An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

An Irish Witch which was tried at Toughall, Sept.11. 1661. being by the Court put upon repeating the fifth Petition, always left out the words Forgive us our Trespasses. Another Witch tried at Taunton 1663. could not repeat the last Petition, but though she was directed to say it after one that repeated it distinctly, would say Lead us into Temptation, and could never repeat it right, though she tried to do it half a score times. But Judge ⟨p. 180⟩Arche•••d wisely admonish the Jury, that they were not in the least measure to guide their Verdict by that, since it was no legal evidence. The Author of the Advertisement to Mr. Glanvil's Relations (P.171.) saith that his curiosity led him to examine certain Witches at the Castle in Cambridge, and that the most notorious Witch of them all pleaded that she was no Witch, because she was able to say the Lords Prayer and the Creed, and though she was out in repeating the Creed, she said the Lords Prayer right. But from such considerations as those which have been mentioned; Wierus and some others not Atheists but persons of worth, have [Greek or Hebrew] run into an extreme on the other hand, so as to question whether there were any persons really confederate with the infernal spirits. Nevertheless, that there have been such, the following Arguments do manifest.

An Irish Witch which was tried at Toughall, Sept.11. 1661. being by the Court put upon repeating the fifth Petition, alwayes left out the words Forgive us our Trespasses. Another Witch tried at Taunton 1663. could not repeat the last Petition, but though she was directed to say it after one that repeated it distinctly, would say Leadus into Temptation, and could never repeat it right, though she tried to do it half a score times. But Judge ⟨p. 180⟩Arche•••d wisely admonish the Jury, that they were not in the least measure to guid their Verdict by that, since it was no legal evidence. The Author of the Advertisement to Mr. Glanvil's Relations (P.171.) saith that his curiosity led him to examine certain Witches at the Castle in Cambridge, and that the most notorious Witch of them all pleaded that she was no Witch, because she was able to say the Lords Prayer and the Creed, and though she was out in repeating the Creed, she said the Lords Prayer right. But from such considerations as those which have been mentioned; Wierus and some others not Atheists but persons of worth, have run into an extream on the other hand, so as to question whether there were any persons really confoederate with the infernal spirits. Nevertheless, that there have been such, the following Arguments do manifest.