THE Discovery of Witchcraft : PROVING , That the Compacts and Contracts of WITCHES with Devils and all Infernal Spirits or Familiars , are but Erroneous Novelties and Imaginary Conceptions . Also discovering , How far their Power extendeth in Killing , Tormenting , Consuming , or Curing the bodies of Men , Women , Children , or Animals , by Charms , Philtres , Periapts , Pentacles , Curses , and Conjurations .

WHEREIN LIKEWISE The Unchristian Practices and Inhumane Dealings of Searchers and Witch-tryers upon Aged , Melancholly , and Superstitious people , in extorting Confessions by Terrors and Tortures , and in devising false Marks and Symptoms , are notably Detected .

And the Knavery of Juglers , Conjurers , Charmers , Soothsayers , Figure-Casters , Dreamers , Alchymists and Philterers ; with many other things that have long lain hidden , fully Opened and Deciphered .

ALL WHICH Are very necessary to be known for the undeceiving of Judges , Justices , and Jurors , before they pass Sentence upon Poor , Miserable and Ignorant People ; who are frequenly Arraigned , Condemned , and Executed for Witches and Wizzards . IN SIXTEEN BOOKS .

By REGINALD SCOT Esquire .

Whereunto is added An excellent Discourse of the Nature and Substance OF DEVILS and SPIRITS , IN TWO BOOKS : The First by the aforesaid Author : The Second now added in this Third Edition , as Succedaneous to the former , and conducing to the compleating of the Whole Work : With Nine Chapters at the beginning of the Fifteenth Book of the DISCOVERY .

LONDON : Printed for Andrew Clark , and are to be sold at Mris. Cotes's near the Golden-Ball in Aldersgatestreet , 1665.

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 only with Hospitality and Alms , but by divers other devises and wayes 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 travel in that behalf . Whereas also you have a special 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 principal person ; I thought this my travel , 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 less 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 exerciseth 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 travel 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 publick smart . For in truth , that Common-wealth remaineth in woful state , where fetters and haltars beat more sway than mercy and due compassion .

Howbeit , it is natural to unnatural 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 mind do seldom meet and feed together in a dish ; so a discreet and 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 blood in these dayes , have least authority to shed it . Moreover , sith I see that in cases where lenity might be noisome , and punishment wholesome 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 and 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 appertaineth to God : Apoc. 4.11 . Rom. 8 Act. 5. Apoc. 2. Luk. 16. Dan. 2.28 , 47 Psal. 72. & 136. Jerem. 5. Job 5. & 36. Sam. 12. 1 King . 8. 2 King . 3. Isai . 5. Zac. 10. & 14. Amos 4 7. Job 1. Isai. 42.8 . who only is the Creator of all things , who only searcheth the heart and reins , who only knoweth our imaginations and thoughts , who only openeth all secrets , who only worketh great wonders , who only hath power to raise up and cast down , who only maketh thunder , lightning , rain , tempest , and restraineth them at his pleasure , who only sendeth life and death , sickness and health , wealth and wo ; who neither give nor lendeth his glory to any creature .

And therefore , 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 , and keep it themselves , or leave 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 Devil , 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 and direct the course of the whole World ; imputing unto him power and 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 believe she doth that which he himself hath wrought ; sometimes , that the Devil seemeth to do that by compulsion , which he doth most willingly : Finally , the Writers hereupon are so eloquent , and full of variety , that sometimes they write , that the Devil doth all this by God's permission only ; sometimes , 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 and commandement of a malicious old Witch , and 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 lyer may lye whey he list ; and so should we possess 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 to 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 ; and he is afflicted in manner and 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 kingdom divided in it self shall be desolate .

And although some say , that the Devil is the Witches instrument to bring her purposes and practices to pass : 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 withal , 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 mischiefs ; and have a will to perform that which the Devil committeth , and that therefore they are worthy to die . By which reason every one should be executed , that wisheth evil to his neighbour , &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 slaughterhouse or butchery : Prov. 5. For , whosoever loatheth correction shall die . And who should escape execution , if this lothsomness ( I say ) should extend to death by the Civil Laws ! 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 try it to be true , as well here at home , in your native countrey , as also abroade in your several circuits , that ( besides them that be Veneficae , which are plain Poysoners ) 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 abusers ) the other by acceptation , as being willing so to be accounted , and these be meer Coseners .

Insti . lib. 5 cap. 8. sect. 6. Item upon Deut. c. 18 Calvin treating of these Magicians , calleth them Coseners , saying That they use their Jugling 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 , pag. 5. being a principal writer in the behalf of Witches omnipotency , is forced to confess , that these Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , are most commonly put for illusion , false-packing , cosenage , fraud , knavery , and deceit : and 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 , cosenage , and old wives fables ; and yet defendeth he their flying in the air , their transferring of Corn or Grass 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 , and impossibilites . And these ( my Lord ) that fall into so manifest contradictions , and into such absurd asseverations , are not of the inferiour 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 behalf I am sorry , and partly for reverence suppress their fondest errors and foulest absurdities ; dealing specially with them that most contend in cruelty , Isa. 59.7 . Rom. 3.15 . Eccles. 27.5 . Prov. 1.16 . Jerem. 2.34 . Psal. 30.15 . Isa. 33.15 . whose feet are swift to shed blood ; Striving , ( as Jesus the son of Sirach saith ) and hasting ( as Solomon the son of David saith ) to pour out the blood of the Innocent : whose heat against these poor wretches cannot be allayed with any other liquor then blood ; and therefore 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 blood-thirsty men .

And because I know your Lordship will take no counsel against innocent blood , but rather suppress them that seek to imbrew their hands therein , I have made choice to open their case to you , and to lay their miserable calamity before your feet ; following herein the advice of that learned man Brentius , In Epistola ad John Wier . who saith , Si quis admonuerit Magistratum , ne in miseras illas mulierculas saeviat , eum ego arbitror divinitus excitatum ; that is , If any admonish the Magistrate not to deal 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 attribute to Witches the power which appertaineth to God only , That I have made choice of your Lordship to be a Patron to this my Book , because I think you favour 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 dishonour 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 , and are not to be carryed away with the vain perswasion or superstition either of Man , Custom , Time or Multltude , but moved with the authority of Truth only : I crave your countenance herein , even so far forth , and no further , then the law of God , the law of Nature , the law of this Land , and the rule of Reason shall require . Neither do I treat for these poor people any otherwise , but so , as with one hand you may sustain the good , and with the other suppress the evil : wherein you shall be thought a Father to Orphans , an Advocate to Widows , a Guide to the Blind , a Stay to the Lame , a Comfort and Countenance to the honest , a Scourge and Terror to the Wicked .

Thus far 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 confess ) occasion of tediousness might be ministred , were it not that your great gravity joyned 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 misconster any part of my meaning . Then doubtless 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 solus ; Námque aliis divi bello pollere dederunt , Huic saltandi artem , voce huic cytharáque canendi : Rursum alii inseruit sagax in pectore magnus Jupiter ingenium , &c.

And therefore as doubtful to prevail 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 undutifulness of many is turned into dishonour , and less cause of offence and error given by common received evil example . And to your Lordship , I wish , as increase of Honour , so continuance of good health and happy dayes .