A Treatise of Witchcraft Part 2

Ioh. Nider in praeceptorio, praecepto 1. cap. 11. Bodinus in Daemonomania, lib. 2 cap. *_]

[Footnote f: _Cod. Lib. 9. t.i.tulo 18. Lege est scientia, hanc legem sugillat. Weirus de praestigijs daemonum lib. 3. cap. 38._]

[Footnote g: _In 3. Caput prophet[e,] Nah[~u]ni, vide & n.a.z.ianzenum in +aporetais+, siue de arcanis vel principijs non procul a fine, & eius paraphrasten Nicetam._]

[Footnote h: _Ca.s.sia.n.u.s Collat. 7. cap. 32._]

There is a very remarkeable example mentioned by _Ierome_[i], of a maiden in _Gaza_ whom a yong man louing, and not obtaining, went to _Memphis_ in Egypt, and at the yeares end in his returne, being there instructed by a Priest of _Aesculapius_, and furnished with Magicall Coniurations, graued in a plate of bra.s.se, strange charming words, and pictures which he buried vnder the threshold of the doore where the virgin dwelt: by which meanes she fell into a fury, pulled off the attire of her head, flung about her haire, gnashed with her teeth, and continually called vpon the name of her louer.

[Footnote i: _In vita Hilarionis._]

The like doth [k]_n.a.z.ianzene_ report of _Cyprian_ before his conuersion (though some thinke it [l]was not he whose learned and religions writings are extant, and for the profession of his faith and doctrine was crowned with Martyrdome) but another of that name, toward _Iustina_, whom hee lasciuiously[m] courted, and vnlawfully l.u.s.ted after. It were easie for me to instance this in many, and to adde more testimonies, but my intended purpose was, to set downe onely some few propositions, whereby the iudicious reader might be stirred vp to a deeper search, and further consideration of these things: for often they driue men to a madnesse, and other such desperate pa.s.sions, that they become murtherers of themselues. But this alwayes must be kept in minde, as a granted and infallible truth, [n]That whatsoeuer the Witch doth, it receiueth his force from that society which she hath with the Diuell, who serueth her turne in effecting what she purposeth, and so they worke together as [o]a.s.sociates.

[Footnote k: _Oratione in laud[~e] Cypriani eandem histori refert Nicephorus Cal.u.s.tus lib. 5 cap. 27._]

[Footnote l: _Prudentius +peri stephanon+ de pa.s.sione Cypriani, vnus erat iuvenum doctis. artibus sinistris, fraude pudit.i.ti perstringere. & c_]

[Footnote m: _Ouid. lib. 2. de art. amand. philtra nocent animis, vimq; fauoris habent. Propertius lib. 4. in laenam quandam consuluitq; striges nostro de sanguine & in me, hippomenes faetae semina legit equae. Vide de his Aristotelem de natura animali[~u]

lib. 6. cap. 22. Plini[~u] l. 8. c. 42._]

[Footnote n: _Aug. de doctr. Christ. l. 2. c. 22. & 23._]

[Footnote o: _Iaquerius in flagello hereticor[~u] fascinarior[~u], cap. 6. Martinus de Arles, p. 436._]

Now concerning beasts they doe oftentimes kill them out-right, and that in sundry manner, or pine and waste them by little and little, till they be consumed.

For [p]the Elements, it is an agreeing consent of all, that they can corrupt and infect them, procure tempests, to stirre vp thunder & lightning, moue violent winds, destroy the fruits of the earth: for G.o.d hath a thousand wayes to chasten disobedient man, and whole treasures full of vengeance by his Angels, Diuels, Men, Beasts. For the whole nature of things is ready to reuenge the wrong done vnto the creator.

[Footnote p: _Ioh. Gerson in Trialogio Astrologiae Theologisatae propos. 16. Pala.n.u.s in Syntagmate, l. 5. c. 13_]

It were but fruitlesse labour, and ill spent, to bestow long time in confirming this so manifest a truth, and not much better then set vp a candle to giue the Sunnelight when it shineth brightest in mid-heauen: yet to satisfie those who doubt here-of, I will giue a small touch of an example or two.

[q]_Curius Sidius_ the Roman Generall in a battell against _Salebus_, Captaine of the _Moores_, in want of water, obtained such abundance of raine from Heauen by Magicall inchantments, that it not onely sufficed the thirst of his distressed Souldiers, but terrified the enemies in such sort, (supposing that G.o.d had sent helpe) as of their owne accord, they sought for conditions of peace, and left the field.

