The Discovery of Witches by Matthew Hopkins
page 15 of 18 (83%)
page 15 of 18 (83%)
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places, (unknowne to the hearers) all which mischiefes being proved to
be done, at the same time she confessed to the same parties for the same cause, and all effected, is testimony enough again her for all her denyall. Quest. 13. _How can any possibly beleeve that the Devill and the Witch joyning together, should have such power, as the Witches confesse to kill such such a man, child, horse, cow, the like; if we beleeve they can doe what they will, then we derogate from Gods power, who for certaine limits the Devill and the Witch; and I cannot beleeve they have any power at all._ Answ. God suffers the Devill many times to doe much hurt, and the devill doth play many times the deluder and impostor with these Witches, in perswading them that they are the cause of such and such a murder wrought by him with their consents, when and indeed neither he nor they had any hand in it, as thus: We must needs argue, he is of a long standing, above 6000. yeers, then he must needs be the best Scholar in all knowledges of arts and tongues, & so have the best skill in _Physicke_, judgment in _Physiognomie_, and knowledge of what disease is reigning or predominant in this or that mans body, (and so for cattell too) by reason of his long experience. This subtile tempter knowing such a man lyable to some sudden disease, (as by |
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