<B CEHAND2A>
<Q E2 IS HANDO GIFFORD>
<N WITCHES>
<A GIFFORD GEORGE>
<C E2>
<O 1570-1640>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V PROSE>
<T HANDB OTHER>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 20-40>
<H PROF>
<U NON-PROF>
<E X>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I X>
<Z INSTR SEC>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^GIFFORD, GEORGE.
TEXT:  A HANDBOOK ON WITCHES
AND WITCHCRAFT.
A DIALOGUE CONCERNING WITCHES
AND WITCHCRAFTES, 1593.
SHAKESPEARE ASSOCIATION FACSIMILES, 1.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY B. WHITE.
LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD AND
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1931.
PP. A4R.1  - C1R.2       (SAMPLE 1)
PP. D4V.21 - E4R.35      (SAMPLE 2)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P A4R>           
[}THE SPEAKERS.}]
[}SAMUELL. DANIELL. THE WIFE OF SAMUELL. M.B. 
SCHOOLEMAISTER. THE GOOD WIFE R.}]

(^Sam.^) You are well mette olde acquaintance, 
I am glad to 
see you looke so well, howe
doe all our good friendes
in your Countrey.
(^Dan.^) I trust they be all in 
good health, they were
when I came from home,
I am sorry to see you looke
so pale, what haue you beene sicke lately?
(^Sam.^) Truely no, I thanke God I haue had my health
pretily well, but yet me thinke my meate doth me no good
of late.
(^Dan.^) What is the matter man, doe you take thought
and care for the world? take heede of that, for the Scripture 
saith, worldly sorrow worketh death. (^2. Cor.7.10.^)
It is a great sinne rising from vnbeleefe, and distrust in
Gods prouidence, when men be ouer pensiue for the world.
(^Sam.^) In deede my minde is troubled, but not for that
which you say, for I hope in God I shall not want so long
as I liue.
(^Dan.^) Is it any trouble of conscience for sinne? If it
be, that may turne to good.
(^Sam.^) O, no, no. I know no cause why.
(^Dan.^) Why, what is it then, if I maybe so bold, I pray
<P A4V>
you tell me. I thinke you take me for your friend.
(^Sam.^) In deede I haue alwaies found you my very good
friend, and I am sure you will giue me the best counseil
you can, truely we dwell here in a bad countrey, I think euen
one of the worst in England.
(^Dan.^) Is it so? I thinke you dwell in a fine countrey,
in a sweete wholesome aire and fruitfull grounds.
(^Sam.^) Aire man? I finde no fault with the aire, there
be naughty people.
(^Dan.^) Naughty people? where shall a man dwell, and
not finde them? Swearers, liars, raylers, liaunderers,
drunckards, adulterers, riotous, vnthriftes, dicers, and
proude high minded persons, are euery where to be founde
in great plenty.
(^Sam.^) Nay, I doe not meane them, I care not for them.
These witches, these euill fauoured old witches doe trouble
me.
(^Dan.^) What doe you take your selfe to be bewitched?
(^Sam.^) No, no, I trust no euill spirite can hurt me, but
I heare of much harme done by them: they lame men and
kill their cattle, yea they destroy both men and children.
They say there is scarce any towne or village in all this
shire, but there is one or two witches at the least in it. In
good sooth, I may tell it to you as to my friend, when I
goe but into my closes, I am afraide, for I see nowe
and then a Hare; which my conscience giueth me is a 
witch, or some witches spirite, shee stareth so vppon me.
And sometime I see an ugly weasell runne through my
yard, and there is a foule great catte sometimes in my
Barne, which I haue no liking vnto.
(^Dan.^) You neuer had no hurt done yet, had you by any
witch?
