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Scot (Reginald) The Discoverie of Witchcraft: wherin the lewde jR-ovw, dealing of witches and witchmon^ers is notablie detected, the '^Uj. Unaverie of conjurors, the impietie of inchantors, &c. are deci- phered, black letter, calf, £2 5s . 4to, 1584
%* Scot was the first person in this country who publicly ventured to express his disbelief of the existence of witchcraft. His book was condemned by the House of Commons.
4578 The Discouerie of WITCHCRAFT, ■wherein the Lewde Dealing of Witches and WiTCHMONGEits is notablie Detected, the Kna- uerieofCoNiURORS, the Impietie of Inchantors, the Follie of Sootiisaiers, the Impudent Fals- hoodof Cousenors, the Infidelities of Atheists, the Pestilent Practises of Pythonists, the Curiositie of Figurecasters, the Vanitie of Dreamers, the Beggarlie Art of Alcumystrie, the Abhomination of Idolatrie, the Horrible Art of Poisoning, the Vertue and Power of Naturall Magike, the Conueiances of Le- gierdemaine and Iuggling, are Deciphered, &c, with a Treatise vpon the Nature and Sub- stance of Spirits and Diuels, by Reginald SCOT, Esquire, 1584, Maefe letter, 4to. calf, very neat, 61 6s
This copy contains the portion which the author recommends his reader to skip over, and which has often been torn out by former owners.
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'"he difcouerie
of witchcraft, Q±
Wh
and
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terein the lewde dealing of witches f, mtebmongers unotabliedeteBedythe r^4p*
tbepeflilentpratfi/es ofPythomffs, the curiofitie of figurecafters, the va-
mtieofdreamer^thebegrer- lie art of Alcu- myftrie,
The abhomination of idofatrie, the hor-
ribleartofpoifoning, the vertue and power of
natural! magike, and all the conueiances
ofZegierdemine and iugglwg are deciphered:
and many other things opened,which
bane long lien kiddenMwbtit
verieneceflTarieto
beknownc.
Heerevnco is added a treatife vpon the
" , natHremdJuLfianceeffiiritsanddiHels, &c :alllatelie written
ty Reginald Sat. Efquire,
X.Iohn4,i#
**lw not eueriejpirit,hit trie the ft^
ff God; fir manie falfe prophets aregtne •nt into the world, grc. 1*84
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juJt \^$
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To the Honor able^mine ejpeciak l good
Lord> Sir 'Roger Manwood KnigHt5Lord
cheefe Baron of hir MaieBies Court
of the Efchequer,
N SOMVCH
as I know that your Lordihip is by na- ture whollie incli- ned,and inpurpofe earnefllybenttore- leeuethepoore,and that not onlie with hofpitalitie and al- mes 3 but by diuerfe other deuifes and waies tending to their comfort, ha- uing(as it were) fra- med and fet your felfe to the helpe and maintenance of their eftate, as appeareth by your charge and trauell in thatbehalfe. Whereas alfoyou haue a fpeciall care for the fupporting of their right , and redrefling of their wrongs, as neither defpifing their calamine, nor yet for- getting their complaint, feeking all meanes for their a- mendementj and for the reformation of their difbrders, euenasaveriefatherto thepoore. Finallie/orthatI am a poore member of that commonwelth,where your Lord- fhip is a principall perfon,I thought this my trauell,in the benalfe of the poore, the aged, and the fimple, might be
A.ij. verie
The Epifl/e. vcriefitlie commended vnto you: for a weakehoufe re- quired! a ftrong ftaie.In which refpe£t I giue God thanks, tliat hath raifed vp vnto me fb mightie a freendfor them asyourLordfhip is, who in our lawes haue fuch know- ledge,^ gouernment fuch difcretion,in thefe caufes fuch experience , and in the commonwealth fiich authorities andneuertheleffe vouchfafeto defcend to the confidera- tion of thefe bafe and inferior matters, which minifter more care and troub!e,than worldlie ettimation.
And in fbmuchas yourLordfhipknoweth,or rather exercifeththeofficeofaiudge,whofe part it is to heare with courtefie, and to determine with equities it cannot but be apparent vnto you, that when punifhment excee- deth the fault, it is rather to be thought vengeance than correction . In whichrefpe&I knoweyou fpend more time and trauellin the conuerfion and reformation, than in the fubuerfion & confufion of offenders, as being well pleafed to augment your ownepriuate paines, to the end you may diminifh their publikefmart. For in truth, that commonwealth remaineth in wofullftate, where fetters and halters beare more fwaie than mercie and due com- panion.
Howbeit, it is naturall to vnnaturall people, and pecu- liar vnto witchmongersjtopurfiie the poore,to accufe the fimple,and to kill the innocent;fiipplieng in rigor and malice towards others,that which they themfelues want inproofeand difcretion,ortheotherin offenfe orocca- Con. But as a cruell hart and an honeft mind doo feldome meete and feed togither in a difh ; fb a difcreet and merci- fuUmagiftrate,andahappie commonwealth cannot be feparated afunder . How much then are we bound to God , who hath giuen vs a Queene , that of iuftice isnot only the very perfed image & paterne jbut alfo of mercie & clemencie(vnder God) the meere fountaine & bodie it felfe ?Infbmuch as they which hunt moft after bloud in
thefe
The Efiftle. thefe daies,haue leaft authorise to fhed it. Moreouer, fith I fee that in cafes where lenitie might be noifome, & punifhment wholefome to the commonwealth $ there no refped ofperfon can moue you, no authoritie can ab- ba(h you,no feare,no threts can daunt you in performing thedutie ofiuftice.
In that relped againe I find your Lordfhip a fit perfon, to iudge and looke vpon this prefent treatife . Wherein I will bring before you, as it were to the barrc , two forts of moft arrogant and wicked people, the firft challenging to themfelues,the fecond attributing vnto others, that power which onelie apperteineth to God/ who onelie is •Apoc^.n. the Creator of all things, D who onelie fearcheth the hart Aa°™'8* and reines, who onelie cknoweth our imaginations and Apoci. thought^, who onelie d openethall fecrets,who e onelie ^Lukc.i*. worketh great wonders, who onelie hath power f to raife l8 ™£ vp & caft downe ; who onelie maketh thunder,lightning, e Pfalm.7*. raine,tempefts,and reftraineth them at his pleafure , who & 1 16- onelie s fendethlife and death,{icknefle & health, wealth fiob.V&3* and wo; who neither giueth nor lcndethhis h glorie to Sam.n. anie creature. x.Reg.8.
And therefore, that which greeueth me to the bot- \falf*' tome of my hart, is, that thefe witchmongers cannot be zach.io. content,to wreft out of Gods hand his almightie power, & h- and keepe it themfelues,or leaue it with a witch : but that, g k£**'7 when by drift of argument they are made to laie downe Hfaie.41,8* the bucklers, they yeeld them vp to the diuell,or at the leaft praie aid or him,asthougn the raines of all mens liues and a&ions were committed into his hand ; and that hefatatthefterne, to guide and diredt the courfe of the whole world , imputing vnto him power and abilitie inough to doo as great things, and as flrange miracles as euer thrift did.
But the doctors of this fupernaturall do&rine faie fom- times,that the witch doth ail thefe things by vertue of hir
A.iij. charmess
The Epift/e. charmcs; fometimes that a Ipirituall, fometimes that a corporall diuell doth accomplifli it; fometimes theyfaie that the diuell doth but make the witch belceue fhe doth that which he himfelfe hath wrought -y fometimes that the diuell fcemeth to doo that by compulsion, which he doth mod willinelie. Finallie,the writers herevpon are fo eloquent, and fuff of varietie $ that fometimes they write that the diuell dooth all this by Godspermiffiononelie; fometimes by his licence, fomtimes by his appointment: (b as (in effeft and truth) not the diuell, but the high and mightie king of kings, and Lord of hofts, euen God him- felte,fhould this waie be made obedient and feruile to obeie and performe the will & commandement of a ma- licious old witch, and miraculouilie to anfwerehir appe- tite, as well in euerie trifling vanitie,asin moll horrible executions, as the reuenger of a doting old womans ima- gined wrongs,to the deftru&ion of manie innocent chil- dren, and as a fupporter of hir paffions, to the vndoing of lnanieapooreioulc. And I foe not, but a witch may as well inchant, when fhe will ; as a lier may lie when he lift : and fo fhould we poflefle nothing, but by a witches li- cence and permiffion.
