M. B. Do you think the devil was afraid of your spit?
GOODWIFE R. I know he was driven away, and we have been rid of him ever since.
GOODWIFE R. It doth hurt him, or it hurteth the witch: one of them, I am sure: for he cometh no more. Either she can get him come no more, because it hurteth him: or else she will let him come no more, because it hurteth her.
M. B. It is certain that spirits cannot be hurt but with spiritual weapons: therefore your spit cannot fray nor hurt the devil. And how can it hurt the witch? You did not think she was in your cream, did you?
GOODWIFE R. Some think she is there, and therefore when they thrust in the spit they say: 'If thou beest here, have at thine eye.'
M. B. If she were in your cream, your butter was not very cleanly.
GOODWIFE R. You are merrily disposed, M. B. I know you are of my mind, though you put these questions to me. For I am sure none hath counselled more to go to the cunning folk than you.
M. B. I _was_ of your mind, but I am not now, for I see how foolish I was. I am sorry that I offended so grievously as to counsel any for to seek unto devils.
GOODWIFE R. Why, M. B., who hath schooled you to-day? I am sure you were of another mind no longer agone than yesterday.
SAMUEL'S WIFE. Truly, goodwife R., I think my husband is turned also: here hath been one reasoning with them three or four hours.
GOODWIFE R. Is your husband turned, too? I would you might lose all your hens one after another, and then I would she would set her spirit upon your ducks and your geese, and leave you not one alive. Will you come to defend witches?...
M. B. You think the devil can kill men's cattle, and lame both man and beast at his pleasure: you think if the witch entreat him and send him, he will go, and if she will not have him go, he will not meddle. And you think when he doth come, you can drive him away with a hot spit, or with burning a live hen or a pig.
GOODWIFE R. Never tell me I think so, for you yourself have thought so; and let them say what they can, all the Scripture men in the world shall never persuade me otherwise.
M. B. I do wonder, not so much at your ignorance as at this, that I was ever of the same mind that you are, and could not see mine own folly.