Sailer, and a man of strong constitution of body, who about some fiue
yeares sithence, returning out of Holland in the Netherland, or low
Countries beyond the Seas, hapened, for some misdemeanors committed by
him to strike the sonne of this _Mary Smith_ (but in such sort as could
not in reason bee offensiuely taken) who hearing his complaint, came
forth into the streete, cursing and banning him therefore, as oftentimes
shee did, dwelling in the next adioyning house, and wished in a most
earnest and bitter manner, that his fingers might rotte off; wherevpon
presently hee grew weake, distempered in stomacke, and could digest no
meate, nor other nourishment receiued, and this discrasie or feeblenesse
continued for the space of three quarters of a yeare; which time
expired, the fore-mentioned griefe fel downe from the stomacke into his
hands and feete, so that his fingers did corrupt, and were cut off; as
also his toes putrified & consumed in a very strange and admirable
manner. Neuerthelesse, notwithstanding these calamities, so long as hee
was able, went still to Sea, in the goods and shippes of sundry
Merchants (for it was his onely meanes of liuing) but neuer could make
any prosperous voyage (as then other men did) eyther beneficiall to the
Owners, or profitable to him selfe. Whereupon, not willing to bee
hindrance to others, and procure no good for his owne maintenance by his
labours, left that trade of life, and kept home, where his former griefe
encreasing, sought to obtaine help and remedie by Chirurgery, and for
this end went to Yarmouth, hoping to be cured by one there, who was
accompted very skilfull: but no medicines applyed by the Rules of Arte
and Experience, wrought any expected or hoped for effect: for both his
hands and feete, which seemed in some measure euery euening to be
healing, in the morning were found to haue gone backeward, and growne
far worse then before: So that the Chirurgian perceiuing his labour to
bee wholly frustrate, gaue ouer the cure, and the diseased patient still
continueth in a most distressed and miserable estate, vnto the which hee
was brought by the hellish practises of this malitious woman, who long
before openly in the streetes, (whenas yet the neighbours knew of no
such thing) reioycing at the calamity, said, _Orkton_ now lyeth a
rotting. And no maruell though she could tell that which herselfe had
done, and her good maister would not suffer to be concealed, but that
the testimony of her owne tongue should remayne as a record towardes her
further detection and condemnation, who sought meanes of her voluntary
accord to be reconciled with the wofull distressed party, but this was
nothing else but to plaister ouer and disguise her former inhumane and
barbarous actions, for no reliefe at all followed thereof: for
oftentimes, as hath beene prooued, the diuells and witches his
[Sidenote: Propositiõ 3.]
instruments doe cause such diseases, which neyther the one, nor the
other can remoue againe. And this is not any vaporous imagination, but
a most vndoubted trueth. For now this poore man continueth still in a
lamentable estate, griefe, and paines encreasing, without hope of helpe,
except God in the abundance of his tender mercies vouchsafe to grant
comfort and deliuerance.
¶ _Her Wicked practise against Elizabeth Hancocke_
The second person distressed, by this witch, was _Elizabeth Hancocke_,
then widdow, now wife of _Iames Scot_: the maner, occasion, and
proceeding of whose dealing against her was thus. She comming out of the
towne from the shoppe of one _Simon Browne_ a Silkeman, vnto whom she
had carried home some worke, which was by him put out vnto her; _Henry
Smith_, as shee passed by his doore, tooke her by the hand, and
smilingly said, that his ducke (meaning his wife, this woman of whome we
now speake) told him that shee had stolne her henne; which wordes she
then passed ouer, as onely spoken in merriment, and denying the same: in
the meane time, as they were interchanging these words, shee came
herselfe, and directly charged her with the henne, and wished that the
bones thereof might sticke in her throat, when she should eate the same:
which speech also she made no great reckoning of, supposing them to be
but words of course, and might bee vttered in jeast. Neuerthelesse,
afterward better considering of the same, conceiued much griefe, to bee
counted one of so euill quality and disposition, and espying that hen
for which she was accused, to sit vpon the hatch of her shoppe doore,
went to her, and mooued with the indignity of that slaunder, and vniust
imputation, told her in some passion and angry manner, that it was a
dishonest part thus to blemish the good name of her neighbors with so
vntrue aspersions: whereupon, breaking foorth in some violence, she
wished the pox to light vpon her, and named her prowde _Iinny_, prowde
flurts, and shaking the hand, bade her go in, for she should repent it;
