But the learned Doctors not being able to understand how the Work was perform'd, concluded as above, it was all _the Devil_, and that the Man was a _Witch_; accordingly they took him up for a _Magician_ and a _Conjurer_, and one that work'd by the _Black Art_, that is to say, by the help of the _Devil_; and in a Word, they threaten'd to hang him for a Witch, and in order to it, commenc'd a Process against him in their criminal Courts, which made such a Noise in the World as rais'd the Fame of poor _John Faustus_ to a frightful Height, till at last he was oblig'd, for fear of the Gallows, to discover the whole Secret to them. N. B. This is the true original of the famous Dr. _Faustus_ or _Foster_, of whom we have believ'd such strange Things, as that it is become a Proverb, _as great as the_ Devil _and Dr._ Foster: Whereas poor _Faustus_ was no Doctor, and knew no more of the _Devil_ than another Body. Thus the Magistrates of _Bern_ and _Switzerland_, finding a Gang of _French_ Actors of Puppet-shew open'd their Stage in the Town, upon hearing the surprizing Accounts which the People gave of their wonderful Puppets, how they made them speak, answer Questions, and discourse, appear and disappear in a Moment, pop up here, as if they rise out of the Earth, and down there, as if they vanish'd, and Abundance more Feats of Art, censur'd them as Demons; and if they had not pack'd up their Trinkets, and disappeared almost as dextrously as their Puppets, they had certainly condemn'd the poor Puppets to the Flames for _Devils_, and censur'd, if not otherwise punished their Masters. See _the Count de Rochfort's Memoirs_, p. 179. Wonderful Operations astonish the Mind, especially where the Head is not over-burthen'd with Brains; and Custom has made it so natural to give the _Devil_ either the Honour or Scandal of every Thing, that we cannot otherwise Account for, that it is not possible to put the People out of the Road of it. The _Magicians_ were, in the _Chaldean_ Monarchy, call'd the Wisemen; and tho' they are joined with the Sorcerers and Astrologers in the same Place, _Dan._ ii. 4. yet they were generally so understood among those People; but in our Language we understand them to be People that have an Art to reveal Secrets, interpret Dreams, foretel Events, _&c._ and that use Enchantments and Sorceries, by all which we understand the same Thing; which now in a more vulgar Way we express by one general coarse Expression, _Dealing with the_ DEVIL.