A Treatise of Witchcraft | Page 7

spirits, and did much euill in
the sight of the Lord to anger him, _2. Chro. 33. 6_. And for this
offence were the ten tribes of Israell led into captiuitie, _2. King. 17.
17._ [hh]The twelue Tables of the Romans (the ancientest law they
haue) by a solemne Embassage (sent for that purpose) obtained from
Athens, & accounted as a Library of knowledge, do both make mention
of such malefactors, & decree a penaltie to be inflicted vpon them.
[ii]Constantius and Constantinus thinke them worthy of some vnusuall

death, as enemies of mankinde, strangers from nature: [kk]and Iulius
Paulus distinguishing the punishment according to the different qualitie
of the offenders, pronounceth out of the then receiued opinions, that the
better sort found guilty, were to dye (not determining the manner) those
of meaner condition either to bee crucified, or deuoured of wilde
beasts.
[Footnote ee: Binfeldius de confessionibus maleficorum, calleth this
reason a most strong & conuincing argument.]
[Footnote ff: _Ex malis moribus bonæ nascuntur leges._]
[Footnote gg: _Diogenes Laertius lib. 1. de vitis Philosophorum in
Solone. Cicero in Oratione pro Roscio Amerino._]
[Footnote hh: Of these 12. Tables Liuie in the 3 booke of his first
Decad. Dionysius Halicarnasseus 10 Booke of his History, & Iohannes
Rosimus most fully in the 6 chapter of his 8 booke of Roman antiquities.
_Liuius._ _Plinius lib. 34. cap. 5._ _Cicero de legibus, lib. 2. & de
orato primo_.]
[Footnote ii: _Cod. lib. 9. titul. 18. lege multi magicis actibus._]
[Footnote kk: _Sententiarum receptarum lib. 5. cap. 25. ad legem
Corneliam de sicarijs & maleficis. Paulus Iurisconsultus._]
Our ancient Saxon Kings before the [ll]Conquest, haue in their
municipall Lawes apparantly demonstrated what they conceiued of
these so dangerous and diuellish persons. Alucidus keepeth the expresse
words of God; _F[oe]minas sagas_ ne sinite viuere. Suffer not women
Witches to liue. Gunthrunus and Canutus will haue them, being once
apprehended (that the rest of the people might bee pure and vndefiled)
sent into banishment, or if they abide in the kingdome (continuing their
lewd practises) executed according to desert. So Athelstane, if they be
conuicted to haue killed any, &c. And how the present estate standeth
affected toward them, the sundry strict statutes in this case prouided,
may giue any, not wedded to his owne stubbornenesse, sufficient and
full satisfaction. Wherefore not to erect a Tabernacle, and dwell longer

in perswading an vndeniable truth, that there bee Sorcerers and Witches,
I leaue these Hellish Infidels, and proceede.
[Footnote ll: _In +archaionomia+ siue de priscis Anglorum legibus
Guilielmus Lambertus._]

_The second Proposition._
The second Proposition: [a]Who those be, and of what quality, that are
thus ensnared of the Diuell, and vndermined by his fraudes. For
resolution whereof, this may suffice. Those who either maliciously
reiect the Gospell offered vnto them: or receiuing and vnderstanding
the same, do but coldly respect, and carelessly taste it, without making
any due estimation, or hauing any reuerent regard therof. In both which
is a manifest and open contempt of God. For as he purposing to honour
the first comming of his Sonne into the World, cloathed in the cloud of
our flesh, which he assumed then, suffered many to be really possessed
of Diuels, to bee lunatique, deafe, dumbe, blinde, &c. whom he might
deliuer from these torments, and so make apparant his glory, and shew
by these his miracles wrought, that hee was the promised Messias,
_Esay 35. 5.6_. And therfore Christ referreth those Disciples whom
Iohn sent vnto him (doubting in respect of that base forme which he
tooke, and demanding whether it was he that should come, or another
to be looked for) vnto his Doctrine and Workes; and by them to bee
instructed, whereof they were then both hearers and beholders, _Math.
11. 3.4.5_. So now comming in the dew of his grace, and hauing
restored the light of the Gospell, and bestowed that vpon mankinde, as
an especiall and vnvaluable blessing, in his iustice giueth ouer the
despisers thereof vnto the power of Sathan, whereby both others who
contemne the same, might by their dreadfull example bee terrified, and
the faithfull stirred vp to a respectiue thankfulnesse, for so great a
mercy vouchsafed vnto them, and acknowledge their happinesse in
being made partakers thereof, and by especiall fauour deliuered out of
the tyranny of the Diuell: For this is one of the fearefull iudgements of
God, and hidden from vs (as all are a great depth, _Psal. 36. 6._) that
those who receiued not the truth that they might be saued, should haue

strong delusions sent vnto them, and bee giuen ouer to belieue Sathan
and his lying signes, and false wonders, _2. Thess._ 2. 10. And thus
consenting vnto sinne, and his suggestions, they are depriued of the
[b]helpe and assistance of God, and so