(^Sam.^) Trust me I cannot tell, but I feare me I haue,
<P B1R>
for there be two or three in our towne which I like not, but
especially an old woman, I haue beene as careful to please
her as euer I was to please mine own mother, and to giue
her euer anon one thing or other, and yet me thinkes shee
frownes at me now and then. And I had a hogge which
eate his meate with his fellowes and was very well to our
thinking ouer night, and in the morning he was starke
dead. My wife hath had fiue or sixe hennes euen of late
dead. Some of my neighbours wishe me to burne some
thing aliue, as a henne or a hogge. Others will me in time
to seeke helpe at the handes of some cunning man, before
I haue any further harme. I wold be glad to do for the best.
(^Dan.^) Haue you any cunning man hereabout, that doth
helpe?
(^Sam.^) There is one, they say, here a twenty miles of at
(^T.B.^) which hath holpe many. And thus much I know,
there was one of mine acquaintance but two miles hence,
which had great losses, he lost two or three kine; six hogs,
he would not haue tooke fifteene shillings a hog for them,
and a mare. He went to that same man, and told him hee
suspected an old woman in the parish. And I think he told
me, that he shewed him her in a Glasse, and tolde him shee
had three or foure imps, some call them puckrels, one like
a gray catte, an other like a weasell, an other like a mouse,
a vengeance take them, it is a great pitty the countrey is
not ridde of them, and told him also what he shoulde doe,
it is halfe a yeare agoe, and he neuer had any hurt since.
There is also a woman at (^R.H.^) fiue and twenty miles
hence, that hath a great name, and great resort there is
dayly vnto her. A neighbour of mine had his childe taken
lame, a girle of ten yeares olde, and such a paine in her
backe, that shee could not sit upright. He went to that 
woman, she tolde him he had some badde neighbour, the
childe was forespoken, as he suspected; marry if he would
goe home, and bring her som of the clothes which the child
<P B1V>
lay in all night, shee would tell him certainely. He went
home, and put a table Napkin about her necke all night,
and in the morning tooke it with him, and shee told him the
girle was bewitched in deede, and so told him what hee
should doe, and he had remedy, the girle is as wel at this
day, and a pretty quicke girle. There was another of my 
neighbours had his wife much troubled, and he went to 
her, and shee tolde him, his wife was haunted with a fairy.
I cannot tell what she bad him doe, but the woman is mery
at this howre. I haue heard, I dare not say it is so, that
shee weareth about her Sainct (^Iohns^) Gospel, or some part
of it.
(^Dan.^) If you haue such cunning men and women, what 
neede you be so much afraide?
(^Sam.^) Alas man, I could teeme it to goe, and some counsell
me to goe to the man at (^T.B.^) and some to the woman
at (^R.H.^) And betweene them both I haue lingred the
time, and feare I may be spoiled before I get remedy.
Some wishe me to beate and claw the witch vntill I fetch
bloud on her, and to threaten her that I will haue her hanged,
if I knew which were the best I would doe it.
(^Dan.^) I perceiue your danger is betweene two stooles.
(^Sam.^) It is very true, if I had heard but of one, I
should haue gone ere this time, and I am glad that I met
with you. I pray you let me haue your best counsell; I
trust you beare me good will.
(^Dan.^) Truely I will giue you the best counsell I can,
which I am sure shall doe you good, if you will followe it,
for in deede I pitty your case, it is most certaine you are
bewitched.
(^Sam.^) Bewitched, doe you thinke I am bewitched? I
feele no harme in my body, you make me more afraide.
(^Dan.^) Nay I doe not thinke that the olde woman hath
bewitched you, or that your body is bewitched, but the diuell
hath bewitched your minde, with blindnes and vnbeleefe,
<P B2R>
to draw you from God, euen to worship himselfe, by
seeking help at the hands of deuils. It is a lamentable case
to see how the deuill hath bewitched thousands at this day
to run after him: and euen to offer sacrifice vnto him.
(^Sam.^) I defie the deuill, worship him? fie vpon him, I
hate him with all my hart. Do you thinke any seeke help at
his hands? we seek help against him. I think he neuer doth
good, he hurteth, but he neuer helpeth any.
