Part 5

This is that sort of bird that _Gesner_ calleth _Caprimulgus_, and the Greeks Ἀιγαθήλας, the Germans =Rachtvogel= or =Rachtraven=, the Hebrews ‏לילית‎ _Lillith_, as is said in _Isaiah: Quin & ibi subitò quievit strix (seu lamia) & invenit sibi requiem._ It is taken to be a kind of Owl, little bigger than an Ousel, and less than a Cuckow, they are blind upon the day, and flye abroad upon the nights, making an horrible noise, and were to be found about _Rome_, _Helvetia_, and _Crete_ or _Candy_, and do certainly suck the dugs of Goats, that thereby they waste away and become blind. And that they are also sometimes found in _Denmark_, that learned Physician and laborious Anatomist _Bartholinus_ doth make manifest, and that they do suck the breasts or navils of young children. Now what affinity hath this to a Witch or Witchcraft? but that Witchmongers would bring in any allusion or Metaphor, though never so impertinent or incongruous? For if it were transferred to the actions of Witches, yet as _Calepine_ tells us: _Ab hujus avis nocumento striges appellamus mulieres puellulos fascinantes suo contactu, & lactis mammarúmq; oblatione_. So that if the assimulation were proper in any proportion or particular, those Women they do account Witches, do but hurt the little children with the virulent steams of their breath, and the effluviums that issue from their filthy and polluted bodies, and so wrought by contact and contrectation, by which the contagious poyson is conveyed, but not by Witchcraft.

[Sidenote: Act. 1. 26.]

[Sidenote: Prov. 16. 33.]

3. There is another word that they apply to Witches, as insignificant and improper as the other, and that is _Sortilegus_, χρησμολόγος, a Teller of Fortunes by Lots or Cuts: and _Lambertus Danæus_, who in other things was a judicious and learned person, yet doted extremely about this opinion, calling a Witch _Sortiarius_, deriving it from _Sortilegus_, which the French call _Sorcier_. Now what affinity or congruity hath casting or using of Lots with that which these men call _Witchcraft_? surely none at all. For though Lots may, like the best things, be abused and wrested to a vain or evil end, yet are they not altogether evil, but that a civil and lawful use may be made of them, as is manifest this day at the famous City of _Venice_, where their chief Officers are chosen by them. And also there hath been a godly and divine use made of them even by the Apostles themselves, in the deciding of the Election of _Barsabas_ and _Matthias_, upon the latter of which the Lot fell, and so he was numbred with the eleven Apostles. And _Solomon_ tells us, _The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord_. And sure these men were at a loss to find a suitable word to fix upon these Creatures, to whom they ascribe such impossible and incredible actions, when they were fain to bring this appellation of _Sortilegus_, that hath no kinship at all with such Witches, as they mean and intend.

4. Sometimes they call them by the name _Saga_, which signifieth no more than a Wife and subtil Woman, being derived _à sagiendo_ to perceive quickly, or to smell a thing quickly forth, which the Germans call =Vnhold=, which is no more than _malevolus_, or evil-willed.

5. They use the word _Veneficus_, _venefica_, and _veneficium_, and this in its proper signification and derivation from the Latine, doth import no more than a Poysoner, or to make poyson, _venenum facere_, and so might perhaps be given unto them, because by Tradition they had learned several ways to poyson secretly and strangely, as doubtless there may be divers hidden and not ordinarily known ways (as we shall shew hereafter) by which either by smelling, tasting, touching (and it may be by sight) they could kill and destroy, though the means they used, and the effects produced, were meerly natural; yet because the manner was very occult and unperceivable, it was through ignorance and want of due inspection into the matters accounted Diabolical; when there was no more of a Devil in the business, than is in a Thief or Murtherer, but only in the Use and Application, which is to steal, kill, or destroy. And this, though now improperly and abusively called Witchcraft, doth but signifie poysoning, and so the French call it _Empoisonnement_, and the Italians _Veneficio_ or _Avenenatione_, and the Germans =Vergifftung=, which all amount to one purpose. And this _Veneficium_ or poysoning the Greeks call Φαρμάκευσις and Φαρμακία from Φάρμακον _Medicamentum v.l. Venenum_; for sometimes it was taken in the better sense for a curing and healing Medicine; and sometimes in the worse for poyson that did kill or destroy. Neither can it be found in any Greek Author to signifie any more, than such men or women that used Charms and Incantations, and were believed by the Vulgar to effect strange things by them, when in truth and indeed they effected nothing at all but by natural means and secret poysons, and from thence had these names. And the Poets spoke of them to adorn and imbellish their Poems withal, according to common opinion; not that either they themselves believed the things to be so done, as the Vulgar believed, nor to give credit to such false Fables and impossibilities; but to make their Poems more delectable and welcome to the common people, who are usually taken with such fond Romantick stories and lyes. But after the year 1300. when the Spanish Inquisitors, the Popish Doctors and Writers had found the sweetness and benefit of the confiscated Goods of those that they had caused to be accused and condemned for Witches, in their sense then these words either in the Greek or Latine were wrested to signifie a Witch that made a visible and corporeal League with the Devil, when in the true sense of them they did but signifie a secret Poysoner. So that all things were hurried, though never so improper and dissonant, to be made serviceable to their filthy lucre and avaritious self-endedness. _Templum venale Deúsq;_.

