5Sam.     You are well mette olde acquaintance,
6I am glad to
7see you looke so well, howe
8doe all our good friendes
9in your Countrey.

10Dan.     I trust they be all in
11good health, they were
12when I came from home,
13I am sorry to see you looke
14so pale, what haue you beene sicke lately?

15Sam.     Truely no, I thanke God I haue had my health
16pretily well, but yet me thinke my meate doth me no good
17of late.

18Dan.     What is the matter man, doe you take thought
19and care for the world? take heede of that, for the Scripture
20saith, worldly sorrow worketh death. 2. Cor.7.10.
21It is a great sinne rising from vnbeleefe, and distrust in
22Gods prouidence, when men be ouer pensiue for the world.

23Sam.     In deede my minde is troubled, but not for that
24which you say, for I hope in God I shall not want so long
25as I liue.

26Dan.     Is it any trouble of conscience for sinne? If it
27be, that may turne to good.

28Sam.     O, no, no. I know no cause why.

29Dan.     Why, what is it then, if I maybe so bold, I pray

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30you tell me. I thinke you take me for your friend.

31Sam.     In deede I haue alwaies found you my very good
32friend, and I am sure you will giue me the best counseil
33you can, truely we dwell here in a bad countrey, I think euen
34one of the worst in England.

35Dan.     Is it so? I thinke you dwell in a fine countrey,
36in a sweete wholesome aire and fruitfull grounds.

37Sam.     Aire man? I finde no fault with the aire, there
38be naughty people.

39Dan.     Naughty people? where shall a man dwell, and
40not finde them? Swearers, liars, raylers, liaunderers,
41drunckards, adulterers, riotous, vnthriftes, dicers, and
42proude high minded persons, are euery where to be founde
43in great plenty.

44Sam.     Nay, I doe not meane them, I care not for them.
45These witches, these euill fauoured old witches doe trouble
46me.

47Dan.     What doe you take your selfe to be bewitched?

48Sam.     No, no, I trust no euill spirite can hurt me, but
49I heare of much harme done by them: they lame men and
50kill their cattle, yea they destroy both men and children.
51They say there is scarce any towne or village in all this
52shire, but there is one or two witches at the least in it. In
53good sooth, I may tell it to you as to my friend, when I
54goe but into my closes, I am afraide, for I see nowe
55and then a Hare; which my conscience giueth me is a
56witch, or some witches spirite, shee stareth so vppon me.
57And sometime I see an ugly weasell runne through my
58yard, and there is a foule great catte sometimes in my
59Barne, which I haue no liking vnto.

60Dan.     You neuer had no hurt done yet, had you by any
61witch?

62Sam.     Trust me I cannot tell, but I feare me I haue,

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63for there be two or three in our towne which I like not, but
64especially an old woman, I haue beene as careful to please
65her as euer I was to please mine own mother, and to giue
66her euer anon one thing or other, and yet me thinkes shee
67frownes at me now and then. And I had a hogge which
68eate his meate with his fellowes and was very well to our
69thinking ouer night, and in the morning he was starke
70dead. My wife hath had fiue or sixe hennes euen of late
71dead. Some of my neighbours wishe me to burne some
72thing aliue, as a henne or a hogge. Others will me in time
73to seeke helpe at the handes of some cunning man, before
74I haue any further harme. I wold be glad to do for the best.

75Dan.     Haue you any cunning man hereabout, that doth
76helpe?

77Sam.     There is one, they say, here a twenty miles of at
78T.B. which hath holpe many. And thus much I know,
79there was one of mine acquaintance but two miles hence,
80which had great losses, he lost two or three kine; six hogs,
81he would not haue tooke fifteene shillings a hog for them,
82and a mare. He went to that same man, and told him hee
83suspected an old woman in the parish. And I think he told
84me, that he shewed him her in a Glasse, and tolde him shee
85had three or foure imps, some call them puckrels, one like
86a gray catte, an other like a weasell, an other like a mouse,
87a vengeance take them, it is a great pitty the countrey is
88not ridde of them, and told him also what he shoulde doe,
89it is halfe a yeare agoe, and he neuer had any hurt since.
90There is also a woman at R.H. fiue and twenty miles
91hence, that hath a great name, and great resort there is
92dayly vnto her. A neighbour of mine had his childe taken
93lame, a girle of ten yeares olde, and such a paine in her
94backe, that shee could not sit upright. He went to that
95woman, she tolde him he had some badde neighbour, the
96childe was forespoken, as he suspected; marry if he would
97goe home, and bring her som of the clothes which the child

