A Treatise of Witchcraft Part 7

[Footnote pp: _Procopius Gazeus in Leuitic.u.m._]

_The ninth Proposition, and second Corrolary._

There hath alwayes beene some wanton, or peruerse wits, who only to make triall of their skill, would take in hand to defend absurd positions, and commend both such things and persons, which were infamous, and contemptible as [a]_Phauorinus_ writ the praise of the Quartane Ague, one of the gout, blindnesse, and deafness, [b]_Lucian_ of a flye, [c]_Erasmus_ of folly, [d]_Synesius_ of baldnesse, [e]_Glaucus_ in _Plato_ of iniustice. And among the exercises of the [f]ancient Orators, wee finde those who strained all their vnderstanding to blaze the honour of that witlesse and deformed Coward _Thersites_. And this they haue performed with great Art and eloquence, onely to shew their faculty, but neuer in good earnest took such a matter in hand. And therefore more deeply is hee to be censured, who hath made himselfe an aduocate to plead the cause of [g]Witches, and defend th[~e] as innocent. And because this is a dangerous example, and doth draw those who are euill affected to offend, hoping for patronage of their impiety, I adde for conclusion this last proposition: Wisards, Witches, and the whole rabble of Sorcerers (no kinde excepted) are iustly liable[h] to extreame punishment. The arguments alleaged for proofe hereof, are many: I will make choyce of a few (with reference to such authors in whose writings more may bee found) and those which are most[i] demonstratiue.

[Footnote a: _Phauorinus apud Agellium. lib. 17. cap. 12._]

[Footnote b: _Luciani encomion musc[e,]._]

[Footnote c: _Erasmus._]

[Footnote d: _Synesius._]

[Footnote e: _Lib. 2 de Republica._]

[Footnote f: _Extat eius laudatio inter exempla exercitationum Rhetorum ab Henrico Stephano editarum c.u.m Polemonis & Himerij declamationibus._]

[Footnote g: _Wierus._]

[Footnote h: _Simlerus in 22 Exodi._]

[Footnote i: Of these all the following reasons. _Binfeldius de confessionibus maleficorum, & in Commentarijs ad t.i.tulum legis de maleficis & mathematicis copiose. Remigius de D[e,]monologia, lib.

3. cap. vltimo. Peucerus de pr[e,]cipuis Diuinationum generibus.

Erastus de Lamijs. Bodinus Daemonomanias lib. 4. cap. 5._]

First, G.o.d himselfe hath enacted that p[oe]nall statute, _Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue. Exod. 22 18._ and nameth here a [k]woman practising this d.a.m.nable Art for two reasons: First, they are more inclinable hereunto then man. Secondly, that though their fault may seeme, as being the weaker, excuseable, and is in this respect extenuated by some, yet is not therefore to bee spared, whether of that sort which they call [l]good, or bad (for so are they distinguished) & there be some who neuer brought[m] harme vpon any in body, goods, or minde. The cause of this so sharpe a doome, is their compacting with the Diuell, openly or secretly, whereby they couenant to vse his helpe, in fulfilling their desires, and by this meanes make themselues guilty of horrible impiety: for in this they renounce the Lord, who hath created them; make no account of his fauour and protection, cut themselues off from the couenant made with him in baptisme, from the communion of Saints, the true fellowship and seruice of G.o.d; and on the contrary yeeld themselues by this confederacy, to Sathan, as their G.o.d (and therefore nothing more frequent and vsuall in their mouthes, then my G.o.d will do this and that for me) him they continually feare and honour. And thus do at the last become professed enemies both to G.o.d and Man. You may adde to this former law, that which is _Leuit. 19. 26._ & _cap. 6_.

_You shall vse no inchantment: the soule that turneth after such as haue familiar spirits, and are Wisards, to goe a whooring after them, I will set my face against that soule, and will cut him off from among his people, &c._ Againe, _Deut. 18. 10_. _There shall not bee found among you any that vseth Diuination, nor an obseruer of times, or an inchanter, or a Witch, or a Charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, a Wisard, or Necromancer._ And that G.o.d might shew how[n] much _Mana.s.ses_ had prouoked him to wrath, through his transcendent and outragious sinnes in the Catalogue thereof, his conspiring with Diuels is mentioned _1. King 21. 8_. And therefore is depriued of his kingdome, bound in fetters, and carried captiue vnto _Babel_, _2. Chron. 33.

6.11._ and though he repented of these outragious and enormious transgressions, yet G.o.d would not bee appeased for them fiftie yeares after he was dead, _Ierem. 15. 4._

[Footnote k: _Hironimus Oleaster in loc.u.m, & Iunius & Tremelius in eundem._]

[Footnote l: _Perkins_ of Witch-craft.]

[Footnote m: _Binfeldius in Commentarium ad t.i.tulum codicis de Mathematicis & Maleficis._]

[Footnote n: _G.o.delmannus de Magis & veneficis, lib. 3. cap. 11.

n. 14. 15. 16. & seq._]

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 const.i.tution 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 G.o.d, are extraordinarily to be punished.

And concerning this particular, S. _Augustin_ discourseth excellently, worthy to be read, _de ciu. dei. l. 8. c. 19._

[Footnote o: _Anonymus de Mosaicarum & Romanarum legum collatione t.i.tulo. 15._]

[Footnote p: _Const.i.tutiones criminales Caroli 5^i. a Georgio Ramo edita cap. 44. 109. & 177_ Such are exempted from all benefit of those pardons which Princes vse to giue to other malefactors.

_Fornerius ad legem 236. in t.i.tulo de verborum significatione, vide illum nam multa erudite scribit, ad propositum nostrum pertinentia._]

Thirdly, G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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.

[Footnote q: _Anno Domini_ 1312. whose order began 1123. _Thomas Walsingham_ in the life of K. _Edward_ the 2^d, in his English history, an in his _Hypodigma Neustri[e,]_.]

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 l.u.s.ts, 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 G.o.d 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 pa.s.se, by pretending naturall meanes, which exceedeth the power of Nature, and is now thereunto enabled eyther by G.o.d, 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.

[Footnote r: _Pythagoras apud Stobaeum._]

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, Mathemat.i.tians,[s] and Magitians by the Decree of the Senate were expelled out of all Italy: and amongst these _Pitua.n.u.s_ 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 _Ammia.n.u.s[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.

[Footnote s: _Tacitus annalium li. 2. & consule Lipsium in suis ad eum cmentarijs._]

[Footnote t: _Valerius Maximus li. 6. ca 3. Remigius Daemonolog.

l. 3. c. *_]

[Footnote u: _Demosthenes orat. 1. contra Aristogitonem._]

[Footnote x: _Libr. 16._ not farre from the beginning.]

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.

[Footnote y: _Bonfinius rerum Hungaricarum decadis 2. libr. 2._]

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 n.o.ble [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 vnG.o.dly for man to be remisse and fauourable vnto those whom diuine piety, and our duety to G.o.d 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.

[Footnote z: _Allaricus apud Ca.s.siodorum li. 9 epist. 18. in qua edictum illius:_ and _Cornelius Agrippa_, sometime more then well acquainted with this Art, doth retract his owne books written of secret philosophy, & in plaine tearms and expresly giues his iudgement, that all these lewd women (for this t.i.tle may include the whole rabble of this blacke Guard) with _Iannes_ and _Iambres_, and _Simon Magus_, are to be tormented with endlesse paines in eternall fire. _Cornelius Agrippa De vanitate Scientiarum ca. 48._]

_FINISH.