Demonology -- Early works to 1800; Magic -- Early works to 1800; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800
The witch on the other side exspecting hir neighbours mischances, and
seeing things sometimes come to passe according to hir wishes, cursses,
and incantations (for _Bodin_ himselfe confesseth, that not above two
in a hundred of their witchings or wishings take effect) being called
before a Justice, by due examination of the circumstances is driven
to see hir imprecations and desires, and hir neighbors harmes and
losses to concurre, and as it were to take effect: and so confesseth
that she (as a goddes) hath brought such things to passe. Wherein, not
onelie she, but the accuser, and also the Justice are fowlie deceived
and abused; as being thorough hir confession and other circumstances
persuaded (to the injurie of Gods glorie) that she hath doone, or can
doo that which is proper onelie to God himselfe.
Another sort of witches there are, which be absolutelie cooseners.
These take upon them, either for glorie, fame, or gaine, to doo anie
thing, which God or the divell can doo: either for foretelling of
things to come, bewraieng of secrets, curing of maladies, or working of
miracles. But of these I will talke more at large heereafter.
♦_Bodin. li. 2. de dæmono: cap. 8._♦
The fourth Chapter.
_What miraculous actions are imputed to witches by witchmongers,
papists, and poets._
Although it be quite against the haire, and contrarie to the divels
will, contrarie to the witches oth, promise, and homage, and contrarie
to all reason, that witches should helpe anie thing that is bewitched;
but rather set forward their maisters businesse: yet we read _In malleo
maleficarum_, of three sorts of witches; and the same is affirmed by
all the writers heereupon, new and old. One sort (they say) can hurt
and not helpe, the second can helpe and not hurt, the third can both
helpe and hurt. And among the hurtfull witches he saith there is one
sort more beastlie than any kind of beasts, saving woolves: for these
usuallie devoure and eate yong children and infants of their owne kind.
These be they (saith he) that raise haile, tempests, and hurtfull
weather; as lightening, thunder, &c. These be they that procure
barrennesse in man, woman, and beast. These can throwe children into
waters, as they walke with their mothers, and not be seene. These can
make horsses kicke, till they cast the riders. These can passe from
place to place in the aire invisible. These can so alter the mind of
judges, that they can have no power to hurt them. These can procure
to themselves and to others, taciturnitie and insensibilitie in their
torments. These can bring trembling to the hands, and strike terror
into the minds of them that apprehend them. These can manifest unto
others, things hidden and lost, and foreshew things to come; and
see them as though they were present. These can alter mens minds to
inordinate love or hate. These can kill whom they list with lightening
and thunder. These can take awaie mans courage, and the power of
generation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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