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98lay in all night, shee would tell him certainely. He went
99home, and put a table Napkin about her necke all night,
100and in the morning tooke it with him, and shee told him the
101girle was bewitched in deede, and so told him what hee
102should doe, and he had remedy, the girle is as wel at this
103day, and a pretty quicke girle. There was another of my
104neighbours had his wife much troubled, and he went to
105her, and shee tolde him, his wife was haunted with a fairy.
106I cannot tell what she bad him doe, but the woman is mery
107at this howre. I haue heard, I dare not say it is so, that
108shee weareth about her Sainct Iohns Gospel, or some part
109of it.

110Dan.     If you haue such cunning men and women, what
111neede you be so much afraide?

112Sam.     Alas man, I could teeme it to goe, and some counsell
113me to goe to the man at T.B. and some to the woman
114at R.H. And betweene them both I haue lingred the
115time, and feare I may be spoiled before I get remedy.
116Some wishe me to beate and claw the witch vntill I fetch
117bloud on her, and to threaten her that I will haue her hanged,
118if I knew which were the best I would doe it.

119Dan.     I perceiue your danger is betweene two stooles.

120Sam.     It is very true, if I had heard but of one, I
121should haue gone ere this time, and I am glad that I met
122with you. I pray you let me haue your best counsell; I
123trust you beare me good will.

124Dan.     Truely I will giue you the best counsell I can,
125which I am sure shall doe you good, if you will followe it,
126for in deede I pitty your case, it is most certaine you are
127bewitched.

128Sam.     Bewitched, doe you thinke I am bewitched? I
129feele no harme in my body, you make me more afraide.

130Dan.     Nay I doe not thinke that the olde woman hath
131bewitched you, or that your body is bewitched, but the diuell
132hath bewitched your minde, with blindnes and vnbeleefe,

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133to draw you from God, euen to worship himselfe, by
134seeking help at the hands of deuils. It is a lamentable case
135to see how the deuill hath bewitched thousands at this day
136to run after him: and euen to offer sacrifice vnto him.

137Sam.     I defie the deuill, worship him? fie vpon him, I
138hate him with all my hart. Do you thinke any seeke help at
139his hands? we seek help against him. I think he neuer doth
140good, he hurteth, but he neuer helpeth any.

141Dan.     It is not in these matters to be taken as wee imagine,
142but as the word of God teacheth. What though
143a man think he worshippeth not deuils, nor seeketh not help
144at their handes, as he is persuaded, nor hath any such intent,
145is he euer the neere, when as yet it shall be found by
146Gods word, that he doth worship them, and seek vnto them
147for help?

148Sam.     Doe you thinke then that there be no witches?
149Doth not God suffer wicked people to do harme? Or doe
150you thinke that the cunning men doe helpe by the deuill? I
151would be glad to reason with you, but I haue smal knowledge
152in the scripturs. We haue a Schoolemaister that is
153a good pretie scholler, they say, in the Latine tongue, one
154M. B. he is gone to my house euen now, I pray you let me
155intreat you to go thither, you two may reason the matter,
156for you are learned.

157Dan.     I could be content, but it will aske some time,
158and I am going to such a place vpon speciall busines.

159Sam.     I pray you let mee intreat you: foure or five
160houres is not so much.

161Dan.     Well, I will goe with you.

162Sam.     Wife, I haue brought an olde friend of mine, I
163pray thee bid him welcome.

164The wife.     He is verie welcome. But trulie man, I
165am angrie with you, and halfe out of patience, that you go
166not to seeke helpe against yonder same olde beast I haue another
167hen dead this night. Other men can seeke remedy.

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168Here is M. B. tels me, that the good wife R. all the laste
169weeke could not make her butter come. She neuer rested
170vntil she had got her husbande out to the woman at R.H.
171and when he came home, they did but heat a spit red hotte,
172and thrust into the creame, vsing certaine wordes, as shee
173willed him, and it came as kindly as anie butter that euer
174she made. I met the old filth this morning Lord, how sowerlie
175she looked vpon me, & mumbled as she went, I heard
176part of her wordes. Ah (quod she) you haue an honest man
177to your husband, I heare how he doth vse me. In trueth,
178husband, my stomacke did so rise against her, that I coulde
179haue found in my heart to haue flowen vpon her, and scratched
180her, but that I feared she would be too strong for me.
181It is a lustie olde queane. I wished that the good wife R.
182had bene with me. I pray you, good husbande, let me intreat
183you to goe to that same good woman, you may ride
184thither in halfe a day.

