at Northampton.

I consider it neither wisdom nor labor well spent to labor original: "trauell" (travel); in this context, it means to exert effort or go into great depth much into that matter; one Artificer Artificer: a master craftsman or inventor; here referring to the Devil has devised them all. They all serve one end and purpose, however much they differ in outward rules for their practice; that is little or nothing besides mere delusion. Every man will confess that the father of lies [the Devil] is not to be trusted. Every man knows that all his doings are hidden under deceptive appearances original: "coulorable shewes". Shall we then seek for steadfastness in his ways? Shall we be so foolish as to imagine that things are accomplished by the power original: "vertue" of words, gestures, figures, or the like? All those are undoubtedly meant only to deceive and draw men forward, and so plunge them more deeply into sins and errors.

Regarding the antiquity of witchcraft, we must necessarily confess that it has existed since very ancient times, because the Scriptures testify to this. For in the time of Moses, it was very common original: "rife" in Egypt. Nor was it then newly sprung up, being common and grown to such maturity original: "ripenes" among the nations that the Lord, reckoning up various kinds, says that the Gentiles committed such abominations for which He would cast them out before the Children of Israel. How long it existed before that time cannot be discussed with certainty, except that (as has been said) it was not new original: "young" in those days when Moses wrote. If we maintain that it existed before the flood, there is great reason to justify that assertion. We know that the Devil was exceedingly crafty from the beginning, always laboring to seduce and deceive in the worst manner. If he failed in his desire, it was because men had not provoked God's displeasure to...