A Treatise of Witchcraft Part 1

A Treatise of Witchcraft.

by Alexander Roberts.

A TREATISE OF THE CONFESSION AND EXECVTION OF _MARY SMITH, CONVICTED OF WITCHCRAFT_, and condemned for the same: of her contract vocally & in solemne tearmes made with the Diuell; by whose meanes she hurt sundry persons whom she enuied, with some necessary Propositions added thereunto, discouering the wickednesse of that d.a.m.nable Art, and diuers other speciall poynts, not impertinent vnto the same, such as ought diligently of euery Christian to bee considered.

There is some diuersitie of iudgement among the learned, who should be the first Author and Inuenter of Magicall and curious Arts. The most generall occurrence of opinion is, that they fetch their pedigree from the [a]_Persians_, who searching more deeply into the secrets of Nature then others, and not contented to bound themselues within the limits thereof, fell foule of the Diuell, and were insnared in his nets.

[Footnote a: _Augustinus de diuinatione Daemonum: & de Ciuitate Dei. lib. 7. cap. 35. Plinius historia naturalis lib. 30. cap. 1._]

And among these, the publisher vnto the world was _Zoroaster_, who so soone as he by birth[b] entred the world, contrary to the vsuall condition of other men, laughed (whereas the beginning of our life is a sob, the end a sigh) and this was ominous to himselfe, no warrantise for the enioying of the pleasures of this life, ouercome in battell by _Ninus_[c] King of the _a.s.sirians_, and ending his dayes by the stroake of a thunder-bolt, and could not, though a famous Sorcerer, either fore-see, or preuent his owne destinie. And because he writ many bookes of this d.a.m.nable Art, and left them to posterity, may well be accounted a chiefe maister of the same. But the Diuell[d] must haue the precedencie, whose schollers both he and the rest were, who followed treading in his steps. For he taught them South-saying, Auguration, Necromancie, and the rest, meere delusions, aiming therein at no other marke, then to with draw men from the true worshipping of G.o.d. And all these pernitious practises are fast tied together by the tailes, though their faces looke sundry wayes; and therefore the Professors thereof are stiled by sundry names, as Magitians, Necromancers, Inchanters, Wisards, Hagges, Fortune-tellers, Diuiners, Witches, Cunning Men, and Women, &c.

Whose Art is such a hidden mystery of[e] wickednesse, and so vnsearchable a depth of Sathan, that neither the secrets of the one can be discouered, nor the bottome of the other further sounded, then either the practisers thereof themselues by their owne voluntary confessions made, or procured by order of Iustice (according to the manner of that Countrey where they be questioned) haue acknowledged, or is manifested by the sundry mischiefes done of them vnto others, proued by impartiall testimonies vpon oath, and by vehement presumptions confirmed, or else communicated vnto vs in the learned Treatises, and discourses of ancient and late Writers gathered from the same grounds. And[f] although this h.e.l.lish Art be not now so frequent as heretofore, since the Pagans haue beene conuerted vnto Christianity, and the thick fogges of Popery ouer-mantling the bright shining beames of the Gospel of _Iesus Christ_ (who came to dissolue the workes of the Diuell _.1. Ioh. 3. 8._) and were by the sincere and powerfull preaching therof dispersed; yet considering these bee the last times, dayes euill & dangerous, fore-told that should come, _2. Tim. 3. 1._ in which iniquity must abound, _Mat.

24. 12._ and as a raging deluge ouer-runne all, so that Faith shall scarce be found vpon earth, _Luk. 18. 8._ and the Diuell loosed from his thousand yeares imprisonment, [g]_Reuel. 20. 3._ enraged with great wrath walketh about, and seeketh whom he may deuoure _.1. Pet. 5. 8_.

Because he knoweth hee hath but a short time, _Reu. 12. 12._ Before I enter into the particularity of the narration intended, it shall be materiall to set downe some generall propositions, as a handfull of gleanings gathered in the plentifull haruest of such learned men, who haue written of this argument, whereby the erronious may be recalled, the weake strengthened, the ignorant informed, and such as iudge aright already, confirmed: and among many other these as chiefe, all which you shall see exemplified in the following Discourse.

[Footnote b: _Augustinus de Ciuitate Dei. lib. 21. cap. 14._]

[Footnote c: _Iustinus in Epitome Trogi Pompeij. lib. 1._]

[Footnote d: _Lactantius de origine erroris. lib. 2. cap. 17_.

And citeth the testimony of _Sibilla Erithraea_ for proofe hereof.