[Footnote q: _Dion. Ca.s.sius Romana Historiae, lib. 60. in Claudio._]

The narration of _Olaus[r] Magnus_ which he maketh of his Northerne Wisards and Witches, would seeme to be meere fictions, and altogether incredible, as of _Ericus_, who had the winde at command, to blow alwayes from that quarter to which he would set his hat. Or _Hagbert_, who could shew herselfe in any shape, higher or lower, as she pleased, at one time so great as a Giant, at another as little as a Dwarfe: by whose Diabolicall practises mighty Armies haue beene dicomfited, and sundry others, except the truth hereof were without contradiction approued: by the experience of our owne Nauigators, who trade in _Finland_, _Denmarke_, _Lapland_, _Ward-house_, _Norway_, and other Countries of that Climate, and haue obtained of the inhabitants thereof, a certaine winde for twenty dayes together, or the like fixed period of time, according to the distance of place and strings tied with three knots, so that if one were loosed, they should haue a pleasant gale: if the second, a more vehement blast: if the third, such hideous & raging tempests that the Mariners were not able once to looke out, to stand vpon the hatches, to handle their tackle, or to guide the helme with all their strength; and are somtimes violently carried back to the place from whence they first loosed to sea; and many (more hardy then wise) haue bought their triall full deere, opening those knots, and neglecting admonition giuen to the contrary. _Apuleius_ ascribeth to _Pamphile_, a Witch of _Thessalia_, little lesse then diuine power to effect strange wonders in heauen, in earth, in h.e.l.l; to darken the starres, stay the course of riuers, dissolue mountains, and raise vp spirits, this opinion went for currant and vncontrouled. And without all question the Diuell[s] can do this and much more, when G.o.d letteth him loose. For he is stiled, _The Prince of the world_, _Ioh. 12. 31_. _A strong man armed_, _Luke 11. 21_, _Princ.i.p.ality_, _a ruler of darknesse_, _spirituall wickednesse in high places_, _Ephes. 6. 12_.

[Footnote r: _Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus, lib. 3. cap.

13.14.15.16.17.18.19._]

[Footnote s: _De potestate D[e,]monum Aquinas in Summa parte 1, quest 110. Binfeldius in t.i.tulum codicis de maleficis & mathematicis. Zanchius de operibus creationis, part. 1. lib. 4.

cap. 10.11.12. Danaus in Isagoge, parte 2. de Angelis bonis & malis._]

Thus he dismaied the heart of _Saul_ (when he had broken the Commandement of G.o.d) with dreadfull feare, and enraged his minde with bloudy fury, _1. Sam. 16. 14_. Entred into _Iudas_, prouoked him to betray his maister, dispaire and hang himselfe, _Math. 27. 3._ filled the heart of _Ananias_ and _Saphira_ with dissimulation,_Act. 5. 3._ possessed the bodies of many really, as is manifest in the History of the Gospell. Our Sauiour Christ a.s.sureth vs, that a daughter of _Abraham_ was bound for 18 yeares by Sathan, with such a spirit of infirmitie, as bowed together, shee could in no wise lift vp herselfe, _Luk. 13. 11.16_. He spake out of the _Pythonesse_, _Act. 16. 17._ brought downe fire from heauen, and consumed _Iobs_ sheepe 7000. and his seruants, raised a storme, strooke the house wherein his sonnes and daughters feasted with their elder brother, smote the foure corners of it, with the ruine whereof they all were destroyed, and perished: and ouerspread the body of that holy Saint their father with botches[t] and biles from the sole of his foot to the crowne of his head.[u] And hee wil haue his seruants Wisards & Witches, coadiutors with him, and maketh them fit instruments to the performance of all wicked exploits, and this is when G.o.d pleaseth (of which I shall haue occasion to speake more afterward) to giue leaue, for his wil is the first supreme and princ.i.p.al cause of all things: and nothing can be done visibly in this Common-wealth here below of the creatures, but is decreed and determined so to be first in the high Court of Heauen, according to his vnsearchable wisedome and iustice, disposing punishments and rewards as seemeth good vnto himselfe. So _Pharaohs_[x] Magitians could turne water into bloud, their roddes into serpents, produce frogges, &c. But when it came to the base vermine, to make lice, they were pusled, and acknowledged their imbecillity, confessing, _Digitus Dei est_,[u] G.o.ds finger is here, _Exod. 18. 19_. For if they could effect and bring to pa.s.se all mischieuous designements without his sufferance, it would inferre a weakenesse, and conclude a defect of[z] power in him, as not sufficient to oppose their strength, supplant their force, and auoid their stratagems. And we must not imagine that the practioners of these d.a.m.nable Arts of which s.e.xe soeuer, be they men or women, do performe those mischifes which they effect, by their owne skills or such meanes as they vse, of which sort bee the bones of dead mens skuls, Toades, Characters, Images, &c. But through the cooperation of the Diuell, who is by nature subtile, by long experience instructed, swift to produceth strange works, & to humane vnderstanding admirable. Yet[aa] he will haue those his va.s.sals perswaded of some great benefit bestowed vpon them, whereby they are inabled to helpe and hurt, whom, how, and when they list; and all to indeere them, & by making them partakers in his villany, being strongly bound in his seruice, & stedfastly continued in the same, might more grieuously offend G.o.d, and bring iust condemnation vpon themselues. And for the greater, and more forceable inticing allurement hereunto, hee promiseth to giue and doe many things for their sakes, and reueale to them hidden secrets, and future euents, such[bb]

