ABSTRACT
Those that were and are active deceivers, and are both by active practice and purpose notorious imposters, though they shadow their delusive and cheating knaveries under divers and various pretences, some pretending to do their feats by astrology (which is a general cheat as it is commonly used) some by a pretended gift from God, when they are notoriously drunken, debauched, and blasphemous persons, such as of very late years was the cobbler that lived upon Ellill Moor, named Richmond, and divers others that I could name, but that in modesty I would spare their reputations; some by pretending skill in natural magic, when indeed they can hardly read English truly; some by pretending a familiar spirit, as once Thomas Bolton near Knaresborough in Yorkshire, when indeed and in truth they have no other familiar but their own spirit of lying and deceiving; some by pretending to reveal things in crystal glasses or beryls, as was well known to be pretended by Doctor Lamb, and divers others I have known. And some by pretending to conjure and call up devils, or the spirits of men departed; and some by many other ways and means that are not necessary to be named here; for error and deceit have a numerous train of followers and disciples. And the existence of such kind of witches as these (if you will needs call them by that name, and not by their proper titles, which are, that they truly are Deceivers, Cheaters, Couseners, and Imposters) I willingly acknowledge, as having been, and are to be found in all ages, and these sorts are also acknowledged by Wierus, Mr. Scot, Johannes Lazarus Gutierius, Tobias Tandlerus, Hieronymous Nymannus, Martinius Biermannus, and all the rest, that notwithstanding did with might and main oppose the gross tenet of the common witchmongers. . . .
