may not Sanguine and Sobriety chance as well to do the same, and not rather better, if there be any betterness in things by chance? But if there be any advantage in fermenting Melancholy, or strong Drink, it is because the Soul is more excited, and made more ready to discover its own more inward Furniture, as Men in Drink reveal their own Secrets. But the Soul has no innate Ideas of particular things, and therefore the greatest effervescency of Drink or Melancholy will not a jot better dispose her to the Knowledge of particulars, but indispose her for the reception of them from without. So blindly do these Witlings Philosophize touching things of this Nature.
And yet I dare say, this was the very best of their Evasions: Which being no better against these two Stories so sifted and examined (to say nothing of others) by a Person of so quick a Wit, impartial Judgement and Sagacity, as I know that excellent Lady to have been, I must confess, that to me it is a Confirmation as strong as I can desire for the main strokes of the Stories, of which I retain some in my Memory, having heard a more particular Account of them from her Ladyship, presently upon her return from Ireland, some 15 Years ago. Nor no doubt but Mr. Alcock has approved himself a faithful Reciter of them, as to the main; nor can there any one rightly be deemed more fit and able, he being present at the Examination of Taverner, and dwelling at Portmore, with the Bishop of Down, whose Servant Hunter was.
RELAT. XXVIII.
The Confessions of certain Scotch Witches, taken out of an Authentick Copy of their Trial at the Assizes held at Paisley in Scotland, Feb. 15, 1678, touching the Bewitching of Sir George Maxwel.
THE Tenour of the Confessions, taken before Justices: As first of Annabil Stuart, of the Age of 14 Years, or thereby; who declared that she was brought in the Presence of the Justices for the crime of Witchcraft; and declared, That on Harvest last, the Devil in the shape of a black Man, came to her Mothers House, and required the Declarant to give her
