But bicause the old hammar of _Sprenger_ and _Institor_, in their old _Malleo Maleficarum_, was insufficient to knocke downe this councell; a yoong beetle-head called Frier _Bartholomæus Spineus_ hath made a new leaden beetle, to beate downe the councell, and to kill these old women. Wherein he counterfeiting _Aesops_ asse, claweth the pope with his heeles: affirming upon his credit, that the councell is false and erronious; bicause the doctrine swarveth from the popish church, and is not authenticall but apocryphall; saieng (though untrulie) that that councell was not called by the commandement and pleasure of the pope, nor ratified by his authoritie, which (saith he) is sufficient to disanull all councels. For surelie (saith this frier, which at this instant is a cheefe inquisitor) if the words of this councell were to be admitted, both I, and all my predecessors had published notorious lies, and committed manie injurious executions; whereby the popes themselves also might justlie be detected of error, contrarie to the catholike beleefe in that behalfe. Marrie he saith, that although the words and direct sense of this councell be quite contrarie to truth and his opinion; yet he will make an exposition thereof, that shall somewhat mitigate the lewdnes of the same; and this he saith is not onlie allowable to doo, but also meritorious. Marke the mans words, and judge his meaning. ♦_Novus Mal._ _Mal in quæ. de strigib. cap. 21. 22. 23, &c._♦ ♦_Bar. Spineus._ _Mal. Malef. cap. 23. in quæ. de strigib._♦ The xvii. Chapter. _Witchmongers reasons, to proove that witches can worke wonders, Bodins tale of a Friseland preest transported, that imaginations, proceeding of melancholie doo cause illusions._ Old _M. Maleficarum_ also saith, that the councels and doctors were all deceived heerein, and alledging authoritie therfore, confuteth that opinion by a notable reason, called _Petitio principii_, or rather, _Ignotum per ignotius_, in this maner: They can put changlings in the place of other children; _Ergo_ they can transferre and transforme themselves and others, &c: according to their confession in that behalfe. Item he saith, and _Bodin_ justifieth it, that a preest in _Friseland_ was corporallie transferred into a farre countrie, as witnessed another preest of _Oberdorf_ his companion, who saw him aloft in the aire: _Ergo_ saith _M. Mal._ they have all beene deceived hitherto, to the great impunitie of horrible witches. Wherein he opposeth his follie against God and his church, against the truth, and against all possibilitie. But surelie it is almost incredible, how imagination shall abuse such as are subject unto melancholie; so as they shall beleeve they see, heare, and doo that, which never was nor shall be; as is partlie declared, if you read _Galen De locis affectis_, and may more plainelie appeere also if you read _Aristotle De somnio_. ♦_Mal. Malef. pa. 1, cap. 3._ _Guli. Parisi._♦