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, Mathematitians,[s] and Magitians by the Decree of the
Senate were expelled out of all Italy: and amongst these _Pituanus_ 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 _Ammianus[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 cõmentarijs._]
[Footnote t: _Valerius Maximus li. 6. ca 3. Remigius Dæmonolog.
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
noble [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 vngodly for man to be remisse and fauourable vnto those
whom diuine piety, and our duety to God 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.
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