Demonology -- Early works to 1800; Magic -- Early works to 1800; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800
These miserable wretches are so odious unto all their neighbors, and so
feared, as few dare offend them, or denie them anie thing they aske:
whereby they take upon them; yea, and sometimes thinke, that they can
doo such things as are beyond the abilitie of humane nature. These go
from house to house, and from doore to doore for a pot full of milke,
yest, drinke, pottage, or some such releefe; without the which they
could hardlie live: neither obtaining for their service and paines, nor
by their art, nor yet at the divels hands (with whome they are said to
make a perfect and visible bargaine) either beautie, monie, promotion,
welth, worship, pleasure, honor, knowledge, learning, or anie other
benefit whatsoever.
It falleth out many times, that neither their necessities, nor their
expectation is answered or served, in those places where they beg or
borrowe; but rather their lewdnesse is by their neighbors reprooved.
And further, in tract of time the witch waxeth odious and tedious
to hir neighbors; and they againe are despised and despited of hir:
so as sometimes she cursseth one, and sometimes another; and that
from the maister of the house, his wife, children, cattell, &c. to
the little pig that lieth in the stie. Thus in processe of time they
have all displeased hir, and she hath wished evill lucke unto them
all; perhaps with cursses and imprecations made in forme. Doubtlesse
(at length) some of hir neighbors die, or fall sicke; or some of
their children are visited with diseases that vex them strangelie: as
apoplexies, epilepsies, convulsions, hot fevers, wormes, &c. Which
by ignorant parents are supposed to be the vengeance of witches.
Yea and their opinions and conceits are confirmed and maintained
by unskilfull physicians: according to the common saieng; _Inscitiæ
pallium maleficium & incantatio_, Witchcraft and inchantment is the
cloke of ignorance: whereas indeed evill humors, & not strange words,
witches, or spirits are the causes of such diseases. Also some of their
cattell perish, either by disease or mischance. Then they, upon whom
such adversities fall, weighing the fame that goeth upon this woman
(hir words, displeasure, and cursses meeting so justlie with their
misfortune) doo not onelie conceive, but also are resolved, that all
their mishaps are brought to passe by hir onelie meanes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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