A Treatise of Witchcraft | Page 2

and linked together with Satan in a league
(the common and professed enemy of mankinde) and by his helpe
performe many subtile mischieuous actions, and hurtfull designes, it is
strange that from so great a smoake arising, they neither descrie nor
feare some fire. And therefore, in respect of these, I haue at your
appointment and request (for whom I am most willing to bestow my
best labours and euer shall be) penned this small Treatise, occasioned
by the detection of a late witch among you, whose irreligious care, and
vnwearied industry, is not to be defrauded of deserued commendation,
and by mature deliberation, and descreete search, found out her
irreligious and impious demeanour, and also discouered sundry her
vnnaturall and inhumane mischiefes done to others, whereof being
conuicted, she was accordingly sentenced, and did vndergoe the penalty
iustly appointed, and due by Law vnto malefactors of that kinde. After
all which, you kindled with a holy zeale of the aduauncement of Gods
glorie, and giuing satisfaction to euery one howsoeuer affected,
intermitted no meanes, vsing therein the labour of your carefull
Ministers (willingly offering themselues in this holy seruice) whereby
she might be broght (as one conuerted in the last houre) to the sight &
acknowledgement of her heinous sins in generall, & particularly of that
of witchcraft, confessing the same, & by true repentance, and
embracing of the tender mercies of God in Christ Iesus saue her soule
(who refuseth no true and vnfained conuert at any time.) And hee
gratiously blessing these religious endeuors of yours, vouchsafed to
second the same with a happy and wished for euent, which (as I hope)
shall appeare manifestly in the following Treatise vnto all those who
are not fondly, & without cause, too much wedded to their owne
conceits: And thus, desiring GOD most humbly to confirme and
strengthen you in his truth, which euer you haue loued, and is your due
praise, and shall be at the last an honour vnto you: I rest
Your Worships in all Christian duty _to be commaunded,_

A. ROBERTS.
[Footnote a: _2 Timoth. 3. 5._]
[Footnote b: _Titus 1. 16._]

To the Reader.
Christian Reader, I haue vpon occasion penned this short discourse, and
that of such a subject wherewith not being well acquainted, am
enforced to craue some direction from those, whose names you shall
finde remembred in the same: (that I be not vnthankefull vnto those
from whom I receiue instruction) and haue in former time, and latter
dayes, taken paines in searching out, both the speculatiue, and practique
parts of this damnable Art of Witchcraft, a dangerous and seducing
inuention of Sathan, who from the Arcenals, and Magisins store-houses
of his ancient and mischieuous furniture, hath not spared to affoord all
helpe, and the best Engines for the subuerting of soules, pliable to his
allurements: and to this end, beside a plaine narration of fact in this
case committed and confessed, (least the Treatise should be too bare
and naked) I haue added thereunto a few Propositions, agreeing to such
a subiect matter, manifesting some speciall poynts not altogether
impertinent in my opinion, nor vnworthy of due consideration: I know
mine owne wants, and do as willingly acknowledge them: One more
experienced, and of greater leasure, and better health, had beene fitter
for the opening and discouering of so deepe a mystery, and hidden
secret of Iniquity, as this is; and haply hereafter may be willing to take
that taske in hand: yet herein thou shalt finde something not vsuall: A
manifest contract made with the Diuell, and by the solemne tearmes of
a league, which is the ground of all the pernitious actions proceeding
from those sorts of people, who are, haue beene, and shall be
practioners in that cursed and hellish Art. And yet no more then she,
that Witch of whom in this relation we do speake, hath of her owne
accord, and voluntarily acknowledged after conference had with me,
and sundry learned and reuerend Diuines, who both prayed for her
conuersion, carefully instructed her in the way to saluation, and

hopefully rescued her from the Diuell, (to whom she was deuoted, and
by him seduced) and regained her to God, from whom she was departed
by Apostacie. And in this so Christian and holy action were the
continuall paines of
{ Thomas Howes. { Thomas Hares. Maister { Iohn Man. { William
Leedes. { Robert Burward. { William Armitage.
_And of these in the day of execution (which she in no wise would
condiscend vnto should be deferred, though offered repriuall vpon hope
that more might haue beene acknowledged) being very distemperate,
neuerthelesse some accompanied her to the place, and were both eye
and eare-witnesses of her behauiour there, seeing and hearing how she
did then particularly