The Witches of Northamptonshire

...the sentences of our learned judges, and the power and virtue of our laws in the execution of justice. They describe that as a hated and unheard-of tyranny, even though it is carried out by the lawful power and virtue of both the sovereign and subordinate authorities.

Some maintain (but how wisely, let the wiser judge) that all witchcraft mentioned either by holy writers or documented by other authors as having existed among the heathens or in more recent times, has been and is nothing more than mere cozenage cozenage: fraud, trickery, or cheating or collusion. In the opinion of these men, the Devil has never done, nor can he do, anything through witches.

Perhaps some will say, "What harm can come from this opinion?" No one can tell the harm that may follow and grow from it who has not first seen it through experience. We all see that when one kernel of wheat is sown, a whole ear grows up, and sometimes it brings forth a hundred kernels. If an error is planted, who can tell what growth it may yield in time? The ground does not bring forth corn with as much increase as the heart of man produces errors. If we pull on one link of a chain, another follows and is soon in sight; that link pulls we know not how many after it until we see the last one. There is no error that stands alone or that is not linked to another.

Therefore, Holy Scripture original: "Wrytte"—which makes the man of God perfect and perfectly instructed for every good work—must judge and decide the controversy in this case. Let us then stick to the same for testimony and proof.