The difcouerie of witchcraft, Wherein?-th¿ÍeW<te dealing of witches
mohgérs isnotahliß detened„ the
ofconiurorSjtheimpietie ofinchan-
fors¿he follie offòothfaiers>tfo'impudentfcdff ' 'hôod&fcoufenors, the infidelitiç ofatheiíísj * thepefiilentpraãi/es ofVythoniîtSy the curiofitie of figurée alters, the vamtieafdrmmersrthe hearerliearcófÁlçu- .-
The abhominatìon of idolatrìe, fhehorrible art ofpoifoning, the vertue and,power of naturaU magikej aiid^II rhe conueiances ofLegierdemaine and wggiuigare deciphered: and many other thrngs opened,which baue longUenhidden,howbeit verienectfßrieta beknownc«
Heerevnto is added. aear^fevpofithe nature andßtbßanee ¿ffyirits anddinels,
&c : all latdie written by ReginaidScot
Eiquirc. I. lohn 4, i. JSeüeue not euéñejfirlt, but trie thtß/'irltsStoktther they are' çf God}firmantefdfiprophets are gone .. cut into the world, &c.
m
To the Honorable¡mine e ¡pedali good Lord, Sir Roger Manwood Knight3Lord cheefe Baron of hir Maieiîies Court
of the Efchequer. N SOMVCH as I know that your Lordihip is by nature whollie inclined,and inpurpoíè earneftly bent to releeuethepoore,and that not onlie with hofpitalitie and almes. but by diueríè other deuiies and waies tending to their comfort, hauing(as it were) framed and fet your íèlfe to the helpe and maintenance of their eftatejas appeareth by your charge and trauell in thatbehalfe. Whereas alio you haue a fpeciall care for the fupporting of their right, and redreiïing of their wrongs, as neither defpifing their calamitie, nor yet forgetting their complaint, feeking all meanes for their amen itement, and for the reformation of their diibrders, cuen as a verie father to the poore. Finallie,for that 1 am a poore memberofthatcommonwclth^vhereyour Lordihip isa principali períònjl thought this my trauell,in the behalfe ofthepoorc 3 the aged, and thefimple,might be A.ij. verie
The Epifite. verlefîtîiecommendedvntoyou: fora weakehoufe requireth aftrongftaie.Inwhich reípeól I giue God thanks, that hath raifed vp vnto me ib mightie a frcend for them asyourLordfhip is, who in our lawes haue fuch knowledge,^ gouernment fuch dífcretion,in theíc cauíès fuch experience, and in the commonwealth fuch authoritie ; andneuerthe'eilevouchfafeto defcend to the confideration of theíè bafe and inferior matters, which mimfter more care and trouble,than worldlie eitimation. Andin ibmuchas yourLordniipknoweth5or rather exeraíèththeoflkeofaiudge,whoíè part it is to heare with coiutefíc and to determine with equities it cannot but be apparent vnto you, that when pimifhment exceedeth the fault, it is rather to be thought vengeance than correction. In whichreipecll knoweyou ipend more time and trauellin the conuerfion and reformation, than in the fubuerfion & confufion of offenders, as being well pleaíèd to augmentyour owne priuate paines, to the end you may diminifh their publike imart. For in truth, that commonwealth remaineth in wofullftate, where fetters and halters beare more iwaie than merde and due companion. t Howbeit, it is naturall to vnnaturall people, and pecip liar vnto witchmongers,topurfue the poore,to accufe thefimple,andto kill the innocentjfupplieng in rigor and malice towards others,that which they themfelues want inproofeand difcretion^rtheotherin ofFenfe oroccafion. But as a cruell hart and an honeft mind doo feldomc meete and feed togither in a difh -, fo a difcreet and mercifullmagiii:rate5andahappie commonwealth cannot be íèparated afunder. How much then arc we boilnd tp God, who hath giuen vs a Queene, thatofiufticeisnot only the veiy perfecì: image &paterne;butalfo of mercie & clemencieCvnder God)the meercfountaine 8¿ bodie it
íèlfe ? In fomuch as they which hunt moil after bloud in thefe
The EpiBle. theíè daies,haue Ieaft authoriticto fhed it. Moreouef, fith I fee that in caies where lenicie might be noifome,, & punifriment vvholeíbme to the commonwealth ; there no refpeci: ofperfon can moue you, no authoritie can abbafh you,no f èare,no threts can daunt you in performing the dutie of iuftice. In that reipecì: againe I findyour Lordfhip afitperfon, to iudge and looke vpon this preíènt treatife. Wherein I will bring before you, as it were to the barre, two forts of moll arrogant and wicked people, thefirftchallenging to themíèlues, the fécond attributing ynto others, that power which onelie apperteineth to God,n who onelie is * the Creator ofall things, b who onelie fearcheth the hart and reines, who oneliec knowethour imaginations and p thoughts, who onelie J openethall íècrets,whoe onelie 'Luke.!