Page:The discouerie of witchcraft (1584) (IA b30337367).djvu/10

Rh verie fitlie commended vnto you: for a weake houe requireth a trong taie. In which repect I guie God thanks, that hath raied vp vnto me o mightie a freend for them as your Lordhip is, who in our lawes haue uch knowledge, in gouernment uch dicretion, in thee caues uch experience, and in the commonwealth uch authoritie; and neuerthelee vouchafe to decend to the conideration of thee bae and inferior matters, which miniter more care and trouble, than worldlie etimation.

And in omuch as your Lordhip knoweth, or rather exercieth the office of a iudge, whoe part it is to heare with courteie, and to determine with equitie; it cannot but be apparent vnto you, that when punihment exceedeth the fault, it is rather to be thought vengeance than correction. In which repect I knowe you pend more time and trauell in the conuerion and reformation, than in the ubuerion & confuion of offenders, as being well pleaed to augment your owne priuate paines, to the end you may diminih their publike mart. For in truth, that commonwealth remaineth in wofull tate, where fetters and halters beare more waie than mercie and due compaion.

Howbeit, it is naturall to vnnaturall people, and peculiar vnto witchmongers, to purue the poore, to accue the imple, and to kill the innocent; upplieng in rigor and malice towards others, that which they themelues want in proofe and discretion, or the other in offene or occaion. But as cruell hart and an honet mind doo eldome meete and feed togither in a dih; o a dicreet and mercifull magitrate, and a happie commonwealth cannot be eparated aunder. How much then are we bound to God, who hath giuen vs a Queene, that of iutice is not only the very perfect image & paterne; but alo of mercie & clemencie (vnder God) the meere fountaine & bodie it elfe? In omuch as they which hunt mot after bloud in