♦_I. Bod. lib. de dæmon. 4. cap. 4._ _L. parentes de testibus._♦
Item, the examiner must looke stedfastlie upon their eies: for they cannot looke directlie upon a mans face (as _Bodin_ affirmeth in one place, although in another he saith, that they kill and destroie both men and beasts with their lookes.)
Item, she must be examined of all accusations, presumptions, and faults, at one instant; least sathan should afterwards dissuade hir from confession.
Item, a witch may not be put in prison alone, least the divell dissuade hir from confession, through promises of her indemnitie. For (saith _Bodin_) some that have beene in the gaole have prooved to flie awaie, as they were woont to doo when they met with _Diana_ and _Minerva_, _&c._: and so brake their owne necks against the stone walles.
Item, if anie denie hir owne confession made without torture, she is neverthelesse by that confession to be condemned, as in anie other crime.
Item, the judges must seeme to put on a pittifull countenance and to mone them; saieng, that It was not they, but the divell that committed the murther, and that he compelled them to doo it; and must make them beleeve that they thinke them to be innocents.
Item, if they will confesse nothing but upon the racke or torture; their apparell must be changed, and everie haire in their bodie must be shaven off with a sharpe razor.
Item, if they have charmes for taciturnitie, so as they feele not the common tortures, and therefore confesse nothing: then some sharpe instrument must be thrust betwixt everie naile of their fingers and toes: which (as _Bodin_ saith) was king _Childeberts_ devise, and is to this daie of all others the most effectuall. For by meanes of that extreme paine, they will (saith he) confesse anie thing.
Item, _Paulus Grillandus_, being an old dooer in these matters, wisheth that when witches sleepe, and feele no paine upon the torture, _Domine labia mea aperies_ should be said, and so (saith he) both the torments will be felt, and the truth will be uttered: _Et sic ars deluditur arte_.
Item, _Bodin_ saith, that at the time of examination, there should be a semblance of great a doo, to the terrifieing of the witch: and that a number of instruments, gieves, manacles, ropes, halters, fetters, &c. be prepared, brought foorth, and laid before the examinate: and also that some be procured to make a most horrible and lamentable crie, in the place of torture, as though he or she were upon the racke, or in the tormentors hands: so as the examinate may heare it whiles she is examined, before she hir selfe be brought into the prison; and perhaps (saith he) she will by this meanes confesse the matter.
