Ans. This reason is a mere melancholic conceit, without ground. And the contrary is a manifest truth, that they are not so, as is affirmed, parties deceived by reason of their humours. For first, our Witches are as wise and politic, yea as crafty and cunning in all other matters, as other men be; whereas brainsick persons troubled with melancholy, if their understanding be distempered in one action, it will be faulty likewise in others, more or less. Again, our Witches know that they sin in their practises of Witchcraft, and therefore they use subtle means to cover them, and he that would convict them, must have great dexterity to go beyond them. Now if they were persons deluded, through corruption of any humours; look what humour caused them to do a thing, the same would urge them to disclose it. Thirdly, they ⟨p. 192⟩are also of the same stamp, they take the same courses in all their practises, their consent in word and action is universal. Men of learning have observed, that all Witches through Europe, are of like carriage and behaviour in their examinations, and convictions: they use the same answers, refuges, defences, protestations. In a word, look what be the practises and courses of the Witches in England, in any of these particulars, the same be the practises of the Witches in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, &c. Wherefore the case is clear, they are not deluded by Satan, through the force of humour▪ •s is avouched: for such persons, according as they are diversly •ake•, would show themselves diversly affected, and vary in their speeches, actions, and conceits, both public and private. Fourthly, our Witches are wont to communicate their skill to others by tradition, to teach and instruct their children and posterity, and to initiate them in the grounds and practises of their own •rade, while they live, as may appear ⟨p. 193⟩by the confessions recorded in the Courts of all countries. But if they were persons troubled with melancholy, their conceits would die with them. For conceits, and imaginary fancies, which rise of any humour, cannot be conveyed from party to party, no more then the humour it self. Lastly, if this slight might serve to defend Witches under pretence of delusion through corrupted humours, then here were a cover for all manner of sins. For example:
Ans. This reason is a meere melancholike conceit, without ground. And the contrarie is a manifest truth, that they are not so, as is affirmed, parties deceiued by reason of their humors. For first, our VVitches are as wise and politike, yea as craftie and cunning in all other matters, as other men be; whereas brainsicke persons troubled with melancholy, if their vnderstanding be distempered in one action, it will be faultie likewise in others, more or lesse. Againe, our VVitches know that they sinne in their practises of VVitchcraft, and therefore they vse subtill meanes to couer them, and he that would conuict them, must haue great dexteritie to goe beyond them. Now if they were persons deluded, through corruption of any humors; looke what humour caused them to doe a thing, the same would vrge them to disclose it. Thirdly, they ⟨p. 192⟩are also of the same stamp, they take the same courses in all their practises, their consent in word and action is vniuersall. Men of learning haue obserued, that all Witches through Europe, are of like cariage and behauiour in their examinations, and conuictions: they vse the same answers, refuges, defenses, protestations. In a word, looke what be the practises and courses of the Witches in England, in any of these particulars, the same be the practises of the Witches in Spaine, Fraunce, Italie, Germanie, &c. Wherefore the case is cleare, they are not deluded by Sathan, through the force of humour▪ •s is auouched: for such persons, according as they are diuersly •ake•, would shewe themsel•es diuersly affected, and varie in their speeches, actions, and conceipts, both publike and priuate. Fourthly, our Witches are wont to communicate their skill to others by tradition, to teach and instruct their children and posteritie, and to initiate them in the grounds and practises of their owne •rade, while they liue, as may appeare ⟨p. 193⟩by the confessions recorded in the Courts of all countries. But if they were persons troubled with melancholie, their conceipts would die with them. For conceits, and imaginarie •ancies, which rise of any humour, cannot be conuayed from partie to partie, no more then the humour it selfe. Lastly, if this slight might serue to defend Witches vnder pretence of delusion through corrupted humours, then here were a couer for all manner of sinnes. For example:
