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.

CHAP. XV.

How men have been abused with words of equivocation, with sundry examples thereof.

SOme have taught, and others have written certain experiments; in the expressing whereof they have used such words of equivocation, as where∣by many have been overtaken and abused through rash credulity: so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sometimes (I say) they have reported, taught, and written that which their capacity took hold upon,* 1.1 contrary to the truth and sincere meaning of the author. It is a common jest among the water men of the Thames, to shew the parish Church of Stone to the passengers, calling the same by the name of the lanterne of Kent; affirming, and that not untruly, that the said church is as light (meaning in weight and not in brightnesse) at midnight, as at noonday. Whereupon some credulous person is made be∣leeve, and will not stick to affirm and swear, that in the same church is such continuall light, that any man may see to read there at all times of the night without a candle.

An excellent philosopher, whom (for reverence unto his same and lear∣ning) I will forbear to name, was overtaken by his hossesse at Dover; who merrily told him, that if he could retein and keep in his mouth certain pibbles (lying at the shore side) he should not perbreak untill he came to Calice, how rough and tempestuous so ever the seas were. Which when he had tryed, and being not forced by sicknesse to vomit, nor to lose his stones, as by vomitting he must needs do, he thought his hostesse had dis∣covered unto him an excellent secret, nothing doubting of her amphibo∣logicall speech: and therefore thought it a worthy note to be recorded a∣mong miraculous and medicinable stones; and inserted it accordingly into his book, among other experiments collected with great industry, learning, travell, and judgement. All these toies help a subtle cousener

to gain credit with the multitude. Yea, to further estimation, many will whisper prophecies of their own invention into the ears of such as are not of quickest capacity;* 1.2 as to tell what weather, &c. shall follow. Which if it fall out true, then boast they and triumph, as though they had gotten some notable conquest; if not, they deny the matter, forget it, excuse it, or shift it off; as that they told another the contrary in earnest, and spake that but in jest. All these helps might Pharaohs jugglers have to main∣tain their cousenages and illusions, towards the hardening of Pharaohs hearts.

Hereunto belong all manner of charmes, periapts, amulets, characters, and such other superstitions, both popish and prophane: whereby (if that were true, which either papists, conjurors, or witches undertake to do) we might daily see the very miracles wrought indeed, which Pharaoh's magi∣cians seemed to performe. Howbeit, because by all those devices or cou∣senages, there cannot be made so much as a nit, so as Iannes and Iam∣bres could have no help that way, I will speak thereof in place more con∣venient.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A jest among watermen tou∣ching Stone church in Kent as light at mid∣night as at mid-day.
• * 1.2

  A slender shift to save the cre∣dit of their cunning.