_
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
experience I have found) as _Plurisie_, _Imposthume_, &c. he resorts
to divers Witches; if they know the man, and seek to make a difference
between the Witches and the party, it may be by telling them he hath
threatned to have them very shortly searched, and so hanged for
Witches, then they all consult with _Satan_ to save themselves, and
_Satan_ stands ready prepared, with a _What will you have me doe for
you, my deare and nearest children, covenanted and compacted with me
in my hellish league, and sealed with your blood, my delicate
firebrand-darlings_.
[Sidenote: _The Divells speech to the Witches._]
Oh thou (say they) that at the first didst promise to save us thy
servants from any of out deadly enemies discovery, and didst promise
to avenge and flay all those, we pleased, that did offend us; Murther
that wretch suddenly who threatens the down-fall of your loyall
subjects.
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