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patient. And this is not onely the lawfull way, but likewise the most sure: For by the
Devils meanes, can never the Devill be casten out, as Christ sayeth [Mark. 3]. And when
such a cure is used, it may wel serve for a shorte time, but at the last, it will doubtleslie
tend to the utter perdition of the patient, both in bodie and soule.
CHAP. VI. ARGU.
What sorte of folkes are least or most subject to receive harme by Witchcraft. What
power they have to harme the Magistrate, and upon what respectes they have any power
in prison: And to what end may or will the Devill appeare to them therein. Upon what
respectes the Devill appeires in sundry shapes to sundry of them at anytime
PHILOMATHES. But who dare take upon him to punish them, if no man can be sure to
be free from their unnaturall
invasions?
EPI We ought not the more of that restraine from vertue, that the way whereby we climbe
thereunto be straight and perrilous. But besides that, as there is no kinde of persones to
subject to receive harme of them, as these that are of infirme and weake faith (which is
the best buckler against such invasions:) so have they so smal power over none, as over
such as zealouslie and earnestlie persewes
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them, without sparing for anie worldlie respect.
PHI. Then they are like the Pest, which smites these sickarest, that flies it farthest, and
apprehends deepliest the perrell
thereof.
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EPI. It is even so with them: For neither is it able to them to use anie false cure upon a
patient, except the patient first beleeve in their power, and so hazard the tinsell of his
owne soule, nor yet can they have lesse power to hurte anie, nor such as contemnes most
their doinges, so being it come of faith, and not of anie vaine arrogancie in themselves.
PHI. But what is their power against the Magistrate?
EPI. Lesse or greater, according as he deales with them. For if he be slouthfull towardes
them, God is verie able to make them instrumentes to waken & punish his slouth. But if
he be the contrarie, he according to the just law of God, and allowable law of all
Nationes, will be diligent in examining and punishing of them: G O D will not permit
their master to trouble or hinder so good a worke.
PHI. But fra they be once in handes and firmance, have they anie further power in their
craft?
EPI. That is according to the forme of their detention. If they be but apprehended and
deteined by anie private person, upon other private respectes, their power no doubt either
in escaping or in doing hurte, is no lesse nor ever it was be-
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fore. But if on the other parte, their apprehending and detention be by the lawfull
Magistrate, upon the just respectes of their guiltinesse in that craft, their power is then no
greater than before that ever they medled with their master. For where God beginnes
justlie to strike by his lawfull Lieutennentes, it is not in the Devilles power to defraude or
bereave him of the office, or effect of his powerfull and revenging Scepter.
PHI. But will never their master come to visite them, fra they be once apprehended and
put in firmance?
EPI. That is according to the estaite that these miserable wretches are in: For if they be
obstinate in still denying, he will not spare, when he findes time to speake with them,
either if he finde them in anie comfort, to fill them more and more with the vaine hope of
some maner of reliefe: or else if he finde them in a deepe dispaire, by all meanes to
augment the same, and to perswade them by some extraordinarie meanes to put
themselves downe, which verie commonlie they doe. But if they be penitent and
confesse, God will not permit him to trouble them anie more with his presence and
allurementes.
PHI It is not good using his counsell I see then. But I woulde earnestlie know when he
appeares to them in Prison, what formes uses he then to take?
EPI. Divers formes, even as he uses to do at other times unto them. For as I told you,
speking of Magie,
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