Secondly, the ciuill lawes in this case are most strict, decreeing them to bee burned, and their goods confiscate, though they were persons of quality, and honourable, seated in dignity, and place of authority:[o] and there is a seuere constitution made by [p]Charles the fift in late dayes against them, that though they shall not haue done, or be conuinced to haue hurt any, yet because they attempted a thing vnlawfull, and abhominable vnto God, are extraordinarily to be punished. And concerning this particular, S. Augustin discourseth excellently, worthy to be read, de ciu. dei. l. 8. c. 19.
Thirdly, God willeth those should bee put to death, who by Diabolical and vnlawfull Arts, do endeuour to helpe or harme others, whether in act they performe the same, or purpose with intention, conceiuing and thinking they can do it, with ranke Witches must needs be marshalled; and therefore iustly subiect to deserued punishment.
Fourthly, all Idolaters are to dye by diuine appointment, Deu. 17. 5. But I thinke no mans forehead is so brasen, that will stand Proctor, and plead guiltlesse for these sort of people, who deuote themselues wholly to the Diuell, though neuer so closely, and with great and cautelous secresie: and no doubt God therefore was reuenged of the Templars, and their detestable wickednesse practised in darknesse and obscurity, who all[q] perished, as it were, in a moment for the same; of which at the full we may be informed in our owne ancient histories.
Fifthly, they doe solicite others to be of their profession (which is one clause of that contract made betweene them and the Diuell) and consecrate their childen vnto him: and against this, there is an especiall caution put in Deuteronomy 13. 6.9.10.
Sixtly, they deserue death as inhumane and barbarous tyrants, for lingringly vt sentiant se mori, that they may feele how they doe decay by degrees, seek the vtter ouerthrow of those whom they doe maligne: and as a further appendix to this, oftentimes by the helpe of their grand teacher, sowe discord betweene husband and wife, sollicite maydens, yea enforce both them, and married women to vncleane, and vnlawfull lusts, and heerein implore the helpe of the diuell, to accomplish their malicious designes, which trangression is capitall.
Seuenthly, the exercise of this act or vanity is punishable by death, although it be practised but onely in sport and ieast, which appeare thus, because God hath seriously forbidden (and vnder no lesse forfeiture of life it self) to aske counsell of a Soothsayer or Coniurer; if this then be a crime of such nature, in those, who it may bee heerein thought not to doe euill, ther is no reason to induce any to thinke that hee will spare the wilfull, and purposed authors thereof, and Magitians, who worke onely iuggling trickes, and illusions, and fore-tell some future things, as yet vnknowne vntill they doe so fall out, are not freed from the sentence condemnatorie, much more then those who willingly, and vpon premeditated malice, murther or impaire the life and good estate of other, deserue to stand paralell with them. And there can no reson be yielded of this so sharp a censure, but onely because they haue learned, and accordingly exercise vnlawfull arts, for whosoeuer endeuoureth to bring that thing to passe, by pretending naturall meanes, which exceedeth the power of Nature, and is now thereunto enabled eyther by God, or the ministery of good Angells at his appoyntment, hee must of necessity haue this faculty communicated by some combination and inter league with the diuell.
Eightly, the Iudge or ciuil Magistrate is bound by vertue of that office, and superioritie he sustaineth in the common-wealth, to purge and free that place, in, and ouer which he hath command, of all malefactors, which if he doe neglect, then is a double offender, against the Law both of Iustice and Charity; for hee is obliged by duety to foresee (so much as in him lyeth) that the publike state should be secured, which it concerneth to haue offenders punished, otherwise hee maketh himselfe partner with them in their outrages and offences, and standeth answerable for those damages sustained by the whole bodie of the people in generall, or vndergone by any particular of the same, for sparing of the wicked[r] is hurting the good, and hee that doth not represse and forbid euill (when it is in his power) doth countenance and maintaine it.
Much more might be added, and many examples produced, to manifest, how in all Nations these odious company of witches, and the like haue euer beene accounted detestable; and for their impious deedes requited with neuer dying shame, aud vtter confusion, and iustly by law executed; for among the Romans, Mathematitians,[s] and Magitians by the Decree of the Senate were expelled out of all Italy: and amongst these Pituanus was throwne downe from the rock Tarpeius, and crushed apeeces. Martius by the Consuls put to death with the sound of a Trumpet without the gate Exquilina: Publicia and Licinia women,[t] and seauenty more witches hanged. The [u]speedy judgement of the Athenians, witnesse of their hatred against these kinde of malefactors, is much commended, who without any other solemnity of proceeding at the onely accusation of a Maide, without delay put one Lemnia a witch to death: and it is memorable which Ammianus[x] Marcellinus hath left in record, that one Hilarius, because hee committed his sonne yong, and not of mature yeares, to be taught and instructed vnto a Coniurer, was adjudged to die, and escaping from the hands of the executioner, who had negligently bound him, drawne by force out of the next church of the Christians to which hee fled as vnto a Sanctuary, and executed.
The end of [y]Varasolo, a famous Inchantresse in Hungarie is dreadfull, who for her sundry witcheries was cast into prison, and there constrayned through extremity of hunger, to reare off and eate the flesh of her owne legges and armes, and at the last, impatient of further delay, there murthered herselfe, and shortned the span of her life.
But here I stay my hand, take it from the table, and the rather, because much hath already beene spoken to this purpose. Wherefore, for conclusion, I shut vp this whole Treatise with a remarkeable speech of a noble [z]King; Let the streight rigor of law bee inflicted vpon all, both practisers and partakers with wisards, by putting any confidence in them; for it is vngodly for man to be remisse and fauourable vnto those whom diuine piety, and our duety to God will not suffer vnpunished. For what folly were it to forsake the Creator and Giuer of life, and to follow the author of death? this dishonest fact, vnbeseeming, and vtterly repugnant to the credite and reputation of a Iudge, be farre from him. Let none countenance that which the Lawes doe condemne, for all are by the Regall Edicts to bee punished with death, who intermeddle with such forbidden and vnlawfull Artes.