The fift Chapter. 396.
A confutation of the manifold vanities conteined in the precedent chapters, speciallie of commanding of divels.
HE that can be persuaded that these things are true, or wrought indeed according to the assertion of couseners, or according to the supposition of witchmongers & papists, may soone be brought to beleeve that the moone is made of greene cheese. You see in this which is called Salomons conjuration, there is a perfect inventarie registred of the number of divels, of their names, of their offices, of their personages, of their qualities, of their powers, of their properties, of their kingdomes,/280. of their governments, of their orders, of their dispositions, of their subjection, of their submission, and of the waies to bind or loose them;This is contrarie to the scripture, which saith that everie good gift commeth from the father of light, &c. with a note what wealth, learning, office, commoditie, pleasure, &c: they can give, and may be forced to yeeld in spight of their harts, to such (forsooth) as are cunning in this art: of whome yet was never seene any rich man, or at least that gained any thing that waie; or any unlearned man, that became learned by that meanes; or any happie man, that could with the helpe of this art either deliver himselfe, or his freends, from adversitie, or adde unto his estate any point of felicitie: yet these men, in all worldlie happinesse, must needs exceed all others; if such things could be by them accomplished, according as it is presupposed. For if they may learne of Marbas,A breviarie of the inventarie of spirits. all secrets, and to cure all diseases; and of Furcas, wisdome, and to be cunning in all mechanicall arts; and to change anie mans shape, of Zepar: if Bune can make them rich and eloquent, if Beroth can tell them of all things, present, past, and to come; if Asmodaie can make them go invisible and shew them all hidden treasure; if Salmacke will afflict whom they list, & Allocer can procure them the love of any woman; if Amy can provide them excellent familiars, if Caym can make them understand the voice of all birds and beasts, and Buer and Bifrons can make them live long; and finallie, if Orias/397. could procure unto them great friends, and reconcile their enimies, & they in the end had all these at commandement; should they not live in all worldlie honor and felicitie? whereas contrariwise they lead their lives in all obloquie, miserie, and beggerie, and in fine come to the gallowes; as though they had chosen unto themselves the spirit Valefer, who they saie bringeth all them with whom he entreth into familiaritie, to no better end than the gibet or gallowes.The authors further purpose in the detection of cōjuring. But before I proceed further to the confutation of this stuffe, I will shew other conjurations, devised more latelie, and of more authoritie; wherein you shall see how fooles are trained to beleeve these absurdities, being woone by little and little to such credulitie. For the author heereof beginneth, as though all the cunning of conjurors were derived and fetcht from the planetarie motions, and true course of the stars, celestiall bodies, &c./