SCOT'S Discovery of Witchcraft : PROVING The common opinions of Witches contracting with Divels , Spirits , or Familiars ; and their power to kill , torment , and consume the bodies of men women , and children , or other creatures by diseases or otherwise ; their flying in the Air , &c. To be but imaginary Erronious conceptions and novelties ; WHEREIN ALSO , The lewde unchristian practises of Witchmongers , upon aged , melancholy , ignorant , and superstious people in extorting confessions , by inhumane terrors and tortures is notably detected .

ALSO The knavery and confederacy of Conjurors . The impious blasphemy of Inchanters . The imposture of Soothsayers , and Infidelity of Atheists . The delusion of Pythonists , Figure-casters , Astrologers , and vanity of Dreamers . The fruitlesse beggerly art of Alchimistry . The horrible art of Poisoning and all the tricks and conveyances of juggling and Liegerdemain are fully deciphered .

With many other things opened that have long lain hidden : though very necessary to be known for the undeceiving of Judges , Justices , and Juries , and for the preservation of poor , aged , deformed , ignorant people ; frequently taken , arraigned , condemned and executed for Witches , when according to a right understanding , and a good conscience , Physick , Food , and necessaries should be administred to them .

Whereunto is added , a treatise upon the nature , and substance of Spirits and Divels , &c. all written and published in Anno 1584. by Reginald Scot , Esquire .

Printed by R. C. and are to be sold by Giles Calvert , dwelling at the Black Spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls , 1651.

IN-so-much as I know that your Lordship is by nature wholly inclined , and in purpose earnestly bent to relieve the poor , and that not onely with hospitality and almes , but by divers other devises and waies tending to their comfort , having ( as it were ) framed and set your self to the help and maintenance of their estate , as appeareth by your charge and travell in that behalf . Whereas also you have a speciall care for the supporting of their right , and redressing of their wrongs , as neither despising their calamity , nor yet forgetting their complaint , seeking all means for their amendment , and for the reformation of their disorders , even as a very father to the poor . Finally , for that I am a poor member of that Common-wealth where your Lordship is a principall person ; I thought this my travell , in the behalf of the poor , the aged , and the simple , might be very fitly commended unto you : for a weak house requireth a strong stay . In which respect I give God thanks , that hath raised up unto me so mighty a friend for them as your Lordship is , who in our laws have such knowledge , in government such discretion , in these causes such experience , and in the Common-wealth such authority ; and never the lesse vouchsafe to descend to the consideration of these base and inferior matters , which minister more care and trouble , than worldly estimation .

And insomuch as your Lordship knoweth , or rather excerciseth the office of a Judge , whose part it is to hear with courtesie , and to determine with equity ; it cannot but be apparent unto you , that when punishment exceedeth the fault , it is rather to be thought vengeance than correction . In which respect I know you spend more time and travell in the conversion and reformation , than in the subversion and confusion of offenders , as being well pleased to augment your own private pains , to the end you may diminish their publike smart . For in truth , that Common-wealth remaineth in wofull state , where fetters and halters bear more sway than mercy and due compassion .

Howbeit , it is naturall to unnaturall people , and peculiar unto witchmongers , to pursue the poor , to accuse the simple , and to kill the innocent ; supplying in rigor and malice towards others , that which they themselves want in proof and discretion , or the other in offence or occasion . But as a cruel heart and an honest minde do seldome meet and feed together in a dish ; so a discreet & merciful Magistrate , and a happy Common-wealth cannot be separated asunder . How much then are we bound to God , who hath given us a Queen , that of justice is not only the very perfect image and patern , but also of mercy and clemency ( under God ) the meer fountain and body it self ? Insomuch as they which hunt most after bloud in these daies , have least authority to shed it . Moreover , sith I see that in cases where lenity might be noisom , and punishment wholsom to the common-wealth ; there no respect of person can move you , no authority can abash you , no fear , no threats can daunt you in performing the duty of Justice .