(^Dan.^) It is not in these matters to be taken as wee          #
imagine, 
but as the word of God teacheth. What though
a man think he worshippeth not deuils, nor seeketh not help
at their handes, as he is persuaded, nor hath any such intent,
is he euer the neere, when as yet it shall be found by
Gods word, that he doth worship them, and seek vnto them
for help?
(^Sam.^) Doe you thinke then that there be no witches?
Doth not God suffer wicked people to do harme? Or doe 
you thinke that the cunning men doe helpe by the deuill? I
would be glad to reason with you, but I haue smal knowledge
in the scripturs. We haue a Schoolemaister that is
a good pretie scholler, they say, in the Latine tongue, one
M. (^B.^) he is gone to my house euen now, I pray you let me
intreat you to go thither, you two may reason the matter,
for you are learned.
(^Dan.^) I could be content, but it will aske some time,
and I am going to such a place vpon speciall busines.
(^Sam.^) I pray you let mee intreat you: foure or five
houres is not so much.
(^Dan.^) Well, I will goe with you.
(^Sam.^) Wife, I haue brought an olde friend of mine, I
pray thee bid him welcome.
(^The wife.^) He is verie welcome. But trulie man, I
am angrie with you, and halfe out of patience, that you go
not to seeke helpe against yonder same olde beast I haue        #
another
hen dead this night. Other men can seeke remedy.
<P B2V>
Here is M. (^B.^) tels me, that the good wife (^R.^) all the    #
laste
weeke could not make her butter come. She neuer rested
vntil she had got her husbande out to the woman at R.H.
and when he came home, they did but heat a spit red hotte,
and thrust into the creame, vsing certaine wordes, as shee
willed him, and it came as kindly as anie butter that euer
she made. I met the old filth this morning Lord, how sowerlie 
she looked vpon me, & mumbled as she went, I heard
part of her wordes. Ah (quod she) you haue an honest man
to your husband, I heare how he doth vse me. In trueth,
husband, my stomacke did so rise against her, that I coulde
haue found in my heart to haue flowen vpon her, and scratched 
her, but that I feared she would be too strong for me.
It is a lustie olde queane. I wished that the good wife R.
had bene with me. I pray you, good husbande, let me intreat
you to goe to that same good woman, you may ride
thither in halfe a day.
(^Sam.^) Wife, I pray thee be content, I haue intreated
this mine olde friend to reason with M. (^B.^) for he tels mee
that we be in a verie foule errour.
(^M.B.^) I suppose, so farre as my learning and capacitie
doe extend, that small reasoning may serue. The worde
of God doeth shew plainlie that there be witches, & commaundeth
they should be put to death. Experience hath
taught too too manie, what harmes they doe. And if anie
haue the gift to minister help against them, shall we refuse
it? Shall we not drinke when we are a thirst? Shall wee
not warme vs when wee are a colde? It is pitie that anie
man should open his mouth anie way to defend them, their
impietie is so great.
(^Dan.^) For my part, I go not about to defend witches,
I denie not but that the deuill worketh by them. And that
they ought to be put to death. We ought also to seeke remedie
against them: but as I told my friend, the deuil doth
bewitch men by meanes of these witches, and lead them
<P B3R>
from God, euen to follow himself, to offer sacrifice vnto him
to worship him, to obey his wil, to commit manie grieuous
sinnes, and to be drowned in manifold errours.
(^M.B.^) If you haue this meaning, that witches and
sorcerers ar bewitched by the deuil, that they forsake God,
and follow him, that they worship and obey him, and doe
sacrifice vnto him, and commit manie hainous sinnes, I agree
with you, for I tak it, they euen vow themselues to the
deuill, or els he would not be so readie to doe them seruice.