and the same night, within three or foure houres after these curses and
imprecations vttered, she was taken and pinched at the heart, and felt a
sodaine weaknesse in all the parts of her body; yet her appetite to
meare nothing diminished, and so continued for the space of three
weekes; in which time, when she was any thing well, would come to the
doore, and leane vpon the stall, whom this _Marie Smith_ seeing, did
euer banne, adding the former curse, the poxe light vpon you, can you
yet come to the doore? and at the end of these three weekes, beeing but
very weake, came foorth as shee vsed to doe, to take the ayre, this
mischieuous woman most bitterly cursed her againe, whereupon she went
into the house, fell into such a torturing fit, and nipping at the
heart, that she fainted, hardly recouerable for the space of halfe an
houre, and so grieuously racked and tormented through all parts of her
body, as if the very flesh had beene torne from the bones, by the
violent paine whereof she could not refraine, but tore the haire from
off her head, and became as one distraught, bereaued of sence, and
vnderstanding: And the same night the bed whereon she lay, was so
tossed, and lifted vp and downe, both in her owne feeling, and in the
sight of others then present beholders of her extreamities, by the space
of one houre or more, that she was therewith exceedingly terrified, &
did thinke oftentimes in her sleepe, that she did see this _Marie Smith_
standing before her. And this fit continued sixteene houres, during
which passion _Edward Drake_ her father came to the Towne, touched with
griefe for this torture of his daughter (as parents hearts are relenting
and tender, and naturall compassion is soone stirred vp in them) tooke
her vrine, went to one for his aduice (whose fact herein is no way
iustifiable, and argued but a small measure of religion, and the
knowledge of God in him) who first tolde vnto him the cause of his
comming, that is, to seeke help for his daughter, and then added, that
she was so farre spent, that if hee had stayed but one day longer, the
woman who had wronged her, would haue spent her heart, and so become
vnrecouerable, and thereupon shewed him her face in a Glasse; and
further, opened the beginning cause of falling out, which was for a hen,
which before this, _Drake_ neyther knew nor heard of, and then gaue his
counsell for remedy, which was the matter sought for & desired, & that
was in this order. To make a cake with flower from the Bakers, & to mix
the same instead of other liquor, with her own water, and bake it on the
harth, wherof the one halfe was to be applyed and laid to the region of
the heart, the other halfe to the back directly opposit; & further, gaue
a box of ointment like triacle, which must be spread vpon that cake, and
a powder to be cast vpon the same, and certaine words written in a
paper, to be layd on the likewise with the other, adding this caueat,
that if his daughter did not amend within six houres after the taking of
these receits, then there was no health or recouery to be looked for: &
further, wished silence to be kept herein, for the womã who had done
this, would know any thing.
And being thus furnishing with instructions, and returning home, as shee
alighted from his horse to enter into that house where his daughter lay
(being the next vnto _Mary Smiths_) shee then stood leaning ouer her
shop window, whom hee knew to be that person, which was shewed vnto him,
and she cursed him passing by, and told his daughter that her Father had
beene with a Wisard. And the next day following after they had put in
practise the directions giuen, she affirmed to diuers of the neighbours,
that _Drake_ the afflicted womans father, had beene to aske counsell,
and made a Witch Cake, but shee would learne how they came to haue that
knowledge: yet for the present she found helpe, and was freed from the
languishing and other conflicts wherewith she was assaulted by the space
of sixe weekes.
After this, being married vnto _Iames Scot_, a great Cat which kept with
this Witch (of whose infernall both purposes and practises wee now
speake) frequented their house; and vpon doing some scathe, her husband
moued therwith, thrust it twice through with his sword: which
notwithstanding those wounds receiued, ran away: then he stroke it with
all his force vpon the head with a great pike staffe, yet could not kill
her; but shee leapt after this vpward almost a yard from the boords of
that chamber where she now was, and crept downe: which hee perceiuing,
willed his lad (a boy of foureteene yeares) to dragge her to the
muck-hill, but was not able; and therefore put her into a sacke, and
being in the same, still moued and stirred. Whereupon they put her out
againe, and cast her vnder a paire of staires, purposing in the morning,
to get more helpe, and carry her away; but then could not be found,
though all the doores that night were locked, and neuer heard what
afterward became thereof.