6. Lastly, For Witchcraft they used the Latine _Fascinum_ and _Fascinatio_, and so they called a Witch _Fascinator_ and _Fascinatrix_, and this the Greeks called Βασκανίον, Βασκανία, _Fascinum_, _Fascinatio_, also _invidia, odium, seu invidentia_, ἀπὸ τοῦ Βασκανεῖν, _à fascinando, seu oculis occidendo_: the Germans call it =Zaubery=, and =Verzauberung=, and sometimes =Hexenwerk=; the French _Ensorcellement_ and _Sorcelerie_; the Italians _Lestrigare & amaliare_, _amaliamento_; the Belgicks =Betoovenge=: the Saxons called them and it Ƿɩcce and Ƿɩcce-cꞃeeꝼꞇ, from whence we have the name Witch and Witchcraft, that signified _Saga_, _Venefica_, _Lamia_, and _Fascinum_, _Magia_, _Incantatio_, _Fascinatio_, _Præstigium_: of which (because we shall have occasion to speak more of it hereafter) we shall here only note these few things.

[Sidenote: _Vid. Alexand. Aphrod. lib. 2. Probl. 53._]

1. It is taken sometimes for Envy and Malice, because those that were supposed to use Fascination, did direct it to one Creature more than another through their envious minds, as may be perceived by some few Authors: And so was accounted a kind of eye-biting whereby (as the Vulgar believed) children did wax lean, and pined away, the original whereof they referred to the crooked and wry looks of malicious persons, never examining the truth of the matter of fact, whether those children that pined away, had any natural disease or not, that caused that macilency or pining away; nor considered, whether or no there was any efficiency in the envy or wry looks of those malicious persons, but vainly ascribed effects to those things that had in them no causality at all to produce such effects.

[Sidenote: _Eclog. 3._]

2. Sometimes this kind of Fascination was ascribed to the sore or infected eyes of those that were accounted causers of hurt thereby in others, and in this sense _Virgil_ saith: _Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos_. And by this no more could be understood, but that those that had infected and sore eyes might infect others, and this was nothing but contagion, or corrupt steams issuing from one body to another, which may happen in many diseases, as is manifest by the Writings of divers learned Physicians, as in bodies infected with the Plague, French Pox, Leprosie, Ophthalmies, and such like.

[Sidenote: _Sup. Epist. D. Paul. ad Galat._ _c._ 3.]

3. Sometimes Fascination is taken for some kind of Incantation, that by virtue of Words or Charms doth perform some strange things; but concerning this there is such incertainty of the opinions of the Learned, some flatly denying that Words or Charms have in them any natural efficacy at all; others as strongly affirming it, that of this point it is very difficult to make a clear determination: and therefore we shall say but this of it here, that the Angelical Doctor did conclude well in this particular, in these words: “_Ad sciendum autem quid sit fascinatio, sciendum est quòd secundùm glossam fascinatio propriè dicitur ludificatio sensus, quæ per artes magicas fieri consuevit, puta, cum hominem facit aspectibus aliorum apparere leonem, vel cornutum, & hujusmodi_.”

Having been thus large in considering the names and denomination given to those persons that are esteemed Witches, and finding them to be so improper, impertinent, various, and uncertain, let us now proceed to the notion and acceptation of Witchcraft and Witches, to try if in that we can find any more certainty or consonancy, and herein we shall produce some of the chief descriptions that are given of them by several Authors; for to quote all would be tedious and superfluous. Those that are or may be accounted Witches we rank in these two orders.