*. worketh great wonders, who onelie hath powerf to raiie i 8 ™'*' vp & caft downe ; who onelie maketh thunder,lightning, <pfalm.7z. raihe,tempefts,and reftraineth them at his plealure ; who & ' 36onelie ° fendeth life and death,íickneíTè & nealth,wealth l "^ and wo; who neither giueth nor lendethhis h glorie to anie creature. i.Reg.8 And therefore, that whichgreeuethmetothebot-jpai tome of my hart, is, that thefe witchmongers cannot be Zac contentato wreftout ot Gods hand his almightie power, & X4> andkeepeitthemíèlueSjOrleaueitwith a witch : but that, rs{^b!iî' ' when by driftof argument they are made tolaiedowne hiiaie.4i,8 the bucklers, they yeeld them vp to the diuell, or at the Ieaft praie aid of him, as though the raines of all mens lines and acliions were committed into his hand; and that he íàt at the fterne, to guide and direct the courie of the whqje world, imputing vnto him power and abilitie inoueh to doo as great thines, and as ilrange miracles as euer Chnit did. But the doctors ofthis iupernaturall doólrine (aie íòmtimesjthat the witch doth all theíè things by vertue of hir A.iij. charmes;
The EpiFile. charmes ;fbmetimes that a ípirituall, íbmetimes that a corporali diuell doth accompliih it ; íbmetimes they faie that the diuell doth but make the witch belecue fhe doth that which he himfelfe hath wrought; íbmetimes that the diuell íèemeth to doo that by compuliion, which he doth moil willinglie. Finallie,the writers herevpon are ib eloquent, and full of varietie ; that íbmetimes they write that the diuell dooth all this by GodspermiiTiononeliej íbmetimes by his licence, ibmtimes by his appointment: fb as (in effecT: and truth) not the diuell, but the high and mightie king of kings, and Lord of hofts, euen God himleite, fhouldrthis waie be made obedient and íèruile to obeie and performe the will & commandement of a malicious old witch, and miraculouilie to anfwerehir appetite, as well in euerie trifling vanitie, as in moil horrible executions^ as the reuenger of a doting old womans imagined wrongs,to the deftru&ion of manie innocent children, and as a fupporter of hir paillons, to the vndoing of manie a poore ioulc. And I fee not, but a witch may as well inchant, when fhe will ; as a lier may lie when he lift : and ib fhould we pofleííè nothing, but by a witches licence and permiflion. And now forfooth it is brought to this point, that all diuels,which were woont to be ípirituall, may at their pleafure become corporali, and fofhew themfelues familiarlie to witches and coniurors,and to none other, and by them onlie may be made tame3and kept in a box,&c. So as a malicious old woman may command hir diuell to plague hir neighbor: and he is afflicted in manner and Forme as fhe deiireth. But then commeth another witch, and fhe biddeth hir diuell helpe, and he healeth the ,%ne partie. So as they make it a kingdome diuided in it ielfe, and therefore I truft it will not long endure,but will ihortlie be ouerthrowne, according to the words of our Saiiior, omne regnum in fe âiuifum defolabitur, Euerie king-
dome
The v dome diuided in it ielfe (halbe defolatc. And although fome faie that the diuell is the witches inftrument, to Dring hirpurpofes andpra&iíès topaiïè: yet others faie that fhe is his inftrument, to execute his pleafurein anie thing, and therefore to be executed. But then (me thinks) ihe fhouldbe iniuriouflie dealtwithall, and put to death for anothers offeníè : for a¿h'ons are not judged by inftrumentall cauíès ••> neither dooth the end and purpoíè ofthat which is done , depend vpon the meane inftrument. Finallie, if the witch doo it not, why ihould the witch die for it ? But they faie that witches arc perfuaded,and thinke,that they doo indeed thole mifcheefs j and haue a will to performe that which the diuell committeth: and that therefore they areworthieto die. By which reafon euerie one ihould oe executed, that wifhetheuillto his neighbor, &c. But if the will ihould be punifhed by man, according to the offenfe againft God, we Ihould be driuen by thouiandsat oncetotheilaughterhouíê or butcherie. For whoibeuer loatheth corre¿lion (hall die. And who ihould efcape execution, ifthis lothiomneiïè(I (aie) ihould extend to death by the ciuill lawes. AKb the reward of finne is death. Howbeit, euerie one thatiinnethjis not to be put to death by the magiftrate. But (my Lord) it (halbe proued in my booke,and your Lordlhip (hall trie it to be true, as well nere at home in your natine countrie,as alio abrodc in your íêuerall circuits , that(befides them that be reneßae,which arc plaine Í>oiíònersJthere will be found among our witches oneie twoforts; the onefortbeing fuch by imputation,as fo thought of by others (and theíè areabufed,and notabuibrs^the other by acceptation, as being willing fo tobe accomptedCand theíè be meere coufenors.) Caluine treating of theíè magicians, callcth them Inftit M. couicnors/aieng that they vie their iuggling knacks one- Ytîmï'pï*' lietoamaíèorabuíè the people; or elie for fame: but he Deut.cy.it. A.iiij. might