185Sam.     Wife, I pray thee be content, I haue intreated
186this mine olde friend to reason with M. B. for he tels mee
187that we be in a verie foule errour.

188M.B.     I suppose, so farre as my learning and capacitie
189doe extend, that small reasoning may serue. The worde
190of God doeth shew plainlie that there be witches, & commaundeth
191they should be put to death. Experience hath
192taught too too manie, what harmes they doe. And if anie
193haue the gift to minister help against them, shall we refuse
194it? Shall we not drinke when we are a thirst? Shall wee
195not warme vs when wee are a colde? It is pitie that anie
196man should open his mouth anie way to defend them, their
197impietie is so great.

198Dan.     For my part, I go not about to defend witches,
199I denie not but that the deuill worketh by them. And that
200they ought to be put to death. We ought also to seeke remedie
201against them: but as I told my friend, the deuil doth
202bewitch men by meanes of these witches, and lead them

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203from God, euen to follow himself, to offer sacrifice vnto him
204to worship him, to obey his wil, to commit manie grieuous
205sinnes, and to be drowned in manifold errours.

206M.B.     If you haue this meaning, that witches and
207sorcerers ar bewitched by the deuil, that they forsake God,
208and follow him, that they worship and obey him, and doe
209sacrifice vnto him, and commit manie hainous sinnes, I agree
210with you, for I tak it, they euen vow themselues to the
211deuill, or els he would not be so readie to doe them seruice.
212But if you mean, that such as seek remedie against them, &
213wold haue them rooted out, be so seduced and mis-led by the
214deuill, as you speake, I say your speach is rash and foolish,
215for they that be earnest against witches, be earnest against
216the deuil, they defie the deuil, they seek to resist him, and to
217roote out his instruments. Now, if you were a man that
218had any learning, you should see, that contraries cannot be
219in the same subiect, at one instant, in the same part, and in
220the same respect: how then can a man hate the deuill, defie
221the deuill and his workes, and yet follow him at one time?

222Dan.     I know that witches and coniurers are seduced
223and become the vassals of Satan: they be his seruants, and
224not he theirs, as you speake. But I mean indeed that multitudes
225are seduced and led from God, to follow the deuil,
226by means of witches & coniurers: yea, I speak it of those,
227not which are carfed of a godlie zeale, but of a blinde rage
228and mad furie against them. If I speake this rashlie and
229foolishlie, as you say, and your self learned as you boast, and
230I vnlearned, I shall be the more easilie ouerthrowne. But
231I speake so truly, and can so well iustifie all that I haue
232said by the word of God, that your learning and best skill,
233shall not be able to disprooue the same. Your logicke at the
234first doth faile you. Not that contraries can be in the same
235subiect at the same instant, in the same part, and in the
236same respect. But herein you are vtterly blinde and deceiued,
237that you name contraries, and take it that the first of

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238them, as namelie, to hate the deuill, to defie him and his
239workes, are in them, when as indeed they are in them but
240in imagination. For if men say and think they defie the deuill
241and his workes, and through blindnes and infidelitie,
242are euen bewitched, and seduced to followe the deuill, and
243to do his will, doth their speach and blinde imagination
244make the things indeed to be in them? What if a poore begger
245woman say and thinke that she is a Queene: is she therfore
246no begger, begging still her bread? or is she rid of her
247lice?

248M.B.     Nay, if you iudge, I haue done. If men be earnest
249against the deuill, and defie him and all his workes,
250are you to iudge of their conscience, and to say they defie
251him but in imagination, and follow him, and worship him
252in deede? is not God alone the iudge ouer mens hearts?
253Againe, do you compare those that are in their right mind,
254with such as be mad, or out of their wits?

