136 The Duchess of Newcastle 



devil to serve him for such rewards as were in his 

 power to give them ; and that it was their rehgion to 

 worship and adore him; in which religion they had 

 such a firm and constant belief, that if any thing came 

 to pass according to their desire, they beheved 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 

 flye in the air, or out of the chimney top, or that they 

 are turned into several shapes, they believe no other- 

 wise, but that it is really so : and this wicked opinion 

 makes them industrious to perform such ceremonies 

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

 God, and chuse to live and dye 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 to them, 

 that he will never maintain or defend such opinions 

 which are in the least prejudicial to either. 



