The Third Book 107 



have with their wings. Which argument Mr. Hobbes liked 

 so well, that he was pleased to make use of it in one of his 

 books called Leviathan, if I remember well. 



Some other time they falling into a discourse concerning 

 witches, Mr. Hobbes said, that though he could not rationally 

 believe there were witches, yet he could not be fully satisfied 

 to believe there were none, by reason they would themselves 

 confess it, if strictly examined. 



To which my Lord answered, that though for his part he 

 cared not whether there were witches or no ; yet his opinion 

 was, that the confession of witches, and their suffering for it, 

 proceeded from an erroneous belief, viz. that they had made 

 a contract with the devil to serve him for such rewards as 

 were in his power to give them ; and that it was their religion 

 to worship and adore him ; in which religion they had such 

 a firm and constant belief, that if anything came to pass 

 according to their desire, they believed the devil had heard 

 their prayers, and granted their requests, for which they gave 

 him thanks ; but if things fell out contrary to their prayers 

 and desires, then they were troubled at it, fearing they had 

 offended him, or not served him as they ought, and asked 

 him forgiveness for their offences. Also (said my Lord) 

 they imagine that their dreams are real exterior actions ; 

 for example, if they dream they fly in the air, or out of the 

 chimney top, or that they are turned into several shapes, 

 they believe no otherwise, but that it is really so. And this 

 wicked opinion makes them industrious to perform such cere- 

 monies to the devil, that they adore and worship him as their 

 god, and choose to live and die for him. 



Thus my Lord declared himself concerning witches, which 

 Mr. Hobbes was also pleased to insert in his fore-mentioned 

 book. But yet my Lord doth not count this opinion of his 

 so universal, as if there were none but imaginary witches ; 

 for he doth not speak but of such a sort of witches as make 

 it their religion to worship the devil in the manner aforesaid. 

 Nor doth he think it a crime to entertain what opinion seems 

 most probable to him, in things indifferent ; for in such cases 

 men may discourse and argue as they please, to exercise 

 their wit, and may change and alter their opinions upon more 

 probable grounds and reasons ; whereas in fundamental 

 matters, both of Church and State, he is so strict an adherent 



