_What severall sorts of witches are mentioned in the scriptures, and how the word witch is there applied._ But what sorts of witches so ever _M. Mal._ or _Bodin_ saie there are; _Moses_ spake onlie of foure kinds of impious couseners or witches (whereof our witchmongers old women which danse with the fairies, &c; are none.) The first were _Præstigiatores Pharaonis_, which (as all divines, both Hebrues and others conclude) were but couseners and jugglers, deceiving the kings eies with illusions and sleights; and making false things to appeare as true: which nevertheles our witches cannot doo. The second is _Mecasapha_, which is she that destroieth with poison. The third are such as use sundrie kinds of divinations, and hereunto perteine these words, _Kasam_, _Onen_, _Ob_, _Idoni_. The fourth is _Habar_, to wit: when magicians, or rather such, as would be reputed cunning therein, mumble certeine secret words, wherin is thought to be great efficacie. ♦1. Præstigiatores Pharaonis.♦ ♦2. Mecasapha.♦ ♦3. Kasam. Onen. Ob. Idoni.♦ ♦4. Habar.♦ These are all couseners and abusers of the people in their severall kinds. But bicause they are all termed of our translators by the name of witches in the Bible: therefore the lies of _M. Mal._ and _Bodin_, and all our old wives tales are applied unto these names, and easilie beleeved of the common people, who have never hitherto beene instructed in the understanding of these words. In which respect, I will (by Gods grace) shew you (concerning the signification of them) the opinion of the most learned in our age; speciallie of _Johannes Wierus_; who though hee himselfe were singularlie learned in the toongs, yet for his satisfaction and full resolution in the same, he sent for the judgement of _Andræas Massius_, the most famous _Hebrician_ in the world, and had it in such sense and order, as I meane to set downe unto you. And yet I give you this note by the waie, that witchcraft or inchantment is diverslie taken in the scriptures; somtimes nothing tending to such end as it is commonlie thought to doo. For in 1 _Samuell_, 15, 23. it is all one with rebellion. _Jesabell_ for hir idolatrous life is called a witch. Also in the new testament, even S. _Paule_ saith the _Galathians_ are bewitched, bicause they were seduced and lead from the true understanding of the scriptures. ♦[or _Masius_]♦ ♦Note.♦ ♦1. Sa. 15, 23.♦ ♦2. Re. 9, 22. Gal. 3, 1.♦ Item sometimes it is taken in good part; as the magicians that came to worship and offer to Christ: and also where _Daniell_ is said to be an inchanter, yea a principall inchanter: which title being given him in divers places of that storie, he never seemeth to refuse or dislike; but rather intreateth for the pardon and qualification of the rigor towards other inchanters, which were meere couseners indeed: as appeareth in the second chapter of _Daniell_, where you may see that the king espied their fetches. ♦Matth. 2, 1.♦ ♦Daniel. 4.♦