_Gratia.n.u.s Decretorum part. 2. causa 26 quaest. 2. Canone sine saluatore, & inuentas esse has artes_ +pros ap..en eleeinon anthropon ton rhadios hupokleptomenon eis tauta hupo tou diabolou.+ _affirmat Cedrenus in historiae compendio._]

[Footnote e: _Probationes ex quibus legitim[~u] est Iudicia fieri, tres necessariae plane dici & indubitatae possunt 1 veritas notorij & permanentia facti. 2 confessio voluntaria eius qui reus factus est, atque peractus. 3 certorum testium firmorumque testimonium: his & 4 addi potest violentae praesumptiones de Rodinus de D[e,]monomania lib. 4. cap. 2.3.4._]

[Footnote f: The Oracles of the Pagans in all places of the world, wh[~e] CHRIST was borne, were silenced, and the Diuell became mute: so that _Augustus C[e,]sar_ demanding of _Apollo_ by his messengers, sent to _Delphos_, had this answer returned, +pais hebraios keletai+ &c. in sence thus much, _An Hebrue Childe commandeth me to leaue this place, and returne againe to h.e.l.l._ From hence therefore you must depart from our Altars, without resolution of any questions propounded. _Eusebius de praeparatione Euangelica, lib. 5. cap. 8. Theodoretus de Graecorum affectionum curatione qui est de oraculis +meta ten tou soteros hemon epiphaneian apedrasan hoi tende ten exapaten tois anthropois prospherontes+, Vide & Suidam in Augusto, & Athanasium de incarnatione verbi._]

[Footnote g: _De hac ligatione & solutione Diaboli plenissime August. de Ciuitate Dei, lib. 20 cap. 8._]

_The first Proposition._

It is a _Quaere_, 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 s.e.xe 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.

[Footnote a: _Wierus de magor[~u] infamium p[oe]nis 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_]

First testimonies Diuine and Humane: Diuine of _G.o.d_ 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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 s.p.a.ce 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 pa.s.sed 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 G.o.d affirmeth there be such, whose words are truth, shall man dare once to open his mouth, and contradict the most righteous?

[Footnote b: +Didaskalia+ +elenchos+ +epanorthosis+ +paideia+.]

[Footnote c: _Philo in libro de legibus specialibus._]

[Footnote d: _Vide Paulum Phagium in annotationibus, & Chaldaicam Paraphrasin in cap. 18. & 19. Leuitici._]

[Footnote e: _Bodinus in confutatione opinionum Wieri._]

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 d.a.m.ned 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 G.o.d 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]d.a.m.nable Arts of miscreant and vnbeleeuing Heathen.

For the Diuels could speake the name of G.o.d, and neuerthelesse were still Diuels; and when they said vnto Christ, they knew who he was, the holy one of G.o.d, &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 Roma.n.u.s_ in his Recognitions, and those Const.i.tutions 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.

[Footnote f: _Cap 61. congregata est hac synodus sib Iustiniano qui vocatus est +rhinotmetes+, in qua erant Episcopi, 227.

Balsamon in suis ad eum Commentarijs, & vocata est synodus in Trullo erat autem +ho trullos+ Secretarium palatij quia in eo fuit celebrata, eam aut[~e] +penteken+ vocat Balsamon quasi Quintis.e.xt dicas quia quod quinte & s.e.xta synodis deerat (septem enim recipiunt Graeci) haec expleuit, Nomenclator Graecorum dictionum quae apud Harmenopulum occurrunt in sui iuris Promptuario._]

[Footnote 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_.]

[Footnote h: _Superst.i.tio tto peior est quto plura miscentur bona, quoni vnde debeat honorari Deus honoratur Diabolus. _Ioh.

Gerson_ in Trilogio Astrologiae Theologisatae propositione 21._]

[Footnote i: _Vide Phothi[~u] Patriarch Constantinopolitan[~u] in nono Canone t.i.tulo 13. cap. 19_]

[Footnote k: _Ierome_ in his Apology against _Ruffinus._ and _Eusebius_ alloweth but one only Epistle of his, _Histor.

Ecclesiast. 2. cap. 16_. _Gratia.n.u.s distinct. 15._ _Epiphanius contra Audianos._]

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 d.a.m.nable memory deserueth to be buried in euerlasting obliuion.

[Footnote l: _Homer. odissea 10, +pharmakois alliose+ Eustathius._]

[Footnote m: _Euripides in Medea. Ouidius Metamorph. lib. 7.

Pindarus Pythonum Idillio 4. Apollonius Argonauticorum lib. 4._]

[Footnote n: _Scholiastes Theocriti Idil 2_ +en to selenaio orei deiknuousi tous medeias kai Kirkes hormous en hois ekopten ta phrarmaka+.]

[Footnote o: _Remigius demonolatriae lib. 1. cap 2._]

[Footnote p: _Theocritus in_ +pharmakeutria+ _Idil. 2._]

[Footnote q: _Lucan. Pharsalibus lib. 6._]

[Footnote r: _Horatius_ +Erodo+ _lib. 5._]

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 t.i.tle. 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 compa.s.s 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.

[Footnote s: _Pictoribus atque Poetis quidlibet audiendi semper fuit aequa potestas._]

[Footnote t: +kathaper empsuchou somatos ton spheon exairetheison akreionas to holon: houtos ex historias ean ares ten aletheian, to kataloipomenon autes, anateles gignetai diegema+ _Polib.

historiarum lib. 12._]