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only. And so was this [underlined: vulgar probation] by Casting into that water practised upon persons accused [insert: (f)] with other crimes as well as that of witchcraft.How it came to be now restrained to that of witchcraft. (I can not tell. it is [crossed out word] as Supernatural for a body whose hands & feet are tyed to Swim above the water, as it is for their hands not to feel a red hot Iron. If the one of these ordeals is lawfull to be used, so is the other too. But as for the fiery ordeal it is rejected & Exploded out of the world. For the same reason then this Tryall by water should be So. 4. It is a tempting of God, when men put the innocency of their Fellow creatures upon such tryals. To desire the Almighty to shew a miracle to clear the innocent, or to convict the guilty is a presumptuous tempting of him. Was it not a miracle when Peter was kept from Sinking under the water by the Om= nipotency of Christ. As for Satan, wee know that his Ambition is to make his Servants believe, that his Power is equal to God's & that therfore Hee can [presume?] when he pleaseth. I have read of (g) certain Magicians who were seen walking on the water. If then Guilty persons shall float on the waters, Either it is the Devil that causeth them So to do (as no Doubt it is) And w^k have men to do [illegible] the Devill on worke. or else it is a divine miracle Like that of Pete;s not Sinkeing, or that of the Iron that swam at the word of Elisha. And shall men try whether God wil [??] a miracle to make a discovery? If a crime can not be found out but by Miracles, it is not for any Judge on Earth of Usurp the Judgement which is reserved the Divine Throne. [illegible] This Pre- fonded gift of Immersibility attending Witches is a most fallible deceitfull thing; for many a Witch hath Sanke under the water. [Underscored: God [Elmannus?]] ^(h) giveth an account of six Notorious & cleerly convicted witches; that when they were brought to this [underscored:Vulgar Probation] sanke under the water like other persons. [underscored: Althusius] affirmes the like concerning others. In the Bohemian History it is related that [underscored: Vratislaus] the King of [underscored: Bohemia] Extirpated witches out of his Kingdom, som of which were delivered to the Ax, others of them to the fire, and others of them he caused to be drowned. If witches are