Scot's Discovery of vvitchcraft proving the common opinions of witches contracting with divels, spirits, or familiars ... to be but imaginary, erronious conceptions and novelties : wherein also, the lewde unchristian all written and published in anno 1584, by Reginald Scot, Esquire.
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Title
Scot's Discovery of vvitchcraft proving the common opinions of witches contracting with divels, spirits, or familiars ... to be but imaginary, erronious conceptions and novelties : wherein also, the lewde unchristian all written and published in anno 1584, by Reginald Scot, Esquire.
Author
Scot, Reginald, 1538?-1599.
Publication
[London] :: Printed by R.C. and are to be sold by Giles Calvert ...,
1651.
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Subject terms
Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800.
Demonology -- Early works to 1800.
Occultism -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"Scot's Discovery of vvitchcraft proving the common opinions of witches contracting with divels, spirits, or familiars ... to be but imaginary, erronious conceptions and novelties : wherein also, the lewde unchristian all written and published in anno 1584, by Reginald Scot, Esquire." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A62395.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 30, 2024.
A confutation of augury, Plato his reverend opinion thereof, of con∣trary events, and false predictions.
BUt what credit is to be attributed to such toies and chances, which grow not of nature, but are gathered by the superstition of the in∣terpretors? As for birds, who is so ignorant that conceiveth not, that one flyeth one way, another another way, about their private necessities? And yet are the other divinations more vain and foolish. Howbeit, Pla∣to thinketh a commonwealth cannot stand without this art, and number∣eth it among the liberal sciences. These fellowes promised Pompeie, Cassius, and Caesar, that none of them should die before they were old, and that in their own houses, and in great honour; and yet they all died clean contrarily. Howbeit doubtlesse, the heathen in this point were not so much to be blamed, as the sacrificing papists: for they were directed hereunto without the knowledge of God's promises; neither knew they the end why such ceremonies and sacrifices were instituted; but only un∣derstood by an uncertain and slender report, that God was wont to send good or ill successe to the children of Israel, and to the old patriarchs and fathers, upon his acceptance or disallowance of their sacrifices and obla∣tions. But men in all ages have been so desirous to know the effect of their purposes, the sequel of things to come, and to see the end of their fear and hope; that a seely witch, which hath learned any thing in the art of cousenage, may make a great many jolly fools.