A Treatise of Witchcraft

This early‑modern pamphlet opens with a stark warning about the hidden dangers of witchcraft, framing the practice as a direct assault on Christian faith. The author, a clergyman in 1616 London, sets out a systematic catalogue of sins, contrasting the reckless curiosity of the learned with the gullible desires of the poor. Interwoven with theological argument are vivid descriptions of how the devil is said to tempt and bind ordinary people, creating a tense atmosphere of moral panic.

The centerpiece is the recorded case of Mary Smith, wife of Henry Smith Glouer, whose alleged bargain with the devil supposedly led to harm against neighbors. The treatise presents excerpts from her confession, courtroom testimony, and the public record of her execution on a chilly January day. Listeners hear the raw language of the period, the solemn oath‑taking, and the grim certainty with which the community pursued what they believed was a lethal heresy.