And it is not improbable but that she had dealt no better with others then these aboue mentioned. For Mr Thomas Yonges of London, Fishmonger, reported vnto me, that after the demand of a debt due vnto Mr Iohn Mason, Silkeman of the same Citie, whose Widow hee married, from Henry Smith Glouer her husband, some execrations and curses being wished vnto him, within three or foure dayes (being then gone to Yarmouth in Norfolke vpon necessary businesse) there fell sicke, and was tortured with exceeding and massacring griefes, which by no meanes (hauing vsed the aduise of sundry learned and experienced Physitians in Norwich) could in any part be mitigated, and so extraordinarily vexed thirteene moneths, was constrained to go on Crutches, not being able to feed himselfe, and amended not before this mischieuous woman was committed to prison (accused for other wickednesses of the like kinde) at which time (so neere as he could conjecture) he then receiued some release of his former paines, though at the present when hee made this relation, which was at Candlemas last past, had not perfectly recouered his wonted strength: for his left hand remained lame, and without vse.
But thus much by the way onely, omitting how before this accident a great Water-dogge ranne ouer his bed, the doore of the chamber where he lay being shut, no such one knowne (for carefull enquiry was made) either to haue been in that houfe where hee lodged, or in the whole Towne at any time.
I doe not insist vpon this, because shee did not nominate him or any other vnto vs, but onely those foure already expressed: and for the wrongs done to them, she craued mercy at Gods hands, as for all other her sins, and in particular for that of Witch-craft, renounced the Diuell, embraced the mercies of God purchased by the obedience of Iesus Christ, and professed that her hope was onely by his suffering and passion to bee saued. And all these, that is to say, her former grieuous offences committed against God, and his people, her defiance of the Diuell, and reposing all confidence of saluation in Christ Iesus alone, and his merits, she in particular maner confessed openly at the place of execution, in the audience of multitudes of people gathered together (as is vsuall at such times) to be beholders of her death. And made there also profession of her faith, and hope of a better life hereafter; and the meanes whereby she trusted to obtaine the same, as before, hath beene specified. And being asked, if she would be contented to haue a Psalm sung, answered willingly that she desired the same, and appointed it herselfe, The Lamentation of a Sinner, whose beginning is, Lord turne not away thy face, &c. And after the ending thereof thus finished her life: So that in the iudgement of charity we are to conceiue the best, and thinke shee resteth in peace, notwithstanding her heynous transgressions formerly committed: for there is no maladay incurable to the Almighty Physitian, Esay 1. 18 Ezech. 33. 11. Therefore Caine did iniury to God, when conuicted of the barbarous and vnnaturall murther of his righteous brother, cryed out tht his sinne was greater then could be forgiuen, Gen. 4. 13 for Gods mercy is greater then mans misery can be. And euen for the like vnto this very fact, we haue a booke case, already adiudged, and ouer-ruled in those Ephesians, who brought their coniuring bookes, sacrificed them in the fire, æstimated at the [b]value of nine hundred pounds of our money, repented of their[c] sinnes, and obtained mercy, Acts 19. vers. 19.
[b.] Budęus de asse. lib. 5.
[c.] The Ephesians were infamous for their Magicall practises, Appollonius professing the same in the Citie, so that it grewe into a prouerb, γράμματα Εφέσια the Ephesian letters, which were certaine Characters and wordes, by vertue whereof they obtained good successe in all businesse, victory against others, euasion and escape from dangers; and as we reade in Suidas, a Milesian armed with these letters, ouer-came thirty Champions in the games of Olimpus, but being remoued by the Magistrate, hauing intelligence thereof, himselfe was subdued. Of these see Athenęus Deipnosophiston lib. 12. Hesichius in his Lexicon. Plutarchus quæstionum conuiualium, lib 7. cap. 5.
¶ The eight Proposition, and first consequent.
NOw then from this premised narration, these two corrollaries or consequents do necessarily follow.
It is not lawfull for any Christian to consult with a witch or wisard, or goe to them for helpe. God himselfe, whose commandement is and must be the rule of our life & direction hath forbidden it, Leuit. 19. 31. and 20. 6. Deuter. 18. 10.11. And the Imperiall lawes, haue beene in this case verie respectiue.[a] Therefore, Leo the Emperour straitly enioyneth, that none should resort vnto them, and stileth their aduice nothing but meere impostures and deceit; and in the [b]Decrees collected by Gratian, the teachers of the people are seriously exhorted to admonish them, that magicall arts and inchantments cannot heale any infirmity: and that they bee the dangerous snares, and subtilties of that ancient enemy of mankind, by which he indeuoureth to entangle them[c]: and these so streight and seuere prohibitions are not without iust and weighty cause. For,
First, wee must haue no commerce or dealing with the diuell, eyther directly and immediately, or mediately and indirectly; for we ought to haue our recourse to God alone in all distresses, and this is that which Eliah spake with great indignation vnto the messengers of Ahaziah, who went to enquire of Baal-zelub, for the recouerie of their Lords health, 2. King. 1. 3.[d] So that wee must not seeke to Sathan, or any of his ministers. For none can serue two maisters, Matt. 6. 24. But as religious Iehosaphat, when we know not what to doe, then lift vp our eyes to heauen, 2 Chron. 20. 12.
Secondly, that help which any receiue from them bringeth destructon of our soules, for such as seeke for relief this way, make a[e] separation & departing from God, which is the death of the soule. And though it may be obiected, that some haue receiued benefite hereby, yet these are not one of tenne. And further, wee are not to iudge heerein of the lawfulnesse of these actions by the successe, but rest vpon the commaundement, for it falleth out sometime, that a thiefe and common robber by the high way, may liue in more aboundance, then those who with a lawfull and honest trade painefully maintaine themeelues, yet therefore hee is not iustified. And when wee haue recourse vnto others beside God, we bewray herein our [f]distrust, infidelitie, contempt and rebellion against him, which grieuous sinnes bring his wrath and eternall destruction. But let it be taken for granted, that wee may receiue good by them, yet this maxime is sure, & a truth vnrepealeable, which no distinction can elude; we must not doe euill that good may come thereof, Rom. 3. 8.[g] yea, it were better to end our dayes in any extremitie whatsoeuer, then to vse these for our helpers.