And now forfooth it is brought to this point, that all di- uels, which were woont to be fpirituall, may at their plea- fure become corporall, and fofhew themfelues familiar- lie to witches and coniurors,and to none other, and by them onlie may be made tame,and kept in a box,&c. So as a malicious old woman may command hir diuell to plague hir neighbor: and he is affti&ed in manner and forme as fhe defireth. But then commeth another witch, andfhebiddethhir diuell helpe, and hehealeththe lame partie. So as they make it a kingdome diuided in it felfe, and therefore I truft it will not long endure,but will fhor t- lie be ouerthrownc, according to the words of our Sa- iiior , Omnc regnumin [e diuifum defolabitHr, Euerie king- dome
The Epiftle. dome diuided in it felfe fhalbe defclate.
And although fome faie that the diuell is the witches inftrument,to bring hirpurpofes andpra&ifes topaffe: yet others faie thatfneis his inflrument, to execute his pleafure in anie thing, and therefore to be executed . But then (me thinks) fhe fhouldbe iniuriouflie dealt withall, and put to death for anothers offenfe : for a&ions are not iudged by inftrumentall caufes ^ neither dooth the end andpurpofe of that which is done , depend vpon the meane inftrument . Finallie, if the witch doo it not, why fhould the witch die for it ? But they faie that witches arc perfuaded,and thinke,that they doo indeed thofe mit cheefs ; and haue a will to performe that which the diuell committeth: and that therefore they areworthieto die. By which reafon euerie one fhould oe executed, that wi- fhetheuillto his neighbor, &c. But if the will fhould be punifhed by man, according to the offenfe againft God, we fhould be driuen by thoufandsat oncetocheflaugh- terhoufe orbutcherie. For whofoeuer loatheth corre- proucrj, - dtion fhall die . And who fhould efcape execution, if this lothfomnefle(I faie) fhould extend to death by the ciuill lawes . Alfo the reward of finne is death. Howbeit , eue- rie one that finneth,is not to be put to death by the magi- ftrate . But (my Lord) it fhalbe proued in my booke, and your Lordfhip fhall trie it to be true, as well nere at home in your natiue countrie,as alfo abrode in your feuerall cir- cuits , that(befides them that be yenefi:^\yhic\\ areplaine f)oifoners there will be found among our witches one- ie two forts ; the one fort being fuch by imputation.^ fo thought of by others (and thefe areabufed,and notabu- fors)the other by acceptation, as being willing fo to be accompted(and thefe be meere coufenors )
Canine treating of thefe magicians , calleth them lmTlt &• coufenors,faieng that they vfe their niggling knacks one- )^fpfn6' lietoamafeorabufe the people; or e!ie for fame: but he Dettt.cap.iB,
A.iiij. might
The Epiflle.
ub.de u. might rather haue faid for gaine . Eraftus himfelfe, be- *i3#*$rU ing a principall writer in the behalfe of witches omnipo- tence, is forced to confefle, that thefe Greeke words, /j^iociiA.xfyryl(x,cpc^[x^Kioc,^rc moft commonlie put for illufion, falfe packing^coufenage, fraud, knauerie and de- ceipt : 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 no- thing elfe but knauerie, coufenage, and old wiues fables; and yet defendethhe their fliengin the aire, their trant ferring of corne or grafle from one feeld to another,&c.
But as Eraftus difagreeth herein with himfelfe and his freends:fb is there no agreement among anie of thofe writers, but onlie in cruelties,abfurdities, and impoflibili- ties . And thefe (my Lord) that fall into fb manifeft con- tradidions,and into fuch abfiird afleuerations , are not of the inferior fort of writers 5 neither are they all papifts,but men of fuchaccompt,as whofe names giue more credit to their caule,than their writings . In whofe behalfe I am fbrie, and pardie for reuerence fiipprefle their fondeft er- rors and fowleft abfurdities; dealing fpeciallie with them •Ifaic.^ 7# that moft contend in crueltie, a whofe feete are fwift to Rom.5,1 \. fhed bloud, ftriuing (as b Iefus the fbnne of Sirach faith) ^Eccl.27,y. ancj hafting (as c Salomon the fbnne of Dauid faith)to ^ier.",^1. ' powre out the bloud of the innocent , whofe heat againft •Pfr3*,if. thefopoore wretches cannot be allaied with anie other &*i-3hl ?• liquor than bloud. And therfore I feare that a vnder their wings will be found the bloud of the fbules of the poore, at that daie, when the Lord fhall faie ;e Depart from me yebloudthirftie men.
And bicaufe I know your Lordfhip will take no coun- fell againft innocent bloud , but rather fiipprefle them thatfeeke toembrew their hands therein^ I haue made choife to open their cafe vnto you, and to laie their mife- rable calamine before your feete : following herein the
aduife
The Ef title. aduife of that learned man Brentius,who faith; Si fffe'JJ*** admonuerit magiBratum,ne in mi/eras Mas mulierculas J&- uiat, eum ego arbitror diuinitus excitatum ; that is. If anie admonifh the magiftrate not to deale too hardlie with thefe miferable wretches,that are called witches, I thinke him a good inftrument raifed vp for this purpofe by God himielfe.
But it will perchance be laid by witchmongers $ to wit, by fiichas attribute to witches the power which apper- teineth toGodonelie,thatIhaue made choifeof your Lordfhip to be apatrone to this my booke,bicaufe I think you fauour mine opinions, and by that meanes may the more freelie publifn anie error or conceipt of mine owne, which fhould rather be warranted byyourLordfhips au- thoritie,thanbythe word of God, or by diffident argu- ment . But I proteft the contrarie, and by thefe prefents I renounce all protection, and defpife all freendinip that might feme to helpe towards the iupprefling or fupplan- ting of truth : knowing alfo that your Lordfhip is farre from allowing anie iniuriedone vntoman; much more an enimieto them that go about todi(honorGod,orto embe2ill the tide of hisimmortall glorie. But bicaufel know you to be perlpicuous,and able to fee downe into the depth andbottome of caufes, and are not to be car- ried awaie with the vaine perfaafion or fuperftition either of man,cuftome,time,or multitude,but mooued with the authoritie of truth onlie : I craue your countenance here- in, euenfo farre foorth,and no further, than the lawe of God,thelawe ofnature,thelawe ofthisland,and the rule of reafbn fhall require.Neither doo I treat for thefe poore people anie otherwife,but fb, as with one hand you may liiftaine the good, and with the other fupprefle the euill: wherein you fhalbe thought a father to orphans, an ad- uocate to widowes, a guide to the blind, a ftaie to the lame^a comfort & countenance to the honeftj a fcourge
and
The Efiftk.
and terror to the wicked.
Thus farre 1 haue beene bold to vfe your Lordfhips pa- tience, being offended with myfelfe,thatIcould not in breuitie vtter fuch matter as 1 haue deliuered amplie : whereby(I confefle) occafion of tedioufhes might be mj- niftred,wereit not that your great grauitie ioii\ed with your fingular conftancie in reading and iudging be means ofthecontrarie.Andlwifheuen with all myhart,thatl could make people conceiue the fubftance of my writing, and not to mifconftrue anie part of my meaning. Then doubtles would I perfuade my felfe,that the companie of witchmongers,&c: being once decreafed,the number alfo of witches,&c : would fbone be diminiihed. But true be the words ofthe Poet,
HandqUiUjuamfoterisfortirier omntafelM, Namtpie altjs dim hello follere dederunt, Huicfklundi or tern, voce huic cytharapie canendi : HurfUm altj inpmit figax mpetlore nugnm lupiter ingeniHmy &c.
And therefore as doubtfull topreuaileby perfuading, though I haue reafon and common lenfe on my fides I reft vpon earneft wifhing;namelie, to all people an abfb- lute truft in God the creator, and not in creatures, which is to make flefh our arme: that God may haue his due honor,which by the vndutifulnes ofmanieis turned into difhonor, and lefle caufe of offenfe and er- rour giuen by common receiued euill ex- ample. And to your Lordfhip I wifh, asincreale of honour, fo con- tinuance of good health, and happie daies.