But if you mean, that such as seek remedie against them, &
wold haue them rooted out, be so seduced and mis-led by the
deuill, as you speake, I say your speach is rash and foolish,
for they that be earnest against witches, be earnest against
the deuil, they defie the deuil, they seek to resist him, and   #
to
roote out his instruments. Now, if you were a man that
had any learning, you should see, that contraries cannot be
in the same subiect, at one instant, in the same part, and in
the same respect: how then can a man hate the deuill, defie
the deuill and his workes, and yet follow him at one time?
(^Dan.^) I know that witches and coniurers are seduced
and become the vassals of Satan: they be his seruants, and
not he theirs, as you speake. But I mean indeed that multitudes
are seduced and led from God, to follow the deuil,
by means of witches & coniurers: yea, I speak it of those,
not which are carfed of a godlie zeale, but of a blinde rage
and mad furie against them. If I speake this rashlie and
foolishlie, as you say, and your self learned as you boast, and
I vnlearned, I shall be the more easilie ouerthrowne. But
I speake so truly, and can so well iustifie all that I haue
said by the word of God, that your learning and best skill,
shall not be able to disprooue the same. Your logicke at the
first doth faile you. Not that contraries can be in the same
subiect at the same instant, in the same part, and in the
same respect. But herein you are vtterly blinde and deceiued,
that you name contraries, and take it that the first of
<P B3V>
them, as namelie, to hate the deuill, to defie him and his
workes, are in them, when as indeed they are in them but
in imagination. For if men say and think they defie the deuill
and his workes, and through blindnes and infidelitie,
are euen bewitched, and seduced to followe the deuill, and
to do his will, doth their speach and blinde imagination
make the things indeed to be in them? What if a poore begger
woman say and thinke that she is a Queene: is she therfore
no begger, begging still her bread? or is she rid of her
lice?
(^M.B.^) Nay, if you iudge, I haue done. If men be earnest
against the deuill, and defie him and all his workes,
are you to iudge of their conscience, and to say they defie
him but in imagination, and follow him, and worship him
in deede? is not God alone the iudge ouer mens hearts?
Againe, do you compare those that are in their right mind,
with such as be mad, or out of their wits?
(^Dan.^) I knowe that God alone is the searcher of the
heart, touching the thinges which lie hid in secrete: But
where things are open and manifest, the tree is known by
the fruits, so far as we may goe. As if a man professe the
faith of Iesus Christ soundlie, in all pointes according to
the word of God, and doth frame his life thereafter in doing
good workes: it is verie wicked for anie man to iudge
of him, that he is an hypocrite, and that he doth all of vaine
glorie. And yet it may be that the Lord, who discerneth the
secrete intents of the heart, seeth indeed that he is but an
hypocrite. On the contrarie parte, where a man professeth
in wordes that he doeth defie the deuill and all his workes,
and yet when it commeth to the triall of Gods word, hee is
found to be seduced, and wrapped in blinde errours of the
deuill, in infidelitie, and euill works, in which he fulfilleth
the will of Satan, and honoureth him in the place of God:
Shal we say that this is a good man because of his words
and imagination, that he defieth the deuill and his works?
<P B4R>
(^Wo be to them that cal good euil, and euil good. Esa.5.^)
We may say they are in bad case, except they repent, and
turne from following Satan. But yet I say, that a faithful
man may erre in some of these thinges through weaknesse
of faith, and through ignorance. And therefore, here men
may not be too rash in iudgment. And now wheras you find
fault, that I make comparison between such as be mad and
those that be in their right mind it is your ignora~ce, which
do not consider that ther be two kinds of madnes, or being
out of their right mind, the one for matters of this worlde,
the other for thinges spirituall and heauenlie. There bee
which are in their wittes for this worlde, which touching
spirituall things are as farre awrie in their imaginations,
as the poore beggar, which thinketh she is a goodlie queene.
Doth not the holie Apostle say, that (^because men receiue
not the loue of the truth, God wil send them strong delusion
to beleeue lies. 2.Thess.2^) . And what is that, but
that Satan shall seduce, illude and bewitch their minds, to
make them beleeue that they worshippe and follow God,
when they worship and follow him?
