The Holy State, Book 5 · Chapter 3
CHAP. 3. The Witch.
BEfore we come to describe her, we must premise and prove certain propositions, whose truth may otherwise be doubted of.
1 Formerly there were Witches. Otherwise Gods *Exod. 18.2….Law had fought against a shadow, Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live: yea we reade how King Saul, who had formerly scoured Witches out of all Israel, afterwards drank a draught of that puddle himself.
2 There are Witches for the present, though those Night-birds flie not so frequently in flocks since the light of the Gospel. Some ancient arts and mysteries are said to be lost; but sure the devil will not wholly let down any of his gainfull trades. There be many Witches at this day in Lapland, who sell winds to Mariners for money (and must they not needs go whom the devil drives?) though we are not bound to believe the old story of Ericus King of Swedeland, who had a *Therefore called, Ventosus pilcus, Olaus mag. de Gent. septent. lib. 3. cap. 14.cap, and as he turned it the wind he wish'd for would blow on that side.
3 It is very hard to prove a Witch. Infernall contracts are made without witnesses. She that in presence of others will compact with the devil deserves to be hang'd for her folly as well as impiety.
4 Many are unjustly accused for Witches. Sometimes out of ignorance of naturall, & misapplying of supernaturall causes; sometimes out of their neighbours mere malice, and the suspicion is increas'd, if the party accused be notoriously ill-favoured; whereas deformity alone is no more argument to make her a Witch, then handsomnesse had been evidence to prove her an Harlot; sometimes out of their own causlesse confession. Being brought before a Magistrate they acknowledge themselves to be Witches, being themselves rather bewitch'd with fear, or deluded with phancy. But the self-accusing of some is as little to be credited, as the self-praising of others, if alone without other evidence.
5 Witches are commonly of the feminine sex. Ever since Satan tempted our grandmother Eve, he knows that that sex is most licorish to tast, and most carelesse to swallow his baits. *Fulgentius in Sermon.Nescio quid habet muliebre nomen semper cum sacris: if they light well, they are inferiour to few men in piety, if ill, superiour to all in superstition.
6 They are commonly distinguished into white and black Witches. White, I dare not say good Witches (for woe be to him that calleth evil good) heal those that are hurt, and help them to lost goods. But better it is to lap ones pottage like a dog, then to eat it mannerly with a spoon of the devils giving: Black Witches hurt, and do mischief. But in deeds of darknesse there is no difference of colours: The white and the black are both guilty alike in compounding with the devil. And now we come to see by vvhat degrees people arrive at this height of profanenesse.
Maxime 1At the first she is onelyonly ignorant, and very malicious. She hath usually a bad face, and a worse tongue, given to railing and cursing, as if constantly bred on mount Ebal, yet speaking perchance worse then she means, though meaning worse then she should. And as the harmlesse wapping of a curs'd curre may stir up a fierce mastiffe to the vvorrying of sheep; so on her cursing the devil may take occasion by Gods permission to do mischief, vvithout her knovvledge, and perchance against her will.
2Some have been made *Multi dum vitare student quae vitanda non sunt, fugâ vanâ superstitionis superstitiosi siunt, Cardan. de Subtil. p. 924. lib. 8.Witches by endeavouring to defend themselves against witchcraft: for fearing some suspected Witch should hurt them, they fence themselves with the devils shield against the devils sword, put on his whole armour, beginning to use spells and charms to safeguard themselves. The art is quickly learnt to which nothing but credulity and practice is required; and they often fall from defending themselves to offending of others, especially the devil not being dainty of his company where he finds welcome; and being invited once he haunts ever after.
She begins at first with doing tricks rather strange then hurtfull:3 yea some of them are pretty and pleasing. But it is dangerous to gather floures that grow on the banks of the pit of hell, for fear of falling in; yea they which play with the devils rattles, will be brought by degrees to wield his sword, and from making of sport they come to doing of mischief.
At last she indents downright with the devil. 4He is to find her some toies for a time, and to have her soul in exchange. At the first (to give the devil his due) he observes the agreement to keep up his credit, else none would trade with him; though at last he either deceives her with an equivocation, or at some other small hole this Serpent winds out himself, and breaks the covenants. And where shall she poore wretch sue the forfeited band? in heaven she neither can nor dare appear; on earth she is hang'd if the contract be proved; in hell her adversary is judge, and it is wofull to appeal from the devil to the devil. But for a while let us behold her in her supposed felicity.
She taketh her free progresse from one place to another. 5Sometimes the devil doth locally transport her: but he will not be her constant hackney, to carry such luggage about, but oftentimes to save portage deludes her brains in her sleep, so that they brag of long journeys, whose heads never travell'd from their bolsters. These vvith Drake sail about the vvorld, but it is on an ocean of their own phancies, and in a ship of the same: They boast of brave banquets they have been at, but they would be very lean should they eat no other meat: Others will perswade, if any list to believe, that by a Witch-bridle they can make a fair of horses of an acre of besome-weed. Oh silly souls! Oh subtle Satan that deceived them.
6With strange figures and words she summons the devils to attend her: using a language which God never made at the confusion of Tongues; and an interpreter must be fetch'd from hell to expound it. With these, or Scripture abused, the devil is ready at her service. Who would suppose that roaring lion could so finely act the spaniel? one would think he were too old to suck, and yet he will do that also for advantage.
7Sometimes she enjoyns him to do more for her then he is able; as to wound those whom Gods providence doth arm, or to break through the tents of blessed Angels, to hurt one of Gods Saints. Here Satan is put to his shifts, and his wit must help him where his power fails; he either excuseth it, or seemingly performs it, lengthning his own arm by the dimnesse of her eye, and presenting the seeming bark of that tree which he cannot bring.
8She lives commonly but very poore. Methinks she should bewitch to her self a golden mine, at least good meat, and whole clothes: But 'tis as rare to see one of her profession as an hangman in an whole suit. Is the possession of the devils favour here no better? Lord, what is the reversion of it hereafter?
9When arraigned for her life the devil leaves her to the Law to shift for her self. He hath worn out all his shoes in her former service, and will not now go barefoot to help her; and the circle of the halter is found to be too strong for all her Spirits. Yea *Plinius, lib. 3. cap. 1.Zoroastes himself, the first inventer of Magick (though he laught at his birth) led a miserable life, and dyed a wofull death in banishment. We will give a double example of a Witch: first of a reall one, out of the Scripture, because it shall be above all exception; and then of one deeply suspected, out of our own Chronicles.