into their Possession again: But that I may not be thought to have no
reason for my calling the impleaded Experiment into Question, I have
these things further to alledge against it.

1. It has been rejected long agone, by Christian Nations as a thing
Superstitious and Diabolical: In _Italy_ and _Spain_ it is wholly
disused; and [74]in the _Low-Countries_, and in _France_, where the
Judges are Men of Learning. In some parts of _Germany_ old _Paganism_
Customs are observed more than in other Countries, nevertheless all the
[75]_Academies_ throughout _Germany_ have disapproved of this way of
Purgation.

2. The Devil is in it, all Superstition is from him; and when Secret
things, or latent Crimes, are discovered by superstitious Practices,
some Compact and Communion with the Devil is the Cause of it, as
_Austin_[76] has truly intimated; and so it is here; for if a Witch
cannot be drowned, this must proceed either from some natural Cause,
which it doth not, for it is against Nature for Humane Bodies, when
Hands and Feet are tied, not to sink under the Water: Besides, they that
plead for this Superstition, say that if Witches happen to be condemned
for some other Crime and not for Witchcraft, they will not swim like a
Cork above Water, which Cause sheweth that the Cause of this Natation is
not _Physical_: And if not, then either it must proceed from a Divine
Miracle to save a Witch from drowning; or lastly, it must be a
diabolical Wonder: This superstitious Experiment is commonly known by
the Name of, _The Vulgar Probation_, because it was never appointed by
any lawful Authority, but from the Suggestion of the Devil taken up by
the rude Rabble: And some [77]learned Men are of Opinion, that the first
_Explorator_ (_being a white Witch_) did explicitely covenant with the
Devil, that he should discover latent Crimes in this way: And that it is
by Virtue of that first Contract that the Devil goeth to work to keep
his Servants from sinking, when this Ceremony of his ordaining is used.
Moreover, we know that _Diabolus est Dei Simia_, the Devil seeks to
imitate Divine Miracles. We read in Ecclesiastical Story, that some of
the Martyrs when they were by Persecutors ordered to be drowned, prov'd
to be immersible: This Miracle would the Devil imitate in causing
Witches, who are his Martyrs, not to sink when they are cast into the
Waters.

3. This way of Purgation is of the same nature with the old _Ordeals_ of
the Pagans. If Men w