrysostome sharply reproueth all such, and those who aduise with them vpon any occasion, confuting the reasons which they take to be sufficient warantise of their doings. As among the rest they will pretend, Shee was a Christian woman who doth thus charme or inchant; and taketh no other but the name of God in her mouth, vseth the words of sacred Scripture. To this that holy Father replieth, Therefore she is the more to be hated, because shee hath abused and taken in vaine that great and glorious name, and professing herselfe a Christian, yet practiseth the [h]damnable Arts of miscreant and vnbeleeuing Heathen. For the Diuels could speake the name of God, and neuerthelesse were still Diuels; and when they said vnto Christ, they knew who he was, the holy one of God, &c. Mar. 1. 24.25. their mouthes were stopped, he would no such witnesse, that wee should learne, not to beleeue them when they say the truth: for this is but a bait, that wee might afterward follow their lies. There is much mention made of these, both in the Ciuill and [i]Canon Lawes, and diuersitie of punishment alotted out for them; so that none can doubt but that there hath beene, and are such. I might remember vnto you the authority of Clemens Romanus in his Recognitions, and those Constitutions which are fathered vpon the Apostles; but their credit is not so great, that they may without exception be impannelled vpon this Iury, for they haue long since been chalenged of [k]insufficiencie.
Among the Gentiles, when these so qualitied persons did swarme, and were accounted of high esteeme, there be reckoned vp whole troopes of this blacke guard of the Diuell; As [l]Circe whom Homer reporteth to haue turned Vlysses Companions into Wolues, Lyons, Swine, &c. by her Inchantments, insauaging and making them beast-like and furious. Medea[m] famous in this kinde, for she murthered by Witch-craft Glauca in the day of her marriage, who enioyed Iason her loue. And[n] the Mortars of these two, wherein they stamped their Magicall drugges, were for a long time kept in a certaine mountaine, and shewed as strange monuments to those who desired a sight of them. For [o]the Diuel furnisheth such with powders, oyntments, hearbes, and like receipts, whereby they procure sicknesse, death, health, or worke other supernaturall effects. Of the same profession were [p]Simotha, [q]Erictho, [r]Canidia, and infinite others beside, whose damnable memory deserueth to be buried in euerlasting obliuion.
But because the reports of these may seeme to carry small credit, for that they come from Poets, who are stained with the note of licentious [s]faining, and so put off as vaine fictions; yet seeing they deliuer nothing herein but that which was well knowne and vsuall in those times wherein they liued, they are not slightly, and vpon an imagined conceit, to be reiected: for they affirme no more then is manifest in the records of most approued Histories, whose essence is and must be [t]truth, [u]as straightnesse of a rule, or else deserue not that title. In which wee reade of [x]Martiana, [y]Locusta, [z]Martha, [aa]Pamphilia, [bb]Aruna, &c. And not to insist vpon particulars, there bee infinite numbers ouerflowing euen in these our[cc] dayes, since the sinceritie of Christian Profession hath decreased, and beene in a sort ecclipsed in the hearts of men: for the period of the continuance thereof (after it be once imbraced) in his first integrity, either for zeale of affection, or strictnesse of discipline, hath beene by some learned Diuines[dd] obserued, to bee confined within the compass of twenty yeares; and then afterward by degrees, the one waxed cold, and the other dissolute: which being so, it is not to be maruelled though the Diuell now begin to shew himselfe in these his instruments, as heretofore, though he cannot in the same measure, in respect of those sparkes of light which yet shine amongst vs. But of this so much now, because I shall haue afterward occasion further to enlarge this poynt.
Againe, the policie of all States[ee] haue prouided for the rooting out of these poysonfull Weedes, and cutting of these rotten and infected members; and therefore infallibly prouing their existence and being: for all[ff] penall lawes looke to matters of fact and are made to punish for the present, and preuent in future, some wicked actions already committed. And therefore Solon the Athenian making statutes for the setling of that Common-wealth, when a defect was found, that he omitted to prouide a cautelous restraint, and appoint[gg] answerable punishmẽt for such who had killed their parents, answered, He neuer suspected there were or would be any such. Wherefore to confirme the position set downe, God doth not threaten to cast away his people for murther, incest, tyranny, &c. But Sorcery, Leuit. 20. 6. And Samuel willing to shew Saul the grieuousnesse of his disobedience, compareth it to witch-craft, 1. Sam. 15. 23. The Holy Ghost also manifesting how highly God was displeased with Manasses, maketh this the reason, because hee gaue himselfe to Witch-craft, and to Charming, and to Sorcery, and vsed them who had familiar spirits, and did much euill in the sight of the Lord to anger him, 2. Chro. 33. 6. And for this offence were the ten tribes of Israell led into captiuitie, 2. King. 17. 17. [hh]The twelue Tables of the Romans (the ancientest law they haue) by a solemne Embassage (sent for that purpose) obtained from Athens, & accounted as a Library of knowledge, do both make mention of such malefactors, & decree a penaltie to be inflicted vpon them. [ii]Constantius and Constantinus thinke them worthy of some vnusuall death, as enemies of mankinde, strangers from nature: [kk]and Iulius Paulus distinguishing the punishment according to the different qualitie of the offenders, pronounceth out of the then receiued opinions, that the better sort found guilty, were to dye (not determining the manner) those of meaner condition either to bee crucified, or deuoured of wilde beasts.