Your Lordfhips to be commanded
Reginald Scot.
To the right worfhipfull Sir
Thomas ScotKnight,&c.
Ir,fffee among other malefactors maniepoore old women conuented be- fore you for working of miracles, other wife called witchcraft, and therefore I thought you alfoameetperfon to whom I might comendrnybooke . ^indhere I haue cccafwn tofeeake of your fencer e adminiflraticn ofiuBice, and of your dexteritie, difcretion, charge, and trauellemploied in that behalfe,wherof I am octt- latusteBis. H rowbeit 1 had rather refer the reader to com* monfame, and their owne eies andeares to befatisfied> than to fend them to a Stationers shop, where manie times lies are vendible, and truth contemptible. For I being of your houfe, of your name,& of your bloud\ my foot being vnderyour to* ble,my hand in your dish, or rather inyourpurffe, might bee thought to flatter you in that} wherein (/ knowe)I should rather offendyou thanpleafe you. And what need I curriefa* uour with my moflajfured friend? And if I should oneliepub* lishthofevertues (thoughthey bemanie) which giue me fie- cialloccafion to exhibit this my trauell vntoyoufl should doo as a painter, that defer ibeth the foot of a notable perfonage% andleaueth all the beft features in his bodievntouched.
I therefore {at this time) doo onelie de fire you to confeder if my report , concerning the euidence that is commonlic brought beforeyouagainft them. Seeferft whether the eui-~ dence be notfriuolous,dr whether the proofs brought againB them be not incredible, confefling cfghefefes,prefumptions,& impoffvoilities contrarie to reafen,fcrifture,and nature. See alfo what per fons complrinevpon them* whether they be not of the bafefe,tbe vnwifeft,& moBfahbles kind of people* Alfa
majt
;i '- ■
The Epiftle. may It pie aft you to waie what accufations and crimes they Uie to their charge, namelie : She was at my houfe oflatejhe would haue had a pot ofmilke, she departed in a chafe bicaufe she had it not, she railed, she curffed, she mumbled and whip pered,andfinallie she faid she would be euen with me : and Jo one after my child, my cow, my fow, or my pullet died , or was Jlrangelie taken . 2\(aie (if it pie afe your Worship) I haue further proofe : I was with a wife woman, and she told me I had an ill neighbour, & that she would come to my houfe yer it were long, andfo did she ; and that she had a marke a- boue hir wafte,drfo had she :andGodforgiue me, myftomach hath gone againft hir a great while . Hir mother before hir was counted a witch, she hathbeene beaten andferatchedby the face till bloud was drawne vpon hir, bicaufe she hath beenejujpeffed, & afterwards fome ofthofeperfons werefaid to amend. Hhefeare thecerteinties that I he are iu their eui- dences.
Note alfo how eafilie they may be brought to confejfe that which they neuer did, nor lieth in the power of man to doo : and then fee whether I haue caufeto write ai I doo. Further, if you shall fee that infidelitie,poperie, andmanie other ma- nifeft herefies be backed and shouldered, and their profejfors animated and hartened, byyeeldtng to creatures fitch infinit power as is wreftedout of Gods hand, and attributed to wit- ches :finallie, if you shallperceiue that I haue faithfullie and trulie deliuered and fet downe the condition and fate of the witch, and alfo of the witchmonger, and haue confuted by reafon andlawe, andby the word ofGoditfelfe, all mine ad- uerfaries obit ft ions and arguments: then let me haue your countenance againft them thatmaliciouflie oppofe themfelues againft me.
tJMy great eft aduerfaries areyoongignorance and oldcu- Jlome. For whatfolliefoeuer tratt of time hath f offered, it is
The Epiftle.
fofuperjlitioufiepurfued offome,as though no error could be acquainted withcuftome. Butifthelawe of nations would ioine with fuck culiome, to the maintenance of ignorance, and to the fupprejfing of knowledge ; the ciuilefl countrie in the world would fo one become barbarous,&c. For as know- ledge and time difcouereth errors, fo doothfuperfition and ignorance in time breed them. And concerning the opini- ons of finch, as wish that ignorance shouldratherbe maintei- ned, thanknowledgebuftliefearchedfor,bicaufe thereby of fenfe may grow : I anfwer,that we are commanded by chrijl ^ , himfelfe to fearch for knowledge iforitis thekings honour ProuVf, i. (as Salomon Jaith') to fearch out a thing.
AriHotle faid to Alexander, that a mind well furnished was morebeautifuli than a bodierichlie araied. what can be more odious to man, or offenfiue to God, than ignorance: for through ignorance the 1 ewes did put chriH to death. ^1- VVhich ignorance whofoeuerforfaketb,ispwrpifedlife euer- la fling : and therfore among chriHians tp! ^osildbe abhor- red aboue all other things. For euen as who we wreHle in the darke^ we tumble in the mire,&c:fo when we fee not the truth, we wallow in errors. A blindman mayfeeke long in the rishesyer he find a needle -, and as foone is a doubt difcujfed by ignorance. Finallie, truth is no fo oner found out in ignorance, than afweetfauor in a dunghill. And if they will allow men knowledge, andgiue them no leaue to vfeit, men were much better be without it than haue it. For it is, astohaueatallent, and to hide it vnderthe earth ; or to Matth*5-f* put a candle vnder a bushell: or as to haue a ship,& to let hir Lukc.8; liealwaies in the docke : which thing how profitable it is, I canfaiefomewhat by experience.
But hereof I need faie no more, for euerie manfeeth that none can be happie who knoweth not what f elicit ie meaneth. For whatauaileth it to haue riches, and not to haue thevfi
thereof ?
The Epiftle. there of? Trulie the heathen herein defer ued more commen- dation than manie christians for they fpared no paine , no coft> nor tr well to at t cine to kno wledge. Pythagoras trauel- ledfram'th&mu* to Aegypt, and afterwards into Crete and Laced&monia : and Plato out of Athens into Italic and Ae- gxpt,and allto find out hidden fecrets and knowledge : which when a man hathjoefeemeth to befeparatedfrom mortalitie. Forpretiousftones, and all other creatures of what value fo- euer , are but counterfeits to this iewell : they are mortall, corruptible y and inconstant ; this is immortall^pure andcer- teineWherforeifl hauefearched and found out any good thing, that ignorance and time hath frnotheredy the fame I commendvnto you : to whorg though I owe all that I haue3yetam I hold to make other partakers with youinthispoore ft.
Your louing coufen
\
42;
Scot.
¥o the right mrjhipfull his louing friends ^
Maifter Doctor Coldwell Deaneof Ro- chefler,and Maifier DoffiorT^ead- man Archdeacon of Can- turburie^&c^
Auing found out tw fuchciuill lMa*
giflrates,asfor direction ofiudgement,andfor or-* 2f dering matters concerning iuHicem this- common 0n Wealth (in my poore opinion) are veriejingular perfons,who (I hope) Will accept of my goodwill, and examine my bool^e by their experience, a* vn- to whom the matter therin contemed dooth greats lie apperteine :I haue noW againe confidered of
aentlieinformed,yetdoothnotthemdgementandcenfure ofthofi caufesfd properlie apperteine to them as vnto you, whofefame therein hath eminence aboue all others that I lyioW of your callings land in that reffeB I am bold toaomeyouWith them,, being all rood neighbours togither in this. commonWelth rand loumg friends vnto me. I doo notprefent this vnto you, bicaufett is meet fir you; but for that you are meet for it (I meane) to tudge. vpon it, to defend it, and if need be to correB it; knowing that you hau&lear- nedofthatgrauecounfellerCatoynotto fhameor difcountengnse any bodie. For if J thought you as readie, 04 able, to difgrace me for mine infufficiencie ; J fhould not haue beenehaflie^no^in^y our learning) to haueWntteri\nt you : hut ifljhouldbe abajhed to Write to you, ijhould JheW my fife, igno- rant of your courtefie.