(^M.B,^) Doe you take that to be S. Paules meaning?
Doth Satan bewitch mens mindes, and leade them into
falsehoode and errour, making them beleeue they worshipp
God, when they worship deuils?
(^Dan.^) S. Paul speaketh there indeed of the comming
of the great Antichrist in the power of the Deuill. Nowe,
those which are seduced and worship Antichrist, think they
worship God: but marke what S. Iohn sayth, (^All the
world wondred, and followed the beast, and worshipped
the dragon which gaue power to the beast: & they
worshipped the beast. Reuelat.13^) . And looke in the 12.
chapter of the Reuelation, and you shall find that the Dragon,
which the Popery doth worship in stead of God, is the
Deuill.
(^M.B.^) Trulie I like your wordes well, I am persuaded
<P B4V>
the deuill doth seduce and bewitch mens mindes: But
touching these that seek help at the hands of cunning men
and women against witches, I cannot thinke so hardlie of
them. I may be awry, I see well: I will not be obstinate, if
the word of God shew me mine errour. Let vs euen friendly
conferre of the matter. Be not offended with me, and for
my part, I will speake all that I knowe or thinke.
(^Dan.^) I must intreate you likewise to beare with my
plaine speaches. And let vs in the matters proceede from
one point to another, standing onlie vpon that, wherein we
shall be found to differ in iudgment. And let Gods word be
the Iudge betweene vs.
(^Sam.^) I like this wel, though I can say but litle, I wil
sit and heare you.
(^Dan.^) What is the first question that we shal handle?
(^M.B.^) I heard you say, if I did not mistake your speach
that there be witches that worke by the deuill. But yet I
pray you tell me, doe you think there be such? I know some
are of opinion there be none.
(^Dan.^) It is so euident by the Scriptures, and in all         #
experience,
that there be witches which worke by the deuill,
or rather I may say, the deuill worketh by them, that such
as go about to prooue the contrarie, doe shewe themselues
but cauillers.
(^M.B.^) I am glad we agree in that point, I hope we shall
in the rest. What say you to this? that the witches haue
their spirits, some hath one, some hath more, as two, three,
foure, or fiue, some in one likenesse, and some in another,
as like cattes, weasils, toads, or mise, whome they nourish
with milke, or with a chicken, or by letting them sucke now
and then a drop of blood: whome they call when they be offended
with anie, and lend them to hurt them in their bodies;
yea, to kill them, and to kill their cattell?
(^Dan.^) Here is great deceit, and great illusion, here
the deuil leadeth the ignorant people into foule errours,
<P C1R>
by which hee draweth them hedlong into manie grieuous
sinnes. 

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P D4V>
(^Sam.^) Indeed it is my desire that you woulde speake a
litle playner of these poyntes: for I haue marked well all
your talke, and cannot well conceiue of the last things you
dealt in. With your leaue M. (^B.^) I would aske two or
three questions of my friend. Here was but seuen miles
hence at (^W.H.^) one N. the man was of good wealth, and
well accounted of among his neighbours. He pined away
with sicknes halfe a yeare, and at last died. After hee was
dead, his wife suspected ill dealing: she went to a cunning
man, I know not where, and desired to know whereof her
husband died. He told her that her husband died of witcherie:
he asked her if she did not suspect any therabout. She
sayd there was one woman which she did not like, one mother
(^W.^) her husband and she fell out, and he fell sick within
two dayes after, and neuer recouered again. He shewed
<P E1R>
her the woman as plaine in a glasse, as we see one another,
and in the very apparell she went in at that hower, for shee
ware an old red cappe with corners, such as women were
wont to weare; and in that she appeared in the glasse: Hee 
taught her how she might bring her to confesse. Well, she
followed his counsell, went home, caused her to be apprehended 
and caried before a Iustice of peace. He examined
her so wisely, that in the end she confessed shee killed the
man. She was sent to prison, she was arraigned, condemned,
and executed: And vpon the ladder shee seemed very
penetent, desiring all the world to forgiue her. She said
she had a spirit in the likenes of a yellow dun catte. This
catte came vnto her, as she said, as she sat by her fire, when
she was fallen out with a neighbour of hers, and wished
that the vengeance of God might light vpon him and his.