Not long after, this Witch came forth with a Birchin broome, and
threatned to lay it vpon the head of _Elizabeth Scot_, and defiled her
cloathes therewith, as she swept the street before her shop doore, and
that in the sight of her husband, who not digesting this indignity
offered vnto his wife, threatned that if she had any such fits, as she
endured being a Widow before marriage, hee would hang her. At this she
clapped her hands, and said hee killed her Cat. And within two or three
dayes after this enterchange of words betweene them, his wife was
perplexed with the like paine and griefe at her heart, as formerly she
had beene; and that for two dayes and a night: wherefore her husband
went to this wrathfull and malicious person, assuring that if his wife
did not amend, hee would accuse her to the Magistirate, and cause the
[a]rigor of the law to be executed vpon her, which is due to such
malefactors. These things were done some three yeares sithence. The
party troubled yet liueth, but in no confirmed health, nor perfect
soundnesse of body.
[Footnote a: _Witches can by no meanes bee so easily brought to
recall the mischiefe they haue done, as by threats and stripes.
Remigius in Dæmonolatria, lib 3. c. 3._]
_Her wicked practises against Cicely Balye._
A third subiect whereupon this wrathfull womans anger wrought, was
_Cicely Balye_, then seruant to _Robert Coulton_, now wife of _William
Vaux_, who sweeping the street before her maisters doore vpon a Saturday
in the euening, _Mary Smith_ began to pick a quarrell about the manner
of sweeping, and said vnto her she was a great fat-tail'd sow, but that
fatnesse should shortly be pulled downe and abated. And the next night
being Sunday immediatly following, a Cat came vnto her, sate vpon her
breast, with which she was grieuously tormented, and so oppressed, that
she could not without great difficulty draw her breath, and at the same
instant did perfectly see the said _Mary_ in the chamber where she lay,
who (as she conceiued) set that Cat vpon her, and immediatly after fell
sicke, languished, and grew exceeding leane; and so continued for the
space of halfe a yeare together, during the whole continuance in her
maisters seruice; vntill departing from him, she dwelt with one Mistres
_Garoway_, and then began to bee amended in her health, and recouer of
her former pining sicknesse: for this Witch had said, that so long as
she dwelt neere her, she should not be well, but grow from euill to
worse.
Thus euery light trifle (for what can be lesse then sweeping of a lttle
dust awry?) can minister matter to set on fire a wrathfull indignation,
and inflame it vnto desired reuenge, the Diuell being willing to
apprehend and take hold vpon such an occasion, that so he might do some
pleasing office to his bond-slaue, whom she adored in submisse manner,
vpon her knees, with strange gestures, vttering many mumuring, broken,
and imperfect speeches, as this _Cicely_ did both heare and see, there
being no other partition between the chamber wherein shee performed
these rites, and the house of her maister with whom she then dwelt, but
only a thin seeling of boord, through a cranny or rift of whereof she
looked, listned attentiuely vnto her words, and beheld diligently her
behauiour, and might haue seene and heard much more, but that she was
with the present spectacle so affrighted, that she hastened downe in
much feare and distemper.
_Her wicked practise against Edmund Newton._
The fourth endammaged by this Hagge, was one _Edmund Newton_: the
discontentment did arise from this ground; Because hee had bought
seuerall bargaines of Holland cheese, and sold them againe, by which she
thought her benefit to be somewhat impaired, vsing the like kinde of
trading. The manner of her dealing with him was in this sort. At euery
seuerall time buying Cheese he was grieously afflicted, being thrice,
and at the last either she or a spirit in her likenesse did appeare vnto
him, and whisked about his face (as he lay in bed) a wet cloath of very
loathsome sauour; after which hee did see one cloathed in russet with a
little bush beard, who told him hee was sent to looke vpon his fore
legge, and would heale it; but rising to shew the same perceiuing hee
had clouen feet, refused that offer, who then (these being no vaine
conceits, or phantasies, but well aduised and diligently considered
obseruances) suddenly vanished out of sight. After this she sent her
Impes, a Toad, and Crabs crawling about the house, which was a shoppe
planchered with boords, where his seruants (hee being a Shooemaker) did
worke: one of which tooke that toad, put it into the fire, where it made
a groaning noyse for one quarter of an houre before it was consumed;
during which time _Mary Smith_ who sent it, did endure, (as was
reported) torturing paines, testifying the felt griefe by her out-cryes
then made.