I knoWe mine oWne Weakeneffe, which if it haue beeneableto mmnteme this argument, the caufe is theftronger. Eloquent words maypleafe the earn? . mtfufficient matter perfuadeth the hart. So as, if I exhibit wholfome drmke (though it befmall) in a treenedifh with afaithfuli hand, I hope itwiUbee as well accepted, asflrongwine offered in afiluer bowk With afattering heart. ^£nd furelie it is apomt ofat great liberalise to receiueafmall thing thankefulite, as togiue and difnbute great and coflliegifts bountifuUie :fi>r there k morefuppued with courteous anjwers t an With rich rewards.The ty- rant
The Epiftlc.
rant Dionysus was not Jo hated for his tyrannie, 44 fir his churlijh and flrange •behauioir. Among the foore lfiaelites faenjkes, God^oas Jatijjied . with the tenth fart of an Ej?hah of flower, fi a* it "to ere fine and good . chrifl : liked well of the poore widowes mite, Lewis of France accepted a rape root, ofclowmjh Conan , Cyrus vouchfifed to drmke a cup of cold water out of the hand of poor e Smites : andfo it maypleafeyou to accept thtsfimple booke at my hands, which ifaithfullte exhibit vntoyou, not knowmgyour opinions to meet with mine, but knowmgyour learning and lodgement to be able a* well to correfi me where 1 fteakje herein vnshilfulUe^ts others when theyfieake hereof malicioufiie.
Some beJucb\dogs as they willbar^e at my writings, whether 1 mainteine or refute this argument : as Diogenes fnarled both at the Jfhodians and at the Lacedaemonians : at the one, bicaufe they were braue ; at the other , bicaufi they werenot braue.Homer himfilfe could not auoidreprochfuUfieaches.l am Jure that they which neuerfludied to learne anie good thing, willfiudie to find- faults hereat. 7 fir mypartfeare not thefi wars,nor all the aduerjaries 1 haue ; were it not for certeine cowards, who(l knowe)will come behind my backhand bite me.
But now to the matter. My question is not (as manie findlie Juppofe) whether there be witches or naie : but whether they can doojuch miraculous worlds as are imputed vnto them. Good Mai Tier Deane,is itpofiiblefor a man to breake his fall withy ou at Jfochefter, and to dine that day at Durham with Maifler Doclor Matthew ; or cany our entmie maimeyou , when the Ocean feaisbetwixt you? what reall communitieis betwixt afi'mt and a bodie ? May afimtuall bodie become temporall at his pteajure? Or may a carnall bo- die become inuifible ? h it likelie that the Hues of all Princes, magistrates, & jubieBs,jhould depend vpon the will, or rather vpon the wifh ofapoore mali- cious doting oldfoole; and that power exempted fiom the wife, the rich, the learned, the godlie,crc ? Finallie, is, itpofiiblefir man or woman to do ante of thofe miracles expreffedin my booke, O^fi conflantlie reported by great darks? ffyoufaie, no ; then am Ijatisfied. Ifyoujaie that God, abfilutelie, or by meanes can accomplifh all thofe, and manie more, J go withy oh. But witches may welljaie they can doo thefe things, howbeit they cannot Jhew how they doo them. If I fir my part fhouldfaie I could doo thofe things, my verie aduer- jaries would fide that 1 lied.
O Maifler Archdeacon, is it notpitie, that that which is feud to be doom
Twith the almightie power of the mo ft high God, and by ourjauiour his onelie
fenne I ejus chrifl our lord,fhouldbe referred to a haggage old womans nod
or
TheEpiftle, • '
*r wifh, &c '? Good Sir, is it nut one manifHkindofldolatrie,for them that labor and are laden, to come vnto witches to be rejrejhed ? if witches could helpe whom they arefaidto hauemadefike,Ifee no reafn,butremedie might m well be required at their hands, as-apurfie demanded of htm that hathfiolne $t. But tmlie it is manifold idolatrie, to a>ke that of a creature , which none can giue but the Creator. The papiH hath fome colour offcripture to main- teinehis idoli of bread, but no lefuiticall distinction can couer the wttchmon* vers idolatrie m this behalf e. yyilas,lamfoneandajhamedtofee how ma" niedie, that being pud to be bewitched, oneliefeekeformagicallcures,whom wholfome diet and good medicines would haue recouered . I dare ajjure you Loth, that there would be none ofthefe coufening b}nd of witchei,, did not "toitckmongers mainteine themfollowe them, and beleeue in them and their oracles : whereby indeed all good learning and hone fi arts are ouerthrowne. For thefe that mo ft aduance their power, and mamteine the skill ofthefe wit- ches, vnderf and no part thereof : and yet being manie times ^eife in other matters, are madefooles by themoffooles in the world.
Me thinks thefe magicallphyficians deale in the commonwelth, much like asacerteinelqndofCynicallpeople doo in the church, whofe Jeuere fiiengs are accompted among fomefuch oracles, as may not be doubted of; who in flead of learning and authoritie (which they make contemptible) doo feed the people with their owne deuifes and imaginations, which they prefer before all other diuimtie ; and labouring to ereEl a church according to their owne fan- fees, wherein all order is condemned, andonelie their magicall words and cu- rious diretlionsaduanced, they would vtter&eouerthr owe the true church. ^/Cndeuen as thefe inchanting Paracelfeans abufe the people, leading them from the true order ofphyficke to then charmes:fo doo thefe cther(ljaie)dij- Juadefeom hearkening to learning and obedience, andwhifper in mens eares to teach them their fherhke traditions. ^ndofthisfeB the cheefe author at this time is one Browne, afugitiue, a meet couer for fetch a cup; as hereto- fore the ^nalaptifls, the Anions, and the Francifeanefeiers.
Trulie not onlie nature, being the foundation of all perfection ; but alfe feripture, being the mifirejje and director thereof, and of all chrislianttie, is beautified with knowledge and learning . For as nature without difcipline dooth naturallie incline vnto vanities^tnd as it werefucke vp errors :Jo doth theiword? or rather the Utter of the feripture,withoutvnderflanding, not onlie make vs deuoure errorsjbut yeeldeth vs vp to death O" deflruElion:^ ^°m«2> *7t therefore Paule faith he was not a mmifler of the letter, but of the Jf in t. Thus haue I beene bold to deliuer vnto the world, and to you,thofefemple
£4. notes,
i>n,i 9 -iJhb The Epiftle.
notes, reafons, and arguments, which J hone dtuifedor collected out ofothe* authors : which J hope {hall be hurtfitll to none, but to my felfe great comfort \ if it may paffe with good liking and acceptation. If it fallout otherwife, jjhould thtnke my fames ill imploied. For truhejn mine opinion, whofoe- uer {ball performe any thing , or atteme to ante knowledge', orwho/oeuer {hould trauell throughout all the nations of the world, or (if it were poftble) {hould peepe into the heauens, the lonfolation or admiration thereofwere no- thing pleafent vnto him,vnlesbehad Itbertie to impart hu knowledge to his friends. Wherein bicaufe I haue madefteciall choije ofyouyl hope you will read it, or at the leaft laie it vp inyour fludie with your other . bookes, among which there is none dedicated to any with more goodwill. sAndfe long as you haue it, it {ball be vnto you(vpon aduenture of my life) a certeine Or mulet, periapt circle, charme,0'tl to defend you from all inchantments.
Your louing friend JRtg. Scot.
To the Readers.
fer=^Z
O you that are wile
& difcreete few words may fuffice : for fuch j^ u a one iudgeth not at Prouer.i » the firft fight , nor re- proouethby herefaie; but patientlie heareth, and thereby increa- feth in vnderftanding: which patience bring- eth roorth experience, wliereby true iudge- ment is directed . I fliall not need there- fore to make anie fur- ther futetoyou,but that it would pleafe you to read my bcoke, without the preiudice of time, or former conceipt : and hauing obteined this at your hands,Ifubmit my felfe vnto your cenfure. But to make a folemne fute to you that arsparciall readers, defi- ringyoutofet afideparcialitie,totake in good part my writing, and with indifferent eies to looke vpon my booke , were labour loft,and time ill imploied.For I fhould no more preuaile herein, than if a hundred yeares fince I fliould haue intreated your pre- deceflbrs to belecue, that Robin goodrellowe, that great and an- cient bulbegger , had beene but a coufening merchant , and no diuell indeed.