as he himselfe purposeth to doe, or knoweth by naturall signes shall come to pa.s.se. So then to conclude, in[cc] euery Magicall action, there must be a concurrence of these three. First, the permitting will of G.o.d.

Secondly, the suggestion of the Diuell, and his power cooperating.

Thirdly, the desire and consent of the Sorcerer; and if[dd] any of these be wanting, no trick of witch-craft can be performed. For if G.o.d did not suffer it, neither the Diuell, nor the Witch could preuaile to do any thing, no not so much as to hurt one[ee] bristle of a Swine. And if the Diuell had not seduced the minde of the wicked woman, no such matter would haue beene attempted. And againe, if hee had not the Witch to bee his instrument, the Diuell were debarred of his purpose.

[Footnote t: _Vlcus pessim[~u] extensiue quia per totum corpus diffusum, & intensiue, quia in eo omnis morbi & doloris comprehensio vide Mercerum in cap. 2. Iobi._]

[Footnote u: _Regula Theologorum Quecunque possunt D[e,]mones possunt etiam magi & malefici eius opera, hinc & illi tempestates exitant Virgilius Ecologa 4._ Carmina vel c[oe]lo possunt deducere Lunam: Carminibus Circe socios mutauit Vlyssis, Frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur Anguis, &c.

_Et de se Iactans Medea apud Ouidium Lib. 7. Metamorphose+o+n._ c.u.m volui ripis ipsis mirantibus; amnes In fontes rediere suos, concussaque sisto, Stantia concutio cantu freta, nubila pello, Nubilaque iudico.

_Apud Virgilium Dido Annam sororem alloquitur._ --Mihi Ma.s.silae gentis monstrata sacerdos, Haec se carminibus promitt.i.t soluere mentes Sistere aquam fluvijs, & flumina vertere retro.

_Et Brachmanius Nonnus Dionysiacon, lib. 36. +ouranothen katagontes epharmaxanto Selenen, astatheos phaethontes anestesanto pareien+ De Marco heretico & mago stupenda referunt Irenaeus contra hereses. lib. * cap. 9. & Epiphanius 3. tom.

lib. 1._]

[Footnote x: _Iannes, Iambres, 2. Timot. 3._]

[Footnote y: _Vide Nicolaum Lyranum in & additionem Burgensis, & replicam correctorij contra Burgensem._]

[Footnote z: _Diabolus Deo perpetuo aduersatur voluntate & actu non semper effectu: id est, Intentio semper est mala, etsi non semper ex animi sui sententia maium perficere possit Deo illud vertente in bonum. Aug de Ciuit. Dei, lib. * cap. 35 & de trinitate lib. 3. cap. 8._]

[Footnote aa: _Iaquerius in flagello hereticorum fafcinariorum, cap. 15._]

[Footnote bb: _Augustinus de diuinatione Daemonum._]

[Footnote cc: _Binfeldius de confessionibus maleficorum vnde magorum operationes vim suam habent plenissimam. Aquinas Summa contra gentes, lib. 3. cap. 105. & eius in eum loc.u.m commentator Franciscus de siluestris._]

[Footnote dd: _Tritemius in libro responsionum ad qu[e,]stiones Maximiliani Imperatoris qu[e,]stione. Cyrillus Catechismo 4 ad illuminatos, Arbitrium incitare potest Diabolus cogere omnino preter voluntatem non potest._]

[Footnote ee: _Tertul. de fuga in Persecutione._]

And as these euill spirits are in themselues different in power, vnderstanding, and subtiltie: so can their seruants do more or lesse through their meanes.

