A Treatise of Witchcraft

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A Treatise of Witchcraft

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Title: A Treatise of Witchcraft
Author: Alexander Roberts
Release Date: December 3, 2005 [EBook #17209]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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TREATISE OF WITCHCRAFT ***

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[Transcriber's Note:

Spelling and punctuation are as in the original text, except for clear
typographic errors. These are noted at the end of the e-text, along with
problems in Greek transcription.
Characters that could not be represented in the latin-1 character set are
shown as: [oe] oe ligature [e,] "e caudata": equivalent to æ or ae [~u]
[~e] vowel with circumflex (also ã and õ) = following m or n
Greek has been transliterated and shown between +marks+.]
* * * * *
A Treatise of Witchcraft.
Wherein sundry Propositions are laid downe, plainely discouering the
wickednesse of that damnable Art, with diuerse other speciall points
annexed, not impertinent to the same, such as ought diligently of euery
Christian to be considered.
_With a true Narration of the Witch-crafts_ which Mary Smith, wife of
Henry Smith Glouer, did practise: Of her contract vocally made
between the Deuill and her, in solemne termes, by whose meanes she
hurt sundry persons whom she enuied: Which is confirmed by her
owne confession, and also from the publique Records of the
Examination of diuerse vpon their oathes: And _lastly, of her death and
execution, for the same;_ which was on the twelfth day of Ianuarie last
past.
By ALEXANDER ROBERTS B.D. and Preacher of Gods Word at
_Kings-Linne_ in Norffolke.
EXOD. 22. 18. _Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to liue._
Impium est a nos illis esse Remissos, quos c[oe]lestis Pietas, Non
Patitur impunitos: Alarus Rex apud Cassiodorum.
LONDON,
Printed by N.O. for SAMVEL MAN, and are to be sold at his Shop in

Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Ball. 1616.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
¶ To the right Worshipful Maister _Iohn Atkin Maior, the Recorder_
and Aldermen, and to the Common Counsaile, Burgesses and
Inhabitants of Kings Linne in Norffolke, Grace and Peace.
_Right Worshipfull_:
In these last dayes, and perillous times, among the rest of those
dreadfull euills, which are fore-told should abound[a] in them, a close
& disguised contempt of religion may be iustly accounted as chiefe,
which causeth and bringeth vpon men all disastrous effects, when
although it be shadowed with a beautifull Maske of holines, faire
tongued: yet false-harted,[b] _professing they know God, but in works
deny him_. And among these there be two especiall sorts; the one, who
entertaining a stubborne, and curious rash boldnes, striue by the
iudgem[~e]t of reason, to search ouer-deeply into the knowledge of
those things which are farre aboue the reach of any humane capacitie.
And so making shipwracke in this deep and vnfoundable Sea,
ouerwhelme themselues in the gulfe thereof. The other kind is more
sottish, dull, and of a slow wit, and therefore ouer-credulous, beleeuing
euerie thing, especially when they be carried by the violent tempest of
their desires, and other vngouerned affections; and among these the
diuell vsually spreadeth his netts, as assured of a prey, wayting closely
if hee can espie any, who either grow discontented and desperate,
through want and pouerty, or be exasperated with a wrathfull and
vnruly passion of reuenge, or transported by vnsatiable loue to obtaine
some thing they desire; and these hee taking aduantage, assaulteth with
golden and glorious promises, to performe vnto them the wishes of
their owne hearts; the drift whereof is (hee being as at the first incased
in a subtile Serpents skinne) onely to enthrall and invassall them slaues
to himselfe. The first of these mentioned, are slie and masked Atheists,
who ouer-shadow their secret impiety, loose and dissolute behauiour
with some outward conformitie and shew of religion, snatching (as they
thinke) a sufficient warrantize thereof from those disorders they
obserue among men, and therfore passe vncensured, hauing a ciuill, but

dissembled carriage. The second be Sorcerers, Wisards, Witches, and
the rest of that ranke and kindred: no small multitude swarming now in
the world, yet supposed of many, rather worthy pitty then punishment,
as deluded by fantasies, and mis-led, not effecting those harmes
wherewith they bee charged, or themselues acknowledge. But
considering they be ioyned