A Treatise of Witchcraft eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 95 pages of information about A Treatise of Witchcraft.

A Treatise of Witchcraft eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 95 pages of information about A Treatise of Witchcraft.

    [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

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A Treatise of Witchcraft from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.