I conclude with that memorable speech of a most n.o.ble and learned man,[ff] The Diuell is the Author and princ.i.p.all of all that euill which the Witch or Wisard committeth, not thereby to make them more powerfull, but to deceiue them by credulity and ouer-light beliefe, and to get himselfe a companion of his impiety, cruelty, and hatred, which he beareth both to G.o.d and man; and also of eternall d.a.m.nation: for indeed it is his worke, which the foolish and doating wisards coniecture is brought to pa.s.se by the words and inchantments which they vtter: and is very busie thus to colour his proceedings, which neuer come abroad in their owne likenesse, because he enuieth the blessed estate of man, and his eternall saluation purchased by the perfect obedience of Christ the Redeemer, and hateth that Image of G.o.d which hee beholdeth in him; much like the Panther,[gg] who when hee cannot get hold of the man himselfe, is so inflamed with rage, that he teareth his picture in peeces violently which is cast vpon the ground to hinder his pursuit of the hunter who hath carried away his whelpes. And [hh]so as _Lactantius_ speaketh, these vncleane spirits cast from heauen, wander vp and downe the earth, compa.s.se land and sea, seeking to bring men to destruction as a consort of their owne desperate and irrecouerable estate.

[Footnote ff: _Iulius Scaliger de subtilitate, ad Cardanum, exercitatione 349. an venefici credulitas vim addat malefice._]

[Footnote gg: _Basilius Homilia 21. in diuersos Scriptura locos sermone habito in non procul a fine._]

[Footnote hh: _Lib. 2. qui est de origine erroris cap. 15._]

_The fourth Proposition._

Hauing shewed before, that the pracise of Witches receiueth the being and perfection from that[a] agreement which is made betweene them and Diuell, it now followeth necessarily, that we do enquire whether it bee possible that there may be any such agreement and league betweene them.

The cause of doubt ariseth from the diuersity or disparity of their natures, the one being a corporall substance, the other spirituall, vpon which ground some[b] haue supposed that no such contract can pa.s.se: But we are to hold the contrary affirmatiue, both _de esse_, and _de posse_, that there may be, and is, notwithstanding this difference of essence, a mutuall contract of the one with the other: for we read of sundry leagues between G.o.d & his people, and some with great solemnitie of ceremonies vsed in the same, a[c] _Genesis 15. 9.17._ and _Deut. 5. 2._ and in many other like places, yet is hee a simple essence,[d] free from all diuision, multiplication, composition, accidents, incorporeall, spirituall, and inuisible. But in Angelicall creatures, though there be no Physicall composition of matter and forme, or a soule and a body; yet is there a metaphysicall, being substances consisting of an act and possibility, subiect and accidents. And furthcr, betweene a spirit and a man, there is communication of the vnderstanding and will, the faculties and actions whereof must concurre in euery couenant, which is nothing else but the consent of two or more persons about the thing.

[Footnote a: _Nauarrus in Manuali confessarior. cap. 11 in primum decalogi praeceptum._]

[Footnote b: _Ioh. Wierus, totum hoc fict.i.tium putat & fondus imaginarimum, & impossibile putat, idque pa.s.sim in suis libris praecipue autem de Lamijs, cap. 7. 8. & 23. & de pr[e,]stigijs Daemon[~u], lib. 6. c. 27, & c. Hunc refutant erudite. Binfeldo confessionibus maleficorum, & Thomas Erastus de Lamijs._]

[Footnote c: _De his ceremonijs similiae, Ier. cap. 34. 18. & multa Cyrillus contra Iulianum & Procopius Gazaeus in hunc loc.u.m & Augustinus._]

[Footnote d: _Pala.n.u.s Syntagmatis Theologie, l. 2. cap. 8._]