Richard Boulton

A Compleate History of Magick, Sorcery, and Witchcraft Richard Boulton

THE following Sheets containing a History of Magick, Sorcery, Witchcraft, Apparitions, Spectres, &c. we think it requisite to give the Reader a brief Account of the Nature and Usefulness of our Design in the first place; and (since they may fall into the Hands both of the Learned and Unlearned, some of which are apt to question Truths, though most sacred and never so well attested,) having represented the Design and Usefulness of this Treatise, we shall in the next Place offer something to confirm the Belief and Credit of Histories so well attested. And First to represent the Nature of our Design we shall briefly lay down the Method we have taken in this History, and give the Reader a short Account of what he may expect to find in the ensuing Sheets. First then, we have given the Reader a compendious Account of the Origin and Rise of the Art of Magick and Witchcraft, as an Introduction to the following History, that he might have at once in View, a general Notion of the Diabolical Arts practised by such wretched Persons, and the Manner how they make their abominable Contracts with the Devil, and bring wicked Spirits under their Command, to put their ill Designs in Practice; from whence we proceed to give an Historical Account of the mischievous Proceedings and Actions of those Instruments of the Devil, Magicians and Witches, and what untimely and disgraceful Ends such wicked Practices have brought such Persons to at the last.