255Dan.     I knowe that God alone is the searcher of the
256heart, touching the thinges which lie hid in secrete: But
257where things are open and manifest, the tree is known by
258the fruits, so far as we may goe. As if a man professe the
259faith of Iesus Christ soundlie, in all pointes according to
260the word of God, and doth frame his life thereafter in doing
261good workes: it is verie wicked for anie man to iudge
262of him, that he is an hypocrite, and that he doth all of vaine
263glorie. And yet it may be that the Lord, who discerneth the
264secrete intents of the heart, seeth indeed that he is but an
265hypocrite. On the contrarie parte, where a man professeth
266in wordes that he doeth defie the deuill and all his workes,
267and yet when it commeth to the triall of Gods word, hee is
268found to be seduced, and wrapped in blinde errours of the
269deuill, in infidelitie, and euill works, in which he fulfilleth
270the will of Satan, and honoureth him in the place of God:
271Shal we say that this is a good man because of his words
272and imagination, that he defieth the deuill and his works?

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273Wo be to them that cal good euil, and euil good. Esa.5.
274We may say they are in bad case, except they repent, and
275turne from following Satan. But yet I say, that a faithful
276man may erre in some of these thinges through weaknesse
277of faith, and through ignorance. And therefore, here men
278may not be too rash in iudgment. And now wheras you find
279fault, that I make comparison between such as be mad and
280those that be in their right mind it is your ignora~ce, which
281do not consider that ther be two kinds of madnes, or being
282out of their right mind, the one for matters of this worlde,
283the other for thinges spirituall and heauenlie. There bee
284which are in their wittes for this worlde, which touching
285spirituall things are as farre awrie in their imaginations,
286as the poore beggar, which thinketh she is a goodlie queene.
287Doth not the holie Apostle say, that because men receiue
288not the loue of the truth, God wil send them strong delusion
289to beleeue lies. 2.Thess.2 . And what is that, but
290that Satan shall seduce, illude and bewitch their minds, to
291make them beleeue that they worshippe and follow God,
292when they worship and follow him?

293M.B,     Doe you take that to be S. Paules meaning?
294Doth Satan bewitch mens mindes, and leade them into
295falsehoode and errour, making them beleeue they worshipp
296God, when they worship deuils?

297Dan.     S. Paul speaketh there indeed of the comming
298of the great Antichrist in the power of the Deuill. Nowe,
299those which are seduced and worship Antichrist, think they
300worship God: but marke what S. Iohn sayth, All the
301world wondred, and followed the beast, and worshipped
302the dragon which gaue power to the beast: & they
303worshipped the beast. Reuelat.13 . And looke in the 12.
304chapter of the Reuelation, and you shall find that the Dragon,
305which the Popery doth worship in stead of God, is the
306Deuill.

307M.B.     Trulie I like your wordes well, I am persuaded

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308the deuill doth seduce and bewitch mens mindes: But
309touching these that seek help at the hands of cunning men
310and women against witches, I cannot thinke so hardlie of
311them. I may be awry, I see well: I will not be obstinate, if
312the word of God shew me mine errour. Let vs euen friendly
313conferre of the matter. Be not offended with me, and for
314my part, I will speake all that I knowe or thinke.

315Dan.     I must intreate you likewise to beare with my
316plaine speaches. And let vs in the matters proceede from
317one point to another, standing onlie vpon that, wherein we
318shall be found to differ in iudgment. And let Gods word be
319the Iudge betweene vs.

320Sam.     I like this wel, though I can say but litle, I wil
321sit and heare you.

322Dan.     What is the first question that we shal handle?
323M.B. I heard you say, if I did not mistake your speach
324that there be witches that worke by the deuill. But yet I
325pray you tell me, doe you think there be such? I know some
326are of opinion there be none.

327Dan.     It is so euident by the Scriptures, and in all experience,
328that there be witches which worke by the deuill,
329or rather I may say, the deuill worketh by them, that such
330as go about to prooue the contrarie, doe shewe themselues
331but cauillers.

332M.B.     I am glad we agree in that point, I hope we shall
333in the rest. What say you to this? that the witches haue
334their spirits, some hath one, some hath more, as two, three,
335foure, or fiue, some in one likenesse, and some in another,
336as like cattes, weasils, toads, or mise, whome they nourish
337with milke, or with a chicken, or by letting them sucke now
338and then a drop of blood: whome they call when they be offended
339with anie, and lend them to hurt them in their bodies;
340yea, to kill them, and to kill their cattell?

341Dan.     Here is great deceit, and great illusion, here
342the deuil leadeth the ignorant people into foule errours,

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343by which hee draweth them hedlong into manie grieuous
344sinnes.