1. Those that were and are active deceivers, and are both by practice and purpose notorious Impostors, though they shadow their delusive and cheating knaveries under divers and various pretences; some pretending to do their Feats by Astrology (which is a general Cheat as it is commonly used) some by a pretended gift from God, when they are notoriously drunken, debauched, and blasphemous persons, such as of very late years was the Cobler that lived upon _Ellill_ Moor, named _Richmond_, and divers others that I could name, but that in modesty I would spare their reputations: some by pretending skill in Natural Magick, when indeed they can hardly read English truly; some by pretending a familiar Spirit, as one _Thomas Bolton_ near _Knaresborough_ in _Yorkshire_, when indeed and in truth they have no other Familiar but their own Spirit of lying and deceiving: some by pretending to reveal things in Crystal-glasses or Beryls, as was well known to be pretended by Doctor _Lamb_, and divers others that I have known. And some by pretending to conjure and call up Devils, or the Spirits of men departed; and some by many other ways and means that are not necessary to be named here; for errour and deceit have a numerous train of Followers and Disciples. And the existence of such kind of Witches as these (if you will needs call them by that name, and not by their proper titles, which are, that they truly are Deceivers, Cheaters, Couseners, and Impostors) I willingly acknowledge, as having been, and are to be found in all ages, and these sorts are also acknowledged by _Wierus_, Mr. _Scot_, _Johannes Lazarus Gutierius_, _Tobias Tandlerus_, _Hieronymus Nymannus_, _Martinius Biermannus_, and all the rest, that notwithstanding did with might and main oppose the gross Tenent of the common Witchmongers.

[Sidenote: A Candle in the dark, p. 12, 13.]

[Sidenote: Object. p. 78.]

And of this sort were all those several differences of Diviners, Witches, or Deceivers named in the Scriptures, as Mr. _Ady_ hath sufficiently declared in this passage, which we shall transcribe. “A Witch is a man or woman that practiseth Devillish crafts of seducing the people for gain, from the knowledge and worship of God, and from the truth, to vain credulity (or believing of lyes) or to the worshipping of Idols”. And again he saith: “Witchcraft is a Devillish craft of seducing the people for gain, from the knowledge and worship of God, and from his truth, to vain credulity (or believing of lyes) or to the worshipping of Idols. That it is a Craft truly so called, and likewise that it is for gain, is proved _Act._ 16. 16, 19. The Maid that followed _Paul_ crying, brought in her Master much gain; and that it is a Craft of perverting the people, or seducing them from God and his Truth, is proved _Act._ 6. 7, 8. _Elimas the Sorcerer laboured to pervert Deputy from the Faith._ So likewise _Act._ 8. 9, 10, 11. it doth more plainly prove all these words: _And there was a man before in the City called Simon, which used Witchcraft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying, That he himself was some great man, to whom they gave heed from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God, and gave heed unto him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with Sorceries_. How bewitched them with Sorceries? That is, seduced them with Devillish Crafts: (as the Greek and also _Tremelius_ Latine Translation do more plainly illustrate.) In this sense speaketh _Paul_ to the _Galatians_ 3. 1. _O foolish Galathians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth?_ And that a Witch or Witchcraft is taken in no other sense in all the Scripture, it appeareth by the whole current of the Scriptures, as you may see in this Book.” But against this Mr. _Glanvil_ and the rest of his opinion will object and say, that it is hard and severe that Cheaters and Impostors should be ranked with Inchanters, and such as converse with Devils and with Idolaters, and that of this it is hard to give a reason. To this we shall give this full responsion.

[Sidenote: Levit. 20. 10.]

[Sidenote: Deut. 22. 22, 23, 24.]

1. We are to consider in what precise respect actions are in Sacred Writ called sinful and wicked, and wherefore they have such severe punishments annexed unto them, and we shall find that this is not _ratione medii vel actùs, sed finis_. As for instance and illustration: we shall find that the Law was peremptory in point of adultery, which saith: _If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them dye_. Now the act of copulation, as it is an act, is all one with a lawful wife, and with the wife of another man (that is, one generically considered) and yet the one is lawful, as agreeing with Gods Law and Ordinance, and the other is unlawful, sinful, wicked, and therefore to be punished with death, because it is an aberration from the Divine Ordinance, and contrary to the Command of God, who saith, _Thou shalt not commit adultery_. So though the things committed by these persons, were or might be performed by natural or artificial means, that simply in themselves were not sinful, or so severely punishable, yet were they evil in regard of the end, which was to deceive and seduce the people to Idolatry.

