Item, a witch is not to be delivered, though she endure all the tortures, and confesse nothing; as all other are in anie criminall cases.
Item, though in other cases the depositions of manie women at one instant are disabled, as insufficient in lawe; bicause of the imbecillitie and frailtie of their nature or sex: yet in this matter, one woman, though she be a partie, either accuser or accused, and be also infamous and impudent (for such are Bodins words) yea and alreadie condemned; she may neverthelesse serve to accuse and condemne a witch.
Item, a witnesse uncited, and offering himselfe in this case is to be heard, and in none other.
Item, a capitall enimie (if the enimitie be pretended to growe by meanes of witchcraft) may object against a witch; and none/24. exception is to be had or made against him.
Item,Par. in L. post. legatum. 9. his, de iis quibus ut indig.
Alex. cap. 72. L. 2. &c. although the proofe of perjurie may put backe a witnesse in all other causes; yet in this, a perjured person is a good and lawfull witnesse.
Item, the proctors and advocats in this case are compelled to be witnesses against their clients, as in none other case they are to be constrained there unto.
Item, none can give evidence against witches, touching their assemblies, but witches onelie: bicause (as BodinIn his foolish pamphlet of the execution of Windsor witches. saith) none other can doo it. Howbeit, Ri. Ga. writeth, that he came to the God speed, and with his sword and buckler killed the divell; or at the least he wounded him so sore, that he made him stinke of brimstone.
Item, Bodin saith, that bicause this is an extraordinarie matter; there must heerein be extraordinarie dealing: and all maner of waies are to be used, direct and indirect.
The fourth Chapter.
Confessions of witches, whereby they are condemned.