If I fliould go to a papift,and faie^I praie you beleeue my wri- tings,wherein I will prooue all popifli charmes,coniurations, ex- orcifmes, benedictions and curffes, not onelieto be ridiculous, and of none effe£t,but alfo to be impious and contrarie to Gods word : I fhould ashardlie therein win fauour at their hands, as herein obteinc credit at yours. NeuerthelefTeJ doubt not,but to
B.ij. vfe
lie Spiff fe.
vfe the matter fo,that as well the marTcmoongcr for his part, as die witchmconger forhis,fhall both be afhamed of their pro- fefllons.
But Robin igoodfellowe ceafeth nowto be much feared, and poperie is fumcientliedifcoucred.NeuertheleSjwitchcs charms, and coniurors coufenages are yet thought effccruall . Yea the Gentiles haueefpied the fraud of their coufening oracles, and our cold prophets and inchanters make vs fooles ftill,to the fhame of vs ali,but fpeciallie of papifts , who coniure euerie thing , and thereby bring to paife nothing. They faie to their candles;! con- iure you to endure for euer : and yet they laft not a pater nofter while thclonger.They coniure water to be wholefome both for bodie and foule : but the bodie (we fee) is neuer the better for it, nor the fouleanie whit reformed by it. And therefore I mer- uell, that when they fee their owne- conjurations confuted and brought to naught,or at the leait void of effect , that they (of all other)will yet giue fuch credit , countenance , and authoritie to the vaine coufenages of witches and coniurors; as though their charmes and coniurations could produce more apparent, ccr- teine,and better effects than their owne.
Butmy requeft vnto all you that read mybooke fhall be no more, but that it would pleafe you to conferre my words with your owne fenfe and experience,and alfo with the word of God. If you find your felues refplued and fatiffied, or rather reformed and qualified in anie on^e point or opinion : that heretofore you held contrarie to trutryn a matter hitherto vndecided,and neucr yetlookedinto ; Ipraieyou take that for aduantage : andfuf* pending your iudgement , ftaie the fentence of condemnation againft me,and confider of the reft,atyour further leafurc . If this may notfufficeto perfuade you,it cannot preuaile to annoyyou: andthen,that which is written without offenfe,may be ouerpaf. fed without anie greefe.
And although mine affertion^be fbmewhat differing from the old inuetcrat .opinion,. which I confeffe hath manie graie heares, whereby mine aduerfaries haue gained more authoritie than reafon, towards the maintenance of their preemptions and old wiues fables : yet fhall kfullie agree with Gods gloria and with his holie word . And albeit there be hold taken by mine aduer- faries
faricsof certcine few words or fcntencesin trie fcripture that makethafliewforthem: yet when the whole courfe thereof maketh againft them , and impugneth the fame 3 yea and alio their owne places rightlie vnderitood doo nothing at all releeue them : I truft their glorious title and argument of antiquitie will appeare as dale and corrupt as the apothecaries drugs3or grocers fpice, which the longer they be preicrued , the woorffe they are. And till you haue perufed my booke^ponder riiis in your mind5to wit,that SAgjiiTheffd^strigetybimU (which words and none other being in vfe doproperlie iignifie our witches)are not once found written in the old or new teltament; and that Chrift himfelfe in his gofpell neuer mentioned the name of a witch . And that nei- ther hc,nor Mofes euer fpake anie one word of the witches bar- gaine with the diuell,their nagging, their riding in the aire, their tranfferring of come or graffe from one feeld to another, their hurting of children or cattell with words or charmes,dieirbe-? witching of butter , cheefe,ale, &c : nor yet their tranfubftantia- tion ; inlomuch as the writers herevpon are not afhamed to fay5 ^4/ maier that it is not abfurd to affirme that there were no writches in lobs j?ar.i,^. z. time. The reafon is, that if there had beene fuch witches then in beeing,Iob would haue faid he had beene be witched.But indeed men tcoke no heed in thofe daies to this doftrine of diuels ; to wit,to thefe fables of witchcraft, wrhich Peter faith (hall be much i.Pet.4.1. regarded and hearkened vnto in the latter daies.
Howbeit,how ancient fo euer this barbarous conceipt of wit- ches omnipotencie is,truth mult not bemeafured by time : for eueric old opinion is not found . Veritie is not impaired , how long fo euer it be fupprefled ; but is to be fearched out , in how darkc a corner fo euer it lie hidden : for it is not like a cup of ale, that may be broched too rathe . Finallie, time be wraieth old er- rors, & difcouercth new matters oftruth. Danaeus himfelfe faith, Datueut in that this queftion hitherto hadi neuer beene handled ; nor thcfm Woge. fcriptures concerning this matter haue neuer beene expounded. To proue the antiquitie of the caufe, to confirme the opinion of the ignorant, to inforce mine aduerfaries arguments, to aggra- uate the punifhments, & to accomplifh the confufio of thefe old women3is added the vanitie and wickednes of diem, w hich are called witches, the arrogancie of thofe which take vpon them to
B.iij. workc
\vorke wonders, the defire that people haucto hearken to fuch miraculousmatters,vntowhomemoft commonlie an impofli- bilitie is more credible than a veritie; the ignorance ofnaturall cauies, the ancient and vniuerfall hate conceiucd againft the name of a witch; their ilfauoured faces, their fpitefull words, their curfTes and imprecations, their charmes made in rymc, and their beggerie ; the feare of manie foolifh folke , the opinion offo me that are wife, the want of Robingoodfellowe and the fairies , which were woont to maintcine chat , and the common peoples talke in this behalfe ; the authoritic of the inquifitors,the lenrning,cunning, confent, and eftimation of writers herein, the falie tranflations and fond interpretations vfed, fpeciallie by pa- pifts ; and manie other like caufes.All which toies take fuch hold vpon mens fanfics, as whereby diey are lead and entifed awaie from the consideration oftruerefpeCts, to the condemnation of that wdiich diey know not.
Howbeit,! will(by Gods grace)in this my booke, fo apparent- lie decipher and confute thefe cauils,and all other their obied^i- ons ; as euerie witchmoonger fhall be abaflicd,and all good men dicreby fatiffied.In the meane time,I would wirti them to know that if neither the eftimation of Gods omnipotencie, nor the te- nor of his word,nor the doubtrulnes or rather the impoflibilitie oftbecafe,northe fmall proofes brought againft them , nor the rigor executed vpon them,nor the pitie diat fhould be in a chri- ftian he art,nor yet their fimplicitie, impotencie, or age may fuf- fice to fuppreffe the rage or rigor wherewith they are oppreffedj yet the confederation of their fex or kind ought to moauefome mitigatio of their punifliment. Forifnature(asPlinic reporteth) haue taught a lion not to dealefo roughlie with a woman as with a^min3bicaufe fhe is in bodie die weaker veflelljand in hart more Lam.Ier.3 . inclined to pitie (which Ieremie in his lamentations feemeth to &4 cap. confirme ) what fhould a man doo in this cafe , for whome a wo- vcrfc.io. man was createcj as an helpe and comfort vnto him ? In fo much Ibi/v'erfV. as , euen in the la we of nature,it is a greater offenfe to flea a wo- Ce.i.n.iS, man than a man : notbicaufea man is not the more excellent MFljtib, creature^ but bicaufe a woman is the weaker veffell . And there- frobbrnx?* fore among all modert and honeftperibns it is thought a fliame to offer violence oriniurie to a woman -: in which refpc& Virgil
faith,
IheEftMe.
tivb\,NullHtn mmoralile nomenfaeminca. inform eft. ffr. 0**%,
God that knoweth my heart is witnes , and you that read my bookefliallfee,diatmy drift andpurpofe inthisenterprife ten- ded! onelie to thefe reipe&s . Firit,diatthegIorieand power of God be not fo abridged and abafed,as to be thruft into the hand or lip of a lewd old woman ; whereby the worke of the Creator fhould be attributed to the power of a creature . Secondlie,thac the religion of the gofpell may be feenc to ftand without fuch pecuifhtrumperie. Thirdlie,thatlawfull fauour and christian companion be father vfed towards thefe poore foules,than rigor and extremitie. Bicaufe they, which are commonlie accufed of witchcraft , are the leaft fufficicnt of all other perfons to fpeakc for themfelues ; as hauing the moft bafe and fimple education of all others ; the extremitie of their age giuing them leaue to dote, their pouertie to beg, their wrongs to chide and threaten ( as be- ing void of anie other waie of reuenge ) their humor melancho- Iicall to be full of imaginations , from whence cheefelie procee- ded the vanitie of their confeffions ; as that they can tranfrorme themfelues and others into apes, owles,a0es, dogs,cats,&c: that they can flie in the aire , kill children with charmes r hinder the comming of butter,&c.