The sicknesse which he first sustained, was in manner of a madnesse or
phrensie, yet with some interposed release of extremity: so that for
thirteene or foureteene weekes together hee would be of perfect memory,
other times distracted and depriued of all sence. Also the ioynts and
parts of his body were benummed, besides other pains and greifes from
which hee is not yet freed, but continueth in great weakenesse, disabled
to performe any labour, whereby hee may get sufficient and competent
maintenance. And by the councel of some, sending for this woman by whom
hee was wronged, that he might scratch her (for this hath gone as
currant, and may plead prescription for warrant a* foule sinne among
Christians to thinke one Witch-craft can driue out another) his nailes
turned like feathers, hauing no strength to lay his hands vpon her.
And it is not improbable but that she had dealt no better with others
then these aboue mentioned. For M^r _Thomas Yonges_ of London,
Fishmonger, reported vnto me, that after the demand of a debt due vnto
M^r _Iohn Mason_, Silkeman of the same Citie, whose Widow hee married,
from _Henry Smith_ Glouer her husband, some execrations and curses being
wished vnto him, within three or foure dayes (being then gone to
Yarmouth in Norfolke vpon necessary businesse) there fell sicke, and was
tortured with exceeding and massacring griefes, which by no meanes
(hauing vsed the aduise of sundry learned and experienced Physitians in
Norwich) could in any part be mitigated, and so extraordinarily vexed
thirteene moneths, was constrained to go on Crutches, not being able to
feed himselfe, and amended not before this mischieuous woman was
committed to prison (accused for other wickednesses of the like kinde)
at which time (so neere as he could conjecture) he then receiued some
release of his former paines, though at the present when hee made this
relation, which was at Candlemas last past, had not perfectly recouered
his wonted strength: for his left hand remained lame, and without vse.
But thus much by the way onely, omitting how before this accident a
great Water-dogge ranne ouer his bed, the doore of the chamber where he
lay being shut, no such one knowne (for carefull enquiry was made)
either to haue been in that houfe where hee lodged, or in the whole
Towne at any time.
I doe not insist vpon this, because shee did not nominate him or any
other vnto vs, but onely those foure already expressed: and for the
wrongs done to them, she craued mercy at Gods hands, as for all other
her sins, and in particular for that of Witch-craft, renounced the
Diuell, embraced the mercies of God purchased by the obedience of Iesus
Christ, and professed that her hope was onely by his suffering and
passion to bee saued. And all these, that is to say, her former grieuous
offences committed against God, and his people, her defiance of the
Diuell, and reposing all confidence of saluation in Christ Iesus alone,
and his merits, she in particular maner confessed openly at the place of
execution, in the audience of multitudes of people gathered together (as
is vsuall at such times) to be beholders of her death. And made there
also profession of her faith, and hope of a better life hereafter; and
the meanes whereby she trusted to obtaine the same, as before, hath
beene specified. And being asked, if she would be contented to haue a
Psalm sung, answered willingly that she desired the same, and appointed
it herselfe, _The Lamentation of a Sinner_, whose beginning is, _Lord
turne not away thy face, &c_. And after the ending thereof thus finished
her life: So that in the iudgement of charity we are to conceiue the
best, and thinke shee resteth in peace, notwithstanding her heynous
transgressions formerly committed: for there is no maladay incurable to
the Almighty Physitian, _Esay 1. 18_ _Ezech. 33. 11_. Therefore _Caine_
did iniury to God, when conuicted of the barbarous and vnnaturall
murther of his righteous brother, cryed out tht his sinne was greater
then could be forgiuen, _Gen. 4. 13_ for _Gods_ mercy is greater then
mans misery can be. And euen for the like vnto this very fact, we haue a
booke case, already adiudged, and ouer-ruled in those _Ephesians_, who
brought their coniuring bookes, sacrificed them in the fire, æstimated
at the [b]value of nine hundred pounds of our money, repented of
their[c] sinnes, and obtained mercy, _Acts 19. vers. 19_.