[Sidenote: 2 Chron. 33. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.]

Psal. 115. 4, 5, 6, 7. ibid. Psal. 135. 17.

2. Therefore the true and punctual reason why these persons (termed Witches or Diviners) are by the Law of God so severely to be punished, is, because they drew the people to Idolatry, the thing that God most hateth, and against which he hath pronounced the most severe and terriblest judgments of all. Nay these people were the very false Prophets, especially of one sort, and the very Priests to the Idols, as is manifest in the wicked and filthy Idolatry of all sorts set up and practised by _Manasses_, even all the sorts (or the most of them) mentioned in the Scriptures. And God declareth himself to be a jealous God, and that he will not give his glory to another, but is the only Lord God, and him only we ought to serve; and therefore will most severely punish those that attribute that unto Idols, that is only proper unto himself: and for this cause, and upon this ground are all those terrible Comminations used in the Scriptures, and especially against this sort of people, who were the chief Instruments of promoting Idol-worship, ascribing the power of a Deity unto them, when the Prophet tells us, _Their idols are silver and gold, the work of mens hands; they have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not; they have hands but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not, neither speak they through their throat; neither is there any breath in their mouths_.

[Sidenote: 2 King. 1. 4.]

[Sidenote: 1 King. 18.]

3. That many great and abstruse things may be lawfully done by Natural Magick, is well known to the best Naturalists, and how great Feats may be performed by the Mathematicks and Mechanical Arts, are well known to the Learned; and that there is and may be a lawful use of Astrology, and many things may be foretold by it, few that are judicious are ignorant; that the Prognosticks in the Art of Medicine are necessary, and of much use and certainty, all learned Physicians know very well; that observing of times, and many other such like things may for divers respects be lawfully practised. But if all or any of these be used to draw people to Idolatry, and their strange effects ascribed unto dumb and dead Idols, then what horrible sin and abomination were this, and no punishment could be too heavy for it. And so it is in the case of these sort of people called Witches or Diviners, they perswaded the multitude, that their false Gods (or rather Devils) in their Idols, could foretel life or death, and so led the people a whoring after them, as _Ahaziah_ sent to inquire of the god of _Ekron_, whether he should recover or not, and therefore he had that sharp judgment, _That he should not come down from that bed whither he was gone up, but should surely dye_. And did not the Priests of _Baal_ (which were the same rabble named _Deut._ 18. 10, 11, 12, 13, &c.) obstinately labour to make _Ahab_ and all the people believe, that the Gods (or Devils) that they worshipped in their Idols, could and would answer by fire, and pertinaciously persisted in their obstinacy, _cutting themselves with knives and lancets from morning until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice_, and yet nothing was effected? so that they were justly guilty of that punishment which they received, which was death, for ascribing that to a dead Idol, that none could perform, but the only true God of _Israel_, and yet in the meantime could neither by their own skill, nor the skill of their Idols foresee that sudden death that fell upon them: which punishment fell deservedly upon them, for labouring to deceive the people, and confirm them in Idolatry, in ascribing that unto a dead stock, which was only in the power of the Almighty to perform. So if all those fine Knacks and neat Tricks that _Athanasius Kircher_ performed at _Rome_ by the help and means of the Loadstone, and mentioned in his Book _de Arte Magnetica_, had been by him ascribed unto some Saint, thereby to have drawn the people to the adoration of that Saint, and so to Idolatry, it had been active imposture, deceit, and knavery in him, and he might justly have been inrolled in the Catalogue of these Witches or Diviners, and had really been an active Impostor, as they were, and so had deserved the same punishment: when on the contrary for ascribing effects unto their true and proper causes, and clearly shewing the manner and means of producing those effects, he hath justly deserved the title of a learned and honest man. And though a common _Hocus Pocus_ man, or one that playeth Tricks of Leger-de-main or slight of hand, to get a livelihood by, do labour to make the ignorant multitude believe that he doth his Feats by virtue of his barbarous terms or non-significant words, or by the help of some familiar Spirit; must therefore a prudent or learned person believe the same, and not labour to understand that those pretences are but used the better to deceive the senses of the beholders, and so that pretence but a cheat and imposture?

[Sidenote: Isa. 44. 15, 16.]

[Sidenote: Isa. 41. 22, 23.]

[Sidenote: Dan. 22. 11.]

[Sidenote: Gen. 41. 8.]

[Sidenote: 1 Sam. 28. 11.]

[Sidenote: Act. 8. 9.]