EPI. These tales are nothing but _Aniles fabulæ_. For that they haue no nature of their owne, I haue shewed you alreadie. And that the cold nature of a dead bodie, can woorke nothing in generation, it is more nor plaine, as being already dead of it selfe as well as the rest of the bodie is, wanting the naturall heate, and such other naturall operation, as is necessarie for woorking that effect, and incase such a thing were possible (which were all utterly against all the rules of nature) it would breed no monster, but onely such a naturall of-spring, as would haue cummed betuixt that man or woman and that other abused person, in-case they both being aliue had had a doe with other. For the Deuilles parte therein, is but the naked carrying or expelling of that substance: And so it coulde not participate with no qualitie of the same. Indeede, it is possible to the craft of the Deuill to make a womans bellie to swel after he hath that way abused her, which he may do, either by steiring vp her own humor, or by herbes, as we see beggars daily doe. And when the time of her deliuery should come to make her thoil great doloures, like vnto that naturall course, and then subtillie to slippe in the Mid-wiues handes, stockes, stones, or some monstruous barne brought from some other place, but this is more reported and gessed at by others, nor beleeued by me. PHI. But what is the cause that this kinde of abuse is thought to be most common in such wild partes of the worlde, as _Lap-land_, and _Fin-land_, or in our North Iles of _Orknay_ and _Schet-land_. EPI. Because where the Deuill findes greatest ignorance and barbaritie, there assayles he grosseliest, as I gaue you the reason wherefore there was moe Witches of women kinde nor men. PHI. Can anie be so vnhappie as to giue their willing consent to the Deuilles vilde abusing them in this forme. EPI. Yea, some of the Witches haue confessed, that he hath perswaded them to giue their willing consent thereunto, that he may thereby haue them feltred the sikarer in his snares; But as the other compelled sorte is to be pittied and prayed for, so is this most highlie to be punished and detested. PHI. It is not the thing which we cal the _Mare_, which takes folkes sleeping in their bedds, a kinde of these spirites, whereof ye are speaking? EPI. No, that is but a naturall sicknes, which the Mediciners hath giuen that name of _Incubus_ vnto _ab incubando_, because it being a thicke fleume, falling into our breast vpon the harte, while we are sleeping, intercludes so our vitall spirites, and takes all power from vs, as maks vs think that there were some vnnaturall burden or spirite, lying vpon vs and holding vs downe. Chap. IIII. ARGVMENT. _The description of the Dæmoniackes & possessed. By what reason the __Papistes__ may haue power to cure them._ PHILOMATHES.