An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

A certain Woman, being in Prison on suspicion for Witchcraft; pretending to be able to turn her self into a Wolf, the Magistrate before whom she was brought promised her, that she should not be put to death, in case she would then in his presence so transform her self. Which she readily consented unto. Accordingly she anointed her head, neck and arm-pits; immediately upon which she fell into a most profound sleep, for three hours; after which she suddenly rose up, declaring that she had been turned into a Wolf, and been at a place some miles distant, and there killed first a Sheep, and then a Cow; the Magistrate, presently sent to the place; and sound that first a sheep and then a Cow had there been killed. Wierus and Baptista Porta have divers Stories to the same purpose. It is then evident, that the Devil himself did that mischief, and in the mean time the Witches who were cast into so profound a sleep by him, as that they could not by any noises ⟨p. 179⟩or blows be awakened, has their Fancies imposed upon by Dreams and Delusions according to the pleasure of their Master Satan. It must moreover, be sadly confessed, that many innocent persons have been put to death under the notion of Witch-craft, whereby much innocent blood hath been shed. Especially it hath been so in Popish times and places. Superstitious and Magical ways of trying Witches have been a bloody cause of those Murders. Sometimes Persons have been tried for Witch-craft by hot, sometimes by cold water (of which more in the eighth Chapter of this Essay) sometimes by pricking them; sometimes by sticking Awls under their Seats, sometimes by their ability, or otherwise to repeat the Lords Prayer.

A certain Woman, being in Prison on suspicion for Witchcraft; pretending to be able to turn her self into a Wolf, the Magistrate before whom she was brought promised her, that she should not be put to death, in case she would then in his presence so transform her self. Which she readily consented unto. Accordingly she anointed her head, neck and arm-pits; immediately upon which she fell into a most profound sleep, for three hours; after which she suddenly rose up, declaring that she had been turned into a Wolf, and been at a place some miles distant, and there killed first a Sheep, and then a Cow; the Magistrate, presently sent to the place; and sound that first a sheep and then a Cow had there been killed. Wierus and Baptista Porta have divers Stories to the same purpose. It is then evident, that the Devil himself did that mischief, and in the mean time the Witches who were cast into so profound a sleep by him, as that they could not by any noises