The catte bad her not be affraid, she wold do her no harme:
She had serued a dame fiue yeares in Kent, that was now 
dead, and if she would, she would be her seruant. And wheras,
said the Cat, such a man hath misused thee, if thou wilt
I will plague him in his cattell. She sent the Cat, she killed
three hogs and one Cow. The man suspecting, burnt a
pig aliue, and as she said, her cat wold neuer go thither any
more. Afterward she fel out with that N. She sent her Cat,
who told her, that she had giuen him that, which hee should
neuer recouer: and indeed the man died. Now doe you not
thinke the woman spake the trueth in all this? Would the
woman accuse her selfe falsely at her death? Did not the
Cat become her seruant? Did not she send her? Did shee
not plague and kill both man and beaste? What shoulde a
man thinke of this?
(^Dan.^) You propounde a particular example, and let
vs examine euerything in it touching the witch, for the
womans fact that went to the wise man, wee are not yet
come to that point. You say the Cat came to her when she
was in a great rage with one of her neighbours, and did
<P E1V>
curse, wishing the vengeance of God to fall vpon him and
his.
(^Sam.^) She said so indeede. I heard her with mine own
ears, for I was at the execution.
(^Dan.^) Then tel me who set her in such a deuilish rage,
so to curse & banne, as to with that vengeance of God
might light vpon him and his? did not the Cat?
(^Sam.^) Trulie I thinke the Deuil wrought that in her.
(^Dan.^) Uerie well, then you see the Cat is the beginner
of this play.
(^Sam.^) Cald you it a play? It was no play to some.
(^Dan.^) Indeed the witch at last had better haue wrought 
hard, than bene at her play. But I meane Satan did play 
the Iugler: For, doth he not offer his seruice? Doth he not
moue her to send him to plague the man? Tell me, is she so 
forward to send, as he is to be sent? Or doe you not take it,
that he ruleth in her heart, and euen wholly directeth it to
this matter?
(^Sam.^) I am fully perswaded he ruleth her heart.
(^Dan.^) Then was shee his drudge, and not he her servant,
he needeth not to be hired nor intreated, for if her hart
were to send him any where, vnto such as he knoweth hee
cannot hurt, nor seeth how to make any shewe that he hurteth 
them, he can quickly turne her from that. Wel, the cat 
goeth and killeth the man, certain hogs and a Cow; howe
could she tell that the Cat did it?
(^Sam.^) How could she tell? why he told her man, and she
saw and heard that he lost his cattell.
(^Dan.^) The Cat would lie, would she not? for they say
such cattes are lyers.
(^Sam.^) I doe not trust the Cats wordes, but because the
thing fell out so.
(^Dan.^) Because the hogges and the Cow died, are you
sure the Cat did kil them, might they not die of some naturall
causes as you see both men and beasts are well, and die
<P E2R>
suddainlie?
(^Sam.^) That were strange, if they should die of naturall
causes, and fall out so fit at the time after he was sent?
(^Dan.^) It is not straunge at all, as marke what I tell
you and you shall easily see. There bee naturall causes of
tortures and griefe, of lamenes, and of death in the bodies
of men and beastes, which lie so hid and secrete, that the
learneddest Physitians can not espie them, but the deuill
seeth them, and can coniecture very neere the time, when
they will take effect. Then doeth hee ply it, to bring the
matter about that it may seeme he did it. If hee haue any
witch to deale by, he stirreth vp some occasion to set her in
a rage with that partie: and then he will be sent, and telleth
her he doeth it. If he haue no witch to deale by, yet hee
will set debate betweene the partie and some other, whom
he may bring into suspition, as his greatest desire is to
haue innocent bloud shed.
