RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS IN BOTH THE ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL COURTS AGAINST WITCHES AND INDEED ALL HERETICS
CONTAINING XXXV QUESTIONS IN WHICH IS MOST CLEARLY SET OUT THE FORMAL RULES FOR INITIATING A PROCESS OF JUSTICE, HOW IT SHOULD BE CONDUCTED, AND THE METHOD OF PRONOUNCING SENTENCE.
Who are the Fit and Proper Judges in the Trial of Witches?
THE FIRST HEAD
The Method of Initiating a Process
Of the Number of Witnesses
Of the Solemn Adjuration and Re-examination of Witnesses
Of the Quality and Condition of Witnesses
Whether Mortal Enemies may be Admitted as Witnesses
THE SECOND HEAD
How the Trial is to be Proceeded with and Continued. And how the Witnesses are to be Examined in the Presence of Four Other Persons, and how the Accused is to be Questioned in Two Ways
In Which Various Doubts are Set Forth with Regard to the Foregoing Questions and Negative Answers. Whether the Accused is to be Imprisoned, and when she is to be considered Manifestly Taken in the Foul Heresy of Witchcraft. This is the Second Action
Which Follows from the Preceding Question, Whether the Witch is to be Imprisoned, and of the Method of Taking her. This is the Third Action of the Judge
What is to be done after the Arrest, and whether the Names of the Witnesses should be made Known to the Accused. This is the Fourth Action
What Kind of Defence may be Allowed, and of the Appointment of an Advocate. This is the Fifth Action
What Course the Advocate should Adopt when the Names of the Witnesses are not Revealed to him. The Sixth Action
Of the Same Matter, Declaring more Particularly how the Question of Personal Enmity is to be Investigated. The Seventh Action
Of the Points to be Observed by the Judge before the Formal Examination in the Place of Detention and Torture. This is the Eighth Action
Of the Method of Sentencing the Accused to be Questioned: and How she must be Questioned on the First Day; and Whether she may be Promised her Life. The Ninth Action
Of the Continuing of the Torture, and of the Devices and Signs by which the Judge can Recognize a Witch; and how he ought to Protect himself from their Spells. Also how they are to be Shaved in Parts where they use to Conceal the Devil’s Masks and Tokens; together with the due Setting Forth of Various Means of Overcoming the Obstinacy in Keeping Silence and Refusal to Confess. And it is the Tenth Action
Of the fit Time and of the Method of the Second Examination. And it is the Eleventh Action, concerning the Final Precautions to be Observed by the Judge
THE THIRD HEAD
Which is the last Part of this Work. How the Process is to be Concluded by the Pronouncement of a Definite and Just Sentence
Of Common Purgation, and especially of the Trial of Red-hot Iron, to which Witches Appeal
Of the Manner of Pronouncing a Sentence which is Final and Definitive
Of the Various Degrees of Overt Suspicion which render the Accused liable to be Sentenced
Of the Firth Method of Pronouncing Sentence
Of the Second Method of Pronouncing Sentence, when the Accused is no more than Defamed
Of the Third Kind of Sentence, to be Pronounced on one who is Defamed, and who is to be put to the Question
The Fourth Method of Sentencing, in the Case of one Accused upon a Light Suspicion
The Fifth Manner of Sentence, in the Case of one under Strong Suspicion
The Sixth Kind of Sentence, in the Case of one who is Gravely Suspect
The Method of passing Sentence upon one who is both Suspect and Defamed
The Method of passing Sentence upon one who hath Confessed to Heresy, but is still not Penitent
The Method of passing Sentence upon one who hath Confessed to Heresy but is Relapsed, Albeit now Penitent
The Method of passing Sentence upon one who hath Confessed to Heresy but is Impenitent, although not Relapsed
Of One who has Confessed to Heresy, is Relapsed, and is also Impenitent
Of One Taken and Convicted, but Denying Everything
Of One who is Convicted but who hath Fled or who Contumaciously Absents himself
Of the Method of passing Sentence upon one who has been Accused by another Witch, who has been or is to be Burned at the Stake
Of the Method of passing Sentence upon a Witch who Annuls Spells wrought by Witchcraft; and of Witch Midwives and Archer-Wizards
Finally, of the Method of passing Sentence upon Witches who Enter or Cause to be Entered an Appeal, whether such be Frivolous or Legitimate and Just
