Dobell 2.27-40 0 RIGHT HONOURABLE Thomas Lord Parker, Lord Chief Justice of England. To the RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir Peter King, Kt. And to the RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir THOMAS BURT, Kt Lord Chief Baron of Exchequer. MY LORDS, I Humbly take Leave to prefent your Lordships with the following Historical Collections and Observations, which have lain by me several Years; and, it may be, had still flept in Obfcurity, if a new Book, which very A 3 likely likely may do fome Mifchief, had not lately come forth in Two Volumes, under the pompous Title of A Compleat Hiftory of Magick, Sorcery, and Witchcraft, &c. I did not keep it by me fo long, because I had any Doubts about the Truth of thofe Notions which I endeavour to defend in it. I think it a Point very certain, That tho' the fober Belief of good and bad Spirits is an effential Part of every good Chriftian's Faith, yet imaginary Communications with them, have been the Spring both of the worst Corruptions of Religion, and the greatest Perversions of Juftice. How many miferable Creatures have been hang'd or burnt as Witches and Wizzards in other Countries, and former Ages? In our own Nation, even fince the Reformation, above a Hundred and forty have been executed, if my Book hath any Truth in it, very much upon the Account of one ill tranflated Text of Scripture. If the fame Notions were to prevail again, (and Superftition is never far off) no Man's Life would be fafe in his own House ; for the fantastick Doctrines that support the Vulgar Opinions of Witchcraft, rob us of all the Defences that God and Nature have plac'd for our Security against falfe Accufations. For in other Cafes, when wicked or mistaken People charge us with Crimes of which we are not guilty, we clear our felves by fhewing, that at that Time we were at Home, or in fome other Place, abour our honeft Business: But in Profecutions for Witchcraft, that most natural and just juft Defence is a meer Jeft; for if any wicked Perfon affirms, or any crack'd-brain Girl imagines, or any lying Spirit makes her believe, that the fees any old Woman, or other Person pursuing her in her Vifions, the Defenders of the vulgar Witchcraft tack an imaginary, unprov'd Compact to the Depofition, and hang the accusd Parties for Things that were doing, when they were, perhaps, afleep upon their Beds, or faying their Prayers; or, perhaps, in the Accufers own Poffeffion, with double Irons upon them. But as fuch fantastick Notions are fo far from raising their fickly Vifions into legal Evidence, that they are grounded upon the very Dregs of Pagan and Popish Superstitions, and leave the Lives of innocent Men naked, without Defence againft them: To whom fhould I dedicate their Confutation, but to your Lordships, whom, with your learned Brethren, the Best of Kings hath appointed Guar dians of his Subjects Rights and Lives; and whom univerfal Knowledge and great Experience have qualify'd for the true Judgment of fuch dark Cafes. I need not inform your Lordships what Reception 'thefe Notions will find among different Perfons; what Oppofition from fome, and what Neglect from others. As the very Nature of the Subject carries both Horror and Difficulty, polite Men, and great Lovers of Eafe, will turn away their Thoughts from it with Difdain; and tho' it be of as much Importance as a fanguinary Law, A 4 and and the Lives of Men, and the Honour of our Nation's Juftice can make it; they will rather let the feveral Schemes take their own Course, than fully and disturb their own Minds, or engage their Reputations about them. ་་ Dark fuperftitious Tempers, that usually form their Religion fuitable to their own Complexions, will always have a Bias towards the Belief of them; and upon every fudden Surprize, will be frighted into Actions that will difturb the Places where they fhall be, and greatly hurt the fufpected Perfons. The credulous Multitude will ever be ready to try their Tricks, and swim the old Women, and wonder at and magnify every unaccountáble Symptom and odd Accident. We Clergymen are not thought to have kept our Order altogether free from Blame in this Matter. In our laft famous Tryal of Jane Wenham in Hertfordshire, fome of our Gown, tho' otherwise Men of no ill Character, were fo weak as to try Charms, and give way to fcratching, and promote the Profecution. Wierus, a learned Physician in Germany, who, in his Practice, had been much concern'd in Cafes of this Nature, accufes us Clergymen in Terms too fevere. Saith he, Ad gravem banc impietàtem connivent Theologi pleriq; omnes. That tho the common Profecutions of Witches was a very fad Impiety, the greatest Part of the Clergy wink'd at it, and let it pafs. I hope his Charge was too fevere and general even for Popish Countries I am fure it is for ours; for tho 2 Reve |