(^Sam.^) Here is a matter brought about indeed, how could
the Cat doe all this?
(^Dan.^) I told you before, that the deuilles worke together,
and can speedilie and most craftilie compasse thinges,
which are farre beyond the reach of mans capacitie. But
sometime the deuill hath power giuen him to plague and
doth the harme. Admit he had power giuen him, and did
kill the cattell of this man: let vs come nowe to that, who
think you, gaue him the power for to strike and kill? Did
the witch giue him the power, or the Lord God?
(^Sam.^) Nay surely, the witch cannot giue him power.
(^Dan.^) Did he receiue power after she sent him?
(^Sam.^) That cannot I tell.
(^Dan.^) The~ mark a litle: he hath power giue~ him to plague
this man in his goods: he wil do it, but he will doe it         #
craftily.
The Lord gaue him power ouer the goods of holie Iob:
he worketh by instruments, for he stirreth vp the Sabeis,
and they take away his Oxen, and his Asses: he raiseth vp
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also the Chaldeis, and they cary away his Camels, (^Iob.1^) .
Euen so, hauing power to strike, he wil be sent by a witch,
he could doo it without her, but he gayneth much that way,
as we shall see when wee come to speake of the remedyes
which men seeke.
(^Sam.^) I wonder then that the man neuer had more hurt
after he had burnt his pig aliue:
(^Dan.^) O man, the Deuill can abide no roast meate, nor
no fire, he is affraide, if they fall a roasting, that they     #
will
roast him. If they run at him with a spit red hot, they gaster
him so sore, that his dame shal go her self, if she will he 
will come no more there. But of these thinges we are to 
speake afterward in their place.
(^Sam.^) You make the deuill wonderfull subtill.
(^Dan.^) He is so subtill and full of all craft and fleight,
that no earthly creature can escape from being seduced by 
him, without the light of Gods heauenly word. But let vs
come now to the other man, whom the witch confessed shee
killed by her Cat.
(^Sam.^) Yea, that me thinketh is more than the other,
the woman was told by the cunning man that her husband 
was killed by witcherie. The witch confessed so much at
her death. The Cat told the witch, that she killed him.
(^Dan.^) Here be a companie of credible persons to be beleeued:
the cunning man saith the man was bewitched to
death. Who told him that?
(^Sam.^) His spirite that maketh the witch appeare in the
glasse.
(^Dan.^) That same Spirite, what doe you take him to
be, an Angell, or a Deuill?
(^Sam.^) Some of the cunning men say, they haue Moses
or Elias, or the Spirite of some holy man.
(^Dan.^) The Deuill can turne himselfe into the likenes
of an Angell of light. For they that doe thinke the cunning
men and women deale with any other Spirite than Satan,
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haue no vnderstanding. Satan saith, the man was
witched to death.
(^Sam.^) Satan saith so, he is not to bee beleeued, but the
witch confesseth it was so.
(^Dan.^) Who told the witch?
(^Sam.^) Her Cat that she sent.
(^Dan.^) What is the Cat, a deuill? then remember the
prouerbe, aske his fellow if he be a theefe. All the matter
resteth vpon the testimony of deuils, and they not put to
their oath. Wee will not ground vpon mans testimonie
without an oath, and must we beleeue the bare worde of
deuils?
(^Sam.^) Do you thinke then that the man was not killed
by witcherie?
(^Dan.^) It may be the Lord had giuen Satan power to
plague the man in his bodie, and then he vnder a colour
would be sent by a witch. But it is most like that his bodie
did languish and pine of naturall causes, which the deuill
did know, and so would be sent, and seeme to do all, when as
indeed he had no power to touch him. For, although the
Lord giue the deuill power, to strike some in their bodies
for their haynous sinnes, yet the most which the witches
thinke their spirits doe kill at their request, doe die of      #
naturall
diseases.
