CHAP. XIV.
Of diverse Impostures framed and invented to prove false and lying miracles by, and to accuse persons of Witchcraft, from late and undeniable authorities.
In the treatise preceeding we have often made mention of delusions and Impostures, which we shall largely handle in this place: and though Mr. Glanvil, and others do object, that though many pretended possessions or Witchcrafts have been proved to be meer couzenings and impostures, yet therefore it will not follow that all are so. To which we shall render these answers.
1. If it do not necessarily conclude, that they are all impostures, yet it gives a most shrewd cause of dubitation that they may be so. And the objection depends not upon a necessary connexion betwixt the subject and predicate, for some being direct and palpable Impostures, it is not of necessity, but by contingency or accident that the others are not so, and ought first to have been proved, which never yet was performed.
2. But we affirm that a general conclusion drawn from an inductive argument is good and sound, where no instance can be clearly made out to the contrary. But as yet no true instance, really and faithfully attested, hath ever been brought to prove that any of these things that we deny, were ever effected by diabolical power. For who were ever by and present, that were persons of sincerity and sound judgment, that could truly testifie and averr that the Devil in a visible and corporeal shape made a contract with the Witch, or that he suckt upon his, or her body, or that he had carnal copulation with them, or that saw when the Witch was really changed into a Dog or a Cat, or that they flew or were carried in the air? Seeing no instance can be given to prove any of these to be undoubted truths, it must needs follow that they are meer figments, or at the best all but absolute Impostures. And again it is but precarious, and petitio principii, to imagine that any persons have vomited up or voided strange things that saw or knew that they were injected by Devils, for they were either naturally bred there, or else were meer Impostures and delusive Juglings.
And therefore we shall propose some Histories of strange and prodigious cheats and Impostures from late and unquestionable authorities, whereby all the rest may be judged and discerned; of which take this for one.
Hist. 1.
Vid. Stat. Pulton, 25. year Henr. 8. c. 12.
Vid Chron. Hollingshead. Stow An. Hen. 8. 25. p. 1013.
The Pope.