316 Letter on Witchcraft. 



com'ission of Oyer & Terminer for y^ Trial of those Witches; 

 in w<:'' cora'ission, there were a famous Divine or two, 

 M' Fariclough particularly inserted. That Eccellent man 

 did preach two sermons to y^ Court, before his first sitting 

 on y* Bench : Wlierein having first proved the Existence of 

 Witches, hee afterwards showed y^ Evil of Endeavouring 

 y' Conviction of any upon Defective Evidence. The Sermon 

 had the Effect that none were Condemned, who could bee 

 saved w""""' an Express Breach of y^ Law; & then tho' t'was 

 possible some Guilty did Escape, yett the troubles of those 

 places, were, I think Extinguished. 



O"^ case is Extraordinary. And so, you and others will 

 pardon y' Extraordinary Liberty I take to address You on 

 this occasion. But after all, I Entreat you, that whatever 

 you do, you Strengthen y^ Hands of o' Honourable Judges 

 in y*^ Great work before y"". They are persons, for whom 

 no luan living has a greater veneration, than 



Your Sei-vant 



C. MATHER. 



F&r 



the Honourable 



John Foster Esq. 