In that respect again I find your Lordship a fit person to judge & look upon this present Treatise . Wherein I will bring before you , as it were to the bar , two sorts of most arrogant and wicked people , the first challenging to themselves , the second attributing unto others , that power which only apperteineth to God , Apo. 4.11 . Rom 8. Acts 5. Apo. 2. Luk. 16. Dan. 2. & 28. & 47. : Psalme 72. & 136. Jeremy 5. Job 5. & 36. Samuel 12. 1 Reg. 8. 2 Reg 3. Isaiah . 5. Zac. 10. & 14. Amos. 4.7 . Job 1. Isaith . 42.8 . who onely is the Creator of all things , who onely searcheth the heart and reines , who onely knoweth our imaginations and thoughts , who onely openeth all secrets , who onely worketh great wonders , who onely hath power to raise up and cast down ; who onely maketh thunder , lightning , rain , tempests , and restraineth them at his pleasure ; who onely sendeth life and death , sicknesse and health , wealth and wo ; who neither giveth nor lendeth his glory to any creature .

And therfore , that which grieveth me to the bottom of my heart , is that these witchmongers cannot be content to wrest out of Gods hand his almighty power , & keep it themselvs , or leav it with a witch : but that , when by drift of argument they are made to lay down the bucklers , they yield them up to the divil , or at the least pray aide of him , as though the rains of all mens lives and actions were committed into his hand ; and that he sat at the stern , to guide & direct the course of the whole world , imputing unto him power & ability enough to do as great things , and as strange miracles as ever Christ did .

But the doctors of this supernatural doctrine say sometimes , that the witch doth all these things by vertue of her charms ; sometimes that a spiritual , sometimes that a corporal devil doth accomplish it ; sometimes they say that the devil doth but make the witch beleeve she doth that which he himselfe hath wrought , sometimes that the devil seemeth to do that by compulsion , which he doth most willingly . Finally , the writers hereupon are so eloquent , & full of variety ; that somtimes they write that the devil doth all this by Gods permission only ; somtimes by his licence , sometimes by his appointment : so as ( in effect and truth ) not the devil , but the high and mighty King of kings , and Lord of hosts , even God himself , should this way be made obedient and servile to obey and perform the will & commandment of a malicious old witch , & miraculously to answer her appetite , as well in every trifling vanity , as in most horrible executions ; as the revenger of a doting old womans imagined wrongs , to the destruction of many innocent children , and as a supporter of her passions , to the undoing of many a poor soul. And I see not , but a witch may as well inchant , when she will ; as a lier may lie when he list : and so should we possesse nothing , but by a witches licence and permission .

And now forsooth it is brought to this point , that all devils , which were wont to be spiritual , may at their pleasure become corporal , and so shew themselves familiarly to witches and conjurors , and to none other , and by them only may be made tame , and kept in a box , &c. So as a malicious old woman may command her devil to plague her neighbor : & he is afflicted in manner & form as she desireth . But then cometh another witch , and she biddeth her devil help , and he healeth the same party . So as they make it a kingdome divided in it self , and therefore I trust it will not long endure , but will shortly be overthrown , according to the words of our Saviour , Omne regnum in se divisum desolabitur , Every kingdome divided in it self shall be desolate .

And although some say that the devil is the witches instrument , to bring her purposes and practises to passe : yet others say that she is his instrument , to execute his pleasure in any thing , and therefore to be executed . But then ( methinks ) she should be injuriously dealt withall , and put to death for anothers offence : for actions are not judged by instrumental causes ; neither doth the end and purpose of that which is done , depend upon the mean instrument . Finally , if the witch do it not , why should the witch die for it ? But they say that witches are perswaded and think , that they do indeed those mischifs ; & have a will to perform that which the devil committeth ; and that therefore they are worthy to dy . By which reason ev'ry one should be executed , that wisheth evil to his neighbor , &c. But if the will should be punished by man , according to the offence against God , we should be driven by thousands at once to the slauterhouse or butchery . Proverbs 5. For whosoever loatheth correction shall die . And who should escape execution , if this lothsomnesse ( I say ) should extend to death by the civil lawes . Also the reward of sin is death . Howbeit , every one that sinneth , is not to be put to death by the Magistrate . But my Lord it shall be proved in my book , and your Lordship shall trie it to be true , as well here at home in your native country , as also abrode in your several circuits , that ( besides them that be Veneficae , which are plaine poisoners ) there will be found among our witches only two sorts ; the one sort being such by imputation , as so thought of by others ( and these are abused , and not abusors ) the other by acceptation , as being willing so to be accounted & these be meer couseners .

