| Chap. 160. |
Felonies by Statute.
14. Their own voluntary Confession, (which
exceeds all other Evidence)
sc. of the hurt they have done, or of the giving of their Souls
to
the Devil, and of the Spirits which they have, how many, how they call
them, and how they came by them. |
385 |
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15. Besides, upon the Apprehension of any
suspected, to search also
their Houses diligently for Pictures of Clay or Wax, &c. Hair
cut, Bones,
Powders, Books of Witchcraft, Charms, and for Pots or Places where
their
Spirits may be kept, the smell of which place will stink detestably. |
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Now to shew you farther, some signs to know, whether
the sick party
be bewitched. |
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1. When a healthful Body shall be suddenly
taken, &c. without probable
reason, or natural cause appearing, &c. Ber. 169. |
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2. When two or more are taken in the like
strange fits in many
things. |
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3. When the afflicted party in his fits doth
tell truly many things,
what the Witch, or other Parties absent, are doing or saying, and the
like. |
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4. When the parties shall do many things strangely,
or speak many
things to purpose, and yet out of their fits know not any thing thereof. |
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5. When there is a strength supernatural,
as that a strong Man or two
shall not be able to keep down a Child, or weak Person, upon a Bed. |
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6. When the party doth vomit up crooked Pins,
Needles, Nails, Coals,
Lead, Straw, Hair or the like. |
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7. When the party shall see visible some Apparition,
and shortly after
some mischief shall befal him, Ber. 173. |
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' But withal observe, with Mr. Bernard cap. 2.
that divers strange diseases
' may happen only from Natural Causes, where he sheweth eight such
' several diseases, therefore, unless the Compact with the Devil be proved
' or evinced by evident Marks or Tokens as abovesaid, it is not to be supposed
' that the Devil is the Agent. |
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And note, for the better riddance of these Witches,
being duly proved
to be such, there must good care be had as well in their Examinations
taken by the Justices: as also in the drawing of their Indictments,
that the
same be both of them set down directly in the material points, &c.
As, |
Indictments. |
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That the Witch (or Party suspected) hath used Invocation
of some
Spirit. |
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Or, That they have consulted or convenanted with
their Spirit. |
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Or, That they have imployed their Spirit, &c. |
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Or, That they have fed or rewarded their Spirit. |
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Or, That they have killed or lamed, &c.
Some Person, &c. |
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And not to indict them generally for being Witches,
&c. |
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The difference between Conjuration, Witchcraft and
Inchantment, &c.
is this, scil. Conjurers and Witches have person conference
with the
Devil, or evil Spirit, to effect their purposes. See 1 Sam. 28.7
&c. The
Conjurers believe by certain terrible words that they can raise the Devil,
and make him to tremble; and by impailing themselves in a Circle, (which,
as one saith, cannot keep out a Mouse) they believe that they are therein
insconsed, and safe from the Devil, whom they are about to raise; and
having raised the Devil, they seem by Prayers and Invocation of Gods
powerful Names, to compel the Devil to say or do what the Conjurer
commands him. |
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The Witch dealeth rather by a friendly and voluntary
Conference or
Agreement between him (or her) and the Devil or Familiar, to have his or |
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