The Ef tille. |f
might rather haue faid for gaine . Eraftus himfelfe, being a principali writer in the behalfe of witches omnipotencie, is forced to confeife, that thefe Greeke words, IA.ixyíx,iÁ<x.íyx.yítx., (pa/ptAoaúci, are moil commonlie put for
illuiionjfalfepacking^oufenagejfraudjknauerieand deceipt : and is further driuen to faie, that in ancient time, the learned were not fo blockifh,asnot to fee that the promifes of magicians and inchanters were falfe, and nothing elfe butknauerie, coufenage, and old wiues fables ; and yet defendethhe their fliengin the aire, their transferring ofcorne or graffe from one feeld to another,8¿:c. - ButasEraftus diíàgreeth herein withhimfelfe and his freendsrib is there no agreement among anie of thofe writers, but onlie in cruekies,abfurdities, and impoifibilities. And thefe (my Lord) that fall into fomanifeftcontradi¿tions,andinto fuch abfurd aifeuerations, are not of the inferior fort ofwriters ; neither are they all papifts,buc men of fuch accompt, as whofe names giue more credit to their cauie,than their writings. In whofe behalfe I am forie, and partlie for reuerence fupprefïè theirfbndeft errors and fowled abfurdities; dealing fpeciallie with them »iraic.í9,7. that moft contend in crueltie,a whofe feete are fwift to Rom.5,1 y. fhed bloud, firming (as l ' Iefus the fbnne of Sirach faith) and hafting (as c Salomon the fonne of Dauid faith) to powre out the bloud ofthe innocent ; whofe heat againft .'í,ij. thefepoorewretches cannot be allaied with anie other Efai.33,if. liquor than bloud. And therfore I feare that dvnder their wings will be found the bloud of the foules of the poore, at that daie, when the Lord fhallíàiejc Depart from me yebloudthirftiemen. . . And bicaufe I know your Lordfhip will take no çouníèll againít innocent bloud , but rather fuppreiïe them that feeke to embrew their hands therein •> I haue made choile to open their cafe vnto you, and to laie their miferable calamitie before your feete: following herein the aduiie
The Ef>ifitte. aduife ofthat learned man Brentius,who fàith; Si (jais!»*&*?<>[* admowicrit ntagiFtmtumyne in mi/eras illas, mulierculas / e - * ' >er' uiat, eum ego arbitror diurnitàs excitât urn ; that is, If anie
admonifh the magiftrate not to deale too hardlie with thefe miíèrable wretches,that are called witches,I thinke him a good inftrument raiíèd vp for this purpofe by God himielfe. But it willperchance be íàid by witchmongers i to wit, byfuchas attribute to witches the power which apperteineth to God onelie,thatlhaue made choifeof your Lordfhip to be apatrone to this my booke;bicaufe I think youfauour mine opinions, and by that meanes may the more freelie publifh anie error or conceipt ofmine owne, which fhould rather be warranted byyourLordihips authoritie,than by the word of God, or by fufficient argument. But I proteft the contrarie, and by thefe prefents I renounce all protection, and deíuñfe all freendihip that might feme to helpe towards the fuppreffine or fupplanting of truth : knowing alfo that your Lordfhip is farre from allowing anie iniurie done vnto man ; 'much more an enimieto them that go about todifhonorGod,orto cmbezill the title of his immortal! elorie. But bicaufe I know you to be perlpiciious,and able to fee downe into the depth and bottome of cauics, and are not to be carried awaie with the vaine perfuafíon or fuperftition either ofman,cuftome,time,or multitude,but mooued with the authorise oftruth onlie : I craue your countenance herein, euenib farre foorth,and no further, than the lawe of God, the lawe ofnature,the lawe of this land,and the rule ofrcaibn fhall require.Neithcr doo I treat for thefe poore peonie anie otherwife,but fo, as with one hand you may fuftaine the good, and with the other fupprefíè the euill: wherein you llialbe thought a father to orphans, an aduocate to widowes, a guide to the blind, a ftaie to the lameya. comfort 6¿ countenance to the honeftj a fcourge and
.