345Sam.     Indeed it is my desire that you woulde speake a
346litle playner of these poyntes: for I haue marked well all
347your talke, and cannot well conceiue of the last things you
348dealt in. With your leaue M. B. I would aske two or
349three questions of my friend. Here was but seuen miles
350hence at W.H. one N. the man was of good wealth, and
351well accounted of among his neighbours. He pined away
352with sicknes halfe a yeare, and at last died. After hee was
353dead, his wife suspected ill dealing: she went to a cunning
354man, I know not where, and desired to know whereof her
355husband died. He told her that her husband died of witcherie:
356he asked her if she did not suspect any therabout. She
357sayd there was one woman which she did not like, one mother
358W. her husband and she fell out, and he fell sick within
359two dayes after, and neuer recouered again. He shewed

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360her the woman as plaine in a glasse, as we see one another,
361and in the very apparell she went in at that hower, for shee
362ware an old red cappe with corners, such as women were
363wont to weare; and in that she appeared in the glasse: Hee
364taught her how she might bring her to confesse. Well, she
365followed his counsell, went home, caused her to be apprehended
366and caried before a Iustice of peace. He examined
367her so wisely, that in the end she confessed shee killed the
368man. She was sent to prison, she was arraigned, condemned,
369and executed: And vpon the ladder shee seemed very
370penetent, desiring all the world to forgiue her. She said
371she had a spirit in the likenes of a yellow dun catte. This
372catte came vnto her, as she said, as she sat by her fire, when
373she was fallen out with a neighbour of hers, and wished
374that the vengeance of God might light vpon him and his.
375The catte bad her not be affraid, she wold do her no harme:
376She had serued a dame fiue yeares in Kent, that was now
377dead, and if she would, she would be her seruant. And wheras,
378said the Cat, such a man hath misused thee, if thou wilt
379I will plague him in his cattell. She sent the Cat, she killed
380three hogs and one Cow. The man suspecting, burnt a
381pig aliue, and as she said, her cat wold neuer go thither any
382more. Afterward she fel out with that N. She sent her Cat,
383who told her, that she had giuen him that, which hee should
384neuer recouer: and indeed the man died. Now doe you not
385thinke the woman spake the trueth in all this? Would the
386woman accuse her selfe falsely at her death? Did not the
387Cat become her seruant? Did not she send her? Did shee
388not plague and kill both man and beaste? What shoulde a
389man thinke of this?

390Dan.     You propounde a particular example, and let
391vs examine euerything in it touching the witch, for the
392womans fact that went to the wise man, wee are not yet
393come to that point. You say the Cat came to her when she
394was in a great rage with one of her neighbours, and did

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395curse, wishing the vengeance of God to fall vpon him and
396his.

397Sam.     She said so indeede. I heard her with mine own
398ears, for I was at the execution.

399Dan.     Then tel me who set her in such a deuilish rage,
400so to curse & banne, as to with that vengeance of God
401might light vpon him and his? did not the Cat?

402Sam.     Trulie I thinke the Deuil wrought that in her.

403Dan.     Uerie well, then you see the Cat is the beginner
404of this play.

405Sam.     Cald you it a play? It was no play to some.

406Dan.     Indeed the witch at last had better haue wrought
407hard, than bene at her play. But I meane Satan did play
408the Iugler: For, doth he not offer his seruice? Doth he not
409moue her to send him to plague the man? Tell me, is she so
410forward to send, as he is to be sent? Or doe you not take it,
411that he ruleth in her heart, and euen wholly directeth it to
412this matter?

413Sam.     I am fully perswaded he ruleth her heart.

414Dan.     Then was shee his drudge, and not he her servant,
415he needeth not to be hired nor intreated, for if her hart
416were to send him any where, vnto such as he knoweth hee
417cannot hurt, nor seeth how to make any shewe that he hurteth
418them, he can quickly turne her from that. Wel, the cat
419goeth and killeth the man, certain hogs and a Cow; howe
420could she tell that the Cat did it?

421Sam.     How could she tell? why he told her man, and she
422saw and heard that he lost his cattell.

423Dan.     The Cat would lie, would she not? for they say
424such cattes are lyers.

425Sam.     I doe not trust the Cats wordes, but because the
426thing fell out so.

427Dan.     Because the hogges and the Cow died, are you
428sure the Cat did kil them, might they not die of some naturall
429causes as you see both men and beasts are well, and die

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430suddainlie?