Insti . lib. 5. cap. 8. sect. 6. Item upon Deu. c. 18. Calvine treating of these magicians , calleth them couseners , saying , that they use their juggling knacks only to amase or abuse the people ; or else for fame : but he might rather have said for gain . Erastus himself , Lib. de lamiis , page 5. being a principal writer in the behalf of witches omnipotency , is forced to confes , that these Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , are most commoly put for illusion false packing , cousenage , fraud , knavery and deceipt : & is further driven to say , that in ancient time , the learned were not so blockish , as not to see that the promises of magicians and inchanters were false , and nothing else but knavery , cousenage & old wives fables ; & yet defendeth he their flying in the aire , their transferring of corn or gras from one field to another , &c.

But as Erastus disagreeth herein with himself and his friends : so is there no agreement among any of those writers , but only in cruelties , absurdities & impossibilies . And these ( my Lord ) that fall into so manifest contradictions , and into such absurd asseverations , are not of the inferior sort of writers ; neither are they all papists , but men of such account , as whose names give more credit to their cause , then their writings . In whose behalfe I am sorry , and partly for reverence suppress their fondest errors & foulest absurdities ; dealing specially with them that most contend in cruelty , whose feet are swift to shed blood , Isaiah 59.7 . Rom. 3.15 . Eccles. 27.5 . Prov. 1.16 . Jeremy 2.34 . Psal. 39.15 . Isaiah 33.15 . striving ( as Iesus the son of Sirach saith ) & hasting ( as Solomon the son of David saith ) to pour out the blood of the Innocent ; whose heat against these poor wretches cannot be allaied with any other liquor then blood . And therfore I fear that under their wings will be found the blood of the souls of the poor , at that day , when the Lord shall say , Depart from me ye bloud-thirsty men .

And because I know your Lordship will take no councel against innocent bloud , but rather suppres them that seek to imbrew their hands therein , I have made choise to open their case to you , & to lay their miserable calamity before your feet : following herein the advise of that learned man Brentius , who saith ; Si quis admonuerit Magistratum , ●e in miseras illas mulierculas saeviat , In epistola a● Jo. Wier . eum ego arbitror divinitus excitatum , that is , If any admonish the Magistrate not to deale too hardly with these miserable wretches , that are called witches , I think him a good instrument raised up for this purpose by God himself .

But it will perchance be said by witchmongers ; to wit , by such as attribut to witches the power which appertaineth to God only , that I have made choise of your Lordship to be a Patrone to this my book ; because I think you favor mine opinions , and by that means may the more freely publish any error or conceit of mine own , which should rather be warranted by your Lordships authority , then by the word of God , or by sufficient argument . But I protest the contrary , and by these presents I renounce all protection , and despise all friendship that might serve to help towards the suppressing or supplanting of truth : knowing also that your Lordship is far from allowing any injury done unto man ; much more an enemy to them that go about to dishonor God , or to embeazel the title of his immortal glory . But because I know you to be perspicuous , and able to see down into the depth and bottome of causes , & are not to be carried away with the vain perswasion or superstition either of man , custome , time or multitude . but moved with the authority of truth only : I crave your countenance herein , even so far forth , & no further , then the law of God , the law of nature , the lawe of this land , & the rule of reason shall require . Neither do I treat for these poore people any otherwise , but so , as with one hand you may sustaine the good , and with the other suppresse the evill : wherein you shall be thought a father to orphanes , an advocate to widowes , a guide to the blind , a stay to the lame , a comfort & countenance to the honest , a scourge and terror to the wicked .

Thus farre I have been bold to use your Lordships patience , being offended with my self , that I could not in brevity utter such matter as I have delivered amply : whereby ( I confesse ) occasion of tediousnesse might be ministred , were it not that your great gravity joined with your singular constancy in reading and judging be means of the contrary . And I wish even with all my heart , that I could make people conceive the substance of my writing , and not to misconstrue any part of my meaning . Then doubtles would I perswade my self , that the company of witchmongers , &c. being once decreased , the number also of witches , &c. would soon be diminished . But true be the words of the Poet , Haudquaquam poteris sortirier omnia ●olus , Námque aliis divi bello pollere dederunt , Huic saltandi artem , voce huic cytharáqne canendi : Rursum alii inservit sagax in pectore magnus Iupiter ingenium , &c.

And therefore as doubtfull to prevaile by perswading ● though I have reason and common sense on my side ; I rest upon earnest wishing ; namely , to all people an absolute trust in God the creator , and not in creatures , which is to make flesh our arme : that God may have his due honour , which by the undutifulnesse of many is turned into dishonour , and lesse cause of offence and error given by common received evil example . And to your Lordship I wish , as increase of ●onour , so continuance of good health , and happy daies .