by thy familiar Spirit. Which is more than by natural Knowledge or humane Sagacity.
The next Word is מצובו [Megnonen] which though our English Translation renders (from [Gnon] Tempus) an observer of Times; (which should rather be a Declarer of the seasonableness of the time, or unseasonableness of the time, or unseasonableness as to success; a thing which is enquired of also from Witches) yet the usual sense rendred by the learned in the Language, is Præstigiator, an imposer on the Sight, Sapientes prisci, says Buxtorf, a ציו [Gnajin, Oculus] deduxerunt & םציבו [Megnonen] esse eum dixerunt, qui tenet & præstringit oculos, ut falsum pro vero videant. Lo another Word that signifies a Witch or a Wizzard, which has its name properly from imposing on the sight, and making the By-stander believe he sees Forms or Transformations of things he sees not. As when Anne Bodenham transform'd her self before Anne Styles in the shape of a great Cat; Anne Styles her sight was so imposed upon, that the thing to her seem'd to be done, though her Eyes were only deluded. But such a delusion certainly cannot be performed without confederacy with evil Spirits. For to think the Word signifies Præstigiator in that sense we translate in English, Juggler, or an Hocus-Pocus, is so fond a conceit, that no Man of any depth of Wit can endure it. As if a merry Juggler that plays tricks of Legerdemain at a Fair or Market, were such an abomination to either the God of Israel or to his Lawgiver Moses; or as if an Hocus-Pocus were so wise a weight as to be consulted as an Oracle: For it is said v. 14. For the Nations which thou shalt possess they consult מצובבים [Megnonenim] What, do they consult Jugglers and Hocus-Pocusses? No certainly they consult Witches or Wizzards, and Diviners, as Anne Styles did Anne Bodenham. Wherefore here is evidently a second name of a Witch.
The third Word in the Text, is מבחש [Menachesh] which our English Translation renders an Enchanter. And with Mr. Webster's leave, (who insulteth so over their supposed ignorance) I think they have translated it very learnedly and judiciously: For Charming and Enchanting, as Webster himself acknowledges, and the Words intimate, being all one, the Word מבחש [Menachesh] here, may very well signifie Enchanters or Charmers; but such properly as kill Serpents by their charming, from בחש [Nachash] which signifies a Serpent, from whence comes בחש [Nichesh] to kill Serpents or make away with them. For a Verb in Pihel, sometimes (especially when it is formed from a Noun) has a contrary signi-
