Demonology -- Early works to 1800; Magic -- Early works to 1800; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800
It is written, that in the latter daies there shalbe shewed strange
illusions, &c: in so much as (if it were possible) the verie elect
shalbe deceived: howbeit, S. _Paule_ saith, they shalbe lieng and
false woonders. Neverthelesse, this sentence, and such like, have
beene often laid in my dish, and are urged by diverse writers, to
approve the miraculous working of witches, whereof I will treat more
largelie in another place. Howbeit, by the waie I must confesse, that
I take that sentence to be spoken of Antichrist, to wit: the pope, who
miraculouslie, contrarie to nature, philosophie, and all divinitie,
being of birth and calling base, in learning grosse; in valure,
beautie, or activitie most commonlie a verie lubber, hath placed
himselfe in the most loftie and delicate seate, putting almost all
christian princes heads, not onelie under his girdle, but under his
foote, &c.
♦Matt. 24, 44.
2. Thes. 2, 9.♦
Surelie, the tragedie of this _Pythonist_ is not inferior to a thousand
stories, which will hardlie be blotted out of the memorie and credit
either of the common people, or else of the learned. How hardlie will
this storie suffer discredit, having testimonie of such authoritie? How
could mother _Alice_ escape condemnation and hanging, being arreigned
upon this evidence; when a poore woman hath beene cast away, upon
a cousening oracle, or rather a false lie, devised by _Feats_ the
juggler, through the malicious instigation of some of hir adversaries?
But how cunninglie soever this last cited certificat be penned, or
what shew soever it carrieth of truth and plaine dealing, there may be
found conteined therein matter enough to detect the cousening knaverie
therof. And yet diverse have been deepelie deceived therewith, and
can hardlie be removed from the credit thereof, and without great
disdaine cannot endure to heare the reproofe thereof. And know you
this by the waie, that heretofore Robin goodfellow, and Hob gobblin
were as terrible, and also as credible to the people, as hags and
witches be now: and in time to come, a witch will be as much derided
and contemned, and as plainlie perceived, as the illusion and knaverie
of Robin goodfellow. And in truth, they that mainteine walking
spirits, with their transformation, &c: have no reason to denie Robin
goodfellow, upon whom there hath gone as manie and as credible tales,
as upon witches; saving that it hath not pleased the translators of the
Bible, to call spirits by the name of Robin goodfellow, as they have
termed divinors, soothsaiers, poisoners, and couseners by the name of
witches.
♦The ventriloqua of Westwell discovered.♦
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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