And for fo much as the mightie helpe themfelues together, and the poore widowes crie , diough it reach to heauen,is fcarfe Ecc^^>!^ heard here vpon earth : I though tgood( according to my poore abilitie) to make interceffion, that fome part of common rigor, and fome points of haftie iudgement may be aduifed vpon . For the world is now at that (lay(as Brentius in a moft godlie fermon in thefe words affirmeth)that euen as when the heathen perfecu* ted the chriftians, if anie were accufed to belccue in Chrift , the common people cnz&Adleonem : fo now,if anie woman, be flie neuer fo honeft , be accufed of witchcraft , they enc^d ignenu What difference is betweene the rafli dealing of vnskilfull peo* ple,and the graue counfell of more difcreet and learned perfons, may appeare by a tale of Danaeus his owne telling; wherein he ©ppofeth the raftmes of a few townefmen , to the counfell of a whole fenate,preferring the follic of the one,beforc the wifdomc ofthe other.
At Qrieance on Loyre(faith he)thcre was a manwitdyiot only
taken
7be Epistle. taken and accufed,but alfo conui6ted and condemned for witch- craft, who appealed from thence to the high court of Paris. Which accufation the fenatefawe infufficient, and would not allow , but laughed thereat, lightlie regarding it; and in die end fent him home (faith he) as accufed of a ftiuolous matter . And yet for all that,die magiftrats of Orleance were fo bold vvidj him, as to hang him vp within fliort time after , for the fame or the verie like offenfe. In which example is to be feene the nature,and asitwerethedifeafe of this caule : wherein ( I faic) the fimpler and vndifcreeter fort are alwaies more haftie & furious in iudge-. ments, than men of better reputation and knowledge . Neuer- theles , Eunichius faith, that thefe three things; to wit, what is to be thought of witches,what their incantations can doo, and whe- ther dieir punifliment fhould extend to death,are to be well con- fidered. And I would (faith he)they were as well knowne,as they are rafhliebeleeued,bodi of the learned,and vnlearned.And fur- ther he faith,that almoft all diuines,phyficians and lawyers, who (houldbeft know thefe matters jfatiffieng themfelues with old cultome5haue giuen too much credit to thefe fables , and too rafli and vniuft fentence of death vpon witches. But when a man pondcreth (faith he )that in times paft, all that fwarued from the church of Rome were iudged heretikes ; it is the lefle maruell, though in this matter they be blind and ignorant.
And furelie,ifthe fcripture had beenc longer fupprefled,more
abfurdfables would haue fproong vp3and beene beleeued.Which
credulitie though it is to be derided with laughter; yet this their
crueltie is to be lamented with teares.For(God knoweth)manie
of thefe poore wretches had more need to be relceued than cha-
itifed ; and more meete were a preacher to admonifri them,than
a gailor to keepe themjand a phyfician more neceffarie to helpe
them,than an executioner or tormentor to hang or burnethem.
For proofe and due triall hereof^I will requite Danaeus his tale of
a man witch ( as he termeth him) with another witch of the fame
fex or gender.
Ub.tf*cap. Catdanus from the mouth of his owne father reportcth ,that
iZJevarie- one B arn ard,a poore feruant,being in wit verie fimple and rude,
mib,rtrnm
decrelie belouedof his maifter.)profeffin^ the ar t-of witchcraft,
could
TheEpi&le. couldin no wife be diffuaded from that profcflion , perfuading himfelfe diat he knew all things5and could bring anie matterto paffe;bicaufecerteinecountrie people reforted to himforhelpe andcounfell,asfuppofingbyhis ownetalke,thathe could doo fomewhat . At length he was condemned to be burned : which torment he Teemed more willing to fuffer>than to loofehisefti- nvation inthatbehaIfe.Buthis maiiter hauing companion vpon him^nd being himfelfe in his princes fauor , perceiuing his con- ceipt to proceed of melancholie , obteined refpk of execution for twentie daies.In wliich time (faith he) his mailter bountifullie fed Hffh with goodfat meat 3 and. widi foure egs at a meale ,. as alfo with fweet wine i which diet was beft for fa groffc and weake a bodie. Andbeingrecouered fo in (trength, that the humor wras fupprefled y. he waseafiliewoone from his abfurd and dange- rous opinions,and from all his fond imaginations: and confef- ling his error and follie ,from die which before no man could re- mooue him by anie perfua(ions,hauing his pardon , he liued long a gcx>d member of the church , whome otherwife die crueltie of iudgement ftiould haue caft awaie and deftroied.
This hiftorie is more credible than Sprengersfables3orBodins babies 3 which reach not fo far to the extolling of witches omni- potencie,as to the derogating of Gods glorie. Forifit be true,, which they affirme ,diat ourlife and death lieth in the hand of a witch,* then is it falfejthat God maketh vs liue or die , or that by him we haue our being , our terme of time appointed, and our daiesnumbred . But fureliedieircharmescan no more reach to the hurting or killing of men or women, dian their i maginations can extend to the (tealing and carrieng awaie of horfles & mares. Neither hath God giuen remedies to ficknes or greefes^by words or charmes , but by hearbs and medicines ; which he himfelfe . 6
hath created vpon earth3and giuen men knowledge of the fame; La.Ierlvk that he might be glonfied/ordiat therewith he dooth vouchfafe lfai.4s.9- diatthe maladies of men and catteli fhould be cured^&c. And if k°m,2 there be no affliction nor calaraitie, but is brought to paffe by him,then let vs defie the diuell ^renounce all his works , and not fo much as once thinke or dreame vpon this fupernaturall power of witches ; neither let vs profecute them with fudi defpioht^ whome our fanfic condemnedi>.and ourreafon acqutteth : our
euidence
TbcEpiftk. euidenceagainftthemconfiftingin impoflibilities, our proofes in vn written Yerities,and our whole proceedings in doubts and difficulties.
Now bicaufe I miflikc the extreame crueltie vfed againft fomc ofthcfe fillie foules (whome a fimple aduocate hauing audience and iuftice' might deliuer out of the hands of the inquifitors themfelues) it will be laid , that I denie anie puniftiment at all to be due to anie witch whatfoeuer . Naie,bicaufe I bewraie the fol- lie and impietieofthem^which attribute vnto witches the power ofGod : thefe witchmoongers will report , diat I denie there arc anie witches at all; and yet behold (faie they) how often is mrs" word [Witch] mentioned in the fcriptures ? Euen as if an idolater fliould faie in the behalfe of images and idols,to them which de- nie their power and godhcad,and inueigh againft the reuerencc doone vnto them; How dare you denie the power ofimages,fee- ing their names are fo often repeated in the fcriptures ? But true- lie I denie not that there are witches or images : but I deteft the idolatrous opinions conceiued of them ; referring that to Gods worke and ordinance, which they impute to the power and malice ofwitches^and attributing that honour to God, which they afcribe to idols. But as for thofe that in verie deed are either witches or coniurors, let them hardlie iuffer fuch punish- ment as to dieir fault is agreea- ble, and as by the graue iudgementoflawe is prouided.
places amendedly the author And to he readatfoUoweth.Thejirfl number fiandeth for the page* thefecond for the line*
46. 1 6.wwt pott. 1^8.3 i.tfje firmament. 45 *.*9 • ejeercife tlje.
yi.p.one^ao&ocfce* i87.i6.reaUteftuttjeti. 450- »-tfjat it i#.
75V2i.tf)attoeo£ ip2.putontt!jefirlllme 4
iio.2i.a*©lima& oftljepage. 47 i.i^coteinetf) nothing.
ii2.io.tsfrep^ooe5. 247.29.to£tteit. 47 z. n.31 niatiefcrce.
119 1 6-one &tm$. 2 57. 3 2. an image. 49 1 •*• Co nifficulf.
