



Produced by Louise Hope, Feorag Nicbhride and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net





[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 ae or ae
  [~u] [~e] vowel with circumflex (also a and o) = 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