(^Sam.^) Then it seemeth the witches are deceiued, and 
mocked, when he maketh them beleeue he doeth kill and
plague when hee doeth not. And againe in this, where he
hath power giuen him of God, to strike man or beast, hee
could doe it, and would without the witch, and so vseth the
witch for a collour to draw on worse matters.
(^Dan.^) I am glad you take my meaning so right: for,
thinke deeply of the matters, and you shall see it must needs
be so.
(^Sam.^) I interrupted (^M.B.^) I pray you goe forward 
now to the rest.
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(^Dan.^) Our matter which we come vnto nowe, is the
helpe and remedie that is fought for against witches at 
the hands of cunning men. And now if it please you to propound
your questions, I will answere to them the best I
can.
M. (^B.^) Nay truly, I see already all is naught, but yet
I will obiect those things which haue caried me awrie. I
take it a man is to seek remedy against euils, & I thought
it was euen a gift that God gaue vnto those whom we cal
cunning men, that they did very much good by. When a
thing is lost, when a thing is stollen, many goe to them, and
they help them to it. I did know where the Communion
cup was stollen: the Churchwardens rode to a wise man,
he gaue them direction what night, and where they should
stand, and the party that had stollen it should come thither,
and confesse he had it: and certainly they had it againe. I
did know one that had a child of fiue yeares old, a gyrle, it
was taken piteouslie: the father was in great heauinesse,
and knew not what to doe: some gaue him counsell to goe
to a woman which dwelt ten miles from him, and to carie
some of the clothes which the child lay in: he did so, the      #
woman
told him that his child was bewitched, and if hee did
not seeke remedie in time, the childe would be lost: Shee
bad him take some olde clothes, and let the child lie in them
all night, and then take and burne them: and he should see
by the burning, for if they did burne black, that shewed the
child was bewitched, and she said further, that doubtlesse
the witch would come thither: he followed her aduice, and
sure as we be here, there came an old woman in, which he
suspected, euen while they were burning, and made an errand:
the man made no more adoe, but euen laid his clowthes 
vpon her and clawed her vntill the blood ranne down
her cheeks, and the child was well within two dayes after.
I could tell you of a stranger thing, but I haue it but by
report, but yet indeed by very credible report. There was
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a butcher by his trade that had a boy to his sonne, his name
was Iohn, grieuous sores did breake forth vpon him: they
laid salues, and none woulde cleaue for to draw or to ease
them. The father making his moane to a friend of his, he 
told him whether he should goe to a verie skilfull man: he
did goe, and being demanded whom he suspected, she was
shewed him in a glasse, an old woman that dwelt not farre
from him in an house alone: he told the cunning man, that
the woman had shut vp her dore, & was gone from home
out of the shyre, and so he could not tell how to come by her.
he told him a way how he should fetch her home. Cut off
the hair (said he) of the boyes head, and put it in a cloath
and burne it, and I warrant you she wil come home with al
the speed she can. Burne it abroade, burne it not in a chimney,
for if you doe, it will make you all affraide. The man
went home and did this. The woman came home with
all speede, came to his house, came to the boy, and saide,
Iohn, scratch me, hee scratched her vntil the blood followed,
and whereas before nothing would draw his soares,
they healed of themselues. What should a man thinke of
such things?
(^Dan.^) You tell of some, which haue receiued help from 
the hands of cunning men: And no doubt there may infinit
examples be brought. Some haue lost, some haue thinges
stollen from them, some are vexed in their bodies: They
come by the things againe which were lost or stollen, they
are taught to doe certain things, and are eased from their
helpe, if it deserue the name to be called help, from the       #
deuill.
And do you thinke a man may lawfullie seek helpe at 
the hands of the deuill?
M. (^B.^) Some are perswaded that they doe not seeke
helpe at the hand of deuils, when they goe to the wise men:
but that it is a gift which God hath giuen them, euen to do
good withall. 