1 26.1 2.$Qtagtt.8 a& 269.i6.tf)ere&emafie0'. 4*1-*? -begat another.
1 3 8.2. tlje Ijart 3 3 3.i4.euenlte fenereU. 50 i-9- of nil tfje.
i44.25.tnJ)trctofetat 363.26ib£beliotoe£. 5i

Theforren authors vfed in this Booke.
2|7 Lianus*
,/jLyAeuus, Albertus Crantzius. Albertus Magnus. Albumazar. Alcoranum Francifca-
norum. Alexander Trallianus. Algcrus. Ambrofius. Andradias. Andreas Gartnerus. Andreas Maflius. Antonius Sabellicus. Apollonius Tyanams. Appianus. Apuleius. Archelaus. Argerius Ferrarius. Ariftoteles.
Arnold us de villa noua . Artemidorus. Athanafius. Auerroes. Auguftinus epUcopus
Hip. Auguftinus Niphus. Auicennas. AulusGellius. Barnardinus de buftis. Bartholomews Angli-
cus. Berofus Anianus. Bodinus; Bordinus. Brentius. Caluinus. Camerarius. Campanus. Cardanus pater.. Car danus filius. Carolus Gallus. Caflandcr. Cato.
Chryfoftome, Cicero. Clemens*
Cornelius Agrippa, Cornelius Nepos. N Cornelius Tacitus.
Cynllus.
Dan x us.
Demetrius.
Democritus.
Didymus.
DiodorusSiculus.
Dionyfius Areopagita.
Dioicorides.
Diurius.
Dodonseus.
Durandus.
Empedocles.
Ephefius.
Erafmus Roterodamus.
Erafiims Sarcerius.
Eraftus.
Eudoxus.
Eufebius Csefarienfis.
Fernelius.
Francifcus Petrarcha.
Fuchfius.
Galenus.
Garropius,
Gelafius.
Gemma Phryfius.
Georgius Pi&orius.
Gofridus.
Gofchalcus Boll .
Gratianus.
Gregorius.
Griilandus.
Guido Bonatus.
Gulielmus de fen&o
Clodoaldo. GulielmusParifienfis* Hemingius.. Heraclides. Hermes Triimegiftus. Hieronymus. Hilarius. Hippocrates* Homerus. Horatius. Hoftienli*.
Houinus. Hyperius. Jacobus de Chufa Car-
thufisnu*. Iamblichus. Info Pratcnfis. Innocentius.8.Papa. lohannes Anglicus* lohanncs Baptifta Nea-
politanus* lohannes Caffianus. lohannes Montiregius, lohannes Riuius. Iofephus ben Gorion -. lofias Simkrus. Ifidorus. Ifigonus. Iuba.
lulius Maternus. Iuftinus Martyr. La&antius. Lauaterus. Laurentius Ananias. Laurentius a villausr
centio, Leou.Pontirex. Lex Salicarum. Lex ii.Tabularum. Legendaaurea. Legenda longa Colo^
nix. LeonardusVairns. Liuius. Lucanus- Lucretius. Ludouicus Ca?lius. Lutherus. Macrobius. Magna Charta^ Malleus Maleficarutn> Manlius. Marbacchius. Marbodeus Gallus.. Msrfilius Ficinus. Martinusde Aries.. Mattheolus. Melan&honus.
Memohra*
Forren
Memphradorus.
Michael Andreas.
MufcuJus.
Nauclerus.
Nicephorus.
Nicholaus5.Papa.
Nider.
Olaus Gothus.
Origenes.
Ouidius.
Panormiranus.
Paulus Aegineta.
Paulus Marfus.
Perfius.
Petrus dc Appona.
Petrus Lombardus,
Petrus Marcyr.
Peucer.
Philarchus.
Philaftrius Brixienlis.
Philodotus.
Philoludsus,
Pirkmairus.
Platina.
Plato.
Plinius.
Plotinus.
Plutarchus.
Polydorus Virgilius.
Pomcerium fermonum
cjuadragefimalium. Pompanatius. Pontificalc. Ponziuibius. Porphyrius. Produs. Proper tius. Pfellus. Ptolomcus.
and Englifli authors.
Pythagoras. Quintilianus. Rabbi Abraham. Rabbi ben Ezra. Rabbi DauidKimhi. Rabbi Iofuah benLcui. Rabbi Ifaach Natar. Rabbi Leui. Rabbi Mofes. Rabbi Scdaias Haias, Robertus Carocullus. Rupertus. Sabinus, Sadolctus. Sauanorola. Scotus. Seneca. Septuaginta inter pre-
ces. Serapio. Socrates* Sohnus. Speculum exemplo-
rum. Strabo.
SulpitiusSeuerus, Synefius. Tatianus. Tertullianus. Thomas Aquiaas* Themiftius. Theodoretus. Theodorus Bizantius. Theophraftus. Thucidides. Tibullus. Tremelius. Valerius Maximus* Varro.
Vegetius. Vincentius. Virgilius. Vitellius. Wierus.
Xanthus hiftoriogra- phus.
^TbefeEngUjh.
BArnabe Gcoge. r
Beehiue of the Ro-
mifli church. Edward Deering. ^ Geffrey Chaucer. Giles Alley. Gnimelf Maharba, Henrie Haward. Iohn Bale, Iohn Fox. Iohn Malbornc. Iohn Record. Primer after Yorkc
vfe. Richard Gallis. Roger Bacon. Teftament printed at
Rhernes. T. E.a nameles author.
4*7. Thomas Hillcs. Thomas Lupton. Thomas Moore Knighc Thomas Phaer. T.R. a namelcs author.
William Lambard. W.W, a nameles au- thor. 542.
The
The difcouerie of l
Witchcraft. q[ThejirHcBooke.
An impeachment of Witches power in me- teors and elementarie bodies, tending to the re- buke of fuch as attribute too much vnto them.
The firft Chapter.
^€ f ablest of
Miittbcraft traue t&* fecn fo faU jjolb and fceperartm ticiefjeart ofman,tbat fefoc oj nonecan(nofoabates) tDttl) patience inbure tbefjanbanbeojeecti* onofdUsb. if o: (fan? abuerfitie,grafe,Scfe> neflTe, loOe of i^tiD^en, cojne,catte!l,o? liber* tiebaffcnbntotbcm; bpi bpsbcpcrclaime bppon toitdps* 0s fljougb fbere foere no ©ob m 3fraei 8jat o^eretb aU things ac* i©kr. toeing to fjiss totll ; puni tying botb uitt anb tonfcff tDtltj grdefe, plagues, anb afflictions in manet anb fojme as be tfnnbe^b g®b: but tbat certeine olb toomen b&tc on eartb, caUeb WMfr*? muttnriebsbe ttje contriucrsof all mens calamities, anb as tboagbtbepfbemfelues foere innocents, anb bab beferneb no fucb pumlbments. 3nfomucb as ftep flicfee not to rioc anb go tofucb,asettt)cr^re iniuriouflic tear met) foitcbes, o:elfc are fotlling fo to be accounted taking at tljett banbscomfiwtanb remebie in time of tbeic tribulation,contrarie to ©ons totll anb commanoeinent in tfjat bebalfe, fcfco bibs bs refo:t to tjkmn all Ma«h.x x.
€.;♦ cue
% i.Booke. Thedifcouerie Credulitie.
ourneceifittes.