431Sam.     That were strange, if they should die of naturall
432causes, and fall out so fit at the time after he was sent?

433Dan.     It is not straunge at all, as marke what I tell
434you and you shall easily see. There bee naturall causes of
435tortures and griefe, of lamenes, and of death in the bodies
436of men and beastes, which lie so hid and secrete, that the
437learneddest Physitians can not espie them, but the deuill
438seeth them, and can coniecture very neere the time, when
439they will take effect. Then doeth hee ply it, to bring the
440matter about that it may seeme he did it. If hee haue any
441witch to deale by, he stirreth vp some occasion to set her in
442a rage with that partie: and then he will be sent, and telleth
443her he doeth it. If he haue no witch to deale by, yet hee
444will set debate betweene the partie and some other, whom
445he may bring into suspition, as his greatest desire is to
446haue innocent bloud shed.

447Sam.     Here is a matter brought about indeed, how could
448the Cat doe all this?

449Dan.     I told you before, that the deuilles worke together,
450and can speedilie and most craftilie compasse thinges,
451which are farre beyond the reach of mans capacitie. But
452sometime the deuill hath power giuen him to plague and
453doth the harme. Admit he had power giuen him, and did
454kill the cattell of this man: let vs come nowe to that, who
455think you, gaue him the power for to strike and kill? Did
456the witch giue him the power, or the Lord God?

457Sam.     Nay surely, the witch cannot giue him power.

458Dan.     Did he receiue power after she sent him?

459Sam.     That cannot I tell.

460Dan.     The~ mark a litle: he hath power giue~ him to plague
461this man in his goods: he wil do it, but he will doe it craftily.
462The Lord gaue him power ouer the goods of holie Iob:
463he worketh by instruments, for he stirreth vp the Sabeis,
464and they take away his Oxen, and his Asses: he raiseth vp

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465also the Chaldeis, and they cary away his Camels, Iob.1 .
466Euen so, hauing power to strike, he wil be sent by a witch,
467he could doo it without her, but he gayneth much that way,
468as we shall see when wee come to speake of the remedyes
469which men seeke.

470Sam.     I wonder then that the man neuer had more hurt
471after he had burnt his pig aliue:

472Dan.     O man, the Deuill can abide no roast meate, nor
473no fire, he is affraide, if they fall a roasting, that they will
474roast him. If they run at him with a spit red hot, they gaster
475him so sore, that his dame shal go her self, if she will he
476will come no more there. But of these thinges we are to
477speake afterward in their place.

478Sam.     You make the deuill wonderfull subtill.

479Dan.     He is so subtill and full of all craft and fleight,
480that no earthly creature can escape from being seduced by
481him, without the light of Gods heauenly word. But let vs
482come now to the other man, whom the witch confessed shee
483killed by her Cat.

484Sam.     Yea, that me thinketh is more than the other,
485the woman was told by the cunning man that her husband
486was killed by witcherie. The witch confessed so much at
487her death. The Cat told the witch, that she killed him.

488Dan.     Here be a companie of credible persons to be beleeued:
489the cunning man saith the man was bewitched to
490death. Who told him that?

491Sam.     His spirite that maketh the witch appeare in the
492glasse.

493Dan.     That same Spirite, what doe you take him to
494be, an Angell, or a Deuill?

495Sam.     Some of the cunning men say, they haue Moses
496or Elias, or the Spirite of some holy man.

497Dan.     The Deuill can turne himselfe into the likenes
498of an Angell of light. For they that doe thinke the cunning
499men and women deale with any other Spirite than Satan,

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500haue no vnderstanding. Satan saith, the man was
501witched to death.

502Sam.     Satan saith so, he is not to bee beleeued, but the
503witch confesseth it was so.

504Dan.     Who told the witch?

505Sam.     Her Cat that she sent.

506Dan.     What is the Cat, a deuill? then remember the
507prouerbe, aske his fellow if he be a theefe. All the matter
508resteth vpon the testimony of deuils, and they not put to
509their oath. Wee will not ground vpon mans testimonie
510without an oath, and must we beleeue the bare worde of
511deuils?

512Sam.     Do you thinke then that the man was not killed
513by witcherie?

