A09402:359
A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so far forth as it is…A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so farre forth as it is…
A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so far forth as it is revealed in the Scriptures, and manifest by true experience. Framed and delivered by M. William Perkins, in his ordinary course of preaching, and now published by Tho. Pickering Bachelor of Divinity, and minister of Finchingfield in Essex. Whereunto is adjoined a twofold table; one of the order and heads of the treatise; another of the texts of Scripture explained, or vindicated from the corrupt interpretation of the adversary.A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so farre forth as it is reuealed in the Scriptures, and manifest by true experience. Framed and deliuered by M. William Perkins, in his ordinarie course of preaching, and now published by Tho. Pickering Batchelour of Diuinitie, and minister of Finchingfield in Essex. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table; one of the order and heades of the treatise; another of the texts of Scripture explaned, or vindicated from the corrupt interpretation of the aduersarie.
Cambridge: printed by Cantrell Legge, 1610Cambridge: printed by Cantrel Legge, 1610
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§ 2. Conviction, is an action of the Magistrate, after just examination, discovering the Witch. This action must proceed from just & sufficient proofs, and not from bare presumptions. For though presumptions give occasion to examine, yet they are no sufficient causes of conviction. Now in general the proofs used for conviction are of two sorts, some be less sufficient, some be ⟨p. 205⟩more sufficient.
§ 2. Conuiction, is an action of the Magistrate, after iust examination, discouering the Witch. This action must proceed from iust & sufficient proofes, and not from bare presumptions. For though presumptions giue occasion to examine, yet they are no sufficient causes of conuiction. Now in generall the prooses vsed for conuiction are of two sorts, some be lesse sufficient, some be ⟨p. 205⟩more sufficient.
The less sufficient proofs are these. First, in former ages, the party suspected §1of Witchcraft, was brought before the Magistrate, who caused red hot iron, and scalding water to be brought, and commanded the party to put his hand in the one, or to take up the other, or both: and if he took up the iron in his bare hand without burning, or endured the water without scalding, hereby he was cleared, and judged free, but if he did burn or scald, he was then convicted, and condemned for a Witch. But this manner of conviction, hath long agone been condemned for wicked and diabolical, as in truth it is, considering that thereby many times, an innocent man may be condemned, and a rank Witch scape unpunished.
The lesse sufficient proofes are these. First, in former ages, the party suspected §1of Witchcraft, was brought before the Magistrate, who caused red hoat yron, and scalding water to be brought, and commanded the partie to put his hand in the one, or to take vp the other, or both: and if he tooke vp the yron in his bare hand without burning, or endured the water without scalding, hereby he was cleared, and iudged free, but if he did burne or scalde, he was then conuicted, and condemned for a Witch. But this manner of conuiction, hath long agone beene condemned for wicked and diabolicall, as in truth it is, considering that thereby many times, an innocent man may be condemned, and a rancke Witch scape vnpunished.