or so, many honest
& merrie men & women haue publicklie practized some of them, that I thinke
if ye would accuse them al of Witch-craft, ye would affirme more nor ye
will be beleeued in.

EPI. I see if you had taken good tent (to the nature of that word, whereby
I named it,) ye would not haue bene in this doubt, nor mistaken me, so
farre as ye haue done: For although, as none can be schollers in a schole,
& not be subject to the master thereof: so none can studie and put in
practize (for studie the alone, and knowledge, is more perilous nor
offensiue; and it is the practise only that makes the greatnes of the
offence.) the cirkles and art of _Magie_, without committing an horrible
defection from God: And yet as they that reades and learnes their
rudiments, are not the more subject to anie schoole-master, if it please
not their parentes to put them to the schoole thereafter; So they who
ignorantly proues these practicques, which I cal the deuilles rudiments,
vnknowing them to be baites, casten out by him, for trapping such as God
will permit to fall in his hands: This kinde of folkes I saie, no doubt,
ar to be judged the best of, in respect they vse no invocation nor help of
him (by their knowledge at least) in these turnes, and so haue neuer
entred themselues in Sathans seruice; Yet to speake truely for my owne
part (I speake but for my selfe) I desire not to make so neere riding: For
in my opinion our enemie is ouer craftie, and we ouer weake (except the
greater grace of God) to assay such hazards, wherein he preases to trap
vs.

PHI. Ye haue reason forsooth; for as the common Prouerbe saith: They that
suppe keile with the Deuill, haue neede of long spoones. But now I praie
you goe forwarde in the describing of this arte of _Magie_.

EPI. Fra they bee come once vnto this perfection in euill, in hauing any
knowledge (whether learned or vnlearned) of this black art: they then
beginne to be wearie of the raising of their Maister, by conjured
circkles; being both so difficile and perilous, and so commeth plainelie
to a contract with him, wherein is speciallie conteined formes and
effectes.

PHI. But I praye you or euer you goe further, discourse me some-what of
their circkles and conjurationes; And what should be the cause of their
wearying thereof: For it should seeme that that forme should be lesse
fearefull yet, than the direct haunting and societie, with that foule and
vncleane Spirite.

EPI. I thinke ye take me