[Footnote b: _Bud[e,]us de asse. lib. 5._]
[Footnote c: The Ephesians were infamous for their Magicall
practises, _Appollonius_ professing the same in the Citie, so that
it grewe into a prouerb, +grammata Ephesia+ the Ephesian letters,
which were certaine Characters and wordes, by vertue whereof they
obtained good successe in all businesse, victory against others,
euasion and escape from dangers; and as we reade in _Suidas_, a
Milesian armed with these letters, ouer-came thirty Champions in
the games of _Olimpus_, but being remoued by the Magistrate,
hauing intelligence thereof, himselfe was subdued. Of these see
_Athen[e,]us Deipnosophiston lib. 12._ _Hesichius_ in his
_Lexicon._ _Plutarchus quæstionum conuiualium, lib 7. cap. 5_.]
¶ _The eight Proposition, and first consequent._
Now then from this premised narration, these two corrollaries or
consequents do necessarily follow.
It is not lawfull for any Christian to consult with a witch or wisard,
or goe to them for helpe. God himselfe, whose commandement is and must
be the rule of our life & direction hath forbidden it, _Leuit. 19. 31._
and _20. 6._ _Deuter. 18. 10.11_. And the Imperiall lawes, haue beene in
this case verie respectiue.[a] Therefore, _Leo_ the Emperour straitly
enioyneth, that none should resort vnto them, and stileth their aduice
nothing but meere impostures and deceit; and in the [b]Decrees collected
by _Gratian_, the teachers of the people are seriously exhorted to
admonish them, that magicall arts and inchantments cannot heale any
infirmity: and that they bee the dangerous snares, and subtilties of
that ancient enemy of mankind, by which he indeuoureth to entangle
them[c]: and these so streight and seuere prohibitions are not without
iust and weighty cause. For,
[Footnote a: _Cod lib. 9. titulo 18. L. nullus & L. Nemo._]
[Footnote b: _Gratianus decretorum parte 2. caus. 26. qu. 7._]
[Footnote c: _Danæus in dialogo de sortiarijs cap. 6._]
First, wee must haue no commerce or dealing with the diuell, eyther
directly and immediately, or mediately and indirectly; for we ought to
haue our recourse to God alone in all distresses, and this is that which
_Eliah_ spake with great indignation vnto the messengers of _Ahaziah_,
who went to enquire of _Baal-zelub_, for the recouerie of their Lords
health, _2. King. 1. 3_.[d] So that wee must not seeke to Sathan, or any
of his ministers. For none can serue two maisters, _Matt. 6. 24_. But as
religious _Iehosaphat_, when we know not what to doe, then lift vp our
eyes to heauen, _2 Chron. 20. 12_.
[Footnote d: _Martinus de Arles in tractatu de superstitionibus.
Iohannes Gerson de erroribus circa artem magicam articulo 5._]
Secondly, that help which any receiue from them bringeth destructon of
our soules, for such as seeke for relief this way, make a[e] separation
& departing from God, which is the death of the soule. And though it may
be obiected, that some haue receiued benefite hereby, yet these are not
one of tenne. And further, wee are not to iudge heerein of the
lawfulnesse of these actions by the successe, but rest vpon the
commaundement, for it falleth out sometime, that a thiefe and common
robber by the high way, may liue in more aboundance, then those who with
a lawfull and honest trade painefully maintaine themeelues, yet
therefore hee is not iustified. And when wee haue recourse vnto others
beside God, we bewray herein our [f]distrust, infidelitie, contempt and
rebellion against him, which grieuous sinnes bring his wrath and
eternall destruction. But let it be taken for granted, that wee may
receiue good by them, yet this maxime is sure, & a truth vnrepealeable,
which no distinction can elude; we must not doe euill that good may come
thereof, _Rom. 3. 8._[g] yea, it were better to end our dayes in any
extremitie whatsoeuer, then to vse these for our helpers.
[Footnote e: In curing diseases the diuell respecteth two ends:
the one, that he might seeme to keep the promise he hath made with
those his slaues, and retaine them in their malicious practises
and infidelity: the other, that hee might draw their faith and
trust from God, who are thus healed by witches and wisards his
instruments, and cast them downe headlong into destruction of
their soules: or if they misse of hoped reliefe which often times
so commeth to passe, God withstanding their attempts, then to
wound their consciences, and driue them to despaire.]
[Footnote f: _Nauarrus in Enchiridio siue manuali confessariorum
cap 11._]
[Footnote g: _Chrysost. cont. Iud[e,]os hom 6._]