Demonology -- Early works to 1800; Magic -- Early works to 1800; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800
Another caution is, that after the witch hath confessed the annoieing
of men and beasts, she be asked how long she hath had _Incubus_, when
she renounced the faith, and made the reall league, and what that
league is, &c. And this is indeede the cheefe cause of all their
incredible and impossible confessions: for upon the racke, when they
have once begunne to lie, they will saie what the tormentor list.
The last caution is, that if she will not confesse, she be had to some
strong castle or gaole. And after certeine daies, the gaolor must make
hir beleeve he goeth foorth into some farre countrie: and then some
of hir freends must come in to hir, and promise hir, that if she will
confesse to them, they will suffer hir to escape out of prison: which
they may well doo, the keeper being from home. And this waie (saith _M.
Mal._) hath served, when all other meanes have failed.
♦_Mal. malef. par. 3. quæ. 16. act. 11._♦
And in this place it may not be omitted, that above all other times,
they confesse upon fridaies. Now saith _James Sprenger_, and _Henrie
Institor_, we must saie all, to wit: If she confesse nothing, she
should be dismissed by lawe; and yet by order she may in no wise be
bailed, but must be put into close prison, and there be talked withall
by some craftie person (those are the words) and in the meane while
there must be some eves-dropers with pen and inke behind the wall,
to hearken and note what she confesseth: or else some of hir old
companions and acquaintance may come in and talke with hir of old
matters, and so by eves-droppers be also bewraied; so as there shall be
no end of torture before she have confessed what they will.
The Ninth Chapter.
_The fifteene crimes laid to the charge of witches, by
witchmongers; speciallie by Bodin, in Dæmonomania._
They denie God, and all religion. 1
_Answere._[*] Then let them die therefore, or at the least be used
like infidels, or apostataes.
♦[*] [Rom.]♦
They cursse, blaspheme, and provoke God with all despite. 2
_Answere._[*] Then let them have the law expressed in _Levit._ 24. and
_Deut._ 13. & 17.
They give their faith to the divell, and they worship and offer 3
sacrifice unto him.
_Ans._ Let such also be judged by the same lawe.
They doo solemnelie vow and promise all their progenie unto the 4
divell.
_Ans._ This promise proceedeth from an unsound mind, and is not to be
regarded; bicause they cannot performe it, neither will it be prooved
true. Howbeit, if it be done by anie that is sound of mind, let the
cursse of _Jeremie._ 32. 36. light upon them, to wit, the sword, famine
and pestilence.
They sacrifice their owne children to the divell before baptisme, 5
holding them up in the aire unto him, and then thrust a needle into
their braines.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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