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The displaying of supposed witchcraft : $b Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of deceivers and impostors, and divers persons under a passive delusion of melancholy and fancy. But that there is a corporeal league made betwixt the devil and the witch, or that he sucks on the witches body, has carnal copulation, or that witches are turned into cats, dogs, raise tempests, or the like, is utterly denied and disproved. Wherein also is handled, the existence of angels and spirits, the truth Webster, John

Religion

The displaying of supposed witchcraft : $b Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of deceivers and impostors, and divers persons under a passive delusion of melancholy and fancy. But that there is a corporeal league made betwixt the devil and the witch, or that he sucks on the witches body, has carnal copulation, or that witches are turned into cats, dogs, raise tempests, or the like, is utterly denied and disproved. Wherein also is handled, the existence of angels and spirits, the truth

Name: The displaying of supposed witchcraft : $b Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of deceivers and impostors, and divers persons under a passive delusion of melancholy and fancy. But that there is a corporeal league made betwixt the devil and the witch, or that he sucks on the witches body, has carnal copulation, or that witches are turned into cats, dogs, raise tempests, or the like, is utterly denied and disproved. Wherein also is handled, the existence of angels and spirits, the truth
Author: Webster, John

Webster, John

Witchcraft; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800

“If there be no natural Fascination, there can be no
diabolical; but there is no natural Fascination (as he thinketh he hath
sufficiently proved) therefore he concludeth there is no diabolical
Fascination at all.” There is no way to solve this Argument, but either
in denying that the Devil worketh these things by natural means, and
then it crosseth the opinion of all the Learned in general, ancient,
middle, and modern, or by proving that there is natural Fascination, and
then diabolical is but in vain and needless.

[Sidenote: _Reas 7._]

7. How can the Witches (if not maniacal in the highest degree) believe,
that the Devil who is a Lyar, and the Father of lyes, and whom they
cannot but know hath in the like cases deceived many, that have (in
their opinion) made contracts with him, will prove true in the
performance of his promise? Or that he who is the enemy of all truth and
goodness, and laboureth to deceive all Mankind, will be faithful to
perform his promise, or to do them any good, either real or apparent? Or
(if the Witches be not incredibly mad) can they believe that he will
perform without Hostages, Bonds-men, or Sureties? when we find that the
weakest and maddest of Mortals, if he make a Covenant with another of
known loosness and deceit, though for a thing of a far less value, than
either soul or body, will he not require sufficient Bonds-men and
Security? Now what Bonds-men or Security can the Witches have?

[Sidenote: _Reas. 8._]

8. And if the Witches be not beyond measure deluded and mad, must they
not rationally know, that if the Devil deceive them (as he is sure to
do) there is no recompence to be had, nor any that can compel him to
perform bargains? Before what Judicature, before what Judges, by what
Law must they call him to an account, or have him punished? So that in
all reason and sound judgment we must conclude the Witches to be
absolutely mad, and then all these things also madness, lyes and folly,
or that there is not, nor ever was any such League or Covenant.

[Sidenote: _Reas. 9._]

[Sidenote: See the Arraignment of Witches in _Lancast. Ann._ 10.
           _Jacobi._]

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