[Footnote e: Exemplum
apud Binfeldium reperies de confessionibus
maleficorum, pag. 32.]
Sixthly, they are of a slippery tongue, and full of words: and therefore if they know any such wicked practises, are not able to hold them, but communicate the same with their husbands, children, consorts, and inward acquaintance; who not consideratly weighing what the issue and end thereof may be, entertaine the same, and so the poyson is dispersed. Thus Dalilah discouered her husbands strength where it lay, vnto the Philistines; and procured his infamous and disastrous ouer-throw. Judg. 16. 18.
Hitherto in some Propositions I haue set downe the
originall of
witch-craft, and other such curious and vnlawfull
Arts, the quality
of the persons agents in the same, the power of the
Diuell, and his
confederates, the league of association which enterchangeably
passeth betweene them, his assuming a body, and framing
a voice
for the performance of that businesse;
that women, and why,
are most
subiect to this hellish practice.
Now
the truth of all these shall
appeare
by exemplary proofes
in
the Narration
following.
* * * * *
A true Narration of some
of those
Witch-crafts which Marie_ wife of_
Henry Smith Glouer did practise, and of the
hurts she hath done vnto sundry persons by the
same:
confirmed by her owne Confession, and from the publike
Records of the examination of diuers vpon their
oaths:
of her death, and execution for the same, which
was on the twelfth day of Ianuarie_
last past.
Marie wife of Henrie Smith, Glouer,
possessed with a wrathfull indignation against some
of her neighbours, in regard that they made gaine
of their buying and selling Cheese, which shee (vsing
the same trade) could not doe, or they better (at
the least in her opinion) then she did, often times
cursed them, and became incensed with vnruly passions,
armed with a setled resolution, to effect some mischieuous
proiects and designes against them. The diuell
who is skilfull, and reioyceth of such an occasion
offered and knoweth how to stirre vp the euill affected
humours of corrupt mindes (she becomming now a fitte
subject, through this her distemper, to worke vpon,
hauing the vnderstanding darkened with a cloude of
passionate, and reuengefull affections) appeared vnto
her amiddes these discontentments,
[Sidenote: Proposition
4.]
in the shape of a blacke man, and willed that the
she should continue in her malice, enuy, hatred, banning
and cursing; and then he would be reuenged for her
vpon all those to whom she willed euill:
[Sidenote: Proposition
5.]
and this promise was vttered in a lowe murmuring and
hissing voyce: and at that present they entred
tearmes of a compact, he requiring that she should