Smri) fatibicilc people ( 31 fete) are a!fo perfuaaea, fljat neither
I;ai le no : fncluc, tbunDec no: lightening, raine no; tempeffuou*
fcuin&s come from tbebeauens at tfje eommanacmentof
but are raifeabplbe cunning anapofoer of toitcbes ana contu*
rers s infomucb as a clap of fbunaer, o; a gale of foina is no fa*
ner beara,butettbertbepruntormgbels, oj crie out to burns
totfcbes ; o; elfe burne confeer atca tbings^fjopmg bp tbe Cmofee
tbcreof,to a;f tie ttjc atuell out of tbe atre,as tfjougb fpirits coula
be fratea atoaie iuttb fucb erternall totes ; bofcbeit, tbefe are
rtgbt incbantmenf s, as Brcntius affirmed
inconwne. Buecertetnite,it is neither a fottcb, no? atuell, butaglo#
»prai ir m* a ^0D ^at mabet^ ^ ftunaer . 3 baue reaa in tbe fcrip
*pfai'.8$. tures, tbat d5oab mafeetb tbe bluffering tempeffsanaftbtrle*
^Eccicr^. faunas tana 3 fina tbat tt is c tbe 3lo#> tbat altogttbcr aealetb
fLukc .8. foiff) ttjem, ana tbat fbep d blotoe acco?amg to bis feriii. But let
*mIiu 41 me f* ante of $em ^ e «bute and liill tbe fea in timt of tem*
Luk.8, 14! peff, as €b*f 0 DtD ; 0? raife tbe ffo?mte fauna, as f (Pod ata fautb
/pfaii 70I bte tooja ; ana 3S tntll bel&ue in ibem. i^atb anie foitcb 0? coniu*
rer, 0? ante creature entrea into tbe § treafures of tbe fnotoe; 0;
«iob.3«,x*. fene ^e fecret piace^of tbebatle,t^tcb C!5 £D H>batbp?eparea a>
E 1 r , ptntt fbe aaie of trouble, battell, ana famrre t 3 fo? mp part al*
cc 4*' (btbinfeefoftbSefus £>tracb, tbat at (Koas onelte comrnanae*
menttbe fnotoe falletb; ana tbattbetoinablotoetb accojamg to
kLeukU6 f>tst»iU,tfto onelte mafeetb all ffojmes to ceafe , anah tobo (if
vafe.3 4. tue fc&pe bis omittances) farill fena fas ratne in aue feafon, ana
make tbe lana to tying fo#b tyt increafe, ana tbe trass of tbe fielD
to gfuetbeir fruit
But tittle tbtttbe our toftebmougers , tbat (be £ Jlo# com*
/Pfai.78,23. manaetbtbeclouasaboue, 0? openetbfte a©^s of beauen, as
Dauidaffirme%o?tbatibe3lo?agoetl) fo^tb in tbefempetts ana
ffo;mes,as fte p?opbetkNahum repo^tetb :but ratber tbat toib
*Nahum. 1. ^e£{ ^^ conturers are tben about tbeir bufineffe*
ICbe Martionifts acfenotolebgea one dUoa tt>e autbour of gcoa fbmgs, ana anotber tbe o^aetner of eutll : but tbefe mafee tbe ac^ well a tobolc goa, to create tbiugs of notbing, to ftnotoe mens co^ gttatiottS,anatoaatbatbbfcb©oa neuerata ; as, to tranfub^ fiantiate men into beatts^c. Wtcbtbing if atuels cotda ao^
yet
Credulitie. of Witchcraft. Cap.i. 3
pet foliofoetb it not, ibat fcttcfces Ijaue furf) pcfecr ♦ SB ut if all tbe Diuels in bcllfoers DeaD, ana ail tbe foitdjc* in England burnt o? bangeD 5 3 foarrant pou foe QjoulD not fatle to fjaue taine,batle anD tempcffs, as nofo foe jjsue ; accoutring to tbe ap* pointment ants foil! of ©oD.anD acceding to tbe contention of tbe elements, ana ft e courfe of tbe planct05fc?eretn C5oD liatj) fet a perfect ant) pcrpetuali o?Den
J am alio foell aOareD, tijat (fall tbe olD foomen in t^e foojlD foere foitcbcs $ anti all tbe p:teifs,coiUurers : foe fijouto not baue a D:op of ratne, no? a blaft of foino tbe mo?e 0? $e ieflfc fo? tbcm. jfo?1 tbe2lo?DbatbbounDtbe foaters in ibeclouDs, anD batb fet , boimDs about tbe foaters,i3ntill tbe Daic anD nigbt come to an lo^**' end : pea it is ©co tbat ratfetb fte fotnos anD ff tlletij tbcm : anD pfaime. 13 *, fce faitb to tbe raine and fnofoe; SBe bpon ttjeeartb, ant) it falletb. icr. 1 0 & 1 j. ;CbemfoinDoftbe2U?D,anDnottbefoinD of foitcbcs, $allDe' a f ff rofe tbe treafares of tbeir plefant belTels, anD D?ie fop tbe foun* " j * taines ; faitb Ofcas. Jiettjsalfolearue anD confeile fottb tt>z |&?o#et Dauid,tbat foe n oucfclues are tbecaufes of ourafflutt* npr & ons ; anD not erclaime Upon forties, ft&en foe fljouto call fcpon **9' ' oDfo?mercte*
Clje Jmperiall lafoe (faitfj Brentius) conDcmnefb ffjem to inepmM Deatb tbat trouble anD infect tbe aire : but 3 afftrme (faitb bc)ibat uwham it is nc i ; tljor in tbe pofoer of fottcb no? Diuell fo to dcd, but in 6od onelie. Cbougb (befiocs Bodin, anD all tbe pepift footers in
generall) it pleafe Dana?us, Hypcrius, Hcmingius^Eraftus, f&tfl
concluDe oiberfoife. Hje cIouds ° are calleD tbe ptilers of tents, tottcfj 0? Diuetl can make maiaeriestberof^&.AuPuftinefattb,il„^Vrl'
7/o» eftpHtandum ints tranjgrejjonms angeiuferuiremnc rerum vifi- ranfia Trinit. hiltwn nutteritm, fed fili Deo:WZ mtlttnot tbUtfcC ftat tbefe tjtfible
tbings are at tbe commanDement of tl;e angels ibat fell, but are obedient to tbe onelie ©od^
jfmallie5tffoitcbescouto accompli^ fljefeftings ; tibat
ueeDeD it feemefofirange to tbe people, ftben dlfetfl PMar.4,4i.
bp miracle p commanoeD botb fcas anD Mm$,
f c» if 0? it is ftnitten; ^Ibo i^ tfyis i foj
botb foinD anD fea
obcie tym.
cA% The
4 i.Booke, Thedifcoucrie Credttlitie.
The inconucnience growing by mens crcduKtic here*
in, with a rcproofc oribme churchmen, which are inclined to die common concerned opinion of witches omnipc- tenciejand a familiar example thereof
The fecond Chapter,
cbe& ano oucr-run imtft ftjte fono erro?, tbat cuen latere a man fljulo focfee cow fo# an& counfeB , tftere fl&all ft* be Cent (in cafe of neceffitte) from dSoDto ttje Dwell 5 aim from tfte ^pfictan , ta ttje ecrfening foitcb, tfto brill trot flfebe fa
SMSfMPmR. tafee Upon fttr, b? luo^oexs ta ijeale tfte
tame (t$fcb tea* {goperoneUe toCbnfi ; anD totbemttbom fie
affttteD fotib &te amine potoer) pea, fcritft bit: familiar f cbarmes •ioh.io3u, ^ tom tafee ^on ^c t0 curc ^ blinD ; ty0Ugfy in ^e a tmfy of
$. lohns ©ofpell it te&gfttett, tftat tfte otuell cannot open (be
ries of tfte bltna. 3nD tftep attaine feift cretrit , as 3 bsue beard
(to m? gr#fe)fome of ifte minifferte afftrme, tbat tbep ijaue ba&
in tfteir parity at one tnffant, jctrij* oj rfcii i tmtc&es : meaning
ftuft as coulo too^be miracles fupcrnaturallie ♦ SSjerebp ftep
mamfettetj ass toeiltbeir infiDelitic ana ignorance, in conceit
ttmgclIJoDsftoo^^ajEftbeirnegltgencean^ tnonn intruding
ffteir flocks . jfa? tbep fbemfelucs migbt bmierffan^ an& alfo
^pfal.Ti, & teacb tfteir parityoners, tbat b (E5od onetie lno;&etft great torn*
*3*- . acrs ; ana fyzt.it is b^ toW* fen&etb futb punffl&msnts to fyt
xeremie,r. feichc^ anD fneb trtab to tbe elect : accoutring to fyz fatcng of
•h 8 ^e ^opbet Haggai , c 3 fiiiote pou foitb Matting ana mtloeato,
ag,Z:>1 ' anstxrifbljaiiej in all fye labours of pour banyans pet pou
^idem.ca i to*w*& m$ tot0 me,faitb ftje !Lo?a. 0no tberefoje fattb fyt feme