-)•
TheEftSíle. and terror to the wicked. - Thus farre I haue beene bold to vie your Lordfhips patience, being offended with myfelfe,thatlcould not in breuitie vtter fuch matter as 1 haue deliuered amplie : ; Whereby(I confefïè) occafion of tediouihes might be miniftred,wercit not that your great grauitie ioined with yourfingularconftancie in reading and iudging be means ofthe contrarie. And I wifheuen with all my hart, that I could make people conceiue the fubftance of my writing, and not to mifconftrue anie part of my meaning. Then doubdes would I perfuade my iclfe,that the companie of \vitchmpngers,&c: being once decreaíèd,the number alio ofwitches,&c : would ibone bediminilhed. Bue Uiiç be the words of the Poet, HtUidquAqtMmpotcrUßrnrltr omnUfìlui, NAmcjUt aliji diuibellofilierededentnt, Huic fitltandi artem, voce huic cytharique canendl : Rurßun alij infiruitfigaxtnpcãorenuignM l i
And therefore as doubtfull topreuaileby pcrfùading, though I haue reaíbn and common fenfe on my fide i I reft vpon earneft wifhing;namelie, to all people an ablblute truft in God the creator, and not in creatures, which isto makeflefhour arme: that God may haue his due honor,which by the vndutifulnes ofmanie is turned into diihonor, and lefïè caufe of offenfe and errour giuen by common receiued euill example. And to your Lordfhip I wifh, as increaíè ofhonour, íò continuance of good health, and happie daies. •
Your Lordihips to be commanded Reginald Scot,
p4
Adifcourfeoffpirits. .
iftoetoilloí fcerne ano triettjefpínts tajeftjer íijep be of <5oD o¿ ' no^áUe fo?tt)eillumination of t^ws tnlígljínmg fpírit, írfjíítj a» tt bnngctlj Itgljt lutti) it to Dífcouer all fpirtíô, fe tí gtuetí) Tuco A fierté fjeat, as n)at no falfc fpírit canabífce bp tí felfeare of bur* níng.í^otobeitrtjetiolie fpírit mud be in "os, ofljcrtoife ttits ??e# rogatiue of trieng fpirits totll not fall to our lot. ^ u i ^txt *Qm*toiil. peraDueniu« moue a Demanö, ano Deo aífee ijotD tlje fjolie fpírit is infcs.confíoenngtijat infiniti ad fini-
in ¡„e. com. .x. cap. ¿urn nulla ettpro[>ortio,neque loa anguilla quodimmenfitm eftjiotef} cir-
ftbírijiáinfinite,tottjat tdjitoio finitenjctei« mmfir¡i¡:tft^at no pjopo^tionjnett^er can n)at tcliirf) isfcnmcafurablebe itmtteD 0? bounoeö lottfjin anic precinct of place, tc. 31 anftoer, n)at n)e moti excellent father fo? €ftriffe0 fafee fenoet!) btmtìntotos,accojf Ding ad ^ t d p?om(fcDfcsin nje perfon of bid apoftles; 2Hje comfb3ter(fatnj &e)íd)ííí) is nje Ijolte fpirit,û^onte tnp öt^er totll fenö in IMP name. Clnö as fo:p:opo:tion of tfjat Irindj iß infinite toftattdjtrijtsfiintciCî^lDtlltnno cnfcbatic it thought,ftat ftje ijolte fpírit is in t s , as a boote placeo in a place termtnablie; but to attribute njeret)nto,as Dulie bclongen) to ttic oettte,an ^ bíquitte, o? bniuerfall p^fence^noíco^po^allieanopalpablie^ lohn.T (f,i4. but effeítualliejmígljtilie^mpttícaUie^iutnelíejíc. i ^ a n a ojia & i4,i*. 31 map bololte aooe, ttjat €b?(ti 3efu£5 fenoettj bím tinto Uô from tfje father t neither is be gíuen tis fo: ante o^ tljcv CUD, but to tnridb t)0 abunoantlie tain) all gcDD gifts ano excellent graces-,ano (&> ntong n)e red)toffyn)e oifcerntng of fptrtts ar(ght3tljattoebe not oeceiueo. 3no íjereanenõ.
Ij: II«