514Dan.     It may be the Lord had giuen Satan power to
515plague the man in his bodie, and then he vnder a colour
516would be sent by a witch. But it is most like that his bodie
517did languish and pine of naturall causes, which the deuill
518did know, and so would be sent, and seeme to do all, when as
519indeed he had no power to touch him. For, although the
520Lord giue the deuill power, to strike some in their bodies
521for their haynous sinnes, yet the most which the witches
522thinke their spirits doe kill at their request, doe die of naturall
523diseases.

524Sam.     Then it seemeth the witches are deceiued, and
525mocked, when he maketh them beleeue he doeth kill and
526plague when hee doeth not. And againe in this, where he
527hath power giuen him of God, to strike man or beast, hee
528could doe it, and would without the witch, and so vseth the
529witch for a collour to draw on worse matters.

530Dan.     I am glad you take my meaning so right: for,
531thinke deeply of the matters, and you shall see it must needs
532be so.

533Sam.     I interrupted M.B. I pray you goe forward
534now to the rest.

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535Dan.     Our matter which we come vnto nowe, is the
536helpe and remedie that is fought for against witches at
537the hands of cunning men. And now if it please you to propound
538your questions, I will answere to them the best I
539can.

540M. B.     Nay truly, I see already all is naught, but yet
541I will obiect those things which haue caried me awrie. I
542take it a man is to seek remedy against euils, & I thought
543it was euen a gift that God gaue vnto those whom we cal
544cunning men, that they did very much good by. When a
545thing is lost, when a thing is stollen, many goe to them, and
546they help them to it. I did know where the Communion
547cup was stollen: the Churchwardens rode to a wise man,
548he gaue them direction what night, and where they should
549stand, and the party that had stollen it should come thither,
550and confesse he had it: and certainly they had it againe. I
551did know one that had a child of fiue yeares old, a gyrle, it
552was taken piteouslie: the father was in great heauinesse,
553and knew not what to doe: some gaue him counsell to goe
554to a woman which dwelt ten miles from him, and to carie
555some of the clothes which the child lay in: he did so, the woman
556told him that his child was bewitched, and if hee did
557not seeke remedie in time, the childe would be lost: Shee
558bad him take some olde clothes, and let the child lie in them
559all night, and then take and burne them: and he should see
560by the burning, for if they did burne black, that shewed the
561child was bewitched, and she said further, that doubtlesse
562the witch would come thither: he followed her aduice, and
563sure as we be here, there came an old woman in, which he
564suspected, euen while they were burning, and made an errand:
565the man made no more adoe, but euen laid his clowthes
566vpon her and clawed her vntill the blood ranne down
567her cheeks, and the child was well within two dayes after.
568I could tell you of a stranger thing, but I haue it but by
569report, but yet indeed by very credible report. There was

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570a butcher by his trade that had a boy to his sonne, his name
571was Iohn, grieuous sores did breake forth vpon him: they
572laid salues, and none woulde cleaue for to draw or to ease
573them. The father making his moane to a friend of his, he
574told him whether he should goe to a verie skilfull man: he
575did goe, and being demanded whom he suspected, she was
576shewed him in a glasse, an old woman that dwelt not farre
577from him in an house alone: he told the cunning man, that
578the woman had shut vp her dore, & was gone from home
579out of the shyre, and so he could not tell how to come by her.
580he told him a way how he should fetch her home. Cut off
581the hair (said he) of the boyes head, and put it in a cloath
582and burne it, and I warrant you she wil come home with al
583the speed she can. Burne it abroade, burne it not in a chimney,
584for if you doe, it will make you all affraide. The man
585went home and did this. The woman came home with
586all speede, came to his house, came to the boy, and saide,
587Iohn, scratch me, hee scratched her vntil the blood followed,
588and whereas before nothing would draw his soares,
589they healed of themselues. What should a man thinke of
590such things?

591Dan.     You tell of some, which haue receiued help from
592the hands of cunning men: And no doubt there may infinit
593examples be brought. Some haue lost, some haue thinges
594stollen from them, some are vexed in their bodies: They
595come by the things againe which were lost or stollen, they
596are taught to doe certain things, and are eased from their
597helpe, if it deserue the name to be called help, from the deuill.
598And do you thinke a man may lawfullie seek helpe at
599the hands of the deuill?

600M. B.     Some are perswaded that they doe not seeke
601helpe at the hand of deuils, when they goe to the wise men:
602but that it is a gift which God hath giuen them, euen to do
603good withall.