Our ancient Saxon Kings before the [ll]Conquest, haue in their municipall Lawes apparantly demonstrated what they conceiued of these so dangerous and diuellish persons. Alucidus keepeth the expresse words of God; Fœminas sagas ne sinite viuere. Suffer not women Witches to liue. Gunthrunus and Canutus will haue them, being once apprehended (that the rest of the people might bee pure and vndefiled) sent into banishment, or if they abide in the kingdome (continuing their lewd practises) executed according to desert. So Athelstane, if they be conuicted to haue killed any, &c. And how the present estate standeth affected toward them, the sundry strict statutes in this case prouided, may giue any, not wedded to his owne stubbornenesse, sufficient and full satisfaction. Wherefore not to erect a Tabernacle, and dwell longer in perswading an vndeniable truth, that there bee Sorcerers and Witches, I leaue these Hellish Infidels, and proceede.
[a.] Wierus de magorũ infamium pœnis lib 6. cap. 17.18 19 20 21 22 23 24 &. 27. & de Lamijs lib 3. cap 7. & de lamiarum impotentia. But this position commeth from another as dangerous, euen Infidelity denying that there be any Diuel, but in opinion; which was the doctrine of Aristotle, and the Peripatetique Philpsophers. Pomponatius de incarnationibus Binfeldius de confessionibus maleficorum
[b.] Διδασκαλία
ἔλεγχος
ἐπανορθωσις
παίδεια.
[c.] Philo in libro de legibus specialibus.
[d.] Vide Paulum Phagium in annotationibus, & Chaldaicam Paraphrasin in cap. 18. & 19. Leuitici.
[e.] Bodinus in confutatione opinionum Wieri.
[f.] Cap 61. congregata est hac synodus sib Iustiniano qui vocatus est ῥινοτμητης, in qua erant Episcopi, 227. Balsamon in suis ad eum Commentarijs, & vocata est synodus in Trullo erat autem ὁ τρύλλος Secretarium palatij quia in eo fuit celebrata, eam autẽ πεντεκῆν vocat Balsamon quasi Quintisextã dicas quia quod quinte & sexta synodis deerat (septem enim recipiunt Græci) hæc expleuit, Nomenclator Græcorum dictionum quæ apud Harmenopulum occurrunt in sui iuris Promptuario.
[Additional note]
[g.] This testimony of Chrysostome is cited by Balsamon, in his exposition vpon that Chapter of the Councell before alleaged, to which may be added other of the same holy Bishop in his 9 Homily vpon the Epistle to the Colossians, & his 6 Sermon against the Iewes.
[h.] Superstitio tãto peior est quãto plura miscentur bona, quoniã vnde debeat honorari Deus honoratur Diabolus. Ioh. Gerson in Trilogio Astrologiæ Theologisatæ propositione 21.
[i.] Vide Phothiũ Patriarchã Constantinopolitanũ in nono Canone titulo 13. cap. 19
[k.] Ierome in his Apology against Ruffinus. and Eusebius alloweth but one only Epistle of his, Histor. Ecclesiast. 2. cap. 16. Gratianus distinct. 15. Epiphanius contra Audianos.
[l.] Homer. odissea 10, φαρμακοις ἀλλιωσε Eustathius.
[m.] Euripides in Medea. Ouidius Metamorph. lib. 7. Pindarus Pythonum Idillio 4. Apollonius Argonauticorum lib. 4º.
[n.] Scholiastes Theocriti Idil 2 ἐν τω σεληεναιω ὄρει δεικνύουσι τοῦς μηδέιας και Κιρκης ὅρμους ἐν ὅις ἔκοπτεν τα φραρμακα.
[o.] Remigius demonolatriæ lib. 1. cap 2.
[p.] Theocritus in φαρμακευτρία Idil. 2.
[q.] Lucan. Pharsalibus lib. 6.
[r.] Horatius Εροδῶ lib. 5.
[s.] Pictoribus atque Poetis quidlibet audiendi semper fuit æqua potestas.
[t.] καθάπερ ἐμψύχου σώματος τῶν σφεων εξαιρεθείσων ἀκρείονας τὸ ὅλον‧ οὕτως ἔξ ἱστορίας ἔαν ἄρης την ἀλήθειαν, τὸ καταλειπόμενον ἀυτῆς, ἀνατελὲς γιγνεται διήγημα Polib. historiarum lib. 12.
[Additional note]
[u.] Timaus Κἀιονες ἰδιοτης ἐύθειοι.
[Additional note]
[x.] Tacitus Annal. lib. 2.
[y.] Idem annal. lib. 12 & 13 & Suetonius in Claudio c. 33.
[z.] Plutarchus in Mario.
[aa.] Apuleius.
[bb.] Munsterus Cosmographiæ lib. 2.
[cc.] Remigius, a iudge in these cases reporteth of 900 executed in Lorayne for this offence of Witch-craft in the time of his gouernement.
[dd.] Lutherus in Genesin.
[ee.] Binfeldius de confessionibus maleficorum, calleth this reason a most strong & conuincing argument.
[ff.] Ex malis moribus bonæ nascuntur leges.
[gg.] Diogenes Laertius lib. 1. de vitis Philosophorum in Solone. Cicero in Oratione pro Roscio Amerino.
[hh.] Of these 12. Tables Liuie in the 3 booke of his first Decad. Dionysius Halicarnasseus 10 Booke of his History, & Iohannes Rosimus most fully in the 6 chapter of his 8 booke of Roman antiquities. Liuius. Plinius lib. 34. cap. 5. Cicero de legibus, lib. 2. & de orato primo.
[ii.] Cod. lib. 9. titul. 18. lege multi magicis actibus.
[kk.] Sententiarum receptarum lib. 5. cap. 25. ad legem Corneliam de sicarijs & maleficis. Paulus Iurisconsultus.
[ll.] In ἀρχαιονομιᾳ siue de priscis Anglorum legibus Guilielmus Lambertus.